Win a Girlfriend Birthday Gift in May Girlfriendology Contest!

This month is a BIG month here at Girlfriendology! We have more PRIZES than ever before to give out! Enter our May Girlfriendology Contest and just by telling a girlfriend story (about a Birthday - could be an event or gift you received/gave) you can win one of these great books:

REAL YOU INCORPORATED: 8 Essentials for Women Entrepreneurs by Kaira Sturdivant Rouda. Kaira spoke with us on a recent podcast about how YOU are the secret to a successful career and life.

THE ANGEL by Carla Neggers - a romantic suspense novel. We had the opportunity to interview Carla for our latest Girlfriendology video!

NOVEL DESTINATIONS: Literary Landmarks From Jane Austen's Bath to Ernest Hemingway's Key West by Joni Rendon and Shannon McKenna Schmidt who were our first two girlfriends AND guests from the U.S. and 'across the pond' to join us for a podcast interview this past week.

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AND ... watch next month for free copies of:

COMFORT FOOD by Kate Jacobs (author of The Friday Night Knitting Club) - what a nice, sweet, caring girlfriend Kate is! She talked with us for an upcoming podcast about how much her girlfriends mean to her and how her girlfriends have supported and inspired her. (Plus "Comfort Food" bags!)

PAPER CRAFTING WITH CAROL DUVALL - We'll interview Carol for our podcast and hear the wit and wisdom from 'the queen of crafting!'

So, leave a comment with a girlfriend story (preferably this month on a 'birthday' theme), email us at ideas@girlfriendology.com or leave us a message at 206-202-9005 (make sure to leave your email address in your message). Thanks Girlfriends! We'd love to send you one of these PRIZES!

Great Girlfriend Story from my girlfriend Jill ...

It is Spring here in the mid-west and this morning was a perfect time to get together with friends for a puppy play date. (A perfectly muddy play date but still very fun!) My girlfriend Jill told me a great girlfriend story that I just had to share with you - in her words. So, everyone one ... Meet Jill! She's a blast and obviously a very loved girlfriend! Jill - thanks for sharing!

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Which girlfriend should you celebrate with a "____ (her name) Day"?! Celebrate your girlfriends!

My girlfriends have changed me for good ...

My college roommate and best friend, Barb (aka: Suzie - the code name for her in a bar if we didn't want to give away her real name!), inspires me with her thoughtfulness. She's a great listener, gift-giver (in fact, she could be up for this Month's Girlfriendology Contest!) and always makes my birthdays, meals together and our conversations special. In true Barb fashion, last week she brought me the soundtrack to Wicked so I could listen to it before seeing the play this past Saturday in Chicago.

If you haven't seen Wicked yet, I'd highly recommend it. It really is a 'girlfriend story' about Glinda and Elphaba (the Good Witch and the Wicked Witch). They form an unexpected and deep friendship that deals with several twists and turns along the way in Oz. Without ruining it for you, they share a very special song at the end about being friends. It made me cry (both in the car listening to the CD Barb gave me and during the live performance) because it so wonderfully shares the sentiment of girlfriends:

GLINDA
I've heard it said
That people come into our lives for a reason
Bringing something we must learn
And we are led
To those who help us most to grow
If we let them
And we help them in return
Well, I don't know if I believe that's true
But I know I'm who I am today
Because I knew you

Like a comet pulled from orbit
As it passes a sun
Like a stream that meets a boulder
Halfway through the wood
Who can say if I've been changed for the better?
But because I knew you
I have been changed for good

I know Barb (and the other girlfriends who bless my life) came into my life for a reason and that because I knew them, I have been changed for good. This being Thanksgiving, it is a perfect time to be thankful for girlfriends. Thanks Barb for your lifelong friendship. Thanks to you for reading. Take time to thank your wonderful female friends for how they've changed your life. And, make an effort to make your girlfriends' lives better by your friendship. Together we're all changed for good.

p.s. Do you have a girlfriend who's changed your life for good? Share about it in our Monthly Girlfriendology Contest or by adding comments to this blog. Inspire others. That's another great benefit of girlfriends!

Lessons on Girlfriends ... from my big Sister

My sister Carol has always been thoughtful. I remember when she was a teenager and had her first job. She'd always buy us little gifts when she got her paycheck. She remembers birthdays and anniversaries, and, very thankfully, she keeps in touch even when we live states apart.

Our Girlfriendology Contest prompted her to think and write about two of her girlfriends. In her words:

"Over the years I have been blessed with many special girlfriends, two in particular. Our family moved frequently as I was growing up and I met many friends along the way. Time, distance or life circumstances did not effect the friendship I formed with Joyce and Libby in the second grade.

These two friends have become more like family in the past 13 years as I have no family members who live close by. Over the years I have been invited to family gatherings, weddings, birthday celebrations, etc. and they always make sure I have a place to go during the holidays. They always ask how my family is doing and make sure my family is invited to any special events when they come to visit.

Joyce and Libby have always remembered my birthday or other special occasions in my life and made sure that I felt special. I think what has meant the most is that I can count on them. Both are very busy, but always find the time to see how I am.

The friendship and love that they display is unconditional. I can go to them anytime with any concerns/complaints that I have and know that they genuinely care. When they say they will do something, they follow through. I feel very blessed to have these two special, lifelong friends."

Wow, thanks Libby and Joyce for being there for my sister when I couldn't. Thanks for making her feel as special as she makes everyone who knows her feel. And thanks Carol for sharing.

Even at my age (which shall go undisclosed!), I'm still learning things from my big sister ... like how to have and keep great girlfriends.

Do you have wonderful women in your life who have been there for you when you needed them? Have your girlfriends shown you how special you are to them? Would you like to tell the world about the fabulous female friendships that bless your life? Please do! Tell us your story for our Girlfriendology Contest. You might win a Starbucks card to take your girlfriend out for coffee. Or maybe you just take the opportunity to think about and appreciate your girlfriends. Your girlfriends deserve the recognition!