And we have a winner...

Thank you to everyone for entering this year's annual giveaway! I usually use a computer generated RandomNamePicker, but I've decided to do my drawings manually from now on. I just feel like the computer tends to pick the same people all the time. So... I put all of the names in a bowl and let my daughter close her eyes and pick one. 

And the name Lyndsey selected is...

RHONDA!

Congratulations, Rhonda! Your Amazon gift card is making it's way to your inbox!

Don't forget to come back tomorrow, when I start the 12 BOOKS OF CHRISTMAS GIVEAWAY!

12 books...12 winners...you won't want to miss it!

Annual Subscriber Monday Giveaway!

So who braved WalMart and the mall on Friday? If you did, I applaud you! 
 
Remember when we used to have to wait until Thanksgiving morning to go through the ads and make our shopping lists? These days, ads are available online well before Black Friday, and the deals start way earlier, too! In a way, that makes me sad because it takes away from the excitement and anticipation. But, as a love-to-plan-aheader, I love it. I got some fabulous deals on Thanksgiving day. On Black Friday, I avoided the crowds and stayed home in my jammies to deck my halls.

And today is Cyber Monday, when the online deals are supposed to be REALLY good. I'm sure there will be a few hard-to-pass-up sales, but many are probably prices that were probably offered last week and/or will be offered again in the next couple of weeks. But, hey. I don't want to put a damper on your shopping experience. I hope you find that perfect bargain!

So for the past few years, I've featured a great giveaway on Thanksgiving weekend, which I've held either as a FAITHFUL FOLLOWERS FRIDAY GIVEAWAY on Black Friday or A SUBSCRIBER MONDAY GIVEAWAY on Cyber Monday. It's my way of saying THANK YOU for taking the time to visit me throughout the year, and even indulge me once in a while with your comments. Since everyone loves gift cards, I'm offering that again as the prize this year. Choose between one of the following:

1. $20 Amazon gift card
2. $20 Christian Book Distributors.com gift card
3. $20 eBay gift card
4. $20 Barnes and Noble.com gift card 
5. $20 FamilyChristian.com gift card

Simply leave a comment letting me know which gift card you would choose, and don't forget to include your email address so I can get in touch with you if you're the winner. I will be randomly selecting a winner from all comments next Monday, December 3.

RULES SCHMULES

*You MUST be a follower or a subscriber to be eligible. If you're not yet a follower, no problem! Just click on "Follow" (over there to the right) and you'll be automatically qualified. Then leave your comment.

*You MUST tell me which ONE PRIZE you would choose. None mentioned? More than one mentioned? No entry.

*You MUST leave a valid email address so I can contact you if you're the winner. No email? No win.

Winner will be selected at random using RandomLinePicker, from all entries received. Gift card will be sent electronically. Deadline to enter: 5:00 AM on Monday, December 3 (I get up early and plan to do the drawing first thing in the morning).

Let me just say again how much I truly appreciate you for reading my blog. I wish I could send every one of you a gift card (but my husband would kill me).

OK. That's it! Go ahead and leave your comment.

 

 

Looking ahead...I'll be offering a great 12 DAYS OF BOOKS GIVEAWAY. There will be 12 books and 12 winners! Just in time for Christmas! Be sure to watch for it!

And the $15 Amazon.com Gift Card Goes to...

Thanks to everyone who took the time to comment about how wonderful I am! If I didn't appreciate my friends before, I certainly do now! You guys rock!

So this morning I wrote every name down on a square of paper and stood by while my 11-year-old daughter closed her eyes and selected a winner. And just let me say that - yawn - she sure did take her sweet old time - almost enough for me to whistle the whole Jeopardy tune.

Anyway, I am thrilled to announce that the winner of the $15 Amazon.com gift card is...


JULIE ARDUINI!

Woo-Hoo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats to Julie - your gift card will be arriving in your email inbox very soon. Hopefully this helped to make your Monday a little bit less Monday-ish.

And thanks again to everyone who entered. Keep an eye out for more contests in 2009!

Have a blessed week!

Subscriber Monday!

So who is taking advantage of CYBER MONDAY and all the great deals that come with it? Strangely, I had never heard of Cyber Monday, even though the term has supposedly been around since 2005 and I have been online for a lot longer than that! Guess I wasn't paying attention! Or maybe Cyber Monday is just getting more press these days. Regardless, it's fun, isn't it? Any excuse to shop works for me!

Three days ago on Black Friday, my friend, Julie Arduini, featured a poem on her blog that I wrote last year about the ominous Friday Shoppy Frenzy. Oddly, even never having heard of Cyber Monday, it ties in. Here's the link if you'd like to read it: TWAS THE MORN AFTER THANKSGIVING.

Anyway, just now, as I was finishing up my order with Amazon.com, I realized it has been a whole week since I've posted and started thinking about how I could tie in Cyber Monday with my blog. Well, as you can see from my title, I've come up with something.

Today, on my blog anyway, it's SUBSCRIBER MONDAY!

What exactly IS Subscriber Monday? I'm glad you asked.

I would like to give something back to you for reading my blog. Many of you regularly visit and spend your precious and valuable time reading my ramblings and sometimes even commenting! This makes me feel special, so I want to do something special for you. Well, ONE of you, anyway.

All you need to do is post a comment, telling me how wonderful I am. Then, in one week (December 8), I will randomly select one person to receive a $15 Amazon.com gift card. If you can't think of any ways I'm wonderful, feel free to say it's because I'm giving away a $15 Amazon.com gift card. And no, you don't actually have to BE a subscriber to enter. Visitor Monday just doesn't have the same ring to it, you know?

And that's all there is to it!

Seriously, THANK YOU for joining me on my track to publication. I DO appreciate you! I know $15 isn't much, but it should at least buy you a book. Who knows? Next year it may even be MY book!

Stay tuned...