I Am Giving Thanks!

I am joining Lynn over at the Vintage Nest today for her "Give Thanks" party.  Be sure to pop on over to see all of the participants!

While there are a number of things we can post about today, I am going to keep it simple, which is something I don't usually do, ha!  In my line of work, I am constantly telling people to look around and focus on what you have rather than what you think you don't have!  So, that's what I am doing today.  Here's what I am thankful for:

3 (triplets) wonderful children who are happy, healthy and bright!  They are all off attending college and living their life.  While I miss them a whole lot, I am glad too that they are spreading their wings!  When I first found out I was having triplets I was stunned!  "What" I thought, "I don't know how to take care of one child, let alone 3!"  But, as most things do, it all worked out.  Actually I wouldn't have it any other way.  I loved, absolutely loved, raising these children!

A husband who supports everything I do, without question!  I am, er, a bit head strong, and he is the most patient and caring man I could have ever met!  He is a great dad too and took on a lot of responsibility so I could finish grad school when the children were just toddlers.  He also supports my little business and I am truly grateful.

I am always truly thankful for our wonderful country and those soldiers who risk their lives to protect her!  Thank you!

Have a wonderful, thankful day!

OXOXOX,
Jacalyn

Suburban Retreat Give-a-Way

My sweet blogging friend Lisa over at Suburban Retreat is having an amazing give-a-way!  She is giving away this stunning necklace below along with some other fabulous items!  You must run right over and enter to win!

Happy Sunday!

Hugs,
Jacalyn

Pink Saturday and a very pink bathroom!

Happy Pink Saturday!  Please be sure and stop by and see Beverly, our hostess ever week, to view all of the participants this week!  You remember the post from last week about painting my bathroom pink? 

Well I sure did go a head and paint it and who knew that Carnation Pink would come out sooooooo very pink! Yikes!

 

It's not that I don't like it.  I really like the color but boy is it darker than I thought it would be.  My bathroom is not very large so, that's just say, it is VERY pink!  The trim is white and I must admit that it looks really pretty against the pink.  Here's a little pink tour.

I didn't want to shock you all by showing you an entire pink bathroom, ha, so I just gave you some snippets!  But, I have a little dilemma that maybe you can help me solve.  I have a curtain that I have had up since the bathroom was a very pale pink and I would like to change it.

I think a plain white one would look better - my shower curtain, the trim, and the cupboards are all white which look very nice against the pink.  But, my husband and daughter think I should leave the present curtain.  I just wonder if it's too much not that my bathroom is so pink.  Opinions? 

Does anyone know how to lighten paint without re-painting the entire room?  I was thinking that maybe there's some magic potion out there that I don't know about, ha, ha!

Oh and would you all be so kind to vote for me in the Shabby Lane Shop Website Holiday Decorating Contest?  If you already voted, thank you, but you can vote again too!  Click on the link below to vote.  My most heartfelt thanks!

Have a wonderful weekend! 

OXOXOXOX,
Jacalyn

Beautiful Blogging National "Tie One on Day"

Welcome to another post of Beautiful Blogging.  I thought we could do something different this time around.  While doing my usual blog hopping on Pink Saturday I came across a wonderful post by Sharon over at Faith, Hope, & Cherry Tea about "National Tie One on Day" which is the day before Thanksgiving, this year being November 24th.  I so loved the concept that I thought I would re-post it on my blog.

Let me explain exactly what Tie One on Day is. And no, it's not what you think being that it is also the most popular day for partying, ha! It's actually an act of kindness. Here's how Sharon explains it:

"On the day before Thanksgiving,  women across the country will be celebrating the day  by wrapping a loaf of bread in an apron, tucking a prayer or a note of encouragement in the pocket,  and then delivering the bundle to someone in need of physical or spiritual sustenance — or both.  What could be nicer than receiving such a gift? "

A sponsor of the event, apronicity shares the history of this day

Apron-iCity is a proud sponsor of National Tie One On Day. Celebrated on November 24, 2010, Tie One On Day is an opportunity for people throughout the country to put the “give” back in Thanksgiving.



Here EllynAnee Geisel shares about putting the “give” back in Thanksgiving and National Tie One Day:


Four years ago, EllynAnne Geisel was rolling dough for “one more pie” for her Thanksgiving feast, “When I suddenly took stock of the amount of food I’d prepared for the next-day’s holiday meal.” For a dozen guests, Geisel recalls, “there was just too much!” Deciding that her company “absolutely did not need another dessert choice,” she spontaneously wrapped a sweet in a handy piece of cloth…an apron. “Then I wrote Thinking of You on a note card, and still wearing my own apron, walked out the front door.” Within a block, Geisel was presenting the wrapped treat to a very surprised neighbor, “who I’d heard was experiencing a difficult time.”


Turns out, Geisel was in for a surprise herself. “I hadn’t anticipated that acknowledging my neighbor with a baked good would have me feeling positively buoyant.”


It is that win-win for participant and receiver that Geisel is promoting through her National Tie One On Day TM.. Celebrated on November 24, 2010, Tie One On Day is an opportunity for people throughout the country to put the “give” back in Thanksgiving.


According to Geisel, a store-bought item is as easily wrapped as homemade, “and the cloth can be anything from  an apron to a napkin.”

Surely we can all find someone in need a few steps or even blocks away.  And, what a wonderful idea to put the "give" back in Thanksgiving.  Remember that this can be anything you wish!  It can be store bought or homemade, wrapped in an apron, dish towel, or even a napkin.  Don't forget to include a little card of encouragement or perhaps even humorous.

Please let me know if you will be participating and what you will be doing.  I will post my contribution on Thanksgiving Day and I hope you'll come back and do the same.  I can't wait to see what wonderful things people do.

Oh and please go and visit my friend, Sharon over at Faith, Hope, and Cherry Tea.  She has a wonderful blog and you'll be glad you did!

Hugs,
Jacalyn

Meet Me on Monday

Welcome to another post of Meet Me on Monday.  Java asks us to answer 5 questions each week so that we get to know one another better.  Go on over and see who else is playing along with Java this week!

1. What is your favorite kind of pie?



Yum... I love pie, I don't eat it too often for obvious reasons but I think my favorite would have to be Lemon Meringue pie.  Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream is pretty darn good too!  Oh and then there's cherry and blueberry and apple and chocolate cream and banana cream... See I really like pie!


2. Have you ever ran out of gas in the car you were driving?

I believe I did when I was a very young adult living on my own and very poor, ha!  Maybe not so poor, just poor at managing money, ha!

3. How many languages do you speak?



Just English.  I took french in high school but I barely remember any of it.

4. Do you take daily vitamins?



No, not really.  I tried fish oil for a while but my goodness I couldn't stand the well, you don't want the details, ha!  I know it's good for you and when they develop a tablet then I will take it.  I tried Niacin for a while too but the side effects are wicked!  Have you ever taken it?  Yikes, a few minutes after taking it, you get a very tingly feeling and your entire body feels hot and sweaty and red!  My doctor advised it as it is supposed to increase your "good" cholesterol since there isn't much else you can do since it's heredity.  But, after experiencing the side effects a couple of times, I guess I'll just let nature take its' course.

5. What is your worst eating habit?


Probably eating a full meal late. I work 10 hour days, 3 days a week and usually after my commute, don't get home until after 9. Of course I am starving and so I eat a meal. Not good, I know!



Have a wonderful week, friends!  Oh, and I would like to put in a shameless request.  I am participating in the Shabby Lane Shops Website Holiday Decorating Contest and I would love your vote!  Here's my site and if you like it would you mind clicking on the banner below and voting for me?  Thanks in advance for your time!

OXOXOX,
Jacalyn

Pink Saturday!

Hello Pink Friends!  I am sorry to say that this week has zoomed by and I don't really have that much pink to share :(   I have been busy fall cleaning and well, nesting for the winter, and last weekend I spent six hours cleaning the bathroom!  How can one tiny room take up so much time?  I really don't know except to say it went something like this.  I will clean the tiles and and then the mini blind (slat by slat, ugh!).  Then I thought well let me paint that cupboard again as the paint is chipping.  Okay, done... oh man now the moulding looks bad and I have to paint that, etc.. etc.. etc...  I think a lot of you know what I mean.  So of course once I cleaned and painted the moulding, guess what?

and this leads me to my pink of the week...

Yep, you all probably guessed it... I need to re-paint the bathroom!  You know how it goes... So, I went to Home Depot and purchased some pretty Carnation Pink Paint!  So while you all are visiting blog land today, I will be painting!  In between though I sure will visit my blog friends!

Oh and one more thing before I go.  Would you mind, pretty please, voting for me at the Shabby Lane Shops Holiday Website Decorating Contest?  Here's my site and if you like it please click the banner below to visit.  Thanks for your consideration!

Don't forget to visit our hostess, Beverly, at http://www.howsweetthesound.typepad.com/.  Talk to you later!

OXOXOX,

Jacalyn

A Sunny Fall Afternoon

The other day was such a beautiful sunny Fall afternoon.  The sun was streaming through my windows and it was gorgeous!  I thought I'd take you on a little tour of what I saw.

Enjoy the rest of your week!

OXOXOX,
Jacalyn