Task it Tuesday - May 7

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task It Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Hard to believe Tuesday is here so soon. My to-list is growing instead of shrinking, but that's because I have a new listing coming up, several meetings, and have been volunteering. I've been approached by the BOD of a local organization to join their board. Not sure if I can do it, but I'll see what time commitment there is before I decide.

This week's to-do list is similar to last week's.

• Daily Bible reading - On schedule
• 5-5-5-5 plan for reaching out to people: 5 calls, 5 texts, 5 emails and 5 handwritten notes every day
• Set up photographer and staging for new listing - DONE
• Polish query letter for Clever Tom
• Barre workout Monday and Friday - Monday done
• Start finding a way to plan meals
• Review The Brave Art of Motherhood
• Bake a cake--today is hubby's birthday

What's on your list this week?

Mailbox Monday - Aug 13

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

The Outer Banks has been very much on my mind this week, so the beach mailbox is back. We're already planning next year's vacation. I would actually love to go down in December if we could do it cheaply enough. Since the Lil' Princess will have several weeks off around Christmas, it would be a perfect time for us to get away. Guess we will have to wait and see what the Lil' Diva's work schedule looks like.

Speaking of the Lil' Diva--she turned 17 this weekend. There are days I wish I could turn back time and make her 5 again. She's already looking forward to college next year.

Here is what my mail carrier dropped off to me this week.

I've read the other books in the series and loved them. This will be a new author to me, so I hope I'll enjoy this installment of The Daughters of the Mayflower as well.

This is a poetry collection that I'll be reviewing at The Book Connection next week. 

This is another poetry collection with beautiful artwork. I think I'm reviewing this one in September. 

I'll be in Devens for a strategic planning event today, so I might be late visiting your blogs. I hope you'll share your mailbox with us. Have a blessed week.

Mailbox Monday - July 25

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. This is the first weekend in a while--other than being on vacation--that I didn't work the whole weekend away. I definitely was on the computer Saturday, but Sunday I went to church, did my grocery shopping, and then made Yia-Yia an orange coconut cake for her birthday--which is today. Happy birthday, Yia-Yia!

No new books in the mail lately, but I did pick up some new Kindle freebies. I've also been reading A Simple Vow by Charlotte Hubbard. 

Read about it on Goodreads

Read about it on Goodreads

Read about it on Goodreads

Read about it on Goodreads

What was in your mailbox? 

You've Got Mail Monday

And the craziness of life continues. There are only a few weeks left before our church's annual Christmas bazaar and tag sale. We're busy cleaning, crafting, and soon to be baking. I'm not as much of a crafter as I used to be, so I'm concentrated on filling up the baked goods table this year. Oh, that reminds me, I need to see if I can find some butter crocks to put honey butter in.

Other than a few gifts for the Lil' Princess' birthday--which I can't talk about yet in case she checks in here--the only thing the mailman brought this week was catalogs. You can always tell when November comes around because catalogs I haven't seen in forever arrive; like the Things Remembered gift catalog. Build-A-Bear sent along their Christmas catalog, as did Oriental Trading. I tossed the most recent Land's End one, because I'm not ready to buy from them right now. I usually buy clothes for the hubby from them, but first I need to see what the budget says I can spend.

That's it for now. Hope you have a great week.

You've Got Mail Monday

What a crazy place it is around here. I'll be brief in my post today because I have a million things to do.

I've definitely made my way--for better or worse--onto someone's mailing list. I received a postcard about a new book by Chris Harlow (Full Court Press) in the mail. I don't believe I've read anything by him before, so that was a surprise. Also a surprise delivery was a box of children's picture books from Michael Neugebauer Edition.

Catalogs in the mailbox this week were from Grandin Road, Gardener's Supply Company, and a kid's catalog from Land's End. I also received Some Enchanted Season by Marilyn Pappano, which I ordered from Amazon. I enjoyed the movie Season for Miracles on Hallmark Channel last year. That movie was based upon Pappano's book of the same name, which was set in the little town of Bethlehem. This is another Bethlehem novel, so I hope I enjoy it.

Most importantly, presents for the Lil' Princess' birthday began arriving last week. We don't like to spend too much, especially close to Christmas, but I think she'll be happy.

That's it for now. Hope you have a great week.

30 Blogs with Ideas for a Candy Land Theme Birthday Party

Remember the board game, Candy Land? I do. We have at least two versions of it here in the bonus room. It is a great way to teach kids about colors and counting. What I didn't know is that some people use Candy Land as inspiration for their child's birthday party theme. I can't believe I never thought of that.

"30 Blogs with Creative Ideas for Throwing a Candy Land Themed Party" will bring you to an article with links to numerous blogs featuring invitation, decoration, menu, games, and party favor ideas to throw your own Candy Land themed birthday party. Some of these ideas are unbelievably creative. They make me wish the girls were little again, so I could try them out.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Diary of a Busy Mom

I can’t believe it. The Lil’ Diva will be 12 on Sunday. How did this…

turn into this…..

so quickly?

I worry about her sometimes. Have I told her often enough how much I love her? Is she happy?

I know she’s confident and beautiful. Does she really believe I feel that way?

Does she remember the times I sang her to sleep? Does she recall the winter I slept on her bedroom floor almost every night because she was so sick? Do these things even matter to her?

Can she understand I would do anything for her? Does she really think I enjoy saying no? Is it true she thinks I love her sister more than her?

Have I taught her enough about faith and Truth? Will she stay faithful as she gets older?

What career will she choose? Will she get married? Have kids?  Will one of them be as strong willed as she is?

What will our relationship be like when she’s an adult? What can I do to make it better now?

You've Got Mail Monday

That I am sitting down to type this post at almost 10 p.m. on Tuesday should indicate what kind of week it has been. Blogging here went out the window as other things like replacing a dead car battery, grocery shopping, and playing chauffeur took precedence. I think I might have some time at home tomorrow morning before taking the Lil' Princess to violin lessons.  Oh darn, that reminds me, the bill for her rental is overdue. Ugh!

So, last week was fairly exciting around here. I bid on an item for the Lil' Diva's birthday and I won it. I am so thrilled. Can't tell you what it is yet--in case she stops in to take a peek at the blog--but when I spill the beans you will be amazed she wanted one of these things considering all the technology that is out there. I haven't had one of these in probably 30 years.

I'm actually driving her nuts right now because every gift I've gotten her wasn't on her birthday list, but I know she wants them. She's desperately trying to figure out what I've bought, but she'll have to wait until Sunday to open it all.

School is due to start at the end of the month. I can't believe summer has passed so quickly. In last week's mail I received the Gardener's Supply Company End-of-Summer Clearance catalog. Now, I really know fall is coming. Plenty of back-to-school and fall catalogs have arrived from Land's End, too.

For books, I received a copy of Who I Be by Annie Brown, which I'l be reviewing at my Christian book blog next month.

That it for this week. Hope you are having a great one.