Friday Fives!!!!

How do Fridays come around so fast?  Not that having the weekend here isn't good, but it just seems like times speeds by like a flash in the pan!!!
Some random thoughts before getting on to the Friday Fives.....
I am wondering if I am getting fewer comments because:
a. I have fewer readers OR
b. because everyone is just really busy these days like me, and can hardly read all my favorite blogs, much less comment on many of them, OR
c. I have been offensive in some way and have driven readers away....these things are on my mind.  If you only have time to comment the LETTER that is the right answer, would you do that for me?  I am just wondering if my readers don't like what I am posting about.  I realize that content has been a little lacking lately.  I am meeting myself coming and going, and still trying to run my household, and not a whole lot of blogging has been done.  We all probably have a lot more going on than we did on cold, wintery days when it was nice to snuggle in and read blogs for a few hours!!!  Oh, well, that's what I've been thinking.

Secondly, I've been wondering how YOU get it all done...what does your day look like?  Do you do laundry on certain days of the week?  What about cleaning floors.....my LEAST favorite job.....?  How do you get all that you want/need to get done, well, DONE?

And lastly, have you ever made Cake Balls?  My daughter and I made a bunch (they are in the freezer waiting to be dipped in chocolate!) the other night and it was really pretty easy.  I'm thinking the dipping may be the time consuming thing!!  She is hosting a party for a friend here on Saturday, and I am going to a party so we are both going to be taking some to our respective events.  I'll try to remember to post a picture next week.

So on to our fun FRIDAY Fives!!
1. Do you like wearing flip flops?

2. What is your favorite beach?

3. What is your favorite summer memory from your younger years?

4. What fun plans do you have for this summer?

5. What cool drink do you enjoy in the summer ?

Have fun, kids!!  :D

Some links you may want to know about.....

 My friend Jen is starting a super-duper series of giveaways........it looks amazing! She is teaming up with some other fab bloggers to start this series of blogger giveaways...come right now and check it out!!

Tatertots and Jello: Some Hot News -- tons of giveaways coming up!

AND......Susan from Between Naps on the Porch, is hosting her Tablescape Thursday AND she is hosting a giveaway as well!!  She is so gracious, and I love reading/seeing all the tablescapes on her Thursday parties!!
Go check this out!!

http://betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/2010/04/welcome-to-88th-tablescape-thursday-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenNapsOnThePorch+%28BETWEEN+NAPS+ON+THE+PORCH%29

Taking baby steps.......toward living.

 This is a repeat post, but I needed to read it, and soak it in.....thought maybe you'd be encouraged by it, too.  It's a crazy week here at Southern Inspiration casa, with planning two parties, a scrapbook day, and trying to "get it ALL done".....no time for wimping out now.  So here's a little inspiration I hope you'll enjoy.  I wanted to join in on Sandy's HOME IS......today over at Reluctant Entertainer, but I just didn't have time to write a post about a garage sale find.....I do have a few, but I'll share another time.  Meanwhile you might want to check out this series of hers...and if, by slight chance, you haven't visited her blog, GO NOW....you will be so inspired.  I also thought of posting this to Marla's WooHoo Wednesday post, but not quite sure it qualifies....so go see her, too, and tell her I said hi....enjoy your weather! I do hope it's as  nice as ours is this morning!  I'm off to get my daughter's prom dress hemmed, pick up food for her party on Saturday as well as the Scrapbook Day I"ll be attending, and the party I'll be joining on Saturday...I'm making some cake balls, so I'll let you know how those turn out, and a few dozen other goodies!!!  Have a blessed day, my friends.  And with that, be inspired by this past post:

Remember this list from the 90 year old Regina Brett? Well I loved this list so much that there were a few points that I wanted to ponder, to think "long" about, to share with you my friends. I did indeed love the second point, because you see I tend to be a procrastinator....AND an idealist and in a few areas, a perfectionist. Lump all these together and there are projects I NEVAH want to start for fear of it being too hard, not turning out the way I can envision it, not feeling like I have the right amount of time or energy, etc. The list of excuses can pile up as you see, I am also very creative!!! Especially when it comes to putting things off and listing why I can't start yet. I think somewhere under the proverbial rug, is an amount of fear that the results will not be what I want. And I need to get over that.

