Pink Saturday - Think Pink

We all know that.

But it lasts much longer than just October. Public awareness, education, research, early detection, treatment and a CURE are year-round projects.

Here we are on the last Pink Saturday of the month. I'd like to share a couple of ways I found to continue to support this cause as we head into the Holidays.

Have you heard the news? Linens-N-Things is going out of business. Closing all of its stores nationwide by the end of this year. They have already begun the close-out pricing in their stores.


Linens-N-Things has been a consistent supporter of breast cancer awareness. Each year they set up Pink Departments, selling everything pink you can imagine for your kitchen and bath. LNT and their venders donate part of the proceeds to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

This might be a good time to head on in to your local Linens-N-Things, get some good deals, pick up some Pink items they may still have left...and support a company who proved itself to be a supporter of women.

The other day I was in Wal-Mart and spied some special wrapping paper. It was in the Christmas section with their Christmas wrapping paper. The soft pink colors first caught my eye (I'm always on the hunt for shabby pink or Victorian Christmas paper). Then I saw the Pink Ribbon.

Notice their Ribbon is upside down? You can read why here.

The Gift wrap is for Friends For An Early Breast Cancer Test.

There are a couple of different patterns available. This is the one I bought.

I do not believe these are available online, at least I haven't been able to find them there. Only in the Wal-Mart store. They were $4 a roll.

As we bring October to a close, let's all continue to

And now head on over to Beverly's to see all the other ladies participating in today's Pink Saturday.

Furniture Detective

This bench used to sit in my Great Aunt's entryhall. After she passed away, my sister stored it -along with many other things she thought I might like to have someday- in her gi-normous storage shed. Several years later, when we had moved back to Oklahoma, my sister cleaned out her shed and gave me several things that had belonged to our grandparents and great aunts. Including this bench.

I know nothing of the bench's history. Just that I adore it. Simply because it brings back fond memories of visiting Aunt Agnes and Uncle Clinton. The first thing I would see as I walked in their door. And the fabric pattern is so sweet.



I decided I wanted to know more about this dainty little piece of furniture that has held its own unassuming place in our family. I wanted to know exactly what kind of bench it is because it's like nothing I've ever seen. And I wanted to find out how old it is.

On the bottom of the bench is a well-worn sticker. I could make out the town and state it was made in, as well as part of the name of the company. After some online searching, I discovered it was made by Crocker Chair Company.


Crocker Chair Company was started in 1865 and went out of business in 1932 due to the Great Depression. This helped to narrow down its age. Somewhat.

I found Crocker Chair Company's 1924-1925 catalog online. I scoured each page, but never found my little bench.

After a bit more online searching, I came across an expert on such matters, Fred Taylor, the Furniture Detective. Yesterday I sent him an email, asking for his assistance with the type and age of my bench. I included all three photos.

This morning I got his email response. What a friendly, helpful man he is. He gave me even more information than I'd asked. This was his response:

Kim - Your seat is a birds eye maple vanity bench that belonged to a Depression era bedroom set. It was probably made in the late 1920s to around 1932 when the company closed. The five layer molded plywood construction is more typical of the Depression era than earlier. Its almost Art Deco.

Thanks for writing.

Fred Taylor

I am so pleased! I now know it is a vanity bench. And was made somewhere around 1926-1932.

Now I just wish I knew what happened to the rest of the bedroom set.

Sharing the Linky Love

A blogging friend introduced me to a couple of blogs recently.

I've fallen in love with both of them.

They're silly, mindless kind of blogs. Nothing serious. Just fun.

They make me smile.



Cake Wrecks
When professional cakes go horribly, hilariously wrong.

Faces In Places
A photographic collection of faces found in everyday places.


Now I suppose if I wanted to get all deep and philosophical, I would say that those blogs make me ponder.

How each person views life from a different perspective.

How we should all stop and think of the many ways our appearances or actions can come across to others.

How all people should learn to respect each other's perspectives.



But I don't. I just smile. And I hope you do too.

My First Award!

Annabelle at 1938 Elm Street gave me my very first blog award! Boy, do I feel special! Thank you very much, Annabelle.

The rules that go along with the award are to answer the following questions with one word answers...then pass it on to 7 other bloggers.

