Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Giveaway to celebrate 369 days of unbrilliance!

I have been so busy and had so much stuff going on that I literally couldn't get enough time to post yesterday.  I started and was going to do my anniversary post with celebratory giveaway that involved uploading pictures, and blogger gave me all kinds of sh*t interference when I tried to move the pics and put text around them.  Good lord!  I need a class or something.  Before I continue into "official anniversary post", I just want to thank all of you for your suggestions and instructions regarding changing things on my blog.  Obviously I haven't done it yet as your looking at the same stale template I've had for awhile.  But a new look will be coming soon!

June 12 of '09 was my first post.  I'd had another blog for a couple of months that I just did for myself and ultimately folded because... I'm not sure why.  Actually I am sure...I wanted someone besides myself to talk to and hadn't figured out that to get readers you have to go out and read and comment.  My then 25 y/o daughter clued me into that one!  (Actually she and a couple of her friends from college read it and gave me good feedback and told Jean she has a cool mom!)  But it was more random musings about stuff like how eff-ing darned expensive it is to get hair colored and such.  Also about my search for genuine meaningful spirituality. 

What got me officially started with weight loss blogging was stumbling upon Pasta Queen last May.  I was so enchanted with her writing, humor and amazing weightloss story that I spent a week reading her entire archive, which was essentially like reading a fantastic memoir.  I still read her, and she's been through a lot of stuff on this journey...ups, downs and all around.  But always with head (and headaches!) staying above water and keeping on keepin' on.  Occasionally a comment on her blog would intrigue me and I'd follow the link...find another blog, and the rest is magnificent  very mundane but personally meaningful history.  I started this blog, wondering if it would last longer than my first, and voila!  The first time I got a comment from a human I DID NOT spawn, I was beyond thrilled and delighted.  You'd have thought I got an manuscript accepted from a major publishing house.  It's been a great experience.  And now, as of today (thank you most recent follower) I 'm at 99 followers!  Maybe I'll hit the ever coveted by greedy me only 100 followers before the next milennium!  Slow and steady it's been for this blogger.  Just like my evolution in life.

Anyway, I've said many times how much this blogging community means to me.  Wonderful people, wonderful writers, inspiration, motivation, support, direction, advice, great humor, honesty, bloggy puffy heart love, REALITY and the ever popular food pictures!  It's all here, all the time and being a part of if has greatly enhanced my life. 

To shamelessly promote my wares share my gratitude, I'm going to do a giveaway.  Figures that one of the least successful (so far but just wait!) weight losers is doing a giveaway that does not include any weight loss material, but it's going to include a food item....let me hear and AMEN!

I'm an addicted knitter (something more positive than the booze and food addictions!) and one knitting kick I got on several years ago was felting.  This is where you knit with 100% wool, then wash the item in HOT water with agitation, and the knitted product turns into a dense heavy felt.  I'm a purse and bag freak, so I got into making bags.  I sold a lot of them, gave some to friends, and still have a lot of them.  So I'm going to give away the bags. 

I'm putting up pictures of the bags and in order to be put in the drawing, you need to comment that you'd like to be entered and which bag you'd particularly like.  If you have questions about size, you can email me and I can give you specifics.  Also, one lucky person will also receive a jar of PB2, the peanut butter that has 45 cal/2 Tbspoons that TJ and other bloggers have written about.  I finally broke down and bought some - but you have to buy 4 jars minimum!! So If you'd also like a jar of the peanut butter, indicate that in your comment too!  It's pretty darn good.  This morning I put 1 tbsp. into my steel cut oatmeal just when it was done cooking, and it tasted fantastic!!









I've already confessed to a blog friend that I'm a little nervous doing a giveaway, esp. this one, in case no one is interested.  The old core of low self-esteem rears it's ugly head, even though that piece of me has been largely healed.  Bottom line, if no one is interested it's okay.  I'm sure someone will be interested in the PB2 and if enough people are I'll give away 2 jars.  Anyhow, if you want to be entered, comment or email me by midnight Friday June 18th.  I'll do a drawing and announce winners on Sunday, the 20th.

Finally - My food has been great the last few days, as has exercise.  It's more of a challenge with #1 son home along with son #2.  I made a huge amount of stuffed peppers thinking we'd have 2 dinners out of them.  Well, we got one dinner and they had lunch and snacks with the rest before the next dinner!  I only got one serving!  Does a mom's heart good.   Have a good day everyone.

33 comments:

  1. LOVE those bags. Congrats on your 99th. You'll soon be to the 100th. You're awesome. Can we choose which bag? I'm interested in that PB too. Lady. You are fantastic.

