Winter Giveaway Winner!

First of all, let me just say THANK YOU to everyone who took part in my Winter Giveaway of "A Few of My Favorite Things!" It was really exciting seeing you share your tweets and facebook statuses about The Sound of Hope and our new online store. Thanks for helping us get the word out! I really loved hearing about your favorite things in our online store. Almost everyone said they liked something different - though our scarves and Hands of Hope necklaces definitely were in the lead. Glad to know we have a little something for everyone! ;)

And now, it's time to announce my Winter Giveaway Winner! According to Random.org, the winning comment was #16....

GRACE ASPINWALL!

Whoo hoo! Congrats Grace! I'll be contacting you soon to get your mailing address. I hope you enjoy these fabulous goodies!

For everyone that's sad because you didn't win... you should probably make yourself feel better by taking a little shopping trip HERE.... (*hint hint!) Sometimes you deserve a little something special. And it's guilt free shopping when you know the proceeds are helping give HOPE to orphans! ;)

A Few of My Favorite Things :: Winter Giveaway!

Alright friends, as promised, it's time for my FREE GIVEAWAY of "A Few of My Favorite Things" for Winter!

January is the perfect time for a giveaway, don't you think? We've survived the craziness of Christmas, and we all need a little pampering, right? Well, one lucky lady is going to get just that! (Guys, you can enter too! This prize pack would make a great Valentine's Day gift for the lady in your life!)

Here's what's up for grabs...

1. Arbonne Skin Conditioning Oil (the perfect way to keep your skin healthy and hydrated this winter!)  2. A pair of fun, flirty, swirly fashion earrings  3. A set of 3 brass bangles with teal dyed camel bone insets (all the way from India!) 4. A glittery snowflake ornament (because I love snow, and glitter, and I meant to do this giveaway in December... oops! ;)  5. Arbonne's Pampermint Peppermint Foot Scrub - full size  6. A mini "Fresh Snow" anti-bacterial hand gel (because it's flu season people!)  7. Two delicious Land-O-Lakes Mint Hot Cocoa packets (one for you, and one for a friend!)  8. Two All-Natural Arbonne Aromatic Woods Candles (Bay Leaf & Ivy and White Birch scents)  9. A set of 6 Arbonne lip polish samples (just in time to smooch someone on V-Day! ;)

Whew! This is my biggest giveaway yet with over $100 of items! I've been so excited to share it with you all, and I know one of you will be thrilled to win it. So hurry up and enter already! Here's how...

1. Like The Sound of Hope on Facebook.
2. Follow The Sound of Hope on Twitter.
3. Visit our new online store for The Sound of Hope, and leave a comment telling me what your favorite item is.
4. Tweet about The Sound of Hope's new online store. Every purchase helps provide rescue, protection, and holistic care to children in need! Be sure to include this link! - http://thesoundofhope.storenvy.com/  
5. Share a status on Facebook about The Sound of Hope's new online store.
6. Share our new website on Facebook or Twitter - http://thesoundofhope.org/

You'll get ONE (1) entry for each option above. Please leave a comment on the blog for each entry, so they will count when I do the drawing! Be sure to include your email address so that I can contact you promptly if you win!

Want a few more entries? You can choose this option to get 5 entries!

7. Feature our online store on your blog. Explain what The Sound of Hope is, and choose a few of your favorite items to share with your readers. Don't forget links to The Sound of Hope (http://thesoundofhope.org/) and our online store! Be sure to include the fact that every purchase helps to care for orphans and vulnerable children overseas!  http://thesoundofhope.storenvy.com/

Alright friends - that's it! Choose one (or ALL) of these options, and get to entering! I will announce the winner next Friday, February 8th! Good luck! ;)

A Few of My Favorite Things :: Winter Edition

"Girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes

Snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes

Silver white winters that melt into springs

These are a few of my favorite things..."

I'm a little behind with this blog because I couldn't find my white dress with the blue satin sash (wink!)  but I wanted to be sure to get it out before January is up! (January is totally still winter... so... I'm still okay, right?) Besides, I've got an AWESOME give-away to follow up this post, and this is the perfect month for a give-away... don't you think? So sit back, grab a cup of hot chocolate, and check out a few of my favorite things for WINTER!

