Simplicity in the Suburbs: A Christmas Giveaway.

Friday, December 11, 2009

A Christmas Giveaway.

COMMENTS HAVE BEEN CLOSED.

Our Christmas tree is not a fashionable Christmas tree. There is no rhyme or reason to the way the ornaments are strung about the branches. You know those trees you see in department stores where the garland is put around just right and the ornaments all match perfectly. They look as though an interior designer came through and made sure the tree was up to par.

That is so not our tree.

Our tree is a tree full of history. Each and every ornament tells a story. Even if that story is, I got it from a friend in the 7th grade.

Some of the ornaments are old, and you can tell as they come out of the box. Some were made by grandparents or friends, ourselves and some made even by the kids.

Some are exquisite in design and you can tell that they are valuable in dollars.

Others are simple, concrete but memory laden and they are valuable in meaning.

I have ornaments that stretch from the year I was born until now. And J has several from his own childhood that each year we pull out of the box and hang while reminding the kids and telling the story of when and where and how each was given.

It's funny that now the kids are beginning to get this too. Especially T and M. An ornament will be taken from the box and they will jump and run over. "That's mine. Remember? Remember?" They'll say, begging us to say; "Oh yeah, we got that for you when...."

All this to say, I was thrilled to pieces when a local Minnesota artist contacted me about hosting a giveaway of some of her handmade ornaments. After a quick look-see on her site I was super excited to offer these up to you.

Deidre of Deidre and Company, would like to give away one of the following ornaments to one of you! Personalized and everything, she will ship it directly to you. How's that sound for a great Christmas deal?

Maybe you're in need of one last gift, or maybe you want a special ornament commemorating YOUR year. Here's your chance.

Simply leave a comment here saying what ornament you'd choose and why and you're entered.

If you want more than one entry you can do a few things, you can post to your own blog about the giveaway and link back here.

Or you can tweet or facebook about it.

Easy enough, right?

Contest runs through next THURSDAY DECEMBER 17 at 8:00pm CST.

Good luck!

In the spirit of self-disclosure and also due to new FTC blogger regulations, I just want you to know, I'm not paid or compensated in any way for hosting this giveaway.

22 Comments:

Gina said...: I would choose the "You are Loved" one. I would give it to my husband to tell him that no matter what he is loved. Through the trying times right now of him not working due to being laid off, our infertility issues...through all of these struggles he is loved and always will be.; December 11, 2009 at 10:58 PM
The Fritz Facts said...: I would choose the Shine Brightly one for a friend. She is going through a rough time, and this would be a great pick-me-up for her.

We do the ornaments the same way you do, tell a story with each one. There are very few on our tree that don't hold a special meaning in some way.

Thanks!; December 12, 2009 at 12:03 AM
The Fritz Facts said...: I tweeted the giveaway~

http://twitter.com/fritzfactz/statuses/6592372156; December 12, 2009 at 12:05 AM
s said...: Definitely You are Loved. Because there are so many people I would give it to. I love all the ornaments. :); December 12, 2009 at 7:51 AM
Lindahl News 2 said...: The "You are Loved" would be the perfect ornament for our Granddaughter baby-in-waiting. There's so much love for her already, and we haven't yet had the chance to wrap our arms around her, kiss her on her head and curl our hands around her index finger. My heart is so full with love for her that I can physically feel it in my core.; December 12, 2009 at 9:24 AM
LutherLiz said...: I'd pick "You are Loved" because I want to remind a friend of that fact.; December 12, 2009 at 9:29 AM
Beth said...: Shine brightly. I saw a comment on a blog this week that said "it is better to light one candle than to curse the darkness" and I have found that to be true through some challenging things this last year in leaving our church and all the uncertainty that went with that and then where we eventually ended up. So "shine brightly" is a good reminder that even in the darkest of times there is still a light.; December 12, 2009 at 9:50 AM
melanie. said...: i thank my god for you. we spend december separated as a familyand i think maybe my husband sometimes doesn't feel appreciated this time of year. i like him toknow that i really feel blessed to have him/; December 12, 2009 at 11:21 AM
Jon, Sara, Tyler, and Sophie said...: Our tree is much the same - full of history, and many ornaments are bunched together because that's where the kids could reach to put them up. I love it.

Also, I have a silimar story about one of my ornaments, "its from a friend and she gave it to me in seventh grade". It is a reindeer ornament and that friend is you, S.