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  2. I LOVE LOVE LOVE all the bags! I wish I were that talented. They are fabulous!!! #5,10 & 12 are my favorites.
    The pb intrigues me. I'm stuck on almond butter right now... so tasty in my oatmeal.
    Congrats on all the followers. I'm up to a whooping 38...yay me :)
    Have a wonderful day!

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  3. Anonymous15 June, 2010

    Oh my gosh I can't not even believe you made those. Amazing!!! I've never entered a blog giveaway ever...because I've never totally understood them. However...enter me in.

    Congrats on you blog anniversary too. You'll be at 100 soon. I'm such a dork about numbers that I would just want it so it's a nice even number :)

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  4. Please, please, please enter me in the contest. Your bags are gorgeous! And since I'm probably never, ever going to knit myself, I would love a handmade bag. The PB2 would be nice, but I really want a bag!

    Congratulations on your blog anniversary. Did I mention I really want to win one of your bags?

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  5. Those are awesome!!! I love #14 the orange one :)

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  6. What a lovely, heartfelt post - I'm so glad you started blogging and so happy to have connected with you, Leslie!

    Your giveaway is so generous - I had no idea that was how felting was done - I love the look! Your bags are all so pretty and I'd be honored to win one! My favorites are #1, #2, the bright one in #3, #11 and #12 - actually, I think #11 is tops, but they are all sooo pretty!

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  7. I really like all the bags you made but my favorite is #2. Please enter me into your giveaway. I would also like to be considered for the PB2 as I have been dying to try it. Is this comment all that I have to do?

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  8. The bags are FAB , but I have to skip entering (sniff sniff). We have a horrible time with getting anything beyond the size of a business envelope because of the size of our mail box and ( insert less than charitable word here) postal worker. For the record, I like bags number 1 and 13 - but DON"T enter me !

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  9. Anonymous15 June, 2010

    Oh, how exciting!!!! (And, of course, people will be interested!) The bags are sooo neat, it was hard to pick. After several scrolls up and down the pics, I've decided on the 3rd fromthe bottom. The tote-like, pinkish one with the center chain/rope? detail. :D Love it! I think its 13th in line.

    My Bible cover's zipper just broke, and this will be perfect to slip it in to carry to church. Actually, it will be perfect for a number of things. hammmm. No wonder people wanted to buy these.

    AND, I would absolutely like to try the peanut butter. :D

    This is just the coolest giveaway--it is! Thanks for this. And, happy anniversary!

    Deb

    P.s. You know, I have fewer than 60 followers-so you're doing much better than I am.

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  10. First of all, CONGRATS on blogging for one year. Secondly, I am going to fight you for the title of least successful weight loss blogger, I think! (Got to keep a good sense of humor...)

    Why on earth you think no one would want the bags is beyond me. You're too silly. Actually I would like to be entered for a bag and NOT for the PB2. Is that possible?

    In no particular order my faves are 1, 2, 8, 10, 13 but I would be supremely happy to receive any one of them as I do not have a creative home made anything in my body!!

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  11. You were worried people wouldn't want those gorgeous bags??!! The only reason I am not entering for a bag (the 6th pic from the top is my favorite) is that when I go somewhere in my power chair, I need to take a large tote instead of a pretty purse... otherwise I'd be a-begging to be entered, LOL!

    I guess I could enter for the PB... I've heard of it, but never tried it. Yep, I'll be daring, and enter for that! If you like it, it can't be THAT bad, right? ;-)
    Loretta
    =^..^=

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  12. Anonymous15 June, 2010

    Let me just say that I am relatively new to the blogging world, but I am a follower and really enjoy reading your posts. Now.....Why in the world would you think no one would want these bags?? They are absolutely gorgeous!! My favorites are #2, #12, and #14, but I would be thrilled to win any one of them! Please enter me in your giveaway for the bags and also for the PB2. I have read about it and really want to try it, but have not had the nerve to order 4 jars! What a great idea to give some away.

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  13. Are you kidding me?? They are GOURGEOUS!!! I love #2 and #11. I actually have never tried PB2 so it would be GREAT to win it ;-)

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  14. Your bags are the shizzzzznittttt!!!!!!!! holy cow they are pretty.

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  15. allergic to wool and already have pb2,
    but what I wanted to say was

    I read all of Pasta Queen and also Diet Girl and several others who have now stopped writing (actually have been stopped for several years and we all have NO idea what happened to them) too. I loved being able to go back and read the archives and then loved the fact that they are still writing (sort of) and we can keep up with their lives.

    Every once in a while I have someone leave me a comment that they went back and read all of my archives. I am up to 2000 posts now - so it is a MAJOR read for someone to go all the way back to the beginning. But I understand that feeling of wanting to see the whole path/journey.

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  16. happy blog birthday to you! your bags are darling.

