Christmas Favorites

In most years past I have missed the Christmas specials that are shown on TV, either because of other plans, or simply due to the fact that I never knew they were on.  I love Charlie Brown, the Grinch, and of course Rudolph, and I was always bummed when I missed another showing.  So, already this year I've seen a few and am totally ecstatic!  As I get more and more into the Christmas spirit, I thought I would share some of my favorite holiday traditions.

It's not a cartoon, but Emmett Otter's Jug Band Christmas is my favorite kid's special.  I have never seen this on "regular" TV, but you might find it on a cable or satellite channel.  I bought the DVD and watch it every year!


I am a traditionalist when it comes to Christmas music.  The Christmas Song sung by Nat King Cole, White Christmas sung by Bing Crosby, and Holly, Jolly Christmas sung by Burl Ives are some of my favorites.  The only exception to my "traditional" music is Trans-Siberian Orchestra.  I've seen their Christmas show 3 times and loved it each time. 

Holiday Inn, with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire, is my favorite holiday movie.  Technically I wouldn't classify this as a Christmas movie, but Bing does sing White Christmas, and I always watch it this time of year.

As far as food treats, I'm getting ready to make cookies within the next week.  I don't make very many, and tend to mix them up every year.  Because a lot of my "cookie exchange" friends tend to make cookies with chocolate, I usually stick to making cookies without.  But, as far as traditions go, I always make Chex Mix ... can't have Christmas without it! 

The snow will start flying soon and I will be ready with a classic movie, Chex Mix, and a bottle of wine.  What are some of your Christmas favorites?

TTFN ... Cat

One Down, A Bazillion To Go

I know ... me being the "math geek" that I am ... is there truly a number called "bazillion"?  That word just makes it seem like an unattainable amount, but not as unattainable as infinity so I still have hope.  I'm talking about the many items on my "To Do" list.  During my  Thanksgiving holiday, I managed to finish the afghan I've been working on for, oh lets just say three years (even though I know it's been more than that)!  Yay!  But I have also managed to add about 5 more things to that list.  Ideas that I have, things I want to accomplish, crafty projects that seem so much fun.  The list will never end, and I'm okay with that.  It is a huge thrill to just be able to cross off one thing that's been there so long ... and it's pretty too!

Did anyone else have a productive holiday?

TTFN ... Cat

Turkey Day

Everyone have a safe and happy Thanksgiving!  I know I will be enjoying the turkey, parade, and football, and counting the many blessings I have.  Enjoy!


XOXO ... Cat

Poor Hazel

I've never named one of my cars, but I thought my new car deserved a name.  So, I spent a couple weeks jotting down any and all names that came to mind, deleting and revising the list over and over.  After much deliberation, I decided on Hazel ... which of course reminded me of the very colorful Witch Hazel from Looney Tunes fame!

Now the reason this post in titled "Poor Hazel" is because I have had this car for about 4 weeks, and we got our first snow last week (coincidently on 11-11-11)!  Nothing really stuck to the roads, so I didn't get to test the all wheel drive, but she was covered when G left for work.  Even though it wasn't that cold, and the snow was pretty to look at on the trees, I am so not ready to deal with the mess yet!  Can Mother Nature just skip the snow this year?  Please?

TTFN ... Cat

Tis the Season for Craft Shows

Saturday I'm taking my Scentsy stuff and setting up at my first craft show of the season.  I have a total of three lined up and I'm a little nervous ... you never know how these things are going to go.  I just hope I meet all sorts of new friends that just have to have that new Scentsy warmer for Christmas! 

Speaking of new Scentsy for the holidays ...

And don't forget Pooki the Polar Bear!

If you have an itching to get out of the house this weekend, I will be at the First Church of God Craft Show in Cambridge Springs on Saturday from 9 - 4.  Come and visit me ... and Pooki!!
 

Happy Halloween!

I love Halloween! I think most of it is just this time of year ... the leaves changing to vibrant colors, the jeans-and-sweatshirt coolness of the air, football ... I just love it all!  Halloween just tops it off.  After today, the craziness begins!  Only three weeks (and 3 days) until Thanksgiving!  Then it's holiday parties, craft shows, shopping, decorating, SNOW ... UGH ... I'm already feeling stressed out!

So, for right now, I'm going to calm myself, sit back and relax, and enjoy the rest of fall!

