The 2012 Annual Purim Giveaway and Comment Lovefest
Yes, once again, it is time for my annual Purim giveaway (which becomes a comment lovefest). Every spring, I put together about 36 cookie and candy boxes and send them off to friends around the country. For six years running, I always leave a space on the list for a yet-to-be-named blogger who stands as a representative for all of you. Believe me, if I could mail each and every one of you a box of love, I would. But… you know… we can only afford so many containers of nutella.
So one of you it is.
The idea behind mishloach manot is to send out treats so no one is without dessert after the Purim feast. It’s a recognition that not everyone has money for extras, but everyone could use some sweetness in their life.
It is my favourite thing I do all year, and we once again have a great theme planned (past ones include “Yes, We Can(dies)!” in honour of Obama’s inauguration, the Winter Olympics, Dr. Suess, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), but you’ll need to win the basket to see it.
I can tell you that in the baskets thus far (and whoever wins can tailor this to their tastes/allergies):
- Chocolate and sea salt peanut butter cups
- Chocolate and sea salt nutella cups
- Hamantaschen
- My famous chocolate chip cookies
- Homemade lollipops
- Trail mix
- Chocolate bar
And whatever else I dream up between now and mailing the packages. I’m not going to be modest — people tell me that my baking and candies are fantastic and while they may be lying, they have inflated my culinary ego. This basket is going to rock. And 100% of the items are recipes of my own creation.
So this could be your year, lovely people of the Internets; it’s yours to win. Here’s what you need to do to enter the giveaway (and you can enter as many times as you like):
- Leave a comment below (yes, a box full of candy for the low low price of one comment!) telling me where you left a comment already today–and feel free to leave, write a comment somewhere, and come back. Please put the name of that blog and a link to the post in the comment. And say something nice about that person’s post. And no, commenting on this post doesn’t count for where you’ve left a comment (though my blog still counts as long as you’ve commented on a different post). The posts that you’re commenting on need to have been written in February or March 2012 (only entries with a link to a post written in that time frame count).
- You can enter as many times as you like. Which means the more you comment around the blogosphere, the more chances you have to win (last year’s winner did an insane amount of commenting). Only comments that talk about a post you read elsewhere in the blogosphere have a chance at winning (in other words, if you write below, “that looks delicious!” I’ll be appreciative, but you won’t be eligible to win. You need to list a place where you commented today, give the url for the post, and say something about the post).
- Each comment counts as one entry, so if you’ve commented in three places, you’re allowed to leave that in three entries here. Leaving it in separate comments is actually sort of an important fact because too many links in a comment will make it caught by the spam filter. I will release comments caught by the spam filter, but it will take me a moment.
- The giveaway ends at 11 p.m. EST on Thursday the 1st, therefore, you can return all weekend and list new, great blog posts you found. If you’re still confused, think of this as creating a Friday Blog Roundup-type list in the comment section, one comment at a time. You can also look at the comment section of last year’s giveaway to get a sense of the comments.
I will also love you forever if you read down the list and click over to read the other posts listed in the comment section. And don’t just hit the first ones at the top of the comment list. Make sure you hit some of the people in the middle or bottom of the list and leave them a comment telling them that you agree with the original commenter — their writing does rock.
If someone writes something nice about a post you wrote this week, bask in the love. Oh, and here’s a good impetus to go write something amazing on your own blog so people can come and comment on it over here and win the basket.
My usual blog rules apply: any spam is deleted — the point is to honour another person, not drum up business for a Viagra website — as well as anything rude.
I’ll use the random number generator and announce it on Friday in the Roundup. So let the commenting/mishloach manot winning begin. Oh, and no, I’m not sharing these recipes. You’ll have to win them to eat them.
193 comments
http://rainbowmaking101.blogspot.com/2012/02/ultrasound-day.html
I left AJ some good luck wishes as she goes to her ultrasound to see if her eagles are still in their nest.