#1 Christmas

I realize Christmas is long gone by now (and that I should probably take down all my Christmas cards... oops!) but I'd be lying if it wasn't at the top of the list! I love everything about Christmas... the lights, the music, the gifts, the time spent with loved ones, and of course Baby Jesus' Birthday... but that's enough for a whole blog of it's own. Hmm... maybe we'll come back to that next year... ;)

#2 Glittens

When the weather turns cold, I love a good pair of glittens! That's a glove & a mitten mixed together, for those of you wondering. I like them because they keep my hands warm and my fingers free! There's nothing worse than having to take your whole glove off just because you need your fingers to unlock a car door or to use your touchscreen phone. With these I can just flip the top back to expose my fingertips, then cover them back up quickly! Plus, I happen to think they are adorable!

#3 Snow

I know some of you Southerners are cringing, but I honestly miss the snow we had in Michigan. At least... in Dec/Jan/Feb. When March and April roll around, I am D-O-N-E with the snow (which is one reason we moved back to warmer climates!) But I think it's really beautiful, and I miss the way it makes everything look clean and sparkling white. It's like waking up to a whole new world when everything is covered in snow! There's just something magical about it.

#4 Arbonne Skin Conditioning Oil

Speaking of cold weather... this is my favorite way to help my skin brave the snow and wind of winter! I use it on my face and hands for chapped skin, and it is a lifesaver! It's also great to heal a red, raw nose from a cold/flu/allergies. It's packed full of all-natural essential oils that help your skin heal and hydrate quickly!





#5 Hot Chocolate

Nothing says "winter" like being curled up in front of the fire with a cup of hot chocolate! My favorite is peppermint, and there are a few ways to make it. You can either buy peppermint hot chocolate (Land-O-Lakes is divine!) or you can melt a York peppermint patty or peppermint stick in yours. Yummy! 

#6 Plum or deep cranberry nails

I love to paint my nails to match the seasons. Bright colors in the Spring and Summer, muted colors in the Fall, and rich jewel tones in the Winter! My favorites this season are plums and deep cranberry colors. They really pop with my winter wardrobe!

#7 The Miss America Pageant 

Every January we watch as one young woman's dream comes true and she is crowned MISS AMERICA! Though it didn't happen this year, I usually have a Miss America party so my girlfriends and I can watch together. It's so special to watch after competing in the Miss America Organization, and it's a tradition I can't wait to share with my daughter some day! With the way many celebrities behave these days, I'm grateful for an organization that still understands that little girls need role models who live their lives with grace, character, and integrity. Miss Americas are not just beautiful, they are also intelligent, talented, kind-hearted women who are committed to serving others. 




#8 Presents

If you know me at all, then you know gift-giving is one of my love languages. There are few things I enjoy more than giving or receiving a really thoughtful gift. So winter is pretty special for me, since I get Christmas presents in December, and Birthday presents in January! This year though, my favorite birthday gifts didn't come wrapped in a box or bag. Lots of my friends gave to this need in honor of my birthday, and that was definitely an extra-special gift! 

#9 These pictures...

As I've mentioned before, we did an iStock shoot for almost every season. We didn't get to do a snow session (sad!) but we did do a Christmas one! Here are a few of my favorites...

Looking for Santa! ;)

Our "pretend" daughters. Aren't they cute?

Decorating the tree...

This one (above) was used on a billboard AND a TV ad for a jewelry store in Philadelphia!

 Those antlers are just too cute!

I told you I LOVE presents! ;)

Okay... your turn! What are your favorite things for Winter?

*Remember to stay tuned for my next blog - I always follow up a "Favorite Things" post with a giveaway of at least one of my favorite things!

A Few of my Favorite Things :: Fall Giveaway!

Well friends, it's your lucky day! Whenever I do a "Favorite Things" post, I always follow it up with a FREE GIVEAWAY! Because I like to pretend like I'm Oprah. It's fun.

You're getting a new CAAA---AAAARRR!!! 

                                                                           *said in my best excited Oprah voice.

Just kidding.

But you are getting a chance to win some fun freebies to make your Autumn days just a little more enjoyable. Sound good? Great! Here's what's up for grabs today...

#1 - A hand-knitted, rose-colored scarf

I love this color scarf for Fall! 

This is similar to the scarf I wore in our Fall Photoshoot. 

It's just beautiful paired with cream sweaters and chocolate brown boots!

This was actually knitted by a friend (not me - I wish) and it's lovely. 

7 inches wide by 54 inches long (not including the tassels). 

#2 - 2 packets of Alpine Spiced Cider

One for you, and one to share with a friend (or your special someone!)

Mix together with hot water, 1-2 tbs caramel syrup, and a dash of cinnamon.

