Toilet Paper Tubes Keep Christmas Paper Neat

Guest Writer:  Ruth Morse

I am not a hoarder.

Not like the kind you see on TV anyway.

We moved 4 years ago, after living in our house for 37 years. In that span of time, we did accumulate things that needed to go. Lots of them!  Jim was much better at this than I was. If you remember, he's the one who dismantled a shed bit by bit and left it for the weekly trash pickup!  Click it to read about it.

When we moved in here, our things fit nicely in the closets and cupboards. Supposedly the rule was:

if you buy one thing new,

one old thing has to go.

Are the closets/cupboards nice like they were after we moved? None of your business! I have a plan......

Erin Thomas You Don't Know Me ~ Album Review

I set off on a solitary road trip with Erin Thomas playing through my speakers this past September.  Erin's soulful sound was exactly what I needed for that soul searching beach trip.  I played it continuously.  Erin Thomas is Norah Jones with no piano. Erin's also similar to Regina Spektor and something about her sound reminds me of Alice Smith.

You Don't Know Me, Erin Thomas' debut album is comprised almost entirely of original songs Erin has written, including That Kind of Love, a beautiful duet with Vince Gill.  You Don’t Know Me debuted in the Top 10 on US folk radio in August 2012, charting at #8 on the Folk DJ album chart, with the title track coming in at #4 on the song chart.

Erin Thomas has been playing a French Horn for the Nashville and Chattanooga symphonies for over ten years.  She is now focusing on her singer-songwriter side and touring the U.S.  I recently saw her perform in Columbia, SC.  I immediately purchased two CDs, one for me, one for a friend.  I've missed a few of her performances in Atlanta, but I will see her this weekend when she returns to Columbia:

Toys For Tots Benefit Concert

Tapp's Arts Center - The Fountain Room

Dec. 1, 2012  8:00 pm

$20 at the door

$10 if you bring a toy

Erin will be at Eddie's Attic in Atlanta again this Friday:

Erin Thomas and Mary Bragg

Eddie's Attic

Nov. 30, 2012  10:00 pm

$16 at the door

$60 to reserve a table for 4 ahead

Erin's songs are a little country, a little folksy, each one a story.  Proud is a song she wrote for her then three-year old daughter:

"When you're looking up at me,

I'm looking up to you.

And I,

I just wanna make you proud."

No doubt.

Erin's little girl will definitely be proud of her mama.

You Don't Know Me, released August 2012

Buy it here.

Dear Abby,

I am full of regrets and apologies.

Is this normal for an 

empty nest 

midlife crisis woman 

or should I seek immediate help?

Sincerely,

Sorry For Bothering You.

Finally: My Christmas Gift from Holsenback

Remember this Christmas past when Holsenback (Flash) was moving in on my daughter and sent the Cool Yule a Christmas present that left me wondering: Where's My Christmas Present??

Yeah.

Well, he made up for it this year.

He finally gave me my Christmas present:

Thanks, Robby!

Hohensalzburg Fortress, Salzburg, Austria

The Hohensalzburg Fortress towers 400' above the Salzach River, above the old town of Salzburg, Austria, the only part of Salzburg to survive World War II.  The old town is an enchanted place to visit, rent a bike and explore every little crevice.  The fortress is one of the best preserved in Europe and well worth a half day's visit.  A funicular makes it easy-access for everyone and there is a cafe' at the top so every tourist can be comfortable.

  

Brief history:  The area of today's Salzburg had been .....

Children's CD Package Great Deal

Welcome to Cyber Monday.  I'd like to pass on a great CD offer for a package of Kids CDs that would make a nice Christmas present for any special little people in your life.

Children’s Holiday CD bundle from Razor & Tie Kids

Four CDs kids will love for only $25

Only available from MerchNow

Offer available only Cyber Monday through Dec. 20, 2012

Four CD Set includes:

Laurie Berkner Christmas - Best-selling, award-winning children’s artist Laurie Berkner’s first-ever Christmas Album. The album features fifteen tracks, twelve classical holiday tunes along with three Berkner originals. 

Imagination Movers – Rock-O-Matic

This CD/DVD package features the band’s most irresistible songs along with live-action, animated music videos, and entertaining skits that showcase the high-energy hijinks for with the Imagination Movers are famous.  Read my review of Rock-O-Matic.

The Wiggles – Big Birthday

The 31 track CD includes live tracks from their 2009 and 2011 Sydney, Australia shows, a collection of material filmed in the studio (bloopers, songs, jokes), and Wiggly Joke Time with Captain Feathersword, Murray and Dorothy.  What kid doesn't like the Wiggles?

Super Why? – You’ve Got The Power Soundtrack

The first-ever Super Why? album features 18 tracks from the top-rated, Emmy nominated, breakthrough PBS preschool series designed to help kids ages 3 to 6 with the skills that they need to learn to read.

Disclosure:  I received nothing for this post.  I just think it's a good deal and a great gift for kids. 

Gratitude

grat - i -tude

the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful

a feeling of thankfulness or appreciation

the quality of being thankful

readiness to show appreciation for and to return kindness

Printcopia Canvas Print Winner

The winner of the Printcopia canvas print  is . . .

Glogirl!

Congratulations, Amy, and thanks for stopping by my blog.  Check your email in the next few days for details.

As with all my give aways, I used a Random Number Generator.

I had an excellent experience ordering my canvas print from Printcopia, read my review here. I highly recommend Printcopia for your canvas prints and regular or panoramic prints.

Thanks to everyone who entered the give away.  Watch future posts for more awesome give aways.

The Abbey Road Sessions ~ Album Review

Kylie Minogue is celebrating 25 years in the music business with her new album, The Abbey Road Sessions. The album was recorded in the legendary Abbey Road Studios with a full orchestra.  The background noise is low and Kylie's voice is clear and unblemished.

The Abbey Road Sessions features some of Kylie's previous classics, reimagined and rearranged, as well as the previously unreleased "Flower," a song she wrote following her battle with breast cancer.  That song was probably my favorite on the album.

A slight country twang appears periodically in this album that I don't think is typical of Kylie Minogue.  The album is peaceful and quiet, unlike her previous dance/pop hits.  I kept adjusting my audio settings thinking my bass was messed up, but there just isn't much bass in this album.  I'm not an orchestra fan, this isn't my typical music.  Many of Kylie's videos and images are uber-sexy and not exactly family friendly.  I can't say I'm a fan, but the orchestra sound is a nice direction for her.

You'll probably most remember Kylie from her 1988 hit version of "The Loco-Motion," although she's produced many albums since then.

Listen to a preview here.
@KylieMinogue

Disclosure:  I was given a free copy of Kylie Minogue's CD to review. I am entered in a drawing for a Visa gift card in exchange for my review.  No other compensation.  The review contains my own, honest opinion and review.

Chateaus, Castles, and Palaces in Europe

Now that we've returned from Europe, I am discovering all kinds of interesting places I wish I had visited. This is the Water Palace in the Dachstein Mountains. The palace was built in 1520 and served as the summer residence of Bishops. In the early 20^th century King Ludwig III, the last King of Bavaria, came here to seek refuge during the German Revolution.

I want to go back and visit this place.  And while I'm there, I need to check out a little something called the Dachstein Sky Walk.

Other castles I've enjoyed:

Canvas Print Review with Printcopia and Give Away

I was recently offered a chance to review a canvas print and host a Give-Away for my spectacular readers.  Awesome, right?   With two weddings in the past year, I have really been loving canvas prints.  I now have three on my mantle.

Printcopia is super easy to use and they have regular photo services, not just canvas prints.  Upload your picture, click on some personal selections and boom, you're done.  My print arrived in 12 days.

You can upload images directly from Facebook or Instagram, too.

Printcopia uses non-toxic, eco-friendly inks and offers 100% satisfaction guarantee on all canvas prints.

Easy Cheesecake

If you are not much of a baker and just want a yummy, easy dessert, try this Spring Breeze Cheesecake recipe I got from Rene' 3 decades ago.

8 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/3 c of sugar
1/2 pint sour cream
2 tsp. vanilla
8 oz. Cool Whip
1 Graham cracker pie crust

Beat cheese until smooth, gradually beat in sugar.  Blend in sour cream and vanilla.  Fold in Cool Whip, blend well.  Spoon into crust.  Chill for 4 hours.

That's it!  Enjoy.

Rome: The Roman Forum / Ancient Rome

Rome's glory days were roughly 500 BC - 500 AD.  It was 2012 AD before I arrived in Rome and I found it breathtakingly inspirational to be in a city with so much history.

Rome was a Republic during the first half of its glory days and ruled basically by Senators.  The second half was an empire and ruled by unelected emperors -- a ton of them in a small time frame because they mostly got killed.

Today's Rome is a big, modern city littered with ancient ruins.  You can walk out of a subway station and find yourself staring at marble ruins that date back to 500 BC.

It's amazing.  How do the locals become accustomed to it?

When you visit Rome, of course one of the top attractions will be Ancient Rome, The Roman Forum.  We  paid for an audio guided tour for this because I thought it would be so helpful to hear about all the ruins.  However, I'm not sure I'd recommend that for you.  By taking a tour .....

Surviving Difficult Times, Living the Dash

My new mantra is "Clickety Clack."

This is what you will hear me muttering,

mumbling,

whispering,

pleading....

Clickety Clack is the sound of the roller coaster as it makes the slow, agonizing ascent.  "Woo Hoo!" is the sound you make in the thrilling descent.

Clickety Clack is the background noise as your mind whirls:

• "Why did I do this?
• "I'll never do this again!"
• "Where am I going?"
• "What's ahead?"
• "I don't want to be here."
• "I can't survive this."