I know, cry me a river, right?

So I'm going to Seattle next Thursday. All by myself. Actually, not technically by myself. Nintendo is flying out a plethora of brand ambassadors to...do something. I dunno, it's all very secretive. I know it has to do with the Nintendo 3DS, but I've compiled a list of tests for Noah to perform when I get back—like asking me questions I shouldn't know the answers to, such as "What's 7 times 8?" and "What's the capitol of South Dakota?"—to make sure that they haven't messed with my brain or experimented on me with new nanobot technology.

The point is, I'm pretty sure I don't know anybody else who's going, not even digitally. I know of plenty of them, because they're sort of Internet niche celebrities. As is my way, I will now proceed to view these people as Cooler Than Me, unapproachable, and consequently potentially trailed by a bodyguard ready to punch anyone in the neck who tries to approach and isn't on the Approved Approach List.

I don't think I'm a socially awkward person. I mean, it's normal to scratch your butt and pick your nose in public, right? And conversation wouldn't be genuine if I spoke through the filters of Tact and Social Grace.

Okay, so I definitely up my personal hygiene regimen and avoid words like "poo poo" and "tooter" when I'm around people older than 3, but I do become exhausted by mingling. (Also browsing, but I digress.) I guess I've just gotten used to Noah being my social crutch, Mr. I'm-a-Police-Officer-So-I-Know-How-to-Approach-Strangers-and-Talk-to-Them-Without-Feeling-Like-a-Twit. I'm certain these folks are perfectly nice and this Nintendo thing will be a blast and I can't believe my good fortune in being selected as a Brand Ambassador.

I guess the best thing to do to prepare for this is to practice smizing.

Fierce Beagle Giveaway: $60 to CSN Stores!

Okay guys, for realsies this time. I have in my possession the discount code for $60, to be applied to any CSNstores.com purchase of the winner's choosing.

My current obsession is finding a fairly inexpensive but cool wall clock for our house (we currently have none, and so rely on the thermostat and the microwave, which don't happen to tell the same time). If I were the winner, I'd consider this "Too Cool for School Retro Modern Wall Clock"...

or maybe this George Nelson Sunburst Clock (which, it so happens, is my late grandfather's name!)...

But that's just me.

What are you waiting for?! Leave a comment to be entered! Just make sure you include an email address. I'll randomly select a winner on Friday, March 25.

And if you want to up your chances, go and sign up for CSN's Joss & Main private sales by clicking here. Each sale lasts only 72 hours, but the discounts are incredibly deep. Just come back here and leave another comment saying you signed up, and boom. Another entry.

Good luck!

You, too, can benefit from my neuroses!

Apparently my recent and public spiral into the vortex of home decor has reached epic proportions, because Sean from CSN Stores contacted me about doing a giveaway.

In case you're not familiar, CSN Stores is basically the place where people like me go to unabashedly revel in our sickness. For instance, I could spend some serious time—serious. time.—combing my outdoor lighting options for sprucing up the back deck and adding some landscape lighting out front. Click on the link if you dare, folks. Click if you dare.

I'll be posting details of the giveaway soon—I can tell you the randomly selected winner will get a $60 gift certificate, though. Which, HOLLA. Am I right?

In the meantime, contact your support system and have an exit strategy in place, because I guarantee you'll all have mentally spent that sixty bucks and more after a few minutes of browsing.

Let them eat cake! (Hint: This is a GIVEAWAY)

 couple months ago I was honored to be among a group of bloggers invited to a pre-opening event at the newly renovated and expanded Winston-Salem Ronald McDonald House. (I wrote about it here.)

Laura Walsh, our lovely host, and Watson, the house's blogger/pet in residence, got in touch with me about a program they've got going this holiday season. For just $5, you can buy a book of 20 coupons for a free square of Dewey's cake. AND, 100% of the proceeds go to RMH. That's a great reason to eat cake, am I right?

What's more, Laura sent me FIVE COUPON BOOKS to give away!

Unfortunately Dewey's is a local institution (with three locations, FYI), so anyone can enter to win one of the books, but you'll have to come to Winston-Salem to redeem your coupons. International winners welcome (airfare not included).

Let's recap: FIVE COUPON BOOKS FOR 20 FREE SLICES OF CAKE.

Leave a comment to enter, and I'll pick the five winners using Random.org on Friday, December 10.

These would make great stocking stuffers (once you're done stuffing yourself with Dewey's cake, of course), so please consider purchasing a book to benefit the house.

Want me to give you a free and totally legal copy of a Wii game?

Because I have an extra one.

As a parting gift for everyone who came to my Nintendo party, Nintendo and the American Heart Association gave us goody bags. One of the things in each bag was a copy of Wii Sports Resort. Since even I got a goody bag, Noah and I each got a copy of Wii Sports Resort. Leaving us with one superfluous copy.

I promised there'd be something exciting for you guys, and this is it. Are you suitably enthused?

So! This isn't a Nintendo-sponsored giveaway, but I received the game from Nintendo, so...props to them? They won't be paying the shipping; I will. Happy Holidays!

If you want a chance to win this re-gift (which, at a $40 value has got to be a lot better than, say, a re-gifted purse from the 80s that smelled like a cheap knockoff of Chanel No. 5—something I've been given before), just leave a comment on this post. And if you follow me on Twitter, you can add an extra comment for another chance to win. Same goes for Facebook. Because why not? Oh, and make sure to leave an email address in the comment, so I can get in touch with you if you win.

I've never done a giveaway before, but I think I'm supposed to make you work for it. So how about in your comment you tell me what you'd do with the game if you won it. Give it to your nephew? Get your Wii on? Sell it on Craigslist? Readysetgo.

I'll pick the winner using Random.org a week from today, aka Fri. November 19.

And much fun was had by all

So it's been two weeks since the Big Nintendo Party, and there are several really cool things that happened that day, not least of which was the hotel staff laundering Ethan's soiled pants and consequently Ethan running around in front of an American Heart Association Board Member in a diaper and sporty loafers.

Everyone who attending recieved some Nintendo Wii coaching and some pretty cool information from the AHA, but that wasn't all! Each guest took home a goody bag with a Wii steel water bottle, a Nintendo hoodie, Wii Sports Resort, and a copy of the keynote speaker's (very cool and visually striking) book.

I have some more exciting news to share that will affect you, my darling readers, but for now, here are a few photos from the event. I'm the svelte goddess in green, in case you were wondering.

With Gwen Bell and Maria of Immoral Matriarch.

Send help

I love being a hostess, but I also hate being a hostess. Sort of like the Smeagol/Gollum situation.

A week from Sunday, I'm hosting my first Nintendo event! The American Heart Association is presenting, we'll get to play with Wii Fit Pluses, there'll be a delicious lunch and (shh, don't tell) a very exciting party favor for those who attend. Sounds fun right? And also, nightmarish for a hostess me as a hostess? Thing is, lovely Justine of Brand About Town has taken all the work out of it for me. All I had to do was invite people—even the invitation was set up, so all I actually had to do was enter names and email addresses.

Alas. In the two hours since I sent the invite, I've already checked the response list three times. Three Yes's: Justine, and my parents. Three No's. I could live tweet the progress, but who really cares. ME, THAT'S WHO.

Oh! And fun fact: Immoral Matriarch and Poobou are also hosting that day, so I'll get to meet some awesome bloggers. And then they'll know what a huge dork I am.

Seriously, what's with the negativity? OH MY GOSH! Self-Defeating Erin is back.