Christine's Home and Travel Adventures

Monday, July 7, 2014

Coke and Independence Day, 2014 Celebration. Home at Last, Temporarily!

After 2 delayed flights, John and I finally got home (John after a long weekend) and I, after 4 months) from Florida, last Monday evening, the 30th of June. I had so much to do at home so I wore my roller skates and started opening mails, packages and putting everything away in their places. By Friday, I was ready for a 4th of July party celebration.

The Coca cola salad plates and glasses were some of the few items John received while I was gone. I had a lot of fun opening the packages because it was like a surprise each time a box was opened to reveal its contents. I had forgotten what I had ordered on line, lol.

I thought I should show you all the packages and they waited in the foyer for me to open. Yep, shopping is a therapy for me when I get sad and nervous.

Anyway, back to the tablescape.

Things go better with coke, don't you think? For the round table where I sat the adults, I used red "Believe" ceramic plate chargers, Polish pottery dinner plates and the coca cola salad plates.

The servers are all Polish Pottery. I used the red San Remo flatware set for the adult table and alternated plain red and blue napkins with stars. Funny how John did not want to use the napkins with stars. He said he felt being disrespectful to the flag using it, so we switched. I told him it wasn't a flag since it had no stripes, only stars.

Southern Living at Home napkin ring and placecard holder combo but I only used them to hold our names. I used ceramic teapot napkin rings.

I have had the Coke S & P shakers for quite some time. The pitcher and the little woman candle holder are Polish pottery. I just took plant and flower trimmings from the front yard to put in the pitcher to add to the centerpiece.

I set the small square table for the kids in the breakfast nook area.

Bicycle napkin rings from Sur La Table.

Ceramic blue and white Polish plate chargers by Danica, my red fluted everyday dinner plates and Coca cola salad plates for the kids table. On this table, I used the blue San Remo flatware.

Coca Cola runner was another item that came in with the packages.

A big Polish stars and stripes pitcher that I used to hold a US flag. Cobalt blue bird S & P shaker set was part of my birthday present that my daughter Rochelle gave me while I was celebrating my birthday in the hospital.

I bought the wooden Coca Cola box from Big Lots in FL.

Polish pottery tea set with a stars and stripes Polish pottery pot warmer.

I baked a mocha chiffon cake and served it on varied patterned Polish pottery dessert plates.

Red and blue San Remo flatware from Neiman Marcus online.

Everybody brought a dish so I had to rearrange the kitchen island and decided to serve buffet style instead.

The happy crew who enjoyed the feast who went swimming afterwards. Thanks guys, for celebrating with us!

Although I just arrived home last week, I am already booked for my next flight to Florida in 2 weeks. My granddaughter, Rea will have the resection of her tumor then. Please help me pray for her, for the tumor to have been shrunk by the chemo so that it can easily be removed safely. Prayers have been working because she has been tolerating the treatments very well and I am so grateful that she is staying strong.

Thank you so much for your visits. I am grateful to the hostesses that I am linking with.

Sally's Blue Monday

http://smilingsally.blogspot.com
Christine's Table It

http://www.rustic-refined.com/

Masterpiece Monday
Boogieboard Cottage

Show Me What You Got

Our Delightful Home

Make it Pretty Monday

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com

Marty's Inspire Me Tuesday

http://www.astrollthrulife.net/

Kathy's A Return To Loveliness

http://adelightsomelife.com

Sandi's Teatime Tues

http://sandimyyellowdoor.blogspot.com

The Scoop (Tuesday)

http://confessionsofaplateaddict.blogspot.com/

Ruth's Tuesday Cuppa Tea

http://www.antiquesandteacups.info

Martha and Terri's Teacup Tues

http://www.marthasfavorites.com/

Maria Elena's Tuesdays at Our Home

http://mariaelenasdecor.blogspot.com/

Paula's What's It Wed

http://ivyandelephants.blogspot.com/

Centerpiece Wed

http://thestylesisters.blogspot.com/

Share Your Cup Thursday

http://jannolson.blogspot.com/

Tablescape Thursday

http://betweennapsontheporch.net/

Anything Blue Friday

http://thededicatedhouse.blogspot.com

Thursday, July 3, 2014

Rev It Up Trike-a Thon for Rea and Meeting Debby of Just Breathe

We had a very successful Rev It Up for Rea Trike-a Thon last week, on June 28th. It was held at the Veterans Park in Hudson, FL. My youngest daughter organized it and it went so well and so organized in spite of the big turn out. We were also able to raise a good amount of money for Rea and her family, to help with medical bills, trips back and forth to the hospitals and just to offer as much normalcy to their family life.

And so the celebrity twins arrive! Halle on the left and Rea on the right!

My nephew made this huge banner and sent it all the way from Callifornia. Thanks, Jonjet!

A table was set for registration. My daughter in law, Becky and her mom, Debbie, gave out raffle tickets, stickers and awareness bracelets, as they greeted the supporters and guests.

My most exciting surprise was when someone called my name and when I looked, I thought she looked so familiar. Of course she was, because I have communicated with her for years through my blog and I have seen her picture several times on her blog. It's Debby of Just Breathe, who totally surprised me. And what a pleasant surprise! She lives all the way in San Diego but she just happened to be visiting her dad in Florida, who just turned 91 (Happy birthday, dad!). Doesn't he look good for his age? Debby said she did not tell me they were coming because she wasn't sure if they would make it and she wanted to surprise me if they did. Thank you so much, Debby! I appreciate your support and how wonderful to finally meet you in person.

My hubby flew in for the weekend so he could join us too and show his support. I am so glad he came because I hardly see him these days, or should I say, months!

Thanks to Publix, Actsoft (Thanks Ashley Overbaugh!) and Crispers (Thanks, Erica!) for donating all these yummy food! Thanks also to Steve, my daughter Tina's father in law, for taking charge of the food booth.

Tina's mom in law, Peggy and friend, Jen, who left her home at 5:30 AM to make it there on time from where she lives, took care of the donation pledges for the t shirts booth. Thanks, Peggy and Jen!

Kids wrote something for Rea and signed the cards. We enjoyed reading their cute little messages.

Thanks again, Debby and dad for my biggest surprise of the day!

We had several booths set up for kids to enjoy, make your own mask, face painting, decorate your trikes, etc.

Thanks to our face painting artists! They did an excellent job.

Kids came to show their love and support for Rea.

And there was so much excitement when the trike-a-thon finally began. Kids came with their trikes, bikes, scooters, etc.

They chanted, "Hip...hip...HooRea!!!!! Hip...hip...HooRea! And my daughter Rochelle lost it and started crying. It was a very touching moment indeed!

The adults joined in the trike-a-thon too, wheeling their little ones in their strollers

We had drawing for the prizes, all given by generous donors! Too bad I could not win because immediate family members were not given raffle tickets. I would have loved to win the 2 night stay at Embassy Suites in Orlando.

The t shirts were also donated by my nephew from California who made the banner. Thanks again, Jonjet!

We had way over 200 people come and join us. So much outpouring love and support for Rea could be felt all morning.

A large banner was set up so everybody can write a note for Rea. It is now displayed in her hospital room while she is getting her chemo, which I am happy to say, that she is tolerating very well.

Rea was overwhelmed with so many people surrounding her whom she did not know and felt shy, that she just wanted to be held. But once we got in the car, she kept saying, "The party was for me and it is the biggest party I've ever seen!"