I'm a Sister with the Bloggerette Sorority!!!

Me...the newest Sorority Sister:)

Sisterhood is so may things to so many people...

I am one of the lucky ones...

I have 3 big sisters.

My girls have each other...

sisters for life.

But what about those other sisters...

the ones you choose...or who choose you...

like sorority sisters.

I always wanted to be a sorority sister!

Because...

Sisters are a warm smile on a cold and rainy day

a friendly hug, a cheerful hello.

"Just because" presents.

Sisterhood is all that a good and lasting friendship is,

only better!

It's treasured. It's sacred.

It's knowing that there will always

be someone there for you, no matter what.

It's sharing...ideas, tips, thoughts, dreams, goals.

It's counting on and being counted on!

It's..the Bloggerettes Sorority Sisters!"

Yep...in addition to being a sister to Kathy, Nancy and Debbie...

I am a Bloggerette Sorority Sister!!!!!

And I am so excited!

This is going to be fun...

a new adventure...with new friends!

I missed "rush week", where the fun project was to

take this photo

be creative with it and then show the sisters our work.

Well...missed that one! But they still let me in:)

I don't know a lot of the sisters yet...but the Sorority President, Karen

is one friendly, creative, beautiful and amazing person, I can tell you

that much already!

So if you want to be a Bloggerette too...

hurry on over to Karen's place at Some Days are Diamonds

Won't you join us?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And if by chance you are a CREATIVE Sister, be sure to check out

my 4th of July Giveaway HERE!!!

All kinds of glittered goodies straight from PARIS, FRANCE to

make something super extra special!

AMERICANA IN PARIS...AND GIVEAWAY!!!!

"Americana in Paris"...

Get it?
Like "An American in Paris" with Gene Kelly.
Pretty cute..and clever...if I do say so myself.
(Hey, I rarely think of cute and clever blog titles...
so yes, I am excited!:)

Okay...remember Americana?
That style of decorating that portray the best of the old American Spirit?


Using muted shades of classic colors,
such as slate blue, muted greens, faded reds...
including Americana folk art...


Some called it country...
(I think I did when my Mom decorated the guest room with it...
Sorry Mom. I didn't know a THING back then!)

While these are not pictures of my Mom's guest room,
you get the idea. I remember thinking it was like sleeping in
the "Betsy Ross" flag room.
Well, not me, thank you very much!

UNTIL...
I discovered Chani from
Blanc et Caramel


French for "White & Caramel"...
her colors du jour:)
She loves white, shabby and coffee stained items...
and shares them with the world via her etsy shop
and her main shop.



Here is what she says about her beautiful shop... "We are located in Paris and have vintage inspired products, but we also make sure they are French. Gorgeous finds from Parisian flea markets and romantic places in the southern French countryside, notably the Provence, were used for crafting our products. We love both the vintage and old-fashioned Paris style and the countryside shabby chic."

Now, Chani is a beautiful young lady,
born in Switzerland and now married with a family and living in
Paris, France.
I'm telling you, I have met the most wonderful ladies via my blog...
lovely people who are always there to lend an ear
and give you a virtual hug when you need it most...
(and I have needed it most lately.)
And I have met so many generous, kind and creative people...
just like Chani!

Guess what Chani loves?
In her own words...
"Isn't it funny how you always want what you don't have:
I want American stuff and Americans want French stuff!"

Yep, that's me she's talking about!
I love anything French...
If it has French words, designs (Eiffel Tower, Fleur De Lis...)...
I LOVE IT!!!
I'm going to Paris this Fall and ALL I want to do is visit the Paris Flea Markets:)

Anyway, Chani even has a name for it...
Shabby Americana.
How cute is that????
She decorates with it from time to time and creates with it.
Just look at a pillow she has in her home...



And some of the "Shabby American" items in her shop...



In her designs, she tends to make them in muted colors a la the shabby look and part of her color palette...



