Shhhh - It's a secret..... Don't tell.....

There is this "giveaway" going on over at this AMAZING  blog... This lady... well,  she truly is an INSPIRATION - I've been following her for quite some time... and yes. I admit. I've shed MANY,  MANY tears reading her blog... but I've also gained much needed strength as well.  She is just INSPIRING! She is just AMAZING! And... to top it off - she found out the "this gals"  ( yes ME!) purse BROKE!  (rude huh?!?! - I've been a fan of this broken purse for a mighty long time and it just up and BROKE!) anyway - she is hosting a "giveaway" (or so she says ;)) for a purse (but she is planning to give it to me regardless...) so, go ahead and just "pretend" to be interested in the "fake giveaway".... it will be fun... It will make me feel even more important when she "draws" my name out of a hat... with all these "competitors!". ;) 

 (It is really cute isn't it??? It is SO ME!)

(Ok... she really isn't doing this for "ME"... it is a TRUE REAL GIVEAWAY... I'm just wishful thinking.... because my purse really did break!  It nearly took me flat to the ground with it!) You don't think it was because I treat it more like a "suitcase" or something....do you???  hmmmm  Oh well... go ahead... play along.... maybe you will be LUCKY and then you will feel sorry for me and send it to me???  WISHFUL THINKING!!!!  :)   Thanks Ashley for a "great" WISHFUL dream I'm dreaming!  

GOOD LUCK EVERYONE!

AMAZING Talent..... I admire!

There is this AMAZINGLY TALENTED lady.... well! There are LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS of talented ladies out there really .... and ONE of them is having a FABULOUS give way... but don't bother stopping by... her shop is CROWDED and oh my goodness... just take my word for it ... it's simply CRAZY over there ...SERIOUSLY!  just take my word for it..... SHE IS AMAZING.... you can trust me......

 besides, I am REALLY wanting to win!

OH ALRIGHT.... go ahead take a peak.... leave a comment.... 

BUT if you win.... you will have to share your prize with me! DEAL!?!?!  :)  

Oh... I surely hope I can sleep the next few nights...

I just love these little darlins'... they just melt my heart!

Good luck to you all.... 

You'll need it - because I'm feeling REALLY lucky! :)

I'd like to THANK....

ALL OF YOU!!!!!

Thanks so much!!!  I won 2nd place with my BLUE Christmas tree (well it is BLUE I guess I can't deny that :)) ... It is growing on me....I would really have liked to have all of my trees up then maybe I would feel better about my BLUE tree and not so BLUE... But maybe it is somewhat symbolic of our holiday season... it has been a little more "calm" ... "subdued".... "blue" than our usual "HYPER" "CHEERFUL" "RED" season.... I guess it is fitting this year... BUT I WON!!! I WON!!! I WON!!! but not without ALL of YOUR help!!! so.... Thank you ALL so much!!!

And thanks JONQUIL for hosting such a FUN contest! And CONGRATS to CHERRY and KAREN.... I loved ALL of the trees!!! Such great ideas and so FESTIVE!!!! I just LOVE Christmas and have LOVED their blogs as well!!!!  GOOD JOB EVERYONE!

I have sooooo many ideas running through my head now for next year.... BUT I will warn you now..... My Christmas Count down is going to end on OCTOBER 31, 2012!!! So... I hope that you will all still be my friends..... But after the past two years of shooting for December 1st and being DENIED out voted and those "people" that I have warned to NOT have issues in November have down-right IGNORED my threats warnings.... I'll show them! Oh yes I will!!!!  I'm movin' my count down til Christmas counts date and I'm gonna WIN!  (I'm kinda a sore looser)

Well.... gotta run .... again..... off to another hospital..... I am oh so tempted to just book me a room at the hospital from November 1-Dec 24 next year! I think that way I will get ALL my Christmas done! ... OH WAIT!!! I'm going to be done by then..... nevermind..... well - Have a GREAT day EVERYONE!

I'm not going to get offended.....

I'm going to chalk it up as ....

EVERYONE IS JUST TOO STINKIN' BUSY :)...

I understand! I get it....

BUT.... we had a giveaway... and that is what I wanna do... 

GIVEAWAY!!!! 

SO.....

Giveaway #5 Winners ..... 

Thanks to those that posted comments!  I know that everyone is BUSY so I REALLY THANK YOU for taking time to do so! 

I need addresses for YOU and the person that you feel could use a "EXTRA HUG" ... 

You all win!!!!  

I was so touched by each of your thoughts and caring hearts!  You are amazing!  The "HUG RECIEVERS" are truly inspirational too!  I really WISH that I could meet you all in person!  My heart has been so touched by you and through you!  It surely puts a better perspective on the day to day life.... how blessed each of us really are - despite our trials.... things could always be worse. What a great reminder to enjoy the little things... take time to tell those we love.. that we love them.... make sure they know that we love them... making the best of every minute we can is really so simple... yet so difficult too ....  

I'm just so touched..... (I think I've mentioned that a time or two.... ) 

Thank you so much for sharing! 

My prayers are going out for you and your "HUG RECEIVER"... may you all be blessed and comforted everyday.... may you feel the peace and love of our Savior wrap around you, especially at this time of year.  Bless you all!  Merry Christmas to all of you! 

Karan - (Karan' Holidays Corner)  I just have to say ... BLESS YOU AND YOUR SWEET FAMILY MEMBERS! I just can't even imagine.. imagine having to face that at any time... let alone this time of year... SO SO HARD..... I have been praying for them since I read your message... It surely has impacted my life.... on a daily basis....  Please let me know if there is anything that I can do for them (or you) from here....in the mean time....  I'll keep praying! 

Diane -(Lavender Dreamer)  BLESS YOU and your SWEET friend! I'm always so inspired for those that just keep on going... keep on giving... even when they seem to have every reason to just sit back and receive... they do deserve it - but they just keep on doing.... BLESS HER!!!! 

