**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED** If you have been here before you know how much I like to read. If you haven't been here before, I REALLY like to read. In my reading list recently I gave a big thumbs up to Joshilyn Jackson and predicted she'd become one of my favorite auhors. After reading her latest book, The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, I stand by that statement even more. The book was really good. No, great. I couldn't put it down. If you're not reading her, you should be.

I've been using my local library more and more since our budget can't keep up with book bingeing. I got the email that the new book was available last Wednesday but didn't pick it up until Friday literally minutes before the 5 o'clock closing time. I started reading it in the evening after dinner, stayed up till about midnight and finished it at 12:47 pm on Saturday. Did I mention it's a really good book?

Jackson has a very easy writing style. Her characters are unique and vibrant. The stories flow and the plots are engaging. When I saw one of her books on the clearance rack, I knew it would make a great giveaway.

The winner will receive a new hardback copy of Jackson's book Between, Georgia, a $5 Starbucks card, $5 Barnes and Noble card and a re-usable tote.


To enter:

1. Go to Joshilyn Jackson's site to read the synopses of her three books (She doesn't know I'm doing this).

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me which you'd like to read first (under the books tab) - required.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

**Enter the day 1 chocolate giveaway here and the day 2 pendant here**

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 2- Handmade Pendant

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED** As Napoleon Dynamite would say, "Lucky!" Today I have a handmade wood pendant from the Etsy shop of Susy at EarthExpressions. It will pain me to give this away.

Susy's jewelry is just beautiful. I'm so happy she responded to my tweet and offered to participate in my giveaway. In addition to the wood pendants she has recycled glass pendants and rings.

Susy has a special going on right now, be sure to read the details when you click over to her site (the one of a kind pieces are awesome!). You can also sign up for her mailing list to be alerted to other sales and specials. AND she has generously offered a 15% discount to any order placed during the Carnival (10/27-10/31). Use code ADramaticMommy at checkout. Susy will apply the discount for you or you can ask for a revised invoice. Awesome!

The winner of today's giveaway will receive this pendant and tin:


Gorgeous, right? Here's how to enter:

1. Go to the EarthExpressions shop to see the other items Susy offers.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what you'd buy - required.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. Guess what internationals? You're in! (Thanks Susy!)

***Enter my day 1 chocolate giveaway here***

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 1- Gourmet Chocolates

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED** It's the most wonderful time of the year! Bloggy Giveaway Carnival time! I have so much fun during this week. The last carnival had over 1,000 participants and with the holidays coming, I bet it will be that big again (if not bigger!)

Welcome to people visiting for the first time. I appreciate you stopping by and I'd love to see you back again. My last carnival went so well I decided to do it again. I'll have a different item each day this week so please check back.

I thought I'd start the week with chocolate. It's one of my addictions and this company, Jer's Gourmet Chocolates, feeds the addiction well. Jer's is a local company started by Jerry Swain in his parent's kitchen. If you like chocolate and peanut butter, you'll love these!

I have three boxes of the newest item in their product line, the peanut butter bars. The winner will receive one box each of Toffee Break, Cara Mella and the Original IncrediBar (I'm keeping the Pretzo Change-O!). Each box has two bars.


To enter:

1. Go to the Jer's Handmade site to see the other items offered.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what you'd buy - required.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

7. If you live in a warm weather state, I will ship them as quickly as I can afford to but I'm not responsible for their condition on arrival.

Random (Small) Giveaway

I had a chance to try the new Steam N Mash potatoes by Ore Ida. Though I can't say I'll be adding them to my regular shopping list, they were much better and fresher tasting than I expected.


The serving size was a little smaller than I would have liked (because I'm all about the starch and carbs and I wasn't able to have seconds, not that I need it) but they were so easy to prepare. They come frozen in chunks which is good for people who like their mashed potatoes lumpy (I do).

I added a little more milk and butter than was called for (also added fresh ground pepper) but if I hadn't they would have tasted just fine. I could see myself buying them the next time I want to make Shepherd's Pie (ooh that sounds good right now!).


I have $1 off coupons for the first 8 people who'd like to try them. Just leave a comment with your email address. (Coupons expire 4/09)

It's Here!

