100th Post - Get Your Contest On!!!

Ok. So now for my 100th posting, I am holding a contest.

Yeah! Here's what it's going to be:

1. One entry for posting a comment about an unusual/spontaneous thing you did (nothing that harms someone/something else or anything profane). i.e. One thing I've done is that I went sledding in my swimsuit my freshman year with a bunch of other friends.

2. One more entry if you blog about this contest (make sure you have a link to your blog post in your comment)
3. A winner will be chosen using Random.org
4. Winner will be chosen on January 15th!

Now the lovely item up for grabs:





Yes. It is what you think it is.....a chap stick cozy key chain! Yes, I'll even include a new tube of chap stick (Yes it's going to be a new tube of Eskimo Kiss (shown in 2nd photo) from Biggs and Featherbelle).

ALSO: Send an email to onlyifbliss at yahoo dot com so I can contact you if you win! Even if you sign in with your email to comment, Blogger doesn't show me what it is, so this step is really important. If I don't have your email I'll have no way to get a hold of you and I'll have to give your prize to someone else! How sad would you be if that happened? Just tell me the name you used to comment with, and don't worry, I won't use your email for anything else other than contacting you if you win.

Sneak Peak!

Watch this space for (hopefully) a nifty contest!
(Just in time for the New Year)


Get a chance to win a hand knitted item.

Also, I managed to get my grandmother on my digital camera being silly.

I think they're self explanatory when you see them

Ten years from today. . . .

I envision myself married to a wonderful man for at least 5 years, in a house near a large city (like DC, NYC or another big city in the New England area) - it can be a nice loft or spacious apartment. Also, in 10 years from today, I see myself working FT at a company that's eco-friendly or has services/products that are good for the earth/people.

In 10 years from now, I envision all of my debts (including student loans) to be 100% paid off. Also, in 10 years, I want to own a vehicle (like a truck or station wagon type) that's 100% environmentally friendly and gets great "gas" mileage.

Vision

OMG OMG OMG OMG

OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG

I nearly wet myself when I saw the link to it on Myspace.com's main page

X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE HD


My friends (most of them at least) will attest I love Wolverine. And I've been waiting for this movie to come out.

'Nuf said

The Soup

Ok. I enjoy watching the E! channel from time to time. The main show I watch on there is "The Soup".

Now, I would personally say the highlight of the show for me (since I've started watching it on a regular basis) was when the show's host Joel McHale. (Sorry ladies, he's already married!) dressed up as a recognizable '80's character (recognizable to me at least).

See clip below.

Moosebutter (on toast!)

Ok, I dont know how many of you have seen that acapella Star Wars YouTube video. The guy who performed it was Corey Vidal. You could probably say the video went viral.

The group that originally created/sung the vocals for that video (maybe Corey sung it himself for his video, I dont know) is Moosebutter. And they did a video response to Corey's video (its actually them singing the song themselves in the split screen fashion).

As I am writing this, I'm actully listening to one of Moosbutter's cd's. Very funny. It sometimes reminds me of a friend from elementary school/college (met him in elementary school and ended up going to the same college together).

Peppermint Milk

Peppermint Milk...Peppermint Milk.

Oh my gosh. Such nummy stuff.

Ask the next time you're in a coffee shop somewhere and ask for steamed milk with peppermint italian syrup. *drool*

Very good.

I discovered this durring the last stretch of my college years. There was just something about getting steamed milk with peppermint in it.

Heck. We even came up with a little dance for it as well!

So far my web camera is only recording the video part of the song and dance (no sound!)
Stinkers. I'll post the little song and dance once I get the sound to work.

(me thinks part of it was from my brother using it - taking it off my comp and moving it to another - some how got damaged in the process??? Worked well enough before).

Rock, Paper, Scissors.

This is going to be a short post.

There is this really awesome Fairfield, IA band called Rock, Paper Scissors. (They also have a MySpace.com page as well!)

They're a female trio that's jazzy/fusion/other with musical accompaniment.

Check them out.

FYI if you like them enough to buy their CD, it needs to be purchased by DEC 19TH.

Wonderful World of Toys

Personally, I enjoy playing games and with toys now and again (sometimes it feels good to be a kid again - even if it's only for 20min).

I stumbled across these websites from a friend's twitter post about how handmade toys may become illegal.

Main gist of the whole thing is that people who hand make toys (like knitted/crocheted/sewn dolls, wooden trucks/cars, etc) and have made it their lively hood (or depend on that business in some way).

Please help spread the word peeps!

Websites:

• Help Save Handmade Toys in the USA

• How You Can Help

• Cool Mom Picks Article

An Every Day is a Holiday

I was thinking the other day how fun life would be know each day was celebrated like it was a holiday (not the dreaded I have to get someone else something holiday - just a day to celebrate).

It could be as simple as "Smile Day" or even "Laughing Day". I remember overhearing a conversation about a fairy book that talked about how the fairies have a holiday every day (that celebrated stuff like "Drinking the Dew from Rose Petals" and just got me started thinking). Just how life should be celebrated more.

Just a thought.

I hear it calling my name

UGH! Ever since I got up this morning, I've been hearing my bed call my name to come back and fall asleep again!

It's only gotten worse since I've been at work. And it makes it harder knowing I work really close to home - it's calling my name even more temptingly (closer than allot of people in this area - I have like a 10 min drive to work, and that's with "heavy" traffic).

That's what was one of my birthday wishes was to be able to sleep in as long as want and not have to leave my bed unless I wanted too. (I tend to sleep in a little later than I should and get to work anywhere from 15 - 45 min after I'm "technically" suppose to start at - but fortunately the company I work for is really laid back and works out in both our favors that I come in up to 3/4 of an hour late).

