2010 Halloween Favorite

One year -- many years ago -- my friend Lorna and I dressed up as witches and ran around the auditorium of Virgil Grissom Elementary. Our costumes were so good -- even our own children did not recognize us.

Sadly -- none of our children remember this happening...

I only wish I had TAKEN PICTURES. When my boys were growing up -- I was terrible about taking pictures. So that means I have no real evidence to prove I DID dress up. I DID cook a hot meal every single day. I DID bake cookies and serve as the room mother...

Ugh. I digress.

What I wanted to write about this morning was HALLOWEEN...

Last year, my niece Nicole called to see if I might be able to conjure up a pirate wench costume...She works at a bank -- and they were going with a Buccaneer theme...

NO PROBLEM. A little digging in my basement produced the perfect long skirt, trimmed with colorful embroidery -- a white blouse with the perfect elastic - for that sexy-wench look...and some red fabric to wrap around her hips and head to complete the look!!

This year -- I got to help with Elizabeth's Strawberry shortcake costume, Cale's jester hat, and Amy's witches costume.

OH MY GOD...I am really awesome at this!! And every costume has it's own sewing story...

Trust me -- pictures WILL follow. Because I am SO MUCH SMARTER NOW than I was 25 years ago!!

John & Sport Coats

The day we're packing our bags to go to St. Louis, John said, "where's the sport coat I wore to the last reunion?"

The last reunion was two years ago. AND he forgot to pack a sport coat that time, too. But when we arrived in St. Louis -- I went shopping and bought him a beautiful navy blue sport coat at a thrift store. He looked great.



However -- fast forward. Two years later, we're headed to his Navy reunion again -- and John needs a sport coat.

Apparently -- in 2009, he left it hanging in the hotel room closet...

Remember that Mary was also in St. Louis that weekend? OF COURSE we had to go thrift store shopping...

You know Mary -- I just can't keep her out of those places...


AND -- this time -- we have a mission! To find a nice sport coat for John. Check. Steel blue. Pierre Cardin...perfect in every way. Silk and worsted wool...



$7.50.

Oh, yeah. I am the master.

Or, maybe -- just maybe -- John forgot his sport coat accidentally on purpose?? Knowing that having a real bonafide thrift store mission would simply MAKE MY DAY??

nah...he just hates wearing sport coats...

The Project Runway Winner

Okay -- maybe I shouldn't be blogging about the Project Runway Finale. Because the truth is -- I kept dozing off...

Come to think of it -- that could be part of the problem...

At the end of a fairly boring hour and a half...I watched Kimberly, Joshua, Viktor and Anya present their collections.

When Heidi said, "There are no losers here today. But only one of you can be the winner..." I thought Viktor was going to get the win. His printed garments were fabulous -- the t-shirt with the glass pieces hanging all over -- and the white jacket he made will be one of the "most memorable" garments EVER.

But, NOOOOO...I was wrong. Viktor was actually the second one to be called "out".

So then I knew the winner would be Joshua. Anya sent ten caftans with plunging necklines and raw hems down the runway. For crying out loud -- Anya can't possibly win this thing...

Joshua's collection had the look they always go for...and his use of plastics and neoprene was interesting...and he did edit his bedazzling.

AND THE WINNER IS.....

Anya.

Holly Cow.

I can't be a hater though -- because Anya is, without a doubt, the nicest person who was ever cast on Project Runway. There was a crazy moment backstage, right before the Runway show -- when Kimberly couldn't find her kit...she had no needle and thread...no pins...nothing. And even though Anya was also crazy with her last minute details -- she was aware of Kimberly's meltdown -- and went over to give her whatever she needed out of her kit.

So Anya wins. And I'm thinking if I add a turtleneck -- I just might like wearing one of Anya's caftans...

Fall Leaves

On our way back from Pennsylvania -- the leaves were stunning. Maybe the most beautiful fall color I've ever seen...

Really. The trees were amazing. I mean -- if you decided right now, this minute, that you wanted to paint every leaf in the woods -- it would take a lifetime to do even a single tree. But Mother Nature can do an entire state overnight...

