Primcats

~ Thrifty Friday ~ A Goodwill Gathering in the kitchen ~

2012-02-17T07:00:00.003-05:00

Hi Friends…

I found two of the most beautiful treasures ever at the goodwill a few weeks ago. Just to beautiful for Thrifty Thursday. They needed their own spotlight.

First up…

Wrought Iron Triple armed Candle holder.

$1.99! Booyah!!!!!! Score!!!!!!

And this beautiful HUGE wooden bowl...

Deep!!!!!!!!!!

That's right... I paid $2.00!

So cool!

Put them together with some other goodwill finds... A table piece and a wooden spoon... and wala...

I have been trying to find something online matching this beautiful candle holder for sale but I have not been able to find one like it. If you know where I can see something similar please let me know.

My new Table Gathering! ♥♥♥

Now that's my kind of thrifty decorating!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Thrifty Thursday ~

2012-02-16T08:16:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends,

Thrifty Thursday is here and it’s been another great week at the Goodwill.

Lets have a look…

Crock… $1.00! Yay!

Adorable little step stool. $2.00

I love to stack these up places!!!

Big fat 3 foot tall snowman!

Gonna grunge him up and change all his buttons to real coal! Will be so cute!

Look at that cute carrot nose!

Checkerboard! ♥♥ $1.00

Garden boxes. $1.00

These will end up in the door display in the living room. Going to try a garden theme.

Garden Basket. $1.00

Also going in the door area.

2 faux wood bowls. $0.50 each

Can you ever have enough bowls?

A great trencher. $3.00

This is in the dining room filled with Primcats!

A Warren Kimble bunny print.

I love this. SO cute! I ♥ bunnehs!!!

And the best… this fantastic shelf for 5.99

THis is the reason I redecorated the kitchen over the last few weeks.

And I have 2 more amazing finds to share with you tomorrow.

They are so awesome they needed their own post! So check back tomorrow!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Pantry Cake Tutorial ~

2012-02-15T14:56:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends...

I thought we would play with some wax today!

How about a tut on how to make these pretty pantry cakes!

Lets get started.

Start out with a thrift store crock pot. I paid 3.99 for mine.

Also pick up some thrift store candles. $.99 cents for the brown big one. $.50 cents for the small white one. I also added in left over candle bits I had from old candles.

If you melt the wax... and let it reharden... it will do this, cave in. The reason I let my reharden is because the color was to light so I turned off the pot and came back later when I had better supplies.

Below the pot here you will see walnut crystals. I added some of those but it still wasn't dark enough.

I ended up buying this Black candle dye from http://factorydirectcraft.com/catalog/products/1302_2580_2581-3357-12_oz_black_candle_dye_block.html

Next... you need some molds.

Any size or shape will do.

Again... Goodwill. Cheap.

I used a metal ladle to scoop my wax into my molds. I did not put anything on the molds for nonstick. I just took my chances.

I let them cool. Then popped them in the fridge for a few minutes then flipped the molds and the wax fall out.

And you get these...

You can see here how light the wax was before I added the black dye. Bottom is no dye... top is black dyed.

Here is a wax pantry cake before dusting.

After it cools Rub it in cinnamon, coffee and cloves as much or as little as you want to.

You can even make big ones.

This one is 9”.

Arap with cheese cloth or brown paper. That’s it. Pretty easy!

Simple and fun to make!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Happy Valentines Day ~

2012-02-14T10:41:00.002-05:00

To all my sweet friends...

I hope you all have a wonderful valentines day filled with love, joy, peace and happiness.

Also maybe some candy, flowers or bling. ;)

This will probably seem strange but Mr. Primcat and I don't really celebrate Valentines day. I decorate for it... but I'm not into the hype of it all. We try to show each other love and appreciation everyday... and neither of us feels we need to have a set day to do that. He will I am sure buy me half price roses tomorrow... and I will I am sure cook him a nice dinner tomorrow... but tonight... we are cleaning house. lol. Romantic eh? We think so. ♥

So... lets do an eye update.

Getting better everyday!

How great is that? I still have major moments of wacked out weird vision but it is getting much better everyday! My periods of good vision are getting longer and longer and my periods of bad are getting shorter and shorter.

I have been asked again and again if I wish I had not done this because of the nightmare the last 3 weeks were... and I want to say very clearly...

I am so glad I did PRK Eye Surgery.

What I do wish for is that the Dr's had been more honest about the healing time. PRK is a major eye surgery that takes time to heal. It’s way harder on healing than lasik. They did not clearly explain that in their sales pitch. They told me 3-5 days. Even now if you go on their website it says

“The patient is left with a corneal abrasion that takes a few days to heal, and the vision improves slowly over several days.”

FYI… that’s BS and I wish they would take it down. No one heals from PRK in 3-5 days. No one. They remove the epithelial cells from on top of your cornea and minimum it takes 2 weeks for those cells to regrow. Then minimum it takes a month for those cells to flatten back out so you don’t have vision disturbances. I wish they would have just told me that. I realize that doesn’t sell the surgery very well… but I still would have done it. I just would not have been so stressed about it because I would have understood what was happening and why.

Right now I am waiting for the “scab” to come off. That first layer of cells that grew back needs to slough off so I am looking though newer flatter cells. Any day now. :)

The only thing that is still getting me is that I’m light sensitive. So things with light will set off that wonky double triple vision thing. Driving when it’s dark, early morning and night, the TV going from dark scenes to bright scenes and especially the computer monitor. But those things are also getting better everyday so I am sure in no time that I will crystal clear all the time.

So no… I do not regret this for one second. It sucked and if I would have known I would have planned better but it was very worth it. I can see so clear now for hours and hours at a time with out disturbances… and it’s awesome!

House wise... I have been busy redoing the kitchen in the last week. I think I’m done for now. “for now” lol. You know how that is. I will start on the living room next. I have some really fun ideas for the door corner. I’m thinking gardening theme. I will be busy this Saturday on our shopping trip so I will probably wait to start on that until next week.

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

And the winner is...

2012-02-11T11:03:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends...

The winner of the My Memories Suite Scrapbooking Software is

Aunt Dee Dee!!!!

auntdeedee said...

"Oh Carmen...Love this giveaway! First to peek at your scraped pages with the kitties...too cute. And I am a huge fan of digital scrapping. Woohoo...count me in. I really like the Attic Treasures Kit, that looks like it would be great for heritage pages. Have a great weekend!!"

Congrats to Aunt Dee Dee!!!!!!!!!!

I will be in touch with your code soon so you can download the software!

Have a great day everyone!!!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Attention Ohio Blogging friends ~

2012-02-10T09:54:00.004-05:00

Hey friends,

How are you today? Well I hope. I’m hanging in there. No good vision yet today… but I’m still praying for it! I did the ointment last night but nothing great happened this morning so we shall see… or not… depending on how my eyes decide to act today. Praying hard for it! So hard! Thank goodness for the zoom button in the internet browser, right?

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I’m calling out to my Ohio ladies here…

Earlene from Primitive Passion Decorating and I are having a little get together next Saturday, February 18th, for a shopping trip we have had planned for a little while now. She is heading down from Michigan and we are going to meet up with Cindy and her sister from Cynthia Lee Designs and we are going just south of Columbus to:

Primitive Blessings in Orient, Ohio

North Shore Primitives in Washington CH, Ohio

The Olde Farmstead at Jeffersonville.

This is my open invitation to any of you, near or far, to come and join us for a fun day of shopping at three of the best Primitive, Colonial, Country stores in the state!

If you would like to meet up with us… shoot me an email or leave me a comment and I will get back to you with our plans! We would love for you to join us!

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I also wanted to remind everyone that my giveaway for My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking software ends tomorrow and you have a pretty good chance of winning! Not to many have entered! Get in on this before midnight tonight as I am drawing my winner tomorrow!

Click the pic in the top left of my blog to comment and enter!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Thrifty Thursday ~

2012-02-09T16:36:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends!

Nothing much going on but I did have some great news for the day.

I'm still waiting for my vision to clear up and after trying reading glasses as suggested by my Dr. for a few days and finding out that wasn't helping me at all my Dr. decided my corneas must be swollen causing the distortion of my vision. He prescribed an ointment to put in my eye at night to draw out the swelling. It was nasty to put in. Like squeezing neosporin into my eye but I sucked it up and did it and then went to sleep. When I woke this morning I could not see much because it was still goopong up my eye. I went to work and at 9:47 exactly... my vision cleared to perfection after a set of drops. I was amazed. I had an amazingly clear 20 minutes this morning that was so very encouraging. I’m thrilled to have been given that at least. Though it was fleeting… I know my perfect vision is in there… it just needs to come out and stay! Please pray for that! It's comming... it's just taking it's darn good time. And yes, it's gone again. In fact it got terrible worse after that. But I repeat... it's in there! Happy dance!!!!

I also want to apologize again for not being around much. It's just hard to work on the computer and read things when my vision is so weird. And I have not been answering emails either which all of you know isn't me at all. It just hurts to read. So just bear with me... I will be back to my normal nonstop blogger self sooner rather than later I hope! :)

In the mean time… picture city it is… Lets take a look at some fun treasures I’ve gotten at the goodwill lately!

A fantastic crock for $1.00!

A candle Warmer for $1.99.

A Williamsburg Pottery Piece for $0.50.

An adorable Warren Kimble frame! $0.50

4 fantastic scoops! $0.50 each! Deal!

3 gorgeous gourds! $1.00 each!

Cute little tin candle lamp. $0.50

Tiny red basket. $0.50

And for spring… 2 pretty birds! $1.00 each!

I’m ready for spring! Don’t those cute birds make you smile! They do me!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

Happy Hump Day!

