Lifes short eat the cookies!

I like what this has to say.  I'm starting my blank page tomorrow.

How about you?

SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!

As I look out in my back yard we have a little dwarf lemon tree and it's got tons of lemons on it.

I see lemon and oranges on trees all over town. It's a shame that many of them will go to waste.

Love this old label

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Thank you all for being so loyal to MY FRIENDS AND I and making

this a great Christmas Season for us.

We usually have all our Christmas Merchandise

40% off the day after Christmas

but we decided to start the sale tomorrow on Christmas eve.

We'll be here 9- 3

Of course we'll be closed Christmas day.

We still have some really cute things left. 

Make sure to stop by. 

Sale will go thru Dec. 31 th.

Being a morning person I was up before daylight this morning and when it got light I went out for the paper .  This is what I saw.  The sky was an ever changing color show for just a short time and of course now it's all gone, but it was quite a display and  I'm so happy I didn't miss the whole thing.    What a way to start the day!

My husband reminded me of that old saying........."Red sky in morning, Sailor take warning".  I just heard on the news that rain is a coming so I guess today anyway that's true. 

As many of you know, my children and grandchildren live in different states.  For the past three years I have been in a funk at Christmas and haven't put up a tree or decorated my house.
This year I brought a little tree I was using at the shop home, decorated it with some of my vintage ornament collection and it really put me in the Christmas mood.  I even got out some of my Santa's.
Thought you might enjoy seeing some pictures.  I'd love to share pictures of your trees on the blog.  Email them to me and I'll try and get them posted.

You've got to go and check out this gal's blog.  She was in the shop and took some pictures of some our displays.  All I can say is WOW!  Thank you Becky for the kind words and beautiful pictures. 
Click HERE to go see them.

Tomorrow starts the Holiday Shopping weekend in Niles.


These little boxes hold something sweet in them and if you make a purchase you'll be able to open one and see what's inside. That's in addition to being entered in our $50.00 Gift Certificate drawing and the drawing for 3 $100.00 Gift Ceriticates the Niles Main Street Assoc. is giving away. Good reasons to come to Niles to shop!

We are participating in this event and MY FRIENDS AND I will be having a

drawing for a $50.00 Gift Certificate, plus lots of little drawings both days.

Come on down.  It will be fun!

SNOW BABIES

From an article I read I found out that the hard to find older Snow Babies were manufactured in the early 1900's in Germany and were only about 3" tall.  They were sold in department stores and were very popular. 

In 1989 Department 59 started producing the Snow Babies you see in the pictures below.  Although larger than the older version they are very sweet.   Dealer #85 purchased a collection and they are in the shop right now.  Why not start your own collection of one or more of these charming figures. 

It's a great gift item too!

SMILE!

This guy just came in the shop and every time I see him I have to smile.

He's just so cute.  If you want to see him he's in the back space on the right.

If you want him to take him home you'd better hurry someone is going to want him right away.

Here's what I made for dinner tonight. 
I found the recipe on a blog and decided to give it a try.  It was really good.  A couple of things I'll do different next time is pound the chicken more and put the cheese on top during the last 15 or 20 mins.
We used the left over Mustard sauce for dipping and it was delicious.  I can see using it for other things.  If you decide to make it, leave me a comment and let me know what you think.

Outback Steakhouse

Alice Spring Chicken

Recipe:

4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, pounded to 1/2 inch thickness

Lowry's Seasoning Salt

6 bacon slices

1/4 cup regular mustard

1/3 cup honey

2 Tbsp. Mayonnaise

2 teaspoons dried onion flakes

1 cup sliced fresh mushroom (I omitted because my family does not like mushrooms)

2 cup shredded Colby/Jack cheese

First, Sprinkle and rub the chicken breasts with seasoning salt. Cover and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

While the chicken is in the refrigerator, cook bacon in a large skillet until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside. ***Do not discard grease.***

Saute chicken in the bacon grease for 3 to 5 minutes per side, or until browned. Place chicken in a 9" × 13" casserole dish or pan.

To make the Honey Mustard: In a small bowl, mix the mustard, honey, mayonnaise and dried onion flakes.

Spread some of the Honey Mustard over each piece of chicken, then layer with mushrooms, crumbled bacon, and shredded cheese.

Bake in a 350° oven for 30 minutes, or until cheese is melted and chicken is done.

