Wednesday, July 23, 2008

My Magazine Cover & Bloggy Love!

This was a lot of fun! Create your own blog magazine cover from your own digital photo over at Flickr through their Big Huge Labs application here.

I wanted to have more leading stories on my cover, such as "Why Did This Blogger Pick Such An Odd Blog Name?".... as I'm sure you're all wondering about that, and have been too polite to ask, but alas, it just wouldn't fit! I will include the story behind that later, as you read on....

Mary, at My Little Red House and Cindy at My Romantic Home brought this little Flickr toy to every one's attention -- go look at their magazine covers if you haven't already. Thanks ladies!


M. Kate, at LA VIE EST BELLE , a beautiful and informative blog based in Malaysia, sent this wonderful surprise package to me!

I had expressed my astonishment over the beauty of a display she once showed on her blog of dried pressed orchids, so she surprised me with a pressed orchid flower fan! She also included a beautiful hand painted lotus painting with my name in Chinese, a handmade bookmark with my Chinese name, which means "Pure," two Malaysian postcards, and a beautiful and delicate handkerchief with the word "HEI," which means double happiness; a word used mainly during Chinese weddings. It was wrapped in beautiful red double happiness paper, and the note on the left was in a double happiness envelope, so MKate wished me much happiness and good health always!

MKate, this brought tears to my eyes! I can never thank you enough! Before blogging I never would have dreamed of knowing someone so well who lives the other side of the earth! Blogging has surely made our world a smaller and more friendly place, and being your friend has certainly brought a lot to my life! Thank you so much!


My cup really does runneth over these days, as Kathy, from Have Suitcase Will Travel presented this delightful little award to me. I love Kathy's blog as she has such a great sense of humor and a kind heart and she's had so many interesting experiences traveling all around the world! Plus she is the only blogger I know of who adds things to her blog sidebars everyday to accent her recent post --Kathy, that must take a lot of time to do but it is so much fun to see!

This award was created by Gail at Squared Off. Gail's son, Alexander, made this drawing of his Mommy! Isn't it so cute?

I would like to present this award personally to Junie Moon! June is a wonderful and talented crafter! I don't know how she accomplishes all she does. She sews, knits, embroiders, makes beautiful cards from her photographs, paints, and always has something new and interesting on her blog every week day. Please go over and say hello and enjoy her delightful blog!

June was the very first person to comment on my blog when I put up the funny name Mille Fiori Favoriti in December 2007! I began a blog because I wanted to save the links to the many fun and interesting things and places I found on the Internet, and I had the idea to do that in a blog format so I could keep track of them , and also because I could add the instructions and descriptions and photos, etc, instead of just dropping a link into my "favorites' file.

It was an attempt to make a "bouquet" of my favorite things, and at the last minute I translated the title into Italian just for the fun of it! I never expected other bloggers to find me and comment!

Obviously my blog has evolved since then, and the wonderful world of blogging has opened many doors to me that I never knew existed. I enjoy reading and discovering new blogs everyday, and it has been wonderful making friends with all of you that read mine!

So, in no particular order, Vee, Tara, Diane, Cori, MKate, Donna, Marie, Nanatrish, Melanie, LisaB, Mrs. B, Rue, Dana, MaryAnn, Judy, Nihal, Marina, Dot, Joanne, Marg, Beverly, Jeanne, Sherry, Willow, Betsy, Shelagh, Steviewren, Alex, Strider, Lavinia, DeeDee, Pat, Kathy, Sue, Rosie, Penny, Kari & Kjisa, Gina, Louise, Martha, Mary, Pamela, Linda, Tracy, Kim, Kathleen Grace, Catherder, Esther, Katy Lin, Brenda, Michelle, Karla, Sandi., Debi....anyone who has left a comment on my blog ... and please forgive me if I left anyone out.....you have ALL made me smile! Please accept this award and pass it on!

This cute smiling face should be everywhere!

29 comments:

Junie Moon said...

Gosh, I just lost everything I was trying to say, so here we go again.

I love your magazine cover celebrating NYC in the summer. The package you received from Malaysia is delightful and so full of wonders. What a treat showed up in your mailbox!

Thank you for your kind words about me. I am honored to accept the award and am deeply appreciative of your sensitivity to my feelings about such things. That you gave me the award freely from your heart and without encumbrance gives it value and I shall cherish it. Thank you!

Betsy Brock said...

Congrats on your award! And what a beautiful little bunch of goodies you got there in the mail! How fun. I agree ~ blogging is so much more than I thought it would be! I love the magazine cover! How fun is that!? Have a wonderful day, Pat! :)

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Thanks June! I know you don't usually accept awards or tags but I had to give you this special one as my first blogger friend!

Betsy -- It's your award too!
:-) I tried to name everyone who I communicate with all the time through my blog, as you ALL make me smile! It's too hard to link to everyone, and I can't visit each and every blog today, as I'm on my way out.

If you wish, please accept it and pass it on!

THANKS EVERYONE!

Joanne Kennedy said...

I ALWAYS look forward to reading your blog everyday. Even when I don't have time to read all my favorites I read yours!

I love your magazine cover. Very eye catching. I would subscribe to it.

Love learning about how your blog started.

Hugs,
Joanne

Vee said...

Nice magazine cover! Wasn't it fun?!

Your gifts look so beautiful...such a thoughtful gal your blogging friend is.

And the award...too cute...and you shouldn't have. LOL! Does it seem that the awards are running off and having more awards? I should think that a nurse such as yourself would know what to do about this!

PAT said...

I love your magazine cover Pat. Congratulations on the award. And thank you, I will accept it with appreciation and display it proudly!

Pat

Unknown said...

Pat that is so sweet of you! I love the award, and will post it ASAP!

