Friends...One Of The Best Gifts You'll Ever Give Yourself

This past weekend our long time friends from Tracy came down for a visit in their hot rods; Doug took the boys to Donut Derelicts (pismoderelicts.com) in Pismo on Saturday morning and to his friend's house in Los Osos who has quite a car collection. I was so excited to get to hang out with the girls on Saturday. I had planned a game night for Friday night, sent out the Evites the week before, received the RSVP's and was looking forward to having a bunch of our good friends over on Friday night for an evening of friendly competition and laughs...well was I surprised when game night turned into a surprise birthday party for me! They really pulled one over on me since my birthday wasn't until Saturday and I don't usually make mention of it. I didn't suspect a thing; I had Friday off and busied myself making lasagna, salad, garlic bread and strawberry trifle for a crowd! I even sharpened the pencils!! I was so surprised and so delighted at the same time; I love to have parties for others but I shy away from me being the center of attention!!

The weekend was so much fun, the weather was gorgeous and getting to spend it with friends was such a gift. I made quiche (the boys were glad they were having donuts!) and the girls and I sat in the backyard and enjoyed our breakfast yakking and catching up while the boys took off in their cars. We had "birthday pie" on Saturday evening and I taught the girls how to play Mexican Train; we resumed our game on Sunday while the boys watched the Indy 500. Doug and I feel so blessed to have such wonderful friends, and the best thing about friends is they are a gift that you can keep giving yourself!!

Sometimes it’s Just the Simple Things in Life

This past weekend Doug and I set off to Lompoc to experience a twelve year old Relay; since we are newbie’s to Relay. We surprised Deb, ACS staff partner, and took a lap with her; again what an amazing experience to witness so many people coming together for such a worthwhile cause. I have volunteered to be the Team Captain Chair next year for Nipomo’s Relay For Life. I had been told that once you experience Relay you are never the same again…so true!

On our way back from Lompoc we stopped at Costco to buy vitamins and came home with a Wii. We had so much fun creating our Mii’s in our own likeness and we are hooked on bowling; I may just may able to beat Doug before long! Yesterday morning we synced up the Fitness Board and we found out, according to Wii, we are obese!! Our Mii’s expanded before our eyes as it assessed our personal information...we couldn’t fib on our weight as the Fitness Board weighs you!! So our goal is to each lose 20 lbs in 3 months. We each have a personal trainer to help us meet our goal…who need’s a gym anymore when you can have a personal trainer at your disposal anytime day or night! We decided to cut out dessert since we have to be accountable and check in daily. We started cracking up because we are intimidated by our Wii!

We have been getting together with friends for Game Night and we can’t wait to have a bowling tournament…I need to get my wrist action down and become more consistent. Doug told me yesterday that I don’t have a competitive bone in my body; they are all competitive. Game on!!

The Sun is Shining…And My Garden Is Growing!!

I decided this past (rainy, rainy) winter that we should move our garden to a larger area in the sunniest part of our backyard! Did I mention we had a very rainy winter! I had a lot of time to ponder what our next project would be. A new garden!! First though; we had to remove Doug’s beloved horseshoe pit (we are going to rebuild and relocate it) and move all the Pennsylvania flagstone to get the area ready…we then moved the garden shed; that took 10 strong men and it was not an easy task! I thought we could do it ourselves with the help of our son and daughter-in-law…yikes was I wrong! Doug found an article in the Home & Garden section of the Sunday paper with DIY instructions for these planter boxes and decided to take on this task. You know us; when we start a project we go all the way and just about kill ourselves getting it done!! We just aren’t as young as we used to be; are bodies remind us…our minds just haven’t caught up!! Doug "out did" himself, they are beautiful and he did such an awesome job building them. We are looking forward to enjoying the fruits or in this case the vegetables of our labor!

I have planted squash, tomatoes, bell peppers, peas, string beans, eggplant, cucumbers, carrots, radishes, lettuce, pumpkins, watermelons, cantaloupes, strawberries, peppers and Doug is going to plant corn! I hope all of the critters that roam around here don’t find the garden before we get to harvest!!

