Teacup Giveaway and Lucky Me!

Greetings, friends!

I sincerely hope you all have been well and happy!

I have been having so such fun with my sweet grandbaby -

please forgive me for neglecting you during this happy time!

I think of you all quite often!

Some time ago I was found myself the VERY lucky (and appreciative)

 recipient of a very generous giveaway of a full year's subscription to
 TEA TIME MAGAZINE!

Oh, my goodness, my rapidly beating heart!!!!!!!

♥

The giveaway was hosted by the talented and very beautiful

Associate Editor of both Victoria & Teatime Magazines,
Melissa Lester.

Isn't she absolutely lovely?

She also writes a very sweet, humble, clever, devotional,

and very special must-read blog called 

A Little Loveliness

Her blog is filled with the dreams, thoughts and personality

of one very truly and lovely lady.

I know my readers will definately want to add this blog to your favorites
if you haven't yet done so!

Thank you so much, Ms. Lester!

 I am absolutely thrilled about this win!

In fact I am so thrilled that I thought I'd celebrate by hosting another giveaway!

(Sharing the happiness of random acts of gifts received!)

The giveaway is for a vintage pink and yellow roses
teacup set and matching creamer,
which I usually fashion as a little mini vase for short-stemmed flowers.


It's a Japanese Royal Sealy.

This giveaway goes out to all my USA and Canadian friends.

I always welcome all comments, and be sure to make one today
if you would like to be entered in the giveaway!

You needn't have a blog of your own - and I am sorry
that I must limit this to US and Canada -
 the cost of shipping breakables internationally
is just too high. Please forgive me!

I will pick winners the last day of this month
 by some fun random form of choosing. 

I can't wait till the day my sweet little grand-daughter helps
 me choose the names out of one of my tea hats!

Until then I will settle looking at one of her sweet little dreamy smiles.

(This was taken last Thursday on one of her visits to me.)

I am absolutley head-over-heels in love.

♥

As always, thank you for your visit and sweet comments!

Have a blessed day!

Hugs and prayers -

~Michele

Linking:

Pink Saturday

A Day With Baby

Spent the day with my new granddaughter

 and MY OWN "baby" daughter!

Katie was feeling well enough to want to get out

and see some different walls - 

so we packed up the baby and went to a nice local place for brunch.

Afterwards we went back to their home

 and I held Vivian for as long as I could...

till her Daddy returned from work.

After I left I went straight to the baby store

 and look at this cute size 0-3 months onesie I found!

(Insert manical oh-yay-another-tea-partier-joins-us giggle here)

Here she is all packed up and ready to go 10 days old.

She was asleep when we put her in the car seat,

I love that mad face she was making when we woke her -

 and in 2 minutes she was asleep again!

And she slept the entire time we were away.

We kept her covered up and only stayed out an hour just to be safe.

This is a really cute selfie when holding the baby

 that my daughter took just before I got to their house.

Yes, I am over-the-moon full of joy about my wee little grandchild.

I had absolutely no idea how badly

 I would fall her - it's absolutely overwhelming!

I have a ton of decorator things to share

if I could just put this angel down for half a day to do it!

(Thanks for putting up with the Gramma in me!)

AS ALWAYS, THANK YOU FOR YOUR VISIT AND SWEET COMMENTS!

♥

~Michele

WELCOME to the World, Baby Bug!

I have wonderful news to share!

Sweet Little "Baby Bug" is born!

~~Vivian Michele~~ 
7 lbs. 1 oz

21 inches long

Arrived to bless us on

Sunday 7/17/2016 at 7:20pm

(I guess we have a LADY bug now, since it's a girl!)

My beautiful baby daughter Katie holding her own sweet daughter


Birthing story:

My poor daughter so wanted to have her baby naturally with absolutely no drugs. She doesn't even take aspirin! She started laboring about 10pm when her water broke partially on the 15th and labored all throught the night. This went on for hours, per usual, and of course she went all night without eating or sleeping. She went to the hospital when her water broke fully at 1:30am on the 16th. She labored intensely without medication for 21 straight hours...but poor dear just wasn't progressing; wasn't dialating fully. She didn't get past 7 centimeters. Her poor body just wouldn't do it. So of course she couldn't even begin to try and push or anything, poor thing! She was soooo brave and strong. It was unbelievable to witness how hard she tried.

