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I'm a winner!

I've been blessed to win two FABULOUS prizes in the past few months, and I've just got to tell you about them.  Kara and I became blogging friends a long time ago, and she recently launched a new recipe blog.  She did a generous giveaway, and I WON!!!  Carol's Cookies are award winning (4th place in People magazine and featured on the Food Network) and just plain AMAZING!!!  They are huge!....weighing almost half a pound each.  Patrick informed me that the chocolate chip one is 1100 calories!!!  Let me tell you, every one of those calories is 100% worth every bite.  They have a strange texture, both crumbly and yet super moist.  Pure decadence.  Thanks Kara!  What a treat!

My other win, was this ADORABLE pillowcase dress for Adeline.  Thanks to Tara of Stella Sola Boutique for her generous giveaway!  Of course, I won this forever ago (so sorry Tara!), but as soon as Adeline knew I wanted her picture in it, she REFUSED to wear it.  I mean, wailing and gnashing of teeth...no way I was going to get a decent picture.  One day, I decided to have a talk with her, and she promised me she would let me take her picture in it the next day.  She did.  Thank you sweet girl.  You look beautiful!  Check out Tara's store....she has some precious Christmas stuff posted right now.

Becky is having a giveaway!!!

Becky is having another giveaway.  If you live near me and you win....I want a share in the spoils!  As I checked in at her site again, I am amazed by her talent and creativity.  Check out her princess party and her "public health" cookies.  AMAZING!

A Giveaway!!!

***Update*** Congratulations, Mari, YOU WON!
I am so excited to share a giveaway with you to start out your new year.  I have shared before that I love the daily chore schedule at motivated moms (dot) com.  I have been using it for several years, and it is such a help to me in organizing and keeping my house at a respectable level of clean.....most of the time.  Chores are broken into things that are done daily (take meds, make your bed (hee hee), read to your kids) and then other chores listed each day (clean all the glass in the family room, clean the microwave, clean one shelf in the refrigerator).  It only costs $8 and she emails the calendar to you in a pdf file.

Deann from motivated moms has donated a free chore schedule to one of my readers!  Just click on her site and see which schedule you would like ( two weeks each on 1/2 sheet, one week on a full sheet, with daily scriptures added, etc).  Leave me a comment by Saturday at 5pm to enter.  Also, Deann is offering a $1 discount if you use the code, "NEWYEAR" before Jan 14.

A Giveaway!!!

***Update***  Congratulations to Joanna for winning the giveaway.  I wanted to surprise her by sending it, so I didn't post the winner here sooner.

It has been A LONG time since I've done a giveaway. So sorry. I bought this set at the beach, and I am just now getting around to posting about it. I love great accessories. I especially love jewelry sets. Sometimes a fun set with a little character can set off an otherwise plain outfit. I am often asked where I buy most of my jewelry. Well, off season at the beach has been one of my favorite sources for "fun" (read quirky and cheap) jewelry. I am hoping to share a few more of my favorite things as giveaways in the coming month....keep checking.

A set with multiple colors like this can spruce up just about any plain colored top/sweater/jacket.

Leave me a comment or send me an email to enter. I'll chose a winner next Wednesday since I know some of you are out of town this week.

A Giveaway!!!

I saw this at Andrea's blog and thought it was a great idea (not to mention the fact that she is incredibly talented....seriously, this can only work out well for me). 5 lucky (or brave) people will be getting something made by me, for you. Intriguing?

The first five people to leave a comment on this post will get something handmade from me. But in return, you have to do the same thing on your blog and make something for five other people. The details are as follows, and if you want to play, copy the following onto your blog and leave me a post:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. What you get is what you get.
2. What I create will be just for you, with love.
3. It’ll be done this year (2009).
4. I will not give you any clue what it’s going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying.
5. I reserve the right to do something strange.
6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to your blog post.
7. Send your mailing address – after I contact you.

Are you in? You know you want to...

***If you are not a blogger, you can post this on your facebook page...or come up with another way to "share the love."

My Sizzling Summer Vacation Spectacle...

Kristen over at We are That Family is hosting an ultra cool bloggy carnival today....which conveniently happens to be on my birthday...did I mention that already?  To enter to win a zillion prizes, all you have to do is link to her blog and link to a fun summer vacation post.  So, here are a few recaps of some of the crazy summer fun we've been having.

Thailand

The beach

Head over to Kristen's blog to check out all the fun (or you can click on the nifty button I've been displaying on my sidebar)!

Let's get one thing straight....

