Sweet contest, sweet prize!

I just found out about a sweet contest that Kat is having over at My Single Mom Life. The prize is this great apron called 'Summer Lemons' that would go perfectly in my new kitchen!!

This apron is just one of many created and available over at Jessie Steele's website. I happen to love this bright yellow and green print so I'd be very excited to win! If you are interested in trying to win as well, go over and read up about the contest and all the ways you can enter. Or not, that would give me a greater vantage point :-P

UPDATE!!!!!

I won the contest for the apron!!! Thanks Kat for hosting the contest and thanks to the people over at Jessie Steele for giving away this beautiful apron. I can't wait to wear it in my kitchen!!

Valentine's Day is looming

What is the deal with Valentine's Day?

When you are a child, it's all about the candy and 'Valentine's' cards which are shared with every student, not just the girls. As you get older, the day takes on an entirely different persona.

Having never had a Valentine on Valentine's Day, I can honestly give an outside opinion. The whole 'holiday' (and I use that term loosely considering there isn't anything 'Holy' about it these days) seems to have taken the same commercial route that all the other holidays have taken. You have to buy flowers which are exponentially priced compared to 'off season', special candy that is put out just for the occasion, a card full of glitter and gushy words that someone else thinks might reflect your love and devotion, a 'real' gift like jewelry or a weekend away, an expensive dinner out, some kind of activity such as dancing or a show, not to mention a new outfit or two of them, if you are married. If you're *really, really* in love, you could spend a couple thousand dollars on this day!

If you are not in a serious relationship, you can be left to feel loveless or worthless or hideous if you don't have 'that special someone' who will shower you in this way. That is ridiculous! I know personally, I felt this way for many years before I realized that I didn't need a man to shower me with superficial things that I can buy for myself. It can really drive a person to feel bitter and sad and depressed! As if having a man in your life will make all those feelings go away. Well, it's simply not true.

And since when is it all the man's responsibility to go overboard trying to set up this forced environment of love? I don't really understand why the burden of this day always falls so heavily on the man...and women buy into it as well, as if they are entitled! I've seen women basically assume they will get X, Y and Z or their man is 'in trouble'. What??? Ugh...don't get me started you pampas arrogant princesses! Of course it's nice to be appreciated, but how dare you go there? You don't think your man shows you his love and devotion every day when he gets up and goes to work when he'd rather do something for himself like go fishing or sleep in just once? And that's just one way men show their commitments. I think the women today take WAAAAAAY too much for granted. They threaten to leave when things don't go their way and there is nothing sadder and weaker than using fear to gain control over your mate. Do you really want him if he's acting on fear or with his wallet? What ever happened to your vows? For better or for worse or for until I can no longer get whatever I want and need? Wake up women who act this way! Stop taking it for granted and focusing on the bad things in your mate. Why not look for the good that's there and find out what he needs for a change? Better yet, invite God back into the equation. Remember, you made your vows to Him!

Now there's nothing wrong with doing something nice for each other. Flowers are great! Cards are wonderful and so are notes left on the steering wheel just letting them know you are thinking of them that day. And who wouldn't enjoy a small gift of candy every now and then? Every couple has an anniversary, a date set aside in their lives for them to reflect on the past, evaluate the present and dream of the future! So why do we need an anniversary and some other day as well, that everyone celebrates? Do we really need to be reminded to be loving to each other? Is it really that special if everyone is doing it? Hmmm......

Down with conformity!!!

Well, as usual, I'm pretty sure I am alone in my convictions. So if you'd like a chance to win a $70 gift card for ProFlowers.com, go over and leave a comment on my friend Patrick's blog on his contest post called 'You Got Me What!' It's only open for a week so hurry in for your chance! There's nothing to sign up for, just leave a comment and you are entered. Anyone can play along.

Award Giveaway #2 - Totally Fabulous

My friend Tammy over at Mom Knows Everything deserves this award! She is almost always among the first people to participate in the Give Me Five meme and well, she's fantastic and totally fabulous!

