BREAK, I Mean USE The Good China!

I want to inspire anyone who reads this to USE YOUR NICE THINGS! 

I do mean literally*  use your good china but also figuratively. 

Use your China, Goblets, Tea Cups, Antique Glass.....

Your good Silver...sterling or silver plate flat ware and serving pieces.

Your best Jewelry, nicest Shoes, Purses....

Look through your house and locate just what you consider your "good stuff."

As someone who has helped set up Estate Sales and helped pack whole houses and apartments of older people, believe me when I say....USE ALL YOUR NICE THINGS AND ENJOY THEM!!!

It makes me so sad to see such nice things packed up in closets and drawers.  These are beautiful items the owner was saving for a "Special Occasion."

So many of our traditions are gone, such as Sunday dinners.  And people don't dress up to go out to dinner the way they once did. 

People do not use nice linens and napkins the way they once did.  And that includes punch bowls, serving pieces and beautiful china.

Go through your home and find anything you really don't think you will use.  Pass it on to another family member or friend.  It's really rewarding to give away things so you can see someone you love - enjoy it!!!

If you can't stand to part with it....USE IT! 

When you look at all the nice things you have, you may want to think about starting what I'd call "gracious living."  Use nice linens.  Plan a party using your nice things.

Bring out beautiful dishes and put them to an unexpected use.  An antique "spooner" can be used for toothbrushes.  A small - medium size silver platter is great for displaying your fragrances and lotions. A beautiful dish can hold a special bar of soap...use the nice soap too!

I love the way a silver or iron ware platter looks full of candles.  It's beautiful.

By the way, if you purchase a silver plate platter, you will use for a zillion things. Everything from home decor to entertaining.  The older ones have much more silver plate on them and have a different look.  But whatever you can afford, you'll be able to find something you like.

A pressed glass goblet is great for putting Qtips in or cotton pads/balls.

Use your imagination.  Or get ideas from magazines.  But have fun!  Life hands us enough difficult things...at least we can bring beauty into our lives!

That's my advice. 

Enjoy what you have TODAY.

P.S.

My perspective comes from being in the antique business.  And also from helping pack family member's and friends homes.  And from doing garage sale and estate sales. 

So be thankful for every good day you have.  Be nice to each other.

Love the time.

And USE THE GOOD STUFF!  I mean it!

One more thought,

For those of you who have dishes you're afraid to use because you may not be able to replace them...Help's on the Way!

*Go to www.replacements.com

They have just about any pattern you can think of.

They also have china, dishes, goblets, silver, sterling silver and crystal.

8:14 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

I’m Bewitched and I’m BeDazzeled!
Current mood: cheerful

BeDazzle With Your BeDazzler!

Hi Ladies! And Gents Too!

Don't 'cha think the BeDazzler is one of greatest inventions of the last 100 years?

I frequently have memory lapses -  but if you're like me you understand the value of always having a BeDazzler at the ready!  Oh yes, now I remember...having a bad day?  Grab a "so-so" T shirt and BeDazzle it! There ya' go!  Come on now, don't ya' feel better all ready?  Of course you do!

Well, golly gee whizz...you don't want to stop there do you?  Now let's get in and BeDazzle some of the good stuff.  That expensive designer "Little Black Dress" could use some perking up, don't ya think?  Doesn't it look kinda' plain when you really get a good look at it?  No problem! Have at it with your BeDazzler!

That felt great now, didn't it? Doesn't the world suddenly seem a little happier? Doesn't that sack 'o worries you carry all the time seem a little lighter?  The sun shines a little brighter too, doesn't it? Sure does!  Now you just go crazy and think of all the fun projects to do.

And don't forget items like your shower cap!  Housecoat and slippers too!   Don't you want Hubby to see you at your BeDazzling best?   You sure do...so you just get busy and have at it Gal!

By the time Hubby comes home, you will have been so busy BeDazzling all the Live Long Day, next thing you hear is his voice yelling, Where's my cold beer!  Oops!

Oh Hun, help's on the way!  Hmm... sounds like Hubby is calling for the family dog.  He's just calling and calling for  Buddy.  Oh wait! I forgot to tell Hubby something.  Gotta' run. 

Now remember ladies -  you've just had your last bad day.  No more hurt feelings. No more tears.  No more feeling totally unappreciated.  Because why??? Say it with me...BeDazzler!

From now on "BeDazzle" those cares and worries away.  Isn't that a relief to know? Right there at your fingertips!

Oh, I think I just figured out why our dog Buddy isn't answering hubby....Oh Hun! Try calling for "Dazzle"....here Dazzle, Dazzle, Dazzle...

