Saturday Shoutouts

A Letter to My Teenage Daughters

Getting Organized & Motivated with E-books


Flying Above the Storm

English Teacher


Hats

Saturday Shoutouts

Knowing Names

Cinnamon Cake Roll

10 Tips for Purchasing & Caring for Fall Mums 

Classy Women Often Walk Alone

Prayers Needed

Please go visit Anna at An Inch of Gray and offer your comfort and support to her.  Her son was killed in an accident recently.  As a mother who has lost a child, I understand what she's going through and how the prayers of others help so much.  Thanks.

Apples Peaches Pumpkin Hodgepodge

1. What do you do at the first sign of a cold? Will you get a flu shot this year?   Usually take Alka Seltzer Plus.  My mother swears by it and it's always worked for me.  I'm still on the fence about a flu shot.  I work from home and don't have much contact with others.  That being said, I do have several little ones around now and two of them are in school, so the exposure factor may go up.

2. What advice can you give about how to conquer fear?  Be prepared.  Arm yourself with knowledge.  Pray.

3. Share two good things about your life right now.   Children and grandchildren finally living nearby!  The weather is cooling off and being outside is wonderful!

4. A hot fall fashion trend in 2011 is a return to sixties style...tunics with pants, shift dresses, pencil skirts, cinched waists, bold prints, high necklines and short lengths to name a few. How does this fashion trend fit with your wardrobe and personal sense of style?  Somewhat.  I think my over 50 legs are beyond the short skirt stage.  High necklines I can live with--on myself and on others!  Think I'll pass on the pencil skirts and cinched waists.

5. Were you involved in scouting as a kid? How about as an adult?  I went to one meeting of Girl Scouts.  The leader was--shall we say--less than welcoming and I never went back.  My kids were in scouts, but other than buying selling cookies and sending the occasional treat, I wasn't much of a participant.

6. Apple, pear, plum, pumpkin...your favorite fall flavor?  Apple--I'll eat an apple just about any way it's cooked.  Except cider.  That's some nasty stuff.

7. What characteristics do you think are essential in a good teacher?  Kindness, patience, firmness without being a bully.

8. Insert your own random thought here.  Anybody playing Words With Friends?  After all the hubbub about it, I checked it out on Facebook.  Uhhh, not such a fan.  Pretty slow.  What's been your experience?

Party Animals

Not long before school started, we hosted a lovely little tea party for my granddaughter Cassidy and three of her friends.  It was quite warm, but I think everyone had a great time anyway.  

Cupcakes, Rice Krispie treats made with Fruity Pebbles,
Gummy Bears, and PB&Js

Cassidy and her mom made the centerpiece

Cassidy's mom made this hat and they played Pass the Hat.  Sort of like Hot Potato.

We had a little time at the end to polish nails.

 I'm thinking this will be a new tradition.

Last week, we celebrated grandson Alexander's 5th birthday.  Other than family, he's never had a real party, so we pulled out all the stops.  He chose a pirate theme.  When the boys arrived, we gave them a pirate name and a tattoo (temporary, of course).  I was surprised by the number who wanted it on their chest instead of their arm or hand.  We had fun making "hook hands" out of plastic cups and aluminum foil, playing Blind Pirate's Bluff, and Captain, May I?  

Yummy food--Peglegs (corn dogs), Barbequed Barnacles (BBQ chips), whales, Swedish fish, and more!

The best, best, best, best part--according to Alexander--the awesome cake made by Aunt Lauren

Digging for treasure in the sand

Walking the plank

And, of course, a pinata!

The kids went home with a belly full of food, a cutlass, hook hand, pirate hat, eye patch, and a goodie bag of "jewels" and pinata candy!

Tuesday Train

 

I'm joining in a new to me hop today.  Hope you'll join in, too!

Saturday Shoutouts

"Yes Mom" Follow-Through

The Superpower Every Girl 

Prepared for the Wednesday Hodgepodge Vol 43

1. What is one piece of advice you would give a 'just turning' 21- year old adult?  Don't be in such a hurry.  Slow down and enjoy the time.  As the song says--'you're gonna miss this'.

