Alright everyone, my calculator is smokin', but I have finally figured out who our winners are for my month-long "Where's the Wreath?" contest.  It was fun.  It was crazy.  It is OVER!

OK, our first place winner is lahbluebonnet, with a total of 34 points. Tenacious is the word that comes to mind in describing her contest strategy.  She saw the wreath first five times.  She has become a household name around here in that my family always wanted to know who won the individual competitions.  I would say, "Oh, it was lahbluebonnet," and they would say, "Again?"  And, ironically, she lives close to Jeep Collins headquarters and actually stumbled upon his shop during the course of the contest, and she blogged about the experience.  She is a great blogging friend, and I couldn't be happier for her (but I don't think I'd want to play her in a board game).  Congrats!!

Now, while the rest will not be receiving anything from Jeep Collins, my daughter Annaleigh is offering some of her snowmen earrings which have been great sellers from her jewelry business for 2nd, 3rd and honorable mentions. (Sorry, I don't have a picture right now.  Just trust me...they are very, very cute!!)

Second place goes to teachingmisssmartypants .  If my mom, Indiana Mimi, had anything to do with picking the winner, this is who she would pick because she loves her user name.  I think  if my mom had home schooled me, this would be the name she would have chosen....but not because of my intellect.  Teachingmisssmartypants saw the wreath first two times and then racked up a bunch of 2nd and 3rds to end with a total of 20 points.  Good job! 

There was a tie for 3rd place:  Debbles107 and peachykleeman, with 19 points each.  This is hysterical to me because these two have been friends since they were in elementary school.

4th place and an honorable mention prize goes to shesbecominglikehim.  She had a total of 17 points, but this contest was her idea in the first place AND she won the poetry contest AND she had dreams about my contest AND she tried really, really hard AND I just know she's going to be e-mailing me her squash bread recipe to me soon.

So there you have it folks!  Thanks to everyone who played.  This was a lot of fun!  If you are one of the winners, please e-mail me your address so I can get your prizes in the mail soon....except for you Debbles.  I have yours.

Speaking of winners, I was a winner recently...

Naturalpaths and byourlove1 awarded me with this:

This award is for those who talk about and show the spirit of Christmas in their blogs.   

What is the spirit of Christmas you ask? 

Quite simply it is those that have a generous and giving nature...those who care about others. ..those who have a kind word to say or a broad shoulder to lean on in the times that others need that...those who display the "Spirit of Christmas."

Thanks for thinking of me!  I actually have no idea who to pass this on to.  I have appreciated all the Christmas-ish posts that I've been browsing lately.

I also was awarded this by proverbsmomof3:

Thanks!  It means so much to be recognized in this way.  This one I will pass along to a few people who have stood out over the past few months, ones who I think I would like to live next door to so that we could eat bon-bons together and do each others' nails.

First, I pass it back to proverbsmomof3 (although I don't expect for you to blog about it again).  She has been a great encouragement to me on my blog.  Plus I almost have talked her into coming to visit and organizing my house.

I also award this to Crossview.  I really love this gal.  She too has the gift of encouragement and the ability to make me laugh, both in my comment section and on her own blog.

Prodoceo also gets this award.  A relatively new blogger, she has been a faithful reader of mine.  I enjoy her blog immensely.  We are also fellow Chicago sports fans, so we can be the shoulder to cry on for each other.

I'd also like to give this to becominglikehim.  We have a lot in common.  I'd love to tell you what, but then I'd have to kill you.  It's your choice.  She makes me laugh out loud and think really, really hard....a nice combination.

And lastly, I must give this to Debbles107 because not only is she my sister and good friend in real life, but in the blogging world, she is probably my number one commenter and encourager.  I'll let you do my nails in a few weeks, Deb.

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Posted by 4sweetums

Congrats to everyone!
Blessings,
4sweetums

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Posted by lahbluebonnet

Oh, I am so excited! I don't win many things and I didn't expect to here either. Although I can be tenacious during a board game, and I used to win a few, my son has beaten me in nearly every game in the last couple of years. I have gotten used to losing, LOL, so I decided in the beginning to just have fun with this! The big question around here on a daily basis was, "Where's the wreath?" My kids never thought I checked often enough and kept prodding me on to check yet again! LOL They had as much fun as I did searching and reading your blogs, and adoring Baxter! Thank you for hosting this! I have a feeling you would keep me on my toes in a board game any day! Congratulations on all your awards, I couldn't agree more on the reason why you were picked for them!
Blessings,
Laurie

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Posted by proverbsmomof3

You flatter me. If I could ever talk my husband into moving, it would be great to live near you. But I wouldn't hang on to those Bon Bons for him to let that happen. Go ahead. Eat them, get a professional manicure and think of me. LOL
Congrats to all your winners. What fun your contest was. Got anything else planned? I don't know how you could beat that one.
Blessings,
Ginny

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Posted by Debbles107

Wow! I'm surprised I won third! Or tied with Adrienne! Cool! I love Annaleigh's earrings!

And thanks for the award! Though I'm not sure you want me to do your nails. I'm so not good at that! I'll battle you at Scrabble or maybe Cranium or Disney Trivial Pursuit (if Brady doesn't play!)

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Posted by becominglikehim

Thanks soooo much!!!! I was not expecting a prize...the award was enough; but I'll take the bling too!!!!

i'm honored and I, too wish I lived next door to you...the coffee would never cease to flow!

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Posted by Prodoceo

I'd LOVE to live next door to you...we could Chicago blow games (pick your sport...any old one will do) in the last few minutes and then drown our sorrows with some good coffee or maybe a Chicago hotdog or two...or three.

Thanks for the award!! I'm honored!

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Posted by mycrazylife

I so wanted to play, but...errghh.....I knew I wouldn't be consistent with all this ugly remodeling go on over here. I'm glad your contest was a huge success and I hope I will join in any future contests, that is, should you have another. Wishful thinking on my part. :)

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Posted by timbuck2mom

Even though I didn't make a single point, I still thought it was a fun contest. :) I still had to find the wreath in each entry even though there were 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners. heehee

Congratulations to everyone that was on top of the game.

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Posted by CrossView

Congratulations to all the winners!
Finding the wreath was rather difficult at times, or so I've heard *coughcoughthankyouArbycoughcough*.

And that's very generous of Annaleigh! I hope we get to see a picture! =D

Congratulations to you, too, Kellieann! You're going to need a new mantle to hold all those Oscars!

And thank you. Just, thank you. =D

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