2012-02-08T09:27:00.000-05:00

Hey Friends,

How are you? Wonderful I hope.

I wanted to remind everyone that my My Memories Suite Digital Scrapbooking giveaway ends Friday. Don't miss out on this! Click the pic to sign up!

I apologize for my absence but things are pretty rough on this end. I am still recovering from my laser vision correction and I am having double and triple vision making it almost impossible to work with words on the computer. My frustration level is through the roof on this. From what I am reading and being told... it will go away... but when no one knows.

I am also having other vision disturbances but none are as cumbersome as the Double and Triple vision problem. That one is making my job almost impossible. I work with data on computers all day long and right now I am struggling very much with being able to see and read letters and numbers. On the internet I can blow things up as big as I need to to "make them out". But the programs that I work with at work I can not zoom on and I can't read. I'm super bummed out about all this.

I have no doubt that in time this will pass... I just wish they would have told me that this was "probably" going to happen instead of saying it was unlikely to happen. It's clear to me now that it's over that it's more likely to happen than not. If I would have known I would have done one eye at a time so I could keep my life pretty normal. Oh well, too late now. Now I just have to wait it out.

So that's what's going on and that's where I have been. I'm doing the best I can with the outcome until it clears up. Hopefully sooner rather than later.

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Thrifty Thursday ~

2012-02-02T16:18:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends!

Happy Thursday! I hope you are all doing well.

Yesterdays appointment was not as revealing or helpful as I wished it would be. But I didn’t really expect it to be either.

I asked about 30 questions and every question was answered with “Everyone heals differently.” or “You have to give it time.” Frustrating… like my current vision… but like I said... I expected nothing more. So I’m just going to give it time and do the best I can to deal with what I have at any given moment. My vision will likely not clear up anytime soon and will change daily, even hourly, sometimes every 5 minutes, so I am just going to wait it out. I go back on the 27th and we will check my progress then. I will let you all know if anything good happens. :)

So… Lets take a look at some Thrifty Thursday treasures from the last month.

Wooden spoons… Love finding these. Cheap!

A Large Candle warmer for $1.99.

Two wonderful cookie cutters.

A gallon crock for $1.99!

And my Favorite! My first oil can! $2.99! So cute!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

Christmas Treasures from Jamie

2012-02-01T12:28:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

Another day has come... Blah. Can I just close my eyes for 3 months and wake up when this is over?

I am frustrated. I know that the healing process is not fast by any means but I can't see my flipping computer screen unless I blow things up. This is not a problem when working on the internet because of the fancy zoom feature... but I work in Quickbooks and Access all day and there is no way to just blow the words up. It is going to be a long 3 months of healing. :(

On a good note... when my eyes aren't being fickle I can see far. That is good news. :)

The pain is tolerable though I can not say I have had a moment of peace since I got my PRK done. I can't even sleep through the night as I have to wake up and put drops in my eyes because they get so dry. I don't schedule the wake up... it just happens. So I'm cranky and tired.

But most of all I'm sick and tired of hearing myself complain! LOL! There isn't much more I dislike than a complainer. I'm just tired of having nothing good to say a the moment because well... I'm pretty miserable right now and the forseeable future looks pretty bleek too. I know it will get better. But getting through this part is so hard. So wah wah wah to me! LOL! Done complaining for the day!

Appointment today at 1:30 and looking forward to better news than what the last appointment brought! Wish me luck!

Still sharing Christmas Pics... Geesh I got so far behind!

These are presents from my sweet friend Jamie. She's my shopping partner in crime.

She went out and found a lady in our area who has a little prim shop and had her make up something for me for every season! Awesome right? She's the best!

Here we have... A HUGE pumpkin and crow for the hoarder!

Look how detailed and grungy that flower is!

Skates

Mittens!!

The best crow ever!

The best Turkey Ever!

A bee skeep!

A bunneh!

And carrots!

How fun is all that?!?!

Gotta go... Just realized the time and I do't want ot be late for my appt!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Eyes Update and Christmas Treasures from Tammy ~

2012-01-31T07:00:00.055-05:00

Hello Friends...

Hi it's me. No... real live me... posting in real time. Not a scheduled post here today!

I wanted to let everyone know that Cathy from Tolent Treasures got her Un-birthday giveaway and shared her new treasures. Stop over and say I and see what I gifted her!

Yesterdays appointment did not go as well as I would have liked. My left eye is healing a little faster than expected, which surprised my doctor after having lost my contact last Friday. He expected it to be a day behind. My right eye is healing super slow which also surprised the doctor. He said he had never seen that happen. Ever. Ugh. Oh well. I did get my left contact out. But my eye is still super scratchy and dry. My right eye still has it's contact in. I go back tomorrow at 1:30 to see if I am healed enough to get the right contact out. I don't know if I want it out. My right eye feels pretty good with that contact right now compared to my left without.

Last night my contact fell out. I was lucky enough to feel it happen and caught it in my hand... but dang. It hurt. I got it back in fortunately.

I also don't want to discourage anyone from checking into having this surgery just because what I have gone through has been hard. Every second of this is worth it. And also remember that almost everyone else is a candidate for the Lasik with and i. No pain involved and a 24 hour heal time. Just because I have been through the ringer does not mean you would be. And again... this is worth it to me! I can already see better and when this is all said and done there will be no regrets!

So I'm still catching up with scheduled posts and sharing Christmas treasures

These goodies are all from my best friend Tammy. We have been friends for 33 years and she knows me sooooo well!

Snowmen! Who doesn't love a fat snowman!

This awesome cat puzzle! Which I put together while I was recovering from my appendix surgery.

The beautiful Chen helping me take pictures. :)

2 pieces of Pfaltzgraff Folkart.

Does anyone know what this bowl is for? I have no clue.

This Goblet is unique. It has the Folkart bird on it... but it's brown. I have never seen brown in Folk Art. It's the color of Pfaltzgraff Village goblets. Strange. But I like it!

A couple of wonderful blossom Bucket Ornies that I adore!

Fat BB cat!

Wonderful Stars that I hung on my tree.

And my yearly Mischevious Kittens Hallmark Keepsake ornament!

Don't forget to sign up for my February giveaway!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Eye Surgery update ~

2012-01-30T07:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

If you have been reading the last few days you have been reading posts that I have scheduled for a few days since I knew I would be out of commission.

For those who have not caught up on facebook on my surgery here's an update on my Corrective Vision Surgery, PRK Custom Advanced Surface Treatment. aka. Custom Lasek with an E.

I have been near sighted all my life. I can see close but I can not see much more than 8 feet in front of me. Probably less. I have had bad vision since about 4th grade, though it was never addressed until I was 18 and an adult with a job and insurance to get glasses. I started wearing glasses full time at 19. I was never a candidate for contacts because of my dry eye. So for the last 16 years I have been stuck with glasses. A few years ago I decided that I was going to get Lasek . And I started saving years ago too, it was $3000.00. Cheap when you consider what I have spent on glasses over the years. and as many of you who follow me know... I scheduled this last November and have been ready for it ever since.

Moving on... I really want to take a moment to to explain my surgery specifically. I had PRK Advanced Surface Treatment, also known as Lasek with an "e" . Not Lasik with an "i".

There are 2 different and distinct corrective vision eye surgeries. Let me explain the difference.

The most common is Lasik with an "i". You have all heard of this one. Some of you have even had it and most of you know someone who has had it. Lasik with an "i" is a very quick healing procedure. A flap is cut on the eye, your eye is lasered and that crystal clear flap is put back down over your newly lasered eye. In about 24 hours you are good as new and can see perfectly. There is little to no pain. It's very easy and is the surgery most people are perfect candidates for and most chosen based on the quick healing time and lack of pain.

I unfortunately was NOT a candidate for Lasik with an "i". I have severe dry eye and an uneven cornea that is thin in some places, thick and others and bulging at the bottoms. Conditions that disallow the cutting of the flap for the cake Lasik with an i. My eyes are so dry that I have never been able to wear contacts. They just fall out of my eyes. Fall out. I blink and out they go. This is important because it is going to matter about 12 hours after I had my surgery. uh oh!

So I had to get PRK/ Lasek. with an "e" Advanced surface treatment. The difference is that there is no flap cut and they laser right through my cornea causing abrasions and scratching that make it very hard to see for about a week. It's also very painful.

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The Definition from Bloomberg Eye Center :

PRK (Photorefractive Keratectomy) or advanced surface treatment is a form of laser vision correction where the re-shaping of the cornea is performed at the surface of the cornea instead of deep under a flap as in LASIK. As such, more of the corneal substance is left untouched in PRK, making it a safer procedure, especially for thin and irregular corneas. The patient is left with a corneal abrasion that takes a few days to heal, and the vision improves slowly over several days.

Benefits of Surface Treatment

The laser used for vision correction is the same as LASIK, and the visual results are essentially the same as well. Studies of customized vision correction have even suggested slightly better visual results with PRK than LASIK. This may be because the corneal flap created for LASIK may induce slight visual changes, while PRK avoids the flap. Additionally, since the corneal laser ablation is done at the surface, and not deeper in the cornea, there is less dryness following PRK, than LASIK.

Having mentioned the benefits of PRK, LASIK is still the procedure of choice for most of our patients in Columbus and Newark, Ohio. Slow recovery of vision and the initial discomfort from the abrasion induced by PRK are the major downsides. A somewhat rare corneal haze or superficial scar can also occur with PRK especially with extensive unprotected exposure to UV light in the first year following the procedure. This is usually treatable with eye drops or additional laser. PRK is recommended if the integrity of cornea is in question and cutting a LASIK flap may further weaken the cornea. In the past, some branches of the armed forces only allowed PRK. Some patients who are good LASIK candidates also choose to have PRK for its safety.

