Winner, winner, chicken dinner! Giveaway winners

I'm a day late on this. Sorry. Here are the winners from the big giveaway week:

Signed book and $25 Amazon GC: Vandy J from The Testosterone Three and Me

$20 Gedanke GC: Tamara from Start Enjoying Life (and other blogs)

My Memories Suite Download:  LMA from Life of a New Teacher

Fascinator: Tia from Clever Girl Goes Blog  (this is one of my favorite blogs and I'm incredibly jealous she won because I love this fascinator!)

Tres Magnifique:  Julie from Momspective


Congrats to all the winners!  You will be contacted via email soon.  In case you're wondering, we chose very scientifically.  I took the number of entries for each giveaway and asked Indy to pick a number between 1 and the number of entries.  Whatever number he chose, I counted down on the comments (in order) and that was our winner.  He was very excited to help.

Have a great day!

Giveaway extension!

Hello, my lovelies. I did a really dumb thing last week. I was editing my blog settings and somehow turned comments off for a while. I got several emails telling me this, but I was offline for several hours (WHAT? I KNOW!) so I was unaware. Because of this, I'm going to extend them all until this coming Saturday, Oct 29. If you tried to enter and couldn't, I apologize. Go try again. If you haven't entered, go! Enter now!!!

Monday: Signed Book and $25 Amazon GC


Tuesday: $20 Gedanke GC


Wednesday: My Memories Digital Scrapbook Software-$40 value

Thursday: Fascinator/Hat-$45 value

Friday: Tres Magnifique Etsy Shop Giveaway plus other German goodies!

Giveaway Day 5: My Etsy Giveaway

Okay, it's the final giveaway! Have you entered the others? If not, you need to.

Today I'm giving away something from my very own etsy shop, Tres Magnifique. Have you visited?  If not, you're missing out!  I've got treasures I've found in flea markets all over Europe.  I only pick good stuff too.  Much of it you can find on PB, but I sell for about HALF (most of the time less than half) what they charge.  They are ridiculously overpriced.  Me, not so much.

Today, I'll be giving away one of my most popular sellers, a 3 stack book bundle with reproduction post card:

AND a vintage apothecary  bottle (your choice of ONE):

AND a gummy pizza!  Don't you want that???  Indy got one for his birthday (this one in fact) and was in heaven.  Don't eat the chili peppers though unless you like spicy because they are HOT.

But wait, there's more!  More?  Yes, more.  You will also get a bunch of other yummy German goodies in your package!  You'll just have to wait and see what.  We have good stuff over here!

To enter, go to my store Tres Magnifique and tell what your favorite item is.

If you'd like extra entries, do any (or ALL) of the following(leave a separate comment for each):

Heart my store or an item on my store

Follow me (or let me know if you're a follower)

Follow me on Twitter @MominHighHeels 

Tell me how awesome I am.


Happy Friday and don't forget to enter all the other giveaways:

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Giveaway Day 4: Fashion Forward Fascinators

Are you still digging the giveaways? Yeah, you are!
Today I have an unbelievable giveaway for you. You know how a after the big royal wedding I vowed to bring back hats? No? Well, trust me, I did. I even wore one to Han Solo's Christening. I was having a hard time finding some though that didn't cost a fortune. Some small hats/fascinators were as much as $250.  You'd think they were made of gold! Then, the most amazing and serendipitous thing happened! My mom's cousin's wife (catch that?) started making hats! Not just any old hats; gorgeous hats! And she was selling them for incredibly low prices! Huzzah! She didn't know where to really sell them though, so I offered to set her up an etsy shop. It's called Hat Designs by Penelope and you will NOT believe her hats! I'm not kidding! Look!

 This zebra print makes my heart go pitter-patter.  Could you die???

Look at it from the side!  The poof in the back is swoon worthy.

 Oh, and look, look, look!!!  Wouldn't you feel as smart as Kate Middleton in this?

That's actually my hat!  Squeeeeee!!!! It hasn't arrived yet, but when it does, I will post photos.

I own 3 others (all available on her shop) too!!!  You'll have to forgive the photos.  Indy took them and well...

This is my favorite:

She makes them all by hand!   Would you like to know what she's offering up?  A giraffe print fascinator!