What about you? Do you "just do it" when it comes to projects or do you do as I do? Put it off forever for fear of imperfection? I have unfinished projects because I don't want them to come out badly! Wanna join the get over it club???? LOL.

This principle applies to so many other things, too, doesn't it? Even though that next somewhat small step may be a HUGE step of FAITH for you, what does it take to step out in faith? What does it take to motivate you to take the next small step......do you allow doubt to creep in and paralyze you from taking the next step? Do we allow fear to conquer us and render us paralyzed? I know I do sometimes. And I am my own worst enemy, and probably more critical of myself than anyone else! Faith is a gift from God, not even something I must muster up myself...so what am I waiting for?????
That next small step may be a social situation for you, stepping out of your comfort zone and going somewhere you've never been, but would like to go. It might be finding a new friend by going to a new park, play group or church. It might be sharing your true feeling or thoughts on a subject you feel passionate about. Stepping out (getting the foot in gear) is easier once you get over the mental hurdles, isn't it? Lack of self-confidence can be a REAL killer to trying new things.

I want to encourage you to NOT let fear drive you. Don't let fear prevent you from taking a small step that may turn out to be the best thing you've ever done. Don't let doubt drive you to escape back into your shell, your comfort zone. I once heard a speaker say..."Live out loud.....many of us get to the end of our lives only to find out we've been dead a long time...." so I encourage you, my friend to LIVE OUT LOUD.......
Sometimes it just takes a bit of accountability, doesn't it? Let me know how you choose to live out loud, by choosing to take those baby steps, by choosing to employ faith over fear, by choosing to accomplish what you want to accomplish. Don't let fear choke you to death.

it's MONDAY,,,,,,

and I got to spend the morning with my favorite quint friends at the park, and what a beautiful day!
Now that I'm home, I'm going to spend a little time with a shovel, trying to clear a path......know what I mean?  How do things get so out of control sometimes????

I might rather use this....

I'll be back tomorrow to fill you in on my progress!!! Have a great Monday!

It's time for Friday Fives!!!!

Ok, well, y'all will be glad to know I got a hug for Professional Administrator's Day from my daughter, when I reminded her of all the things I do for her.  That, albeit not a luxurious gift, was pretty nice!  She's hardly home long enough to give hugs these days...it's a whirlwind!

So shall we finish the day up with some Friday Fives????  Let's have some fun!

1.Let's say a commercial was going to be made with you and/or your family.....what would the content be?  A Surf commercial (laundry detergent), a food commercial, or a perfume commercial, or another of your choice?

2. Night gown, pajamas, or less????

3. Favorite movie or current tv show?

4. Silver jewelry or gold?

5. Ever been to New York City?  If so, what's your favorite thing to do there?

Hope these are fun questions for you; y'all have a grand weekend, and enjoy yourself!

Dear Family,

I will be accepting gifts/tokens of appreciation for Administrative Professionals Day.  I do plenty of administrating daily and do it quite professionally, I might add.  Do you have clean clothing?  Do you have healthy (ok, semi-healthy!) meals?  Are you scheduled for the Dr. and dental appointments you need?  And are you supplied with transportation to get to those appts?  Do you have all the forms you need completed and ready to turn in?  Are you supplied with a lunch and a kiss as you make your way out the door each day?  And all of these happen routinely, with no secretary !  Wow, don't you think that's impressive?  I thought you would. That's why I am called a Domestic Engineer, and also double as an Administrative Professional Assistant. 
So in all humility, I am willing to accept your gifts of appreciation.  Hugs and kisses and thank yous are gladly accepted as well.  Thank you and have a great day!

