Bella Pink Cafe

Shameless Plug! Wriskey Business...

     Well we did it! The Wriskey site is set to launch TOMORROW! YAY!  Although it won't be 100% fully stocked, it's about 95% ish and I think we are ready to go...so here is my shameless plug on "Tara TV"! I'm wearing a tee shirt from the new clothing line, this tee is called Crown Me...(over the top advertising, I know)..lol...but we worked so hard to bring you the best!  Ok, I think I said "umm" about 78 times in this...it's SO hard not to, I don't even realize I'm doing it.  I apologize "umm"... in advance! Hope the sound & quality is better than the last video blog too.  Let me know what you think, and I'll see you at the Wriskey site tomorrow, thank you all for hanging in there with me on this and being so patient~ xo

Just Rambling...

   

  Thanks for the cool comments on the blabby video post!  We'll work on making it more audible (hello? couldn't hear a thing) and more interesting topics...less rambling... more light, more fun.  That was just a test run. (I'd say it was very raw footage..or film lying on the cutting room floor?) We'll jazz it up, especially for you...after all, you are the best bloggers around and deserve first class video posts.  I named the last post "Sunday Night Live", but it would be cool to do it each week?  Not sure, Sunday nights here at our home have a fun relaxing ritual...we cook up a great dinner, turn the TV off , play a board game (usually it's 'Trouble' ) and then we make the kids homemade milkshakes (with extra chocolate syrup).  It's something they look forward to each week (and takes their minds off of going back to school the next day!) I wonder if that would make a good video post?  We'll see.  Whatever you want, just let me know!

     Love the photo above, so serene, makes me want to just curl up, rest and read a book. (or better yet, fall asleep reading a book)  I'm not sure where it's from, it's been on my computer for a while. (if anyone happens to know the photographer, please let me know for credit purposes) I may need to crawl into that picture asap...lots of Wriskey™ business going on around here..."soon" is approaching fast!  Combined with a few trips we have planned for business and I'm feeling tired and excited at the same time.  One trip that is strictly for fun that I'm really looking forward to is the tropical getaway in March... BahamaMama here I come!  I can feel the sand and sun now...excuse me while I go jump into that picture above and dream away for a while, be back in a bit!~xo

Some goods from Home Goods...

     Love to find some great buys at Home Goods!  They have the best stuff at the best prices.  So here is a little tour of some goodies I picked up. (I went a little overboard on the eggs, but couldn't resist!)

     I think the cloche was $9.99 and I used my great grandmother's silver plate for the bottom.  Birds nest galore and more eggs than I know what to do with!  I plan on filling them in my apothecary jars after I take out the Valentine stuffings!

remember it's mantel, not mantle lol!

This clock was a bargain at $7 bucks!

This wrought iron (and very heavy!) garden chair was $29.  Here is a before shot:

I added a table runner and pillow to dress, which instantly created a cozy nook in the kitchen!

cute egg wreath that I hung with silk ribbon from the kitchen sink window

this flower bucket was a bargain and I bought some inexpensive "twiggery" to stuff it

The Birthday Month...

   Since I wasn't able to attend the fabulous glitter fest at Silver Bella this year, I decided to at least bring some of it to my home here at Casa Bella!  I ordered this super cute project kit from Jenny .  This caught my eye because it looked simple ish and I thought it would be fun to hang up this entire month of January to celebrate the gazillion birthdays in our family.  At last count there are 16 birthdays to celebrate, including our son and my Dad on the same day! (January 15th to be exact)

     My little project turned out semi-ok but not really,"wish I had Jenny here to instruct me in person" kind of a way ..It came with precise instructions (even telling me when to have a snack!)  However, this student obviously did not pay attention... I put WAY too much antiquing glaze on, the sequins are uneven and I definitely have to work on those darn air bubbles!  So frustrating. Anyway, for all the January birthdays out there, this banner's for you (over-antiqued, crooked sequins, air bubbles and all, hey, I gave it my best shot)!~xo

and the winner is...

     413 comments!  Seriously?? I can't believe it myself.  This was so incredibly FUN!  My inbox was completely jammed from all the comments and I had a moment of drama/panic when I thought all them had disappeared and contacted Typepad, with the help of a fabulous girl named Kimberly, all was fixed (and she entered the contest herself! lol)  Much love to the typepad people.  Also, love to all of YOU! My blog readers ROCK, you are all absolute super stars, beams of light, and the best cheering section a girl could ask for. I read every single post (so did my Mom!) I spent some late nights reading into the wee hours, they were all so inspiring and lovely.  Thank you from the bottom of my pink heart!

     Ok, let's get onto the good stuff and announcing the winner....but first a happy dance (or our version of a drum roll!)

Our winner is #194, ShabbyJuls   Please email me your address and your goodies are on the way!  Thanks to everyone who entered and look for more crazy cool giveaways soon!  Have a fabulous weekend~xo

New Year & Time For a GIVE AWAY!...

 

     Happy New Year to you all!  Since this is my first post of the new year, let's kick it off right and have a blow out give away?  You all have cheered me along in 2007 and I want to say a big fat THANK YOU to everyone, you are the best.  You all inspire me to do better, be better and wish I could give each of you a hug.  All you have to do to win is leave a comment and a winner will be chosen using that cool random number generator thingie on January 12th.  Some changes are coming, you may have noticed the new picture of the back of my head?  It was time for a photo switch out, and since my daughter took that shot after we bought new hats, I thought it would be cool to put it up, she's very excited!. Although my friend Chris said it looks I may be mooning everyone (ps: Happy Birthday!), Sara said it's artistic and mysterious.  I just think it's a cool photo from a 6 year old!.  Would love to hear your thoughts!

Anyhoo, here is what's included in our giveaway, take a look at the photos of the loot below and good luck to you all, just leave a comment to be entered!~ xo

• The February 2008 Romantic Homes Issue
• Vintage Vavoom , a new book from the editors of Romantic Homes
• Trash Ties by Heather Bailey, yeah they're cool, I can't live without them.
• A fabulous french market tote
• Handmade french journal
• A Wriskey from the collection and a Wriskey charm
• Paris Plaque
• A grab bag of tags from Jen at Artful Dreamer
• and last but not least... a super cute pin cushion!