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I also added the Custom feature to my surgery. It corrects night vision, halos and makes a custom map of your eye correcting things that regular lasik can not even detect. These were major issue for me as I could not drive at night and feel safe. Mr. Primcat always drives. I won't post all about that here but you can read what more about that at this link. http://www.bloombergeye.com/custom-lasik.html And I really hope you do read it.

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So definitions... there ya go.

"Corneal abrasion" is an understanterment. I couldn't see crap. I have my screen currently blown up to 400% and I can barely make it out without shoving the screen into my face so I can make sure what I thought I typed was actually there.

So let me share the last 3 days. Everything is very blurry. I'm sorta blind in either one eye or the other at any given time. Strangely it changes at whim. It's weird. Friday my left eye was messed up. Saturday both eyes were messed up. Sunday my right eye was messed up. Just weird. It does as it pleases without warning.

Friday morning I woke up in unbearable pain. Unbearable. I was freaking out! What the hello was going on. I woke Mr. Primcat and he awoke with a start and said... "Nurse Shane on Duty". Bless that man. I love him so. Very funny now. Not so much then. He looked in my eye because I was swearing I lost my contact. He thought I had not. What he was seeing was the circle of membrane they removed from on top of my cornea on my eye. You can clearly see it in the video. So in severe pain I took a neurotin, pain nerve blocker they prescribed and a Xanex and I forced myself to go back to sleep until my appointment the next day.

Vicki picked me up and took me in. I was a mess. I can not even describe to you the amount of pain I was in. I basically cried from the moment I awoke until I got there. It felt like I was blinking on sand paper and really I was! I walked in and they took one look at my face (I said not one word!) and KNEW I was in unbearable pain. Bless them... within seconds they took me back and numbed my eye and verified that I had lost my contact in the night. All I can say is I can not imagine ever experiencing that pain again. There was nothing I could have done, I lost it in my sleep... but I have been diligent about putting in excessive amounts of tears when I am awake to make sure that doesn't happen again.

The Dr. asked me to come back Tuesday but I asked him to make it Monday because I'm hoping to go back to work Tuesday. I am hoping I am healed enough to get these maddening band-aid contacts out and get back to work. I feel so bad about missing so much this past month. I was on vacation when my appendix went bad, and I technically only missed 4 days after my surgery, Jan 3-6. The rest was my pre-scheduled vacation time and holidays. But I still feel bad. I even gave my boss the option to have me to reschedule my eye surgery. Unfortunately if I am out he is the only one who can do my job. I offered to reschedule but he said no and I appreciate that because I have so been looking forward to having this done and over with. Back too the point... we scheduled for Monday at 1:45. I came home and went to bed. Best plan ever.

Saturday... I didn't do much. Both eyes were being defiant. I could mot make much out. Everything was just blurry.

Sunday. My right eye decided to be defiant. So blurry and itchy. It's maddening. I want so bad to just rub the holy heck out of my eyes. I can not ever tell you. I'm going insane!!!

Today is my appointment. I can not wait. I am Praying for good news. If he can take the contacts out without it being painful I can go back to work I think. I know I should not be worried about work.... but I am always trying to cover myself and my boss.

So there you have it. My experience so far. What I want to tell you most importantly is that I can see far amd near when my eyes are not being wonky. And over time that will improve more. I can not wait!

I am again going to post this video of my personal surgery and I hope you will watch it. It really is amazing. I know many find it gross but try to take a different perspective and appreciate that my eyes were just fixed and you can see it on video.

Please send me prayers and good vibes for my appointment today!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Christmas Treasures from Mr. Primcat ~

2012-01-29T07:00:00.013-05:00

Hello Friends,

Still playing catch up here during my recovery from eye surgery with scheduled posts that are WAY over due !

Check out my wonderful and useful gifts from the hubby for Christmas! He did really good!

Ok... this one is funny... because honestly... I break everything!!!!! Superglue is my best friend! Hubby thought I should step it up and got me some Gorilla Glue!

Oven mitts. Needed these!

So smell good Swan Creek Candles in pans! Yum!

A wonderful cat clendar.

One of these fancy wine bottle openers! I haven't even gotten to use it yet!

And the best gift ever! My very own dehydrator!!!! I haven't used this yet either... but you can bet your behind I will be soon!

It's a really nice one. With temperature controls and everything!

And I went and bought this later! It's awesome! Got it at my local store for $10.00 and I can't wait to use it on some oranges to put in the dehydrator. It really works!!!!

Don't forget to sign up for my February giveaway. Just click this pic below!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~Facebook ~

2012-01-28T12:50:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

Just wanted to leave a quick note here that I have been posting my post surgery updates on facebook. I just added my badge on the right so you can friend me and get the latest if you want to.

The post you have been seeing here and will be seeing here for the next few days I scheduled pre surgery.

And I apologise... but I can not resist posting this video of my surgery.

Enjoy... if you can. lol

Going to bed now. I need to rest my eyes.

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Shopping at Gathered Treasures ~

2012-01-28T07:00:00.006-05:00

Hi Friends!

This post is terribly over due... terribly! I bought these treasures at last falls Gathered Treasures show... and found the draft as I was scheduling posts for while I am recovering from my PRK eye surgery. Yikes! Oh well! Better late than never!

So you have seen all of these in my decor but I never focused on them and I really do love them all.

First up. this snowman pillow head. SO cute!

These wonderful antique skates!

And these cute mittens purchased from Cheryl Frederick. Thank you Cheryl!

My Tree topper purchased this year from Stacey at http://tatteredntornprims.blogspot.com/

A Walnut and gourd strand purchased from http://tatteredntornprims.blogspot.com/

And this beautiful little pin keep! Oh how I love pinkeeps! I have 4 and I just love each one so! :) I want more!!!!

I hope you all are having a wonderful weekend!

Don't forget to sign up for the My Memories Suite Giveaway!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ February Giveaway ~

2012-01-27T07:00:00.007-05:00

Hi Friends…

I have another fun giveaway for you today!!

My Memories Suite has asked me to review their easy scrapbooking software and if I liked it offer up One free Software package to one of Primcats followers. How could I say no? I love working on the computer and I love scrapbooking! Right up my ally!

So what was my first project you ask? Well a cat page of course. And in honor of the story I told you yesterday of how the beautiful Tracy Cat came into our lives I used a quick page and made this up in a few minutes.

Adorable right?

My Memories Suite is really simple and offers a lot of great features to make quick pages, like I have done here, or you can get fancy and build your own pages from scratch.

You can also make cards, calendars, blogger headers and tons of other great projects with this scrapbooking software. I really like all the quick page options though! Lookie!

Queen Ebby when she was a cute little kitten.

The beautifully marked Punky on one of her first trips to play out into the cat enclosure. Look at that face!

Well I love it! So today I’m offering up a giveaway of this great Scrapbooking Software free to one of my lucky followers!

To sign up…

1. Be a follower of my blog!

2. Open to everyone all over the world as this will be a digital download!

3. Visit My Memories at http://www.mymemories.com/ and pick your favorite scrapbooking kit. Come back here and tell me which one and wala I will enter you.

4. If you do not have a blog you must leave your email here in your comment or I can't enter you. I have to be able to contact you.

5. This is not a requirement but I would really appreciate it if you would post this giveaway on your side bar or do a blog post.

This giveaway is open until February 10th!

I will draw a winner on February 11th!

As an added bonus...

As a special bonus for readers of Primcats a $10.00 off coupon towards the purchase of this software and a $10.00 credit to spend in the store when you use my coupon code!

Copy and paste this coupon code to get your $10.00 off and $10.00 store credit!

STMMMS64663

Until Next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Thrifty Thursday ~

2012-01-26T07:00:00.004-05:00

Hello Friends…

Today is my PRK/Lasek. My arrival time is at 12:30 so if everyone could say some prayers and send some vibes I would appreciate it. I am sure it will be fine but I’m nervous.

I am sooooo looking forward to not having to put on glasses to drive or to mingle in a room full of people. And I am so looking forward to being able to buy awesome sunglasses whenever I want.

I don’t know when I will be back with a real post as it will depend on when I can see again. They are saying 3-7 days. Lets pray for 3! :)

In the mean time lets get caught up with some thrifty find from over the last month.

Two Santa Gourds. I now have 4, all from the Goodwill.

Love love this one!

A smiley snowman head ornament.

A huge bell. I’ll be painting this of course.

And the piece of the week. This ladder back chair for $4.99. In great shape and looks great with my pillow from Melinda!

That’s it for now…

I’ll see ya when I see ya! O.o

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

Two anniversary's, losing weight and a game!

2012-01-24T10:54:00.007-05:00

Hi friends,

I do not know what is wrong with me... or why I haven't been in the blogging mood lately. I have piles and piles of drafts ready to post filled with pictures... but I just haven't finished any of them. I have been busy at work, and busy tinkering around the house so I guess getting on the computer for play time hasn't been my thing lately.

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Today, January 24^th, two huge things happened in my life. And I am not sure which matters most to me. What I do know is I thank God for both.

Number one... I quit smoking 5 years ago today after smoking for 18 years. I had promised myself for years I would quit by the time I was 30. I quit 5 days after. Not bad. That is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. But I am so glad I did it. Smoking is nasty. Just nasty. It was nasty before I quit and nasty after. But I don’t have to worry about it anymore because I don’t smoke! :) Go me! Jump and and a heel click!

Number two… 4 years ago today I brought home a new cat. Tracy.