When I revealed the results of my giveaway, many of you commented that it must have been rigged.  One of my favorite things about blogging is the silly comments and the banter between us.  So, in the spirit of said banter, I gotta tell you....if I was going to rig this contest, there would have been a WHOLE lot more winners in Korea.  Seriously, at least 20% of my commenters were friends from here, but could I pick JUST ONE of them to save the hassle of packaging everything and paying for postage....OH NO!!!  Not even one!!!  Congratulations again to those of you who won, and I will get my tush in gear soon to get it all out to you.

And the winners are.....!!!

I used a random number generator to pick the winners for my giveaway.  Congratulations ladies!  Send me an email (www.therohals@yahoo.com) with your address so I can get these out to you.  If I don't hear from you in a few days, I will send you an email to let you know you won, but I think it is so fun to be surprised when you go to someone's blog and find out YOU WON!!!

Black pashmina with colors on the edges.....Jenna (JAM in TX)

Brightly colored pashmina.....Kristen (Idaho Mom)

Pashmina with fall colors....Janelle (my cousin)

Pearls (let me know if you want white, pink, or the dark purplish ones)...Janelle (Snot and Kisses) and Lisa (Tropical Mexican)

Grand Prize....PURSE WINNER.....Sarah (Short Stop)!!!

In other news, I picked up the jerseys today, and they look great!  They had to fix just a few, and I will pick them up tomorrow.  SOOOO....if you ordered jerseys, send me an address for those as well.  I managed to do a bit more bargaining in the end, but I have to see how much shipping will cost before I send you the totals. 

PASHMINA---Apparently this is post worthy

It has become VERY clear from your comments that I must explain what one would do with a pashmina, ***pronounced, pash (as in cash with a "p")-mi (like me)-na (as in duh with an "n")...I told you it was a fun word to say!***if one were to win one.  Well, if you want the technical definition go here.  If you want the short version, continue reading...

Pashminas are frequently used as a wrap or shawl.  They are sometimes cashmere, and sometimes a blend of silk and cashmere.  Other uses for them are limited only by your imagination.  They can cover a bookshelf or decorative table.  Some will drape it over a couch for a splash of color and then use it as a cover or wrap when it is a bit chilly.  They are lightweight and soft.  I see them as the adult version of receiving blankets.  What exactly does one DO with a receiving blanket....whatever you need a square of fabric for (a blanket, a spit up rag, a cover for nursing in public, a changing pad, a basket liner...and the list goes on).  I hope this helps!  Does anyone have any other uses for a pashmina they would like to share?

It's Giveaway Time!!!

Way back here, I promised to have a giveaway as part of the celebration for my 100th post. Well, I clearly did not get my act together because I am now at post #161!!! SO, that means I just had to make it a little bigger and a little better.

The motivation....

1. To celebrate some blogging milestones.
2. To give back after I have enjoyed winning fun prizes on others' blogs.
3. To share some of the blessings I am privy to while living in "the land of not quite right...but the land of wonderful shopping."
4. Did I mention this involves shopping?
5. To find out who is reading my blog. What better way than to give away stuff?!? Seriously, if you have been lurking, I would love to meet you (or if you are someone I know, I would be honored to know you care enough to read about our lives).
6. To thank all of you who DO read my blog and comment faithfully. You have been such an encouragement to me through your comments and through your own blogs.

Here's how it works...

1. Leave me a comment on this post (or send me an email, therohals@yahoo.com, to say you have been reading my blog) before June 1st.
2. Make sure I have a way to contact you if you are not one of my "real life" friends.
3. This giveaway is open to all...fellow bloggers, friends, family (even you, mom), spouses of friends who read my blog, first time commenters, people who link here from someone else's blog and are potential friends...
4. I will give away the five prizes below as a minimum (randomly drawn from all commenters or emailers on June 1st).
5. If I receive comments (or emails) from more than 50 people, I will give away another prize for every 10 after that.
6. SO, at worst, your odds are 1:10 for winning a prize.
7. I will do reminder posts occasionally before the 1st so that if you are not a regular reader of my blog but stop in occasionally, you will not miss out on the fun. I will also add a link to this post in my sidebar.
8. I reserve the right to break the rules and add more prizes at a whim (or after a shopping spree with great finds that I can't resist!).

Here are the prizes...

I am giving away three pashminas (I don't know why, but I just love to say that word!). One with bright colors, one black with multi-colored stripes on the side, and one in fall colors. The baby girl (who WOULD NOT stay off of the pashminas) is not part of the prize.

More detail...
And...I'm giving away two sets of pearl jewelry. Each set comes with a necklace, bracelet, and earrings. You have your choice of white, a light pink (not pictured here), or this dark purplish color.

Happy Commenting!!!