by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . December 21, 2010 . 5:08PM
Christmastime is special to me, as it is to most people. I’ve never lost my childlike wonder for the lights, the tree lots, the snow, the gifts, really, any of it. As I grow, though, parts of the holiday that are less enchanted seem to hit me like a truck and I can’t seem to shake them, no matter how hard I try.
I’ve spent quite a bit of time in the last couple of years reading about shelter animals and rescue dogs, and the number of puppies and kittens that are brought back to shelters after the holidays is staggering. I’m not going to get on my soapbox for long, but I would like to make a request in that I’d like for anyone that is considering a puppy this year to consider a couple of options.
One option is to consider a fully grown dog or cat from a shelter or a rescue site. Dogs are often trained and do well with children. They can be just as cute and cuddly as puppies and need just as much love. They are silly and friendly and sweet. They also piddle on the floor a lot less. Cats are independent and don’t need much to be amused. They are easily potty-trained and if you ever wanted to know what to do with empty toilet-rolls, now you know.
If you absolutely must have a puppy or kitten, please find them at a shelter, if you can. Shelters are overrun in the cold weather and the number of animals that are put to sleep is astounding.
Lastly, when you get your new animal, please take care of it’s doggy/kitty parts and make sure it can’t procreate. It helps keep the pet population down and animals from being stuck in poor situations.
My dog, Sophie, is one of the joys of my life. She was rescued by a family about 2 hours from where I live and I wouldn’t trade her for anything. When I’m sick she sleeps by my side. When I wake up in the morning she cuddles me. When I leave the house, she cries because she can’t go with me. As I type this, I sit cross-legged on my recliner. Sophie is at my feet. She wasn’t a puppy when I got her and she’s not the most beautiful dog in the world. I love her tremendously and she is one of my best friends.
You can see my right sidebar for Dogs in Danger, which is a site that lets you know about dogs that are in Kill shelters and need a home near you. You can also donate to the humane society there. You can google for shelters in your area and Petfinder.com often allows shelters to use them as a resource.
Please help save an animal this season. Dogs, cats, turtles, you name it, need a good home. If you choose an animal this year, please be a responsible pet owner.
by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . December 18, 2010 . 3:39PM
When AJ went to Illinois for Thanksgiving, he and his cousin Lola went to see the movie “Tangled.” While they were at the mall, they saw these mood rings that they just had to have. Now, I can understand Lola needing new jewelry. What 10-year-old-girl doesn’t believe she needs new jewelry? I wondered, however, why AJ was so insistent that he needed a mood ring?
The entirety of the Thanksgiving trip, AJ wore that mood ring around and carried his “mood chart” to inform us of his mood. “It’s red. I’m angry.” “Do you feel angry?” “No, but the ring is red. I must be angry.”
Well, ok then.
What you need to understand about this situation is that AJ is a sensitive, sentimental little guy, but he loses and breaks stuff on a regular basis. He doesn’t hold onto items and, chances are, if he gets something it will be gone within a week. This brings us to last weekend.
AJ had been feeling crummy and feverish so I said that he could sleep in my room so I could keep an eye on him. As his little eyes drifted off to sleep I looked at those little hands and noticed something blue on his index finger.
Yes, he certainly is lovable and he has managed to keep that ring on him or on his sink every single day. He finally has a sentimental object that means something to him. His mood ring reminds him of his time with his family in Illinois and Lola. Anyone that knows us knows that family is first and, for AJ, time there is everything. When he was sick, he wanted that ring on for comfort.
I don’t know when he’ll grow out of it, but hopefully he’ll have other comfort objects by then. For me, I’m just grateful to see that his comfort comes from his family. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . December 17, 2010 . 8:13PM
Random number generator says we have a winner: Lucky number 5! Congratulations, Arie, you win the cool screwdriver! Email me your address to jillian at blueshelled dot com and I will get this out within the next week. Hurrah! Hurrah! Hurrah! Thanks to all who participated and to all of you for reading blueshelled.com!
by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . December 16, 2010 . 2:30AM
In life there are people that we are inexorably connected with by fate, life, bonds and binds. This happens with relative frequency…that life ties me to someone and we are connected not by mere friendship, rather we are tied at the heart. We do not just seek one another, no we cling to the energy in the air that allows us to find each other always.
