It's Electric.

The kitchen. A space none to seen on the blog.  A space next on the list (at least, my list!) A space i stare off into during dinner, imagining the could be's and the should be's. So for sure that's where i'd focus if i won Barn Light Electric's annual B.L.O.G giveaway.  Let's take a few moments to lose ourselves in that fantasy, shall we?

Thankfully, the kitchen needs nothing more than granite, back splash, paint job and lighting. 

And lighting does it need. 

With our dark cherry cabinets, it's well, it's dark.  The plan is to install pot lights-instant solution to cave like dwelling-and update the fan.

Well hello fan update, where've you been hiding?  You're so sleek and retro modern.  I like you, ball ceiling fan.

With all those pot lights, we wouldn't be relying on the fan as the only method of illumination, so this silver sleek fella would be a nice option.  This guy's totally customizable, as many of their products are.  You could choose all silver, like i would, or other blade colors to match your space.  Light or without light options, too.

Ooh, this sphere pendant is pretty and perfect for above the sink. Actually it's a fabulous counterpart to the ball fan, don't you think? Great, now i'll never get this combo out of my head! 

Look at this raindrop light!

It's like a tiny tear.
Like those i'd shed if someone else won this gorgeousness.

And these would be full on waterworks and tears of joy if they told me i'd won. 

Thankfully, even if i don't get picked (why, Barn Light Electric, why??) the prices aren't so outrageous that you couldn't afford to beautify your space with some of these anyway.  But let's keep the fantasy alive while we still can.

Who's gonna join me?

1. Look around online at Barn Light Electric and pick lights you’d love to own
2. Feature your lighting picks on your personal blog, and link to the lights if you can!
3. Copy/Paste these rules at the bottom of your blog article
4. Once your personal post is up, you must email your blog link to: marketing@barnlightelectric.com to be qualified to win – the contest ends July 2nd, 2012
5. Don’t have a blog? Find out how you can enter by visiting our website or read these Official Rules

For those that do not have a blog but want to enter, please email the following information to marketing@barnlightelectric.com:

• First & Last Name
• Mailing Address
• City,State, Zip
• Valid Email Address

It's like Christmas morn...

or, like, the 8th day of Chanukah or something. 

 Free samples and magazines galore that amassed during vacation.  I think i'm single handily keeping the magazine industry employed thanks to super cheap subscriptions.

There's the key necklace i won from Jena @ Involving Home.  Can't wait to wear it.

And while we're chatting in a random fashion, many of my recent posts have been giveaways and reviews. I am not out to make money on this blog, i don't have any sponsors-am i even worthy of them, would enough people see their pretty little picture on my sidebar, would anyone even PAY to be a sponsor, etc, etc.

But what i do promote and love is social spark, and how you can pick the items you review.  I honestly want you guys to know about the products i review, i'm not just accepting anything that comes my way.  There are lots of computer promotions, or iphone products, and kids stuff, that i choose to not post about (and therefore receive no reimbursement) because i don't know much about computers, and i don't have an iphone, and i don't have kids.  But home stuff?  And garden stuff?  That i have, that i strive to better, and that i blog about, so to me...it makes sense to review, promote, and post about those items.  I hope you don't see those posts as annoying or money grubbing, but if you do, that's your opinion and you're entitled to it.  Just as i am entitled to carry on my way.

I'm thinking of making another blog that would be specific to reviews/giveaways, but the offerings are based on pageviews and all that good stuff.  If no one saw the other blog, then i would not get the items to review/giveaway, and that would totally defeat the purpose.  You see what i'm saying? 

Anyway, that's a lot of words and few pretty things to look at.  I promise I'll be posting pictures and talking vacation soon.

What's your favorite part about coming home from a trip? Reuniting with pets and kids? Sleeping in your own bed? Or picking up your pounds of mail and magazines?

Total Slacker

Yes, that's right, i'm a total blog slacker.  My wonderful friend Linda had to ask if i chose a winner for the 2 giveaways....and yes i did.  I just did not blog about it.  I did contact the winners, which is way better than announcing the giveaway winners and NOT contacting them, like some bloggers.  Which is my super huge blog pet peeve.  Of which i have, like, many.  Total My So Called Life quote right there.

