Thursday, January 8, 2009

Happy 200th Post!

Since this is my 200th post, I was going to take the opportunity to extol upon you my philosophy on life, my thoughts on world dynamics, my theory on global warming, my plan for recovering from this recession, my take on the giant super collider in Europe. And then I thought "Nah! Let's do a giveaway!!!"

It was a tough decision, but giveaway it is!


My next dilemma was what to giveaway. I confess, up until this morning I was plagued by the weighty decision. And then it hit me. A theme. So the 200th post giveaway theme is:

A Cold Winter's Night

Okay, wait a minute. Who wants a cold winter's night? I don't want a cold winter's night, by golly, I got plenty of my own without having to take someone elses. But hold up there! I'm not giving you a cold winter's night. I'm pretty talented but I can't control the weather. Yet. So instead, I'm giving you things to do on a cold winter's night.

So, when I think of a cold winter's night I want to snuggle up and drink something warm. What should I drink? A hot toddy? No, silly. How about a hot cup of tea?

How about some Tazo Passion tea? Did you know that Tazo is owned by Starbucks? Yep. And this tea is really good, both hot and cold. Starbucks will mix it with lemonade at their store and its delish. I'm going to try to make some here at home because Ross likes it too. Just today, I found my new source for this tea since my local Price Chopper doesn't carry it. {I bought a box for me too.}

Please drink responsibly. I can not be held responsible for what happens after you drink it. It is named Passion.

But wait a minute? What will you drink your tea out of?

How about your very own mug! You can drink your hot tea like a lady, sipping from your beautiful garden themed vessel. But you know, I like to nibble on something while I sip on tea.

How about some Pepperidge Farm cookies? Two varieties here, one is Shortbread and the other is Milano Double Chocolate. Yum. If I'm letting myself go, I'm taking someone with me. I was going to get crumpets, because the English eat crumpets with their tea, and I was going to "put on some airs." But I had no idea what crumpets are, so I settled for cookies.

But you're bored. Who wants to sit around just drinking tea and eating cookies. What can you do?

How about a new book?! (Okay, is it just me or do you hear the Price Is Right music too?) The Friday Night Knitting Club by Kate Jacobs.

When I gave this away last time, there were so many people who said they hadn't read this book that I thought I would give it away again. It's that good.

You're still bored. You've finished your book/don't feel like reading/wanna do something else. Good heavens, you sound like my kids! Okay, okay!

How about a new movie?! Nothing like snuggling in to watch a movie on a cold winter night. I haven't watched Must Love Dogs* in years, but I really loved when I saw it before. *Dog not included.

What's that? You're hungry again? You really are like my kids!

Want some snacks? Two packages of Orville Redenbacher's microwave popcorn 94% Fat Free Butter, a box of Junior Mints and a box of Reese's Pieces.

What are you going to watch your movie on???

Your own tv! I don't make that much money off of BlogHer! For those not "in the know" I use all money that I make off of BlogHer ads to fund my giveaways. So the more clicks those ads get, the more money I make! Make sure you check some of those ads out!

I can hear you. You're saying "Cut to the chase. How can I win this fabulous prize?"

This fabulous prize could be yours if the Price Is Right sorry, I could swear I just heard Bob Barker. We're going to do this just like the Six Days of Christmas only you have more time to enter and there's another chance to win.

1) You get one entry by leaving a comment.

2) You get another entry if you follow me. You can tell me with the first comment or leave another, its up to you.

3) I'm going to try something new and give you 3 entries if you post about this on your blog. Leave me a comment telling me that you did this so I know and can enter you appropriately.

The contest starts on Thursday at 5:00 pm and ends Wednesday, January 14 at 8:00 pm CST.

Good luck!
***********************************************

Edited 1/9/09 Okay, just to be perfectly clear-- I am NOT giving away a flat screen TV! I think some people have skimmed the paragraph after the photo of the TV, although it does have an X across it and the word SORRY, because I have gotten a couple of emails asking if I was really giving away a TV. The answer is NO!

86 comments:

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shari U said...

That's totally not fair, I don't have my own blog. (Just kidding, I'm guessing with 6 kids you hear that all the time).

Denise Grover Swank said...

Shari, that's not fair that you said that! *she said with a whine*

If I had a dollar for everytime I heard that.... *sigh*

Unknown said...

I follow you... I love your blog and sense of humor and I just had my 200th post celebration...ummmm I didn't do an awesome giveaway tho! Congrats.... and I will also link to you from my blog....

