Re: Toni's First Communion

Enufstuff · ‎03-12-2010

Enufstuff · ‎03-12-2010

@lynnie61 The ZipZip to me, is the perfect bag, even though it is a little heavy. I bought it in six colors and got matching wallets.

For a while, I have been carrying a red one and attached a large purse charm that is a red enamel on gold,with crystals dragon, for the Chinese lunar year of the dragon.

Soon, I'll take out my turquoise Zip Zip and then the white one for summer. I have another Dooney bag,but I don't remember the style name. The leather is a lovely pale aqua and the front and back each have a section, the color of straw and embossed to have a straw texture and I got the wallet to match.

I like a lot of the Vera prints, but they are limited in use because I don't carry them when I wear prints in clothing, only solid colors. I do get cosmetic bags and eyeglass cases to match the bags. My favorite is the Daisy Dot Paisley from a few years ago. I got a tote and several matching accessory pieces.

It has been years since I bought a summer straw and brown leather bag. I had a gift card from Christmas from Macy's and I found a bag made by Nine West. I got it a few weeks ago and it is cute. It's a little smaller than a Zip Zip, light weight, has a nice fabric lining and inside pockets. It is not a high end bag, but seems to be well made and nice for summer. I love satchel type bags.

Enufstuff · ‎03-12-2010

@DSD2 Thank you so much. I'm glad that you enjoy seeing Toni and her outfits.

PABoater · ‎10-07-2015

Huh?????

Enufstuff · ‎03-12-2010

@PINKdogWOOD Thank you very much. Dotted Swiss was a very popular fabric years ago and it seems that quite a few of us wore it. You can't get it in stores now. I go on Etsy and buy vintage fabrics and trims for my doll dresses.

Your silver and marcasite cross must be beautiful. That is wonderful that you still have that special piece of jewelry.

My grandfather passed away when I was seven years old and I have a gold cross necklace that he gave to me.

LuvSoCal · ‎07-18-2010

@SportyShorty07 wrote:
@Enufstuff wrote:
@SportyShorty07 I'm sorry to learn that you have been having a rough time. I know that last month was so disappointing for you.

I hope that you are doing better now. There are so many great things ahead for you. It is hard to be patient, waiting for those good things to happen.

After being married for 21 years and raising five children, I was devastated by being divorced and single for 8 years, getting my degree and working two jobs, to keep things together. My dance classes were what got me through the rough times.

During that time, I never thought that I would remarry, but I did, at 45.

Things can always get better and I wish the best for you. You have many talents and abilities. Your art and culinary skills can
bring you happiness and fulfillment. I know that it is hard to stay positive during rough times. You are a strong young lady and you will get through this. What doesn't kill us, makes us stronger.

You and your sisters must have been adorable in your poodle skirts. I thought that maybe you would be too young to know what that syle was.

I never had one, but when the older girls were wearing poodle skirts, I was about 7 years old. My mother made me a red felt Christmas skirt with little green satin bows on the the front. Attached to each bow was a little jingle bell. (I have some teeny tiny jingle bells and may make that skirt for Toni, for next Christmas.) I would have loved to have had a poodle skirt like the big girls had.

The skirts that I am making are #1 pink with a black poodle,
#2 gray with a pink poodle and #3 aqua with a white cat. I'm also making blouses, two white ones and a pink one to go with the gray skirt. I'll post those outfits, when they are completed.

Before I started the poodle skirts, I felt like doing some baking. It has been years since I made Baklava, it is time consuming and standing for a long time kills my back, but I wanted to make it. My family loves it.

Ramadan ended at the time of the eclipse and I knew that my neighbor family from Iraq would be celebrating Eid. I wanted to bring them some Baklava.

First, I got out my art supplies and made them a lovely card in green and gold, traditional Eid colors. The next day I baked and made them a lovely tray of Baklava, cut in diamond shapes, in green foil cupcake cups, covered and tied with a green satin ribbon. They were surprised when I brought it over.

