Blogging

The fan is on. I rest my head on a pillow that takes my shape like gently folded hands to rest upon. Forced air is twirling my hair and I feel my eye starting to drift downward. Fighting to finish the day with words from the blogging world I click one more time to a new name with a new story. Another door opens into someones life. The talent captivates me so much that my yawns disappear and my wide eyes grasp for more.

Wordless Wednesday...

Lately, I have been having dreams about bears. Then my husband sent me this....Hummmm.

This is what it's like being married to a Wildlife Biologist..... Not too long ago I was out with my husband picking up bear poop for a research project. I was getting pretty good at it too.
What we do for love.

The Burning Question....

I'm hoping more people start to participate in "The Burning Question...." each and every Tuesday here at AnnOnandOn. For all of you who read my blog and never comment.... how about leaving one this week? Come on.

Outside of your family and friends...
what are five things that make you smile?

My answers:
Animals...
Things that sparkle
Summer dresses with flip flops
The sound, smell and feel of nature
Mail (not bills)

Your turn.....

The Weekend

I've turned blue with Avatar, strummed a guitar, had a drink and got sober with Jeff Bridges all in one weekend. I was a busy girl.

We had Sam, our part time dog, for the last couple days. Having her insures two outings a day. I really like it because my husband and I go for long walks when we have her.

The weather was wonderful. On Saturday, we went to the same beautiful park that looked like this in February...

That now looks like this...

Sam made a friend...

Wrapped up in doggy loven I sat on an ant hill and got bit...a lot on my bum. How ridiculous is that? If something is going to happen, it will happen to me. I swear if there is a bug within 50 feet it will attack me first. That goodness someone invented Cortisone. I'm an itchy mess. Go ahead laugh, it's actually pretty funny. Just be glad I didn't share photos.

(Photo from my walk with Sam on Friday... the St.Lawrence is behind me.)

The forecast is calling for snow tomorrow....come on...really? Although I'm shaking my head, inside I'm grateful for the warm weather we had on Saturday and Sunday.

Size Doesn't Matter

We're talking about blogs, so if you were expecting something else mosey along. (Smile) All week I was celebrating 500 followers of my blog. It was a lot of fun and I hope everyone enjoyed it. While I expected to do one more day of giveaways, today I've decided to focus on the four giveaways and save one for another time. Surprise giveaways are fun too!

It isn't about the size of a blog. It's about the content and I haven't been giving content lately.....
This morning I was at SITS and they asked us to leave a comment with a best post. When I had to go back for months I realized that my blog has been sucking.... I haven't been writing the way I intended. For that I am sorry! I hereby pledge (wait I need to get my quill and ink... o.k. I'm ready) to write better.

I really enjoy writing reviews and up until last week I would only write one a week...it is titled Monday To Do...Review/Giveaway. Tuesday I write my burning question. Please stop by on Tuesdays it's a lot of fun and I love to read everyone's answers. I will continue with that. Wednesday is Wordless Wednesday. The rest of the week is just "stuff". So, that what's going on in my neck of the woods.

I was lost and didn't know it, but now I'm found and ready to write.

What sort of things would you like me to write about?

Skinny Dip Candle Giveaway!

There's nothing like a good "Skinny Dip".

What ....not that skinny dip. Geesh! What kind of girl do you think I am?

I'm talking about the best "Skinny Dip" you could ever enjoy.

Let's start at the beginning. There are a handful of bloggers who hold a special place in my heart. Amy at Our Daily Blessing...Life is not only in my heart she is in my prayers each and every day. I have a difficult time trying to find the right words to describe this unbelievable woman. Right now, Amy is battling breast cancer. It's a challenge that she will get through, but not without a fight. Her blog is one that tugs your heart, makes you laugh, makes you cry and reminds you to be thankful. She is so dedicated to her four children and husband of 21 years. She makes you feel lazy on one of your busy days.

One of Amy's children is Philip. Philip is a fighter too. He is the strongest guy I know, hands down. Not including this round of surgeries he will have in the next few weeks Philip has had 15 brain operations, a stroke and 0ver 20 orthopedic surgeries. Am I right about his strength. I know, it's just hard to imagine...

(Here is a place to read more about Philip.... get some tissue first.)

Now you're probably wondering what does all of this have to do with skinny dipping. Concerned about her financial situation, Amy decided to sell...

Wrap a towel around this... Skinny Dip Candle because there's nothing better!
It's a candle
It's a lotion
It's a massage oil
It's F-a-b-u-l-o-u-s!
And, it makes a great gift for the candle lover, the lotion-o-holic and the massage me people.

Amy explains is all HERE, so I'm going to make that part of the giveaway.

THE GIVEAWAY.... A SMELL GOOD.... A FEEL GOOD.... GIVEAWAY!

