One year of blogging over 380 posts

In this first year of blogging I have learned many things--some technical, some creative, some about my own patience but the most important and surprising thing I have learned is what a wonderfully friendly, loving, sharing community of bloggers exist out in the blog universe! I have "met" so many kind and helpful fellow bloggers, shopped too much on those Etsy sites tied to my favorite blogs and best of all made some real friends !

I have managed to post everyday in this first year and have had the pleasure of seeing my group of readers grow. I am not sure I can keep up with posting daily as I head back to work full time but I will do my best to keep the blog active and very PINK! Thank you dear pink-loving reader for allowing me to take some of your free time.

Have a PINK day!

If Sydney-Marie could speak

She would say three words: tummy rubs and treats. Here she is enjoying a tummy rub. Sometimes she closes her eyes like she did in this photo. It is her version of living pink.

Have a PINK day!

A fun Thanksgiving for everyone

It was so fun making my turkey day table setting. I found cute turkey tureens at Homegoods a few weeks ago and I had this Le Jacquard Francaise tablecloth- called Chinese Market (in saffron colorway) so I used that as the base for the colors of orange, yellow, purple and gold.

I used my big pumpkin soup tureen for the floral centerpiece. I used some fall colored flowers from Publix and added a few small cabbage plants just took two them out of the pots and stuffed then in around all of the flowers- all the flowers were only 15.00 and then I used real tiny artichokes for the place card holders. The flowers are in a mug inside the tureen and then some are just around that mug to fill it out with the potted cabbages.

I like to stack plates so I used the tiny tureens atop a leaf plate and the napkin was part of the plate presentation. I scattered a few gold votive candles and a few small pumpkin tureens around the center piece for more interest and a few real white tiny pumpkins.

It wasn't pink but it was colorful for our traditional Thanksgiving day dinner. Lola, my Pink-In-Laws Yorkie joined us also. We were pretending she was at the table. Hope I gave you a few ideas.

Have a PINK day!

Plethora of Pinkness and some Paris too!

Happy Pink Saturday and merci to dear Beverly at How Sweet the Sound for hosting all these days of sharing pinkness! Please visit her blog today (link : http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/) to meet other PINK bloggers.

The above images from tumbler, all represent a bit of my mind's dreams of the season. Isn't it funny how the Eiffel Tower resembles shape ( I know of a woman) of a Christmas tree!! Could we all be subconsciously drawn to it for those two things it conjures up in our subconscious?

The top little tree is such a delight beach or town pinkness abounds. Wishing for a Paris Christmas one day full of frosted trees in the Luxembourg gardens and mass at Notre Dame.

Have a PINK day!

On the day after Thanksgiving I start my holiday decorating. I found this image on tumbler and this is what I imagine about the holiday season -- bright and beautiful, glittering and flickering with a hint of pink around us all.

So it is off to deck the halls and doors and mantels tie a bow on every creature big and small and ohh I think I hear some champagne corks popping!

Have a PINK day!

Happy Turkey Time

So many blessings to be thankful for every day. Nice to have a special day of thanks .

Hope your plate is full and your heart is grateful and your health is tip top.

Wouldn't this be a pretty plate to serve up the turkey and cranberries? I think Gumps carries these plates.I see a hint of pink on it!

Have a PINK day!

How do bunnies and socks go together?

By becoming PINK bunny socks that you wear around house instead of slippers!! Aren't they cute and silly and totally not necessary but fun anyway? I love stuff like this-found them at TJ Maxx last week. Hop over maybe they still have some!

Have a PINK day!

Pink holiday mantel

Another shot from Better Homes and Gardens a pink themed fireplace mantel. How lovely. I sure am already singing Its Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Have a PINK day!

Decorating idea

When I worked in luxury retail I often did this type of thing in the front windows. Simple, quick, up high no one can break it and visually very appealing. I may try it at home this year. I keep buying pink round ornaments when ever I see them so maybe I will have enough.

You could also hang them from a chandelier or a pot rack or just on fishing line from thumb tack in the ceiling.

Have a PINK day!

Marie Antoinette Plate

Vivien from Quaintrelle Life ( link to the right) is making me a folding hand fan if you recall. It will be pink, bien sur, and have this monogram on it. I can't wait to see it!! I think it will come before the holiday so it will be my present to myself.

She sent me this picture of this plate isn't it fun? With my china obsession I wish I could find it. Wouldn't it be neat to be able to have china made to your wishes/colors like they did back in Marie Antoinette's time. They commissioned entire china services custom made for their chateau--now that to me is really being wealthy!

Have a PINK day!

Pink ornaments and Pink Saturday!

How quickly the weeks seem to pass during holiday season it is another PINK Saturday hosted by the delightful Beverly at How Sweet the Sound--link to the right-- please log on to her blog and visit other pink posts today.

I just got two pink ornaments for the big tree for Christmas at T J Maxx!! They look vintage. I will probably put up my biggest tree this year it is all swans and pink ornaments. I usually put the gifts under the big tree. My other six trees range from 3 ft to about 7 ft. It is a lot of work but so fun.