I commiserated with jjiraffe about husbands and songs stuck in their heads when she wrote about what’s bugging her.
http://jjiraffe.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/things-that-are-bugging-me-now-part-two/
I commiserated with Mo, who is worried about her early pregnancy, and encouraged her to do whatever type of test (repeat beta, earlier u/s) that might bring her peace of mind:
http://lifeandloveinthepetridish.blogspot.com/2012/02/not-feeling-it.html
I completed related to her out of control feeling and wished her the best as she waits and hope for her foster situation to turn into a forever family situation:
http://minipooper.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/melt-down/
She booked a much needed vacation to Washington D.C. and will finally meet in person some of the cyber friends who have become her close friends. I am so excited for her as I know how much those friendships mean:
http://www.fromiftowhen.com/2012/02/meeting-worth-wait.html
I wished Mo & Will well as she graphs her HCG progression which I think looks great (maybe twins in there):
http://lifeandloveinthepetridish.blogspot.com/2012/02/saturday-in-life-plus-hcg-chart.html
Serenity wrote about a ‘grown-up’ exchange she had with her young son which was poignant. They do grow up so fast:
http://serenitynowinfertile.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/when-did-he-grow-up/
I loved this post not only because she reminisced about her childhood but because she included the simplest and most delicious looking recipe and I commented on the many other combinations. Still excited to try this:
http://bereavedandblessed.com/2012/02/sweet-treat-for-mardi-gras.html
While I don’t want to enter (a box of candy is not really my thing), I’ll be leaving comments all over the internet in honor of this brilliant idea.
Darn it, I don’t have time for this today! Last year I did and I still didn’t win! 😉 I shall just give you a token entry then, even though I am still doing all my usual commenting.
Because she’s at a related conference right now, Dresden shared an older post that was very hard for her to write. http://creatingmotherhood.com/2012/02/27/hard-month/
I commented on Katie’s post, defending the need for the adoption tax credit.
http://www.fromiftowhen.com/2012/02/more-on-adoption-tax-credit.html?m=1
Hey Mel, you said “around the country”, does that mean inside the US only? In any case, I love commenting, so I’m going to share some gems I’ve found anyway.
SurlyMama shared some awesome photos of her little girl in a Photo dump. Annelise (and mom) is just beautiful!
http://thesurlybaby.blogspot.com/2012/02/photo-dump.html
Emily managed to go 26 weeks before giving birth to her triplets after spending several weeks in the hospital! This is just wonderfully amazing news!
http://theadvocat.blogspot.com/2012/02/halp.html
This particular comment was more practical than anything else, but because I love Advocat’s blog and her journey is somewhat parallel to mine, I had to link her.
3Beta tests and the results are still inconclusive!! I’m keeping my fingers crossed for the best results possible for JM and that her being a little bit pregnant turns into fully pregnant.
http://www.meiermadness.blogspot.com/2012/02/little-pregnant-3rd-beta.html
Wished Mo well and empathized with frustrating brain “logic”
http://lifeandloveinthepetridish.blogspot.com/2012/02/not-feeling-it.html?showComment=1330358681293#c3904222124070500442
http://glimpseinsidemyjourney.wordpress.com/
A month after the too early birth of her beautiful baby girl. My heart is breaking for her. I wish I had the right words.
Commented over at Waiting For Our Mini Pooper and related to the out of control feelings of an uncertain situation
try this link, while I await moderation – https://minipooper.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/melt-down/?replytocom=141#respond
I congratulated Katie on her family’s successful adoption. Such great news!!
http://thehandprintsonmyheart.blogspot.com/2012/02/tpr.html
http://missconception-ads.blogspot.com/2012/02/we-are-so-in-love.html?showComment=1330359270263#c7581384642878831474
I was inspired by her beautiful ceremony for her lost twins.
I left a comment on Marinka’s post about her daughter’s white jeans. White jeans? It’s an oxymoron.
http://www.motherhoodinnyc.com/white-jeans
Over at A Long Suffering Heart, she had a rough end of the week last week but on Saturday it looked like all was well (except the kidney stones!) – here’s a general link, I’m awaiting moderation
http://longsufferinginoklahoma.blogspot.com/2012/02/staying-put.html#comment-form
Oh funny, I saw Marinka’s white jeans post from the comment above and had to head over – I’m not sure I’ll ever be ready for white jeans
http://www.motherhoodinnyc.com/white-jeans#comment-25603
I’m not going to participate in the contest, since I don’t want to subject you to oversees shipping costs. Just want to say this: that’s a really, really nice tradition!
I especially feel for those who are struggling to build their families and get the question, “is he your only?”. It is so wearing when you’ve been at ttc#2.
http://peesticksandstones.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/dusting-the-cobwebs-off-my-sports-bras/
Such a sweet post about the heartwarming things our children say and the meaning of becoming a forever family:
http://minipooper.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/sweetness/
I’m not entering because I don’t like chocolate, but 1) your giveaway sounds so amazing that I almost wish I did like chocolate and 2) what a great idea!