Dear heavens you need that hat.  I need that hat!  You will truly be the envy of everyone you know when you step out in that.

To enter, go to her shop, Hat Designs by Penelope, and then come back here and tell me which hat is your favorite.


For an extra chance to win (not required), you can do any or all of the following:
Favorite her shop on etsy
Follow me.  If you're already a follower, let me know.
Blog or tweet about this giveaway, andget an extra entry for each.

Let me know in separate comments.

Don't think you won't wear it.  Don't be fashion shy or self conscious.  We are bringing hats back.  Wear it with pride!  And make sure to send me a photo of you wearing it!

Don't forget to enter my previous giveaways:

Monday: Signed Book and $25 Amazon Gift Card

Tuesday:  $20 Gadanke Gift Certificate

Wednesday:  My Memories Suite Software

And come back tomorrow when I give away something from my own little etsy shop Tres Magnifique (I've got some fab new items!) along with some German goodies!


Linking to:

Giveaway Day 3: My Memories Suite

Hello my lovelies!  Are you excited about the giveaway week?  Of course you are.

Today I have something really cool for you!  I keep saying that don't I?  Like I'd give away something bad.
Have you heard of My Memories?  If not, you are missing out!  It's digital scrapbooking software and it is AWESOME!  Seriously.  James Bond is threatening to take my computer away if I don't quit messing around with My Memories Suite.  It's so much fun though and really simple to use.  Simple is good.  You can use it to create scrapbooks, calendars, cards, movies, a banner for your blog or etsy shop and whole host of other cool stuff.  You can also order a bound copy of your scrapbook (12x12, 10x10, 8x8, etc) but, but, BUT, here's the best part (in my not so humble opinion):  YOU CAN PRINT IT OUT AT HOME!  That's right.  You can make your own scrapbook/photo book and print it out on your own printer.  How cool is that?  Of course it won't be bound in a hardcover (which you do get if you order your creation from My Memories), but still, you can print it out at home!  You can then put it in your own album or scrapbook sleeves.  How sweet is that? 

So, what is the giveaway, you might wonder?  A free software download of My Memories Suite 2.  A $40 value.  Think of all the photos languishing on your computer just begging to be organized and printed!  Wouldn't the photo books or calendars make a great Christmas gift for grandma or that couple you know who just got married??  You NEED this software.  You know it.

I decided to play around with the software and do some digital scrapbook pages from the cruise we did last year.  Check this out (click to enlarge):

Isn't that cool?  I only showed part of the cruise photos here because I didn't want to jam Blogger up.  All the background photos are my actual photos, but as you can see on the second and third pages, you can use plain colored or even textured backgrounds (included with the software).

 I have to admit that I was really hesitant at first to do this, because I've been burned by software like this before and couldn't figure out how to use it.  It took me less than 5 minutes to figure out My Memories Suite 2.  Even if you're not tech savvy, you can make loads of neat stuff with this.  It also has a spell checker, which is genius.  I'm always spelling Mediterranean wrong (just did it again and blogger had to let me know) and the software caught it. 

My Memories offers tons and tons of different theme packs to keep your scrapbooks fresh and exciting and they even have some that are FREE (you know how I loves me some FREE).

To enter go to My Memories and look around.  Come back and tell me which digital theme pack is your favorite and what you would use the software for if you win.  And that's all you have to do!

IF you'd like extra entries (and why wouldn't you?)  you can do any or all of the following:

Become a follower and tell me in a separate comment.  If you're already a follower let me know.  I ♥ you all, BTW.

Follow the My Memories Blog

Follow My Memories on Twitter

Follow little old moi on Twitter. I promise I'm going to tweet more.  Soon.

Tweet and/or blog about this giveaway.

 Let me know in a separate comment for each one.

Even if you don't win the giveaway (winner announced early next week!), they are offering you, my dear, sweet readers, a special $10 discount on your My Memories Suite 2 download.  That makes it only $29.  Wooohoooo! When you check out, just put in the code: STMMMS44386.  I'll keep a button with the code over on the right sidebar if you decide you want it (and you do!). 

If you missed the other giveaways you can enter here:

Signed Book and $25 Amazon Gift Card

$20 Gadanke Gift Card

Check back tomorrow because I have a honey of a giveaway coming up.

