Staying Up Til Midnight is So NYC {Blue Collar Ball Drop}

(Scroll down to see the winner of December's blog giveaway)

Last year I was super excited when I heard about a new year's celebration here in our teeny, tiny town.  A few minutes before midnight we drove the couple miles down the road to where it was supposed to be and we entered a ghost town ~ nothing!  We were disappointed and I figured I must've misunderstood.

When I was at the post office on Saturday I saw a poster advertising the "Blue Collar Ball Drop" in Astatula.  It said bring a covered dish to share and watch the ball drop at 9:00.  Ah ha, 9:00!

Our mayor hosted this shindig on his property, complete with a huge potluck spread, party hats, DJ and fireworks.  He touts the event as an alernative for "hard working types" who rise with the sun and spurn sleeping in late.

Of course, the highlight of the night was this, a giagantic LED-lit ball, hanging from a crane!

Precisely at 9:00 p.m. the ball dropped, fireworks exploded and we all sang Auld Ang Syne!  Afterall, staying up until midnight is sooooo New York City!

I checked the clock when we got home ~ 9:18.  Ha!

Now on to some blogging business...

Congratulations to Linda Ruthie from Flirty Apron Swap! You're the winner of my December 2011 blog giveaway.  Yay!

Linda Ruthie's comment to my post about our "Not Quite Right Christmas Card," said "You brought more than a smile.  I was laughing out loud.  Just as I was admiring all the aprons you wore, you jump out at me with a knife?!!!  LOL!!  So funny, but I'm sure not everyone has my sense of humor.  Your final choice is just right.  The sentiment makes it perfect.  Thanks for sending your holiday cheer out to me.  I'll be shaking my head and smiling all day."

I just love reading all of your comments to my blog posts and do hope you'll keep 'em coming in this new year!

Linda Ruthie, please email your address to sales@RetroRevival.Biz so that I can ship you your little picnic basket chock full of goodies!

Mayonnaise, Golf Balls, Pebbles, Sand & Coffee

When I first began blogging two years ago I kept thinking, "I really don't have time for this."  I had so much to do in order to get Retro Revival up and running ~ designing, sewing, website work, etc.  Within a couple of months I realized how much I enjoyed blogging, especially because I began to know you.  Blogville is chock full of so many wonderful yous!

Nowadays, I really look forward to Tuesdays and Thursdays ~ my blogging days.  As 2011 comes to a close, I'm reminded of the mayonnaise story; do you know it?

A professor stood before his philosophy class with some items in front of him.  When class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls.  He asked his students if the jar was full and they agreed it was.  He then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar.  He shook the jar lightly and the pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls.  He asked the students again if the jar was full and they said "Yes."  Next, the professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar.  Of course, the sand filled in the spaces between the golf balls and pebbles and he asked the students once more if the jar was full and his students responded with a unanimous "Yes!"  The professor then poured two cups of coffee into the jar and the students laughed.  "Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life.  The golf balls are the important things ~ your family, children, health, friends, favorite passions; if everything else was lost and only these remained, your life would still be full.  The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, house and car.  The sand is everything else ~ the small stuff.  If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or golf balls; the same goes for life.  If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you.  Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness.  Play with your children.  Take time to get medical checkups.  Take your spouse out to dinner.  Play another 18.  There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal.  Take care of the golf balls first ~ the things that really matter.  Set your priorities.  The rest is just sand."

One of the students raised her hand and asked what the coffee represented.  The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked.  It just goes to show you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend."

Blogging is my coffee.  I always make time for blogging!

Thank you for sharing a cup with me.  I'm looking forward to 2012 and wish you all the happiness in the world!

This is your last chance to leave a comment and be entered to win my December blog giveaway ~ this little picnic basket full of goodies.  I'll draw the winner on 13/31 ~ good luck!

You'll Shoot Yer Eye Out, Kid

Now this is a Christmas story to remember.  My in-laws gave me a shotgun for Christmas!  As I opened it, all I could think was, "You'll shoot yer eye out, kid!"



I am not a gun person.  Hmmmm...turns out they've been worried about me when Paul's away on business.  Thinking they should be worried about me shooting out my eye!

Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas.  I'm looking forward to hearing all about it!  Leave a comment here so that you're entered to win this month's blog giveaway ~ a little picnic basket full of goodies:

I'll randomly draw a winner from all of your December comments on December 31st ~ good luck!

Florida Snowflakes {Sorta}

It's supposed to be 79 degrees here in Florida today.  A real tropical wonderland!

We don't build snowmen here but instead, water skiing pryamids:

These are vintage shots from the ski team at Cypress Gardens (opened in 1936), once known as the Water Ski Capital of the World.  During the 50's and 60's this place was the mega-attraction of Florida (pre Disney).