I won a Sherbert Party from Elle's New England Kitchen and it arrived today. I promised Drama Kid I wouldn't open it until he got home but I forgot it's a martial arts day! Grr. Now I have to wait and patience isn't one of my better traits. I'll post pictures of us sampling all the flavors (and trying to fit five cartons of sherbert in my freezer!).

Bloggy Carnival Winners

Thank you, thank you, thank you to everyone who entered! I'm so pleased with how this carnival went and my sponsors are too. October, and the next carnival, will be here before we know it

Here are the randomly chosen winners: (Check your email or blogs!)

Day 1. Geri

Day 2. Molly C.

Day 3. CanCan

Day 4. GirlyMomma

Day 5. Paula H.

Bloggy Giveaway Day 5

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED*** TGIF! As much fun as this has been, it will be good to get back to normal. I want to thank everyone who has entered throughout the week. I had a goal in mind of how many comments I wanted to have to feel that this was a success. Happy to say I think I will reach (and hopefully pass) that goal.

Some of you are now following me on Twitter and a few have subscribed to the feed. That means a lot to me. Because you did so without being asked.

I realize gaining new readers is one of (if not THE) point of this carnival.
However, I decided not to make subscribing to my feed a condition of entry. I know you can unsubscribe at any time.

But I wanted people to subscribe because they like what I'm doing here, not because they were forced to. So thank you again. I so, so appreciate it!

I know there are contests galore to be entered, but if you have a moment, look through the archives and get to know me. Check out my reading list or my favorite posts (Mozilla users scroll to the bottom). I'd love to see you back here again.

OK, I'm off the soapbox. Back to the giveaway. The last prize is another glass pendant from the talented Jeanne Lee of Trinity Treasures. This one is brown and gold with flecks of green on a brown silk cord. You have no idea how it will pain me to give this up!

To enter:
1. Go to the Trinity Treasures store to see Jeanne's other items (click on 'go to store,' top left).

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what other piece you'd buy - required. (If you entered the first contest, just let me know in the comment)

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close tonight, August 1st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 8/2.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

*Enter my first pendant giveaway here, the Chick Lit giveaway here, the re-usable totes and Trader Joe's GC here and the Starbucks/Barnes and Noble GC's here. (not required, but why wouldn't you?!)

Thank you! Good luck to all my entrants. There's still time to enter some of the 1,000+ contests at Bloggy Giveaway central. Have a good weekend!

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 4

***COMMENTS NOW CLOSED**** Today I'm getting right to the point (my mom is coming in town and my housekeeping standards have slipped this week, not sure why...).

Please check out my other four giveaways. All are open until Friday. I will have another (different) glass pendant for tomorrow. Day 1. Day 2. Day 3. Day 5.

Back to today: I love to read. Usually I'm at home, but there's something about going somewhere else to read, like the beach or a coffee house, that I really enjoy. So I'm giving one winner a $10 Starbucks card and a $10 Barnes and Noble card.

To enter:
1. Leave a comment on this post and tell me what you have planned for the weekend - required.

2. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

3. Comments will close on Friday, August 1st at 11:59pm CA time.

4. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 8/2.

5. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

Thanks again for coming! Be sure to keep checking the Bloggy Carnival Giveaway hub for more great prizes. I popped in before posting and there were 960+ giveaways. 1,000 should be no problem. Have fun!

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 3

***COMMENTS NOW CLOSED*** Today's giveaway is inspired by my trip to the grocery store, an email Drama Dad sent me and a funny video. He forwarded a slide show from The Pocono Record about plastic grocery bags and how harmful they are. Seeing the data expressed in numbers really hit home.

I'm sure these have gone around the web, but they're new to me. I found both the videos on You Tube. The quality (and music!) of the slide show isn't that great, but the other video is really funny.






This past Monday, I took all my canvas bags and one paper bag to the commissary. I had enough of my own bags that I only needed to take one (paper) bag from the store. And it felt really good.

I confess, I still have some plastic bags. I use them in my bathroom trash cans and for the cat litter. But I use them until they are nasty. When I find a better alternative I'll definitely switch.

One person really can make a difference. My small changes plus yours do add up. In the spirit of going green little by little, today's winner will get four re-usable bags from Trader Joe's (3 totes and 1 bottle carrier) and a $5 gift card.

