Graduation…bittersweet, but a part of life!

It’s that time again- graduations are right around the corner. It’s such a bittersweet time as a mom (and dad). I know when my own girls graduated from high school, and my oldest daughter graduated from college and then attained her Masters, and my younger daughter, who is working on her college degree while traveling as a model, I was, and am, so proud of the young women they’ve become, and yet part of me was sad that they were growing into adults, and no longer my little girls.

 

I’ve had a lot of customers in the shop lately, looking for graduation gifts, or some little something extra to put on a gift. A lot of people have commented on how they can’t believe their daughter or son is at that stage in their life. But time is like that, it waits on no one, and we are all changing and growing each and every day.

 

Just yesterday, my close friend called to tell me she was getting ready for her son’s graduation from The Ohio State University on Sunday. Of course, I knew he was graduating, but it still seemed to come out of nowhere. My friend has been telling me all along how he’s doing, that he changed his major and had to go an extra year, but how much happier he was. She’s been so happy for him to finally get out and on his own, waiting for him to go to graduate school. But something in her voice yesterday caught my attention. She was trying to sound upbeat and happy. I could tell. However, her tone said something else. I asked her what was wrong, and she began to cry, telling me her son had enlisted in the Army Reserves, and that while she was happy for him, she was a little scared that his training as a medic might put him in a bad place someday. She said she realized that it was what he wanted to do. He always wanted to participate in “Doctors Without Borders” since he’d volunteered for Habitat for Humanity and helped build homes in West Virginia, while in high school. He really liked helping people in need, and it’s partly what made him want to work as a psychologist. But now, he’d be gone for six months, training to become a medic, and the realization that he wouldn’t be home until Christmas was setting in with her. I immediately told her that she should be proud that he wanted to help his country, and that those six months of training weren’t just about learning medicine, they were training him for safety, too. She agreed. She knew that, and she is very proud of him. I also told her that she should have faith that her son will make the right choices for himself. He’ll keep himself safe, and do the right thing. He’s that kind of young man. I told her not to look at this as the ending of his college years but as the beginning of his successful life as a man. I also teased her and told her he’d look pretty good in uniform. She laughed, and I could tell she was feeling better. Graduation is the embarkation of something better to come. It’s not an end, it’s the start of new and wonderful horizons. Graduation is the chance to make possibilities realities. My friend agreed.

 

As moms, we all worry about our kids once they leave the safety of home. Whether they’re leaving for college, and the new experiences it brings, or graduating college and going off to start a career, possibly far from home, we all become a little anxious knowing they are on their own, making their own decisions, as well as their own mistakes. But that’s life. We all grow each day, graduating a little more each day, becoming a little better each day. We give our kids the solid foundation of education, manners, morals, life-skills, and above all, love and support.

My friend Pam and her son Alex.

If you have someone graduating this spring, make sure you let them know how proud you are of them, and reassure them you know they’ve got a good foundation to make the right choices. Stay positive, and enjoy this great milestone with them! Congratulations to all the graduates, as you embark on the next chapter of life!

Tami Loves…a new beginning, and the promise of a bright future!

CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU AND YOUR GRADUATE!!!!  ❤️❤️

And congratulations to the three beautiful girls in this picture, Lydia Phillips, Samantha Reed, and Kasey MacLaine.

The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. — Emelia Earhart 

Momentum- the dictionary says it’s “the strength or force that something has when it is moving. : the strength or force that allows something to continue or to grow stronger or faster as time passes.”

 

How do you keep your momentum?

 

I’m not talking about coffee here. Yes, we can get through our day with coffee, but I’m talking about something more substantial than coffee. I’m talking about what keeps you motivated, inspired, and moving forward every day when you get out of bed. Perhaps it’s your love of your career, or the responsibility of raising a family. Maybe it’s a spiritual force that pushes you, or perhaps it’s the sheer determination to be the best that you can be. Sometimes what gives us our momentum is the thrill of the unknown. We seek adventure in each day, and the promise of that, is what prompts us to keep our curiosity, like we did when we were children.

