Summer Lovin' ~ Sweet Salvage ~ Part II

During this Month's Event I was very torn between The Vintage Industrial Style merchandise and the Beach Cottage Style Organic merchandise of Nature.  One I decorate with all of the time, the other I adore too, but strangely don't decorate with as much and kinda want to infuse some elements of into our Home.   With limited funds for indulging in some Retail Therapy, I opted to concentrate on the latter, even tho' Imagery and Styling like this are more inclined to tempt me to decorate our Home with!

Not even remotely considering another fabulous Vintage Suitcase or Vintage Industrial Style 'anything' was difficult when so much was offered up at one Event tho', I ain't gonna lie!   The Kilim Pillow was my only Purchase that was more aligned to what I typically buy and feather our Nest with.   It was just too Amazing to leave behind and buy another Organic Natural 'anything' in it's place!  *LOL*

Yep, anyone coveting the Vintage Industrial Inventory was safe from competition from me this Event... you may never get another chance like that so I Hope you took full advantage of it?!  *Winks*   If you Needed a Vintage Dress Form, Industrial Furniture, Industrial Lighting or a Vintage Suitcase, you were safe this time around from having to get to it before I did!  *Smiles*

In fact, tho' we got there way early to get good parking in the Shade, so we could just sit in the Truck socializing and not standing in line in the Sun or intense Heat of a June Morning, my Friend and I sat there chillin' and were the very last ones thru the doors when they opened at 10:00 a.m.!  *What!!?!?!* It's True, I had absolutely no sense of Urgency this Month to beeline to anything in particular to Score it, nor to try to Photograph and Cover it here in the Land Of Blog before any of you Early Birds ravaged the Vignettes and bought it! 

 *Gasp!!!* 

Mebbe it's the Nutritarian Diet either creating a more Zen Me or diminishing my Body Strength for lack of Meat and Dairy, I dunno?!?  *Bwahahahaha!*   All I do know is that I was way more Chill this Month than I usually am.  And that's an across the board Chill lately in anything and everything I'm doing, including Blogging.   It's kinda been an "I'll get around to it whenever I get around to it... mebbe Later..." Mindset going on!   I'm sleepy a lot, so my Mind and Body have slowed down enough I actually can and do fall asleep so easily right now... no racing thoughts, no running around 'til I drop!   I did wanna drop a dime on this Awesome Military Vintage Blanket my Friend Kenny had, but it was outside of the dreaded Budget, so it stayed there and I didn't really Care.

You see, usually it WOULD bother me somewhat when I find something Awesome that I'd really like to possess and I just can't... I'd CARE.   I'd mebbe even scheme and plan a way to make it happen... but in my New Zen Chill State of Mind and way of Being, didn't Care, Let it Go... and that ambivalence was rather liberating... Caring LESS!   Now, that doesn't necessarily mean I don't Care at all lately, it's just not as Intense as my Caring about everything and anything typically is!   The Man and The Force have noticed my Intensity is considerably diminished... they have all asked if I'm Okay?   Actually I AM Okay, I'm just not Intense and the only thing I can attribute that to is my Dietary changes and the Shift it has caused that is clearly noticeable!

I didn't get this Awesome Sea Glass looking Bottle Vase either... picked it up and then set it back down... the regret is only slight, not gnawing at me like it typically would about non-buyer remorse!   If I go back Tomorrow, which I just might, I'll see if it's still there and get it, if not, well... que sera sera... totally Chill about it either way! *Smiles*   Usually I find it hard to Nap at Home, even tho' I DO Need Naps now most days... due to the Season of Life and the million and one things I gotta do or get done.   But Lately I can Nap at the drop of a hat... I can fall right into a Deep Sleep and not Care how long I've been out like a light regardless of what has or hasn't gotten done!   I'm not even Thinking about any of it actually, not a Racing Thought of ANY of it spinning around in my Head like a Hamster on a Wheel running at full tilt!

