I am smilin' today because Lightening who hosts the Saturday summary is back home and at the end of what sounds like a difficult week. (I hope next week is better for you!)

For me I am smiling because yesterday I learned about Spanx undergarments on the news and then went to my computer only to find that the bloggy world was already talking about them. Chic Critique offered tips for ridding the bod of VPL (visible panty lines) with these not so lovely but critical items to the expanding muffin top wardrobe. I am sooo heading out to shop for one of these. I need the one that does cut in at the hip though. That makes my legs look fatter!

I am also smiling in a weird, not sure about that way, because I also learned that over 60 colleges are taking on the task of reinventing the fantastical game of Quidditch from Harry Potter in the non-magical way of turning the Snitch into someone running around in gold with a  flag football tag hanging out of the back of his shorts. Okay, it was pretty funny to watch but I don't think I'll be playing anytime soon.

Last week, I went here:

And, sent this:  to Australia but you will have to go check out whybother? to find out what was in the bag. Then, this week, I received an AWESOME swap package from her which included this:

And if you can't see, it WAS a wonderful selection of chocolate covered coffee beans that I hate to admit didn't last long! Thank you, Tracey!!

SOoooooo. . . .  I can not end without saying that I am smiling because we had our newly founded girls and boys club at church last night and we sang:

"Make new friends, but keep the old. One is silver and the other is gold."

It brought back memories, first of Brownies and then in Pioneer Girls. What a great tradition to pass on to encourage commitment, tolerance, patience with old and new friends.

God calls us to love, listen and to obey.

Now, go take on your day!

Call a friend, old or new!

Before you know it, you won't be blue.

Check out the cool Smiley Saturday posts at Lightening Online!

Today, I am smiling because:

1) Lightening Online gave me an award, among her Smiley Saturday participants, that is too cute! I haven't decided who to pass it on to yet but I'll work on that!

The original poster of the award and code can be found at A Nice Place In The Sun who created the award for the " bloggers who make me laugh until my face hurts, . . . whose writing voice comforts me when I'm feeling lost or inspires me when I'm feeling blue."

2) I've been swap partnered with Why Bother? from Australia through Lightening Online and I am thinking hard now what to send. I have to include something pink in the item or packaging. Hmmm. And, it has to be under $10. Hmmm. I'm thinking, I'm thinking. Hard to do this morning but I'm thinking. I promise to have an idea before the post office opens on Monday.

3) Speaking of pink, I am smiling because I love my PINK Tool Kit! See below. On Monday, I will  post "News from the Pink Tool Kit" which will be geared towards women trying to keep their house in order while the men fix, fuddle and fume and finish a fabulous basement and don't get your pictures hung or your vacuum fixed. Sometimes you just have to do it yourself and if anything in my whole married life has stayed together it is my pink toolkit (minus the scissors) because men won't be seen using pink tools. I love it! I think my mom bought it years ago from Lillian Vernon. Oh, dude, it is still there and even on sale! I should get a commission.

4) Finally, I am smiling over Blonde Brownies with chocolate chips in them from my old Southern Living Cookbook! My family loves them too. I'll put up the recipe next week sometime! Stay tuned!

Add some smilies to your weeks with the Smiley Saturday posts and swaps. See Lightening to add your link.

Things that made me smile this week were:

1) A wonderful giveaway at the Handyman's Podcast! You do have to listen to the Handyman's audio podcast (Episode 6-The tool kit) to learn about the giveaway but it is worth the handy tips to listen! You can download it to your IPOD or listen directly through the computer.

2) Snow days!! – Finally. With sick kids at home, it was good to have a reason to keep them out of school to get better and they had fun playing in the snow! Thursday was completely clear! We woke up Friday to 3.5 inches of snow and a winter wonderland!

3) Finished Projects!

Before:
        AFTER:             

What could possibly be more fun than a girl's day at the mall? I can't imagine, so guess where I was today? – on a girls day at the mall!

Starting the day with a child throwing up in the sink might pull at the heart strings of a more sensitive "Guess I'll miss the trip to the mall" mom but that's not me so off I went! Okay, let me rephrase that: Fortunately, my child is old enough that I can leave her and her sister with a fully capable dad and not feel too guilty.

So, what could possibly have warranted a 5 hour stay at the mall, you ask? Well, there's one friend's totally adorable new blue glasses from Lenscrafters that we got to ohh and ahh over. She is looking very chic now. Then, we went to Sephora (the third time this week for another friend) to return one item and buy lipstick & lipliner for one of us, with recommendations from the sales consultant. If you are thinking of trying the new Cherry Lipstain – please think again. It really makes you look like you have just been eating a cherry lollipop and is hard to cover with other lipstick when you decide you don't like it.

Then, there was off to Nordstrom's for a bra fitting. Screech! Hold the presses! A bra fitting. Yes, ladies, you all need one. Interestingly, I walked out with the same size I walked in but I did get a nicer bra when I usually don't let myself splurge in this department. Nordstroms had a wonderful cafe where I noshed on blue cheese and walnut salad and the soup of the day. Delicious without being heavy or diet busting!

Have three women at the mall makes the trip even more fun because everyone has different but same interests. We can all go into a store for makeup and one buys lipstick, one buys face cleanser and other products, and I bought face wipes that take off all your makeup in one swipe. I am totally addicted to Sephora's face wipes.

After lunch, our one friend headed home to find my husband. Hmm, I need to rephrase again. That didn't come out right. My husband is helping my friend put back together her kitchen and needed her back home to go get more supplies. I didn't think about me being home so that he could leave our girls with me to go to the store also. Oops.

So, what next? Still in the mall, I needed to buy a solid color shirt for the "Auditioning for TV" class I am taking on Monday nights on some wild whim. My friend had to return a shirt at J. Crew where there was maybe one large in the entire store of smalls and mediums. Hello, America.

Next, we ventured into Lord & Taylor where I NEVER shop. I couldn't believe the awesome deals I came across on their sale racks. For a total of around $25, I got two shirts, originally $100 each, that were well-made and lovely. I always think I need to shop in cheaper stores but if you are willing to wait until the end of the season, it is truly amazing what you can get in really good quality items at budget prices. After looking at leather purses in all the stores, I was also able to get a cute Wilson's Leather Blue purse with buckles for only $25 through their 75% off sale. Finally, my one friend got a great deal on shoes at Skechers, which ended our over-stayed trip to the mall today. Boy, the time flys when you are having fun. Better yet, I get to tell hubby how much money I saved him today.

The best part of today was that I felt I got what I needed without blowing the home budget. Never fear, I did that a couple of hours later when I went to the normal grocery store without my coupons! Groceries add up at a sinful rate.

Ecclesiastes 4:12b says "A cord of three strands is not quickly broken" and today a gaggle of three friends did a fun trip to the mall make. Making memories with good friends not only grows that friendship but helps add to the spice of life. God made us to need friends and I am grateful for those He has given me.

Wow – What a crazy week! God has blessed me as I have learned sooo much about Blogland, writers, writing resources and more.

In return, I “blew the dust” off my Quark program and have tried to bless my husband by helping him and his friend create business cards and flyers for their new podcast program to hand out this weekend at the local home show. See below:

Now announcing, the Handyguys Podcast! Brian and Paul will be sharing tool reviews, answers to your “honey-do” list problems and more. Please call in and leave a question for them to answer on their weekly show!

(When you call, check my blog first and add what I need done this week too – Just kidding!)

I have also tried to bless my mom by writing her profile or life story in 800 words for the ITP society called PDSA, helping people with the quiet but deadly autoimmune disease that affects your platelets. I will post her story in a page after I finish tweaking it today for final submission and removing names for privacy. It is amazing what people are living with that you have no idea unless a crisis occurs.

God blessed me on Friday when I asked for your prayers for the teacher’s conference. My little one’s teacher was totally understanding that neither her nor my daughter seemed to have the heavily weighted assignment and let my little one have another chance to do it and have it in by Monday. I am learning to speak up (with love and grace) and be my children’s defender when they need the props!

The sweet teacher had also forgotten a “lunch with the teacher” that Laura had saved for and turned in 15 “caught being good” bucks. She was completely apologetic when I just mentioned it in passing and rescheduled for this coming week. My daughter said it was nothing but the fact that she was still mentioning it I knew it had discouraged her from saving the “caught being good” bucks.

Turning 40 this year, I am realizing that life is too short not to speak up. It took me this long! I am also pitching and tossing!! I gave away a trunk load of stuff to Goodwill. I sold 5 things on E-bay and have two full bins of more to list and I threw out boxes and boxes of stuff from storage. My dear handyman said he would build more shelves. “Why,” I said, “do you build more shelves for stuff you never look at!”

Pitchin’ and tossin’ — Get ‘er done – Got ‘er did! I have plenty more to do too.

And, FRUGALITY rules! With no more out-of-the-house income, I am looking for creative ways to save on groceries, etc. (See more on this later!) I found a wonderful food outlet store. I filled a cart with meats and other groceries and the whole bill came to $105!! I would have spent over $200 for the same food at a regular grocery store.

We did have a death in the family this week. A wonderfully delightfully previous neighbor of my husband was 95. Though she wasn’t officially “family,” she was like family and a dear friend to my mother-in-law. She shared to this world such an example of graciousness, always asking about you and your interests adding wonderful stories of her own. She dressed impeccably, often having to prepare several hours later in life to look her suit & pearls best, even just to come across the street to visit with us at my in-laws house before moving from the neighborhood to a nursing care facility. Until the end, her mind was incredibly clear, always ready to make you feel special. What an example to follow!

Today, I am going into the big city of Philly (more prayers needed) for a class on the business of acting. After our extra experience (See my blog “Quiet on the Set”), I want to understand the process more clearly.

Anyway, off to the races. My girls are at a Monopoly-Dogopoly marathon with their Auntie in New Jersey so time to catch up on paperwork this AM. (Oh, and in case you are wondering why my title includes purple petunias – you will have to read my book I was writing this week to find out – which is not in print yet so you'll just have to be in suspense!)