Random Dozen

Thanks to all of you who are linking up with 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen.  She really comes up with some great questions.  Hope you enjoy!  (Sorry I didn't get around to visiting last week--my mother was in the hospital and I'm way behind on blogging.  I have over 100 posts in my Reader! Ack!)

1. How do you feel about the marshmallow Easter Peeps?  Love them!  They remind me of my beloved grandmother who used to buy them for me when I was a kid

2. Chickens are notoriously nervous creatures. When you are nervous, what is the best way to calm down?  Lamaze breathing--works for more than just labor

3. People say, "April showers bring May flowers." Do you enjoy Spring rains?  "I've heard people say that too much of anything ain't good for ya, baby"--a little is okay, but day after day starts to annoy me

4. When I was randomly flipping through TV channels this week, I saw a show in which tattoo parlor employees received tattoos of a co-worker's face on their bodies. I can't imagine having a portrait of a colleague tattooed on me. But if someone forced you to receive a portrait tattoo (face only) of anyone, who would it be? Why?  I'm gonna say my husband--just cuz I love him

5. Would you rather have a tattoo (any kind) or a nose ring?  tattoo--how does one blow one's nose with a ring it??

6. Do you have any special plans for Easter?  not really--no kids or grandkids will be around (sniff, sniff)

7. Cadbury Eggs or Reese Eggs?  YES!

8. What was the last thing/person you took a picture of?  my grandchildren who are visiting from GA

9. What book are you reading now, or what was the last one?  I tend to read more than one book at a time.  Right now, I'm reading The Happiness Makeover, Patriotic Grace, and Last Kiss

10. What do you think is the most difficult task when it comes to Spring cleaning?  washing windows--we have the old storm windows--yuck! But I do love when the job is finished!

11. How many pairs of flip-flops do you own?  one--not a flip flop kind of gal

12. Which color makes you happiest?  red!

Saturday Shout Outs

 How To Give Your Cat A Pill

Are You Digging a Hole or Building a Cathedral?

Easter Advent

Choose Joy 

My Battle 

Creating A Welcoming Front Porch! 

My Dirty Little Secret

Random Dozen--I Didn't Know That!

 

 Have you got your Random Dozen ready to link up?  Come on--it's fun.  Click THIS LINK and join in!

The theme is Spring . . . and any other random questions that crept in.

1.  What is your favorite sign of Spring?  Forsythia blooming everywhere

2.  Did you remember to spring forward on March 14?  If not, how did it impact your day?  I did remember, though I was too lazy to do all the clocks--I got to it eventually

3.  If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what vegetable would you plant in a garden this year? corn--but only if harvesting, shucking, and cooking it were also "no problem"

4.  If soil, time, talent and climate were no problem, what fruit would you plant?  pineapple

5.  What is your least favorite insect?  the stupid fly that has been buzzing me for the past two hours!

6.  March 22 was World Water Day. To celebrate, here are some water questions. Do you drink bottled water? If so, what brand?  I've never heard of World Water Day.  I mainly drink distilled water from Walmart.  I've tried it from other stores, but Wally World's is the best.  I also drink Aquafina--plain.  Don't like flavored water.  It throws me when I put the bottle to my lips--brain sees water bottle, thinks water bottle, then gets something different.  I was the same way when Reese's Pieces came out--brain thought "M&Ms", you get the picture.

7.  Have you ever been somewhere that it was not safe to drink the local water? If so, how did you handle that?  I have not--thank goodness

8.  How many glasses of water do you drink per day?  not as many as I should, probably 4-6

9.  March 24 is the birthday of Harry Houdini.  Have you ever watched a professional magic show? Share.  I have not, but it sounds like fun

10.  Have you ever been a participant in a professional magic show (up on stage!)?  haven't done that either

11. March 24 is also the birthday of Steve McQueen and Clyde Barrow. Do you like Westerns or gangster movies?  If so, what is your favorite?  Not so much on gangster movies, but love old Westerns.  I like the movies where people get shot and there's not even a hole in their shirt, much less blood and guts spewing everywhere like the movies today!

