Sandier Pastures

Remember my desperation to win an iPod over the radio and my frustration of not winning it? News flash: I did not stop attempting. Friends told me to buy, quit listening to the radio endlessly and just tip my wallet over for an iPod. I wanted it badly so why the charade?

So I promised myself this was my last attempt and did not even bother to listen to the draw that night. The next day, someone called me and told me I won the iPod from the previous night’s draw!! Holly molly, I almost screamed! Well, I did. A little. Then I was breathless. Who knew!!??

I claimed my prize today - an iPod….shuffle (2GB)…but I have no complaints! It’s free and I even got $100 worth of gift vouchers to Virgin Megastore! Oooh la la!

Today is the official one year anniversary since the birth of this little blog. Sandier Pastures, first inspired by my relocation to Dubai and my want to share our desert living  experience with the world, is one year and 475 posts old!

~ don’t clink your glasses too loud, alcohol is prohibited in public places! ~

It has been a great year. Writing about life in Dubai has brought me to discover more about this diverse (sometimes strange) place, it’s history and culture. At first, I thought I would tire of it and give up but I haven’t  and I’m surprised it actually made me think of my surroundings and made me strive to experience something new every week.

So what’s in store for the bloggiversary party? In case you forgot, there was a little contest I posted three weeks ago which got an overwhelming response! Thanks to all those who helped spread the word.

Now, without much further ado, I present you the winner of a blog makeover I wished was for me:

UPDATE: I was informed that Susan already won the SAME prize at a different blog so I get to chose another contestant. She is twice lucky!

 Congratulations to Susan of Dirt Makes Fat Nathalie of Kennedy & Friends Co.

Nathalie wins a Gold Package Blog Makeover (valued at $100) courtesy of RS Designs.

Thanks to everyone who participated, posted shout outs and greetings. All your comments and visits had become an inspiration for me to post every single day. Here’s to another year of blogging!

My quest for a blog design that’s OOAK (one of a kind) is still on and here’s another chance to win a blog design courtesy of Sweet ‘n Simple Designs & A Frog In My Soup.

The winner will either choose a pre-made template or a custom design that’s just uniquely his/hers. Isn’t that great?

Check out the contest detail here. The winner will be announced on January 31st.

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The 8th Annual Weblog Awards is now open for nominations! I was surprised to see categories that are location-based so I was able to nominate blogs from specific areas. 

Nominations for your favorite blogs under various categories are open until January 11. I have not voted for this before but this should be exciting and worth checking out.

Christmas is over and time for me again to change the current theme for this blog. You don’t want to be seeing this blog dressed in Christmas all throughout the year, right?

There are thousands of themes free available for blogs using the WordPress platform (the self-hosted ones using not blogs with wordpress.com extensions). But I always wished for a custom made blog design that’s exclusively mine. On the average, it costs around $80 - $200 depending on the complexity of the design. But guess what, I have found a great giveaway of a blog design at Little Fun; Little Learning via my friend Kailani’s column, 5 Minutes Around The Blogosphere at 5 Minutes for Mom. Thanks Kailani! 

A custom made blog design at RS designs valued at $100 will be given away! If you want to be included in the pot when the winner is drawn, go check Little Fun;Little Learning for details. It’s so easy to enter!

One of my favorite blogs, The Contest Beat is going big time! They holding a contest and giving away a new Nintendo Wii to one lucky winner soon after Christmas day. The prize is courtesy of their sponsor, CellforCash.com.

Not knowing what to do with your old cellphone when you buy a new one? You can actually recycle your cell phone  for cash at cellforcash.com. You don’t only land in Santa’s good list for being earth friendly, you can even get some cash for doing so to buy gifts for yourself or for your loved ones.

Check out the full details of this wonderful contest at Contest Beat. You could end up to be the one with the coolest surprise on Christmas!