*picture from Amazon

Steven and I have went on some small adventures this year, stepping out of our comfort zone to try and do something more for our family, to BE something more. He began a blog shortly after www.bosssanders.com went up, and then decided the parenting blog just wasn’t his niche. So, it came down. I began writing more, and then opened up my own store: First Impressions. I recently had to close the store, as it was spending more money (even slightly) than it was making at the moment, and quite frankly, I lost the drive to keep it going. I still have a lot of goodies though, so if any of you need any maternity/baby stuff for gifts just give me a shout via email – it’s like a virtual yard sale over here or something. Then, he decided to open a new blog up, but this time about blogging to make money and he’s seriously flown. He’s now getting offers and free tickets to places and some other good things, as well as being one of the few hand chosen by a major company to be on their “team” of sorts. I finally decided to shoot a modeling application in to a pregnancy focused agency and was denied on account of my shortness – which is probably for the better since I might have been able to barely cover the travel to get there and back for assignments with what they’d pay. Oh well. I did try. I also began writing more and more, opening my heart up beyond little stories and crafts about the trivial things or about Lorelei and all the funny things she does. I decided to be real, even when it stung. And, that brought me more visitors, more friends. I also decided to begin writing a novel, something I never thought I could do – and, while it’s kind of at a standstill right now, it will get finished because I’m determined to say I DID IT. With all of the extra writing, I’ve felt this…RELEASE…I guess you could say. Besides painting, it’s one of my deepest pleasures for my soul.

Speaking of…I was just published in Chicken Soup for the Soul: My Resolution book. It’s one of their latest to be published, and I’m in there. Well, one of my stories is anyhow. And, in the spirit of Christmas, I’m giving one book away. This is a personal giveaway and not backed like some of the other giveaways have been, so I’m going to make this giveaway last until the beginning of the New Year.

To sign up, simply do one or all of the following:

1 . Be a Twit and tweet a message (on twitter.com) that contains both the link for this giveaway and either @bosssanders or #bosssanders.
Example 1: @bosssanders Send me the book or I’ll die!   http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/12/17/resolutions
Example 2: Stalk #bosssanders better with this book   http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/12/17/resolutions/
…You can use those, but I didn’t want to limit your creativity or undying love for me, so I’m leaving it open. Plus, I’m looking forward to the laughs.

10 POINTS

2. Write a blog post about this giveaway with a link back to this specific post (http://www.bosssanders.com/2008/12/17/resolutions/). 15 POINTS

3. Leave a comment here. 5 POINTS

4. Whore my link in whatever way you see fit (please let me know what you do so I can give you proper points though). Ranges from 5 POINTS to 50 POINTS depending on your pimpin’ skills.

This contest is open til January 1st…um, maybe January 3rd, depending on festivities or lack thereof. You can do as much or as little as you want – which means if you want to leave 10 bonafide comments below, go for it (just make them worthy comments, no one word crap, or I’ll come post my links in all of your blog post comments…and no, you won’t get points for me doing that). At the end, I’ll count up the points and Ta DA. Winner. Like magic. Now, go my little pimps and pimpettes…

Welcome back!