Favorite Things

I have been wearing Chanel for 35 years. It is absolutely one of my favorite things, and I don't know of any reason to change.

My mother was not a glamorous woman, or even one to keep up with the current fashions of her time. But on any special occasion, she would dab on her Chanel as the finishing touch to her outfit. So I suppose there are sentimental reasons why I use this perfume, and no other.

As a girl, my mother and I would go shopping in Downtown Los Angeles at the major department stores. At that time, there were no malls, and you got dressed up to go shopping and have lunch. One day there was the most beautiful woman in the perfume department of my mother's favorite store. There were women all around her, there seemed to be something important going on. I asked my mother who this woman was and she said "It's the Chanel Lady". Which only meant she was giving out tiny samples, but to my 7 year old eyes, she was the most glamorous woman I had ever seen.

Do you wear perfume? Do you change brands or stay with the same one?
I would love to know!

Favorite Things My Gap Jean Jacket That Can Go Anywhere

I love my Gap jacket. What can you say about something that is so easy to dress up or down and is timeless? I'm taking a new look at my wardrobe and getting rid of things that no longer fit me or my life. Like most of us, I have far too many things that I don't wear or don't want anymore. So I'm spring cleaning my closet and donating what I no longer need.

Of course, I'm keeping my Gap jacket and I'll be wearing it a lot more now that the weather is getting warmer.

I remember when the Gap was just a tiny hole in the wall store filled with only jeans. Yes, I'm really dating myself by saying this but it's true! A few walls of jeans and that was it. How far they have come. Me too, I guess. Love my Gap jacket and it definitely remains one of my favorite things.

Favorite Things Strawberries

Around our house we L-O-V-E Strawberries. The boys would eat them with every meal if I let them! We like to eat them when they are super ripe and at their peak, YUM. This is the time of year when you see them in all of the super markets. To save some money, we bought our very own upside down strawberry planting kit from the store. Can't wait to see how good they taste right out of our own backyard :)

FavoriteThings A Birthday Present

I have always loved birthdays. We have a large family so there is always someone's birthday to celebrate. As a mother of five children, I loved giving the birthday parties and buying the presents for their special day.

But like many women, when it comes to my own birthday I shy away from wanting a big fuss. As mothers we always seem to put everyone else first.

So a few years ago when my lovely and talented friend Cathy gave me a painting she had made for me, I was very touched. I loved that she had thought of me, had spent the time painting something that she thought I would like.This painting never fails to cheer me up. It's vibrant, yet calming, and I will always have it hanging on my wall, wherever that wall may be.

To me, a painting is such a special gift because it is a piece of the artist herself that she has put into the work. So thank you again, my friend. It really is one of my favorite things.

Favorite Things

We are going to do a little something new here on The Frugal Family Tree. Every week each one of us will be doing a post called "Favorite Things".

It will be just one picture of something that is special or dear to our hearts, and we'll tell you why it is. It might be something we've had forever or something we just found. Maybe you, our readers, will get to know us a little better. If you tell us what your favorite things are, we can get to know you a little better, too. Please don't be shy.

One of my "Favorite Things".

I went to Anthropologie a couple of weeks ago with my daughter Megan. I adore Anthropologie (and I adore Megan!). I could spend hours here, carefully looking at each beautiful object, weather it's a dress, or a book or a bowl.

In honor of Spring and just having a wonderful time, I bought this sweet little bunny dish. The instant I saw it I knew it would become one of my "favorite things". I've put some of my favorite pairs of earrings on it, and the little dish is making me happy every time I pass by it. But more than anything, it will remind me a sweet, lovely day that I spent with my daughter.