The Queen B

All I Brought Back From My Vacation Was...

A nasty virus.

An ankle in a brace.

And a good dose of blessed inspiration.

I can't wait to share our trip with you.  Thanks for your prayers.

Up In The Air

So we are leaving this morning for Guatemala.  

In a plane.

I don't love planes.

But I do love La P, so planes are necessary.

As are flying pills.

I will hopefully be able to post while I'm there.

Which will be kind of ironic, since I hardly post when I'm home.

You know you were thinking it.

Thanks for the book recommendations!!!  I have a list of must reads that will last for months!  

I chose The Thirteenth Tale and Water for Elephants for this trip.  They seemed to be mentioned the most.  I'll let you know what I think about them.

I am also thankful for my friends who take care of responsibilities at home while we're away.  It makes it so much easier to leave.  Especially my house sitting family who is allergic to my cats.

(Now that's true friendship.)

Thank you all so very much for your prayers.  I need them.

Y'all are the best.

It's A Little Gift You Can Give Me

So I'll be taking a little airplane trip in less than a week.

And while I've gotten over many of my fears/issues/hangups in the last year...

FLYING IS NOT ONE OF THEM.

I'll have my flying pills.  But they don't really knock me out.  They just kind of take the edge off.

Which is a really, really good thing.

Because the edge is a scary place to be when you're 36,000 feet in the air.

I need distraction.  I need something that keeps my mind off of every rattle that I hear.

I need a book recommendation.

And not just a "pretty good" book.  I need, like, the best book you've ever read kind of book.

A book that you wouldn't have been able to put down if your method of transportation was about to plunge from the sky to the earth.

Hypothetically, of course.

I don't love historical fiction.  Or sci fi.  

Unless it was the most wonderful book you've ever read. Then I might reconsider.

If you can't think of one, CALL A FRIEND. 

I've read The Help.  I've read the Sweet Potato Ladies.  I've read Redeeming Love. I've read the Twilights.  

(I'm anticipating selections.)

I've tried The Hunger Games - couldn't get into them.  

Don't delay.  I need time to order if necessary.

Look at it as a win-win.  You can get Christmas ideas for the reader in your life.

Oh.  And I think it goes without saying, BUT LET'S NOT CHOOSE ANY BOOKS WITH AIRPLANE DISASTERS.

Thank you.

Winner!!

The winner of the tickets for the Friday night preview shopping event is...

 

 

Congrats!  I'll be emailing you with info shortly.

 

 

 

 

Who Doesn't Love Shopping With Friends?

Can you believe November is almost halfway over? 

PANIC IS APPROACHING QUICKLY.

Typically, I love Christmas shopping, but this year I seem to have misplaced my mojo.

I love to find the perfect gift for each recipient.  Something thoughtful and specific just for them, you know?  

And I like to have it wrapped up by, well, NOW, so that my family can enjoy a (relatively) stress-free season.

Have I mentioned that PANIC IS ON THE HORIZON?

But I think I may have found a solution.

And Bonus!!  I have a little treat that could help those of you who live in Northwest Arkansas.

The NWA Boutique Show is Friday and Saturday, November 19-20, at the Springdale Holiday Inn Convention Center.  There are over 130 amazing boutiques.  

The show will kick-off Friday, the 19^th, with a Girls Night Out Preview Shopping Event featuring live Christmas jazz by local artists, swag bags for the first 500, candy and hot cocoa stations, door prizes and much more.  Tickets are $10.00 per person at the door or $8.00 online at www.nwaboutiqueshow.com.  A portion of the proceeds from Friday night’s event will benefit the community programs of the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas.

Saturday admission is free.  You'll still be able to register for amazing door prizes and shop thousands of one-of-a-kind and custom items from local artists and designers. 

I am giving away a pair of tickets to the Friday night Girls Night Out event!

Just leave a comment telling what you're hoping to find at the show, and I'll randomly pick a winner on Sunday, November 14.  

All of you local lurkers are going to have to comment on this one!!

You can check out all of the merchants, and find out about directions and hours at their website, www.nwaboutiqueshow.com.  

Or you can check it out on Facebook at NWA Boutique Show.

Start making your shopping list!!

 

Rest

I love the time change.

I love, love, love the falling back.

If only it came with a mandatory 24 hour catch-up-on-your-rest event, because...

The Palace is pooped.

We are all tired.  Physically.  Emotionally.  And there is no rest in sight for the next few weeks.

I think I'm coming down with a cold.  Or arthritis.

The Princess is in tears at least once a day.

I have tried to be so intentional about our schedule, but sometimes there is still TOO MUCH.

How do you rest?  I am seriously asking. 

What do you do to rest?

Do you rest?  Do you go and go and go until you crash?

Do you plan a time of rest?

Do you feel guilty if you rest?

Do others let you rest?

Do you let you rest?

Share your wisdom, friends....

 

They Can't Have My Christmas

Y'all know I had an issue this fall.

I can't even begin to tell you how many perfectly good items were ruined this season by creepy birds of prey.

Well.  Today, they crossed the line.

And by "they", I'm not quite sure who I am referring to, but you better believe I will be finding somebody to blame for this outbreak.

I had about 30 minutes to kill today, so I took a little meander through Target.  I walked the perimeter and found that the Christmas decorations were being placed on the shelves. 

(Which I do have to say is much better than Hobby Lobby.  They've had their display out since June.)

I turned down the first aisle and immediately stood in disbelief.

No.

It couldn't be.

CHRISTMAS OWLS?

Who decided that owls would now be a part of our Christmas?

I get the reindeer.  And even the polar bears.  I've become accustomed to the occasional penguin.

Though I'm not actually sure why penguins are infiltrating traditional holiday decor.

But I cannot accept owls.

I made my way down the next aisle.

YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.

It's just too much.

There should not be owls messing with Christmas.

They can have fall.

But not Christmas.

Target had maybe 20% of their Christmas get-up displayed.  Do you think The Owls are going to play a more prominent role?  Do you think there will be an entire Owl Section?

Have you seen other Christmas Owls?  

Will they make a sudden appearance in THE NATIVITY SCENE?  

I can just see it now.  Somebody's gonna have An Owl watching over Baby Jesus. The donkeys, the goats, the cows & The Owls...all gathered around the manger.  

NOT IN MY NATIVITY, PEOPLE.

Please tell me that you agree with me.  Please tell me that you will not condone The Great Owl Takeover of 2010.

Are you with me?

***

To read about & hear a pretty amazing o-w-l, however, check this out.