The Wind

(photo borrowed from usps.org)

Earlier today my sister called me to chat a bit and while on the phone, she came across a card that had the following message.  We all go through tough times in our life, and this outlook made me smile.

One of the things that surprised me about sailing is that the same wind can take the boat in all directions.  It depended on where I steered with the rudder and how I set my sail.  I’m trying to apply this principle to the rest of my life.  I can’t control the winds that blow, but with God’s help I can set sails accordingly.  I can look for the beauty in people who treat me unfairly. I can try to counter criticism with affirmation.  Even contrary winds can be used by God to teach me something new.

Sometimes when you are in the midst of turmoil, it is difficult to surrender without feeling like you are giving up.  However when you reach this point this is the time to stop and drop to your knees and pray, because without God’s help there is no idea where you will end up.  More than likely, you will end up in the same situation at a different time with a different person  going through the same thing.  Unless you look to God, many of us don’t learn the lesson that is in front of us, staring us in the face.

Not to be completely thought-fragmented but this card has encouraged me to have a giveaway.

There is a book that I read recently and I value the lesson in this book.  It was originally written as a business book… a book for management and employees, but it applies to many different relationships in life (parent/child, husband/wife, management/employee).

So I will be giving away this book next Friday, November 6th.  (I can’t believe it is 2 days away from November.  It feels like it was January just yesterday).

To enter:

1.  Comment below about your Halloween plans. 

2.  Tweet about this awesome contest. :-) Come back and leave a comment and a link to your tweet.

3.  Become a follower on this blog.

* Please leave separate comments for each entry

Oh!  Stay tuned.  I will be having a scrapbooking related giveaway VERRRRY SOOOON.

Vans Giveaway Winner

I have unfortunately been away from a computer for TOO long.  So I am excited for my first returning post to be announcing the winner.

(drum roll)

And the winning entry goes to:

Thank you to everyone that entered.  This giveaway has been a lot of fun.

Suz,

Please send an email to amoxiemom at yahoo dot com so that I may get your prize to you. 

Congrats!!

Vans Custom Shoe Giveaway

Last night I played around on the Vans website, www.vans.com designing some custom shoes for my son.  He loves light weight, slip-on shoes and for this hot summer weather, Vans are perfect.  He had just outgrown his last pair and we tried to buy some that were similar from a different store and needless to say… it didn’t work.  I have to admit, he comes by this honestly.  His dad is also a shoe FANATIC.  Although, I do think that Evan, my son, is far more particular about his shoes than Corey.

Well after talking about Evan’s new shoes, Lauren was intrigued and wanted to design her own pair of shoes.  She had such a blast.  I bet you can’t guess her favorite color. :-)

Choice #1

She has it narrowed down to three pairs that she likes, but said that she would like some help.  So I asked her if she wanted to help me host a contest and we could let other people pick which pair that they liked.  To this proposition, she started jumping up & down and clapping her hands, screaming, and the wild excitement ended with twirls.  (I think that she likes the idea). 

Choice #2

So please take a look at the three pairs of shoes that she created and leave a comment telling us which you like best.

Choice #3

But you guessed it, the fun doesn’t end here.  Lauren & I are also hosting a fun contest for a free pair of Vans Custom Shoes.

It only takes seconds to pick your colors and begin designing. 

1. To enter go to Van’s website, design your own pair take a screenshot, or just tell us which you liked best.
2. Post your screenshot and blog about the Vans experience
3. Blog about this giveaway
4. Twitter about the giveaway
5. and as always, Follow this blog.

Happy Shopping.

www.vans.com

select Shop

Select custom

and begin…. it really is THAT simple.

This contest will end June 26, 2009 at midnight.

Technorati Tags: vans custom shoes,giveaway,contests,free,shoes

,

Book Giveaway #2 Winner

It’s that time.

Time for me to visit a post office near me to deliver a book to….

ANITA DODSON who said:

I would love to read more about God's design for women. I hope I win this book.
Anita D.

May 27, 2009 12:28 PM

I used Random.org to pick the lucky winner.

We Have A Winner.... (Book Giveaway)

I used random.org's number generator to pick the winner for me and they chose NUMBER 5.

So Deborah that left this comment:

I'm following your blog. asthenight at gmail dot com

April 16, 2009 4:06 PM

Come one down. You are the winning contestant!

I truly hope that you enjoy the book.

Bedroom Makeover Giveaway

After surfing the internet, I came across this giveaway & couldn't pass up the opportunity to share it with you.

I remember as a child flipping through store catalogs picking out the "child themed" bedroom that I wanted... I liked My Little Pony.

Now years later I STILL do the same thing, I'm more into the contemporary theme these days... LOL, no more My Little Pony.

