I Can't Believe It's The Last Day of September!!

I want to apologize to everyone for missing the last week of the party!! I had fun meeting so many new people and I hope you all did too! I want to Thank all of you for participating and making my Blogiversary/Birthday month so special.

Last week when I was sick I missed the giveaway. So for last week and this week I have

Victoria from Vintage Tea

Jean from Quilting Ranny

Dawn from Crafty Ramblings

Kathy from Kat Collects

I have Victoria's address already but I'll need Jean, Dawn's and Kathys. I am running so far behind on my swaps so please give me a week or so and I'll have something sent to all of you!! I am always running late, BUT I do follow through. I'm bad, I haven't got Dianne's, Suzie's, Missy's or Cathy's giveaways out yet, but I promise they will all be out hopefully by the end of the week!!! It's driving me crazy being so far behind!

I want to Thank Melinda, Cathy, Lori and Mary Ann for sending me such wonderful birthday surprises!! That wasn't the reason for the party, but I really do appreciate your thoughtfullness!! Melinda and Lori, I hope you don't mind but I borrowed pictures from your blogs.

This is from Melinda. It is a combination of fabric and paper. All of the little flowers in the hair are machine stitches. It is my inspiration piece!! Thanks so much Melinda!!

Lori made these earings and I really like them. They are simple yet beautiful! I wore them on my birthday when my daughter and her boyfriend took me out. Thanks Lori for giving me something special to wear!!!

Cathy sent me a gift certificate to J.C. Penney's and another gift certificate to Starbucks. I haven't shopped for myself in a long, long time and I've never been to Starbucks before. Thanks Cathy for the gifts and for being such a wonderful and thoughtful sister!!

Mary Ann has giveaways all the time and I swear, those random generators hate me. So sweet Mary Ann sent me a box of treasures and a piece of her artwork. I love vintage patterns and the piece she made is so perfect! Oh my gosh, there are game pieces, ribbon, a stamp, gloves, cocktail forks and swords (the kids loved those!), jewelry pieces, chenille pipe cleaners and just little bits and pieces of everything. Thanks so much for thinking of me Mary Ann and for the inspiration!!

Jean has caught the blog flu that seems to be going around. I hope she didn't catch it from me!! Anyway, send her get well wishes!!

I hope everyone will still stay in touch and I am looking forward to catching up on everyone's blogs over the next week.

Thanks again for such a wonderful month!!!!

My Addiction, Swaps!!

This is the beautiful magic wand and extra goodies that Gloria

sent to me for Bella Enchanted's Magic Wand Swap.

Here is a sneak peak at what I made for Gloria.

It is going in the mail tomorrow!!!

I'll show the whole thing in a few days after Gloria has received it.

I hope she likes it!! I do!

For the Fairy Tale Swap hosted by Meridian Ariel

my swap partner Jill sent me

things from one of my favorite Fairy Tales,

The Elves and the Shoemaker.

This is a little wooden hand carved boot that Jill picked up.

Isn't it cute!

Jill made this Elf that she named Leon.

She also sent me a Elves and the Shoemaker Little Golden Book

So perfect, I collect Little Golden Books!!

Then Jill added a bunch of other Fairy Tale Books.
Mallory was in heaven.
Jill also gave me the pattern for Leon so I could
make some Elfie friends for him.
Thanks so much Jill! I love everything you sent!

Here's a sneak peak at what is going in the

mail tomorrow for you.

Then for Sarah at Gypsy Mermaids Life my swap partner Kelley,

sent me this wonderful Halloween package.

I got a cute glittery pumpkin with ribbon handles.

It is so cute!!!

Kelley also got some black long formal type gloves and stuffed them and added some ribbon. They will be coming out of something very soon., as soon as I start decorating for Halloween that is! Kelley also fooled the kids with 2 of the cutest faux cupcakes. They were so excited when they saw them and then so dissappointed when they realized they weren't real!

Ha!Ha! Sorry guys!!

