Fall Y'all Bloggy Giveaway

Remember the awesome Bloggy Days of Summer giveaway this past summer, hosted by Shannon at Rocks In My Dryer? It was such a huge hit, that I wanted to take part in it again.

I have one contest going on over at my review blog, but wanted to host one here, too.

So, I'm offering a set of 7, handmade (by me), no-slip hair clips, pictured here:



The colors don't come through very well because I need a new memory stick in my camcorder, but you get the general idea.

If you don't win the contest, but are in the market for adorable AND affordable no-slip clips, you can purchase them from me for only $5 (includes shipping and handling). Just email me at: ablondeandherblog AT yahoo DOT com I will have new patterns coming soon.

To enter the contest, just leave a comment on this post. Deadline will be 11:59 p.m. EST on Saturday, November 3. Winner will be drawn at random and announced on Sunday, November 4.

Good luck!

Meet Sophie

I am in love. Meet Sophie, the new addition to our family. She is the most precious thing EVER. She's a teeny-tiny, 8-week-old Bichon Frise.

There are two things I've had little of lately...time and money. Now, I'm going to have even less of both, but oh my gosh is it worth it! She has filled a deep void in my heart that was left after Copper passed.

She is my new furbaby and I love her with all of my heart! My camera does not do this gorgeous girl justice. Not even close. I really need a new Memory Stick.

For instance, her dog bed is an adorable pink and brown but you can't tell very much with these photos.

Anyway, it's all I have to show her off to you so enjoy! She is just a little furball of love and just wants to cuddle all the time. If she's alone, she cries until she can cuddle up to you. She romps in the grass and tries to jump over the tall blades. It's hilarious.

I'll tell you all about my cell phone disaster last night and how it almost kept me from getting my sweet baby girl. Long story so I'll save it for another post.

Oh my gosh I am so in love. Here is my sweetheart, Sophie:






Can you spot the puppy in this one? LOL She's so tiny, that her stuffed animal is bigger than she is! She's buried in there so you have to look closely to see her. Even my bunny is bigger than she is!

I Heart Elizabeth Edwards

The meeting with Elizabeth Edwards (see my post below as well) went very well. As I said in my previous post, I already admired her for her strength, courage and dedication to her family.

Now? I wish I could make her my new BFF!

Everyone who reads me knows I'm a Republican (at least I think they do) but there are some things that transcend politics and this is one of them. How can you not admire a woman who is fighting such a courageous battle against cancer, and supports her husband and children all while juggling so many things at once.

Here I sit, complaining about my health problems and not having any time. How does Elizabeth do it all?! I am in awe of her energy and strength.

There was something that she said at the meeting that made me breathe a sigh of relief. And that was that if John Edwards becomes president, only those making over $200,000 would face a tax increase.

One of our family's biggest concerns is being considered "rich" and being saddled with taxes we can't afford to pay (again, click here for my previous post on this issue). Knowing that we will be considered middle class was a HUGE relief.

The cost of living in our area is so tremendous, and that added with our health care bills makes it very hard to get by these days. We are by no means "rich" despite my husband's three-figure income.

I'm glad that the Edwards campaign realizes that families like mine are struggling and will not burden us with lessening our income through taxes. And I believe her and trust her when she says this.

It (being considered middle class) was promised before by another certain Democrat *cough* Clinton *cough* and that promise was broken. And my husband's salary was WAY lower at that time. That broken promise almost caused us to lose out on buying our first home.



On a personal note, Elizabeth was SO very down-to-earth with a wonderful sense of humor and in listening to her, she was no different than your friendly, next-door-neighbor. She even had a brief memory lapse and jokingly referred to it as a mix of "chemo brain," "mom brain" and her age.

I've been having a LOT of mom-brain moments myself, so that made me laugh and nod my head vigorously.

I just loved her. She's just real. And so is her husband. No flash, no glitz, just real people.

