We have a winner!

Thank you to all who stopped by. I did not have nearly the traffic lots of people had but that's okay, more chances for those of you who commented.

I wish I had a book for all of you but I don't....so I put your names in a virtual hat and had a virtual drawing (a'la Randomizer help), and

TA DA!



Congratulations to
"Princess Ladybug"!

Hope you will enjoy your book and will visit again soon! I will be in touch to get mailing info.

Again, thanks to you all who took the time to visit. I appreciate it and know my poor blog is rather neglected. Hopefully, I can get in gear when my work slows down a bit.

Since I work at home, for myself, I have no one to blame, right?
Check out my store if you want to see what consumes me and you just might find a treasure you love! ;)

Thanks again! It was fun!

Fall Y'all, Bloggy Giveaway!

~The Spirit of Christmas~



Oh what fun!
One lucky winner will receive the 1993 Edition Leisure Arts "The Spirit of Christmas" book, FILLED with holiday decorating ideas, patterns, and instructions plus loads of yummy recipes! I have several of these and use them every year!

Be sure to leave a comment here with a valid email contact address.
I will draw one winner by random number generator.
You have until 10 PM CST Sunday, November 4 to enter. I will then draw a winner and post the details here!


Be sure to head on over to see all the generous, fun give-aways!



I will ship anywhere, media mail.



Good luck!


Have fun!

Win a Starbucks Hawaiian Gift Card

Win a $10 Starbucks gift card from Liza's Eyeview. It is a vintage Hawaiian gift card so how cool is that?!

WFMW - Brand Loyalty

Well, I am a pretty frugal shopper and always buy generic when possible but I DO have a few non-negotiables.

Mascara- It HAS to be the pink and green tube of Maybelline's Great Lash. I have used it for years and never buy anything else.

Lotion - ONLY Bath and Body Works body cream in the tube, $10.00, any fragrance. I have been so lucky to actually find several tubes, unopened, unused, at yard sales for $2.00 and under. Oh yes, they came home with me! Love that stuff!!

TP - Charmin...I just can't tolerate the cheap rough stuff. My feller finally conceded that point after a few shopping trip tiffs.

Toothpaste - Crest. Just Crest...gel, paste, extra oomph, or not...as long as it is Crest.

Coffee Creamer - Nestle's Liquid Coffee Mate in the carton. I then pour smaller amounts into a clean plastic bottle saved from a previous purchase. It just ain't coffee without it. At the holidays, I buy the flavored varieties.

Breakfast Bars - Special K strawberry. My daughter got me hooked on those little 90 calorie bites of goodness!

Veggies - The large bags of Bird's Eye Oriental Stir Fry frozen vegetables. I eat a big plate of them every single night, just steamed with lemon juice and spritzed with "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter". Almost ZERO calories and filling and YUMMY! (I save the stir fry sauce packets for making feller's Chinese food)

Margarine - See above. "I Can't Believe It's Not Butter" spray. Tastes awesome and has NO calories! I can't believe it!

Bread - Sara Lee's Delightful Wheat. Only a teeny 90 calories for TWO slices...with my spray butter, I have a breakfast toast treat! Or I eat them at lunch for a low cal sandwich.

Those are a few of my favorites. I have been watching my calories all of this year after deciding I was too fluffy after the holidays. I am happy to report I have lost nearly 20 pounds! So yeah, the food stuff is high on my fav list! :-)

When In Rome....

Funny, I would have picked Paris but this is pretty accurate.....again!

What city are you?

You Belong in Rome

You're a big city soul with a small town heart Which is why you're attracted to the romance of Rome Strolling down picture perfect streets, cappuccino in hand And gorgeous Italian people - could life get any better?

What City Do You Belong In?

More FREE Stuff, Like CASH!

Deadline is August 20. If you win, buy me a Coke, ok? ;-)

Over at Ashwin’s blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win $2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!

WFMW - Give them Wings and Roots

My WFMW parenting tip comes from a seasoned, empty nester, single mom of one. While I may not be the most "with it" or up to date mom, I like to think I did all right.
I raised my daughter almost by myself. Even when her dad was around, he "wasn't". She is now a scholarshipped senior English major at Emory University in Atlanta with a great job, a great internship, and a greater job offer on the board!

I had a few firm guidelines that helped me survive and thrive:

1. Love God and teach your child to as well.

2. Never miss a chance to prove the power of prayer.

3. Love your child enough to let them hate you....at times.

4. Exert more pressure than peers do. It is hard but you have to fight harder for a toe hold.

5. Do not try to be your kids best friend. THAT is what peers are for.

6. Befriend their friends. A kid at home is one you can keep an eye on.

7. Don't be afraid to make and enforce home rules.

8. Be consistent and fair.

9. Remember that grounding a kid is really more punishment for YOU. You have to stick close by to make sure they stay grounded!

10. Teach by example, whether it is working hard toward a goal, laughing hard at a joke, falling hard to your knees in prayer, or just keeping silent with yourself.

11. Laugh at yourself FIRST so your kids learn that it is okay and is easier than being laughed AT.

12. Don't give them ALL they WANT, do give them what they NEED, and the extras will be appreciated MORE.

13. Say you are sorry. If you make a mistake, teach them humility by apologizing.

14. Set goals as individuals and as a family, no matter if you are a family of two.

15. Celebrate successes, learn from failures, cling to values and morals, and forgive mistakes.

16. Teach them that "doing your best" is better than "being the best".

17. Expect bumps and rocky roads at times. It makes the smooth rides more precious.

18. Laugh - have fun. Laugh even when you are crying. It is hard to be and feel miserable with the corners of your mouth turned up.

19. Practice compassion. Giving of time and talents costs nothing.

20. Stay in touch! When your little ones fly the coop, you will treasure the daily notes, calls, or messages that keep you connected. If it is already a "habit", it won't become a burden or intrusion.

