Monday, October 1, 2012

A Happy Birthday Giveaway!

It's that time of year again-- it's my birthday today. The calendar has rolled over again all too quickly, but I'm not complaining (much) because I have so much for which to celebrate!

44 years strong. :)
First and foremost, my health. I may not be at the trimmest I've ever been in my life, but I'm more active and fitter than I've probably ever been in my entire life. Biking--sometimes for so many miles that even I can't believe, running, strength training, going to the gym. I eat well and my blood pressure and cholesterol are excellent. I feel great!

Second, I have a wonderful husband with whom I'm still in love. A man who still makes my heart skip a beat and my girl parts sing after more than two decades since our first kiss. TMI but it's true!

I have two beautiful, healthy, amazing daughters who keep me on my toes and may have contributed to a few gray hairs, but I wouldn't want it any other way. It is joy to be a part of their journey from birth to the amazing young women they are becoming. I love them with my whole being.

I have many people in my life who I am lucky to call friends. Friends to whom I know I can turn in times of need and in times of joy.

Lastly, I am grateful for how fortunate I am to have a home, plenty of healthy food and clean water, access to good medical care and the opportunity to live life to the fullest within our means.

I am exceptionally grateful for my life and the people with whom I am lucky to share it. I truly have a lot to celebrate on this birthday and I hope you have the same in your life every day.

In my tradition of celebrating my birthday on my blog, I'm giving away a birthday gift to one lucky person. I'm gifting one lucky winner a one year's subscription to either Everyday Food Magazine or Whole Living Magazine--both my current favorite publications. Note: I am not affiliated in any way with these magazines, Omnimedia, Inc. or their affiliates. I'm merely a fan who wants to share the goodness.

October 2012 issue


I have been a subscriber to Everyday Food Magazine for several years now and look forward to every issue. The recipes are simple, easy and delicious. Each issue contains recipes and food preparation ideas to enhance the daily cooking of both the beginner cook or the experienced home cook.

October 2012 issue



Whole Living magazine is new to me in the last year. Whole Living magazine is a sponsor for the Danskin Triathlon and gifted participants with a complimentary one year subscription to their magazine. My subscription started in the summer of 2011 and I was hooked with the first issue. This magazine is chock full of recipes, nutrition and health news and information, as well as ideas, suggestions and inspiration for living a whole, healthy lifestyle--"body+soul in balance." Many of the recipes are vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free.



To enter my birthday giveaway, all you need to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below and then leave a comment in the comment section below telling me what your favorite autumn comfort food is. Mine is pumpkin anything. :)

Here are the terms and conditions of this giveaway:

  • Giveaway runs from today, October 1, 2012 through Monday, October 8, 2012 at 12:01 am EST. All entries received after the close of the giveaway will be disqualified.
  • You must be 18 years or older to enter.
  • No purchase necessary to win and void where prohibited.
  • Magazine subscriptions can only be gifted to residents of the US. I am willing to work with an international winner, however, with an ebook or a gift purchased of equal or lesser value from thebookdepository.com as long as they deliver to your country.
  • Prize value: US $15
  • Odds of winning are dependent on the number of entries received.
  • One winner will be drawn on October 8, 2012 and notified by email within 48 hours. Winner will have one week from my email to get back to me with their gift choice and mailing address or their gift will be forfeited and a new winner will be chosen.
  • Contact information [email and address] will only be used for the purposes of contacting the winner and prize delivery. Information will not be saved, sold or used for any other purpose.

By entering your name in the Rafflecopter form and in the comment section below, you agree to these terms and conditions.

This is my first time using Rafflecopter, so please bear with me as I learn how to use it.. hopefully it's as easy as all the testimonials say it is. In the meantime, it might be a good idea to subscribe to the comments of this post by email so you're kept in the loop about the giveaway. Thanks!

Good luck!


Note: Special thanks to Donna H. who blogs at Girl Who Reads for her very informative articles about the laws regarding hosting contests and giveaways on blogs. I highly recommend you check them out.

Thursday Bloggiesta Edition
Tips on Thursday: Giveaways a Rafflecopter giveaway


32 comments:

  1. OK, trying this again as Blogger ate my comment!

    Happy Birthday, Christine - and many more to come. I love your 'grateful' list and love that you're celebrating being a healthy you! Also, I am a firm believer in celebrating the entire birthday month - so party on, Birthday Girl :)

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    1. Oops, favorite fall food(s): roasted root veggies (potatoes, carrots, parsnips, turnip, onion)!

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  2. Happy Birthday, Christine! I love your gratitude list and birthday giveaway items.

    My favorite autumn food is homemade applesauce yeast bread made with homemade applesauce using local apples.

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  3. Happy birthday, my friend. I'm so happy your life is full and good.

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  4. Happy birthday!! So glad that you are very, very happy :)

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  5. Chiming in to wish you a wonderful day! Your blog looks gorgeous, you look gorgeous, and you are giving all of the mid-40s ladies who are perhaps a bit too sedentary at times (not that I would know any of those. Ahem.) a bit of inspiration with every tweet and post!

    ps. no contest for me.

