Hot off the Presses Quilt Book GiveAway

I want this book. No kidding - the quilts on the cover of the book appeal to me SO much!Very traditional, very symmetrical -- everything I love in a quilt. The author of the book, Sue Daley, is having a giveaway of her new book, "A Road Less Travelled"... So I'm posting about it to get a second entry. This book is DEFINITELY on my wish list! But first, I'll see if I can win the giveaway! Go here to sign up for the giveaway yourself.

Meet the newest member of the family...

No, it's not another grandchild. It's a dream come true. I have always wanted a treadle sewing machine - and today my new baby arrived - a Singer 66! I found her on Craig's List, went to see her and fell in love immediately. Her name is "Henrietta", after the gentleman who not only sold her to me, but actually delivered her to my house today! Look how pretty she is - despite her old age the colors of the decorative painting are still very bright and bold - and not a scratch on the paint to be seen! I've read that the style of painting is Egyptian, a craze in the 1920's. There is absolutely no rust, no paint cracking, no erosion of the metal stand - no imperfections at all! Henrietta has obviously been used very little and was very well taken care of. Henrietta is in need of a belt and a spool pin. I'll order the belt tonight and I'm hoping a spool pin from one of my other old machines will fit. Her oak stand is also in beautiful shape - one small stain on the top when the lid is closed, but I may be able to get that out with some lemon oil. Otherwise, there are no signs of dryness or wood cracking or chips. I can't wait to try her out! Welcome to the family, Henrietta!

Get Your Hankies Ready...

If this doesn't make you tear up... with joy... with delight... I'm not sure what will. If for any reason the link doesn't work, you can view it on YouTube.com: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9lp0IWv8QZY Susan Boyle Stuns Crowd with Epic Singing

Do You Promise to help your grandchildren with the cost of college?

If you’re a grandparent, you know you want to do everything you possibly can to make that grandchild’s life better – now and in the future. I know I want the world for Mr. B. He deserves to have a roof over his head, food on his table, clothes on his back, medical attention when he needs it, and a guarantee that college money will be available. His Mom takes care of the roof, the food, the clothes, and the medical insurance, but as a single mother, saving for college is out of her reach right now.

I learned about a web site called . For every parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or just friend of a family that has children – if you’re not a member of this web site, you need to go to NOW!

Let me explain how UPromise works. You go to the web site and join FOR FREE. That’s right – this will not cost you one penny. Then you register your current credit cards, debit cards, gas cards, grocery store cards, drug store cards, etc. (You don’t need any special UPromise card for this!) When you spend money – the way you normally do – on groceries (a huge list of participating items), gas, whatever – you get a percentage of that money back in a UPromise savings account. I’ve been a member for about two years now, and without ever returning to the UPromise.com web site, and by just making my standard grocery, gas and online purchases, I just found out that I have $176 in my account!

Now, that may not sound like a lot – but have you ever put a child through college? There are times when that $176 could come in might handy! And I still have 15 more years of savings time.

There are other ways to save with UPromise.com. For example, if you normally shop at Overstock.com or LLBeans.com or HomeDepot.com (the list of participating stores just goes on and on), you simply go to that online store through the UPromise web site, and you’ll get money back – normally 2 to 4 percent. But heck, it’s money you were going to spend anyway, so why not save money for that child’s education while you’re at it!

And it’s not just online stores. You can get savings at your regular gas stations, grocery stores – even McDonald’s! I bought Mr. B a MickaDonalds gift card for Christmas and found out later that I got 2% back – directly into HIS savings account for college.

Once you register, you can decide if you want to start a 529 savings account – that’s a savings account that is tax-free, earns interest, and earmarked specifically for a child’s education. It’s not mandatory, but if you don’t your money will not earn any interest. You can use the 529 account money on any accredited college. You have complete control over the account, just as if you started one at your local financial institute.

So let’s sum this up. You have a child, grandchild, niece, nephew, neighbor that someday wants to go to college. You live life as any normal person does – you buy groceries, you buy gas, you make purchases here and there. Without doing anything you’re not already doing, you can put money in a college fund for that child! (And for those with adult children and no grandchildren? You can also earmark the UPromise money to help pay off their student loans!)

This is a no-brainer, people.

Oh, and if you don’t have a child or grandchild? You can just plain use this as a savings account – and withdraw the money whenever you want!

No child in your life? Send me your email address and I’ll send you info on how you can sign up to help Mr. B get a college education!

Awww…he’s such a cutie patootie… how can you resist?

Click here and check all this out for yourself And yes, if you click here and sign up, you’ll add $4 to Mr. B’s account!