Things to Make You Smile Part II

I must confess that I am a book and magazine junkie. By books, I mean decorating, cookbooks, craft, how-to books mostly. I love to read novels and non-fiction books too, but I like the fact that with crafting or cooking kinds of books...you can read for a bit and put them aside and not have to read them from beginning to end. I always learn some new technique or see something that inspires me to try a new thing. My problem is that I'm cheap thrifty as far as buying books goes. It's hard for me to go into a book store and plunk down the full price for a book. So, I have discovered other places to get some great deals. Locally, I always check Sam's Club, where I found this book last week....I already receive the Hungry Girl, Lisa Lillien's, daily newsletter (it's free and you can sign up here), filled with fun recipes and reveiws of new products that are healthy and within Weight Watcher's guidelines. The newsletter is free but I wanted one of her books. At Sam's, I think they had 4 or 5 of her books....this one is the newest.....

I have already made the Holy Moly Cannoli Cones...

of course I always start with dessert...life is uncertain you know!

These were yummy and only 3 WW points if you're counting...

Another source is a Book Club that I have belonged to for years, Homestyle Books. I don't order very often but every once in a while they make an offer I can't refuse. This time it was choose any two books for $10 each and get a free book in April. Nope-couldn't let that one go by, especially when the two books I chose were these....

From Jo Packham and Jenny Doh comes Where Women Create; Book of Inspiration. You may already be aware that There is a Where Women Create magazine that comes out quarterly. This is a hard-cover book.

This book is filled with pictures of the studios of wonderfully creative women. Here is just a sampling..

The other book I picked is a new book by Lisa Pace of It's In the Details called...

Delight in the Details. I have taken some of Lisa's on-line classes and she is an amazing artist!

 Her book is also available at Amazon.com. A sampling from Lisa's book....

The other place I buy lots of books is Half.com, which is a division of eBay. I have bought books from here for years and have also sold books, too. The prices are always great and my only caution is that you choose sellers who have high positive feedback, just like you would on eBay.

Ok, I've just shared with you some things that have made me smile this week but there is one more thing...
I have written before about my sweet David and his fun little red Mazda Miata...

He's had that little car for 11 years and has taken loving care of it, never driving it in the Winter months. In the Winter he drove a Subaru Outback..

Very dependable in snow and ice. We've talked for two years about trading both of these cars and getting maybe a bigger convertible or a small SUV. The truth is, that little red Miata is harder for me to get in and out of at 61 than it was when I was 50! The day after Easter, we went car browsing....

found this and fell in love...

Meet Celeste...our new-to-us Volvo.

I figure that David drove the Miata for 11 Years...it's my turn to have some fun...don't you think?

The car is celestial blue, hence the name Celeste.

 PJ-when we go to Rehoboth Beach the next time, I will be sure to come and visit

with the top down and my hair completely wind blown!

Can you see me smiling from where you are?

XOXO