Weed Whacking isn't feminine!

For anyone that knows me, I am all girl, yup, an honest to goodness girly girl. I love make-up and old fashioned dresses that were popular in the 50's. I love aprons and bows. I want to open an old fashioned tea room, where you dress up and wear soft feminine clothes and hats!! I love hats!
SCREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEECHHHH! Whoa, hang on there, Bets! Today and the upcoming week is all about trying not to be all girly girly and do actual labor. Ewwww, I know, right? Yuck... I am going to have to weed whack my side and back yard.  I had never whacked weeds before and, I know this is not going to be pretty. Some of the plants are taller than me! No lie, I am 5'2 and these suckers are maybe 5'10 and up!
Okay, I see you, my fellow girlygirls! I see the sheer horror in your eyes! I know you feel my pain sistah friends! Oh, I also see you tom boy girls. I see you rolling your eyes and shaking your heads. But, when my husband was alive, he did all the "outside" jobs, and the taking out of the trash. I did all the inside jobs.
I was one of those really lucky girls while he was here. He spoiled me. I never had to rake or shovel or mow the lawn. So, after he became an angel, I became snow bound. I didn't know how to shovel! My girlfriend Jenifer came to my rescue and we went outside and she really helped me shovel. She has the patience of a saint!! I now know how to shovel. I don't like it. Same thing with raking! I always get blisters and that surely is not feminine!
I am okay with mowing the lawn, because of the Amish mower, I am not trying to pull on a cord to try and start it up. Push and go. Sometimes, it's even nice and cool outside in early morning, so, I don't even break out into a glow.

My daughter bought me a weed whacker. It says it is light and shows a smiling woman on the box. Wow, she is holding it and smiling big Well, surely that is the whacker for me!
After a day of  whacking the weeds, my arms are very sore! I have little cuts on my legs. I know, I should have been wearing pants, but, it was 92 degrees.
Yes 92 degrees, with a humidity level of  umpteen million! So, I went beyond glowing, to down right sweating!! Ewwww, I know, right? disgusting! There most definitely is nothing feminine about sweating!
I have along way to go, but, I did make some progress.

 And who decides what are weeds anyway? If they have pretty flowers,to me that is a flower not a weed! I love dandelions with their bright yellow beauty popping up all over the green grass!  SO pretty and then, they close up and when they open again they have transformed into a big puff of wishes!

 I am not able to name a lot of the plants that we have growing, but as I was starting the whacking of the spot that I want the garden, I came across a really strange plant. Again, taller than me and the leaves on the bottom are all brown and alien~ish. I swear this plant can walk!

  I have the veggies growing in pots right now, but, we have pumpkins and watermelons  that really need to have a spot in the ground and also our corn.
So, I must continue whacking away.
I will leave the alien plant alone. It'll probably walk away anyway!

I just love living out here in the woods of Maine though! We have so many strange and beautiful things that my daughter and I come up on.
Every day, I go outside and thank God for letting me live here. We are in the home that would have been my husbands ideal home. So I can feel him all around me and I continue to talk to him.  I know he is happy that this is my new home. And I think he would be proud of me for learning how to do things for myself.
I know that he is in Heaven looking down on us and when I look around me, I know I have a piece of his Heaven right here with me.

Crinkle Friend by Aurora ~ Giveaway

Aurora is the leading supplier of affordable, high quality gift products. Since its establishment in 1981, they have ascended to become a respected leader in the character & contest industry. Aurora offers products for a range of children and adults who represent nearly every walk of life.





Review done by DonnasDealsAndMore


Oh my goodness, how cute is this little guy? This little crab is great for any little one 6 months and up. He is very soft with bright colors that get your precious little nugget's attention. He keeps your little one stimulated with his crinkles and rattles.Donna's  little adventurer was busy for hours playing with it! He just giggled and cooed as he shook it, squeezed it, and played with it.


One lucky reader will win their very own Crinkle friend from Aurora! All you have to do is fill out the rafflecopter below. Good luck!


*Open to US and Canada


*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Schmoozing With Betsy is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.

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Ahhhhh, pure comfort. Nature's Sleep Slipper Giveaway

Nature's Sleep designs products for comfortable, health, harmonious sleep. Their memory foam products cradle your body in perfect balance, providing gentle support and relief throughout the night. They offer products that use organic and hygienic materials that nourish your well-being. Because of that, you will awaken feeling rejuvenated.





Review done by Donna's Deals and More


I have never been so excited to get a pair of slippers. I love memory foam and when I found out they put it in slippers, well, they had to be comfortable! And, they certainly are. When I slip my feet into my slippers, they just cradle them. I wish that I could wear them out in public. They feel so good on my feet. And Nature's Sleep sells more than just slippers. They have foam toppers, KD foundations, and even pet beds!


