Seeing Red on Rednesday Mar 30.11

. . I'm linking up once again this Wednesday to REDnesday at It's a Very Cherry World. Today I'm wearing one of my favorite blouses -- in red -- and with it, I'm wearing one of my new Value Village necklaces. This blouse makes me feel energized and ready to work!. Colors can affect us in many ways. There are warm and cool colors, colors that can rev you up and colors that can calm you down. Red has always been a positive, "up" color for me. . But this morning, there's something that's making me see red. And that subject is bullying. . bull ying. . . There's been a report on the local TV and radio for the past 2 days about a young 15 yr old high school girl who killed. You can read a little about it here Bullied teen's death sparks campaign - Nova Scotia - CBC .... . Jenna was being treated for depression; she had her good days and her bad days; but she was working hard to overcome this condition. She was a good student and an accomplished musician who sang and played guitar; she even taped herself and put the clips online. But for the past year or two, she has been bullied relentlessly, so much so that she had left school -- at the school's suggestion! But the bullying continued. She received countless messages from school "mates" (for lack of a better word) telling her she was a loser, that she might as well kill herself because she was no good, etc, etc. She hung herself! . Jenna and her Mom had been working with the school system. After her death, Jenna's Mom went to the school, the school board and then to the local police with computer proof of this bullying. Need I say that all her efforts to date have been fruitless; so she's decided to go public with this story to bring awareness to this growing problem.

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I understand that we've tied the hands of our teachers and school authorities when it comes to discipline. But people, this is a young girls life! Dead at 15! Come on! If Mom has the messages with the senders names clearly in print, if all her friends and probably some of her teachers know who the culprits are, surely we can do something to hold the perpetrators accountable and bring justice to this child's senseless death.

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Bullying must be stopped. We are raising a generation of children who not only have a displaced sense of entitlement, but they also have little or no fear of authority. They're smart enough to know when we mean what we say; and theoretically smacking someone's hand doesn't frighten them at all.

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My children were never the victims of bullying, at least not for long. But I know kids who have been victimized. I'm angry! I'm angry with our school system, and I'm angry with our legal system. I'm angry enough that I'm entertaining thoughts of good-ole vigilante justice being a solution when the law falls short.

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We've got to protect these innocents!

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Shoesday March 29.11

I was on my way to the airport on Saturday, so I took a detour through Bayer's Lake and visited Value Village. There were lots of shoes in my size. This cart had 18 pairs for me to try on. .

I narrowed it down to these 3 pairs; and I choose the 2 black pairs as the wine colored flats were too expensive at $12.99 and I wasn't in love with them.

The black walking shoes are Naturalizers -- very comfy and a steal at $5.99. The "Bravo Browns" (never heard of them before) were $8.99 but they have leather uppers and are also wonderfully comfy with their little wedge .... and very stylish, I think.

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At church this Sunday, I walked out in these great little Naturalizers......

and I paired them with my favorite spring handbag. That splash of vibrant blue can lighten even a cold and windy day like Sunday was here on the South Shore of NS!.

I'm just doing my part to remind people that it's spring.

It's a state of mind, ya know!

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What are you wearing this Shoesday?

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The Royal Mail Arrived

. I love it when the mail arrives. The anticipation of there being something interesting in that little grey vinyl box far overshadows the bills and the junk mail that arrive almost daily. But last week, I had a good reason to get excited about it. . I received a fat envelope in the mail!. But look closer. OMG! I got "royal mail"! I know that I am the daughter of the King of Kings. (Thank you, Lord.) And I know that I'm also a Thrifting Queen and the Princess of Quite a Lot. But royal mail! . Wow; let's open it and see what's inside!! Is this an invitation to the royal wedding?. Ahhhh, not yet! (Must be late sending some of them out.) But this is something that's equally as good. It's the giveaway package I won all the way from the UK from Jeanne at http://www.collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com/. And it was a surprise package so I have no idea what it contains. I love surprise packages! . . Let's see what's inside that wrapping. .

• There's bag of chocolate, 2 gorgeous Cath Kidson tea towels (my first) and a new paperback. How delightful (and delicious). .

Thank you so much Jeanne. I love my goodies; and I love the thrill it brought me just seeing it there. . Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some reading (and some eating) to do. . Happy Monday! . . .

Life without Oprah

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I'm not a huge fan of Oprah myself. I mean, she's okay; and I do occasionally watch her show. But I for one will not miss her when she's gone.
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And is she ever really going to be gone? Like ... isn't there an Oprah network now? Aren't we still going to see her face everywhere? When is enough enough, Oprah? I mean really!

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G o ... h o m e , Oprah!

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Yeah, that's right: pick one of your houses and GO HOME!
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Put on your slippers and watch a little MTV. Organize your linen closet; make some beef stroganoff for Steadman; walk the dogs; weed the garden. Or even better yet, volunteer at your local food bank or read to seniors. Just hang up the scepter and crown and just ... "BE"!
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Still, in honor of Oprah's announced aka rumored, sort-of impending, more "it's all relative", and "I'll-believe-it-when-I-see-it" departure, I think this little video is appropriate! Plus it's a hoot!



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(PS - I expect to see Maxine Lapiduss on Oprah any time ..... that is, unless she's already been on and I wasn't watching. Could well be!)
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A Prayer for the World

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I add my voice in this song of prayer. Can you hear me singing?

For the people of Japan,

and Libya;

for our family and friends and neighbours

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Hear Our Prayer

Music by Steve Bell,

Lyric by Steve Bell and Jamie Howison

Now we pray to You Father for peace in the world

For the right use of all You have given

A respect for creation in us be restored

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

And we pray for the poor of the world everywhere

And for all those who suffer from hunger and fear

For those who are homeless – for those who need care

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

Now we pray for those close to us, those who have needs

For the friends that we love and for all our families

For these loved ones we pray Jesus grant them Your peace

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

And we pray for ourselves for forgiveness of sins

For the evil around that is born from within

And we ask You oh God that You heal us again

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

Now in closing we ask You dear Father on our knees

Lord for mercy on all those we call our enemies

So that all might be one in Your love and Your peace

Lord in Your mercy Hear our prayer

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Shoesday Mar 22.11

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Friends are like shoes .....

Without them you go nowhere.







Today I'm featuring another pair of my latest thrift shop shoe purchases. I bought these gorgeous little black ballet flats at Value Village a few weeks ago for $5.99. They're quite comfy with their pretty silver quilted lining.. And although today is cool and overcast, it's still spring. So I'm wearing my deep rose colored shirt (which reminds me of some tulips I have planted in my garden) and co-ordinating jewellry. Stacey and Clinton say you shouldn't be too matchy-matchy with your clothes and accessories; that it's not cool to dress that way. But I'm old, and sometimes I just don't listen to these young whipper-snappers!

THIS .....................

Stacey and Clinton, is too matchy-matchy.
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My co-ordinating jewellery is just fine.
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Happy Shoesday!

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Happy Spring!

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Spring arrived this afternoon; and it was evident here in Nova Scotia. The sun was shining brightly even if a little cold. I could hear the outdoors calling me. So, after church, I changed into my work duds and donned my gardening sneakers and headed out.
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I didn't take all of the thick leaf blanket off my flower beds; we could yet get snow. But I could help but have a closer look. It was marvelous! It filled my heart with joy to see all the little buds and bits of green.
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After lolly-gagging around, peeping and smiling, I set myself to work at the leaves on the lawn. I needed the Vitamin D and the work-out.
I worked so hard and so long, that I actually broke the handle on my rake! But while I was working, I got to listen to the water in my little brook. What a sweet sound!
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I rewarded my hard work with a late lunch. I can't remember what these flat, thin, crisp, cornmeal taco-type shells are called; they're Mexican and they're very good! I dressed them up with a tuna salad made with shredded carrots and green onions, topped them with a little shredded cheddar, popped them under the broiler, and then gave them a nice dollop of sour cream and a touch of salsa. Yum, yum!
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My tootsies ache,there's a bit of a blister started on one finger, my back is a little sore and stiff and I feel deliciously exhausted. Collateral damage.
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I am happy!
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The love of the Irish!

I associate St Patrick's Day with 2 of my favorite people.

1. My gorgeous daughter Amy, who turns 24 today. Wish I could be with her to drink green beer and eat corned beef and cabbage and soda bread and talk about the Irish nurse-midwife who delivered her without a doctor being present! Wish I could tell her face to face how much in love I fell with her ...... how I used to lie on the bed and stare at her and marvel that such beauty and perfection came from me. (Well, yeah! AND her dad.) Wish I could tell her face to face that I still feel the same way. Guess I'll have to telephone!