Here is a sneak peak at what I am sending to Kelley tomorrow.

I hope she likes my package. I had so much fun making it!! It was something very different for me but so much fun!!!

Then Last, but definitely not Least is my package from Montserrat or Cocoa as many people probably know her. This is for Shawnee's "Where I wish I could have went for my summer vacation" Swap I, of course, picked Kansas. Cocoa made me this beautiful yellow apron with pink roses (my favorite color combo) and I think the blue (for the Kansas skies) just makes the whole apron pop!

Montserrat also sent me a calender to add my own photo's to, a set of Cowboy Notecards that she made, 2 close up photos of Sunflowers that she took and a huge package of Beef Jerky that the kids and Earl snatched right away.

Thank you Montserrat so much for all of the beautiful things you sent me. She also has the notecards and the photos for sale in her Etsy shop if anyone is interested!!!

Some of What I've Been Up to Before and While I was Sick

These are the 20 tote bags I made for my mom. I didn't line them, but made french seams. I was making them in an assembly line fashion. I thought I was so smart and I didn't make a sample one first. When you make french seams you sew the fabric WRONG sides together, I sewed the first 15 wrong. What a waste of a day!

NOTE TO SELF: Make a sample first, then start assembly line!!!! Anyway, I did get them done!!

I joined several Postcard Swaps on Swapbot. This is one of 5 that I had to make on some place that I have lived or visited. I had leftover fabric from the Wizard of Oz swap so I made these Kansas postcards.

These 2 were for a Recipe Postcard Swap

This is one of 3 for the Romantic Postcard Swap.

This is my son and daughter-in-law 3 years ago.

I made 2 of these for a Black & White Handmade Postcard Swap

These are the 2 Candy Postcards that I made

And this is my first ATC that I ever made.

It turned out pretty cute I think!

I've also been working on and completed a ton of swaps that I will post in a couple days after everyone has received their packages. I couldn't do any crafty stuff for a few days and then slowly but surely I got back to doing little bits at a time. Now I have to play catch up!

Dollhouse Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Dollhouse Frock GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

The Party Isn't Over Yet!!

Jessica at Kids Napping? I'm Scrapping! tagged me the other day. So lets just include it in the much neglected party activities!! Here goes:

7 Things I plan to do before I die (not in any particular order):

1. Wow, ummmm..........get organized.
2. Spend more time with my kids, grandkids and my family in Kansas.
3. Finish my Geneology Family Album
4. Get Married to Earl, it's a long story or the new big "Hollywood" saying, "It's Complicated!"
5. Go back to school!!
6. Own a big beautiful Victorian style house with a huge front porch and a big yard for my flowers, trees and plenty of room for the kids to play . Have the house filled with beautiful shabby chic type decor' , a bedroom for everyone, a craft room for me and a big beautiful kitchen for Earl.
7. Be happy with myself and just be able to go out and let go. Like go dancing or other things like that. I'm always to shy to do some things and I wish I could just let go and do them.

7 Things I do now:

1. Love my kids!!
2. Crafts
3. Spend to much time on the computer!
4. Love, love, love Earl!!
5. Try to raise my kids to be nonjudgemental, kind, strong, loving individuals with a stong self esteem and that they can do anything they set their minds to.
6. Sign up for to many swaps!!
7. Love to try new things in crafts. Try to be more creative and confident with my crafts.

7 Things I can't do:

1. Dance
2. Find enough time in the day to accomplish the things I want to accomplish
3. Spend enough time with Earl
4. Spend enough time with my kids
5. Keep my house clean! (Read Jessica's blog for a great quote on that subject!)
6. Leave the house more often--we only have the pickup and Earl is working 2 full time jobs, so I'm basically stuck in the house all of the time!
7. Be on time!!

