Winner!

Thanks to everyone for entering my very first giveaway!

A HUGE thank you going out to Lindsay of the Aisle to Aloha Studio for being part of this giveaway, I love your art!

Obviously, it wouldn't be fair for me to choose the winner...so...

JG, please email me at midgisms (at) gmail (dot) com and I'll get you connected with Lindsay.

-----

Midge

28 things

Photo found here

Yesterday marked 28 years of my life. Today, I present to you, 28 things you may not know about me.

1 - This is the number of times I've gotten sick from drinking too much.

2 - The number of places I've flown over an ocean to get to. (England and Hawaii)

3 - I have three cameras. (Digital SLR, 35mm and digital point-and-shoot)

4 - I was four (and a half) when my sister was born.

5 - I am five feet tall.

6 - I have lived in six states.

7 - The number of pets I've had, not counting fish. (Daisy, Sadie, Lil-Bit, Rosie, Buddy, Moose and Max)

8 - The first flight I remember was an eight hour trip from Chicago to London.

9 - I played softball for the first time when I was nine.

10 - My parents let me get my ears pierced for my tenth birthday.

11 - I was 11 when we moved to what I call my hometown.

12 - I met my best friends when I was 12.

13 - Mama-San took the day off for my 13th. We had lunch, saw a movie and I got my first make-up.

14 - After lying to my parents I lost a trip to Disney at 14. I haven't lied since.

15 - This was the year I joined Common Ground (a vocal jazz group) and was in my first musical.

16 - My first car, at 16, was a 1990 Dodge Grand Caravan.

17 - I graduated high school when I was 17.

18 - My first flight by myself was a trip for my 18th birthday.

19 - I moved out (the first time) at 19.

20 - My real name is after my Grandpa, whose birthday was August 20th. We celebrated together.

21 - I spent a day shopping in Chicago to celebrate my 21st.

22 - This is my favorite number.

23 - I bought my car (a hybrid) on my 23rd birthday.

24 - The number of states I've been to. (Airports don't count)

25 - For my 25th birthday, I took a "Quarter-Life Crisis" trip. Georgia > Michigan > Minnesota and back.

26 - I had Lasik when I was 26. I'd do it again in a heartbeat!

27 - I took advantage of vacation time this year and went to Hawaii, Michigan and Colorado.

28 - This was the first year I didn't have anything to ask for on my birthday. What a good feeling!

-----

Have you entered my giveaway?

-----

Midge

Oh Happy Day!

My parents met playing Uno by bug light at a party. After taking a walk in a nearby park, Dad postponed a camping trip with the guys to hang out with Mom the next day.

He asked her to marry him at a stop light on the way to my grandparents' house so they wouldn't have to keep it a secret that she'd moved in.

The wedding was thirty years ago today.

There was a move across the country, ketchup up a nose and a big blue igloo...and then there was me, born two years later, on their anniversary.

Fast forward to now. This is the family they've created:

Mama-San and Papi, Congratulations on hitting this milestone in your lives. You are an amazing couple. We couldn't have asked for a better example of how to "do it right" than what you have given us. Thank you for being there for us through thick and thin. Thank you for the laughs and the memories. Thank you for sharing your special day with me. I love you.

-----

Have you entered my giveaway?

-----

Midge

A Birthday GIVEAWAY

I'm all about birthdays and since mine is TOMORROW (Monday) I want to make this one special...for you! Okay, it'll (hopefully) be fun for all of you, but for one reader, there's a prize!

Have I perked your interest yet?

-----

Anyone who knows me knows I LOVE art. I have a great collection of original photographs and paintings. Some were purchased, some were gifts and some are my own work.

Photo from her blog

This gorgeous gal is the artist behind the Aisle to Aloha Studio. I don't know many people who love color as much as I do, but Lindsay has me beat! Check out her blog and you'll see what I mean.

So far, I have four of Lindsay's paintings. This cute bicycle is the start of my black and white wall.

The background of this is actually my favorite - weird, I know. I really like how you can see the colors she blended. It makes me think of riding my bike through puddles in the rain. How fun is that?!

These bicycles just cried to be together. I have tons of photos in black frames that will hang here too, as soon as I can decide which ones to put up. There are so many pictures I don't know how to choose!

I know, you must be wondering about all that color I mentioned. Well...meet the Mod Pods.

These guys hang out in what used to be my guest room that is now becoming a crafting room. I love how they stand out against the wall color and are just so cheery!

Who wouldn't have fun working on a project here? The pods Lindsay painted make me think of thread weaving in and out of fabric. LOVE! (By the way, the sewing machine is my birthday present to myself. More on that in another post.)

-----

Speaking of presents... Guess what!

One lucky reader is going to win a $20 gift certificate to Lindsay's shop!

Mandatory to participate:
- Be a public follower of my blog through Google Friend Connect and leave a comment telling me you are. (Blogger has issues showing GFC sometimes, you can also click the "Follow" at the top of the page.)

Bonus entries:
- Visit Linday's Etsy and tell me what you'd buy with your gift certificate.
- Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment here with your @twittername.
- Post a link to your virtual birthday present for me.

That's FOUR ways to enter my very first giveaway!

Seriously, I'm so stinking excited over this, I wish I could let you all win!!!

This giveaway will be open until Monday, August 29th and I'll update this post when entry is closed.

Have fun and good luck!!!

-----

Midge

Vacation Recap - Part 4

Friday

Mama-San and I went to Einstein Bros. for breakfast...where I had a nice chat with the staff while she chose what she wanted. Mama-San thought the young male employees were hitting on me. I think they thought I was crazy for being so perky in the morning. (Don't be fooled, I am NOT a morning person.)

From there we stopped at the DMV (for her) and a Harley Davidson dealer (for me - to get a dealer pin) before going a little out of our way to find a Nordstrom. Why there? I wanted these:

Credit: toms.com

I knew I wanted the red ones from the beginning but I had a pretty serious internal debate over whether to get the classics or wedges. I loved the wedges but I knew I'd wear the classics all the time. If you haven't heard about Toms, go read about the One for One Movement and how it helps children.

Papi got home early so he could go with us to the airport. I had a great time and leaving was hard.

When I landed in Nashville, a good friend was waiting for me. She, her boyfriend and his dog kept my car company while I was gone. We spent hours chatting and shared some homemade wine before heading to bed. Fantastic waffles greeted me the next morning. I took her to his shop before driving home and was blown away by all the amazing instruments there. Make sure you check out Nashville Violins if you're ever in the area and say hello to Rascal. Isn't he adorable?

Credit: Nashville Violins

I all but crashed when I got home that afternoon. My pups went crazy so we played for a bit and then took a nap before I had to go work. Like everyone else, I love taking vacation...but as much as I didn't want to come back, it's also nice to be home.

-----

Midge