I know.. it's September and I'm already thinking about Christmas gifts.. I just know though by the time the fall slows down.. Christmas will be RIGHT there... So I'm trying to prepare... I was looking at sites for "FRUGAL CHRISTMAS" and I found this one... It has coupons.. and this is the coupon I'm ASKING for for CHRISTMAS!! LOL

I did want to share with you what I made for my hubby's GRAM..... Please give some feedback.. I'm always up to it!! THANK YOU for those that commented my picture frame!!!

Yeah.. my joy is smudge here.. but it's been fixed!! YAY!!

THE WINNER IS....................................

You win the little cat bag down below with a few extra goodies enclosed.... Just send me a personal e-mail wtkasmith@verizon.net and send me your addy!!! Can't wait for you to get it!!

Ok.. time for you HONESTY.. I'm racking my brains this year for Christmas.. I don't want to do a material Christmas.. I just don't!!! I want to focus on the beauty of the season and why we celebrate.... So I made something.. and NOW I want your HONEST opinion... I say I'm a scrapper and I have shown you NOTHING.... This is a tiny bit like Scrapping...

If I were to GIVE you this gift ( of course if you knew the child in the picture that would help. ha ha ha)... Would you be happy with this??? Please be HONEST I can sooooooooooo TAKE IT!!! It's NOT 100% done... got a few tiny things to add... and the picture looks a bit "dull" here.. it's more vibrant in person....

One more post for today.. I was interviewed by the Lovely ROXANN... who by the way is kicking BUTT on Weight Watchers... She's looking fabulicious!!! GO GIRL!!! Here are her questions to me..

1. Your class reunion is coming up. Do you "give yourself a makeover" aka hair, makeup, clothing, lose weight OR do you go "just as your are?" Why or why not?

**** When I read this question a couple days ago.. I first thought I would get my hair done.. I'm not a big make-up girl... but I do like to get my hair done.. However.. it was brought to my attention last night.. that one of my daughters 16 year old MALE friends said to her "Hey.. you know your mom could be classified as one of the "HOT" moms if she lost a little weight"....
I didn't know if I should laugh or be depressed because he saw me "chunky"... sighh..it STINKS because I'm an avid exerciser.. why do I have to deal with "CHUNK".. so maybe I would try a smidge harder to lose a bit of weight... sighhhhhhhhh

2. If you found out you were having a baby......what would be your top baby boy and baby girl names?

*** First I would FREAK!! Since there shouldn't be any possible way........... and I just saw the prices of baby stuff GASP!! However.. if I had a boy.. I like the name Troy... and for a girl.. Andrea....

3. What's your favorite bible verse? Why?

"A friend loveth at all times" Proverbs 17:17
Because I firmly believe this holds true.. those who are you true friends.. will love you no matter what!!

4. What's the one thing you'd love to put on your grocery shopping list, but won't let yourself do it because it seems like either a waste of money or it's just "too bad" for you?!!

Hmmm... maybe that's my "chubby" problem.. I really don't limit myself of good food... however I think Peppridge Farm cookies are WAY over priced for like 4 cookies in a package.. LOL LOL

5. What is your most favorite birthday memory you have? Describe it.

*** hmm favorite Birthday.. probably the one that just passed... from 18 and up.. I've had the greatest friends and birthdays.. 18 I could finally get into dance clubs.. ha ha ha.. and then 21 I could drink at those dance clubs.. ha ha ha ( which I rarely did cause I hate alcohol).. and maybe to this one 35th cause if I went to buy alcohol I'd still get carded... LOL LOL LOL....

**********PRODUCT REVIEW**********---AGAIN..





I got this candle for my birthday... now I love candles... but I have to tell you.. this "flavor" is HEAVENLY!!!

Well.. all I have to say is this.. if you sign up for my CONTEST below.. I 'm going to make sure you get a little piece of this HEAVEN with that Cat Bag... So HURRY if you haven't joined!!! You won't be sorry!!!

The other day, I read this post from Jaydee ( she is truly inspiring.. and I ADORE her blog.. It's a MUST and I mean MUST read!!!) and decided I was game. ( I copied this whole blurb from her blog.. thanks Jaydee...)

here are the basics:

Leave me a comment saying “interview me.” I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions. If you don’t have a valid email address on your blog, please provide one. you will update your blog with a post containing your answers to the questions. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Here are her five questions to me.. and my answers!!

1)what do you consider your biggest character flaw?

