New Years Eve 2012

Can you believe it?
The time is drawing near.

The Champagne is ready

The count down has started






Happy New Year!

Happy New Year 

From me

to You

May it be the best year yet

What's YOUR New Years Resolution?

Personally I HATE New Year's Resolutions.  I never seem to be able to come up with one that is "doable" or that "sticks around" longer than a few days or if I'm really really lucky a week.

I remember one year it didn't last more than a few hours!  Yes a few hours.  My girl friend and I had come up with something and no lie, she called me a few hours into our "awake" time and we totally blew that years resolution in one phone call!  We were both hysterical that we couldn't' even keep our resolution for a few hours, let alone a whole year!

This year I've decided that I will get organized.  Yes ORGANIZED.  And I am starting with my kitchen.  With these beauties I know I can do it this year ....

 

I'm going to be using the Modular Mate Mega Set (on sale 50% off)

to get my kitchen cabinets organized and stop getting stuff I don't need and forgetting stuff I do need.  Personally I like the black seals, but they do have the blue and "reddish" color shown below.

I don't know how long black seals will be in stock, so if you are interested - check it out soon.

I just got my spices organized in this beauty with the new black seals.  

Really is great.  

AND both of these mega sets are on sale!

If either are too big for you, you can do smaller sets to get yourself "started".

Check them both, and others, out on my site where you can purchase them every day or email me and we can get things going for you.

You can have a party, and qualify for hostess gifts/credits, just by having a "book party" with me.  

If you are interested, talk to me - we can always try to work out something that will work for you.

You can always access the latest catalog or "sale" books from my site as well (top right side bar)

In this house

I'm almost positive you have seen this before.
I know I have, but it is just too good not to share.

This is going to be part of my new year.
I am going to be putting this very close to, if not at, my back door.
I want to be reminded of this every time I walk through the door.

Happy New Year!

What are you going to do to make 2013 the best year ever?

Moments not Milestones

I know I am guilty of this from time to time.
I forget that it is the moments in our lifes that are the most important.
For it is the moments that we remember long after the milestones have been accomplished.

Safe Choices?

Some days I know it is very easy to just take those easy choices.  You feel you don't have to worry about what will happen next.  You don't have to worry about what may happen or who might be upset or disappointed with your choices.

I'm challenging you to NOT take the easy choice. 
Do NOT take that safe choice.
 Let us all get ready to start the new year accepting this challenge. 

Let it make all the difference.

Change?

I am thinking about what the new year will hold, with so many changes already having happened this past year.

I am hoping that this coming year will be a good one for everyone.
That we will all decide that we need to move forward and that it will be a better place.

Change is good, right?

Never EVER Give Up

I know I have said this before.  And I know I will say it again.  You may even begin to think I am a broken record .......

But I'm not. 

Sometimes you just have to keep reminding people until it hits them like a ton of bricks or the light goes on.  Has it happened yet?

The day After

That's the way I am looking at today.  It is the day after.  While I recoup from all the fun and family here are a few Maxine funnies about Christmas that I didn't get to post earlier.

Enjoy

Cookies............

Wise men?
























And then we have Washington and the Wise Men

I know this one is almost 4 years old but I think it is still VERY appropriate.

I hope you enjoy these as much as I did. 

Merry Christmas 2012

I just had to stop and wish all of my readers who celebrate it -  a very Merry Christmas.

I hope you all find something very special under your tree!

I also hope that you are able to be with friends and family on this special day.

Santa Tracking 2012

Are you getting excited about Santa coming to your house?
Did you ask Santa for something special that you are hoping will be under your tree?

How about your kids?  Are they getting super excited? 

Did you remember that you can track Santa's flight all over the world?

I know when my kids were small, we didn't have this wonderful way to "see" where Santa was.  My kids just had to wait oh so patiently (ok oh so NOT patiently) until we reminded them that Santa couldn't come until they were asleep.





Santa has been getting in his last little bit of rest before his annual trip,



Wake up Santa!  Wake up.
Today is the day that he starts his trip to bring toys and gifts to all the good little boys and girls. 
You have been good right?  I know I have been ..... but then I always am.


Now you can share the Official Santa Tracker with your kids. 
They can watch as Santa is spotted all over the world. 

I did this last year, yes I was just like a little kid waiting and watching for Santa, and I think I am going to be doing it again this year. 

