Thankful Thirty #10 (1st-World Problems)

Source: laurawinslowphotography.com via Michelle on Pinterest

For my birthday a few months ago, my husband told me he was going to be buying me a new tablet. We did the research and decided to get on the waiting list for the new NookHD, which should be coming out in the next few days.  It's a very spendy gift, and he knew back then that I'd try to talk him out of it a dozen times before I actually have it in my hands (even though I bought him an equally spendy ski pass for the birthday he just celebrated).  I haven't disappointed him in that.  

The problem now is that I've come up with a different item that I can see being MUCH more useful.  I need a new good quality camera.  There is no way on this planet we can afford one that would be much different than the one I have now, but it is on it's last leg (if I use the zoom my pictures turn into a weird retro film-look with yellow stripes through all the faces).  And I don't want to tell my husband because I have a terrible habit of ruining every sweet idea he has for me.  I know that I/we would end up loving to have an e-reader/tablet, but the practical side of me sees that a camera would be a much wiser choice.  My stomach is in knots as I see the Nook release date looming closer and closer and knowing that the money is going to be spent and gone on an entertainment piece solely for me.

Terrible problem to have, right?  Deciding between too equally frivolous items because my husband loves me enough to give me whatever I want.  And yet, I'm not feeling apologetic.  I am slowly learning that sometimes I have to let things be about me.  If only that would make my decision easier....

I am grateful that for a brief moment in our family finances, 

we can afford to have such a 1st-world problem.

Uniquely December Giveaway #5 Some of My Favorite Things

*Giveaway now closed*

For the final Uniquely December Giveaway I wanted to share with you a special Christmas gift...a few of my favorite things...

First, I'm a journal junkie and happen to have a stash of new ones waiting to be used.  I picked this one out for you, along with two pens that I'm in love with.

Second, don't these look delicious? I'm resisting the urge to open the bag, take one out, and then seal it back up before I send them to you.

Third, I love these socks from Target.  They're super affordable with lots of bright colors to choose from.

Fourth, some cute new earrings because jewelry always makes me feel happy.

Are you getting excited? Here's how to win:

Giveaway Items: 

1 Journal, 2 Pens, 1 package Ghirardelli Dark & Sea Salt Caramel Chocolates, 2 pair socks, 1 pair earrings

Giveaway Information:

One winner will receive entire giveaway package

 Contest will begin at 12:01AM(MST) on Friday, December 9, 2011

 and end at 10:00PM(MST) on Tuesday, December 13, 2011.

Giveaway open to U.S. and Canada residents only 

Entry Options:

~Mandatory Entry~

EASY!!!  Leave me a comment here mentioning one of your favorite things.

~Optional Extra Entries(Leave a comment for each extra entry)~

Follow Wandering Still through Google Friend Connect

Subscribe to Wandering Still email updates

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Uniquely December Giveaway #3 Season of Love

*Giveaway now closed*

Today's giveaway comes from me!

It's a vinyl decorated picture that I made for a gift a year ago and then never got around to sending (I made one for myself as well, and though it's definitely a decoration for the holidays, it's been hanging for over a year. If you've read today's Uniquely December entry, you're starting to see I have a huge procrastination problem).

Here's what you'll get:

Giveaway Item: 

1 11x17 "Season of Love" Picture in Gold Frame

Giveaway Information:

 Contest will begin at 12:01AM(MST) on Wednesday, December 7, 2011

 and end at 10:00PM(MST) on Sunday, December 11, 2011.

Giveaway open to U.S.  and Canada residents only 

Entry Options:

~Mandatory Entry~

Since I have nothing to sponsor here, we're going to have a little fun.

Find the "My Path" archive list in the right sidebar.  

Then choose your birthday month, find a post you like in that month,

 and comment on this giveaway post what caught your eye. 

~Optional Extra Entries(Leave a comment for each extra entry)~

Follow Wandering Still through Google Friend Connect

Subscribe to Wandering Still email updates

Follow Wandering Still on Facebook

Make sure to enter these other Uniquely December Giveaways...

$10 Something Store Surprise

What A Girl Wants Prize Pack

Uniquely December Giveaway #1 Something Store

*Giveaway now closed *

(But keep reading, it's still fun information!)

Along with my Uniquely December posts this month, I want to share with you some things that make me happy. Literally, I want to share them with you...that means giveaways! Here's a little preview:

• Today:  Come on now, be patient and keep on reading...
• Tomorrow: A feminine gift for you or a friend
• Wednesday: Something handmade to help you focus on the season
• Thursday: Catching up and connecting to the Curly Hair Challenge
• Friday:  It's a surprise...even to me...

Each giveaway will be live for 5 days and have fairly easy entries.  Good luck and now onto the giveaway!

