Pump up the volume on your lashes and let your eyes do the talking with the Mary Kay® Lash Perfection Package featuring a primer, three mascaras and a lash and brow serum.
Each Mary Kay mascara formula is smudge, flake and clump-resistant, allowing your lashes to look and feel gorgeous all day. Whether you’re a fan of lush, long, or resilient lashes, Mary Kay has a variety for you! Each formula features the coveted “Smart Wiper” technology to deliver the exact amount of mascara for maximum plumping without pumping!
Mary Kay mascaras are available in black and black/brown, and are ophthalmologist tested and suitable for sensitive eyes. Each of Mary Kay’s formulas work to accomplish a specific lash goal keeping you covered (and coated!) anywhere from a glamorous night on the town to an intense workout.
Before you catch up on your beauty sleep, a quick application along lash lines is all you need to build thicker, fuller looking lashes. And you can see results in just 30 days! In fact, 7 out of 10 women said their lashes appeared fuller.
I've always dreamed of having long, thick lashes and now there is a product specifically designed to help my lashes stay healthy and I can't wait to see the end results.
Below you'll see all the Lash and Brow products included in this fabulous giveaway package. You'll be as excited as I was to receive these beauty items.
New Mary Kay® Lash and Brow Building Serum™ is a gentle, fast-drying serum powered by the Lash Response™ Complex – a boost of a peptide, red clover extract and an amino acid blend that helps provide what lashes and brows need to stay healthy and strong. Suggested retail price is $38.00.
Take lashes up a notch with the revolutionary Mary Kay® Lash Primer, adding dramatic definition while creating stronger, fuller and longer-looking lashes. The exclusive Panthenol-Pro™ Complex helps to strengthen and condition lashes, while the easy application and effortless removal will make you wonder why you ever used false lashes. Suggested retail price is $15.00.
Accentuate and separate your lashes for an appearance of added volume and fuller lashes, rain or shine with Mary Kay® Lash Love™ Waterproof Mascara. Perfect for workouts or beach days, Lash Love Waterproof Mascara can help you achieve water-resistant, no-smudge lashes that appear fuller, lifted and multiplied all day. Suggested retail price is $15.00.
Mary Kay® Lash Love™ helps you fall in love your lashes, helping them to look full, sultry, lengthening and eye catching. The formula combines moisturizing benefits from the Panthenol Pro™ Complex and Vitamin E with the glam effect of volume and definition. In black and brown shades, Lash Love helps to define and deliver four times the volume without the worry of overdone lashes. Suggested retail price is $15.00.
Treat your lashes with the extremely volumizing, super-thickening, and exclusive formula of Mary Kay® Ultimate Mascara™. With just one coat, create the look of big, bold, separated lashes for all day wear. Suggested retail price is $15.00.
MyBlogSpark and May Kay are giving Cotton Pickin Cute readers a chance to win a fabulous lash makeover prize. Yippie! You'll recieve the exact same prize pack that I had the chance to review.
Visit Mary Kay to find out more! You can also find Mary Kay on Facebook and Twitter.
To enter just use the easy Rafflecopter form below. You can always email me if you have any questions. I love to hear from you! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Dislosure: The products have been provided by Mary Kay through MyBlogSpark for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.
Good Morning Ya'll. I'm writing this post from the library computer because my computer crashed.
I need your help!!!
I'd love it if you could take a peek in my Etsy shop "Cotton Pickin Cute" and see if there's anything of interest to you. If not, maybe some of my friends could pass the word on their blogs so I might be able to raise the money to get back online as soon as possible.
You can see some of the Etsy items I have list and the link on my sidebar or click here.
With the holidays coming up I have so much to do and the computer is an intrical part of be able to keep things going. It's been a busy summer with first my sisters family being here and now my daughter-in-law and grandchildern and the past computer problems, I thought I was just about to be able to visit and contact all my blog friends and company commentments that I've been behind on, and now this. I really need to earn the money to get this taken care of .
I'm sorry to ask have to ask but any help to promote my Etsy store would be a HUGE help. Well that's what's so wonderful about bloggers right!