Serve with the left over Honey Mustard Sauce that you made

  Sometimes it's hard with shopping, cooking, and crazy, cranky people all around you. But stop, take a breath and remember this.  Print it out and put it somewhere where you'll see everyday.

Christmas Open House Gift Certificate Winner

Congratulations Sheri!

Don't forget we are giving away another one worth $50.00 Dec. 8th and 9th

More later.  Keep checking back.

Now that Thanksgiving is over it's time to think Christmas.  When I saw this I thought...........how true!  Made me laugh out loud.

Good ol' Norman Rockwell.  Didn't  he say it all in his art? 
Hope you and yours have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Coming to Niles this weekend?  Come into the shop and say hi.

  Here's something you need to know about MY FRIENDS AND I.  We don't call the Friday after Thanksgiving BLACK FRIDAY like the big retailers do.  We call it FUN FRIDAY! In fact we call that whole weekend FUN!  Come to Niles where you'll find friendly shop owners, unique merchandise, free parking and let me say it again.....friendly shop owners to greet you.
  Remember Friday night 6:00 is the Annual Parade of Lights.  Come early for parking and saving your spot on the sidewalk.

Saturday is also Small business Saturday.  Support Small business owners come on down to Niles and STAY OUT OF THOSE MALLS! 


The Niles Main Street Assoc. is sorry to say that there will be NO  Holiday Home Tour this year.  BUT... we are excited to offer you

HOLIDAY SHOPPING IN NILES, 

Saturday Dec. 8th and Sunday Dec. 9th.  

On those two days, participating stores will be offering DISCOUNTS, DRAWINGS, AND REFRESHMENTS.  Plus the Niles Main Street Assoc. is having a drawing for three  $100.00 gift certificates.  All you have to do is make a purchase in any of the participating stores to receive an entry to win.  The more you shop the more chances you have.

That weekend  MY FRIENDS AND I is having a drawing  for $50.00 Gift Certificate enter to win with purchase.  Also on those 2 days we will be having surprise drawings through out the day. It could be an ornament, Niles cookbook, or ????

 Pick up a directory of participating stores at MY FRIENDS AND I either day that weekend

I found a site where you can print out these adorable bingo cards.  click  HERE to see them. They have other bingo games too.   Cute site.

Just in time for the holidays............a site with fudge recipes.  Oh no I'm in trouble!  Check it out here

While it was still cloudy and rainy the other day the sun came out.  I went outside to see if there was a rainbow in the sky.  There wasn't, but the hills were the most beautiful shade of gold.  I ran back in for my camera and took these pictures.  The color only lasted about 5 minutes. 

 Have you noticed the hills are turning a little green?  I love our Fremont hills! 

(click on picture to see it larger and prettier)

This is a recipe I  have to try.

Crock Pot Rocky Road Cake.  YUM

Find the recipe HERE

Hey, have you noticed the list of links to the left? Where it says visit these blogs and web pages.  Did you know that you can click on one and it will take you to their blog?  Take for instance Corrie Glass.  They have just started posting on their blog again, (with a little poking from me) and the owner Wayne seems to.think that I'm the only one looking at it.  Let's show our support for him and his blogging by clicking on the link and checking it out.  If you have never been to their store you should stop by and say hello to Wayne and Judy and see the beautiful things that Wayne creates.

 We have lots of pretty green glass in the shop right now.  Some depression and some from the 50's.  If you buy it for collecting sake or want some pretty new pieces for Christmas entertaining, we probably have a piece or two for you. 

 This is a cabinet across from the office.  Green's one of my favorite colors, what about you?

This dark green glass below is from the Anchor Hocking Glass Company, 1950 - 1957

The company named the color "Forest Green"  The pattern name is "Charm" (and it is!)

The Collection here is in Space #85, last space back of store on the right.

Tyme For Tea is a wonderful Tea room right next to us.  Jessica the owner is gearing up for the Christmas Holidays with a tea.  Don't wait too long to make reservations, it fills up fast.

Tyme for Tea & Co.


