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Everything Southern & So Cotton Pickin Cute

Friday, April 29, 2011

Another Giveaway to Share Over at Dishy Vintage

I just found another giveaway that will be ending Fri (today) at 3pm central time.  Alison from Dishy Vintage is having a lovely lace giveaway.  So you'd better hurry, times tickin'.

Hugs...Tracy :)

P.S.  I also have a few other giveaways listed in past post ending soon.  Be sure not to miss my FRESCHETTA Pizza and Storage giveaway here.

Rusty Rooster Vintage is Having a Giveaway

Isn't this the cutest little thing you've ever seen?!  Vicki over at Rusty Rooster Vintage is having a giveaway this Sunday and you could be lucky enough to win it.  But first you have to enter.  But I'm warning you now,  you may stay all day one you get over there and start looking around.  Vicki creates the cutest things.

Good luck y;all.  OX's...Tracy :)

Thursday, April 28, 2011

I'm Featured at DeLightful Order and It Made Me Smile.

I've been featured!  Can you believe it?  I was certainly surprised.  The lovely and talented DaNita at Delightful Order featured my fabric organization post (you can see it here) to her Delightfully Inspiring Thursday link party.
There are so many great link ups,  you'll have a blast hopping from blog to blog.  We can all use a little inspiration.  Thanks DaNita.

Since we've already had a Quote of the Day today, we'll just call this one a Quote of the Post.

"You are never to old to set another goal
or to dream a new dream".
                                                       ~ C.S. Lewis

Project Baby Bird

Project Baby Bird Focus Japan
I have a blog friend who is one of those people who is always there with a cheery word.  A sweet soul who has her own set of challenges like most of us do.  Lots of days are spent in pain.  She suffers with dystonia, which gives her too many bad days of aching pain.  But dystonia can't even stop her when it comes to caring for others.  
Her  name is Keke from Cherry Kingdom.  I love her blog.  Well now she's started a new project with a new blog to go with it, called Project Baby Bird.  Project Baby Bird is as Keke describes it "Comfort for children in crisis".  Below is a little exert from her blog.....

Welcome to Project Baby Bird....
Our goal is to fill tote bags with stuffies, blankets, hats, socks, scarves, a note of hope or encouragement, food, etc...anything that will bring comfort to a child in crisis.  Our goal is to reach out to children from zero to eighteen that have been affected by devastating circumstances.
Aren't these cute?  Isn't Keke special!  I sure think so!
Just click here and stop by Keke's new blog @ Project Baby Bird and read more about what she's doing to help others who have lost so much.

Rainy Days and Magazines

Last month I was a winner of Avon's ANEW Platinum Beauty Boost Giveaway.  The prize was a year's subscription to the Better Homes and Garden magazine.  BTW - I haven't tried Avon's ANEW Platinum Beauty Boost yet but would love too do a review on that.  Are you listening Avon?

It had been awhile since I had even looked at a Better Homes and garden.  So with a cup of tea, and some mini Cadbury Creme eggs I took some time that afternoon to browse the pages and daydream.  I really enjoyed it too. 

I stopped buying a lot of magazines including my beloved "Southern Living" because they are so overloaded with ads and had very little solid content.  Some of the magazines are down right skinny.  While Better Homes and Gardens is not immune to having plenty of ads, there was more content then most of the magazines I've looked at in a while.  There's a little something for everyone.  Articles about home, garden, style, food, better family and even my all time favorite coupons.  What could have possibly made that day any better?
A stormy rainy day, that's what.  Well that wish is coming true tomorrow.  How many of you love to settle in on a rainy day with a good magazine?  I do.  I even love the thunder.  I know a lot of you have had more rain than anyone ever should but we're having to deal with wildfires here.  There was a really big one today and U.S.#1 was shut down.  We can even smell the smoke at our house. But there's good news on the way.  We should get a big ole'  stormy day tomorrow.  Just in time to enjoy my new copy of the May Better Homes and Garden magazine that came today (yesterday by the time you're reading this).  You know, I miss getting magazines in the mail.  It's always such a treat to open the mail box and find one. So tomorrow I have a date, just me and Better Homes and Gardens.  I can't wait.....a cup of tea and  just sitting back and flippin' pages.  Yippee!  It's not that I don't have plenty of other things that need to be done, that's never case.  But I got a lot done today and I plan on getting a little more done early so I can enjoy the rain.  If it's now blowing too hard, I think I've even sit on the porch.  Ummmm....I can hardly wait.

