Blue Monday/Blue depression glass and a blue surprise!

Since I'm in a depression glass mood, I decided to show you my blue depression glass too. My last post was of pink depression glass. This is in the same pattern, Mayfair or open rose, but this is in a lovely shade of light blue. I have a more extensive collection in the blue.

If you would like to check out more blue posts, hop on over to Smiling Sally's blog.

The Mayfair pattern in the blue is more rare than the usual pink or green. Some people don't even realize that depression glass comes in blue, but there are many including a different shade of light blue in the Madrid pattern, and let's not forgot beautiful pieces in cobalt blue! Depression glass comes in many colors, far more than the pink, green and amber that people are most familiar with.

This first piece is a sweet pea vase. For a brief period of time, I was able to do some serious collecting of this lovely glass. I'm not going to tell you what I paid for this because it was rather dear, but I didn't get ripped off. It's a valuable piece and I thought it was gorgeous.

Here is a close up of the pretty blue roses.
All of the pieces featured here were purchased on eBay. This is a lovely bowl, about 12" across.
I adore this beautiful sandwich plate. I was thrilled to win it in auction!
Since this cookie jar is missing its lid, I got a great bargain price on it. Someone asked me how I was able to find out that my pink cookie jar was a reproduction. First of all, look at the "wings" above the flowers. They are straight. In the reproduction jar, these are more curved.
Another tell tale sign is the circle on the bottom. On the reproduction piece, it is perfectly centered and runs in a bigger circle at the edge. The genuine pieces have a small circle at the bottom, and it is often not properly centered. I invested $15 in a book about depression glass, and probably saved myself much more than that, so it paid for itself.

Here is a lovely sugar and creamer set, purchased separately. I also later bought the little plate.
Someone also asked where we collectors keep our lovelies. Well, the truth is that until my brother finally gets around to bringing me the china cabinet that is supposed to come to me, it is living in one of my kitchen cabinets. Sigh. I can't wait to bring it out and put it on display!

On Saturday night, I had a blue surprise. My youngest son and his best buddy who was spending the night were sitting out around the fire pit with me and we were roasting marshmallows and making smores. Much like in the picture below from an earlier post.

My oldest son had gone back inside. As we were sitting around the fire talking, I heard a car door shut. I figured that my son had gone to his car for something. Then I heard footsteps and suddenly there was a flashlight shining on us. I thought it was my son trying to sneak up on us and scare us. So I asked, "What are you doing, goofy?"
Oops, it wasn't my son. It was a cop, a man in blue. Oh my God, I called a cop "Goofy!"


He said he was investigating a noise complaint. Noise complaint? I didn't think we were being loud at all! He said that he and his partner had been listening for a few minutes and didn't hear anything, and nothing seemed to be wrong. I told him that we were just sitting around the pit making S'mores. The marshmallows and graham crackers were still on the side and so were the discarded chocolate bar wrappers on a plate. Some exciting criminals we were! I'm not sure what the people who called the cops thought they heard. Normal talking and laughing? So sue me if that's a crime. At least these were teenagers who were home on a Saturday night having good old fashioned fun, causing no trouble at all.


I still can't believe I called a cop "Goofy!"

Pink Saturday/Pink depression glass & a pretty pink blogging friend

Welcome to this week's Pink Saturday post! I have a passion for depression glass, especially in the Mayfair pattern, also known as the open rose pattern. It's roses and it's pink, so why wouldn't I love it? I also collect pieces in light blue.

Here are two pieces that sit on my dresser in my bedroom. I have more...tucked away in a box somewhere...that I cannot seem to locate since I moved. I know they're here though! This first is a cookie jar. Unfortunately, it is not genuine depression glass. It is a reproduction and I spent way too much money on it on eBay. I've learned from my mistake though. I like to keep change in it. You'd be amazed how much money adds up!

Here is a pretty candy jar that I found at the local antique shop. I only paid $13 for it, so whether it's real depression glass or a reproduction, I got my money's worth! The point is whether its real or not, I love it! I keep jewelry in it.
Here are the two pieces together as they sit on my dresser. I love the way the sun shines through the glass.
To see more pink posts, please visit our generous hostess Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.

And last, but by far not least, is a picture of one of my favorite Pink Saturday posters. Shelia has not been heard from since she fled her home on Galveston Island and posted that she was safely out of the way of Hurricane Ike.

Two recent posts have popped up on her blog Note Songs, but they appear to be auto posts. No one has actually heard from her since her last message on September 12. Though I am sure that she is safe, I am very concerned that no one has been able to get through to her. I am heartsick thinking that her beautiful home, into which she poured so much of her heart and love, may be severely damaged or no longer standing. If this is the case, I cannot imagine what she is going through. I found this wonderful sticker at Jan and Tom's Place. She has more information in a recent post here. Jan has given permission for bloggers to use the above sticker. Our Pink Saturday hostess Beverly has also posted about Shelia recently.