I received this award back in October of 2007. Now I am cleaning out my sidebar and passing out all my awards to give them one last tribute. I decided not to keep them all over there on my sidebar like a wall of trophies. I appreciated them and now I'm passing them along so others can enjoy them as well. You don't have to put it up on your blog if you are chosen, just leave me a comment to let me know you got it! Have a great day all! Now back to cleaning...

Award Giveaway #1 - Friendly Site Award

I was given this award back in October of 2007 and tucked it away there among the other awards in my sidebar. In an effort to clean up and revamp my blog a bit per the advice of a friend, I have decided to pass on my awards to other people so they can be appreciated once again!

If you are a frequent commenter or participant in my Give Me Five meme for Mondays, you stand a pretty good chance of walking away with one of my precious priceless awards! I mean, it's no reason to check your pulse oximeter due to over anticipation but hey, a little link love and an award can offer a nice level of excitement! So without further ado, my first reward to clear out is:

The 'Friendly Site Award' goes to my blogger buddy Tina over at The Creative Nerd. Congrats, Tina, keep up the good work and witty banter! Feel free to appreciate it from afar or you can add it to your blog, if you like. No worries!

Overdue site maintenance

Recently it was brought to my attention that my blog is way too cluttered in the sidebar. Considering the source, a little is considered too much. So, I have decided to meet in the middle and take a good look around for some things to clean up or donate from my sidebar. It's not like I have ads for various Charlotte cosmetic dentists over there or anything but I agree it could use some thinning down.

So, over the next few days, I plan to clean out my personal stash of awards that I've collected. I plan to pass them on to other blogs and that alone will clean it up considerably! So if you have a blog I enjoy, chances are pretty good I'll be leaving you a comment with a link to a post for an award for you really soon, be watching!

Giving back...

My friend John has been blogging for only a couple of months now and I would like to send him this fun award as recognition! His blog is called Peaks & Valleys and I have really enjoyed reading along. So here's to you and your blog, John:

You can keep it for yourself & pass it on to someone else who's blog you enjoy, as well! Feel free to display it in your sidebar, because I think your blog is excellent! Maybe not as sweet as some led tail lights that glow purple when you push on your breaks, but definitely cool in it's own way for sure. Everyone, go see his blog and maybe share some link love!

NaBloPoMo prize I'm offering!

One lucky blogger will win a 6 month Wood Level membership to GoldToken.com!

If you haven't signed up yet to participate in the National Blog Posting Month Challenge, it's not too late! All you have to do is post on your blog atleast once a day-every day in November! Bring your blog and be a part of the challenge and you might win this fun GoldToken membership from me or one of the many other fun prizes!

GoldToken.com has so many games and so many variants to choose from! It is a great turn based website where you can play games with your friends, participate in tournaments and clubs...the list goes on and on! They offer free guest privileges as well as varying levels of paid memberships to suit all levels of game playing interests. I've been a member for years and frankly, I wouldn't give it up! I know this prize will be thoroughly enjoyed by anyone who wins. GoldToken can be played from around the world and is for all skill levels.

Visit my homepage over at NaBloPoMo or the Prizes page and discover what awaits your participation! (It's all free to you to do what you already do! LOL)

A 'Friendly Site' Award

I kinda told myself I wouldn't do any more awards, at some point they are just redundant. But I really like this one because I do strive to have a friendly site! Sandee over at Comedy Plus has given me this:

Now, I couldn't find it's originator to find out what it's purpose was intended to be, but at this point, it does seem kind of obvious! Thanks Sandee!!! I'm gonna pass it on a little later.

Awards are fun!

I have been recently given a new award! What an honor, it's from "...And Miles to go before we sleep..." created by Sultana Blog. It is a Community Blogging Award designed to 'celebrate people who reach out and makes the blogger community a better one.' Thanks, Miles to go, I just do my thang! (Sorry, I'm not sure of your first name, shame on me!)

