One Less

"There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle." --A. Einstein



I received an email today, which informed me that a mom from my daughters' swim team passed away last week. She was a non-smoker who was diagnosed with lung cancer over a year ago. She was admired by many here in our small, tight-knit community. My thoughts and prayers go out to her family during this difficult time.

Unfortunately, I didn't know her. At least I don't think we ever met. My daughters just started swim team last summer. But, from what I understand, she played an active role on the team in recent years.  She even made it to meets last summer immediately after receiving chemo treatment. She suffered that which sounded like a pulmonary embolism.  So, it was a battle that she endured, but the end was sudden. Now their family of four is one less.

I found myself staring at the beautiful photo of her and her family that I received via email today. I might not have known her, but I knew her. She was a mom, like me, who lived in the same community, she drove on the same roads and shopped in the same stores.

It's sad to hear about loss such as this. It reminds me of just how far removed from death I feel sometimes. It's as though it's the furthest thing from my mind. Then, I get an email like the one that I received today and reality sets in. The reality that the woman I mentioned was probably cruizn' along at full speed a little over a year ago, worrying about the same things that I worry about today...swim practice, grocery shopping, dry cleaning, report cards, you know -the important stuff. And then everything suddenly changed for her and her family. It reminds me that it could change for my family just as quickly. So, I shut the computer off, let the laundry stay in the dryer and hug the girls extra tightly and twice as long. I take the time to ask them about every single detail of their day. I do this for a while and then I get caught up in life again and forget. I forget that this life of mine is a gift and that every moment spent taking it for granted, is a moment wasted.

I forget that those tiny feet that track in mud, will soon be walking out the door to go to college, and that the dog that's leaving paw prints all over our french doors will leave our family before we're ready to say goodbye (because dogs always leave too soon). I forget that the guy I married, the one who forgot to pick up the milk at the grocery store also happens to be the most amazing father I've ever known. I forget to watch the girls when they laugh just because they're laughing and that a five year old child's fib, isn't the end of the world...

I forget that nothing is the end of the world, here on earth, except for the actual end of our world, here on earth.  And, as I'm busy forgetting to be grateful for every moment that we have together, I miss out on some pretty cool stuff. I just know it.

Lilly Party at the Museum of Lifestyle and Fashion History

Lots of Lilly lovers are attending this event (including Ms. Lilly herself!) at the Museum of Lifestyle and Fashion History.  My sister, Tamra and I fly to Key West on Wed. the 5th and then head to the party on the 8th. Hope to see you there!

Pantone Reveals Color of the Year 2011- Honeysuckle

Okay, it's in. Pantone has announced the color of the year for 2011: Honeysuckle! I thought it was a yellow tone also, but it's not. In fact, it's far from it. Here it is. Do you love it?


Pantone announces 'Honeysuckle' as Color of the Year

 Shocking as it may come, I'm crazy about it it. And, I think I can work with it quite nicely. I was surprised though, as I said. I think of Honeysuckles as being yellow. Turns out, they come in many colors including this one (see below). I guess Pantone can call a color anything they want, they are the experts.

The result? I want one of these pink Honeysuckle vines. I bet there is some guy sitting in a specialty nursery this morning who is a little confused about the sudden demand.

Honeysuckle Flower- Pinkish Variety

Of course last year, Pantone went with Turquoise. I think these people know what they're doing.
I want to hear what you think.

Thanks Turquoise, it's been fun!

Lots of Lilly

I've added some fun new Lilly Pulitzer Fabric ornaments to my Lotus and Lilly shop. They come in sets of ten or five. There are other Holiday ornaments in the shop also for all the Lilly lovers on your list!

Lilly Find from Home Lush for $5.99

Sometimes I come across a Lilly item that I just have to share...to not share, would be criminal. This is one such case.

Cute Lilly travel mugs: $5.99 Click here for link

I just came across these on etsy (and promptly purchased two of them). No, these aren't in my shop and I'm not getting anything for featuring them here. They are Lilly print travel mugs from Home Lush (remind me to ask her about the shop name later), they hold 11 oz.  This is enough to get me to school when I drop the girls off in the morning. Then, on the way back home (translation: "on the way back home" means "shopping", just so you know), I get to stop at the coffee shop with my oh-so-cute and monogrammed no less, mug for a refill. The best part, she's selling them for $5.99. Seriously. I've seen mugs like this before, but never at this price. She has both White Zin and Patchtastic available.

These will be the perfect stand-in when I can't find my favorite Pandamonium Lilly mug that I received during the summer Lilly exchange (Don't know about the Facebook Secret Santa Lilly exchange? Here's a link: Secret Santa Lilly Exchange, it's so much fun). I'm getting off subject, but do check out the exchange!

If you happen to click on the link for the mugs (here) and find that it is sold, you can convo her (her name is Rosa) and she'll set up a listing for you.

Vintage Aprons



Click here to go to listing- $7.95!

I'm on a vintage apron kick lately. I've found no where better than etsy to shop for them. Last night, when I searched "Apron" under etsy's vintage category, 4,590 items popped up. Now, several of those are for patterns, but most of them are for aprons. The prices are typically low. I did my search using the sorting tool which will post the lowest priced aprons first, then I skipped to page 10 where the aprons start to appear (past the patterns). Here are a few photos with links to the apron listing under the photo.

A side note regarding aprons: A friend of mine recently told me that she forgoes expensive evening wear as nothing seems to evoke a mood of romance in her husband more than an apron...Now, I'm not sure how I feel about that, but I mention it here because I haven't been able to look at aprons in the same way since she shared that with me. For the most part, I just think they have an amazing vintage appeal. If they happen to come with benefits for one's relationship then, they simply become a multi-purpose item thus, adding to their value.

Go and treat your self to one of these! All of the aprons seen here are under $10. These are not my listings, just cute aprons that I came across and had to talk myself out of buying!

Have Fun,
Kristina

On etsy $10- click here for listing



On etsy- $8 click here for listing

Hand Chrochet Vintage apron $8

On etsy- $7.99 click here for listing

Love this one $8 Click here for listing

On etsy- $8.95

Pleated loveliness- $10

Finally, as a California girl (born and reared), I couldn't pass this one up for $7.

Winner of the set of Six Lilly Pulitzer fabric ornaments!

The winner for our most recent giveaway for a set of 6 Lilly Pulitzer fabric Holiday Ornaments is:
Little Miss Can't be Wrong
The drawing was performed randomly by Random.org (http://www.random.org/draws/details/?draw=3520&view=owner). There were a total of 39 comments- one from me and two were duplicates, so there were a total of 36 people who participated.
Thanks so much to all who participated!!