In conclusion of this week’s Holiday Giveaway Extravaganza, I’d like to share some more ways that our family will celebrate the holidays.

Baking, holiday music, trips to the mall, sneak buying Christmas gifts for firstborn under his nose and cleverly hiding them in the shopping cart, holiday peppermint mochas with red sprinkles on top, gingerbread houses with extra candy decorations, going to see the lights in the neighborhood, holiday parties, lighting the fireplace, turning the heat on in Southern Louisiana, bon fires, shopping in the big city, winter waterfront celebration, pictures with Santa, Christmas cards, putting up the village, setting up the train, more trips to the mall, sending gifts cross-country and getting them their on-time, going to a local tree farm and bringing home a fresh Louisiana Leyland Cypress (firstborn also has small one in a pot because he wants to plant it in our yard after the holidays.)

We’ll also be donating gently used coats and jackets to the local organizations that accept them. Ok, it’s Southern Louisiana, who am I kidding? They’re practically new winter coats. And that’s something I feel good about. It’s for the children.

Here’s a recap of the rules and participating blogs. Don’t forget to enter at all of them. I’ve met some really wonderful friends on Plurk and I’m really honored to take part in this contest.

Have a very blessed and thankful Thanksgiving.

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The Rules:

1. How do you enter? It’s easy — just comment on our blog post for the day.

2. You can enter once per participating blog per day.

3. If you blog and would like to post about our contest, doing so will get you 5 extra entries.

4. There will be 2 winners.

5. Each winner will need to give us a mini bio of your family — ie: ages, genders, wants, needs, likes.

6. We will buy prizes accordingly.

7. Prizes will be wrapped for under the tree and sent without delay!

8. Comments and posts from Sunday November 23 through Wednesday November 26th will be taken as entries.

9. The winners will be announced Black Friday!!!

As Kat Knits

Passion Parties by Alana

PQ Nation

Confessions of a Middle Aged Surburban Diva

Not A Mean Girl

SU Comments

Random Ramblings of a Stay At Home Mom

I Read Banned Books

The Daily Douz

Popping Bubbles

Puntiglio

Puntiglio Bookshelf

Three Ring ‘Surf’Ace

Yes, we’ve all heard it.  But today really epitomizes it for me.  In light of giving, we also receive.  Today I got to spend the whole day with my dearest childhood friend.  It was an unexpected visit.  We laughed, we cried, we reminisced and we had a wonderful time.  Over the years, having kids, being married, and lives moving along, sometimes it’s hard to find time to connect with the people we love.  Today’s visit was exactly that and a huge blessing.  We get the chance every couple of years, but this visit was just a bonus.

So while I don’t have too much time to be eloquent, I want to say just how grateful and thankful I am to have had a relaxed day like today to spend with friends that I consider family.   Because I live so far away from my family, the holidays can be hard.  I cherish the times like these, and while I know holidays can also be stressful for family  get-togethers, I hope all of you to to find the good in your holiday festivities.  I know it’s there, even when it’s hard to see.

Happy Holidays, and don’t forget to comment to enter today’s Holiday Giveaway!

This year I’m honored to be a part of a group of Plurkers who are blogging a Holiday Giveaway. So when NAMG plurked the idea of us getting together and giving wrapped Christmas gifts to a contest winner, I knew I had to be a part of that. So without further adieu, as promised yesterday,

Another way my family gives at the holidays is through the school my son attends. The school is big on giving in many ways. Their Christmas Angel program teaches the kids how to earn money to donate. Then each class ‘buys’ a gift for a family with their money, the students wrap the presents and they get to know good it feels to help others. We make sure to have special chores for firstborn over the Thanksgiving break. Last year’s family received a bike from our class. Yep, 18 first graders raised enough money to buy a kids 18 inch bicycle. I can’t wait to see what we can do this year.

Holidays bring out the traditionalist in me. One of my favorite holiday traditions is the decorating. We usually don’t get out the Christmas decorations til the first or second week in December, however this year I’d like to do it over the Thanksgiving break. We like to put lights on all bushes in the front yard and we’ve got a reindeer or two that find their way into the mêlée. Firstborn likes the spiral trees that light up and his huge snowman that inflates. (Ok I have a hard time keeping that thing standing up, but it sure is cute.) I’ve got so many boxes of Christmas lights and I swear they all party in the summer, hence the detangling fracas that is sure to test my patience.

Don’t forget to enter the Holiday Giveaway today by commenting on the participating blogs. Enter early and often!

Happy Holidays

I invite you to enter the First Ever Plurk Holiday Giveaway via my blog and the others below that are all joined together to make the holiday a special time for someone. Two someones, in fact. What’s really nice about this contest is that we know one another from Plurk and we all want to help. And by joining together, we’re able to give a fantastic gift to 2 lucky winners. It’s a random act of kindness, and the pleeps I’ve met on Plurk are full of kindness. They make me want to be a better person and for that, I’m truly the one winning. In fact they inspire all kinds of goodness in little ways. Thanks, Pleeps. Let the holiday revelry begin!

Check out a complete listing of rules below. Come back each day to see how I plan to give in other ways during this holiday season and ENTER the contest. Each day, I’ll also be sharing some of my old and new holiday traditions.

