Monday, January 24, 2011

What's All the Hoopla?!

Good morning! Today I turn 30!



I thought I would wake up slightly depressed and a bit achy and fat, but mostly I'm just excited it's my birthday! And fat, but that's a whole other post :)


Hula-Hooping in Maui, pre-fat

I'm hosting a giveaway for my birthday! Yay! My first giveaway!

Did I ever mention that I love to Hula-Hoop?



I know, it's a weird hobby (so is quilting, by the way). I have an adult-sized hula hoop and have learned a few tricks. It's a great (lazy) way to do ab exercises and a good way to get your cardio in too! 30 minutes of hooping burns about 200 calories. And it's fun and sexy! I love to put some fabulous music on and hoop it out; practicing some tricks, twirls, and jumps!



Once you get the hang of playing with the hula-hoop, you can be a bit more adventurous. Light the hoop on fire!



This is a fire hoop. It actually comes with wicks to dip in white gas and alight. I don't have one, but I love playing with them whenever I get the chance. Which strangely, is more often than you'd think! (Disclaimer: I am wearing a bathing suit in this picture, it's just hard to see)

Which brings me to my giveaway! Don't worry, I'm not going to make you do a hoop-off or stand in a spinning ring of fire!

**All you do is leave a comment.

**For another entry, blog about this giveaway and link to this post. Come back and tell me about it.

That's it! If you'd like to follow, I'd appreciate it, but it's not required. What's the prize? Of course...



2 charm packs of Hoopla! Picture stolen from Green Fairy Quilts, where I bought them on sale! Sale ends tonight, so if you want to pick up some heavily-discounted fabric, do so now!

I will pick the winner in exactly one week. So enter by Monday, Jan 31 before I draw the winner! Good luck!

and Happy Hooping!

89 comments:

  1. Congrats! HOpe your birthday is hoopalicious! :D

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  2. I already follow...does that count? If not, delete this comment. :S

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  3. What a great way to celebrate your birthday! Hope you have a terrific day!

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  4. Love the Hula Hooping on the beach picture! Happy Birthday to you!!

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  5. Happy Birthday Jen!! You know age is just a number, right!! :)

    I LOVE hula-hooping :) I do it all the time on the Wii Fit LOL Man, does it give me a workout!!

    Have a WONDERFUL celebration of life today and feel the love from family and friends!!

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  6. Love the hula hoop thing! Also love the fun Hoopla fabric. Happy Birthday!!

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  7. Happy birthday!! You're not fat!! Not even fluffy!!! I use the Hula Hoop with my friend at the gym all the time. Ba da ba pa pa....I'M LOVIN' IT!! Corny, I know, but seriously have a very, very
    HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! (I'm a follower)

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  8. Happy birthday! Great choice of charm packs! How cool that you love to hula hoop... I'm not that coordinated. LOL Thanks for the fun giveaway!

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  9. Happy Birthday Jen, I wish I could hoola but it's kinda hard when you don't have a waist, but maybe that would help. I'm going to post about your giveaway on my sidebar.
    Have a great day,
    Bonnie

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  10. !!!!!!!!!!!!! That is too funny! I am a hula-hooper too...I get a new one each year!! Thank you for a chance.

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  11. Hi Jen, just popping over from Calamity Janes. I used to be able to hula hoop for hours! Then I had kids and my waist and my hips will never be the same again and now the hoop just won't stay up there! But I do think it is great fun!

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  12. Happy birthday! I, too, came from Calamity Jane's blog. Ever tried the hula hoop on Wii? I about died laughing watching my hubby do it.

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  13. I just blogged about your giveaway at: http://quiltyascharged.blogspot.com/2011/01/giveaway-at-quilty-home.html

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  14. Happy Birthday to you - such a great young sweet age! I enjoyed reading your blog- over here from Calamity Janes blog. The hula hoop is great! Thanks for the lovely giveaway!

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  15. Hi! Thanks for the great giveaway :)
    I'll be blogging about your giveaway within the next day - I'll come back and make another comment!

    I have a giveaway going on over at my blog, too, for an Origins charm pack and scraps!
    http://quiltyhabit.blogspot.com/2011/01/my-first-bloggy-giveaway_18.html

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  16. Happy Birthday! I'm 57 years old and haven't hula-hooped in YEARS!! But when I was in high school, I won a hula-hoop contest. I used to be really good at it. But I fail miserably at it now. My granddaughter got one for her birthday last year, and I thought I would show her how to do it. What a joke! I laughed and laughed and laughed. It surprised me that I was as bad as I was.

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  17. Hooping looks like it was a lot of fun. What a great giveaway! Thanks for the opportunity to enter.

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  18. Happy Birthday to YOU! and that fire thing - WOW! I"m impressed!

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  19. Dang, I wish I still had my hula hoop. Nevermind, it would be dry rot by now. Great giveaway.
    Patti

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  20. I did become a follower too. Anybody that can hula hoop deserves to be followed!
    Patti

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  21. happy birthday to you--
    happy birthday to you--
    happy birthday to Jen--
    Happy Birthday to you!!!!
    wow--a whole '24' hu?????
    I am nearly 3 times that--ouch!!!!
    and yes I remember the Hula hoop!!
    but I would really rather have those charm packs instead--that is more my "speed" today!!!!
    Hugs, from Di and Miss Gracie

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  22. Happy Birthday!! You know, hoola hooping is not far from belly dancing - I'd bet that you could master it easily... something to think about, afterall, you are young enough and young at heart!! Thanks for this great giveaway - it is perfect.

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  23. Happy Birthday!! I thought I'd wake up on my 30th to a bifocal Rx and some orthopedic shoes but I was pleasantly surprised. I'm totally jealous of your hoola-hooping skills, by the way ;D
    Thanks for the chance to win
    Cheers,
    Trudy

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  24. Happy Birthday! And I mean this in the nicest way possible- you are a nut! Don't worry, I am too!!

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  25. Happy Birthday! Hula hoops were popular long ago when I was a kid. Then I could do a pretty good circle (hips do help). You look very adept. Have you ever done a fire hula? Nowadays I prefer using the charm packs to make a quilt. Thanks for the giveaway and please enter me into the draw.

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  26. Happy Birthday!!! Oh to be 30 again!!! :)
    Lovely charm packs, would make a fab bag!!!
    sandangels1945@hotmail.com

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  27. Happy Birthday! Gee, you are younger than my youngest kid! The only thing I can do with hoops is a native American hoop dance.

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  28. I just came here from Robin's blog, Wishing you many more lovely years filled with happiness!
    Thank you for the yummy chance!

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  29. Happy Birthday Jen. I used to hoola hoop but now I think my hips would break! Thank you for the chance to win.

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  30. Happy Birthday to you! As I kid I was good at hula-hoop too, not sure I could manage today, but it sure is good exercise! Thanks for the chance. Greetings from Seoul.

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  31. Happy Birthday!!
    What a great post! I haven't hula-hooped (is that a word?) since I was a young girl - what a great reminder!

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  32. Happy Birthday! I had no idea there were adult size hula hoops.. perhaps that is my excuse for not being able to do it anymore..

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  33. Happy Birthday! Cute charm pack...hope it finds its way to my house :)

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  34. Happy Birthday, Jen. Hoola hoops look like good exercise. There is a woman at the gym who uses the hoola hoops and she is still going strong when I am done all my exercises. I can never keep it going for very long.

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  35. A fire ring looks a lot trickier :) Happy Birthday!!

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  36. Have a very happy birthday. I love the hoola hoop on the Wii!!!

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  37. Happy Birthday to you - a day late - I hope it was a fabulous day for you. I've tried hooping at the YMCA - you really get a workout. Love the Hoopla charms.

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  38. Yay! Happy birthday! I hope it was great! :)

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  40. Happy Birthday, Jen. I hope you had a great day! I never could get the hang of hula-hooping around my waist, but I could with my neck! Go figure!

    Thanks for the chance to win!
    Julie

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  41. I posted a note on my blog:
    http://sweet-quilt-n-bee-shoppe.blogspot.com/2011/01/birthday-giveaway.html

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  42. WOW - I was impressed with the hula hoop - but fire too! WOW! Happy Birthday - 30 is great when you are 45 like me!

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  43. I blogged about your post and your FIRE HOOPS!

    HAve a great day! Oh and I am a new follower - I want to follow anyone who quilts and can fire hoop!
    Maria
    http://mamaccessories.blogspot.com/2011/01/fire-hooping-quilty-home.html

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  44. Happy Birthday! What a fun way to celebrate your birthday! Thanks for the cool giveaway.

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  45. Happy Birthday...giving a gift on your birthday now that is gracious! It doesn't matter what we look like on the outside beauty shines from within. Blessings on your birthday! Ana

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  46. Happy Birthday you Hula-Hooper! Thanks for the giveaway!

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  47. Happy Birthday! Thanks for a chance at your giveaway.

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  48. Happy Birthday. I was never able to get how to make the hula hoop work. Wish I could of figured it out. It just looked like so much fun. Thanks for the chance on your giveaway!

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  49. I have never been able to Hoola Hoop, but I could sure figure out the Hoopla! Thanks for the chance!