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  6. Happy birthday!!! You are one lucky lady with so many wonderful things in your life. Good for you acknowledging them. Hope you have the best birthday month ever!

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  7. Happy birthday to you! So many things to celebrate - I know your family will make it a special day for you.

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  8. Happy birthday, Christine - I hope you have a wonderful day!

    Li

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  9. Well I'm not entering the contest but I NEEDED to say Happy, Happy Birthday, my friend! You look great and you should be very proud of your family and all you've accomplished this past year with your fitness. Many, many birthday hugs to you!

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  10. Happy Birthday Christine! 44 looks very good on you. :)

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  11. Happy Birthday Christine! Hope your day was a good one.

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  12. Your very legal jargon has me concerned about my lazy "if you want it, leave a comment and I'll pick someone" method! ;)

    Happy birthday Christine! Your birthday sounds like it was a great day and you certainly have many things to smile about. I hadn't planned on entering your giveaway but I'm not sure I can resist the Everyday Food tempting me! Thank you.

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    Replies
    1. Got caught up and forgot about fall comfort. Definitely pumpkin spice lattes from Starbucks. Mmmmmm.

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  13. Happy Birthday Christine!! It's so great to see how happy you are! and you truly deserve it all! :) You're truly living your life to the fullest and it's admirable! You are an admirable woman and I'm so glad you are my friend!!

    Once again, Happy Birthday Christine!

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  14. Happy Birthday fellow October baby :)mine is the 9th. I love birthdays! Your outlook is wonderful, and more woman should share how you feel. Isn't awesome to be so very in love with your husband, maybe even more so than the day you married? My hubs always says, "is it silly we still love each other so?" I tell him absolutely not, and he wonders this because we are mushy and lovey-dovey.

    You look fantastic, your face radiates your happiness :)

    Enjoy your day and may you have so so many more!

    {{{{hugs}}}}

    Paula

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  15. Hello everyone! Thanks for the birthday wishes and very kind words--and double and triple thanks to those of you who greeted me in multiple platforms--here, twitter, instagram, facebook. I really get around, huh?

    Please know that you have to enter my giveaway using the Rafflecopter form at the end of this post. I would hate for anyone to miss out on the chance to win if they overlooked that detail.

    Janet I love roasted veggies too! Don't forget butternut squash, broccoli and cauliflower. Brussels sprouts, too!

    Joy Applesauce yeast bread sounds amazing. And I LOVE preparing foods from homemade ingredients made with local produce! So rewarding.

    Trish I never really gave contest rules much thought other than to make it clear HOW to enter and by when. But after reading Donna's recent posts [links at end of post above], I wondered if I needed to be more careful.

    Pumpkin spice lattes are AWESOME!

    Paula Happy pre-anniversary to you guys. :)

    Thanks again, everyone for the kind words. Just in case I mislead anyone, life is not all butterflies and rainbow perfection around here.. But I DO focus on the good things and when I do that, I see that the most important things in my life are truly wonderful. I hope you see the same in yours. xo

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  16. Happy birthday!!
    You sound like such a happy person and, I hope this isn't too odd to say, but your marriage kind of reminds me of that of my parents (they had their 31st anniversary in August, and they dated 7 years before that), because they still have that thing where they like spending time together, you know?

    I hope this next year is full of all things awesome for you!

    and, to quote paula: {{{{hugs}}}}

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  17. A belated happy birthday to you! Sounds like you enjoyed your day. Your blog looks great, too. You got a lot accomplished.

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  18. Happy happy birthday to a strong and awesome gal!

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  19. Don't enter me! I had thought I'd wished you Happy Birthday, but scrolled through the comments and noticed I was remiss. Happy Belated Birthday, Christine! I hope it was a spectacular day!

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  20. Happy Birthday!!! Here's to being happy and healthy!

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  21. Love your birthday post! Blessings to you on your new year. Belle

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  22. Happy birthday!! I love baking with apples in the fall -- apple crisp here I come!

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  23. Happy birthday! I must say, I love your positive attitude on life!
    Count me in for anything with apples. Cooking with them, making dessetts, etc.

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  24. Hi everyone! Thank you all so much for the wonderful birthday wishes and sweet comments. I had a great birthday WEEK! I ate most of that ice cream cake myself, a bit every day until it was gone. It's a good thing I work out so dang hard---I think I broke even. ;)

    I used Rafflecopter to select a winner and she has been notified!

    Congrats Tina C.!!!

    [She left her answer to the question in the entry form. Although I did ask that a comment be left on the blog as well, it wasn't part of the terms and conditions, so I'm allowing it on technicality. I'll be more clear next time.]

    Thank you all for entering my giveaway! :)

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  25. Thank you SO much! I responded to you via email on my phone and sent the wrong street name. (stupid thumbs on phone keyboard!) I hope you received my correction that I am on Dover road.
    Thank you again - looking forward to the first issue!

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  26. Yes! I got both of your emails. I'll be ordering your subscription today.. Hopefully they'll be quick about it and roll that first issue out to you asap. I'd love for you to get the holiday issues. :)

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  27. A very belated but heartfelt Happy Birthday Christine! I think you look (and are :) AMAZING!

    *hugs*

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  28. Thank you, orannia! I feel great. :)

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