Confession: I am Intimidated by Women

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This may sound surprising to women who know me, but the truth is... I am intimidated by other women.  

Aren't most of us?  

I mean, isn't most of what we do an attempt to impress other women?  

If we're honest, don't we dress to impress other women, and not really for the men in our lives?

Give me a room full of men, and I will walk right in and join a conversation.  In a room full of women... I will desperately look for someone familiar, then stand in the corner talking to that one girl all night.  

Maybe that is why I never joined a sorority in college.  

In fact, I was a little sister to a fraternity!  

Men don't scare me. 

Sometimes, women scare me.

So here's the kicker.  I agreed to be the emcee at our church's women's retreat this year.

And by "I agreed" I mean that Brooke said yes for the both of us while I was on the operating table.

The good news is that I love these women.  

I know many of them.  

I know they will love me even if I can't be as funny as they expect.  

Plus, I will have Brooke standing next to me, and she is my security blanket.

The other day we met with Lori, our Fearless Leader, to discuss the plans for the retreat, and she was telling us that we still have several spots to fill.  This surprised me because we have an amazing women's ministry at our church and there are hundreds of women involved.  Why are we having trouble filling 190 spots?

You know why... because if people like me are intimidated by other women, then people who are less outgoing are probably petrified of other women!  But I have been to enough women's retreats to tell you that they are the place to find safety in other women.

Now it's time for a little Crossline shout out.

If you live in the Southern California area, or are looking for a reason to visit {it's beautiful here people}, I would love to invite you to the Crossline Women's Retreat. 

It is June 4th - 6th (that's in two weeks).

It's at the Murrieta Hot Springs Conference Center {that's right... hot springs}.

You will get to see Brooke and me make fools of ourselves on stage.

You will get to listen to one of the most amazing speakers I have ever heard, Lysa TerKeurst.

You will get to relax, eat, sleep {maybe a little}, laugh and cry with some wonderful women who shouldn't intimidate you.

You will have a weekend to yourself.

And I promise to sit with you at a meal {see... now you don't have that excuse}.

If you're thinking about it... stop.  Just go here and register.

I mean it.

Let's face the reality that we are all just a bunch of dorks, and stop being intimidated by one another.

Need more incentive?  Okay, fine. 
I'll give someone a prize. 
How about some Gloveables?

Register by this Sunday and I'll give you an entry in the drawing.  If you have already registered... good for you!  Let me know and I'll give you an entry too.  I'll pick a winner Monday morning.

Queen Bee Designs

I am so excited to introduce you to a friend of mine, Amanda of Queen Bee Designs.  

Just to make sure you keep reading, I will give you a little spoiler first... there is a giveaway at the end of this post!  No, not a monster Grover... a giveaway!

Okay, now that I have your attention... back to Amanda.  

I think this story is kind of awesome, so I hope you enjoy it.  

Twenty years ago, when I was in sixth grade, I went to a camp called Alpine Covenant Conference center.  Did you ever go to summer camp?  I loved summer camp!  I went every year from third grade on.  I truly believe that summer camp is one of the best investments you can make in your child's character, so if you ever have the opportunity... send your kid to summer camp!

Off my soapbox... back to my story.

So the summer of sixth grade I met Amanda and Katie from Arizona.  

Don't judge... that was a very awkward phase for me!  

Notice Amanda leaning in to stake her claim on Tyler... the camp hottie.  

I have pictures from the next winter camp of Tyler with Katie, but don't worry... they didn't let it come in between their friendship.  

We hit it off right away that summer at camp.  We ended going to several summer and winter camps together, then Katie and I continued to be pen pals for a few years before losing touch.

Fast forward 18 years.

Nathan and Beau and I move into our new neighborhood.

We meet all our new neighbors.  

{Side note... we love them.}

The next day one of the neighbors says to me, "It's been driving me crazy all night, but I think I have figured out how I know you.  Did you ever go to summer camp at Alpine?"

"Yes!  Wait, what is your maiden name?"

She tells me.  I say, "Katie!  We didn't just go to camp together... we were pen pals for like three years!"

So after all these years, my pen pal from sixth grade that lived a state away from me was living right across the street (and happened to be married to a guy I went to high school with).  

