Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger

Amy from Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 Saturday Spotlight: Life Behind the Blogger is a feature done each Saturday that introduces you to a blogger you may already know or a new blogger for you to get to know. This feature gives you a peak into the personal life of the blogger.  Getting to know the special person behind the beautiful blog.

There is so much talent and inspiration in blogland so enjoy getting to know these talented bloggers each Saturday.

I am excited to introduce you to Amy from Ms. Toody Goo Shoes blog.  Amy is so sweet and so fun to get to know.  She has had a very exciting career and now is home and channeling her talents into her blog.  Sit back and read this special feature and get to know Amy.  Then head over and introduce yourselves to her.

Hi, everyone! I'm Amy, from Ms. Toody Goo Shoes. First things first -- thank you, Kris, for giving me the opportunity to take center stage at your beautiful blog today...I am truly honored to be in your spotlight!

I absolutely freeze when someone says, "So, tell us a little bit about yourself." It's like I suddenly can't think of a single thing to say. Good thing Kris gave me ample lead time to come up with something!

Dad and me at the Jersey shore

Let's start with the fact that I'm a Jersey girl -- born and raised, with a 22-year interlude in New York City. Probably the most exciting thing that ever happened to me in New Jersey is that I kissed Bruce Springsteen. Let me be clear that he did NOT kiss me. He showed up at a college dance, and I was so star-struck that I went up to him, blabbered something about being his biggest fan, and kissed him on the cheek. I still cringe when I think about that. I'm guessing he does, too.

Aside from making a fool of myself at dances, I was at college to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up. Deciding on my major went something like this: 

English? Boring. 

Science? Too hard. 

Math? Not a chance. 

Communications? What's that -- TV? 

I watch TV, okay, I'll major in that. 

No joke.

That "least of all evils" decision turned out to be a pretty good one. I spent 32 years working at a major TV network you've all heard of, deciding what time some of your favorite shows would air. I worked my way up from the bottom of the barrel to the corner office, and got to do some pretty cool things. For most of my time there, I absolutely loved my job -- until I didn't. More about that in a minute.

Emmy Party!

When I was 25, my mother gave me a suggestion that changed my life. A friend was looking for a roommate in New York City, and my mom said, "What about you?" 
It was a "Duh!" moment, and I ended up living there for 22 years. 

New York City

In the unofficial rule book for single Manhattanites, it is advised that one take a "share" in either Fire Island or the Hamptons, and rent a house with other single people for summer weekends. I heeded the advice, and went to Fire Island, which is where I met my husband a few summers later. When he started talking to me, I planned to be on my way after some polite conversation. But, he was so nice that I stuck around...for good! We've been married for 21 years, and he is still the wind beneath my wings!

Fire Island, NY

When it seemed that having a child wasn't in the cards, we decided to go ahead and buy a weekend home in the Hamptons, which is, of course, when I got pregnant! As Mr. Goo Shoes says, he had a contract for a house in one hand and a positive pregnancy test in the other. We bought the house (we've since sold it)...

...and Junior Goo Shoes is now 16 years old, and 6'3!"

Pardon their backs...my boys are camera-shy.

The other member of our family is our sweet cockapoo, Sadie. Look at that face!

We moved from New York City to New Jersey thirteen years ago, because our apartment started to shrink as our son got older. You know... the bigger the boy, the bigger the toys. Raising him in the suburbs was a great decision for our family, although we still enjoy going into New York City frequently.

I was a career mom for most of my son's life, but when things changed at work, and I wasn't happy, Mr. Goo Shoes and I agreed that I should leave. And so I did, exactly three years ago.

I had a list a mile long of things I wanted to do when I stopped working, with writing and photography at the top. Six months after leaving my job, I started my blog. The funny thing is, I had no idea what a blog was (really!), so I bought Blogging For Dummies, and jumped in head-first, not knowing what the heck I was doing. But, boy, was I happy! I found a place to corral all of my creative passions under one roof. And, the unexpected gift was all of the wonderful bloggy friends I've made in the process.

Many of my posts are about baking, and my all-too-frequent kitchen calamaties. And, who knew blogging was fattening? I've gained five pounds since I started writing!

I'd rather do anything but cook, so I only post super-easy recipes.

Sometimes I write about the interior of my home (but only after I've tidied up, of course).

My deck is my happy place, where I share what's going on in my backyard. 

Travel is my passion, and I love writing about our family vacations.

 

I hope you'll stop by and visit me at Ms. Toody Goo Shoes. I co-host a link party on Friday nights called Best of the Weekend, and I'd love for you to come and share your creative posts!

Thank you, Kris, for inviting me to participate in your Saturday Spotlight!

Thank you Amy for sharing your life with us.  It was fun to get to know you better.  Have a great week end everyone.

Kris

:)

-- Amy @ Ms. Toody Goo Shoes http://mstoodygooshoes.blogspot.com

Happy Anniversary

This Saturday 9/12 is our 34 year anniversary.  I am a girl that is pretty low maintenance for gifts.  Diamonds may be a girls best friend but give me a beautiful old piece of history and I am a happy girl.