1. Where is your cell phone? Here

2. Where is your significant other? Work

3. Your hair color? Brown

4. Your mother? Donna

5. Your father? Dale

6. Your favorite thing? Love

7. Your dream last night? Blondie

8. Your dream/goal? Happiness

9. The room you're in? Office

10. Your hobby? Lots

11. Your fear? Snakes

12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Here

13. Where were you last night? Here

14. What you're not? Thin

15. One of your wish list items? Money

16. Where you grew up? Haven't

17. The last thing you did? Phonecall

18. What are you wearing? Jeans

19. Your tv? Off

20. Your pet? Chrissy

21. Your computer? Mac/PC

22. Your mood? Tired

23. Missing someone? Always

24. Your car? Totaled

25. Something you're not wearing? Jewelry

26. Favorite store? Lowe's

27. Your summer? Long

28. Love someone? Forever

29. Your favorite color? Blue

30. When was the last time you laughed? Today

31. Last time you cried? Daily

These are the Lucky 7 I'm passing this award on to. I found each through Beverly's Pink Saturday party and, like mine, each of their blogs is fairly new. What a neat way for us newbies to get to know each other. :-)

Liz at The Quilted Cowgirl

Robyn at Scrapbooks and Journals

Molly at Fleur de Bee

Leslie at Junkgirl Studio

Heidi Jo at Swirls of Creativity

Victoria at Auction Girl Vintage

Denise at The Vintage Journal

Porches On Parade

Melissa over at The Inspired Room is hosting Porches On Parade today.

(Yes, I know I'm a bit early. Figured I better give myself time to figure out how to use the Mr. Linky thing)

This is a fun way for each of us to share some of the porches we've seen all decked out for Autumn or Halloween. Join me for a little stroll. No car needed, save your gas. These are all within walking distance.

Now I do have to warn you. We live in a university town. In fact, our home is just outside the campus. And Homecoming week just wound up yesterday. There's still a lot of remnants of that nonstop-party-fest around. You have NO IDEA how many discarded beer cans we'll have to dodge to get these photos.

First, let's stroll by some of the sororities. It won't take long to get there; they're just a couple blocks away.

(as always, you can click on the photos to enlarge)

Let's start out at the one right by our house.
Just a stone's throw away. Literally.

Can we sneak a closer peek?

I've always liked their side entrance. It reminds me of the French Quarter.

Let's walk on down the street just a spell. There's lots more for you to see.

This is quite a majestic looking building.
Next time I should try to get a full shot for you.

Let's take a closer look at all those flowers.

And oh my. Lavender? What an interesting choice of color for an Autumn wreath.

Now come around the corner with me. There's another sorority adjacent to this one.


Oops! Watch your step there. Those Budweisers can be a real doozy.

Wow! Look at this display in the courtyard in front of this sorority.

Aww, look at who's peeking out at us.

Let's walk around the block. There's another one I want you to see.

I've toured this one during the Christmas Parade of Homes. It's very nice inside.

Whoa. Looks like their cornstalk's got a bit of a hangover.

Well, at least their other one doesn't look too tipsy.

There's another sorority all dressed up across the street. Let's go take a look!

Dontcha just love those doors?!

Let's take a closer look at their Homecoming display...

How sweet! The House Mom even dressed up the back entrance for the students!

Now let's head back over to our neighborhood and look at some regular homes.

I've always thought this house looks like it would be a lot of fun on the inside, with all the different levels. It looks like it was designed perfectly to fit the hillside.

Look at the fall colors in the flowerbed out front.

Let's zoom in on the front porch, shall we?

Oh, can we sidetrack for just a moment? A few houses down, there's a house I just HAVE to share with you.

How absolutely dreamy COTTAGEY is this?

And what is that I see? Could it be?

An over-the-garage-arbor-trellis-thingy like I've always wanted!

Let's walk over to another way cool house in the neighborhood.

With the finished attic and basement, this house has four full stories of living space. It's incredible inside. Trust me.

Not too much in the way of Autumn decor.
But the porch is still nice to look at, don't you think?

Ok, let's start heading on back toward our place.

This stop is at our neighbor's home, just a few doors down from us.

Someday when my house grows up, it wants to be this house.
Stepping inside is like stepping right into a magazine.

These are our friends so we can walk right up to the front porch.
She always has something cute written on her chalkboard.

Let's see what it says. Ahh, yes. A Homecoming message, of course.

Now let's go visit our next door neighbor.

She just had a Homecoming party this weekend, so her porch is still all decked out.

What a nice neighbor she is. She even led us around back to see the garden wagon she set up beside her back patio for the party.

And now, here we are. Right back where we started.

The front porch of Yours Truly.

This is what it looks like at night.

Thank you for walkin' around the 'hood with me today. Hope you enjoyed your visit.

Don't forget to go check out all the other Porches On Parade.

Oh, and one more thing before you go.

For my orally-conscious friends, a reminder from the folks down the street from us...