ooo baby baby

While I recovered in the hospital, my daughter, Erin, was keeping a secret from me --she had just learned that she and her husband are having a second child! What wonderful life-affirming news to receive when I got home ..... and (oh, boy!) another grandchild to spoil!

In case you've missed me brag about this new baby's big brother, here's a little bit about my Benjamin.

do you believe in magic?

My extended blog absence actually has very little to do with my usual long-term procrastination and laziness. In truth, I've been very sick and spent a week in the hospital (which included 3 days in ICU).

While I think my recovery has been good, I'm still not up to normal speed and it's a constant reminder of just how sick I was -- and it's also a reminder of just how lucky I am to have my family and their constant love and support throughout all of this.

What happened to me? Suffice to say that it was a conglomeration of my stubborness, my failing to read a situation correctly and two infections that weren't acting the way those infections are supposed to act -- if they had, it would have tipped me off that I had something more serious than the flu. As I understand it, I am lucky to be alive and even more lucky that I didn't lose the function of a kidney.

Because hearing aspects of what almost happened to me still upsets me, I know that I have a lot of mental processing to do before I know where to place this event in my life, both emotionally and mentally. I certainly feel more mortal than I ever have before ..... but I'm also now a survivor which can't help but make me feel at least a little powerful.

Do I believe in magic? You bet I do.

(I love the little dog above because he reminds me of my many, many shuffle-footed trips to the bathroom with my IV pole in tow and my butt unshamingly hanging out the back of my hospital gown. From the happy look on his face, though, he was definitely getting better meds than I was!)

everyday people

When I planned for my eighth grade dance in the mid-sixties, I carefully selected my ensemble and lovingly crafted my coif. You can see the results in the top picture. No, really. That's me.

Of course when I looked in the mirror that June evening, I saw something very similar to Lauren Hutton in the picture below (from the October, 1967 issue of Seventeen). I saw blonde, tall, skinny, slinky, and so hip-that-it-made-your-teeth-hurt. Unfortunately, neither the camera (or anyone else) saw what I did.

It's obvious, though, that I thought I was the bee's knees and you'd think from the barely amused expression on my 13 year old face that I was at my wit's end due to being followed by the paparazzi all night long. (Nope, just one snapshot by Mom who loved me no matter how bad I looked, thank God)

i got you babe

I would imagine that when this was recorded in 1965, neither of them could have possibly imagined that one day Cher would become an Oscar-winning actress and fashion-plate who would be headlining a solo show in Vegas when she was in her 60's .... or that Sonny would become mayor of Palm Springs, California, and then later a Republican in the United States House of Representatives.

I love watching them here when they were young and in love .... and their fabulous lives were still out there waiting for them.

psychotic reaction

Our family has always taken Halloween a little more seriously than most so it's not surprising that at least one of our kids would enthusiastically sign up for Universal Studio's Halloween Horror Nights, which is a legendary Halloween institution around these parts.

Personally, I can't stand things that jump out at me so I don't attend very often but, of course, last year I had to go to witness my sweet baby girl shoot a machine gun at unsuspecting victims while dressed as Chucky, the evil and murderous doll from the movie "Child's Play." Makes a Mom proud.

I snapped a quick picture which isn't too good because of all of the fog they were pumping into the building -- but in case you did attend, I thought you might enjoy seeing the sweet face behind that scary, gun-wielding Chucky who no doubt made you shriek and walk a lot faster.

(And, yes, she has a part for this year, too!)

oh, pretty woman

Because Yardley of London knew exactly who they were marketing to in the 60's, it's not surprising that so many of their commercials ended up airing during "The Monkees" tv show which ran from 1966 to 1968. I was a huge Monkee fan but my love for Yardley cosmetics way outlasted my love for Davy, Micky, Peter and Mike. Sorry, guys. I'm the fickle sort.

I recently came across these two old Yardley commercials from that time period -- they will give some of you a happy trip down memory lane and they will give some of you a little insight into what the hullaballoo was all about.

Note the British accents of the voice-overs and keep in mind that this was at the height of the so-called "British invasion." We were suckers for anything (and anyone) from across the Big Pond.