Presents
Holiday Tea of Good Tidings

Saturday December 15th &
Sunday December 16th
11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.
$38.00 per person includes tax & gratuity

Menu
Cinnamon Rose Holiday Tea or Coffee
Cranberry Scone served with Raspberry Butter
An assortment of Five Festive Tea Sandwiches
Cucumber w/Mint Butter,
Chicken Pecan on Raisin Bread,
Fig & Goat Cheese on Flatbread ,
Prosciutto wrapped Date with Pecan
& Mushroom and Pesto Crostini
Followed by Four Fanciful Tea Pastries
Christmas Petit Four, Snowball Cookie
Holiday Truffle & Delicious Charlotte’s Fudge

By Reservation Only 510~790~0944See More

Believe it or not this is Jessica from Tyme For Tea.  Spooky!

What a fun day it was in Niles!  The kids were so cute and so well behaved.  So glad Niles School still does this.  We enjoy it as much as the kids!

The middle picture is the principal.....the king of course.

(you can click on the pictures to make larger)

Remember send me a picture of you in costume by sunday the 4th and be entered in a drawing.

Joanne was a good sport and dressed in Halloween stuff  we carry here in the shop.

Want a little Halloween fun?

  Come to Niles tomorrow around 11:30 or 12-ish to see the Niles Elementary kids Trick or Treat along Niles Blvd. all 500 plus of them!!  We'll be ready for them with a little candy treat. 

They are so cute, even the ugly scary ones! 

I'm dealer #1 and in celebration I will have all my Halloween merchandise on SALE.  

  The SALE starts tomorrow and will run through Sunday.

I have moved it all my Halloween merchandise to the back of store, last space on the left.

Look for SALE signs in other spaces thoughout the store to see who's joined in.

Here's another cute vintage halloween picture for you to enjoy.  If you want to be creative you can print it out and use for tags, cards, etc. 

If you haven't read about the drawing for a Vintage Paper item......just scroll down to Sunday's posting.

Hope you'll all join in.

Had a request for the Crock-Pot chocolate candy recipe that I handed out in the store.  Here it is.

2 lbs (36oz) dry roasted peanuts
4 oz (4 squares) German's sweet chocolate
1  12oz-pkg semisweet chocolate chips (about 2 cups)
2 1/2 lbs white almond bark

Put the peanuts in the bottom of a 4-quart slow-cooker.  Layer the chocolate over the peanuts. beginning with the sweet chocolate, followed by the chocolate chips, and then the almond bark. Set the temperature on low and cook for 3 hours.  DO NO STIR THE MIXTURE.  After 3 hours, stir the mixture with a wooden spoon until smooth.  Drop the candy into cupcake pan liners, using about 2 tablespoons per liner.  Allow the candy to cool completely before removing the cupcake liners.  Makes 30 to 40 pieces
P.S.  I used tiny cupcake liners and it made 3 times that much.
P.S.S.  You can get all the ingredients at Walmart, even the tiny liners.

Don't you love vintage Halloween like the picture below? 

Do you dress up for Halloween?   Email me a picture of you in your costume and I'll post it on this blog AND I will put you in a drawing for a really cute VINTAGE HALLOWEEN paper napkin that is so cute and ready to be added to your next years Halloween display. 

Come on, join in the fun..............send me those pictures!

My Daughter and Granddaughter are here from Colorado and we wanted a beach day so yesterday we left Fremont in the drizzle and fog and headed to Half Moon Bay.  What a beautiful day!  The tide was low and we saw lots of Star Fish along the beach edge as well as mussels, and Sea Erchins.  It was a good day for exploring.

We stopped at one of the many pumpkin farms coming home and had fun there.

These are pictures from our Christmas Open House this last weekend.  If you missed it, we're sorry you couldn't make it, but as you can see from the pictures, we saved you some stuff to see.  LOL!

The first picture is one of our loyal customers filling her basket with Christmas goodies.

Hope you get in soon!

click to make larger

One of the girls in the shop made these to serve at Open House.  They are yummy!

Bo's No Bake Bars


1 cup butter
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp. vanilla
3 cups quick cooking oats
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup peanut butter

Grease 9" x 9" pan *
Melt butter - stir in brown sugar and vanilla - then mix in oats - cook over low heat and stir for 3 minutes
Press 1/2 mixture into pan
Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter (low heat) and stir until smooth
Spread chocolate layer
Crumble remaining 1/2 of oatmeal mixture - press in gently
Refrigerate 2 to 3 hours
Bring to room temperature - cut into bars

* may use 9" x 13" pan and press to the 9" x 9" size

It's finally here!

