You've Got Mail Monday

Back to School season is in full swing. Catalogs from  Land's End, Justice, and Macy's have all made their way to my mailbox, overflowing with back to school deals. In addition, Oriental Trading sent me their birthday catalog to browse through.

It was the Lil Diva's birthday this weekend. She turned 11. She enters the middle school this year (in only three weeks). Hard to believe that this little one,

has become this big one:

Thinking of back to school and the fact that the Lil Diva will have cheerleading practice twice a week and be away from home without me, we opted to buy her a cell phone. I didn't want to do it. but I feel safer if she has it on her.

We opted for the Samsung Brightside™. Though I wasn't thrilled with the reviews I read, the Lil Diva liked it when we were in the Verizon store a couple of weeks ago. The keys on the QWERTY keyboard seem to be a bit bigger than some others, so she finds it easier to type on.

When I stopped by Macy's on Friday, they were running this fabulous sale on bedding. My in-laws had asked me to pick up birthday presents for the Lil Diva from them too, so I chose this lovely Lauren Ralph Lauren comforter that looks fabulous in her room.

This is a down alternative comforter, so it is fluffy and soft. I wasn't sure how she was going to like the plaid, but she loves it and it looks great. Her rug is a darker blue and her walls are a light blue. I opted to go with a dark purple set of sheets to match her lilac and white pink butterfly curtains. I also ordered a hot pink pillow sham, since this package didn't come with one. They do sell one on eBay that has a sham. I also picked up a floral rug to place in front of her bed.

So, for back to school, the Diva's bedroom got an upgrade. She also received some new outfits from her aunt, so she and her room will be heading into this season in style.

That's it for this week's You've Got Mail Monday. Hope you have a great week.

You've Got Mail Mondays

Seems my postal carrier wanted to visit my house a lot last week. He brought some neat stuff.

On the book front, First Flag of New Hampshire by Stephanie Burkhart arrived. This is a book I'll be reviewing for my kids' book blog, The Children's and Teens' Book Connection. This book was released by 4RV Publishing LLC, who is my publisher for A Christmas Kindness. My book should be out this fall.

Catalogs arrived from JcPenney, Athleta and Land's End. I have to admit with the only JcPenney around is a half hour away, I don't shop there much. We had a JcPenney Outlet for a while, but that closed in October. They didn't have the great deals the regular JcPenney store that used to be there did, so I wasn't thrilled when they changed it to an outlet. With Father's Day coming soon, I might pick up something out of the Land's End catalog for the dad around here.

I received a coupon for $25 off purchases of $100 or more of Charter Club® or other brands at Macy's stores and macys.com. I need to buy a few things for North Carolina. Maybe it's time to drop by or log on and see what they have.

Great Clips® sent me some coupons for discounted haircuts. I've never used them before. I usually go to MasterCuts in the mall, since it's closer. The girls like to go to the hair salon. It gives them a chance to get their hair done up nicely. I have to admit that is not a strong point for me.

Oh, I can't believe I almost forgot. Ernie the mailman brought me the best gift on Friday. Through my National Home Gardening Club membership I ordered an electric Black & Decker 20-in. Hedge Trimmer. We never bought a pair of hedge trimmers when we moved in because the gas powered ones are so expensive. We keep saying we are going to get them, but we would prefer to spend that money elsewhere, so we paid the landscaper last year to trim the hedges.

Well, I wasn't thrilled with the job they did. Actually, I wasn't happy at all. You could barely tell they had been trimmed. When the landscaper came over to quote out the job, we had discussed how they needed to be cut way back for their health. I guess that wasn't relayed to the guys who came to do the actual work.

Now that I have my own set of hedge trimmers, I can cut them the way I want. I've done it at my in-laws' house before, so it shouldn't be an issue. I just need to make sure I don't cut through the cord.  LOL!

That's is for this week of You've Got Mail Mondays. Hope you have a lovely week.

You've Got Mail Mondays

I guess the mailman felt he needed to make up for last week, because I got a slew of stuff.

Two catalogs from Land's End arrived--women's and men's. They are currently running a Family & Friends Event that includes 25% off on regularly-priced items and free shipping. But hurry, it ends tomorrow.

Macy's sent me a 16-page catalog for women. It included a VIP Pass for an extra 20% off regular, sale and clearance apparel for her, him and kids, fine and fashion jewelry and select home items. The VIP sale runs from March 7th - 11th so I might see if I can find some pants I desperately need. I love their clothes, but I don't shop there often because I can't afford to. If it's not on sale, I don't buy it.

The hubby and I actually went there this weekend to exchange an overcoat I had bought him for Valentine's Day. Macy's has marked down their winter items, plus we had a coupon for an additional 25% off, so we ended up paying $120 for a Calvin Klein Coleman overcoat (pictured above) that was originally priced $350. Cha-ching!

I hid the Justice® catalog when it arrived on Tuesday. This is another store with products I love at prices I don't feel comfortable paying all the time. What I love most about Justice is that their clothes are fashionable, but modest. I think the Lil Diva (10) will love the multi-color gem sandals below.

Oriental Trading® sent their Fun and Faith catalog last week too. We use them at church for craft and Vacation Bible School supplies.

When I received my gardening packet a few weeks ago, I requested a catalog from Fancy Leaf Caladiums. I was a bit surprised when a folding brochure arrived. I was expecting something larger. We have partial shade to shade on one side of the house and I want to add a bit more color on that side. These caladiums look like they might do the trick. I had tried Bleeding Hearts once, but they expanded too quickly. I'm thinking the Fannie Munson or Rosalie would be a nice addition to the garden.

Has anyone grown these? Do you have any tips?

For books, I received Project Jackalope by Emily Ecton and Tua and the Elephant by R.P. Harris. These came to me unsolicited from Chronicle Books. I don't usually read books that come to me without a formal request placed, but I like Chronicle Books, so I might give them a whirl. Also in the mail came Summer of Secrets by Charlotte Hubbard, which I am reading for her VBT.

On the local front, The Wilbraham-Hampden Times that comes on Thursdays, had an article about the new Head of School at Somers Academy in Somersville, CT. Cynthia Flynn used to run the preschool our daughters' attended. I was heartbroken when it closed (though my girls were in grammar school at the time). I am so thrilled for Miss Cindy. She's a dedicated educator and I'm sure she'll do a fabulous job there. We're considering private school for the Lil Princess (8) because she is farther advanced than her classmates and is finding school a bit boring. Her current school has offered her enrichment opportunities, but I think private schooling is the way to ensure she remains challenged.

That's it for now. I already had a neat book arrive today that I am eager to share with you next week.