What's funny is that as an adult I struggled with buying the "child themed" stuff for my kids. I wanted to do their bedrooms in a more creative deco-style, but ultimately I gave in and let them choose the themes. They are so lucky that I remember my childhood desires so vividly. hehehe. I will try to take pictures of their bedrooms soon to share with you.

Identity Direct is having a bedroom makeover giveaway.

So click on the picture link below and enter!

Book Giveaway

An author that I really enjoy reading is Nicholas Sparks. His books have the tendency to draw me in and fall in love with the characters. I truly enjoy both the suspense and the romance that his books produce. So on that note, I am going to giveaway one of his books.

I have a hard cover version of The Lucky One, that I will be giving away this week.

The giveaway ends Monday night at midnight and I will announce the winner sometime next week. (Until the book project is completed I can't make promises on exact times & days that I will be able to blog).

You have four ways to enter.

#1 Leave a comment about something that you did or are going to do for yourself this week.

#2 Follow this blog or if you are already a follower tell me what kind of reader you use or how you follow it. (I love learning about new ways to keep up with blogs & feeds).

#3 Post about the giveaway & either link to this post or let me know that you posted about it.

#4 Twitter about the giveaway.

********************

Thank you so much to all that have entered. The winner has been announced & received her book.

It's A Magical Kingdom!

Awesome Giveaway

I came across a blog that it having a wonderful giveaway! They are giving away 4 one day passes to Disney World.

Although I DO want to increase my chances of winning by doing my best to keep it a secret, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to tell you so that you may also have the chance to win & go to Disney World.

http://www.5minutesformom.com/5690/mom-blogger-discovers-disney-world/

We have a winner... (Dermalogica giveaway)

We have a winner for the Dermalogica travel set.

I have really enjoyed doing these giveaways. Hopefully I will have more for you in the future! Thank you to all those that participated! This is FUN!

Drum roll please...

And the winner is...

DeeBee!!!

Come on down!

(The winner was chosen using random.org 's random number generator).

Dermalogica Giveaway

I don't know about you, but this winter I have been suffering from dry skin. So I thought that this travel skin kit would be a fun and hopefully appreciated giveaway.

(I totally stole the following description from the Dermalogica website, I figured they were the most qualified to describe their products, especially since I have yet to use them myself). So here goes:

This Dermalogica Skin Kit contains a full regimen of what your skin needs most. If you're a first-time Dermalogica user, then prepare yourself for great skin. And, if you're already hooked, these convenient travel sizes will bring professional skin care wherever you're going today. Use as directed by your Dermalogica Professional Skin Therapist.

If you would like to win one, please leave a comment for entry #1 and if you would like to increase your chances of winning, please post about this giveaway and link back to this blog (or this post) for entry #2. You do NOT need to have a blog to enter this contest. Just please leave your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if/when you win. The giveaway will end on Friday 2/20 at midnight. Enjoy!

Praycelet Giveaway Winner!

I am so sorry that I wasn't able to post this on Saturday but I was swept away to an amazing Valentine getaway and not only did I NOT have my computer, but I didn't even have a telephone. That story is another post all together.

All that to say, we do have a winner!! The kids LOVED the drawing and are already wanting to do another one. As for this one.... drum roll...

AND THE WINNER IS...

HEIDI of Sacred and Profane.

Thank you to everyone that entered. The kids are already going through the house trying to see what else we can giveaway. :-)

Heidi please send me your info and I will be happy to send you your new praycelet.

Praycelet Giveaway

No there isn't a typo in the title.

This beautiful bracelet is called a praycelet.

I absolutely love the concept behind it and even more I love the fact that for every one of these that are purchased a donation is given to one of three different charities!! I just love "pay-it-forward" gifts.

The praycelet is a dainty silver bracelet with three photo frames which are linked together by praying hands. It is designed to lay flat on your arm. The idea is to put pictures, lists (I love my lists), sayings, your country's flag, etc.. (whatever you would like to pray for) in the frames. I like seeing those reminders and simply enjoy seeing the photos on my praycelet.

Since, not all my family reads this I think that I am safe in sharing that this is one of the mother's day gifts that I am purchasing for the "moms" in my family. I personally know the person that designed this and had it made (I'm very stoked about that too... can you tell). I am baffled and extremely interested in the entire process of this creation. (My mouth is still hanging open in awe).

If anyone is interested in purchasing one of these praycelets, please send me an email with your contact information and I will get your order processed. The price on this lovely item is $20.00.

I really am so excited about this giveaway. I must apologize now about these photos because they don't do the jewelry justice, and please excuse my freckled arm. However, if you are super bored you can print off the picture with my arm in it and play dot-to-dot.

Now if you would like to WIN one, please leave a comment for entry #1 and if you would like to increase your chances of winning, please post about this giveaway and link back to this blog (or this post) for entry #2. You do NOT need to have a blog to enter this contest. Just please leave your email address in your comment so that I can contact you if/when you win. Good luck!