Wednesdays Were Pretty Normal Giveaway

#prettynormal
There is a line from the Mat Kearney song, Closer to Love that states that we are all "one phone call from our knees..."

It has been a while since I last wrote and I am at a bit of a loss as to how to update. The Dude is doing well and eating like it is business (which it is). Seriously, he gained almost two pounds in the first three weeks, which for all of you non-medical people is a crazy amount for a breastfed baby. He is starting to stare at us more and I can't wait until that first smile!

On a personal level however, our family has gotten some unexpected news regarding his health which has been a blow beyond what we could have ever imagined. We received that  bring-you-to-your-knees phone call a few weeks ago and are still reeling from it. I don't feel comfortable at the present going into details on the blog, but suffice it to say that we covet your prayers right now. We have some big decisions to make that will need a lot of wisdom and support from those who love us and our family. If you want the gory details and you know me personally, you know how to reach me. :-)

***

Appropriately, I have a giveaway today for a friend's book that is released today. It is appropriate because it speaks deeply to the level of emotion we are experiencing now as a family and how to deal with that day when the bottom of your world falls out.

My friend Michael Kelley wrote a book about his eldest child, Joshua, and their experience with going through a life-changing and faith-changing diagnosis of leukemia. I won't give any spoilers, but I will say that this book has been a comfort to me as I try to process the unexpected news we received. Because I love you guys, and because this family is dear to me, I am giving away three copies of the book!

How to enter:  

• Leave a comment below about whatever is on your mind = 1 entry (this is the only mandatory entry method). Additionally you can...
• Become a follower (or stay a follower) = 1 additional entry (mention in your comment if you are a follower!)
• Tweet about the giveaway with the hashtag #prettynormal = 2 entries (please tag the tweet with @drbabymamadrama and mention in your comment)
• Blog about it = 5 entries (mention in your comment that you blogged about it!)

Entries close on  MONDAY, MARCH 5th at 11:59 pm. You must live within the United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them, I will move to the next person on the list, so check your email AND check back on the blog!

 

Shabby Apple Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the Shabby Apple Giveaway is Jess! I have already sent you an email. If I don't hear back in 48 hours, I will move to another person. Congratulations!

Don't worry, I am still alive, just getting a little tired as the pregnancy progresses, so blogging is the obvious thing that has to go by the wayside. We are working on the nursery right now (don't let anyone tell you that nagging is ineffective!) and hopefully will have pictures soon.

Shabby Apple Giveaway!

#shabbyapple
To start off your week, I have an awesome giveaway sponsored by Shabby Apple! If you haven't heard of them, RUN, don't walk to their website and do some browsing. I love the way they style their photos and I love the style of their clothes.

I will be giving away the Azure Coast dress shown below. It is a universally flattering wrap style and the cobalt color is adorable.

For those who haven't heard of them, Shabby Apple sells women's dresses as well as maternity dresses and clothes for little girls. Some of my other favorite dresses of theirs are shown below (L to R, 5th Avenue, Crepe de Chine, La Tour Eiffel).

How to enter:  

• Leave a comment on how what other Shabby Apple dress you love = 1 entry (this is the only mandatory entry method). Additionally you can...
• Become a follower (or stay a follower) = 1 additional entry (mention in your comment if you are a follower!)
• Tweet about the giveaway = 2 entries (please tag the tweet with @drbabymamadrama and mention in your comment)
• Blog about it = 5 entries (mention in your comment that you blogged about it!)

Please swing by their Facebook page and like them as well to stay up to date on their latest fashions! Also, if you just can't wait to purchase something, I also would like to offer my readers a coupon code, courtesy of Shabby Apple. Just enter mamadrama10off at checkout to receive 10% off (and they offer free standard shipping on all U.S. purchases!)

Entries close on  THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20th at 11:59 pm. You must live within the United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them, I will move to the next person on the list, so check your email AND check back on the blog!

Studio Jewel Giveaway Winner!

Congratulations to Molly Petruska for winning the $50 credit to Studio Jewel giveaway. She commented,

"I would love to get the Lucky Girl ring. I feel like I'm a lucky girl for having my wonderful husband, great friends and family, and my health. "

I have the same ring and can attest to it's quality. I already DM'd you on Twitter. I'll put you  in touch with Lisa (aka, @thebeadgirl) on how to collect your store credit.

If you didn't win, you can still browse through Lisa's amazing selection of jewelry at her Etsy site. I have my eye on this ring to add to my collection.

***

I think Molly's statement on feeling lucky to have her health and family and friends is a timely one. This has been a hard few days for my circle of friends here in Nashville. My friend Emmett (read about the family's journey through esophageal cancer here) is now in hospice and my friend Jill (who has taken all of our family pictures since we moved to Nashville) found out last week that she has Hodgkin's lymphoma. My heart is heavy for their spouses and children. Cancer sucks. They have some difficult days ahead and I am grateful for the community of prayer that surrounds them.

It sometimes feels a little shallow to be blogging about clothes and food and home decor in the midst of so much heartache, but I should realize as much as anyone that life brings grief and light all at the same time. In the midst of the joy of a new baby, women are abandoned by their husbands for a younger woman and teenagers steal school buses while high as a kite. I know that God is still good, even if i don't understand His goodness.

And kids will continue to always stick Barbie shoes up their noses. 

Studio Jewel Giveaway!

Gather round for a giveaway, peeps! I am lucky to be giving away a $50 credit to one of my absolutely favorite stores, Studio Jewel, aka the fabulous Lisa Lehmann Designs. I wrote a post a while back about a ring that I bought from her last year and I swear I wear that ring every single day. I lurve it.

Lisa is a great friend that I met at a social media conference last year and I have had a blog crush on her ever since. I always tell her I will be coming to her for advice when my daughter gets older, since she homeschools her teenagers and works from home with such aplomb.

Here is an example of a necklace she sent me to review. Being the sweetheart she is, Lisa also sent the Kid a matching necklace too. And it's turquoise (one of my favorites stones!).

You can glimpse part of my Studio Jewel ring in the upper right corner of the picture.

Of course, I love the simplicity of this necklace, like Lisa has in all of her pieces. They are simple but very well made, which is always a guarantee for something to get my stamp of approval (note my obsession with J.Crew and Ethan Allen furniture). And turquoise is such a great color for the summer, you know?

How to enter:  

• Leave a comment about what piece of the Studio Jewel collection you would purchase from her website if you happen to win the $50 gift certificate = 1 entry (this is the only mandatory entry method). Additionally you can...
• Become a follower (or stay a follower) = 1 additional entry (mention in your comment if you are a follower!)
• Tweet about the giveaway = 2 entries (please tag the tweet with @drbabymamadrama and mention in your comment)
• Blog about it = 5 entries (post a link to your post in your comment!)

Entries close on  FRIDAY, MAY 27th at 11:59 pm, Central Time. You must live within the United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them, I will move to the next person on the list, so check your email AND check back on the blog!

Giveaway Winners!

After much mathematics and help from Random.org, here are the winners from the What I Wish I Got giveaway week.

J.Crew Gift Card + Heirloom Flora earrings: Morgan Kiser, who said "I would wear those earrings to dress up my new black cashmere turtleneck. And I'm a follower, and I'm getting ready to be a tweet-er."

Barefoot Contessa Cookbook: Laura M.who said her favorite local place to eat is "Family Wash in Nashville [which] is close to the top of my list."

IGo + WiiFit Game: Jayna Wallace (my Blissdom buddy!) who said the worst dead phone experience she had was when her "phone died on me after the plane I was on was rerouted from Denver, CO to somewhere in Texas, due to a completely random outburst of thunderstorms over, um, the entire mid-section of the country. I finally made it to Denver, but without the use of my phone I was stranded until the next flight out (at 6am the following morning). So I got to spend the night in the Denver airport. YAY. Still made it to my 9am meeting in San Francisco the next day - unshowered, wearing the same clothes I'd just slept in at the airport. But hey, at least I had time to charge my phone! For the extra entries: I'm also following iGo on Facebook and Twitter, and I'm a follower. Thanks again!"

Lands' End Gift Card + J.Crew Starfish Earrings: Lori H. (a very faithful follower) who said, "I love the beachy vibe of the starfish earrings! My winter pick-me-up is to ditch the cinnamon/fir/vanilla scents of the holiday season and go with lotion in a fresh scent like Coconut Lime Verbena, or something lemony..."

Nina Garcia Book: Julie who said, "My favorites shoes are my Steve Madden Intyce Boots. I love them so much. I am a follower."

I will email you and if I don't have a reponse within 48 hours, the prize goes to the next entrant on the list.

Thanks to all who entered!

What I Wish I Got: Nina Garcia Giveaway

I love clothes. That's no secret. I study my InStyle Magazine like a textbook and am an addict of Project Runway each year. So that is why I am giving Nina Garcia's What To Wear for Every Occasion as my final giveaway.

This book is filled with practical advice, from what to wear to meet the in-laws to what to wear for a job interview or a weekend brunch with the girls.

How to enter:  

• Leave a comment what are your favorite shoes to wear = 1 entry (this is the only mandatory entry method). Additionally you can...
• Become a follower (or stay a follower) = 1 additional entry (mention in your comment if you are a follower!)
• Tweet about the giveaway = 2 entries (please tag the tweet with @drbabymamadrama and mention in your comment)
• Blog about it = 5 entries (mention in your comment that you blogged about it!)

Entries close on  MONDAY, JANUARY 10th at 11:59 pm. You must live within the United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them, I will move to the next person on the list, so check your email AND check back on the blog!

Don't forget to enter the other giveaways here:

Lands' End/J.Crew giveaway here.
iGo and Wii giveaway here.
Barefoot Contessa giveaway here.
J.Crew giveaway here.

