I Won A Sweepstakes!!

Remember when I shared my love of antique shopping? I really really wanted to buy this beautiful set of antique dishes from a local antique store but couldn't stand to spend the $200.00 on them.

Just a little update:

They are mine!

I was one of the winners of the Frosted Mini Wheat's School Years Resolutions!! I won $250.00! Combined it with my saved up change and it was enough to buy the dishes, a great center piece for my dining room table and even the kids Halloween costumes!!

I Now Own a Gravy Boat...lol - who cares if I don't even really like gravy!

I can't wait to serve my Thanksgiving Dinner on my new dishes! I think they are going to make my 2nd year of cooking a great success - now...to figure out how to carve a turkey so that we all actually get to have some and have leftovers.

Do you enter sweepstakes? Have you ever won?



 

Do You Put Out The Welcome Mat?

 I don't cook every night - but I sure do give it a shot most nights. I have this overwhelming sense of duty to make sure that my kids not only know that they are expected at the dinner table but that they are welcome in my kitchen.

I found these 2 fabulous antique step stools and they have a permant place in my heart and in my kitchen...they are welcome seats for children who want to talk about their day while I make supper or extra counter top space that is just the right height for short cooks.

I get to hear about a variety of topics that might not be brought up like who sat with who at the lunch table, who did a flip on the monkey bars and who had to sit out at recess for not getting their homework done.

It's amazing the amount they share when they feel like they are welcome. 

While my kids don't participate in the preparation of every meal - they want to. They gravitate towards me once I start to cook - sneaking bites of everything they can get their grubby little hands on. It's funny too - since I do a lot of prep with veggies. They think they are so good at being sneaky - but I am aware of every veggie that leaves my cutting board - just to proud of my little bunnies to stop them.

Are you children welcome in your kitchen?

Antique Shopping = Trouble for My Wallet

I think I might have fallen in love with this china set that I saw in a local antique store. I really really really want it for my Thanksgiving Table this year.  Look at those sweet square plates - I can just see my pies being served on them.

I don't have a set of dishes from my wedding or a set that was passed down - so this seems like the obvious solution to a problem that I didn't even know existed until I saw them.

The only deterrent?

Check out that whopping price tag. That doesn't include the serving platter, napkins and rug that obviously goes so well with MY dishes.

So what's a girl to do?

Here's the plan: I am going to cash in my change that we save for rainy days (we both wait tables so there is always a ton of it) and try to convince Hubby that this set will make my turkey look so spectacular that I must have it. I have shown him this picture...but his only reaction is to say "I love that you love it." Not sure what that means for my chances of actually getting My dishes. But maybe if I just keep referring to them as Mine that will do some good.

What have you seen lately that you just had to have?