Winner!

I really loved reading about all of the ways you all let your freak flag fly. It put a smile on my face. Thank you to everyone who participated and to those who passed the link a long just because you rock. Thanks!

Congratulations to Alisha!

Thanks so much Alisha! Email me your information and if you want a silver or gold flag and I'll send it to you right away. My email is brandysonzenmasterflash@gmail.com

CLOSED! The Let It Fly Giveaway!

To ring in the new year I want to do a little giveaway to thank the readers of this blog. If you've been reading for awhile you know that my mantra is "Let your freak flag fly." It's what I've centered the blog and the shop around and is something I still do believe in incorporating throughout my life. It can be anything from letting the dishes go one day to enjoy a movie with your family, dying your hair bright fuscia to going sky diving. It's about thinking outside of the box and not going along with the herd.

Being true to yourself.

With that said, I'm giving away a freak flag from my shop to one lucky follower. It's a small gesture but one I hope goes a long way.

All you have to do is follow this blog publicly and leave a comment below letting me know how you let your freak flag fly.

Terms:
1. follow this blog publicly
2. leave a comment below letting me know how you let your freak flag fly
3. Open to all countries!
4. ends Friday January 6th


The winner will have the option to chose from a gold or silver flag.

Thanks for playing!

Frederick really wants you to enter the giveaway

Summer Journal Entry

{august filler}

If you didn't enter the last giveaway you missed out. Just sayin.

Congratulations Kendahl!!

You won!

Yeah so what if she IS my cousin?

A big thanks to the FOUR of you who entered and a HUGE thank you to those of you who filled out the Q&A and provided such awesome feedback. It really does mean a lot and I plan on doing a post answering some of your questions and summarizing what you think about das blog.

{Kendahl, I'll be emailing you shortly-congrats!}

A Giveaway, but first a Bribe

I want to feel you lovely readers out. No, not feel you up (perverts) but if you really want me to do that I probably would. I’ve been doing this blog for over three years now and when I think about how much I’ve grown as a blogger…wait…this sounds like the beginning of some boring BlogHer speech. I started this blog for fun and it has turned out to be something I actually care about. Essentially I will always post what I want on here. Those of you who have stuck with me have heard me talk about blogging with out rules and going against the herd. I use the term herd loosely considering that most of Blogolopolous Town consists of women. Was that rude? Don’t leave me just yet. I need something from you first.

After letting go of my desires or inspirations of making money from my blog I decided to use it primarily as an advertising took for The Shop. Truth be told most days I’d rather blog than work on my shop.

I’m taking a note from other bloggers and small business owners that I admire and asking you to answer a few questions from me. In this questionnaire you’ll also have the opportunity to ask your own questions and even tell me where to shove it if you so please.

In all of my immaturity, I would surprisingly like to take this a bit more seriously to benefit my shop. I think maybe posting things that my readers like or post things to attract more readers may in turn (in the distant future) may attract more business to my shop. I could be wrong but it’s worth a shot.

Here's what you'll win. It's not much just some pretty dumb things that I picked up and am throwing in.

1. My almost favorite 80's movie. Show it a teen girl who's never seen it but don't tell her mom about the boobie shot.

2. One of my collage frames (that I have yet to add to the shop)

3. Two mini composition books (if you like to doodle and make lists like I do)

4. Bottle cap magnets

5. One Boho feather hair clip of your choice. Choose one from my shop!

6. Pyrex dish isn't included but you can buy it here.

Now, mind you, I am not selling out here. What will probably come of it is little-to-no change since I mostly want to hear your opinions regardless.

The questions aren’t hard; no math or history questions I promise. I just want your opinion no matter what it is. I mean it. I want positive and negative feedback as well as constructive criticism. If you think that I won’t care about your opinion you’re dead wrong. I will. Unless you’re trying to persuade me to like that Michelle Bachman woman - cuz that just aint’ gunna happ’n.

Here’s the rules of the giveaway, just fill out the questionnaire and leave your name and email on the form to be eligible and leave comment below. That’s it. Any can enter even if you've won something on here before. Even my friends and family who read my blog but never contribute - that would make me very happy.

1. Fill out the questionnaire

2. Leave a comment below

3. Leave your name & email address on the form **Please put this in the "tell me about yourself" comment box OR just leave it below in your comment. You don't have to do both - it's probably easiest just leaving it below or by sending me an email with your info**

You can also fill out the questionnaire anonymously if you chose to do so. Just leave your name and information off of it. Just know that you won't be eligible for the prize. Unless you hate Sixteen Candles and don't care either way that's fine too.

