Can you honk any louder?

So Saturday our family went berry picking (black raspberries and blueberries this time) and on our drive there we came across a little critter crossing the road. From up the hill we could see something rather small and dark moving very slowly across the road and at first glance it appeared to be something inanimate. But I soon realized it’s rhythm was methodic instead of wind driven and told hubby to slow down. He slowed none to soon, for had we been going at our original pace we would have run it over.

It was probably not the best idea to come to a complete stop on a 40 mile an hour road but my only thought was for the little critter in front of us, which I still could not clearly see. So my husband turned on his hazards and I got out and finally identified of all things, a turtle! The little guy was now trying to climb onto the median. As I picked him up a suburban came speeding down the highway behind us blaring his horn.

Nice. Anyway, I ran across the road with the turtle in hand (he was hiding snuggly in his shell) and placed him on a slope leading up into a woodsy area. I told him not to cross anymore roads and ran back to the car, happy we had gotten to him before that suburban had. I love wildlife, and people that run animals over without a thought (like that suburban dude probably would have) really make me mad.

June 30, 2008 | Filed Under Nature | 13 Comments 

Bloggy Birthday Bash Winners!

Ok, so first I must thank you all for stopping by. You totally made my birthday bash awesome by just showing up. Yesterday alone between the hours of 10 a.m. and midnight I received 3,154 page views and 551 Visitors. Sweet! Then 431 comments were left on various giveaway posts. Awesome!

Second, I have to give a huge thank you to all of the wonderful sponsors who graciously donated products for giveaway for this event. There’s no way I could have afforded to buy all that stuff so THANK YOU, THANK YOU for offering up your great products! And thank you for being so creative and industrious in starting your businesses. All of the businesses who donated prizes are mom owned. Now, on to the winners (and how I wish I could give everyone something):

1. $10 Target or Amazon.com Gift Card for blogging about my bash goes to…RICHELLE

2. $10 Ebay Gift Certificate for signing in on my Welcome to the party post goes to…KENNA

3. Flaky Friends Lucky the Turtle winner is…CHANTE (no blog)

4. The winner of $30 to Island baby Boutique is…CHRISTINA (no blog)

5. The winner of $30 to Sher’s Wares is…EMMY

6. The winner of the Urban Botanic Home Collection is…ALICIA (no blog)

7. The winner of the $10 online gift certificate to Barnes & Noble.com for Finish the Story (which I had a blast reading by the way) is…PAIGE

8. The winner of the Hot Pink Tassi is…SKY

9. The winner of $15 toward a purchase from PB&J Celebrations is…MANNEQUIN

10. The winner of the Pink Lemonade Retro Spa Chocolate Stripes Tote is…MELISSA

11. The winner of the Photo Caption Contest with the Kraftech 60 inch tripod prize is… KIMBERLY KAYE for her caption:

Who would have thought they could go from gremlins to angels in five minutes flat!

12. The winner of the Custom Blog Design from Blog Designs by Summer is…JUMBO SHRIMP

13. The winner of the Custom Header from Blog Designs by Summer is…BUNNY

All winners will be contacted by email shortly, so don’t forget to check your spam boxes because you never know when something will get sent there. I don’t want you to forfeit your prize because you couldn’t be contacted. Thanks again for entering. Now it’s time for me to recede back into obscurity and take a weekend bloggy break. :happy:

June 28, 2008 | Filed Under Contests and Giveaways | 12 Comments 

Master List of Giveaways

ALL GIVEAWAYS ARE NOW CLOSED.

If you’re just arriving, you still have a chance to get in on the giveaway action happening for Summer’s Bloggy Birthday Bash. All giveaways end at midnight 6/27/08 wherever you are so hurry and enter!

* Blog Designs by Summer
* Give that Photo a Caption Contest!
* Pink Lemonade Boutique Bags
* PB&J Celebrations
* Keep Your Hair Outta There
* Finish the Story
* Urban Botanic
* Sher’s Wares
* Island Baby Boutique
* Flaky Friends
* Welcome to the Party!

June 27, 2008 | Filed Under Contests and Giveaways | 13 Comments 

Blog Designs by Summer

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

This post is just one of many giveaways featured today 06/27/08 as part of Summer’s Bloggy Birthday Bash.

