My Sense of Humor or DNA

While reading the morning newspaper, and sipping my coffee, I came across an Associated Press article titled:

Polish orchestra plays 'Requiem" in protest.

Orchestra, choir and soloists of the Chamber Opera
 perform Mozart's "Requiem" in front of the
Presidential Palace in Warsaw, Poland.

People in the street listen to the Chamber Opera that specializes in Mozart's music performing his Requiem, the Funeral Mass in front of the Culture Ministry in Warsaw, Poland on Tuesday, May 29, 2012 to protest recent cuts in the opera's budget and to seek government protection. The 50-year-old opera, which is famous for its annual festivals of all of Mozart's stage works, says it will have to close in summer if it gets no additional funds. 

Photo: Czarek Sokolowski / APRead more: http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Polish-orchestra-plays-Mozart-s-Requiem-in-protest-3592580.php#ixzz1wNXIbrfF

I hope that after performing the 'Requiem" and handing the Culture Minister Bogdan Zdrojewski a petition with 20,000 signatures that funds will be found to keep the Chamber Opera going.

After finishing my coffee and reading the newspaper, I decided to clean out the spare bedroom closet. This closet was filled with junk things I didn't know what to do with. Most of it rests in peace at the curb waiting for the garbage collectors.

I did, however, find a few items that I kept, my photos from my 2008 trip to Poland/Germany can now be stored with my other photos. I looked at all my photos from this marvelous trip and found some photos that I wanted to share.

 Normal people take photos of the beauty surrounding them or places of historic interest, not true of me, here are some of my photos I took while visiting Poland/Germany.

While visiting a park we came across this sign.
No pictures of the beautiful park
just of me and the "lust" sign.

While shopping in Germany, we noticed this store sign.
Of course, another memorable photo opportunity.  

Being extremely Polish my friend Joyce and I had to have our photos
taken in front of this store.  Our Polish relatives wore babooshka
which is Polish for scarves that are worn over their heads.

We did visit a museum, see I have the headphones
around my neck and the audio box in my hand.
My friend Joyce took my photo next to this statue, I
guess she got the most vital part of the statue.
If I have offended you with this photo, I'm sorry.

We visited Chopin's home, and of course
we found another photo opportunity. Stand
by the bronze head of Chopin and see who
has the biggest Polish nose.

While the Chamber Opera plays 'Requiem' in protest, which I think is a sassy way to send a message, I have to wonder if a weird sense of humor is in our Polish DNA. 

Probably not because my sweet sister took captivating photos of picturesque fields, and historic castles from her Ireland holiday. I guess I have a strange/weird sense of humor. Is that a bad thing?


Right after, I finished writing this post, I write my blog post in the evenings and schedule my blog to be posted at a certain time the next morning, I checked my facebook page and found this posted by my daughter.

My darling granddaughter LuLu Belle.
We all went to a Polish Festival last summer
where my daughter snapped this picture.
Dupa is Polish of butt.

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, or perhaps it is DNA.


If you haven't already entered my giveaway for the handmade beach glass necklace from Hawaii, and you would like to enter -  click here.
Winner will be announced on Friday, June 1st.

Replacement Parts for Toys

The grandchildren like to play with the Melissa and Doug Stamp and Sort Mailbox that I purchased from a rummage sale for one dollar. I got the mailbox, six letters, and six stamps that attach with Velcro.

The children enjoy putting the stamps on the letters and placing the mail into the correct slots, but there is one problem, the mailbox didn't come with a key. This was a disappointment to the children the door could still be opened by turning the lock with your fingers, but they kept asking where was the key.

This morning I decided to check out the Melissa and Doug website for replacement parts. After several minutes of looking I decided to call the toll-free number and asked if they sold replacement parts. No they don't, was the response. "That's too bad I said my grandkids will be disappointed." She asked me what part I needed. I explained to her that I had all the parts to the Stamp and Sort Mailbox except for the key. Hold on let me check something, she said. After just a few moments, the operator came back on and asked for my name and address and said a key would be sent to me within two weeks. Melissa and Doug has exceptional customer care and makes terrific toys and puzzles. I have purchased, retail, many of their puzzles and toys, and will continue to do so. 

I also have a Buzz Light Year Operation game, by Hasbro, that has one piece missing. I looked up Hasbros website and found the Hasbro replacement parts page. For just four dollars I was able to purchase a package of Funnatomy Parts, that is what they call the pieces that you have to operate on in the game.

If you have missing parts/pieces from your toys, look online and see if you can get a replacement part. I like to pick up the phone and call so here is a list of phone numbers that might be useful.

• Fisher Price 800-432-5437
• Hasbro 800-255-5516
• Lego 800-422-5346
• Little Tikes 800-321-01893
• Mattel 800-432-5437
• Milton Bradley 888-836-7025
• Nerf 800-327-8264
• Parker Brothers 888-836-7025
• Playskool 800-752-9755
• Tonka 800-248-6652
• Melissa & Doug 800-718-5365

My father always told me, it doesn't cost anything to ask questions, and he was right. In two weeks, I will have the key for the Melissa and Doug Stamp and Sort Mailbox and the grandchildren will be happy.