Did I just hear hubby yelling...What in tarnation?  What in the Sam Hill is going on around here?

I come home from work and find a sparkly dog??? Named Dazzle??? Have you been reading those ladies magazines again?

That's right girls...you won't be able to stop...say it with me...

BeDazzling!!!!

6:33 AM - 0 Comments - 0 Kudos - Add Comment

What’s Your Favorite Fragrance? Making A List
Current mood: artistic

FAVORITE FRAGRANCE?

Hi!  I love fragrances and anything girl-y.

I have a few favorites but I'm always interested in finding a new one.

So, go ahead and add to my list. What is your favorite fragrance?  Any fragrance you have ever loved!

I'll start:

1. "Lovely" by Sarah Jessica Parker

I heard lots of positives on this fragrance, but when I went to our local Macy's to purchase it, I was so dissapointed.  I just didn't like it.

One of the sales people suggested I spray it on my skin and see how it smelled after 30 minutes.   I remember thinking...excellent sales technique.  Keep me in the store so I'll purchase something else!  As it turned out, she made an excellent suggestion.  It did smell great once I had it and it had warmed up on my skin. 

Up until then, I was smelling fragrance by spraying it on the piece of paper.  That is pretty lame. 

This fragrance is a keeper. I like to use the spray followed by the lotion.  It lasts all day.

It is fresh and smells great.  I love "Lovely" and if I only purchased one item to see if I like it, it would be a lotion. 

2. "Amazing Grace" by Philosophy

There are three closely related fragrances in the "Amazing" line.  "Baby Grace", "Pure Grace" and "Amazing Grace."

I really, really like all three.  My very favorite is "Amazing Grace" and as it turns out, this is the best seller of the three. 

It's a very light and fresh smell.  And you will always have someone tell you smell great.  Believe it or not, it's usually a guy! 

I've had so many compliments when standing in line at the grocery store, from a GUY!  They are so polite and just tell me "You sure smell good." 

I would recommend these three Grace fragrances for any age. 

If you can find it, purchase the trio of all three Graces in SOLID.  Three purse size solid fragrances in each Amazing fragrance. You can layer all three and it's a great smell.

There is usually a gift set of combination of products somewhere.  Try Nordstrom and Sephora.  Also, one of the home shopping networks has Philosophy products, including the three Amazing fragrances.  They almost always have a unique set.

Enjoy!

3. "Japanese Cherry Blossom" . 

I just discovered this in December at Bath & Body Works. 

HOLIDAY GIFT SETS! 

Great values on the holiday gift sets!

If you have a fragrance you love but are almost out of, make sure to check out gift sets. 

At Christmas and Mother's Day they always have GREAT gift sets that they only carry for a holiday. 

10:45 PM - 2 Comments - 2 Kudos - Add Comment

ALMOST LIVE - Seattle Comedy Show -
Category: News and Politics

ALMOST LIVE!

There was a great comedy show named ALMOST LIVE out of Seattle, WA.  I really miss this show.  It hasn't been on for a long time.

 It was filmed in Seattle and other towns around Washington and shown Saturday nights. 

It was topical humor set in Seattle and its suburbs.  The show was like a local SNL but funnier.

I haven't been able to find a DVD or anything with the episodes.

Here are a few of my favorite episodes:

"The Ballard Academy of Driving"

This was hilarious.  They sterotyped all people living in Ballard as elderly Scandinavians who had terrible driving skils.

My favorite was the episode showing a Driving Test.  The driving instructor was wearing a stocking cap.  He started the test by asking the driver to check his seat belt.  The instructor had to remind the driver to let the seatbelt hang out of the car and drag on the street.  He also reminded him to turn his left turn signal on and leave it that way for the rest of the day.

Now they were ready to pull out into the street and start driving.  First the instructor told the driver to slow down...he said, "Hey, where's the fire? You're going like 10 miles an hour!  Bring it down to 7 mph. That's the Ballard way!"

Then he told the student..."Use the whole road! You pay your taxes! Come on, let's see some weaving around!"

After that, came the discussion of how many cars the driver was holding up behind him.  The instructor said it should be at least 5 or more drivers....The Ballard Way!

Now for the parking test!  The student looked over his shoulder to check for cars.  The instructor jumped all over him..."Hey, Hey, Hey! Why are you looking??? We don't park that way here.  We do it by SOUND.  So the driver backed up until he hit the car behind him.  "Okay! Now we're getting somewhere!" he told the student.  So they put it in drive and hit the car in front and kept it up until the car was parked. 

