Thanksgiving Basket Giveaway!

It's one of my favorite times of year- holiday season! What better way to have an excuse for eating a whole bunch of good food! I decided to do a Thanksgiving Basket giveaway. The requirements for the giveaway are as follows:

1. Be a follower of Baskets By Sadi
2. Head over to Sundaes With A Little Butterscotch -http://www.butterscotchsundaes.blogspot.com
3. Become a follower
4. Leave a comment with your de-stressing ideas for motherhood!

Each Basket contains:
2 cans of Green Giant Green Beans
2 cans of Green Giant Corn
1 can of Ocean Spray Cranberry Sauce
2 packages of Kraft Homestyle Mac and Cheese
1 container of McCormick's Turkey Gravy Powder
2 boxes of Stove Top Stuffing

I have two baskets to giveaway for the most creative de-stressing ideas!!! Good Luck!


Yours Truly,

Fabulous Finds for Thanksgiving Decor!

Hello people!

I have been under the radar lately because I am taking my very last class for my MBA. The class has been challenging but I have been pushing through. I was disappointed when I realized that I am in class right through Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is a holiday that I absolutely love because I get to EAT. This Thanksgiving is exceptionally special to me because my family is coming to my house! The last time they came to my house was 2003! So I am overwhelmed with excitement and probably driving the folks in my house bananas!

In between papers and working in a team for a class project, I have been trying to wrap my head around what my menu will be and how in the world will I get my house cleaned for company! I have to pull dishes out of the basement, buy serving platters, clean, clean, and clean. Yikes! So as a result of my unorganized planning and being brain dead from school - I decided to focus on my Thanksgiving table decor. Easiest thing to plan, right? Yeah right. So I am looking through all my mags and looking on the internet for nice place settings. I LOVE earthly colors so the thought of decorating with fall colors excites me! Not much is catching my eye.

So I walk into one of my favorite window shopping stores West Elm and they have a display of a set table. I fall in love with the colors, the design, the dinnerware, the dessert ware- just WOW. I should have taken a photo, but I didn't. Of course I am not going to spend $1000.00 on setting my table for Thanksgiving, so after I got the idea I wanted, I headed over to my three T's - T.J.Maxx, Target and Tuesday Morning. Here are some of my fabulous finds:

West Elm and Crate and Barrel wanted between $25.00 and $40.00 for these type of footed cake platters below:

I found these same dessert stands at T.J. Maxx for $9.99! This looks wonderful on a table setting used like this:

You can always get your fake fruits, leaves and berries from the dollar store. Nice look.

Then I went to Target and found my dishes and cloth napkins. West Elm wanted $75.00 for a dish set with a colored trim and $4.00 a piece for plain colored cloth napkins. Don't get me wrong my brain says 'YES!' but my purse says 'What da $%#@?!'. So, here is what I found, dishes for $49.99 and well you see the price for the napkins...

Headed on over to Tuesday Morning and got a table runner for $6.99. Pier One had something like it for $40.00.

So, I am excited about my fabulous finds. And if anybody else happens to be thinking about Thanksgiving table decor, here are some ideas:

Enjoy, I will show pics of what it looks like when I put it all together!

Yours truly,

Fabulous Find - No words necessary...

- Sesto Meucci Two-Toned Loafer - www.neimanmarcus.com

Flat Shoe Follow up!

..... just following up from the flat shoes post I did the other day. So I went looking on line to find some shoes just to see what they had out there. Of course, my teenager did not like what I liked, so we just headed out to the mall. Thank Goodness, first stop Macy's. The sales guy was very energetic (almost too energetic for me) and helpful. ***Thanks Graig for all your help***

We found two pairs of shoes! It did not take us too long to find them either!

We also managed to hit her favorite stores and be back in the house by 8:30!! Yesterday was a good day! Funny thing, because of the hurricane Irene, school has not started yet! More time for me! Yay!

Fabulous Find- The Flat Shoe

My teenager (can't believe she's a teenager), needs school shoes. I refuse to allow her to wear sneakers everyday. She would if she could! This is a battle I have chosen to fight, and darnit, I am going to win. So my strategy (painfully) every year is to shop for flats that we can agree on. I usually have to go to about 4 or 5 different stores to get a good pair. We have already been to Sears - definitely a no go. I went online to see what Target had - and AH HA - I found a couple pairs that I am going to run by her.

**side note**
- my Mom says, 'You didn't have a choice, since when do kids have a choice?! I brought home your shoes!'

I said, 'Mom first issue- you and Pop-Pop have been buying the girl whatever she wanted since she was old enough to point to something. Second, I am not going to waste my money bringing her things to wear home because she won't wear it if she doesn't like it, it will sit in her closet until I remember to go through her closet to find stuff! And for some reason, she and I don't like the same styles. I let her pick stuff out, we come to a happy medium, so she will wear it! UGH.'

** ok I'm back**

So I found these:

Wish me luck, we have to agree on something this weekend! Can anybody recommend another store with modest shoes for a 13 year old? Nothing too fancy!
Yours Truly,

Oh My - the school list is LONG....

Ok so, I just posted a few days ago how we should remain calm during this back to school season. Well I take that back! LOL. I just realized all the stuff I have to get for my teenager!!! My husband brought up the fact that we will have a teenager for the next 6 years. OMG.

Anyway, this child has grown over the summer like a weed! I pulled out her clothes and she can't fit ANYTHING!!! So, here I am last minute - buying everything!!!

So here goes my list:

Jeans
Khakis
Tops
Cardigans
Sweaters
Undershirts
Undies
Socks
Sneakers
Shoes
Church clothes
-----------------
pens
pencils
highlighters
paper
notebook
dividers
erasers
5 x 7 index cards
colored pencils
ruler
folders
book bag
lunch bag
pencil case
---------------
lunch meat
snacks
juice

And I have 3 days left. I need another job!!! What is your list looking like?

Back to School

Well it's that time of year! Back to school can be a treacherous time of year. But, if we plan carefully, look for the sales, and shop before the masses wake up - we can get it done!

I found on Wal-Mart website, I think it would be helpful to many parents!!
Donna Raskin, who is a school teacher gives some tips!
1. Help your kids relax.
2. Don't sweat the school supplies.
3. Learn how your child learns**** (I think this is imperative to successful learning)
4. Don't ignore the 'I don't feel well'.
5. Treat me, but not with treats.
6. Hands off the projects.
7. All grades are not created equally.
8. All of life is Middle School. (Oh! Ok...)
9. Ignore the eye rolling.
10. Manners do matter!
To get the full article please go to :


http://instoresnow.walmart.com/article.aspx?Center=BackToSchool&id=99345

The article is a great source of information for parents who may be feeling the anxiety of back to school time creeping up on them!

Fabulous Fan Finds!!

I came into work today and instantly lost 2 pounds! The air conditioning system is broken and the thermostats say 83 degree before they all go blank! It is usually freezing in here - so imagine the shock. My brain can barely function because I think it's boiling out of my skull. I get bottled water and it is a temporary fix- I am too hot. At lunch I am heading out to get a desk fan. Found some great ones at Target from $14.99 and up....

Let's hope I don't melt before lunchtime!

Fabulous Find!!!!

Ornamental Design Rectangle Tray Designed by Natasha Farina

I came across these beauties on one of my favorite websites - www.burkedecor.com. These are excellent for a table by the door where you can throw your change, keys, mail etc. These are porcelain hand painted trays! Price ... $40.00. Excellent 'Just Because' gift for the house. This website has a lot of unique things for the house. Check them out!

Yours Truly,

Chicken and Waffles - Oak Park, Illinois

People, People, People!!!!!

I went home to Chicago for my birthday. I surprised my Mom by just showing up at her door unannounced from across the country. I was an awesome surprise for her and the perfect birthday gift for me. Later in the day my mom kept saying she wanted to take me to this new Chicken and Waffles restaurant. I wasn't really hungry but she was being persistent. I had never been a fan of chicken and waffle joints. So I was thinking, I will just order something real simple to appease my mom.

First of all, when we pulled up, this restaurant was not the typical chicken and waffles place. It was totally upscale. The decor and atmosphere was AWESOME!! I was excited. I get a menu and I am instantly HUNGRY!! So I find myself ordering chicken, mac n cheese, greens, and sweet potatoes at 11 a.m. Sorry for the cell phone picture but I didn't have my camera!!!!

The food was AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh MY GOSH. I was thoroughly impressed. There will not be a time that I go to Oak Park and not eat at this place!!! If you are ever in Oak Park, please check this place out!!!!

My Fabulous Find while on vacation is :

Chicago's Home of Chicken and Waffles
543 Madison Street
Oak Park, Illinois 60302
708-524-3300

http://www.chicagoshomeofchickenandwaffles.com/

I found some Hot Spots!

Great Gift ideas for the ladies!!!


Yours truly,

Fabulous Find for the Summer!

Picnic Tote Basket - Embroidered Any Initial Picnic Tote
Pack your favorite food and head out on a fun family picnic using this handy, collapsible Embroidered Picnic Tote. With its lightweight convenience and great look, you are sure to enjoy spending quality time in a beautiful outdoor setting. Embroidered Picnic Totes are also great for shopping and organizing your belongings on an everyday basis.

You can find this at www.giftsforyounow.com. Only 30 bucks!

Yours Truly,

Father's Day Gift Series - Last Minute Fab Finds!

I am not a fan of last minute gifts, but at this point, if you are still looking, you're down to the wire! Here are some ideas!

For the Dad who is always on the go, a hygiene pack! You can find this particular one for $35.00 at anthony.com, but these are anywhere, or you can put a specialized one together!

This is a UV Light, Razor, sanitizer and storage case! This fab find comes from violight.com for $29.95!

My hubby has been asking for this since last Christmas! You can get the Sopranos DVD First season starting at $19.99 on Amazon.com - they also have the complete series starting at $129.99. Great gift idea!

Good Luck!

Yours Truly,