Everybody Needs A Bertie In Their Life

Mayhem and Moxie are hosting an awesome giveaway on their site right now in honor of Francesca's 35th birthday! You should go check it out. There are four very fun prizes - and the one I would love the most is Bertie. What is a Bertie? Well, I'm glad you asked! Here is a Bertie:

Ha! Bertie is a KitchenAid Professional Stand Mixer. What a beauty they are!

What would I make with Bertie? My great-grandmother was a fabulous baker and I have being given lots of her old recipes, but most call for the use of a stand mixer. I don't own one and would love to have one so that I can create her desserts.

Bertie would be given a loving home and I have a great little nook in my kitchen that she could sit in and call her own!

Go check out the other four items on Mayhem and Moxie's blog!

Go check out this fun giveaway at Take It From Me! It is a $25 gift card to Orabelle Baby. This shop has some of the cutest things!

Office Gossip

Let's face the cold, hard fact... we all like to talk and be social with one another. And it seems in our society that we are more insecure and judgmental of each other, especially in the workplace. Office gossip is inevitable!

This was one of those weeks at the office where I wanted to pull my hair out with several co-workers and their need to talk. I have never been around so many people who feel the need to talk about others to make themselves feel better (in my opinion). By Wednesday morning I confined myself to my office and was blaring a noise machine and Pandora (JJ Heller, David Crowder Band, Chris Tomlin) to get through the day.

The icing on the cake came on Friday when I left my office for lunch and I was the topic of the gossip. Too bad I walked up on the person talking and gave her that look as if to say "I heard you!"

Really people?!? We are to work together, be a team and support each other! And this is the same person who I covered six weeks for when she had major surgery. Six weeks of managing her responsibilities and maintaining all the projects I am responsible for. And then you feel the need to talk about me? Wow!

When I returned to the office, I had an apology e-mail.

How do you handle workplace gossip?

Friday Follow!

I joined the Friday Follow hosted by Hearts Makes Families, Midday Escapades and One 2 Try. This is my first Friday to join is and I am so excited about meeting new bloggers and finding new reads.

Visit Midday Escapades for more information on how to enter the $100 Cash Giveaway from sponsor Toothsoap.

Do you want to join in all the Friday Follow Fun! Here's how you can join in:

• Link up your blog name and URL using the McLinky on one of the hosts sites. You only need to add it on one blog to be seen on all the other blogs.
• Grab the Follow Friday and Sponsor buttons and include on your Friday Follow blog post.
• Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
• Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you'd like.
• Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow.
• Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow.

The list is new each week and the links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blog. This list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible during the following week so that you can visit the other blogs when you have time.

Fun Finds at the Flea Market

When I go home there are several flea markets in our area that I like to visit. Here are a few of my favorite things I found during my last visit...

I love this cabinet and the colors used on it. I could see it in a kitchen holding dishes and glasses.

Loved this cabinet and the colors would be great in a kitchen! I really liked all the red pieces.

I love old school desks. This would be so cute in the corner of a playroom for kids!

An old church pew. If I had a big old farmhouse with a big front porch, I would definitely have one on my front porch. Wonder what it would say if it could talk and tell it's story?

LOVED this piece! I don't have a place in my little townhouse to put it, but if I did it would have gone home with us.

This hand-painted cabinet would look so cute in a little girls' room.

My mom had an old Singer sewing table just like this one that she has her sewing machine on. This piece just reminds me of home.

I loved his statue. When I was a little girl and would go to the lake, many of the people around my aunt's lake house had these sitting on their piers. This piece brought back so many memories of being at my Aunt Dean's on the lake.

This was a fun table. It would be neat in a black and white kitchen, or on a sun porch.

Thought this chair was just fun looking, and it really didn't fit with the other pieces in its booth!

I just love corn sticks and this pan reminded me of them.

I liked this piece too. The color is great and I could fill the shelves with lots of books and knick-knacks.

I love old pianos and organs. This one was pretty amazing.

These two dishes reminded me of Sunday lunch at my grandmother's. She had dishes like these when I was a little girl.

I love seeing different teacups. Loved the variety this shop had!

I just love white dishes!

Are you still here? Thanks for hanging in for a long picture post. Do you enjoy going to flea markets and thrift stores?

Fun Giveaways!

Check out the great review and giveaway over at AnnOnandOn - Wilton Cupcake Book and an Apron

Take It From Me has some of the cutest giveaways! Go and check out these fun and cute giveaways:

Peekaboo Bowtique

Twigs and Tweets

Make 'n Take

That's Sew You

Trish at Me and My Boys is hosting a giveaway from The Vintage Pearl! Go check it out. There jewelry is awesome.

Top 2 Tuesdays: What I Can't Live Without

Sorry... I guess it is better late then never to participate! This has been one long day, but I wanted to make sure and link up to the Top 2 Tuesdays list. Here are the top two things I can't live without:

A good cup of coffee! I love having a big cup in the morning and often sneak in another cup during the day. It is such a comfort drink to me. I can't start my morning without it!

The other thing I could not live without is my Mead CustoMYize Weekly and Monthly Academic Year Planner. This is my bible during the school year. Mine has a photo of me and my parents in one pocket and the other pocket contains a quote that reminds me that every morning is a fresh beginning and also has some scripture on it as well. I keep EVERYTHING in here and don't know what I would do without it!

Visit The Undomestic Momma to grab the button and link up your post with your two things you can't live without!

Friend Makin' Monday - Spring!

So Amber is again hosting Friend Makin' Monday. I have not participate in a couple of weeks because of time but want to get back in the swing of things this week. Here goes my list about Spring:

1. Favorite things about Spring: I love the color of the flowers blooming; it's baseball season; flip flops; pedicures; green grass; lemonade; nights on the patio under the stars with great friends

2. What I'm doing for Spring Break: We had Spring Break last week and I took my grandparents to Orlando to visit with my great-aunt and great-uncle. I did get to spend a day at Disney and ate beignets in Port Orleans. Bliss!

3. Favorite Spring flower: Tulips - in all colors!

4. Do you have a garden? No - but I would love to have on some day!

5. If so, what do you grow? See above. But if I did have one, I would grow tomatoes, squash, zucchini, green beans and peppers.

6. Do you do Spring cleaning? YES MA'AM! I started last weekend and will hopefully finish up this weekend. I have two piles - giveaway and throwaway. If it hasn't been used in my home in a year, it ends up in one of these piles. Once I finish that, I clean from top to bottom. Love the clean smell!

7. What is your weather *really* like right now? {Just b/c it's "officially" Spring doesn't mean that it feels like it for some of you} Right now, it is 43 degrees (feels like 37) and cloudy. It is suppose to be 74 degrees by Wednesday!

8. Snapped any weather related photos lately? Share one with us! This photo was taken on St. Patrick's Day at Lake Apopka in Winter Garden, Florida. A storm was rolling in.

9. What's your favorite thing to do on a sunny afternoon? If I am at my parents, I love to go to the country and spend time around the pool. When I am at my home, I love to sit outside on my little patio and read while soaking up some sun. I also love a good sunny afternoon at the ballpark.

10. Favorite TV show right now? I love Damages! But I also like to watch Brothers and Sisters, Army Wives, Biggest Loser, Amazing Race, and the list could go on and on.

Spring Break!

This is going to be one of those "hodge-podge" posts so hang on!

• The "Wizard of Oz" was fabulous! Our tickets were front row, center - right behind the pit conductor. Being a band nerd, I was in heaven watching the orchestra during the performance. The cast was wonderful and it was magical to "follow the yellow brick road" to Oz. My grandmother and mom really enjoyed it and are still talking about how nice it was to be with my sister and I. We ended the day eating at Macaroni Grill (yummo!).
• One of my favorite blogs has some great giveaways going on! Go over and visit Celeste at Etsy It Up! and enter a couple for yourself. Her current giveaways include the following shops and all end on March 21:

Inviting Style - Pregnancy Journal (this would make a cute gift for a mom-to-be)

Love Stitched - Aurora Necklace (these are fabulous!)

Dumplin Design Studio - Blog Makeover (a $52 value - you know you need a makeover!)

Flirty Aprons - Your pick of one of their aprons!

• Go check out this fun giveaway at The Blackwoods. I love Tervis Tumbler! Check out Allyson's Recipe Blog and Photography Blog while you are there.
• The Apronista is giving away a $30 credit to the shop Gussy. Maggie has some of the cutest things! Check out her blog too.
• Go check out the Room Remix blog for a fun giveaway. You could win a $25 gift card to a store of your choice listed in the post.
• Krystyn over at Krizzy Designs is giving away not one - but TWO blog designs. Go over and visit to enter!
• I will not be around the rest of this week to blog (might get a chance to check-in, but can't make any promises). I am leaving tomorrow to take my grandparents to Orlando to visit with family. My grandfather's brother and wife live there, and they are not in good health. We are going to spend some much needed time with them. I may even get to go see Mickey while we are there.

