~The Candle Lady & My Winners~

I have decided that I really need to give my sweet friend, Tricia, from Backyard Candle Co., a shout out.
I have to tell you, she has the most amazing candles.
Now, .....I'm a reallly picky girl when it comes to candles.
I always find myself disappointed because I can't smell them after about .10 of a second.
They always smell great when I'm buying them. Just not when I get them home and burn them.
These candles are not like that at all!!

These candles burn CLEAN. I mean Clean.
They are soy candles and there is NO soot on the jar.
I have one and I burn it all the time.
I swear, it's almost a religious experience.
The candle never runs out.

I asked Tricia if I could ask her a few questions.
This is what she has to say:

1) How long have you been making candles?
I've been making them for about seven(7)years. I started out making them in my basement and doing craft shows and a few wholesale orders. Then when the time was right, I was blessed to open the store.

2) How many scents are available and what sizes do you offer?
We have so many scents to choose from. I would say off the top of my head around 50. Now, not all of them are out in the store at one time because we just simply don't have the room. Many of them are seasonal, but we do however have all of the scents available for refills year round. We have three(3) sizes, 5oz., 10oz. and 16 oz. We also have an assortment of vintage goodies that we fill with candles. We like to call them "hodge podge."

3) I know in your brick and mortar store you sell things other than candles. Do you ever plan to off those items on your Etsy store?
I definitely will be selling some of the vintage goods on Etsy in the near future.
4) How do you balance family and your passion for candles?
Ya know, my mom and sister help out so much at the store that it is pretty easy to keep things running smoothly at home. My husband also helps out so much at home with my boys that if I am super busy with the store, I know he has things under control. I seriously have the best of both worlds!

5) Do you have a business partner?
My business partner is my sweet mom.

6) What is it like working with your mom?
Honestly, it is great. We have definitely had out moments but at the end of the day, we wouldn't change a thing.

7) Last thought....what would you like to do next?
I would LOVE to expand our business into a line of bath and body products. I would also like to have a mini boutique. I already have some tees and jewelry in the store , but I would love to expand that as well. One last thing is to have a functioning website where I can sell ALL the things we offer in our store, not just vintage and handmade.

Wow, Tricia, you are a motivated girl.
Do drop by her blog and say hello.

BUT.......this get's even better.
She's letting me give a way one of her 16 oz candles.
Scent of your choice.
Yeah!
Just comments here and you will be entered!
THANK YOU TRICIA~



OK, OK, OK....it's time to reveal my winners..
Ready?? No, really, are you ready?? It could be you....ya never know!!! Can ya guess who it is?? I know...now so do you. The winners are...........
Lilly Sue from A Peace of Bliss
&
Tracy from Loving Pretty Things
Please e-mail me so we can work on this together!!!*********************

~Freaky~

Does anyone else think this Swine Flu thing is a bit freaky?
There are 2 cases in my county. One case in the county right next to us.
We are right in the middle.
I'm not sure if I should worry....or be happy that Bradley may be off of school for a few days.
I don't know about you but every third person in my town went to Mexico for spring break.
I'm not in the group of people who went.
*phew*
When these stories break I'm never quite sure how to react?
Remember the Avian flu??
Whatever happened to that?
Weren't we suppose to be freaking out about that too??
How about Mad Cow Disease??
SERIOUSLY PEOPLE, WHERE DID THEY ALL GO?
Are they with the sock that we all swear that went into the dryer, yet never came out??
Will this be the same?

I would love to hear what you have to say and what you are thinking~

~100th Post, and a Giveaway~

These are just a few of the things we have shared together over the last 100 posts.

My candy store idea.
This is still happening.
I made some more decisions yesterday.
I have my Etsy shop name.
I would tell ya what it is but it's going to be a surprise.
Along with another giveaway~

You have allowed me to cook dinner for you!

You have allowed me to brag about some of my Goodwill finds~

How about all the redecorating we have done together.
Phew!!

Just think of all the Fridays we have shared.

We have even done some reupholstering together.

Boy, have we become fast friends.

It is times like this that I have to pinch myself to remind me that this whole thing is real.
This has been such a fun road.

I love that we are all riding this road together.

So...........In honor of my 100th post I am giving away Two(2) $50 shopping sprees to my Etsy store, Maisy's Market.

All you have to do is comment on something you liked, thought was funny or both!

