There Are Days...........

There are days when you want to be somewhere but can't, because you have obligations to be at another place.

There are days when your mind drifts to a certain person and tears sting your eyes as you think of the unfairness in the fact they are no longer here.

There are days when you question that unfairness and feel your heart break a bit for they have missed out on lots of very important happenings.

There are days when you stand and look at a father with tears falling from his eyes as he gazes at his new grandson, cradled in the arms of his only daughter for the very first time.

There are days when you think it impossible so much time has past and that new mother was just a child herself, only a few years ago.

There are days when you are so thankful to have had the opportunity to wake in the morning and experience so many wonderful moments the day has held.

There are days when you suddenly feel older than dirt at the thought of being a "great" anything to anyone...even if it is only an Aunt.

There are days that you will remember forever as being special to your heart....this was one of those days.

"The Olden Days" - Share Beauty Tips for Summer and Win a $50.00 Visa Gift Card

Do you remember being a teenager and asking your mom about things that happened in the olden days? Well, imagine if you will, being asked that very question in the present day by your own kids. Talk about an eye opener on many levels, but also a chance to remember the good ole days and share what worked and did not work for you growing up. Below is the transcript of how our little question and answer session went one afternoon between my daughter and myself. Maybe you will remember some of the same things as you read along. Enjoy.



daughter: Mom, what is the most important beauty tip to remember when you are my age for summertime?
me: One of the most important beauty tips for summer is a girl needs to look her best all the time. Wearing makeup is always a plus, but in the summer months you can get by with very little at all. I never wore makeup other than eye makeup during the summer months because I had lots of color from the sun.
daughter: Mom, did you ever lay out in the sun to get a suntan long ago? I mean, you are rather white and never lay out now.
me: Thanks, but nevermind that last comment. I will truthfully say I used to lay out for hours at a time and, believe it or not, I always sported a rather dark tan. Now, honestly, I have to say this is a do as I say, not as I do statement and I would not recommend you do the same thing now.
daughter: Did you use a sunscreen?
me: No. Baby oil and iodine only. Worked like a charm, but not the safest way to get a little color in the summer.
daughter: What is Iodine?
me: They don't make it any more. I'm saying this while I cross my fingers behind my back. Heck, for all I know, they may not make it anymore, so I just left it at that. I did not feel the need to have her going to look for iodine at the store.
daughter: What is the worse thing you ever did to try to make yourself more beautiful during the summer months?
me: When I was in high school, all the rage was spraying a product in your hair called SUN-IN. The commercials showed beautiful blond-haired models sporting tans and they looked just they way I wanted to look during the summer months. I purchased the product, sprayed it in my hair and stayed out in the sun all afternoon.
daughter: Did it work? Did you look like the models on television?
me: Oh, it worked all right. That night I was sporting a red sunburn and fire-bright orange hair. I looked like the orangutan from the zoo. I was not blond by any means and it took weeks to wear off. Luckily, by the time school started, I was back to looking more like myself. That, my dear, was the biggest mishap I can remember.


(Image from google)
daughter: Any other beauty tips or mishaps you remember from summers so long ago?
me: (shaking head) Only one. I was getting ready for a date with a special boy I had a crush on. I wanted everything to be perfect and really tried to make a good impression. As I was getting ready, I wanted to shave my legs again and ran to my parents bathroom and used my dad's shaving cream. Mind you, back in the day we did not have shaving cream for women -- or if we did, my mom did not buy it. So I used the shaving cream and finished getting ready. When he picked me up he commented on the fact that I smelled nice. I was beaming at his words, and then he said he could have swore he got a whiff of his dad's aftershave. I was mortified. I had used my dad's aftershave to shave with instead of shaving cream.
daughter: What did you do? LOL.
me: Well, as soon as we got to the movie theater, I went to the restroom and used paper towels to wipe my legs off, then sprayed perfume on them. It was a very embarrassing moment. You know, you are so lucky that in this day and age you don't have to do things the way we did back in the olden days. For example, I take you to the beauty salon to get your hair highlighted and provide you with plenty of sunscreen when you are poolside. I also buy you great products like Satin Care Passionista Fruit Shave Gel, which has a rich formula, infused with the sparkling scent of juicy, fresh fruit and leaves your skin soft and satiny smooth every time you shave. You also don't have to worry about using your dad's old razor to shave with and you have the opportunity to use great razors like the Venus Embrace which has five blades for a close and comfortable shave and a Ribbon of Moisture for a smooth glide.



