What'cha Workin' on Wednesday? Overcoming the "Too Pretty to Use" Syndrome

You all remember that three weeks ago, 

we attended a benefit for our Domestic Abuse Center.

And you remember that my hubby enjoyed some

time at the mock Casino Table,

winning the beautiful Coach purse!

For her first week at home,

she just sat on my dining room table...

Sealed in her Coach plastic baggie.

Was she too pretty to use?

Her leather is as soft as a new baby's skin,

plus she smells like the interior of a new luxurious car.

This problem is genetic.

I inherited it from my mother...she had it bad.

When I helped her move from her townhouse to the assisted living facility,

I discovered a cedar chest full of tissue wrapped gifts that were

"too pretty to use".

So, here she is....

with beautiful purple lining.

Loaded with the bare necessities...

For two weeks now has been

enjoying the good life!

Remember, you are worthy...

You deserve the pretty things that come your way.

Take care,

~Natalie

Tips for a Postitive Attitude

More than 100 years ago, author Robert Louis Stevenson offered the following tips for maintaining a positive attitude...and they still seem so appropriate for today.
1. Make up your mind to be happy. Learn to find pleasure in simple things.
2. Make the best of your circumstances. Everyone has problems. The trick is to make laughter outweigh the tears.
3. Don't take yourself too seriously. Don't think that somehow you should be protected from misfortunes that befall others.
4. You can't please everybody. Don't let criticism worry you.
5. Don't let your neighbor set your standards. Be yourself.
6. Do the things you enjoy doing, but stay out of debt.
7. Don't borrow trouble. Imaginary burdens are harder to bear than the actual ones.
8. Hate poisons the soul. Don't carry grudges. Avoid people who make you unhappy.
9. Have many interests. If you can't travel, read about new places.
10. Don't hold post-mortems. Don't spend your life brooding over sorrows and mistakes.
11. Do what you can for those less fortunate than yourself.
12. Keep busy at something. A busy person never has less time to be unhappy.

Best Wishes to my family and to my friends

for love, happiness and success

in 2009.

The New Beginnings

After the holidays, we have time to relax and tackle some necessary projects around the house. DD2 has gone through her closet and removed the clothing and shoes that she no longer wears. And what to do with perfectly good clothing? The New Beginnings Center takes donations. The New Beginnings Center is a residential, coeducational group care facility licensed to serve children with behavioral, emotional and educational problems. There are currently 17 girls staying there. Some are there because their families cannot provide proper care. The youngest is 12. Oh, how I wish we could afford to bring them bags of brand new clothes...instead, the best we can do is donate these bags of gently used items. Perhaps, they are having just a little fun going through and trying on the shirts, jeans, sweatpants and pajamas that we left there this afternoon.

Christmas Pediatric Cancer Fundraiser

My friend Marey is hosting a Holiday fundraiser to help 2 families who are in a most difficult situation of trying to save their childrens' lives. For Austin who received a tranplant Dec. 5 at Duke; and for Ivan, a 17 year old boy with 5 siblings. His bone marrow transplant from his younger brother was on Nov. 5, 2008, and he is doing well right now. He will most likely remain hospitalized throughout the holidays.

Here are pics of the items that have been donated. Please stop over to Marey's blog by clicking on her link above, or look for her in my sidebar. Any size donation will be appreciated. You can donate online with your credit card (she has a button to click) or you can send her money through snail mail (her address is posted).

There are handmade items and gently used Designer items that have been donated by her blog friends...

The fundraising drive ends on December 10th...so you have just 4 days to head over to check out her blog and be eligible for the drawing.

Anyone who makes a donation will have their name entered in the drawing and have a chance to receive a prize! 100% of the money goes to two families who have children in transplant for relapsed leukemia.