Girlz 4 Christ Magazine!

I just wanted to let you know about an exciting new and improved magazine that will be premeiring in March 2011. And guess who's the editor? That's right, its me!

Although the first issue doesn't come out for a couple months, theres still lots to do on the Girlz 4 Christ website. You can enter two contests (the prize for one of them is a gift certificate to the A Project in Progress shop!). You can subscribe for FREE (or for a $5 gift if you can afford it). Right now, you can also get a special deal on advertising. There's so much you can do, why not just go and check it out for yourself?

I'm really excited for what the Lord has planned for this amazing new ministry!

Christmas Countdown

As I'm sure you have noticed, most stores, cities, and homes have gotten ready for Christmas. I've noticed that even some blogs are getting into the Christmas spirit! So, as an early gift to you, I've decided to list a couple blogs that are doing something neat in December:

Teen Talk is posting a series of what to do to get ready for Christmas.

Practically Pink is having a Christmas Giveaway Week! Today, she's giving away a red scarf!

This isn't exactly for Christmas, but it's a giveaway that's happening right now, so I just had to mention it! Oooooh la la! is giving away a gorgeous handmade tote bag! I hope I can win it, but I would be happy if one of my blog followers won it, too.

If you have a blog with a special Christmas giveaway, freebie, or series, let me know, and I may include it!

And the winner is...

Thank you for entering the "Get Your Adventure On" giveaway. I put all of your entries into one of those online random selectors, and that selected this winner:
Jessica
Congratulations! (And if I may say so, you have a wonderful name! Heehee...my name is also Jessica!)

Of course, in a way, everyone is a winner because I just opened A Project in Progress Shop! (The link is also to the left.) Everyone can now purchase recycled handmade cards and the profits will go to help various good causes! Some of the cards have pictures, and others just have descriptions, but you can order any of them. (I will try to post pictures of all the cards as soon as possible, but I had to order a new camera charger, and my scanner isn't very good at scanning the cards, so it will probably take at least a week until I receive my new camera cord. So stay tuned!)

Jessica, please select three cards from my new online store and then e-mail lightbulbmag(at)yahoo.com with your selections and your address.

(P.S.- Want to enter another giveaway? Hurry on over to Practically Pink's potholder giveaway. But do so quickly, because it ends tonight!)

Like My New Layout?

Thanks to Chicken Scratch Designs, I now have this great new layout! Thanks, Amanda!

A few more short announcements....

-Have you seen the video I made for "Bookbyte's Textbook Way to Save" contest?

Enjoy, and if you like it, please please PLEASE vote for it! Thanks!

-My "Get Your Adventure On" Giveaway will end this Saturday! If you haven't entered yet, now's your chance to win some stationery! (I'll be making more this weekend so that there will be a larger selection of prizes. I may even open up a stationery shop as part of this blog! Would you be interested in that?)

-Finally, thank you for your readership! I truly appreciate it!

Get Your Adventure On! (Giveaway)

I'm a writer for the Oregon Adventurist. I love to write for this publication because not only is it fun to write for, but it means I get to go on an adventure in order to write each article! Here are a few adventures I've gone on in the past few months. Click on each sentence to be taken to an article.

-I went to a locally-owned coffee shop with a fun atmosphere in a historic town.

-I visited a ghost town!

-I had a swimming/hiking party with my friends at a beautiful park.

-I walked through a historic cemetary out in the middle of nowhere!

Now for the giveaway: I am giving away handmade stationery! (Visit here to get an idea of what I offer, although that site hasn't been updated recently!) Below are the ways you can enter. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.

1. "Follow/Subscribe" A Project in Progress.
2. Subscribe for FREE to Oregon Adventurist by going here. When asked "How'd you find us?", write "Jessica L."
3. Post a comment or a link to your blog post about an adventure that you've taken recently.
4. Write a post on your blog about this contest, making sure to link back to this post.

Contest ends 11:59 pm PST November 20th.
Thanks!

Mail a Masterpiece!

So maybe you don't run a camp, but you can still learn a lot from my most recent article in Camp Business! If you like to send cards and gifts to distant relatives and faraway friends for Christmas (or for any other reason for that matter), this article is for you! In this article, you'll find creative activities such as sending a flip-flop postcard, recycling your old greeting cards, decorating classy envelopes, and mailing a message in a bottle! If you like this article, please share it with your friends! If you happen to work for a camp, consider getting a FREE subscription to this wonderful magazine!

