Blog Post Winner

And winner of my most recent blog post giveaway is...

 

Wanda H. at http://artbywanda.blogspot.com/

 

"What a wonderful, special time!!!!

My favorite tea is Oolong.

I also drink a lot of green and white tea.

A friend from Norway just sent me some

White Energy Tea that is very good."

 

Wanda has won a gift package of

yummy teas for those cold winter nights

and a sweet little book of devotions...

 

 

...for tea lovers, of course.

 

Many thanks to each of you who took the time to leave a comment.

 

May the warmth of a cup of hot tea feel you with peace and comfort.

blessings, denise  :D 

BiG GiRl PaNtiEs

Sometimes life is messy.

It knocks you down,

breaks your heart and

kicks you around for good measure.

 

This is when you just gotta

get your big girl panties on and deal with it.

~J.V Manning

 

 

I can hear my sweet sister whispering in my ear...

"Put on your big girl panties and get over it, Denise!"

 

(She has to tell her employees this quite often.)

 

So why would she feel I needed to hear this?

Well, let me tell you...

 

 

I was feeling sorry for myself. 

Does anyone really read my blog?

Very few leave a comment.

Does anyone even care about what I have to say?

I've tried give-aways.

Maybe no one wants a free gift?

 

So I decided to write this "Woe is Me" Blog.

I got on the internet in search of "Big Girl Panties" clip art.

Wow!  There is a whole world out there...

 

There are posters...

 

 

 

Posters that offer all kinds of advice.

(Courtesy of Put On Your big Girl Panties.facebook.com)

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are cross-stitch patterns...

 

...and t-shirts...

 

...even a book...

 

...and business cards!

 

 

 

*******************************************   I know, My Dear, life can be cruel and sometimes seems unfair But it's the times that seem so bleak we need most to persevere. So when the 'grey funk' comes around and life feels like a pit Put on your "Big Girl Panties" .....and learn to deal with it. It's good to trust in others just know one thing is true The one you really count on Should always be......YOU. So when someone let's you down Don't get in a snit Put on your "Big Girl Panties" .....and learn to deal with it. If you're big girl panties sometimes bunch and slows you down a bit Then that's the time to re-adjust Until you make 'em fit Reality is sometimes harsh But the answer's not to quit Put on your "Big Girl Panties" .....and learn to deal with it. We always have two choices To do...or not to do It's up to you to see yourself As someone who'll make it through. Life can't bring more than you'll handle If you never do forget To put on your "Big Girl Panties" .....and learn to deal with it. Poem Author: Rinda Nelson©2010   *******************************************

So I'm ready now...

I put my big girl panties on

and I got over it!...

 

...and reminded myself -

I write my blog to express myself,

to share my life, my art, and my heart.

 

Comments are nice, but not necessary.  :)

 

blessings, Big Girls!  :D

Mother-Daughter Tea

 

While spending Thanksgiving with my dear daughter and her in-laws,

we were treated to a Mother-Daughter Tea at the gorgeous

St. James Tearoom in Albuquerque, New Mexico. 

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Being my first ever official tea,

I was entralled with all the traditions. 

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Even our table had our name place cards. 

I felt so special...kind of regal, you know?

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What a memorable experience with my youngest daughter, Rebekah.

(Just wish my oldest daughter, Jenn, could've been with us, too.)

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We were seated in The Chartwell Room while the other members

of our party were seated in The Bird and Baby Room.

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This book told us all about The Chartwell Room

and the history of The St. James Tearoom.

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The St. James Tearoom was founded by Mary Alice

who was known as M.A. - spelled Emmai.

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Beautiful Bekah's place setting.

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Yummy treats based on the November Narnia theme.

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Each month has a unique theme upon which all the treats are based.

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Me, Bekah, and her sweet niece-in-law Naomi.

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The other guests at the tea party were

Bekah's Sister-in-Law Natalie, Mother-in-Law Jean,

Grandmother-in-Law Wanda, and Sister-in-Law Angie.

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By the end of our tea (which was signaled by the dainty ringing of a bell),

even Naomi was creating vignettes to photograph.