Our Christmas Open

Today and tomorrow  10 - 6

You won't believe how wonderful the store looks. 

 The girls worked hard all week and it shows.

Come on by

10% discount

Drawing for a $100.00 Gift Certificate

Remember how good it used to feel to get mail? 

 I mean real mail, not emails. 

 Got a friend who'd like this? 

  Print it, cut it, and send it to them, just for fun.

(click on it to make larger)

I was playing around on the internet and saw these leaves.  Fall is here and I'm happy!  It's my favorite time of the year.  These leaves reminded me that I have to get my camera and head over to the park on 3rd street here in Niles.  The leaves are surely turning and it's always a great place to walk and enjoy nature any time of the year.  If you haven't been there you should.  It's a secret little place here in Fremont that is still not crowded.  Although I feel it's pretty safe, there aren't many people around so take a friend if you do go.   I'll post pictures soon. 

Fairy in the garden.  The second picture shows her on a table with some other pretty stuff.  It's ALL marked 1/2 off!  Christmas open house is coming Oct. 19th 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., and the 20th and 21st 10 am to 6 p.m.  so I'm trying to clear a few things out.  Speaking of Open House.  We will be closed 10-15 to 6:00 p.m. on the 19th to get ready. 

Go HERE for this recipe

This spooky doll house was made by Bo who is dealer #8 in the shop.

It's sitting in the front window and looks wonderful.

First picture is of the front, second in a room in side, and third is the whole inside.

It is for sale.  Stop by and admire it.

Food trucks are coming to Niles!  Starting this Wednesday and every Wednesday from 5 pm to 9 pm through Oct. (weather permitting) 
Here's the lineup for this week...........

• Pizza Pimps - Gourmet Pizza
• Truckin Sweet- Mobile Gourmet Ice Cream & Dessert truck
• Siva Foods 
• Bibigo
• Kinder's BBQ
• Plus one more to be confirmed.

and  MY FRIENDS AND I are going to stay open until at least 6:30 on Wednesday's while the food trucks are in town.  So come on to town, do some eating and shopping.

On Sunday you can come to the last Concert in the Plaza this year.  Here's a poster on it.

This picture is of the wall behind the office.

Cute stuff!

This is a fun site.  Check it out!  HERE

Some Halloween food fun.  Click  HERE to go to the site for these.

Fall and Halloween has officially arrived at MY FRIENDS AND I.

Come in and see the newest Halloween arrivals.

Come soon for the best selection!

I went back to the post on Oct 29th 2011 (did you know you can view old posts?) and found this picture.  Why you might ask.  Well because I started to put fall and Halloween in the store today and I forgot to take a picture of some of it.  We were in IL. at my daughter's last year and went to a really great pumpkin patch.  Fall has always been my favorite time of the year and putting stuff out made me want it to hurry and get here.  Speaking of stuff, we have just started today, but there is some really cute Halloween beginning to show up in the store.

This shows just a small amount of what's on sale this weekend and all week till Antique Faire a week from Sunday.  Thought we'd give all you blog followers first choice of the sale goodies.  There really are $1,2,3,4,and $5.00 items.  Plus lots of other marked downs.  The car show and concert are this weekend, so come on to town and do it all!

(click on picture to make bigger)

There will be 2 things going on in town this next weekend the 18th and 19th.

On Saturday the HOT AUGUST car show will be in town.  If you've never been to this event it's really something to see Niles Blvd.  lined with beautiful cars of every color and make. Most are classic and all are beautiful!   There will be music .........."The Classified Band" will be performing Rock and Roll

This event is sponsored by the Niles Merchants Association - 510-792-8023

NEXT on Sunday there is another FREE concert in the Plaza.  See line-up in poster below.  At this Sunday's concert the NILES  MAIN STREET ASSOCIATION is sponsoring a drawing for a $50.00 Gift Certificate that can be used in Niles shops.  All you have to do is come to the concert and sign up for the drawing at the Niles Main Street Assoc. booth.  Drawing will be at the end of the concert and you must be present to win.  Why not come for both events?  It's a free fun weekend!

(Click on picture to make larger)

We were on Hwy. 880 today and it was a mess.  Sometimes (not often) I feel like maybe exit now would be a good thing, but then I come home and think, NO this where I want to be.  So I think that the sign means that California is a great place,  exit now to see!