Quote of the Day
"We can complain because rose bushes have thorns 
or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses".
                              ~ Abraham Lincoln

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Mix - Mash of Feelings

I'm trying to keep my blog positive this year.  I'm trying to avoid these feelings.  Now that they're here, I  try to remind myself that the sun will shine in my heart again and my head will be silenced.
It seems someone else feels it just like I do.  They expressed  my feelings as if they were in me. (click on pic to enlarge and read).
Till the sun shines, I'll keep telling myself, this too shall pass. This too shall pass.  This too shall pass.

Crafty Little Easter Baskets

I wanted to show you a few of the little Easter baskets I crafted this year.  They were so simple and easy to make. (Just click on the picture for a larger view).

Can you guess what the basket's are made from?  They're little peat pots that you can buy at the Dollar Store.  You get about 5 or 6 in the package.  I quickly painted them with some acrylics I had.  While they were drying I clipped some copies from vintage books to add.  I just brushed some modge podge on the pot and then the back of the paper.  After putting them on the pot I covered it all in more modge podge, sprinkling glitter on top.  Everything looks better with glitter.
I gathered some crape paper on the sewing machine and hot glued it around the inside rim.  Next is the easy to do handle.  I took my handy dandy hole punch and made a hole in each side.  A silver pipe cleaner with some bead made the perfect handle. 
Add some grass and a few tidbits and there you go.  Quick and easy!  What did you make for Easter?


Have a blessed day y'all! 


Quote of the Day
'People do not live by bread alone, 
but by every word that comes from
the mouth of God.'
                               ~ Matthew 4:4

Monday, April 25, 2011

Covergirl NatureLuxe Review

This year I have been a BzzAgent working on the Covergirl campaign and it's time to share a new product and review.
This time I received the new Covergirl NatureLuxe Silk Foundation and the NatureLuxe Gloss Balm. 

To begin with I had to choose a foundation shade via the computer screen, which I wouldn't recommend.  Since I tend to usually go a little to light because my face does seem to be a little darker that my wrist which I normally use when sampling, I thought I would go a little warmer.  Well shade #350 -Oak was just a bit too dark.  This was definitely my fault for choice.   

With the first squeeze I thought uh-oh, this is going to be too oily for my skin and too sheer for my face.  I'm pleased to say I was wrong on both accounts.  The foundation has a light, silky feel.  I was happy with the coverage and the weight of the foundation.  It was light and felt like I didn't have anything on, very natural.  When you live in a tropical, high temperature, high humidity location like Florida, where the makeup can just run off of your face, you can really appreciate this. And I really liked the clean, fresh scent when putting it on.  I can't stand to rub a cosmetic in and it smell bad.  Even though the smells disappears, I don't want to hold my breath while applying my makeup.


Next I tried out the NatureLuxe Gloss Balm.  I chose shade #225 - anemone.  When I first saw the color, my heart skipped a beat because I though oh' no, I chose way too bright a shade for me.  Wrong  again.  Remember this is a lip balm so it's just a hint of color.  I can just image how pretty that little bit of  tinted sheen will look this summer with a little color on my face.  I love it now!  And I don't have to stick with just one shade.  There are 16 beautiful shades to choose from.  It's a soft moisturizing balm with a SPF 15 for added protection.  Because it's not a sticky waxy feeling lip balm it didn't last as long as a true chapstick but hey it didn't look  like plain old chapstick either.


Below I've listed a little product information.

Silk foundation:
  • Provides a smooth, silky feel
  • Contains refreshing cucumber water to help balance the creaminess on application
  • Made with hints of jojoba and rosehip extracts
  • Available in 14 shades ranging from light to dark tones
  • Oil-free, SPF 10 and dermatologically tested
  • Suggested to retail for $11.99


Gloss balm:
  • Combines the sheer color and shine of a gloss with the soft moisturization of a balm
  • Available in 16 versatile, beautiful shades
  • Formulated with SPF 15 for added protection
  • Suggested to retail for $6.49


The new COVERGIRL NatureLuxe Collection can be found at drug and big box stores nationwide.