After spending 3 weeks walking the streets of downtown Columbus alone, handing out and hanging up thousands of flyers, in the dead of one of the coldest winters we had in years, and hundreds of online postings later I found Tracy Cat, who had been dumped by a now ex friend of mine’s husband because he locked Tracy in the garage and she peed on his things. They were Tracy's old owners but anyone that would do that to an animal should be shot in my book! Terrible! Just terrible! That’s a long, long story short.

The point is an angel watched over Tracy for 3 weeks in the big city while I searched desperately for her daily and by some miracle of God she was delivered into my loving arms never to worry about a warm bed, food or love again.

I ♥ you Tracy. You bring so much joy into Mr. Primcat and my’s lives everyday! Thank you beautiful little fur baby for allowing us to love you!

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My PRK/Lasek is Thursday. So you for sure will not be seeing me for a few days after that.

This is the treatment I'm getting.

http://www.bloombergeye.com/prk-advanced-surface-treatment.html

Wanna see what I'm having done? NOT for the Squeemish! Here is a video. Gross!

http://cms.bloombergeye.com/video/videos-pkr.htm

Please pray that it goes well... I know they do this every day but I'm kinda freaking out now that it's here. It's all in my head... I know that... but it's scary when you think of what could go wrong. It’s my eyes. You can’t fix that if it goes wrong. So just send me up some good ones please. :)

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I have continued to go to the gym 5 days a week. GO ME! Yesterday I did 3 miles at 3.5 mph at a 5% incline. Sweated my butt off! Woohoo! I am down 5 pounds and incredibly proud of that. I am only 35 pounds away from my goal now instead of 40. Every pound that drops off feels good. :)

Weight watchers is going great and I am enjoying the “game” of counting points. It's very easy. I highly recommend it. The meals are yummy and also very cheap if you coupon and do it right. I am only paying about 1.00 per meal since I stock up when they are on sale.

I am still not able to wear jeans... my guess is because I'm fat. lol. They pinch right in that belly button scar and if I go up a size then I need a belt and that pinches. No end situation. So I am just going to have to continue on my weight loss goal until I can get into jeans that can be lower than my pooch and not fall off. HA!

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And now a Tag Game...

I have been tagged by Sue at http://wickedfaeriequeen.blogspot.com/ !

I have to tell 11 things about myself, answer some questions from her and tag 11 others to do the same so here goes.

I am not going to tag 11 others... I am just going to ask you to play along! All of you... if you want! :) So here's mine.

1. I quit smoking 5 years ago today! Huge deal! Go me!

2. Mr. Primcat and I have 14 cats. He started it. Not me.

You can see pics of all of our cats on this page:

http://primcats.blogspot.com/p/meet-primcats.html

2. I never wear makeup. I don't know why. One day I just stopped. Probably about 2000 and I never put it on again.

3. I have crohns disease. Not fun.

4. I sit behind a desk all day at an office crunching numbers. Boring.

5. I really really want a Papillion dog. Someday when I have time for a dog... it's on!

6. I have tons of tattoos. Including having 7 of my cats portraits sleeving my lower left leg. My artist is Tabari Rose and she is amazing!

Below are three of my Tattoos.

Gizzy and Ebby.

Ebby and Tracy.

I also have Poofie, Chen, Punky and Katrina on my lower leg.

7. I love driving a Harley or riding on the back! Nothing more freeing!

8. I love camping... especially when we take the Harley and camper to get there!

9. I was once a Nail Tech and I can put on a mad set of acrylic nails!

10. Until I was 33 ... I did not eat white food.

11. Mr. Primcat (Shane) and I have been together since I was 19.

HERE ARE MY QUESTIONS.

1. What is your favourite film?

The Notebook. Gets me every time!

2. What is your dream vacation?

To travel all over the word. See Paris, the pyramids and snorkle the great reef.

3. What is your favourite medium to work with?

Paint. Usually black!

4. Are you a cat person or a dog person?

lol. Really? Cat.

5. Do you dream in colour and do you remember your dreams?

I dream in color and I remember sometimes.

6. What famous historical figure would you like to have lunch with?

Easy. Jesus.

7. Who is your favourite musician alive or dead?

I don't really have ONE favorite.

8. If you could go back in time for one week what period of time would it be?

Colonial Times.

9. If you could eat something and never gain weight what would it be?

How about drink something... Pop, Cranberry Grape juice and wine. Oh sugary goodness how I miss you!

10. Are you a country person or a city person?

Country. 100% Country.

11. What is a good time for you, home with a good movie and great company or out on the town with music & dancing?

Depends on my mood. I am a stay at home kinda person most of the time... but it doesn't mean I don't enjoy a night out dancing too! :)

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If you would like to play along... Please do. Just copy and paste! :)

Time to go. I have a lot to do today!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Thrifty Thursday ~

2012-01-19T10:19:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

Thanks everyone again for all the birthday wishes yesterday. I would love to tell you that it was a great day... but not so much. Mr. Primcat is super sick. So we didn't do anything for my birthday. I went to the gym after work and got my walk on... then went home and sat as far away from the Mr. as I could because I don't want his cold. He's a mess!

Next Thursday is my Lasik on my eyes so I just can't be getting sick or they won't let me do it. I have been looking forward to my Lasik forever and I would be crushed if it got cancelled due to a head cold. Fingers crossed and Prayers sent up that I do not get this cold.

I'm sharing a Goodwill find that I got a while back and just haven't got around to sharing it yet.

This beauty was acquired for $30.00. I was so excited when they rolled this out onto the floor.

I don't know what my plans are for it yet... so for now it sits in the basement awaiting a redo and a permanent spot in our home.

The day after I got this I also got the fake fire that sits on the inside too for $5.00. I would say a full fireplace mantle and fire for $35.00 is pretty awesome! :)

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

Happy Birthday to me! ~ and the winner is…

2012-01-18T11:28:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

Well… it’s here. The Big 35!!!!

Lets get to doing something that will make me smile… like giving away an un-birthday gift to someone else!

I printed out all the comments… there were 99! Wow, I was not expecting that many at all! And I gave each person a number.

Then I went to www.random.org put in the 1-99 and the winner is…

Cathy at Tolent Treasures!

Happy Un-Birthday Cathy!!!!!

Please send me your address and I will get your package out to you right away!

Everyone else… thanks so much for playing along! I hope you all have a great day!

I’ll be hitting up the gym after work and working out… looking forward to it so when I eat some cake… it will be well deserved and guilt free!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Ramblings ~ Birthday Treasures ~ Birthday giveaway reminder ~

2012-01-17T11:56:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

Happy Tuesday to ya! Hope you all are having a good day! Lets see... whats been going on...

Been back at the gym... kicking some butt. Did 3 miles at a 5% incline in an hour last night on the treadmill. Woohoo! Feeling the burn! Man... I sweat to death when I get going on that thing! LOL! Thank goodness for sweat bands! I look like a hot mess when I get off... literally! I reward myself with a dip in the pool after... man that feels great. And swimming laps really gets the blood going too!

I also joined Weight Watchers. I think I like it. :) Mr. Primcat has turned it into a game and for whatever reason I went with that and it's stuck. It's a very easy program and you can cook or be lazy and eat a freezer meal. Which is good for me because I am not a huge cooking fan. I like easy. I work all day... I don't have time to cook every night... especially now that I go to the gym right after work. I don't even get home until 6:30 or later. By the time I shower... it's 7:15 or later. No time for cooking after all that. I'm just ready to stuff my face! LOL!

So any way. I like the program. We shall see how it goes. I have at least 30 pounds to lose. I would like to lose 40 but lets not push it. ;) I am down 5 already. My goal is to be down 20 pounds by June. I set a very attainable goal and I would be really happy with that!

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I've packed up most of Christmas and taken it to the basement. There are a few snowmen and I still have the kitchen tree up and the Living room tree up. The living room tree is staying until March 1st... and then I'm dreaming up a new display. Think Spring... birds... gardening... we shall see what I come up with!

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Tomorrow is my birthday. Big 35! Don't know what we are doing. Maybe nothing. Because I am for sure going to the gym. And if I do nothing else... that will make me happy. I really like the gym. I'm seriously into it.

Thursday I have a massage scheduled... Woohoo! Can't wait! Much deserved after all the crap I been through in the last month!

Friday Mr. Primcat and I are doing my birthday dinner. And Saturday my Dad and Stepmom are taking me shopping and out for birthday dinner. I am going to seriously have to hit the gym after all that eating! LOL!

So it's going to be a good week... but what made last week awesome?

Birthday treasures from friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You ladies are the best!

Melinda from Merry Wind Farms sent this adorable pillow and it fits in Primcats House purrrrrfectly!!!! I love it! (This wasn't really a birthday present... it was a "just because she thought it would fit me. and you can see it does!)

Thank you Melinda!

Kendra at The Stone House blessed me with this adorable little kitty nodder!

Thank you Kendra! You know I adore her!

She also sent along this very cool card that I can plant and it will grow flowers!! How neat!

Sweet Linda from Parkers Paradise sent me the cutest card! Check out this little hot dog!

And some of her famous stitchery's! I love these! So perfect for valentines decorating!

Thank you so much Linda!

I love all my new treasures!

And don't forget I'm giving someone a present for my birthday tomorrow!!! You have until 11:59pm tonight to sign up!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

Some Christmas Treasures…

2012-01-12T11:50:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends…

Happy Thursday. No Thrifty Thursday today… Maybe next week! I have gotten some great treasures lately but I just haven’t taken pics. I will try to get to it!

Recovery is going well. I am doing fine. I still can’t wear jeans… but who’s complaining about that? LOL! Stretchy pants for me all the way, all day!

