The Andy Warhol Barbie Doll

Have you seen her? Mattel's Barbie as Andy Warhol that is? She's adorable...
Have you seen her? Mattel's Barbie as Andy Warhol that is?

I have and I think she's adorable with her cute cropped haircut and her black outfit.  I just read that she's not exactly accurate. For instance, Andy Warhol was not a painter but Mattel chose to accessorize this Barbie with the tools of a painter.

To me, it does not matter. She's cute and representative of pop art, something that always fascinates me. Not that it really matters. I am not going to own one of these dolls.

I am not a Barbie doll collector but as a girl I played with Barbie quite a bit and now I find myself occasionally fascinated by one, like this Warhol doll or the Alfred Hitchcock Birds Barbie doll.

This Andy Warhol themed Barbie doll is a limited edition Platinum Label doll. Only 999 dolls were made. That fact, of course, meant a near instant sell out.  I do not know how much this doll would have retailed for when she was sold but I have seen guesses of $100 or $150. 

Barbie as Andy Warhol

Mattel's Barbie as Andy Warhol

I see that this Andy Warhol Barbie can now be found on eBay where she is listed for up to $799 and selling for anywhere from $500 to $799, well out of my range and I bet that some very lucky Barbie doll collector is going to find this doll under her Christmas tree! Updated to 2023, Barbie is selling on eBay for up to $700.

If you are curious, here is a peek at some of the current results on eBay. If you are a serious shopper, I hope this widget will help you add the Andy Warhol Barbie doll to your collection. If you prefer, you can see all of eBay's Warhol dolls by clicking here.

Happy Collecting!
Brenda





Life is Good Adirondacks Coffee Mug


Lifeisgood Adirondack Diner MugWe enjoyed a five-day vacation LEAF PEEPING this fall in Lake Placid. This Life is Good coffee mug is a great reminder and souvenir and would make a great gift for my husband and myself...and anyone else who loves the Adirondacks.

UPDATE: Unfortunately, both of these mugs are currently sold out. You can click here to see all of Life is Good's coffee mugs. They often have one with an Adirondack style chair available for though I do not see one today.

I Love
Coffee Mugs!
Brenda

Quick Links:

See all of the Life is Good coffee mugs.
Don't miss the fun on I LOVE COFFEE MUGS on Twitter and Pinterest!

The 12 Days of Christmas Starbucks Gift Ideas

The 12 Days of Christmas Starbucks Gift Ideas
Image by Blackberry Light.

A Page Packed With Starbucks Gift Ideas


If you are looking for a Starbucks Christmas gift idea, you will enjoy this page because it is packed with great Starbucks gifts based loosely around the fun Starbucks Christmas commercial, The Twelve Days of Christmas.

I had a lot of fun searching for these items and I know you will love the TWELVE wonderful gift choices that I found to share with you.

There is no need, of course, to buy twelve items unless you are shopping for twelve people.  However, any one or two of these items would make a terrific gift idea for a coffee lover. You could also pick and choose from amongst the twelve items to create a great Starbucks gift set.

A List of The Twelve Days of Christmas Starbucks Gift Ideas


The Twelve Days of Christmas Starbucks commercial builds, of course, from one through twelve of the recommended items.

  • A gold bag of Christmas blend.
  • Two tasty drinks.
  • Three coffee presses.
  • Four Barista bears.
  • Five merry mugs.
  • Six ornaments.
  • Seven water bottles.
  • Eight advent calendars.
  • Nine stocking stuffers.
  • Ten tumblers tumbling.
  • Eleven muffins marching.
  • Twelve tunes a playin'.

The First Day of Christmas: A Gold Bag of Starbucks Christmas Blend Coffee


Starbucks' Christmas blend is made with a blend of Latin American coffees and smooth, full-bodied Asian Pacific beans and has been called sweet, spicy and herbal. Of course, the Christmas blend is only available at Christmas time and could be subject to change in both taste and bag color. You can look for Starbucks' Christmas blend here on Amazon.