Top it with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel syrup, and another sprinkle of cinnamon!

Now you've got the perfect hot drink for a chilly Fall night!

#3 - NYC's Park Ave Nail Polish

This muted tone goes beautifully with all your Fall fashions!

And the best part is - it dries in a New York minute,

so your manicure won't slow you down!

--------------------------

You've got several options to enter to win. 

Pick one or do them all for a better chance at this little prize pack!

               #1 - Comment below and answer this question: "What's one of your favorite things for Fall?"

               #2 - Follow me on Twitter! https://twitter.com/ErickaBJackson

               #3 - Become a follower of my blog (the button's on the right, by all the little square pics).

               #4 - Follow The Sound of Hope on Twitter! https://twitter.com/the_soundofhope

*Remember to add a comment for every one of the entries you choose to do!
And don't forget to include your email address, so I can contact you if you win!

I'll announce the winner on November 1st!

A Few of my Favorite Things :: Fall Edition

"Scarves around my neck and boots up to my knees 

Warm apple cider and Pumpkin Spice cream cheese 

Pretty Fall foliage that won't cost a thing 

These are a few of my favorite things..." 

I've been wanting to write this blog for weeks, but honestly, it hasn't felt much like Fall around here! It's difficult to write about "favorite things" like scarves and boots when it's in the 80's every day. But the nights are getting cooler, the leaves are changing, and even though it's going to hit 80 degrees again this week, I'm still going to say - It's FALL Ya'll! So it's time for a post highlighting a few of my favorite things in this splendid season!

#1 - Leaves Changing Colors

Both Rusty and I love this time of year... when God takes out His paintbrush and dabs deep red, rich orange, and bright gold across the typically green and brown landscape. It's crazy to think this is what it looks like when the leaves die... there is such beauty rendered as they succumb to winter. I must admit, I have missed Fall in Michigan this year. It was glorious the last two years... one day it's summer and then suddenly September rolls around and the world bursts into color! It's really extraordinary. (Just not enough to make me want to leave the South again! ;)

#2 - Fall Candles 

When the air gets crisp again, it's the perfect time to fill your house with the warmth of candles! It always seems warmer and cozier when we have candles lit, and I love the way they make my house smell. I usually do a mix of apple, cinnamon, and vanilla candles, but this season I've "FALLen in love" (pardon the pun) with pumpkin spice too! Yankee Candle has some delicious scents but I just can't justify $30 for a candle. So if you're looking for some that smell good and won't break the bank, Pumpkin Spice & Warm Apple Pie from good 'ol WalMart have made me happy this month! *Tip - I'm also using Glade Plug-ins for when my candles aren't lit. Their new Apple Cinnamon scent makes my house smell like I'm baking apple pie everyday!


#3 - Apple Cider

I know most of you are thrilled to death that Pumpkin Spice Lattes are back at Starbucks, but I'm really a Caramel Apple Cider girl! This time of year I crave apple cider all the time (probably because of all the apple cinnamon candles I'm burning! Hmmm...) I've found a great substitute for the expensive stuff at Starbucks though. 1 packet of Alpine Spiced Cider, hot water, 1 - 2 tbs caramel syrup, and a dash of cinnamon. Top it off with whipped cream, a drizzle of caramel syrup, and another sprinkle of cinnamon and you have a delicious Fall treat!

#4 - Fall Flavors

Speaking of Fall Flavors, have you tried the new Pumpkin Cream Cheese yet? I saw it in the store the other day and HAD to give it a try. Good thing I did, because it is DELICIOUS! Rusty and I have been eating it on toasted bagels every morning (maybe not the healthiest breakfast, but gosh it's good!) Pumpkin muffins with cream cheese frosting are another favorite for this time of year. You can get an easy recipe here!

Photo source : David Albers

Photo source :: Nordstrom

#5 - Scarves

If you know me at all, then you know that I adore scarves. Every color, texture, fabric, and length - I will wear them any day of the year! But once Fall goes around, they are everywhere (and I don't have to stick to thin summertime scarves anymore!) Pull out the cashmere, hand-knits, infinity scarves and all the beautiful woven scarves I bought in India and Thailand! They are beautiful and functional this time of year, and I'm one happy, happy girl.  

Photo source : Makeup Masala

  #6 - Gray Nail Polish 

  I know this may sound crazy to some of you, but I'm loving matte    

  gray nail polish on short nails for the Fall! Two of my faves are Pure 

  Ice "Kiss Me Here", and NYC's quick dry polish in "Park Ave" 

  (which is more of a rose-colored gray). 