 

Remember being a child, when every day brought new adventure? Waking up, meant springing out of bed, with energy and eagerness. Sometimes, just the thought of what might be served for breakfast was enough to send us racing to the kitchen. Every day brought a new learning experience, and a chance to see something new. Even if it was just a cocoon, or a robin’s nest, we couldn’t wait to see something else we’d never seen before. Life was full of possibilities.

 

What if we tried to start each day now like that? What if we woke up, and thought, “Today I’m going to do something I haven’t done,” or “Today, I’m going to finish that project, and start on another!” Wouldn’t it be great if the momentum of one day carried over to the next?

 

Well, it certainly can. All you have to do is find your motivation, your mojo, the inner force that lies within all of us. For in finding this energy, this force, if you will, we find what drives our lives. It carries us from one day to the next. It is the difference between seeing the glass as half-full or half-empty. When you have momentum, your inner force is what keeps you going and keeps you positive for the whole day, and all the days to come. Sure, everyone has a bad day now and then, but that momentum you have inside, tells you that it’s just one bad day out of a whole bunch of good ones, and tomorrow is another good one just waiting to happen. Your attitude is a reflection of that inner force.

 

For me, I wake up in the morning with a whole mental list of things I want to accomplish. I love what I do, and I can’t wait to get moving. No, I don’t like the paperwork, or the bills, but that’s just a small part of an otherwise wonderful day. I delight in meeting people in my shop, chatting with them, and getting to know them. I love going to my clients’ homes and making them happy by completing a project. I enjoy seeing my team working each day, and being able to talk with them, finding out how their families are doing. The amazing people I work with, and for, is my momentum. I’m grateful for the opportunity I have been given, and for the genuine love of my work. I’d be lost without all of you. You are all my momentum.

 

It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop. — Confucius

 

Tomorrow, wake up and feel the momentum inside you. If you feel like it, post a little message to me on what your momentum is, and how it motivates you. I’d love to hear what keeps you going!

 

Tami Loves…feeling like tomorrow is going to be the best day yet!

 

 

The grass MIGHT be greener on the other side…but that’s just one opinion. It might be greener over on this side, too. 

Have you ever worn something that you just weren’t crazy about, feeling like you were having a “bad outfit” day, only to have someone tell you how nice you look? You suddenly wonder if you just lack self-confidence, or if that person needed an eye exam. “Really?” you ask. “This old thing? I left the house in a hurry, and just grabbed something to throw on.” In your opinion, you’re not the best you could be, but to someone else, you look lovely!

 

I recently went to a customer’s home, and commented on how cute her bathroom was decorated. She responded with, “Oh, please excuse that bathroom. I’m going to change that color, soon.”

I thought it was fresh, and colorful. She saw something different. When I told her why I liked it, she couldn’t believe it. “My husband has complained about that bathroom since I painted it last year, and now he’s made me so self-conscious about it every time we have company! Do you really like the color? If you like the color, and the way I decorated, then maybe it’s not bad. Maybe it’s just him. I like the color!” She was feeling better about her choice. It’s nice to have another set of eyes view what you look at every day. We become accustomed to seeing ourselves and our homes a certain way. When someone else sees us, or something we have, they may have a totally different perspective. It’s refreshing! It’s not always positive, but it’s important to realize that people view things differently, and opinions are just that…opinions.

 

Now I know taste is all relative. If you love orange, and I don’t, then of course you’re going to love that orange front door, and I’m already thinking what other color I’d choose. But in the big scheme of things, it comes down to one thing…what makes you happy.

 

One gal might carry a fancy, expensive name-brand purse, and another might carry an inexpensive, functional one, but in this case, the beauty (and practicality) is in the eyes of the owner. Just because something is bigger, more expensive, or more trendy, doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better! It just means that the person who has it, likes it, and feels good about it. Just as liking something practical, doesn’t make it any less than liking something extravagant. It’s a matter of taste.