One luck winner will receive a Pamper Pack.

In this you will receive a full size Skinny Dip candle,
single bath size Skinny Dip bath salt, and a full size
Lip Balm. All wrapped up purrrty in an organza bag.
(The winner can pick the scent.)

How to win:

• (Mandatory) Go over to Amy's blog, Our Daily Blessing....Life, look around and tell me what scent candle do you like best. CLICK HERE...it will take you right to the scents.
  
• (2 Entry)Tell me one special detail about the Skinny Dip candle that you like.
  
• (2 Entries)Grab Philip's button and put it on your blog. CLICK HERE TO GET IT
  
• (5 Entries) Share this giveaway on your blog.... The more people that know about Philip the more people who are praying from him. I would love to see this posted on every blog out there. Please think about it.
  
• If you donate to Philip's Fund (left side of Amy's blog).....ANY amount, you will get 10 Entries....

If you would like to send Philip and/or Amy a message you can do so HERE. Go to the bottom of the page and click Sign Guest Book. I know Amy and her family would love to hear from you.

This giveaway is open to US and Canada. It will end on May 1st. I will notify the winner via email, so please make sure to include it when commenting.

Thank you for helping me celebrate this week! The Parties not over yet....



CLICK HERE TO ENTER the Swiffer SweeperVac $40.00 Walmart Gift Card
CLICK HERE TO ENTER the Nabob Coffee and Candles Giveaway
CLICK HERE TO ENTER the ABC Necktie $25.00 Gift Card Giveaway
(Get your Father's Day gift out of the way...and for free!)

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz.......

Lots to post, but ran out of time... Tomorrow will be another big day of giveaways. Until then, sweet dreams. ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzz. I'm turning the computer off for the night.

Swiffer SweeperVac and Walwart $40.00 Gift Card Giveaway

The front doors opens to a beautiful spring day. The sparrows are feasting at the feeder and the robins are pecking at the ground, I want nothing more than to sit on the porch and take it all in. Looking back before heading outside I noticed the sunlight illuminating the front halls wood floor providing a stage for the now dancing dust.

Have you heard of the Swiffer Sweeper from P&G? If you thought Swiffer Sweeper Vac was good than brace your housecleaning self because they have improved it with Double Action Cleaning. You can now let the vacuum pick up the bigger stuff while the electrostatic pad trap and lock in the dust and grit. It makes cleaning easy and very satisfying. You'll have a lot more time to enjoy spring with the help of Swiffer.

When MyBlogSpark offered me to do a review and giveaway from P&G for a Swiffer SweeperVac kit I eagerly excepted.
They are also offering one of my readers a $40.00 Walmart gift card, so you can purchase your very own super handy, super effective, super fabulous
Swiffer SweeperVac.

If time was money...
The Swiffer SweeperVac has not only made cleaning easier
(because it's that good), it has given us the gift of time.

Your rich with time!
Your house is clean!
And, your husband is making dinner tonight....
I made the last part up,sorry I got a little excited.

Do you want to enter this giveaway? It's pretty simple:

• What is the first room you would use your new Swiffer SweeperVac in?(Mandatory, please do this before the others)
• (Extra entry) Be a follower of AnnOnandOn...if you are just left me know(Thanks!)
• (Extra entry) Enter another giveaway (Come back and tell me which one)
  

This giveaway is open to US and Canada. It will end on April 30th. I will notify the winner by email, so please make sure to leave that with each of your comments.

Thank you MyBlogSpark and P&G for the opportunity to try the Swiffer SweeperVac (for the review) and share my honest opinion. It's important that my readers know, what I write is how I feel.


Happy Cleaning! Thanks for helping me celebrate 500 followers!

CLICK here for my Nabob coffee and candle
CLICK here for my ABC Necktie $25.00 Gift Card Giveaway

Wordless Wednesday...

A welcome treat that came in the mail....(Thank you my friend!)

I contemplated whether to tell my husband about the box of Girl Scout cookies.
In the end I did and he ate almost all of them. Those things are addicting.



Happy Wordless Wednesday! Don't forget...I'm celebrating 500 followers this week!
CLICK HERE to enter my $25.00 ABC Necktie gift card giveaway.
CLICK HERE to enter my Nabob coffee and candle giveaway.

Look for another giveaway later today!

Giveaway....Nabob Coffee and candle

Sometimes it feels like the alarm goes off before you even fall asleep.

The next best thing to great sleep is great coffee.

For Canadians, Nabob is a name you can trust to give you that...
"ahhhhhh" coffee moment.I didn't know that until I tried it a few days ago. (Thanks BzzAgent!)

