Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Blogoversary Giveaway #1



The first of the many books I have for a giveaway for you is Cowboy Christmas by Mary Connealy from Barbour Books. On September 21st, come back to read the first chapter. Review to come soon! A winner of an autographed copy will be chosen on October 18th.

Cowboy Christmas

What is your favorite Christmas memory?

Good luck all! And for the fun of it, after your MANDATORY entry above, any of the following will get you additional entries...

  • Add my blog to your technorati favs (left sidebar)
  • Follow my blog through Google Friend Connect (right sidebar)
  • Follow my blog through Networked Blogs (right sidebar)
  • Subscribe to my blog via Feedburner (right sidebar)
  • Follow me on Twitter (right sidebar)
  • Tweet this giveaway (come back and leave your status link - find this by clicking on your time of tweet)
  • Join my Facebook Fan page
  • Comment on other non-giveaway posts
  • Blog about this giveaway
  • Grab my button and link to my blog (left sidebar)
  • Grab my giveaway button and link to my blog (right sidebar)
Leave an additional comment for each entry.

98 comments:

  1. My favorite Christmas memory...hmmm I'd have to say are all the family dinners we've had over the years! There's always craziness when the family gets together and eats too much food!

    I follow your blog through friend connect

    I grabbed your blog button

    I grabbed the giveaway button!

    I tweeted it! http://twitter.com/steelergirl83/status/3864396824

    I became a fan on Facebook!

    XOXO~ Renee
    steelergirl83(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  2. Congrats on hitting the 2 year mark!! :)

    My favorite Christmas memory is from when I was really little. Most of both sides of our family all met at a local mountain lodge called Troll Hagen (I think). . . I must have been 5 or 6. There were MANY cousins, aunts, uncles, grandparents etc - it was great. There was also LOTS of snow! The adults made us a huge snow slide, we rode intertubes down some huge hills, and we played games as a family. I think it was the only Christmas that had both sides of the family in one area at the same time. My grandma had made sleeping bags for each child, and the girls all got matching pajamas. It was so much fun! It is one of my earliest Christmas memories. LOL - I fell out of bed on that trip and cried so hard many aunts and uncles ended up checking peeking in on us. :)

    ~ Wendi
    wbarker at hotmail.com

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  3. Added on my Technorati Favorites!

    ~ Wendi wbarker at hotmail.com

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  4. I've added your giveaway button on my sidebar and listed your giveaway under my giveaways :)

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  5. Favorite Christmas memory is the "cruciform" light my Dad would put behind the crib. Like a cross in a dome, glowing yellowish red, with a home-made wooden base. I loved it.

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  6. It's very odd, posting lots of comments. All those weird word verifications....

    sdeeth at msn dot com

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  7. My favorite Christmas memory is my brother waking me up early and as we tip-toed down the hallway being so scared we would catch Santa and he would be upset with us for getting up so early. :D

    Okay, I grabbed your button to your blog, I'm now following you through google, twitter, and I became a fan on your facebook page. :)

    sundaisy920@gmail.com

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  8. Good morning everyone.
    Wendi...what about your memory?

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  9. I always play for two Christmas Eve services every year. My favorite memories are attending the second smaller one as a family, then coming home to hot chocolate and watching A Christmas Carol, usually the one starring George C. Scott.

    Congratulations on your Blogoversary, Margaret. I just looked at your "about me" page and saw that we live fairly close together (I live on the south side of Atlanta).

    I have subscribed to your blog through Feedburner, and follow you on Twitter and Facebook.

    Thanks for a fun giveaway!

    cjarvis [at] bellsouth [dot] net

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  10. Hey Mary!! Wendi's memory is the second comment, I think... it's posted through if it had not appeared before, it is there now.

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  11. It seems like family is a constant theme. *grin* My favorite memory, just to share for kicks... is running down the stairs and standing at the double doors to our living room just knowing there were surprises on the other side. Only problem was I had to wait for my three siblings before we could all go in...

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  12. Hey Carol. I know it's summer or the beginning of fall rather, but you just made me want Hot Chocolate! In all my blogging time I had only met two people from GA, one actually down the street. In the last week I have met at least five more. So neat!!

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  13. Christmas memory:

    We had one of those silver Tinsel Christmas trees (Charlie Brown type) we also had a big rotating spot light that changed the color. I remember always shutting off the lights and watching the light change the color of the tree.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I subscribed to your feed.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  15. I'm a new follower to your blog

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I added your anniversary icon to my giveaway list.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  17. I added your main logo to my side bar

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  18. I added your link to my fav. blogs to check "MY BLOG LIST" in my sidebar

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  19. I remember the lights in the dark too.