*** My biggest character flaw... hmmm this one is hard.. because I have to be honest... and who likes to be honest about their flaws....?? I think sometimes I react to situations to fast instead of thinking things out.. by this I mean.. if a cashier at a story is snappy.. I can react snappy to quick... instead of thinking.. "well she might be having a bad day".. It happened to me just this morning.. however.. this was the SECOND time the girl was snappy.. so I'm beginning to think it's not just me..
2)you've just been given a once use only pair of ruby slippers. what will you wish for?

*** For real parents.. I'll be honest.. I feel really cheated in life because I never had real parents.. yes... I grew up with a mother and a father.. but never once in my 35 years have I ever heard the words "I love you" drip from their lips... and never a hug.. and never.. have a great day... I want a mom that I can call up and tell EVERYTHING to... but I don't... But the Lord has blessed me with a GREAT Southern friend.. whom I look up to highly... even though we have never met.. I know... in my heart.. I can pick up that phone and poor it out to her.. and she would listen.. and be honest.. but she has children of her own.. so I would never step over her boundaries..

3)panties or mascara? (you can only choose one lol)

** Mascara 100%!! Everyone sees my eyes.. !!

4)please tell us about your decorating style

*** I am a primitive decorator.. and I'm addicted.. everything in my house needs to be old.. ( except the computer.. )... Take me to a good yardsale or second hand store... and I'm there for hours.. deciding where my next treasure will go!!

5) brittney spears knocked on YOUR door in the middle of the night begging you to help her turn her life around. what will you do?

*** I would open my door.. I believe everyone deserves a second chance.. I was a young mother once that made may stupid mistakes.. none as deep as hers.. but I believe she is a Christian woman just swayed by the lost world of to many one hit wonders..!! Nobody can save another person.. that's up to Jesus.. but I would try to be the best example that I could be...
( that's really a hard question Jaydee.. lol lol lol)

I was reading one of my regular blogs... WENDY... She had a post about "Paying it Forward".. so here I am.. I was the third one to reply.. ( never thought that would happen).. but I decided to play because I made something.. that I'm going to share!! So.. yes I made these by hand and I made my own patterns and everything.... I will SEND YOU ONE... of the cats.. filled with a couple of goodies...

I adore primitive things and I LOVE to decorate that way for all the seasons and holidays...

What you need to do is tell me what is your most favorite tradition that you and your family do during the fall seasons. Is it leaf peeping?? Apple picking?? Do you do a corn maze...?? Let me know.. Link this back to your blog.. and let me know that you did.. I will put your name in the running and pick ONE winner on September 23,2007 the FIRST day of FALL!!!

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves." Romans 12:10



Yesterday was 9/11. An anniversary of a horrible tragedy for all Americans AND others from other countries. However yesterday, every site I visited, ever group I belong to seemed to shun the thought on this tragedy. I got e-mails that stated "it hurt more for me than it did for you because I was so close." or "if you're going to show pictures or write about it WARN us before you post it".. or "I'm not opening the 9/11 thread".. I don't know why but this saddened me. Truly and deeply.



9/11 WAS and STILL is horrific. But 9/11 is real. I remember what I was doing.. I remember who I was with.. and I remember how my children reacted. I remember my daughter making 200 angel necklaces and giving every single being in her school one and mailing one to the President of the United States. I remember the questions. I even remember the smell and the weather...if I remember all that WHY oh WHY can't I remember the fallen people? Why can't I remember those who were there and those who went to save those who were there that LOST their lives. Why should I SHUN all that from my thoughts and memories. I'm angry that others think that we shouldn't remember. I'm angry that others told me to shut up. I'm angry! and I don't like being angry! 9/11 is RAW.. and REAL.. and all those that lost their lives or even watched the horrific display should be honored and remembered. I wouldn't have it any other way.



Yesterday while driving around I saw very little but rain.. until I drove up to my local Fire Department. My heart stopped.. I wanted to get out of my car and THANK these men for taking the time through the pouring rain to honor those who had fallen in their career. My husband being an awesome man that he is.. took me BACK to the firestation and parked right out front.. I took a picture.. not the greatest due to the weather... but I knew in my heart.. I did not, nor do I ever want to forget 9/11.. it brought our country closer to one another.. it even brought some of the nonbelievers closer to Christ, who am I to judge upon this?



Here is my home town picture!
I hope my thoughts don't seem insensitive because I'm not trying to be. I just believe every American was effected deeply and I'm truly.... ever so truly..... sorry for those that lost a loved one during this tragedy.