12. (Really random)  What U.S. state that you've never visited would you like to visit someday?  Would love to visit Vermont in the fall.

What's Your Style?

Go visit Traci at Beneath My Heart.  She'll help you find out--and you just might win something, too!

Saturday Shout Outs

20 Things To Do With $5 (Or Less)

Instant Organization

Five Meaningful Ways to Celebrate Easter

Easter Foodie Fun

Workout DVD Reviews

Seeing The Full

More Shoes! A Giveaway This Time

Need some cute new shoes for summer?  Jo-Lynne at Musings of a Housewife has a giveaway going on now for a pair of Dansko's.  Click that link to learn more and enter!

Freebie to Almost Fab

Remember the buffet my friend gave me for free?  Here's a couple of pics to refresh your memory--

After just a few minutes with a microfiber cloth and some lemon oil, here's how she looks now.  We're not done, but can't you just hear her sigh of relief to be cleaned up?  I'm still working on the accessorizing.

Please avert your eyes from the dreaded lamp cord hanging underneath and the missing outlet cover.  That will be addressed today!

Linking up with Steph at somewhat simple and Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage.

Shoes Are My Addiction

Well, one of them anyway.  Beth at The Stories of A to Z is hosting a Show Me Your Shoes party today and this is one party I can truly get into!  I love me some shoes!  And always have.  I'd give anything to still have my favorite shoes from high school--5 inch platforms with a black thin wale corduroy on the platform and a small floral print on top.  So cute!

Anyway, here are a few pics of my shoes.  First, a couple of my closet.  This doesn't show them all, but will give you an idea of my problem.  I don't wear the majority of them because of my problem feet--just can't get rid of them (the shoes, not my feet).   I'm not modeling these because my polish needs redoing.  Besides, do you know how hard it is to photograph your shoes while you're wearing them??
My sweet husband says a woman can't have too many shoes--what a guy!

Most of those boxes have two or three pair in them!

Here are some of my favorites:

 My new Shape Ups--these bad boys are going to give me the butt of my dreams--without even working out--at least that's their claim

Fooled you, didn't I?  I used to wear the two above.  Now my bunions require the ones below.  Easy Spirit and Earth Shoes.  But I least I am comfortable.

These black boots are Easy Spirit and about the most comfortable ones I've ever worn.  Wish I had a pair in brown, I'd be set.  

Let's call these Special Occasion shoes.
They've never left the house. ;-)

So, got any shoes you wanna show off?  We'll keep your secrets!

A Great Day For A Giveaway

You want to know how compulsive I am?  See that post title up there?  I capitalized the second 'a' because if I didn't it would be the only first letter not capitalized.  I didn't want it to feel left out.  Sad, huh?

Anyway--on to the giveaway.  I love linking up with other bloggers--I've met so many great and fun people that way.  Yesterday I linked up with 2nd Cup of Coffee for Random Dozen and got a comment from Robin at My Pursuit of... She's hosting a great giveaway that ends on March 25.  Click on that link to find out more about it!

Happy St. Patrick's Day--Random Dozen Style

It's Random Dozen Day over at 2nd Cup of Coffee--click that link to join in the fun!

1. On a scale of 1-10, how superstitious are you, honestly?

I'm gonna say about an 8.  I knock wood, try hard not to walk under ladders, etc.

2. Julius Caesar is quoted as saying, "I came, I saw, I conquered." Which circumstance or experience of yours does this saying best describe?

Don't know how much conquering was involved, but I survived living with four teenagers in the house at one time!

3. If I peeked in on your day like a mischievous little leprechaun, at what time would I most likely find you blogging?

Early morning--like 6:30 or so

4. Re springing forward for Daylight Saving Time, is there anything you've ever been really early or really late for?

Well, my mother's due date when she was pregnant with me was late April--my birthday is May 6.