Now, about the contest, they are all beautiful, but the star would be my choice. I would put it on my tree at school (yes, I do have a small christmas tree in my classroom) as a gentle reminder to my students of how much they are capable of and my dreams for them.; December 12, 2009 at 12:47 PM
darcie said...: Growing up we always had a huge hodge podge of ornaments-when I moved out on my own I just HAD to have a matchy matchy one and kept it that way for years - Finally, after quite a long time, I am starting to put other ornaments on our tree, one the kids have made at daycare, one we've been given as a gift - I'm so happy I am doing that - there are so many wonderful stories behind them, and so many gorgeous ornaments out there!; December 12, 2009 at 9:42 PM
linda said...: I would choose "You are Loved" and give it to my little sister. She lives in the state of Wyoming, 18 hours away, so I would pick that one to give to her to put on her tree to remember we are thinking of her during the holidays!; December 12, 2009 at 10:17 PM
Broken 4 Love said...: I will leave it up to the others to receive the giveaway.

I just have to say that I love Christmas trees that are made up of meaningful, collected-over-the-years ornaments!
I think it makes decorating the tree ten times more exciting and meaningful each year. Our tree used to be just like that and I loved it.
:); December 13, 2009 at 3:49 PM
Jody said...: Our tree is the same way- a loving mish-mash of ornaments. I would chhos "I thank God for you" for my family. Because, in all honesty, they saved me more than they know.; December 13, 2009 at 6:58 PM
Michele P. said...: I like the You Are Loved... it would remind my family and friends that I cherish the time I have with them and care about them all year round, plus since my tree is an assortment of different special meaningful ornaments this would be a welcome addition to my collection!

micaela6955 at msn dot com; December 13, 2009 at 8:07 PM
Anonymous said...: "You gave me my daily bread"

When my dad was dying, we went to a prayer/healing service in downtown Chicago. It was one of my first times out of the hospital ICU floor. And when we read the Lord's prayer I was so overcome with the line "give us this day our daily bread". As I know you know, Samara, I was living off of fumes, emotionally and physically raw and empty.

And God gave it to me. In that healing service. I am so grateful that my dad miraculously recovered but I will never forget that moment, that is now etched in my heart and the promise that I would receive my daily bread.; December 13, 2009 at 9:38 PM
Anonymous said...: Oops I forgot to mention that the I thank God for you would be the ornament to match my story : ) Time for bed!; December 13, 2009 at 9:40 PM
Kendra Wheeler said...: I would chose either "You are Loved" or "I thank My God for you" to give to a dear friend. She has had a VERY rough year and seems to be aching for the reminders that she is loved and valued each day of the year by many people around her. I believe that simple reminders such as these tender words can impact someone's heart...I can't be there in person with her like I use to be, but I would love to have a simple ornament to send her that would let her know I think of her always and pray for her just as often!; December 14, 2009 at 11:25 AM
Kim said...: OOOOO I like the "shine brightly" one. I think it's a good reminder to shine in the world.

Though really... they're all awesome!; December 15, 2009 at 4:33 PM
Kim said...: I would choose the "I thank my God for You" ornament and would gift it to my birth mother, whom I just met in November for the first time since she gave me up when I was 1. I especially think this would be fitting as she and I do not share a faith (I'm Christian and she's Buddhist). She is quite firm in her beliefs and would like me to switch...I am likewise as committed to my own faith and want to share with her my convictions.; December 16, 2009 at 1:48 PM
Auntie BB said...: Why is it that you write something and then sign up and it deletes.

Try #2

So I had a grand idea for my new husband and I to start our own tradition as this is our first Christmas married. I told him that I wanted us to get each other an ornament each Christmas. So I think my idea was good but my execution not so much. I just couldn't find the right one. If I could've found one like "You Are Loved" that would have been the one I bought. I ended up with a gold "Love" one that was okay but not the one I was looking for.

So here's a plea to help me redeem myself!!!; December 16, 2009 at 10:05 PM
Marketing Mama said...: I like the You are Loved one, too. it's beautiful. I'd probably give it to a friend. :); December 17, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Stephanie said...: I thank god for you...it is the people in my life that get me through this journey, adventure, and all around joyful days.; December 17, 2009 at 8:21 PM

Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]

<< Home

This Page

Simplicity in the Suburbs

Friday, December 11, 2009

A Christmas Giveaway.

22 Comments:

About Me

Previous Posts