It Is NOT Weird...

*To talk to the shredder in my office like it's a porn star. Which I found myself doing yesterday. When it didn't want to accept the gazillion pieces of paper I was trying to shred. Nope, it's not weird at all to stand in front of that toothy monster and say things like, "You KNOW you want it" and "I've seen you take more" and "If I push it in faster is that better?" Nope, not weird at all.

*To believe with every ounce of my being that there are more people out there that WILL DONATE TO MY FUNDRAISER. Cuz I KNOW y'all KNOW people. And I KNOW that y'all could NICELY bully SOME of those people into donating. The prizes are awesome and the cause is a worthy one. Nope, it's not at all weird that I TOTALLY BELIEVE y'all can help me reach my goal by GENTLY strong arming your homeboys...your peeps....your posse if you will. Nope, not weird at all.

*To obsessively check for errant stray hairs that COULD (GOD FORBID) sprout off my chin. Cuz although it hasn't happened to me yet (GOD FORBID) I KNOW people that have currently experienced this horror. To the tune of a 1 inch PLUS thin whispy hair that had apparently been shacking up on her chin/neck area. Which she told me about. And now I can't stop checking. Nope, it's not weird at all to buy a teeny tiny weed whacker and stand ready to whack the hell out of the first (GOD FORBID) flyaway chin hair that I find. Nope, not weird at all.

*To pretend that eating a Reece's Peanut Butter cup (ok, fess up wiener woman...you KNOW it was more like 6) will NOT cause me to gain weight if I chew quickly. Like really quickly. Like SOOOO quickly that I barely got to enjoy it or taste it. Which is why I needed like 5 more. Nope, not weird at all to think that my rate of mastication (chewing people, chewing!) MIGHT effect my calorie intake. Nope, not weird at all.

*To be truly, madly, deeply in love with the most adorable sock monkey quilt ever!! Which was just gifted to me yesterday. By Gretchen, a most talented and creative artist/blogger. Gretchen sent a gorgeous quilt for the raffle AND this most amazing sock monkey quilt FOR ME!! (I do love me some sock monkeys!) As a gift! That I get to keep!! Nope, not weird at all that I'm going to be a 39 year old woman sleeping with a sock monkey quilt. (and John, of course) Nope, not weird at all.

All mine. :)

Soft and pink and flannel-y on the inside. :)

Cute and sock monkeyish on the outside. :)

No Sir, I Don't Like Them At All

Every so often, when I'm left alone with my brain for far too long, I play the WHICH ONE OF THESE NASTY THINGS WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO HAVE IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE ONE?

Cuz it's always good to know how you would respond in a "gun to the head, must choose in the next 2 seconds or else" moment.

Plus it's NEVER boring to analyze exactly WHAT you think you CAN and CAN'T tolerate. Nope, never boring. Trust me....I know.

What's even MORE FUN is when y'all play along with me. When y'all take a minute and decide which one of the following you would pick if you HAD to pick one. When y'all consider the options then leave a comment telling me which one would be THE ONE for you.

(Don't bother saying you wouldn't take any cuz DUH, no one would if they had THAT choice. But the rules of THIS game say you MUST PICK ONE. So do it. Now. If you want to. Or not. It's up to you.)

This form of strep infection usually starts in a bruise, scrape, or small cut. The area becomes red and hot to the touch and then the infected tissue starts to die. The skin will gradually darken to purplish or black, and large, blood-filled blisters called bullae will begin to form. And I thought getting a Mt. Vesuvius size pimple on my chin was rough.

Lymphedema, also known as "Good lord, what happened to your (insert limb name here)" is a non curable medical condition characterized by a buildup of fluid in the soft tissues of the body, most typically in the arms and legs. It's painful and disfiguring. (wasn't sure I needed to add that last part cuz DUH, we can see that's it's disfiguring and therefore assume it's painful)

Genital warts in the mouth. Yep, that's what I said. Genital warts. In. Your. Mouth. (I'll give you a second to recover.) It IS possible, and although treatable, there is no guarantee they won't come back.

African worms called loa loa in your eye. Your eye + worm = Yummy. These little wiggly critters are left courtesy of a generous mango fly. How nice of him, huh?