RTT: Giveaway Day 2-Gadanke

Wheeee! It's Tuesday! This is not just ANY old Tuesday though. This is a giveaway Tuesday! What??? That's right, the celebration of my 475th post continues all week.  Wait, does that mean no RTT?  Yes, but keep reading anyway, you don't want to miss this.

Since today is a day we talk about our random thoughts, I thought the was the perfect day to do a giveaway from  Gadanke.

Haven't heard of Gadanke? Well if you like words, stories and memories, this is the shop for you.  It's run by the amazing Katie, who I "met" online a few years ago.  We were both Americans living in Germany, though several hours apart, and fell in love with her blog and was fascinated by the renovation of their 45sqm (480sqf) apartment.  You read that right, 480 square feet.  Could you live in a space that small?   They are now living in the US and renovating an airplane hangar!
Katie is one of the sweetest, most genuine people you could ever have the pleasure of chatting with.  She and her German husband, Martin, are ardent believers in being environmentally friendly and strive to lead a simpler life.  I admire them for that.  I personally couldn't do it (I'm too high maintenance for that!), but I'm in awe of their experience  which she blogs about at Making This Home.

So, what's the giveaway?  I guess I should tell you that, huh?  It's a $20 gift certificate to Gadanke for your very own environmentally friendly journal.

Gadanke's motto is Celebrate your story!  With one of her prompt journals you'll be celebrating your own story in style.

Katie, what's Gadanke all about?

It's about documenting who you are and what you crave and believe. Handmade journaling products at Gadanke are filled with creative writing prompts and tidbits to make you think (and laugh!). These baby books, prayer journals, travel books, and diaries make your writing process more meaningful and fun! Plus they're totally eco-savvy with 100% recycled papers.


So, what gave you the idea for your journals?

A couple of years ago, NPR's StoryCorp was in town. It was also my grandma's 90th birthday.
The two of us decided to hop into the recording studio to capture some pieces of her story. I had all sorts of prompts to help her with her story telling. (I was always the listener, the one who asked question after question.)
The only problem?
My grandma couldn't remember. Too much time had passed.
Later, my dad turned to me and said, "Katie, I need you to write down your story." I knew he wished he had his mom's stories. So I started writing. I started wondering about all of the other women who have stories deep inside of them, and I started thinking about how my tendency to just listen and ask could help put those stories onto paper. Gadanke was born with fabulous writing prompts and recycled papers. I feel so lucky to be living my dream.

Isn't that wonderful? Don't you want to preserve your memories in one of these lovely journals?
Some of my personal favorites are her Love Letter Mini Books:

Vintage Fabric Covered books:

My absolute personal favorite though is the SHE: Me, My Heart, My World Personal Journal:

It's full of of prompts, quotes and enclosures to make sure future generations will know who you really are.

To enter, go to Gadanke and look around.  Come back here and tell me which journal you'd like to celebrate your story.  Easy, huh? 

If you'd like extra entries: you can do any or all of the following.  Come back and leave a separate comment for each one you do.
Follow Katie on Twitter www.twitter.com/makingthishome
Subscribing to Katie's blog www.makingthishome.com.  Trust me when I say you will find her blog a fascinating read.
Follow my blog because I am awesome.  Obviously.  If you're already a follower, let me know in a separate comment.
Oh, and follow ME on twitter at www.twitter//MominHighHeels I don't tweet much yet, but once I get my smart phone, I'll be all over it.  This will get you an extra entry too! 

Thank you Katie for this wonderful giveaway!

If you haven't entered yesterday's giveaway, go here and enter for a chance to win a signed book from my friend Michele Feltman Strider and a $25 Amazon Gift Card!

I hope you all have a fantastic RTT and I promise I'll be back to my regular, smart, funny, witty (self-obsessed) RTT self next week.

Post 475! The giveaways begin!

Remember a while back when I said I thought the 500th post shouldn't get to have all the fun and I was going to do some giveaways when I hit post 475? Well that's today my friends! An entire week of goodies are going to be given away to my lovely readers.

I love a good read, don't you? Of course you do, that's why you come to my blog. 

For the first day of my week long celebration, I have a special treat from an author that I personally know and who is funny, witty, and loves a good cookie.

