Living the Dream, Sara Evans Interview

"I was country...before country was cool..."   Yeah, that song says it all! I was raised on country music!! And I have to tell you I really love it!! Going to Nashville and visiting all the honky tonks are really lots of fun! The hubby and I wander in and out, out and in of the joints, hearing lots of up and coming musicians just waiting to break out with that one special song that will put them on the charts!  But my trip to Nashville will wait until another day...

Today I want to share with you one of my favs...Sara Evans!!  She has a recent #1 hit, "A Little Bit Stronger," which took her to the top of the country music charts for the first time in six years!  This exclusive interview is from Country Weekly magazine, July, 2011 (unfortunately I did not get an actual interview, :(  sad face   And I am in no way being compensated for using these photos or mentioning this magazine.)

Many of you will remember my post about my Butterfly Bench  
(and I am happy to say it is SOLD...happy dance)
Anywho...as I was enjoying my bench on the dock I picked up the magazine to read...

What really caught my eye was the title..."SWEET HOME ALABAMA, Sara Evans opens the doors to her new home and talks about life with seven kids and her marriage to Jay Barker---The best friend I've ever had"
(Now to me that's special because I've been married to my best friend for 38 years! So let me read on...)

The photo shoot took place at their home in Mountain Brook, just southeast of Birmingham, Alabama.

"Jay is the best friend I've ever had in my life, and he has made me a better mom and a better person.  It's the way I always dreamed it would be." says Sara.

This photo shows Sara in the poolhouse where she does most of her writing, and features many of their awards.


What enticed a talented country music star to leave the Music City to live in Alabama, you ask?? 
She met and married Jay Barker, former University of Alabama quarterback, and current radio talk show host.  Together they decided to blend the two families and live a family style life in Alabama!! And when I say blend that is exactly what they did...seven, count them, 7 children!!


An active, happy life...

Sara Evans, her blessed life in Alabama with her children and new husband...

A storybook?  I don't think so!  This couple seems REAL!!  They are just "living the dream"!!

And I can't forget to tell y'all where the junkin' road took my friend and me... to a great sale!  The couple was downsizing and really needing to unclutter!!  I found this scratched coffee table and just knew it would make the perfect bench/ottoman!

Adding foam to make the top comfortable...

Sweet little legs that I left unpainted...

Oh yeah, have I told y'all?   I just love burlap!!

Dressed in burlap, she's ready to party...
I've taken her to my spot for others to admire too!!  Someone may decide she needs to ease on down to their home!!

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Partying with Jaime...Go on over, the party's started!!

And the party is in full swing over at Savvy Southern Style with Kim...

Pottery Barn Boy's Room on the Lake

I love Pottery Barn! And of course I love the online PB catalog! As most of you know we have a little place on the lake! And we are extremely lucky to have many friends who also have lake places! One such friend is planning to spiff up a bedroom designed especially with the young boys in mind! So I directed her to PB Kids for great ideas, accessories, and coverings!


She wants...Classic "boy colors", not too babyish!  Something rugged, durable, and of course stylish!! LOL

Notice the hanging light fixture! Love it!!  And the art can be created by that special little boy!

And with just a few changes this room can grow with the child!

Too often space is very limited in lake homes!  This will be a wonderful way for my friend to include not only her special little guy but also any friends that happen along to visit!!

Black or white? Decisions, decisions ...

 The painted wall and ceiling boards just screams lake!  Using white paint makes for a perfect canvas for those added pops of color.


I thought this one can be modified for lake living too!  Add a pair of vintage water skis instead of the surfboard, a Gone Fishin' sign with maybe an old rod and reel over the bed, and now this room is perfect for what she wants!

 

I like the canvas canopy over the bed! And each room shows boy colors! Nothing babyish for the lake!!

Do you have a favorite?  So many choices...

(I am not being compensated for mentioning Pottery Barn or using these pictures.)

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Dirt Cheap Thrifty Shopping

Let me tell you a story, a true story of where the junkin's road has taken my friend and me this time...

As all of you know I love to travel!  
("That's an understatement!", says my friend. "Just mention GO and you are ready to start the car!")
Anyway, I travel, period! And when I find new places (especially if I find some GOOD junk)  then I get excited and want to share my "finds!"
Soooo, as my friend and me were leaving one of the thrifts in good old T'town (that's Tuscaloosa, AL) I spied this...

That's right a brand new store, located on Skyland Blvd., with lots of good parking!

The stores, Dirt Cheap, came from an idea to empty the shelves of parent store, Treasure Hunt, in their warehouse location, Lumberton, MS.  Needless to say it was a huge success and 25 years later Treasure Hunt/Dirt Cheap is still going strong!  The company is the largest buyer of insurance claims in the United States. They have also added other distressed situations, such as...manufacturer and retailer buybacks, closeouts, bankruptcies, overstocks, liquidations, customer returns and out of season goods.  Now granted some of these items are damaged goods.  However, all good junkers know the thrill is in the hunt!  If you are willing to dig then treasures can be found for CHEAP!!

My friend introduced me to Dirt Cheap when the hubby and I were visiting in Louisiana (remember I love to travel!!)  Everyone in the group came home with wonderful treasures from that trip!!
Then, I found Dirt Cheap in Cottondale (outside of Tuscaloosa) and bought many things.  But today was the first time to visit this new store!

You never know what merchandise is available! And in all stores like this if you see it, want it, then you better buy it because it probably won't be there the next time you go!
I just couldn't resist this cupcake tower...

Cute, RED, perfect shape, and CHEAP, $2.00. Hey, what can I say?!!

Most of you will remember the terrible outbreak of tornadoes that literally tore through Alabama, April 27, 2011. The Tuscaloosa area was hit hard.  So that being said, I don't know if this store is especially catering to the rebuilding phase or if this store plans to carry huge supplies of building materials. And there were lots and lots of building supplies...

For all those tools...notice windows, flooring, rugs

See sign...70 percent off.. (priced marked)

Boxes and boxes of tiles...

$1.79 per square foot...

So much available to rebuild homes that were destroyed...


Overstocks of books...80 percent off

End of season...

Closeouts...leather footstool

The store carries linens, clothing, toys, schools supplies and the list goes on and on...

My friend and me are already planning the next trip to T'town and making extra time to spend in Dirt Cheap! What about you? Have you found some great, cheap places to shop?

Have a Blessed Day!! And see ya down the junkin' road!!

Jan

Partying with DebbieDoos...









 Nifty Thrifty at Coastal Charm

And I want to thank Debbie for blabbing about me and southern junkin' in my post,  On the Road to Bon Secour