The first Iris to open in my flower bed.

These Iris remind me of one of my dear friends. She dug up some of her

Iris bulbs for me, after an evening visit in her home. That was several

years ago. Each Spring as they multiply and bloom...

...they remind me of her and her gardens extrordinaire.

My first Peony, which grew from two bags of bulbs which I purchased
on a clearance rack outside of a Kmart store, years ago. They continue to produce
many beautiful blooms.




My first of many, Knockout roses. Oh, the happiness that each soft pink rose brings to me.

Speaking of happiness...this new product of body wash, was the editor's pick in the new Instyle magazine, for the category of creams, cleansers and scrubs.

It is The Nivea "Touch of Happiness" body wash in Orange blossom.

It smells amazing and has a rich, creamy lather, which can refresh your skin and your mood when you shower with it.

So...just in case you need a simple Mother's day gift for someone, and it happens to be tomorrow...you could go to your local drug store, buy this product and a green exfolliating green mesh sponge.

Hang the sponge on the back of the body wash container, add a bright colored ribbon and a sweet note, thanking them for the touches of happiness that they add to your life. An instant fun, inexpensive gift.

Maybe, you could give this to someone who recently(or not so recently), lost their mother.

I am sure this special day would be a painful one for them, with reminders everywhere of our mothers.

In the same Instyle magazine, that I picked up to read while waiting for an appointment, I saw in the favorite shampoos and conditioners section of the yearly

"150 best beauty buys", this new shampoo by Garnier Fructis Co.

This body boost shampoo is great. I bought it and have been using it. It really does give hair a body boost. I agreed with their evaluation of this product, along with the

Tresemme' 24 hour Body Root Boosting Spray that also made the list. It really did help give body to my hair when I used both of these new found products.

When products are tested by many and the top choices make the list, I find them worth trying.

Both of these products can be found at your local drug stores and in some cases, grocery stores.

I tell you this, just in case you want to put together another simple gift basket for

Mother's day...

...like this one that I did. An old glass dish from the flea market, the before mentioned shampoo, the 24 body root, and a bar of soap in the flowered book container(a purchase from Marshall's).

Complete the gift with a ribbon and a stamped card. Cover with clear cellophane, and you have another useful and fun gift.

"Being a woman created by God is such a privilege~and the gift of our femininty is something we can give both to ourselves and to the people around us. Just one flower, one candle, can warm up a cold, no-nonsense atmosphere with an aura of "I care".

~Emily Barnes

However you choose to do it, it is most important that we let others know,

that we do "care".