2. My darling Irish friend Antonia who was a rock the spring before my marriage broke up. She used to come by my house most evenings between 6:30 and 7:30 to see if I wanted to go for a walk (aka take a breather from the stress). If we were still at the dinner table, she would turn her head sideways at the open window and say (in her Irish lilt): "Hello! Should I come in and wait? Or should I just go away?" And then later when we were walking, and I'd be bemoaning my ungrateful husband etc etc, she'd fill in the pauses and spaces in my conversation with the perfect responses to make me feel better -- such as (in her Irish lilt) "Oh! The rotten bastard!" She was a very loyal -- and very outspoken -- friend!

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I love them both!

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Happy St Patrick's Day everyone!

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Happy St Urho's Day

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"Legend says St. Urho chased the grasshoppers out of ancient Finland, thus saving the grape crop and the jobs of Finnish vineyard workers. He did this by uttering the phrase: “Heinäsirkka, heinäsirkka, mene täältä hiiteen” -- roughly translated: “Grasshopper, grasshopper, go to Hell!”."

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All I can say is HUGE cudoos to the Finns for having weather nice enough on March 16th that the grasshoppers had multiplied in such numbers that they needed to be driven out.

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I'll be wearing the appropriate green and purple today and relaxing later with a glass of grape juice.

SHOES-DAY!

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Why celebrate a Tuesday when you can celebrate SHOES-day!

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As a recovering foot breaker, I'm always on the lookout for comfortable shoes -- these days, mostly flats. I look for them at all the shoe stores and thrift stores; I look for them online and in catalogues; and I look for them on other people's feet and on boot trays and front hallway mats everywhere!

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So, when I leave the little town of Bridgewater and go to the bustling metropolis of Halifax, the city is literally my big shoe store! There's only so much a girl can do in 2 days, but I do my best. And having a keen eye for a bargain, when I see a "SALE" sign at Naturalizer, my spidey-sense tingles.

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Extremely comfortable and $29.95! A great bargain.

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What's in your SHOES-day closet?

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Korean Food

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We had a lovely time in the city. I shopped the little Korean drawers off those 2 students. (Teens today just have no stamina!).
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Friday morning, we went to see "Sue" at the Museum of Natural History.

"Sue" is big!!

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The girls had fun as well. They really enjoyed the life-sized exhibits of local animals and birds as well as the aquariams with the live exhibits of frogs, snakes and salamanders.
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The funniest part of the day was driving across the bridge from Dartmouth to Halifax and taking a wrong turn down Gottingen Street. While I was thinking about how to get to the museum, I heard a flurry of loud Korean from the back seat and then:
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"Stop! Stop! Stop! Korean food! Korean food!"

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I parked the car, and they ran excitedly back a block to this great little Korean food store where they spent a small fortune on things I'd never seen or heard of before. They were so happy!
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Saturday night, the girls treated Eunjin's host mom and dad and me to a wonderful Korean meal.Kimchi pancakes, dumplings and a concoction of rice cakes, noodles and a hot spicy sauce (which the girls said was a failure but we thoroughly enjoyed).

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They even cleaned up afterwards.What great little girls they are!

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Now, if only we could understand half of what they say ............... IN ENGLISH!
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But I'm sure time will remedy that.
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Thrifty Thursday Mar 10.11

Thursday in NS looks like another fine day to head into spring! Although it's quite cold outside (-4 to -6 degrees) AND although there's a chance of flurries later this afternoon (I was born in Newfoundland so I just laugh in the face of danger!!), I can not get downhearted when I know what's just outside my door?

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Look at these beauties! (And the pics are fuzzy 'cause I was shivering from the cold when I was snapping them.)

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This purse is my latest thrifty find. It was at my favorite local thrift shop, The Daisy, and I picked it up for $5! It's in primo condition and is genuine leather. (I did the authentic sniff test!) I love all it's compartments -- more room for me to lose things in!

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I haven't done much thrift shopping lately. But that will change today.

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This afternoon, I'm heading to the airport so my Mexican daughter can jet off to New York and Washington on a school trip. (Rough life, huh? We used to walk in the woods on "field trips" or sometimes go to the Arts and Culture Centre to swim; she goes to New York!!) Then 2 little giggly Korean girls and I will shop in the city for the next 2 days; the closest we'll get to New York is possibly eating at East Side Marios!

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Ah, but that's okay! Although I will not stroll down the streets of Broadway or see the Empire State Building, I shall have oodles of fun strolling down the aisles of Value Village and Home Sense and visiting Sue at the Museum of Natural History in Halifax .....

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and eating ice cream!

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That's a much thriftier but still pretty darned good substitute "Field Trip".

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Please drop by to see what other people have for Thrifty Thursday at Tales from Bloggeritaville. ..

