kdottie designs

PINK SATURDAY - CHILDHOOD MEMORIES

 Our PINK SATURDAY hostess, BEVERLY, had a great idea for each  Pink Saturday in December.  Each week she presents a theme for us to blog about. This week we are to share a favorite childhood holiday memory.

I remember when I was a little girl, my Dad's side of the family came over to our house every Christmas Eve.  My sisters and I were so excited all day....probably driving our Mom nuts!  She was so busy preparing all the food and setting the table "just right".  She always wore a special Christmas apron that her Mother made for her each year.  Seems to me they were always red.

Anyway, my sister, Cathy and I would sit in front of the huge window (I believe they called them "picture windows) that was in our living room.  We would practically have our noses against it just waiting and watching for everyone to arrive - while trying not to knock down the Christmas tree which also sat in front of the window!  It seems like hours just sitting there waiting.  We also were convinced it was going to snow - after all it was Christmas.  However, it very rarely did such a thing - we lived in Oklahoma and it didn't snow often. But we had hope!!

After everyone arrived we would eat and then each take turns opening our presents - one person at a time.  My Grandma would always joke that she had to wait so long since she was the oldest.  However, I don't think she minded too much because that gave her more time to enjoy her EGG NOG. I always wondered why we couldn't have any of hers - now I know it was spiked with whisky - lol!

After they all left and my Mom and Dad were busy cleaning up everything, we would return to the same window and watch for Santa Claus.  Of course, we always KNEW we saw him in the sky - sleigh and reindeer too.  Then we would go to bed and had such a hard time falling asleep knowing Santa would be there any minute - after all we DID just see him in the sky!

Today, I am sharing a Pink House that we keep under the little Christmas trees we have on the landing upstairs.....it even has a pink poodle:

I'm off to visit and enjoy the memories of other Pink Saturday participants - you should join me!

Have a wonderful day and a better tomorrow!

xoxoxoxoxox

Caren

PINK SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 28, 2009

HAPPY PINK SATURDAY and a belated Happy Thanksgiving!  Hope everyone had a wonderful time with family and friends.

Today I would like to share a pink (and blue) VW Bug that we saw on one of our many trips to Los Angeles. I think it is a Herbie wantabe!  I particularly love the pink polka dots that were painted on the building.

Don't forget to visit Beverly to visit all the other pinkies!

Have a wonderful day and a better tomorrow!

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Caren

PINK SATURDAY - NOVEMBER 21, 2009

For today's PINK SATURDAY, I'm still keeping it simple.  I love this polka-dot cake!!!! It was a graduation party cake of one of our students.  It is as darling as she is!!!  It was so YUMMY!

For more pretty pinks please visit Beverly, our wonderful hostess.  Thanks for visiting me - I always love to read what you have to say.

Have a wonderful day and a better tomorrow.

xoxoxoxoxoxox

Caren

p.s. Happy Thanksgiving too......

SIMPLE #4

Unconditional love.......................

 

             

                                                  

       Ashley and Noodle 

It doesn't matter how long you have been away............they are always happy to see you.

Have a happy day and a better tomorrow!

xoxoxoxoxoxo

Caren

SIMPLE PINK......

It's time for PINK SATURDAY!  

In previous posts, I have introduced you to my great-nieces, BRYNLEY and BRYAR.  Today, I am would like to share a few new pictures of them with you.

First is Brynley in her PINK leotard.  She just finished her dance class at our studio and wanted to show us her boots.  She said the were her "French Boots".  

Bryar has discovered she has a tongue and enjoys sticking it out....that counts for PINK doesn't it?

Is there anything cuter than a baby who likes to GIGGLE?

Don't forget to visit BEVERLY to check out all the other PINK participants.

Have a great day and a better tomorrow!

xoxoxo

Caren 

SIMPLE #2......

                                               

Continuing my SIMPLE theme....... Our flag looks simple enough flying there all by itself in the breeze. However, if you think about all the things our flag stands for, it's anything but simple.

I would like to know why there are so many hungry and homeless VETERANS in our country when the prisoners who murder, rape, rob, abuse, etc. are given 3 meals a day, a bed and a warm place to live.

This makes me sad.  :(

                                    HAPPY VETERANS DAY!!!!

SIMPLE..............

SIMPLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . not involved or complicated

That's what I have decided to blog about for the next few posts.  Just simple little things - some things that make me happy and some - not so much.  Some that make me laugh and some that make me cry.

I don't have very many profound thoughts, I am not a deep thinker, I am not going to solve world peace, as a matter of fact my thoughts are more like "pop-up videos", I have random thoughts. Nothing very important. 

So join me, if you will for simple things..........

 

                            

                                         This makes me HAPPY!

 My cappuccino in Paris. That seems simple enough. However, the design they so carefully put on each cappuccino doesn't seem simple.  The barrister made it look simple - I guess it was to him.  It was just SIMPLY delicious to me!

Check back soon to find out my other simple things.  In the meantime....

Have a great day and a better tomorrow!

xoxoxoxox

Caren

PINK SATURDAY - AMSTERDAM STYLE!!

Welcome to Pink Saturday...doesn't it seem like before you can blink, it's Saturday again!  The weeks are speeding by for me.  How about you?  

YOU'VE GOT TO LOVE AMSTERDAM!!!  What can I say, it's enchanting.  

The beautiful canals:

The flower markets:

The architecture:

The fact that almost everybody either walks or rides a bicycle.  They even have "buckets" or "buggies" on the front of them so they can carry their children.

The mom in the above picture is not walking, she's riding a bike!

The cute Dutch names they have for their businesses:

One of many town squares where people gather, catch the trolley or if you're lucky - you might see a performance or two:

Not to worry, I have PINK:

A PINK boat floating down the canal:

Plenty of PINK bicycles:

I definitely would have a PINK bike if I lived there.

