Winner winner chicken dinner...

Ok so I know I said I would post the winner of the "Follow me" challenge first thing this morning, but this day didn't go as planned. This is literally the first time I have sat down since 4AM. Ugh. Unless you count the hour I spent crying at the chiropractor, and I do mean actual tears. My back is so jacked up and then he asked me how my life was going and that combine with the pain, I just fell apart. ANYWAY.

 The winner of the hand bound book and beanie is (insert drum roll here).... Tiffany!

Congratulations girl! Email me your address and I'll mail out the book and beanie! Also, if I don't hear from Tiffany by Monday (2nd) at 9AM, I will (or Random.org will) generate another winner.

Don't Forget!

You've got until tonight at midnight to become a follower of my blog and be entered to win this awesome hand bound book and knit beanie! Become a follower by clicking the link on the right and then commenting on this post! Tick, tock, tick, tock.....

Good Mojo

Hmm..Well this weekend started off with some poetic justice through the mail. Friday, my unemployment was approved, which is a huge relief off of my mind. I will have some (albeit very small) amount of income coming in weekly and with a little help I am going to be able to stay in my apartment and on my feet for the foreseeable future. AWESOME news.

I am so grateful that my claim was approved, it was such a huge relief, I can't even explain. I am even more grateful to finally be able to make headway with what I want to do from here. I am going to be able to make Nov rent and get back on my feet financially. While on unemployment, I can make up to 30% of my weekly earnings in addition to and still earn the full unemployment benefit amount, so that means I can go get a part time job doing something to fill in the gap until I find a much more permanent occupation. So that is the plan for right now. Find part time employment to fill in gaps and pay off bills that have stacked up over the last month. As far as progress there, I applied for two clerical type jobs this evening, one of which has the potential to be more than a part time gig. I am also open to doing anything else really, I wouldn't mind cashiering at a craft store or even like stocking shelves at Target or wherever during the evenings. Just something part time that allows me the time to interview for more permanent jobs, and go to doctors appointments to figure out my continuing ears and knee issue. So if anyone hears of anything let me know.

On the cash front, I am still selling my iMac ($650), enV cell phone ($75), and iPod Classic with accessories ($100). Please leave a comment or email me if you are interested. I've linked the items with pictures in past posts or you can see all of them on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/meagenridley.

With that good news brightening my outlook, I think I may do something a little crazy. No, I'm not getting a 2nd tattoo (but that may be a good idea, I know what/where I want it and I'm in sort of a transitional phase right now....) Anyway! Nov 1st I am putting up my Christmas tree and all my decorations! I went shopping with my Mom today and we went though all the Christmas sections and I just really got into the spirit. I just rearranged my living room and I have the perfect spot for it. And I have all this free time on my hands...I just want to put them out! Screw the day after Thanksgiving. Mine are going up November 1 baby! Woo!

While I'm updating - I started the book Escape by Carolyn Jessop. It's the story of the woman that escaped the FLDS church. Wow. The book is incredible. It's crazy that people seriously live the lives she did. It's a very interesting read and I am thinking I will finish it quickly. It will definitely get a book review on my blog once I'm finished - so look forward to that.

On the book front, don't forget to become a follower of my blog so you can be entered to win this giveaway! The giveaway ends Oct 29th so don't forget! Just become a follower and then leave me a comment on that post! My goal is to get to 100 followers before the end of the year so spread the word! Have a happy Sunday everyone. I know I will, John, my Mom and Dad are making pot roast and potatoes for dinner. I'm pretty excited, I've been crazing it since you FB about it a few days ago! Woo! Also, Mom I'm making the deviled eggs (as I type this actually, so I'll be there at 4PM with them. I don't know if Holli will be there or not, she hasn't felt well the passed few days.)

Library Cards & Giveaways!

Holli and I got our library cards renewed today! I've really been getting back into books again lately, and as much as I love to buy them, they are expensive and I don't have any income right now. But then I remembered this awesome place called the Orem Public Library! Ha ha. So Holli had today off and we went and did it. Holli wasn't in the system, but I was from back in the day and apparently I had late fees. Boo. And they made me pay them! $11.08 from 1998. Yes, 1998. I was in 8th grade when I racked those up and over ten years later they made me pay them. Lame, but whatever I can rent books now. So I got Escape by Carolyn Jessop, Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen, and Stolen Lives by Malika Oufkir. I'm pretty excited about them. I am going to start with Escape first, my friend Jayni recommended it to me ages ago and said it was really interesting so I'll do a review once I'm finished. I finished Loose Girl and may or may not do a book review for it this weekend. There's a small one on my Goodreads profile if anyone is interested.

So along with my renewed love for books, I decided it would be fun to do a giveaway of one of my handmade books and a handmade beanie in celebration of the fall season! Yay! So, in order to qualify for the giveaway you just have to become a follower of my blog (link on the right) and leave me a comment introducing yourself, or just saying you're now a follower. If you're already a follower just leave me a comment saying hi. The giveaway will end one week from today on Thursday, October 29th @ midnight. I'll submit the comment numbers to Random.org to generate the winning number and I'll announce who it is Friday morning. Sound good? Oh, I guess you'll want to see what you are "following" for right?

Here's what I'm giving away-

Cute huh!? I made each of them with my own two hands - so you know they're good. The book was hand bound with a coptic stitch and the beanie was knit with high quality green yarn. I want to get to 100 followers so spread the word about the fun giveaway!