5. What are you most looking forward to concerning Spring?

Getting my hands dirty--love working in the yard

6. Shamrocks are the national flower of Ireland and are picked on St. Patrick's Day and worn on the lapel or shoulder. Do you wear green on St. Patty's Day?

Of course!

7. One of Caesar's assassins, Casca, said, "But, for my own part, it was Greek to me," which of course means he didn't understand something. Probably his own lines in the play. Anyway, what is something that is "Greek to you," something incomprehensible or indecipherable?

Short and simple answer: math in just about any form--especially the kind that involves numbers AND letters--that's like cats and dogs mating--just goes against nature

8. Is March behaving more like a lion or a lamb where you live?

A passive lion or maybe a ticked off lamb--not too bad, but not good either

9. "An extra yawn one morning in the springtime, an extra snooze one night in the autumn is all that we ask in return for dazzling gifts. We borrow an hour one night in April; we pay it back with golden interest five months later." -Winston Churchill. If you had one extra hour per day every day, what would you do with it?

"To sleep, perchance to dream....."

10. Legend says that every Leprechaun has a pot of gold hidden deep in the Irish countryside. Aside from real gold or money, what material item would be in your dream pot of gold?

My bag of makeup.  I'm like Tammy Fay Baker--it won't be heaven if I can't wear makeup.

11. "The best things are nearest: breath in your nostrils, light in your eyes, flowers at your feet, duties at your hand, the path of God just before you." Robert Louis Stevenson. Look around you right now and tell us about something essential or beautiful very near you that you take for granted every day.

Electricity. Not even taking into consideration the entertainment factor, think how much easier we have it over our grandmothers.  Washers, dryers, dishwashers, hot water heaters, etc.

12. Just for a bit o' fun, click here (www.blogthings.com/irishnamegenerator/) and then report your Irish name. 

Aislin O'Byrne--I like it!  Now if I could only pronounce it!

Interested in a Great Giveaway?

PK at Room Remix has one going on right now!  Go!  Go!

Saturday Shout Outs

Lower Your Grocery Budget

When To Throw In the Towel 

Diary of a Bible

Now You're Speaking My (Love) Language 

31 Things You Can Do in 1 Minute (or Less) 

Fun and Educational Websites For Your Kids 

St Patrick's Day Tradition Ideas

Showing My Progress

Thanks to Amanda at Serenity Now for hosting a really cool party today!  "Show Me the Progress" allows us to show an area of our homes we're working on and what we've accomplished so far.  Plus it's an opportunity to get input from some very talented ladies--for free!

I'll be honest, I'm a little timid to do this--but don't let that you hold back from commenting!  I've posted pics before and gotten zero comments, which made me think my taste and/or abilities were lacking (which may be true, but come on, at least say "interesting idea" or something!).   Okay, got my big girl panties on now, so here goes...

This is my monster of a living room.  It's about 25x25 and has no unbroken walls--windows, doors, fireplaces, aarrgghh!  Where do you put the furniture?  Especially when dear husband insists on this huge TV!  But I guess he does live here, too, and he asks so little--I'll give in.  These are the befores:

And here are the pictures of what I've done so far:

I'm looking for another cabinet for the TV or maybe hang it over the mantle?

This is NOT how this corner is going to stay!  I put what I had there to get a feel for what I have in mind.  I was thinking a hutch or cabinet of some sort where the bookcase is and a leather chair and ottoman in the corner.  Maybe a ficus tree behind?  (What's back there now are speakers for the surround sound.  Darrell's waiting for me to leave the furniture in one spot long enough for him to set it up again.)
Then a friend gave--yes, gave, as in free--me this last night.  It needs some work, but still--it was free!  So now, I'm thinking of putting it in the space where the bookcase is with shelves above. 

 Whatcha think?

