CHARMING CHARLIE

UH OH! Steve's in trouble.... Charming Charlie now has an online store! :)

http://charmingcharlie.com/

I had written an entry about this AMAZING place a lil while back...check it out here! http://skv6.blogspot.com/2010/11/william-miles-katy-jared-charlie.html

CHOPPED

I absolutely love her new do! She looks so different! FABULOUS!

SURPRISE!!!

For my blog readers/followers out there.... :) We sent out this super early Holiday card to our friends & family right before Thanksgiving...It's been a long road of ups & downs over the past year. Steve & I are over the moon!

VINTAGE DRESS FORM

LOVE! Xmas Wish List for sure! :) ABC Distributing Catalog/Online store! It would go PERFECT in our large purple guest room!

http://www.ltdcommodities.com/LTD%2BExclusives/Vintage-Dress-Form/prod320117.jmp;jsessionid=64E53CB7DC3A646DC5BE8E39C8B2F4C6?fm=email&navAction=push&categoryId=cat570013&navCount=0

RESPONSE RECEIVED: WWII DOG TAGS

In honor of Veterans Day 11-11-11 I wanted to give an update on my story....

I recently received a thank you note in the mail from the wife of the husband's dog tags I found! Here is what she wrote to me…it makes me tear up & smile every time I read it...

"Hello Shannon, my name is Betty Yeager, and Im writing to thank you for finding my husbands "dog tags" and for sending them to me. I have no clue how they ended up in CT. I thought he lost them over seas. He shipped out from Virginia but returned to NY, I thought. Paul has been gone since 1991, he would be 92 now, Im 91. My three sons and daughter were happy to see the "tags" and want to do something special with them. Again I thank you for your kindness. God bless you. Betty Yeager"


ORIGINAL POST:
http://skv6.blogspot.com/2011/07/dog-tags-found.html

UPDATE:
http://skv6.blogspot.com/2011/07/update-wwii-dog-tags.html

WANT

i think this would fit perfectly in our retro vintage pink kitchen! saw it at BJ's the other day!

MY LIFE WOULD SUCK WITHOUT YOU

Simply stated... ;)



I found this on Etsy forever ago & showed Steve! He ordered it w/o me knowing & gave it to me last night! Can't wait to frame it! :)

IT POPPED!

As i had suspected...when we returned from NC my sunflower had POPPED! Full bloom! Sooo pretty! :) ***Check out the before photos a few blog entries down...

THE CHILDREN OF 9/11

I'll definitely be purchasing this copy of PEOPLE...

ONE LAST SLICE

OF AMERICAN PIE THAT IS!!! The FINAL flick!

American Reunion, set for release April 6, 2012

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20524453,00.html

DWTS SEASON 13 CONTESTANTS

I might actually watch it this go around... :)

And the 12 DWTS contestants for Season 13 are:


David Arquette: The comedic actor and former husband of Courteney Cox is best known for his performances in Scream and Never Been Kissed.


Chaz Bono: The only child of legendary entertainers Cher and the late Sonny Bono would be the first transgendered contestant on the series.


Nancy Grace: The former criminal prosecutor and opinionated legal commentator is expected to keep hosting her show on HLN while she competes on the show.


Ricki Lake: The actress-author-birth advocate is having a great year; she recently announced her engagement and will launch another talk show next year.


Rob Kardashian: Kourtney, Kim and Khloe's younger brother works as a talent manager but occasionally steps into the limelight to appear on his family's shows.


Ron Artest: Standing at 6-foot-7, the Los Angeles Lakers forward is one of the season's two professional athletes.


Chynna Phillips: The Wilson Phillips singer is related to two Hollywood families -- her Mama and Papa John and Michelle Phillips and her Baldwin husband Billy.


Kristin Cavallari: The former star of MTV's reality series Laguna Beach and The Hills occasionally appears on TV shows but is mostly dedicated to her charity work.


Carson Kressley: The personal stylist and television host became a household name when he starred on Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy" in 2003.


J.R. Martinez: The "All My Children" actor suffered burns over 40 percent of his body while deployed in Iraq; when he's not on the soap he's a motivational speaker.


Hope Solo: Filling in the other pro athlete spot is the beautiful, heavily endorsed goalie of the U.S. Women's National Soccer Team.


Elisabetta Canalis: She may be tabloid fodder for being George Clooney's ex, but the gorgeous model-actress is a famous TV and film personality in her native Italy.

POTTY TIME

The outhouses that were made for my cousin Jesse's outdoor wedding in VT this past weekend! I was impressed! Of course I needed a photo in front of them! :) Just a quick pic for my readers...I'll catch up on blogging at some point this week!

IT'S ABOUT TO POP

By the time we get back from the beach this, baby will be in full bloom! Sunflowers are my favorite! :) Until next week...PEACE.

RANDOM

Kanye? Or Jay Z? maybe a lil bit of both? :) pretty awesome.
I really love this lavender rose cropped jacket from Newport News!

Purchased this retro pair of earrings from a vintage antique shop in California a few months back! Totally wearing it to my friend Mike's wedding in NY at the end of August.

I was having a lovely quiet Chinese lunch on Tuesday while my car was getting looked at during my work lunch break. Little did I know I was about to pay $170 for a new battery, oil change & fluid check.

Awwwe. Boo always knows when we are leaving him. He followed me around all morning!

NORTH CACKALACKY

Onto the 2nd wedding on our list for August! (as you know this is our 3rd wedding in general as we attended our 1st one in June!) Tomorrow we are off to North Carolina for Kelly Lewis' wedding until late Sunday night! The Lewis family have been our close family neighborhood friends since elementary school! Our parents are the bestest of friends! And us "kids" continue to reunite every so often w/o missing a beat of course! SUPER exciting! The area that we are heading to is Wilmington/Sunset Beach. PUMPED! I can't wait to see everyone, including my family as my parents just retired into their brand new house down there! Steve & I will be checking out their brand new digs (built from the ground up) for the 1st time! While we are in town we will also be checking out downtown Wilmington, soaking up the sun on the sand & bringing out our inner "dorks" (as some would say) by sight seeing OTH's "clothes over bros/karen's cafe" & the rivercourt! I really can't wait for that part! Woo! Hoo!

WILMINGTON, NC: http://www.wilmingtonnc.gov/

2 SIDES OF SHANNON :)

it's rare that i post an extremely "raw" before photo.... but it's just too funny not to share! LOTS of teasing to get this fabulous beehive hair do! :)

ME & MY LOVE :)
CRAZY!!! :)

YOU GOT ME

Sooooooooo Jacob & Amy's wedding was this weekend! What a BEAUTIFUL day all around! I cant wait to share my photos! Down below is a quick sneak peak! Remember...it all took place in their backyard. Chandeliers, white Christmas lights, vintage/antique decor, comfy seating areas, an in-ground pool, wild flowers, garden esque everything & more! This song by Colbie Caillat played as us bridesmaids & the stunning bride walked down the aisle! LOVE! Just imagine it...we all walked from the back gate, along side the pool and ahead towards the bird bath on the opposite side of the yard! The sun was peaking through the clouds & all you could hear was the birds chirping!

VIDEO: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DQ8Osinlfe8


***STACEY M PHOTOGRAPHY***

***STACEY M PHOTOGRAPHY***
(Gav, my hubby Steve & Me--Jacob & Amy---Katie & Andrew---Danielle & Josh---Sam)

SLITHER

Snakes...not a fan. Esp in dreams...last night i had a dream that had several snakes in it! If i ever remember a dream I tend to search the meaning of it online to see what i can find. Of course it depends on which link or website you click on as sometimes there are different meanings...this is the one i came across the most...

Snakes come to those who are in the process of transformation. Change, squared. In other words, if you are having snake dreams, get ready for a shake up. And this is GOOD. Change is scary, threatening; it can come upon you like a snake in the grass, biting you when you least expect it. Change can come in many forms and colors, and sometimes requires a huge swallowing of information (like the snake when eating), or a shedding of skin and with that, sense of trust in the divine (like the blind snake when shedding skin).

As a positive symbol, snakes represent healing, transformation, knowledge and wisdom. It is indicative of self-renewal and positive change.

FLEA MARKET FIND

10 cents. YEP, that's it. :) Reminds me of a necklace my Grandmother used to wear...she may still have it actually.

CH-CH-CH-CHECK IT OUT

Remember the gold chandelier I was going to spray paint for my friend Amy's backyard garden pool side wedding per a few posts down below on my blog? Well....here is the outcome! :) Let our August wedding festivities begin!!!

MY OPEN ROAD

i took this photo last night... it has inspired me a bit...makes me think of the future & the possibilities ahead, as life has had it's ups & downs over the past year & has been a bit stressful in so many ways...try to keep up w/ this jumbled, unorganized post. don't get me wrong, i love my life & Im truly happy but sometimes there are things that can bring a person down, or things that can make a person start to crack. Ive heard that there are people out there that think my life is picture perfect. totally not true. i have issues just as much as anyone else out there. sometimes i just don't display those issues on my face, within my smile, through words online or verbally if Im not asked about them 1 on 1. i try not to get involved in drama or share my drama as much as possible. i try to stay positive about life & try not to stress out too much. Sometimes when bigger things happen to you the small things aren't as big as they seem. Unfortunately my feelings hurt easily. i try not to take things personally, even though sometimes, some things certainly feel as if they were meant for me to take them that way. sometimes i feel as if i can't win w/ certain people, i have to remind myself that it's them, not me. can't help but feel as if Im constantly walking on egg shells. the little things tend to be big things in my life. and the big things tend to be even bigger. on top of it all, i easily feel left out. i started my blog a few years ago to in hopes to keep my friends & family up to date on how my new life up North was treating me. i also started it so i could jot down my thoughts & feelings as I please. I slacked on that part a bit, as Ive recently been posting notes about fashion, celebrities, music & DIY projects. Figured i should get back to me for a few mins. Here's a quote from the infamous Carrie Bradshaw that caught my attention last night while watching TV in bed...kinda ties in w/ just part of this entry..."the truth is, at any given moment someone somewhere could be making a face about you. But it's the reviews you give yourself that matter." .....I truly cherish those friends & family members who have been there for me face to face or a phone call away. Those people have gotten me through this year so far & have reassured me that I am a good person & deserve to be treated like one...they have also reassured me that things will look up in the future & everything happens for reason...I'm not a religious person but God does have a plan for everyone. Even if you don't know what that plan is at this moment in time. I have to continue to reassure myself that I am only handed what I can handle. Sometimes it doesn't feel that way though. After reading this, some of you out there may think that Im only looking for sympathy. I am NOT that kind of person. Typing all of this out is almost a sense of therapy. It feels good to get all of this out, even If Im not going into detail. I know what Im talking about & a few others close to me will know as well. Oh to the struggles of growing up, as well as moving away...Ive def been beaten up a bit, that's for sure. No doubt there's someone out there that's going through what I'm going through. I'm probably not alone. Yah, & maybe some if "it's just a girl thing". I've learned some lessons & I've also learned both positive & negative news. Keeping my head up, my mind in the right place & my heart open will hopefully guide me along the way...



here's to the possibilities in my future...
new friendships
(even) stronger relationships (husband & family)
less stress @ my real job
stronger friendships
more photography side jobs
less "to do list" stress
mended friendships
and...hopefully...babies.....*our* biggest struggle.

JANELLE HONEYCUTT FUNDRAISER

NOVA friends & family... :) Sept 10th--fundraiser for Janelle Honeycutt :) http://www.caringbridge.org/visit/janellehoneycutt

OMG IT'S SO HOT OUT

This is me mimicking everyone on FB yesterday & today! In a teasing kind of way. I will take the heat over any super cold Winter day, that's for sure!!! Bring on the sun! Bring on the humidity! I can take it! :) This weekend we have NOTHING set in stone on the calendar. What a great feeling! Here are some things I plan on doing at my own leisure...just typing "at my own leisure" sounds so freakin fantastic! HA!

*catch some rays
*photograph some things on this road that's right behind our house: horses, a red barn, an old blue classic car, an old "tug boat" of some sorts, wild flowers & more!
*check off a few items on my "to do list" inside the house & in the yard
*laundry, laundry & more laundry....sheets & towels
*possibly "Mystic Pizza" w/ friends on Sun
*use/spend a few shopping certificates & coupons
*paint that gold chandelier pink finally, collect some sticks, collect a few last min need be's from the flea market & create a vintage wedding yard sign for Amy & Jacob's big day

*& so on, & so on, & so on

WEDDING GUEST/BRIDAL PARTY DRESS #1

We have officially entered into wedding season this year! We have 6 total! Steve & I are in 1 together! & I'm in 2 total! Craziness, yet super fun! Vacation time, money, dresses, suits, wedding gifts, hotels, flights, long drives & more! BUT sooo worth it! Woo! Hoo! The 1st wedding for us this year was Crystal & Nick's on 7*9*11! The full FB album is below! I just had to share the pictures w/ my readers. I had so much fun taking these photos as a guest & then editing them after the fact! Im pretty proud of myself actually. Can't wait to take more wedding photos between the 1st weekend in August & the last weekend in October! Here is my 1st wedding guest dress! I purchased this lavender & black lace dress @ a cute lil boutique shop in FL when Steve & I went down there for our 1 year anniversary. I fell for it as soon as I saw it! Under $20! The black wedge shoes are from Target...a lil bit more then $20 but oh well-super comfy though!

Me & Steve---my newest fav shot of us!
Danielle, Jess & Me

Dancin' the night away! I had just enough drinks in me to strut my stuff! HA!

NICK & CRYSTAL'S WEDDING 7*9*11 ALBUM:

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150233126593176.315014.516028175&l=d467e07e3d&type=1


***Today, one of my favorite inexpensive websites sent out a 50% off online coupon code! I totally had to use it so i purchased THIS dress for the 3rd wedding we have on the calendar in NC on the beach.---Hi Kelly! :)

RANDOM

Just purchased the latest Kate Voegele CD "Gravity Happens" using our Best Buy rewards online. I <3 Kate. I first heard of her while watching "One Tree Hill" several years back. I saw Kate perform a lil while back in a VA coffee shop, what an intimate show that was!
The view from our new hammock area...sooo peaceful. Can't wait to relax on it this weekend, maybe even take a nice nap.

How cute! My Grandparents left this note on our (dirty a**) oil heater in the storage room of our basement when they visited in June. We recently noticed it so I had to snap a quick photo! I don't plan on cleaning it off. EVER. :)
My new fake "Toms" from Payless! Silver glitter sparkles! So fun & so me!

The "American Apparel" newsletter hit my inbox the other day.... check out these fabulous shades! My favs are the red ones on the top right.

ROCK ON Miss USA. Simply stated.

My top 4 snap shots of the "Kid Rock" performance that Steve's company CVS hosted. What an AMAZING performer he was...

So fresh & so clean. Vanessa & Hayden

UPDATE: WWII DOG TAGS

QUICK UPDATE: The tags were still @ the antique store when I swung by Tues night! I was able to purchase them for 21 & change! :)

TEACH ME HOW TO DOUGIE

This commercial crack's me up! Just saw it last night! ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UDQ3jl-wCZw&feature=related

DOG TAGS FOUND

I have a story to share…the kind of story that gives you goose bumps…

On Saturday, July 2nd, 2011 I had a "day date" w/ my friend Heidi in Putnam, CT. Roughly 25 mins from where I live. We had lunch @ 85 Main outside under the white Christmas lights dangling from the trees above. After lunch I was debating about needing to get back home or not to get my (well overdue) hair highlighted that afternoon before our friend's Jack & Jill party that evening. Before making a final decision Heidi suggested we browse the antique shops that surrounded us as we both LOVE antiquing! We can spend ours checking out all the furniture, jewelry, knick knacks, clothing & more! Im ALWAYS wondering what the story is behind each item…who's was it? where is it from? Ect ect ect. I am completely & utterly fascinated by the answers to those type of questions…Of course I can't think of the name of the antique shop right now but hope that Heidi can help me out w/ that once I hear from her. Anyway, we ended up browsing this one shop for at least an hour if not longer…taking our time walking down aisle after aisle and eyeing display case after display case… shortly before we left I noticed a pair of silver chained dog tags laying on a glass shelve that was locked up for safe keeping. I kept looking at them trying to see if I could read the name on the tags. Looking back I don’t know why I didn’t just ask the front counter to unlock the cabinet for me so I could take a closer look. I was able to finally read the warn out/scratched off name imprinted on the tags. "Paul L Yeager"….WWII. Whenever I don’t want to forget something I send myself a text to my work email so It will shake my memory the next day. So that's what I did…of course Im kicking myself right now for not buying them right on the spot. The next morning I emailed my Grandfather who lives in NC & fought in WWII to see if (I know it was a crazy long shot) he recognized the name at all…no luck there….so I began to search the name online and ended up coming across THIS website… http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ohclecgs/cemeteries/stlouis/inscriptions.html If you scroll down to the "Y's" you will find Paul's name…. Paul L Yeager born Feb 23, 1920…..it's sad to say but, Paul passed away on Feb 22, 1991 just 1 day before his 71st birthday. If you look at the top of this website it reads "St. Louis Church Cemetery in Clermont County". Soooooo I searched this church & found out that it was located in Ohio! On the church website I found a contact email address for their front office & sent a note introducing myself & explaining my story, then asked if they thought it was the same person that was buried in their church cemetery. I also mentioned that I thought that maybe the family would want the dog tags back in their hands after who knows how many years….I didn’t hear back for a few weeks & decided to send a reminder email just this morning. The person who I contacted at the church got back to me apologizing as she had been on vacation for quite a while. Just a few mins later I received another email saying she had reached out to Paul's wife who was over the moon after hearing about all of this! She was very thankful & shared that Paul L Yeager stood for Paul Louis Yeager. She asked that I mail the dog tags directly to the church so she could have them. (Ive got goose bumps just typing this out!) She was very thankful for my research, time & effort which makes me smile! I can't even imagine what she must be thinking or how she must feel. All I know is, if my husband passed away or fought in any of our wars I would absolutely want a piece of his past that reminded me of him….This evening, Steve & I plan on going back to the antique shop to purchase the tags & mail them out as soon as possible…no doubt I will cry if they aren't there anymore. If they are still there, I'll cross my fingers that Mrs. Yeager reaches out to me one day to explain Paul's story. I wonder how the tags ended up in CT when she lives in OH? Why were they in an antique store in the first place? Did someone find them & sell them?....How long have they been there? Had the family been looking for them all this time? Stay tuned! I will for sure post an updated entry about my story in the near future! Feel free to share this w/ others!

WHERE'S GEORGE???

http://www.wheresgeorge.com/

Have you heard of this? I have but have never checked it out! Until today. I pulled a $10 bill out of my wallet that my Grandmother had given me (yes my Grandmother still slips us "kids" money when we see her! HA! Love it!) the other day when she was visiting us for our mini family reunion. Before I had the chance to spend it at lunch the stamp on the back of the bill caught my eye! I plugged in the serial # ect and found out that the bill had been all over the US! Pretty cool huh?

VISITORS WELCOME!

Sent this out today...just wanted to share... :)

Hello everyone!

Just wanted to say hi on this slow Friday afternoon. Hope all is well! I think about all of you non stop! Don't forget to let me know if you are ever up North! Especially this Summer as I'm sure all of you have travel/vaycay plans underway! Keep in mind we are close to Boston, New York, Newport, RI, Providence, RI, New Hampshire, ect! If you can't come visit us at our house we would love to try & meet up w/ you somewhere! I miss all of you sooo much! Have a lovely 4th of July weekend! PS: The next set time we will be back in NOVA is October, hopefully we will be able to make it back home sometime before that!

HUGS!

Love,

Shannon