I :::heart::: this thrift store...

SOOOOO much goodness there!! I love it. LOVE it. I think I may have mentioned, that even though I haven't lived near this store for two years now, They know me by NAME.... I know. It's bad. lol

Check out those beauties!! they are so sparkly and yummy!!

In other news... HE is at training for the next two weeks... He's getting certified to be a Drug Recognition Expert. One of 4 employed with the county. I'm so proud of him. He's worked so hard, and done so much to provide for our family.

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Springy Creamy Goodness

I forgot to get the items from ME in there, so there are a few more goodies... but LOOK AT THIS!!! What yummy creaminess!! Every thing's here, and I'll be emailing later with shipping costs for those of you who need to know!! For your viewing pleasure... here are a few close ups.



THANK YOU for playing with me!! I love every creamy piece in here!! Of course, you won't be getting the items that YOU sent to me, so when you look at this, figure at your box will have everyone ELSE'S and not your things...

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Congratulations, Sheila and Karen!! You two won the random number generator's favor today!!! Karen, You'll be getting the set of two books, and Sheila, you'll be getting the gardener's journal!! Please email me with your mailing addresses!!! Thanks!!

Which CSI Character Are You?

My Result: Greg Sanders

Positive and upbeat, you rarely let things get you down, just like your CSI match! Even though you're still learning the ropes, your optimism helps you overcome obstacles. When things get tense, you have a knack for finding the lighter side, and when people need cheering up, you're always ready with a joke or a kind word.

Your sense of humor and active imagination make you a hit with your friends — too bad not everyone knows how to laugh along with you, right? Just keep doing what you do best: Staying positive! Your great attitude and sweet smile get noticed more than you realize.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=csiogt&c=50652

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Anymore

I saw something at the store the other day...
Last year, I would have bought it because you are looking for one...
This year, I passed it up because you stopped talking to me.
Leaving it on the shelf was almost as bad as the moment I realized we weren't friends...
Anymore.

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I didn't MISS my Blogiversary!!!

Happy Blogiversary!!
I totally thought I had missed my blog's day...
like,
LAST
month.
I thought it was April. I was SO off... lol
But if you LOOK...
My very FIRST post was on this day.
TWO YEARS AGO.
dude.
I
can't
believe
it.
So to celebrate being married to my blog for two WHOLE years, I'm going to give away a few books from my book sort that I lost over 100lbs on.
(of books)
I have two giveaways. The first one, is a Gardener's Journal that I've never used. I did cut a page out, because it had my grandmother's writing on it, but the page was the VERY first page... all decoration and nothing important to the book. It's BRAND NEW.

The next one is a two fer. Two books that I love so much, that not only did I have TWO of them that I had found in thrift stores... I had THREE of them!! So I passed one set onto V and Maya... but I still have two more!! So I'm giving these away. They are thrift store finds, but the pages are all there, and they are GOOD books!!

SO In order to be in the running for this giveaway, you need to let me know what the HIGHLIGHT of your year was in the last 12 months.

AND the WINNER of my EarthDay give away....
Tami said...hi. we recycle nearly every bit of clothes and toys. either by passing them on to others, bring to the thrift store, cutting up old shirts for rags, our transfer station/dump as a "store" and we bring some stuff there.
we went "green" with our cleaning supplies and i have finally convinced dave to use cloth bags vs plastic.we are making an effort
oh, the BEST recycling to date would have to be getting the beST mulch for our yard FREE at the dump last weekend. they grind up all the old leaves, trees, etc that are brought there and you can take it. Sometimes it's not all that great, i'll have to take a picture to show you.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE leave a comment!! I'm starting to think that my 35-40 "readers" are all ghosts!!

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Very Interesting.... lol

Which Movie Mom Are You?

My Result: Spy Kids' Ingrid Cortez

OK, we know you're probably not a top-secret spy like Ingrid (but we wouldn't tell anyone if you were!). Still, you've got a zest for life and a hunger for adventure that you want to instill in your family. Settle down? You? Never! You see parenthood as the most thrilling journey a woman can take — and we're betting that your intrepid children would agree.


You want your kids to feel that they can take leaps in life and know that you'll be there to support them every step of the way. How do you do this? By example, of course. So let them see you take the lead, fall down once in a while, and of course, get back up. That's how great leaders, thinkers, adventurers — and families — are made.

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=moviemomogt&c=50652

Pretty Cool! AND I passed 5th grade!! Whew!

Could You Pass 5th Grade?

My Result: Excellent

You did so well you might actually be in 5th grade right now! Or are you a 5th grade teacher? Either way, you've definitely got what it takes to make the grade in the classroom — and beyond! Book smart and motivated, you're probably the type to make sure you're always on time for class or work (or even that hot date!), and can't wait to read the new book that everyone's been talking about.

That's not to say you're a brown-noser. Not even close. You just love to know stuff — whether it's relevant or not. Who cares if you'll never have to know that a dolphin sleeps with one eye open or that a sneeze can travel at over 100 miles per hour. So if you don't mind, can we copy your test answers from now on?