I am a BzzAgent and I received the above products as part of a BzzCampaign.  I did not receive any financial compensation for this post.  All opinions are my own.

Sunday, April 24, 2011

Southern Easter Memories


1 Peter 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead... (NIV)

Easter at St. Simons Island Church.  This church is on a beautiful island off the coast of Georgia about an hour from home.


Growing up in the South seems to have it's own unique style.   Here on Easter day I can't help but think back to my own childhood Easter celebrations.  

One specific year comes to mind.  Easter was usually celebrated at our house with my mothers family all coming to our house for dinner and of course the all important egg hunt.  Maybe it was because of the small little town we lived in.  The rest of the family all lived about 35 minutes away in the city.  Well, that's a little misleading.  We lived right in the center of town on nearly an acre of land but my Grandparents and Aunt lived in the "city" but on a couple of acres each of rural land.

Normally Easter dinner was a semi-formal occasion with us all gather around the dining room table.  Afterwards kids running outside to find hidden Easter eggs, more  than once usually.  This year was different.  We weren't eating at home.  We weren't hunting for eggs at home.  We were all piling in the cars and heading for an Easter picnic.  What a nice change.  A large beautiful cleared piece of land shaded with ancient oak trees dripping with silvery Spanish moss.  So Southern, so pretty.  I remember us taking a walk while the eggs were hidden.  There was plenty to see here.  Even now I can clearly see the pastel eggs hidden in the forks of the oak trees and beneath the blooming azaleas.  The sound of our small family of  Aunt, Uncle and cousins was so wonderful.  I loved hearing the laughter of the adults and being memorized by the stories of my  father's great-grandfather donating the very plot of land we were standing on to the county.  

What a wonderful day.  Nothing seemed the least bit odd about it.  Until  I go to repeat the story years later, and have to ask myself, "Does it seem strange to other people that we spent our Easter at the cemetery"?  One more of those little Southern oddities I guess.

I still continue to visit that cemetery where my moma and daddy rest along with other family members and way too many friends.  A place where I know I will call my final home.   It never fails that my mind drifts back to the1960's and a happy family laughing, eating and hiding Easter eggs.

Hope everyone had a blessed Easter full of family and friends, whether you were making making new memories or enjoying old ones.  I  love and appreciate all my friends and readers so much.  Thank you for each and every comment.

Love.....Tracy :)

Hines-Sight Blog Is Having a Giveaway

Leigh over at Hines-Sight Blog is having a Stately Giveaway.  Boy, I almost hate to share this secret but y'all know I don't play like that.  I have to let my readers know too.  I hate to be greedy but just please don't win.  Just Kidding!!! Stop over at Leigh's quick because it ends tonight and enter to win 2 passes to The Biltmore Estate.  It's so grand and in perfect timing with the Royal Wedding.  This is America's true castle.

Happy Easter to each one of you.  Warm bunny hugs...Tracy :)

Thursday, April 21, 2011

I Wish Everyone Could Win ~ Wouldn't You Want To Win Yanni?


Well, I guess I'll just have to have more giveaways.  I love to win things myself but it's even more fun when I have something to giveaway.  I've always had the most fun shopping for Christmas for others and things like that.  Don't get me wrong I love being on the receiving end too.  I guess that's why I enter so many giveaways.  If I ever get really wealthy, watch out, I'm gonna be having tons of giveaways.  But for the Yanni contest I can only have one winner.  

The odds were really in your favor on this one.  There were just 12 people who entered.  So since there were only 12, I decided I could take the time to count them up right.  First off I made a mistake and sent people to the wrong post tonight, a re-post about the giveaway.  Oops...my bad.  And to make it all fair I put the entries in time entered order, so that should cover my goof.  And everyone should have left a separate comment for each entry.  Some did and some didn't.  But that's okay, I covered y'all and counted each thing you did separately.  That gave me a total of 29 comments.  Comment #21 was the winner and her name is:
Marydon @ Blushing Rose
Congratulations Marydon!  I hope you enjoy the C.D.  I saw Yanni's Truth of Touch concert and it was wonderful.  Please email me your address and I send it to the sponsor right away.
Thanks to everyone of you who entered.  Don't forget to enter the FRESCHETTA giveaway here.   Be sure to keep checking back because I have more giveaways ahead.  And mostly because you all make my day, yep, I'm a comment feign.  