7 Things that attract me to the Opposite Sex

1. A nice smile
2. Eyes
3. Darker hair and skin tone
4. Kind and Good with kids
5. A hard worker
6. Alchol must be one because my first husband is an alcholic and so is Earl. If you ask me to pick out a guy that I think is cute from a group of guys, guess what? The one I pick out will be an alcholic!??????
7. Open minded - open to change, not prejudice or set in his ways!

7 Things that I say most often:

1. I'm not a maid! Please just pick up after yourselves!!
2. You need to pick up your room!
3. I'm so proud of you!
4. I love you!
5. Do you have to go peepee?
6. Just a minute!
7. Great job!!

7 Celebrities that I admire:

1. Johnny Depp of course!! I have liked Johnny Depp since he was in 21 Jump Street. I love his creativity, versatility and of course, he is just plain gorgeous!
2. I'm going to have to copy Melinda's answer on this one, Katie Holmes for putting up with Tom Cruise. I don't like Tom Cruise, never have and probably never will!
3. Celebrities that are generous with their talent and money. Celebrities that give back to the community.
4. Oprah, no more even needs to be said, she's amazing
5. Robin Roberts for being brave enough to share her journey with breast cancer with the world and to appear on national television completely bald. I think she is an amazing woman.
6. Dr. Phil, I think he is a very intelligent man and has some of the best advice ever! I don't like that he uses celebrities sometimes though to bring attention to himself.
7. Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, I just think they are so darn cute!

7 Favorite Foods:

1. Mexican, pretty much any Mexican food, yum!!
2. Italian, I love cheesey foods and pasta
3. Chinese and other Asian foods
4. Ice Cream
5. Mashed Potatoes
6. Homemade Mac and Cheese
7. Soups and Salads

7 People who need to do this

All of the party guests should do this!!! I know several of you have already been tagged so everyone else should join in!!!

I'm Alive and Finally Feeling Somewhat Better, Finally!

I feel better now than I did the last week. I had a combination of things, but the sinus infection has been a killer. Thanks so much to all of you who expressed so much concern while I was sick. You don't know how much that means to me!!!! I can't thank you enough!

We just got back from the kids 2nd football game, which they lost.....again. Oh well, it was fun to see them out there playing. Actually, I lost my glasses on Wednesday so I really couldn't see the kids playing, but they don't know that. Earl was trying to explain things to me the best he could. So I sat there listening and pretended to be watching while I got some crocheting done.

Mallory and Ezie during half time last week

Jake (my future son-in-law) and Mallory doing the tough stand

or as Mallory calls it the looking like you have to poop stand.

I know, she's so ladylike! She's just like her father!

I love pictures of Earl from the back

when he's with the kids.

He's always explaining things to them.

He's trying to teach Jace about football.

Lexie and Ezie after the game

I'm Sick!

I'm really sick again with a sinus infection. I haven't felt good since Friday and it just keeps getting worse. I'll try to be back tomorrow.

To all of my SWAP partners I do have your stuff ready I just can't get up to get it out. I'm sorry and I'll try to get it out tomorrow. The same with the giveaways. I haven't forgot you guys!!

Sorry for the absence!

Sorry I haven't posted for the last couple of days. I've been really busy!!! I'll be back tomorrow and finishing up the last week of the party.

Featured Guest

Today my Featured Guest is Cathy from The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo. I don't have any crafty pictures to show you, but some words about an amazing woman.

Cathy is my little sister by six years. I have actually looked at Cathy as more of the big sister since she was in college. Unlike me, Cathy has a great self esteem and she goes after what she wants in life. I might have been the rebellious one and got into trouble for having a smart mouth or for sneaking around, but I always thought Cathy was so daring. She did things that were different than the way my mom did them. Not that either way is wrong, mind you, but I was always scared as an adult to be different than what I thought was expected of me.

If you haven't read Cathy's blog you are missing some wonderful reading!

Cathy UnSchools her two kids, Alexander and Sophia. I'll admit, at first I wasn't sure she was doing the right thing by not sending the kids to school, but she has done an amazing job. Alexander and Sophia are learning, but at there own pace and learning about the things that they are interested in learning about. You'll have to read more on her blog and the blog Wild Indigo Life Learners. It is a great way of teaching if it is right for you and your family.