Diane - (Tablescapes) - I'm so HAPPY you joined us!!!!  What a SWEET HEART you are!!!!   I'm surely sure you have someone who would love to receive a HUG!  Let me know - because I'd LOVE to send them one in behalf of you!  :) and you one too!!!  

Tricia - (Hillcresthome Primes) - I hope you received your winning package from last giveaway!!!  I think we were having issues communicating via this lovely thing we call "internet service providers" lol!...  BUT guess what!! You win again!!!! And I just KNOW you have some one that would LOVE a HUG!!!  So... let me know who... and why... because I would LOVE to get their HUG (and your's) in the mail! 

Send me addresses ladies.... That would be FABULOUS!!! 

May you all be BLESSED with all the comfort, healing hands and peace you so desire! 

OOPS!!!

I completely forgot to post the prize for the GIVEAWAY #4!!! (my bad)..... 

It's been a bit CraZy around here... I seem to keep saying that don't I???? Well shoot!!!!  

Anywho.... Giveaway #4 had 4 winners! And I hope they have received their prizes... and that they were in one piece.... and that they will find some use for them.... because ... as you might have guessed... an appropriate prize for that giveaway just had to be a ORNAMENT!!!!  :)  I hope that they find a place in your home, or a gift package - or the drawer... :)  

Thanks again to those that entered GIVEAWAY #4!!!! 

It was so fun to have SOOOO many enter that giveaway! The best thus far!!!!  

And I had a BLAST making them! 

FELT....SO.....GOOD!!!!

Mrs Prince, Hillcresthome Prims, Steph and JCWEGA27 ... just let me know when you receive them... It was a CRAZY day at the postoffice too!!!  

Thanks! 

Mr & Mrs Ginger-breadly have run away from here....
so let me know if you catch them!

I kinda have a "fettish" for them as well.... mmmmmm!!! 

I really enjoy painting... it felt SO SO good to be able to dive into paint again.... and of course cutting the wood.... well... that is ALWAYS a treat!(Although I prefer cutting in WARMER weather... I love watching a ugly piece of wood come to life!)   Well....they aren't much, but hopefully they will find a warm place in your heart home...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I went and did the unexpected...

I know that this will come as a MIGHTY BIG shock to you all.....

ESPECIALLY after this post.... you know... the one where I was admitting my OCD-ness with the tree and ornaments...  WELL... I did just what ever other OCD-Ornament crasher would do.... I signed up to do a ORNAMENT exchange.... (GASP - BIG GASP! I heard it!!!!)  I know... I know.... WHAT WAS I THINKING?????  Well, I will TELL you what I was thinking.... 

I was thinking..... 

This will be REALLY fun.... 

I'll get some ornaments from some VERY talented people! 

...and I LOVE seeing and sharing the talents of others!!!!  

(it kinda makes me jealous too... but someday I hope to have TALENT and what a better way to GRASP some.. then to RECEIVE some ... RIGHT!?!?!) 

.... honestly... that's about all I was thinking at the time...  I didn't think about "what I would do with them..."
  

But HAVE NO FEAR!!! I found something to do with them!!!! It will follow in another post.... but for now... Let me share some TALENTS with you!!!! 

I had NO IDEA that I would absolutely FALL in love with EVERY... STINKIN' (meant in a LOVING CUTE way!) .... ORNAMENT! 

That I would just HAVE to find the PERFECT spot for all these new ornaments.... 

Wanna peak?????   I know you do....

First of all... I have to say.... I just admire ALL of these WONDERFUL TALENTED people! .... AND.... especially people that can do this! 

I can NOT!  I know.... CRAZY!!!  My mom has tried for YEARS to help me.... I'm pretty much useless!   My hand goes soooooo numb... and then the EYES go BuGgggGGY.... and THEN.... it gets a little free AIR SAILIN ride.... (I know... I'm pretty patient :))  Aren't they so cute!  Now I just need to find some little pictures of my little people! Then they will be SET!

 

 She must have known my LOVE for OWLS!!!  He will have a place in my office... 

ALL .... YEAR....... LONG!!!!!!

 Aren't these soooo cute!  

I really love the "HAT".... makes me want to find a little someone to put it on... :)

 And this little guy.... Don't ya just wanna SQUEEZE him???? 

SO STINKIN' CLEVER!!! And WAY WAY CUTE!

 I placed this on a blue block... because it wasn't showing up... and darn it all... with all the FRAGILE stamps on the package... wouldn't you know it ... it was broken... but I did my best by trying to "HOT GLUE IT"....because remember my motto... "If it ain't hot glued... I don't do!!!"  I would love to learn to make these! It is absolutely beautiful!

 

And oh my!  Isn't this just adorable???? 

Seriously.... how do people THINK of these things????  

LOVE IT!

 

 And then.... MELT MY HEART!!! 

I have a SNOWMAN fettish! BAD! 

(I seem to have a LOT of fettish's... hmmmm) 

Anyway.... How can you NOT love a SNOWMAN??

 And she even sent cards.... 

She was one BUSY gal!  OH MY!!! CUTENESS!!!

 I just LOVE how the snowman grows when he gets opened...

And pull the "HAT" out for a message.... HEART BE STILL!!!!

 And then....

Can I just tell you I ENVY such people! ALL OF THEM... 

But this little CLAY Peacock.... 

(I have tried and TRIED to make sculpty clay things.... They ain't so adorable... even the garbage can runs from them....  Sad! I know...)

ADMIRE!!!!  TALENTED!!! OH MY for SURE!

I have to protect him from the little ones... 

They just want to pack him around and love on him.... 

Can't say I blame them... he is just TOO CUTE!!! 

 ADORABLE!!!! 

I'm so very impressed! 

And... How can I POSSIBLY stick them in a ORNAMENT SAFE BOX???? 

I CAN'T!!! 

I had to find something to do with them....

AND I DID!!! 

I'm so proud of myself! :) 

I'll post about it later... 

BECAUSE.... I've gotta get some SHUT EYE! 