So....what's it gonna be?

~~~

Which "poison" would you pick??

Blame My Parents....

Too bad I'm going to be cremated and placed in an urn that John will be required to carry with him from room to room...

cuz my name looks sort of spiffy on a headstone.

~~

And yes, I AM weird and I DO think about these things.

~~

DISCLAIMER: The fact that I'm happy to see my name on something as morbid as a headstone is TOTALLY my parent's fault. After all, they are the ones that gave me a name that growing up, I could never find anywhere! Do you know how depressing it is to be the ONLY ONE in your peer group NOT to have a teeny, tiny license plate on your bike with your name on it? Or to be the ONLY ONE at camp without name stationary to write letters home on? It's a wonder I'm as normal as I am.

~~

DON'T SAY ANYTHING!

:)

One Really IS the Loneliest Number

I'm a 39 year old woman that hates sleeping alone.

There, I said it.

"My name is Hallie and I'm a sleepalonephobe."

"Hi, Hallie."

(Mock me if you will but I bet there's a support group out there somewhere.)

Anyone interested in being my sponsor? Anyone willing to be the voice on the other end of the phone when I call at 2:30 in the morning to say I'M ALL BY MY FREAKIN' SELF?

(Don't all trip over each other as you race to get in line!)

Cuz sleeping alone is for the birds.

(Do birds sleep alone?)

But I had to do it last night. Cuz John had to work a once in a blue moon overnight shift. Cuz someone in UPPER MANAGEMENT (said in a snooty voice) had to be in the store when some computer system got switched over. Switched over from what to what I have no idea. John may have told me but (as much as I adore every friggin' inch of him) when he starts talking about all things related to the BIG ORANGE BOX, I only hear Charlie Brown's teacher.

You know the one I'm talking about, right? The "WA WA WA WA" you hear coming from Chuck's grade school educator whenever old Chuckie Brown is at school? And while we're on the subject....would it have been so difficult for Charles Schulz to actually draw ONE MORE cartoon character? Was creating a teacher with a real voice SO out of the realm of possibility? But I digress...

John worked for whatever reason and I was alone. ALL BY MYSELF. (Did I mention Connor is gone til Sunday?) And I wasn't happy.

So I did what I could to pass the time.

At some point throughout the evening, I:

*Chewed ice. Don't ask. It soothed me.

*Tried to have a conversation with Diablo, Connor's corn snake. (Note to self - Diablo is even LESS of a conversationalist at 11pm than he is at say, 2pm)

*Thought long and hard about chocolate chip cookies. About how much I NEEDED a chocolate chip cookie. About how much it sucks donkey balls that I didn't have any chocolate chip cookies.

*Listened to Sir Chomps-a-Lot chomp A LOT on his back toenails. Gross no matter how many people are in this house.

*Stared at the raffle prizes I have received so far. Wondered how hard John would kick my ass if I ordered a bunch of this stuff for myself. Cuz I can't win any of it. And I LOVE IT ALL.

*Ran from my bedroom screaming after noticing the giant ass Hallie eating spider sitting under my bedside table. Decided it didn't make me any less of a brave woman when I finally reentered the room to kill the 8-legged effer myself....only to find out it was a black hair clip. (Note to self #2 - black hair clips look EXACTLY like giant spiders when the S.S. Ambien has set sail.)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

ANYONE STILL IN LINE FOR THAT SPONSORSHIP POSITION??

:)

Today's a NEW DAY!! Much Better Than Yesterday!!

Two weeks ago today, I launched my fundraising site. It went live a mere 336 hours ago. (give or take a few). And although the naysayers abound, I am proud to say that I have already surpassed the 50% mark. Which means I am MORE than half way to my $5000.00 goal.

And today, cuz my stomach feels somewhat better and my face is NOT in a toilet, I can honestly say that I feel really good about how far I've come. Today, I actually believe that although difficult, it's not impossible to meet my goal. Or dare I say (with every body part I own triple crossed!) surpass it?

I won't lie to you..there are days I TOTALLY DOUBT myself and think I'm six shades of crazy for ever thinking this is possible. Just can't help it. I'm a perfectionist and I'm tough on myself. Add to that a healthy dose of self imposed neuroses and an almost nightly relationship with Ambien (which, if you're not familiar with my nighttime lover, tends to grossly inflate what ever it is I happen to be worried about) and you get an occasional bout of self doubt.

Thankfully, it doesn't last long and I feel more encouraged by my progress than discouraged. Not to mention, when I'm truly in a fundraising "I suck donkey balls" funk, y'all are there to pick me up (and or kick me in the ass) with an encouraging "SCREW THE NAYSAYERS" cheer!!

I love that! And honestly appreciate it more than you know. And will certainly need it again (and again and again) in the future, cuz fundraising can be a tough nut to crack!

But today, this fundraising newbie is ONE HAPPY HALLISICLE.

The money is trickling in...YEAH, only $2390.00 to go!!!

The raffle prizes are starting to arrive....holy shit are y'all gonna get some freakin' amazing stuff!

And I'm "meeting" a whole bunch of new people...people that have come out of the woodwork to share their feelings on organ donation and/or their personal experiences. People have even donated money in memory of loved ones that have lost their battle while waiting for an organ or in honor of someone STILL waiting.

How awesome is that?

But you know what's been the single best outcome of my endeavor thus far?

People have told me that they have decided to BECOME AN ORGAN DONOR. That they have either changed their mind and now WANT TO or had never given it any thought before and are NOW WILLING.

And that, my blogger friends, is worth every stress filled, worry laden moment I've had.

Please Make Today the Day You Say Yes

I'm sick. Which makes me cranky. And tired. And none to pleased that my face has been intimately connected with the toilet in our bathroom.

And because I'm sick and cranky, I'm also moody....moody cuz I'm starting to believe the naysayers....the naysayers that readily proclaim I will not only miss hitting my $5000 goal but that I might not even make $3000. And then I get sad and aggravated and frustrated and tired.

Cuz damnit, I want to meet that goal in the worst possible way. I want everyone who reads this blog (and I know there's a lot of you) to agree to donate, even if it's just $1. Cuz every single dollar helps. It truly helps. And who doesn't have one single dollar lying around to help raise awareness for organ donation?

And by donating, you are entered to get the prizes you can see by clicking on the link in the upper right hand column of my blog. And the prizes keep coming. Prizes worth a crap load of money. Amazing prizes that you would be thrilled to win. Seriously.

So for me......sick unhappy Hallisicle, please donate and help me reach my goal. PLEASE?

CLICK HERE TO SEE WHAT YOU CAN WIN and then GO HERE TO DONATE AND POSSIBLY WIN THOSE AMAZING ITEMS.

And please forward this link to everyone you know.

I would honestly like to make it through this day without vomiting anymore. But even better than that would be to see lots of kind and generous people help make a difference today. If you've considering donating, why not today?

PLEASE?

THE LIST of RAFFLE PRIZES - EVER GROWING!!!

