February in review & readers spotlight

February was only 29 days, but it still felt like a normal month ;). Naw, it flew by, and mostly because our 18-mo son (J) wasn't sick for half of it. That was January, and we're all glad January is over.

Let's take a walk down short-term memory lane…

JCP and customer loyalty

I know this is almost two months late, but I'd just like to say that JCPenny's January catalog and new look blew me away. The layout was simple and clean -- almost Target-esque, which I guess is no surprise now that I know JCP's CEO worked for Target. Anyways, January's catalog contained items that I actually wouldn't mind checking out in-store. Goodness knows I would have never thought to walk into a JCP before this.

Celebrating 10K pageviews :: $25 The Children's Place Gift Card Giveaway (CLOSED)

Hey all, thanks again for helping us reach 10,000 pageviews! We're really excited to be able celebrate this milestone by giving away a $25 The Children's Place gift card. This is our first giveaway ever, and we're using Raffleopter, so please let us know if you have any questions or the widget isn't working! Raffleopter also provides a demo on how to use the widget.

This giveaway is now closed. The winner is announced on the "continue reading" page and has been contacted by email (pending entry verification). Thanks to everyone who entered and shared this giveaway!

Random photos

Hope you're having a great weekend! Thanks for helping us reach 10,000 pageviews! As promised, a gift card giveaway will be announced very soon! Hope you were able to check out my favorite bloggie friends.

Today was a whirlwind of activities. Our 18-mo son (J) got a haircut, but it wasn't as nice as his first haircut. Granted, today's stylist didn't spend a lot of time on it, probably thinking we wanted J in and out ASAP. Guess we could have told her otherwise and she could have gave him some style, and not just cut his hair. We'd recommend asking for Faye Ji or Wei We Zhang at Beautiful Life Salon. Don't know what it's like at other places, but they were willing to scissor-cut J's hair because he was scared of the buzzer. Is that what it's called?

We then went to the library, had lunch, took a short nap, and I was claustrophobic and perplexed by the level of crazy-kidness in the play area at the mall. Seriously, who gave them all sugar packets before they entered? And why isn't anyone supervising? I body-blocked a kid or two before they landed on J's head. Errggghhh

Anyways, on to the random photos...

A few of my favorite blogs

First off, we're only about 50 pageviews away from 10,000 and a gift card giveaway!!!!!

For the weekend, I'd like to leave you with the blogs that I read and interact with almost daily. It's a long list, so I've tried to make it easier for you skim-readers to find a blog that might interest you. Anyways, that word, interact is key because there plenty of blogs that I only read or post a comment occasionally. But then there are a handful of blogs on which I comment frequently, and they stop on over and comment here or at my photography blog, capturng.com. I hope they don't feel like they have to comment on mine because I comment on theirs because that's not my intent as all! I just feel somehow connected to them…hope that doesn't creep them out! I did try to reach each of them prior to posting this just to make sure though!

(REPOST) Is she talking to the puppy or the baby?

"Poll" for this post has been updated and works

We live in a townhouse and luckily only have one neighbor. They probably hear me raise my voice. I bet they play a game of "Is she talking to the puppy or the baby?" You can play along too! I wish there were some awesome prize I could give you if you get all the answers correctly. BUT if you help us reach 10,000 pageviews, we're that much closer to a gift card giveaway! Share this post via twitter, Facebook, or good ol' fashion word of mouth :). Share buttons are at the bottom of this post.

Is she talking to the puppy or the baby?

We live in a townhouse and luckily only have one neighbor. They probably hear me raise my voice. I bet they play a game of "Is she talking to the puppy or the baby?" You can play along too! I wish there were some awesome prize I could give you if you get all the answers correctly. BUT if you help us reach 10,000 pageviews, we're that much closer to a gift card giveaway! Share this post via twitter, Facebook, or good ol' fashion word of mouth :). Share buttons are at the bottom of this post.

Showing and teaching compassion

I'm a selfish creature by nature. Especially at the end of a long day. Who cares about your problems when my shoes are cutting into the back of my feet, our son (J) didn't want to get in the car seat when I picked him up from daycare, and the dogs won't stop barking as soon as I step in the door?? Just leave me alone!

But that’s not the "me" I want the hubby, J, or the dogs to endure every evening. With a dozen-or-so things all going on at once, I'm learning to take a deep breath, step back, and see life from their point of view, i.e., showing compassion.

Speaking of giveaways

Counting down to our 10,000 pageviews giveaway, I'm posting about two giveaways I entered today and the pretty awesome entry form they both used. I've entered my share of blog giveaways, and most of them allow you multiple entries by posting separate comments saying you did such and such - e.g., like them on FB, like the giveaway sponsor on FB, follow on Twitter, etc. The blogger then uses random number generator or other tool, to randomly select among the comments. I was considering doing the same but then I (easily) entered two giveaways -- you should enter them too because they're great prizes and easy to enter!