The obsession that was passed down to me...

Hey Everyone.

Something you should know about me..for those who have known me my whole life this is no secret..I admit I am one of them.  I am one of those people..I can openly admit...I Charlene is obsessed and have been for awhile with Garage Sales/Estate Sales...there its out. Dont judge me.  lol.  I am sure some of you are like oh big deal..I have gone to them..no i havent gone to them...I go to them all pretty much every weekend if I am home. No I am not a hoarder....yet.  You will find me driving the roads with newspaper and GPS, following the line of cars to the next great garage/estate sale.

You are probably asking why not just go by stuff new from stores?? What on earth do you need so much of...well this obsession goes way further back to my Nana. I can thank my dear Nana in Heaven for this obsession.  She loved Garage Sales, Rummage Sales, Estate Sales..if it was a sale, cheap and used she wanted it.  My mother and Nana grew up poor and so they did what they could to make do... but what people dont understand is the amazing things you can find super cheap at a garage sale or estate sale.  Now for some of you who only like new or super modern stuff, you will probably be disappointed in this whole obsession and think im crazy for wanting used stuff...but thats okay im cray cray sometimes.  As a child I would tag along with my Nana and Mom to garage sales, occasionally finding stuff here and there.  When I got out of college and moved home I start going more regularly.  My Nana passed away, leaving our family to continue on the traditions and experiences..but it was different without her..still is.  But Mom and I still continue the tradition of getting up early, grabbing the paper and getting lost on our way to garage and or estate sales.  My sister comes occasionally but it isnt her thing as much as me...but her daughter, my love love who is 6 LOVES garage sales. The girl is a natural....she learned at the age of 3 to bargain and negotiate a price. LOL.. She recently lived in an area where garage sales werent popular and even told me Char Char I miss yall so much..you know what else I miss.. Garage Sales. They dont believe in them here."  LOL.  Bless her heart.. She is back home now and I am sure she will be ready to start her garage sale hunt.    I prefer Estate Sales over Garage Sales..estate sales are normally done with a home owner passes away or their estate is being taken over and they open the house up for you to walk through. Though it is sad I have learned to look at it in a different way..these women loved their glass and decoration and I am going to continue appreciating it just like they did. I have found some amazing old vintage and antique items... I collect glass and serving dishes for events and always looking for something amazing... 

This past weekend I hit up an Estate Sale with my Mom and I scored this awesome bird cage. No I dont have any birds..but I love birds. I love that the are delicate but fierce..I love that they are fee and go about where they want.. I love how beautiful they are and the songs they sing.  I decided to place my new bird cage on my porch....it looks lovely. 

My sister Terri had her Bone Marrow Transplant

Hey everyone!

So as most of you all know (and for those of you who are knew you can check out some previous post on this page and on my fab page regarding my sister Terri's condition) my sister Terri, was diagnosed in June of 2012 with Acute Myeloid Leukemia which was a direct result from getting MDS, which was a result from receiving large amounts of chemotherapy for breast cancer. 

My sister has had a rough 5 years...one that no one can really understand unless you have been through it.  One most of us pray that we never will.  My sister was diagnosed a few years back with advanced stage Breast Cancer and fought it like the strong woman she is and won. She went through multiple surgeries, chemo and radiation treatments. She was in the clear, getting her life back together..then this past June a few weeks after her birthday she received life changing diagnosis.  She now had MDS from the very thing that saved her from breast cancer...the chemo. What a vicious circle to be in! To hate it for what it does to you..which it brings you almost to death...and to love it because its one of the few hopes you have in terms of treatments... So my sister has been fighting this new battle for a few months now. But she knew in order to beat this MDS now turned AML (acute myeloid leukemia) ...a transplant is the answer..its what you hope for.  My brother (her biological brother) was the first to be tested and he was not a match.  They soon after found a match on the bone marrow transplant registry.  I still cant believe that this stranger...who doesnt even know my sister is giving her the chance for life. So incredible. 

Her transplant was this past Wednesday, September 19, 2012...her new start for life..  The transplant took all day Wednesday.  That night though, she almost went into cardiac arrest.  From what I understand, her body had too much fluid and the heart couldnt keep up with it all..it was being flooded. Luckily, the doctors were able to stop everything before she suffered a heart attack. 

Each day will bring new hope but also new obstacles...she will need prayers to help keep her going and continuing to build the hope she has to one day being in remission and having a healthy life with her babies. 

I just want to say that I am very thankful to my brother Derek, who has been there helping my sister day in and day out with the boys and being her nurse at home.  I am very thankful to all of the people who have prayed, sent warm thoughts and love and who have been a part of the benefits for her.  She has amazing friends and family who adore her...

                               

                                   A friend of my sisters made this for her!

Trip to Dallas

Hey Everyone.

About a week or so ago me and the hubby went and visited my dear friend Misty and her new husband and baby.  I have known Misty for a very long time, since junior high. We didnt always hang out in the same crowd or group of friends but we were both friendly and so throughout the years we became closer. 

We had such a blast visiting them in Dallas. She cooked us a great dinner when we arrived.  We stayed with them at their place so that we could spend more time together.  Saturday, we went to breakfast at one of our favorite cafes called the Dream Cafe.  My husband loves the cloud cakes.  I opted for the Dream Egg Benedict and added artichokes to mine.  Misty ordered a popover that looked deilish. After breakfast, we headed home and dropped off my hubby (her hubby had to work) so he could catch the Notre Dame game.  Yes me and the hubby are huge Irish fans!  Misty and I ran to the grocery store to pick up some snack items for tonights game night. 

We later returned and we got ready for the evenings festivities.  After we got ready and my husband was in a good mood bc Notre Dame won we left to go to McKinney.  We went to this really cute town square that had amazing food and chocolate stores and antique shops.  We had a blast but it was freaking hot..gotta love our Texas heat (not really!) we almost ran back to the car desperate for AC.  We scooped up her hubby and went off for dinner.  Now as we are approaching the restaurant she points its over there and all I see is some beat up metal warehouse. Im like where? She says there...its the Chicken Barn.  What? do what?  of all the places you take me here..did I wear the right shoes..i love chicken but I dont want to see it alive before its cooked...please no. Okay so she calmed me down...people say im dramatic?? whatever! It was actually a lot of fun and really good basic country food.  Its family style. So they basically bring all the unlimited sides and put them in the middle and you order your meat. Chicken strips, fried chicken and so on.  Definately check out Babes if you want basic, easy country food in a fun environment . 

After dinner and feeling full and wonderful. We went back to her place where we started getting things ready for game night. We both made a ton of snacks and dips for the friends coming over later.  We played Battle of the Sexes, Apples to Apples mostly and had a blast.  I really needed the time away and it was a great weekend to see her and her hubby and baby...I cant wait to go back and visit.

Thanks babe for the great visit. Here is Misty's blog if you want to follow her.