Tip of the day…don't wear perfume in the garden - unless you want to be pollinated by bees. ~Anne Raver

FYI...Relay For Life in Nipomo was this past weekend and our team raised just shy of $10,000...WOOHOO! We had at least one person walking on the track for the whole Relay…way to go team; together we helped make a difference one lap at a time! Please check out our team page and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life website to learn more and how you can help in finding a cure for cancer. Relay For Life takes place in just about every community, or in one very close by, in the country; if you aren’t on a team it isn’t too late to join one!!

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/paulspurpleposse http://main.acsevents.org/

Until next time…I am off to tend to my garden!

The Year of the Monkey

I just finished a redesign for a teenager's room! It was so much fun tapping into her personality and seeing her so happy when it was finished! She has been to China and loves the culture so of course, she now has an Asian inspired room. The fish hanging to the left was the inspiration piece. With the help of my handy dandy "carpenter" who also happens to be my best friend and husband we wrapped up our project yesterday afternoon and left leaving Elizabeth telling us how much she loves her new room! It was so awesome to have her input and repurpose and reuse so much of what they already had and incorporate the things that mean so much to her.

How can scouring flea markets, thrift stores and bargain hunting for the perfect accessories be work! I love the hunt for the details that complete a room to perfection and love redesigning furniture that no one can even imagine is worth keeping. I am really starting to tap into that ole saying...love what you do and you will never work another day in your life. I can't wait until I can do this and my personalized greeting card businesses for a living 100% of my time.

Here is the before of the white French Provincial dressers Elizabeth said she did not want any part of and the after of the black Asian dressers! Three pieces of square Chinese artwork hung vertically will adorn the space between the lamp and the picture soon.

This lamp was a swap meet find, a little ingenuity and it is now very Asian and one of Elizabeth's favorite pieces! She loves the lanterns and the feeling of being under a tree; very tranquil. She had this wrought iron tree already hung from her ceiling, it was brown and is now black; this picture was hung on another wall in her room. Elizabeth was born in the year of the monkey and has adorned her tree with a very large collection!

Now on to the next redesign...

Taking a Break

I have been getting all of our tax info organized and ready to send off to our account, the sun is out today and it is beautiful; I would much rather be outside playing. I am so over the rain, I know we need it but I have had enough. I am yearning to get my hands in the dirt and start planting the garden. We are going to build some new garden beds and move the horse shoe pit, I can't wait!

It is always such a relief to get the past year's taxes out of the way; it seems like a new beginning to me! I told myself no playing in the yard until I finish this task...I am almost done, I will not be a prisoner any longer to 2009! I have even caught myself up on all the junk mail, bills, etc. Ok, back to the grind!

Breakfast for Two

Here's my completed Estate Sale find! What was once the TV compartment of an old entertainment center is now an awesome breakfast bar! Sorry I don't have a before picture, I promise the next the post I do of a "redesigned" piece I will definitely take a before picture. I was so enthusiastic to get this piece done for my friend so as she wanted to use it for Super Bowl Sunday, and I did rain and all!!

Speaking of Super Bowl Sunday, I was actually rooting for the Saints; yahoo! My husband is an avid football fan and really enjoys his Fantasy Football, I on the other hand pick a team by their uniforms, their location/city (I have been to NOLA, haven't been to Indianapolis), who I like or dislike, those kinds of things! My husband just shakes his head at me. Although I actually do know more about football than I care to admit, with 4 TV's on in our home, garage, shop and bedroom on any given Sunday during football season I can't help but learn a thing or two! I have recently been invited and joined a Fantasy Football league for women affectionately called The Goumbas. I can actually say I am excited for next season. I sure hope my method of picking a team pays off for me. Let's see I don't think purple is a very manly color, tiger stripes on a helmet; don't think so, I really enjoyed my visit to Nashville...

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!

