Monday, December 15, 2008

Mom Most Traveled is having the most awesome giveaway!

Seriously:

http://mommosttraveled.com/honesttechmedia/

The prize is a VHS to DVD Deluxe 3.0. You can watch a video on how it works. For years I have been fretting about all the old videos of our kids. What will I do? We don't watch videos any more and I bet the quality on them is bad. And what if they get ruined completely? The VHS to DVD Deluxe 3.0 seems to be the answer to my dreams!

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Being a Girl Scout leader

No one was more surprised than I when I somehow found myself the leader of my daughter's troop. It started inconspicuously enough. I volunteered to help out.

Then the co-leader quit and I found myself helping the leader out. I stayed in the background....I suffer from intense shyness. Then it happened. Dire circumstances involving hiding the leader from an abusive husband, helping her escape and I was it. I was tagged. I was the leader. Me.

And you know what? It was the most intense, exciting, fulfilling, and wonderful thing I did. I loved those years and miss it now. I constantly saw leaders and parents come and go....how busy their lives all are, eh? But I held onto that troop and loved those faces looking to me for inspiration. The talks we had and the lessons we learned. Amazing.

Girl Scouts are more than cookies and badges. It is learning honesty, patience, morals, friendship and team spirit. It is sisterhood and being friends with the Earth.

It is a life away from electronics, television and the fast-paced world our girls are in the midst of. We made maracas and ate Mexican food for Cinco de Mayo. We camped under the stars and took field trips to science centers and zoos. We celebrated the sixties and dressed up for Halloween. We learned many cultures and walked in parades. We sat in the cold selling cookies and donated supplies to women's shelters.

And there are always those special girls. The ones that break your heart and you just know you did something to keep them safe and loved. But in the end? You discover that THEY did something for you.

We are all busy. It is a world that just doesn't stop. It doesn't slow down....it races by you so fast. And the only thing you don't want at the end is regrets.

Volunteer for something. Be a Girl Scout leader or help with a troop. You will be amazed at how much fun it is. And.....maybe...you might find that young girl in YOU.

Friday, December 5, 2008

$750 in prizes...Have an Etsy Christmas!!!

- Over $750.00 worth of prizes - 2 winners
The Sponsors:

Children
This and That - $20 gift card
Red Pajamas - Little Man's Tie ($8)
Baby Luv Gifts - Cute Custom Beanie ($15)
Baby Bears - $25 gift card
My Custom Baby Boutique - $25 gift card
Baby Goin Places - PocketChanger Diaper Changing Pad ($25)
Layla Legs - $15 gift card & free shipping
Second Story Window - $10 gift card
Inspiring Color Tie Dye - Youth pullover hoodie rainbow diagonal or swirl ($30)
Baby Peas - boy or girl cloth play blocks- set of 4 ($18)
Abby Chase Designs - Lotus Hair Flower ($13.50)
Tadpoles and Tutus - $20 gift card
Make it and Love It - onesie/bootie set of choice (14.99)
PiggyTails Boutique - Christmas tutu and snowman wand with a matching personalized bow ($26)

Jewelry
Four Dog Day - Cute Pink Key Ring ($8)
Jupita - $20 gift card
Zeba - Coin Pearl Earrings ($20)
Jodi Horgan - $25 gift card
One of a Kind Custom Jewelry - $20 gift card
Across The Pond - choice of any vintage button ring ($14)
Kerstin Hanson - $20 gift card

Bath and Body
Krug's Eco-Logic - $15 gift card
Indulgent Creations - Soy candle travel tin, soap and lotion ($16.50)
koko candles - holiday brownie cupcake candles ($25)
Dazzle Dott - $20 gift certificate

Especially for Mom
Mary Zoom - Pink Polka Dot Glam Cleaning Gloves ($10)
Maggie Sue Designs -A cup cozy and coordinating set of Tame Your Mane ponytail holders ($12)
Gaia Conceptions - "My Everything" piece (clothing, $40)
BoojiBoo - apron of winners choice (only ones in stock, $28.75)
Stones of Healing - $20 gift certificate

Yummy Treats
A Sugar Affair - $10 gift card
Cakebox Cookies - $20 gift card
A Thyme 2 B Comforted - $25 gift card
Double Dipped Sweets - $20 gift card
KE Cookies - One dozen chocolate chip cookies ($8)
AngelPie Cookies and Cakes - One dozen decorated sugar cookies ($18)
Meg's Creations - 2 pack of cookie and brownie mix ($24 including shipping)
Cookie Art by Sarah - One dozen sugar cookie snowflakes and $25 gift certificate ($53)

Paper Crafts
Paper Treasures 4 U - 2 page 12''x12'' Christmas layout ($9)
Inkspot Workshop - 1 Set of 6 Snowman Gift Enclosures 1 Set of 6 Tree Bird Gift Enclosures ($12)
Take Note - 1 set of personalized notecards ($15)
Articulations - 6 lunchbox love mini cards ($5)

*******

My six favorite stores are:

PiggyTails Boutique because I am currently in LOVE with tutus. I have a 21 month old granddaughter. Nuff said? LOL

My favorite of the jewelry stores is One of a Kind Jewelry better known as LizardQueenJewelry. You have to love that name, don't you? I fell in love with her earrings and saved some to my Etsy favorites.

For the bath and body section it was tough but I fell hard for DazzleDott's soaps. My teenage daughter wanted to know it the brownie soap had real chocolate in it! Yes, it looks that real.

For the mom section I have to say that stonesofhealing was my favorite because I fell for her earrings such as the Joy and Good Health pair!

I would have to say for the yummies that DoubleDippedSweets have it all. Check out the Almond Roca apple. OMG.

For the paper crafts I like Take Note. The personalized note cards are great looking. I like the colors and the script offered.

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Oh, for God's sake

I have another session tomorrow and I feel a sense of dread. Sure, it isn't fun closing your eyes and reliving a violent part of your past. But it's good for you, right? Yeah, like an enema or exorcising some freaking kind of tumor.

Close your eyes. Pick a truly "special" moment like when your ex punched you in the stomach and tell the story as if it is happening now. Then do it again. And do it again. Until it is less painful. Except that then you go out to your car and bawl your eyes out all the way home.

And who to talk about THIS with? Your husband who is incredibly loving and patient but feels anger at your ex.......hey, it's MY anger. I want to share it all and not have to console YOU. Oh, that's right. That is what therapy is. Talking without boundaries or BS.

Back to square one. I have therapy tomorrow. And it's a good thing.

Monday, December 1, 2008

The Lil' Peanut Patch 12 days of Christmas!

I honestly don't know when I have been more excited about a giveaway. 12 DAYS of giveaways! The rules are simple:

You must enter each giveaway (12 total) to qualify to win.
-You must follow the directions in each post.

-Write a post about the 12 Days of Christmas at The Patch, use our graphic (available below) and link back to The Lil' Peanut Patch. The only exception to this rule will be for those that don't have a blog. (You must email us and let us know either way)

-You may only enter each giveaway once





The Lil' Peanut Patch