Giveaway Winners!!

For our US resident winner, we have comment number 137.

Congratulations Country Mom!!


There were only a couple of Canadians that entered, which surprised me. So to get this winner, I took the two people and added up all their comments, in the order in which they were commented and got 12 comments all together {minus one person that didn't follow the directions so wasn't counted at all} and wrote them all on a piece of paper {the names, not the comments silly people!}. Then I put 12 into Random.org, got Number 11 and found the second to last comment in the comment section for this person and VOILA!!

That all sounds so much more complicated than it really was. LOL

Congratulations Pam!!



If both of you would please send me your address within 48 hours, I'll be sure to get you your treats very soon!!

Thank you to everyone that entered. It was a lot of fun! It's been a great year of blogging and I look forward to many more years of blogging with all of you!!

Worship and Praise Sunday: Shout To The Lord

Shout To The Lord
Hillsong United

My Jesus, my Savior,
Lord, there is none like you.
All of my days, I want to praise,
The wonders of your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength.
Let every breath, all that I am,
Never cease to worship you.

Chorus:
Shout to the lord, all the earth let us sing.
Power and majesty, praise to the king.
Mountains bow down, and the seas will roar,
At the sound of your name.
I sing for joy at the work of your hands,
Forever I'll love you,
Forever I'll stand.
Nothing compares to the promise I have
In you.

My Jesus, my Savior.
Lord, there is none like you.
All of my days, I want to praise,
The wonders of your mighty love.

My comfort, my shelter,
Tower of refuge and strength.
Let every breath, all that I am,
Never cease to worship you.

Repeat chorus.

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Yesterday as my mom and I were driving back home from being over the mountains, this song came on and it just reminded me, with the mountains and river and trees surrounding us, just how AMAZING Jesus is. He created it ALL and we get to enjoy it, because of HIM!!

My Jesus, my Savior.
Lord, there is none like you.
All of my days, I want to praise,
The wonders of your mighty love.

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Start your own Worship & Praise Sunday post and link up here. Please link the direct Worship and Praise post. If you need help adding a video, let me know and I'll try to help you. You can grab the button up top, too. For now, until I figure out how to make a grab box, copy and paste the button to add it to your post.

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Today is the last day to enter my Favorite Things / One Year Blogversary Giveaway. Ends at midnight tonight. US and Canadian residents!!

Worship and Praise Sunday: He Is Exalted

He Is Exalted
Twila Paris

He is exalted the King is exalted on High

I will praise You
He is exalted forever exalted
And I will praise His name

He is exalted the King is exalted on High
I will praise Him
He is exalted forever exalted
And I will praise His name

He is the Lord
Forever His truth shall reign
Heaven and Earth
Rejoice in His holy name
He is exalted the King is exalted on high

He is exalted the King is exalted on high

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Twila Paris has always been one of my favorite female artists. And this is a song that you can belt out at the top of your lungs. It's a song that I don't mind getting stuck in my head. lol

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Start your own Worship & Praise Sunday post and link up here. Please link the direct Worship and Praise post. If you need help adding a video, let me know and I'll try to help you. You can grab the button up top, too. For now, until I figure out how to make a grab box, copy and paste the button to add it to your post.

{If anyone knows how to make a grab box and wants to make one for me, I'd love you forever. ;0) }

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Today is my sister's Beauty School graduation in Seattle so I won't be home most of the day. Everyone have a great Sunday!!

I'll Be Back

Gotta...

Get it? Ketchup...Catch up?

I know. Cheesy.

I'm very overwhelmed by my inbox right now and the fact that I haven't gotten around to everyone from my SITS day yet, let alone all the other emails I need / want to respond to.

And I'm so behind on visiting everyone else as well. I feel a bit out of touch at the moment.

So, until I'm at a place where I feel like I can breath again {hopefully just a few days, I can't stay away for too long! ;0P } I'm only going to be going through my inbox and not posting {although I will on Sunday since I decided last week to take over the Worship and Praise link-up}.

Don't everyone go and leave me now! I'll be back. I promise!

{Closing comments on this post}

Wordlessful Wednesday: Pie Crust Flunk-y!!

