The two winners of the Lisa Leonard giveaway are Kiy and Candy. Congratulations, girls, and check your e-mail! Many thanks to Lisa Leonard for the great prizes.
Entries categorized "Giveaways"
This Just In...
Would you like to see the text message that buzzed my phone at 2 o'clock this morning?
I have happy-danced around this kitchen until I can't happy-danced another step (the story is here, if you're just tuning in). Seems to me the best way to celebrate would be to throw some things in a suitcase and hop on an airplane for Ethiopia so I can get my hands on my little niece. That's just a bit impractical, I guess, but how perfect is it that I already had a sweet giveaway scheduled for today? Now it feels like a birthday party! And it's even more perfect that's from a company that celebrates what is beautiful and sentimental about families: Lisa Leonard Designs.
I'm sure you've seen her jewelry--her gorgeous designs are everywhere these days, and for good reason. They are classic, elegant and completely customizable. This is one of my favorites:
I love this one, too--actually, I have this one myself, with my four kids' initials, and it's a wardrobe staple:
These necklaces would make a good Valentine's Day gift, too. Need some help with this? Leave up this blog post and walk away casually. I'll handle the rest:
(You're welcome.)
But maybe you won't have to wait that long, because Lisa has graciously offered to give TWO readers here a $50 gift certificate. In order to win, simply pop over to Lisa Leonard Designs, look around, and come back here to leave a comment saying how you'd spend your gift certificate. (If you want to do a happy dance on behalf of my sweet new niece, then you get extra points. Okay, not really, but you'd make me smile.)
Please, only one entry per person, and only people with US or Canadian mailing addresses are eligible to win.
Many thanks to Lisa Leonard--and all of you--for helping me celebrate this special day! For more giveaways than you could possibly know what to do with, head over to the Bloggy Giveaways carnival. It will make your head spin, but it sure is fun.
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
A Happy New Year Contest!
I think it's time for another hayfu contest (that's a haiku contest for those of you who haven't met my dad). These things always make me laugh so hard--you all are seriously creative. (For examples of previous contests, go here and here).
Here's the theme: It's a new year, full of fresh starts. Some of you are making big resolutions like crazy, and others of you run screaming at the thought. So write a haiku about your resolution, or why you won't make one, or how badly you've already broken yours, etc. Be profound, be thoughtful, or be wickedly funny--it's up to you. Simply leave your haiku in the comments section below. (If you don't know how to write one, go here).
I will close down comments at 8 pm CST tonight (Thursday), and I'll pick five finalists. Winners will be posted tomorrow morning (Friday), and you can vote right here all weekend. The one person with the most votes at 9 am CST Monday morning will win.
And oh yes, there is a fantastic prize package. The winner of this contest will receive the following items:
Pear Budget :: Pear Budget is a simple, on-line budgeting tool, perfect for people who aren't used to budgeting, who don't like looking at spreadsheets full of numbers, and who generally know they "should" be paying attention to their finances, but don't really know where to start. The winner will receive a one-year subscription to Pear Budget. (Retail value, $30)
JM Digital Designs :: Maybe '09 is the year to get all your old pictures organized. As far as I'm kind concerned, the best kind of the scrapbooking is the kind that someone else does for you. Jan Mary is a designer extraordinaire in jolly ol' Ireland. She's offering one 8x8 custom, personalized design for the winner. She's also offering readers here a 10% discount--just enter SHANNON09 at checkout. (Retail value, approximately $36)
Cary Collins Designs :: We can't have a new year's prize package without a calendar! These adorable creations are produced by a talented artist who incorporates scripture into all her designs. The story behind Cary's business is a wonderful successful story of an artistic mom with a dream. She's giving away a 5x7 calendar, a weekly planner notepad, and a "This Is the Day" notepad. (Retail value, $33)
Appledonia :: I love these cute, handmade onesies--they're an affordable and creative baby gift. And while I'm partial to the pink little pig at left, I have to say that this Just Like Daddy is a close second. The winner will receive any one Appledonia onesie of your choice. (Retail value, $13)
WordWorld :: This is my four-year-old daughter's new favorite show. Its colorful characters are actually made of letters, appealing to the visual way so many kids learn phonics and letter sounds. You can find them on PBS. They're giving away 3 DVDs to the winner of this contest. (Retail value, approximately $36)
Little Debbie :: You know what's better than having a box of Little Debbies arrive on your front porch? Um, nothing, that's what. The winner of this contest will win a large box of Little Debbies, all from their new 100-calorie line. (Retail value, about $15)
Vintage Momma Designs :: Inspired by her sister who has beaten breast cancer and a brain tumor, this jewelry artist developed the One-in-8 line, to signify that one in eight women will develop breast cancer. Fifty percent of profits will go towards the continuing fight against breast cancer. She's giving the winner this gorgeous necklace and ring set from the new line. (Retail value, $42)
Expecting, by Marla Taviano :: The winner will receive an autographed copy of Marla Taviano's just-released new book. This is hardcover devotional book for pregnant moms. Even if you're not expecting yourself, this would make a delightful gift for an expecting friend. (Retail value, $14.99)
Many thanks to these great companies for offering such fun prizes. Now, fire away with new year's haiku in the comment section below--may the best 17 syllables win!
