New Address

This blog has moved to a new address.

Please click on the button below to be redirected.  I would be delighted if you followed me over there.


Thanks! 
www.beatricebanks.blogspot.com

Goodbye and a Gratitude Giveaway

It's a gratitude giveaway!  For details, see the bottom of this post.

Time for my blog to grow up, spread its wings and fly so we're saying goodbye here.  But read on, there's a new beginning elsewhere.
Happy 1st Birthday blog!

When I first started blogging, I had no idea how to blog, why to blog or what to blog. I just knew I loved reading blogs and decided to start my own.  It seemed appropriate at the time to write about our journey through med school.  My husband decided after 5 years of practicing as a Physician's Assistant, he should go back to school.  Actually, his story is amazing because his very first job was hospital maintenance, in layman's terms- a janitor.  He always planned to become a P.A. but earned a nursing degree first to support himself through P.A.school. Well, marriage and kids slowed things down a bit but he has steadily reached his goals. Now he is on the last rung of the ladder.  We sold out, moved away and started over.  We've moved 3 times in the last 3 years and probably have 2 or 3 more moves to go.  He will graduate in 2012.  I am so proud of my very smart hubby.  He has maintained a 4.0 since day 1. It's been a time consuming, money guzzling and family sacrificing experience.  Whew! Waiting for the day I can say, "it was worth it."

After blogging for some time, I realized three things.  One, this blog was my hobby, not my family's.  Two, I am not a doctor. (wink)  And three, the blog was mostly about my personal inspiration.  I've put a lot of time into my husband's career/education and would do it all over again in a heartbeat.  (I'm old fashioned like that.)   We are a team. He's considered me every step of the way, always putting family first. Love that man.  But to be honest, he could care less about this blog.  I have to force ask him to read it.  (Maybe he stalks it? Doubtful.)

So... I've made the decision to change the name of my blog. A reinvention of sorts. Not just the name but the location.  I debated this quite a bit because it will be like starting a brand new blog.  The title of my current blog attracts spam and probably frustrates those looking for medical advice or med talk.  Duh!  Didn't think about that one.  Remember, this blog was going to be for us.  I never imagined people would actually read it.  I didn't even know one could google the title. 
Enough of my rambling.  My new blog is:
The story of the blog's name is posted here.
I'd be ever so humbled, ever so grateful, if you'd follow me right on over there. 

Here's the Gratitude Giveaway-
A collection of Thanksgiving goodies.  No, I did not get these on fall clearance.  This has been ready to go for weeks but it took me a while to put together my new blog. ( Bless Marina's heart!  She was so patient with me as I kept changing the design.  Check out her fabulous work at Penny Lane.  )
The winner of this giveaway will recieve-

Ruffled Thanksgiving Apron
Mulled Spice Candle
Autumn Sticky Notes
Pumpkin Spice Pancake Mix

Thanksgiving kitchen towels

Gooseberry Patch Cookbook

Bath and Body Works Warm Vanilla Sugar Soap

White Pumpkin potpourri

Here's how to win- 1.Be a follower at Beatrice Banks!  Every follower will automatically be entered.
Find out a 2nd way to win at Beatrice Banks.
Drawing will take place Friday Nov 12th.


I apologize in advance for your trouble to make this change with me. Thank you a million times over for all the encouragement, help and laughs offered a long the way.  Making so many friends here, has been the most surprisingly awesome blessing ever! I hope you continue on with me. You are the best, dear friends!
Hugs and love,
TAMMY aka Beatrice Banks  

Butterfly photo by Butterfly Pictures

2 Ingredient Halloween/Fall Snack Mix

Need a quick snack mix for a Halloween party or a last minute teacher's gift?  Here's the easiest snack mix ever.  If you like Payday candy bars, you will love this mix.

Just mix equal parts, salted peanuts and candy corn.  I used the autumn candy mix because it looked more festive.  The plain candy corn might be more proportionate with the peanuts.  Use good peanuts.  The cheap variety were very greasy.  

Michael's had a package of cute tags marked down to $1.99.

Our little autumn stickers came from Zazzle.   A great place to get adorable personalized stickers, etc. for a good price.

The little jar is $2 at Wal Mart.  It took 2 cups each of candy and nuts to fill.  

Happy Halloween!  

Posting to Show and Tell Friday @My Romantic Home

An Afghan- Are you kidding me?

So I made my weekly trip to Goodwill yesterday, I could actually go every day if time allowed. While pilfering through the linens, I saw this afghan.  It scored points with me right away. #1- it was neutral, not a crazy mix match of colors, #2- the pattern was nice with long fringe on the ends, and #3- it was spotless.

  Ok, let me find the tag.  Sometimes GW overprices, sometimes not.  There's the little tag in the midst of the crocheted loops, kind of hidden.  You must be joking. $2.42? 

It almost made me cry.  Not because it was such a good deal (well kinda) but because of all the hard work and hours some kind soul put into making the thing and now here it is hanging among tattered and torn linens on a plastic hanger in GW. I remembered the countless hours my own grandmother spent making afghans.  As a kid, I thought she was a genius for making something so grand out of a spool of yarn.  I could sit and watch her crochet for hours. She has been on my mind a lot lately. I miss her so.

This afghan was probably either given or ineherited by a family member who saw no value in it.  Did I need the afghan?  Maybe not, but it went into my cart about as fast as I could jerk it off the rack.  It needed saving from that ridiculous price!

Here's a nice comfy chair for you, little afghan.  I think we'll enjoy having you around.

Since this little afghan will bring us much pleasure, I'm linking up to Simple Pleasures over at Dayle's A Collection of This and That.

A Day in Preschool

Well, I'm still in the borrowed house.  More about that in a minute.  Today has been  fun because I spent the day in Pre-K!  (Almost made me want to return to work, almost... ) 

It was my turn to read to students in Prince O's class.  Can't believe my baby is in school!  He has to be on the bus at 7 a.m.  So early! 

Can't you see how happy he is to be awake at this hour?  He's like his mom when it comes to mornings.

He chose the books for me to read.  His top pick was:

Love illustrations in kid's books!  These are especially colorful!

To go with the elephant/circus theme, we made bags of popcorn for snacks.

Look at this cute popcorn bag, purchased at Dollar Tree.  Pkg of 10- $1

Cute until you fill 20 bags with microwaved popcorn.  My house is smelling very buttery!

For the teachers, Halloween pails from Target $1 bin.  (All of the goodies came from Target.)  Don't you love those fluffy little pens and fall themed sticky note pads? Ok, maybe not.  That's the teacher coming out in me.

 I saved the best for last.  This was my audience after I read two stories.  Aren't their expressions hilarious?  My little guy is posing for me in the back.  Otherwise, I'm sure he'd be as enthused as the rest of the bunch!  Oh to be in preschool!  Not a care in the world.

Speaking of reading books, this cute "boy reading book" statue was outside of a restaurant we visited a few days ago. Would love to have him in my backyard!

Thanks to so many of you who offered encouragement over my a/c issues.  Such a minor thing in life compared to what some are going through, I'm almost embarrassed to have mentioned it.  We've decided to stay put in the borrowed house simply b/c we can't afford to move.  The a/c is working for now and thankfully it has cooled off so we don't need it as much.  We will deal with it again when the weather changes. 

I keep promising a give away.  I really do have one.  I'm in the process of changing my blog but waiting on the designer to deliver my template.  Would like to do everything at the same time.

If you want to do something worthwhile, go volunteer in a school.  If you can't do that, gather your children, grandchildren or any kids you can find, and read them a book.  Great way to forget your troubles and see the world through the eyes of a child!

Vintage Find and the Unknown

Found this little pillow from, where else? Goodwill.  It's vintage and I love the pattern of the fabric.  Wish I could find an entire bolt somewhere.  In fact, it is inspiring me to redo my living room again.  

But...on a more serious note, the Borrowed House.  Oh the woes of the Borrowed House.  You may remember the a/c problems, etc we had.  Well, we're 5 months into the lease and still having major issues.  Repairmen have been out no less than 11 times.  Yes, that averages 2x per month.  I've been smelling mildew for about 2 weeks so I started cleaning with bleach, sniffing around but could never locate the source. Bingo, our a/c quits again. Some of you may be wondering why I need a/c in Oct.  Southern GA.  Temp inside is 81.  Actually cooler outside than inside this a.m. Repairman says there's terrible build up in the drain, even on the insulation.  Eeek!  So glad I do not own this house!  We have to give 3 months notice to get out of the lease. Let's just say the landlord has been less than accommodating with all of this.  Nothing to do but move. However, when you're on a med school budget, you do not attempt paying double rent.  Prayers please. 

My blog just turned a year old! I've been playing around with the layout to give this baby a spruce up but stopped in the midst of my drama. It occurred to me that I'm sort of at a blank spot in life anyway. Simplicity is what I crave.  

A blog b-day giveaway is all ready to go and will be posted asap. So check back!  In the meantime, my blogging may get sporadic all things considered. 

"All things work together for good!"

More Fall Touches

Here are some more fall touches scattered in The Borrowed House kitchen.  I'm not through with overall decor in this kitchen just yet.  Thinking of window treatments.  I love the shutters but it looks a little plain.  Still debating on which direction to take things.  Maybe some black toile plates over shelf too..

The best part of fall decorating...Bargain Hunting!

Metal pumpkin: Ross on clearance last year.  I need to spray paint it black but just kind of stuck it here to see how it'd look.

 My little black shelf.  I'm constantly tweaking it.  

Silver candlesticks: Pottery Barn from Goodwill $4!  They are $28 ea in PB catalog!

  (oops, the cord came loose from back of shelf)  

Arthur Court Waves Bowl: Gift from one of Dr's friends as a reminder of the Caribbean Sea they swam in on a medical missions trip to Honduras.  For my souvenir, Dr brought me back a huge container of pure vanilla extract from Honduras. (big spender that he is)  The best stuff ever! Totally transformed my dessert dishes.  Wish I could get my hands on some more. 

About the rest... 

  Apothecary filled with pumpkins:  Someone commented they could not find the sugared pumpkins- that would be Wal Mart.

 Clown: Ok, I'm not big into the Halloween decor per say, but this little clown was free at a yard sale last week.  Can't pass up free.  Especially in black and white.

Tray:  How do you like?  Dollar Tree!  That's right.  $1.  Yep, it's cheap but like it, love it.  The colors are so vibrant.  Go get one before they sell out!
                                                                 Happy Fall!