Blue Bell Date

Good Thursday morning!

I've been saving this Gallery Pic all week. On the way to our tubing destination Sunday, we passed this very cool mailbox. We were in such a hurry to arrive, I decided to stop on our way out to snap a shot. It was dark, but I hope you can make out the silhouette. It's a MANATEE mailbox! How cool is that? It just screams, "The person who lives here has a lot of personality!" I want one. Really, really badly.

NOTE - If I don't see a real manatee on our trip to Amelia Island in a few weeks, I'll be using this picture in my scrapbook. (I will, too. I'm not too proud.)

"How To" Birthday Party Classes"

I'm going to have a "How To" Birthday Party Class in my home Tuesday, June 8 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for mothers of young boys (ages 3 to 6). I will be teaching how to throw an INEXPENSIVE Purposeful Christ-Centered Birthday Party for your son. The party themes for this class will be a Pirate Birthday Party and a Super Hero Birthday Party.

I will also be having a class Tuesday, June 15 from 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. for mothers of young girls (ages 3 to 6). The party themes for this class will be a Luau Birthday Party and a Princess Birthday Party.

Each class will cost $10. The $10 will cover the following:

A handout for two specific parties for boys/girls in this age category (3 to 6). Each handout will include a schedule, an arrival activity (a craft), three or more games, cake ideas, invitation ideas, a FUN devotion and an ending activity.

I will have two baked and iced cakes for each class, and I will show you how to quickly and simply decorate these cakes.

I will have supplies, and we will decorate an invitation for each party. (Your birthday child will be able to do this with you for his/her party.)

We (the MOTHERS) will actually play each game, make each craft and listen to each devotion.

I will have a fun door prize for one lucky attendee, as well as two bonus birthday party gift ideas you can use for ANY party your child attends. (Affordable, memorable and unique!)

Each birthday party lasts only 90 minutes (instead of two hours), and will be fun, organized and enjoyable (for the kids AND the parents).

The cost to throw these parties in your home is minimal (no more than $25 to $30... and it can be even less if you plan in advance).

If you are interested or you have a friend who is interested, please contact me to reserve a spot via the Comment Section, Facebook or e-mail. There are only 15 spots available per class.

Tuesday, June 8 (BOYS)
6:30 - 8:00
Pirate Birthday Party
Super Hero Birthday Party

Tuesday, June 15 (GIRLS)
6:30 - 8:00
Luau Birthday Party
Princess Birthday Party

SPECIAL GUEST - LANA SMOTHERS - PART THREE - We'll be saying good-bye to Lana today. Sad, but true. I've enjoyed getting to know her better. While I knew some of the answers, she still surprised me a little. Thank you, Lana! You did a great job, AND you helped me out... a lot!

21. What is your favorite type of music (country, classical, rap)?

Contemporary Praise and Worship, but I am a sucker for love songs of all genres. (Then I'm guessing you like Mr. Barry Manilow!)

22. What is your biggest pet peeve?

Complainers. It gets on my nerves when I hear people complain about every situation, and they never see or say anything positive. (That's okay. I know she doesn't mean me. I'm a "venter," not a "complainer.")

23. Are you a morning person or a night owl?

Night Owl, but only if I can sleep really late. It is worth it then.

24. What is your favorite cereal?

Crunch Berries! I'm still a kid at heart. (Me, too! Of course, it's like number one on the DON'T EAT ME IF YOU'RE A DIABETIC list... but back in the day that was good stuff.)

25. Which person from the Bible do you want to meet first when you get to Heaven (not counting Jesus)?

Esther and Ruth.

26. Name your three best physical features.

My smile, my hair color (thanks to my favorite hairdresser), and my "big bones" which help disguise my true weight! (Gotta love "big bones," Baby!)

27. What is your current obsession?

Couponing and saving lots of money at Publix and CVS.

