Lisa's Linens !

The Santa Claus Parade

Every year in St. George, Bermuda they hold a Santa Claus Parade to welcome in the holiday season. Last year I met a lovely woman, Carla Watson, who is the founder and director of the St. George’s Original Dancerettes majorette group. The Dancerettes are a nontraditional majorette group made up of 35 young ladies ages 3-30 who perform to all types of music instead of a drum squad. They carry batons or a prop of their choice and the senior girls twirl fire! They practice twice a week at the St. George’s Community Centre.

The thing that impressed me the most about this group is their motto: dare to be different; an original is always worth more than a copy! These young ladies are combining their love of music and dance to provide a positive contribution to their community.

2011 marks the 20th anniversay of the Dancerettes, to be celebrated at the Heritage Day Parade. Hats off to these young ladies for using their time and talents to accomplish something positive!

The Dancerettes are wearing Elf aprons by Design Imports from LineDriedLinens. Aprons aren’t just for the kitchen anymore! Graphics courtesy of graphics-and-desktop-icons.com and http://free-extras.com/images/santa_claus-2296.htm.

Roh, Roh, It’s Halloween!

One of my favorite holidays growing up was Halloween. My friends and I would all get together and make our costumes in our living room. It was a huge production and highly anticipated. My favorite costume was the Snow Queen, from the story of the same name. I made paper snowflakes with glitter and stapled them to a dress I made from one of my mom’s old sheets. I had a crown and a septor (because you can’t be a queen without a septor). It was quite he ensemble; I thought I was styling and profiling! It was about forth or fifth grade. My brother went as a sack of potatoes in a burlap sack so obviously, we had no theme going. Then my mom took pictures of us before we headed out in search of treats. I still have those pictures.

Now growing up in the midwest, it was not unusual to have snow on Halloween. Therefore, when making your costume, you had to plan for layers underneath to keep warm. I grew up in a town with 284 people, so trick or treating pretty much involved the whole town. You knew who had the best candy, who gave you extra candy and who gave you Charlie Brown rocks! Then after a night of fun and frivolity, you went home and sorted out your take. What would you eat now, what would you swap and what would you give away. It was always a game between my brother and I who could make their candy last the longest. I ALWAYS won!

Today, Halloween is much more commercialized. Items come out in the stores earlier and earlier every year. Schools, churches and business get involved, some calling it the more politically correct “harvest festival” celebration. But for me, Halloween memories will be about spending time with my friends in a small, rural Wisconsin town. In the immortal words of Scooby Doo, “Ruh Roh”! Watch out for villians, my pretties!

Ulster Weavers Kids Aprons and Chef Hats

Ulster Weavers has a great line of children’s aprons and matching chef hats. Television food channels are more and more popular and spark interest in creativity in people of all ages. Cooking is a life skill that everyone should learn. In my generation, many house-hold tasks were seperated by sex. A woman learned how to cook and a man assumed that his mother, girlfriend or wife would cook for him, and a man took care of the yard. So men didn’t learn how to cook or do laundry and women never learned how to cut grass or take out the garbage. I’m sooo glad we are past that phase of growth as people!

My brother and I were fortunate because our parents treated us as equals in the chore department. My brother is an excellent cook and I can cut my own grass! I’ve taken this philosophy with my son. He has a passion for cooking. So encourage your children, let them dress the part, help them learn. Knowledge is never wasted. Let’s watch our friends make some monkey smoothies!

Make Them Laugh!

I’m just one bad relationship away from having 30 cats! And if I didn’t have allergies and asthma, I probably would! Ladies, and Gentleman, I’m sure many of us have had this attitude entering back into the dating circus after years of being in a long-term relationship. I think that’s one reason I love Ephemera’s sassy dish towels; they have attitude and spunk! They seem to know just how to say what you were thinking without you actualy having to be politically incorrect! And I don’t know about you, but I like a little sas while I’m drying my dishes. Sometimes humor makes life’s little chores more tolerable when you can laugh about them. So have a little fun cleaning, unless of course you have money to pay someone else to clean for you! Then you really do get the last laugh! Happy birthday, Lucy!

Licensed Lovies – Childhood Friends

Who were your children’s favorite storybook friends? Paddington Bear? Peter Rabbit? And who are your grandchildren’s favorite TV friends? Yo Gabba Gabba? Olivia? Well now, Komet Creations has created a new line of licensed Lovies security plush with your children’s favorite storybook and TV friends! Peter Rabbit, Paddington Bear, Max and Ruby (coming soon), Yo Gabba Gabba and the Wiggles, all of your children’s friends come to life! Excuse me. Lovie? What’s a Lovie? A Lovie is a cozy security plush toy, half stuffed animal, half blanket, made of soft, huggable fabric are they the perfect sleepy-time friend. They are washable and safety test approved for children of all ages. And they have a satin trim and heart that can be embroidered. Who was your best friend as a child? Your blankie? Your Teddy? Help your child create memories with a Lovie friend. Now, let’s listen to an important message from our friends.