So Shabby Pink - Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year!!


My granddaughter made the candle.

So Shabby Pink - Christmas at the Beach - Part 2

I think it was the last day that we were in Va. Beach that my Father noticed a woman in a white strapless dress, a Marine dressed in his dress blues and two other people walking down to the edge of the water. We were staying on the 4th floor so we had an excellent view.

Now, four of us were in the middle of a hot Scrabble tournament (we are a wild group) so I only got up briefly to see what was going on. I am so sorry I missed it. I am SO sorry I didn't take any pictures!!

My Father stood at the door and gave us a blow by blow of this event occurring on the beach. I bet you guessed that this cute couple was getting married!! It was probably 45 degrees outside and the bride was BAREFOOT. She was the one that had on that white strapless dress. By the time I got up and looked out the door, they had gotten back in their car and were driving away. I opened my arms and laid my body against the window hoping they would see me as I banged on the glass. I wanted to congratulate them! They just drove away and never knew we were watching.

Later, we put on our coats, scarves and gloves for a brisk walk on the beach. I just love that. Well, looky here! Barefoot prints in the sand! Now, maybe the groom was barefoot too but if he wasn't, the bride had REALLY BIG FEET!

We followed the barefoot prints and they led us to the very spot they said their I do's.


Off to the side was this heart in the sand with the word "Love" inside. Oh, that's so sweet!


I really regret not getting pictures! Maybe one of these days one of them will read my blog! Oh, and if they do, sorry about the bride's big feet comment.

I am wishing everyone a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

So Shabby Pink - Christmas at the Beach

My husband and I recently met up with my family in beautiful Virginia Beach, VA. I grew up there and my 90 year old Father lives closeby. So, we headed out at midnight with over 1,500 miles ahead of us to travel - by car.

This was our destination:





More to come........hope you will check back soon or subscribe so you don't miss anything!

So Shabby Pink - It's almost Christmas

It is just so hard to believe that Christmas is almost here. The older I get, the quicker it appears each year! I can't be alone in this. Has time actually speeded up and we just don't know it??

So Shabby Pink - Merchant Moms is Seriously Cool

I have met quite a variety of people online since I first opened So Shabby Pink. It has been really different for this 50ish retired RN as I have worked directly with people my whole life. I mean, nurses reeeeally work directly with people....if you know what I mean. So, forming some type of rapport with people online was a new challenge.

Joining groups like Make Mine Pink and Beautiful Shops helped open the door to associating with other website retailers. Both online shopping sites have areas for members to chat and I have gotten to know some of the girls pretty well! Great folks out there!

Another association that I have learned is very important when you are operating a website is with the company that hosts your site - the web host - the folks that keep it running! That's where Merchant Moms (MM) comes in.

Meet John \/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/

I posted on John, at Merchant Moms, back on September 5 if you would like to know more about his company. My stepdaughter, Kimberly of My Pink Boutique, talked me into moving my site with him and I am so glad I did. Everything he says in his ad is 100% true. You purchase a great product and great service. He is a real person and you don't have to wait 2 days to get an answer to a problem. His help desk is not outsourced. It is "Made in the USA."

John has shared some of his personal life with his clients (we're kind of nosey too) and we have discovered he is a seriously cool fellow! Now, in case you didn't notice, he is leaning against his Honda Goldwing! This must be the real John!

When I showed my husband this picture for the first time, I heard this gasp of air and a long and low "oooohhhhhhhh." He loves motorcycles too --- although I do not foresee one sitting in our garage any time soon ;-) !

Earlier this year, John and his wife took a motorcycle trip to the Tennessee/North Carolina state line and drove the Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap. The picture below is small portion of that stretch of highway and is posted from the Tail of the Dragon website (picture posted with permission). You have to go look at some of the pictures from their site. Go to Tail of the Dragon at Deals Gap and check out the photos. Wow look at this one......This is evidently a rather dangerous road. John and his wife drove it on a motorcycle! Can you believe it?!

If I understand this correctly, there are groups of people that take your picture as you are traveling on this road and you can purchase those photos. John's journey with his wife was captured in the photo below. That is just so cool! That is really them!

The picture below is The Cherohala Skyway . I just thought it was really something beautiful to look at (www.tailofthedragon.com with permission). Oh, my! Check out the history of the area !

John's latest escapade was up to Woodstock, GA for a gathering of around 150 Goldwing owners. Here are a few of them (far left is John). How fun!

I tell you, younger kids and even young adults think we don't know what fun is once we are over 30, 40 or 50 years old. Not so!! Life is just getting better and better. I hope John's is too. It sure looks that way, doesn't it?!!

Keep having fun!

