Drum roll, please...

I am having trouble pasting the random number generator on here, so you will just have to trust me on this.

The winner is...Nicki!

Congrats, Nicki!  Just send me an email, and I'll get you all set up!

Thank everyone who participated, and a BIG thank you to Methane Studios and Carolyn!

Hump Day Ear Candy.

Ghostland Observatory.  They are rad.  This is one of my several Wakarusa discoveries.

My favorite...

They tour pretty frequently, too, which is grrrrrrreat.  Nothing beats live music.  NOTHING!

They will get you dancing for sure.  Personally, this is house cleaning music if I've ever heard any.  Funky.

I've been writing a deep post that I think I'm finally ready to share this week, so stay tuned.  Don't we all love my deep thoughts?

Also, don't forget to enter the Methane Studios giveaway, HERE.  Good Luck!

Giveaway: Methane Studios

The day is here!  One lucky reader will get to choose the letter poster of their choice from Methane Studio's Ransom Letter series.  Feast your eyes...

They are all pretty fantastic, eh?  Honestly, I like a lot of them that aren't even letters significant to my fam.  It would be also pretty great to get one representing each person in your brood, and displaying them in a wall collage.  That would make an incredible statement.

Don't forget to check out their amazing gig poster line-up.  They do lots of Dave Matthew's stuff that would tickle any avid DMB fan's fancy.  My favorite of their DMB arsenal...mostly because it reminds me of when Pee Wee Herman chains up his bike to that psycho looking clown in Pee Wee's Big Adventure.

A couple of my other favorites include, but are certainly not limited to...

They also sell custom designed Keds on Zazzle.  They are awesome!  Check them out here.

Methane's booth at Bonnaroo

As you can probably tell, I think they are pretty great.  I hope you do, too.  

Here's what you need to do...show them some love on Facebook or Twitter.  Let them know it 'twas I that sent you. {If you really want to make us both swoon, buy something.  You won't regret it.} Also, visit their online shop HERE.   You know the drill after that...come back here and tell me you like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter, and what you would buy or better yet, what you bought!  I will choose a winner on Thursday!

Good Luck!  

A return & stuff on the horizon...

Well, we made it home in one piece!  It was the most fun anyone could ever have in the Arkansas death heat.  Which really was a lot of fun.  I have some crappy photos to share taken with my craptastic point and shoot from 2006.  You will have to deal.

If you have never been to a major music festival and you're old {like we are}, you may have a bit of culture shock as you pull up.  Luckily, I've had some previous exposure.  The photo above is the main stage camping area.  This is NOT where we camped.  We camped across the road in a lovely, shaded spot called West Woods.  This festival was 25,000 strong {maybe more}, so you can imagine some of the conditions.  It is not for the faint of heart.  I will say that I think the staff did a great job keeping everyone as happy, as comfortable, and as safe as possible!

The main stage grounds were full of fun stuff and dust and sun and sweat.  But also, art, food, smoothies, beer, and, of course, music.  Again, if you are new to this sort of thing...there is music nearly 24 hours a day.  Some of the food vendors serve 24 hours a day, too.  Which is good for fatties like me.

The photo above is of Big Daddy and my super cousin and musical-soul-mate-at-arms, Michelle.  They are walking off into the Mulberry Mountain sunset.  Yes, there is some sun haze/flare, BUT it is also an enormous dust cloud settling over the grounds after Mumford & Sons amazing, foot stomping set.

I'm not sure how anyone in their right mind could perform quite the set they did in long sleeves and jeans.  But they did.  No one passed out, no one gave up, no one disappointed.  It was hot folks.  Hotter than I can put into words.

So hot in fact, that about 98% of that wetness is sweat, and the other 2% is water from a very welcomed water balloon attack.  Michelle even has broken balloon remnants still stuck to her sweatyness.  We may have sweat a bit excessively because we were dancing up a dust cloud.

This is my favorite photo of the weekend.  The ferris wheel and the blue Ozark sky.  Do I need to say anymore?  When I took this, we were headed back to our camp for the night.  On the way we bought some fresh ice for our cooler.  Carrying it back was welcome relief from the heat.

The whole gang {my sis, brother-in-law, hubby, cousin, and me} was getting tired.  We had been on the road since 5:30 am, and couldn't hang any longer.  I wish we would have had some 20-something youth on our side to head back over the main stage area at about 2 in the morning.  It sounded bumpin' over there.  Alas, I couldn't drag my old ass out of the tent.  Nor could anyone else.  I will say that the temps dropped to a very comfortable 70ish that night.  It was amazing.

It really is a beautiful part of the country.  The views are amazing.  The people were friendly.  The music was fantastic.  I'm glad we did it.

In other news...I'm hosting an incredible giveaway early next week.  My friends over at Methane Studios are going to be giving one lucky reader their choice of a letter from their 'Ransom Lettters Series'.  Thanks, Carolyn!

I will post the deets on Monday or Tuesday, and choose a winner on Friday.

Cool, huh?

The Winner & Hump Day Ear Candy.

Congratulations!  (Ha!  You have to watch the video to know if you won!)

