Friday, October 16, 2009

Pink Saturday Treats


My first photo is of a Christmas tree from a yard sale. The lady made the tree for her daughter using her favorite crib sheet remnants and gingerbread ornaments. It lights up making the icicles shine. I really like the pink sequin skirt at the bottom of the tree.
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The above photo is of pretty ornaments that I found at an estate sale. The pink "grapes", bells, ballerina, and basket will look so pretty on my "pink" tree in Tucson.
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I can't believe that I found this pink princess phone at the same estate sale!! I brought it home, plugged it in and I've been using it ever since. I have my original rotary white princess phone from the late 50's or early 60's packed away so maybe I'll take that one out and use it as well.

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A box of vintage pink ornaments for $1.00 at a yard sale!!!!!!!!!!! Oh what fun I'll have with these!!

I'm really in "pink" mode right now because my daughter is going to have a baby girl this Monday. I'm beyond excited and I can't wait to meet the newest addition to the family. Many photos will be posted of our new bundle of joy.

Have a safe and happy weekend and please visit other participants in the "Pink Saturday" celebration.

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Halloween Whimsy


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Here is another photo of my newly acquired feather tree. I really like the cute "Trick or Treat" plaque that came with the Halloween decorations. If you "click" on the photo, you can see the tree in detail.
Every home needs one of these organizers for the remote control! It is a Longaberger product and, as you can see, I have Halloween/Harvest accessories for it as well. Along with the remote, I have coasters and the fan/light remote in the plastic compartments. We never have to "search" for our remotes with this cute basket.

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I made this "BOO" sign last year and it looks cute with my Halloween bricks and other decor.
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Okay so the candle is crooked....it's broken! I like the orange candles with the black and white harlequin-designed candle holders.
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This is the first year that I've decorated my hutch with fall/harvest decor. It's good to try something new.
I used to dress my daughter's Cabbage Patch dolls in Halloween costumes made especially for them but I don't do that anymore. I'll save them for my granddaughter.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

"Single Ladies"

OMG!! I must really be a nerd! While I was watching "Glee" last night (I love this new TV series), I really got caught up in this song by Beyonce. I like the rhythm and the words to "Single Ladies", and the actors did a great job dancing to and interpreting the music. I'm sure this song has been out for ages now and I'm just getting around to hearing and liking it. I'm stuck somewhere in the "oldies" generation and I need to get out.

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Happy Birthday to you~~~

On September 4, 1914, my mother, Sarah Mary, was born to Rosalia and Pietro in Rockford, IL. Since my mother was born at home, my grandfather didn't register the birth until the next day so her birth certificate has September 5, as her actual birthday.

The following photo is of my mother (standing on the stool) with her grandmother, Maria Stella, and a cousin named Francis or Catherine...I'm not sure. I don't know how old my mother is in this picture and I'm not sure if this photo shows my mother older or younger than the following photo.


Here is my mother at about 2 or 3 years of age. I love the huge bow, the jewelry and the darling shoes.

This is "movie star" mom in one of my favorite photos of her. She just looks so regal and stylish in her dress, hat and bouquet. This is one of many weddings that she was in.
My mother always looked so smart and fashionable as evidenced in this photo of her at age 18.
Mom and Dad were married on September 12, 1943, five days before my father left for WWII.

Here we have 3 generations celebrating my mother's 95th. birthday. My daughter, Karen, and her son, Brandt, are standing behind my mother. Karen is going to have a little girl in October giving my mother her second great-grandchild.
Happy Birthday, Mom, and thank you for all of the life-lessons that you taught me. I had a wonderful childhood thanks to you and Dad, and I have so much to be grateful for. You are the best.
The cameo in the above photo was from my father upon his return from WWII. It is part of a set from Italy that includes a ring and bracelet.

Friday, August 28, 2009

Pink Saturday



Happy Pink Saturday to one and all. Please click on the "Pink Saturday" button to the right of this post so you can visit other participants in the weekly event.

My first photo is of a dress form that I picked up from a Craig's List sale this past Thursday. When I saw it in the listing photo, the form looked a whole lot smaller than it actually is. Of course I don't know what to do with it, but I'm sure a creative person or two from blogland can give me suggestions. I tried to jazz the form up with some vintage jewelry but it certainly needs more than that. It is pale pink in color with a lot of interesting detail.
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I found this little pink plate at the same sale as the above dress form. It, too, has interesting detail.