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  20. I just left a comment on your quilted bag. Oh, how neat. That is so cool.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  21. I followed you through networked blogs.

    Michelle
    m.vasquez[at]grandecom.net

    ReplyDelete
  22. I followed you on google blogger.

    Michelle
    m.vasquez[at]grandecom.net

    ReplyDelete
  23. I put your blog button on my blog.

    Michelle
    m.vasquez[at]grandecom.net

    ReplyDelete
  24. I became a fan on your facebook fan page.

    Michelle
    m.vasquez[at]grandecom.net

    ReplyDelete
  25. When I was a kid, my Grandma on my Dad's side loved opening presents as much as us kids. She would whisper and scheme and get me to beg my parents to let us open the packages early. She was so much fun!

    Michelle
    m.vasquez[at]grandecom.net

    ReplyDelete
  26. My favorite Christmas memory is my brother and I waking up at like 4am and sneaking to the top of the stairs and trying to see what Santa left under the tree. Then Mom waking up and telling us it was too early to get up, to go back to bed until 6am! Such torture!

    sphinxcw at aol dot com

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  27. I see Wendi's memory now.
    I love the baby pictures. So sweet.

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  28. Posted for Bonnie:

    I need help. I don't know a Twitter from a tweet from a blog. I don't know how to get them either. It's a monumental accomplishment just to retrieve e-mail. I would love to participate but there is no one who can take me step by step in any process. May I place my favorite Christmas tradition here? I find everything on your website confusing only because I am so IGNORANT of these terms and their definitions. On the off chance that it is permissible to describe my tradition here, I am going to type it here and hope if this is not the correct place, you will forward it, if possible. Thanks.

    My favorite tradition is decorating the Christmas tree with my family. When my children were children and lived at home, it seemed to be the only time my children wanted to spend any length of time with me. I made sure it took all evening. From placing the tree into the stand to detangling the lights wiring, it was all fun. Each year I would carefully wrap all ornaments in tissue paper, so therefore, each ornament had to be unwrapped. Both Anthony and Tracie (my children) would smile and make a comment about the ornament they unwrapped and would place it on the tree. It was a way of keeping their memories in tact as each item was revealed. It was and still is as now my grandchildren unwrap each ornament and discuss what they find inside and ask, "Who made this?" or "Mommy made this, didn't she?" or "Who gave this to you?" Memories are then handed down to be passed along when I go to Heaven. Each of my children do the same with their children. Getting, decorating and disassembling the Christmas tree continues, and I hope, will continue to take place in the homes of generations to come. Included in the decorations is a Nativity Sceen with a makeshift barn with one side open. All characters are in attendance: Mary, Joseph, Baby Jesus, the three wisemen, and even the shephards with their sheep. There's even a goat and a cow! There are a few chips in the plaster pieces, but that doesn't take away from the love story it represents. As children, in the beginning, they used to fight over who got to place the figures in place. It didn't take long for them to divide and share in process. That was alright as long as they were participating and remembering the story, why each person or animal was there and where they might have stood or sat. Regardless of it's lack of straw now, it always has a place of honor near the tree. It is older than I am. It's 31 years old, and I'm 29 (times 2)! Thank you for reminding me again how blessed I am with two children and 5 grandchildren and a loving Savior who fills my soul.

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  29. Hey Bonnie,

    Wanted to let you know I got your comment, and that method is fine too. You're still entered!! I loved doing the Christmas tree decorations more than anyone else. I'm the baby of four, so it seemed when it got old to every one else I kept it going. We own a Christmas tree farm, so my dad or brother would get a tree each year. One year it stayed in the driveway and never got put up. After that I never let that happen again (I was too little then to do anything about it). I make sure that tree gets put up and decorate it. It has kinda become a game, for the last few years I lived at home, and then in the years since. I go back home at a time when nobody is home for a couple hours or so, blast the Christmas tunes and decorate the whole house with Christmas flare including the tree. Whenever others get home (now just my parents) they are always amazed and proud.

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  30. Michelle that's precious.

    Sphinx I feel your pain. :)

    Thanks for the commentary love Abi.

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  31. I have a lot of favorite memories! Last year was one of my favorite Christmas's ever though because it was the first with my son. We cut down our own tree and made a nice fire Christmas morning - those are going to be annual traditions for sure. Thanks for the chance! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

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  32. I follow through Google Friend Connect - alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  33. I follow you on twitter - I'm alicedemske - thanks! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  34. I have your button at www.alicedemskehansen.blogspot.com - thanks! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I have your giveaway button at www.alicedemskehansen.blogspot.com - thanks! alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

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  36. I subscribe via google reader - alicedemskehansen at gmail.com

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  37. My favorite Christmas memory is Christmas caroling with my family.

    writer_weaver at yahoo dot com

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  38. I truly love Christmas. I carry it in my heart all year long. My Christmas memories are wonderful! The most precious memory of all is being "the one" who always went with my grandfather on the Sunday before Christmas to pick out the Christmas tree. What an honor!
    gcwhiskas at aol dot com

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  39. Hello! I am a new FeedBurner email subscriber. gcwhiskas at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Nice to be here! I am a new Google follower. gcwhiskas at aol dot com

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  41. +1 My favorite Christmas was the one I got to spend with my Grandmother!
    She is an awesome women and I love her so much!