Comments are now closed. Finalists will be posted first thing tomorrow (Friday) morning!
Dear Santa: My Knees Hurt
{Stay tuned to the end for a giveaway!}
I buy cheap shoes. I always have. In fact, I've always been a little smug about people who shell out big bucks for shoes, because I couldn't imagine it was really worth it.
It's easy to have ideals when your knee joints are, you know, 22 years old.
But then your knee (and hip and ankle) joints start the downhill slide toward 40. Suddenly climbing the stairs generates more popping than Orville Redenbacher, and you start to wonder if those quality-shoe people were on to something to begin with.
Let's just say I'm reconsidering my smug cheap-shoe buying.
My husband has some KEEN shoes (these, in fact), and he swears they are all kinds of crazy comfortable. My noisy knees and I suddenly have our sights set on these:
They're clogs. And Mary Janes. Two of my favorite features in a shoe. They also have a "metatomical footbed for personalized comfort". I have no idea what that means. But I think my knees would like it.
Just in time for Christmas, the KEEN people have offered to give one lucky reader any pair of shoes from their website, absolutely free. Your pick. For real.
To enter to win, all you have to do is visit their site, browse around the KEEN site, come back here, and leave a comment saying which pair you think you'd pick.
Oh, and it's not a requirement, but if you want to, tell me your shoe-shopping philosophy. Are super-frugal, or do you think that's one item worth paying up for?
I'll close down the comments on Tuesday morning, 12/16, and I'll draw a random winner then. You must have a valid U.S. mailing address to win.
Good luck!
*The comments are now closed.*
Sarah and Abraham Giveaway
Sarah and Abraham is one of my favorite Etsy shops. I found her months ago when I stumbled across a link to this personalized wall-hanging. I immediately ordered one for my daughter's room, and I have been loving it ever since.
Her distinctive style of personalized paper goods involve the use of silhouettes, which is charming and vintage. (Because silhouette children? They don't have dirty faces. Or loud voices. Lovely silhouette children.)
She produces items like these Christmas return address labels...
...and these small desk-top calendars (nice gift idea for grandmothers!):
Sarah and Abraham is giving away one $25 gift card to a reader here. For your chance to win, visit Sarah and Abraham, browse around, and come back here to leave a comment saying which item you loved best. I'll keep comments open until Wednesday morning, 11/26. Giveaway is open to US and internation residents.
The comments are now closed.
Vintage Pearl Giveaway (Back By Popular Demand!)
The previous two Vintage Pearl giveaways were such a hit that Erin, the owner of this lovely Etsy shop, graciously agreed to offer another.
Vintage Pearl offers personalized, hand-stamped silver jewelry. It's sentimental and tasteful, and the creations range in style from traditional to funky. There's a wide price range, too, with some very affordable choices. I think this keychain would so sweet for a grandmother:
And if my sweet sister-in-law Lee Ann would please look away RIGHT NOW (I mean it!), I have this necklace on my short list of ideas for her this year:
And did I make it clear enough last time how much I love these baby spoons? It almost makes me want to have another baby just so I can buy a darn spoon.
Erin is giving away any one piece* from her shop to one lucky reader here. To enter, simply visit Vintage Pearl, browse around, and come back here to leave a comment saying which item you love the best.
Erin ships internationally, so anyone is eligible to win, no matter where you live. I'll keep this giveaway open until Wednesday morning, November 19th.
*Winner will receive any one piece, your choice, but if you want more charms on your piece than the way Vintage Pearl has listed, you'll need to pay for the additional charms.
{Comments are now closed.}
Sugarhouse Ink
In hopes of highlighting as many clever, creative, women-owned small businesses as possible (and my word, they're everywhere!), I'm hosting a giveaway every Sunday here for the next several weeks. I'm doing as much of my own Christmas shopping as I possibly can with savvy girls like these.
