I haven't died!

No, I'm well and doing fine. My son is over in Iraq now and I'm spending a lot of time trying to keep up with him and also posting on my Red Hat Military Mom blog.

Join me there!http://redhatnavymom.wordpress.com/

Fabulous Red Hat Society Hats

Here is a fabulous hat RRBYC1630 that Rosemarie is wearing in style! Get sassy and really celebrate your life!

Go to RED HATS and pick your style! I love them all!

Rosemarie likes to cock her hat back a little to add drama. She also wears this one to the side just a bit!

Great job, Rosemarie!

Hibiscus

This Dinner plate Hibiscus made it through Hurricane Rita and last year’s many freezes that killed all the rest of my plants. Now this Hibiscus has more blooms that I can count.

It goes to show us that no matter the hardships, no matter the bumps in the road, we come back through the Grace of God, tried and true! Prettier, stronger, and better than before!

Bloom where you are planted.

God Bless,

Cresa

How to wear a Victorian Touring Hat

I have a wonderful customer in New York (got to love New York), that really knows how to wear a hat. Rosemarie used to be a dancer and is still looking great!

What I like about the way she wears her hat is that it is tilted back a little, but has the classic dip in the front! Just stunning!

She is wearing the Purple Victorian Touring hat and the Red Victorian Shawl over her red dress! Great for the Birthday Girl.

Here she is wearing a fabulous purple outfit and the Red "Titanic Style" Hat! FULL REGALIA!

Both hats can be seen along with 6 pages of hats in the RED HAT BOUTIQUE! http://www.rrbycresa.com/redhats/red_hat_boutique.htm

Iraq

Well, I haven't posted since January, but a lot has been going on. We know for sure now that my son is going to Iraq. The thing is, he wants to go. He is a Medic assigned to the Marines from the Navy.

Not long ago he married a wonderful girl that I, as the mom, am so thankful for. A picture to the right shows what a great looking couple they are! She and I will support each other in supporting him.

I am very proud of him, but, of course, to say the least, I am concerned. I know the Good Lord will take care of him. I just pray that he is safe.

Any other moms, wives, etc. that have men in Iraq? Feel free to post comments.

The newest thing in my life is that I now sometimes watch the Military Channel on DirectTV. That is a switch from Flip this house, isn't it.

My website sells what "American Proud" jewelry I can find and do you know the most popular is the "Keep My Son Safe", "Keep My Father Safe", and "Keep My Husband Safe" Bracelets.

I will be joining the ranks of people sending "Care" packages soon. God Bless you all that do that!

Thanks for the sacrifice of all of you that have loved ones serving in Iraq. You are honored.

There are a couple of verses I have on my Patriotic Page. Click http://www.rrbycresa.com/Jewelry/patrioticpage.htm and go to the bottom of the page if you wish to read them. Warriors have been around for a long time, just read the Old Testament. This generation of Warriors is very special as they are all VOLUNTEER! So Fabulous!

God Bless you and God continue to bless the United States of America!

Life after 50 - Room Makeover OR Updating that tired dreary living room!

On the weekend of the New Year I decided to undertake the project of "Updating" my living room. Yes, I watch all the shows, Sell this House, Flip this House, and so on. I think there should be one, "Hire Someone to Update this House, Really Cheap!"

With all the knowledge I had gleaned from these really marvelous shows, I bravely went to the paint center. I started at Lowe's in my town, where a young man looked at me as if I were crazy when I innocently asked, "Which Brown do you think I should get?" Now, of course you know there are hundreds of brown on the new color wheel to become color blind on.

Did this brown have too much gold, did this one have too much green, too much purple or red in this one? Oh how I poured over the little cards with all those lovely colors. It was like shuffling a deck of poker cards.

Well, being the design guru that I have become, I chose the colors I thought would work, got a sample of each (at Lowe's it's a pint for around $3.50) and walked confidently out of the store knowing that in one of the 5 samples SURELY my dream color would be there.

At home, with my trusty new sponge applicators and paper all over the floor, I started painting the five different colors on different walls in the house. I think I saw them do this on "Flip this House". I was just so pleased at myself for this. Just think, instead of painting all of the walls and hating it, I was painting it in sections.........and hating it!

NONE OF THE COLORS worked!!!

I then thought I would try a different tactic. I chose another store!! Sherwin-Williams is where I think "Sell this House" shops. I found a color I thought I would like "Latte". This brown has a dollop of green in it, but at that time I was looking for more of a pure taupish brown.

So, the man helped me choose "Sands of Time" and "Sensational Sand". Again with my hands loaded with the wonderful cards, and two sample quarts for $4.99 of each, I headed back to the house, to try it again.

Well, the Sensational Sand was exactly the color I was looking for, but.........being a woman, I didn't like it on MY walls. I suggest these colors to anyone that wants to update there house. They make your house look like a million bucks.

I went with "Latte" just because I like the name and there was a touch of green in it.

With the Latte color sceme, I chose Startling White and Monteplier Red Velvet for the trims.

There is definitely more to come, but with week one of the "UPDATE" completed, I still have more to do.

I will write more next time. Oh, did I tell you I have a 12' vaulted ceiling and I am scared of heights over two feet!

See 'ya!

Cresa