Entering into the New Year!!

I have felt this way for as long as I can remember... The New Year should be entered in with a CLEAN HOUSE!! and a clean slate! So.... I appologize if I have offened, wronged, or hurt anyone this year. Isnt it amazing that the offender often wont remember the wrong they have committed, but the offened will never forget. So, I'm assuming that I MUST have offened, wronged, or hurt someone and I am truly sorry. Please forgive Me!

As found here are the origins of the saying - "Cleanliness is next to Godliness." Read it if you get a chance... very interesting. One of my favorite statements is the statement by John Wesley "'Slovenliness is no part of religion.'Cleanliness is indeed next to Godliness.'"

I have been "PREACHING" this to my kids for years, however that is our MAIN focus today. I started my cleaning earlier in the week, but as the week nears to the end we have stepped it up. I dont want any dirty clothes in the house. No trash, no clutter, no mess, etc. This is sometimes hard with "one" of my kids.... I wont name any names... but I think we all know which one it is.

I am on a roll so far... bathrooms have been cleaned litterally from top to bottom. Walls wiped down, baseboards cleans, floors swept, mopped (several times), mirrors cleans, etc. I am changing the sheets on the beds. Dishes are done and kitchen cabinets are wiped down. The house is dusted. The rugs have been all shaken out. And more...  I LOVE this feeling.

I am airing out the house today because the weather is soooo nice!

I have oftened wondered if I am the only person who sweeps then mops then sweeps and mops again, then sweeps again and mops with plain water.... Every time I sweep I seem to pick up more dirt and every time I mop the water comes out dirty. Do I have abnormally dirty floors? Do I have the wrong mop? Do I not sweep often enough? I sweep daily and mop every other day. Please tell me what you do.

When I was first married I used a sponge mop, because thats what my Mom used. Then I used to use a string mop because Ora said it was the best. They both seem to work the same to me. Now I use a Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Mop because when I was cleaning my friends house last year she had one and it was amazing how much dirt you saw on the mop. I wonder which kind is TRULY the best????

I would love some feedback.

I read once that the Dutch believed it was bad luck to enter the New Year with a dirty house or any outstanding Debt. That is awesome!

Happy NEW YEAR! May God Bless our 2011!

***** And for those of you who have read this far you will see there is going to be a GIVEAWAY*****

I am giving a TARGET Gift Card and a Copy of Mrs. Sharp's Traditions to the people with the best New Years Customs/ traditions story.

It can be your own Custom/ tradition or a History that you were told or read about.

I LOVE HISTORY!! so... here's to New Years!!

THAT'S TWO SEPARATE WINNERS!!  

If you win the Target Gift Card you could use it to buy a new mop... or something that will help make your 2011 better for YOU!!

Please post about this on your blog and link it back to this page or... if you dont have a blog click on "Comment" on the bottom of the page and leave your story or memory there.

There are FOUR CHANCES Per Person to enter

*One entry for every story! (Dont forget to link it back to this page)

*Get a Second entry for telling me which kind of Mop you use and why

*The Third Entry for Following my blog

*Fourth Entry for telling me HOW YOU mop your floor... any re-moppers out there??

Thanks for participating!

Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

I will post the winner on Wednesday January 5th, 2011 at Noon!

GOOD LUCK AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!

OOooo-Key-K's AKA Cookies

My kids have made up a new word for cookies... its ooooo-key-k's. They started saying this so Chloe wouldnt know what they were asking for, but now its stuck! I think its kinda cute...
Today Alyssa asked if we could make some ooooo-key-k's for Christmas presents and so we did.
I love that I am home with my kids and I am able to DO things with them.
Here are is what we made:

That was fun... tomorrow we will make some more! :)

Finished Quilts...

I was just looking back at some of my older posts and realized that I showed ALOT of quilts in process, but then I never posted the finished products. So here are some of my finished quilts this year. This isn't all of them, but here are a few...

As I was looking for the pictures I realized that I forgot to take pictures of some of them... UGH!! I will have to take pictures of them when they are opened on Christmas!! Yeah!

Giveaway Found!

Go HERE to enter:
http://artbykarena.blogspot.com/


Life is too short, Live it well!

