It's not everyday you win some mascara on the www

Yes, I know, you've waited a mighty long time for this important announcement. And I applaud your patience, I really do. I know that it's very annoying to click on this blog and find nothing new. It's disappointing for me too because I'm constantly writing a blog post in my head...I just don't have enough time to put pen to paper. If truth be told, it's fall and I've spent all my free time watching the DCC. And yes, I will always put watching the DCC before the blog. I have my priorities completely in order.

Since I've got the blog fired up and running, I will share with you a few things about my week:

CraftiMama, Wingtips, Tammy Faye, Josiah(my sister's 2 year old) and Dylan(my brother's 9 year old) are going to be here tomorrow. We will be having ThanksChristmas. Which means we have Christmas with them during Thanksgiving. We've done this for many years and it works. It's not really ThanksChristmas if I don't put up the tree so I've got to get that done ASAP. I mentioned to some friends that I was going to try this new green bean recipe and a hush fell over the table. It was then followed by this statement, "Are you sure you want to try out a new recipe on Thanksgiving? Do you really think that's a good idea? Remember what happened the last time." By the end of the conversation I was given a dumbed down crock pot version of the green bean recipe. I'm amazed at the people that have complete confidence to leave me in a building with hundreds of small children but they think I can't pull together a can of beans in a pan. I'm determined, it will happen, I will take pictures, it will be good. Lawnmower Man is in charge of the turkey...he's not usually willing to put a $25 dollar bird in my hands.

CraftiMama, Tammy Faye and I usually hit the stores the day after Thanksgiving. It's been a tradition for many years. I don't know if I have it in me this year. Does anyone else do this?

The Medium Nanny is coming home on Wednesday. We haven't seen her in over a month. She seems to be living her own little life in collegeville. Lawnmower Man told her we would take her straight to Pancho's for lunch. After the trip to Pancho's, she will need to go to Target because she hasn't been home in a month, which means, she hasn't been in a Target for a month. She may have a bad case of the shakes. She loves Target and Pancho's...those are a few of her favorite things.

Well, back to my reason for posting. The mascara. Y'all (I know y'all love it when I go southern on you) are not really that opinionated nor do you really have strong feelings about your mascara brand and that concerns me. As it should. You randomly pick up a orange tube of mascara because Queen Latifah recommends it. Really? And most of you wear brown mascara because your mother told you not to wear black. Did the conversation go like this? Only streetwalkers wear black mascara. That's what my mother always said about red nail polish. She never mentioned anything about the black mascara. Black mascara is the new brown.

And the winner is...

Melissa Lee

(but it's really Sonja because Melissa said she would give it to Sonja so she could wear it on Sunday. If you see Sonja being chased by Melissa with a tube of black mascara on a Sunday morning, just ignore it.)

Edition 1: Free Gift With Purchase

Today I would like to introduce a new segment on the Big Nanny Blog called Free Gift With Purchase. You know when you go to the mall and the Clinique counter is offering you the most fabulous, hot pink, cosmetic bag with a sampling of miniature mascara, iddy-biddy eye make-up remover, teeny-tiny mirror, mini magic wrinkle eraser, and a horrendous full size peach lipstick color that never sees the light of day.

Don’t tell me I’m the only one that falls for the “free” gift with purchase trap? Tell me I'm not the only one with a small make-up bag to go with every season?

So, today, I will share my cosmetic wisdom. Okay, maybe wisdom is not the right word. I will share with you my favorite products and maybe, just maybe, you’ll win a really nice prize at the end. I have always loved make-up. I remember when I was ten years old and got this for Christmas. This was on my favorite things list in 1981. Just seeing this box makes me want to bust out into the commercial theme song...fresh 'n fancy, fresh 'n fancy. This was not just a box of eye shadows, this was a make your own make-up and then put it in cute little bottles.

And yes, I knew I was getting it before Christmas because my CraftiMama hid it behind her headboard and I spotted it. Just for the record, CraftiMama was never really good at hiding the presents. Did anyone else get this?

Anyhoo, here it is...


My Favorite Mascara

Almay One Coat Nourishing Mascara

Now this is a great mascara and it only cost a mere $5.99 at your local Walgreen's. It doesn't run, it doesn't itch, it's not gloppy ( I know the use of the big cosmeseutical terms is quite impressive) and comes in two shades of black and one shade of brown. Do people really use brown mascara? Just wondering? Also, available in waterproof.

And with that recommendation you might think that I'm going to give away a tube of my favorite, trusty mascara, right? Wrong. If I had an extra tube of that mascara, I would keep it for myself. So, I'm going to give away a tube of mascara that I don't like. You see, every now and again, I'm lured by bright, shiny, pink packages. You see, one day, I was wandering through Walmarts and noticed a package of this mascara...

You can see why I was mesmerized by the awesome pink packaging. But it wasn't just the pink packaging...it was a twofer. Two pink tubes for the price of one! How could I refuse? It just had to be great. Well, it was okay. It's not that it was horrible, it just wasn't Almay. So, anyhoo, I still have the extra tube of Maybelline Define-A-Lash Volume Mascara. Never been opened! Oh, I know, this is almost as good as the Oreck vacuum that BooMama gave away on her blog.

So, I want to know, what kind of mascara do you use? For every comment your name will be entered into the great mascara bloggy give-a-way of 2008. I will randomly put all the names in a hat, and I will randomly draw one out.


Good Luck!

P.S. To my sister, Tammy Faye, you can only enter one time.

Precious Moment

It was three years ago today that one of my best friends would give birth to a baby girl. That day was filled with excitement, many phone calls and the anticipation that happens when one of our fruit bowl girls is about to give birth. But this wasn't just any baby, this was Teresa's miracle baby. I could hardly wait to hear the confirmation of good news so that I could make the journey to Nashville to see this precious gift. Anyone who knows me, knows that I will walk into any hospital room, walk up to any mother holding their newest bundle of joy and boldly take said bundle away. It's just what I do. And for some reason, people let me do it.

The confirmation of good news did not arrive. It was replaced by many days of sadness as I watched a friend experience a loss that I so felt she did not deserve. I still made the trip to Nashville to see her precious gift. I walked into my friend's hospital room never dreaming that I would hold her baby. This was her special baby, her time on earth would be brief and she needed to spend every possible moment holding and rocking her. I have to say that I was a little nervous because it isn't everyday that you visit someone that is experiencing this kind of loss. What will I say? What will I do? So, I opened the door of that hospital room and was greeted by my sweet friend that said these words:

"You heard everyone got their picture made last night with my baby and you came to get yours, too. Sit down, hold my baby, I need to take your picture."

Yes, we both laughed because we both knew it was true. The worry of what to say was taken away by the sweet bond of friendship that God had placed in our lives. I witnessed someone choosing joy in the midst of difficult circumstances, and I would witness her do it time and time again in the weeks to come. She chose to share her baby and allow me to experience the gift that God had placed in her life. It was an honor and a surreal moment to hold a baby that would soon be held by the arms of God. This was one of those moments in my life that I will never forget and one that truly changes you.

I'm reminded of this moment every time I walk into a hospital room and hold a newborn baby. I hold each of those babies a little tighter, and I thank God for them in a way that I never had before holding Rebekah.

Thank you, friend, for giving this moment to me...

Praying for you on this day.

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Romans 15:13

You can read Rebekah's story here.

Favorite Foto Friday

The Road to the White House

Well, last night, I took a break from the campaign trail to visit a small town church in Tennessee for their annual fall festival. Here I am with my daughter, Piper. I know the media reported that we went trick or treating in Pennsylvania, but do you really think I would let my daughter take candy from strangers in a blue state?

I was quickly greeted by one of my supporters. It was so nice to be in a red state for a change, ya know, where people actually like me. I had the secret service look her up, and you betcha, she has a clean republican voting record and a McCain/Palin sign in her front yard. I also heard that she gave McCain/Palin buttons to her friends. I may have her lead worship at the inaugural ball.



Another one of my supporters. (I love those shirts) This supporter was kind enough to do my updo. I was concerned about a few Ob*ama signs when I was in her neighborhood, yesterday.

The rest of the night was spent thanking everyone for their support because I think the entire church participated in early voting. I also got to kiss a few babies along the way.

Meeting the American people, like this local dignitary.

And those Nascar fans, they might be crazy but their loyal.

And I met Miss America! I met Miss America! Ya know, how it is when us beauty pageant girls get together.

Enjoy the rest of my pictures. The liberal media sure won't be showin' these pictures.

Make an on-line slideshow at www.OneTrueMedia.com