I did it, I reached 200 !

What's with the new look you ask? or maybe you didn't ask

well, it is time to CELEBRATE!~!

Yes, I reached my 200th post. What started out at a "new adventure" (thanks Lauren) and something to pass the time ('oh mom, you've got to have a blog... ALLLLLLLL the cool kids' moms are doing it) Who would have known I could write stuff other people would want to read?

What I really want to do is THANK all my lovely readers! From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU all so much for being so supportive with your comments. I truly appreciate each and every comment that you leave, each one just puts a smile on my face! OH YES IT DOES.

I AM HAVING a GIVE-AWAY
giveaway ends Friday June 18th at 10pm

First of all I'll be giving away something in regards to COOKING....
*towels and spreaders. This is for one of my followers! So if you've been thinking of following me... NOW IS THE TIME.

Also for all you 'photogs' out there.. I have a beautiful Silver frame... Winner will be chosen from all the comments on this post!... so comment away...(and leave your email if it's not linked up with you).
and. and. and..... With all prizes I'll include some of my flowers!! perfect for pins or clips or headbands or a plethora of stylish options!!

(stay tuned for another flower tutorial next week...)

This has been a fun year and a half reading-writing-sharing-learning ...and I hope to continue to learn and share with all my friends... I have made so many friends that I really feel like my world has been blessed. Keep coming back! and if you have ANY COMMENTS of what you'd like to see here or what works for you... let me know!!

Food Fun Friday-Raspberry Salad

Nothing says summer like RASPBERRIES!!

This is a great salad for entertaining. I've even taken it to a family reunion.

Raspberry Salad
Head of romaine lettuce
Basket of raspberries
1 red onion, sliced

Dressing:
1/2 C mayonnaise
2 Tbl raspberry vinegar
1/3 C sugar
1/4 C milk
2 Tbl poppy seeds

It is as easy as it sounds.

While looking for a picture to use for the salad, I ran across THIS recipe for
Raspberry Chicken Salad from Taste of Home.com
Ingredients

• 1 cup 100% raspberry spreadable fruit
• 1/3 cup raspberry vinegar
• 4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (4 ounces each)
• 8 cups torn mixed salad greens
• 1 small red onion, thinly sliced
• 24 fresh raspberries

Directions

• In a small bowl, combine spreadable fruit and vinegar; set aside 3/4 cup for dressing. Broil chicken 4 in. from the heat for 5-7 minutes on each side or until juices run clear, basting occasionally with remaining raspberry mixture. Cool for 10 minutes.
• Meanwhile, arrange greens and onion on salad plates. Slice chicken; place over greens. Drizzle with reserved dressing. Garnish with raspberries. Yield: 4 servings.

Come on Summer, we are tired of the gloom, and rain and drizzle and generally lousy weepy weather.

Bloggville- the Fly Lady

I found this site a couple of years ago. and ... frankly... was pretty overwhelmed by it.
So I am just taking it one step at a time. Flylady.netYou start out by Cleaning Your Sink:
http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Shine.asp

She has great ideas for the family.
She talks a lot about clutter.
and has a book about body clutter.
and frankly her site is a little cluttered but if you stay focused you can get everything in order.
but then again some of us are hopeless. AND that's why we keep coming back.

I will leave you with this quick and easy way to get your house ready in a snap!!

Speed Cleaning

10 Steps to a Clean House Now!

1. Make Your Bed. This always comes first.
2. Get Dressed. Fix your face and hair and put your shoes on too
3. Set the Mood. Put on some good working music & light a good-smelling candle.

ARE YOU READY?!?

Use a timer for the next steps and spend 10 minutes on each numbered task

When the timer goes off, it is time to move on.

