Where have I been? (and a giveaway)

Well, living life, all of it, the smiles and laughs and cries and worries and chaos that comes with being a married woman and a mother.

No matter how much I want to devote myself to posting on the blog regularly, I have come to realize that it's not up to me, it's up to my personal life and what is going on and some weeks, it's just not going to happen.

But don't think anything bad has been happening, oh no, it's just been normal craziness, a super busy week as we start heading into warmer temperatures......

as I slip into my flip flops and favorite summer dresses and shake off the winter cob webs and welcome the warm sun onto my skin

as I take down the winter curtains and replace them with flimsy white lace in the living room, open the screen door and watch them blow in the wind

then mosey over to the kitchen and do the same. I love these curtains they make me smile and they remind me of sun and grass and blue skies.

I've taken great pleasure in turning on the sprinklers again and watching my yellow dried out grass starting to turn green again.

I've done a lot of baking and cooking and freezing because once the weather starts warming up, I don't want to be stuck in the kitchen for hours.

Breakfast sandwiches, Sausage, Egg and Cheese on English Muffins. My family loves them and they are super easy to make.

In between this there has the been the usual daily conquering of Mt. Laundry and the swimming through a sea of toys in the living room.

Oh and the tackling of homework which makes me feel like the dumbest mom in the world. Seriously? What is with this stuff lately? They are teaching my first grader 3rd grade work, they are teaching my 5th grader high school subjects. I happen to believe that they are pushing kids too hard nowadays. Maybe it's just me, but that's what I feel.

But it hasn't just been go go go go go all the time. Nights are my favorite time of the day, when the kids have had their baths and said their prayers and are tucked safely into bed, when I can sit down and watch a favorite show or a movie or read a book.

I've gotten so many great books lately, everytime I open the mail box there is one waiting for me and I don't know about you but it's like winning the lottery lately, that's how happy books make me.

I've watched good movies, like 2012, Love Happens, Everybody's Fine, New in Town and The Christmas Card. I recommed all of these if you haven't watched them yet.

So there you go, now you know where I've been and what I've been up to, so I'm going to leave you as I need to turn off the sprinkler and refill the bird feeder.



But before I leave, I'm going to do something as a thank you to all my faithful readers who continually visit me, even when I'm not the gracious host I am supposed to be and leave you hanging for days on end.

I want you to go to Spice Trader Teas and take a look at their tea mixes then come back here and let me know which tea you would love to try.

I'm going to hold a giveaway until Wednesday the 24th of February, then I'll randomly select a winner through Random.org and send you the tea you selected. Just as a thank you!

The contest is open to US residents only!

Go on, scoot, go pick your tea and then come back and let me know, oh and I can tell you that their Assam and the Cinnamon Apricot is to die for.