A Winner And A Wonderland Registry
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a winner!
I would like to proudly announce that Emily from The Bookshelf of Emily J. is the winner of the first Wonderland Giveaway with her family vacation tale of a car sick sister who just couldn’t keep it in anymore. Congratulations, Emily! If you could please message me your address, I will get your prize pack mailed out to you this week.
Now, since there was only one contestant (the odds were ever in your favor, Em!), there was only one winner which means that I still have another prize pack to give out. I will be holding another giveaway shortly so please, stay tuned.
But for now, on to July’s Wonderland Registry!
Fun In The Sunday
With a classic case of pink nose on half of the group, my family and I are back from our wonderful vacation in San Diego and about to keep the fun going with a picnic on the beach. I forgot how much fun it is to be around these crazy people!
Lots of laughs, lots of love.
If you haven’t already entered the Blog-Warming Wonderland Giveaway, there’s still time. Just read the guidelines on the post and get your entries in by 3pm (PST) today. Good luck! (more…)
A Blog-Warming Wonderland Giveaway!
This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who played!
As most of you may know—unless posts are disappearing from your Readers as well—some things have changed around here, the biggest being a new web address. In honor of this and to thank all of the Wonderlings for sticking with me, I have decided to hold the first ever (though I’m sure it won’t be the last) Wonderland Giveaway!
I have a creativity-inducing prize bundle for not just one, but TWO lucky Wonderlings!
This is what you’ll get:
All this and maybe a few other surprises.
Who Moved My Blog?
When it comes to change, most people are reluctant. There is a certain fear associated with exchanging the known path for the unknown. Questions run through the mind: Where will it lead? What might happen if everything you know is suddenly thrown into a spiral where up is down and black is white?
Folks react differently to change. They get angry and sulk. Denial sets in. Some fall into a depression, sad that their known world is no longer known. Some jump for joy, thrilled that the monotony is over.
Business leaders see this all the time. They have to prepare their workforce to make sure any transition is seamless and understood by their employees. My organization is currently undergoing a consolidation with a sister organization. This week, we got our first look at our department’s new structure. Some people were upset, having to work for a new manager and in a new position. Very few were happy with the proposed change. Others, like me, focused on the fact that having a job in the new organization was more important than where that job fit within the new structure.
Maybe I’m callous when it comes to workplace change or maybe I’m more comfortable with the challenges of working with different people in a different environment. I am not as bothered as many of my co-workers are with this new stage in the organization’s life. But I get it. These people have been doing one job for decades and want to ride out their last few years before retirement with no pressure to perform any other tasks than the ones they can do with their eyes closed. There is a certain comfort in the stability of knowing what to expect in day-to-day life.
But some things are easy to change. Who hasn’t wanted to change their hairstyle, their outfit, or even their blog?
And that gets me to my big announcement. After much thought and deliberation, I have decided to make a few changes around here.
Let Your Freak Flag Fly!
I’m sure many of you out there have heard the term “freak flag” and wondered about what the heck it could possibly mean. Is it an insult? Is it a compliment? It is anything special? Is it worthy of a blog post?
The short answer is yes.
Urban Dictionary defines freak flag—its Urban Word of the Day on March 21, 2008—as “a characteristic, mannerism, or appearance of a person, either subtle or overt, which implies unique, eccentric, creative, adventurous or unconventional thinking.”
Ok, so what does that mean?
Is flying your freak flag horrible? Absolutely not!
In simplest terms, a freak flag is something that sets you apart from everyone else. Now, I’m not saying that it involves a person swinging from a chandelier or down on all fours, barking like a dog in the middle of a staff meeting. In the right context, that might work, but for the most part, those types of behaviors might land you a trip to a padded room with a jacket you can’t get out of. Rather, waving one’s freak flag might be a gesture learned from your father or an accent that you only use with your best friend. What sets these quirky acts apart is that they would not be defined as freaky if performed in private. However, once you let loose in front of other people, consider your freak flag flown.
If You Got The Chance To Go Back, Would You?
High school.
Hundreds of movies have been made about the in crowd, the nerds, and the mean girls. John Hughes made millions showcasing Molly Ringwald in such classics as Sixteen Candles, Pretty in Pink, and my personal favorite, The Breakfast Club.
Don’t you… forget about me.
There was something magical to be found once a person became a freshman. As a kid, I assumed my experience would be on the same lines of Saved By the Bell and Beverly Hills, 90210.
It was anything but.
My Date With Barry Manilow (And 17,000 Other People)
Happy Independence Day, my fellow Americans!
As I previously mentioned, I made my way out to the Hollywood Bowl for the 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular last night with special guest performer Barry Manilow.
Ok, so technically not on the 4th, but it was still a great time and definitely had me feeling patriotic. And a little starstruck.
Almost immediately after I sat down in the garden box to enjoy some barbecue and wine, I looked up and saw a familiar face in the premier seating area in front of the stage.