Here are some features:


Take a walk in the clouds and slip your feet into these open-toe, terry slippers. The visco-elastic memory foam in the bottom of the sole, contours and cradles your foot for luxurious comfort and support with every step. The warm, soft terry fabric ensures your feet stay cozy all year round.

• S, M, L, XL
• Inner sole 75% cotton/25% polyester; outer sole thermoplastic rubber; lining 100% polyester
• High quality Genuine Nature’s Sleep Next Generation Memory Foam
• Provides pressure relieving comfort all day long
• Naturally conforms to your foot in cool comfort
• Distributes weight to reduce pressure points and improve circulation
• Ideal for indoor use on multiple surfaces
• Attractive style and look

One lucky person will be winning their very own pair of Nature's Sleep Slippers! Just enter the rafflecopter below. Good luck!


*Open to US only


*Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Schmoozing With Betsy is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.
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Happy and SAFE 4th Of July

My daughter Leah, has the day off today! Actually, she is off until Monday!! I always get up with her in the morning; even though she is an adult, I make her breakfast and pack a lunch for her. So, needless to say, the dogs and I still woke up early. I have  mowed the front lawn and walked the dogs and it's only 8:00 AM.
 I would have starting weed whacking the back yard but, it started raining too hard and I was getting soaked. I have an old fashioned lawn mower. No motor, so no noise. My niece Anji calls it an Amish lawn mower. The best thing is that it is quiet and doesn't emit any fumes. So, the scent of freshly cut grass is so much nicer!
 The weather is promising not  to cooperate for outside parties today, unless they are under a tent. But, today is so much more than parties and get togethers. Today is all about Freedom! 
 I decided to do some research on what we call Independence Day. I was really surprised to find out that July 4th has only been a Federal holiday since 1941!  However, the tradition's of the 4th go all the way back to the 18th century and the American Revolution. 
America had only 13 colonies at that time and  representatives from each of those colonies got together in June of 1776. They worked on a resolution to become free from Great Britain. Finally on July 2nd, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence. Two days later, July 4th, The Declaration of Independence, written by Thomas Jefferson, was adopted. So, since 1776, there have always been a celebration. From fireworks, parades, cookouts, and concerts, we still find joy in celebrating our freedom.
A little bit of trivia for you that I remember from my favorite teacher in high school,  John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the 50th anniversary of when the Declaration was adopted. July 4th 1826.
John Adams would turn down any invites for the 4th of July in protest because he believed that the true date to celebrate was on July 2nd.
'Uncle Sam' started as a joke that eventually led to Uncle Sam being the symbol of the United States government. Meat shipments that were being supplied to the military were stamped with the initials, U.S. Someone made the comment that it was from Uncle Sam, and it went on from there.
 No matter how you decide to celebrate today, please put safety first.  Please don't drink and drive. 

Have A Safe AND Happy Fourth

Well, the sun came out after all!! Enjoy your day!!

LOVESAC GIVEAWAY!!!! You NEED this!!

We are so proud to welcome you to the LoveSac CitySac Package Giveaway Event hosted by Mom Powered Media.

Special thank you to LoveSac for sponsoring this fantastic event & co-host Everyday Ramblings of My Life.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXpSAhjwTuc]

Cow Phur CitySac Package

• CitySac & Cow Phur Cover
• Cow Phur SodaSac Drink Holder
• Cow Phur TubeSac Pillow
• Squattoman & Cow Phur Cover
• FREE Kobe the Cow!

About Cow Phur

It is a little known fact that Lovesac Cow Phur is one of the rarest phurs in all of South America. It is found only at the Southern tip of Argentina, just above Tierra Del Fuego, where for three months of the year this special breed of bovine grows an unnatural amount of equally unnatural phur to bolster their backsides against the southern winds coming off the shores of Antarctica. This illicit phur is harvested at night while the cattle sleep, and then smuggled by trained night-vision jet boat operators around the tip of the continent, up the coast, and through the Panama Canal onto the shores of southern Texas.

It is estimated that the requisite intelligence gathering, planning, and equipment surrounding this heretofore obscure Cow Phur trade actually accounts for exactly one-third of all international espionage expenditures worldwide - which is odd because it is much easier to buy an endless supply of knitted, bonded polyester Cow Phur that feels remarkably like actual rabbit fur from automated fabric mills in Asia.

Either way, the hand-feel of this Cow Phur is softer and keeps you cooler than any other LoveSac fabric ever offered. And, with its many levels of color on each tiny strand of phur, it will match nearly any home décor from grey, to brown - neutral to white. Cow Phur is truly a Lovesac original.



The CitySac

The CitySac is called by some of our Sac'rs, the "perfect" Sac. It sits you up high, due to its unique sewn pattern, which is different from any of its larger brothers. It was designed to be as small and space-saving as it possibly could be, while still having that big Sac sitting experience. If space is the issue, but LoveSac comfort is still high on the priority list, the CitySac fits the bill.

