Nifty 50!

Sunday, February 1, 2015 by  

Everyone kept asking me what Phillip was planning for my 50th. He’s arranged some pretty spectacular things for me over the years so I knew whatever it was I’d be thrilled. Our son captured the moment:

Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (2)   Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (3)

Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (5)a   Birthday joy, tickets to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Universal Studios, Florida, Orlando, great excitement (6)
Good Lord! What could it be? Well, prior to opening this envelope, Phillip planned a weekend of delights including dinner at La Panetiere.

Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (4)

Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (11)
Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (13)     Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (14)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (5)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (6) Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (10)      Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (2)      Bianca Tyler, birthday, La Panetiere, 5-star restaurant, French cuisine, family, love (9)
We visited the Cloisters on the northern tip of Manhattan overlooking the Hudson to enjoy the stunning array of more than 5,000 pieces of European Medieval works of art from the 12th – 15th centuries including the famous Unicorn Tapestries. The Cloister’s Library contains over 15,000 volumes of books.

Cloisters, Magic Tree House, Mary Pope Osborne, Unicorn, Tapestry, Jack & Annie, snow, New York City, NY 1938, blizzard, mystery, children's book (8) Cloisters, Medieval art, New York City, The Lets Talk Mom (1)   Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (8)  Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (1)

Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (2) Cloisters,Tapestry, New York City, medieval art, treasures, statues,  (4)
Later, we toured the World of Wings butterfly atrium where I had my 1st opportunity to take photos with my gorgeous new Canon from my son. For the amount of time I invest in my photography, this latest Canon with touchscreen, image sensor & built-in Wi-Fi was the p-e-r-f-e-c-t gift!! Thank you, darling!

World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (10)  World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (13)

World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (5) World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium, (7)a

World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (11)  World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (15) World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (17)   World of Wings, New York, butterflies, turtles, atrium,  (2)
And if anyone knows our family well, you’ll know why the logo above is so significant!! 🙂

As you can sBebe's necklace (1)ee, this day was magnificent with brilliant sunshine & deep blue skies. But 50 years ago, there was a blizzard and my mother arrived at the hospital with a police escort. That’s one way to make an entrance.

Mom recapped the story over dinner. Then she surprised me with a very special gift…a piece of jewelry I’ve admired for 45 years. It was given to mother by my father’s mother when I was 5.Bianca Tyler, gala, television, broadcaster Bebe's necklace, Miss Connecticut (1)

 

 

 

I’ve worn it in the past with great delight (photo on right), but on this special night, my mother said it was now mine. Overjoyed is an understatement. It means so much to me on many levels.

Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (19) Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (3)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (27) Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (9)Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (7)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (10)

Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (25)  Bianca Tyler, birthday, Nifty to be 50, Red Barn, New England, family, love, gifts, The Lets Talk Mom (16)

So what was in the envelope in the opening pics? Let me first explain that my greatest gift ~ now & always ~ is being loved by my family & friends. Flowers & cards, emails & posts. All is appreciated. The kindness, the thoughtfulness, the time spent to make my day special. Thank you all!!

Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (7)Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (1) Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (5)Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (4)  Birthday cards, Nifty at 50, Next Great Decade, family & friends (6)
The above cards from my children touched my heart deeply. My son chose a card that says I make him feel understood, happy and loved. Wonderful, wonderful!! And our little one says I make her happy every day…down to even the school snack. What more could any mother want? Happy, thriving kids – this was, by far, the very best gift of all!!

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (5)Happy childhood, loving parents, Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler (3)       Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (7)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter,  reading with Mom, Bianca Tyler      Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (1)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (4)              Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler (2)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (17)        Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (6)     Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (10)    Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son, Bianca Tyler (1)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (12)   Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, reading (2)  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (40)c  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, daughter, love, Bianca Tyler (5)cu2

16 years ago, I started the Harry Potter series with our son…reading it in “real time,” that is, waiting each year for another book to be published…standing in line at midnight openings with great anticipation for 1st edition hardcovers. We saw the movies, he had the posters, the comforter set, the throw pillows, the robe, Harry’s wand, etc. He even had a Harry-esque look to him, especially when he got his glasses.

