Getting back to real life!!!

I have been gone from OLA for quite some time. Not by choice, believe me. And not for any reason related to OLA. I have SO missed my OLA family and all the fun we always shared. I have so much catching up to do!!! WOW!!! OLA has its own blog???? Who woulda ever thought it? And there's Facebook and Twitter and...oh my!!! But I'm coming into my own with these things. Of course, as there always has been, there are wonderful people at OLA to help those of us who need it. I was one of those people once and am sure I will be again, once I catch up.

Things are starting to gear up for Christmas (shiver running down my spine) so I thought I would highlight a couple of decorative items available in my OLA House. And maybe next time, some gift ideas. So this is my first try at this so it might not be wonderful, but what the hay, I tried:

Nice Wooden Sleigh

Click here to visit my auction!!

Or click here to visit my OLA House

And while you're there, don't forget to check out all the other sellers' items. There truly are wonderful items and wonderful people at OLA!!!

November 2, 2011

A lot of people posted really great blogs today. My blog is going to be how I promote myself and OLA

I have two big magnets and one is for each side of my van. Now we are going to take a trip soon which means these magnets will be seen in NC, Tenn, Ky and Ohio on our way up there and on our way back they will be seen in a different part of Ohio, VA, W. VA and the extreme eastern part of NC. We live in the western part of the state. These magnets have been seen in Alabama, Florida  South Carolina and Georgia also. I know they are seen as I can see the people looking at them and reading them. Also at rest areas I have had people ask me what they are for...and that is my perfect time to tell them about OLA and give out my cards.

I also leave my cards on peg boards, shelves, on the table at restaurants where we eat when we leave the tip, and in their rest rooms. We put OLA stickers on anything that gets mailed out of this house including bills. I personally have passed out a lot of cards at the post office. Makes me feel real good to give an OLA card to someone who is shipping out something they sold on the Bay. I have even been asked if I have some extra cards for their friends. Now I know that not all who take cards or listen to me are going to join OLA but I know that for every one who does join because of me my time was worth it. Anyway It beats just standing in  line and waiting silently for my turn. Our grocery stores let me put up posters on their peg boards and they always seem to be taken when we go back.

I blog here and I share it. I have our family blog and I share it. On both of them I push OLA.com and tell what a wonderful place it is to be. People on OLA care about each other and try to help each other. This is NOT the Bay. At the Bay you do not have friends. It is each man for himself and cut throat. On OLA all are family and they let each other know they care and are there to help anyone who needs it. Just post in the chats and someone will post back. That is a great feeling.

If someone has been doing something that I have not then please let me know. No one person knows every thing so if you have suggestions for me please let me know. If it brings people to my site and they don't see what they are looking for they might search and end up at your place.

Thanks for visiting my blog today and I am going to try to feature another item from my OLA home here and leave a link for you at the bottom.

RETRO BEAUTIFUL PINK GLASS VASE.

RETRO BEAUTIFUL PINK GLASS VASE. NOT SURE IF IT IS DEPRESSION OR NOT, BUT I THINK IT IS.  VERY NICE DESIGN AND FROSTED LOOK. MEASURES 8" TALL X 5 1/2 AT WIDEST POINT X 1 3/4 OPENING AT THE TOP. ANY QUESTIONS PLEASE O-MAIL ME. """I DO NOT SHIP INTERNATIONAL""" ALL ITEMS SHIPPED WITH DELIVERY CONFIRMATION IN THE SHIPPING WHICH IS $6.00 FOR THIS ITEM. THANK YOU FOR LOOKING. GOD BLESS AMERICA. Remember you check your omail.  

Remenber to check out my other items at:

http://ola.com/store/chateycathey

LIFE IS SHORT LIVE IT TO THE FULLEST AND HAVE FUN AT IT

Christmas Hint #2 -- Get Christmas Cards Ready NOW!