Lucky for me Publix is only a few blocks from my house. Running Out and Running in is a regular thing for us. I love their clean store, convenient location and their great deals like the Running? Fun In. promotion.
With September here Publix knows that getting the kids ready for school in the morning can be stressful enough without someone yelling, “Mom we ran out of toilet paper!” Instead of feeling frustrated because you can’t squeeze the remains from a tube of toothpaste or realizing there are no after-school snacks in the house when the kids hop off the bus, you can stock up on the products you use every day and breathe a little easier.
From September 20th through September 26nd, look for the “Running Out? Run In.” event at your local Publix store and “run in,” to take advantage of great savings on some of your favorite brands from General Mills and Procter and Gamble, like Cheerios, Totino’s, Charmin and Crest.
Buy any of the 6 participating items such as, Pampers
Diapers, Tide Pods, and Yoplait Yogurt Kids, and receive a free gallon
of Publix® milk.
The Giveaway! One lucky Cotton Pickin Cute reader will win the following:
Entering to win is so easy with the Rafflecopter form, directly below. Just click on the blue button (it will turn green once you hover over it) and follow the instructions and hit the green enter button.
Don't forget to come back everyday and share for extra entries.
Disclosure: The Publix gift card, information, and additional gift pack has been provided by General Mills through MyBlogSpark. All opinions are my own.
Well I've got Mondays and Tuesdays giveaway linky listed below that I know of. If you want to add a giveaway linky to my list just leave me an email and I'll get you added. If you have a giveaway on a different day I'd love to know about that one too.
Now get out there and win some goodies but don't forget to come back and let me know.
How you seen the new Soft Scrub Total on your store shelves? Did you think about purchasing it but wanted to know more before spending your hard earned money? Well that's what I'm here for. I'm doing the review for you. But that's not all, I'm going to have a giveaway so you can try it yourself too.
This is gonna be a WIN-WIN because thanks to Soft Scrub, I'm giving away2 COUPONS FOR A FREE BOTTLE OF SOFT SCRUB TOTAL! Yep, that means 2 Cotton Pickin Cute winners will be randomly chosen by Rafflecopter.
Now, lets get back to that review I told you about.
Shower Door with hard water deposits before Soft Scrub Total.
Shower door after a quick wipe with Soft Scrub Total. (Note: I just cleaned a small area for the photo and you can see some of the portion I didn't wipe in the photo) Love how clean it looks.
The shower knobs after on the left and before Soft Scrub Total on the right.
You can clearly see the before and after on the pictures I've posted. I decided that showing the before and afters on the shower door and door knobs was the best choice. The natural stone look of the tile, doesn't lean itself well to before and afters photos. We have really well water. Here in Florida it leaves really hard calcium and rust deposits, if you don't have a softener. Ours broke and it's driving me crazy.
Our shower has frosted doors, all though I love clear glass, I'm so grateful I didn't get it now because what a nightmare it would be to keep clean with our hard water and I would go nuts if I had to see a spotty door all the time. Believe it or not, I do clean my shower and scrub the tile. The door gets wiped down with a cleaner but we normally don't see all those spots you're seeing in the picture. I angled the camera to get a really good view of the before. With the flash it really shows up.
Now to tell you what I think of Soft Scrub Total Bath & Bowl....
Lets talk about the patented trigger that you can use to deliver a fine mist or a thick foam. It's as easy as the flip of the screen. Another huge benefit of this bottle is that it works UPSIDE DOWN! I hate it when a bottle stops spraying when I turn it to reach those hard to reach places. That's way I think this is so awesome!
You can see in my first picture that I used the thick foam. I love that feature because it clings to those vertical areas where you need it to work. I could see a difference when I sprayed it on and immediately wiped it off, but spraying it on and letting it sit for a few minutes worked even better.
This one product cleans & deodorizes the entire bathroom - even the inside of toilets! Finally I can get rid of the collection of products that I now tote from bathroom to bathroom. Just having one bottle of Soft Scrub Total Bath and Bowl Cleaner frees up valuable cabinet space for me too.