Get Your Year-End Donations Done Early!

Now is a great time to spread some Christmas cheer. Yes, I KNOW that November has just begun, but think of what a difference you can make between now and Christmas!

I would like to know what you do to spread Christmas cheer. Just comment below, and I may feature your comment in a future post! Need some ideas for what to do? Read my article here, courtesy of Seattle P-I, for some inspiration of easy projects that you or your family can do!

Photography Contest!

I just found out about a cool contest from this blog! I can enter up to three pictures, and while I had a really hard time choosing just three, the ones that I did choose really display the beauty that the Lord has allowed me to see. So here they are; unedited, unfiltered, all awesome!

The above one was taken in the Mexican farmlands, about five weeks ago while on a mission trip to an orphanage for the handicapped placed in this gorgeous desert valley.

This was taken in July, when I was able to ride a hot air balloon for the very first time! My region was having a balloon rally, so it was really cool to see so many balloons fill the sky.

This last one was taken while on a hike at a local historic trail. (It's on a hill, that's why some of the trees are growing sideways!)

Thanks for taking a look at my pictures! I'd love to hear your comments!

Stress Less for Teens

Christmas is coming, and we all know that shopping can be stressful. Maybe you also have midterms around this time of year too. No matter what, I'm sure there's something that is currently stressing you out! But no worries; the article "Stress Less for Teens" can help you to relax and enjoy this season!

Stress Less for Teens

Ugh! Between school, homework, sports, clubs, and hanging with friends, you can get really stressed out! It's tough to handle it all! But if you take some time out of your busy schedule to de-stress, not only you can do everything you enjoy, but also be able to manage your time in a stress-free way. You'll be back to your old (unstressed) self in no time!
Finish reading this article here on Associated Content.

What IS A Project in Progress?

Since A Project in Progress is only a few days old, I though that this would be a good time to explain a little of what it's all about.
I am the project in progress, as I am still trying to achieve my goals and live life to the fullest. On this blog, I will show my progress by sharing projects I have worked on. Since I am a writer, there will be many articles posted here. But there will also be some other various projects, like trips, videos, pictures, causes to support and more. It's like getting a magazine through a blog!

As I mentioned, sometimes there will be videos. I recently entered Bookbyte's "Textbook Way to Save" contest by submitting the below video. If you like it, please vote for it! I hope it gives you some ideas on ways that you can save on books.

God Can Do the Impossible

Do YOU believe that God can do the impossible? Be honest with yourself- it's okay if you are unsure right now. Think of something that you think may be too big for God to handle, write it down, and then pray about it. Sooner or later, you'll be surprised at how much our God can really do!

Can you think of a miracle that you witnessed in your lifetime? How about the miracle of salvation. Saving a lost soul is just one of the infinite amount of impossible things that God can do. Want to read about it? Visit my article here. You'll have to click on the picture of the newspaper and leaf through a few pages before you get there, but please enjoy all of the other articles from the latest issue of The Christian Journal! If you like this publication, PLEASE consider getting a subscription for you or your family. The Christian Journal is in financial need right now, so purchasing a subscription could really help them to stay afloat! Since we believe that our Father can do the impossible, we can all take part and show The Christian Journal that God can do the impossible by taking care of their money troubles!

On the Road in Peru

Orphanages are a cause very near and dear to my heart. Just last month, I spent a week in Mexico helping out at an orphanage for the handicapped. But my first real experience at an orphanage happened in a little Peruvian town. Posada de Amor is an amazing orphanage that raises strong, godly children, even with a lack of resources. I invite you to relax, clear your mind, and imagine a dusty South American road as you read this:

"On the Road in Peru"
Left on the road to travel alone.
No food to eat.
No place to sleep.
No one to care for them.
Too young and too weak to survive alone.

(Click here to finish reading this article, courtesy of Devozine!)

10 Community Service Ideas

It's hard to believe that Christmas is less than eight weeks away, but it's coming faster than you think! Year-end donations are nice, but financial Christmas gifts aren't the only way to help charities you love and make a difference in this world. The Lord is calling all of us to serve in some way or another. After getting ten ideas of service projects YOU can do, perhaps you'll find a way to serve this season!

"10 Community Service Ideas"
Performing community service is about as fun as having a root canal while taking a final exam in calculus, right? Wrong!

Try some of these projects, and you’ll see how fun volunteering can be.
(Finish reading this article here, courtesy of Next Step!)