Usually that's how my Mind just Naturally has always worked, at full tilt and constantly racing until exhaustion shuts it down to go dormant a Minute!  *LOL*  I had thought this Dietary change rich in Fresh Veggies and Fruits would give me more Clarity of Thought, instead it has worked just the opposite and kinda Calmed it all down and dulled it, in a rather Restful way, so it doesn't Feel Negative anyway.   The Sleepy part is tough though since I could fall asleep right now and almost did during The Man's back to back VA Appointments, I could barely stay awake and I Needed to!   Normally I'd be in a heightened alert State of Caregiver Advocacy since... well... it's the freakin' VA, what can I say!?  *Bwahahaha!*

  

Even when the wait for his turn to do Labs took forever, well... all Morning anyway... I stayed totally Chill... and barely awake!  *Ha ha ha*   And when we got the bad news from his Dentist that he's not at all a candidate for the Dental Implants, due to severe atrophy of his now extremely eggshell fragile gums which would shatter, and high risk of rejection of any implants, my response was Calm and level in a very Zen way!   The Dentist and his Staff were Wonderful, which always Helps, and they're going to send him Civilian to get the very best custom Dentures in Hopes he will be able to wear them if they fit well and not choke on them like the old ones?!   I was totally Okay with the only option we have, it's better than no teeth at all, which he's dealt with for the past six plus years since his catastrophic accident and brain injury.

I'm hopeful that teeth will give him better digestion, better nutrition options, better health and less choking on foods than what we've been dealing with so long now!?!   Dentures is less invasive than Dental Implants too so his Anxiety level diminished tho' he's got Anxiety about whether he'll have the constant choking his Old Dentures caused, which is why he could never wear them again after the accident and long brain injury rehabilitation period.   Of coarse when I think about how he learned to swallow and eat on his own again, and all the other natural functions he had to re-learn after the catastrophic injuries of his body and brain... learning how to wear Dentures again is just a progression of his continued recovery.

And tho' typically I refrain from putting my Political or Religious viewpoints out there, since everyone else already has their own and are unlikely to be swayed by anyone else REALLY... in light of the current sickening situation happening to vulnerable Children being separated from Parents... I'd just like to get a bunch of these T-Shirts made and wear them daily for a while, to express my personal sentiments about how I view ALL Human Beings.  It is what I Wish, Hope and Pray many other Human Beings can finally grasp the Reality of and embrace... that Earth is the Birth Place and HOME of us ALL... our Race is HUMAN... and if Politics don't promote Freedom for ALL and Religion doesn't promote Love to ALL, what Good are they to Humanity AT ALL?!!!?!?!?

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Blessings, Love and Peace from the Arizona Desert... where I'm just Chillin' in spite of higher and higher triple digit Temps... Dawn... The Bohemian

Rust & Roses ~ Pre-Summer Closing Sale ~ Sweet Salvage ~ Summer Lovin' Event

RUST & ROSES will be Closing for the Summer so 'til the end of the Month they're having a big 20% Off Sale... so of coarse we hadda hit it!  *Winks*

Scored myself this Awesome Antique Necklace Display Rack to hold my Bling!  I don't like to hide my Jewelry away, so prefer to display them for easy use and visual enjoyment upon Antique Displays around the house.

It was nice to have my visiting Friend along for my Girl's Day Out and I'm glad she was back in Arizona in time for this Month's Events.

Including this Month's SWEET SALVAGE Event with the appropriate Theme of 'Summer Lovin'.   There were so many Organic Elements which was right in line with the Decor I want for the Meditation Room so I picked up these two enormous Sea Sponges.

And this gigantic Brain Coral specimen!   I love that it has a natural indentation in the center that I can put Tiny Treasures in.

I also got this Beautiful Large Kilim Pillow for the Meditation Room.

And this Awesome Decor Book 'Extraordinary Interiors' by Rockett St. George which is just My Style of Decorating!!!

Every page is Swoon Worthy Styling and Furnishings to Die For... I particularly Lust after this enormous Antique Apothecary Cabinet!

