Simply Signs Giveaway

I’m a sucker for handmade items. Being a quilter myself, I know the love and heartache that goes into each and every piece that a crafter puts together. We lovingly assemble all the parts to create something that nobody has ever seen before, then we send these little items off to other family members or sell them online and feel the heartache of hoping that whoever ends up with that piece, loves it as much as we do.

When I saw this giveaway, I knew I had to write a post about it. Wife, mother, and pit-bull rescuer JessyKayne has created an entire line of wall signs and wreaths, complete with awesome little sayings. The moment I saw this giveaway posted at Audrey’s Give Aways, I was hooked. In fact, the sign pictured on this page is my ultimate favorite as it fits me too a Tee.  Actually, the sign isn’t being given away, but JessyKayne is giving a $20 gift certificate to be used in her shop.  If you work it right, you could get a couple of her signs, as they’re set at very reasonable prices.

If you’d like to get in on this giveaway, run over to Audrey’s site and get yourself signed up. Make sure to read the rules carefully, as there are several ways to get entries into this giveaway. Also, check out JessyKaynes shop at Etsy.com and help her out. All proceeds from her site right now are going toward a much-needed surgery for the pit-bull puppy she and her hubby rescued.

Freebies And Giveaways

I finally have a line of focus for this site. Most people would take a personalized blog like this and make it their own, but I’ve just never been able to do that. However, I’ve found a whole new world on the Internet that I’m having a blast with. Well, that isn’t exactly true. I’ve dabbled in this strange little world before, but never on this site or with this much enthusiasm. No, I’m not talking about the occult. I’m talking about the wonderful world of the Blog Giveaways.

When I first really got started with blogging, I had a serious blog contest habit. I had a ball until I won a contest and never received my prize. I was pissed, to say the least. And it pretty much turned me off of blogging contests. But, the giveaways and contests I’ve been looking at for the past couple of weeks are a little different. These are put on by a circle of women (and a few men, I’m sure) who all have one major thing in common; they’re all Blogger Mommies!!!!!! Best of all, I are one too. LOLOLOLOL

Anyway, after really going through a few of these blogs, I’ve decided that this little site is the best place for me to start posting about some of the cool giveaways out there. And, because this blog is hooked up to my Facebook account, I’ll be able to pass them along to my minions, er, friends. LOL

I’m fortunate that I have the ability to stay home and do this kind of thing. Of course, I’m able to stay home because of my writing business, oh and that guy that lives here and pays all the bills. (I love you, honey ) But I still understand the meaning of saving money anywhere and everywhere I can, and if I can get in on some freebies in the process, right on. And being a mom, I have no problem passing this information on to my fellow mommies, and daddies.

So, if you happen to notice that this site goes from not having more than 2 posts a month, to having 3 or 4 a day, you’ll know why. If I come across something really cool, I’ll be more than happy to let everyone else know as well. Come on along, let’s see how much stuff we can all get, and how much of it we can get for free.

FREEBIES RULE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

American Pickers

I have a new favorite television show ever. A new series started on the History Channel tonight, called American Pickers. After watching the debut episode, I have a new lease on life. I now want to be one of these people. Of course, I’m gonna need a lot more money, but guess I’ll just start out slow. For those didn’t watch the show, allow me to explain.

American Pickers is about a couple of guys who travel around the country looking for old, antiques that most of us would see as just junk. They seek out old signs, bicycles, old bottles and cans, and a lot more. They love the rusted stuff, the stuff people around my area usually call crap. Living in Western Nebraska my whole life, I’ve seen this kind of stuff all around me for years.

I’ve always been a picker and just didn’t know it. The difference is that I don’t move on to sell what I get for a profit. I keep it and end up with a house full of crap that my hubby thinks is worthless. I, on the other hand, see a house full of past lives that still have something to give.

To the boys of American Pickers, Frank and Mike. If you’re ever in Western Nebraska, look me up. I’ve got crap that will blow your mind. And, I know a lot of farmers in this part of the country who have tons of rusted items just strewn about their properties. I’ve made up my mind that when I grow up, I wanna be an American Picker.

Happy New Year!!!

I can’t believe that a whole new year is just around the corner. A whole new year, a whole new decade. It just doesn’t seem possible. Then again, it doesn’t seem possible that my kids are getting ready to leave home and venture out on their own. Where does the time go???

2010 is going to be a mile-marker year for me and my family. In May, my husband and I celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. Though we’ve been together since 1987, we were married in 1990. Then, in October, my son will celebrate his 20th birthday. Yeah, I know, don’t bother doing the math. LOL

In March, my son will be leaving for the United States Navy. I’m so proud of him that I could burst, but at the same time, I’m terrified to see him leave. Although, I’m ready for him to leave home. I don’t want him to go, but I’d like to have the chance to miss him.