Happy childhood, Harry Potter, posters, white tiger, son, friendship, boys, video games Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (6)

Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (13)    Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (3)Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (1)cu  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (18)  Happy childhood, loving, nurturing, sweet childhood, comfort, understanding, son (15)

Fast-forward more than a decade and our little daughter & her friends are relishing in the adventures, quoting the spells, whipping up potions and donning the robe. The perfect hardcovers have moved from our son’s room to our daughters’s bookcase. Over the holiday break, we watched all 8 movies (Yes, 8. The last book was filmed in 2 parts).

My friend, Sara, took one of our daughter’s best-est friends (since the girls were infants) to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter last month. The girls are now 9 & 10, the perfect age for the story. Sara posted this video of Platform 9 3/4 on her FB page & that was it!! What more fun could our family have than to venture through the fantastical world of wizards?

Sara said Universal Studios did a magnificent re-creation, a trip not to be missed! With the entire storyline under our belts just the previous month, I could not have dreamed of a more fanciful place to go for my birthday present!! In the envelope was a newspaper-like invitation from the Daily Prophet along with tickets to the mystical world of Harry Potter and a week’s stay at the CoCo Key water resort hotel. Simply marvelous, my darling husband, I love love love it!! And so do the kids!! (Well, as you can clearly see from our little one’s reaction in the 1st photos above as we opened the envelopes together.)

Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (1)

Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (4) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (8)Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (10) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (6) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (7) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (5) Courtesy of Universal Studios, The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, Orlando, Florida (9)

CoCo Key water resort & hotel:

CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (3) CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (2) CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (5)   CoCo Key water resort and hotel, Orlando water resort, Florida water resort, Florida, water resort, hotel in Florida, Orlando hotel (6)
We finished up the weekend celebrations with my favorite movie, The Scarlet Pimpernel, with Jane Seymour & Anthony Andrews. Luscious ~ Dreamy ~ Yum!

SP 4       SP 3

SP 6  SP 8

SP 1   SP 5
So many other details went into this weekend that I would just like to say thank you to my husband, my whole family and my friends for marking this milestone with great joy.

bright spot flowerThe Bright SpotTM  – Thankfulness that my mother is feeling better, it’s on & off and for my birthday she was really “on!” Even sparkly! And thank you to all who sent wishes for a beautiful birthday weekend. So ready for this next great decade, bring it on!!


Bianca

My Mom

Sunday, July 28, 2013 by  

Summertime, My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, summer fun

Thrown off a Connecticut beach for wearing a bikini, my Mom still rolls her eyes at that story & declares the beach keeper a crazy man.

Coming from a country where they play volleyball topless on the beach, they were lucky she even wore the bikini!

My parents met one evening at a beach club & married 2 1/2 months later. Mom & Dad's wedding photo, happy couple, starting life journey togetherSo it was no shock when I announced I was getting married after 4 days. “You know when you know,” she said. Bianca Tyler wedding, Bianca & Phillip, kisses from the groom, happy bride, American wedding, English weddingPhillip & I married after only spending 46 days in each other’s company and she was right.

Mom loves to garden, paint, My mother's ceramics, painting ceramics, kiln, fragile, delicate artwork, Bianca Tyler's mother, momdecorate & read, read, read! She’s like a walking encyclopedia.

She’s an incredible photographer, interior designer, writer & artist. I love her drawings, portrait paintings, and my favorite, this ceramic chess set she painted nearly 40 years ago.

Mom’s a fantastic cook and prepared wonderful, healthy meals for me the entire 9 months I was pregnant!! She made sure I had the best foods when I was a baby and did the same for my kids.

With my parents, loving family, My mom & dad, Bianca Tyler's mother & father, giggles, tickles, happy memories, happy childhood            My mom holding me 1960s, , Bianca Tyler as a baby, snuggles with Mom, enjoying the sunshine

Mom & me 1960s                         Little Petal & me 40 years later
Omi - Mom & me, original, 1a       Omi - Mom & Willow - replica My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, Mommy (38)  My mom & me at Easter, 1960s, young mother and baby girl, toddler, yummy, chocolate, chocolate eggs, Easter egg hung, Easter eggs, basket, Easter basket               and, of course, she gave me my 1st chocolates & Easter goodies…yum!

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Folks who’ve met my Mom totally love her. She’s funny, talks straight and is the life of the party. She smokes, drinks, swears and gambles. She doesn’t apologize for any of it. She lives life to the fullest beating to her own drum.

Beach party, Mom and Dad out having fun togetherMy mom and best friend, dancing and silly times, Bianca Tyler's mother, Germany, carefree days   Parents with friends having a lovely evening, My mom & dad
Mom in the 60s, my mom (2)      My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, purple floor length     My mom and her friend, evening out, white dress, Bianca Tyler's mother

Time for a present, mom opens gift, 1970s, mom dad and sister

 

New York Yacht Club, Mom and Dad out having fun together Niagara Falls, mom & dad at Niagrara Falls

When she lost my father 15 years ago, it devastated her. Their love and building a life together for their children was unsurpassed. They were a team in everything they did.

Mom & Dad, having fun, dancing and celebrating, wonderful parents, loving parents, bianca Tyler's mother & father              My mom & dad, Bianca Tyler's mother & father, dance, enjoying the night together Mom and Dad enjoying vacation      My mom & dad, Bianca Tyler's mother & father, hugsMy mom & dad, Bianca Tyler's mother & father, celebrating with friends  Mom & Dad, happy memories (2)

Mom & Dad, happy memories (1)    Mom & Dad enjoying a celebration

Mom & Dad going out, big smiles, happy, fun evening    Enjoying an evening out, Dad & Mom with friends in the middle, big smiles, fun memories

My mom & dad, night out with friends, celebrations, Bianca Tyler's mom & dad, tux, tuxedo, bow tie, fun, joy, laughter, good times   My mom & dad, night out with friends, celebrations, lovely evening, great memories, Bianca Tyler's mother and father

My Mom’s parents absolutely adored her.

Family photo, my mom & grandparents, Bianca Tyler's mother, mom, omi and opi My mom, my mom and grandmother, Bianca Tyler's mother, kisses from Mommy, baby carriage, Mother & Daughter, sweet baby

Family hugs, family time, happy family, loving parents, happy child, sunny days Mom with her father, toddler tweaks dad's nose, beach fun, my mom and grandfather, summertime fun, family time

Those were some smoochable cheeks!!

My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, Mommy (54)      My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, Mommy, cherub, sweet darling, rosy cheeks, curly blonde hair

Young mom, like a little doll, so cute, bandana and curls     Toddler mom and my grandmother, Europe                                               Mom as toddler, cute boots    Family time at the beach, happy family, parents dote on little child, sweet family     

My mom, baby carriage, going for a walk, Bianca Tyler's mother, baby     My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, Mommy, Europe 1940s, happy memories, beaches, summer home, guest house, Pommern, Pommerania         My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, Mommy, baby carriage, 1940s, sweet toddler, old fashioned carriage      My mom rowing 3 men, mom grows up on the water, move over fellas, Bianca Tyler's motherMy mother grew up on the water (the Baltic Sea and with Aunties & her Mom above at their beach guest house in Pommern) and could out row anyone. When she was young, she liked to ice skate, bike, dance and travel.

Mom loved skating, Europe        Teen, Europe, biking with friends            And she always loved animals!My mom loves animals, sweet dog, darling child, cute curls, love of animals starts young

Mom was always very close with her parents, as were we all.

My mom & grandmother, Omi and mom, Bianca Tyler's mother and grandmother My mom & grandmother, Bianca Tyler's mother & grandmother

My mother & father taught me I could be anything I wanted to be. They supported my achievements in school, my activities,      Miss Connecticut dinner and dance, Muhammad Ali's signed glove,Bianca Tyler's mother, fun days, crazy evenings outmy music, my whims & fancies, my travels, my moves around the country for my career, and my exciting year as Miss Connecticut & all the wonderful memories of representing my native state at the Miss America…
Mom supports me at the Miss America, family love, family energy, family support and love (2)    Mom supports me at the Miss America, family love, family energy, family support and love (1)
…including helping me pack trunks & boxes & shoes and shoes and shoes for the 2 weeks in Atlantic City for Miss America.Mom helps me pack for the Miss America, shoes for Miss AmericaMom helps pack trucks and boxes for Miss America, Miss America packing

My Mom traveled with me to Vancouver to put me on a ship that circumnavigated the globe for 4 months. My mom & me, Bianca Tyler's mother, 1980s, a

Mom – who saves everything – threw away my clothes after a week’s caving trip…they were really dirty for her to have thrown them out!

My mom & sister, Spain, 1980s, how time flies, Mom & DaughterWe traveled around Spain, Gibraltar, Barbados & Germany together & tons of other places.                   (left with my sister)

Years later, Mom drove with my dog & me across the country & decorated a house I found for cheap…really cheap…only to find out it was a former drug depot…so I left the house a short while later along with all the painting, bordering, curtain-hanging and decorating she had done day & night the week she dropped me off for my new job.

Mom makes my costumes, Bianca Tyler costumes (1)           Mom makes my costumes, Bianca Tyler costumes (2)
Mom sewed countless costumes (above) for me and for my sister & my sister’s students.

My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, Mommy (57)       Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (6)
Mom (her passport pic)                            me (headshot taken by Mom)

She took photographs of my wedding in England when the photographer there slacked off and almost ruined the day. Mom takes a walk at the castle, Medieval castle, misty castlePhillip gave him an earful and my mother took the photographs and she and my sister created a surprise wedding album for me when I returned from England.Bianca & Phillip marry, beautiful children all around, flowers, moat, castle, roses, sweetness

My mother also saved hundreds of newspaper clippings, magazine articles and memorabilia from my Miss Connecticut year and painstakingly glued them into several beautiful scrapbooks to cherish always. She did it for a year and I never even knew it. Another wonderful surprise. You can view some of the clippings here: Miss CT in the News.

Halloween, bumblebee, gold sparkle antennae, My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother, silly memories

She’s always there to goof aroundGardens, flowers, happy home, loving childhood Mom, sister & me, happy summer days My mom & me, goofing around, hot weather, Bianca Tyler's mother, Mom & Daughter and she’s there for all the tears like when we just lost my Uncle recently. He is with Daddy now.  🙁  🙁

My mom & dad with my uncle, Bianca Tyler's mother & father & uncle, carefree days      My Dad & Uncle, brother time, enjoying time together, living far away Pregnant with my sister, Bianca Tyler's mother pregnant by the water                                                                                              (pregnant with my sister)

Mom has always been great at photography and even gave me her precious long-lens Canon in the 80s on the ship trip. A treasured item, so I was, indeed, very grateful.

She’s developed her own photography and taken headshots for actors & personalities over the years. Definitely helped save a bundle on my own headshots for TV over the years! Here are some snaps from Mom:

Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (10)   Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (9) Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (8)      Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (7) Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (5) Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (4)  Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (2)  Photos taken by mom, Bianca Tyler's mom (1) Barbados with Mom, Bianca Tyler, glorious day, soaring wrap  Bianca Tyler (1)    Bianca Tyler (3)   Bianca Tyler (2) 

Thanks, Mom, for making my life great growing up. Thanks for all you have done for me. I love you!

In tribute to her, I hope I captured my mother’s life in this pictorial. Please say a prayer for her. She had heart fibrillations recently and was rushed to the hospital. It’s been constant testing every day.

Seeing her weak & tired is unnerving. Fragile is not a word I would ever use to describe my mother. Sweet but tough, robust & resilient, soft-hearted but strong-willed.

Summertime, My mom, Bianca Tyler's mother

My mother prides herself on honesty and has never lied a day in her life. She is someone you can trust. She loves her daughters, grandchildren and animals. And we all love her.

The Bright SpotTM bright spot flower – I believe in the power of prayer. Please pray.

 


Bianca