I saw these other photos on tumbler I think they are from Better Homes and Gardens--- don't you want to go through that pink door!!

If you like my pink blog please join as a follower my goal when I started blogging about a year ago was to have 100 followers by end of year one.

Have a PINK day!

Be an elf and help me

As I may have mentioned before I have all these ideas...aahhm and some of them come about and some of them drive me crazy and some never work at all. I really am not at all crafty --what little I do is a fluke-- but I do have visions of how I want things to look or ideas for things.

And one of my ideas for this year's big pink tree (stuff on it is pink not the tree) is a pretty white banner of either ribbon or paper about 6 foot long probably two to place near top of the tree with some words in pretty curvy script on it.

Well, this has turned into a nightmare!! One would think I am inventing some new robot or something.

The image above is from Pottery Barn, the banner (I bought one to show to people) is the right size 5 inches wide but the background is dark, the letters are block like and not what I want to say at all. So the search continues for plain white or pale pink 5 inch wide paper that I can have in 6 foot lengths. Then I will use stamps or maybe even try my own "fancy" writing on it. I also want to glitter the edges. Desperate times and all that! ha

Does anyone have a source for paper like that? I need it in long 6-8 foot lengths. It has to be stiff enough to place into the tree but not so stiff it wrinkles a lot and can only be used once.It also has to be smooth so I can write on it.

Any pink help? Leave me a comment or email me. I am afraid I won't be doing this this year.

Have a PINK day!

Pagoda in PINK!

I bought this cute pink pagoda ornament at Star Provisions in Atlanta. It is a foodie heaven (yummy meats, cheeses, great crab cakes and best mac and cheese and wonderful carry out goodies and things for the kitchen/table. They always have unusual things. A pink pagoda was too tempting to pass up.

It is not going on the tree! I already have it hanging in the bathroom where I see it all the time.

Life is too short to save everything for a holiday season. I need to see my favorite things often.

Have a PINK day!

Pink sneak peak!!

Oh I can hardly wait to put up my new Marie Antoinette themed tree. I keep thinking of it and seeing things that I may use. I may use the glitter bird I got at Nick's shop. Or I may keep it simple.

One thing I will use for sure are these adorable M and A monogrammed cards made by Paulette of Paper Nosh/Pink Paperie (link to the right) so here is a tiny look. I have many other goodies to add to these. She added extra glitter and a paper rose since MA is associated with roses. A lovely little paper treasure.

I don't dream of sugarplums I dream of pink ornaments and ribbons.

Have a PINK day!

Do you think Santa could get this in his sack?

I've been a good girl all year Santa---really I have!

Do you think he could fit this in his sack? Pink Boy says I am an" unusually large child" so I think Santa should be bringing me something.....

Oh how pretty this chinoiserie cabinet is! I could think of many PINK things to fill it with! Santa is a pink living fan.

Have a PINK day!

My cat's workout

Miss Charlotte Moss is not into heavy exercise. Her idea of working out is sitting atop my step and looking cute! She will sit there for hours and meows when I pull it out of closet.

How can she look so good not doing anything and I actually use it and don't look so swell? Ha

One of the mysteries of being a cat.

Have a PINK day!

Beauty is where you see it

We visited a friend in Tennessee last month at her farm and they had just cut the hay and had it stacked up ready to put in the barn for the cows.

This machine cuts the hay (I do not think it bales it just cuts) and when I saw it I thought it was beautiful. It reminded me of Van Gogh's Starry Night the swirls of the blades looked like his swirly stars.

We all need to look for the beauty in things and in people. Sometimes it is just a matter of changing your perspective or tilting your head. Sometimes it is going deeper getting to know someone and then realize how beautiful their spirit is.

Have a PINK day!

Pink Saturday and Pink Mystery

Please go to How Sweet the Sound and visit other pink posts today. I am toatsing Beverly and all the other pink bloggers out there. Having Pink Saturday is a fun way to visit other blogs.The link is to the right.

What is this--do you know? Do you have a guess? I will give you a hint-- it is not a living thing.

Just looking at this photo makes me happy- all that pretty pinkness. If you have a guess toast yourself- - it is something I made.

Give up....?

It is a tissue paper pom pom I made from a Martha Stewart kit for a party and just can't throw it out so I keep moving it around the house or outside if weather is not damp.

Have a PINK day!

Smitten with kittens

Kittens are joy covered with fur! Our cat, Charlotte Moss, found us she was about 6 months old. So I missed a lot of the kitten phase with her. We have had two other cats as kittens lots of fun. I would love to get a Birman- they are so soft, very social, like other animals, like to be around people, have only 1 coat so matting and shedding is far less than other cats.

We went to a cat show and we are looking. I think Miss Moss ( Charlotte) would love a friend.

Birmans look like a Siamese with a rounded head and whiteish fur, they always have blue eyes and white feet. Their faces and tail can be different colors. I like the dark seal point. Here is the link to the Birman breed page :http://www.cfainc.org/breeds/profiles/birman.html

I adore dogs and cats and my dogs basically ignore Charlotte and she ignores them most of the time. Never any squabbles.!