 

What am I telling you? I’m saying that sometimes it is so very nice to get someone else’s fresh perspective. Whether it is our appearance, something we own, or where we live, we can become unable to see things in a new light. That patio furniture may be hum-drum to you, but to someone else, it can be comfy and welcoming. Your living room curtains may seem ordinary, but to a visitor in your home, they might be tasteful or traditional, matching the décor perfectly. Who is right? The only person you need to make happy is you. I’m just saying you might already have succeeded in achieving the right “look” and not even realized it. Don’t second-guess you. Appreciate other’s observations, and be grateful for their outlook.

 

Just be happy with you, and where you are, that’s what life is all about.

 

Tami Loves…new perspectives and feeling good!

 

It happens to everyone, at some point. There are just some days you’d like to pull the covers over your head, and just sleep. I had one of these days recently, and I think it was a little blessing in disguise. Here’s why… 

I was having an “off” day. Nothing really wrong, I just wasn’t my happy self. That’s normal. We can’t be happy and positive every second. (Though I try, I really do try!) I found myself driving to pick up supplies, and just not really feeling like getting supplies at that particular time. I felt blasé and kind of depressed. It was a rainy day, so perhaps that had something to do with it. At least, that’s what I told myself, as I tried to rationalize my behavior. Before I knew it, I had driven right by the store I had intended to go to, and I just kept driving. I was leaving the city limits and heading out of town, telling myself I didn’t have time for a drive. I needed to complete my to-do list and get the things I needed for the next day’s project. But I just kept going. Every opportunity to turn around just passed me by, as if my car had a mind of its own. I turned on the radio. I couldn’t find a song I liked, so I turned it off, and instead, listened to a familiar upbeat playlist on my phone. But I just wasn’t feeling upbeat. I turned down a side road, and watched the rain scatter across the hills in front of me, like a curtain I would soon pass through. I turned my wipers on because I was already encountering some mist. Then I noticed the sign. “Barn Sale” it read. It was positioned at the end of a drive, and had an arrow pointing onward, down that drive. I turned in, and drove slowly. I saw the barn at the end, but there weren’t any other cars. Maybe they already had the sale and forgot to take the sign down. Maybe I was early, or late. Or maybe there wasn’t anything worth stopping for. But I headed on, and parked my car near the front doors. One big door was propped open with an old tire. I walked in, though I had already made up my mind this was a mistake. There would be nothing here that would interest me. As my eyes grew accustomed to the dark interior, I immediately smelled the smell. It was the smell of old leather, and musty old wood. I looked around and saw an old tractor, partially covered with a tarp. Beside the tractor was an old barn door on its side, and perched upon it were several saddles, crops, bridles, and a big table with other horse “stuff” that I wasn’t sure about. Looking in the other direction I saw a completely different scene. There were three or four big old wooden hutches; some had missing glass in their doors, and some were missing doors completely. But they were beautiful, old pieces. There were a stack of old frames, and lots of milk bottles, old horse blankets, tools, and even a couple of nice big farm tables. There were wooden buckets, and wooden benches, and lots of old items. I was impressed with the amount of beautiful things in that old barn. I heard someone walk in the barn, behind me. I turned and saw an elderly lady. She was very pretty. Her gray hair was tied in a knot on top of her head, and her clothes were covered by a crisp apron. Her eyes were blue and bright, and she smiled warmly at me. She wiped her hands on her apron, and extended one to me.

“I didn’t hear you pull in, honey. I was baking in the house. You’re welcome to look around all you like. I got just about somethin’ in here for everybody, I think. There’s lots of antiques…like me.”

I laughed and took her hand. She was very sweet, but there was something sad about her.

We talked about our love of vintage items. I told her about my shop, and that I wished I had room for her hutches, and her lovely big tables.

“I wish I could keep everything,” she said in a voice so quiet, I almost didn’t hear her. I turned and smiled at her. She smiled back, and then said, “When we found out we were going to lose this place, it just about killed me. It nearly did kill my husband. This farm has been in his family for eighty years.” She moved past me and picked up a tool from the “horse stuff” table. I had no idea what it was.

