Circus,Circus Here I come

Well, here's my new tent-love that it looks like a circus tent. I'm starting to think in circus mode again. Trying to get inspired. I've been a little bored this week on vacation-too hot to work on projects or get anything done-but maybe after this weekends camping trip I can get back to myself!

Pink Sunglasses

How many pairs of pink sunglasses does a gal need? .......................As many as she can get her pink lovin hands on!!!!

Pink Christmas In July:

My family-my parents, sister and her family and I had planned to go camping this weekend. My mom had called a few days before to check and see how early we needed to get there to make sure we all had camp sites together. She also asked if they had any activities going on because when we camped there two years ago they had movie nite with free popcorn on Friday nite, Saturday-free kite making for the kids and bingo for the adults. The only thing planned was a Christmas in July event to get gift for needy children for Christmas-you had to donate a $20 toy to enter. I thought it was a neat idea but decided I didn't want to hassle with it. Friday morning came and I was packed and ready to go-just waiting on my folks to get closer to where I live. I only live about 20 minutes from this campground. Well, I ended up waiting about an 1 1/2 hours and got bored and about 2o minutes before they called to say they were where we'd planned to meet- I decided that -what they heck-I'd throw in my two pink Christmas trees. I should have know then what would happen. Anyone that knows me -know I do everything overboard-I mean really overboard-just ask my family. We get to the campground and get set up and I see 2 campers set up with a Redneck shindig. I thought they were doing the Christmas thing. They had an old junky couch(from the 70's), two recliners, a fish tank, an old radio console, and a toilet-yes a toilet. Not to mention the small stuff. Now I got into over drive mode and called my best friend Teresa- help me!!! She started planning and my sister and her twins drove back to my house to load up stuff. I already had my tent so that was a start. The redneck friends came that nite and they were dressed to the hilt(or whatever rednecks dress like) -I wish I had pictures-it was really something to see. They even all paraded(drunk) around the campground pulling a red wagon with something in it? How could I up them and all their friends in their costumes. This was Friday nite and I only got 1 1/2 hours of sleep from worry and planning. I kept the tent closed up so no one would see and begin the hours of sweat(I mean sweat-I changed my clothes at least 3 times each day) and worry. Little did I know that the Rednecks weren't even doing the Christmas thing-they just were having fun. They packed everything up Saturday afternoon.

I filled out the entry form with pink ballpoint ink and attached these cards I just happened to have and had picked up at a garage sale for $.25 in the camper-how perfect! I wrote inside-Come to campsite #44 for a Merry Pink Christmas and signed my name. I was getting my groove on to going crazy!

This was in the middle of my camp site so I decided to use it like a mascot. A pink bow and glittered Santa hat!

Here's the entire set-up. I had 4 of these suckers to give the kids. I made a pink fire in the fireplace with pink lights !

We placed pink greenery on each side at the bottom. I love my pink doll Teddy Bear(it's an old one) and my pink/black radio/CD player I use in the camper. I have an entire set like the pink stove. My sister's twin helped wrap so many presents in this cute pink paper with snowflakes!

The big pink tree -we had 2 big pink light up balls along with Victoria secret bags and a strand of colorful light up balls. The games under the tree-Babble On(one of my favorite and it comes in a pink box) and Bunco(also a pink box).

The right side of the tent -small Christmas tree-and light up vintage snowman(who had pink hat and wreath) I had 2 of them next to the fireplace.

This is one of my Ella Mae's Barn Signs that I grabbed to use. I love it in front of the beds-especially when the kids would have been sleeping in them!

My best friend Teresa(always there for help and ideas) suggested that I set the table up for a Christmas dinner. I loved that idea! Check out the fire in the background- pink Christmas lights!

Each of my sister's twins made a pillowcase snowman(also Teresa's idea). Allison wanted hers to be striped. ( I have a ton of pillowcases and sheets in the camper-we didn't even use 1/2 of them). We stuffed the pillow cases with extra blankets and sheets and proceeded to dress them up! I had only bought one scarf from home so we added this pink tinsel-I loved it. I couldn't resist adding the notes to make sure the judges understood they were snowmen.

