Out of The Closet Thrift Store for a Pink Saturday Color Carnival

Thank you for joining me for a Pink Saturday Color Carnival.

Last weekend, our family went to a few thrift stores to get ready for a costume bowling party. (Hey, what can I say? We know how to live LARGE!) One of our stops was at The Out of The Closet Thrift Store in Atwater Village, Los Angeles, California.
This is the entrance where it's not everyday you see a mannequin wearing a bikini and a gas mask.
These panels were hung from the ceiling throughout the store.
This Mona Lisa was my favorite.

I love everything about this peach pink mod dress, the color, the cut, the peekaboo neckline, it just says the early 1970s to me.

To see this peach pink in a gorgeous sunrise this week, please visit a Happily Retired Gal.

Any unexpected treasures come your way recently? Thank you so much.

Real Glee in Show Choir

Our oldest son joined the Show Choir at his high school last Fall and is really enjoying himself despite the hard work. There is something like 40 guys and 150 girls in Show Choir, so I can understand his interest. Plus, he is a natural born performer and enjoys the singing, dancing, and camaraderie, even with the long rehearsals and pulled muscles.

The amount of work and preparation for the performances is amazing. It is like putting on a Broadway production with blingy costumes, fun props, and intricate choreography, in addition to demanding singing. I am so impressed with the level of talent and dedication, not only on the part of the students, but also the Choir director, choreographers, and parent volunteers.

The Show Choir's first competition is this Friday and I volunteered for several hours on Monday to help finish up the costumes with the other parents and Wardrobe supervisor, "Miss Mary". I spent two hours ironing 15 women's jumpsuits and I have a new found appreciation for my dry cleaners who press clothes all day. That is back breaking work for sure.

Recently, there has been an emerging interest in high school Show Choirs due to the TV show, Glee. (Which I've never watched unfortunately.) This interest isn't just confined to the U.S. where the show originates, but also in other countries like the U.K. where it airs on Channel E4.

Apparently, there is so much interest in the U.K., that this past week, a documentary film crew from Channel E4 has been taping the preparations and rehearsals for our Show Choir. They will also be videotaping the upcoming competitions this weekend in Los Angeles. I chatted with the producer of the documentary, Celia, and she informed me that there is Nothing like Show Choir in the U.K. There, student choirs stand on risers and sing, no dancing, choreography, or props, but she anticipates a change due to the increasing popularity and interest there in Show Choirs and their competitions.

The film crew was there Monday night while we worked on the costumes and the documentary will be aired on U.K. Channel E4 on April 16th after the Season Finale of Glee. Please look for me, I'll be the brunette ironing the brown jumpsuits. More importantly, if you see a handsome curly haired boy singing and dancing, he might be mine.

Have you had any intersections of Life Imitates Art recently? (Or is this Art imitating Life?) Thank you.

Cat on a Tole Tray for The Color Carnival

I wanted to share a vintage tole tray for dear Martha@Menagerie's Color Carnival, but my cat, Abigail had other plans.
There she goes, she rolled a little out of the way to show you the pretty painted flowers.
Oh, to be a cat, where laying around is an art form.

I won't be laying around this weekend though. I'm off to see Chinese Acrobats perform tonight after work, then tomorrow, cleaning out some garage cabinets, (Le Sigh), and chaperoning the High School Winter Formal. (I am bringing ear plugs and a book for the dance, and no, as a Freshman, our son is Not Attending.)

I wish you a Colorful week whether you are laying about or on the go, ear plugs not included.
What are you up to this weekend? Thank you so much.

Signs of Spring for Almost Wordless Wednesday

(This photo has nothing to do with the Spring Season, it's just a cute picture of our dog sitting in his favorite spot.)

For more Signs of Spring, please visit me over at

where I dish the dirt on my garden and outdoor space. Thank you!

Drive By Blogging - Monday minutiae*

I've been sick with a cold and have a new found appreciation and love of soft tissues. How did people survive without ibuprofen? I guess they went straight for the good stuff like opium tincture which was available from your local chemist.

The weather here was 80 degrees last weekend. I apologize if you've been hit by Snowpackolypse or whatever they are calling it. Give me an earthquake or wildfire anyday over having to warm up the car and clean off the windshield. I like grabbing my keys and going, something which is quite an undertaking in snowy climes.

Half of getting ready to take a certification exam is learning how to retake standardized tests. Words like Except and always and multiple choice multiple choices = prepared to be crosseyed and Caution ahead for The Most Correct Answer.

The best part of the Olympics is checking out the fashion. Let's face it, after I've seen a few ski jumps or mogul runs, (which hurts my knees to watch), I'm good for four more years. I enjoyed the parade of nations and colorful outerwear, and now love all the lycra and sequins of the figure skaters.

St.Valentine's Day was lovely, (well except for the cold), love is truly all around us.**

So, what's new with you?

*Shamelessly derivative of Mrs.Spits, Monday Miscellany.
**The Troggs Song

Los Angeles Sunrise for Pink Saturday

Thank you for sharing in the beauty of this recent sunrise outside my front door.



