Every year on the day after Christmas my sisters and mother and I have a tradition that we never miss.
We shop the after Christmas sales.
Because hope always springs eternal and you never know what you can find on a 75% off rack.
Like the time I scored all the glitter reindeer a tree could ever wish for marked down from $6.99 to .19.
Now the glitter has faded and turned a strange shade of pewter and the reindeer have lost an antler or two and several of the reindeer decided the weather was too warm and left for the north pole….
…..but does any of that really matter?
For .19 I think I got my money’s worth. 🙂
I wish you could go shopping with us.
It’s amazing.
Someone always gets inspired and says I’m making that or this or a few of those and it shows up on a mantel.
Someone always dances.
Someone always sings.
And someone always finds a bargain that we all wish we would have seen first.
If you had been there we would have walked arm in arm through the vintage shop aisles and ooooohed and ahhhhed and pointed and been inspired and when we saw this sign…..
….I would have started singing.
“Rain drops on roses and whiskers on kittens.
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens.”
And I’d then I would have made up my own lyrics.
And you would have laughed….
….and started on the second verse.
And as we walked we’d have looked up at the second story and then stared together at the ceiling and at that chandelier made out of a tomato cage.
Seriously….you would have said.
And I’d have said that I almost like it better than the tobacco stick ceiling but that I wasn’t sure.
And you’d agree.
Because that’s what friends do when they look at amazing ceilings together.
As we passed this wreath display made from two grapevine wreaths and burlap ribbon I would have told you I was going to make one for the outdoor picnic space at the farmhouse.
And you would have told me that you didn’t know I had an outdoor picnic space.
And I would have told you I didn’t…..
….but I will now.
We would walk upstairs and we’d pass this newel post and we would have paused…..
…. and look at each other and we would have asked why don’t they make staircases like this anymore?
And I would have told you I saw one almost like it at a salvage store in Nashville.
And that I totally needed it for my house.
And that you could stop by and visit it any time.
And I would have been so inspired by all that shopping and laughing and singing and amazing newel posts that I would have grabbed my camera and started taking pictures.
And I would have never noticed the mirror.
Until you reminded me.
And then I would have introduced you to my friend, Donna.
She’s amazing.
And we would have laughed and talked painting and decorating and she would have told you the history of the square and her store, Doozie’s Corner, and how they have brought back it to life…..
….and then we would have all gone down the street for sweet tea.
Or maybe hot chocolate because it was cold.
And then we would have shopped until we dropped….
…..and looked for more of those glitter reindeer along the way 🙂
PS All these pictures were taken at Doozie’s Corner in downtown McKinney, Texas. It was an amazing day of shopping and laughter. You can follow along with Doozie’s Corner on Facebook here or if you live in the DFW Metroplex stop by and say hello!
PPS If you were watching the news in Dallas and saw a blonde haired DIY’er with red lipstick showing you how to make a pillow from a reusable shopping bag….yes….that was me. 🙂
PPPS Wish me well….today I’m saying I DO to a pair of brown twinkling eyes….
…..for the second time. 🙂
Great post, I love your stories. Congratulations on the "I DO".
McKinney TX here I come!! What a beautiful shop. I hope your day is wonderful and twinkling......
Had such a great time shopping with you this morning. But loved watching ballgame with you more because I got to hug your neck! Happy anniversary!
I love your stories (and that shop)! Congrats on your "new" nuptials!
KariAnne, You are such an amazing writer. Each day you invite us along and take us on a little adventure. Thank you! All the best as you say I do again, Nancy
How wonderful that you are renewing your vows. I hope your post lots of pictures of the event.
Love Doozie's and her new store is amazing.
I was just in that store right before Christmas and loved it! Can't believe you were right here. Congrats on your anniversary. Best wishes for many more.
2 Very Beautiful Women! Loved reading about your travels... and your post today was just awesome! Thanks! :)
You and those twinkling eyes are meant for each other until forever.♥
Looking forward to wonderful photos and stories from your beautiful day !
You surely look amazing with your momma...and in the mirror....and please share a pic or two of your Second Wedding to the First Guy. *hearts and hugs*
You are looking great, by the way! Keep it up!
I'm not sure if there's a Happy Renewal of Vows official greeting, but if there is, I just sent it to you! Doozie's looks like my kinda store. Fun! And, just so you are aware of my little-known talent, I know all the lyrics to all the songs in The Sound of Music. Skill like that doesn't come along every day. It also doesn't earn me any money ...
May your day be as beautiful as you are. Can't wait to see the pictures! Thank you for getting my mornings off to such a good start. Blessings always
I love all of the JOY!!! Especially the joy you will share with "brown eyes" later today! You're still a Rock Star in my book, too!
