So Many Opportunities with a Blog!

This is my favorite thing in the world. I love my freebie sites. I belong to several and a few I am going to talk about today. I know I talked to you about Listia. Have you checked them out? Its a great way to clean your closets and get new stuff. I have been a member for years and I recommend them. 

I am a member of a site called Klout. 

Klout is a website and mobile app that uses social media analytics to rank its users according to online social influence via the "Klout Score", which is a numerical value between 1 and 100

.

Since I am a serious reader I was really interested in their program. I get to chose books, read them for free and then post about them to social media for a score. The more books, the more reviews, the better my score and the better read I am. I just signed up so I am looking forward to seeing how well it works. I am excited to be part of it.

I am a member of House Party. I just got into a party from Hasbro. We got a Simon Swipe, a Bop It Beats, electronic catch phrase and they even send batteries. They send you everything to have a party with your family and friends. This is a great idea. I have been a member for awhile now and I have got in several parties. All you do is sign up for them. Its a lot of fun.

I belong to a site Orgullosa. The point is to empower women. They send boxes of samples and I rewiew them. Look how many products are in the box!

It is a spanish site, they translate in english for you. I love to just look around and browse. Its a great program.

I belong to Moms Meet. Its a green site. They are always sending me applications to try all kinds of products. I have gotten many things from them. Look them up!

My latest box from them was a big box of samples from OLOGY. I got 2 rolls of paper towels, laundry detergent, and an all purpose plant based cleaner. I am very happy with this product. It smells good, the paper towels are stong, and the laundry detergent worked great on mechanic clothes. Its from Walgreens. Its a reasonable price and its green. I will purchase them when I go to Walgreens, especially the cleaner. I loved that it was plant based and safe enough for me to clean without gloves and with my cat around. This is a great program and I suggest you check it out too!

This is my last suggestion of the day. This is my favorite book site. They have a book giveaway every week. I have won several. This site doesnt have you review books, they send them to you to pass on the love of reading. Go to their site and check them out.

I love Buzzagent. 

You can try products, start conversations, get more campaigns. At the moment I am in a Cooppertone Campaign. They sent me a box of sunscreen samples and full size product. I have been in many, many campaigns. The more I buzz about it the better my score. 

Some days thats how I feel when I need to do a lot of writing and catching up but its totally worth the time and effort. I havent bought shampoo, deodrant, toothbrushes, body wash, hair dye, laundry detergent, toliet paper and many other household items. My mail lady wonders what I do. Well, now you know. You can do it too. Its easy to fill out forms. Everyday my mailbox is like Christmas, and I love telling other people about my experiences with products.

Have a good one! Its thunder storming today. Good, my plants need water. Better God water them, than me and my non existent green thumb.

He is the Hen to my Chicken

Good Morning! I have been slacking on the blog lately but all the things I have had going on finally settled down. This past month has been crazy at our house. Yes, I was emotional last post, he is still here beside me, holding my hand. My oldest son graduated a couple weeks ago, with that and all the little holidays + birthday partys I have been too busy to do my own stuff, much less this blog. I am sorry. I love to write and this is healing for me. When I had Hunter I knew when he would graduate, I done the math. I never thought this day would come though. All the years that have passed. He is a young man now. His ceremony was beautiful, brought tears to my eyes. 18 years old, a young man, MY young man. I am proud of you Hunter Cole. Here he is, the other picture is his graduating class 2014.

It has been a great couple months celebrating Mother's Day & Father's Day. I went to my Mom & Dad's house on both ocassions & had dinner. It's always nice to be able to spend time with them. When we have dinner we all go. My grandparents come on Sunday's too. It's a blessing to have them in my life. The top picture is my mom, me & my neice Emma. The bottom picture is my mom & dad, my grandma, and my bf having dinner at my church for Hunters graduation.

This has been a full month. Its started to get green here. The days are hot and getting hotter. I love summer. Today is a cool one but we needed it. Its just beautiful here in the summer time. 

I have been working hard on my green thumb. Usually the only thing that will grow for me are the wildflowers that get sprinkled guaranteed to grow. I have no luck with plants so I have come up with a new idea. I am really getting interested in succulents. You know, hens & chickens. The little flower/star shaped plant that hardly needs water and they grow on top of the dirt so I dont think there is much I can do to kill them. They are hearty. Just what my thumb needs. The pictures are of the couple that I dug up and brought home with me to plant. I want to put all different varities in a shallow bowl. Kinda like a living garden or a terranium.

See the babies on the bottom picture. They are the size of a quarter and the blooms on the Hens are huge. They are really pretty purple daisy looking flowers. These have been growing outside and they have spread everywhere. I just dug them up. I am in love with them.

The very last thing I want to post is about my Uncle Donnie's Birthday party. We had been planning it for 2 months. We decided to throw him a suprise party at our local city park. It was more like a family reunion. So many people came to celebrate, I had not seen them in years. It was a hot Saturday, kids were running everywhere, and I was hugging everyone. My gran is one of a bunch of kids. Actually a set of triplets, and a set of twins plus the stray brothers and sisters. Anyway, this was my granmothers oldest brother. He was smiling. It was a good day and we were blessed to have our family there. I had a great time and appreciate all the hard work. The food was so good. Aunt Mary's dessert was my favorite. Some kind of pudding, fruit, cake thing. Triffle maybe?

See where its cut? I couldnt get the fork out of my hand to get the camera to take it before it was cut. Too funny.

I will update soon. I have several things going on that I think you may be interested in.
I'll talk to you soon!

Have a good day!

April Showers, Where are the flowers? On Easter Crosses and Ice Cubes!

Good Morning!

I know its been a minute since I have updated but I have a lot of things to share this time. Its almost the end of April and the sun has started peeking through. I have started getting out more, walking of an evening with my BF John. Its nice to fall into bed at night knowing that I have been outside doing something productive instead of inside bored and alone.

I have several pictures I have taken this month I want to show off, I have also tried some recipies and crafts that I want to show you. I have been busy. Sometimes I get on Pinterest just to look to see if I have the items available to make stuff. I love to put in copper wire and see what turns up!

Here is my wreath I made for Easter for my front door. I love wreaths and change mine with the seasons, sometimes I dont even have a reason. 

Here are my Easter Nails. Easter is my favorite time of year. I am no nail tech as you probably tell. I have all the dotting pens, brushes, striping tape, ect. but all the products in the world dont help if all you can draw is stick people and happy faces. Thats why I like Monograms so well. I can make a H or my initals.

The first set of nails are lt blue and I put tips on them. I have active lenght nails. The second picture are of my bunny rabbits. This manicure took me forever. After 6 bottles of paint, stones, and art liner. I am done. Now Easter is over and I have to find something else to do with them. I am not fancy but I love nice nails.

COPPER WIRE

My BF brought me home balls of thin and thick copper wire which will be perfect for bracelets and other jewerly projects I have found on Pinterest. I have no imagination for things but if I see them then I can recreate somewhat. Never with the outcome of the picture I see. Here is a ring my BF made, and a hair pin.

Channel Bobby Pins

Here are some pearl bobby pins I made after seeing a Chanel runway show. The directions are on Pinterest but its very easy. I made 12 with just a little wire and pearls. Make sure you set and wire the pearl on top of the pin so the pearls show when you put them in your hair. Here is a picture of mine in a bun. I used 12 on Easter Sunday and I got loads of compliments on them.

You get the point although some of mine are showing. I had my BF help me on Easter to get them in just right. I forgot to take pictures we were so busy that day. 

I was responsible for our Easter dessert this year. I didnt want some icing laden cake too sweet after a dinner of sweet ham and sweet potatos. So I made a Pineapple UpsideDown Cake and everyone raved about how moist it was. Funny thing is, I dont like pineapples. I didnt eat the cake. Thanks goodness I have a BF who loves to eat and is a voluntary gunnie pig.

Oh...look how stained my stove is. SORRY (embarrassed) Now I have a project to keep me busy today. 

Here is my leftovers from our Easter dinner. I brought home ham. I had fresh potatos so I decided to use a recipe from Cracker Barrell. I love their Hashbrown Casserole and this turned out so good! Best thing is, I had all the ingredients in my pantry and fridge. The picture doesnt look very yummy with all the ingredients same color but it was cheesy, creamy and sooo good!

One more idea before I go, I found some tiny violets in my garden. I picked them and looked on BHG.com (my fave site) and seen ice cubes with flowers in them. So I decided to try it. Here is the tray. I havent uncubed them yet. I want to wait for my spring party once my backyard gets ready for company.

Its almost May, I wont update till then. We have some big events comming up. My son graduates this spring. He had his graduation pictures yesterday. He got a promotion at work. I am so proud of him. 

I am gonna leave you with one more picture. At the end of my street is a big Methodist Church. On Easter Sunday they had a cross that the congration put flowers on. Its outside and everytime I walk by it, it makes me happy. Its so pretty. Excuse the selfie beside it. :-)

I hope you enjoyed my pics and rambling whoever you are reading this, IF ANY! :-)

HAPPY SPRING!!

(next up, my Listia winnings and auctions. I want to get into that with you)

I don't do mornings (AND HE KNOWS THIS)

Good Morning! I haven't updated in awhile but I have some great things going on. I have a Mary Kay Andrews House Party date set thru my House Party site. If you get a random email from me inviting you to party and your are states away I had to fill my invite list so they would pick me. I got 10 soft copies of the book. If your reading this message me and I'll send you one of them just for reading my blog. Cracks me up, like I think someones gonna read it.

Well, spring is supposed to be here but after a week of warm weather and rain today its supposed to snow. Isn't that something, snow in April. Is anyone going to watch the eclipse tonight?

http://eclipse.gsfc.nasa.gov/OH/OH2014.html#LE2014Apr15T

I think I will be asleep thru this one. I usually try to get out and really look at them thru the binoculars but this one is going to happen to late at night for me to really enjoy it.

Yesterday was the Moose Lodge ramp dinner. Bub (my SO) dug a whole bulging onion sack of ramps. Here are the ramps that we got clean. It took us 3 hrs to clean these.After we got done we had 10 1 gallon bags stuffed full. They sold for $20, bagged and cleaned. They went like hot cakes in a few hours of the afternoon.

The weekend of the 26th is The Feast Of The Rampson 2014 in Richwood WV. If you haven't tried them they are close to a leek or a wild onion. The smaller they are the better I like them but these have "tops" on them. Hard to believe they grow wild here and have put our little one red light town on the map. The woods are full of them. They aren't easy to dig but sure are worth it when you fry them in bacon grease with potato's, eggs and bacon. Make some cornbread and brown beans. YUM! They make great breakfast casseroles too. You can have them pickled, made into salt, eat raw or cooked. Just don't make kissing or work plans. The little buggers stick with ya. Literally. 

Well, I have some news. I don't know how I feel about it. I haven't told anyone because I though it was in Hunters best interest to just let him do it but he hasn't. My son had an open place about the size of a quarter on his spine when he was born. He has a surgery and it closed up. He has had to have a cat scan every year to make sure its all good underneath there. Well, he graduates this year and he had decided he was going to the Navy. He cant now. Dr. Schmidt at CAMC said he could go, then changed his mind. Now my son has no clue what he wants to do and isn't putting that much thought into it. He has a job but I don't want this one little bump in the road to affect the wonderful and prosperous life that is in store for him. You know the kind, "I was going to the Navy but couldn't so I decided to drink the rest of my life instead" He's my son. I want whats best for him. He got a promotion at his job at the new Foodland store in Cragisville. More hours, more responsibility, I am proud of him.

School will be out before long and then my little one can come home. I miss Shane like crazy when he isn't here with me. I think it may get a little tough this summer. He is growing up and his daddy has a mind of his own. Sometimes things just don't go smoothly. Just don't make it so damn hard, how about that?

It's still morning out but its dreary and overcast. I got up in a not so nice mood. Let me ask you something. When your SO, BF, Hubby, ect, whatever, gives you money the night before, falls asleep in the chair and doesn't speak or say goodnight but comes busting in my room (we have separate rooms, he SNORES and to keep from smothering him at night I sleep separate from him) at 8 am (knowing I don't sleep well at night, and sleep very lightly in the a.m) this morning and needs his cash back. Why did you give it to me? Said he asked me to hold it for him until this morning. He did not. That's an excuse because you fibbed to me. (I caught him) I went on my Ebay and Listia last night and said I would mail everything today and now I have no money to do that. He just walked thru the door. Maybe things will look up and he wont make a big fibber out of me after all. Sometimes our lives are not as perfect as Facebook or Pinterest makes them look. All healthy relationships have ups and downs. Its what you those ups and downs that makes a difference. We don'f fight or argue too often but he just rubbed me the wrong way this morning. Sorry to turn this into a post to vent. I didn't mean to put my business out there like that for everyone to read but I think everyone has a relationship like mine. Strong and lasting, just up and down here and there.

Well, I am going to close this out and I'll be sure to update later. My SO and I have to have a long talk. I hope there are no tears. (on his part, lol)

I hope someone fills your day with love & laughter.

~Crystal 

Downward facing dog? YOGA TODAY!!

Good Afternoon! I have been really busy here lately and haven't updated like I should but it has turned out to be a benefit for my family so I hope you understand. I have been pulling out all of my summer clothes. Now, that's a job. Somehow I got everything out of both dressers, and the walk-in dumped in my floor and my bed. There was not one square inch of floor or bed space available for one more item. When I shop I shop for everyone. When I say everyone I know all the sizes of everyone, including my bestie. I buy with the notion that I might be selling it on ebay (which I am not a fan of) or putting it up for credits on Listia. I just cant see letting something go on ebay for .99 cents when it costs me to mail and for the item. So, once I got it all sorted out I have a HUGE bag of donation clothes for our local clothing and food pantry, and another big pile of clothes and accessories for my Listia. I invited my bestie up last night for coffee, smoke and company. When she walked in she about had a heart attack. She could not believe the clothes I had. I actually felt bad. I am not a hoarder, its all organized, in the right spot but I have to admit it was a lot. I made the promise that I would list it today. Its kept me busy for a while now. I just had to take a break so here I am! 

I have also been interested in something so beautiful that it takes my breath away every time I log on. It's the Decorah Eagles.

Here is the site to watch them LIVE!

They are sitting on 3 eggs that are due to hatch in a couple weeks. 

http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Here is their blog on Blogger:

http://raptorresource.blogspot.com/search?updated-min=2014-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&updated-max=2015-01-01T00:00:00-06:00&max-results=9

Watching these Bald Eagles have made me late for yoga twice this week. When I get up I immediately log on and look at their nest. Usually the dad is sitting and mom has taken off. I love to watch when both birds meet up. Its just so comforting, like waiting on the birth of my own babies. Please check it out!

Talking about yoga...

I started a class with my bestie. I don't need to lose weight but I do need to tone up. Bathing suit weather will be here before you know it and the way I bake I need to do something. I figured if it was a class setting I might be more apt to finish the whole program, not like I do on my yoga app here at home. We are going at 3 today, and I am yet to get out of my nightgown. Just been to busy. I wanted to finish this first. So off to yoga I go with my friend Kathy, who is older than I am, and we have the best time. I don't think yoga is for laughing but we get so tickled at each other. We just cant help but laugh when our butts are up in the air and we are looking at each other through our legs. Too much fun. I recommend taking a class with a friend. It gets you motivated and you have plenty of gossip for a major phone call later.

Spring is coming! I have noticed the crocus come up through the grass lately. The first sign of spring and Easter. I love Easter, its almost my favorite holiday. I just love the meaning, and Passover. The whole story of Jesus and the tomb. I will get my Bible out and lay it to the story so people that come into the foyer of my home will see it. We are Christians in my house, and proud to say so.

Have you done your yard work or planted any flowers? We woke up to snow this morning, but its gonna be 50's all week here in WV!

 I need to get out and plant my yard. I am yearning for some color and happiness in my yard, I want to fill my feeders, watch the humming birds and butterflies. 

Well, I have a date to make... 

I hope everyone has a beautiful day and please check out the Decorah Eagles and the RRP Blog.

Sunshine Visits...

Hello everyone! I feel like writing so here I am. Its a beautiful day here in West Virginia. I finally got dressed and walked to the post office. I had several Listia packages and Ebay packages to mail out. Every time I swear I will not list so many items so I wont have so much paperwork to do. When you deal with the public it's an aggravation. As soon as an auction ends I get emails from people who want to know when their item will be there. I have 7 days per listia rules. People are rude and expect the post office to perform miracles. I mailed out 20 nail stickers today. That's 20 envelopes, and more to come tomorrow. I love the 2 sites for different reasons. I use my ebay money for mad money. My listia is credits and like a swap meet. I love both. 

This is my son Shane and he turned 9 today. Wow. 9. Happy Birthday Baby! Mommy loves you, and we will celebrate at Easter.  He lives away from me and at times like this I miss him something terrible. He is the light in my day. Such a cutie, and I miss him. A LOT.

I went out to see my best friend today. I had a nice visit at her house. Its so nice to feel welcome somewhere. I am just as comfortable there as I am at my own home. Everyone needs a bestie like Kathy. She helps me through everything and I hope she can say the same for me. I love her. I need a friend. She's the BEST. Here is us at her birthday party. I made her a german chocolate cake and got her a nice gift. It was a great party and a great day. Here we are. I am the one in the black, Kathy is beside me. How many candles can you fit on a German Chocolate Bunt cake? Shhh.....55!!!!

Don't we look like we had fun. This is at the end of the night. I'll treasure these forever. Thank You for the friendship, Kathy.

I walked out to see my grandparents today. My grandfather has cancer and has missed a few treatments here lately because of the weather. He is pale, and I had to hold back the tears. He fell feeding the kitty's, he has no taste and is really cranky. My gran is recently diagnosed with a rare form of Glaucoma. It seems like they can never catch a break. I haven't been out much, they only live down street from me, but since Christmas I have been under the weather and he cant have any germs at all because he cant fight them so I have stayed away because a bout with the flu and strep. Now I am better, and have all intentions of spending as much time with them as possible. Spring cleaning will be here soon, and I will have to help. I hate to cry in front of my gran but I do it silently. I guess I think that if its silent tears she wont notice. It just hurts. I love them more than my own parents. It just makes me sad that I am not going to have very many years left with them. Today I have a smile in my heart. I went to visit. :-) This is how I feel often, I get so upset, but I get through it with family, hunny and GOD.

Last night I made nutella cookies. They were the gluten free kind. I had nutella, baking soda, egg and brown sugar. I thought I had a pic. Mixed them up, put a splash of van, and a dash of salt. Baked 7 min at 350. Anyway, they didn't turn out pretty enough to take a pic of.  I would say it was a big fail. They spread out all over the pan, the no flour option is NOT an option for me. I used an All Recipes recipe called Nutella Christmas Cookies because I wanted something sweet and that's what I had in the pantry. Needless to say, if they are still in the jar the next day they are not going to be made again. I should have known better. Gluten free is not for me. I guess it would be if I had to be.

This is how I am going to leave you today.  I am trying a new recipe tonight that I will post the outcome of. They are butter cookies that call for a semi sweet glaze, but I don't like semi sweet so I bought a king size Hershey bar to melt and drizzle on. I will let you know how it goes...

Did I post about my Mrs Myers Party items....?

Snowblind...

Hi guys! I am trying something new with the blog. This is the little piece of the world that is mine and I have come to view it as an escape of sorts. It's so snowy and cold outside, I just want to bake to warm my home and hearts, keep myself busy so the snowy days don't start getting to me. I don't know about you, but cabin fever really starts to set in once I know the time is going to change. I don't care that it goes forward, I just want the sun to come out! Remember how it feel's to walk in the wet grass to pick up your mail or how it feels to open your curtains and window's to the sun's full on shine. I am missing it. I need to make dinner! That's the perfect remedy for how I am feeling. We are in the middle of a ANOTHER winter storm warning with ft.'s of snow and freezing rain. I just wish it was over already.

