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Confession time. I’m not as good at recycling as I would like to be. I’m an unorganized person to begin with when it come to physical space. So the idea of separating my trash into multiple bins sends my ADHD brain into overdrive. (I can barely keep track of when it’s trash day in time to get the can to the curb.)
But I do have some recycling things I’ve managed to do over the years… some standard, some maybe quirky, and some thrifty. I re-use all grocery bags – either when I return to the store or use them to line trash cans. All clothes, furniture, household items that we’ve outgrown go to Good Will or church mission store. I do know where to drop off broken down cardboard boxes and fill up the mini-van for the kids to make a drop off. We had a compost heap for a while – which the kids loved!
And then there are, of course, my recycled gift bags… yep, I admit it. I’m one of those people who fishes bows back out of the trash and snatches up the gift bag once the present is opened and even flatten tissue paper back out. I’ve gotten quite inventive of the years at figuring out ways to put a stick name tag over any writing that may have been on the bag when it was given to me and my family. In fact, the very reason I thought of this? Today’s my son’s 21st birthday! (Happy birthday, sweetie!!) And as we were checking out the old Christmas paper I used to wrap his bag, the kids reminded me of how Susan, Katherine (dear friends) and I had a gift bag we passed around so often between our families, we started signing and dating inside the bag! We lost the bag after about ten uses (it was pretty tattered.) But I’ve been thinking it’s time to boldly, proudly start announcing my recycling by autographing the bags again!
So what about y’all? Any creative ideas for wrapping a gift? Do you recycle gift bags? Go for new only? Or do you present the gift “in the raw”?!  |
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Don’t underestimate the power of the quiet ones!
Our old beagle Trooper was a quiet fella who didn’t pay any attention to our most social dog Sadie. So when Trooper died, we underestimated the impact it would have on Sadie. After we lost Trooper, Sadie quit eating and searched for him in the house compulsively. It was so sad – just about broke our already aching hearts. We thought though that she would get past it – the vet said to give her a couple of weeks.
Well, two months later, she was still losing weight and had started digging out of the fence. It seemed she was looking for him. We knew that eventually we would add another dog to our family, but we hadn’t expected it to be so soon after loosing Trooper. We were still grieving too. But Sadie had taken the decision away from us.
I called my pals up at the Humane Society and we discussed what kind of dog might be a good personality fit with Sadie (I knew I wanted to adopt an adult dog since I see how many of them go unadopted. I love the puppies, obviously since I foster them, but I seem them placed far more quickly.) My husband agreed this was the path to go… He doesn’t like to go to the shelter because it depresses him, so he told me to feel free to pick what I thought was best. His only requst? A dog that likes the water.
Sadie and I went to the Humane Society for her to make a new friend. The second we walked into the Humane Society and she saw other dogs, she perked right up! Puppies, big dogs, small dogs, she was SO happy. But it was obvious who she liked best. She’d made fast friends with a mellow, 2 year old Chesapeake Bay Retriever/Lab mix. My youngest daughter fell in love with the dog too and promptly named him Sam. (Sam and Sadie sounds cute together, too!) Sadie’s happy, playful and quickly putting weight back on. I gotta confess, I fell in love with this sweet fella too! Soooo, without further ado, meet the newest member of the Mann family – Sam!
What are some of your favorite pet names?
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Hey there! I’m so jazzed at all the entries for my weeklong book giveaway contest! Most excellent! Seven lucky winners will be receiving their designated book along with the bonus of an autographed copy of one of my books as well. Winners have been notified and books are in the mail. Here’s a rundown of the winners….
Ruth B from MA won Jennifer Blake’s book.
Angela D from VA won Anna DeStefano’s book.
Crystal B from KY won Leanne Banks’ book.
Ellen M from TX won Debbie Guisti’s book.
Laurie G from WI won Joanne Rock’s book.
Jane C from NY won Linda Conrad’s book.
Kim W from IL won Jennifer St. Giles’ book.
Congratulations!! And thanks again to everyone for entering. I’ll be giving away more books very soon. 
Sooooo, my question for the day, when you’re enjoying your summer reads at the beach, by the pool or even curled up on a lawn chair in your own yard, what’s loaded on your iPod?
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Hey there! Wow!!!! I’m so jazzed to see how many folks entered my week-long book giveaway. Most excellent! Seven winners will soon be set with summer reads. As a bonus, each person who won the designated book of the day also received an autographed copy of one of my books. All winners have been contacted by e-mail, but here’s a quick rundown…
Ruth B from MA won Jennifer Blake’s book
Angela D from VA won Anna DeStefano’s book & necklace
Crystal from KY won Leanne Bank’s book
Ellen M from TX won Debbie Guisti’s book
Laurie G from WI won Joanne Rock’s book
Jane from NY won Linda Conrad’s book
Kim from IL won
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Today’s contest? A thrilling and chilling copy of Jennifer St. Giles’ paranormal, BRIDE OF THE WOLF! To enter? Same as always!
E-mail contests@catherinemann.com
Header: BRIDE OF THE WOLF Contest
Include your snail mail address
Good luck!!!
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Hey there! Another great book to give away – IN SAFE HANDS by Linda Conrad (an awesomely dear lady and talented author! To enter, e-mail contests@catherinemann.com Write SAFE HANDS Contest in the header and include your snail mail address. Good luck and happy Saturday!
Anybody have fun weekend plans? We’re heading to the beach this afternoon if I can make my page count for the day….
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There actually is truth in advertising! We have had a dilemma at the Mann house. My dog Sadie can destroy any dog toy. Tennis balls? Reduced to a pile of rubber bits in minutes. Through my volunteering at our local Humane Society, I heard about these toys call “Kongs.” They’re supposedly indestructible – but they’re also a bit pricey at roughly $10 a pop. I decided to give one a try – after all – I’d spent far more than $10 already on toys that had been destroyed.
Sure enough, the toy survived Sadie’s mighty jaws. (Keep in mind, Sadie is all of 22 pounds, lol!) The Kongs were even great for entertainment as they have space to fill with things like peanut butter and cheese whiz. The dogs will work on that toy for hours!! So we added more Kongs to the toy stash. Yesterday, the Kongs were put to the ultimate test!
My son Robbie is a mighty force to be reckoned with when he’s on the riding mower…. He has taken out many a sprinkler head, even backed into my van. (It may have something to do with his speed as he zips across the lawn hoping to finish faster.) Well, yesterday, we heard a HUGE mower thunk, followed by a CLANG as something hit the pool fence. Robbie got off the mower to investigate.
Well, sure enough, Kongs are indestructible – even when hit by a speeding lawn mower.
In this tight economy, we’re all looking for ways to save money. What are some things you’ve found that may seem expensive but turn out to be well worth the money since they last longer? |
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 Friday Contest Time! Today’s prize? An autographed copy of GETTING LUCKY, Joanne Rock’s sexy Harlequin Blaze with a light paranormal twist! (FMI, check out http://joannerock.com ) To enter, send an e-mail to contests@catherinemann.com In the e-mail header, write GETTING LUCKY contest. Please include your snail mail address in the e-mail. Winners of this week’s contest will be chosen at random on Monday. Good luck!
What sorts of good luck charms do you have?
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 Book up today? Today’s giveaway is an autographed copy of Debby Giusti’s inspirational suspense – PROTECTING HER CHILD. To enter, send an e-mail to contests@catherinemann.com In header, write “Debbie G’s Contest” and in the e-mail include your snail mail address. (All winner’s will be chosen at random when my week-long contest ends.)
Debby’s cover features a pregnant woman… I have to confess I’m often drawn to covers with a pregnant woman or a child. Of course I also enjoy a cover with a great hunk too! What are some of your favorite cover styles? Do you have a particular cover that stands out in your memory as awesome?
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 Next contest…. Today’s giveaway is an autographed copy of Leanne Banks’ sassy, fun contemporary TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS. To enter, send an e-mail to contests@catherinemann.com In header, write “Leanne Banks Contest” and in the e-mail include your snail mail address. (All winner’s will be chosen at random when my week-long contest ends.)
Don’t you just love Leanne’s title – TROUBLE IN HIGH HEELS? I have to confess to be a shoe addict. I love, love, love to accessorize with funky shoes – usually different sandals since we live on the beach. But since I have so many kids, I really have to bargain shop. Just yesterday, I found the most adorable pair of gold sandals with chunky red stones along the top – great with jeans. Soooo, what’s your guilty pleasure shopping item?
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