Maybe This Cat Will Last Longer Than Green Bean

Well, I wasn't necessarily looking for another cat.  If I was going to add another to the household, I wanted it to be similar to Green Bean.  Didn't happen that way, but it's okay.

My oldest step-daughter had ownership of a 1 year old female calico cat, Louis, but couldn't let it roam but just a couple of rooms because she also has a dog that was determined to make Louis its lunch. (Know that scenario all too well!)

Allyson reached out to me to see if I wanted to take over ownership of Louis.  It was either that or the Humane Society, according to her.  I fell for it Hook, Line, and Sinker.  Louis has been with us for a couple weeks now and seems to be adjusting nicely.  

The first week was a tad apprehensive.  The other two cats weren't big fans.  But now all three deal with each other just fine.

Louis isn't anything like Green Bean.  She cuddles and snuggles on her own terms, and she's just a step above the laziness level of the other two cats.  She's taken a liking to Jason and wants his attention more than anything.  It's quite all right; I love her just the same.  Louis (aka LouLou, aka WowWow) is a welcome addition to our home.

As far as our dog, my son came from Tennessee about three weeks ago and took Helen home with him.  It took her a couple of days to get used to the new environment but I'm darn near positive she wouldn't come back here if  given the chance.  Adam's got that dog so darned spoiled.  He takes her on car rides almost nightly, plays fetch indoors, lets her sleep next to him, and buys her cheeseburgers on occasion.  She's definitely living the life. 

Final Winners for January

Photo by Jason Dent on Unsplash

A few of my giveaways have ended and the winners have been randomly drawn.

The winner of the Instant Pot Diabetes Cookbook giveaway is #7, Ljhfike.

The winner of the Maleficent: Mistress of Evil Blu-ray giveaway is #84, Lisa.

The winners of The Big Trip DVD giveaway are:
#6, Charlene S.
#46, Melissa S.
#8, Shelly P.
#17, aperry
#20, Maryann D.

Congrats to the winners and thanks to all who entered! There's no limit to how many of my giveaways you can enter or how many you can win.

2019 Rise Women's Conference

one of the many snack options/trays available

There was also a popcorn bar, chips station, pizza rolls, and chocolate covered pretzels

#allhealthyoptions

performers from the local high school drum line

Back in early November (just a couple months late posting...don't judge) I attended the annual Rise Women's Conference held at my church.  It's a Friday evening/Saturday morning event with speakers and activities for close to 1000 women.  

This year had a Homecoming oriented theme.  I helped with decorations and the snack bar.  This was my favorite Rise conference yet.

QHS drum line

lead singer of That 80s band dressed as Debbie Gibson

Mandy Harvey of AGT fame as a speaker....Beyond inspirational and down-to-earth.

QHS Drum Line....amazing. 

That 80's Band from St. Louis.......Great live band with music from the 80s. 

The Crossing Worship Team.....sang uplifting music to get us pumped.

Friday was phenomenal.  I even had a couple friends over after to spend the night.  I'd like to talk about how Saturday went but I way overslept (by several hours) so never made it.  

If you've never heard of Mandy Harvey, look her up!  It was at the conference that I first learned who she was.  Mandy is best known for being a finalist in America's Got Talent.  She has a voice that will tear at your soul and can play an instrument quite well.  And, unless she told you, I swear you'd never know Mandy is deaf.  

Mandy, at the age of 19, lost all of her hearing.  She went through a season of self-pity and anger but put on her big girl panties and has made the best of it.  Because she can't hear the songs she writes/sings, Mandy uses different techniques to get the vibrations and vocals correct.  That girl is the epitome of inspiration!

The Addams Family - Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack Giveaway

Street Date: January 21, 2020
Rating: PG for macabre and suggestive humor, and some action
Run Time: 1 hour and 26 minutes

Everyone’s favorite creepy and kooky family is back  in  the “frighteningly  funny  and  fresh” (Rosie  Knight, IGN)animated  feature  film, THE ADDAMS  FAMILY,  arriving on  Digital December 24,  2019 and  on  Blu-ray,  DVD  and  On Demand January 21, 2020 from Metro Goldwyn Mayer Studios (MGM) and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment. The  very first full-length  animated  film about the  eccentric and   unconventional family, THE  ADDAMS  FAMILY on  Blu-ray,  DVD  and  Digital showcase the  wonderfully  weird world  of the  Addams  family  with  a  variety  of  exclusive  bonus  features not  seen  in  theaters including deleted and extended scenes, an interactive charades game with Thing, behind-the-scenes footage, music lyric videos and more!Filled with wildly funny moments and a fresh take on the beloved  characters  created  by  Charles  Addams, THE  ADDAMS  FAMILY celebrates  the uniqueness of every family and delivers spooky fun all year long.