Enjoy!

gimme shelter

In addition to all of my other unabashed eccentricities which I refuse to apologize for, I'm a huge fan of reality television. Yes, I know I should be above it. As someone with a degree in Broadcasting, I know that I should be typing the words "reality television" with the same revulsion I experience while typing the words "end-stage syphilis."

But from "American Idol" to "Hell's Kitchen" to even some seasons of "The Bachelor," trust me when I tell you that I love me some reality tv and I'm not the slightest bit ashamed of it.

There is one reality show that I have to admit I enjoy with just a tinge of self-loathing (which I truly believe only further enhances my enjoyment of it) and that's "Big Brother" which premieres it's 12th season tonight on CBS. In case you've been living under a rock for the last ten years, "Big Brother" consists of 14 (usually very attractive young) people moving into a studio that resembles a home where they conduct their completely secluded lives on camera 24/7 all summer ...... while plotting how to get rid of each other.

As in all reality tv, it's unpredictable. Some seasons it's a big snore and I quickly lose interest while other seasons I practically live on my computer monitoring "Big Brother" message boards for the latest news. My passion for any particular season is dependent on at least one of two things: 1) There must be someone I adore and/or 2) there must be someone I despise. If I can get both in one season, I'm in "Big Brother" heaven.

Anyway, I said all that to say all this: even though the show starts tonight, I may never mention it again. Or I may blog about it hourly until no one can stand me .... if you don't believe me, ask my best friend, Sharon, about my former Taylor Hicks obsession. It wasn't pretty.

she's a rainbow

Dolly Face, originally uploaded by sugarpie honeybunch.

Of all of my retro/vintage photos on Flickr, this is probably my very favorite -- partly because it's just a visually-interesting photo but also because it's part of an advertisement for a product I well remember trying: Yardley's Dolly Face Beauty Mask.

The masks came in 5 different colors and each color was designed to address a different skin problem -- I don't remember which color I purchased or what it was supposed to do but, apparently, I wasn't impressed because I never bought it again.

It's a great photo, though, isn't it?

P.S. For those who care about such things (and I do), Colleen Corby -- the most prolific American teenage model of the 60's -- is in the upper left hand corner.

american woman

Flowers of 1776, originally uploaded by sugarpie honeybunch.

Okay, so this isn't the most traditional Fourth of July commemorative you've ever seen -- but this ad is from the September 1975 issue of 'Teen magazine so it sure as heck works for this blog.

The Bicentennical back in 1976 was a pretty big deal for the country --as a 200th birthday should be -- and it reached into virtually every area of advertising life ..... and teenage cosmetics were no exception.

On July 4th, 1976 you could attend your neighborhood barbecue knowing (deep down inside) that you smell just like a 1776 American flower garden. (And if you were lucky, you might meet your very own Minuteman!)

Happy 4th of July!

(they call it) puppy love

In 1960, I was in second grade and living in Dayton, Ohio when my Mom took me to see a brand new Disney movie called "Pollyanna," starring British child actress Hayley Mills. My childhood would never be the same.

I fell in love with Hayley the same fan-girly way little girls fall in love with Miley Cyrus today. This was eons before anyone had even dreamed of videotape so instead of watching her movies over and over and over again, I listened to the soundtrack recordings on my record player. I could -- and did (much to my family and friends' chagrin) -- recite huge amounts of dialogue at the drop of a hat. "The Parent Trap," "Summer Magic," "The Moon-Spinners," and "The Chalk Garden" -- I saw and loved them all.

One of my strongest memories about my Hayley obsession was repeatedly telling my Mom that if I ever had a daughter, I would name her "Hayley" because I loved the name -- and the actress -- so much.

Well, I did give birth to three daughters and their names are Erin, Megan, and Molly .... nary a Hayley in the bunch. Not my fault, though. With every pregnancy, the very first girl's name I suggested to my husband was "Hayley" and he simply could not be coerced into considering it. I dearly love the names we gave our daughters but it would not be a lie to say that I still have an itsy bitsy teensy weensy smidgen of disappointment that Hayley never made it into the line-up.

up, up and away

While watching her perform these amazing aerial silks moves scares me more than just a little, I'm very proud of my daughter, Megan, for having the guts, the creativity and the drive to do it.

