August 17 - The Help

Barbara, Patty, Carol, Louise, and Betty-Jo all enjoyed the movie from Lux level seats, cocktails in hand! What a great way to see a movie! This one followed the book closely, and was filmed on location which gave it an authentic feel. Both Viola Davis (Abilene) and Octavia Spencer (Minnie) as “colored” maids toiling in upper middle-class white homes in the Jim Crowe Mississippi of 1962, and Jessica Chastain as a flighty but loving newlywed, are stand-outs in a cast where all were fabulous. Favorite idea: positive thinking for children - "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."

Wednesday August 3 - Chihuly at the MFA

Kate and Carol had a fabulous trip to the MFA to see Dale Chihuly's installation "Through the Looking Glass." Dale Chihuly was introduced to glass while studying interior design at the University of Washington. After graduating in 1965, Chihuly enrolled in the first glass program in the country, at the University of Wisconsin. He continued his studies at the Rhode Island School of Design (RISD), where he later established the glass program and taught for more than a decade. In 1968, after receiving a Fulbright Fellowship, he went to work at the Venini glass factory in Venice. There he observed the team approach to blowing glass, which is critical to the way he works today. In 1971, Chihuly cofounded Pilchuck Glass School in Washington State. With this international glass center, Chihuly has led the avant-garde in the development of glass as a fine art. Favorite idea: glass ceiling

Fall Planning

Time to start planning for fall events. Email Carol with your ideas and they will be added to the blog. Any interest in encore trips to Brimfield and/or Secret Gardens of Newport? How about a fall shopping day somewhere we usually don't go? A trip to The Best of Everything in Kennebunkport? Anybody know of a cooking class? Want to go back to the North End and revisit the shops we learned about on our culinary tour?

Monday June 27 - Babes with Boobs

Kate and Pam went to the Carney to experience their new digital mammography machines! Unfortunately we have no photos from this event. And no favorite idea!!!

Friday June 17 - Secret Gardens of Newport

Friday, June 17 Secret Gardens of Newport - Pam, Kate, and Carol had a ground hog sort of day...all but a couple of the gardens were the same ones we had seen in June 2009, so not only were the locations the same, but the plants and flowers were in the same stage that we had seen previously. Had it not been pouring rain we would have been better sports (maybe we just needed Louise to get us on the right mental track!). Tour guides were not in good spirits and refused to come out of their protected spots to check off our tickets and guide us around the gardens, so we were mostly left to our own, with our questions largely unanswered, including if there were any NEW gardens! In spite of the tour, we had a fabulous time, and lots of laughs, and are determined to purchase really cute umbrellas for the next one! Lunch at Amber Road was really good! Favorite ideas: drink holder in Adirondack chair, and rain chain. Click here for photos.

Thursday June 16 - WAFA Flower Show

The WAFA (World Association of Floral Arrangers) World Flower Show at the Seaport Hotel was an interesting event. Floral arrangers came from all over the world to participate in the show. Arrangements were very artistic and over the top! Carol and Barbara had a great day! Click here for photos. Favorite idea: lunch with a friend at a flower show!

Monday, June 6 - Coffee for Louise

Louise , Kate, Pam, Betty-Jo, and Carol all enjoyed saying good-bye to Louise! We get to say good-bye again on Thursday at Tower Hill! We all promised we'd stop by in Onset to see her over the summer! Favorite idea: Betty-Jo's yoga coffee pose.

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Tuesday May 31, "Bridesmaids" the movie

Betty-Jo and Carol explored Legacy Place and then went to see "Bridesmaids." This movie is hysterical...a must see. Favorite line: Lillian: Why can't you be happy for me, and then go home and talk about me behind my back like a normal person?

May 19, 2011 - Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill

Ann, Betty-Jo, Carol, Kate, Mary, and Pam had a great day in Beacon Hill. We were pleasantly surprised that we did not need our umbrellas! The weather was perfect for walking around the city. Our day started off on a high note when a man at the next parking meter when he realized we were short a few quarters, proceeded to fill our meter for us! Kate was the perfect guide, managing to find short lines all day. We finished with a great lunch at the Hoosic. Favorite idea: a tie between Club Moss and Plant Paintings, both pictured here. Club Moss, a relative of princess pine, was used in many gardens, window boxes, and at the base of planters. Favorite idea: "paintings" made with growing plants that were spectacular. Here's a link to Pam's photos.

