Just For Fun and a Giveaway

Update: Comments are still open, but the contest is now closed.

Well, it's an exciting time in the blogosphere. If you haven't heard...it's time for Ultimate Blog Party 2010 over at 5 Minutes for Mom! If you're already a follower of mine and don't know about this carnival, you really should hop over there to see all the excitement (link given below). There are lots of prizes and giveaways available and lots of blogs to check out.

If you're over here from the party, well then, WEL-COME!!! Glad to have ya. Here's what you need to know about my wittle bloggy poo.

1. I'm the author. Me. Lori. A 35-year old, happily-married mommy of four kiddos (3 boys and 1 lonesome princess).

2. I enjoy blogging because it's a great creative outlet and a way to remember the things my family does (because with an average of 5 hours of sleep per night, I've lost far too many brain cells to rely on my own memory).

3. I love the Lord, so I mention Him on this blog...unashamedly.

4. Sometimes I post about events in the VERY distant past. (I've deluded myself into believing that it's possible to get all our major things blogged about, despite the fact that I DO indeed have children to homeschool, meals to prepare, and rooms to "clean.")

5. I've been known to get serious every once in a while and post about something really heavy. You know. Just to keep things mixed up. Of course, today's post would most definitely NOT fall into that category, as nothing could be more frivolous than a "blog party." But then again, sometimes a little frivolity is just what the doctor ordered. Amen?

6. And I've decided in the interest of partying the best way possible (in Blog Land, that is), I'm going to have another giveaway!!! (Can I get a "Woot! Woot!" ?)

So...I was recently contacted by CSN Stores for the purpose of doing a giveaway together. And I couldn't be more excited! If you've never checked out their site, let's just say...they have a lot of stuff!! With over 200 online stores, specializing in everything from TV stands to cookware and from toys and games to office seating, basically, if you're looking for it, they probably have it.

Here are the items one blessed winner will have to choose from:

(Click on the links provided to read more about each item.)

Emile Henry Butter Pot in Figue

I have a butter pot just like this, only it's a mustard-yellow color to match a set of dishes I have. But THIS color???? THIS color is simply to die for!! (Makes me want to start over with my kitchen decor.)

Skip Hop Tubby Bath Toy Organizer

It's orange. What can I say? Kids and orange go hand-in-hand, if you ask me.

Pfaltzgraff Napoli Rectangular Tray

This. just. caught. my. eye. Isn't it so pretty??

Bilibo Play Shell

We've never owned one of these, but they've always seemed so intriguing to me.

Pfaltzgraff Sedona 10" Tortilla Warmer

How cute are these colors?? And how nice to be able to keep your tortillas warm just like the restaurants do?!

Educational Insights Alphabet Bean Bags

I've been wanting these for a while myself. I love teaching with bean bags.

Anolon Kitchen Gadgets Garlic Press

If you love garlic like me (for all its culinary AND medicinal uses), this just may make your life easier.

Cotton Tale Lizzie Pillow Pack

Aren't these fun little pillows? I adore groovy little flowers like this. These are the kind of pillows you decorate an entire room around.

Cuisinart Round Classic Waffle Maker in Brushed Stainless

'Cause who doesn't love waffles????

Now, here's what YOU, dear reader, need to do if you want to BE that blessed winner:

FIRST, leave a comment telling me which item would be your first choice.

That's really the only requirement.

Of course, if you'd like to become a Follower of this here blog, well, now that would increase your chances, as I will give you TWO extra entries for being a follower. (It's so easy. Just click that button that says "Follow" over there in my RIGHT sidebar all the way up at the top. 'K?) Once you are following, leave another comment saying you did that.

But please think long and hard about following, because I just couldn't take the heartbreak of rejection if you began following me for this contest and then dumped me later.

Just. couldn't. take. it! So, now that you know how devastated I would be, surely you don't want that on your conscience, do you?? Hmmm????