And now for the final question. Q. How long have you lived in Ballard?  A.  All my life!  Q.  How much longer do you plan to live in Ballard? A.  Until I die.  Oh yeah!  The instructor was very pleased. 

The student passed and the instructor proudly slapped a bumper sticker on the back of the car that said UFF DA!!!!

A job well done by both instructor and driver!

Ever since we saw this, in my family we're always saying..."You pay your taxes...use the WHOLE ROAD!  

"THE WORST GIRLFRIEND IN THE WORLD"

My  all time favorite sketch! Horror stories about the worst girlfriend.  This girlfriend mouthed off to everyone.  And was so offensive.  It just cracks me up.

I remember one episode called Meet the Parents.  A guy took this Worst Girlfriend to meet his parents.  The mother had fixed dinner for everyone. They were kind of old fashioned - tradtional parents.  Very square.

The first thing the Worst Girlfriend did was demand a drink.  I don't think the parents drank liquor.  She yelled something like...."Get me a drink Pops and shut up!"  She sat down at the table and lit a cigarette.  The dad nicely told her they didn't smoke.

Again, she yelled at him and said something like..."I'll smoke if I want to old man!"

I'm laughing right now just thinking about it.

Funny!

There was a little song that went with this skit.  All I can remember is this....

She's the worst girlfriend you ever had,

Every time you think about her, you get mad

She's the worst girlfriend in the world.

"Uncle Fran's Musical Forest"

This was a politically incorrect children's show.  One guy had a hand puppet and one guy played the guitar.  The two of them were always fighting.

There were some great songs sung by the guy on the guitar.  He  was bitter about a lot of things. 

"Nature Walk with Chuck"

An alcholic outdoorsman who had a young boy, like a boy scout as his assistant would go on Nature Walks.   Chuck always had a cigarette in his mouth.  When he was done with the ciggie, he'd throw it on the ground and I think he started a couple of forest fires and looked and walked away.

I think the young boy's name was Timmy.  Chuck was always having Timmy carry such a heavy load, the poor kid was barely able to keep up.  Timmy had to lug around a keg, while Chuck just walked around and talked. 

Timmy tried so hard.  Chuck would ignore him and wouldn't even be aware he was way behind.  He'd stand on the trail and look out at the woods and always told a story with a lesson in it.

Chuck always ended the segment reviewing with Timmy - Now what did we learn today?

"Sluggy"

A young boy's favorite pet.   A snail.  Just like the old Lassie show, except the dog was a snail.

One time Sluggy ran away from home.  The young boy land his family looked everywhere for him.

When they found Sluggy the boy was so happy.  He rolled around in a big pile of leaves and kept saying..Sluggy, we found you...you're home!

"The Ineffectual -  Middle Management Suck Ups"

This was great.  These four or five middle management types were always in a meeting which was pretty much a waste of time.  They would talk about firing people and take a vote. 

I think they wrote random stuff on a squeaky board or chalkboard.  They really did pretty close to nothing in these meetings.

If you've ever worked in an office.....oh yeah....

"High Five-n' White Guys"

Hilarious.  Five clean cut guys hanging around together. They would all of a sudden break into a high five and jump up in the air together.  There always had a great song to go with it.

(I think the song was by Huey Lewis and The News).

The guys had no rhythm.  They would show them in different towns.  That's all they did  -  roam around and break in to a high five.

"Bill Nye the Science Guy"

He did great science experiements.  He was really talented.  I think he ended up doing his own show(s).

He also did "Speed Walker." 

Another great skit.

"The Survivalist"

About a paranoid guy who had his basement stocked with everything he would need if the time came.

My favorite line was - Who would you choose to be with you on Judgement Day?  Tanya Harding or Nancy Kerrigan?  Damn right, Tanya Harding!

"The Lame List"

"What's Weak This Week"   Local members of "Seattle's heavy metal community", such as Kim Thayil of grunge band Soundgarden yelling "lame" to whatever topic the announcer would present).

Also in a rotating schedule were Collin Matson, Brad Hull, and Tony Benjamin of local Seattle band Forced Entry as well as members of other local bands. When an especially difficult topic or question would arise, everyone would stare and go "Huh?" with blank stares until the announcer gave up and asked a more simple question to which everyone would yell "Lame" in understanding.  (from Wiki)

There you are.

I  know I'm forgetting some of the other episodes, but this was a great show.

kit kat

PS  If anyone out there knows how to find a dvd or video of Almost Live, would you please let me know? thanks

9:23 PM - 2 Comments - 4 Kudos - Add Comment