If you don't believe God cares about the details in your life... think again.

Through Katie, I got reconnected with Amanda, and a few months ago she came to visit!

Amanda is still in Arizona with a husband and two adorable little boys, running her jewelry business, Queen Bee Designs.  

She makes beautiful hand-stamped personalized jewelry like this:

and this:

and even stuff for men like this:

 But this is my favorite piece:

Amanda makes every piece of jewelry to order, so you can get any name, phrase or quote that you would like.  She even made me a necklace that says "Much Ado" in the center and has my tagline "Where fabulous is personal again" around the outside.  

It is fabulous.

Now {what you have really been waiting for, and the only reason you are still reading} Amanda is giving a 

$40 gift certificate to one of my lucky readers!  

Her stuff is very reasonably priced, so you can get just about whatever you like with $40.

***This giveaway is now closed***

The contest will run until thisSunday (May 23rd) at midnight PST.

Here's how to enter:

Leave a comment with your email address so that I can contact you if you win.

If you want a second entry:

Become a follower over in the right sidebar and let me know in your comment.  

If you already are a follower, just remind me.

If you want a third entry:
Put my button on your blog {the code is in the left sidebar} and let me know in your comment.  

If you have already done this, let me know... and thanks for the support!

If you want a fourth entry:

Blog about this giveaway and... you guessed it... let me know in your comment.

If you want a fifth entry:

"Like" Much Ado About You on Facebook here, and let me know in your comment. 

Want 5 bonus entries???  Then go to the Queen Bee Designs shop and tell me which design is your favorite.

I will announce the winner first thing Monday morning! 

Special Guest Blogger

I received a very special gift for Mother's Day this year.  

Beau made me this beautiful bouquet of flowers: 

He is his mom's son.

I thought this would make a cute place card holder for a family dinner, so I asked Beau to show us how to do it.

First, take two strips of green paper and staple them together.

On one of the long sides, cut slits of varying length.

Roll up the paper.

Staple the roll together.

Fluff the stems.

Now cut out your flowers.  

According to Beau you will need 8 flowers and 8 centers each of two different colors.

Glue the centers to the opposite color flowers.

Glue the flowers on to the stems.  Some stems will not have a flower.

 Finally, clip a name card onto the bouquet, and set it on your place setting.

What Nanny wouldn't love that???

For the record {and to hopefully make some of you feel better about your day}if you could see the rest of the dining room table and living room area... you would be appalled.  

I only cleaned enough of the table to take this photo. 

Obession: Books - Part II, Books Cost too Much

Looking for my calendar giveaway on Bird Crafts?  It's here.

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 Okay... so much to do here today.  First of all... it's time for a giveaway winner!  

Random.org chose {drumroll, please}:

Congratulations Christina from Ruby Red Studio!  Please contact Megan to claim your prize.

If you didn't win... Megan still has a great offer for you.  

Order from Preppy Prints before Sunday {5/16/10} at midnight PST and mention my blog in the Message to Seller at checkout and Megan will refund $3.50 on your order... making the cost just $10 for your own Customized Digital Invitation!  Thanks Megan!

I will have a new giveaway starting next Tuesday, so be sure to check back.  

From now on my giveaways will be starting each Tuesday and running through Sunday, with winners announced each Monday.

Whew... now on to my regularly scheduled programming.

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"Books cost too much! That's why I opened Crown Books"

Anyone else remember that commercial from the 80's, or is it just me?  Just me?  Oh.

Well Brooke and I love to swap books and then pass them on to other friends, because that guy was right... books do cost too much. 

It got me to thinking that it would be fun to have a kind of book chain, where we passed the same book around to lots of friends, and had each person write a little review inside to pass along to the next person.

First of all, it had to be a good book worth passing along... right?

I took off the original cover, and cut out some key elements that the new book cover would need.

Then I decoupaged some fun paper onto the cover, along with those key elements.

Finally, I wrote my review on the inside cover.

You may want to spray the finished product with an acrylic clear finishing spray to keep it from being too tacky {and by tacky I mean sticky, not ugly... you'll have to keep yourself from making it ugly.} 

Does it make you want to read this book more?

You should want to read it anyway... it is excellent.

I think this would make a great gift for a book lover.  