I think I heard a FLUFFY WHITE thing calling me....

But I wanted to share!

It's time to vote!!!!

HEY EVERYONE.... 

Just wanna take a minute if I can... and ask for ALL your LOVELY support.... once again.... :)  Because I KNOW that I have the BEST BLOGGY FRIENDS ever!!!! 

I did a crazy thing ... AGAIN.... (sheesh, I'm just full of CRAZY-ness this month!!!)  Anyway, an amazing BLOGGY Friend was doing a "Christmas Tree Contest" ... So.... I entered... NOW I need YOU!! to vote for ME!!!! :)  (See how that works... LOL!)  

So... If you can just take a MINUTE (or even just a few seconds) and ZIP over to A WHIMSICAL CHRISTMAS  and VOTE for MY tree.... I know... It's kinda crazy... but it will surely help my "self esteem" on doing a BLUE tree this year.... :)  So... if you could... HURRY!  Zip over! Just click my name and then click VOTE on the side bar!!!  Prety simple!!! Let's just see how this goes.... shall we :) 

Thanks friends!!! 

OH! And don't forget to take a few minutes and ENTER in MY final giveaway for 2011!!! There will be 6 winners total... and there are very few comments at this point and time... SO!!! Whatcha  waitin' for!?!?! HURRY UP!!!! Help a gal out.... and WIN the giveaway for you and a VERY SPECIAL friend !!!!  

Go here to enter the  

GIVEAWAY - it ends SUNDAY Dec. 11 at 11 pm!!!!! 

SO HURRY!!!!!

Giveaway #5.... and your gift....

Every year I purchase a new book to add to our Christmas collection.  The books are boxed up with all the Christmas decorations and then when we bring them out they sit in a bucket under the Christmas tree... a new book is added  and every night we read a book (or a chapter or two) depending on the book.  Tonight we started our new book, "SANTA'S SECRET" by Christy Hardman with Phil Porter.  Can I just tell you... we only got half way through chapter 2 and I CAN NOT WAIT until TOMORROW night!!  I'm HOOKED!!!! (I need to get me some specs though I'm afraid... I have a horrendous headache from reading tonight... getting OLD sure has some STINKY perks! That is what they are called isn't it?.... perks????.... LOL!) Anywhoo....

I was hooked from the very first page.... and I just KNEW this was the answer I was looking for, for over a week now.... I KNEW what I wanted to do my giveaway on tonight... but I just couldn't find a way to "KICK" it off ...until now! I'm so happy that we started this book tonight!  It was a answer to my prayer!

Santa's Secret Wish 

by Betty Worth Westrope 

On Christmas Eve, a young boy with light in his eyes

Looked deep into Santa's, to Santa's surprise,

And said as he sat on Santa's broad knee,

"I want your secret. Tell it to me.

I want to know how, as you travel about,

Giving gifts here and there, you never run out.

How is it, dear Santa, that in your pack of toys

You have plenty for all of the world's girls and boys?

Your bag is all bulging, it fills up the sleigh

Stays full, never empites, as you make your way

From rooftop to rooftop, to homes large and small,

From nation to nation, reaching them all?" 

And Santa smiles kindly and said to the boy

"Don't ask me hard questions.  Don't you want a toy?" 

But the child shook his head, and Santa could see

That he needed the answer, "Now listen to me," 

He told that small boy with the light in his eyes, 

"My secret will make you sadder and yet wise.

The truth is that my sack is magic. Inside

It holds millions of toys for my Christmas Eve ride.

But although I do visit each girl and boy 

I don't always leave them a gaily wrapped toy. 

Some homes are hungry, some homes are sad,

Some homes are desperate, some homes are bad.

Some homes are broken, and the children there grieve,

Those homes I visit, but what should I leave?

My sleigh is filled with the happiest stuff,

But for the homes where despair lives, toys aren't enough.

So I tiptoe in, kiss each girl and boy,

And I pray with them that they'll be given the joy 

Of the Spirit of Christmas, the Spirit that lives 

In the heart of the dear child who gets not, but gives.

If only God hears me and answers my prayer,

When I visit next year, what I will find there 

Are homes filled with peace, and with giving and love

And boys and girls gifted with light from above. 

It's a very hard task, my smart little brother,

To give toys to some, and to give prayers to others.

But the prayers are the best gifts, the best gifts indeed,

For God has a way of meeting each need.

That's part of the answer.  The rest, my dear youth,

Is that my sack is magic.  And that is the truth.

In my sack I carry on Christmas Eve day 

More love than a Santa could e'er give away.

The sack never empties of love, or of joys 

'Cause inside it are prayers, and hope, not just toys.

The more that I give, the fuller it seems,

Because giving is my way of fulfilling dreams.

And do you know something? You've got a sack too.

It's as magic as mine, and it's inside of you.

It never gets empty, it's full from the start

It's the center of lights and love.  It's your heart.

And if on this Christmas you want to hlep me,

Don't be so concerned with the gifts 'neath your tree.

Open that sack called your heart, and share

Your joy, your friendship, your wealth, your care." 

The light in the small boy's eyes was glowing,

"Thanks for your secret.  I've got to be going." 

"Wait, little boy," said Santa, "don't go.

Will you share?  Will you help?  Will you use what you know?"

And just for a moment the small boy stood still,

Touched his heart with his small hand, and whispered,
"I will."

OH MY!!! Isn't that just PERFECT!?!?! What more can I say.... I'm back on track... with the Christmas Spirit.... a heart full of love.... So, how does this work with this GIVEAWAY you ask... here is your task... (sorry... too much rhyming going on just now!!! LOL!)

ENTRY 1

I'm sure that we all know someone who could use a extra "HUG" and "PRAYER"  this time of year... 

WHO would you give that hug and prayer to and why? 

(You do not have to give names unless you want... but here is where it gets really fun!) 

If you win... so will your EXTRA HUG receiver! 

3 winners by entry ... 3 "unknown" winners because of your entry!

