Oooooh goody goody.  Some lucky people just won free stuff. 

The winner of the Lisa Leonard jewelry giveaway, chosen at random is:

#506:  Kari Lynn

And the winners of the CG Big Thank You Giveaway, chosen at random are:

#418:  Sharla at The Stockwells blog

#36:  Vanessa at Military Wife Mayhem blog

Winners, please send me an email and I’ll get you the information to collect your winnings !

Thanks to everyone for your participation, and a big big ginormous thank you to everyone for your words of encouragement in the Thank You giveaway. 

This is the time of year where I can’t help but feel thankful.  Thankful for health, happiness, harmony, bounty, and beauty, good friends and a loving family.  I’ve always loved banners, especially ones created for birthdays or holidays.  Yesterday, I gathered some simple craft supplies, and created my own banner to make a seasonal statement.

I also added a few other seasonal touches to the living room to set the mood for Thanksgiving. 

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A few weeks ago, I posted a blurb about Advent calendars.  They were on my mind this year because it is one tradition I’ve been saving until I had children of my own that were old enough to get it.  Sort of like how I’ve never read the Harry Potter series because I’m saving them for when my children are older.  You know, so we can experience those novels together.  I beg you, please don’t tell anyone I have yet to pick up a Potter.  It’s shocking, but it’s true.

Now that my munchkins are three and five, and know the full meaning of the words “treat” and “candy”, it seemed the right time to create an Advent calendar.  Funny how the words “Clean up your room” fall on deaf ears, but you can whisper “candy” from the deepest corner of the backyard and they come running like marathoners. 

I have a thing for branches, especially manzanita branches. They are so dramatic, especially when used as centerpieces, or spray painted and suspended over tabletops or on walls.  They take my breath away.  So I really wanted to display some during the season.  My idea was to make an Advent calendar with tiny packages suspended from those branches in a whimsical way.    

Here is my own sweetie manza-neaty Advent calendar tree.

Here’s the lowdown on how I pulled this one together. 

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A little something happened today that calls for a celebration.  So glad we have a leftover bottle of champagne from last night’s birthday party, because I am just completely elated and overjoyed.  What happened you might ask ?

On my Statcounter, this site just registered over two million pageviews.  Two million !   In nine months !   Holy guacamole Batman !  My little ol’ brain is spinning just thinking about it.  I am so very grateful to those of you who read about my adventures in DIY and decorating.

Hip hip hooray !

So with a thankful heart, and an attitude of gratitude, I’d like to offer two lucky winners (two million = two winners) a special prize.  Two readers can either 1) choose any item in my Etsy shop that is listed under $40, and I’ll ship it to you free, or 2) receive a $40 dollar gift certificate to Amazon.  Your choice.  Two winners ! 

Eligibility?  Just say something nice in a comment.  One entry per person please.  No need to tweet, or blog about it.  Let’s just keep this to you regular readers.  Giveaway ends Thursday November 12th at 8 p.m. PST.  Both winners chosen by Random.org. 

And from the bottom of my heart, a big thank you.  

More Announcements: 

I’ve already received some excellent submissions for Guest Blogger Week, starting November 23rd.  So many great ideas, we may have to start the event early ! 

I hope you’ll join me in the December 8th Parade of Ornaments where we all show off our holiday baubles.  What a great day to give us a tour of your mantle, tablescape, or Christmas tree.  We’ll use MckLinky in order to promote some blog hopping.  Mark your calendar !   

In CG creative news, I came up with a unique interpretation of an Advent Calendar – look for that this week. 

And since we all love free goodies, there is still time to enter the Lisa Leonard jewelry giveaway, which ends Tuesday November 10th at 8 p.m. PST.  Click here to enter. 

Whew, that’s a lot going on around here.  These pretzels announcements are making me thirsty (… for my fellow Seinfeld fans).  Now where is that bottle of champagne ?

 ***  This giveaway is now closed.  Thank you to everyone for your kind comments !  ***

You’ll often catch me uttering that old saying, “The days are long but the years are short.”  It was said to me by a great lady after I had my first child, when I was complaining of the exhaustion of new motherhood.  That great lady just turned 100 years old, and I had the pleasure of planning her grand birthday party. 

Verna Jones is my husband’s grandmother.  She’s a woman who’s traveled the world several times, and was married to the same man for 73 years.  73 years !  She’s witnessed our world change so dramatically over the past century.  With a mind as sharp as a tack, she tells vivid stories of her childhood travels with her family.  With that record, and all of her wisdom and insight, I often wondered why she was never on Oprah. 

I met this wonderful lady when she was just a young thing, at age 85.  She always treated me with the utmost kindness, and welcomed me into her family from day one.  So today we threw her a great party to celebrate becoming a centenarian. 

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