Dying in Style by Elaine Viets

From the back of the book

Ah, the Danessa Celedine handbag.  To have one is to invite envy and flaunt wealth, with each bag costing upward of five thousand dollars.  When a large company considers paying millions for use of the Danessa name, Josie's hired to inspect the designer's stores anonymously.  And each boutique is worse than the one before.  Her less than stellar report provokes threats of a lawsuit...until Danessa is strangled with one of her own thousand-dollar snakeskin belts.  Josie better bag the killer before she winds up in an ugly jailhouse outfit herself...


**This was a fun book to read.  I loved the way that Elaine Veits portrays her character.  Reading about the escapades that Josie had in her job as a "Secret Shopper", had me thinking that I would enjoy being one.  I would highly recommend this book to my friends.

Blooming Plants

What to my surprise did I find out in my sunroom?  Blooms on some of my plants!  I have always had aloe's, but I have never had one that bloomed.

 I remember growing up and visiting my grandparents in Dallas, TX. , grandpa had aloe's growing up in a small greenhouse that he had set up on the side of the garage.  He gave my mother some to take back home and she left them laying on top of a cabinet.  I am sure it was months before she did anything with them and when she did, they took root and began to grow.  I always knew that if I couldn't grow anything, I would be able to grow aloe's.

Then I looked over to the right and there on a very tall stem, was more blooms.  This time on one of the "Chandelier plants", that my Mandy had given to me.  It seems that since moving all my succulents into the sunroom this fall, they have started to flourish.  Now the question I will  be faced with this spring is "Do you lovely plants stay in here or do you want to move out side?"

As I was leaving to get my camera to take the pictures, my eye caught sight of another bloom.  WOW!  three in one day.  I know that my Mandy tells me that I am bragging when I tell her about them, but I do suppose at some degree, she could be right.  She always has some of the most interesting plants.  And you would think that she could at least let me have my moment in the spot light! LOL

I would not be here at this moment in life, if it were not for my Mandy.  So I love teasing her.  She just happens to be my very best friend and I love spending time with her.  Especially, if it has anything to do with plants or books.  My favorite past times.


Now we will wait and she what treasures she finds in her greenhouse tonight.  I am almost positive that she can outshine me!!!!!!

Better Together

Today, I wanted to share a post from www.homesanctuary.com.  I love my time alone, but I also enjoy my family and friends.  So when my sister came down, I had her drive me to the mailbox. Now this is not a really big thing, seeing that it is just down the lane.  But it had been awhile since I had gotten to talk with her or spend any time with her.  It wasn't a long time, but I enjoyed it just the same.

I'm a big believer in Alone Time.  I need it to recharge my energy and find inspiration.  Hey, sometimes I need it just to get myself psyched up to face the onslaught of needs that face me each day.  Now that my kids are all older, I have much more Alone Time than back in the days when sitting on the potty with the door closed was exquisite luxury.  Believe me, constipation was a welcome friend.

Husbands need Alone Time as well.  They are out there slaying dragons in the work world and then expected to be tender caregivers the moment they walk through the door.  Even if they have a cushy job with no interruptions (what would THAT be like????), time to be alone with their thoughts or their tools is important.  It's sometimes hard to respect that when you feel like you're being devoured by little piranha people on the home front, but it's one of those things that you've got to do for each other sometimes.

Still, there's something good about togetherness. There is sweetness in keeping someone company.  I'm not really talking about long, romantic walks in the rain, or even deep talks with a girlfriend over coffee.  I'm talking about when someone invites you to be with them to watch TV or wash the dishes.  To sit nearby while you both read.  To take a ride to the car wash.  It makes you feel special to be invited.  It's the "Company Girl" thing in action.

When someone asks you if you want to walk to the water cooler at work, or when a child requests that you sit and watch him stack blocks, you are being invited into that person's life.  When you think about that, it's pretty cool.  And makes you want to tread carefully.

Today's Small Thing is for you to invite someone along.  It doesn't matter where, or for what or for how long.  Just try "hey, want to share a sliced apple?" or  "can I play with your hair? (always a hit at our house), or "want to read together?"  It can be casual and last for just a minute, but when you invitesomeone to share your time you're communicating Belonging.  You're saying that you enjoy their company and you like being together.  And that just feels good.

Bloggiesta

This morning, starting at 8 am, the 4th year of the Bloggiesta began.  I was excited about this, seeing that I have not had my blog for very long and it really could use some help.  I have read alot of blogs and found that I need to just relax and it will all come together.  I believe one of the greatest enjoyments that has come out of the blogging is freedom. 

By that, I mean the freedom to express myself and  have fun with it.  I have found that just writing my thoughts has helped me to see things a little clearer.  Visiting the different blogs today, has really been uplifting .  I still have until Monday morning at 8 am, to do more research on how to make my blog better.

I would encourage you to check it out.  We can never have enough information on any chosen subject.  It is just neat to read how to improve your blog by people that have already tried other avenues and found the ones that really work.  I so appreciate each of the ladies that are giving their time to help the blog world become better.  Please take the time, even if you just browse.  I am sure that you will not be disappointed.

You will find this workshop at http://www.mawbooks.com/

Women are Writer's

Today, I have a great saying on my desk calendar and wanted to share with you.

THERE ARE MORE SECRET WRITERS AMONG US THAN WE REALIZE.  IT HAS BEEN FOUND THAT THOSE WHO REALLY WANT TO WRITE ARE WRITERS.  LISTS ARE WRITING.  NOTES ARE WRITING. JOURNALS ARE WRITING. WOMEN ARE WRITERS.


**When we speak our truth in our writing, even if it's only for our own eyes, we are cleaned and healed.


I do believe that one day My Mandy will start writing.  She's always had a way with words.  Growing up, she was learning new words that she would get out a dictionary and then learn how to use it in a conversation.  And spelling, she awesome.  Then My Gabrielle, has always used big words in describing.  My friend would always get upset  when she was asked what was her birthstone and she would not say green, but EMERALD.  She is always amazing her teachers with her words.  


For myself, I love reading and writing reviews for books.

A Fobidden Drink

Ever since I was small I have never cared for the taste of coffee.  My Daddy always drank his black and strong.  My Mother never would touch the stuff.  That is, until she went through her divorce.  I lived in Alabama and did not get to visit with her often.  Perhaps twice a year if things were good with our business.

One winter, I went to see her and what do you know.  She was drinking coffee.  Now it wasn't like my Daddy's.  It came out of a small oblong tin and she didn't place it a pot to boil.  She would heat her water in the microwave and poof she had coffee.

Well, now I love to go to Starbucks and get their Vanilla Bean Latte.***correction - My Mandy just told me that what I get is not a Latte, but a Vanilla Bean Frappe'.  I stand corrected!!!!  At the time, I thought there was no coffee in the drink.  So when I was at Walmart the other day, I got to thinking.  And that thinking led me to the coffee isle.  Maxwell House International Cafe has a great little tin of Vanilla Bean Latte.  So into the basket it went.  When I got home, I realized that I had given my gallon of milk to my sister.  Did I want to try it with water or just wait.  I chose to wait until I took the girls to church and stopped at Walmart for milk.

What an awesome warm drink, but only use milk.

And to think that I always thought that coffee would be such an awful drink.  All I can say at this point is ahhhhh!  What I have been missing.  Not only do I love it, but my girls do.  So tonight, I bought not one, but two tins of the stuff.  Now I realize that this is probably not what you coffee drinkers drink, but it will do for me.  I can just imagine what my son-in-law will say.  Now don't think that I will follow in my Daddy's steps.  This is as far as I go in the coffee isle.