the panic sets in...

alright, it’s been a while.

i'm going to catch you up on things AND, wait for it, announce the giveaway winners! but, you have to listen to me ramble on first...

time to get back to regularly scheduled programming here on le blog.

truth be told, I’ve actually started this blog post about 11 17 different times, and all those drafts are currently just taking up space in my blogger account. i thought it was high time to follow through, fingers crossed i finish before someone wakes up from her nap. (side note: that it did not happen, this is seriously attempt #17.)

recently I was talking about my new “schedule” and feeling as if everything was finally getting easier. by everything, I mean my balancing act of new mamahood and the workathomeparttimeasacreativeartist/businesswoman thing. oh, yeah, that thing. but then, i was knocked right off of my tight rope when the tooth fairy, monster came to visit us. this, of course, meant that he kicked the sweet little sleep fairy out of our house, which is too bad because she was such a welcome addition to our nutty little household. she was the reason things seemed to be running somewhat smoothly for a while. and by smoothly i mean the laundry was getting done, i was even able to get into the studio and finally finish it... it's been way too long in a state of recently rearranged disarray. that nice fairy was also to thank for my new found clear mind and lack of less noticeable dark circles under my eyes. (another side note: by clear mind, i just mean a less foggy, certainly not as sharp as it used to be, mind)

don't get me wrong, it's not that things aren't good, in the big scheme of things all is well and i have absolutely nothing that i can really complain about at all. but, on this, probably the 37th day not sleeping through the night, things can start to get fuzzy and negative in my tired mama mind.

on a more positive note, silly excuses and complaining aside, spring is finally showing itself around here in new england. finally! the singing birds, yellow daffodils and warm sunlight on our (much less bundled up) walks are brightening our days lately. what a difference!

and yet, there's more goodness. and i've been totally holding out on you...

drumroll please...

i am holding my book in my hands. yes, the real live book. it feels so good! i absolutely love everything about it. really, truly do. i'm still pinching myself! you can get a peek inside over here. but here's the thing -

i go back and forth between feeling so incredibly thrilled that i pick up ada and we swing around the house doing happy dances, which, of course, she loves. it's been like this for the past couple of weeks. (yes, i know! it's true, i've had a copy that long! see, totally holding out on you!) but then, things shift, like yesterday when i unexpectedly had a few emails from people telling me that they, too, had my book in their hands. a cold sweat came over me and i felt like i was going to throw up! what's wrong with me!? i wrote a book for other people to read, now they are reading it, and better yet telling me nice things about it... how do i respond? i panic!? goodness. something is seriously wrong with me.

just this morning, as i was telling thea about my panic/craziness and i exclaimed -

but, this means people are going to know all about our "secret project! "

she, of course, thought that was completely hilarious and encouraged me to chillax and *know* that it is all going to be okay. (just for the record she didn't use the word "chillax", but that is my assignment for myself)

i think it's just the whole "giving birth" to the book thing, it's been such a long process, one in which i put in so much time, energy and love into those words and pages... i just hope it is going to be received with open arms, that it will inspire its readers and be loved right back. here's hoping...

time to set it free, right?

i have no choice! it is on the way...

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ok, back to business.

the giveaway! thanks so much to all of you who participated and told me about your favorite meals! it was such fun to read all of your comments... such delicious ideas!

without further ado, the randomly selected winners are~

the winner of mb's book is: dawn wilson! yay! mb will be sending you the book!

the winner of my print is: sylvia! congrats to you sylvia! i am SO going to try your avocado/garlic spread this summer... yum! :)

*dawn and sylvia- please be in touch with me via email and send you addresses!

now, if you didn't win, don't dismay, just stay tuned as there will be another upcoming giveaway or two here soon!

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see you tomorrow for some friday fun.

xo *s

ps: i'm going to go chillax now... ;) thanks for listening!