I would also like to pass this award on to some people who do their part in making the blogger community a better one as well!:

To "Cherished moments with my 2 angels" because she's caring and always posts about her happy family and contributes regularly to my blog, making my blogging community a much happier place to be! I'm so happy to be giving you an award first for a change!

To "Cheaper by the half dozen" because she is definitely a great contributor of happy community blogging over there. She's constantly coming up with fun stories about her kiddos and keeping me entertained! She's an extremely talented writer as well!

To "Rants from Sunnybrook Farm" not just because we share a wonderful name ;) but because she has quite a nice little blog going on over there! Perhaps some day I can make it into her 'links' list LOL

And last, but certainly not least, to "Skittles Place" because she totally rocks! She created a great meme called Heads or Tails, I love her 'Caption This' post accompanied by her fake prizes, which I actually won once! LOL She is a great contributor to our blogging community and someone we could learn a thing or two from.

Thanks to all my recipients because you rock and you make my blogging community a better place to be! There were a couple more, but I could see they had already received the award! Good for you! Also thanks to Miles to go for considering me worthy of this award as well! Now get back out there and get ta' blogging!!!

I'm a finalist!!!

I'm a finalist in a Whogets.com contest for a Pirates of the Caribbean DVD. If you wouldn't mind too terribly, could you please go over and throw a vote to me??? I really need it to catch up, someone has a lot of friends there! LOL

I'd love to get this movie and share it with all my friends and family too! My dad would like it if he hasn't seen it already. He lives alone in the country, so I try to pick up movies for him and stuff. Anyway, I try not to put sob stories on there, because so many people do and I personally think it's annoying! Besides, I have a blessed life, no need to spoil it thinking about unhappy things!!! Signing up is easy and free, so please check it out. I've won a couple of other DVDs that I passed to my dad too. Thanks everybody!!!

A missed Award!!!

Apparently my friend Alison over at Cherished moments with my 2 Angels gave me a nice "You make me smile" award back in SEPTEMBER and I missed it! So without further adue...Thanks, Alison for the recognition that I can still make someone smile around here!

As you know, I admire your blog and visit often as well! I love hearing all about your work as a teacher and mom and wife and daughter and member of your church! Seriously people, it's good times over there! Go visit her blog and see!

I'd like to pass this award on too, it is nice to do! Thanks again, really, I love making people laugh and enjoy their days! I want them to come back again and again, and you know, you can catch more flies with your mouth open...or no wait, it's honey in your mouth....no wait it's the flies mouth....now I just sound like Tommy Boy!

To those who make me smile:
Patrick
(Who probably will just laugh in my face, but he does make me smile!)

Anna
(Who I just got to trading comments with today and I think her blog is nice!)

Skittles
(Even though she already has it, I just like to let her know I think she's great!)

Tina
(Whom I've forgotten all about because she's not on my blogroll!!! Sorry, gonna change that right now!)

That's all I can think of for now. Thanks again Alison!!! And thanks to all those I chose to pass it on to. You make me smile and that's a good thing!

A 'Totally Fabulous' Award!

Thank you to my good friend Alison over at Cherished Moments with my 2 Angels for passing this award on to me! It's so fun to be thought of in times like these ;-)

I reserve the right to pass it along at another time, as I could only think of a couple of ladies at the moment to pass it to, and they happened to also be on Alison's list of recipients! LOL

Alison, thanks again for all the encouraging words and always visiting my blog and anxiously awaiting my arrival home from a long journey. I promise, pictures are on the way!!!! Thanks, Alison, you're awesome and totally fabulous too!!!

Award History: This award was designed by Mike At Ordinary Folk and was originally offered by Christy of Totally Fabulous. This award is for "bloggers who are fun, cool, and of course Totally Fabulous!”

My first blog award!

Thanks to Bridget over at 'And miles to go before we sleep' for handing out this fun award and recognizing me and others enough to pass it on! It's much appreciated and certainly brought a smile to my face today! Thanks for including me...