Something New ... Something Blue

Although brides and grooms tie the knot year-round, June has long been the traditional month for weddings.  I had hoped to do a "full blown" tablescape for you this week using Noritake Marywood china, but my plans changed and I ended up with the Wedding Blues.  I'll share the china with you anyway ...

Click the collage once -- or twice! -- to enlarge it.

Marywood was a popular choice of beauty-loving, price-conscious brides in the 1970s ... and continued to be offered until the mid '90s.  I think its delicate blue flowers, bright white field, and thin platinum band are still stunning decades later. 

Let's do an impromptu link-up, shall we?  If you've ever posted a tablescape featuring your wedding china, add the link at the bottom of this post.  It doesn't matter how long ago it was ... the wedding OR the post.  We'd all love to see it!                                   

Don't forget ... Use this code:

STMMMS26571

to receive $10 off your My Memories Suite Software AND upon purchase you'll get a  $10 coupon off anything in the My Memories shop.
(The wedding china collage was made using this software!)

I'm joining Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen,
Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch,
and The 3rd Annual To Have and To Hold Wedding Blog Party at Angelic Accents

Limited to ONE WORD ... Is it possible?

If you haven't yet entered my giveaway for the My Memories Digital Scrapbooking software, what are you waiting on?  Their online scrapbook software is f.u.n!

I spent a minute today looking at the My Memories blog and saw this ...

Why not?

I knew just the pictures (and the ONE WORD) to use.  They were taken on my last trip to Brazil with Hope Unlimited for Children.  I wonder how to say this word in Portuguese ...

Check out the other entries HERE.

Every time I open the software, I find another really fun feature ... but I've only just begun to discover them all!  You don't want to miss out on the fun, do you?

 

My Memories is offering one reader of My Place to Yours a chance to win your very own My Memories Suite software!

This giveaway will be open until Monday evening, June 4, at midnight Eastern time.

Go HERE to enter!

Since My Memories wants to give everyone a chance to try their amazing product, they've provided a special code just for My Place to Yours readers!

 

Use this code:

STMMMS26571

to receive $10 off your My Memories Suite Software AND upon purchase you'll get a $10 coupon off anything in the My Memories Shop.

Oh, there's one more great thing I learned today about My Memories.  They have a Dollar Store filled with hundreds of online scrapbooking products.  You KNOW I love Dollar Stores!

Enter for your chance to win this amazing software giveaway!

I'm linking my ONE WORD entry to the challenge at the My Memories blog.

My Memories Digital Scrapbooking Software GIVEAWAY

If you're a local friend (or a blog friend who lives nearby), I'm giving you
advance notice ... so stick with me to the end.

A few weeks ago, while visiting around Blogland, I saw a giveaway for free digital scrapbooking software ... but it had just ended.  Of course it had.  Oh, well.  I'm not a scrapbooker, so "easy come, easy go."  What's the likelihood that I would have won anyway?


But a couple of days later when I was contacted by My Memories (the very same digital scrapbooking company) and they said they wanted to give free software to me ... and to you ... I was ecstatic.  For both of us, of course! 


 So what would a non-scrapbooker want with digital scrapbooking software?  I'm so glad you asked!  Just look at all the things we can do.


Cards and invitations for any occasion ...

Photo albums or memory books like this compilation of love letters I put together for my mother-in-law last Christmas ...

Photo collages ... from a wide variety of templates -- or design your own.  I left the bottom left corner empty so you can see the texture better.

Blog buttons and headers ...

Gift tags, calendars, videos ...
and oh so much more I haven't yet discovered!



The templates, textures, background papers, and color choices included in the software are incredible ... but if you don't see exactly what you want, there are LOTS of fantastic, inexpensive choices available at the My Memories website.

Now for the good part ...

 

My Memories is offering one reader of My Place to Yours a chance to win your very own My Memories Suite software!

Don't you think it's time to discover this fantastic digital scrapbooking software for yourself?

THREE WAYS to enter ...
Please be sure I have a way to contact you if you win!

Entry #1:  MANDATORY  Visit My Memories and try (just try!) to pick a favorite digital paper pack or layout then come back here and leave a comment telling me which one was your favorite!

Entry #2:  OPTIONAL  Follow My Memories on Facebook or Twitter and let me know you did in a SEPARATE comment.

Entry #3:  OPTIONAL  Facebook or Twitter about this giveaway with a reference to My Place to Yours and My Memories and let me know you did in a SEPARATE comment.

 

This giveaway will be open until Monday evening, June 4, at midnight Eastern time.

But wait, there's more ...

My Memories wants to give everyone a chance to try their amazing product, so they are providing a special code just for My Place to Yours readers!

 

Use this code:

STMMMS26571

to receive $10 off your My Memories Suite Software AND upon purchase you'll get a $10 coupon off anything in the My Memories Shop.  Not bad!

Enter today to win ... but even if you don't win, this fantastic digital scrapbooking software (a $39.97 value) can be yours at an even greater price when using the coupon code above.

Thank you to My Memories for providing this generous giveaway!

* * * * *
Oh, I almost forgot.  Here's the advance notice I promised to my local friends.
Some of you didn't think I'd really do it ...

