I don’t know about you but when I buy our candy for Halloween, I often find myself eating far too much even before the trick-or-treaters get to our door. I usually end up having to either a) run out or get some more candy before they all arrive or b) just turn off the lights when the candy bowl runs dry. I’m sure I’m not the only one who think candy is expensive either… it’s ridiculous sometimes just how much they can charge for something so, uh, well, delicious.

I happened upon their booth at BlogHer this past August and I initially walked past their booth, but turned around after I got a whiff of chocolate. I couldn’t help but grab a piece of the Butterfinger Snackerz that they were giving out to those who stopped by; after all I hadn’t tried the new smaller version of the candy bar. I was delighted with the fresh, airy, Butterfinger taste covered in milk chocolate… the Snackerz size bar was a perfect treat, perfect size and you didn’t have an entire full size candy bar to scarf down. I personally have a problem stopping this type of thing once I start… you start eating a full size candy bar, and 9 out of 10 times you just tell yourself, “Oh, I’ll just finish it and get it over with then I won’t have the temptation later!” Ha, we all know how that goes.  Anyways, after I tried the Snackerz, I received a mini fun size pack as well and I would be lying if I said they didn’t get devoured by the time I got back up to the hotel room.  Delish!

Special thanks to Nestle who has given me this great opportunity to host a giveaway to my readers!

GIVEAWAY DETAILS!

The winner will receive either 4 bags of fun-size Butterfinger Snackerz (16 Snackerz per bag totaling 64 individual fun-size bars) OR 2 bags of full-size pouches (24 pouches per bag totaling 48 full-size pouches).  You will receive ONE of the TWO based on the availability at the time of shipment.  These will be overnighted to you and you will receive them BEFORE Halloween!

CONTEST ENDS on FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15^th, 2010 at 11:59PM (CST).

Winner will be drawn via random.org.

Three ways to enter… three entries max, per person.  Follow these steps to enter!

1. Leave a comment here with your favorite all time candy bar is, it can be from when you were a child or a current favorite.
2. Subscribe to my blog via RSS Feed or e-mail and then leave a comment and let me know that you have just subscribed.  If you already subscribe, leave a comment and let me know, you count too!
3. Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter, and be sure to link back to this post.  Once completed, return back to this post and leave a comment telling me you have tweeted about it.

Feel free to copy and paste the text in orange to use for your tweet, whatever is easiest for you!
GIVEAWAY for Halloween Candy! Contest ends Friday 10/15! – http://tinyurl.com/29xto27

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Nestle Butterfinger is providing this giveaway. I am not being compensated in any way for writing this post.

Sponsored By:

Cheerios® is giving you the chance to win a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, your ultimate family vacation. As part of a paid promotion for their “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, Cheerios® is sponsoring my post today about what my ultimate family vacation would be. Read mine, Enter the Sweepstakes for a chance to actually win your own fantasy family trip or one of a bunch of other great prizes.

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You’re about to embark on my trip to Fiji… the one where I’m going to tell you that I’ve been there, done that, wore the t-shirt.

OR, how ‘bout we pretend that I’ve been there, done that, wore the t-shirt because cleaaaaarrrrly, I will not be going to Fiji any time soon unless I win the lottery sometime in the near future which you know, I’ll probably get struck by lightning before that happens.  Heh!

Where were we? Oh, FIJI! I’m telling you about my most perfect vacation, EVAR!

You see, my husband and I have been to uh, no where together… well, we did go to Texas once in 2007 before we were married and we did go to the north shore for our honeymoon, but other than that, he and I have not been anywhere together where you have to get on a plane and fly far away and land somewhere off US territory; negative.

This ultimate family vacation to Fiji would be something only Chris and I would go on, just the two of us we can make it if we try, just the two of us, you and I (sorry) and we would pretend like this is our second honeymoon.  We would be going to obviously Fiji, but we would stay at one of the Ahura Resorts which would be Likuliku Lagoon Resort which they say is a “magical sanctuary”.  To be honest, I couldn’t even tell you WHERE the location of Fiji is… I just know it’s over water and tropical and all things amazing.  I lied, I just realized they had a little map in their sidebar… and well, it’s way out in the middle of a large body of water, on an island of sorts.

