Divine Giveaway

If you are a Maine-ly Home follower, you already know I'm a huge fan of Divine Twine and Whisker Graphics. If you aren't a regular, check out this post, or this post. 

Divine Twine comes in yummy colors and can be used in one zillion ways. Become a follower of Whitney's blog and you'll how lots of people are putting Divine Twine to use.

Right now, there's an awesome giveaway for some aqua blue Divine Twine. Enter the giveaway.

Another Awesome Giveaway

Okay, I promise, I'm not becoming a blog just posting about other blog/site giveaways -- but, when the giveaways are this good, I can't resist.

The Waldorf Shop has re-launched its site and in celebration, has lots of great giveaways, including felt from my favorite felt source, A Child's Dream. Check it out!

Oh, Hey, It's Summer!

{photo via my mom}



Today marks the official first day of Summer. And, here in Maine, the weather forecast promises a real summer day. Yahoo!


Unfortunately, I'll be glued to by computer working for much of the day.

But, I still plan to enjoy a bit of summer with my girls before the day is done. We'll eat an early dinner outside before heading to a concert at the town gazebo. And, maybe, just maybe, if all goes well, we'll walk by the new, totally awesome in-town ice cream shop.

Signs of Early Summer in Maine:

• Fields of lupine appear everywhere.
• Sea-side lobster shacks open for business.
• People eat outside all the time. (Wander through our town in the evening and just take a whiff of the awesome grilling smells and listen to the laughter - mostly - of families enjoying a meal outside.)
• Skunks appear. (I am generally a very tolerant person. But, I truly hate skunks. I have major issues with skunks. Just ask my husband or my mother.)
• 1 in 3 (I'm guessing here) cars either has a boat trailed behind or a kayak or canoe pinned to the top.
• There are a lot of people "from away" around. (Many years ago, my mom and dad instituted --- after a summer of houseguests nearly every week of the summer -- a rule that no one could come visit in the summer, unless they also came at some point in the winter.)
• People are busily working on their houses and their yards.
• Strawberries are starting to appear.
• Farmer's markets are humming with excitement.
• Rather than asking a friend or neighbor "how are you?" you ask, "how's the garden coming along?"

What does summer look like in your neck of the woods?

This Place Matters - Please Vote

{photo via here}

I happen to live in a fantastic little town (how many times have I said this?) where great efforts have been poured into preserving the amazing historic structures that surround us. Like many people in this town, I live in a historic home that is 170+ years old. And, while there are days when I'd love to swap in this old beast for a newbie, most of the time I relish the opportunity to live in a piece of history. There is something very grounding about living in a place that has stood the test of time.

 

Anyhow, one of our town's buildings, the Winter Street Center (formerly the Winter Street Congregational Church - this building now serves as a building for events) has been selected as one of the 100 historic preservation projects competing in the "This Place Matters Community Challenge" sponsored by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. And, WE (anyone online!) can help make sure that this building wins - and receives a price of either $5,000, $10,000 or $25,000. This money is needed to make important restorations.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS! This place is the only place in Maine in the contest.  Others have many more people right in their area.  We need to get people from all over to help -- so spread the word!

Here's what you need to do: it only takes a few seconds!

1. Click here http://tinyurl.com/687rqmu

2. On the right in the blue box click on 'Register or Get a Password Reminder'

3. Enter your email and zip code and press submit

4. (here's the BIG tip) hit your back button 3x and you can vote right there!

Oh How I Need This. What An Awesome Giveaway.

I try really hard not to buy a lot of baby/kid gear. I don't have the room; I hate plastic; and quite frankly the amount of use hardly ever warrants the expense. But, THIS looks like it would make all the difference in my life. My littlest peanut is an adventurer and she loves to climb. And, so far, there is very little she hasn't succeeded in scaling. A couple of our favorite little friends nicknamed her Indiana Rose. She just loves to be part of the action, especially in the kitchen. And, well, she's tiny. Very tiny. So, this would just be awesome. Well, today, there's a great giveaway for one of these over at LivingCrafts. Check it out!

Why Didn't I think of That? The Lobster Lovers Dream Come True.

{photo via here}

I'm fairly certain that those of you who aren't regular lobster eaters will not find this interesting. But, if you are a lobster lover, well, your gonna love this.

How often have you sat, hands all covered with gook from de-shelling your lobster, ready to devour the goodness, only to look down at your lobster virtually swimming in liquid? You then, with slippery hands try to dump the liquid somewhere. Ultimately, you lose some valuable piece that has you scrambling like an idiot.

Well, thanks to the brilliance of a New Hampshire woman (T.J. “Lats” Latvis), your worries are over. The brand new innovative lobster plate is two layers - the top boasts vents that let those lobster juices drain to the plate below. Get all the juicy details.

As an added bonus, a portion of the profits from the sales of these plates benefits the Lobster Institute.
The Lobster Institute works with the lobster industry from New York to Newfoundland--the core mission is to sustain both the lobster resource and a viable lobster fisherythrough conservation, outreach and research.

Summer is on the way (or so I'm told...these cold gray days don't have me convinced), better stock up now!

Keeping it Real - Take 2

As referenced yesterday, sometimes desperate times require desperate measures - and, my desperate measure is to give my toddler band-aids. Not every day. Not all the time. In desperation. When I need just a few minutes for whatever and she is resisting all other efforts. Band-aids are her drug. It can take her from meltdown to zen in a matter of seconds. Sure, it's wasteful. And, that doesn't sit easy with me. But, in the scheme of things, it seems, well, acceptable. Here is what happened during my shower yesterday.