No matter how many times I try, I can NOT make a damn pie crust!

It makes me so frustrated because I think I'm a pretty good cook and baker, but when it comes to crust...forgettaboutit!

I used a friends mom's pie crust recipe and it was very specific {which I SO appreciated!}, but I went wrong somewhere.

I think I didn't use enough water or something.

It was sticking to the marble surface I had it on. It was sticking to my marble rolling pin. I finally moved it to the cutting board and it was sticking to that. I just couldn't win.

So, THIS is what I ended up with...Pieces of the crust trying to act like it's all one piece, but horribly failing. The bottom crust isn't much better either.

{It's ok, you can laugh! I won't hold it against you!}

And after it was baked. Looks a little better, but not by much!

If you've got any tips or tricks, I'd gladly hear them. Because as of right now, I won't be making a crust again. It'll be store bought from now on!

Betty Crocker {for pie crusts}, I am NOT!

I am a pie crust flunk-y!!

For more Wordful Wednesdays click here.

For more Wordless Wednesday go to the WW HQ here.

And Mostly Wordless Wednesday here.

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Don't forget to enter my Favorite Things giveaway, celebrating my one year blogversary, if you haven't done so already. It's a good one!!

Random Tuesday Thoughts: Annoyances, Flopped and Drugged

It is so windy outside!! Almost stormy. I don't mind the wind as long as I don't lose my power. If that happens, I will not be happy!

After 3.5 years of trying to get Kyle to hook up our TiVo and throwing a hissy fit if I try to record one of "my" shows on the DVR downstairs, I've finally decided I've had enough and I ordered a DVR for "my" tv upstairs. It will be here on Friday. FINALLY!! And you better believe I'll throw my own kind of hissy fit if he tries to record something on "MY" DVR! Ha!

I made applesauce last night. SO GOOD!! Now I may just make an apple pie today to get Kyle to zip his lips about me NOT making apple pie. {Can you tell he's driving me nuts? I love the boy, but he's making me crazy!}

Kyle's grandpa was supposed to be discharged from the hospital yesterday. That didn't happen. Why? Because the night before, he decided that he wanted to get off the bed and move around with no help. He fell and hit his chin hard. And broke his jaw!!! SO, now today some time, he has to have ANOTHER surgery to put a metal plate in his jaw and he has his second {or third?} dialysis treatment. Then hopefully he can go home on Thursday.

My cat can open our bedroom door, but it usually takes him a few tries. This morning {while I was still trying to sleep} the wind blew the door shut so he was trying to open it and just kept scratching at the door. OMGosh!! So annoying! He finally got it open and so I didn't have to sick Chewy on him. {Not that Chewy would've done anything anyway...he just looks at us like we've got 2 heads if we tell him to "get the kitty".}

{This tidbit probably deserves it's own post, but oh well...}

As some of you know, my sister's birthday was on Sunday and I went over to her house on Saturday evening to stay the night and watch her boys. If my mom had been in town, I would've been out on the town with her and her friends. I've been worried about a repeat of last year, but figured she learned her lesson about drinking too much. She's been telling people {myself included} that last year was "Epic". She didn't give me any time to "lecture" her when I got to her house so I just told her to be safe.

I didn't know what time they were planning on being home, and it didn't really matter since I had planned on staying the night. About 2 am, they get home and Justin comes in the house and is ranting and raving. I was asleep, but had only been for maybe half hour. He tells me that Dawn's been puking since they left Seattle, she was kicked out of the bar for being drunk {WTH?! Aren't most people drunk in bars / clubs?!} and she can't move her body. He gathered some clothes for her and loaded her back up into the car to take her to the hospital.

They got home about 5:30 am and I knew they were home but I was asleep so not coherent enough to even try to figure out what had happened. I left their house about 8am and didn't even try to call my sister on Sunday. I finally talked to her yesterday and here's what happened.