I would be sure that we would be staying in an Over-Water Bure which is uhm, far more than I can afford.  Anyways, we would be sure to visit the plunge pool, go snorkeling off the deck of our Bure, take a walk on the nature trails, relax while they rescue our feet, then we would maybe go kayaking, sit and watch the sunset, and of course a dip in the infinity pool!

Truly, I could go on and on… forever, but I’ve had enough of this dream stuff since I know I won’t be visiting any time soon, unless I magically win the lottery, before I get struck by lightning, you know, because the odds are totally with me.

That’s it though, that magical place where I want to go… that ultimate once or never in a lifetime vacation that is almost too ultimate for my own good!  Still, I wannnnnnnt and neeeeeeed to go… *stomps feet*.  Stop it, you know you do too.

Where is YOUR ultimate vacation?  Spill!  I want to know so I have time to get myself packed in your suitcase.

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Don’t forget to enter the “Do What You Love” Sweepstakes, for a chance to win your own ultimate family vacation. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

I was anticipating a recap a few weeks ago.  One thing lead to another and as I mentioned before, I couldn’t sit down and write a sentence, let alone post that I wanted to write to save my soul.  So, here I am trying to spill out something of coherence and interest.

BlogHer this year was amazing on all levels.   I would however be lying if I said it was all sunshine and roses too.

There’s something about it when I get in a big place, somewhere I don’t know… I know the people and I’m not necessarily afraid but I get that little pit in my stomach that kinda resembles a 5 year old longing for their blankey.  Know what I mean?  Arriving at the hotel, I again like last year, couldn’t believe I was there and that it was happening and again and OMG! am I going to recognize them? will they recognize me? rinse and repeat.  I walked up to the front desk, not looking for anyone in particular… got my key and headed up to the room where I was staying with Kim.  I knew she wouldn’t be in the room as she was on the Kodak bus tour through NYC but I didn’t know if anyone else would be in there.  I took a deep breath as I got closer to the door.  The door was open to the room; the ladies were cleaning and making the beds… I started to walk into the room, pulling my luggage and I heard a somewhat frantic, “Miss! MISS! Please stop… MISS!” I turned around to see one of the housekeeping ladies coming at me.  “It’s okay!  I’ve got the correct room, I have the key right here!” as I pointed to the room number beside the door.  “Let me try to put it in the door to make sure it is correct.”  She put the key in, green light and she apologized and finished cleaning the room.

Side Note:  I’ve never in my life seen someone make a bed as fast as they can.  I’d like to take some of those lessons.

As she finished up, I was thankful by all means that she stopped me before entering… what if I would have been going to the wrong room, what if some stranger got in the hotel and ransacked the room because she never stopped them.  I told her thank you and that I appreciated her verification of the key and she went on to the next room.

I sat in the hotel room for a few hours after arriving to New York City because I didn’t want to be the awkward one, the odd duck.  And, my phone needed to be charged since it died on the plane… so I relaxed in the hotel room for a few hours.  I was beyond hungry but I was afraid to go out on the streets… why I don’t know, I was just afraid… afraid I’d look dumb or lost or, I don’t know.  So I didn’t.  But all I wanted was a pop and just a little something.

Wasn’t I in New York City? Isn’t street meat everywhere on every corner?  Apparently I forgot that at the time… or it was just the initial shock of not knowing where anything is.  Which, duh… it’s NYC and the last time I was there was 9 years ago… still, I had this little gut feeling of homesickness or just wanting that friend to come grab me and say, “Come On! Let’s go!” but I knew that wasn’t going to happen because I never did go down and introduce myself to all the other beautiful ladies in the lobby… I guess that’s where my whole shyness comes in and well, considering I’m used to living in the country/farm land or at least a suburb or sorts… not a big city filled with more than 8 million people.  I was a only a little out of my comfort zone.

Anyways after I finished charging my phone, I decided to venture out by myself… not knowing which direction to go, what was safe or not safe… but I went.  Looking back, I wish I would have grasped the fact that I was in such a big city by my self.  What an amazingly free feeling… the wind at your face, tunneling between the buildings.  The honks and laughter and people from every part of the world… the kids out smiling, families taking pictures with the sun shining brightly.  I wish I would have realized what I had on the tips of my fingers, but I didn’t… I didn’t allow myself to go there.  I didn’t allow myself to feel free and like I had the whole wide world in front of me.

