Friday greetings, friends! How's your week been?  Good here.  Solar Eclipse happened and it rolled right down my neck of the woods, so to speak, and it did get dark for 4 minutes.  Kinda freaky and cool all at the same time. Great 5 for Friday today - Beginning with: STEPHANIE'S CHIC ON THE CHEAP I know one thing in the camp of Cheryl, I will never look at an overripe banana or potato peels the same.  They all still have value.  For Butterflies and for Me.  I have a wire coat hanger and I'm going to form a banana holder and hang it outside in one of my trees and watch the butterflies flutter around with glee.  Same the potato skins - for moi! Hello, Yumm-O.  No doubt the potato skins are waaaayyyy better than chips outta the bag.  AND!  Banana skins in a pitcher of water for watering some of my outside plants.  Plants will thank me and grow like crazy thanks to Steph!  Ta-Dah! I so laughed outloud at Steph's share of what would literally be her regarding a $7 dress from Ross.  Me, knowing Steph for many years absolutely know this to be true!  I'm pretty sure she finds all the "deals" out there before any of us put our shopping shoes on.  HA! Steph never disappoints with her cool, outside-the-box creative ideas. Thanks, Steph!  Keep 'em coming, girl! QUICK QUESTION What is bravery to me?  Many things --but the first thing that pops in my head is -- one who continues to put one foot in front of the other and keeps moving ahead regardless of circumstances happening in their immediate world at the moment.  You? SOUTHPAW SUPER POWER Is an intriguing list of the specialness of those born left-handed.  Totally makes sense, though.  My dad was a left-hander.  It always caught my attention when he wrote something on a piece of paper - how he positioned his hand to do so - and he did have very nice handwriting.  Are you a southpaw or someone in your family?

Friday greetings, friends! Great line-up today beginning with: STEPHANIE'S CHIC ON THE CHEAP I love Stephanie's Xeriscape planter pots tips!  And they look so cool.  Pretty sure I can do that and will! I've planted many, many planter pots of flowers over the years and water in the morning, but by mid-afternoon they don't look so perky and I can almost hear them whispering, Water, water, water please.  Poor babies - of course - I grab a watering container or hose and give them more gulps of water.  Sadly, no matter how hard I try being water girl, by end of summer, they just didn't survive the heat.  Boo! However, there's a new plan around here thanks to Steph's insider tips! AND I totally love the rock garden idea in a large, cool, flat, natural looking container  -- collected pieces from past adventures - future adventures OR simply flat-out buying them from an online source and incorporating all to become a signature masterpiece here at my home. Thanks, Steph!  Keep your innovative ideas headed our way because we are FANS! QUICK QUESTION What's something I do that some may find odd or humorous?  Well, I save envelopes from bills or advertisements I get in the mailbox and use the backs of the envelopes for grocery lists, to-do-lists, reminder notes that I magnet tack to the 'fridge.  I think it's kind of like recycling, yes?  At the very least it's re-purposing.  Works for me!  How about you? 8-YEAR-OLD-PAPER ON GRANDPARENTS I smiled from ear to ear reading this little 8 year old's paper as it is so beautifully true and brought back numerous memories of my (our) grandparents who were the coolest, kindest, patient, grey haired people on the planet.  So many life lessons learned from them - including - and - especially LOVE. BROWN DERBY COBB SALAD RECIPE Is the OG.  I stumbled across this recipe years ago from a recipe book that was specifically dedicated to recipes requested over and over again from readers of the Los Angeles Times most popular food column Dear S.O.S.  Indeed, I have made this salad many, many times and, yes, it's fabulous --  and the Special French Dressing is the icing on the salad.

Hello March and hello friends - March isn't rolling in like a lion thus far.  Temps are supposed to be around 70 today.  But who knows?  Could change like lickety-split.  Regardless of what temps roll in today to the end of the month, I'm counting on March rolling out like a lamb and gently launching us into spring. Super-duper fun read today! Beginning with: STEPHANIE'S CHIC ON THE CHEAP Once again (!) Stephanie  hooks us up with cool, DIY innovative ideas of things + pieces just waiting in a thrift store to be discovered, loved and become statement pieces here and there in our homes.  Welcome to the family, sort of thing! I don't happen to own an old suitcase - but now I'm on the hunt!  I love the vintage look of them.  And the beauty of another piece of eclectic added to my home.  Same goes for a basket with a moving handle.  Superness! Genius, Steph! DO I LEARN BY WATCHING OR DOING? My answer is both.  I learn by watching and then doing.  The 2 work in tandem for me.  You?