I am THRILLED to add this unbelievable item to the list of raffles. The quilt is called “Thimbleberries Village.” It is made from 100% cotton fabrics and will be custom machine quilted. Approximate measurements are 80” x 102” JL, a long time family friend, one my whole family adores, has donated this gorgeous item. She is an incredibly talented and gifted quilter. She owns her own company and oversees national quilting conferences. She is HUGE in the quilting industry. This quilt retails for $800!!! Can you imagine winning this???? I can not thank her enough for offering to be part of this raffle. Her generosity will never be forgotten.

I have the greatest friends. I really do. Because when I ask for help, they respond without hesitation. And boy, do they send the coolest things!! Kerry sent this candelabra which may be the most unique item I have ever seen. It's called the LOOP and it's is a simple yet beautiful candelabra. It can be used individually or be interlinked to create a cluster. The Loop is inspired by the Fibonacci curve that is seen throughout nature and looks correct and balanced to the human eye. Loop is an ever changing radius made from steel. It is made of chromed steel and won the Grand Designs Award of 2007. It's created by a company called Black + Blum out of London. I would DEFINITELY like to keep this for myself.

I work with one of the most talented and creative women I know. Vicki makes the most amazing and unique Christmas stockings I have ever seen. And she customizes EVERY SINGLE ONE! That's right...no run of the mill stockings from her! The pic above are just two examples of what she has done. Vicki has GENEROUSLY offered to make one for my raffle! And yes, it too, will be totally customized! Vicki will create the stocking to the winning persons specifications. She will customize with name, color and theme. Some of the themes include Santa, snow men, toy soldiers, violins, pigs, weight lifters, teddy bears, etc. Basically, if you name it, Vicki will try it! (You can reach her via email: vmay123@msn.com) How cool is that? I've seen her work in person and was truly astonished at how awesome they are. The stocking will be about 25" in length which means you have lots of room to suck that sucker full! Well, Santa does!! :)

How pretty is this frame? I love it...makes me want to run to the nearest beach and plunge my toes in the sand. And thanks to Laura, a longtime reader of my blog who only recently delurked, (Hi Laura!) I have not one but TWO of these gorgeous items to give away! Laura made them both with shells collected by her children from various beaches in Florida. Which is where Laura lives. (I'm jealous.) She's been making and giving away these frames for awhile and says they are well received by the recipients. ( I can see why!) Both of the frames are 8x10 with a 4x6 picture opening. I am touched that Laura, like so many others, not only gave something for my raffle but also took the time to MAKE their item. That is HUGE in my book.

The amazing prizes continue to arrive which has kept me smiling everyday. I'm just so impressed with people's overall willingness to give. And when it comes to my friend Trina? Well, she just astounds me. Trina already donated a gorgeous sterling silver bracelet and earring set from Silpada (scroll down to see them) but she was determined to do more. She told me that she hoped to enlist her family into making a donation of their own. And boy did she come through!

Trina's mom and her boyfriend are incredibly talented. Rich is an artist and painted both this picture and the one below. My jaw dropped when I unpacked the box....both of these paintings are gorgeous! Truly stunning. This framed painting measures approx. 16" x 19" and is of the Pont De Gard.

Rich painted these while he was in Provence, France. And he has generously donated them to MY RAFFLE!!! I'm in shock. And so honored. Richard Ferreira can be contacted at 508-439-1775. This painting measures approx. 23" x 18" and is of a toolshed. Imagine how wonderful it must have been to sit there and paint this?

Trina's mom is an incredibly talented artist as well. She donated 2 amazing pictures, both of which look so much better than my horrible photo skills show. I could NOT get my reflection out of these pics. Please forgive my inability to do these justice. Trust me, they are amazing. This photo was taken by Jeannine in Boston in 1987. I love it. I have spent plenty of time in the city and have stood right where this picture was taken.

This picture was taken in Cataumet on Cape Cod. It makes me feel calm and relaxed. I think I could stare at it for days. Jeannine can be reached at Photo Artistry by Jeannine at 508-759-5240. She specializes in handpainted black & white and vintage photos. Thank you Trina from the bottom of my heart for going above and beyond. You're the best!

Yes, that IS a curious wiener dog checking out the totally adorable, completely awesome premade scrapbooks that Tami donated. It KILLS me that you can't see these in person. They are unreal. Each scrapbook has pages ready for pics of your beautiful new baby boy or baby girl. That's right, Tami made two books...one for a girl and one for a boy!

I wanted to show you all the pages but chose to take one pic from each book instead. This is the inside first page of the pink scrapbook. How cute is that? Both books have pages for every month of babies first year.


This is a picture of month 10 inside the blue scrapbook. Every month looks as adorable as this!! I was blown away at how creative Tami is. And I can't tell you how impressed I am at the end result of each. They are nicer than anything you can buy in any store. Tami DOES take custom requests. She can pretty much make you a scrapbook for any occasion. Send her an email and see for yourself!

t.watson@gmail.com

Marla made these five absolutely delightful greeting cards and is busy working on a mini-scrapbook to send along as well!! Marla is incredibly talented. You can see her work HERE - she made all the items listed. Marla hopes to someday make a living at scrap booking but for now sells her items locally. She is however, MORE THAN WILLING to make and ship orders anywhere! Feel free to contact her directly if you have a special request or are looking for unique scrapbook pages and/or greeting cards. Email her and give her a chance to wow you with her work! marla.brader@gmail.com

Tell her Hallie sent you!! :)

Marcy from AblesAntics MADE this prayer shawl just for my raffle. She's been working on it for quite awhile and is very proud of her work. AS SHE SHOULD BE!! I have absolutely no idea what a prayer shawl is truly for (dare I guess you use it while praying?) but I love it anyway. I wrapped it around my shoulders and can already imagine cold winter nights huddled by the fire. The shawl is over 4 feet long and almost 2 feet wide and is bordered with fringe.

Deana hand painted and framed this especially for my raffle. Is that not the coolest thing? It arrived Friday and I've been enjoying it ever since. (and she was worried that it might not be good enough!) It really is beautiful. And it's not small! Measures 24" across and 20" tall. I can't thank her enough. Knowing she sat down and created something just for my fundraiser means the world to me. (She even included a box of Thin Mint cookies in the box as a treat for me. How awesome is she?)

Claudia from Stitchintime donated this group of items that screams "get off your butt and get creative!" This prize has items that both adults and kiddos can enjoy. Claudia included 3 different size canvas panels, a flower palette, an acrylic colour set, 6 paintbrushes, 4 really unique coloring books, markers and colored pencils. The coloring books are awesome. Made me want to sharpen a few of the pencils and go to town!