This is my personal experience, and I have not received any compensation for this blog post.

Delicious $3.75 Cupcake

I like to watch reality TV, Sister Wives, Mob Wives, Storage Wars, Hell's Kitchen, Chopped, and Cupcake Wars, just to name a few of my favorites.

Cupcake Wars is a Food Network reality based competition where contestants create unique and professional styled cupcakes. 

Four teams, consisting of a chef and a sous chef, began the competition, in the first round, the teams must present the tastiest cupcake based on a particular theme, and the ingredients always has a twist, chili peppers, cow tongue, oysters. One team gets eliminated.

Second round the three teams must present three different cupcakes, they are judged on taste and presentation. One team gets eliminated.

Third round the final two teams have two hours to bake 1000 cupcakes and design a display for the cupcakes. Each team has a carpenter to build the display and four intern bakers to help them.

The three judges pick a winner based on the cupcake display and the tastes of the cupcakes. The winners receive $10,000.

I was excited to see the Hokulani Bakery in Waikki, Hawaii. In February of 2012, this bakery sent two chefs to compete in Cupcake Wars and they won! Yep, I watched the show when they won.

My first glimpse of the bakery.

The television screen hanging inside the store
 confirmed that this bakery won Cupcake Wars.

Sixteen flavors to choose from -
strawberry guava, lilikoi/lemon, red velvet
lychee with strawberry butter cream ...

These were two cupcakes that won the challenge.
On the left: Peanut butter and jelly vanilla cupcakes with
peanut butter frosting filled with strawberry compote.
On the right: Port wine chocolate cupcakes with vanilla butter
cream topped off with a port wine soaked cherry. 

I choose the Port wine cupcake.

These cupcakes are made with real sugar
real butter and have real calories.

Delicious !

I paid $3.75 for one cupcake.

You can find out more about  Hokulani Bakeshop 

by visiting their webpage.

If you haven't already entered my giveaway for the handmade beach glass necklace from Hawaii, and you would like to enter -  click here.

Winner will be announced on June 1st.

Memorial Day

In appreciation to the gallant men and women who serve our country, and to those who have given their lives to defend our freedom.

Thrift Share and a Recipe

On my way to the grocery store this morning I couldn't help but make a small detour to visit my local Goodwill. Our local GW chooses a price sticker color and all of those items are 50% off on Sunday and Monday.

I spotted my treasure as soon as I turned the corner.

McCoy 3 quart bean pot

I believe these were produced in the late 1970's.

I am going to a birthday party for my grandson this afternoon, I decided to purchase the bean pot and make a three bean casserole for the celebration.

This is what I will be making to put inside my bean pot.

Three Bean Potluck Casserole

Ingredients

1/2 pound bacon

1 pound ground beef

1 onion, chopped

1/2 cup ketchup

3/4 cup brown sugar

1 Tablespoon vinegar

1 teaspoon dry mustard

1 16 ounce can baked beans

1 15.25 ounce can kidney beans

1 15 ounce can butter beans

Directions

1. Place bacon in a large deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Drain, break into medium pieces and set aside. In same skillet, brown beef and onion. Drain fat.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C)
3. Place bacon/beef mixture in a large bowl and stir in the ketchup, brown sugar, vinegar mustard, baked beans, kidney beans, with liquid, and butter beans, with liquid. Mix well.

Place mixture into a 9X13 baking dish and bake in the preheated oven for 1 hour uncovered.

Today I will be using my McCoy Bean Pot instead of the baking dish. My family enjoys these beans.

Looking forward to see what everyone else found this week.

I am linking up with:

  Her Library Adventures, Flea Market Finds

Apron Thrift Girl, Thrift Share Monday

Me and My Shadow, Magpie Monday

Hey, What's for Dinner Mom? -  The Penny Worth Project

Cap Creation, Thrifty Love Link Party

If you haven't already entered my giveaway for the handmade beach glass necklace from Hawaii, and you would like to enter -  click here.

Infused Water

The June issue of  Better Homes and Gardens inspired this blog post.

While flipping through the first few pages of the magazine, I saw a short article about drink dispensers. That reminded me that the resorts that I stayed at in Hawaii had infused water in their lobbies. 

In Maui the resort offered lime infused water.

Waikiki offered pineapple infused water. 

A sign placed on the wall about the table
gave a lesson on the pineapple.

I like to drink water, I even drink more than the suggested 8 - 8 ounce glasses a day. I don't have a filter system or drink bottled water, I drink the water straight from the tap, of course, I use a glass. :)) 

I must admit that the infused water in Hawaii was refreshing, so I'm going try some infused water this holiday weekend.

Cucumbers add a clean, refreshing taste to water, and I have been served cucumber infused water after a massage, or maybe I'll slice up an orange and a few strawberries.

This weekend I'll be a fancy girl and sip infused water out of a mason jar with a bendy straw.