And the best part is that because you are taking off the store cover... it will no longer have the price right on the gift!

Obsession: Books - Part 1

Looking for my calendar giveaway on Bird Crafts?  It's here.

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Looking for the Preppy Prints Digital Invitation Giveaway?  Scroll down or click here.

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I love to read!  

I wish I had more time to read.

My problem is that I can't just casually read a book that  I am really enjoying.  I get obsessed with it.

I ignore everyone and everything else.

My husband hates when I have a good book.

 I thought I would share some of my favorites with you to tick your husbands off too.

The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Set in my favorite era... Civil Rights South, this novel is so wonderful.
Truly one of my all-time favorites.
It's Kathryn's first published novel... I can't wait for more from her.

The Time Travler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger

Try not to get bogged down by the sci-fi element of this book and just enjoy the love story.

Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers

One of the best love stories you will ever read.  Written by a Romance-Novelist turned born-again Christian it is a beautiful picture of love and redemption.

The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood by Rebecca Wells

Another Civil Rights South set story... fun, surprising, and dramatic.  Even if you have seen the movie, you will love the book.  The movie combines the stories from this book and its sequel, Little Alters Everywhere, which I liked, but not as much as this one.

The Green Mile by Stephen King

Again, even if you have seen the movie you will enjoy the book.  There is a great love story that they ignored in the movie.  I love a book that can make me cry... I finished this book and sobbed for about twenty minutes.  Sobbed.

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

This book will make you want to go to Guernsey!  I loved, loved, loved this book.  An easy read, and so romantic.  I finished the book, and immediately went back and re-read the last chapter because I just didn't want it to be over.

The 19th Wife by David Ebershoff

Fascinating novel that intertwines the story of Brigham Young's 19th wife and the 19th wife of a modern day Fundamentalist LDS leader.  It's long, but a total page-turner.  There were times when I had to skip ahead through one story because I couldn't wait to find out what was happening in the next.

The Magician's Nephew by CS Lewis

The is the prequel to The Chronicles of Narnia series, and by far and away the best one of them all!  This one needs to be made into a movie, and I hope they will someday.  If you haven't read this series with your children, you must!  We started reading it with Beau when he was about 5 and we have two to go.

My Sister's Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Wonderful book... not even close to the same story that the movie portrayed.  I mourned for Jodi Picoult when I saw the movie because I think she must be devastated by how they massacred her amazing story.  If you've seen the movie... read the book, it's way better.  If you haven't seen the movie... don't!

sTORI TELLING by Tori Spelling

Okay... you knew I had to get a guilty pleasure in there.  First of all, I love a good autobiography, and didn't I just admit to you yesterday that I watch The Real Housewives?  This is me people.  Seriously though... surprisingly well written and hilarious, and freakishly fascinating at the same time.

Okay, now here are some books that I don't recommend:

The Shack by William P. Young

I know, I know... everyone loved this book, it's so great... blah, blah, blah.  I pained my way through this ridiculously over descriptive book because I have to finish a book once I've started it, and when it was through I threw it across the room.  I hated it.  I mean it.  Hated it.

 The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls

An autobiography that is hard to believe.  This book was very interesting and well written, but utterly depressing and with no redemptive ending.  I won't give it away in case you are into depressing true stories, but as a mother I found it difficult to read... the absolute selfishness of the author's parents was disgusting.

 Shawshank Redemption by Stephen King

Unlike most novels-turned-movie, this one is actually better as a movie.  See the movie.  Don't read the book.

Here's what on my to-read list:

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

The Mark of the Lion series by Francine Rivers

Mommywood by Tori Spelling

Unchartered TerriTori coming soon by Tori Spelling

Tomorrow I have a fun little book craft for you... stay tuned.

Confession: Real Housewives

Looking for my calendar giveaway on Bird Crafts?  It's here.

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Looking for the Preppy Prints Digital Invitation Giveaway?  Scroll down or click here.

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I confess... I watch The Real Housewives shows.  

I watch them because it's a train wreck that I can't stop watching.

I watch Orange County because I have a sick obsession with seeing familiar places.

I watch New York because I love Bethenny Frankel.  She cracks me up.

I watch New Jersey only occasionally... only if I happen to catch it late at night or while folding laundry.