Would the fact that i leave for vacation really really soon be a good excuse for my slacker ways?  There's been a lot of clothing trying on and discarding (you do that, too, right?  Try everything on?)  There's been a lot of staring at my cat and crying-i seriously hate to leave her.  If i could wear her like a baby in a sling strapped to my body, believe me, i would.  There's been a lot of CD and ebook downloading.  There's been a lot of later work hours messing up my normal schedule. 

So let's get to it--the winner of the Ramsign giveaway was super cool, zombie loving, cupcake making Sourkraut and the winner of the Miracle Gro giveaway was good find collecting, etsy shop having, new friend Debbie.

Source: blog.jetpac.com via thecapeonthecorner on Pinterest

But don't go yet--help me!  Has anyone been to Aruba?  I told you guys my reason for going, and my stepmom and trip advisor have given me lots of recommendations for restaurants and beach locations.  But what else?  Is there someplace i must try?  Something you wish you knew before you took your trip there?

We don't need your stinking taxes!

Excuse me, IRS, but my cat ate my taxes. Think that excuse will go over well? This is what happened when we tried to e-file...apparently Sunday doesn't want to see us owe the government any money, either.

Taxes, Shmaxes.

This is literally a game of cat and mouse!  Ba dum bum!

Anyone else waiting til the last minute to file? 

Don't forget, the Ramsign and Miracle Gro giveaways both end on Wednesday!

Be sure to enter!

Ramsign Giveaway

I'm seeing lots of refreshing and brightening and general foofing and futzing now that spring is here.  Perhaps you'd like new house numbers in a fun color to give your curb appeal some pizazz?  Well, the generous folks at Ramsign would like you to have that chance.

You read correctly.  Ramsign, a small Danish company that specializes in classic enamel signs, is offering one lucky reader any house number sign of their choice.

Seriously, look how great!

There are fab inspiration images on their facebook page, so do check that out and like them, or follow them on twitter.

Giveaway details:

This is open to everyone, not just US readers.  

 1-5 digit plaque of your design and size. 

Free shipping!

To enter:

This is a good one, so i'm asking that you be a follower of the blog.  Leave me a comment telling me you are.

Check out their facebook page and leave another comment telling me which design you like.

Leave another comment if you facebook/tweet/shout it from the rooftops.

Giveaway will be open until Wednesday April 4th.  Good luck!

 Ramsign on Twitter

  Ramsign on Facebook

PrintRunner Winner

Why doesn't random.org let you save the image of your random generated number?  Oh well, you're going to have to trust me.

The winner of the fabulous stickers is comment number 7, my fabulous new friend Crafty Gyrl from Whimsy Space!

Yay, congratulations!  Enjoy your stickers!  And happy Friday everyone else!

once, twice, three times a (lucky) lady

Isn't that what they say, that things happen in threes? So there was my lucky streak, and these are the goodies i so humbly won.

Judy had a giveaway from Elemenopillow, and i got to choose this set of fun and funky turquoise pillow covers.  I have to tell you that Karen from Elemenopillow is fabulous.  In the middle of hectic holiday orders from people who were actually paying for her goods, she worked with me to find the best fabric (she wasn't pleased with the batch she got of another pattern) and created a custom order with the pattern on both sides.  Then she shipped them super quick, and they are great quality. I highly recommend working with her if you were interested in pillow covers. 

Then Myra had a Wuslu giveaway-I can't wait to pick something from them!  I've bought this corner unit in the past, and i looove it.  It holds all my getting ready in the morning goodies, like makeup and hairspray and brush.  Yet it looks super nice, right? 

And then, my final win, Gail had a Partylite giveaway, and i chose these items from the clearance section!  These prices were ridiculously better than the original price.

Faux bois candle holders! 

And a dual usage candle holder or reed diffuser.  However, this can only be used with a partylite reed diffuser, which i did not realize, nor do i have.

I just thought it looked neat sitting together or apart as bookends or something.

Thank you to all the companies and the blogs that held the giveaways, i am super appreciative.

Who else is on a winning streak?  Speaking of winnings, anyone have Oscar predictions or must see movies of the year?  Beginners with Christopher Plummer was my favorite this Oscar season.