To enter:
1. Watch the videos above if you haven't already or go to The Pocono Record's site to view the slide show (the slide show is much cleaner).

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me your thoughts, impressions, what you're doing to go green or what re-usable bags you use (I'm looking for a few more cute ones) - required. Easy.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, August 1st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 8/2.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

You can still enter my first pendant giveaway here, the Chick Lit, Starbucks/Barnes and Noble GC and second pendant giveaways. I will have new prizes tomorrow and Friday. The easiest way to keep up, of course, is to subscribe to my feed but that's not a requirement of entry (yet, hee hee).

Thanks again for coming! Be sure to keep checking the Bloggy Carnival Giveaway hub for more great prizes. I popped in before posting and there were 800+ giveaways. I bet this year will break 1,000. Have fun!

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 2

***COMMENTS NOW CLOSED*** 

Hello! Today I have books to give away. Hopefully this author,

Jennifer Coburn, will be new to you. I love discovering new authors. It's like finding $20 in a jacket pocket.

I first read one of the books in the giveaway, The Wife of Reilly, a few years ago when I was working at a TV/radio station. This book was sent to one of the on-air talent.

I asked if I could borrow it and I read it in a few days. It's a quick, fun, funny read - just as Chick Lit should be. Coburn is currently living in San Diego. Gotta support the locals.

The winner of today's giveaway will receive three (new) paperbacks: The Wife of Reilly, Tales from the Crib and Reinventing Mona. I'll admit I've never read the second two (not sure why, probably because I'm cheap and waiting to come across one at the used book store). I wonder how quickly and carefully I can read them before I have to send them to the winner? Kidding.

To enter:
1. Go to Jennifer Coburn's site to read the synopsis of each book.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me which of her books you're most interested in reading - required. Easy like Sunday morning.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, August 1st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 8/2.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

*Enter my first pendant giveaway here, the re-usable totes giveaway here, the Starbucks/Barnes and Noble here and the second pendant here (not required, but c'mon, more free stuff!). The easiest way to keep up, of course, is to subscribe to my feed. But I won't make that a condition of entry (unless I get really desperate).


Thanks again for coming! Be sure to keep checking the Bloggy Carnival Giveaway hub for more great prizes. The last time I popped in there were 580+ giveaways. Have fun!

It's Carnival Time! Giveaway Day 1

***COMMENTS NOW CLOSED*** Yeah! It's that time again. Time for late nights, ignoring the housework and finding new blogs. If you're here for the first time, welcome and thank you for coming! I hope to see you again.

I really enjoyed last year's carnival and wanted to do something special for this one. I am putting the finishing touches on my prizes and should be giving away a new item each day so please check back.

For my first giveaway, I have a beautiful handmade glass pendant from Jeanne Lee at Trinity Treasures. I adore fused glass jewelry and bought two of her pendants as my Mother's Day present to myself.

Jeanne is so sweet and I was so happy she agreed to give me pendants (notice the plural, hint, hint) for the carnival. She is local to San Diego and I always like to support local artists. But it's going to be really hard for me to give them up!

My camera does not do this necklace justice. It's several shades of green with an almost teal sparkle to it on a brown silk cord. Gorgeous!

To enter:

1. Go to the Trinity Treasures store to see Jeanne's other items (click on 'go to store,' top left).

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what other piece you'd buy - required. Simple! (You can thank me later)

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, August 1st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 8/2.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

*Enter my Chick Lit giveaway here, the re-usable totes here , the Starbucks/Barnes and Noble here and the second pendant here. (Not required, but more free stuff!)

Thanks again for coming! Be sure to check out the Bloggy Carnival Giveaway hub for more great prizes. Last quarter there were more than 900 giveaways. Have fun!

Attention Students! 1-2-3 Eyes on Me!

Hello! Not a lot going on today. Drama Kid and I are headed to the beach campgrounds where Drama Dad's cousins spend a week every year.

Your homework assignments: I have two different meme's/carnivals scheduled, one for readers the other for football fans.

For the readers: Have whatever you're reading handy next Tuesday 7/15 (I think I saw this at Kate's). I'm reading Love Monkey for my book club and just can't get into it.

So, I want to know what you're reading. I need some suggestions to take to the next meeting. I'll use random.org to come up with a page number. And I'll use Mr. Linky so that anyone who wants to participate can post the title, a review of the book and three sentences from the chosen page.

For the football fans: Are you getting excited?! Opening day of preseason is only 28 days away! I'm sqealing and clapping like I just got nominated to Homecoming Court. I got a new sticker for my car and I'm on the lookout for new shirts for Drama Kid and jewelry for me. I can't wait for Sundays! And Mondays. And some Thursdays.

I want to know who you'll be cheering for this season. Post one of your best fan stories, pictures of you in your fan gear, all your memoriabilia and inflatable fingers, your tattoos; whatever you want. But no team bashing or name calling please. I'll leave up another Mr. Linky so we can see who's the biggest fan. I'll do this the following Tuesday 7/22.

And, just to see who's out there today and who read this far down, the first four people to say "Ska Doosh" in their comments will win the Kung Fu Panda Panda-Monium activity CD from HP and Mom Select.

Enjoy your day!

20 Days of Giveaways

My friend Laurie at Tip Junkie will be celebrating her 1-year blogversary by giving prizes to all of you! For 20 days! Hop on over for all the details then mark your calendars. Giveaways start this Monday, June 30th.

Thanks to Everyone and Congratulations!

Thanks so much to everyone who stopped by! And heartfelt thanks and appreciation to those who mentioned my little contest on your blogs. I REALLY appreciate it!

I hope to see all of you here again. Hopefully I'll be hosting contests periodically. They're a lot of fun!

Now for the winner:

Yeah Cindy! Cindy said:

Now that is an amazing banner! You have brought "Mel-o-drama" to a wonderous height. Was that due to the stilleto's? Wink. Ok, I will behave. I only have maybe 15 pairs of shoes or so these days. When you begin to age and keep adopting children you find little "support" for such goodies. Okay, I had to throw one more pun in. But YOU started it! I do love coffee.

Check your email Cindy!

Wordless Wednesday #2

This is second in a series. See the first picture here. Any guesses?

*Don't forget to enter my contest before this Friday!

Ch Ch Ch Changes! *Updated*

**Comments are now closed. Winner announced tomorrow**

TA DA! What do you think of the new look? I adore it! The wonderful ladies at Be Design put this together for me and I couldn’t be happier. To celebrate, I’m having a little giveaway! Woo Hoo! Free stuff!

I was very anal particular about what I wanted and really put Christy through the wringer making sure it came out exactly the way I pictured it in my head. She was SO patient with me. I know I was a royal pain and I really appreciate all her hard work. Thanks Christy!

I had another name picked out, Strawberry Doorbells, but decided against it. I couldn't come up with a design I liked better than this one and couldn't explain the inside joke publicly (thanks Jen!). So, I stuck with my attempt at a pun instead and I hope you like it as much as I do.

Thanks also go to 5 Minutes for Mom for helping me spread the word about the contest on 5 Minutes Around the Blogosphere.

Yeah,yeah, OK, get to the prizes already! One winner will receive a $10 Starbucks card, $10 Target card and a gift certificate to Be Designs for 50% off any service!

I would love it if you’d have a look around, give me feedback or leave a suggestion as to what type of content you'd like to see. Or help me with my diet. Or my cat situation.Or leave me a book suggestion. Or a movie suggestion. Or, head over to Be Designs and get to know Christy and Beth and their work before you win. Or help spread the word on your own site (be sure to tell me if you do so I can thank you profusely!).

But I won’t make that a condition to enter. Because I’m nice like that.

1. To enter, please leave a comment on this post only
2. The contest is open to US residents and runs from Sunday 6/15 to Friday 6/20
3. Comments will close at 11:59pm on Friday. A winner will be chosen at random on Saturday and notified here and through email. The winner has until Monday 6/23 to respond or an alternate will be chosen
5. Tell me a shoe story: how many pairs you have, what's favorite pair, your favorite brand anything you like as long as it's about shoes (pure selfishness on my part, more interesting than "enter me")
4. Anonymous comments will be deleted, I need a way to get in touch with you!

