Category Archives: shopping

Jan30

Telly stuff

Posted on Wednesday, January 30, 2008 by Dianne

I’m glad to see at least some of my old shows are coming back on like ‘Lost’ and ‘Survivor-fans vs faves’. Last night I flipped on TLC and watched ‘Jon and Kate plus 8’, the couple from the Hershey, PA area with a set of twins and sextuplets! Every time they show Kate in the video with her large watermelon size tummy, I cringe. Lucky for her she got a major tummy tuck-because of this show! A plastic surgeon’s wife saw her show her post belly and she wanted to help. I really like Kate a lot-she has a ton of personality and I like how she teases Jon and of course he teases her back. BUT, how cute are their 8 kids! Too cute!

The Gosselins at nearby Dutch Wonderland
I just read ‘their story’ and they are religious like the following family.

After that show, the Duggar family special came on. It highlighted the birth of child number 17! Oh my! They live in a huge fairly new home (it better be huge!) and they are debt free. Now how do they do that? I don’t think the oldest boy is going to college, though I’m not sure. But they are super religious, super musical (they play piano and violin!) and super organized. I was checking out the recipe page of their online site-not healthy eating there folks-i.e.-tater tot casserole! Their other specials were highlighted and their RV trip to California was cool except when all of them except 3 had to use a barf bag while flying over the Grand Canyon in a small plane. I guess they don’t believe in Dramamine.

Tonight I watched a tattoo show after I was on the computer. That’s it.

I did get to Trader Joe’s (a grocery store with more healthful and organic foods) and wasn’t as impressed as I am by the one in my hometown. Bri just told me the Acme down the road is closing-hello-empty space-for a Trader Joe’s! (or Whole Foods).

I’m laying low today (written actually yesterday) as it’s going to be cold and windy. I have enough to do around here. Too much tidying at mom’s so put me not in the mood to clean. I am wanting to stitch the freebie from a few years back for Groundhog’s Day since I love that Bill Murray movie and it’s a big deal around PA. Now where is the chart? It looks like this:

Jan17

Sprucing one’s self up

Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

Can do a lady some good! My sister-in-law fixed my hair- I hadn’t had a touch-up since before Thanksgiving and she said my hair was too long. I like it a little on the long side, hairstylists don’t. I got to help my mom by taking her to the bank (her car is running fast) and then we hit the Goodwill as I had a few things to drop off. I bought a few things to revamp-a slate sign (I have tons of experience stenciling these, I did about 300 for a local business about 11 yrs ago). Also got a stretched canvas that I plan to repaint. I have to watch my mom in even that store. She had clothing that she didn’t need and I talked her into putting at least a few items back on the rack. There’s a dollar store next to the Goodwill and they had back issues (a month or so old) of Bon Appetit and a few other nice cooking magazines that I grabbed up.

After I dropped my mom off home, I went to Trader Joe’s and did most of this week’s shopping. I love that place! I bought some green tea extract in capsule form that is suppose to be good for your metabolism and general health.

When I got home, I looked at a magazine and then played with some digital art for a group I’m in:

The photo doesn’t want to show up tonight. There’s always tomorrow.
Have a good one!

Jan10

Surprises

Posted on Thursday, January 10, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

When I went out in the kitchen this morning I looked around to see what else needs to be put away. I received two amaryllis as gifts and I decided to peek at them and get them in dirt today. Look at what I found:

The poor thing had sprouted without a drop of water! I promptly and gingerly put the bulb in the pot with warm water as suggested. The other bulb only has a little green point coming out of it. I wish I could get these to bloom more than once, but i can’t.
Then I got this (as did the other attendees) from Carolyn for attending her birthday Oscar bash:

My friend Pea/Carole mentioned this is National de-lurking week from the 7th-13th. I personally love comments and me and a few of my blogging pals get a little peeved by those who stop by and don’t say a word. So please say ‘hi’. : )

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I purchased my ‘galaxy’ ring from Kohls.com and they sent me the $20 worth of coupons. Sean and I went in the late afternoon Wednesday to a store in Delaware and hit their 70% off sale! I bought a few more Christmas things (I really need to downsize 23 years worth of stuff and will this summer), some clothing (most summery, but for $2-$3 each, I couldn’t pass them up) and a few items of jewelry. We also got buy one, get one free bed pillows. I splurged on a $20 one and Sean got a $10 one, though he could have gotten the pricier one for free. It’s a marshmallow for my head and I thanked the Lord last night for it. ; )

I plan to go back to Kohl’s and check out a few other departments.

I mailed off things yesterday to Carole, Karin, Charlotte and Hazel. I need to mail a few more things, some are which are for Nancy. I am doing 4 mail art envelopes and they are almost ready to go and will share them. And of course there are the Make A Child Smile kids (link in sidebar). In August I will be in my 10th year of sending well wishes. I believe I’ve stitched at least 40 quilt squares for that many children since 1999. I am working on one that I just received the chart and material for. The charity group is making two quilts for sick twin boys. So sad. Each square has two baby animals in it-my is zebras.

Have an excellent Thursday-off to the food store-again!

