Winners of the soap, the magnets, and the earrings!! And BONNET giveaway!

Hi everybody!

  How was your week? And Mother's Day? I hope everyone had a peaceful, joyous, and love-filled week. As a mom of six kids, I always think I deserve like, a new car or something but all I ever get is flowers.

 Kidding! I loved my flowers! It was sort of a half bouquet from the store, half from the neighbor's garden. (Seriously, it was. They moved and the house has been empty/for sale for a year. We're okay with stealing the flowers that grow in their alley.)

  Most of the day was spent on getting everyone prepared for our state tests on Tuesday. (Shoot me NOW.) As home schoolers, we have state testing just like regular school peeps. Just as much stress, or maybe a little more, since we have to whip these test results out to wave around when people start saying home home schoolers are behind in regular subjects. (True, my kids do have some crazy hobbies that take a lot of their time, but we also keep up on the state standards.) So, if you see us and we're all looking a little wigged out, that's why.

But this week we also had an awesome experience that we couldn't have done if everyone was in school. We got to be the ground crew for our local balloon festival, the Walla Walla Balloon Stampede! Being a crew member meant learning which ropes to hold, which way to fold the fabric, how to be a human sandbag and most of all, HOW TO GET YOUR BODY OUT OF BED AT FOUR AM. Ugh. Can you tell I hated that part?

Here's my second-oldest child holding down the gondola (basket) while they get prepared for passengers. It's about 6AM here so she's only been up a few hours, but she's tiiiiired. Me? I knew there was no way I was getting out of bed at 4AM, so I just stayed up. It was fun, writing all night... until about ten AM and I realized that I didn't get to go to bed until that evening. Ha! All those late nighters I pulled in college at the age of 20 could NOT prepare me for how it felt at almost 40. Ugh.

 But it was great to see items close up, that we usually only see at a distance.

 It was neat to see how fast the balloons inflate... just a few minutes.

 I like how this one peeked over the tree line.

 And this one. Almost like a circus balloon!

Watching the fire so close was a bit weird, but we have nerves of steel in the family! LOL

We also participated in the "night glow" evening, where the pilots stand up the balloons and then light the burners in unison or in rhythm with music. It's fun, and sort of silly, since nobody is GOING ANYWHERE in the dark. But the crowd loves it and we had a good time being ballast again for when they just needed the basket to hover. (Wait, I sense a theme. *gets on the scale*)

So, now that we've talked all about me (isn't that why we're all here? no?) I've got some WINNERS to announce!!

 Bonnie R., Rafflecopter loves YOU and wants you to have some awesome Austen earrings!

Dianne D., Rafflecopter love YOU and wants you to have the Emma Fridge Lit magnet set! (I'm seriously jealous... I think I need to order some of these for my fridge. What a great way to wait for my water to heat up when I'm making tea!)

And finally, Christy M. Rafflecopter loves YOU and wants you to have Pride and Prejudice Ear Grey Tea and Lavender soap! This arrived a few days ago and it smells amazing! Super yum... I maye have to order some for Christmas presents.

(CONTACT me at my facebook page with your mailing address so I can send these onward! )
 Ok everybody! My editor sent me a pic of the final paper copies of Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits... and I AM IN LOVE. Seriously. My baby is all grown up! So glossy and bright, such straight lines and crisp pages. I can't wait to start sending out signed copies for review (or as a gift for a special someone). But before then... we'll have to tide ourselves over with a few more giveaway. I still have a small mountain of fan art here on my desk and I vowed to be a good Jane Austen team member and not to HOARD THE GOODIES.

So, this next giveaway is a  Jane Austen bonnet. Admit it, you want your own Jane Austen bonnet to wear around the house as you sip Earl Grey tea and write letters with your quill pen! I know, I know... it's a tough world we live in when every girl isn't given her own lovely bonnet as soon as she comes of age. 

But that's what I'm here for- to help you become as crazily-obsessed with Miss Jane as I am!

 And if you're not convince a bonnet is just what you need, remember this line from Jane's letter to her sister Cassandra: 

"Next week [I] shall begin my operations on my hat, on which you know my principal hopes of happiness depend."

