BLESSINGS AND COMBAT BOOTS

Blessings and Combat Boots

These are my new combat boots covered in beautiful pink roses.  I figured if I must battle my own private war with fibromyalgia, pernicious anemia, hypothyroidism, vitamin D deficiency and a multitude of endocrine problems I at least deserve my very own combat boots.  

It is true that when you are sick you are fighting a battle.  It can sometimes be a very lonely and isolating battle with few to champion you along the way.  I don't always talk about how I feel to others and for the most part people in my life are unaware that I am sick.  That everyday I fight my own battle to get up and move about and do the things that I need to do, that I must do.  I have chosen to keep my problems to myself.  I am very cognisant that we all have our battles to fight.  I am no different besides I tire of telling the story.  It is hard to explain and usually the response I get is "but you look great".  Being sick is part of me, it is my battle and I chose to fight it in my own way.  

Recently a very sweet person emailed me to say she had been praying for me.  She knew not why she felt she needed to pray for me but she just did it anyway.  During this time I was very sick and I was also upset that I was feeling this bad yet again. I would wake up so extremely sick and everything would hurt.  When I say everything hurt, I mean any stimuli such as light, sound and touch.  Every fiber of my being hurt from my head to deep inside my bones.  My muscles and joints screamed at me when I moved.  My head hurt and I experienced severe brain fog and the list goes on.   I would know the minute I woke up how bad it is going to be on any given day.  However, recently something has changed all that, at least for now. So , I wanted to send out a very special thank you to my friend for her prayers and for all my lovely friends that keep me in their prayers.

I have been sick for 16 years and there are always ups and downs to how this thing works for me.  I take the good days and the bad days and I do the best I can do with them.   I have all sorts of endocrine problems and to top it off I have a cholesterol problem.  The cholesterol problem has kind of always taken a  back seat to the many and varied other things on my list of problems.  High cholesterol runs in my family on both sides.  I can not take statins, they completely strip me of any quality of life.  I took them for a time and suffered from myopathy so badly that I could no longer function.  So now I am using Niacin which is a B vitamin and although it is working a little, it is not enough to combat the cholesterol problem.  A very dear and good friend of mine said you know I take fish oil (Omega 3) and I told her that I hated the taste of it.  You know those fishy burps, yuck....  Anyway, I found an Omega 3 that surprisingly does not leave me with that fishy taste in my mouth, so I started taking them everyday.  Now I have been told many times by my Doctor to take Omega 3 but every time I start I end up putting them down, so I knew it would be okay to take them.  

I am going into my 3rd week taking the Omega 3 and I feel different and I mean different in a good way.  I don't yet know if it is actually helping with the cholesterol (that test will be done later) but it seems the Omega 3 has done some other things for me.  I first noticed that I was waking up and I did not feel sick.  That is usually my first indication that I am going to be very sick that day.  I noticed I was jumping out of bed and getting dressed and I felt pretty good.  Not 100% but so much better than before.  I notice little things like my hair and nails were growing beautifully.  My skin feels softer and I have better coloring in my face. I was able to do things I have not done in a long time.  I have been working in my yard doing things like mowing the grass, repairing our fence and staining it and cleaning out all sorts of closets and drawers.  

So last night I did a web search to see exactly what Omega 3's do for you.  I was shocked when I found that Omega 3 helps with autoimmune diseases, fibromyalgia, brain fog (I so hate brain fog), cognitive processes, smooth joint and muscle functioning, and the list goes on.  This research validated what I had already been experiencing.  I keep thinking how come no one ever told me the benefits of taking Omega 3?  I have seen so many Doctors during the last 16 years and not one of them has ever told met that Omega 3 could help with my illnesses.  Having said that, it matters not because now I know.  What a difference this Omega 3 has made in my life.  I will continue to note how everything goes over time but for now it seems to be helping.  In a word I have been blessed and I am thankful for the prayers, friends and the Omega 3.   

May you always be the victor in all your day to day battles. 

God Bless

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

MY VALENTINE

My Valentine

Pink Heart Shaped Tea Cups!!!

As anyone who knows me knows, my husband is my very own and true Valentine.  I think at times we make others a little sick to their stomachs actually.  We always get remarks like, "how long have you two been married, you act as though you got married yesterday",  "can you keep your hands off one another", and "we can’t even take a picture because he is always kissing you".  I always smile to myself when I hear things like this because for Eric and me it is just the way we are together.  We have had some beautiful Valentine's Days together over the years.  The best one was when we were living in Puerto Rico.  He took me to the Wyndham Casino and Hotel in Isla Verde.  We ate at a rooftop restaurant and we even visited the casino.

