Early Christmas in Jacksonville

Allan and I were able to travel to Kristin and Brian's home this past week to celebrate Christmas with them and also with Caroline and her kids. The trees were decorated, the lights were up, and Rose drew a festive Christmas message on the family chalkboard!

Gabe introduced us to the newest chickens - Edith, Mary, Violet, and Cora.

Chicken silhouettes against the white barn. Allan enjoyed following them around the taking their photos!

Dinner that night was in the new Cabana house. Beef enchiladas with refried beans and rice! Yummy!

  

Jane and Hope mugging for the camera.

Josh not quite awake yet!

Smiley face Jake! Ready for action!

Bounce house heaven!

Free-fall!

I want that one!

open discussion on new house plans!

Wine time!

 Present time!

Books were a hit!

 What did you get?

It's just like yours! I love it!!!

Christmas concert in the living room by Grace!

Late night game of Clue. It was Miss White in the dining room with the trophy!

 On the road again ...

An Air Force Family's Hero

A local publication did an amazing tribute to my Dad in honor of this years Veterans Day. He was professionally photographed in his Dress Blue's for the cover - looking as handsome as ever! The article describes his early training and duties in both the Korean and Vietnam Wars.

We have always been proud of our Pop Pop and loved living the life of a US Air Force family!
Oh - the places we have gone! Traveling all over has given each of us an appreciation of our wonderful USA and a love of visiting new and exciting places all over the world. Thank you, Pop Pop. Happy Veterans Day!

Eye in the Sky

Look what I found! The Port of Bermuda has a real time web cam that watches the Royal Naval Dockyards 24/7. This was our Ship - Norwegian Dawn - docking tonight after a full day at sea due to Hurricane Fay hitting Bermuda earlier in the day. Just follow this link to see us during our stay in port October 26-28.
http://www.portbermudawebcam.com/

10th Anniversary Cruise

We love to celebrate milestones in our lives! And we love to travel to fun places on BIG boats! On October 24, 2014, Allan and I will board Norwegian Dawn in Boston, Massachusetts, for a seven-day adventure to Bermuda. That day is our actual anniversary date and we could not think of a better way to celebrate. We had such fun on our Panama Canal cruise last year that we could hardly wait to book another one!

We start our trip with a two-night, one-day stay at The Seaport Boston Hotel. We plan on some sightseeing and dinner at some landmark restaurants. We are staying just steps from the cruise ship terminal.

Then, on Friday afternoon, we set sail to Kings Wharf, Bermuda. One day over, three days in port, and two days back to Boston. We plan on a sightseeing bus trip our first day in port. Second day is for Horseshoe Bay beach, and Hamilton and St. George. Last day is for King's Wharf and Snorkel Park.

We can't wait to go! Allan will capture every moment on his digital camera and I plan on making another memory book as soon as we return! Bon Voyage!

Fall Fashion

I love pairing long tops with leggings and skinny pants, especially in cooler weather. For my trip to Chicago next week, I am packing the three tunics featured in this post along with the accessories in the photos. I chose basic black to bring them all together ( pants, shoes, bag ) and one new black shawl sweater. I can go from morning til after dark with the different pieces and not miss a beat!

What's black and white and red all over! My newest outfit. Love the lines of this asymmetrical tunic in a popping black and white graphic print. Found the scarf at the same store in a bold red poppy pattern. Paired it with a red leather strap watch and a new Brighton silver necklace.

 

Teal is a favorite color in any season and I love this tunic from last year. Wearing a glass bead choker and all black in everything else. Easy knit to pack and wear.

Love this Suzani pattern top I've wore for a few seasons now. But added a new Brighton mixed media chain of glass, stone and silver beads.
It should be a fun and comfortable trip in these easy to wear fall clothes!

September

Now that Labor Day is over, next up are all the fall trips and activities! The fall furniture show at The Mart in Chicago is a little less than two weeks away! Will hopefully see (and feel) a little cooler weather. Clothes and accessories for these trips must be easy and minimal. Black (or navy) mixed with a pop of color and in wrinkle free fabrics works for me. Everything should fit into one small bag that I carry on to the plane with me. No time to wait for checked bags!

Found the great Calvin Klein bag in shiny black patent leather at a local Macy's on sale. Paired it with the new Lindsay Phillips "Libby" shoes in the same shiny black. Packing black leggings and skinny pants and tunics in black prints with accents in red, teal, gold, or pumpkin. Scarves, watch, and my Brighton chains will complete the look. Will drape a new black cardigan around my shoulders to keep me warm in the cold Mart!

Next up is Milwaukee, Boston, and Bermuda! More on these trips coming soon! Stay tuned!

Cafe Niki

Never thought to set up my own little coffee bar in my own kitchen before. So now I did and I'm liking the results. Everything close at hand, and everything clean and organized! Such a joy to stop in during the early morning. It's coffee heaven!