I hope everyone gets more 'treats' than 'tricks' ... take time today and enjoy something just for you!

TTFN ... Cat

Traveling Sasha

This is Sasha.  She is one of the newest Scentsy Buddys, and just happens to also be the Fall 2011 Scentsy Charitable Cause (100% proceeds of the sales of Sasha go to Ronald McDonald House).  I feel that since Sasha is doing so much for charity, she deserves a vacation every once in a while.  This past weekend she accompanied me and my Beta Sigma Phi sisters to Beckley, WV for a BSP convention.  The theme was all to do with "treasure" so I know Sasha was just thrilled to be hanging out with all the bling, and of course the "girls weekend" was a perfect way to start out her travels.

Is anyone going anywhere interesting and fun?  Do you want to take Sasha with you?

I think it would be fun to let Sasha be my "Flat Stanley" and let her travel all over the world, but I need help getting her there.  Let me know if you think Sasha could fit into your vacation plans.  All I'm asking for is a picture of Sasha, with a short description of where she's been and what she's done for me to post on my blog ... and now-a-days this is easily done by email.  So, what do you think?

TTFN ... Cat

P.S.  If you would rather have your own Scentsy Buddy to hang out with, go to http://catscorner.scentsy.us.  There are a total of 9 different animals, and they are all just as cute as Sasha!  :)

Scentsy's Warmer of the Month: October 2011

Snapshot

I got my warmer of the month a couple weeks ago and I had to take it out of the box right away. I LOVE this warmer!  I normally don't say that ... I might go with "cute", "interesting", or "different" ... but this one I LOVE!  I can't believe that it's taken this long for them to come up with this concept; a photo frame on a warmer!  And the neutral colors make it perfect for any room in the house.  This one is definitely a keeper!


Snapshot and Autumn Stroll (scent of the month) are available for 10% off during October.  Let me know and you can have your very own here in about 2 weeks.


Have a scentsational week!

Part of a Complete Breakfast

I love fall!  I love the sights, smells, and tastes that fall brings.  And with fall comes Halloween!  And with Halloween comes the fun costumes, decorations, and I will definitely not leave out the candy as well as all the other yummy treats!  So, G and I were grocery shopping last night, and displayed at the end of an isle was cereal.  Not unusual, I agree.  But this was not just any cereal!  BOO BERRY!!!! For some reason, General Mills (the Big G) has decided that Boo Berry, along with Frankenberry and Count Chocula will only reappear once a year.  Was this always like this?  I seem to remember seeing it the cereal isle on a regular basis.  Anyway, now that they are only out around Halloween it totally sucks because I love these cereals!  So, of course, even though I'm supposed to be back on my "eating healthy" thing, I had to get a box of Boo Berry ... and just finished off my first bowl this morning!  Mmmmmm!

First commercial with Boo Berry (1973).

I don't remember, as I was growing up, getting to have too many "fun" cereals.  Dad would always buy stuff like "puffed rice" (which to me had the consistency of mushy cardboard, and tasted how I thought mushy cardboard would taste) and really expected me and my sister to eat it.  And when we didn't, and it would sit in the cupboard and get old and stale and need to be thrown away, then he would swear not to buy us cereal ever again.  But for some reason, I remember Boo Berry.  I don't know if this memory is from when I was younger or from when I was older and was able to buy my own cereal.  All I know is this cereal ROCKS!

Are there any cereals you remember from your childhood that you absolutely love?

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty!

This is Lily!

G and I have become proud parents of our first fur-baby!  I've been wanting a kitten for a while, and when a girl at work just happened to have stumbled on a litter of strays ... well, let's just say that once I saw her there was no way I wasn't taking her home.  Thanks Sara!  We have named her Lily.  Sara had called her Lil' Kitty because she was just so tiny, and we wanted to stick with that 'L' sound.  Now that she is used to the house, she is eating a ton and I expect her not to stay tiny for too long.