Now, all you need to do is email me your contact information to send along to Krystal from Cardstore.com, and a set of photo gift tags or a photo notebook are all yours!

I apologize for my 'less than scientific' way of producing a winner.  In all honesty, it's as random as any number generator, and cuter, too {even if they did JUST wake up}.  Also, please ignore the construction mess.  However, I will say, I, currently, enjoy being able to put Diet Dr.Pepper cans wherever I please, like the window sill.

Now, onto the 'ear candy'...

this Wednesday, I would like to share with you the creative mind and beautiful music of King Charles.



My personal favorite:



Check these out, too  'Time of Eternity', and 'We Didn't Start the Fire' {a rework of the REM classic 'It's the End of the World as We Know It'}.

Unfortunately, most of his brilliant music is not available in the states.  It baffles me that iTunes UK and iTunes US are two different entities.  C'mon, Apple, let's get it together and just combine the two.  This is not the first  or the last time, I'm sure, that I've encountered this issue.

He is an eclectic sort, while seemingly still maintaining all of an English gentleman's best traits.  His blog is pretty interesting, too.  

Happy Wednesday!

And, if you're still confused...#6 is Amy!  Congrats, again, Miss Amy!

First ever giveaway.

It is Christmas card season.

I know a lot of you get exhausted just thinking about it.  I, on the other hand, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE sending and receiving Christmas cards.  They are a true highlight to the season for me.  I hang them as I receive them, and they are one of the final 'decorations' to come down in January.

I've been having a bit of trouble this year deciding on one I like, but luckily, the fine folks over at Cardstore.com made it easy for me.  AND, they are going to make it really easy for you this year, too.

How?

By offering you a very pleasant discount.  That's right, just for being a dear reader, you can receive 20% your card order.  All you need to do is enter the code: CSHOLIDAY20.  These cards are the real deal.  They're printed on 130 lb. matte recycled cardstock, and they have super swift turn around time.

Cool, huh?

And, to make your holidays even easier, they are offering one of you lovelies a set of personalized photo gift tags OR a personalized photo notebook (which would make the cutest gift under $20!).  Your choice.

My favorites:

the 'Santorini'

'Hanging Wreaths' gift tags

All you need to do is leave a comment and tell me about the BEST Christmas card you ever received or sent, AND what notebook or gift tags you would choose if you won.  Easy peasy!

I will close this little giveaway on Sunday, November 21st, at noon central time, and announce the winner on Monday.

Good luck!

Just a bike?

Yes, I know Nie has a Madsen.

Madsen bikes are gorgeous.

{See them all here.}

And, although that is how I discovered these wonderful bicycles,

that is not why I want one.  

Admittedly, I want a lot of the 'things' Nie has.

Anyone else?

But the bike...

oh, the bike.

You see, my dear readers,

Betsy cannot ride a bike.

{Yet!}

She scoots on her trike, 

but it's not on a level even close to that of 

keeping up with the fam if we were to bike the afternoon away

on Grant's Trail.

A typical bike trailer would not be the answer, either.

They have lower weight limits, y'all.

Our girl is 6 and growing, growing, growing.

Alas, this bike will never be ours

unless some rich old lady buys it for us because

she has nothing else to do with her gobs of cash money,

OR if we were to win one.

{I blame the $1400 price tag.  Boo.}

I'm banking on the latter.

Well, it's more likely than the former, anyway.

Betsy would giggle the day away riding in 

the back of that bad boy.

And my grin would spread ear to ear for seeing it.

If you would like a chance to win your very own Madsen Cargo Bike...

click HERE!

But, seriously, don't enter, because it will totally

decrease our chances of winning.

Just joking!

Kind of.

P.S. GO VOTE!  If you don't, you have no pass to complain when things don't go your way.  Just sayin'.

WOW!

this is the kind of junk that my husband finds hilarious...
well, okay, it is kind of funny!

PS

Check out these new fab giveaways from Grosgrain!
Commissioned Watercolor Portrait GIVEAWAY!!!!
AND
Nordic Bo Peep and Long Lost Sheep Costume GIVEAWAY!!!!

GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!!

I stumbled upon this blog/store today, and I will have to say, I was blown away. I have a fascination with any able bodied person who can create beautiful things. Since sewing is something that I wish I could do (significantly) better, this particular blog spoke to my heart. Kathleen Dougherty is a self-taught seamstress. SELF-TAUGHT! Hello!!!! You seriously have to take a look at some of her stuff to understand my astonishment. To make it easy on you....look here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. I don't really think that made it easy, but they are some of my favorites.

Anyway, she is awesome, and to make things even better, she does biweekly giveaways of her stuff. You're probably saying, "What? She takes the time to make such incredible things and then gives them away?" And I say, "Yes, my little muffins, it's true!"

Check out her new online shop here. She is offering limited items at this time, but they are darn cute!

Below is a link to this weeks giveaway. It is a giftcard for Kathleen's new shop. Enjoy!
GrosgrainStore.com Grand Opening & Giftcard Giveaway!!!!!!!!

ps have a happy monday!