Well, my excuse for my long absence this time is: Relay for Life! We have a friend who has been diagnosed with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer; this is not good news. However, Doug and I have decided since there isn't a lot we can do to help him, other than prayers and support, we can form a Relay for Life team and help raise donations and awareness. I know most of you have heard of Relay for Life and many of you are probably already participating in your communities. If not, please take a minute and go to the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life website: http://www.relayforlife.org/relay/

You can help in so many ways; you can donate, volunteer, walk, the possibilities are endless. Nipomo is having their first Relay for Life event this year and we are so happy that we are going to be a part of it, since it is about communities! Our team is dedicating our Relay to Paul DeMello and our team name is Paul's Purple Posse, we are still recruiting team members, we are half way there (at least 15) and our goal is to raise $1500.00; we hope to shatter this goal!

I have just registered our team so our team website is a work in progress, we hope to have all of our team in place by next weekend. Please visit our team website at: http://main.acsevents.org/goto/paulspurpleposse

Trash to Treasure

I am in the process of helping my friend “redesign” her office and kitchen…I am in heaven! She has requested my services and it is such a compliment to have someone be so appreciative and amazed at what I so take for granted, because I love repurposing, recreating, redesigning… We purchased an awesome piece of solid wood furniture (I think it was originally a section of an entertainment center; the TV cabinet) from an Estate Sale we happened upon a week ago. I am currently repurposing it into a breakfast bar which will provide extra counter space and storage which she very much needs as she is a very successful Pampered Chef Senior Director and Consultant. She wants to transform her “oak” office into a light and inviting space. Oh do I have ideas!! I have collected some great finds from her “trash pile” that are perfect to be recycled into shelves and storage. She has picked out some elements from my home that she would like to have incorporated in her redesign. WOW, that is the ultimate compliment in my book; I can’t wait to get started in her office. I have recruited Doug to construct her gallery shelves for the hallway, she love ours (my idea, his brawn; what a team!!) I see a trip or two to the swap meet soon for accessories; oh do I have a bounce in my step!!

These pictures are a sampling of my redesigns from my home, I will post pictures once I am done with her projects; rain, rain go away… I know, I know, we need it; however, it hampers paint drying, sanding outdoors, swap meets, etc. Hmm, that sounds a bit selfish; but once I start a project I get on a roll!!

…more to come soon!

Rain, Rain and More Rain

This week has convinced me I certainly am not a “pioneer” woman, nor do I want to be one, and it is only Wednesday! I like hot coffee, lights, heat, etc. I love electricity. Monday was a holiday for me and I was so excited to spend the day on my computer catching up and finishing some projects I had started and sure enough the power went out at about 11:30 am! I had just got out of the shower and thought at least my timing was pretty good, so I got dressed, made some lunch and figured it should be coming back on soon surely, the sun was now out! Well, not so. Since the sun was out I ventured out in my “beautiful and trendy (not)” rubber boots and cut my roses back and trimmed the geraniums/trailing geraniums that thought Spring had arrived a week or two ago. Normally we have beautiful weather this time of year with rain here and there, not the torrential downpours we have been experiencing! The ground was saturated as was everything else and I didn’t intend to do as much as I ended up doing. So needless to say I was not wearing gloves and I got stung by a bee! Who would of thought…I don’t know which one of us was more surprised; me or the bee…except I survived our encounter! I thought surely by now the power had to be restored; but still no power. The sun was about gone by this time so I got the flashlights and candles ready and thought this is not fun anymore! Doug headed home about 6:00ish and called to see if we had power yet as he, of course, was wondering if he was going to have dinner!

Just after his phone call the power came back on; what a relief! We are getting hit by some pretty bad storms with thunder; lightning and gusty winds so we may have more power outages this week! I can’t wait for our beautiful, awesome and wonderful weather to return, I am such a fair weather gal! I will be so appreciative from now on and not complain when it’s only a foggy day…it beats rain any day in my book! So I guess the moral of my story is; when I wish that I would have absolutely nothing to do I really want that “nothing” to be on my terms with electricity.

Reenergized and Refocused

Christmas and New Years are officially over; everything is put away. Our son (and grand dogs) left to go back to Montana yesterday and his wife has gone back to her parents home while she finishes her next rotation and internship before heading back in February. The house is big and quiet, we are officially empty nesters again; something we should be good at after nine years but somehow having Jeff, Jennifer, Miley and Roy home for 3 ½ weeks filled a void that I wasn’t aware of. When Jeff and the dogs left yesterday morning that familiar tug at my heart took over as it did when they moved to Montana and we said good bye, saying good bye after a surprise visit to celebrate Jeff ‘s 28th birthday, saying good bye after their visit home last May. The good news is Jennifer graduates in August and it sounds like they want to come back home to live (Jeff surfed just about every day he was home); but who knows they may stay in Montana or move somewhere else! So time for me to get refocused and reorganized!

