I Won!

I took part in a giveaway last month and won -- Cheerios Heart Month Giveaway!   Yesterday, I received my gift package. 

I love Cheerios, and I'm looking forward to trying the new chocolate Cheerios.  (Family size they call it.  Hahahahaha!  Who won this giveaway anyway!)  And those heart shaped bowls are so sweet:  there's a perfect size for everything from heart-healthy almonds to Cheerios to a huge bowl of popcorn.

The giveaway was hosted by Brenda at Brenda's Canadian Kitchen.  If you like to cook -- or eat! -- visit her blog.  It's full of the most wonderful recipes.  

Thank you Brenda and General Mills for this gift package.  It's much appreciated and will be much enjoyed.

We have a Winner!

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We had a cool, sunny Saturday! Alas, I was inside for most of the day preparing space for my daughter's return from university next Friday. She has to share space with her sister; both are extremely messy but seem to mind when one person's mess encrouches on the other person's mess. Go figure! But I divided the space down the middle, so to speak, so neither has to even walk on the other's side. Let's hope it works and there aren't too many squabbles!

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In between the housework, I took lots of breaks and took my tea outside while doing a few garden inspections. It's exciting to see the various plots come to life with greenery.

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I was fortunate enough to spend a quiet Saturday evening by myself with a glass of wine, the sofa, and "Mama Mia" on WTN ..... and the box of entrants for my giveaway.

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And the lucky winner is (drum roll please) ............................

from House of Hawthornes: Congratulations Pam. I'll don my thinking cap soon to compose your poem and get your fabulous gift package in the mail!

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Thank you to everyone who signed up. I appreciate your comments.

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Surprise Package

. . I came home from work yesterday, and there in the mail was a small package. . No, I still haven't gotten my invitation to the Royal wedding (and if I don't get it soon, I'm bringing those tea towels and that can open back to the store for a refund and I'll just spend that wedding gift money on myself). . . I received a gorgeous little "half" cocktail apron just for entering a giveway hosted by France at Passion of Milkglass Collecting. It's gorgeous front and back, and the button flower detail is so sweet. . Now I just have to make me some cocktails! Perhaps this weekend. . I'm a very lucky girl! Thank you France. I loved it. And she has an absolutely wonderful collection of milk glass. She's been a lucky girl too. . . mcmcmcmc And don't forget to enter my giveaway. Details are at the top right corner of my blog screen. . .

Giveaway Goodies

. . Just a little glimpse of some of the goodies I'll be giving away next weekend. Don't forget to sign up! It closes at midnight next Friday April 8th.

Note the keyword above ... "some" not all of the goodies!

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The Royal Mail Arrived

. I love it when the mail arrives. The anticipation of there being something interesting in that little grey vinyl box far overshadows the bills and the junk mail that arrive almost daily. But last week, I had a good reason to get excited about it. . I received a fat envelope in the mail!. But look closer. OMG! I got "royal mail"! I know that I am the daughter of the King of Kings. (Thank you, Lord.) And I know that I'm also a Thrifting Queen and the Princess of Quite a Lot. But royal mail! . Wow; let's open it and see what's inside!! Is this an invitation to the royal wedding?. Ahhhh, not yet! (Must be late sending some of them out.) But this is something that's equally as good. It's the giveaway package I won all the way from the UK from Jeanne at http://www.collageoflife-henrqs.blogspot.com/. And it was a surprise package so I have no idea what it contains. I love surprise packages! . . Let's see what's inside that wrapping. .

• There's bag of chocolate, 2 gorgeous Cath Kidson tea towels (my first) and a new paperback. How delightful (and delicious). .

Thank you so much Jeanne. I love my goodies; and I love the thrill it brought me just seeing it there. . Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some reading (and some eating) to do. . Happy Monday! . . .

A Winning Cookbook

This is Suzie Ridler, blogger and foodie extrodinaire who has one of my favorite blogs -- SuzietheFoodie. She's from Halifax, NS and describes herself as "Foodie, writer, photographer, reviewer and self-taught cook and baker. Welcome to my test kitchen."

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She recently hosted a cookbook giveaway with fellow Haligonian Shelagh Duffett who posts another of my favorite blogs, Alice in Paris Loves Art and Tea.

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Guess who won the giveaway? Moi!! And what a gem of a little cookbook!.
I was pleased to have won, of course. But upon looking through the book last night, I am extremely pleased. It's chock-a-block of great recipes like these:

• Sun Dried Tomato Pesto on Brie (Emmmm)
• Romaine and Mandarin Salad (Yum yum)
• Nova Scotia Vegetable Hodge Podge (Slurp)
• Luscious Ginger Cake with Crystallised Ginger Cream Frosting (OMG!)

I was salivating all over my nightie as I read through it in bed. Yum!

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However, I have to wait to try the recipes as I begin my vacation tonight. But if I've excited your salivary glands and you simply cannot wait for me, Suzie has highlighted a couple of the recipes on her blog.

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Even better, you can pick up a copy of Shelagh's book for yourself here at Amazon:

Nova Scotia Potluck: Yummy Food for Friends and Family
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A huge THANK YOU to both Suzie and Shelagh.

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I'm looking forward to working my way through the cookbook once I return.

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Broken Dreams

In mid June, I entered and won a giveway hosted

by Barbara at if i didn't have a sense of humor. She has a hilarious blog - one of my favorites - where she takes old magazine advertisements and put a modern spin on them. Check her out; you won't be disappointed.

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I was pretty happy about winning. You see, I have a yellow kitchen full of yellow dishes, fry pans, kettles towels, etc. And THIS was the giveaway that I won ..

... three beautiful yellow planters.

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Alas, when they arrived on Friday, there were more than 3 items in the package.

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I think the smallest planter is the only one that I can salvage. If you look closely at the left corner, you can see where it's broken; but I can glue the pieces back into place. And I'm happy that I can do that.

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Barbara also added a couple of surprise items that arrived in one piece.

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But I've since broken them!!!

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And now ...

some of the pieces are missing so they cannot be put back together!

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And they were in my favorite color too ........................

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CHOCOLATE!..

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(You know; I think some things were meant to be broken!)

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Thank you Barbara. I shall enjoy my gifts!

We have a Winner!

I awoke this morning to a quiet house and had a few sweet hours of alone time. As I sat with breakfast and then a second cup, and I thought of the sacrifice of Christ; I thought of how how He loves me and has poured out blessing after blessing in my life, all of them undeserved.

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And I felt such deep gratitude and contentment. I love my Jesus!

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Then I made some of these lovely buns.

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And almost the moment Adriana got out of bed, I had her choose a winner for my Giveaway. I wrote down "Choose a number from 1 to 14". She choose #3! Oops! Can't choose #3; she said she has a black thumb and to exclude her from the draw. So, Adriana choose again, and it was lucky #9!

That's Carol at Old Glory Cottage

(http://oldglorycottage.blogspot.com/).

Congratulations Carol!

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And thank you to everyone for entering!

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Now, I hope you other 13 aren't too upset about not winning because I need your advice on something.
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When I got home from work on Thursday, this was sitting in my hallway.It's my Christmas '09 gift from Brady. He just finished it. the seat lifts to store hats and mittens inside. I love it!
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I planned originally on painting it white. But now I'm thinking it might look nice in color! I've bought myself yellow tulips for the past 2 weeks; and I love the bright yellow color against my green walls. (Not that I'd necessarily paint the bench bright yellow; perhaps a more subdued yellow.) But I definately want to make some bright yellow cushion covers and find a couple of yellow flower pots for my houseplants, especially for summer.
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What do you guys think? Perhaps some of you out there have painted your furniture and have some good advice to give on type of paint, etc.
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Most of the downstairs of my little house is this lovely green (the kitchen is a pale buttery yellow). The hallway doesn't have much natural light; and there's a white framed mirror on the wall over the bench.
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I'd love to hear your opinion. Ciao!

HOW I SPENT MY THURSDAY NIGHT (& GIVEAWAY WINNERS!)

I spent my Thursday night addressing my Christmas cards. Thank goodness for self-stick labels is what I have to say about that!!

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And then when 10 PM rolled around, I went to my handy, dandy Giveaway post; wrote down the names of all who entered ('cause my stupid printer is on the fritz); cut them out; put them in a Christmas gift bag (Was it large enough, Sandy??). Then I went downstairs my youngest daughter's room (otherwise known as the "Den of Disgust") and asked her little highness to choose 2 winners.
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("Mom!! Don't get my face; I just cleaned my make-up off!!)

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And the winning bloggers are .................

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Congratulations Dimple from "Meditations of My Heart" and Nezzy from "Cow Patty Surprise"!

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Nezzy - Seeing as you signed up for my Xmas card, I already have your address.

Dimple - You'll need to email me the info.

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Thank you to everyone who entered. In the immortal words of "The Bare Naked Ladies" =

'If I had a million dollars ............',

I'd send you all chocolate covered fruit.