Good Things Come to Those Who Blog

But do I really need to convince you of that?

Chances are, if you are reading this, you already think blogging is pretty fantastic. It's those darn husbands that need the convincing, right?

No dear husbands. Despite what you may believe, blogging is not a modern mass movement to empty your wallets or take attention away from you and your manly needs or to bore you with stories about even more people you don't know. We promise.

Blogging is fun. Blogging is funny. Blogging is therapy. Blogging is connection. Blogging is cheering, sustaining, inspiring, touching, lasting.

Blogging is a way to connect with other women who just "get it".

This year has been one of the loneliest years I have ever experienced. I have yet to make any friends in our new town. I blame some of that on the language and culture barriers and some on how hectic it has been to tend to my own little garden patch of three kiddos and one on the way. In other words, it's my fault too.

How can one feel so lonely when so surrounded and busy? Believe me. It's possible. There has been many a day in the past year that I have felt like my only friends are those I know by pseudo names, digital pictures, and typed conversations.

Does that sound a tad pathetic to anyone else?

Wait. You're a blogger. You get it.

This last year especially, blogging has brought many a good thing to my life.

A chance to record memories and family history.
Friendships with now very dear friends.
Advice, wisdom, and experience beyond my own.
Paychecks earned while sitting in my jammies at home surrounded by my children.
A medium to express and share my self, my accomplishments, my struggles, and my joys with others who reach back, validate, sympathize, and balance me.

And how can I not mention the really marvelous packages (at least the most recent ones) that have floated over to my neck of the woods?

Very thoughtful packages like this one that was sent by Sarah Cardell after I wrote a post about persevering. Thank you so much Sarah. I choked up when I opened it. Can you believe I was already in need of a reminder?

Sympathetic packages like this one sent by Mamarazzi, a firm believer in "Good Mail", from one swap host to another...

Speaking of swaps, packages like this one from Cherie Bakow, my ornament swap partner through the ornament swap hosted by Carrie from The Rowdy Stroudys (who also sent a very thoughtful and fragrant parcel earlier this year that I am still enjoying daily in my car.) Thank you Cherie and Carrie!

And don't forget packages from past swap partners who have become incredible friends and who also happen to know how to put all sorts of fun into blogging with monthly contests and games. I {almost} blushed when I pulled out all my winnings from this box from Sami the other day. How can one girl get this lucky?

The prize for Symfully Sweet Saturday...

...and the prizes for Quince Quote. (How did she know I love Junior Mints?)

And a little extra love "just because". And a handmade card to boot?? Thank you Sami!

And thank you to all of you for the Christmas cards, the packages, the letters, the notes, the comments of humor and genuine love and concern. It has meant more than I can ever tell you through any post or package.

But I'll keep trying...

***The winner of the Snugalicious Giveaway thanks to Random.org was...

Lisa @ Little Angels with Dirty Faces!

Merry Christmas Lisa and Lisa's arms! The snuggie is in the mail! ***

A Gift Not Even a Mother Could Love {A Giveaway!}

***Giveaway is now closed.***


My first reaction when I saw the neatly lined up boxes sitting on the table at the store was to smirk, roll my eyes a bit, and laugh...maybe even a tad "out loud".

Snuggies. What a joke. It's a blanket...with sleeves. How ridiculous.

But then I started thinking about it.

My parents keep their house at a rather low temperature. My mom likes to work on various projects on her laptop. Cold...Mom...Cold...Mom...Snuggie???

It could work.

I picked up one of the boxes and looked beyond the bright blazing red "As Seen on TV" sticker.

Sure, it looked dorky. And it might be a gift only an octogenarian would include on their Wish List. But it could be practical. And my mom does so love a practical gift.

Ten minutes later...

The Snuggie was mine. Blue. Snuggly. Practical. My smirk had changed into a smirk of pride; I had found the perfect gift for my mom.

Then I made the mistake of texting my sister: "I got Mom a Snuggie for Christmas. Do you think she'll love it?"

The answer was immediate. "No. She won't."

Well, sheesh! Don't even think about it or anything.

My Christmas cheer crushed, I called to see if this was one of those joking sister texts or save-yourself-before-you-get-too-deep texts.

She said "hello". I skipped the pleasantries and said, "You really don't think she'll like it?"

"Nope."

"Well how do you know?"

"She's sitting right next to me. I asked her. She says she wouldn't like it."

Snuggie. A gift not even a mother could love.

Hating the idea of returning later to a store I rarely shop at anyway, nearly 9 months pregnant, and with three unruly children in tow returning such an AWESOME gift... I began to wonder who else I could begift with the Snuggie.

The only person I could think of is a family member who is above a certain unspoken age and still not married. But I just can't. I can't give it to her. I might as well stick a cat or two in the pockets of the thing and label her as forever lost to singlehood. I can't be responsible for that.


Who else could use a Snuggie???

At 2:30 am this morning, it came to me.

A blogger! A blogger could use a Snuggie. Not only to keep their arms warm, but their wit as well. I can just hear the creative posts spouting forth from the blogger who dons a blanket...with sleeves.

Here it is. I am hosting a giveaway. For one brand-new, in the box, color blue Snuggie. No strings attached. Only sleeves.

To enter my Snugalicious Giveaway:

1- simply be a Hanging by a Silver Lining follower

and

2- leave a comment telling me WHY or WHY NOT a Snuggie is a gift not even a mother could love.

Giveaway closes Wednesday, December 15th at midnight so that I can get it out of the way as soon as possible mailed to you before Christmas so you can regift it to some poor unsuspecting victim enjoy it as you blog about your holiday happenings.

Merry Christmas Bloggy Buddies!