I LOVE the Something Store!  The idea behind it is simple:  Pay them $10.00 and they send you...something. It's that easy!  The surprise and fun is in not knowing what you're going to receive, but the company guarantees the item's value will be more than the $10.00 you've paid.  And to make it even better, that $10.00 also includes your shipping!

Honestly, the Something Store isn't a website I remember all the time.  It just pops into my head every once in awhile and I treat myself then and there to a pick-me-up treat.  In the past I've received...

• silver earrings
• flashlights
• glass earrings
• Toys

One year we even used the Something Store to buy all of our white elephant gifts.  That year we got...

• a silk scarf
• a wine thermometer
• a cheese board
• an egg timer

The only downside that year was that I bought 8 things and got doubles.  So two of each of the things above.  I don't know if that's always how larger orders go, but it did happen that way that year.

So, how does it work?  It's easy.

• Click "Get Yours"
• Select the number of "somethings" you want to receive (up to 20 per order)
• Finish your purchase through Google Checkout and wait for you package to arrive.

It's so easy and who doesn't love a little mail surprise?

Ready to win?  Here we go...

Giveaway Items: 

Two $10.00 items from the Something Store.

Giveaway Information:

Two winners will receive (one) $10.00 item each

 Contest will begin at 12:01AM(MST) on Monday, December 5, 2011

 and end at 10:00PM(MST) on Friday, December 9, 2011.

Giveaway open to U.S. residents only 

Entry Options:

~Mandatory Entry~

Visit the Something Store website and leave a comment on this post about something you see there.

~Optional Extra Entries(Leave a comment for each extra entry)~

Follow Wandering Still through Google Friend Connect

Subscribe to Wandering Still email updates

Follow Wandering Still on Facebook

Tell me, aren't you at least a little bit curious? 

The Something Store is providing this item at my request. 

 They in no way have asked for my endorsement or influenced my review.

Letter X

I've looked and looked for an "X" topic that would make any sense for me to write about.  There isn't anything.  So, if you'll indulge my leap, today I'm going to write about X-stitching.

Cross-stitching is pretty much the only craft skill I learned as a child that I still know how to do.  And now, for nearly 10 years, the only projects I've worked on are Christmas stockings for my nieces and nephews.  In that time I've completed 7 and I have 3 in the works right now (sorry, sisters, only 2 will be ready by Christmas-want to draw straws to see who gets pushed back to next year?)

Two of the finished ones

Of course, the irony in the time and effort I've put into these gifts for all my cute relatives?  My own children have been using every-day white socks for their Christmas stockings since they were born...

A-W

Reminder: Come Camping With Me!

I have an invitation for you!  I'm going camping and I want you to come along...WAIT...I know you don't live near me, but keep reading...it's going to be exciting!

Camping has always been a fun activity for me, my friends,and my family.  Growing up I was a proud member of Campfire Boys and Girls and have innumerable memories of the camping trips that made it possible for me to participate in (most of the trips involved being soaked in the rain and eating food we thought was disgusting, but they still make me laugh and smile).

In high school my parents rented a group campsite at our local lake and allowed each of my sisters and I to invite friends for a weekend of outdoor adventure.  It was a first camping experience for several of the kids who came along and we felt like the luckiest family on the planet!

And now that I'm grown?  I still love camping!  In my early (and poor) married days my husband and I made it a priority to buy quality camping equipment.  It served us well while we working and playing in Alaska and has lasted long enough to introduce our two little boys to the joys of sleeping outside.  Living in Utah we have the ability to camp in the most amazing places and try to take the opportunity as often as possible.

That brings me to the invitation I teased you with at the beginning...

The National Wildlife Federation, REI, and KOA are hosting the 2011 Great American Backyard Campout on Saturday, June 25th.  The Great American Backyard Campout provides an opportunity to support NWF’s work to return nature to childhood for the health benefits and for the fun of it!  My personal memories of camping, as well as the joy of watching my little boys outside, inspired me to join the fun and I want you to share it with me.

So what do you do?  Join the team at http://online.nwf.org/goto/campwithme.  Then start planning your adventure and share the excitement with your friends and family.  How fun to have a team spanning the entire country!  Participate on the team website or leave a comment here to let me know what you are planning.  

Then, the week following the campout, share your experiences on the Wandering Still Facebook page for a chance to win a gift to inspire you to spend more time this summer in the great outdoors (more information on the giveaway posted on FB June 24th).

I look forward to seeing you out there!

Meet My...

...Father-In-Law...

Duane Hiatt

Interesting Fact #1: Duane and his wife Diane brought 15 hilarious and thoughtful people into the world.  After Diane passed away from ovarian cancer, Duane and his 15 kids relied on their faith that the family is central to the Lord's plan and that He had a plan for each one of them.  A year later an equally faith-filled woman named Sharon came into their lives and together the 17 of them continued onward into the world.  Now, nearly 25 years later 17 has grown to 87 with 15 spouses, 54 grandchildren, and the oldest grandchild's fiance joining the family this year.

