The Queens of Karaoke

Dorethea Belts Out Living On A Prayer

Went to Karaoke Night at a local trashy dive pub last night to celebrate a dear friend's birthday... holy mother of American Idol wannabe's.  Really.truly.amazing.  If you are in need of a truly excellent belly laugh, haul yourself out to watch your local plumber get his Bon Jovi on... entertaining does not even begin to describe the experience of watching your friends, neighbors and every other average Joe bust out their inner rock star. Did I sing, you ask?  Do I know EVERY last word of EVERY obscure song ever written?  Pretty much... am I getting up on that stage to let you hear how awesome I KNOW I sound when belting them out in my car?  Not a snowball's chance...

When Handsome Hubby first started traveling to Japan for business, his Japanese co-workers told him he was required to have a "signature karaoke song" before he went... seriously?  Let's think on that, shall we... what would your signature karaoke song be, should it be part of your job requirements?

Karaoke Chicken

Almost Wordless Wednesday

You know, I have a hard time with the whole wordless thing...

Can't you hear it calling your name?

You Say Tomato...

I wonder if the folks who sell those red round imposters in the grocery store they call tomatoes have ever tasted one of these homegrown goodies, because if they have I'm thinking they would have to call them something else... like cardboard.

No garden of your own?  Check out these fun "heirloom" tomato finds...

Vintage Tomato Pincushions

Big Fat Tomato Salt and Pepper Shakers

Pair of Tomato Wall Pockets

1000...

1000 Vintage Paper Hearts

Purely by accident while playing around on my blog, I noticed the number 1000... 1000 amazingly awesome kind comments from YOU, my very favorite readers!  Keep 'em coming, because they quite simply make my day and rock my little bloggy world.  As Dear Daughter would say... LOVE YOU MORE!

Twinkle Toes...

I am normally pretty conservative in the nail polish department... french on my hands (or maybe super dark purple around the holidays if I'm feeling a little wild and CRAZY) and bright pink or red on my toes.  I've become a bit obsessed with the new Shellac manicures.  Honest to goodness, this stuff stays shiny, chip-free and FAB for a good 14 days... three weeks if I'm a really good girl and don't spray paint them or use them to open coke cans. This manicure right here is four days old and looking good as new...

Lately I've been reading so many great fashion blogs by everyday chicks like me, I was inspired to step out of that boring box where my little piggies live.  Ummmm... not so sure about this box however...

In honor of our summer swim team champs meet that is coming up I was thinking green, but just couldn't go whole hog GATOR GREEN and ended up with Mermaid Tears by OPI which is more of a turquoise (we just saw Pirates of the Carribean, so it seemed appropriate although I still argue that mermaids are NOT evil and will not kiss you, bite you, and then drag you to the bottom of the ocean to kill you... I prefer my mermaids of the Ariel variety, thank you very much).

Except every time I catch a glimpse of my toes I think they either have frostbite or have molded.  And of course Sweet Son walked in on the toe photo session (Uh mom... WHY are you taking pictures of your feet?).

If YOU are feeling way more rebellious than you will ever catch me being (or if you are a TWEEN because Dear Daughter and her friends are ALL OVER THIS) you could try the new Sally Hansen Crackle Overcoat.  Dear Daughter will be sporting the Distressed Denim in this combo for the meet this weekend to represent our Green and Blue Gator team colors...

Yeah... good for her, but Mama is NOT going in that box.

Almost Wordless Wednesday...

I'm beginning to think someone in my house needs a pie intervention...

And The Winner Is...

Vintage Photograph - Queen and her Court

In the event that our winner cannot fulfill their role... 

oh wait, never mind.  

The WINNER of the

UPCYCLED VINTAGE SHABBY DRY-ERASE BOARD

is ELIZABETH W!

Thanks to ALL of you rockin' readers who participated... stay tuned for more groovy givewaways to come!

Ode to Big Daddy...