I love having a cat in the house again!  When I'm sitting at home, I have to know where she is at all times.  I want to constantly pick her up and cuddle her.  I mean ... just look at her!  She is soooo cute!  And I am one of those personalities that will lose my brain over cats and kittens! I just can't help myself!  According to the very 'scientific' graph below, cat's can drain intelligence ... and I think part of it is also hereditary!  *hugs to mom*

Comic courtesy of www.xkcd.com

So, here's hoping that my brain returns to its normal functioning level soon, because the items on my to-do list are growing exponentially and can't be ignored for much longer!  But I just wanna hugs on the cute little spaz ... yes you are just so cute ... you are the cutest little kitty I've ever seen  ... yes you are ... Ah-hem, yeah, umm ... bye!


TTFN!

Fun Stuff ... Wordle

Just having some fun with wordle.net.  Always make time to play!

Who doesn't like FREE stuff?

As a celebration of my 1st Scentiversary (has it been a year already?), and my 40th birthday in a week, I have decided to give away some Scentsy!

Now through Monday, August 29th, you have a chance to earn entries into a drawing for a Scentsy Plug-In Warmer and one Scentsy Bar.  The winner of these items will get to choose the style and scent from the current Spring/Summer 2011 catalog.

"Wonky" Plug-in and "Happy Birthday" Scentsy bar

I have come up with a way for you to get up to 6 entries into the drawing.  You can just do 1, or shoot for all 6 ... whatever you feel comfortable with.  And most of them don't cost you a dime!  Also, make sure, no matter how you enter my contest, that I have a way to get a hold of you if you win!  That would really stink to be the winner and not be able to get your Scentsy!

Ways to get entries: 

1. Comment on this blog and you will get 1 entry.  If you have Scentsy products, tell me your favorite Scentsy scent.  If you do not have any Scentsy products, yet, just tell me your favorite scent from candles, flowers, food, or anything. 
2. Like Cat's Corner Scents on Facebook and comment on the most recent post about this give-away and you will get 1 entry.  If you already like my page, then just make a comment.  The comment can be about anything Scentsy, like maybe how you can't wait to see the new Scentsy Buddy's in person!  (Oh wait ... that's me!)
3. Go to http://catscorner.scentsy.us/ and look through the catalog.  Pick out your favorite item (for all you PA peeps, check out the new Penn State warmer!)  Then go to the "Contact" tab and send me a comment about your favorite item and you will get 1 entry.  If you add your email and check the box to receive my newsletter, I will give you 1 extra entry into the drawing.
4. Buy some Scentsy.  When you go to my website, under my pic, you should see "Cat's Online Party."  Placing an online order through this party, or with me in person, before August 27th will get you 2 entries into the free plug-in drawing.  Most of the catalog is 10% off, so now is a good time to think gift stockpiling!

So, are you ready to get started?  I'm so excited to share Scentsy with a lucky someone, and it's so much fun to give it away!  You can join the fun ... feel free to share this post with anyone!  Thank you, and good luck!


XOXO

Scentsy's Warmer of the Month: August

There is so much going on in August with Scentsy, including the warmer and scent for August.  This is a full-size warmer titled "Sol" and it's as pretty in person as it is in the picture.  And if you love the spa scents, you will love "Just Breathe" which is a calming mix of eucalyptus and mint.  "Sol" and "Just Breathe" are 10% off only for August ... oh, but wait ... so is the REST OF THE CATALOG!*

To make room for the new fall/winter warmers and scents, some warmers and scents will be discontinued and almost everything in the spring/summer catalog is 10% off.  To check out the discontinued list, click on the link at the right (under my Scentsy badge.)

*Note: Items not available for the 10% discount include the Campus Collection, Patriot Collection, Charitable Warmer, Perfect Plug-ins, Perfect Scentsy, Scentsy Sampler, and the Scentsy Companion System.

Mrs. Slowikowski I Am

Gordon and I grew up in the same town, went to the same school, and thought it fitting to get married at the beach where we spent many summer days as kids.  Even though we had "a thing" for each other in high school, we never dated back then.  We were friends, and even went to prom together, with our respective dates!  It is amazing that we found each other 20 years later, and fell completely in love.

Saturday, July 9th, 2011, was truly a blessed day.  The weather was perfect; sunny skies and not too hot.  There is a brand new gazebo that provided just enough shade for the ceremony, and lots of other little areas that the photographers took great advantage of.   Yes, I said photographers!  Josh and Zack did an amazing job ... I saw the pictures already!  I can't wait to get them back and do some scrapbooking.  All of the pics in this post were taken by my mom as she followed us and the photographer around.  

After the ceremony and all the pics, we all headed to G's parents house.  They made enough food for an army ... ox roast, pasta salad, fried chicken, fresh fruit and veges ... YUMMMMM! And to top it off, a few hours later we were by a fire cooking hotdogs and munching chips.  

I am so thankful that:

• Mom, Ty, and Lizz got to come and spend time with us
• the weather was perfect for our day
• the whole experience was completely stress free
• I have a new family that I adore

But mostly, I am thankful that I was lucky enough to marry my best friend, the one who makes me smile! 

Happy 4th of July!

I know it's one day late ... but better late than never, right?  I hope everyone had a fun and safe weekend.  With the exception of a headache that wouldn't quit, I personally had a nice relaxing weekend, but it seemed to have just flown by.  Saturday was spent shopping for miscellaneous wedding stuff, I got my hair done, and then G met me for dinner.  Yesterday, after G got out of work, we went to Lorrie and Howie's house for their annual 4th of July picnic.  Yummy food and it's always great to see them.  We don't get together nearly enough.

Okay, the phrase "yummy food" brings me to this confession:  I WILL ALWAYS LOVE FOOD!!!  I need to figure out a way to enjoy good food without blowing up.  The diet was going really well, and it's a good plan, but I constantly felt like I was depriving myself, and that made me not so happy.  And after 4 weeks of following the plan, my clothes still fit exactly the same.  Maybe I'll try again after the wedding.  If not anything else, I can at least try to eat healthier.

Speaking of wedding ... Ty will be here tomorrow!!  And my mom on Thursday!!!  I'm so excited to see them.  I don't think anything can spoil my mood this week.  Okay, everyone repeat after me ... "It will not rain on Saturday.  It will not rain on Saturday!"  Be looking for wedding pics later this month.

TTFN!

My Sea of Unfinished Projects



Just three of the many unfinished projects!


Afghans, cross-stitch, quilts ... oh my!  Afghans, cross-stitch, quilts ... oh my!  I'm walking on an endless yellow brick road made of yarn, material, and thread!  Whatever shall I do?

If this was truly a dream and I was in Oz, I would ask the Wizard for a 48-hour day instead of 24.  I would want the same amount of sleep but only work 8 hours at my job so that I could spend the rest of the time working on all these unfinished projects that are sitting at home just waiting for my attention.  My poor sewing machine has a layer of dust so thick I'm going to need a jack-hammer just to break through.


But why do I always start something else when I know all of these other projects are unfinished?  I would love to say it's hereditary ... but my mom is pretty good at finishing something once she starts.  And I bet my grandma doesn't have even one project just sitting while she is working on another.  Is it laziness?  I'm the first to tell anyone how lazy I am, but when it comes to crafty stuff I'm usually all over it.  I don't think this issue will ever get resolved.  Maybe I just need to learn to be okay with that!   :-)


I hope the Wizard can help me come up with a plan of attack.  And while he's at it, maybe he can keep me from shopping for new yarn, material, and thread!  Hobby Lobby just opened up here so I think the Wizard is going to need some divine help!!!

TTFN! 

Scentsy's Warmer of the Month: July

 A CUPCAKE!!  July's WOTM is just the cutest ... and it is the first three-piece warmer that Scentsy has made.  With my birthday coming up in August, you just know this cupcake warmer will be used for the rest of the summer!

July's scent of the month is appropriately named Happy Birthday.  Have you ever inhaled deep while taking a bite of cake with vanilla icing?  That's what Happy Birthday smells like to me!  It has a really sweet-like-icing fragrance ... and with me being on this diet, it just about killed me when I opened the box.  It's amazing I haven't broke down and ate a cupcake, or 12!  LOL!

So, for the month of July only, the cupcake warmer and Happy Birthday scent are 10% off!   Visit http://catscorner.scentsy.us/ to view the catalog and place your order.

Everyone have a safe and scentsational summer!

The 17 Day Diet ... Day 11

Everyday when I wake up I try to have at least one positive thought to help me get through the day.  So far, so good.  Only 6 more days of this phase to go and then I get to add some different foods for the next 17 days!  I'm getting really tired of the same foods over and over, but G and I are making a valiant effort to try to cook them different each time.  Still, easy usually wins, and popping a chicken breast on the counter top grill seems to be the easiest at the moment.  Stir fry is very easy and yummy too.  I did have a small breakdown the other day, and soothed it with chai.  I know, bad for the diet, but it was so yummy!  I'll be so happy when chai can become a regular visitor.  Oh, and by the way, I did try a sugar-free chai.  Um ... not so good, but I might be able to deal with it every so often to help tame my chai cravings.

