AND THE CSN WINNER IS...

Our winning entrant is No. 21 -- And that is Jan @ bobbypinsboardwalk!!!

I used Random.org but, for some reason, I couldn't (didn't know how to!) copy the little box to my pictures file and then do the link to put the picture here. So you will all just have to trust me that 21 was the number that came out.

Thank you, Jan, for entering and for becoming a new Follower! This was a lucky blog for you, for your first time and I am so happy for you! Jan - I will email you with the code for your $40.00 CSN certificate. http://csnstores.com/

Thank you all for participating! Have a wonderful week ahead.

Last Day for Give-Away!

HURRY!
Today's the last day for entering the give-away! Ends at Midnight, Eastern time! (See previous post for rules.) See left ---->

gv

My First GIVE-AWAY! CSN Gift Certificate!

HOORAY! I am very lucky to have been presented, by CSN, with a $40.00 gift certificate (one-time-use) for one lucky reader of my blog! Oh, CSN has so many lovely items, practical, useful items. From furniture, to home decor, & housewares, outdoor living, office supplies, pets, shoes, I could go on and on!

As an example, you could get a Coffee Maker -- a French Press (as pictured below), or an Under-the-Cabinet Coffee Maker, you name it.

Just click onto CSN and you will see all of their different stores from which to choose when you win your certificate!

Here's something that I have had my eye on for some time now, this beautiful little compote:


So, go do some window shopping, then come back and leave me a comment(s) so that you can enter the give-away.

Here's the "Entry Rules" for you:

• Earn 1 entry: Leave 1 comment letting me know that you are becoming a Follower, or advise if you are already a Follower.



• Earn another (1) entry: Leave 1 comment letting me know that you are subscribing via email to this blog, or that you already do so.



• Earn another (1) entry: By logging onto CSN stores and letting me know what you might choose with your certificate.



• Earn the last (1) entry: If you'd like to post about this give-away on your own blog and link back here to my blog.

This $40.00 one-time-use CSN certificate Give-Away starts TODAY, Saturday, July 31, and ENDS, Saturday, August 7. The Winner will be announced on this blog on Sunday, August 8. And please remember to leave me your email or blog address when you comment, so that I can also email the winner on Sunday, August 8th!

GOOD LUCK TO EVERYONE!

Best regards,

Gloria

Lynn's Puppies!!!

Happy Friday! My email friend, Lynn, in the beautiful state of Florida, has some new little bundles of joy. Here are Lynn's new babies below. Aren't they the most adorable little things you have ever seen? As I always say when I see a cute baby, or puppy, or kitten: I WANT TO EAT THEM UP!!

Lynn had the following to say in her email when she sent me the above pic of the puppies:

"They are on the go. This is the best shot I got of them last night. Every time I tried to get a picture, they ran to me. All are happy and fat. Still have eleven."

Do you believe that she has ELEVEN gorgeous puppies?! She is one lucky girl! (Or, at the very least, one BUSY girl.) Here's a few more that Lynn emailed today:

Hope you enjoyed the babies!! :)

Have a great weekend,

Gloria

President Obama on THE VIEW today!

I watched "THE VIEW" today, and was honored that President Barack Obama took time out to be a visitor on this program, as I announced he would do so in my post from a few days ago.

I thought it was a great show. I didn't realize that President Obama would be on for the whole hour! But he was personable and interesting and the hour went very quickly. How lucky to whomever met the President for this show!

And so, this afternoon, a news commentator who shall remain nameless, I don't want to give him any acknowledgment, gave his opinion that because he didn't agree with the President going on The View, the commentator stated: "There's gotta be a little bit of dignity to the Presidency."

Well, in my opinion, President Barack Obama DID give DIGNITY and HUMILITY to the Presidency, due to the fact that President Obama understands that there IS dignity to a reputable daytime TV show and he wants to reach "people." I totally think that because The View is moderated by five women, that the male news commentators will immediately run to "diss" the President for his guest spot on a daytime show in this situation.

I won't go on and on, I just want to give my congratulations and a thank you to President Obama for being a guest on The View. He was eloquent, down-to-earth, charming, and a credit to his Presidential Office. I was proud to call myself one of the Americans who voted this man into Office.

Oh, and I happened to see this adorable pic online when I was looking for a picture from The View today, and I had to include it. Look at that baby holding onto the President and the both of them smiling!

Regards,

Gloria

Weekly Words To Live By...

Hello all. I just discovered a lovely blog (http://acottageindustry.typepad.com/) where the author hosts a weekly post called: "Weekly Words to Live By." I am linking to this. I am, yes, actually "linking" to something for the first time. It is simple and easy and fast (a BIG plus for me), AND I would like to offer these words to live by:

THE GOOD LORD PROVIDES.
`Robert M. Vincent`

This is a phrase which my father, Robert, always said when I was little and if there were any worries. I was a true Daddy's girl and, sadly, he passed away from a heart attack when I was 19. I still miss him to this day. My son reminds me of him so much! (Especially regarding money! My mother used to say about my father: "Money burns a hole in Bob's pocket!" And the same is true of my son! Oh, OK, I guess the same is true of me too...)

Well, I don't think this post was supposed to be so long-winded. It was just supposed to give you a quote to make you "think." Hopefully, my father's words will make you think and have faith when you need it...

Best,
Gloria

P.S. I know this is a "proverb" but I didn't locate the proper adage from where my father borrowed it...

President Barack Obama on "THE VIEW" on Thursday, July 29, 2010

Happy Monday to everyone.

I just finished watching THE VIEW on ABC, and Whoopi Goldberg announced that President Barack Obama will be on THE VIEW on Thursday.

They say in an article that I just checked online: "President Barack Obama has agreed to sit down with the ladies of "The View" this Thursday -- the first time a sitting President has appeared on a daytime talk show, ABC says.

"View" den mother Barbara Walters, who has been out since May after undergoing open heart surgery, will "make an exclusive in studio appearance" to interview Obama, even though she wasn't supposed to return to work until September."
Also in the article, it stated: "ABC says Obama's making the appearance "in order to talk about his administration's accomplishments, jobs, the economy, the Gulf oil spill, and family life inside the White House. The last time he appeared on "The View" in March 2008, he was running for president. First Lady Michelle Obama appeared on "The View" in June 2008."

Here are a couple of my favorite pictures of the President, with his mother and with his grandparents, and then a lovely picture of the Obama Family.

Hopefully, you all will be able to watch "The View" this Thursday!

Regards,
Gloria

Great recipes at Hellmann's! (Best Foods in the West)

Greetings! I just visited another blog, and saw that the blogger had her sister's Potato Salad recipe featured. And it was the same one I use: The Hellmann's Classic Potato Salad Recipe! Did any of you ever try Hellmann's/Best Foods recipe for classic potato salad or classic macaroni salad? They used to have the recipes printed on the jars years ago when I was in my 20's (Hey, wait a minute! I'm not THAT old!!) But let me tell you, these are the BEST recipes. I wanted to post on this because they have TONS more recipes on their website that you might want to check out. http://www.hellmanns.com/

The recipe I use is the "Classic Potato Salad" -- I do not, however, add the hard boiled eggs, or the pickle relish. I like it plain. But, of course, add it if this is what YOU like! PLUS, MOST IMPORTANTLY, you have to borrow from Hellmann's Classic Macaroni Salad recipe and add in a tablespoon of mustard! The mustard that I usually use is: Kosciusko Mustard. They describe it as "spicy mustard" but it is NOT that spicy, trust me. It is something that was sold in my neighborhood back in Brooklyn, New York years ago that my Mom always bought, but now they even have it in Connecticut! Or, use any of YOUR favorite mustard. It really make a difference, as does the little bit of sugar you add also (you will see this in the recipe). If any of you try the Hellmanns/Best Foods potato salad recipe, or even the "Kosciusko mustard" on a hot dog (or as we used to call a hot dog in New York: a "frankfurter" -- does anyone else but me still call it that??) , or any other recipes of theirs, please come back and tell me! Thanks!





Best regards, (and Best Foods!) -- http://www.hellmanns.com/

Gloria :)

Rubber Band Votive Candle Holder

Do-It-Yourself!

Hi all! I saw this online and had to share. Isn't this a great idea?
It's such a simple, yet great metamorphosis from a plain candle holder to a gorgeous, creative one!

This idea came from Better Homes & Gardens, and it is great for dressing up any table:
"These playful stripes were created by layering colorful rubber bands around a votive candle holder. Simple, right? So next time you are strolling through Office Depot, take a peek at the colored rubber bands and get inspired."

You can do any colors to compliment your fun tablescape or party theme! Enjoy!

Best regards,

Family Stories -- Ma's "Lemonade" Story

Hey, all. One of the new blogger friends at "MomUndecided" (momundecided.blogspot.com) had, on one of her posts, good stories about Christmas with her family -- how our families tell and re-tell the same old-time stories, and we never tire of them. So I shared one of my stories with her in her comments section and she was so kind to say, "Great story on my blog - you should post things like that on here!" So, that is precisely what I am going to do!

OK, on to my story!!! This one is about my mother, Fran, when she was a little girl, living in Astoria, Queens, New York. The family was quite poor when she was young, plus her mother died when she was only five years old. So, when she was little, she and her sisters would go next door to play with the little girl neighbor, only because the little girl's mother would give them all lemon cookies and lemonade. My mother said as soon as they had the goodies, she and her sisters would leave. Isn't that terrible???? I always said, "Ma! That is horrible!!" and she would say, "I know! We were terrible. But we were poor and no one ever baked anything for us. We just wanted those cookies!" Now, mind you, my mother was the nicest, most generous, most unselfish person in the world. That's why her doing this when she was little was so unbelievable! I made her tell and re-tell that story all the time. My son, when he was small, also enjoyed the story and couldn't believe his Gee-Ma would do that when she was little.

+

Hope you enjoyed the story -- Thanks for visiting!

Best regards,
Gloria