Ribbon Rose Shoe Clips

I just had to share our latest creation! We started making these roses for our new 2010 Bridal line, but they are not just for brides. This is a picture of a pair of sandals I found at the grocery store for $1.99. They had a very large and cheap plastic rhinestone in the center. I loved the color and style, so why not customize them. I added a coordinating ribbon rose shoe clip in silver. I love my new sandals. These go great with black, white, navy...all colors. Give your shoes a makeover, I did and I love the new look.

Jennifer

February's girls dinner Out...Barefoot Contessa Recipes

For over two year a bunch of girls have been meeting for dinner. When we started this gathering we all were not close friends. But, as time has gone by it has become a date to look forward to with great friends. I now consider all these gals great friends.

These are the rules that we have setup for our monthly dinner
1. It is the second Tuesday of every month
2. A hostess gets to choose the dinner theme, she is to prepare the main dish and drinks
3. The hostess with email the other girls asking for supporting dishes-such as vegetable, salad, bread, and appetizers
4. The next hostess is always named before the nights end

These are some very simple rules, and it really gets us out of the house. We are all busy women and cooking can get old. Just think, if you are just cooking one spectacular dish-it makes dinner a whole lot easier.

We started a blog, 2nd Tuesday dinner, but the girls are not bloggers, so therefore nobody was posting. I love my dinner club, so I will take the lead and post all about it. If you are interested in any recipe, just contact me and I will get it.

This month was the Barefoot Contessa recipes and it was at my house. I was going to make here Chicken Salad and to drink Coppola Wines. Here are some great pictures!



Marci made a wild mushroom risotto. It was yummy if you like mushrooms.




Julie made a roasted pear dish with blue cheese salad. This was so wonderful, I love blue cheese!



Judith made a bow-tie pasta dish with garlic and broccoli, Denise made a butternut squash and apple soup, & Jessica made a spinach appetizer. All of which I never took pictures of, silly me!

And last....the coconut cake by Mary. It was spectacular!



Everything was delicious.....Next month Irish Theme.

It's Make Mine Pink Friday, "Roses and Pearls"

Please join us for shopping with a twist on Friday February 12th 2010 as we present "Roses and Pearls"

When I think back to when I was a little girl, I remember the pretty off-white and pink pearls that my mother and grandmother wore for what I always assumed was "dress up." Whenever they went anywhere special, like church on Sunday morning, or celebrated a special event like a family birthday party, they slipped on their strings of pearls.

Sometimes they let me try them on too, as long as I was careful. I remember admiring myself in the large mirrors on top of their dressers, framed by pearls and sitting on a rose covered bedspread.

Thinking back, pearls and roses have always been a common theme in my life. Both my mother and my grandmother had furniture that was slip covered in big, bold rose fabric. Even the carpeting had sculpted roses and floral patterns. I can still see my mother and grandmother, wearing their pretty pearls against perpetual backdrops of roses.

No wonder I both love and surround myself with anything pearls and roses, whenever possible. They remind me of the times I spent with my mother and my grandmother, growing up, listening to their stories, learning how to become a woman. Women of my generation must all experience the same feelings of nostalgia that I do when they discover themselves surrounded by roses, pearls, and anything pretty. My love of pretty things extends to vintage hankies, hand-embroidered with beautiful roses to tuck into a handbag or display like a doily on a nightstand. A teacup from someone's vintage china pattern – it never mattered to me if it matched anything else in my cupboard, or if it was handed down from someone that I knew. It's the delicate beauty that captures my heart and makes it part of my collection. Feminine quilts in pink and off-white roses remind me of the hours I spent stitching and talking with my mother and grandmother. Somehow, even then, knowing that no other moment in my life could ever make me feel as complete.


When you visit the boutiques at Make Mine Pink, you'll find yourself surrounded with beautiful collections that will fill you with nostalgia for your own memories of pearls and roses.

Joyce Lucas, Founder
Make Mine Pink



Photo Contribution 1: The Casual Cameo | Photo Contribution 2: Caroline Alexander

I was beginning to hate the snow

It has been so cold the last couple of weeks, and I don't think it is ever going to stop snowing. I miss the sun, it seems to always be grey here in Western New York.
Here is my list of why I hate the snow
1. My driveway is a mess, or what is left of it
2. It takes me 15-20 minutes to get out the door with the girls
3. My hair is always flat
4. I cannot even clean up the dog poop, because I can't see the dog. I will find a lovely mess in the Spring
5. I got stuck in the driveway this morning. The snow is so deep I couldn't even open my car door. It is always a treat to climb out the window, only to return to that wet seat later.
6. There is a permanent puddle of slush in my kitchen
7. The cats won't go outside, so they must use their litter boxes, yuck!
8. The snow is so deep in our driveway I cannot even see any neighbors
9. I always have wet socks
10. I gave up shoveling my front door, just use the back one! I am just too lazy.

BUT, last night something magical happened. It was snowing, AGAIN, and I took the dog out at 11 pm. The snow was so fine, that it looked like fairies were sprinkling glitter all over my yard. It was magical. I grabbed my camera to see if I could some how capture the beauty. The pictures still do not give it justice. I actually felt like I was in a fantasy world. So, for a brief moment I actually enjoyed the snow. That all ended when I woke up and got stuck in the driveway. Sometimes it is just nice to stop and appreciate what we dislike so much. I did choose to live in Western New York

Jennifer

Make Mine Pink Friday...Making Way for the New

We're so happy to be back to business as usual in this wonderful new year. I love feeling that all things are possible. We're so happy to let you know that our exciting PINK FRIDAY events will continue for yet another year! 2010 promises to be full of fun and exciting themes for your shopping pleasure. Won't you join us each Friday as Make Mine Pink presents "Shopping with a Twist?"

The first week of January greets me with mixed feelings. I enjoyed the time spent with family and friends, yet missed Make Mine Pink and all the hustle and bustle of activity.
I was happy to get the Christmas trimmings stored away, making room to proudly display the gifts so thoughtfully chosen for me, but with the new year, comes time to clean house externally as well as internally. With the new year, we make resolutions, determined for a fresh new start. We clear out the old plans and start working on new...making way for all of the wonder a new year can bring.

The Boutiques at Make Mine Pink are experiencing the same thing. We love our planned events, and our merchandise is gorgeous - but it is time for us to straighten up the shelves a bit, look at everything with new eyes, and a fresh outlook. So this week, we are celebrating this PINK Friday with a special "Making Way for the New" shopping event. Don't be fooled by our fabulous sales and low prices. It's still our usual beautiful and unique merchandise! We just need it to go to a new home so that we can stock our shelves with new and even more exciting merchandise for the new year.

Joyce Lucas

Don't miss this once a year event! Friday, January 8th at Make Mine Pink!

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A Sneak Peak of our 2010 Wedding Line

We have been very busy creating our new bridal line for 2010. New this year are handmade ribbon rose shoe clips, handbags using vintage buttons, & our fou fou flowers. We are attending a Bridal show at the end of February, our first. We have always loved weddings, it is actually where CarolineAlexander got our start.

I love using vintage rhinestone jewelry in our flowers. I feel so good when I have found a new home for a lost or forgotten piece of history. I love each one, and I will never tell how many brooches, belts, and hair flowers that I have made that I just could not part with.