My Sparrow - stylish responsibility....

To win the set of four Verra Wineglasses and the set of six Zinc Bird Gift tags valued at approx $100 including shipping:

1) State that you are a follower of my site Art by Karena or become a new follower.

2) Visit My Sparrow and click on Shop with my Sparrow in the right sidebar

3) Come back and comment on what you like best!

4) If you want five yes 5 !! extra entries post about this giveaway on your site

Winner will be chosen and announced at Midnight CST December 30th !!

ALICE IN WONDERLAND ~ Movie Review!!

I was asked to do a Movie Review. I've never done one before (that I remember), so here goes...

The New "Alice in Wonderland" was a great addition to our family collection. I loved the vivid images and I really liked the use of color in this movie! It added a wonderful dimention to a "Classic". The costumes were AMAZING. I love that the creative juices were really flowing.  The cast was so great and very believable. It was very entertaining. The line up of actors and actresses were great.

It is a MUST OWN!!

I feel I must add that this is not a movie that I would watch on a regular basis. This is definately a movie that you need it be "in the mood" to watch. It isn't a movie that you watch because you want to chill. Its definately a - I feel like laughing and exercising my mind a little! I liked that they added a twist to the relationships of the characters.

The kids LOVED it. They laughed really hard at all of the antics of the various characters.

I would give this a 4 out of 5 Stars!

Did I do ok? LOL

Christmas Process Pledge

I thought I would share a quick pic about what is on my Quilting Board at the moment! I have a WIP (Work In Progress)!! I am making MYSELF a Christmas Quilt... Will it be done in time for Christmas??? We'll see!!
Here are some of the pics of my Quilt In Progress.. I hope you like them:

These are some great Blocks that I bought Oct. 2009

Should I use this green striped fabric as the center?? Does it clash with the red sashing?? Well, I like it!

Here is the Sashing laid out!

I have finished piecing the blocks.. Now for the borders!

so far I am LOVING the results! I need to sew the borders on and add another light blue.... then I need to figure out the backing... If I focus maybe, just maybe... There will be a new quilt for me to snuggle with on Christmas Morning... We'll see!!

Have a GREAT DAY!!

Quilted Hugs, Lisa

Its Christmas Time

I am loving this cold weather... Normally I am not a big fan of the cold, but for some reason I am loving being bundled up all day in my cozy comfy clothes and slippers. Drinking hot tea, hot cocoa, and yes even hot coffee. I am loving my scarfs, mittens, and ear muffs. I live in FLORIDA and there is ice on the ground in the mornings and biting winds. For the last 3 nights we have had temps in the 20's at nights. That is CRAZY!

Making Decorations!

Our Christmas Village!

Fezziwig's House... Do you see Ebenizer Scrooge looking in the window?

The house from A Christmas Story!

Our Ice skating pond!

We have been doing lots of Christmas-y things this year... going shopping at the mall, walking around looking at Christmas lights and decorations, drinking hot cocoa, playing Christmas games, putting together Christmas puzzles, and.... Visiting SANTA!!

This Christmas is much better than last year. I am so glad Detto is home this year. I know I had him home for two weeks last year, but this is much better. I like being with my hubby all the time.
We went to his Army Units Family Day / Christmas party that was good and bad. We found out the dates for his upcoming deployment :( When they give you a date it makes it feel more... definate. Before it was just talke about sometime next year... they changed the location and the details, but now its on paper. Not just a conversation. :(

I hope everyone is enjoying spending time with their families this Christmas because that is what it is all about! God is so good to us! I'm glad I have the bestest friends and family in the world!! Hugs

Christmas time...

Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year. I love all of the music, lights, decorations, etc.
This year I bought a new christmas cd... I love it.

Its the Lady Antebellum

Its a short album, but I really like the songs they picked to sing.

I am loving our lights outside the house and all of the lights in Downtown Mount Dora. This last picture is a spot in St. Augustine that Detto and I found. We went for a Quick Get-A-Way to the Peace & Plenty Inn. The trip was REALLY nice! As far as B&B's go the Inn was Ok, but the rest of the trip was great!