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=fifthgradeogt&c=50652

© Rachel Whetzel Please do not use content or images without written permissions. CLICK HERE to send an email request!

Down a Size and a Half!!

I love that line...
TallyPoints if you know what movie it's from....
I know that looking at these bookshelves, you would THINK that they were my BEFORE pictures...
You would THINK that there were a lot of books there...
You would THINK that I couldn't POSSIBLY have read them all...
You would THINK that there would be no NEED for another shelf in my bedroom...

BUT
You would be WRONG.
Not only is there a lot of books in the ONE shelf, I have another one that's full too...
I actually HAVE read them...
I absolutely DO need the shelves in my bedroom...
Here's the OTHER shelf in the LIVING ROOM...

What you might NOT think... is that I just went THROUGH said books in the living room...
BUT
I totally DID.
AND
I totally got rid of a TON. (well, maybe more like over 100lbs worth)
TOTALLY did.
I took them straight to Josh's school.
I'm just thankful that the Librarian there is obsessed with books like I am.
Here's my proof. THREE bags of books.

I lost a whole human worth of books!! No kidding. So what did YOU do on Earth Day? Not a lot of takers on my Earth Day Giveaway... maybe today? GO check it out.... There's a free book at stake!! Did I mention I have a lot of them?
Well, I did.
I have less now.
:)

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I'm only saying....

To do what you can.

Mom, this is all your fault!! lol


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Happy Earth Day!!

EARTH DAY is here... I went Green Shopping to see what sites and ideas I could find on line... here are a few.
OurEarth
Great ideas for all things earth friendly.
Organic Eating
Ways to get Organic foods affordably
Organic Gardening
Ways to control pests in your yard and garden without chemicals!
Natural Toys
Back to Basics with well made, toys. This site offers a FULL list of toy makers worth their weight in well made toys.
GreenToys
Made in the USA from recycled materials!! (Thanks, Maya)
Worm Farming
An EXCELLENT alternative (and much easier) to composting. If you have questions, Email me. I have a bin myself. If you HAVE a bin, and you have "worm tea" I suggest buying yourself a Miracle Gro fertilizer HOSE dispenser... Once you've used the Miracle Gro, place full strenght worm tea in your container and use it the same way you did the Miracle Gro!! Your plants and yard will LOVE you for it!
Emz Blendz Soap Co.
If you have EVER doubted whether home made soaps were worth buying, I have to INSIST that you visit Em. I shop at her store on line, but I have been there in person. My sister used to go to school at the college that Emz hubby teaches. It was through my sister that I found out about Em and her soaps. They are made with THE BEST most rich ingredients... all natural. Your skin will love you. I buy soap and sugar scrubs the most. Strawberry Mint Sugar Scrub for exfolitaing my skin, and Vanilla Bean Bar Soaps for the rest of me. Her lotions and lip glosses are all wonderful too. They last for a long time, and in my opinion, their slightly higher cost is quickly outweighed in quality. By the time they are used up, I think they end up costing about the same as brand names. Em makes all the soaps in her shop. There's no production line... no huge warehouse of employees... it's her. Just Em and her dedication to providing you with excellent quality in it's purest form. (ps. She didn't pay me to say this)
AND
If you have never read it, get your own copy of 50 Simple Things YOU can Do to Save the Earth...

OR get a copy of 50 Simple Things KIDS can Do to Save the Earth


Both are REALLY great books with EASY and SIMPLE ways to make your impact on the earth a little more positive. Whether or not you think that Global Warming is happening, we are all stewards of this planet!! It's a responsible thing, taking care of what you own. Making wise choices when you buy. Eating foods that give your body more than just preservatives. Supporting those who have endeavored to create with their own two hands. These things SHOULD be part of an everyday. If you live your life like there is no tomorrow, then at the VERY LEAST the tomorrow that comes will never be what today is. When we live without thought to what we take and what we leave behind, we rob those in the future of the views that we enjoy... we dirty their skies... we pick all their flowers... we leave nothing behind... Don't live like you are a bulldozer. Don't take out more of the path than you need. Think. Walk lightly... leave a trail in your wake that encourages others to follow and enjoy the views... not a roughly carved mud pit that only says you were here, and there is nothing left. Lead your family and your neighborhood by example. Take time to THINK about how you live. Take time to PLAN to waste less. If we teach our children with our lives, we give them a lesson they will carry forever.
Leave me a comment telling me how YOU make a difference in your everyday!! I'm giving away a copy of 50 Simple Things YOU can Do to Save the Earth and you won't want to miss out!!

© Rachel Whetzel Please do not use content or images without written permissions. CLICK HERE to send an email request!