I think I might have a new love for Americana.
How funny it started with a sweet lady from Paris France:)

Chani also has a number of beautiful items in her shops...
such as these banners,

"For your perfect summer seaside decor: A seashell, a starfish with buttons and a conch made of white fabric and linen and some decorative stitching, attached on thick natural twine with bast. Some coffee-stained flags with compasses and “Coquillages à la plage” (French for “seashells on the beach”) stamped on them."

Lovely jewelry with pieces found at the Paris Flea Markets...


Pretty note cards...


Even some cinnamon sugar...


Sweet!

Oh right...did I say GIVEAWAY?
You bet I did!!!
And it is coming to you straight from Paris, France.
Well, actually I ordered it this morning and it is coming to you from
France via a stop in Florida to drop of my OWN goodies:)

So for all you creative types,
THIS IS IT...
"The Glittered Jar..."

Here is how Chani describes this item in her shop...

This sweet little jar is filled with treasures for your vintage crafting:

1) White ribbon, hand-stamped in sepia with “Paris” and crowns. It measures 100 x 3 cm and comes with a little clock tag.
2) Three kinds of old lace, found on a Parisian flea market. They are between 60 and 100 cm long.
3) Natural twine (100 cm)
4) Four mini tags with twine, stamped with “Paris”, fleur de lis and a crown.
5) A metal heart (maybe silver?) found on a Parisian flea market. It measures 3,5 x 3 cm.
6) Ten old buttons, most of them mother-of pearl.
7) A glitter star (3,5 x 3 cm).
Everything come is a jar (height: 7 cm) with a silver glittered sparkling cover and a coffee-stained Paris address tag attached to it.
Are you inspired?

Here's how to WIN!!!!!
Now, this is not about me...
this is about Chani...
and Blanc et Caramel...
So, please enter by visiting her shop...
and leaving me a comment telling me what you love most in her shop.

You also get an entry for visiting Chani's blog and leaving her a comment to
encourage her to keep creating beautiful things:-) Make sure you let me know in a comment
if you visit Chani!

One more way...blog about this giveaway and let us know that you did!

Drawing for The Glittered Jar will be on...
when else?
The 4th of July!!!!!!!
So hurry, hurry:-)

Au revoir!

Pink Saturday Summer Memories

Memories of the Summer Carnival...


Pink Saturday Edition...
Thanks to Beverly at How Sweet the Sound!

One of my favorite childhood/teen memories
is of the summer carnival that came to
The South Flint Plaza every year.
First of all, that was when it was a safe place,
my mom worked part time at the Fair Store
and it was very close to home.

I usually went with my friend Donna and later with Cathy.
Sometimes my friend Carrie would spend the night with me to go the the carnival.
I think we went with about $20...
and came home with ZERO...of course.

I loved the carousel...still do...

I mean, what's not to love about these gorgeous horses?
(But what the heck is "Tom" about?:)

and the swing ride. How high we would swing in the air!


And don't forget the slide...


Carnival Games?
LOOK OUT!!!
Don't mess with me at a carnival game booth.
This is serious business!
I have a giant pink penguin to win...


or something!
Did I ever tell you my secret, special skill is the water gun game?


I can shoot a squirt gun into the moouth of a clown like nobodys business.
Seriously!
Just ask my girls.
They have been my competition before...
and I show no mercy!

But as my mom used to say...
do not bring home one of those fish you win.



And how much fun is the balloon dart game?:)



We always loved the Tilt-a Whirl...



and somehow I always ended up on the ferris wheel...


even though I HATE ferris wheels.


Give me the scariest roller c0aster on earth rather than a ferris wheel.

Somehow, we always got a carny who thought it would be funny
to strand us screaming girls up at the top.


Okay...NOT FUNNY!
You have officially traumatized me for life! ;)

And then there is the fun house...
with the funny mirrors.


These were a cross between fun and scary...
reminded me of a haunted house.

