Les is More

So many say that more is better.  Ha!  Not in my case.  Les is More!  Leslie that is.  She is a great person!  Fun, funny, smart - she has the memory of an elephant.  Cute as a little bug in a rug.  An awesome listener.  Gosh, I might better stop before she sees this post and then none of us will be able to be around her.  She loves horses and crocheting and hanging out with me.  She's always busy with travel ball or horse shows or chatting with friends (especially me).

Here she is!  So I tell you again - Les is More!

These 2 pics explain the lemon on the eye.  We were at a culinary class together.

Why I Hate Shopping

I have never proclaimed to be a shopper.  Mostly because I really do hate shopping.  I can go and shop for yarn and craft stuff all day long but...when it comes to me buying clothes for myself.  I hate it!  Did I mention that I hate shopping?!
Today I thought that I would buy myself a pair of pants for a job I am about to start.  I figured I would buy a pair of Dickies.  They look really great on most people I see wearing them and they are in my price range.  So I stop in one of the local Walmarts and I find the Dickies.  They have them in two colors and of course I could only find my size in one color.  So I grabbed a size 5 and a size 7.  You are not going to believe this!  I thought I would try on the size 7 first because if they were too big then the size 5 would be just about right.  Ha ha...what a joke that was.  I undressed and attempted to try on the size 7.  Did you see that - ATTEMPTED - yes that is what I did.  I couldn't pull them up over my left thigh.  I couldn't believe it!  I thought well shoot, no sense in even trying on the size 5, I'll just put them back on the rack and maybe grab a size 9 and try it on.  Well of course by the time I thought about putting my pants back on and then my shoes and tying them and putting the ones that don't fit back on the rack and sorting and finding a size 9 and then going back and taking the shoes off again and then the pants and then trying on the size 9 that I would just be more frustrated because the size 9 would probably swallow me.  So I thought, I'm gonna try on the size 5.  I did and I will be dog goned - I not only pulled them up over my left thigh but I got my right thigh in them too and...I was even able to pull them over my behind and button the.  Now I gotta say that they sure were snug tight as all get outs but I did it.
I skinned myself out of the size 5 and calmly put my jeans back on, put my shoes back on and tied them and said "Forget it".  Those are the things that I just don't understand and I get so frustrated with that make me absolutely  HATE shopping!
I sure hope that Dickies don't think I threw them under the bus but at that point, I was ready to throw them under the bus.  Literally!

My first guest post

I have finally published something other than on my blog or in our local newspaper.  I did a guest post for a fellow blogger!  How cool is that?!  So run on over to "Freebies Galore and Giveaways Too" and you can read my article.

Made in the USA

My husband seeks out tools that are made in the USA and he will pay a pretty penny for them.  He isn't the only one that enjoys buying things that are made in the USA.  I was actually amazed to find that Red Heart yarns has some yarn that is made right here at home.  And not just some yarn but 19 yarns that are manufactured in the USA.  How stinkin awesome is that?!
I'm going out on a limb here because I am going to copy and paste from the website.  If I get sued, well...I guess I just get sued.  I don't make any money off of it so...here goes...

Below is a list and a link to more information on the 19 yarns that are manufactured in the USA.

1. Baby Clouds
2. Baby Econo
3. Classic
4. Eco-Cotton Blend
5. Eco-Ways
6. Fiesta
7. Holiday
8. Kids
9. Light & Lofty
10. Moon & Stars
11. Soft Baby
12. Sport
13. Super Saver Chunky (*NEW)
14. Super Saver Economy
15. Super Saver Jumbo
16. Super Saver Regular
17. Super Soft (*NEW)
18. Super Tweed (*NEW)
19. With Love (*NEW)

*These are new yarns this year.

Look at what we did

Homeschool group raises money for cancer society

Wednesday, April 4, 2012 at 10:20 by Susan Smiley-Height

Contestants included Elizabeth Gonzalez, Miss Nassua County; Mackenzie Henderson, Miss Heart of the USA Queen of Hearts Alachua County; Katelyn Bishop, Miss Heart of the USA Alachua County; and Alexanddra Lydting, Junior Miss Heart of the USA. Special to the Star-Banner.

The Williston Christian Homeschoolers Relay For Life Team held an Inner Beauty Pageant on March 31. All proceeds from the pageant – more than $2,000 – will go to the American Cancer Society.
The pageant had 29 contestants, with the youngest age 2 and the most amazing at age 76, according to a news release.
Many of the contestants walked because they have overcome cancer or know someone who is going through the fight or has lost the fight to cancer, noted the release.
Cornerstone Assembly of God donated their facility for the pageant.
Many of the contestants went out in the community and asked for sponsors, which included All American Cleaning and Restoration Specialist, AnnMarie Seavey, Green Shutters, North Florida Monument, Bit O’ Heaven Lawn Service, Havard Family, Bark-N-Purr Inn, A & A Restaurant, employees of the Levy County Sheriffs Office, Pinnacle Farms, Team Beach Body, Willard’s Restaurant and Morris Junction.

It's Fair Time

Yeah!!!!  It's here!!!  The fair is in town and we are all excited!  Today is the first day of the Levy County Fair.  Saturday will be our big day that we go and enjoy all the rides and events.  Lots of the kids in our homeschool group have entered items such as paintings, pictures, drawings, socks, shawls and critters. 