21. Enjoy them!! Now, today, every day! I cannot say that one enough. Enjoy your children. They fly away too soon on wings you help them grow. Make sure they have deep roots today.

I look at that child of mine and see cells of my cells, heart of my heart and I feel awe and amazement. I am SO blessed!

~God never loved me in a sweeter way than when He brought thee to me and said, "Behold, your daughter."~


Visit Shannon for more great tips!

I'm having a sale!

I am having a "SUMMER SALE" so if you are into vintage cottage treasures, hop on over for a peek. I have SO much great stuff I need to list, I am trying to create a little breathing room. My loss is your gain! Thanks for looking!

Summer Clearance Sale!

Nancy's Cottage Treasures

WOWSER! Free TV!!

Wow! It has been a festival of prizes in blogland lately and take a gander at this latest one over at "5 Minutes for Mom".

They are giving away an Insignia® 37″ Flat-Panel LCD HDTV!!! This incredible prize is valued at $799.99 and is courtesy of Best Buy.


The ultra slim, lightweight Insignia® 37″ Flat-Panel LCD HDTV (Model: NS-LCD37) features 1366×768 Resolution, with 16:9 widescreen ratio for cinema-quality viewing. You will be enjoying picture perfect quality from every angle and not missing any details with its built in high definition capabilities.

The TV measures 5″ deep and will look fantastic either in an entertainment center or mounted on a wall (with optional mounting kit, not included.)

Along with a ton of other features - you can read all about them over at Best Buy - this model is equipped with a V-Chip for parent control and is Energy Star compliant.

And - for extra fun - your new TV can double as a PC monitor so that you can download and watch HD movies.

All you have to do is visit them and leave a comment and a link back to them and Best Buy.

How much easier could it be? :-)

What Kind of Soul are You?

Hum? How do they do this? How do these fun little sites take odd, small pieces of info about you and come up with surprisingly accurate conclusions? Maybe I am just WANTING to see myself here....? Who knows...they are fun and once more, this one pretty well nailed my neuroses..... :-)
Go play.....

You Are a Dreaming Soul

Your vivid emotions and imagination takes you away from this world So much so that you tend to live in your head most of the time You have great dreams and ambitions that could be the envy of all... But for you, following through with your dreams is a bit difficult You are charming, endearing, and people tend to love you. Forgiving and tolerant, you see the world through rose colored glasses. Underneath it all, you have a ton of passion that you hide from others. Always hopeful, you tend to expect positive outcomes in your life. Souls you are most compatible with: Newborn Soul, Prophet Soul, and Traveler Soul

What Kind of Soul Are You?

And the Winner Is....................

*Drum Roll Please*

...........#3, PEACH, from "Without Fear".

Congratulations and many thanks to all the wonderful entrants. This was so much fun, I hope we can do it again soon.

Just for the record, I used this:




I tried to get my cat to draw a name but he was not much help.




Please come back and visit soon. I certainly enjoyed all the company this week.
Many thanks to our lovely host, Shannon.

Thursday Thirteen - Stuff and Nonsense

I have been seeing these all over blog land and since my brain cannot think of anything original to write about, here ya' go:

Thursday Thirteen - 13 Random Useless Tidbits About Me:

1. Storms. Yes, we need the rain. No, we do NOT need them in the form of thunderstorms.

2. Storms. Every day....for the past week and a half.

3. I almost got struck by lightning this time last week.

4. It lit up my porch, stood my hair straight up, rang my ears, left me feeling like I was chewing on aluminum foil, knocked me back on my butt into the foyer, and wiped me out for two days. I was not even outside...I was standing in the front doorway, under the porch.

5. Storms....keep me from walking.

6. Walking...which I don't feel like doing anyway since the storms also make my fibromyalgia kick my butt....and my back...and my shoulders....and lots of other places. :-(

7.My yard looks happy thanks to the rain...so green and happy and alive.

8. My yard will need mowing again in a few days....thanks to the rain.

9. I miss my daughter and my Feller.

10. Feller will be home the second week of August. YAY!

11. It will only be for a few days. Boo.

12. We've almost made it a year on his contract out of state. Yay!

13. We have another year to go. boo.

Tag! You're It! (A little meme about me, me)

Four jobs I've held:

1. Registered Nurse - ER, OR, surgical, school nurse, etc.
2. Manager of a medical weight control clinic
3. Manager of a Hallmark Gift Boutique
4. Farming - tomatoes, with my Mom


Four movies I can watch over and over again:

1. Steel Magnolias
2. The Green Mile
3. Fried Green Tomatoes
4. Finding Nemo (this was my daughter's gift to me when I was getting ready to leave her at college, ten hours away. I still cry when I watch it.)

Four places I've lived:

1. Orange, Texas
2. Little Rock, Arkansas
3. Wyoming/Utah/General Area
4. NE Kentucky

Four TV shows I watch:

1. Survivor
2. Hell's Kitchen
3. Big Brother
4. Any old Westerns I can find


Four places I've been on vacation:

1. Cozumel, Mexico
2. Paris, France - twice
3. New York City
4. Boston


Four of my favorite foods:

1. Any good Chinese buffet
2. Shrimp, crab, seafood anything
3. Vegetables...any of them, lots of them
4. Chocolate "anything"


Four websites I visit:

1. Sports forums in Arkansas (I was/am, a rabid football fan and still keep up with the h.s. team in my hometown and of course, the Hogs and the Gators)
2. Fav blogs/bloglines - in links
3. Ebay - mine
4. USA Today, or CNN, Yahoo or MSN news...wherever the best coverage is that day.


Four people I'm tagging: All of you. Any of you who haven't done this yet should just jump right in! Leave me a comment and I will come read yours too! :-)

Doggy Days Giveaway! Simple Abundance!

