My Valspar Paint Sample...

Greetings! I got my Valspar Paint Sample! Isn't it fun to have something arrive in the mail? Thank you to Valspar Paint! The color I chose is EB 16-3, Watermelon Slice. The little sample package is great. You will see all the photos below. They even give the little mini tray and the mini paint roller. So cute. Plus a $5 coupon toward a gallon and a complementary color palette.

Unfortunately, Valspar is finished with giving out the free samples -- BUT, I checked and you can get this little sample kit for only $5.95 in the color of your choice (plus shipping). And they say if you buy THREE or more sample kits, the shipping is free. Pretty good deal. So if you'd like a sample kit, click HERE and it will bring you to their website to see the description and how to order.

So now here's the sample box below. I am still thinking about painting a big basket I have to hold magazines, but since the weather here in the Northeast is still damp and windy every other day, I will hold off on painting anything outside until it gets nicer out! I will definitely post whatever I decide to paint Watermelon Slice! Here's the photos:

Thanks for visiting!

Best, Gloria

My new kitchen sign!

Greetings! I don't know if you remember that a while back I purchased a sign from my fellow blogging friend, Anne, who is the proud owner of THE CHUNKY MERMAID ~ her online "Hand-made Signs" shop. Well, I finally took a photo of where I have Anne's sign hanging in my kitchen, so I wanted to show you.

The quality of Anne's signs is wonderful -- they are beautiful and very sturdy, and I am actually now the proud owner of TWO of Anne's signs -- this one I purchased, and Anne gifted me with my first one. (I will show the other one at the bottom of the post).

As for this newest one, I love how the color of the sign and the color of the wall complement each other in my kitchen. The sign really POPS!

And below is my first sign from Anne that was a gift from her! As you can see, she makes CUSTOM SIGNS also! So if you have a favorite phrase, or favorite line from a poem, or anything original that you'd like made into a sign, Anne is the woman for you! She can also do signs with names for an upcoming birthday, or a new baby's room, whatever you'd like, the possibilities are endless. See has all the details on her website (link below) for you to easily contact her.

So head on over to THE CHUNKY MERMAID to check out Anne's signs!

You can also see Anne's signs in her Etsy shop.

Here are both links, just click on wherever you'd like to go:

For THE CHUNKY MERMAID, click HERE
For Anne's Etsy Shop, click HERE

Best, Gloria

DEADLINE TONIGHT: Save a life on World Malaria Day

Today is April 25, 2011 -- WORLD MALARIA DAY. And I received an email from "Nothing But Nets" which is a United Nations endorsed organization. I have given to them in the past.

Here's the important news: Until Midnight tonight, every dollar that you give to "Nothing But Nets" will be matched. I just logged on to donate $10 to buy a net which prevents children and families in Africa from dying of malaria from mosquitos, by purchasing nets for them and teaching them the proper use of the nets.

If you'd like to read about the organization before committing to a donation, please click HERE to read about this worthwhile organization, NOTHING BUT NETS.

One million people die every year from Malaria -- you can stop it...

In closing, I wanted to leave you with this: When my mother was alive and whenever anyone did a good deed, she would always say: "The good Lord will reward you a hundred-fold."
Trust me, I know this to be so true. You will not only feel great doing a good deed, but WILL be rewarded if you can give even a dollar to this worthwhile cause. (Yes, you CAN donate a dollar, just fill in the amount yourself, there is a spot there.)

Thank you for listening.

Click HERE to give.

Best, Gloria

Happy Easter!

I just wanted to wish everyone a Happy Easter! Enjoy the photos below... I found them, courtesy of Google, and wanted to share them because they were so nice. I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Best,

Gloria

P.S. I disabled 'comments' for today...

My Faux Ralph Lauren Fabric

I don't know if you are familiar with the Ralph Lauren fabric pattern named "Kathleen" -- but when I saw it some months ago, somewhere in a magazine, or on the internet or somewhere, I fell in love with it. I only wanted a yard or so to cover two chair seats, and have a little left over for a small table topper. So I looked online and found out it was discontinued! I searched all different online fabric stores. And for me to try to purchase a sheet or something, just to cover a couple of small chair seats, just seemed too expensive. (Plus, since it was discontinued, there's not much to be found in this pattern anyway.) Then I had an idea to try to find something in similar colors AND cheaper...

So I looked around and I found it! I got it at Hobby Lobby. Yes, I DO see a difference, and I DO like the Ralph Lauren colors better, but I don't think I did too badly! Here's the difference below. When I recover the chairs in a few weeks, in preparation for the Summer, I will do a post on it! Until then, the two fabrics for your perusal...

THIS is the Hobby Lobby fabric that I purchased:



This is Ralph Lauren's "Kathleen" -- isn't it so deep and beautiful? Ahhhhhh...

But I think I did a pretty good matching job, if I say so myself. ;)

I'm pretty satisfied with it.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend -- Happy Easter and Happy Passover!

Best,

Gloria

HOLY THURSDAY

"Can you not spend one hour with me?"

This is what Jesus said to his disciples on Holy Thursday in the Garden of Gethsemane. The next day, Good Friday, was when Jesus was crucified on the Cross.

I am a Roman Catholic -- went through 12 years of Catholic School (eight years, Elementary; four years, High School). But with ALL of my teachings, the profound thing I remember was when I was a little kid in Brooklyn, NY and I went to our parish church, every Holy Thursday from 10-11 PM, with my mother and father and spent one hour there, praying the Rosary -- Hail Mary's and Our Father's and Glory Be's... I went, as a dutiful little girl... not really knowing what it meant.

When I was little, I was just THRILLED to be going out at quarter to 10 at night, walking to Church and getting out of being put to sleep at my regular time! Oooh, it felt so grown up being out at that hour!! Then, one night when I was still young, my father said to me: "Do you know WHY we are going to church for Holy Thursday?" And I said, "Well, I do know the story of Jesus in the Garden and we have to pray with Him!" And my father said: "Yes, and do you know that Jesus asked his disciples to spend time praying with Him in the Garden of Gethsemane and they fell asleep? Jesus was worried about the next day, Good Friday, because He knew what was going to happen. And his disciples didn't even stay awake long enough to pray with Him. THAT'S why you and I and Mommy are going to Church tonight, on Holy Thursday, to show our loyalty to Jesus, and we will be there for Him, and with Him, to keep Him company and pray -- kind of like we were in the Garden of Gethsemane with Him. Jesus asked his disciples, 'Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour in the Garden?' So that is why, Gloria, that we are going to church at this late hour to pray with Jesus, as He did, that long, long time ago. We want to be with Him and show our love and loyalty to Him."

Well, when my "Daddy" really explained it -- WOW. It REALLY made an impression on me. As a little girl, I remember that I felt so badly for Jesus, being by himself and praying by himself! And now, all of these years later, I always remember this, every Holy Thursday, and hold it close to my heart, and always think of my father. I will admit that I might not have gotten to Church on all the Holy Thursdays since then, but I always think of Jesus in the Garden on Holy Thursday -- praying by Himself in the Garden -- and I try to be there with Him in spirit. I am planning on going to my local Catholic church this Holy Thursday with my son.

"Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour in the Garden?"

Even if you can't make it to a church, can you just spend a few minutes thinking of Jesus this Holy Thursday?

Thank you for listening...

Note: If you are reading this and aren't familiar with the story and you'd like to read about Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, here is a lovely short synopsis... I chose this because it's for kids and it's short and sweet and NOT boring. :)
Click HERE.

I HOPE YOU ALL HAVE A HAPPY EASTER.

Best
Gloria

Shopping -- Marshalls and CTS!

In case you don't know it, I LOVE the Christmas Tree Shops (CTS) and Marshalls for really good deals. I also love Pier 1 and Home Goods but, by the time I get out of Marshalls (which is in the same shopping complex), I've usually spent all of my money at Marshalls! Here are some of the items that I purchased at the CTS and Marshalls recently. First, the Christmas Tree Shop... When I was a teenager, a friend and I visited my cousin in Calif. and she took us to Knott's Berry Farm. We had such a great time! So every time I see anything to do with Knott's Berry Farm, it brings back such good memories. Hence, my purchase of this product! $2.99 -- don't really know if that's a good price or not! Also from the CTS: I bought these Waverly tablecloths, because they were only $12.99 each and they are indoor AND outdoor fabric tablecloths! Thought they would look nice in the Summer for when 'company' comes over. Also from the CTS, these are for using when it's just my son and I eating outside... They are PLASTIC tablecloths! Aren't they pretty for plastic coated? Love the Waverly one. These are just some paper napkins from the CTS -- so pretty -- and the cocktail napkins were only a dollar each, and the larger ones being about $1.69 each. And last from the CTS, two little tealight holders. Only 69 cents each, I believe!

And now, my treasure from Marshalls! I LOVE anything RED. I do not have any little square plates, so when I saw these, I had to get them. Aren't they pretty?

Oh, that little fragrance bottle is a Laura Ashley spray ($2.99) for sheets, etc.

Then I saw these little plates, and had to have them. I thought they were so cute, PLUS they were on sale.

And last, but not least, I saw these rooster plates... I bought them because a long time ago, I purchased 4 reddish plates (you will see them below) and when I saw these little rooster places, I thought they would match nicely with the other large plates I had! What do you think? I tried to ask my son his opinion of them together, and he said, "Rooster plates???" and that was all I got outta him. /:(

Here they are with the bigger plates I already had in back... I think they look pretty together...

I hope you enjoyed seeing my new treasures! And I hope my NY pal, Kathleen--from cuisinekathleen.com --is seeing this! She's another loyal CTS shopper! Click here to get to her blog, it's great! She has wonderful tablescapes, PLUS really wonderful delicious-looking meals of which she posts photos often!

Best, Gloria

Hello, new Follower -- Tami G!

I just wanted to say hello to my newest Follower, Tami G!! I see that you do not have a blog, so I can't visit, and I couldn't get any email for you because it said I couldn't "perform this operation, etc." for some reason -- BUT I do want to thank you SO MUCH and please email me so I can write you and thank you personally! :) Hope you see this message to you! Best, Gloria

Free Valspar Paint Sample Offer...

Greetings! I saw on another blog (and please forgive me, I do not remember the lovely blog person who had done a post on this!) that Valspar is having a give-away for a free paint sample. You also get a $5.00 coupon towards a gallon of Valspar paint, plus a mini roller and paint tray.

Here's the color I got, I want to paint a few "little" things, like a little basket, etc.

It's called: Watermelon Slice. (Against my red background, you can't see it that great, but it is a pretty, bright, vibrant color!)

I know for a fact that it's "closed" for today, but check back in the morning -- They advise that they open at 9 AM Central time. I got mine this morning and got an email that it will be on it's way! Enjoy!

Here's the link: http://www.valsparpaint.com/valpaint/store/fsColorWall.html

Best,

Gloria