A List of Giveaways Just For You

I've been kind of missing in action lately, but I thought you might enjoy a few giveaways and sweepstakes I've found online.

My best friend Julie has just the giveaway to get you in the Christmas spirit. If you don't already know Julie, you soon find out she's as sweet and giving as you can get. She's proving it here by giving the readers of her blog "Mamawj's Moment Away" a chance to win one of these beautiful Forest Fresh Christmas Wreaths from Christmas Forest. I can almost smell the fresh pine now.  The giveaway ends on 11/30/14 at 11 PM EST. You can enter for your lucky chance here:

http://mamawjsmomentaway.blogspot.com/2014/11/win-christmas-forest-holiday-fresh-made.html

Would you like a vacation?  How about a trip to the Italian Dolomites?  You can enter through my link here: http://woobox.com/8ognsr/c6j7a1

Would Maybe you would rather take a trip to London, that is fit for royalty.  In the World Market Sweeps you could be the winner of:

• Trip for 2 to London, England (airfare and Accomodations) 
• Private tour of Highclere Castle
• Visit the set of Downton Abbey
• $1,000 World Market gift card

You can enter here: http://www.worldmarketsweepstakes.com

Limit one entry per person using only one email address per day.  All entries must be received by 11:59 ET on 12/26/14 to be eligible.

Here's another blog giveaway.  Jen is giving her readers at "Born 2 Impress" the chance to win a set of Cariloha Bamboo Sheets.  The giveaway ends on 12/6.  You can enter here:  http://is.gd/trMflh.

Be sure to check out Jen's other giveaways on her Holiday Gift Guide here: http://blog.born2impress.com/

Are you still wanting more?  I have a whole page of sweeps listed in facebook.  You can request to join my sweeps group "Tracy's Sweeps" or you can just stalk us a bit, but I bet you'll want to join.  It's open to the public and all the members post the newest sweeps and it's a great place to connect with other sweepers.  You can check it out here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/TracysSweeps/

I'd love to hear from you.  Leave me a comment and let me know if you'd like to see more of these post.

Hugs Y'all...

Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and I will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.

~ Isaiah 7:14

What's In My Beach Bag - #LivingtheSaltLife

It's just now occurring to me that I haven't even shown you what's in my beach tote this summer.  I mean, I have been spending more time with this bag than I have with my purse.

I have my usual Hawaiian Tropic suntan lotion and Coppertone dry oil but this year I also added Neutrogena Sport Face lotion for even more protection.

Two beach towels and a camera are a must.

In this little mesh cosmetic bag I keep my hair supplies and chap stick.  I love the Burt's Bees Shimmer Stick. It adds a touch of sheer sparkling color.

You can't hit the beach without shades.  We can't leave the beach without picking up a few shells, so I made this little beach shell collecting bag earlier this year.  I even added a little pouch for sharks teeth.

I take a book to read and Neil usually brings a crossword book to pass the time.  Since the beach can make you ravenous, I always pack plenty of snacks, the non-melting kind, along with water and drinks.  Neil's drink of choice is Lipton Diet Sparkling Kiwi Green Tea, he loves it.  Mine is always coke, but I'm actually enjoying water more than soda these days.

I also have this cool little insulated beach cooler seat.  It folds up and is so easy to tote. It's the perfect size for the 2 of us.  It's got 2 zippered compartments, one can hold a whole 6 pack of drinks.  The other's perfect for keys, change, etc...

I almost forgot, a cover-up like this tee-shirt dress is a must.  No putting shorts on over my bathing suit for the ride home.  Yuck.

My Top Tips

Tip #1:  I hand wash my swimsuit out as soon as I get home for 2 simple reasons.  First it keeps my suit from fading and keeps it nice looking, secondly it's washed and ready for that next trip to the beach or pool.

Tip #2:  I wash my beach towels and repack my tote, so that I'm ready to go at a moments notice.  I NEVER turn down a trip to the beach.

This year I traded in my usual beach bag for this huge tote bag instead.  I'm loving how roomy it is.  It's so much easier to find things now. But I did need to glam it up, so I sewed on a cute shell charm to the front.  Every bag needs a little sparkle.

So that's a glimpse inside my beach tote.  My motto is keep it simple.  Of course I don't have any little ones to pack for.  Been there - done that.

Are you a beach, lake or pool type of girl or guy?  What's in your bag?

Sunshine Wishes...

Those who go down to the sea in ships, Who do business on great waters; They have seen the works of the Lord, and His wonders of the deep.

~ Psalms 107:23-24

June Opens Up a Season of Fun

June always reminds me of a season of limitless possibilities.  I think that comes from our childhood, and the freedom we felt when we slung open those school doors and ran out like screaming banshees or banhees (haha) for the final time.  The summer had officially began. 

Visions of endless days soaking up the sun, riding the waves and water parks fill my head! I'm almost giddy thinking about it all.

When I got older and had my own child, Ty and I would spend all day at Summer Waves in Jekyll Island, Ga.  Sometimes it would be just me and him and other times we'd take friends for him to play with.  It didn't matter which because, it was always a blast.  We'd drive home worn out from a day of playing in the sun and water.  

*btw - this isn't a sponsored post, I just love Jekyll Island.

Do you ever get too old to enjoy a water park?  Not in my book!  I'd go tomorrow if I had the chance.  What I like about Summer Waves, besides on being a 1 hour drive from Jacksonville, FL, is it's location.  The park sits right on the marsh, which has a slow easy pace. It has a small town feel with big time fun!  Being off the beaten path you bypass the crowds of most other water parks.  Oh' there have been other parks, bigger parks but Summer Waves holds a special place in my heart.  Most likely on my death bed I'll be thinking of my happy memories with Ty there.

Jekyll Island is a unique taste of the old south.  It's a quaint little sleepy coastal area steeped in deep history and one of only four Georgia barrier islands. In 1886, Jekyll Island was purchased to become an exclusive winter retreat for America's most elite families, known as the Jekyll Island Club.  For more than half a century, the nation's leading families, including the Rockefellers, Morgans, Pulitzers and Goulds came to Jekyll Island to secure an escape.  

I have the fondest memories of our parents taking us there to tour the old homes of the historical district or to just picnic among the old oak trees of the island.  Years later I did the same thing with my son.  I can't begin to count the number of times we've just taken, what my daddy would call a Sunday drive to ride the beautiful roads on the island.  You do know a Sunday drive can be taken on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday or Saturday too, right? 

If you're ever in my neck of the woods, I encourage you to take the time to visit the Golden Isles of Georgia.  It's a place like no other, and it will take root in your mind, just like those old oak trees.  It's a place that I promise you will never forget. 

Happy Summer Dreamin' Y'all...

In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; In the morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly watch.

~ Psalm 5:3