Jan7

Balmy January

Posted on Monday, January 7, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

Right now it’s in the high 50s! I should get outside and get some fresh air and try to knock the rest of this congestion out of me. Brian is at the coughing stage. I did go out to BJs Wholesale with Sean yesterday and we both got goodies. I got a bunch of the Curves and other breakfast bars as this past month I’ve eaten to many ‘no nos’. Haven’t we all? : )

We also ate at Chili’s restaurant and I was nice and saved half my dinner for my ailing husband-6 oz of NY strip steak. I figured we won’t be eating out that much in the next few months as the bill came in for my procedure and all together we have to pay over 1K out of pocket. I’m going to see if the hospital will let me pay so much a month as they did when I had an ultrasound.

Sean will be packing up to leave on Saturday. He seems to have either gotten a light dose of the bug or avoided it all together. I guess he has a good immune system! He just got back from the dentist and his wisdom teeth seem to be coming in straight.

The new mayor of Philadephia just got swore in. For some reason the major stations think we all wanted to watch it from 10 am and on. In suburban Philly, we don’t elect their mayor. I hope he does something to get guns off the street.

And I did take more cough medicine but only dreamed about going to the doctor’s house (Sean is a friend of her son’s). I hope that wasn’t telling me anything!

Jan6

Venturing out

Posted on Sunday, January 6, 2008 by Dianne

Standard

Sean and I went to the grocery store and church yesterday. I was a bit nervous to go, but my sinuses were good, even with incense wafting through the air on several occasions. We also went to Wendy’s for dinner. It wasn’t until after 11 pm that I had ‘the tickle torture’-rats, almost 24 hours went by without one. We hope to get to BJs/Sam’s Club today so Sean can get food stuff for his dorm room. Before bed I had to take a little cough syrup. I swear that stuff is a hallucinative! The night before I dreamed Suri Cruise was telling tales about her infamous parents-like she was being a parrot to what she heard them saying to each other, some unpleasant things. I found this rather humorous upon awakening, but couldn’t remember exactly what she was telling people. All kids do this anyway. I was good at saying ‘what a mess’ when Sean was little and didn’t he go to the neighbor’s with me and proclaim her kitchen was a mess! Not good. Suri has the cutest little face and haircut and I am always looking at the Celebrity Baby blog and there she is.

Last night’s dream (or early morning) had me in a house in my mom’s old neighborhood when a Coca cola truck pulled in the driveway with balloons and stuff. I decided to see what the fuss was all about, in my t-shirt nightie (no Pam Anderson here) and got embarassed and crawled in the back of another red van. It started up and the older lady was headed to Philly to buy theater tickets! (I told you it was weird). Then I got talking to people in the neighborhood- like an improv group (still in my t-shirt) and went down every week with her. I have no idea what triggered that, unless I was thinking about Publisher’s Clearinghouse and also the Ticketmaster email I get…and one of those blog thingies my friend has us do all the time (are you a people person? )
Anyway, it’s warmer today and will be for the next few days which means my bedroom is not like a barn. We definitely need to go to Home Depot one of these days for a new door or something for the basement area below the bedroom.

I hope to dream about chocolate tonight.

Dec31

Almost New Year’s!

Posted on Monday, December 31, 2007 by Dianne

Standard

Not much going on, it’s chilly and dreary. We all have the munchies too much and have that feeling we are getting the sniffles. Bri was knocking out a wall in the basement (yep) bathroom on Saturday that was blocking a combination of about 12′ of shelves I need for my holiday decorations. He’s not finished yet.

Hmmm…resolutions…the same old thing-eat healthier, exercise, lose weight. With my hobbies, I don’t make lists like my stitchy pals, I just tell myself to work on UFOs, make some Christmas ornaments and do a few charity squares.

Sunday we went to church, then to a local home center (checking out what was left of their holiday decorations- got a few) , went to Wawa for hoagies and finally food shopping. I plan to have all finger foods tomorrow for dinner and snacking.

That’s all folks and here is ‘Happy New Year’ in several languages:

Happy New YearIn Many Languages

Chinese (Cantonese)
Gung hay fat choy (a New Year greeting meaning, “May you become prosperous.”)
Sun nien fai lok (meaning, “Happy new year”)
Chinese (Mandarin)
Xin nian yu kuai
Danish
Godt Nytår
Dutch
Gelukkig nieuwjaar
Farsi
Aide shoma mobarak
French
Bonne année
Gaelic
Aith-bhliain Fe Nhaise Dhuit
German
Gutes Neues Jahr
<!– Greek
Kali chronia–> Hawaiian
Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew
Shanah tovah
Hmong
Nyob zoo xyoo tshiab
Indonesian
elamat Tahun Baru

Italian
Buon Capo d’Anno
Japanese
Akemashite Omedetou Gozaimasu
Norwegian
Godt Nyttår
Pilipino (Tagalog)
Maligayang Bagong Taon
Polish
Szczesliwego Nowego roku
Portuguese
Feliz ano novo
Romanian
La Multi Ani
Russian
S Novym Godom
Spanish
Feliz Año Nuevo
Sudanese
Wilujeng Tahun Baru
Swedish
Gott Nytt År
Turkish
Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Welsh
Blwyddyn Newydd Dda

Dec19

Guess who?