I'm posting this in support of Shelia, wherever she may be! I hope she will be able to come back to us all sometime soon. We miss you, sweet lady!

Welcome to Fall! Plus awards!

I finally gave in and am posting something for fall, but I confess...I am cheating! These are pics from last year, but unless you were checking out Rate My Space last fall, you won't have seen them.

First of all, big apologies to those who gave me awards as I didn't get them posted on my side bar. Oops! Poor Justine gave this to me some time ago. Then since I didn't have it on my sidebar, she awarded it to me again! I finally have it up, Tiney! Thanks so very much! I really am glad you like my blog so much. Oh, and you MUST check out her latest blog post! Hilarious! Kids say (and do) the darndest thing, and this one was a doozy!
I also need to apologize to Tara at Days Missed on a Hammock for not posting it on my sidebar too, though I did acknowledge both her and Justine in an earlier post.
Well the sweet Sherry at Edie Marie's Attic also blessed me with the same award! Thank you, Sherry!

Since yesterday was officially the first day of autumn, I am sharing pics of my front porch fall decorations from last year. It was 80+ degrees here today! Hard to get into the spirit of fall when it still feels like summer!

I just love this little scarecrow. I found him at Big Lots. The mums and the pumpkin are real! I was hoping that he would scare away winter...and on occasion my teenagers...but he is just too darn cute to be scary.
I found the chair below at my favorite local antique shop. I had been driving by and lusting after it when one day I decided to stop and check it out. The price had been marked down to just $29! I scooped it out. It already had the fall flowers arranged on it. The sparkly pumpkin is from Big Lots.
The wreath below is also from Big Lots and about as "faux" as you can get! I tried to find one like it tonight, but they don't have them in stock this year. Darn!
I'm not sure what I'll come up with different for this year, but since I now have the red bench, I know I can come up with something cute for it!

I really do love autumn. It's my favorite season, but I have loved summer since moving here. I'm not really ready to say good-bye to it yet, and it seems to want to stick around a while longer!

Until then, I'm being dragged kicking and screaming into fall!

Blue Monday/My Blue Day

Last week I participated in Blue Monday for the first time. Sally at Smiling Sally hosts this new weekly event. I thought it was a great idea because though I love pink, blue is really my favorite color! Join me on my blue day!

I've been wanting to try something different with my hair lately, even before Bridget gave me a virtual makeover! This week I got a haircut and a new perm. Babysteps though. I didn't have the guts to go straight, so I asked the beautician to take the curliness down a notch and not cut it so short. I didn't look hardly any different than when I went into the shop! Eventually, my hair should grow out more and I'll keep going with less curl each time.

Well, I got inspired by Buffie of Buffie's World to try to straighten my hair with a blow dryer and round brush. Check out her post Buffie Does a Blow Job. Oh get your minds out of the gutter! (Okay, my mind went that way too!) I thought I'd give it a shot, so I got this teal blue blowdryer, and "blew" my hair dry.
Not sure if I like the results or not. It was my first time. At least its not so poofy any more! Notice I have a turquoise blue shirt on!
Here is my cheesy MySpace style photo with my face looking up so all the wrinkles and the jowls fall back and don't show. Not bad for nearly 50!
My son took this pic.
I wanted to see how the back of my hair looked, so had my son take this picture. It looked pretty monstrous! (Thanks to my youngest son for the photoshopping!) Yikes, look at all those gray hairs! I get the dye job on Wednesday after work.
After that experience, it was good to relax. I started my blue day with something from Bath and Body. Any time I see this bag, I just know there is something that smells and feels good in there!

Pretty blue bottle! I love the lavender and vanilla aromatherapy lotion, especially at night. It makes me feel so relaxed.
And when I relax, I love to read my favorite magazine! Two recent covers were in blue. I love EVERYTHING about this cover!
And on this cover too! It makes me start lusting for pretty things I can't afford, lol. I could get lucky at a flea market though!
If I could go flea marketing, I could get ready for the day by spraying on some pretty blue perfume! I love this stuff.
I'll toss on my favorite blue jeans, a blue satiny camisole, and a striped blue cotton shirt! I'll hoof it in some teal blue sandals, and carry my money in a darker teal purse. I'm sure I didn't pay more than $12-15 for anything in this pic except the jeans. I will actually pay $40 for jeans that fit, because they are so hard to find!

Here is some detail.

I'll fasten on a blue necklace and earring set.
Or maybe I'll keep it simple and wear just these earrings, a pair of my favorites!