Before I sign off, kudos to my G.  We both survived "dollar night" at the ball park last night without cheating!  No beer, popcorn, or hotdogs for us.  But we learned a valuable lesson ... no matter where we go, pack food and water to take with us!  (A bottle of water at the ball park was $3.50! OMG!!) Having to see and smell all the food, by the 6th inning we were ready for 10 hotdogs and a box of buttery popcorn ... each!  LOL!

I'm off to eat my cabbage soup.  :-)


TTFN

The 17 Day Diet ... Day 2

I know what my problem is ... I'm so lazy.  I have known this forever!  It just takes way too much energy to exercise.  And cooking has become a huge chore.  After working 9 hours (plus another 1 hour of travel time) the last thing I really want to do is cut up veggies for salad.  Now, I'm bound and determined to fix this lazy issue of mine and do something about this "extra baggage" I have been carrying around!

I saw, back in August maybe, an episode of The Doctors when they teamed up with Dr. Phil to do a weight loss contest with 10 people chosen from letters sent to the show.  They used The 17 Day Diet.  Now, even I know stuff like this and the Biggest Loser are not typical of the normal, run-of-the-mill person.  I do not have the time or money to pay a personal trainer to exercise with me 12 hours a day, or a chef to cook and feed me exactly what I'm allowed to eat.  I mean that would be really cool, but not reality.  Anyway, so this 17 Day Diet sounded interesting, and that was about as far as that thought went.  Then recently G talked to someone who bought the book and actually lost weight following the diet plan!  Okay ... so, G and I decided to just buy the book.  Here we go!

I read through the first 17-day cycle.  I went shopping and stocked up on all the foods I need for the first week.  I'm getting myself psyched up!  I don't have a scale ... I'm not going to concern myself with weight right now.  I just want to look better in my clothes, and maybe go down a size or two.  Stay positive ... I WILL FOLLOW THE PLAN IN THE BOOK!  I can do this ... I can do this!  And, the hardest thing for me to do, I WILL DRINK 8 GLASSES OF WATER A DAY!

I just finished my grilled cod fillet and steamed green beans, and yet another glass of water.  YUMMY!!  Day 2 went well ... I'll keep you posted!

Who Me? Married? Again?

Okay all, I know most of you have been anxiously awaiting the day that I would tie the knot ... again.  Well, the original plan was to get married on a cruise ship this past winter.  But Gordy lost his vacation picks (due to the first shift switch) and then I get a full time job.  No cruise for us this year!  Over the course of discussing the particulars, we decided just to do it here and then take a trip next year when all of our vacation days get worked out.  So, without further ado ...

The wedding of Gordon and Cat will take place on Saturday, July 9, 2011!

WOO-HOO!!!  I'm so excited!

We have decided to keep it small ... immediate family only ... and are going to keep with the cruise type theme and have the ceremony at the beach.  I appreciate that so many of my peeps wanted to attend the event.  It will mean more to me right now if you would just pray that the sun is shining here on that day!!  It has been horribly dreary for the past 5 months or so, and my confidence in the weather is shot.  But maybe with enough positive energy, the sun will grace us with its presence.

Next on my list of things to do, after Nationals this weekend of course, is to find a dress.  How hard can it be to find a white dress that is suitable for beach wear but still dressy enough for a wedding?  Right ... looks like I have some work to do!

Later all!

I Can't Believe ...

It has really been 7 months since my last post. Where does the time go? I really need to sit and write a complete update but finding the time to do so is near impossible. So, here is the shortened version ...

1. I have a job! Full time at a textbook company. It's pretty cool cause I get to do math all day and no one bothers me!! LOL!
2. Gordy is on first shift! For those of you who didn't know, until about November he was on second shift. It was a huge pain in the booty but now we are both working at the same time and get to spend the nights together! Woo Hoo!
3. No wedding date yet ... sorry!

So, that's it, in a nutshell. I'll give more details when I can!

Later taters!