Cake Decorating Class

Lauren and I finished up our Intermediate Cake Decorating class last night. We had taken the beginning class last year. Below is my cake, which I'm very disappointed, didn't turn out as well as I pictured it in my mind. I'll just have to practice some more.

I just LOVE Lauren's cake below. She's obviously better at cake decorating than her mom! I was so proud of her. I think this is just amazing for a 16 year old! Aren't the little snails on the grass so adorable. She made those with fondant.

Below are the cakes from the rest of our class. I was really impressed!

This one below was made by a teenage boy...

It was a lot of fun. I'm not sure if we will go on to take the advanced class or not. You have to make a wedding cake on the final night and that scares me!!!

Updated to answer questions:  No, it wasn't a Wilton class and it we didn't take it at Michaels.  We took our classes at Cakeworks on Bascom Ave. in Campbell, California.  

A Trip to Vintage & Vogue

I went to my favorite store again! Vintage and Vogue in downtown Campbell, California. It's all decorated for Spring! Look who greeted me at the door...

Aren't they adorable! Let's walk around and look at all the beautiful things (you can click on any photo to enlarge it)....

I am so tempted to buy this apothecary jar below...

I saw a lot of things I wanted to buy but I just don't have any room left! I did buy 6 vintage sterling silver salt cellars. I forgot to take photos of them though. I'll have to do a table setting post and use them.

If you are in the Silicon Valley area this is a must-visit shop!!! You won't be disappointed

Vintage & Vogue

241 E Campbell Ave Ste A

Campbell, CA 95008

(408) 378-6483

Need a room makeover?

photo: www.bhg.com

I was recently contacted by someone from Better Homes & Gardens (how cool is that?) to spread the word that they just opened their "Save my Room" contest at www.BHG.com/savemyroom.

photo: www.bhg.com

Simply enter a photo of a household room needing some decorating help and you have a chance to win a room makeover from the master decorator Stephen Saint-Onge. The makeover includes painting, furniture and accessories, and the winner’s room will be featured in the November issue of Better Homes and Gardens magazine and on the website.

The cottage style rooms Stephen Saint-Onge has designed are so beautiful! You can see more of his makeovers, just click here.

photo: www.bhg.com

Good luck if you decide to enter!

A special thank-you to the IRS

(Click on photo to enlarge)

I would like to thank the IRS for depositing my tax refund into my bank account so quickly so I could splurge on this gorgeous Johnson Brothers cherub pitcher I found on eBay! I would have never spent $75 on this had I not been getting a big refund this year! To be honest, I have no idea if this was a good deal or not but I saw it and I had to have it and the timing could have not been any better!

I put a teacup next to it so you can see how HUGE it is! Perfect shabby chicness!

The roses in the pitcher were marked down to $5 a dozen at the grocery store, just like the ones I showed you yesterday!

Mint Julep Cups

I love the look of small bouquets in silver mint julep cups! There are a lot of gorgeous antique sterling mint julep cups on eBay but they are way too expensive for my budget. If you want the look but can't afford the real thing then you can find reproduction cups most any place that sells wedding supplies. I've seen them at Michaels and on eBay.

Getting that expensive look for less is what I love! Even the roses were a deal. I bought them this weekend for $5 a dozen at the grocery store! They must have been left over from Valentine's Day but they still looked great!

We have a winner!

The winner, who was picked randomly, is Sew Revived.  Thanks to everyone who entered!

Happy Friday!

I made the mosaic above with other member's photos I've marked as my favorites on Flickr. I just love looking at all the beautiful things on Flickr. I think most of us love lusting over gorgeous things online and in magazines but I believe it's very important to take time to appreciate what we have! After I made the mosaic above I felt the need to make one with my photos to remind myself of what I have. I don't own my own home but I'm grateful I have a home. I have ugly cottage cheese ceilings that I hate but I'm grateful that above that ugly ceiling is a roof over my head. I'm very grateful for everything I have and very grateful for my wonderful family, my friends and you!
Have a great weekend!

