I've Been Tagged!

Jessica at Kids Knapping? I’m Scrapping! tagged me with a meme.

1. These are the rules for this meme:
2. Link to the person who tagged you.
3. Post the rules on your blog.
4. Write six random things/unspectacular quirks about yourself.
5. Tag six people at the end of your post and link to them.
6. Let each person you have tagged know by leaving a comment on their blog.
7. Let the tagger know when your entry is posted.
   

Six quirks about me…..Does Jessica think I have 6 quirks???? Just kidding! Six random, unspectacular or quirks about me.

1. For unspectacular: I am a pretty boring person. I am a plain Jane. I stay home ALL the time and am pretty much a hermit.
2. For random: I’m only 4’9 ½”
3. For my quirks: I hate to wear socks and shoes. I go barefoot most of the time. My feet are very Closter phobic!!
4. Another unspectacular: I dress like a slob. Since I very seldom leave the house I wear flannel pants and t-shirts all the time.
5. Another random thing: I love westerns and cowboy stuff!
6. Another quirky thing: If I do go somewhere I always bring my craft bag with me just in case the car breaks down or I have to wait I’ll have something to do.
   

Well, that's it. Six kind of random things about me. So, I'm going to tag these six people Dianne, Dawn, Victoria, Missy, Lindsey-Ann and Awtemnyph.

Something Old - With Some New Uses!

I grew up with my mom living on Vicks Vapor Rub. Mom always had, and I'm 100% sure she still has, a jar of Vicks Vapor Rub sitting on her headboard. My mom used to rub our little chests up with Vick's when we had a bad cough or were really stuffy. Mom always had Vicks on her face for her sinus problems. I have used Vicks throughout the years, but nothing like my mom did. Honestly, mom should have bought stock in the stuff!!

Anyway, with this last episode of sinusitis I have revisited my old friend. I started putting Vicks on my face to help clear my sinus' and it really does help, But this is the most amazing thing, I had also read something that said sports creme rubbed on your lower back will help with the discomfort of Restless Leg Syndrome. So the other night I was so tired and the Vick's was sitting next to me so after I put some on my face I decided what the heck I'll try it on my lower back. Guess what? Vicks Vapor Rub works wonders for RLS!! I could feel my legs relaxing which very seldom happens unless poor Earl spends a lot of time rubbing them at night. So last night I put some on my lower back and behind my knees because I also get a tightness at night behind my kness before the twitching starts. It was amazing!! Within minutes my legs felt so much better and I was able to go right to sleep.

Sometimes there is nothing better than going back to visit an old friend!! and
Thanks mom for being addicted to Vicks!!!

I read a few other interesting facts about Vicks on line that may be of interest to some of you.

"First of all the active ingredients consists of Camphor, Menthol and Eucalyptus oil. Camphor, when applied to the skin, will make it feel cool upon contact. Menthol acts as a local anesthetic and relieves minor aches or pains. Eucalyptus oil helps to provide nasal congestion relief. It contains antiseptic as well. " Jennifer Frye


To stop nighttime coughing put Vicks Vapor Rub generously on the bottom of the FEET at bedtime, then cover with socks. Even persistent, heavy, deep coughing will stop in about 5 minutes and stay stopped for many hours of relief.


Toe Fungus - rub Vicks Vapor Rub on toes and under tips of nails and wrap in saran wrap every night. The Toe Nail turns black meaning the Vicks is killing the fungus. Trim the toenail as it dies.

Also, I can't remember which site I read it on, but someone said that after you use the Vicks just rub the excess on your hands and it will help reduce that morning stiffness and swelling that some people get. Great Idea!!1
Hey, If it works it works and it's not that expensive of a treatment!!

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Kathleen made this lovely little creation for this weeks giveaway. Check out her blog to see her little girl in the dress, she looks so cute!!

Shenandoah Costume GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Things That Make Me Feel Happy Today!

We have had a really, really bad time at our house the last few weeks and so I've decided that today I am going to focus on the good things in my life.