We do have something to look forward to this month. We have Shane's birthday to celebrate. Those of you that don't know (HA! I am writing like someone is reading this, my therapy session) me, Shane is my 8 year old, soon to be 9! I can't believe it. My oldest Hunter is 18, and now Shane. Since he is in school at his dad's in Raleigh Co., I don't see him as much in the winter because of the weather and because of school/sports. I miss him something terrible but I know when it's not safe to travel and how selfish would I be if I put his life and those that were on the road in danger to make the trip. So I prayed last night that God would let me have a weekend in March for nice weather. I am not asking for 80 degrees, just a couple days with no snow (I just wrote sun and didn't realize it) and a couple beams of sunshine. His birthday is the day after St. Patrick's Day so we usually have some kind of green themed kind of party but this year I am not so sure. It's kind of hard to plan a party when you don't know what Mother Nature has in store for you.

Sometimes I feel guilty for not posting all these things I am doing. You know, being the "hostest with the mostest" kind of thing. Sometimes I don't have the interest or the time to be Betty Crocker/Martha Stewart. A lot of the day's I just have time to throw something in the pan and hope that the biscuits don't burn. I know I am not alone in that. I remember my mom scurrying to get dinner together when my dad came home and we were home from school. She did it though, we had supper every day about 4:30-5-00. That was everyday. Granted she was a stay-at-home mom but that doesn't mean a thing when you have 2 girls 5 years apart and a husband to take care of. Plus all the household stuff that we take for granted because life is a little more advanced these days. I am tired just talking about it. I do love to write though. If I had the imagination I would have been an author (its not too late, but sadly I am not that creative or imaginative) because I love to write. Is it self-centered to want to write about the things you find funny, sad or accomplished throughout the day? I don't think so. Honestly, what is so bad about this life?

Not a damn thing other than the weather. 

I am waiting on Bub (my S.O) to get home. It's pouring the snow and he is out taking care of the elderly people that he keeps shoveled out. He is a blessing. He will go out of his way, out of town, to go and help my grandma when it's bad out. He treats me good, and I am very, very lucky. It took me a minute to find him. Once I did we have never let go. Ok, if we are being honest, I did go. I went back to my then husband and children to see if we could give it a second try. Needless to say, it didn't work but I ask myself everyday, "what kind of mother would I be if I had not gone back and tried"? That is how I sleep at night. My children are safe and loved to the best of my ability. All you can do is give all of you, there is nothing else left once you do that. God Bless the Child.

Anyway it's supper time and I think I am just gonna make a home style meal. Some pork steak, crescent rolls, Cesar salad, sweet potato's w/ cinnamon butter and some homemade coffee cake for desert. Oh shoot, you want the coffee cake recipe? It's really easy and it has a simple crumb topping.

Coffee Crumb Cake

Active 15 min * Total 1 hr. 5 min.

Serves 10 * Cost per serving  24 cents

2 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 tsp kosher salt

1 tsp ground cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

3/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/2 cup (1 stick) cold, unsalted butter, cut into small pieces.

1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

1 large egg, beaten

1/2 cup cold coffee

1. Heat oven to 375. Lightly coat 8x2 in round cake pan with cooking spray. (I use Pam for baking) Line the bottom with parchment and spray the paper.

2. In food processor combine flour, salt, cinnamon and baking powder. Add the brown sugar and pulse to combine. Sometimes I do this step by hand. I am too lazy to dig out a lot of the kitchen items I have.

3. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles coarse bread crumbs. Transfer 1/2 cup of the mixture to a small bowl and toss with the walnuts and set aside.

4. Add egg and coffee to the food processor and pulse just to combine. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan. 

5. Sprinkle the walnut mixture over the top and bake until a wooden pick inserted into the center comes out clean, 35-40 minutes.

Transfer to a cooling rack to let cool for 10 min before serving.

This is so good and always a hit at our house. Its also super simple. It's going to be good on this freezing winter evening. Ok, I guess I should get off here and get the coffee on and dinner started. I wish it was desert already.

Keep warm or stay cool! Whichever you prefer. 

~Crystal