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  50. Happy Birthday! I've always loved Hula Hooping. I know it's not the same but I enjoy hula hooping on the Wii Fit.

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  51. Happy birthday! Thanks for the chance on your giveaway!

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  52. Oh, and I posted about your give away on my side bar. You can check it here. http://lifeviaserendipity.blogspot.com/

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  53. OOOOOHHHHHH what a yummy treat you are giving away!!! Happy Birthday and thanks for the chance to win.

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  54. Happy Birthday to you! Thanks for the giveaway chance!

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  55. Great giveaway! Thanks for the chance to win...
    tshaw6580@yahoo.com

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  56. Well Happy Birthday! 30s are fun! Enjoy!
    I do follow you but for some dumb reason my picture won't show up. So I am one of the blue heads in your follower list. Normally I'm a pinata!

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  57. Happy Bday! I've got one coming up in March...the big 5-0!!! I told the kids NO PARTY!!! and I mean it! So, hopefully it will be a quiet affair without much hoop la!
    I had a hoola hoop when I was a kid. I wasn't great at it, but I never thought of it as an exercise tool...might have to rethink that one...:) ENter me in your great giveaway please.

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  58. I just blogged about your giveaway here :)
    http://quiltyhabit.blogspot.com/2011/01/end-of-january-updates.html

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  59. Hoopy Birthday!

    Thanks for the chance to win :^)

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  60. Cute blog! I've never done any projects with Hoopla, but this makes me want to try... Happy Birthday! :)

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  61. Congrats on your 30th birthday! My big 3-0 is coming in about 10 months! Cute blog and great giveaway!
    Christine
    P.S. Come visit me at:
    http://thefabricjunkie.blogspot.com/

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  62. Love the fabric! I used to love to hoola hoop. Maybe I should take it up again...I'm sure my grandkids would get a kick out of it.

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  63. I think its WONDERFUL that you hula hoop. I never could get the hang of it. This fabric line is perfect for your blog! Happy Birthday! Monday was also my SIL's BD! Hope your day was fabulous!

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  64. Haven't had a hula hoop around my waist in years, but I do remember it as being lots of fun. And how perfect that your choice giveaway is called Hoopla. Hope you are enjoying your birthday. Maybe you'll get that fire hoop for a present.

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  65. I just love the Hoopla fabric and boy do I wish I could still hula hoop

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  66. Happy birthday! Thanks for the generous giveaway!=)

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  67. Happy Birthday and Keep Hula Hooping. I didn't and it's not pretty................grin.

    Billie

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  68. Happy Birthday! I'm really impressed with the hoola hooping and the fire dancing! You go girl!

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  69. Happy Birthday Jen! Hoola Hooping is such a good waist exercise. And I just remembered you are within a month the same age as my daughter.

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  70. Happy Birthday! I used to love my hula hoop--one I had growing up; but a few years ago we had a yard sale at my mom's house and sold my antique hula hoop. What was I thinking?? It had to have been 50 years old and was just as sturdy as could be. It sold for 50 cents, and I sure wish I could get it back!

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  71. HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!
    THANKS FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A NEAT GIVEAWAY!

    jldouglas@wispwest.net

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  72. Happy Birthday!! I remember when I was 30 - enjoy every minute.

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  73. Happy Birthday...I was 30...two times!!!LOL!!

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  74. Jen - Love your blog!!! And you are a cutie pie!!! And happy, happy birthday to you!!! Kris

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  75. Happy Birthday! I have tried the hula hoop, used to be quite good at it. My mind says I'm still young but my body tells me different. I would love a chance to win that beautiful fabric. Thanks.

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  76. oooo this fabric looks soo nice :) it would look so nice quilted :)

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  77. Great intro to your giveaway - you had me laughing out loud with the photos and commentary. And I'm itching to go get a hula hoop now and see if I can keep it going!

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  78. Happy Birthday!!♥
    I wish I could do tricks with a hoola hoop - at least something other than just managing to keep it going!LOL

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  79. Blogged about your giveaway (I am also a follower).
    Thanks for the chance!

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  80. Happy Happy Birthday!!!!!! I hope you get everything you want too. Never heard of fire hula hooping. Very interesting.

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  81. Wishing you a very happy birthday and a wonderful year as a 30-yr-old! Life just keeps getting better and better!

    Never heard about a fire hoola hoop...would love to see thing in real life sometime...

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  82. I've blogged about your cool give away... and have "followed" you... this looks like a great site to keep up with!

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  83. Happy Birthday! Great hoola hooping pics. Sounds like a fun way to exercise. Thanks for the giveaway.

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Thanks so much for stopping by and letting me know you were here! Comments mean so much to me. Have a fantastic day!