But, the biggest day for me so far comes in just a couple of days. As of January 1st, I will be smoke free for 2 full months. I’m sure many of you are thinking that something like that shouldn’t be seen as such a huge achievement, but for me it’s a huge milestone. I’ve been a smoker since I was 9 years old. I started because I caught one of my babysitters smoking and she didn’t want me to tell on her. So, she gave me a cigarette, and I’ve been smoking pretty much ever since.

On Halloween of this year, I noticed that I was started to have a hard time breathing after every cigarette. It scared the hell out of me and I knew that I had to quit, no matter what. So, I quit smoking on November 1st and I haven’t had one since. For anyone who’s never had a cigarette, don’t think that anyone and everyone can do it that easily. Honestly, there were many times that I wanted to have another cigarette, but knew I was only beating myself. And for those who know how hard it is to quit, I don’t know why it worked so easily for me. I just knew that it was time.

I know I should be making goals for the coming year, but I’ve never been one to do so. I made a New Year’s resolution many years ago that I’d never make another New Year’s resolution again, and so far, I’ve stuck to it. My theory is that if I make it through to see the following year, the previous one was a success.

Happy New Year to one and all.
Christine

NaNoWriMo 2009

Well, National Novel Writing Month is finally under way.  This is my 4th consecutive year of joining the in the NaNo challenge, and I’ve already got 2841 of 50,000 words under my belt.  Only 47,159 words to go.  LOL.  I’ve always had a great time doing the NaNo challenge, though I’ve only actually made it to the finish line once.

My story this year is a fantasy tale about a woman’s journey after she’s killed in a car accident.  In her quest, she finds out that there’s more to life than the physical part.  She meets people from some of the world’s greatest legends, as well as finds out that in the here-after, we’ve all known each other since the dawn of time.

As a huge ancient history fanatic, I’m always integrating aspects of those myths and legends into my own stories.  I’ve always believed that there has to be some grain of truth behind all of the world’s ancient myths.  I don’t think each and every detail of all those tales are true, but somewhere deep down, a bit of truth lies in wait.

I’m really hoping to hit the 50K mark and then some.  I had a pretty set outline I thought I could follow for the most part.  My characters always end up taking the story in the direction they want, but I try to keep pretty much on track.  However, my main character in this story, Kelly, has already taken a new direction I hadn’t thought of in the basic design.  Oh well, it’s her story.  Guess she can tell it how she sees fit.

I’ll post updates throughout the month as to where I’m at and whether or not I’m going to make it to the finish line.  I’m hoping to get there, but I won’t say I will until I get a little closer to the mark.  Wish me luck.  I’m going to need it.  LOL

Missiles To The Moon

In light of the recent find of water deposits found on the moon, NASA has decided to hit our nightly neighbor with a missile in hopes of finding larger amounts of water and/or water crystals.  WHY???  I’m sorry, I’m sure the highly educated people at NASA know what they’re doing, but I’m very skeptical about this.  Do we have any idea what will happen if they hit it just a little wrong and move it out of whack?

I’ll admit that I don’t know a lot about how the planets and their moons stay in a fixed orbit, but I’m pretty sure that messing with nature is a bad idea.  They say that over the past few thousand years, the moon has moved slightly away from the Earth.  A full moon doesn’t seem as large today as it did a couple thousand years ago.  But, do we really want to take a chance on pushing it just enough to potentially send it out into space?

Everywhere you look these days, you hear someone else talking about the impending doom of 2012.  Is NASA going to make sure it happens by throwing our fragile balance of existence to the solar winds?  I’m not going to pretend to be an expert, but I really think this is a bad idea and that a LOT more research should be done.

Oldest known hominid skeleton found

Scientists have recently announced the discovery of an older hominid skeleton that the famed Lucy.  The new fossilized skeleton, Ardipithecus ramidus or Ardi, is more than a million years older than Lucy, and shows signs that out last common ancestor with apes goes back even further than previously believed.

Ardi’s fossils show the hominid to be around 4.4 million years old, and already standing upright.  There is clear evidence that this creature still took to the trees, as there is a toe appendage that looks much like the chimpanzees.  However, there is no sign of the ligaments needed in the wrist that modern chimps require for walking along on all fours.

After finding several pieces of this hominid’s fossil, scientists have come to the conclusion that Ardi was approximately 3.5 to 4 foot tall and weighed roughly 110 lbs.  The area in which Ardi was found proved to be a very rich source of fossils.  According to the excavation team, over the course of 2 years the fossils of about 35 individuals were found, though Ardi was the most complete with a total of about 125 pieces.

This in itself is a wonder, as there has never been so many specimens found in one area from this time period.  In fact, most known hominid specimens are based on only a few pieces.  Lucy’s skeleton was once the most complete, but even she is missing parts of the hands that held the vital information.  Ardi proves that whatever common ancestor modern humans and apes have, it goes back in time even further than ever imagined.  One scientist says that he believes the last ancestor goes back at least 8-10 million years, but that is merely speculation.