Giveaway: Dark Sisters, presented by the Pittsburgh Opera

Loyal readers of this blog know that I have not posted much lately, and I have not done a giveaway in forever, but this week presented an opportunity that I could not wait to share!

Have you ever become totally fascinated with a topic?  I do not mean merely interested, I mean fascinated.  You devour every book, movie, documentary, web page, television series, or news article related to the topic.  It consumes your mind during moments of idleness.  You try to immerse yourself in the topic, to experience it from all angles.  This happens to me a lot.  And lately, my fascination has been with polygamy.

About 5 years ago, I stumbled upon a television series that was a fictionalized account of a polygamist family.  I instantly became hooked.  When the series ended, my interest in the topic dropped.  Then a reality show about polygamy became popular, and once again I was hooked.  Only this time, the topic had staying power.  I found myself spending hours searching online about polygamist cultures.  I have read numerous books written by former polygamists, and I have watched several documentaries.  I sought out any type of media on the topic.  The only thing I was missing was something musically oriented.

Which is why I totally geeked out when I learned that the Pittsburgh Opera was presenting Nico Muhly’s opera Dark Sisters.

Exploring issues of suppressed individuality and subservient women’s roles, the opera uses episodes from the media – most recently the 2004 raid on FLDS leader Warren Jeffs’s compound in West Texas – to tell the story of the women’s suffering, and how one woman tries to escape. Premiered in 2012, DARK SISTERS revolves around sister-wife Eliza, who has a profound self-discovery after the world comes to the gates of her family’s complex, run by The Prophet. During an appearance on national television to defend her way of life, Eliza makes a dramatic confession, and her world falls into chaos. Resolving to make her own way in the world, she faces the consequences of leaving everything she has ever known.

Doesn't that sound amazing?  I learned that this particular opera often sells out, so I really doubted I would get to see the chance to see it.    So when the Pittsburgh Opera presented me with a chance to see the show and review it, I was ecstatic.  When I found out I was also going to be able to giveaway 2 tickets for my readers to see the opera, I was over the moon.

This is a wonderful opportunity to experience opera.  This is a modern opera, sung in English.

Entry to the giveaway is easy, using the form below.  I simply want to know, what topic fascinates you?

Additional entries are also available.  Participants must be 18 or older.  Tickets will be available at will-call with photo ID. The performance is at 8 PM on Friday, January 31 at the CAPA Theater, 111 Ft. Duquesne Blvd. Winner will be notified Wednesday January 29 via email.

What are you waiting for?  Enter now!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

And the Winner is....

I am pleased to announce that the winner of the Blogfest 2012 giveaway is...

Cassandra!

Your $15 Gift Certificate for Tea Forte will be on it's way!

Blogfest 2012- Tea Forte Gift Certificate

For several years now, I have participated in an annual blogfest, where tons of blogs come together and giveaway great prizes.  And now, it is time for Blogfest 2012!

Lately, I have really been trying to reduce my caffeine intake.  As a tried and true coffee lover, this is proving difficult, as I love my hot warm mugs on cool autumn mornings.  The solution?  TEA!

I love all kinds of tea, fruit teas, herbal teas, flavored teas.  Just this week I have had blackberry vanilla, pumpkin spice, and rooibos.  Some of my teas even have healing properties.  That is how I came to learn about Tea Forte.  I received a sample of one of their skin smart teas, and I have been a big fan ever since.  And now, I get to share my newfound love of tea with all of you.

One lucky winner will be getting a $15 gift certificate for Tea Forte.  You can order online at their website using this gift certificate.  This giveaway is open to all US residents, and will end on September 30th at 11:59 pm.  All you need to do to enter is fill out the form below.Additional entries may be obtained by following me on several social media sites, and spreading word of this giveaway on social media. Here are links to my various social media sites:

Facebook

Twitter

Pinterest

To enter, fill out this form:

 
Make sure to visit the next blogs on the list!

Midnight Thrillers 
Notorious Spinks Talks Books 
Mochas, Mysteries and More
My Little Pocketbooks
Mocha Girls Read

And be sure to see the main Blogfest site and list of all blogs participating at A Journey of Books.