Hope you all have a wonderful week! See you next weekend.

We're off to see the Wizard!

We're off to see the wizard, the wonderful wizard of oz! I have a dear friend (Thanks Dawn!) who gifted me four front row tickets to see "The Wizard of Oz" at the BJCC as a part of the Broadway Across America tour. My sister and I will be meeting my mom and grandmother later this morning to go see the production. My cousin is playing the Tin Man!

"Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is one of my favorite songs and I can't wait to hear it! Here is quick clip from the production.

Happy Saturday to you all!

New Recipe: Chicken Stir Fry

I tried a new chicken stir fry tonight and it was so yummy. Here is what you will need:

2 tsp peanut oil

1/4 tsp red pepper flakes

2 boneless chicken breasts, cut into strips

1/3 c asparagus tips

1/3 c thinly sliced carrots

1/4 medium onion, cut into bite-size pieces or strips

1/3 c frozen snow peas

2 Tbsp sliced almonds

2 tsp reduced-sodium soy sauce

Combine peanut oil and red pepper flakes in a hot skillet. Add chicken strips and cook for 2 to 3 minutes stirring frequently.

Add all remaining ingredients to the pan and cook for another 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often.

Serve over rice.

And I have enough to take for lunch today. Love when that happens!

Love these shops...

I am an encourager and love to send "snail mail" to others. I could spend my whole paycheck on stationary and love when I come across new shops that offer unique items. I honestly can't remember how I came across the site A Joyful Note Boutique but I am so glad I did.

The designs in their shop are all original artwork and they are adding new products daily! Their line includes Christmas cards, invitations, notecards, recipe cards, kitchen labels and so much more! I love how they also have collections that incorporate scriptures into notes.

But the item that really caught my eye was their "Promise in Your Pocket" set. It is a set of 10 scriptures each with their own inspirational art. The cards are business card size and come in a cute black polka dot drawstring bag that holds them safely and can be put on your bedside, in the kitchen, your purse or your car. How cute is this packaging...

And here are the ten cards you receive. They are the perfect touch to send in a note to someone who needs encouragement or just a reminder of God's love.

I am in love with this product and am so thankful for A Joyful Note Boutique. Go check them out! You won't be disappointed in their products.

I also recently discovered Mayfair Lane. I came across this site via Today's Giveaway who is hosting a giveaway that ends tonight from this company. They have Happeez notepads, clippers, photo frames, whiteboard and list pads... all products that I love and can't have enough of laying around. I ordered one clip and a notepad for a friend's upcoming birthday. I think this will be a shop I will visit often for cute gifts.

Go check them out! They have tons and tons of designs and products.

Opinions in this review are strictly my own. I did not receive any products or compensation.

Guacamole... Mmm!

I love guacamole so I made some tonight...

I followed some of Kelly's recipe and then tweaked it a little. I am not a fan of cilantro so I didn't use it. I instead used a little worcestershire sauce in mine. Here are is my ingredient list:

Avocados

Tomatoes

Onion

Worcestershire Sauce

Lime Juice

I made my own tortilla chips tonight too (oops.. no photo of those) and then used them to eat it. So, so yummy!!

Top 2 Tuesdays: Names...

I came across this great blog, The Undomestic Momma, and every Tuesday she hosts Top 2 Tuesday. Today's was Top 2 Names. Now I know what you are thinking - you are not a mom and don't have kids so why are you participating? Seriously... you know we women always think of what we would name our kids - knowing full well that when we do marry we will probably get trumped and change them all up! Anyway, I thought I would participate because I do have a few names I like.

Girls:

Mary Oliver - my dad's name is Oliver and I love double names!

Cecelia Elizabeth - my aunt is Celia and I am the fourth generation named Elizabeth

(great-grandmother: Elizabeth Morgan; grandmother: Elizabeth Ann; mother - Suzan Elizabeth; Elizabeth Paige - Me)

Boys:

Oliver Stokes - my grandfather's full name and my dad's first name is Oliver

Hassell Morgan - my great-grandfather's first name and my great-grandmother's name and sister's name is Morgan