Plinko--Random Dozen

Linking up once again with Lid at 2nd Cup of Coffee.  I love quizzes and surveys--answering them and reading other people's.  Guess I'm just nosey like that! 

Definition of plink: "Plinking refers to informal target shooting done at non-traditional targets such as tin cans, glass bottles, and balloons filled with water."

1. How old is the oldest pair of shoes in your closet?  probably 11 years--a pair of snow boots I bought to wear in Idaho--bet I can count on one hand the number of times I've worn them

2. Did you buy Girl Scout cookies this year? If so, what variety?  duh--of course!  Samoas, Thin Mints, Tagalongs--but I refuse to tell you how many boxes I bought and/or ate!

3. Do you know how to ballroom dance? If not, would you like to?  I don't, but would absolutely love to learn

4. Were you a responsible child/teenager?  I think so, but you'd have to ask my parents to get a true picture

5. How many of this year's Oscar-nominated movies did you see?  none that I know of--can't justify the cost of going to the theater, snacks, etc when I can watch in the comfort of my own home

6. If you're going to have a medical procedure done, such as having blood drawn, is it easier for you to watch someone else having the procedure done or have it done yourself?  I'm gonna say watch--but it would depend on who it was having it done

7. What is your favorite day of the week and why?  Friday because hubby doesn't usually work that day and we spend it together, then eat out with friends that night.  Saturday is a close second--we either get up early and go to yard sales or we lay in bed and watch old westerns.

8. Do you miss anyone right now?  my daughter Shana and my too-far-away grandchildren

9. Do hospitals make you queasy?  absolutely!

10. At which store would you like to max-out your credit card. Not that you ever would, you responsible person, you.  Do I have to choose just one?  Probably Lowe's.

11. Are you true to the brand names of products/items?  nope, I'm a fair weather friend when it comes to price.

12. Which is more difficult: looking into someone’s eyes when you are telling someone how you feel, or looking into someone’s eyes when he/she is telling you how he/she feels?  Looking into their eyes as they tell me.

Just Because

Go see Connie at Shadycreek Lane for a "just because" giveaway.  She is such a sweetie and quite talented.  Make sure you look around while you're there to see all the beautiful things she creates!

Saturday Shout Outs

 Happy weekend reading:

Becoming Real

Present for Baby L and Why 

Getting Lost by Walking Forward 

As Long As There's Breath

Leprechaun Footprints  

Coupon Blogs

Random Dozen

Here we go, boys and girls.  Are you linking up?  And why not??


1. Do you prefer even or odd numbers? Any particular reason?  Even, they're just prettier (yes, I'm serious)

2. On a scale of 1-10, with 1 being "not at all" and 10 being Carly Simon-worthy, how vain are you?  10

3. Among these Irish stereotypes, with which do you identify most closely? Talkative, Proud, Inquisitive, Love to party, Hot-tempered  All but love to party--more of a stay at home girl--guess it comes from all those Saturday nights during high school

4. How lucky do you consider yourself?  not at all
ETA:  I don't consider myself lucky when it comes to winning things, etc.  However, I am very lucky in the wonderful husband I have, in my children and grandchildren, my health, and the things that really matter.

5. What is the subject of your favorite post that you've written?  probably the 100 things about me--because I'm vain like that

6. Describe March weather where you live in three words.  cold, windy, wet

7. How apt are you at detecting blarney when you hear it? (Smooth talk, flattery)  pretty good--I live with a smooth talker

8. How "green" are you, environmentally speaking?  what's the lightest color of green you can think of--that's me

9. What is your favorite song this week?  Unstoppable by Rascal Flatts

10. You are walking along and see a coin on the ground. What denomination does it have to be before you will stop to pick it up?  a penny--they're reminders of my late daughter

11. Complete the sentence: "Every time I look outside my window ...."  I see cars running the stop sign at the corner

12. What was the #1 song on the day you were born? See this site to find out.  All I Have to Do is Dream by The Everly Bros