We're doing things a little different. It's a SURPRISE giveaway! There will be 2 winners drawn on September 1st, but you don't know what you are going to win! I promise that it will be handmade by me!
Here's how to enter (don't forget to include your email address!):
MANDATORY ENTRY: Please leave a comment with the following information
1) If you were the winner, who would you like your prize for (age, male/female)
2) Favorite colors
EXTRA ENTRIES: (Will only count if the mandatory entry is complete. Please leave a separate comment for each entry.)
1) Follow this blog publicly via GFC (+1 entry)
2) Follow us on facebook and leave your facebook name (+1 entry)
3) Follow us on twitter and leave your twitter name (+1 entry)
4) Leave a comment with your favorite item from our Etsy shop (+1 entry)
5) Tweet this giveaway and leave link (can be done once daily) (+1 entry daily)
6. Put our blog button on your blog and leave link (+5 entries)
THE FINE PRINT:
Open to residents of US and Canada. Closes 11:59pm PST on August 31, 2011. Random.org will be used to choose the winners who will be notified on September 1st via email. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to the email before another winner is chosen.
Alrighty, it's about time I blog and share about our Relay for Life event that was last Saturday! If you're a facebook fan, you saw some pictures in our photo albums.
Here's the story:
Friday 2pm - Show up to begin set up. My SIL, oldest daughter and I set up our 2 canopies and large table as well as the easel. It was the 1st year we set up early and considering how long it still took to set up everything on Saturday, it was good that we had that head start.
Saturday 8:30ish am - We finally make it to finish setting up. My goal had been 8am, but we had company until later on Friday night so didn't get to bed until 1am. When you're planning on staying up for 24 hours at Relay, it's best to get more than 6 hours of sleep the night before. :o) I'll be honest in that I was stressing a wee bit about getting everything set up. It wasn't going as fast as I had it in my head and it had rained the night before so there was some drying out to be done, but we did it and it all turned out great!
Our campsite after set up at the beginning of Relay
Highlights:
My 15yo walked 15 miles! One mile for each year! She didn't plan it that way and had no intention of walking that much, but wanted to beat her Aunt (who clocked in an impressive 10 miles herself!) and then was in the groove.
Frito Lay Team who handed out free snacks all day and NIGHT! I know because for each lap my 15yo did, she grabbed more praline pecans. She now has enough to last her through next school year!
Silent Auction where we made a whopping $341! Thanks so much to our sponsors for that! It helped so much that we're just $216 away from our goal of $1500!
Bounce and Battle for $10 all day bounce bracelets. My 5yo, 10yo and 12yo were highly entertained and used up so much energy!
Luminaria ceremony. It's just so touching to see all those lit luminarias!
One of our main reasons for Relaying!
After the Luminaria Ceremony my kids started dropping like flies. The 5yo gave a valiant effort to stay awake, but crashed by the end of the ceremony. She slept in the little tent with Daddy. My SIL (who never ceases to amaze me!) slept with 2 camp chairs put together. The 12yo was next followed by the 10yo who were "resting their eyes" on the sleeping bags on the ground.
Beks and I took the night shift. We alternated walking (ok I alternated, she was still going for 15mi!) and resting. At 5am we judged the theme lap costumes. At 6am, the umbrella lap started and with that came the RAIN! It deserves all caps because it would end up being a record rainfall for the date!
See this green tarp. My wonderful hubby thought to put this up the day before in case of rain or sun. I'm so glad he did! Although, see that child on the end? When the water pooled on top of the tarp, we lifted it up to move the water off and created a waterfall which landed on said child. I always wondered what it would be like to wake someone up by throwing a bucket of cold water on them. I now know and it's not pretty! :o)
Anyway, a little rain didn't dampen our Relay spirit and at 6:30am I joined a small group on the track for Zumba. It was so much fun to say I did Zumba in the rain! My hubby took some video. Enjoy!
We started to pack up the smaller items as our campsite was starting to resemble a lake and the 3 younger kids were still so tired. We decided they could go home in the 1st round and go back to sleep.
Our campsite on Sunday Morning after the rain began!
These are some of the Luminarias after the rain got to them. I think it's a great symbolization of how cancer can get us down for a little while, but we'll never give up. Some of these luminaria's candles were still burning even after all that rain!
We proceeded to our closing ceremony and final lap where we released balloons that carried our pledges to continue to Relay to fight cancer!
It was a great Relay event and we're already planning for next year!