The Second Day of Christmas: Two Tasty Drinks from Starbucks Passion For Coffee

Amazon customer reviews for Starbucks Passion For Coffee are glowing. This book includes recipes, instructions and information about coffee. I like the idea that it shares 34 recipes for sweet treats and provides suggestions for what types of coffee go best with them. I think it is a great gift idea. That is, the cookbook and a promise of two cups of coffee created from the pages of the book. It's still available new at a deeply discounted price on Amazon. Find Starbucks Passion For Coffee here on Amazon

The Third Day of Christmas: Three Coffee Presses by Bodum


The 12 Days of Christmas Starbucks Gift Ideas includes this cute Bodum French press.
Starbucks recommends using a coffee press at home. They say that coffee presses are a simple and functional way to brew "exceptionally rich, flavorful coffee." Shown here is just one of the many available from Bodum, which is the press of choice at Starbucks. I've shown it in the four cup size though it is available in a wide array of choices from a travel single serving version to a twelve cup version. Pick the size that is the most appropriate for the individual you are gifting it to. Of course, if they love and use a French press, they just might want to own multiple sizes so that they can pick the right size for the moment at hand. See Amazon's complete collection of Bodum French presses here.

The Fourth Day of Christmas: Four Starbucks Barista or Bearista Teddy Bears


Whether you start or add to an existing Bearista bear collection, a Starbucks fan who loves teddy bears will enjoy finding one of these cute bears under the Christmas tree. eBay definitely has a better selection of the these bears, which have been produced for many years. You can see all of the Bearista bears on eBay by clicking here.


The Fifth Day of Christmas: Five Christmas Starbucks Coffee Mugs


Starbucks Christmas mugs are pretty amazing. I have yet to see one that I did not like. How about you?  A mug makes a practical and affordable Christmas gift for any coffee, tea or hot chocolate drinker at Christmas time -- either given singly or as a group of five. I also like the idea of using a mug as a gift container, like the one in the picture shown above. I find that eBay definitely has a superior collection of Christmas Starbucks mugs, which you can see by following that link.

The Sixth Day of Christmas: Six Starbucks Christmas Tree Ornaments


Starbucks Christmas ornaments!
Starbucks Christmas Ornaments
Image by y0aimee.

If your Starbucks fan already has a large selection of mugs, you might want to consider gifting one or more of these Starbucks Christmas ornaments. Whether you pick the ones shown in this picture of the take out cups or any of the others that available, they will be a reminder every year at Christmastime of Starbucks coffee.

The Seventh Day of Christmas: Seven Starbucks Water Bottles


Seven water bottles...that is what the commercial recommends next. Gifting seven friends with seven water bottles. A water bottle is another practical and affordable gift idea, don't you think? You can check out all of Starbucks water bottles on Amazon by clicking here. There are some very handsome choices available.


The Eighth Day of Christmas: Eight Starbucks Advent Calendars


There are a number of Starbucks advent calendars available any of which would be an unexpected gift for any coffee lover. Next year, they will be able to count down the days to Christmas with Starbucks. Check them out on eBay by clicking here. Of course, an advent calendar is never out of date.  

The Ninth Day of Christmas: Nine Starbucks Stocking Stuffers


Sleigh Full of Songs CD
Stockings By The Fire CD
Starbucks Gift Cards
Starbucks VIA Ready Brew Instant & Microground Colombia Coffee
Coffee Cufflinks with Gift Box
Starbucks Vanilla Syrup
Handmade Wooden Coffee Scoop
Starbucks Ready Brew Colombia Coffee
Starbucks Iced Coffee

Is there anything on this list that you would not like to receive in your Christmas stocking? Some of these items might be a tad big or a bit more expensive than the amount that you and I usually spend on stocking stuffers but, when the item is perfect, it works. In my humble opinion, the BEST Starbucks stocking stuffer is a gift card. It is certainly the most practical stocking stuffer and I like to try to choose practical items rather than trinkets for our stockings. If you do not visit Starbucks yourself or your recipient is far away, you can buy gift cards for Starbucks directly from Amazon by clicking here.

The Tenth Day of Christmas: Ten Starbucks Tumblers Tumbling


The Tenth Day of Christmas: Ten Starbucks Tumblers Tumbling

Ten tumblers tumbling...I love this bright bold red one and there are plenty of red Starbucks tumblers to pick from plus, of course, tumblers in lots of other great colors. You can see them all on Amazon by clicking right here. Who wouldn't love to receive a Starbucks tumbler for Christmas?

The Eleventh Day of Christmas: Eleven Starbucks Muffins Marching


Eleven Starbucks muffins. Eleven muffins marching would be an amazing gift, whether you choose to make or buy the muffins. Failing that, how about a loaf of the best banana bread ever? Or maybe an entire cranberry coffee cake? Here are links to the best-ever banana bread recipe (a not-so-secret family recipe) and our cranberry loaf recipe. Make them ahead and offer a loaf as a gift that will not last long. Making your own will prove to be less expensive than buying them from Starbucks.

