The Mother Load

So, you know when I told you all about the blog award for which I wanted to be nominated, and then I said I just wanted to be able to say the words, "It's an honor just to be nominated?"

I lied.  I want to WIN!

So, here's what you do.  You click on this link (this one right here): Yes, this one...the link of which I have spoken.  And you vote for ME!

You can also leave a comment encouraging everyone to vote for The Mother Load. Even if they are there to vote for another blog (these things are known to happen), they have the option of voting for up to three.  Maybe if they see a whole boatload of loyal readers telling them to vote for The Mother Load, they'll think, "Hey! That bandwagon looks kind of comfy. I think I'll jump on and have some brownies!"  (You'll need to offer them brownies if they're going to think that.  I am okay with this.)

A few questions you might like me to answer follow.

Why should I vote for The Mother Load?


Because I make you smile.  I make you laugh.  Even on days when you might not think you can smile or laugh at anything, I get you.  Even on days when I don't think I can smile or laugh at anything, I find a way, and then I share it here.  That's worth something, I think.

But I've never thought of this as a "Mormon" blog.  Should I vote for The Mother Load even if you don't write about Mormon stuff all the time?


Absolutely!  Yes, I am Mormon, and an active one at that.  But I choose to write my blog in such a way that it will touch people of all faiths, no faiths, multiple faiths, whatever.  I believe we're all this world together, so I don't want to limit my voice to only people of my religion.  However, I am LDS, and the award is for an LDS blogger, whether or not the topic is religious, so I am eligible, and I WANT IT!

What will you do if you win?


I, Sarah of the pretty voice and terrible stage fright, will tape a video of myself singing a song from a list of YOUR suggestions and put it on YouTube.  I will not be standing on my head this time.  The room will not be dark to the point that you can't even tell it's me.  I will sing for the camera, face forward, forgetting my fear, and you will get a show.  I may throw up...but we'll edit that out.

Do I get something if you win?


YOU MIGHT!  Leave a comment on the award blog, leave comment on my Facebook fan page telling me you've voted or shared the link to the voting page, or leave a comment here, and you will be eligible to win a prize!  I will hold a drawing once the winner is announced, whether or not I win.  That's right.  I will be giving away a prize even if I don't win the award, because everything you can do in this effort will bring people to The Mother Load, and that's good for the environment and for puppies and kittens and rainbow connections.

What's the prize?


You may choose a product I've profiled on this blog, up to a $50 value.  You can mix and match, as well.  Choose from the Stupid Products (why???) or the Awesome Products and find something you've always dreamed of having and then go, vote, share, comment, and you're in!  I can already see a few of you are hankering for some Handerpants.  Go for it!

Susan Keller of St. George, UT, long-time reader of The Mother Load column in the St. George Spectrum & Daily News, has won the Perfect Brownie Pan!  According to the spiffy spreadsheet Richard and I made, she referred 16 fans for a probability of 6.6%.  I mention those numbers because Richard is very proud of them.  All I'm really thinking about is when I can visit Susan and she can make me brownies.

We currently stand at 429 fans.  For those of you with working brains (and you can't be a fan of my blog without one), this means that we didn't quite make it to the 500 mark in time for my hair to turn blue.  I'm compromising and buying some blue-black hair dye today.  Goodbye, grays!  Hello, Superman hair!  WOOHOO!

Even though I didn't make the goal, I'm extremely impressed with the fabulous growth of the blog in such a short amount of time.  I'm considering what I want to do for the 1000 fan Leah Clutch giveaway, and I think I might add some smaller ones in between (Old Spice Body Wash, anyone?).  I'll keep you posted as things progress.

Incredible thank yous to everyone who helped The Mother Load grow by referring fans.  Remember, the fans you've already referred still count in future giveaways, so if you're a fan leader, you still have a great chance to win cool stuff.  So far, Michelle Ennis has referred the most fans.  She also has a thing for my Stupid Products, so I think if she wins a future giveaway, I'll just send her some Handerpants.