Saturday we will go to the rodeo and enjoy watching the kids ride their horse around the barrels and poles and such.  We are selling some raffle tickets there for different things to raise money for our Relay for Life team.  After the rodeo we will go over and partake of the activities at the fair.  Then who knows, if we have enough energy left, we may just go back to the rodeo and watch the adults hang on for 8 seconds.  If they can!

Birthday Hampers

Well my homeschool group is at it again.  I tell ya, we are always up to something.  We just completed a pageant.  Can you believe that I said pageant?  We are working hard on fundraising and one thing that we are putting together right now is gift baskets.  We are going to take bids on the baskets and the highest bid wins the basket.  That's kinda a no brainer.

So...I'm thinking about things for the basket.  But...I'm thinking more about buying completed baskets.  Yeah!  I like that idea the best.
An "Indulgence" basket or maybe a "Pamper Dream" basket.  There's "Red Wine and Cheese", "Red Wine and Chocolate" and "Afternoon Tea" and so many more.

My favorite of them all is the "Birthday Hampers for Her".  Everyone doesn't like tea or wine or chocolate but everyone has a birthday.  And every woman in your life loves getting something for their birthday.  Don't just take my word for it, go and investigate for yourself.  All the many reasons a gift basket or a hamper just makes sense.

Renewed my Kitchen

I wanted to renew my kitchen.  So I started doing a little research and I ran across a place that says my home improvement project couldn't be made any easier.

Well, it's been proven!  I love my new kitchen cabinets!

I like a company that has a good track record.  Being in business since 1981 tells me that they have a good track record.  Years of experience in design and remodeling.  I like a company that takes pride in their work and Bath and Kitchen Creations Inc. is just that company.  I like a company that can keep up with the changing trends.  This company is capable of so much.  From Cabinetry, Countertops, Tile, Granite, Plumbing, Framing, Lighting and so much more.  If you just can't figure out what you want to go with, contact them for Design Consulting.

Since completing my project -  Kitchen Cabinets West Palm Beach and how much I enjoy my "new kitchen", I'm excited thinking that maybe I will do the bathroom next.

Things Every Kid Should Experience

I grew up in the country and I thought that my parents were so strict because it seemed like I couldn't do anything.  I bet at some point in our lives, we have all thought that about out parents.  As I grow older wiser, I know better.  My parents gave me all they could and that was what I needed.  Today I greatly appreciate everything they gave me.  Yes, even the things I didn't think were necessary.

I was scanning the web today (yes, like most days) and I ran into an article that said "8 Things Every Kid Should Experience".  I read over the list and I thought about my childhood years and all the things that I experienced.  Hmmm...I'm lucky I'm still alive!  LOL  


I would really like it if you would go and check out the link, but just in case you don't, I'm gonna list the 8 things here.

1. Being part of a team
So many kids today play sports and that automatically puts them on a team.  As for me, I grew up on a team.  It was called family.

2. Camping
Can you believe that some kids have never, ever been camping.  We used to camp out in the back yard.  We didn't have a tent but we would drape sheets or quilts over the clothesline.  And I have very fond memories of my dad packing up the car and us driving to North Carolina and camping out for a whole week.  I still have stories to tell about the panthers that were really racoons and the racoons that stole our mayonnaise.


3. Chores
Oh my gosh!  That is a very ugly 4 letter word.  Yes, the dreaded chores.  I had my fair share of them and so do my kids.  But...that's where the team comes in to play.

4. Snow
In Florida?  Once!  And I remember my sister and I chasing my dad trying to hit him with a very dirty snowball.  A real snowball.  Now my sister sees snow almost every year.  And for me?  I think it's snowed one other time here in Florida.  I can't wait to take the boys to see and play in their first snow.

5. Farm life
Pea pickin, garden growing, pig raising, egg collecting, the smell of cows and horses and so much more.  I remember shelling peas during my summers.  I shucked my fair share of corn and feed my fair share of cows and pigs.  But that's ok, I didn't go hungry in the winter either.  Kids should defiantly experience the farm life.  Especially the cow patty fights!

6. A lemonade stand
I don't necessarily agree with having a lemonade stand.  It can just be too dangerous because of inviting strangers to come around.  Ok, with adult supervision.  I think there are many other ways to earn a few dollars and to learn about buying and selling.

7. Flying a kite
Oh yes!  I wonder exactly how many of these I have flown over the years.  And, get this...I still love to fly them.  As a matter of fact, just last summer while we were vacationing at the beach, we flew a kite.

8. Bowling
Yes indeed!  And, ha - we did this about a month ago.  How awesome is that?!

Now it's your turn to tell me some of the awesome things that you have done or would have liked to have done.  It's not too late ya know!

Handy Substitutes for Baking

Have you ever wanted to bake a cake and didn't have any oil? Maybe you just want something a little healthier than oil. Use the same amount of applesauce. Yes, applesauce. I was amazed the first time that I used applesauce in a cake mix instead of oil.
Here is a link that will give you lots more Handy Substitutes for Baking
Have you ever had your cake mix poured into the bowl and discovered you didn't have any eggs?  Ha - that's one I do a lot.  Here are some egg substitutes that have saved me or should I say my cake many, many times.

Enjoy!