And the Winner Is...

Sara! Your name matched the winning number at Random.org. Congratulations - you won the Jeanne Robertson DVD. (P.S. Don't do what I did and try to play it in your car's CD player ... it's a DVD. LOL) While congratulating Sara, I have to tell you something about her. She has a link on her blog that says "praying for you". If you ask her to pray about something, this friend is one tenacious prayer warrior. You may want to keep that in mind.

Thanks to all of you for commenting!

Southern Mentors, Southern Mothers

Do you know that if a woman chews gum in public she may very well look like a cow chewing her cud? That, my friend, is according to my mom, who was a contributing author of the unwritten Southern Etiquette Book.
Do you know how to sit and how to stand? How about how to hold your hands? No, no, you only THOUGHT you knew that. The old South rule book I refer to is possibly on the verge of extinction and truthfully, that doesn’t make me sad.

When my children were small, I had a neighbor in Tallahassee that decided I was the daughter she’d never had. She told me, “You are a great representative for health, positive thinking and such, but when it comes to make-up, hair and the art of being a lady, I need to teach you a thing or two.”

She literally took me to her hairdresser, went in her closet and pulled clothes that she insisted I wear, and staged a community fundraiser class on “The Art of Being a Lady” and appointed me her assistant. (Uncommon Blonde still rolls her eyes at the memory as she was being homeschooled and I made her go too. Poor child) Seriously, when I look at the photos of me during that period of time it’s not good. She was markedly older than my mom and have you noticed that styles change?

Don’t get me wrong; I loved her and was grateful to have her love. One thing I learned from her is that you can’t be anyone’s mini-me. You have to find your own voice.

When I watch speaker and comedienne Jeanne Robertson, she makes me think I’m watching my mentor’s birth daughter. She was a beauty pageant winner many moons ago and knows all the rules. Granted, my mentor didn’t have a daughter as she was most unusual and focused on her career during her childbearing years (the 1940’s through 1960’s and didn’t marry until she was about 50 years old.)

I’m giving away a DVD of Jeanne telling some of her funny stories. My favorites are her tales of her husband, who she lovingly refers to as “L.B.” (Left-Brain)

I’ll draw a name at the end of the day Friday and post the winner this weekend. All you have to do is leave a comment to enter. If you want to leave an etiquette rule your mom taught you, I want to hear.

Here’s a clip of Jeanne if you’ve never seen her:

P.S. Disclaimer: This DVD case is not in perfect condition. I find getting the wrapping off of CD’s and DVD’s to be particularly irritating, don’t you? I took the scissors to this case and cut a bit more than intended. At least it wasn’t my hand that got in the way!

The Ultimate Blog Party 2009

I’m Beverlydru and I don’t like to miss a party, so I’m joining in The Ultimate Blog Party 2009 hosted by 5 Minutes for Mom.

If you’ve dropped by from there, I’ll introduce myself. I am the Mom of three who have flown the nest. In fact, my firstborn is due to have a baby in July! WooHoo! I have been blogging for 15 months. I live in the boonies in N. Florida and mostly work online from home. I love people and blogging has met an important need for daily communication with people who I can build friendships with.

I’m often tagged as “Happy Lady” by people who know me, probably because I smile a lot. I’m off to a women’s retreat right now where I have the awesome privilege to lead the music.

This party has PRIZES galore! (You only THOUGHT you were going to spring clean this weekend. Nah.)

I’m supposed to list my top picks if I win so here are some that have my name on them. : ) Hope springs eternal.

MY TOP CHOICE!!
58 - Kitchen Aid Artisan Stand Mixer
Provided by: Moms Who Think
(winner's choice of color, $349.99 retail value )

Who couldn’t use a Target gift card?
19 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Shoot-Me-Now
http://www.shoot-me-now.com/

21 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Agoosa - Funny Name, Sound Advice
http://agoosa.com/

22 — $50 gift certificate to Target Stores
Provided by: Beginner Baby Blog
http://beginnerbaby.com/blog/?p=100

Hip Hip Hooray for Blogging!

Pay it Forward

Do you remember how fun it was to get mail when you were a kid? Blogging has returned that joy to me. Getting the mail had become a drag- just bills, bills and more bills. I’ve decided kids can get excited about mail because it’s never bills. It’s just cards or gifts or fun surprises. Blogging can put fun things in your mailbox again!

I recently won the Pay it Forward drawing over at Mocha with Linda’s and now it’s my turn to pass along the fun. I've seen a couple of different ways of doing this - giving a handcrafted gift to the first 3 people or the way Linda did it, drawing for one prize not to exceed $15.

Since my best only crafting is done in the kitchen and that really doesn't seem too appropriate for unseen friends, I thought I'd give away a $10 gift card. I chose Starbucks, partly because of an already colorful history with people paying it “backward” in Starbucks lines. One news story on the phenomenon is Here. But you can choose between Starbucks, Target or Chic-fil-A. If money is tight and you win – you can always just pay it forward by sending it on!

So here are the rules:
1. Leave a comment on this post by midnight Thursday (3/12/09).
2. In your comment, indicate which gift card you would like.
3. If you win, you continue to Pay It Forward by doing some sort of giveaway on your blog.

I'll post the winner Friday!

The Best of Things and the Worst of Things

I just read Uncommon Blonde’s blog and was prompted to take a picture of this hideous item found on Builderman’s desk. What’s the story? What is this? It’s her story so you can read it there. She’s also giving away a $15 iTunes Gift Card so your visit can reap rewards beyond satisfying your curiosity.

I can’t believe I posted this picture of Uncommon Blonde’s worst Christmas present ever. Eeewwww and double Eeewwww! Builderman’s comments on this post were: “Hey, it works really well. Notice the workmanship! Do I get a commission for you using the photo on your blog?

Umm – a firm NO to all!

We're all a Bunch of Winners

Sara won the book give-away. I'll be sending her Theresa Garnero's Your First Year With Diabetes Thanks for your comments!

In other breaking news of the hour, I received a package today with the Christmas crafts I won in Greg's give-away. How fun!! I won't tell all because I know he is sending goodies to others and I don't want to spoil any surprises. But I'm sure I'm the only one who got a really cute Rudolph! And a Christmas banner/flag. I can't wait to hang it. The other things are for my tree and Iove a tree full of special ornaments. Thanks, Greg!

Health is Wealth

My personal experience and observations:
1. Overwhelmed people STOP. Shut down. Put on the brakes.
2. Stress causes us to develop “tunnel vision”; we lose our ability to see options and become ineffective at implementing change.

These reactions can affect each of us in a myriad of circumstances, but can certainly affect those that have been diagnosed with a scary medical condition.

I was honored to be invited to review Theresa Garnero’s new book, Your First Year With Diabetes.

I had high expectations for this book because I understood that as a nurse and diabetes educator, she has knowledge of this subject; as a person who loves people, she desires to inject humor into a weighty topic.

I am happy to highly recommend this book. I have a checklist that I think good health books must adhere to:
1. Easy to read; successfully translating “medicalese” into plain English.
2. Combine personal stories with referenced resources; a professional & credible presentation with a human touch.
3. Practical for repeated referencing.
4. Make the complicated simple.

This book meets those criteria and does an admirable job of helping people get a handle on what has become an epidemic disease. I would dare to say that all of us know someone with diabetes or pre-diabetes. Of great concern are all the people who have the disease and don’t know it.

I have been networking with diabetics for several years now and I am passionate about people understanding that there is a pathway to wellness. Diabetes IS a manageable condition and diabetics can now live full, healthy, productive lives! Knowledge is power in the war against diabetes and Ms. Garnero has given diabetics a powerful weapon in the arsenal against the debilitating effects of uncontrolled diabetes.

I am giving away a copy of this book. If you know someone with diabetes, this would be a perfect gift! All you have to do is leave a comment telling me you know someone with diabetes (you don’t have to say who and it can be you) and I’ll use the random number generator on Monday morning at 9 AM CT to determine the winner. I’ll mail it immediately so if it’s a gift, you’ll have it on time.

If you just want to buy the book, or anything at all from Amazon, pretty please click through the Amazon search bar on the right of this site and I'll get some credit. Now I just need to remember to shop through that link myself!!

Cheerful Givers

I know I tell you about a lot of give-aways in the blogosphere. Before I tell you about another one, I have to comment on the joy of giving. I have won several things this year and it’s amazing how a small unexpected thing can make a big difference in your day.

This week, when I gave the angel table runners, I was so blessed by the email from the winner. It really gave her a lift to win. It literally brought tears to my eyes to realize that this simple thing had touched someone. I know we are more focused on giving at this time of year and that’s a good thing. If you want to read a story that will really touch your heart, see Lysa’s post today about her mission trip to the laundromat.

Now I want to introduce you to the seven chicks who host one of the very first blogs I ever read. I’ve known several of these girls since they were teens and now they are all mothers. They are a special bunch and are doing daily give-aways right now called the 25 days of Chickmas.

May the eyes of your heart be open today to give small gifts – a smile, a word of encouragement or letting someone go in front of you in a line. It’s the little things can make a big difference. And be sure to come back tomorrow- I’ll be giving away a book!

Angels All Around Us

I started this post with the idea to title it "The Angels Have Found a Home." The purpose being to announce the winner of the angel table runners.

Then I started thinking about angels again. And of course their home is heaven. But they come to us on assigments of all sorts. Fascinating. Scriptural references most often depict them as messengers. I digress.

Today's message is ...
The winner of the angel table runners is Heather! The Random Number Generator picked number 3 and she's the one! She doesn't have a blog but I've emailed her and am waiting for her to contact me. Heather, if you're reading this, please email me your mailing address!

Thanks to all of you for stopping by and commenting. When I joked about someone giving away a free trip to Houston for Girls Night Out, I had no idea that Paula at Wrinkled Shirts actually did that for her give-away. Amazing. She's going to start an every Friday give-away because of the wonderful experience of giving. Wow.

The blogging community is pretty wonderful!

Good News of Great Joy!

I’m back. The grinch that kidnapped Bevie Lou Who (better known as Beverlydru) had to release his captive. (Have I mentioned that I must intentionally choose to not live by my feelings? What a roller coaster that can be. Whew.)

There’s nothing like a give-away to cheer me right up. When I visited Lysa’s blog this morning, I was delighted by her Cool Christmas Give-Away carnival. If only she were giving away a free trip to Houston to attend her Girls Night Out with guest speaker Kate Gosselin of Jon and Kate plus 8. How fun would that be? Reality check – that’s not the give-away. (Hey any give-away is good. HELLLLOOO- free gifts!)

I have some really good news:
And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. Luke 2:10,11 KJV

To celebrate this good news, I am giving away two Angel Table Runners. They are new and haven’t even had the tags cut off because I don’t have a dark tablecloth to set off these lovely Heritage Lace Runners. Thus, I took this photo on the dark green rug. If your home would like to have these angels, just leave a comment (be sure I can find your email address) and I’ll use the Random Generator on Monday after 6 PM to find the winner.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a fabulous weekend.

I'm Booked!

Most of us are feeling pretty booked about now, which brings to mind the Grinch declaring "6 o'clock, dinner with myself - I can't cancel that!" "I'm booked!" takes on a new meaning this holiday season because of Linda.

Mocha with Linda is hosting a "Booked for the Holidays" give-away that is awesome. Thanks, Linda for the book I've already won! You can click here to get it on the week 2 give-away. Sign-up ends Weds. at noon. But this is just week 2 so there's more fun ahead.

Her site also got me thinking about what a great gift a book is... for almost anyone. It becomes a personal and relatively inexpensive gift when carefully selected with the recipient in mind.

Get booked in the peaceful way this year.

Clumsy is as Clumsy Does

Maybe if my mother had named me Grace, I wouldn’t be so clumsy. My inability to keep my feet under me has resulted in way too many injury stories for this post. Builderman no longer asks me to climb ladders, for one thing. No siree. The time I sprained an ankle coming down the mountain in Alaska is well-remembered by our whole family but at least I got points for earning us prime seats in the handicapped car on the train trip the next day.

I won’t embarrass myself by even trying to recount some of the episodes that are running through my head right now. Let’s just say I should probably hire a stunt woman to take my place on hikes and such.

This brings me to why I need to win this Wii Fit give-away at LaPetiteChic's blog. I have observed that old people generally have a balance problem. Then what happens to those of us who couldn’t even keep our balance at age 20? A solution has been invented! The Wii Fit comes with a balance board! The genes of my 102 year old grandmother necessitate a plan to develop a sense of balance. I also gleefully anticipate the side effects of regular use of the Wii Fit, like weight loss, muscle strength, etc.

Since I am so faithful to let you know about awesome give-aways, I am letting you in on the good news that you can register to win a Wii console, Wii Fit & balance board just in time for Christmas. Click Here.

If you win my Wii Fit, you can console me with a train ride in Alaska. Canada would be okay too, because hey- my flexibilty is increasing too.

Meet Chutzpah & Moxie

I could introduce Chutzpah & Moxie as my girlfriends, but 2 close friends with such unusual names sounds suspicious.

In the last city I lived in, I shared my name (first and last!) with a local news anchor, so obviously there was some confusion between us. I regularly got her mail and phone calls so occasionally we met to exchange messages. After our first meeting, she said “What you have that I don’t have is “chutzpah.” I was unfamiliar with the word but discovered that it is a yiddish word for “nerve or gall”. It was one of those remarks that I wasn't sure was a compliment.

I've since become acquainted with Moxie, who is probably closely related to Chutzpah, but with a prettier name. Webster’s dictionary defines moxie as “energy, pep, courage and determination.” Moxie was a trademark of a soft drink made in 1930. A current magazine called MoXie is described as “for gutsy women who are living boldly, pursuing adventures, taking risks, and putting together lives that work.” I can own that definition. ; )

Now that you are dressed with fun vocabulary words for Friday, I’ll send you over to an awesome give-away at Betty Beguiles' Blog on Marriage, Moxie and Modesty. You can register to win a $25 gift card to Sephora HERE.

Happy Friday, Fearless Friends!

Dinner with a Perfect Friend

I recently read a short and fascinating book called Dinner with a Perfect Stranger. It’s an intriguing account of a dinner conversation between a cynical businessman and Jesus.

I felt I needed to title my post “Dinner with a Perfect Friend” since that’s my relationship with Him. I can laugh and cry with Him and call in the middle of the night if I want to. I call him Friend, Encourager, Teacher & Counselor to name a few.

If you think of Him as a polite stranger, a judgmental father or just a wise man, this book’s for you. Really. I want you to read it and tell me what you think of it. Just leave me a comment (be sure to leave your email address) and I’ll send it to you. I only have one copy so it’s for the first to speak up.

I’ll leave you with a smile by quoting a T-shirt I saw in a gift shop this week:

JESUS LOVES YOU …
          but I’m His favorite.

Give-aways are Grand

Blogging is so much more fascinating than I ever imagined. Since we all do it for love not money, the give-aways are a real bonus. I figure my chances of winning are far better than winning the lottery (oh- especially because I don't buy lottery tickets!) So I enter every give-away I come across. I met Rachel through Linda's "I See What You're Saying" (otherwise known as "Forget Anything but Visiting Blogs Day" LOL) and she was doing a give-away! Count me in.

I won Rachel's nest of New Orleans prizes and was so excited. But something happened between her posting the package in Lousiana and it's arrival in Florida. The box was almost empty upon delivery. She was horrified and I was sad, as the New Orleans Coffee and Beignent mix were going to bring Cafe Du Monde to my neighborhood. (My mom always said if I didn't have anything nice to say I shouldn't say anything at all so we will not discuss the "service" of our postal system and issues with numerous federal agencies. Ahem) Rachel felt so bad, but it's not like I'd paid for the goodies so I told her just don't worry about it. But today, UPS brought me a package and guess what? Coffee with Beignets this weekend! WooHoo!
Thank you Rachel, for being an exemplary blogger (she has just started a series on Dave Ramsey's principles) as well as an exceptional person. I am pleased to know you!




Now it's YOUR turn to win. If you haven't read any books by Randy Alcorn, you should. I read "Safely Home" and it was amazing. He is giving away 3 copies of his book "Deadline" and you have until Oct 24 to enter by leaving a comment. Go HERE for your chance to win. He also writes a fascinating blog.

And the winner is...

Thanks to those who participated in my first give-away! I have a winner! I used the Random Integer thingy and it was the 1st entry! It's skoots1mom over at http://skirkman.blogspot.com/
Can you believe she was the first entry and she won?! Proof is here:


Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:
1
Timestamp: 2008-10-13 18:31:21 UTC

Please email me at beverlydru at gmail.com with your physcial address so I can mail your book.
Thanks for you help!

Happily Ever After? Really?

I am giving away the Francine Rivers novel, The Scarlet Threadso read on to find out why.

Marriage. A most wonderful mystery. I’ve been meditating on the covenant of marriage for the last month. During this time, I have been asked to do a seminar at a Bible Institute and they left the topic open for my choice. I usually speak in the world of business, so I have been prayerfully considering what my assignment is in this opportunity.

I have decided to do a seminar on marriage. After 30 years, I’ve learned a lot. Builderman was unsaved for the first 17 years of our marriage. The past 13 years since he developed a relationship with the living God have been totally different. But not necessarily easy. Why isn’t marriage easy?? Because I am not dead to self, that’s why.

I need your help with the title. I’ve thought of “Happily Ever After – Fantasy or Reality?” One of my favorite book titles is Beth Moore’s Feathers from My Nest: A Mother's Reflections. (These examples are just to get you thinking – and it’s a great book, by the way.)

Your suggestion will enter you in the drawing to win the great book by Francine Rivers. You don’t have to come up with the “best” title to win. Just make a stab at it and your name is in the hat. (I’ll actually use the Random Number Generator to keep it random) I’ll leave the drawing open through Saturday, Oct. 11th and announce the winner soon after. This is my first give-away, so I'm excited. Thanks for your ideas!!

I'm a Music Magnet

I'm a musician... so I am more than thrilled that I won a new CD by Ayiesha Woods from Dawn's blog. I saw the good news when I got online early this morning and when your day is already made at 7 AM, it's a great day! I had tried to win the CD at Antique Mommy's and didn't, so when she clued us in that her friend that went with her to the PhotoShop Conference was giving one too, I jumped. I am so amazed by both of these women. And I really would love to go to that conference.

I am only artistic in the musical realm. My ability to take photos, draw, paint, sew, etc. are zilch.
I've never figured that out. But in the last few years, I've noticed that I have potential with the artistic side of web design. But I have to learn alot first. I am setting a goal right now to change my blog look by Oct. 31st. Hold me accountable, okay?

Endless Summer

An article in our local paper today features a Beach House give-away that a Birmingham, AL company is sponsoring. This promotion is called the “Idea House” and the home is located near Port St. Joe here in the Florida Panhandle. The design team referred to the house as having the personality of a “Manhattan socialite who inherited her great aunt’s beach cottage.” It has a fair market value of $941,000. Nice beach house.

I would so love to have a beach house to continue the tradition of family, love and laughter at “the shore” as my grandmother calls it. My dad was born in nearby Carrabelle, so this part of Florida holds many special memories and I want to create many more!

You can register once every day between now and Sept. 30th, and this is something I will do with glee and anticipation. If you win, be sure to reserve a week or 2 for me every year as small thanks for telling you about this marvelous give-away.

I’m a Winner

Affirmations. I have talked to myself in a planned way for years. All the goal setting seminars (including my own) teach it as a way to implement change. So I have told myself for years, “I don’t live by my feelings but by the Word of God”.

Guess what? I still live by feelings! The good news is that I swing up much faster than I get pulled down. My swing is up in the air right now as I just read on Big Mama’s Blog that I won a new Third Day CD!

”I’m a Winner” is my new affirmation. I used to say that I never win anything but I am now officially on a roll. I got a call while I was in Dillards last week telling me I had won a raffle that I participated in at the Women’s Expo and I went running from the store in glee to go claim my prize. You would’ve thought I’d won the grand prize with how happy I was with my embroidered beach bag with matching visor and towel.

Maybe I should go purchase my first lottery ticket since Florida started the lottery eons ago. I could throw a big blog party if I won and give away all kinds of cool stuff to my friends. Now that's a happy thought.

Hot tip: Dooce is giving away 5 Wii and 5 Wii Fit as sets. Deadline for entry comments is Weds. at 5 PM. Since I'm a winner I'm playing!! My chances are slightly better than winning the lottery since she has over 15,000 entries at this time.