Time Out Tuesday

I promised a tutorial today on the no-sew runners. I had a project yesterday that took longer than I thought it would so I was not able to complete the tutorial. So I will be posting twice today. I'm going to work on the no-sew runner later this morning and will post it then. So check back sometime later this evening. I'm taking some time out to play today. I'm picking up two of the grandbabies to spend the day with me. I am so excited. I can't wait.

I did want to share some neat new items for my Thirty-One collection. The special this month is a product that is just available during the November special. It is the medium utility tote. Smaller than the large utility, but roomier than the organizing utility. This will be perfect to take my desserts and/or gifts to holiday functions. Not to mention storing it in my trunk to carry packages into the house. And I love the pattern that is exclusively for the Christmas season.

Even though the Snowman is my favorite, it is available in several other patterns as well. I love the fact that for every medium utility tote purchased, they will donate a Thermal Tote to Operation Homefront to assist military families in need.

The other new items I got is the Timeless Beauty Bag. I ordered one in the Black Pick Me Plaid.

Three internal zipper pocket and a place to hold your makeup brushes. 

I have seen several uses for these on line. It even has a snaplock on one of the handles so you can put it through your car head rest and make a nice carry caddy to hold toys or activities for your children in the car.

Thirty-One is a great company to work for and they are always giving us opportunities to earn free products by setting sales goal. I recently won the Timeless Wristlet in an exclusive pattern for the giveaway. This is probably one my favorite pieces of my Thirty-One collection. It is perfect for antique shopping, thrift store shopping, anywhere you don't want to fool with a purse. The front pocket holds my cell phone. It is big enough to hold most Android phones. Mine is a Motorola Electrify and it fits in there perfectly.

The other side has the click pocket for your ID. I am not a big fan of having my ID showing so I usually stick some of my Thirty-One business cards in there in case anybody asks me about the product.

The inside has a slot for cash and a zipper section for coins on one side and the other side has four card slots and another pocket behind them.

I love the product for what it does but I also love the fact that I earned it by reaching my sales goal for the week. I just love being a Thirty-One consultant. 

Weekend Wrap Up

My daughter and I did some shopping this weekend. While we were out, we discovered a thrift store in Knoxville that I had never been in. I decided to pop in and see what it was like. I didn't purchase anything, but I was tempted by this clear Pyrex casserole. It was just $4.98 but I am not big on clear Pyrex so I left it for some other treasure hunter to find. 

The next thing I debated over was the casserole dish by Dyna Ware. I really had to debate this one. It also was just $4.98. I have been looking for this exact shape in Pyrex, but haven't found one. But I really want one with a lid and I really want a particular Pyrex pattern in it so I passed up on it. If it is still there next week, I may get it. 

This piece was in perfect condition and had all the parts but there was no price and we don't drink coffee so I decided not to fool with asking a price. But it was a great piece for anyone who could benefit from it. 

I spent some time decorating for Thanksgiving and doing some crafts. I made my no-sew table runner for the coffee table. 

And a smaller one for a little cabinet in the living room. 

Do you recognize my candle from fall? I simply put it in a vase to change it up for Thanksgiving. 

This is my bakers rack. I love the fact that everything on this shelf except for the little candle has come from yard sales or antique stores. 

I love my little chipmunk pilgrims. I put them and a candle on a vintage oval plate from 1935 that I found at a yard sale this fall. Counting the little wooden shelf they are on, I have about $2.75 in the whole thing. 

While I was decorating, I wanted some music on so I check up in the higher music channels on Comcast. It turns out that Channel 833 is called Sounds of the Seasons and it plays non-stop Christmas music. I had it on all afternoon and evening. 

While I had the iron and ironing board set up, I decide to make one of the small 12" runners that I am working on for Christmas using scraps of Christmas material I have accumulated over the years. I think they will be cute with a little candle and/or a small candy dish for Christmas gifts. Stop back by tomorrow when I will be posting a tutorial on these. 

I am starting to receive Christmas catalogs, coupons for the holidays and magazines with great ideas. I haven't had time to go through them all so I put this little basket at the end of the couch so I could go through them while I am relaxing in the evenings. 

