Friday Favorites – Week 370 – Mango Salsa

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Meet The Author: Tanya Armstrong

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A Little About Tanya:  I have known Tanya since I was 13 years old.   And, NO … I am not about to tell you how long we have been friends. But, lets just say that we have had the pleasure of being part of each other’s journey.  As a friend, it was particularly hard for me to watch Tanya experience any kind of pain.  But, if ever I have met someone whose life is a testimony, it would be her.  She maintained a buoyant spirit, because she knew, even in the thick of it,  that In God’s Hands Intended Evil becomes Eventual Good.  Her story is one of perseverance, triumph, and strength.  And, I am proud of her for sharing her story and her truth.  I sincerely hope that you will run out and her purchase her book, The Moment I Decided to Own It. (Follow the link to purchase on Amazon)

When did you know in your heart that it was time for you to move on?

When the tone in his voice changed. We used to speak and you could hear that he cared and loved me and then one day I realized there was absolutely no love in his voice.  It was cold and direct and I realized that I no longer possessed his heart

What signs did you see or that you now recognize in retrospect?

The signs had always been there. The lying was there, the cheating was there but I became so comfortable in my dysfunction or dysfunctional marriage that I chose not to leave.  I chose to act as if it were out of sight out of mind to keep my sanity, because my former husband was either deployed a lot while in the military or working as a contractor overseas for the last 10 years of our marriage.

What convinced you to turn your trial into a testimony and essentially a victory?

This book started  off as a conversation between myself and a very close friend. I was telling her about some of the difficulties and frustration that I was feeling while going through my divorce and dealing with my soon-to-be ex husband. And she said, girl you need to write a book because nobody would really believe everything that you’ve been through.  I proceeded to tell her nobody wants to really hear my story and she said yes they do. So on a Sunday night two years ago I started to write

Was the process of writing the book healing for you?

Definitely!! While writing this book I had to revisit some very painful moments and instead of just tucking them away as if they never existed, I had to truly deal with them.  Looking at my pain face to face and not backing down. I had to rip off Band-Aids and shed a lot of tears, but after I did that my soul started to heal.

Explain how you felt when the book was complete?

That final moment when the book was completed I truly felt accomplished. I had that AHA moment. I thought that this baby that I was carrying for the last two years was finally here.

Advice for wives?  Advice for young ladies starting out in a relationship?

The advice that I have for wives is don’t become complacent with your heart don’t allow other people to take that precious gift that you’re offering to them for granted. The advice that I have for young ladies is never settle.  If you are unhappy in your present situation,  do not allow yourself to feel that this is the best you can get.  And ALWAYS trust your gut instincts.  If I had trusted my own 20 years ago my life could’ve been very different. But, please don’t misunderstand, I do not regret any of the decisions that I made because as a product of that union, I have five magnificent beautiful children.

Favorite Quote from The Moment I Decided to Own It:

“I have to get through today, to get to tomorrow, because tomorrow has to be better than today.”

Favorite Book : I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings

Favorite Author:  Maya  Angelou

Favorite Quote or Motto: When someone shows you who they are, believe them the first time. – Maya Angelou

You can find Tanya all over Social Media  :

On Facebook On Twitter On Instagram

or On Her Website

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Happy Earth Day!!

Earth Day Coloring Sheets 2017 Mockup

It’s Earth Day!!  Time to celebrate and teach our little ones about one of our most valuable resources and how to preserve and care for it.  Grab these Coloring Sheets and tell them how they can do their own small part to help.  Here’s some history/information I found on the origin of Earth Day.  Click the Link for the Coloring Sheet you like, Right Click and Save to Your Device and You Are In Business!!

Recycle  Plant

Each year, Earth Day—April 22—marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970.  The idea for a national day to focus on the environment came to Earth Day founder Gaylord Nelson, then a U.S. Senator from Wisconsin, after witnessing the ravages of the 1969 massive oil spill in Santa Barbara, California.