These two gorgeous necklaces came all the way from the Isle of Man, which for those of you not up on your geography, lies between the United Kingdom and Ireland. Anni from Tulamyra has been making jewelry since she was 10 years old. EVERYTHING she sells is beautiful. I encourage you to check out her shop and ask her to create something special for you...that is, if you don't fall in love with her stuff as is!! The first necklace pictured is Labradorite and the second is a Boro Love Heart necklace. The pictures do NOT do them justice.

You know you went to school with great people when, 20 years later, they offer up awesome raffle prizes without batting an eye. Steve did just that. And what an awesome prize it is! Steve has most graciously donated a Foursome round of golf (with cart) at the exclusive Andover Country Club in Andover, Massachusetts. This prize is worth $400!! This absolutely fantastic gift will be part of the New England prize package and needs to be used by 10/31/09. John is CHOMPING at the bit to win this. But he can't. Cuz he's sleeping with me. Which makes him ineligible to win. But he would HAPPILY participate in the redeeming of this item! If you need a fourth, he's available!! :)

Are you sitting down? Are you REALLY sitting down? Cuz you'll need to be when you see the next TWELVE ITEMS, all of which make up one prize package!! Yep, all 12 of the following out of this world camping equipment will go to one lucky winner. Thanks to Steph....a very dear, very good friend of the family. And I do mean family. Cuz although Steph was friends with my brother David first, we have all come to love her. Steph donated this ENTIRE grouping of items...items that total OVER $700!!!
FlipSticks™ Folding Chopsticks
When we unveiled the MY-Ti Folding Spork last year, we knew we had another winner waiting in the wings. For 2007 we bring you another must-have. Introducing the world’s first set of bamboo folding chopsticks, Flip Sticks™. Who wouldn’t love this job?
Gator Machete
The Gator Machete wields a 15 inch fine edge blade on one side, 1 18 inch high performance saw blade on the other, and our proprietary Gator rubber grip for ergonomic control while using either. The riveted, nylon sheath provides safe, durable transport.

Crucial Multi-Tool
As stylish as your favorite knife, but packed with essential features like your favorite Gerber Multi-Plier. Despite its compact, lightweight size the Crucial Tool delivers big, full-function components.

MY-Ti™ Folding Fork / Spoon
Take what works and do more! From the makers of the famous folding MY-Ti™ Spork comes the Folding Fork and Spoon. Lightweight and ready to pack.

Remix
We're spinning the hits with this all-around hero of a knife. Lightweight, but strong, the one-hand opening Remix features a large finger hole for extra stability and grip. The titanium nitride coated aluminum handles don't just look cool, they add support and corrosion resistance.

Omnivore
What happens when you bring Gerber innovation to lighting? The result is the new Omnivore flashlight with patent-pending multi-battery functionality. Just pick your battery! Choose a AA, AAA 0r CR123 and drop it in for a beaming bright, white light. A .7-watt L.E.D. is protected by an aircraft-grade aluminum housing with lanyard hole to tether it close by. One AA battery included.


Lamplight 360™

The first 360 degree LED lantern brings new technology to a classic. No reflectors are required to pour an even beam of light on camp with no dead, black spots. Not only is the LED unique, this lantern runs for hours off of D, C, AA or AAA batteries whichever you have handy. It's called Omnivore Variable Battery Technology, a patent-pending design exclusive to us. Push the head in to use as a flashlight, pull it out for a lantern.

Brewfire Dual-Fuel Coffee Maker
Brunton is no stranger to innovation and we’re a sucker for a good cup of coffee. That combination led us to perhaps the biggest thing to happen to camping in a decade, the BrewFire™ Duel Fuel Coffee Maker. It’s just like your coffee maker at home, only this one is fueled by propane or butane fuel and can be taken anywhere. Just pour in your coffee of choice, turn the knob and flip a switch and you’re brewing up to eight steaming hot cups of java. Great for the campsite, the tailgate, picnics and anywhere else coffee is required.


Profile Duo Range/Grill Combo
All of us can appreciate a shiny new toy, but the Profile Pro is much more than that - It's the next generation of camp cooking. Say goodbye to the old clunky stove and clear a small space for the sleek new Profile Duo. With a 12,000 BTU burner and 10,000 BTU grill this dynamic duo does it all with a bit more class than your average camp grill. Be impressed with the versatility of the flexible hose that connects to either propane or butane fuel canisters. The future of camping is here. Make it yours.


Helios™ Stormproof Lighter
When weather is a factor, the Helios is the answer. A high-temperature internal flame withstands up to 80 mph winds. When the lid is closed, this butane-fuelled torch is waterproof and the piezo ignition reliable for at least 30,000 ignitions. Now that’s a lighter. Use the Brunton FuelTool™ to refill your lighter with high performance Bruntane™.

Vapor Cookset
Non-Stick Aluminum Pots and Pan designed with the cook in mind, Vapor™ is made from hard-anodized aluminum for durability and scratch resistance. Coated with DuPont® Teflon™, Vapor Cookset offers non-stick cooking in it’s inner pot and frying pan.Precision nesting design makes for no rattling pots or wasted pack volume. The included pot grip is handy, and packs away neatly inside.Our Vapor Cookset™ weighs 21 ounces when packed.

Solo™ 3.4

Tabbed Men's Journal "Gear of the Year, 2008," the revolutionary SOLO™ brings power along for the trip anytime you need it. Providing power wherever and whenever, the new Solo™ 3.4 can operate a variety of small electronics such as pda's, iPods, cell phones and more for hours with the potential for nearly unlimited power capacity thanks to their solar panel compatibility. The unit is easily recharged when plugged into a USB port, household outlet, vehicle DC outlet or by using Brunton's solar panels. But the true genius of the SOLO™ could well be its lightweight. Because when you consider everything this Brunton invention can do for you, it just might be the smartest 5.2 ounces you'll ever own.

Pam, one of my sort of close by New England bloggers, donated not one, but TWO great raffle prizes. And she made them both!! (Her creativity astounds me more and more.) Pam made this very cool, very happy Recipe Box...and it's full of detail! Everywhere you look, there's something else to see! She not only decorated the outside in a way that makes even me, a kitchen phobe, smile, but she also decorated each individual category card inside. It's simply adorable. :)

Pam also whipped up this stunning necklace. (which looks even nicer in person) Pam took this pic which I decided to use after my attempts came out terrible. The necklace has the prettiest oval gemstone as it's focal point but the smaller bead work is just as impressive. It truly is an impressive piece, one I KNOW will get attention when you wear it!

I debated NOT listing these three pictures.....cuz I want to keep them THAT BADLY for myself. I knew what they looked like before they arrived on my doorstop but I had no idea how truly fantastic they would be. I LOVE THEM. Sue from AS CAPE COD TURNS, one of the few bloggers I have met IN REAL LIFE (and one that could have been related to me if a certain 2 people had stayed together a million years ago) donated this simple, yet stunning trio of photos. Sue found all these heart shaped rocks here in Maine and thought that given why I'm holding this fundraiser, they would be damn near perfect as raffle prizes. And she's right. Sue matted them on some sort of foam board (she told me what it's called but I can't remember) which makes them even cooler in my book. They just look so amazing together. Sue told me I could separate them into 3 different prize packages or keep them together. I left it up to John. He said ABSOLUTELY TOGETHER. And I agree. Separating them just seems wrong. If you win this and don't want it, I would be happy to TAKE IT OFF YOUR HANDS! :)

(Pic disappeared - click on Schmetz Petz link to see examples of his work)

Schmetz Petz is a shop for pet lovers everywhere. SCHMETZ PETZ offers the art of Jay Schmetz as 11 x 14 inch art prints and 4.25 x 4.25 inch art tiles. Jay let me pick out the print he donated to the raffle. Any surprise I picked a wiener dog? This print is fun and bright and would make a great framed addition to some one's house....regardless if you have a wiener dog or not! Head on over to Jay's shop to see all the different animals he draws. They're all awesome!

This awesome group of prizes came all the way from Nova Scotia courtesy of Kim from Kim's Korner. Kim worked really hard to put together a bunch of items that reflect her neck of the woods. I had so much fun unpacking the box and discovering all the goodies inside! Included in the box are: a 250 ml bottle of Pure Nova Scotia Maple Syrup, bag of salt water taffy from Jennifer's of Nova Scotia, bag of maple kisses from Jennifer's of Nova Scotia, an FM Auto Scan Radio, a multi-function pedometer, 2 CD's - JD Clarke and Tim Who? - and the most beautiful pewter cross necklace from Aitkens Pewter of Canada. Connor IMMEDIATELY tried to steal the taffy, John eyed the syrup and I fell in love with the necklace. We will all be sad to see this stuff go! :)

I wish you could see this piece in person because it is even MORE beautiful than it appears in this picture. Dori from The Heart Shop donated this eclectic-chained neck piece. She calls it the "Keep It Real" necklace. The focal point is a sparkly rhinestone dotted heart with gold filled and rugged oxidized sterling chains. The heart is accompanied by several Swarovski crystals and is roughly 16" with extra chain for lengthening. I really wish I could keep this one!!

My very good friend Trina, who has the biggest heart of anyone I know, donated this stunning sterling silver Silpada bracelet and earring set. And I adore it. I can't get over how substantial this piece is. The bracelet has some weight to it! And it feels great on. (Yes, I tried it on but only for a brief minute!) Trina is a Silpada rep and happily accepts orders! She said there is even a new catalog coming out soon which means tons of new pieces! Whoever wins this is going to be one happy person! :)

Laura and her daughter Martha from SILENCE IS BROKEN, decided it would be fun to donate a family friendly raffle prize....one that the whole family could enjoy. I love this idea!! They shopped together and came up with the items you see above. There's a card game, a NERF football, a package of bubbles and a beach friendly Sand & Water set. I just know whoever wins this will have hours of fun! (NERF balls and bubbles bring out the kid in all of us!)

I am not normally a lover of all things crafty. It's just not been my thing. But every once in awhile, someone comes up with something that even I, a non-crafty lover, can appreciate. And love. These cards fall into that category. My very good friend Mary Ellen makes cards like this all the time....I've been oohing and ahhing over them for years. And I'm not even joking!! They are just that fantastic. They SOOOO kick the butt out of Hallmark cards! :) Mary Ellen has graciously donated a mixed grouping of 20 of these very detailed, highly embellished mini works of art. And I'm crazy jealous that I can't have them.

My wonderful mom donated this $25 gift card to Walmart. She figures no matter who wins it, there's bound to be a Wally World nearby. She INSISTS they did not give her a choice of gift cards...that they just handed her this basketball themed one. I told her it was totally fine but my Mom likes things to be just right. Here's hoping whoever wins this does not critique the rather unique card! (Actually, it's kind of cool. It's textured like a real basketball!)

Alice from Wandering Wonderland took time out of her very busy schedule to send me this $25 gift certificate to Starbucks. Which I SOOO appreciate. Cuz Alice is a little preoccupied lately...a little detained otherwise.

See, Alice is about to (any second now!) give birth to an adorable bouncing baby boy named Austin. Yep, Alice is going to be a mommy for the very first time. Which is why I am EXTRA thankful that she wanted to donate to my fundraiser. I mean, come on....she's a little busy incubating yet she STILL managed to get this to me!! She's awesome (and gorgeous as is the daddy to be) which is how I know that little Austin will be quite the looker!

Several months ago, I attended a SCENTSY party. Having never heard of the company, I was a bit skeptical. But after seeing the awesome products they sell, I was sold! Jen Audette sells these unique Scentsy warmers that use a 25-watt bulb to melt wax slowly, maximizing the fragrance time. With no flame, soot or wick, the Scentsy system is a safe way to enjoy more than 80 Scentsy fragrances. The wax lasts up to 80 hours, you can change between scents as often as you like, it's made of petroleum wax which is the safest wax out there and at its maximum temperature the wax will not burn your children or your pets.

Jen has graciously donated a $25 gift certificate to her SCENTSY website and will ship anywhere in the country. I LOVE the warmer I bought. Can't say enough good things about it!

Someday my camera skills will improve. Until then, this is best (of about 50) pics I took. This gorgeous set was not only donated by but also created by Helen @ Reddirt Woman. It is three strands of coral (dyed red) and turquoise, with chips, beads, a bear fetish and sterling misc. spacers. It has sterling silver cones with a feather on each end and a sterling silver clasp. The earrings are 5 short strands from a spiral finding with fishhook ear wires. It retails at $95. It is simply beautiful. And substantial. You can tell just by holding it that this is a serious piece of jewelry. I really hope whoever wins this will consider taking a picture of themselves wearing it cuz I can't wait to see it on!

It's even prettier in person! Trust me. It's beautiful. And it was donated by Gretchen @ Bananas and Toddlers. And it's so pretty. Did I say that already? It's 5 feet long and 3 feet wide. It would look adorable on a little girls bed or as a decorative piece in a spare bedroom. It's green and pink and has a vintage flannel backing. Gretchen included care instructions that said USE IT! and ENJOY IT!! Which means it doesn't have to sit and collect dust for fear of ruining it. And it can be machine washed!! It just screams SOMEONE LOVE ME!! Gretchen has her own ETSY STORE and loves custom orders!!
Joanie from Joanie's Random Ramblings added this awesomely yummy raffle prize to the mix. And again, I want it. (I seem to want most of this stuff, don't I?) Friday's has awesome appetizers and delicioso mixed drinks. And I'd be happy to accompany whoever wins this. Seriously. Keep it in mind. I'm fun. Really, I am!
I have a BFF. Her name is Kimmy. (or Blender Kimmy when she's moody) I talk about her a lot. Because I adore her. And consider myself lucky to have her in my life. She has a nap Blanket that I immediately snatch up when we're hanging at her house. Cuz that thing is just about the SOFTEST DAMN BLANKET I HAVE EVER TOUCHED. It's amazing. Truly "I want to rub it all over my body but that might be weird" amazing. It's from Brookstone. And it's amazing. (Did I mention that?) Kimmy has generously donated one of these "soft as a babies butt" blankets to my raffle. In light blue. Which I now want. But can't have.

But you can, if you win.

At least SOMEONE will be happy.

I finally have, in my hot little hands, 2 tickets to the Sept 9th Red Sox vs. the Baltimore Orioles baseball game. And SERIOUSLY WANT TO PRETEND THEY WERE NEVER GIVEN TO ME AND GO TO THE GAME MYSELF!!! (insert evil chuckle)

My bestest friend from when I was knee high to a grasshopper and her awesome husband donated this fantastic raffle prize. Sandy and Mike are ridiculously generous and didn't hesitate for a minute to toss these my way. These will be the cornerstone prize of the NEW ENGLAND prize package and are so far, one of the most coveted prizes.

Can't wait to see who wins these tickets. Maybe he/she will take me??? HINT! HINT!!

My incredibly talented friend Maureen donated 30 hand stamped greeting cards. And every one of them is adorable! Maureen is the person who makes the rest of us look bad during any card giving occasion. Hallmark can't hold a candle to Maureen's amazing and unique creations. I would be thrilled to keep these for myself but figure she'd notice if I didn't post them up here!!

Came home this afternoon to find that Debbie had mailed me a raffle prize!! How nice is she?? Blogger peeps are good peeps. I've had the pleasure of "meeting" many wonderful and generous people. I say meeting in quotes cuz although I feel like I KNOW all of these awesome people, I haven't actually met them in person. Doesn't matter though...they are friends nonetheless.

I TOTALLY think whoever wins this should rent THE HANGOVER when it comes out on DVD. Even if you've already seen it. Cuz it's THAT FUNNY!!

Also found this OH SO AMAZING $50 gift card to Starbucks in my mailbox this afternoon. Steph from My Daily Life graciously purchased this specifically for the raffle. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that. And her. Cuz Steph has done A LOT for this fundraiser. She's given so much personally AND has been a one woman cheering section for me when I get stressed. She's just been great and I can't thank her enough. Because of Steph, one lucky person will get to enjoy a crap load of goodies at Starbucks!
One of the greatest parts of this fundraising deal so far has been seeing people generously offer up what they can for this raffle. All kinds of people have donated items, including some of my former classmates from Andover High. We've all reconnected via the crazy world of Facebook and have been able to catch up on each other's lives. Ed, one of my new FB buddies but old schoolmate, offered up a TOTALLY AWESOME raffle prize. He has very generously donated $175.00 worth of steaks to be delivered directly to the winner. The lucky recipient will receive an Assorted Steak Box from Dole & Bailey. Dole & Bailey is the oldest Food Purveyor in the country, founded in 1868 in the original Fanuiel Hall Market Place and today is considered by many to be the finest Butcher House in the United States. The box will consist of an assortment of perfectly aged and trimmed Filet Mignon, NY Strips, and Delmonicos. The retail value of this gift is $175.00.

Are you licking your lips and sharpening your steak knives? I sure as hell am and I can't even win the darn thing!! (the pic above is just one I yanked off the Internet. I have no idea if the steaks in the pic are even good ones. Ed is probably mortified that I just slapped up any old pic of raw meat! But I didn't know what else to do!! Cut me slack, huh?) :)

Let's get one thing straight....my photography skills are not great. At all. And I feel bad about that. Cuz this gorgeous sterling silver cuff donated by Teresa at SilverMade Studio is MUCH NICER than the picture makes it out to be. MUCH, MUCH NICER. But no matter how hard I tried to get a better pic, this was the best I got.
Teresa makes modern, everyday his & hers jewelry. In her spare time, she smashes metal, solders silver and grinds stones. Her work is really unique. And I like it all. The cuff she sent has the word DANCE on the outside and....
the words LIKE NO ONE IS WATCHING on the inside. It also has a red gem hanging off one end. And yes, I know this pic is blurry. Again, I TRIED to get a better photo but no such luck. If you hop over to Teresa's store, you will see great pics of her other items. (Wish John had more reasons to wear cufflinks cuz she has some awesome ones!)

Not at all sure how I've lived to the ripe old age of 39 without ever knowing about this southern treat, but I'm not happy! This is a New Orleans King Cake and it, along with a bunch of other tidbits, can be shipped right to your door if your name is picked!! Trish, my most favorite New Orleans-er, has graciously donated this delectable goody. She will have it sent right to you from Haydel's Bakery, which Trish SWEARS is THE BEST!!

King Cakes are a delicious danish dough, braided with cinnamon and sugar, baked to perfection and topped with fondant icing and Mardi Gras colors of purple, green and gold sugar. The cake is shipped along with a package of Chicory, carnival beads and doubloons and a few other surprises.

Not only is this cake yummy (according to Trish) but it's fun!! Tradition dictates that a tiny plastic baby be baked inside and whoever receives the baby must buy the next King Cake or throw the next party!! Weird and totally cool at the same time!!

And my competitive nature would make me want that baby in the worst way!!)
I may not be able to win this (or anything else for that matter) but boy do I want to!!

Came home today to find not one, not two, but FOUR $25.00 gift cards to L.L.Bean. Can you believe it? How awesome is that??? This very generous donation came from my coworker and friend Carrie. Which doesn't surprise me at all cuz Carrie has an enormous heart. Seriously. Her heart must be 10 sizes too big for her chest. (You know the heart the Tin Man wanted in the Wizard of Oz? Carrie's got it!) She's truly that amazing. Carrie gives when you least expect it without question. She's been there for me and my family numerous times and her friendship means a lot. Hope everyone out there gets to work with people as wonderful as Carrie. :)

My most fantastic, bestest brother in the whole wide world (hands down) donated this amazing Venus 8-Cup Porcelain Carafe Drip Brewing Machine by Saeco. (Well, not EXACTLY this one cuz this one is white and his is black) From Starbucks. Cuz that's where my most favorite brother works.

(ok, he's my ONLY brother but he's still my favorite!)

I SHOULD know what his actual title is but (don't kick my butt Dave!) I don't. I do know that he is some sort of New England territory bigwig but that's about it. I WILL ask him later but I fear if I call him again (I've been a BIT pushy about him telling me WHICH coffeemaker he is donating so I can post it here!) he will hang up on me. (Love you big bro!)

This coffeemaker is for those with an eye towards fashion and a taste for great coffee. The carafe was designed exclusively for Starbucks...its elegant porcelain carafe can keep coffee hot for hours.

This gorgeous gold plated, bangle bracelet with clasp was donated by my awesome neighbor Donna Lafean. Donna is an Independent Advisor for Lia Sophia Jewelry. She has a website where you can easily peruse the latest catalog of items and quickly and easily place an order. Donna will happily ship anywhere in the US so feel free to order no matter where you live!

Donna also donated this beautiful cut Crystal, gold plated necklace and earring set. The necklace is 16-19" around and is really a showstopper. The three items donated total $140.00! WOW!!! Although the picture is a pretty good one, it really doesn't show how spectacular the pieces truly are. Actually ALL the items Donna has for sale are pretty impressive! Head on over and give her your business!!!