They were beautiful. But if you've seen one tree, you've seen them all. And every time I fell asleep...John would yell, "Rita! LOOK! See that one??"

It happened to be the weekend that Penn State played Iowa. Apparently, the Iowa coach doesn't like to fly....because we kept getting behind his camper...with the vanity plates.

It was a big sighting for us...GO HAWKEYES...

Sadly, Iowa lost. Penn State 13/Iowa 3. Bummer...

Sock Monkey Farro

So -- we're visiting John's Pennsylvania relatives....what fun thing can I do for five young grand-nieces and nephews who have never met me?

I KNOW -- I'LL THROW A SOCK MONKEY PARTY...!!

First thing -- go to the grocery store, pick up a sheet cake and nest a little mini-sock monkey in the middle...(yes, I know it would have been better to take the picture BEFORE we ate the cake)...


I had the car chock full of various sock monkey stuff....and I cleared the kids out of the room. I needed five minutes to set the Sock Monkey Party up...
Lydia picked her favorite monkey out of the pile immediately...

There were monkey board games, finger puppet shows...

Sam sat his new sock monkey buddy in the window so he could watch him eat cake...


Cora could hardly wait to set up her official Sock Monkey tea party...
OH, YEAH, it was a wonderful little party. With WAY TOO MUCH SUGAR...and the cutest little kids you ever met...

I hope they had as much fun as I did...

Book Clubbers KNIT

In this picture, Sandy is wearing a scarf she made...

Which was SO UNIQUE -- and we all loved the varigated nature of the yarn -- and it looks so complicated...but Sandy kept telling us it was actually REALLY EASY...


Because of the way the yarn is manufactured....pretty odd, eh?




HEY -- My book clubbers are VERY COMPETITIVE.

Sandy wears her scarf to breakfast one week -- and the VERY next week the three of them are wearing scarves that they made since LAST WEEK...

I am the only one WHO DOES NOT knit...so I was inordinately impressed with their creations...in such a short period of time, too!!



GREAT JOB, GIRLS. And today -- I AM BRINGING a sew-n-tell of my own. About time, eh? I've been doing so much travel this fall -- I haven't been holding up my end of INSPIRATIONAL PROJECTS...but that's about to change...today is my big reveal.

Prepare to be amazed!!

Missoni

After the initial MISSONI MELTDOWN of Target -- I was delighted to take my Missoni purchases to the next bookclub. Just to show off...

I love ALL MY MISSONI -- but my very favorite thing is definitely THE SUITCASE....Oh My God!!! It is beyond cool. The Missoni stripes are stunning. It is officially a "carry-on" bag -- with four of those roller/swivel wheels. So you don't drag it behind you -- it simply pushes along, swiveling and moving at ease...

I thought my Missoni suitcase would be an excellent centerpiece for our luncheon...and I love this picture of my cousin Linda...

A few days later -- the Missoni bag joined me and the Hey Rita tote on an ACTUAL TRIP...

You'll have to stay tuned for a report on how she did on her maiden voyage...but take a good look at the bag on the bottom. One of my favorite rolling duffels -- the airlines poked a big hole in it...so this was her final trip...bummer.

Hey -- WAIT -- now I get to go shopping for a NEW DUFFEL!!

Which, of course, I'll have to DECORATE....

Oh, yeah, it's a good day...

Happy Birthday, Ross!!

Today our son Ross is 34 years old. He is a full grown adult who's lived away for a long time. So I rarely get to bake him the Farro Family Birthday Cake...(which is a chocolate cake mix with PEANUT BUTTER ICING)...

So -- I've made it my mission to find Ross a "mother" wherever he lives -- and I leave it up to her to bake his birthday cake. In Pennsylvania, Kathy Keefer took on that job...and in Minnesota, Melissa has been baking his cakes...

Thanks, Melissa & Sean, for making Ross a member of your family. We miss him -- but are happy he's in good hands.

And, just in case you're new to my blog -- I'm again posting his short -- "Honest Work".

Ross wrote the screenplay, and it won first place at a film festival -- and he is the star.




Happy Birthday, Ross -- from your biggest fan!!

I thought you'd get a kick out of this picture.


Lillian says Happy Birthday to her favorite Uncle Ross...

