One Year Blogging Anniversary and Giveaway

FOR MY VTT PALS: I AM HAVING A VINTAGE JEWELRY GIVEAWAY THIS WEEK. BE SURE TO READ THIS POST AND ENTER. TO CONNECT BACK WITH COLORADO LADY AND VTT PLEASE CLICK HERE.

One year ago today, I wrote and published my first blog post. Actually, that is not completely true. I set up a Blogger account six months prior. I wrote and deleted several posts. I puzzled over gadgets, widgets, fonts, headers, titles, columns, html codes and then bought the book "Blogging For Dummies". Don't waste your money. I tried TypePad and WordPress and then came back to Blogger. I finally chose a basic template and decided to teach myself. I must say it really ticked me off whenever I viewed cute blogs and wondered how the heck it was created. Then I started figuring out most bloggers do not create the graphics themselves; there are more than enough web-sites with free downloads. But being the "home-school-learn-it-on-your-own-kind-of-girl" that I am, I wanted to do it myself. I read more, experimented a lot, got headaches, threw things, caught myself swearing OUTLOUD, forgot to fix dinner, clean house or bathe, and although I know more about this venue than I did a year ago, I still have tons to learn. Anyway, here I am, none the more wealthy for my efforts like the "A Lister's" (you know who they are), but satisfied with my small accomplishment. Along the way, I challenged myself, reconnected with old friends, made new friends, and PO'd a few others. I hope in the process I have caused you to laugh and enjoy life a bit more. If you suffer from anxiety and depression as I do, I pray I have helped you see you are not alone and humor can be found even in "crazy." If you home school, I hope you have found you do not need to be perfect to teach your children. Truly, if I can do it, anyone can. Furthermore, do not let the government make you believe that the public school system is the only hope for America (no offense meant toward public school teachers or parents who choose public schooling.) I hope you have read a book that I suggested and that you grew personally from the experience. If I could recommend just one book to read, "Same Kind of Different As Me" would be the one. You will never think the same (not that I have ever thought the same as most.) I hope you have enjoyed the pictures of Oscar. What a dog! My boys and MDH have allowed my free spirit to rampage this year, unfortunately that may have been a mistake. My Father, who loves me more than anyone ever will, gives me the freedom to be myself yet is always wooing me to Him. It is Christ I have chosen to follow, not the religious community. He is what gives my life purpose. I have many more things to share and feel that I am just getting started.....so hang on with me.....it could get bumpy.

To celebrate my one-year blog anniversary, I want to give stuff away. I love giving stuff away. I am always giving someone something. It is how I show friendship. Honestly, nothing makes me happier than to give away stuff. Here we go......

Item #1: Vintage necklace with two sets of clip earrings. The earrings actually have the little "screw" type clips, so they will not pinch delicate earlobes. This is in beautiful condition and the "ruby" glass stones are lovely. Perfect for that Christmas cocktail party.

Oscar feels like a royal prince when he wears this collar.

Item #2: Triple strand of long black beads. Depending on your height, these could drop to your waistline. They can be worn many different ways. They are old, the beads are plastic, and they still smell like your grandmother's talcum powder.

Oscar prefers the choker version. It makes him feel sexy or sleepy. However you see this photo.

Item #3: Faux pearl triple strand necklace. A Barbara Bush classic. These beauties go with anything. Every time I wear my pearls, even with jeans, I get compliments. You can never go wrong with pearls. They make you feel beautiful.

Oscar says no matter who you are, you will feel elegant wearing them. If he just had breasts, I think he would look like one of those reclining nude portraits.

To enter the giveaway, leave a comment on this post and tell me which item number you prefer. Or send me an e-mail at RosieReads@gmail.com You can enter for all three, but you can only win one. I will close the giveaway on Tuesday, May 26th, draw three names and hopefully post the winners that evening.

One more matter of business: I have a high school friend who is relatively new to the blogosphere. He is smart, witty and makes me grin every time I read anything he writes. He also pens beautiful poems that make women weep. He is a little shy about putting himself "out there" but I personally think he has real potential. His blog site is a "work in progress". As a favor to me, or not, stop by his site and peruse some of his posts. Leave him a word of encouragement, tell him Rosie sent you, or tell him he stinks. Whatever!!! Here is the link: http://tracyisjustsayn.wordpress.com/

Thanks for reading, Rosie.