A Dilemma - Wrestled With Should I or Shouldn't I

Someone contacted me and asked me to post the link to my donation page for the seminar (which I kindly pointed out was located on the right hand side of this blog), and said that they know the struggles I've gone through this year, both mentally and physically.  They said that they know it's been very hard for me monetarily with my husband leaving and my health not allowing me to work, because they're a facebook friend of mine and have seen my status updates. They asked me to post my PayPal email address too.  Well, last Friday I'd posted on my personal facebook page that I hadn't received a child support payment in two weeks and the 2 previous payments I'd received wasn't even for as much as it's ordered to be.  I said I could about cry because I was over $400 short on bills for the month and still had Christmas shopping to do. I had a lady on there tell me I should just be grateful to get anything.  I explained to her that in the past this wouldn't have been a problem because I could, and did, work to support myself and my family.  I told her that it's just so very hard now, because I'm sick and unable to work.  She responded by telling me if I'm unable to work, that I shouldn't have any kids and told me "for lack of a better word, you're USELESS".  Yep, she sure did and she even used the caps as I've quoted.  I can't tell you how much this stung.  My oldest daughter, 23 and a grad student, responded and told her that I've always found a way to support my children and that I've always been a good mother.  The request for my info came in on Saturday and I was still pretty raw with hurt feelings from Friday, so I've just sat on it.  When I emailed the person back and thanked them for the offer, I told her it would make me feel bad to do what she'd asked me to do because I was afraid that others might think and feel about me the same way the facebook lady felt.  She responded back and told me that she herself wouldn't be able to do very much but that she really wanted to do what she could and that I should put it out there because even if it's only a few dollars, that a lot of people like to help others that are down on their luck at this time of year.  She told me that right now keeping up this blog is my "job" and that it's not wrong to accept donations for the "job" I do.  I still feel really funny about this, but I've decided that I'll do it. Please, no one think you "must" contribute to either (the seminar donation page  for the seminar overhead or my paypal for my personal use).  Getting these words out is worse then having teeth pulled to me.  I extremely dislike asking for help.  It was explained to me though, that if I don't post it that I could be taking someones good deed for God, away from them (that is the way my mother explained it to me when I told her about this situation).  Sooo, if you want to donate to the seminar fund, there's a GoFundMe button on the right hand side of the page.  Just click it and it'll take you where you need to go.  If you want to contribute to my PayPal for my own personal bill/Christmas usage, my PayPal address is: jaammull(at)aol(dot)com.  I'm completely embarrassed to do this, yet I'm humbled that someone thinks enough of me to want me to post it.  I'm conflicted.

JBeads Accessories

Tonight, I add an extra special item to the Holiday Gift Guide and Countdown To Christmas.  This is made by one of our own members of The Fibro Frog.  Jessica is the owner of JBeads Accessories.  She contacted me and asked if she could donate an item for our giveaway section.  She was so excited, that she created something extra special for the winner.  She made this beautiful Fibro Awareness bracelet, using our fibro color of purple!  It's 8 inches long, and has a larger clasp to make it easier for us to put it on.

Jessica offers a ton of high quality jewelry and very affordable prices.  She makes bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and matching sets.  Each item is hand-crafted by her, and she's ready & willing to answer any questions that any one may have concerning her jewlery.  She's even willing to do custom work, if you can't find something you like on her site.  She prides herself on her customer service, and that shows through on each and every piece that she makes.  Besides looking around JBeads Accessories, make sure you show her some love on facebook too!  You'll find her amazing facebook page HERE.

Thanks again for contacting me Jessica, and for wanting to take part in this very special giveaway that's coming up!   Remember everyone, a signup form will be posted later this week, and a winner will be chosen on Christmas day!  The winner will receive one of every item that I'm listing as a part of the Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas!!

Gourmet Scents

Gourmet Scents is a completely unique, 100% hand crafted, small business.  The owner, Las, does all of her work herself, working out of her home.  She's taken something that she tried out of the blue thinking it might be fun, and turned it into a wonderful business!  Las has been an online mommy friend of mine for about 10 years now, so I've been able to watch her and her business grow and grow.  I know the time and hard work she's put into Gourmet Scents, building it up to what it is today.  I'm very proud of her!