For other extra entries, you can:

** Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. (See Twitter button in sidebar.)

** Grab my blog button and put it somewhere on YOUR blog for TWO extra entries.

** Check out my blog archives (at the right) and choose ANY other blog post and comment on it there. Some of my favorites are Daffodils, Close, Drowning, and Nutshell, in case you don't feel like scrolling through.

** Blog about this giveaway and provide your readers a link to this post for TWO extra entries.

Just be sure and leave a separate comment for each of your extra entries, and be sure and provide links to your twitter account and/or blog post telling about the giveaway. Those of you who already follow, etc. you just need to comment saying so. Okay?

This contest will run for TWO WEEKS through Friday, April 23 at 11:59 p.m. My time. (I'm "Down South, " so that's CST.) It will be a random drawing, and I will provide CSN Stores with the winner's contact information so they can work out the details of getting your chosen prize to you. How exciting!!

Now--back to the party. While these prizes are ultra-awesome and all, well......I obviously can't win one of my own prizes. Can I? But I CAN search through the LOOOOONG list of prizes donated by so many others for the random drawings going on all week, and I can.........somehow.......choose a few I'd dearly love to win. Oh, yes I can.

Hmmm...lemme see here........

I'd say USC #17 is a given. Easily. Oh, iPhone, how is it you have eluded me for so long?

#39 or #40, both hotel stays. (I just might need a vacation.)

#42, It's All Too Much by Peter Walsh. I've read it. It's good! In fact, I recommend it to everyone out there. I borrowed the one I read from the library. But this is definitely a keeper! If only so you can have it to loan out to people.

#43 Books that sound interesting.

#69 I believe we've established I'm a curriculum junkie, right?

USC #13 $100 gift certificate for Kay Jewelers. (Going for value here, people.)

Alright. I'll quit.

Happy party day! Be sure and check out the party site.

Update: Comments are still open, but the contest is now closed.

One Year

One year ago.

Today.

Nana.

There are no words.

Only to say.

I miss her.

Terribly.

We all do.

In An Effort to Lighten Things Up

Alright. Did I depress or worry or panic or annoy anybody with that Easter post??!!

That was certainly NOT my intention, NOR the point of the post!!! Heather, Mere, and...MOM...I was NOT referring to anybody in particular!! Ha! Y'all are crazy. I PROMISE!! I was just going through all the ways I could think of that I've known people to feel hurt or rejected or disappointed or let down by others. (Obviously, there are many more ways.) And I just wanted to point out where our hope should lie. I hope I didn't scare anybody off.

So.........

...how about we shift gears for a bit??

There's something I should have shared with you guys a very LONG while ago. It always gives me a good laugh. You simply MUST go HERE and follow Sara's links so that you too can be thoroughly entertained. (And then go see Sara's response. Thanks, Sara, for this little peek into your hilarious blog war. Cracks me up!!) And, oh, I promise you will NOT be disappointed!!!!

Then there's this. I can't tell you how it has made me cackle! But if you've never seen Star Wars (like my friend Krista...ahem), then you might as well skip this one because you won't find it very funny.

Don't forget to pause the Playlist at the bottom of the screen (if I've got music playing today)!



What's that? Keep 'em coming? Alright. How about this one?

And now...a little something for those of us on Facebook:

You can never get enough Tim Hawkins. That's what I always say.

There. Feel better?

Project 365: Week 14

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Palm Sunday

At church, the children waved "palm" branches and shouted, "Hosanna!" while parading down the aisles during our worship time.

Please pay no attention to the fact that Saylor's dress is on backwards. Please. (Insert "humiliated lowering of head" here.)

Atticus did his fair share of palm-waving on the sidelines.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Saylor read her first real book today. She had no idea she could read that thing. How exciting to discover you can do something seemingly impossible!!

(Honestly, this particular video was taken on Easter Sunday--hence the Easter dress--because her mommy somehow lost misplaced the original video. How sad is that?)

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Today Noah found this white basket I wasn't using and decided to engineer himself a basket for his bicycle. Not a bad job, eh?