Pennsylvania Visit

John and I went to Pennsylvania to visit his family. It was a beautiful fall drive...the leaves were turning and the scenery was stunning.

A rare picture of John and his brother Jerry...

Who is married to Linda -- and they suddenly have SIX grandchildren. I mean -- Cora, pictured here, is the oldest...(four? right?)

During our visit, Joel & Tran brought their two kids and Heather and Jerry brought their three -- so it was a full house. (the young moms, with their babies...)


I am telling you -- I'M ALL ABOUT THE BABIES....oh my goodness....such blessings...


I think this is the best picture I ever took of "male bonding"...


Because I was hoping to see Jerry & Linda's grandchildren...and I knew this would be a rare visit -- I wanted to do something memorable for the kids...that'll be another post...

Project Runway

Last week I didn't blog about Project Runway because I was in Kansas City. It was several days before I was able to watch the entire episode where Laura got sent packing...and she had it coming. Anya's three garments were the most impressive.

Hey -- what do you think of the odd "After-show" Lifetime is doing? What is that about? Watching that last night reminded me of the boring "Models" show they did for a couple of years. I am SOO GLAD we've gone back to the original system -- where the models are not allowed to speak. Really. That works for me...

This week was the first part of a two-week finale...

Four designers are left -- Kimberly, Anya, Joshua and Viktor. I've thought all along that the judges were all rooting for Anya. And I have certainly come to LOVE her. She has a unique point of view, and most weeks, I'd put her in the top group just because of the outfit she herself is wearing. Not to mention the stunning haircut and earrings. Anya is, indeed, one of the most memorable designers Project Runway has had in a very long time.

But who are we kidding? It's so clear that Viktor is the winner. He has a point of view and never fails to send complete collections down the runway. I could pick out a Viktor jacket from across the room...

The episode opened up with Tim visiting the final four in their homes. When he got to Trinidad -- Anya didn't have a single thing even on the DRAWING BOARD...

Okay -- here's where her complete lack of background starts to show. In the beginning, I made snide comments on this blog about there being a Trinidadian cleaning woman at Parsons coming into the space after hours to do Anya's sewing for her...

Now, I realize what a quick learner Anya was. And she is so personable, EVERY OTHER designer helped her out. Laura, Becky -- even Joshua helped Anya figure things out. On her Governor's island challenge -- she had Bert to help her bring those three looks to the runway.

But now that she's all by herself in Trinidad -- hummm...clearly, she's feeling in over her head...

At the end of the episode, Viktor was the clear winner. His three looks were fabulous. But Anya was the clear loser. Her three looks were lackluster...poorly sewn...one zipper actually popped out during the fitting...ugh...



But the judges could NOT send her home. So next week, we get to see all four designers collections walk the runway.

Okay. I get it. I love Anya, too. And she is VERY POPULAR with the audience. So I know why the judges are letting her show at Bryant Park. But based on the three looks she put up last night -- I'm not expecting much....and I will be shocked if Viktor doesn't win. (channeling Mondo...)

However -- maybe now that Anya is back in New York, she'll buy doughnuts for the Parsons cleaning staff and they'll do some late night sewing on her lifeless collection.

Mississippi River Distillery

I belong to a local business group -- the Quad City PR Network. They have monthly meetings with excellent speakers and I always learn something.

Last month -- they had their meeting in the always beautiful LeClaire, Iowa. At the Mississippi River Distillery. This is SO FASCINATING to me.

Ryan Burchette (here -- giving the tour) was the meteoroligist for the local NBC affiliate. Then he and his engineer brother decided to do something that hasn't been done since the days of prohibition...They woke up one morning and said, "Let's make some vodka!"


Getting the tour of their facility -- and learning about their marketing -- was fascinating. They buy the corn from local farmers....and they've "named" their booze. "River Pilot Vodka" and "River Rose Gin". They have a beautiful tasting room -- with a stunning river view...

I'm telling you -- these marketing classes can be exhausting events...

They have lots of wall space -- and it would be expensive to buy art. So they decided to turn their building into a gallery. So a different artist hangs a new exhibition every six weeks. And there is a "gallery opening"...