Another plus is there is now harsh burning chemical smell. It has a much cleaner smell than most cleaners.
I also got the chance to try the Soft Scrub Total All Purpose Cleaner with Bleach. It's also made to work on tough stains. You can use this in the kitchen on stainless steal, sealed granite, glass, plastic laminate, sinks, microwaves, bathtubs, shower and shower doors, toilet bowls, chrome, faucets and fixtures.
Although it says you can use it on sealed granite, I'm don't like to use cleaners on mine. I did use it in and on the microwave, stainless refrigerate, plastic and more in the kitchen. I loved how clean everything smelled when I was through, not to mention how everything sparkled.
Now, I bet you'd like a chance to win a coupon for your own FREE bottle. Two (2) Cotton Pickin Cute Winners will be chosen. The giveaway ends Sept 29th.
It's as simple as following the easy steps on the Rafflecopter form below. As always please let me know if you have any questions. I'm happy to help you with the entry form.
And don't forget to Enter the Soft Scrubs Tough and Gentle Sweepstakes where you can win $1,000! There will also be 50 2nd place winners who will receive $40 if Gift Cards. The sweepstakes ends 10/5 at 3 p.m.
Disclosure:Soft Scrub provided a free sample of their Bath and Bowl and All Purpose Cleaners so I could review them. All of the opinions expressed are my own.
Invite artfully designed, true-to-life fragrances into your home.
I've always been somewhat of a stickler when it comes to the smell of my home. I want a scent in my home but not one that knocks you over. I want it to be soft and refreshing so I usually use plug ins (which can sometimes be a little heavy). I also love reed diffusers, you know the kind with sticks in a bottle of oil. I can't use them anymore. Let me just say kittens and those don't mix. They will drive you crazy playing with them and making a mess.
With four inspiring fragrances to freshen your air, modern holders that complement your (already fabulous) decorating sense and the opportunity to refill scents at your convenience, why not invite the Glade Expressions® Collection into your home before the next round of guests? Here's a rundown of the fragrances you're about to invite into your home, courtesy of Glade Expressions®:
Cotton & Italian Mandarin - Open your home with the bright, breezy blend of cotton and sparkling citrus, honeydew and sandalwood*
Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice - A ripe, spicy blend of sweet pears and crisp apple with a dash of cinnamon and clove that warms and invigorates
Lavender & Juniper Berry - Lush lavender blends with fresh juniper berry, eucalyptus and rose to relax the senses and open your home
Mangosteen - Evoke a tropical paradise with the blend of freshly cut pineapples and hint of tangy mangosteen, creamy coconut and passionflower *Available in Glade Expressions® Fragrance Mist only.
The oil diffuser has a great look too. I can envision them coming us with designs for all the major holidays and seasons, as well as themes like the beach, baby's room, child's room and more. I love that it's spill-free design fills living spaces with fragrance for 30 days. No batteries to replace and no plug in means no electricity cost. There's also the Fragrance satisfaction guaranteed or your money back*
What I Think - The Negative
I had trouble finding Glade Expressions. I went to one Walmart and couldn't find any. Another Walmart only had the Pineapple & Mangosteen. I didn't care for that fragrance to much. Winn Dixie had the Cotton & Italian Mandarin but I was still searching for the Fuji Apple & Cardamom Spice and the Lavender & Juniper Berry. I found both of them at Kmart. The prices are a little high so I'll only be buying them with coupons. Walmart did seem to have the best price but not the best selection. Plus there were very few on the self and placed low so they were hard to find. Visit glade.com to learn more about Glade Expressions® products and to explore all their scent collections.
I love being a BzzAgent and getting to try the newest products. If you're interested in becoming a BzzAgent just let me know, I'd be happy to share the details. It's easy to join with no contract and no cost.
If you'd like a $4 coupon off the starter kit or a $2 coupon off a refill just leave me a comment. I have a few to share.
Disclosure: BzzAgent provided me with the free coupons for Glade Expressions. All opinions are my own.
