Bella Pink Cafe

Holiday Happenings...

I received the new December issue of Romantic Homes and I really love the layout this time of my column "Scout It"...this month it's "Holiday Blogging"  it looks yummy, thanks to the bloggers pretty pictures!  It's wonderful to see the article come to life within the pages of the magazine.  The blog picks this issue are some top choices.  Go get your copy and let me know what you think!  Here's a sneak peek inside:

Now onto today's holiday!  Hope you all have a Happy Halloween with the ghosts and goblins tonight and don't eat too much candy!~ xo

Hannah meets a bank robber...

     Interesting title?  The picture above has nothing to do with it, but the kids have officially picked their Halloween costumes yesterday...our girl will be Hannah Montana (along with half the girls in her class!) and little man picked out a creepy mask that makes him look like a bank robber, so that is the title he gave his costume.  His mask has an eyeball poking out, and he came up with a story on the ride home that the security guard at the bank he was robbing poked out his eye while he was running out with the cash.  What can I say?  He's 10.  He has a wild imagination, no football player get up or an ordinary bum costume will do for him.  At Halloween, for him, it's all about gore, gruesome, scary, but most of all *fun*.

     Busy weekend, so first up...thank you to Dawn at The Feathered Nest for giving a sneak peek on her blog of Romantic Homes December issue and my Holiday Blogging column!  Looks like it's a really pretty issue.  Some of our blogger friends have exciting news to report (I can't reveal, but hopefuly they will on their own blogs soon!)  Ms. Babette ( aka Barbara Jacksier) is in California working on her mystery project (better known as the TMP).  Ladies... this is an exciting project and you will LOVE IT!  She has her new laptop with her and able to blog "live from the scene" 

    Exciting things happening around here too at Casa Bella..but can't share just yet...I hate teasers, but please bare with me...let's just say I am humbled and honored and you will soon know why! I took a break from work and we managed to squeeze in TWO trips to the flea market this weekend. YAY!  Lots of new goodies will be posted in the boutique this week, probably on Tuesday.  Love the thrill of finding a great vintage piece and knowing it will go to a good home, my customers are the best and we found a lot of beauties this weekend.

    Also helped my Mom pack for her early morning flight for a golf tournament that she is playing in (Mom is an avid golfer and once played with Michael Douglas!- great story for another post).  She will be gone an entire week with her friends in Myrtle Beach.  Did I mention that my Dad had a full knee replacement 3 weeks ago?  He has lost almost 30 pounds!  Good grief! My sister and I are in charge of his 'care' while Mom is away...first order of business is fattening him up.  He has made tremendous progress with his recovery and is now walking with a cane, so Mom doesn't feel too guilty leaving him for a week (Although, I think she considers this more of a vacation from being his nurse!)  Poor Dad, he is having cravings like a pregnant woman...all he wants is chocolate raisins and sherbet.  He's completely lost his appetite, so it will take us a while to get that weight back on.  Any suggestions are appreciated...I'm thinking milkshakes and McDonalds?, but I know that is NOT healthy! lol...Mom wanted me to say a big "HELLO" to the bloggers in South Carolina, she is coming to town with her golf mafia!

Floor Comfort...

     Had a bunch of these comfy floor pillows made for the kids by the talented Di from Petticoat Junction .   Just grab a handle and go!  They are super large and machine washable with snuggly removable inserts.  Our floors are all hardwood, so this gives the kids cozy time on the floor.  The pillows were inspired by Carolyn Westbrook Home and fit into our cottage style decor in our family room just perfectly (not an ounce of shabby or pink!) ~xo

Fashion Friday part 2...

I put together this mosaic to hang up for visual reference for my weekend project....does anybody really wear these?  However, when they are put together like this they remind me of cupcakes!...Chock full of inspiration in every little detail... thought I would share with all of you couture divas!  Ok, back to work!  ~xo

Fashion Friday & other must haves...

