"dream + desire + devotion + drive + diligence + determination = destination"

All I can say is that I love this quote...although I can't take credit for it...
(I think I read it on twitter)...

"dream + desire + devotion + drive + diligence + determination = destination"

Short & Sweet... and said so very well...

All things we do in life can be summed up in these "Seven" words.

It all starts with a DREAM...a wish, a hope, or a wild fantasy for something we long for... each & everyone of us has "Our Dreams".

If we want "Our Dreams" to come true, we must have a strong DESIRE to...

 "Make It Happen".

we can't just "WISH" for something to happen...

This path requires us to have...

DEVOTION in our lives...spirituality helps keep us find peace on the path to "Our Destination".

DILIGENCE...ahhh...perserving through all of the ups & downs...in other words hard-work...we all know that nothing in life is EASY.

DETERMINATION...a firmness of purpose...resolving to approach the task with enthusiasm & energy.   

And finally...

We will arrive at our...

DESTINATION..."Our Ultimate Goal"...the reward for all the hard work we did to get to...
 "Our Destiny".

So, off I go...armed with all the words I need to get started...

Ahhhhhh "To be young again".

Wishing on a star,
Kathleen Sforza


Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237


Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)


Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/
www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com

I'm leavin' on a jet plane...

And then...

Sailing takes me away...To where I've always heard it could be...

It's that time of year...can anyone say "VACATION"


Many words come to minds...


EXCITEMENT...ANTICIPATION...STRESS...WORRY...
EXHAUSTION ???

Of course, I'm totally excited to be going on vacation.
I anticipate all the fun things I will do and places I will see...

BUT...


I worry about getting everything done before I leave.


Who doesn't ???


Did I take care of all the things at work ???


Should I keep my eBay Store open and risk getting bad feedback because I will have no Internet service ???     

WORRY !!!

Or do I close and have no money for the month...BIGGER WORRY !!!


Did I pay all the bills ???


Did I pack enough??? LOL...I think I packed enough for a year's stay.

Reminds me of the quote:
When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money.

Then take half the clothes and twice the money. ~Susan Heller

Can I clean the whole house and have it *SPARKLE* for my return ???

NOT...

So off I go...

On second thought...

Did I turn off the iron, the hair straightener and did I lock the back door ???

Ciao...Geia...Au revoir...Allaha ismarladik,

Kathleen


Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237

Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/
http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/

Escape your Troubles...Garden !!!

One of my favorite quotes...

You can bury a lot of troubles digging in the dirt. ~Author Unknown

There is a peacefulness that happens when digging in dirt...
very therapeutic.

I love early in the morning or late in the evening to plant. In other words, before or after work...I love to plant both perennials & annuals. Shrubs form the border of my small garden & then I fill in with perennials. Because I love, Love, LOVE...COLOR, I plant lots of annuals. The cost is a bit high, but I do plant some from seed. I have a shade garden, so of course,

 Impatiens are a staple...

but...I am able to plant Petunias...

Geraniums...

Verbenas...

Begonias...

Snapdragons... 

I have little to no success with Marigolds...

 

Daisies...

or Dahlias...

Words of advice for the new gardener come from a book I love...

Think big thoughts but relish small pleasures.

~H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Life's Little Instruction Book

Happy Gardening!!!

Let the Sunshine...Kathleen Sforza!

Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/
http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/

All I Really Need To Know I Learned in Kindergarten...by Robert Fulghum

For me...it was 1st Grade.
This year my niece Alexis graduated from Brooklyn College & my nephew Jason graduated from Boston University. I thought...what words of wisdom can I impart on them on this momentous occasion. Needless to say...I couldn't think of one thing...so I googled some graduation quotes & here are a few of my favorites:


Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind. ~Dr. Seuss

Don't waste time learning the "tricks of the trade." Instead, learn the trade. ~Attributed to both James Charlton and H. Jackson Brown, Jr.

Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else. ~Judy Garland

Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars. ~Les Brown

If at first you don't succeed, do it like your mother  Aunt Kathy told you. ~Author Unknown

So...off you go with these words of encouragement...

As I go forward step by step, the way will be opened up to me ~Proverbs 4:12

Love,
Aunt Kathy...xoxo
 
Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237

Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/(an eBay Store)

Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/
http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/

Picture Frames...Portals to Our Past...

Picture Frames are often the perfect gift. Who doesn't love to receive a picture frame...especially ones as beautiful as these from the Cosmo Collection. All made with ~Crystals from Swarovski®~are works of art...

Frames available for sale here: http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com

A fan favorite & the perfect gift for an engagement or wedding...

Shades of Amber, Brown, & Green...

Lovely Gift for the Gardener...

Sooo Pretty...

Bamboo...

These frames are as Pretty as the Picture...

Kathleen Sforza

Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237

Websites:
http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:
http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/

http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/

"What do girls do who haven't any mothers..."

What do girls do who haven't any mothers to help them through their troubles?
~Louisa May Alcott~

A quote from one of my favorite authors...and...so appropriate for Mother's Day.

I don't know what I would do without my Mother. All my life...always there...listening to my troubles...both real & imaginary. So this Mother's Day I want to thank "My Mom"...whose ears must be falling off by now!!!

xoxo
Kathleen

Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310

Websites:

http://www.kathleenrosescollection.com/ (an eBay Store)

http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.com/ (an eBay Store)

Blogs:

http://www.lorrainesfavoritefinds.blogspot.com/ (Vintage, Retro, & Antique)

http://www.accessoriesbyashleyrae.blogspot.com/ (Accessories)

Live Life with Passion...

"LIVE LIFE WITH PASSION"

Today a woman came to my store {not all that unusual}. She was an older woman...still nothing unusual...she told me & my sister Lorraine that she had traveled from Ronkonkoma, Long Island to Staten Island by train, subway, ferry, & bus...UGGGGGHHHH what a looooonnnngggg commute. That trip probably took a minimum of a couple of hours. She was surprising a friend at work (who, unfortunately, was not there)...so she stopped at our store.

This woman was so full of life. Now, here is the part that surprised us...she is 80 years old !!! OMG...Where did all this energy & excitement come from??? My sister & I asked her what her secret was & she told us...

Live Life Passionately...

You must...

Put God first...

Then yourself...

and then those you Love.

These words, from a woman we had just met, touched both me & my sister.

We vowed...that we too...from this day forward...to live life with passion.

Passionately Living Life,
Kathleen Sforza

Town & Country Gifts
1213 Castleton Avenue
Staten Island, NY 10310
718-447-8237

eBay Store:
Kathleen Rose's Collection (new items)
Lorraine's Favorite Finds(vintage, retro, & antique items)

Blogs:
Lorraine's Favorite Finds
The Savvy Sisters
Accessories By Ashley Rae