Pretty quiet around the house right now. And I’m glad for that. I’m still working on taking down Christmas. It’s going a little slow this year. But I don’t mind. I still have all the tree’s up. They make Mr. Primcat and me smile. I know he does not want me to take them down either. And I love that about him. They will stay until I feel like taking them down.

Today I wanted to share some of my wonderful Christmas treasures that were given to me this year. I did not mean for these posts to come so far into January… but as you all know the end of the year just didn’t end so well for me.

All of these treasures came from my Dad and step mom. They really spoiled me this year. My step mom took me to our favorite store, The Old Farmstead, so I could show her everything I love… and then she Christmas shopped for me. She says I am just to hard to buy for because my home is filled so she wanted to make sure I got things I would use. Well who am I to say no to that!

So here are the treasures she and Dad picked out for me.

A whole Honey and me Gingie family! ♥♥♥ You know I am loving these and I can’t wait to give them their own special display next year!

A Honey and Me Snowman. I love him. He’s so cute!!!!

I am addicted to Honey and Me snowmen… so whenever I get one it’s special. He is currently adorning the pie safe in the kitchen for the winter.

Baby Honey and Me snowman.

Decapitated Honey and me. O.O Just kidding!!!

Awwwwww… Tracy cat. My gosh she makes me smile. Just look at that face!!!

This awesome mason jar with solar top light. Check this out…

Solar…

And it is so cool when it lights up. I have it in the kitchen as our night light right now.

Little lantern Ornaments

Wonderful David Harden note cards! You know I love these!

Sheep note cards… always needed!

The Beautiful Queen Ebby overseeing the picture taking process. Mommy’s baby.

A paddle thing.

Which I promptly placed in my wooden wares crock.

A cute little candle lite in a bowl.

Signs that say it all!

Ebby sleeping on the job. Slacker kitteh.

And my most favorite piece. A tin lantern. I bought her one of these for her birthday last year so now I have one too!

I just love it!!!!!!!!

So pretty!

I just love all my new treasures from Laura and Dad and I have been having a lot of fun moving them around and looking for their perfect spots!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

PS. Don't forget to sign up for my Birthday Giveaway!

Historical Trivia ~ Did you know...

2012-01-09T09:11:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

I got this in my email and found it interesting... thought I would share...

Enjoy!

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Did you know the saying "God willing and the Creek don't rise" was in reference to the Creek Indians and not a body of water? It was written by Benjamin Hawkins in the late 18th century. He was a politician and Indian diplomat. While in the south, Hawkins was requested by the President of the U.S. to return to Washington . In his response, he was said to write, "God willing and the Creek don't rise." Because he capitalized the word "Creek" it is deduced that he was referring to the Creek Indian tribe and not a body of water.

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In George Washington's days, there were no cameras. One's image was either sculpted or painted. Some paintings of George Washington showed him standing behind a desk with one arm behind his back while others showed both legs and both arms. Prices charged by painters were not based on how many people were to be painted, but by how many limbs were to be painted. Arms and legs are 'limbs,' therefore painting them would cost the buyer more. Hence the expression, 'Okay, but it'll cost you an arm and a leg.' (Artists know hands and arms are more difficult to paint)

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As incredible as it sounds, men and women took baths only twice a year (May and October) Women kept their hair covered, while men shaved their heads (because of lice and bugs) and wore wigs. Wealthy men could afford good wigs made from wool. They couldn't wash the wigs, so to clean them they would carve out a loaf of bread, put the wig in the shell, and bake it for 30 minutes. The heat would make the wig big and fluffy, hence the term 'big wig... ' Today we often use the term 'here comes the Big Wig' because someone appears to be or is powerful and wealthy.

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In the late 1700's, many houses consisted of a large room with only one chair. Commonly, a long wide board folded down from the wall, and was used for dining. The 'head of the household' always sat in the chair while everyone else ate sitting on the floor. Occasionally a guest, who was usually a man, would be invited to sit in this chair during a meal.. To sit in the chair meant you were important and in charge. They called the one sitting in the chair the 'chair man.' Today in business, we use the expression or title 'Chairman' or 'Chairman of the Board.'

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Personal hygiene left much room for improvement.. As a result, many women and men had developed acne scars by adulthood. The women would spread bee's wax over their facial skin to smooth out their complexions. When they were speaking to each other, if a woman began to stare at another woman's face she was told, 'mind your own bee's wax.' Should the woman smile, the wax would crack, hence the term 'crack a smile'. In addition, when they sat too close to the fire, the wax would melt . .. . Therefore, the expression 'losing face.'

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Ladies wore corsets, which would lace up in the front. A proper and dignified woman, as in 'straight laced' wore a tightly tied lace..

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Common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards but only applicable to the 'Ace of Spades...' To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Yet, since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't 'playing with a full deck..'

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Early politicians required feedback from the public to determine what the people considered important. Since there were no telephones, TV's or radios, the politicians sent their assistants to local taverns, pubs, and bars. They were told to 'go sip some Ale and listen to people's conversations and political concerns. Many assistants were dispatched at different times. 'You go sip here' and 'You go sip there.' The two words 'go sip' were eventually combined when referring to the local opinion and, thus we have the term 'gossip.'

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At local taverns, pubs, and bars, people drank from pint and quart-sized containers. A bar maid's job was to keep an eye on the customers and keep the drinks coming. She had to pay close attention and remember who was drinking in 'pints' and who was drinking in 'quarts,' hence the phrase 'minding your 'P's and Q's'.

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In the heyday of sailing ships, all war ships and many freighters carried iron cannons. Those cannons fired round iron cannon balls. It was necessary to keep a good supply near the cannon. However, how to prevent them from rolling about the deck? The best storage method devised was a square-based pyramid with one ball on top, resting on four resting on nine, which rested on sixteen. Thus, a supply of 30 cannon balls could be stacked in a small area right next to the cannon. There was only one problem....how to prevent the bottom layer from sliding or rolling from under the others. The solution was a metal plate called a 'Monkey' with 16 round indentations. However, if this plate were made of iron, the iron balls would quickly rust to it. The solution to the rusting problem was to make 'Brass Monkeys.' Few landlubbers realize that brass contracts much more and much faster than iron when chilled.. Consequently, when the temperature dropped too far, the brass indentations would shrink so much that the iron cannonballs would come right off the monkey; Thus, it was quite literally, 'Cold enough to freeze the balls off a brass monkey.' (All this time, you thought that was an improper expression, didn't you.)

Happy Monday!

Until Next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

PS... Don't forget to sign up for my Birthday Giveaway!

Ever seen a jar like this?

2012-01-08T07:00:00.010-05:00

Hi Friends,

So... check these out. Hubby was out on a nature walk out in the woods behind our house and came across this bottle in a pile in the woods.

Have you ever seen a jar like this?

One side says water...

And the other side says Juice.

And he also found this cool brown bottle too.

(Stichery on the wall by Linda at Parkers Paradise!)

Ever seen either of these?

Just wondered where they came from and what they might be for?

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I am doing MUCH better. Friday was the first day I have felt really good... and man did it feel good to feel good! Wow. What an improvement. My bff Tammy came over and we walked 4 miles. Nothing amazing... Nothing fast... but we did it. :)That felt great.

I had been going to they YMCA diligently for a few weeks and feeling great when the appendicitis struck putting a huge damper on my new routine. Two weeks off at least they said. So I will be getting back to it next week for sure. I plan to lose 20 pounds by June 1st. That's 5 months away and a pound a week. If I lose more... yay me! Hold me to it my peeps! I gotta get healthy again. I feel like hell.

I go back to work tomorrow. That is gonna be a bummer. The last day I worked was December 22nd so I have been off work for 17 days. Monday is going to be Yucky!!!!! LOL! Srangely enough... I am looking forward to going back to work as it gives me time to keep up with all my blog friends. I have been unable to keep up since I haven't been on the computer everyday and I feel so lost and behind! I shall make a resolution right now to catch up!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

PS. Make sure you sign up for my birthday giveaway!

~ A Birthday Giveaway for you! ~

2012-01-07T07:00:00.008-05:00

Hello Prim Friends,

It's new year and it's time for a giveaway from the Primcats.

They are very excited about my upcoming 35th birthday on January 18th (way more excited about it than I am. Yikes... 35 already! It goes to fast!) and we want to share it with you all too!

We are going to do this giveaway just like a birthday present! All a surprise!!! Not a single hint! The lucky winner will just get a fun box of goodies to open! And you know the Primcats would never let you down!

1. Be a Public Follower in the Continental US or Canada.

New followers welcome !

(If you don't have a blog where I can contact you, you MUST leave your email on THIS post in your comment. No exceptions.)

2. Leave a comment here on this post by January 17th at 11:59 pm.

We would appreciate it if you post this on your blog as a post, on your sidebar, or on your giveaway page but there will be no extra entries this time.

Only one birthday entry per person!

Winner will be drawn on my birthday... January 18th!

Until Next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

Well, hello 2012!

2012-01-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends,

It seems odd that as I sit here and type this… I can’t think of a single subject to talk about. I am not a quiet lady and I almost always have something going on… but as of right now… my plate is empty. I have nothing going on but healing and that requires a whole lotta nothing. I’m bored.

I want to work on the house and move from Christmas into Winter mode but I am not aloud to lift anything so that has been out of the question. I have picked up a few small items here and there and taken them to the dining room table but really… I need to be able to get around properly to do this and I just can’t right now. My follow up appt. is on Wednesday and we will see how that goes. They told me no lifting for at least 2 weeks though… so I’m kinda stuck.

So how am I? I’m ok. In a lot of pain that I wasn’t expecting. They feed you this line that laparoscopy heals faster so it’s better. Um… for anyone who has ever had laparoscopy… you know that’s a line of bs. Instead of having one cut. I have three. And instead of having one area where my organs were touched and moved… my entire abdomen was violated.