The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Twelve Starbucks Tunes Playing


The Twelfth Day of Christmas: Twelve Starbucks Tunes Playing
Twelve tunes a playin' are another great Christmas gift idea. Of course, Starbucks is better known for their coffee. However, their music compilations, holiday and otherwise, are popular and sought after, too, like the 2009 Stockings by the Fire; the 2012 release, Holidays Rule; or the 2013 release, 'Tis the Season, which is shown here and which was also released on vinyl.

In Closing


In closing, the Starbucks Twelve Days of Christmas television commercial inspired this page. Unfortunately, I am no longer able to find it.

I do hope that these ideas help you find some great Starbucks-themed gift ideas for your friends and family this year.

You never know
what I might have in store for you!
Brenda

MORE STARBUCKS:

Starbucks in my eBay Store.
Starbucks 2015 Year of the Sheep Zodiacal Coffee Mug

Author's note: This page was originally published elsewhere in 2011.


Christmas Coffee Mugs from the Movies

Peanuts' Snoopy Christmas Tree Mug

Five Fun Christmas Mugs From The Movies 


Love Christmas?  Looking for a Christmas coffee mug? For a practical and affordable gift idea? A thank you, a hostess or an office gift exchange idea? On this page you will find five fun Christmas coffee mug choices all of which feature images from classic movies and television shows.

Peanuts Peace on Earth 


Charles M. Schulz's Peanuts characters are enduringly popular. Who does not love the trials of poor old Charlie Brown and his companion, Snoopy? The first mug I have chosen to feature on this page is the diner-style mug by Vandor shown above that shows Snoopy and Woodstock carrying Charlie Brown's not-too-ugly Christmas tree. The back says simply, "Peace on Earth." Unfortunately, this first mug seems to be out of production. You can  click here to see if it is available on Amazon or here to see if it is available on eBay.

Peanuts Happy Holidays Christmas MugHappy Holidays


If you would rather have a mug with Charlie Brown on it, this Happy Holidays themed mug by Vandor might be the one for you. It's a bright and bold red mug, that shows Snoopy settled in for the night on the back.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas Coffee Mug by VandorEither of these mugs would be a great pick for a Peanuts fan especially with the release of a new Peanuts movie this year. Click here to find Happy Holidays on Amazon or here to see if it is available on eBay.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas 


Dr. Seuss's story, The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, is another ever-popular film that continues to be a favorite Christmas story for both old and new generations. Those who love The Grinch will enjoy this wonderful green Christmas coffee mug featuring the face of the Grinch. This exact mug is no longer available on Amazon but you can click here see similar Grinch mugs on Amazon or here to see if it is on eBay.



Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer Coffee Mug by Vandor

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Mug 


This bright red Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer mug features a classic scene from the television program with Rudolph, Hermey and Santa Claus. The back reads, "Have A Holly Jolly Christmas" a line that all Rudolph fans will know comes directly from a song in the Christmas special. Click here to find the Rudolph mug on Amazon.


Christmas Yoda Vandor Mug

Star Wars Christmas Mug


A Merry Christmas may you have! Finally, a Star Wars Christmas themed mug. I have not seen very many celebrating this movie and I would not choose this mug for myself but I would choose it for my grown sons and my husband and for any man who loves Star Wars. It shows a very focused (as always) Yoda delivering Christmas greetings and on the back, Yoda's Christmas message, which reads, "A Merry Christmas May You Have." Click here to find the Yoda mug on Amazon. 

2021 UPDATE: This mug appears to be retired from Amazon but you can find it here on eBay.

And that's were I will close with the hopes that this page has helped you tick off one of the boxes on your gift-buying list and the wish, Yoda-style,  A Merry Christmas May You Have!

Brenda

More Movie-Themed Christmas Gift Ideas:

Make A Rudolph Gift Ideas Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Gift Set

Tell Time Owl Clock Bank

Tell Time Owl Clock


With the love of vintage items naturally follows the love of vintage posters.  This one however is a reproduction art print of an advertisement for a Tell Time Owl Clock Savings Bank.  As the poster says, when a coin is inserted the clock hands revolve and the eyes blink.

