Fresh Picks: Tend to Your Table

Before the holiday menu planning and guest lists, be sure your table is ready to entertain! Mixing vintage china, serving pieces, linens and glassware is so much fun and sure to garner rave reviews from your guests. Each piece has a story, making it an instant conversation starter.

6 Vintage Central American N... nickhaus $31.00	Vintage Silverplate Paul Rev... Whimzies $15.00	Thanksgiving Turkey Plate susantique $125.00
Vintage Yellow Floral Austri... thechinagirl $24.50	Antique Demitasse Cups and S... moddities $28.00	Dorothy Thorpe style silver ... VioletQVintage $200.00

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Welcome New Members: Fotografika, VioletQVintage, Keeky27, and Mellow Mermaid

fotografikashop, based in Columbus, Ohio, offers a wide selection of vintage and antique photographs, from candid shots to formal portraits. Mitzi's shop features an extensive collection of head shots and publicity photos from Hollywood's "Golden Age". Some notable names include; Rock Hudson, Carry Grant, Warren Beatty and Frank Sinatra. (Pictured: Vintage Laurel and Hardy Actor Promotional Photo)

VioletQVintage specializes in mid-century housewares and home decor, including vintage Pyrex, Hazel Atlas, Fire King, brass decor and milk glass. As Elise says in her profile: "Searching flea markets for vintage kitchenware is a hobby of mine and I am pleased to be able to share my finds..." (Pictured: Pink Hall China Riviera Water Pitcher)

keeky27's shop, Vintage New England, has the tag line of: distinctly elegant gifts, wedding essentials and home decor. The shop features a wonderful selection of milk glass. Sarah is, "doing my best to help find beauty and new life in vintage, re-purposed items. Most of my items are found locally in Maine and some even come with great stories!" (Pictured: Vintage Serving Tins Instant Collection)

MellowMermaid is a whimsical shop of vintage house wares and collectibles mixed with repurposed and handcrafted items. Lori has this to say about her shop:"Mellow Mermaid Studios is based in Virginia beach, Virginia. I am inspired by my oceanfront home and the relaxed lifestyle that comes with living near the coast. Rescuing treasures from future landfills makes my life more meaningful." (Pictured: Set of 4 Vintage Stackable Ceramic Soup Bowls)

FOODIE FRIDAY -- S is also for STRAWBERRIES

I LOVE STRAWBERRIES! We are so lucky here in California---locally grown strawberries are readily available at markets and farm stands from about mid April (sometimes earlier) all the way through the summer.

In addition to being delicious, strawberries are amazingly nutritious. They have higher levels of vitamin C, fiber, folate and potassium than most other fruits, including oranges. Just one cup of strawberries has 160% of the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C!! A recent study indicated that eating one serving (about 8-10 strawberries) a day can significantly decrease blood pressure, which may reduce the risk of heart disease. Eating strawberries has also been known to reduce the risk of cancer and rheumatoid arthritis and can even improve memory function.

So, whether you eat 'em plain, add them to your cereal or a smoothie, bake with them, put them in a salad---STRAWBERRIES are a super food!!!

Strawberries also make an appearance on vintage kitchen goods--like these McCoy salt and pepper shakers from VioletQVintage.etsy.com