Some time during the night / early morning, they were hanging out in a group in the club. Some guy came up and kissed my sister's hand and all her girlfriends told the guy that it was her birthday. So he says he'll be right back. When he comes back, he had a red plastic cup {like the kind you'd have at a picnic} and it's filled halfway with jager. Dawn was buzzed, but not drunk. She knew that it seemed odd that it wasn't in a glass and that it was filled with jager, when normally you'd get just a shot or so of the alcohol. But both her husband and another guy friend smelled the contents and said that it was probably ok. Dawn says that she would not have drank {drunk?} it had someone told her not to. But because the guys "approved" of it, she went for it. This stranger was pressuring her to drink it all even though it was like 5 shots and she was having a hard time getting it down. Almost immediately after she finished it, she lost her sight and any control over her body. She was coherent and knew exactly what was going on, but she couldn't move. I guess it was about this time that she was kicked out. I'm not exactly sure how that part all transpired, but needless to say, they left.

When they got home, Justin came in and said that she couldn't move and he thought that he should take her to the hospital. He couldn't believe that this was happening yadda yadda yadda. I told him that it would be a good idea to take her just to be safer than sorry. Especially because she couldn't move her body. I guess she puked the entire way home and "the car is ruined" in Justin's words.

So they got to the hospital and Dawn was able to tell them her name and her birthday. She couldn't see at all. They were doing an eye test and she wasn't responding. It was like she wasn't there. She started hyperventilating. I guess normal is 13-18 breaths a minute and hers was 77. Her blood alcohol level was very low so she wasn't drunk at all. I guess it takes about a month to trace drugs and get results back so they didn't test her for it, but they think that she was given an "exotic drug". She thought she was going to die.

On Sunday she was still having trouble seeing and she fell off the toilet and got a 3 inch cut on her arm. Her head has been feeling heavy, but I think she's starting to "snap out of it". Very scary! She is very well aware that it was stupid to take a drink from a stranger, as well as a drink that seemed suspicious. I believe she learned a valuable lesson.

{And just as an FYI, she rarely drinks. Maybe two times a year. She didn't go out on Saturday night with the intention of getting drunk or into any trouble. She wanted to "keep it classy". I'm just glad that she's ok.}

Visit Keeley at the Un-Mom for more Random Tuesday Thoughts.

Not Me, Monday!

MckMama's got all the rules for "Not Me!" Monday posted so if you haven't participated before, click on over and find out the scoop on all that is "Not Me!" Monday!

This week I did NOT get to go and meet the new babies of two of my BFF's. One girl, one boy. Both adorable and brand new squishy baby perfection. One almost a month old, one four days old. My ovaries were NOT working overtime.

I did NOT say a really long, rambly prayer while in the shower this week, pouring my heart out to God, and one of my requests {the big one} was NOT answered almost immediately...this weekend. Some day, I will NOT share it with you all. It does NOT make my heart skip a beat...or two...or three. And no, I'm not pregnant. I'd be shouting it from the rooftops if I was.

Spending time with my nephews does NOT make me happy. Kingston's smile does NOT melt my heart and Evan and his goofiness do NOT make me laugh. Saturday night, Evan and I did NOT watch Monsters vs. Aliens and Evan did NOT fall asleep on the couch watching it with me. I did NOT enjoy putting him in his bed and tucking him in. Kingston did NOT keep waking up and fussing in his sleep. I do NOT wish I could've figured out what was wrong with him. He did NOT eventually fall back into a deep sleep.

Kyle and I did NOT go down to visit his grandpa in the hospital. Before we actually got there, Kyle did NOT want to go and buy him a model / toy airplane. He has childhood memories of spending time riding the bus into Seattle to watch the airplanes fly in and out of Boeing Field with his grandpa. I did NOT think that was really sweet.

When we were visiting with his grandpa, I did NOT get the unfortunate opportunity to see more of grandpa then I ever cared too. **My eyes! My eyes!**

I have NOT been eating a somewhat unhealthy diet lately and my tummy is NOT paying for it. I have NOT been just barely nauseous...just enough to make me think I should NOT be eating better. It probably doesn't help that I've been making so many treats lately...and eating them!

Women's Bible Study does NOT start on Wednesday. I haven't even started the "lessons" in the workbook yet. Oops! I am NOT looking forward to it, although admittedly, a bit nervous.

