And the WINNER is....

Thank you to everyone who signed up to be in the

100 Followers Celebration!!

The lucky winner of The Quick-Fix Home Organizer is.......

Eliza J!!

Congratulations Eliza J!! Send me an email to let me know your mailing address so I can send your book and CD (and a few other goodies) in the mail to you next week!!

That was so much fun...I love Giveaways. I wish I could do it every day! But until I hit the lottery....that probably won't be happening any time soon. Come to think of it...since I don't even play the lottery...it probably really won't happen!

Anyway...thank you again for playing along with me!

today's laundry list...

Betty wants to know if you've signed up for the GIVEAWAY yet? No?
Well, what are you waiting for?! Go here for your chance to WIN!
(This picture makes me laugh every time I look at it.)

Welp, it's Thursday. Starting tomorrow the boys are off for the next two weeks...Spring Break. (Remember when it used to be called Easter Vacation?) It'll be nice to let them sleep in.

I have been busy lately...busy making some changes here at Give a Girl a Fig. As soon as I'm done I'll give you the Grand Tour.

I've come across some new things that I wanted to share with you.

Have you heard of Mad Hungry? It's my new favorite cooking show hosted by Lucinda Scala Quinn. She's down to earth; she makes good, easy, healthy recipes; she's got sons; she wears cute tops. And just the other day she talked about home remedies...simple ones like ginger and chicken soup...the usuals. She was instantly my new favorite. I appreciate her outlook...

I've mentioned a time or two...I love to make things. Always have. Always will. Years ago I was very involved in online art groups...but stepped away from them for years. Well...a few weeks back I was invited to do an art project with my friend Lelainia. She reminded me of an art exchange site called Swap-bot. Have you heard of it? I'm enjoying it so far...you have to be selective in the swaps you choose. But so far I've had good experiences.

My friend Sarah recently started her own blog and a few weeks ago she asked me to write a guest post!  So I did...but then I forgot to link up! (Sorry Sarah!) Pay her a visit...let her know you came by.

Hmmm...what else?

Oh! I thought of one more thing...wanna win ANOTHER giveaway?! My friend Amy is giving away a book, Sourdough from A to Z. If you want a chance to win head on over and leave a comment!

I guess that's it...for now. I'm sure I'll think of something else later...it's how my mind is working today...feeling a bit scattered...and chatty!

And don't forget to sign up for the GIVEAWAY...the winner will be chosen tomorrow!!

100! Let's celebrate with another GIVEAWAY!

Well look at that...I recently hit 100 Followers

here at Give a Girl a Fig. I am so excited!

Now, I realize that in comparison to some others...100 doesn't seem like much. But...I'm not into comparing myself to others (anymore...ha) so for me...and for this blog...100 people taking time to visit now and then is a BIG deal.

And I appreciate it. Very much.

thank you.

So I don't know about YOU...but I think this seems like a good time for a celebration! And to celebrate...I'd like to have another GIVEAWAY!

First in the prize pack is this book...The Quick-Fix Home Organizer. I can always use help with organizing. And even better if it's QUICK!

Second is a CD titled FREEDOM. It's a 3-CD pack full of amazing songs from various worship artists. The proceeds go to International Justice Mission to fight  human trafficking. Human trafficking is...hmmm....there really isn't a word that can describe it well enough...at least not a word that I can use here. I know God has laid it on my heart to do something...in some way...to help those trapped in sexual slavery. More on that in the future...

Thirdly...I will toss in a few extras!

So whaddya think? Wanna join in the celebration?! You do? Great! Just leave a comment and you will automatically be entered in the GIVEAWAY. And if you tell others about the GIVEAWAY in some form or another...blog or facebook or telephone (ha!)...just let me know in another post and you can be entered to win again! The winner will be chosen this Friday, April 8th...thank you again and good luck!

We have a WINNER!!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the GIVEAWAY this week! 

I gave each of you a number, in the order you signed up to win.

I then put those numbers in a bucket and had my husband pick the winner!

And...that winner is....

donnag!!

Congratulations donnag! Please send me your mailing address in a private email

and I will ship your devotional and booklet out to you on Monday!