(I know, I know... that's 6 winners.. it should be 5 - but it just wasn't fair!) 

You can enter as many HUG & PRAYER receivers as you would like... 

Just make sure they are all in a separate entry.

Extra Entries: 

1-Become a FOLLOWER of this blog (or if you already are... let me know you are!) 

2-Post about this giveaway on your blog 

3-Post the "TIS THE SEASON" button on your blog 

This giveaway will end on Sunday Nov. 11 at 10:00 pm MST

And we have some WINNERS!!!!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE......

We have 4 - YES 4! winners.... YAHOO!!!! 

WINNER #1 

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 9

CONGRATS TO MRS. PRINCE!  

WINNER #2

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 6

CONGRATS TO HILLCRESTHOME PRIMS

WINNER #3

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 4

CONGRATS TO JCWEGA27

 

WINNER #4

True Random Number Generator Min:1   Max:12  Result: 11

CONGRATS TO STEPH

WOW!!! That's a LOT of winners!!!!!  SO EXCITED for all of you!!! 

And... THANKS to ALL of you for participating!!!! 

REMEMBER.... see you tomorrow  I mean TODAY for GIVEAWAY #5!!!!  

JUST CAN'T WAIT!!!!

.... I've got something up my sleeve!!!!   :)  

OH!! I need addresses ladies!!! 

Email your addresses to me!!!!
ladybugs4bry at yahoo dot com

Giveaway #3 prizes.....

They are one their way ladies!!!

Thanks for being patient.... It has been a rough week - haven't left the house much between ... you know... kids and illnesses.... and of course we DARE start a month without hitting the hospital!!!  But, my daughter is home... and doing well...(but they tell me it WILL get ugly before it gets better.... so I'm just a waitin')  and I'm exhausted as can be.... (why is it that the darn hospital just SUCKS the life out of ya!!??!! Well, it probably doesn't help that it's like having a newborn all over again... up ever 3 hours to give meds.... tiring I tell ya! ) 

ANYWAY!!!! 

The Giveaway #3

"THE JUST~BECAUSE CARD" (There is always some sort of round-about point to my giveaways... LOL!)

Have you ever been somewhere where you witnessed someone doing something "unexpected" for someone else....  or, maybe even seeing someone that seems "sad" that needs a "CHEER UP"..... or, someone has really touched you with something that they said?..... 

For instance... 

I was in the grocery store, and more than once I noticed a young mom with 5 small children in tote.... She seemed a bit frazzled... Two of her children were "crying" - inconsolably, one was repeatedly nagging at mom for something and the other 2 were "taunting" each other.... Mom you could just see was at her very last wit's end... After seeing this little family on several isles and hearing the 2 crying children through the entire store... I ended up in line behind this mom and children in tote.... I'll admit, my nerves were just about SHOT from the crying children... and watching the oldest taunt her sibling was making my blood boil... but then... I remembered... "BEEN THERE.... DONE THAT... WILL PROBABLY DO AGAIN SOMETIME"... I witnessed this mom being so calm and patient  - whether that really was the case or not - I'm not sure...

OR

I hope that all of you have witnessed SOMEONE doing something GOOD for a complete stranger... or even a family member without being asked... Doesn't that just give you WARM FUZZIES!!!???!!!

OR

This happens to me quite frequently... I'll be in church and someone has just given and AMAZING talk!  It seems as if they were talking to just ME!  It was exactly what I needed to hear... needed to feel.... needed to witness... and I need to let them know!

Anything like that EVER happen to you? 

Well, that is when I am very grateful to have a "JUST BECAUSE" card in my purse, or in my car.... I mean really - if you think about it... if we were more consistent to acknowledge the GOOD that we witness, this world would be a much better place.... don't you agree?

Giveaway #3 ends the week of "Thankfulness" and I thought it would be great to send out some "JUST BECAUSE" cards!  I keep a stack in my purse, my car and my church bag!  So when I see a "opportunity" I can take it!  Just like the young mom of 5 in the grocery store.  I noticed that the kids were really wanting ice cream, but she kept telling them that they couldn't afford it "today"... There was a double blessing that day... as my groceries came up to less than what I had planned on...  Sure the extra $10 would have bought a few more gallons of milk later that week - but I wasn't even thinking that.... I just quickly wrote a little note on the back of one of my "JUST BECAUSE" cards and asked the cashier if she happened to have a paperclip (which she did... and PRAYED I would be able to catch this lady in the parking lot...).  I took 10 seconds and wrote a note to this mom just letting her know that I thought she was doing a great job with her children and that I wanted her to "treat" the kids when she felt that they deserved a "treat"... Prayer was answered... I caught up to her in the parking lot as she was loading her groceries and simply just handed her the little card and money and wished her a great day as I walked away.  I don't know who she was - but just that little "note" I'm hoping helped her to be mindful that she is a great mom, even on hard days, and the people "notice" and I understood what a task it was to take 5 children grocery shopping... 

One time I left a note on a car window as I watch a elderly man "CHASE" a cart that was about to broadside a parked car.  I'm sure he thought nothing of it.... but I put a note on the windshield that said, "Thank you for stopping that runaway cart today... I'm 100% certain you made someone else's day a better day because of your kind gesture.  Hope you have a spectacular day!" .... When I came out of the store, his car was still there so I decided it would be fun to just see what happened when he returned... It was pretty funny watching his facial expressions change from "irritation" (I'm sure because SOMEONE stuck something to his windshield and he had to get back out of his car to get it) ....to "smiles" as he glanced all around the parking lot as if he could figure it out... Just then, there was another runaway cart (it was a windy day)... But, guess what he did.... he watched someone else do the same thing that he did.... when that person entered the store, he then took the "JUST BECAUSE" note and put it on their windshield.... Kinda fun to watch the "pay it forward" card work!  

I don't share these stories for a "PAT ON THE BACK" ... That is NOT it AT ALL!!!! 