Galveston

Perhaps my favorite childhood memories are of our visits to our grandparents home on Galveston Island. Grandmother and Paw John lived in a small white "cracker box" house on Alamo Drive. It had two bedrooms and one large bathroom, and a big fenced in back yard with a giant pecan tree and a swing set. Grandmother would collect the pecans, shell them, and store them in small sandwich bags to use in baking. She made the best homemade Divinity. Which tasted like heaven!

For me, the best thing about Galveston was the beach. We would all pile into the car to go on a ride along the seawall shortly after arriving. Seawall Blvd. was built along the top of the ten foot high wall to protect the city from storm waves. So all roads leading to the beach were at a steep upward angle. I would hold my breath and lean way forward in the car to try to get the first glimpse of the Gulf of Mexico. Then, there it was! We would all cheer and watch for all our favorite sights. I loved the old wooden steps down to the sand all painted in different bright colored paint. Or the souvenir stands built over the water with beach balls and beach floats and tubes tied to the pilings. We would all beg to run down to the water to stick our feet in. We would also wish the drive would never end!

Galveston had many beautiful churches and cathedrals. My parents were married at St. Patrick's Church. My grandmother was a member of a little Spanish church named Our Lady of Guadalupe. We would go there to Mass with her on Sundays. And bingo! She also took me to several society weddings at the beautiful Sacred Heart Church. Beautiful brides trailing pastel attired bridesmaids in a big white marble church. The stuff of little girl's dreams!

My memories are also about the food! Grandmother was a good cook and our main meal was at noon. Big hot lunches of at least three courses laid out on her dark cherry dining room table. Homemade roasts of meat, big bowls of homemade potato salad, deviled eggs, jello salad, fresh veggies, and then, homemade cake or pie. She loved ice cream and many sweet memories are of sitting in local ice cream shops enjoying banana splits or rainbow sherbet.

Grandmother and Paw John are gone now. But Galveston will always be a very special part of my life. Much has changed, due to time or hurricanes. But the thrill of first spotting the Gulf, or seeing all the new and old sights will always be special. It has been too long! I think I need to book another visit!

How do you say "Marry me" in french?

Linda and Dave just left for a trip to France! And for Linda, the surprise of a lifetime. Because she doesn't know that Dave is going to propose, at dinner, with the Eiffel Tower as the backdrop. And he has a ring!

A few weeks back, Dave invited me on his shopping trip to look at diamond rings. I scoped out area jewelry stores and did a little decorating. This little trip should start with some celebratory champagne to get everyone in the right mood ...

Cheers! Here is to a successful shopping trip and that Linda will say "Yes"!

At the second shop, he found it! The perfect ring. A solitaire princess cut stone with mitered corner prongs. Classic and elegant! And in his price range!

We are so happy to be welcoming Dave to the family (assuming Linda will have him)! We wish Dave good luck and wish them both "and they lived happily ever after"!

Pandora Party

A summer Pandora party at John's Pass this past week! Allan managed to record in pictures my little adventure. The tropical theme was perfect ...

as was the fruity punch with little umbrellas. Everyone was dressed in tropical colors and patterns. And everyone was in the mood to shop!!!

It didn't take me long to find the perfect summer treat! In aqua! And coral! Which one? Both!

Pandora's new cord bracelets in new yummy colors. Picking out the colors was easy, deciding what to put on them was harder!

Everyone was so helpful and showed me the perfect charms. I decided on Murano glass and a flamingo charm. I ordered the popular seahorse charm.

Happy with my purchase!

Thanks, Carol!

Thank you ,Bill! Had a fun evening. Can't wait for the next event!

A Most Unexpected Find

It was a rainy Saturday. Allan was scheduled to shoot pictures at a Mother's day event at John's Pass. I was off and had just gotten back home from a CCW Mass and brunch at our church. Thought I'd go have a look around the shop while Allan took his pictures. Didn't really need anything. But I do love the hunt!

I looked at Vera Bradley, Brighton, and John Medeiros. I visited with my favorite sales people. I had a hot dog.

I wandered over to look in a Pandora display case and saw a simple silver bangle bracelet with a single sparkly bead. It was perfect. The saleslady told me that a china jewel box was included in the price. I had never even considered a Pandora purchase before and now I was kind of excited about it.

I can purchase additional beads and charms to wear on this bracelet at a later date. Or just enjoy the simple charm as is. But I do love having it and glad I started with a complete piece and not looking at the millions of beads and charms!

Also kind of nice having this outing documented with pictures taken by my husband. He gets just as excited by these purchases as I do. Now he can add to my collection, too.

One last picture! This ring wasn't purchased from The Bronze Lady. But it is somewhat new. And Allan loves posing me with it on. We had a custom ring made for my original diamond from my engagement ring. Gail, from our church, met with me several months ago and took on this project to find a perfect design and then got it made. I am SO happy with the results. Prettiest ring ever! Don't you agree?