Cathy was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis a little over four years ago. She has taken a very brave step in getting off all her medications and healing herself with a Gluten free diet, Acupuncture, Chiropractor, Orthobionomy, Diffusion and Metaphysics. Cathy has a wonderful husband and kids who are very positive and encouraging of her and what she is doing. To find out more on these subjects click here to go directly to the page where Cathy talks about it. I'm so proud of her and after seven long months of no meds Cathy has been pain free for a whole month now. Yay!!!

Cathy is 40 now and she has decided to let her hair go it's natural color and to quit coloring it. In this day and age I think that is a brave thing for a woman to do. It's one of those double standards. Men look distinguished and handsome with gray hair and women look old. Yes, I still do color my hair, but I think that aging is a beautiful thing. I can remember looking at the age marks on my Granny and Grandma's hands and thinking they were so beautiful. I remember their skin getting thin and thinking that was beautiful too. I would think about all the wonderful things those hands had created and worked hard to get that way.

One of the other things that Cathy has started and I love it is a post on the Simplest Things in Life. It is a wonderful way to remember how just the tiniest things in our lives can be so meaningful and bring us joy.

So if you haven't visited Cathy's blog you should definitely go and visit her. She is a smart and amazing woman and a wonderful sister! She has a very positive attitude regarding life and is a real inspiration to me! I am so proud of her!!

The Classiest Ladies in Town Giveaway

Marietta at Sweet Old Vintage is having a giveaway. I love paperdolls and she has made these classy ladies into ornaments. Aren't they just gorgeous!! Anyway head on over to her blog before 9/28/08 for a chance to win.

3rd Prize is 4 Ladies

2nd Prize is 6 Lovely Ladies

and the 1st place prize is 12 Ladies heads with feathers and pins

You Know Your Old When ...... Small Talk

Thank you, Thank you and Thank you

again to all of you for making

my birthday so wonderful!!

I can't even begin

to tell you how much it means to me!!

You have all really touched my heart!

I realized one day in late July that I was getting old by little things that were happening in my day to day life..............so............... today's Small Talk is to share the things that make you realize that your getting old too. Surely I'm not alone in this?!?!?!

I really got to thinking about it while I was at my kids baseball trophy day. I was sitting on the bleachers with my 17 year old daughter Alexis watching all the kids on the field. One of the coaches, he's in his early to mid thirties and not to bad looking, got his shirt wet or something. Anyway he took his shirt off and my daughter says, "Oh Gross!! Put your shirt back on!" I'm sitting there thinking, "HHhhhmmm, you should put your shirt back on, but not bad, not bad at all!" I told my 17 year old daughter to just wait 25 years or so and "that" will look good to her too! She wasn't impressed on convinced!!

I realized I was getting old when I had my last baby 2 years ago and afterwards whenever my daughter Alexis and I would go shopping people assumed Jace was her baby. Look, I may have been to old to have another baby, but she was to young!

I realized I was getting old when my oldest son turned 30. Wasn't he just a baby yesterday?

I realized I was getting old when all the other mom's in my younger kids class were younger than my older kids and so were the teachers!

I realized I was getting old when my knees decided to quit bending. That was never suppose to happen to me!

I realized I was getting old when I discovered I wore "Mom" clothes. Mom clothes include elastic waist pants (okay, I understand that one) and panties that aren't thongs!

I realized I was getting old when a month ago my neighbor said she got made fun of for saying the word "stylin". I guess that's not "the" word for being stylish anymore???? Who knew??

I have so many more, but I can't wait to here some of yours!!

