Sweet thoughts, end of Shopping Therapy

Feeling better but nerves in face still touchy.

Got a comment from Doreen about making honeycomb candy and while lying in bed trying to distract myself from pain I got to wondering about why the brittle in peanut brittle (which I used to make years ago) and honeycomb have such different texture. Peanut brittle is hard and shiny while honeycomb is full of air bubbles, as the name suggests,and tender (there's a better word for what I mean but I can't think of it just now). I also remembered I have a recipe for the Irish version called Yellow Man. Hm, when able to get to PC I'd have to look at the differences. I suspected it has to do with amount of baking soda and maybe with use of Golden Syrup as opposed to other ingredients. As it happened, I finally got my stomach settled in the wee hours of Wednesday morning and when I got up to drink some milk, the Violet Crumble called my name. Crazy, I know, since all I'd had to eat Tuesday was a little bread, milk and cereal. I "reasoned" :) my blood sugar was low so it might even be a good idea to break off a bit and slowly enjoy it. Know what? I have to retract my earlier statement about Violet Crumble being better than Cadbury's Crunchie bar. In my defense, it's been ages since I had the Australian candy while I can occasionally find the Cadbury here in Virginia or have my son get some in PA. I realized that the chocolate on the Nestle's product (Violet Crumble) is waxier and less chocolatey than Cadbury's chocolate. And the honeycomb center of Violet Crumble is a lighter, finer texture with less flavor than the center of the Crunchy bar. Isn't that fortuitous since the Violet Crumble (when it can be found here) is nearly twice the cost of the Cadbury?

So I checked the various recipes and found that only 1 tsp. of baking soda is used in peanut brittle, 2 tsp. in Yellow Man and 1 tablespoon in honeycomb (at least the one recipe I looked at). Big difference! Doreen, if you are reading, I wonder if you've used the Golden Syrup the British and Australian recipes call for or just honey and corn syrup. Would be interesting to know how much difference it makes in taste. Glad Dorren reminded me too of the intense reaction that happens when the baking soda is added. I'd nearly forgotten that and it can be tricky. Will be awhile before I can get around to trying the recipe -- too much work to catch up on and not good to make when weather is so humid and stormy. I agree that coating the pieces in chocolate is a must. We can discount the extra calories because the chocolate helps preserve the honeycomb which needs to be in airtight container.

We have reached the end of Shopping Therapy with final items in silver and pink.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4mthwd4l0hhetj8/ws_ShoppingTherapy_33.zip?dl=0

I'm not quite where I wanted to be with Boho Baby. Had hoped at this point to be a week ahead but just not happy with some of what I've done.

Migraine today & freebie

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/je0rvckh83sdlrz/ws_ShoppingTherapy_32.zip?dl=0

We found out the proper name for that product & freebie

I was incorrect in calling my candy find a Velvet Crumble it's called a Violet Crumble, which should be easy to remember since the wrapper is purple lol. Hubby checked a tiny shop yesterday morning that carries some Italian food. They didn't have the product he is looking for, but the Italian woman who runs the store understood what he was looking for and told him it's an appetizer called Caponata which is
" a Sicilian eggplant dish consisting of a cooked vegetable salad made from chopped fried eggplant and celery seasoned with sweetened vinegar, with capers in a sweet and sour sauce. Wikipedia" John says it also has olives and some variations include other things like pine nuts. He was able to find some on Amazon and ordered four cans.

It was a gloomy, heavily overcast day yesterday and we didn't do much other than research the Caponata, play on computer, go out to dinner with retirees from his job and check Dad's house for mail. Today we are supposed to have heavy rain so I plan to stay inside and do some housework and make some scones.

Seeing terrible news of storm damage in Texas and heard there is more to come. Prayers go out to all those in the area being buffeted by the storm.


If you didn't want to go shopping in the earlier blue car and prefer pink, today's zip is for you:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o3c56h5mzflzqh2/ws_ShoppingTherapy_31.zip?dl=0

Another weekend gone and nearing the end of Shopping Therapy freebie

Yesterday my husband and I took a little trip across the river (just minutes away really) and visited World Market in Newport News. He has been craving something he calls Gobladina (guessing at Sicilian spelling). He says it is chunks of eggplant, celery and other vegetables in a dark sauce, used to come in small cans like tomato paste does and they spread it on bread. Doesn't sound good to me but it was something he and his mother used to enjoy when he was growing up in New York. He has been eager to take a trip to New Jersey where there are plenty of places to get Italian specialities. After hearing him go on about this and the fact that in Tidewater you can't get a loaf of true Italian bread, I went on line searching. And off to World Market we went.

