Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I want to go everywhere I haven't been, and back to everywhere I have been.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

INDOOR PLANT DECOR: FAUX IS MY NEW REALITY


Disclaimor: I was given a silk plant from Commercial Silk, in exchange for an honest review. 


R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Do you take good care of your indoor plants?

You know, water them, talk to them, prune their dead leaves, give them ample sunlight?

I am the world's worst plant caregiver. 
It's not that I don't love them......It's not that I don't want to give them care.
I have good intentions........I just don't follow through.

Trust me, you don't want to ask me to take care of your plants while you're on vacation.
If I had to write a resume for a plant-care position,
"lazy" and "forgetful" might be two of the adjectives I'd use to describe myself.
Clearly, I wouldn't get the job. 

We're down to one live plant in our house. 
Over the years, I've killed them all off.
If it wasn't for Mr. Goo Shoes' attention to the last one, it would be in plant heaven, too.

In addition to my poor caregiver skills, I've given up on live plants because
there aren't a lot of rooms in my house with proper light.

 Still, greenery adds life to a room, 
and it doesn't need to have chlorophyll to accomplish that. 
When it comes to indoor plant decor, faux is my new reality. 

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

There are several spots in my home 
that would benefit from the addition of some faux greenery,
 so when Commercial Silk asked if wanted to review one of their silk plants, 
I heartily accepted.
As I looked through the website, there were so many options, 
such as artificial trees, plants, flowers, boxwood, topiaries, privacy screens and more.
When I landed on the Bamboo Plant page,
I knew that something with straight lines was what I was looking for.
I wanted a plant to use in either that pesky corner in the family room I told you about, 
or in a container in the living room that's been empty for about 14 years 😳. 
 
The living room won.

The tree arrived wrapped in plastic, in a long, narrow box.
It came in a plain pot, which was fine with me, 
since I wanted to put it into a container of my choosing.

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The branches needed to be adjusted to give the tree some fullness.

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The plant is sturdy, and the leaves and stems are a nice quality;
the touches of brown on some of the stems make it look a little more real,
although not as real as some of my former "living" plants which were entirely brown..........as in dead.

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The urn that I wanted to fill was too deep for the tree,
so I added an inverted plastic container inside it, and placed the plant on top. 

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Perfect!

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Fourteen years later, I found the right solution.
Well, you know, I wanted to be sure.......😉

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

It totally looks real, right?

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

It's amazing how one plant can change the feel of a room.
I love it!
And, I don't have to get a case of the guilts when I walk by,
as I did around my real plants,
when I always wondered when was the last time I watered them........
Last week? Or maybe it was 2015?

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I'm tempted to do my entire outdoor landscaping in faux,
since the deer and rabbits have been enjoying an
"all-they-can-eat" garden buffet on my property.
I'm going to send them an itemized bill for annuals, perennials, and shrubbery, 
plus a service charge for time spent planting, and mental anguish. 
"Dear Deer, about your diet......."

R PLANT DECOR: FAUX PLANTS BY COMMERCIAL SILK | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

If you need some plants to brighten your indoor or exterior spaces (and your mood!),
be sure to check out Commercial Silk.  
You can find them here, as well:
Thanks to Commercial Silk for sponsoring this post,
and for solving a 14-year old problem.
Now........about that problem corner in the Family Room......
 

Monday, July 17, 2017

A HOUSE ON THE BEACH: LONG BEACH ISLAND PT. 1



Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

PROLOGUE

March 20, 2017:

Ms. Toody: I think we should rent a house on Long Beach Island over July 4th week, 
since Junior Goo Shoes will be away then. 
Mr. Goo Shoes: Naaaah, I don't want to do that. What's for dinner?


June 20, 2017:

Mr. Goo Shoes: Too bad we didn't think about renting a house on Long Beach Island 
for July 4th week. 
Ms. Toody: Great idea! (snickers to herself)......But we'll be lucky to find anything 
at this late date.

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

July 4 Week:

It's 4:30pm and we are at a wedding, saying our goodbyes. 
After a mid afternoon downpour, the sun is now shining, and it is steamy outside.
My hot pink one-shoulder dress is starting to stick to me,

and I give serious consideration to tearing off the other shoulder. 

The air-conditioning in the car can't crank up fast enough. 
It's not until we're over the Tappan Zee Bridge that I finally cool down. 

Once home, I'm in Cinderella mode, peeling off my fancy clothes, 
and trading them for shorts and flip flops. 
The trunk is already packed, save for a few last minute items.
We pull out of the driveway, and it doesn't take more than a minute 
for Mr. Goo Shoes to ask if he closed the garage door. 
As we do almost every time we leave the house, 
we u-turn it back to check, and find the door securely closed. 
It always is.

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

In two hours, three downpours, and109 exits, 
we're back on Long Beach Island. 
 I still can't believe we were able to find a house to rent 
during the busiest week of the summer.......
And, right on the beach, no less! 
I'm starting to get a little nervous, but I remind myself 
that the pictures on the website look okay, 
and as long as it's clean, we'll be fine. 
It's just a week, after all. 

