This is a tradition that I started a year ago as a way to thank YOU for being a part of this blog community and to give back in a small way during a season that is usually so focused on "getting." It was a big success last year, and I knew I wanted it to be something I continue from year to year....
This year, in addition to some of my personal favorite things, I've also been able to partner with some wonderful internet businesses to bring you even MORE great prizes and a total donation of $350.00 to charity.
Check it out:
That's right, one lucky winner will receive...
I've been following Crystal Faye since she started her business a little over a year ago (and actually ordered a necklace from her for last year's give away) and have had my eye on one of her adorable mugs for a while now! After I posted this one on my Christmas Wish List, she sent me one to try, and I am obsessed with it!!! They are so fun, I just had to include one in this year's give away!
2. Old Navy Tassel Zip Tote (in camel)
I actually carry this bag myself in teal right now and love it. It looks great and fits SO much (perfect for my little toddler not diaper bag). When I started thinking about this give away, I knew I wanted to include one of these, so I picked one up especially for YOU on Black Friday! Guaranteed to be your new favorite bag for 2014.
Obviously, I had to include a statement necklace in the prize (you know how I love them), and when I found this beauty in orange and navy at JCrew Factory online (my go-to spot), I couldn't resist. How cute will it look with a chambray blouse or a navy and white striped top?!?
4. Handmade cowl scarf from Libby (in mustard)
My friend Libby made me one of these great scarves last year, and it is - seriously - the ONLY one I wear in the winter. It is SO warm, and I love the look of a cowl/infinity. This year, Libby is making a mustard yellow one just for YOU.
These are my FAVORITE pens. Warning: You will never settle for a regular pen again!
6. Your very own Plum Paper Family Planner
I know many of you had this on your Christmas list this year after I posted about them as a great alternative to the Erin Condren Life Planner here. I have been using mine for about six months now, and I'm totally hooked! (In fact, I ordered a new one for 2014 not because I needed it, but because I just love a new planner soooo much!) You choose your own design, personalize the cover, and customize 7 different sections with the names of family members, activities, etc. (See my post for more details.)
I have a couple pairs of Katie's adorable earrings, and I always get SO many compliments on them. This year, I'm also loving her fabric hair ties in a variety of cute colors and patterns - who doesn't need a million of these to keep in every purse, bag, etc. you own?!? The winner gets to pick her own from ALL the great options in her shop now.
AND, a $350.00 donation to the charity of your choice!
As I mentioned, this wouldn't be possible without the help of some awesome ladies that run their own businesses making and selling great products that I already know and LOVE. Before we get to all the ways you can enter to win, would you take just a minute to show them some love?!?
As my "Sparkle Sponsor" for this year's give away, Plum Paper Designs donated the Family Planner for the give away and is matching my $100.00 donation to the charity that the winner chooses! I said it above, but I LOVE my Plum Planner & cannot recommend them highly enough... At almost half the price of some of the other "designer" planners out there, these are just as adorable and well made, and even more customizable and practical. I'd consider this a MUST HAVE for the new year and a great option for the gals on your gift list this year! Working with Plum Paper has been so easy and so fun... They are really good people with a great product and big hearts. (And, Kristina, my contact there, is also a new momma!!) Visit the shop on Etsy and at www.plumpaper.com for more information and use coupon code EMYSELFANDI10 to save 10% on your order!
*** The last day to order a planner in time for Christmas is December 10th. Plum Paper has agreed to credit the winner of the give away if she purchases a planner before it officially ends on Dec. 15th.
Have a few people left to shop for on your list? Grab one of Crystal's adorable Christmas mugs or spoil them with some monogrammed goodies!! Use code HOLIDAY15 for 15% off and be sure to order all personalized items by Dec. 4th and everything else by Dec. 15th for Christmas delivery. *Crystal will also offer a credit to the winner if he/she has already placed an order before the give away ends.
My friend Libby from the blog "Don't Waste Your Cancer" makes the most wonderful cowl scarves! They are only $24.00 (A STEAL) and can be purchased through the blog or by emailing libbyryderblog@gmail.com. Order by December 17th for Christmas delivery and use code DWYC for FREE SHIPPING!