Sorry for my absence!

My dear blog friends, I know it has been quite a while since I have posted anything.  I am so sorry, but I have been so busy.  Besides preparing for Christmas, and spending quality time with Hubby, I have been wrapped up in a project.

At the beginning of 2011 I set a goal for myself over on my book blog.  I vowed to read and review 200 books in 2011.  This seemed easy, until I started working again over the summer, and time just got away from me.  But, I am happy to report that I did in fact meet my goal, and in celebration, I am hosting a giveaway over on my book blog.

The giveaway is open to everyone, and it is super easy to enter!  I really hope you pop on over to the giveaway post and enter, to help me celebrate this accomplishment.

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday, and I promise you will hear more about our holiday soon!

BlogFest 2011 Winners!

I am pleased to announce that the two winners of the goody bags are.....

Linda and Melissa!

Thank you all for entering, I was so pleased by the response, and I absolutely adored reading the comments where you all talked about what you LOVED about your lives.  So much positivity, even in the face of adversity.  It really made me smile reading all the comments.

I am so excited to get to know my new readers, and to share my little town with you all!

BlogFest 2011

 Yes, I am still alive blogosphere.  I have just been super busy with some exciting developments in my life, which I will be writing more about next week.  But, in order to atone for my lack of posts, I have decided to reward you all by participating in BlogFest 2011 and hosting a giveaway.

The giveaway gives me a chance to talk about something I have been wanting to discuss for a while.  The phrase I want to discuss is "just a housewife".

Having worked a full time, corporate America type job the entire time Hubby and I dated, I surprised many people with my decision to stop working once we got married.  The decision was based on what made sense for us as newlyweds, given the fact that we were also settling into a new house, and to us, it made perfect sense.  But since I was not staying at home to raise children, and could not have the title of stay at home mom, I quickly got labeled by many as "just a housewife".  The label was not intended to be nice.

For me, I love being a wife, and taking care of our home.  I love cooking delicious dinners, and baking cakes, and creating all sorts of amazing projects and adventures for us.  I take care of our pets, I have a lot of side projects going on at all times, I have lots of hobbies.  In short, I live an incredibly fulfilling life.  But some people see me as "just a housewife".  I have learned that people who criticize the lives of others generally are dissatisfied with their own.  To those people, you can call me 'just a housewife".  In fact, call me anything you like.  As for me, I simply call myself happy.

To celebrate my status as a happy housewife, I am hosting a giveaway of two goodie bags, suitable for housewives, moms, single ladies, and anyone in between.  It is all about loving your life for where you are.  So, two lucky readers will be getting a bag full of goodies!

Check out the bags:

Each bag includes a t shirt, a journal, a bookmark, a little plaque, a mini pedicure set, lip balm, hand cream, and some cute stickers.

Entering is so simple!  Here are the details:

• In order to win, you must be a follower of my blog and a US resident
• The giveaway is open from 12:01 am July 15th to 11:59 pm July 17th.  Two winners will be chosen on July 18th.  
• Entering is SUPER easy, just leave me a comment below with your name, your email, and telling me how you follow my blog (GFC, Networked Blogs, etc). 
•  Follow me on Twitter and get and extra entry by leaving a second comment with your Twitter name.  
• "Like" me on Facebook and get an extra entry by leaving a third comment with your Facebook name. 
• Leave me a fourth comment telling me what you LOVE about YOUR life and get an extra entry.

 So, you can get up to 4 entries.  Simple right?  RIGHT!  So, best of luck!

BUT...

The fun does not end there.  Check out the following blogs, who are also participating in Blogfest 2011 by sponsoring some great giveaways:

 Taming the Bookshelf

 Teens Read and Write

The Book Garden

The Book Nympho

 The Book Pushers

You can see the full list of blogs participating in Blogfest 2011 at A Journey of Books

Hope you all enjoy Blogfest 2011.  Keep track of all the giveaways you enter here!  Good luck!

I need some advice... UPDATED

Ok friends, I am asking for advice and input on this one.

