Astounding

So many times, I have been guilty of reading something, but not really paying attention to what is there, in the words. I've been working hard lately to take in what someone is telling me, and not just letting my eyes fly over their sentences.

A perfect illustration:  I met a blogger with a larger than life story. In her introductory blog post, she details a time in her life where circumstances required her to be in a hospital for nine months. Now, we can do a skip like a flat rock over water skim with our eyes on her words 9 months, or we can stop and marvel at what she is saying: NINE months in a hospital.

Today I am writing my 547th post. 547. That number astounds me. What have I had to say, and what kept me coming back to say more?

It's this blog, and it's you. You and the interaction and sense of belonging and acceptance that you have all given me here.

I'm celebrating two years of blogging. And I celebrate because my life became better when I began blogging, and 99.9 percent of that reason is all of you. My life is better and richer because of the relationships formed through and because of this blog.

You have all become a big part of my life, I don't like to think about the time that I didn't even know you. And, so, to celebrate two years of knowing you -- which is the real reason to celebrate more than the two years of blogging -- I am having a mother of a giveaway because I want to try and give you all something back, for what you've given me.

1.  Anna Lefler's The Chicktionary

Yes, I have this book. Yes, I want you to have one of your own. The Chicktionary, by the award-winning writer and humorist, Anna Lefler, of Things Just Keep Getting Weirder. Why should I be the only coolest mom on the block? Impress and loosen up the moms at school pick up with your chicktalk as well as know what the hip moms mean when you eavesdrop and hear "wasband" "fat pants" "back fat"  and "Basset knees." I'd be lost without this book (no reason for people to know the true dork that I am, right?) Why am I giving a copy away? Because it will make you laugh. Don't want to wait until then to laugh? Go now and see The Chicktionary official trailer here. 

*Thank you, Anna.

 


2.  Alice Bradley's and Eden Kennedy's Let's Panic About Babies

Alice Bradley of Finslippy. Eden Kennedy of Fussy.org. Two clever, witty, funny, funnnnnny women who have written a book that touches on the issues that truly matter if and if you don't have children; like how to tolerate your partner's need for love, and how everything wrong in your life is really your mother's fault after all. Impossible to read this book and not emerge brainier, more smart assier, and smuggishly humor secure.

You want this. Do I even have to add the part about it being signed by both authors? Or is that just the icing on the cake? Can't wait and want some icing on the cake today? Go check out Let's Panic About Babies book trailer: a work of genius.


*Thank you, Alice and Eden.



3.  Confessions of a Scary Mommy by Scary Mommy Jill Smokler

This book, written by Scary Mommy Jill Smokler of the incredibly successful blog, Scary Mommy, is near and dear to my heart. I'll be giving it out at baby showers because it is full of truths. Funny, bittersweet, poignant, shocking, endearing, heartfelt, honest truths. Any new mom would welcome this like they'd welcome an invitation for a three hour nap. Though all the mom confessions in here make you feel so very normal, I think the most exciting part about this book is how many moms will reach the end of this book feeling reassured and like they're not such a bad mommy after all.

I can honestly say that if I had had the good fortune of having this book 17 years ago when I first became a mother, I never would have felt as inadequate and scared as I did. 

Signed by the amazingly generous Scary Mommy, Jill Smokler, author.


*Thank you so much, Jill.


4.  Awesome T shirt from the web series The Louise Log

This T shirt is so cool. How could it not be? Have you seen The Louise Log?

I'm short on the hours in my day, but I don't miss an episode of this web series. Miss an episode, and you'll miss Louise reminding herself to keep her eyes on the vegetables at the farmer's market so the stand owners don't think she's checking out their package. And I feel better knowing that I'm not the only one living in daily fear that school officials are going to call me in on my parenting. And how often have we, the honest ones, confessed to having a little bit of an anxiety attack the first time we're behind closed doors with that new male therapist. 

I may be painfully unhip from the waist down with my out of touch Old Navy jean choices (really, do they have to make the waist that low nowadays?) but from the top on up, I am white on black kickin'. Don't wait to win this T shirt, order one for yourself. All it takes is a small nudge from a T shirt like this to reawaken that cool chick that is still inside.


*Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Anne Flournoy.
  
5.  EliRose Social Media Special Package

$150.00 worth of Social Media Services package from the impressively gifted tech geeks, Liz Jostes and Kristin Zaslavsky, of Eli Rose Social Media. Here's what they can do: help you in establishing a social media presence and growing a strong brand presence online, we can help you improve the look and layout of your site, launch your “big idea”, increase your site’s traffic, integrate a business blog into your marketing plan and broaden your overall virtual presence.

Details of this amazing package, here's the dealio:

Social Media Analysis -
- Evaluation of three (3) social profiles (branding, imagery and text)
- Review of recent history (up to 4 weeks) of activity on 3 social platforms of choice, with suggestions for  best practices and ideas for  improved engagement. That's $150.00 worth of the best from the best, to the lucky winner. Tweet, RT, FB it, comment 10 times in a row: do what you gotta do, folks. This is a good one.

*Proud to off this to my readers, Liz and KLZ. Thank you.

6.  My Secret to Beautiful Hair

I can't believe I'm doing this myself. GAH. What kind of a spell do you people have me under? I use this product: once a month. And it works. I am beautiful for 30 days straight. That's me on the box.

Photo Credit

Organix Brazilian Keratin Therapy formaldehyde-free Home Blow Out Kit (don't make it dirty).


*I'm such a good person.
 
7. Baby E's Contribution:

 

(because he loves you too) A guest spot here, on Good Day Regular People on Baby E's Monday slot, featuring your child.

*Baby E: you're such a budding business man. Thank you. 

8. and finally: The Reason I Was Able To Post 547 Times:

Flickr  cc

A can of this, faithful readers, and you'll be posting 547 posts in no time.

Dunkin' Donuts? Seattle's Best? Please, for amateurs. Half a cup of this fine ground espresso blend and you'll be taller, faster, stronger, smarter.

I've been fueling up with this since my Colombian grandmother filled my baby bottle with it. *and they wondered why I scored Grade 12+ on my 3rd grade reading test*

*Thank you to my abuela, who taught me the ways of the bean of caffeine.

Good Luck to all of you!
_________________________________________________

*Because there is so much booty, there will be 8 winners. I will do a random.org for each of the prizes, in other words: one prize to each winner (8 prizes in all).

Comments, tweets, postings on FB, will all count as a separate entry. Enter as many times as you wish. Winners will be announced at the end of the week. 

Really, enter all week long.

Good luck, and thank you all, for reading, commenting here, keeping me company in my life. I appreciate you so much.