2/21/11

Just Breathe...

For the last two weeks, Spring has been flirting with us.
It's been wonderful to be able to open up the house.
My apologies for being away,
I've been under the weather.
The fresh air, warmer temps, sunshine & rain
are helping to clear my lungs & my head.
I hope you enjoy these beautiful photos and remember to just breathe.
Maureen Long Maureen Long
crumpledenvelopeCrumpled Envelope
tumblr_ld9tx54A1g1qcek63o1_400 a cottage in the woodsCottage in the Woods
Vitt sekelskifte i G%C3%A4vle3[1] via Greigevia Greige
photo Sam Scholes  Sam Scholes
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Grey_and_charmingGrey and Charming
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tumblr_l4eu6sIB2T1qcucato1_500 via deniseathomeDenise at Home
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tumblr_ldc2njwMvj1qcrb8do1_400 Tumblr
tumblr_levoigdT0g1qdf3evo1_400 Levoig
tumblr_lgbjyi4sKL1qfj0u6o1_500via pink and green owlPink and Green Owl
tumblr_l8x41xEG9T1qz4edwo1_500Tumblr
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Enid Blyton  Enid Blyton
I hope Spring has been flirting with you too!

2/10/11

Grab & Go

The Chic Coles are playing tag, and I'm it!

They've asked me to share with you five things that I must have when I leave the house. 
Five?
Really?
Ok, I cheated...but this was hard! 
To grab & go I  must have...
A bag or two or three for the market, the library & all the little stops along the way.
I like The Market Bag from Apolis Global.
It's sturdy and sits up straight!
I really like All the eco-friendly bags out there. There's nothing worse than getting home and having a gazillion plastic bags to deal with!
My Verizon LG.
I like this phone but hardly ever use it.
If I'm driving and it rings I don't answer it.
If I'm in a store or restaurant and it rings I don't hear it.
Call me at home ok?

My Ralph Lauren Sunglasses.
I wear them ALL the time!
My Coach Watch with the soft leather strap.
I've had it forever & it goes with EVERYTHING!
Who loves a glamorous approach to climate control?
 I DO!
Coach scarves to the rescue!
I love them & tie them around straw hats & bags too!
Bobbi Brown lip gloss. She gave me a make-over about ten years ago. Well, actually it was the lady at Neiman's but she was really good and I've loved the stuff ever since!
water 
music
kleenex
a notebook
readers
a book (I'm always waiting for someone)
a snack
umbrella or ice scraper
Tylenol
something that someone forgot
dog leash
dental floss
extra flip-flops or snow boots
library books
drycleaning!

So there you go Chic Coles.  I bet you can't get all that stuff in your Rebecca Minkoff Nikki Bag!
Just wait, your time will come : )
To get to know more about these adorable & stylish daughters & their devoted designer mother,
read my interview with them at
Good Things Come In Threes!
Thank you again, girls, I really appreciate playing along. It keeps me young!

2/5/11

I'm in the garden with Michelle Masters

There are three items
that are always a must in my garden.

No.1 
Wellies

No. 2
Beautiful Flowers
and
No. 3
Gracie

As you may or may not know,
Gracie now authors a facebook page,
The Gracie Porter Collection
& when I saw this new topiary painted by artist friend Michelle Masters, I had to contact her!
"Whaaaaat"
was her immediate reaction and before I knew it,
 her two Labs were over for a visit!
I first met Michelle two years ago.
It all started with a "tweet".
And this weekend I'm so happy to be in the garden again with her & her incredible
Topiary Art!
Michelle's clever images are clean, simple, uncluttered and well designed. Her topiary line is whimsical and fun & is based around a casual upscale style.

They are a perfect gift idea for dog lovers!
Meet Chloe & Weezie.
Their mom just recently received Michelle's "Puglet" design on notecards as a gift from a friend.
Boy was she excited!
Michelle works in watercolor, pastels, and oils.
Her attention to quality & detail in everything that she creates, translates beautifully onto stationary, linen guest towels, lavender sachets, and pillows.
Wouldn't you love to curl up with this handsome boy?
You can.
Animal lovers, gardeners, and numerous organizations have come to appreciate her original art & custom topiary designs.
Michelle Masters offers custom illustrations, private labeling for organizations, and artwork licensing.
Some of her clients include;
The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library Foundation
and the
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum.

Visit

& then follow me over to her blog,
Hedges & Hares
Photos & Art Copyright & Compliments of Michelle Masters.

2/3/11

Dessert!

Just as we're admiring the main menu,
she brings out the dessert!

 
Frosty Tin Marshmallow

& IceMilk Aprons for Kids!

Sugar Cone Scoops

Washable linen with bountiful pockets that only a mother could love!
There's even more to see at
Order early for Mother & Daughter monograms.

Perfect for Valentines & Mother's Day!
Just sift together & mix well!
Ashley & I also invite you to stop by
It's where
"the best recipes are those splattered with ingredients of batches past."
Like my
Aunt Eloise Stinson's Apricot Cake!
And my
Aunt Martha Lee's Brownies!

Stop by Preserves so that I can pass on two of my favorite traditional southern family recipes beat by hand of course!
Time to put on an apron & pre-heat the oven!