They poke three long wands into you. One in the belly button, one in the left abdomen and one in the pubic area. and then they drive those wands through all your parts all the way over to the right side where they want to work on your appendix. I can feel the “lines” they ripped through to get to the right side on every port. OUCH. As is that alone isn’t enough trauma to the gut… they then pump you full of carbon dioxide and blow you up like a balloon… moving ALL your guts, organs, muscles. Super ouch. It’s all very unpleasant. I don’t recommend any of this. lol.

Mr. Primcat has been amazing. I can not say enough good about him right now. He has taken such good care of me through out all this. He deserves an award for best husband ever right now. I’m a lucky woman.

The Primcats are agitated with me. They are mad because they cannot just plop all over mom like they usually do. No more walking all over moms belly and making pushy pushy at their whim. And they are mad they are not getting picked up and loved 24/7. They all weigh well over my current pick up limit so they are all feeling very neglected. I feel bad… but if I want to get well I can’t be picking them up. They will just have to sit down there and meow at my feet until I’m better. I can’t help it.

So I’m starting 2012 out a bit of a funk to say the least. And I’m pretty bummed about that.

I do have an upcoming giveaway planned. So that’s coming up.

I also see I passed 300 followers sometime in the last week. So I would like to do something for that too.

I have surprise packages that didn’t get sent out in time for Christmas and were then again delayed by surgery… so I’ll be doing that hopefully in the next week or two. Depends on when I can lift again.

My birthday is coming up on the 18th (WooHOO THE BIG 35!) and we are thinking about a new couch. Ours is 11 years old and breaking down fast. I think a couch would be an awesome present.

I am also thinking Birthday giveaway! Woohoo! That would be happening real fast!

I still have presents to share from Christmas.

My Lasik surgery is coming up on the 26th too.

And then who knows what else 2012 will bring!

Lets just start with healing though.

I hope everyone has been having a great new year so far!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

Happy to be home and Happy New you to you all!

2011-12-31T15:40:00.001-05:00

Hello my prim friends!

I am happy to report I am home from the hospital and recovering.

Thank you all so much for all the kind comments, emails, prayers and thoughts.

I am very tired and still in a lot of pain. I did get some sleep but I think I’m heading back to bed here soon. I’m just so tired.

I have not gotten around to replying to emails in a few days but I will. Don’t think I haven’t been reading them. I have. :)

I just wanted to stop in and wish you all a happy, beautiful New Year filled with peace and love.

Mine is going to be filled with sleep and rest.

Happy New Year friends!!!!

Until next year…

Carmen and the Primcats

Still in the hospital but better...

2011-12-29T18:59:00.001-05:00

Hello friends. Thank you all so so so very much for all the kind thoughts and prayers. They mean the world. and they put a smile on my face. And over all I would say they worked.

Let's recap the last 24...

You all gave me a chuckle about me posting from the hospital. And FYI... That good chuckle hurt. LOL. It's official now... I am "THAT CRAZY BLOGGER". LOL. Of course I share all the good fun stuff in my life with you... I wanted to share this insanity too.

I can blog from my phone just like writing someone a text so its not that big of a deal. I'm doing it now. :) And its saving my sanity a bit cuz I'm bored. And all it takes is my thumbs so its all good.

Let's do a replay. Wednesday night at 7:00pm I went into an appendix attack. There is no way to describe that. Just the worst pain I have ever felt.

Shane brought me to the nearest hospital of any quality and they drugged me to the max for the next 12 hours (yep... I was on crazy hospital drugs when I posted to you all, hence my pouty face picture.) deciding what to test for and if it was my Crohns or appendix. Tests showed inflammation of my appendix, illium and small intestines.

I finally made Shane go home when the tests came in because he had not slept in over 29 hours either and they had no idea what when or how they were going to go about this. My Crohns was complicating and adding to the drama.

They finally decided to just go in with the intention of appendix but I had to sign paper giving the Dr. permission to remove bowel or give me a clostomy bag if it was necessary. Yikes. Super scary moment. I signed. Alone. At 6am on no sleep for more than a day and night on mass drugs and still in mass pain and told the Dr. he had me scared bleepless. I did not bleep. O.O

An hour and a sleepless half later, scared bleepless, I was staring into the surgical lights and ceiling just like it was out of one of those alien abduction movies. Big light, shaded faces...fade to black.

I awoke two hours later to thankfully no colostomy bag, an intact bowel and only a missing appendix and a dull bearable healing pain. yay!

Three small punctures taped together from the long tiny instruments they did the surgery with. Belly button, pubic area and one to the left mid abdomen that formed the triangle. Pretty neat.

FF to now from Wednesday at 8 am when I awoke... I still have not slept and I have no idea how I am still going. It's been 36 hours now. No sleep. only the hours they knocked me out and that wasn't really sleep. 36 sleepless hours.

I am still in the hospital. I had hoped to go home today but it was a no go. Never even saw my Doctor at all. No biggie. I think Mr. Primcat was just dreaming big when he told me the Dr. said maybe tonight. Like I said... no one even checked on me today.

I am doing as well as can be expected. Not getting around well at all but I will in time. Hard to get up. Hard to sit down. I have been lapping the hospital halls at a snails pace on Mr. Primcats arm. We made 6 laps over today and this evening. Just a meer 10 hours after surgery. and until just this evening, in an effort to sleep, I had been refusing all pain meds. I gave in at 6pm hoping it would knock me out. No go. So I am pretty sure this is going to be another sleepless night. I hope to get to go home in the morning and I will sleep then.

Tomorrow evening my girls are still following through with the plans we made for them to come over and I am hoping to have an evening playing with my new Christmas puzzle and enjoying my girls company. That's the plan. I really hope a doctor shows up in the morning so I can enjoy my favorite thing to do tomorrow since its the closest I'm gonna get to a party this new year. Spend time with those who make me smile... Even when it sucks to be me. :)

Oh and a side note... I was on staycation this week... And everytime I take vacation... I get sick. Like REALLY sick. So I have decided no more planned staycations... I will from here on forward be playing hookey - no call no show... For all future staycations. I am not allowing my body to plan anymore sneak vacation ruining attacks on me!

Tonight I ask you to pray for me sleep, healing and to go home tomorrow to spend time with those who mean the most to me. I need some happiness. :) The last 2 days have been very unhappy. Well... except for the fact that you all made me smile with your well wishes. thank you friends. I really look forward to hearing my phone ding and knowing that its another friend checking on me. Thanks for giving me something bright to look forward to on these sleepless nights!

Until next time...

and hopefully from home with the babies...

Carmen and the Primcats

I'm in the hospital...

2011-12-29T03:29:00.001-05:00

Well happy new year to me. Not. I am currently residing at a room in Riverside Emergency Room waiting to have surgery to remove my appendix.

Earlier last evening, shortly after posting yesterday's post, I came down with the most unbearable abdominal pain I have ever had. I knew almost instantly it was appendicitis. I have Crohns disease so I am no stranger to abdominal pain... But this was different. Unbearable. I was hysterically crying uncontrollably and couldn't move. Thats not me. I suck it up... and I suck it up almost everyday with my disease. I never even complain. But this time I couldn't. :(

To make a long story short... here I am waiting for surgery for appendicitis. I've been up all night and its 5am right now. Surgery is at 7am.

I sent Mr. Primcat home to get some sleep and take care of the babies. I hope he is able to rest. I know it has been a very stressful night for him. He's very worried.

So friends... If you could say a little prayer for me I would really appreciate it.

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Christmas Eve Eve Celebration ~

2011-12-28T17:59:00.002-05:00

Hi Friends!
I’m happy to finally have a moment to stop in and say hello! It’s a busy time of year for us all. I hope you all had wonderful Christmas celebrations!

I wanted to share some of our fun celebrations with you all. We started our celebrations on Christmas Eve Eve this year at my good friend Jamie’s house. Me Shane, Jamie and Curt had a wonderful dinner. Jamie made yummy lasagna. mmmmmmm. So good. Then we cracked open some wine and started opening presents!

Jamie packaged my presents in shredded paper. Which of course turned into a fun paper fight!

Paper Abby.

How did curt avoid the paper?

No idea. But here he is in his awesome new custom shirt I had made for him. :) He really liked it. :) So did Jamie!

All the guys got custom shirts this year. I had a blast picking them all out!
Jamie and I in front of her gigantic tree.

Who knows. I’m not even going to try to explain.

And then Curt went crazy with the distortion feature on my phone and the rest of the night was filled with this!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shrunken head Jamie.

Whoa!

Hahahahaha!

Elfin Mr. Primcat!

Elfin Jamie!

Elfin Curt!

Drunkin wine glass?????

Picasso Abby!

Elfin Carmen!

Scary Curt!

Scary Shane!

Scary Jamie!

and very Scary Angry Carmen! Whoa!

Happy paper Santa Carmen!

So that was out celebration. We had a great time! So much fun!
Shane got a really cool set of retracting ratchet straps he wanted. Curt got his cool custom shirt and a Lowes gift card to help them finish off the kitchen. Jamie got a ton of stuff. I don’t even remember everything I got her but there were about 20 presents. Lots and Lots of sheep, stars and stuff.
And here’s what I got from her!
She got me dirty handmades for all the seasons and I love it all!!!!!
Winter…
Skates and mittens!

Spring… a bunneh and carrots!

Summer… a crow on a skeep!

Fall… a witchy crow.

A huge Grungy pumpkin with crow and sunflower for the pumpkin hoarder!

Just look at the beautiful grunginess!