Some new things

I've always wanted some bone dishes because I just love their shape!  While I was in Not Too Shabby last weekend I saw these beautiful blue and white bone dishes.  I bought two of them thinking that I would hang them on the wall somewhere.  When I brought them home and put them on the table I knew I had to buy the other three I left behind!  I love them!  I called the shop and put them on hold until I could pick them up the next day.  Now I have 5 lovely bone dishes!!!  What are the chances that I'll find one more somewhere so I'll have a set of 6?  

I also won this Cambridge relish tray on eBay.  It's the Portia pattern which I love.  It's really hard to see the etched pattern in these photos so trust me when I say it's GORGEOUS!  The pattern sort of reminds me of my blog background.  I really want to get some Cambridge wine glasses but the bidding usually gets high on those!

I would like to thank Annie~Cottage by the Sea who left a comment letting me know more about the family who originally received the vintage postcard I showed you yesterday.   It's so nice to know a little history behind it! 

Vintage Postcards

I recently bought this vintage Easter postcard on eBay and this may very well be the start of another collection! The seller said this is circa 1911. The light was really bad when I took this photo-the background is a beautiful shiny blue!

The best part about collecting something like this is that it's good for the budget. This was only $2.79! I'm going to be looking for more of these at the flea markets from now on!

Lauren and I started an intermediate cake decorating class last night and today at lunch I start Weight Watchers! What was I thinking? I guess I'll just be decorating cakes and trying my best not to eat any!

Update: For those of you who asked about the holder...I found some similar to mine on eBay, click here to see.

Not Too Shabby!

I've had a quite a few people ask me lately if I've ever been to a shop in San Jose called Not Too Shabby. I hadn't but after so many people recommended it I knew I had to go check it out!

I always find it so awkward to ask shop owners if I can take pictures. You never know how they will react! I always explain that I have a blog and that it would be like free advertising for them. When I went into this shop on Sunday and started to tell them about my blog I didn't even finish my sentence and she knew who I was from the newspaper article! Whew...that made asking so much easier!
So here's a look around this adorable shop called Not Too Shabby...















Years ago I used to be on match.com...you know, that online meat market dating site. I could start a whole other blog and fill it with stories about my online dating experience! Anyway the reason I brought it up is that my username on match.com was Not_too_Shabby! I love that name!

So if you are anywhere around San Jose please stop by Not Too Shabby and tell them Cindy sent you! You'll probably find Vikki the owner there or Aimy the store stylist. They are both so nice and down to earth!

Thank you Vikki and Aimy for making me feel so welcome in your shop!

Not Too Shabby

Antiques & More

4724 Meridian Ave. (at Branham)

San Jose, CA 95118

A Giveaway!

Isn't this adorable?  Kandice, one of my blog readers has donated a piece of her handmade jewelry for a giveaway on my blog!  Just leave a comment here by Friday, Feb. 20th by  midnight (PST) and I'll use a random number generator to choose a winner! 

You can see more of her jewelry by visiting her etsy shop (click here).

I would also like to thank all of you who left comments on my blog and on Facebook, emailed me, called me and even came up to me in the store today regarding the newspaper article!  It was so touching to hear from all of you!  To be honest, I'm still floating around here with the excitement of it all!  

Here is another example of Kandice's beautiful work:

I'm off work tomorrow (Monday) for President's Day and  I'm planning to paint Lauren's room.  I'll be back with a new post on Tuesday!

I'm in the newspaper!!!!

Pinch me please! This DOES NOT seem real! I must be dreaming!  I'm the cover story in the Home & Garden section of the San Jose Mercury News today! TODAY~Valentine's Day!  The article is spread over two pages with lots of photos of my humble little apartment!  Really, pinch me...this has to be a dream!  
I need to thank Julia (the fabulous writer) and Desiree (the fabulous photographer) from Lookiloos for this wonderful article!  You can read the online article by clicking here.  Some of you that have left comments on my blog have been quoted in the article! 

I can't stop smiling!  

Thank you--to all of you who faithfully read my blog because this wouldn't have happened without you!  

If you found my blog through the article, please feel free to leave a comment below! 

Update: Other papers are picking up the story too; The El Paso Times, TwinCities, and USA Today (Malaysia edition) I think these may just be online stories.