  Casinos are not our thing but the atmosphere was so captivating.  Ladies in beautiful dresses and gentlemen in splendid suits and beautiful and lavish surroundings.  The night was fabulous and he gave me a gold bracelet and he also bought me a star that year.  I know it is just really a novelty but all the same I felt he loved me so much that he could buy me a star.  He gave me a star, yes he did that!!!

This year we had to spend Valentine's Day apart but that is okay for we know that this is our life.  We will be together again and we will be just as happy as we always have been.  This year he got me a beautiful pink inside heart teacup and saucer set for my tea.  My daughter Tiffany and I have become quite the afternoon tea drinkers.  We love Twining's tea and especially love Prince of Wales tea by Twining's.  So she and I have been enjoying our tea.  

 Now this came about because of Pinterest.  Yeah, I love Pinterest and I want to make everything I see and have all the beautiful things I see on Pinterest. That does not happen much but with the tea cups and saucers, I had to have them.  I had mentioned it to him; OKAY I sent him the picture and said "Can I have these PapapaPlease!  Of course he replied and said "is this a tea set"?  Well the thing is I have tons of tea sets but I did not have this one.  

He once bought something and I said sweetie you haven't even used it.  He looked at me with all the love in his heart and said "how long have we been married" to which I replied "for a long time", then he said. "How many tea pots do we own" and I said "too many to count".  Then he really went for the jugular and said' "and how many times have I had tea" and I tried to protest by saying but I do enjoy my tea pots.  I look at them every day and you know tried to pass them off as decor items.  A girl never likes to loose. In the end I conceded and I let my prince win.  You notice I say I let him win, although he did have a point. 

But I digress, as I do sometimes.  So I got my beautiful tea cups and saucers and we love them very much.  They are prefect for Valentine's Day and really for me every day.  You know being a Girly Girl and all.   He did well as he always does.  Oh and I forgot to tell you the best part.  After he asked if it was a tea set, he then emailed me to say: “anything you want my sweet princess"!  Yay me, I am married to such a wonderful guy that loves me to pieces and truly he is my Valentine!

Here are my cups filled with delicious tea.  One for me and one for my beautiful and loving Tiffany.  

You did notice they are pink, right?

Hope everyone had a beautiful and happy Valentine's Day!

Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

AND MAY YOUR BLESSINGS BE MANY AND YOUR TROUBLES BE FEW

And May Your Blessings Be Many 

and Your Troubles Be Few 

Valentine's Day Shadow Box

Before I get started on my post.  I want to take a moment to thank each and everyone one of my followers. I am up to 79 beautiful followers now and I am delight. Thank you!

So my world is out of balance and falling apart. 

I have never liked when I hear someone complain all the time and I make an effort not to complain.  I try to stand up to whatever I am facing and do the best I can do.  That doesn't mean that there are not times when I sit down and have a good cry.  Not really because I am feeling sorry for myself but because for me it is a catharsis.  I do not like always having to be the strong one in any situation.  There are times when I want to hand it to someone else and let them handle it.  I have never tried to cover up the fact that it is always nice to let someone who loves you take care of something for you.  Matter of fact it is absolutely wonderful.  

This is not one of those times in my life.  My Eric is away and as always when he is away I am faced with more problems then I need.  This week alone the HVAC (heating and AC) system went out in the house, hot water heater went out, AC drain pipes got stopped up, June Bug was hit by a ball at school and broke her front tooth, fence outside had to be repaired (was getting nasty grams from the HOA threatening to fine us), weeds had to be killed in front yard (again HOA letters),  and well everything else in between all of this stuff.  I have had one of the most trying weeks I have had since Eric left.  I am tired, worn out, exhausted, and on top of that I have been sick all week.  I have made several attempts to get in to see my Doctor and every time I have not been able to see him.  You know accident at school with June's tooth, trying to get to dentist for her, no hot water, etc etc. etc.  