I was planning on offering the poster as a nearly wordless Wednesday post but I was curious about what the original product was like so I did a bit of searching online where I discovered that this little mechanical piggy bank may have been made in Japan by a company called Sonsco in the 1950s. However, some of the product that I found seemed almost brand new, which made me wonder if a reproduction clock was also available so this is definitely a case of buyer beware. If you are shopping for a vintage version of this clock, you might expect it to show some wear.

Anyway, I think this REPRODUCTION advertising poster is a hoot, don't you? Perfect for anyone with a keep interest in collecting vintage pieces and/or owls.

You Never Know What I
Might Have in Store For You!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order this Tell Time Owl Clock poster from Allposters.com.


How To Clean Stuffed Animals

It almost goes without saying that sometimes you just have to wash a plush toy. Sometimes plush toys live a rough life. They may experience a case of the stomach flu, they may be dusty from being on a shelf and unloved or they may have experienced too much love. They may have had the unfortunate experience of coming in touch with lice or other critters or they may need to be kept very clean for children with allergies and asthma. That’s a short list, I am sure you can think of more reasons you need to wash your plush toys.

Can You Wash Plush Toys?

Yes, you can but proceed with caution and consider the following:

I would NOT wash an extremely valuable item, a very old one, an item that my child cannot live without or an item that is damaged or coming apart in anyway.

A child I know cherished a bear called Mr. Bear and Mr. Bear is still treasured but no longer slept with. Mr. Bear would dearly love to hop in the washer but he is literally falling apart and he would come out in tiny bits so there is no way that Mr. Bear is ever going to be washed in the laundry machine again. As a matter of fact, he is so beloved and in such rough condition, that he will spend the rest of his days tucked safely in a shoe box in the closet.

In the case of a stuffed animal that your child cannot live without, I recommend buying another identical one and putting it aside. Preparing in this way will save a lot of grief if you lose the treasured item and will also give you another one as a back up if your child wears out the first one. In the case of Mr. Bear, we had two additional bears. One was identical and one was smaller. When we used them, our son was old enough to know the difference but he still loved them and they helped the precious Mr. Bear survive a bit longer.

I would also not wash items that have clothes or parts made of non-plush fabrics that seem a bit like plastic and that are pretending to be suede or leather, unless those elements can be removed. They do not stand up to washing and in my experience, shred. The outfit and eye apparatus seen on this Star Trek Borg plush teddy bear would not wash well.

Read the care instructions. Although I do not always follow the instructions, they are a good place to start. Most manufacturers recommend surface washing only with mild soap and a damp cloth. You can certainly try that with your plush toys but sometimes a stuffed animal just needs more cleaning than that and you might be happy to know that many soft toys may survive machine washing and will stand up to a trip through the washer.

If your stuffed animal includes excelsior, styrene foam or any foam material, they cannot be washed.

If a stuffed animal has joints or cardboard, it cannot be washed in the washer.

If it is musical or talks, it cannot be washed unless the music box is removable. I have not washed this gorgeous Mattel's I Talk Tigger. They are simply precious when hugged and, of course, the talking boxes would not stand up to being washed.

I have not tried to wash a Beanie Babies yet but have read that items stuffed with small foam balls in them cannot be washed.

Large animals can be washed but the filling may shift. I have not had that happen to any plush toy I washed and have had considerable success with large stuffed animals like an 80-inch long Innovage centipede, a 22-inch My First Puppy by Russ and a Disney Store Ojo plush bear from the Big Blue House.

If your plush has hard plastic elements, like the ping pong ball shaped eyes that sometimes appear on Sesame Street's Elmo, consider placing the toy in a pillowcase, which may help protect the plastic parts. This is not 100 percent foolproof but if it does not work totally, it should minimize the damage of the washing machine and the dryer.

If you can, use a delicate cycle on your washing machine. I use regular laundry detergent though I have read that fabric softener can also be used for plush and that it will make the plush extra soft.

I use hot water when I want to be sure a stuffed animal is clean but I have read that hot water can weaken the glue that holds items like eyes in place so be aware.

Can You Dry A Soft Animal?

Once again the answer is yes, sort of. Some stuffed animals dry well, more likely if their plush is short. Fluffy plush tends to change texture in the dryer. In any case, I find air drying a safer method because there is no heat to possibly melt or alter the fur. I actually have an air dry cycle on my dryer, which I use very successfully. The soft fluffy mane on the Gund Lion ‘Casey’ shown above responded extremely well to air drying but I know from another experience less successful experience that his soft and fluffy mane would have been destroyed by the heat of a dryer.

