The Ultimate Blog Party 2009

If you are visiting from 5 Minutes from Mom, welcome to Dandelion Dayz! If you want to know why I chose the name Dandelion Dayz, you can read about that HERE.

If you are a regular reader be sure to hop on over to 5 Minutes for Mom Blog Party by clicking on the Party Box above and finding out about all the cool prizes you can win! You don't have to be a blogger to win them! So, go now - you know most of this stuff, anyway. :)

My name is Janel and I'm a stay at home mom that doesn’t seem to stay at home much. I live in a small suburb of Raleigh, North Carolina with my husband and two kids: an elementary age girl that wants to rule the world and a preschool boy that wants to grow up to be a superhero. A couple of years ago I started to blog as a way to clear my very cluttered mommy brain. Unbelievably, two years later, I'm still here.

I'm active in several roles at my church and find great joy in leadership and coaching other leaders. I love to identify leadership gifts in someone who doesn't even realize they have them and then helping them nurture those gifts. That is exciting to me! I'm an extravert, a sanguine and a true mess that is loved by a very patient family and a great big amazing God.

Being that my personality is a bit disorganized by nature, so is my blog. So, I tend to share my life by following a lot of carnivals like Wordless Wednesday and What I Learned this Week. I've also enjoyed Mom Missing recently.

I sometimes find great links that I will share with you. This Saturday, I will be linking up to some gardening blogs, so be sure to stop back by if you are a gardener.

I also blog about my experience in sponsoring a Compassion child and often help out at Compassion booths with my good pal to help more kids get sponsors. Sponsoring this little boy is a blessing to my family and it could be to yours also by going HERE.

In the colder months, I host a carnival called Souper Saturday where other bloggers link up with a favorite soup recipe. I got some incredible recipes this year for my family.

What else?
Oh! I blog about trends for kids at a local website called Triangle TRACKS and I blog at Chic Critique which is a blog where everyday women review beauty and fashion products for women just like you! I'm am blogging over there this afternoon about L'Oreal's new sulfate-free shampoo - check it out. Two very awesome women run those blogs.

Blogging is a hobby for me. I don't aspire to be the biggest blogger on the block and enjoy the followers that I have. I like getting to know them back and forth in comments and emails and would love for you to be one of my new bloggy friends.

Thanks for stopping by and have a fantastic day!

Say It Forward

This is a great idea from 5 Minutes For Mom. Honor those that are loyal commenters your blog.

Nothing makes a blogger feel better than when readers leave comments. When you are pouring your heart out to the world it's a good feeling to have support.

I have many wonderful readers that leave regular comments. But almost daily, without fail is LeAnn from Tollsons4Him. I can genuinely say that I hope to meet her one day. I bet she is the type of friend you can always count on.

Thank you LeAnn!

Tackle It Tuesday - I made THE appointment

I made THE appointment. Finally.

I don't know if I have been in denial or what, but I was given direction by my doctor when I turned 35 to have a mammogram.

I was breast feeding at the time, so he let me wait until the year after I was finished before he recommended it again. That would have been around age 36.

Almost 2 years ago.

I know, I know. Bad decision.

But today.

I made the appointment. For next week.

No more denial that I am over 35.

I am...over 35.

It's okay, though.

I feel good.

And I need to take care of myself.

So, here it is: My mammogram appointment.

Done.

Let's get it over with now.

Want to see more great tackles? Check them out at 5 Minutes for Mom!

The Kid in Me

Check out 5 Minutes for Mom and The Kid in You Photo Contest.

Use # 105 for an exercise ball. But this one is the most fun!!!
Bounce Bounce!

My Mom

This is one of my all time favorite pictures with my mom.

May 1997.

As you can see, it is my wedding day.

My mom was supposed to be helping me get ready. Here I am putting my a long wearing lipstick on her, so we could have beautiful lips all day!

She was so quiet that day. Not unhappy, just quiet. She wrote me a beautiful letter that I still have and will cherish always. I absolutely love the way she is looking at me, but didn't understand it until I had my own daughter. That is one of the beautiful things about becoming a mom - you understand your own mom so much better. It's like the biggest A-Ha moment!

For more fun flashback photos go to We are THAT Family, Sincerly Fro' Me to You.

Also, check out the fun and AWESOME Mother's Day contest over at 5 Minutes for Mom. Hop on over there and vote for your favorite photo!

Ah Spring! - WW

For more Wordless Wednesday go here and here.

Pink - WW

PINK







For more great photos, go to 5 Minutes for Mom and Wordless Wednesday.

Very cool site

I found this very cool site on 5 Minutes for Mom.

Cool Moms Care - practical advice to help make our kids better people, us better parents and have fun doing it! Check it out.

Get your party on!

Well, this is my first Blog Party ever! I am very excited to check out other blogs and make some new bloggy friends. This blogging thing was originally something I started to just get some musings out of my mind and record my family and faith journeys. It has since become very addictive and fun. I have met so many new friends and look forward to it every day. It has become a hobby for sure.


I have been married to a supportive, hard working and funny husband for 11 years now. He keeps me laughing for sure which is a great thing in marriage. We have our own business which keeps him very busy, but it is fun and rewarding.




We have 2 children: a daughter, age 7, and a son who will turn 4 in less than a month.
She loves her dance classes and he wants to grow up to be a superhero. For real.



I volunteer a lot at my church and with my children's schools. I enjoy being at home with them, although, we are seldom at home. They have been sick this week and while I hate that, I have enjoyed actually being in my home!


I am originally from the Mid-West, lived in the big D for 6 years and have finally settled in North Carolina. We love it here and plan to never leave! We are 2 hours from the beach and 4 from the mountains - why would we?


I like to cook and I love to read. I love spending time with friends and family and enjoy listening to as much music as I can. I talk a bit about new music and the books that I am reading. I occasionally post new recipes that I think are yummy and easy.


I only blog here, but am hoping to expand that soon. Check out my sidebar to learn more about me, read some favorite posts and check out more blogging friends of mine.


I am participating in the giveaway for this party too! It is my first giveaway!!! I am giving away your choice of one of these necklaces. Please read the giveaway guidelines for this here.



My friend, Lisa, is an amazing jewelry designer and I wanted to show off her goods. I have the necklace with the cross on it and you cannot believe how many compliments I get on it. She is redesigning her website which will feature her new designs as well as these. Until then, you can contact her at lisa-presence@nc.rr.com




Myself, I would love to win #54,(love these dresses!) #94,(need a book light, so badly) #92 (love pearls!)


Any of these would be cool, too. #38, #87, #63, #58

Please leave me a comment so I can visit your blog, too!

I wish you were really here, I would make us a cup of coffee and serve up some

Girl Scout cookies so we could sit and have a good chat.