**THANK YOU TO ALL WHO VISITED AND ENTERED MY BOOK GIVE-AWAY. I AM HONORED YOU STOPPED BY. I WISH ALL COULD WIN BUT ONLY ONE CAN SO BE SURE TO CHECK BACK FRIDAY TO SEE WHO THE LUCKY RECIPIENT IS. I WILL USE A RANDOM NUMBER PICKER TO CHOOSE THE WINNER. I AM CLOSING THE COMMENTS JUST A LITTLE EARLY SINCE I AM A BIT UNDER THE WEATHER AND NEED TO REST. I FEEL ALL WHO WERE GOING TO ENTER HAVE BY NOW. AGAIN, THANKS TO ALL AND PLEASE STOP BACK BY AGAIN. THE WELCOME MAT IS ALWAYS OUT! LEAVE A HOLLER AND LET ME KNOW YOU WERE HERE! ~BLESSINGS TO ALL~ NANCY**

YAY! It's here!
Just enter a comment for a chance to win!

I am giving away Sarah Ban Breathnach's book, "Simple Abundance of Comfort and Joy"!
This is not a new book but it has never been used...so I guess it is a "new old" book. :-)



I have one just like it so I wanted to share this one with my bloggy friends.


You must provide a valid e-mail address, but you do not have to have a blog. International participants are welcome. Shipment will be via media mail. I'll close comments at 12:01 a.m. this coming Friday morning, July 27, and I'll draw a random winner from the list. I'll announce the winner sometime on Friday.

Have fun and good luck!
Be sure to hop over to Shannon's for more chances at freebies!

It's not easy being green....

Yay! Gotta' love it when someone gets you spot on!
I am KERMIT!
Of course, I am not a frog nor am I a guy....but everything else is pretty accurate.

Which one are you?

You Are Kermit

Hi, ho! Lovable and friendly, you get along well with everyone you know. You're a big thinker, and sometimes you over think life's problems. Don't worry - everyone know's it's not easy being green. Just remember, time's fun when you're having flies!

The Muppet Personality Test

Monk & Neagle!

Woo hoo! Thanks, Boomama!
Thanks Brian, Trent, and Michael!

I am getting my *FREE* pre-release of their CD, "The Twenty First Time", due to their generosity and boomama's heads up! I am so excited!

Go here for their link and check them out.




Thanky, thanky!!

Bloggy Giveaway!

Shannon over at "Rocks in my Dryer" had a fabulous idea,
"I was thinking to myself, wouldn't it be fun if our little corner of the blogosphere held a ton of giveaways for our readers at the SAME TIME? And we could kind of turn it into a carnival, of sorts? We could all go "live" with our giveaway on the same day, and we could all do our drawings on the same day, and, well, all the loveliness would be enough to make the internet smell like flowers!"

Well, WOW! What could be "funner"?!
I am going to rummage through all of my cottage treasures and find a pretty or two to give away. I have tons of stuff on hand since I sell vintage cottage treasures on ebay. What to pick??! That is the hardest part! Oh, this will be like Christmas in July....yes, it will!
Be sure to check back for details and to get your name in the hat. I realize I don't have much traffic so you will have a better chance! ;-)

To check it out and get more details and "stuff", click here:-)

WFMW-Summer Beach/Lake Bag

While it may already be the middle of July, there are still lots of fun summer days ahead. It pays to be ready for any last minute opportunity for a little fun in the sun.
Having just returned from a beach vacation, I had all of my summer necessities to deal with. I have a nice large beach bag and into it goes over sized towels, goggles, extra sun glasses, lotions, potions, and balms....a spritzer bottle, a straw mat, sun visor, bathing suits, cover ups, cola can holders, etc.
As I was unpacking and sorting all of this for storage, it dawned on me that if I put it all away in assorted closets, drawers, and shelves, I would just have to scurry around and recollect it for the next outing to the lake or pool. So, I cleaned everything, refolded, checked levels in lotion bottles, organized smaller items into zip loc bags, and stored everything neatly back into the bag and placed the whole thing on the floor of the linen closet. It is packed, ready to go and easy to grab and toss into the car or boat. Now there is no excuse for not enjoying a spontaneous day of fun in the sun and I have one less thing to worry about. Of course, if you are a mom with little ones, you could have another bag ready to go with summer beach toys...a pail, a shovel, a frisbee, etc.
Add a special cooler for picnics and you are ready to soak up summer until the first school bell rings!
For more great tips, head over to Shannon's! Have a wonderful rest of the summer!!

Hot Mama Revolution!

If you want to get on board, go check this one out! And then thank Sarah at Ordinary Days...
So many of us tend to put ourselves last and we shouldn't. Only WE can love ourselves enough to be the best "us" possible.
If you have been thinking about making small improvements or changing some bad habits, today is the day to start. What have you got to lose? A few pounds? Some gray hairs? A few wrinkles? Some of your frump factor?

I say we deserve it!

Go for it! We are all cheering for each other~

I am finally back! This is a copy of my ebay newsletter...

WOW! The middle of July already?! The summer is zipping right along. I hope you have had or will have a lovely vacation break. I recently returned from a fantabulous beach vacation (muchly needed!!)and can still smell the salt air, hear the lap of the waves....and feel the sand! Sand has a way of following you home, perhaps to remind you of the lovely time you had. :-)

What can I say? I am simply OVERFLOWING with cottage treasures here! I have been buying like mad and at the same time, have been enjoying summertime. As a result, my home now looks like your favorite flea market and I HAVE GOT to get in gear! So...be expecting oodles and tons of goodies! Please help me find my floor and couch and bed and cabinets again, okay? I am not kidding you....I can barely walk through my own house and I NEED to share it with you all.

I currently have lots of afghans listed. I love crochet but can't do it so I tend to buy every yummy 'ghan I find. Grab yourself one now and be ready for the first crisp days of autumn that will be here before you know it.

