In winter I thrift!

On Saturday mornings in the summer, I am up and out of the house earlier than on a workday because I am a yard saler! I get a little sad about the end of October as I know another yard sale season has come to an end. During winter, I head out for some thrift stores. Last weekend I hit a consignment shop for littles - that was having a 75% off sale. I found a bunch of A DOR ABLE outfits for baby (ok only three were 75% off) and the rest $4.00. I also found a package of little missmatched sox for baby (LURVVE them) for $3.50 (I could not grab them fast enough and needless to say I felt I had SCORED.) I also hit a thrift store last weekend - my big score there was a NIP born free nipples level 3.

Today we hit the thrift store that is close to my house and does 33% off on Sundays. My big find was a Lilly Pulitzer t-shirt. It is a size 6x so I may save it or may unload it on eBay for some profit. Oh it cost .95!! I also bought 13 books - for .21 cents each!

How I do love a bargain!

Every day, I spend at least 15-20 minutes on Etsy - SUCH talent. I am going to get a running list of sellers I like:
Pretty Lil Things caught my eye tonight! Definately picking up a few things here!

Another blog contest!

Have you checked out Heather Bailey lately?? She is running a contest ! I really hope I win - but hmm maybe you will. Winner picked Thursday. (No winner annouced yet)

More jewelry giveaways! I never win anything but I know if I share with Mel - she will win! Saucy is one of the most fabulous blogs! Her giveaways are amazing. This one is picked 1/29 at midnight. (OVER)

Found another one - Pioneer Woman gives away some good stuff! But you do have to compete with 20K people. (this one is over!)

This is not a contest - but pretty cool. Go here and comment!!

Ali Edwards just posted this one and it will run through Sunday the 31st! That stuff from Blue Moon Scrapbooking is gorgeous!

A tribute to Fran

On Saturday, I said goodbye to my friend Fran. At her funeral, they asked if anyone had any stories - for various reasons I did not share. But this is what I would have liked to say.


The other two guys have portrayed the giving generous kind hearted side of Fran. But Fran also had a hilarious streak.

-She is the only person that lovingly referred to people as "Crackwh0re."

-She would tell me one of the estimators - he could mess up a wet dream.

-She ran our little vending area - and when the guys would empty out her truck - inevitabily something extra would come in. She would say those guys would bring in the seats to the truck if they weren't attached.

- She was never just hungry - she was starving - she would often say - I'm about to eat the tables and chairs, or chew off my own arm.


She wasn't just a coworker. I adored her and I admired her.

- She made everyone at the offices birthday special. She baked cakes for us and got gifts for us. The reverand said if you gave her $1.00 she would spend it on someone else. THAT WAS SO TRUE.

- Someone said she didn't judge. She loved everybody for who they were - some she thought were crazy but she never tried to change them.


Alison said - she loved miniatures and that extended to people.

- Once I told her that I was pregnant, she starting telling me I needed to have a girl. She bought enough boy clothes and she needed a girl. The morning before I left for the sonogram - she said "Don't forget it needs to be a girl" She was so happy when I got back and said "It's a Girl!" That was a Friday - Monday I came in to the office and was welcomed with a BIG bag of Gymboree clothes - all pink!


In life, you have friends and you have family and you have acquaintences. And then you have people that make you wonder what did I ever do to have someone so wonderful come into my life. Fran was one of those people.


Forever Missed!
If I could add songs to this blog, I would play Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson, Cryin' for Me by Toby Keith and Go Rest High on the Mountain by Vince Gill - all played at the service and they were so touching.

An online contest for stuff I love!

http://www.hostessblog.com/2010/01/surprise-giveaway-polka-dot-design/comment-page-8/#comment-66914

If you win, share with me. If you know of other blog giveaways. let me know and I will add to the post. There used to be a whole blog about blog giveaways but she shut down - anyone know of another one?

And now what you really come for -

December in Review

What books and/or magazines did I read this month?

Second Glance by Jodi Picoult - not that great. She is definately a writer that got better.