And of coarse so many of the Rooms have the Black, Deep Indigo or Charcoal Grey Walls that I J'Adore or the Exposed Old Brick.

Well my Friends, I'm tired and will be Sharing more of the visuals in Future Posts of my Girl's Day Outing.  Haven't been Online much due to having a Friend Visiting and staying with us... so not certain how long before I finish up Covering our Shopping Adventures... so stay tuned!

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Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

Holy Cat's Pajamas Batman!

You might be wondering, "What the Hell am I looking at!??!!", or think some Drunken Photography was going on at Villa Boheme'?!!??  *Smiles*  Lemme tell ya the hilarious Story.   Have you ever had a Friend that you thought was so Different from you and then realized you were so much more Alike than you ever realized and in a Surreal way... same Tribe?   Well, the BFF who is staying with us, is like that... and the most powerful Testimony happened the first Night, as we went into our rooms and changed into our Pajamas.  Only to realize when we came out that we were wearing THE EXACT SAME Weird Print Pajama Bottoms in a Turquoise, Pink and Black Leopard Print!!!   Holy Cat's Pajamas Batman, I mean, what are the Odds!??!?!  *LMAO*  The only difference, she had on a Turquoise Tee and I had on a Pink one.    We laughed about it... but that's what I'm talking about... very Different and yet Alike in the most unexpected ways!  The Man and The Force are like... OMG... Episode from the Twilight Zone... they're strangely Clones from another Planet!   Mostly becoz both of the Grands have always rolled their eyes and told me, about these very same Pajama Pants, "Who wears that Gramma!?!", coz they think the Print is so hideous it should never have appealed to anyone!  *LOL*  

So even tho' The Friend and I are Yin and Yang in very profound ways, in many other ways we're eerily Similar and embrace the glorious mess that we both are!  *Smiles*   The visit is going very well and we're enjoying Hosting her in our Home and catching up on Girl Time doing the things that we like, that are peculiar to us and perhaps nobody else we know.  That's another thing, have you ever liked doing something peculiar that you enjoy but not very many people probably would, so when you find someone who also digs it, then it becomes a very bonding experience?   There are a lot of very Simple things that I thoroughly enjoy doing that I know are probably Weird by the enjoyable activity Standards of most people.   When someone else also thoroughly enjoys doing those same Simple activities, the ritual of doing it together can be very satisfying.   I am a person of Ritual, for whatever reason, my Rituals are very calming and soothing to me, to my very Spirit, regardless of what the Ritual may be.  

The Young Prince is currently actively seeking full time employment, I think once he has the routine of a Job, it will really help him to overcome a lot of the insecurities of transitioning from having been a Full Time Student, to getting out into the Real World and Work Force.   That's often an unnerving Space to hold while you're transitioning into Adulthood from Childhood.   He's one to be eager to get to Work and earn a paycheck, gaining some independence and experience.  He's done Volunteer Work for over six years off and on, so it helps that he'd gotten himself out there as a Volunteer first.  If you can Work with excellence doing something as a Volunteer and a Service to others without pay, then when you have the added benefit and incentive of monetary compensation, that's just an added Bonus, because your Work Ethic was previously established during your Voluntary Service experiences.   But he's 17 so I told him nobody expects him to know everything already at such a tender age, it's all a learning curve and being adequately Trained and Mentored.   He always wants to do a good job and it's important to him that he's considered an asset and not a liability... that's also a good thing.   Too many people don't Care about what they do or how they do it or even if they do it.