So tonight I was trying to see the good in all this and I thought well at least we have a home for things to go wrong and need fixing.  It isn't that I don't appreciate the good things in my life.  I always appreciate our blessings and all that we have as a family. Yet, somehow right now all I want is to be in a happier place.  I want to see my Eric and have him home at least for a few days and I want the house to stand still and stop breaking apart.  I just want a few days that are stress free and happy so that I can recuperate from all this craziness.  

So instead I am writing this post as a way to find some release from all that is going on in my world.  Life can be tough at times and it can also be amazing and wonderful.  Our blessings are many and I am trying so hard to focus on them all and appreciate them.  So it is my hope that tomorrow the sun will be a little brighter and life will look a little better.  For tonight I am tired and sad and overwhelmed and I just need a hug from my Eric.  

Perhaps my world will go back into balance once 

my Eric is home. 

And may your blessing be many and troubles be few.  

Before my world fell out of balance and then fell apart, I manage to decorate for Valentine's Day.  Above is a picture of my Valentine Box I made.  I used vintage cupcake picks and all sorts of things to make this shadow box.  And of course their names are Eric and Beverly.  

Just in case I don't get to post before Valentine's Day, you know world out of balance and falling part, Happy Valentine's Day. 

This is another shadow box I made. 
 This one does not have as much detail but it is still so sweet.  

And here is a sweet bracelet that is perfect for
 Valentine's Day

See you all very soon.....

Beverly 
Tea Cottage Pretties

iPhone AND CHRISTMAS - SHABBY CHIC STYLE

iPhone and Christmas 

Shabby Chic Style

Panoramic Photos!!!

My Shabby Chic Living Room, all dressed up for Christmas

Okay I am the one in the house that never has the latest and greatest in gadgets.  I tend to be more concerned with economy and the more simple things in life.  However, this time I decided to go for it when it came time to upgrade my cell phone (do they call them cell phones anymore?).  Well I got the iPhone 5 and it is fabulous!  I love all the cool stuff it can do to include the panoramic photos you can take with it.  Although, it will take me some time before I learn to take them properly.  So today I played around with it and I took a few photos of our living room.  I like how they turned out but I can see in them what I need to work on to make them better.  

I was so excited about this feature that I wanted to share the photos.  I really do like my iPhone very much.  If you are thinking of getting one and do not yet have one I totally recommend it...... 

Just loving my iPhone camera and enjoying taking photos of my Shabby Chic Christmas.....

I am off to take more photos,
Beverly

Tea Cottage Pretties

THE HOLIDAYS

The Holidays!

The Holidays are over and I must say I am really kind of glad.  I felt like I was carrying a very heavy load and there was so much to do and not enough time or energy.  I typically love the Holiday Season but this year it was hard.  I so missed my Eric and it is never the same without him.  My poor little mom has been having a hard time with her health and I worry all the time.  I am overworked and I miss a lot of sleep these days.  Even still I was able to find the good in the Holidays and we had moments when we smiled and laughed and had a good time. I tried to make it the best I could and I held a lot inside and kept up with everything for my girls and my mom.  

The girls and I got to attend a little Christmas Party for the spouses and children of our deployed soldiers.  Santa came to visit the children and every child got a gift from Santa.  Even my 16 year old got a nice gift from Santa.  They actually went out and bought a special gift for each child based on what each child loves.  My Tiffany got a Barnes and Nobles Gift Card because she so loves books.  My June Bug got an art set because she loves to do animation.  We had a great time and I wanted to share our pictures from that day.  

So here we are happy and spending our Holiday together.  These are my beautiful girls and these are the memories they will have to hold on to as they grow up.  

THOUGHTS OF CHRISTMAS

Thoughts of Christmas

Well here it is almost Christmas time.  I have spent much time over the past month preparing for Christmas Day.  This Christmas is especially hard for me for many reason.  The first being that my Eric is spending this Christmas away from home and the second reason is that my little Mom is incredibly sick.  Yesterday was a very hard and long day for my Mom and me.  Mom had to go into the hospital for a heart catheter.  We started out our morning with high hopes that she would be better once they had done the heart cath and hopefully fixed whatever was broken but alas, that was not to be.  My mom has heart problems but they are far beyond being fixed.  I am immensely heart broken and incredibly sad.  I know both she and I need time to process what has happened but for now all I know is that it hurts.  We will however, move forward and make the best of this Christmas. 