What have you NOT done this week?

Worship and Praise Sunday: Here I Am To Worship

Here I Am To Worship
Darlene Zschech

Light of the world
you stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes
let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore you
hope for a life spent with you

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
altogether worthy
altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
Oh, so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly you came to the earth you created
all for love's sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
altogether worthy
altogether wonderful to me

I'll never know how much it cost
to see my sin upon that cross
I'll never know how much it cost
to see my sin upon that cross

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Because Brittany is one that created this and she disappeared from the blogosphere, I decided that I'd take it over until she decides to come back. So feel free to start your own Worship & Praise Sunday post and link up here. You can grab the button up top, too. I changed it to link to my blog.

{and this is my first time actually trying to use MckLinky, so hopefully it works!!}

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This is a favorite worship song that we sing regularly in church.

Love this part:

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that you're my God
You're altogether lovely
altogether worthy
altogether wonderful to me

Weekend Wordle / Six Word Saturday

To create your own Wordle, go here. And then download MWSnap to save the image. Easy peasy!

Join in on the Week-End Wordle with Shannon at Last Shreds of Sanity. Link up and see what everyone else is coming up with.

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Six Word Saturday:

Going Down To See Kyle's Grandpa.

His surgery went well yesterday and he was in and out of surgery within an hour. I don't want Kyle to have any regrets, should something happen though, so he finally agreed to go down to see him this morning. We're thinking Gpa isn't going to be around for too much longer. He's 88 and his body is failing him.

Join Cate at Show My Face for more Six Word Saturdays. She's got lots of groupies that like to play along!
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The Story of the Crabby Old Man

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in North Platte, Nebraska, USA, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value. Later, when the nurses were going through his meagre possessions, they found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital .

The old man's sole bequest to posterity is his poem and it has since appeared in the Christmas edition of the News Magazine of the St. Louis Association for Mental Health.

What do you see nurses? What do you see?
What are you thinking when you're looking at me?
A crabby old man, not very wise,
Uncertain of habit with faraway eyes?

Who dribbles his food and makes no reply
When you say in a loud voice, 'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice the things that you do.
And forever is losing a sock or shoe?

Who, resisting or not, lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding, the long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking? Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse - you're not looking at me.

I'll tell you who I am as I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters who love one another.

A young boy of Sixteen with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty. My heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows that I promised to keep.

At Twenty-Five, now I have young of my own,
Who need me to guide, and a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty, my young now grown fast,
Bound to each other with ties that should last.

At Forty, my young sons have grown and are gone,
But my woman's beside me to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, babies play ' round my knee,
Again, we know children, my loved one and me.

Dark days are upon me. My wife is now dead.
I look at the future - I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing young of their own.
And I think of the years and the love that I've known.

I'm now an old man and nature is cruel.
Tis jest to make old age look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles; grace and vigour, depart.
There is now a stone where I once had a heart.

But inside this old carcass a young guy still dwells,
And now and again my battered heart swells.
I remember the joys. I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living life over again.

I think of the years, all too few, gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people, open and see.
Not a crabby old man. Look closer. See . . . ME.

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

Aloha Friday: Pie!!

Would you all send thoughts and prayers out for Kyle's grandpa? He's having surgery this morning {approx. 9am PST} to put in a stint because he has to start having dialysis. He's going to have to start going three times a week for 5 hours a session. He's in his late 80's and not doing well.

Thank you!!

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It's Aloha Friday over at An Island Life!

Answer my question and make sure you post one on your blog!

After that, go relax because today is Friday!!

Question for you this week is:

Which do you prefer: apple pie or pumpkin pie?

My answer:

Apple, if it's made well. And warm with vanilla ice cream.

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Obituary of the

Pillsbury Doughboy

Please join me in remembering a great icon. Veteran Pillsbury spokesperson, The Pillsbury Doughboy, died yesterday of a severe yeast infection and complications from repeated pokes to the belly. He was 71. Doughboy was buried in a slightly greased coffin. Dozens of celebrities turned out, including Mrs. Butterworth, the California Raisins, Hungry Jack, Betty Crocker, the Hostess Twinkies, Captain Crunch and many others.