Michele Feltman Strider is an author, actor and bon vivant that I have known since we were in college together back in 1992 a few years ago.   I recently interviewed her (and by that I mean we exchanged many emails) about her book Homecoming:  A Novella, which is part of today's giveaway and this is what she had to say.

Michele, when did you start writing?

I started writing novels in 2009 while on medical leave from my job training attorneys on the use of legal research software. (Imagine such exotic ports of call as Fresno, Bakersfield, and Redding!) I decided I needed a job that was less physically challenging and since writing involves a lot of sitting on the couch, drinking coffee, and surfing celebrity gossip sites, it seemed like a natural transition. (Others tell me the last item is not strictly necessary to the writing process, but they are clearly mistaken.) I was also drawn to the idea of being able to purchase/read as many books as I wanted and call it "research."

Genius. I ♥ you. Where do you get your inspiration and what it your writing process?


In the tradition of so many great writers, I often search for inspiration at the bottom of a bottle. Kidding! (I don't think she is.  I've read her FB updates!)  Actually, I tend to get my best ideas A) in the shower B) during my morning hike, and C) riding on the back of my husband Jim's motorcycle. I get my worst ideas sitting in front of my laptop "trying" to come up with an idea. In fact, when I get writer's block, the best thing I can do is to turn off the computer and walk to my favorite coffee shop for a cookie. Works like a charm... (and even when it doesn't, I still end up with a cookie.) Though I tend to most of the actual transcription in the afternoons, when I'm working on a story it pretty much consumes my thoughts at all times. It is a possibly unhealthy level of self-obsession and leads to many burned dinners.

Self-obsession is a good thing! Or so I tell myself. Can you tell my readers a little about your book?

"Homecoming" is the story of a girl transitioning into womanhood. (Oh, dear god, but that sounds so lame... Take 2...)


"Homecoming" is the story of Caitlin Pearson, a bright, but somewhat naive, college freshman on her first trip home from school for Thanksgiving. In addition to the normal host of challenges presented by a family holiday -- a drunken, controlling mother, a charming scoundrel father, a less charming and more scoundrelly ex-fiance, and an oversexed and under-dressed cousin -- Caitlin must also endure a humiliating ceremony to officially end her reign as her alma mater's Homecoming Queen. So, obviously, it's a romance.

Are the characters based on yourself or anyone you know (who couldn't kill you if you revealed that information)?

When "Homecoming" first came out, people asked me who the characters are based on. Truthfully, I think they are all aspects of my own personality. After I'd finished writing it, I found that the mother "Caroline" was my favorite character, as her insecurities and neuroses (though not her personal habits) are most like my own.

See how awesome she is?  She has graciously offered up a signed copy of her book Homecoming: A Novella to one lucky reader and a $25 Amazon gift card.  A good book and money to buy more?  Who doesn't want that????   The book will be shipped to you (signed!) within 3-5 days of drawing and the Amazon gift card will be sent via email.

I won't make you jump through hoops to enter, simply leave me a comment and tell me your favorite book (Mine is The Good Earth, in case you were wondering).  Easy enough, right?

If you'd like extra entries (and why wouldn't you?):

If you are a follower, let me know in a separate comment.  If you become a follower, let me know.  You don't have to follow me to enter, but if you do, you're in for a treat.  I'm funny.

Blog or tweet about this giveaway for an extra entry.  Leave me the link in a separate comment.

The giveaway is open until noon (EST) Saturday, October 22.  Winner will be announced early next week.  Even if you don't win though, you should get a copy of the book.  They're available in print and electronic formats (the Kindle version is only $4.99!!).

Why 500? Giveaways are coming!

I missed RTT yesterday! Darn it, I hate when that happens, don't you? Of course you do, my RTT's are awesome. :)

So, if you can believe it, I'm closing on my 500th post. Well, to be fair it's about 40 posts away, but still. I had actually thought I'd be closer by this time, but when Han Solo got sick, my blogging kind of went out the window (you may have noticed and mourned). I'm actually thinking of being crazy and doing my giveaways for my 475th post instead. You know, just to be different. Why does 500 get all the love? 475 is just as important! I have several awesome giveaways lined up. Seriously, awesome. I working on one more giveaway settled (you won't believe this), and I'll be able to do an entire week of giveaways. Whaaa...??? Yep, a whole week. Keep checking back, because you don't want to miss this. Only 8 posts away!

