September's Prime Purchases

I'm NOT going to say it, but, I just can't seem to help myself, y'all it's a little over 3 months until Christmas.  Good grief, I can't even hardly think about it but I'll get it in gear and I'll be ready. Perhaps some of my prime purchases will assist you with some of your shopping.  Here's this month's purchases...........

FAUX  PAMPAS  GRASS

I recently repainted the huge pots on our front porch and I wanted a totally different look for them.  I decided that I wanted some pampas grass in the mix but I knew it could not be dried due to the humidity we have here in NE Louisiana.  So, I began checking out the various kinds on Amazon and this type seemed as though it might fare okay under the porch.

This is the grass mixed in with some greenery and I am so pleased with the look.  All of it is put inside a 15" piece of pipe and the pipe is held in place with sand and gravel. All the stems of the arrangements are 12 inches or more.  We are hopeful that it is secure enough to withhold the awful winds that can blow up here on the hill.  I'm pretty sure it won't be long until it is put to the test and I'm sure crossing my fingers. 

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NINJA  DUAL BREW  SYSTEM

I bet some of you are saying, "you got ANOTHER coffee pot.!"  Yep!  I do love coffee pots and when Hubby's office called and said the pot at the office was a goner, I jumped at the chance to give them the one I currently had.  I was wanting an excuse to buy a Ninja and that excuse just feel in my lap. ~chuckle~  This is an awesome machine and has a 12 cup pot and makes 6,8,10,and 12 ounce cups with pods.  And, the size is very doable.  Ninja is a great brand and I am very happy thus far.

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STAIR/STEP  RAILING

When we built our home 8 years ago we did not put handrails up on the brick steps going off our back porch.  Well, we have recently felt that they are needed but we sure did hate to spend the fortune on them that we spent on the ones on the front porch steps.  Hubby decided to just give Amazon a look and "low and behold" if they did not have a nice selection for heavy duty rails.  We chose these and they have the shepherd's hook curl on the top and that dresses them up a bit.  We are so very pleased and the cost was unbelievably less expensive.  Of course, they are not custom designed but they look really nice and serve a great purpose.

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INSTANT  AEROSOL  TRIGGER

Let me just tell you that if you are going to be doing a lot of spray painting with canned spray paint, you will definitely want to have these.  Hubby just recently painted one of our patio sets and the front porch benches.  His finger would absolutely have never held up if it had not been for these triggers.

He used 12 cans of flat black paint for these items and we still have a few more items to tackle.  It was way too hot on the day he did this so we'll wait until a bit cooler weather before doing the rest.

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OVER  THE  DOOR  PANTRY  ORGANIZER

This was likely designed with a pantry in mind but, that is not where I am using the one I ordered.  I have a small room up at Hubby's office where I do all my gift wrapping and shipping.  And, I store all my Christmas there and wrap it all there.  It's awesome because I don't have to keep it at our house. This serves as a great way for me to keep ribbon and all manner of items that I have in my room.  I think it  would work well in a pantry but I just didn't need it for mine.  It's simple to put together and, as you can see from the picture, it holds a whole lot.

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WOMEN'S  LEATHER  WALLET

This is my 2nd wallet by this brand and I may never have another kind.  I love it!  Yes, it is big but it holds all the things, a neat zipper compartment for cash and coins and slip pockets for all the cards. It has a neat little strap if you prefer to carry it alone but I do not do that.  It's always in my purse and fits perfectly in my small handbag.  I have a pretty large handbag but I just keep it on the floor behind my seat in case I need one of the many items in it.  I seldom carry it because it's easier on my neck and shoulder if I stick with something small.  

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VINTAGE  PRINT  LARGE  COIN  WALLETS

Speaking of purses, these cute little coin wallets are awesome.  I love the design and I use two of them in my large purse.  In one I keep things like bandaids, ibuprofen, Tylenol, etc.  In the other one I have a small tape measure, a small pair of fold up sissors, and things of that sort.  They are just big enough and fit nicely in my bigger purse. They are smaller but plenty big for what I use them for and, as I said, they are so cute!

