12.06.2011

{inspired} gift guide and a giveaway!

What are you guys wishing for for Christmas? I feel like the older I get, and the more I appreciate what this time of year is TRULY about, the harder it is to make a *Christmas list*. And when it comes right down to it, I would way rather give gifts than receive. Do you guys know what I mean?

Of course, that doesn't actually stop my family from demanding to know what I want for Christmas. It's sweet because they want me to be happy with my gifts. So I did put a little thought into what I'd like. Want to see what I asked for? And, make sure you scroll down to win a little holiday treat for yourselves :).


Top row: Purse, Storage Bins; Middle row: Portland Print (to add to the gallery wall), Schoolroom clock, Graphic Clutch; Bottom row: Black rimmed dishes, Camera bag (I know, so many bags! But, I'm sure you all know, they're a necessity :)

And, that brings me to you guys! One of the things I'm most thankful for this season is YOU. My awesome readers. Thank you for hanging in there with me each week as Chris and I navigate the fun, but sometimes scary and slow, process of turning our house into a home.

I don't really do give-aways here. But I did a give away last December and loved it. So, in the spirit of the season, and to THANK YOU (!) all for the amazing year, I have a little gift to give away: a $50 gift card to Anthropologie*. That way, you can buy yourself a little something sweet this season :).

So, the rules:
What: A $50 Giftcard to Anthropologie

How to enter: Please leave a comment on this post and your email info, and let me know: What is your favorite holiday tradition? OR what is the #1 item on your wishlist.  To double your chances, blog or tweet about this giveaway and leave a second comment.

When: I will announce a winner next Friday, the 16th. 

Have a great weekend friends!


*Anthropologie has NO idea who I am and is not sponsoring this post. I'm just doing this because I like you all!


41 comments:

  1. My favorite holiday tradition is taking a family photo in front of our tree each year. Since it is just my husband, me and our dog (and our fake tree) the photos don't change a whole lot and yet looking back at them I remember all the different places we've lived and what was going on in our lives. (I actually just blogged about these pictures:)

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  2. What a fun post! My favorite Christmas tradition is the Christmas Eve candle light service at Church.

    Merry Christmas Everyone!

    ~ Shannon (sands1198@gmail.com)

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  3. My favorite holiday tradition is making sugar cookies. As I've gotten older I've started collecting cookie cutters and I always look forward to it.

    I love the chevron striped bag!

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  4. Fun giveaway! My favorite holiday tradition right now is going to our friends' bell choir concert. It's just the perfect way to start the holidays.

    On my Christmas list is a new lens for my bloggin' camera. Something I could really use. Other than that I already have everything I need.

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  5. Such a fun giveaway! Yaya for another grat year on the blog:). My #1 thing on my list this year is rain boots. Living in Oregon make them a must-have item!

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  6. My favourite holiday tradition is to have an airing of grievances with my siblings! We get together, celebrate Christmas, tell each other 'grievances' we have with each other over the last year, get it out and adore each other for the rest of the holidays!
    Meagan

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  7. How sweet of you! My favorite tradition just started last year..my 4 + 5 years olds each get a little christmas tree in their rooms. On the weekends when we visit stores to do our holiday shopping they each pick out ornaments for their tree's.. they are sure filling up this year! And they remember where they came from, who we may have been visiting ( grams )so it's alot of fun for them! x Sarah

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  8. What a generous giveaway! What I love about this time of the year and having a young family are the traditions we're starting ourselves. This year we picked out a real tree and the whole family was involved. Don't know if it'll be a yearly tradition (we own a fake tree) but it was a special moment this year:)

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  9. My favorite holiday tradition is making pizzelles with my family. We have made these crisp waffle-like cookies since I was young. My great-grandmother was actually the one to get my mom started! A pizzelle maker is also my number one gift this year- so that (in the future) I can carry on the tradition with my little ones!

    Thank you for the opportunity to win! Such a nice giveaway!!

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  10. I am flattered my Portland print is on your list! Top on my list this year is a new micro puff jacket. Boring but practical as we get in to these colder months. albiedesigns@hotmail.com

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  11. Ooh! I'm game.

    Tradition: we have MANY. But on Christmas Eve, we go to the children's Mass with our family friends. Not too many of us are religious anymore, but watching the kids dressed as Mary and sheep and angels, acting out the scenes in Bethlehem - well, it doesn't get much better. Then we go back to our house for a non-Christmasy dinner. The table and the food change every year, but always with the same people. Then we open presents from each other and drink Bailey's. About 12 of us, scattered around the living room.

    As for the wishlist...I would love a netbook. Or a player to stream Netflix. Not romantic, but both would make my busy life a little more enjoyable!

    Thanks for your blog, Jenn. I love reading it and reading all of your comments on mine. Happy holidays!

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  12. Fun post!

    My favorite Holiday tradition is spending the night at my Mom's house on Christmas Eve, waking up in the morning and opening gifts together in our pajamas :) We've done this every year that I've been on this earth!

    Something from my wish list that I would LOVE to get is a DSLR. I've been wanting one for 6 years now. Maybe Simon will get it for me (wishful thinking)!

    Myers Maison

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  13. Wow Jenn that is really kind and generous of you!! But first I need to comment on how awesome your wish list is! The Anthro bag, storage container, and brown leather bag are awesome! Heck it's all great choices - I think I might get the Philly print by that Etsy artist as well. Mmm...well I declared just last week that every year after we get our tree that we'll put on The Beach Boys Christmas in the car and then go get coffee/hot chocolate. So a new tradition for our family that is fun and I'm sure we'll have lots of good stories to tell looking back down the road. Thanks again Jenn and thank you for being a great blog friend and supporter!