The photo above, is a picture of her soap petals. Yep, soap petals.  These are one of her best sellers.  People order them for all kinds of occassions ranging from using them for wedding parties, to showers, to just wanting to carry them in their purse to be able to wash 'n toss their hands while out in public.  

What these petals are, is fabric petals that she hand-dips into olive oil soap.  She has many scents available.  They come in an organza gift bag, ready to be handed off as an excellent gift or to use as a "smell-wonderful" shower or reception table decoration!  

Gourmet Scents has kindly offered to send the winner of our Holiday Gift Guide & Countdown To Christmas Giveaway winner a set of 10 soap petals and she'll even let the winner choose from 5 scents to make sure they're getting a scent they like!  Gourmet Scents offers way more then just soap petals though.  They have the most adorable soaps I've ever seen!  Check out these cupcake soaps:

These are an extremely good seller for Las.  They made an adorable addition to a baby shower or a children's birthday party.  They can serve a dual purpose in decorating, plus handing them out for party favors!  Here's a few photos of some other great sellers for birthday parties and baby showers:

 

I get so excited every time I look at the soaps made by Gourmet Scents.  They're all just SO stinking adorable!!  Another super hot seller for Las, is her Autism awareness soaps:

Ok, I could seriously keep posting photo's of her work all night long!  They all are just so cute that I feel like I'm cheating you all by not featuring all of them LOL!  Click any of the links above to go the Gourmet Scents website, and click HERE to go to her facebook page!  Hop on over there and "like" her page, then take a look around her photo gallery!!  She's giving you all kinds of choices and scents for the perfect & unique gifts, party favors, shower decorations & gifts, receptions, birthday parties, etc!  Your friends & family will brag that you are the "cool gift giver" this year!

$100 Gift Card Giveaway

I woke up to an email from a blogger friend, Lenore from Crazed Mind.  As a surprise and to kick off her 2012 Christmas Gift Guide, she put together a Friends Paying It Forward $100 Giveaway!  She's so graciously trying to help a few bloggers out that are new to the bloggy world, by helping them to gain new followers and giving us newbies some exposure!  What a wonderful gift this is!  So thanks to Crazed Mind, you all have a chance to win a $100 gift card to also help you out this holiday season!  Please make sure you guys click one of Lenore's links to show her some love and Christmas spirit as well! I'm honored to be included in her Paying It Forward giveaway!

To kick off Crazed Mind's 2012 Christmas Gift Guide I wanted to share.  Share with you and share my friends.  And I am doing this by hosting a $100 Gift Card giveaway!  I mean what gift is better than friends helping out friends.  And gosh, who can not use an extra $100 to help out with the Christmas budget?

You see when I first started this blog I had the help of a very good friend, Nessa of Texas Housewife.  She spent so much time with me sharing the ins and outs of blogging and social media.  Little by little I grew.  Then I shared with some of my friends and they did with theirs too.  That is how this whole community grows so.  We meet others while hopping from blog to blog and before you know it we have been sharing our lives for 3 years now.

Well when I first started out every single new follower was the most exciting thing.  IT was like Christmas every day.  So I wanted to do just that....make Christmas every day for others.  So with the help of my friends and then add in the friends they want to support we came up with Friends Paying It Forward.

It is really easy.  Just meet the following bloggers.  Then enter via the Rafflecopter below.  We ask that you leave a blog comment here.  That you follow the friends via GFC (that is the Christmas part!).  Then you can follow also on facebook or twitter if you wish.  It will give you extra entries.  Oh and of course you can tweet!  That is an extra daily entry!  On November 1st a winner will be randomly chosen.  They will be notified and when they respond within 24 hours they will win $100 gift card via pay pal or through the mail with a Visa or Master Card gift card of their choice.  The physical gift cards may be broken down into two $50 cards.

So meet my friends!

The Adventures of Scotty & Me

Ink & Grit

The Fibro Frog

Rants & Raves

Insights & Thoughts

Love My 2 Dogs

and of course you know me, Crazed Mind.

a Rafflecopter giveaway