What movies, television shows, plays, etc. did I watch this month?

You know, we don't have cable at my house so we rely on DVD's and the computer. I was so busy the first half of the month did not watch much of anything. During the Christmas holidays, we watched Four Christmases, The Proposal, The Ugly Truth, Ghosts of Girlfriends Past and Julie & Julia. All very chick movies and the only one I slightly recommend is Julie & Julia. I had high hopes for Girlfriends Past as I love Jennifer Garner and Matthew McC... it had a few cute lines and I still wonder why his Uncle called him "Dutch"?

What fun things did I do with my family and/or friends?

Perhaps my favorite was the office holiday party. I brought the baby to work - along with Nanny Grandma. I planned the menu, I bought the prizes. Things I will plan farther in advance - christmas music and how to do the give aways. But all in all it was a nice party. I truly love the company that I work for - really great people.

Did you take any trips or vacations or did someone come and stay with you at your house?

The end of the month, we headed up to NJ for a few days, visited with Jeff and checked on my mom's house. It was pretty quiet.

What special or unusual purchases did I make?

I will have to double check my amex - I really did not go crazy at Christmas. A few gifts for mom, a few for Jeff, something for Grammy and Grandpoppopa. Nothing for Daisy - oh well. I decorated the tree all for her. (Niki a picture for you!) I thought it was stunning and oh gee Jan 15 and it is still up!

What illnesses or health concerns did I have?
None that I can think of.
What gifts did I give and/or receive?
Lots of wonderful Christmas presents.
What were my accomplishments this month?

What were my disappointments this month?

one small item - the ornament swap that I hosted did not get returned as planned. Oh and well there is some disappointment in my life with my bf/Daisy's dad. But I am not ready to talk about that quite yet. It is a long and winding road and I am not sure where I am along that road. Time will tell. (You see my life is not all pink Daisy's and baby smiles - but my blog is)
Anything else noteworthy to include?

There was a humongoud cowaboungous blizzard in Maryland in December. A good 24 inches - I worked the whole weekend BUT I got extra time off later in the week around Christmas so it was a great trade off.

525,600

How do you measure a year? in daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee...

I have been thinking about this post - and a FB (more on FB later) friend posted this song and I thought it was the perfect way to describe this year.

2009 was the most amazing wonderful happy joyous fabulous year for me - all due to the birth of my amazing daughter! I have always wanted to be a mom from 4 years old playing with my doll Mandy to every little face I babysat for (50-75 children) made me want to be the mom. Throughout my pregnancy, I was so happy but scared too! The day I gave birth to Daisy - there just are no words.

The first week after - was then the darkest time in my life - all the stress of pregnancy and delivery, with all the overwhelmed feeling of being a new mom, throw in the lack of sleep and I lost it. I had to seel medical treatment because mentally I was not well. Post partum is a very scary feeling and luckily I got quick treatment and was back on track quickly. I had to stay overnight at the funny farm at the local hospital. It was at this hospital that I met two angels on earth. The first was my delivery nurse - she was so perfect! the second was a security guard who just gave me some great advice. He reassured me. I think about the other moms that I met and wonder how they are doing. I pray for them - that they are recovering, getting good medical care.

Another great thing about 2009 - I was truly "showered" with love. So So many people truly showered me with all the things I needed for a new baby. and things I needed to survive with a new baby. Each time I use a gift I feel that person helping me and taking care of both baby d and I.

Only one other notable things in 2009 - Facebook! To me the greatest invention thus far in the millienium! I love that I can connect with my friend Chad who my mom babysat for when I was about a year old and now lives in Zambia (which I would not be able to locate on a map) to Amy who sits one desk away from me. Family and Friends and quick updates! I love that I now know more on a day to day basis how the people that have been special in my life from Ambler drive, to elementary school, to high school, to college, to ALL my scrapbook peeps to my family are doing.

If you have read this far - please take a moment to comment - it would make me happy to know who is reading and who even cares when I update! PLEASE.

and now some baby cuteness photo by www.AshleyLayfieldPhotography.com