My sister and I are excited to expand our business, …Simply Stated, this year. We have some great leads to design and illustrate custom cards for some awesome businesses. If this is something you are interested in please contact us. What better way to start the New Year than to send cards to those you are near and dear to and/or to brand your business! Personal contact always puts a smile on the face of the receiver as it makes them feel warm and fuzzy knowing that you took time just for them which in turn will make you smile, and feel warm and fuzzy, and it just may well boost your business! We also have lines of cards that are priced so affordable that you can keep them on hand and send them/give them out in a moment's notice!

...I am doing the happy dance today as 2009 is in the books, QuickBooks that is! I took yesterday off and spent the day engrossed in it and I am the victor!! I am registered in a Financial Management class, yes I am officially a student again, starting on Wednesday the 20th, wish me luck as I haven't been in the classroom for some time now. I am looking forward to this adventure since the last accounting class I took was about 35 years ago.

Good Bye 2009; Welcome 2010

Another year gone by, as I reflect on 2009 I am relieved as it was not the kindest year! With a new year comes hope for a prosperous new year, out with the old; in with the new; a rebirth of sorts, etc. As December approaches each year I am so excited to decorate for Christmas and love getting into the Christmas spirit. I so look forward to watching (one of these years I will watch them all!) my vast collection of Christmas movies, baking, our annual Christmas Cocktail Party, spending time with our family and friends and the “magical” emotion that stirs me every time I hear a bell “jingle.” As I was undecorating this past weekend (telling myself, as I do every year, next Christmas I am going scale it down) I felt an emptiness that comes every year as I pack it all up. I reminisce and relish in the memories of past Christmas’ when our sons were young to now celebrating with grandchildren; the thought of Christmas' to come always warms my heart. As I packed the crates and Doug made many trips up the attic ladder our house began to look like our home again. We have accumulated a lot of stuff over the years and I do admit it; I am a shopaholic and love Christmas!! I have crates that I don’t even dare open to see what is inside anymore! Oh the temptation; I am ready for our sons and daughter-in-laws to come “shopping” for some of the boys’ Christmas treasures to add to their collections.

As I look forward to 2010 I have a bounce in my step and a zest for making this one of the best years yet! Here are a few photos of the Owen home decorated for Christmas this past year, I guess I am having a hard time letting go of this one, it is full of wonderful memories; I didn’t want it to end! I took a break from Facebook over the holidays and enjoyed spending quality time with my family and friends, I hope to get back to writing and sharing on my blog every week as I have discovered I love it!! This is my New Year's resolution!

Happy New Year and may 2010 be an awesome year for us all!

The Christmas Letter

Thought I would take pictures this past weekend to post…well, somehow the weekend was gone in a blink of an eye; again! Not quite finished Christmas shopping, but I managed to get in 2 Christmas movies; Holiday Inn and Four Christmases; it just doesn’t seem like Christmas if I don’t get my fill of Christmas movies, I now have upwards of 35 movies in my collection to date!! I would love to have the time to watch them all in the month of December; Doug is a great sport, except on Sundays (football)! I wrapped a few gifts, have misplaced one that I purchased for my granddaughter this past fall; Doug was even scratching his head wondering what happened to it. Too much time wasted trying to find it; I was sure it was in my “store;” my stash of gifts! We are actually wondering if we didn’t already give it to her! I, hopefully, will finish decorating the tree tonight and then on to baking cookies. I think I just may get everything done before Christmas with a day or two to spare!!

I will take some pictures of my favorite Christmas decorated rooms, I love, love, love to decorate and I just can’t stop myself once the decorations come down from the attic. Each year I tell myself I won’t go all out and sure enough I do!