Sometimes toys that have been washed loose their new look and, of course, the more you wash them, the more that look will fade. However, I have washed many soft toys that came out of the process looking better than when they went in and, in any case, at least they will look clean!

Be sure to check out the large selection of new, used and vintage stuffed animals in my eBay store. You never know what plush treasures I might have in store for you!

You never know 
what PLUSH TOYS
I might have in store for you!
Brenda

Stuffed Animals I Have Had Success Washing in My Washing Machine Recently:

  • Canada Post Blue Teddy Bear
  • Curious George with Fleece Blanket
  • Disney Store Heffalump Small Lumpy
  • Disney Store The Aristocats Marie
  • Disney Store Mickey & Minnie
  • Disney Store Ojo
  • Disney Store Winnie the Pooh
  • Dream Works Shrek 26"
  • Dundee Long-Furred Rabbit
  • Earthrite Fiber Rabbit
  • Ganz Wrinkles Dogs
  • Gund Bubbles Teddy Bear
  • Gund Casey Lion
  • Gund People's Diamond Store Teddy Bear
  • Gund Sandra Boynton Reindeer, Dasher and Dancer
  • Innovage Centipede
  • Ottawa Senators Plush Lion Mascot
  • Piccolo Bambino 16" Blue Puppy Dog




National Thrift Shop Day

Even if you are a thrift shop shopper, you might be oblivious to the fact that August 17, 2015, was National Thrift Shop Day. Yes, I do believe that there is a holiday for everything.

With the spirit of the holiday, I thought you might find this infographic, which is based on Canadian shopper data, from Value Village interesting.

A few interesting tidbits from this chart are the fact that 76 percent of shoppers who visit have shopped thrift before and 33 percent of shoppers visit a thrift store monthly.

The most popular answer to the question, Why Shop Thrift is that it is cost effective followed by the fun fact that it feels like a treasure hunt.

Value Village National Thrift Shop Day

What celebrity would you like to thrift shop with? I would LOVE to shop with Johnny Depp, Tom Cruise and/or Adam Levine. Not sure what we would shop for but that part is unimportant and obviously, they don't appear on this chart so I'm embellishing.

Do you shop thrift and if so, why?  Finally, who would you like to shop with?

You never know what
I might have in store for you!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Inforgraphic from Value Village.
Check out my Pinterest board, How to Sell on eBay.

Peanuts Snoopy Mugs by Department 56

Peanuts Snoopy Mugs by Department 56. Fabulous!

The internet is buzzing with the news of the new Peanuts movie, set to arrive in movie theatres in November, 2015 so it seemed fitting to celebrate the return of the Peanuts gang with another Snoopy mug. This time, however, I have chosen a series.

I've started with this super adorable image of Snoopy called Puppy Love. I think it is my favorite but if you are a Snoopy fan you too might be hard pressed to pick just one of these coffee cups.

Other options from the series are shown below and include Flower Power Pup, Happy Hound, Day of the Dog, Houndstooth and Musical Mutt.

Peanuts Puppy Love Snoopy Mug by Department 56


Peanuts Snoopy Flower Power Pup Mug by Department 56

Peanuts Snoopy Happy Hound Mug by Department 56

Peanuts Snoopy Houndstooth Mug by Department 56

Peanuts Snoopy Musical Mutt Mug by Department 56

Peanuts Snoopy Party Animal Mug by Department 56

Peanuts Snoopy Day of the Dog Mug by Department 56

These mugs are from a series by Department 56, they are all super adorable and they were all available on Amazon here. However, they were produced in 2014 and appear to be out of production. You can still try the link shown above to Amazon or you can try checking on eBay by clicking right here, which is sometimes a better place to look to find items once they have retired. 

Which one of these fun mugs would you like to have your coffee served in?

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

Quick Links:

Learn about the new Peanuts movie.

Doctor Who Target Books

The Target Book: A History of the Target Doctor Who Books
I've been busy listing the first of a number of Doctor Who book sets in my eBay store. It is going to be a long process and I am trying to commit to listing six books a day. Wish me luck!

UPDATED TO SAY: ALL OF THE BOOKS IN THIS SERIES HAVE BEEN SOLD.

This huge collection belonged in a sense to my son because they were purchased for him.  However, he never had the opportunity to read them and now he is moving to Seattle and leaving them behind to be sold on eBay...