    +1 I follow through Google Friend connect

    +1 I subscribe through Feedburner

    +1 blogged about this on my blog dancealertreads.blogspot.com

    +1 I emailed the notice to my friend Cindy, dutchlvr1 at aol dot com hopefully she'll come and post.

    +1 I read the story about the bridge ran by the Mormons across the Colorado river in the Grand Canyon, and the fighting that went on. Never knew about that.

    +1 would love to own the Amish Cookbook. I've read a story I'm sure that had Wanda Brunstedter in it. I read quite a few that are about the Amish.

    +1 Congratulations on the addition to your family!!!!

    dancealert at aol dot com

    dancealert at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  42. My grandparents came out to Australia from England in the early 60s, so they brought with them quite a few traditions. One of my favorites is the Chocolate Log. It's a chocolate sponge roll covered in milk and/or dark chocolate and dusted with icing sugar. We used to have little plastic robins that got put on the log. Papa (my grandfather) was always the one to decorate it. He taught me, and now it's my task to make it each Christmas. Traditionally we don't eat any of it until Boxing Day. Sadly, the robins disappeared when my Nanna moved out of her cottage into a nursing home.

    I love Mary's books and can't wait to read this one.

    And I am following this blog as a Google Follower.

    ReplyDelete
  43. I've popped your giveaway button on my blog!

    ReplyDelete
  44. I posted a entry about your giveaway on my blog page.

    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

    ReplyDelete
  45. One of my favorite Christmas memories was going to my great-grandparents house on Christmas Eve. Santa would drop in and bring each of us an orange.

    rsgrandinetti@yahoo(DOt)com

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  46. Alice - I think I can relate to that (we had our Christmas tree farm tradition) and now this year will be my first with my daughter. I'm really looking forward to it!

    Anna W - Did you go a special place or sing special songs??

    Virgina - That does sound fabulous!

    Brenda - What was it about spending Christmas with your Grandmother? Was there a specific memory?

    Beth - That sounds fabulous!

    Renee - The orange sounds so traditional of old times. I love that.

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  47. When I was just a little girl, I still do not know who it was to this day, but a guy dressed as Santa used to walk up the road every Christmas Eve around 9pm and wave at us looking at him through the window!
    I used to get so excited at that time as I didn't know any better, and it filled my heart with love and excitement!
    I am the youngest of 6, and my older brother's and sister's would get me all pumped up waiting for Santa!! The Christmas tree was all lit up in the dark, and I eagerly anticipated Santa's arrival sitting on the back of the couch looking out at the light snowfall, it was so exciting and beautiful!!
    I still wish those days existed!

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  48. Follow your blog through Google Friend Connect

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  49. Follow your blog through Networked Blogs

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  50. Subscribed to your blog via Feedburner

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  51. tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/coolcanucks/status/3903295284

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  52. Joined your Facebook Fan page!
    (Heather Clouston-Diotte)

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  53. I own CoolCanucks.ca, which is a Canadian Contest and Freebie site. This giveaway is posted here:

    http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/22222-creative-madness-cowboy-christmas-mary-connealy-book-giveaway-oct18-canada

    roxxyroller(at)hotmail(dot)com

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/

    ReplyDelete
  54. I just joined the newsletter so please add me in the drawing again.


    mamat2730(at)charter(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  55. I became a fan on facebook!

    I subscribed by email

    dancealert at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  56. I would love to win! I'm a big fan of Mary's books! My favorite memory is waking up on Christmas morning and eating cinnamon rolls.
    ~Carman
    booklovercb[at]yahoo[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  57. One Christmas all I wanted was a Chatty Cathy Doll. I knew my dad was working two jobs to support our family and that is why I only asked for this special doll. I will never forget getting up before dawn and seeing Chatty Kathy standing right in front of the Christmas tree for me to see. Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  58. You are added to my favorites on Technorati!
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I follow you via Google Friend Connect.
    Again, many thanks.....Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Also, I follow you through Networked
    Blogs.....Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  61. I also follow your blog via Feedburner.
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  62. I follow you on Twitter!
    Many thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  63. "Tweet!"
    http://twitter.com/cmh512/status/3963261208.
    Thank you.....Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  64. I am a fan of your Facebook Page!
    Thanks, Cindi
    jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  65. My favorite christmas memory is an every year one when I was a child. We would always go spend it at my grandparents, waking up xmas morning to open gifts. Followed by family arriving and a great big dinner later on. I miss those days



