Last weekend as we celebrated my birthday I got to decide where I wanted to go so naturally I said flea markets!!!!

So we spent three wonderful days going through our favorite flea markets in our area. We found so many wonderful goodies and this is just a handful of what all we came home with!

This sweet vintage apron card was my most exciting find! I had seen Barbara of Oodles and oodles had one and needless to say I was determined to have one myself someday! It's too cute!

I bought a small bag of cards at a flea market on my Birthday and when I sat in the car going through them, that was in the very back of the bag. What a surprise!

These are little double sided records. I wonder how many of these type of records were made? There very cute. I need to look around and see if I can find any info on these.

Aren't these two adorable?! They're little candle holders. They came in their original box with two unused candles.

I love poodles! I love to collect anything with a poodle on it and this potholder is so soft and sweet.

There's something about this little rubber dog that just seems to make me happy when I look at him. He's just got such a goofy look on his face. And he's pink.

Of course we couldn't have a weekend of flea marketing and not come out with at least one new planter!

This is a beautiful heart that Elizabeth of Creative breathing made for me.

Isn't it cute?! I have it hanging here on my hutch but plan on displaying next to my That Girl Barbie.

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend,

A warm & yummy recipe

There is a chill in the air and that makes me want to drink something warm. I found this recipe in a Country Living magazine in 1987. I have made it many times and shared it with others.

Fireside Coffee Mix

2 ½ c. non-dairy creamer
2 c. hot cocoa mix
1 ½ c instant coffee granules
2 cups sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
½ tsp nutmeg

Combine all ingredients mixing well. Store in airtight container. To make 1 cup, spoon 2 TBSP plus 1 tsp. mix in cup. Add 1 cup boiling water. Stir until well blended. I added ½ cup extra creamer, cocoa, and sugar to suit my taste.

This quote has always been special to me and I try to live my life with this thought in mind.

I expect to pass through this world but once; any good thing therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again. - Ettiene DeGrellet

We hope that you all will have a wonderful weekend!

Hello to all our friends. Since the weather in our area hs been nothing but dark and dreary I thought I would share a few photos of vintage Barbie's that I hope some day to add to my collection.


Of course every Barbie collector needs a ponytail Barbie in her original black & white bathing suit. I am ashamed to say I have not yet been lucky enough to acquire one. Someday, someday.

This is one of the most rare & collectible Barbie's. Her name is Color Magic Barbie. She came out in 1966 and depending on which one you bought her hair would change color.

Since I am a brunette I wanted to have a brunette Skipper. I have three Skippers but all of them are blonde's although one of them I bought was supposed to be a brunette when I bought her but arrived a blonde.

This was Barbie's first car. An Austin Healy! It came out in 1960.

Barbie had a British pal and her name was Stacey. She was introduced in 1968 but didn't last long. With my love for The Beatles I have always had a love for anything British. So she is a must have for my collection some day.

I love the vintage cases & houses! They take up so much room but I just can't resist one if I find it! I see cases every now & then but I don't see the houses. This is one that I have pined for for many years now but they always go higher on ebay than I can do. Shipping is a killer when you get these on ebay!

I hope that by sharing what I know about these and other vintage Barbie's & friend's I have helped at least one person to identify what they may have.

I had a wonderful Birthday Friday! The theme for the party was Hello Kitty!



It was a beautiful pink party! Mom made crepe paper flower that hung from the ceiling fan and on the wall.

I had a fun night and I loved all my presents.

Here's one of my gift's from Mom. Because I'm left handed and she's right, She was never able to teach me to crochet. I can knit though. This is book that teaches lefties to crochet.

I saw this beautiful princess figurine as we were leaving a flea market so Mom went back the next day and got it for me.

These beautiful Hello Kitty ornaments will look perfect on my pink Christmas tree!



This was my big gift. My friend Susan and I were at Coach outlet store back in July when we went to Nashville together and I saw this beautiful Coach pattern. I loved it but didn't buy anything but before we left Susan bought me the wristlet and told me to forget I saw it until my Birthday. Imagine my surprise when I started opening up the Coach boxes and finding this beautiful collection!

I love the bottom of these shoes! Such cute attention to details!

This cute little crown was hanging above my party table.

I love these cute little pictures!

Aren't these ornaments neat! I love how the little one dangles from the bottom.


