New thoughts for the New Year

I began this blog for two reasons:

1. To get more entries for giveaways on other blogs when I was actually entering more often. 
2. To have a place to rant, rave, complain and brag about things that were going on in my life (even if no one was reading).

Throughout my giveaway entering and random talking, I have been given several opportunities to host giveaways for the few that do read this blog.  As that happened, I began to compare myself to other bloggers.  I wanted to have as many followers as xxx or high value giveaways like yyy.  I wanted people to send me products to try.  I wanted someone to care about my opinions.  The reality is that I am not a review blogger.  I am not a giveaway blogger.  I'm not a great writer.  I'm a regular person.  I am a mom.  I blog when I can or when I need to vent.   I will still host giveaways as they come my way if it seems like a product that people would like.   However, I no longer have a goal of having as many followers as xxx.  Follow my blog if you'd like.  Feel free to unfollow if you wouldn't.  I will no longer be concerned with my online rank.  My main concern in 2011 is being the best wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend that I can be!  I expect that life in general will give me plenty of things that I'll need to blog about . . .

*Note:  With this change of heart, I have also decided to end my facebook giveaway early.  Rather than wait for 100 fans, I will select a winner via random.org on Friday (just in case any of my current facebook fans would like to enter that haven't already).

Always on the lookout for new blogs

As a frequent blog hopper, I'm always on the lookout for new ones (whether they are new in general or just new to me) with good content.  Thanks to my dear friend at Monkey Mayhem! I was introduced to the blog Sensible Cents, which hosts great giveaways and seemingly honest reviews.    In fact, right now she is hosting three amazing giveaways for Bubble Talk, a Rubik's Slide, and HINT Water.    For an extra chance to win, I'm telling you about them.  Just in case random.org doesn't pick me as the lucky winner, I'd love for it to be one of my readers.  Good luck!

Nobody Reads My Blog . . .

Too funny!

I was browsing slickdeals today (like most mornings) and came across their daily giveaway. I had to laugh when I clicked on the link and saw that Tanga was selling these shirts.

I just love amusing shirts . . . even if they are only to amuse me. :o)

They have several others that crack me up too.  You should check out the second chance deals if you want a little chuckle on this Tuesday morning (and your sense of humor is similar to mine).

*Disclaimer - I did not receive any compensation for this post.  While the linked image came from Tanga, all thoughts and opinions are my own.  I have never purchased shirts from Tanga, I just like to browse them.

Thankful Thursday - Blogging (talking without forcing anyone to listen)

Yesterday I was out shopping with Pumpkin after we dropped Peanut off at school.   We walked into JCPenney just to browse since I had a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $10 or more.  As we were looking at jeans for Doc, I heard an older man say hello to another older woman in the store.  Here's how their conversation went -

Man - Hello.
Woman - Hello.  How are you today?
Man - I woke up this morning.
Woman - Well, that is a good way to start the day.
Man - Yes, I suppose it is.  Can I ask you a question?
Woman - You may.
Man - If a woman is shopping by herself and a man approaches her to ask her a question, is she still alone?

Okay, by this point I was more than a little creeped out.  I don't know if it was the tone of his voice or the fact that he kept walking toward the woman who was obviously just trying to be polite.  Either way, I had taken Pumpkin by the hand and was walking quickly between the clothes racks to a location where I could no longer see or hear the conversation taking place.   As I made my way across the store, I passed a JCPenney employee.  She greeted me as she passed by with a cart of clothes that presumably needed to go out on the racks.  She also greeted another older woman.  Here's how their conversation went -

JCP - How are you this morning?
Woman - Good.  At least I'm better than yesterday.  Yesterday I had a migraine.  All day.  I just couldn't get rid of it.  I'm not feeling great today, but definitely better than that.
JCP - Oh.  I'm glad you're feeling better today.
Woman - I am.  Still not great though.  I'm tired.  Migraines always make me tired.

Honestly, when people that you don't know ask you how you are, they generally don't really want to know.  They are just making small talk.  They are issuing a basic greeting.  We must all try to remember that.  In all fairness, I am a talker.  I blame it entirely on my father.  I sometimes catch myself explaining myself to people that probably could not care less.  I'm sure the waitress doesn't care why I'm ordering one entree over another.  Nor is she concerned that the reason I'm in such a hurry for the bill is that I have to be at a concert in 1/2 hour, for my daughter, who is in the first grade,  and happens to like the color purple, which is fortunate since that is the color of her costume . . .

See, if left to my own devices I would most definitely become one of those people that talks incessantly to anyone that will listen.  Fortunately, I have blogging.  Blogging is a way for me to talk, ramble and rant without forcing anyone to be polite and listen.