So did I go to the flea market after all? Nope, just teasing you! No extra money this week, but rest assured that if I do, I'll bring you along!

Have a great Blue Monday!

Pink Saturday/Pink lamps and lights

It's time for another Pink Saturday, and this week I'm sharing some lamps. This first lamp looks antique, but it's not. I got it at a thrift shop for only $6. I thought it was much too pretty not to snatch up!



I have had this next lamp for so long that I don't even remember where I got it, but I know that it was not at all expensive and probably a Dollar General buy for less than $5. It's actually a tea light holder, and the light is so pretty shining through the open pattern on the shade.
Here are the pink flowers close up.

When I spied the pink ribbons on this lampshade, I just had to have them! They remind me of the pink ribbon campaign for breast cancer research.

This next isn't a light at all, but is a glucose meter in a pretty shade of pink! I am just blown away by the generosity of the blogging community. A blog friend who wishes to remain anonymous sent me this meter along with test strips and a medical necklace and bracelet. It's a wonderful gift that will help me on my way to better health. I met with a diabetes educator today, and she told me how often I need to test, so I have begun doing my finger sticks and testing. It's so fun that even a medical instrument can be pink!
To visist more blogs that are participating in Pink Saturday, please visit our hostess Bev at How Sweet the Sound.

I apologize for not getting out and making blog visits this week. I started facilitating a new group this week, and now I don't even get out of work until 7:00 p.m. twice a week. I wasn't online much on Wednesday, and wasn't on at all on Thursday. Since I have both boys at home now, I also have to fight to get my computer away from them every evening. I am strongly encouraging my son to get his own connection when he gets more work hours!

Hopefully I'll be able to catch up this weekend, but it sure is going to be pretty outside! Not sure how much time I'll be spending online. Have a great weekend!

I'm a Red Carpet Diva & a Designing Diva!

Bridget at My Silly Blog had a great post this week! She took several of her blog friends and transformed them through Photoshop into Hollywood stars! How fun is that! I was one of the stars as were several other friends. You may remember Bridget as blgee from Rate My Space (RMS).

Here is the normal me. I am pretty sure that this is the picture where she borrowed my face for some amazing transformations! My kids, and a couple bloggers, have been suggesting that I change my hairstyle. This gave me a chance to see how I might look with a different do!
I was so shocked when I saw this pic! Dang, I look good! The boobies are too small though, but she was just transforming faces. I love that she gave me a tan, took out the bags under my eyes, and whitened my teeth.
Here is a totally different look! I actually wouldn't mind this with something different on the top and wispy bangs. My skin looks creamy smooth here.
This is the pic that totally blew me away! I didn't even recognize my own face at first and had to do a double, no a TRIPLE take before I realized, hey that's me! This is amazing! I don't think I have the guts to go blonde, but wow, this turned out fantastic! I love that she featured me in a plus size magazine as I champion bigger girls.
If you enjoyed these, you will love seeing what she did with other bloggers! You have to see how she and her family look as the Osbournes. Her latest post ranks up there among the top posts ever!

I'm also a Designing Diva, courtesy of a new website called Polyvore. I learned about this from Cindy at Romantic Home. If you have not visited her blog yet, then you're in for a treat when you see it! She is known as Single Mom on a Budget on RMS and she will be in the new Rate My Space show October 2! Anyhow, at Polyvore you can design your own rooms, or you can arrange sets of clothes. It's a lot of fun!

Check out this rustic room I created.



I also created a shabby chic, country cottage style room. This one is my favorite.

Hope you have a great time creating your own rooms!

Blue Monday/Blue pitchers

Since I post every Saturday for Pink Saturday and have so many pink things, I bet most of you think that pink is my favorite color! Nope, actually I love blue! I was so excited when I found out that a new blog friend was hosting Blue Mondays! To check out more Blue Monday posts, visit Sally at Smiling Sally, our gracious hostess!

Blue spongeware is one of my passions. I have quite a few pieces of it. I've found it in flea markets, antique shops, garage sales, and from eBay. Here are a few pitchers that I have.

These are measuring cups.
The next pieces aren't spongeware, and the first isn't even a pitcher, but you pour things from it, so I added it into the post. I got this cute set at Goodwill for $2.

This next is a pitcher in a Stars and Moon pattern. I inherited it from my mom. She loved collecting this glass and we often bought her the little candle holders for Christmas and her birthday. I'm really happy that I had this passed on to me!I forgot to mention the tablecloth. It's actually just a few yards of fabric by Susan Winget. I used to just love her work. Still do, but I don't really want to decorate with it any more. This fabric is so pretty though.

Can't wait until tomorrow! A blogging friend did something really cool for me and several other blog friends, and I can't wait to show it to you!

Here's to more Blue Mondays...of the happy kind!