#7 - Arbonne's Shea Butter Wash & Body Lotion

In keeping with the scents of the season, I always change my bodywash & lotion to fit the time of the year. In the Summer I like fresh and fruity smells, but when Fall & Winter roll around I like to smell like vanilla. Arbonne's Shea Butter has the most delicious, warm, vanilla scent and I LOVE that it's all-natural! Plus, the lotion does a great job of keeping my skin soft and moisturized in the cold!

#8 - These pictures...

When we were hired as iStock models, our photographers did a shoot for every season. Our Fall shoot is seriously competing with our Spring shoot as my favorite! We've seen these pictures on everything - from a billboard, to printwork & web pictures for the National Marriage Institute, to websites advertising mountain vacations! Here are a few of my favorites from that day...

What are a few of YOUR favorite things for Fall?

*Remember to stay tuned for my next blog - I always follow up a "Favorite Things" post with a giveaway of at least one of my favorite things!

"A Few of My Favorite Things" ~ GIVEAWAY WINNER!

Alright ladies, the winner of my favorite things giveaway is....

Comment #10

BECCA STANLEY COME ON DOWN!!!  

(did you hear The Price is Right theme song in your head when you read that? did ya?!)

Becca, you are the winner of a (4 oz) bottle of my favorite thing for Spring - Arbonne's FC5 Exfoliating New Cell Scrub, which is a $28 value!  This is the perfect skin care addition for you, since you're an on-the-go mom to 2 precious kiddos! After you've washed your face at night- just rub a dime sized amount over your damp face, wet your fingertips and rub it around in small circles. Then rinse! No need to leave it on for 10 minutes or anything crazy like that (who has time for that?!) It's gentle enough to use every night or you can just use it once or twice a week if you prefer. It's a quick, delicious smelling treat for your skin! And you will be AMAZED at how soft your face is after!

I'll be mailing your prize to you soon! If any of you other ladies would like to give this amazing product a try, just comment below and I'll be sure to contact you the next time I place an Arbonne order. Thanks for being such great blog followers! :)

"A Few of My Favorite Things" ~ FREE GIVEAWAY!

If you read my post yesterday then you know it was all about my Favorite Things for Spring. Well just like I did with my "Favorite Things for Summer" post last year, I'm going to do a FREE GIVEAWAY for one of my favorite things! (I kind of feel like Oprah saying that... except I can't give you all a free car. Sorry about that!)

Anyway - up for grabs today is my favorite skincare product for the Spring -  Arbonne's FC5 New Cell Exfoliating Scrub!

I actually use this product year-round, but I'm especially fond of it in the Spring and Summer! With ingredients like Cucumber extract, Carrot extract, Mandarin Orange Peel, Lime Oil, and Grapefruit Peel, it smells so fresh and fruity! This is the perfect scrub to get rid of that dry skin from the winter. It makes your face feel so smooth and soft! And I LOVE that the ingredients are all-natural - no chemical dyes or fragrances, no cheap fillers, no animal by-products - just fresh, natural goodness for your skin!

The winner of this giveaway will receive a full-size bottle (4 oz) of the FC5 Exfoliating New Cell Scrub, which is a $28 value!  

To enter just COMMENT BELOW, and be sure to add your email address (so I can get in touch with you if you win!)

For extra entries you can follow our non-profit, The Sound of Hope on Twitter (1 extra entry), like us on Facebook (1 extra entry), or subscribe to our Blog (1 extra entry).  Just add an extra comment for each option you choose.

The winner will be announced next Thursday, June 7th!

A Few of my Favorite Things :: Spring Edition

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things..."

My faithful blog readers might remember when I did my "Favorite Things" post last summer. My plan was to do a post of my favorite things each season - Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. Unfortunately, we moved in the Fall (followed by me being sick a lot) and we were overseas for most of the Winter - so those two months got skipped! (I just couldn't bear to talk about my love of Christmas lights and snow when I was struggling with homesickness in India.) I'm bringing it back this month though - SPRING (even though it already feels like summer here in AL) and will add in the other seasons as they roll around this year. And just like my Summer blog - each of these will be followed up with a giveaway of one of my favorite things!

#1 - Flowers in Bloom

I always know it's coming when I see the first daffodil - or jonquil (or jonathan as my baby brother used to think they were called! ha!) Pretty soon there are pretty yellow flowers everywhere and the trees are bursting in blooms of pink and white! You can't deny it's Spring! I have so many fond memories of picking sweet smelling daffodils for my mother & grandmother growing up. Someday (when we buy a home) I am planning on having hundreds of them in our yard!