And I remember the year the funhouse was called Helter Skelter.
Ummm...NO THANK YOU!!!
We had just watched a movie about a creepo of the same name
and I was still terrified!

Sometimes there were clowns...
balloons...



and ALWAYS there was carnival food!


What can I say...give me cotton candy and funnel cake,


throw in a sno-cone
and I will be your friend for life.



Life was so simple then.
Simple and innocent...
and it seemed very safe.

I wish my girls could have this experience...
but I will not be dropping them off at a carnival anytime soon!

So there you have it...one of my favorite summer memories.
I Loved summer carnivals!



How about you?
What is one of your favorite summer memories?

And Happy Pink Saturday!!!!!!!

Juicy Watermelon and Strawberries, OH MY!!!

Some foods just scream Summer,
even if you get them earlier in the year.
Foods like Corn on the Cob,
ANYTHING grilled,
drippy ice cream cones...
and WATERMELON


and STRAWBERRIES!!!



These juicy red fruits are so yummy!
I once was asked what food I would like if I were stranded on desert island...
I know, chocolate was a thought,
so was pizza...
but I went with watermelon...
because it even quenches thirst!:)

I mean, come on...
Who doesn't LOVE watermelon???


So, for a little watermelon love...
how about a few kid-friendly ideas?

You already know lots of recipes for these fruits
that are gorgeous AND delicious,
so how about these twists...

Fruit kabobs...

But use a star cookie cutter for the 4th of July...
how refreshing...

And Starry, Starry Watermelon...


And since we've covered the "healthy" way to eat fruit...
how about these watermelon cookies...

I saw them at the grocery store and theirs were flavored with watermelon.
I don't know about you, but I want my cookie and frosting to
LOOK like melon...
but TASTE like SUGAR!
hahahahahah
Make these by using your favorite recipe for soft sugar cookies
or the bought kind. Tint the dough green...
and the frosting red.
Top with chocolate sprinkles...
and VOILA!!!

Or, how about Watermelon cupcakes...

same thing...food coloring and chocolate chips in the batter...

...or these vanilla cupcakes and white frosting,
dipped in red sprinkles,
with green frosting piped around the edge.



Or, Watermelon cake...

how juicy good does this slice look???


Or watermelon ice cream cake...


(from Martha Stewart.com...where else?)

Then we have strawberries...
which are good plain.
or dipped in powdered sugar,
creme fraiche,
in pies...shortcake...on ice cream.

But when I was a little girl,
my Mom made us strawberries on toast for breakfast.
Seriously good!!!!
You mash the strawberries and sweeten them as you would for
strawberry shortcake...
make toast...
butter it..
and put the strawberries over it.


Maybe this is one of those things you like if you grew up with it...
like I did...
and now my girls LOVE it!
Who wouldn't love strawberry shortcake for breakfast...
except it's on toast instead.

We also LOVE Strawberry Poppy Seed Salad...

and sometimes we change it up and remove poppy seeds and add a bit of
feta cheese.
Anyway, you Slice it...
it's dee-licious!

Directions...
~one bag rinsed and trimmed spinach (or romaine)
~1 pt. sliced strawberries
~one small sweet onion, chopped
~optional..garnish with slivered almonds or candied pecan pieces
(we leave out and it is still good)
Dressing:
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 tbsp. white vinegar
1/3 c. sugar
1/4 c. milk
2 tbsp. poppy seeds
(Be sure to chill the dressing before serving)

That's it for me...
I know there are fabulous recipes out there...
but I thought I would leave those to the expert cooks and bakers...
and share some kid-friendly treats...
since I have yet to grow up!:)

One more thing...
I need a blog button...
and a signature if possible.
I was going to get a whole blog makeover...
but I'm happy changing my header title and picture as I like...
so can anyone tell me how to do this?
PLEASE??????
Thank you!!!
HAPPY FRIDAY!!!!!!!
Suzanne