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

It's so nice outside and so HOT inside that we've been airing the house out every evening. Tonight Paul just had to go outside and catch these two roomies peeking out into the night.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Atticus has just recently learned to drink from a straw. Now he can enjoy kefir smoothies with the rest of us!

Friday, April 2, 2010

After the kids went to bed tonight, Paul and I got caught up on this week's episode of Lost. Our TV had spent the better part of this week disconnected and waiting on a repair man to come replace the capacitors in it. FYI: If you have a Samsung TV that starts clicking when you turn it on and taking longer and longer to actually COME on, well...your capacitors probably need to be replaced. Call Samsung and tell them you want it fixed. They'll coordinate a local repair man to do it for free. That is, if your husband is like mine and can get ANYbody to do ANYthing he wants.

Saturday, April 3, 2010

Today was Noah's first soccer game of the season. And yes, we ended up doing Upward Soccer again, despite our dissatisfaction with the program last year. One giant reason we came to this decision: the field is a whole TWO MINUTES from our house. Now you know where our priorities lie.

Celebrating Win #1

Go Hurricanes!

Y'all, I can't believe I've managed to keep this whole project thingie up for 14 weeks! Hooray for me and thanks to Sara!

There's Hope

Life.

It can't be about our accomplishments.

It can't.

Because no matter how many awards you may have hanging on your wall, you're the only one who sees or thinks about them. And even YOU have forgotten what they were all for.

No matter how high your degree or how many honors were bestowed upon you, God may have planned a quiet, non-ambitious lifestyle for you.

Because even when you do something really fabulous, sometimes the people who love you the most won't. even. notice.

Life can't be about the gifts and talents we've been given.

It can't.

Because sometimes no one wants you to share your gifts.

Sometimes it's necessary to let the untalented participate instead.

Sometimes people think you're a show-off because you're good at something.

Sometimes people think they're good at something, when they're not.

Some people never bother to use their gifts and talents.

Some gifts and talents only last so long before we are too old to use them.

Life can't be about the relationships we have here on earth.

It can't.

Because sometimes your friends or family members will come to town and not even call you. And you'll find out about it. And you will be deeply hurt that they didn't even want to see you.

And there will be times that no one will offer to help, when it is obvious you need it.

Sometimes you will pour your heart out to someone, and they'll forget it all by the next day.

Sometimes other people only want to talk about themselves and don't care that you're having a bad day, or month, or year.

Sometimes your spouse will forget you need to be somewhere by a certain time.

Sometimes your kids will defy you or say hurtful things to you.

Sometimes fellow church members will be insensitive and unfeeling.

People will disappoint and hurt you.

People will judge you and think of themselves as better than you.

People will say or do hurtful things and not even apologize.

People will ask for advice and then not take it.

People will give advice when you didn't ask for it.

People will forget your birthday while accepting a gift from YOU.

People will consider their own needs before yours.

People will talk behind your back.

People will notice all the bad things about your children but none of the wonderful things.

People will leave you out.

Our hope cannot rest in these things.

These can NOT be what life is all about.

Because if they WERE, life would be seriously crummy, would it not? Life would almost not be worth living. In fact, I KNOW it wouldn't.

Because we humans need hope. We need to know that there is a purpose to living that is greater than ourselves. We need to know that when everyone deserts us, we are not alone. That when others are mean, disagreeable, unwelcoming, or not understanding, there is One who loves us still.

Always and forever. Without question. Without reserve.

Perfectly.

Enough to DIE.

Enough to BECOME all sin for all time. And to take the punishment that sin deserves.

And to look upon us even NOW...as we speak cruelly to our children, think evil thoughts, tell lies, squander our financial blessings, disrespect our husbands, and spend our days being slothful and/or discontent......

...yet.

STILL.

LOVE.

us.

That is amazing love.

That is hope.

And praise God! That is all we need.

Happy Easter, Everyone!!

Who Are You and What Have You Done With My...Blog?

Okay. I'm curious.

Sorry to say it, but I am.

I've had people from college visit my blog, and I've had people from church visit my blog.

I've even had perfect strangers over here. And they are now "Followers"!