Over a month ago, I was informed that I won a book contest, and won 3 books.  I was super stoked about it, because one of the books was all funny and cute pictures of dogs.  The contest hostess emailed me requesting my address so that she could "pass it along so they could mail the books".  At the time, I never questioned who the "they" in the statement was, figuring maybe it was Book Depository, or some publishing sponsor sending the books.


This week, I realized I still have not received those books.  I emailed the hostess on Tuesday, letting her know, in case they were lost in the mail.  No response.  I emailed her again yesterday, as well as posted to her facebook fan page (where the contest was announced) and still, no response.

I find this to be poor blogger behavior, to sponsor a giveaway, and not mail the prize, or if the winner alerts you that the prize was never received, to not respond to the winner.

I also had a publisher tell me in April that she was sending me a book, and I never got it.  I emailed her in June about it, and no response.  I now no longer even want the book, but again, I find this to be highly unprofessional.

Have any of you ever had similar things happen?  I do not want to seem irrational to this blog hostess, or like I am nagging, but it annoys me that I take the time to read her blog, enter her contest, and let her know I never received the prize, and she can not have the courtesy to email me back.

What would you do/ have you done in this situation?  Should I give it another week, and email her again, perhaps expressing my disheartened feelings, or do I just let it go?

It angers me, because when bloggers do this stuff, it reflects poorly on us all.  I always ALWAYS send my prizes out same or next day from the winner giving me contact info.  I always respond to emails.  Am I in the minority?

How should I handle this?

Update 7/19/10 I heard from the blogger today.  She had been on vacation (I forget sometimes that not everyone is like Hubby and me, and take laptops on vacation to check our email and FB pages tee hee).  She said the publisher is the one sending the books, and she will touch base with them.  So all is good and she is not to blame at all!  I feel better now!

Thankful for....the Blog Monster

For some time now, people have been reporting trouble with Blogger.  Blogs being deleted, followers disappearing, comments never posting.  I considered myself lucky that I was having no problems.  But today, well, today, the blog monster found me, and ate a bunch of the comments my lovely readers left on all 3 blogs.

But, true to my Thankful For series, I am trying hard to be thankful for this.  It has allowed me to put into perspective what I want my blogs to be about.

Recently, I applied to be a guest reviewer on another blog, and did not get the position.  I was really sad at first, because I thought the product reviews I had done in the past were pretty good, and I know my book review blog is good.  But then I realized, maybe I did not get the reviewer position because product reviews are not what I should be focusing on.  There are plenty of product review blogs out there, and many of them are really great, but many people only read them for the giveaways.  I actually read quite a few, and rarely enter the giveaways unless it is something that I really really want, but I think I am in a minority there. 

If you remember, the whole reason I am writing these blogs is to write the stories of my everyday life, and hope to touch someone else's.  I have made some wonderful friends through blogging, and I want to continue making these types of connections.  I do not think product reviews will help me do that. 

I am also writing these blogs to strengthen my writing skills and develop an audience in the hopes of writing a book.  Again, writing nothing but product reviews will not help me do that.  I will still do occasional reviews, as they do help me strengthen my writing skills in ways that storytelling alone will not, but this will not be the main focus of my blog.  With the book review blog, that actually is strengthening my literary skills, and helping me make connections within the industry, so those will continue regularly.  But as for this blog, well, it is going to continue focusing on my small town life, with an occasional review or giveaway thrown in to spice things up.  I will still do blog hops when I remember, because I love meeting new friends and discovering new blogs.

*hello new friends, sorry your comments got eaten by the blog monster*

As for full time product reviews, I am going to leave those to the bloggers who are already doing it so well.  And rest assured, I do read the reviews and appreciate the work that goes into them, regardless of whether I even enter a giveaway.

So, thank you blog monster, for giving me some perspective.

(don't you love my drawing of him?)

And the winner is...

Happy Friday everyone!

I am very excited to announce the winner of the I Scream, You Scream, We All Scream for ICE CREAM Giveaway!

And the winner is.....

TORRI!!!