 I did not need another TV armoire but when I saw this sweet hunk of gorgeousness in Tattered Tiques I just fell in love.

So I came home and told Terry about it and he said if you love it that much lets go take a look at it. God I love this man!!! So off we went to Tattered Tiques.

Here it is sitting in the shop at Tattered Tiques.  The girls at Tattered Tiques told me a lady had this custom made and sent over from Germany.  Oh the pretty lines and beautiful wood.

It is hard to find an actual vintage armoire that can fit the large screen TV's.  Vintage armoires were usually smaller and made for clothing without the thought of big TV's being stored in them.  This sweet piece was going to fit Terry's 60 inch TV so I was so excited, Terry was excited and all the customers and girls at Tattered Tiques were excited the Moose TV would fit!!!!   Yeah!!!! So my anniversary gift was coming home.

The vintage key and lock work on this piece too.  

The girls at Tattered Tiques gave us a wonderful deal on this gorgeous piece so we took it apart and loaded it in our car.  Yep!!! it came apart like a puzzle and we were able to move it home in the car.  Of course Terry  used his tools when he got home to put it all back together.  It was easier than we thought.

  Look at who is sitting in the drivers seat of the car parked next to us in the parking lot.  Isn't she hysterical.  She sat there and watched for her owner to come out of the shop.  She was such a sweetie.  I just loved the expression on her face as she watched Terry and I load the pieces of this armoire into the car in the rain!!!

Once we got this beautiful piece home and put back together I took some wood oil and gave her a nice coat.  She was very thirsty and drank almost the whole bottle of wood oil.  The wood oil gave her new life and brought out her beautiful color and lines.

I had these pretty unique door knobs that were close in style to each other.  Terry attached them to the doors.  The key hole lined up perfectly so I can lock this piece if I want with the skeleton key.

Ahhhh she is just so pretty mixed in with my whites in this room.

Isn't she lovely!

Terry painted the inside of the cabinet white to have it look less dated when that big ole moose of a TV is being watched.  I am looking for some nice baskets for the bottom shelf to put my throws etc. in for winter.  See the large sound bar and speaker.  MEN and their TV's!!!!

She is a keeper.  This is one piece I will not be painting white. I know, I know hard to believe  "Miss I love everything white and chippy" will not be painting this fabulous piece!!!   Love her beautiful wood too much and the fact she was custom made and came all the way over here from Germany.  I need to honor the history of this beautiful piece.  Gives warmth to this room and compliments my wood floors.  

I promise you this will not be painted white!!!!   Yep you heard me right I am not going to paint this one and now you all have it in writing lol!!!

I am on the look out for some pretty antique knobs for the bottom drawers.  I hope to find something fabulous at the flea markets.

September 12, 1981 Our Souls Unite.

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life.  You make my heart smile and you have brought so much joy and love to my life.  Through thick and thin you have been my rock.  I love you.

Thank you for sharing your life with me.  Each day spent together is truly a beautiful gift.
Love you more,
Kris
Come back on Saturday for a wonderful new blogger in Spotlight and Sunday I will have some news to share in a post.
:)

Summer Sunshine with Flowers and a Sad Good Bye

I have not gotten on the band wagon for fall decor just yet.  I want too but it has been too much like summer still here in Illinois.  When I look outside to the garden and my knock out roses are going crazy with blooms and it is 90 degrees it still feels too much like summer to me.

My hanging ivy geraniums love the heat and it being on the dry side.  They are coming around from all the rain in June and July.

The knock out roses I planted this year are well just a knock out!!!! I love these roses they bloom again and again and are very low maintenance.

I dead head the open flowers and within a few days another new bud will open up.  They are so hearty.

Even my faux birds in the garden look like the want to still hold on to summer.

Yep ivy geraniums love the heat and dry conditions of the last few weeks.  Their colors are so vibrant.

On a sad note.  We said good bye this week to a very sweet blogger that fought hard to battle cancer.

CeeKay Thinkin of Home Blog

  Ceekay  loved  flowers especially roses so this post is dedicated to you sweet friend.  May you rest now in peace.  We will miss you.
Hugs,
Kris

Je t aime Boudoir

I got a new french duvet cover for our bedroom along with a few change ups to show you

I moved the bed to this back wall to make the room feel bigger.

This is my new king duvet cover I got on Ebay for $32 with free shipping.  SCORE!

  Loved the sweet linen with light grey and creams and the french wording.

Brought some distressed pieces to this wall where I had the headboard before.

My grandmother's chippy cedar chest is at the end of the bed.

Filled the chippy basket with an additional french quilt.

Still have my pretty chair and the old post with vintage door knobs for my jewelry holder.

So new duvet for the Master Bedroom.  Love the soft feel it gives to the room.  I feel your bedroom should be your sanctuary and I like the softer whites, grays and creams in this room.

Libby likes the soft new duvet too!

Have a great Sunday and wonderful start to the new week ahead.

Kris

:)