We have a Maine Giveaway Winner! Linda @ Coastal Charm will be getting some Maine Lobster, as in fun goodies and not the edible kind. Sorry Linda. Now I know you are thinking with a name like Coastal Charm, she must already have Maine lobster. Nope, she is one of those Southern Coast Gals, down in Alabama. Oh sure they have seafood, but not like our Maine lobsters. With these Maine goodies, Linda may, in no time, be saying things like "Finest Kind" and "Wicked Good" along with a southern "Y'all". Linda is the hostess of a weekly party Nifty Thrifty Tuesday where folks show off their Thrifty finds, new and vintage. It is a lot of fun to see what everyone posts. Please be sure to check out Linda's party next Tuesday.
Thank you to everyone that participated. Your comments were lovely and heartfelt. Thank you for helping me celebrate. As always, I truly value your support and kindness. I wish I could have sent a little bit of Maine to each and every one of you. So if you are ever up in my neck of the woods, just outside the City of Portland, please be sure to look me up.
I learn and receive so much from all the places I visit, here in blogland. It is so much more than oohing and aahing and downright drooling over amazing vintage finds, being thrilled with another's thrifty finds or constantly being amazed at the ingenuity and creativity that is out there in repurposed treasures. Just as important as the vintage goodies, are the priceless words of wisdom that are shared.
Danielle @ My Blessed Serendipity Life, provided this charming inspiration. It is from a longer poem, author unknown, but it is this particular phrase that touched me: "Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass. It is about learning to dance in the rain." I think it will have to appear as a quote on my sidebar along with "Even the smallest party deserves a great cake". No, I am not talking about going out and dancing in the rain while eating a piece of cake, although that doesn't sound like a bad idea. What I am saying is this, embrace what comes your way, don't let it frighten you, make it yours, and celebrate every single and simple moment as if it is a momentous occasion.
My giveaway was a way to share my joy with you about how well my new shop is doing and to have you help me blow out the candles on my cake (hey I needed some help for 50 candles!). But when you think of me, know that I will be the one dancing in the rain while eating my cake, wearing my red dress, high heels and a big ole grin. As always, thank you for joining me on my journey and I'll save a piece of cake for you.I got it at Goodwill
Sherrie
I wanted to take a moment to say thank you for all the kind comments I have been receiving about my new shop, 2nd fl Thriftiques. So many of you have written that if you were up in Maine, you would be stopping by for a visit. That gave me the idea, that since you all couldn't come to Maine, that I could bring Maine to you with a Maine Celebration Giveaway.
So before I tell you about the giveaway, just to let you know that I am joining in with Linda @ Coastal Charm for Nifty Thrifty Tuesday, Suzanne @ Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingie Thursday and one other party that I haven't visited in awhile, Sue @ Its a Very Cherry World for Wednesday is Rednesday. (Please click on these links to visit or on their buttons in my sidebar.) Boy can these ladies party. Please be sure to see what treasures and great finds they have in store for you.
NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY: Nothing says Maine more than lobster and the lucky winner will receive a few of these red crustaceans, sorry not the edible ones. First for the thrifty finds, I will be giving away a lobster dish towel and a canvas wine tote with embroidered lobster. I found both, brand new, at Goodwill, each for $.99. I actually bought 4 of the wine totes and 6 of the towels. The Maine cookbook, brand new, was purchased at a bookstore going-out-of-business sale at 90% off the original price. The nautical coasters represent the vintage side of things, they are marked made in Yarmouth, Maine 1981.
Every window needs a glass lobster sun catcher. This was a lawnsale beauty for $1.00. There will be a few more Maine items going into the give away, but I want the rest to be a surprise. You all know how a give away works, please leave a comment and say howdy for one chance to enter, become a follower or let me know you are already a follower for a second chance. Giveaway ends August 10th.
I love this lobster plate that was used in my giveaway button. It is huge and would easily hold 3 lobsters. You won't find it marked McCoy, Haeger, or even Hull, but rather it is a "Dee" original, whomever Dee is. The date of this Maine Masterpiece is 1969.
Now in 1969, I was 9 years old, Yes, you do the math, that means I am 50. Actually, I am officially 50 today. I was going to write a more poetic piece of prose, an actual volume of my life's history than just the Cliff's Notes version, a retrospective of my life and times, looking back over the years, and concluding with asking myself the million dollar question, what does the future hold and am I ready? Then I thought .......... Nah! I am ready for the future, whatever awaits me. I am eager to begin a new adventure. After all, isn't 50 the new 40? The past is just that, it can't be changed and my regrets are few. There is very little I would do over if given the chance. So as the french say C'est La Vie.
I will say that from day one, I was ready to start living. In fact, I was due in October and decided that I couldn't wait the extra 3 months, tired of just sitting around. There were things to do, places to go and people to see. So under 3 pounds I came into this world full of energy and confidence. The doctors were skeptical, it was after all 1960 and hospitals were not equipped with state of the art neo-natal equipment as they are today. Needless to say, I proved them wrong.
It's my birthday! So let the party begin. Pull up a Red chair from my fabulous vintage table. (Bought the table and chairs at an Auction 10 years ago for $50.)
Put on your Red party Hat, $1.99 Goodwill find (Just yesterday).
What looks like a gray stripe is actually a see-through band. It is a fun piece of French Fashion befitting a birthday girl. I gotta look ooh-la-la and tres chic for Fifty.
Then pour yourself a drink, vintage Coke, how refreshing. Yes, that would be me, white gloves, daintily holding my drink, with extended pinkie. Remember, I am going for tres chic, elegance, and all that stuff for turning 50.
I will leave you with this one last piece of vintage-red-thriftiness. Here I am pictured below, the dress is red and thrifty, bought at JC Penny at the end of the season for $12.00 and the vintage is me at 50. Oh no, I am what we say in the business as MID-CENTURY!!! I guess it means I just got more valuable.
So please be sure to stop over and visit with Sue, Suzanne and Linda for all their great parties and then visit Maine with my Maine Celebration Giveaway. I look forward to seeing you. If any of you are ever up in Maine, lobster dinner is on me (along with the cornbread, steamed clams and blueberry pie). Have a great day.
I am off to go Goodwill shopping. With your Goodwill discount card you get 25% off your purchases on your birthday. I will have gone to 5 Goodwill stores by lunchtime when I am due back in the office. What treasures await. Don't worry, I will show you.Got it at Goodwill
Sherrie