No strings attached.
You don't have to mention it...
You don't have to follow...
You don't have to link!
If you want to you certainly can but it's up to you.

I will close this out on Thursday night.
The winners will be announced on Friday morning.

This is just a big FAT thank you for being here for me.
For being the ones that fill me up.
THANK YOU...THANK YOU...THANK YOU!!!!!!!

**Did you all know that Lost is having it's 100th episode this week...coincidence or do you think its the island....*

~My Dream~

I know there are lots of you who would love to live on the water.
I am not that girl.
Don't get me wrong, I really enjoy boats, wave runners & tubing.
I just want others to own them..not me!

I love old, rustic, creaky, history, cozy and did I say old already.

I was looking around on Flickr today and came across some AMAZING photos.

The problem is I forgot to figure out who took these pics.
So, if any of these are your photos, know I love you!!

This one seems ooooold. However, still lived in.
That's the problem here in America...we just tear down the old to build the new.
We need a "I Want Old" movement.
I can just imagine all the wonderful memories in a home like this.

These homes were BIG.
I want to sit on that porch and watch the kids picking berries, playing with the dog or just playing a good 'ol game of tag~
Can ya smell the bread baking??

I can just imagine kids running in and out of this house. Laughter is everywhere with the occasional yelling from Ma. She only has soooo much patience.

My, oh my, I want this house.
It's just perfect.
Flowers growing on the side of the house.
*sigh*

Every farm house should have a bright kitchen.
Obvisouly, this is an updated kitchen.
Look at that fridge....it's just dreamy.
I gotta have that sink.
Ohhhhhhh Billlllllllllllll!!!!!!!!!

Shouldn't all good farm houses have chickens.
I want chickens.
Now that I'm talking about it I want one of everything.
Just imagine Charlotte's Web.
Yup, that's what I want.

Do ya think they have delivery service in the country??

*I am one post away from my 100th post.....stay tuned*

~It Has Begun~

Can you guess what I have been doing since my return from New York?

Can we all say it together....GARAGE SALE!!!
Enough Said!!

I really need to just learn to be!
Don't ya think???

However, I have a good excuse....I have a new dishwasher being delivered today(this was not optional...it broke the day before Easter)...I want to buy new living room furniture and I realllllly have to paint my kitchen!
I gotta get the $$$ from somewhere.

I really will do some seriously good posts when I get my head above water again!
I PROMISE!!!!!

Miss you all!!!

PS Thanks much for always following my blog.......
Even when I go MIA
You all have to be the sweetest group of women I know

~Girly, Girly~

So, here we are in SoHo, I see this building with white chippy paint and I turn to Bill and say
"I know there is a Shabby Chic store here in New York. Will you please look it up on your phone and try to get an address?"
Of course he gets busy right away. He loves his phone as much as I love mine.
He looks up and says "Maisy, it's so weird you asked because we are only 1 block away!"
I knew from that moment I HAD to go!

I spotted this sign and my heart skipped a beat.
I just love the feeling Rachel Ashwell's things gives me.
I also get the same feeling at Target.
I have never been in her store.
Literally, I started speed walking.
Let's keep in mind that I am with all males.
They just don't get the same feeling~

Here I am walking out with my loot.
I asked if I could take pictures in the store and I was politely told NO!
All the stores are closing so the whole store was 40% off.
YEAH for Maisy!

Here it is back at the Maisy homestead.

Vintage inspired locker baskets.
I don't know why but I had to buy 3.
That's all they had.
They were using 2 of them for display.
I asked in my sweetest voice I could muster up "may I also purchase those?"

Jars, jars, jars.....gotta have 'em!

This one says...Mason's Improved Butter Jar~

This one says Crown and has that great crown on it.
Maisy the princess...
Yeah right....

Old Judge Coffee with the cutest owl on it.

The best smelling bars of soap on this entire planet!!!!!!!

I'm so sorry that this photo is awful!!!

I couldn't walk out of there without a new apron.
I don't know about you but I wear aprons all the time.
They make me feel so domestic.
Sometimes I put one on, lay on the couch, think about what I want to order for dinner. Then order our dinner.
Is that domestic??


This store was so much fun.
I may just hit the Chicago store before it closes.
Anyone up for a fieldtrip??

~Happy Tuesday~

~I'm Back~

Hey Everyone....I'm back!

I HEART NEW YORK!!!!!