Also, Jean from would like me to post the following info. I have decided in my old age that if we don't help those in need, who's going too? I think that it's just our duty as people to help others out in their time of need. So here is the info Jean sent me:

Hurricane Ike Activation!
Dear friends. We need your help! We have received e-mails from a number of individuals and agencies. There is an immediate need for supplies, clothing and toiletries. Now that the storm has passed, we have networked with the Texas TERT Team Coordinator, Texas NENA and National NENA to confirm the need and start this very important activation.

Galveston, Orange and Beaumont areas have an intense need. This is for the many dispatchers that have been working since the hurricane. They are running out of fresh clothes and daily needs. We are only beginning to see what the losses are for these many 9-1-1 heroes since most have been working for days and have been unable to check their homes. Some are "waterlocked" and can't leave their centers until roads and utilities are safe.

Here is the plan! Please collect the following items:
Clothes of any sizes (read important note below)
New shoes and boots (no used please)
Socks (new)
Toiletries (soaps, lotion, shampoo, combs, baby powder)
Towels
Feminine Products
Baby Wipes (used for quick cleaning since showers and baths are impossible)
Paper products ( toilet paper, tissues, paper towels)
Purel or other sanitizing hand cleaner
Food items (things that can be easily heated or microwaved)
Snack/Candy (anything that won't melt in hot/humid temps)
Things to help time pass (magazines, puzzles, cards)
Imagine your own dispatch center. After three days of eating everything in the cabinets, what's left? Get things like ice tea mix, coffee, sugar, creamer, snack stuff, etc.

These dispatch centers are in evacuated areas of Texas but they have stayed behind for rescue and security of their communities. They can't just send someone to a FEMA shelter to get stuff, those shelters are hours away. If you are in driving distance from Houston , there is a need for cases of bottled water also. Contact us offline and we'll coordinate your offers for help.

At this time, we are not asking for money or gift cards. There isn't a mechanism to shop locally yet (everything is closed or damaged) and we don't have a list of specific needs other than what is listed above.

CLOTHING NOTE. We're all adults, so please take this in the spirit intended. During our Katrina Activation, we had amazing stuff donated. That being said, some people just sent whatever was in the musty attic. These agencies have NO fresh water, no washing machines, no dryers, etc. PLEASE wash EVERYTHING you send! Let them open a " Downey fresh" box from you, not a nightmare :)

PROCESS:
Put everything in the box.
Write the contents on one side. You don't have to be specific. Just write clothes, snacks, magazines or whatever you send. Address it.

Thanks to Lisa Dodson at Harris County 9-1-1 we have a secure location to send it to! Add Harris to your hero list, they have stepped up to be the base camp for donations that will be distributed to all affected areas. Mail or UPS to:

Harris County Communications Division
Attn; 911 CARES
1301 Franklin Street
Houston, TX 77002

If you have questions, Houston has agreed to be the Texas contact point. PLEASE call only if you need to. They are still very busy and we don't want to overwhelm them with calls.

UPS,FedEx and US Postal are all working to get boxes where they need to go. There are shipping updates daily as trucks can get there. We will post daily updates this week at http://www.911cares.com/ (scroll below the yellow ACTIVATION STRIPE for the most current info)

Me, Growing Up

My Nana sent me my birth announcement a couple of years ago.

Aren't Grandparents great for keeping things!!

Here I am at I think 3 months old

I love the bonnet!

I love this dress!

My Auntie Sharon made this Brownie cake for me

My Auntie Sharon also made me this angel cake
I collect angels.
I don't know if it was this year or not, but my
one year my Aunt made a big doll cake
and then all the
girls at my party a little doll cake for themselves.

This is me at 30

We won't go any further than that!!

We'll just remember what I looked like at 30,

Okay?? Okay!!

Thank you everyone for all the Birthday wishes!!

I really appreciate it.

There's a thingy on the sidebar that will tell you the day of the week you were born.


I forgot to post the winners of this weeks giveaway.

Sorry about that!!

Cathy from The Life and Adventures of Cateepoo

and

Missy from Fairy Child Heirlooms

I have both of your address already so I will get something in the mail Friday.