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  14. PS - I forgot to ask you if you're going to Portland Bazaar? Do a recap for us if you go!!

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  15. I grew up in Germany so Christmas on the evening of the 24th was always awesome!

    jessicarwarfield at gmail dot com

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  16. Every Christmas Eve, my family watches National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. It's the most ridiculous movie ever, but we love it.

    schutte.kimberly@gmail.com

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  17. Hi Jenn,
    I love anything with stripes so i love your tote bag (and your hallway wall). Love the giveaway as well because every trip to Anthropologie is inspirational. As for favorite tradition, it'd be hanging ornaments on the tree with my mom which always spurs conversation about where they came from and when we got them or made them. It's fun to see the ones that I made when I was younger with clay or glueing macaroni to a cutout christmas tree. Happy holidays to you all! jstorm4711@gmail.com

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  18. We always make a bunch of Christmas cookies + attend the candlight service at our church on Christmas Eve and then drive around looking at Christmas lights... both of these things I love!

    celeste@mail4me.com

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  19. My fave Christmas tradition is driving around looking at Christmas lights and making Christmas cookies!
    littlegray88 at yahoo dot com

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  20. My favorite holiday tradition is opening one present on Christmas Eve. Even as an adult I love picking the perfect gift to open and then the anticipation of knowing I have to wait until morning to open the rest!

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  21. My favorite Christmas tradition is riding around looking at Christmas lights with my boys. Christmas music, hot cocoa, and their sweet little voices in awe of everything.
    Katie (edavis59@juno.com)

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  22. WooWhoo! Love anthropologie!
    My favorite christmas tradition is a new one (this is our second year). Matt and I have a cocktail party 'open house' on Christmas Eve and both sides of our family come. It's nice to have one part of the holiday season where we don't feel torn between two families. We break out the catch phrase or cards and try to do something inclusive for everyone.

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  23. Wow, this is a pretty awesome giveaway you're offering up!

    I don't have a lot of good traditions right now. I think our family is in the midst of establishing new ones lately. Ryan and I have made it a tradition to do something cold and Christmasy each December, usually Zoolights, a display after dark at the National Zoo. Yep, traditions are still a work in progress for us!

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  24. my favorite traditions for the holidays are-

    christmas eve- open gifts and go out to eat

    christmays day - eat at home and then go and see a movie


    lauren51990 at aol dot com

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  25. my favorite tradition is.. opening presents early in the morning and then breakfast early on!! scg00387 at yahoo dot com

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  26. http://twitter.com/#!/DesMoinesDealin/status/146475197090889728 scg00387 at yahoo dot com

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  27. What a great idea Jenn! Love reading everyone's favorite traditions and hearing what's on their list. My favorite tradition is the Christmas Eve Swedish Smorgasbord we do in our family. We have tweaked and Americanized the offerings a bit and even my kids list this as their most memorable tradition!

    Cathy

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  28. Hello Jenn! Wow, some great traditions here. My favourite holiday tradition is on Christmas Eve my family and I have a traditional Swedish meal. Just as the reader above! small world. Honestly, never met anyone else who has done this! it's a sweet and quiet time with family by candlelight.

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  29. I tweeted about your crazy awesome giveaway!!!

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  30. If I could have anything for Christmas it would be a new camera. My iPhone just isn't cutting it as a camera anymore. Fun giveaway!!!

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  31. My favorite holiday tradition is being with my family on Christmas Eve and eating a lot of appetizers for dinner and then opening our Christmas gifts

    kaylnn_0419(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  32. Ooh... I love Anthropologie! My favorite holiday tradition is getting to spend time with friends and family. My husband and I live out of town so its always great to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying their company.

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  33. my favorite tradition is to go to our Old Town on Christmas Eve, drink cocoa, walk around & look at luminarias,& juat enjoy each other's company. :)

    mandieseguraATgmailDOTcom

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  34. love your wishlist - my number 1 item for this year is this michael kors watch http://piperlime.gap.com/browse/product.do?searchCID=4016&cid=4016&vid=1&pid=201304&scid=201304002 (and a $50 gift card to anthro of course!)

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  35. My favorite tradition at Christmas is cutting down the tree. It's quite the hunt searching for the perfect tree!

    nmtowell(at)gmail(dot)com

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  36. Oooh, Anthro! The number 1 item on my list this year is an ipad. I've waited as long as I can possibly hold out!

    emcgovney at gmail dot com

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  37. My favorite holiday tradition will always be the mad silent dash full of whispers & drastic hand signals to HH as we get the kiddos presents under the tree while they're sleeping on Xmas eve. I so look forward to the next morning when they wake up to see what Santa has left for them : )

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  38. My favorite holiday tradition is something I've done since childhood: opening ONE present on Christmas Eve, (usually something cozy to wear all night like comfy socks or pajamas) and then opening the rest on Christmas morning!!

    my e-mail is slovett922(at)pointloma(dot)edu

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  39. New follower and Im lovin your blog! Our tradition is to open one gift on Christmas eve and go look at Christmas lights :) Honestly, anything from anthro would be on my list this year-lol...but specifically hardware :)
    Thanks so much for sponsoring this!
    Melissa @ Living Beautifully (livingbeautifully1@gmail.com)

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  40. Tweeted about your giveaway too!! :)
    Melissa @ Living Beautifully

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