The graveside was piled high with flours as long-time friend, Aunt Jemima, delivered the eulogy, describing Doughboy as a man who "never knew how much he was kneaded."

Doughboy rose quickly in show business, but his later life was filled with many turnovers. He was not considered a very smart cookie, wasting much of his dough on half-baked schemes. Despite being a little flaky at times, even as a crusty old man, he was still considered a roll model for millions.

Toward the end it was thought he'd raise once again, but he was no tart.

Doughboy is survived by his second wife, Play Dough. They have two children and one in the oven. The funeral was held at 3:50 for about 20 minutes.

Happy {early} Birthday To My Sister!!

My sister, Dawn, turns 27 on Sunday.

H-O-L-Y C-R-A-P!!!

It is more weird to me that she's 27 then it is that I'm 30.

SO. WEIRD.

This year, because my mom is out of town, I am watching her boys while she goes out and party's instead of being with her.

Because I am the Big Sister, and because of what happened last year, and because I'm not going to be there to watch over her, I'm going to be Mrs. Worry Wart.

The night started off innocent enough at a nice restaurant with a group of friends.


Then we moved on to a club.

Dawn was taking shot after shot after shot, but she thought she was ok and I don't think any of us really realized just HOW MANY shots she was taking.



Then, it started to hit her.


Really hit her.


Her and her hubby and some of their friends were dancing and cage danced, too. {Hilarious!}

At this point, she could barely stand up straight, let alone keep her eyes open.


A spurt of energy for another shot and more dancing.


Right after this, she tried to sit down and slid to the ground. Her friends and I were trying to keep her awake and off the ground and I ended up in one of her {guy} BFF's lap!

Oops, sorry Barry!

It was about that time we decided it was time to go. However, Dawn was PASSED. OUT.

Her friend, Russ, thankfully carried her. And our car was not just around the corner. No, I think Russ probably carried her over a mile. God Bless him!!

So Dawn, please please PLEASE {especially because I won't be there to make sure you're ok}, do NOT have a repeat of last year. Have fun, but be safe.

{The only good thing about me not being there? I won't have to worry about you puking in my car! Ha!!}

Love you!!

Happy Birthday, Bitch!!

{and she doesn't know about my blog, but if she ever finds out, she'll kill me for posting these pictures. haha!!}

Wordfulless Wednesday: The Simple Things

These make me happy:

My bebe. See him peekin'? lol

Sunset the other night.

For more Wordful Wednesdays click here.

For more Wordless Wednesday go to the WW HQ here.

And Mostly Wordless Wednesday here.

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Don't forget to enter my Favorite Things giveaway, celebrating my one year blogversary, if you haven't done so already. It's a good one!!

Apples Coming Outta My Ears!!

The other day Kyle was outside and when he came back in, he had this bag of apples, which he picked off of our trees.

He started rattling off all the things he wanted me to make with them.

Huh. Ohhh. Kaaayyyy.

He kept telling me that baking would be my "project" for yesterday. I think he's convinced I do nothing during the day. LOL

{Plus he's got a sweet tooth like me and loves me to make him treats. Any excuse he can find...}


A little while later, he came in with another bag of apples.

Dude. Seriously?!

{Not sure if you've picked up on it before or not, but one: I use the word 'dude' a lot and two: Kyle and I call each other 'dude'.}

What in the world am I going to do with all of these apples?! I have some in the fridge, too! {Those are store-bought, though.}

So, yesterday I spent the day baking. But first I spent the majority of the time peeling apples and cutting my fingers {Ugh!}.

The first thing I made was this apple crisp.

I used the recipe from the Better Homes & Gardens cookbook that my grandma got for me when I got married. I made no modifications to it.


Then I decided that I wanted to make something else. I hadn't even used 10 apples!! Actually, I think I only used 5 or 6 apples for the crisp.

So I cut up another apple. Yes. One apple.