Not too shabby winner

How was everyone's Thanksgiving?  I don't know about you, but when we got home last night i was full and i was sleepy.  Too sleepy to go online, that's for sure.  That meant this morning was time to draw the winning number for the Shabby Apple giveaway.

Lucky number 13 was Christina, who said "i like shabby apple on facebook."  Yay, Christina, i'm super excited for you.  Now it's back to coffee sipping and paper reading for me.

Enjoy the long weekend, my friends.

What i learned at work today

I love being out of the office, though it means i can't blog or read blogs-not that i do that at work or anything, no of course not...

ahem...

and today i realized some things about myself that i would like to share with you, randomly, on the day before Thanksgiving.

Number 1.  I could not be a teacher.  Now, usually i think this way because i wouldn't want to be "on" every day, but today i think this because I would get fired for not keeping my shit together when talking with disrespectful and rude teenagers.  At a health fair recently i may have gotten a little too sassy when illustrating how little disrespect i would take when talking about an important topic.  There was gasping from the other students in our conversation.  There were looks from surrounding students as i reiterated this conversation to a colleague.  Guess these spoiled kids aren't used to being called disrespectful?  They were, and i'm not gonna whisper about it.

Number 2.  There is such a thing as a Pennsylvania Dairy Princess whose role is to educate about milk and cheese and the goodness of those things.  She wears a crown and a sparkly sash while she does her educating.  I educate about important topics (see Number 1).  I want a crown and sparkly sash.  I want to be Pennsylvania Dating Violence Awareness Princess.  Let me see if the agency will go for that.

Number 3.  I am strangely excited about Thanksgiving this year, more than other years.  There is no logical explanation for this.  It will be the same family (who i love) and the same food (that i can't wait to eat) yet my feelings of giddiness are freaking me out a little bit.

Number 4.  Going along with those excited Thanksgiving feelings is a recent shopping frenzy.  Why?  Is it brought on by all these Black Friday commercials?  I don't even need anything, yet i can't wait to pour over the newspaper and call aloud the deals and steals to S.  Yesterday i bought a new coat. 

I then bought a new work bag, because one clearly can't use rainbow polka dots alongside this gray and yellow plaid.  Black Friday sales starting at 12am...things for me or things for others.  A hard decision.

Number 5.  Speaking of shopping, don't forget the Shabby Apple giveaway ends tomorrow.  Go here to win this skirt.

I want to know...do you have a game plan for Black Friday shopping?  Sticking by the computer or braving the crowds?

Not Too Shabby (Giveaway)

Maybe if i excitedly squeal really loudly you'll be able to tell how super pumped i am to bring you a fabulous giveaway from Shabby Apple.  Who'd like some new clothes to wear for the holidays?  This gal would (hint hint, shabby apple powers that be!)  If you're not familiar with Shabby Apple, not only do they have tons of women's dresses, but they also have some great jewelry and shoes i'd be equally excited to try. (subtle, right?  i know).

Look at these beauties-they're called Gasp.  And i literally did just that.  For reals.  I want them.

Santa? 

Chanukah Harry? 

Size 8, if you please.

What we are offering you, dear readers, is this little black skirt. I chose this one because i thought it would be the most versatile piece and would work on all figures. Do you not love it with that sweet bow? 

 Know what else has a sweet bow?  My future shoes. 

If you want this skirt to be in your future, here's how to win it.

1.  You must like Shabby Apple on Facebook.  (Mandatory entry)

2.   Do you happily follow the blog?  Let me know with another entry.

A winner will be chosen on Thanksgiving. 

Thought it'd make somebody a little more thankful.  And that somebody has to be a US resident...sorry, my foreign friends!

Good luck, everyone!

Friday Thoughts on Wednesday

Well hello there.  How's everyone's week thus far?  Are you having a temporary break in humidity?  We are, and i think it's making me abnormally giddy and upbeat.

We're going to do Friday thoughts today-I've had a lucky week and there's things that need to be said and Friday is sort of up in the air.