Last week I got our Christmas cards and “Christmas letter” out in the mail. I have heard the “Christmas letter” referred to as the “Christmas brag letter” on many occasions, especially on radio shows! I love to get these letters from friends and family and hear what’s been going on in their families. However, we do receive one of these letters that makes you want to gag when you are done reading it, I didn’t know that one family could be so blessed with such perfect children, such wonderful careers, traveling throughout the world, saving starving children, just to name of few of their 2-3 page letter of accomplishments for the current year. I like to keep mine to 1 page and just a brief update to those we don’t keep in contact with on a regular basis. Since I broached this subject I feel it is only fair to include a copy of my letter this year! What are your thoughts on the “Christmas letter?”

December 2009

Merry Christmas!

Another year gone by, hopefully you have all survived it; let’s hope that 2010 truly is the year of recovery as we keep hearing it will be! What we once thought was our retirement plan has certainly changed, we see many more years of work ahead of us now! Doug’s company has been very slow and now that he is out of the shop and is the Assistant Service Manager/Service Writer we have certainly felt it. I have 5 furlough days with mid ear cuts coming in January/February, unsure what impact that will have! We keep saying at least we have jobs, although Doug has never worked so many hours for so little return. My sister and I started a business this past summer; …Simply Stated. We design and illustrate greeting cards! It is something we have talked about for many years and finally decided it was now or never! Our Christmas cards are a sample of our Personally YOUrs one-of-a-kind cards designed and illustrated just for us! Doug sold his Harley this past Spring and we acquired this 1997 Chicago Schwinn Twinn from friends whose daughter was going to take it to the dump and they thought I would like it for yard art! It was a faded orange (pink!) when we got it; I fell in love with it and we decided we could actually ride it since it was in such great shape! Doug got it all tuned up, new tires, new chain, etc. Being the loving wife that I am I ordered black leather embossed flame seats with red trim and handle bar grips with red streamers and suggested we paint it black! I figured Doug would get harassed less from the guys and would actually ride it with me! He’d much rather take the ’55 out for a spin but he does humor me once in a while with a bike ride.

Brad and Jody are doing well; it is amazing to watch their family grow! Layla turned 2 on November 2nd, Jake graduated from high school this past June, and he is attending Cuesta College. It is great having grandkids, Layla calls us Grammy and Poppy; she melts our hearts over and over again!

Jeff and Jennifer are still living in Billings, MT; Jennifer graduates in August 2010. They are unsure if they’ll move back right away; they are beginning to like it more and more and Jeff has a great job! They'll be home for Christmas this year!

We celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary this past August. Yikes, where did all those years go; we are still those teenagers who fell in love! Doug does have the most beautiful shiny gray hair though (George Clooney eat your heart out); I hope to be so lucky – I love my hair stylist!
We hope this letter finds you in great health, great spirits and great company this Christmas season. May you reflect upon the true meaning of Christmas and spread Christmas cheer to all and have a very Happy New Year!

Sue and Doug

Gammy and Poppy

Who would have imagined that we could be grandparents? It seems like yesterday we were celebrating our boys' birthdays! Today is our granddaughter Layla’s second birthday…wow, where has the time gone. We went to Chuck E. Cheese last night; it’s been many years since we have had an occasion to dine with the Mouse. Layla donned her tiara and jewel necklaces; she makes a stunning princess; Snow White is her current favorite! She in fact was Snow White for Halloween the day before! I have discovered that one of my favorite things to hear lately is; Gammy, which is usually followed by, “where’s Poppy?” We would have been content with being just good ole’ Grandma and Grandpa, we love that Layla has named us Gammy and Poppy!

Since it is Layla’s day I’ll introduce you to our card line Ruthie and Friends. Ruthie was created in memory of our Mom and her Friends’ personalities are captured through us; her kids, grandkids and great grandkids! Layla’s tagline is: Layla lives near the beach and loves playing in her "backyard sandbox!" She literally lives in walking distance to the beach! These cards have been so much fun to design and illustrate. In addition to Ruthie and Layla we have; Jeffrey who is full of energy, curious and always on the go, Maddie who is the queen of the playground, she hasn't met a set of bars she can't conquer, Jake who is the master of "techie" multi-tasking and a computer whiz, and Kami who is free spirited, artistic and beats to her own drum. Our family is just like everyone else’s, many different personalities and pastimes! Ruthie and Friends cards make perfect thank you and note cards for your very own kids, grandkids and great grandkids; just match up the personalities and they become their very own! We will be introducing more Friends periodically as we have many more of us to immortalize in a card line!