This anatomically correct pendent comes from DOMINO EFFECT, the maker of funky game piece jewelry and art. Domino Art Pendants are a great addition to your funky jewelry. They use large 2 in. acrylic dominoes to make these cool pendants. Each Domino is covered with resin, which gives it a great 3d look and a glass like finish that is strong and durable.

Funky Dominoes make great pendants, key chains, charms, magnets...the list is almost endless. They use images that are a little off-the-wall, but they also bring instant compliments and are great conversation starters.

This mini drop pendent was donated by Luna Clay Design. Luna Clay specializes in artistic designs, handcrafted quality and limited quantities - for unique individuals! Shopping at Luna Clay Design for your very own, exclusive piece of jewelry and unique art piece is like finding an old out-of-the-way boutique with an artsy store front, and you know you just have to come in…

This amazing group of greeting cards comes from Catherine Otto. Catherine specializes in "mixed media" art. Her work includes paint, paper, embroidery and found objects. These cards are prints of pieces Catherine has created. There are 14 cards in all and everyone of them is unique.

Catherine ALSO donated this awesome piece of art. It says, "The key to growing love is in heart." Could there be anything more perfect for this raffle? Catherine says that she's intimidated by perfection and that warmth comes from imperfection. She likes old, rusty, peeling, stained and imperfect pieces...just like her! (Her words, don't you love it??) This framed beauty is really large...my photo of it doesn't do it justice. It's 2 feet tall and 1 1/2 feet wide. It's really impressive!

My very good friend, Anne Marie, donated this grouping of items from WCVBTV Boston. The set includes a coffee mug, teddy bear, tote bag and a fleece lined, size medium, Hakers golf shirt.

She also donated 2 passes to the Planetarium at the Boston Museum of Science,
4 passes to the Franklin Park Zoo,
4 passes to the Museum at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and,

4 passes to the OMNI Theatre at the Boston Museum of Science. Ann Marie not only donated this all but she hand delivered it to me all the way up here in Maine!! How great is she? All of the item's she donated will be added to the NEW ENGLAND prize package.

Marissa at re:Vision donated this totally cool, totally funky record bowl. I love it!! And the best part? The record they chose to donate is Bach's ORGAN MUSIC. Get it? Organ...as in ORGAN DONATION!!! Brilliant!! These bowls are great for organizing counter top clutter, fresh fruit, or even potted plants (they already have a drainage hole!)

Marissa and Amanda's store makes handmade designs for eco-friendly living. They make fun accessories, funky jewelry, and cozy items for the home from completely recycled or repurposed materials. How cool is that? Go check them out!!

This shockingly beautiful necklace and earring set was donated by Nina of Nina Devine Designs. Nina has been creating jewelry art for over 15 years and is lucky enough to live in Hawaii!! (I am BEYOND jealous) Nina specializes in quality pearl and gemstone designer jewelry. She uses sterling silver, 14 kt gold and 14 kt gold filled findings and wire. I can't describe how simply stunning this necklace is. And unfortunately the picture doesn't do it justice. It's made out of crazy agate, amethyst, pearls and sterling silver. The earrings match perfectly. I would LOVE to own this myself. Hop on over to her store and take a peek at her other items. Only one lucky person will win this set but that doesn't mean the rest of us can't shop for other gorgeous items!
Melissa over at Remembering June Jewelry Design donated one of her favorite pieces for my raffle. It is beautiful and looks fantastic on (I know cuz I modeled it for a brief moment!) Melissa is new to selling on the internet but has been making and selling out of her home and her mothers salon for awhile. She loves making jewelery. If you need something with certain colors she would be happy to put something together for you. Melissa works mostly with gemstones and shells but can work with wood or glass if requested. Custom orders are always welcome!!
"SWEETHEARTS"
"GOD'S GIFT"
"HIGH HOPES"

These wonderful and unique prints were donated by Robert Bretz from Paint All Night Studios. The set is signed and numbered and comes from his "Simpler Times" collection. Robert has generously donated the very last copy (100/100) of each print to make it a cohesive set. At his suggestion, I will split the 10 prints into two sets of five to be included in two separate prize packages. This way 2 winners will each have 5 amazing prints to frame and display. The prints literally made me smile which is the goal of the artist. "Our simple goal is to create art that will put a smile on your face." Mission accomplished! Take a minute and go check out Robert's work. He offers both prints and original pieces. I've highlighted 3 of the 10 prints on here for now but will add the rest shortly.

Kelly from The Glass Dragonfly donated this adorable sterling silver pendant from a company called Little Jewel. It is quite possibly the cutest little charm I have ever seen. It would make the perfect gift for a new mom or a mom to be. If you win it and are neither, you'll have a great gift on hand for the next baby shower you attend!!

My friend Chase Allen, a model and poet, donated a copy of her book, Passing on the Left. It is her own poetry-photo art book which contains 9 poetry pieces and 22 images. Chase signed the copy and wrote something special for the winner. If you want to purchase your own copy (if you don't win this one) you can do so HERE. The pictures are beautiful and her poetry is amazing. Great book to have on your coffee table as it will surely foster some interesting conversations!

Bina (my friend from the blog world) had her coworker Leah make this trio especially for the raffle. And I must say that not only is it incredibly unique, but it's really pretty. The necklace is 2 strands of tiny red and black beads with a black cross pendant. Leah added a small dangling charm off the clasp that says BELIEVE. How perfect is that? The bracelet is a matching multi strand twist of black and red beads. The earrings are simple dangling posts of silver with black beads at the end. Leah does not have a website for her items but DOES take requests for orders. If you are interested in having Leah make you something, please contact her at sunnaturelover@yahoo.com.

After I received Bina's donated items, Leah contacted me separately and asked if she too could donate something. (UM, YES PLEASE!!) :)

Leah sent along two beaded book thongs (aka bookmarks). And one of them was for me!! Yep, she told me that she made two but one was for me to keep. THANKS LEAH!!! I love it and am already using it. I HATE plain bookmarks so this is really a treat. The one for the raffle, pictured above, has a genuine Swarovsky crystal and real pearls. It is really pretty and such a cool idea!!

As I mentioned above, people can contact Leah at sunnaturelover@yahoo.com. She doesn't have a website, but IS taking orders. She makes bookmarks, jewelry, cell phone charms, suncatchers for cars or home, keychains, and gem trees. She can send you pics of what she has in stock if you're interested.

Lori, an awesome blogger and talented artist, donated not one, but TWO stunning necklaces. Both of these pieces are outstanding. I can't decide which one I like better!! This one is a Pineapple Quartz 40mm square pendant with czech fire polished glass beads and antiqued brass accents and chain.
This one is a Carnelian Red Agate square and Carnelian Red Agate faceted pear pendants with copper accents and copper chain. I can't wait to see who wins these items!! Check out Lori's website to see her other showstopping pieces. Her work is amazing...every piece will get you tons of compliments!