Ten Important Life Lessons My Daddy Taught Me 

(and yes, I still call him Daddy... it's a Southern thing, y'all)

1. To have an appreciation for "Saturday Night Live", MAD magazine, the movie AIRPLANE, and anything to do with The Muppets (I have been accused by certain members of my family of sharing a few of Miss Piggy's better qualities).
2. How to tie and untie a knot in a cherry stem with my tongue... you have no idea how handy this little skill can be in some social situations.
3. To read GOOD books.  Ok, so he sort of forced me to do this (and give a book report back to him), but I guess his plan worked because The Good Earth is still my all-time favorite.
4. How to drive a stick shift... even though I didn't get my license until I was almost 17 because I couldn't get through an intersection without stalling out and ending in a hysterical crying fit because he yelled at me.  But whatever, I love to drive a stick!
5. The importance of knowing how to play a good hand of poker (and yes, he makes you bet money even if you are his elementary school grandchild).
6. That you must not be a fair weather fan... even if your team NEVER wins when they should (because there's always next year) because you never know when they just might surprise you (how 'bout those Commodores in the College World Series!).
7. That no matter how busy or important you think you are, there is always time for a good vacation... preferably by a beach, close to a golf course, with seafood involved.
8. To appreciate ALL genres of music... HELLO Rolling Stones, Keb Mo', Dwight Yoakam, and BB King. 
9. That sometimes there is nothing wrong with going to the movies by yourself (because I don't have to share popcorn or laugh at things I don't think are funny).
10. That no matter how much they can make you crazy sometimes, family is the best thing in life and loving and being there for them unconditionally is the most important thing you will ever do as a person...

Happy Father's Day, Daddy!

Book Club Review: The Lotus Eaters by Tatjana Soli

Ok, I'm going to start this with a confession, get it off my chest and be done with it... I DID NOT FINISH THE BOOK (insert lightning strike).  There, I said it.  I totally would have picked this book, it seemed like something I would enjoy, but halfway through when I was CHOOSING to unload the dishwasher rather than read ONE MORE WORD, I bailed.  Cannot put my finger on what it was I disliked so much... her writing style made me a little crazy, I didn't really connect with any of the characters, the subject matter was depressing at a time I didn't feel like being depressed... I don't know, but this one definitely was not for me.  Fortunately for you, most of my book club differed with my opinion (not the first or the last time)... so my recommendation would be for you to decide for yourself. 

Regardless, it was yet another fun-filled evening with my gals, The Lit Wits (THANK YOU Lauren for our new name!)... The Lotus Eaters is set in the Vietnam War, and we were treated to some awesome food from a local Vietnamese noodle house.  

Look at us, thinking we are so savvy and chic, chopsticks and everything... and yes, they have figured me out (LESLI, watch out... she's going to BLOG you!).   WhatEVAH... I think they secretly dig their newfound celebrity status.  She posed, didn't she?

Apparently we have a new member... meet MS. BELL.  Put eight smart, opinionated, strong loud women around a table, add food and wine and a HOT topic and what do you get?  THE VIEW on steroids... enter, MS. BELL.  Ring the bell and IN THEORY you get the floor... that's how it is supposed to work anyway.  But considering she wasn't doing her job very well, I think Ms.Bell is still on probationary status... 

Of course, it wouldn't be book club without Jana's notes.  Seriously, this is what happens when a corporate woman becomes a stay-at-home mom... JUST SAYIN'... but how much DO we love Jana?!?

For dessert and to celebrate the lovely Teri's birthday... Snickers Pie and Red Velvet Cupcakes.  I'm sure you had no idea these were Vietnamese delicacies... really... would I lie?

And finally... Jana (yes, the same Jana of the Type A note taking... she's complex) brought party favors (I won't explain the significance so as not to be a spoiler, but she had to do some serious sweet talking at the local pharmacy to snag 8 empty pill bottles... I'm thinking with the 4 year old tagging along she didn't look much like a drug dealer) and sparklers again.  I'm not really sure why we keep ending the night by lighting stuff on fire, but hey, I'm not going to argue... 

Ready for The Lit Wit's next selection?  It's a "chickaliscious" read (yep, one member who will remain anonymous  birthday girl  nearly stroked out at this description... she likes SERIOUS literature people!) perfect to accompany you while lounging by a body of water with a drink sporting a little pink umbrella. 

