Kitchen Decorating

 A while ago I Tweeted that I'd ordered, and picked up, enlargements of some snapshots from Walgreens, and that I was very happy with them.  Some of you may have wondered:

• what I photographed
• why I ordered enlargements
• where I was going to hang them

Well, now you know!  I took over a hundred pictures when we went to the Indy 500 this year, and I chose 17 of the best ones and got them enlarged and printed to put on the walls of........my kitchen! The frames are the very least expensive Wal-Mart sells; I like how they don't overpower the pictures.

You can't see very well, but I have a snapshot of ALL THREE of the four-time "500" winners; A.J. Foyt, Rick Mears and Al Unser Sr. At the very top is a large frame in which I mounted our tickets and camping permits from the past two years.

You can see the edge of the curtains in the picture; it's black and white gingham (very difficult to find.  Most places only have black and ivory).  I have white walls, cabinets and appliances, and black commercial vinyl tile on the floor.  The lower part of the walls is beadboard wainscoting, painted RED, and separating the red from the white is a nice black chair rail.

The color scheme matches a Hoosier cabinet I picked up at a tag sale several years ago. 

When I realized that I'd accidentally painted my kitchen in IndyCar colors, I decided to make that the 'theme' of the room.  Who needs boring apples or cherries when you can have race cars?  And yes, I am completely aware of the coincidence of having the colors of a HOOSIER cabinet be the inspiration for the room.

I have fabric to make slipcovers for the chairs too.  Red and white indoor/outdoor upholstery fabric with a floral design for the seats and backs, and the skirting will be black.  Topstitched in white jeans thread.  The only other things I'm going to add are a fake 'diner menu' laminated to a collage photo to put on the table, and next year when we go to Indy I'll pick up a set of flags in a holder to mount above the door on the wall.

Now that I'm on the downhill slide of doing this room, I'm almost ready to start on the dining room.  Any suggestions for a theme?

Will It Ever End?

I'm going to a conference and retreat next week, and am really beginning to wonder when I am going to get everything ready to go.  I still have to make a trip to the grocery store, pick up one more load from the dry cleaner (vestments that have to go with me, they were supposed to be ready on Wednesday but now they say tomorrow, ARGH), do laundry one. more. time, mow and trim the yard, clean my room, start packing my clothes, yada yada.........

This is supposed to be my vacation, even though I'm usually kept pretty busy during the actual event.  I go up a day beforehand to get the chapel arranged and then I get to spend a half day in the little town, visiting the yarn store and the old-fashioned five & dime and just relaxing before the conference and retreat starts.

At the rate things are going now I'm going to need another vacation just to recuperate from getting ready for this one.

Better Late Than Never

Two of the best photos from the July 4th fireworks display here.  I'm still getting the hang of shooting with specialized settings (there is a 'fireworks' setting on my camera) and using my Gorillapod.

I was sitting in a lawn chair with the Gorillapod wound around the back of Velvet's chair in front of me.  We were right next to the garden in our own yard.  It's really nice not to have to go to the fireworks; it's not the most perfect view but it's adequate.

I Can't Stop Laughing

The End of an Experiment

Lightning McQueen asked me to cut his hair today.  He said his head was too hot.

I wish I'd taken a photo of the HUGE pile of hair that ended up on the kitchen floor.

He says he feels much cooler now.

If You Have a Bustline, You Need These, Really.

A couple of weeks ago, on impulse, I picked up a package of CamiSecret (warning: perky promotional ad video at link) at Wal-Mart.  I knew I could return them if I didn't like them, and for less than $10 I didn't figure I could go wrong.

Let me just say that a couple of days ago I was over at Rite Aid (local drug/convenience store chain) and when I saw they had the package of the other three 'basic' colors, I snapped them up!

A lot of blouse and dress styles nowadays are cut pretty low in the neckline, and if you have any sort of average-to-large sized bustline, you are flashing your cleavage to everyone......I don't mind a teeny bit of cleavage if I'm just at home working, but if I'm out in public (or at Church) I think I ought to be leaving more to the imagination, rather than running a full-color ad for the goods.

These little doodads are the perfect answer.  They have permanently-attached snaps on either side of the top edge; these go around your bra strap.  The fabric is shaped like a trapezoid with the wider (lace edged in the ones I bought; they also come with a plain edge) edge at the top, and the narrower one hangs down your top, blouse or dress just enough to keep it from flipping out of your clothes. They are made from fabric that's a bit slick but not obviously lingerie-looking; the CamiSecret stays put under your clothes and your clothing can move around and bit without being bunched up or dragging/pulling on it.

The fact that it fastens to your bra straps means that the top edge lays flat against your skin, so it conceals your cleavage and doesn't gap when you bend over or move. I have several camisoles that, if I pull them up high enough to lie against my skin, they might as well be a t-shirt.  This is not the look I want!

I now have six of them - black, navy, brown, white, ivory and beige.  I've worn them several times and really like them.  They are not sweat-inducing and after a few minutes you forget they are even there. So now I can wear my v-neck and wrap-bodice tops and dresses without a whole other layer of clothing underneath!

Maybe you want people looking at your cleavage, but if you don't (and if you can't stand another layer under your clothes), try CamiSecret.

For folks who like, and can wear, other colors than the basic neutrals, they also offer a set of three different animal prints, and a set in three bright colors.

This is My Story and I'm Sticking To It

I was up till way past midnight last night waiting for the boys to get back from their Altar Boy day in Pittsburgh - they got to see the Pirates whomp the Cubs, YAY - so I am pooped.

Coming up, a product endorsement for something you have to have seen on TV.  You've probably also laughed at the commercial, just like I did, until I bought one (knowing I could return it if it wasn't as advertised).  

And a post about our visit this evening to a local Roman Catholic parish for Saturday Vigil Mass (we'll be on our way to Pittsburgh to take Birdman to the bus tomorrow at our Ruthenian Byzantine parish's Divine Liturgy time).

Have a fantastic Saturday night; I'm going to go get some much-needed zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz