We have a winner! & Random profound thoughts

What to do: make you sit through my random thoughts or go ahead and get the give away stuff over with???  hmmm...

hurrah the pictures are working!!  now look at the pictures and read along with yesterday's post to humor me.  mkay?

yall are too good to me!

i was so proud to have pictures to go with my random blog and incredibly bummed when they didn't work!

Okay so now that I've gotten that out of the way - time to give away a book about s-e-x!!  Into the candy jar every one's names go...okay not that one, its still dirty.  Eww!!

I'm stirring them up good I promise!!

And the winner is...Amy!!!  Expect an email from me shortly.  Congrats.

Okay, now on to my ramblings.  Hmm...what was I going to say?  I remember it being quite deep and thought provoking.

Speaking of, Marla (the author of said book about s-e-x), is having an interesting discussion on her blog today.  Actually I think I'll just copy/paste my comment.  (Subject being saving for the future vs giving it all to benefit the kingdom now.)

i have mixed thoughts on this subject. In some ways saving is important, even spiritually. This is a lame example but its the best I have so it’ll have to do. I’ve gained and lost 15 pounds and fluctuated 3 sizes. I held on to the different sizes not knowing where I was supposed to be.


then one day God spoke (he borrows the voices that are already in my head – he’s the one that suggests things that i don’t wanna do ) to me and said “give them up.”


me: what if i need them again?
God: you were able to get those, you can get more.
me: but I don’t wanna!

in the end i boxed them up and took them to a yard sale. there was a girl there (who i knew previously) who needed them, but she also needed to talk to someone who understood. she was less monetarily poor and more poor emotionally.


had i never purchased those pants, or gave them away too quickly I would have missed this appointment God had set for me.


God didn’t want me to just drop my pants off at the local thrift store. He wanted *that* moment.


I don’t think having stuff is necessarily wrong, but we must understand that they (or it if we’re talking money) isn’t ours. And if someone asks us for all of our size 8 pants we ask if they needs skirts too.


I just hope that in asking me to give away my 8s He allows me to fit into my 6s

Unfortunately I don't think my heart is always that open, my mind in communication to God.  I want to get there again.  Stay there this time. 

I know I've said this before, but God has incredible things in store for my life if only I'm willing to unclench my fist long enough for Him to give it to me!

Another PSA give away!

Yesterday the ACS and the Shrinking Jeans girls asked everyone to "Choose you".  Today the challenge is a little more difficult - Love yourself!  In a swimsuit no less!!

The ladies have paired up with Lands End and will be giving away not one, not two, not three, but 8 swimsuits to lucky readers!!  Check out the contest rules here. 

I love that the girls are confident enough to post pictures of themselves in the Lands End suits.  I'm not sure about anyone else but I get tired of stick thin models in magazines showing me the best suit for my problem areas.  Especially when its quite obvious that their biggest problem is that they skipped lunch for the past week.

Instead, courtesy of the Sisterhood of the Shrinking Jeans, we're getting smokin hawt models that have worked hard for what they've got!  Yesterday Lissa & Heather modeled Lands End suits.  Today was Christy and Thea's turn. 

I'm hoping to win this one.  I've never been afraid of bikini bathing suits because I know they draw attention to my best features (pretty much anything from my waist up).  Wearing a suit that doesn't have a definite waist, I tend to look like a (a very tall) 5 year old girl.

What do you do at the pool to make yourself feel at ease?

Don't have confidence issues when it comes to swimwear?  Please leave me your secret in the comments!!  (And before you quote it, I already know - God looks at the heart!)

The PSA giveaways!

This week at the Sisterhood, they are giving away lots of goodies!  What I love best about these giveaways is that they also serve as a message to their readers.  "Here, have something free, but be sure to love yourself in the process!"

In conjunction with the American Cancer Society's "Choose You" Campaign - the Sisterhood is giving away a gift basket including sun screen, a water bottle, a gift card to Walgreen's, and some other goodies.  Anything to make us ladies realize that sometimes we have to put ourselves first - if for no other reason but so that we can stick around longer for those that rely on us.

Whether is eating right, exercising, or something as simple (but commonly overlooked) as applying sunscreen or wearing a hat in the sun - we all have things that we could do to keep ourselves healthier.  And while it may seem selfish taking a few moments for yourself - think about the example your setting for others around you.

Don't you want your children to understand the importance of eating right and exercising?

I'm probably the only woman in the world that doesn't have to think about putting herself first.  As the wife of a low maintenance man and the mother to none, I put myself first on a regular basis.  I don't think twice about training for a triathlon, marathon, or anything else that might strike my fancy.

(I'm super excited about a "mud run" 5K in September!)

What I need to learn to do is put my health before my superficiality.  Staying health (even if it means "just" walking or not competing in the triathlon per doctor's orders) is more important than burning off that cheeseburger spinach-strawberry salad. 

Another area that I'm sadly superficial in?  Sunscreen. 

Everyone knows that tan fat looks better than pasty white fat.  But doesn't pasty white skin look better than skin that's scared from having dozens of moles removed?  As of now, I'm in the single digits on the mole removal thing, but if I'm not more vigilant about sunscreen that can certainly all change!

What about you?  How are you going to commit to choosing you?  I promise - these are commitments that will benefit everyone around you!

Sisterhood Update

Crazy exciting things are happening over at the Sisterhood of the shrinking jeans!!!! Giveaways, challenges, and encouragement galore over there. If you're not a member I'd seriously recommend you check it out. Even if you're not trying to lose weight

There are two giveaways that I'm dying to tell you about. Mostly because it means that I get a 2nd entry in the giveaway myself!! :) Christie O. reviewed a pair of Zoot Tri Shorts and loved them!!

I'll be honest with you ladies, I thought I was the only person in the world that suffered from chub rub. Could I possibly be the largest runner in the world?? That didn't sound logical, considering most races have an "Athena" division for women 150+ pounds. My neurotic side said maybe the Athena chicks just carried all their weight in their upper body/chest.

My running buddy (who resembles a stick insect with her supermodel long, skinny limbs) and my hubby both told me to just get the shorter shorts and get over myself. They both thought it was a vanity thing - I assured them both it was more about comfort than pride!

I've since found a couple pair of longer Nike shorts that I like, but I look like I stole my husbands shorts. Or like one of those girls...you know the ones...that wear the long shorts and the wife-beater tank tops and try desperately to fit in with the guys that they're ballin with. (As Jay, I do a lovely impersonation.)

How stylin will I be if I win, wearing the zoot shorts with a pair of the shorty shorts that Larry the Cable guy likes so much?

Another giveaway the Sisterhood has going right now is connected to the Weight Watchers Lose for good campaign. They're giving away a Jenny McCarthy autographed copy of Weight Watchers magazine along with a free 1 year subscription to the magazine itself!!!

How cool would that be??

Now that I'm done pimping out their giveaways to try to help myself win, I want to let you know about the Lose for Good/Shrink for Good challenge. The SSJ ladies have taken the LFG challenge and tweaked it a bit. For the next few weeks we'll be shrinking for good - the greater good that is.

For every pound we lose we're being challenged to donate that same weight in food to our local food pantry.

First off, I think it'd be awesome if you'd join in. Link up to the sisterhood if you'd like (please!) I promise there is no judgment amongst the sisters.

But if you're not ready for that kind of commitment just kept it to yourself and make a donation already!

I need your help though. Right now I'm only 1.8 pounds from my goal, which translates into only a couple of items donated to my local food pantry. What do you think I should do to alter the challenge to make it work for me?

Giveaway Winner!!

I wasn't really dragging my feet on drawing a winner of my giveaway - I had a vision in my head of how I wanted to do things. I thought drawing out of a cup for my first vlog would be perfect.

I got my pen and paper ready.



I wrote out all your names.



And had the prize on hand.



I had planned on doing all of that on camera, but for file size sake, I just did the drawing itself. My apologies, I promise I'm not a 12 year old - however I may sound.



Congrats Amy! And thank to everyone who participated.

Things I Love Thursday - giveaway!!

I've read several bloggers who have mentioned that they are a BZZ Agent, and I thought it sounded cool. Basically, you get free products and are encouraged to share your honest opinion about them with others.

Diet Mountain Dew is my first campaign. I was looking forward to getting my samples - I'm a Mountain Dew fan, but skeptical of diet drinks with artificial sweeteners.

Monday night I tried Diet Dew for myself - big mistake. I don't consume a lot of carbinated beverages and my system wasn't ready for that much caffeine that late at night.

It was completely my fault, because the packaging talked about Diet Mtn Dew giving you that burst of energy without the sugar, I guess I just underestimated it.

I was still up and 10 that evening, my typical bedtime. It gave me more time to read, but I was tired the next day.

As far as flavor goes, it was great! Next time I should see if they make caffeine free diet dew (although my pastor says that just complete defeats the purpose! :P ) because I love the flavor of the drink.

Now for the giveaway - I'm giving one lucky reader a coupon for a free 12 pack! Just leave me a comment and you're entered!

Also, Bzz Agent likes feed back from people who've been "Bzzed". Just log on to chatthreads.com and enter conversation ID 101-683-466080. From there you can enter to win a $100 Amazon gift card. Not sure how good your chances are to win, but if you have a few minutes it couldn't hurt to try.

For more great products, head on over to the Diaper Diaries.

Edited to add the giveaway will close Monday at 5PM Eastern Time - Good luck!

My apologies

I've made two bloggy blunders.

Yesterday was the SITS spring fling, and as a member I was supposed to host a giveaway. Only I remembered too late in the day to actually put anything together. Sorry ladies!

Also, I created a new email for this blog smartstrongsexyblog at blogpot dot com. Then I got confused. Blogger told me that my stingysingleton email had to remain the same.

Bummer, cause I'm still stingy, but a singleton no more.

When I couldn't get blogspot to cooperate, I gave up and decided to just fall back on the old email.

Only I didn't tell blogger that.

Today, I realized I had 60 emails (comment responses and such) sitting in my box. Going all the way back to January.

So if you emailed me, and didn't receive a reply - now you know why.

Unless you quit reading my blog shortly thereafter because you were offended.

Sorry!!

And we have a winner...

Actually I have 3 winners of my Pay it forward bloggy giveaway

1. Katie
2. Lisa
3. Selectively Frugal

I'll be shipping out your books as soon as I can get your addresses.

Happy Reading!

Frugal Friday: My First Giveaway!!

I was one of the winners of Rachel's Pay it Forward giveaway. (Rachel is paying if forward from winning Linda's give away.) My charge from Linda, thru Rachel?

"Nothing extravagant, just a simple treat in the mail. You choose the prize you want to give. It's the holidays so don't feel like it needs to be spendy."

How do you win? I'll us a Christmas tradition of my own (drawing names) from three people who comment on this blog with their favorite Christmas tradition. If you can't play along with a pay it forward give away of your own, go ahead and leave your tradition. Just be sure to let me know you're not throwing your hat into the ring.

What am I giving away? A book from one of my favorite authors - Janet Evanovich. Her Stephanie Plum series is a light hearted take on the mystery genre. Mr. Right gets irritated when I read her books because at least once in the book I can't help but literally laugh out loud!






The best part? Its frugal too! My secret? I found HARDBACK copies of the book at the Dollar Tree. That's right only $1 for a festive, funny book.

The Dollar Tree has tons of great stuff that can be combined in a basket to make a great (but frugal) Christmas gift. They also have a lot of crap. So just be sure you know who you're buying for or else it would be a waste of money (see the post over at Frugal Hacks "Giving and Misplaced Frugality".

For more great money saving ideas, check out this weeks Frugal Friday blog carnival over at Biblical Womanhood.