On April 22,1970, 20 million Americans took to the streets, parks, and auditoriums to demonstrate for a healthy, sustainable environment in massive coast-to-coast rallies. Thousands of colleges and universities organized protests against the deterioration of the environment. Groups that had been fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife suddenly realized they shared common values.

Earth Day 1970 achieved a rare political alignment, enlisting support from Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, city slickers and farmers, tycoons and labor leaders. By the end of that year, the first Earth Day had led to the creation of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the passage of the Clean AirClean Water, and Endangered Species Acts. “It was a gamble,” Gaylord recalled, “but it worked.”

As 1990 approached, a group of environmental leaders asked Denis Hayes to organize another big campaign. This time, Earth Day went global, mobilizing 200 million people in 141 countries and lifting environmental issues onto the world stage. Earth Day 1990 gave a huge boost to recycling efforts worldwide and helped pave the way for the 1992 United Nations Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. It also prompted President Bill Clinton to award Senator Nelson the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1995)—the highest honor given to civilians in the United States—for his role as Earth Day founder.

Earth Day had reached into its current status as the largest secular observance in the world, celebrated by more than a billion people every year, and a day of action that changes human behavior and provokes policy changes.

Today, the fight for a clean environment continues with increasing urgency, as the ravages of climate change become more manifest every day. We invite you to be a part of Earth Day and help write many more chapters—struggles and victories—into the Earth Day book.

Content Provided by EarthDay.org  Follow the link for additional information.

The Great Escape – The She-Shed

I know I am not alone.  I am sure you have imagined what it would be like to have a space that was strictly your own, where you did not have to consider anyone but yourself.  Some might say that sounds a little selfish, but indulge me a bit.  Can you imagine what it would be like to not have to worry about Scotch Guarded couches or colors that would hide potential spills?  And to have a space where you could hear yourself think.  I can, that space is referred to as a She-Shed.  Some say its origins branch off of the man cave but I think it’s borrowed some from the tiny house craze.  Now, I ll be clear, I have no desire to have my family of 5 cramped into 1200 square feet, however delightful  But, give me 1200 feet that I can call and all mine, and we are best friends for L-I-F-E.

The more I thought about this, the more I got sucked into what such a space would look and feel like for me.  And, I quickly came up with a list of must haves.  This space would have to serve as a sanctuary for me, it would need first and foremost, A LOCK on the door.  I would want it to be a place where I could relax, but also a place where I would feel most creative.  And, so the daydream/planning began. Join me as I think up the Great Escape.

The Great Escape - She-Shed - The Bones

No matter what I am doing, from Christmas decorations to revamping a room in my own home, my starting point is always a Color Scheme.  I am one of those people that takes a lot of stock in how certain colors make me feel.  So the bones of my she shed would need neutral colors.  I find them extremely relaxing, and I also find that they lend to easy changes.

The Great Escape - She-Shed - Accent Colors

Once the bones are in place, I choose my accent colors.  If you have been a reader of this blog for a while, you know I have a certain affinity for blues and greens.  More on that here. They transport me to the ocean, and I find these colors to be soothing to my spirit.  And, with migraines being a constant in my life, anything that lends to those qualities is therapeutic for me.

The Great Escape - She-Shed - Down To Business

Last but not least, I would need to be able to get some work done in this space as well.  With everything else being of lighter hues in this space.  I would opt for darker furniture in the area designated for work.

So there you have it!! If only this were an option for me, right now.  But, for now its just a fantasy.  What would your she-shed look for?  And, what are your must haves for this space.

Friday Favorites – Week 368 – Easy DIY Glass Cloche

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Our 2017 Spring Home Tour

2017 Spring Home Tour - www.stage-presents.comWelcome to Our 2017 Spring Home Tour.  I am always excited to invite you guys in to see the little changes that we have made through out the year.  I think that maybe I should admit that I just love seasonal decorating.  Even though I claim that Fall is my favorite season, and it is.  I had just as much fun decorating for Spring this year. We had a particularly mild winter,  but there is just something exhilarating about seeing all the fresh blooms popping up out the ground and knowing that the summer is on its way.