Unfortunately, he had no luck and came away empty handed. I, on the other hand, visited the British section and got some goodies: a coconut chocolate chip scone mix, a jar of Double Devonshire Cream, and a container of golden syrup. No luck on Cadbury Crunchy Bars with their delicious honeycomb centers but with the golden syrup I can try a recipe I found to make my own version of the honeycomb center. And then the big (& expensive) score: A large Velvet Crumble candy bar from Australia. I reasoned I owed myself a good treat when I picked up this luxury. Years ago when I was in an international crazy quilt group, we had swaps where we would fill ziplock baggies with fancy fabrics, ribbons and other trims for crazy quilt square, and then add some little gift to represent our home and mail them off. During a big swap with a group of Australian ladies, one sent us miniature Velvet Crumble bars and I was hooked! The Velvet Crumble is much like the Cadbury Crunch (which I can order from Amazon in cool months) but somehow better. A good shopping therapy trip for me if I don't count the calories lol.

More blue today:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/b8gmui3seqrtfb3/ws_ShoppingTherapy_30.zip?dl=0
I think that background pattern would make for soothing wallpaper in a bedroom.

It's Friday, gloomy & hot and I have a freebie for you

Looking for Saturday? It posted early - go back a couple.

Today is gold day in Shopping Therapy:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/tnx7v6ufvuyiu5e/ws_ShoppingTherapy_28.zip?dl=0

Nursing news and freebie

News from nursing home: numbers are lower than usual in UA test for infection but because of confusion and hallucinations, Dad will get antibiotic injection for 3 days and ammonia levels are being checked too. Physical therapy benefit with Medicare ran out and therapist says they aren't going to pursue additional therapy at this time because Dad is unmotivated and with the balance problems from those min strokes, there is only so much that can be done anyway. Today will be doing more paper work in relation to Medicaid application. What fun.

Here is today's zip of Shopping Therapy, more of the blues/teal with a couple other things thrown in:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1mzs2fbn7r4r64t/ws_ShoppingTherapy_27.zip?dl=0

Saturday again and it's hat day for freebie time

Just came back from visiting Dad and need de-stress time. He wasn't wearing his hearing aid and when I found it, it wasn't working. We spent most of an hour or more trying to figure out what was wrong. His coordination is poor and he seems confused. Kept trying to tell me he has two hearing aids there and searched for the second. Hasn't had hearing in his left ear for several years but apparently he doesn't remember. Also kept trying to fit the right hearing aid in the left ear. Replacing the battery, cleaning the wax trap - all were agonizing. We did finally get it working, just after dinner arrived. I set up his tray and he began to complain about the meal. Told me to stop by McDonald's before I come next time and bring him something good to eat. He knows he can't have that stuff. I tried to brush it off lightly , kissed him, said "I love you" etc. so I could head home for dinner. And suddenly, he was able to make the clearest statement of the day, delivered in an ugly tone: "Go ahead and hurry out so we don't have to talk about it!" [Sigh] He's old and ill and I need to have more patience and not let this stuff bother me. I know I am doing all I can but still, I feel awful.

Today we have some hats to top off our outfits.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/r6cfiruqy8wbj7e/ws_ShoppingTherapy_29.zip?dl=0

Hope you are having a nice weekend.

Another hot, humid, stormy day & freeboe

Didn't accomplish much today. Temps in 90's with high humidity. Ran to Dad's to check for mail and got caught by his neighbor across the street who insisted on talking to me. Got multiple mosquito bites standing there. Did the banking and stopped at 7-11 on way home to pick up Slurpies for hubby and myself. Cooled down and was about to get to work on a few things when headache came on quickly. Apparently it was triggered by barometric changes because I'd no sooner laid down when a big thunderstorm hit. The headache was the end of me doing anything.