Love your magazine cover and your blog! Keep up the great job you're doing!

Penny from Enjoying The Simple Things said...

Your magazine cover is great! What a wonderful gift you received from M Kate. She has the most amazing blog!

Congrats on your wonderfully sweet award and thank you so much for passing it on to me and all of your other commentors. I have really enjoyed ready your blog since we "met". It is always full of interesting places and things to do and see!
Penny

Marg said...

Hey, I found another baseball fan.
But of course I cheer for the Bluejays.
Anyways Your blog always is refreshing. Thanks for the cute award.
Music is never stale.
It's been fun getting to know you and NY

Anonymous said...

What a wonderful package to receive! Another lovely award. Congrats! ;-)

Paz

Anonymous said...

P.S. Love your blog magazine cover. Very cool!

paz

Marina Capano said...

Hi! Pat wonderful post! Kate is great, I love visit her blog too!
congratulation for your blog from Argentina...
visit me anytime...

Anonymous said...

Pat, am award well deserved. Your blog always has such great info about my old hometown, things I never knew before. I realized that my blog name doesn't really work with the photo on my header, I do have a dear kitchen, but its not on the beach!!! Time to change some stuff. Congrats!!!

Kathy said...

Hi Pat, I really like your magazine cover, I will be trying that for sure. What a beautiful gift from m.kate, and a lovely story of junie Moon who has a lovely blog. Mille Fiori Favoriti caught my eye from Rue's huge list haha and I have enjoyed your posts ever since, thanks for the sweet comments, I love to see that little award on so many of the blogs I visit, it is so cute. hugs, Kathy.
ps Hope you had a lovely evening in Manhatten with your family.

Picket said...

Love the cover girl and congrats onn that sweet little surprise and the award..you so deserve them..you are such a dear...I will proudly accept my award and I thank you ever so kindly!!! (that was my Southern voice) Keep up the good work sweetie...and have a great week!

Proud Italian Cook said...

I love your cover Pat! It's so you!
I'll have to check that out on flicker. Love your sweet and thoughtful gifts you got in the mail.
Blogging is wonderful isn't it? Being able to meet friends all over the world, an added bonus I never expected when I started doing this.
You deserve all your awards Pat.

Your blog friend, Marie
xoxo

Strider said...

Dang....I like your music! Thanks.

Rosie's Whimsy said...

What a great award! I love that she used her son's artwork.

You know you really should write a travel magazine! That would be a fantastic first issue.

:-) Rosie

Gina said...

Love your magazine cover Pat..I'm sure there would be some wonderful recipes inside and a tricky crossword or two :)
MK is such a sweetie and very good at surprising in the best way (as I discovered for my birthday) and your gifts are beautiful..esp love the lotus painting..what a lovely way to remind you of her..and I must thank you Pat for introducing MK to me :)
This is the cutest looking award going around blogland..well done on receiving it and thanks so much for passing it on..it should be spread far and wide :D
Enjoy your weekend Gxox

Tracy said...

Your mag cover is perfect, Pat...LOVE it! And congrats on your latest award. Such thrills on your goodies from M.Kate...she's such a generous soul, isn't she?! LOVE the pressed orchids, and cloth--dreamy. Happy Days, my friend ((HUGS))

Vee said...

Your grandson is adorable...what a sweet profile! To see a grandchild in utero is one of the most amazing things I've ever experienced so I know that you two are on Cloud Nine.

I have a little something for you on my blog today. Don't hit me!

steviewren said...

Your choice of photo for your magazine cover is indicative of your blog...everything with a twist of Brooklyn added to it, all about Brooklyn or the sights from the eyes of Brooklyn. All favorites! Thank you for sharing your well-deserved reward with all of us. Like you, I feel that blogging has opened the world to me. Love visiting your site to see what is new up your way! Congratulations!

Pat @ Mille Fiori Favoriti said...

Thanks Joanne,Vee, Pat, Diane, Penny, Marg, Paz, Marina,Cucina Cara Mia, Kathy, Picket, Proud Italian Chef, Strider, Rosie, Gina, Tracy, & Steviewren!

X0X0!!

You know I love all your blogs

Anonymous said...

Pat, I love your magazine cover. And in a way, we all already have a subscription because you provide us such wonderful reading. You stimulate me intellectually and visually. And, you know we all love you.

Your package was filled with wonderful and exciting things. That was a special package from one special person to another very special person.

Thank you for sharing your award with me. I will always be in your fan club.

Lisa's RetroStyle said...

Wow Pat! You know how to spread the love in one fell swoope!
Congrats on your award and thanks so much for passing it on...I bet Gail's son will get a kick seeing all the places his artwork shows up!
The mag cover is cool! I'd love to try one myself...maybe I'll have to get to that next month! lol.
M.Kate certainly is a generous woman!! I love the fan she sent you!!

Louise said...

Congratulations on another award Pat, I like this one and have accepted it. I hope I am THE Louise listed in your blogroll honour list! I must admit I did have difficulty with your blogname at first, when I came to put it into my blogroll, I ended up copy and pasting it. After reading many of your posts, I now have it down to a fine art! I have always been intrigued at how you came up with the name of your blog, I guessed it was Italian! x

Rue said...

Hi Pat :)

Thank you so much for that award! Meeting you has been one of the very best things about blogging :)

hugs,
rue

Mrs. B said...

Hi Pat! Thank you so much for the sweet award! I've been out of town again, so I'm sorry I didn't get over here sooner. I'm really honored, and I couldn't think of a better award! Thanks! And congratulations to you on receiving the award. I think you make all of us smile!

Alexandra MacVean said...

Thank you for the award!! Most of all thank you from the bottom of my heart for your love and prayers. I'm hoping to find out tomorrow the results of my biopsy.

love u much!!