Pink Saturday~Wild Animal Park Pink

It's one of my favorite days: Pink Saturday! The pinks I have brought to the party are from my recent trip to visit my daughter and grandson in San Diego. My 2 sons came with me and we had such a great, memory-making time together. My first picture isn't pink but is pure sweetness; my oldest son and grandson adoring each other. Baby Philip rubs Uncle Adrian's wiskers ands says over and over in his baby boy voice "kitty", "kitty".

My daughter took me over to a lady's house where she sells shabby chic items that she makes. I bought this mirror with pink roses, and a couple of framed pictures with just-my-style floral prints.

The seller picks up frames of all kinds, as long as they are cheap, at garage sales and thrift stores. She makes these rose appliques in molds, from, I believe a plaster substance. She said it was her own secret formula. Then she paints it all white, or pink or green or blue, in an imperfect/shabby way. The decals are decoupaged as well.

I just love these and am going to try my hand at making my own.
The cupcakes are handmade lavender sachets created from vintage chenille, and embellished with buttons, pearls and/or sequins. To die for!

We decided to go to the Wild Animal Park in Encinitas. It is an extention of the San Diego Zoo, but,pretty low key, smaller and so peaceful. I pretty much took a million pictures of all kinds of creatures, but, these are the pink ones. Most of the other animals are grey, brown and tan so that they can blend into their surroundings and hide from preditors. So no hippo, meerkat or monkey pictures. For Pink Saturday, what else but PINK FLAMINGOS.

Mexican Food and Horchata

Have you ever had Horchata? This drink is served everywhere out here and is on tap at fast food restaurants. It is as common as ice tea and my children love it. It is made of rice and cinnamon, sugar too and is served on ice. It is tasty but I am a Diet Coke addict, myself.

My daughter's husband is stationed the Navy at Coronado Island. And they live about 3 miles from the Mexican border. Obviously there is a heavy influence of Mexican cuisine and how lucky I am! Every direction you look there is fresh Mexican cafes and restaurants. When I travel, I like to experience the local culture and food; no McDonald's, Taco Bells or Chili's. I can eat there at home in Colorado, any time. A van was making a delivery of fruity drinks to the Rolondo's Burrito Bar at which we were chowing down.

I especially love the liberal use of fresh avocado; either in slices, cubes, or made into guacamole. The green chile is out of this world! Rolled tacos are always on the menu. Often I see them at 5 for 2.00.

Pink Saturday Pinkness

I am participating in Beverly's Pink Saturday. Click below to stop by the party.

Once again I am participating in the Pink Saturday party hosted by Beverly at How Sweet The Sound. This time, I am writing from San Diego. My sons and I have come to visit oldest child, Danielle and her 1 year old, Philip. I am sooooo happy to be here and thankful for the good fare that allowed us to come. The wooden wheelbarrow was brown and I sprayed it Heirloom White and stuck it in the guest bath.First, I am showing these Maison des Jardins (House of Gardens) napkins that I found at Home Goods. They probably belong in the dining room or kitchen but I put them in my bathroom. It's ok if guests want to dry their pinkies on these.The pretty framed flower was a Goodwill find. For $2, it was in great condition and I just painted the frame to bring it up to date.
There seems to be no shortage of vintage prints out there in the thrift stores and I will buy them everytime. This precious little girl is cuddling her dolly and the border of kitties is just precious. The print speaks of an carefree and innocent time, to me.

Someone painted the frame a nasty, gloppy silver. It will be pink or white soon after I get back home.

First Trip

I am a city girl. I love the boutiques, espressos, gelatos. bistros,and people watching. Having said that; my husband's family decided to that for their family reunion, we would meet at the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming and camp for a week. I have never been camping.
So we shopped at Costco, packed coolers, bought a tent,sleeping bags, lanterns,tarps, rope, bug spray, fishing poles, horse shoes, deck of cards, bio degradable dish soap, packed a million totes and bags with everything we could possibly need for 1 week, with the closest store a 1 1/2 hour drive away. We packed a trailer, and the travel bag that goes on top the car. We packed very carefully and precisely; tight as a drum. After 4 hours asleep we hit the road and drove for 9 hours. I am the only driver as my husband has poor vision and can't pass the vision test to get a driver's license. Was I ever glad to pull into camp where I could finally get comfy and sprawl.
That is not how it works. It is time to "set up camp". I am so naive. Unpack, unhitch, unload, open, secure, make safe, start a campfire and be "Bear Aware", "A fed bear is a dead bear". We are surely going to be killed.
"In the unlikely event that a bear approaches you, play dead, and hopefully he will leave."
"Whatever you do, don't run. If you do run, you don't have to be faster than the bear, just faster than the other people running away with you."
I already have 23 mosquito bites. Yes, I counted.

