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chinacatpeekin

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chinacatpeekin likes 3 comments on a discussion: Patterns. So many patterns.
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Jilly

^^ Yes, you said it better, 3katz.

A rare miss — I’ve never seen any other design of hers I didn’t like. Oppressive is exactly the feeling I get from it.

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DLM2000-GW

If that is a current design of hers I'm honestly shocked - I always love her rooms.

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gigi4321

I saw that this morning as well, and while I normally don't read the comments on IG I wanted to see if anyone was going to tell her, "you better get back to the west coast because your assistants are going to ruin your reputation." The living room pic, ummm, (long pause thinking of something nice to say.)

Oakley, thanks for brining up Janet Leigh, I nearly forgot it's Hitchcock month at the Stanford Theater and I'm going to try and make it to a few shows. Maybe I'll see that room in Psycho or The Birds.

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: Packing for Scotland!
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Bestyears

I brought all neutrals on my recent trip to Portugal and loved having a colorful scarf too.

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chinacatpeekin likes 2 comments on a discussion: We can thank Anna Wintour
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Kswl

Ir’s better than the white house dinner fiasco, but IMO,—and nothing against women in general, just a comment on her appearance—she manages to make everything she wears look tawdry, even a couture gown chosen by the famed Anna Wintour.

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eld6161

It’s all in fun and yes they are themed costumes.

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: When I am Queen, Update
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Kswl

So I googled her headpiece and found this explanation; it also tells the gown designer:

For the day, Queen Maxima looked like a pinnacle of spring in a lacy green dress by Natan Couture under a chic white cardigan and her go-to Gianvito Rossi pumps. Of course, the showstopper of her look was the dramatic, custom silk and feather butterfly headpiece by Berry Rutjes, which paid homage to the symbol of Emmen, which is known for its famed butterfly house.”

The festival was held in the town of Emmen, hence her tribute of butterflies.

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: Kitchen Undermount Sink
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vinmarks

I love the grid that came with my sink. I wasn't sure if i would like it but I wouldn't have a sink without it now. I just spray off any bits that may be on it and after dinner I run a soapy sponge over it. Very easy.

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: Transition strips at a three way
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JAN MOYER

The real answer is what nobody wants to hear. One flooring to a living floor.

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chinacatpeekin likes 2 comments on a discussion: No Thankyou cards
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Olychick

I think the current etiquette is still the same: good manners require a thank you. Unfortunately, in this, as in many other ways, good manners have fallen on hard times. An old trick I heard of was to send a check and forget to sign it. They'll be required to at least acknowledge your gift when they try to arrange to get a signed one! Not sure with current banking practices if an unsigned check would even be noticed by some automated systems.

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Olychick

I was really surprised when the school my grandson went to, starting in about the 4th grade, taught the students how and when to send thank you notes. It was a private school with very involved parents, so I suspect they would also be taught at home, but it was a nice exercise, I thought.

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chinacatpeekin likes 3 comments on a discussion: Does not match at seam
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rebunky

The waterfall seam amazingly looks pretty good!

Maybe they had to sacrifice the angled perimeter seam due to you not purchasing enough material to work with???

Once that existing dated backsplash is replaced, it will look way better.

Fantasy Brown is beautiful! But, due to the busy veining, it takes more material and expense to get the seams to line up. That mismatch would drive me crazy. 🤪

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JAN MOYER

Probably not enough material.......and

A skipped step in process:

That skipped step is where you go to the fabricator, and you literally create that template/seam right on the slab, with a translucent plastic, or your fabricator has the computer capacity for a mock up.

To get a seamless counter peninsula end to mid sink?? Nearly impossible due to the fact that no one slab is wide enough at about 66 inches.

You needed to waste a lot of material and use a book match pair.

You don't use strong veining in a kitchen with any turns, unless willing to pay for waste.

Please skip gray tile, get a soft white. There's enough going on: ) and yes, I am seeing the flooring.

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chloebud

Solid color backsplashes can still have pattern. I would want the Fantasy Brown to pull the focus with a simple backsplash.

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chinacatpeekin likes 3 comments on a discussion: What were your favorite songs/bands during Sr. year of high school?
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carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b

Good memory teaser 😀

I graduated in '77 - HS faves were the Beatles, CSNY, Yes, Hot Tuna, Leon Russell, ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, Grateful Dead, and a LOT more I can't think of right now.

I remember how we'd go to friends' houses to listen to albums, and sharing them as well, the little rituals involved in playing a record, listening to an entire album played on FM radio - anybody else?

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Judi

I went to live with my sister right after high school graduation. One suitcase held my clothes, the other all of my precious albums.

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OutsidePlaying

1966 grad. The Stones, Beatles, The Byrds, Mamas and Papas, Percy Sledge, Otis Redding, Bib Dylan, Beach Boys, Sonny & Cher. Our small town had an AM station too, but we could get WLS out of Chicago most nights. I would sneak listen under the covers many nights on my little portable radio

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: How cute is this kitchen!
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Jilly

That is a cute kitchen, bpath. So charming.

I’m a fan of glass block, too, and have always loved vintage kitchens with little shelves around the sink/window.

If it were my kitchen, I’d consider vintage flooring of some sort (depending on what the room is open to). If not doable, I’d buy a vintage style vinyl floorcloth. I love mine in my laundry room … from Hudson & Vine, inspired by Chinacat. :)

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chinacatpeekin likes 3 comments on a discussion: waterfall countertop for kitchen island … made from wood
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skmom

I can’t seem to get a photo to post right now, but my last home had a solid walnut waterfall countertop for our kitchen island. It only had the waterfall on one side, not both because I wanted a towel bar and electrical outlet on the non waterfall side. Pros were that it was comfortable to sit at and it was stunning! Cons were that it required more attention and upkeep than stone. We had an undermount sink in that island, so we used Waterlox to finish the wood. I don’t know where you’d get someone to do that... my husband built ours since he is a very talented woodworker with top of the line tools. (I did the Waterlox finish myself) Maybe check into your local woodworkers stores to see if they can put you in touch with anyone? For us it was ‘cheaper’ than stone if you only count the cost of the walnut and Waterlox. But if you count the cost of tools and experience it was a LOT more expensive than stone. If we had to pay someone else to make us what my hubby achieved then it would’ve been an absolute budget buster. But it sure was the star of the kitchen. Heck, I’d argue that it was the star of the entire home even though it was a beautiful home in a gorgeous neighborhood.

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palimpsest

If I did thus I would do it with large dovetails and have the bottom sit off the floor on a slight recessed base like a museum reveal, maybe a piece of black metal, to float it slightly above the floor.

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Sabrina Alfin Interiors

There's no reason you couldn't do it, but as others have suggested, it will require more maintenance and will likely be pretty expensive. I'd go to a reputable custom cabinetmaker for this. Personally, I think it looks great. It's a splurge that would really look beautiful.

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chinacatpeekin commented on a discussion: Cambria Quartz Countertop colour issues
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Arden Hills Estates

As said already, pretty sure the contract allows for slight variations. A current sample would have been nice but may have resulted in the same

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chinacatpeekin

I do see a difference in the color of the veining. When I was planning my kitchen renovation I observed that samples of the “same” quartz could vary quite a bit in color, and wondered if it was caused by exposure to sunlight, or age- ultimately I decided not to use quartz at all.

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chinacatpeekin likes 2 comments on a discussion: Need help expressing my vision for exterior beams
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kandrewspa

This sounds like an odd idea for the style of house you have. Do you have an inspiration picture for this look? It's difficult for me to imagine where you're going with this idea. If you really want a Tudor home you're going to have to look at moving.


The siding color doesn't look like the best fit with the brick (unless that is just a trick of the lighting). If I were you I would fix that, remove the shutters and up your landscaping game like Housegal200 said. You seem to have almost no foundation plants.

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BeverlyFLADeziner

You have a lovely home. But your landscaping should be visible no matter the season, so your lot requires many more trees and shrubs..



The faux wood ledge is inappropriate in that location. It would be like taking a green velvet dress and deciding to add silver metallic fringe to the bottom hem. Something don't go together.


Your barn door shutters are undersized for the scale of your windows. When they slide closed they should cover the glass.




Either take them down or resize them correctly.




Maybe you would like your home more if the siding were a darker color.


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chinacatpeekin likes 2 comments on a discussion: Fabric/bedding help
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mtnrdredux_gw

Very happy with the Dusk, will probably order more.

As far as the rest, I decided to go with this fabric:


Then starts my tale of woe. I wanted a very generous, long bolster (9x52") like I have in a guest room. Jan. 23 I ordered the cover custom made on Etsy, forwarding a link to the insert I bought. It arrived and was way too small. I could wrestle it on but it looked like it had cellulite. The maker argued with me. She had me send the cover *and* bolster back to her, She proceeded to argue with me again. I was not backing down; I know what it should look like. Then she sent back my insert and gave me a refund. That saga ended at the end of March - five weeks lost.

I found a second person on Etsy. I ordered a custom bolster from them March 21. I once again linked to the insert, shared pictures, and we discussed the optimal size. It arrived yesterday. It is 6" to short. They gave me a full refund just now.

The world does not seem to want me to have a 52" long bolster.

I am so tired of waiting. I ordered a new, smaller insert from Amazon today. If arrives tomorrow. If it fits I am done with it.

Sorry you asked?😬

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palimpsest

If this is Thibaut Katsura it is 54" wide and the pattern goes Up the roll so it would have to go Around the bolster. You aren't going to get a 56" bolster with the fabric oriented the right way out of a single width of fabric, there would be a seam running up each side,

The very widest you will get seamless is 52" with a one inch seam

In other words, if you were using a fabric that went across the width instead of up the roll, since the pattern would then be vertical on something lying down like a bolster, you could have a seamless bolster almost 100 yards long. Since your pattern goes up the roll and you want it to be the correct way on the bolster, without seams you are going to end up with a 52" bolster. If you want 56" you are going to have a 2" strip of fabric up each end of the bolster. That's fine, they do it all the time, but it's a lot more fabric and fabrication.

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: SOS: need urgently 2 1/4"unfinished red oak with bevel
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Diana Bier Interiors, LLC

Why would anyone want a bevel at all? It’s such a magnet for dirt and debris.

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: 8 foot doors and over-the-door racks
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palimpsest

Yes don't hang racks over the doors. Install hooks or bars on the door. The racks say "temporary solution in a rental property " in my opinion.

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chinacatpeekin likes 3 comments on a discussion: Have you removed all grass from your front yard & replaced with plants
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HALLETT & Co.

Photo tonight while walking the dog. I love black fences because they recede.

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KW PNW Z8

@chinacatpeekin Fringe Flower! I know that plant! Beautiful garden and home. Thank you for sharing.

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Little Bird

It seems like some successful elements like be: varying the heights of plantings, using many different shades and textures of year round greens, using rocks/boulders, and interspersing plants that flower at different times of the year.

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chinacatpeekin commented on a discussion: What's your favorite cheese
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chinacatpeekin

Delice de Bougogne is one of my favorites; Trader Joe’s carries it here. It’s a cow’s milk triple-creme cheese. Roquefort is my favorite blue; I serve it drizzled with honey.

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rob333 (zone 7b)

No one has let me down. No worries!

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Judi

@Judi, if you want to eat kimchi, for the good for you reasons, try smelling the fresher, store bought ones, like Wildbrine. Cabbage and ginger smells, but not garbage truck. And only mild heat. Great in sandwiches.





plllog, thanks for the recommendations! I bought Wild Brine Korean Style Kimchi. No funky smell and it tastes pretty good.








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chinacatpeekin likes 2 comments on a discussion: Gallery wall update
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mtnrdredux_gw

It may seem funny that my other thread mentions throwing out every scenery photo, and this thread is all about … scenery photos.

When I was looking for artwork for the sitting room in our new place, my whole family liked the idea of travel photos…scenery only, i.e. more artful images. I have a table covered with framed people-photos elsewhere).

Initially I wanted to follow some logic (e.g. at least one from each continent) but I didn’t want a snowy image so I left Antarctica out, and I didn’t find any Africa pics I loved that much. Also, the quality of our photographs is much better in more recent years and there are more attempts to be artful rather than just us capturing the kids.

In the past 5 years I’d say, everyone in my family takes their own photos and we share albums on our phones; that was the easiest and best source for good quality photos. So I accepted some randomness and reframed my quest as something that captures the spirit and beauty of travel rather than documenting all of our travel (already done with a wall of old atlas pages in Maine). I also tried to use at least one pic from each family member.

I did find a few printed photos that were worthwhile as we purged last night. Once this wall is up and the furniture is in, we will see if my little sitting room can take any more, say on a different wall.

They arrive this week - from the date I ordered, only 5 calendar days.

For those "peering"

\

This is a street scene from Havana - me



This is Seljalandsfoss in Iceland - DS



This is a woman carrying a bale of tea leaves in Sri Lanka - DD1



This is a crab in Galapagos - DH


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mtnrdredux_gw

This is another Iceland view taken while driving - DD1



This is a blue passionflower in Belize - DD2



This is an arch near the Colosseum in Rome - me



This is a natural bridge in Iceland’s Snaefellsnes peninsula - me



This is a bridge in Bosnia - DH



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chinacatpeekin likes 3 comments on a discussion: A good way to pare down/organize physical photos?
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Fun2BHere

I made some arbitrary rules for myself and sorted my pictures, discarding any that didn’t fit the rules. The first rule was that, in this day of easy replication and reprints, I didn’t need to keep multiple copies. The second rule was if I didn’t know the people in the picture or didn’t care about them (distant cousins or one-trip acquaintances that I’ll never see again), into the trash the picture went. Number three was if I didn’t recognize the location and there were no people in the shot…trash. Anyway, you get the gist. I set up acid-free boxes to hold the sorted keepers and that’s where they exist today (in the top of a closet).

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Kswl

Fun, I think you’re on to something……..all I have to do is wait until my memory gets bad enough and sorting becomes a breeze 😎


”Grandma, is that my Dad in the picture with you at the Acropolis? The what? Never heard of it and I’ve never seen that person before— and I don’t know that woman, either. Toss it!

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Kitchenwitch111

I downsized to my townhouse 10 years ago. When I was cleaning out the attic in my old house before the move, I had so much to deal with that any photos I found I just dumped into 4 large plastic storage boxes, and moved them to my new place and buried them in a closet.

Last November, my son was turning 40 and I was asked to find old photos. At the time I was home with Covid and it was a good time to go through the boxes. I had photos from my parents’ childhoods up to somewhere in the early 2000’s when we started to go digital. (I did not get to the multiple old laptops I have in a drawer with photos on them).

Maybe some of you might do this better than I did as I didn’t make albums or put anything in any kind of order. I just separated the photos into boxes for each of my children, their father (my ex), my late husband’s family and one for me. I was not good about putting any info on the photos when I first stored them, but if there were any references to when or where the photos were taken I put that on the back of the photos. I threw out bags and bags of duplicate, unflattering or irrelevant pictures.

I had quite a trip down memory lane, especially when I got to my teen/twenty years. I was a photographer when I was in high school and I had many negatives and prints of old friends and my HS boyfriend’s band. I started to contact friends that I hadn't seen in decades, and they were all happy to hear from me. I also mailed them photos. And then I put friends in touch with other friends and the gang is back together again, all across the country. Besides having more space in the closet now, I also have new old friends.

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chinacatpeekin added 2 photos to Ideabook: ADU Before and after
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chinacatpeekin added 3 photos to Ideabook: ADU Before and after
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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: Does this billiards table complement our kitchenette cabinets?
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millworkman

Personally I do not think a billiard table (even cherry wood) would "compliment" kitchen cabinets. They are not two things that typically would share a space or even be in close proximity to one another.

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: Turn old lake restaurant into home???
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drdeb1234

Guess I am a turn key type of gal!!

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chinacatpeekin likes 3 comments on a discussion: I need help correcting the mistakes I made while remodeling my kitchen
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Paul F.

The photos the OP has supplied show one with what appears to be the wrong color temperature lighting the tile. The pics shows something across the room bathing the kitchen in a strong blue and purple light reflecting off the tile. I'm not sure how anyone can recommend extreme measures at this point if we can't see the true colors.

I adjusted lighting temperature below... I did nothing to the color of the front of the cabinets or the drawers.


Warmed the shelf lighting


Cooled the interior cabinet lighting.


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Mrs Pete

I agree that the backsplash doesn't match everything else, but I'll also say:

- The wall with the range hood seems rather busy.

- I dislike the counter tops, but that's personal opinion.

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JAN MOYER



I'm sort of sick to death of the temperature of lighting issue. I will set aside my pure loathing of 4000k anywhere - it's personal.

The real issue is color selections and marriages don't lie, and this designer sucks rocks for a number of reasons.

When someone is attempting a foot in two boats....and in this case the glam modern effect of Warm Britannica, with the island in wood, very traditional cabinetry/hood stye ? I stomp a foot and that ISN'T the the top selection. Big fat NO. "Lets keep looking, shall we?" "It's too much glam and modern for all else you've told me you wanted"

Which is.......

"i would like to achieve a modern warm transitional maybe farmhouse design. The family room is Sw white Duck and the trim is BM white dove. The floors are white oak"

Yes, I agree the backsplash is a big issue, getting the ice cold gray out of there will help immensely. But not going to lie . I hate this particular quartz in this kitchen, ( will add that that does not encompass every quartz), but the marriage is not made in heaven , here.

Warm it up. Get to one 3500 at most temperature everywhere in that kitchen.



I think If I read another of these huge disappointments, I will set my hair on fire.I

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chinacatpeekin likes a comment on a discussion: Wouldn’t This Make a Great Prom Dress?
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palimpsest

What's interesting is that she inspired the song "I Want Candy" by the Strangeloves, who were kind of proto hippies, and can be seen performing this live on Hullabaloo in 1965, with The Hullabaloo dancers, and Cher, with their hair long and loose and in their faces, and completely different scene than Candy herself who seems kind of a throwback in comparison with her stiff bouffant and everything, (although she was only 20)

I think this is Cher on the left.


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