New York Part 2

I left off with my battery going dead. Why is it? That always happens when something good is about to happen. Darren Criss appeared. He was almost trampled by 100's of people but nevertheless he came out took pictures and SHE got his autograph! She started to float!
I managed to get some great pictures with her camera. I will have to update those when she sends them to me.

When it was over we left for the famous restaurant Sardi's. The one with all the charactertures of the stars.

Then we headed  to see the show. How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying a charming comedy. The Al Hircshfield theater was beautiful. I love the architecture and the painting. Even though no pictures are allowed I did take some oops!

Isn't this gorgeous? Then the backdrop.......hmmm maybe this could be an inspiration for some furniture lol!

After the show there were a couple of GLEE cast members in the audience. Jane Lynch and Max Adler. She got her picture with Max. One the way back to the hotel Follies was letting out and she got to meet, get an autograph and a picture of a Broadway great, Bernadette Peters.

I have to say it was one magical night for her. You see that's what New York is all about. The city that never sleeps. It was hard for us to sleep that night. It wasn't because of all the lights outside our window.

It was the light coming from her! She was so happy! She shined brighter than Times Square! Best gift ever........memories!

The New Year's Eve Ball

So here's to dreams coming true in 2012!

New York City Part 1

One of my favorite places to visit is the Big Apple! New York City is full of energy and excitement! So this Christmas when my daughter said that is where she would like to go I didn't have to think too hard about it. Don't get me wrong, it is a big thing to ask for as a gift. It is kinda my fault. You see I asked her to compile a list of things she would like for Christmas. My daughter isn't the type to ask for anything. She hated to do it and as a fluke put a trip to New York City to see Darren Criss in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying was first on the list. Mainly because she knew she wouldn't get it.

Over the years, when my daughter was asked what she would like, she would say one thing. It usually was her favorite book at the time, One year on her birthday she asked for a Magnolia Tree. She never has been one to be greedy or want much. That is what made this so much fun. The good deals I found on the internet cinched the gift and the next thing I had to do was determine how I would give it to her. I made a banner that was supposed to say Christmas but I removed the letters to reveal the name "Criss". Then I wrote her a card about the magic of Christmas, told her how much she was loved and how proud we were of her. She had tears in her eyes but still did not understand the gift. I began to tell her to turn the card around and after she read it she started to cry. She was elated.

 We stayed at the Marriot Marquis in Times Square. It was the best place to be to see a show. This was the view of the bar and restaurant from our room.

And this is the view of Times Square from our window!

We were only there a couple of days but we tried to get a lot in.  The main thing was seeing the show.

We ate a a little Pizzeria called John's. Some of the best pizza I ever had. We ate desserts from everywhere. When you are in NYC you don't pass up pizza or dessert!

We picked up our tickets at the will call window and decided to see where the stage door was. This is where you might get a chance to see the cast.

We found it! It already had a group gathering for autographs after the matinee show.

My daughter made friends with the girls and decided to hang out to see if she could get a glimpse of her heartthrob!

In the meantime she had a little fun! ....and I froze!

 

As day turned into night, I found myself taking pictures for my daughter of the infamous cast! Beau Bridges came out and she got his autograph and I took the pictures.

This is where my camera went dead! Yes in a mob of people I had no more battery!

Thank God she had hers and gave it to me so we could get the rest! We had to hurry because we had reservations at Sardi's. We still had the show to see also.

Standing in New York City on the coldest day of the season = frost bite frozen toes
Waiting to see if she could get a glimpse of her favorite star= hours wasted
Seeing her face when a dream came true=PRICELESS

Stay tuned for the rest of the story!

I am having problems posting

I didn't know if anyone else was having problems but my last couple of posts have not been seen. Not sure what to do about it because I can see it on my blog but it hasn't been in reader. So I am doing this as a test. Please let me know if you see it. Thanks!

French Painted Tea Cart

I have had this tea cart sitting around for a while. There are always those projects that get "filtered" back in my rooms. When I get a lot of furniture and I don't know what I am going to do with it yet, it becomes part of the decor.

This little piece was charming and I felt it needed a little something extra. So I pulled it out from being a makeshift side table and began painting.

 

I found a graphic from the one and only Graphic Fairy and added it to the drop leaf. I used a projector for this one.