And the most awesome turkey EVER!!!!

Isn’t he the best!

Ok… and just to be the smarty pants she is… she bought me a “Sew it yourself” Christmas toilet tank topper. For those unaware. I do not sew. I have a sewing machine but it’s still unopened in the box. I currently have no intention of opening it so I will have to bribe one of my talented sewing friends into sewing this for me and then I will present it to Jamie like I did it. HAHAHAHA! I like tricks too Jamie!

So that was Christmas Eve Eve.
A good time was had by all!
More Celebrations to come!
Until next time…
Happy New year!
Carmen and the Primcats

~ Merry Christmas ~

2011-12-25T16:47:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends!

Merry Christmas!

I hope all your celebrations have been merry and bright, full of love laughter and happiness.

We have had the best 3 days of Christmas celebrations ever. So much fun and joy at Primcats house. Happy to wind down now. The kitties are currently playing in and ripping apart a pile of present paper that we have left on the floor for them since this morning. They are chasing catnip balls and playing with their new toys while Mr. Primcat and I are hanging out snuggled up on the couch enjoying a new movie.

I wish the same joy, peace and happiness to you and yours as well.

Merry Christmas!!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Christmas in the Dining room ~

2011-12-23T18:03:00.002-05:00

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!!!

So much going on today for everyone I’m sure! I know I’ve been at it all day. And I’m not done yet…
But I did want to pop in and share the last room I have to share… The dining room.

First I want to show you this though! Carol from Firecracker Kid Primitives and and her son Brent from Backyard Ninja Design made them for me!

All the babies are on there! I love it! So cute! They made me a few so you will be seeing a couple more!

Ok…Lets head on in to the dining room…

On the door… a ladle with a tuck and greens.

My Christmas Mouse from Cindy at Cynthia Lee Designs. ♥

A big ol’ crow with greens tucked in his pocket.

To the right. My goodwill buffet. Goodwill Feather tree and Goodwill crock stand. Pine and berries on the shelf.

Pewter on the buffet filled with pine.

A feather tree in the corner.

A China cabinet I got off Craigslist.

Pine and berries on top.

Pretty wreath from Primitive Blessings on the front.

Berries and pine on top… a Santa and reindeer too.

The table set for a Christmas celebration.

A Christmas goose all prettied up with pine and my handmade snowballs.

The dining room tree.

Everything under the tree from goodwill. Except my wonderful snow girl from Cindy.

A shelf of Pewter. All from the goodwill. Pine and a snowman feather tree plate Christmas it up.

A peace dove…

More Christmas touches over here.

Primcat from North Shore Primitives.

Santa and pine.

Ebby “helping” arrange the pine. lol!

Ok… I’m off. We are having dinner with friends tonight and I must be going!

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Christmas in the guest bath ~

2011-12-21T08:58:00.000-05:00

Hello Friends...

Can you believe it's 4 days til Christmas? Oh my goodness... I can not. I have so much still to do to get ready for! And I am going to be late in sending out packages. I feel bad... but dang it... I can't do everything on time. LOL!

Pierre, aka Polly, is a the groomer today getting her pretty on so she looks all nice for all the Christmas visitors. She is Mr. Primcats shop cat and mouser ( a really good one too) and our one and only long haired cat. She is also a meanie to put it nicely. I don't think anyone who has ever petted Pierre has ever walked away without getting scratched or bit. She can't help it... her mom was feral and it just runs in her blood. Because of that... we don't dare try brush her. She has made it perfectly clear where she stands on that. She will scratch my eyes out if I even try. So I pay a groomer to do it instead. She is a very brave woman. LOL! I am going to leave her a nice Christmas tip for putting up with mean ol' Polly. ;)

I have to cook tonight... for Christmas breakfast at work tomorrow so I don't know if I will make it to the gym tonight. I have been doing really well. I joined the YMCA last week and have been walking on the treadmill. I really like it. I have never been on a treadmill until now so I didn't know if I could stand it or not. I do get intense vertigo every time I'm on it. And especially when I get off it. The room spins. And I mean Spins. I can't even walk. I just have to stand there for a minute and let my body re-equalize. It's a very weird feeling. But anyway. I have been doing 45 minutes at 3mph to start and I'm doing good. I have at least 30 pounds to lose and I am determined to lose it.

I have been eating healthy again but I'm not going to stress over it till after Christmas. Sometime in the new year I'm going back on the Cinch lifestyle which is what I did earlier this year to lose 15 pounds. It's a really great easy program. You just have to stick to it. And I will. But I'm going to get through Christmas. Start slow. Already committed to the gym with a buddy. So I am gonna rock the healthy starting next week. Booyah!

So today I thought I would show you my guest bath. I have never showed it before. It's cats... DUH. Linda Spivey Country Cats Collection and I love it. My Stepmom Laura got it for me. I ♥ it so much.

I didn't do to much in here. It's small.

I did a Merry Christmas Hand towel on the towel rack. GW of course.

Rachel at Somewhere in the Middle redid this towel rack for me and I love it. It looks so much better than the old one. Thanks Rachel!

THe picture reads "Love comes in many colors." with all different kinds of cats.

I did a small tree in a crock with a tin Star on the counter. All from the goodwill.

And a small snowman nightlight on the back of the toilet.

That's all for today. I will be back soon with the dining room pics. :)

Merry Christmas!

Until Next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~Christmas in the Kitchen ~

2011-12-20T07:00:00.006-05:00

Hi Friends…

Ok... here is what I need to say to you all, my friends... Thank you so much for the comments. I am blushing. I won't lie... I work really hard on Primcats house and it takes me weeks to decorate to make it wonderful and enchanting for each and every season and you have really made me feel like I accomplished that this year. Thank you. I just don't know what to say. If all I got for Christmas this year was your kind words... I would be happy. I am filled with joy that I have caused inspiration in blogland. You have no idea how much that means. I derive so much from you all, I breath in 100% creativity from you all... to give back and be told it's good really makes me happy. Thank you so much for taking the time to visit me and comment. My heart swells with Christmas joy that I feel I have given back what you have all given me for so many years now. :) Thank you. Thank you friends. ♥ And Merry Christmas.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So how about a Christmas Kitchen tour today? Yes... well come on in and grab a cup of coffee and a cookie...

Lets head into the kitchen…

The stove board… with cookies for Santa!

Some of my snowballs on a scale… I ♥ scales!

My wonderful Gingerbread from Cindy with fresh pine.

Oh no… what’s this I see?

Is that a mouse in Santa’s Cookies?

Squeak Squeak… it was the only safe place to hide from the Primcats!

Another ginger…

Christmas scales…

Goodwill snowman. ♥ her and baby.

Trivet from Carol at Firecracker Kid Primitives

Mason salt and peppers.

On the bread box… pine and a snow head. All items from the goodwill. Breadbox, sheep box, crock, and snowman head.

In the coffee area.

A little Christmas cat with a sleeping Christmas mouse.
Don’t worry…. it’s Christmas. The mouse is safe. ;)

Some pine.

A wall gathering. Shelf, sconces, coffee grinder,pewter plate, butter stamps, putz sheep and Snowman all from GW.

Believe in Santa!!!!!

Down the wall…

My pie safe… my favorite piece.

My Santa gourds from Goodwill.

Hallmark tree with snowmen heads and candy canes.

Lots of pine!

Stockings from North Shore Primitives.

Santa Crow! He makes me smile!

The kitchen Christmas tree.

Lots of stockings on this tree setting atop a huge firkin that Rachel so kindly refinished for me.

And special treasures from friends.

Mitten by Karen at My Colonial Home

Rag Garland by Tonya. Heart Ornament from Pattie.

Tag from Dani.

Tiny basket from Patti.

Gifts under the tree. Doll by Eve at Lee Hill Primitives.

Snowman and sleds!

Crows and cats!

“Meowy Christmas! All I want for Christmas is my other eye.” O.-

Star snowman watching over the kitchen.

A sleigh of Gingies and pine on the table.

Gizzy being stunningly beautiful!

Gizzy and Smokey.

“Fa lalalala… la la laaaaaa laaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!! “

“Seriously? That was so off key. Quiet! I’m enjoying the lights of the tree!”

Wait… a bird… a bird!

Yay! Birds!

To the opposite wall in the kitchen.

So many treasures here.

A small Feather tree.

Santa. Ho. Ho. Ho.

A snowman by Angie at Just a lil Raggedy.

A salt dough by Rachel at Somewhere in the Middle.

Cute mouse.

Tucks by Teri at White Sheep Farms. I ♥ them!

Honey and Me snowman with blossom bucket light. Some pine and mice from North Shore Primitives.

Snowman, treenware plate and jars from goodwill. Candy canes.

And of course we have to end with a Primcat in a crock of woodenwares.

Jack and Frosty!

More to come!

Merry Christmas!

More to come!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

Helping a friend in need... and catching up...

2011-12-19T08:59:00.002-05:00

Hello Friends ,

Before we tour the next room I want to tell you about a fellow blogger who needs our help.

Traci at http://yorkmountainprimitives.blogspot.com/ is holding a silent auction to help her.

Please head over and place your bid on many GREAT items that have been donated by fellow bloggers. Hurry… it ends Tomorrow!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The living room tree...

I hope you have been enjoying the Primcats Christmas House tour as much as I have been. Even though I live here it’s fun to see the house in pics for me. I know you all feel the same when you take pictures of your Christmas pretties.

Finished up my shopping this weekend. Braved the mall with my friend Vicki and got my last 2 people done. Wow... I am NOT a mall shopper in the first place. So it was basically my worst nightmare! LOL! It's done though and I can check it off!