I don't even know where to start so I will start with probably my favorite experience I had~

MAGNOLIA CUPCAKES.
(ok, so I'm a food girl)

They are ALL they are cracked up to be.
Down to the very, itty bitty, micro mini last crumb.
I actually brought one home and had it for breakfast.
(please don't tell, I just couldn't help myself)
I WANT MORE..........................NOW!!!
Wow, where did that come from....oops, did that thought just end up coming out of my fingers??
I'm sorry...that's just how amazing they are

I have to tell you....you will never look at or think about cupcakes the same.
Rumor has it, their recipe is online.
Guess what I will be trying to master allllll weekend???
MAGNOLIA CUPCAKES.
My son comes home in just a few weeks...what do ya think I will be requesting??

Now, I have laundry, shopping, Etsy, and sleeping to catch up on.

I will be posting in stages..
This weekend was toooo awesome to do in one post.

Lots to come!!!

Missed you all!!!

~Happy Monday~

~Off To The Big Apple~

When my oldest son (well, actually he's my step-son but that just doesn't sound or feel right to me), Jakob, graduated from college last year, he was eaten up by a law firm in New York.
Hang on a minute...I have to grab a kleenex.
The first chicken has left the nest.
Maisy's still not that sure about this.
As I have now realized, I must let him spread his wings.
Mama bird has a hard time with this from time to time.
Hang on....I need another kleenex~

GUESS WHAT!!!!!!

We are going to the BIG APPLE this weekend to visit him.
We are all so excited.
Including him.

This is my Jakob~

Jakob and his dad in matching soccer shirts.
Seiously girls...don't give me any s**t about this.
They are both grown men who should just know better.
See what happens when we are not around...things like this!!!

Courtesy of Google Images...This is what we will be doing during this fine weekend~

Again, courtesy of Google Images.
I get chills just thinking about Ellis Island.
My husband's parent's family's came through Ellis Island.
Amazing.
We don't know the last names because they were changed here.
Did any one see Hitch????
If not, watch it.
Ellis Island reminds me of that movie too!

Wait a minute...how did that one get in here???
Again..matching family.
I really need to ad"dress"this with them. HAHAHAHA
Man, do I crack myself up!
Hang on, I have to compose myself..

Ok...Ok...I'm ready now!

Any-Hoo...I'm telling you all about this because I will be gone from my favorite people in the whole world (yes, that's you)until Monday.
If I was on the ball all week I wouldn't have to do EVERYTHING tomorrow to get ready.
However, I do now...so I must say goodbye.

I will truly miss you.
I have one word to say.....BLACKBERRY!!!
I'm so happy I just got one.
Now I can keep up with my blog via my e-mail!
WOO-HOO!!!!!

I will bring back lots of photos and memories to share.

Until then.......HAPPY WEEKEND!!!

Class, All Eyes on the Blackboard!

It appears that I now have the beginning of a new collection.

It just happens that they tell a story about how I feel about entertaining!

It really is that simple.

The End!!

*would love to hear what you collect...so please dish (unless of course that's what you collect)*
~Happy Wednesday~

New Stuff

New items in my Etsy store.

*sorry...this cloche is now gone*

Some of these items will be hard to part with but I know they will be going to great homes.

Be sure to stop over there!!

~Happy Tuesday~

Just Another Reason Why........

I LOVE TO HOST EASTER!!!

These are all the flowers and plants I received yesterday.
My house smells so yummy right now.
That's it...I'm hosting Easter EVERY year.
As I look out the window and see that it hasn't stopped raining since about 7:30 this morning, I can turn away from the window and look at these beauties!
*sigh*
Can ya smell 'em? Oh I sure wish you could!!!

Now if I could just figure out what to do with the bulbs so I could plant these in the fall.

~Happy Monday~

~This Is The Real Deal~

I Truley Hope From The Very, Very, Very Bottom of My Heart That You Had A Very.....
So, I had Easter at my house for about 25 people.
I always have a strategic plan.
I get most of all the cooking done the day before.
Yes, that's how I roll.
This is what my kitchen looks like while I'm getting all the food ready.....
the day before.

Now, I know we all love to post the pics of our houses looking PERFECT!!
Well.....Saturday was just not that day for me.
I thought I would just show you how I am forced to roll sometimes.
Most of the time it looks pretty darn good.....if I may say so myself....
This was just not one of those days.

Happy Monday.
I am so happy I have been blessed with a whole new week!!
*PHEW*
WOO-HOO!!!!!!!!!!