A Picture-Perfect Day for Announcing Winners!

Ahhh. It was a fantastic Thursday despite the fact that 9 hours of it were spent in a cubicle. I did sneak out to take a walk through the farmer's market, which is conveniently just outside my office. I got some new potatoes, some dill plants and some yummy bread (which I proceeded to start in on at lunch time). I took some photos, strolled a bit, listened to music. The weather was so great here today I should have tried to play hooky! Or maybe I should have laid down next to this adorable dog and taken a little snooze...

On to the important stuff, right?? Like big prizes to award!!!! And thanks to everyone who participated in the blog freebie fun! I am super excited to announce the winners! And through this giveaway process, I have avoided having my husband kick me and my clutter out on the curb, so thank you for that. Congrats are in order to:

--Laura! You are the big winner of the stocking and vintage bracelet!
--KristenMary! You are the winner of the growth chart!
--Jen! You are the winner of a secretly stashed growth chart that wasn't even a known giveaway item!!!
--Lisa at Lil Fish Studios! You are taking home a buncha lipbalms!!!
--Pin and Paper! You are the big winner of my big stash o' cards!
--No one snatched up the baby hat, so I'm going to donate it to my favorite charity!

If you're a winner, make sure I have your email address so I can get your details and get your freebies in the mail! Yippee!

Blogiversary Freebie: Cool Vintage Bracelet

This is it! The last day of my blog anniversary month of June. I really can't believe that I've found things to ramble on about for years on end, but I have. And a couple of you have even listened! Amazing! So to thank you for being there, listening, I will send (for free!) to one of you this really cool vintage bracelet from my vintage shop on Etsy called I Love Vintage Stuff. I'm not sure who made it or what it's made of, but it's cute and I think you'll like it. Or you can regift it. It's all yours, if you tell me your favorite jewelry maker or place you like to buy jewelry. Just post it in the comments section and leave your email address if I don't already have it.

Tomorrow I will announce all the winners, so make sure to get your comment in if you want to be in the running for any of my freebies. I have more big announcements, too, so stay tuned!

Big news in Minnesota today -- we finally have a senator. I actually abhor talking politics, so I'm celebrating an end to this being a news story. As if Minnesota was not a weird enough state for politics with our pro-wrestler Governer of years past...

Blogiversary Freebie: Lil Cowpoke Sunhat

I like the idea of cowboys and western things. Like those cool shirts with the pearly buttons. And cowboy boots. I don't know, there's just something Americana-like about it that appeals to me. Maybe it's that I like it out West. Or maybe it's just that there are so many hot moviestar cowboys. Who knows.

Anyway, I made this little tiny sunhat using some cute western sheriff cowboy print fabric but my little guy is way to big to wear it. It's a size small, so probably fits a 3 - 9 month type wee one. It's going to be sent to one lucky person who can tell me -- are you a little bit country, or a little bit rock n roll?

Blogiversary Freebie: OMG June is Almost Over!

O, where did the time go? I thought I'd have a leisurely month to revel in many years of writing about myself, my craft projects, the incredible and undeniable cuteness of my kid, my husband, blah blah blah. But, no, reality is a cruel thing in that it sped up the month of June to a zipping-wizzing-rollercoastering-horserace-Nascar-is-nothing-compared-to-my-month-holy-crap-I-don't-even-know-what-hit-me type of experience.

You'll forgive me if I cram all my giveaways into the last coupla days and then announce winners July 1, right? Well, Laura is already a winner (check yer dang email, girl!) and the rest of you can be, too. Today's giveaway is a stockpile of greeting cards. You'll never have to buy new again. Stash them in a drawer or organize them OCD style by month...whatevs. Just make sure you leave a comment and I'll choose a big weiner at random. Good day to you!

OH! And, coming soon, a few 2009 firsts you may not believe: the first book completed (I'm a slow reader...but this one was a definite must read) and my first sewing project from a pattern! I'm checking things off the list! Waaaaaaahoooooooo!

Blogiversary Freebie: SO BIG Growth Chart

I made this growth chart a while back and never ended up using it. Not because I didn't like it, but because after making three more of my own, I was given one by my dad that became the "go-forward" growth chart in the house. This one is great because you can mark multiple kid's heights on it with fabric marker of various colors. Just make sure you hang it at the right height on the wall and you're good to go. After the kid(s) outgrows it (ha!) you can store it neatly away and/or package it up if you need to move.

This last point should be emphasized. If you plan to move, don't do like we did in our family and mark the kid's heights on a wall in the kitchen. We made that mistake and, years later, had to transfer all the little lines to a board we could remove from the house. Unfortunately it looses a little of it's charm if you don't have the original handwritten dates and lines, I think. So, take it from my experience -- you will love having a chart for marking the growth of your kids. You will love it even more if you can take it with you.

My question is this: did your family use a growth chart when you were growing up? What was it like? Does it still exist? I'll select a winner from those who leave comments. Good luck!

My New Bar and Laura's a Winner

I have no idea why I would not buy the house that contains this awesome bar in the basement. It's a WORKING wet bar. Do you see the playing card floor tiles? This is such a typical Midwestern basement that I need it to be all mine so I can invite the girls over for Brandy Manhattan's and a game of Bridge. OMG.

So huge fights were breaking out over my giveaway handmade Christmas stocking in July, but the out and out winner is Laura. If you haven't read her Christmas memory comment yet, you should. And then check out her blog because it's very very funny and she talks about her vagina. Well, not her vagina exactly, but sort of. Trust me. Any woman with 486 children has some stories to tell. Congrats Laura! I need your address so I can send you the goodies!!! Not to worry if you didn't win, I'll have more goodies in honor of my blogiversary later on.

In other news, if you are in and around my 'hood Columbia Heights tomorrow, we're having a garage sale. Come buy my junk so I don't have to move it in my eventual move (sometime in the year 2077).

Blogiversary Freebie: Christmas in June!

I never thought, when I started blogging, that I sit here for so many years doing it. It's a great outlet, and heavens knows I have lots of things to ramble about. The weirdest thing about it is that my friends are always totally up to speed on my life, even if we don't talk all that often. I tell them a story and they say "oh, yeah, I read that on your blog." And it strikes me a little weird. But, nevertheless, who has time to make personal phone calls to each and every friend with an update, anyway? This blog can serve as my every day "Christmas Letter" that I mass-mail to all my friends and family. They skim through it, look to see if anyone died or got married, and set it in the pile with all the others.

Speaking of Christmas...in honor of my blogiversary today's giveaway is my Vintage Fabric Elf Stocking! Get ready for the holidays WELL in advance this year!! All you need to do is post a response to this post telling me your very favorite memory of Christmas. I'll pick a winner at random, and I'll even pay the postage!