Loved the post, as always. Tell twinkling, brown eyes "Congratulations" on winning you again! Seriously, God bless you both, for the rest of your lives.
Congrats....on your "second time around"!!! May it be just as lovely and wonderful as the first!
Your blog is my absolute favorite. Texas girls are fun, aren't we? Congratulations to you and yours
Your wonderful tale takes me back a few years to a wonderful friend of yore who has been gone for too long now. We had many, many such treks and the memories often keep me warm still on a winter's night! Thank you KariAnne for this and a very Happy New Year as you renew your vows!
Have a wonderful day. I'm sure you will make everything sparkle. God bless! xo
Congrats!!!! Know you and yours are blessed. You look great in your striped top with your friend! STOP!!! Thinking of your self as you were before your weight loss. It is a mind game. YOU are a winner!
Congratulations to you and your husband renewing your marriage vows. I hope your day is full of joy and many blessings.
I am always inspired by your blog, KariAnne. Toay, I am absolutely blown away by what can be done with a tomato cage. My mind is spinning with possibilities. Thanks and have a great Tuesday!
Your writing is always so beautiful, I feel like I was there with you. Before I even got to the part where you said you started singing "My Favorite Things", I was reminded of times like this with my sister and when we broke into "you say tomato, I say to-mah-to" when we were dining at a place with a topping bar and a gentleman came around the corner with a huge tray of sliced tomatoes. Be it shopping, or dining, or just going for a walk, these special times with family are the times to treasure. Bless you and Happy New Year. Thanks for continuing to share a peek into your life!
That was a fantastic blog post! Loved it! Enjoy your special day today!
*sigh* Such a great shop! And you're right, we would have TOTALLY had that conversation. :) Blessings to you and your sweet hubby today!
Congratulations on your vow renewal!! I can't wait to see pictures and I know you will look really beautiful :) Happy New Year my Friend!
I LOVED taking that little shopping trip with you, even though it was through reading it....I would LOVE to go arm and arm shopping with you. Reading your writing is "PRICELESS" wish you such JOY on the renewal of your wedding vows today. BTW need to see those lovely "shoes" you brought for this special occasion! Happy life to you BOTH....JOY, PEACE and LOVE!!!!!
Great post (as always) my friend. Soak in every precious moment of your vow-renewal ceremony. Double-woot! Blessings, Michael
Congrats on the I Do's!! That is very COOL!! ;)
Kari....I would sooo take that stroll with you!!!! And the second time around is always the best!
Kind of funny how you only promoted Doozie's stuff, there's many many other vendors in there. "Collection of Boutiques" haha what a joke. Renting a boutique space in this store is like renting a storage unit.
I am sad you feel that way. I have shopped at Doozie's often and have enjoyed it every time. Whether only one person was showcased or not really doesn't matter. If someone goes in to see her things they will also see everyone else's. Being mean spirited only shines badly on you. Have a blessed holiday season.
If you relied on a boutique space to support 5 children you might understand. Try not to judge when you have no idea how vendors are treated in the shop. Have A Informed Blessed Day.
I use to live near McKinney, my daughter just recently moved back, love the square, Gainesville has some cute stores also. Does Plano still have a cute downtown? love your writing....you go girl. I'm inspired to start another project! Carrie
I'm ready to go shopping with you, anytime, KariAnne!!
Loved 'shopping' and 'singing' with you. Congratulations on your wedding anniversary renewal. Happy New Year too!
Have been to McKinney, Texas many times...I wonder if I was at Donna's shop....glad you may have found some favorite things....and are you saying that you are renewing your vows?????...How so very wonderful!!!!! Happy New Year!!!
I'll be willing to bet you've said I do and I will to those twinkling brown eyes millions of times -- how could you resist ;-) And that crown in the window!!!! You didn't buy it!???! It's so you!! Think of the beautiful queen in The Wizard of Oz. You could have a magic want and sparkling shoes. Oh I can just picture it. Of course you would have to glue some blink to the crown but you're a pro with the glue gun!! Go Back and GET IT!!!!!! And forever best wishes to marrying your Prince Charming for the second time. Please, please pretty please with sugar on top -- may we see the pictures? I am tearing up now. I do so love happy endings and happily forever afters. :-) Big Hugs!
You are so cute...the way you write. I wish I was with you in that very funky, Christmassy, old weathered store. It looked like a fun shopping trip! Congratulations on renewing your vows!
