Shopping in San Francisco

My favorite place in the whole world to shop: San Francisco Union Square! It just doesn't get much better than this for regular normal people. Hah. I borrowed these from Mo with her permission because when we moved here from the Bay Area digital cameras were not on the market then and I was one of the worst photographers ever. My skills have improved greatly since then! So thank you to Mo and a gift is making its way to her door as we speak!

This is standing on one corner looking at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. I love to dine here. They have a few dining rooms at which to eat and we've eaten at each one I think. But the one I love most is right inside the entrance. They have sofas at some of the tables in the middle of the room, not those banquettes along the walls. Very elegant. And the staff is exceptional.

We took a friend's teenager back with us one year for the holidays because she was struggling in the small Idaho town we were in at that time. She was mesmerized! She couldn't believe such a place existed. She then looked at me as we were reading the menu in the front of the restaurant and said, "Connie, you're going to have to translate the menu for me because I don't understand a word of it." I did because it was all in french.

Neiman-Marcus. Wheat else can I say. The last time I was in here several years ago I was in the linen department and looking at some pure linen sheets. One sheet - not a set, but just one sheet - was $400.00. I've never slept on pure Irish linen sheets and at that price I'm probably not going to if Love Bunny has his say about it. I'm sure the sheets must last a lifetime though as linen is a very sturdy fabric. (He isn't buying that one, chicks! Hah) One of the most elegant stores I've been in outside of Hollywood's Rodeo Drive.

My favorite store in the whole world - Macy*s! I've been in many of them but this one on Union Square has 4 floors I believe and a basement. Dining is a real treat as the food is superb. But if you can't find it here then it probably doesn't exist in the world. And when they have a sale, it's a sale! I once bought an $80 blouse (this was 25 years ago) for $10.00. This place wants to move their merchandise, ladies! Wonderful place to shop, just fantastic!!!!

The Westin St. Francis up close. I cannot tell you how gracious the staff is in this hote. They see to your every need with the utmost care.

Nordstroms. I love their shoes. They originally started out as a shoe store in Seattle and then expanded. The S.F. store was put in about mid 1980s I believe and when we went in there you gasped it was so lovely. Glass escalators - which actually was a bit frightening to me because of the heights. I cannot begin to describe the beauty of this store. It kind of feels like you're in a gold mine with all the gold and glitter. And the employees are very attentive to your every whim. You do NOT need to ask for help; they're right there helping you. Their staff is also as exceptional as the St. Francis.

Pink Saturday 2/7/09

Be sure to visit with all the other Pink Saturday posts over on Beverly's blog How Sweet the Sound.
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I've been very busy crafting more little crowns. These are fun to make really. Shabby little paper roses with a vintage scrap of embroidery and seam binding ribbon and rhinestones. This will be for sale on my selling blog, La Maison Rose. Take a peek!

Crown #1

Crown #2

My Treasured Heirlooms

First of all I need to alert all of you to something that has come up this past week. I received an email from a woman who didn't realize what "goodies" I have on my "sidebar" — all those little "thingies" on the sides of the actual blog posts. Well, when she saw that I had a blogging tutorial and a blogging etiquette she really liked it. I put them there sometime last summer from a tutorial I did for an ebay group I belong to. A lot of chicks were having trouble getting around Blogger so I did this tutorial to help them. I'm very computer savvy and this has helped them quite a bit. I'm happy to help anyone who needs it. But if you'll check on the right side you'll see the "Blogging Tutorial" and the "Blogging Etiquette" so you can click on it and be taken directly there. You'll also see that I've updated my "Home" and "Laundry Room" widgets on the side. I took some newer photos recently and added them there. You are most welcome to view it. I try to keep my blog free of superfluous and extraneous stuff but I do add a few things from time to time. Sometimes things get lost in the "fluff"!! But check it out and see what you might learn.
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I received a package a few days ago and when I opened it up I just squeeeeeealed, chicks. It has pink peanuts in it. Leave it to Cathy to simply delight my senses with what I won from her. Well, actually, I won a gift certificate and this is what I chose. I do believe this magnificent cherub included extra things in it! Hmmmmm, just a guess, but I don't remember a roses pitcher or tea towels being ordered. And I was just thinking a week or two ago how much I needed some new tea towels. Just brightened my day, I tell ya!

These vintage glass bottles are gorgeous and I'll just put them around where they'll look best but right now I'm thinking the guest bath would be a nice spot to put them.

These are absolutely the most real faux candies or truffles I've ever seen or felt. They have a heft to them. I love everyone's faux candies though, truly I do. Cathy had them nestled on pink crinkle paper in a little bag - just like you'd buy them in a candy store.

Just look at this little beauty. All pink and roses. It's not real big but it could hold some chocolate for a cold winter's night snack.

Thank you, thank you, Cathy, from the depths of my heart. I shall treasure them and they'll be passed on to my daughter.

Dolly's Valentine Swap

I received a package from my swap partner from Dolly's Valentine Swap. When I opened the package I thought it was full of those little candy hearts with sayings until I realized it was the paper wrapping. How cute is this?!?!

Inside was this little heart shape rose box filled with goodies.

Ephemera, note pad, valentine nail file, a valentine tea towel (which I am in need of badly!) and a sachet.

Then a box of chocolates.........squeeeeeeeeal!!! I loooooove chocolate......

This darling little heart shaped roses wreath. I adore this. It is going in a place of honor in my romantic cottage, chicks. Maybe my office or crafting room or maybe even my kitchen so I can see it every time I cook. But it'll definitely be hung where I can see it every single day.

And lastly, this little demitasse. I think it'll allow me to have more cups of hot chocolate. :-)

I have been truly blessed by Deb.

Princess Photoshoot

Miss Susie QqqqqqQQQQQ over where little rabbits play has been giving me such a delight with Kipper, the ice cream eatin' wonder dog, that I decided to do it with a real baby! I have laughed my head off at the antics of KipperrRRRrrrr that it's been hard not to.....uuuuuhhh, how do I say this........uhhhh, make it to "le bain" in time. She is just too funny. So now here is Miss Alina and her mummy being very indulgent with me while I photograph her in various poses and captioning it with a bit of humor. It's a wonder this little pink kidlet has any skin left from all my smooches on that gorgeous tiny face. I just about wore the "new" off her! So enjoy our day of photographing her to share with you, chicks. Hah........