Honestly, I get pretty overwhelmed when shopping for coffee. All the choices...
Then you have to ask yourself why Nabob?
It's a pretty easy answer, it's really good.
Nabob is affordable and it's an organization that wants to provide the best while making sure future generations are not effected because of it's production.

What? If you look on the can you'll see a seal with a frog. It's The Rainforest Alliance Certification. Don't stop reading (I know it's one of those environmental words that can be confusing or give you that Debbie Downer feeling)....basically it guarantees they care about the environment, the impact they are making on it and how they can do their part to protect forests, wildlife habitat, rivers and soil....while making each cup of your morning coffee fabulous.

It's crazy to think that while I'm sipping away at the break of dawn companies are doing more than just putting a smile on my grumpy face, they are trying to make sure to give my kids and yours the same opportunity.

Come to think of it... it's more than "just coffee". Nabob is a way of life.

It wouldn't be fun to enjoy this on my own, so I'm giving away
a can of Breakfast Blend/Medium roast to one reader.
I added a cute coffee candle too. (See first photo)

How to enter:
Click Here, and tell me something you learned about Nabob then come back here and tell me.
Here's the best part....
you get an entry for sharing every thing you learned, so share away.
You will get an entry each time you comment.
(There is a lot of information on their site, so you have LOTS of opportunities to enter.)
Ex. Tell me what do they mean by "Supporting Sustainability"
or what kind sounds best to you.
(3 entries) for being an AnnOnandOn follower

Have fun!
Ends 4/29...
It's fun to be a BzzAgent. Like many, I read reviews and wonder if I would feel the same if given the opportunity to try the product. I was given 2 cans of Nabob for this review.
This post is giving you my honest opinion.


It's giveaway week...remember to come back tomorrow.
Click here to enter the Scarlet Threads Apron Giveaway! 1-30 chance of winning. Ended....Thanks for entering!
Click here to enter the ABC Neckties $25.00 Gift Card Giveaway!

The Burning Question....

You wouldn't think so, but it is actually hard to think of these questions.
On one hand I have to make it interesting and
on the other hand, what ever I ask you to answer I have to answer myself.

This week I will give you a word and you answer the first thing that comes to mind.

Funny
Fruit
Far
Forget
Flower
Forever


My answers:
Funny- Ellen D
Fruit- Good smell (I pictured a clementine)
Far-my family
Forget-Forgive
Flower- White Orchids
Forever-My husband

This week I am doing a giveaway a day to celebrate 500 follower.
I hope you take part. Click each one to enter...

Sunday: Scarlet Threads- A Fair Trade Apron
(Three giveaways opportunities on this post)

Monday- ABC Necktie $25.00 gift card

Tuesday- To be announced

To Do: Review and Giveaway for ABC Neckties

O.k. I have to say it....my husband looks so sexy in his Carhartt coveralls, but there's something about him in a tie that makes me weak in the knees. So, when ABC Neckties asked me to do a review and giveaway well.....



I'm not sure where to begin because they have just about everything you could possibly want with a selection of over three hundred styles.

• 
  • Big and Tall Ties
  • Bow Ties
  • Clip On Ties
  • Collegiate Ties
  • Pattern Ties
  • Pre-Tied Ties
  • Silk Ties
  • Skinny Ties
  • Solid Ties
  • Striped Ties
  • Zipper Ties
• 
  • Animal Print Ties
  • Armed Services Ties
  • Cartoon Ties
  • Conversation Ties
  • Fine Art Ties
  • Food Ties
  • Gambling Ties
  • Harley Davidson Ties
  • Hawaiian Ties
  • Holiday Ties
  • Hollywood Ties
  • Jerry Garcia Ties
  • Music Ties
  • Occupational Ties
  • Patriotic Ties
  • Religious Ties
  • Sports Ties
  • Star Wars
  • Tabasco Ties
  • Western Ties
  • Wildlife Ties
• 
  • Black Ties
  • Blue Ties
  • Brown Ties
  • Gold Ties
  • Green Ties
  • Grey Ties
  • Multi Ties
  • Orange Ties
  • Pink Ties
  • Purple Ties
  • Red Ties
  • Silver Ties
  • Tan Ties
  • White Ties
  • Yellow Ties
• 
  • Accessories
  • Best Sellers
  • Gift Certificates
  • Gift Ideas
  • New Arrivals
  
  I'm sorry, I had to do that to prove my point. Isn't that just amazing.

You need to go over and check it out for yourself at ABC Neckties.com.

(The Chesapeake Silk Tie )

As you can see they have an grand selection, but what's equally as important is the fact that they stand behind their products. ABC Neckties wants to make you happy and provide you with an easy, safe and fast transaction.
Let's face it men are hard to buy for. ABC Neckties and I would like to give one US or Canadian follower a chance to win a $25.00 gift card. This giveaway will end on April 28th. Please make sure to leave your email, so I can contact you.

