Friday, October 23, 2009

Bows Bows and more Bows!

Guess who's finally getting some hair???????? That's right miss pretty's hair is coming in more and more each day, and.................................she needs some bows!!!!! Not just any bows though.....big huge bows!
Oh and of course these bows must come from an ETSY shop! So here are a few that I found. I think they just scream Preslee!
Now I just have to choose........................

















Who's ready for a giveaway?



Soooooo many of you have been emailing me asking for the daily giveaways to come back! Yes, I am working on it! I promise! Right now I am in the process of collecting pictures and item descriptions from the ETSY shops.
There aren't as many sellers interested in participating this time around. With Christmas coming up they are trying to make as much money as possible, not give things away. I totally understand! Our economy isn't great! So I just want to thank all the sellers who in advance who are participating.
Here are the rules (they are going to be the same for each giveaway):

1. One entry will be given for each comment you leave.

2. One entry will be given if you are a follower.

3. One entry will be given per friend referral.

4. If that friend becomes a follower then you will be given another entry and so will they.

5. The first person to leave a comment on the post will be give 5 extra entries!


Not too hard right? Also these items never touch my hands. They are shipped directly from the ETSY shop to you. Please remember winners that once I announce your name on the blog it is up to you to contact the seller.
Good luck everyone!!!!!

Purple Cows on Pins and Needles



I just wanted to share a picture of the best looking girls working at First Volunteer Bank! Ha Ha! This picture was taken last night at our "town meeting" and I think Kristy and I look pretty good.


Town meetings are held every three months at one central location. We have over 20 branches so the meetings are spread out over a week, and I really feel sorry for the board members who have to travel to each one. One town meeting is more than enough for me. Anyway we are on this "purple cow" theme right now so everyone had to wear purple last night.


Confused about the purple cow theory? It's really simple. Imagine you are driving down a country road. You pass farm after farm with fields full of cows. Then you pass a farm with a purple cow! Now I am sure that would catch your eye right? Well First Volunteer Bank is looking for purple cows so to speak. We are looking for new and interesting ways to be the best bank around!


Any ideas on how we can do that? Anything you would like to see at your bank the next time you walk in the lobby? Sounds like a good reason to have another giveaway! Leave me your ideas in a comment and if I choose your idea you win!
I love polka dots and ETSY and I have a new favorite shop........
Pink Pins and Needles has the cutest things!
So here's the deal..............send me your purple cow idea and I will randomly draw a winner for a custom key fob in Pink Pins and Needles shop. So go look around and let me know which one you would like if you win. I will draw the winner next Friday (30th)








Tell me what you think?

Tennis is a big deal in my family. Daddy and some of his cousins grew up passing the time on the court. Most of my cousins played in high school and college and my sister too. Me not so much. Ha Ha! I am not much of a sporty girl........more of an indoor, anti-sweat kinda girl. Anyway even though I don't hit the courts on a regular basis like the rest of my family, I still follow the tennis world. Tonight I read this story and while I have mixed emotions about it, I want to know what the rest of you think.



Proving that no good deed goes unpunished, a tale of great sportsmanship has instead turned into an investigation of gambling, match-fixing and tennis integrity.
Caroline Wozniacki, a 19-year-old Dane ranked sixth in the world, retired from the first-round match at the Luxembourg Open with a hamstring injury on Wednesday while leading Anne Kremer of Luxembourg 7-5, 5-0.
Wozniacki's father, Piotr, told his daughter at 3-0 in the second set to retire before winning because her injury would prevent her from playing in the next round. His comments, apparently spoken in his native Polish, were picked up by microphones and heard by viewers watching the match on the Internet ...
... The father's comments during the match led to a surge in online bets for Kremer to win.
Wozniacki did a tremendous thing for Kremer by allowing her to advance to the second round in front of her hometown fans. As she explained:
I could possibly have finished the match, but felt there was no way I could get ready for the second round on Thursday, so I chose the sporting way and let her go through. She's also [playing] at home.
For her selfless actions, Wozniacki has earned an investigation from the Tennis Integrity Unit. Because there were a number of bets made after her father's comments were picked up by the microphones, the WTA became concerned that there was something nefarious about Wozniacki's retirement.
The British gambling exchange site Betfair, which allows clients to make mid-match wagers, says it did not have any concerns about the match.
First of all, if Wozniacki was going to fix the match, there are dozens of more effective and less obvious ways to do it rather than retiring up 5-0 in the second set. That'd be like if Tim Donaghy tripped opposing players in the NBA games he bet on.
This also seems like the WTA's way of covering itself for having live microphones in coaching huddles. From the way this story was reported, the bets in question didn't go through until after Piotr Wozniacki's comments were aired live on the Internet. Why not just cut those mics?
In all likelihood, Caroline Wozniacki will be cleared of any wrongdoing, but it's still disappointing that she's set to be investigated for integrity after a gesture which showed how much of it she really has.
So tell me what you think!

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

No reality for this fantasy

I just wanted to let any vendor who may be following my blog for updates on the Fantasy of Trees know that.............we have canceled the event. In the beginning I had so many people agree to help me with setup and cleanup and all the things in between, but...............things happen and people get busy. This is the busiest time of the year! Everyone has so much going on and its hard to work everything in.
Yes, I could do it alone, but Relay for Life is so important to me. I just don't want to half do this event. I would much rather start the planning process earlier next year and be better prepared.
Thanks to all the vendors who signed up! I hope we can work together in the near future!

Friday, October 16, 2009

What a small world!

It’s late and I am tired, but I wanted to share a quick story with all my blog friends! Over the last couple of weeks I have been planning a Fantasy of Trees type of event to benefit Relay for Life. In my search for vendors I went to ETSY. Now ya’ll know I heart ETSY and even though I have had some not so pleasant experiences…….I still shop ETSY faithfully!

Anyway I was contacting all sellers from the Knoxville and Oak Ridge area and have had an awesome response. I can’t believe how many vendors are coming just from ETSY! Ok back to the point…………………………………….

One vendor emailed me back to say that she was actually originally from my area and would love to be a vendor at the event. We talked back and forth through about 20 emails and finally she said Ummmmmm is your mama named C***** and your sister named C*****……

I said ummmmmm yea………….

She said then is your daddy named S****?

Again I said yes……… by this time I was racking my brain trying to figure out who this was.

She said well my daddy was your daddy’s brother, but he died a long time ago………….


Can you imagine how shocked I was to find my long lost cousin after years and years of no contact? And to find her on ETSY of all places! It really is a small world after all.

I am super excited to see her, and I know my daddy will be too.

Before I forget here is her website www.sprinklebakes.com check out her amazing creations!
Tiff

Monday, October 5, 2009

Still here

Long time no blog. I feel like I have started way too many posts like that over the past six months. In all honesty I have been busy, but mainly lazy. Having dial up makes it hard to upload pictures and I hate posts without pictures!
Anyway lots and lots has been going on in my world since we last chatted.....
I am in the process of planning Campbell County's 1st ever Fantasy of Trees!!!! East Tennessee Children's Hospital has one every year as a benefit for them, so I thought it would be a great way to raise money for Relay for Life. With our economy not doing so great these days I am constantly looking for new and interesting ways to raise money. Bake sales, car washes, raffles and drawings are old and tired. Don't get me wrong they still raise money, but I am looking for something new and different.
For the past two years I have thrown a Prom and Bridal fashion show and expo. The first year it snowed, so the turn out was terrible! Last year was better and the crowd was bigger, but still not what I had hoped.
Hopefully this event will go better!
So far I have over 30 vendors signed up and two different groups performing. Planning is stressing me out a bit, and November 7th is approaching quickly!!!! I am looking for ideas.......yes that means you blog followers!
Think outside the box........
Not sure how many locals read my blog, but I am also looking for entertainment. If you have a group that would like to perform let me know. I am looking for cheer leading teams, dance groups, church choirs......etc........
Kristy and Kel's birthday's are also right around the corner! I can't believe they are going to be 25! Kel isn't in the least bit bothered by it, but poor Kristy is having a hard time. Since we started planning for their birthday celebration she has said about a million times "I am a quarter of a century old"!!!!!! Ha Ha! I love her even though she keeps reminding me that I am only a year and a half behind her. So what do you do for two girls about to be quarters of a century old???????? Yeah I don't know either! Planning is still underway for this event!
Kristy and I are quite the event planners these days. On top of everything else that we have going we are also planning a 3 on 3 basketball tournament to benefit one of our friend's aunts. This is Terrie's 2nd battle with cancer. Right now she and her husband are in Texas while she is undergoing treatment. Texas is a long way from Tennessee. Terrie and Brett have 3 teenage children who are still here at home. Kristy and I are trying to help raise money for their rent in Texas. Too bad no one has signed up to play! If no one signs up by this Friday we are going to have to cancel. So again to all you locals......if you want to play let me know. The 3 on 3 is going to be at the LaFollette Rec Center on Oct. 17th.
On to some good news............Cassie and Josh are homeowners!!! I am so proud of my little sister! Who knew that she would get married and buy a house before me? Well she did and she has and I am excited for her! They haven't moved in yet, so keep them in your prayers. Things can happen and deals can fall through so help me pray that all goes well and they can move in soon!!!!! She wants to be moved in and settled by Thanksgiving so we can eat at her house this year. So hopefully that can happen.
Now on to some not so good news........B and I are no more. Yes I know you are shocked. To be honest with you so am I. Please don't ask me what happened because I honestly don't know. So that leads me to my next prayer request..........help me pray that Mr. Right is right around the corner. Pray that he got tired and had to rest, but he is still on his way. That kinda makes him sound lazy huh? lol Anyway I know God has a plan for me and I just need to be patient, but that is soooo much easier said than done.
Ok lets talk about someone other than me. If for no other reason than I am asking, please go to this blog http://bandssullivan.blogspot.com/ and read! The Sullivans have been married for 5 years. I'm not 100% sure of details but she had breast cancer during her pregnancy. She ended up having to have an emergency c-section and soon after they got home started seizing. They have a brand new baby Chloe. I just keep thinking about this young guy that will not only have to grieve the love of his life but will be left with a brand new baby. Can you imagine how this poor guy must be feeling? I am sure any nice comment you have for him would help brighten his day. Stories like this make me feel selfish for being upset over boys! Isn't it amazing how terrible we can think our own lives are, only to hear about something like this?