I will be listing lots of aprons, linens, hankies, and assorted vintage decor....don't miss out! Most auctions start and end on Sundays but due to my over whelming shopping this summer, I am going to start some weekly postings as well to clear out some space. I am drowning in pretties here!

With that said, I am getting back to work. After all, it is Monday and I have to go shop Thursday through Sunday. That means I have to crank Monday through Wednesday! :~)

Until later, go look, go shop, let me know what you are looking for, and have a truly blessed day!

All the best, Nancy

p.s. I am, without a doubt, the world's worst blogger! I cannot go a day without reading all of my favorite blogs but I rarely make a new post. Why is that? Am I just lazy or don't feel worthy? I want to blog...but I don't.
I am going to try to do better. If ANYONE is reading this, please grunt or wave so I will know I have not been lost in the barren wasteland of slacker bloggers. And yes, this post is a cheater...I merely pasted my recent ebay newsletter...but it IS a start / re-start, no?
{{hugs!}}

Win an Ipod and more!

Five Minutes for Mom is hosting yet another cool contest!

Perfect for Mothers Day!

For Heather

BooMama is hosting a day of love for Heather on April 18^th. Heather was diagnosed with a brain tumor last week, she is scheduled to see a neurologist at the end of April at the Mayo Clinic, the number one neurosurgery hospital in the country. The goal is to help Heather and her family with as much of the expenses as possible.

Please go to the links (or button on my sidebar) to read all about this brave young mom's struggle.
In light of the awful week we have experienced as a nation,
let's spread some sweet love to another fellow human.

Thank you and blessings.

It's All About a Cute Purse!

I found out about this sweet, generous give-away from Shalee....

Go visit this wonderful gal at quietromance and put your name in the hat. It is spring and this generous gal is giving away a lovely Coach purse in pretty spring colors! We all love purses, right? I know I do!

I hope to be back later....until then, good luck and be sure to drop by again!

This SUCKS! (Really...and you WANT one!)

Go visit Five Minutes for Mom and check out the cool contest they are sponsoring for the Cadillac of vaccum cleaners. Of course, I fully intend to win but go ahead and try. :0)

Dyson Slim.....Oh My! I.want.this!

Lessons Learned

Copied this from a random email and it just echoed some of my own thoughts.....

"I have learned that the best time to know yourself is when you're faced with a great trial...when you choose to stand tall, keep going and take your trial as just a situation and nothing more.

I have learned that the most painful thing that can happen to you is to be betrayed (or rejected) by someone you trusted most... yet the sweetest feeling is to know that you can accept it, can forgive it and can live through it. Even more so...to keep hoping and start working at your next steps as if nothing painful really happened. (this one is the hardest for me...being hurt or rebuffed is a sting that takes a while to fade)

I have learned that no one else is capable or responsible of making me happy. I have to help myself by planning how to achieve my dreams and work at it one day at a time and not lose my vision.

I have learned that NO may just be the right answer. The world will not crumble if I say NO to someone's wish that will take the time that I do not have or resources that I can not give. Learning the power to say, "No" or, "Not today," or "Sorry, I can't, I am busy," gives me the chance to focus on what really matters to me and avoid people who are unnecessarily dependent on me."

Hope you all are having a glorious spring day and that all of your lessons will be easy ones.

This is my sweet fuzzy cat, Koko, enjoying cat t.v. - that cat knows how to appreciate a nice view. :0)

Just for the Ladies

Restroom Humor or "OMG, THAT Happened to ME!"

When you have to visit a public bathroom, you usually find a line of
women, so you smile politely and take your place. Once it's your
turn, you check for feet under the stall doors. Every stall is occupied.

Finally, a door opens and you dash in, nearly knocking down the
woman leaving the stall. You get in to find the door won't latch. It doesn't matter, the wait
has been so long you are about to wet your pants!
The dispenser for the modern "seat covers" (invented by someone's
Mom( no doubt) is handy, but empty.

You would hang your purse on the door hook, if there was one, but
there isn't - so you carefully, but quickly drape it around your neck,
(Mom would turn over in her grave if you put it on the FLOOR!), yank down
your pants, and assume " The Stance."

In this position your aging, toneless thigh muscles begin to shake.
You'd love to sit down, but you certainly hadn't taken time to wipe
the seat or lay toilet paper on it, so you hold "The Stance."
To take your mind off your trembling thighs, you reach for what you
discover to be the empty toilet paper dispenser.

In your mind, you can hear your mother's voice saying, "Honey, if
you had tried to clean the seat, you would have KNOWN there was no
toilet paper!" Your thighs shake more.

You remember the tiny tissue that you blew your nose on yesterday -
the one that's still in your purse. (Oh yeah, the purse around your
neck, that now, you have to hold up trying not to strangle yourself at the
same time).

That would have to do. You crumple it in the puffiest way possible.
It's still smaller than your thumbnail .
Someone pushes your door open because the latch doesn't work. The
door hits your purse, which is hanging around your neck in front of your
chest, and you and your purse topple backward against the tank of
the toilet.

"Occupied!" you scream, as you reach for the door, dropping your
precious, tiny, crumpled tissue in a puddle on the floor,
lose your footing altogether, and slide down directly onto the
TOILET SEAT.

It is wet of course. You bolt up, knowing all too well that it's too
late.

Your bare bottom has made contact with every imaginable germ and
life form on the uncovered seat because YOU never laid down toilet paper
- not that there was any, even if you had taken time to try. You know
that your mother would be utterly appalled if she knew, because, you're
certain her bare bottom never touched a public toilet seat because,
frankly, dear, "You just don't KNOW what kind of diseases you could
get."