Julie's giving us all a chance to start out fall with a warm belly. She's giving away a cool Progresso Soup Prize Pack that includes the following:
*Two cans of Progresso Recipe Starters
*$10 Gift Card to purchase your recipe ingredients (This was a pre-paid gift card that is ready for you to use for your shopping needs :) *Progresso Recipe Starters recipe book, including 5 recipes to get you started *Baking dish *Measuring Cups *Sauce Scraper
Doesn't that sound yummy! Julie is one of the nicest persons you'll meet here in blogland and I'm sure in person too. She loves entering and hosting giveaways and always knows about the latest and greatest ones. She has a crafters heart and enjoys making something out of nothing. Sound familiar? LOL.
Just click here to go visit Julie @ Mamawj's Moment Away and enter her giveaway. As an added bonus - you'll make a new friend.
I thought I'd start the week out by sharing a list of some of the giveaway linky sites I know about and that I like to share my giveaways through.
By just clicking on the links below you can stop by and enter some of the HUNDREDS of giveaways out there. Just be sure and come back and let me know when you win! What could be more fun?
Oh but before you go be sure to enter my giveaways by clicking on the links below. And watch for a new one tonight.
Congratulations to Ann Lyfe! She was randomly selected by Rafflecopter to win the Back to School Prize Pack. I've sent you an email Ann. Please respond within 48 hours. I'd hate to have to draw a new winner.
The Back to School Prize pack consists of a $20 Target gift card, Crayola Dry Erase Crayons, and Cheerios.
Thanks to all my faithful readers and all of the new readers (hope you'll continue to follow Cotton Pickin Cute) for taking the time to enter these giveaways. You're the reason I love having a blog and you're regular visits, much loved comments and giveaway entries are the reason I am able to offer better and better giveaways. Love ya'll!!!
Stay tuned for a lot more great giveaways coming up during the holiday season.
When summer comes we all think about grilling out. That brings to mind barbeque sauce, steak sauce and seasoning salts. But I never let the end of summer stop me from using those items indoors when I cook. I like nothing better than pulled pork barbeque sandwiches! Ummmm... my mouth waters just thinking about it.
To be honest until Country Bob's contacted me, I thought they only made barbeque sauce. But that's not so. They also make All Purpose Sauce which is perfect for steak, chicken, fries, seafood, baked beans and more. I really haven't even thought about using steak sauce in years. Okay, Country Bob I'm game. Let's see what you've got.
After checking out Country Bob's recipe collection, I decided to give "World's Greatest Burger" a try. The ingredients were simple and I had most of them on hand.
2 1/2 lb. chopped sirloin (I used ground beef) 3/8 c of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce
1/2 package of Lipton Onion Soup Mix 1 T Country Bob's Seasoning Salt
Combine chopped sirloin with Lipton Onion Soup mix, Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce, and Country Bob's Seasoning Salt. Grill, and then top with about 1 T. Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce before serving.
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So by now you can see where I differed in the ingredients. I didn't use chopped sirloin, I used ground beef (I did drain the grease). I also didn't have Country Bob's Seasoning Salt so I used the one I had on hand. I also didn't need 2 1/2 lbs of meat for 2 people, so I cut the ingredients appropriately.
What did we think of the World's Greatest Burger? I wouldn't give it that title but it was very good. Perhaps using not using sirloin and not having Country Bob's Seasoning Salt made a big difference. I think I was a little heavy with the Lipton Onion Soup Mix too. And even though I don't crown it the World's Greatest Burger, I didn't leave any crumbs on my plate. Neil and I rubbed our full tummies and agreed it was a darn tasty burger.
If you look on the back of a bottle of Country Bob’s All Purpose Sauce you'll notice that his all natural ingredients are easy to read. No weird additives here. And another big plus is that is done not contain MSG and is even gluten free! One tablespoon has only 25 calories, 6 grams of sugar and 170mg of sodium.