{Did I mention I've got apples coming out of my ears and I need to find something that uses more than one apple to make next time?}

The recipe I used for these Apple Oatmeal cookies is from Allrecipes. I've been all over that site recently. Love it!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
• 1/2 cup shortening {I used butter instead}
  
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup rolled oats
• 1 cup diced apple without peel {I used a whole apple, whatever it measured out to}
  
• 1 cup chopped walnuts {I used pecans since I like them better}

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar. Beat in the eggs until well blended. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg, and salt; stir into the sugar mixture until well blended. Fold in the walnuts, oats and apples. Drop dough by spoonfuls about 2 inches onto ungreased cookie sheets.
3. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven. Let cool on wire racks.

The cookies are SOOO very yummy and moist. We haven't had the crisp yet. We'll have it after dinner tonight.

I think I ate enough cookies yesterday to feed an entire village...since I still had chocolate chip pumpkin cookies left over from last weeks baking frenzy that needed to be eaten. And that's after I brought some over to my inlaws and gave my sister some, too!!

Now I need some inspiration. I need some tried and true recipes.

What do you like to make that uses apples in the recipe?

Anything! I wanna hear it.

Give me the recipes if you've got them or direct me to a site where I can get them. I need to use these apples before they start attracting fruit flies and / or go bad.

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If you haven't yet, be sure to enter my 1 year blogversary favorite things giveaway!! Trust me, you WANT to win this!!

Not Me, Monday!

MckMama's got all the rules for "Not Me!" Monday posted so if you haven't participated before, click on over and find out the scoop on all that is "Not Me!" Monday!

Our tv has NOT been on it's last leg for awhile now. This week, though, the picture has NOT been getting darker and darker to the point the guide has become almost unreadable. Kyle did NOT get a larger, MUCH HEAVIER tv from some job he did. It has NOT been sitting in our garage for a few weeks. I did NOT decide that it was time to try to get the tv in the house this weekend so Kyle and I did not huff it up the stairs with the help of a hand cart thingy and then Kyle did NOT have to PICK IT UP to get it up the inside stairs because I'm too weak to help lift it. Did I mention this thing weighs about 400 pounds? Uh, yeah. My hubby is NOT Mr. Muscles! Haha! Now, we do NOT have perfectly colored images on our new-to-us tv. That does NOT make me very happy.

My sister and I were NOT texting back and forth on Saturday morning and she did NOT manage to talk me into watching Kingston for the afternoon while she took Evan to her best friends baby shower. Because I didn't want to be stuck at home, I did NOT tell her that I would as long as she left his carseat. Man Oh Man! Carseat makers are not messing around with those things these days! It was NOT nearly impossible to get that thing out of her car. After I called my neighbor over to help get it out, we did NOT discover that we could reach the back hook from the "trunk" {it's all open back there} of the car. My neighbor still had trouble getting it out, though. That sucker didn't want to come out at all!

Kingston and I did NOT have so much fun hanging out together. I did NOT take him to my inlaws where he ran around in circles, played with their dog, played with a little $1 handheld fan and flirted with my MIL. After our stop there, we did NOT go to Marshall's. In order to keep his little hands off of everything, I did NOT get a box of animal crackers and open them up for him to eat, in the store. At the check out, the lady looked from me to the box and back to me. I did NOT have to tell her that he was eating the crackers {because apparently it was not obvious?}. I still needed to go to Target so I decided to go on my way home, to the one near my house. On the way there, Kingston did NOT fall asleep! And then he did NOT wake up right away when I took him out of his carseat. Silly boy! Again, to keep his little hands off of things, I did NOT get him a stuffed monster out of the $1 section. Bribery? Is that what you call it? Huh.

When we got home, there was NOT a bouquet of pink roses laying on the table. Kyle did NOT get them for me "Just Because". I do NOT think that those are the best. They did NOT make me smile.

I also was NOT talked into going to see Zombieland this weekend. Although there was a lot more blood and guts than I prefer to see in a movie, it was NOT pretty funny and a lot better than I was anticipating it to be.

I did NOT celebrate my blogs 1 year anniversary yesterday. Did you enter my Favorite Things giveaway? You should NOT do that right away!!

What have you NOT done this week?

It's My Blogversary!! {Giveaway} - CLOSED

Photo courtesy of FreeFoto.com.

