Head In The Sand? Get It Out. We Have A Winner!

Are You The Giveaway Winner?

Pay attention here peeps.  It's time to announce the winner of the 1 Million Dollar Giveaway!

Alright...........not really, but your ears perked up, didn't they?

OK, the giveaway wasn't for 1 Million Dollars, but I am kind of partial to my Emerson quote print.  And so were you guys.  Thanks for entering!

 via bates mercantile co.

So, like I said, pay attention in case it's you! 

Congratulations ladies!  I'll be in touch to get your mailing info.

A big thank you for all the birthday wishes yesterday. It was perfectly wonderful. I unplugged and spent a much needed day away from the computer screen. 

I didn't swim in the sea per Emerson, however I did take the rest of his advice and spent the day here 'living in the sunshine and drinking in the wild air':

 

Absolutely heavenly.

I topped it off with shrimp and cocktails at my parents. Life is good, yes?

Ciao for now,

 

LAST CALL: Enter The Muse Giveaway Today!

It's My Birthday

Another year older.  Lucky me. Really. I'm not being my usual sarcastic self.

I'm here to enjoy the day and for that I am blessed.

Here's the thing people, you either get older or you don't.

I'll take option #1 please.

I'm disconnecting from the computer and I'm going outside to enjoy nature.

The sun is shining, the sky is blue and it's brisk enough to make you feel really alive.

So, while I am out soaking up this beautiful day, do me a favor.........


...............enter the giveaway for this print.

via bates mercantile co.

All you have to do is comment on this post. That's it.  You get a bonus entry if you tell me how you'd pay it forward. Easy peasy.

And remember, there's a 2nd place price too: a set of 8 note cards & envelopes.

I'll be picking a name out of the hat this evening and announcing the winner tomorrow.

What are you waiting for?

Make it a great day in your corner of the world and I'll do the same in mine.

Ciao for now,

 

Free Printable & Freeform Friday

Do This! No.......Do This!

Is your head spinning from everything you have to do? You don't know which way to turn? I can help.  Cross my heart and a pinkie swear.

If you need help organizing your day to day, a place to list your to-dos and check things them off so you actually feel like you've accomplished something, then this is for you.

A free printable weekly planner.  You can three hole punch it and stick in a binder, if you're a binder kind of person. Or not. Your call.

People will call you organized. You'll start to feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulder by the mere act of organizing your to do list.  You'll be referred to as 'the one that gets things done' from here on in.

Are you ready for all the responsibility that comes with that?

You sure?

Then go ahead- download and print.

(click on image or link below it it)

(download pdf of planner here)

Hey, did you notice the new button in the sidebar? This one...........

 

I'm going back to school. Not in the traditional sense, but still.

I've wanted to take this course for quite awhile and I missed out on the last one because I hit the 'register for this class' button, too late. The class was full. I could have kicked myself in the pants.  I was determined not to let that happen this time.

The course is offered by one of my favorite bloggers, the very talented Holly Becker of decor8.

I love Holly's sense of style, how she manages to juggle a gazillion things and still make it all work, and of course, her blog.

I'm really looking forward to this and am hoping I will be able to soak up lots of good information from Holly and the other teachers (Naomi of Bakers Royale and Lisa of Liz and Jewels and Holly's husband Thornsten). They'll be covering topics like: staying true to your brand, turning ideas into actions, current blog trends and predictions, growing your audience, photography, photo styling, camera settings, macro photography....the list goes on. It's going to be a jam packed 4 weeks at a time of year that is notoriously busy for me. 

I'm up for it though, and hope to finally be able to make the Muse the place I dream of it being and better place for you and I to be.

A Question for You

Yes, you.

Karen, over at The Art of Doing Stuff, asked her readers 'where they were' today and I think it's a fun idea.  I know some of you are in the US, some in Europe, down under and beyond.

So I'm just wondering, where are right now? Give me the details.  I'll start.

I'm in Stratham, New Hampshire, USA. 10 minutes for the coastline of the Atlantic.  15 minutes to Maine, 15 minutes to Massachusetts.  I'm typing away from my home office, which in all actuality is a corner of my living room sectioned off with a bookcase that has some open cubicles to I can spy my office companion Lucan across the room. 

And you?

Freeform Friday

Here we are. Friday again. I'm ready. This song just makes me feel good, just like new shoes. A good way to start the weekend. Click here if you're reading by email.



No set plans here, though I will most definitely be celebrating my birthday which happens to be Monday.  That's the way I roll. Milk the birthday for as long as possible.

What's happening in your world?

Oh hey, don't forget to comment here, for your chance to win my Emerson quote print!

 

Make it a good one, gang and I'll do the same.

Ciao for now,

What Inspires You Wednesday

Kindness

Sometimes it's something small. Sometimes it's something big.  It doesn't really matter, because it really is the thought that counts.

 

A couple of weeks ago I received a message in my email from my etsy/blogging pal Reshma. I had purchased some beautiful jewelry from her last year at the holidays to give as gifts. She asked me to visit a specific page on her site and tell her which item I liked the best. I thought she was simply looking for feedback on her designs.  I took a look around and told her which item I liked the best and she then informed me that she would be sending it to me.

What?

Really?

But why?

Simply for being a customer.

How do you like that?

I thought that was just so sweet and thoughtful.

Then I got up in all the usual day-to-day stuff and promptly forgot all about it.  That is until G man brought a package in from the mailbox the other day. I looked at him and said, "Hmmm. I don't remember ordering anything." Then I saw the return address. Reshma!

Now, knowing what it was, my anticipation grew. I ripped that envelope open and lo and behold..........

My new Bollywood inspired earrings!!!

Let me tell you something more. A long time ago I had a little 'incident' shall we say, with pierced ears.  Suffice it to say, my ears did not approve of having holes in them.  So I can only wear screw-on or clip-ons. Now here's the kicker: Reshma customized mine with clips!

Talk about going above and beyond. For Pete's sake, she was already sending them to me for free. I simply happened to mention it and tell her that I'd save them as a gift for some lucky gal, but Reshma said she would fix that little problem for ME.

So nice.


Dear Reshma,

Thank YOU.

I love my new earrings.

They make me feel dressed up even if I'm just wearing jeans.  They jingle a bit when I move my head and I really like that.  On top of all that, they are super comfortable.

And you my dear, are so kind.

Many thanks, Pam

You know, this Internet thing.....this world wide web thing...........it isn't always so big after all. I've met some of the most thoughtful people one the other side of my computer screen.

I honor of Reshma's kindness, I'm going to pay it forward.

I am giving away an Emerson quote wall art print to one lucky person.

 

 via bates mercantile co

It happens to be one of my favorites.

I will also give away, to the second runner up, a set of stationery made from my free printable choose happiness. It will include 8 note cards and envelopes.

via mercantile muse

You can enter from now until next Monday (November 4, 2013), which is my birthday when I will pick a winner. All you have to do is either leave a comment on this blog post or on this facebook post.  That's it.  Earn a bonus entry if you tell me how you'll pay it forward if you win.  I'll be randomly picking a winner from those who have commented.  If you'd like to share, that would be great too, but you don't have to in order to win.

So, I'm wondering.............what's inspiring you today?

Ciao for now,

PS- you'll find Reshma here: etsy shop; website; twitter; pinterest; facebook; color canopy blog; masala mango mantra blog