As if it hasn't been a busy enough weekend, my daughter called me Sunday and said she had been pinning Christmas ideas so I had to go check them out. I love this idea. Wouldn't these be cute on guests plates for a Christmas get together? Or a great gift for those unexpected drop by's that you want to send something home with them. These are just too cute. 

These were shown as gift tags, but I think they would be a great Christmas ornament for our pre-K Sunday School class to take home and put on their trees. I'll have to print this for my idea book.

I love little sausages wrapped up like pigs in a blanket. What a unique way to serve them. 

Needless to say, I have had an exhausting busy weekend. But it ended on a relaxing note. There was another gift from my Secret Sister. She must have known I needed to pamper myself after my busy weekend. What a thoughtful gift. Check out the blooming dahlia flowers. They are actually soap petals you can drop in your bath. I had such a relaxing bath that I didn't want to get out. 

 All in all, it was a pretty fantastic weekend. 

30 Days of Thankfulness

On November 1st many of my Facebook friends and blogging buddies started 30 Days of Thankfulness. I have so much in my life to be thankful for that there is no way I could list it in 30 days. So my post today is to thank God for every single, solitary blessing He provides me with. I do not live a charmed life. I have my trials and tribulations like the next person. But I believe that God is there to help me through them and I put my trust in Him. That takes a great burden off my shoulders and allows me to enjoy the blessings He provides while He handles the problems I face. He brings me peace and joy even during the times of strife. 

So instead of 30 days of things I am thankful for, I offer up these lyrics that sum up all the blessings in my life. 

Thank You Lord for Your Blessings on Me

As the world looks upon me, as I struggle along 

They say I have nothing, but they are so wrong 

In my heart I'm rejoicing, how I wish they could see 

Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me 

Now I know I'm not wealthy, and these clothes, they're not new 

I don't have much money, but Lord I have you 

And to me that's all that matters, though the world cannot see 

Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me 

There's a roof up above me, I've a good place to sleep 

There's food on my table, And shoes on my feet 

You gave me your love Lord, And a fine family 

Thank you Lord, for your blessings on me. 

It was just a matter of time....

My son loves to hunt.and he is really good at it. He has put a lot of deer meat on his family's table over the years.

When my grandson got old enough, he was taught gun safety and is turning into a great hunter as well.

My son-in-law (left) teaches my grandson (right) gun safety as they do some target practice.

My daughter decided to try her hand at the target practice.

With all that testosterone in the family, I should have known that eventually my sweet dainty baby girl......

Would become Goldi-Locks and Loaded for Halloween. 

Sometimes her brilliance is down right scary.

Have a fun Saturday.

Charming Charm Bracelets

When I was a little girl, I received my very first charm bracelet. I was hooked. It was exactly like this one with all the Ten Commandments and a bible charm. I was in love with this bracelet and have loved charm bracelets ever since.


Bonanza.com

It has been years since I owned a charm bracelet and since they are all the rage, I thought I would stop by Etsy to see what great bracelets I could find to add to my wish list. The first one I saw was this lovely one with pink in it. I fell in love with it.


Bijou X Karma Jewelry

I love Mickey and Minnie. Always have, always will. I got a new fleece jacket for Christmas last year. Red with Mickey on the front. I need this bracelet to go with it. Then I need a sweater with Minnie on it to go with the bracelet.


(Monkey's and Munchkins)

Isn't this the most unique thing you ever saw? I would wear him on a charm. I would wear him on my arm....but I still would not eat green eggs and ham.


(Murals for You)

My dear friend Lindsey would freak out over this Harry Potter bracelet. It is so cool.


(Pipnbling)

Be still my heart. A Thirty-One purse bracelet. Check it out. She covers a lot of the patterns. Her site offers many more. This would be so neat. I absolutely adore this.


(Clay Purse Girl)

This one is so cute. A perfect bracelet for me since my nickname is B.


(Betsy's Supplies)

But if anybody ever made anything that was a perfect fit for me. This is it. You know I love to bake. I am going to definitely have to add this to my wishlist. This is just way too cute.


(Deb's Treasures)

I also still love Italian Charms. They were all the rage several years ago.

