Valentine's Day Gift Ideas...

What a girl wants….we all have those secret wishes of things we would love to have for Valentine’s Day. Here are just a few ideas that I came across, and I must admit, I would love each and everyone, though I already have the Flip Video. I purchased two for me, and one for my daughter. I keep one with me at all times in my handbag, and the other is packed with my SLR Digital Camera. I am totally amazed at how easy they are to use, and the video is clear, crisp and the colors are true and vivid. I just love mine.  And highly recommend it to anyone who doesn't have one yet.  Though I just have a black/silver and a white/silver one, you can design any cover you want or choose one of theirs.

I actually am looking forward to a quiet evening with my husband, have a nice dinner at Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Restaurant and maybe a cocktail (or two) and just talk.  Oh, and of course my favorite, chocolate covered strawberries. That is when I am the happiest, just relaxing with him and talking about our past, and our dreams. Hope everyone gets just what they want and it is a special day for you.

  Double left click to enlarge and see details

Michael Kors Beach Blanket and Alexis Bittar Duchamp Gold Spring Green





Burberry Brights SS Collection and Alexis Bittar, Blue Lagoon




Michael Kors Pink Watch (too cute), and Hermes Enamel H Bracelet


 

John Hardy Classic Sterling Silver with Pink Rubelite Corundum




Tory Burch Cosmetic Bag and Red Revas Flats




Louis Vuitton and Gucci IPad Covers (These are beautiful in person)




Christian Dior Spring Bag and Alexis Bittar Large Gold Crystal Encrusted Hinge Bracelet




Alexis Bittar Cosmic Dust Medium Transparent Hinge Bracelet and Dogeared "Love Knot" Necklace








Monogram Vernis Leopard Zippy Wallet Blanc Corail

In 2001, Marc Jacobs collaborated with artist Stephen Sprouse, for the Spring-Summer Fashion Show.  Sprouse created Several logos for Louis Vuitton, including the famous leopard print pattern.  Well, in 2011, Louis Vuitton revives Sprouse Punk by dressing up small leather goods, accessories and shoes in this print re-interpreted in chic new colors.





Tropical Mango....

I love the color mango…when we were in Hawaii a few years ago, we stayed in a condo which was part of the Hilton Hawaiian Village, called Lagoon West, on Waikiki Beach, which was completely refurbished on the interior, and it was breathtaking beyond words.   The interior area of the living area, which included the living room, kitchen and dining room, was all in a beautiful soft mango color, with accent colors of light water teal and honeydew green, with fresh orchids throughout, so tropical.  The furniture was made from native Hawaiian woods, and a little on the medium  to dark side, so the contrast was perfect.  There were mango colored sheers on the sliders leading out to two balconies; one faced one of the swimming pools and the Lagoon, the other facing Diamond Head, the sheers would move so softly in the breeze of the blowing winds off the Pacific Ocean. In the evening as the sun began to set, the coloring in the condo was indescribable; I sure wish I had asked the name and color of the paint they used.  I fell in love with the color then, and now whenever I see the color mango, it always reminds me of those wonderful 10 days in Hawaii.  So, I chose to make this posting about “everything mango”, from decorating, wall colors, cocktails, decorative pieces made of the wood from mango trees, all in various shades of mango.



Beautiful Mix of Mango With The Deep Tropical Pink

 


What Can I say, I love this Chair!!!

 



I Actually Have this Exact Lamp, and Love All The Mirrors with the  Soft Warm Mango Color




Just Simple Relaxing




Beautiful Capture of a Light Mango Color, With the Light Wood Tones




Wow, Does This Chair Look Relaxing!!!




Though This is Very Southwestern in Nature, Not So Tropical...Just Love the Mango Color and Warmth, I can Almost Feel the Desert in This Picture





Mango Colored Ceiling Pendant Light

 


This Mango Kitchen Has a Feel Similar to a Mid-Century Modern Kitchen




Natural Mango Wood Side Table - Love It!




Mango Colored Wood Vase





Orchids With a Hint of Mango...So Pretty For a Night with Friends and Wine, Just to Relax 

 


Mango In a Power Room, Such a Soothing and Relaxing Color




Spray painted in "Mango" Terra Cotta Pots Filled with Tropical Colored Flowers, Seashells, and White Star Fish....and again, paired With That Tropical Pink, How Beautiful For an Outdoor Patio Party





Mango Martini

2 ounces good-quality
Vodka
½ ounce mango nectar

½ ounce fresh orange juice


orange twist (for garnish)

Shake well in stainless cocktail mixer

 




Mango Margarita

1 Can of Margarita Frozen Bacardi Mixers
1/2 Mango, diced
1`/2 cup Bacardi Rum
5 cups of ice
Mango or lime for garnish
Blend together Margarita Frozen Bacardi Mixers, mango and rum.  Add ice and blend for 45 to 60 seconds until uniform.  Garnish with mango or lime 

 



Love the Color Combination with the Tropical Pink

 


How Fun For a Tropical Themed Cook Out!  Love the added Plumeria, Perfect Touch




Tommy Bahama Coconut and Mango Candle and Diffuser




Love The Mango Color Mixed with the Tangerine





Bowls and Vases Made From the Wood of a Mango Tree



Poladroid...Remember Those Polaroid Pictures...

