Card #2–Happy Birthday to My Son!

Every year on my kids’ birthdays I sit and smile to myself and think how lucky I am.  Wonderful children that have grown to adults we are proud of.

Today is my son’s birthday and when I raise my eyes just over the top of my desk and look at the pictures of him at about 7 years old I still smile.  He was fun then and he still makes me laugh now.

Tonight we’ll all have dinner together and of course nothing could make this mama/grandma happier.  Hopefully I’ll remember to snap some pictures tonight while having a grand time!

 

I find the masculine cards to be the hardest to make.  Girls are simple – bows and bling and color and so forth.  I based this card from one I’d seen on Pinterest  and I’m quite pleased with how it came out.

 

I’m trying to get better about putting a lighter color cardstock on the inside of the card so it’s easier to write something mushy inside.  :)

 

Supplies used for card:  Stampin’ Up cardstock; Happy Everything stamp set from Stampin’ Up

Flowers from a Friend Make the World Brighter

I’ve been sick.  You know how it can start out small and creep up on you?  Yeah….   I have pneumonia now and this week has been a bit of a blur.  The fact that I’m writing this shows that I’ve turned the corner somewhat and am seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.  :)

 

And when you are feeling blue, a jaunty floral arrangement arriving at your house can bring a smile to light up everything!  Isn’t this a cute and clever arrangement?  It took me a bit to see that it’s a martini glass complete with straws.  So spring-like and smells so good in the house.

You really can’t help but feel the love when somebody sends you flowers.   I love my friends and family. 

{Review} Blue Moon Promise by Colleen Coble

Blue Moon Promise
by Colleen Coble
300 pages
Thomas Nelson Publishing

 

ABOUT THE BOOK:  Book Number One in the Under Texas Stars series

A love like Lucy and Nate’s only comes along once in a blue moon . . .

Lucy Marsh's worldly resources are running out, but she's fiercely determined to care for her younger brother and sister. When she discovers that their father's recent death was no accident, Lucy is eager to leave town. She accepts a proxy marriage she believes will provide safe refuge. But trouble follows her to Texas where her new husband is surprised to suddenly have a wife and children to care for.

Nate Stanton always hoped he'd marry someday, but running the family ranch meant he had no time for romance. When his father deposits Lucy Marsh—a city girl—on his doorstep, with two siblings in the bargain, he expects ranch life will send her running on the first train out of town. But Lucy is made of tougher stuff than Nate imagined. When danger moves in, Nate finds he'd give anything to protect Lucy and the children he's grown to love. Even if it means giving up his ranch.

 

MY REVIEW:  I have to admit right off the bat that one of the things that first drew me to this book was the fact that it was set in Texas.  Fortunately it also turns out that this book is the first in a series so we can look forward to enjoying these characters again!

After her father’s death Lucy is set to do anything to keep her young siblings safe – including the acceptance of a marriage proposal to a man she’s never met.  The proposal couldn’t have come at a better time for Lucy as her job was abruptly ended and her landlord had just delivered the news that they must move out.

Unfortunately the news of a proxy marriage didn’t sit well with Nate and he was not pleased at all.  However, through faith and patience a workable solution was found.  And did love follow shortly after???

This book was a great read for me, even though it took a bit for me to get into.  Once I did there was no stopping and I would easily recommend this book to anyone who likes period romances.

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:  Best-selling author Colleen Coble's novels have won or finaled in awards ranging from the Best Books of Indiana, ACFW Book of the Year, RWA’s RITA, the Holt Medallion, the Daphne du Maurier, National Readers' Choice, and the Booksellers Best. She has nearly 2 million books in print and writes romantic mysteries because she loves to see justice prevail. Colleen is CEO of American Christian Fiction Writers and is a member of Romance Writers of America. She lives with her husband Dave in Indiana.

For more about Colleen and her other books visit www.colleencoble.com

 

ABOUT THE PARTY:  Blue Moon Promise is a story of hope, romance, and suspense . . . immersing the reader in a rich historical tale set under Texas stars.

To celebrate Colleen is teaming up with her publisher Thomas Nelson for a "Blue Moon Promise" Facebook Chat party where she will giveaway a KINDLE Fire and a Texas-sized gift basket (fabulous Texas treats and fun Lucy-inspired housekeeping products)!

Click the banner, RSVP today for the Facebook Party and mark the date on your calendar!

Invite your friends and don't miss Colleen's evening of chat, trivia, prizes, and more.

Kindle Giveaway and More! Save the Date - 3/13!

 

** Thank you to Litfuse for providing a copy of this book for my review.

Friday’s Fave Five #178

YAY – time for some blessings of the week!!! <—she says bouncing in her chair….   Thank you to Susanne for hosting each week!

1. Loreal EverSleek Intense Smoothing Shampoo – Is it bad that I’m starting off with something that is somewhat vain???  I actually first heard about this shampoo in People magazine (another guilty pleasure of mine) and figured I had nothing to lose, so found it at the Big Box Store (for a lower price than the link above by the way).  I *love* this shampoo!!!  I have battled frizzy hair for years and it looks SO MUCH better!!! 

So yeah, vain or not, this stuff makes me so happy.

2. Coach Poppy Flower fragrance – Looks like this is the Vanity Edition of Friday Fave Five!  I got a perfumed sample card in the mail and fell head over heels in love with this.  I’m too cheap to buy it (yet?!!?), but I do pick up this card a couple of times a day and just love, love the scent.

3. Granddaughters – Specifically, MY granddaughter!  We went out to dinner with them Sunday night, then back to their house to visit for a bit.  She is the cutest thing ever and I so love playing with her!  We didn’t get a lot of time to play, but we did get out her My Little Ponies and used them in her dollhouse.  It really was quite fun to play and laugh together.

And we got this text yesterday from my daughter-in-law:  “I was at the store yesterday looking at mirrors for the bedroom and parked Brooklyn in front of a mirror I liked as I was looking at the ones beside it to compare.  I found another I liked and asked her if she liked the one in front of her or the one I had better.  She said she liked the one in front of her.  I asked her why expecting her to say it was pretty.  Nope!  She said 'Because it has me in it!!!’  I about died laughing!!!

I love 4 year olds……

4. Neighbors – We are so enjoying getting to know our neighbors better.  They’ve got two of the sweetest kids and it’s so much fun to be around them.

Last night our doorbell rang after dark and it was mom and the kids delivering our Girl Scout cookies (woohoo!).  The kids tore into the toy box so fast and were having a blast!  Mom had a meeting to go to and had to herd them out, but I did tell them they could come over and play with me again very soon. (see #3 and me loving to play with kids)

And a couple of times this week while Keith was outside working on the fence the little guy walked over with his shovel and was ‘helping’ Keith.  It is so adorable. 

Oh and their daughter, kindergarten, was looking at how Keith had his iPhone hooked to speakers so he could listen to music while he works.  She looked at him and asked “Do you have Angry Birds on that?”  When he said no she looked at him like ‘well then what use are you?’ and went back home.   LOL!

5. Corgi – When I went to a friend’s house Friday night (had the BEST time!!!) she was dog sitting a friend’s Corgi and I fell in LOVE with this dog!  Me, a golden retriever girl through and through, has fallen in love with another breed.  The more I think about it the more I think that might be a better thing for us to do when we are ready for another dog.  I’m just afraid that if I get another golden I will look at it and be comparing it to Joe too often.

So I looked up Corgi rescue and oh yes, DFW does have one.  I’m thinking before I did a breed switch it might be a good idea to maybe foster one and see if we like the way it fits with us.  Who knows?

Valentine Decorated Hand Towel

I’m rather excited to share this project simply because it somewhat justifies the many, many projects I have pinned on Pinterest….   :)

 

Very hard to see, but I have eyelet lace on each side of the Valentine fabric.  I used a 2.5 inch strip of fabric, folded down and ironed the top and bottom edge a quarter inch, tucked the eyelet trim under and used a zig zag stitch.

I saw the tutorial for Dressed Up Hand Towels and loved the method she used.  I purchased the same towels, though I’m not sure I would use them on future projects as I found my fingertips trying to stick to the fabric.

This went into the mail to somebody special to me as a surprise Valentine.  I got the most wonderful email response and it really does make it worthwhile when the people you care for are excited by the things you do for them.  

And I’m thinking I need to make a new board on Pinterest for things I’ve actually tried!!!