Phenomenon

It starts when I take the first ornament off the tree. That itch. Then I remove the stockings from the mantle. And the feeling becomes more overpowering. As Christmas treasures are boxed up, an overwhelming compulsion hits. The outright need and desire to clean and redecorate my entire home! It's a phenomenon that strikes every single year. Do you feel it, too?

As my friend, Shelby said: "It's creepy to me how putting one thing in a box just sets me on fire to organize the whole house!"

And when I think of my whole house needing attention, I am reminded that my closets are up for a revamp, as well.

Last May, I hosted a Clothes Swap and what a blast that was!

Me and 9 of my dear gal pals gathered with armloads of clothes, shoes, purses and jewelry. We enjoyed a brunch and then ooo'd and ahh'd over our new-to-us treasures. What we didn't swap with each other, we donated.

The Warm Weather Clothes Swap was so much fun I promised the ladies that we would do a Cold Weather Clothes Swap. With the cleaning phenomenon hitting hard, I do believe that now is the time.

Heads up my friends. Take advantage of the phenomenon. Clean, sort and minimize! If you aren't local to me, perhaps you could organize a swap in your area. This is a fun time and everyone feels good walking away with new-to-them stuff, leaving old-to-them stuff behind, and donating to a good cause. A win/win/win situation, really!

Click here to read a post I wrote after researching clothes swaps.

So, are you going to do it? I bet your friends are feeling the phenomenon, too. Take advantage and have yourself some fun!

Happy Day!

~Mindy

Merry Christmas!

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16 KJV

May your memories of Christmases past be warm, and may the making of memories this Christmas be special.

Wanna hear a great song about the Baby Jesus? My family Christmas memories include my clan singing this song together every Christmas morning.

I'll admit I haven't heard Dad sing it in a few years. And David just moves his lips and takes pictures.

Ok. So, every Christmas, my Mom and sister and I sing this song together and we have the best time! Maybe you can make some memories with it, as well.

Click here for some good toe tapping.

Merry Christmas!
~Mindy

Conversation with the redneck

Me: "You know I love this top that you created from a vintage slip."

Robelyn: "Yup."

Me: "The rosette rocks."

Me: "And you know I love my redneck chic Hog pocketbook."

Robelyn: "Yup."

Me: "And you know I use this redneck chic pocketbook daily."

Robelyn: "Yup."

Me: "Did you know I love this hat that you made?"

Robelyn: "Yup."

Me: "And you know I giggle every time I wear this Saddle Tramp shirt with fringe."

Robelyn: "He he he. Yup."

Me: "Robelyn?"

Robelyn: "Yup?"

Me: "I want every single thing in my wardrobe to be something you designed and made."

Robelyn: "Ok. What brought this on?"

Me: "I am jealous of my dress form. She wears your creations every day and I want to, too."

Robelyn: "Tee hee. Ok. I'll get right on that."

Robelyn: "Will that make you happy?"

Me: "YUP!"

Happy Weekend!~Mindy

Shopping, Fluffing and Photography

I got to shop today. I do love to shop!

See what I got? Dang, that shutter still makes me smile from the inside out.

And since y'all know I am into bling these days, here's a little something I got.

Look! A lamp shade skeleton tree topper! No. I didn't make it. I bought it.

Not easy to show in the big picture. But, check it out. Gloves. Pearl swags. Old necklaces. Brooches. Earrings. Whewy! I do love this tree!

So yes, I shopped. Then, I played at The Primitique. Visiting. Fluffing. Filling space. Picture taking. It's like a grown up playground, that store!

Here's a picture of some redneck chic goodness at The P.

Oh, yeah! After I took pictures, I played with developing said pictures. That can be fun! Watch this...

And this...

Would you check out the colors in that rnc pocketbook?

And this...

Isn't that purty?

Before leaving, I couldn't help but snap this pic of our signage.

The Primitique is located inside Eagle Hardware Farm & Ranch in Royse City. The way I see it, any place that carries toys & knives, plus jewelry & antiques has pretty much everything you could possibly need. Can I get an amen?

Happy Day!

~Mindy

Decorating at Home

How is your Christmas transformation at home going?

A couple years ago, I decorated my dining room windows with this rusty, old chain and ornaments.

This year, I am going with pearl swags and oversized bling.

Understated can be fun, too.

Love these big crystals!

The dining room table got blinged up.

That is Bumpkin, aka Bunky. She's all about the bling!

