Hi there! Great idea on the cupcake stands--I've looked at them before and thought the same thing--there should be a way to use them other than to just hold cupcakes. Your idea of the flowerpots and decorations sounds great. You know me, I like fancy, sparkly--and very cutesy. I could see stacked plates in the dining room and cute cupcake stands in the kitchen.. See, I want it all! LOL My DIL said she picked up some ornaments and other items after Christmas and wants me to do the stacked plates for her next year. I'm thinking that she might like the cupcakes stands too, especially for Spring. My son bought me a Mother's Day gift last year that is made of metal. It is like a stand with a V shaped vase in the top middle, then little votive cups all around the lower part. Pretty contemporary for my style. I spray painted it white, put silk roses in the vase and moss to cover the stems. Still looking a little contmporary. The other day, I was wondering how it would look with a flower pot in the top instead of the vase--I'm thinking I might try that--doubt that he would even notice the change. Maybe it would work sort of like your idea for the cupcake stands. Hmmm! I am so proud of you for painting. I've been trying to get my roses all trimmed--and I have allot of them. I've only got the ones on the side yard to go. Some of the other plants that got frozen will have to get cut back too. Was just waiting to be sure we wouldn't have any more freezes before I do. Would you believe it is 82 degrees right now? Supposed to get up to 84 today then drop back into the 70's. Weather is really unpredictable. I need to get that TS duck sanded off so I can get it painted--should be an easy project. And that sign I got--just can't quite decide what to paint on it. Need to put my thinking cap on. I love to sign on here and check out what's going on at all the forums. It's my way of relaxing and playing. ;o) Ths is my first stop each time. I haven't looked at Garden and Flower crafts computer crafts, or hypertufa. I've only checked out the Stained glass/mosaic forum once. I do hit the others pretty regularly. You don't have to post unless you want to--your choice-- I know you are really busy all the time--I just wanted to be sure you weren't left out.I always enjoy chatting with you. Have a good day. Luvs

Most hilarious discussion in a long time. Who'd a thunk you could laugh at a salad spinner! Thanks so much for the humor, folks. I like Romaine the best, because I use long buns, hoagies or subs you know. One piece of Romaine covers the whole thing, and it never falls out. When I do wash lettuce of any kind, I like to do the whole thing, and then I leave it in a bag with a wet piece of paper towel. I know I read somewhere that this kept it from going limp or whatever. I also TEAR lettuce and not cut it with a knife. Supposedly, this keeps the edges from RUSTING? Now on to book cases. I like adjustable shelves. I line up my book cases against the wall and then like to put the sofa in front of it. Then I bring the sofa out a little bit and let it "breathe." I like to remove a shelf and then instead of all uniform spacing, there is a taller spot so I can set a small lamp or a painting or photograph. IKEA has a lot of options, even those you can hang/suspend on your walls, to leave the floor area open. Then they also have the BILLY whatever which has been popular for about 20 years or so, and they just celebrated its birthday. I am having IKEA withdrawals, seriously, need my IKEA modular FIX. Most of the things I buy tend to be modular in style, so they function in many places. My DH thinks I like to move things for the joy of changing it up. And he could be right. My mind always is looking at options, at "what ifs." Give me another day and I believe this congestion in my head and throat will be beat down. All the humidity is about to kill me...and it never used to bother me at all. But oh my I am sleeping so soundly in our new bed. :)

Hi anele; I totally know what you mean about being a vegan making your social life difficult! I am really impressed that you're a veg in a family of omnivores ... wow. It is not easy! Well, I guess we're "just" the strictest of vegetarians, although I find that my children (two and four year-olds) and I feel and do better when following a vegan diet. (My husband is an omnivore, but only outside the house -- at home, he is also a strict veg. He also finds he doesn't do well after eating ice cream but he eats it anyway!) When the children are out at school or with friends I don't freak out when they get (dairy) cheese pizza or baked goods made with egg, but at home, I try to bake only vegan and we only use soy yogurt and soy milk. (They are always forbidden from drinking dairy milk and eating dairy ice cream / sherbert. Both make them vomit and that's just unfair to their little systems.) I've yet to find a non-dairy cheese which isn't repulsive, so that's a hard one for us .... When we lived in San Francisco (CA) we also found being vegan socially isolating -- even as a vegetarian it was hard. But now we live in Boulder (CO) where being a vegan is socially easier, but when we socialize (outside the house) we're just vegetarian. We'll go with the flow up to a certain point. I have to say it is just so much easier to even be a vegan in this day and age with all the substitute products available to us! But even still, it's work. I really do applaud you for being a veg in your home!

Cheryll952, I purchased the "lady" a few years ago at either TJ Max or Marshalls, I don't remember exactly which one. At the time there were lots of them there, along with a "man" bust. I really could not tell you exactly what kind of "lady" she is, but I agree it does look like some of the greek busts/statues I have seen in photos. I hope you can find one, I have had alot of fun "spiffing" her up for different holidays.