By this time, the automatic sensor on the back of the toilet is so
confused that it flushes, propelling a stream of water like a fire
hose against the inside of the bowl that sprays a fine mist of water that
covers your butt and runs down your legs and into your shoes. The
flush somehow sucks everything down with such force that you grab onto the
empty toilet paper dispenser for fear of being dragged in too. At
this point, you give up. You're soaked by the spewing water and the wet
toilet seat. You're exhausted. You try to wipe with a gum wrapper
you found in your pocket and then slink out inconspicuously to the
sinks.

You can't figure out how to operate the faucets with the automatic
sensors, so you wipe your hands with spit and a dry paper towel and
walk past the line of women still waiting. You are no longer able to
smile politely to them. A kind soul at the very end of the line points out
a piece of toilet paper trailing from your shoe. (Where was that when
you NEEDED it??) You yank the paper from your shoe, plunk it in the
woman's hand and tell her warmly, "Here, you just might need this."

As you exit, you spot your hubby, who has long since entered, used,
and left the men's restroom. Annoyed, he asks, "What took you so long,
and why is your purse hanging around your neck?"

This is dedicated to women everywhere who deal with a public
RESTrooms (rest??? you've GOT to be kidding!!). It finally explains to the men
what really does take us so long. It also answers their other
commonly asked questions about why women go to the restroom in pairs.
It's so the other gal can hold the door, hang onto your purse and hand you
Kleenex under the door!

This HAD to be written by a woman! No one else could describe it so
accurately!

Easter Candy

I know you are sweet, so what kind of candy are you?
I am happy to say that I am one of my favorites.
Of course, I am not eating any of this right now. (I remain on the 1000 calorie a day diet and am happy to report - FINALLY! A seven pound weight loss! Woot, woot! Go me!)

I DID allow myself one teeny package of Peeps the other day. I just could NOT resist their little sweet yellow goodness! My sister and I used to eagerly await the arrival of the Easter Peeps every year and then proceed to consume a package or two each...right on the spot, generally in the car..........'cause it was only a couple of years ago, NOT when we were kids. ;0) (which could explain the necessity of said diet now!)
But, my "all-time-always-forever-favorite-est" Easter candy is the Cadbury Creme Egg....and now I are one!

You Are a Cadbury Creme Egg

You're the type that stole little brother's easter basket so that you could have MORE CANDY!

What Easter Candy Are You?

~*~Happy Spring!~*~

Happy First Day of Spring!

Yeah, I am a bit excited.....hopefully last Saturday's snow was the last of the season.

I am ready for some warmth and sunshine...so in honor of the day and in celebration of the shedding of 14 pounds of coats, sweaters, and thermals, I give you this offering:



Yup, it is balanced on its round bottom.
I do this every year.
I'm weird like that.

~Presenting Her Most Royal Pain Highness~

Borrowed this bit of fun from boomama.

I had several choices...nothing like an all-you-can-eat-buffet of Royal Titles......

I can SO envision the cupped hand, tight fingered wave and talking through my nose .......

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Her Most Serene Highness Lady Nancourt the Mirthful of Bampton Underhoop Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Kinda' got a kick out of being the Head of Lesser Cheese, ya' know? And purple.....

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Countess Nancourt the Purple of Lesser Cheese Winston Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

I think sardonic and leering in the same title is rather fitting......

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Empress Nancourt the Sardonic of Goosnargh Leering Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

But, somehow, this one just fits the best........

My Peculiar Aristocratic Title is: Lady Madame Nancy the Scattered of Oxbridge by Camford Get your Peculiar Aristocratic Title

Switcheroo......

I finally took the plunge......

I switched to new blogger.

I do not like change so have been putting it off.

However, after reading good things about it, being aggravated at how slow my other version was, I decided to give it a whirl.

This is my first try...........I'll let you know how it goes.
(I AM digging the color options....I DO like to dress up!)

Now, back to regularly scheduled programming.

~*~Looky What I Won!~*~

Well, my comment was selected as one of the winner's on Lindsey's site, "Surburban Turmoil"! Thank you!

Yay! I am so surprised and flattered!
This is my "winning entry": (it sounds so GRAPHIC taken out of context!):-)

"I was sitting on the pot in my third trimester with this big old uterus resting on my upper thighs. I saw a bit of lint or something on the floor and reached down to pick it up.
*POP* ScReAM!!!!
I broke my zyphoid process....for freakin'real. It is that little wiggly, dangly portion at the end of your sternum, at the bottom of your rib cage...the part of the body that can be broken during CPR if not careful. However, NO ONE warned me you can break your own if you have a really large uterus and you pound it into the top of your equally large late-pregnancy fat thighs while taking a constipated dump!
I felt like I had been stabbed and could not straighten up. So, I sat there on the pot, barely able to reach around to give a courtesy flush before screaming for the hubs to come rescue me.
I told my doc about it who totally blew me off with "you can't break those like that!" (Duh, I am a nurse and I KNOW you can...and I DID!)
Fast forward to delivery and skipping the whole horror that was my labor. When the kid with the watermelon sized head was finally out, the doc looks over my blue paper draped knees and sees my zyphoid process pointing all wonky toward my right leg. He said, "Hum, I guess maybe you DID break it after all."
Then he reached up and POPPED that sucker back into place! If I could have gotten my fat legs off those stirrups, he would have gotten a round house kick to the head he would never have forgotten!
Annnnnd, I had to suffer the embarassment of the snickers and whispers from almost the enire hospital staff (I was an ER/OR nurse there at the time) when they HAD to come see my self-inflicted, almost-episiotomy.
It happened like this:
I roll my fat blob self out of a water bed (??!!) on the morning of delivery with the tremendous urge to pee YET AGAIN..only to discover it was my water breaking...so I take a shower to get all April fresh or whatever...step out to dry myself off, swipe "down there" as best I could...what with a 400 pound baby inside me and a broken zyphoid process and all. I feel a searing pain...and draw back a bloody towel and figure I had just given birth but can't find the baby.
Nah, it seems I had given an extra vigorous drying to "sensitive tissues" with a towel that an errant sewing needle had nested into during the wash....and I ripped that sucker right thru the you-know-what!
Yeah, that one was good for a few Nurse Lounge laughs.
But I got revenge on all of them cause I had diarrhea with every labor pain and they had to take care of that. So there."


