Pinks, Favorites and KeyWest

Happy New Year!!!! I hope this year brings peace, prosperity and blessings to everyone!

I missed to show any sightseeing photos last week cause I was on the road. But I did not want to miss it today so I am showing some pictures I took while on a trip to Key West in Florida last month with my family.

I am linking with Beverly's Pink Saturday at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com/my_weblog/

and Laurie's A Few of My Favorite Things at http://bargainhuntingwithlaurie.blogspot.com/

Go visit them and their participants to see more.

You must be tired of seeing Christmas stuff by now but I was looking for something pink to show you and I came across this snowman soda fountain so I thought I would show it to you before putting it away.

And more favorites with pink are a Madonna plate by Raphael and 2 Meissen figures which are all sitting on our foyer console.

Now, it's time to go to Key West. I won't say much so you can just zip through the photos.

Lots of old houses and I love that pretty tree.

There were trolleys everywhere.

The oldest house in Key West. Posing in front of it is my daughter Rochelle.

Dirty jokes for $1? As you can see, we did not stop, especially because we had a lot of kids with us.

I fell right in front of this building. I tripped on one of the pavers and fell all the way down to my face. Luckily, I got up unharmed.

Nathan is pointing to the Filipino flag. We were so surprised to see our flag there that I had to take our picture in front of it.
My son (his uncle) just taught Nathan how to point and he just kept pointing at everything during the whole cruise. It was so cute!

It was fun shopping around.

LOL! We went to the toy store and Brendan and I pretended to be scared of the shark.

Museum of Arts and Industry



My daughter Tina, does professional photography. She does mostly weddings and family portraits. You can tell from these poses which one is the real photographer.

Thank you all for stopping by. The very best to you all for 2011. Thanks, Laurie and Beverly for hosting!

Inspired by QVC

Did I miss Tablescape Thursday last week? These few days have been going so fast that I can't remember what I do from one day to the next. Anyway, I am not missing it this time even if I only have a small one. Go to Susan's blog at http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/ to see bigger, better prepared and more elegant tablescapes.

Linking with Michael, AKA Gollum for Foodie Friday at http://www.designsbygollum.blogspot.com/ too.

I am also linking with Sally for Blue Monday at http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/

I was in the home office surfing the web when my hubby called me to the family room. He was watching TV and came across QVC selling Polish pottery. And nope, I did not buy any cause they were too expensive at over $110 for each serving dish. But it gave me an inspiration for my tablescape.

I had already cooked chili and we planned to watch a DVD I got from Netflix, "Bad Company", so why not just eat in the family room while watching? Well, that's exactly what we did. I set the coffee table with Polish pottery.

I like to mix and match when I use the Polish pottery because different patterns all go well together since they all have the basic cobalt blue color on them somehow.

The lidded bean pot was just the perfect size to serve the chili for just the 2 of us.

I just grabbed 2 diet cokes from the frig. and took the 2 Polish pottery goblets (I only have 2 cause they are very hard to find) and filled them with ice. This is a very informal and casual dinner.

The napkin rings are rustic angel wings. I just bought them on clearance at Pottery Barn for $1.99, when we went shopping in Spanish Fort on Christmas eve.

I served the shredded cheese in an ice cream dish.

I used 2 crackled votive holders with cobalt blue rims. I bought them from Goodwill for $1.99 each. I was going to sell them at the store but could not part with them, lol.



I served some crackers on a flat oval dish.

And here's my whole tablescape. Simple and fast!

Right outside the window is this beautiful sunset and all we have to do is turn to the left to enjoy it.

We really enjoyed the relaxing meal and the movie too. If you want to see a funny movie with lots of action, go see "Bad Company". Thanks for stopping by and thanks again to our lovely hosstesses, Susan and Sally!

Anything Goes on Marty's Tabletop Tuesday

Today, Marty said we can post just about anything for her Tabletop Tuesday Anything Goes party and she suggested maybe we want to show some presents we got for Christmas.

So, that is what I am going to do so I don't have to think too much, lol. You can see all the other participants at http://astrollthrulife.blogspot.com/ . Thank you for hosting again, Marty!

We opened presents on Sunday because we were too tired driving back from Pensacola on Christmas Day and John still had to do hospital paperwork as soon as we got home. It just makes it more fun since it extends the holiday celebration. Do you see the tiny hat on John's head? LOL! AJ sent it to him and it is a University of Michigan (his alma mater) tree ornament. He loves it of course. Go Blue!

The frame above which I just finished hanging, is what I gave him. I ordered it from Maria of http://personalizedsketchesandsentiments.blogspot.com/ . He really likes it. He was amazed at how much it looks like his Sevres eggs. I had to point out that it is drawn with his name "John" all over and he got even more impressed after that.

I like it up there.

He gave me a set of 9 Tiffany sterling silver spoons with gold wash bowls in the Palm pattern. He got them from Ebay and he sent me the link afterwards so that I can have the information. I could not believe how much he paid for them. I guess I am going to have to keep them forever and never sell them in my store, lol.

I placed them in tiny vases in a cloche to give them a special place.

They are monogrammed but I could not figure out the letters except that it starts with an M. Turned the other way, it could read like a W so it must really be meant for us.

I think they are really pretty and of course I love the "Tiffany" mark.

John also gave me more Old Britain Castles dishes to complete my collection. I started with 8 dessert bowls that I bought from Marshall's and look how many pieces I have now. All I am missing now is a tea set. I already have a lot of cups and saucers too.

I love them and I love the fact that he feeds my dish addiction.

His daughter, my stepdaughter, sent me this Coach purse and a wallet and scarf. She knows my Coach addiction too, lol. Thanks, Kerri, I really love it. See? It even has my maiden name initials, CC.

This I gotta show you. It was in my stockings. It's a pair of reading glasses with built in lights. It makes me smile everytime I wear it. It's really pretty cool!



Here it is with the lights off.



I got other presents like shirts, another purse, lots of body lotions, etc. but I will show you just one more. My daughter sent me this set of jewelry. It's perfect cause I wear a lot of black outfits. I love it. Thanks, Rochelle!

Thank you again for stopping by. I hope you all have a Happy New Year and that blessings continue to bestow upon you throughout the years to come.