So what happens when you give a 10yr old a smart phone? She finds every available app and every available camera option. This is from the time shift option on the camera on the Blackberry z10. It takes several quick pictures in sequence and you can shift forward or backwards to choose the one you want to keep. So if grandma closed her eyes or the baby cried, or the cat yawned, or the chicken who didn’t want to give up her eggs for the sake of your breakfast squawked, you can choose the best shot. Pretty. Neat. Stuff.

As always my disclaimer – I am a problogger which means that I should and do benefit from this post if I am sharing anything worthwhile, I have been given products to try out but my opinions are purely my own. As a side note I also share that if I am doing my gig here properly, you benefit from my post also . Here is the official wording – “Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Ambassador program and have been provided with a wireless device and three months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.” #VZWA #VZWVoices

Okey Dokey, it may appear that I am late this morning but actually it is  the opposite, I was so early I got several things done before I sat to list what all I needed to do. Sometimes I like to write while things are fresh and if I put it off at all, even to make a to do list then it feels like yesterdays news and I sometimes don’t write it at all. (stopping here for breath) . So. All that to say, now that my mind is on this upcoming week, let’s see what is on the line up. And I am adding check marks because that is the best thing about a list.

1. Mother’s Day post   done
2. Menu Plan Monday
3. announce giveaway winners
4. new giveaways, yay!
5. new books for Kindle yay!
6. I am kinda in a “get it in order” mood, so I may have lots of checklists this week, and some organizing posts, sound like fun?
7. and how about that cookbook sale I referred top last week?
8. a book review on making goat milk soap, looks good so far
9. and a guest post for a friends blog on the topic of horse ownership
10. and …. reviews on 2 favorite personal products

Wow, add all that to my absolutely wonderful get-in-the-garden weather this week and it looks like busy fun!  Can’t wait to come back to this post with more red check marks!

I am sending y’all emails

Well I hope everyone had a blessed Mother’s Day. Mother’s Day is a little bittersweet for me. My Mom passed away a few years ago, and I still long to hear her voice, and that longing is more evident on Mother’s Day. Add to that I have a child who is no longer on this earth and that seems to be more heartfelt then too. We all also have our struggles as Mom’s wondering just how good a job we do at mothering. But my remaining children and grandchildren more than make up for those sad moments. I truly think they deserve awards for thoughfullness. Let me share a few things and why they mattered so much. I received many gifts this year that weren’t just gifts, they were aknowledgments of what matters. One daughter got me the same “Grandma” shirt that I wanted to buy several times but passed it by as I got something for someone else, then went I went back it was gone. Another bought my roses, that are very very beautiful, every mom loves roses .   Another made an apron exactly like what I wanted because I love to cook in the kitchen with my daughters, and she was even thoughtful enough to add elastic sides because I have lost weight over the last couple years and she knows I want to lose some more, she also kindly called me the perpetual shrinking woman, I loved that . I also got some very special cards that were very personally picked out just for me saying what they appreciate about me .  And chocolate, but not just any chocolate, dark chocolate, with rasberries and almonds, need I say more?  Well there was more, I could go on and on, but the point was, what I appreciated the most was the thoughfullness, and the fact that they know me so well they would know what matters. That my dear friends is worth more than great riches, new cars, and priceless gems.  And just in case I ever doubt that I am loved, I also have a new cup that reminds me. Motherhood is hard, really hard, sometimes it feels like you are stretched beyond your limits, pulled a thousand ways and your heart broken into a million pieces, and some days you just have to wonder why, but it is days like this when the rewards outweigh the struggles. The hugs outweigh the heartaches, and you are reminded that not only is it worth it all but there is nothing on this earth of more worth. Children are a blessing, always. Always.

stay tuned till I get my coffee

Well it was great fun, don’t you think?  But it is over., gone, available no more. But …….in addition to purchasing my own set ….  I got one, just one to give away. So, don’t thinks gifts, think, “I am a Mom” . I would love to give this to one of you. Enter from now until Sunday night, and Monday morning one of you will have a wonderful “extra” Mother’s Day gift. Just from me! You don’t have to be a Mom to enter, you can be a “someday Mom”, a “want to be Mom”, a “I love Moms” Mom, anyone who appreciates Motherhood. So … here we go.

First entry, just say “I love Mom”, then extras as below.

• you can get an extra entry if you subscribe to my bookstore mailing list on the  front page
• an extra entry if you “like” my facebook page here
• you can get an extra entry if you subscribe in a reader to my blog  Subscribe in a reader
• you can get an extra entry  if you follow me on twitter
• and an extra entry DAILY if you tweet about this daily
• you can get an extra entry if you befriend me on my personal facebook and post about this
• you can get an extra entry if you post about this on your blog and give a link  http://pennyraine.com/blog

Well as a Verizon Ambassador I get to do all kinds of fun things, like check out all the great accessories at my local store. Since I just happen to have a favorite salesperson it is an easy task. I am also about ready to upgrade and get new phones on our entire family plan so I have been phone shopping lately. I am loving this Blackberryz10 I got to try out, and decided to not only check out the accessories for it but for all the phones. There is no way possible to pick a favorite so I asked the friendly sales person what was most popular and this was his answer, waterproof cases. Yep after having more than one water related mishap, that would probably have to be my favorite too.  I love this one it says “lifeproof” ha, water-proof, dirt-proof, snow-proof, and shock-proof. Does it get any better than that?

If you are shopping in the middle TN area and go into your local Verizon store ask for David W. I hear he has a lovely wife and they have a brand new baby   .

As always my disclaimer – I am a problogger which means that I should and do benefit from this post if I am sharing anything worthwhile, I have been given products to try out but my opinions are purely my own. As a side note I also share that if I am doing my gig here properly, you benefit from my post also . Here is the official wording – “Disclosure: I am participating in the Verizon Wireless Ambassador program and have been provided with a wireless device and three months of service in exchange for my honest opinions about the product.” #VZWA #VZWVoices