Tis better to give

Well hello there, nice to see you!

I had so much fun participating in the last Bloggy Giveaways Carnival that I knew I had to be part of the next one. And lucky for you, that starts TODAY!

I spent a lot of time during the last carnival entering giveaways for jewelry and handbags. Yes, I tried to get the megagroovy Visa gift cards and Target gift cards, but my true weakness is jewelry.

I love to collect beads and buttons and those rare occasions when I actually have time to be "crafty" - I can put together earrings and things that are pretty darn cute...if I do say so myself.

That's my PRIZE this time, two pairs of hand-made earrings and some really cute note paper with magnetic strips on the back for putting on your fridge or file cabinet.

Here's what the earrings look like:

Sorry for my "mad" photo skillz....HA!

The pair on the left have light amber glass beads on top of light aqua blue glass beads. They hang from a silver fish-hook wire.

The pair on the right are really fun. The top beads are metallic and have dimples of pink all over them. They remind me of what the New Year's Eve ball in Times Square is made from. I stuck a round clear crystal at the bottom to give them that "little something extra"!

Here is the pretty note paper:

They are put out by the company Blueink Studios and are quite lovely.

Last time, I had contestants tell me about their most favorite blogger or author. Reading the comments ended up being for me, the best part of the giveaway and because of that question, I'm now a faithful reader of several awesome writers!

This time, leave a comment and tell me what (aside from great prizes), your favorite part of participating in the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival has been in the past, or now. Remember, I'm not looking for "I won a $500 Coach purse and that really rocked" because...DUH! Tell me something you found out that you wouldn't have if you hadn't participated, or tell me about someone who entered your giveaway and maybe has become YOUR new, loyal reader.

Yeah, yeah....there's a little work involved, but it won't hurt too much. I promise!

This contest will end Friday, October 31st at 11:59 pm Pacific time. I will use a random number generator to pick the winning post number. Also, make SURE you leave your email address in the comments. On Saturday, November 1st, I will email the winner to get your mailing address. Once I've heard from the winner, I'll announce his/her name here.

Good luck to everyone!

Blister in the sun

So I guess having unrealistic expectations for myself is something I excel at. 30 days have screamed by and I have not even thought of venturing over here to post on this poor, lonely, dusty blog. sniffle

And then WHAT do I go and do just now? I sign up for 30 days of Naplobomo, that's what! I guess the fumes from the lavender & vanilla Airwick in the office lobby have been getting to me.

I've always said I'm a better blog reader than blog writer, and now I'm challenging myself to what, fail? Well, maybe I shouldn't look at it as failing per se, but dragging myself from behind the safety of non-blogging...and letting it all hang out. snicker

Okay, so maybe it won't ALL hang out, cause that would just be disgusting. But I do want to bring my Friendly Neighborhood butt back here every single day next month and write. It is certain to be crap and garbage, but at least I'll be writing - right?

"and I'm high as kite, I just might stop to check you out."

Twelve things

1. It's been 12 days since I last posted.
2. I cannot stay awake past 9:00 pm no matter how hard I try, which doesn't matter because I wake up at 5:00 am feeling like I never even went to sleep!
3. I've been craving an orange smoothie.
4. I need a new bra.
5. Is is me or does it seem like stores put out Halloween stuff earlier and earlier every year?
6. Grey's Anatomy starts Thursday and I can't Mcwait!
7. My left foot is just under a quarter of an inch longer than my right foot.
8. I collect beads. I really wish I had the talent to make things with them, but I can't resist their shiny, loveliness.
9. I rode in an elevator with Sammy Hagar once. He was eating Godiva chocolates and talking to some other dude. My best friend thought he was Ted Nugent.
10. I currently have Jackson Browne's "Running on empty" stuck in my head.
11. I bet you're glad that this list is nearly over.
12. I think I'm going to have another give-away next month. I will let you know!

Not forgotten

I would just like to ask you to please take a moment today, to remember the lives of those taken from their family and friends seven years ago, and also to thank those who fought so courageously and selflessly to save them. And for the lives of those who still fight on.