Posted on Wednesday, December 19, 2007 by Dianne

Standard

The early 1980s…

My Princess Diana look!

Gee, to be that thin again! I was looking through some old albums and these caught my eye. I was at Longwood Gardens in the second shot. Who knew I’d live so close a few years later?
I managed to wrap almost all the gifts-it took me about 2.5 hours Monday night and then about 1/2 hour Tuesday. I am missing some big gifts that haven’t arrived yet-hurry up! LOL I don’t add bows and ribbons until the last minute as they fall off or get flattened. I’ll show you the pretty papers when they are nicely arranged under the tree.
I had to return a gift to TJ Maxx that was too small for my niece. I should stay away from that store. I got a new rug for under the computer desk, a new pillow and a few more ornaments. Naughty. I’m naughty for staying up so late as I have a baking schedule to adhere to. I am pretty zonked. I went through about 80 blogs in the Christmas tour of homes. I’m trying to catch up!

Update-Since I have that coupon printer installed, I did a search and found a few places where you can print out coupons! One is coupon.com. I like it because you don’t have to sign up, but if you add your zip code, you get more to choose from. Some coupons even come with recipe ideas! You can’t beat that!

Not sure if I’m fighting a sore throat, but it hurts in just one spot. I’m going to bake this afternoon and take it easy tonight.

Both our parents are causing us worry lately. My mom has been having some dizzy spells. She thinks from lack of eating, well that makes sense. She is also borderline diabetic. I suggested she have a small glass of orange juice in the morning when she first gets up. Brian’s dad fell down getting gas (at night) and felt like he had something stuck in his throat. He was eating on the bus coming home from Atlantic City and has no beverage. He’s had this happen before. I believe he gets panicky which makes his throat tighten up more. I think we’ve all done that.

Dec15

Photo Hunt-Small

Posted on Saturday, December 15, 2007 by Dianne

Standard

I just bought this adorable teenie tiny gingerbread boy at World Market on Tuesday. I think he’s about 2″ tall if that.

Grab the Scavenger Hunt code.Photo Theme. Join the blogroll. Visit participants.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I got down to my mom’s on Friday after over 3 weeks of not seeing her. She cringed at my boo-boo, but was anxious for me to assemble her Christmas tree-the kind with a million branches where you have to match up the letters on the tree pole to the one on the branches. We ended up with two that had different letters then the spaces left, so we shuffled a few around and that worked. Mom bought amber lights with white cording-opps-but we worked them in the middle well and they look okay. She has this pretty angel with fiber optics and really long ribbons that hang nicely down the tree. I was accordion pleating them and I think it’s going to be a gorgeous tree. I couldn’t figure out what was wrong with her dishwasher, but she may have dislodged or kinked a hose while forcing the dishwasher door shut when the bracket on the top that holds it to the underside of the counter was bent funny. I hear water gurgling though.

We went out for Chinese and then went to a few stores. I got a few more things for the guys, almost finished! Then we went to Home Goods and I saw a ‘must have’ peacock ornament-silver with Swarovski crystals on it’s body and a real peacock feather! I also bought a carved cookie press decoration modeled on an old one of an angel with laurel around it.

Needless to say, I am exhausted! I just wanted to get my photos up to share and rest and maybe trim my front hedges in the afternoon before the snow hits.

Dec12

Internet shopping

Posted on Wednesday, December 12, 2007 by Dianne

Standard

Today I decided to place orders at only two different places. I logged on about 11:30 and just got off (over 4 hours)! The first one had free shipping and I really looked around the site a while. Bri came home and I minimized my order so he could look online for a half hour or so. I would get up, do things and come back. The second place was Walmart. I had trouble with my order and had to call up. I waited close to 20 minutes and then the man on the other end said I should call back, but after 20 minutes of waiting already, I told him to give my order a try and it went through. I can’t say what I got, but they are two surprises. I am laid up a bit today as mother nature or hormones played a nasty trick on me with something what was suppose arrive a week later than today. Oy! I was glad to sit, but the waiting was ridiculous!

Now I haven’t seen my mom in over 3 weeks. I hope Friday will be a good day to go down. She is having car issues, so can’t come out here.

I am still decorating and making things in spurts. My calendar is laying on the dining room table to try to get finished tonight. I want to display it. I also glitter sprayed the poinsettias for my mom and uncle and they look pretty!
I was roaming around really lovely blogs last night, one of which was Artsy Mama in my blog roll. She was in an open house and showed her own holiday creative touches in her sweet home. I think she is the one with the printer’s shelf that she is putting tiny Christmas things into it’s compartments. I have one and I should do the same thing. What a cute idea. I love my vintage stuff too.

Still need to do a little sewing before I start baking. I hope I won’t be burning the midnight oil too many times next week.

The Oprah show with her favorite things is one right now. I hope everyone has a strong heart they are carrying on so much-lucky them!