I mean who wouldn't like to have a little Santa Magic this year??

Leave me a comment below, telling me where Santa is in his journey this year when you get to check.  I don't want to miss anything on his journey - I love this time.  Perfect "kid" time.

Dreams DO come true

So shall we work on making one of those dreams a reality?  I know I am. 

How about you?

Do you have something "special" that you dream about but thought it was unattainable?  Now you see its really possible.

Happy Birthday Dan

Today is a special day.

You see, the Mayan's were wrong, the world did not end yesterday.
But 27 years ago today, a very special young man was born.

He doesn't think he is special. 
If anything, he thinks he is "nothing special". 

But he is so very wrong. 
He is very special, but I might be just a little bit biased, he is my son after all.

Happy Birthday Dan!







I am disappointed that we won't be able to celebrate with him this year.  We probably won't even be able to talk to him, unless we can get a quick call in to just say Happy Birthday. 

You see he is working today.


So if anyone is in the Virginia Beach Area and you happen to run into this fire fighter...........







Wish him

Oh and wish him Happy Birthday from me too!

We will see you soon, to celebrate your birthday and Christmas and New Year's .... we have a lot of celebrating to do! 

We may even have to bake you a cake, in your new kitchen!

it is Merry CHRISTMAS

Thank you.

I can not tell you how much it annoys me to see Happy X-mas. 

Or how much it urks me to hear that my daughter, who works in a grocery store on the weekends, has to say Happy Holidays - not Merry Christmas unless someone says Merry Christmas FIRST ....... even if she KNOWS FOR A FACT that they celebrate CHRISTMAS.

We seem to be so concerned with offending others, that we seem to be OK with "offending" ourselves ..... well I'm NOT ok with it. 

It's time to take back our right to CELEBRATE our Faith and stop looking over our shoulders worrying about who will be offended because we believe in God and want to keep CHRIST in Christmas. 

If you believe in something else - CELEBRATE that but do not take away my right and priviledge to celebrate my belief, and I will not try to take away yours.

I hope you come back often, so that I can wish you

a very Merry Christmas

and a Happy New Year

Words to Live By

A very wise woman this Ms Regina.

Oh I don't mean in an intellectual way, although she could have an IQ of 200 or more for all I know.

No this is something that we should all be taught early on.
No not in school, although it should be reinforced there.  But by the way our family lives it.

Way to go Ms Regina Brett.  

In my opinion....

You are a very very wise 90 year old!

I sure hope that I am at least half as wise when I am 90.

Everything will work out

Sometimes it is the most simple things that are the hardest to do.

 

Just breathe and have faith ....

Yes indeed sometimes the simplest solutions are the most difficult to do

Father of a Columbine Student - 12 years later.

I'm having trouble believing it has been 12 years since Columbine happened.
I know for those that were there, those that lived through that nightmare first hand, it still feels like yesterday.   With the events of last Friday and the finger pointing and "stories" and blame game already starting, perhaps his comments were so appropriate that we need to make sure that EVERYONE will hear them.  I just happened to stumble upon them.

I believe that Darrell Scott nailed this one PERFECTLY. I wonder how many who heard him will realize that he was talking to THEM and NOT the "other guy".

COLUMBINE STUDENT'S FATHER 12 YEARS LATER !!

Guess our national leaders didn't expect this. On Thursday, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, a victim of ...the Columbine High School shootings in Littleton, Colorado, was invited to address the House Judiciary Committee's subcommittee. What he said to our national leaders during this special session of Congress was painfully truthful.

They were not prepared for what he was to say, nor was it received well. It needs to be heard by every parent, every teacher, every politician, every sociologist, every psychologist, and every so-called expert! These courageous words spoken by Darrell Scott are powerful, penetrating, and deeply personal. There is no doubt that God sent this man as a voice crying in the wilderness.. The following is a portion of the transcript:
"Since the dawn of creation there has been both good & evil in the hearts of men and women. We all contain the seeds of kindness or the seeds of violence. The death of my wonderful daughter, Rachel Joy Scott, and the deaths of that heroic teacher, and the other eleven children who died must not be in vain. Their blood cries out for answers.

"The first recorded act of violence was when Cain slew his brother Abel out in the field. The villain was not the club he used.. Neither was it the NCA, the National Club Association. The true killer was Cain, and the reason for the murder could only be found in Cain's heart.