There are some amazing deals going on at One Delightful Button right now on headbands, earrings, bookmarks, key chains, and more!!! I absolutely love the idea of "stocking up" here for the "bulk" gifts you need to buy - think: teachers, neighbors, co-workers. Her prices are super reasonable and her designs totally original. If you miss the great Black Friday/Cyber Monday deals, you can always use code EMYSELFANDI for 10% off!
*As "Shimmer Sponsors," Libby, Crystal, & Katie each donated a gift AND contributed $50 to the charity of choice!
And, finally, a quick thank you again to my sidebar sponsors for their continued support throughout the year:
Now... Get busy!!
So... What are you waiting for?!?
The give away will close at 11:59PM on Sunday, December 14th, and the winner will be announced the next morning. Good luck!!
P.S. All the beautiful design work in this post was done by the awesomely talented (and patient) Fairy Blogmother! She is, seriously, the best!!!
What a fantastic giveaway!!! Love this, E!! Such awesome gifts and generous sponsors! If/When (haha) I win, I think I would donate my charity money to Compassion. We've sponsored kids through Compassion for years and are consistently impressed with their work and their fiscal responsibility. But I would also do some research and see if there were any other charities I might be interested in, too, before I commit the money!! :)
ReplyDeleteSuch a fun way to give back to charity! So glad to partner with a great gal :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great giveaway! I would donate to the Christmas Bureau this time of year.
ReplyDeleteThis is a fantastic giveaway, I LOVE that it also includes donating to charity. I would donate to Mission Sleep, which helps to provide in home nurses to new mamas when their spouse is deployed or wounded when the new baby arrives.
ReplyDeleteThis is great! I'd donate to the American Cancer Society. My family always participates in Relay for Life, and my grandmother has been in the hospital for almost a month fighting ovarian cancer so it's on our hearts this Christmas season.
ReplyDeleteI love this! I'd donate to the March of Dimes because they paid for my mama's heart surgery when she was 7, and paid some bills for my grandparents in the process.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to celebrate the holidays!
LOVE the give away part of this!
ReplyDeleteThis is a great giveaway! My favorite non-profit right now is our local Crisis Pregnancy Center and I would donate the charity money to them! They have done amazing things here in our small town and we love supporting them! Hope I win :)
ReplyDeleteTorn! Either American Cancer Society or Shirley's Angels Boxer rescue. They both have impacted my life!
ReplyDeleteLove the whole concept of this and am glad you're doing it again this year! If I were to win, the domain would go to breast cancer research, in honor of my mom!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great giveaway! I would donate the money to the American Cancer Society. I feel like I know a huge number of people who have had cancer, and I truly believe that every dollar helps with the research they are doing. This would be a great gift for the charity.
ReplyDeletegreat giveaway! I'd donate to the Jimmy V Foundation, a nonprofit cancer organization that my brother was into before he passed away from cancer 2 1/2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteI would choose the YMCA...they do so much in our community and have helped so many people I know personally. What a great giveaway!!! xo
ReplyDeletePS I followed PlumPaper on Insta....couldn't find plumplanner :/
DeleteThis is such a wonderful idea! I'd choose Girl Up, part of the United Nations Foundation. They work to give girls around the world access to education, healthcare, etc.
ReplyDeleteWow, this is such a great giveaway! I think I'd donate to our local SPCA if I won!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome giveaway! Those vball pens are the BEST! Gotta have the extra fine ones. :) I'd donate either to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering (100% of proceeds go directly to international missionaries) or to Samaritan's Purse.
ReplyDeleteI would choose CASA of the Pikes Peak region. CASA is my sorority's philanthropy, and now as an alumna, I try to support them in any way I can. The Pikes Peak region is my local chapter of CASA now.
ReplyDeleteI would choose African Bible Colleges. We lived and worked there in Lilongwe, Malawi, for a year. Every spring there are some seniors who aren't able to pay there (minimal to us) school fees and, thus, can't graduate. $350 could help one or two seniors graduate!