I don’t  go nearly as hard with my Spring decor.  I just try to add some color where ever I can.  In the front foyer, I simply changed out the flowers in my vase, and put a new Spring Printable in a frame.  Then, I added some fresh blooms to my Vintage Picnic Basket, and some Easter Eggs to the Wood Truck, for good measure.

2017 Spring Home Tour - Foyer - www.stage-presents.com

The Family Room had been long overdue for a refresh.  So last year, we purchased a new sofa and love seat.  Then, we decided that the mantel could use a change too.  I am not sure that I would say this was definitely Spring Decor.  But, the blues and greens tie in with the changes sprinkled all around the house.

2017 Spring Home Tour - Family Room Mantel Update - www.stage-presents.com

Our Spring Tablescape was very simple this year. I opted to use a lot of natural elements from the Wood Chargers to the Green Moss bunnies and the Egg Shell vases.  Even though it was probably the easiest tablescape I have done thus far.  I really love the way that it turned out.

2017 Spring Home Tour - Formal Living Room Tablescape - www.stage-presents.com2017 Spring Home Tour - Formal Living Room Tablescape - www.stage-presents.com

In the kitchen, I didn’t do much.  Pulled out the Spring Kitchen Towels and I used two different cake plates and a Egg Wreath to create a Cloche Effect and a Centerpiece for the Island.

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So there you have it. I truly love decorating our home.  And, lately I have found a lot of pleasure in using things we already have in our home to create new and interesting looks.   Hope you enjoyed your visit.  What are your favorite ways to decorate for Spring?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Friday Favorites – Week 367 – Easter Egg Floral Branches

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Friday Favorites – Week 366 – Bunny Butt Cupcakes

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The 2017 Spring Must Have List

2017 Spring Must Haves

When I originally started writing this post, I was rejoicing over the mild winter we had here in Atlanta, and that we were already experiencing Spring Weather.  And then, almost as if Mother Nature was trying to spite me, we had two or three days of arctic weather (below freezing).  Thankfully, it only lasted for a few days and we are now, hopefully back on the right side of things, just in time for the official start of Spring.  So in addition to the great weather that Spring brings.. minus the rain, Spring means time to pull out your Spring wardrobe, and decide what needs to get dumped and what still has life.  And, it’s the perfect excuse for some retail therapy.

Statement Jackets:

As with every season the biggest part of successfully maneuvering the climate changes lies in your transitional clothing.  Those items that can seamlessly go from winter to spring or from spring to summer.  This year even more important than the sweater is the Statement Jacket.  Everywhere I look I see variations of this jacket from Bombers to Faux Blazers and even the Classic Leather Motorcycle Jacket.

2017 Spring Must Haves

Photo Source: Macys White House Black Market

Dresses, Dresses Everywhere – Feminine, Romantic, Edgy

This time of year tends to bring out the “springy”, playful side of fashion.  At least for me it does, after spending the winter layering and trying to keep warm.  Spring offers the opportunity to be free, show some skin and indulge in the sights and smells of the outdoors.  A super popular dress trend this year centers around the Feminine and the Romantic side of things.

2017 Spring Must Haves - Dresses

Photo Source: Macys and White House Black Market

Crop Pants:

Many moons ago, I used to love Culottes.  And, yes I know I am dating myself with that reference.  I am surprised to see them making a come back.  Though, I shouldn’t be because Fashion tends to Cyclical.  But, even better than the culotte is the Crop Pant.  It’s a way to feel like you are able to dress down by not wearing pants/slacks,  while still being both stylish and professional.

2017 Spring Must Haves - Crop Pants

Photo Source: Macys

So there you have it!! Happy Hunting!!

Friday Favorites – Week 364 – Carmelized Onion Red Pepper & Zucchini Frittata

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Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and SavvyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

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