Happy Memorial Day!

Hope you had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! I meant to get this out yesterday but that darn family kept asking for things... the nerve, right?

We had a fantastic weekend filled with train rides, carousel rides, picnics with fried chicken (yes, made by me!) a bar-b-que with friends, fun in the water and Mr. O even smoked a pork shoulder for dinner on Monday. All it all it was a perfect family weekend. 

Of course the most important aspect of the weekend was remembering and honoring the men and women who fought and continue to fight to protect our country and our freedom. We attended a memorial ceremony honoring Alexandrian's who fought in Vietnam. It was a beautiful service and I was particularly moved by so many former military men and women who attended, many with their families and young children.  

Here are a few paintings that come to mind when I'm feeling patriotic. I hope you enjoy! 

On the Hudson at Newburgh, Gifford Beal, 1918

Avenue in the Rain, Childe Hassam, 1917

Soldier and Girl at Station, Alex Colville, 1953

Servicemen receiving care packages from Adopt-a-Platoon

Lastly, and most importantly I'm including a link to Adopt-A-Platoon. Its very simple. You contact the group and they assign you a specific platoon and give you a list of things most troops appreciate or miss from home. Then like any care package you fill up a box with goodies and ship it to your assigned platoon contact, usually the platoon chaplain.

I have only done this once, but it was one of the most rewarding things I've done. I don't know if this always happens but I received a beautiful thank you note from the platoon chaplain, which included photos. To think he took the time to thank li'l ol me was a gift in itself. 

Happy Memorial Day!

Cheers, 

Ouiser

Its The End of The World As We Know It...

All this talk about the rapture and apocalypse has me giggling and humming the late 80's REM classic that inspired today's post title. If you're anywhere around my age you likely recall the tune.

I used to dance around my bedroom as only an overhyped teen girl can do singing the chorus at the top of my lungs and then awkwardly humming the verses since I could never manage to remember anything except "Lenny Bruce is not afraid"... kinda like I did with Billy Joel's We Didn't Start The Fire.

Anyway, as you likely already know the apocalypse is "scheduled" for tomorrow. Which is frankly a big bummer since I have a salon appointment for a mani/pedi, cut and color. What happened to the commandment that thou shall not mess with a woman's day at the salon? Just saying.

a few giggles....

Weekend Plans?

Honey, did you pack the gin? 

Cheers, 
Ouiser

Oh My God, That Dress!

Its been awhile since I posted some of my top tumblr finds so today's theme is: Beautiful Dresses I'd Love to Own But Have Nowhere to Wear.

Hope these make you oooooh and awwwwh like they made me. Enjoy! Oh, I mustn't forget to mention that I found most of the dresses (and my post title inspiration) from omgthatdress. If you want to follow them on tumblr they are fabulous. Hat tip to Ms. SpangleMaker9 for the introduction.

Reem Acra. Love the sleeves and the way the dress flows!

The beading on this one blows my mind.

Everything about this one just screams happiness.

1932, Coco Chanel. Talk about elegance and femininity. 

House of Worth, 1898-1900. Breathtaking!

1820s Court Dress of Empress Maria Fyodorovna

Now, I'm imagining wearing one of those dresses to attend a party here...

Where they might serve these...

Ooo and it would be perfect if I was escorted by this handsome gentleman! (Mr. O knows well of my affinity for Mr. Firth)

Cheers,
Ouiser

Happy Mother's Day

Mary Cassatt, Mother and Child

My wish is that every mother finds happiness and love today!  However you choose to celebrate I hope you remember how important you are.

Today was my perfect. I spent the whole day with my darling husband and our two precious boys. Now that I have my own children I understand completely my own mother's need to unabashedly stare and smile at me. As a teen it drove me nuts but now as a mother I find I do it at least once a day. It is in those quiet moments that I am overwhelmed by my love and awe of motherhood. 

I want to wish my own mother a very special Mother's Day! Thank you will never suffice how grateful I am for your life long support, comfort, encouragement, love and friendship.  And I have to say, that goes double for my teen years. Bless MY heart, I was an utter sh*t at times. Thankfully we both survived and now that I am I mother I realize everything you said was in fact true. And in some cosmic fate I've also realized my children will not believe me either. 

In your honor, my top five favorite Mamere-isms!

5.  Hats and gloves never go out of style.

4.  Nothing good happens after midnight. 

3. Don't do anything you aren't ok with the whole town knowing about it. 

2. Never be a squeezed lemon. Always be a fresh fruit.

1. I may not be happy with some decisions you make but I will always, always love you. 

SO untrue in my case but it is all kinds of funny!

I am also blessed to have several other wonderful maternal role-models in my life. I wouldn't be the person I am today with out the love and support of my godmother and my two god-sisters both of whom are incredible mothers. And if that wasn't enough I was further blessed when I married Mr. O to gain a mother in law that others could only dream of. I regularly hear from my friends about how lucky I am to have her in my life, and every time I smile and nod and say, "I know, I am blessed." 

Mary Cassatt, Breakfast in Bed

Cheers, 

Ouiser