Yes, little girl, we sure had it rough in the olden days. You really don't realize that was such a short time ago, and it won't be long before you will be explaining to your own children all the things you did in the olden days of 2012. You might want to keep a journal so you don't forget how primitive things really were.
daughter: (rolling eyes) Okay, thanks mom, I think I will go out to the pool for a bit. Now, where is that baby oil?

What's the best beauty tip you have shared with your daughter to prepare her for the summer or share your funniest beauty mishap for the chance to win a $50 Visa gift card!
I know for sure I am not the only one who remembers those olden days of only a few years ago. (FYI, Venus has some great tips for first-time shavers over here.)
Rules: No duplicate comments. You may receive (2) total entries by selecting from the following entry methods: a) Leave a comment in response to the sweepstakes prompt on this post b) Tweet about this promotion and leave the URL to that tweet in a comment on this post c) Blog about this promotion and leave the URL to that post in a comment on this post d) For those with no Twitter or blog, read the official rules to learn about an alternate form of entry. This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older. Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. You have 72 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
The Official Rules are available here. This sweepstakes runs from 7/26 - 8/23.
Be sure to visit the Venus brand feature page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!
Have you checked out the Life Well Lived section of BlogHer.com? There are some great tips and expert posts on everything from Looking Your Best to Getting Happy and Getting Organized!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Recipe: Don't Waste The Grapes Salad

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This week, I want to share a salad recipe that a belonged to the grandma of a friend of mine. She said she called it "don't waste the grapes salad" and well, as funny as she always was...I can certainly see and imagine her saying that.

This is amazingly good. It keeps for several days, I made this and on day four after it was made, it was really better than the first day. It is so good.

Below is the original recipe....but with the modern adjustments.

"Don't Waste The Grapes Salad" by Doreen Norwood

Ingredients:

3-5 pounds wild seedless grapes picked fresh ( I used green and red seedless)

1 cup warm goats cheese ( I used one 8oz. package cream cheese softened)

1 cup real cream at room temp. ( I used one 8oz. container sour cream)

about 1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

splash of lemon juice ( I did not have any lemon, so I omitted this all together)

about 1 1/2 cups nut meats ( I used pecans, but you could use walnuts)

2 Tablespoon brown sugar

To Prepare:

Pick grapes off stems and wash and dry. Set aside. Cream with large spoon cheese, cream sugar and vanilla. ( I used a hand mixer to cream the cream cheese, sour cream, sugar and vanilla.)  Add grapes to large bowl and swoosh until all is mixed and coated well. Lastly, mix brown sugar and nut meats and mix again. Chill until ready to serve.


* Footnote: bottom of recipe card read:  Note:  when you have a lot of grapes to harvest and get tired of making jelly, this is a great addition to your dinner table. Don't waste the grapes is a staple at Sunday dinner around here and has been for nearly 50 years or minus the years we did not get a good grape crop. It is a no fail dish.

The substitutions I used worked well. This is so good, creamy and refreshing on a hot afternoon with just a little something is what you need to make it till dinner. Trust me, it is oh. so. good and keeps well for several days.

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!

Sammie.....slowed down but not for long!

I am sure you remember a few months ago, when we brought Sammie home to live with us. He was not planned..as so many wonderful surprises seem to be!

He has settled in rather well here with us.....he is full of energy!!

He has filled back out from being too thin and looks so much better! No more ear mites....has all his shots and was heart worm negative and now on medication to keep him that way!! He is a fireball to say the least!

He loves toys...especially Santa Claus related toys!!! He has an internal alarm clock and gets us up by 5:45am each and every day.....even weekends. I have not felt like this since my kids were babies!!! You remember that tired feeling when you wanted to sleep late but could not!! However, just like those babies were, he is so much fun....full of energy....but that came crashing to a halt on Friday.

Poor little man went for a little snip-snip and well lets just say, this is not fun and games.

Bailey was just as distraught as he was....her running buddy and game  playing buddy is all of a sudden looking like something out of a space movie......and he does not want to run and chase.

It has been a couple of days of this....laying around.......

But like the ole sayin' goes....you can't keep a good man down!!!  Space helmet or no space helmet!!!  Now....I have to figure out how to try and calm this wild boy for the next few days!! As you can see.... we have our hands full!!!

Dove Visiblecare Creme Body Wash Review: Ladies it is time to throw out that bar soap!

When I was asked to do a product review for Dove Visiblecare body wash, I was excited to try this new product. It is totally new to me as I always use bar soap when showering and thought it would be a nice change to try something new.

Here in Texas, the summers are brutal. It is hot and muggy and the extreme weather conditions takes a toll on my skin, leaving it dry and looking rather haggard. After using Dove Visiblecare body wash for two weeks straight, I began to see a difference in not only the way my skin felt but how it looked too.

My skin seems more softer and more supple and looks wonderful. I notice that my skin has a more youthful appearance and at my age, that is short of a miracle. The dry spots that normally give me issues during the summer months are all but gone and now my skin feels smooth and soft.

It could be the ‘NutriumMoisture’ that the product touts that sets this product apart from just bar soap. Whatever it is, it has impressed me and I am loving the way my skin feels soft and smooth and not dry.

Another thing I have noticed since I have been using Dove Visiblecare creme body wash is the fact I have been about to cut back on the amount of moisturizer and lotions I normally use after a bath. I still use some other moisturizing products, but not nearly as much as I normally use during the dry months.

This body wash is available in three variants, according to the website.

1. VisibleCare Toning Crème Body Wash – helps to promote skin’s elasticity and strength.
2. Renewing Body Wash – nourishes and replenishes skin.
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I have always been a soap bar kind of girl, now I can honestly say not so much. What about you? Do you use bar soap in the shower or body wash? Inquiring minds want to know. If you'd like to try this great product for yourself see below to get a coupon for $1 off for this product PLUS information on winning a Spafinder gift certificate worth $500.

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age

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This sweepstakes runs from 7/18/2012 - 8/22/2012
Be sure to visit the Dove^® VisibleCare™ Crème Body Wash brand page on BlogHer.com where you can read other bloggers’ reviews and find more chances to win!

Vintage Thingie Thursday: Vintage Mexico Treasures

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This week for my contribution of Vintage Thingie Thursday, I have a few items to show you of my vintage Mexico inspired treasures. To be honest, I did not realize how much of these types of items I had. This post is just a few of my much loved Mexican inspired things. These treasures are proudly displayed in my kitchen. I really think they are charming.


I have several vintage planters. This is one of my favorite....well, to be honest, they are all my favorite. But this little burro has such vibrant colors, his sweet little face gets me every time I look at him. This does not have any markings on the bottom, except for a number 9 with a line underneath the number on one hoof.



Oh, this little donkey is so adorable. I purchased this one off of eBay.  The colors are much more vibrant than the photo shows. He has little baskets that attach in the front that are salt and pepper shakers, the larger baskets in the back hold oil and vinegar. All the little cork stoppers are with these baskets. The bottom has a JAPAN sticker and markings are Betson's Handcrafted. I don't think the original owner used this because the condition of this little donkey is pristine.



Again, these two little planters are another of my favorites. I purchased the Little Amigo at an antique store. I thought he was so cute and had to have him. One night when I was looking on EBay, I found the Little Amiga planter to match. I could not believe it. I quickly purchased her so I would have the set. What did I need a set of these for? To be honest, I did not NEED them, I just liked them very much and they make me happy. That's it. There are no markings of any kind on the bottom of these planters.



Oh, here is the papa planter to the two above. This one is so cute. I can just imagine the mariachi music this guy would be happy to sing to me while I am in my kitchen cooking. There are no markings on the bottom of this planter.


This little fellow is taking a siesta.....I wish I was. He is so cute. Again, one of my favorites. This is very small. It is only about 2 1/2 inches tall and nearly 3 inches wide. I don't think a plant would thrive in this little planter. I purchased this at a local antique store with the intentions of using it as a toothpick holder. The bottom is stamped JAPAN.


This is a cute little small cup and saucer. It is clearly marked Mexico. I don't really think it is as old as some of the other items I have. However, I love the colors and wanted to include it here today.