First up, I want to tell you about Sugarhouse Ink. This is where I'm getting my family's Christmas cards this year! I'm having a hard time picking out exactly which one I'll use, but I'm seriously considering this one:
I'll make my final selection once I manage to find a photographic moment in which all six members of this family are happy at the same time. July, maybe?
Sugarhouse Ink (and I love that name, by the way, because, you know, sugar) designs personalized photocards. And not just for the holidays, but for birth announcements, parties, and even wedding invitations. Here are a couple of my favorites:
They also have a blog that offers some really excellent tips for taking good family pictures, which is handy this time of year.
Sugarhouse Ink is giving four readers each a $25 Sugarhouse Ink gift certificate. To enter to win, simply look through their holiday designs (Christmas, Hanukkah, or New Years), and come back here to leave a comment saying which specific design is your favorite (note that the designs don't have names, so just use the name of the family on the card, and let's hope none of those families stop by here and completely freak out that we're talking about them.)
I'll draw four random winners from the comments section on Wednesday. This giveaway is open to U.S. and international residents.
*COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED*
Blessed Nest Winner
The winner of the Blessed Nest giveaway is Jennifer B. of The Irish Tigers. Congratulations! Many thanks to Blessed Nest for this great prize, and to Bloggy Giveaways for putting the whole carnival together.
*UPDATE* Heater of Blessed Nest is kindly offering a special discount code to readers here, if you'd like a little bargain on her products. Just use the code MyDryerRocks at checkout.
You'll Be the Most Popular Girl at the Baby Shower
A few weeks ago, I was visiting my brother and his family in Missouri, and I had the chance to meet one of their friends, a delightful woman named Heather. It turns out she's another one of these creative, entrepreneurial women that fascinate me so (Please? Can I be one when I grow up?)
Heather's company is called Blessed Nest. She makes Nesting Pillows for nursing moms, entirely organic and filled with, of all things, organic buckwheat hulls. (Here's where I try to act all green and pretend like I know what that means. I don't. But I think it sounds lovely.) I tried one out (I mean, I didn't actually nurse with it, of course, but I got it all nicely positioned and wondered where in the world this product was when I was nursing babies). Because of the buckwheat, the pillow forms perfectly to the body of both mother and baby, and it makes a delightful, soothing, crinkly sound that you just don't get with synthetic stuffing.
What is especially cool is that Heather's pillows are so comfortable and form-fitting that's she having customers come back to buy pillows for other purposes. Video gamers (really!) love it for propping up their elbows. Bloggers love it as a perfect platform for their laptop (no more burned legs). And older kids love it as a comfy sleeping aid. The product has been such a hit that she has made a smaller version (called the Nest Egg), still handy for nursing, but useful for a dozen other things as well. Heather takes hers on airplanes!
Best of all is Heather's business model--she loves moms and babies, and this entire venture is a labor of love. Her clever product is blessing people left and right.
As she was telling me all this, I pushed her into a corner and begged graciously asked her if she'd let me give one away here. She one-upped me, offering to give a lucky reader TWO of the smaller Nest Eggs (retail value of $42 each, for a total of $84). You can keep one, and use it one of its myriad ways, and give one away at the next baby shower you attend. That momma will love you.
In order to win, simply visit Blessed Nest and look around at all the fabrics (all organic!) they offer for their pillows. My favorite is Kaleidoscope! Come back here and leave a comment saying which fabric you'd pick, if you won. I'll draw a random winner this Friday. Anyone is eligible to win, no matter where you live.
For a mind-boggling giveaway extravaganza, visit Bloggy Giveaways this week. It's the quarterly carnival, and there is some free stuff floating around like crazy over there.
The comments are now closed.
Shey B Camera Strap Covers
It's another crafty girl giveaway! Shey B is the maker of whimiscal covers for your camera strap. Shey's a photographer herself, and she got tired of her nylon camera strap rubbing her neck raw. Her solution was her Etsy shop! You have to love that smart thinking.
These handmade creations cover your camera strap, adding a splash of color and making them much more comfortable. Because they're removable, you can take them off for washing, or interchange them for a different look. This would be a lovely and affordable Christmas gift for the photographer (or blogger!) in your life.
Shey B is offering one lucky winner any one camera strap of your choice from her shop. Stop by, look around, and come back here to leave a comment telling me your favorite of her designs (this one is the one I love best!)
I'll draw a random winner from all comments on Tuesday, 10/21. International participants welcome.
COMMENTS ARE NOW CLOSED.