And I can say that of all the Democratic candidates out there, I like John Edwards the best and I wouldn't want any other Democratic first lady than Elizabeth.

I so look forward to meeting her in person when she comes to visit us DC Metro Moms!

Remembering Copper

Her last night with us.


A smile and a wink, despite her pain. She was always smiling like that.


In our old house, when she was younger, Copper would flop down in the yard and sun. It was the cutest thing ever....she would be totally out.


The younger Copper, enjoying all the love from Amanda and her friends.


This came from the vet who put Copper down. She was wonderful and so compassionate. I didn't expect to get Copper's pawprints, so this was a nice surprise (although it made me cry again). We're still waiting to receive her ashes.


Close up of Copper's pawprints. She had such cute, little, puppy paws.

Again, thank you to everyone who has shown me such kindness and comfort. I wish I had the time and emotional energy to respond individually to each of you and I feel so guilty that I don't.

I promise to get back to my regular blogging soon and to visit each of you in return.

I tried to get out of the house on Monday in an attempt to escape from the sadness. But as soon as I got in the van, I remembered what happened the last time I was in it...that I had taken Copper to the hospital.

Call me crazy, but I actually pet the air in the space she had laid in, in between the two front seats, crying and telling her I love her.

I was waiting for another sign as I drove, in the form that I usually receive them.....music.

The first song had no meaning to me, but I felt compelled to leave it on. Then they announced the band....Toto. Toto was my parent's and sisters' dog who recently passed away and one of Copper's buddies.

I changed the station and heard, "I'm gonna run to you...." And I smiled and cried.

Next song was the new one, "Who Knew" by Pink and again, I just left it on not knowing what it was about. Then I heard:

"I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you friend
I'd give anything

When someone said count your blessings now
For they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong
They knew better"

and

"I'll keep you locked in my head
Until we meet again
Until we
Until we meet again
And I won't forget you my friend
What happened

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong and
That last kiss
I'll cherish
Until we meet again
And time makes
It harder
I wish I could remember
But I keep
Your memory
You visit me in my sleep
My darling
Who knew
My darling
Who knew
My darling
I miss you
My darling
Who knew
Who knew

So by the time I got to the post office, I was sobbing uncontrollably and thought I'd have to go back home. But I sat in the parking lot letting it all out for about ten minutes and then got myself together.

I headed to Home Depot next and had to pass the animal hospital and Petco. And lost it again.

There are just so many things that make me cry. Going up the stairs for the first time without her. I usually had to carry her up when I went to bed and I literally could not walk up the stairs that first night. I had to turn around, pace the hall crying for awhile, then use every ounce of strength I had to walk up without her.

Tonight was the first night I've had to cook dinner since we lost Copper. Usually, she is right under my feet when I cook, something that used to annoy me to no end. Tonight, I would've given anything to have her back there, begging for food and tripping me up.

But I smiled a big smile for her and said, "Copper, can you smell this dinner? I know you'd love this one, and I bet wherever you are right now you actually get to eat it!"

We're waiting for her ashes to be delivered to us. I don't know what I'll do when that day comes. Every time the doorbell rings (and it rings alot), I freeze and fear overcomes me, but so far it's always been someone else.

I've moved her blankie out of the corner of our bedroom, her bowls out of the kitchen, her sleeping bag out of her favorite chair. It was just too hard to look at those things, but now the house seems even more empty than before.

I sleep hugging her collar to my face at night and every time I hear her tags make a clinging sound, for a split second, it feels like she's there and then I remember all over again.

Right now, I seem to be stuck in do-over mode. I want to go back and do it all over again. I want to turn the van around and come back home and see if she could hang on for longer, even though I know that wouldn't be the right thing to do. I just want to take it back. I want to wake up and have it not be true.

I just want her back so bad. :(

I've Lost My Coppergirl

I knew it was coming. Yet I can't stop bawling as I type this. This morning at around 4:30 a.m., Amanda and I were at our beagle Copper's side as she was put to sleep.