"Fear of man will prove to be a snare, but whoever trusts in the Lord is kept safe." Proverbs 29:25

I know that this scripture is self explanatory.. but yet.. I'm reading this...

I'm not new to Jodi Picoult ( pronounced Pea-co) books.. but this one touches home for me... It's based in New Hampshire a small town called Sterling, fictional, yet non-fiction reading this book. She talks about Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center--the place of my employment, Alice Peck Day Hospital, Concord the State Capitol,Keen... all places of which I have been.. this book has sucked me right in.. yet the story line is heartbreaking.. one that I hope my children never have to face or one my children never become. I am only through the first 100 pages.. but since reading is my second highest passion of leisure.. I'm sure I will be done with it soon... If you get a chance to read ANY of her books.. I warn you.. that they are all addicting... Yet non Christian.. but yet.. true to life...

Quick post for today~~~ If you have not bought this CD.. I suggest it.. it's AWESOME!!! ENJOY!!!

Yup.. guess who had a Birthday .. Little ole me!! I did.. I did.. I turned 35 Yesterday! Saturday I had a really nice party with a bunch of friends... I got so many thoughtful and amazing gifts.. and at the end of the night we played Music trivia of the 80's!! Welllllllllllllll.. give you two guesses who WON that one!!! There are some serious.. serious one hit wonders in the 80's though.. some singers I NEVER heard of.. and honestly.. I'm glad I never did.. HA HA HA.. So if you're looking for a partner on a music game.. I'm there... So this post might seem like my last post.. because........ with everything good... that came.. I lost something too.......... sighhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Believe it or not.. yesterday... being my true birthday.. it rained.. no biggie.. cause I had the great party the day before.. so I relaxed in the afternoon between phone calls and people stopping in.. ( I LOVE my friends)... and then we had a couple stay for dinner... as my friend was microwaving butter for corn... it made a funny noise and then SIZZLED!! YUP it decided to die out.. sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... Ok.. Ok.. it's been good to us for 10 years.. I can't complain.. right?? Well.. finally I fall asleep last night.. and around 3am this morning I hear a HUGE crash... I jump out of bed... as does hubby.. we checked the kids rooms.. NOTHING.. We run downstairs ONLY to realize that our ceiling to our hallway cracked and smashed to the floor........ WHAT??????????????? sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh... I'm not sure if we should call our homeowners insurance or just replace it ourselves.. any opinions on that?? Would I take a chance of being dropped?? My home is pretty old.. 1912 and this IS the original ceiling... they are aware of all that.. hmmmm give me some idea ladies!! LOL LOL

*** Side note.. Chris.. I can't find the link to your blog.. :( When you post it doesn't show up anymore... so if you could send that to me ..pretty please I would ever be so grateful.. I won't post it here.. but I'd like to put it in my computers personal favorite.. e-mail if you would like.. wtkasmith@verizon.net!! Thanks!!

For every great thing I find..I seem to lose something that I love... grrrr.. Understand what I mean?? Well, I found a GREAT find in my basement.. something I did NOT realize I had and have WANTED for the past year. I tell you it PAYS to clean the basement every once in awhile. This is what I found!!I know.. I know.. it doesn't look like much to some.. but it's a PRESSURE CANNER... and I was pricing these bad billies on line.. and they wanted HUNDREDS of Dineros for these!!! I squealed with delight when I saw it..and popped it open.. inside I found...

along with

I know.. I know.. rules and regulations have changed since then.. so I have to get something more modern... but I still have to figure out how to use this puppy!! I am tickled that I can now can soups and stews.. and left overs if need be! I can do water baths no problem.. but this just tickles me!!! So I'll have to fill you in on how my future adventures go with this....

Ok.. you're probably wondering what I lost.. right?? Sadly.. these photos you see here.. will be the last ones I use on my digi camera.. my little Nikon that I adored... was taken by my son and brought up to the neighbors home... all 4 boys decided to "film" their tinkertoy fights.. until the child who was filming the camera DROPPED it on concrete.. The boy is Autistic ( high functioning) and is all doll but he was filming and one of the boys was squirting him with water.. and he got upset..naturally... sighhhhhhhhhh of course all of this was done WITHOUT my permission.. but we can't go to the past can we?? and I can't look there either and wonder about the WHAT IF'S...sighhhhhhhh... so I don't know when I'll get another and be able to post pics.. I LOVE pics... sighhhhhhhhhhhhhhh....