Thanks for participating everyone...can't wait for the next GIVEAWAY!

Are you prepared? And FREE print outs!

**Quick reminder...about the GIVEAWAY! Go here for a chance to win! The Drawing is later this afternoon!**

I am loving this Preparedness Challenge! (Amy...you rule!) I am the type that needs someone, or something, to hold me accountable to following through with...something. Anything. Everything! Whatever it is!

I joined the PC (Preparedness Challenge) a couple weeks ago...and now, throughout the week, I think of ways to better prepare my family for a possible emergency. And I think of it more because I feel I have to answer to YOU. Well, that and the thought of not being able to provide for my kids in an emergency situation about pushes me over the edge.

This past week I did quite a few things to prepare for an emergency. I bought 6 more gallons of water, a dozen boxes of matches and a few more cans of prepared foods such as chili and baked beans. I was talking to my mom about this whole "preparedness" thing last week...and she brought up a good point...what if we don't have water to prepare food with?

It made me stop and think...because I have been setting things aside with the assumption that I will have some sort of water supply to prepare things such as beans and rice and dried soups. But there is a good possibility that we won't have access to water with the exception of whatever I've set aside. It was a good point...and urged me to pick up some ready-made canned goods to add to the stores.

I also gathered travel size shampoo, conditioner and lotion from our time away last weekend. I don't usually bring those things home...they just take up room in the linen closet. But this time I thought they'd be good to add to the supplies for the PC. Those and a small sewing kit I came across a week or so ago in the junk drawer.

The main thing I did, though, was to make Master Lists of everything I want to have in my 3-month Emergency Storage. I am a list maker...I need to see it on paper...write it down...check it off...or I forget. And I was getting overwhelmed with going to this site and this site and that site...gathering info, trying to remember everything I needed...wanted...could possibly need, etc.

So...I decided to make myself Master Lists. I took all of the information I felt was important from several difference sites and put it all on three lists. So now I can print them out, see what I need, check it off when I have it...done.

I also wanted to share these Master Lists with you. Keep in mind that these are the items I think we'll need, and use. The lists are also a guideline...your family may not eat what my family will. Or need what my family needs.

Would you like a Master List for yourself? Follow these links and print them out:

Emergency Food List
Emergency Non-Food Items List
First Aid Kit Supplies

I will be ordering some of these items from Emergency Essentials (follow the link in my sidebar). I like the idea of powdered milk, powdered peanut butter and potato flakes. No...not gourmet. Or local. But these are things that my family goes through a LOT of and will definitely get used up. And if we get to the point of survival, I won't be concerned with what's in the food or where it came from, as long as I am able to feed my kids.

Not to mention, the items from Emergency Essentials have a long storage life due to the way their stored. I can't do any better at this point...so this is a plus for me.

I also want to share a link to a Food Calculator put together by LDS. You just plug in your numbers and it generates a list for you. This is the list I used to create my own list...adding some things and taking away others.

This preparing business sure does make me feel better. I have yet to really get it organized...right now it's all sort of piled on and around a few shelves in the garage. "Organize pantry shelves in garage" is on my to-do list...still. (ahem) Next week...for sure...*wink*.

What have you done to prepare? Do tell..!

Taking care of business...making changes and a GIVEAWAY!

OK...so I am doing some work around this blog...making some changes, adding some items, removing some others. It sure is time consuming! Thank you for your patience with the layout and wacky colors while I fix things up!

Hey...speaking of that, can you do me a favor and tell me how it's all looking from YOUR computer so far? I know how it looks on mine...but not sure if it's looking OK from someone else's point of view. Not to mention, I'm messing with the HTML which is SO not my forte'! {edit: maybe I DO know a teensy bit about HTML after all! I love it when things work out like you want them to!}Thank you in advance...

And don't forget the GIVEAWAY!!

The drawing is tomorrow! I'm giving away a lovely  new testament
devotional bible and a booklet I wrote for Belgium. 

Want a chance to win? Go sign up!

As far as the booklet I wrote for Belgium, I do have more. It's quarter-page in size and contains 18 pages of hope and truth as to what God can do with depression...if you let Him.

