The Amazing, Always Joyous 2014 Canton Adventure Begins!

We leave for Canton in the morning - ohh, the treasures to behold! The year 2014 marks 30 years since the Crewe of Canton began their Trade Days Adventures - and the 1st time to have THREE UHauls in tow.
 

{Read about the history of this tradition from Lady Di herself here.} 

 Here's a little photo flashback:

Ladies of the High Court of the Crewe of Canton 2013 in uniform ;) and me - 5 months pregnant!

 We're the kind of ladies that like to STAND OUT! I can't tell you how many times people asked us where we got our witch hats. They really came in handy when you got lost, too.

I will be able to tell Evangeline that she went to Canton Trade Days before she was even born. She is the first born girl of the third generation North Louisiana Crewe that will be able to attend when she starts making her own shopping money! Remember - girls ONLY! Sorry, Hudson and Andrew.

One thing to remember before entering a flea market:

Look past the scratches, dust, and dirt; focus on the possibilities.

Can you believe it has been a year since we moved in? My budget is very limited this year since we just redid the floors in our house. This means it's time to get creative. I'm taking my money to the junkyard and turning some trash to treasure!

Remember last year when I found a bassinet, rocking chair, and bookshelf? There's nothing a little Annie Sloan paint can't do.

View past Canton Trade Days Adventures here!

I've been nesting, what have you been up to?

We are in the new house! Thanks to many many helpful (and friendly) hands! To be honest, I was SHOCKED at all that happened the first weekend. Tison took off Friday and he and Cory started moving boxes during the day- the movers came on Saturday and by noon all our furniture was in place! Mom, Mrs. Chris, and Aunt Cyn started lining cabinets and organized my kitchen for me. Lauren, Mr. Tim, and Tison went back to Dudley to clean the place up before our final walk through. This pregnant gal with a sinus infection was no help. All I really used was my pointer finger and my brain all day. I was overwhelmed by everyone's kindness.

On Sunday night we had the family over and Dad treated us to Imperial Cathay... later we watched Dumb and Dumber while laying on the couch in our new den and I was in awe at what had taken place in the last 48 hours. I still kind of feel like we are house sitting in a home with our stuff in it, but with every passing day - it becomes more ours. The electrician, the roofer, and the cable guy have all come already. Our list of projects continues to get sliced off while also growing with more and more ideas. Home ownership - what an adventure.

{Lauren and David also brought us lunch from Jimmy Johns that fed us for days! Thanks, y'all.}

{check out that brand new fridge! The newest thing in the house!! We are very proud.}

{I plan to show up updates as we (if we ever have time to) get to each room.}

Two weekend ago was our annual trip to Canton Trade Days. (Perfect timing with a new home and baby on the way to look for treasures!) It was amazing as always. This is my third year to attend and I feel so lucky to be a part of this exclusive group :) It just does a heart, body, and soul good to spend time with these women. I found 2 rocking chairs, a book shelf, and an antique bassinet for baby girl. I can't wait to sand them down and repaint. I am really stumped at paint colors though, ya'll. There are REALLY a lot to choose from. How do you even start? I have been going to Pinterest for ideas, but I think it is making my decision even MORE difficult. I am considering having an interior designer come in as a one time consultant and just tell me what to do with everything, but I guess first-things-first I should get everything out of boxes!

 {The North LA crew aka The Hudson ladies picked up their own UHaul for the first time this year. It is funny that we thought we wouldn't even fill up the smallest one! Boy were we wrong!}

{I love getting ideas of how to paint furniture or decorate holiday displays.}

{beautiful crib ideas for baby girl}

{of course my favorite time is "Quilt Time" where we catch up over Prosecco and yummy snacks}

{Oh, Vals. You never disappoint. Just keep bringing those rolls out.}

{turkey leg lunch - and more evening quilt time!}

{because everyone was insistant I not lift anything- I wasn't much help loading our UHaul with treasures. I couldn't have been more proud of Lauren making it work! Plus-nothing was damaged on the travel back home. Way to go, girlfriend.}

{look at this ADORABLE Halloween outfit Mom got for baby girl- yes, this is for next year, but it might not have been there the next time around!}

See previous Canton adventures here!

Canton 2012 recap...

"Life is like a camera. 

Just focus on what's 

important and capture 

the good times,

develop from the 

negatives and if things

don't work out, just

take another shot."

Check out the 2012 Crewe of Canton in all their glory. Happy happy Birthday, Lucy!

I gathered a lot of Halloween decorating ideas with the abundance of fall booth displays. I'm going to try to do this above my door. (we will see how that goes...)

My favorite moment of the trip was when we had "I Love Lucy" time at the end of day 1. Everyone told Lucy why she is so special and loved while we toasted with Veuve Clicquot champagne. It was mushy-gushy and yes, I cried.