All about the Benjamins and finally the winner!

No, I haven't gone gangsta, so don't worry.

When Indy was little his currency was Thomas the Tank Engine. If he was acting up, all Mr. HH and I had to do was threaten to put Thomas in the attic (we had a door opening to our attic in the bonus room that served as Indy's play room) and instantly the bad/unacceptable behavior would end. Thomas was his BFF and just the thought of spending a day without Thomas could render him speechless (a rare feat indeed) and make him instantly into the perfect child. Man I miss those simple days.
Now his currency is, well, currency. He's all about the cold hard cash. He guards it with religious fervor. Being as I rarely have cash on me, I've actually had to borrow money from him and he hounds me like a collection agency to get it back. He's quite the saver and sets himself a goal (usually something Playmobil). Once he has enough saved up, we'll go to the store and buy what he wants. The last big thing he wanted was the Playmobil Roman Galleon and he saved (including his b-day money) until he could buy it. He clutched the HUGE box to his chest all the way to the register and was so proud to pay for it himself. I was proud of him. He's got his eye on a new Playmobil temple (so new I can't find it on the internet) and is saving again.
We were doing the standard allowance thing that most families do, but were having trouble getting him to do the chores. Oh, the drama. The other day I hit upon a solution: a chore chart. I had it all planned out in my head. I would get a wipe board and use a permanent marker to draw lines and then use erasable markers to track his project. Brilliant! When we were at the store, I came across this little beauty which had the work already done for me. Hurrah! He now has 8 "chores" to do every day. If he gets 20 stars, he gets $1. 40 stars equals $2 and 50 stars equals $3. He has 56 chances a week to earn stars, so it is possible he can get 50 stars a week. If he collects 56 stars 5 times he gets the much coveted 5 dollar bill or he can hold off and earn it 10 times for the super fantastic much beloved 10 dollar bill (he likes the big money). His chores are mostly simple tasks/hygiene that he can easily accomplish. I used to have to tell him to do these things, but now he's anxious and excited to do his chores. He asks if he can practice his violin, take the trash/recycling out or the dogs out so he can earn the star that goes with it. If he can see that he's working towards a specific goal he's more than happy to do what needs to be done. Yay! This is clearly a sign that I am a genius with superior mothering skills.

And I'm so sorry I'm late with this, but I've got a winner in my giveaway! Drum roll please........ the winner is..............5 boys and a Princess! Shoot me an email with your address in it and you will soon have not only the pretty plate headed your way but a bunch of lovely German sweets. Congratulations!

Giveaway!!!!

Don't we all love a giveaway? Of course we do. SITS is doing a big giveaway blogathon and I've decided to join in! Hurrah! I'm going to give away something from my etsy shop! What? You didn't know I had one? Look at that big old button over there >>>>>>>>>>> There's lots of beautiful vintage home decor items scoured from flea markets in Europe and/or hand made by yours truly. I'm awesome like that.
For the SITS blogathon I'm going to give away a lovely English Ironstone transferware plate. It's a salad plate about 7" across from the "Home Farm" series.





Isn't it lovely????? You can see more views of it here. I actually have 2 of them, so if you don't win, you can buy it! I don't like having to pay a lot for pretty things, so I've priced my items fairly reasonably. Go check them out. Not yet! You have to enter the contest first! Oh, you need to know how, right?

1. Leave me a comment (I pink puffy rainbow heart comments)
2. Become a follower and tell me in another comment (see, told you I like comments). If you're already a follower, let me know (in a separate comment)! Why wouldn't you want to follow me? I'm hilarious.
3. Blog about my giveaway (and link to it in yet another comment-I'm so cheap) for another entry.


Contest ends March 10th at noon EST. But wait! There's more! SHUT UP! I know. Do you NEED some good European candy and sweets? You know you do. The winner will also get some yummy goodies in their package. Including REAL German Goldbaren gummies. That alone is worth entering. Remember, I love comments. You can get a bonus entry if you make me laugh in your comment (or you know, tell me how pretty and fabulous I am). :) Good luck!