From  directors  Conrad  Vernon  (Shrek2, Madagascar  3)  and  Greg  Tiernan  (Sausage  Party, “Thomas & Friends”), THE  ADDAMS  FAMILY boasts  a  star-studded  voice  cast including Oscar   Isaac   (Star   Wars:   The   Last   Jedi, X-Men:   Apocalypse),   Charlize   Theron   (Long   Shot, Kubo  and  the  Two  Strings), Chloë  Grace  Moretz  (Kick  Ass, The  5thWave),  Finn  Wolfhard  (It, “Stranger Things”), Nick Kroll (The Secret Life of  Pets 2, Sing), music icon Snoop Dogg, Bette Midler (HocusPocus, The First Wives Club) and Allison Janney (Minions, I, Tonya).THE ADDAMS FAMILY was recently nominated for two Annie Awards™ including “Best Character Design –Feature” and “Best Production Design –Feature.”

Get ready to snap your fingers! The Addams Family is back in their first animated comedy about the  kookiest  family  on  the  block.Funny,  outlandish,  and  completely  iconic, THE  ADDAMS FAMILY redefines what it means to be a good neighbor.

BONUS FEATURES ON BLU-RAY, DVD & DIGITAL:
Deleted and Extended Scenes*
Welcome to the Family*–In this combined Making of/Character Profiles, we hear from the filmmakers and stars of TheAddams Familyabout how the film came about, the animation process and insight into the characters.
Life of a Scene*–From black & white storyboards and layouts to animation and lighting,follow along with filmmakers as they bring to life a scene from the movie.
Charades with Thing*–There’s nothing quite like a game of Charades with your friends. But what happens when the person giving the clues isn’t exactly a person? What if he’s just... a hand? On talent day, stars of the film are invited to play Charades with Thing. Talent goes head-to-head, competing to see who can guess Thing’s clues. Graphics reveal the answers and keep score for each player.
Addams Family Throwback
“Haunted Heart” Lyric Video–performed by Christina Aguilera
“My Family” Lyric Video–performed by Migos, KarolG, Rock Mafia & Snoop Dogg
* Never-before-seen bonus content

Win It!

One person will win The Addams Family Blu-ray/DVD Combo Pack.

*This is a Rafflecopter giveaway open to residents of the USA.*

I received no compensation for this post.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Petmate: 15% Off Orders $20+

PetMate is passionate about pets and their families. As a worldwide leader of solutions and excellence in the pet industry for over 50 years, they’re committed to providing fun, trusted, quality products to enhance the lives of pets.

From now until 3/31/20, you can receive 15% off your orders $20+ when you use Petmate coupon code SOFTQ1 at checkout.
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Another offer available right now is 20% Off Self-Warming Pet Beds
Use code WARMBED20 at checkout.  Offer ends 1/25/20.

Keep your pet warm this winter with Aspen Pet's® Self-Warming Beds. Featuring the same heat-reflecting technology found in Mylar space blankets, Aspen Pet Self-Warming Beds are lined with a layer of material that radiates warmth by reflecting your pet's own body heat, no plug or electricity required.

This post contains affiliate links.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.

Heck Of A Christmas Eve 2019

one of the photo props we took a million pictures with

Yep, it's another Christmas post!  We did a lot this year so I didn't want to cram it all in to one writing.  As with every year, we celebrated Christmas Eve at my sister's home with a lot of food, fun, and gifts. 

This picture resonates to me for so many reasons.  It's my sister consoling my brother's mother-in-law.  She had been quite ill and in the nursing home/hospital for an extended period.  She came home a couple days before Christmas Eve and was so excited to be able to spend time with family.

my lottery ticket winnings

Because our family is so large, each person draws another person's name on Thanksgiving. This alleviates some of the financial burden associated with Christmas, which is especially nice since the free budget template I use never seems to account for the impact of Christmas; but I digress. We then buy that person a gift and give it to them on Christmas Eve.  This year I received a black backpack purse. 

my daughter and her husband

a fancy appetizer plate made by my niece

The adults played several games of Left Center Right.  We've all gotten used to bringing quarters and lottery tickets during family gatherings, knowing we're more than likely going to play LCR.  I won a bunch of lottery tickets but didn't win a bunch of money.  The weather was nice enough that we were even able to hang outside for a bit.

#Selfie

Three of my kids - Logan, Allyson, and Shelby

Check It Out: Savings.com #SaveAtPaperMart Giveaway

Savings.com is giving away ten $20 Paper Mart e-gift codes!

Giveaway ends on Tuesday, January 21st at 11:59 PM PT.  Ten (10) winners will receive a $20 e-gift code from Paper Mart.

Paper Mart sells a massive selection of packages for any product or occasion. Find everything from simple boxes and bags to elaborate ribbons and gift wrap for occasion like parties, wedding and showers.

This post contains affiliate links.  Please do your own research before purchasing products or using services.  Your opinions and results may differ.