Cow Phur Squattoman

The Squattoman just may be LoveSacs coolest, simple invention. Filled with thousands of tiny microbeads (not foam) the Squattoman's non-stretch fabric along its walls restricts the beads from expanding outward when the little guy is sat on, so even though the Squatt feels squishy on top, where its pleated head allows the beads to expand and squish around, when sat on the Squattoman becomes instantly turgid--ready for action. In other words, you can sit on it like a stool and you won't plop to the ground. A great extra seat in any movie room! Or you can just put your feet on it, kick back, and watch the show.

Cow Phur SodaSac Drink Holder

The SodaSac snaps onto the handles on the side of the Sac to hold your beverage of choice--allowing it to swing, just a bit, inside of its internal pouch which acts like a mini gyroscope to help keep your drink upright (but if you jump onto your Sac with a drink in it, it will still spill--but it doesn't really matter because all of these things, including the Sac cover are machine washable.

Cow Phur TubeSac Pillow

The TubeSac snaps on right above the Sac logo flap and works like a neck-roll, supporting your head in the perfect TV watching, gaming, or reading position.

Lifetime Guarantee

LoveSac is the only major furniture company that stands behind their product with a Lifetime Guarantee.

Going modern in a cool way has never been easier. Stop in a LoveSac store today and checkout their alternative furniture options or shop online now.

Even the weather is confused!

It is just one of those days, I am all melancholy today for the most part. There is so much to do around the house and outside, but, I just can't get moving. The sun is shining and then it starts raining,it even rained with the sun shining!
I always feel better when I am baking, but, it is way too hot in the kitchen today, so, I decided to try baking bread in the crock pot. My crock pot is oval in shape and the loaf pan just won't fit in there, so, I am going to make the bread in ramekins then they will be like mini loafs, if it works...I will update tonight and let you know what kind of success I had. I am doing just a simple Amish bread that doesn't require a lot of ingredients. If this is a success,I am going to try a flavored bread like cranberry nut bread. I use my mom's recipe that tastes amazing!
There isn't a day that goes by that I don't think of her, my dad, and my husband. Most days, I can smile at the memories that they have left me, but, not today. I keep praying, but, today, even my praying is a struggle. I mostly just talk to God, I don't have any set prayers really. But, today, I am extra quiet.
Even my dogs must sense my pensive state, since they are pretty lazy today too. Of course, they still follow me from room to room, but they quickly lay down instead of jumping all around excited.
Even 'Pandora' is against me getting out of this funk today! There are way too many sad songs out there. I usually try not to listen to the sad ones because, well because, it takes so much energy to be so sad! It makes me want to sleep all day. In dreams I am whole again and my heart doesn't ache for my husband's arms to wrap around me. I don't wish for his lips to gently touch my ear when he whispered ' As you Wish' ( we were huge fans of the Princess Bride ) I don't yearn for the sound of his voice and the crooked little smile with those giant dimples. Ahhh those giant dimples! I don't miss his playful personality and the way he could always make me laugh. I don't miss my best friend at all.

That is because when I dream, he is with me and I am whole.

Eddie Bauer Baby Collection Giveaway

We proudly welcome you to the Eddie Bauer Baby Collection Giveaway Event hosted by the Iowa-Mom and Bay Area Mommy!

Thank you to our lovely co-hosts Simply Frugal Living and Learning to Limit!

Eddie Bauer Travel System
Travel in comfort and style with the Eddie Bauer Trailmaker Travel System. This stroller and infant car seat combination will help make all your journeys more enjoyable. The stroller features a handy parent tray with cup holder and a larger storage basket with easy, spring-down access for all the bigger gear you need to take along for the ride once out of the car. The 1-hand fold and stand with self-locking feature makes it easy to either stow in your vehicle or store at home. The included infant car seat transitions easily from stroller to car and then back again so that your little one will remain comfy and cozy!

Eddie Bauer Classic High Chair
Crafted to complement your home, the Eddie Bauer Classic High Chair features a dishwasher-safe insert tray that helps make cleanup simple. This is my favorite part, it has a rear storage compartment that's perfect for bibs, baby food jars, and utensils! How perfect is that! So convenient!! You'll love both the classic wood style!

Eddie Bauer Playard
Eddie Bauer offers parents a play yard that will take their little adventurer from nap to play and back again. Featuring a canopy with enchanting plush bears and a comforting Baby Module, nap time is sure to be peaceful, for both mom or dad and your little nugget, no matter what time of day. The Flip Away changer is there when you need it and easy to move out of the way when you don't. When you remove the bassinet, it reveals a roomy play yard that makes it easy to keep your nugget close by, but not underfoot while trying to get things done.