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I've got a soft spot in my heart for LBI --
I spent several summers here during college and beyond.
But that was a long, LONG time ago.
Now, the island is teaming with traffic.
Many of the homes are newly re-constructed,
having been devastated during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
They look like they're on steroids, packed in like sardines,
 a bit too large for the small parcels of land they sit on.
There seems to be an ice cream shop and seafood store on every block. 

Our house for the week is in North Beach, just past Surf City.
I recognize it immediately, since I checked it out 36 times on Google Earth.
It's the one set way back that looks like an ocean wave at the top.

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

It's a two-family, and we have the top floor.  
We hope the people downstairs aren't rowdy types.
We're pretty sure they're thinking the same thing, as they watch us pull into the driveway.
Mr. GS had alerted the rental agent that we wouldn't be arriving until evening.
No worries -- he said the key will be in the mail box.
Except it isn't. 
Thankfully, we have the broker's cell number, but he doesn't answer. 
A bit of panic sets in, as I consider what it will be like to sleep in the car,
but Mr. Goo Shoes finds a window unlocked on the deck,
and is able to get in.   

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 The broker calls us back two hours later -- he's in Wisconsin!
After a misunderstanding, and a few phone calls, 
someone drops the key off at the house. 

Before I set foot inside, I soak up the view from our deck.
If you know me, it's all about the view.
Suddenly, I don't care what the interior looks like.......
As long as we've got this view for the next week, I'm good.

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

We are pleasantly surprised........ 
The interior of the house is nicer than we expected!

 The dining area looks out to the ocean.
The kitchen is compact, but well-stocked. 
There are three bedrooms, but we only need one. 
The what-I-think-at-first-is-the-living-room is nicely decorated.

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Down the hall at the front of the house 
we discover what-is-really-the-living-room,
with lots of windows, and another deck 
overlooking the driveway and street below.

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

From the front deck, Barnegat Bay is visible, 
which will make for some spectacular sunset photos.

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I spot another set of stairs......didn't notice them in the photos online.
They lead to a rooftop deck - a bonus! 


Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

There are 360° views of the beach, bay, and surrounding houses.
I'm thinking it will be a great place to watch the fireworks. 

Long Beach Island | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

There's not much to do our first night, other than unpack and relax.......
and dream about what it would be like to own this ocean view. 
I fall asleep as I redecorate the house in my head with our furniture.


To be continued.......

Long Beach Island, NJ | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Tuesday, March 21, 2017

HELLO, SPRING BLOG TOUR: SPRING IS HERE...OR IS IT?



Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Does the weather feel anything like spring in your neck of the woods?

Here in NJ, the ground is still covered in snow,
 the temperatures are chilly enough to demand a down jacket and scarf,
and no tulips are in sight, 
other than my own two lips, chapped from cold weather.

This is no different from years past, I'm well-aware.
It's not unusual for March to go out like a lamb some time in April.

Every year, to hold me over until Mother Nature delivers the real deal,
 I bring a little bit of spring indoors.

Hyacinths add some life to the bedroom....

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Daffodils brighten up the kitchen.....

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

The buffet gets some springy decor.

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

I have to be content with using faux forsythia......

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 in the powder room......

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 or in a faux flower rain boot vase....... 

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

until the real forsythia begins to bloom.

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
 
Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

 
It will be a few weeks longer until........


April showers bring May flowers.......

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


the trees to begin to bloom......

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


 the red, red robins come bob-bob-bobbin' along..... 


Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

It will take another month, at least, until it's warm enough.......

to plant some pansies.....

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes
 
to sit on the deck.......

Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes

and see the spring bulbs dancing around the mailbox
 
Hello, Spring Blog Tour | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Yes, Spring is here.....
I'm just waiting for it to arrive.


 Please check out the rest of these fabulous bloggers
participating in the Hello, Spring Blog Tour!
If you missed Monday's bloggers, you can still visit them
by clicking on the links below.
If you have clicked over to my post from Katie's,
you can head over to the next stop on the tour, 
at Art and Sand, right here.    
Thanks again, Katie, from Let's Add Sprinkles
for organizing this fantastic burst of spring inspiration!



Monday


Tuesday 


Wednesday 


Thursday 

Monday, March 20, 2017

HELLO, SPRING BLOG TOUR!


Single daffodils look so pretty in different size vases. | Ms. Toody Goo Shoes


Have you been chomping at the bit for spring to arrive?

Even if there is still snow on the ground....
or, even if the you are still wearing your woolies,
you can get your "spring" on by checking out the
Hello, Spring Blog Tour,
which starts today 
(check the schedule below for a list of 15 bloggers and their post dates).
My day is tomorrow - Tuesday! 

Thanks to Katie, from Just Add Sprinkles, for organizing the tour!

Happy spring, everyone!  


                                                                        Monday 


Tuesday 


Wednesday 


Thursday