Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Homemaker Button via Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

Good Morning! And welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom initiates the Happy Homemaker Monday each week so be sure to check our her post for today to see what she's up to.

So, for today...

Weather...Cold and Windy!!! At 10:00 am it is 40 degrees but with the wind, feels MUCH colder. We had lovely weather the beginning of the month but it appears that March truly will go out like a lion!

Right now I am...Sitting with my feet up near the woodstove, laptop on my lap, writing this blog post.

Thinking...About how I really need to get the taxes ready to send off to the accountant TODAY! No more procrastinating!!! 

On my reading pile...

• Bible
• Mac Life Magazine
• Ride the River by Louis L'Amour and The Christmas Pony by Melody Carlson as read alouds

On the tv...

• Call the Midwife on Netflix. I recorded them but then saw they were on Netflix so watching Season 1 in preparation for Season 2 starting the 31st of this month on PBS.
• I think I will watch a couple Hallmark Hall of Fame movies on SpiritClips today while working on taxes.
• Cash Cab and The Chew while walking on the treadmill

Favorite Blog post this week (mine or other)...

Food Stamp Challenge Wrap Up from Debby at Nanny's Place.

Something fun to share...

If you enjoy English Bulldogs (and we do) then you will LOVE the website Baggy Bulldogs! Lots of pictures and videos! Super cute!

On the menu for the week...

In looking at last week's menu it seems we only ate a couple of the meals I had planned so this week looks like this...

Monday--Mushroom Barley Soup 
Tuesday--Tacos
Wednesday--Stamping Club day so I will eat out
Thursday--Baked Potatoes and Butternut Squash
Friday--Potato Corn Chowder
Saturday--Potluck so will take Tex-Mex Coleslaw and Corn Bread (I ended up taking something else last week so will try this again this week:)
Sunday--I think the guys will be off skiing so I will just eat leftovers--they didn't go last week because of lots of wind but maybe can make it this week.

On my "to do" list...

• Laundry--3 loads today
• Taxes
• Get ready for Happy Stampers Club (Wednesday)
• March Swap Card--make and send
• My Digital Studio class assignment
• The Cupboard Trilogy Challenges Design Team Project--make and upload
• Walk on the treadmill

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or crafting...

I couldn't believe it when I read Sandra's answer to this question because I have been struggling. I am trying to make a doily that just might be beyond my skill level. I am half finished with a sock that has been sitting for so long I may just have to tear it out and start over. Maybe I'm just not in the crafting mood:( I will be making lots of cards this week and I am still really wanting to get some sewing done--long list of projects I want to make but no energy to get started. I hope I have a better answer to this question next week!

Homemaking Tips...

I really, really, really like Coconut Oil and all the things you can do with it AND all the health benefits as well. There are lots of websites telling about the uses and health benefits of coconut oil. Today I would like to share with you a tip I saw on Pinterest about using equal parts coconut oil and baking soda to make a sticky adhesive remover (like Goo Gone). You can read about it at Rosy Blu Handmade! I always have coconut oil and baking soda on hand but rarely have Goo Gone! 

Looking around the house...Dogs! Dogs! Everywhere!!! We have a Great Dane who takes up half the living room floor when he's stretched out in front of the wood stove; an English Bulldog who delights in emptying the doggy toy box and our very old Miniature Dachshund who is pretty good most of the time and takes up very little room but barks at EVERYTHING!!! I need to sweep the kitchen floor (dog hair) and make the bed but other than that, all is well:)

From the camera...

Broccoli wintered over and is HUGE! Hubby brought in a couple of heads yesterday that were almost 12" across! And it is super delicious!!!

On my prayer list...

• Cindy--yes, Cindy it's you:)
• My sister--she is in lots of pain but can't have surgery for another month or two.
• My brother's vacation--a mix-up on the vacation schedule might mean he would have to cancel a vacation he's been planning for months; could mean a loss of money in cancellation fees. We should know this week if he will get the two weeks he needs for this vacation.
• Strength and energy for me to do the things I need to do.