Who is calling this event "vacation?!"

Six year old nephew searching the Tetons for wildlife.
Beautiful lake area.
Cousins living states away get to know each other.
A trip to Old Faithful. It really does blow every 63 minutes. When it is nearly time, it starts to spit and the crowd goes wild. Oh, there is more, it is just warming up.
Camping does a 14 year old pampered girl some good.
Our group caught a few trout and 2 suckers that eat the scum off the bottom of the lake. They were all thrown back. Obviously, I was not baiting the hooks. I am way too sqweemish for that, at this point.



The fresh air and appreciation of God's creation is all there.
I think I would do it again for a weekend. But, really,...if you like mosquitoes, being dirty and a hassle everytime you have to eat or go to the bathroom, then camping is for you. All of you natural-born campers, I admire you! Those of you who can relate to my feelings, I appreciate the understanding.

Catch Up on Re-Dos

Finally, I have a chance to show the painting redos on my Thrifty Finds. The spice cabinet is now a chippy white.


And the quilt rack is Heirloom white and works really well with my other items. It is amazing what a simple paint job can do!

Thrifty Finds-A Good Day!

Goodwill , as I have learned, has a sketchy reputation in many areas of the country. In fact, I visited one in Portland, Oregon last June and was shocked; sticker-shocked. Although I saw some fine things, they were all "regular-priced". No way, Baby! That is why I am thankful for my local Goodwill in Metro Denver. It truly is a clean store and I always find great deals. The items I am sharing today are all from Goodwill and all were bought on "Half-Price Day"
This large framed print spoke to me and my love of children and animals. It is fine, as is, but I may paint the frame and put it in the kid's bathroom.
This was only 2.49, half price.
I really like this amber glass divided serving plate. I don't know anything about it except it weighs a ton and will be a nice piece to put out for Thanksgiving. It was $4 at half price.

It may be hard to tell but this is a HUGE white basket; marked $4, but, half price!
Heirloom-chippy-White is the transformation awaiting this funny-blue spice cabinet that was $2.
Click here to see the redo on the spice cabinet and quilt rack.
Maybe these books will help me be a proper lady. For .25 each, it is worth a try.
What dainty little plates I found for .50 each. I got 4 of them and they have a lovely green design.I will be using these for Fall decor; which is quickly approaching.
This brown wicker quilt rack was $20 but it was half price day and only $10, That is usually more than I spend but it is in perfect condition. You can see that I have already started roughing up the shiny finish with sandpaper.I have a feeling it will end up painted with Heirloom White spray paint. I will post the redo tomorrow.

Be sure to check out the other Thrifty Finds by visiting our great hostess, Rhoda at Southern Hospitality. Click here to join in the fun!

Pink Saturday~Random Pinks

Sometimes I have a good idea about what I want to share for Pink Saturday. This week, I did not. So , I took a little stroll through my home and conjured up a few pinks to share. This is my Home Goods find from the Clearance section. It is a Royal Albert tablecloth in the Old Country Roses pattern. The cotton fabric is so soft and airy; I love Roses, especially pink and it was only $5. My little clear glass hobnail pitcher is filled, at the moment, with Aroma Beads that are scented with Buttermint scented oil. They smell exactly like the buttermints you would pop into your mouth at a wedding or baby shower. A little stir or shake reactivates and releases the scent. The scent makes you want to eat these but you'd better not.

Our friends dog, Jane , just had 5 sweet puppies. This little white pup that my 16 year old son is adoring has a little pink nose and tongue. He's so cute, sound asleep with his tongue out.

This Ballet Slipper Pink vintage mirror with shelf , used to be gold-ish. It is one of my latest pink favorites.

And last is my pink cross that hung in my garden, a chippy-white, which I enjoyed on the wall outside my front door for many years. Since, I am Ballet-Slipper-Pink crazy, I couldn't resist transforming it. I AM enjoying it pink :)

Hop on over to visit Beverly and other Pink Saturday participants and have a Happy Pink weekend!