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by Jillian @ http://blueshelled.com . December 8, 2010 . 5:04PM
I’ll admit it, I’m such a girlie girl. Before the feminists beat me to a pulp, perhaps rightfully so, I’ll just say that I’m not mechanically inclined. I try really hard, but I’m just not there. So, when I find something that makes life easier, I tend to jump on it and grab it and hold it like gold. Therefore, giving away the freebie that Husky Tools sent me (*note to the FTC-this was a freebie*) to review makes me feel a bit like Scrooge.
Home Depot is offering a bunch of really cool tools for under $20 this holiday season. Being a really awesome company, they offered to send some bloggers some of the tools to review and giveaway (not review and keep–bah humbug) to their loyal readers. I got a super cool screwdriver set.
I’ll admit that when they said they were sending me screwdrivers to review that my initial reaction was “how on earth am I going to review screwdrivers? Don’t you just put it on the screw on turn it?” Yep. I’m crafty like that. When I got the screwdriver kit, though, I was like a kid in a candy store. It had all these cool little bit things. Every bit you could think of was in this kit (like 12 of them!). The batteries were included (YES!!!) so it makes an easy holiday gift. All I had to do was take the little paper out, which was thoughtful of them, so it didn’t drain the juice. I immediately started assembling and pushing the right and left buttons to watch the bits go back and forth.
And then…I did something that was decidedly male…I started looking for things to take apart. Oh yes. There had to be something in the house to take apart. And we’re just going to leave the story as to what was disassembled there because you really don’t need to know more about that. What I will say is that this screwdriver is AWESOME and I’m loathe to give it up (ARGH!). For $10, I’m considering putting it on my wishlist. Mom, are you reading this? Everyone needs a good screwdriver. If I hadn’t said I’d give it away, I might have actually given it to her as a gift. We love the freebies.
However, now I have to give it to one of you. One slightly used and gleefully toyed with screwdriver is up for grabs.
It can be yours if you win.
Here’s how to enter:
1) Leave a comment before December 15, 2010 at 5pm CST telling me one thing you love about this time of year. (1 chance)
2) You can tweet this giveaway and/or link it on facebook and/or link to it on your own blog for extra chances to win! You can do this as often as you like, but it only counts once. (1 chance each)
3) You can add the blueshelled facebook page to your facebook pages! This is going to make me really happy. (2 chances)
3) You can put a blueshelled.com blog button (seen in the sidebar-along with code to add it to your blog or website) on your blog or website, or if you already have one, you qualify, for 3 extra entries. I will verify this before your entries will count. Let me know it’s there and where I can find it. It’s pretty!
Things to know:
**Comments posted after the deadline won’t be included in the drawing.
**I can only ship in the United States. I’m sorry to my International folks. I adore you, anyway.
**If you win, you must email me your mailing address within a week of the drawing end in order to receive your prize. If you do not, I will re-draw for the prize. I am not responsible for anything that happens once this stuff leaves my hands. If it gets lost, etc., I’ll feel really bad, but I can’t replace it.
**I will be using a randomizer to choose the winner of the giveaway. As long as your entries fit the criteria, you are eligible.
Things to remember here: 1/the giveaways are made possible by me and my sponsors. I rely on word of mouth to bring people to my blog. Please spread the word about blueshelled.com! 2/If you or anyone you know might be interested in sponsoring a giveaway here, please let me know. 3/ This blog sucks up the love. Thanks!
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Christmastime is special to me, as it is to most people. I’ve never lost my childlike wonder for the lights, the tree lots, the snow, the gifts, really, any of it. As I grow, though, parts of the holiday that are less enchanted seem to hit me like a truck and I can’t seem to shake them, no matter how hard I try. 
Life is like a game. We all have challenges, thoughts, opinions and beliefs. Often, it feels like something out there, life, karma, catty people, or blue shells (for the Kart lovers), seeks to bring us down. Luckily, we always get up. This is where I wear my heart on my sleeve and my foot in my mouth.