         October 27, 1798

 (You see? Some might say Jane was being a wee bit sarcastic, but there's a little part of me that truly believes a bonnet has everything to do with one's happiness.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner of LOST IN AUSTEN and a new give away!

Ok, are you all tired of this yet? NO? Neither am I!!

I admit it. I'm a cave-dweller, happily pecking away at my keyboard. When I'm forced to interact with the world I am just like Mr. Bennet. ("Where did you all COME FROM?")

But this whole giveaway thing is just perfect! I get to be sort of social, spread Austen joy, and a little bonus is the fact I can see my desk again. My pile of Austen goodies is getting smaller but there is still MUCH MORE to give away before Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits comes out in paper in July!

Speaking of which... Guess what I saw!!!

Yes, it's the cover up on Amazon!! The paper copy is the only option available right now (and for pre-order) but I'm watching for the ebook to pop up. SOOOO exciting! Here's the blurb if anyone hasn't heard about it yet.
         "A lively Southern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, featuring Lucy Crawford, who is thrown back into the path of her first love while on a quest to save her beloved family home.

Lucy Crawford is part of a wealthy, well-respected Southern family with a long local history. But since Lucy’s mother passed away, the family home, a gorgeous antebellum mansion, has fallen into disrepair and the depth of her father’s debts is only starting to be understood. Selling the family home may be the only option—until her Aunt Olympia floats the idea of using Crawford house to hold the local free medical clinic, which has just lost its space. As if turning the plantation home into a clinic isn’t bad enough, Lucy is shocked and dismayed to see that the doctor who will be manning the clinic is none other than Jeremiah Chevy—her first love.

Lucy and Jeremiah were high school sweethearts, but Jeremiah was from the wrong side of the tracks. His family was redneck and proud, and Lucy was persuaded to dump him. He eventually left town on a scholarship, and now, ten years later, he’s returned as part of the rural physician program. And suddenly, their paths cross once again. While Lucy’s family still sees Jeremiah as trash, she sees something else in him—as do several of the other eligible ladies in town. Will he be able to forgive the past? Can she be persuaded to give love a chance this time around?"

 Whoohooo!!!

 So, to celebrate the sighting of Persuasion, Captain Wentworth and Cracklin' Cornbread, I've got some great giveaways this week!

 But first.... Our winner! AMANDA J, Rafflecopter loves you and wants you to have LOST IN AUSTEN on DVD!

OK, now for this week's prizes!

First of all, these darling earrings by Designs by Annette. I have a few pairs of these (she also does custom orders) and they are just adorable! Plus, they're great conversation starters. You can find out more about the earrings here.

Next, this is one of the funnest prizes I've ever given away. A Persuasion fridge magnet set by FridgeLit! Oh my word... I could play with these all day!

And lastly, a gift for the romantic in all of us. Pride and Prejudice lavender soap by Pen And Candle. I'm very tempted to get the Sense and Sensibility apple lavender lemon zest soap but I'm afraid I would try to eat my own arm. I would smell DELICIOUS.

Ok, my dear friends! Enter early and often- and good luck! One winner per item, so THREE people will get a bit of Austen love this week!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

We have a winner for the Austen Art... and a DVD giveaway!

Hello, everybody! I have to first apologize for missing all your comments. For some reason, yahoo decided to send everything to my spam folder. (How? WHY??) So, I've just realized that there was a bit of conversation happening over here... and I was in la-la-land.
  Reading them straight through, I came to two conclusions.

One- Etsy is awesome.

 And two- we're all suckers for Austen goodies.

Which brings me to our winner...

Marissa, Rafflecopter loves you and wants you to have a Kristy Zink original drawing! Whoohoo! I really think I need my own version of this. With all my heroines, in the colors they wear in the Austen Takes the South books. *swoon*

What I really want is this Austen era gown, but since I can't have that... I'll stick to the art. 

Now, for our next giveaway, I thought I'd put up one of my favorite Austen movies... but it's not one of the originals... it's LOST IN AUSTEN. 