Interesting Fact #2:  There is a fairly short song every LDS Primary child knows called, "Follow the Prophet," (9 verses is short for a kid's song, right?).  Asked to write the song only weeks after Diane had passed away, the song holds special meaning to our family and Duane continues to share the message portrayed in the song whenever he has the opportunity.   

Interesting Fact #3  Duane is the only rock star I know.  Really!  In the days of Elvis and the Beetles he performed in a band called  "The Three D's." Touring across the United States, Canada, and Asia in a time when the face of music was changing, they found increasing success by keeping a clean image and entertaining without lowering their moral standards.  Their music is particularly refreshing today when #1 hits too often are denigrating and evocatively offensive.  Covering both religious and secular subjects and songs, each album has distinct character.  My personal favorite album is Rhyme, Rhythm, and Reason-Great Poetry Set to Music.

My father-in-law has lived a full life and earned the right to sit and rest, but that's not who he is.  He continues guiding the people around him with big ideas and entertaining delivery.  The Three D's message is as essential and applicable as it was when three young family men first took it out on the road and that is the reason I'm sharing this part of my life with you!

For your last chance at an early entry in my A Blogtastic Extravaganza giveaway, leave a comment here telling me something from this post that has peaked your curiosity!

Doing It Before I Think About It

The Deseret Book at Temple Square is presenting a watercolor art exhibit through the end of the Christmas Season.  The artist is Elder Richard G. Scott (Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints).  After admiring a friend's artwork, Elder Scott began exploring his own artistic abilities and 40 years later is sharing the product of that decision.  A nuclear engineer by trade, Elder Scott has found inspiration and escape through painting.  A hidden talent now on public display.

This particular art exhibit has thoroughly intrigued me as I struggle daily to find inspiration in sharing my own talents.  I am a writer, I feel confident enough to say.  I find joy in putting words together and enjoy when other people read what I have to say. Just as with Elder Scott, maybe people are not aware of that talent within me.   I have not exercised my ability in some time.  Call it writer's block, or laziness, it has been a long time since I've been able to stream together a series of sentences that anyone else would want to read.  It seems the more stressed or overwhelmed my life becomes, the quicker I am to turn away from what should be a source of release.  I feel like I have absolutely nothing to say.

My father-in-law, Duane Hiatt, has been a performer all his life.  Singing, orating, and enacting historical impressions, his talents and abilities have always been out there for the public to see.  When Ben and I were first married it was so exciting to see him performing Lincoln or giving a fireside or singing old 3d's tunes.  I use to be so baffled that his own kids and other in-laws were not as captivated as me.  I've deciphered, though, that it's because Duane has not spent his life afraid to share those songs and stories; they are well-known and well-appreciated by the people who have known him for long periods of his life.

And, so, I find it encouraging that he is now writing a blog in which he's sharing stories and lessons that not everybody has known.  It is surprising people and generations that have known him for awhile, that his ability to tell a story through the written-word is as entertaining as all his other abilities.  Obviously, Duane is in a different time of life than I am, but he's still a busy man finding time to share his thoughts and bring brief rays of light in my sometimes uninspiring days.

We hear all the time that each of us has talents to develop and share.  I know a lot of people but wouldn't say that I know the special abilities of too many of them.  That makes me sad.  I want to know what inspires you, what gives you joy and a break from the mundane-ness of your day.  I want to find more inspiration to share my talents with you-maybe talents I don't even recognize that I have, but definitely the writing ability I know I do have.

With these thoughts as my inspiration today, I'm going to spell-check and post without doing any other proof-reading.  If I take one moment to review and re-think today I know this will turn into one more thought that never makes it out of my head.  Thank you for reading.  Give me the opportunity to reciprocate with your God-given talents and abilities. I look forward to it!

I LOVE free stuff! And I LOVE handmade gifts, so taking a cue from Annie's blog here it is: I hereby commit to offer the first five individuals to comment on this post a homemade gift of my choosing; Be sure to be one of the first five people to respond to this post. In order to post a comment, you have to first post this on your own blog and agree to do the same for another five people (So maybe a lot of people reading my blog don't have their own, but agree to the second part and I'll hold up on my end of the deal). You in turn have the opportunity to be the recipient of a fun homemade gift from me. There are of course some restrictions: 1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make or that I will like the way it turns out. 2. What I create will be just for you (Kathy & Kimberly-I may reserve the right to consider responses from you actually from your unborn babies...) 3. This thing will be completed sometime this year. 4. You have no clue what it will be and I'm pretty sure I don't either. 5. I reserve the right to do something extremely strange.