Hats Off To Moms

In this world moms wear many different hats...

we work, we play, we love, we weep, we worry, we rejoice, we watch, we wait, we wonder

When I was a child my Mother was often very ill. She suffered from Depression and was hospitalized many times throughout my life. She died when I was 24 and she was 49. My son Todd was 2 and I was pregnant with my son Matt. What I remember most is her joyful laugh when she was happy, how she would say "I love you Jennifer Ann" with such a fierceness in her voice - an all-loving statement. The times we would drive home from my Grandmother's and I would lay my head on her lap (no seat belts at that time) and she would sing to me and stroke my hair. She would send me baby roses in pinks or soft coral "just because" - I mimic her kind heart to this day.

Then there was my Father's Mom - the Mother of my heart. Jennie Mondelli lived to be 95 and I will always miss her. The independent woman before her time. Raised her two sons, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Served in the Army during WWII the same times her two sons were in the Army and Marines.

And as for me? I knew I wanted to be a Mom. I dreamed of my sons or daughters and how I'd cherish them. From the moment they were born, my heart surged with joy. These little (well 10lbs 22" and 9 lbs. 22") perfect boys that were in my arms and mine.

Years have flown by and we have survived diapers, finger painting with poop, showering with baby powder including our black lab, countless trips to the ER for sutures, 2 broken collar bones, high school, knowing more than I do, attitude, vehicles, my knowing less than they do, several broken noses, Army boot camp, deployment, marriage, travel, being shorter than they are, houses purchased....

and I love their lives, my life, our lives together ...I listen to the words of this song my son Todd had played for us on his wedding day and picture us dancing....

Thank You dear Lord for the gift, the sweetest blessing of being a Mom.

My Prayer For Preemies...

The Prayer

I pray you’ll be our eyes

And watch us where we go

And help us to be wise

In times when we don’t know

Let this be our prayer

As we go our way

Lead us to a place

Guide us with your grace

To a place where we’ll be safe

La luce che to dai

I pray we’ll find your light

Nel cuore restero

And hold it in our hearts

A ricordarchi che

When stars go out each night

L’eterna stella sei

Nella mia preghiera

Let this be our prayer

Quanta fede c’e

When shadows fill our day

Lead us to a place

Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we’ll be safe.

Sognamo un mondo senza piu violenza

Un mondo di giustizia e di speranza

Ognuno dia la mano al suo vicino

Simbolo di pace e di fraternita

La forza che ci dai

We ask that life be kind

E’il desiderio che

And watch us from above

Ognuno trovi amore

We hope each soul will find

Intorno e dentro a se

Another soul to love

Let this be our prayer

Just like every child

Needs to find a place,

Guide us with your grace

Give us faith so we’ll be safe

E la fede che

Hai acceso in noi
Sento che ci salvera

Hospitals and childbirth centers
in this the country are always in need
of preemie hats for their newborns
so if you knit, crochet or shop...
please find a need near you and
contribute to these darlings.
Please pass it on....
With Love, Jenn
and remember - it's never ok to shake a baby

Hats Off To You!

hats off to the heros

who are serving our country
and didn't get to come home
on Thanksgiving

hats off to happiness

wherever you can grab it!

hats off to huggable

as sweet as a baby can be

hats off to handsome

beauty inside and out

Hats Off to Hilarity

because we can laugh at silly times

Last but not least...

Hats off to all the HELPERS

from Thanksgiving

• who ran to the grocery store
• brought a dish
• dried a dish washed a dish
• held a baby
• drove someone home
• had to work
• got up early
• changed a diaper
• put left overs away
• set the table
• tried a new recipe
• called someone they loved
• sent a card
• said "I'm Thankful For YOU"
• remembered someone in prayer

Hugs, Jennifer

A Special Treat - The Past - The Present!

Black and White

Paris Treats

Woven Fringed Braided

FRENCH MILLINERY FEATHERS

It was in the late 17th century that women's headwear began to emerge in its own right and not to be influenced by men's fashions. The word "milliner", a maker of women's hats; was first recorded in 1529 when the term referred to the products for which Milan and other northern Italian regions were well known, i.e. ribbons, gloves and straws. The haberdashers who imported these highly popular straws were called Milaners from which the word was eventually derived.
By the mid 1800's Swiss and Italian straws, together with imitation straws made from paper, cardboard, grass and horsehair were available to women, along with the introduction of velvet and tulle. Lace was also introduced, mostly used as hair caps underneath large flamboyant hats decorated with feathers. As ladies in the 18th century started to dress their hair in elaborate high styles, so hats became hair pieces - or "fascinators" - small arrangements of feathers, ribbons and flowers with which to adorn the hair.
The Catherinette Tradition - "Le Fete des Cathrinettes" - is the French fashion world's salute to milliners and their patron saint: Catherine of Alexandria. While originally the "patronne" of young unmarried women, by the 19th century Sainte Catherine was adopted by milliners because so many young women were employed as hat makers. During the feast of Sainte Catherine, November 25th, the Parisian couture houses hosted festive parties to which the "Catherinettes" wore elaborate hats. These were especially designed for the occasion in the Saint's colours - yellow and green - symbolizing faith and knowledge.
Most women love hats, and weddings are perfect opportunities to wear them. Hats however don't suit every hairstyle and Anuccia's fascinators are the perfect alternative. Flighty, flirtatious, chic and elegant, her hand-crafted designs can be adapted to suit any outfit in any colour to compliment each person's individual style.

My friend Ann and I were antiquing in Pennsylvania when we met a very interesting antiques dealer named Dan. It seemed he had a treasure trove of vintage millinery items at his home nearby and we scheduled an appointment to meet with him and look them over. Little did we know what an awesome adventure it would be... box after box of tissue laden packages of the most unique horsehair and feather millinery hat ornaments we had ever seen. Little tissue paper packets with tiny paper tags indicating the model of each item. Royal blue, rich magenta, pale cream, chocolate brown, jet black, fuchsia. We crooned, we gentled passed them back and forth and we purchased! I'm sure we spent just from the uniqueness of each item but they were indeed special. And our customers loved them too! Gone baby gone. I'll have to ask Ann when we talk again (she's remarried and living in Commerce, Texas) - "remember that day?" - and what a day it was - back in time - back in style.

Baby Ohhhhh Baby - Too Cute - For Sale

zjohnson @ Etsy

zoelynndesigns

yummmeeeee!
living doll
gifts
vogue

1. sweet
2. stylish
3. affordable
4. available
5. modern

Please check her out!
Jennifer