I just share them because I find that when I am LOOKING for the GOOD in others... I see a lot more GOOD being done... I find that when I'm "SEEING" the good, I FEEL  better, I ENJOY my trials, I find that I am SEEING and FEELING more GOOD going on around me.... and I, like anyone else, find it nice to be acknowledged every now and again even for just the little, simple things... sometimes its a "SMILE", sometimes it's just a "HOW ARE YOU?", (and meaning it)... Sometimes it just NICE!  SO.... each winner will be receiving a set of 6 different "JUST BECAUSE" cards... Feel free to add whatever you would like to them.... I hope that you can find ways to make them work for you!

 

 Front ....

 

 Back...
Just enough room for a "QUICK" note....

Reminder... I am NOT talented in the "CARD MAKING" category... 

But... I believe that even the simplest homemade something or other ALWAYS makes a difference!

(So please... do not critique.... well, nevermind, go ahead... I can use some helpful hints!)

 

(I don't always have homemade cards with me...But if I find some in the dollar store - you can bet I'm going to snatch some up!)

CONGRATS to GIVEAWAY #3 WINNERS! 

Jonquil, Diane & Karan! 
Be watching your mail box!!!

I hope you have all entered for Giveaway #4..... 

HURRY!! It isn't too late yet!

OH MY CRAFTY-NESS!!!

Just a little BUZZ here.... You may want to venture over and take a PEEK at some amazing people and their CRAFTI-NESS!!!! So! FUN!!!!!   OH MY CRAFTY!

And... Don't forget.... Giveaway #4 is ending soon..... 

Congrats again to GIVEAWAY #3 Winners!!! 

Their prizes should be arriving soon....

There were 3 WINNERS!!! 

Wanna take a guess at how many winners there will be in Giveaway #4!!!! :) hee hee hee!!!! 

Its a SURPRISE!!! Hurry over there too and play along in GIVEAWAY #4!!!!

Feeling kinda ... blue.......And.... a GIVEAWAY!

 Well... the tree situation is under control. 

If you know me well... or even just a little... you will know that

BLUE is my most least FAVORITE color.... 

But strange things happen every now and again.... 

Last year, the day after Christmas... I just HAPPENED to be in a store that was doing "CLEARANCE" on Christmas stuff... (WHO can pass that up???) ... So, I meandered over and found some GREAT bargains!  

I was so super excited... 

I had such BIG dreams! 

HIGH hopes! 

And an AMAZING imagination..... 

I was just going WILDLY-CRAZY!!! 

I had a WILD HAIR.... 

(yes my Mr. HATES it when I get a WILD hair! LOL!) 

I needed a change for the upcoming year and this sale was PERFECT timing! 

My vision..... 

3 BIG trees....

1- 7' in the front room

1-12-15' in the family room-upstairs

1- 9' in the family room downstairs

THEN...

While I was dreaming.... 

I decided that each of my kids should have trees in their bedrooms as well.... 

oh... and the guest room and MY room....

And it worked out PERFECT too... I found 2' and 3' trees for $2.00 for the set of 2!  STEAL!!! I was so super happy!!!!!  I just couldn't wait until next Christmas....

only 364 days to go!!!! YEAH!!!! 

Only one problem... well two.... I only had one BIG tree - the 7' that we had been using for several years... so I still needed to find a 9' and 12/15'.... no problem... I have 330 days or so to find them...

Yeah right...Bigger TASK than I even imagined!

  Here we are.... 11 months later and I still have not found either tree... I'll keep looking though..... THEN our NORMAL tree - decided to bite the dust as well..... but we got that issue under control (as you know) and it was time to move on.... so..... I pulled out the NEW decorations..... 

Now... just for the record -

(confession time) 

YES! I am OCD! 

(about a lot of things - but we are just talking TREES today!) 

So, from here on out - (well, all along actually) my intent is NOT to offend anyone!  

It is just I....

ME... 

it is MY problem... 

and yes- I know some are offended by it... 

but I in know way mean to offend anyone.... EVER!  

(Are we clear on that??? :)) Please...keep that in mind....

Each of my trees has a "THEME" 

Family Room - (downstairs) - "FAMILY FUN"  

Which consists of a tree made of "events" that have happened through the year 

(so each year new ones are added) 

Colors: Red, Gold and Black 

(yes, the ornaments are the same... homemade - but the same!)

Family Room - (upstairs) - "SWEET SHOP" 

Which consists of gingerbread boys and girls and sweet treats... 

Colors: Red & White 

(again, homemade - yet all the same..) 

Front Room - "WINTER WONDERLAND"  

Which consists of snowflakes, icicles and bells. 

Colors: White, Silver & Blue... 

(struggling with this tree....) 

WAIT!!! HOLD THAT THOUGHT..... 

Did I just say BLUE!?!?! I must be feeling under the weather for sure.... 

(The funny part about this.... as I was "decorating" the tree (alone... by myself... as usual.... because someone is OCD about their tree.... please don't ask why ;)) every single family member... and I mean EVERY... SINGLE... ONE.... one by one would walk in to "CHECK" the status of the tree and they would say

"MOM! You do know that is blue, don't you?"  

or

  "MOM! I thought you hated blue"  

or

"MOM! are you feeling ok? I thought you hated blue... 

but you just did our entire tree in BLUE!?!?" 

or

"WOW.... do you like it mom?".... 

OK EVERYONE!!! 

I see that this is BLUE... 

YES I feel fine.... 

YES I still am not a fan of blue.... 

YES I KNOW it is different..... 

and hmmmmm I'm not so sure I LIKE it just yet...

I'll have to let it sit on me for a while.....

BUT I have now officially decided that I am NOT taking it apart to re-decorate!  

So.... YEP! I'm feeling a bit BLUE...

 

But... here ya go! 

I'm still "tweaking" it a bit 

I removed my draperies (because they were brown - and that SO DID NOT GO! I tried putting some "tulle" along the window - then hung some snowflakes... not sure it's quite what I'm looking for... so still working on that as well.... 

