Lately I've been having some serious issues with writer's block. It seems like all the time I have so many ideas just floating around my brain until I sit down to actually write. The second I pick up a pen/pencil, or sit down at the computer my brain just empties. It's beginning to make me insane. I have all these things plotted out and notes written down, but when it comes time to turn them in to something -- *poof*.
Sometimes I get lucky and can get a few words down, but then if I look them over I am horrified. I start wondering who on earth would read this? It's worse than the worse thi...
Hi everyone!
I'd like to apologize for the long hiatus. Many things have been going on in my personal life. I won't go in to too much detail, but I've had a lot of health issues and a couple of surgeries in the interim time. I've also lost three close family members in the space of the last couple of years that have thrown me and I have still not really absorbed their loss.
Another reason that I have been absent so long is that I've also had a lot of self-doubt as a writer. I have actually gotten some writing done, as well as a bit of my first novel started. After the first bit I was hi...
Just recently I began submitting my blog to various blog related listing sites, and found I had a small problem. All of them ask me to classify what this blog is about. Uh-oh. For some reason they all seemed to lack the proper category. The neglected to add the "whatever strikes my fancy" category.
That led me to sit down and really think about what this blog is about.
I've been told it's a "mommy blog" since I have posted parenting relating things, or it's a "contest blog" because I post giveaways. Ok, I can get with that, sort-of. Those are parts of me, but I have a problem with cla...
Many of you don't know that I have both a sister and a niece with special needs. My sister suffered brain damage as a result of her belirubin climbing to record heights as an infant. Her functioning level was put at that of a six year old, even though she is 30 years old. She is the sweetest person, but has had a very rough life due to this and other unrelated problems. My niece has been diagnosed with Asperger's Syndrome, and I have been learning all I can about this very common Autism Spectrum Disorder.
As a result, I am a proud supporter of sites and causes that promote information and f...
I found a fun new giveaway party that I just had to be a part of. Yes, I know. It seems I mostly post when I find a new blog part, but come on, who doesn’t LOVE a party?
To celebrate, I am offering The Bloggers Guide to Profits to one lucky reader.
Bloggers Guide to Profits
How to enter: Leave a comment and your e-mail address so I can contact you.
Want extra entries? You can earn an extra entry for each of the following: sign up on this site as a subscriber, sign up for our Feedburner feed (either feed or e-mail delivery), blog about this contest, and micro-blog on this post on social networks (twitter, plurk, etc.). Make sure to comment about any extra entries you have earned so that I know about them. (Hint: You get one extra enter for each thing you do.)
I just ran across a great giveaway for moms with little ones at The Lil’ Mommy that Could. In celebration of her baby’s 5th birthday she has some great prizes lined up including: a nursing cover from Duck Duck Goose, two copies of Dream Baby CD, and a copy of Barenaked Lady’s Snacktime. There are hopes to add more to the prize list, but in my opinion, I’d be happy with any of the prizes.
Personally I am hoping for the nursing cover since my youngest learned a couple fun new games. The first is peek-a-boo while nursing in public. It’s played by ripping the cover off his head at any time. The other one, and this one is my favorite, is let’s flash the passers-by. This is played by him launching himself away to view what’s going on in the world around us. Surprise world!
Well, make sure to go on over and make sure to peruse the site after entering. It’s a great site with some funny posts about motherhood and the joys of children.
I just thought I would take a moment to let you all know of another great contest that you can enter:
Contest Details:
Pink Lemonade Bags is giving away a beautiful bag to one lucky lady! The giveaway is being hosted by Notes From My Nest. To enter, visit http://notesfrommynest.blogspot.com/2008/06/week-of-june-23rd-july-2nd.html, for details. Deadline to enter is noon (EST), 7.2.08. Open to US residents only.
Make sure to check back soon for updates and information on the next contest that we are running!
Well, life exploded again… So, to make up for the delay — all my subscribers are winners! (To make up for the delayed drawing.)
You all win the free custom graphic as well as your choice of e-book from the previously listed contests. Please e-mail me at Heather@HeatherQuarnstrom.com with your choice of graphic type as well as which e-book you would like. (Quick tip – to see the e-book choices click on the contest category or word cloud word to see all contests listed.)
I just wanted to add a couple quick notes on the subscriber contests. Last updated: 05/25/2008
Drawings are held each Monday, barring any family complications. In the event of a drawing delay I will add some extra item(s) to the prize.)
You must subscribe to this site with a user account. Subscribing to feeds does not count, as it complicates the drawing process. Quick link to create an account can be found here. Why do I do it this way? Honestly to save time. If I had to jump around to all the different options that are available to this site it would become confusing and time consuming.
You must confirm your account via the e-mail confirmation sent. These are sent to prevent spam users and bots from registering. Any accounts not confirmed are deleted and will not be entered in the account. You have a full week to confirm your account before it is deleted, but you will miss out on all contests until confirmation takes place. Why do I do it this way? Users are not shown on my subscriber list until their account is confirmed. This helps to simplify the drawing process for me.
Only current subscribers are entered during the week. You do not need to post a comment or anything, just have your account validated. Easy peasy.
Prizes change weekly. Most prizes are available for purchase for those of you that didn’t win. Keep an eye out for how to purchase them, contact me, or comment asking for more info and it will be made available.