Until next month, Book Clubbers... 

Old Glory...

You're the emblem of

The land I love.

The home of the free and the brave.

~George M. Cohan

The American Flag Barn Print

American Chair - Fine Art Photograph

Vintage Folk Art Suitcase

300 and a GIVEAWAY I say!

To quote my very funny (very Southern) friend Jennifer, "OH MY GRANNY!"... I've hit 300 fabulous, fine, fun, friendly followers!  Can we get a WOO HOO?  In just six short weeks I have added another 100 of you rockin' readers and when I told Dear Daughter this morning she said, "You need to have another giveaway!"  

Well alrighty then, here goes...easy peasy lemon squeezy!

This time I'm giving away this

UPCYCLED VINTAGE SHABBY DRY-ERASE BOARD...

Write everything from your menu or grocery list to your daily to-do lists on this terrific chic dry-erase board. When it's time to start a new list, just wipe clean and begin again. This vintage standing frame has been given new life with burlap under glass making it the perfect canvas for all your important memos. Measuring 9" x 7", it will include a dry-erase marker ready to get you started.  This will be a PERFECT addition to any kitchen, office, classroom or dorm room... 

HOW TO ENTER

To enter the Upcycled Shabby Vintage Dry Erase Board Giveaway, you can either:

1) Become a FOLLOWER of the Orangie's Attic Blog via Google Friend Connect, Networked Blogs, Blog Lovin' or Email Subscription and leave a comment letting me know which you choose.

BUT I AM ALREADY A FAITHFUL (BELOVED) FOLLOWER, YOU SAY?

In that case you can...

2) "Like" Orangies Attic on Facebook, then come back here and leave a comment letting me know you're a fan.

OR

3) "Follow" Orangies Attic on Twitter then come back here and leave a comment to let me know you are a follower.

OR

4) "Favorite my etsy shop at Orangie's Attic and come back here and leave a comment to let me know you now love me.

OR if you are just SO FABULOUS that you have already done each and every one of these things, 
5) TWEET this giveaway just like this: "I'm hoping to win this awesome Upcycled Shabby Vintage Dry Erase Board from @orangiesattic on @orangiesattic's blog http://bit.ly/fLtOvR" and leave a comment letting me know you TWEETED me!
6) Go to my Etsy Shop and leave me a comment with a 

LINK to the item you love best.

Only ONE entry per person, so please note that you only have to do one of the above to enter.  I'm all about easy...and FREE, and  FUN, FUN, FUN! 

And again, in the immortal words of Charlie Sheen...

“I’m not bi-polar, I’m bi-winning. I win here and I win there.”

And one more thing, make sure I have a way to contact you if you win - an email address or a username to message you via Facebook, Twitter, Etsy convo, Blogger, etc. because if I can't contact you, I will be forced to chose another winner, and that would just plain suck for you.

Giveaway is open to US residents & International residents with restrictions - see official rules for details

Giveaway ends Sunday, June 19th, 2011 at noon PST. Winner will be announced shortly after.

OFFICIAL RULES

• Giveaway closes on Sunday, June 19th, 2011 at noon PST. Comment datestamps must be recorded by that date/time to be eligible. Winner will be chosen by random drawing and will be announced on Monday, June 20th, 2011.
• The giveaway is open to both US and International participants. I will provide free priority USPS shipping to US participants and free first class shipping to International participants. INTERNATIONAL PARTICIPANTS PLEASE READ: International winner must pay for any customs duties, fees, levies, and/or taxes. I am willing to expedite shipping for international shipments if winner is willing to make up difference between first class mail and international express. Payable via PayPal.
• Minors under the age of 18 must have parental/guardian permission to enter (if you are under 18, I will need to contact your parent(s)/guardian if you win and make sure they said it was okay-so ask permission beforeyou enter).
• I will announce the winner on my blog and make every attempt to contact the winner. You must leave your email address in your comment, or a place where I can message you via Facebook, Twitter, Etsy, etc. If the winner doesn't respond within 10 days, a new winner will be chosen.
• All Orangie's Attic Shop Policies apply to the winning item as if it was a purchased item from Etsy. By entering the giveaway you are complying to all Shop Policies as they are laid out on Etsy. Also by entering this giveaway, you are complying to the official rules as they have been laid out here :)
• Thank you for entering and good luck!   