 And then... there is this tree.... 

The tree my kids are REALLY missing this year... the SWEET SHOP tree!

(and I think I'm missing it too!)

I was ready for a "CHANGE" (or I thought I was) but apparently my "BLUE" has really affected everyone.... oops! LOL!   I am still frantically trying to make a "small" tree out of the "broken" trees to put the SWEET SHOP tree together.... But until then.... we're just feeling BLUE around here :) 

Which.... leads me to GIVEAWAY #4!!!! 

HALLELUJAH!  

(I know that is what you are thinking right.... :)) 

Here is my problem... I told you I'm OCD about my trees.... (and I honestly do NOT know why!) I love seeing how people decorate their trees... and they always look so FABULOUS!! I just love the "primitive, country, whimsical trees.... BUT.... Then... I come home ... and I just can't do it! (and I curse.... I mean thank my dad for passing along his "perfectionist" gift to me...) I drive myself CRaZy most of the time with it - so I KNOW I annoy others..... 

Anyway... PROBLEM:

ALL the ornaments that the kido's make... 

at school... 

at church functions...

on their own time ... 

What is a MOM with OCD-ness (otherwise known as "perfectionalism" of the tree) to do with all the "said" ornaments?  It is heart breaking... it really is.... I LOVE them with all my heart! (the kids and their ornaments, just to clarify)... BUT I just can NOT bring myself to putting them on "THE" tree! I know... that makes me a horrible mom....I know this!  It really breaks my heart.... I've tried... I truly have... But I just can't.... I drives me UP THE WALL, CRAZY, NUTS... it stresses me!!!   I even decided one year... well in advance... I needed to allow the kids to decorate "THE" tree with their ornaments... I talked to myself daily about it... repeating "I can do this....I can do this... it is ok... life will be fine.... it's for the kids.... they will love it.... You can do this... you really can..."  I even decided that if I went and purchased "MULTI-COLORED" lights for the tree it would be better... with the "disarray-meant" of colored lights (no uniform structure) and the "MULTI-ORNAMENTS", it would be just fine.... we put up the tree.... it lasted... (I hate to say this...) less than 18 hours... while the kids were at school I undressed the tree and redressed it with the "SWEET SHOP".... funny thing was... my kids didn't even notice... SHEW!  I was safe.... until.... this year... my 9 year old said as she was "unloading" each Christmas bin... "Oh mom! Look! Here is the box full of all the ornaments that all of the children have made for you... are you going to put them on the tree this year....(long pause, because I was desperately searching for the "correct" answer ... the one that would not hurt her feelings...) she continued "or are you just going to leave them in this box so that my nieces don't ruin them".... AWE!!! Good thought Bry~ that is it... "Yep... I think it will be best if we keep them safe in the special box marked "Made with love from my favorite little people" don't you agree?"  "Yeah mom, I think that is a good idea this year....(long pause again) but, if I don't have any new nieces or nephews next year, do you think that we could put them on the tree?"  My reply... "Oh, I'm sure we can figure out something".... ... and inside... I'm praying for ONE of the married kids to announce a new family member will be joining us.... (OH I AM A BAD, SELFISH MOM!) 

SO... here is the GIVEAWAY comment this week.....

Leave me a comment... answering this question.... 

1- Are you a OCD "Tree Snob", (as a new blogging friend deemed us) or are you perfectly content with perfect traditional tree? (1 entry)

2-What do YOU do with all those ornaments made by the little people in your life?
I wanna know.... and I know there are other OCD TREE HOGS  that wanna know too...

Extra entries:

1-Become a follower - or if you are already - just let me know

2-Grab my TIS THE SEASON TO SHARE button over to the right - and post it either on your side bar or in a blog post - and come back and tell me you did

3-Write about this giveaway on your blog - come back and let me know you did (be sure to "link" your posting back to my blog) 

Pretty SIMPLE.... 

You'll never guess what the prize is for this GIVEAWAY!!! 

HEE HEE HEE!!!!! 

Giveaway ends SUNDAY DEC. 4, 2011,  8:00 pm

 

And.... we have some WINNERS!

But... before I SURPRISE you with the winners....

Let me just THANK YOU ALL for your sweet comments and HELP! This whole TREE issue has been VERY VERY STRESSFUL..... but... after spending nearly 6 hours going to stores looking and pricing trees, calling on ads that were placed in the paper and Craigs List....  in hopes of finding a perfect darn tree! Guess what we did! We ended up coming home at 8:30pm and pulled out the 1000 jigsaw piece puzzle tree (not really but it sure seems like it...)  and PUT THE PUZZLE TOGETHER! .... oh don't worry .... it is missing a few "branches" but I just put them on the back side, so don't look in my window... its not the prettiest from that side.... And then... after all that PUZZLE putting together I had to go back and string all the lights on.... 1000 lights... and it wasn't a SIMPLE task... but why in the world! would I expect it to be EASY!?!?!? I had 2 strands of lights and thought I would S-T-R-E-T-C-HHHHHH it out... but didn't make it.  So at 10:40 pm last night I ran to WalMart, only to pay FULL price for the darn lights that were .99 cents the day before.... grrrr!!!  OH WELL.... tree is up... one out of three... not bad.... so sad that I won't be putting up the other 2 trees... but I am on the LOOK OUT for a good clearance price after Christmas - so I don't have to go through this again.... LOL!

I'll post the pictures soon.... just a few things to TWEEK then I'll be ready to share the tree!  LOL!!!
Oh.... and just for kicks I'm going to enter the Christmas Tree Contest over and  "A Whimsical Christams"... if you feel so inclined... I would LOVE a vote from you.... OR enter yourself!!!  Whichever you do... just remember ... "TIS THE SEASON"... for sharing!  Go on.. head over and take a PEEK!

Now.... for the WINNERS of last weeks giveaway.... are you ready for this?!?!?!

EVERYONE THAT ENTERED.. YOU ARE A WINNER!!!!