"In the days that followed the Columbine tragedy, I was amazed at how quickly fingers began to be pointed at groups such as the NRA. I am not a member of the NRA. I am not a hunter. I do not even own a gun. I am not here to represent or defend the NRA - because I don't believe that they are responsible for my daughter's death.

Therefore I do not believe that they need to be defended. If I believed they had anything to do with Rachel's murder I would be their strongest opponent.

I am here today to declare that Columbine was not just a tragedy -- it was a spiritual event that should be forcing us to look at where the real blame lies! Much of the blame lies here in this room. Much of the blame lies behind the pointing fingers of the accusers themselves. I wrote a poem just four nights ago that expresses my feelings best.

Your laws ignore our deepest needs,
Your words are empty air.
You've stripped away our heritage,
You've outlawed simple prayer.
Now gunshots fill our classrooms,
And precious children die.
You seek for answers everywhere,
And ask the question "Why?"
You regulate restrictive laws,
Through legislative creed.
And yet you fail to understand,
That God is what we need!

"Men and women are three-part beings. We all consist of body, mind, and spirit. When we refuse to acknowledge a third part of our make-up, we create a void that allows evil, prejudice, and hatred to rush in and wreak havoc. Spiritual presences were present within our educational systems for most of our nation's history. Many of our major colleges began as theological seminaries. This is a historical fact. What has happened to us as a nation? We have refused to honor God, and in so doing, we open the doors to hatred and violence. And when something as terrible as Columbine's tragedy occurs -- politicians immediately look for a scapegoat such as the NRA. They immediately seek to pass more restrictive laws that contribute to erode away our personal and private liberties. We do not need more restrictive laws. Eric and Dylan would not have been stopped by metal detectors. No amount of gun laws can stop someone who spends months planning this type of massacre. The real villain lies within our own hearts.

"As my son Craig lay under that table in the school library and saw his two friends murdered before his very eyes, he did not hesitate to pray in school. I defy any law or politician to deny him that right! I challenge every young person in America , and around the world, to realize that on April 20, 1999, at Columbine High School prayer was brought back to our schools. Do not let the many prayers offered by those students be in vain. Dare to move into the new millennium with a sacred disregard for legislation that violates your God-given right to communicate with Him. To those of you who would point your finger at the NRA -- I give to you a sincere challenge.. Dare to examine your own heart before casting the first stone!

My daughter's death will not be in vain! The young people of this country will not allow that to happen!"

- Darrell Scott

 Do what the media did not - - let the nation hear this man's speech.

Please send this out to everyone you can. 

 

I am sharing, hopefully you will too. The light of a candle does not go out, once it is shared with others.

Maxine and the Christmas Tree

I just love Max.  I must be related somehow, someway.....

pics on Sodahead

I saw this on SodaHead's site and just had to share it.

I just get so tired of hearing that we have to "change" everything so we don't insult or offend others .... well hello what about me? 

I WANT it to say CHRISTMAS and it WILL say CHRISTMAS.

 

You want to celebrate Kwaansa, Channuka, or nothing at all -

that's FINE BY ME

 

BUT I WILL celebrate CHRISTMAS

 

so don't be offended or insulted and I won't be when you celebrate your holidays.

Do ANYTHING

Here is another one of those that will make it to my wall.

Tupperware Sales through 12/28/12 PLUS bonus

There are some really great deals on Tupperware Modular Mates through 12/28/12 

so that you could be starting the New Year with

ORGANIZED cabinets and/or pantries.

I have of course purchased a few of these so that I can also start the year on the right foot - I'm tired of either throwing out stuff that went bad OR buying more and more of the same things because I can't find it or forgot I had it in the cabinet.

I have this set of spice canisters in the new black seals.  I have to say they are PERFECT.  I know I know I had to get these when I saw they were available in the black - no more missing spices or spice blends for me,  They will fit quite nicely on their carousel in the corner of my counter - out of the way but not out of sight!

 

As you can see, both the modular mates and the spice rack is available in 3 different colors. 
However I don't know how long it will be available in the black.  This is the first time I have seen them in black EVER and I haven't been able to determine if it is the "new" color for Tupperware products or if it is just for a month.

I also saw the JUST for December color of the seals on our white one touch canisters with the see through window so you know when to refill or repurchase ....