Oh, goodness, I forgot to tell you that I am linking up to a fun, fun party for this post....Marla at Always Nesting is hosting WooHoo Wednesday for her first time. What a great party she has prepared for us...go right over and see her!  Tell her I said hi.

Tuesday's terrific randomness!

Monday's marvelous & masterful moments!

Ooooh great giveaway going on over at kitchenbelleicious!!!!  Oooh some real goodies and great ideas for menus... what a nice blog!  You will definitely want to check this out!

We went to see my son over the weekend in College Station, and the wildflowers along the way were just spectacular!  If you've never heard of the wildflowers in TEXAS or seen them, you should REALLY plan a trip to Southeast Texas in April to see the wildflowers.  Fields were literally carpeted with them....fields of bluebonnets, fields filled with yellow and orange and hot pink! Oh  WHAT gorgeousness!
We so enjoyed being with my son and his girlfriend, and being back in our old church! It was so fun!

Oh, and last week my prize from JAM came....a container of Perricone's Cold Plasma Cream......y'all this cream is very expensive, so I am honored to be able to try it out!  I will let you know in a few weeks how many years this has added to my skin!!  It sure goes on silkily and smoothly! Thanks so much JAM!!!   She really is such a dear!

And I was given two awards last week, that are so nice, and I will blog about later this week.  These girls are so sweet and thoughtful, I want a post all it's own to thank them!
So what's up with your week?  Got any GOALS you SMARTLY came up with last week?  I have a few in the works, so let's encourage one another!!  Can't you just hear the "ROCKY" soundtrack in the background playing as you tackle these new goals!!???? LOL......have a great Monday!

The Winner!!!!

What a fun week this has been....except for the past few hours while I've been dealing with someone who completely took MY EXACT WORDS from this post about our new company and posted them as their own on a website they participate in.  I found them quite accidentally, by searching for something and it popped right up.  As I read them, I thought it sounded pretty good, then as I read further, I thought they sounded REALLY familiar....I had to click back to my original  post to find out they were my EXACT words...didn't even change a thing.  I have emailed back and forth with her, but the real truth is she violated copyright laws.  My friend Jenn shared these articles to help, so I thought I'd share them with you.  They contain good material and every blogger should read them.  IF you quote someone, compliment them and ask can you copy part of their quote, and then after you get their permission, give them the credit.  DO NOT treat them as your own words.
Articles:
http://www.stevepavlina.com/blog/200...tual-property
http://www.problogger.net/archives/2004/12/21/what-to-do-when-someone-steals-your-blogs-content-blog-plagiarism/



WELL, back to the fun part of the week.....I've enjoyed hearing from so many of you this week!!!  Some of your comments had me grinning from ear to ear!

You probably want me to stop chatting and get on with naming the winners, right?  Well what a cheerleader this first winner is...she is always encouraging and she is planning to open up her own ETSY shop in May...so my first winner is Beverly, from MySewSweetStudio .She came back every day this week to enter and it looks like it paid off!!   She is the one who even GUESSED correctly what the prize was! Please send me your address in an email Beverly, so I can mail this prize to you!! Have a great weekend!

And my second winner is a blogger with the kindest heart.  She is the one who got our Texas blogger blog all set up and helped all of  us Texans come together and meet one another! Congrats to Diana,  from To Everything a Season, who was "beggin" me to draw her name, so I was grinning when her name was pulled out of the brown bag!!!!!! Here's her comment: 

I'm desperate! Yes, I down right begging to get to win this!! I am on my knees.........pretty please!!!! You were one of the first Texas- Blogging Gals I "met" and put on my list. Now how's that for trying to get to you??? Oh yes, please enter me again in this fab. giveaway!

April 15, 2010 9:25 AM

Congrats, Diana....send me your address, too, and I will mail the second SLaHOME Entertaining Bucket and Tray to you!  I know she will be able to use it in our Texas summers!  In the fall , it also looks fantastic filled with potted mums!  Enjoy!

