***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!

PROMPTuesday Becomes What the Hell Wednesday

The brilliantly talented Deb at SanDiegoMomma challenges us to put on our creative thinking caps and bring out our inner Hemingway. The rules are simple:

1. You must write your entry in 10 minutes. This encourages top-of-mind, primal thinking before the ego and judgmental brain kick in. Just set a timer, make your kid count to 600 slowly, whatever. It’s an honor system. And I trust you.

2. Keep to 250 words or less.

3. Please have fun. Don’t put pressure on yourself. Together, let’s rediscover the simple joy in the writing process.

4. Post your submission in the comments OR post in your blog and leave a link to your blog in the comments.

This week's theme is deception. Says Deb, "Write about deception. Whatever that means to you. Can be fact or fiction."

OK, I choose fiction. Because I'm a coward, this is my first PROMPTuesday. I cheated a little, modifying a portion of a story I wrote in a creative writing class to fit the 250 word limit. Be gentle with me, I'm fragile right now. ;^)

When Sydney came home from work, she was surprised to see Travis home early. He was at the kitchen table, apparently engrossed in bills. She kissed him, picked up the mail and started talking about her day, not noticing the look on his face.

“Work has been so hectic with this new account. We’re frantic trying to make deadline. Wow, look at all these RSVP’s! The wedding just keeps getting bigger!”

Sydney stopped talking long enough to realize Travis hadn't said a word. He was stock still, looking back and forth between Sydney and the mail in front of him, replaying the conversation he just had with her mother.

“Babe, what’s wrong? If that’s the Visa bill it WAS an emergency,” she joked, walking back to the table.

Wordlessly, he handed her the paper. She took it, vowing to intercept the credit card statements from now on. When she realized what is was, the color drained from her face, her knees gave and she sat down, hard. Travis broke the silence.

“Were you going to tell me? Or were you going to let me walk down the aisle THEN come clean”

“You’re angry, and you should be. But I can-”

“What? Explain?” he shouted.

“Yes, but-“

“You used to be a MAN! You had a dick! I wanted to marry you, have a family. Now I look like a jackass.” He took his keys and slammed out.

She couldn’t move, think or cry. The creamy vellum envelopes mocked her from the coffee table.