It's a scary business!

For real.
I was in NYC on Friday minding my own business- literally.
You see, I was there for my business.
I was hitting all the showrooms buying up tons of great stuff for all the events I am selling at next week and had forgotten that the folks at my favorite wholesaler like Halloween.
A lot.
This is Ken greeting me at the door. He was scary but the girl dressed as Snookie was scarier!
Not scary?
Found at my  favorite showroom in Connecticut:

Happy Halloween!

French influenced

Yes, because I love french cafes...

 I am making sure that I have some bistro stools-

 and cafe chairs in my new kitchen.

Aren't these delicious?

While we're on the subject of...

my foul mouth, actually I don't really have a foul mouth.
I just swear a lot, but only when I am driving and playing paddle.
This wouldn't be a problem if I were always alone, however I am usually ferrying kids about AND you can't play paddle alone- so that means there are always TONS of witnesses to my cursing and swearing.

Sure, I try.
I start off with 'Oh SUGAR!" or "Darn it!" and sometimes "FUDGE!!!"
But if things don't get better-such as the person cutting me off in the A&P parking lot or the fact that my lob just left the court for the fifth time.... well.... my control erodes and my cute little phrases quickly escalate to blown up, full throttle profanities.

On the paddle court I usually apologize ahead of time. The other players always say, "Oh don't worry, you should hear me!"
But I never do.
No one else curses on the court. Hmmm. I take that back. Lately I notice my partner uttering expletives under her breath. I think I am to blame.

As for the car... there is no cure. I am incapable of reacting to bad drivers without some type of bad word.  I am able to control it when my parents or in-laws are in the car.
I wonder why?
Maybe a primal, early childhood fear of soap in my mouth?

Mere coincidence?

I think not.
Not that I pay TOO close attention to how many readers I have-
 BUT....
My last post must have been considered a bit risque or offensive because out of the blue I lost three followers!
Is Screw You bad?
C'mon it could be soooo much worse.
TRUST ME, I am capable of so much more :)

Stylish, poignant, subtle?

All of the above.
Ok, maybe not so subtle.
http://www.stubbsandwootton.com/

Great for so many things...

in so many places.

Le Saboteur- He's back!

 You never know when he will turn up.
Normally, and I use that word sparingly regarding my boy, he is sabotaging family pics.
This time I find these photos in my Mac photo file- for no apparent reason.
To me.
I'm sure HE has a reason these photos are there...
Not sure I want to know.

My idea of getting lit on a Saturday night?

Looking (still looking) for lighting! I think I should pour myself a glass of wine-it might help the process.

Into the garden...

Right?

A lovely pairing...

Passive-aggressive

Here's the definition of a passive-aggressive person:

Passive–aggressive behavior, a personality trait, is passive, sometimes obstructionist resistance to following through with expectations in interpersonal or occupational situations. It is a personality trait marked by a pervasive pattern of negative attitudes and passive, usually disavowed resistance in interpersonal or occupational situations.

It can manifest itself as learned helplessness, procrastination, stubbornness, resentment, sullenness, or deliberate/repeated failure to accomplish requested tasks for which one is (often explicitly) responsible.

So, do you know anyone like that?

I know a few folks like that and I always end up having problems with them.

You know the type. 

The one that says, "No, no, that's OK, I'll sit in the back." and then proceeds to complain of car sickness, leg cramps, etc.

Or the one that pretends NOT to read her email which has important info and directions (even though you know she is constantly on her Blackberry) about a meeting that she obviously doesn't want to make time for.

And here is what I feel like screaming at them,

JUST SAY YOU DON"T LIKE SITTING IN THE BACK OF THE CAR!

or

JUST SAY YOU CAN"T MAKE THE MEETING!

Yeah, I want them to know that most of us see through the subterfuge/BS and that it is far more annoying to try to guess what is bothering them or what they are trying to avoid than hearing straight from them what their issue is. 

Tell it like it is.

Be up front.

Thanks for letting me vent.

And, please give me some examples of the passive/aggressive people in your life, it might make me feel better!