So Shabby Pink - I have to try it too!!

My step daughter, Kimberly - Miss My Pink Boutique girl, has been couragous enough to do something that most of us are hesitant to do --SHE USED HER SELF CLEANING OVEN FEATURE!! Ahhhhh!!! I have that feature on my oven too but have been chicken to use it for many years!!

I think the MOST courageous thing she did was post her dirty oven BEFORE picture! She was so brave to show the WHOLE WORLD her dirty oven! Her courage has inspired me though and I am going to take that step and push the clean button:

I might even let you see MY dirty oven!

So Shabby Pink - Meet Arlene

You know, this year has really been a difficult year for many. When we do not live in the areas that we read about or live in those places we see pictures of on the news, we tend to forget that hardships are coming on people that are just like you and me.

One very strong lady that has overcome quite an ordeal this year is Arlene. I met Arlene on Make Mine Pink. She is an avid collector of beautiful vintage goodies and a retailer of collectibles through her website, Lil Cottage Shoppe.

Now, I know what it is like to want to live on the water and be willing to take the risk of flooding and storms. I grew up in Virginia Beach, VA and there is just nothing like it! You just accept the risk and keep on going - and are so grateful for the opportunity to be where you love! When I later lived in northeastern North Carolina, my view from our backyard deck was very much like Arlene's. This is her backyard view. Gorgeous!

Living on Fox Lake, Illinois, however, she was a part of the flooded areas from this summer's rains.

This was the after......

When I first learned that she had been affected, I kept looking for posts from her on the Make Mine Pink Forum to see how she was doing. We were all much relieved to know she and her family (her dogs are family too) were safe but disappointed that much of her inventory for Lil Cottage Shoppe had been damaged or rendered useless. You can read about her experience on her blog.

In spite of all this hardship, she has now created two new businesses in addition to her current website:

Retro Boutiques

• Retro, Vintage and Antique Inspired Web Templates. Our GREAT web host, Merchant Moms, has accepted her as a template designer. Way to go, Arlene!!

Cottage Shop Estate Sales

• Estate Sale and Ebay Consignment Services. (I love estate sales).

I call that creative and resilient! This is a quality I love about some people. That "stick to it-ness" -- that, "I am strong and will find a way to be even better-ness." There are no limits for a person like that......

Arlene, YOU ROCK!!

Here are the places you can find Arlene:

RetroBoutiques
The Lil Cottage Shoppe
Cottage Shop Estate Sales
My Little Pink Boutique
Women Take Wing

So Shabby Pink - Make Mine Pink Tea Party Day 4

What fun all the tea parties in cyberspace have been this week. It's hard to put together a sweet little setting without using Kimberly's sweet faux pastries. SO, here they are again!

We arranged our settings together today - 300 miles apart. We just chatted and chatted and it was the next best thing to actually having her here. :-) I really do appreciate technology.

Remember those round sectional plates? The pink dishes are actually 3 separate curved pieces. I don't have the original dish that they sat on, but there is always a way to make them work. I really love that pink color.

The pot, cream and sugar pieces below are some of my wares but they are for decoration only. I don't recommend any of my products for food service. Just pretty decoration.

It's been fun! Hope you will visit us again.

So Shabby Pink - Tea Party No. 2

I hope you SCROLL DOWN and visit my PINK TEA PARTY No. 1 from Monday before you leave.

Even though I just LOVE pink, we do have some other colors in our home to warm up some favorite areas.



Today I decided to make a pretty party with Fire King's Peach Lustre. I love this setting as it reminds me of my grandmother. It's Kim's absolute favorite also (My Pink Boutique) so if you are searching for a gift for her, this is it! I believe she would like some plates! :-)




Hope you enjoy yourself!

Scroll down to see my Pink Tea Party from Monday.

So Shabby Pink - Special Offer by Robin's Soap Nest

Hello! Hope all is well today.

I posted yesterday on Robin's Soap Nest (see below). Robin has informed me that if anyone orders soap through her website or at her Oct. 13 show at Randolph Air Force Base and mentions that they saw her ad through "So Shabby Pink," they will receive a 10% discount on their purchase. Thank you, Robin!

So Shabby Pink - Never Forget Sept. 11

In memory of those who died on Sept. 11, 2001.

So Shabby Pink Introduces Robin's Soap Nest

I recently went into one of our local Mail Center retail stores to ship a package. Of all things sitting there on the counter was an adorable display of wonderful smelling handmade (cold process) soap!

The smell just permeated the room. Oh, boy! I know my eyes must have gotten as big as saucers when I saw them. I have never been able to resist handmad soap so I bought a handful. The truck smelled great by the time I got home too!