Here's the blurb, if you haven't seen it before: 

Amanda Price is sick of the modern world. She yearns for the romance and elegance found in the books by her favorite author, Jane Austen. But she's about to get a rude awakening as one fateful evening, she is propelled into the scheming 19th century world of Pride and Prejudice while that book's Elizabeth Bennet is hurled into hers. As the book's familiar plot unfolds, Amanda triggers new romantic twists and turns within the Bennet family circle as she clumsily tries to help the sisters nab husbands and even captivates the tantalizing Mr. Darcy herself. But what about Elizabeth...and what will become of one of the world's greatest love stories?

It's got some really funny scenes, a few plot twists, and of course.... ROMANCE.

Still not convinced you need to see the movie? 

There! Elliot Cowan doing his best impression of Colin Firth's lake scene (which of course, did not exist in Austen's Pride and Prejudice, but let's not quibble).

 

 

So, enter early and enter often! I'll make sure to pop in and out to check for comments. :) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winner and a new Jane Austen giveaway!

Hello everybody!! The date for the paper release of Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits is getting closer.
                            I. Am. So. Excited.
                                                          Seriously.

For a little perspective, I'm usually sort of like this. But I'm not a cat.

Or, maybe like this. But I'm not Clint Eastwood. Or an old guy.

 Maybe kind of like this... definitely closer. I'm not as funny as Colbert and I can't tell a joke with a straight face to save my life but I just don't get POSITIVELY GIDDY about very much.

 But this is me, now. It's sooooo close. I've loved the reissue of the ebooks and am thrilled with the way they're being received, but at heart, I'll always be a book-in-my-hand kind of girl. And having this series in paper ON MY SHELF is making me want wave my hands in the air and give away lots of prizes!

  Which brings me to our winner!
TEISH, rafflecopter loves YOU and wants you to have The Jane Austen Cookbook! I've already sent you an e-mail, so just let me know your mailing address and I'll send it on!

Now, for the next prize, we're going back to art. This is a new artist I've met recently through facebook and the etsy community. I AM IN LOVE with her drawings. They're so whimsical. She's created a drawing just for us... ready????

Kristy Zink has the most adorable take ont he Austen heroines and I love how their personality really shines through. So, for the next give away, I'm offering this 8X10 Austen heroine art print. You can check it out in a few more close up shots here on her etsy page.

Ok, everyone! As always, enter early and enter often, and I'll announce the winners next week. Good luck! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

NEW WINNERS and a Jane Austen Cookbook giveaway!

Hello everybody!

 Well, the revisions for Persuasion, Capt. Wentworth, and Cracklin' Cornbread are IN! I hope I can share the cover sometime soon. It's GAHJUSS.
I love this story so much, I don't even know where to put all my warm and fuzzy feelings.
So, when in doubt, I just have a giveaway! (Ok, and cook. I like to cook.)

But before we get to that, I need to announce the winners for this awesome Pride and Prejudice paper doll set. I had THREE (I know, that's a lot, and I even kept one for myself) so we have THREE winners!

Ready? 

Tina R., Cindy W. and Tarina B.!!! Rafflecopter loves you and wants you to have a paper doll set!

I've contacted all three of you and you only need to send me your mailing address and I'll put them in the mail. Enjoy!

Now, for the next giveaway... It's not as goofy, but Janeites will have a great time with this book. It's The JANE AUSTEN COOKBOOK by Maggie Black. 

"Jane Austen wrote her novels in the midst of a large and sociable family. Brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews, friends and acquaintances were always coming and going, which offered numerous occasions for convivial eating and drinking. One of Jane’s dearest friends, Martha Lloyd, lived with the family for many years and recorded in her “Household Book” over 100 recipes enjoyed by the Austens. A selection of this family fare, now thoroughly tested and modernized for today’s cooks, is recreated here, together with some of the more sophisticated dishes which Jane and her characters would have enjoyed at balls, picnics, and supper parties. A fascinating introduction describes Jane’s own interest in food, drawing upon both the novels and her letters, and explains the social conventions of shopping, eating, and entertaining in late Georgian and Regency England. The book is illustrated throughout with delightful contemporary line drawings, prints, and watercolours.