Update: Thank you to everyone that entered. Winners will be posted separately very soon!!

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Who would've thought that first of all, I would've have started a blog and second of all, that I would keep up with it. For. A. YEAR.?? I certainly didn't! But how glad I am that I did!

I wrote about why I started this blog here. Not really any reason other than I just couldn't get it out of my head and so I had to or else it was going to drive me crazy. LOL

I've made some great connections and become friends with other bloggers, which is awesome and I totally love it!

From some of the emails I get, I've also touched and inspired some others {sometimes I wonder 'HOW', but I'm so glad that I can and do}. So many others do the same for me!

Blogging has become part of my daily life. I write posts at night for the next day {like I'm doing now haha!}. I visit others blogs so that I can keep up with all of your lives and I love finding out what kinds of things you're all doing. I laugh a lot, and if I was a crier, I'd be crying a lot. There's so many different things going on out there and to be able to get a peek into your lives makes me honored that I've gotten to know you.

You've all given me so much encouragement and advice over the last year, too. And I can't thank you enough!

Anyway, thank you all for making my blogging experience so wonderful!!

Muah, Muah, Muah!

Ok, enough of the mushy stuff.

Ahem.

You all came here for the giveaway anyway, right? Haha!!

I debated on how I should do this.

I asked Kyle his opinion and he had none.

I asked on Twitter but I think you were all asleep.

SO, this is what I decided.

I'm not going to tell you exactly what you're going to win, if you are so lucky.


Just that there are 10 items {possibly 11} that are in this box.

And they're all my FAVORITE THINGS!!

Here is just a small sneak peek. See if you can figure out what's there.

Cuz I'm not telling you.

I know, I'm so mean!

But I'm not TOO mean because I'M the one giving YOU something, right? LOL


No Fear Canadian friends!!

There's something for you too!!

I won't tell you what you could win either, but just be sure to tell me in the comments if I'll be shipping to Canada.

To summarize, we have:

1. Gift pack of my favorite things for one U.S. Resident.

2. One {or two} of my favorite things, for one Canadian Resident.

How do you WIN?

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Leave me a comment telling me one {or more} of your favorite things that you just can't live without.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES:

LEAVE EACH ENTRY IN A SEPARATE COMMENT SO EACH ONE IS COUNTED!!!

• Follow me, or let me know that you already do
  
• Follow me on Twitter, or let me know that you already do
  
• Tweet about my giveaway. You may do this as many times as you wish. Just be sure to leave a separate comment with the tweet link or your Twitter name for each one to be counted.
  

Tweet: @MrsMeganC is celebrating her 1 year blogversary with some of her favorite things. Enter to win http://bit.ly/mH9dC . RT

• Post about my giveaway and give me the direct link to the post
  
• Favorite me on Technorati
  

Giveaway will end on October 25th at midnight, Pacific Standard Time.

Winners will be chosen by Random.org.

Winners will be posted on October 26th.

Be sure you leave a valid email address, if it's not already linked, in the comments. Winner{s} will have 48 hours to get back to me or a new winner will be drawn.

Weekend Wordle / Six Word Saturday

To create your own Wordle, go here. And then download MWSnap to save the image. Easy peasy!

Join in on the Week-End Wordle with Shannon at Last Shreds of Sanity. Link up and see what everyone else is coming up with.

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Six Word Saturday:

A Huge Giveaway To Be Announced!!!
{Tomorrow}

Join Cate at Show My Face for more Six Word Saturdays. She's got lots of groupies that like to play along!

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A Blonde Goes On Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

Regis: "Barbara, you've done very well so far - $500,000 and one lifeline left -- phone a friend.

The next question will give you the top prize of One Million dollars if you get it right ... but if you get it wrong you will drop back to $32,000 -- are you ready?"

Barbara: "Sure, I'll have a go!"

Regis: "Which of the following birds does not build it's own nest?

Is it........

A-Robin

B-Sparrow

C-Cuckoo

D-Thrush

Remember Barbara its worth 1 Million dollars."

"I think I know who it..but I'm not 100%...