After all those agonizing hours she/they/doctor/nurses thought perhaps an epidural would help her relax her exhausted and tender body.....and then after another 7 hours of intense contractions (but these she couldn't feel, thank goodness) she STILL didn't dialate fully enough! It was at this time she had to have C section surgery!

One Happy Family!

The proud parents soon after delivery.

I am the happiest grandma!

        

It looks like Grandpa Mike and Vivian
are singing partners! 

(Or are they yawning?) lol

Just wanted to pop in and share our glorious news!

Thank you all for your sweet comments and prayers!

Thanks for also understanding why I have been absent.

I will be back soon - I  promise!

Take care and God bless!

♥

~G'ma Michele
♫ ♪ 

Beverly's Pink House

Hey Gang!

Don't forget what fun it is

 to see all the Pretty Pink 

at How Sweet The Sound!

My little post is just to remind you it's a fun thing to do -

and sharing my "colorizing" Beverly's childhood
pink Florida home.

Bev is our sweet host for this fun weekly linky party.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Hugs and prayers!

♥

~Michele

PS:

If you missed my super good news check out my last post!

Shower for Baby Bug ♥ GOOD News!

Have I happy fun news for you all!

I have been waiting for the perfect opportunity

 to share our blessed and joyous news with you all!

I am going to become a GRANDMA!!!!

We are all soooo excited about this!

And of course we had to have a baby shower, right?

I co-hosted my younger daughter Katie's baby shower

a few weeks ago with my eldest daughter Evelyn.

So......what's up with the "Baby Bug" you may be asking?

About a month or so into her pregnancy Katie was reading all about it fetal development.  She was so excited and told me that her big sister said that it is "about the size of a ladybug!"  WELL, as it turns out after that. the wee one inside has been lovingly referred to all of us as "Baby Bug!" And it stuck! (And it may continue to stick as we've used that moniker the entire pregnancy!)

It was fun to give Katie a bug themed summer baby shower!

My elder daughter Evelyn is a talented graphic designer

and designed/made all of the awesome paper products. 

The shower was held at the beautiful historic Worthington Inn -

 a place near and dear to our hearts.

(Our eldest held her wedding reception in their ballroom,
 and Katie's rehearsal dinner was held there.)

Katie wanted it no where but there!

They do such a good job and take the worry out of everything!

(Thank you again, Vance!)

We did an earthy garden-y fresh and simple decor theme.

We used the cut wooden slices from their beautiful wedding that my 
son-in-law Jeff cut from a tree from his old property.

My pics were a disappointment - aren't great -
 all taken with my phone and all too back lit. 

But at least we have them as a reminder of the shower -
 better than not having any at all I guess.  

The party was so much brighter and prettier than these pics show.

There was alsoa big buffet spread
 of sandwiches, salads, breads and fruit.

Not a single pic of the food turned out because the buffet area was too dark-
but it was beautifully arranged and was very delicious and healthy. ♥

I made the above little wooden clothespin butterflies

 and clipped them onto the napkins.

Katie and Evelyn made the below favors 

"Bugs and Kisses" 

containing Hershey's Kisses and candy worms and bugs.

The graphics on the tag is very similar to the invitation

(dragonfly and letter font and paper color)

and tied with a green and white bakers string.

I put pillow party mints in butterfly demitasse teacups on each table.

The flowers were simply done, 

very meadow-like, reminiscent of an English country garden-

natural and unfussy in extra-tall vintage Ball canning jars.

Each table had new crayons and cute alphabet page

for each guest to color - a different one for each - and it was encouraged to jot down a little message for the baby/Katie/Jeff on it. 

Mommy-to-be wants to bind them all in a little book for baby.

We also played a few games;
 one was a fun nursery rhyme fill-in-the-blank game.

The prizes were White Barn Candle Company candles.

BTW- WBCC at Bath and Body Works in here in Columbus.

Les Wexner who owns Limited Brands lives in New Albany - 20 minutes from here.

The delicious and moist cake was half vanilla and half chocolate

 and had a wonderful raspberry buttercream layer.

 Their baker did an amazing job surprising us with this design!

Katie received so many wonderful gifts
and lovingly hand-made items
 to help welcome sweet wee little Baby Bug!

What a joyous celebration and special, fun day this was!


Katie's sister did a great job with all the work involved.