Inspiration CAN be found EVERYWHERE said...

Congratulations on your 200th post! Awesome.

I too heard Bob Barker .... I swear, honest.

And since I just love your wit and sense of humor (and your kids are really cute too) I am a follower.

Shell in your Pocket said...

wow..how fun..now that is a giveaway! I have a giveaway on Monday..brighton jewerly..hope you will come on over!
-sandy toe

Inspiration CAN be found EVERYWHERE said...

Just posted on my site to get you more traffic and add to the "fun".

Hope it helps.

http://katsdailyinspiration.blogspot.com/

~gail~mooselovingmamabear said...

Congrats on your 200th post! You forgot your philosophy on "world peace"... ;-)but, I'd be more than happy to win the give away :-)

I follow you (that's how I knew about the fab give away) and OMGosh, what a fab give away it is...and I'm another one of those people who have never read this book and woud very much love to...

Good Luck to all who enter and again, congrats!

~~Blog hugS~~

Lula! said...

Wow--happy 200! And how swell are YOU for doing a giveaway?

I'll answer my own question...you are VERY swell.

Carolyn G said...

It must be great to have your son work at a pizza place. YAY! THanks for the great giveaway.

Carolyn G said...

I follow your blog.

momma said...

congrats on your 200th post. i just looked at my blog counter and i've just posted #595.

i am a follower, too.

(i'll blog about this later. my computer time is almost up)

Anonymous said...

Congrats on 200 posts!!!!

Kim said...

I love that tea! You sure have some great giveaways! Very creative!

Following you :-)

Anonymous said...

Saw the new Tazo creations advertised today at Stbx! Didn't try it though- got the signature hazelnut hot chocolate while its still around! :)

Mimi said...

Congrats on #200! I have my fingers & toes crossed.

Heather said...

wow...200 posts that's awesome. I'd love to win this great giveaway. It would definitely help cure my winter blues.

Heather said...

and I'm a follower :)

KR said...

I just want to win all this neat stuff! LOL

KR said...

following!

Cathy said...

200! That's awesome! I would love a chance to win these great prizes!

And, I do follow you!

larkswing said...

Hi There! Thanks for coming by today - or maybe it was yesterday. I am catching up. What a fun post and what great giveaways!

Unknown said...

Congratulations, Denise! I blogged about your post today too! And I'm a follower...woo-hoo! http://working-diva.blogspot.com/2009/01/seventy-six-trombones.html

Elizabeth said...

Congrats on your 200th post and what an awesome giveaway!! I'm following you AND posting about this on my blog :)

Unknown said...

congrats on your 200th post and what an AWESOME idea!! i've been trying to come up with one of my own... i might have to borrow that THEME idea...!!!!! oh and im a follower, too!!!!

Lori said...

Yay! 200 posts! Whoo Hoo! :)

Crystal said...

Thats A LOT of good loot!

Also a follower!

Lori said...

I am a follower! :)

Lori said...

I just blogged about your giveaway! :)

http://lori72.blogspot.com/2009/01/theres-always-room-for-one-more-200th.html

Cassie said...

You. Are. The. Bomb-diggity. This is fabulous. 1. It's just plain great. 2. I've never read that book, eaten those cookies, or tried that tea! 3. The movie doesn't come with the dog..so it must come with John Cusack! Woo HOO!

Cassie said...

I follow! And Congratulations on the 200th post!

Cassie said...

I put your giveaway on my "giveaway post" here!

Heather said...

You know I love your blog. Blah, blah, blah. You know I would follow you to the ends of the earth. Blah, blah, blah. But I bet you didn't know that I mentioned the giveaway on my blog!

Keeping my fingers crossed!

Dawn said...

Sounds WONDERFUL!!!! I have been following you for awhile. I think that gets me TWO chances ;-)

Christina said...

How Fun!! Congratulations on your 200th post!! I am new to the blog world and just did my second post! I just found your blog and am enjoying it!
I will blog about this on my blog.

Karin said...

Brrrr...it is cold here tonight...the tea looks good. Maybe it could warm me up!

Think I will go hide under a comforter.

Carol E. said...

Oh what a wonderful give-away! I think it's my turn to win. :-)
Carol
merryhands@yahoo.com
or check my blog, giraffedreams

Elizabeth M Thompson said...

Hi Denise, I just discovered your blogs today and am enjoying getting to know you. You are a very engaging writer.