1.  Why is Friday up in the air?  Because i am supposed to have jury duty this week!  Gah!  I am very curious about jury duty, actually, and wouldn't mind serving, but we are supposed to spend the day with my dad and (although it isn't even 100% certain) i'm already freaking out and imagining being stuck in a trial instead.  If you're new here, it must be said that i have a tendency to get easily excited, and jump to conclusions, and freak out before events even happen, and just get ahead of myself.

2.  My sickness is back, darn it all!  I don't want to visit with my dad and his compromised immune system if i am sickly. 

3.  Quadruple score-a surprise package from my sweet friend Linda,  a win from Chelsea, a win from Brittany, and a win from Stephenie Lynn.  Feature posts to follow.

4.  Speaking of feature posts...Laura and Andrea from Ever After Blueprint asked me to be a part of their Front Door series.  Please pay their gorgeous blog a visit.

5.  I have rediscovered the forgotten joys of honey roasted sesame sticks.

6.  Hey big money-JC Penney and Pier 1 coupons for $10 off a $10 purchase?  It's like stealing!

7.  A trip to Ocean City Maryland is in the immediate future...any recommendations of places to eat or other must sees?

8.  The sticker giveaway ends tonight!  I wish it could have ran for longer, but jury duty (or the possibility of that) is mucking up the timeline and there are rules i must adhere to involving the giveaway. 

9.  So enter it, for goodness sakes!  It ends tonight at 11pm eastern.  Good=your chances of winning.

Sticker Shock

**This giveaway is closed.  I was asked to edit the links from uprinting, so i don't know if that means it will post again**

I am so stinkin' excited to offer this giveaway from Uprinting! 

250 customizable stickers for one lucky winner. 

Do it as an address sticker.  Do it as a "Good job from Mrs. So and so" if you're a teacher.  Do it as an awareness raising aid.  Do it to promote your Etsy shop.  In the immortal words of Nike, just do it.

They also offer these labels, using the standard label templates.

The particulars:

*You need to be a follower of this ever so wonderful blog
* Leave a comment telling me what you'd do with your stickers

For extra entries:
* like Uprinting on facebook
* like my facebook page
*leave a separate comment for each

Giveaway will be open until 11 pm Wednesday July 27th.  Good luck, my friends!



*Stickers are 2" x 3.5" 70lb Label Matte, Front Only Printing, with 4 Business Days Turnaround.  Giveaway limited to US residents 18 and over, and ineligible if won another Uprinting giveaway in the last 6 months.

This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting, no monetary compensation was given but I will receive stickers for hosting, which i shall use for my outreach events for my agency.  See, totally selfless, i am.  Check out the standard label templates on Uprinting.

2 features+2 wins=4 reals

Yup, just what it sounds like.  I need to give a "holla" to Gnee @ Singing with Birds for featuring the "No more mudpit" brick makeover, and i am proudly sporting a sidebar button to prove it.  And Jenna @ Involving Color added my bedroom makeover to her inspiration gallery (which you should check out for ideas and colors).  My many thanks, ladies!

On top of all that, i won a sweet giveaway from Myra @ My Blessed Life  to the shop below, and i chose two snazzy flower pins. 

See, snazzy and will match anything. Love them!

Then there's this sweet pillow (and hunky card) from my friend Devonay that has been living in the sunroom since i got it.  Makes me smile every time i walk by...the pillow, not the guy.  That would be odd if i kept that card out.  And one thing i am definitely not is odd.  (Sarcasm...you got that, right?  Yes, i knew you would.)

 
So i have a delicate question about giveaways and winnings...i feel it is only right to thank the hosts and the shops who offer up the items.  It's like a big blog circle-the shop gets written about by the giveawayer, the giveawayer gets written about by the winner...but what about when you win something but don't receive it?  Or hear anything from the shop owner? 
 
It's kinking the circle, since the shop was written about by the giveawayer, but said giveawayer didn't get their due of thanks since the shop didn't send on the items won.  Follow that?  And then, is it rude to be like "yo, where's my business you were supposed to send me...that i won so you aren't making any money on them but i'm totally claiming them so please don't sell them to someone else...that i wanted to take on my trip to Spain but that already happened now..." but in a much nicer way, of course.  Do i contact the giveawayer and say that i talked with the seller, but never received the items even though she said she was going to ship them?  Has this ever happened to you?  What did you do? 