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  17. lovely bags, you are so talented! I like the orange in picture four, and the one that reminds me of a watermelon is too cute (7) and the blue (11) and 13. They are all great!

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  18. Happy Blogiversary!

    I'm so happy you stuck with this blog. I wish I could be your 100th follower but I'm already there.

    I love all those bags but my favorites are 6, 8 and especially 11. That's quite a talent to have. I would save tons of money if I could make my own bags ;)

    I've never tried the PB2 but have been reading about it on blogs forever. Do you really like it?

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  19. I can't believe you aren't sure about the bags!! Your bags are gorgeous. I love all the colors, but I am definitely a strap girl, so I am going to have to say I'd pick #14, the pink one with the shoulder strap. And I hear about the PB2, and I am reluctant with the too good to be true calorie count, so sure, toss in one of those to. If you have so many bags, maybe you should think about an Etsy shop. WIthout a doubt you could sell those.

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  20. I'm in too, even though the bags don't do much for me. Don't read too much into that, I just don't normally carry a bag like this. :-) The PB2 sounds like something worth trying though. If I happened to win a bag, I would prefer 26 or 29, which I would then happily give to my wife. :-)

    Happy blogiversary!!! It's great having you around!

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  21. Such beautiful work, Leslie! My daughter would like number 2 and I'd like the purple long-strapped one fourth from the bottom. And congratulations on your blogiversary!

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  22. Are you kidding me?! Those bags are A.Dor.able. I would love to win one!

    Blogging truly has given a life. I could have never lost the weight without blogging. Loved your love of blogging.

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  23. The bags are adorable and you are SUPER sweet to give them away!! I have SOOOOOO been wanting to try the peanut butter too! I've been seeing it everywhere. I love the purses with the longer handles, like the 5th one from the bottom. Or the 4th one from the bottom but they are all ADORABLE!, seriously. You do good work.

    I was the same way when I started my blog. I didn't GET how the whole networking worked. I started with my recipe blog and I was mainly doing it for me, I was proud of the recipes and really wanted others to see them. So I linked with other blogs and started commenting more and it worked! I have just over 100 followers now so I'm right about where you are.

    You go girl and hopefully you'll be at 100 followers by the end of the week or maybe even the end of the day! You rock!

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  24. First off, **High five**for your food being on track!!
    The person who wins one of your bags is going to be so lucky!! They are amazing!!
    I would like to be included in your give a way..hard to pick which one I like best but I think I have narrowed it down to the first one (blue/purple).
    I'm so greatful that you started this blog. I have learned so much from your writings!

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  25. Congrats on your blogaversary!
    I like PB2 too! This batch that we had to wait months for actually tastes better than previous batches. Or maybe it was the waiting for it! My fave is the chocolate PB2.
    Your bags are beautiful! I also have a closet full of felted bags! I was on that same kick a few years ago and did like you did and sold some, gave some away and use some! But I still have too many bags in my closet!

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  26. Anonymous16 June, 2010

    Leslie - you are so talented!! Those bags look gorgeous!

    And I am with you on the comments, the first time someone other than a relative left a comment I was so excited!

    I LOVE the green bag with the blue trim!!

    Congrats on the 1 year blogaversary!

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  27. Hi Lesley. Happy Blogiversary!

    I think your bags are all wonderful. Very professional looking and lovely colour combos. No need to send one in my direction - my bags have to haul around heavy loads and I wouldn't want to damage a pretty bag. But they're so gorgeous I'm sure they'll all find new loving homes.

    You're brave having so much PB in the house! I know I can't buy it because I'd just polish off the whole jar in about two sittings.

    Is it lower cal PB? I'll have to look it up.

    Hope you have a good day today,
    Bearfriend xx

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  28. Anonymous17 June, 2010

    Hi Leslie -- enjoying your blog; I'm a relatively new subscriber, maybe #99? : ). Love your sense of humor and the glimpses into the life of a mom with older sons. Mine is 14. Intrigued by the PB powder. Trying to up my protein without adding too many calories. (Moms can't eat like teenagers!)

    All your bags are great. Faves are 2, 7, 8 and 10.

    Looking forward to following your journey.
    Barbara

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  29. I love the 1st and the 6th bags! And would love to try some PB2 too!

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  30. Oh love the bags! I have been thinking I need to learn to knit to have something to do with my hands when I watch TV instead of snacking. I would love a bag AND the PB. Except I wonder if they add sugar. Hmmm. Back to my exercise... trying to clean out my reader and no time to comment but could not resist entering. Happy blogoversary!!!!!

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  31. Love the bags! I would love to enter. Any of them would be a great prize!

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  32. oops..I probably should have said that the backpack type ones are my favs, but all of them are great.

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