WOW!!! How simple was that????  You do the math.... 6 entries..+ from 3 different amazing people.... + 3 prizes.... = all of you are WINNERS!!!!  so....
CONGRATS ladies!!!!

Jonquil from A Whimsical Christmas
Lavendar Dreamer from Lavendar dreams too
and Karan (I finally got this one right! :)) from Cozy Christmas Corner & Karan's Holiday Corner
I'm sure they will agree.... pretty painless!!!!

Now ladies.... I need mailing addresses..... send a email message to me at ladybugz4bry at yahoo dot com, and your prizes will be out in no time!

And... get ready for the next giveaway.. to be posted on Monday Nov, 28  - and will end on Sunday Dec, 4 at 8;00 pm Mountain Standard Time.....
I am a tad bit nervous to post my next "theme" for a giveaway.... but.... then again... everyone has been pretty good about my "quirks"....  I hope I still have friends after this one.....

GOOD NIGHT ALL! and thanks again for all your help and concern with my DARN TREE!!!  Sweet people here!

See ya Monday!

Happy Thanksgiving .... Giveaway....and more!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING ALL!!! 

I hope that you all had a WONDERFUL day - and that you enjoyed your family traditions! 

I just wanted to remind you all ... the GIVEAWAY #3 ends on Saturday Nov. 24 at 8 pm - MST....

So... what cha waitin for???  Hurry over and leave a comment or two...or three... or more!!! 

Also wanted to give you a "HINT" about this weeks giveaway ....

1 - there will be 3 winners!  YEP!! 3!!!!! 

2- It is homemade... and perfect for "thanks!" ..... I think you will like it! 

Question.... needing some feed back... 

Do most prefer to know WHAT they MAY win... or do you like SURPRISES???? 

I'm kinda more of a "SURPRISE ME KINDA GAL"... but I'm thinking it isn't so much what BLOG-LAND likes... :(  Just need to know....AND if anyone has any suggestions on how to attract posters to give-aways - let me know as well....  I know it is all about TRAFFIC to your blog - right???? 

Well - hope all is going well!!! I'm off to bed now... just returned from midnight-black Friday shopping and I'm exhausted... and CRANKY!  People are just RUDE! So glad I'm done and I can just ENJOY the Christmas season now! .... Stay tuned... one more giveaway next week ... and then the FUN begins!  Next weeks giveaway will START on Sunday Nov. 25  and end on Wednesday Nov. 30!  It's gonna be a quick one!

Giveaway #3..... are you READY!?!?

Well, I think you all know by now ... that my goal was to have my Christmas all DONE... FINISHED!.... All wrapping, decorating, baking.... EVERYTHING done by Dec. 1 ..... And I think that you will remember how last year SOMEONE just HAD to change my plan.... (you can read this - if you need a reminder... :)) Men... they always think it is all about them... ;) .... Well.... This year I warned him LOUD AND CLEAR! I've been telling him since August - that I have a deadline - and we WILL be done with Christmas by Dec. 1! And he was to not be pulling any SHA-NAN-A-GANS this year! LOL!

WELL..... APPARENTLY I failed to mention to a few others (ahem!) the RULES!  

Quick run down.... 

Nov. 2, at 5:30 pm, we received a frantic call from our daughter that she was rushing her husband to the hospital and he was going in for emergency surgery... she has a 2 year old and 3 year old ... (THE CUTEST 2 and 3 year old ever I will add!) and... well, we all know just how well little ones LOVE hospitals... They truly do LOVE them... all the machines with lots of little lights, buttons, noises and flashing things.... They live about 3 hours from us and they were heading to a hospital another hour and a half FARTHER from us - by 6 we were on our way to pick up the girls from her... a 4 1/2 hour journey was ahead.  He came out about midnight and was one sick young man.  They removed his gangrene appendix, and flushed his stomach cavity with saline and high powered antibiotics,  that was 80% filled with infection, cleaned his intestines and decided he was staying for 5-10 days depending on how he handled the infection.  (We are awaiting pathology reports to see exactly what he has) We arrived home at 4 am with 2 tired  little girls, we all crashed and called it a  night..... 

ONLY I was suppose to be to another hospital the opposite direction at 6 am to sit with my dad while my mom underwent a knee replacement surgery..... needless to say ... I didn't make it (I did call and let them know I would be late) I arrived about 11 am - mom came out of recovery about 2:15.... however, while waiting for my mom, about 12 noon I received a call from my son stating that he fell down a snow covered mountain while carrying his tools.  He tried to "catch" himself, but he was pretty certain that he broke his wrist and messed up his ankle really good! ....My reply... "Well I'm at the hospital already, I'll meet you in the ER" .... shortly after my mom came out - at 2:20 to be exact, I received a call from my hubby.... he informed me that his 83 year old aunt had fallen and broke her hip - and he felt that he needed to go to the hospital to be with his dad..... I hurried home..... exhausted of course....

We kept the girls for 1 week, so that dad could get home and rest a few days before chaos set it... and the 2 year old had a doctor appointment in Salt Lake anyway - On Nov. 8 - my Mr had a routine stress test ... after 3 hours of tests, they told us that he needed to return the next morning for another series... at that point I knew it was not well.... Nov. 9, we returned for 2 hours of testing, I worked for 1/2 a day - then took the 2 year old in for her ENT appointment.  They were REALLY behind .... SURPRISE!  after 4 hours a hearing test and discovering that SHE was going to need surgery as well... this grandma was exhausted.... we headed home in rush hour traffic, loaded the girls up and began our 2 1/2 hour journey to meet mom and dad and return them to their rightful owners .... (we sure miss them already!... but they were missing their mom and dad too!)  We returned home at 10:30 pm ....  and CRASHED in bed! 

Nov. 10, bright and early, our phone rang ... it was my Mr's heart doctor.... he informed us that there was significant blockage detected on the stress test and that he was going to need to go in for heart surgery.  He was to "LAY-LOW" until they could get him scheduled - no strenuous activity at all.... Can you say REPEAT!!! Did he not listen to me????  Sheesh!  