The maker of this soap is Robin of Robin's Soap Nest. She is a local girl and a member of the San Antonio Work at Home Moms of Texas. I found her contact information on the soap label and I have had some very nice email conversations with her. I would like to introduce you to her and welcome her to our very fine online community.

On her website, she has shown about 5 shows she has yet to do this year. That Randolph Air Force Base Officer's Wives Club Show is a humdinger!! It's one of the most popular local shows in our area. I hope to get there and meet her in person.

She also sells her soap wholesale.


I've tried a variety of her scents and so far, the LAVENDER is my favorite. It's really strong in the shower. I love Lavender and I am out.....I need a refill....

Her newest addition are these little cupcake soaps! Aren't they cute! They are all soap and she said that they float in the bathtub. I bet kids will love these! Just make sure they know to not eat them! You can order her soaps through her website, Robin's Soap Nest.

These are not food ~ These are soap!

These are not food ~ These are soap!

These are not food ~ These are soap!

I hope you will visit her website and try her soaps too! For those of you with websites, she does exchange banners.

Glad to have you here, Robin!

So Shabby Pink - Make Mine Pink Tea Party Day 1

Hello all! It's Tea Time! This is my first gathering this week and I hope to have more tea parties as the week goes on. Many Make Mine Pink members are participating this week and their tea parties can be viewed through the Make Mine Pink Blog.

Now, my tea time is a little different today in that I am displaying all my pretty faux desserts made by my step daughter, Kimberly of My Pink Boutique. I can never say enough nice things about her.

In contrast to the faux pastries, is the tea I am using, Long Life Organic Green Tea with Ginseng. No sugar in the pastries but a zing of energy in the tea~~~

The adorable little tea pot is one I purchased from one of my favorite sites, Laura's Pretties.

As you can see, all is ready. The tea cups are turned upward, the pillows are soft and inviting, the tea is steeping and the candle is lit. All we need is you! Come join us for tea.....

So Shabby Pink - It's Tea Party Week

Today is the start of Tea Party Week over at participating MMP Bloggers. Here is an example of the tea party from Janet of Janet's Creative Pillows .

I will also be having a tea party later. Check back frequently and join us!

You can see the participating Make Mine Pink bloggers sites here:
Make Mine Pink Blog

So Shabby Pink - MerchantMoms.com

For those of you out there with websites, you know how much work they are! There is always something to add, delete, edit, tweek or fix! I had three - yes - I think that's right - three different web hosts before coming to www.merchantmoms.com.

My stepdaughter, Kimberly, at My Pink Boutique, had started up with Merchant Moms and really liked it. After three disappointments, I finally went on over. Now, you could not pry me away!

You can compare monthly plans, read about the cart features and much more. You also do not have to have any knowledge of html - really! No! I really am not kidding. They have web designers available or you can create your own template.

The thing about Merchant Moms that impresses me most is the exceptional customer service. When Kimberly and I get on a roll about something, the support desk at Merchant Moms handles us two with ease. You actually email with a real person, often the owner, and they even have a phone number you can call if you must.

I like my web host! Can you tell?

Fill your week with Tea Parties !!!
Starting Monday September 10, have a fun filled week with the Make Mine Pink Bloggers as they host a virtual Tea Party. Visit the Mine Pink Blog for all the information and a list of participating
Make Mine Pink Blogs.

Why Tea Party? Well what can be more fun, tea for two, tea for one, a princess tea, a mother/daughter tea, best friends tea, long lost friends tea, or to just take a moment to slow down and enjoy the tea.

Join in on the fun and host a virtual tea party too. We will be visiting all the Make Mine Pink blogs and yours too if you decide to host your own party.

You will see beautiful and unique tables set for tea; many will have a special theme. Will you join us and post a photo of your Tea Party on your very own blog?

Post a comment on Make Mine Pink’s Blog and we will include you on the list.So expect many visitors~ please have cookies ready.

The MMP Blog is located at http://www.makeminepink.blogspot.com

So Shabby Pink Spotlights The Cottage Gate

Aren't these gorgeous???!!!! The above set of bags is my favorite!!

I recently came in contact with a very talented woman! The Cottage Gate! She really does fine work. I bought a round pin cushion similar to this one below but with different fabric. Adorable!

Her craftsmanship is excellent. I also love her choice of fabrics. So gorgeous!! With her permission, I have taken some of her pictures to show you a nice assortment of her work. Go buy some! You won't be disappointed!

Here is how to contact her and see her beautiful work:

Make Mine Pink Little Pink Boutique

The Cottage Gate Blog

The Cottage Gate Etsy Shop

The Cottage Gate Ebay Auctions

Another fine businesswoman in today's cyber economy!!