Blog Design Giveaway

OK so I know that most people have NO CLUE what the value of my blog design giveaway is and truthfully neither do I. I do know that I am a pretty decent graphic designer and that my clients seem to love me.
Here is a list of blog designs I have done (apart from my own)

http://thewholeorrdeal.blogspot.com/
http://theindigoonion.blogspot.com/
http://retro-mama.blogspot.com/
http://newbawn.blogspot.com/

If you have a personal blog that you would like to have designed, redesigned, etc please enter my giveaway by just posting a comment. Then enjoy the rest of my random postings if you wish. Please also feel free to grab my button while you are here!
If you are a business and are interested in having your blog done by mean please feel free to contact me... I am currently doing them very inexpensively (but not cheaply!)

This Giveaway ends on March 7th and will be announced on March 8th.

Voting and Politics

OK so I love to argue politics with friends who love to argue politics and don't take it personally. And let me tell you it is very hard to find those kind of friends so I have learned not to talk to just anyone about it. On Tuesday we had our state Primaries. I went and voted and learned that voting in the primaries is where some political careers start. I was asked to attend the Precinct Level Convention that is held right after the polls close and the last voter has cast his/her vote.
At this convention all qualifies persons who attend can participate in electing a Permanent Chair person and Secretary, propose and adopt resolutions to be forwarded to the next convention level and then finally elect delegates and alternate delegates to attend the next level convention. Now, this whole adoption of resolutions thing... wow this part just blows me away, THIS is where we have a real voice in what is going to happen in our government. This is how we tell our nominated candidate what it is that we want from him or her.
When I arrived home from the convention I was pleased to announce to my husband that I was elected Secretary and that I was also elected as an alternate delegate. Funny thing was he was not surprised, seems I am always going to some meeting somewhere (PTA, COP, Neighborhood Association, ETC) and becoming involved some way. It irks him to no end but he loves me non-the-less. You do have to volunteer for these parts and when there are only two people attending for your convention at Precinct Level it isn't hard to be elected. I did learn so much about how this process works and I am excited to be going on to the next level. There are 4 levels, Precinct, County or Senatorial, State and National. These conventions are help every two years and National Level is help when there is a National Level Election (presidential). I highly encourage everyone to attend their County/Senatorial Level convention to see how the process works. Even though you are not eligible to vote, it is a valuable learning experience.

Snow Heavenly!

Some pictures from the last days record breaking snow event in Texas!



This picture was from this morning.
I am not sure I have ever seen it this white anywhere before.
and a rare picture...



ahhhh...

Sew Pink

It's not often that I get my sewing machine out anymore and that is because I am so busy designing websites all the time. Another reason I can't post on here much either, but a few weeks ago I was browsing through a really cool craft tutorial website (which I cannot find the link to again and I am sad) and found some things that I really had to try.
The website features really great tutorials from around the net. It led me to the vlijtig blog and this tutorial. I had to make a few changes to adjust for my sewing abilities and well becuase I didn't want to sew more than I had to:) I am a lazy seamstress.
Here are the beautiful baskets I made out of some fabric I have been saving for sweatpea for several years now. I love how they turned out and so does she.

The teenager thinks he is funny

Well the truth is ... he is funny. But not when I need him to be. He is always trying to deflect when I am yelling at him. The other day he even answered the phone a proceeded to tell the caller that I couldn't hear the phone ringing because I was yelling at him to loudly. Thank goodness the caller knew him well enough to appreciate his sense of humor. He might have a career in stand-up comedy if he survives to adulthood. I just really really want to pinch his little head off when I am trying to be serious and a little spit rolls off my tongue into his eye and he pretends like it is acid making him melt. Last week at counseling (yes I have him in counseling) we left and the goal I am supposed to reach for is not falling into his humor trap... I am not mentally prepared for this, he's too good and I am weak! There is no winning this war with him. I just want to curl up into a ball and laugh so hard I cry...


wahhhh....

Recognize Someone

WOW, it's been over a month since I blogged. Truth be told I have been really busy and I am so exhausted every night I actually hit the sack around 8 pm... every night.
Time to myself is non-existent right now, but I am ok with that.
So I had to take my truck by Service King again today so they could finish up a couple repairs that they didn't get last month while the truck was in the shop (for 3 LONG weeks). While I was there our service rep came and talked to me. He has been so nice this whole time and while I am not completely satisfied with our experience at Service King it is through no fault of his. He has been kind and patient and knowledgeable and has worked hard to get things done in a timely manner. With a truck as old as ours is though getting parts isn't always easy. They recycle parts at this shop, which is why I like to take our truck to them for body work but our truck isn't only old it is also a weird year where they made parts differently than any other year. Why Dodge would do this, I have no clue but they did and so it is.
Needless to say he saved our truck from being totaled based on the fact that our original quote was on used parts. In the end they had to purchase some new parts to get the truck completed and back into it's full time job as a child hauler.
Where am I going with this... based on my experience with Jeremy at Service King, I have decided to write a letter to the company acknowledging his hard work. I have also decided to write a letter to Starbucks acknowledging my appreciation of all the folks at my corner Starbucks, especially Melissa and Sharon. The I plan on writing one letter a week in appreciation of someones hard work at various places I go to around town. I have realized that today.. in 2010 we so often forget to thank people by writing to their company and telling them they are doing a good job. Of course I always smile and say thank you as I am sure many of you do too, but I want to challenge myself and you guys to do the same thing. Is there someone at one of your regular daily stops that you would like to say an extra special "thank you" to? Write their boss a letter. I know for a fact it will mean the world to them!

Hummus

I know that when I host a playgroup over here at my house Hummus seems to always be a must... or wine, but we are talking playgroup so it must be hummus.
I was trying to find a hummus recipe that didn't call for tahini or peanut butter becuase not everyone can have PB.
So here is one I found that I think will do the trick.

* 3 garlic cloves, minced (more or less if you like)
* 1/3 cup plain low-fat yogurt
* 1 tablespoon lemon juice
* 1 teaspoon olive oil
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 teaspoon paprika
* 1/8 teaspoon pepper
* 1/8 teaspoon cumin
* 1/2 teaspoon toasted sesame oil
* 1 (19 ounce) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed
* 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped

Directions

Combine everything in blender or food processor and process until smooth. Chill about 30 minutes in the fridge.