I have a busy week this week. Gym every night after work then Wednesday Pierre goes to the groomer and I have an appointment to have my arm worked on. I have sever tendinitis. Dinner and gift exchange Friday night with friends, big Christmas Eve celebration Saturday at our house and then finally time to relax on Christmas day. We are looking forward to finally chilling after all the Holiday hubub. I am on staycation next week and I am REALLY looking forward to that. I need a break!!!!

I will be back tomorrow with another holiday room tour. :)

Make sure you didn't miss the entry way ~ here~

and the Living room ~here~.

And don't forget to check out the silent Auction ~ here ~

Merry Christmas!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Christmas in the Living Room ~

2011-12-18T09:38:00.001-05:00

Hello Friends…

Time for some Christmas in the living room… our favorite room this year.

The tree corner.

I brought out all my goodwill firkins and placed them on my shelf with stars, pine and fake fruit.

My Meijer's Charlie Brown tree. Plays the song. I love it!

Reindeer from White Sheep Farms. Snowballs by me.

Goodwill Santa.

Goodwill picture.

Goodwill angel.

Christmas invitation from Pam at Primitive Blessings.

Good will wreath, Santa and wall box.

The Living Room Christmas tree…

This whole display was a major building process that took a while to get just right.

I made the Candy Cane’s and dehydrated the oranges. The garland is coffee stained cheese cloth. One large package that I cut length wise down the middle so I had two long pieces. The doors I have been collecting for a long time. I have 12 now and intend to build a wall in my basement like Kendra did.

Large Snowman and reindeer from Pam at Primitive Blessings.

Small snowman in the tree from Angie at Just a lil raggedy.

Tree topper from Stacey at Tattered n’ Torn Prims.

Candy Canes and oranges by me.

Adorable mouse by Becky at Primitives and Stichin’.

Burlap Stocking by Pam at Primitive Blessings. Love it! Added just what I needed to my door!

Walnuts and gourds by Stacey at Tattered n Torn Prims.

Goodwill gourd! The best kind!

Frosty intently watches over the tree to make sure no Primcats climb it. LOL! The Tattle Tale in the tree helps too. (by his arm)

My Reindeer on my goodwill sled.

Another goodwill gourd in Frosty’s hand.

Skates from Gathered treasures show.

Mittens by Cheryl Fredrick.

I really hope you all enjoy this tree as much as we do. It’s much more primitive than I’ve ever done.

The over all effect is just wonderful in the living room. It glows and makes me smile!!!! Mr. Primcat and I just love sitting here staring at our beautiful tree.

I have also decided that I have no intention of taking it down after Christmas. I will remove the candy canes and add some other natural element in their place and leave it up well into the new year. Probably until February. I intentionally didn’t Christmas it up for this purpose. I really wanted something that could weather the winter as decoration and not just Christmas.

To the opposite side now…

My critter shelf with my handmade snowballs.

All from the goodwill… Rocking horse, Folk Santa, tree and crock.

By the fireplace…

Tree Mouse from Cindy at Cynthia Lee designs.

Reindeer from Pam at Primitive Blessings.

Sheep from Goodwill.

Isn’t he adorable! Thank you again Cindy!!!!

The fireplace…

Santa… I can explain… ;)

Stockings…

Snowballs and bells in the garland…

Winter wishes to you my friends…

(from the goodwill of course.)

A roaring fire.

Snowman head by Lil’ Raggedy Angie. ♥ him.

Mitten by Pam at Primitive Blessings.

More tomorrow!

Merry Christmas!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

A look back at Christmas trees past...

2011-12-16T07:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

I did this last year... and I'm going to repeat it this year and add last years tree's to the end. I really get a kick out of looking back! I hope you do too!

I thought it would be fun to take a look back at my Christmas style, if you can even call the first few years “style”. lol!

The evolution of my Christmas style…

1996 – My first tree in my first apartment. I was 18. Made from the top of an artificial tree.

1997 – 1998 - 1999

2000

2001 – Shabby Chic days

2002 – More Shabby Chic

2003 - Blue before it was the “in thing”.

2004 – Still feeling blue in 2004.

2005 – The year the mini’s took over the tree. :/ I just gave up! LOL! Instead we had Christmas all wrapped up in a box.

2006 – My first prim tree. Still love it!

2007 – I finally got a twig tree.

2008 – Sorry for the blur.

There was no tree in 2009 so here’s Katrina being absolutely adorable instead! :)

2010

The living room tree…

The kitchen tree…

The dining room tree…

The bedroom tree…

That was fun! At least for me. :) I hope you at least got a laugh at all that shiny tinsel and the tree in a box! lol!

I’ve got the house all decorated and photographed and I’ll be posting This years Christmas soon!

Merry Christmas!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

Thrifty Thursday

2011-12-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

Hi Friends,

Lots of goodies this last week at the goodwill. Lets take look...

Great fat ceramic Turkey!

So Prim!

Enamelware Strainer.

A Pfaltzgraff Folk Art goblet.

Adorable handcarved Sheep plaque.

Look at that face.

Rug beater.

Box full of terrible ornaments...

That had this wondeful little sheep in it! YAY! Score! It always pays to dig through the boxes!

And a prim little sconce.

These three hallmarks were all in the box too! I ♥ hallmarks!

This little German twig tree that some one killed with red bows.

Bye bye bows!

And this little bag of ornies...

For this cute little snow guy.

A giant styrofoam ball... for $.50.

These are 9.99 at walmart. Yikes. So I'm really happy with this find! I'm going to make a giant snowball.

And some cute pins.

That's all for this week!

Merry Christmas!

Until next time...

Carmen and the Primcats

How to protect your tree from your cats and more Primitive Blessings

2011-12-14T07:00:00.013-05:00

This is a repost of a post I did last year... but I"m bringing it back because clearly my cat loving friends need to hear about this because I'm reading to many stories about

Cat – 1
Human – 0

I sent many years being 0.

No more! I won!!!! Hope this helps you all too!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

If you don’t want to end up with this…

You need one of these!!!!

We live with 14 cats… and I’ll be darned for years I could not win with the Christmas tree. The year we adopted the Katrina kittens, 2005, the tree ended up in a box! (Lovely Photo Above.) LOL. It was hysterical and will forever be a fantastically funny Christmas memory… but darn it… I love my Christmas trees and a few years ago I found the solution to keeping the cats out of the tree.

It’s called the Tattle Tale and it’s a little box that you can hang inside your tree like an ornament and it sends out a loud reprimanding tone if they shake the tree. It WORKS! A few times getting screeched at and they don’t touch the tree again!

Here is a link if you need one! Click the picture.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I also got another room posted on Pam’s blog for Primitive Blessings Vintage Gift Shop yesterday.

Here are a few sneak peeks… you can view the rest of the pictures here:

http://primitiveblessingsvintagegiftshop.blogspot.com/

Head over and check them out.

Until Next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Tuesday Tutorial ~ Snowballs ~

2011-12-13T07:00:00.010-05:00

Hi Friends,

I wanted to share with everyone how I made my snowballs.

I did mine a little different than what I have seen out there. Same concept but being the thrifty queen that I am… I used what I had. And what I had… was 125 silk covered plastic ornaments. (If you don’t have ornaments you can buy Styrofoam balls. Try to get them on sale because they aren’t cheap.)

I decided these would work just fine. So I pulled all the silk off…

And gave Phat Boy a wonderful head of golden locks. Ha!

He did not appreciate it as much as I thought he should.

“I’m a boy. This is ridiculous.”

Ok… enough messing with the kitties. Back to the snowballs.

Mr. Primcat snipped the plastic nubs off the ornaments with heavy duty wire cutters. The ornaments also had holes in them so I just scotch taped them up.

And then came the messy part. Joint compound.

Put on some gloves… grab a glob in your hand and start smearing it on.

You get these. Let dry for 24 hours and repeat where needed. Let dry another 24 hours.

See how pokey they are...

Snowball fight anyone????? :)

I have my ammo prepared!

After drying… The snowballs will be pokey and pointy and you don’t want that. Hubby and I decided to sand them with 80 grit sandpaper to take those nubs off.

And here is the finished result.

Put them in bowls, jars, and baskets, under shoofly’s, on plates and tucked into shelves. I also found they are really cute sitting in the branches of your Christmas trees. Might theme one with them next year.

Another reason I really liked this project is that this is winter themed and can stay out months into the new year.

Merry Christmas!

Until next time…

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Thank you Patti at Primitive at Heart ~

2011-12-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

Hi Friends,

Last week I received a wonderful package in the mail from a giveaway win from Patti at Primitive at Heart.

Just look at all the fun stuff she put in my box! It was like Christmas!

The cutest little card ever!

A pumpkin candy jar!

Corn! So cute!

Candy. Yum!

Candy Corn.

A cute little pillow.

A little basket that I hung on my tree.

Orange slices.

Prim leaves.

Candles! Love!

Recipe cards. I needed these!

Candle holders.

A pantry cake.

And a hanging on I put on my tree.

Thank you Patti! I love everything! It was a really fun box to open!

If you haven't met Patti stop over and say hello at:

http://primitiveatheart.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas!

Until next time

Carmen and the Primcats

~ Thank You Karen at My Colonial Home ~

2011-12-11T08:00:00.000-05:00

Hi friends,

I got a surprise in the mail the other day! A wonderful card and ornament from Karen at My Colonial Home .

I had seen these ornies in OLM’s ornie swap but I didn’t end up with one in my box. SO imagine how happy I was to get one in the mail all to myself.

It promptly went on the tree!

Thank you so much Karen for thinking of me. :) I just love it.

Stop over and say hello to Karen at:

http://mycolonialhome.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas!

Until Next time…

Carmen and the Primcats