We will take our time and find a sweet friend for Charlotte. I want her to be happy.

Have a PINK day!

Letters and pen pals

I have a new pen pal. She lives in Canada. I love writing and receiving letters. Email is great but the thrill of a letter is better.

It is fun to sit at my writing desk and use my pretty paper from Paper Nosh (link to your right) and my pink ink pens and pretty stamps that I made from photos of my peonies. I use a photo stamp web site.

Sometimes it is nice to light a scented candle and play classical music while I write my letters or make out Christmas cards. A nice cup of tea also makes the writing go smoothly.

Have a PINK day!

Playgroup for pups

Sydney-Marie needs some playmates. She likes everyone and would love a pug friend to play with. This lucky pug seems to be living at Versailles or in Marie Antoinette movie.How about this cute little Pom what a fun friends she would be! I saw a very elaborate dog bed in the Met in NY it fit right in with the Louis XV style furniture in the room.

My girls love their princess style canopy bed. Simone-Marie tends to take it and not let Sydney-Marie inside.

Have a PINK day!

Bonjour Tour Eiffel ca va?

I think she is very well. I miss her. When in Paris you see her from so many vantage points and between buildings over roof tops it is always nice to see a bit of her. On chilly days nothing is better than sitting with cocoa at a cafe with gloves on watching people go by.

Did you know she has her own web site, bien sur!? Here is the link: http://www.tour-eiffel.fr/teiffel/uk/ Now you can visit her that way too!

I seem to collect photos of her over the years. One day I will organize them all into frames and put them up or something. Looking at photos of her cheers me. I love to sit in a Paris cafe like the one above and write my postcards or read and look up and catch a glimpse of her. She is most definitely one of the most beautiful structures in the world. A French person I know says Americans are so devoted to Paris and almost obsessed with Paris-- do we wonder why? Paris is beauty and style in so many ways.

Learning about the construction and public outcry when the tower was proposed is amazing to us now.

Have a PINK day!

Tricks

Sydney-Marie had fun on Halloween. She was a fairy princess .She had wings and a hat. She was so good with all the treaters. She sat on her chair and wore her costume for 3 hours! We were dressed up also. We love Halloween. Fog and scary music added to the setting.

She looks so cute in costumes. She enjoys the dressing up. Simone-Marie does not really like to dress up or be around a lot of people she is 12 and shy. We do not make her dress up.

We have already planned our matching costumes for next year! You will have to wait and see but they will be something very fun. Sydney-Marie is excited about her coordinating costume.

Have a PINK day!

18th Century Clothing

It all looks so romantic and detailed. I love to look at period clothing. One of my favorite classes in college was history of clothing. Of course, wearing something like this is probably far from comfortable. I know that they literally sewed women into the bodices of most of these dresses.

The top image is from the 18th Century blog. I love all the bows. I wonder if women back then asked their husbands, "Does this dress make my derriere look big?" I bet they did!

It is still fun to pretend or to wear them as costumes for a night.

Have a PINK day!

Pink pearls all aglow

These pink pearls just speak to me--they look like they are glowing from within!

Happy Pink Saturday please visit How Sweet the Sound (link to your right) to visit more pink posts today.

They say pearls are one of only substances used in jewelry that make a woman's skin glow. Since pearls were once part of a living thing they impart that life glow onto others. It is a nice story, no? So fitting for a bride in love she gets a double dose of glowing.

Have a PINK day!

More of my obsession--which one would that be?

I know that is what you are thinking--Which obsession? It would be the china one again. I have identified all the china that I showed you before largely in part to a helpful sales person at Gumps in San Francisco.

These are new china patterns that I just saw on Tumbler. I like them all. How I wish I had a bigger dining room table and more storage. I can see using these for a little fete with my girlfriends or as part of a more formal tea with some friends from work.

I like to think in terms of a tabletop wardrobe- different styles for different moods and occasions. Keeping them mainly in one or two colors allows you to mix and remix or to just add one new element now and then keeping the main patterns the same. We all have to dine and we should do it beautifully. I don't really save my "good china" I use it as often as I can.

Have a PINK day!

Do you know this bear?

In the early 80's I became aware of a series of children's books about a very special bear who resides in Paris and has many adventures and many interesting friends. Steiff actually created a bear to match the one the author used as Ophelia. I loved all the books so much I gave them to my godchildren. Books are a special part of childhood they seem to stay with us forever. I still have all my favorite childhood books and I know my Godchildren saved the ones I gave them.

I envied Ophelia her fabulous life in Paris- she was always living pink.

Her story took her to some far off places and she met some interesting people and bears. I hope my Godchildren took away a sense of adventure and want to experience some of the places that she traveled so stylishly to visit.

You can still get the books on Amazon.

Have a PINK day!

Black Swan

With my love of dance/ballet and love of swans it is with great expectation that I look forward to seeing the new dance movie Black Swan with Natalie Portman. I hear it is a psychological thriller as well as a dance movie--not a chick flick at all.

If the costume and makeup are any indication of the quality of the rest of the movie it looks like it will be top drawer all around. It opens in early December.

Have a PINK day!