What better way to end the hot summer than by carrying a pink-striped bag with pink towels to a pool or a beach? My daughter was going to sell this bag, but I snatched it up instead.

My daughter gave this book to me several years ago and I keep it in a curio cabinet along with some other treasures. The sentiments inside are so heartwarming.
Thank you for visiting on this hot Pink Saturday in very sunny Arizona. Have a safe and wonderful weekend.

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

"Nesting" baby shower



Welcome to my daughter's "Nesting" baby shower. I decided on a bird/nesting theme after seeing Karen's choice of crib bedding. She selected "Love Bird" by Bananafish and, since we both really like birds, it was easy to "fly" with the theme. I didn't know where to begin so I searched the internet and found ideas from other nesting showers. I was fortunate to find a wonderful lady (Debbie) on Craig's List who just happened to be selling bird-theme craft supplies including a Christmas tree that I could decorate with birdhouses, nests, eggs, and birds. I made and decorated the labels, name tags, and place-setting poems using the supplies that I had on hand. It was easy and very cost-effective.I had a supply of plastic beverage glasses that I bought quite cheaply at a yard sale so I decided to give them some class with this label. I have never owned a piece of Waterford nor do I intend to ever own this crystal, but my cheap imitations were quite a delight for my guests.

I know my daughter quite well and I knew that she didn't want to be on "pink" overload so I kept the color to a minimum. Here you can see splashes of pink in the floral arrangements that were centerpieces for the tables.
This photo is blurry but the favors are adorable. In keeping with the bird/nesting theme, I ordered "The Nest Egg" favors which contain a pink soap in the shape of an egg. They are in a toile pink box with a brown ribbon and a "Thank You" tag hanging from the ribbon. Another hit at the shower!
I just love this baby lamb planter and I had pink roses put into it for another centerpiece.

Here is a photo of Karen with a darling pair of white shoes with pink ribbon. In the background you can see a sweater that was made by either my mother or my grandmother 30+ years ago. I might have used it for Karen when she was a baby and it was washed and put away until now. I hope that my new granddaughter gets a lot of use out of it.
Here are several blankets that were knit or crocheted by my mother or my grandmother even before I was ever married. My mom and grandmother were quite skilled at needlework and they would pass the time making things for family and friends.
Here is a photo of Karen with a darling picture frame that will match the nursery and crib bedding perfectly.
Here is a photo of Karen holding up another adorable outfit and blanket.
My mother will be 95 years old on September 4, and here she is posing with Karen. Karen just told me today that the baby's middle name will be "Sarah" in honor of my mother!
Again in keeping with the "nesting" theme, I decorated this tree with birds, nests, birdhouses and eggs. This is part of the box of goodies that I got from Debbie.
What would a baby shower be without a cake? It would be a baby shower with bird nest cupcakes. I bought the cupcakes at Costco and decorated them with toasted coconut and pink-spotted jelly beans that looked like eggs in a nest. Everyone raved about the cupcakes and I had to admit that I got the idea online. I also served quiche, finger sandwiches, broccoli salad, pink deviled eggs (dipped the whites in beet juice) and fruit salad. The pink eggs didn't taste like beets at all...they just looked like regular deviled eggs only they were pink!

Here is a place setting holder. At first I didn't know what to do with the birdhouses, and then it struck me to use them to hold the names of each guest. I hot-glued a little bird into each birdhouse and put each name in the folded wire on top. I wish this photo wasn't crooked!

Here you can get an idea of what the place settings looked like on the table. Unfortunately pieces have been moved but you can get a better idea in the following photo. I found the bird and birdhouse napkins at a yard sale over a year ago and thankfully I still had them. I tied the plastic knife, fork and spoon in each napkin with raffia which sympolized nesting material. I printed, stamped, colored, and edged each poem that welcomed the guests.
Here is a photo of a tablescape complete with a birdhouse as part of the centerpiece. The Mounds candy was part of a game.
The first shower I planned for my daughter had a"Pea in a Pod" theme. This one was a nesting shower theme, and if she has another baby the theme will be pizza and beer!