Le Vacation Is Over

Sooo....My sidebar is missing...Any thoughts?
Luckily, I am so tired from my trip that I am not even stressing about it. It may pop back up or I can contact my lovely designers, but no matter what- I'm hoping it's a quick fix.

Let's not dwell on that, and move on to how awesome I think you all are.
I LOVED all the Birthday comments, messages, emails, tweets, and blog dedications here and here. I definitely felt the love AND got to talk to my soldier. That means that this birthday was a complete success and you all had a huge part in that. I never cease to be amazed by all the kindness and love in blogland. Just amazing...

My trip was a success too. I'm sad that the storm got in the way of meeting up with some of my fave bloggers, but it was a ton'o fun other than that. I can't wait to tell you all about it and share the pictures!
Something along these lines:

Thinking back...I don't see how we squeezed it all in to six days!

No wonder I'm so tired.

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I also want to remind you that today is the final day to sign up for the Christmas Swap! Then the real fun begins ;) We've worked it out so that we will get Secret Santa's too and I'm pretty stinkin' excited about that. I think the mystery is the best part....Oh the anticipation!

<center> <a href="http://perceptioniseverything.blogspot.com/2012/10/christmas-swap-kickoff.html" target="_blank"><img alt="Gift Swap" src="http://i1245.photobucket.com/albums/gg592/PerceptionIsEverything/PIE3/ItsGivingSeason250x188_zpsbf32a13f.jpg"/></a></center>

Here is the breakdown once again:

#1 You link up and encourage others to sign up! The more the merrier.

#2 Secret Santa assignments will be made and the fun will begin.

#3 You begin stalking their blog brainstorming fun gifts for them.

#4 Shop for something in the $10-15 range that is a MEANINGFUL or fun gift.

(Think nail polish, cute notepads, fun jewelry, and/or make them something)

#5 Mail out the gift and impatiently await yours to arrive.

#6 Keep it all a secret until we reveal with the final link up in December.

Time Frame Breakdown:

~1st Friday in November~

11/02: Sign ups close, Secret Santa's will be given, and the fun will begin!

~1st Friday in December~

12/07: We will link up our gifts and reveal who sent what to whom!

Well? What you waiting for? Go sign up ;)

Weekend Update & A Surprise!

So funny story, I have been wanting link up with Sami, Dana, and Leeann, since they started this fun little link up. It just hasn't happened due to boring work and horrendous fires.
Didn't feel right to celebrate that...ya know?

Well, the fires are still going and I still had to work, but I'm in the right mindset now.

#1 I was supposed to have Saturday off, but my GF wanted to do a fundraiser for Breast Cancer, so of course I agreed to work her shift.

#2 The fires aren't going to be fully contained or put out until mid July, which is nerve wracking, but we have hope.  As the community has banded together, we are all being lifted up in the spirit of solidarity and it is quite a beautiful thing.

Borrowed from the "I Love Colorado Springs" Facebook page:

"Here is a reason to love Colorado Springs....Since the trajic events of the Waldo Canyon Fire began, the community outreach has been amazing...last I heard, the community has already donated more than 1/2 million POUNDS of food and supplies to Care & Share. The citizens of this community are an amazing reason to love this city!"


In other exciting news, I bought myself a new toy:

These babies run at over $100, and I found it on Groupon for $30!
I have a sweet Dyson already, but now I can use the Shark for the tedious tasks like the stairs and in-between-vacuum puppy hair. It also does hard flooring, which is good because I HATE sweeping.
Yes, I know that I have reached that point where appliances make my weekend.
Still totally ok with it. Haha.

Now for the big surprise!
I'm not sure if you will find it as exciting as I, but that's ok.
In order to build up a little excitement, I will give you some backstory.
{Or just skip to the surprise. Whatev}

We all know that there are some bloggers fortunate enough to have lovely sponsors each month that pay for their blogging addiction support their blogs monetarily.
I am NOT one of those bloggers.
I am quite happy when I am asked to do a product review or host a giveaway, but that's about as far as it goes. However, I have been blessed to meet WONDERFUL bloggers that ask me to sponsor their blogs or we trade buttons and/or guest posts. Thus far this has been totally ok with me, and I have actually struggled with the thought of asking for monetary sponsorship or adding advertisements to my blog. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I'm just not sure if I am ready for that or ready to lose the simplicity of my content. I like being able to post what I want, when I want, not having to worry about dedicating myself and my blog to sponsors, reviews, ads, and giveaways.
Does that make sense?

I have also struggled with getting back to the roots of why I began blogging, which was to document our life and as a creative outlet.  I know I'm not the only one, which I discovered through Julie and other bloggers, so I made a pledge to myself that I will make some changes within myself and my
blog. Then, the perfect inspiration came along that would help me with all of my struggles!

Ashley, my friend and Travel Blogger, had a genius idea for a giveaway, and I decided to borrow it for my own version. Now that I have rambled, here is the skinny:



I am opening my blog to Sponsors for the first time EVER!
Guess what it will cost you...

Source: Uploaded by user via Janna on Pinterest

Nothing but a little bit of creativity ;)

If you are interested in sponsoring my blog for the month of August, all you have to do is choose one of the following prompts, and submit a short writing piece, along with a photo of yourself, and your blog button. Sounds easy (and hopefully fun), right?

Prompt #1:
Share an experience with my followers of a time where someone perceived you in a way that surprised you or was not true, and how that affected you negatively or positively.
Example: I could share about the fact that everyone perceives me as a "dumb blonde" or ten years younger than I actually am. I could then explain how it used to bother me, and now I find it entertaining.
Prompt #2:
Share and experience where you misjudged someone, and what you learned from those false perceptions. This could be that you trusted someone that ended up hurting you, but I'd prefer that you judged someone negatively that ended up being the wrong assumption.
I'd like to showcase the negative side of perceptions, but will accept both entries.
Example: I almost believed the judgments of others, and didn't give my best friend a chance.
Now I realize that I would be lost with out her!
Prompt #3:
Share the positive side of a negative experience you faced.
Example: Enduring my husband's deployment is hard, but I am happy that I love someone so much that every minute is worth it.

Source: tumblr.com via Janna on Pinterest

After submissions are in, I will choose the "winners", which will rank as such:
#1 will be the "Large Ad" Sponsor
#2 and #3 will be the Medium "Ad Sponsors"
And dependent on the the number of entries, I will decide how many "Small Ad" Sponsors there will be, and then feature ALL of the entries on Perception Is Everything!
That means that everyone is a winner. Woohoo!

To enter email me directly, jannabogert@yahoo.com, with the following:
Your name
A photo of yourself
Your blog button
Your answer to the prompt of choice
Subject line: August Sponsors

All entries will be accepted until July 22nd, 11:59PM.
Please inform me of ANY questions you have, and I would LOVE to hear if you are participating.
We all claim to love writing so much, so I am excited to see what the participants come up with, and who will be up for the challenge!
Are you?