This is her place setting - so appropriate - Gentility.

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And one last group photo of the ladies after our

wonderful Mother-Daughter Tea hosted by

Bekah's sister-in-law, Angie.

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Now... ... ...

Leave a comment telling me what is your favorite kind of tea

and become a follower of my blog   :)

and you could win this sweet book of devotionals for tea lovers.

 

 

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Family and friends are true blessings indeed.

:D

Look For What Is Good...

 

I wanted to share these tags that I made for a recent swap

on the All Things Tim Yahoo Group.

 

The theme was Words and Phrases using

Ranger Products and Tim Holtz goodness.

 

The stamp is a Paula Best stamp:

"Look for what is good and you will find it."

 

blessings all, denise  :D

TOMS in NYC

Just had to share some pics of my most favorite pair of TOMS

from our recent trip to NYC...

 

 

We are actually at the airport on our way home.

Weary, tired feet taking a bit of a rest...

 

 

Pausing on the escalator...

 

 

Sharing some space with my honey bunny, too...

 

Why are they my favorite?

They say "The Journey Is The Destination"

 

Prayers to those living in the path of Hurricane Sandy.

May our Heavenly Father grant them strength and peace.

 

blessings, denise  :D

The Streets of New York City

I went to NYC in September to participate in the Tunnel to Tours Run.  On one of the days we were there, my boyfriend and I both kind of went our own ways.  I wanted to "wander a bit" and that did not sound appealing to him at all.  So off I went...thinking I knew exactly where I was and where I was going.  Boy, was I mistaken!  It took me awhile to realize there is a Broadway and a West Broadway in lower Manhattan.  I wandered for an hour or so - totally lost and trying to find myself and where I was.  Thank heavens for cell phones with GPS!  But on my journey - walking for block after block - I saw some wonderful things...

 

 I came across an Anthropologie store.  I'd never been to one.  Too pricey for my budget, but a fun place to visit.  I arranged these cute letters to express how I was feeling at the moment!

 

Then as I was crossing a street - tryng to avoid being hit by the crazy drivers of NYC - I saw this on the side of a building.  True...so true!  It provided a sense of comfort to me.

These are my favorite.  Spray painted on the sidewalk around manhole covers.  Don't you just love 'em!  :)

 

And finally...this banner - "What goes around comes around."  Isn't life just like that?  Made me realize how important being tolerant and patient with others really is in order to be happy in my own skin with who I am.

 

blessings, denise  :D

Halloween Happiness

I recently participated in a Halloween Tag Swap with the All Things Tim Yahoo Group.  We each made our tags using Tim Holtz and Ranger goodness and then sent them to the hostess, Stacy Cook.  She then swapped them out and made this oh-so-cute Halloween board for each of us.

 

Stacy made the topper and the wonderful items hanging from the bottom.

 

 

Is this not the cutest tattered flower with a skeleton head on the middle?...



 

This wonderful bottle cap with the precious lil' pumpkin charm is great...



 

I just love this spider tag with the Happy Halloween ticket, too...

 

This darling domino is just over-the-top amazing...

 

This out-of-the-world witch's hat uses the Tim Holtz rosette die cut. 

 

That Stacy is definitely the 'Hostess with the Mostest!'

 

 

Here is the tag I made for the swap.  The cemetery scene is die cut and is 3-dimensional with pop-up dots.  I added the orange polka dot paper in the scary tree.  The crow has black Stickles to make him shiney.  The ghost, which is cut from an old book page, floats above the cemetery.  For the actual tag I used Tim Holtz Embossed Holiday Papers - with vintage potions and prescriptions.  It is colored with green Distress Ink.  A bit of green, glittery tulle is tied on the left to complete my lil' tag.

 

Let's have a look-see at some of the other tags...

 

 

By Pamela Bennett

 

By Christine Edwards

 

By Sandy Young

 

By Lisa Mallette

 

By Martha Schroeder

 

By Bev Allaire

 

By Elise Smith-Dewey

 

Aren't they all such happily haunting pieces of art?

 

What are you creating for Halloween this year?

blessings always, denise  :D