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METALLIC  RETRACTABLE  GEL  PENS

Our oldest granddaughter will be 14 the first of Oct. and these pens are something that were on her list.  She loves pens just about as much as I do. This is such a pretty set and I imagine she will have hours of enjoyment with them. She has such a beautiful handwriting and these colored gel pens will just add to the beauty.

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Okay, that's it for this time.  Hoping that fall is just around the corner as it is still very hot here in NE Louisiana and we are in need of some rain.  Until next time...........

May God shine His bright light on you today! 

A "Catty" Kind of Hodgepodge

I was determined that I would be a participant in today's HP and here I am.  Thanks Joyce for continuing to host us each week with such great questions. 

1. August 8th is National Cat Day. Do you own a cat? Are you a 'cat person'? Your favorite 'famous' cat?

I do not own a cat nor am I a cat person. I do not need one more thing that requires care at this point in my life.

Garfield has always been a favorite of mine.

2. Cat nap-copycat-scaredy cat-curiosity killed the cat-cat got your tongue-like herding cats...which cat phrase applies to your life in some way currently? Explain. 

I am not one to typically nap but, if I do, it's more of a cat nap.  I remember my Mom saying how refreshing a quick nap was for her and I didn't understand what she meant.  Well, now I do, on the occasion that I grab a cat nap, it truly is refreshing.  I'm definitely more prone to a nap in the winter than in the summer.

3. What's your favorite or most- often-made one pot meal? 

I'm a fan of several one pot meals but one of my favorites would be gumbo.  I started making gumbo about 10 years ago and, even if I do say so, I make a really good gumbo.  It's hearty, made with shrimp, sausage and chicken, okra and I use chicken broth to make the roux rather than water.  Whenever I make it, I make a huge pot and share it with neighbors and friends and always put some in the freezer.

4. What do you wish you'd placed in a time capsule fifteen years ago? 

I thought of several things but a phonebook would be fun to show my Grans.  Our oldest Gran will be 15 in Oct. and I'm pretty sure he, nor any of our other Grans have ever seen a phonebook.  And, I'm pretty sure they do not know anything about them.  The older ones already know all about Google and finding phone numbers and addresses.  Who would have ever dreamed?

5. Your favorite hour of the day? Tell us why. 

Around 6:00 PM is my favorite time of day.  If we do not have plans for the evening then you will find me in my comfy clothes curled up in my recliner.  I rarely sit during the day so by 6:00 I'm looking forward to sitting and relaxing.  It might be watching a series with Hubby, spending time on my laptop, or emailing but I do look forward to it.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

These little guys will both have birthdays soon.  Coleman will be 8 on August 30th and Case will be 4 on August 20th.  We celebrated them while we were there (Oklahoma) a couple of weeks ago.  These two never slow down, they are ALL boy and romp and stomp with the dogs, horses and sheep all day long.  They do come inside in the heat of the day but even when they are inside, they are busy, busy.  Just watching and hearing them wears me out. ~chuckle~ But, they have not a clue about this crazy world, they are too busy "living their best lives."  And, for that, I am thankful!

August Prime Purchases

Can you believe it's already August???  I mean, Christmas is less than 5 months away.  So, it's not too early for us to be thinking about gifts and perhaps my Prime list will assist you in your gift giving. 

TABLE  TOPICS  DINNER  PARTY  SET

Have you been introduced to Table Topics yet?  If not, you need to be.  This set is the Dinner Party set and is called a conversation starter but it's much more.  There are several different ones.  I have this one and the Family Set.  Each card asks a question for the person that draws it to answer.  It's a way to learn a lot about your family and friends.  I would say children from about 8 years old would enjoy participating.

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FOUNDATION/POWDER  BRUSH

I first saw these brushes on a video and decided that I wanted to give them a try. They promote them mostly for foundation application but I use mine to apply my powder.  I love it!!! And, I love the way it applies my powder.  I find that using a brush to apply my foundation just causes the brush to absorb most of the foundation.  So, I will continue to use my fingers to apply my foundation and this brush to apply my powder.

