18 In Thoughts & Observations

Spring Fling Blog Hop!

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Spring! It’s just around the corner and I can hardly wait! And what better way to kick off the season than with a ton of authors offering up all kinds of great prizes?

The rules are simple: to win one of many prizes, just stop by the participating blog hop stops listed below between March 7-11, 2013. The more sites you visit, the greater your chances of winning, but you have to leave a comment on the sites you visit.

There are two Grand Prizes!  If you wanna win, you gotta comment and leave your email address. Winners will be chosen at random and notified no later than March 15, 2014.  

  • 1st Grand Prize – Paperwhite Kindle. 
  • 2nd Grand Prize – $25 Amazon Gift Card. Good luck!

Now that you know how it works, let’s jump on board the topic….

Spring

We’re talking’ flip-flops and cutoffs. Writing outside instead of holed up in my office. Driving with the top down and the music up loud. It’s gonna be awesome!

The season does something to me on the organizational end too. I start cleaning, sorting, and rearranging with an obsessive fervor. Imagine June Cleaver, Cher, and a gunnery sergeant all mixed up into one, and you’ll get the right picture.

Drives the family batty. The kids are all, “Where’d my stuff go?” Which is funny because it’s the same stuff they haven’t touched in a year or more. Hubby does a daily check of his man cave to make sure nothing’s been touched. (I can’t prove it, but I think he might have installed a camera just to keep me honest.)

Hmm. Guess he’s not buying my, “I haven’t seen your <insert object purchased in the 80’s here>,” line anymore.

This year though, my spring-cleaning mode seems to have expanded to the philosophical level. I’m asking myself why I do the things I do. Does the old approach still work? Or is it time to shake things up a bit?

Take, for instance, meeting new people. My goal in January was to branch out and develop relationships whose work I admire and level of skill I’d like to achieve. It’s only February and I can already see the impact of their presence in my life.

Doing X because someone says that’s the way I have to do it, is another thing I’ve marked for the trash bin. Not to say rules shouldn’t be followed—my inner drill sergeant would have a coronary if I didn’t follow rules most of the time, but he and my inner flower child are gonna have to learn to play nice. She’s got some damned fine ideas and needs to be let out of the closet a little more often.

Then there’s my people pleaser habit. This one’s been around for years and I’m not stupid enough to think I’m going to rehab myself in one season, but I can damn sure chip a chunk out of old behavior in that time span.

What’s the first thing you do when temps hit the mid-sixties and the sun comes out? Do you kick back and relax? Or dive into all those projects you put off during the winter months?  Be sure to leave your comments below on what you’re looking forward to this spring and you’ll be entered for a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

Want more chances to win?  You can click the Rafflecopter link below and like my Facebook page, follow me on Twitter, or just tweet about this giveaway.  Every action you take gets you another shot at the gift card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
And don’t forget to visit other sites below so you’ll get MORE chances to win the Grand Prize Paperwhite Kindle and another $25 Amazon Gift Card!

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18 Comments

  • Reply
    susan
    March 7, 2014 at 8:05 pm

    I garden. Getting outside and getting my fingers dirty is just too cool!
    🙂
    Susan

  • Reply
    Linda Trout
    March 8, 2014 at 4:50 pm

    It has to be at least 70, but you’ll find me outside on my Harley. If it’s cooler than that, I’m in the flower beds. LOVE being outdoors!

  • Reply
    Elise-Maria Barton
    March 8, 2014 at 4:53 pm

    I celebrate Spring by beautifying my front porch with all manner of plants, flowers and decorative pots. I finish up with a new cushion for my favorite chair and I’m set for endless days of reading and relaxing.

    ilookfamous(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • Reply
    Natasha
    March 9, 2014 at 12:58 am

    Spend more time outside!
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

  • Reply
    vero
    March 9, 2014 at 2:43 am

    In spring i make a lot picnic and trips in bike 🙂

  • Reply
    Zoe
    March 9, 2014 at 1:21 pm

    Getting outside, in the sun…getting that Vitamin D again. 🙂
    writeforward at yahoo dot com

  • Reply
    Virginia H
    March 9, 2014 at 3:22 pm

    I enjoy the warmer tempts in spring and taking long walks, enjoy the outside. I got to take a walk today and loved it.
    Virginia
    lead AT hotsheet.com

  • Reply
    Joy F
    March 9, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    Head inside away from the heat and blooming flowers.

  • Reply
    Renee H
    March 9, 2014 at 4:24 pm

    I plant a veggie garden with my kid, take daily walks and then go swimming 🙂

    bramgirl@hotmail.com

  • Reply
    Trix
    March 9, 2014 at 4:37 pm

    I travel and go outside more…

    vitajex(at)Aol(Dot)com

  • Reply
    Shannon F
    March 9, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    I’m in southern CA, it’s that temperature and higher most of the year. I do however look forward to the ocean being warmer when Spring comes around. I still surf all year round but it’s so much nicer not wearing a thermal suit.

    Shannon
    sabai30705(at)yahoo(dot)com

  • Reply
    Elizabeth Inglee-Richards
    March 9, 2014 at 5:40 pm

    I think that I would have a heart attack if my hubby tossed out my stuff (or even moved it)

    I would just like to see the sun this spring

    elizabethingleerichards@gmail.com

  • Reply
    bn100
    March 9, 2014 at 10:04 pm

    plant flowers

    bn100candg at hotmail dot com

  • Reply
    Michelle Willms
    March 10, 2014 at 3:32 pm

    I sit in the sun with a cool drink and book and just…absorb.

  • Reply
    amy bowens
    March 10, 2014 at 4:28 pm

    Spring inspires me to get the house organized and clean. I love opening the windows to let fresh air in! I also enjoy starting our little garden that the children tend to! Thanks for sharing !
    amy bowens
    amybowens34 (at) yahoo (dot) com

  • Reply
    Daniel M
    March 10, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    time to de-clutter again! – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

  • Reply
    Janie McGaugh
    March 10, 2014 at 8:27 pm

    The arrival of spring inspires me to get outside with my grandkids.
    jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu

  • Reply
    Gretchen Wing
    March 12, 2014 at 6:36 am

    I start hanging my laundry out instead of using the machine! Woo-hoo, livin’ large! But actually, where I live sun is not always part of spring, so I and my laundry grab it when we can get it.

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