Finally, I have my very special vintage tablecloth. I am sure you noticed it in the other photos. This is a square tablecloth with Mexican Pots embroidery and cute rickrack trim. My mother-in-law Pat gave me this tablecloth along with a couple other tablecloths she had about a two months before she passed away. Her only request was that I take very good care of them. No problems there, this is one of my favorite tablecloths. A real treasure. I wish she would have told me where this tablecloth came from and who did the work. Sadly, she did not. I often wonder if she did this work herself several years ago or if it belonged to a relative. I so wish I knew.

Here is a close up of the detail. I love the hand work on the rickrack trim. It adds such a sweet touch.

Vintage Thingies Thursday: Vintage Sewing Notions

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

Since I was scrambling for something to show this week, I happened to glance around my sewing room and found a couple of treasures......Sorry I am late with the link...Life is rather full these days!!

This is a box of Dritz Tailors' Chalk. Look at the price....you'd never see a price tag like that retail today!!

Vintage Pinking Sheers. I love the box that houses these sheers....

But I adore the bakelite handles on the actual sheers more!! These are really a lovely pair and I never use them.....even though I guess I really should!! They are just pretty to look at!!

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!!

Vintage Thingie Thursday:

Welcome everyone to Vintage Thingies Thursday. If you have a love for vintage things, well....you have come to the right place. We have a really good time each and every week!!!
If you are new to this party, please take the time to read and follow the instructions for participating in Vintage Thingies Thursday, click HERE. I try and keep things fairly simple, so please make sure you follow the instructions. Please only ONE link per week. Lastly, if you link in, LINK back to my blog, so everyone can see all of the vintage goodies on display that day. If you don't link back here, they won't know who to visit......thanks so much.

This week, I dug around in our shed and found a couple of old windows I have been holding on to. My husband saw me drag one of them out and was happy as he thought I had decided to get rid of these windows....are you kidding me???  Ummmm...  N-O !!!!

Here it sits against a tree after I took the hose to it to wash it off  a bit....I do have a plan for this window......but it will have to wait until this weekend.

Here are some milk glass vases and lots of vases that are not milk glass, but you'd never know it now...they had a little makeover and now all of them are beautiful white vases....they have a job to do and I will tell you all about it in a few days.

We have lots of old abandoned  buildings that were once businesses all across our town. One day not long ago I spotted a sign in the window of one of the buildings. The windows had bars, but behind the bars on the outside of the window was this advertisement for a circus that came to town.

No date, but I know it had been there for a long time. The tape was wearing off and it was barely still on the window. I talked my husband into driving the "get-away-truck" as I decided to "rescue" this old or at least looks old poster.

I have plans for it as well as the old window.....I have been super busy the last couple of months and soon, I can show you what I have been working on!!

In case you have not noticed, I sometimes go to the extreme when I see something I want. Even it if means prying it off an old window and behind burglar bars at that! I call it trying to improve rundown properties by clearing the windows of trash!!! Ahem....do you agree??

Happy Vintage Thingie Thursday!

Do you like a Mystery.....do you like to make quilt blocks????

I love a mystery!! Not only do I love a mystery, but I love to lend a hand when I can!!

There was a blog post and facebook status yesterday from a quilter,, fabric designer, Thomas Knauer, whom I follow. Thomas was asking for help with a new quilt project. He is an amazing quilter and his fabric lines are a breath of fresh air. If you have never visited his blog, I would recommend that you pay him a visit. His work is refreshing and I really am inspired by his quilting.

He asked a question on facebook yesterday about asking for volunteers to make a block.....He was not sure he would get enough support and it is a all or nothing type of project. He was encouraged to give it a shot and lots of folks have agreed to doing a mystery block. Thomas assured it was very easy to do. He needs 225 DIFFERENT folks to participate or this won't work like it needs to work. The fabrics will be sent and the pattern and you add a piece or two from your stash and complete the block. Easy Peasy!!

Stop by his post HERE and read the details. I signed up and hope you take a moment to do the same...I really LOVE this type of thing and being a part of something that a quilting community does together!!

Won't you join us....he still needs lots of help with this project and quilters always come through for each other!!  It is JUST one block.....fast, done and leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment in helping to see a project completed!! Plus....it is a mystery......in a way!!!  LOVE IT!! Stop by and sigh up....Tell Thomas I sent you!! Lets do this together!