If you don't win, but still want a copy of Desperation and Hope; a journey through depression, I have some available for $3 (to help offset the cost of postage and materials).

Alrighty then...back to work for me! Until tomorrow...I pray you all have a beautiful day!

Time for a GIVEAWAY!!

GIVEAWAY TIME!

I have been wanting to have a GIVEAWAY for some time now...but wasn't exactly sure what I wanted to give away.

Until the other day when I came across this New Testament Women's Devotional Bible. I just knew it would be great to give away to one of YOU!

I would also like to add in a copy of the booklet I wrote for Belgium,

Desperation and Hope - A Journey Through Depression

This GIVEAWAY is open to everyone! E-VE-RY-ONE! Yes, that means YOU.

First time visiting Give a Girl a Fig? No problem.

Visit here every day? No problem!

"But I never win anything!"....there's a first time for everything!

My hope is that everyone who pops in and reads this post joins in the fun and enters to win.

So...what do you have to do? Simple. All you have to do is leave a comment here on this post. And you can tell me whatever you want...your favorite color, how many kids you have, the name of your childhood pet (hmmmm....sounds like I'm trying to get bank passwords!! lol I'm NOT...really!)

Anyway...leave a comment...tell me something about yourself...

and I will announce the winner on Saturday, April 2.

Thank you for stopping by!

words and thoughts...



Pink...for spring. Go here to find out who took these amazing photos...

 I have a lot on my mind...

Chris and I went to a worship conference this past weekend...we heard amazing worship music...and amazing speakers. I am still processing what I got from it...so much swirling through my head. When things settle down in this brain of mine I will share with you...it's too good not to...

I am praying about an important decision..one that I cannot reveal quite yet. If you are one to pray I'd appreciate so much if you'd agree with me in prayer about it. Where two or more are gathered... Right? And we are gathered here...I appreciate that...so much.

Changes changes...life and more life...thoughts and words and prayers. So much to think about that the words won't flow...not yet. Until then...enjoy the picture mosaic...and the sunshine if you are blessed with it today (we are!).

Glad you're here...thank you. xo

As a matter of fact...to celebrate you being here...I think I'll have a Giveaway later in the week...a little something, just for YOU. Let others know, too...you never know who might need a blessing!

And the WINNER is.....

Congratulations to WHITE STONE!

The only woman I know who can take apart a sewing machine and put it back together again!! I mean, I could take one apart...but..uh...yeah.

So, White Stone...you are the winner of "The "One Year Devotional for People of Purpose, 365 meditations on how to make an impact on your world" and a set of note cards made by yours truly!

I hope you are blessed....

Please email me your name and address so I can get your prizes out to you!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As for my Etsy Shop re-stock!? I need a few more days. I ended up getting the flu last Thursday so I was out of commission for a few days. Thank you for your patience!

I feel like giving something away!!

**GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED! WINNER WILL BE ANNOUNCED MONDAY!**

Yep...you read that right. I feel like I want to GIVE SOMETHING AWAY TODAY!!

And that something is this....

The "One Year Devotional for People of Purpose, 365 meditations on how to make an impact on your world".

And let me just say, we are ALL people of purpose. Every last one of us. And we all have the ability to make an impact in the world. None of us is too small...or too insignificant. God has a plan for our lives...for my life, for your life and for your life and for yours and yours and yours. So don't think that this devotional is not for you...because it IS. Most definitely.

Along with the devotional, in celebration of my Etsy shop re-opening happening REAL SOON, I am also going to include a set of my new photo note cards.

I am so excited!

And I hope you like them...xo

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

So...to enter this GIVEAWAY all you have to do is tell me one thing about yourself...anything you want...anything. Whatever. Just tell me the first thing that comes to mind...I'm all ears!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The GIVEAWAY will close Sunday evening at 8pm.

The winner will be selected randomly by drawing...and will be announced on Monday when I officially RE-STOCK my Etsy shop.

So what are you waiting for? Go on...go to the Comments section and tell me something about YOU. Anything at all... xoxo

And the winner is....

...BEEGIRL!!