Which would include, of course, another gin taste test....

GENIUS, people -- simply GENIUS...

I didn't buy any art....but by all accounts -- the vodka is EXCELLENT...

Yes...it's true...I love my job....

Ricky's Pit BBQ

Life is about so many things. Friends, family, conversations, hobbies, art, appreciating the finer things in life. Say, for example -- DELICIOUS FOOD.

During our recent visit to Kansas City -- thanks to a friend named VIRGINIA -- Rhonda Pierce and I actually got to eat some REAL KC BBQ...

Virginia told us this is her favorite place for BBQ. And Rhonda and I were looking for a exactly that...you know -- the place where the LOCALS eat...that downhome REAL Kansas City experience...and here it is. Ricky's BBQ -- 3801 Leavenworth Rd, Kansas City, Kansas 66104.

Because Virginia KNOWS EVERYBODY -- she brought the owner out so we could meet him. She took this great picture of me and Rhonda visiting with Ricky...his story was so interesting, I tried to get a little video interview...



Here's Ricky telling his story --



Because the three of us were so hungry by the time we got there -- and we immediately started stuffing our mouths full of BBQ...we didn't even realize that there were NO KNIVES on our table until we were about 20 minutes into our feast!!

It was a joy to meet you, Ricky -- and thanks for taking the time to visit with us and let me tell your story. YOUR BBQ IS AMAZING...

My Marvelous Missoni

Yes, I know you are sick of hearing about it. MY MARVELOUS MISSONI...But sorry, that won't stop me from writing about it....again...

Thank-you, Target, for bringing a little Missoni into my life. It was so much fun to go to the store on Missoni LAUNCH day. Kim took this picture of me in Clinton, Iowa -- with a Missoni hat on my head, holding a Missoni umbrella, and wearing a Missoni scarf...

I had all these things in my cart.

I simply PICKED UP EVERYTHING -- and didn't worry about the editing until I saw what my choices would be. The boots looked incredible...and they actually had MY SIZE...

At the end of my Missoni adventure -- I didn't buy the boots. And I didn't buy the bicycle. Mostly because I remembered I don't wear boots -- they're too heavy to pack into a suitcase -- and, oh yeah -- I'm too fat to ride a bicycle, and I have NO PLACE IN MY HOUSE to keep a bicycle...

But you can clearly see that it was a big job to talk myself OUT of buying the boots and the bicycle...

I also did not buy any clothes. Mostly because they were sized VERY SMALL -- and also -- I am not a fan of acrylic fabric...

But I was wrong. This stuff is going for a fortune on ebay. Remember, Mary Mulari bought this little stash for me at her local Target -- so I got the black & white round rug. WHICH I LOVE... As well as the neck pillow that is meant to match my very favorite piece of Missoni...

And I am SO GLAD I bought it...my fabulous Missoni carry-on suitcase...it was $89. And I did hesitate. Mostly because I already own a dozen carry-on bags...

But I am SO HAPPY I have it. This bag is selling on Ebay for over $200. But I will never sell my Missoni...I just love it too much.

However -- if it doesn't work out as a carry-on suitcase -- I might repurpose it as a coffeetable...

Happy Anniversary, John!

Happy Anniversary, John!! I can hardly believe we are OLD NOW. Wow. We are grandparents!!

You are a wonderful husband -- even though it took years of patience and training on my part.

Luckily -- you were a wonderful Grandpa from the first moment...One of Lilly's favorite things to do when she visits is to take a walk in the yard and go see the chickens...

You helped Lillian make pancakes for her Daddy's birthday...

And you are a busy man, with many hobbies you love. Golf, hunting, you love gardening...


having people over for hummingbird lunches...

You are a man of few words -- like John Wayne in the "Quiet Man". Fortunately, I learned from Oprah that people SHOW love and RECEIVE love in very different ways. But it took me years to realize that you show love by fixing things...

And -- the nicest thing you did for me last year was this...



Gheesh...this post is already WAY TOO LONG...

But you know what you did, babe. And I smile when I see it every single day...thanks again for hanging in there with me. I have never been happier...

Apparently -- I show love by BLOGGING ABOUT YOU...!!