WHAT DID YOU DO BEFORE YOU BLOGGED?

Well it's been over a year now and I am sure that Webkinz misses me! I would spend just as much time playing Webkinz as I now do blogging. However when I have my reader at "0" which I've been doing the last few days, I go back and play. So do any of you play or just your children?

I was working at a Hallmark store back in 2005 when these hit the stores. Our Ganz representative gave us each one to play with. I got hooked immediately! Trying to selling them would be better if we actually knew about them. Well let me tell you that most of the employee's got hooked and of course we were adults.

Now if you have children who play you know that it's all about the points you collect while playing the games. I got hooked on Cash Cow and Goober's Lab. However over the years there have been some really fun games that I adore too! See my points 768,792 thousand! Oh ya that's what it is all about. Well actually not for me but for the kids who play it's important. That's what you need to furnish their rooms. My pets all have rooms but I don't play with them like the kids do. I actually gave my great-nieces my codes so they could go on and mail themselves things from the store.

I am easily addicted to things that I love. My very first pet was a bear named Brandy. The way it works is that your account is active for a year, after the first year you need to add a new Webkinz to keep it going for another year. If you noticed my account expires on August 22 this year. So when I get back from vacation I will be adding a giraffe. Any suggestions for a name? I also have a Budgie bird and a Rooster to add over the next few years. I really don't get here too often anymore since I blog all day long but it's so much fun. Yes they are children's games but I don't care, they are simple and fun!

Each of my pets has a room of their own but they are all attached in the same house. Each time you leave their room you need to put them to bed. I love to shop for their food and feed them when they are hungry. Brandy the bear was my first, then I got Bianca the kitty, Maggie May the Westie (who was named after my beloved Maggie May Summertime), Brownie the pony and then Hunter the goldfish.

So if your children do not have a Webkinz I suggest you get them one. Of course you have to be willing to give them computer time! Of course you can always get one of your own like me :)

10 QUESTIONS

Amy at Keeping up with the Schutlz Family answered the questions to one of my tags awhile back. Thank you AMY for playing along. You can read her answers to my questions when you visit with her. These are the questions that she asked and I am going to answer them because it's just so much fun. I love answering questions.

Are you a morning person or a night owl?
I guess I am a night owl, however I am up at 7am each morning but certainly not going anywhere at the hour.

What kind of books do you like to read?
Romance Novels

If money was not an issue which store would you shop at?
I love the clothes at Anthropology but I think they are overpriced.

If you had a day all to yourself with no interruptions what would you do?
Well I pretty much do that now!

When you have a horrible day what is your favorite go to snack?
Anything I can make that I can put cheese & sour cream on or a thick Reese's PB cup.

Pie or Cake?
More of a cookie bar person, if I must choose I will pick pie.

If someone you did not know had a tag sticking out of their shirt would you tell them?
Yes, I do it often!

When you find out the latest news where do you go to learn more?
Google it!

Your favorite animal(s)?
Giraffe

Do you like the Lake or Ocean?
I am going to say Lake however the Ocean is awesome I just don't care for the sand.

POST IT NOTE TUESDAY

JOIN US, IT'S FUN! JUST CLICK

FIVE MONTHS TODAY......

.....UNTIL CHRISTMAS!

Christmas Countdown - Christmas Layouts

I know that you don't want the reminder, I really don't either but I have to show you my newest ornaments from Hallmark this year. Each year I tell myself that I don't need another ornament on my tree (which is very true), this year I will cut down on the number that I buy (and I have) but when I see them I just fall in love all over again. You can go to Hallmark.com to look at them or pick up the Dream Book at your local store. Also if you are ever searching for a past ornament this site it the best! Hooked On Hallmark

We would have people come into the store to find an ornament that may have come out several years earlier. They didn't understand that each year, year after year each ornament on display is brand new. No repeats other then being similar looking ones that are in a series or the occasional remake in a new color. I did go through a period where I didn't even look at them until the day after Christmas so I could buy them at 50% off. I look back now and wonder how I managed to to that!

So here are the newest additions to my collection:

(click on the pictures to enlarge them)

Some of these are Series that I have been collecting for years, some are Limited Quantity which means only 8 per store and the rest are just new designs this year.

Here are a few up close & personal!

I love the detail with ANDY on the bottom of the shoes of Woody & Buzz!
I was excited about Toto this year since my Skye B is a Toto dog.

FEELING LUCKY?

I do! I have been blogging for 15 months now and have won over 40 giveaways. I just love getting the gifts in the mail. Early on I would do posts every time I won something. Then as I grew and started following more people I suddenly didn't find the time. I want to apologize if anyone was hurt by me not posting what I won on their blog. I have several favorites who I have won from several times. I do have a list of each item but started just writing down the gift and not the blog I received it from. I have won at least a dozen books, note cards, cookbooks, picnic deluxe cooler, laundry detergent, earrings, coasters, postcards, pictures, lotions, cereal, mugs, coupons, books on CD and a Zibits robot just to name a few.

So I received 3 gifts while I was away so I thought I would give them some recognition. This first one was a set of greeting cards from Teresa @ Grammy Girlfriend. If you know me you know that I love mailing out cards. I became her 1000 follower between her two blogs.

This next one is from Mara @ Weighty Matters. We have been blog friends for a long time now and this package came all the way from the Netherlands! I got goodies like licorice, a tea bag holder and little Dutch wooden shoes. (my daughter is trying to claim these from me) Got some interesting post cards, toast sprinkles, a bar of soap, a cheese slicer, umbrella and a sweet note included. I love it all. Thank you Mara. {{HUG}}

After this the post is a mess. I just could not get this stuff to line up

This I won from Trisha @ Looking for Blue Sky. Aren't they just the cutest notes!

This I won from Kat @ Reviews from the Heart. I have won several books from her. You should head on over and enter her book giveaways. This one just arrived yesterday , I can't wait to read it!

I won this books from Alexis @ Running Away? I'll Help You Pack. I think I have won the most contests from her. This one is also in the mail. You should go over and enter some, you can't win if you don't enter.


Also I have won several giveaways from Blueviolet @ A nut in a Nutshell so you should check her blog out also.

My friend Brandy@ You Don't Know has giveaways each weekend.

Contests do take time and I don't enter as many as I use to but generally it's the first contest that is the hardest. After that they get to be pretty easy.

Here are a few posts I did in the past #1 and #2 , these will give you the names of others that I have entered and not listed in this post.

P.S. I know that there are people I have left off this list. If you frequently have giveaways on your blog and I have won one of your contests please let me know so I can add you to the list. (I am 58 and the memory, which was never good to begin with, has left me blank) That is what I get for following to many blogs. Sorry :) I know the smile helps! Want a ~hug~ too!

KETCHUP ~ CATCH-UP THAT IS!

So it's 3:55pm on Tuesday afternoon and I'm ready for a glass of wine but I better wait. I have five handkerchiefs to get out first. I had taken six with me to Florida and the rest I promised as soon as I got home. I am pretty much unpacked but not totally since I'm just going to pack for Mammoth Lakes pretty soon. The reason for the wine is that after three weeks in Florida I am finally seeing the end of the tunnel on my reader. Of course Mammoth Lakes will get me behind again. I will be checking emails but not sure I want to read too many posts. I NEED TO TAKE A VACATION FROM BLOGGING DON'T YOU THINK? (I read and comment on hundreds each day)

So far it looks like Skye will be able to stay home this time and not go to the kennel like last year. (sometimes when the kids move home it's a good thing) It was so hard to leave her last year. Our son-in-law has a trip with his family in early September so he can't go to Mammoth Lakes this year with us. My daughter isn't sure if she is coming up but if she does it will be later in the week with our son, her brother, for a few nights. It's still in the works. She is not going on the trip with her husband and his family because it involves a plane trip to Yellowstone Park. Flying is not her cup of tea!