Reading my mind she said, “This curry comb belonged to my husband’s grandfather when he lived here. He raised Belgians here all his life. A lot of these saddles and tack belonged to him.” She was studying the comb, but I could tell her mind was somewhere else. Her fingers traced the wooden handle, and she lightly touched the rusty metal rings. After a few seconds she placed the comb back on the table, and said, “Well honey, I won’t hound you. You just take your time. I’m going to put my bread in the oven, and I’ll be back in a bit.”

She turned and left. I walked over to the table where she had placed the curry comb.

The items on this table represented someone’s life. It was as though I was looking at a collection of a man’s work, his passion. Now here they lay, in the dusty barn where they had once been used- the man no longer alive. I imagined gathering these items and displaying them together on a wall in a rustic room with barn siding, or using them to decorate a horse enthusiast’s home. Even with their obvious age, they were quite lovely. I didn’t know what they were, but I could see the possibility. It was sad to know they would be sold along with the farm. I imagined them in a home, but no one would know the story behind them. They were all that remained of someone’s life.

 

Right then and there, I realized my mood had changed. The little cloud that had plagued me all day had lifted and I wasn’t down anymore. Listening to the woman’s story of how they were losing their farm made me realize I didn’t have any reason at all to be down. This woman was losing her home, and was baking bread, being sweet and cheerful despite her plight. If she could find a way to be happy, I surely could pull myself out of my blah mood, and count my blessings. I felt I had almost been drawn to that barn that day. It was as if I was being shown that no matter how down we get, someone else has it worse, sometimes much worse, than we do, and we can learn a lesson from them. Sometimes it’s nice to get out and see something different to make you feel good, and happy.

 

I felt glad I had stopped by the barn sale that day. I made a new friend, and she helped me feel a little better through “barn therapy.” She eventually came back from the house, and we chatted about old times, and how life got to be so fast-paced, and in a hurry all the time. I enjoyed our conversation. And when I left the barn that day, the sun had started peeking through the clouds.

 

I hope when you come in my shop I can give you that kind of feeling- some good conversation among new friends, a feeling of camaraderie, like we’ve known each other for years. And I hope that if you’re feeling down, I can raise your spirits, and make your day a little better. That’s what I love about my shop- I get to give a little bit of myself while providing retail therapy to my customers. We all need a pick-me-up now and then.

 

Tami Loves…new friends, sharing the good old days.

 

We all love our families.  Maybe not every single minute of every single day but all in all especially at holiday time, we love our family. 

My family is spread all across the country and I miss spending holidays with them. Lucky for me my husband has a pretty big family and I have always spent holidays with them. 

My daughters have always been near me and always spend holidays with us as well. I should not feel sad on the holidays because I am with family. But I miss my family,  the family that I had before my married family. Family that I had before my children. I miss my mom, she lives in Texas. I miss my brother and his family they live in South Carolina. 
Holidays always make you think about the people that you’re not with. You wonder what they’re doing and even though you talk to them it’s not the same as spending the day with them. 

And this year my youngest daughter is away in California for work. I shipped her a little something special for the holiday and she called and opened it with me on the phone. She was a little teary-eyed and missing home. It reminded me of those first Easters when my mom moved away almost 30 years ago. It was still a holiday, it was still nice, but not being with her made it not the same. I’m sure that’s how my daughter feels being so far away today. 

So I hope you were able to be with the ones you love today. Or at least visit with them on the phone for a few minutes. That even though some of us had little sad moments in our day there were a lot more happy moments to hold onto!  

Bless you all, Happy Easter ❤️

Tami Loves was recently awarded an ACES Award (Awards for Community & Economic Success) for the second year in a row! This award, from the Muskingum County Chamber of Commerce, along with a Certificate of Recognition from the United States House of Representatives, honors Tami Loves for our recent “tangible investment or improvement in buildings, equipment, machinery, inventory or other business assets that resulted in the creation or retention of jobs, increase in tax base, and other forms of economic growth.” To paraphrase that, we received the award for our shop remodel, and consistent improvements in providing a unique and pleasant shopping experience for our customers, and employment for our team. However you phrase it, we are delighted!! We’ve taken measures to bring new and exciting products to the shop, and we have really focused on what YOU, our customer, sees when you enter. I want to make sure the shop flows both visually, and physically. If you haven’t been in to see us for a while, stop in and see! I’m so pleased with the results!