Also, find IceMilk Aprons at fine boutiques like Bella Cucina,
Ivy & Twine, Harris & Clark, and Saks Fifth Avenue.



2/1/11

You deserve a gold star!

Have any of you gotten to the point where you don't love a gold star?
DMacPhoto
Gleaming, golden, 5-pointed proof that you've accomplished something that was a bit of a stretch?
Not me, I appreciate golds star for being ordinary, and I love gold stars for being extraordinary, you know, just for trying.
A good friend of mine from Xavier came from a big Gold Star Catholic family!
Her mother maintained gold star charts for each of her children.
I think there were six or were there eight? Hmmm. I'm an only & could never keep track. 
I used to love to go to her house and disappear.  She loved coming to mine to be my other only.
Flickr
On Sundays after dinner,
their past week's performance was revealed on gridded charts showing who had excelled at homework, chores, behavior,
and personal hygiene...and who hadn't!
Barbara Peacock
Gold stars used to come in a little cardboard box. You'd take off the lid and out would spill five hundred gold, paper-foil stars, stiff with dry-glue backs.
Flickr
You'd get to taste the success on your tongue!
Running your fingers through the pile of possibilities, you'd feel the self-worth!
Gold stars are very different when we give them to ourselves.
They twinkle & wink & whisper,
"Good for you!"
memriemare at Etsy
The days when I sit down to write my blog are gold star days. Some are ordinary but many are extraordinary simply because you are here too!
I cannot thank you enough for that!
Just recently I was honored with a gold star from a dear blogger friend!
The lovely Renae Moore at Moore Designs.
She was so kind as to pass on to me a
Super Comments Award!  
Renae is an Interior Designer who calls Atlanta home. She is so supportive and always stops by with a smile to say hello.
She is a super commenter!
Renae Moore
She is also a dear friend to everyone who knows her! 
Her faith, family, sweet puppy Erma, and friends are of the utmost importance to her and it shows in everything she touches.
And did I mention she does Triathlons?
You definitely get a gold star Renae and thank you again for thinking of me!
xo Lisa

A few questions came along with this kind mention.
Oh no! Questions?
I would much rather hear more about you!
1. Why do you blog?
2. Name your three best memories.
3. Name four of the best fiction books you have read.
4. What are the five best movies ever made?
5) Name five things I cannot live without.
6) If you could change your name what would it be?
7. Tell us a unique and interesting fact about yourself.
8) What do you love best about yourself?
9) If you had a freaky Friday experience, who would you change places with?
10) What is the best thing about being a woman?

To be a good bloggy friend Renae, I will do my best & try to earn a gold star here.
No.1
A few years ago before I celebrated 50
I began to realize that it's the small details of everyday life that feed my soul.
Small details can get lost in the big picture, especially in-between hot flashes, so I decided to start keeping track by writing them down no, no, not the hot flashes,
and so began the Lisa Porter Collection.
Then one day,
someone left a comment!
Yep, it was my "anonymous" mom in Scottsdale going on & on about me.
God love her. 
But then someone in Florida left a comment!
Oh my gosh, it was Anne Harwell!
Sorry mom, but it was Anne Harwell!
I think most bloggers will agree that when you sit down and write from your heart and your message touches someone, or you show a picture of something that you've made and someone notices, it's both humbling and empowering.
 I reminded myself that putting Lisa first was ok.
I then proceeded to reward myself with a fresh haircut, a personal fan, a desk, a pencil cup, new readers, more watercolor paper, a thesaurus, another personal fan, fresh flowers, sticky notes, a Privet candle, Skull Candy headphones, and a room to call my own!
My family agreed....it was a good thing.
No.9 & 10
The best part about being a woman is confirmed by my 3 best memories. Marrying Barkley, and the day that Taylor & Collier were born.
No.6
Cindy or Julie. After my two best friends in 5th grade.
No.5
coffee
sunshine
a place to dig
my camera
Oreos
No.7
I still have my ball & jacks from when I was the 5th grade Jacks Champion at Kiva Elementary School in Paradise Valley, Arizona.
Lisa Porter
My "anonymous" mom gave them to me in a Tiffany & Co. box for my 40th birthday. Isn't she the greatest!
No.8
 I often wonder...what kind of mentor am I to younger women these days and what kind of elderly woman will I be down the road?
Through my faith I know that I can continue to grow and have a full & rewarding life as a wife, mother, daughter, and friend by trusting the wisdom of my heart.


Writing here continues to bring great joy and satisfaction and along the way, I've met some really phenomenal people that I would like to pass this Super Comment Award on to. These ladies write incredible blogs and still find the time to visit others! I hope that they can answer all 10 questions and then pass the award on!
and
Tina authors this beautiful blog & was so kind as to award me with a
Stylish Blogger award!
I urge you to follow her on her journey of building her dream home! Tina, thank you so much for thinking of me!
These other stylish bloggers have my attention too.

 These ladies bring lot's of eye candy & interesting stories with a twist to their stylish blogs & always keep me coming back for more!
I know they will tell you something interesting about themselves & pass the stylish award on to others!
There are so many and they all deserve a gold star!