It seems as those so many people are looking for that "vintage" look now days, maybe a little bit of nostalgia, or maybe it's just some love the look of years gone by.  Rather it be in vintage designer clothing, vintage home decor, or vintage pictures, there is something about an era gone by that brings warms memories or if you're too young to remember things like Polaroid pictures, there is just something about them that hit an accord with some people.  I love taking photographs, and though the beauty that surrounds me here in Florida is so natural and with the new SLR Digital Cameras, the pictures are so clear and beautiful...but, it is fun also to do different effects with pictures...hence the reason there are so many photo editing programs available.  Well, here is one that I just love...and it's free.  Takes seconds to download, and you're ready to go.  Just as with the original Polaroid developing process, you watch it develop on the screen, and you can control the amount of processing you wish.  I've done a few pictures from start to end, stopping the process at different areas to give you an idea on what they look like through these different stages.  I also left the white border as in they were with Polaroid development, which you can remove and show just the picture.  These were done very quicky, the more attention to where the processing is, you are able to achieve the perfect effect you desire.   http://www.poladroid.net/



These are picture from the Polynesian Cultural Center from our trip Hawaii







Diamond Head, Honolulu, Hawaii

Reflection - Palm

Why go to Church?

As many people have heard on the news, almost two weeks ago, two St. Petersburg, Florida Police Officers were shot and killed, just serving a warrant.  I happened to be off work that day, and followed every second of the news as this went on and on.  It was heartbreaking.  Though I do not live in St. Pete, I live very close, and just last June, we lost two more wonderful Tampa Police Officers.  I keep asking myself why, and how can this happen?  It's not for me to ask, I understand that, by it doesn't stop my heart for breaking for these people who put their lives on the line each and everyday to protect us.  To allow us, when we go to bed at night, keep us safe, in this not so safe world.  As our Governor of Florida was at the funeral of two other slain Officers in Miami, he got the word that two St. Pete police were shot and killed.  There is just something wrong when this happens over and over again throughout our country.  Not only do we have our brave soldiers fighting for our freedom and safety around the world, but we have this type of violence right here in our backyard.  I don't think I have cried so much as I have in the last two weeks for all this senseless violence and hatred towards others.


On more of a personal note, some know this, but many do not.  Both my parents abandoned me.  That is not a statement you hear much from an adult, but it being the truth.  My Father as a new born, and my Mother 15 years ago.  Though I reunited with my Father at the age of 16, and had a relationship with him up to five years ago when my brother passed away.  Both have stated that I wasn't wanted, and ruined their lives when they were so young.  I know that is their issue, not mine, but nonetheless, it hurts.  Both had remarried and have had other children. I admit sometimes feeling sorry for myself, as an adult woman, with a beautiful loving daughter of my own, why my parents chose to blame me for being born and want nothing to do with me, I cannot understand.  I know that it is their loss, and that their problems are not created because of me.  Their actions had a reverse effect on me, it has made me a strong, independent, caring, person and a loving Mother and wife, my family is everything to me.  For that, I wouldn't change anything.  My Grandparents raised me until I was three.  They were the most wonderful loving Christian people in the entire world, my angels.  They gave me my morals and compassion for mankind, and my love for God,  something no matter how bad the world can get around me, I won't change.  But, I also had numerous Aunts and Uncles, cousins, second and third cousins...a very large family.  Since I don't have this relationship with my Mother, one of her sisters, my Aunt has adopted me as her own daughter.  We are very close, and though she is 80, she sure doesn't look or act like it....she still drives, volunteers, travels, and is a "computer geek"...she is unreal.  When I get a little down, she is always there to pick me up, and make me realize how great of a life I have, a healthy and happy daughter, a wonderful loving husband, and so many things in my life, that so many others don't have, and remember my faith.  Well, today...I got this e-mail from her.  And, with all the sad news lately, and yes, I admit, I've been feeling a little sad about my parents as of late, I think because my birthday is coming up on the 9th of February. This e-mail from her, just really made me feel so much better.  Please take a few moments to read it, the very last paragraph is my favorite.  Very powerful!!! 


A Church goer wrote a  letter to the  editor of a newspaper and complained that it made no  sense to go to church every  Sunday... "I've gone for 30 years now," he wrote, "and  in that time I have heard something like 203,000 sermons. But  for the life of me, I can't remember a single one of them. So,  I think I'm wasting my time and the pastors are wasting theirs  by giving sermons at all."

This started a real  controversy in the "Letters to the Editor" column, much to the delight of the editor. It went on for weeks until someone  wrote this clincher:

"I've been married for 30  years now. In that time my wife has cooked some 32,000 meals.  But, for the life of me, I cannot recall the entire menu for a  single one of those meals. But I do know this.. They all  nourished me and gave me the strength I needed to do my work.  If my wife had not given me these meals, I would be physically dead today. Likewise, if I had not gone to church for  nourishment, I would be spiritually dead today!" When you are  DOWN to nothing... God is UP to something! Faith sees the  invisible, believes the incredible and receives the impossible! Thank God for our physical AND our spiritual  nourishment!

"When  Satan is knocking at your door, simply say, "Jesus, could you  get that for me?"