It is so hard to have had her fate in my hands. To be the one to make this decision. I've been putting it off for so long, but the past couple of weeks, she was going downhill fast and I knew I wouldn't be able to wait much longer.

The vet said that our pets will hang on for us. I think she did that. She'd lost all bladder control and was bloated. Her organs were enlarged and she was having breathing problems.

But, as I contemplated whether or not to put her down, something strange happened. The past two days, she didn't have one accident. She slept up against my side of the bed, which was not her usual spot. She followed me around the house. She curled up next to the couch on the floor when I was sitting on the couch.

And tonight, as she became distressed with breathing, panting, shaking and anxiety, she looked up at me with eyes that said to me, "Please help me. I can't do this anymore."

Yet, even though I knew/know I was doing the right thing, I still feel so guilty. It's bittersweet though because at the vet, she lost all bodily control. She vomitted, defecated and urinated. She was shaking and panting uncontrollably. She was just so miserable.

So when they gave her the injection and she peacefully fell into my arms, I felt the strangest of emotions. Relief mixed with extreme grief. How can you feel both at the same time? I was so happy that she was at peace and not suffering, but I wanted her to get up again, wag her tail, and sit by my side.

The vet assured me I was doing the right thing. I do feel, logically, that I did. I feel like she is grateful that I let her go. That I did her a favor, not that I betrayed her.

But another part of me feels the opposite of all those emotions. It's just such a confusing mess of emotions. I can't believe she's gone.

I look at her empty chair, her empty bed, her dog bowls. I hear the clink of her collar as Amanda moves it around in her hands. It's just so.....empty. There's a void that is so deep.

Amanda didn't want to leave her. I told her she was going with us. "Just wait," I said. "We'll get a sign."



When I went out into the reception area, hanging on the wall was one of those tacky dog pictures. The ones where they're dressed up as humans as if they're a person.

It was a beagle. In full regalia. Happy. Head held high. It was my sign.

This poem below is for Copper. Please read it and pray, send good vibes, whatever you feel is appropriate. Anything to make sure she's crossed the rainbow bridge. Thank you.

The Rainbow Bridge

Just this side of Heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.

There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.

There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.

The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together....

Author unknown...

Goodbye my sweet baby girl. I will love you forever and always.

Bruce Littlefield Latest Gig on The Today Show

Thanks to all of my readers who shared your ideas with Bruce Littlefield for his gig on The Today Show.

Click on the You Tube video below to see Bruce talk about "things Americans hoard."
And, it would be GREAT if you could comment, rate and favorite the video to help Bruce out.



You can also read another great review of his book Garage Sale America, over at Gather.com where a comment and rating would also be greatly appreciated!

And don't forget that another "Treasure Hunt" contest is in the works and will be posted here soon, so if you didn't win last time, you'll have another chance again...yay!

Now watch Bruce shine once again on The Today Show:


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One of my bestest blogging buddies, Cindy from Taste the World just became officially engaged!

Go see how her fiance proposed to her, but prepared to be jeaaalous! I love her and hate her all at the same time after seeing that, lol!

Name Your Tune Winners!

Oh my goshness! Can you believe how many comments are down there on the Name Your Tune Giveaway? Thank you to Shannon from rocks in my dryer for hosting such a fun event! It was like Christmas in July..weee!

I LOVE her idea and I think rumor has it that she may do this again in the fall. She's VERY brave because I know this was very hard work for her. It was hard for me just to manage my own little corner of this whole party! There were over 100 entries into the contest!

And that was nothing compared to some of the other contests that had 300 to 400 entries!

What? Oh, yeah! The winners. Like you all cared about anything else I had to say, lol. Okay...the winners for the Name Your Tune giveaway, for a personalized children's CD, are...

• Dawn from Coming to a Nursery Near You
  
• Kristie from Life With My X-Men

Congratulations winners! I will be emailing you to get your contact information. Enjoy the CDs and let us know how you like them!