 

I couldn’t be more proud of this distinct recognition. It honors my crew, my team of dedicated employees, whom I call my dear friends, who work so hard for our success every day. I wouldn’t be Tami Loves without my team, or without my wonderful customers, like you!

 

Thank you for your continued support of Tami Loves. You all bring inspiration, and love into each and every project we do. Your myriad of purchases, kind words, and welcoming attitudes amaze all of us at Tami Loves. We thoroughly enjoy what we do: providing our services in painting, decorating, arranging and staging, creating with you, outfitting you, and hopefully inspiring you to be and achieve all that you can. It is our great honor and pleasure to see each one of you so pleased with your home, your appearance, and your desire to do great things!!

 

Tami Loves…all of you!

 

 

Do you love Tami Loves?Do you like to share great ideas?

Do you enjoy helping your friends and neighbors?

 

If you said yes to any of these questions, and you’re still reading, I need your help with something.

 

A lady from Newark, (a 40 minute drive or so) recently came into the shop for the first time, and mentioned to me that if a friend of a friend hadn’t shared a Facebook post I wrote, about our line of spring clothing, she wouldn’t have known our shop existed. She couldn’t wait to check us out.

 

This got me to thinking. We eagerly share funny posts, inspirational posts, and alerts- like food recalls, or Amber alerts for missing children. We even share recipes, and shortcuts for making things. But who doesn’t like to know about a great place to shop, or a great decorating idea? We tell our girlfriends where we bought that cute jacket, or those adorable shoes. Right?

 

Sharing my Tami Loves posts, is the same thing. When you “share” my post on how to turn an old, ugly, chair into something lovely and worthy of displaying in your home, you are introducing your friends, and their friends, to Tami Loves! Think of it like getting a coupon for a free sample…if you could print out as many as you wanted, you’d share them with your friends near and far, right? Well, sharing my posts and videos is just like giving someone a coupon for a free how-to video, or an idea on what to do with a boring mantle, etc. etc.

The more people I can reach, the better my ideas are spread. I know everything I post about may not appeal to everyone, but I’m really trying to help all you ladies (and guys) out there really, really love your home, your appearance, and your life! It’s not about trying to out-sell, or out-do anyone. I’m just a simple, down-home girl, with a shop, who is trying to make people happy. I hope you can tell I’m a happy person, and I love helping others find their own happiness.

 

Reach out to your friends by hitting that “Share” button beneath my posts, so your friends can read, and hopefully enjoy, some great decorating ideas, painting tips, clothing trends, and just some old-fashioned inspiration on how to be happy wherever you may be.

It’s easy to do. Just tap share at the bottom right side of the post then tap “write post” (you do not have to write anything) (but if you want to here’s your chance) then tap share. 

There are a lot of people who follow me that don’t live near big towns where they can easily run out and get craft items. There are no “big-box” stores to get decorations from. But when friends share Tami Loves posts, these wonderful folks get ideas on how they can create something beautiful at home with what they’ve got on hand. Sharing is wonderful, and it costs nothing, but the reward is for both the receiver and the giver.

 

So please, help me share my ideas. “Share” my posts on your Facebook and Twitter.

Thank you so much!

 

Tami Loves…passing on great ideas, cause there can never be too much beauty or happiness in our world.