Torri is a reader who was originally lived in the area I live in, but has since moved away.  However, she will be back for the July 4th weekend, so I get to deliver her prize in person, how cool is that!

And, because it is Friday, it is now time to hop!

A book blog crossover post

Hello again friends!

I wanted to do a quick crossover post to let you know about a giveaway I am having on Tiffany's Bookshelf that may interest quite a few of my readers.

I recently reviewed three wonderful devotional books, and am giving them away to one lucky reader.  You do not have to follow Tiffany's Bookshelf to enter (though I welcome all new followers!) so this is a great chance to enter to win some wonderful Christian devotionals.

You can check out my review and enter the giveaway here.

I Scream, You Scream, We all Scream for ICE CREAM ! Review and Giveaway!

To me, nothing says summer like ice cream.  I am pretty sure I have mentioned ice cream several times on my blog already.  So, when I was approached by CSN Stores to review a product from one of their 200+ stores, it was no small wonder I chose a product related to, you guessed it, ICE CREAM.

The product I chose for review was called the Chill-It 3 piece set.

The set comes with a marble slab that you put in your freezer, and two metal scoop spatulas, also for chilling, that you use to mix things into your ice cream.  In the past few years, mix-in style ice cream has become popular, and this set helps you recreate the fun at home.  You can mix in fruit, candy, nuts, pretzels, even flavored syrups, to create unique and delicious treats.

First thing first, I was very pleased with how easy the particular website I used, cookware.com, was to navigate.  I was easily able to browse items, select my purchases, and go through the check out process.  The initial confirmation email stated that, with shipping, I could expect my product to arrive around June 15th.  Imagine my surprise when, on June 11th, the box showed up at my door.  I was overjoyed, and impressed with the convenient and speedy service!

I unpacked the items, and was amazed at the beauty and craftsmanship of the marble slab.  It was definitely made to provide a lot of use, and was sturdy.  I washed up the pieces, and set them in my freezer to chill.  Then, it was time to shop for ingredients.  This is the most fun, since the possibilities are endless.  There is even a pamphlet in the set that gives you numerous suggestions for delicious creations.

Hubby had requested a Banana Split concoction, and I wanted to try something different, so I got chocolate/vanilla ice cream, and lots of pre-cut fruit.  Yesterday, after dinner, it was time to try the set out. 

I started by cutting up bananas, strawberries, and pineapple. 

 
Then I scooped out some ice cream and put it on the cold marble slab.  I used the scoop spatulas to flatten it out a little.

The it was time to add the Banana Split mix ins.  I added a little bit of the banana, strawberry, and pineapple on top of the ice cream, and used the spatulas to chop and fold it into the ice cream. 

After it was all mixed up, I scooped it onto a cone for Hubby.

It was a little messy, as the ice cream was slightly soft, but Hubby did not mine.  He immediately deemed it "delicious"!

Next was my turn.  I wanted something a little bit different, so I opted to create the Melon Berry Blast.

First I cut up watermelon, starberries, and blueberries for mix ins.

Then I went through the same process of scooping ice cream onto the slab, flattening, then adding the mix-ins.  Again, I folded and chopped, until my creation was blended.

The result?  Pure perfection!

We were both thrilled with this set and our ice cream treats.  In fact, we used it again tonight, and used graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate pieces to create the Gimme S'More Ice Cream creation.  I can see we are going to get lots of use out of this all summer.  I already have plans for an ice cream social!

I can not say enough great things about CSN stores.  The shopping process was great, the service was prompt and effective, and the product I got was simply fantastic.  In fact, I loved it so much, I got a second set to giveaway to one lucky reader!  That is right, you have a chance to win a Chill-It 3 piece set of your own!

Entering is so easy.  You must answer the mandatory ice cream related question for your entry.  Additional entries are available by following this blog on GFC, Networked Blogs, or RSS feeds, liking Tiffany's Blogs on Facebook, liking CSN Stores on Facebook, following me on Twitter, following CSN Stores on Twitter, blogging about this contest, and tweeting this contest.  Contest ends at 12:01 am EST on June 25th.

So, what are you waiting for?????  Enter NOW by completing this form.