Well, there you have it! If you bump into Miss Lana in the next few weeks, be sure to stop and talk awhile... even if you've never met her in person. I'm telling you... the chick has never met a stranger!

TOPIC OF THE WEEK - HUMIDITY AND GONE WITH THE WIND

As promised, this will be short and sweat... I mean short and sweet.

I have seen Gone With the Wind several times during my 48 years of life. It is a prerequisite for growing up in the South, you know. It sweeps you away to another time. A time in history when homes had names (Tara), and gentlemen had big ears, but were still incredibly handsome and charming (Rhett Butler), and spoiled brats... well, there have always been spoiled brats (Scarlett O'Hara).

But I'll never forget the first time I saw Gone With The Wind at The Alabama Theater with a bunch of girlfriends. What a picture-perfect setting to watch that classic movie! However, for some reason I was not able to "get into" the movie as I had done in previous viewings. Something kept nagging at me. What was it? Why was I not enjoying the movie? What was different?

And then new questions started popping into my mind. How do those women wear those HUGE dresses in the middle of summer in the south and not sweat? Where is the big ol' humidity hair? How do they survive in a house (no matter how big or how cool the name is) without air conditioning? What was their equivalent to today's deodorant or hairspray?

I couldn't get past these questions to enjoy the movie! And when Scarlett made a dress out of the heavy, dark green velvet drapes... Well, I almost passed out from the vapors, I tell you!

I later asked some older women what they used in place of deodorant back in the day, and one of them told me they used rose water. Rose water? I knew I could have walked around with a rose bush under each arm and it wouldn't have helped on a truly hot, Alabama day!

What about all the courtin' and flirtin' that was taking place? Once again, when I'm in the midst of a humidity meltdown, I don't want Mike or Rhett Butler or anyone else standing too close to me, much less sweeping me up in their arms for a big, old passionate kiss. (And if women were using rose water as a deodorant substitute, what, pray tell, were the men using? Hmmmm?)

Have any of you ever thought about those things? I mean, you don't have to admit it using your real name, but I wouldn't mind a couple of anonymous, "I've often wondered the same thing." It would make me feel better. It really would.

Blog Linkage - I have a couple of links for you to enjoy today.

1. Click on Confessions of a Pioneer Woman under My Blog List. When her website comes up, click on "Photography" at the top of her page. She asked readers to send photographs to her which would fall under the caption "Coming Home." The pictures of men and women in our military "Coming Home" are amazing... especially the photos of the dads with their babies. It's the perfect week to spend time looking at these images.

2. You may be past your nursery decorating days, but if you are like me, you still appreciate a beautiful nursery. Click on "a little bit of me" under My Blog List. Susan had a new baby boy yesterday, so his sweet face will be the first thing you see. Enjoy those pics for a little while before scrolling down to see Noah's nursery. This girl is so talented. She makes quilts, designs scrapbook pages and now she's the mom of two precious little boys. It is one of the brightest, happiest nurseries I've ever seen. Love it!

Blue Bell Date

If you're looking for a fun AND educational date this summer, check out the Blue Bell Creamery in Sylacauga.

They offer daily tours Monday through Friday, and you will need to make a reservation. Tours are at 9:00, 10:00, 11:00, noon and 1:00. They last about 45 minutes, and you get a free scoop of ice cream at the end! (It's a big scoop, too!)

Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 14. Children 5 and under are free.

SAD NOTE - You cannot take pictures on the tour.

I've actually been on this tour twice. It is a very nice facility. It begins with a short, informative (cute) movie, and then they take you on the actual tour. The drive to and from the Blue Bell Factory will last longer than the tour itself, but use the time to talk, talk, talk, listen to music, sing loudly (and badly) and have a good time with your young date.

Have a great Thursday. The weekend is near... thank goodness! I'll have a little Randomness, another rambling entitled Humidity and the Theme Park and Weekend Happenings to share.

Take care, and I'll talk to you tomorrow.

Sincerely,

The Enchanting Belinda