I ended up finding a Subway (deli, not transportation) and a pop and migrated my way back to the hotel.  Slowly becoming more confident in myself out there alone in the big city.

You know, it’s beyond inspiring to see all the other young women out on the streets, dressed cute, head held high, heels on, fashionable purse, big sunglasses, chin up and a smile on their face… they are grasping it all right by the handle and you can just see the confidence pouring out of them.

Because I can’t in any way shape or form possibly clue you in on everything and every happening that DID happen… I’ll show you a few pictures… or in this case A picture because I totally need to get back to work since uh, that’s what I should be doing anyways.

*Photo by Casey @mooshinindy

All in all about all the specific events I attended, I would like to write that out tonight… because it’s worth it and it’s important that those of you who have never attended BlogHer in the past, know how much awesomeness you’re missing out on.

I’ve got some stories for people I met… products I received (which of of them, uhh… yeahhhhh, awesome)… and a whole lot more.

Stay tuned and for real, I’ll be back tonight…

So yes, this IS the obligatory “BlogHer Post”.  The one where I tell you all sorts of things about me; good and bad.

It appears quite a few people are not going to BlogHer this year and have either sold their ticket last minute or just decided all together to not go. I’m a bit uh, oh I don’t know, I probably should have been on of those to cancel my ticket because of money. But, I didn’t because I would lose out on $270 from my plane ticket and well, I know I could have sold my Full Pass but quite frankly, I couldn’t do it. I went last year, had a blast most of the time other than having a drama filled roommate (not Jen!!) that made it all a nightmare.

I went to BH last year with an “ohmygodimgoingtoblogher” attitude. I freaked! My nerves were on high alert and I was far far far over the top.  This year I’m a little more reserved.  I’m prepared (not really.  read: procrastinator) and ready for whatever it is that happens this year.  Because of that, I’ll share a little more that you may or may not know about me… some of you I will be meeting again for the second time, but I know there will be some newbies too.

The important things you should know about me…

If you need something, I’ll be there. I always tend to put friends first and myself last.  I’d rather spend $150 on someone else than on myself as long as it makes them happy.

I love having a heart to heart conversation. If you need someone to vent to, cry to, laugh with, talk with, etc… find me, and I’ll be there.  See previous note about if you need something, I’ll be there.

I’m always uncomfortable in my own skin. Some days it bothers me, some days it doesn’t and on the days it bothers me, I feel fat and frumpy and never cute.

I’m not afraid to walk out into public without make up on and in my jammies/comfy clothes, while running barefoot through the hallway.

If I’m sitting by myself somewhere, feel free to come over to me and say something. I hate being alone, although sometimes I just need it.  Most of the time though if I’m sitting by myself and you know who I am, throw something at me, plop down next to me, kick my foot, tweet @ me, yell at me, anything.  Chances are I would love to talk to you; I’m just a nervous nelly when it comes to meeting people sometimes.

If I’m not being shy, I’ll walk up to you and introduce myself. As long as I know who you are though.    Last year, me and a bunch of other ladies arrived at the hotel and as we walked in I saw Sam, Karen and Angie.  I eyed up Sam first because uh, yes… love her! And, even though I wanted to run screeeeeaming at her like a 5 year old; I held back because I didn’t need to embarrass anyone or myself with a horrible first impression.

I’m not a mom. I plan to be in the near future; but I’m still not a mom.  This often makes me feel “not included” but I’ve also resigned to the fact that I don’t have to be a mom to attend BH.

I love hugs. If you want to hug me, go for it.  I’ll hug anyone who wants a hug.  Except… you have to hug me first.  I’m too much of a chicken to go up to someone and do it first.  I don’t know why, but probably comes back to this “fear of rejection” thing.

I tend to be a follower. Not all the time, don’t worry but if I’m having an off day; you might see me lurking in the distance rather than right up in the front and center.

I open up with alcohol. Get a few drinks in me and I’ll dance forever, or by myself or… well, if you want me to do anything or to reallllllllllly open up.  Alcohol does wonders sometimes.

That’s pretty much me in a nutshell… I’ve got a heart of gold and would give my left arm to anyone in need…

I’m sometimes shy… but most of the time I’m not.  I’ll be the one in the corner letting out a good laugh or having a good time in general, most of the time.

I’m going this year to BlogHer to have fun and make new memories, better than last year.

…tomorrow, my BlogHer itinerary.