Start writing notes on Christmas cards and get them ready to mail now. Odds are, nothing will change much between now and the middle of December. If you do a few of these each night before bed, it will allow you the luxury of spending more time thinking about and writing to the special people you rarely see but want to stay in touch with. It will also relieve the stress of one more last minute task.

Starting now will also give you a chance to include a small, flat item in the envelope, like a digital photo printout, a crocheted snowflake, a sprig of dried mint, or a coupon for something you know that person likes.

Here is a listing for tiny handmade tassels.

These only take a few minutes to make and do not require any special skills or talent. You could also add a long "tail" and make these into bookmarks.

Time to start up the oven and stove-Yummmm

We are talking holiday traditions today.So being from an Italian family this is right up my alley LOL.I for one can not wait for the calendar to turn fall.One of my favorite holiday memories is when we were young Nov was the time for family gatherings and it was when my Nona and Nono (italian for grandma and grandpa)would come to visit which always meant FOOD !!!and alot of it.
The first recipe I remember making and it was one of the first I made when I started teaching my son is
Potato Gnocchi or dumplings .It is a great recipe for little ones to help with because one of the steps is to roll the mixture out like a wiggle snake and they get to make a mess with the flour what child doesnt LOVE that!
Here is the recipe
2 potatoes
2 cups of flour
1 egg
Combine 1 cup mashed potato, flour and egg in a large bowl. Knead until dough forms a ball. Shape small portions of the dough into long "snakes". On a floured surface, cut snakes into half-inch pieces.
 Bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a boil. Drop in gnocchi and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until gnocchi have ris
 Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Peel potatoes and add to pot. Cook until tender but still firm, about 15 minutes. Drain, cool and mash with a fork or potato masher. en to the top; drain and serve. That is it and your done add your favorite sauce on top marinate or alfredo white sauce YUMMY

One of the best pasta pots I have used for this and many other recipes is
The Perfect Pasta Pro makes draining super easy and it is non stick
You can find the Perfect Pasta Pro 4 Pc Set with a Bonus Cheese Grater here Perfect Pasta Pro Set

And do not forget the pasta bowl

You can find it here at the store of Jenbana88   Jenbana88
What are some of your holiday traditions?
And make sure to check out all the holiday offers at Onlineauction.com

Those Christmas Toys

Victorian Bride Doll

This beautiful doll is just one example of some wonderful collectors dolls! And we have other kinds of dolls, too!! Just in time for the holidays and your little angel!! Vintage Japanese Tin Toy Overland Express Train
When I saw this beauty, I immediately thought of my daughter, who collects tin toys. If she were still single, she would love this!! Ahhhhh, if she only had room for more!! Wood Cowboy Pop Up Toy
Remember the old pop-up toys? They made kids laugh!! Simple yet so clever!! 8" Monkey Hand Puppet New
This adorable little hand puppet is sure to please! And there are more animal friends available!! Just the thing to help a child's imagination! Vintage Wind Up Toy Main Street Train Station
Another wind up train!! For the older collector, this is a gorgeous piece!!
Wooden Toy Grader
Who doesn't love handcrafted wooden toys? Hours of fun are to be had by some little boy with this grader!! More styles are available, too!!
Montgomery Wards Airline Portable Record Player
Ah, yes, the old record player!! I remember getting one that was 2 toned blue and Mom hid it under her bed. Ha-ha!! I found it!!! Ruined my Christmas!! Never peeked again!! This is a mint little player and OLA.com has LOTS of old 45's available, too!!
Toy Story 3 Woody Mattel 09 Moc

Toy Story, one of the most popular of kids toys today!! This is a collector piece and the figure is mint on the card.
Huge Lot Doll Clothes Patterns Starts at 25 Cents
If you like to sew doll clothes, this is an auction that can't be beat!! This has started out at 25 cents and is an inventory reduction sale!! Don't miss out!
Disney Toy Story Figurines
These great little Toy Story figures are just waiting for a new home!!

Now, whether you are looking for toys for young or old, come to OLA.com! We have great sellers, great prices and great items for you to see!
While you are at it, please check out our store - Korn Kountry Treasures! You will be glad you did! Thank you!!

Collectors Collecting Collectibles

Collecting Tobacciana, or smoking paraphernalia, has been growing and while most items are still readily accessible at garage sales, second hand stores and flea markets, there are many long discontinued Smoking Collectibles that are hard to find. The most popular collectibles today in this category include the early Advertisments both on and off the products, Novelty items, Gambling and Casino, Gold and Sterling plated items, limited production items such as Commemorative and Political items, and certainly anything marked "Occupied Japan" which was manufactured only from 1945 to 1953.

Here is an example:
CLICK HERE to View this Ashtray


Visit Supergrannys Treasures to browse and shop!

Remember when every home and place of business had ashtrays of one kind or another sitting around? The neighborhood garage had ashtrays, the neighborhood market had ashtrays and often times the larger markets had ashtrays hooked to shelves. Go out to dinner at a very fine restaurant and you will find ashtrays on the tables, restrooms had ashtrays. Ashtrays and advertisements were just everywhere, even rolled up in the guys shirt sleeve. Those days are gone.

With the demise of smoking, ashtrays and advertising tobacciana items are rarely being made any more and they will become a hot collectible. Add to or start your collection today.

EX-SMOKERS, HOLD ON TO YOUR SMOKING COLLECTIBLES
When you quit smoking, keep your tobacciana collectibles. Tobacco stands without the top parts are good plant stands. Cigarette cases are popular as small purses that will hold a credit card, driver's license and a little money.

Tobacco tins and boxes are interesting storage containers, and the box labels and cigar bands work well for decoupage projects. Best of all, ashtrays can be used to hold short stemmed flowers or kept in the bedroom to hold earrings and rings overnight.  Tobacco tins make a great place to store playing cards.

A very classy Hotel Statler Ashtray



If you are a collector, visit Supergrannys Treasures.

There are hundreds of folks with listings for homes and property for sale to $.25 bargain items. Take some time and browse. CLICK HERE for Online Auction

It's Time To Plan Holiday Cookies!

You're just now licking the October Apple Crumbcake off your fingers and planning how many Pumpkin Pies to make for Thanksgiving in November, I know. Fall always brings the most scrumptious recipes to the table, but wait... peeking around the corner is Christmas! It's time to plan Holiday cookies! Are you ready?

Sites like Hershey's are ready! Go browsing and discover a wealth of holiday recipes already waiting for you to print and save. From cakes and cookies to pies and fudge, you can find ways to impress your family and guests all through this magical season! Below is one of my family's favorite recipes. I've been making them for years! Deliciously easy, these cookies are great for kids to join you in making, as well. They're the perfect size for little hands to work with. (And you need someone to unwrap all those kisses, don't ya?)

Kisses - Magical Cookies

Ingredients:

1 cup (2 sticks) butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa or HERSHEY'S SPECIAL DARK Cocoa
About 48 HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand Milk Chocolates or HERSHEY'S KISSES Brand SPECIAL    DARK Mildly Sweet Chocolates, unwrapped
Powdered sugar

Directions:
1. Heat oven to 350°F. Beat butter, sugar and vanilla in large bowl until creamy. Stir together flour and cocoa; gradually add to butter mixture, beating until blended. Mold scant tablespoon dough around each chocolate piece, covering completely. Shape into balls. Place on ungreased cookie sheet.

2. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Cool about 1 minute; remove from cookie sheet to wire rack. Cool completely. Roll in powdered sugar. Roll in sugar again just before serving, if desired. About 4 dozen cookies.

Now to really set a memorable table, you need some dazzling serving pieces. Here are a couple of fantastic choices, priced just right, I might add, and available at OnlineAuction.com, of course!

Mikasa Crystal Christmas Tree Serving Platter

from FleaPirates

 

FITZ AND FLOYD SANTA,SANTA! CHRISTMAS SERVING DISH 

from Jenbana88

 

LTD Commodities Season's Greetings Christmas Serving Plate

from Spock100