Have a blessed day y'all!!!!  Hugs...Tracy :)

Quote of the day:
All who follow Christ are called to communicate his message to those around us.  As we testify to the Lord, the Spirit gives us the power to communicate God's truth faithfully to a rebellious world.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Low Entry Yanni Giveaway Ends Tonight - Hurry!

My giveaway ends tonight.  There is only 5 entries for the new Yanni Truth of Touch CD and it ends tonight at midnight EST.  This gives you great odds of winning! Just click here or on the picture above.


Hugs....Tracy :)


P.S.  I also have the FRESCHETTA By The Slice Giveaway which includes a 3 piece storage set.  It ends on 4/26.  Just click here to enter.


Organizing My Out of Control Fabric

I will be so happy if I ever get that much promised craft/sewing room.  For the longest time I've had my fabrics just folded laying on the shelves.  But not anymore.
Yesterday and I do mean all of yesterday, I made mini bolts and folded fabric.  Really, there was a point where I questioned my sanity and thought I would never see the end of this project.
When I had the fabric originally stacked on the shelf it was a big pain in the butt.  Every time I wanted to look at the fabric I would have to pull it out and then every other fabric wanted to come with it.  It was almost impossible to keep it color organized, which I'm a little obsessive with in the closet too.
I was really surprised to find out how much less room this took up.  More fabric actually fit on the shelves.  This makes it so much easier to get to and to replace the fabric in it's perfectly colored spot.


To do this, I just started out by planning way too little time, but with my schedule of do whatever, whenever I was able to knock it out in one day.  I then took Fed Ex (shhh, don't tell them) boxes and cut into the height of my shelves and smaller then the width (remember fabric room) to make my bolts.  I then folded the fabric the appropriate height and wrapped it around the bolt.  For those big pieces, like the cowboy flannel sheet (I love recycling) I used 2 bolts and started wrapping with one bolt on each end and meeting in the center like a book.  Worked perfect.  So there you have it, one full day of fabric folding + one happy, more organized me = future easy-peasy crafting days.  AAAHHHH.


What have you been organizing lately?  
Have a blessed day y'all......Tracy :)

Quote of the day:
[Jesus said] " I am the vine; you are the branches.  If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit."
                                                     John 15:5

I've linked to the following parties:

The Uncluttered Lifestyle

Tuesday, April 19, 2011

Max On Life by Max Lucado ~ Book Review

Max Lucado is one of the America's multi bestselling authors  He is America's leading inspiration author.  That's just the second reason I was eager to accept Thomas Nelson Publishings offer to review his newest book.  The first reason was the title.

Max has combined questions that pastors are continually asked, with answers to come up with a book that I had thought about in my mind for years.  Max Lucado has  chosen to share with us these real life questions he has received as a pastor and a writer.  There are seven sections in this book and each section is then looked at in an question and answer format.  
  •  Hope ~ God, Grace, and Why am I here?
  • Hurt ~ Conflicts, Calamities, and Why me?
  • Help ~ Prayer, Scripture, and Why church?
  • Him/Her ~ Sex Romance, and Any chance of a second chance?
  • Home ~ Diapers, Disagreements and Any hope for prodigals?
  • Have/Have-Nots ~ Work, Money, and Where's the lifeline?
  • Hereafter ~ Cemeteries, Heaven, Hell and Who goes where?
So how can this pastor answer these questions?  How can we know for sure he knows what he's talking about.  We can trust these answers because Max gives us the the information and references to specific verses in the bible to provide to read for ourselves.  So Max gives you his insight but lets the Word of God answer these questions directly from the bible.  He answers  the questions and backs them up with scripture for a winning combination.
I really found this book engaging.  Some questions I'd never thought of but it was interesting to ponder.  Other questions are ones I'd asked myself so many times and I was really happy to find some guidence.  Reading Max's words makes it a little easier to understand than just matching up bible verses.  I would whole-heartily recommend reading this book. 


Disclosure:  I was not paid to review this book but was given a copy in exchange for my honest opinion.  Thanks to Max Lucado and Thomas Nelson Publishers for providing this book.