Here is the link!

Thanks everyone – it is very much appreciated. For realz dawg.

(If you have trouble with the link please let me know or if you're not able to fill out the form I can email it to you if that works better)

Peace out,

-Brandy

Winner!

Congrats to:

Please email your address and your package will be on it's way!
brandysonzenmasterflash@gmail.com

The lucky winner of last week's giveaway. She gets one of my leather cuffs pictured below. Click the pic below to see the DIY!

Thanks to everyone who entered and to all of you new followers. I want to do another giveaway soon - maybe when I reach 100 followers I will do something for that. Maybe ;)

Do you prefer Facebook? If so, like The Fan Page and get blog and shop updates so you get extra annoying notifications through out your week from me. You can also find me at other places by checking out the Connect Here tab above.

DIY Hand Tooled Leather Cuffs + Giveaway - CLOSED!

I've sort of had a thing for leather, especially hand tooled leather and the art of it. I told you guys that my dad is teaching us how to do it. We have yet to have our full fledged family fun party yet since the first night we started. I want to make a purse and a wallet. I'm starting off with a bracelet or cuff. The other day I found a hand tooled leather belt at the thrift store but it was too small for me. I bought it anyway and decided to make my own cuffs out of it. All I needed was to borrow my dad's leather hole puncher and buy some snaps. Leave it to me to find a short -cut.

First I removed the hard ware off of it. Secondly I measured the cuff around my wrists to see where to cut it off and then cut it off with a steak knife. I used a steak knife because it had a sharp serrated edge that worked really well. I didn't have heavy duty scissors to do this. I sort of rounded out the edges of the belt by cutting off of the corners and filed down the rough edges with a sand paper block.

The last thing I needed to do was attach the snaps which was super easy and I just used the direction that came in the package. This is where the leather hole punch came in. The snaps that I bought also came with a setter which is needed as well to make sure the snaps attach properly.

I made three cuffs out of this belt and a silly little key chain. One of the cuffs I am keeping for myself, I'm putting one in the shop (the one with the silver snaps) and giving the other one away to a lucky reader of das blog.

This is where the giveaway portion begins. If you're interested in having one of your own hand tooled leather cuffs please leave a comment below and make sure you are following me publicly. You won't only get the cuff but a surprise little package of goodies as well. Nothing fancy just a few fun things.

Giveaway rules: CLOSED!
1. Leave a comment
2. Follow this blog

Good luck and thanks in advance for playing!

Ends May 1st - Open to the US & Canada

Winner! Finally announced!

We have a winner!!

Congratulations to

Please shoot me an email so that I can forward your gift code on to you! brandysonzenmasterflash@gmail.com

Thanks to everyone for playing and to anyone who blogged or tweeted about it!

Winner, Winner free range chicken dinner

I like that title so much from the last giveaway I thought I would keep it around.

 

Congratulations to Liz! She is our lucky giveaway winner!

I have your email address so I'll be sending your prize tonight!

A BIG thanks to everyone who played, tweeted, blogged, or just snubbed if off! I think we had a better turn out this time around.

Winner, winner free range chicken dinner

Okay that was a lame title.

Let's all put our hands together and congratulate Angela the winner of last week's CSN Giveaway!

She has a really cool blog too called Craving Cupcakes! Check it out! Her baking makes me salivate all over my keyboard. 

I wanted to thank all of you who gave me feedback on the whole giveaway scene and my anxiety with it. I really appreciate it! I don't want followers who only follow me for giveaways - I hope you follow me because you like what I post; the DIY projects, my smart ass comments, junk hunts, weekly confessionals, etc.

Yodulayheehuuu...

Kristen!! Congratulations! Thanks so much for entering and for your incredible comment. I hope you enjoy your brandy-son Zen master flash tiny package. It will be on it's way once you contact me with your address at brandysonzenmasterflash@gmail.com

Thank you to everyone else who entered! I hope to another soon!

the worst tour guides ever

Because my mom rarely experiences the "big city" she likes to pretend she's on vacation when she visits Salt Lake City. I think my parents barely live 30 miles away from me. Need I say more to try and make my point?