I couldn’t have my bloggy birthday bash without giving away something of my own could I? I love doing blog design and I love giving things away so it just made sense. Here’s a little background for those of you who are not regular readers. I started Blog Designs by Summer back in January of this year. I had always had an interest in web design and knew HTML before I started blogging. After I joined the blogging world I discovered an interest in blog design and started to learn CSS. Then I got myself an awesome photo program and my blog design business was born. I knew I could make a good amount of money doing it but I wanted to keep it within a range that would be affordable for moms like me, so I have. I’ve been told my prices are close to Highway Robbery (lol!), but if that means someone can get a design they love when they couldn’t find it cheap enough elsewhere, I’m cool with it. I want to give one of you, a Custom Blog Design valued at $65.00, free! Here’s what it includes:

* One custom header
* One custom signature
* Up to four coordinating background patterns
* One custom link button     to promote your site
* Up to 7 custom category headers to be used in your sidebar(s)
* Up to two sidebars
* Installation

  Now, there is one   limitation. Right now I do   full redesigns for   Blogger.com blogs   only. But that’s why I’m   also giving away a   free custom header! Yep, one post, two giveaways! I can create a header for any blogging platform that allows you to upload a jpeg file as your header (wordpress, blogger, typepad, etc.). So there will be two winners for this giveaway.

Here’s how to enter:
1. Visit my gallery of blog redesigns.
2. Come back here and leave a comment mentioning your favorite and why.
3. Specify if you want the blog redesign or the custom header.
3. Giveaway ends at midnight wherever you are.
4. Open to anyone who has a blog (or anyone who plans to use this to start a blog).

June 27, 2008 | Filed Under Contests and Giveaways | 34 Comments 

Give that Photo a Caption Contest!

THIS CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED.

Time for another party game! I don’t normally post pictures of my kids on here, but this one is like 3 years old so they look more than a little different now, plus I think this photo needs a caption. A creative, clever or cute caption, be it brief or lengthy, and I know those of you still hanging around are just the ones to do it.

And oh yes. There is a lovely, photo oriented prize involved for the caption I choose as winner. The winner will receive one Kraftech 60 inch tripod. This tripod has a special two-way photo/video pan head that lets you use it with virtually any film or digital still camera as well as your camcorder or binoculars. It features quick release leg locks that let you instantly adjust to any height you need, non-slip rubber feet, adjustable tilt and quick release plate. I’ve never used a tripod myself but I’m sure they’re useful and I know I’ve got many readers who love taking photographs.

TO ENTER:
1. Leave a caption comment on this post.
2. One caption per person.
2. Contest ends at midnight wherever you are.
3. Open to residents of the continental U.S. only. (Sorry, shipping is a beast, but feel free to enter a caption just for fun).

June 27, 2008 | Filed Under Contests and Giveaways | 26 Comments 

Pink Lemonade Boutique Bags

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

This post is just one of many giveaways featured today 06/27/08 as part of Summer’s Bloggy Birthday Bash.

  The minute I saw Caroline’s gorgeous bags, I   knew I must have one. And since the strap of   my most recent cheap plastic diaper bag had   broken, it was perfect timing for me to have   discovered her store, Pink Lemonade   Boutique Bags.

  Caroline makes the most gorgeous tote bags,   which are big enough to store diaper bag   essentials if needed, but also small enough   and stylish enough that I walk out the door   with my bag even when I don’t have my kids   in tow. I ordered the Spa Chocolate Dragonfly Bag pictured above and I love it! It’s sturdy, stylish, has 3 fully lined pockets sewn inside and has a magnetic snap for easy access.

Caroline is offering one lucky reader the chance to win her Retro Spa Chocolate Stripes Bag, featured below. Here’s what you need to do to enter:
1. Visit Pink Lemonade Boutique Bags and browse through the collection of bags.
2. Come back here and leave a comment mentioning your favorite, that’s it!
3. Giveaway ends at midnight (wherever you are).
4. Giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. and Canada only.

June 27, 2008 | Filed Under Contests and Giveaways | 57 Comments 

PB&J Celebrations

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

This post is just one of many giveaways featured today 06/27/08 as part of Summer’s Bloggy Birthday Bash.


Up next is a giveaway from a very cute mom owned business, PB&J Celebrations. Joanna, founder of PB&J Celebrations has a knack for design and she puts it to good use making custom photo cards ranging from birthday party to birth announcements. Other selections in her shop include personalized note cards, recipe cards, save the date cards, wedding invitations and other announcements. Over the next couple of months she’ll have lots of Holiday cards coming out as well. So there are plenty of options and designs to choose from, or you can contact her about a one of a kind custom design.

PB&J Celebrations is offering one of you, a $15 Gift Certificate to be used in her shop. Here’s how to enter:

1. Visit PB&J Celebrations and look around.
2. Come back here and comment on your favorite design.
3. Giveaway ends at midnight (wherever you are), and is open to residents worldwide.

June 27, 2008 | Filed Under Contests and Giveaways | 31 Comments 

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