Enough about business.....

Let's have some fun!!!  It's National Wear your Pajamas to Work day!!! Are you in?  LOL......well, I am as long as I am working at HOME! And remember that's still my company's name until August....Southern Living at HOME, so I really and truly DO often work in my pajamas....at home!

Today is a BiG, biG, day.....it's my giveaway, so you have ALL DAY long to enter and to spread the word about the giveaway for another entry.
And wouldn't you know it, sweet BEVERLY guessed what the giveaway is!!!  It's not just one, BUT TWO Entertaining Buckets!! Keep those beverages iced down for the dog days of summer....and the tray will keep all the condensation off your surface...  How COOL is that????? Get. it.?  Yes, y'all are awesome and I knew you would get it.

So enter today, blog about it today, put it on Facebook, tweet it, email someone, however you spread a good word, JUST DO IT...and Nike didn't even pay me to say that!  You get an extra entry when you tell someone, and let me know....I will draw the winner this evening.....are you in?????

And MORE FUN.....FRIDAY FIVES!!!

1.  Favorite drink?

2. What's your decorating style?  Traditional, French, Modern, Eclectic??

3. How tall are you?

4. Last place you went out to eat?

5. What are you wearing today?  (if you don't participate in National Wear your PJ's to work today? LOL)

What does all this mean?????

 For those of you just reading this post, without reading the others this week, this NEW name was just introduced yesterday as the new name for the company resulting from the merger of Southern Living at HOME and Entertaining at HOME.  It's an exciting time for us, and I wanted to share that excitement with you, my blogging friends.  So what exactly does this mean?????


For our customers, it means a freshness in products, style and design.  It means the SAME or even better hostess reward plan, the same commitment to bringing warmth and grace to homes across America.  It is a chance to bring friends together, to experience new designs and decorating ideas in the comfort of your home, and the chance to enhance your life with beauty and warmth that will make your home your family's (and friend's) haven.
Beyond that, it means a chance to "try on" the opportunity of being a consultant with Willow House.  There will be opportunities/benefits to those who join at the inception of the company.  There is the chance for you to have fun, grow personally, make treasured friendships, while earning extra income for you and your family.
I can share more of the opportunity with you if you are interested in knowing how to try this risk free adventure!

For our hostesses it means the same commitment to fun, to earning free and half priced products and getting that first look into what Willow House will be
.
You fall somewhere into that spectrum.  Where do you fit?  What can Willow House do for YOU?
There are a couple of questions I'd love for you to answer if you feel so led........in order for me to evaluate my business and what women like you want out of direct sales companies, such as Willow House/Southern Living at HOME.

Do you enjoy going to in home parties?  What makes it fun for you; what do you NOT like?
What contributes to your "trusting" the consultant at a home party?
What makes a home party fun for you?  Do you leave feeling taken advantage of, or having had a time of fun?
Have you ever had a home party yourself? What did you like/dislike?  I'd love to hear your honest answers.

I'd love to hear any other input from you about what you'd like to see happen in the direct sales/home party world.  This is a rare post, in that I don't usually post much about my business, other than sharing beautiful products and ideas.  I will judge by the comments, I suppose,  if you feel like I've overstepped by introducing this info and by asking what you think.  I hope you won't feel that way.  I truly am interested in what you think.
Be sure and leave another entry today for the giveaway.......for the round, cool, SLaHOME product that I'll be giving away......."enter me in the drawing" should be in your comment somehow......be as creative as you like...I love to laugh!   oh, and that round, cool item is also brown.......hmmm......what do you think it is?????

Ladies and Gentlemen.....

May I introduce you to our new name after the "marriage" of Southern Living at HOME and Entertaining at HOME.....

 I introduce you to my new friend and company, Willow House...."Simply Good Design".....
How do you LOVE it???????

