*CLOSED* Giveaway: Leather Woofwerks Dog Collar, size 20"-24" (Ends 10/29)

I've really been neglecting my blog lately, and I feel kinda bad about that. I've decided to remedy the situation by hosting a giveaway for this beautiful dog collar.

Nice, eh? I won this great collar during a twitter party a few weeks ago, but unfortunately, it is a bit too big for my dog and I don't have any friends who own a large dog. That's what I get for neglecting to measure my dog's neck before trying to win a collar!

Before I get to the giveaway details, let me tell you a bit about this collar. First of all, please note that it will only fit dogs with 20 to 24 inch necks. So, get out your measuring tape before you enter! The collar is made by Woofwerks, who specialize in lovely hand-crafted leather dog collars and leashes. They also offer accessories, such as bowls and food storage bins. This particular collar is called the Tucker, and it sells for $44.95. To quote the Woofwerks website,  "the clean lines of the "Tucker" are a real stand-out that will grace any dog's neck. Hand-crafted in vegetable tanned English bridle leather, these smart collars are an inch wide with a half inch wide contrasting overlay. They sport a one inch "D" ring at the throat and a half inch "D" ring at back for quick lead attachment." The collar is lined with garment grade leather, and was hand-crafted in the USA.

Although the collar is too large for my dog to wear, I can tell by handling it that it is very high quality. It looks beautiful, feels like it would be comfortable for the dog to wear, and seems like it would be very durable. It's also in perfect condition- I merely took it out of the bag to admire it, didn't even try to put it on my pup because I could tell it would be too big for her. In case you can't tell, I'm pretty sad that we can't use this- it's sooo much nicer than the plain nylon collar my dog has now. But, my pain could be your gain!

Prize: One Woofwerks "Tucker" collar in size 20"-24"

Please note that since this collar is coming directly from me, not the company, this is the only size available. Sorry!

Rules:

-Open to US Residents Only

-Winner will be chosen by random.org

-Winner will notified by email and must respond within 48 hours, or else a new winner will be chosen.

-Please leave a comment for each entry!
-See my Official Rules page for more details

Mandatory Entry: Tell me about the dog that you would like to win this great collar for. Please include your email address with this entry! This entry must be completed before any extra entries will count.

Extra Entries- Not required, but increase your chances of winning. Please leave a separate comment for each!

• Follow me on twitter @giveawaysetc , and comment with your username.
• Follow me via GFC (right sidebar) and leave a comment letting me know that you do. If the GFC widget isn't showing up, try hitting refresh a few times.
• "Like" Woofwerks on facebook, and comment with your facebook name (first name and last initial is fine).
• Tweet about this giveaway and leave a comment with a link to your tweet. You may tweet once per day for an extra entry each day. You can use this tweet if you want: Enter to #win a leather @Woofwerks dog collar! http://bit.ly/omI8M0 #giveaway ends 10/29 

The giveaway will end at 11:59 EST on 10/29. The winner will be chosen using random.org, and notified by email. I will mail the prize out in a timely manner, but cannot absolutely guarantee that it won't get lost in the mail.

Disclosure: I am not affiliated with the Woofwerks company and I did not receive any payment or products in exchange for this post.

Slackin' Sunday 7/24

"Happiness consists in realizing it is all a great strange dream."

- Jack Kerouac

My quest for free stuff has been going very well as of late! Pardon me while I show off some of my recent wins.

1.  $25 Wal-Mart gift card from Plastic Jungle and Networking Witches. I need new front tires, so I'm gonna put the GC towards that. I've used Plastic Jungle before to trade in gift cards that I didn't want for ones I could use- it's a great service! Try it out if you ever find yourself with a gift card to a place you don't like, or one that doesn't even exist in your area.

2. Nestle Best Summer Ever Prize Pack ($25 Visa GC, coupons for free ice cream, jump rope, beach ball and more) from The Mommy Files.

3. Mangroomer body shaver (approx. $40) from Nuts 4 Stuff. This one's for my fiance, he'll probably get some good use out of it.

4. $50 EdenFantasys gift code from Girl Gone Mom. Haven't decided what to use this one for- there's too much stuff I want!