Told you....hope you weren't eating when you read that.

The Accidental Contest

I love to read blogs...most are mommy blogs and while I AM a mommy, I am not a NEW mommy or a young mommy......however, I can recall with vivid detail what transpired in the process of making me an old mommy.

It was a small recounting of pregnancy stories or "The Hall of Horrors aka The Delivery Room" comment thingie that found me in the midst of my very FIRST blogging contest and I am just "honored to have been nominated". No, really....truly....I mean it!
I tend to be a wanderer...I wander from one blog to another, leave a comment or two...don't get involved in swaps or stuff because I am afraid of letting someone down when I get too busy to be a good playmate.
So, this has just tickled the heck out of me.

Go HERE to read the good stuff and vote if it suits you. There are some ding-dang doozies there!
(And I am number 13, you know? Just in case you wondered or whatever.....)

Thanks to Lindsey, the coolest mom ever......the one who makes me snort into my cornflakes on a regular basis.

~The Purina Diet~

In honor of all broken New Year's Resolutions to lose weight (mine included), I give you a copy of a diet. I don't know who wrote it.
If you did, thanks for the laugh and please don't sue me. I will give you credit and salute you.....

*caution-do not read this with liquid in your mouth*

"The Purina Diet

I was in Wal-Mart buying a large bag of Purina for my dogs and was in line to check out. A woman behind me asked if I had a dog........ Duh!

I was feeling a bit crabby so on impulse, I told her no, I was starting "The
Purina Diet" again, although I probably shouldn't because I'd ended up in the hospital last time, but that I'd lost 50 pounds before I awakened in an intensive care unit with tubes coming out of most of my orifices and IV's in both arms.

Her eyes about bugged out of her head. I went on and on with the bogus diet story and she was totally buying it. I told her that it was an easy, inexpensive diet and that the way it works is to load your pockets or purse with Purina nuggets and simply eat one or two every time you feel hungry. The package said the food is nutritionally complete so I was going to try it again.

I have to mention here that practically everyone in the line was by now enthralled with my story, particularly a tall guy behind her.

Horrified, she asked if something in the dog food had poisoned me and was that why I ended up in the hospital.

I said no....I'd been sitting in the street licking my butt when a car hit me.

I thought the tall guy was going to have to be carried out the door."

WFMW Fabric Softener Economy

I love the way my laundry feels and smells when I add laundry softener. What I don't like is a heavy aroma or decreased towel absorbency and most of all, the gunk that can accumulate in the automatic dispenser after a while.
So, I save an empty bottle. I buy the large sized bottles, like Sauvitel, or a carton of refill.
When my big bottle is empty and I buy another bottle, I pour half of the new bottle into the old one. I then fill both of them up with water. Not only do I get twice as much for the same price, I notice very little difference in the effectiveness - with the exception of a less strong fragrance and greater towel absorbency.
I have to buy product only half as often, I clean the dispenser a LOT less, and my laundry still has a pleasant fragrance and softness.

Try it for one bottle. If you don't think you are getting as much "bang" as you like, you can always go back to undiluted. However, if you can't discern a great difference, like me, you can save a few pennies here and there. :-)

Works for me!

Don't forget to go to Shannon's to check out the other Works-For-Me Wednesday tips!

~*~Happiness Is............~*~

....finding a sweet SURPRISE gift on your front porch from your college daughter. What better way to brighten a cold, dreary, winter day?!



My lovely, sweet child sent me a wall calendar with pictures of vintage nurses (since I am a nurse), a desk calendar for my bull sign, Taurus, and a new CD of music she selected and burned for me.

It just warmed my heart and day. :-)

I love you, Sweet Baby!

DoNUT or DoNOT?? You Do? You Don't?

If I can't eat them, I can sure THINK about them! :-)



Be honest now...........your mouth is watering as much as mine! Right? Right??!!
(Stop licking the screen! Now!)

What Donut Are You?

You Are a Boston Creme Donut

You have a tough exterior. No one wants to mess with you. But on the inside, you're a total pushover and completely soft. You're a traditionalist, and you don't change easily. You're likely to eat the same doughnut every morning, and pout if it's sold out.

What Donut Are You?

Yup..........it has me pegged........right down to the donut hole!

~Thursday Thirteen~

Thirteen Things about ME! I have been seeing these for a while..... Here is mine....in all it's wondrous glory.......or whatever. 1. This is a Virginal Thursday Thirteen, as in, "My First Time!". Please be gentle.... 2. Happy Birthday today to My Feller! *muhwahh!* Wish we could be together but ya' know I have your present *right here* when you come home next month. *wink-wink* 3. A week ago was also my Baby Girl's 22nd birthday and I was a bad-mommy and did not recognize it here. So, here ya' go, Sweet Baby....~*~HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHICKIE!~*~ I love you to pieces! 4. I am astrologically challenged by having the two closest people in the world to me being Capricorns. Tell me, have you ever met anyone as moody as a Cappy goat can be?! *jeez* 5. House hunting via the internet sucks. 6. House hunting via the internet for the second time in three years sucks bigger. 7. House hunting via the internet when you already KNOW which house you wants sucks the biggest of all. 8. Obviously, I have a "sucks" fetish...... 9. It has finally turned winter time here.......and now it can leave, thank you. 10. I need to lose weight. 11. The only way I am going to shed this 20 pounds is to cut a fat leg off or sumthin'. 12. That would suck...... 13. OMG, I actually made it to 13! If you are still here, you don't suck. ;-D

Get the Thursday Thirteen code here!


The purpose of the meme is to get to know everyone who participates a little bit better every Thursday. Visiting fellow Thirteeners is encouraged! If you participate, leave the link to your Thirteen in others comments. It’s easy, and fun! Be sure to update your Thirteen with links that are left for you, as well! I will link to everyone who participates and leaves a link to their 13 things. Trackbacks, pings, comment links accepted!

View More Thursday Thirteen Participants

These boots are made for walking...

....or at least for making me smile.

Yessir-ee, sir. I gots me some RED boots.

Sometimes on a dark, dreary, rainy winter day, when the whole world just feels "wet-blehh"....ya' get an itch that begs to be scratched.

So.....I hit my favorite Thrift Store..."just looking", ya' know?

But wait, I hear my name...very faintly being whispered and then getting more insistent and louder as I tried to ignore the obvious.
But noooooo! It was not to be denied!

Sitting there amidst all the sad, worn grandma' sensible shoes, the stinky athletic shoes (WHO would put their feet in those?!), the out of season flip flops and sandals, the too-gothic-for-me chunky black and silver chained combat boots....sat THESE!!



Bless my heart, they make me want to go boot scootin', cowboy chasin', and watch out....maybe even a bit of butt kickin'!

But seriously.....I know they are so rock-a-billy tacky but they were TOO tempting to pass up for $2.00! They don't even have trying-on scuffs on the soles and they ARE 100% leather. They have to be real cowgirl boots 'cause they even have a cactus imprint on the soles! How cool is that?
I know my daughter will either hate them or think they are bitchin'.....but regardless, I am going to wear them.....even if it is just strutting around my bedroom, tipping my old straw cowboy hat, listening to some Hank Jr., and pretending I am a "Cowboys' Sweetheart"!


And today.........these red boots made me smile.

"Instructions for Life"

1. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.
2. Pray -- there's immeasurable power in it.
3. Mind your own business.
4. Don't trust someone who doesn't close their eyes when you kiss them.
5. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.
6. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living.
That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.
7. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.
8. Learn the rules then break some.
9. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is
greater than your need for each other.
10. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.
11. Remember that your character is your destiny.
12. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon
13. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.
14. Turn frustrations into opportunities.

15. Add your own.............

2006 Year in Review

1. What did you do in 2006 that you’d never done before?

I snorkeled for the first time, off the coast of Cozumel, and after I nearly drowned, thanks to an ill-fitting mask and my sweet
Feller had to come to my rescue...I LOVED it! I wish all the coral had not been destroyed from the hurricane the year before but we still saw some really cool fish. We both are ready to return.

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions,
and will you make more for next year?

I do not usually make resolutions as I see them as an invitation to fail and become discouraged, But I set some goals through out the year and I am happy to say I met or almost met most of them. This year, I am aiming for getting in better physical shape and becoming more organized. This may be harder to do since I will probably be setting up a second home in another state...so two homes to keep straight. Eh, I won't think about THAT right now.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?

Yes, I had the joy of meeting my 7 week old great niece and 11 week old great-GREAT nephew at Christmas. Both babies were born in Detroit but my great nephew has moved his little family back home to Arkansas so I will get to see little Jagur more, I hope, when I go home for visits.

4. Did anyone close to you die?

I did not lose any family this year, which is a blessing since I lost my Mom the year before. However, a special friend, Winthrop Rockefeller, Lt. Gov of Arkansas, passed away and it made me very sad. He was too young and the last time I saw him, he was still healthy, vibrant, funny, and as charming as ever. I treasure the last picture made of us together. My Feller was the photographer and we recalled what a genuine person Win was......he is missed.
And.......
She was not a human person, but my sweet little Patches had to be put down this fall. I adored that little dog and thought my heart would break for several weeks. Patches got me through some pretty dark spots in my life and her absence is acute some days. She was my precious Lumpy Dumpy.......I miss her so.

5. What countries did you visit?

We went to Mexico this year and Paris the year before. We hope to go to Italy this year if Feller can get off work.

6. What would you like to have in 2007
that you lacked in 2006?

More organization, more free time (which is silly since I do not have a public job and should be able to just back up and say "No work today!), more friends.

7. What dates from 2006 will remain etched
upon your memory, and why?

I do not really have any specific dates since nothing earth shattering happened to me last year. However, my daughter and I both had milestone birthdays so I guess I will say Jan 10 and May 19.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

Achieving a level of success in my home based business and being a better person/partner to my Feller.


9. What was your biggest failure?

Working too much and letting my home go. My cottage business has taken over my home and I MUST eliminate that.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?

Unfortunately, I was plagued by one or another complaints a lot of the year. I really need to take better care of my health. Feller does a great job taking care of me but since he is now living in another state, I cannot afford to have some of the same issues recur. I am getting old...parts wear out....but I still think I am 25 years old. Reality check!!

11. What was the best thing you bought?

I did not buy it but Feller bought me a new car to replace the one I literally drove until it would not move. I love my new ride and am so very appreciative of it and it is MINE.....no car payments.....just get in it and go!

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?

I would like to say my daughter but she still worries the heck out of me. I am praying this is the year maturity finally takes up residence with her and the wild-life, carefree college mind set settles down. {Please God, I am just praying....}
I would have to say Feller once more. After a bumpy start, we are finally settling into a much more giving and peaceful place. We are both very determined and head strong and each of us have lived on our own for so long, we have had to adjust to sharing space. We are so much better now.....and then he moves again. *sheesh*

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?

The one person I called friend here. Money is indeed the root of all evil and it destroyed a relationship I valued so much. Competition and greed killed it and it still hurts my heart and makes me sad but I cannot change anyone but myself and I have to accept who a person shows me they are.....even though it hurts. I miss her but she obviously did not need me as much as I needed her and I put a lot of my heart into my friendships. It hurts when they wither........