Now to decide which one I would like to have and figure out how to charm my hubby into buying it for me. 

I can't believe it's November

November 1st. Already. It seems like just yesterday we were dragging out the flip flops and planning vacations. I get excited about the changes of each season. But today I realized something that kind of depresses me. Garage sales are probably over for the year. I'm going to have to find other outlets for my thrifting. Our thrift stores never have Pyrex. I mean never ever. So I'm going to have to find some in a neighboring city since I won't be doing vintage hunting at yard sales till spring. 

I hope everybody had a safe Halloween. We just had two trick-or-treaters this year. No one in our neighborhood even had their lights on but us. This is discouraging since I always love seeing the costumes. My daughter had me go with her last night since Hubby was home to man the candy bowl. So I did get to see a few. But the best costumes by far were the ones my daughter-in-law made. She is very talented and I can't figure out how she even knows where to begin but they turn out awesome. Garret was a grave robber. And yes, there is just one person in the costume and that is Garret. 

Alexis was a captured mermaid. Again, only one person in the costume and that is Alexis. These are totally awesome and I don't know how in the world she can figure out how to make them.

My sister has changed some things on her front porch. She bought some placemats for just a couple of dollars and took a seam ripper and ripped one end open. Then she stuffed them with fiberfill and hand stitched it closed again. The end result were some gorgeous pillows for the front porch. 

Her swings just makes me want to curl up with a good book. 

I have got to find me some placemats to try this with. 

I'm changing my plans for this weekend and delaying my antique shopping until another week. I'm not sure what I will do this weekend. My daughter doesn't have to work and I don't have something else planned for the first time in about 6 weeks. So I am sure we will go somewhere to do some type of shopping, even if it is to get ideas for Christmas. 

I should know better....

If you will recall, Caleb volunteered me to bring cupcakes to his 3rd grade class party today for Halloween. I am the Queen of Duncan Hines. I sit upon my throne with my sceptre and crown shouting to the masses my Cardinal Rule #1 ... "Accept no substitutes!"

And then what do I do? I break Cardinal Rule #1 and buy a store brand cake mix. I baked the cupcakes last night and now I remember why we created Cardinal Rule #1. Suffice it to say, I am leaving in a few minutes to purchase a Duncan Hines Cake Mix and hurrying home to bake 24 cupcakes, frost them and decorate them to get them to school by 1:00 this afternoon. 

I should have known better when I poured the mix from the package and it was the strangest color of chocolate I had ever laid eyes on. But I persevered, believing it would be okay in the end. I added the ingredients, mixed it up good and thought the batter was the sickliest shade of chocolate - not to mention it stunk. I know that sounds strange. I mean whoever heard of bad smelling chocolate? I thought maybe they would be okay once they started cooking. Oh my gosh! My house smelled so bad I had to light candles to hide the nasty cupcake smell.

Then the baking was nearing an end. The timer went off and the cupcakes looked hideous. Did they raise nice and fluffy like my Duncan Hines. No, they raised to the top of the cupcake liner then spread out on the pan looking like a flat muffin top. But they were done and I took them out to cool. When it was time to pop them out of the pan....no pop. No twisting out, no prying out, nothing. Yet, the flat tops peeled off the top of the cupcake and they were very moist and fluffy inside, just really crumbly. We had to literally take our fingers and wedge into the side of the cupcake to get it to release from the pan. A special thank you to my dear hubby for helping release the cupcakes and clean the mess afterwards. Needless to say, 24 stinking crumbling cupcakes are buried in the trash can, tied up and ready for the dump today and I am going to go meet up with Duncan Hines and bring him home. 

And before you say anything, it was not the chef because I made a spice cake with cream cheese icing that turned out 100% perfection....of course, IT was DUNCAN HINES! Point made. 

On another note, I was going through my closet last night trying to decide what to wear today for Halloween when inspiration hit. I am not big on orange so I was looking for something that might go with the holiday. I found my absolute favorite sweatshirt I own. 

I got it at Myrtle Beach many years ago and despite numerous washings it is still so fresh and new looking. I love this shirt and wear it a lot on really cold days. It will be perfect for today with the black cats. 

Happy Halloween!