Authentic recipes, modernized for today’s cooks, include:
• Buttered Prawns
• Wine-Roasted Gammon and Pigeon Pie
• Broil’d Eggs
• White Soup and Salmagundy
• Pyramid Creams
• Martha’s Almond Cheesecakes"

 Ok, that blurb drew me in right at the "wrote her novels in a large and sociable family". That's ME! So, I have my own copy and I LOVE IT. Part history, part Austen dissertation, part cookbook... it's glorious.

a Rafflecopter giveaway  Until next time my friends! And as always, enter early and enter often!

Jan Austen recipe card winner and new giveaway!!

HELLO everybody!

  It's spring here and we've been outside as much as we can, gazing up at that strange ball of fire in the sky... The sun feels SOOOO good! And then at night, the sky is clear again and we can see stars- and the moon!!

Isn't this amazing? The winter has seemed SO LONG, but we're finally at the end. And we're so much closer to the paper release of Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits in JUNE and Emma, Mr. Knightley and Chili-Slaw Dogs in July!
I feel like I've been waiting and waiting, like an expectant mother... except I know exactly what my babies look like. :)

 Ok, time to announce a winner! LUTHIEN84, rafflecopter loves you and wants you to have these awesome Austen recipe cards! I have a set and they really are the cutest thing. I'll have them sent straight from the etsy shop, so be sure to contact me on the Pride, Prejudice and Cheese Grits page with your address.

 So, you're all wondering what's next, right? Well, here it is! My favorite giveaway so far (and I've loved them all).

I've already ordered these, because I wasn't sure how big the book was, or how sturdy dolls were... and I was very impressed! It's a magazine sized book, with nice, thick pages and bright colors!

Do you all know what's better than a Pride and Prejudice paper doll book?

I mean, besides Brown Sugar Pound Cake with Quick Caramel Glaze, which I've shared over on the recipe site Yankee Belle Cafe. I'm there every Wednesday and the occasional weekend, and most of the time what I'm cooking is edible. No guarantees, but I try.

So,  what's BETTER than  Pride and Prejudice paper doll book? THREE Pride and Prejudice paper doll books! I suppose I could space them out a bit, but I think I'm running out of weeks, and still have LOTS of prizes, so I'm going to start doubling up.  Enter early and often, and if your name comes up twice, you'll get two! One for you and one for a friend... or two for you, if you're greedy like that.

Did anybody watch Austenland? Did you LLURRRRRRV it? Or just like it a lot? I liked it, loved JJ Feilds but I thin I'm still a BBC gal.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Teacup winners and a new giveaway!

Hellooooo, everybody!
 I love being able to announce a winner but what's better is being able to announce FOUR WINNERS!

 Are you all ready??

BECKY CHERRINGTON
ANNA KERNS
SAGAN CHILDS
LYNDA EDWARDS

 Rafflecopter loves ALL OF YOU and wants you to have a pretty tea cup! Thank you to everyone who entered and never fear, there are many more prizes to come!

 Now, all giveaways have been sent or ordered at this point so if you haven't received your goodies, just be patient a little while longer. The teacups will need some tender loving care, so they won't be mailed until later this week (because I need to find the perfect little boxes to ensure their survival through the postal system).


  NOW, for the next giveaway! (You thought I was kidding when I said I had oodles and oodles of Austen gifts, didn't you? HA!)
As a foodie (or as the French say, une gastronome) I horde cookbooks like a film buff collects movies. I love them vintage, modern, ethnic, short, oversized, sassy, serious, and everything in between. Why? Because I like to cook! (I hope there's not another 'why' waiting, because that should be obvious: I love to EAT.)

  This next giveaway is a dozen Jane Austen recipe cards on heavy notepaper. I have a set of these and they're just darling, but yours will come straight from Dorothy Jane, which a wonderful little etsy shop. (I'm currently smitten with her  blue bird nest tags but have absolutely no reason to buy them. Note to self: find purpose for delightful gift tags even though all upcoming birthdays are for males over the age of 10.)

 Now, these recipe cards might just come in very handy with the NEXT few rounds of giveaways. *hint hint*

Oh, forget about the hinting! Here's a sneak peak at what we have in store!

WHOOHOOO! Look at all those fun books: Southern Cakes, Southern Pies, A Jane Austen Cookbook and Pride and Prejudice paper dolls!

 All right, my friends. Enter early and often- and good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway