Paying it Forward: The Winners Are...

Yeah! We have three lucky winners in the Pay it Forward Challenge. I will try to spread a little cheer to the following three bloggers:

slcolman - From Huskies to Husbands

Mom-Mom Kristi - Mom-Mom's Harmony

Quadmama - Got Quads?

Please email me your home address (csnield@gmail.com), and you'll soon be receiving a little Pay It Forward package from me! Now, you all get to figure out a way to Pay It Forward to three lucky bloggers. Have fun!

Pay it Forward Challenge, Any More Takers???

Hi! I'm wondering if I may have frightened away a few potential Pay it Forward players when I described the grand goodie bag I received from Lin at Duck and Wheel with String. I should have mentioned you do not have to go out and spend a lot of money or do anything extravagant. Just a nice, kind thing that would make someone feel good. It could even be free advertising on your blog or a singing telegram (well, maybe that would work for some people, not me!). Anything that works for you to show another blogger some kindness. With all the bad things going on in the world, we all could use a little kindness every now and then!

So... I'll extend my deadline for the Pay it Forward Challenge until Sunday at midnight. I only have one contestant so far, so don't be shy and let me know if you'd like to play! I'll draw three lucky winners and if you win, you'll receive a little something special from me!

On another note, sorry I haven't been keeping up on my blogging lately. Since the weather is warming up it seems like there is so much we need to do outdoors, and the kids' activities have been picking up. One of these days I'll find a way to fit it all in!

Paying it Forward - What I Found at the End of the Rainbow

Today started off as a really blah day. I felt tired and worn down because I getting over a head cold. I've been bummed out due to some recent blogging drama and some changes at work. To make it worse, today was a cold, cloudy, rainy Monday. Blah, blah, blah...

After work, I picked up Angel from her tumbling class. I didn't feel like cooking supper, so we went through the drive thru at KFC. We just pulled out of the parking lot, when Angel realized she didn't get her drink. When I turned the car around to go back, I saw the most beautiful sight in the sky. It was a big, bright, rainbow! I went back to get the drink, and I was so happy about the rainbow I even pointed it out to the kid working the drive thru (much to Angel's embarrassment).

The beautiful rainbow was in our view all the way home. I told Angel that it looked like the rainbow ended over by our house. I wistfully told her that maybe we would find our pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (to which I received an eye roll with a "yeah, right").

So, we came home, and I dragged my tired body and the bucket of KFC into the house. I noticed a box sitting on the island in the kitchen. It was addressed to ME from Lin from Duck and Wheel with String! I couldn't believe it, this was my pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!!!

The kids heard my gasp and they poked their heads into the kitchen with curiosity. "Look! It's my prize from the Pay it Forward contest!"I exclaimed. They came closer as opened the box. This was as exciting as Christmas morning! Inside the box was an adorable polka dotted gift bag with lots of goodies. I squealed with delight each time I pulled out one of the gifts (even little Miss I'm 2 KEWL 4 U was impressed). The surprises inside included: Some wonderfully scented Mea Culpa Body Yogurt, an adorable kitty-shaped bar of Happy Goats Soap (it looked like Hobbes, of course), kitty treats, chocolates, candles, a notepad, a nail buffer, and a very sweet note from Lin.

I'm so grateful that I was chosen as one of the prize winners in Lin's Pay it Forward Challenge. My prize came at a time when I really needed a little pick-me-up and a reminder that there are some really great people in the world. Lin's blog is one of my favorites because she is so funny and insightful, and you can feel her kindness as you read her words. If you haven't checked out her blog, Duck and Wheel with String, you really should!

Now, it's MY turn to pay it forward to three more bloggers. Please comment by midnight on Saturday, April 25, if you would like to have your name entered for a chance to win. Sorry, but to keep shipping costs down, only contestants who live in the U.S please. I'm not sure if I can come up with something as good as Lin did, but I'll put on my thinking cap and see what I can come up with. It's a lot of fun, so let me know if you're up for the Pay it Forward Challenge!