Country Bob Edson perfected the sauce of his dreams in 1968. I admire the companies commitment to Christ. As they say "It would be nice if we could claim responsibility for the success of the company, however, credit must be given where credit is due." Proverbs 16:3 says, "Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed." We have placed true ownership of Country Bob, Inc. in the hands of God."
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How would you like to win a bottle of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce for yourself? Great - because two (2) Cotton Pickin Cute readers are going to win One (1) bottle each. And I'm making this giveaway very simple.
All you have to do is the following:
What would you like to try Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce on? ***THIS IS A MANDATORY ENTRY***
For extra entries you can do any or all of the following:
Go to twitter (button below) or copy and paste this:
I had the chance to use the new CLEAR SCALP & HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY Shampoo and Conditioner. I'm sure you've been seeing the commercials on T.V. lately. Commercials do make me curious.
I like experiment with shampoos and conditions because over time my hair changes and to keep it looking good I need to update my products. Whether it's changing from color processing or age, or both if you're like me. Maybe it's changing from the weather. A little drier in the winter. Frizzier with the humidity. Sometimes it's just a build up of products.
Mine has always been very thick. Even now I can tell it's thinned out quite a bit but hair dressers say I have a lot of hair. Well I don't like that heavy build up added weight to that thickness. Especially in humid Florida. Clear Scalp is here to help with that.
Here's some info from the company:
CLEAR SCALP and HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™
The search for strong, beautiful hair is finally over. Introducing CLEAR SCALP and HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™, a new line of shampoos and conditioners that will change the way women care for their hair. 99% percent of hair’s natural strength and beauty comes from the scalp. For years women have been treating the ends of their hair, rather than the source — the scalp. One small change like feeding scalp* can make a big difference. FEED SCALP* with new CLEAR SCALP and HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™. NEW CLEAR SCALP and HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ is available in a range of six shampoos and five conditioners to meet different scalp and hair needs. The line is infused with Nutrum 10TM technology, a rich blend of vitamins and nutrients. CLEAR SCALP and HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ nourishes the scalp, and creates the right foundation for strong, beautiful hair from root to tip. CLEAR SCALP and HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ gives women stronger**, more beautiful hair in just 7 days. For more information, please visit our site.
My Thoughts:
I used both the Total Care shampoo & condition. It left my hair clean, smooth and smelling sweet without being being heavy. At the end of the day there wasn't that oily feeling that you sometimes have from products that trying to give you a smooth finish. I like to wash my hair every other day. Not a problem with Clear Scalp and Hair Beauty Therapy.
I can't honestly tell you if it was stronger but I was happy with the results. A bonus was the clean smell of a crisp apple without smelling too fruity.
It took only a small amount of the shampoo & conditioner, making it a good value for the money.
Where to Buy CLEAR SCALP and HAIR BEAUTY THERAPY™ products are available at mass retailers, select drugstores and supermarkets nationwide. Suggested retail price: $4.99 – $5.99
Disclosure: I received these products from SheSpeaks for review, all opinions expressed are my own.
Okay this is probably the guttiest thing I've ever done in my life. For some of you this might not be so gutsy but things change when you get older and you don't want to look in the mirror so much. When you do, well lets just say you realize you could use more help than you used to. Don't be too mean here, okay.
Here I am, in the raw. No makeup what-so-ever.
Never fear - COVERGIRL is here! This is me after using the COVERGIRL and Olay products I received from BzzAgent to review.
What do you think? Not quite so scary, right? After seeing my hair and I did decide it needed a little change so I blew it dry up instead of under and used a little blush, mascara and lip gloss. Even with those changes you can see the obvious difference in the way my skin looks on it's on. The coverage is wonderful. My skin looks so much better and I'm totally sold on it!
MY THOUGHTS:
Love this makeup - I'm totally serious! Growing up, even as a teenager I only used high-end department store makeup. As I got older and decided price was a bigger factor I shopped around and tried them all. This is the first one in years that I've been totally thrilled with. And the price is totally affordable.
The Foundation and Powder have a really nice smooth and silky feel. I thought the coverage was superb. It felt light and not heavy or obvious at all, yet covered perfectly.