The first set that I am listing is the Target Books paperback series, which was published between the years of 1973 and 1991. I read that Target started with new releases of the books by Frederick Muller and that the last three books were released by Virgin books after they took over Target.  Those last three titles were The Power of the Daleks and The Evil of the Daleks by John Peel and The Paradise of Death by Barry Letts.

I'm learning a bit as I work my way through these books.  If you have already read them, you no doubt know more about the history of them than I do and probably remember them fondly from years gone by.

I had the opportunity to meet a customer who purchased three books from me shortly after I started on this Doctor Who adventure. He was thrilled to find the titles that he needed to complete his collection.  He purchased The Rescue by Ian Marter and The Planet of Giants and The Wheel in Space by Terrance Dicks, his collection is now complete and my collection no longer has those titles available. It was really rewarding to see his appreciation for the books.

All of the books that I have listed so far have been in pretty good condition with yellowing as befits older paperback books and a small irregularity at the top of the spine, which was caused by the removal of a small sticker. I expect the rest of the books in this collection to be in the same condition. 

If you are missing a title or two, be sure to visit eBay to complete your collection. See all of the vintage Doctor Who books on eBay by clicking right here.

You never know what I might
have in store for you!
Brenda


Image Credit:

By chance, I stumbled across The Target Book: A History of the Target Doctor Who Books by David J. Howe on Amazon.  I would love to have a chance to look at it but it appears to be a very hard-to-find book, which translates directly into it being very expensive on Amazon.  


MUGS ON MONDAY: Pretty Blue Mother's Day Mug

This Awesome Mom porcelain coffee mug is pretty awesome, don't you think?

It's a handpainted mug done in the prettiest shades of blue and beige with the words written in brown.

It is dishwasher and microwave safe and will hold 14 ounces of your mother's favorite steaming hot beverage.

It features perfect five-star reviews from the Amazon customers, too.

A nice bonus for those whose budget is strapped is that it retails for less than $10 on Amazon, which makes it a truly budget friendly, useful gift idea for Mother's Day.

You never know what I
might have in store for you!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Order this Awesome Mom coffee mug from Amazon.

MUGS ON MONDAY: Garfield and Arlene Shaped Kissing Mugs

Garfield and Arlene Shaped Kissing Mugs

Garfield and Arlene are Together Forever on this wonderful pair of vintage 1980 coffee mugs.

I think they that is, the coffee mugs, would make a very romantic gift for a Garfield loving lady but finding a pair still together can be a tough job.

This mug set was from eBay seller Jam-A Sweet Vintage Shop, who is no longer available on eBay. You can, however, click right here to see other Garfield and Arlene kissing mugs available on eBay.

You have to love how these Garfield mugs meant to fit together! Valentine's Day anyone? Maybe a special anniversary? What a wonderful way to say I Love You.

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda

More Garfield:

Find more Garfield items in my eBay store!







Martha Stewart Living Easter 2015 Magazine


A beautiful post for an almost wordless Wednesday...Martha Stewart Living's Easter 2015 magazine. Isn't it lovely?  I cannot wait for spring either and will echo the tagline, "Bring on spring!"

How about you? Are you anxious for spring? Do you enjoy Martha's magazines?

You never know what
I might have in store for you!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy Martha Stewart Living's Easter 2015 magazine on eBay.
Check out my index of Martha Stewart's Halloween magazines.

MUGS ON MONDAY: Cinderella Slipper Mug

MUGS ON MONDAY: Cinderella Slipper Mug
MUGS ON MONDAY: Cinderella Slipper Mug
If you love Disney's Cinderella, you are bound to love this pretty new mug for 2015 from the Disney Store and the Disney Parks.

It features that truly important prop from the movie, Cinderella's glass slipper and suits anyone who embraces the princess and the story.

It is an affordable and practical gift idea, too and will hold 12 ounces of your princess' favorite steamy, hot beverage. You can find it here on Amazon.

Brenda
You never know
what I might have in store for you!

Quick Link:

Buy this Cinderella glass slipper coffee mug on Amazon.

MUGS ON MONDAY: Lennon and McCartney She Loves You Cup and Saucer

Lennon and McCartney Cup and Saucer
Here's a fun set that would make a TOP-RATED GIFT IDEA for any fan of the Beatles.

It is the officially licensed Lennon and McCartney She Loves You cup and saucer set and I think it's a hoot because of the unique record-inspired design of the saucer.

