It's My Blog-i-versary! I'll Party if I Want To {Giveaway}

Way back in 2007, I loved reading blogs.  I spent nap times at the daycare where I worked reading blogs and making lesson plans.  There were a few I checked on every day and some I just tripped across once or twice.  I started noticing the same names cropping up over and over in people's comments.  I realized that these people were forming friendships and meeting new people all through the magic of blogging. Also, every time I wanted to leave a comment of my own, I had to skip over the section where you could put in your blog address if you wanted one.

It got me thinking about starting my own blog. I figured, I like to talk, and blogging is just like talking, only in written form, right?  Plus, I'll be honest, I had dreams of getting insanely popular and having people all over the place think that I am supremely cool.

One December day, instead of doing whatever cleaning or decorating I should have been doing, I sat down and created this blog.  I didn't spend much time coming up with a really creative name or an amazing layout, I just put up a picture of Frances and Henry, wrote a few sentences and then sat back to wait for the adoring fans to show up.

That's obviously not what happened, but little by little i got to know people and started interacting with them.  I shared my posts with family and friends and I entered the address in for that section when I commented on someone else's blog.

Along the way I {mostly} dropped the dream of hitting it big and really started enjoying myself. I remember the first time someone I had never heard of commented on my blog and how cool I felt.  I remember the first time I was speaking with a person face to face and they brought up something I had written on my blog.  I remember the first time someone quoted me to me. All very awesome feelings!

I have gotten so much out of blogging. It has been a place for me to share my life with family and friends. It has been a way for me to think "out loud" and figure out a puzzling situation.  It has been a way for me to keep track of things that have happened in the past and to have a permanent record of how our life has changed and grown.

This week is a time for me to give back.  My actual anniversary is coming up on Saturday, but that's not a day I normally post, so I am dedicating this whole week to celebrating right here on my blog.  Today, I have this little walk down memory lane followed by an awesome giveaway.  Tuesday, in typical 10 on Tuesday style, I'd like to share my 10 favorite things about blogging. On Wednesday, I am opening the comments up to a free for all of sorts. I invite you to leave a question for me. I will answer as many as possible (and appropriate) on Friday as my own little version of Ask Away Friday.  That leaves Thursday for my first ever link up.  I invite you all to leave a link to your own favorite post from your own blog (if you have one) or someone else's blog (if you don't have your own).

And now for the giveaway: One lucky person will win this amazing jewelry set from Premier Jewelry (earrings, bracelet and necklace) called "Seaside," a $50 Discover gift card to use anywhere that accepts Discover Card, and a fun craft kit for a special kid in your life.  This is over a $150 value!!  I call it a "Night on the Town" giveaway!  You can get all dressed up with your fancy jewelry, leave a fun craft kit for the babysitter to have to deal with, and go out for dinner. *Date not included*  Good luck and don't forget to check back the rest of this week for other celebratory stuff!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

**I am also running a 2 for 1 special on sidebar ads.  If you purchase one month, you'll get the second one free.  Subject to availability.  Please email me for more details if you are interested. rabia.lieber {at} gmail.com.** 

Jammy Jams: Once Upon a Rhyme {Review & Giveaway}

This is a sponsored post of behalf of Jammy Jams.

Ken makes fun of me a lot because I sing along to everything, but I cannot tell you the name of any song, singer, or band to save my life. Actually, we tested that statement this past weekend and found that I do pretty well with hair bands from the 80s.  We've all got to have a skill, I guess.

When I was a kid I used to get in trouble at the dinner table because I would hum all the time.  I couldn't help it!  Songs just get stuck in my head.  To this day, I still annoy people by humming.  I'm not even conscious of it.  And what's worse, these days I tend to be humming the theme song to one of my kids' TV shows or a song I've downloaded for them.

Enter this great series of kids' music: Jammy Jams!  The creators have taken your favorite music and made it appropriate for your children!  The songs are recorded using the soft, soothing sounds of vibraphone, marimba, piano, blocks, and more.  They are great for naptime, bedtime or just to listen to.  And the best part is that when I get these songs stuck in my head, at least I am humming adult-appropriate music!

I was given a copy of their hip hop album, "Once Upon a Rhyme" to review.  It includes the folowing songs:

1. Hey Ya (originally by Outkast)
2. California Love (originally by 2Pac) 3. The Real Slim Shady (originally by Eminem)

4. Gangsta's Paradise (originally by Coolio)

5. Girls (originally by Beastie Boys)

6. Rock Box (originally by Run-D.M.C)

7. Summertime (originally by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince)

8. Regulate (originally by Warren G)

9. Big Pimpin (originally by Jay-Z)
10. Nuthin' But A "G" Thang (originally by Dr. Dre)

I am, admittedly, not a huge hip hop fan, but even I recognize these songs. (I couldn't tell you the names or artists in a blind sound test, but I could sure sing along with them!!) They are recognizable as the original songs, but sound much more soothing and child-friendly in these arrangements.

I am adding them to my kids' nighttime playlist and I know I will get a little smile each time the sounds of Coolio or DJ Jazzy Jeff lull my children to sleep. Would you like to win a copy for yourself? You can enter here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

You can also connect with Jammy Jams in the following ways:Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, or Pinterest. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

And the winner is...

Katie!! Congratulations, Katie! I will have Frances dictate and illustrate an original story just for you! If you want to pick the topic, just let me know.

My first blog contest!!!

Dear Mom,
I love the new purse you bought me, but do you remember when I told you that I don't like big purses? I said that I end up putting way too much junk in them? Well, I cleaned it out this morning and it inspired me to create a contest.

All you readers out there-clean out your purses or pockets. Leave me a message here on my blog with either the entire contents you found or just the most unusual things in there-please let me know I am not alone in my "condition". I will use random.org to pick a winner. The prize will be a Frances original story and drawing. You can even pick the theme. I will run this contest for a week to give infrequent viewers a chance to enter.

For the sake of full disclosure here is the list of what I found in my purse:

• 6 jars of baby food (I just put them in there last night to carry them out of the car because the shopping bag had a hole in it.)
• 2 lip gloss and one lip stick
• 1 pair or real earrings that belong to my friend's daughter and one pair of dress up earrings that belong to my daughter
• white out correction fluid
• an air pump that I have been trying to leave at school to pump up our playground balls
• hand sanitizer X 2
• sample shampoo and conditioner
• Tylenol
• 2 scented lotions
• sunscreen
• a pair of scissors
• a hair pick
• a Hulk ring
• baby spoon
• mini soccer ball
• a pair of socks
• Polly Pocket toy
• tampon and panty liner
• wallet
• 2 suckers and a mint
• 87 cents
• two pieces of mail from church
• my cell phone
• keys (4 sets)
• wallet
• two pens and a Sharpie marker
• two hair ties
• various coupons, receipts and other assorted trash.

Now I weigh 5 pounds less when I go out!!