5. Nicole Lee USA handbag from Snickers N Cream. I'm pretty psyched about this one- I love handbags, and I'm actually trying to learn how to sew so that I can make my own. I got to pick my prize from the New Arrivals section, and I chose this one:

Not only have I been winning a decent amount of stuff this month, I've been signing up for a few money generating things as well. I'm usually pretty skeptical of places that pay you for doing surveys, but I looked into them and signed up for a few. So far, I've been getting the most surveys from Opinion Outpost. In the few days I've been a member, I've earned $4 worth of points. With a few more surveys, I should be able to cash 'em in for a $5 Amazon gift code! I also signed up for Synovate, and I've earned over $10 already! I didn't realize that until I checked just now, guess the survey I did yesterday was worth a lot of points. The last site I signed up for was Pine Cone Research, but I haven't qualified for any of their surveys yet. Anyone know of a good paid survey site that I'm missing out on?

Yesterday, I signed up for Swag Bucks. I've been hearing about Swag Bucks for a while, but I was skeptical about using it. I'm always worried about scams and whatnot. However, I think I was being silly this time- Swag Bucks seems very legit and kinda fun too! You can earn Swag Bucks for doing all kinds of things, like answering polls, watching videos, playing games, and even just searching for something using their toolbar. Once you've earned Swag Bucks, you can use them to enter sweeps, buy stuff from their store, or donate to charity. If you like free stuff, check it out!

K-Y Intimacy Experiment Days 10: Putting it All Together

Ok, my last KY post is a few days late- sorry about that! Sometimes I procrastinate a little bit. Anyway, day 10 is about reflecting upon what I've learned during this experiment and putting that knowledge into action. My assignment for the day was to incorporate the various techniques I've learned into our day and then reflect back by considering the following questions:

Q: How did you do at incorporating the various aspects of the Experiment into your day?
A: I did pretty well in the morning by showing him plenty of affection before he went to work, but when I got home from work in the evening I wasn't feeling so great. I had planned on cleaning up the bedroom, but I ended up taking a nap instead.

Q: Which were easiest to remember- and easiest to forget?
A: It was very easy for me to remember to be affectionate, because I do that just about every day anyway. I remembered that I was supposed to clean up, I just opted not to. It's easier to forget the tips that I normally wouldn't do, like cooking together or doing something dangerous/outside of my comfort zone.

Q: What changes have you noticed in your relationship over the course of the program? How has your sex life changed?
A: We had sex more frequently than usual during the experiment, which was nice. However, I learned that I tend to enjoy planned sex a bit less than spontaneous encounters. Somehow, feeling like I should do it made me want it a little less. Outside of the bedroom, our relationship has been great, as usual.

Q: Which activities are you likely to make a habit?
A: I would like to work on keeping our bedroom looking like a "love nest" instead of a big mess.

Q: How do you see the future of your relationship?
A: I see it lasting and remaining a source of great happiness for a very long time!

Thanks to all of you who have read about my experience with the KY Intimacy Experiment, and who participated in my giveaway! I hope the winners have a lovely time with their kits!

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE.

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.



K-Y Intimacy Experiment Kit Winners!

The winners of my giveaway, as chosen by random.org, are Tickling Pink (#24) and Renee R. (#41). Congratulations, ladies! I hope you both enjoy your kits and have fun participating in the experiment.

My last K-Y Intimacy Experiment post will be up later today!

K-Y Intimacy Experiment Day 9: Dangerous Liasons

Let's face it: after you've had sex with the same person hundreds or thousands of times, it's no longer quite as thrilling as it was the first few times. I know that my partner and I have had some issues with sex become too routine after being together for a few years. According to the booklet, "when it comes to attraction, a little unpredictability goes a long way. It spikes the brain's natural amphetamines, dopamine and norepinephrine, which play a big role in sexual arousal." So, if you feel that things have gotten a little boring, you may want to try doing something exciting- and maybe slightly dangerous- with your partner.

