Hmm...

What to do while sitting at the drivers license bureau waiting for my last to begin a new journey with a drivers license in hand?

We've been here almost 2 hours. I've memorized every face and frown, checked out my fellow waiters shoes, glasses, tattoos, piercings, hair, lack of hair and toe nail polish. I've redesigned this waiting area and come up with a much more pleasing color pallet rather than drab, drabber and drabbest.

...so what's next while I'm waiting...
Oh I know, another introduction of one more precious member of the Me & My House family.
Please meet Judy, a co-worker, friend, sister in Christ and a talent on the sales floor. She is probably one of the first eager faces you'll see when you come into the store, just waiting to start mixing and matching, designing and creating.

We've been blessed to have some long time committed employees and Judy is one of them. She started working with us in 1994. She cut her furniture sales teeth at several furniture stores in town before joining her sis, Karen (see April 25 blog) and sinking her roots in with us.

Judy has a darling daughter, Katie, my little sister in Christ. She is 10 years old and my great texting buddy. She leaves me precious drawings as reminders of Christ's love. This is the one she left for Easter.

Psalm 123 talks about past blessings from the Lord, verse 2 says "Our mouths were filled with laughter."
My favorite past time is laughing and I hear tale after tale at the store to keep me smiling. Here's one involving the star of this blog.
Judy had a long hard day at work. Just one of those glorious days when a factory calls about a delayed order concerning a sofa that won't arrive for a party or the chair that got drop shipped to the out of town client with the wrong fabric on it or a big sale that didn't go through. Just a hard day...and to top it off a wrecked car in the shop. So, Allen and Matt, her brother in law and nephew in shining armor were going to pick her up after work. She drug herself out of the front door, looking and feeling a little like Eeyore, you know from Winnie the Pooh. She spotted the car that will rescue her from her tough day and taxi her home. She opened the back door, threw her junk in and drug her weary self in next. At this point she forgot to sing Katie's Sunday School song about doing everything without complaining, do everything without arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God. With her head laid back and her dreary eyes closed she commented to her 2 men about the kind of day she had and all the fiascoes that had taken place. When she finally paused long enough to look up, she was staring into the startled and shocked faces of two complete strangers. She had crawled into the wrong car. Can you imagine the shock on all 3 faces? Wonder who wanted to be the first to bolt out of the car, Judy or the poor guys that just heard all about the crazy lady's day from Me & My House?
I wonder if Allen & Matt were watching this from their car, eyes as big as saucers, shaking their heads and thinking..."that's our Judy. "
Psalms 126:3 "The Lord has done great things for us and we are filled with joy."

Blessed by the Best,
Cathy

Some girls can...

Why do some girls look so cute in hats & headbands...and then there are others...me..who just can't pull it off? But I sure want to! I think I finally found some that look amazing on me! (Or so says Alyrose)
I am nuts over these precious knitted headbands and I am even more nuts over the girl who makes them. Yes, it's my oldest daughter, Alyrose. Sweet single mommy trying to knit (pay) her way through college. (Almost done, yay!)
These headbands are handmade with three knitted bands that tie on with a fun embellishment on top, also knitted. Some have flowers, some have big circles, some small but all oh so cute! Colors are fun and varied.
Come by the store and see how great they are, but don't tell Wyatt we used him to model girl headbands.
A $10 treat for yourself or your BFF.

Straight out of Uncle Pack's barn...

Pillows are such a great way to add a little something new to your room, a nice pick me up!


We fell in love with these one of a kind pillows when the sweet "crafter" brought them in. They are fashioned with vintage, but not used, burlap bags straight from Uncle Pack's barn days. Touches of silky trim and funny little trinkets adorn the front, tiny crosses, old buttons, paper ticket stubs and even a little kid sized wrench...oh so cute!

Now that you've added something new to your favorite sit down area, how about a little something just for you or your favorite gal pal? The same sweet "crafter" created these wonderful bracelets & necklaces.

Each is uniquely different, a surprise on every charm. The necklaces are made with knotted ribbons and a sweet little charm that may house a pearled cross or a tiny fabric flower. The bracelets hold some of the same delightful trinkets, but with a mix of charms. Wear just one or load your wrist, the more the merrier!

Introducing...Karen Armstrong!

Have you ever worked for or even heard of a manager that would give up some of her sick days because you were in need of more? Or one that goes to bat for her employees time and time again? The one that is always at the store so you can be doing the other numerous things that you've been called to do? Well that's our manager, Karen Armstrong.

Karen & I go way back to the days of our original store, Furniture in the Raw. She began working for us in 1989 when we were both young moms chasing after toddlers. Mosey ahead 6 years later and Me & My House is born along with the 5th Chesser baby. New babies and new stores can be a bit tricky so Karen stepped up, rescuing me & was crowned manager of Me & My House. Because her dad, like mine, had been in the furniture business during much of her growing up years, she had sales in her blood and Jesus in her heart, a perfect combination for running a store whose goal is to serve the Lord in the marketplace.

Karen has been married almost 34 years to her sweetheart Allen. She drags him along to work with her everyday & we're so glad she does. They're a package deal. They have 2 sons, Brett & Matt, not so much toddlers anymore but men of 28 & 23 years of age.

One of my funniest memories of Karen was the day she forgot to glance in the mirror before coming into work. It was well past noon and she just couldn't close any of the sales she had worked on that day. She had greeted and guided..., mixed, matched and measured..., picked, pulled & placed...but could not close a sale. Discouragement was tapping on her shoulder so she came into my office for a pep talk. As we were talking about some of her designs for the day, I happened to glance down & quickly discovered why her clients had to question her abilities to design. Karen was wearing 2 different shoes. How do you go all day without noticing that not only are you wearing 2 different shoes, but all of the sudden, one leg is taller than the other & you've developed a limp? ...Only Karen...

Thank you Karen, Allen, Brett & Matt for 22 great years!

Sheee'sssssssss Baaackkkkkkkkk

Heather is finally, at last, thankfully, it's about time, hip hip hooray, back and residing in San Antonio and at Me & My House.

Thinking back, Heather arrived at the door step of Me & My House in 1997, a sweet homeschooled newlywed needing a job with creativity oozing from every pore. Whatever I would buy or design, she would take it and turn it into eye candy. We became instant best friends and sisters in Christ, little and big or young and old, but never the less, sisters in Christ, and haven't stopped laughing since. "A cheerful heart is good medicine" Proverbs 17:22.

Three years later, the laughter became torrents of tears as the Lord moved she and her soul mate and husband Randy, to Chicago to pursue Randy's education in Biblical studies. Randy is that guy that you just want to stand near to see if any of his intelligence will just "get on you". Where Heather is oozing with creativity, Randy is oozing with intelligence. Sometimes all I can do is nod my head and pretend I understand what we're talking about.

Over the next few years Heather would buzz back to San Antonio to do a quick facelift to the store, giving us all another dose of creativity and good medicine. These were probably the times that you may have noticed the store looked especially good with knock out displays.

At last Randy completed his undergraduate and then masters at Moody and Wheaton. It was time for them to come home. Yay. Six months of fun, laughter, family, laughter, a beautiful store, laughter and THEN,

"For I know the plans that I have for you declares the Lord" Jeremiah 29:11

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts Nor are your ways My ways declares the Lord" Isaiah 55:8

NO WAY LORD, my thought is that Randy is smart enough and my way and my plan is I WANT THEM HERE. pout, pout. But the Lord won out even with me stomping my foot and off to South Africa they went in pursuit of a doctorate for Randy. My typing speed increased and our husbands would often hear one sided laughter and know that the emails were continuing between the states and South Africa.

But what an adventure these 2 would have over the next 3 years. Where ever they lived, whether it was the 400 square foot flat in the middle of a horse paddock or the place on the strawberry farm overlooking the vineyards or the thatched roof cottage by the beach, Heather added her creative touch to each place and made it a work of art and a sweet home for them. Many people heard and saw the love of Jesus as they ventured into the "townships" and became the hands and feet of Jesus.

After one trip back to the states for a visit and a revamping of the store, Heather had a long period of jet lag that she just couldn't get over. That jet lag turned out to be a bouncing baby boy named Wolfgang. "For this boy I prayed, and the Lord has given me my petition which I asked of Him" I Sam 1:27. What an unexpected and joyous miracle awed us all in December of 2008.

Now God has brought my friends home again along with a 2nd sweet baby boy named Max who arrived on January 7.

We get to call Randy Dr. Randy now. I again asked Heather what he got his doctorate in and she put it in easy terms for me, ancient languages.

Stop by and see all the new things we have and the delightful way Heather puts it all together. You will be inspired to give your house a spring face lift with a few new touches. Max will be glad to see you as he will probably be perched on a sofa or snuggled into a bed. Wolfgang will be sorry he missed you, he is usually busy playing at the park with Randy. Welcome back Heather.

Fabric!

We suddenly find ourselves with spectacular new fabrics! They are arriving daily.

Green, Gold and Chocolate Brown...

Cream, Butterscotch and Robin's Egg Blue...

Amber, Emerald and Sapphire...

We are seeing silks and rich woven designs, chenilles and damasks.

You won't believe what we can throw together! Come in and have a look!

Soft Toys

We have a British friend who refers to stuffed animals as soft toys.

When we hear "Soft Toys" this is the picture we get in our heads.

This big, beautiful round chair is exactly the toy that we want under the Christmas tree this year. So comfy!

This sofa is new to us. When it arrived, one of us squealed over the fabric, while another coveted the ottoman. In our opinion, the whole set is pretty near perfect.

So cute!

This luxurious piece came on the same day. Although it isn't accompanied by the cutest ottoman in the world, the down seats and luscious fabric are heaven!

So many soft toys, so few living rooms in one person's house. If only every room were a parlor.

Fun Things!

We love getting Fun New Things. There is nothing like watching that truck pull up when we know it contains new upholstery (we are New Upholstery Fanatics).

Everyone hovers around as they unwrap the goodies.....

...except for the woman who does display. She stands and stares at her empty(ish) section, visualizing its new arrangement.

Tada! Fun New Things!

How exciting is this new living room set?? We love the wedge! We love the fabric! We love the slipcovered style. We are all rethinking the states of our current family rooms.....

These thick, bristly door mats came in at the same time. So fun!

A couple of our wonderful iron beds came back to the floor.

We missed them.

Welcome back, pretty girls.

MUSHROOM!

Doesn't that sound like a fun color?

In a world full of "taupe" and "mocha" and "camel" and "khaki", Mushroom is a fantastic adjective for this new finish!

This is one of our must-have's. We must-have it on the floor always. Its too fabulous to simply gaze at on the pages of a catalog.

It is The Lawson.

With its seeded glass and classic hardware, this piece is a keeper. We love the crown molding. We love the adjustable shelves and the phenomenal choice of finishes. The Lawson has graced our showroom in red, white, black...and now.....

Mushroom!

Pretty, no?

An Anniversary on TV

We've been around for 15 years, you know. Pretty great for a small family business!

This morning we were featured on the San Antonio Living Show.

After loading up our furniture, we headed to the studios bright and early.

The studio itself is vibrantly colored and very energetic. Its a good place to sit on one of our comfy sofas and not fall asleep.

We brought the sister sofas (seen before in this blog).

They are slipcovers. Can you believe it? Who would have thought you could mix such different textures into one slipcover design?

Grace is one of our designers, fantastically creative and a great speaker. Some people say the camera adds ten pounds but there are those among us who feel the camera subtracts 10 IQ points the minute it starts rolling. Not so with Grace. She remembers what she wants to say (and how to form the words), even with a live camera trained on her. Its a talent. We are thankful for her.

These two sofas are a great example of how you can change your look from summer to winter without changing your sofa. Its all in the slipcover design. We can order your favorite frame with several slipcovers or help you design a slip for your existing sofa.

We are currently having an enormous anniversary sale so come in and see the possibilities!