*Update: You do not have to have a blog to win. If the winner is a non blogger, can we agree to draw another name for that portion of the prize? I think that's fair, yes?

Thanks so much for stopping by to see my new look and good luck!

Can You Smell That?

It's the smell of change in the air! I'm got something going behind the scenes and I'm SO excited! Should happen next week some time. Stay tuned, there might even be a giveaway...

I've Been Bitten

By the shopping bug that is. I really like to shop. I mean REALLY. I could probably buy something every day. Clothes, shoes, purses, books, pretty things for our house. Even groceries. I love looking through the racks/stacks/bins. Clearance? Bring it!

Alas, since I am on holiday, I have had to curtail my spending in favor of essentials like, oh, food and gas. But, I can still look! The Carnival has exposed me to so many great sites (you people are tres crafty!)

I thought I'd let you see some of the things I want need am obsessing over would like to have right now, both from the Carnival and in general:

• Glass jewelry from Amy Burhoe. I may have to send this link to hubby for Mother's Day.
• Boxed cards from Mariella Designs. Always nice to have on hand.
• A pretty teacup and saucer by Sentou for breakfast on the patio.
• Mommy Calling cards from Sophie and Spice. They just speak to me.
• This T-shirt from SuperMaggie.
• More re-usable shopping bags, but cuter than the ones I have from Target.
  
• This Sigg water bottle.
• These to die for sandals from Charles David.
• This dress, this dress and this tank top from Old Navy.
• A pendant from The Broken Plate.
• Sugar scrub from Archipelago Botanicals.
• More of these crafts for my son. It's hard to find things for boys! Everything I see in Wal Mart is knitting, sparkly and just all around girly. I bought him the airplane from the clearance section at Target.
• A Wii Fit. I'm convinced my life will be perfect once I have one.
• A new digital camera like this. Mine is a brick like the first cell phones.

I found some of this stuff while surfing through PinkPurpleandOrange.com. What a great site! I can (and did) spend a lot of time there. I added them to my Google Reader and will definitely go there to look for gifts and such. Much thanks to them! Anyone else have visions of shopping bags dancing in their heads?

Drum Roll Please!

The fat lady has sung. What a week! I feel like vampire from all my late nights and have the luggage under my eyes to prove it.

Before I get to the good stuff, I wanted to thank everyone again for stopping in. You've made a newbie very happy!

I've taken your comments and suggestions to heart and am looking into ways to make the site pop. I start a web design class tomorrow night so who knows, I could be creating something myself!

With that, congratulations to poster #14, Lucy! I sent Lucy an email this morning.

Here's what Lucy said:

• "I second the color suggestion! Pick something that is you! Good luck figuring out a new career/job."

Thank you for the well wishes on the job front. I have an interview tomorrow! I hope to see some of you again.

I'll definitely be part of the next Carnival. This was too much fun to pass up. Oh, I did win something from Heather at Desperately Seeking Sanity. Check out her site, she's got a great sense of humor. She's one of the many I added to my Google Reader.

I have a birthday party to go to and dinner guests coming tonight. Enjoy your Sunday!

Here are your random numbers:

14

Timestamp: 2008-04-27 07:03:31 UTC

I Want to Play Too! $10 GC to Toys R Us COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED

I know I'm beyond fashionably late but I wasn't sure I wanted to participate. I changed my mind for a few reasons:

1) I think it would be neat to see the Carnival reach 1,000 posts
2) I'm curious to know how many of you have hung in till the end and what type of response I'll get. I don't have much content on this site since I'm a newbie but I'd love some feedback.
3) I've had so much fun and have been so impressed with everyone's generosity I want to pay it forward. I wish I could give more, but being on holiday and all...

So, please leave a comment with your blog name or email address so I can get in touch with you. I'd love for you to stick around and get to know me but my feelings won't be hurt if you don't (well maybe a little). US residents only.

Winner chosen through a random number generator. I'll have comments open until midnight Pacific time tomorrow (Saturday 4/25). I know it's short but we have things happening Sunday and I don't want to over commit myself and leave you hanging and the Carnival is almost over anyway. I will email the winner who then has until Tuesday 4/28 to respond.

There's still plenty of fun to be had at the Carnival. Get thyself to entering before time is up!