Mar 08 2010

Contests Today

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Here are some of the contests I’ve entered today. Click on through and make my odds worse! Go ahead! I don’t mind.

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Mar 08 2010

Whole-Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffin Recipe

Published by Cindy under Food!

Want Some Muffins? ‘Course ya do!  Try these awesome Whole Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. I adapted the recipe from the banana muffin recipe in All You Magazine’s March 2010 issue. Those were good, but I had some chocolate I needed to use up.

Whole-Wheat Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
  • 1 ½ cups whole-wheat flour
  • ½ cup all-purpose flour
  • 1 ½ tsp. baking powder
  • ¼ tsp cinnamon
  • ¼ tsp salt
  • 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
  • 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
  • ¾ cup packed brown sugar
  • 1/3 cup milk
  • ¼ cup vegetable oil
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract
  • 3/4 cup chocolate chips or chopped semi-sweet squares

Heat oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl whisk or sift together the first four ingredients. In another large bowl, mash the bananas, then add the rest of the ingredients. Mix well. Add wet mixture to dry, mixing until just combined. Don’t over-stir the batter! Spoon into a greased muffin tin. Bake for 20-25 minutes. Makes 12 muffins.

These muffins are good right out of the oven, but I adapted the recipe to make them more freezable for my husband’s breakfasts. They are even better after they’ve been frozen and thawed! Enjoy!

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Mar 07 2010

Contests Today

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Here are some of the giveaways I’ve entered today:

That’s it! That’s all I had time for today. Working on some, you know, blog posts. Happy Sunday!

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Mar 05 2010

Contests Today

Published by Cindy under Uncategorized

Here are my favorite giveaways from the last couple of days:

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Mar 02 2010

Contests Today

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Here are my favorite giveaways today!:

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Mar 01 2010

Just Tweet It, You Twit!

Published by Cindy under Twitter

One of the things I love about Twitter is the diversity of people who end up becoming “friends” with you. More than blogging or real life, on Twitter I’ve made friends who are unlike me in nearly every way. Obviously, we have enough in common to tweet together, but there are some huge cultural differences between me and a lot of my followers. For the most part all this diversity is wonderful! Sometimes, though, communication becomes impossible. Twitter is just not a great way to explain anything more complicated than your opinion of onion bagels. (Mine: Yum.)

Since it is still a fairly new medium, the rules of etiquette are still being hammered out as we go. I’m noticing, though, a trend that has always been evident in real life (at least among women). There seems to be a taboo against replying to people when you disagree with them. I don’t see a lot of vigorous debate going on in my Twitter stream. Conservatives avoid politics, but not other topics, when speaking to liberals. Bottle-feeding moms keep their sweet heads down when breast-feeding moms start getting catty about their child-rearing choices. We have no trouble talking about those things we agree on, but to disagree seems to be considered rude, no matter how respectful you are.

There have been times on Twitter when I’ve seen something said that was just too hard to ignore, countered it, and then found the recipient of my (yes, polite) disagreement has unfollowed me. When someone disagrees with me—well, they usually just do some passive-aggressive crap where they tweet about people like me in general, but never just @ me and get it over with. Or they unfollow me. Either way, I don’t see how this is more polite than just voicing your disagreement and moving on with your day.

There are some insanely stupid opinions going through my feed every day, several times an hour. Normally, I let them go by without a peep–um–tweet. I really don’t care that much what a given person thinks of Sarah Palin, for instance. But once in a while I’ll be in a suffer-no-fools kind of mood, and I’ll see a tweet that is so misguided that I just have to say something.

Nine times out of ten, I write my rebuttal and then delete it. It is truly not worth the effort most of the time. If people are going to make fun of a woman’s baby’s handicaps because of her political affiliation, then their hearts are probably too hard to be softened in that way, anyway. (This is a hypothetical. Haven’t actually seen that happen, yet.) But sometimes I hit “enter”, instead of deleting it. Because people really ought to know better.

Invariably, the person I reply to becomes defensive. People (including me) tend to get flustered when caught saying something they didn’t think they’d have to defend. Their initial defense is quickly followed by “Well, I have a right to my opinion!”. Well, sure you do. But didn’t you put that tweet out there for conversation? Do you really think you’re so wrong that you can’t stand up to a dumb hillbilly on Twitter?

If I’m wrong (happens daily) I’d like to think I’ll be grown-up enough to admit it, no matter how embarrassing it is to be caught in the wrong. I hate being wrong, but I’d rather change my opinion to the correct one than be comfortable with myself, frankly. Growth is hard! But I can’t do that if people don’t feel free to disagree with me. I may not always come around to another person’s way of thinking, but I certainly don’t see the harm in letting them try to persuade me. I guess most folks don’t feel that way.

Honestly, I couldn’t care less if I tried how many followers I have, or who they are. I tweet like I blog: when I feel like it, about whatever I please, whenever I like.

I’ve accepted that people are going to disagree with me. That’s something you’d better be prepared to accept when you’re as far outside the mainstream as I am.  Some people are going to get sick of my out-loud Christianity, or my politics, or my contest tweets. I’m OK with that. It takes all kinds, and not everybody is going to just love me.

But I don’t think I’ve ever unfollowed an individual (not talking companies here) for saying things I disagree with. I have let them know what I think, of course, which wins you no friends when you’re speaking to people who just want to live in an echo-chamber (read: most females). But I’ve never  unfollowed someone for daring to disagree with me. I’d like to think most people are that way, but I’m starting to wonder.

So how about you? Do you unfollow people who tweet things you disagree with? Do you respectfully dissent or keep your mouth shut when people assert things that you know to be wrong or untrue? Are there certain issues you’ll tweet about, even debate about, even if it means offending someone and losing a follower? Or is Twitter such a horrible medium for real conversation that only a fool would even attempt it?

You can follow me @getalonghome if you like. I follow back! I won’t ever unfollow you for anything less offensive than pron or outright name-calling or threats. Or unfollowing me. I’ll unfollow you for that.

4 responses so far

Mar 01 2010

Bwahahaha!

Published by Cindy under Random Spoo

Look at all the beautiful people I supposedly look like:

Before I ever ran the thing, I knew Brad Pitt would be on there. Not sure how I knew that. Or what the resemblance is… That was fun. Now on with my day.

Thanks, Mom Most Traveled, for the link.

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Feb 26 2010

Contests Today

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Here are my favorite giveaways today!:

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Feb 25 2010

Contests Today

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Some great contests in the blog world today! I’m fiddling around with the idea of turning this blog into something entirely different, so instead of linking each giveaway in its own post, I’m going to go back to an end of the day posting of all the giveaways I’ve entered that day, or would like to share with you. I may go back to my old way of doing things later.

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Feb 22 2010

DownEast Basics Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win an item of your choice from the DownEast Basics 28-Day Style Guide at The Penny-Pinching Mama and Lolidots

Click here to enter at The Penny Pinching Mama.

Click here to enter at Lolidots.

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Feb 22 2010

FLOR Rug Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a 5×7 FLOR Rug at The Not-So Blog

Click here to enter.

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Feb 22 2010

Microplane Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a set of Microplane goodies from Can I Get the Recipe?

Click here to enter.

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Feb 22 2010

Gorton’s Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a prize pack from Gorton’s (includes a free product coupon) at Baby Loving Mama

Click here to enter.

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Feb 22 2010

Wahl Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a Wahl® Color Pro™ Color Coded Haircutting Kit from Wahl at BargainFun

Click here to enter.

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Feb 22 2010

hairfree Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a round brush and a flat brush from hairfree at BargainFun

Click here to enter.

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Feb 21 2010

It’s A Major Award!

Published by Cindy under Random Spoo, blogging

Cheryl, from Adventures of a Somewhat Crunchy Mama has presented me with a Beautiful Blogger award! Thank you, Cheryl! I think you’re kinda neat, too! I’m somewhat crunchy myself, but don’t tell anybody. I hate hippies.

Now that I have been so honored, I get to pick 15 of my favorite bloggers to bestow this award on. How fun!

Here’s the list of bloggers I find absolutely beautiful, in totally random order. Everything I do is random.

