• Just as a heads up, Friday there will be a piece of fiction writing on this here blog. That’s right, it’s time for another round of Choose Your Own Blogventure! NPW has a list of the participants over here so make sure you check it out. It should be good stuff.
  I participated in a sci-fi CYOB last summer thinking I was all George Lucas about it. But whatever, it was awesome. It can also be found here if you want to check out how that story played out!
• I’m also hosting a giveaway from June Shin Designs over on Oh How Lovely Shops. She creates beautiful jewelry so make sure you enter!

• A bunch of lovelies are hosting Starbucks giveaways: Maggie, Working Girl, Joy, Ashley, Alexa and Maxie. I’m sure I forgot a bunch more so feel free to add yourself in the comments if you are as well. Another super cool Chicago lady is hosting a GAP giveaway so go check that out too.
• Do me a favor, go vote for my friend, Doni, while you’re clicking around today? It’s super easy and fast. I promise. HERE. See? That wasn’t so bad.
• Halloween. Got plans? Tell me about them, yo.
• You look fab today. Stay awesome.

Finally using my neat wine glasses made from recycled wine bottles. And of course, a pretty labeled bottle of wine. Add season one of How I Met Your Mother and you have my Friday night.

I’m content.

Summer left very quickly here in Chicago. I feel like God must have flipped the switch and sent us right to 50-60 degree weather and didn’t even ease us in to fall.

I don’t mind much though. Autumn is my favorite season. It’s cool but not cold and I find the brisk air refreshing. I’m not a fan of summer or winter. I like it just in the middle. And fall in Chicago is perfect. That is, when it lasts longer than two weeks before we are plummeted into the brutal winter that makes me hate my life.

But I’m going to enjoy it while it lasts.

I’m ready for the changing leaves. My puppy barking at and chasing the fallen ones. I’m ready for scarves and boots. Tights and hats. A new fall coat. Fall television. Cardigans. Hot chocolate and chicken noodle soup. Not together though, duh. Cuddling under blankets. Taking long walks. Kicking leaves. That fall smell. You know the one I mean.

It’s fall.

I love it.

I feel like I have a lot going on right now. But I don’t. But I kind of do… Yeah, I know. I’m confused. I feel like there is a whole lot of that happening lately.

Posting may be sparse lately. I’m working on moving hosts so let’s knock this out bullet style.

• I want to learn how to do everything. There is seriously so much I don’t know. I want to learn it all.
• I wish I could do my own design work and tech stuff so I don’t need to bother people for help. I know they are willing but I feel sometimes feel bothersome asking.
• Job hunting. Resumes. Cover letters. Emails. Interviews. Cross your fingers something comes through?
• The mom I nanny for is getting on my case about going back to school and tell me I should just do this and just do that. I don’t appreciate it. I know she is trying to help but I know what I need to do and what I should do. I don’t need someone else telling me.
• A possible new project with an old friend. This could be a great thing for both of us so hopefully something comes from it.
• Someone tell me how it is almost mid-May? Seriously.
• Rachel Getting Married = fantastic movie. Netflix it. Redbox it. Download it. Whatever. Watch it.
• Making an appointment to get Edie get me spayed makes me nervous which is why I have put it off this long. PAWS, a great organization here in Chicago, has a low cost spay and neuter clinic is where she will be going. Thank god, I only have to leave her for a day.
• Two giveaways: Pretty in Plaid giveaway ends tonight so make sure you enter. On the Shops blog, Ashley of Joyful Star is giving away a custom blog header or a hobo bag. That one ends in a week.

• job hunting is rough. I have a possible freelance opportunity right now but I’d really like to be able to quit my part time job for something that is more fulfilling.
• being asked to freelance and come up with numbers on your own of how much you want to be paid is daunting.
• adding “TW” to everything because of Twitter is really stupid. Tweeple. Twosse. Contwext? Seriously, tw-shuttheeffup.
• I want to see 17 Again. I’m strangely attracted to Zac Efron. He’s prettier than me and most girls though so that’s kind of weird.
• I am in dire need of a hair cut. My split ends are out of control.
• a ticket for Las Vegas has been purchased. Allie, Jess and I are bringing Chicago to Vegas and it’s going to be awesome!
• Maggie is a lovely dinner and cheesecake date. We’re going to bake yummy things this weekend!
• I’ve been doing okay lately. I’m lonely though. I miss him.

I took an unitentional blog break there for a few days. Four days is a lot of time for not blogging for me. Normally I have some sort of nonsense, link or ridiculous celeb gossip story up here posing as Writing. No worries though, I was still twittering my little heart out.

Instead of writing something enthralling, here are some things I’ve noticed or realized in the past couple of weeks:

• Signature Hot Chocolate from Starbucks is amazing
• You might be addicted to twittering when you want to add an @ or a # before everything
• You also may be twittering too much when you meet someone then ask their twitter handle to see if you are following them
• Too bad you can’t “unfollow” people in life
• Sometimes the unexpected happens
• Pea coats suck when you have a corgi puppy
• Always shave your legs, just in case
• Blue ink takes long to come out of white puppy fur
• I need a hair cut but don’t want to go do it
• This Blackberry Pearl might be on it’s way out. Yay!

Now I’m going to direct you to Oh How Lovely Shops. I’m having a huge giveaway. Items from 15 different etsy shops and one fabulous person will win it all. Exciting, no?

What’s going on with you guys?