Fortunately, I had today's zip all ready for you:

The little black dress is such a fashion staple, it had to show up again.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/5phccwghlq39x1q/ws_ShoppingTherapy_26.zip?dl=0
Just for fun, here is a note about shopping/retail therapy myths I found on Pinterest:

Day 25 of Shopping Therapy freebie

I found Dad's hearing aid remote and he is now able to hear. Thank heaven. His Medicare benefits for physical therapy have run out so I have to get in touch with that department tomorrow and find out if his supplemental insurance will pick it up and how much good it is really doing for him. If insurance won't pay that's the end of that because it's an expense we can't take on. He was out of bed today but had the temp in his room up to 88 degrees. Horrible.

Now about Shopping Therapy. I do tend to get carried away once I get going on a theme and I've found that at this point I have a lot of elements left and a couple of papers. These last few days will be heavy on elements.
Really should have put more in this zip. The background is a paper you received in zip 5.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/unt6zps8gvpjpof/ws_ShoppingTherapy_25.zip?dl=0

Monday freebie

As we move into last days of Shopping Therapy, you will begin to get zips that mya not have papers. If I use a paper previously given out as a background for elements, I will note which it is. Today is zip 24:

One more paper, a chandelier to give the light in your posh shop and more lingerie.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/c6qf50megcyvcjk/ws_ShoppingTherapy_24.zip?dl=0

Saturday - hot & humid, hallucinations & freebie

My mind is much relieved after talking to my brother last night. He said he didn't mean to make me think he was suicidal & is still hanging in there. Has appointment with the orthopedic surgeon next week when his wife should be home to go with him. Turns out the surgeon is also a specialist in strokes so Thom hopes he might be able to help him in that regard too.

I appreciate all the suggestions about dealing with shingles & responded to comments where they were left. I would suggest that anyone over 30 who has not done so yet go and get a shingles vaccine injection. At first, docs thought it would only be useful for those who never had shingles but they have since advised that even those who have had a bout get the vaccine because it can short circuit the progress of the disease when or if it pops up again.

Went to see Dad today, in a hopeful frame of mind because his audiologist was taking his hearing aid back to him. Unfortunately, he didn't know where the remote control for volume was and it isn't adjusted properly so he isn't hearing better. Had I known this while I was over there, I'd have done a search for it. He looked okay but still has edema in belly and a little in legs. Still on antibiotics for respiratory infection. Don't know if the antibiotic is causing him to slur his words or it's something else. Understood very little of what he was saying. At times he moved his mouth but no sound came out. Was he unable to tell he had no volume? Was his throat that clogged? I don't know. The most disturbing aspect of the visit was what appeared to be hallucinations. The first time, I was sitting in a chair with my back to the door and he said "Hello" while looking past me. I turned, thinking someone had come in but no one was there. He was nodding his head like he was listening to someone so I went over and sat on the bed next to him. I asked if he'd seen someone and he indicated yes, over by the wall. I carefully told him that there were only the two of us now and he mumbled something about the clock on the wall and went on to something else. Later he told me the sink was dripping. With the sun coming in the window it was hard to tell so I went over and checked. Not. Maybe 10 minutes later, he looked over towards the door and said, "What?" appeared to listen and said "OK, and knocked lightly on his bedside table. I let it pass and gave him something to drink. He wanted his Diet Coke and was fine drinking from the bottle at first, then I noticed the bottle was tipped as if it was going to pour onto his shoulder. Thought maybe he was drowsy and was going to take it out of his hand. He then raised the bottle to drink but his head was tilted left and he was aiming the bottle right. Not wanting him to soak himself in soda, I tried to correct it. He tried again and did the same. I smiled at him and took hold of the bottle and moved it to his mouth. Wonder if this sudden lack of coordination is symptom of another small stroke? Stopped at nurse's station on way out and reported all that happened. She will alert the later shift and they will keep checking on him. Could also be another UTI because when that happens we see more confusion.

Finally, your freebie:

A car to get to the boutique in.
Link:https://www.dropbox.com/s/d3q2s5llk90adn2/ws_ShoppingTherapy_23.zip?dl=0

***Good grief! Didn't realize I'd hit the publish button on 8/24. Sorry about that.

What's happening here and zip 22 of Shopping Therapy

Good news and bad news here. My brother is struggling with pain and hopelessness. His wife is still away helping out their son with grandchildren and I am worried about Thom being there alone with all he is going through. Wish he wasn't so far away! My shingles outbreak kept me awake a lot last night with intense itching. Once I woke up, it was more like deep pain in lower back and right hip - some of which could also be fibro flare. In good news, we sold Dad's car! I've got to double check for any personal items then go to DMV with the man who is buying it for his daughter. Another step out of the way. And, while doing some filing, I found the two books of stamps I bought a couple weeks ago and misplaced.

Nice to hear that you think the color swatch for baby kit is good. I know it and the theme, Boho Baby, won't please everyone but I wanted to do something a little different. When I sold kits in a number of stores, most had collaboration kits with designers required or expected to participate anywhere from every month to a few a year. Most of the time there were predictable themes and color swatches. I grew bored with having to crank out another Back to School, or Halloween or Valentines Day kit. I thought about baby something for September just because I haven't done a baby kit in ages . Have already made a number of templates to create elements.

Today more of Shopping Therapy:

This one is a mix, one gradient paper and some elements.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/o9zc3idgv57kr03/ws_ShoppingTherapy_22.zip?dl=0

Possible color swatch for Boho Baby?

What do you think?

Paperwork day - tons of it & freebie

Tuesday night, sometime after 2 a.m., while I was sitting at computer catching up on mail and nice and drowsy, there was a horrific bang! My first thought was that someone had hit one of our vehicles again and I worried that it might be Dad's which is not officially "garaged" here according to his insurance. I ran to door in my pjs and looked out but our vehicles seemed to be in usual places, not moved by collision. My husband had been sleeping in his recliner and the noise woke him up too. He stepped out on the porch and looked up and down the street. A couple houses away, we could see smoke rising from an auto accident. I called 911 to report it while he added to ask for an ambulance because he could see that the front end of one car was demolished and there were sure to be serious injuries if not a death. Indeed when the police, fire department and ambulances arrived, it took hours to sort everything out. It was around 5 a.m or later before I drifted off to sleep with flashing lights still outside my windows. Police interviewed my husband and neighbors trying to determine what happened because the cars met head on. It looked like a woman in her late 30s was driving up the wrong side of the road (4 lanes with median between!) and collided with a man in his 20s. Never heard any sound of swerving or braking etc. The woman died on scene and the man died later in the hospital. Local news came out this morning and interviewed my husband and another neighbor and both were on news yesterday afternoon.

After the excitement of Wednesday morning, I lounged around with back and hip pain from shingles outbreak that had started up on Monday. Slept when I could and did little else except pay bills. Lots of paperwork to catch up for Dad today.

I'm wondering if by now you are getting tired of Shopping Therapy? I've got enough to stretch it out to the end of the month, including a number of pieces of word art. Have been thinking about next kit and I'm pretty sure it will be a baby one. But I'm tired of the usual blue and pink and even yellow and green. I know modern babies are often dressed in bright colors but I'm old fashioned and still prefer to see infants in pastels. There are, of course, other pastels that can be used and I've been giving that some thought trying to come up with a swatch. Thought about lavender, peach, mint, turquoise but can't get a good combination so far. Also, since the Bohemian or Boho look is popular, have been entertaining the idea of Boho Baby. At least maybe some Boho designs in pastels but nothing crazy in clothing and accessories. Babies are babies. Any thoughts? You are welcome to suggest color swatches, if you'd like.

Today we have:

Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ewk5fd38zsxd41e/ws_ShoppingTherapy_21.zip?dl=0

Oops, was supposed to schedule that for Thursday -oh well.

Some good news - or better at least & freebie

Saw Dad yesterday and he looked a little better. He was sitting up in bed, had eaten a little, and was awake the whole visit. He's on antibiotics now for respiratory infection and getting breathing treatment. Spoke with his audiologist before I went over and learned that his hearing aid can be repaired for $1,404 and will be ready on Friday. Came home from visit to have nice dinner with my husband and relaxed after.

Today we have some pink and black. A girl has to have at least one little black dress, right? and undies to go with.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ky0yv212jlsbmg/ws_ShoppingTherapy_20.zip?dl=0

Must be stress & freebie

I guess the recent stress hasn't agreed with my immune system. Have had a severe fibro flare-up since Sunday night. Whole right side of my body affected. But today will be a better day. Has to be as I've lots to do, including going to check on Dad. Nurse called yesterday to say they were making adjustments in his meds again because too much ammonia in his urine. Not looking good.

Here is today's zip:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/j9tkkvr2c83ba5b/ws_ShoppingTherapy_19.zip?dl=0

Zip 18 of Shopping Therapy

Spoke with my brother Saturday night. He was rejected by the Mayo Clinic! Really, they wrote saying they did not feel there was anything they could do for him! Meanwhile, he still has that headache, and has almost no feeling in his right leg. A visit to his doctor found another granuloma has developed around the pump implanted in his back. The last time this happened, it caused similar trouble blocking off nerves and the surgery was quite extensive. The trauma was so bad he was hospitalized for weeks, had to learn how to walk again and then waited weeks on inadequate pain control before a new pump could be installed. This time he was told they have to remove the pump and will not be replacing it because his body is fighting it's presence. Pain control will be a problem. Doctors want him to have surgery immediately but he cannot because while on a trip up north to see relatives his daughter-in-law took ill. She began bleeding severely from her uterus and had to be stabilized before they could send her back to North Carolina for surgery. Thom's wife is there now taking care of the grandchildren and until she gets back, his surgery must wait. I offered to fly to Florida to be with him so he could go ahead with his surgery but he says his wife should be home in about a week and he doesn't even have a surgery date yet. Of course, he wanted to be updated on Dad and I had only bad news to offer. Surely we are at the bottom of a cycle of negative events and things must start to improve?

A velvet paper, large frame, some bling.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x5gvatfgjdhoaml/ws_ShoppingTherapy_18.zip?dl=0

Exhausted & catching up on freebies

Quick catch up on my corner of the world. Larkin was here until last evening. After her aunt picked her up, I showered, shampooed and crashed for about 5 hours. Love the child but it was exhausting having her hang on me every other minute. Nursing home called while I had her in the bath. Dad has congestive heart failure problems again. Fluid in the lungs. Back on increased diuretic for 5 days, blood tests every other day, and 5 days of breathing treatments to start on Monday. Went over to see him today and he doesn't look good. Exhausted from coughing, doesn't want to eat, his eyes are red and he keeps rubbing them and one has the look of infection. Didn't stay long so he could get back to sleep. Husband has been busy cooking chicken Parmesan and spaghetti for dinner with grandson. He will be here shortly to have dinner and visit with us before he leaves for college next week. As far as I know, tomorrow will be a day we can rest up.

Now, I thought I'd posted Friday zip late on Thursday but apparently not. So here is zip 16:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ycj1jz15efch7rd/ws_ShoppingTherapy_16.zip?dl=0

In zip 17 you will see I had some fun playing with gradients. And I saw the lace dress as something that would be appropriate for an engagement party, hence the ring and gift.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/1zp07q7o97q95f0/ws_ShoppingTherapy_17.zip?dl=0

zip 15 of Shopping therapy

Status: exhausted. Today's zip:

If you're going to splurge, maybe some sexy lingerie? (Says she who can't remember the last time she had sexy lingerie! Cotton, not sexy?)
Link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/2s1th6if0k34b8y/ws_ShoppingTherapy_15.zip?dl=0

More peaceful day . . . so far & freebie

Today I took Larkin for Micky D breakfast, then we checked out new grocery store (odd) and stopped at good ol' Food Lion for a few things. We have worked a small puzzle while Larkin sipped orange juice and snacked on rainbow Gold Fish cracekrs. About to go in and do some reading but first, your freebie:

One paper, some word art and elements.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/pw5y5gua0wajdnm/ws_ShoppingTherapy_14.zip?dl=0

Nearing midnight and the "children" now asleep --- freebie

Things finally settled down last night after Larkin had a long conversation with her mother during which she cried and carried on and her mother said she couldn't come home because she had made plans. She never did eat her dinner, even after we told her there would be nothing later on if she didn't. We tried the ignoring bit for a time and sat watching TV as if she weren't there while she calmed herself down. Happened on a Disney movie we hadn't seen and next thing you know, Larkin is all chirpy and asking when I'd make popcorn. No dinner, no popcorn. Brief discussion of loving her but not the behavior and not tolerating lies. She apologized to both of us, got hugs and settled down to watch the movie without further complaints.