Monday, April 18, 2011

Freschetta By The Slice Pizza Giveaway

In case you didn't notice, last month I became a member of the FRESCHETTA Fresh Connection Team.  And my very first opportunity was to try FRESCHETTA's newest products one of  them being the FRESCHETTA- By The Slice Pizza. 
I also received LaCuisine's 12 pc locking storage containers set.  Isn't it cool?
This new pizza product line from FRESCHETTA is a single slice cute from a whole pizza.  FRESCHETTA By The Slice is made with the same premium ingredients for that same delicious fresh taste found in all FRESCHETTA Pizzas.  Combining unsurpassed fresh taste with innovative, microwave cooking technology, Freschetta By The Slice delivers one perfect slice of pizza in minutes.  Freschetta By The Slice is available in:
  • BBQ recipe Chicken
  • Vegetable Medley
  • Chicken
  • Spinach & Mushroom
  • Six Cheese Medley
I think this is perfect to keep on hand Neil and I because we often get hungry at different times and this was great to hold us over or  if I'm gone Neil can pop one in the microwave and in just 4 minutes it's ready to eat.  This way we can have pizza anytime without having to cook a whole pie.  Perfect!

I chose to try the BBQ  Recipe Chicken because I've never tried that flavor before.  I really did enjoy it, why did I wait so long to try BBQ Chicken and Pizza?  I love that the pizza comes in a microwavable tray that gives it a nice crisp crust just  like you'd get from a Pizzeria.  The sauce and toppings were perfect and generous.
But you don't have to take my word for it   FRESCHETTA wants to provide on of my readers the chance to try their own.  And that's not all!  The makers of FRESCHETTA is going to also give you your own FRECHETTA 3 piece storage set like the one pictured below.  How awesome and generous is that!
Are ready to win your own coupon for a free slice of FRESCHETTA Pizza and a FRESCHETTA 3 piece storage set?

To enter: (Please leave your email or a way to contact you in your comments)

Mandatory: What flavor pizza would you like to try?

Extra Entries -

  • Subscribe to Cotton Pickin Cute on Google Friend Connect. You can find it on in the right upper side bar. (If you are already a subscriber, just let me know!) (1 entry)
  • Become a fan of Cotton Pickin Cute on Facebook (1 entry)
  • Follow Tracysuz on twitter and tweet about this giveaway (You can tweet up to twice per day, leave separate comments.)
  • Blog about this giveaway. Comment back here with the blog address so that your entry can be verified. (3 entries - please leave separate comments for each entry!)
Giveaway ends on April 29th at midnight EST. I will pick a winner using Random.org. The winner will be notified via email and has 48 hours to respond. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, I will pick a new winner.

disclosure: I was not paid for my review and all expressions are my own honest opinions.

Gods Wisdom For Mothers Review

 
God's Wisdom for Mothers is a book that every Mom should have. I'm not just talking about Mommy's with children at home either.  Don't we continue to love, care and worry about our children no matter what age they are?  We continue to see the word of God to give them the best guidance we can.  I love that this book is small enough to go in your purse or the console of the car.  It would be just right for having on your desk at work, near the kitchen for a quick passage or on your bedside table.  
 
I really enjoy devotional books because they provide an opportunity for you to read a quick passage with a touching message of hope or comfort when  you need it in most in your cram-packed day.
 
Jack Countryman did a wonderful job keeping it simple and organized when he compiled this into a tidy little book.  You find it first broken down into chapters which are then subdivided into smaller categories.  Whether you're in need of  wisdom and guidance or encouragement and comfort, this little book has something to share during all those times.  Like the sample below:

God's Wisdom with Children
  • Requires Daily Instruction
  • Begins in the Home
  • Includes Proper Training and Correction
  • Reaps Lasting Rewards
God Walks with Mothers
  • Through Heartache
  • Through Adversity
  • Through Worry
  • Through Impatience
  • Through Disappointment
 I  can't help but think how perfect this would be for an Easter gift or a Mother's day gift.  A perfect size to tuck into an Easter basket or a gift bag with a teacup and some tea and chocolates.  In today's fast pasted world this book is an absolutely perfect way to find a moment to spend with God.  Just as our bodies need an afternoon pick-me-up so do our souls.