Carey-Life in the Carpool Lane said...

Happy 200th post! Congrats!

I'll take 3 entries please...
1. comment
2. follow
3. post (http://blog.lifeinthecarpoollane.com/2009/01/is-it-wrong-to-have-favorite.html)

Cindy said...

Happy 200th!
I'm in on the giveaway, that book looks interesting, and the tea yummy too!
I follow!

Denise said...

Happy 200th post...I think I am heading towards 300, so maybe I will do something like this.

As you know, I am a follower and BTW, I love PF Brussels!

I will post about this on my blog later today, as I just made one. I am not sure if I have ever done 2 in one day before...time to live a little crazy, huh?

Have a great weekend and thanks for these giveaway posts...one of these days, I will win, I just know it...lol~

Denise said...

Hey, I passed 300 14 posts ago and never even noticed!!! 350 maybe?

Tracy Reynolds said...

Hello
I've been reading your posts for a while now and love it! My first time commenting. I'm following you too and linked to my blog, though I don't have readers yet, I'm mostly blogging my project 365, a picture a day......have a great day!

wendy said...

This is so much fun, I never win anything, so not expecting much, but it is fun to try.

wendy said...

I am a follower! Love your blog. Mine is allaboutari.blogspot.com which is just basically a babybook for my child to read some day but fun to write in.

Shell in your Pocket said...

something for you on my blog:)

He & Me + 3 said...

Count me in...I came over from Carey's blog. She was right...you do have a great blog here. I am now a follower...and not just because I want that big TV. LOL

Nancy said...

Congrats!!!
Nancy

koopermom said...

Oh, I love this giveaway, it's calling my name!!!! :)

I am now a follower!

Lorie said...

Hi there, would love to win....I am a follower....I will Come On Down to win this prize....

Lorie said...

Okay, just linked your blog and your giveaway..........

Happy 200th post to you, happy 200th post to you, happy 200th post dear denise, happy 200th post to you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tim said...

Congrats on your 200th!! Thats awesome and so is your blog. I was adopted to I can really appreciate what you have done in your adoptions.

I found your blog thru Carey's blog. She spoke very highly of you and I can see why. I would like to follow your blog if its ok.

Please feel free to visit us sometime, we love visitors and especailly those who come back and end up following and becoming friends!

God Bless

Sarah said...

Congrats on your 200th post! (And I already follow you.)

:)

Brandy said...

Happy 200!! Bob Barker's got nothing on you.

That's why I follow you. Cause you're better than Bob. And definitely better than Drew.

B said...

Already a follower, so count me in for two! I'm having too many cold inter nights lately, so I could really use this.

Musings of a Homeschooling Mom said...

What a giveaway! I'm already a follower.

Jules said...

Commenting . . . .and I'm a follower. You had me at the shortbread cookies and the book-and then it got even better. A movie-JUNIOR MINTS? They're very refreshing you know! ;)

Trying Traditional said...

You had me at the Reeces Pieces!

I almost hope I don't win, those would wreck the diet a bit. I've often thought to pick up the book, though, so I'll enter anyhow :) Besides, Reeces Pieces are so good!

I'm a follower.

Erika said...

Okay, I just grabbed a button last week, now I'm a follower, and I just posted about this giveaway. I've got my fingers, toes, and eyes crossed taht I niw siht!!!

http://spell2write.blogspot.com/2009/01/giveawaynot-mine-silly.html

The Johnson 5 said...

I'm so happy for your 200th!

Thanks for your congrats on my 500th!!

Were getting into the big time girl!


And yes I'm a follower.

Do we get extra credit if we are one of the one's that comment even when you don't give things away :)

Just joking!

Anonymous said...

Hi! We too are a family with 6..and Christmas Day now 7 kids! My admiration of you sky-rocketed after reading everything you've written! Esp about your Vietnam experience! I love your optimism and sense of humour! Inspiration can b found everywhere lad me to you. I am grateful!

Kristin said...

Ok, I'm in! You and I both know I need the break. You as much as me. Can I regift to you if I win???

I will try and link to you in the next few days but until then I am "just" a reader and a follower.

Heather said...

WHAT??? No Tv??? How could you???;)

I love your blog and your book blog.

We met briefly in Vietnam in the playroom at the Somerset.

Keep up the blogging.

Heather said...

I blogged about it here

http://wwwjourneytoourdestiny.blogspot.com/2009/01/giveaway.html

Gimme my three freebies. Please.

