The $20 Amazon GC goes to:

KAMI!

Congratulations!

Your inbox should be 20 bucks richer in moments.

Also, Kami is an amazing Etsy business woman. You should all check out her amazing peices here. And right here.

For a very long time I’ve been kind of winging it where a schedule goes, as far as knowing what I should tackle first/next/now and I always fall behind because I don’t prioritize well.

My priority has almost always been my kids first and then this website – and even that line got blurry some days. So I have to really decide if I’m going to let my time suck be pleasing people or being a mom.

Surgery, temporary homeschooling and packing up for a couple weeks has made the decision very clear to me. Being a mom has to come first for me, something I’ve failed at far more than I’ve excelled.

I’m losing readers, the numbers are falling and I’ve actually struggled with this. Being a number-phobic person – each and every set of eyes that decides I’m worth their time is very important to me, so I feel like I’m failing (at a very personal level) when those people no longer find importance here.

I get it! I do it all the time. Clear the noise in my life, redirect my interests. It’s part of the amazing freedom of the internet and I applaud it, but it still stings a bit.

So part of me wants to please you and start writing my heart out again, doing list after list of things to do, creating new and exciting ideas/ventures/things but I’m exhausted and Bygones must be Bygones. I want to apologize for the loss of (possible) interest and I want to quit, actually.

We’re still undergoing a major redesign and it’s just stressful. This isn’t an income for me, this website. So spending extra time and money and pouring my wants and needs into this thing is exposing me on a level I wasn’t aware would be required.

If you’ve made it this far – thanks for sticking with me And because I love you all, literally, all of you, I’m giving away ONE (1) $20.00 Amazon gift card.

Answer me this (your one and only hoop for an entry) in the comments:

If you were going away for a couple weeks (doesn’t matter where or with who) what would be one thing that you’d be SURE to do/try while away?

{Giveaway closes Sunday January 16, 2011 at midnight EST. Winner announced Monday January 17, 2011.}

Want more information? Chatter? General Jodi-Speak and crazy talk? Head on over to facebook and don’t forget to “like” me, I like you too.

There’s a Tornado Watch in Holland, Mi this morning. School’s are canceled … dishes are falling off my counter from the open window and I made a pot of coffee.

I’m a bit of a romantic (SOOO Surprising, I know) so this weather lends to some really nice fantasy living. Candle light, coffee or tea, jammies all day, movies and cartoons, watching the world around me argue over wind possession and I can sit and watch the show for free.

Better than theatre in my opinion.

This morning as I was getting ready I was having a self talk that revealed, once again, that I just need to take things one at a time. Days, decisions, meals, requests. I’m always so overwhelmed with peace when I give myself permission to think only an hour ahead of myself.

Right Now … this is important. I’ll worry about the rest later.

Which brings me to this: I really like you guys. I’ve done countless giveaways in the past – and even self sponsored quite a few about a year (or two?) ago around the Holidays. Here’s what I’ve decided: I love to give. But giveaways are so empty at the end – all the hype and comments and even conversation and then a random generator picks a number and it’s done.

I want to do more than that – I love to interact with you guys. It feels so empty to give away some one else’s product no matter how much I believe in it. I don’t feel like I’m making a lasting impact on you. Whether or not that matters to anyone, I just don’t know. But I spend enough time here, talking and writing and wanting to get to know you that when it comes to gifting you with something … I kind of want it to mean something … for me.

Driving around the other day (one of my happy places, alone in the car) I was praying and talking and generally just organizing my thoughts, waiting for clarity and accepting silence as an answer … I had this feeling that maybe my job is to stuff women with purpose, with love. To believe in them when no one else does so that some day they might look in the mirror and believe it too.

I want to be a small voice in a big sea that has the impact to single handedly over turn the affects of advertising and judgement on women’s lives. In our daughters lives. In my own mother’s life.

Tall order, no?

Friends, I want to love you with courage and passion and I want to express my deep gratitude for you in my life. As small as it may be. Just a click here, a glance there. You affect me on a daily basis.

So this week I’m going to be sending some of you flowers …

They won’t last forever of course, they aren’t a kitchen aid and you can’t make a stew with them … but hopefully they’ll be a bright spot in your day and week. A reminder that even the most anonymous voice can be heard. That you are worthy.

You so totally are.

***I’m sending these flowers to you because I care and because I can. I’ve saved up some money in order to be able to pay it forward to my website … to you guys, who make this possible for me every day, who make it worth it.