I hope your home is turning into your own beautiful version of Holiday Happiness!

Happy Day!

~Mindy

The Redneck is Brilliant

Yes, that's Robelyn drinking Pennsylvania Dutch egg nog out of a mason jar. You know she's a redneck, right?

I have just got to share some of Robelyn's latest creations.

This buck shirt is for girls. Don't you love it?

Saddle Tramp a division of redneck chic.

Who wouldn't love this pink shirt under the Christmas tree?

Is that a potholder? I'm not sure. But, this could be my favorite shirt.

The Primitique has been chosen by the executive director of redneck chic as one of the privileged shops to sell the Saddle Tramp line. Can you say exclusive to the Dallas area? That's us!

I do love the dove.

Oh! This zipper/fringe shirt could be my favorite!

Love this buck and the fabric!

We are carrying girls sizes up to women sizes. Two of the shirts you just saw are 22/24. If you have a special size request, please let us know.

You know we cannot discuss redneck chic without showing off a pocketbook. This one happens to have a matching hat. Yes. It's available at The P. You better hurry!

There she is. The redneck. Head seamstress. Creative genius. Executive director. My friend, Robelyn.

By the way, I'm going to play with the red head this weekend on her stomping grounds.

We'll be drinking our egg nog out of The P stemware, cuz it makes us feel fancy. And yes. We'll be talking about you!

Happy Weekend!

~Mindy

ps. The Primitique is less than an hour from Canton. How convenient? We're open Monday-Saturday 8a-6p.

My Christmas Trees - Present and Past

Check out the trees at my house in recent past...

(2007)

I am a creature of habit.

(Ooo la la. Red and green.)

(2008)

I do not like change.

(Where'd the red and green go?)

(2009)

I am a die hard Traditionalist.

(Look! The tree grew!)

(2010)

Same. Same. Same. That's me!

Hmm...maybe not. I guess I use Christmas to express my creativity?! So, which is your favorite?

Do you do the same thing year after year? Or do you like to switch it up? I never know what I'm doing until I am doing it.

Happy Tuesday!

~Mindy

Who?

Who ate too much? (me)

Who enjoyed family? (me)

Who shopped til they dropped? (not me)

I am currently avoiding decorating my home. How's that going for you? Anything new up your sleeve this year? The lights aren't all working on my tree and I think I need another egg nog. Who hates all the non-working lights? ME!

Happy Sunday!

~Mindy

Thanksgiving Old School

As President, on October 3, 1789, George Washington made the following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the national government of the United States of America:

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor, and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me "to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be. That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us. And also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions, to enable us all, whether in public or private stations, to perform our several and relative duties properly and punctually, to render our national government a blessing to all the people, by constantly being a Government of wise, just, and constitutional laws, discreetly and faithfully executed and obeyed, to protect and guide all Sovereigns and Nations (especially such as have shown kindness unto us) and to bless them with good government, peace, and concord.

To promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue, and the encrease of science among them and Us, and generally to grant unto all Mankind such a degree of temporal prosperity as he alone knows to be best. Given under my hand at the City of New York the third day of October in the year of our Lord 1789. (source)

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours.

~Mindy

What's Happening

Sometimes, it's nice to slow down and have "us" time.

Between getting The Primitique up and running, and hunting season, and our real jobs, and all kinds of other time suckers, we played hooky from it all and ran away this past weekend. Good times! Do you ever do that?

With the long weekend coming up, you know I'm scheming and planning already. Are you?

Maybe I'll put up a Christmas tree at my house.

Switch out the closets from summer clothes to not summer clothes.

Clean house, maybe?

This will be the first long Thanksgiving weekend that I have not been in Winnie & Tulula's. But, don't you forget to go visit all my friends who are still there! I'm sure everything will be beautiful!

In regard to Black Friday shopping? I would like to encourage you to be a part of utter chaos in Royse City. This Friday: Come out to Royse City and visit The Primitique. Crowd the doors until they open, then (politely) run over other shoppers. Grab everything that you want and head to the checkout stand. Demand 15% off any ONE item.

Welllll, it would be a mighty entertaining Black Friday in Royse City if you did do all that! We will be open from 8 to 6. And even if you are nice about selecting your goods, you will still get 15% off any one item.

By the way, I just took these pictures at the store this morning. Maybe you see something you like? Come and get it! So, are ya coming?

Happy Thanksgiving!

~Mindy