She was so helpful, sweet and attentive.

(They're happily the best of friends!)

I love the happy pic below of them smiling together -
they do that often.  : - )

Of course big sister Evelyn couldn't help but gift
a whole set of onesies in every size that said
"My Aunt is Cooler Than Your Aunt!"

lol.

Now being so worldly, big sister Evelyn did some research 
and found info on Finnish Baby Boxes and ordered one for her sister - filled to the brim with homemade and essential items.

You can learn all about these really neat boxes here.

This is a very dark pic but the Finnish Baby Box she ordered
is in the forefront on right.

Katie is pretty much ready so it won't be long now.
Her due date is the 16th 
but we'd be surprised if she goes that long.

Hopefully the fireworks won't bring on her labor -
but we will be ready, regardless!

BTW: they didn't want to know the gender
so at birthtime it will be a big surprise to us all!

♥

As always, thank you for your visit!

~Michele

Linking:

Simple and Sweet Fridays   

Tea Time with Pink Peonies

Oh boy, we have just had way too much rain lately!

Today it rained and rained - and poured- but then it actually stopped!!!!

And out came the warm bright wonderful sunshine! 

GLORY BE!

So I made a lovely cup of tea, grabbed a dessert to nosh, 

quickly went and cut some gorgeous pink peonies

that just blossomed a few days ago,

and poked them into a favorite teapot.

I then scurried fast to enjoy my favorite place for teatime

  my covered shady patio

 to watch this elusive and rare sun -

 which I love as long as I am in the shade, haha.

It seems forever since we've had any sun, or sun that I was

 free enough to notice and enjoy (life has been hectic lately!)

That glorious sun:

nearly as rare, quickly gone, and elusive as the lovely peony!

So I share my pics of this moment with you all today,

 and pray you are all well.

I had been waiting (and hoping) I could share them 

with you before the rain ruins their delicate petals.

These are cut from my neighbors garden.

She is out of town and said I could have them all.

I settled for just a teapot full.

My peony has only produced a couple of blooms,

and didn't like the rain - hers are older, heartier,

get more sun and are pink.

I think I may give up on my peony in the spot it is in.

My trees are shading it too much, so I need to move it

or lose it, I'm afraid.

Maybe Ellen will let me just plant it over there -

they love all that sun!

A pretty napkin seems right at home here today.

This very old and very very delicate Bavarian set

 is my largest set (tons of it collected over years)

and is my most feminine and pretty.

It's been a while since I have shared it with you all- 

but I just had to put those beautiful peonies

 in the loveliest of all my china!

I see a varnished gleam in my heart's eye

While peonies are climbing at the gate.

That birds of red and yellow twit nearby,

Enchanting leafy maples, so ornate

Till sun dew bursts of fresh morn, to elate!

~S. Kendrick

Garden Party

Summer breezes gently 
Brushes against my face
Sunlight teases my eyes
Wakens me 
Its morning 
Bouquet of fragrances to my nose
Guides me to my garden
Its there I find my peace
Eagerly stepping onto glistening dewy grass 
Placing myself among the copious of blooms
I sit beneath my maple tree upon a rattan chair
I sip my tea, I breathe in my solitaire
They don’t seem to mind
My company spends time
Creating the sounds of summer
My buzzing bees they notice me 
And thank me for pink Peonies
Butterflies like swimming high
Above their purple Buddleia
Kissing nectar for their breakfast 
As fragrant aromas surrounds me
Infusing my tea while I see 
A white blossom tree
Good Morning Dragonfly perching upon his Goldenrod
Shimmering purple through his transparent wings
Dancing to the waterfall like a King
Dawn brings the cooing voice 
Of music from the Dove
Hummingbirds flying backwards
Display their iridescent plumage
Drinking sweetness from the trumpets
Blackbirds flying downward
Yellow beaks hunting 
Consuming food from falling seeds
Vibrant colors all around
Pleasant sounds resounding 
Grandstand of fragrances 
I refreshingly embrace
A reception of hospitality
Welcome to my Garden Party

~M. Franceschini

As always, thank you for your visit!

♥

~Michele

Linking:

Pink Saturday  *  No Place Like Home  *  At Our Home  * Tuesday Cuppa Tea   *   BTTCG   *  Teacup Tuesday     *    Make It Pretty