With all the things that happened yesterday there were some bright spots.  The people that helped us get through the day were wonderful.  Mom handled everything pretty well and this alone is a blessing as she hates Doctors and Hospital.  This this is why she has gone without proper care for so long.  It is very difficult for her to go to a Doctor for anything.  Yet, there was goodness and kindness in the people that were with us today.  We may never see them again but I will remember them.  

When I brought Mom home after 13 hours of waiting and crying, I drove up to see a beautiful floral arrangement sitting on the porch.  I thought it might be for my Mom and I looked at the card and it was for me.  My beautiful friend Valerie had sent me the most precious Christmas flowers.  They are inside a tea cup sitting on a saucer that says "Twas The Night Before Christmas".  There is also a sweet little mouse curled up sleeping and he seems to be dreaming. I imagined that he is dreaming of happy days and having beautiful thoughts of Christmas.   

My tired and tear stained face suddenly smiled and I felt that as bad as everything was here in this moment, someone had thought of me and somehow I didn't feel so alone.  Many hours later with a few moments of sleep and after letting the day wear off a little, I realized that no matter how bad things can be, there are always things that are good around us.  I am loved and I love and somehow through love we get through these things and eventually all bad things pass.  

So like my little mouse, I am dreaming of happier days and hanging on to beautiful thoughts of  Christmas. 

 I wish everyone much love and happiness....

Beverly -  Tea Cottage Pretties.

TWININGS TEA FOR CHRISTMAS

Twinings Tea For Christmas

My Eric is away this year so we will not get to be together for Christmas.  He is off doing what he does and serving our country.  Yes, I am a military wife and I often find myself alone without him, taking care of things here on the home front.  It can be a hard life at times and I won't even begin to tell you all how much I miss him.  I can however tell you that he and I are tremendously in love with each other.  He is a very kind and generous person and he spoils me rotten.  Although, usually he does not go out and buy me gifts, he always tells me that I can have whatever I want.  During the Holidays we usually do not buy each other gifts and opt instead to buy gifts for others and to make sure our sweet girls have a great Christmas.  However, this year I needed something warm and relaxing so I decided I wanted a beautiful box of tea.  I love Twinings Tea and I told him that is what I wanted and so that is what I got.  It came in a beautiful well crafted wooden box and I just love it.  Although I can picture the box filled with lovely lace, vintage buttons and other beautiful things.  I could even see it as a jewelry box but I do intend to keep my teas in my box.  I was so happy with my tea that I wanted to share it.  

Evenings are my favorite part of the day.  I love talking to my girls and spending time with them. Then once they are off to bed I love to sit with my Eric and just relax.  My tea is part of my evening routine. It really does seem to relax me and make me feel all warm and cozy. 

So Merry Christmas to me and a very Merry Christmas to everyone. 

May your evenings all be warm and cozy....

My Eric

PINK FAUX FUR PURSE

Pink Faux Fur Purse

Well I have finally finished my Christmas decorating.  I was kind of slow this year because I have a lot of things going on in my life and with my hubby gone, well let's just say it took me some time but I am glad to report that I finally finished!!!  So this past week I decided to make a little something for myself. I found some really pretty pink faux fur on Etsy and I had to make a purse out of it, of course.  I love how it turned out and I wanted to share it  here on my blog.  While I was a taking a picture of the purse I took some pictures of a few things on my dresser and I thought I would share those as well.  

Here is my purse made from pink faux fur.  I decorated it with a large rhinestone crown brooch, a large diamond ring, some girly jewelry and a black ribbon.  The lining inside is black so I went with a pink and black color scheme. 

Here is my purse with my Eric Bear (he keeps me company when my Eric is away) and my fabulous blue vintage pillow. 

My vintage pink pearls with vintage Limoges brooch and Paris ribbon. 

Some of my vintage Limoges/Porcelain brooches and a lovely plate. 

Also I celebrated my Birthday this past week.  I got a few gifts that I just love.  My Mom bought me a faux fur scarf and my friend Mary bought me a fabulous Victoria Secrets gift set. My son made dinner for me and my daughter made me a fabulous desert.  We had pound cake topped with vanilla ice cream and strawberries and then covered in white chocolate ganache.  Everything was homemade and so good. I had a great birthday and I am very blessed. 

As always thank you ever so kindly for stopping by and come back real soon.  