I am rather in a transition period myself, as is my Friend staying with us, every Season of Life brings with it some transitory phases you work through.   What is going to be the next step, the next vision or goal you have for the Future, what do you really want to be doing in the Present to improve Life?   Things like that... and the questions, along with the answers, can evolve as you Mature, as you Grown, as you Change... since the only Constant IS Change really.  I've been pondering what I want to be doing as the Grandkids I'm raising get older, grow up and develop their own independence, freeing me up to pursue my own agenda?   Having a Life apart from Parenting Children is a transition period, I never went thru it at the Normal Time Frames, since I have concurrently and consecutively raised two different Generations of Children... my own and then a couple of our Grandchildren.   The Son, our Youngest, wasn't entirely grown into Adulthood and out of the house when The Young Prince was born and the raising of a Grandchild began, so we've never been Empty Nesters yet!   Granted, we probably won't be Empty Nesters for perhaps six years or more when Princess T is finally grown up, but Older Children don't require the same level of Care as Younger ones did.

And The Man's level of Care has diminished as his Brain Injury has Healed and made him less dependent than when the catastrophic injury first happened and I had to do everything for him and couldn't leave him alone at all.   So I'm anticipating, at some point in the Future, that perhaps my Caregiver Duties will diminish sufficiently that I can actually pursue some of my own Dreams, Goals and Pursuits apart from the full time Caregiving of Loved Ones?   Yes, it's a lofty Goal a long time coming... and that in many ways I was always rather afraid to express the Possibility of, just in case I jinxed it and then it would never, ever happen!?!    I like to at least Imagine that it can and actually will happen at some point in the Future, it keeps me going forward in a Hopeful way so that I continue to make Plans for the Future that are very different than what I can... or can't... do right now.   So, it's been a good thing to have a Lifelong Friend transitioning along with me and brainstorming some of the things we'd like to Pursue... to attain... and to map out what the Ideal Future would LOOK like, FEEL like, BE like?!?!?!?

Here's to the Dream, the Daydreams and the Possibilities my Friends... Dawn... The Bohemian

Found Treasures ~ Father's Day ~ Nutritarian Plan

I've been up to a lot in recent days, which means I've been MIA from The Land Of Blog and haven't been Online at all.  It's all been Good, I've had a great measure of Success while Goodwill Hunting and finding Awesome Treasures to Keep and to Sell in my Booth at the Antique Mall.

I got this lovely Seed Beed Antique Victorian Purse for only Ten Bucks, it's got condition issues but will still look lovely in a Shadowbox Display.  Given it's advanced Age and fragility, I think being manhandled in a Thrift Shop had caused the majority of the damage actually, tho' they had saved all the loose Beads.

I'm glad I rescued it before any more damage was done, since the majority of the Scene of the expertly done Beadwork is still very much intact.  Even in poor condition these Sell for a lot of money in Antique Shops, so it was an incredible Bargain that I just couldn't pass up.

If I had to guess at it's Age I'd say between very late 1800's to very early 1900's Era.   The Seed Beeds are incredibly tiny so the hand work on the Beading is magnificent!

In a different Thrift Shop I found a Trifecta of Old Rosaries for just a couple of bucks apiece.   This is Rosary No. 1.

And this ornate Silver Buckle, also for just a couple bucks!  It looks to be Sterling.

Rosary No. 2... I have Collected Vintage and Antique Rosaries for many years, they are some of my oldest Collections and I don't buy many anymore.  Unless they are an incredible Bargain, which these were so I couldn't resist.

Rosary No. 3... all three of these are older and good quality Rosaries.

I also got the huge Nun's Crucifix at the same Thrift Shop at an incredible bargain.   But the two Antique Tibetan Religious Brooches were Scored at my Antique Mall during the 25% Off Father's Day Weekend Sale!!!

I had been admiring the two of them for quite some time and so when the Locked Case 25% Off Sale came around I HAD to take the opportunity to Score them at such a nice discount!   They were already priced quite reasonably, so that just made them more affordable with the hefty discount!   The smaller one is my Favorite.

But the larger one is lovely too and both seem to have been made by the same Artisan.

Now on to what I Scored at incredible discounts and will be hawking in my Booth soon!  *Winks*   This 1971 Crissy Doll still in her Original Box!!!

This 1940's-1950's Era Harmotone Child's Musical Toy Saxophone still in it's Original Box Case... Love the Vintage Graphics on the inside of the Case!

This is one thing I Wish I could have Scored but couldn't afford, my Friend Michael has a Vintage Industrial Spotlight from the Old Northern Theater.  *Swooning*

Now on to other Activities... took The Man out to Red Lobster for his Father's Day Luncheon since they were having Lobsterfest.

So this was breaking slightly from Dr. Joel Fuhrman's Nutritarian Diet for Diabetics that I've been on, since I'm supposed to refrain from Meats and Dairy for six weeks initially, but it was Father's Day and he wasn't enjoying all this while I ate a freakin' Salad or somethin'... so... just sayin' I indulged in some Seafood with grilled Asparagus! 

I'd like to think I was Channeling Jennifer Beals on our Lobsterfest Date... you know... sans the Looks, the Body and the Sexy Tux... Bwahahahahahaha!!!

But I could dine on my Lobster like this while gazing at The Man across the table... and see if I could make him laugh!  And embarrass all the very Old, very Proper People sitting around us staring at us when they thought we weren't looking, as if we were the Entertainment... since this location is near a big Retirement Community so we must have been the Youngest people in the Joint even tho' we're in our Sixties!   Look at that Old Biker and his Dreadlocked Henna Tattooed Old Lady... oh my tisk tisk!!!  *LMAO*

The Nutritarian Diabetic Diet Thing has been going very well at Home actually, I'm eating lots of 'fake' Vegan Type Foods and they've actually been very tasty and surprisingly satisfying.   I had a Vegan Breakfast Burrito that had fake Vegan Eggs {don't ask, they smell weird but taste good}, fake non-dairy Cheddar Cheese {melted and tasted like real Cheese}, fake Vegan Chorizo {actually tastes like real Chorizo surprisingly enough} and Tortillas made from Potato Flour {good but not as flexible and don't hold up real well so you have to eat fast, LOL}!!!   As well as finding things in compliance when I eat out... except for the slight hints of Dairy I've done without Meats and it's been not so bad even when I'm cooking real Meat for the Family.

My fav Vietnamese Restaurants all have Vegetarian options of all my fav foods and Soups so it's just been a matter of choosing those over the Meat options, same great flavor and fresh ingredients.

The Ginger Lemongrass Pho was delish!

Soups and Salads are unlimited on the Diet so I've been having lots of those, Love this Kale Potato Soup.   It helps that right now I've got a BFF as a Guest for the Week in our Home and she's Vegetarian, so I'm not eating my Dietary restrictions alone for this first Week.   She's telling me which brands of fake Meat Substitutes are her favs and so far they've all been very tasty!  We had the best Vegan Veggie Burgers Today and Yesterday we had some fab Falafel Sammies.   Veggies and Fruits are unlimited if Fresh, Beans unlimited, Whole Grains and dense Veggies and Nuts in moderation... so there's plenty of variety and taste, I don't feel deprived at all and feel very full all of the time.  My Diabetic numbers are already improving and I'm sure to lose weight.

So I did get the Mint on the Pillow for my visiting BFF as a lark, a Sonic Mint and later some Olive Garden Chocolate After Dinner Mints...  Bwahahahahaha!!!

We set up the Guest Bedroom and Guest Bathroom to receive her and she said our YELP Review will have Five Stars for accommodations now!  *LMAO*   She spent all day, literally ALL DAY, helping me package and price Collectible Toy Inventory for my Booth at the Antique Mall, so we got tons accomplished.  It helps so much to have Staff working off their Room and Board I told her!  *Smiles*   Actually I think she and I had more Fun playing with the Dollhouse Accessories and Furnishings while packaging them than Princess T ever had while owning them!  Princess T kept shaking her head every time she walked by and saw us obsessing about what would go best in each bag!?!   I mean, we were doing freakin' Themes with the shit as be bagged and tagged it!!!  Yeah, my Good Friends are as OCD and Weird as Moi, that's why we have had Lifetime Friendships!!!  *Bwahahahaha!*   

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Blessings, Love and Light from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian