Vintage European Wall Sink Lavabo~

Hi all, I hope your having a wonderful and relaxing week.

I wanted to show you another gift I got for Christmas. I have been wanting one of these sinks forever and found one in a fantastic on-line shop that I found through Lulu at "DustyLu". The shop owner has the most amazing style and the most wonderful French and European vintage treasures for sale. Her name is Debra Hall and her shop is called "Debra Hall Lifestyle".

 Vintage European Wall Sink Lavabo from the 1920's.

I love the chippy green paint on the sink basin.

I think this would be beautiful filled with fresh or dried hydrangeas!

If you haven't stopped by Debra's shop, do so now, I know you will love her treasures. She also has a blog where you can see a tour of her beautiful home full of French farmhouse antiques. I could look at her photos for hours!!

I changed a few things around the house the day after Christmas. I'm always ready for something fresh and clean after the craziness of the holidays.

I really need to finish upholstering the arms on this vintage settee in the New Year.  And I think I'll change out my bucket chandie for a small crystal chandie. The bucket light would look great in my boys room.

I love these vintage wicker wine bottles. I would love to have a collection of these, but they are so expensive now. I remember when I lived in No. Cal, I found 2 of these for $18.00 a piece and I never got them. I could just kick myself for passing these up!

Have you done that, passed up something you wished you wouldn't have?

Well, I can't wait to start the New Year!! I actually woke up early this morning and walked on the treadmill. Yoga starts next week, and I'm more than ready for that too!

Thanks to all of you for your words of encouragement and again for your prayers!!

I wish everyone a very HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Sincerely,

~Melinda


Joining the wonderful Courtney at "French Country Cottage".

Thank You, Ramblings, & Christmas Gifts~

Hi everyone.

I just want everyone to know that I am so truly thankful for all of your prayers and well wishes for my dad. I haven't heard anything else other than he is to visit his Neurologist and then have rehab today.

That's the hard thing about living a million miles away from a loved one, you feel so helpless.

 I have been working so hard these last couple of days trying to work through these feelings of sadness over my dad. So, I am trying to keep busy with my family to keep my mind occupied. My hubby and I have been playing a lot of Scrabble at night when the boys are sleeping, and that seems to help, especially when I win :)! 

I am so determined to do things differently in my life this year.

I just read the most beautiful post on Anne's blog, and I have the same wish for the New Year.

 So, if you haven't read Anne's post, stop by and read it and be inspired.

This year I am doing something I have been wanting to do forever!

I've been wanting to start Yoga for the past 10 years, I know, that's a long time, so next week, I will be starting my beginners Yoga class. I am hoping this will help not only my body but my mind and spirit as well. 

At this Yoga studio, they have heated Yoga. Has anyone taken a heated Yoga class? How was it?

This is when the room is heated and it is suppose to help prevent injury to your muscles when stretching and also helps to detox the body.

I don't think I'll start out in the heated class though, I wouldn't want to pass out on my first visit! :)

 I thought I'd show you some of the gifts my husband and boys gave me for Christmas.

My husband purchased all of my gift's on the internet this year. This lovely vintage French desert/cake plate came from a wonderful shop on Etsy.

This wonderful old chippy gray scale came from the same shop.

Hubby also got me this wonderful vintage French Nun's Rosary which came from this great shop in L.A called "Vintage Weave Interiors". They have gorgeous things and have an online shop as well.

 Thank you boys for my amazing gifts!!!

I am so fortunate to have the most amazing husband and son's, and believe me, I know how fortunate I am! I thank God everyday!!!

I got one other thing, but I need to find the perfect spot for it first before I show you. It is super heavy, so I'm having a hard time lugging it around.

Again, thank you for your continued prayers and I'll let you know when I hear anything else about my dad.

Happy New Year everyone!!

Sincerely,

Melinda

Pray~

Hi everyone, I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

I just wanted to ask everyone out there to pray for my dad. I just learned from his wife last night that he suffered a stroke and is partially paralyzed. Unfortunately, he lives in the Philippines, so I am unable to see him. It is really hard for me to even imagine my dad being ill, he has always been so strong. I feel so helpless being a million miles away! At least I was fortunate enough to see him in October and we had a wonderful visit, thank God for that!

Anyway, your prayers would mean so much to me and his family and I know the power of prayer will help!!

Thank you all!

Sincerely,

Melinda

Christmas Wreath~

Hello again.

I didn't think I would post again until after the holidays, but I just had to show you my beautiful wreath from "Wintersteen Farms" that I won from Maria's generous giveaway.

I knew it would look so pretty on my old gate.

Thank you so much Maria and Wintersteen Farms!!

I had previously posted about a not so nice comment I had from someone earlier toady on the internet that deeply hurt me. But after talking with a good friend, I decided to remove the post. I refuse to let anyone, especially someone I don't even know hurt me anymore!
So, enough of that!

I want to wish you all a very~

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
~Sincerrely,
Melinda

My Paperwhites & Some New Vintage Plates~

Hi all, how's everyone's last minute preparations for Christmas going? I'm finally done! Woo~Hoo. I got the stocking stuffers last night and that's a wrap! 

I thought I would show you some photos of my paper whites, they are finally getting ready to bloom and I'm so happy because they actually survived and I didn't kill them!

Here's one of the stocking's that I won from the lovely Maria. I hate to wrap them up when Christmas is over. Maybe I'll just fold them and put them with my other grain sacks.

I got these pretty little vintage desert plates a few weeks ago from "SadieOlive". The pattern is called "Forget Me Not". I would love to find dinner plates to match. 

I have to admit, even though it is so pretty, that I'm a bit ready to get rid of all of the cedar clippings I have scattered around the house. It's making everyone's allergies act up and my poor husband has been sneezing like a mad man! 

Well, hope you enjoyed and have a wonderful day all.

Sincerely,

~Melinda

A Winner~

Hello all and Happy almost Christmas!!! Can you believe we only have 4 shopping days left until the big day?!!! I got most of the shopping done yesterday but I, or Santa, still has a couple of stocking stuffers left to get. How about you? Are you done with your shopping yet?

 And the winner of my holiday "Winters Peace" bracelet giveaway is #1~Jessie from "A Cozy Cottage In The City".

Congratulations and Merry Christmas to you Jessie!!!!

Thanks to all of you who entered. I will be having another giveaway at the beginning of the New Year, so stay tuned.

If I don't talk to you all before Christmas, I wish you and yours a beautiful and joyous Christmas!!!

Sincerely,

~Melinda

Stir Crazy & New Shop Name~

Hi everyone.

Hope you all had a lovely weekend!

I've been cooped up in the house with my boys for the past week because we've all been sick. My little one has pneumonia and the poor thing hasn't slept for the past few nights, which means mom and dad haven't either. I do think he is on the mend though because he actually wanted to play with his brother today and he ate finally!

How is everyone coming with their Christmas shopping? 

"Santa" still has a few gifts to get the little ones which she will go out and get tomorrow.  I just can't wait to face the crowds! :)

I also wanted to let you know that I changed my home shop name from "Alabaster Rose Home" to "Taylor & Olive". I wanted something different from my jewelry line and the name comes from my grandmother. I like it, it's kind of spunky!

I just listed a few new things as well, so stop by and take a look.
Taylor & Olive

Vintage inkwell~

Vintage iron roses~

Vintage men's shaving cup from Germany~

Vintage German homespun linen pillow w/ down and feather insert~

I'll be adding more after the holidays, I want to get it as full as possible.

Hope you all have a wonderful week.

Sincerely,

~Melinda

Boys Room~

Hi again everyone. I know, I think this is my 3rd post so far this week, but I wanted to show you a few photos of my boy's room before it gets destroyed again! :) You know how boys are.

I got this great bed and cabinet from Country Roads, of course, and that started the change. 

Lots of photos ahead.~

This is the wonderful vintage bed I got from Country Roads. 

I love the floral detail on the bed. It's on all 4 sides.

This is the great pale blue vintage cabinet I got from Debbie at Country Roads. It's perfect for their toys.

Vintage French coal bucket and vintage tractors.

I've had this vintage metal bed for years. It also came from Country Roads. I told you that  I have been shopping there forever!

Well, that's it for now. Hope you enjoyed.

*****Don't forget to enter my giveaway if you haven't done so yet. It ends on Dec. 19th. Click HERE to enter.***********

Also, I just wanted to welcome all of my new followers and thank you to everyone for always coming back!!

Sincerely,

~Melinda

Linking up with Kathleen at "Faded Charm" for White Wednesday~

Petite Vintage Stockings From "Dreamy Whites"~

How wonderful are these little petite vintage grain sack stockings?!! I won these along with 2 large stockings and fresh wreath from the generous Maria at "Dreamy Whites".

I was completely in shock but so thankful!!

I'll show you my other stockings when my wreath arrives.

{sorry for the horrid grainy photos, I think my photography is getting worse and not better! :)}

Hope you all are having a lovely day. It's been raining here all day so it is definitely feeling like the holidays!

~Melinda

Favorite Vintage Cabinet~

Hi all, hope your having a great weekend. My mom and aunt were here the past few days and just left for home today. The boys were so happy to see their Nana and Auntie. We had a mini Christmas celebration with them last night and it was so nice to be with my mom again.

So you know how it is after the guests are gone, it's time to clean up and do laundry and re-arrange furniture. Well, maybe you all don't re-arrange the furniture, but it was time to change some things around.

I have this great vintage cabinet I purchased at Country Roads years ago. It usually holds our movies, but it's such a great piece that I thought it would look great in front of the kitchen holding some of our dish ware. 

I also did a mini re-do on my boys room last week and I love how it turned out. I want to move into their room now! :)

I'll show you photos of their room next week along with photos of my goodies that I won from Maria! I'm still in shock about winning her fabulous giveaway!!

I hope your all having a beautiful holiday season!!!

Sincerely,

~Melinda