VINTAGE COASTERS A TREASURE FOUND

Vintage Coasters

A Treasure Found

Thrifting (is that a even a word, it is in my world) is like a treasure hunt and  every once in awhile you find something that you just completely fall in love with. You know that special unexpected treasure.  After all isn't that why we go thrifting?  The great thing is those found treasure usually only cost a few dollars.  When you find a treasure you grab it, you get all excited and you can't believe it is going to be yours.  That's right ALL yours and you want to run to the checkout and buy it so that you can seal the deal.  Well that is what happened when I found these beautiful coasters.  They where in this pretty gold embossed box with a metal latch.  Once I opened the box I was taken aback by the beautiful coasters inside. Each one has a lovely picture of a beautifully dressed lady.  The colors are so vivid and beautiful and they are in fabulous condition.  

Here they all are out of the box.

This is the box that holds them and protects them. 

Box Open

 Another photo of these lovelies.....

Aren't these ladies just beautiful?

Here's hoping all your treasure hunts end 

with something beautiful!!

Until next time have a lovely and treasure filled day!!!

HOLIDAY CLOTHES

Holiday Clothes

My husband and I do not really buy each other anything for Christmas.  We have always just made sure our children have a wonderful Christmas and given gifts to others.  Although being a girly girl I love the Holiday fashion this time of the year, so I usually mange to get out and find a few pieces that I love and add them to my closet.  This year I especially love all the retro styled dress and accessories.  Now mind you I am no fashion photographer but I still wanted to share some of the things that I found and could not live without this Holiday Season. I found some lovely retro styled dress one green with a lace print on it and another red lace dress that is to die for.  Also a very pretty blouse with a black bow accent.  We all have black pants so this was a must have to go with my comfy black dress pants. 

 

Now along with the pretty clothes I love all things sparkly and the accessories this year are fabulous.  I found a really cute hat which has a 1940's flair to it.  I found both a silver and a gold stretch belt with that extra sparkle and of course some lovely bracelets for that extra sparkle. 

  

I love dresses and dressing up just because, it is the one thing I do for myself. I never save my pretty clothes for special occasions but instead I wear them just because I want to wear them.  So dress up and enjoy yourself this Holiday Season and sparkle sparkle......



Dresses, Hat, Gold Bracelet with Bow and Silver Belt are all from Dress Barn. Some pieces are from Charlotte Russe.  I wanted to let you know just in case you like them. I am not being paid to mention them on my blog. 

VINTAGE APRON AND DECORATING FOR CHRISTMAS

Vintage Apron
and 
Decorating for Christmas

Today while I was working on decorating my living room for Christmas, I happened upon a pretty vintage apron of mine.  I love this little beauty although I am have my doubts that is would really serve any purpose in the kitchen aside from looking really pretty.  I love the little pocket with the lace trim.  It was by no means an expensive apron but to me it is so beautiful, I think I pick it up for about $2.00.  I folded it and took a few pictures to share and when I was done I left it laying on the chair because it just looked so pretty there. 

I am making progress with my decorating and I am almost finished inside. Here are a couple photos of my living room. 

A nice black and white

And finally one with the lights out except for the tree and decorations.  

and one collage of some of my favorite ornaments.

This coming up week I hope to get the outside decorating done.  I will post more photos soon so be sure to come back and visit.  I am also going to share some beautiful vintage coasters that I have with lovely ladies on them. 

      See you soon and Happy Decorating Everyone!!!!!

Beverly
Tea Cottage Pretties

A CHRISTMAS GIFT FOR MY SISTER

A Christmas Gift for My Sister


My Harold Gale Pink Santa

This year I am making gifts for some of my loved ones.  I wanted to make a purse for my sister and I loved my collage purse so much that I thought I would make one for her.  My sister loves religious jewelry and girly things so I decided to make her a purse and include the Lord's Prayer and some special things just for her.  I ordered a great heart from Michelle at Designs by Shell that served as my inspiration.  I used a card for the Lord's Prayer and I added my sister's name to personalize her purse. I added a cross with a little bit of sparkle but not to much. I added all sorts of lace and ribbons and of course her very special two sided heart with Proverbs 3:6 on it.  I think it turned out really nice and I hope she will love her new purse made by her very own sister - Beverly. 

Leave me a message and let me know what handmade items you are making this year for Christmas gifts.  I will be here sharing my Holidays with you all, so be sure to drop by anytime. 

Until next time...

Happy Holiday Crafting!!!

Oh and my pink Harold Gale Santa is just showing off.