I do not watch Atlanta.  Let me be clear.  I've caught scenes here and there, but... I can't handle Atlanta.

When I started watching The Real Housewives of Orange County I was extremely disturbed.  I have lived in Orange County my whole life, and I can tell you with certainty that these women do not represent the majority here.  

I've often said that someone should do a show called  

The Real, Real Housewives of Orange County.

The Real Housewives live lavish lifestyles in huge homes with housekeepers and nannies.  

The Real, Real Housewives try desperately to afford to live in Orange County on one income (or even two), living in tiny homes with no yards, possibly with a cleaning lady once or twice a month, and swap kid-watching duties so they can go to the grocery store in peace every once in a while.

 The Real Housewives take a limmo to Fred Segal to spend the day shopping and pampering in the spa.

The Real, Real Housewives get their nails done at Happy Nails while bribing their kids with suckers to sit quietly in the front and not cause a scene.

 The Real Housewives overturn tables and fight like cats and dogs.

The Real, Real Housewives have fights with cats and dogs... and lose (both stories for another day).

 The Real Housewives think they are hot, and look for any excuse to be seen in a bikini.

The Real, Real Housewives are insecure, and will do anything to avoid being seen in a bikini.

 The Real Housewives rarely have a nice thing to say about one another.

The Real, Real Housewives get encouragement, empathy, compassion, help and genuine love from one another... at least that has been my experience. 

So if you don't live in Orange County... don't believe that this show accurately represents us.

I choose to believe that not everyone in New York insists on being called "the Countess",  that not everyone in New Jersey has been arrested for cocaine possession, and that not everyone in Atlanta wears wigs and dates married men.

But I will still watch them.

Button Topiaries

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Looking for the Preppy Prints Digital Invitation Giveaway?  Scroll down or click here.

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 I got my first blog award today!  I'm somebody.  

Thanks so much to Brittany from Love Stiched for honoring me with the Sunshine Award.

The requirements of this award are:

1. Put the logo on the blog within your post.

2. Pass the award on to 7 bloggers.

3. Link the nominees within your post.

4. Let them know they received this award by commenting on their blog.

5. Share the love and the link to the person from whom you received this award. 

I nominate:

Christina @ Ruby Red Studio

Molly @ Pastor's Wife Redefined (better getting blogging again Molly!)

Beckey @ Hippo Brigade

Bird @ Bird Crafts

Sandi @ Lucky Thirteen and Counting

Lisa @ Jomestic Doi

Alissa @ Rags to Stiches

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Okay, I promised a craft today... and here it is.  

Please excuse the pictures.  

My good camera was over at my sister's house and I didn't feel like going all the way over there to get it {yes, and by 'all the way over there' I mean the twenty-five yards across the street was too far}.  

Whatd'ya think?  

It's a cute little topiary.  

I thought it would make a great little Get Well gift or even a cute shower centerpiece.  

You can use any color buttons and ribbon to go with whatever color scheme.

To start, I purchased the small clay pot, a wooden dowel {which I broke with my hands... I know, I'm Shera} and Styrofoam circles at Michael's.

I put one of the foam circles in the pot to hold the stick, then stuck a slightly larger circle on the top for the topiary.  In hindsight, I think I would wait to put the top circle on until you have covered it with buttons, just be sure to leave a little area at the bottom to stick the dowel into.

Also in hindsight I would have painted the dowel first... aren't you glad you get the benefit of learning from my mistakes?

I used gold paint, but with the quality of this picture I know it is hard to tell.  Alternatively, you could buy a green dowel, like the kind they use as plant stakes, then you could just leave it green.

Then I just started pinning buttons on.  I started with the largest ones that I had so that I could cover the majority of the open space.

I filled in the empty spaces with smaller buttons until the whole thing was covered.  

{Although... truth be told, I ran out of buttons before I finished so I took all the buttons from the backside and moved them to the front for the purpose of this posting.  Next time I go back to Michael's I will finish this project.  

In other words... buy two packages of buttons.}

Lastly, I took a little green felt that I had lying around, cut a strip, wrapped it around the bottom foam and pinned it on with some buttons.

Easy, peasey, lemon sqeezey... as my son would say!

I'm off to be the Librarian now.  A mom's day is never done.