4. Kitchen. Start with the sink - wipe it down and clear it out. Then fill the sink up with hot soapy water and start to clear off the counters. DO NOT GET SIDETRACKED AND START TO CLEAN OUT A CABINET. WE ARE DOING ONLY SURFACE CLEANING. Empty the dishwasher. Load the dishwasher. Wipe down the counters and wipe down the outside all your appliances. (Maybe wipe the inside of your microwave if you have some extra time.) *Please note, this will take longer than 10 minutes, we know that. The goal is to work hard for 10 minutes, then move on to step 5. You will come back to this step and finish what you didn’t get done the first time around.
5. Living Room. Get a laundry basket and put the things that don't belong in the living room in the basket. (You will take care of these items later.) Take a garbage bag and start throwing away the trash. When the timer goes off, head to the bathroom.
6. Bathroom. Clean the bathroom sink first, swish the toilet, then pick up the dirty clothes and put them in the hamper. Straighten the rugs, hang some fresh towels if you need to. Wipe the mirrors and spray some air freshener
7. Break. Walk around and look at what you have accomplished in just 30 minutes. Set the timer for 10 minutes and have a seat. Grab a snack and grab a drink. When the timer goes off, you are back in work mode.
8. Repeat steps 4,5 & 6, picking up where you left off. Spend 10 minutes on each step, then take another 10 minute break. Do this until you are happy with your results. It may be one rotation, it may be 2 or 3.
9. Floors. Sweep, then vacuum, then mop, each for 10 minutes. When the timer goes off after moping, take a break. Repeat as necessary.
10. Take Care of it. All the items you gathered in the laundry basket can now be put away.

Every 30 minutes take a 10 minute break- does that make sense? We can all stay focused on one job for 10 minutes. You are going to be so surprised at how much you get done in a day's time. You can do this. Now turn off the computer and get to work!

Wednesday Wisdom

Usually my 'wisdoms' are short and sweet... this one is a little long but worth it.

Amy Krouse Rosenthal's Thought Bubble: Kindness

In remembering you which words would others choose

What I'm dreaming of

Getting lost in Blogville...is time consuming to the max!!
I want, no no no, I NEED this craft room! including the star in the window.
sigh, I could just sit and look at this room and design allllllll day/week long.
and what a beautiful turquoise room... and headboard... and lamp, although my lamp I got on Friday is JUST AS COOL... (well when i get a nifty shade for it),
I swear I am, I AM going to put a tree like that in our room! yes honey I am!
Love the paisleys on the wall
love the soothing colors
the ceiling looks just like our upstairs bonus room... so... why CAN'T I do this??? yep that's what I thought, no reason!

the sandwich generation

This weekend we had another opportunity to be the meat in the sandwich generation. We are now in the process (along with the whole family) of cleaning out and going through Grandma Katherine's house. She will not be coming home. Her ankle is not healing and along with other ailments she will not be able to walk nor come home. She needs constant care. In order to make this happen the family will be selling her house.
This is a very emotional time. And a very stressful time as all the kids (and by kids I mean kids in their 50's&60's) have busy, working life's and only a couple live close... which leaves the care and visiting up to them. The rest of us have to travel several (between 3-5 hours) to be there.
I'm sure we all remember the story of the lady that had beautiful slips in her drawer.. never worn because they were so beautiful and 'special' and she didn't want to ruin them. Well when the family packed up her items.. there were the slips.. sent off to goodwill... never worn.. never enjoyed! I guess what I got out of this weekend is to ENJOY LIFE!!! Wear the slips (even around the house if that feels good). Play the games, break out the new candles and dishes for (dare I say it) ... EVERYDAY. Life is meant to be enjoyed, and there is so much of it that is not quite enjoyable... so ENJOY the things we can. Take the trips! Make the memories.
This is not so much a post for others as it is a reminder for me.
I'm hoping that if I write it down I will be reminded of the good/great things of life and enjoy them~
In another related story... as you may surmise that as you get older your hearing goes bad! In church yesterday my mother sits with several of her friends (all in their 80's) and they got to talking just a LITTLE TOO LOUD during class and I had to say.... OK GIRLS QUIET.... only.... in order for them to hear me... yep you get it... we caused quite a scene!! The tables were turned... I am the mother/caregiver/authoritative figure and I don't like it one bit. I don't like telling her what to do because, well frankly she doesn't do what I say!!!. (and I just got through this stage with my kids....) And so it begins again.

Garage Sale Find: Turquoise Lamp

disclaimer: I live in a small town where 65% of the population is over 65. There are a LOT of yard sales ...reasons: downsizing/death/moving/to make friends. Most garage/yard/estate sales are on Friday, I can only go on Sat.This was such a beautiful lamp.. It is heavy as it is out of iron. It has a little rust.. so I say that it is already distressed.

ok it came with this GIANT drum lampshade... hahaha makes me laugh!!! the lamp shade (ala the '60's) even has bands of turquoise !!! You can bet I'll be looking for a different shade!!!