Bible verse; Devotional...

Today I want to share with you something I do that is a real benefit to me and those I pray for. There are many "nights" when I wake up at 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning and can't go back to sleep. I could get up but my bed is so warm and my hubby is so snuggly so I lay in bed and pray the alphabet. I usually start at A but sometimes start at Z because I want to make sure the people at that end of the alphabet are prayed for too:) A side blessing is that oftentimes I pray for maybe 10 people and then fall asleep. This has really helped me to not get anxious because I can't sleep but to praise God because I woke up to pray for these people. 

Well, dear readers, I am off to see if I can get those taxes ready to go in the mail to our accountant tomorrow...Wednesday at the latest! I hope you have a wonderful day wherever you are!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Participating in the Happy Homemaker Monday really helps to make Monday that much better! Thanks, Sandra, for starting us off each week on a positive note. You will find Sandra's blog at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom.

The weather...It was only 30 degrees (F) when I woke up this morning at 5:00 but now at 10:00 it has warmed up to 40 degrees (F). It is windy but looks like I might have blue skies by noon.

Right now I am...Sitting in front of the wood stove with a cup of Yerba Mate. I just finished my Stampin' Up! order and am ready to settle down to do Happy Homemaker Monday.

Thinking...About what I need to do today.

On my reading pile:

• Spiritual: Bible and Desire of Ages
• Personal: Just magazines and catalogs for now--Weight Watchers, Better Homes and Gardens, Paper Crafts, Crochet World, Mary Maxim catalog
• Read Alouds: Santa Cruise by Mary Higgins Clark and Jubal Sackett by Louis L'Amour--nearly finished with both of these

On my tv...Not sure this week but I want to do some crocheting so will likely find some movies on SpiritClips. I still have several episodes of McLeod's Daughter's to watch.

Favorite Blog post...

My Favorite Sin by Melane (aka Smalls)

Something fun to share:

A friend of ours is gluten intolerant and I have been told I would do well to eat more gluten free foods so was excited to find the above cookbook at Amazon! It is on my wish list! Finding gluten free cookbooks is easy these days and I have even seen some gluten free vegetarian but this was the first gluten free VEGAN I had seen.

On the menu for this week...

Monday--Pasta sauted with olive oil mushrooms, spinach, kale and garlic

Tuesday--Artichokes with big green salad

Wednesday--Tacos with Quinoa Taco Burger

Thursday--Mushroom Barley Soup

Friday--

Saturday--

Sunday--Mizidra

On my "to do" list...

• Laundry (is it ever done???)
• Make Thank You cards (again)
• Make Easter cards
• Get tax stuff ready for accountant
• Clean the bathroom
• Wash out the refrigerator (least favorite household chore)

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or crafting...

• Still haven't picked up the doily I'm making since being sick. I really need to do that THIS week!
• Still have unfinished pair of socks to work on--I may have to start over at this point.

Homemaking Tip...My husband's Aunt Lee shared with me several years ago that to keep black clothes black, NEVER put them in the dryer! I have a bar above my dryer with hangers plus a very nice wooden clothes rack that I hang ALL our black and navy blue clothes on to dry. I also don't hang them on the line outside because the sun will fade them. Works like a charm:)

Looking around the house...Dishes need done; laundry needs started; bed needs made:( Our three dogs are sprawled out across the living room floor sleeping in the warmth of the wood stove.

From the camera...

On my prayer list...

• Friends who want to adopt a child
• Friends with health issues
• Sister's extreme pain
• Church family

Bible verse; Devotional...

"He (God) knows the journey is difficult. He knows life is rarely fair. Jesus fought the same frigid winds of distraction, discouragement, and doubt that keep us from knowing God's love. But like the Father, he longs to gather us in his arms. He longs to trade the flimsy blankets of our own self-sufficiency for his all-sufficiency. The Lord Jesus invites us to cast our doubts, our fears and anxiety upon him, to discover how much he really does care." 

--from Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World by Joanna Weaver

Well, that's it for my Happy Homemaker Monday. I will be back a little later with the supplies for that cute Bunny card I showed yesterday.

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Happy Homemaker "button" courtesy of Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom

It's time for Happy Homemaker Monday! Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom is our host and starts us off each week. Let's get started!

The weather...It's 38 degrees and the wind is blowing! We've had some rain in the last couple of days which was needed but now the wind will dry everything up again.

Right now I am...Sitting in front of the wood stove, drinking Yerba Mate tea, enjoying the quiet:)

Thinking...about all the things I need to do today. 

On my reading pile...Finishing up Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber (will probably finish that today). I have been knitting so watching more TV and not reading as much.

On my TV...

• Downton Abbey
• Cash Cab and The Chew while walking on the treadmill
• Hallmark movies on SpiritClips when I want to knit:)

Favorite blog post this week (mine or other)...

Chasing Simplicity by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. This one really touched my heart because we also choose to live a simple life and I am frequently asked, why??? The peace it brings to my soul would be the best answer:)

Something fun to share...The I Like Book. It is a book for the parent to write things they like about their child and for the child to add things they like about themselves. The book is meant to be written in over a one year period of time. What a great idea! Sometimes we don't remember to tell our kids what we appreciate about them and they need to hear even the little things.

On the menu for this week...Ugh! I don't feel like cooking! I normally love to cook but not right now:( However, we still have to eat!

Monday--Leftovers

Tuesday--Tacos with Quinoa Taco Burger (I could eat these every day)

Wednesday--Vegetable Stew with Dumplings

Thursday--Garbanzo Pot Pie with green salad

Friday--Potato Corn Chowder--works good as an end of the week wind-down meal for us

On my "to do" list:

• Thank you cards--make and send (it's starting to get embarrassing)
• Laundry
• The Cupboard Trilogy DT project
• Get February Card Swap organized and emails sent
• Walk on the treadmill 3 x this week
• Clean out the refrigerator
• Send one handwritten note via snail mail:) I am going to try to send one per week--missed last week so will try to send two this week. 
• Finish editing short story for friend and get it sent off to her.

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting, crafting...

• Well, obviously I will be paper crafting the thank you cards and DT project
• Finished knitting the Center Row Lace Headband/Neck Warmer for a friend from a pattern I found on Ravelry by Rewind Knit & Crochet. 
• Need to pick up the socks I was working on and need to finish. I put them down at the point where I was turning the heel and am intimidated to pick them back up. However, I could tear out to the point where I started turning the heel and could easily do it from there. Hmmm...maybe socks and a movie this afternoon???
• Still working on the gift for a special friend:)

Homemaking tips...I haven't tried this one yet but read about it on...Pinterest, of course! I am planning to try it today because my heels are so dry and cracked--ouch! You dissolve 1 cup of Epsom Salt in a foot tub of very warm (but not too hot) water. Soak your feet for 30-45 minutes (good time to read or knit) then use a soft brush (they suggested a tooth brush) to rub the dry skin off. I will let you know how it works:)

Looking around the house...Fortunately not too bad:) Dog toys and dogs in the living room; bed needs to be made; flowers hubby bought me last week need to have water changed (vinegar and sugar solution in water working great); laundry needs to go in the dryer.

From the camera...

Our sweet Graycee napping on her cat post:)

On my prayer list...A very special friend who is going through the itching that I went through recently. He has had the tests done but is just waiting for the results. Also praying for family and friends who are struggling either financially or spiritually.

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Now the Lord of peace himself give you peace always by all mean. The Lord be with you all." 2 Thessalonians 3:16

I hope you have a wonderful day filled with God's peace in your heart!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

Good morning and welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday! Being sick half of last week put me behind on so many fronts. According to my doctor, my immune system is at an all time low because of the food allergies but as I am not eating the offending foods, it should get better. Right now I am catching everything that flies by in spite of taking Airborne and lots of vitamin C:( I did get over it pretty quick so maybe that means things are getting better??? I can always hope!

Happy Homemaker Monday is initiated each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. Be sure to pop on over to see what she's been up to. She always has a lot going on!!! So let's get started!

Weather...Cold, cold, cold!!! It is 20 degrees (F) and we have had freezing fog for a week or more:( Our deck is like an ice skating rink and it's covered!

Right now I am...Curled up in hubby's extra large recliner with a cup of Yerba Mate tea and for the first time in several days, I am dressed before noon:)

Thinking... of all that must be done today since I haven't done much for nearly a week!

On my reading pile...All the same books as last week:( When I don't feel well it's hard to read--can't concentrate! Sooo, I watched movies and knitted (slowly) instead.

On my tv...Downton Abbey (last night) plus some Hallmark Hall of Fame movies on SpiritClips. I love having SpiritClips:) I will be watching Cash Cab and The Chew while walking on the treadmill.

Favorite Blog post this past week (mine or other)...I have really been enjoying Sandra's Five Senses Saturday! But it's also hard to beat one of Carla's sewing tutorials!

Something fun to share...Do you knit or crochet? Do you know about Ravelry? I have found some of the best free patterns on Ravelry. Many of them I saw on Pinterest and followed the links to Ravelry. Check it out!!!

On the menu this week...
Monday--leftovers
Tuesday--Pasta and green salad
Wednesday--Mizidra (it's a weekly thing)
Thurday--not sure yet
Friday--Potato Corn Chowder
Not sure about the weekend yet.

On my to do list...Everything I didn't get done last week! Looking back it looks like I did get a few things done that were on my list but still need to do:

• Thank you cards--make and send (it's starting to get embarrassing)
• Declutter 50 items since I didn't declutter at all last week.
• The Cupboard Trilogy DT project
• Happy Stampers Swap card
• Dust
• Clean the bathroom
• Send one handwritten note via snail mail:) I am going to try to send one per week. 

What I am sewing, knitting, crocheting or creating...

• Finished knitting a Center Row Lace Headband/Neck Warmer from a pattern I found on Ravelry by Rewind Knit & Crochet. I am knitting another one for a friend.
• Cards, cards and more cards! Will show you soon:)
• Itching to start some granny squares
• Gift for a friend (will have to wait till she gets it to reveal)--working on this week!

Homemaking Tips...Ah, this is a tip I need to start working on again. Several years ago I read about cleaning out one cupboard or closet or drawer a week for an entire year. I did it and it was AMAZING! I am going to start this again this week!

Looking around the house...Dogs everywhere! Seriously, we only have three but one of them is HUGE! Seems like I am stepping over dogs all the time! Also dust everywhere! On Friday when I cleaned house I pooped out before I got the dusting done so it must be done today!

From the camera...

ice buildup on our trees

On my prayer list...

• Hubby to get well
• My brother just going back to work after knee surgery
• My mom--health issues

Bible verse; Devotional...

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

I hope you have a great day! I am hoping to get some fun things done today to be able to show you this week. Tomorrow I will update you on my January No/Low Spend and Declutter Challenge plus show you one of our Happy Stamper's projects from last week! 

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

It's time once again for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat! Thank you for joining me! The Sunday Night Chit-Chat is started each week by Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. I hope you will check out her blog as there are so many fun things there!

Found on Pinterest and oh so true!!!

So, let's get started with the Sunday Night Chit-Chat!

I am...

Reading...I am still reading the same books as last week. I have been Knitting and haven't yet figured out how to knit and read at the same time:) Audio books maybe?!

Watching...Downton Abbey! Also working my way through Hallmark Hall of Fame movies on SpiritClips:) I enjoy watching a movie while crocheting or knitting.

Listening to...Our sweet Rocky snoring and Downton Abbey playing in the background.

Baking/Cooking...We had baked potatoes and baked butternut squash for dinner today. It was sooo yummy with steamed cabbage! Simple but delicious!

Happy I accomplished this week...This was one of those weeks when just getting through it was accomplishment enough! Hubby was sick most of the week and I haven't been feeling so well either:( I did manage to get ready for stamping club (Wednesday night) plus baked cinnamon raisin bread to send to DD so the week wasn't a total waste.

Looking forward to next week...Feeling better this week:) Also hoping for some crafting time. I am super excited about learning to make hexies and I've heard they are addicting! 

Thankful for today...My son got home safely from his sister's and hubby is starting to feel better:)

*BONUS QUESTION*--Am I an optimist or a pessimist? I am an optimist for sure! Sometimes even accused of having my head in the sand because I try to think only of the good things! 

Well, that's it for me this evening! I hope you will hop on over to see what Carla's up to! 

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

I know I shared a similar picture but had to get one more in of our beautiful snow! We got one more inch last night but it is melting a little each day. I think we probably still have 5 or 6 inches. Our view is outstanding!

Welcome to the last Sunday Night Chit-Chat of 2012! It is initiated each week by the very talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily. Please stop by to wish her well (her family was sooo sick last week) and see what she's been up to. Her blog is always a very nice place to visit!

So, let the Chit-Chat begin!!!

I am...

Reading...I don't think I have had much reading time since last week so reading the second part of Mail Order Holiday Brides by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad. For our read aloud we are 78% through To The Far Blue Mountains by Louis L'Amour. I am also lusting over the wonderful patterns in 101 Patchwork Projects + Quilts! Such a wonderful Christmas gift:)

Watching...Just finished watching Christmas with Holly which is a Hallmark Hall of Fame movie we recorded a couple weeks ago. If you watch this one be sure to have a Kleenex box nearby! I need a Kleenex box for ALL the Hallmark Hall of Fame movies. We recently signed up for SpiritClips so we can see all 55 Hallmark Hall of Fame movies plus some other Hallmark Channel movies. This was a great addition to our Netflix.

Listening to...The hum of the generator (didn't have wind or sun today) in the background and the dogs snoring in the foreground:)

Cooking/Baking...Not much today. We had hashbrowns and scrambled tofu for breakfast and had a light supper. Wasn't much into cooking today.

Happy you accomplished this week...We made it through Christmas without me getting sick. That is a huge accomplishment for me because I tend to procrastinate and then push too hard at the last leaving me vulnerable to every bug flying about! So far, so good this year! Guess the flu earlier in the month was it!

Looking forward to next week...2013! I think I'm ready! 2012 was good but I am thinking 2013 will be even better:D I am also looking forward to a little sewing time. I want to get started on Carla's tutorials and I am really wanting to find a fun project to make in my new book 101 Patchwork Projects + Quilts.

Thankful for today...No itching:) I haven't had any itching all day!

Bonus Question: Am I looking forward to 2013 or sorry to see 2012 leave? I think I answered that question above. I am definitely looking forward to 2013!

Well, that's it for my Sunday Night Chit-Chat. What is YOUR answer to the Bonus Question?

Have a great evening!

Kat

Happy Homemaker Monday

It's Christmas Eve and time for Happy Homemaker Monday! Today I will be traveling home from my darling daughter's so hoping for some good weather on the passes!

Happy Homemaker Monday is initiated each week by Sandra at Diary of a Stay at Home Mom. So be sure to check out her blog to see what she's been up to!

The weather...Cold and rainy! Hoping for snow on Christmas Day!

Right now I am...Sitting with a cup of Teavana tea I received for Christmas from daughter and family:)

Thinking...About what I need to buy on my way home. We live nearly two hours from the nearest Costco and 1 1/2 hours from a supermarket so will get what we need on the trip home; probably in Yakima.

On my reading pile...

• Angels at the Table by Debbie Macomber (Christmas gift)
• When Christmas Comes by Debbie Macomber
• 101 Patchwork Projects + Quilts (Christmas gift)
• Mail Order Holiday Brides by Jillian Hart and Janet Tronstad (on iPad)
• Four Week Financial Turnaround by Derek C. Olsen (on iPad)
• Where is God When it Hurts? by Philip Yancey (on iPad)

On my tv...I would like to watch a few Christmas movies on SpiritClips. We just signed up and I am looking forward to watching the 50+ Hallmark Hall of Fame movies plus other Hallmark Channel movies:)

Favorite Blog Post this week (mine or other)... Finding the Words by Elizabeth Farrar at Bella Vita! 

Something fun to share...My granddaughter, age 7, went Christmas shopping with her dad to buy gifts for my daughter. Then my granddaughter said to her mom, "Do you have a puff, Mom?" My daughter said she didn't have one so my granddaughter said, "Well, don't buy one before Christmas!" We laughed so hard. Now, every time we see a bath puff we say, "Don't buy one before Christmas!" Kids are truly wonderful creatures!!!

On the menu...I am flying by the seat of my pants this week in the food department! Haven't made a menu and just plan to use what we have which is plenty:) 

On my to do list...

• Travel home from daughter's 
• One more Christmas gift to purchase (for hubby)
• Laundry when I get home
• Sewing while the guys are skiing on Sunday

What I am sewing, crocheting, knitting or crafting...

• Just finished sewing Eternity Scarf together 
• Crocheted potholders
• Some sewing projects yet to be determined

Homemaking tips...Don't have one today.

Looking around the house...I am at my daughter's house and as I look around I see a puzzle we were working on, Christmas decorations, her piano with Christmas music she was playing, some Christmas presents laying around from our opening party on Saturday evening:) I love spending time with this special family! 

From the camera...I don't have anything today.

On my prayer list...A family who lost their dad recently plus still praying for those who lost loved ones in CT shooting. 

Bible Verse; Devotional...

"Think too of all who suffer as if you shared their pain." Hebrews 13:3 (JB Phillips translation) 

Well, need to get on the road so we can get home at a decent time. Have a great day! Hug the ones you love today!

Kat

Sunday Night Chit-Chat

The picture above is my project for the next few days--applesauce! These are the apples that are not perfect so will make great applesauce. This box is 2 feet high and 19" square--lots of apples! I am not looking forward to the work but will be so thankful for the applesauce this winter. We really enjoyed the applesauce I put up last year:) I think I will be able to can some jars of Apple Pie Filling as well but will use the nice apples for that. It is no fun trying to get nice slices when you have worm holes to go around:( This year we had a bumper crop of apples, pears and plums!

Well, it is time for the Sunday Night Chit-Chat started each week by the oh so talented Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily! Be sure to check in with her to see what she's been up to. I DO know that she recently broke her fabric diet and bought some really yummy fabrics to use for her custom sewing projects. 

So, let's get started!

I am...

Reading...Not much:( I am STILL on Happiness Key by Emilie Richards! It doesn't look like I will finish it this week unless I download the audio version. Lots of applesauce to make and Thursday will be a town day!

Watching...Ended up watching Detachment. Very good movie; not for children under 18! Dark but true to what a lot of teachers and students are going through. 

Listening to...Ah, the sound of our precious Rocky snoring:) I told my son if he ever moves out he's going to have to leave the dog here! We have all fallen in love with the silly thing! He just laughed!

Cooking/baking...I have butternut squash and sweet potatoes baking in the oven. We will add some Brussels sprouts and that will be dinner. It is one of my favorite meals! 

Happy I accomplished this week...I got our very dirty and messy house cleaned. I was "sick" and then we were gone for 3 days so it was pretty bad! Now, it feels like home again:) Also was happy to get my Secret Sister Swap on it's way to Maryland and an RAK on it's way to Bath, UK! I guess all in all a productive week! I still have one more RAK (Random Act of Kindness) to get in the mail but that will have to wait till next week.

Looking forward to next week...Doctor's appointment I have been putting off. Hope to be able to resolve some issues! Or at least find out what's causing them. Also looking forward to a town day with my son--we don't often get the opportunity to do that! And looking forward to getting those apples taken care of (not fun but necessary)! 

Thankful for today...The harvest from our garden! Lots of Butternut Squash, tomatoes hubby will hang in the greenhouse (we usually have fresh tomatoes till Christmas), apples, pears--lots of yummy stuff to eat. I have lots of fruit I dried--plums, apricots, peaches, nectarines and I plan to dry some apples too.

*BONUS QUESTION*

What was my favorite show as a child? I really enjoyed the Jetsons and the Flintstones:) I enjoyed those two programs well into my teens.

I have a question for my readers--Do you change from Daylight Saving Time to Standard Time in your state or country? I know Arizona and Hawaii don't change but not sure who else does or doesn't. I would be very happy NOT to change! What about you?

I hope you have a wonderful evening and that tomorrow dawns bright and sunny in your neck of the woods!

Kat

Five Things Friday

Oh my! This is scary! It is only 4:30 am and I am already up and at it this morning. Come to think of it, I was up this early yesterday morning! Years ago I got up at this time every morning but then Fibromyalgia hit and with it came Insomnia and Chronic Fatigue:( So, these are mornings I will enjoy and cherish because I know they are short lived! The really scary thing is TWO posts in one day!!!

Last week the dear Carla at My 1/2 Dozen Daily started 5 Things Friday! I wasn't sure I would be able to participate today because I have a VERY busy day ahead of me BUT when I woke up at 4:00 I felt that I DID have the time after all. 5 Things Friday is just random stuff that probably wouldn't make a whole post in themselves but I want to share anyway!

1. Secret Sister Swap...My package goes in the mail today; ready or not! I have one more thing I need to get but I will send that as a bonus for her next week. It is something that was on her list and I know she will love it but didn't get the chance last week to purchase it. Well, I could have this week while we were in Seattle but I am a little (okay, a lot) intimidated by driving in Seattle.
2. Devastation on the East Coast...I was watching a news program last night and saw the devastation on Staten Island and the helplessness of so many people. Justin at jk cards said he is still out of power but his building has a generator so it's not as bad as it is for some. I believe Justin lives on Long Island. The Jersey Shore is another really hard hit area. 
3. My 100 Thing Fling Boogie...Otherwise known as the Reverse 100 Things Challenge. I am up to 50 and plan to increase that amount this weekend with 10 pairs of shoes. I wore a lot of different shoes when I was working in an office but just haven't shown them any love in the last two years so will donate them so someone else can have a chance to love them. I have a doctor's appointment next week that will take me close to a Goodwill Store where I can drop the items off--YAY!--and pick up a receipt for tax purposes. Yes, I have itemized each and every item! I am going to try to gather 25 more items (not counting the shoes) before Thursday.
4. Christmas List...Trying to work on my Christmas list so I can start working on items that I want to make. Hubby and Son are always so hard to buy for--if they want it they have usually already bought it! I may do Coupon Books for them of things I can do for them. What do you think of that idea? Then there is my daughter and granddaughter that I have a hard time NOT buying for--so much to buy; so little money! I just purchased an early Christmas present for my daughter but since she occasionally reads my blog, I can't tell you what it is until she gets it:)
5. Did you know...(and you probably did!) That with the Kindle App for the iPad you can download books from Amazon.com and read them on the iPad? And did you know that a lot of the Classics are FREE! There is also a lot of smut for free but I am so not into smut! I like my books clean and wholesome! Oh, and another thing I found out this week is about SpiritClips. My idea of a great movie is one with no sex, no violence and no bad language; a movie that makes me feel good at the end about the two hours I spent watching it; a movie that makes me want to be a better person. SpiritClips is through Roku (we have a Roku box for our Netflix) and for just $35.99/year (US) you can watch Hallmark Hall of Fame movies! These movies are my absolute favorite and the opportunity to watch potentially 50+ wholesome movies for just $35.99/year makes me over-the-top excited!!! If I watch one movie per week for a whole year, that's only 69 cents per movie!!! I hope you will get excited about this too!

Well, that's my 5 things for this Friday! Now, on to that LONG "to do" list I have for today! Wish me luck!

What is your favorite movie of all time? I would have to give it a little more thought but Freedom Writers ranks right up there near the top!

Kat