Label Love...

In my ongoing  losing battle to achieve better organization, I recently purchased a label maker.  My sweet friend Anna is the queen of label making... her kitchen is so flippin' organized, oh my gracious I have a serious case of Pantry Envy (I don't even COOK) and that is about all I have to say about that.  While my kitchen will never remotely approach the beauty of Anna's perfectly labeled and alphabetized rows of staples, I decided to give it a go...

Label Makers have come a LONG way since those little punch out kind we had back in "the day".  Who didn't have one of these?

After some searching I found this brand new and still in the package (for a steal) on ebay.  It can do all kinds of fancy stuff I have yet to have the time or patience to figure out, but I did achieve a basic label and so set to work labeling my life...

P Touch Stylish Labeler

Don't you just love these adorable Paula Deen Cookie Tins?  Found them on clearance at Michael's and thought they would make great storage containers for some of my craft crap supplies.. except I got TONS of them ($2 each, do you blame me?) and had to pull every one out of the shelves to find what I was looking for... enter the Label Maker!

Then one bright and early morning I'm standing ironing Sweet Son's shirt for school (shhh... don't mention to Handsome Hubby, I never iron HIS shirts), staring into space and notice this on our utility room fridge...

Hmmm... odd, I didn't do that. Glance down and I see this... 

Apparently someone is trying to tell me something.  Considering a certain person in my house once wrote this ODE TO PIE... I have a feeling I know our Label Fairy.  Just a guess, but I think it might be someone who is basically a shorter, cuter version of me.

Jumped in the shower and then grabbed my favorite robe, only to find THIS stuck to the shoulder...

Ok, now I kind of LOVE my label maker.  

Maxi to the MAX!

Hello favorite readers!  I'm back after a bit of an unplanned blog break this past week.  Last week of school here and parties, parties, parties.  Holy quacamole, I don't remember this kind of end of the year celebrating when I was in school.  Good times, but it makes for one tired mama.  That said, it is now officially SUMMER at my house, and THAT makes for one relaxed sun burned margarita fueled HAPPY mama.

With your awesome encouragement, I decided to take the plunge and bought that maxi dress to wear to one of these many shindigs. Much to my surprise, I felt great in it, and Handsome Hubby thought it was the bomb. Here's a pic at Dear Daughter's Sunday Sundae Social (more about that in a later blog)...

I am seriously IN LOVE with my necklace... 

Check out Marilyn's designs at Pulp Sushi.  I get compliments on this stunner every time I put it on, and I think it's gives this dress a perfect pop of color...  I paired it with these Dana Buchman Braided Hoops and this fabulous vintage bangle from 100 Applegate on etsy.

Dana Buchman Braided Hoops

100 Applegate

Unfortunately I didn't get a full length pic, but these are the shoes (also oodles of compliments) which I wore both with the dress to the Social and the night before with skinny white jeans and a black tunic to a comedy club and out dancing.  Even after about four hours of non-stop boogying, these were so comfy I didn't do any permanent foot damage (wish I could say the same for my ears, as they have been ringing since Saturday night due to the EXTREMELY LOUD awesome 80's rock band we were grooving to)... back to the SHOES... so fun!  I am certain I could figure out a way to make these puppies match nearly every summer outfit in my closet...

Kohl's SO Serina Wedge

Dear Daughter's darling little coral pink dress and flower headband? Gap Kids for the dress (along with perfectly matching Gap Kids ballet flats) and Gymboree for the headband (even though MOM THEY ONLY HAVE BABY CLOTHES IN THERE, REALLY?  DO I HAVE TO GO IN THAT STORE?)... all of which she LOVES...but what do I know, I'm just the MOM (who happens to be rockin' a really cute maxi dress).