It's just so interesting to me--the blogging world. I mean, I read a lot of blogs. It's something I enjoy doing. I learn a lot about nutrition that way. I relate to other mommies (of many little people). I get to know people who don't know me. Sometimes we get to know each other. It's interesting. A way to make the wide world just a little smaller if only while I'm sitting here with my laptop.

Anyway. I'm curious as to who's really out there. Some of my followers have yet to introduce themselves. Some folks are just plain lurking, which is fine, I suppose. But I'm curious who you are!! Can't help it. I'm feeling...

just a little...

like I need some answers, people!!!!!

So here's what I'd LOVE to see happen.

And y'all want to humor me, don't you?!

Wait--don't answer that.

Okay.

How about this?

Followers: You guys leave me a comment on this post. It doesn't have to be much. Just maybe tell us how you found this blog. Or why you stick around. Or something about yourself we may not know. Like how do we know each other? Or DO we? Whatevs. It's up to you!

Lurkers: Come out of hiding. Don't worry. I don't bite. (Usually.) Become a "Follower." I promise it won't say anything about your strength of character. (You know? "Be a leader, not a follower." Blah, blah, blah.) We'd be happy to have you join us! And besides, there just may be something in it for you pretty soon. (HINT: Another giveaway is on the horizon.)

Twitter/Facebook/Buzz/Other subscribers: Leave me a comment telling me who ya are and how you get my posts. ('Cause I'm interested. Remember?)

What are our connections?

Did you know me WHEN?

Did you get to my blog through somebody else's blog?

Did you grow up with me?

Have we met in real life? HOW?

Do we have mutual friends?

Do we have similar interests and/or lives?

Do you bring my mom (and thus ME) deer meat? (Thanks, Sug.)

Did you get here after Googling something? Did you find me after I found you first? I WANNA know!!!!!!!!

And really. Don't think that just because I see you once a week that you don't need to comment. (Ahem......Krista.) Even if I KNOW you read my blog (Ahem......Krista), just this once I'd like to see a comment SHOWING me you do (Ahem......Krista), especially if you are a family member or a close friend (Ahem......Krista). For posterity's sake, at least. Kind of like a LIST of people (Golly, I love lists...) so I can remember you were here. For when I'm old and losing my mind.

Wait--that's now.

Errr...guess you guys better hurry it up, then.

Project 365: Week 13

Sunday, March 21, 2010

We have this great, really HUGE green belt behind our house. It's sort of a pathway for the deer. They travel back and forth behind our house, and even though we've seen them lots, it never gets old. Most of the time they travel in a group of about fifteen. Yes! Fifteen!! So, you can understand why it's so thrilling when we spot them. This morning there were just two, but they were all the way up close to the house. Of course, the big retaining wall still kept them plenty far off, which made me so mad that I wasn't prepared with the zoom lens on.

This afternoon was filled with Daddy fun.

(Paul was lying on the floor and would hold the kids up over his head, while lightly shaking his arms. The kids like to say, "Uhhhhhh" and then giggle at the vibrating sound it makes. These photos were taken from underneath their little game.)

Monday, March 22, 2010

Saylor and Gabe were playing with these animal puzzle cards today. Saylor was getting a little overwhelmed because there were so many, and she couldn't seem to find the correct word pieces to fit the animal pieces. Then suddenly she realized she could figure some of them out (using some decoding skills she didn't even know she had). Within a minute she had matched up four, and she kept it up, too!

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Errands.

And I used Magic Eraser on a little problem...

BEFORE

AFTER

So. Magic Eraser? Definitely magic.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

An impromptu after-dinner game. Always the best kind.

Thursday, March 25, 2010

Somebody's got the giggles.

Friday, March 26, 2010

I've got Blender Batter Waffles soaking tonight for breakfast in the morning. (These waffles are super easy AND super healthy.) Yum yum!

Saturday, March 27, 2010

We went to my nephew's birthday party today. He's a St. Patrick's Day baby. So hard to believe he's already five years old! Precious, precious boy.

Sara's Project 365 is where it's at!!!