My RED Kitchen

Years ago, I found the cutest lil' creamer in a thrift store. It was covered in tiny strawberries with lime green dots. Upon turning the piece over, I found the name of the pattern printed on the bottom to be called "Strawberry Swiss Dot".


And with that lil' ole' find, two obsessions were born...

Ebay and a ridiculously RED kitchen.

After the acquisition of the strawberry creamer, I diligently searched and found, piece by piece, the rest of the entire Strawberry Swiss Dot set. I have four dessert plates, four coffee mugs, the cake plate, the sugar bowl, and the teapot.





I added lots of strawberry items to my kitchen.













Upon noting my love of all things strawberry, my Mom gave me a beautiful set of embroidered strawberry place mats with matching napkins.



When I couldn't find anymore strawberry items, I focused in on cherry items.









My Mom painted this picnic basket with cherries and ladybugs. She also added the sweet cherries fabric liner. I love it!




I started collecting vintage cake carriers, tablecloths, aprons, colanders, trays, ice buckets, granite ware / enamelware, thermo serve items, and condiment holders.















This beautiful tablecloth was my grandmothers. My Mom tells me that grandma used to put it out on the fold away card table every time her friends would come over to play pinochle.



I then took a liking to anything that was red gingham.







And things that had to do with old time diner images, like burgers, popcorn & hot dogs.









I started looking for nifty things that had to do with Elvis and Vegas... as long as they had some red in them.









The buffet hutch drawers are full of wonderful textiles.







I honestly do not have room for another thing, but you know if I find something special... I'll make it "fit" somewhere.

They're Back

And the world is as it should be once again...



Mark and I went to the grocery store this morning to fill the fridge and pantry for the kids.

Jake and Sara both have a friend over today to spend the night.

We've been to blockbuster to rent movies and a game for xbox.

We've been to the dollar store to buy candy and old fashioned paper pop corn bags for the "movie marathon night" the kids are planning.

The fridge has been opened at least 20 times.

The screen door has slammed shut more than that.

The phone is ringing off the hook.

"MOM"! has been called down the stairs about 15 times so far.

GOD! It's good to have them home!

I'm NOT Eating That

There is a Sara Lee Chocolate cake within the confines of that cake saver.

I AM NOT EATING THAT!

I had a Smoothie for breakfast and a wonderful lunch consisting of grilled Talipia, brown rice and a salad.

Yesterday, I rode the stationary bike for about 45 minutes.

I'm trying to eat healthier and take some weight off. My pants are a little loose, but I don't know how much weight I've lost because our scale is broken. That's probably just as well. I can become ridiculously obsessed with the NUMBER, that shows up in digital RED, from above the toes of my feet, when I step on it.

At the age of 44 and having lost a loved one recently, I just want to do what I can to live longer. I don't want to freak out about a number of pounds, but would rather just see myself in a smaller size while feeling better.



I can smell it...

But I'm not going to eat it!

My kids come home tomorrow. I'll tell them to invite their friends over and have at it...

Cedar Chest Memories

There is an antique cedar chest, passed down to me from my Mother, that sits at the foot of our bed.

It holds all my sentimental items from my children's baby photos, all the little pictures and gifts my kids have made me to every single card my husband has given me.

Every time I lift it's squeaky lid, I am flooded with the smell of cedar and an almost overflowing collection of memories.

Mark and I recently celebrated our 9 year wedding anniversary so I was putting the anniversary cards away in it.

Feeling a little melancholy today and missing my kids... I know I shouldn't have "lingered" there...

But I did...

And although I teared up a little at some of the children's precious projects and words to me, I also smiled a lot when I came across my high school yearbook, scrapbook, wedding album, as well as an old photo of my sister and I.

Here is my graduation picture.



Here is Mark's (husband) graduation picture. We both graduated in the same class at the same school in 1982.



Here is a yearbook picture of Mark and I in the halls of our high school.



These are my best friends from high school. From left to right: Bob (Bobby to me, lol), Irene, Mark (my husband), Me, Darrin (my highschool sweetheart of three years) & Dave. This picture was taken on Senior Skip Day. My boyfriend Darrin was good friends with my husband Mark. Bob & Mark are still best friends to this day. Bob dated my best friend Irene so we were a pretty tight group back then.



This picture was taken on Graduation night when all of us seniors had a bon fire at the lake to burn all of our homework and term papers. Left to right Bobby, Darrin, & Mark.



Here's Mark and Darrin at an "after prom party" that we went to. Mark and his date, Bob & Irene and Darrin and I all went to prom together.



Here is Mark and I on our wedding day, July 25th, 1999.



Now I'm so nostalgic over these photo's and memories. I'm listening to 80's music and reminiscing.



Here's the picture of me and my sister. We are 9 months apart.

They're Gone

My kids left on Wednesday at 5:00pm to go to their Dads for his first extended vacation with them. They won't be back with me until 9:00am next Friday (8/8).

I don't think I'll make it :(