It is a practical, affordable and FUN gift idea that retails right now on Amazon for just over $15.

How about you? Would you like to spin your tea or coffee in this cup on this saucer?


Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You never know what I
might have in store for you!

Quick Links:

Order this Lennon & McCartney cup and saucer from Amazon.
Discover The Beatles Mono Boxed Set.



U.S.A. Glitz Calendar

Love, LOVE, love the pictures on this U.S.A Glitz wall calendar.  As one who loves vintage items, I am really impressed by the images on this calendar and the pink really emphasizes the retro feel.

I love reading and learning about vintage Americana including the vintage diners, glittering casinos, classic cars, and retro amusement parks shown on this calendar.

It is flashier than I am but I do love looking at the nostalgic and the kitschy. You?


Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You Never Know What I
Might Have in Store For You!

Quick Links:

If you love PINK, you might enjoy browsing on my Pink Kitchen board on Pinterest.

MUGS ON MONDAY: 101 Dalmatians Mug



If you love the Disney movie 101 Dalmatians, you will love this mug that Disney released in celebration of One Hundred and One Dalmatians coming out of the vault.

Affectionately named Morning Lap, it features those cute little dalmatian puppy dogs having fun.  It is bound to cheer you up and help you clear away that London fog in the morning.

It is a beautiful, good quality white mug from the Disney Store that features screen art done in black and red, Dalmatian spots on the lip and the Dalmatians logo in the bottom. It has a matte exterior, a high gloss interior and a red handle.

It’s a generously sized coffee mug, holding 18 ounces of your favorite hot beverage.

Unfortunately, this mug is sold out at the Disney Store but it is available from sellers on Amazon and eBay. Because it is sold out, you will be paying a premium for it. However, you can click here to see what it is selling for on Amazon and then compare that to the listings from eBay shown below to see what it is selling for on that site.





You never know, a bit of comparison shopping might help you save a couple of dollars.

Brenda


Quick Link:

Love Disney movies? Learn more about Disney's Vault by clicking right here.



A Kitschy Calendar

I know it's a bit late to be talking about calendars for 2015 but sometimes I just stumble across something I love, that somehow relates to our world that I want to share with you.

In this instance it is a kitschy calendar. I think that it is a hoot, embracing things a little off the beaten path that make us smile like a pink Elvis Presley Christmas ornament, a cat bride and groom and even a bulldog living the high life. 

I see that there was a 2014 and a 2013 Kitsch calendar so we can hope that there will be another one in 2016.  I think they are perfectly suited to a home with a bit of spirit! 



Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
You Never Know What I
Might Have in Store For You!

Quick Links:





MUGS ON MONDAY: You've Cat To Be Kitten Me Right Meow Coffee Mug

You've Cat To Be Kitten Me Right Meow Mug

Some mugs just make you or maybe I should say me smile. That's the category that the mug for this MUGS ON MONDAY post fits into.

The expression, "You've Cat To Be Kitten Me Right Meow" on this coffee mug is just plain fun and I love how the maker, TooLoud, put the words into the form of a black cat.

It's perfect for any cat lover's morning cup of coffee, don't you think?

Have a great week!
Brenda

Quick Links:

Buy this cat coffee mug on Amazon.

A Bloom Of Friendship by Anne Renaud

A Bloom of Friendship by Anne RenaudA non-fiction, children's picture book written by Anne Renaud and illustrated by Ashley Spires, A Bloom Of Friendship: The Story Of The Canadian Tulip Festival tells the story of the history behind the world's largest tulip festival held every spring in Ottawa. It is thus far the only book about the Canadian Tulip Festival that I have been able to find. Therefore, we are extremely lucky that it is such a great book!
Let me start by saying that I am not a history expert and this is in large part a history book. It is perfect for children aged eight- to ten-years old, but it is also great for adults who want to learn a bit about the history of the relationship between Holland and Canada and the tulip festival. It is beautifully illustrated with pictures that have been painted and with both historical and modern day photographs, newspaper articles created to tell the story and lots of historical tidbits woven in and around the main text.
A Bloom of Friendship by Anne RenaudThis page can serve as an introduction to the history of the Canadian Tulip Festival (which is sometimes incorrectly called the Ottawa Tulip Festival) as well as a review of this book. I am actually giving more of the history of the tulip festival than is normal in a book review because I think that this page will also be good for people who are looking for this background information who are planning to attend the festival. I would, however, encourage you to check out the book whether or not you have children. It is really very beautiful; I think the artwork would be lovely framed. It also tells a beautiful story ~~ the history of the Canadian and Dutch friendship.
This book was republished in 2014, hence the two images to the right. The top picture is the new cover. The second picture, the original cover from 2005. You can find A Bloom of Friendship: The Story of the Canadian Tulip Festival on Amazon by clicking right here. The more recent book is only available in paperback. If you want a hardcover copy, you will have to buy the original book.