    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  66. I follow on google friend connect


    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  67. tweeted

    http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/3964788031

    Canadian Contests, Freebies, Coupons, Deals, Games and Chat - join us at http://forum.coolcanucks.ca/


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  68. Taking my kids to their first Christmas lights show two years ago. Seeing the wonder and excitement on their faces really made it extra special for me.

    cherierj(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  69. I am a follower on Google Friend Connect.

    ReplyDelete
  70. My favorite Christmas memory would have to be one that happened a few weeks before Christmas. My Birthday is December 5th and we usually get the tree that weekend my birthday falls on. Well, my aunt, mom and sister were begging my dad at 9:30 p.m. to go get the Christmas tree. We really wanted to decorate it and the house. We begged him for thirty minutes. (Let's not forget that the tree place closed at 10:30) He got so frustrated with us that he said. "I'm not going to go get you a twistma twee!" We all bust out laughing. Needless to say, he went out the door five minutes later to go get one. So every year we go get our twistmas twee and laugh about my dad's blunder.

    I already follow your blog and I am a fan on facebook.

    ReplyDelete
  71. Favorite Christmas memory? Gosh, that's a hard one..I don't think I have one specific memory, I think it's probably just the excitement of the decorating and selecting gifts that leads up to Christmas along with the baking cookies and just eating a big meal and being with my family on Christmas day.

    urbanxtacy @ yahoo . com

    ReplyDelete
  72. My favorite Christmas memory is the one where I got a My Little Pony house and my oldest brother played along! I loved it, because those times were rare!

    ReplyDelete
  73. Following you on twitter. Here's my profile:
    http://twitter.com/mymadakaja

    ReplyDelete
  74. I've tweeted it here:
    http://twitter.com/mymadakaja/status/4091759953

    Thanks for sharing how to find the link for a status update!!

    ReplyDelete
  75. Facebook Fan now! Here's my profile:
    http://www.facebook.com/tami.qualls?ref=name

    ReplyDelete
  76. My favorite Christmas memory is the one year when my family and I didn't have any real plans. We attended a Christmas play at a local church, then drove aimlessly around the town, stopping by at any stores that were open. Though it wasn't the most exciting Christmas ever, we did get to spend a lot of time together, just laughing and relaxing.

    ReplyDelete
  77. Tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/dzhu19/status/4106082148

    ReplyDelete
  78. Family dinners on Christmas.

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  79. Christmas is definitely my favorite holiday! My favorite memory is from when I was about 8 or 9. My mom and grandparents thought it would be really funny if they wrapped up a bunch of rocks as presents from Santa to me. Then every time it was my turn to open one, that was what I got! After doing this several times with them all laughing, and my sisters opening real presents, I think I started to cry. LOL! Eventually, they gave me all my real presents and I was a very smiley little girl. I received some of the best presents ever that year! I can no longer remember why they pulled this lil ruse on me, but the memory of it happening sure has stuck with me over all of these years! Every time I think about it, I chuckle. I miss those days :)

    Happy Blogoversary to ya! Thanks for all the wonderful giveaways!

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  80. I Added your blog to my technorati favs

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  81. I follow your blog through Google Friend Connect!

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  82. I follow your blog through Networked Blogs!

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  83. I follow on twitter!

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  84. I tweeted!

    http://twitter.com/Sparkleglow/status/4176313717

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  85. friend/fan on Facebook

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  86. I have your event button!

    imsosweepy { at } gmail { dot } com

    ReplyDelete
  87. Attending midnight mass when the children were little and visiting the crib in church is a wonderful memory as children are now all grown up!

    Mystica


    mystica123athotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  88. Take my entries out of the drawing for Cowboy Christmas. I actually won a copy off Mary's blog and I can't wait to read it!

    Blessings!
    Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  89. My favorite Christmas was when I was wanted the Barbie Western Motor-home. I was telling my older cousin all about it at Christmas dinner and how much I wanted it. When presents came to be distributed at Nana's, I didn't get one. I mentioned something to Nana and she said, "Oh! that big one there is for you." We all had to unwrap out presents at the same time, and I 'll never forget how excited I was when I peeled that wrapping paper off and saw the Barbie Western Motor-home. Nana even came over the next day and helped me sticker all the pieces.
    I know it's a selfish story but that was one of my favorite ones:)

    ReplyDelete

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