Yes a very pretty silver color that would go with just about anything you could mix it with!  I really want these!  Pair these with the black seals on the Modular Mates .... now these would POP! 


Now all of these can be purchased through my site at Tupperware, or you can message me here or email me and we can help you place your order.

But because I am having such a great time selling and sharing my Tupperware experience with everyone, I am going to include any sales through my site of $50 (multiple entries possible) into my Holiday TupperBingo. 

Every time my Bingo board is filled I will draw a winner for a 

4 piece FridgeSmart System, an $84 value!

I have this very same system (shown above with the round watermelon container - not included) and it really does keep your fruit and vegetables fresh longer than anything else I've ever tried.  I have kept those triple washed salad mixes (bought at Costco) in the large container .... and at the end of the week the salad is still edible ...... would not have been if you kept it in their bag (I know I've tried).

What you SEE

You know I love to share some of the things I find on my cousin's page - not only is he a wonderful photographer (yes I have really talented people in my family) he always seems to find great things to make the day perfect!

So What do YOU see?

Dinner Choices

I saw this one and had to laugh - this SOOOO reminds me of when I was little.

We NEVER told my father that we didn't want something that was "offered" for dinner.
If we did - we got an "extra" spoonful because we were so happy to see it on the table.  Very soon we got to realize that taking 1 spoonful (even if it was bigger than we wanted) was better than 2!

So now my kids know 

1) why they had to try EVERYTHING I made for meals 

and

2) Where my dinner "options" came from.

I know I was a horrible mother .........

Happy Birthday Sis

Yes I have another birthday to "report" and Celebrate!  This time it is my baby sister's birthday.

She is so awesome, if I do say so myself.
She is a mother, doing it alone (two great kids)
She is a teacher (special ed at that)






She is a runner














She is creative
She is fun to be with
She is ...... My Sister









And of course a beautiful person inside and out!

Happy Birthday Shar.  I sure hope it is a wonderful birthday and just the start of a fabulous New Year - You KNOW I mean that - you DESERVE it!

Don't waste your life

This should be printed out

and put on EVER refrigerator or Bathroom Mirror

so you see it

EACH

AND

EVERY

DAY

One - it is extremely pretty to look at
Two - it is VERY true. 
Why should you try to live someone else's life?  It's theirs not your.
Live YOUR life.  Make it the BEST life that you can!

So are you ready?  Or are you already doing this?  I know I'm trying to, I hope you are too!

Which Bridge?

I have loved this saying for ......... well forever.  I had it as my signature for a very long time, that is until I thought I was going to be a "for profit blogger" - which isn't really working well yet, so I may just go back to it since it is part of me.

What do you think?  Have you figured out which bridge?

I know I'm still figuring that one out.
Hopefully I haven't burned too many of the "wrong" ones yet.

Forever Friends

I love this one.

Do you have forever friends? 
The ones that are explained here are wonderful friends to have for a LIFETIME.

Just Breathe

Here is another one of those that I found on my cousin's wall.  I swear my family just seems to find all the "good" things to post

Organizing Chores

I just loved this one.





I wonder how many are in each catagory? 
How about you?  Which catagory is the biggest for you?

Maxine and the Christmas Count Down

Build your friendships

Sometimes you just never know

But it seems that sometimes you need to be a little less "adult" and a little more "care free" to have some solid friendships to keep you going!

I think I need to build a few more friendships ........

  .............. meet me at the bar?

Best of My Life

Sometimes we get so caught up in worry about what happened yesterday, last week, last month, last year that we forget that there is usually very little if anything that we can do to change those things. 

Those errors/mistakes we have made are done. 

We have to learn from them and make the rest of our lives the best of our lives

 ....... so of course I had to remind you.

 

 

 

Ok time to get moving on putting this philosophy

INTO my daily life.

 

YOU should be TOO!

Tupperware Cookware Sale

This is an AWESOME sale.

This cookware is on par with the "professional" cookware that you could only HOPE to inherit someday.  I know I've always wanted this kind of cookware.  Now you (nor I) don't need to "hope", you can purchase it today.  And I'm telling you it is SOOO worth every penny.  I have 1 piece now and will be checking out more pieces with this sale.

 

And you could also get your choice of a "surprise" pack for just $45 more.

Talk to me.  Email me / check out my Tupperware website.  
Don't miss out on this great offer.