A Delicious Surprise and A GIVEAWAY

See, this is why it always pays to enter Giveaways.  Even if they're on the blogs of people you don't know.  Even if you don't think you have a snowball's chance.  Because sometimes, even if you DON'T win, you might just get a PRIZE anyway!

A few weeks ago I was reading Noelle's blog: "Because Nice Matters" and she was talking about the new Stephen's Caramel Apple Cider.  She liked it so much she decided to do a random giveaway.  And I didn't win.  BUT, being the kind and generous soul that she is, she took pity on me in my Stephen's-less state and awarded me a PITY PRIZE!  And I just got the goods in the mail!  (TWO cans of Stephen's and some M&M's!!!  Noelle, we're clearly kindred spirits!)  (I was forced to purchase the Reddi-Wip and Smuckers JUST for the cider.  FORCED!)

Dear Noelle,
You really ARE nice.  I thank you, my husband thanks you, and my children thank you.  You're getting a treat from Japan.  (Sometime in the next nine months.  I'm not quite as efficient about getting to the post office.)
You rock!  Thank you again from the bottom of my freezing little toes!


Sincerely,


Happily Sipping Cider in Japan  


And since I'm already going to the post office, and it IS ThanksGIVING week, why don't I do a giveaway too!  All you have to do to enter is become a "follower" of this blog.  (If you're already following, you're already entered!  Good work!)  I'll select someone at random and send you a treat from Japan!  Hooray!  The prize will be awarded...in a few days.  So ENTER NOW!!!


P.S.  Am I the only one who grew up saying "carmel"?  I always feel so pretentious saying "caramel"!

Jewelry Giveaway!

Want to win a beautiful, one-of-a-kind necklace?

Enter HERE!

Another Fabulous Giveaway!

I have some great news people!  I already have another FABULOUS giveaway for you!!!  Just in time for MOTHER'S DAY!!!!  Yes!  So soon after the Frame-Name giveaway!  You should be feeling extra loved!  (If you are one of the five Frame-Name winners, be sure to cash in!  My dad wants to send you your prize!!!)

So here's a little back story since I LOVE back story:  

(Or you can just skip right to the giveaway details.)

When I was 16, I moved with my mom from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Carlsbad, California.   I (tragically) left a tight group of friends back in Salt Lake.  My best friend, Ang, fortunately didn't forget about me and we stayed close despite being a few states apart.  After I left, Ang did something unforeseen.  She got into Ska.  No, it's not some crazy illicit drug.  It's a musical style. (genre?)  Sort-of a mixture of Reggae and Punk and Big Band (high school band?) and abject silliness.

At some point, I think at a Ska concert, Ang met Kylie who went to another area High School and also liked Ska. (Alta?  Highland?)  And then at some other point, I met Kylie through Ang.  I'm thinking I met her in California.  But it's quite possible I met her on a visit back to S.L.C.  Anyhoo...

She's a super cool girl.  And she married the big brother (Jonathon who is super funny) of another friend of ours, Malia.  (Who stole my Moses collage freshman year.  I'm still waiting to get him back.)   And we kept in touch.  And whenever I threw a party with my roommates in Provo (Party-o) I invited Kylie and Jonathon to come down from Salt Lake.  And they usually did.

Since I've known her, Kylie has never stopped doing artistic and creative things.  First, she was in a band...(possibly still is?)  Then she went to school for Graphic Design and worked as a Graphic Designer doing really super cool stuff.  Then she and her cousin Shawna started their own jewelry business:  Snapdragon Jewelry 

 (Etsy shop here!)  

And they make some VERY COOL STUFF!  And they want to give some of it away to YOU!   Lucky, lucky YOU! 

Giveaway Details:  Snapdragon Jewelry is generously offering three beautiful prizes:  (All found in their Etsy shop.)

#1 Black Onyx Chandelier Earrings

Description:  Try our sleek and whimsical Black Onyx Earrings! They are hand-wired Chandelier Earrings with black Onyx beads, sterling silver wire and hooks.

I love these because a) I love black, and b) they would make a statement without being too heavy.

#2  Charcoal Glass Earrings
Description:  Our sleek and sophisticated Charcoal Earrings will add glamour to any style. Made with Charcoal colored foil glass beads hanging on hand-shaped sterling silver hooks; Hangs about 1.85”  You could basically wear these every day and look super hot and chic.

#3  Carnelian Earrings

Description:  Try out our beautiful crimson Carnelian Earrings. They're perfect for Mother's Day! Deep red Carnelian beads and sterling silver wire and hooks; Hangs about 1.25”

I love red.  LOVE IT!  Red is the perfect color to add punch to whatever you're wearing!  So pretty!

Here's the dealio:  To enter to win, leave a comment on THIS POST saying which jewelry item you love the best!  Either one of these three, or something else from their fabulous Etsy shop or Snapd website.

To get an EXTRA TWO entries, put a link to this post on your blog (and tell me you did it in the comments.)

Anything from Snapdragon Jewelry would make a GREAT Mother's Day gift for YOU (If you are married just do the shopping for your husband.  He'll thank you for it!), or your WIFE, (I know I have 5 or so male readers out there!  You can thank me for this fabulous gift idea later.) or your MOM!  (Honestly, you should be giving your Mom a new house since she DID give you life.  But she'll love this jewelry just as much.  Mom's are good that way.) 

And since not everyone can win, (especially if you're too lazy to enter.) Snapdragon Jewelry is offering a generous 20% discount on their already affordable items to my readers.  

(To take advantage of the 20% discount: e-mail snapdragonjewelry@gmail.com with the item you'd like and "acte gratuit" for the promotion code and you'll get an invoice e-mailed back to you. OR purchase directly from the Etsy store.  Enter "acte gratuit" in the "message to seller" box and DO NOT finalize the order...Kylie will send you an updated invoice first.)

So chop-chop people!!!  Mother's Day is coming right up!!!

We're going to give this 5 days!  You have until noon on Monday to enter (Japan time) and winners will be announced shortly thereafter.  (Which is Sunday night for all y'all.)

 I leave you with--

A few other little beauties to tempt you...

(The above sets were found on www.snapd.net.  Happy shopping!!!)