I want everyone to know that KariAnne is my best friend and I love her so much! Well, that said, I wish, as all of you do, that she was! Kari, you make us feel like we have known you for years and we just had to move away from each other. Like we have been part of those shopping trips with you before also. Hubby is so lucky to have you so he can look into those beautiful blue eyes and kiss on those pretty red lips. I wish you the best!
Yeah I like to buy my Christmas stuff after Christmas it is the sensible way to do it and you save a heap of money
What a beautiful shop! I would love to shop with you!! You are as sweet as sugar miss K! Congrats on your renewal of your vows.
It's hard to come by knowledgeable people on this subject, but you seem like you know what you're talking about! Thanks
Congratulations on your renewed vows. Hope your day was as special as the day you were married. You definitely are two incredibly special people. Thank you for your blog. You make my day, every time you write. Looking forward to more fun and inspiration in 2015. Have a blessed and Happy New Year.
:)
Congratulations on your vow renewal. I just wanted to tell you how much I enjoy your blogs they make me smile and laugh. I find inspiration even though I don't the time to bring my ideas to light. But who knows what the future will hold.
KariAnne, Congrats on your weight loss! You look so nice and healthy! I think it's wonderful that you're renewing your vows. Very lovely. Best wishes for a lifetime of faith, good health, and joy! Christine
I really need those typeset letters; as you can tell, they fit my name well... congrats on your newptials... how wonderful to reaffirm all that is right in your world... and Happy New Year!
What a lovely shop. You look fabulous!! Congrats on the 're-I dos!
You had me at "shopping". I so wish Icould have joined you on your post-Christmas bargain-hunting spree! As far as I can tell from your posts, we would be kindred spirits, oohing & aahing in unison! Best wishes on your "wedding day"! Vicki Mtnhomeblog.com
Is it possible for your life together to overflow double with love & laughter, blessings & bliss, friends & family? If so, I'm wishing you just that -- a double overflow of all the best life has to offer!
I love, love, love your blog. And if you lived in Solon, Ohio i know we would be besties! Hope your Special day is, well, special! And wonderful!
I had to share with you just how much you inspired me this Christmas. Not sure if I can add a photo here or not but wanted to show you how I made my wood Christmas tree. Will try, if not...I'll try something else.
Happy New Year KariAnne.
Speaking of amazing, Karianne, you look absolutely amazing. I'm so proud of you and inspired by your weight loss. Way to go, girlfriend!!!
Reading your blog always brings such a huge smile to my face! You are so adorable and your sense of style is divine! You have been such a wonderful sense of inspiration in my decorating decisions for a fixer upper my husband and I bought recently. Right now he is in his workshop making a farm table for our dining room and I am recovering dining room chairs with drop cloth and will be stenciling a simple design on them...just haven't decided on which design yet...I'm loving the process of turning this fixer upper into our home to share with family and friends. Wishing you and your family a very Happy, Healthy and Blessed 2015! Thanks for so much joy! xo
Best wishes today...isn't that what you say to the bride...congratulations to the groom. Congratulations to brown eyes. And the stairway paint, the way it's worn off the steps, oh my!
Yay for "I do's" again!! Nothing quite like sisters and family for inside jokes, laughter and fun….wishing you health, happiness and prosperity in the new year!!
Hooray on another fun post...and please! Let us know how you do your hair so pretty! Seriously! And congrats to you and your sweet husband...this is a monumental thing to do. Please share! Jane xx
YOU, KariAnne, are a ROCKSTAR!!!!! You look so beautiful. Congratulations to your twinkly brown eyed sailor. I hope he sings your special song to you again this time. We await lots of photos and details. Happy New Year, sweet girl. Ciao, Dee
Are you renewing your vows????? That is totoally awesome!!! LOVE your stories, keep them coming! HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My kind of shopping for sure...so much fun and great for making memories. God bless you and your hubby on this special day!
I just love you and your amazing stories! Happy Anniversary, Happy New Year AND Happy Birthday! That's a whole lot of happy and a big hug headed your way. Off to watch your news segment now! xoxo
KariAnne, What an uplifting blog posting today! Just loved my little tour of Doozie's....and, at some point, we would have looked at each other and I would have said, "I had no clue you lived in Tx, but I SHOULD have! I've always thought we would be friends if we would only bump into each other and spoken (as all Texans know no strangers). I live in the Texas Hill Country and will make the trip to McKinney to visit Doozie's Corner.....looks like our kind of shopping trip! I'll keep reading and enjoying, as long as you keep posting! roz
Love this, Karianne! I love a good sale, but I don't think I've ever found anything I loved for .19! Pretty impressive. You look so fab, by the way!! Looking forward to talking to you in a couple of weeks. Happy New Year! xo Kristy