1 Year of Blogging Giveaway

Man, my beloved husband has been having all of his crazy antics recorded for posterity for an entire year.

There is no specific blogging anniversary for me. If you look at my archive, it's clear that I technically began this blog well over a year ago, but while I was still in college, I was a little too busy writing papers on, say, the history of great soccer rivalries to spend much time writing the kind of short snippets of writing best suited to a blog.

I began blogging much more regularly in late May last year, right after I graduated from college, and I haven't looked back since. I love blogging, with no reservations. Since I've started blogging, and begun learning all the different opportunities that are available online for writers, I feel like I'm really accomplishing my dream career. I've always, always dreamed of being a writer, though I never seem to find one specific direction to go in. I love the idea of writing picture books for children, and I haven't given up that hope, but I also have a strong passion for writing about real life. I find real life immensely fascinating, hilarious, and bizarre. The people you meet, the conversations you overhear, and the homemade signs that you find taped to a tree when you go for a walk downtown.

 

So, so random.  

I love blogging the same way I loved my public speaking class in college. In public speaking class, I could give speeches on whatever I wanted, and I had a captive audience composed of my classmates who were forced to listed to all of my speeches because attendance was part of the grade. The readers of this blog aren't forced to read it (well, Angel might experience a little coercion once in a while)...but you guys still do read it, and you keep coming back, and that makes me so happy.

And so, we shall celebrate with a giveaway. I thought of something along the lines of a "My Favorite Things" giveaway...but then I remembered that my favorite things are not usually the same as other people's favorite things, and it might be a little selfish to only give stuff I would like. So, instead, I'm giving away a conglomeration of things. Something to remind you of the blog, something to remind you of me, something to remind you of Angel, and something that  the more normal people out there might appreciate.

In honor of the blog: 1 month's 200x300 ad space (obviously not pictured) and a copy of The Random Writings, the book that started this whole thing.

To remind you of me: A flower and two headbands, my secret to having cute hair without having to do anything to your hair. Just stick a flower in it.

To remind you of Angel: I'm sorry guys, but this is what he chose to represent him. Tom's Unscented Deodorant.  I start giggling every time I think of it, but to you long-time readers, it probably won't seem weird at all. And it actually is a good brand of deodorant for those who are interested in more naturally sourced healthcare products. Practical, see?

For you: $25 gift card to Target--the store that seemingly everyone but me appreciates.

Thanks for reading!! The Rafflecopter mentions that one entry option is for you to read and comment on a post from last May or June; those are the links to those months in the archives.

Please read the terms and conditions, the giveaway will end next Thursday, the 30th, at midnight. The winner will be contacted, and if they do not respond within 48 hours with their address, a new winner will be chosen. Giveaway limited to residents of the U.S.A. For any other conditions, as I mentioned, read the terms and conditions.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What Could You Wear it with?

Long revered as a question to determine whether a certain piece of apparel is worth purchasing or not, I'm here to show you today that "What could you wear it with?" is perhaps not the best possible question to ask when deciding whether or not to enlarge your wardrobe.

Instead of "What would you wear it with?" I prefer to interject, "Will you regret it for the rest of your life if you do not buy this item?" as a far superior budget saving question.

As proof, let me tell you the story of the shoes I've recently fallen in love with.

 

Maybe not specifically those. Maybe these:

In  general, Doc Martens. The first time I showed them to Angel at the store, he asked the ill-fated question. "Umm, what would you wear them with?"

"Everything!" I responded.

Obviously. Dresses, jeans, skirts--I can think of 101 outfits to wear Doc Martens with. The problem is not a lack of opportunity to wear them, the problem is rather the price of the shoes. For now, I do not own any, nor do I have any specific plans to buy a pair. No, instead I just enter a shoe store, walk straight to the Doc Marten section and start fondly caressing them until the sales guy asks, "Are you shopping for some Docs today?"

"No," I respond, "I'm just attracted to them."

I know I'm not the only one who admires them from afar. What's your favorite style of shoe?

I Really, Really Love Swing Dancing

So funny story. About me being possibly not the best wife there ever was.

 

I've mentioned before that Angel and I go swing dancing semi-regularly. Often with my sister or with my cousins. Angel's not quite as fond of dancing as I am, so he dances with me, Lizzy, or my cousins...and on rare occasions with strangers, but usually, if he's not dancing with one of us, he's not dancing. I, on the other hand, love swing dancing, so if Angel wants a break, or if he's dancing with Lizzy or my cousins, I have no qualms about dancing with whatever guy happens to walk past and ask me to dance.

So, now that it's clear that both Angel and I are quite comfortable with dancing with people we're not married to, I must tell you about the time I took my love for swing dancing to a whole new level.

One evening, they had a ladies' choice song, so they split up all the girls and guys  and made us stand on opposite sides of the dance floor. Then, they said "Go!" and us girls are supposed to run and pick a guy to dance with. I ran straight to Angel, as is my habit, but then, as I reached him and grabbed his hand, I noticed about ten feet down the row of guys was standing a guy that Lizzy had danced with earlier. She had told me that he was an excellent dancer, and I noticed that nobody had claimed him for a dance yet, so, without a moment's hesitation or a word of explanation to Angel, I dropped my husband's hand, went straight to the other guy and said, "My sister told me that you're a great dancer" and spent a very enjoyable four minutes after that getting spun every which way, dipped, and even lifted into the air.

Afterwards, I felt slightly remorseful for my cold-hearted abandonment of my husband. 

Oh well.

I won't even mention the other ladies' choice dance when I spotted a guy who had taught ballroom dance lessons at my college, and I ran and positioned myself directly across the room from where he was standing--when they yelled "Go!" I unabashedly pushed my way in between the slower girls in front of me and made a beeline to him in order to ask him to dance before any other girl got there first. I would try to claim that was when I was young and susceptible to handsome men who are excellent dancers....but that was just a few months ago.

Okay, neither of these incidents are terribly ladylike nor are they housewifely. But they give me opportunity to laugh at myself and at my occasionally inappropriate desire for a really good swing dance. And honestly, I think Angel appreciates it when another guy lets him rest his weary feet.

 

Brother Bear

How can you tell that Angel and Nestor are related?

Half Bear, Half Human Brothers. Previously thought to be a medical impossibility!

  

And, if you needed any further proof of a blood relationship:

  Brittany, Lizzy, and I spent most of our time together wondering over the uncanny similarities between these two trouble-makers.

When to Wear Leggings?

  When you find the most beautiful dress at Kohl's that is on clearance for $5 and it has a sequined collar and two different colors of plaid fabric. But it's a smaller size than you would expect to take, and you're pretty sure that there's no chance it'll ever fit you. However, the top fits perfectly. The bottom half of the dress is too tight to fit over your jeans. However, since it's only $5, you buy the dress, and at home you find out, that, in fact, you can get the dress over your hips if you're wearing leggings and not jeans underneath. This is a shorter dress than I would typically prefer to wear with leggings. But the sequins, the plaid, and a the $5 price tag were irresistible. I'm considering chopping off the skirt part and hemming it, making it into a really cool top and effectively eliminating all problems with fit. But Angel really likes this minidress. As expected.   Sorry about the "looking at my feet" photo. Lizzy forced me to do it. She said I had to pose like a fashion blogger. It hurt a little bit.