To Enter:

Comment here and tell me the last time you received flowers – what were they for?

Giveaway open to any one, any where. The Random Generator will assist me in choosing the lucky winners. Comments will close at 10pm on Thursday October 28, 2010.

Other ways to stay in the know: Follow on Twitter or Friend on Facebook.

This might change, but right now I plan to send 2 of you a bouquet. I’m not leading this one, friends. I’m being led. Can I just say that as freaking scary and out of control that it feels … that I also have never felt so secure either?

This weather, I tell ya … there’s just something to it.

Love yourself.

It’s that time of year!

Super easy and fun activity for kids. We just bought the caramels from the store and followed melting/making directions on back of bag. It’s messy and yummy which is obviously the best combination for everyone involved.

Don’t forget – you have one more day to enter for your chance to win one of two yearly memberships to Moms in Tow!!

I’m pretty excited about this giveaway for a few reasons, One being I know Jenny, the founder and she is everything you would want in someone who’s running a business for mom’s. I know her in real life, that helps, but she’s genuine and humble and really really smart.

I was given a yearly membership for free in exchange for this giveaway, so lets all be on the same page. However, I would have done this giveaway (or a write up with no giveaway) no matter if I had to pay for a membership on my own. I would have bought one. And I will renew it next year.

Bla bla bla! Yay!

Please check out Moms In Tow and see for yourself.

Luckily enough there’s an article in the local paper about Mom’s In Tow this morning so I’ll just let you see what they say … here.

• Mom’s In Tow offers discounts from many local business and some online businesses to members of Moms In Tow.
• You can purchase a gift membership for someone you know. Great baby shower idea, or stocking stuffer!
• New business partners are climbing on board every day, and if you have a favorite one that you don’t see yet let us know in the comments!

How to enter

Please visit the Moms In Tow website and let me know in the comments on this post the business discount you’re most excited about.

That’s it! No dancing in circles for me with giveaways. If you’re interested in further ways to connect with Mom’s In Tow you can follow them on twitter and have a looksee on facebook.

You may enter once a day, one entry per IP Address and the giveaway is open until Wednesday, September 22 at midnight.

***POST EDIT: Forgot to mention, Moms In Tow is giving away TWO MEMBERSHIPS for a year to two lucky readers

Who should enter

YOU!
No really, you may win this for a friend or sister or aunt. You can win this and still buy one for someone else. You can do it all!

I’m off to buy a helmet. Until then … Happy Birthday to all my friends here. A day about me is also a day about all of you. Thank you!

Go Enter to win some Etsy.com gift cards.

“You’ve all been patient with me while I’ve been planning the conference and because you’re all so neat I’m giving away TWO $20 gift cards to Etsy.com. You have until May 14 to enter by leaving a comment {on the facebook page} and tell me one of your favorite things to do in the summer. (Be creative) If you get someone *new to LIKE this facebook page, go ahead and enter again, but be sure to let me know who’s the new Liker.”

Alice in Wonderland party via Hostess with the mostess

Gorgeous, no? So many beautiful ideas.

See also this Alice In Wonderland party:

Complete with downloadable party planner. Awesome.

Let’s just round this out with some great ideas for food and decoration for the outdoor tea party:

Edible Centerpiece from Hostess with the mostess again, she’s got it going on.

And then there’s this fabric banner you can make from V and Co.

Now without further ado the winner of the Etsy print giveaway goes to:

Congratulations Donielle! Look for an email from me shortly!

I want to say a huge thank you to Red Bird Ink for sponsoring this giveaway in conjunction with the cooking demo. I had a blast and am so thankful for the friends and opportunities this site has brought to my life. And Letterpress. Can’t forget to thank the Letterpress.

I came home exhausted and completely full of good food but even better – full of good life. Good conversations, good friends, good experiences.

I was a little worried about doing something like this at first – once everyone was there they kind of just sat there looking at me waiting for me to start. Which is when I said – uh … please don’t stop talking. I have no idea what I’m doing!

But I think it went good. We kept the conversation going, I hope I said something that made sense during the whole time. It was so very nice that I knew most of ladies in attendance ahead of time. Made me WAY more at ease about acting like I have anything important to say.

I wasn’t sure if I should narrate everything I was doing ala Rachel Ray on TV or if I should just whip stuff out and answer questions as we went along. I didn’t know if I should focus on what I think about being in the kitchen (Keeping things simple, use substitutions, get creative!) or if I should focus on what the ladies knew and felt and go from there.