(The Bennett Striped Silk Tie)

How can you win this $25.00 g.c. to ABC Neckties?

• (Mandatory) Pick out a tie and come back here and leave a comment
• (One Entry) Follow my blog...let me know if you are already a follower
• (One Entry)Comment/become a fan at ABC Neckties on Facebook.
• (Two Entries) Enter my other giveaway

CLICK HERE to enter the Scarlet Threads giveaway.

Thanks for stopping by and commenting. It's going to be a great week of celebration.

Good Luck!

Congratulations to Paige at Some Days You Gotta Dance. She won the Yoplait luxury robe and accessories giveaway.

Celebration.... 500 followers!

I am just shy of 500 followers.

A celebration is in order, so I'm hosting a giveaway a day all next week.

The first one started yesterday with a Scarlet Threads apron giveaway. They are hosting a giveaway, Tea and Crumpets is hosting an apron giveaway, so am I.
Three opportunities to win a fair trade apron. THREE.

CLICK HERE

Along with my giveaways I'll post a series of my stories
including how I ended up in Quebec City, Canada.

Today is the last day for my Yoplait Robe Giveaway. It is such a nice robe!
There are accessories too. Check it out. (below) It would be a great Mother's Day gift!
CLICK HERE TO ENTER

Thanks for following my blog. I really enjoy it and hope you do too.

Giveaway... for Scarlet Threads

Scarlet Threads had me at hello.

Their vision statement starts with "We believe in the possibility of change" and ends with a powerful statement about the ladies they are working with, "People who don't want hand-outs, just a chance".

Have you heard of Fair Trade? (Click here for a little explanation...) Well, Scarlet Threads is a fair trade boutique specializing in products made from seamstresses in rural Asia. They are ladies just like you trying to do their best for their families. When you purchase from Scarlet Threads you are giving her the dignity she deserves with the security of a safe and rewarding way of life.

There is so much more to Scarlet Threads. I hope you take a few minutes to learn more. Right now, they are hosting a giveaway and everyone is a winner. (That is the hook, bite it....click over and check it out.) O.k. I'll give you a little more detail... It has to do with one of my favorite subjects, Aprons. A super cute apron that looks like this....

To enter....
CLICK HERE

A bonus... Tea and Crumpets is hosting a giveaway with one of Scarlet Threads aprons too.

Here's a challenge for you... and another giveaway
If I get 30 comments on this post I will purchase the Molly apron
(because I have a darling niece with that name)
and one person from the 30 comments will win the apron.

Spread the word...it's for a good cause.
(One comment per person.)

Doing the right thing feels good.

LAST DAY FOR MY LUXURY ROBE GIVEAWAY (4/18)...CLICK HERE.

Honest Scrap Award

I heart my award and I am very thankful to The Practical Mom Guide for giving it to me.

Here are the rules: Tell 10 honest things about yourself.
Humm.... here it goes.

1. The most honest thing about me is my heart....I can't hide it as much as I try. I'm sensitive, silly and stubborn.
2. I do not like getting instructions from my husband. He is so~so~so good and patient 90% of the time, but I don't want him to help me unless I ask for it. Even if I ask I might not be happy about it...not all the time, but a lot of the time. (See #1)
3. I'm not competitive. I understand that I am just o.k. at a lot of things and not outstanding at any.
   
4. I have a terrible memory. I had someone say to me if I cared I'd remember...that's not true. Than why can I remember songs on the radio? I think it's the repetition.
5. I regret not trying in school.
   
6. It would be a dream come true to start a family. Adoption-surrogate...
   
7. I sleep with a fan on...all year around.
8. I love fashion and makeup. I wear sweatpants too much and secondhand clothing, but I will save for something really nice. I was a makeup artist for many years and would love to get back into it. Hummm, maybe someday. Only to make people feel better not change them.
   
9. I want to travel more, a lot more. I'm fascinated with seeing, learning and experiencing different countries. (And, the countries I live in.)
   
10. I want to be a part of something, but I haven't found that something. I still haven't done what I'm here to do. My future is exciting. I can't wait to do more....
    

Love many things, for there within lies the true strengths, and whosoever loves so much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is done in love is done well.
Vincent Van Gogh

I now have to pass the award on...Please do not feel obligated to post this on your blog if it isn't something you are comfortable doing. I just want others to know how fabulous you are. For the sake of time and no other reason I am only going to pick a few of my favorites.

Blushing and Sweet
How about Orange
From My Front Porch
Our Daily Blessing....Life
Suburb Sanity
I have to stop, but I can honestly say I have many, many, many more blog I read and really enjoy!

How about you comment on one honest thing about you....?