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FOLDABLE  LED  DESK  LIGHT

This is the dandiest little light folks and especially for traveling.  I just took it with me on our trip to Oklahoma last week and used it with my stand mirror when applying my makeup.  The travel mirror I had just didn't provide the light I needed, so I came up with this and it worked like a dream for me. You can likely think of a lot of other uses for it too.  It's so small and easy to fit into tiny places.

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EYEBROW  POWDER  AND  BRUSHES

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I have used brow powder and brow pencils over the years.  But, recently changed back from pencil to powder.  I think the powder gives a much more natural look and I love the powder and brushes shown above.

BAGGALLINI - THE ONLY BAG

You have heard me talk about Baggallini handbags many times.  This is their newest one.  I like a large handbag (some might call it a tote) and then in recent years I keep, what I call, a shopping size purse, in my vehicle and put my billfold, phone and keys in it and that's what I carry when shopping.  My neck and shoulders cannot tolerate a heavy handbag/tote anymore.  One of the biggest reasons that I love the Baggallini bags is their weight.  They are so lightweight.  All the weight comes from the items inside it. This is a silvery color, goes with everything and I love it.  It comes in other colors as well.

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KATE  SPADE  SUNGLASSES

I have the tortoise color in these and decided I wanted the black. They are such a nice pair of sunglasses and they fit me perfectly.  They come with a great case to protect them.  I rarely use a case but usually hang them on my handbag, it's much quicker to grab them that way.

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SQUARE  SERVING  TRAY

I wanted a new tray to keep near our refrigerator.  I use a tray to put glasses on when we have company.  I can fill them with ice and drink and then carry them to the table.  This one is 14 X 14 and will hold 9 of the size glasses I use.  It is made of acacia wood, so it matches the flooring throughout our house.  I'm going to have it engraved with our monogram.  It would also make a great gift. 

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LED  FLOOR  LAMP

My Daddy needed a new floor lamp and this one "fit the bill."  It needed to give good light, be easy to turn on and off, and have a flexible neck.  It is perfect for him and it has a heavy base and stays in place well.  It is setting beside his recliner and he can easily reach it while sitting.  It is very attractive and affordable.  I highly recommend this lamp.  It is "easy peasy" to put together.

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Okay, that's it for this month.  I hope something "peaked" your interest.

Have a great new week!!!

Wednesday Hodgepodge

I just cannot seem to be a regular participant in the HP as hard as I try.  Life  gets in the way more than I prefer, but it is what it is and I'll show up when I can.  Now, for this week's questions................

1. What's something bizarre you've seen or heard recently? 

I mean, it's everyday and it gets more bizarre each and every day.  I listen to our local news and half way listen to the national news and that is about all I can take.  For one thing, everything is repeated OVER and OVER until it absolutely makes me dizzy.  Yes, the news is bizarre!

2. July 18th is National Sour Candy Day. Who knew? Do you like sour candies or other foods with 'sour' flavors? Kimchi, rhubarb, gooseberries, tamarind, dill pickles, sour cherries, sauerkraut, cranberries, and  grapefruit...of the sour foods listed which is your favorite? 

I had no idea there was such a day.  I am not a fan of sour candies or foods with sour flavors.  I do want 3-4 dill pickles on my hamburger and that's about as far as it goes with me.  I'm not sure I've ever been a fan of sour, not even as a youngster.  But, my Grans love all the sour candies.

3. Share a favorite memory of an aunt or uncle. 

This is my Aunt Wanda, my Mom's oldest sister.  She died about 10 years ago at the age of 92.  She was so, so dear to me.  She was the mother of 4 boys and as a little girl I loved to go to their house because there was always something going on.  She loved me like a daughter and after my Mom died, she was such an encouragement to me in my grief.  My last visit with her was the year that she passed away and it was such a special time.  She lived in Virginia and I flew up to spend time with her as I was pretty sure it would be my last time to see her on this earth.

4. How would you describe your ability to manage stress? 

Hummm........I guess it depends on what type of stress it is.  I feel like I have lived through some very stressful times and came through on the other side.  I try to ask myself if something is really worth the stress I'm feeling and a lot of the time, it is not.  I know that no amount of stressing can over ride the power of prayer.  And, I am blessed with precious friends that have and will continue to pray for me when I might have difficulty praying.  Thankfully, the Lord hears the groanings of our heart and there have been plenty of groanings of my heart in my 70 years.  

5. What do you think about when you let your mind wander? 

At this point in my life I wander about my future, our future.  I am such a planner and there are some things in this life that cannot be planned.  I wonder about such things as, how will my life end, will Hubby and I live out our days here in this house, will our health fail or will we just sail on out due to old age.  I certainly do not dwell on any of it, more or less just fleeting thoughts.  My future is secure in the Lord and my eternal home awaits me, it doesn't get much better than that.

6. Insert your own random thought here.  

You may remember that some months ago I mentioned on one of my HP posts that my Dad had a wound on his little finger that I was treating with Monuka Honey because NOTHING that had been prescribed had worked.  This sore came up on his finger last Sept.  He had no idea about how it got there and could not remember injuring it.  It did respond favorably to the honey and healed up.  But, within a week, it came right back, only worse than previously.  I asked his Dr. to prescribe Home Health Wound Care  this past Feb. and they began seeing him and treating it.  After two months of NO success they called and told me that they were pretty sure it was a skin cancer and I needed to get him to a dermatologist.  So, I won't go into all the details but the wound ended up being a Basal Cell Carcinoma (Monuka Honey does NOT work on cancer).  Last week he had surgery on the finger with a Mohs specialist (if you do not know what Mohs is, you can Goggle it).  It was a much bigger ordeal that even she was expecting and we ended up being at her office for 8 hours.  It required a skin graft because it had almost gone to the bone.  Talk about STRESS!!!!!  These past 10 months of dealing with this have been beyond stressful.  But, I took him back for his first checkup yesterday and the skin graft seems to be doing well and the Dr. was more than pleased.  She changed the bandage and I will take him back next Monday for another check.  It is going to be a process but right now he's on the right track.  Now, folks, if you are NOT aggressive with your own health care and any one that you might be in charge of, you or they may not survive.  I would love for you to see the pictures of this wound and how it worsened over the months.  I would never post such gross pictures but let me assure you that the Dr. said that the cancer was just before going to the bone.  If you have a sore come up and it does not response to treatment within a short time, get to your dermatologist.  I have learned so much through this and just hate that I had no idea this might be a skin cancer.  If I had not asked for Home Health Wound Care to step in, he likely would have lost his finger.  Okay, let me hush! Oh, and did I mention the pain he has endured.

I leave you with one of my favorite verses................

July Prime Purchases

Well, if I have calculated correctly, 2023 is half over.  It's crazy how fast the days are going by. But, obviously not faster than I can shop on Amazon. ~big chuckle~  It's all about convenience folks! I sort of feel badly saying that, but I imagine most of you would agree.

CAPRI  LEGGINGS

I've featured these on a previous post in solid black but they have so many great colors and patterns that I ordered this pattern and they are so comfortable  and cute!  And, the mesh jacket below looks really cute with them with a sleeveless black tunic top underneath.

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DKNY  MESH  JACKET

I really like DKNY sports wear and this black mesh jacket is so cute.  It is so thin and being mesh it is not hot at all to me.  And, as I mentioned it looks really cute with the capri leggings shown above.  It comes in white as well.

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BROWNIE  PAN WITH  DIVIDERS

I have seen these pans, know a few folks that have them and decided that I needed to get one.  I was told that to make the divider come out perfectly, you need to spray the divider and the pan very well with Baker's Joy or whatever flour/oil spray you use.  Well, I can attest to the fact that it does work very well.  I did my favorite brownie recipe and poured it in the pan, then put the divider in.  I let them cool a while and then slowly removed the grid and it worked beautifully.  I just used a small spatula to remove the delicious perfectly sized brownies.  One recipe of my brownie recipe makes two of these pans. I filled the pan right at half way and no more.  For me, they were the perfect thickness.

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KEY  FOB

Okay, did you know that you can replace the outside of your fob?  We certainly did not.  They can get so dirty and ugly looking and Hubby was going to the dealership and just order a new one.  Well, he was talking with someone and they told him that all he needed was to replace the outside and he could find them on Amazon.  And, he did and we both are sporting new fobs now with the same insides as were in the old fobs.  Who knew?  And, the best part is they are only $10!

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JERGENS  SELF  TANNER

When I tell you I have tried more self tanners than the law allows, I'm telling the truth.  And, I always come back to this one and have quit trying any other brand, no matter how highly recommended.  I use it about 2-3 times a week in the summer and it gives me just a tad of a tan and I'm very happy with it. And, a little goes a long way and one tube last me pretty much the entire summer.

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YELLOW  BOX  FLIP  FLOPS

I love Yellow Box brand as they tend to run narrow and I can usually wear their flip flops.  I wanted a pair of navy and I thought these were just too cute and they are very comfortable.  Of course, I do love the bling on them. They come in 3-4 colors.

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NINE  WEST  STRETCH  BRACELETS

I featured some smaller stretch bracelets last month and I now wear these bigger ones with them.  It makes for such a nice look.

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LEMI  SHINE  APPLIANCE  CLEANER

This may be a repeat but if you are looking for a really good appliance cleaner then you need to give Lemi-Shine a try.  I use it for both my washing machine, garbage disposal and my dishwasher monthly.

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BOSCH  LIGHTWEIGHT  STAND  MIXER

If you've been hanging around here very long then you know that I love to bake.  I use a mixer a whole, whole lot.  I found out about this lightweight Bosch about 10 years ago and just ordered my second one. My other one was just about on it's last leg.  It weighs a mere 8 pounds, takes up such a little bit of space and does a superb job.  I feel like I could be the Bosch poster child for this mixer, I love it that much!  A heavy bulky mixer IS NOT for me.

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12" RECHARGEABLE  FAN

This little jewel will be going with us to the state competition of our youngest Granddaughter's All Star softball tournament this next weekend.  There's no heat like Louisiana heat and we are going to be as prepared as possible.  It is rechargeable and will run 5 hours on high speed.  I have a couple of hand fans and we'll likely be using them in addition to this larger fan.  I mean, one has to do what one has to do.

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SUN  BLOCKING  UMBRELLA

And, along with our fan, we'll be taking this sun blocking umbrella. I didn't even know there was such.  These are made specifically for blocking the sun and I will sure be using it.  It's a travel size so it works best just covering one person.

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NEOPRENE  TOTE  BAG

And, how about this cute tote bag!  It will hold all of our stuff, sunscreen, water, snacks and you name it.  It's made of a washable neoprene and sits up, has inside pockets    I wanted something very light weight where the weight would mainly be from the items inside.  A lot of folks have the neat little 

collapsible wagon that they load everything in and pull to and from the parking lot to the ball field.  We do not have a wagon so we may have to make a couple of trips back and forth to the vehicle to get everything.   It comes in a whole lot of cute patterns.  

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BAKERY/CHARCUTERIE  BOXES

I hate to constantly be mentioning my love of baking cookies and my love of finding cute containers to put them in to give them away.  But, it is what it is and I ran across these cute containers the other day and had to have them.  They work so well and are so cute with one my labels and a ribbon tied around them.  And, if you are a fan of charcuterie, they would work really well for those too.

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CORDLESS, WATERLESS  DIFFUSER

I wasn't at all sure about this when I ordered it but I diffuse lavender every night (and have for years) in our bedroom.  I "think" it really aids in good sleep.  I got tired of having to add water every night before adding the oil, so when I saw this, it caught my attention.  I mean, I had no clue there was such a thing. Well, it is "all that and a bag of chips."  It was easy to set up and it will run 8 hours so that works for using it all night.  I'm ordering another one for the living area of our home as I feel like it will  work much, much better than burning candles.  I have tried Pura (the plug in fragrance diffusers) and just not impressed after trying for months to like them.  This diffusers has 5 different settings for the strength of the fragrance.  I do not want an overwhelming fragrance, just one that is soft and light.  This diffuser is very sleek, a bit non-descript and there is no overspray because it is waterless.  

AND, there you have it for this month.