ReplyDeleteThis is an amazing giveaway! You are so generous and giving, its such a wonderful thing to see these days! I would give the money to the American Cancer Society because so many of my friends and family are fighting, or know someone who is fighting cancer right now.
ReplyDeleteKristen
A Little Look Inside Me
Love this idea! I would donate the money to a newly formed charity in our area that gives clothes and children's essentials to single moms in the area.
ReplyDeleteI love, love, LOVE your giveaways! I also love the charitable donation as well. I would donate the money to the Chattanooga Area Food Bank. I have always admired the work of local food banks and have seen their great work first hand when I was teaching. The meals they provide for students and their families in times of need make a huge difference.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! If the charity doesn't have to be an organization per se, I'd donate to a colleague whose son was recently diagnosed with cancer. Otherwise, I'd probably go with the local animal shelter. We adopted one of our dogs from there, and they always need a little extra.
ReplyDeleteI would donate to Second Harvest Food Bank - I know they could use a little extra this time of year. Thanks so much for hosting!
ReplyDeleteI would gave to say either St. Judes or one of the Shriners hospitals!
ReplyDeleteI would give it to Water Missions International to help the beautiful people of the Philippines.
ReplyDeleteSo glad you're doing this giveaway again! I would give the $350 to Life Network, the crisis pregnancy center I used to volunteer with when my family lived in Colorado.
ReplyDeleteI would donate to Dysautonomia International to help them find a cure for dysautonomia.
ReplyDeleteEither the Presbyterian Community Center or RVSPCA!
ReplyDeleteMake a wish foundation :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a great give away! I would donate to To Write Love On Her Arms.
ReplyDeleteI would donate to Harvest Hope in Columbia, SC.
ReplyDeleteLove this! I would donate to Young Life. :)
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome giveaway. I would donate to the local cancer association or one of the many local volunteer fire departments in my area.
ReplyDeleteThis is so great! I would donate to the Wade Center in Bluefield which cares for the young people in the community and provides them with love and support.
ReplyDeleteSuper cute gifts! I would donate to the Word Made Flesh ministry in Lima, Peru.
ReplyDeleteI'd donate to Granny's House, an organization in my home town that helps children in transition
ReplyDeleteEverything is so cute - if I won I would donate to the DanceBlue Kentucky Children's Hospital :)
ReplyDeleteLove this sweet giveaway! I would donate to the American Cancer Society after the passing of my grandfather in April I was struck with how much every dollar helps in the search for the cure!
ReplyDeleteI love everything about this giveaway! Especially the $350 that will go to a charity. I would love to donate to the Wounded Warrior Project because there are so many families of wounded warriors that may not have a very bright Christmas due to the costs of medical expenses etc. Plus I always love to give back to the ones that give so much for us!
ReplyDeleteI love all the items in your giveaway! I would donate to our local Rescue Mission. Jen
ReplyDeleteI have soooo many favorite charities! Hard to choose. At the moment, I'm thinking Samaritan's Purse.
ReplyDeleteI would love to donate to the amazima mission in Uganda or Love 146 that rescues people from human trafficking and helps them be restored. Great giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI currently run a non-profit here in Russellville, Arkansas called The Russ Bus. We work with the homeless in our area by giving them shelter and working them through a program to get them jobs and off the streets! This would be such a blessing to our organization as we are entering winter and need warm clothing/blankets/shelter for all of our homeless friends!
ReplyDeleteLove this idea! I would donate the money to the local food bank in my county. I've volunteered with them a few times and they are such a wonderful ministry in our county.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful giveaway! I would donate to the National MS Society since their mission is so close to my heart.
ReplyDeleteI'd donate to the Golisano Children's Hospital in my city. My son was in their NICU for the first 5 weeks of his life and they are so wonderful. :)
ReplyDeleteLove this again this year! Would love to have all of these items. I would donate the money to Intermountain Childrens Home in Montana which helps rehabilitate severely abused and neglected children. My dad is on their council and is a past president of their board of directors. We've give regularly to this organization and have had the opportunity to visit their facility and see amazing things that they are doing for the kids. Thanks E for doing this!
