Collection: Piggy Banks

I admit, I sorta have a thing for piggy banks. Many times at the store I will see a really awesome looking one. I never buy any, because, quite frankly I just can't justify it. I don't really collect anything. I don't know that I really ever did as a kid either. But if I were a collector, piggy banks just might be my thing.

And for clarification, I will just say right now, that when I say "piggy" bank, I actually just mean "coin bank" -- since not all cute coin banks are a "piggy". But, I guess it's because we grew up calling them piggy banks, that is still what I call them. My mom bought each of us a piggy bank and there were times when she had acquired excess change over time, she would say, "run and get your piggy banks". We'd gather 'round the kitchen table like little paupers waiting as she counted out her change and divided it seven ways. (Not an easy thing to do, by the way.)

I don't really know whatever happened to my piggy bank growing up. I don't really remember getting rid of it... maybe it went away to the "country" to live a happier life. haha! Anyway, it was a cute little mouse and if I remember correctly, it had an orange outfit on. We're talking Circa 1973 here. I don't remember what my other siblings banks were, but I do remember my brother Sam having an Uncle Sam bank. I also remember that my mom had a copper piggy bank (like the one above) that sat up on a high shelf. This piggy bank contained special coins like the Eisenhower Dollar Coin (which was HUGE), the Kennedy Half Dollar, and the Susan B Anthony Dollar. I was given my "share" of the coins when I became an adult. I still have them, along with many other coins. (Although I am not a "coin collector" in the usual sense, I guess I **do** like collecting different types of coins.)

Anyway, recently I ran across a really cool piggy bank online, and like a shiny bright light, it stole my attention, and the next thing I know, I'm on an internet search for unusual coin banks. Here is what I found:


The next four are my fav's from my little search... If I had money and were a collector, these would definitely be in my collection :)

And finally, I ran across this and thought it was totally hilarious!

What about you? Did you have an interesting piggy bank growing up?

Collection: Houses in the Av's

There is a neighborhood of Salt Lake City, referred to as "The Avenues", or "The Av's" for short. It was one of Salt Lake's first neighborhoods. Way back when, it was **THE** affluent area of Salt Lake, as it climbs the mountain. Unfortunately, some homes have not been kept up or have taken a bit of a beating as many college students from the "U" rent rooms there. A few years ago they started a revitalization project in the Av's and a lot of the homes are being renovated. Homes there still sell for quite a bit, regardless of their condition.

But it isn't just the gamut from dilapidated to luxury that piques my interest. I like that there is great diversity in styles. When Utah territory was settled in the late 1800's, many of it's settlers came from the East Coast or Midwest. But there were also many who took boats from several European countries, landed on Ellis Island in New York and THEN still made the Trek out West! I love seeing the cultures carried through the diverse architectural designs.

I get to drive the Av's often since one of the major area hospitals is up there, and it's where I go to do get testing done. I like driving different streets each time and will see anything from French Tudor, Victorian, A-Frames, Craftsmen Bungalows, and Large Contemporary newer homes too. I've even seen a few that look like haunted houses straight from Transylvania! lol!

Here is just a sampling of what you might find up in the Av's.

Many of the homes up in the Av's also have a view of our state's capital building, on the other side of City Creek Canyon. Funny, it looks like it is RIGHT.THERE. But you have to drive all the way down the Av's over a few blocks around the "basin" known as City Creek Park, and then back up the hill to Capitol Hill. Still, a great view though.
Do you have any eclectic neighborhoods like this where you live?

Collections: Saying Sorry

I was working on a PowerPoint Presentation for school last semester and needed an image that represented "sorry". I found some that were funny and others that were just too cute. Here is my "sorry" collection.

And if you ever need a good "Excuse"... try one of these on for size... Or perhaps make several copies and keep them close at hand! LOL!

Collections: Independence Day Food!

When I run across something interesting, that perhaps makes me smile or feel a little nostalgic, I end up taking a picture of it (or finding a pic online) and saving it to a file folder to be used in a future blog post. Well, my friends, I now have SEVERAL file folders containing such images for "future" blog posts. There is no time like the present to get on with it and post these.

For this first one I totally missed the boat because I was gonna do a post on how not only do Americans love their food and not only do Americans love their country, but Americans Love to Celebrate their Country with FOOD!!!

Here is a collage of the Fun Fourth Foods I found! There are the obvious cakes, pies and cookies. But some cool ideas too! See the drink? Ice Cream. Ice Cream Sandwiches. Cupcakes. Shortcakes. Waffles. Jell-O Salad. Trifle. And then... there are the French Fries (Are they really "American"? Hahaha)


What about you? Do you get your patriotic foodie on this time of year? What did you make?