I found my favorite blog through a huge giveaway.

I'm about to talk "bloggy", so for the readers who aren't in the blogging-cult, I mean community, please forgive me :)  I promise to get back to regular programming soon.

There's been a lot of talk lately in the blogosphere about whether or not blogs should do huge giveaways, or have sponsors, or make money, or blah, blah, blah.  Here's my opinion: Bloggers can do whatever they want. As long as it doesn't hurt other people than what's the problem? If someone doesn't personally like a blogger's way of running their space, nobody is making them go there. There are blogs that I follow who do a lot of giveaways and make a lot of money... and I don't care in the slightest. If anything I'm excited for them! I go because their content is amazing and hey, if they give me a chance to win a bunch of cool stuff than I'll take it! If you blog and make money at it, than that's your own prerogative and quite honestly, I'm a little (okay a lot) inspired... Writing about your life and making some cash is no different than writing a memoir and selling a book. Does making money off your blog come with some responsibilities? Yeah, obviously.  But if the blogger's content remains stellar than a sponsored post or a sidebar of paid advertisements doesn't bother me in the slightest.

I know bloggers whom I absolutely adore. I adore them as writers AND people. If they can find ways to make money using an avenue that they're passionate about...and use that money to make their dreams come true... maybe to work from home or invest in their family... than I'm happy for them. Really happy for them. And if that platform grows through advertising (just like any other business), and that advertising is done through giveaways or sponsorships, etc. etc.-than that makes sense to me. Over a year and a half ago, I found my favorite blog through a huge giveaway.  Am I a loyal reader now? YES. Was I introduced through a large giveaway? YES. Am I mad about that? NO. I'm thankful!! Do I consider myself a bought follower?? Absolutely not. I was introduced to her space through the giveaway and then had a choice to stay or leave. I stayed. Gladly. Had she not had that large giveaway I may not  have found an incredible space that I read everyday and enjoy so much. As a reader, I'm not offended.  But if  you really want to know what I think about it... go to this amazing post. It's perfection.

xoxo

mae

Just for the Halibut

Once upon a time I caught this lil' guy. Other kids came back from vacation with a tan... I came back with a fishing story I didn't have to exaggerate. Thanks Mom for choosing Alaskan fishing camp instead of Disney cruise.

98 pounds of pure muscle. And the fish was pretty strong too :) But seriously. That halibut was 98 pounds.
(And yes, this is me brushing my shoulders off.)

I should also mention that we flew into the fishing camp in one of those planes that land in water, the entire island only had one family on it, there were whales that would come up beside the fishing boats, there were grizzlies on the island, and once while we were fishing, a neighbor radioed in (aka a family who lived on a nearby island) and said they were having problems with grizzlies and needed some assistance. So we went.  Alaska. Go big or go home right?

What's one of your most memorable childhood vacations??

mae

PS: Don't worry, we packaged that guy up and shipped him home.  We eat what we catch people.  Nothing that grand should die just for the halibut. *Badum.* (that was a drum cymbal)

You're welcome. 

Happy Thursday!

See Ya Later Cabin Fever

Lot's of happenings since I wrote last.  

 My friend Sharon visited last week, which was amazing. 

She met Abi, we caught up on life, and she introduced me to Ruzzle... my newest obsession.  Anyone else out there obsessed with this game?!?? Confession: I've woken up twice this week in the middle of the night and noticed that I had been challenged to a game of Ruzzle... I of course played... and then immediately got a response back... which meant my opponent was also up, which is crazy.  3am games of Ruzzle with friends are ridiculous and awesome.

Then of course we had Valentine's Day. That morning my dad, stepmom, and little sister met us in the parking lot of Abiella's physical therapy appointment to give us homemade cookies and cards.  So fun and so nice!!  Then I got home and there was a delivery of balloons waiting for Abi from my mother and a Valentine's package in our mailbox from Sean's mom. Oh, and lest I forget to mention that when I woke up, I wandered into Abi's room just in time to see Sean presenting his baby girl with her first bouquet of Valentine's Day flowers.  Oh my heart. Valentine's day rocked.

Then my friend KP visited on Saturday with a friend who is new to town, and the next night our tiny family had dinner at Megan and Josh's house, where Abi was able to meet Megan's amazing mama, (who has been SO supportive...even knitting Abi a blanket that we use every single day.)

Then yesterday, my mom and I said, "heck yes" when the news said, "Flu season is waning" and went out to eat.  With Abi.  To a RESTAURANT. I was on cloud nine.  And needless to say, I think Abi was too.

#seeyalatercabinfever.

Then last night, I had a much needed girls night with my dear friend Hannah. We went for Mexican food at 6:30 and were still sitting in our booth when they locked the doors at 10:30.  It was heavenly.

And somehow, in the midst of all this goodness we've been attending our regularly scheduled programming... therapy appointments, home teachers, etc.

This is me today.. trying to keep Abi awake for her second therapy appointment. She fell asleep in my arms ten minutes after it started.  Needless to say, we changed the appointment time.  1:00 appointments are just destined to be hard.

And now, in a few hours, I'm taking an hour to go meet a new friend for ice cream, then tomorrow I'm attending a birthday extravaganza,  then the next day a dear friend is taking a half-day off work to bring me lunch and visit with Abi, then on Friday I'm bringing Abi to a get together to meet old friends who are briefly in town, then on Saturday Sean has a concert that I'll be attending (woohooo), and then on Sunday... I plan on crashing. 

My grandmother called this week and said, "I'm worried that with you having to be home so much that you aren't going to be able to get out and see your friends." I was happy to tell her that my friends had been coming to me, scheduling dinners when Sean could babysit, and hosting events that Abi could finally attend.  She was relieved and I was grateful. Feeling very blessed. Very, very blessed.

Oh and did I mention we're almost out of flu season? Did I? Did I?!?? Cabin fever-shmabin fever...  These two gals are breaking loose!