Tomorrow?

 Let's talk about adult mean girls. 

Because, leopards don't change their spots!

MY ORDEAL!!!

Have you recieved an email with those words in the header and then, a message like this?


"My family and I came down here to London, United Kingdom for a short vacation. Unfortunately, we were mugged at the hotel park where we stayed, all cash and credit cards were stolen off us but luckily for us we still have our passports with us.

We have been to the Embassy and the Police here but they are not responding to the issue effectively and our flight leaves in few hours from now, but we are having problems settling the hotel bills and the hotel manager won't let us check out until we sort out the bills. Well I need you to loan us $2,350 USD? and please bear in mind that I'll facilitate your reimbursement as soon as we get home. I PROMISE!

Let me know if you can loan me some $$? so I can let you know how to get it to me. Here are the numbers to the hotel manager +447024097585 or +447024033656 and his name is John Williams."

 I received a few of these throughout the Summer and guessed that friend's email had been hacked. I figured that most folks would come to the same conclusion...
Turns out I was wrong.
One friend who supposedly was stuck in London, I knew her family was traveling in New England (USA), told me that her husband's cousin's wife had received the email, called the number, wired a few thousand dollars, and THEN called her to make sure she got it! If only she had called her BEFORE she sent it!

So at first I was thinking that people have to be pretty dumb to fall for this, now I think they are just nice, sensitive, generous people.
Why?
Because my husband just came running down stairs saying,
"OMG, did you get email from the Florances? I can't believe it!"
And I said, "Don't."
I know he is no dummy and that he is kind and sensitive. I don't think he would have sent money without calling. But it made me realize how truly affective these scams are.
And that I am a mean cynic!

Everlast- best rocker voice Door #2

Yes, we have no pumpkins!

There isn't a shortage.
However, we are under construction and I haven't decorated for... autumn... for Halloween... for anything.
And I am strangely relieved, liberated, even- happy!
Yes, I feel free and I do not feel guilty.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE decorating for Halloween! I usually have  cornstalks and pumpkins flanking my door by September.
See below:

But I knew that we were tearing up the porch any day to replace the dated columns and rotting ceiling. We are also FINALLY pulling out all the 1960's landscaping.  I am too practical to buy mums, pumpkins, and other decorations when I know they can only be there for a short time.

So here I am,
guilt free.
I am enjoying all of my neighbor's autumn displays and am inspired and have tons of ideas.
But, it is kinda nice to relax and enjoy the season and not have to worry about putting up a bunch of decorations and then taking them all down.
I'm not the Autumn Grinch, I will have an AWESOME halloween house next year-
just not this year and that's OK.

In case you were wondering...

No, I haven't disappeared from the face of the earth!
I have been busy or stuff is happening as in:

1. working
2. CCD started tonight
3. visiting all my showrooms to find cool, new stuff for my sales.
4. looking forward to college senior daughter's visit home next weekend.
5. picking out paint colors and faucets for new kitchen :)
6. organizing life before it really gets hectic.
7. paddle starts!
8. thinking about Christmas... thinking!
9. wondering about hydrangeas and where I should plant them.
10. And wishing I had more time to read all your blogs and more time to write on mine!

So, know that I am here lurking and will post whenever I can :)

1. 
   

Allendale NJ, Festival Day 2010!

 Last year?
Rainy, overcast- still fun.

It's like living in Mayberry folks!
So, this year I'll be there, just like every other year, with my pink tent and lots of cool merchandise.
You know you want some!

What happens when... LAX for the Cure 2010

 A bunch of lady laxers play in a lacrosse tournament to fund a cure,

 For breast cancer?
And what if,
almost every single one of them knows someone or is related to someone that has or has had breast cancer?

 What happens?
A whole lot of money is raised!
$237,000!!!!

The girls wore their pink and their hearts on their sleeve!
Lax for the Cure 2010

shed some light on...

More lighting choices, oh my!

 Yum. So textural, a true statement piece.

 SEXY!

But considering this is a quarter of the price of almost all the sconces I am looking at
AND
I can buy cute shades like these: