Mrs. T.'s Thoughts From a Titus 2 Mom

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #20

2013-05-16T13:44:00.003-04:00

Week #20 in the photo blog... here is my submission for this week. I took this at Epcot's Flower and Garden Festival in the butterfly garden. I love the color combination of yellow and purple, don't you?

Tonya Travelstead
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2013

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #19

2013-05-07T21:17:00.000-04:00

HERE is my photo submission for Week #19 of P52's photo blog. This was taken last weekend at EPCOT's Flower and Garden Festival, Walt Disney World, FL. What a beautiful day to stop and smell the flowers.... :)

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2013

Week 18 P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday

2013-05-02T17:45:00.000-04:00

Here is my photo submission for P52's Week 18.

I am so nervous around high bridges and on our recent trip we had to drive on several of them. It was very foggy, almost twilight, while on one and boy, my hands were sweating!!! Thankfully, my husband was driving and I could just close my eyes and grip the handle on the door (like that would help anything)... :)

suspension bridge

Suspension bridge

Back on level ground again! :)

Ebay Store Reopened : Mrs T's TidBits and Treasures

2013-05-01T09:13:00.001-04:00

After four months of weeding through inventory and reorganizing, I reopened my Ebay store this morning. Yes, Mrs. T.'s TidBits and Treasures is back in business. :) With Ebay's new fee schedule which takes effect today, it's a better deal now for store subscribers than it used to be. I've reduced my inventory from 600+ items to hopefully hover around 150 as I streamline even more. Check it out at THIS LINK. For more information, click on the EBAY & AMAZON tab above.

Mrs. T.'s TidBiTs and Treasures Ebay Store

Here's Looking At You, Kid

2013-04-29T08:11:00.001-04:00

I was shopping with my aunt on Saturday and ran across these cute kids shoes. Ha!

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday Week #17 Pelican on the Pier

2013-04-24T17:35:00.003-04:00

Week 17 in the P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday photo blog... This pelican let me get so close I could almost touch him/her. This was taken in St. Simon's Island, GA at the pier.

Pelican on the Pier St Simon's Island GA

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday

2013-04-14T19:44:00.001-04:00

This is my submission for Week 16's photo blog. A perfect white gardenia, given to me by a sweet friend... My favorite harbinger of spring with the most beautiful scent. A few days later, my own gardenia bush started to bloom. I placed a few blossoms around the house and they smell great! :)

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday Week #16 Tonya

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday Week #14

2013-04-02T20:58:00.003-04:00

Here is my photo for Week #14 of the P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday project. I took this photo at our local art festival (after getting permission, of course). Don't you just want to touch this beautiful glass? My husband has bought me several pieces of stained glass, art glass pieces and wood art. I enjoy them all for the texture and vivid color.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #13

2013-03-26T22:14:00.000-04:00

Here is my submission for Week #13 of the P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday photo blog. I could hardly resist capturing this little girl all dressed up in her Disney princess outfit and so full of joy at EPCOT. Just makes me smile looking at it.

Decorating for Easter

2013-03-26T21:35:00.003-04:00

It's taken me longer than usual but I finally took 45 minutes this morning and switched out the fall / winter decorations in the house and replaced them with some springtime flowers and my homemade Resurrection eggs. Take a few minutes to add some color and lighten up the inside of your home if you haven't already done so. You (and your family) will love it!

Spring Easter Decorations Resurrection Eggs

Spring Easter Decorations

Sweet Shot Tuesday #11

2013-03-16T14:55:00.000-04:00

Here is my photo for Week #11 in the P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday photography project. I've missed a couple already but trying to dive right back into it. I stopped the car today to take this photo of this gorgeous yellow tree in the Florida sunshine. Love it! (click on photo to enlarge)

Tonya Travelstead

In looking at other photographs on the P52 site, I saw this on one of them. How true...

There is no camera that can make a picture.

No lens, no lights can make a picture.

Forget about different cameras and accessories, just use what you’ve got.

Only your eyes can make a picture.

Meal Menu Planning

2013-02-23T16:33:00.002-05:00

I took about 30 minutes this Saturday afternoon to plan all the dinner menus for next week. Wow! What a relief. I don't know why I haven't done this in awhile. Instead, I've been planning about a day ahead or sometimes (eek!) the same day.

I used a couple of cookbooks I picked up at the library this morning, allrecipes.com and my iCalendar (which syncs to my iPhone). The menus use ingredients I know I already have in my pantry and freezer, so no more grocery shopping this week except for perishables.

Menu Meal Planning

I hope to keep doing this on a regular basis. Sure makes life a lot easier and I avoid that 4:30-5:00 p.m. what's-for-dinner-tonight panic!

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #8

2013-02-22T15:25:00.001-05:00

Here is my photo for Week #8 of Sweet Shot Tuesday. It's an early spring here in Florida but quite windy. The weather has been changing from hot to cold every few days. I love the carpet of fallen leaves shown below in the afternoon sunlight but instead of brown, they are a lovely pink carpet--perfect for a princess. :)

To see my other photos in this year-long photo project, click HERE.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday Week 7

2013-02-15T17:36:00.003-05:00

I found this dead dragonfly on our porch last week and was throwing it out when I looked a little closer. Normally you can't get this close to one while their wings are buzzing so quickly. I was amazing how intricate the design on its wings were...

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday

...like fine lace...

I was also surprised when I turned it over, it looked like someone who had been laid to rest in a coffin with its little "hands" folded so delicately across the middle.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday

God certainly has such detail in His creation.

Isa 41:20 That they may see and recognize,

And consider and gain insight as well,

That the hand of the LORD has done this,

And the Holy One of Israel has created it.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #6

2013-02-07T17:12:00.000-05:00

I love the way water reflects light. We've had some absolutely gorgeous sunny days here lately in Florida. I was working on my porch (I work from home) and couldn't resist taking this photo of the pool in the bright sunlight. Too cold to swim just now, but sure is nice to look at. This is my photo for Week #6 in the P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday project.

Sweet Shot Tuesday Week 6 Tonya Travelstead

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #5

2013-01-30T21:09:00.003-05:00

Seems that most of my posts these days are for P52's Sweet Shot Tuesday. Not much time to write so I'll have to blitz a few posts in the next week or so and schedule them out.

I chose the photo below as my Week #5 photo. My husband and I were just leaving a local art museum and I saw this beautiful camellia in full bloom. Yes, spring is in the air and the days are a bit warm and windy this week. Last's week's photo was of a barren tree, so to contrast with it, I snapped this flower up close with the museum in the background. Hope you like it.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #4

2013-01-22T19:27:00.001-05:00

It's been quite rainy and windy this week but when I can, I like to take a walk in the afternoons. I took this photo of a barren tree with my iPhone since I didn't have my camera with me. It tells the mood of the day and looks like the epitome of mid-winter (at least here in Florida). I'm posting it as Week #4 on the P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday site. Can't believe I'm actually doing it on Tuesday this week! Join us in posting one photo per week (no specific theme) by clicking on the icon in the left sidebar.

Check out my other photos in this year's photography project HERE.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday #3 Art Glass

2013-01-19T15:55:00.001-05:00

It's Saturday and the last day for submissions for Week #3 of P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday photo. After a morning of making cards with a friend...

Making Cards

...I grabbed my little camera and started shooting some art glass that we have around the house. I love things made from colored (and clear) glass. The smoothness of it, the way light bounces off and the way color looks on glass. Here are three of my favorites from about 20 minutes of shooting.

This is a sentimental piece made by my older son when he was about 9 years ago. It's a mosaic stepping stone made from broken glass chards that we keep in a sitting area in our front yard. With all the brown leaves on the ground right now, it's certainly a bright spot in our garden.

A votive candle holder, a Christmas gift from a dear friend...

Photography Art Glass P52

And a Murano art glass perfume bottle, a gift from my dear husband.

P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday

Exercise Routine : Walking with Leslie Sansone

2013-01-16T21:54:00.000-05:00

I rarely make New Year's resolutions but on the morning of January 1, 2013 I decided to start a new regular exercise routine. I had searched online for the Power Half Hour but couldn't find any free streaming videos other than a 5-minute demo. All the young ones are doing the P90X which would put someone my age in the hospital. While searching, I discovered Leslie Sansone's walking at-home video workouts on YouTube. I love her!! These are perfect exercise routines to do in your own home, from 20-45 minutes because you use all of your muscles. You're not JUST walking but using your upper body, too. Leslie's (we're on first-name basis now) personality is perky and friendly... like having your own personal coach.

http://www.amazon.com/Leslie-Sansone-Walk-Pounds-Minute/dp/B00120ZSGI

I just ordered a book by her from PaperbackSwap titled Eat Smart, Walk Strong. At this moment there are more copies available so if you belong to PBS you could also order one. If you don't, PBSwap is a fun way to get new books for just the cost of media mail shipping. Just click on the tab in the left sidebar to join.

I have been walking 2 miles 5-6 days a week either inside or outside for 30 minutes. I did a little research and learned that you burn about 200 calories doing the 30-minute, 2-mile Leslie Sansone workout. My clothes are already fitting better! :)

A friend had told me about her several months ago but I had forgotten her name. I am so glad I stumbled upon her workouts. You can also get the DVDs from Netflix or of course, from Amazon as well. I highly recommend them.

I put colored stars on my calendar to keep me motivated. I need all the help I can get!! I also joined a support group on Facebook called Fit for Good hosted by The Happy Housewife. :) No need to do this alone so get started!

My exercise calendar

Childhood Memories Reborn

2013-01-16T10:06:00.000-05:00

Last week my older son took me to see the stage musical "Mary Poppins" (his Christmas gift to me). What a treat-- both the show and just the two of us spending the evening together.

I loved the Disney movie as a child and even had a Mary Poppins doll dressed in her Jolly Holiday outfit. My piano teacher even let me deviate from the classics to learn to play all the songs. :).

Our sons and I had also enjoyed the movie together when they were young. Sweet memories reborn with this special gift.

Harbinger of spring

2013-01-15T23:39:00.001-05:00

The leaves are still falling in our yard but while taking a walk today I saw these white azaleas starting to bloom in my neighbor's yard. I checked my own few red ruffle azaleas and they had a few blossoms, too!

What harbinger of spring do you look forward to this time of year?

It's the Little Things ...

2013-01-12T10:20:00.003-05:00

It's the little things that make each day a little more special. One of my oldest and dearest friends gave me this pretty mug as a Christmas gift. I love taking a sip of my hot tea and reading the Bible verse My hope is in God all day long. Psalm 25:5.

Scripture Mug It's the little things
Sweet Shot Tuesday

You may be wondering about the water glass. It's a piece of crystal from our wedding gifts and yes, I use it every day. Make me want to drink more water!! :) A bit of red on the table with the flowers and voila! a pleasant way to start the day.

This is my photo for Sweet Shot Tuesday #2. Have fun with your camera or phone and start taking more photos! :)

Aldi Product Review and Sale

2013-01-11T16:23:00.003-05:00

Three great products on sale at Aldi this week.

$2.49 I only see these every 4-6 months or so and stock up when they're on sale.
Usually $6-8 in the grocery store.

Aldi Steel Cut Oats

$1.99 UNfrosted!
They regularly carry frosted which don't eat.

Aldi shredded wheat

99 cents
I've never seen these at Aldi before.

Aldi multi-grain rolls

Christmas Un- Decorating

2013-01-05T16:22:00.001-05:00

Time to put it all away for another year. Had a family lunch here and we all took everything down together. Thankful for their help. It's always a bit sad to pack it all away (my husband gets real sentimental about it) but the house sure feels more open and tidy now!

This is my P52 Sweet Shot Tuesday 2013 #1.


Un- Decorating for Christmas Sweet Shot Tuesday

Movie Review: Lés Miserables

2012-12-31T15:13:00.004-05:00

My husband and I saw the recently released movie Lés Miserables on Saturday evening.

My recommendation... go see it. Not for the very young (a few suggestive scenes and blood). A story of redemption with fabulous music, costuming and scenery.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/scott-mendelson/review-les-miserables-201_b_2293632.html