Please visit ...Simply Stated at www.justsimplystated.com to see all of our card lines. Order your cards soon, they make great stocking stuffers!

Jalama Beach

This past Saturday Doug and I took a drive to Jalama Beach (about an hour south) to have lunch with our friends who are there for a week camping. After many years of camping with our boys, started in a tent; ended in a camper, I am officially retired. As Doug states; my idea of camping is a hotel without room service! We took our ’55 Chevy since it was such a beautiful day. I was hoping we would stumble upon a flea/swap meet, yard sale and/or a roadside sale in our travels. I make Doug a little apprehensive of what I may find after our Harley trip to Beatty, NV! About 8 years ago I found a red metal headboard and footboard at a roadside sale that I could not live without! He told me if I could find a way to get them home, go for it! Well, of course I did, we met a couple who had “trailered” their bike and lived about 20 miles from us. The red metal headboard and footboard look awesome in my 1940’s inspired “cherry” guest bedroom!!

After we devoured, and thoroughly enjoyed, our Jalama burgers we chatted and visited with our friends, who by the way scored the best campsite in the park! Gazing at and listening to the ocean “speak” to me is an emotion I can’t quite describe; it is so vast and loud yet it has such a calming and peaceful effect on me. It certainly rejuvenates me and reminds me who is in charge and to take note!! Although I didn’t find any “junking” treasures, I saw a small rustic old barn with a tin roof I would love to have (Doug was so glad it was not even remotely “for sale”), I did come across one priceless treasure, an afternoon with my husband. We rolled the windows down, chatted and relished in the sights, sound and scent that so remind us why we love living on the Central Coast and how much fun we still have, after all these years, being married to our “best friend.”

On our way home I envisioned a new card line, beachscapes!! The wheels keep turning…

Harvest and 'Tis the Season Cards

Last night as I was packaging some card orders I confirmed to myself that "when you do what you love you love what you do!" It brings me so much happiness to know that people will be sending and receiving our cards. We have had several people tell us that our cards are simple yet so "happy." I don't know if there could be a better compliment, since this what our initial intent has always been. To think that a "simple" card could put a smile on someones face, cheer them up, give them hope and/or make them feel special is so rewarding. I love to give cards as much as I love to receive them, there's no better feeling than going to the mailbox and finding a card addressed to me! We live in such a fast paced society now that we often forget the "simple" things that mean so much to us. We are becoming so accustomed to email greetings and once you read it tends to go by the wayside, usually it gets deleted! We have become so connected yet we are so personally disconnected. A card allows you to tangibly reminisce and draw on your memories. It is such an inspiration to know that when you receive a card from someone they have made time for you because you are so special to them!

When we design and illustrate our cards we capture the "simple" things that we are too busy to notice anymore, many are created from our own childhood memories. Our Gardens cards are illustrated from our own backyards! The possibilities are endless as we are constantly coming up with ideas for our next card lines and adding to our current ones!

Keep the card giving tradition alive; brighten someones day by sending/giving them a ...Simply Stated greeting card! Order your Harvest and 'Tis the Season cards today; you may order online at http://www.justsimplystated.com/

Here we are at the October Festival in Nipomo! We had a blast; it was such fun to see so many families out and about enjoying our little piece of paradise on the Central Coast!! Thank you so so much to all of our our friends and our family who stopped by and were very encouraging; they love our cards!! Our cards were so well received; we were elated and so proud to finally get to share them. Please visit our website; online ordering is up and running! It's the perfect time to stock up on Harvest and 'Tis the Season cards, as well as every other occasion! Visit our website at http://www.justsimplystated.com/ to see our complete card lines.

We will be adding new card lines after the holidays, check back regularly to see all of our new lines as they are introduced!

Place your custom Personally YOUrs Christmas cards by the end of this month to receive them in plenty of time to get them out in time for Christmas!!