Saturday, October 1, 2011

A Happy Birthday Giveaway!

It feels like I just celebrated one of these, but here I am again! Wow, time sure flies when you're having fun. ;)

This first thing I did this year to celebrate my birthday was run in a 5K race. What a nice way to celebrate life, right? The best part--I ran the 5K in 30:02 minutes--my new personal best! Whaoo!

It was like a surprise birthday gift to myself! : )

The rest of the day was spent at home hanging out and relaxing with my husband and daughters and ended with a warm apple pastry, vanilla ice cream and a mug of my favorite herbal tea.

In the spirit of celebration and per my annual birthday tradition, I'm giving away a "birthday gift" to ONE lucky winner on my blog.

This year's "birthday gift" includes two of my favorite things-- a book [winner's choice ebook or paper book--mass market, trade or comparable priced hardcover] and a bar of dark chocolate with caramel with Hawaiian sea salt from Trader Joe's.* [It's SOoooo good!]

You're going to want to enter just for the chocolate bar. It's out of this world.

To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment below telling me how you like to celebrate your birthday.

Giveaway ends on Saturday, October 8, 2011 EST and the winner has one week to claim prize before I'll give it away to someone else.

Please also include your email address if it's not easily found on your profile or web page.

Open to everyone, but international winner*, if chosen, will receive book of their choice per the guidelines above and shipped from The Book Depository ONLY. Thanks for understanding.

Good luck!

19 comments:

  1. I'm in awe of you1 Congrats both for your birthday and your new personal record!
    I don't think I could run ONE Km in 30 minutes. LOL

    and awesome giveaway!!
    I rarely do celebrate my own birthday though, for I was born on Dec 31st, and everyone is always more concerned with New Year celebration than my birthday. So I'm usually happy if my parents take me out for waffle breakfast and don't bug me too much to help with the food prep for dinner :D

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  2. Happy Birthday and congrats on running your personal best.

    I normally celebrate my birthday alone, so splurge on my dinner.

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  3. Wow!!! How awesome is that?
    My birthday is always spent with my kiddos and hubby, as well. It's my favorite thing to do. We also spend time with my in-laws where I get to half out with my nieces & nephews.it's wonderful!
    Happy birthday my dear!

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  4. It sounds like you had a very enjoyable birthday.

    I like to celebrate my birthday quietly at home. Ice cream cakes are a tradition in my family.
    helpersarah2009@gmail.com

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  5. Happy Birthday!!

    I like to celebrate with time alone. I'm sure this will eventually change, but quiet is so beautiful to me right now!

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  6. Happy Birthday Christine!

    Your question is quite hard this time, because my next birthday will be the big 3 and 0. I've been thinking about whether I should throw a big celebration or not. Big meaning that I would probably ask a few friends to come over instead of just celebrating it together with my husband. Let's see. It's in January :)

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  7. Thanks for the birthday wishes. :)

    Alex :: Stop selling yourself short. I'm SURE you could run ONE Km in 30 minutes! Pfft! :P

    Yikes! Your birthday date is a tough one! One of my dear friend's birthday is on Dec. 24. I'm sure she can relate.

    I love waffles for breakfast, too! yum! With strawberries, whipped cream and real maple syrup. Mmmm Talk about sugar overload! lol

    Dru Ann :: Well the next time your birthday falls on a weekend, you should make a point of inviting friends or family from out of town into the city for lunch or something to make it special. :)

    Gina :: It is very awesome! :) I can't wait for the next one so I can shoot for under 30min!

    Your family celebration sounds nice! ... and maybe noisy. lol

    Sarah :: Ice cream cake is one of my favorites, too! My dessert last night wasn't our typical birthday cake, but my teen was babysitting last night, so the celebration sort of fizzled without her home with us.

    Lisa :: I understand alone time being a gift for you! Little ones can be so demanding. And noisy. LOL.

    Maija :: Ooooo the big 3 0. You should definitely have friends over to celebrate with you--even if it's just for appetizers, drinks and cake! I haven't had many parties for my birthday over the years, but I did have one at 30 and one at 40. For my 30th, we invited a handful of friends over for the evening. For my 40th, my husband gave me a surprise party at a restaurant for dinner--again with a handful of friends. Both parties were really nice and very memorable. : )

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  8. A very happy belated birthday to you Christine! And congrats on the results of your 5K. I'm impressed at how far you've come since you started this fitness journey.

    Now that I've celebrated over 50 birthdays, they just aren't that exciting anymore, lol. If it's a weekday, I'll take a vacation day and make sure someone takes me out for dinner :-)

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  9. Happy belated birthday, Christine! So glad you had the celebration you wanted. Congrats on your 5K run, too!

    I'm not entering the contest, thank you, so not telling how or if I celebrate my birthdays. LOL!

    XOXO!

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  10. Phyl :: Thanks for the congrats. Remember when I posted about joining that running class? Hard to believe that was only two years ago!!

    I know what you mean about birthdays not being too exciting anymore.. but it is nice to be at least a little spoiled on our special day. :)

    Hilcia :: LOLOL! Even if YOU don't feel like acknowledging the new number every year, you still deserve a little something special on that day. xo

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  11. I wished you Happy Birthday earlier. *g* I hope you had a fabulous weekend. You are an awesome person, lovely (and lively) both inside and out. I wish the absolute best for you this year!

    As for how I celebrate? My kids and hubs make me cards. The day goes on as if a regular day, but there is cake after dinner! Yum, love cake. *g*

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  12. Happy belated birthday, Christine!! and Woohooo, personal best! That's awesome! :)Seriously, 5K in 30 minutes... awesome.

    LOL, I usually celebrate my birthday in a lazy fashion. Food with family and friends :)

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  13. WTG my friend!! And a happy b'day. I'm an October baby, the 9th is mine. I don't know if I'll ever see the day that I can run that far, I have to convince myself I won't die if my heart beats to fast ;)

    Paula

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  14. Happy Birthday honey! I hope you had a great day!

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  15. AWESOME!!!!! First off, Happy Birthday...a little late I'm sure...and congrats on running a 5K in your best time so far! I'm amazed. 30 minutes? I'm sure I would do it in about...oh...10 hours with all the breaks I'd have to take. :-P Don't worry about signing me up for this awesome giveaway but good luck to the other sign-ups! :-)

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  16. Brandy :: Thanks for the DOUBLE Happy Birthday wishes --facebook and here--and for saying such sweet things about me. xo I love homemade cards from my family, too! They're the BEST.

    nath :: Thanks!! I am so psyched about my new personal best. Hoping to run my next 5K race UNDER 30 minutes! Lazy birthdays with food, family and friends is awesome. I like that too. I mean, aside from the 30 minutes of not so lazy ... the rest of it was lazy. LOL!

    Paula :: Thank you for the bday wishes! And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you as well--two days early. ; )

    Tracy :: Thanks! I had a very nice birthday weekend.

    Deeana :: Thanks for the birthday wishes. You aren't late for the wishes OR the giveaway! Haha You are exaggerating! I'm sure you could run a 5k in close to 30 minutes. Even runners who take walking breaks finish within 35-40 minutes tops.

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  17. happy birthday
    whoo congrats ont he run
    i usually eat an d drink on my bday lol an dhang with great firends
    thanks fro the giveaway

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  18. A very, very late Happy Birthday!!! It sounds like you spent it doing what you love, which is the best way to spend a birthday. Here's to many more. :)

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