PICK ME - PICK ME for Brandcation: Blog Lodge

Many of you know that I had the ULTIMATE privilege of attending Brandcation in November 2010 with 32 of the MOST fabulous women I have ever met.  I learned so much from those ladies, had so much fun, and made some of the best friends I have ever had, and still have.

This October Momdot and Brandfluential is holding another Brandcation, this time in Gatlinburg, Tennessee in this absolutely gorgeous Log Cabin.....

 

Photos from Momdot.com

Part of the itinerary is to go to Dollywood, Dixie Stampede, Titanic Museum, The Old Mill, and The Wax Museum... how AWESOME does that sound? I have ALWAYS wanted to see each of those places, especially since the Dixie Stampede here in Orlando closed.

When I heard about this trip, I was SO excited because I really wanted to go... so Bill and I talked about it and said we were going to save up some money and buy my ticket in a few weeks... WELL, that was NOT to be had! The tickets sold out in a day and a half... my heart broke, there went my chance to see those wonderful women who are so special to me. Maybe next time Bill and I said to each other. =(

BUT GUESS WHAT????  I have one more chance at going to Brandcation!! How is that you say?

Well, there is a special giveaway over at Momdot... Yippee!! (pick me... pick me.... pick me).  It is an amazing giveaway also... the always fabulous Momdot is sponsoring the ticket, the outstanding Minnesota blogger Life with Levi is sponsoring the lodging, AND to help with travel and/or incidental expenses, the spectacular Toni from Just Stop Screaming will be throwing in $100 cash stipend.  That is just incredible for whoever wins... even if it's not me. (pick me... pick me... pick me.)

The only thing you need to do to enter the giveaway is answer one of the two following questions:

1) WHY you want to attend and what it would mean to you

or

2) WHY you want to go to Pigeon Forge and the place you are most excited to visit listed on our iten up there.

So, if you can't tell by know that I have already answered WHY I want to go, I'll tell you again. The group of women who attend Brandcation events are the most friendly, smart, loving, and most important to me, supportive women I have ever met. I still talk to several of the women I met and roomed with every day via email, Facebook, and even texting.  We are there for each other during the good times and the bad times. We are there to laugh, cry, and support each other no matter what we or our families are going through. I know there are some things that I could never have gotten through without these ladies and I cannot wait to see them again to give them each a great big hug!

So even if I am not the lucky one who gets to go to TN, THANK YOU so much to the three wonderful bloggers offering this terrific giveaway to an outstanding event. And good luck to all the ladies who enter!


**UPDATE: My absolutely darling of a husband has just picked up two weeks of work at the Dry Cleaners he used to work at to help defray any costs that may come up JUST IN CASE I am the VERY LUCKY woman who wins this MOST AWESOME ticket...... Do you not just love this man?

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Bloggy Friends are the BEST!!

Just wanted to post a quick note to let you know how much I appreciate all the friends I have made since I started blogging. But I want to point out one in particular... Maria from Maria's Space. She and I have become really close, almost like sisters, we are even the same age. I have been so behind on my blog visiting since attending the Disney Social Media Moms Conference because I got really sick right after and we have been really busy around the house.

Well, Maria called me today just to check on me to make sure that I was OK... she knows that I am not all that healthy and she knows that my husband had some serious health problems last year. Maria said that she was concerned and wanted to make sure all was well. That is just one of the sweetest things - and so like Maria.

Please, take the time to go on over and see Maria's blog, she is an amazing blogger, photographer and especially an incredible mother. She also is an artisan who makes beautiful jewelry with an ETSY shop called Street Angel, so take a look there if you are looking for a unique piece of jewelry for yourself or as a gift.

Thank you, Maria for being the kind of friend I know that you are and that I hope you consider me to be. {{{HUGS}}}

Until next time..... Lorie

Maria's Space: Etsy Artists Present: Promos, Sales, Shops, and Specialities - Come Shop

It's again time for all of you Etsy Artisans to link up your beautiful creations on Maria's Space.... How about some free promotion all in one place. Do you have something new, something on sale, something you'd like to promote for the holidays.... Head on over to Maria's Space and link it up so everyone can see it.

Maria's Space: Etsy Artists Present: Promos, Sales, Shops, and Specialities - Come Shop: "Link up your favorite items, sale items, promotions every Saturday."

If everyone sticks together, you can help each other out, and everyone wins.... that's what our blogging community does BEST!!!

Until next time..... Lorie

Cooler Weather in Central Florida

We have finally had some cooler weather here in central Florida... YEAH!!

The weather right now at 2:54 pm on Thursday is a balmy 82 degrees with a wonderful breeze of 5mph with humidity only at 42% (thank you WeatherBug on my iPhone - gotta love those APPS), down from around 95 degrees, NO breeze and humidity around 85% last week.... UGH!

So, The Hubs suggested I work on my laptop on the porch while lying on my chaise lounge as he is doing some work on the porch ceiling (boy owning a house is such a PITA sometimes). It is such a gorgeous day, the sun is shining and Nano is watching everything going on in the neighborhood -- he LOVES sitting on the porch. I have to say, with everything that has gone on in our lives in the last year (lots of you know details - and I thank you SO much for your love and support: Maria, Felicia, Piera, Alexis, Beth, Paige, Ryann), although I'm in pain from over-doing it yesterday (post with pictures to follow later), hence the reason I'm lying on the chaise, today feels like a pretty good day - I hope I have more like it in the days to come.

Until next time..... Lorie