Lucky number 7

It's 11 am-the paper's been read, the coffee's been drank (drunk? i never get that right) so it's time to announce the winner of the Freschetta pizza and cutting board.

Lucky number 7-Lisa said... I keep seeing these commercials on tv and I really want to try one. That's my kind of pizza!

Congrats to you, my friend!  I'll be emailing you for your address and having the boyfriend ship it out this week!

Thank you Freschetta for providing the giveaway goodies, too!

On a winning streak

Don't hate me.  I'd hate me, if i was not me, and kept seeing some lucky gal repeatedly win bloggy giveaways.  But i am me, so it wouldn't be good to hate me.  Instead, this friggin' rocks!

SQUEAL!!!

But seriously, i am not blogging about my rather bizarre string of luck to rub it in your faces, i hope you know.  I am blogging about it to give thanks and recognition to those that offered the giveaways.  To the oodles of people who read mine (ahem.)

That being said....thank you Strictly Simple Style and Swalla Studio for the abstract zodiac painting.  I chose Libra, my month.  It felt wrong picking anything else!  This will look perfect in the basement with this color scheme.

And thank you Centsational Girl and Modern Tribe-hopefully i will be owning a nice piece of something or other by Jonathon Adler in the near future!  Something ceramic, and something white!

Missy Salsa and Nita from Mod Vintage Life gave me a blog award, so thank you sweet ladies! Missy is a survivor if i ever saw one, so please go give her some love.  And you must check out Nita's fabulous christmas mantel...vintage through and through.  Love those gals.

However, good winnings and awards aside, i can't help but feel anxious and terribly on edge that something atrocious is going to happen to even things out.  I'd like to think this is the universe's way of thanking me for doing the type of work i do and making this type of crap pay, but what i'd "like to think" is very much different than the way i actually do think.  Help! 

sweet funky vintage

No, i'm not talking about myself (but thanks, dolls).  I'm talking about the shop Sweet Funky Vintage that carries adorable children's clothes and other handmade goodies for little ones.  Waaay back when i first started blogging in April, i won a gift certificate to their shop from A Soft Place to Land.  Since i am sans kiddies, i found the perfect item for me:  a birthday bunting banner.  Say that 5 times fast.  It was actually the only item they don't make themselves, so i had to wait for it to be in stock.  And wait.  And wait.  Luckily the owner Melissa extended my gift code so that i could get my intended banner. 

If not for Melissa's excellent customer service and rapid response to emails, i would have given up on ever getting this cute decoration.  Sadly, it missed my birthday this year, but i will definitely be bringing it out for S's birthday in March.  Check out this super cute banner, you guys!

See that gnarly mess of a rug?  Cats with claws do that.  Even when you forcefully yell no.

So stinkin' cute, right?  Love the different fabrics, but mostly love that i didn't have to make this myself!  Woot to the easy way out!  What have you taken the easy way out on these days?  Or do you smarty pants' make everything?

Drum roll please...

The winner of my very first giveaway (per ghetto-tastic pic i took from random.org) is number 48.....

Sarah from One Tiny Stitch!

Congrats my sister (she's not really my sister, but she knows what i'm referring to)! I'll be emailing you the code and the specifics.

 And just to nip anything in the bud, there were 56 comments, but the last one came in after the contest was closed so it was not counted.  Therefore, 55. Thank you all for playing, and maybe you'll be lucky enough to win the next one.

Giveaway ending tonite

In case you never noticed that little "extra, extra" sidebar thingy where i add random nonsense like link parties and thank yous, i wanted to be sure you knew that the

$40 CSN giveaway ends tonite at midnight

That's about as in your face as i care to get, so hopefully that suffices.  And while we're here, let's do a shout out to some friends who i need to thank for awards, etc.  A general "taking care of business" type day.

Marjorie from Crazy Cat Decor bestowed upon me the versatile blogger award and K from Big K, little a  tagged and bestowed me the stylish blogger award.  Thanks ladies, you rock!  I agree with you 100%. HA!

Beth's kick ass Halloween mantel party garnered a feature for my halloween tablescape, so thank you Beth from The stories of A-Z. 

I think that does it.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway, and i can't wait til i can stop saying that!