Working on a super cool project over the weekend (think Vogue, couture, jewels, tiara, etc..) and it has me thinking of  fashion, beauty and my own "must haves", so I thought I would share here if you are looking for some new things to try.  First up:  for those sweet people that emailed about my previous post, my sunglasses are by Ralph Lauren!  They are huge beetle looking things, BUT they cover the face and prevent squinting which causes the dreaded frown lines in between the eyebrows (often referred to as the # 11, since that's what it looks like!).  My mother puts it into perspective by saying... "I have earned those lines and eleven is my lucky number!" 

I don't know about you, but I can't go in the Fall without a long sweatercoat, I love them and probably have too many.  This cute one I ordered from White House Black Market

I don't leave the house without my favorite lip gloss by MAC ...color: "Underage" (Don't you love the titles of lipstick and nailpolish?  That would be a cool job to have!)

Also, I can not live without Laura Mercier "Secret Camouflage".  This stuff can cover a zit the size of  a Limoges dinner plate!   I love flip flops, but when the weather gets cold here on the East Coast, I slip on my Rocket Dog clogs.  They go with anything and are so comfy (with or without socks!)

For hair I use Redken and the "All Soft" line.  Love the way it makes my hair feel...softer, shinier, thicker. (and it smells good too!)  OH! and I was asked a few times via email what bracelet I was wearing in the picture with the pumpkin on the previous post.  It's my FAVORITE accessory... I do get a lot of compliments on it when I am out and about...it was a gift from my parents for my birthday about 7 years ago, it's from Tiffany and it's called the Bone Cuff Bracelet.  I wear it almost everyday!  Love it.  Not sure if it's still available, since it was a few years ago, but it *rocks*!  More emails asking about my necklaces (dang my inbox was FULL after the last post! lol..I'm flattered, really!)  For necklaces I love to layer them...silver...gold...chunky, anything with charms, etc... the more the better I think! 

Ok...back to work...please share your "must haves" with me too!... Hope you have a fashionably fabulous weekend!~ xo

Pick Your Own...

     We went pumpkin picking with my best friend and her kids over the weekend.  (The one I mentioned here in a life circle moment)  We go every year to our favorite farm, up the street.  Just grab a wagon and let the kids pile up the pumpkins.  They have so much fun running around the farm looking for the perfect ones

This is me and my best friend trying to look cool with our new friend "Jack"

and hopefully our daughters will stay as close as we did over the years.  We have two more friends not pictured here, but I'll post about them later.  We have all been best friends since we were 12. We have such a special relationship, it's incredible to keep your childhood friends.  They know you so well...you can give them a certain look or even the tone in your voice...they somehow know exactly what you are thinking or feeling.  We have been through every boyfriend (and break-up), every crisis at elementary, middle and high school.. then college... been a bridesmaid on each wedding day, attended family events, celebrated every birth and consoled each other through death.  Always there to lend an ear, advice, a smile or a tissue.  She was there that day on the escalator with me when Rhett Butler was waiting at the bottom (and said "Oh... My... God...", like the annoying Janice girl from the TV show 'Friends' !)  So many laughs, so many memories, we hope our girls see how special a childhood friendship can be.   I have a feeling they may already know...

Celebrity Style Friday

     Don't you love peeking in celebrity homes?  Grab the new copy of In Style Home and check out Molly Sims Manhattan apartment.  Her style is definitely right up our alley!  She buys from ebay and frequents antique stores.  Molly talks about visiting Paris and treasure hunting at the Clignancourt Flea Market , speaking French fluently and haggling with the vendors!  My kind of girl.  Here are some photos if you can't get a copy quick enough.  Happy Friday and have a fabulous weekend~ xo.

All photos from In Style Home, photographed by Troy House

Me, Sara and the Junk Drawer...

     Let me do a little horn tooting here TOOT TOOT!  The talented Sara at Sadie Olive Design created a custom "About" page for me on my bloggy.  Check it out here!  I asked her to do a junk drawer with miscellaneous fun facts and I snapped this picture of my junk (really treasure) drawer.  She also spruced up my banner and added some gypsy *bling* on the sides.  The about page design is a cool idea and she will be offering this service for an additional fee with her various design packages.  Sara completed my friend Chris's blog:  Lucy's Lounge at Tutti Chic .  If you are in need of a great website or blog design or just some touch-ups then be sure to contact Sara!

