Seriously? Did that just happen?....plus something new...and a giveaway!

Last Sunday I followed my usual routine of getting up, coffee, shower and then my requisite check of Facebook, emails, online news and checking my blog stats and then....wait....seriously.....do my eyes deceive me?  I was at 99,978 page views!  I knew the day was coming sometime soon when I would hit 100,000 but I didn't anticipate that my recent giveaway would have ramped up my views so fast.  Needless to say, I was pretty excited.  When I started this blog a little over a year ago I never anticipated having so many faithful and amazing readers but seeing that huge number made me realize "Hey, maybe people do enjoy this little blog" and I already know how much you guys enjoy the Zendala Dare so maybe it shouldn't have been that big of a surprise, but I don't want to get a big head about it!  

I already knew that I wanted to do a giveaway when I hit 100,000 page views and I had made a promise to my readers in this post.  So I eagerly awaited for the counter to take the momentous turn so I could capture a picture but the actual count of 100,000 alluded me.  It must have been a very busy morning in blog land because that sucker jumped from 99,998 to 100,002 without missing a beat.  Oh well.

So let's have a 100,000 view giveaway!  Since this giveaway is all about blog love I figured I should honor some of my favorite blogs.  For this giveaway I chose to focus on my favorite lifestyle blogs and I'm saving my gazillion favorite Zentangle blogs for a special giveaway in the near future.   The rules are easy:  Visit a blog below and leave a comment for 1 entry.  You get 2 entries for each one that you decide to follow.  That's a chance at a total of 15 entries!

So here are some of my favorites:

Girl Defying Gravity

The Rich Life (on a budget)

The Gardener's Cottage

An Urban Cottage

My Beautiful Crazy Life

Now let's get to the good stuff, the prize!  For this prize I have put together a few of my favorite items.

100,000 page view prize package

This prize package includes a large, blank Moleskine journal perfect for notes, sketches or Zentangles.  There is a small lined journal, an assortment of fine stationary, 5 official Zentangle blank Zendala tiles, Micron pens in sizes 01, 08 & Graphic 1.  I have also included a new favorite, Aquabords.  These are thin boards that have been treated so that you can use them for many applications including watercolor, pen & ink and charcoal.  They are perfect for Zentangle so I have included a 4 x 4 inch and a 6 x 6 inch.  

Enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter link below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now for something new.  As my faithful readers know, this blog is primarily about Zentangle.  I love posting the Zendala Dare, talking about my Zentangle classes and posting entries to the Diva Challenge but in my blog travels I occasionally stumble across link ups, challenges and other ways to participate that I find interesting.

So this week I am linking up with Breanna at My Beautiful, Crazy Life to participate in the Me, Myself and I Linkey Party.  Here's this month's questions:

1.  What are your top 5 favorite movies to watch during the holidays?

Well, the two front runners would have to be Say Anything and Shawshank Redemption.  They have nothing to do with the holidays but to me they are the perfect movies to watch on a rainy, winter day with a Bailey's and coffee.

As for holiday movies Love Actually is a must see.  It just makes you feel good.  I also have to second my friend Jenn's pick of The Holiday.  Great cast, and yes, Jude Law is hot.  To wrap it up I would throw in the Christmas movie I remember most from my childhood, Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer and the Land of Misfit Toys.  I have probably watched some portion of this movie every year for the last 30 years.  

2.  It's the month of giving thanks, what are you most thankful for?

I am most thankful for my wonderful husband, family and friends.  Even when times get tough, they are always there for me.  I am thankful for a job I love.  I am thankful for my beautiful nieces and nephews who love me unconditionally and always keep me on my toes.  

3.  If there was a quote or verse to best describe your life what would it be?

I try to live my life by two quotes:

"Let's not worry until we have something to worry about"  - My mother. Even though it's sometimes hard to abide by this one, in the end she's usually right.

"If your going through hell, keep going." -Winston Churchill.  My life seems to like to present me with some big challenges the last couple years and just pushing through seems to be a good strategy so far.

4.  Who in your family are you most alike?

I would say that I am a 50/50 split of my mother and father.  Both my parent's taught me to be polite, respectful, driven, and business minded but the similarities end there.  My independence, desire for education, and practicality come from my mother.

My mom and my niece at the zoo.

While my crazy personality, affinity for numbers, and a lot of my creativity comes from my father.  

My father and I.

5.  What is your favorite drink at Starbucks?

Most of the time I'm a Caramel Macchiato kind of girl but during the holidays I love a Peppermint Mocha.  And yes snotty barista, I am now aware that they are available all year long!  

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers.  I hope you have

a wonderful holiday and take a moment to remember

what you are thankful for.  

Erin