Of coarse, we enjoyed our share of it too. This week, I plan on making a pineapple upside down cake. That is another thing that I have have not made in many years. But there were some posts here about it and they inspired me to make it again.

   Last week I made your recipe for the Lemon Pepper marinated chicken, again. My guys love it. Thanks again for the recipe. Have you done any baking lately?

Stay well and take care,
                                   Donna
@Enufstuff Oh Donna/Enuffstuff, you are an absolute dearheart and you made me tear up reading such tremendously kind words of encouragement . Thank you so very much. Your story is so inspiring- you got your degree and supported your children and pursued your love of dance and have done so many beautiful creative things with your artwork adn cooking and you remarried. I really admire your intelligence, perseverence and creativity- you are a one of a kind lady and a strong lady too! I'm thinking up a creative game plan for the next few months in terms of potential career steps. I'll reapply to this position in 2 years, but I've got to make a great life for myself in the meantime. I've been heartbroken by the news of not getting this job, but each week I get a little more of my spirit back slowly but surely.

I've been cooking a lot for my family- I've made lemon pepper chicken wings with a kale apple almond salad with a lemon dressing. I made chipotle marinated boneless chicken thighs with a tabouli salad. I cooked a crowd pleaser crispy chicken wings tossed in a garlic parsely parmesan sauce and I made my signature savory popcorn party mix. In terms of baking, I made a Boston cream pie and a NY style cheesecake and I'll follow your lead and make a Pineapple Upside Down cake too.

My sisters and I loved our poodle skirts as kids- we used to run around the backyard in them and twirl around. Your jinglebell Christmas skirt that your Mom made you sounds absolutely lovely! Ooh Toni would look very nice in that skirt for Christmas. Your Toni Poodle skirts and their coordinating blouses will be so lovely- and I bet the cat applique that you're going to sew on one will be such a marvelous treat.

You are so kind to make your Iraqi neighbors delicious Baklava for Eid- and I love the fact that you put them in green and gold Eid colors! I like how you are so thoughtful and so sentimental in your creative touches when you make artwork, host parties or bake and cook things. I am so glad that you enjoy the lemon pepper chicken recipe that I gave you! It's one of my signature dishes and I made it yesterday for my family. I'll go through my recipe cards I've written out and I'll give you another recipe this week Thank you once again for your kindness, Donna- I really sincerely appreciate it! -Louise

@SportyShorty07 You're a Louise?! That's my middle name which was also my mom's middle name. Very French, you know. How did your parents come to choose that for you? Because of your age I would've thought you were a Lauren, Megan or Caitlyn etc lol. Those seemed to be the popular choices back in the 80s/90s.

SportyShorty07 · ‎04-15-2014

@LuvSoCal That's so cool! We're name twins ! It's a great name! My parents love classic, interesting names and they loved that it meant "Warrior" and they knew from day one that I was a strong little warrior baby- born early by a few months, but beat the odds. What made your parents choose "Louise" for you?

LuvSoCal · ‎07-18-2010

@SportyShorty07 wrote:
@LuvSoCal That's so cool! We're name twins ! It's a great name! My parents love classic, interesting names and they loved that it meant "Warrior" and they knew from day one that I was a strong little baby since I was born very prematurely and beat the odds in the NICU during my hospital stay. What made your parents choose "Louise" for you?

@SportyShorty07 I don't recall why my mom chose her middle name to be mine too. She liked the way it sounded with my first name. Yes, it is a classic name and that's interesting to know that your parents knew you would grow up to be strong despite your premature start in life. If I were you I would love to have a name unique among my peers.😊💐

SportyShorty07 · ‎04-15-2014

@LuvSoCal That's so sweet that you share the same name as your mom. Yes indeed, I was a tough little preemie . I really loved growing up with my name- its a special and rare name and I like that its only two syllables, but makes an impact. The only downside to our name is that its hard to find novelty keychains or coffee mugs with our name on it!