Day 2 outfit = bright pink t's. I found some vintage trays I hope to use at my reception. I also picked up a few hostess gifts for my upcoming engagement party :)

Do you like our "bar" on the side of the U-Haul? Of course we ended the day with quilt time where we discussed and showed off our treasures over wine and cake balls before heading to Val's for dinner. These ladies are really something special and every time I leave this rare and extraordinary weekend, I am reminded of how special family is. Thank you ladies for showing me how to focus on what's important by just being yourselves. Until next year!

{pictures from my iphone}

PS - When Mom and I left Canton we drove to Dallas to try on wedding dresses and guess what?! I found the one! First place- first dress! Yesssss. I am so in love with this dress. I can't stop thinking about it. I had that "this is it, I don't need to try on any more" moment I have been waiting for. Only 7 more months, dreamers. I am getting pretty excited.
 

It's Canton Time!

It is time again for the annual Canton trip with the most amazing rabble-rousing, bargain hunting, matching shirt wearing ladies. I am leaving tomorrow to make more memories like the ones below (remember last year?), as well as look for:

1. Halloween decorations
2. vintage trays
3. photo booth props
4. engagement party outfit!

Wish me luck :)

I'm sad my sisters won't be able to make it this year, but don't worry. My mom and I plan to do some damage!

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend. Remember- time goes by fast. Spend it with the ones you love.

~xo~

the best things in life are free...

I am still going through all the Canton trip pictures {my new call name is Razzi for paparazzi}...but had to let you know the biggest surprise of all! Let me start from the beginning. It's a very good place to start.

It was last Monday when I got a facebook message from my sister Leslie (in Zimbabwe) saying that she had booked her ticket to come home! I was shaking so badly I couldn't even read the entire message I had to have a coworker finish it! Confirmation- It did say she had booked her ticket! I immediately called Lauren to see if she knew what was going on. We both squealed in the phone and tried to figure out how we were going to keep this from Mom. See, Leslie wanted it to be a surprise, so we had to figure out how to pick Les up from the Dallas airport on Thursday at 1pm, the first day we were supposed to be on the Canton trip. (Luckily Dallas is only 1.5 hours from Canton - not that I wouldn't drive to Alaska to pick her up.)

I knew that the only believable thing we could say to Mom was that my boss asked me to come in on Thursday morning for a few hours so I wouldn't be able to caravan with everyone to Canton, but I would meet them there later that day. I played it up on the phone to my mother, " Oh, Mom! Can you believe that I have to work!? I asked for the time off and everything!...I can't say no to my boss- I will just have to meet y'all there..." disappointed, but understanding, my mom took the bait. Hook, line, and sinker :)

On Thursday morning when the rest of the Crew left to find Canton treasures at 7am, I went to "work" aka Dallas. It was all I could do not to speed there, I was so excited to see Leslie! The reunion at the airport went as expected, watery eyes, hugs, and... lost bags. After several attempts to speak to anyone with knowledge on locating her bags without success, we decided to just go on to Canton and meet the group.

Keep in mind that we were not expecting Leslie until Christmas, and my mom has NO idea she is even in the States!

{Thanks Mrs. Mary for helping keep our little secret! This is Mom excited to see me after "working half a day"... little did she know...}

{Leslie was hiding behind the UHaul!}

{I honestly didn't think she was going to let go of her!}

It was an amazing weekend filled with so many special memories. I can't describe to you how blessed I feel having my entire family at arms length. I am tearing up just thinking about it.

Canton Bound...

After months of saving (haha, yeah right) I am ready for the 27 year tradition of the Canton experience with the girls! This is my first year to be able to join the group of Cantonites and I couldn't be more excited to have 2 days off of work FOR SHOPPING! I am practically jumping up and down in my desk chair. I have my list of treasures I will be searching for and the matching t-shirts we will be wearing in my suitcase. I can't wait to share the zillions of pictures I will take over the weekend.

Happy weekend my lovelies :)

See last year's Canton trip told by my mom HERE!

The Fabulous Crewe of Canton {26 Year Tradition}

by: Lady Di {aka Virginia Diane, Mrs. Hudson, Nurse Diane, and Mom}

What started 26 years ago as a way for four sisters scattered across the nation to reunite for one weekend of "sisterhood" has evolved to include one "soul sister" (me) and our adult daughters and daughter-in-laws.

Money is saved all year long to purchase "the treasures" and no children (or husbands) allowed. Adult children are included once they are "employed and bringing their own funds"!

In the beginning there were walkie talkies and call names. The call names have endured and each "newbie" member secures hers by vote on the second night of the adventure. The walkie talkies have,of course, been replaced by cell phones.

 

 

Founding members are known collectively as "the Guard", daughters once reaching the age of 30 "the Middle Guard" and our youngest daughters and daughter-in-laws...the "New Guard".

 

Matching tee shirts began as a way of finding each other in the crowd and that too has evolved; from honoring mom's with Alzheimer's shirts to the traditional "game day LSU fighting tiger" shirts.

As the wine flows this group of women have shared everything from divorce, births, deaths and Katrina. As the adventure ends and the U-Haul is loaded each woman leaves with a smile and memories to share. The bonds formed continues to give depth and meaning to the word "family"; both those we are born with and those we choose.