Changes.....goals.........challenges

Many of you said you were not very good at planning and or setting goals.  It is such a mental effort, isn't it? After a busy day, the last thing we want to do is to work hard at thinking what our goals should be... And then there's that rat that sits on your shoulder telling you that "you might as well not set that goal, because you won't keep it.  You won't follow through with it  or if you do, you'll be disappointed with the results".  Well, I am learning that IF I want change, I've got to be willing to work for it.  IF I want change, or a project finished, I've got to put fear aside, and be willing to deal with the disappointment if it doesn't turn out like I want it.  I have to STOP being an idealist/perfectionist  sometimes and be a realist.  If things aren't perfect and exactly the way I want them, am I willing to do the work to get it just like I like it?  Or am I willing to take the approach that it doesn't have to be perfect to be beautiful?!

I have this Dr.Jekyl/Mr Hyde within me that wants things just right, but doesn't always feel motivated to work hard enough to get them the way I want them....anyone else like that?  I can come up with a million excuses to put something off (you see, procrastination is tied in with being a idealist/perfectionist ......I seem to think if I put the goal off, I won't have to deal with it, until I can't stand it any longer and then impulsively decide to do something.  That's where the disappointment usually hits, because I didn't plan and it doesn't turn out the way I wanted!!!)
So a few goal setting techniques I was just reminded of the other day are as follows.  Goals  need to be written out in "SMART" terms! They should be:
Specific    (If I can't be specific, I am thinking in terms too general....)
Measurable (can I get to the end and check off my goal as done?
Actionable (break it down into simple steps toward accomplishment!)
Realistic  (is it really realistic that I will lose 40 pounds in two weeks???no.....)
Time -Based  (with a reasonable amount of time, an ending to the goal so I can check it off and call it complete!

So I can write a goal such as this......I want to redo my house and have it all pretty.....

OR in SMART terms:  I will begin re-doing my house by painting the laundry room by Memorial Day, May 27th.  (hypothetically, so y'all can't really hold me accountable to this one!! LOL!)

Then from there,  having a plan to tackle each room by a specific time, and make it reasonable, will help me accomplish what I want to get done in a reasonable amount of time.  I know realistically that planning to re-do a room during the end of May and early June is not a good choice for me because my daughter will be graduating.  And I am certainly not going to be planning to paint my bedroom during October because I will having some new GRANDBABY visiting to do!! I have to look at my calendar and see when it is reasonable for me to set aside time to complete the steps I've measured out for success!
So there you have it, a nutshell of info that may help someone remember just HOW to set a goal and be successful at it.

And for the giveaway you do not have to go back to the original post to enter....anyone who leaves a comment this week on any post, and asks to be entered into the giveaway will be entered.  And another hint for the item I'll be giving away, is that "when you are hot, it will be COOL".....have fun guessing.  Remember to pass along the word, that my business is changing, and will get a new name, AND I' m doing a giveaway to celebrate!!!!

Setting Goals.....

How are you at setting goals? Does fear of failure prevent you from setting goals in your life?  Are you able to actually "visualize" what you'd like to see happen, or are you stymied by the fear that you won't be able to accomplish what you set out to do?




I am inspired today by a training meeting I went to for my business (Southern Living at HOME)....you'll also remember from my last post, that BIG changes are happening at SLaHOME!!! And I am having a giveaway to celebrate some of the big changes.....go here.
AND you can comment EVERY DAY this week for an entry into the giveaway in which I will give away TWO fabulous SLaHOME products!!!
I also noticed something on Facebook where True Value Hardware was asking fans to share something to complete this statement...."I WILL.................".

So I wanted to challenge you, my readers.....what would you use to complete that sentence, that goal for yourself?  Will you share it?  The first step to achieving a goal is to determine the goal, and determine some measurable steps you can take to accomplish that goal.  You want to be able to check off the step, and have it be completed.  If you can't measure the success of it, you will never meet your goal........