AND if any of you Blogland friends want to make a serious offer on any of the "$100 or over" items in either my Etsy shop or My Place to Yours SHOPPING, please email me.  For that matter, if you see something in any of my tablescapes that you're interested in, it never hurts to ask if it's available.  I'm ready to deal!

The Silent Sacrifice

On a warm and windy day last month, I spotted Old Glory waving her colors as I looked out the hospital window.

The sight seemed even more poignant than usual because the hospital stood in the middle of an Army Base ... Fort Bragg in North Carolina.

Little Sir was less than 24 hours old, safely secure in the care of his parents ...
and so I picked up the camera.

As I took picture after picture, imagining the snapping and flapping of the flag, my mind was almost overwhelmed by thoughts of beauty ... and sacrifice.

Some of us live at a distance; never seeing the sacrifices unless they involve death and make the headlines.  Others of us view them from only a few steps away.  But military families?  On one level or another, they make sacrifices every day.

Little Sir was born into one of those families.

He is son #2 of Daughter the Younger and our Favorite Fatigue Wearer.  His big brother (whom you know here as Little Man) already knows the routine ...

He's pretty comfortable in it, so I'm sure he'll be a good teacher.  In fact, just the other day he went to Daddy's work and "changed out his stickers" when Daddy had a change in rank. Some day Little Sir will get to share that privilege.

By the way, do you know that those "stickers" (aka patches) now have Velcro on the back?  I know some men and women ... wives and mamas ... who've gotta love that!

In the National Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia, there is a Family Gallery.  At its entrance are these words ...

U.S. soldiers always have and always will face sacrifice, separation, danger, and all the challenges of being thrust into unfamiliar environments.  Not only are these situations new and difficult for the Soldier, they must also be confronted and overcome by the Soldier's family through communication and courage.

Yes, of course I cried, although I tried to hide the tears.  It's all so very real when it's MY family.  Some of you know exactly what I mean ...

The Family Gallery includes a small room where children of soldiers can dress up like Mommy or Daddy; sometimes like Mommy AND Daddy.  I can't even imagine ...

I love this picture ... when I can see it through the tears.  How many children have played dress-up in that room?  How many sacrifices have they had to make so Mommy and Daddy can do their job ... and keep the rest of us safe?

My own father was in the Army, but his time of service was a two-year stint between Korea and Viet Nam ... before I was even born. While I grew up with great respect for our military, I did not grow up in a military family.  In fact, until my daughter fell in love with that "man in uniform," I'm sorry to say I was one of those who lived at a distance, affected mostly by the headlines.

Growing up, I didn't hear many Army stories from my Dad.  No particular reason ... just something he did once upon a time.  But Daddy was a paratrooper, and my Favorite Fatigue Wearer is, too (82nd Airborne Division).  You should hear them swap stories!  According to Daughter the Younger, her hubby loves telling his buddies that his wife's Grandpop was an "old school paratrooper!"

But that was then ... and this is now ... and I'm several steps closer to seeing the sacrifices of military families.  I still watch as new recruits (often with families in tow), pledge their oath of allegiance to their country.  My country.  May we all do a better job of pledging our prayers, support, and encouragement to them.

As America celebrates Memorial Day, I add my most sincere thanks and admiration for veterans long gone ... and to those presently living ... and to those who currently serve our country. My flag flies daily for you ... and your families ... as I ask God to use you -- and me -- to bless America.  In truth, to bless our world.

May your Memorial Day be filled with safety, gratitude, and God's richest blessings.  I'll see you again soon.

 

I'm joining Seasonal Sundays at The Tablescaper

and Metamorphosis Monday at Between Naps on the Porch

Cake on the Brain!

Some of you enjoyed the wedding inspiration boards I shared with you in my tablescape post this week ... even specifically mentioning the gorgeous cupcake in one of them  

(Do cupcakes call your name like they do mine?)  ... so I thought I'd show you the cupcake inspiration board, too.  Can't you just see these beauties on a tiered stand ... and a navy tablecloth with vintage doilies spread over it like I did in my tablescape?  I can.

 

And while I have cake on the brain, I want to offer a quick congratulations to a fellow blogger ...  Beverly at How Sweet the Sound.  Her popular weekly all-things-pink blog party is celebrating a milestone.  Why don't you stop by and tell her Happy Birthday?  While you're there visiting, be sure to check out all of the other celebratory pinks!

Stay tuned for how to make custom cards/pics like this.  I'll tell you soon ... and it involves a giveaway!

I'll be back Sunday night with some Memorial Day thoughts.  In the meantime, I hope you have a safe and blessed weekend.

KEY TO MY HEART ... Inspired By A Wedding

Hello all!  This week, my tablescape inspiration came from some idea boards I did awhile ago for soon-to-be-married young friends.  Their wedding colors are ivory, blues, and golds ...

Many of the pictures in these inspirations boards are the "actuals" ... the wedding gown, bridesmaid's dress and shoes, ballroom, save-the-date, and invitation.  The others are ideas they want to incorporate ... floating flower centerpieces, antique keys, pearls.