ReplyDeleteI love all these goodies! I would love to give the money to Samaritan's Purse. They do so many great things - from the shoebox distribution to disaster relief --- all while sharing the love of Jesus!
ReplyDeleteYeah a new tradition! Again this year we would love to support our local chapter of Big Brothers Big Sisters! Thanks for all you do for your community of readers!
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome gift & giveaway!! love it!! I would donate to our local Christmas Castle fund to help local families during the holiday season.
ReplyDeleteThat's some great loot! I would donate to Water Missions International. They send water purifiers to places like the Philippines after hurricane Haiyan. The disasters aren't the only danger. So many people die of diseases after these disasters because of contaminated water.
ReplyDeleteI love it! I would donate to Safe Families MN. Yup I'm from Minnesota! It's an organization that provides support to families in need. Awesome organization.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea! I think I would donate the money to the leukemia and lymphoma society.
ReplyDeleteAn awesome opportunity. I would donate the money to the Navy/ Marine Corps Relief Society!
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome idea. I'm torn between some wonderful charities. However, my heart is really leaning towards St. Jude right now.
ReplyDeleteLove everything about this giveaway, it is all so cute! I am thinking about donating to a cancer charity or St. Jude also!
ReplyDeleteI would love to give the money to the organization I helped with when I spent my summer in Uganda! Empower-a-child!
ReplyDeleteI would choose to donate to Make-A-Wish. My daughter will be making her wish soon... She is 3 years old. She has beat cancer and she has recently had a kidney transplant. The wishes allow kids to just be normal for a while...
ReplyDeleteI would donate it to Royal Family Kids Camps (specifically the Raleigh First Assembly Camp). Its a week long overnight camp for kids who are in foster care, specifically to provide them with positive childhood memories. Its an amazing experience to see kids do things they've never seen or done before (fishing, swimming, crafts, canoes, a big "festival" type event, and a birthday party). I've been volunteering with them for 7 years. And based on feedback from former campers it really does make a difference in their lives.
ReplyDeleteCool! I'd give to Compassion or IJM, but may look into a smaller charity who need a nice donation!
ReplyDeleteI would give the $ either to World Vision or the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society . . . or the local crisis pregnancy center!
ReplyDeleteChristmas Spirit Foundation helps to support Trees for Troops. They deliver trees across military bases throughout the US. It might sound like a small thing, but in reality (as a military wife stationed thousands of miles away from home) there is nothing better than being able to retain some sense of family and tradition. Military men and women give up so much for what they do, and may spend the holidays without family and close friends, but having a Christmas tree available can certainly help bring that sense of 'home.'
ReplyDeleteWhat an amazing giveaway-especially the give back part. I would donate to GOAT in Greenville, SC. Great Outdoor Adventure Trips for under-resourced and at risk kids-love what these guys are doing (http://www.goattrips.org/about). Thanks for the awesome opportunity to shed light on so many excellent organizations (through these comments alone)!!
ReplyDeleteWe decided as a family this year to change our gift giving, and that includes one sibling picking a different charity each year for the family to donate to. This would give me a head start! This is great!
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I'd donate to Delta Gamma's philanthropy, Service for Sight.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome giveaway! I'd donate to Pioneers, a mission organization.
ReplyDeleteAwesome giveaway! I would donate to the Dax Locke Foundation. Dax was a little boy from my area who passed away from leukemia at the age of 2, just a few days after Christmas. (Matthew West's song, "One Last Christmas", tells Dax's story.) His mom started this foundation to raise the $1.6 million it takes to run St. Jude Children's Hospital for one day in his honor.
ReplyDeleteI would donate to my church's food truck. When I drive home from work on Mondays I always see so many people lined up, and I know that the church could use some financial assistance to provide food for people.
ReplyDeleteWell, I'm not sure if this counts as a charity but my first choice would be to give the money to my local church, which is a churchplant and could use the funds! But if that didn't count, I think I'd want the money to go Int'l Justice Mission. I love what they are doing around the world!
ReplyDeleteI just read about Shiloh Shelter on Nicole's blog and really love what I read so I would want to donate it to them. I love that all of the money would go directly to this cause and that the cause is saving little girls who were born into a world that doesn't love them. Plus, spreading the word of Jesus and giving them the best life possible.
ReplyDeleteSuch good stuff! I would donate to City of Joy Rwanda- a Christian school that teaches children and adults in Rwanda. I really love the preschool b/c local Rwandan leaders choose the poorest children in the community to attend, giving them a chance they may not have had otherwise. Thanks for doing this!! (PS- I am a friend by extension. Lindsey S. is my bff :) I love reading your blog.)
ReplyDeleteI would donate to the Cancer Center at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. There's just something about seeing the faces of those children that pulls at every emotion I have.
ReplyDeleteI would donate to the local Woman's center.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shoutout! You're the best.
I would donate the $350 to our local Crisis Pregnancy Center (a faith-based organization devoted to helping pregnant women). Thanks for such a fun giveaway!
ReplyDeleteI would donate it to my local Women's shelter.
ReplyDeleteI would donate it to two missionary friends who are raising money for their adoption!
ReplyDeletethis is such a great giveaway. I'd donate to our local animal shelter!
ReplyDeleteI´d donate it to help women with breast cancer. :)
ReplyDeleteJenna
What an awesome giveaway! I would love to win, and for that money to go to the American Cancer Society, in honor of my brother-in-law who was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia the day after Christmas last year. He's a fighter, and we're so blessed that he is now in remission!!
ReplyDeleteAmazing giveaway! I would donate to my area's local women's shelter, Alpha House.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful giveaway!! I would give to American Cancer Society, since both -- yes both -- of my parents were diagnosed with (different types of) cancer this year. Cancer sucks!!
ReplyDeleteI would donate my money to Canteen, a charity which supports children and teens with cancer.
ReplyDeleteThis is such a great idea! I love the swag and definitely the charity element- I would have to donate the money to Physicians for Peace. I just love that their mission is to educate... A sort of teach a man to fish philosophy.
ReplyDeleteSo awesome! I would donate to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta Foundation because I had a sister who passed from this disease.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway!! I'd donate to Appalachia Service Project.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic giveaway. I just found your blog when I googled life planner alternative. I would donate to the Boys and Girls Club. I used to work for one in my area and love what they stand for and all that we did with the kids for such a small cost to their parents for after school care.
ReplyDeleteI love this giveaway!! I'd donate to Meals on Wheels.
ReplyDeleteThe YWCA in Columbus :)
ReplyDeleteI would donate to the CureSearch Walk that is in memory of my little friend, Nick Ferris, who died at age 8 from a brain tumor.
ReplyDeletewhat a great giveway!
ReplyDeleteI would give to the salvation army in winston salem, nc. i heard on the news that they were getting a lot less donations this year than they need. i worked at a salvation army camp for two summers in california so I am a fan of their work.
I would donate to ReImagine Haiti. An organization working with families in rural Haiti.
ReplyDeleteGreat giveaway! I would donate to my local animal shelter, The Etowah Valley Humane Society.
ReplyDeleteI would go with Freedom Firm for the $350 donation. They do great work finding and rescuing women in India who have been sold into the sex industry. Then they prosecute the people who put them there. And if that's not enough, they do a great job of helping the rescued women find a place in society again after all they've been through--from jobs to group homes with counseling and people who understand what they've been through.
ReplyDeleteThis is awesome! I would donate the $350 to Feed My Starving Children.
ReplyDeleteMake A Wish. I love the wonderful work they do to make kid's wishes come true.
ReplyDeleteWhat a great giveaway! I would donate to Green Oaks School, which is a private school for individuals with Down syndome and similar developmental disabilities.
ReplyDeleteWe try to do most of our holiday donations to the Ronald McDonald house. We've personally had the blessing of using their houses and it such a great ministry to families in difficult times of having their child in the hospital.
ReplyDeleteWhat an awesome giveaway! I would donate to the American Cancer Society in honor of my best friend's mom who is fighting cancer.
ReplyDeleteHabitat for Humanity.
ReplyDeleteStella's House!
ReplyDelete