It's Not BeginningTo Look A Lot Like Christmas!

I haven't started decorating for Christmas...not..one..bit!
I watched Floral designers decorate where I work and it just made me sad!
It was beautiful...but I knew there were no designers at my house...NOT ONE!
We have just been so busy with other stuff...Advent and Christmas have just not found a place in my heart ...or my home...yet!

I did want to tell you about an awesome give-away...
Artificial Christmas Tree
Giveaway at Balsam Hill!

Good Luck!...and maybe I will start pulling boxes from the attic!

Have a " AWE Filled" Day!

My winner for SITS Girls Spring Fling Give-away is Teri at Let Me Think on it! She will be the proud owner of the soundtrack from Slumdog Millionaire.


I hope she is as excited as the first time my beautiful grand daughter saw Build a Bear!
Actually, I wish everyone that kind of day!
Happy Wednesday! Visit Angie for more Wordful Wednesdays!

Spring Quickly as I Am Late Again!!!

Okay...Love Spring...hate daylight saving time! I want my ripped off hour back! I am late to everything now!

But...I love SPRING FLING at the SITS Girls!
Enter here for my drawing of the sound track of slumdog millionaire...I haven't seen the movie yet but I love the music!!!
Visit the SITS Girls for Springtastic giveaways!!!

Oh Vanna!

Thank you everyone for voting for Sara and entering my give-away for the iPod Nano!

Sara had entered a contest and everyone was wonderful in their support of her and I thank you sincerely!

Sara and my daughter Rachel have been friends since 4th grade! Sara was Rachel's maid of honor at her wedding.

This is the iPod nano that the winner will receive...this is Rachel "Vanna" showing it off!

Take Two!

And the winner is

Blogstalker!

Please email me your address and your name...

I will not publish it...as I know you remain in the shadows protecting all of us bloggers !

Please congratulate Blogstalker and for more friday fotos visit cute candid carrie!

It is also Wheel of Fortune's 5,000th show today!

Dreams of Jennifer and Brad and Angelina... OH MY!

So...I loved the Oscars...I mean sitting-there-in-my-chair-staring- at- the- TV-loved-the-Oscars!
I loved all of it and fell asleep exhausted thinking about how there was really only one uncomfortable moment...
I felt badly for Jennifer Aniston that she had to present with Jack Black ( Nice, but why couldn't it have been someone like the new James Bond, Daniel Craig?) in front of her ex-husband and his new "wife" and mother of his half dozen kids!
I fell asleep thinking ...."Why did they have to put the camera on the happy couple while she was talking?" It was the icky feeling...

My Hubby woke me up really early and I was dreaming and in my dream...

I was Brad Pitt's ex-wife and I had to speak in front of a lot of people including him and his "new wife!"

"Honey... I am going!" he said
I open my eyes and see My Hubby and I am overjoyed that HE is my Hubby and I am NOT the ex-wife of Brad Pitt...I swear this is my actual thought process...which I apparently express out loud!
Hubby clearly confused!
So...I do what rational people do...I explain.
"You, see I was dreaming I was Brad Pitt's ex-wife and I had to talk in front of a lot of people, including him and his "new wife!"
"I am so glad you are my Hubby!" I say.
Hubby responds with comment that will live in Ronda's Infamy (actual place you don't want to go there)

"But Ronda, if you were Brad Pitt's ex-wife we would be RICH!" Hubby says.
"Yes...but then I would be Jennifer Aniston..." I say through clenched teeth!
"Oh...yea..." Hubby smiles.
Neither one of us have figured in the "John Mayor" factor!

Don't forget to Vote for Sara and enter the drawing for the iPod nano on February 27!
Good Luck!

Look Who Won!

Diane is the winner for the Pay-it-forward drawing and she will be receiving the book that I just finished for Bloggy Book Club! Congrats!
firefly lane by Kristin Hannah is a novel about two young girls and their friendship that spans 30 years.

I had planned to post pictures of the drawing but I am sick and just can't be bothered! Ha!

I love to think about books long after I have read them, sit and reflect about choices the author makes in the story telling...I have only one relationship that has lasted nearly this long besides sisters and parents, and that would be my relationship with my Hubby! So...the intimacy between these two women was not something I could completely relate to!
I wish I could have...I wish I knew what happened to my very best friend from eighth grade...I wonder if she still lives in England.
Do you still see your best friend from eighth grade?
Congrats, to Diane...email me your address and I will send you this book and a Starbucks Gift card.I mean...What is a good book without a good cup of coffee?
I am going back to sleep...everyone have a great day!

Bloggy Book Club

The pick for February is firefly lane by Kristin Hannah..I would put a picture of the novel...right about here but I can't get blogger to work for me today!
This is a novel about two women's friendship that spans thirty years...a friend suggested it to me.

I am currently reading Big Russ & Me Father and Son: Lessons of Life by Tim Russert and so far I love it! We all learn from our Dads...whether we are aware of it or not, whether it is a conscious act on either participate... we learn!

I have a book I do not recommend...
My Hubby and I had to take a business trip last weekend so we looked for a book that we could listen to on CD! I paid actual hard earned money for this crap...yep that's what I called it crap!
I am not concerned about offending this author as I bet ...he will be tickled pink that I think it is crap!
The book I hate is Why We Suck by DR. Denis Leary...I put the bold font by his title as this would appear to be fairly important to him as you listen to him put the emphasis on his title numerous times!
We stopped listening at the third CD!
I wanted to like this...I really did! It's just awful for the sake of being awful! He insults everyone and I mean everyone...except his wife...God love the saint of a woman! He has a filthy mouth and I am not easily insulted...
However...let's just say...it makes me uncomfortable hearing a man describe Britney's Spears private parts knowing he is old enough to be her father....GROSS!!!
But...where the actual book might be better as opposed to the audio version...DR. Denis Leary has the most annoying voice...EVER! As I listen to him
read the book all I can think of is ...this is a really bad impersonation of Joe Pesci's Leo Getz in Lethal Weapons 1-18! It sent me over the moon...and not in a good way...OKAY!!! OKAY!!!
DR. Denis Leary, I may suck but.... Buddy you suck more!
I know he is laughing all the way to the bank!
That's all I got...
If you haven't entered my give-away for an iPod nano...Please do! We are doing this to suppport Sara Nelms who is pursuing her dream!

You Are A Winner!!!

My winner for the $10 Build-a-Bear Workshop gift card is Karla at Zander and Me...such a great Mom and a really, really cute little boy! I am not exaggerating...look for yourself! This is one cute little boy!

I hope Zander and you have as much fun as we all did!!!

I highly recommend this store for all your Teddy Bear needs!!!

friday foto...Baer er Bear Style

We went to Build-a-bear Workshop on Wednesday and all of us had a great time! This is My granddaughter running...to get into the store! We made a bunny for her named Poinsettia and a bear named Ben for the Cutest Boy in America!

They put lot's of love into their "critters" while they stuffed them full of...whatever that stuff is called!

I love this store...a little boy came up to me and said "What is you name?" and I said truthfully

"Mrs. Baer!" and I realized with his smile...I had the greatest name!!!

Leave a comment here about how much you love Bears or Baers and I will enter you in a give-away for $10 gift card to Build-a-Bear Workshop!

Five more entires if you follow me and one more if you mention the give-away on your blog! I will draw tomorrow!!! Enjoy your friday with more friday fotos at Candid Carrie

Build-a-Bear...or even a Bunny!

Yesterday...for a couple of hours I had some fun...and I was wearing sensible shoes!

All the girls and the Cutest Boy in America went to Build-a-Bear and we did that...I mean Build a Bear and a Bunny, too!

I loved it and can see spending a fortune there in my future!

I will have pictures tomorrow for Candid Carrie's friday foto but today and tomorrow you may enter a drawing for a $10 gift certificate to Build-a Bear!

Follow me for one entry...somehow I lost three of you!

:(

Tell me how much you loves Bears in today's or tomorrow's post for one more entry and mention it in your blog for five more entries!

It is a fun store!

Drawing will be held Saturday,December 20th!

Blog for Your Charity!!

My Pay-it Forward winners need to send me their addresses...you don't have to play but you do need to receive!

Rhonda from A day in Rhonda's Life who is just getting ready to go on the vacation of a life time!
Candid Carrie who has a wonderful Zoo life...literally... a lot of beautiful animals live there as well as her beautiful children.
Lizzy of Hot Tub Lizzy who has a guy who is so romantic and two beautiful daughters who are also funny like their mother!

Don't forget my Thanksgiving Loser Contest! Blog about a time where you lost something and it meant something to you...it could be anything! But in that losing you gained something meaningful! The deadline for entries is November 21st. I will post a poll that will close November 26th and the winner announced November 27th, Thanksgiving Day.
I will donate $50 to the winner's designated charity!
So...enter something you have already written or post something new and tell your readers about the contest and about the charity you are writing for...this will give your charity some exposure...if they have a web page include that information as well!
Our first entry is by Candid Carrie and it is a beautiful one at that...
My Dearest Madeleine Rose
Our second entry is entitled Giving to Give by Hippie Family and it is very heartwarming!

November Bloggy Book Club

I decided to pick a romantic novel for this month....

November's Bloggy Book Club Choice is The Lucky One by Nicholas Sparks

Blog with us on November 30,2008

Halloween Give-away winner...jill jill bo bill!!! Email me with your address!

BTW...I Did Not Fall Off My Broom... Carrie!!!

There was a vicious rumor that I fell off my broom stick on the way home from this party...I did not! I can ride a broom stick with the best of them!!

I think some may have been a little jealous that they were not included in the party of the season!! I am just saying...

This is Brenda of Party Planning Mom who planned this great Witches Tea...for more pictures and great party ideas...check out her blog!

This is Brenda's grandmother,

me, Henry and my daughter Rachel.

It was a great Party!

All of us witches!!!

My Halloween Give-away winner was picked moments ago by The Hubby who drew jill jill bo bill out of the hat!! I am excited because I think she said she loved quoting that movie! Email me with your address Jill ...Congratulations!

friday foto fifth folder fifth picture

Playing the game that is going around bloggy world...go to fifth folder...fifth picture and post!
However, that one was a video of Carter driving me in his truck and I have already posted it so I went with fifth folder, sixth picture...
Here is the cutest boy in America's ...about three years ago!

Visit our loved Candid Carrie for more friday foto

The give-away winner here!

Rays Going To the World Series

Tampa Bay Rays playing for the World Series...and my son who also shaved his head with a Ray-hawk!!
My baby had beautiful hair!






My son shaved his son and my grandson's head to give him a hair style that is quite popular in Tampa right now...
It's called the Ray-Hawk...to celebrate Tampa Bay Rays going to the World Series!!!!
Don't forget to enter the Give-away here and here!

friday foto fierce as a lion

I am not as brave as my grandson...but I am getting braver!
My Hubby loves to take my picture and I am always telling him "No!"
It has been over 30 years of me saying "No!" That's a lot of No's. I have never felt comfortable about how I look. I am also uncomfortable with people watching me while I pose for pictures! Ugh!
But...I not only posed with people watching for this picture ... but I am posting it with friday foto fiesta finish!!! I am in Culver City, California!
I have come a long way baby!!
For more Friday Fotos visit Candid Carrie.

Also, I haven't traveled anywhere lately but I am featuring some bloggers on Travel with Ronda who have traveled and one who lives in a place that looks like paradise! Travel with Ronda!Or Ronda's Rants on the Run! **Giveaway!**

Thank You For Being My Friend....

Scary Mommy has an awesome giveaway...
Good Morning coffee! Which should be called Good Morning Friend because that is how I feel about my morning coffee! I would love to win this and I am sure you would too! So head over and see Scary Mommy! Speaking of Friends...


Dawn at Dawn's Place gave me this really nice award and I want to pass it along to people who are as nice as Dawn!

We need friends for many reasons,
all throughout the season.
We need friends to comfort us
when we are sad,
and to have fun with us
when we are glad.
We need friends to give us good advice,

We need someone we can count on,

and treat us nice.
We need friends to remember us
once we have passed
sharing memories that will always last.

So here is my five choices and the reason's why I chose them...

Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions because she is a good Mommy who is creative but in an way that doesn't beat the budget...she knows how to make these amazing things out of inexpensive, everyday items. I really admire that!
Gina at Lattes & Lipsticks because she remembers that your spouse can be your greatest friend if you let them be! I admire that!

Carrie at Candid Carrie because she is funny...like no one else can be and because she throws amazing parties every Friday and invites all of us...and NEVER asks us to clean up after ourselves! I just love that!

Jennifer at the Fun House because she loves her family and creates a fearless daily celebration of living life to the fullest and she invites us to follow along! I admire her fearlessness!

Elizabeth at Thoughts from an evil overlord...I still think this is the most oddly named blog...
but I love that she always teaches me something new...I am always informed after visiting her. I love learning new things!
Speaking of Elizabeth she is having an awesome giveaway to celebrate a very important birthday!!
Wish her a Happy Birthday and enter her contest...also please consider registering as a bone marrow donor. She has the information on her blog...I told you...she is always teaching!

The Bonnie Hunt Show Give-away!!

Warning!!!Turn your volume down...I am yelling...I don't know why!!! Also...it is amazing how good I am at this...I should have my own show...NOT!!!
But...my Grand kiddos are so cute...they should have their own show. As I promised Preschool fair!

Yeahhh!!!! Congratulations! Email me with your mailing address and I will forward to Eric on behalf of The Bonnie Hunt Show Give-away! I want to thank everyone for playing...this has been so much fun! The winner receives a Bonnie Hunt T-shirt, coffee mug, Bonnie Hunt DVD's and from Ronda's Rants a Thanksgiving Chocolate Coffee Basket!!!
As everyone now knows....Congratulations Mariah at Insane Mama! Please email me your address and I hope you have a great day!
For more Wordful Wednesdays visit 7 Clown Circus! There is probably less yelling!!

Reminders, Random Thoughts... or Confessions!

Last Day for The Bonnie Hunt Show Give-away entry...Go here. We will draw tonight at 5:00 pm and announce tomorrow morning, Wednesday, October1, 2008...hopefully bright and early...we'll see how it goes! Ronda's Rants is very flexible! We don't believe in writing anything in stone!

Brenda from Queen of Good Intention's has tagged me. That means I have to tell you seven random things about me.

1. First off...I am not flexible ...that is a lie...I admire people who are flexible and take things in stride. I do not. But, God is working with me!
2. I have been forgiven and I have forgiven and it is a lot of work and I struggle with accepting forgiveness, asking forgiveness and being a forgiving person. But, God is working with me.
3. I am an Olympic worrier...not warrior...I try very hard not to be the Eeyore of our family but I still struggle...that and swearing like a drunk sailor in a foreign port-of- call! God is working with that as well, if only I would try harder!
4. My faith is very important to me...God has done things in my life, that are really miracles, things I wouldn't have thought possible!
5. My children are happily married or engaged and that has given me more joy than I can express. I have the peace that comes from knowing they have a love that will endure their whole lives.
6. My Hubby and I have a strong marriage but not always peaceful and for years I have envied people who seem to have a even keel marriage, while mine has been stormy! But, through our marriage difficulties my Hubby and I have grown in our faith and love for God and each other. This is one of the many miracles I spoke of in #4 and the struggle he and I share in #2. But, God is still working with me.
7. Recently, in the real world someone talked about my blog in a complementary way and wanted to give my blog address out in a public forum! I declined not very gracefully. It shook me in a way that doesn't make sense. It is public domain anyone can read it and I am aware of that however...I immediately thought of deleting it the moment I got home...I am wondering why I felt/feel that way...I am pondering this and God is working with me! I am sure I will blog about it... before I delete the whole thing...Tee Hee!
If you feel like being tagged...you are tagged otherwise keep running!

Community or Cult ? You Decide...Next on The Bonnie Hunt Show

BTW...That won't be a real Bonnie Hunt Show topic...I was so kidding!!
MamaHut gave me this award and I think it is beautiful...I have seen others with it and have had a mild case of blog envy...I am not proud of this... just honest! I also want to say how funny I think she is and how I love where she lives...she hasn't just supported The Bonnie Hunt Show Give-away she has named her Alpaca Bonnie Ronda Hunt! BTW...I think Bonnie Ronda Hunt is far more beautiful than the other Alpacas!

OK here's what I have to do,

Explain the meaning which is...

To translate the gift from Portuguese to English, it means:"This blog invests and believes, the proximity"[meaning, that blogging makes us 'close' -being close through proxy] I have taken this to mean a feeling of community.Many others have already received this award and I agree they do give us all a sense of community in this blogging neighborhood! I think of this in some strange way...as like when my Mom during the 50's used to hang out on the front porch talking to the other Moms or when she would have ladies over for coffee...I maybe wrong maybe I have joined some kind of cult and I am ready to drink the cool-aid! I don't know but I am having a good time! So, thank you to all of you...Many of you already have the award so I am going to try to acknowledge those who haven't and who make us all feel like a community so......

Next I give it to 8 people who I want to be proxy with:
Kori at See Kori Rant
Brenda at Queen of Good Intentions
Lisa at Adventures in Jujoboo
Karen at Food Glorious Food
Gina at Lattes & Lipsticks
Blog Stalker at Blog Stalker
Beth Ann at Team Thornhill
Elizabeth at Thoughts From an Evil Overlord

Speaking of Elizabeth...she is celebrating the two year anniversary of her bone marrow transplant...Yeah! To spread awareness of this awesome gift she is doing a Give-away...please stop by and see her. I have donated a Thanksgiving Coffee Basket to be used as a prize and there are so many other great prizes ...so send her some love and please tell all of your friends!!! Please remember my Give-away and the deadline...Candid Carrie is really in competition with me for the best Bonnie Hunt fan award so she is making some deals with the gods about who is going to win this thing. I will put the Grandson in charge of it so it will be Pre-school fair...which as you know is the fairest rules of all!!! Also, besides the great Bonnie Hunt Show Gifts...I am including another Thanksgiving Coffee Basket to this drawing as well...I love this company...just the best!!!

Visit The Bonnie Hunt Show