All in all, it was a fun time. I would totally do it again. In fact, I’m already planning the next one. I think instead of going through a whole meal I’ll pick something (like fish or desserts – but not together!!) and focus on that.

I felt like most of the attendee’s were really interested in the fish yesterday, what I did with it, how I did it and how I went about cooking it. Which didn’t even cross my mind when I was planning it – thinking that I should focus more on one thing than another.

I also didn’t man the camera very much and many thanks go to Rebekah for taking some photos along the way. I’ll have to be better about getting in there and taking some photos next time.

And like I said yesterday we had some pretty awesome sponsors to help it go that extra mile:

Kitchen Stories offered me a wonderful discount so I could send my attendee’s home with a little something-something. I just love her quote right off the bat – “I never worry about diets. The only carrots that interest me are the number you get in a diamond.” - Mae West I mean, how can you not want to hang out with this wonderful lady?

I didn’t have the budget to gift an apron to each of my guests … but you have to see these. The Pretty Ditty etsy shop is to die for.

Those aprons would have come in handy while I was mixing up the guts to the cake …

Which we devoured.

Like I said, though, it was fantastic. I felt comfortable (once I got over myself) and I can’t wait for the next one. I think I’ll wear a wig though … then I can pretend I’m PW or something and maybe I’ll feel more comfortable being all “And then you add some salt, just a pinch.” Weird. Weird weird weird.

Let’s meet the attendee’s:

Donielle came along with one of her Peanuts. Isn’t she adorable? I got to hold her for about 45 seconds while Donielle strapped on her trusty carrier for her Peanut to rest in while she demonstrated Kefir to the group (and let us try it!) and my uterus started screaming at me.

You can see why, no?

Rebekah came after spending the morning antiqueing with Michelle (another attendee) in Saugatuck. SO FUN!

And here’s Michelle – Hi Michelle! Love your name

I was going to have all the recipes written out for each girl and wrapped all nice but then I had a sick husband, remembered that I have 2 kids and had a broken car in one week … so … you know. They had to transfer them over to a recipe card themselves, but I think they forgive me.

I didn’t capture a great photo of Candace, but you can see her here:

Candace and I go way back. I’ll just leave it at that. She’s a texture girl, just like me, as far as food goes. She wasn’t too hip on the Salmon but that’s ok – she tried it! They all did, which was the best part for me.

Sitting down with everyone after making all the food and just getting to know each other. That’s what this is all about for me. You. All of you.

While we were all standing in the kitchen Donielle demonstrated Kefir to us …

It was so interesting and I took some home to try out on my kids … they both LOVED it. It’s like fizzy juice, or pop … which is exactly what Jessica called it once she tried it. I was starting to look at doing this so now I’m glad I know what it’s supposed to look/taste like and I think I’ll go ahead and give it a try.

What a day! But it’s not over.

Red Bird Ink etsy shop wants to give you a chance to win a letterpress print from their shop in the name of cooking. Amen.

They’re offering up one of their Cow Parts No3 Prints to one of my lucky readers!!

To Enter:

Click through to their shop and leave a comment back on this post telling me your favorite print, stationary or coaster they have listed.

That’s it! Please give them some love, I have an addiction to letterpress and I LOVE their shop.

***Contest ends Tuesday evening 10 pm EST March 2, 2010, winner to be announced Wednesday March 3, 2010***

In the madness that is cleaning out closets I lost the prints I was going to give away at first, ugh! So I’m moving on to another print I found that we’ve never hung. We’re terrible at this.

The print is unframed and measures 16″ X 23″ … go friend yourself to enter for your chance to win!

We bought this print from sfgirlbybay etsy shop owner. Love her stuff!

I’ve found many a things I’ve boughten over the years that I never ended up using or hanging so I’m just going to give them away. First up is some art I bought from millymollymandy’s etsy shop (which is now Belle & Boo) for Jessica’s bedroom … um like 2 years ago. Yeah, I still LOVE it but we’re just not going to hang it ever and I’m sure one of you would love to have it.

However, I’m giving it away on the facebook page so for a chance to win it (and those chances are pretty awesome right now) you need to friend yourself. DELURK!

This is all very selfish because I want to see your face and if emptying my closets with giveaways is going to bring you out – then I will.

Cue: Cackling laughter. (or is it Que?)