So, since she lives in her fantasy land she calls me her tour guide when we are walking around downtown together.  A few weekends ago Tyrone and I and our parents strolled around for awhile. I'd like to say it was a total blast and I am a super lucky young lady to have experienced such a lovely time with her family but that would be FALSE. After we stopped by Craft Lake City which I mentioned before gave me anxiety we decided to go eat somewhere downtown. One problem with that is that place shuts down around 5pm. It's funny you read all of these awesome things in the City Weekly that go on but when you're really walking around and take notice not a damn regular place to eat is open at night and especially on the weekends. It's rather troubling especially to two tour guides who are trying to impress the "out-of-towners". To cut this short, we walked too many blocks only to end up back to the car to head back by our house to eat at Rancheritos. Right, and I forgot to mention that Tyrone and I were so ornery with each other. I was being my regular mean self and Tyrone was doing his NEVER SHUTTING THE HELL UP thing. What a lovely mix that and I can tell you that my parents and Tyrone's mom were quite impressed with the entertainment that came along with their guided tour of "the city".

The back of his head because we weren't speaking to each other

This pretty much sums it up

This is a place that Tyrone and I went on our first real date a night we were speaking to each other

Safety first! Tyrone likes to grab multiple flags when crossing the street waving them around like a lunatic. What a dork! He did this almost every day during lunch too when were worked together. Totally not embarrassing at all.

This picture in Rancheritos that I love

*I have to say that I am loving reading all of your comments on the Giveaway post about which bands that you are all listening to right now. I've discovered some new things and have discovered we all have a lot in common in music tastes. Sweet! Keep them coming. I forgot to mention that the giveaway ends Saturday!

**FYI I finally finished the book I found awhile back - Midnight at the Palace - it was good, not spectacular. Good enough to satisfy my 70's addiction that I've had lately.

Brain Break

You can do this too at La PhotoCabine

Don't forget to enter the Giveaway or I'm never doing another one again. Don't test me.

brandy-son Zen master flash Giveaway!

I wanted to do this giveaway to say thanks to everyone who reads this obnoxious blog. Any one is eligible to enter including friends and family and anyone who has already won a giveaway on here before.

1. Leave me a comment below letting me know your favorite band or whatever you're hooked on at the moment!
2. Since this blog is a sucker for traffic you get extra credit for re posting this on your blog or for tweeting about it. Just be sure to leave a link to your thoughtfulness in the comments below.

Oh, I guess you might want to know what you're winning. You get a red brandy-son Zen master flash Holster for your phone or iPod, a mini feather hair clip, two vintage fabric wrapped bracelets, a package of bottle cap magnets and for fun, a white XO flag that I embroidered on a whim one night.

Don't be a loser, enter now!

If you don't follow me on twitter already my tweeterific name is @masterflash7 - remember it does come with an R rating at times. Leave yours below and I'll follow you too!

Junk Hunt

Good morning! I hope you all had a great weekend; we sure did! I'm starting this Monday morning off with a junk hunt post. I got the coolest painting this weekend. I thought for sure that Tyrone would have flipped his lid over it but he just gave me his usually look and actually said it was "cool". I was a bit surprised. But he did ask me if we were going to have one of those houses. Whatever that question means? I just told him "probably".

I also got this vintage shirt which I plan on doing a simple makeover to and posting that later on. I can't forget to mention the shoes either  - they are these brown Docs that I could not pass up. They are in pretty good condition and will be perfect for fall with some cute colorful socks and tights.

As soon as I got home Friday I rearranged this wall to include my new Mexican velvet painting before Tyrone got home. I'm such a sneaky brat. This painting had a mate that I chose to turn down. It was cute but the blue on this donkey matches our bedroom better. I'm all about bright and out of the ordinary. I want people to be some-what entertained when they come to our house and ask questions. I do not plan on having a house with all taupe walls and over priced decor that you see every where.

I think he's adorable!

A few weeks back I also picked up this vintage mumu and I was so happy to find it. The embroidery on it is beautiful. It is huge though. So I plan on chopping it up! I think I'll make a shirt and a skirt out of it. My wheels are turning!!

Hope you all have a great week!

Giveaway starts tomorrow morning! Don't forget to check back! And good luck to all of the mommy's sending little ones back to school next week and the following weeks to come.

Next Week

My personal giveaway next week
Happy Friday!

And if you haven't already, go ahead and read these posts:

• things I don't want you to know about me - but apparently I do
• 4 Simple Goals
• Love John Cusack? Just me?
• DIY Projects!
• The Shop has been updated - Check it Out!

We have a wiener!!

Congratulations to Katie!

I already have your email address so they will send you your gift card very soon!!

Thanks for playing!!