Tax Relief Giveaway!

I think we can all use some relief this year, so I’m hosting another giveaway! This giveaway will run through April 15^th (tax day) and you get to pick your prize from the two pairs of earrings pictured here (ok, only one of each is shown). Please write the number in your comment for which pair you'd like to receive! This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only – sorry.

HOW TO ENTER:

1.) Visit my Etsy store and leave a comment on this post about a favorite item = one entry.

2.) Become a new Follower of my blog and leave a separate comment on this post to let me know = one entry.

3.) Post a link to this giveaway on your blog and leave a separate comment on this post to let me know = one entry.

HOW TO WIN GUARANTEED:

Buy anything from my Etsy store and I’ll include a free pair of earrings! Just write “blog” in the Note to Seller. Earrings will be my choice (not the ones pictured). This offer is also good through April 15^th!

THE WINNER will be chosen on April 16^th by random number generation (that’s why I need you to leave separate comments for each entry). I’ll notify the winner by email and post it on my blog. Please be sure I have a way to contact you through your blog or Etsy store, or leave your email in your comment.

Good Luck, and thanks for stopping by!

New Header Image!

Hey guys, check out my new header image! I can't believe I found this free online and it perfectly matches my blog template! I really thought my header needed a little pizazz and style, and now it has it. This is almost as much fun as getting a new pair of shoes!

Oh, I found it through the sources on the web page below. Please let me know if it's not displaying correctly for any of you since I've only viewed it on one computer so far.
http://www.smartbloggerz.com/2008_04_01_archive.html

Blog Tools – Windows Live Writer

As a new blogger I quickly became frustrated when my published posts would come up with strange formatting for no apparent reason. One paragraph would be single spaced while all the rest were properly double spaced. Or there would be a huge gap between my photo and my text. I would edit my posts three or four times trying to get them to look right. I was even going in to edit the html in order to add hyperlinks to text or photos. Within a week , I was looking for a third party blog editor. The only one I found was Windows Live Writer, and so far I’m happy with it.

Windows Live Writer is a free download for Windows users (click here for the download page). My favorite features are:

WYSIWYG – it downloads your blog formatting and you create your post exactly how it will appear on your blog. And it automatically spell checks in real time!

Enhanced Photos – It’s easy to insert a photo, link that photo to a web page, and apply a range of formatting options like drop shadow, tilt, “polaroid”, borders and watermark.

Easy Hyperlinks – Just click and you can insert a hyperlink or assign a link to your photo. You can even program a permanent link for specific text. Writer knows to link to my shop whenever I type the words my etsy store. How cool is that?

Plug-Ins – You can add all sorts of third party applications to get even more functions like video, tag generators, screen captures and much more! I haven’t checked many of these out yet, but they’re out there!

I had to download updates for Windows before I could install the application, which took a while, but it was worth it in the end. If you’re looking to expand your blogging abilities, you might want to give it a try, after all, it’s free!

Writer will work with Windows XP (with Service Pack 2), Windows Vista (32-bit or 64-bit editions), Windows 7 Beta (32-bit or 64-bit editions), or Windows Server 2008. Visit the their website for more information, and happy blogging!

BLOG LAUNCH GIVEAWAY!!

http://www.boutiquebybonnie.etsy.com/

For the official launch of my blog, I'm giving away these gorgeous earrings! They're made of 14mm glass flower beads in a natural green with light brown etching. The small beads underneath are 5mm Agates. The total length of these earrings is about 57mm (2 1/4 inches). Thanks goes to my sister for letting me drag her to a bead shop when I was visiting over the holidays!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS:

1. To enter, just leave a comment on this post about the earrings or any item in my Etsy shop! I hope you'll choose to follow my blog, but it's not required. Be sure I can contact you through your blog, Etsy store, or leave your email.

2. For a BONUS entry, post about this giveaway on your blog, then come back and leave another comment with the link to your post. No more than two entries allowed, even if you get comment crazy!

3. Open to U.S. and Canada residents only. Winner will not be eligible to win another giveaway for six months, to give everyone a fair shot.

The deadline to enter is Saturday, January 17, 2009 at 12:00 midnight Pacific Standard Time. The winner will be chosen by random number and posted on Sunday, January 18th sometime between Noon and 2:00 pm MST. In the mean time, thank you for looking!

My email is bmails@comcast.net in case you have trouble with Comments.