Will I use it again? You bet I will!! When this runs out I will be buying both the Foundation and the Pressed Powder. It gave me fantastic coverage and lasted for hours without getting greasy. I give it 5 out of 5 bzzes, and that's really good!
A LITTLE MORE INFORMATION:
Luminous coverage for a youthful, radiant look starts with a single pump. Science and beauty come together with the new COVERGIRL and Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation and the COVERGIRL and Olay Pressed Powder.
It's no ordinary make-up. I know you've heard that one before but I wouldn't say it, if I didn't think it was so. The proofs in the pudding I mean picture, as you can see.
Thanks to COVERGIRL and Olay, it smooths the appearance of rough surfaces and gives your skin a radiant finish. COVERGIRL and Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation also contains known skin conditioning ingredients to hydrate your skin and help improve skin tone over time.
You can't turn back the clock on aging (oh' if only dreams like that came true) but you can reduce the signs. With COVERGIRL and Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation you can instantly cover discolorations and age spots. And finishing your look with a soft layer of COVERGIRL and Olay Pressed Powder will help brighten your skin tone.
COVERGIRL and Olay Tone Rehab 2-in-1 Foundation is available at all major retailers, with a suggested retail price of $13.99. You can also visit covergirl.com to get shade matched, discover tips and looks, and learn more.
I've also been given some $2.00 off coupons to share. Just let me know if you'd like one.
I've been baking with Betty Crocker the easy way. The fall season always makes me think of baking. And that’s just what I did with the new Betty Crocker Shake-N-Pour Dessert Mixes. These mixes make dessert baking simple and fast. The name “Shake-N-Pour” says it all. What could be simpler than adding water to a jug. There’s no bowl and spoon to clean, no eggs and oil to add!
It comes in 2 cupcake flavors, Chocolate Cupcake and Confetti Cupcake. Plus there’s also a Chocolate Brownie Shake-N-Pour Mix.
In my opinion, these would be nice to have around for a fun baking project with the kids and grandkids. Less steps, Less ingredients to add and less to clean up. It’s a win-win for a fast dessert.
MyBlogSpark and Betty Crocker are giving Cotton Pickin Cute readers a chance to win a Shake-N-Pour prize pack but you don’t have to wait you can find Betty Crocker Shake-N-Pour Dessert Mixes right now in the baking aisle of your local grocers.
Your gift pack will contain:
3 varieties of the BC Shake-N-Pour Dessert Mixes
60 minute baking timer
Treat stand
Oven mitt
Visit the Betty Crocker Website to find out more! You can also find Betty Crocker on Facebook and Twitter. To enter just use the easy Rafflecopter form below. You can always email me if you have any questions. I love to hear from you! a Rafflecopter giveaway
Dislosure: The products have been provided by Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark for the purpose of review. All opinions are my own.
This summer has been all about family. Having my sister and nephew in town for 2 months has been such a blessing. Laughing and sharing after not getting to see each other for a few years has been so much fun. Her daughter and my great niece and 2 great nephews also came to visit for more than a week. Having so much family around is so unusual and fun for us.
With the sadness of them leaving, a new blessing comes to replace it. My son and daughter-in-law are moving back to town from N.Y. with our grandchildren. We haven't seen them in 4 years. This is such a joy for us. The thought of getting to share in my grandchildren's life in a bigger way means so much. I'm so excited about the milestones we'll be able to be apart of. God is good! I feel like he has a plan that he is working in my life. His plan has been laid out and timing is everything. Time seems very important suddenly.
Earlier this week Traci @ Beneath My Heart posted this video of her son Jonathan singing at the Kentucky Opry. Jonathan is such a fresh young talent with a wonderful love for the Lord, not to mention a cutie. I've enjoyed watching him grow and develop this wonderful gift he's been given. I had already planned on posting about the most precious gift I received from a childhood friend that I hadn't seen in years. More on that after the video. The reason Jonathan's video touched me so much is because it was the song we chose to have played at my sweet mama's funeral. It was her favorite hymn. I had tears when I heard Jonathan's version of it. I hope you enjoy it as much I do.