"The Canadian Tulip Festival is a celebration of the friendship between two countries more than 50 years ago."

The Canadian Tulip Festival and Barbara and Malak Karsh

A Bloom of Friendship opens with a letter from Malak Karsh's wife, Barbara Karsh who tells of their discovery of the thousands of tulips in Ottawa in 1946. The pictures that Mr. Karsh took that day have since travelled the world telling Princess Juliane's Canadian story. Eventually, in 1953, his interest in the tulips would cause him to be instrumental in the creation of the Canadian Tulip Festival.

The Second World War, The Dutch and The Canadians

A LONG-LASTING FRIENDSHIP IS FORMED OUT OF THE TOUGHEST OF TIMES...

On May 10, 1940, the Dutch people were awakened by the sounds of airplanes and the sight of hundreds of soldiers parachuting to the ground as Hitler invaded Holland. This was the beginning of a horrible five-year period for the Dutch people.

Queen Wilhelmina and the Dutch Royal Family Escape

Queen Wilhelmina and the Dutch Royal Family escaped to England but even England was not a safe place to be. The Queen's daughter, Crown Princess Juliana, nine-month old Irene and a two-year old Beatrix found a safe place to escape too and that was Canada. They arrived in Halifax via the dutch ship Sumatra in Halifax in June 11, 1940 and from their proceeded to the home they would live in, which was located in Ottawa.
Perhaps the most notable event while they lived in Canada, was the birth in the spring of 1942, of Princess Margriet Francisca who was born a Dutch citizen because Canada named the place of her birth extraterritorial -- meaning outside of Canadian territory.

At Home, The Dutch People Struggled

Meanwhile in the Netherlands, life was very tough and the Dutch struggled to survive under the Nazis. Living conditions were terrible; supplies scarce. Eventually over 100,000 Dutch Jews were sent to Nazi death camps.

The Battle of the Scheldt, The Battle of the Rhineland and Freedom

In support of the final phase of the war in Europe, the allies needed to get supplies to their advancing troups in Belgium and The First Canadian Army was tasked with clearing the banks of the Scheldt of Nazis so that supplies could arrive through the Scheldt Estuary. For two months, the Canadians fought the German army along the Scheldt. In the end, more than 6,000 Canadian soliders were killed or wounded but, thanks to their sacrifices, the port of Antwerp was opened successfully. These Canadian soldiers rested in December and January; many of them in the homes of the Dutch where they made friends that would be remembered forever.
Rhineland, however, was one of the places that remained in German control. On February 8, 1945, the First Canadian Army once again was tasked. This time with clearing a passage for allied troups. At the end of this campaign, more than 5,000 Canadians were dead or wounded but at becauase of their efforts, the Allies were able to defeat Hitler.
In March of the same year, the First Canadian Army freed the remaining parts of Holland and, when it was clear that the war was nearing an end, a truce was made allowing for the dropping of much needed food and supplies to the Dutch. This time it was the Royal Canadian Air Force 405 Squadron that helped out by dropping 12,000 tons of needed items.

Tulips in Ottawa

The Gift of Tulips

Finally on May 8, 1945, the war in Europe was over. Princess Juliana's family returned home and discovered a people who were extremely thankful to the Canadians. In 1945, the Dutch Royal Family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Canada by way of thanks. Every year since then, they have sent 20,000 additional tulip bulbs. I am sure that I will remember this story whenever I see tulips in the future. Will you?

Buy A Bloom Of Friendship on Amazon

Amazon has both the newer paperback edition (shown on top) and the older hardcover edition available. If you are in the U.S., follow the large links below. Canadians can buy this book from Amazon.ca by clicking here.

I am especially interested in this story because I reside in Ottawa and am able to see the tulips every year. Have you ever visited the tulip festival?  What did you think of it? Are you interested in the history behind the tulips and this book, A Bloom of Friendship?

Brenda
Treasures By Brenda
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