A Happy Day & A Give Away!

Oh, what a Happy Day, my friends!!!

The weather is crazy here in Chicago . . . we're talking CRAZY. I've been stuck in the house for about three days now. (Did I mention, WITH MY CHILDREN?) And right now, they are driving me about as crazy as the weather is. PG is on a business trip, and I'm starving for some adult conversation and creative time. I did manage to do some major organizing of my art studio today, hence the give-away (which I'll get to in a minute). But before that, I have to tell you about something absolutely fantabulous!

Today IS a happy day . . . because a dear friend of mine wrote a book!! Did I tell you? Of course I didn't. Not yet. Because I didn't have it in my hot little hands yet. But I do now, my friends. I have the book. The very book that my dear friend wrote. MY friend. It just arrived late last night, and I just opened it. I can tell, already, that it is going to be fantabulous (which is sort of a joint "fantastic" and "fabulous" read.)

So, how do I know it's going to "fantabulous", you ask? Well . . . because it was written by an amazing soul. And I've read her words for years now (truly, years). I've corresponded with her for just as long. She reached out privately to hold my hand during dark times - which is even more special because there is a great distance of space between us (she lives in France). But still, she is one of my oldest and dearest blog friends, and I am delighted to be opening up the pages of her life story and diving into it this very night.

Ok . . . here is the book . . . (well . . . me holding the book, really).

You can buy it here (link to Amazon). And if you order it now, you can have it by the weekend!

The book is called "A Lady in France" and it is written by my dear friend, Jennie Goutet, who is the Lady in France. I met Jennie years ago in Blogland. We had an opportunity to met last year when the Blogher conference was being held in my dear home town (and dearest Jennie flew all the way over from France to attend), but alas . . . I couldn't get myself there (for which I am forever sorry!)

I WILL be sharing my copy and doing a give-away as soon as I finish it. But in the meantime, I wanted to celebrate Jennie and have a different sort of give-away today on my blog.

Today, I am offering an inspiring give-away of fun goodies to motivate your inner artist. Your inner creative soul. You see, my friend Jennie followed her inner artist by writing her memoir. She told her story. And I am so incredibly proud of her. She inspires me every single day.

It is my wish . . . to do the same for you. With that in mind, I put together a lovely gathering of artsie goodies to inspire and encourage you.

Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone.

Don't be afraid to go after your dreams.

Don't forget to play.

 

In addition to these crafty goodies (which include two packs of 25 sheets 12x12 scrapbook paper, canvases, a cool Martha Stewart tool thingamajig, a craft wooden frame, stamps, 8x8 scrapbook, stickers, collage items and embellishments galore), I am also including some of my original art products to inspire happiness in your life. Bookmarks, magnets, an art pendant and a few other goodies made from my heart.

It's a pretty hefty sack of goods, I must say.

What do you have to do to enter?

•  Leave a comment on this blog!

That's it. I won't get too complicated - life is complicated enough ;). Of course, if you want to share my give-away out there in the world . . . I would be forever grateful. If you happened to follow my blog along the way, too, I wouldn't be upset about it. If you did all of those things . . . well, I'd just be thrilled.

But leaving a comment here . . . that's really it.

So, please do just that.

Come back on Friday, 1/10/2013, when I will announce the winner!

Share it. Win it. Be it! (yes, it's a good thing I don't do marketing for Nike. I'd be horrible).

Thanks for stopping by.

And, Good Luck!