The Rules:

1. How do you enter? It’s easy — just comment on our blog post for the day.

2. You can enter once per participating blog per day.

3. If you blog and would like to post about our contest, doing so will get you 5 extra entries.

4. There will be 2 winners.

5. Each winner will need to give us a mini bio of your family — ie: ages, genders, wants, needs, likes.

6. We will buy prizes accordingly.

7. Prizes will be wrapped for under the tree and sent without delay!

8. Comments and posts from Sunday November 23 through Wednesday November 26th will be taken as entries.

9. The winners will be announced Black Friday!!!

Other participating blogs are:

• ¨ As Kat Knits
• ¨ Passion Parties by Alana
• ¨ PQ Nation
• ¨ Confessions of a Middle Aged Suburban Diva
• ¨ Popping Bubbles
• ¨ SU Comments
• ¨ Random Ramblings of a Stay at Home Mom
• ¨ I Read Banned Books
• ¨ Puntiglio
• ¨ Puntiglio Bookshelf
• ¨ Not A Mean Girl
• ¨ Three Ring ‘Surf’ace

So, now go, spread the cheer. Enter early and often. Happy Holdays!

There’s this fun little meme that’s been running around Plurk, and I’ve been delightfully tagged by the Divine Ms. Kat.

Step #1 – Link to the person who tagged you. Check

Step #2 – Write Five Fun/Interesting Facts about yourself. This gives fellow bloggers (and your readership) a chance to actually get to know you better. Drum roll please…

1) I’ve been a web designer for 10+years. I’ve recently gone back to school, on a whim, for computer-aided design aka cad drafting. And I LOVE it. I hope to pursue it til quite possibly I realize my secret dream of becoming an architect one day.

2) I believe that a person should try everything once. Except skydiving. I have always held the belief that you can’t know if you like something til you’ve tried it. Spinach, brussel sprouts, someone else’s cooking, hang-gliding, mountain climbing, etc. you get the idea. But I truly believe the only time you should jump out of a plane, if it’s going down anyway. I learned this while I was a student pilot. And no, I’ve never had to use that advice.

3) I’m left-handed. And I truly believe it’s the reason I’m not good hate at ironing.

4) I’m huge technogeekdorknerdgirl. I am totally addicted to gadgets and Plurk. Now that I have my new iTouch, I’m rockin’ the addiction all the way. I LURVE wi-fi on a handheld.

5) My absolute favorite place in the world is the beach. I spent my youth traveling to as many beaches of the world as possible. I’ve been as far away as Fiji, and by far, one of my favorite beaches is lil’ ol’ Destin which is a quick 4.5 hour drive from me.

Whew, it’s harder than one would think to come up 5 fun facts. But it sure was FUN. Part 3 of this fun little exercise is the tagging part, and I think pretty much everyone has been tagged, and memed etc. So I’d just like to shout out to the some of the other fun facts I’ve thoroughly enjoyed reading, and if I missed anyone, let me know.

• The Divine Ms. K also known as the Moist Goddess
• Dr. Doolitte aka PerpStu who is perpetually spectacular
• Not to be missed, the musings of Rupe’s Value Added Services
• The wildly funny Miss Riss
• The one with the sexah voice, the charming Miss Citizen Janey
• Elaine…aka…TopSurf

If you weren’t tagged, and you’re reading this, you know what to do.

In the spirit and solidarity of fellow plurkers, Perptacular and AsKatKnits naughtiness, I have plunged into the seedy abyss.  If you’re under the age of 18, you should go no further.

1. Is there anyone on your blogroll you would have sex with?
Does it count that I’m already having sex with someone on my blogroll. Betcha can’t guess who.

2. Sex in the morning, afternoon or night?
Wish I had an emoticon for this one. I’m in my sexual prime, yanno.

3. Have you ever had to pull over on the side of the road to puke?
Once, in Biloxi

4. Have you ever taken your clothes off for money?
No, not for money, how about for beads? C’mon I went to college in New Orleans.

5. Shower or bath while having sex?
Of course.

6. Do you want someone aggressive or passive in bed?
Decisions, decisions…why do I have choose.

7. Do you love someone on your blogroll?
Yep, immensely.

8. Love or Money?
Love

9. Credit cards or cash?
Both

10. Have you ever wanted a best friend?
I have been lucky to have had several

11. Camping or a 5 star hotel?
5 star hotel any day! (Same for me Kat, camping=holiday inn or any hotel without room service.)

12. Where is the weirdest place you have had sex?
This one will have to be a private plurk only.

13. Would you shave your entire body (including your head)?
Not my head. Never a Britney.

14. Have you ever been to a strip club?

Again, I live in New Orleans, home of “Debauchery’s R’ Us“

15. Ever been to a bar?
See above.

16. Ever been kicked out of a bar or a club?
Eons ago.

17. Ever been so drunk someone else had to carry you?
Can’t say that I have, or maybe I just can’t remember.

18. Had sex in a movie theater?
No, definitely not.

19. Had sex in a bathroom?
A plenty. I’m a parent.

20. Have you ever had sex at work?
Dat’s where I met Mr. D, you do the math.

21. Ever been to an adult store?
See #14

22. Bought something from an adult store?
See #14

23. Have you been caught having sex ?

Hmm, caught…I don’t think so. We’ve been disturbed a few times, but never officially caught. What can I say, we’re parents.

24. Does anyone have naughty pics of you?
Do the pictures of me on the floor of an elevator in Paris count?

25. Ever had sex with someone and called them by the wrong name?
Yes.

So after days, weeks of trying to come up with something interesting, catchy, snarky and me, I am out. Out of ideas. This site needs a better name and I am not feelin’ it. So….if you, dear readers, have any suggestions, lemme have it. (nicely, of course)

And I’ll try to catch up on some Memes, maybe that will spark something.

Then I’ll run a poll or something, and there may even be prizes.