Each contest posted in addition to the weekly contest will have additional entry rules, details, etc. Please check the specific contest post for contest particulars. There is also a contest category that you are able to check that will list all contest related posts.
If anything changes at any point I will post here. I will update this specific post with details of the change, the date it was made, as well as the reason it was changed. Please feel free to bookmark this post to refer back to.
That’s about it for now. Any questions? Contact me or comment below.
Here is the new contest for the week. This one will be a little different than the others. (In case you are all a little e-booked out….)
The prize:
I will provide winners choice of a static banner, a blog or site header, or signature tag designed by me. (Courtesy of my design site at http://www.onfairywingsdesigns.com.)
To enter:
Create an account on this site. You must confirm your account as well with a valid e-mail address. This counts as one entry.
Comment on this post telling me which prize you would like and why. This counts as one entry.
Exchange links with this site. You can either link the blog name and URL, or contact Heather@HeatherQuarnstrom.com and I can send you a banner to use. (If requesting a banner, please specify the size you would like.) Comment this post or e-mail me with the page URL that I can find my link, and general area to look for it, to be counted. You may also comment or e-mail me the link you would like me to add. This counts as two entries.
Refer someone to this site and have them subscribe to the site. (Two fold on this one. You get another entry and they can enter the contest .) Your referral must e-mail me at Heather@HeatherQuarnstrom.com and tell me your user name on this site to qualify. This counts as one entry.
All entrants will be entered in the generator on Random.org once per entry and will be drawn randomly by the top result. To qualify you must remain a subscriber through at least the end of the drawing. (Though we hope you will remain longer. ) Drawing will be held next Monday with results posted the same day.
I just realized that the blog party was over last week. I just got so caught up in the fun that I didn’t want it to end, I guess.
What does this mean? I have to do a drawing for all Mommyfest Blog Party contests and announce the winners All winners will receive their prize(s) at the e-mail they used to comment.
(A HUGE thank you to Mommy Meryl — who has a GREAT site by the way, if you have a second, please visit it — for showing me the wonders of Random.org. This site is fantastic! You can put all the names in and it spits out a random one. I used their “List Generator” and added each name that qualified for an entry in. It then gives you a random listing of the names you entered. I chose the first name in each instance as the winner.)
Contests: (Can’t remember what each was for, or if you entered? Then click on the link for more details.)
And the winner is…. (drum roll, please….): Shalise
I will be sending your e-books to the e-mail that you listed with your post. If for some reason you don’t receive them, please let me know by commenting here.
For those of you that did not win and are interested in purchasing an e-book, you may either contact me, or keep an eye up for my follow up post on how to purchase them. (I am putting together an e-book site, but it’s still in development.)
And the winner is…. (drum roll, please….): littleladybugdesigns
Please remember that I will have a weekly drawing for a prize EVERY SINGLE week, so make sure create an account as a subscriber to be entered.
Want to stay up to date on all contests we are currently offering. You can view all contest related posts by clicking on the Contest category on the right or by clicking here.
How to Eliminate Stress and Anxiety from your Life
How to enter:
Leave a comment and tell me what you would like to see on this site. Please include ideas such as articles, information, prizes, stories, poetry, or anything that would make you come back to this site.
Also, thanks for the heads up on the commenting problem. Sorry to everyone that had problems posting a comment without an account. This is now fixed.
Here is the contest that I promised to post for the Mommyfest Blog Party. To check out some other great mom blogs, just click the banner in the left had column. (After you’re done reading mine, that is… )
Just leave a comment and a way to get in touch with you. You can leave an e-mail or web site that has contact information. Another option would be to join this site and use your user name to post. (Hey — if you create an account you are entered in BOTH contests, as well as my weekly contest!)
Please note: If you want to enter in this contest as well and create an account on this site — you must still leave a comment while logged in. This will help make it easier for us to contact you if you win this prize and will save you from having to leave an e-mail or web link in they post.
I wanted to desperately to get started on this contest thing, so I decided I would post one. (Who says I have to wait?)
The prize:
101 Tips for Avoiding Procrastination
Here is a blurb for it:
“Who Else Wants To Stop Being A Slave To Procrastination?”
Are you ready to start ramming your head into the wall as a punishment for repeated procrastination?
No matter what you do, what you promise yourself, you never seem to be able to get your work, chores, or projects done. It can happen to the best of us and it’s a hard habit to break.
Let me ask you this…
…As a procrastinator, are you having trouble meeting your personal and professional goals? Are you in the same place you were a year ago?
These are the terrible effects waiting ’til the last minute can place on all of us. If procrastinating is slowing your life down to a halt, you need to do something fast. You need…
…101 Tips For Avoiding Procrastination!
How to enter:
Create an account on this site. That’s it. Simple, huh? I will be giving a free e-book away once a week to one lucky subscriber.
(Hint: You get one extra enter for each thing you do.)![[del.icio.us]](http://weblog.heatherquarnstrom.com/wp-content/plugins/bookmarkify/delicious.png)
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) Drawing will be held next Monday with results posted the same day.
I just got so caught up in the fun that I didn’t want it to end, I guess. 
Please note: If you want to enter in this contest as well and create an account on this site — you must still leave a comment while logged in. This will help make it easier for us to contact you if you win this prize and will save you from having to leave an e-mail or web link in they post. 
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