I love the way it turned out. . I did add a little distressing to it.  Distressing helps hide the imperfections in the lettering.

I will be away for a few days as my daughter and I will being taking a trip to New York City to see a show! This is her favorite place to be since she is a theatre major. As you can see we have been there before.....we never get tired of the hustle and bustle!

We are very excited and I promise to take pictures so I can share with you all!

Hope your year has started off right for you! See you soon!!!

All of this in One year

I have been working on this post for two days and blogger keeps messing me up by deleting my content! I guess I can use this as the most frustrating thing in 2011 lol!

I cannot believe this year is coming to a close. It was a year that began with a lot of ideas of things that I wanted to do. Never did I realize that this blog was going to direct my vision.

I just wanted to share some of the amazing moments this year.

My favorite furniture project was my Audrey Hepburn Dresser I got to combine my love of art with my painting furniture!

Your favorite furniture project was my french piano bench!

 My favorite and most exciting thing was a redo with The Lettered Cottage for their HGTV Pilot shoot!

I met so many amazing bloggers this year and became very close to some that I have not even met!

Your all-time favorite project was my Utensil Drawer Organizer! It still cracks me up since it is made from paint sticks!

 My favorite craft project was my Ticket Sign! It led to me opening up an Etsy Shop!

This is a Golden Ticket but the most popular is the original one in my Etsy Shop!

You favorite craft project was my Dessert Tray Chandelier!

 

Last but not least one of the most exciting things was getting to showcase all my furniture and artwork in a store! La Vie En Rose Cottage in Nashville Tennessee!

I couldn't have done any of these things without all of you so thank you so much! For more exciting posts stay a while and take the journey with me by following me into the next year!~

Hugs, Deneen

Linking to

The day after Christmas

For most the day after Christmas is a shopping day. A day for sales of returns of unwanted Christmas gifts. Some are still visiting family and celebrating their time off.

For me it is bitter sweet....

A day that most have forgotten about but still is clear in my mind and heart. You see 20 years ago I lost a baby in a miscarriage. It was a horrible time for me. Every year at this time I feel I need to do something to remember it. Although I want to forget it. It is confusing. I feel like if I don't do something the baby will be forgotten and I don't want that to happen.

For years I used to light a special candle and say a prayer. Then it was just the prayer. Now I can pray and tell my story.

It all started 20 years ago with the excitement of finding out I was pregnant. I had a little boy that was 4 and this was going to add to our family...a blessing. I decided it would be a surprise to everyone including my husband. After all it was Christmas. I found the cutest little sock baby at a craft fair. That was wrapped and put in my husbands stocking, a bonnet for my parents and a pair of pink booties for his. A gift that no one would see coming. A special surprise.

Christmas day that year turned out much different. I started spotting and the doctor said I could be losing the baby. I had to tell everyone. The wonderful surprise did not turn out as planned.
The next day I lost my sweet baby. It's due date was supposed to be July 24th.....

I just wanted to die myself. I had people tell me it was best. That it was Gods way of taking it because it was to weak. Yes I heard it all and none of it was comforting. I even had friends not call me because they didn't know what to say. Please don't ever do that to someone. Just be there for them and listen that is all they want. Don't try to make them feel better because no one can.

Only time can heal...and prayers.

You see I thought I was loosing my mind. How could I have a beautiful healthy boy and then loose a baby? I tried to get pregnant again. I obsessed with it. And just when I didn't think it would ever happen....

 I found out I was pregnant again!

My beautiful baby girl was born! The day was July 25th...ironic huh?

My children are such a blessing to me and I celebrate my gift often. From time to time I think of my little angel. My son, at 4, told me that God needed another little angel in heaven. How come children know just what to say sometimes?

So on this day a get a little teared up. Yes even after all these years, because you are a mother as soon as you know there is life. You are a mother even when it is gone. The bond is there no matter what.
I am blessed to have two beautiful and talented children.

I am grateful to God for angels too......

I know this is not my typical post so thanks for putting up with me.

Thank you for letting me share my story.

So This Is Christmas

I wish you all a Merry Christmas! I hope you had a great celebration. Never forget the reason for the season!

"....for unto us a CHILD is born!