Birds and Bonnet Swap

I finished my panels for the Birds and Bonnets Swap that I joined recently on BETH'S blog... one of the gals who ran the Bling Your Birdhouse event I took part in! I had to make four panels for the swap, using images they supplied. Love the way they turned out. We were supposed to decorate both sides, so on one side, I simply placed a photo image... and then on the other side, I placed a calling card... in my mind... the image of the lady is who the calling card belongs to... Mrs. B.K. Ames... and she made the hat herself. I added a few "millinery" like things to my panel... incorporating my own information onto the panel instead of including it separately. I mounted it all onto Hambly Heavy Clear Overlays. I can't wait to see how everyone's things come together!!


© Rachel Whetzel Please do not use content or images without written permissions. CLICK HERE to send an email request!

Happy 8 Day!!

Happy Birthday, my dear boy!! I love your smile, and your humor. You may be in the middle, but you are NOT forgotten. You make my heart sing. I love you so much. More than you may ever know. I pray one day, you have a child of your own that tugs at your heart the way you do mine... then, just maybe, you will know.


© Rachel Whetzel Please do not use content or images without written permissions. CLICK HERE to send an email request!

Post Card, Anyone?

I'd like to host a post card exchange!! Email me if you are interested!! I have enough room for 26 people!! If you are interested, email me with your mailing address! I will compile a mailing list of everyone, and by signing up, you are agreeing to send UP TO (but possibly less) post cards. On your post card, include your name, and a little bit of information about yourself. I have chosen a card from a local museum that shows some sand dunes near my home. You are not required to find such a post card, but it would be neat if you can. Postage for mailing 26 postcards should be less than $7.00!!
Button anyone? I love them... so of course I made one... it looks like this:

You can copy this code for your own! Highlight, Copy and Paste the code below if you are signed up for the swap!
<a href="http://minetothine.blogspot.com/2008/04/post-card-anyone.html"><img
src="http://i74.photobucket.com/albums/i272/oceanbookworm/2426371802_d7b219aca0_o.jpg"></a>
Here are the rules:

1. Email me with your mailing address. There is a link to email me just after my signature below.
   
2. Sign up by May7th
3. Mail PostCards by May9th
4. United States Mailing addresses ONLY... sorry!
   

© Rachel Whetzel Please do not use content or images without written permissions. CLICK HERE to send an email request!

39 words

Speedtest

The test says I could type faster if I want to... up to 70 words per min!! I thought that I was pretty fast!! I think, actually, that I do type faster, but under pressure I make more mistakes. So now I want to keep it up and see if I can get faster!! It's a fun test!! Try it!! Tell me what you get!! Thanks, Chanel, for a great little game to play!!

© Rachel Whetzel Please do not use content or images without written permissions. CLICK HERE to send an email request!

Challenge Fun

Created this for a challenge on Tally!! Use 20 pieces of patterned paper!! It sounded like a LOT, but it wasn't too bad!! Love the way this turned out... Felt good to just start and run with it! Check out what the other gals in Scrapvivor have done!!

I've been missing having friends close by. This has made me miss my mom even more. For example...
I miss going for walks with her just because and to enjoy the sunshine.
I miss hopping in my car and running over to see her.
I miss stopping in just because.
I miss not having to try and fit EVERYONE into a visit.
I miss being able to keep a visit short and sweet without feeling like I missed something.
I miss just running to town with her.
I miss having tea.
I miss knowing there is someone nearby I can count on.
I miss her backyard.
I miss her kitchen table.
I miss my old room that isn't mine anymore.
I miss seeing the perfect thing in the store, and picking it up for her and being able to just drop it off on my way home.
I miss scrapping with her.
I really just miss the little things that you don't think about until you don't have them anymore. Those things have been even more glaringly missing since I lost my close friends here.
I can't wait to get back there.

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Creativity ROCKS

Some things I'm working on for my etsy shop. I made the full view one for Josh's best friend's little sister for her birthday, and got HOOKED making them!! I'll list them soon, I promise.

In other news, I took haloscan OFF of my blog, and THAT was a BITCH to figure out. While the IDEA seemed good, I didn't like the fact that you have to visit their site to view comments, and then once you are there, you can't see what site your visitor has... really not any more helpful to ME than blogger was!! So I took it off. No easy task. SO unless you have email enabled in your profile, I am back to not being able to email replies to you directly... If you are looking to remove haloscan from your blogger comments, I did it by going into the HTML area of my layout settings, and clicking on restore widgets to default button at the bottom of the html box. I had to change my colors back, but I didn't lose any of my content on my blog. I'm also not entirely sure that my color change would have been necessary, if I had done the widget changes BEFORE I tried changing templates to get rid of halo.

© Rachel Whetzel Please do not use content or images without written permissions. CLICK HERE to send an email request!

Clamage

We went clamming with friends from our hometown, and had a BLAST!! Took home our limit, and had DELICIOUS clam chowder from scratch... still do, actually...
Macs found one all on his own, and was really happy to show it off...

I LOVE the barnacles and muscles that cling to the piers.

After clamming, we went to a nearby beach to find sand shrimp. Our friends use them to fishing, and Josh had fun helping them round up the buggers... This was the big daddy of the bunch.

Today, I've been busy being creative!! I'll be sharing soon, I'm sure.

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