14. Where did most of your money go?

Business related expenses and my daughter, who always seems to live beyond her means. I have been letting her know she is about to be on her own and she better learn to stay out of the malls. I also help out my sis and her family now that he cannot work due to injuy.

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Um, nothing really got me going that much. Travel does it for me so I would have to say our cruise trip to Mexico and our week in Boston.

16. What song will always remind you of 2006?

The only one that really stands out to me is one of Carrie Underwood's, "Jesus Take The Wheel". Not only does she have a beautiful voice, the message is so true and one we all need to hear.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
a) happier or sadder? happier
c) richer or poorer?richer


18. What do you wish you’d done more of?

More R & R with Feller while he had the whole summer off. We live near two lakes, we have three boats, and none of them got wet all summer. That is just pathetic.

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Work. And, I work on the computer so I now have PC butt.....I need to get that taken care of.

20. How did you spend Christmas?

I went home to Arkansas and saw my Baby Girl and my sister's large family. I got to meet the 2 new babies and a new great niece in law, my nephew's serious girlfriend. We had such a lovely time and it warmed my heart to be with my family. I just wish Feller could have been there too.......

21. Did you fall in love in 2006?

I fell back in love with My Love......and it is truly better the second time around.

23. What was your favorite TV program?

I have several I like: ER, American Idol, Survivor, Desperate Housewives, Grey's Anatomy.... I'm shallow, I admit it. My all time favorite, makes-me-laugh-till-I-snort: America's Funniest Videos. I LOVE that show and it guarantees me a belly laugh a day. I guess I just love slap stick and real life comedy.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t
hate this time last year?

I don't hate anyone but I have a great heart hurt from one person and sadly, I don't think she is even aware of how much her actions wounded me.

25. What was the best book you read?

I did not read a book last year.....really. How totally loser can I be? I started several, finished none. I'm telling you, all I did was WORK. When I was not working, I was recovering. Ask Feller....I was a machine.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?

This past year? Hum....well......is none an answer? Truly, I guess it would have to be the CD's my daughter makes me. I have lost touch with all new music since she went to college but she makes CD's for me and I always love her selections. I am such a boring fuddy duddy.

27. What did you want and get?

A new car.......got it.......love it! It has POWER! So much so, I got a speeding ticket coming home from Arkansas after Christmas. Talk a post-holiday let down. *jeez louise*

28. What did you want and not get?

A new cell phone of my very own. Have to tell you - the longest, worst, on-going battle the Feller and I have is his stubbornness over the cell phone issue. (besides the fact that he is a such a tight wad) I am using his. He insists that is acceptable........but it is not and we have one argument after another over it. There is no simple solution so it just drags on always.

29. What movies did you see - favorite?

I did not enter a movie theater all year. Again, I am a dull slug.

30. What did you do on your birthday and how old were you?

Well, I had "The Biggie" and Feller took me to eat. We did not do a lot but I have a Trip Ticket in my drawer which will take me wherever I choose. I am still trying to decide. I also have my choice of a really nice curio cabinet waiting to be picked out. I am holding off until we get our other house since this house is full. I need it now since I have so many delightful little treasures that need a proper home but I want a nice area to display it so I am waiting to make a choice.

31. What one thing would have made your year
immeasurably more satisfying?

Organization, time management, play, exercise........and not feeling like crap nearly the whole year. I hit "The Big Mark" and my body celebrated by falling apart, one piece at a time. I am hoping it has all settled in one soft, flabby mass and will behave this year.

32. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?

Simplify. I tried to limit new purchases and only add those things that would compliment my existing wardrobe. I did splurge on some cutesy cruise wear but that was a special thing, not a life style change. I am all about comfort and coordinating so packing for trips is easier. I like black and neutral colors and like looking put together so that is what I watch for. Plus, I am a huge bargain shopper so anything on sale that works, I buy a bunch. I have more plain white tee shirts than anyone I know...and I live in them. Really, a white tee goes with and under anything. But, only buy good ones that do not shrink or stretch out of shape. LOVE them.

32. What kept you sane?

Have not found that magic pill yet......I tend to be a goof. No, seriously, I meditate and pray a lot. I have a special place where I can look at my woods and it always medicates my soul.

34. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?

I don't fancy any of them, really. I think most of them are self-absorbed and shallow. I do adore Tom Hanks but that is because I just want to hang out with him and be his buddy pal.

35. What political issue stirred you the most?

Our president. The man irritates and infuriates me. I could get on a huge soap box here but won't. Let it be said, it is way past time for a change and hopefully, with someone who can speak without sounding like a backwoods idiot.

36. Who did you miss?

My Mom, my family, my daughter, my Feller when he is working, and my friends.

37. Who was the best new person you met?

Can't say I really met anyone new. I do not work outside the home, I do not have a social life in the place I live now, and don't get out much. I did meet a really nice, totally cool gal when we went on a business trip to NC. She is the wife of the Chairman of the Board for the hospital and I found out she used to live in my home town and we know some of the same people. That excites me since I may have a built in pal if I ever get to move there.

38. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2006.

I re- learned that people will and can hurt you and that opening your heart to folks is risking having it broken. I have always known this but it still catches me off guard when it happens and it takes me a while to recover. I also learned that being a mom is the hardest job in the world. Well, i have known that all aong but there are times, it is a more acute lesson.

39. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

I can't. I cannot think of a single song that sums up my year. Maybe I will edit if I get a flash of inspiration but please don't hold your breath. I do not want to be the reason anyone passes out and falls off their chair. 'K?


I tag anyone who wants to do this. Hopefully, it won't take you as long as it did me. If you do it, please leave a comment so I can read yours too!