We were fortunate enough to visit Cypress Gardens in December 2009 and it was awesome!  Heavy sigh...the property was sold and reopened a couple of months ago as Lego Land.

Now as the Christmas music blares throughout our home, I'm making my own snowflakes.

Cranberry/cherry pies for my buddies at the post office...

...and for our neighbor:

And some snowflakes for gifts:

These paper doilies sorta look like snowflakes, right?

Hoping I don't drip any sweat on my packages!

A little water skiing sure would feel nice about right now.

For a chance at winning this month's blog giveaway, this little picnic basket full of goodies, leave a comment here.

Drawing is December 31st ~ good luck!

Cherry Poppin' Mama

There is only one thing that surpasses my love for aprons ~ my love for seeing my customers wearing my aprons!

One of my sweet customers (oh, I have so many!) shared some pictures with me.  How great are these?!

She's wearing my Retro Revival 1950's style Cherry Poppin' Mama apron.

I've designed all of my aprons to fit almost all shapes, from size 2 to 16 (upon request, I make other sizes too).

Cooking and baking is more fun in a pretty apron!

Look at the joy on her face!  Makes me smile seeing these:)  Thank you for sharing, Suzanne!

Are you smiling?  Do tell and I'll enter you into this month's random drawing for this little picnic basket full of goodies:

 

Santa Baby {Christmas Wish List}

Christmas is in 12 days.  Eke, I'm so excited!  All of the goodwill, music and decorations give me the warm and fuzzies.

I've finished shopping (many chosen handmade from other artists this year) and making my gifts.  I'm one of those people who creates all year long and I pick up things along the way so that I don't end up feeling like her:

I wonder what I'll find in my stocking this year?



As Eartha Kitt sings "Santa Baby" (found a station that plays Christmas music 24/7 ~ yay!), I'm thinking about my own wish list.  Yes, I still make a list (and insist my family do the same), elaborately detailing the items and ranking them in order of importance.

#1 on my list this year is a new camera.  This camera:

I know you're rooting for me to get this because you patiently suffer through my less-than-professional blog pictures.  Problem is my crappy camera and not my (lack of) skills.  This is my story and I'm sticking to it!

Here's a blast from my past...my most favorite Santa surprise ever:



Fortuitous, right?  I think I was about nine here and I've been sewing every since.  You'd think I would've been inspired to become an interior dectorator.  Look at all that wood paneling and red shag carpet ~ so 70's!

Now as I wait for Santa to "Hurry on down the chimney tonight...," share with me what you really want for Christmas.  Leaving a comment automatically enters you to win this month's blog giveaway, a basket full of goodies:



I'll draw the winner on December 31st ~ good luck!

 

A Big Hug for YOU {Blogiversary}

2 years old today

209 posts

Nearly 300 followers!

And the best part?

YOU!

A big hug to you:

Without you, Retro Revival simply wouldn't be the same.  Thank you for your wonderful comments, ideas and input, humor and support.  I'm humbled and I'm incredibly grateful.

So much so that I turned these two years into a book:





Pretty cool, hu?  You can do the same with your blog at Blurb.

As always, I'm looking forward to your comments, so leave one and you'll be entered to win this month's blog giveaway:



Drawing is 12/31 ~ good luck!

 

Our Not Quite Right Christmas Card

So Christmastime is a bit insane right?  All the hustle and bustle, shopping, wrapping, travel, visiting with family, the parties, baking, decorating, etc., etc.  Crazy how we cram all of this into one month!  Reminds me of a Maxine Christmas card I once read where she asks why we put a dead tree in our living room and eat candy from our socks ~ ha!

Laughing through all this craziness is an absolute must for me, which is why, although I like beautifully written Christmas cards espousing peace, joy and goodwill to all, my favorite cards are funny ones with family pictures.

Here are a few of ours from years past:







For our card this year, I imagined a sweet kitchen scene.  Something like this:



Nah.  We decided it was too much like last year's.  So we shot some more...









Eh.  They were fine, but not really funny.  Then I suggested this (I triple dare you not to laugh!):



Um, OK, probably over the line.

So how about this?!




Yep, this is our card.  It's not quite right, a bit twisted, but I love it.  The sentiment reads, "Cheers to you and yours this Christmas season!"

We never tire of amusing ourselves.

For me, Christmastime isn't so much about the decorations, fattening foods or crazy traditions, but about giving.  And joy.  Hopefully I've made you smile and spread a little joy with this post.

So how to you manage the craziness of Christmas time?  Do tell and I'll enter your name into the drawing for this month's blog giveaway ~ this basket full of goodies:



I'll randomly draw a winner on December 31st from all of your December comments ~ good luck!