Nov. 16, he went in for heart surgery, my daughter and her family returned to be here for dad and grandpa... they sent us home Wednesday night with instructions to lay flat for 24 hours - avoid lifting, stress, and physical activity for at least 2 weeks...... Nov 18, we were back in the ER for monitoring and tests.... returned home about 11pm - and he is resting comfortably at this moment...... 

SO... you say.... WHAT THE HECK! What does this have to do with a GIVEAWAY!?!?!?! ..... well... I'll tell you.... This week, my giveaway is going to do with THANKSGIVING.... (I've decided that because I get so focused on WHAT to accomplish for Christmas by the end of November... that Thanksgiving is punishing me! It is feeling a bit neglected... ) I never EVER intended on it happening that way at all!  I just know that I don't want to be a STRESSED-OUT-BASKED case come December.... BUT Goals are just that GOALS!  And sometimes we reach them... sometimes we don't....

I think I'm changing my deadline to Oct. 31 for next year  (I'll show them!) AND hopefully you will forgive me for my tardiness... ramblings... and such!

So to keep THANKSGIVING on my side..... This weeks giveaway is....

Tell me what you are THANKFUL FOR! 

I'm THANKFUL for: 

Change - and the ability to adjust 

Goals - that keep me focused and striving to improve 

Food - because there have been times when we have had very little to none 

TRUE friends - because they take me for who I really am

Health - although we have our share of trials in this area - I know it could be worse ... I'm thankful it is not! 

Our home - it is a safe place for us to gather... a safe place for all who enter.

Blessings and Miracles.... we have witnessed a lot of them lately and I feel VERY blessed and grateful that we have been watched over and protected!
Strangers.... because they become my friends! And we all need GOOD friends!   

and mostly I am THANKFUL for my FAMILY....

You just never know when it is your time to go - I am thankful that we have each other and that we are close It is good to know that when everything around us seems to be crumbling, we can gather as a family and conquer the toughest obstacles! 

So.... what are you Thankful for? 

Giveaway Entries:

1-become a follower  (1 entry)

2-Tell us what you are Thankful for! (1 entry)

AND... you can earn extra entries for the following:

3-Write about the giveaway on your blog and come back to let me know you did (2 entries) 

4-Grab my TIS THE SEASON button and place on your blog - come back and tell me you did (3 entries) 

Thats 7 entries!!! HOLY SHMOKES!!!!  

What ya waitin' for???? 

OH.... and there will be 3 lucky winners this week!!!!! 
EVEN BETTER!!!!!
  So come on...
Let's make this a great-ful week -I know I am GRATEFUL to all of you!!!!

THANK YOU! Just isn't enough some times!

WOW!!! What a week! .... WHO am I kidding???? WHAT A MONTH!!!!!  My goodness! 

But! I must say.......

I am so thankful for such AMAZING WONDERFUL AWESOME people!.... in blog land!!!!!  You have done a great service this week and I simply can not thank you all enough!!!!  

Jonquil - I LOVE your JAMMIE tradition!  I would always make certain that my children had new jammies and slippers for Christmas morning.... But now.... Thanks to an amazing SISTER-IN-LAW, she takes care of that (as you know from my post) I no longer need to stress over JAMMIES...but sometimes (ok every year!) I wish I were a kid!!!! I would LOVE some nice, warm, cuddly, soft jammies!!! 

Karan - I too love the CHRISTMAS LIGHT RIDE!  And... I REALLY love your cookie/candy weekend tradition!  I have searched for the past 3 years to find someone that could teach me how to make hand-dipped chocolates... you know.... the kind with the "creamy" centers... hand dipped in YUMMY chocolate!  I have not found a "teacher" (or taker :)) yet!  You wanna volunteer??? :)   And... I just may borrow (I don't like to steal.... ) your "BIRTHDAY Party" for our Savior idea!  LOVE IT! 

Michelle - WOW!!! We have a LOT of the same favorite traditions! :)  I am going to look for "The boy who laughed at Santa Claus:" poem... I am certain that it needs to be added to my Christmas story/poem collection!  I LOVE your new tradition too!!!  I just may have to copy that too!!! I know one thing for sure - you convinced me that I need MUST HAVE Christmas plates! (I've been pleading my case for a couple years now... I think this has officially ended the "case!"  Thank you! ;) )

Lindsay - Thank you for reminding me about the ELF!  We use to have a ELF visit our house every night from Dec. 1 - Dec. 20 - He visited when I just had my first 2 or 3 children - then I think we OVERWHELMED him.. or scared him away.... whichever..... I LOVED the Elf!  He helped to keep us all motivated to be kind, help out, go the extra mile etc... all month long!  He even made sure to leave "COAL" when we weren't at our best... or what HE knew we could be!  I think I'll be sending a letter out to Mr. Elfy Tine this week!  See if we can EARN his visits back! OH! I hope he will accept!  :) 

OH MY GOODNESS!!!  I just have to say one more thing.... THANK YOU ALL for sharing!  You have all given me the extra "BOOST" that I really needed this week to stay focused and motivated!!!! Especially, after the past 19 days!  I was just about to throw in the towel.... slip back into my BAH-HUM-BUG sleeping bag and forget it all!!!!  BUT not no more!!!! NO SIREE!!!  Thank you all SO MUCH!  You will never know just how much you have helped me this week!  And to think that I don't even know you face to face!  What a blessing you all are! 

Jonquil.... thanks again for the "SHOUT OUT" on your blog this past week!  I was so touched that you would do such a kind thing!  SO SWEET OF YOU!!! Thank you!!!!  

Thank you all for keeping me on my toes.... I love to visit ALL of your blogs... and do so quite FREQUENTLY!  :)   Have a WONDERFUL WEEK!!!!    

Be sure to check out this weeks winner....s !!!! here!  :)  

CONGRATS TO YOU ALL !!! 
For SAVING Christmas for me!!!!