  1. Baby Making Machine–A fantastic writer with a great sense of humor. I look forward to hearing about her adventures as a mommy!
  2. Money Saving Mom–Crystal has saved me and countless other women a ton of money, and honors God with her whole heart.
  3. Life in a Shoe–Kim is a mother of going on eleven children. My hero. I wish I’d started having my kids early enough to catch up with her, but I’m thinking that’s not gonna happen. I’d be happy to have half+1 as many! If you want to learn about the life of a big family, read this blog. She has a wonderful sense of humor, too!
  4. An Unexpected Adventure–Carol is a local homeschooling mom, and I’ve found her blog very helpful. Honest blogging, a right attitude, and a heart for teaching her children.
  5. Faith Imagined–Alisa has a heart for God, and writes wonderfully inspirational posts. (Disclosure: I once won an Amazon gift card from her blog. This has nothing to do with my endorsement. She really is awesome!)
  6. Garibay Soup–Amanda is a smart girl, a great blogger, and a fantastic twitter buddy.
  7. Riding with Jessica–a Mom blogger who won’t bore you to death. Not too many of those out there!
  8. Skip to My Lou Great how-to’s and tutorials. Eat your heart out, Martha Stewart.
  9. Scheiss Weekly–Jane is an educator, not just a teacher doing a job to get by. A beautiful soul, and full of good common sense.
  10. Spunky Homeschool–Doesn’t blog as much as she used to, but Karen has been an inspiration and an encouragement to me, even before we really started our homeschooling in earnest. Her passion for homeschooling is contagious.
  11. Real Life–Sarah is another local blogger. We’re blessed with awesome bloggers in Boone! Also a fun Twitter buddy. Always interesting. Maybe someday I’ll meet her IRL!

These bloggers are my favorites. Please check these out and bookmark them! I’m afraid I can’t do 15. I read a lot of blogs, but many of them are giveaway blogs with little interesting content, and most of the others are men who probably wouldn’t appreciate being called beautiful.

And now, the obligatory seven things about me. I hate this part.

  1. I am a Christian. If you see anything beautiful in me, you can rest assured that what you’re seeing is Christ, working through me, and in me. He is my Savior. If I have anything to offer, it is from Him, and for Him.
  2. I LOVE my kids. Before I had kids, I didn’t really understand how much parents really love their kids. They grew my heart, and filled it to overflowing!
  3. I have a severe case of attention deficit disorder. But I don’t believe it is a disorder. We don’t need to put a label on every difficulty a person has. It is simply a (deep) personality flaw that I am learning to overcome. I expect to struggle with this until the day I die. I’m OK with that.
  4. I have/had selective mutism. I’m not nearly as severely limited now as I was when I was a child. My school psychologists found me very interesting. Children with high IQ’s aren’t often in need of their services. I found them pretty interesting, too–especially their psychology books. I still have some problems where meeting new people is concerned, but it is manageable. I’m not often mute in public or social situations anymore, though I do still struggle with believing anyone would want to hear anything I have to say. I wish I could impress upon you how much Christ has done for me in this area! Nothing eases anxiety like knowing who you are in Christ!
  5. I wish I could knit. I tried, and learned how, but I’ve never been so bored in my life! It would lovely to make beautiful things, but I just can’t. See #3.
  6. I’m a closet Calvinist. I don’t really hide it, but I certainly don’t talk about it to my holiness-preaching papa.
  7. Femininity is hard for me. I want to be a girlie-girl, but I don’t know how. I try. My daughter needs a woman to emulate!

There you go. Any blogger nominated for this prestigious award by me should feel free to ignore it if you don’t like doing these sorts of things!

2 responses so far

Feb 20 2010

Hi-Tec Boots Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a pair of Hi-Tec Men’s Boots at Sweeps4Bloggers

Click here to enter.

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Feb 20 2010

Hi-Tec Boots Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a pair of Hi-Tec Winter Boots for Women at Sweeps4Bloggers

Click here to enter.

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Feb 20 2010

hairfree Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a round brush and a flat brush from hairfree at Sweet Deals 4 Moms

Click here to enter.

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Feb 20 2010

Perricone MD Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a jar of Cold Plasma Evening Facial Emollient from Perricone MD at Mama’s Money Savers

Click here to enter.

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Feb 20 2010

Wine Barrel Gourmet Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a soup mix and a bread mix from Wine Barrel Gourmet at One 2 Try

Click here to enter.

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Feb 20 2010

Subway Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a $25 Subway gift card at The Mommy Files

Click here to enter.

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Feb 20 2010

Expressiva Nursing Wear Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a $35 gift certificate from Expressiva Nursing Wear at Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Mama

Click here to enter.

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Feb 20 2010

Mr. Rebates Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a $100 Amazon gift card from Mr. Rebates at Inexpensively! Click here to enter!

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Feb 20 2010

Shop.com Giveaway

Published by Cindy under Contests and Giveaways

Win a $50 gift certificate to use at Shop.com at Mommy Loves Giveaways

Click here to enter.

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