    ALSO!  Thank you for all your sweet, special anniversary wishes, it was like receiving piles of cards in the mailbox, I loved every minute of it and read them all to my husband.  He was impressed.  I can't believe the blog love out there, you are all so awesome!  We went to a really romantic restaurant and just spent the time catching up...a lot of "oh I forgot to tell you this.."  We are so busy during the week (as most of you are I'm sure)...it's nice to get dressed up, eat a good meal. have a few drinks and catch up with the person you usually pass groggily in the kitchen each morning grabbing a cup of coffee with your eyes half closed! ~xo

12 years...

     ....and two kids later!  Tomorrow, October 7th, is our 12th wedding anniversary.  We have 37 more years to go to catch up to my Mom & Dad!  I love weddings, don't you?  That's me up there in my gown.  I picked October because it's my favorite month here in Bucks County PA.  Imagine falling leaves, pumpkins, crisp air.  Ok, now hold onto that thought and then picture this:  cold, dreary and raining on my wedding day.  WHAA!

    12 years have went so fast.  We met when I was just 15 at our high school...he was a junior, I was a sophomore.  It was after school and I had just finished cheerleading practice, and went to the snack shop, the wrestling squad was working the stand *UGH*.  But there was a cutie behind the stand....I placed my order, cookies and a Pepsi (nice, huh?)  The cutie, with his dark Italian skin and hair, said to me "You have the bluest eyes I have ever seen"...  that was his pick up line, I guess. I giggled nervously with my girlfriends, I mean a junior was flirting with me! After that, I would see him around school and driving his red mustang in the parking lot, he would stare at me and I just melted.  We dated the next year and then broke up for 4 years!  I ran into him at the mall (of all places, I hate the mall) he was by himself picking up a tux for a friend's wedding, I was with my friend.  I came down the escalator engrossed in conversation with her, and there he was standing at the bottom, waiting... he already spotted me before I saw him.  I happened to glance down and he was leaning on the rail just looking up at me, like Rhett Butler did to Scarlett in that famous scene from Gone With The Wind.  We went out for dinner that night and got engaged 3 years later.  He is a alot like my Dad , charismatic, gentle, kind and strong at the same time, a wonderful husband and father to our babies.  A girl always marries someone like their Daddy, don't they?  I know I did and feel so blessed. I hope our girl does the same. 37 more years, here we come!~ xo

From driving a red mustang without a care in the world, to becoming a father of two:

 

Maybe it's time...

     We lost our beloved doggie one year ago (August 27th to be exact) he was 14 years old.  That's him up there in the sun. That's how I like to remember him.  The kids have just recently started asking for a new pup, which I often find strange.  After he died, they never asked.  We were all so devastated , but I thought the kids would start asking right away, for which I was prepared to tell them that we needed to wait a little bit.  I never had to have that conversation. I guess they were still grieving for our Cody and knew in their hearts that he could never be replaced so quickly.  So many nights after Cody died, little man cried himself to sleep as I held him.  He was so close to Cody, they were buddies.  It's hard to explain any death to children, let alone a pet that they played with, were comforted by when they were sick like a snuggle buddy and brought them joy and smiles everyday.

     So maybe it's time?  I really miss the sound of little doggie nails on the hardwood floors, always a friend to greet you when you come home and curling up on a rainy day with soft fur tickling my face.

What Happens In Vegas...

      

     A blog I have enjoyed for a while now is Jackie Von Tobel's.  Her hilarious posts have me giggling out loud, her sense of humor sings to me!  Her new book is out: The Design Directory of Window Treatments and in pre-order status at Amazon .  One of my favorite posts is where she talks about Vegas here where she lives (her hubby was the brainchild behind the slogan "what happens in Vegas...")  I love Vegas and had a blast on a girls getaway there.  I was there during the filming of the movie Casino and met some of the cast!  (So many stories about that trip, one of them involves Charlie Sheen (who is NOT in the movie Casino), some margaritas and a lost shoe....but like the slogan says, it must stay in Vegas?)   Anyway, I had the pleasure of "talking" with Jackie through emails, she is a great lady and an inspiration!   She was kind enough to send me some peeks into the inside of her book.  Stop by her blog and say hello,  I know she will keep it in Vegas!