Not to be a curmudgeon, but I don’t really like Mother’s Day. I like it when the kids bustle around to make me breakfast in bed but these days I’m up hours before two of our four and I inevitably end up cleaning the kitchen.
I feel like there’s too much pressure to be happy. My 13-year-old was aghast that I’m flying home from Boston this year on Mother’s Day so I won’t be with my family for most of the day. “We’ll be motherless,” she lamented.
“It’s a Hallmark holiday!” I protested. “I’m still your mother.”
I am sorry to disappoint my kids but I’m secretly relieved.
But since I suspect I’m in the minority here, and most people enjoy Mother’s Day as a time to pamper and celebrate moms, I’m participating in a ridiculously awesome giveaway for one lucky winner.
The short version of the rules: To enter, like my book’s Facebook page or follow me on Twitter and then leave a comment on this post that you’ve done so. If you already like the page and follow me that works too, just leave a comment.
For more chances, leave a comment on the other blogs listed below! Contest closes at midnight East Coast Time on May 12, 2013. Detailed rules at the bottom of this post.
THE PRIZES!
From Project: Happily Ever After:
One copy of Project: Happily Ever After by Alisa Bowman. This is a memoir of how the author saved her marriage. Partly tragic and partly humorous, the book will help you feel normal. It will also give you helpful tools to try at home, and leave you with a pervading sense that you are not alone.
From Belle Jewelry Designs:
One Bead Kit and Pattern to Make Dainty Daisies Bracelet by Claudine Jalajas.
“Every year my children give me flowers for the garden for Mother’s Day,” she says. “It’s one of my favorite gifts. This bracelet reminds me of Mother’s Day for that reason.”
She adds that this pattern and bead kit will provide you with everything you need to create this lovely bracelet. The design is created using a cross-weave technique which is great for anyone from never-touched-a-needle-thread-before to advanced weaver.
Most people can create the bracelet in an hour. It is woven using 4mm and 6mm genuine Swarovski crystallized pearls for the flowers, TOHO seed beads for vines, and potato pearls to simulate leaves. The clasp is a lobster clasp. This design also makes a gorgeous anklet — just increase the size.
From Attainable Sustainable:
One copy of Off the Shelf: Homemade alternatives to the condiments, toppings, and snacks you love from Kris Bordessa, who shares a collection of recipes that take your favorite condiments and pantry staples off the grocery store shelves and puts them right in your (very capable) hands.
Make hummus, pesto, fresh salsa, and a Caesar ranch dressing that will knock your socks off. Whip up a batch of hot fudge sauce or chocolate pudding to indulge your sweet tooth. If you can chop, dice, and stir, you (or your kids, mom!) can make any of these recipes and more right at home.
From MyKidsEatSquid:
One $25 Gift Certificate for King Arthur Flour, from My KidsEatSquid.com. This site offers cooking tips, tricks, and recipes to tempt your family’s taste buds.
Founded in 1790 (yes, you read that right), King Arthur Flour is a really cool business where baking and social responsibility go hand in hand.
One copy of Best Friends Forever: Surviving a Breakup With Your Best Friend by psychologist Irene S. Levine. On a recent appearance on “CBS Sunday Morning,” Rita Braver called Irene the “Dear Abby of Friendship.”
Close friendships, which are essential to our well-being, can be challenged by motherhood. Having children often drains time and emotion from other relationships, and can create distance between mothers and child-free friends. Give yourself the gift of focusing on your female friendships this Mother’s Day.
From PuttingItAllontheTable:
One signed copy of The Muffin Tin Cookbook: 200 Fast, Delicious Mini-Pies, Pasta Cups, Gourmet Pockets, Veggie Cakes, and More! by Brette Sember. Moms love muffin tin cooking because one cup equals one portion (no fooling yourself that you’ll have “just another bite”) and because kids automatically think anything made in a muffin cup is delicious and are willing to try new foods made this way.
One copy of Cookie: A Love Story: Fun Facts, Delicious Stories, Fascinating History, Tasty Recipes, and More by Brette Sember, a glorious celebration of America’s favorite treat, a gleeful look at its history, impact, meaning, and deliciousness, filled with mouth-watering anecdotes and stories that will satisfy in a way no other book can. Special recipes, anecdotes, and everything you ever wanted to know about cookies are in its pages.
From Christine Gross-Loh:
One signed copy of Parenting without Borders: Surprising Lessons Parents Around the World Can Teach Us hitting shelves just in time for Mother’s Day. Parenting expert Christine Gross-Loh, a mother of four, takes readers on a multicultural tour of the world’s best parenting practices — from Finland, Sweden, and Germany to France, Japan, China, Italy, and beyond to examine how international parents successfully foster creativity, discipline, independence, resilience and academic excellence in their children.
Revealing the surprising ways in which culture shapes accepted practices, Gross-Loh offers objective, science-based insight into what strategies are best for children — and why — in a book that is sure to spark new conversations among parents. Ultimately, “Parenting Without Borders” is both a call to action and an international handbook on how to build our own global village — one that will raise all of our children well.
From MyItchyTravelFeet:
One copy of 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel. A total of 10,000 people turn 65 each day — and many of them who retire want to make the most of travel opportunities. 65 Things to Do When You Retire: Travel offers practical, inspiring advice about how to have the time of your life, whether traveling with a group, with a spouse or partner, or on your own.
More than 65 intrepid writers and travel experts reveal their own personal adventures and describe glorious getaways for retirees, including such exciting travel opportunities as international house-sitting, going to Italy for a writing workshop, volunteering to help communities in developing countries, doing archaeological digs, taking a retirement “gap year,” and chucking it all to see the world.