If you haven't already entered my giveaway for the handmade beach glass necklace from Hawaii, and you would like to enter -  click here.

One year ago today and a giveaway

One year ago today I sat at my desk at work, I bet it was during my break, *chuckle* and wrote my first blog entry. Today I am writing my two hundred fiftieth post. 

When I started this blog I had no idea what direction it would take, and today I still have no idea. I write about my thrift adventures, my family and friends, my journeys, and things that interest me. 

I am amazed and thankful that I have followers and that I have made some blog friendships. For this, I am extremely humble.

While in Hawaii, I happened upon a market and I found a necklace, and thought it would make a good giveaway.

This necklace was handmade in Hawaii from glass found along one of the beaches on the Big Island in Hawaii and hangs from an 18 inch snake chain.

The rules are simple:

• Leave a comment and make sure I have your email address in case you are the winner.
• Anyone can enter, followers and non followers, but again make sure I have your email address in case you are the winner.
• I will ship anywhere in the world.

The winner will be chosen on June 1, 2012. Tell your friends to stop by and enter.

The Painted Church ~ Honaunau, Hawaii

Overlooking beautiful and historic Kealakekua Bay, Saint Benedict's Painted Church stands in the Big Island of Hawaii in the famous Kona coffee growing area called Honaunau.

Father John Berchmans Velghe, a Sacred Hearts priest from Belgium, a self taught artist, was the first person to paint the interior walls of this church. In December of 1983, a restoration project was started to spruce up the church, it took a little over two years to complete. Saint Benedict The Painted Church is a historical site, but more valuable the parish is active with programs that help the local community.

The entrance to St. Benedict The Painted Church

View of the church from the entrance

View from the middle of the church

The ceiling of the church was stunning

Scenes from the bible and lives of saints painted on the walls.
This is titled; The handwriting on the wall. 

Titled; Temptation of Jesus

Octagonal columns support the gabled roof above the altar.
The columns are painted red, splotched with green
and yellow to make it look like marble.
Hawaiian motto's circle each column.

This beautiful little church was off the beaten track, but I am so happy that I had the opportunity to visit this historic church. 

Treasure or Just Plain Ugly

My wonderful mother, who was from Irish decent, always had a saying for almost every situation, and one has been echoing in my head all day long.

On Saturday, I stopped at a neighborhood estate sale where I picked up vintage wallpaper, and a well loved suitcase out of the garbage by the side of the house. You can read that story here. I also purchased a few items from this sale. 

This morning I took a few minutes to look at my new treasures, and that's when I heard my mother's voice; 

Your taste is all in your mouth.

I was looking at this ...

Cut the panels, sew together, add a waist band,
a zipper, and you have made a skirt.
 

Is this a scary clown and are the colors ugly?

I think the poodles head, especially the mouth is weird,
and let's not talk about the eye.

I could manage step one,  I don't know how to sew.

The color combinations are strange, as is, the combination of scary clowns and weird looking poodles, but for some strange reason I like this fabric. I will never make this into a skirt because I never learned to sew, but for some strange reason, I purchased this fabric. 

It's awful isn't it? Do my mother's word ring true? Would you have purchased this fabric? 

I wonder if I am eclectic or if I have extremely bad taste. 

A visit to my favorite craft fair

Every year I attend Fair Diddley craft show hosted by the Mental Health Resource League in historic Woodstock Square in Woodstock, Illinois. My sweet sister and I were up early for the ride, which is a little over an hour away.

The center of the square is where we always start our hunt for the pretties.

The bubble lady showed everyone how to make fun
shaped bubbles with her bubble wands. 

Shoppers filled the square and because of the 89 degree
  weather you had a short wait in the sno-cone queue. 

If only I could get rid of weeds that easy.

These would add some color to my yard.

Now here was a plan to take those unwanted/mismatched
plates, vases, glasses and make them into a solar light holder.

Interesting idea.

The tutu skirts are cute, but this, no sew, tutu dress was adorable.

Handle for toss away bottles. I just don't get it.

Cute garden glove filled with poesy's.
Hey, I think I have one garden glove that has lost its mate.

Plain bird houses...  

and fancy bird houses.

The butterflies sway back and forth on a bowl of a spoon.

It was so hot and humid outside I could hardly look at these knit hats.

Cute bench, I now wish I would have purchased it.

These garden art flowers require no water.

I wonder how hard it would be to make one of these.
Oh, that's right I don't craft.

Fancy bird baths.

Cute shelves but my grandkids have more than four letters in their names.

These  gourds made me smile.

Mommy and me aprons were cute,
but I like my vintage aprons more. 

I prefer the quilts that Cathy from the blog Blueberry Patch makes.
Check out her blog  Blueberry Patch and beautiful quilts and tell her Paulette sent you.

I skipped this booth because Judy from the blog
Cranberry Morning sells some awesome soap that I just love.
Check out her blog  Cranberry Morning or visit her shop Homemade Soap n Such.

Hope the vendors went home with empty trucks.

What fun did you do this weekend, I would love to hear all about it!