"Let your heart retain my words;
Keep my commands, and live. 
Get wisdom! Get understanding! 
Do not forget, nor turn away
from the words of my mouth.
Do not forsake her,
and she will preserve you;
Love her, and she will keep you."
~Proverbs 4:4-6~

The publisher provided me with a complimentary copy of this book to review through BookSneeze.  I was not paid for my review and all expressions are my own honest opinions.

Friday, April 15, 2011

Nu Skin AgeLOC Transformation System Giveaway @ Nirra's

Nirra at Diary of A Mystery Shopping Teacher is having a skincare giveaway.  Nu Skin ageLOC Transformation system is sponsoring Mirra's giveaway with this kit valued  at $400.00.  Click here to visit Nirra and enter her giveaway, which is opened until April 30th.  While there check out her other giveaways too.  She always has lots of tips and giveaways.

Good Morning Friday - Yanni Concert Review!

Well I'm officially a year older and so far it doesn't hurt a bit.
Actually last night was a lot of fun.  The One2One Network, who is sponsoring my Yanni Truth of Touch giveaway asked me if I would like to see him in concert.  Uh, well yeah!!!  The timing couldn't have been any better because he was coming here on my birthday.  Yep, I spent my 51st birthday with Yanni and his orchestra full of fabulous artists.  It was amazing.  For two hours it was all about forgetting the everyday things and experiencing something totally different.
The Moran Theater where he played here is a smaller venue than most of his concerts.  I love this theater, the acoustics are fantastic.  Not to mention our seats.  We were only 8 rows back and the view was so good.  Neil and I both were lost in the music.  With the more intimate theater Yanni bantered back and forth with the audience.  By the end of the night the crowd was totally engaged with the music.  The musicians in the orchestra were unbelievably talented and Yanni gave each of them generous time in the spot light.  I would go to another of his shows in a heartbeat.  Neil really enjoyed the night too.  You could tell he was swept up in it and as relaxed as I was.
Charlie Adams drum solo was over the top in only the best way.  Neil being a drummer loved it and I was equally impressed.  There was lots of humor with Yanni and Charlie, who have been friends and playing at different times together for 30 years.  Charlie even donned one of our beloved Jaguar Football Jerseys before the solo.

We planned on going to dinner after the show but it was going on 10pm, which is late for a week night by Jacksonville standards.  When we walked out we could still hear music coming from the Landing and went over there and had another hour of fun outside listening to the band there and they were really good!  The crowd had died down but the band was still going strong.  The weather was great and there were even 3 kids playing in the fountain. (Yeah, it was too cold to be wet at night but they were having a blast).  The weather was perfect if you weren't wet.

The Jacksonville Landing is located next door to the Times Union Moran Theater, which are both on the St. Johns River.  It's such a beautiful view anytime but especially at night when the bridges are lit.  There are 2 main bridges, one on either side of the Landing so we got a picture of them for you to see.  Don't you just love the blue colors?

Geez, y'all just don't know how much I hate having my picture taken or worse looking at it.  I think I not ready for that close up Mr. Demille.  Makeup!!  Wardrobe on the double!!
So I  would say my birthday was a huge success.  I got away from the everyday both in mind and body and my spirit was better for it.  Thank you One2One Network for making this one so special by providing us with a beautiful night filled with music.

Oops, I almost forgot.  Neil snapped a photo of the drummer Charlie Adams and me.  We were leaving the Landing and he was boarding the bus and headed for their next venue.
So don't forget to head over to my giveaway here.  The entries are really low and I've extended the deadline to enter until April 20th, since I had technical blog troubles this week.

Y'all have a super weekend.  OOXX's...Tracy :)

Monday, April 11, 2011

Kool Beenz is Having a Great Giveaway

Have you been to Kool Beenz yet?  Well you'll want to hurry.  April is having a, what else, but an April giveaway.  She's so clever!  Wanna know what she's giving away?  Betcha can't guess from the photo - ha.  Okay, I'll just say it she's having a giveaway for the fat quarter set above from Cotton Blossom Farm .  Gosh, I just love the sound of that name, wonder why?  The giveaway ends on 4/15 at midnight EST.  Someone please hurry over there and win this for my birthday.  Oh', I suppose you wanna keep it.  That figures.  Ha-ha, just kidding.  But I would like to hear about it if one of my friends (that you) wins it.