In Twitter news:

• You know that Twitterank thing going around yesterday, were you one of the ones who fell in to that like me? Some people are saying it’s a scam, some aren’t. Whatever – change your password! Better to be safe than sorry.
• If you really want your twitter graded, go check out Twitter Grader. I got a 95.7! It’s definitely NOT a scam.
• Oh hey, you should follow me since I’m not really writing real entries at the moment and apparently not blogging much means Twittering like a madwoman.

Nothing in life is free? WRONG. I have some giveaways and contests for you and they are good ones!

• Two amazing etsy sellers are giving away two fantastic prints to anyone who would like them. Seriously, for free. All you have to do is email them with your address. See the prints here and check out their reasoning for doing this. I’ve already gotten the confirmation for mine!
• Jess at Jess Writes is giving away a $25 Starbucks giftcard. She is fab and you all are coffee addicts I’m sure so go check out how to win. It’s super easy!
• Jenn is giving away a bunch of super awesome stuff and is teaching you about Social Networking safety all at the same time over at Must Love Geek.
• Who’s Your Dachshund has a great giveaway for a copy of Wiener Takes All: A Dogumentary.
• I’m giving away an awesome bag from Save Our Home etsy shop over here.

How do you give to charity without spending your own money? Easy. Just comment on a couple blogs. Seriously. You do it all day so why not make it count?

• My BFF, Stealthnerd, is giving 5 cents for every comment made and it goes to help pediatric cancer. Go leave some comments!
• Another blogger giving up his hard earned cash for comments is RS27 over at Your Beard is Good. 10 cents per comment for the whole month will be going to The Lukemia and Lymphoma Society. Get to commenting.

Have some extra cash of your own that you can spare for a good cause?

• Rachel at Mom in Real Life is raising money for The Lupus Foundation of America. Find out how to donate here.
• Amanda at Life In Development needs your help to raise money for The Massachusetts Special Olympics. Read more here.

In other news:

• I want a baby Alpaca.
• Yes, I still have a big, steamy crush on a fictional vampire. I’m in love with these photos.
• I haven’t bit my nails in over a week. Yay me.

I know it’s annoying when there are a ton of links sometimes but I promise these links are all to awesome things. I swear!

Win stuff:

• I’m giving away the first two Twilight books and Ben is throwing in another copy of the first and a copy of Breaking Dawn. See what the hype is all about and enter.
• Over on the other blog, I’m giving away a print from the really really cute etsy shop, Barneston. Illustrations of monsters and animals that really need to be in books. I freaking love them!

Pretty stuff:

• Go look at my pretty new blog design at the shopping blog! I can’t stop looking at it!

Awkward stuff:

• Since I’m featured blogger at 20SB, I did an interview with Lisa for the 20SB blog. I’m awkward and there is rambling. I don’t even know what I’m talking about half the time. There is mention of not wearing panties and just a lot of babbling! If that doesn’t entice you, I don’t know what will. Read it here.

Puppy stuff

• Do me a favor and vote for this animal rescue. Help them win $10,000. It only takes two seconds!

Blogs you should read if you don’t already:

• Clever Girl Goes Blog
• Cardigans Cover Crazy
• A Blog of Her Own
• Jess Writes (just moved back to Chicago!)
• Upside Down Dogs
• My Super Hopeless Romance (haven’t started reading it yet but will because everyone in the world loves it!) ETA: Before you get all wrapped up in it, let me tell you it’s fake. LAME. I’d rather of not know and still have hope that things like this happen!

Okay, I think that is it. If you have any good links to add – posts, blogs, contests, whatever,  leave them in the comments!

Over at the most adorable dog blog you ever did see, we are looking for some guest posters. Have a pet? Cat, fish, dog, pet rock? Whatever it is,  write up a post, take a picture or two and send it to whosyourdachshund@gmail.com

I’m having a giveaway for a sling at Oh How Lovely Shops. Don’t have any kids? It would make a great gift for someone who does or has one on the way! Go check it out.

I won a contest and got my prize last week. It’s officially my new favorite etsy shop. Take a look at my adorable package and what was inside here!

Over at Rone Break, I’m talking about gun shoes. Tacky? Offensive? Fierce? I want to hear what you think!

There is something super amazing awesome in the works! Once it’s all finalized, I’ll probably share or maybe keep it a surprise until it happens. It’s going to be fun though.

I’ll end this at watch the Project Runway finale tonight. I’m still pulling for Leanne!

P.S. I totally use exclamation points way to much.

P.P.S. !!!

P.P.P.S. Whatever. You love it.

P.P.P.P.S (!)

A few quick notes before I leave for a weekend of debauchery in Las Vegas.

- I have the best stylist in the world. Mary at Urban Lift is amazing. Any Chicago people who need a new stylist, she is your girl. I wish I could take her with me to Vegas to blow out my hair every day because it looks AMAZING.

- My favorite perfect sexy peep toe shoe are missing. I’m SO upset about this. Luckily, I’m staying at Planet Hollywood and there is a mall practically in it. I will have to buy some even more amazing shoes.

- I am still not packed.

- I have two lovely guest posters planned for Monday and Tuesday. Be nice and show them some love.

- Also, I will have some posts going up on Rone Break while I’m gone about Michelle Obama, Gossip Girl, Elina from ANTM and another fashion flop or fashion forward. I suggest you add it to your reader so you don’t miss them! Read my past few posts here and leave me your thoughts!

- And as always, follow me on twitter to keep up with my Vegas antics!

Have a great weekend!