fun give-aways...

over at according-to-kelly...all month long. check it out! yeah, so I guess that's a directive to you, Brenda...you know...since you're likely the only one still looking in. ;)

New template....

If you hate it, let Jen D. know. I'll change it back. No problemo! That's IF anyone comes by this place anymore....

Vintage Peebles Prints

Wanna try it out? Well, skip on down to the link, but don't freak out if you can't read it! Just upload your photo, click the blue button below the dialog box and wait. Once it's processed, you can copy and paste to your computer. No charge! FREE! WHOO-HOO!

photography time wasters (as found on "how about orange...")

Create "VINTAGE" photos here!

Photo "shiz" at Photojojo. For DIY projects and more.

Okay...

i'm the lame gal sending/forwarding links like a nutty...or a shut-in. completely filling up email boxes with things that make me say, "OOOH! I bet so-and-so would DIG this!" and i can't do it any more...i think they've gotten used to deleting what i send. ;) so...i thought i'd just put a few things HERE...in case anyone still visits HERE! it's been a while.

okay, okay...ready? here's what i got:

natural hair care + make-up
Baking soda no-poo recipe/directions

Organic make-up w/super cheap sample prices!

yum...food
homemade microwave popcorn


art + craft
Turn your kiddos' art into a poster (might be an easier/less expensive way to do it. a great idea for holiday gifts to grandparents - select a piece from each grandkid.)

Make mermaid tales for your little girl's dolls. This is comes from the blog of Amy Karol, the author of this book. I've been to a LOT lately...and most of these links were mentioned in posts I've found there.


i'm sure i'll find more...but this is all i've got time to post today. for those of you who's email i've jammed up with "oh, lookie what i found" messages, my apologies for the pesting. future passive aggressive sharing will appear here. :)

happy thursday!

Happy birthday, Ann!

A very happy birthday to Ann!

Hope it is a fantastic day!

You ROCK!

Love & hugs,

Your sisters in WINE

STEP AWAY FROM THE BARGAIN!

On a trip to Target (made out of necessity I assure you), I ran in to Jen Peebles, our dear fellow WINE-ness (WINE-o is kind of male and dirty, WINE-ness is all goddess and lovely). She was killing time during ballet. Don't we ALL kill time in Target? There SO needs to be a 12-step program.

ANYWAY, in her hand were the above pictured clothes. The shirt was on super sale, $2, the shorts I think were $4. She admitted that she wasn't sure why she was buying them. At those prices, who could blame her, right? Not me. Besides, we have a GIRLS' SWAP coming up...I figured they might make there way in. ;)

After a few minutes of chit-chat, she head off in search of hairspray and I continued my quest for sanity.

I eventually made my way down the long side aisle of travel toiletries. And BAM-O! The same Jenny Bobenny outfit...hanging in front of the cotton balls. Now, I know that Target has those obscure locations for discounted goods, but I was pretty sure no employee would have left clothes here. Nope.

I laughed out loud at the sight. It was like finding Jen's scrawl in a bathroom stall “Jenny Bo Benny was here!” I was packing my camera from Abby's earlier parks and rec class. Knowing Jen's love for all things photography, I thought she'd appreciate how I collected the "evidence". I got a few odd looks from some of the shoppers.

Jen exercised GREAT restraint! I mean…a $2 shirt?! a $4 pair of super cute Bermuda shorts?! I almost bought them for her…as a reward. But I left it there, as a marker for potential WINE members shopping the discount section of Target. They, too, can resist the need for seizing a bargain, tucking that money away for the "Two Buck Chuck".

Way to go Jen! You're an inspiration, a trendsetter, the wind beneath our collectively poor wings! ;)

A new addition to the afternoon W.I.N.E. and playdates...

I LOVE THIS WINE! Haven't had any and I honestly don't know that I care. I'll be bringing a bottle to the next W.I.N.E. event. If it tastes like ass....

you can "bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch bitch and BITCH SOME MORE!" LOL

Ben's Bells: 2nd Annual Kindness Celebration

The following message was taken from an email sent by Jeannette from Ben's Bells. This is a GREAT opportunity for anyone new to Ben's Bells to experience the infectious nature of this organization. And for those of you who are already familiar with my relentless endorsement for this great cause, this is a great opportunity for you to "Bell" those special somebodies for being kind forces in your community/life. If you want this email and/or the order form, feel free to email me for it or go to http://www.bensbells.org/.

Also...this is a FREE event! Bell making/painting is free. And so much fun. Sam and I went last year and had a lovely afternoon. We'll be going again this year. If there's a group, maybe we can slide on over to Johnny Rockets for milkshakes and fries...NOT free, but fun. What better way is there to end a kind day in our community than to be kind to our selves with a chocolate shake? ;)

"Hello all you KIND people!

It's time for our 2nd annual CELEBRATE KINDNESS DAY! Last year's event was a wonderful success and we're looking forward to an incredible event this year - what could be better than spreading kindness all over Tucson and beyond? This is your chance to "BELL" the kind people in your life while supporting the Ben's Bells Project in creating a culture of kindness in our community. I am attaching a flyer with information about ordering your "YOU ARE KIND" Bell and about the Celebrate Kindness Day event happening on Saturday, April 26th from 10-3 at Ben's Bells. Come out for a beautiful day of music, Bell-making, face-painting, silent auction (from 10:30-12:30).

Your support is very much appreciated!! And THANK YOU for circulating this info to your friends and family!

Other fun Ben's Bells news:Woman's World magazine will feature a story on Ben's Bells in the April 7th edition of the magazine.

Ben's Bells is featured in a new book coming out on April 8th - "What's Possible" by Daryn Kagan.

Thank you for believing in the power of kindness - you ARE changing the world!!

Jeannette"

Save the date for the next Girls' Swap Meet!

The next girls swap meet is Saturday May 10th - 4:00 - put it on your calendar now!

That gives everyone more than a month to do some spring cleaning and clean out those closests, toy bins and cupboards. We are doing clothes, kids and adults, toys, housewares, anything you want to bring. What no one wants we'll donate.

Please pass along to anyone you think might want to join us.

Thanks, Becca

Snaps wanted!

Hey, gals!

Any of you who took snaps at our last Girls' Night Out who want to share, PLEASE DO! I'd like to post an album on the W.I.N.E. blog for those who weren't able to join us...to sort of intice them into coming along for future night's out.

Just email what you have or are willing to share to jendarland@cox.net.

Peace out, girls.

Jen D.

Girls' Swap Meet!

Plans for the next Girls' Swap Meet are being finalized! Yee haw! So hang tight, gals and check back soon for the final date and time!

In the meantime, keep the following categories in mind as you hunt around for this season's contributions:

Women's clothes and accessories
Housewares
Kids' clothes and toys

A tale of three milks...

After Sam was done breastfeeding, I put him on soy because he was pretty lactose-intolerant as a baby. When Abby was done, she was soy-intolerant so we put her on cow's milk. And we haven't looked back.

So then Becca sends me this link about soy not being all it's cracked up to be. I go out and pick up a quart of goat's milk. I only bought one thinking I didn't want to waste the money on it if they both turned up their noses and spat it out.

The next morning I put goat's milk in Sam's cereal. I watched and waited. Nothing. He ate the cereal without noticing anything. Abby's morning cup was full of goat's milk and she polished it off and asked for more. Just before nap time, they both got cups with milk. Neither said a word and both finished them up.

Neither had adverse reactions of the bowels.

So now I've got to know. Where can I get a good deal on goat's milk? Something less than $4 a quart? Maybe in a bigger size? Anyone?

And yeah, I'm resisting the urge to fall into the fetal position out of fear and trepidation for all that might await Sam for having been on so much soy for so long.

Any leads on free therapy?

Interesting....

So I was walking Saturday with the woman who owns The Running Shop. She's very nice. A little shy but warms up after a few minutes of chatting. ANYWAY, she shared with me some interesting research done by a newly founded organization of business owners that is to be called "Tucson First":

For every dollar spent in a store locally owned/operated, (think "Mom and Pop"), $0.40 on the dollar stays in Tucson. Conversely, for every dollar spent in a large, national chain, $0.10 on the dollar stays in Tucson.

I found that FASCINATING!

Now, I get that the shoes sold at The Running Shop are going to be far more expensive than buying them online or any other major retail chain. But knowing that there's a relationship between the store owner and the community, that more of his/her profits STAY here...well, that's enough to make paying a bit more for a new pair of walking kicks worth it. Or at least that's the story I'm selling when the husband sees the bill! ;)

Month-end Progress Report

Alright, gals. How'd we do?

Got a success story? Find a great deal? News on freebies? Have a hard month? Needing a little encouragement?

Post a comment. Tell us how you did this month. Whether you had a successful go of it or found a few hiccups along the way, let your fellow W.I.N.E.o's be there for YOU! We've got your back!

Happy Birthday, Breana!

Just a shout out to our fellow W.I.N.E.-o Bre on her 29th birthday (the 16th). Yes, you read correctly. She's turning the BIG 2-9! Poor lass.... ;)

Whoop it up, girl, and strutt!

Mid-month check in

Ok girls...where are we at?? Who's spent what and what fabulous thing did you have to have??

(see comments for my answer and add yours!)

¡Estoy apagado a México!

Alright, ladies. I'm outta here! Well, in 16 hrs or so I am. Last chance for any LEGAL souvenir requests...

While away, I'll raise my glass to toast my good fortune for having stumbled upon such a fine group of gals.

Have a great week and I'll check in when I get back.

¡Adiós!

Jen D.

Recipes

Here is my first contribution. Being a foody I love to share recipes. Although this first one isn't a meal - for most of us...Abby and Jackson perhaps....and comes compliments of Juli Jewell. Homemade playdough.

1 C salt
2 C flour
2 T oil
2 C water - add food coloring
4 t cream of tarter

cook over medium heat until consistency you want.

hmmmm...

Women In Need Of _____________....doesn't that make us WINO's?

...perfect.

Welcome Ladies!

Becca has inspired a life changing movement and has a huge hand in inspiring this Blog. Think of it as our own little slice of internet nirvana. A place where we can swap "this and that's" on how we're managing our lives, where we're getting our free meats, who has the most cheese. And best of all, it's about supporting each other through the crazy times and cheering each other on to the finish lines. It's the best we can do without hiring our own group guru.

The name:

W= Women
I= In
N=Need of
E=Escape, Enlightenment, Enthusiasm, Energy, Exotensial experience, Erotica (well, sometimes it's true), Encouragement, Exercise....you get the picture.

Authors Needed/Wanted!
You have an idea you want to contribute? GREAT! Let me know and I'll add you as an author to the W.I.N.E. Blog! Write whatever you want, whenever you want.

Things to think about and what we can HOPE to create from this blog:

Grocery Budget Challenge
Think about your contribution to the menus, the spots to save, the best deal on milk, etc.

"Smart Women Don't Buy Stupid Stuff" Challenge
$50 a month...it's gonna be rough. Write your confessional. Words of encouragement. How do you get your "zen" on when you're on you last $5 and it's only the 10th of the month?


W.I.N.E. Events
"Girls' Swap Meet" info will be updated/posted here. Throwing a "Sex Accessory" Party and need a few friends to round out your group? Post it here! "Simply Dinners" events and rotation information found here.


Think about what else you'd like to find in a click of a mouse. This Blog is YOUR BLOG. Email me at jendarland@cox.net and let me know if you'd like to be added as an "author" or "team member". If not, feel free to send along any ideas and I'll post 'em up. Feel free to leave comments, as well. Music suggestions welcomed!

Peace out, girls.