Jelena from Change of hART donated these GORGEOUS earrings. She wrote on the card she included, "I hope you like the earrings." Like them? I LOVE them!!! They are fabulous! And they are heart themed which couldn't fit this fundraiser any better!!

For the months of July and August, Jelena has generosly offered to donate 10% of the proceeds from the sales of any heart related items in her Etsy shop to this fundraiser!!! IS THAT AMAZING OR WHAT???

Jelena's store includes unique sophisticated adornments for every budget. She encourages you to purchase one of her unique pieces or allow her to design a custom adornment tailored to your specific needs. In other words, challenge her to make you something as awesome as these earrings!!
Dee Thompson, another one of my great blogger friends, donated a signed copy of her HOT OF THE PRESSES book, Adopting Alesia. It is the story of her 2 year journey to adopt her daughter Alesia from Russia. Dee also sent me a copy to read and review on my blog. I'm almost done with it and can tell you that it is a heart warming story of determination in the face of adversity. Dee and Alesia were MEANT to be a family and their story is incredibly inspirational. For those of you that DON'T win this item, you can head over to Barnes & Noble and get yourself a copy!! Dee would really appreciate it!! Go! :)

My wonderful in-laws have donated an authentic lobster feast for two, mailed directly to your doorstop! This awesome gift (which I would kill to have!) includes 2 live Maine Lobsters, fresh Maine Steamer Clams, Shrimp or Mussels, Clam Chowder or Lobster Bisque, fresh Vegetable, Butter, Lemon, metal shell cracker(s), seafood picks, bibs and Lobster cookbook.

Are you salivating already????
(Obviously, I don't actually have this in my possession. This prize will be mailed directly to the winner!)

Cindy from Stardaisy's Charming Creations donated this organ donor awareness pin and coin purse. Cindy is one of the few people I found who actually designs jewelry to honor organ donor recipients or donor family members. I was really honored when she readily agreed to donate a few pieces for the raffle.

Julia aka BRAINELLA, donated these handmade mugs and a pound of Dunkin Donuts coffee to go with them. The mugs are awesome. John fell in love with them immediately! He is always on the lookout for the PERFECT COFFEE MUG and he thinks he may have found it. (Too bad he can't have it!!) Guess I know one thing I can buy John for Christmas! Head over to her ETSY shop and check out all the goodies she has for sale!


This bright and cheerful Vera Bradley messenger bag and matching wallet were donated by Lisa, a friend of mine from high school. Lisa was the very first person to offer up a donation all on her own. (I had asked one family friend to donate an item already but Lisa was the first to offer sans asking!)
These items came from
The Handcrafter's Barn which Lisa owns along with North Country Cottage.
They are both located in North Conway, NH. North Country Cottage is a country gift store, specialty foods, candles, bath and body, lodge and mountain decor. The HandCrafter's Barn is a year round craft mall where they sell the handmade crafts of artisans and crafters. There's jewelry, pottery, photography, etc. They also carry gifts like Vera Bradley, and home decor.

Lisa not only donated the Vera Bradley items, but she also donated this necklace...which I happen to think would look awesome with a casual shirt and jeans. It's got earth tones and a laid back feel. I really like it!

And if all that wasn't enough, Lisa ALSO donated a $25 gift certificate to
North Country Cottage. Is she amazing or what? I think I will include this in the NEW ENGLAND prize package as it must be redeemed at the store. (never expires) Figure whoever wins the NE package, can take a day trip up to North Conway and do a little shopping. Not too shabby, huh?
This stunning handmade pillow comes from Olive. Olive makes unique & whimsical pillow art and home decor. She has her own Etsy store which you need to check out!! I have already fallen in love with at LEAST 10 items!! She is truly talented.
Olive also donated this adorable handmade pin cushion which makes me ALMOST wish I sewed. I say almost cuz it ain't gonna happen!! But I'd still like to own this cuz it's just that cute.

I live in an amazing neighborhood and have the most fantastic neighbors. Amy, one of these wonderful neighbors, donated this collection of 7 store front wall hangings. They are really cute and would look perfect in a front entrance way. Or any other place you might like to hang them!

Vegas Princess, one of my bestest blogger friends, donated a Shower CD Clock Radio with Digital LCD Display. (Which John tried to keep!) It has a 20 track programmable CD player, AM/FM radio, LCD alarm clock, shower mirror and is wall mountable. I bet I'd sound MUCH better singing in the shower if I had one of these! Ok, maybe not, but a girl can dream can't she??
My amazing neighbor Laura donated this $125.00 collection of Arbonne skin care products. Arbonne's skin care products, based on botanical principles, became a reality in the United States in 1980 and are now shared throughout the world through Arbonne's network of Independent Consultants. Building on these same founding principles, Arbonne's product line has since grown to include both inner and outer health and beauty products that are unparalleled in quality, safety, value, benefits and results!

Laura's donation includes Body Whip (8.5 oz), Body Wrap (7 oz), Body Scrub (7 oz), Shimmering Shower Mousse (9 oz) and a candle. All items are Mandarin Cashmere scented.

Laura has also GENEROUSLY donated to pay for the shipping of one prize package! Thanks Laura...you're the best!

This adorable baby hat was donated by Nini from Nini's Handmades.

It's even cuter in person than it looks in the picture! Almost makes me want to have another baby! (John said no. LOUDLY) Nini's Etsy shop offers baby hats and other accessories. (There's a cupcake hat that I want to buy NOW. For myself. But I'd look weird. So I'll wait til someone I know has a baby.)

Linda, blogger extraordinaire, donated a $50 VISA gift card. So you can use it to buy whatever you'd like!! Pretty cool. huh? Linda was one of the very first people to offer up a prize for the raffle which I appreciate more than she knows.

My fundraising effort has special meaning for her as her father-in-law is currently waiting for a heart. Which means, Linda's family knows EXACTLY what we went through 6 years ago with my Dad. I pray everyday that her FIL gets his heart so that she too, knows the joy in seeing a loved one start over.

Ever met someone and knew instantly that you like them? Recently I met one of my BFF Kimmy's friends from the town she lives in and liked her from the get go. Bonnie just seems like a really easy going and friendly person and is someone I hope I get to hang out with again soon.

Not long after meeting her, Bonnie and her husband Jed did an awesome thing....they donated 4 tickets to the August 21st Sea Dogs game here in Portland!! I was blown away at their kindness. These tickets will be part of the NEW ENGLAND prize package so that whomever wins can actually attend the game. Having been to a Sea Dogs game, I can tell you first hand that you will have an awesome time!
Becca, the Senior Editor of Alaska magazine, donated a 1 year subscription. She sent me 2 copies to take a look at which I had so much fun doing!! The pictures are breathtaking and the articles were really interesting. Both John and I read them both cover to cover. And now want to go to Alaska. You will too. Trust me. :)