Meet Sylvia

Photo: Villa Extra

A couple months ago when I did my "Year in Review" party I "met" Sylvia Extra from The Netherlands. I fell in love with her blog, Villa Extra!  Sylvia and I have so much in common. We both love the same things...white & blue and linen & lace and our kids are even about the same age! She allowed me to share some of her photos with you but you really should visit her blog to see all of them!

Photo: Villa Extra

There are only a hand full of blogs that I've gone back into their archives to look at every single photo, and hers is one of them!!

Photo: Villa Extra

Photo: Villa Extra

Photo: Villa Extra 

Sylvia, I wish you lived near me so I could visit your beautiful home but the next best thing is being able to visit you through your blog! Thank you for sharing so much beauty with all of us!

Thanks to all of you who joined in on my centerpiece party!  I'm going to try to do that once a month! 

Come back tomorrow. One of my readers has donated a piece of her handmade jewelry for me to giveaway on my blog!  Update: Sorry, I think I'll be doing this giveaway on Sunday because I expect to have something really exciting to share with you on Valentine's Day!!!

February Centerpiece Party!

Are you ready for a PARTY?  Let's get it started!  Here's my February centerpiece...I kept it very simple. I used my thrift-store pedestal bowl which I filled with a small rose plant from Trader Joe's.  I simply covered the ugly plastic pot with some moss. (update:  the plastic pot the rose is in, the bowl is ceramic)

Then I added crystal candlesticks to give it that romantic look. I also used the vintage runner and placemats that I showed you yesterday.I know it looks like my blue home is turning into a pink one but it's not.  I just got into the Valentine's Day spirit!  The blue will be back!

If you would like to join in on the centerpiece party please sign up with Mr. Linky below after you have posted your centerpiece on your blog. Please be sure to link to your specific centerpiece post, don't just link to your blog. That way, months from now, someone can click on the link below and go directly to the correct post. I'm looking forward to seeing all the February centerpieces.

Update: this photo below is from Marcy, one of my readers that doesn't have a blog but would like to join in. Here's what she had to say: We are having our best friends over for dinner on Feb. 14th to celebrate - I made personalized drink coolers for each of the girls ~ they are covered in animal print & marabou feathers and I added the bottles of Bitch an Australian wine to top it all off!

Thank you Marcy! I'm glad you joined in!

Family Heirlooms

My mom told me last week she was mailing me a package with some beautiful vintage placemats and a matching table runner that she found in her linen stash. (She has vintage linens stashed everywhere in her home.) When I opened the box I could not believe how gorgeous they are! These pictures do not do them justice at all! They are so dainty and feminine looking. The fabric is so sheer you can practically see right through it and the workmanship is just unbelievable! I can't believe the amount of work women used to put into these handmade pieces! (if you click on the photos to enlarge them you can see more detail)

There are 8 placemats...all in perfect condition! My mom doesn't remember where she bought these but it was either a flea market or a thrift store many, many years ago.

She also sent me this bisque bride and groom wedding bell. It belonged to my grandmother. It wasn't from her wedding but was something she bought a long time ago, probably from a thrift store, or as my grandma called it...the "junk store!" My mom remembers her having it back in the 40s.

I'm thankful that my mom and grandma shopped at the "junk stores" and even though these didn't start out as our family heirlooms they are now!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Tomorrow is my centerpiece party! I'll put my centerpiece post up at midnight (Pacific Time) tonight. If you plan on joining in you can sign up with Mr. Linky anytime after that but please do not add your name to Mr. Linky until you have your centerpiece post published so you can link directly to that post and not just to your blog.

UPDATE: I almost forgot to thank Lesley~Flatwoods Folk Art for featuring me in one of her Yummy Yummy Blog Discovery Posts. Click here to see!

You aren't going to believe this!

Look at my lamp!!! Do you remember when I showed you this lamp that I fell in love with on The Bella Cottage website? If not, click here to read that post first.

Carol, one of my readers from Minnesota emailed me and said she had that same lamp and she wanted to send it to me!!! Oh my gosh! I have been so excited about this! When I came home from work yesterday it was waiting for me! It is even more gorgeous in person!

