Givaway Winner

Hooray Hooray, we have a giveaway winner!




Bonny, who said "Love your blog!! You always make me laugh!!" Well, Bonny, thank you for using the correct version of "your." It makes me less stabby. Your profile doesn't have an email, so send your info to me by Monday so I don't have to draw another winner! (waldoswife at gmail)

For the rest of you, thanks for entering. I will have more giveaways another day, maybe! Or maybe not! We will see!

I love January AND Giveaway! Reals!

Well, Christmas came and went. And we all got sick. And so I didn't finish telling you about my traditions. See you next December for that, I say.

My favorite thing about January is doing my taxes. Because I love to get my return. I know, I know, I should adjust my deductions and withholding so I get zero back and pay zero and not give the government a loan. I know. But you know what else I know? I can't save a dime because every time we get an emergency fund we have a freaking emergency. So the tax refund is the one time we get a big chunk and can spend it on something we want, as opposed to something that is needed to stop flooding/fire/children.

This year I have big plans for the refund. We will be using most of it to put our emergency fund back into place so we can continue to do that ridiculous dance of putting out fires/floods/children, but also, we are going to buy a new TV.

The history of our television:

When we got married, my parents were divorcing. It was very sad. But a sick and rad unexpected outcome of the divorce is that people felt really bad for us and gave us a lot more wedding presents than normal. "Poor La Yen. She comes from a broken home." And that is how we got our first television.

About seven years later W's father, Papo, came to visit for about three days. He sat on our couch and said "This television is too small." And he went to Costco and bought our second television. It was bigger. (This was an excellent day for Tio Ricky, as he went home with our first television.)

Fast forward seven years, and we are feeling the lure of one of those fancy flat-screen things. We have tried pointing out to Papo that he needs to come and sit on our couch and look at how small the TV seems now, but he has declined that invitation. So, for the first time in fourteen years, we will be purchasing a new TV. And also a TV stand because I can't just put the new precious near the children who cause all of the fires/floods, right?

Segue

SO here is where the giveaway comes in:
CSN Stores contacted me about a giveaway for my readers. And you know I said "YES!" So, one of you is going to get a $40 gift card to spend on anything from any of their sites. They are a really cool outlet for purchasing just about anything under the sun. Including TVs. All you gots to do is follow me on the Google friend follower sidebar thing and leave a comment. Any comment at all. That's it. (I would use my card to augment my refund. But that's just me. And I don't even get a gift card. I just get to give one to you. Because I am a giver. A GIVER.)

I will close the comments and random generate a winner on January 7, which is in a week.

I hope you win.

**Here is where I say I got contacted, but I am not getting anything free at all. INTEGRITY, thy name is La Yen. (But if I did get something for free I would have totally taken it and then disclaimed that. Integrity Shmintegrity.)

First Five Gimme Gimme

First Five Gimme Gimme (From Queen Scarlett)

The first five people to respond to this post will get something made by me!

my choice. for you. this offer does have some restrictions and limitations:
1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make!
2. what I create will be just for you.
3. it’ll be done this year. {translation: you may be waiting a little while}
4. you have no clue what it’s going to be ... it may be cards, a poem, a bookmark, something yummy or a complete surprise to you (and me!) ... who knows? not you, that’s for sure!
5. i reserve the right to do something extremely strange.
6. most importantly, you must offer the same deal on your blog - the first 5 people to comment on your blog (or if you do not have a blog, facebook) get something made by YOU! the first 5 people to do so and leave a comment telling me they did win a FAB-U-LOUS homemade gift by me ...

Those were the rules as copied exactly from the Greek Goddess' blog. She added an idea. If you're not the kind of person that wants to make something tangible for others, how about some kind of service for them, any type, any size? (But what I give you will not be a service, because I am lazy and don't want to serve you.)