Hands by Jewel

If I could tell the world just one thing
It would be that we're all ok
And not to worry because worry is wasteful
and useless in times like these

I will not be made useless
I won't be idled with despair
I will gather myself around my faith
for light does the darkness most fear

My hands are small, I know,
but they're not yours they are my own
but they're not yours they are my own
and I am never broken

Poverty stole your golden shoes
but it didn't steal your laughter
And heartache came to visit me
but i knew it wasn't ever after

We will fight, not out of spite
for someone must stand up for what's right
cause where there's a man who has no voice
there ours shall go singing

In the end only kindness matters
In the end only kindness matters

I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray
I will get down on my knees and I will pray

My hands are small, I know,
but they're not yours they are my own
but they're not yours they are my own
and I am never broken

My hands are small, i know,
but they're not yours they are my own
but they're not yours they are my own
and I am never broken

We are never broken

We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's mind
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's heart
We are God's eyes
God's hands
God's eyes
God's hands
We are God's hands
God's hands
We are God's hands

Out from under a rock

The month of August pretty much swallowed me whole. Between new projects starting at work and trying to cram in a few fun weekends for Hoodie before 10th grade started...I just didn't have it in me to write.

Hoodie is my 15 year old son. This pseudonym comes from his undying affection for hooded sweatshirts. A girl's love of shoes and purses pales in comparison. Which is unfortunate for him because the armpit we live in is cold only about 6 weeks out of the entire year. Anyway, he's trying really hard to get back into his academic groove and I can empathize completely.

Hey, on a completely unrelated note...is it me or could Sarah Palin and Tina Fey pass for twins?

Politics aside....eerie, no?

A little bit me, a whole lotta you

First of all, let me just start by giving each and every one of you a very sincere THANKS for stopping by the neighborhood. I sure wasn't expecting to meet 247 of you (including one double poster and one late poster).

And you guys have some WONDERFUL authors and blog writers that you shared with me. The Pioneer Woman came up so often that I had to go visit her site Friday morning to find out more and about 2 hours later, I realized I needed to get some work done. Ree IS amazing and I'm going to be reading her for a long time to come.

I'm also going to be checking out Rocks In My Dryer too. Many, many of you must have solid budgets because financial and money saving type blogs are also a huge hit.

I was thrilled to find out that a few of you like authors that I too read faithfully, including Donald Miller and Gregory Maguire.

Most of all, even beyond hoping that my writing is enjoyable to some of you and that you might want to keep reading me, I am so excited to become a new reader of your blogs. You guys really have it going on and I am really looking forward to becoming a faithful reader of yours!

Well, I guess it's time to get down to business and tell you who won themselves some Red Lobster and a super fun surprise. Before I do, I also want to say that I really enjoyed having a giveaway and I think I might make it a regular feature on the blog. I don't want to wait several months for the Bloggy Giveaway Carnival though. I might do this every other month...it's still something that I want to mull over.

Okay, using the random integer generator yesterday morning, I told the program to randomly select a number from 1 to 246. Remember, the comments show that I have 248 but one of you posted 2 times and the other person posted a comment after the deadline.

And the program said:

Random Integer Generator
Here are your random numbers:

51
Timestamp: 2008-08-02 16:08:28 UTC


So I counted down 51 comments, being sure to account for the one person who posted twice and my winner is: Shilo Beedy of Samsakara! Congratulations Shilo!

Be sure to check her blog out, she lists blogs and websites that are having contests DAILY! So, if you just can't get your fill of trying your luck, this is definitely your place.

Again, thanks to all of you who took the time to share your thoughts with me and please know that I have read all comments and I am interested in visiting your blogs and I hope you'll come back to mine soon!

Bitten by the bug

Yowza, well if there isn't anything like the possibility of winning something nice that will snap you out of your Dark Knight funk...I don't know what will!

So this morning, I am reading one of my new favorite blogs, Mocha Momma and feeling happier by the minute because not only did she reveal that she’s working on a novel of her own, but that she’s also giving away some awesome items to boot! And to that I say YAY for great writing and swag!

She also linked her giveaway to Bloggy Giveaways which is
a site that allows bloggers to post links to their own sites when they too are giving things away.

AND....before you go rushing off to try your hand at winning, I have decided to throw my own hat into the giving ring! That's right, you have a chance to win something from your Friendly Neighborhood Blogger.

Before I drown myself in excitement, let me tell you what you could win and how --

I am giving away a $25.00 gift certificate to Red Lobster* along with some other little "surprise" that I know will knock your socks off! What's not to love about the prospect of winning hot buttered fish AND the unknown?

All you have to do is leave me a comment and tell me who your favorite blogger or writer is. That's it! Just be sure to do it by Friday, August 1st at midnight Pacific Time.

I will either use a random number generator or some other highly scientific means to pick the winning post number. Also, make SURE you leave your email address in the comments...otherwise, how else are you going to receive your stuff?

On Saturday, August 2nd I will email the winner and post the news within the next few days.

So what are you still doing here? Get out there and read and comment and win! YAY!


*Also redeemable at Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Bahama Breeze.