This was Asher's snowman. He decided he wanted the rose pillowcases. I had only grabbed the one scarf and could only find the one mitten at home so his snowman got the shovel(I already had that in the camper). The sunglasses were an afterthought because Teresa wanted me to use junk jewelry for eyes and I forgot to get it. I thought the sunglasses worked out better anyway!

Here is my set up-

To the left is a table and tray for Santa with a sign saying cookies for Santa . I was just putting 3 kinds of pink cookies and all kinds of pink candy along with pink marshmallow roasting sticks(I just picked up at Target) and pink marshmallows and pink lemonade. I also had a sign saying Kids List-Toys, Adult List -70 degree weather.

To the right is 3 bed cots(which I always put up when I'm camping) for my sister's 3 wonderful kids-twins-Asher and Allison both 8 and Arabella-almost 2. They had planned on pretending to sleep until the judges got there. I had sprayed their hair pink and we had outfits for them.

This is the camp site that won 1st place - what do you think?

This is my outfit-minus any hat. We got a flood of rain about 15 minutes before the judges came around about 7:00pm (they could have checked the radar-duh!) I sprayed my pony tails with pink and my shirt I bought at Walmart within the last month for $1-it says Let It Snow with a pink flamingo with a hat and scarf. As you can see -I'm drenched-we all were. It took my whole family to help tear everything down. The back half of the tent was in several inches of water.

This is the final kicker- the certificate had white out on it with my name written on top. I don't know if I would have been 1st place or not placed at all. HOW TACKY!!!!

Needless to say-I spent two days planning and setting this all up(with my family), sweating my butt off(105 degrees index) in a hot tent(we kept it closed so no one could see until reveal day) and the winner just put up a few Walmart blow up toys and won a week of camping -did they know the judges ? Is everything rigged?

Children's Pink Bunny Coat Rack

I picked up this pink bunny coat rack at a garage sale a few years back and it's been in my smokehouse ever since. I think it's time it comes inside-don't you?

Pink High Chair

Another children's toy-from someone who only has furry children. Couldn't resist the pink high chair, but the doll needs to have blond hair-did your dolls look like you growing up?

Pink Vintage Children's Bissel Swifter

This is what I need to be doing......cleaning. I don't know why but for the last month I just haven't had any energy. If you knew me -you'd know that something is not right. I'm like that pink bunny on the battery commercial only with heels. It could be that I'm missing my usual junk food of cookies, ice-cream and chips because my husband has been on the P90X exersize routine for a little over a month and we are only eating healthy food(at least I am at home!). It could be the heat-who could function in this-but why can't I inside with central air? It could be that I'm getting over-whelmed with all this stuff filling up the barn(s) and garage and don't know where to begin. I don't know -but I don't like it!!!! So I'm posting my little children's antique toy swifter because I really should be cleaning-but I don't feel like it! Next weeks is vacation-maybe I can get inspired and rested at the same time and the old me will be back!

Pink Chair and Pink Table-YEH!!!

I've been thinking about the quality of my pictures for the last couple of months and I'm just not happy with them. Not happy with them at all. I've been consulting with my best friend Teresa(tete-beyond the garden gate) about what I need to do differently. She's really good at the angles, the light and shadows, the backgrounds, all of it. She's been teaching her youngest son, Craig and he's getting really good at it too. Now it's my turn to step up to the plate and see what I can learn.

One thing I'm not happy with is the background of my pictures. I can't seem to find a place to put the objects I find so that they pop. Most of the time I've not found a permanent home for them-so I can't take a complete picture of the surrounding where it will end up. I've decided that I need some props-kinda like the kind that photographers use-but not exactly. After taking with Teresa we decided that I need at least one table, a chair and some random items like lace and flowers. I'm sure I have several of these items but most of them are already in use with items already on them-so the search has begun. As it goes when you're looking for something particular-you won't find it. After searching the antique stores in the couple of towns in my area I remembered a local craft store we have that has an auction house attached. Sometimes they get some old items. I had been eyeing this pink table and chair for about a year but didn't want to give the price they had on it. I just happened to go by and they were having a porch sale. All items on the porch were marked down with an additional 30% off. What luck -they were both there! The perfect size, color of pink, and amount of chippy paint. Now I just need to remember not to load this table up and keep it free for photo taking!

Saturday's Treasures

My favorite junker guy, Kenny wasn't at the Fair Grounds with his wares this weekend. He's 70 and got overheated and sick at the last show. I've never met any dealer who hauls around such heavy merchandise(lots of tools) by himself. I hope he's doing o.k. I did by these two items from another local dealer. He said this bottle is a wine bottle from the 60's???. I thought it was kinda neat-I think I'll fill it with bubble bath. I also got these plastic(yes plastic) medalions from him. I think they'll either go on the hearse I had built last year or I'll save them for the gypsy caravan.

Pink Squeak Circus Clown Toy

Out looking for treasures today-didn't find much. I came across this squeak toy-white with pink clown. Of course I've been into circus items lately so I had to have it. The owner gave it to me! How nice-I also bought a real little black kettle to go in my children's orange cabinet with all my small halloween items. Don't know if this is a child or dog toy-or how old-but I thought it was cute!

Pink Find of the Day-Toy Car

I was re-doing my booth today and on the way out I saw this cute little toy car with the pink roof and pink interior-and of course I had to buy it. I'd love to have a real one-but I guess I'll settle for the toy. I want to figure out something really neat to do with it besides sit it on a shelf. Any ideas?

Old Pink Phone, New Pink Phone

Old phone-scratched up and out of date-but it's pink!

The best thing about this phone is I get internet service-so I can check everyone's blogs!

Pink Toy Cash Register

My toy cash register needs some TLC.

Pink Cash Register Bank

I was garage sale hunting yesterday before work(I had to be at work at 8am-so I was in a hurry) and almost didn't see this cute little pink cash register bank. I've seen them in other colors at antique stores, but never pink. I've got a pink toy cash register in the barn at Ella Maes(which is starting to rust so I'm going to move it to the house). Another great day at the garage sales!

Pink 3 Wheeled Scooter

My sister call me last night wanting me to look at this -she says she found it on sale ($2000)in Florida (we live in Illinois)and that her husband has already to check on it and if she wants it he'll go to Florida to get it for her. Well- my husband wouldn't even think about doing something liek that for me. He doesn't even buy me presents-for anything. Don't get me wrong-he's a wonderful man-but if I want something I've got to figure out how to get it myself!

Now my sister really likes pink like me-in fact she says since she's been a kid she's liked pink-longer than me. But she not as obsessive about it-wanting everything to be pink I say. I almost bought a pink scooter last year, but living in the country I couldn't justify it on the country roads. I can't ride it to town-too dangerous-and wouldn't be able to haul all my treasures I find on it. Why would I want a scooter even if it's pink. But she call me back and says she's found a place where we both could get one for $2500 for both and free shipping. She tells me that I can put a hitch on it and pull 200 pounds. She's got me thinking about it. I still think I'd rather have a pink golf cart though. We're would my grandma(Ella Mae) and her sister(Aunt Anne) ride when we're going back and forth from the house to the barn on this thing?

Pink Shopping Day

Went shopping in Champaign, IL today. I don't enjoy it as much as I used to since I've been working at a retail department store for the past 13 years. I went by myself. It would have been nice to go with someone -a fun lunch, talking on the way up/back, but I like to get in look at what I want to and get out. I found a few things today besides clothes(I didn't buy any shoes-that's a miracle-I even returned a pair). At target I got these marshmellow roasting sticks($1)(so of course I bought 10)(what if they break easily!) and measuring cups and spoons(I don't cook at all-really I don't) but the kids have fun pretending with them. I also picked up some pretty zip lock bags. I didn't have any zip lock bags in the camper last trip and I had to wrap some pink food goodies up in aluminum foil for a neighboring camper to take on their way home.

At Big Lots I spied the last one of this limited edition swifter starter kit. It will help me keep the camper clean-it's so big you know (17ft). All this stuff has went into my pink camper(another post!) for the next trip. It's alway fun to spy something pink I don't have!

Circus Sign

I bought these lights at a garage sale yesterday. I love the colors and it is exactly what I would have ordered for a sign that I have brewing in the back of my mind. This is the inspiration piece-except I want to find a really old ornate wood piece and put something really fun on it. I'm sure it will eventually come to me-just like these fun bulbs!

Love these fabric dolls

These are kinda weird, but cute-guess that's why I love them!