My little guy Jace all the sudden decided a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to go potty like a big boy and not wear diapers anymore. He has done an excellent job!!! He hasn't wet the bed and only had a couple of accidents. He won't poop in the potty chair yet, it's "scary", but he tells me when he does go so I can hurry and change him. Plus, he lost his last binky a couple of weeks ago and has done pretty well now without it!!! I am so proud of him!!!!


I got the kids progress reports from school and Ezie has a B average and Mallory has 1 B and the rest A's. She is mad at herself, but I am very proud of both of them!! Great job guys!!!


My daughter Alexis, made me laugh the other night. They are out of school today and Monday, but they have school on Friday. Personally, I think it's stupid! So, anyway, Lexie says to me, "Mom, Friday is Senior Skip Day, is it okay if I skip?? I'll get my work ahead of time." I had to laugh. I love the fact the she asks me if she can skip school and doesn't sneak around behind my back. Her friends all thought she was crazy, but I love the fact that she can just come to me and tell me.
Lexie is turning into such a beautiful young woman. She is only 17 and has been in a relationship with her boyfriend, Jake for almost 3 years now and they have Anthony who is 15 months old. Lexie is a wonderful mom and she is doing so good in school and is planning on going to college next year. I am just so proud of her!!!


I lost 4 lbs since July! Only 72 ish more to go. Oh well, it's a start, right?!?!?

I'm actually feeling good today!! My sinus' are finally draining. I even welcomed the sore throat I woke up with because I knew it meant they were draining.

Jace is doing remarkably well in speech. He is says pretty much anything and is starting to put words together to make sentences. He can count to 15, knows his colors, letters and shapes and he is starting to sing songs now.He has blossomed into a lively and oh, such a cute little guy!
I have a wonderful group of friends through my blog and a few people around here. Jace's speech therapist, Kathy is such a wonderful person. She brought coffee over this morning and we just talked while Jace played and talked to us. It was so nice to have a friend to just talk. She is also trying to help us with some other family things. Kathy is the best!!


The sun is actually shining bright today and there is a nice breeze coming through the windows!!

What is making you feel happy today? I hope tons of things!!!

Have a fantastic day!
Sherry

More Swaps!

If Shawnee, Jill or Dawnise look at my blog PLEASE don't go any further unless you received your package from me. No peeking!!!


I finally got my Wizard of Oz swap package sent to my partner Shawnee. I made her a tote bag and attached crochet red flowers (they're suppose to be posies) to the front. I made her a wooden wall hanging with yellow brick road fabric and images. It says, "There's No Place Like Home". I had to make Shawnee some kind of an apron because she is the Queen of Aprons-so I made one for her dish soap bottle. I also sent a little pink bottle of bubbles that is suppose to represent Glenda and a bag and tin of assorted ribbons and buttons in a "Rainbow of Colors." I hope you like everything Shawnee!!

Next is what I sent to Jill for the Fairy Tale Swap. I picked "Little Red Riding Hood" as my theme for Jill. I made her a red tote bag, a red riding hood cape for a doll, and I also sent her a vintage story book and tin dish set for Red Riding Hood and Grandma.

I just mailed out my Flirty Apron "Where I wish I could have gone on my summer vacation" Swap package today. My partner wanted to go to Ireland/Scotland. I tried to make the apron out of her favorite colors and use a tartan plaid for the theme.

This is the pattern that I used.

I hope they both like everything!! I still am behind on 5 swaps and 8 giveaways. The Fairy Door Swap, The Vintage Halloween Swap, The Gratitude Swap, The Fall Swap and the Witch Switch Swap. I have something started for all of them and will have them all out by the first of next week. I guess everyone knows what I will be doing for the next few days, huh?? I still have the giveaways from my blogiversary to mail out too. I will get everybody's stuff out, REALLY!!!!

First of all, I finally got health insurance and I get to go to the Doctor's today and hopefully get an antibiotic for my sinus infection!!! I'm so tired of not feeling good and I can't wait to get something to take care of this!!!!

Okay, here's what I sent to Kelley for the Witches Cupboard that Sarah hosted. Angela had sent a box of craft stuff to use and their was this wooden box in there. I painted it black, glued on glitter, spray painted it black and then put floor wax on it to keep the glitter from falling off. It turned out really pretty!! The picture isn't to good because it's been so overcast here and my camera likes sunshine. Anyway, I hope Kelley likes this little Witches Treasure Box. I filled it with Halloween goodies, some candies, Halloween ribbon and buttons.