No, I haven't got a clue. I'd like to phone a friend Regis, just to be sure.

Regis: "Yes, who, Barbara, do you want to phone?

Barbara: "I'll phone my friend Maggie back home in Birmingham."

(ringing)

Maggie (also a blonde): "Hello..."

Regis: "Hello Maggie, its Regis here from Who Wants to be a Millionaire-I have Barbara here and she is doing really well on $500,000, but needs your help to be a Million.

The next voice you hear will be Barbara's and she'll read you the question.

There are 4 possible answers and 1 correct answer and you have 30 seconds to answer -- fire away Barbara."

Barbara: "Maggie, which of the following birds does not build it's own nest? Is it:

A-Robin

B-Sparrow

C-Cuckoo

D-Thrush"

Maggie: "Oh Gees, Barbara that's simple.....It's a Cuckoo."

Barbara: "You think?"

Maggie: "I'm sure."

Barbara: " Thanks Maggie." (hangs up)

Regis: "Well, do you want to stick on $500,000 or play on for the Million, Barbara?"

Barbara: "I want to play, I'll go with C-Cuckoo"

Regis: "Is that your final answer?"

Barbara: "It is."

Regis: "Are you confident?"

Barbara: "Yes fairly, Maggie's a sound bet."

Regis: "Barbara.....you had $500,000 and you said C-Cuckoo ...you're right! - You have just won ONE MILLION DOLLARS.

Here is your check. You have been a great contestant and a real gambler. Audience please put your hands together for Barbara."

(clapping)

That night Barbara calls round to Maggie and brings her down to a local bar for a celebration drink and, as they are sipping their Champagne, Barbara turns to Maggie and asks "Tell me Maggie, How in God's name did you know that it was the Cuckoo that does not build its own nest?

Maggie: "Listen Barbara, everybody knows that a Cuckoo lives in a clock."

Aloha Friday: Fall Festivities

It's Aloha Friday over at An Island Life!

Answer my question and make sure you post one on your blog!

After that, go relax because today is Friday!!

Question for you this week is:

Are you going to participate in any Fall festivities this year, such as apple picking, going through a corn maze or purchasing pumpkins at a pumpkin patch?

My answer:

In the past, we've occasionally gone through a corn maze. Very fun. This year I think we're probably just going to go to a pumpkin farm and carve our pumpkins {at home}. It's been a couple years since we've done that.

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How do you mend a broken Jack-o-lantern?
With a pumpkin patch!

Why do jack-o-lanterns have stupid smiles on their faces?
You'd have a stupid smile, too, if you had just had all your brains scooped out!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

DID YOU KNOW:

A pumpkin is really a squash?
It is! It's a member of the Cucurbita family which includes squash and cucumbers.

That pumpkins are grown all over the world?
Six of the seven continents can grow pumpkins including Alaska! Antarctica is the only continent that they won't grow in.

That the "pumpkin capital" of the world is Morton, Illinois?
This self proclaimed pumpkin capital is where you'll find the home of the Libby corporation's pumpkin industry.

That the Irish brought this tradition of pumpkin carving to America?
The tradition originally started with the carving of turnips. When the Irish immigrated to the U.S., they found pumpkins a plenty and they were much easier to carve for their ancient holiday.

Fun Facts About The Pumpkin!

• Pumpkins contain potassium and Vitamin A.

• Pumpkin flowers are edible.

• The largest pumpkin pie ever made was over five feet in diameter and weighed over 350 pounds. It used 80 pounds of cooked pumpkin, 36 pounds of sugar, 12 dozen eggs and took six hours to bake.

• In early colonial times, pumpkins were used as an ingredient for the crust of pies, not the filling.

• Pumpkins were once recommended for removing freckles and curing snake bites.

• The largest pumpkin ever grown weighed 1,140 pounds.

• The Connecticut field variety is the traditional American pumpkin.

• Pumpkins are 90 percent water.

• Eighty percent of the pumpkin supply in the United States is available in October.

• Native Americans flattened strips of pumpkins, dried them and made mats.

• Native Americans called pumpkins "isqoutm squash."

• Native Americans used pumpkin seeds for food and medicine.