Happy Valentine's Day and may Cupid's arrow find you or at least something equally as delicious, like the blog, One Perfect Bite.

I would like to extend Get Well Greetings to Beverly, host of Pink Saturday, in addition to my appreciation for her hosting this meme.

Totem Poles in LA for the Color Carnival

I hope you enjoy these colorful totem poles from the Bel Air Community School. Why an elementary school has totem poles, I have no idea.




Thank you to Martha Menagerie for hosting the Color Carnival and wishing you a colorful week.

Paintball Birthday Party for Almost Wordless Wednesday

Providing suburban security since 2010.
You got to have balls, that is paint balls to run with this posse.

Notes to Self- Dog, Superbowl, and Work

I found out this weekend after a visit to the emergency vet, that there are serious consequences to having a Dog who is a Foreign Object Ingestor. (Right, Mr. and Mrs.Spit and Delta?) I also learned you can give canned pumpkin and petromalt to a dog with quite effective results. I don't think I have ever been so happy to have my dog do his "business".
Note to Self- No more stuffed toys or dog beds.

Our family hosted the Superbowl party by default because, well, no one else offered to, and that's just the way it goes with our circle of friends who are allergic to entertaining. We went with a New Orleans food theme, serving Red Beans and Rice, and Buffalo Shrimp along with great potluck deliciousness. I watched one commercial and about 5 minutes of the game, but got to catch up with a bunch of friends, so that's the real Win right there. Plus, I am beyond thrilled for my family in N'Awlins and the city too.
Note to Self- Move the Big Screen TV and satellite box a Day or Two before the party, Not Two Hours before.

I am having to bring my best game to work these days. I am dealing with stuff they don't teach you about in Nursing school like how to be present and listen to someone who is going blind or will never get off dialysis. I have learned that I can't fix everything as a RN, but I can empathize and advocate which is also healing.
Note to Self- After 28 years, I think I'm finally getting the practice, art, and science of this Nursing Profession down. But I am still learning.

Any notes to self for you?

Pink and Pumpkins round the Neighborhood

A most fun color combination is Pink and Orange which I captured in abundance last fall at our local pumpkin patch and neighborhood.

These Big Mac pumpkins have to be lifted by two adults, but this little girl looks as if she's game to give it a try.
This little piggy loved his ears being scratched and was very friendly at the petting zoo.
Here's my neighbor's "piebald" miniature daschund, Chloe. Doesn't she look adorable next to the pink azalea?


Thank you for your visit and to Beverly for the Ring Around The Rosy of Pink Saturday and to Yaya for Orange Ya Glad.

What are your favorite color combinations?

What I've Been Up to...

Here's what I've been up to-


Cleaning, decluttering, and purging my office of 9 years of accumulated stuff. It's humbling, I've put approximately 90 gallons of paper into the recycling bin. Hmm, about 10 gallons for every year. And that doesn't include the personal financial papers I am taking to be shredded. I regularly get rid of paperwork and dislike clutter, but my home office has become the Catch All for memorabilia, in addition to the home filing and financial center, disc jockey booth, workout and crafting room, and my professional work space. Decluttering and paring down requires so many decisions and the mind numbing sorting of what to Keep and File, or Donate, Discard, or Recycle. (And the Dusting!! How does it get so incredibly dusty INSIDE OF A Cabinet?!?) The hardest part, however, was getting started. Now that I am 75% finished, I am started to feel really great about the end result and I am looking forward to enjoying the results of my efforts.

In between sorting photos and bank statements, I am also posting about taking care of your "largest organ", (your skin), over at The Motivation Station today.

Thank you and please let me know what you've been up to...

It Takes a Suburb

In Africa, in the villages of Kijita (Wajita), there is a proverb which says 'Omwana ni wa bhone,' meaning regardless of a child's biological parent(s), its upbringing belongs to the community. This proverb recognizes the concept of humans as social creatures and is not a threat to parental authority, but instead supports it. This is anthropology 101, we are not raising our kids on some isolated island like the movie, Castaway, or the book, Lord of The Flies.

When our sons can express themselves politely and clearly to people of all ages, that's a village.

When I express my concern to another parent about seeing their child do something unsafe, that's a village.

To teach your child to respect their coach, teacher, or elder is giving them a gift, whether it takes place in an actual village in Africa or a suburb in Los Angeles.

I don't know want to know more about someone else's child than the parent does. It's not always pleasant, not always easy, but it's necessary.

Several years ago, my neighbor's 16 year old son was teaching the younger kids how to burn bugs with a magnifying glass. (Can you say, Serial killer in the making?) The only thing burning after I was done with him were his ears, face, and neck from shame.

About a year ago, this 16 y/o's younger brother "borrowed" my son's skateboard and conveniently told his mom that my son gave it to him. I disabused the mother of that notion and the young man also, and now he steers well clear of all of us.

Smart kid.

What does it take to raise the young ones in your neck of the woods?