Friday, April 30 - Teacups and Tiaras

Well, the Royal Wedding was almost as entertaining as Pam's guests' outfits! The tea and scones, and silver tea service were perfect accompaniments to viewing this momentous occasion. Guests wore various ensembles including formal wear, hats, a fascinator, tiaras, and of course a wedding veil! Favorite idea: fascinator. Click here to see all the photos from the party.

April 20-21 - Stowe, VT - HGTV Dream Home

This was a fabulous trip! Louise, Betty-Jo, and Carol were the travelers, and Pam was our tour guide and chauffeur, giving us plenty of shopping stops along the way. The Stowe Mountain lodge is just a beautiful resort, great surroundings, wonderful food, lovely decor, and really good service. Due to the amount of luggage we brought I think they thought we were staying more than one night (19 bags for 4 people - no exaggeration!) We had cocktails in the bar and later Maryellen met us for a fabulous dinner. We had an impromptu birthday celebration for Pam, but you won't see any evidence of that in the photos...she's shy about her birthday! In the morning we toured the HGTV Dream Home, then we went to the Trapp Family Lodge, and finally one last stop at Maryellen's to see Gary's art before heading home. Favorite idea: Huge birch branches installed around columns. To see more photos from the trip, click here.

Tues April 12 - Cash 4 Gold

Louise, Betty-Jo, Pam, and Carol had a great time selling our broken chains and single earrings! The group took home $4300! Favorite idea: turn unwanted jewelry into cash!

Mon Dec 20 - Cookie Swap

Cookie Swap - Louise, Kate, Pam, Betty-Jo, Joy, Pat, Samantha, and Carol all enjoyed celebrating a little Christmas and coffee with cookies. Although the sugar high was intoxicating, I think next year we should skip the baking and just get together mid-day or afternoon so that we can enjoy a little something in our coffee! Favorite idea: cookies you don't have to bake!

Tues Dec 7, 2010 - Radio City Show

Radio City Christmas Spectacular Show at the Wang - Louise, Pam, Kate, Kate's Mom, Betty-Jo, and Carol had a great time at this classic show. The reindeer costumes were the best! Loved all that tap dancing! Favorite idea - a shot of Godiva Chocolate Liquor or Kahlua in hot cocoa or coffee, topped with whipped cream, of course! Made the show so much better!

South End Flip - Sun, Sept 19 & Tues, Sept 21

The flip is finished and fabulous! Here's a link to before and after photos. This is where you can see photos and a virtual tour. Favorite Idea: Aerobeds for staging!

Thurs. Sept 9, 2010 - Brimfield Antiques Fair

Betty-Jo and Carol had a great day in Brimfield! Weather was perfect for bargain-hunting! There was lots of costume jewelry this year! We checked out Majolica for Pam but only found one booth. Favorite Idea: Bring lunch so you don't have to eat "carnival" type food!

Friday, June 11, Cocktails for a Cause

This was a great evening! Well attended, fabulous food, good company, lots of laughs! Kate's gardens looked spectacular - candles and torches gave a soft glow to it all.

Thursday, May 27 - Sex and the City 2

Everybody put on their cute skirts and high heels to enjoy the opening night of Sex and the City 2. We had friends, our favorite row and slushy cosmos...there's no better way to enjoy a movie!

Thurs, May 20 - Hidden Gardens of Beacon Hill

We had a fabulous day on Beacon Hill. Our car service, aka Pam, provided beverages and an efficient ride to the city. After a brief stop in the Public Garden for a pinning ceremony to acknowledge our President Carol, we were off to see the gardens. Ann was our guide and did a great job reading the map. The weather was absolutely perfect for a stroll in the city. Lunch at a casual bistro was a hit. Favorite idea - garden mirrors...in the glass of french doors or behind lattice.