Beautiful isn't it? I want to thank Traci and Jonathan for allowing me to share it with you. Click here to visit Traci @ Beneath My Heartto hear more of Jonathan's music or read about all the exciting diy projects that Traci and her husband Cy are up to.
Now back to that wonderful gift I received........
Growing up in a very small town, we were lucky to have wonderful neighbors. Patty was only a year older than me and her mother owned the local dinner two doors down.
Two peas in a pod - we spent so much time together it felt like we were sisters. I think I was 15 and Patty was 16 then.
Their house was practically in our back yard too. Patty's family was very different than mine. For starters, she came from a big family and had lots of brothers and sisters. Five brothers and sisters to be exact. Our family was made up of a stay at home mom, daddy, Joni and me. Her mother Ann not only raised her own 6 children but also raised 2 step-children before her own were born.
Doesn't Ann Have a beautiful smile. I'm happy that I have memories of her like this one where we're celebrating her birthday at the diner.
When we were about 14 a close friend of Ann and my mom's died from cancer. Marie who had two young teenage sons, one of whom was my age and the other a little older, had been widowed only a few years earlier. To make a long, tragic story shorter, Ann took these two boys to raise as well. Not long afterward her own husband passed away. She was left with 8 children to raise. To this day, I'll never understand how she did it. She was the hardest working woman I know. And believe me when I say that she raised her family right. These were no latch key kids. They all pulled together and worked together. She was organized and knew where they were and what they were doing. They all turned out great.
When my own mother passed I was the first words to my son was run to the dinner and get Ann. She wasn't there, she was shopping for the dinner but just as soon as she returned you can bet she was at our house taking charge. I literally don't know what Daddy, Joni and I would have done without her and her girls. They all came with paper plates, cups, napkins, plastic wear, coffee pots, tea and so much food. They cleaned, greeted guest with us and cared for us in every way possible. I wish everyone had friends like that.
After mama's funeral, Joni and I wanted her to have the last needlepoint mama worked on. We had it stretched and framed and gave it to her. She hung mama's picture in the dinner for years afterward.
God Bless Ann, she went home to our heavenly father a couple of months ago. She spent 26 years here on earth after my mom died and she worked and keep going strong up until this last year. That brings me to why my sweet childhood girlfriend stopped by to see me......
I heard a knock on the door and someones voice when Neil answered it. You can imagine my surprise to see Patty standing there. It felt so good to see her smile and hug her again. Then she said I have something for you.
It was mama's needlepoint. She asked if I'd like to have it, as my heart began to swell and tears filled my eyes. What a treasure after all this time. I've often wished I had a needlepoint or an afghan that she'd made, now I'm proud to say I do.
Patty, her husband Freddie, Neil and I had a wonderful visit and at least for me it felt like no time had passed at all since I'd seen them.
I've been missing mama a lot lately. It came to me, that this year marks 26 years that she's been gone. I only got to spend 26 years with her on this earth. It hurts to think that this year marks the fact that I've been without her as long as I ever spent with her, and even worse, next year with be that turning point of being alive more years than I knew her. That same mark will come next March for the time I spent with daddy. I'm grateful for those years but also sad that they weren't here long.
Today Joni and took a trip down memory lane. We went to the cemetary where sweet Nadine, my mother-in-law was laid to rest back in January. Joni loved her and was sad that she missed her funeral. Nadine felt the same about her and always bragged about how much she loved her.
After that we headed to our maternal grandparents cemetary to visit their gravesites. We drove past their old house on the way back to our old home town, laughing and remembering landmarks along the way. Oh' how many times we drove that road.
We finally made it home where we visited mama and daddy's graves. We walked through the cemetary visiting our paternal grandma and friends from long ago. Walking, talking and sharing stories. It was a peaceful afternoon.
Before heading home we made our last stop at visit Patty and Freddie's house. It was such a nice visit. I don't think I'll be forgetting this day. I'll probably remember it with a smile for the rest of my life.
Wishing you all the blessings of family and friends,
