Flippin' for Friday... and my first giveaway!

When I first started blogging it was very therapeutic...  replacing my little girl's diary and young woman's journal - this was the perfect venue for getting my thoughts to paper, er, um, computer screen.  As the year's have worn on, it has taken on a life all its own.  I've even got more than one blog to keep up with now.  After finding out that I could actually track/map where people came from that found my blog, I puffed up my chest a little and thought, "wow, maybe I do have something worth saying, enough so that people all of the over world are reading it!"

Sally Field's acceptance speech comes to mind
"they like me, they really, really like me!"

So sure, step back into reality, and I tell myself, Jules, those map pings can simple be people who have stumbled upon your blog and realized it was nothing much at all. Yet, even with minimal followers (because who am I kidding, I'm a middle-aged mother of three who really doesn't have much to say), I continue to blog.  It's not about attaining a following for me, but finding and making new online friends is always a bonus.

I believe I've been doing this for over three years now and while the reasons for continuing have ebbed and flowed like a river in Minnesota, it's still very calming and therapeutic to me.  I have also really enjoyed checking into others' worlds of blogging over the years.  I am following quite a few that I check on regularly...  I consider them my virtual friends and while I don't know most of them IRL and comment only occasionally, it's still amazing to me that our friendships can cross such mountains and oceans - even virtually - to become connected.

Within this virtual world are so many other paths and personas that a blog can take on...  fund-raising, giveaways and products, oh my!  Sometimes I find myself overwhelmed with the amount of stuff contained on a blog.  The ads alone I find obnoxious (I mute commercials, need I say more?), but never thought I'd see myself blogging a giveaway...  yet....  I was contacted this week and asked if I would offer one up.

Who me?  Seriously, did you see how many followers I [don't] have?  But sure, why not.  Count me in!!

Figured I'd wait until everyone's paying attention - well, those who actually stopped by today from another Friday follow blog/hop (which means I have to go actually do the linky thing, another blog phenomena I have yet to figure out) - and see if I can get at least a dozen to participate before drawing a name on Sunday.

Are you game?  Here's the giveaway...   

CSN Stores has over 200 online stores where you can find everything from stylish furniture, a leather briefcase, or great cookware!

 

The winner of my very first giveaway will receive a promotional code to spend $35 on any item of their choosing on any of their 200+ websites for shoes, decor or anything in between.  

How great is that?  Free money to spend.  Shopping.  Does it get any better?  To get your name in the drawing simply leave me a comment any time between now and NOON (CDT) on Sunday (don't forget we turn the clocks back an hour this weekend)...  and I will add your name to the hat.  I won't make it any more difficult than that (I know other blogs that have a gazillion rules, but not me - keeping it simple for my first giveaway).  Make sure that your comment contains an email or that your name links back to a blog where I can get in touch with you if you win.

And if you follow along for the fun of it, I will definitely follow back and say hello!