Such a sweet little pair of panda bears!



This pretty figurine is for the month of November.



Jordan gave me this beautiful blue poodle! The next day at a flea market I found the matching pink ones!

I hope you enjoyed seeing my goodies from my Birthday!

Lindsey

When I was eleven years old I used to watch my older cousin knit. I was so fascinated. She made house shoes. I had my mom buy some yarn and knitting needles and I approached my cousin to teach me to knit. She was not a teacher nor did she have very much patience. She started a pair of house shoes with instructions such as you do this, this and this and handed it back to me. It’s a good thing I watched her a lot because I could figure it out with the brief instructions she gave me.

I learned to make those house shoes and started selling them to people my mom worked with and even went door to door with my friend, Susan. I would carry them in a box lid to make a tray. I had different sizes for kids, too. I’d knock on the door and say, “Would you like to buy a pair of hand knitted house shoes?” I sold them for $2.00 a pair, back then.

I think it is kind of funny that I still make them, the exact same pattern that I did then and am pleased that so many people love them. Last year for Christmas I made each of my kids 25 pairs apiece. I always give my mom a box of about 4 or 5 pairs each year also.

Lindsey and I had such a good time over her birthday weekend. We went to so many flea markets! We found vintage treasures of course. These are a few of my finds.

It is that time of year when we start thinking about how thankful we are. I feel so blessed this year to have made so many new friends. I can’t tell you all how much you mean to me. I enjoy visiting with you and inviting you into my home.

Can miles separate us from friends? If we want to be with someone we love, aren’t we already there? – Richard Bach

Okay now, group hug.

Wishing you much happiness!

Twenty years ago today I gave birth to Lindsey. It was not supposed to be November 7th, she was due on Christmas Eve. It was a very scary time and things were tense for several days, but many precious people were praying for her and though she spent a month in the hospital, we did get to take her home! She was born with pneumonia and only weighed 41/2 lbs. She was on a breathing monitor for a year, but it never went off once. I had planned to name her Lindsey Noel, but since she wasn’t born at Christmas I changed it to Lindsey Michelle. She still wishes I had named her Noel.

Last Friday I participated in Stacey’s soup and chili recipe exchange. I had a hard time choosing one recipe so I thought I would share another one today.

Chuckwagon Soup

2 c. dry pinto beans, rinsed
5 c. water
1 lb. Beef stew meat
½ c. chopped onion
2 beef boullion cubes
1 jar (l lb. Or 18 oz.) salsa or picante

Dice stew meat in small pieces. Brown in Dutch oven and pour off liquid that cooks out. Add all remaining ingredients. Heat to boiling, reduce heat. Cover and simmer 3 hours or until beans and meat are tender.
You can make this as mild or hot as you like by the salsa you choose. Serve with corn bread or tortilla chips.

A house is a home when it provides food and warmth for the soul as well as the body. Have a warm, safe and happy weekend!

Hello to all our bloggy friends! With my 20th Birthday this Friday I decided to show you some of the Barbie's I have received as birthday gifts and pictures of past parties.

If I didn't have my crafting then my main hobby in life would be makeup. I adore the colors and textures and all the endless ways of applying it. Sometime I will get out my collection and show you my obsession.
My favorite brand of makeup is Christian Dior. I adore anything with the Dior name.



A couple of years ago our friend Susan gave me this Christian Dior Barbie. This beautiful doll came out in 1995.


Last year Susan really surprised me with this collection of Wizard of Oz dolls.

This was the original set that came out in 1995.

They released a new set last year which included the wicked witch.

We have always made a big deal about Birthdays in or family. The party, the presents all of it is still as important today as it was when we were little.
A newer thing we ave done in the last few years were to have themed birthdays.

Last years theme for my birthday was Harry Potter.


I am a Harry nut and proud of it. It was that first story that gave me a love to read.


My Brother truly did an amazing job decorating this magical party.


To look like the house banners Jordan used plastic tablecloths!


I had a wonderful time and got many wonderful gifts.

The year before last the theme was Hello Kitty.


It was a pink wonderland! Beautiful pink crepe paper filled the room.


Here's a good shot of us together that night.

I can't wait for Friday to find out what the theme for my party will be this year!

I leave you with another cute vintage Barbie commercial!