What I Wish I Got: Lands' End Gift Card and J.Crew Giveaway

#blissdom #landsend

Due to the overwhelming response to the Heirloom Flora earrings giveaway, I am dipping back into the Crewlade and giving away these Starfish Earrings that I love so much (another Crewlet find) and throwing in a $25 gift card to Lands' End Canvas for good measure. If you haven't checked out Lands' End Canvas recently, stop by their store and see some of the adorable things they have. This is not a sponsored post, I just love them.

I am offering up a $25 gift card for one lucky reader...

...as well as the J.Crew outlet version of another favorite pair of earrings, the Pave Starfish earrings.

These earrings scream "preppy" to me and I love wearing these, particularly in the summer and spring (or in the winter when I need a reminder of the beach).

How to enter:  

• Leave a comment on how what your favorite fashion/beauty pick-me up is for the winter = 1 entry (this is the only mandatory entry method). Additionally you can...
• Become a follower (or stay a follower) = 1 additional entry (mention in your comment if you are a follower!)
• Tweet about the giveaway = 2 entries (please tag the tweet with @drbabymamadrama and mention in your comment)
• Blog about it = 5 entries (mention in your comment that you blogged about it!)

Entries close on  SATURDAY, JANUARY 8th at 11:59 pm. You must live within the United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them, I will move to the next person on the list, so check your email AND check back on the blog!

Don't forget...
iGo and Wii giveaway here.
Barefoot Contessa giveaway here.
J.Crew giveaway here.

What I Wish I Got: iGo and Wii Giveaway!

@igo

The next items up for grabs are an iGo charger AND a Wii Sports game. I scored one of these chargers at the Type A Mom conference and I got the Wii Sports game at an American Heart Association/Nintendo Wii event, respectively. I have not been compensated for this post, although I won an iGo through a drawing and I got to try out the Wii Sports game. These opinions are entirely my own.

iGo
I was unsure of how much I needed another charger, but I have found it to be a FANTASTIC standard item in my purse, to the point where I don't even use my regular charger anymore. It also has two slots so I can charge both my cell phone and Kindle at the same time.

From the website: 

No power? No problem! Re-charging a cell phone, camera, iPod, etc. when you are away from a power outlet has never been easier now with the new iGo Charge Anywhere. This small, sleek and powerful charger can fit in your pocket plus simultaneously charges two devices even when you are not plugged into a power source.  

Wii Sports
As for the Wii Sports game, I don't own a Wii system (but I think they are great for getting people active and off the couch). It is the only video game endorsed by the American Heart Association, so that says something. It is one of the few video games that I say is okay for my patients to play because it gets them moving.

How to enter:  

• Leave a comment on a time when your cell phone died and you wished you had a way to charge it. Also let me know your favorite video game if you have one. = 1 entry (this is the only mandatory entry method). Additionally you can...
• Become a follower (or stay a follower) = 1 additional entry (mention in your comment if you are a follower!)
• Tweet about the giveaway = 2 entries (please tag the tweet with @drbabymamadrama and mention in your comment)
• Follow iGo on Twitter or Facebook = 1 entry (let me know that you did so)
• Blog about it = 5 entries (mention in your comment that you blogged about it!)

Entries close on  SATURDAY, JANUARY 8th at 11:59 pm. You must live within the United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them, I will move to the next person on the list, so check your email AND check back on the blog!


BTW, my favorite video game has always been the original Super Mario Brothers and Duck Hunt. I rule at Duck Hunt.

Don't forget...

Barefoot Contessa giveaway here.
J.Crew giveaway here.

What I Wish I Got: Barefoot Contessa Giveaway

Sorry for the late start to the #giveaway this morning. I can't resist curling up with a good book on my day off, which means a late start to the day!

I have been looking forward to this giveaway for a while since it means that I can officially break out my copy of this awesome cookbook. How Easy Is That? is the latest Barefoot Contessa cookbook by Ina Garten.

I own all but one of her cookbooks, and I read them like a novel, so you know I am a big fan. My favorite part is the smattering of advice she gives on organizing a kitchen that is scattered throughout the book.

How to enter:  

• Leave a comment on your favorite food destination or restaurant = 1 entry (this is the only mandatory entry method). Additionally you can...
• Become a follower (or stay a follower) = 1 additional entry (mention in your comment if you are a follower!)
• Tweet about the giveaway = 2 entries (please tag the tweet with @drbabymamadrama and mention in your comment)
• Blog about it = 5 entries (mention in your comment that you blogged about it!)

Entries close on  SATURDAY, JANUARY 8th at 11:59 pm. You must live within the United States. Winner will be selected using Random.org. If I don't hear from the winner within 48 hours of contacting them, I will move to the next person on the list, so check your email AND check back on the blog!


Don't forget to enter the J.Crew and Heirloom Flora giveaway here!

Tomorrow, I'm giving away an iGo charger and a Wii game, so stop back in...