I still haven't decided what July's giveaway will be, but I have decided that since it is so late in the month I will be combining July and August and will be giving away 2 items! So, look for the giveaway to be posted by the end of this weekend!
Isn't that awesome?!?!?! All told, the value for all 4 silent auction items is over $850!!!
If you're local to our Relay you might want to stop by and bid on some great items! Silent Auction is from 6pm to 8pm on 7/16!
Now to our Gift Basket drawings total value! The gift baskets are all packaged up and ready for Relay day on Saturday. Thanks to our wonderful donors our gift baskets are worth over $840!!!!! Whew! Now on to Relay where we plan on selling those drawing tickets for all we're worth!!!!
I won my choice of owl plushie and owl crinkle toy from Malissa of Lil' Bundle of Joy. These owls are so cute you just want to hug them and play with them. And let's face it if I, as a 35yo woman, can't quit playing with the crinkle toy, I'm pretty sure it will hold the baby's attention!
Aren't these just the cutest? Reasonably priced and perfect for your little one or for a baby shower!!!!
I won an item of my choice from Maly of Maly Creations. I chose a beautiful yellow embroidered silk handbag. When I told Maly I'd be donating it, she immediately offered to send even more items! Let me tell you, when I opened the box that came I was overwhelmed! Such variety and craftsmanship all in one location...my living room table! I'm still in awe at Maly's generosity!
The purse that began it all! Isn't it gorgeous? Sorry for the bad pics, weather is not cooperating. Crossing fingers that it will dry out and stay cool for this weekend!
3 Wine Cozies - only in our case for Relay, they'll be sporting bottles of sparkling cider.
This is an organizer bag. You could literally put all your skin care/makeup in this bag, keep it open at home and when you need to go somewhere, close it up with the magnetic snap and then cinch it and you have a very stylish carryall for your items without having to pack or unpack! Could also be used as a diaper bag!
Awesome, sturdy handbag
I love this sling bag!
This is a Gadget Case for your iPods, etc. Love the flower that's stitched on!
I can't say enough about Maly! She carries a wide variety of items and I can tell by the items that I received they are all of extreme quality and durability!
Check out her etsy shop linked above or on her website.
I won a giveaway from Lelanie of Arcoiris by Bundles of Joy and she was so sweet as to send a few little goodies for me. So, I received some hair pretties for me while the lucky folks at Relay will have a chance to win these super cute plush owls!!
And for added fun...these owls flew in from Spain!!!!
You need to check out her shop! She has the most adorable children's clothing and even a few more cute plush owls!
In addition to her shop, you can find out more about Lelanie on her blog!
Kris from Laughing Vixen Lounge contacted me through twitter to see if she could donate to our fundraising efforts. I'll be honest, I first heard about her from a giveaway I was entering to win a piece from her shop. Had I won, it would have been an item I would have kept! So, perhaps it's best that I didn't win and that Kris is so generous because now people at our Relay event have a chance to win one of 3 necklaces that she donated!
2 cute Where the Wild Things Are necklaces
And this awesome Fairy Dust necklace.
You should really check out her store! You can also find out more about her on facebook, twitter and on her blog!
Sandy from Jewels for Hope contacted me after she found out about our fundraising efforts and asked if she could make a necklace for us. I, of course, said yes and when I came home from vacation it was awaiting me. It is GORGEOUS and it blows my mind to think it was handmade just for us!!! This necklace is going to be entered into the silent auction at our Relay event on Saturday. I may have to bid on it myself!
The necklace consists of Swarovski blue and pink crystals, Swarovski pearls, Freshwater Pearls and Crystal Pearls. Half of it is wire wrapped and it is truly stunning! My pictures on a cloudy day do not do it justice!
In addition to visiting her shop, you can find out more about Sandy and Jewels for Hope on facebook and on her blog.
You may have noticed some of the page names have changed. That's because after our Relay for Life event on Saturday, we're hoping to make this blog a more regularly posting blog with theme days.
Sunday Survivor Stories - Cancer Survivor stories
Monday's Mission - Showcasing cancer programs
Tuesday's Team - Other Relay for Life teams
Wednesday Awareness - Cancer awareness
Thursday Thank You - A day set aside to thank our team sponsors
Friday Fun with Raven's Rascals - Could be anything, but it will be fun! :o)
July's giveaway won't be posted until after our Relay event.
Look for it on July 19th!
If you didn't win and cannot live without the cute froggie hat, remember you can always order him! Click here to order yours. 100% of the proceeds is donated to the American Cancer Society!
