Some Southern Sayings...

I try my best to live by the "Golden Rule" and the other one, you know, "if you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."  

However... there are times when some of the Southern sayings I've heard all of my life just pop into my head and nearly out of my mouth.  I thought I'd put a few out there and see if you can add any yourself.  (Feel free to ask what they mean in - "Southern".  Granted, I've said them all of my life and I may not know what they mean either.)

• This happened just the other day - I was driving home and saw someone walking along the sidewalk and I immediately thought - He just isn't "right".  (Said in my slow, Southern drawl while shaking my head in wonder.)

• When my children had tantrums, they "pitched a fit" and sometimes it was a "hissy fit".

• It took several years to help my Midwestern husband (of nearly 20 years) understand that citrus grows in "groves" and peaches grow in "orchards".  He kept discussing the "orange orchard" I'd grown up with as my front yard.  He finally understands - my front yard was an "Orange Grove".

• After dealing with a troublesome person, "They could make a preacher cuss!"

• One of my favorites things to say when I'm talking about someone fun to be around is, "They are a Hoot and a half."  I have no idea what a "Hoot" is, I just know it's fun.

Okay - now it's your turn - what sayings do you say or hear frequently?  (They don't have to be Southern either.)  Thanks for visiting!  Reia

PS - my daughter Ginger from www.literallyinspired.com wrote about one of my favorite books plus her life/heritage as a GRITS (Girls Raised In The South) here.  (Pictures of grandparents, etc. are included.)

Happy Birthday, Ginger!

Today my "baby" turned 31.  You know her as Ginger from www.literallyinspired.com.

It seems like just yesterday that she was born...

Learned to walk, talk, watch TV (with her 1 year older sister, Traci)...

She's always been a lot of fun to be around...

...and still is.

Now she has her own family with her husband, Adam and...

Landon who came along 3.5 years ago.

He's just as cute and funny as his parents.

She's a really good mom to Landon.

I'll leave you with the picture I took last summer while we were sitting at the steps of a hotel pool.  Looking at my daughter's feet beside my grandson's little feet just hit me as precious.  So - being a mom - I took this picture to remember that special moment.

Ginger has added so much to my life and I know how blessed I am.

She's my heart walking around outside of my body and I love her.

Thanks for visiting on Ginger's Birthday!  Reia

Crazy for Eureka!

Do you need a diversion from the craziness that is your life?  I know we do!  So - we've discovered a really "off the wall" show - "Eureka" by the SyFy channel - that makes us forget the cares of our day.

Oh my goodness - if it can happen, it will happen in Eureka!

From IMDB - "The best minds in the US are tucked away in a remote town where they build futuristic inventions for the government's benefit."

Short glimpse/teaser here 

It's definitely a mix of Comedy - Drama - SciFi and we love it!  Maybe you'll enjoy it also.  

(FYI - we're watching it on Netflix.)  Thanks for visiting!  Reia

Christmas Gifts After Christmas ~ That's ME!

In 2011 - after reading "You Can Do it! The Merit Badge Handbook for Grownup Girls" - my

  daughter (Ginger from www.literallyinspired.com) encouraged her readers to earn their "Quit It" Merit Badge.

I jumped on board and earned mine.  (I wrote about it here.)  I chose 5 things to "Quit".  The 3rd item I "Quit" is below:

"3 - I'm going to "Quit" feeling bad that my family never gets their cards and gifts before their birthdays and holidays. I don't like my children disappointed and the "Nurturer" within me knows...after the envelopes and the wrapping paper have gone into the trash, my family has something to look forward to - one more gift or card - from me."

I'm writing this because I finally got packages out to my granddaughters and my nieces and nephews last week.  I made the boxes festive and filled them with little things from my heart plus some Christmas Crackers that I've fallen in love with.

My daughter sent me the following picture to show how much they enjoyed their packages.

My granddaughters hugging the Rapunzel ornament and Minnie Mouse ornament I sent.

I'm thankful that I "Quit" feeling bad about sending gifts late.  It was so much fun to know my family had something to open and enjoy when life had returned to normal.

Is there anything that YOU want to "Quit"?

Thanks for visiting!  Reia

Coupons ~ They Pay Off

I've been a Coupon Diva for over 20 years.  I also have a bit of the hoarder in me.  My mantra has always been - "just in case".  Well - it paid off.

I held on to these "No Expiration Date" coupons for Cousin Willie's Popcorn since 1997.  Yes, that's 16 years.  They were on/in the boxes of Cousin Willie's Popcorn - they didn't have an expiration date but Cousin Willie's Popcorn was no where to be found.  So - I held on to them in my coupon box for 16 years.  You know - "just in case".

While shopping one day, I did a double take when I saw "Cousin Willie's Popcorn" in my local Kroger.  So - I tested one box/coupon and "Yes" the coupon worked - it even doubled.  I used my coupons little by little until I'd used them all.

We are really enjoying our Cousin Willie's Popcorn!

Lesson learned - hang on to those coupons - "just in case"!

Thanks for visiting ~ Reia

Fireplace for Your Home ~ Virtually

You never know what's going to trip someone's "Happy" trigger (mine included).  I've got to admit, I have been streaming the following videos a LOT recently because they DID trip my "Happy" trigger.  I want to share them with you.

I found most of these on Amazon Instant Video and one (1) on Netflix Streaming.  They run about an hour in length.

(If you don't have Amazon Prime, they can be purchased and kept in your Amazon video library for just a few dollars.)

Fireplace for Your Home - the fire "crackles" as it "burns" on your tv.

(Netflix Streaming has this version with 2 episodes.  The 1st episode just "crackles".  The 2nd episode "crackles" plus plays Christmas music.)

Fireplace for Your Home Christmas Music Edition

(In my Southern fireplace-challenged home - I have enjoyed this version often this year.)

The Merry Yule Log

There are more but these have been my favorites so far this year.

Now - last but not least - it's 31 minutes of "pretty cool".

Aquarium for Your Home - Goldfish

These videos have made me smile and even relax a little.  They have definitely brought me a lot of enjoyment.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you get a chance to try them out.

Reia

2012 in Review

I just read a recent post from a favorite blogger.  I'm going to use some of her questions to share my year in review.

1. What did you do in 2012 that you’d never done before?

We started dog sitting.  What fun!

Bill with Izzy

Fritz

2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?

My new year's resolutions are usually the same - to learn more, laugh more, enjoy life more, survive financially and maybe even make progress financially, stay healthy, love God - family - country - friends and make a difference in our world.  I believe that I did keep them and will strive to do the same this year.

3. Did anyone close to you die?

I'm always amazed when I read about the people who died during the year.  The person that I will miss and appreciate the most is the actor - Charles Durning.  His personal history from WWII is amazing to me.

From www.imdb.com - Charles Durning was one of a few survivors to the infamous massacre of American POWs by German SS troops at Malmedy, Belgium during World War II.  The surrendering engineering battalion, captured behind enemy lines when the main American forces retreated, were gathered together and brought to a large field.  As the German guards backed away from the prisoners, machine guns that were hidden in trucks opened fire on them.  Approximately 88 US soldiers died.  Only about 20 of the group of approximately 100 managed to escape the massacre and make their way to American lines.  The incident was re-created in Battle of the Bulge (1965).

I loved him in Evening Shade but I loved him most in the NCIS episode - "Call of Silence" (2004).  If you haven't seen this episode, please do.

4. What would you like to have in 2013 that you lacked in 2012?

More time with my family.  Here are all of the cousins - my daughters/grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews.  You can read about our time together in 2012 here.

5. What was your biggest achievement of the year?

I passed my previous records of number of piano students taught in one school year.  I hit the 40 student mark in 2012.  I didn't think I could do it but I did.  The students were amazing and it was a remarkable Piano Recital ~ 2012.

6. What was your biggest failure?

While being a success with what I do - making a living as a piano instructor/church musician/mystery shopper is not an easy road.  I know we're always a little short each year & therefore more in debt with what I do for our living.  We haven't thought of what we can replace this income with so we keep "keeping on" as we look for more avenues of income.

7.  Did you suffer illness or injury?

I finally gave in and started taking cholesterol medicine in addition to the blood pressure medicine I'm already taking.  So - maybe I actually made an improvement in my health.

8. What was the best thing you bought?

A student guitar for myself.  Everybody's always asking me if I know of a guitar teacher so I decided to learn how to play the guitar - maybe I can add teaching guitar to my repertoire.  I really love my guitar and playing it!

Also - we downgraded our cable to basic cable and bought Rokus for each tv.  Best purchase we ever made! 

9. Whose behavior merited celebration?

My husband, Bill, keeps me grounded and sane.  He's the "chill" to my "over the top".

10. Where did most of your money go?

Besides daily living - music books for students.  I customize lessons and I strive to keep them motivated.  So far it's working.

11. What did you get really, really, really excited about?

Every time my students grasped a new concept, pushed themselves further and wanted to see how far they could go.

The release of the new Les Miserables movie - here's the trailer from Fandango.

Series 5 of Doc Martin, Set 21 of Midsomer Murders and anything else British that I was able to find this year.  Thank you Roku and AcornTV!

12. What song will always remind you of 2012?

Anne Hathaway singing "I Dreamed a Dream" from Les Miserables.

13. Compared to this time last year, are you:

a) Happier or sadder? Definitely happier
b) Thinner or fatter? A wee bit thinner.  I lost about 10 pounds in the spring (thank you Weight Watchers previous plan - I still like it better than the new flex plan.)  I gained a few back - going to work on getting it down some more.
c) Richer or poorer? Richer in the things that count but more in debt because of the path I make our money with.

14. What do you wish you’d done more of?

Walking - I'm in and out meeting obligations every day.  I need to take a few minutes and just walk the neighborhood.

15. What do you wish you’d done less of?

Worrying about how we'd make the ends meet (or not).

16. How did you spend Christmas?

Playing for church services and helping others celebrate the Christ child's birth.  You can see the pictures here.

17. Did you fall in love in 2012?

I fell in love with my family and my students and their families a little bit more each and every day.  I'm surrounded by positive, loving people.  I'm truly blessed by those that surround me - every day.

18. What was your favorite TV program?

Anything British or dealing with genealogy.

19. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.

From Simple Gifts...here's a link on YouTube of my favorite version by Yo Yo Ma and Alison Krauss - hope you enjoy it.

'Tis the gift to be simple, 'tis the gift to be free

'Tis the gift to come down where we ought to be,

And when we find ourselves in the place just right, 

  'Twill be in the valley of love and delight.

When true simplicity is gain'd, 

  To bow and to bend we shan't be asham'd,

To turn, turn will be our delight, 

  Till by turning, turning we come 'round right.

Thanks for visiting - love to all - Reia