Now that you hopefully know the "feel" I want to achieve, I'll let you decide if I succeeded ... or not.

I started with the only navy tablecloth I have then added a variety of doilies as a nod to the lace wedding gown and antique keys ...

To keep the lacy look, I used clear glass dinner plates then added gold-encrusted salad plates and bowls.

The centerpiece features a pair of skeleton keys tied with the same gold satin ribbon as the wedding invitation.

Of course, candlelight is a "must," so I used a pair of Lenox pierced tealight holders set atop tiny gold-rimmed Lenox saucers.

Bridal pearls, a tiny Lenox gift box, and the centerpiece ... all anchored by a gold-rimmed Lenox plate and clear ribbed glass charger.

Elegant gold damask napkins, gold-encrusted glassware, and gold flatware ...

A heart-shaped floating candle ...

Super simple to put together ... but very elegant.

I can't wait to see how the bride interprets the inspiration boards!

I know it will be a beautiful wedding.  They are a beautiful couple ... inside and out.

What about you?  Are you (or someone you know) planning a wedding?  What are the colors?

Is there a theme?  I hope you'll leave a comment and tell us!  You KNOW we're all hopeless romantics here ...

Join me for Let's Dish at Cuisine Kathleen

and Tablescape Thursday at

Between Naps on the Porch

Do You Earn A Merit Badge?

While sitting in the beauty shop the other day waiting for a haircut, I picked up this magazine.

One short article caused me to chuckle and grab my smartphone so I could share this with you ...

and so I wouldn't forget it.  I don't even think you'll mind my inferior pics.

The writer decided to celebrate the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts by forming a new association:  Boomer Scouts.  She even created merit badges to recognize the triumphs of Baby Boomers so often unrecognized by those around them. According to Boomer Scouts spokeswoman, Carolyn Bucior, (the author herself), "These badges aim to affirm and celebrate our everyday wins while we still can."

While, according to the U.S. Census Bureau, Baby Boomers are people born between 1946 and 1964, I suspect some of you who don't quite fall into the Boomer category will get a kick out of some of these, too.  Here are the descriptions word-for-word from the Boomer Scout founder.

How many have you earned?

COMPLETE-OUTFIT BADGE

This signifies that you have selected and publicly worn a complete and coordinated outfit.  For women, that includes shoes, accessories and a skirt whose hem has not been rolled up, pinned, paper clipped or duct taped.

BLENDED-HOUSEHOLDS DECOR BADGE

The requirements here are tough -- you must embrace the history, passions and so-called taste of your spouse.  To qualify at any point in your marriage you must:

*  Accept your partner's "art" by allowing it to be displayed in a prominent area.

*  Quit nagging him about the hideous memorabilia arrayed on the bookcase and (let's be honest) ruining the visuals of the entire room.

ROUTINE-HOME-MAINTENANCE BADGE

You must mow the lawn.  Scrub the scum.  Change the furnace filter.  Pay the telephone bill.  Then you do it again.  There is no ticker tape parade.  But now there is this badge.

ROUTINE-PERSONAL-MAINTENANCE BADGE

To qualify, you must have done at least two of the following:

*  Ignored an open box of cupcakes at work.

*  Tossed out one or more outfits dating back to the '90s.

*  Visited your colorist before the gray roots hit one inch.

*  Made at least 12 trips to the gym for which you paid an annual membership fee.

PRETENDING-TO-CARE BADGE

You knew there had to be some reward for listening while your nearest and dearest prattle on.  And there is.  This badge can be worn passively, on your official Boomer Scout sash, or aggressively, sewn onto a pair of earmuffs.

"I REMEMBER!" BADGE

Are there two male singers named Bono?  What's my password?  Why did I come into this room?  Who's that actor, from the '60s, tall, not Cary Grant ...?  Who's devoted to the principles of Ayn Rand -- Paul Ryan or Ron Paul?  When you remember, you earn a badge.  There are no limits on the number of "I Remember!" badges.

DON'T-RETIRE-EARLY BADGE

 Any boomer who shows up to work on her 56th birthday will automatically be issued this badge.  Sobbing is allowed.

FAFSA BADGE

 This badge symbolizes that you've filed (on time) your child's college financial-aid forms, which have to be filed every frickin' year using an online form that routinely does not save your data and forces you to re-enter it and why don't we have an easier way to do this, I mean, come on!?

ADULT-CHILD BADGE

To get this award, you must have abandoned futile efforts to steer your grown child's life, recognizing at last that he/she is (at least theoretically) an independent human being, capable of screwing up his/her own life.  Specific requirements include performance of at least two of the following:

*  Refraining from looking at his/her Facebook page for one year.

*  Refraining from telling him/her that the fiance(e) is not good enough.

*  Refraining from telling him/her that your grandchild does indeed need a nap.

OK, so stop laughing and count again -- since you've probably already forgotten.  How many Boomer Scout merit badges have YOU earned ... so far?

Thanks for stopping by!

I hope every one of you have a fantastic week.

Join me for these parties...

Blue Monday at Smiling Sally

Mosaic Monday at Little Red House