Megan also works full-time, is in the final stages of getting her MBA ...... and she made her costume, too!

it's nature's way

Dear Mother Nature, originally uploaded by sugarpie honeybunch.

I don' think that there is a female over the age of 13 who can't relate to this wonderful Kotex ad in the May, 1970 edition of Seventeen Magazine.

girls just want to have fun

Retro Girly, originally uploaded by sugarpie honeybunch.

This is a pink-centric mosaic I created with some of the hundreds of retro magazine ads I've uploaded to flickr.

you've really got a hold on me

Grandma braggin' time. The t-shirt says it all:  "Ladies Man"

respect

In addition to June 6, 1994 being the day my son, Morgan, was born, it was also the 50th Anniversary of D-Day. At the time of his birth, we made sure to pick up some books and publications about the anniversary for him so that he would some day understand the significance that the date of his birth shared with world history.

Turns out I had a lot to learn about "understanding the significance" of that date as well .... and I don't kid myself that I will ever be able to fully comprehend it.

When Bob and I took our cruise last June, we were fortunate enough to spend a day in Normandy, France -- we visited both the landing beaches and the American cemetery. The photo at the top is a monument built on the sand of Omaha Beach. The writing at the top is in French with the English translation below:

The allied forces landing on this shore which they call Omaha Beach
liberate Europe -- June 6th, 1944

Our visit to the American cemetery was gut-wrenching. Grave after grave after grave with the same date of death -- June 6th, 1944 -- it taught me something about what the word "sacrifice" really means.

During our visit, I walked through much of the cemetery and whispered "thank you" to each gravesite I passed -- I felt completely overwhelmed by both the courage of those who died and the loss of humanity represented there.

sunshine superman

 It was 16 years ago today that my life was changed in ways I could not have possibly anticipated. I gave birth to a boy ......... and I was scared to death.

It wasn't that I didn't have parenting experience -- after all, I was a stepmom to one girl and had given birth to three others -- goodness knows I should be an expert on raising little girls. But because I'd never had a son -- heck, I'd never even had a brother -- this whole "boy" thing really threw me for a loop. What the heck do you do with them?

I needn't have worried, of course. After I adjusted to the difference in diaper changes, I found myself absolutely revelling in just how different he was from his sisters and just what a unique individual he is. Sixteen years later, I still feel the same way.

Happy Birthday, Morgan!

skinny legs and all

Thermo-Jac, originally uploaded by sugarpie honeybunch.

I used to think that the age of the uber-thin model began with Twiggy in the mid-sixties but when I came across this ad from the March 1961 issue of Seventeen, I realized I was waaay wrong.

Is it just me or are the waists on these ladies just impossibly small??

abc

It was almost exactly one year ago today that our youngest daughter, Molly, graduated from high school -- it's a little late but I wanted to make sure that her accomplishment was acknowledged here.

Molly is currently going to a local community college and planning to both major in business AND ultimately become a hair stylist -- sounds like a great path for someone who wants to own her own salon(s)!

Mark my words: if Molly really sets her mind to it, there is nothing she can't do.

sugar, sugar

Oh! de London 2, originally uploaded by sugarpie honeybunch.

Of course -- this blog being what it is -- I can't reminisce about a trip to London without tripping down a different memory lane with this ad from the November 1965 issue of Mademoiselle:

Oh! Pout! Oh! Fizzy Stuff! Oh! Silly Curls! Oh! Flutter of lashes!

Oh! de London!

What a sweet, simple time it was to be a young girl.

winchester cathedral

In my effort to continue to update due to my inexcusable absence over the past year or two, these pictures show my hubby during our British Isles cruise almost a year ago -- it's how we celebrated our 30th anniversary (which I do consider a significant accomplishment for both of us!).

In the top picture, Bob is chowing down lunch at a pub in Belfast, Ireland (including the requisite pint of Guinness, of course!) and in the bottom photo, he's enjoying a cigar while lounging on the grass of beautiful Hyde Park in London.

We had a wonderful time. I'm fortunate enough to have been to England a number of times and there is always something about it that feels very "homey" and comfortable to me. I can't wait to go back.