Sometimes, I see an object and it reminds me of someone dear to my heart. Doesn’t that happen to all of us?
For example, I was shopping at a summer craft market when I happened upon a booth filled with vintage quilt pieces. I browsed through several of the remnants, noticing their intricate patterns, when one caught my eye. I knew I’d seen it before. Its colors made a familiar picture in my mind. I stood, studying it for a few moments, and then I realized where I knew it from. My grandmother had had a very similar colored quilt on the bed in her guest room when I was a little girl. I had snuggled under that quilt on chilly nights, after days of helping her rake leaves, and sipping hot cocoa. The memory stirred my heart. It was like a little nudge from Grandma. Though the colors were a bit different than the ones I remembered, the pattern was the same. As I was admiring the craftsmanship of this particular remnant; imagining a way to preserve its beauty, I was snapped back to reality when a lady came up next to me and said, “Pardon me.” She reached in front of me and lifted the quilt piece I was gazing at off the stack. “This is exactly the color scheme I’ve been looking for!” She held up the quilt piece, smiled, and stepped away from me, taking her treasure to the booth attendant. I was in awe. In the span of a few moments, I’d found something that jostled my memory, taken me back to my childhood, reconnected me to my grandma, and then suddenly disappeared before my eyes. I searched through the remaining pieces, but there were no others like that one remnant. Though I possess several items in my home that remind me of my grandma, and other loved ones, it’s always nice to find something special to help others be reminded, too.

At Tami Loves, we know sometimes a heartfelt memento means a lot to someone hurting. Sometimes saying “I care” comes easier in the form of a keepsake than fresh flowers when conveying sympathy. We are happy and honored to make custom funeral arrangements, using keepsake items from you. What a perfect way to share a memory of someone with their loved ones, or to keep as a treasure for yourself. Whether it be Grampa’s pocket watch, Mom’s favorite plate, or just her favorite type of flower, we can create a piece to honor your loved one at calling hours and well beyond- a small memory to cherish.

 

Yes. We do that.

There’s nothing too small to create a fond memory. Take it from me- when you find a reminder of someone you loved and lost, don’t let it slip away. Preserve it.

 

Tami Loves…celebrating the lives of those we have lost.

 

Spring!Just the word makes me want to get up and get moving! I want to spring into action and make a new arrangement, or spring a new idea into fruition!

Don’t you?

Is your home lacking something “spring-y?”

Have you been to our shop lately?

We have so many cute ideas of how to brighten your home to make it sing SPRING!!

There are all sorts of gorgeous arrangements, or…if you know just what you want, but don’t happen to see it- we will create a custom arrangement for you!!

Yes. We do that!

Are you looking for the perfect hydrangea bouquet? We have those!

Can’t seem to find the perfect spider mum arrangement for your dining room table? It’s HERE!!

Eucalyptus? Yep, we can add that!!

We can show you how to group floral pieces with statues, knick-knacks, vases, natural objects, art, heirlooms, etc. Give us your items, and we’ll do the hard part. You, in turn will be thrilled to see such beauty and “flow” appear so effortlessly in your home. Your home should make you feel inspired to create beauty. Let us show you how.

Come in and see the magic in our shop!

Let us create a spring bouquet for you, or for someone you love! We are really, really good at creating unique gifts, too!!

 

Tami Loves…SPRING!!! (and creating little bits of spring for you!)

Do you feel lucky?
Is today a day that inspires you to be creative?
I feel lucky everyday. But I believe we make our own luck, and good fortune. I feel life is an everyday chance to make the most of what can be, and what I want it to be. I create my own circumstance, and day-to-day experiences. Sometimes I get extra little surprises, like a call or text from a friend that lifts my spirits even more. Sometimes I meet someone who inspires my creative juices, like an artist, or a trendsetting customer. Some days, I inspire myself. 
Today has a lot of inspiration in it for a lot of people. Its a celebration of a culture, and a nation. For some it’s just a holiday to wear green, and drink beer. For others, it’s a fun day to become part of a tradition, even if it’s just for the day. You don’t need to have a reason to celebrate. But you can make it a day to be inspired.
Perhaps your inspiration will come in the form of decorating cupcakes or cookies with your kids or grandchildren; perhaps it will come in the form of creating a delicious meal of food you may or may not typically prepare; or perhaps it will come in the form of camaraderie- by joining with friends to celebrate a man who chased the snakes out of Ireland, and brought a new religion to the island nation. It’s all fun! The key is to be inspired in some way!
We are so fortunate to live where we do, to be able to celebrate a holiday in any way we choose!
So take this opportunity, to make the day stand for something special, whether it’s celebrating St. Patrick’s Day, or just the fact that it’s Friday!!

Be inspired.
Tami Loves…celebrating all things!

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