Congratulations!! You won the Grace for the Moment Daily Bible by Max Lucado!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Thank you to all who commented. I enjoyed reading your stories of either growing up in church...or not. Personally, I did not. My mom did take my little brother and I for a time to a Lutheran church when I was little. I still have a couple of the crafts we made in Sunday School tucked away in my little red bible with my name engraved on the front. I think I have a little "Jesus loves me" pin around here somewhere, too.

The great thing is...whether we grew up in church or came to know Him later in life...bottom line is we KNOW Him. And better yet...HE knows us! And had a plan for us all along...God is so good.

Enjoy your new bible Beegirl! I think you're gonna love it! (It'll ship Monday.)

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ps...sorry for the delay in posting this. We had no internet at the office today...so everything I planned to do there didn't get done! And the winner was chosen using a very technical program: eight people entered to win, I ran outside where my husband was talking to our neighbor about guitars and said, "Hey! Pick a number between 1 and 8!" They both blurted out, "Seven!". Done!

Commenter #7 it is...Beegirl!

Fun day ahead...

I'm going to go visit these sweet people again today! Yay! My cousin Megan's hubby returned to work last Monday so I thought I'd go visit and see if I can't help out some with the little ones. Fun day...I've been looking forward to it!

Look at what a sweet big sister Miss Averie is! And it almost looks like Evan is smiling! It's been two weeks since I've seen them...so I imagine Evan will look so different already. It's amazing how much little babies change in such short amounts of time.

So...it's time to get moving. I need to shower, wake Ian up and then pack his lunch, change laundry over to the dryer, eat my Heart Healthy serving of oatmeal, feed the chickens, water the seeds, drop Ian off at school then hit the road!

And.....

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Don't forget to go HERE to sign up for THE GIVEAWAY!!

The drawing is tomorrow morning! So don't delay!

And the WINNER is...

Happy Monday! I've been so excited to do the drawing for this little giveaway...it's not much, but hopefully these Mimi Dolls will bring a smile to your face.

So this is how it went...this morning I wrote all entrants names on strips of paper. Then I folded them up and put them in a bowl. Ian was getting ready for school so I said, "Hey Ian! I'm having a giveaway on my blog! Come draw the name..." So he did. Gladly. He even turned his head to the left so as not to cheat...such a good boy. He knows the routine.

So...he turned his head...

...and he drew the name.

And the WINNER is....

IT'S ME...MAVIS!! Congratulations!

Please send me your name and address and I will get your sweet little Mimi Dolls into the mail!

Thank you to everyone who participated. Giveaways are always so much fun. I love giving gifts! And really, it's even more fun when it's something I've made...dolls, jams, pickles...whatever. It just seems to mean a little more when you've made it yourself. Especially when the recipient really likes it!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

As far as Give a Girl a Fig @ Etsy.com...the Grand Opening will be tomorrow rather than today. This whole weekend got away from me between ball games and house stuff and laundry and groceries...so I am not completely ready. Not to mention I got called in to work a seven hour shift from 10-5 today...and I'm grateful, but it sure puts a damper on my creative time! Kidding...but you know what I mean. And then tonight I have a meeting for the Christmas boutique at 7...so it's going to be a long day.

Anyway....Give a Girl a Fig will open tomorrow...and I am so excited! (And a little nervous, truth be told... :) Oh! And I made a new design last night that I just got such a kick out of...she's so cute! I'll give you a hint...wings. That's all I'm sayin'...

Have a great day everyone! And It's Me...Mavis...send me your address so these sweet little girls can come to their new home!! Thanks again...you guys are so much fun.

(ps...if the winner does not claim the prize within 24 hours, I will draw a new winner.)

Someone gets a present!

Congratulations to dmoms of this is my life! You guessed that this ball of string had "something to do with baseball" and you were right!

This ball of "garden string" is actually the innards of a baseball. It was all wound up into a ball and then covered with leather and sewn together. Reggie, our dog, got a hold of this poor little baseball and chewed the leather to smithereens leaving this little ball of string. I was going to toss it in the trash...but instead tried to figure out a use for it. Aha! Garden string! Perfect. Reuse. Recycle. And when it's done helping me in the garden, into the compost it will go to become food for next years garden. I love it!