#2 - Easter
As much as I love Christmas, Easter is right up there with it for my favorite holiday. What an incredible celebration of LIFE and HOPE! Of course it's important to our Faith that Christ came (Christmas) but what He did at Easter CHANGED EVERYTHING! (I wrote a blog about that this year - check it out here).

 #3 - Baby Bunnies
If you know me at all, then you know I have a thing for bunnies. We had the cutest little baby bunnies in our backyard in Michigan that I tried to catch (unsuccessfully) for almost 3 years! (Which is how I got the nickname "Bunny" from my husband.) Baby animals, especially bunnies, are definitely one of my favorite things about Springtime! I mean, look at that picture. Isn't that the sweetest thing you've ever seen?! Someday I might add a bunny necklace to my wardrobe like this one... or this one...



#4 - Pastels
I'll admit I've already jumped into the super bright, bold colors for summer... but I love it when pastels begin to make their appearance in the Spring! There are few things sweeter than little ones in pinks, baby blues, pale yellows, and seafoam green! I found the perfect Spring jeans this year in a pale aqua. LOVE them! (Mine were a $5 find on a sale rack - score! If you love the look, here are some similar ones from ModCloth.)


#5 - Hanging out in the SUNSHINE!
Oh... the warm, warm SUNSHINE! It does something to ya, doesn't it? There are few things better than stepping out and turning your face to the sun that first Spring day! I remember how early Spring used to come when I was in school at Auburn... every March you'd see girls in shorts and flip-flops laying out in whatever sunny spot they could find on campus!


 
#6 - Teva Flip Flops
I'm pretty sure that the first thing I do every Spring is put on my flip-flops! When it's warm enough for my toes to show it's time for a pedicure and my Tevas! These are absolutely my favorite flip-flops. They are super comfy (they even have some arch support), cheap (only $25!), and cute too! I love that they have extra straps (to me it's a little bit dressier look than just your typical flip-flop). I have them in brown and black and they're my go-to shoes when it's warm out. They travel all over the world with me too!




#7 - Arbonne's FC5 Exfoliating Scrub
I actually use this product year-round, but I'm especially fond of it in the Spring and Summer! With ingredients like Cucumber extract, Carrot extract, Mandarin Orange Peel, Lime Oil, and Grapefruit Peel, it smells so fresh and fruity! This is the perfect scrub to get rid of that dry skin from the winter. It makes your face feel so smooth and soft! (*check back tomorrow for a chance to win this product!)


#8 - These pictures
When we were hired as iStock models, our photographers did a shoot for every season. I think the Springtime shoot may be my all-time favorite! Our first iStock sighting was a photo from this shoot, featured in Neue Magazine! Here are a few of my favorites from that day...

Okay - your turn! What are your favorite Springtime things?

A Few of My Favorite Things :: Summer Edition

"Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens
Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens
Brown paper packages tied up with strings
These are a few of my favorite things..."

Don't you just love that song from The Sound of Music? I do, and it's inspired a new blogging topic called, "A Few of My Favorite Things"! My plan is to do a post for my "favorite things" each season - Summer, Fall, Winter, Spring. Over time, I might expand and post other "favorite things" here and there. I'd love it if you'd do your own blog of summertime "favorite things" and leave the link in a comment so I can read yours too!

#1 - Fresh cut flowers 

Okay.... to be honest, I love fresh flowers in my house year-round, but there's something about summer colored floral arrangements actually in the summer! My favorites are these orange/coral roses or bright pink roses (with just about anything!), blue and white arrangements (roses, hydrangeas, delphinium, etc), and any combination of yellow and purple (daffodils, statice, sunflowers, irises, roses, lavender, etc). And to save money, I'll even cut wildflowers from the back yard. There are few things happier than a daisy!

I am in love with this new rose bowl (also called a flower frog) that my husband and I found antiquing a few weeks ago. (Okay...okay... I was antiquing. Meanwhile, my husband was playing with the fake sword in the antique shop and giving me a heart attack by how close he was getting to all the breakables!) I'd been looking for one ever since my friend from college, James, wrote about them on his blog. A rose bowl is the PERFECT way to ensure a full floral arrangement, and it looks great on my end table! I wasn't wild about the base at first, as I was looking for something more formal (see - heavy silver bowl) but it's growing on me. I'm hoping I'll find a couple more that I like better on future antiquing trips :)

#2 - Hammocks

Who doesn't love a hammock? There are few things more peaceful than swinging lazily in a hammock in the summer sun, staring up at a bright blue sky. Honestly, I feel more peaceful just seeing my hammock outside on the back porch! When it's there, that means it's officially summer!

