UPDATE: The winner is…Brenda Rumsey!
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I love celebrating a new year in big and small ways. Of course, there has to be a party, even if I can’t manage to stay up to watch the ball drop. We have food and sparking grape juice/wine/champagne. I prepare my new year’s work plan in the days leading up to the big day. I’m always optimistic about my plans. I may not accomplish everything I list, but I do fare better if I have a vision for the year. I know some of you treat the passing of the year as just another day. I get that. It really is. But I like celebrating…well, everything. Any excuse for a happy event. New Years? I’m there. The beginning of another season of Walking Dead? I’m there. The summer solstice? I’m there! Yeah. It’s why I list so many obscure holidays on this blog. 🙂

So, what do you have to do to win a $5 Amazon gift card? Easy. Tell me whether you’re planning to do anything to celebrate the passing of another year? Are you making up a resolutions list? Retiring your 2022 calendar? Big or small. List it in the comments and you’re entered to win! Enjoy the puzzle!

I finally wrapped presents last night! Woot! The last-minute “dump & go” edit job is done! Now, I can coast through Christmas without any stress and just enjoy being with the family.

I hope you like the puzzle! It’s a silly, whimsical one that struck my fancy (and yes, I know that’s “old-people” speak!). Enjoy the holiday, enjoy the puzzle. Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays to you all!

Open Contests

1. Michal Scott: Continuing the Family Legacy: Sarah Jane Woodson Early (Contest) — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. Saturday Puzzle-Contest! Counting Down to Christmas! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
3. A Christmas (sort of) Puzzle! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
4. Things on a Christmas Tree Word Search! (Contest) — Win an Amazon gift card!
5. Merry Christmas Gift for you! — This giveaway ends soon! Everyone can get a FREE read!

UPDATE: The winner is…Sherry!
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I have another puzzle for you! I know you’re bored at home, maybe covered up with family, and need a brain break—something fun to do! I’m here to save you!

Too much? Sorry. I bubble up under pressure. Anyways, the theme of the word search is things on a Christmas tree, and yes, pickles and spiders are things—Google them! Also, who doesn’t have Elvis singing “Blue Christmas” hanging from their tree?

So, what do you have to do to win a $5 Amazon gift card? Easy. Tell me your weirdest or your favorite tree ornament. Or if Christmas isn’t your thing, tell me what weird or favorite decoration you put up during your holiday!

UPDATE: The winner is…Sandy Kelly!
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I couldn’t help myself. I was looking for a topic to talk about this morning, thought I had one, then went looking for a picture to use and found the cutest Christmas (sort of) picture. I knew I had to use it in a puzzle, but I have to do it this week, so… If you want to know why I love it, you’ll have to solve it!

My topic was going to be about having kids underfoot all week, being covered up in pets (we have 9 dogs, 4 cats, a bunny, and a betta!), and me being driven mad by dog hair, cat puke, and cleaning bunny cages and fish tanks, while, I might add, trying to wrap up several editing projects this week. There’s no rest for a self-employed writer/editor. No vacations allowed! EXCEPT, I think I’m going to Hawaii in July, so I’m giving warning… I WILL NOT BE HELD HOSTAGE BY DOGS, CATS, FISH, RABBITS or EDITS! There. I got that off my chest. Now, let’s play!

Comment about anything at all—topic of your choice—for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Peggy Fowler!
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Eight days to Christmas in the Devlin house! My daughter has all her gifts bought and wrapped. I bought my last gift last night online. I have ALL my gifts to wrap. Does anyone LIKE wrapping gifts? That’s the thing I procrastinate over. If I could, I’d pay one of the kids to do it for me. I know—bad Nina! Anyways, I have some editing to do today. Some WRAPPING (if I can make myself do it), a bunny cage to clean, maybe a fish tank to freshen… I think I’ll skip making my bed because I might try to slip back into it for a nap (something I never do, but it really sounds kind of wonderful right now). I hope you all have a wonderful weekend. Good luck with the contest!

Solve the puzzle, then tell me how you’re getting ready for the holidays for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Stephanie!
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I have a To Do list that’s 14 items long—on a SATURDAY! I hope your Saturday will be lazier and tons more fun than mine!

I’ll leave you with the puzzle. Solve it, then tell me know what one lazy thing you’re doing for yourself today for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!

Open Contests

1. Saturday Puzzle-Contest — Someone’s checking his watch! — This one ends soon! Win an Amazon gift card!
2. St. Nicholas Day! (Contest) — Win…something! I haven’t decided what just yet!
3. Gabbi Grey: What it means to write in a shared world… (Contest) — Win a gift card!

UPDATE: The winner is…Eileen! Hope you’re out of the hospital and feeling better!
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Today, I’m up at O-dark-thirty to get this blog completed because I have to get a shower and get to the holiday craft show! My daughter and I have prepared for months but were still working up until yesterday because we didn’t feel like we had enough “stuff”—um, we do, but we always feel we could’ve done more. I’m leaving my space a wreck, paints and papers still on my desk and art table. Everything strewn around. I DON’T CARE. I have to shower and get dressed in the most obnoxious Christmas clothing. I’ll dig up a Christmas pin for my jean jacket… Should I bring Christmas fairy lights…? STOP!

I’ll leave you with the puzzle. Solve it. Then tell me how prepared you are for the season for a chance to win a $5 Amazon gift card!