Hey dmoms! I need your mailing address again. In all of my "organization" I misplaced it. Sorry!

And good job on the educated guess...you are very observant!

Sunday morning quiet time...

It was nice and cool in the garden this morning. And pretty quiet since I hushed the girls with the leftovers from a bag of shredded wheat. Earlier one of them squawked so loud I thought she might have laid me an egg! But...no such luck...yet.

The garden is thriving and I am loving it. The beans (on the left) are growing like crazy...the pole beans are wrapping their tendrils around the poles and each other, braiding their way all over the place. The bush beans are already producing beans...the pole beans are a bit behind. I didn't read the package so I don't know if this is right...or if the pole beans just aren't going to produce? Time will tell.

I picked a few things this morning...tomatoes, a regular zucchini and an Eight Ball zucchini.

Between my zucchini and my friends' zucchini I'm going to be in over my head here pretty soon! And I've even been sharing! I've left piles of produce on two of my neighbors porches, I sent a small bag home with my mom and dad and later I'll be dropping off a bag for my bro and his family. And there's still more! So, later this afternoon I'm going to bust out the Cuisinart and shred a bunch for freezing. It will be nice in the winter when I want to make zucchini muffins and such.

The picture below is of the garden path. Or...should I say...what was the garden path? The Birdhouse gourd has boundary issues and is just growing all over the place. This is one case where I'm OK with something overstepping boundaries...it's so pretty!

And it's got many little gourds starting. I notice that a lot of them start but not all of them necessarily mature. So we'll see how that goes. (It's an experiment. Remember?) So we've got the gourd on the right and the Eight Ball zuke and tomatoes on the left. And of course the nasturtiums creeping and climbing all over...they add such fun color to the garden.

Can you guess what this is? I know, I know...it's string. But can you guess where it came from?

I don't know that you'll ever guess...but I'm going to put it out there and see if anyone comes up with it's original use. I have to say, I am cracking myself up with the whole reuse/recycle thing on this one. And if you've been keeping up on my blog and my family and what we've got going on...you just might be able to figure out where it came from!

Anyone wanna give it a try?! If you are the first one to get it...I'll send you a present!!

Happiness is...A WINNER!!

Congratulations to...ThyHandHathProvided! You are the winner of an original lino cut.

And just what does ThyHandHathProvided consider happiness? "Sunshine, waiting for chicks to hatch, reading to my kids, fans, getting to meet our baby in one week or less..."

Yes...she is ready to give birth at any moment. Yesterday was her official due date! So say a prayer for her for a speedy and smooth delivery of her sweet baby. And visit her blog...talk about inspiration. This woman and her husband have an amazing garden and really know how to put away for a winter. I want to be like them when I grow up!

Okie doke lucky winner...send me an email at moonshinelane at aol dot com with your mailing info and your print preference: Animal, Vegetable or Household. I will then send you an original piece of art...a 4x6 (roughly) hand-carved linoleum cut printed on high-quality watercolor paper It will go out in the mail on Monday!

Congratulations! And thank you to everyone for playing along...this was fun. I think I may just have to do this again sometime...soon!

Giveaway reminder!

You talkin' to me? Yeah, I'm talkin' to you! Go enter!

Just a friendly reminder to go to this post to enter in my first giveaway! I'll be drawing the name of the lucky winner on Friday!

Happiness is...

...chickens in my backyard.

...four teenage boys (and one 'tween!) in my car on the way to baseball practice last night.

...a little bit of rain this morning.

...a quiet house.

...a cup of coffee.

...quiet time with the Lord.

...healthy kids.

...good marriage with my sweet hubby.

...endless possibilities.

...the anticipation of canning with my mom this summer.

...business looking up.

...cool breezy mornings.

...hanging laundry to dry.

...kindred spirits.

...giveaways!

What's making YOU happy today?

I've been wanting to do a giveaway for some time now...I think I'll try it today! Leave a comment, letting me know what's making YOU happy today and be entered into a drawing to win an original lino cut made by yours truly. This is open to anyone and everyone...even if you've never commented before. I'd love to hear from you!

**Giveaway will be on Friday...name will be drawn randomly.**