The suggested exercise for today was going out and doing something fresh, exciting, and maybe a bit scarey with my partner. Unfortunately, we weren't able to do that today due to lack of funds/time, but sometime this summer I'd like to go white water rafting with him. I've done that once before, and it was both fun and scarey, so I think it fits the bill. Here are some more suggestions, in case you need help coming up with ideas:

• Hang gliding
• Sky diving
• Go-kart racing
• Hiking
• Kayaking
• Playing paintball
• Riding roller coasters or other thrill rides

In the bedroom, you could spice things up with some "dangerous" play such as tying each other up or using blindfolds. Just use your imagination!

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.

Kitty pics

I'm just gonna put these here.

 

K-Y Intimacy Experiment Days 7 and 8

Okay, so I kind of slacked off a little bit and missed a few days of the experiment- you know what they say about the best laid plans, yadda yadda yadda. Today, I made up for lost time by doing the exercises for both day 7 and 8.

For day 7, I'm supposed to discover my very own "love map." According to the booklet, "this term refers to the sexual template expressed in every individual's erotic fantasies and practices. In other words, our love maps represent the blueprint of our erotic desires that drives our turn-ons, turn-offs, and sexual fantasies. Your love map explains everything from why you gravitate to a particular physical type to what feeds your private fantasies and actual practices." Alright, that makes sense. Now what?

The booklet instructed me to describe my most erotically memorable experiences and answer some questions about them. I'm not going to go into detail here, because I think that would be a little TMI, but rest assured I do have some memorable erotic experiences that I reflect upon from time to time. Next I'm supposed to think about external turn-ons and turn-offs and list five of each. No problem!

Turn-Ons

1. Long hair
2. The sound of rain or thunder
3. Dirty talk
4. The feel and smell of leather
5. The sight of my naked or scantily clad lover

Turn-Offs

1. Bad smells of any sort
2. Bright lights
3. Annoying noises
4. The feel of rough stubble
5. Awkward positions

Lastly, I'm instructed to think about my recurring fantasies and answer some questions about them. Once again, I'm going to keep that info to myself.

 Your erotic memories, turn-ons, turn-offs, and fantasies make up the landscape of your love map.  You should share that information with your partner, and the two of you can use them to spice things up. Personally, my partner and I shared our fantasies with each other long ago and I'm very glad that we did!

For Day 8 of the experiment, my  partner and I were supposed to cook a meal together. According to the booklet, cooking and eating together are a great way to bond as a couple, and it cites a survey which found that couples who cook together are significantly more satisfied with their relationships and sex lives. I'm a little skeptical about that claim, because I've personally never been turned on by cooking, or eating meals together for that matter.

My partner does almost all of our cooking, because he's good at it and he enjoys it. When I try to help, I just end up in the way. So, I wasn't super thrilled about today's exercise- cooking a meal together. The booklet urged us to cook an oyster dish because oysters are supposed to be aphrodisiacs, but neither of us were down with that. We made a pasta dish instead. It went much as I expected- he did just about everything and I stood off to the side trying not to get in the way. This one just wasn't for us! That's ok, though- we bond in plenty of other ways.

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.



K-Y Intimacy Experiment Day 6: Getting Back in Touch

One thing that people in relationships often complain about is a lack of physical affection outside of the bedroom. Affection is a wonderful thing- it can make you feel safe, loved, and connected. According to one 2008 study, it might even lower your blood pressure! So, today's exercises are all about getting back in touch with my partner.

First, I'm supposed to ask myself the following questions:

Q: Think back on the past few days or week. Not including sex, how often did you touch each other throughout the day?
A: So many times that I really can't keep track. Dozens of times per day, I believe.

Q: Did your physical interactions include hugs, hand holding and cuddling?
A: Yes, we do all of those things most days.

Now I am to come up with 10 ways you could touch my partner in a positive, loving way today. Here are my ideas:
1. Cuddle for a few minutes before we get up in the morning.
2. Kiss goodbye before he goes to work.
3. Greet him with a hug and kiss when he gets home from work.
4. Cuddle together on the couch while watching a show.
5.  Rub his feet.
6. Hold hands.
7. Take a shower together and wash each other.
8. Play with his hair.
9. Rub his shoulders.
10. Spoon while drifting off to sleep.

I'm also supposed to give my partner an erotic massage, but I'm saving that for a little later :)

At the end of the day, there are a few more questions to answer.