I also mentioned in the initial giveaway post here, that I would be revealing what I am going to be giving away on Friday.....one hint at a time.  So guess away, if you'd like to, in the comments.....!!!  And sign up by leaving a comment that includes "sign me up for the giveaway" in it!!  That is, IF YOU WANT TO WIN......please do not sign up if you do not want to win!!! :D

The hint for today is that one of the products is round and will be useful in the summertime!  Now, go leave your comment!!

Big Announcement coming up this week.....

Many of you know I am a Southern Living at HOME consultant....have been for nearly eight years. I love it because I can work when I want, and , Um,  NOT when I want!! :D
In the recent past, we have been going thru a merger with Entertaining at HOME. Entertaining at Home was actually started by Bill Shaw, who used to be with SLaHOME.....
Because of some legal issues, and because we are going to be a

BRAND NEW bigger and better company, we are going to have a new name....and it's going to be announced this week!!! I am so excited to see what our new "married name" will be!! And I thought in honor of the "wedding" I will be giving away TWO SLaHOME products on next FRIDAY.....the exciting news is that you can enter EVERY DAY THIS WEEK!!! So go and tell your friends and family; you know that everyone you tell will get you extra entries into this giveaway!! One entry for everywhere you post it....Facebook, Twitter, Blog, you tell me where you are going to post it. And remember that you can leave a comment every day. Just comment on my regular post every day, telling me to enter you into the giveaway and I'll compile all the comments from the week, m'kay???? You got it. I'll be letting you in on  some clues this week about what I'll actually be giving away. And of course those of you who guess correctly, will get an extra entry also. YOU LIKE????? Come back every day for your greatest chance to win.  This giveaway will not disappoint!

Getting back to Friday Fives!!!!

(Anyone else having trouble loading pics onto blogger or is it just me???)

Well, my friends, I've been sporadic about posting with so much life and celebrating going on....hope you have stuck around and are still with me.  I do love have such cool blogging friends!
Let's go on with our tradition of Friday Fives....always such fun to get to know one another better!


1. How do you manage your photos?; Do you scrapbook, or keep your photos organized in books or boxes?


2. What state do you live in?



3. Have you ever seen the wildflowers of Texas? They are BEAUTIFUL this time of year!!!


4. What does spring/summer bring that you've missed since last year?

5. When you retire, where do you  hope to live? Will you stay in the same place or move to your retirement spot?

Hope you all have a fabulous Friday!!!

And a recipe to leave you with, since I've not been oh so inspiring lately!!!

Apricot Almond Coffee Cake

Makes 15 servings
Prep. 25 minutes, bake 28 min., cool 20 minutes

4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/2 c. apricot preserves
1 (16oz) package pound cake MIX, divided
pinch of orange food coloring powder (optional)
1 (8oz.) container sour cream
1/2 c. milk
2 large eggs
1/2 t. almond extract
1/2 c. sliced almonds
Glaze

Beat cream cheese, apricot preserves, 1 T. cake mix and if desired, orange food coloring powder, just until blended; set mixture aside.

Beat sour cream, milk, eggs, almond extract, and remaining cake mix at low speed with an electric mixer 30 seconds or until blended. INcrease speed to medium and beat 3 more minutes.

Pour into lightly greased 13 x 9 inch pan. Drop cream cheese mixture by rounded teaspoonsful evenly over batter. Swirl batter gently with a knife. Sprinkle almonds evenly over top.
Bake at 350 degrees for 25 to 28 minutes or until golden.

Cool on a wire rack 20 minutes. Drizzle glaze over slightly warm cake or pieces. (Note from Renee: there was no glaze recipe included. I mixed whipping cream, powdered sugar and a splash of almond extract.)

At Home --with Reluctant Entertainer and my Bunny Hop Swap!!!

  If you are not regularly inspired by Sandy Coughlin, you must not be reading her blog.  What a treasure! She has the gift of hospitality that she freely gives to others.  She is a joy.  I was unable to join in last week, because of all the celebrating going on here......my birthday, Easter, our wedding anniversary.  It was a never ending celebration around here!!! I loved it!!  I got out of my blogging groove and celebrated, but missed you blogging friends and neighbors!  So it is perfect to get back to blogging by joining in Sandy's Home Is series!

So, in order to keep the theme of Sandy's Home Is....let me tell you about our Easter.  We were invited to some friends' home for our Easter lunch after having spent our morning in worship and fellowship......so wonderful!  Our friends are another model of what biblical hospitality is......my friend Barbara, is such a gracious hostess, and her husband is as well.  We enjoyed a huge Easter feast of brisket, ham, potatoes, carrot souffle (my contribution), roasted veggies, deviled eggs, salad, green beans, rolls and a spread of desserts.  I made the coconut cake (the one with cream of coconut poured over it?  oh yummmm).  The  best part was the fellowship, really.  To be able to chat with no rush, no timetable of things to move on to.......just unhurried fellowship!! LOVED it!

And one other thing I wanted to share with you is that I participated in a Easter Swap, called the Bunny Hop Swap, sponsored by Pippy at Life from Pippy's Perspective. She is a doll, and you'll want to check her out.

Through the swap, I got to meet Cassie, from Starting from Nowhere and Learning As I Go, as she was my Swap Partner.  She is adorable.  And even though she is young enough to be my daughter, she thrilled me with such a nice Easter treat.  It was a spring vinyl tote bag brimming full of fun Easter treats.  She knew my love of books and magazines, and delighted me with some mini cookbooks, a inspirational book about Grandmothers (she, along with many others of you, recently learned that I am going to be a grammy, called Peaches, this coming October!!!!) She also sent a copy of one of my favorite magazines, Southern Lady!  She treated me to a black wrought iron wall hanging that says FAITH, as well as a journal with Scripture on the front of it....and some neat bookmarks!  As if that wasn't spoiling me enough, she sent me CHOCOLATE!!!!!!!  I decided it was in my best interest to share with my daughter, who shares my love for chocolate!! Cassie also gave me some adorable little pots to start some seeds in, all ready to go...one is basil, one is sunflower, a pepper and a strawberry plant--Goodness Gracious, Cassie you SPOILED me....and I LOVED it!!!  Take a look for yourself!  Well, I am experiencing some technical difficulties with loading my pics from my camera, so I will be back later to show  you pics.  Suffice it to say the swap was LOADS of fun! Thanks, Pippy for organizing it, and for helping me meet Cassie!  It was lots of fun!  I'll be back with pics as soon as I can figure this little issue out.

trying to get my bloggy groove back on!!!!

Enjoy some Anita Renfroe.....I hope to be back tomorrow!!!!

If any man be in Christ, he is a new creation!!! 

Easter Greetings to you all!! I've missed you all and look forward to getting back to my blog and my blog friends!!! See you soon!

What a week so far!!!

Birthday week!!!! On Wednesday, a dear friend treated me to a massage and then we went to lunch.  She happened to know the owner of the Fish City Grille, so he treated us to a similar cake as shown for my birthday treat!  Later that day, my husband took me to the jewelry store to pick out new beads for the Pandora Bracelet he had gotten me at Christmas.  Then we met our daughter and went to PF Changs for dinner!  Great food, and they also treated me to a small shot glass size chocolate dessert for a birthday treat!  Are you sensing a pattern here??? Lots of chocolate....so then today, I met two friends for lunch to celebrate yet again; we enjoyed food at the Orleans Cafe, then went over to the Ooh La La Dessert Cafe for a cupcake for dessert.  Enough dessert for me, yet here it is Easter AND our wedding anniversary!!  Monday???? Yes, indeed, Monday will be the end of the treats!!! LOL.
What a fun celebration time this is.......I turned 51 (who me???) and will celebrate 29 years of marriage to my husband on Sunday!  Where has the time flown by???


Lots of other fun presents --I feel so blessed! Thanks to all of you blogging friends and Facebook friends who made my birthday even more special with your birthday wishes!!! I loved it, truly!