Now I need to recreate the lampshade to match The Bella Cottage lamp. I found the paper roses and this weekend I'm going out to try to find the exact same shade! I'll keep you updated!

Thank you Carol! I LOVE it!!!

Dreams really do come true...

My Cloche Collection

Here's the new cloche I bought last week. I bought it at the same flower shop I bought the cherubs I showed you on Friday. This was also 75% off. It was originally $94.00 for the stand and the cloche...kind of pricey but with 75% off it was more in my budget! I would tell you how much I spent on it but that would involve me doing math and I avoid that if I can! Haha!

I guess I now have a collection since I have 3 of them! The other two are from Marshalls.

I always find it challenging to find just the right things to go under them. This time I stuck with a theme of nests and birds which I think ties them all together nicely.

Can you tell I like decorating with nests, birdcages, and eggs?

I can't resist 75% off!

I went into a florist shop by my work the other day (Marlowe's In Milpitas for you locals) and all their Christmas and home decor items were 75% off! I bought these cherubs which are about a foot long. The were originally $16.50 each so 75% off that is a steal, a deal, almost free or whatever I need to tell myself to justify it! haha!

I've had them hanging from my chandelier all week but I guess I should take them down, Christmas is over. They can't really pass for cupids without an arrow, can they?

I also bought a cloche on a pedestal dish at 75% off. I'll have to show you that next week because my photos of that didn't turn out so well!

I'm thinking about hosting the February Centerpiece Party next Thursday, Feb. 12th. So if you would like to share a February or Valentine's Day centerpiece you can join in. I'll put a Mr. Linky post up on Wednesday evening! I need to work on my centerpiece this weekend! I still have no clue what I'm going to do!

I added some Toile Hearts to my esty shop! If you order them this weekend, I'll ship them on Monday via priority mail so you should have them before Valentine's Day!

Happy Flowers

I found this wood box at Marshalls but it was a little too rustic for me so I brushed on some blue and white paint and stenciled "Flowers" on each side. I think changing out what I put in here is going to be fun! For now I just added some primroses and when the flowers start to fade I can just plant them in the yard.

I like to use potted flowers indoors because they last so much longer than cut flowers!

So, I hinted about some exciting news yesterday didn't I? Well, it looks like I may be in our local newspaper, the paper for Silicon Valley, The San Jose Mercury News! On Valentine's Day!!! In the Home & Garden section!!! A story about me, my apartment and my blog! I'm so excited! There's still is a chance that it might not happen but I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

Thank you all so much for your nice comments yesterday! I'm feeling a little better today but I have a horrible head cold!

I also want to thank Carol~Raised in Cotton, for including me in her post today! I was so touched to be included with some amazing bloggers that I greatly admire! What a honor! Thank you Carol!

I'll be hanging out here today...

I'm sick! I was up all night with body aches and a fever.  My head feels like it's going to explode! I'll be spending the day in bed...sleeping! 

I have some exciting news I hope to share with you tomorrow...if I feel better!

More on Cambridge Glass

Photo credit: eBay

I was recently asked to be a contributor to The Vintage Journal blog.   I'm very honored to be part of this collaborative blog of talented women!   I will be posting about once or twice a month over there but nothing will change here at My Romantic Home. I'll still be doing my best to update at least 5 days a week.   Today on the Vintage Journal I did a post about my new obsession (thanks to Lorrie), Cambridge Glass.  You can click here to read more about it with a special, very informative lesson from Lorrie herself!

I'm going out of my comfort zone AGAIN!

HGTV is looking for amateur designers for a new show where HGTV fans can be a "HGTV Designer for a Day" Guess what? I'm applying for it! You get to work along side an HGTV host to make over a room! I think Joan Steffend from "Decorating Cents" would be the best fit for me! How much fun would that be???

Part of me sees this as an exciting opportunity but another part of me says it's way too scary and I'm out of my league. I'm going for it though because I'm all about living life to the fullest! You never know what your full potential can be unless you push yourself! Right?

The Winner is...

Ginny from Faith Hope and Tea Therapy is the winner of my Toile Heart!  There were 427 comments and 3 emails for a grand total of 430 entries!!! Congratulation Ginny and thank you to all that entered!