From Jennifer Margulis, aka yours truly:
An autographed hard cover copy of The Business of Baby, by Jennifer Margulis, an explosive new book uncovering how corporations and for-profit medicine harm new moms and their babies.
Award-winning midwife Ina May Gaskin calls the book, “a must-read for expectant mothers,” and Library Journal has said it’s “not just for parents to ponder.”
Check out the book trailer:
From ReelLifewithJane:
6 DVDs. Every mom needs a distraction from life, whether it’s Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts on a scooter, Edie Falco as a wayward nurse, Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman as old friends who might be parents, the classic boy from Neverland, Anna Wintour’s glitzy life, or America’s bully crisis.
That’s why Reel Life With Jane’s entry in The Great Mother’s Day Giveaway is a DVD/blu-ray six-pack extravaganza: “Larry Crowne,” “Nurse Jackie Season 4,” “The Switch,” “Peter Pan Diamond Edition,” “The September Issue,” and “Bully.” For more great giveaways, entertainment news, celebrity interviews and reviews, visit Reel Life With Jane and follow them on Twitter.
RULES:
- One winner will win the ENTIRE package of prizes!
- Enter by leaving a comment on this post.
- For more chances to win, enter once at each blog listed in the giveaway below. One entry per person per blog.
- You must enter by midnight ET on Sunday, May 12, 2013 (Mother’s Day).
- Each blog participating in the giveaway will randomly select one semifinalist from those who have entered on that blog. One winner will then be randomly selected from those names and will win ALL the prizes.
- Offer limited to U.S. addresses only; entrants age 18 and up.
- Winner will be notified by the email given when entering; not responsible for email transmission problems or postal delivery problems or failures.
- You are responsible for notifying us of your correct mailing address if you are selected as a winner.
- Contest closes at midnight Eastern Time on May 12, 2013. Prize is nontransferable and may not be redeemed for cash.
- We reserve the right to announce the name of the winner on the blogs.
- Each participating blog will be responsible for sending its own prize.
Published: April 22, 2013
Last update: January 29, 2020
Vera Marie Badertscher says
When I first saw this contest, I thought, just what I need–another Book! (NOT!) But then I saw what was on offer and I could not pass it up. Anything I wouldn’t use personally would make a great gift for someone I know, so bring it on.
Wendy says
Wow! What a great set of prizes!!
Susan Weiner, CFA says
Nice collection of prizes! I hope this contest brings you many new followers and fans.
Christina C says
I would love to win this giveaway!
Lisa says
Great contest! I’d love to win 🙂
Pamela Davenport says
I’d be happy to add a copy of my book Exercising Values: Family Fitness with a Character Emphasis to your list of give aways for this or a future give away. Best wishes on your new book. I have six children and three grandchildren and appreciate every voice for protecting these precious young families.
kathy says
I love the uniqueness of the prizes
Grace says
Yay! What an awesome giveaway!!!
Christine Parini says
I, too, have mixed feelings about Mother’s Day. I’ve been raising my daughter on my own since day one since her dad left while I was pregnant. For years my daughter was too young to acknowledged Mother’s Day and it seemed like a disappointing reminder of my family’s disapproval that I was doing this on my own. It’s rare if they acknowledge my motherhood, at least in any overt way. Now my daughter is 12. Certainly she is grown enough to acknowledge the day and me and she does. Last year, she made a booklet of vouchers I could give her in exchange for breakfast or a foot rub. Perhaps now I’ll start redeeming them. In the past we’ve both had so much on our plates, taking care of an entire household, that I’ve felt like the last thing she needs to be doing is taking care of me. So we’ll see. Maybe, maybe not. Enjoy your partial escape and thanks for the great blog!
Christine Parini says
Oh, I liked your FB page. Great work!
Richelle says
I would be thrilled to have the opportunity to enjoy such a great arrangement of prizes! I know I could share them with others who would also appreciate having access to the literature 🙂
Rene Kratz says
I already follow your book on FB!
Jackie says
Just liked the Facebook page!
Jamie Hyde says
Great contest idea. Great book too. I will have to read it real soon. TY.
lauraroe says
Jennifer, i would love to win this so I could have an extra copy of your book to pass around to all my clients and people who are still trying to decide when, where and how they are going to birth their babies! Thanks for doing this!
Lorina says
Wow, count me in 🙂
Madonna says
I am part of the majority that loves Mother’s day 🙂 I have a list of all holidays that I get a present and have given this list to both my daughters and grandchildren :). I know I am so materialistic but blame the name 🙂
Melissa C says
Like everyone else, I am super excited about all the great prizes in the giveaway. The book sounds very interesting I will definitely tell a few of my friends about it.
Heather S says
Yay for Mother’s Day! And this fabulous giveaway! Thanks!
Margot C says
What a fantastic giveaway, so much important reading matter!
phxbne says
twitter follower phxbne
Sylvia B says
This is such an amazing giveaway! So many wonderful prizes! Any Mom would love this prize pack!
cathy negrete says
I have two grandbabies coming this year, and I’ve been trying to tell the girls about things like this. Maybe they’d listen better if they heard it from someone else!!
cornelia says
Sending love and best wishes for your travels. Can’t wait to meet up in NJ in June <3
Jennifer Margulis says
We have a winner!! Rachel Huddlestone won all of these amazing gifts!! Her comment was on Christine Gross-Loh’s blog: http://christinegrossloh.com/blog/
THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!
HOPE YOU ALL HAD A HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY.