Many Thanks

Many thanks for all of your prayers...

Late last night D was able to determine that

all of his friends and colleagues at the Navy Yard were accounted for.

As relieved as we are, we are deeply saddened for the families

who were not as lucky, and lost loved ones yesterday.

Please continue to pray for their families.

 

source

Prayers Please

My husband is safe and sound.

Thank you to our many friends and family members who checked in to make sure he was safe.

As most of my readers know, D is a retired US Navy Captain.
He currently works in Washington DC for a defense contractor.

D's office is literally across the street from the Navy Yard,

and he is very frequently at the Navy Yard for meetings,
many of them in the same building as the shootings.

 

God works in mysterious ways. 

I spent the weekend with D, who left this afternoon on a business trip.
While helping him pack for his trip,

I gently "suggested" he might want to get a hair cut on Monday morning,

before he caught his flight later in the afternoon.

So instead of being at his office at 8:20am when the shooting began,

D was in Crystal City following his wife's "suggestion"

that he get his hair cut.
Thank God.

D has many close friends who work at the Navy Yard,

and we are still waiting to hear of their safety.

Please pray for those who lost loved ones today.
 

God Bless America.

Weekend Review

I spent a fabulous weekend up in Northern Virginia with D!

It was his United Stated Naval Academy 25th year reunion weekend in Annapolis,

so I decided to come up for the entire weekend.

 

Friday night, we had a date night and went to the Army Navy Club for dinner.

(you can see my post about the club here)

We had a wonderful dinner and then walked around the city.

I broke out my fall Lilly skirt...perfect for a cool evening!

Not bad for a iphone pic!

 

Saturday...well you can read about my Saturday morning here...

 

Then we headed north to Annapolis for D's reunion.

 

This is our third year with Navy football season tickets...

the first year we were in the nosebleed section,

the second year, we were in the visitor's section near the end zone,

this year, here is the view from our seats...

 

Ahh....hello 40 yard line, nine rows up from the field!

It was like we were practically on the field playing too!

I think we will keep these seats!

Most of the people in this section have had their seats for 10 years or more!

We are on the "gold side" which is considered the visitor's side,

however 80% of the gold side are Navy fans

and I like it because it is the sunny side of the stadium...warmer in November!

It is tradition that each time Navy scores, all of the Plebes (freshman) have to run to the end zone

and do as many push ups as the current Navy football score.

 

We won 51-7 so they kept busy!

The Navy goats are at each game... 

 

Love this action shot, kicking off after Navy scores!

We only stayed at the game until half time...we headed back to the class of '88 tailgate tent.

This is D with one of his shipmates from the USS William H. Bates,

a nuclear fast attack submarine, when D was the engineer.

Here we are with one of D's BFF from high school, L,

who married one of D's best buddies from the USNA, BT.

BT and D were on the sailing team together.

L, D, and BT (retired Marine Corps LTCOL)
It was GREAT to see them!

On Sunday, we headed back to Annapolis for an Open House hosted by one of D's classmates.
It was a perfect early Fall day and it was wonderful for D to catch up with some old friends.

A few of the class of '88 20th Company

 

 It was gorgeous day and after the open house, we drove back over to the USNA to walk around.

The campus is right on the Severn River and is just beautiful.

Bancroft Hall, where all of the midshipmen live.

Another shot of Bancroft Hall

The view as you enter Bancroft Hall, looking up into Memorial Hall.

 

Looking back at the entrance from the top of the stairs.

 

A close up of the fresco above the door.

 

 
Inside Memorial Hall, a tribute to the USNA grads who have fallen for their country.

It's just breathtakingly beautiful in Memorial Hall.

 

Another angle in Memorial Hall.

 

We rounded out the weekend at an Annapolis Institution....

 

Chick & Ruth's Delly....super yum out!

I had a tuna melt on rye, D had a cheese steak, and we shared a chocolate milkshake.

While we were there, we ran into two of D's classmates!

 

It was a wonderful weekend and it flew by much too quickly!

MANY MANY MANY

thanks to my Virginia parents for taking care of the children while I was away,

and therefore made this wonderful weekend possible!!!

 

 

Lucky Girl

So...you saw my post about brown handbags?

And you remember how I said I hope my Virginia mom was not reading?

She has an intervention planned if I purchase another bag.

Mom...stop...do not read any further.

 

 

So....the Marine Corps Exchange was having their BIG anniversary sale this weekend.

D needed some new sports shirts for work and they carry Brooks Brothers there,

so we decided to head over this morning and get a few.

 

We walked in and I got my "scratch off" extra saving coupon that could NOT be scratched off

until your purchases were rung up and then they would add the additional discount...

5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 25%...

and my sweet and statistic-loving husband reminded me that 99% of them are only 5% off

 

On the way to men's clothing, sweet D detoured to this department....

 

 

 

And I was going with him until I saw THIS...

Notice the COACH 20% off.....

 

So I detoured to here...

 

And LOOK what I found....

 

It was the ONLY one of its kind in the entire Coach department...

and it retails for $298, sells for $237 and the Exchange...and was 20% off that price!

PLUS....I had my scratch off coupon.

Hmmmm.....I grabbed the bag and found my sweet husband,

who was still in the electronics department...

and casually "slipped" it into the basket.

 

My husband, who totally spoils me, probably rolled his eyes...

and ignored it.

Oddly, the last time we were at the Exchange,

a Navy blue Michael Kors bag "accidentally" fell into our basket

and found a new home in my closet.

 

Well...I was feeling major guilt because I NEED to finish several projects around the house...

and I did just get a new bed...

so I decided that if my scratch off coupon was for only 5% more off,

I would return the bag...I told D my plan.

 

My scratch off coupon was....additional 25% off!

(disregard hat hair from USNA football game today)

Love my new bag....

It ended up being more than half off and no sales tax!

Oh...and we did get D his shirts....all on sale with additional 25% off too.

BEST husband EVER

Guess who is not taking me with him to the Exchange again?

Good thing I can get in with my own military id.
 

 

Meet Layla Grace

I was perusing Pintrest when I came across this ADORABLE glass cutting board

and I just HAD to click on it to see where it was from.

It's from an online shop called Layla Grayce.

Oh my they are a new favorite!!!

They have many beautiful treasures for the home and garden!

Have you ever heard of this shop?

I had not...but I was in for a treat!

  

I love love love this Chinoiserie glass cutting board by Boatman Geller!

 

 

This Largo Pink indoor/outdoor planter is to die for!

 

 

There are MANY patterns of personalized decoupage frames like this one!

 

 

This is one of a set of storage jars...they also have matching trays and square boxes!

 

 

This set from Pine Cone Hill is just a sample of their wide selection of beautiful bedding.

 

Just love this cookie jar!

 

 

 

This Chinese rose bowl comes in several colors.

 

 

This wool hooked rug is one of a million different styles of rugs they carry.

 

 

They also have a HUGE selection of throw pillows like this one!

 

Adorable totes like this one is from their women's collection.

 

 

 They also have lots of jewelry...these are cute!

I could post 1000 more things that I love from this website!
They also have a blog full of fashion and decorating ideas.
Take a look and see what you think!
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master Bedroom Progress

Well...this post sounds a bit misleading because the progress I have made on my

master bedroom is so small that it is barely progress,

but it is EXCITING for me!

 

Here is before....

 

 

And here is after!!!

Clearly I need a new bed skirt...LOL.

I love the carved detail!

In the background is the new gold mirror I took from my powder room...

I couldn't make it work in there and I love having it in my bedroom!

 

I posted about being sensible here when I gave up those

Lilly Pulitzer chairs that were to die for.

Well....by being sensible...and with a lot of luck,

I was able to score this beautiful solid mahogany four poster rice bed!

I first spotted it at one of my favorite consignments here in RVA back in June.

I watched and waited through the three markdowns and when it still didn't sell,

I asked the shop owner to ask the seller how low she would go on the price.

The price was right!

SO glad I passed up the chairs to buy my bed!

 

Here is the inspiration for my master bedroom...

 

And a few more that I love...

 

I also love love love this one!

 

Love this one too! I want matching chests similar to the ones in this picture.

 

 
Lovely

 So....I have my beautiful bed!

Now I just have to select fabric and trimmings, paint, and choose window treatments.

I want to get matching bachelor chests on either side of the bed,

and then dress the room up with lamps and accessories.

Progress?

Well...it's a baby step!