Today it was still raining. Gloomy day. Since Larkin was behaving nicely, we decided to take her out to the Virginia Aquarium.
https://www.virginiaaquarium.com/
Just the aquarium exhibits without movie, adventure trail, etc. etc. was nearly $70. Lots and lots of walking around, weaving in and out of faux tunnels that had displays of all kinds. Larkin oohed and ahhed over fish, turtle, sharks and more. But I think her favorite might have been the seal tank just outside where big harbour seals swam around, coming right up to the glass walls to see the visitors. Packed with tourists and locals, the place was too warm and humid for me, making my chest grow a little tight and bursitis in my hip began to act up. By the time we got home, I had to crash for a few hours. During the time I was down, hubby said Larkin tried to start another crying jag, wanting to go wake me up. But by the time I got back up they were fine and had already eaten dinner, saving me a plate. Watched Moana movie which we all enjoyed.

Tomorrow my husband has to go over to Dad's house to meet Terminix first thing in the morning because there are ground wasps in the yard that swarmed after the guy we sent to cut the grass. Have to get those eliminated before he will go back. I'm going to take Larkin for breakfast at McDonald's, then we will go pick up a few groceries, trying the new Liedel grocery that opened recently. Promised we would try to work on a puzzle when we get home. Larkin's half-brother, grandson Tyler, called while I was sleeping. He will be coming over to have dinner with us on Saturday because he is going to be leaving for college next week. Seems like yesterday he was just a baby and such a good one!

Thank you all for the kind comments on this kit. I'm happy knowing you are enjoying it. Here is today's zip:

No paper in this zip, only elements and word art. More tomorrow.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/oo7fmb8bcxm36ek/ws_ShoppingTherapy_13.zip?dl=0

Larkin pitching a fit and freebie

This is going to be one long week! Got Larkin on Saturday and I'm ready to send her back home. Except her mother told me today to tell her she is out of town all week. Larkin is usually sweet but she is immature for her age and too clingy and quick to say she can't do things. She wants constant attention and is huggy kissy pulling on me every other minute. It's too much.

Saturday I took her to do some shopping and it went pretty well but was tiring. Had a nice dinner together and later watched a Disney movie while munching popcorn. If I got up and left the room for more than a minute, Larkin had to come looking for me. Yesterday did not go so well. We worked on writing her letters and reading a little. I'm trying to get her ready to repeat first grade, hoping with some extra help she will do better. She is too quick to say she can't do this or that and I've talked to her about it. She wants to be treated like a baby with us doing everything for her but I refuse. She can dress her self. Want a drink of water? She can get that for herself. I'm not asking her to do anything she isn't capable of doing. When she got upset with her Papa last night, Larkin came in to me and complained of a tummy ache, crying and carrying on. After a time it became apparent that she wasn't sick, hadn't eaten too much popcorn as I thought. Then it was wanting to go home to her mother. It was 10:30 p.m. at night and I explained her Mom was asleep. Eventually she told me the truth, we went in to talk to Papa and I told her we could talk about it again in the morning.

Today, my husband fed Larkin breakfast and left to take my father to get his teeth cleaned. I insisted Larkin let me have time to eat my breakfast and read a little. Then it was time to give her a bubble bath and shampoo her hair. Her hair is past her waist so it took some detangler and a lot of time to get it combed out. A little time to work with her letters, then lunch time. A little cartoon time, and then my husband was home with her and I finally got a shower and brief nap. When I started to write this post, he had fixed her dinner and gone in to watch the news. Next thing I know, she is crying and carrying on. I go in to see what is wrong and she starts the tummy ache mess again. After much carrying on it becomes apparent that she is unhappy because we aren't in there paying her attention every minute. My husband tried talking to her, even explaining that we have our own lives and she can't expect us to be with her every single minute. I told her that while I love her I do not like this behavior and will not put up with lies to get attention. Now a thunder storm has hit and she is still saying she wants to go home, doesn't need a doctor (because no tummy ache). John has her on the phone to her mother, who earlier told me to tell Larkin she was out of town for the week. She's enjoying her break. It's pouring down like crazy and I think we ought to just give her a time out and ignore the crocodile tears. I've had enough, no more patience. This is like having a two year old. I imagine she has pulled this mess before and gotten away with it. Why don't parents understand that when they allow children to get their way all the time and get away with such nonsense, they are just setting the stage for more of it?

Anyway, before I lose electricity, here is today's zip:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vj93y8puh0l18xs/ws_ShoppingTherapy_12.zip?dl=0

God give me patience and quickly please!

Saturday, Larkin and another free zip of Shopping Therapy

A cheerful Saturday with my lovely grand-daughter, Larkin, here. Right now she is dawdling over her lunch of manicotti. School supplies were delivered to her mother when hubby picked her up. Our lawn guy has been here already and has cut our grass. He went by Dad's to cut his but said about 20 ground bees/wasps came after him. Hubby will go over with him later to smoke the little buzzers out. And Dad's neighbor called and might be interested in buying Dad's car. Like everyone else, she can't understand why we have to sell it at assessed value, so that may squash the deal. Got a lot of housework done this week (but not enough to catch up on all the things that got neglected), have got a lot of zips of this kit waiting to be packed up, a letter just about finished to send out to my brother to update him, about halfway through the new M.J. Rose novel, finishing up a scarf to go with messy bun/poney tail hat I made for Larkin, started a new supplement that may help with my sleep (too soon to tell yet), figured out my goals for the month and am feeling pretty upbeat.

Anyway, here is today's zip of Shopping Therapy:

I'm pleased with how this one turned out. I decided that if we were going shopping as therapy, it ought to be at a really nice place so wanted some pretty wallpaper and comfy chairs to rest in. That word art tag is also included as a blank you can use for other things.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/agsmpshngmh1qe5/ws_ShoppingTherapy_11.zip?dl=0

Have a great weekend!

Friday freebie - a little lingerie

Friday freebie of Shopping Therapy:

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/4uzhaypb6vb1ibc/ws_ShoppingTherapy_10.zip?dl=0

Interested in color theory?

If you struggle with choosing colors, or are just interested in color theory, check out this great article:
https://creativemarket.com/blog/charts-combining-colors?utm_source=cm-popular-products-email&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=pp-ta-08-03-17

Thursday - double freebies because I missed yesterday

Sorry about yesterday but real life intervened. Went out to Suffolk to see our niece (& my God child), Rachel and took her out to a much belated Happy 21st Birthday dinner. (Her b'day was the end of May). So good to see her and hear that college is going well. She will be a senior, getting her degree in Marine Biology. She's been volunteering at the Virginia Beach Aquarium this summer on their rescue team. Plans to get a job after receiving her B.S. and go back to graduate school in the future. It was late when we left her house and got on Interstate. They were working on the roads and traffic was jammed up. By the time we got home, we were exhausted and soon headed to bed. Didn't occur to me until I was all settled in that I hadn't posted and it was already after midnight so . . .

Here is Wednesday zip:

Like the trendy shopper? Now you can understand why her credit card reads Sassy Shopper, right? In the zip you will also find the dress on a manikin.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/7mlh7ek75t9dgih/ws_ShoppingTherapy_8.zip?dl=0

Before I forget - my Dropbox is almost full so I'm having to remove some things from earlier this year. The next to go will be Holiday Tea so if you haven't snagged all the zips yet, hurry and do so as it will be gone soon. I know I need to go in and edit posts to show links expired but it's just one more thing to do.

Today we have some gold to brighten things up and some earrings because if a woman has a new outfit, she needs some new bling.

Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/vpnuy0h6k39t5g9/ws_ShoppingTherapy_9.zip?dl=0

Larkin's Aunt Dawn will be dropping her off to us tomorrow night and she will stay a week so things will become more interesting lol.

No Larkin but more Shopping Therapy

Got a bunch of errands done today, running around in heat. We could not reach daughter so could not find out if Larkin is home yet nor go to pick her up. Left messages but she hasn't returned calls.
Saw Dad today. More complaints about the food. His ankles aren't swollen but bell is still pretty swollen and hard. Spoke with his nurse and she will contact nurse practitioner. The mail brought EOBs from both Medicare and Anthem for his Lake Taylor stay. Looks like w might be responsible for a couple hundred dollars so hope they go ahead, deduct what we owe and send me the refund.

Today we have a lot of pink in the Shopping Therapy zip:

That third paper is supposed to be tissue paper.
Link: https://www.dropbox.com/s/lehsh0deh1wj75i/ws_ShoppingTherapy_7.zip?dl=0

Thank you for nice comments on blog and DropBox. I'm happy to know you are enjoying the kit.