Q. How many positive types of touch were you able to share with your partner today?
A: I was able to use several of my ideas, but not all of them. The day isn't over yet, though!

Q. What, if anything, prevented you from touching him even more?
A. He worked all day and then went to practice with his band, so I didn't get to start spending time with him until about 9pm.

Q. Did you enjoy the positive touch? Feel loved? Smothered?
A. I always enjoy touching and being touched by him.

This was probably the easiest day of the experiment so far for me, because I really didn't have to do anything that I wouldn't normally do. I've had relationships in the past where affection was lacking, and I'm so glad that isn't an issue with my current partner- it really sucks when the person you're with doesn't seem to like being affectionate with you. So, if you've been slacking off on touching your partner, step it up! It can really make a big difference for a lot of people.

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.



K-Y Intimacy Experiment Day 5: Fun and Games

I should have put this up yesterday, but I slacked off! Surprise, Surprise. Anyway, day 5 is all about having fun with your partner, both in and out of the bedroom. According to the booklet, "couples who participate in fun, new (nonsexual) activities  together enjoy higher quality relationships than those who stick to the same-old, same-old." Doing fun new things together is sometimes a challenge for my fiance and I, because we rarely have the same days off from work- it just so happens that today is an exception, though!

For today's exercise, I was instructed to choose an activity that we've never done together before, and take notice of how my partner and I interact and work as a team. Well, we live in a small town and there isn't really a whole lot to do that we haven't already done, but I figured something out- I took my fiance to yard sales with me this morning. I often hit up yard sales on Fridays during the summer, but he's usually either at work or sleeping in. Today, I coaxed him out of bed with promises of buying lunch at his favorite Pizza place. Unfortunately, we got a bit of a late start and didn't find anything too spectacular, but he did find a neat suitcase for 50 cents and I picked up a few books and cds. Not the most romantic activity in the world, but we had fun! I think we'll be having some more fun later on as well :)

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.

K-Y Intimacy Experiment Day 4: Outside the Comfort Zone

Day four of the experiment deals with balancing comfort and familiarity in a relationship with the unpredictability and sense of mystery which foster sexual attraction. I've been instructed to read this list of "offenses" which may cause a couple's sex life to suffer and identify which ones I'm guilt of. Let's take a look:

• Sleep with kids or pets in the bedroom- No kids, but our dog does sleep with us. I wish she didn't, but it's preferable to listening to her bark and whine from the other room all night.
• Have and use a television, computer, or smart phone in the bedroom- There's a TV in there, but we rarely use it.
• Spend the evenings online- Sometimes, but I never prioritize that above spending time with my partner.
• Spend time texting or playing with phone during date nights- Nope, I consider that to be very rude.
• Leave the door open while in the bathroom- Nope
• Perform personal grooming habits in front of partner- Yes, sometimes I brush my teeth and whatnot in front of him.
• Sometimes skip basic hygiene (such as bathing or brushing your teeth) because you're too tired, lazy, or think your partner doesn't care- No, my hygiene is pretty good.

Now I'm supposed to review my answers and think about which of these acts I would never have performed in front of my partner at the beginning of the relationship. Well, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have done any of them. For one thing we didn't live together so some of them don't really apply (like sleeping with pets or a TV in the room), and others would have been embarassing. Most people are on their best behavior around a new partner, but as you become more familiar with each other you start letting a few things slide. I don't feel that the lack of "mystery" has made our sex life suffer, but I can see how it could be a problem for some couples. I know that if I was with someone who stopped taking care of their basic hygiene it would definitely be an issue!

Basically, the lesson of the day that you might not want to let yourself get too comfortable around your partner. If you're lazing about in a pile of your own fingernail clippings and dandruff while playing facebook games all evening, you may not seem as sexually appealing as you did long ago! So, use your brain. Try to be a little bit conscientious about these things.

Would you like to participate in the K-Y Intimacy Experiment? Just visit the KY Experiment tab on COUPLES PLACE. Also, check out my giveaway for a chance to win a great K-Y kit!

Disclosure: I wrote this post while participating in a blog campaign on behalf of K-Y® Brand and also received product samples to help facilitate my review.