Here is the package. I also made her a dead girl from the 70's. She has leggings on and a little long shirt with a bow in her hair. I added a black rose and I forgot to take a pic of the little tombstone I bought her too.

This is what I sent to Gloria for the Magic Wand Swap that Genevieve hosted. I made the wand, a tote bag that has fairies on it holding magic wands and a fairy shadow box.

I hope Kelley and Gloria like their swap items!! They were fun to make!

The Other Sherry is Having a Giveaway!

The other Sherry is having a 100th Post giveaway. Be sure and stop by her blog and take a look and then leave a comment to enter.

Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Red Riding Hood Jacket GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

Check Out this Giveaway!

Your Impact Matters is having a giveaway for a really cute bag. Make sure you go to their site check it out!!

I am Related to a Real Author!!

My very talented and amazing niece, Sophia, who some of you may have visited last month during my Blogiversary Party, has just gotten her first book published. The Life of Allie Cates is the title and you can view the book or even buy a copy of Sophia's book by going to http://www.lulu.com/content/4172756
I haven't read the book yet, but I can't wait to get my copy and read it!!

Congratulations Sophia!! We're so proud of you!

More Swaps and Sneak Peaks, Oh My!

I wanted to share the swap items I received over the last week. Heidi hosted the Vintage Halloween Swap and my partner is Christy. Christy made this really cool fabric bowls out of some Vintage look Halloween fabric. When I took the bowls out of the box, Jace (2 1/2 yrs old) immediately puts them on his head and says, "Hat, hat, momma!" I have to admit he looks pretty cute with them on as a hat, but they got put up for momma to use for Halloween. She also made me a really nice fall apron. Thanksgiving cooking will be extra special with such a beautiful apron. Thanks Christy!!

Then for the Wizard of Oz Swap I received this wonderful swap package from Kathie of Little Cotton Aprons. She made me this Dorothy doll and the Wicked Witches shoes. How cool is that!?!?!? Kathie also sent some stickers, a little basket and some of the new McDonalds Wiz. of Oz dolls. I was trying to collect all of them and I didn't have these, thanks Kathie!! I love, love the doll and the witches shoes. They are so cool!!



Then for the Wicked Witch Switch that Genevieve hosted my partner is AwtemNymf of Faerie Wysperer. AwtemNymf sent me the coolest little wall hanging that has a black witches hat and her black boots. She also made me a little sign that says, "If the hat fits" and to go with it she made a cute little witches hat and some gorgeous black glittery. They are so cute and what a wonderful idea for both things!!! AwtemNymf also made a really cute ATC. I just started to collect ATC's so this will be a great addition to my collection! She also sent a cute wooden witch to color (Ezie claimed it), a Jack-O-Lantern Pez (all 3 kids claimed it!) and an expandable witch that the kids are dying for me to open. Thanks so much AwtemNymf for sending me such a fun swap package!!!

Thanks so much to all of you for the wonderful swap items!!!

Here's a sneak peak for Shawnee, my Wizard of Oz partner and my daughter Alexis' swap partner Scrappy Jessi. They are similar, but Lexie added a few of her own things to Jessi's. Of course I was running late again!!

I hope you both enjoy your swap packages as much as Lexie and I did ours!!! I also have the Apron Swap that I just finished, but didn't take pictures of yet. I hope my secret partner likes her apron!!

My Life Sucks Lately!!!

Sorry to be such a drag, but that pretty much sums up my life the last week!!! Besides still not feeling completely up to par, we've just had one problem after another at home. It's like the domino effect and I think we must be to last domino and and when it falls it's going to hit hard. I'll now next week for sure how this domino effect ends, flat on our faces or an unexpected stop.

I did receive 2 wonderful swap packages (a very nice thing to brighten up my day!!!) in the mail this week and I'll post them tomorrow. It has been so dreery here lately and not a lot of sunshine to take decent pictures.

I'm off to finish some projects and clean house!!

I hope all of you are having a great day and I'm hoping to get online tonight and visit everyone!! I've missed blogging the last couple of weeks!!

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!