Any just click here and you can enter Aprils giveaway.  Please let her know that I sent you.


Hugs Y'all......Tracy :)

WWW Heavyweight Championship Belt

Quote for the Day:
To the question of your life you are the answer,
and to the problems of your life you are the solution.
                                                        ~Joe Cordare

A while back I told you that I would post some more of  the wins I've had since December.  I'm so behind.  This is one that I won just before Christmas last year.  I won these two WWW Intercontinental Championship Belts  from Gina @ A Wrestling Addicted Mommy
Here is the 2nd, WWW Heavyweight Championship Belt.  It was pretty cool.  The one that I was supposed to receive must have been out of stock and so they generously sent me these 2 belts instead of just one.  How's that for service.
I love being able to win something for my Grandchildren.  Thank you Gina for hosting this giveaway.  I love winning ~ NOT like Charlie Sheen of course.

Stop by and visit Gina here.  She has a really great and really busy review and giveaway blog.

Hope you're having a great Monday.  Hugs...Tracy :)

Sunday, April 10, 2011

Here Comes Peter Cotton Tail via 521 Lake Street

Have you ever seen so much wonderful luscious color?
Easter came early at my house yesterday.  Well at least it did for me.  Sandy at 521 Lake Street is having an Easter Swap and I was the luckiest girl.  Sandy is my swap partner.  YIPPEE!!!!
  I'm telling you the truth, Could I get any LUCKIER?  Everything was packaged so cute.  This Easter basket Sandy made from a jello mold is just too stinkin' cute!!
Sandy is an eggcellent packer.  My beautiful rainbow Egg sucker didn't even have a chip in it. 
 She always makes the sweets tags and cards.  I'm so proud to now have this one for my collect.
  She knows me so well.  I'm crazy about the vintage candy nut cups and cake toppers and she made sure to include these for me too.
She made this adorable tin and put these darlin' charms and buttons in it along with this Easter diecuts.
 As you can imagine, I was totally blown away by all the time and effort making me such cute things.  All package as pretty as can be.  That just made it that much more special!  Way more than I ever expected, Sandy.   Thank you so very much for making me feel like a happy, silly little girl again.

365 Days of Adventure Bible: Book of Devotions Review

I love this book.  I really do! The NIV Adventure Bible Book of Devotions is another book from Zonderkidz publications.  With my grandchildren being 8 and 10 years old, I was quick to say yes when asked to review this book.  It's designed for 9 to 12 year old kids. 
The author Robin Schmitt has a passion for inspiring readers of all ages toward spiritual maturity and childlike faith. The Adventure Bible Book of Devotions is the companion to the #1 bestselling NIV Adventure Bible that I reviewed earlier this week.  If you missed it, you can read it here.


This is the first devotional book I've ever read for children.  This is 365 Days of Adventure.  That's a whole year of daily devotions to read.  What a wonderful way to get your children into the habit of starting each day spending time with the word, in prayer.  Those few minutes during breakfast can make a lifetime of difference.


From the back of the book:
Grab your spyglass and compass, and set sail for adventure!
Like a map that leads to great treasure, The NIV Adventure Bible: Book of Devotions takes kids on a thrilling, enriching quest.  This yearlong devotional is filled with exciting fictional stories about kids finding adventure in the real world.  Boys and girls will learn more about God and the Bible, and be inspired to live a life of faith - the greatest adventure of all. 
In the picture above you'll see 3 generations of  Bibles or Bible stories.  The bottom one is not my first bible but probably the 2nd.  I was 7 years old when I received it.  The Book for Children was a gift to my son Ty for his 6th birthday.  Now I will be able to give my grandkids this book of devotions.  It makes me so happy to think they will read it each morning over breakfast and talk to their parents about the stories and the message.


As much as I love the Bible  and respect the King James Version,  I really appreciate the NIV's.  I mean really, if you were a kid which do you think you'd pick up first from the ones I've shown above?  I wish I would have had these options as a kid.  I highly recommend the Devotional by itself and even better, to go along with the NIV Adventure Bible.  


I would highly recommend this book.

Zonderkidz - Inspiring young lives. 
Disclosure:  I was not paid for my endorsement of this Bible. Zondervan / Zonderkidz sent me this Bible to review in exchange for my honest opinion.  Transparency is everything.