2. Besides cooler weather (or warmer weather, depending on your hemisphere) what is one thing you are looking forward to this fall?   The clothes!  I much prefer sweaters, boots, and cords.  Love the cocoony feeling of warm, soft fabric.

3. What sound lulls you to sleep? White noise.  I have one of those machines next to my bed and have carried it with me on vacations--it's even been to Europe!  In a pinch, a ceiling fan will do.

4. September is National Preparedness Month...does your family have an emergency 'kit' and/or disaster plan in place?  Yes, my husband is very big into preparedness.  We have 2 or 3 generators, along with extra everything.  When the kids were young, we did a 72-hr kit review every 6 months.  We'd change out the clothes they'd outgrown and discuss what we had in the bags and why.  I probably need to do some reviewing with Darrell now, so that I know where everything is.  It's said that there's a 9 in 10 chance that if something happens, a woman will be home alone or with kids.

5. How has your blog changed since you started blogging? Or has it?   I think so.  It doesn't seem so lighthearted now as in the beginning.  Maybe I try too hard now....

6. What's something you've recently learned to do on the computer?  My daughter is trying to teach me how to use Picnik and edit several pics at once.  Still not getting the hang of it.  

7. Is a picture worth a thousand words? Elaborate.   Of course.  Most pictures speak for themselves.  I've participated in several 'Wordless Wednesdays' and it drives me crazy when people post a picture and then describe it.  It's supposed to be wordless, people!  Sorry for the little rant there.  I've been wanting to get that off my chest for a while--can you tell?

Here are a couple of the photos I used:

8. Insert your own random here.  We are one week into September and have already gotten more rain than we usually get in the whole month.  The rain was definitely needed, but enough already!  We have an outdoor birthday party planned for Saturday with several 5 year old boys.  Need I say more?

Rain, rain, go away
Come again some other day
We want to go outside and play
Come again some other day

Thrifty Treasures!

Yard sales were great yesterday Saturday--even if I only managed to hit a few.  Here are the highlights:

$10 tureen--I have wanted one of these forever!

Sweet little side table for my flea market booth

Another table for the booth.  Little tables like this have been selling very well.

This one has a little boo boo on the bottom shelf.  I'm trying to decide whether to leave it alone or try to paint it.  I think it's laminate, so not so easy.  Decoupage? 

 Darling tiny chandelier for the booth.  If there'd been 2 of these, I'd keep them for my bedroom.  I want to replace the bedside lamps with small chandys.  Alas, there was just the one.

And how was YOUR hunting?

Finally!

Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.  

Dear Self:  I love that you are fiercely loving and protective of your family.  I love that you will stand up for them and stand between them and the world.  I love that you have a strong marriage and a wonderful husband.  I love that you are a grandmother!  And it may be vain, but I love that you don't look your age....well, some of the time, anyway!

Let's Get This Over With Already!

Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?  After waking up from my faint, I'd probably smack my husband.  Of course, it'd be just as much my fault as his, but I'd have to hit somebody!  Considering I had my tubes tied in 1982 and am tthhiisss close to fulfilling that 'year without a period' requirement for official menopause, the likelihood is pretty slim.

Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.  Oh, the list is long.  A physical thing I'd like to change is my weight.  Over the past few months, I've gained about 15 lbs and very few of my clothes fit.  Do you know what it's like to wear "sucker inners" in the hot humid summer of Tennessee?  It ain't fun.  A more serious thing is my glass half empty view of life.  I'd like to be a more positive person, but I don't see that happening much more than my size 8s fitting again.

Saturday Shoutouts

Across Your Path

A Classy Woman Does Whatever It Takes

Happy Birthday, Shana Banana

Happy birthday, Shanny.  You would be 34 today.  I often wonder how you'd feel about being 30+.  It's been over five years and I still think about you all the time and miss you even more.  What do you think about all these nieces and nephews you have now?  I know you'd be a wonderful aunt.  We show them your picture and they know who you are.  We talk about you and want them to know as much about you as possible.  We'll be eating red velvet cake today in your honor.  Say hi to Grandpa for us.  Love you much!