A PINK scooter:

We did notice that most (almost all) people did not wear helmets while riding bikes or scooters.  For all you mothers with babies and small children - note the children are not in car seats!  I guess with their laid back lifestyle and lack of a lot of cars and trucks, they don't necessarily need them.

A PINK cone sign on an ice cream shop:

A beautiful calliope that was playing in the streets:

Ashley showing off her PINK tights - LOL:

While in Amsterdam, we visited Anne Frank's Huis (house).  It was a moving, heart-wrenching experience.  Need I say more?

You aren't allowed to take pictures inside so we took one outside.  Note the smile on Ashley's face - this was taken before we entered - the photo would have been entirely different afterwards.

She was wearing a PINK scarf!

This is the church that sadly could have been seen outside their "secret annex" if only they didn't have to cover the windows:

After the tour, we decided that we needed a little cheering up.  So, what is better than POFFERTJES!

These are described as "little Dutch pancakes with butter and icing sugar".  Icing sugar is what they call our powdered sugar.  I describe them as "a little piece of heaven with really scrumptious butter and icing sugar that you will be wearing later as a few extra pounds".  It was well worth it!

As I said before, I love Amsterdam. I believe that even though it seems to be a little "old country" by our American standards, they are very much a head of us.  By this I mean things are just out there.  Are you confused?  The drinking age is, well I'm not quite sure of the exact age but I would like to say BIRTH, as it is in most European countries.  Also, marijuana is legal and although they don't flaunt their sexuality it is not hidden...it's just part of life.  I am not on a soap-box for changing everything but I feel as if we didn't have so many "NO'S", things might not be so abused in America. If having a drink of wine at dinner was okay here, maybe teenagers wouldn't try to sneak alcohol so they could get drunk..it wouldn't be a big deal. If  marijuana was legal maybe the drug problem wouldn't be so bad.  At least those who needed it for medicinal purposes would be able to get it.  If we didn't make such a big deal about hiding our sexuality, the human body and talking to our children about sex maybe, just maybe children and young adults wouldn't laugh and giggle nervously when it is brought up - they would grow up with acceptance.

This is all just a thought.  I hope I have not offended anyone and you will return to my blog.  I just thought it was a little something to make you go....Hmmmmmmm.

One thing I did not care for was the public urinals in the town square and the fact that I had to pay 40 cents to use a bathroom.  Seems kind of sexist, don't you think??  lol

They do use them - quite often - four at a time!!!!

Another funny thing we saw was on a door of a Chinese restaurant that was closed for the day:

The next day, the sign said "WOK ON".  Sadly, I didn't have my camera with me.

Please don't forget to visit the lovely Beverly to visit all the other PINK participants.  One of my favorites that you might enjoy all the way around the world is Li at mythoughtsmyvoice.wordpress.com - you'll be glad you did!

Have a wonderful day and a better tomorrow!

xoxoxoxoxox

Caren

WHOO HOO!!!!!!!

I am SO EXCITED!  I received not one, not two but THREE awards from the extraordinarily talented, wonderful lady, BELLA SINCLAIR!  You have to understand, I have never received an award before and to be awarded three from someone such as Bella - I'm over the moon!!!!!!

If you would like to treat yourself today, go on over to Bella's blog, bellasinclair.blogspot.com.  She has created the most AMAZING drawings! Hope you have a lot of time because you will just keep scrolling and scrolling to see it all!

I plan on passing these awards on to other deserving people in the near future.  Stay tuned!!

Again, Bella, my dear friend - I thank you from the bottom of my heart!!!

Have a good day and a better tomorrow!

xooxoxoxox

caren

VENETIAN PINK!!!

It's PINK SATURDAY again!  Today I am going to show you all the PINK (and a few other colors) we saw in Venice!  I must say, there was a lot of PINK to pick from!

First, WELCOME TO VENICE!

After arriving at your hotel, you must go to Piazza San Marco (St. Mark's Square):

Starving (as always) we decided to sit down at this outdoor restaurant and order a little afternoon dessert:

While enjoying our dessert there was live music playing - mostly American tunes, which was great.

Could life get much better, being in Venice with your family, enjoying a delicious dessert (not really to worried about the calories), listening to wonderful music.........until the bill came!!!  Little did we know that each person (not table) was charged for listening to the music!   Oh, well....

We went through St. Mark's church (to repent for that dessert???)....it was beautiful but you couldn't take pictures.  So, instead I took a picture of one of the mosaics outside the church:

We took the elevator to the top of the tower - breathtaking!  Piazza San Marco:

Views from other sides of the tower:

There is so much PINK ....take a look:

Pretty PINK flowers and PINK lanterns:

PINK marble columns (every thing is marble in ITALY....so jealous):

  

Venice is known for their beautiful masks.  However, the extraordinary masks were in shops where there were no photos allowed.  So, I took a picture of Ashley looking at "little ones" in the square:

One of our favorite things we did in Venice was to take a gondola ride.  It was almost sunset and the smooth gliding of the gondola relaxes you tremendously and almost rocks you to sleep!

View from our gondola:

Yes, some gondoliers do sing and some even play an accordion and sing!  Of course, that costs more. LOL

Ashley and Hubby after our ride - notice she has the PINK bag:

We found some PINK venetian glass in the windows:

And a pretty PINK glass hat:

Of course, there was always time for an impromptu photo shoot of Ashley twirling:

And JUMPING for JOY:

............PRICELESS!!!!

Hope you enjoyed my little tour of PINK Venice.  Please visit Beverly to see all the other wonderful PINK participants.

Have a good day and a better tomorrow!   CIAO!

xoxoxoxoxox

Caren