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FAT TUESDAY & INTERNAT WOMEN'S DAY

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How unfortunate that today had to be both International Women's Day and Fat Tuesday! Now we women have to be even stronger and more amazing than usual in order to not connect the two in a negative way. Those nasty double entendres!

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But we can do it because we are so darned amazing!

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Happy International Women's Day to the amazing female bloggers out there. Don't ever doubt for one minute that as a woman you are anything less than a marvelous multi-faceted multi-tasking creation!

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Hear us roar, Charlie Sheen!

We don't need no stinkin' tiger blood

('cause there seems to be something a little wonky about that stuff!)

We are lionesses!

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Today I will remind all the young women in my house and home of how beautiful they are. (Roar!) And I will serve pancakes for Fat Tuesday aka Shrove Tuesday.

My wonderful pancakes will be full of healthy good things like oats and honey and bananas and strawberries ... because we deserve to put the best in our bodies ..........

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as well as a good drizzle of maple syrup and a generous dollop of whipped cream ... because we are so darned sweet!

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Roar!

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Weekend Excitement

Oh dear me! I haven't been this excited in quite some time. Why, you ask?


I awoke Saturday morning and immediately hefted my fleece sheets and woolen blanket off my body. Phew! I was hot! (In oh so many ways!)
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Tell us something we don't already know, you say?
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Why was my ample bosom flushed and heaving with perspiration, you ask? It was a balmy 7 degrees Celsius (45 deg F) in Bridgewater at 7 am on March 5th!
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I looked out the window at the side garden and saw something I haven't seen since last November: dirt!.
It went up to 12 deg (54 deg F) that afternoon, people! It was gorgeous! Made me feel like I should go out and play hopscotch! I did my shopping that day wearing my walking shoes and a sweater! (... and pants and a shirt etc. I know I'm hot, but I'm also modest!)
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Sunday was another gorgeous day with temperatures being the same! So after church, I took a careful walk around some parts of the garden (avoiding the icy patches and/or boggy areas). And I found what I hoped to find!
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Tulips!

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Crocus!

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Now, I'm not about to boldly declare quite yet that spring has come to Nova Scotia. I know from my nearly 30 years experience with this lovely province that we will probably see snow again.

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But winter is beaten, ladies and gentlemen!

The war is over!

Even if a skirmish or two may come our way, we have won!
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Ahhhh! I can hear my garden whispering sweet nothings in my ears; and I am once again dreaming of dirty fingernails and stained knees! It's exciting!

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Hello Friday! I've missed you. It seems like forever since I've been with you even though I know it's only been 7 days. WOW! I love you Friday!

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I just want to tell you how much you mean to me and how important you are in my life. Why ... what would I do without you? How would I start the weekend?

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Without you:

• I couldn't say "TGIF" to all my peeps!


• I wouldn't have a valid excuse for saying "Natchos and K-dinner for supper girls!"


• I'd have no half day of work.


• I wouldn't feel justified in stopping by my favorite thrift shop on my way home from said half day of work.


• "Fringe" would be missing from the television lineup ...... and man! I'd be royally pee-oed! (I'd probably have to eat a lot more potato chips and maybe even a full-sized Blizzard!)


• I wouldn't be able to look forward to a leisurly Saturday morning with the crossword, fresh coffee and tomorrow bacon.

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Friday ............... You Rock!

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REDNESDAY Mar 2.11

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It's a cool but sunny Rednesday in my neck of the woods. I stood at my bedroom window to soak in some of that Vitamin D but someone wasn't happy. This little fellow complained quite loudly until I went back to applying my makeup. Hope he wasn't complaining about my looks!

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Shelagh at http://aliceinparislovesartandtea.blogspot.com had a 50% off sale on Valentine's Day which I quickly took advantage of: Shelagh's paintings are so sharp, bright and cheerful. The 2 prints arrived last week. Aren't they beautiful!

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Today is a perfect day to advertise your "rosy" outlook on life by wearing a splash of red. And may I be so bold as to stretch that to red hues .................. such as my gorgeous bordeaux colored boots, purchased last fall at a Toronto vintage shop.

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As well, I brought along some of my newest acquisitions from Frenchy's to wear at work -- these strawberry suede peep-toes, purchased recently for $4.00. They are very comfortable, and look at that wedge! My foot feels fine in it! .
I'm linking up with the rest of my Rednesday buddies today at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com. Be sure to check out more red loveliness!
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Now, I'll publish this post and make some Red Zinger tea before I begin work for the day. Hope it's sunny where you are -- if not weather-wise then in your spirit!.
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