My "Holy Grail" find of an Antique Wedding Shadow Box!

As many of you know, my main obsession/hobby is to collect antique wedding anything! I have cake toppers, I have tons of wedding cabinet photos and even marriage certificates. SO!,I had to share with you my favorite purchase of all time. To me this is the "Holy Grail" of vintage wedding items. It's a wedding shadow box from the 1910s? I'm guessing the age just by the looks of the age of the photograph. I found this at the entrance to the Junk Gypsy booth in Round Top this past March. I almost tripped my friend Charlene to get to it first. Although being the great friend that she is, she demanded that I buy it on the spot! So....I did!

I have tried to find the history behind these shadow boxes without much luck. I assume they were just a way to preserve the wedding photo, the veil and sometimes part of the bridal bouquet. I haven't found the perfect spot yet, I assume it will go in "my room" but it's just so pretty I wish I had a way to display it better. So my partners in crime out there in blog land, if you ever see one of these as you're walking through an antique shop or cleaning out your grandmother's attic ,
please contact me!

Turn out the lights, the party's almost over, but only after the JUNK GYPSY PROM

That adorable Junk Gypsy Amie never lets us down, she always looks adorable! She just threw a "little something" together!

And Janie is looking oh so diva even though she was dealing with the trauma  of one of her chickens losing a toe in the storm door. Both Janie and the chicken survived the prom just fine.

Oh Lordy, then there's Dakota who is always the life of the party and never dissapoints us each year with his outfits! He said he was in a rush this year to make costume so he  had to make due with a loin cloth, darn, just hate it when that happens! Isn't he just
the cutest lil' thing!

Then I drive 5 hours from home and see someone from the same town I haven't seen in ages, Miss Cindy Boehme!

Well, all I can say is we were in south Texas, ya never know what you're gonna  see!

The band was great but once the clock hit midnight it was time to
"turn out the lights, the party was over",.....till September!!

Sassy Friends in Round Top

Group shot of the gaggle of us at the Bloggers Party!  What a wonderful group of creative women. It was fun to finally meet everyone face to face!

I'm not sure why there was a big plastic armadillo with a pink wig and bunny ears  outside of abooth but it was perfect for a Photo Op! Not something you see everyday!

We flipped to see who would have to drive pulling the trailer next time. I say Susie should! I brought the flamingos! 

I'm not sure what they are but we found a blond one!

Karen and Ricki found something really cool so they're both thinking, can I make that?

What a small world, I even got to visit with some of the ol' gang from high school,
adorable sisters,Tandy and Tally.

Miss Karen just taking a break in a shady spot......hey that's my beer!

Once upon a time in the magical land of Magnolia Pearl

In a land far, far away in a place called Marburger Farm, there was a castle called Magnolia Pearl. It was surrounded by a moat of happiness and beauty. All who entered were greeted with hugs and smiles and assisted by beautiful girls all wearing the clothes we were all waiting in line to try on!

Even the castle birds had a special cage to roost in.

The Queen displayed all her wonderful creations for all to see and left us all in awe.

Her ball gowns were designed with all the creativity the magical queen could master.

So I asked her to help me pick the perfect person to win the "Magical Magnolia Pearl Bloomers."
She chose number 7!
So the winner was Kim Hanauer!  Her blog can be found at kimhanauer.blogspot.com

So once that was taken care of...it was time to shop!! So with lots of Robin's help,

I tried on everything in the booth, and I do mean everything and packed two bags full of wonderful treasures!

So with my bags packed and m new outfit on, I went to checkout..

After these two lovely ladies added, and added, and added, I almost fainted when I saw the total!  But, after looking at all the wonderful things I had in my bags, I just smiled and headed to hide my new "pearls" in my coach out in the parking lot.

I hugged the handsome king goodbye,

Said a sad good-bye to my favorite girl Faith,

Took one last look on my way out of the booth and thought...did I get  one of those???

Magnolia Pearl give-away don't miss your last chance to enter!!

Don't forget, I'll be picking the winner for the Magnolia Pearl Bloomers in just a week! If you still haven't entered to win, don't miss your chance! Just leave me a comment and I hope to have Robin herself pick a name out of a hat and reveal the winner. I will let y'all know who won when I get home from Round Top. Good Luck!

Round Top here I come!

I'm off to Round Top! BUT this year my foot won't be broken and I won't be on pain killers!
So...I won't be kissing any ducks,

I won't be picking up any new boyfriends,

I won't get arrested by the cutest sheriff ever,

But, my car WILL look like this after I have shopped till I dropped! See you all there!
If you can't come, don't worry I'll take tons of pictures for you! Now what will my excuse
be this year for buying so much, hummmmmm.

Anyone can rescue a kitten!

Spring is here, please have your cats fixed! Our shelters are overflowing with kittens! Plus,our Rescue Racoon Squad could use some more volunteers!!

OMG! I am so excited! There is finally a book for bone head bloggers like me! This book is fantastic! I have bought books like this in the past and they have left me even more confused than before. (yes, Karen that can happen!) I cannot recommend this book enough! It's $19.99 and Karen can send it to you as a PDF to your email address or if you're a dinosaur like me she will send you a hard copy on a CD. I'm one of those old souls that believes that with the next huge thunderstorm my hard drive will crash and I'll lose everything! Go to her blog and check this out!! MyDesertCottage.blogspot.com

A Mother's test....

This is a photo of my mother, Mary her senior year in college. She was young, beautiful and in wonderful health. Today she does have health problems but with everything I have on my body crossed, she is thank God still with me. I posted this photo of my mother today because I got some bad news today.  One of my best friend's mother has fallen very ill. The first selfish thought was not of my friend but of myself and what I would do when my mother is gone. What if that were me that just got the bad news?

Who would love me the way my mother does? The answer, no one. A mother's love is like no other, but then again, so is a daughter's love of her mother. It made me think, if I had children of my own, I would hope I would get every test, every mammogram, every pap, every colon screeen, and every test possible to be there for my children as long as possible. I believe my mother has done this for herself and for my brother and I. I am guilty until today for not telling my mother how much she means to me. That changes today.

So, for those of you hesitating, putting off and waiting for insurance to pay for those annoying tests, I can tell you as a child to their mother, please do them for yourself and your children. Make a pack with your friends, I'll drive you to your test if you drive me to mine. Then go to lunch and talk about what a pain these silly tests are! Celebrate, have dessert and check that test off the list. Next one?

Magnolia Pearl give-away!!

Yes you read right! My next give-away is a pair of Authentic Magnolia Pearl Bloomers!!! They are brand new, never worn from MP's vintage collection! I bought them and they got lost in the black hole of my closet! So, I decided that I should share my newfound bloomers with you!  What's the occassion? To celebrate spring and Robin's new collection making it's debue at Marburger Farm in March 23- April 2nd. I plan on asking either Robin or John Gray of Magnolia Pearl to pick a name out of a hat on April 1st! I will be recouperating from the Junk Gypsy Prom but I will promptly come home and reveal the winner! These bloomers are a violet gray brocade design that are to die for! They will go with a simple t-shirt or an elegant silk blouse, perfect for any occasion, and they can be yours! Just leave me a comment and then if you would like, link onto Magnolia Pearl's website pearl@magnolia.com or blog and just browse through a magical place of beautiful things. Thank you all for stopping by, good luck! 

P.S. Please grab this button and post it on your site to spread the word! Many, many thanks!