Christmas in July,

Hi all, sorry I missed you all last week. My schedule got a bit crazy and then I had Blogger issues. I blogged and Blogger didn't! Simply was no time to redo, so here I am, phew!

Midnight tonite, Christmas in July Shop Hop begins and will run through July 26 at Make Mine Pink. Now, people, we have had this discussion before. Get in there and register, find those bags, you can do it!!! I really, really, really want someone I know to win a prize this time. Limber up those fingers, the more bags you find the bigger the prize you are eligible to win. While searching for shopping bags check out all the wonderful boutiques. You know them all and how beautiful everything is. Ready? WUH, WUH, WUH--START CLICKING!

Christmas in July continues through the end of the month at Nashville Boutiques and Victorian Heart Shoppes. Stopping by at the Victorian Heart Shoppes and entering the $100 gift certificate drawing will be fun! Lots of great boutique and shoppes to browse through at both locations.

Here is a peek of this week's project-

As some of you know, Chloe and I were involved in a terrible glitter accident. It has been suggested I change Chloe's name to Sparkle. It was a fun project until the glitter and glue got the better of me!

One other tiny little catastrophe this week. While playing with my essential oils I knocked a bottle over. You have no idea how powerful these oils are until you get an overload! My word, the dining room still smells of clary sage! These old wood floors of mine just soaked that right up! As I am working on my studies at Aromahead Institute, I should be paying a bit more attention to the safety chapter, I guess. If you want to learn about essential oils and their uses and why they work in the first place, this is the place to go. I am finding that by looking at the class of an oil I am beginning to know what it is going to be good for. Love when you find that key to unlock a mystery.

With all the rains we have had, the plants (and weeds) have taken off like the rain forest. The weeds are winning at this point. UhOh! After a few dry days I have gotten arm fulls of plant material in and drying. Now if the weather will just cooperate so everything doesn't mold, it should be good. Lots of pesto in freezer (and in our tummies if you must know), think we may have some tomatoes this week. Here's a recipe for a really simple but delicious pasta salad -

Millie's (my sister-in-law) Bow Tie Pasta Salad

1-1pound box of bow tie pasta, cooked and drained

In a separate bowl, mix:

2 cloves minced fresh garlic

2 or 3 chopped tomatoes (can use canned if fresh not available)

6-10 leaves fresh basil, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Add this mixture to pasta. Serve room temp or cold.

Have a wonderful week all. Don't forget to find those shopping bags,
Pat