As part of my birthday gift to myself, the other day I ended up at Target and got myself some gold sheets.

Yes, gold. Not the knit or woven fabric that's been dyed a golden rod color. Gold as in metallic shiny, will-practically-slip-out-of-bed-if-I-move sheets.

Ten Guilty Pleasures

ohhh....if I had to list my top 10 guilty pleasures (at the time I'm writing this), would be as follows:

10. Sleeping In: I love sleeping in. Especially since I noticed I enjoy staying up some what late-ish. But there is something comforting about staying in bed until almost lunch and then getting up to face the day. Granted, your day may start much later than it may, but if that means waking up happy....

9. Kickball: I know it's an odd guilty pleasure, but it's there. For the last couple of years I have been apart of a social sport of kickball. It's more so for getting off my butt every sunday and going out and being social with other people, and it has an added bonus of being somewhat active (more so than if I stayed home with the intention of moving physically).

8. Ghost Hunters/CSI: I really enjoy these shows. If either G.H. or any of the CSI (esp. CSI: Miami) are on, chances are I'm sitting there knitting and drinking my coffee.

7. Cuddle Parties: I've only recently discovered this. It's just a fun way of relaxing and connecting with other people. With today's world, people tend to be more isolated from each other than they've been in quite some time. In today's world, it is nice to know we can connect with each other, in a safe environment, with other people.

6. Games: Mostly online games at this point (Neopets.com mostly). I do love playing games with real live people but never found enough people to get together to do much of a regular thing.

5. Chapstick: OMG. I have discovered this one chapstick that I have found highly addictive. It's minty and makes my lips tingle slightly from the mintyness (it makes my lips feel sexy even for a few short seconds). Oh ok. The chapstick is called Biggs & Featherbelle - the one I'm "addicted" to is called Eskimo Kiss.

Which leads me to my next guilty pleasure....

4. Kissing: I love kissing. Not that I have had much experience in this department, but it doesnt mean I dont enjoy it. ;)

3. Knitting: It's a big part of my life, but I secretly knit where and when I can. Yes, the bathroom is included in that scenario.

2. Coffee: *drool* Need I say more?

1. Yarn: I know this may fall in with knitting but I am catagorising it as something else. Mainly knitting is the action of USING yarn. Yarn is just something collected and is more inspiration to be used for action.

Online Discounts

Ok. I know I like getting a good deal on things, and I'm sure other people do too.

I have found a couple good online things that get you discounts on things.

One place that has recently piqued my interest is RetailMeNot.com. What it basically does, is that it has you enter the website you want to purchase something from (like Amazon.com , JCPenny.com, Target.com, or any other retail website). Then, it shows you all the coupons/discounts that the website has (sometimes, if the website has an actual physical store - Target, JC Penny, Lane Bryant, etc - RetailMeNot.com may have a printable coupon for you too).

Sometimes, if it's just free shipping, it can be a good thing too. Shipping for somethings can be a bit pr icy for one reason or another. FreeShippingOn.com and FreeShipping.org may be good sites to check out too. Though RetailMeNot.com should have most of your coupon codes for you (shipping and other misc discounts).

Productive Evening

So, last night was my first encounter of what is known as a Cuddle Party.

I wasn't sure of what to expect. I sort of knew what I was getting into, but had a feeling I would enjoy myself. I would say it was a successful evening all in all.

I was surprised at the size of the group - around 8 people including myself - I was expecting (well more like hoping) more. But it was a Friday evening to boot.

What was also nice (was sort of happy the group was small - might have been a little over whelmed if it was larger) was there were rules to follow. Kind of setting boundaries of what was acceptable, etc. Made the event feel more legit (something more than a free-for-all, chaotic clothed orgy - not that it ever was nor would have progressed/allowed to get to that point). It was about the comfort of the attending people (to what extent they participated), being able to use the space to open communication, being able to change your mind about things, helping in setting boundaries, etc. (To what extent is up to the individual).

I liked the notion that you don't have to cuddle everyone at the entire event (or anyone for that matter). Comforting I thought. You could just kick back and relax by yourself if you wanted to.

It was definitely a neat experience. And something I would invite people to experience for themselves.

Merle Fest 2009

Merle Fest is a music festival revolving around the concept of sharing music on all levels. Listening, performing, and exchanging information and ideas. I've never been to the music event and this will be a first for me.

I want to go but also want to keep the costs low, and so I started the volunteer ball rolling (you can find information on volunteering at the festival here). Now I guess the next step is seeing who I can convince to go with me (and quite possibly take off work to go as well).

It seems like it's going to be fun. Part of my motivation is a fav. band of mine is playing durring the weekend of this event. *smirk*

Hopefully I can get at least SOMEONE to go with me.

Phil in the Circle

Cuddle Me Silly!

So, I'm kind-of excited about this Friday.

Wanna know why?


IT'S A CUDDLE PARTY!!!


*rofl*

What is a cuddle party you ask?

Here is a little blurb about it from the website:

What a Cuddle Party Is: A structured, safe workshop on boundaries, communication, intimacy and affection. A drug and alcohol-free way to meet fascinating people in a relaxing environment. A laboratory where you can experiment with what makes you feel safe and feel good.

This playful, fun workshop has been a place for people to rediscover non-sexual touch and affection, a space to reframe assumptions about men and women, and a great networking event to meet new friends, roommates, business partners and significant others.

Can Cuddle Party restore your faith in humanity? It just might. But at the very least, you'll have a great time, and leave feeling relaxed and inspired.


I personally think it's going to be a fun time!!!!