Ouch

I've emailed the winners; Christi, Ronda and April check your mail next week. To everyone that didn't win, I'm talking to some people about doing give-aways through the blog more regularly. Keep in the loop, I like to share. 

I've decided to make a bit of a change and comb out my dreadlocks. I roll my eyes at that word: dreadlocks. They never really got to the stage where they were noticably locked up. A year later and people still say "Oh, you're trying to grow dreads?" Yeah. I'm trying. My hair, on the other hand, doesn't want to comply. Contrary to what people (and websites that sell you stuff) believe, not everyone's hair is made for dreadlocks.

Oh, it'll knot up and look messy and be a pain in the ass but those really pretty fat locks you see out there, well, some people just can't do it. After an entire year of trying, I've realize I'm one of those people.

I've backcombed, waxed, braided, palm-rolled, aloed, crocheted and finally in a last ditch effort to get ALL the stray hair in, sewed.

Nothing worked. And I really wanted it to.

So, this afternoon I combed out three of them. It took hours. It hurt. I used half a bottle of conditioner. It made me nauseous and dizzy. If you don't hear from me for awhile I'm probably unconscious on the bathroom floor.

Contest and a real Birthday

Just a quick note to everyone that entered the contest. Today, after Yoga, I'll write everyone's names out on slips of paper and throw them in a hat...or a bowl. I will then deploy a most scientific method of picking names out aided by various kids. If you win one drawing you're out for the rest of the prizes. Just FYI. I'll post the winners on here probably tomorrow and notify them via email.

Today, is in fact, an actual birthday in our house. Olivia, my first born daughter and second born kid, is now seven. Holy wow. I mean, I knew it was coming but...geeze.

We had her party last night. I barbequed some dogs and burgers and a huge pile of veggies. Earlier, I had made cupcakes which I let her pick from a mix. Remind me to never do that again. They were gross. They tasted like dry cherry candycanes and too sweet frosting with no flavor other than copious amounts of white sterilized sugar. I had to make it up to the Confectionary Gods and make some of my famous chocolate ones from scratch. With almond frosting. mmmm. I hope it earned me some forgiveness.

We ate and goofed off for the camera. The present pile was meager but if you don't make a big deal over it, kids don't notice. I still have her birthday quilt to finish which I haven't presented to her yet. I tried to choose things that were meaningful, worthy and inexpensive.

I bought her a long pesant dress and matching doll dress from A Lady out of Carolina after swearing profusely at the high prices looking over the American Girl doll store I found her on Etsy and fell in love. Not only are her dresses well made (with serged edges and good quality cotton), she makes them all herself, in America (which AG can't say). I only wish I could have gotten everything else like that.

I picked up a wooden nursery and birthday playset from Play Wonder* at Target. Olivia wanted this badly and it fits perfectly in the wooden doll house Cordelia got for her birthday at the begining of the year. They're simple, sturdy and not too expensive. Then she got the Toy Story 3 Leapster game. I <3 LeapFrog.

I manned the camera, which you can tell by my absentness from the photos...again. I would have gotten more photos of the toys but they snatched them up and scurried away with their prizes before I could. The day was simple and meaningful, two things that I strive to bring to our home. I feel so much has gotten away from these two values. Our souls feast on lasting gifts and memories and the whole face wide smiles of a very happy now-seven year old.

*Play Wonder is made in China. I know, I know. I try my best.

Three Hours Left to Enter the Contest!

http://solidityofrainbows.blogspot.com/2010/06/its-my-party-birthday-giveaway.html

It's My Party! Birthday Giveaway!

Happy Birthday to Solidity of Rainbows!!!

It's been two years since I started this blogging adventure.

We've had lots of stuff happen; Deployment, Birth, Illness, Gardens, Birthdays, Holidays, Crafts, Recipes, Bugs, Homeschooling, Rabbits...well, you get the picture!

Today, in honor of our birthday, we're giving YOU presents!!!!!

Three prize packs are up for grabs.

First: a $30 Joann Fabrics Gift Card

Second: A Craft Pack filled with patterns, fabric, and notions

Third: A crafty treat I've sewed up!

Your choice of a zippy bag, crayon wallet OR 2 pack of reusable snack bags!

How to get entered in the drawing!

Follow this blog (one entry)

Twitter about it (one entry)

Blog about it (two entries)

Follow HeartSong Farms (one entry)

You must post a comment on THIS blog post to enter with links to the twitter/blog posts and tell me how many entries you qualify for!

I'll give everyone until Monday at 12 noon EST to get their entries in and do the drawing that afternoon.

Good luck!

Craft Book Give Away Update

Well, I was hoping to boost readership and maybe I did. I don't know. There was only one reply to my blog give away and they didn't actually fufill the requirements of the challenge so I'm not actually sure what to do. I think what I may do is donate all the books to a local charity. I'm thinking The Springs. I donate to them a few times a year and I know it's a good local cause. I've sent my money on to Haiti. I do what I can for those close to home too.

So, if you did in fact register through the blog following the instructions on how to enter and cyber space ate your comment -which does happen- send me a message. Otherwise, the books will go to the donation center by the end of the week!

Craft book blog give away!!!

To boost readership (I guess until they get the free thing then who knows) I've decided to do a craft book blog giveaway.

To enter you have to post a reply to just one of my previous posts (with something relavent not just "hi" I'm trying to reward readership, you'll only cheat yourselves)  and then report back here with the post name and your name! You have until January 15th, 2010 to post and the book will be mailed out by the end of the month.

Here are the books currently up for grabs. Note: you will recieve ONE book of your choosing not the whole pile, don't be greedy.

These are all brand new books that might have shelf wear because they've been sitting on my shelf for god knows how long. Depending on the number of entrants I might give away the whole stack or do multiple drawings. Good luck!