GiveAway GiveAway GiveAway

Who doesn't like a giveaway...I mean REALLY!!!  And this one is even better, because who doesn't love HATS!!

I'm hosting a giveaway for my girlie Lisa over at ToldUso !!

The prize.....any hat from her shop...or a custom hat of your choosing!!

(and there are so many to chose from, trust me, I'd have a heck of a time!)

This girl can make anything!  and just wait to see what she has coming out for spring and summer!!  

SSOOOOO here's how to win!! 

1. Join as a follower of her blog...and if you have a blog, grab her button and add it!  Leave me a comment here...

2. If you are already a follower, leave a comment that you already follow

and what kind of new accessories you'd like to see at ToldUso!!

3. Talk about the giveaway on your blog with a feature post...

then come back here and comment that you did.

4. On your blog, post my Button linking back here, then come back and comment that you did.
This giveaway is open to everyone!!

Remember, each of your comments as detailed above becomes your entry.

We will use good ole random.org to pick the winner on March 11th, so make sure your entries are in by midnight on March 10th!!!

Good Luck!!!

hugs,

heather

Running Away.... :)

Ok, I'm not really running away, but if any of you have seen my facebook page recently I talked about starting the Couch to 5k program.  Tomorrow will be my first LONG (for me) run.  Two straight miles, no stopping, walking, crying, or I can'ts will be tolerated!!  I believe tomorrow will be more of a mental challenge for me than physical.  4 years ago tomorrow, my dad passed away.  Ironic to me that my first hard run will fall on that day.  I mentioned to my friend Lisa, I've run in freezing temps, rain, snow, sleet and with ice on the ground, so I'm taking this as a challenge issued from above.... I've mapped out my route, and it's hard, I'm hoping I have a bright sunny day tomorrow...preferably above freezing...lol :)
Other than getting myself back in shape, I've started working on the Relay for Life for this year!!  I already have over 30 shops offering to donate items for our auction baskets and will be starting to work on the Memory and Honor quilt soon!  You can check out all of the items that were donated, the auction and quilt from last year here and here!!
If you are interested or would like more info about it, shoot me an message at thepineconeteacup@cinci.rr.com, and I'll send you all the details!! 

Look for pics of all the donations as the start coming in here too!!  I'll be sharing all of the fantastic shops and pics of everything they send!!

hugs,
heather

                                           My daddy and i camping :)

2010....

I can't believe I'm sitting here on the eve of yet another new year....where did you go 2010?  As I look back at this year, there were so many things that brought over whelming emotion, both good and bad...the loss of an amazing grandfather,

                   and of a fantastic uncle,






 my youngest first day of school....

 There was an amazing sense of joy when the lovely Gail from The Widow's Walk, sent me a message that said my Relay for Life goal had been met...and even more when all of the amazing people I've met this year, from all over the world gave to help search for a cure to that terrible monster we call Cancer....

 I've watched my children as they grow, and have been amazed at how kind and giving they are...










And watched them spread their wings and fly into new experiences...



I sat exactly where I am now last New Years eve, and made a list of resolutions....this is what it said....This year I will..open a handmade shop where I can help raise money for the Relay for Life.  I will enjoy the fact that I am able to stay home with my kids and appreciate every moment that I get to spend with them, and I will try my hardest to be the best wife and mother I can be.
I can honestly say I have done all of those, and so much more...a lot of it due to the help of all of you wonderful friends.
My resolutions for this year are simply to continue what WE have started...I will begin asking for donations for the Relay for Life auction in the beginning of January, I am trying to come up with something that can be put into the shop that ALL profits from it would go to the American Cancer Society, I will begin working on the Relay for Life quilt for this years Relay.  I will continue to try my hardest to appreciate every day that I am given with my family and friends.  I will take more pictures, make more memories, hug more and cry less....and I promise to take the best care of myself that I can. 
I am amazed and thrilled that you all have joined me on this journey, and would be so happy if you continued it with me....I promise, it'll never be dull..lol :)

Have a wonderful New Years........hug the ones you love...and maybe just for giggles...smile at someone just to make them wonder what you're thinking....
hugs,
heather

A Little About Life.....

Looking into my house right now, it's a little....mmmm....loud...lol!!  A good loud, but loud none the less...
My oldest daughter, Lauren, who is 7, has been having some problems focusing...she's always been one that danced to the beat of her own drum, but recently, that took on a whole new meaning.
Lauren is a very bright girl, very out going, just full of life.  She dances, sings, and if there's music, she's the happiest girl ever.  Lately, I have been having problems getting her attention, keeping her focus, and so has her teacher apparently.
SOOOOOOOOOOO....momma started paying very close attention to different things that she did, and what kept her attention, and how she learned....and I started to notice a pattern..........Everything Lauren did, she did to a beat...she spelled to a beat, she gave answers to questions to a beat....then, momma did a little research.....seems that children with ADHD or ADD, and kids that have other problems focusing, not only focus better with music, but excel at music....
Lauren can wiz through homework with her ipod jammed in her ears, and make no mistakes....but if she doesn't have that...it takes forEVER....

 So daddy found her a set of used drums....and that child has amazed me....she's been playing since this past Saturday....and is playing like she's done it all of her life...I thought it was her daddy playing only to open the basement door and see Lauren sitting there, totally absorbed in the beat.... I was over whelmed...this beautiful little girl, who has caused me many a night mare because I can't get her attention...was living in that music....

  Those little hands doing more things at once than I ever could...and sounding so amazing, I didn't care how loud it was....

it was beautiful....
<3 hugs,
heather

Simply Delish!!

I don't know about everyone else, but it never seems to fail.....I start thinking, what should I make for dinner and then, bam!!  I have to get kids from school, do homework, and all of the sudden....IT'S DINNER!!!!  AAAAHHHHH!!!  How nice would it be to have a magic wand at that time!!  heheheh :)  Seems to me Denielle's Tastefully Simple is the next best thing!

Tastefully simple has yummy, easy to make food (which is perfect for those of us, like me, lol, that procrastinate on what to make for dinner.... ;) 
They also have really awesome ideas for things that will make your Halloween party ROCK...Like these edible eyes and witch fingers!!!

Or how about something for a special breakfast or a family get together!!

Yup, they've got that covered too!!   AND!!!  That sweet girl Denielle is doing a giveaway on her fan page!!!  Stop over and become a fan and you can win the
Pumpkin Patch Bread Mix....and then you can invite me over so we can share it...lol!!!  She is also offering a 15% discount until Wednesday at 10:00 p.m.(est) (The discount will be refunded within 24 hours of the order, or if you call her to order, she'll just apply it then!)  So hurry!!!  Run over to Denielle's Tastefully Simple fan page and tell her I sent you, and then go turn on that oven and get ready to bake!!!
hugs,
heather

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1.03.01

A Haunting in Harrison???

I'm pretty sure I've never shared this with most of you, but growing up, I lived in a house that my family and I believe was haunted by a not so nice spirit.  Several strange things happened in that house, including the fact that I was scratched by what ever it was that was there.  Things would slide back and forth in the closets, things would fall out of our cabinets, our dog would go crazy in the middle of the night for no reason at all.  You could feel the strange energy in there. 
Needless to say, I am a believer.  I've had many things happen to me since then that has confirmed (in my head) that we are not alone, and quite honestly, I'm ok with that.  In fact it's very intriguing to me.

The house we live in now, isn't all that old, but neither was the one I grew up in.  Strange things have always happened around me, so I guess I notice them, but never thought about it......until recently.

I have several old things in my house, things that were owned by people in my family long ago, things that my dad and I found while looking through old mining houses in the Adirondack mountains.  I love old things that people touched and used..books, door knobs, tea cups, eye glasses, tools, mirrors, dressers.....and an old rocking chair.... I also have an old light fixture from a stage coach stop.  I actually acquired it when I was bartending.  We would always smell cigar smoke when no one was there, and always joked that it was from the ghost that came with that fixture. 





When Brian and I started smelling cigar smoke, we never thought about it, until I talked to a friend that I bartended with and she mentioned they hadn't smelled cigars like that ever since I left with that fixture.  Then it clicked. 

You see, in my house, you smell cigar smoke, although no one is smoking, the dining room chairs get pushed out after they are pushed in, shadows are seen where no one is standing and you can just FEEL someone standing next to you when you are in bed.  The newest happening is one of the Halloween decorations we have out, which is a motion activated life size butler, goes off when no one is around him...he's just standing there...talking to himself....

Do YOU believe???
Happy haunting....hugs..
heather

On the Eve of a New School Year....

I'm having a very hard time with school starting this year....in fact, it seems to get harder every year for me... This year it's mostly because my youngest starts kindergarten... :( 
I wanted to share something with all of you that was sent home today at our schools grill out by my oldest daughters teacher....I have no idea who wrote it, but it brought tears to my eyes, especially because at sometime or another, we all tend to forget.....they are still babies...

Let Me Be a Child

Let me know when I make you proud.
And help me to have pride in my own accomplishments.
Let me earn your trust. Then trust me.
I won't let you down.

 

Let me try my wings.  If I fail, let me know it's OK, and encourage me to try again.
Let me know you love me with a hug or a pat on the back.
Or, when I need it, with a firm but gentle “no”

Let me be. Let me change. Let me grow.

Let me know that, even on my worst days, you still like me.
Let me dream. Share my joy when my dreams come true.
Share my tears when they don't.

Let me feel secure in my home. Help me realize that love is always there.
That I can depend on you no matter what.
Let me run. let me laugh. let me play.
And most of all, let me be a child.

hugs,
heather