Pampered Chef Product Winner Announcement

I'm sorry for the delay, but very excited to announce my winners for the Pampered Chef giveaways sponsored by Maryanne Taylor, Pampered Chef Consultant.  First off, I'd like to give a special thanks for the readers that made a purchase to benefit the families affected by Hurricane Irene.  I wish I had a prize to give all three of you!  That being said, I don't... so let's get right to the winners.

The winner of the Bamboo Block Knife Set is post #2, Kathryn.  Congratulations!  I've verified your purchase with Maryanne, and we'll get your prize out to you ASAP.  I hope you enjoy your prize!

The winner of the 1-2-3 Dip! Set is post # 45, Jean.  Congratulations!  Please check your email & get your shipping address to me soon so you can receive your prize!

I'd really like to thank Maryanne for being so generous to donate a portion of her proceeds, as well as sponsoring the giveaways for my readers!

I Like To Eat Eat Eat... Apples & Bananas

Or Apples & Pears, according to this adorable girl's dress:

I made this cute peasant-style top several weeks ago.  It's a fabric I never would have selected on my own, but couldn't be more thrilled with the result.  My friend Christine brought it over one night several weeks ago for us to do some sewing, and voila!  And I must say that I was very pleased with myself for adding custom-made pockets to the front.  I'm getting to be quite brave, you know.  (Olivia has a matching one in-the-works, my sore back has prevented me from doing any sewing for quite some time... so her photo shoot will be a bit delayed)

This dress is so free and fun, it could be worn just about anywhere.  And it was seriously so easy, I think I'll make a whole bunch just like it!

Katelyn thinks it looks best with her boots...

Don't you agree?

Our Little Bookworm

More often than not, Katelyn prefers to read books over pretty much any other activity or toy that we have.  She frequently sits upstairs all by herself with a big pile of books for hours on end.  Recently, on a lazy Sunday where we weren't doing much of anything at all, I'm pretty sure Katelyn spent a total of over 4 hours reading books to herself.  It is one of the cutest things I've ever seen.  We have even found her reading to a row of stuffed animals or baby dolls that she set up on the floor, although I have yet to capture a picture of that one.

I love how each of our kids truly has their own personality, and I am in love with watching them develop into unique individuals.  I often wonder how the way that they do things now and the things that they enjoy now means in terms of what they will become as adults.  Will Katelyn be as fascinated with books as an adult as she is as a two-year old?  I certainly hope so.  Whether she continues to love books as a hobby, or it helps her to become a successful intellectual, I hope that she never stops wanting to learn in the way that she does now.

Here are a couple of pictures of Katelyn & her books:

Caution: Prescription Pain Relievers Are Addicting

I recently hurt my back really badly.  I'm not exactly sure how I hurt it, but I do know some of the triggers that have caused me to be in pain for a full month.  Last week I finally went to see a doctor, who gave me strict orders to rest as much as possible until it is 100% better.  She also gave me some information on ways that I can help prevent this from happening again, as well as a couple of scripts for meds that I've been taking responsibly.

I believe the medications that she gave me are in the "narcotic" category, and I am not writing this to declare myself a drug-addict.  No need to worry.... I am not the next Anna Nicole Smith.  My tits aren't big enough for that gig, anyway.  I'm simply writing to acknowledge the fact that I can see why people get addicted to taking meds like this.  Especially people that are sleep-deprived, stressed, or in constant pain.  It's actually scary how easy it would be for someone to begin feeling like they "need" a pill to get a good night's sleep.  And then they "need" a pill to get though the day.  And then they "need" a pill to start the morning.  It is totally crazy how quickly something as simple as taking a pill to stop hurting and get some rest could become a dangerous habit for someone that could potentially ruin their life.

Not for me though.  While I felt like I got the best night's sleep I've gotten since before I had children, I don't like sleeping so soundly that I feel like I couldn't get up if you blew a foghorn in my ear.  (My husband will tell you that I'm that difficult to wake up on a regular basis, but I only act like that on the weekends so he'll go take care of the children!  Shhhhh... don't tell him I admitted that.)  Aside from that, I also did not like the crazy weird, often creepy dreams I had when I took the meds.  So don't worry.  I'm not an addict, nor will I become one.

So what exactly is the purpose of this post?  I guess it's just to point out the obvious... that prescription pain medication can be habit-forming.  But also to point out that I'm pretty sure regular, normal, seemingly in-control people could easily get addicted to the narcotic variety as well. It's not just the crazy non-celebrity celebrities & Michael Jacksons of the world.  So use with caution.  Obviously.

Pampered Chef Fundraiser/Giveaway Ending Soon

Who doesn't love a good kitchen gadget?  And who doesn't love helping out people that have been affected by extreme natural disasters?  Well, for a few more days, any purchase that you make from The Pampered Chef will help raise money for families that were affected by Hurricane Irene last month. *To make a purchase, enter "thoushallnot whine" in the first and last name text boxes as your host.*  And don't forget, any purchase that you make will make you eligible to win a fantastic prize:

The Bamboo Block Knife Set features a 5" Santoku Knife, a 5" Utility knife, a 3" Petite Pairing knife, and Kitchen Shears (my personal favorite kitchen tool!). 2 additional slots allow for you to store your already existing knives, or add to your set at a later date.  The retail value of this set is $149!

Once you've made a purchase through Maryanne's personal Pampered Chef Website, please return here and leave a comment.  That comment will count as your entry to the giveaway for the knife set.  Every purchase, big or small will benefit the families affected by Hurricane Irene, so please consider making a purchase to support this great cause.

This Fundraiser and giveaway will be open until Tuesday, September 27th, 2011 at 11:59 PM EST.  Winner will be selected via Random.org, verified as a purchaser, and notified shortly thereafter.  Now hurry on over to The Pampered Chef & do some shopping!