I'm a city girl, born and raised in Hoboken. When I was eleven, mom and dad wanted to enjoy a home of their own, so we moved to a quiet rural city only a few miles away. Yes, I shoveled snow, rode my bike and even played man hunt in the dark on those seemingly endless summer nights. But I had never planted a thing in my life. Dirt was Mortal Enemy Numero Uno. I was the prissy little girl who ran to mommy when my ice cream cone started to melt, dripping on my hand. "Mommy, I'm  done!" quickly passing it to her. You can imagine where "hands digging into dark earth" ranked on  my icky scale! Any thought of a mud pie never even crossed my mind...

Something changed when I moved to Bergen county. For one, I developed seasonal allergies. And I gradually no longer shied away from getting my hands dirty. On my own, I began to pot some pretty house plants for my apartment windowsill. I would never have imagined one day I would know the difference between a euonymous and boxwood bush, or sunlight preferences for primroses and peonies.

I've become quite the gardener over the years, to my own surprise, outdoors and in. Every spring, all the houseplants get a renewal with trimming, dividing, and repotting in fresh soil. The earthy smell of the potting mix... the cool, damp clumps easily broken up with my deft fingers... the lush green foliage and firm stems snapping as they're clipped... I absolutely love it!  Who would have thought this city girl can pot a mean pothos!

For I remember it is Easter morn,

And life and love and peace are all new born. ~Alice Freeman Palmer

'Twas Easter-Sunday, the full-blossomed trees

Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

While he found the ornaments back in 2007, Andreas K. did not report it to the memorials office until after rediscovering the dirt-encrusted objects in a basement box while packing up after selling his house two years ago. Soil had dried on some of the items, falling off to reveal precious metal and jewels underneath. A local magazine reported Andreas initially posted photos on the Internet, where collectors alerted him to the potential value of the pieces. This revelation lead him to pack them in a plastic bag and lug them to the memorials office.

Perusing a local flee market back in 1987, my mom and I stumbled upon a very ornate buckle of a heavily adorned woman in profile. At closer inspection, I spotted the signature Mucha in the lower left corner of the piece. Could it be an actual bronze buckle from the Art Nouveau era by the famous artist? Excitedly I purchased the item for a mere $15, and we were on our way. Back then, convenient internet searches were not readily available, so for many years I pondered the buckle's origins. It was certainly a very heavy piece and did not respond to a magnet - a quick test to eliminate a metal reproduction, thus heightening the possibility of a bronze construction.

I had forgotten about it... until recently. This arousing story about Andreas' backyard discovery prompted me to do some online sleuthing. Turns out, while this buckle is actually bronze and signed, it may still be one of many reproductions and needs the expert eyes of an appraiser. Maybe if the Antiques Road Show visits our area, I could obtain clear answers to my query of the Mucha buckle's origins...

Wouldn't it be cool to have a personal modern fairy tale to tell?... xoxo-Sonya 

Okay, I have to admit, I love my stilettos and those perfect fitting jeans. Especially when worn tastefully together. But financial priorities and balancing family budgets can feel like you're teetering on high heels, squeezing wallets of discretionary income. Despite this fact, we're women... Women who need a quick pick-me-up now and then, a little something to make us feel special without breaking the bank.

What if you could spend half the amount of money, yet sport a totally new look? It's so much easier than you think.

Stop worrying about what you're wearing from the waist down. Tabletop dressing is the answer.Whether you're dolling yourself up for dinner out or rushing around in the car chauffeuring the kids, quit wasting cash, time and trouble choosing the latest $300+ designer shoes or the hottest designer jeans. Who really sees any of that when you're sitting across a table or at the wheel of your car? Fresh new accessories are the key.

The term tabletop dressing has been around for many years, gaining popularity in the 80's when embellished tops and the inclusion of jeweled sweaters became a standard element for many of the knitwear company collections.

We can really learn a lot from the news on TV, and not only about the headlines. Just take a look at these  great ladies. Anchor women and even politicians propped behind a desk or podium have been concentrating their fashion firepower on their top halves for years! Their fashion spotlight is from the waist up. If you're going to a business meeting where you'll be stuck at a conference table all day, focus on your look waist up to maximize the impression you make.

So pick up a knockout new necklace... or whimsical dangling earrings... or a bunch of unforgettable wristlets...  Tabletop dressing is one of the best ways to make the biggest statement while staying fresh with latest trends. Adorn yourself, communicate personal style by emphasizing your top half, and focus energy above the waist to save money...

Then buy that fabulous pair of shoes when the wallet allows... xoxo-Sonya