#3 - Petites Tahitian Green nail polish

I got this little bottle of polish for 98 cents at WalMart, and I am in LOVE with it! I'm pretty much obsessed with green right now - specifically emerald green or that lovely turquoise color that's everywhere these days. When I saw this color I just had to have it! It reminds me of the color of the ocean in Thailand, and it's just so much fun for summer. I've only tried it on my toes though - not sure if I'd like green fingernails!

  

                                           #4 - A Thai Two-Piece

I hate swimsuit shopping. Who doesn't?! It is torture of the cruelest kind! Even in college - when I had a personal trainer, killer abs, and was winning swimsuit awards in Miss Alabama preliminaries (those were the days! *sigh) I still hated swimsuit shopping! I could try on 50 suits and maybe, just maybe, find one I liked. There's just way too much that can go wrong when that much of your body is exposed! So when I saw this gorgeous green and black print (did I mention I am loving green right now?) in the night market in Thailand, I was almost too afraid to buy it! It was so pretty, but the odds of buying a swimsuit from a street vendor (without trying it on) and having it fit (much less look good) were pretty slim. Still - at $10 - I just couldn't resist. Imagine my surprise when I got home and it not only fit - it was the most flattering, comfortable swimsuit I'd ever owned! I especially love the fact that
it's strapless - so no more terrible tan lines to deal with!

                                     #5 - Arbonne's "Awaken" lotion

There is one thing I HATE about summer - those blasted mosquitoes! But I also hate putting bugspray full of harmful pesticides on my skin (did you know everything you put on your skin absorbs into your bloodstream in 26 seconds?! Eek!) and the smell of citronella (which is in almost every natural bug repellent). So it seems I had 3 options - get eaten by mosquitoes, put harmful pesticides on my skin, or smell like disgusting citronella.... until now!

Several years ago, some other Arbonne consultants told me that the Awaken lotion (formulated as an aromatherapy line) kept away mosquitoes. Naturally, I was skeptical. If it didn't have pesticides or citronella, how would it work?! So - a friend of mine and I tested it for ourselves in India - against mosquitoes that didn't just BITE - they also carried malaria. Turns out - those women were RIGHT! Apparently, mosquitoes don't like the scent of lavender or lemon peel oil. This amazing lotion that smells fresh and summery (and isn't strong at all!) actually did keep the mosquitoes away - as long as it was applied to ALL my exposed skin. I was THRILLED! Now I recommend it to everyone, especially my friends with kids! It's my go-to summer lotion. And the good news for guys is - it doesn't smell "girly" at all, so you can use it too!

            #6 - Summer Reading

Go ahead.... call me a dork, or a bookworm, but I miss my childhood "Summer Reading Programs"! Not the terrible literature forced on me by my high school teachers or college professors (okay, it wasn't all bad... but I hate being forced to read something I didn't choose!) but the programs put on by local libraries to encourage kids to read during their summers off. My mother used to enroll us kids in BOTH programs - at the Anniston and Oxford Public Libraries. There were summers I'd read 80 books (40 for each library) and I couldn't have been happier!

Sadly, over time reading for fun has been put on the backburner. I blame my Southern English professor for forcing me to read an entire semester of books I HATED my senior year of college. I never fully recovered! So - this summer - I'm doing something about it. I'm making time to read for fun  - even if it's just a few chapters before bed every night. Last week I started "I Still Dream About You" by Fannie Flag. It's a fictional story (that I'm loving!) about a former Miss Alabama and it's set in Birmingham. It only took about 4 chapters before I was homesick for Alabama and missing my Miss Alabama Pageant friends!

#7 - These pictures....

I'll finish this off with one of my favorite summer pictures of me and my husband. Okay... maybe two of my favorites (I couldn't choose between them!) These were taken by Rosie Gearhart, who hired us to model for her iStock portfolio. I'm pretty sure we have a picture for every season thanks to her - and I'll do my best to pick my favorite and share it with you on a similar blog in Fall, Winter, and Spring too!

I just love these shots. We were so genuinely happy here... we laughed a lot that day!

Okay - your turn! What are your favorite things for summer?