I was excited to see the growth in the backyard when I got home on Sunday and the umbrella up. Skye was sunbathing today and the dogs next door were crying for me to come over and say hello to them. So like I said earlier I got my reader down to 99, turned on the iron to do my handkerchiefs and opened the best $2.99 dollar bottle of wine to celebrate with. {giggle}

Hope your week is going well.

Love,

P.S. I have talked with my dad several times. He misses me but is doing good. Eating the lasagna I made for him and went over to the pool to visit with some of his neighbors today. All of your prayers helped him to get well. Thank you.

POST IT NOTE TUESDAY

JET PLANE AGAIN....

This afternoon I leave the heat, the humidity and the rain. Not that it isn't hot in California right now but I can sit in my house with the air set at 74 and breathe! My dad keeps his at 78 and he is still chilled. After I leave he will put it up around 82. I have pretty much had a wet head most of the time! Not really very pretty on me.

We had a storm brewing on Thursday!

Obviously I will be missing the kids which are my sister's grandchildren.
Didn't see any alligators so that was a good thing!

It has been a great trip. My dad is going to miss me and I will miss him too, very much. I have told him several times that me going home is a good thing, it means he is well and back on his own two feet. We could have had a totally different outcome and I am counting my blessings.

I am looking forward to seeing my children, my husband and can't wait to get all the wet kisses from Skye :) (and Charlie too, my grand pup)

MORE PICTURES FROM FLORIDA

I have a few more mosaic photos for your viewing pleasure. This first one is my great-nephew Garrett with his Toy Story soldiers which I had for him at my dad's house. Gave them to him after we got home from the movie. My sisters pool area which was just resurfaced. My niece Melissa, Dad and her daughter Amber who is my great-niece. Also my dads cards. We were going to get thumbtacks and string to put them up before he got home. Then when I was walking through Wal-Mart I had this brilliant idea (my opinion) to use clothespins on his vertical window blinds. He loves the idea and is going to do this with his Christmas cards.

A few flowers by my dads house and a few funny mailboxes that I saw on our way to Fred Howard Park.

So I packed a lunch and we went over to Fred Howard Park/Beach the other day. Sat at a picnic table (lower left photo) and ate our lunch. Then we sat in the sun closer to the water after lunch for about 15 minutes. We just drove around the beach are and I took a few photos.

Well I did my share of cooking while I was here. I made two meat loafs and have five containers with 3 slices in each one for him in the freezer. (I've been making FF for many, many years)Made black bean chili (and some mac for him because he likes chili mac) and he has 3 containers in the freezer. Made two lasagnas (had my sister and BIL over for dinner) and he has six containers in the freezer. Made the Pioneer Woman's apple dumplings (like many have said before, they are to die for) and have a few containers in the freezer for him. We had tuna salad & sweet & sour cucumbers one day which were very good. My grandmother ALWAYS made them. Also made Salted Nut Rolls (I used unsalted because of my dad) and I have to say it is a real treat. Thanks Gigi! My sister even asked for the recipe!.

My dad is doing very good. He gets tired quickly but in a few months should have most of his strength back. Went to a Renal Specialist yesterday, which he was very worried about, but checked out great. For a man who has only taken one pill a day and now must take several pills several times a day it's a bit taxing for him. My sister will come and do his pill box each week. He has started to run a few errands by himself so I know he is driving okay. He comes home and says "That was exhausting." I keep telling him how blessed he is to be 87 and just now must slow down. I had to slow down 14 years ago with my asthma/COPD and I'm just 58 years young now! I can't even imagine me at 87, so if you want to start praying now it's okay with me. {giggle}

Thank you for all the well wishes and support while I have been here in Florida.

POST IT NOTE TUESDAY

It's PINT day, click on the post it and join in the fun!