LessLisa said...

Wow, what a great giveaway! I'm in the 'snowbelt' in Ohio, and being 'snowed in' with these would be perfect!!

debi lynn mattingly said...

Throw my name into that hat! Even though it is not cold down here in Houston...still is a generous gift!
(also, my link has changed to http://thejunkinyaya.blogspot.com)

Haven't seen you in awhile...so I hope all is going well! xo..deb

Vickie said...

Cool giveaway!! I am in!

I am still following you.

Anonymous said...

Count me in! =)

By the way, the tv comment is funny =)

katch05(at)gmail(dot)com

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

200 posts MUST be celebrated!
I am IN on the drawing...I am intrigued and interested to try that tea! SOUNDS GREAT!
Jill

Janne said...

What a perfect gift idea! You know I'm in for tea and cookies. The 200th post give-away is a fun idea. Keep up the fun blogging!

The Fab 5 said...

I haven't been able to check in for a few days. Happy 200th post! I would love your night of goodies. Have a wonderful week and happy painting. I hope to see a picture of the final product oh why do I even say that I know you won't leave us hanging.

The Fab 5 said...

oops I am also a follower!

Anonymous said...

Hi Denise -
I am a follower via Lorie and John's blogspot :) Love from one adoptive mom to another :)

Julie

Tricia said...

That tea looks delicious. I've always wanted to try it.

Anonymous said...

Happy 200!
What a fun way to celebrate, with a give away!
Here's to many more posts! :)

Stacy Uncorked said...

What a GREAT idea for a giveaway...no, strike that, it IS a great giveaway, not just an idea! ;)

I'm already a follower, so please count me in for 2 entries...and I'll be blogging about your contest before the deadline, so I'll post another comment when that mission is accomplished! ;)

CONGRATS on your 200th post! :)

AndreaLeigh said...

what a great giveaway... congrats on your 200th post!

Kelsey said...

Happy 200!

I'm following you. I wannnnnnna win (there you set me up for whining, I had too.)!

Isn't the passion tea good!? I get it at Starbucks when I don't want coffee.

Stellan Bracelets said...

I'm new here! I followed Carey in the carpool lane, and she just happened to be driving right to your blog. Your blog happens to be along the carpool lane, so it's one of those "I happened to be in the neighborhood things...". So now I follow YOU too. You drive the crazy bus, and I love you already!

Seriously, though, I'm following Him, and you and I just happen to be on the same route, with a lot in common... I look forward to reading your blog on a regular basis.

Blog on!

Anna Molly said...

Happy 200th! I have just begun to follow your blog - not because I want to win (although of course I'd love to win) but because I think you are truly amazing and you have inspired me. I also believe there is always room for one more - which is why at any given time you might find someone sleeping on my couch or the fact that we have just welcomed a third (yes, third) puppy into our home. Now I know they are not like adopting children, but it's not too far off. Happy Sunday!

PS, the only reason why I haven't posted this giveaway on my blog is because I'm brand spanking new to this and have no idea how to do it! ;)

Candace said...

What a great giveaway! I love your blog! Oh...and I am also a follower.

The Letter 'W' said...

would love to enjoy it all!

Rachel said...

Sounds like a wonderful giveaway!

I haven't been a follower of your blog, but I may have to start! You sound like you have an amazing family.

Rachel

Updated by Lila Huggins (grandmother) said...

Good Evening from Atlanta. GA

I am currently fighting breast cancer. I spend alot of time resting. My daughter told me to start reading blogs and since I LOVE children I started reading about the adoptions in China and other countries. I now follow about 15 different families that have adopted children. Some are brand new and some have had their children for a year or so.

You just have NO IDEA how uplifing it is to me to read these blogs. It helps more than any medication I've EVER taken. Please take lots and lots of pictures and tell lots and lots of stories. I love them.


Thank you for uplifting us out here!

Miss Lila in Atlanta

Updated by Lila Huggins (grandmother) said...

Good Evening from Atlanta, Ga.

OK now I'm following 16 families. LOL Meaning I've started following yours too. I don't have a blog as it would cut into my reading of blogs, LOL
PS I LOVE tea, hint hint
PSS You have a really cool sense of humor.
Thank you for doing what you do.

God Bless you.

Miss Lila in Atlanta

Janelle said...

Great giveaway, as always! I'm definitely a follower, so please enter me twice in that huge bowl. :-)

Stay warm over the next few days - brrrr!!!!