Do You Enjoy New Handbags as Much as I Do?

I’m a handbag-aholic. (is that a word?) Regardless of where I shop I always seem to end up finding myself strolling through the handbag section and usually end up buying one, two, three, and sometimes more bags. They may not always be for me, I am known to share, but I rarely ever walk about without picking up at least one new bag. That said … you can only imagine the excitement I felt when I found out about a new website being launched in October and the most awesomely fantastic giveaway a handbag loving woman could ask for. Handbagplanet will be launcing their new site on October 15 and to celebrate this event they will be giving away one handbag an hour for 24 hours. The awesome thing … signup is simple and easy … and you get to select the bag you would like to win. If you love handbags as much as I do head on over and signup for this giveaway.

Found a Link through a Link from a Link

Are you totally confused?  Don’t be … here … let me explain

One of my all time favorite blog writers is Heather over at ohmystinkinheck.  Today her ‘brain bits’ led me to yet another blog that I know I’m going to enjoy reading so I quickly added it to my Google Reader.  This blog would be ALLSORTS and I’m all kinds of excited about finding out what Jenny’s yoyo’s are all about.  Anyway back to where I was going with this … While skimming over ALLSORTS I came across yet another link for Grosgrain and immediately fell in love with Kathleen’s talent, not to mention the awesome Sarsaparilla Skirt & Vest Giveaway she is having. I can so see this beautiful skirt and vest on the perfect little girl that I have in mind.

Now … do you understand where I was going with the title of this post?  From Heather’s blog I found Jenny who led me to Kathleen and I’m so excited to now have two new blogs to add to my daily reading list.  Not to mention that you too can enjoy these blogs by following the links above AND you too can have a chance to win that beautiful skirt and vest set. Visit Kathleen’s blogpost to find out how!

Binkys Galore – GusGus took them away!

Binkys Galore!, originally uploaded by NC_Belle36.

Lil Man has/had a mad passion for his Binky. They were like an extra tooth. You rarely ever saw him without one in his mouth and when you did get that rare view he was wandering aimlessly saying “Binky Binky” and this would continue until he found one to occupy his pallet.

Last Saturday morning I grew ‘tired’ of never being able to see his precious little mouth and always trying to decipher what he was saying while trying to hold his Binky tightly in his mouth. I decided it was time for the Binky to go bye-bye. It couldn’t have happened at a more convenient time. Let me explain …

Shortly after we moved into our new home a cat showed up. Lil Man quickly named the cat GusGus and fell madly in love with this stranger who had taken up residence on our back deck. GusGus hung around for about 3 days and then as quickly as he showed up … he left. Well … on Saturday when I decided it was time to rid Lil Man’s mouth of his beloved Binky I began gathering up every one I could find and hid them away in a special wooden box on my dresser. When the incessant begging for his Binky started I felt so sorry for him. I wanted to run grab the box and deliver them all back to his safety but I also knew that doing so would impede the process of riding his mouth of this extra appendage and would also continue to impede his language skills. I kept telling him his Binky had gone bye-bye but he just didn’t understand. Out of left field, and while he was begging Heather for a Binky she got the wise idea of telling him that GusGus took his Binky and left. Without a hitch Lil Man stopped crying, stopped begging, and hasn’t looked back. I believe he has maybe asked two or three times for his Binky and with a quick reply of ‘GusGus has it’ he quickly goes on with whatever he was doing and doesn’t mention anymore about it.

While I do hate that GusGus went away to wherever it was he went I am glad he did it at such an opportune time. GusGus left, Lil Man’s Binky left with GusGus and it’s amazing how much more Lil Man is vocalizing his thoughts and expressions now that his mouth isn’t being constantly occupied by a Binky.

By the way … the yellow one in the top corner … was his favorite, the three little white ones … he was sent home from the hospital with those, the big green one … that one was his ‘Bling-Bling Binky … it has rhinestones on the top!

Bearing of Fruit

Bearing of Fruit, originally uploaded by NC_Belle36.

The work of growing upside down tomatoes has paid off. I ended up with a total of 6 beautiful ripe tomatoes and they tasted absolutely divine. You can see the entire photo set here.

Our New Home

Kitchen & Laundry Room, originally uploaded by NC_Belle36.

I’ve promised pictures so I think it’s time I deliver. You can find pictures (before and after) of our work in progress here … for the most part we are moved in and settled. There is some finish work to still be done but it’s not something that is impeding our ability to call our new place HOME.