Thank you again, everyone!  And congratulations to Susan!

Today's Awesome Product, on its face, seems like a bit of a departure for me.  I am not a "bag" person.  I'm not really an accessory person either.  I own one purse, which I never use.  I can count the number of necklaces AND earrings I have on one hand.  I spend most of my life thinking I don't need things like this...until I need them. 

Case in point? My husband's company Christmas party last month.  It's a snazzy affair, one of only a handful of nights each year that find me in dressy clothes and sparkly jewelry.  I went to a favorite store, armed with birthday money from my dad, picked out a couple of dresses, a necklace, and some earrings.  As I was standing in line, I thought, "A clutch!  I need a clutch!"  After realizing that thought was actually in MY head and that I wasn't talking about a car, I had to admit I didn't have time for purse shopping and would have to attend the party without anything to hold my cell phone, lipstick, keys, or spare cash for parking.  All of that ended up staying in the car, and I went to the party clutchless.

You know what would have helped in that situation?  Owning a clutch.  I mean, if I know I'm going to dress up at least 2-3 nights of the year, I should probably have dressy accessories on hand.  These are things I don't realize until I have 30 minutes left to dress, primp, and fix my newly cut hair.  I think, "I really need to invest in something like that," and then promptly forget about it until the next desperate moment.

I think having had that experience recently helped as I took a look at this week's Awesome Product, Unframed Art Bags.  I found the site after Liz Krieger, one of the makers of the bags, became a Facebook fan of The Mother Load and enthusiastically offered to donate one of her creations for my next fan goal. 

People, I read that offer and in my mind I saw a sweet little grandma with her crochet hooks and knitting needles making kitschy sewing bags at home.  I thought, "Aw, that's sweet.  Someone crafty wants to help."

And then I looked at the site.

And then I fell in love.

I am not a bag person.  I am not an accessory person.  What I am, though, is an art person.  I looked at my computer screen and tried to describe what I was seeing.  When I realized I hadn't exhaled in several seconds, I settled on it.  These bags are breathtaking.  They are beautiful, colorful, unique, and breathtaking.

I looked at the price and the Frugal Mom in me thought, "I would never pay $350 for a bag."  But the Frugal Mom in me also knew she wasn't looking at bags.  She turned the meeting over to the Art Lover in me. Art Lover knew $350 for a piece of art this eye-catching was a steal.  She turned to Frugal Mom and said, "And it's art you can USE!  It's functional!  YOUR FAVORITE!"

The bags are handpainted and handsewn, signed by the artists, and available in custom designs.  The designs are so varied, any art lover can find a bag that works for her.  Personally, I'm more in love with the quieter designs and subdued colors.  My friend Becca?  She's probably drooling over the animal prints right now. 

This Christmas, when I'm standing at the checkout counter, birthday money and new dress in hand, I will not be worried about finding a clutch for the big party.  I'll have my custom made Leah clutch from Unframed Art Bags waiting at home.  It will be my gift to myself after I run the 5K for breast cancer.  Or maybe it will be my husband's gift to me.  (Hey, Richard!  You're buying me a clutch!  THANKS!)

The best news?  When you're preparing for your dressed up night out this year, one of you will have a FREE Leah clutch waiting at home too.  Liz is offering the clutch, a $120 value, for our next Mother Load giveaway!  The even better than best news?  I'm keeping track of fan referrals, and every fan you've already referred counts toward this giveaway as well as the Perfect Brownie Pan giveaway.  If you've already referred a bunch of fans, refer a bunch more and up your chances of winning the clutch when I reach my 1000 fan goal.

For the men in my readership:  Trust me.  You want to win this too.  Give your leading lady a $120 Unframed Art bag and you're on the "Best Husband/Boyfriend/Fiance/Son" list for the rest of the year.  Fill it with chocolate and you're set for life.