Over at Words Fly Up, the beginnings of a discussion on an article in the Guardian from the weekend. Interesting topic.
http://illanare.blogspot.com/2012/02/in-paper.html?showComment=1330371853859#c6450483739143741443
Peesticks is trying to get back on the exercise bandwagon while TTC #2 (and dealing with all the obnoxious comments) and having strangers ask her if she’s pregnant. She could really use a little pick me up
http://peesticksandstones.wordpress.com/2012/02/27/dusting-the-cobwebs-off-my-sports-bras/
Deborah has a sweet post about her husband coming home after being gone for 2+ weeks.
http://unglamorous-mommy.blogspot.com/2012/02/things-i-forgot.html
Chocolate and sea salt peanut butter cups?
OMG. I’m drooling. I love it!
I commented on Terra the Bear’s post about the first person that she knows in the Army to die after 8+ years.
http://www.terra-bear.com/archives/3122
I commented at Kellyland about her baseline appointment. She is just getting the ball rolling on her first IVF and is going to the same RE I went to for Henry 🙂
http://welcome2kellyland.blogspot.com/2012/02/baseline-appointment.html?showComment=1330374193442#c9081960945904954669
Commented on her big IVF decision:
http://acoursetothefinishline.wordpress.com/2012/02/26/gift-of-life-5k-and-a-big-decision/
Salvageable has a post about quirky “things” she does while taking a pregnancy test – I’m pending moderation, so you’ll wait to see my superstitious little thing 🙂
http://maiscrazylife.blogspot.com/2012/02/anyone-else.html
I commented on her blog about a neighborhood fox:
http://navigatingthemothership.blogspot.com/2012/02/swiper-no-swiping.html
I commented on Krysten’s post about her upcoming half marathon and surgery.
http://darwinianfail.blogspot.com/2012/02/motivation-monday-trying-to-keep-calm.html
It’s Perfect Moment Monday, so I’m leaving a slew of comments.
Suzy is nearly halfway through her 21-day wait: http://www.notafertilemyrtle.com/2012/02/perfect-distraction.html
Kathy celebrated her birthday early: http://www.linkytools.com/click_linky.aspx?entryid=3920874
Kir uses words and images to say what she likes about herself. http://www.thekircorner.com/2012/02/just-be-enough-the-return-of-what-i-like-about-me/
I left some words of advice for your Grrrrrl Scout: https://www.stirrup-queens.com/2012/02/grrrl-scouts/
Lost in Translations got some ski-kisses: http://ivf-fiv.blogspot.com/2012/02/perfect-moment-monday-kisses.html
Delenn has 3 perfect moments in a hotel (all G-rated): http://polantworld.blogspot.com/2012/02/perfect-moment-monday.html
I left a comment for Marwil, who posted some beautiful photos in Wales. She’s grieving the loss of her baby boy. http://marwil.org/2012/02/27/what-we-found-in-wales/#comment-330
I can vouch for the wonderfulness of the Purim basket! I won last year and so must limit my entries to this one today. Also, I have been busy and not left many comments today. But I did comment here…
http://www.jennepper.com/2012/02/one-adjusted.html
Jen’s twins due date is today and she reflects on the past year, losing Evelyn and the trials and tribulations (and amazing smile!) that Ainsley has had.
Finding My New Normal writes about how hope snuck up on her again, halfway through her second pregnancy after her son was born still at 36 weeks. A feeling that many of us could surely identify with, even if we haven’t experienced the same particular tragedy.
http://findmynewnormal.blogspot.com/2012/02/hope-creeps-in.html
I also left some love and encouragement for Mo, whose progesterone is dropping in the early weeks of her 7th pregnancy. It’s time for her to win this battle, and she could use all the support we can muster.
http://lifeandloveinthepetridish.blogspot.com/2012/02/18dp5dt-blood-work-is-back.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LifeAndLoveInThePetriDish+%28Life+and+Love+in+the+Petri+Dish%29
Mrs. Thompson at Viva la Vida is gearing up to start a new diet and exercise regime before launching another IVF. Let’s encourage her on these steps toward better health!
http://mrthompsonandme.blogspot.com/2012/02/mr-right-and-mrs-wrong.html
Dr. Spouse is a new mom of an 8 week old, and already back in the trenches, deciding which path is best for her and her husband to continue to build the family they dream of. IF just never lets up, does it?
http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=17484123&postID=3131465820014635974&page=1&token=1330390906428
I left a comment on Carney Exploits blog (love that name!). I found through ICLW. She wrote something about the fear of fertility treatments that really touched me because I felt exactly the same way for a very long time. Failure on your own is one thing, but failure when you throw everything there is to throw at a problem is particularly scary.
http://carneyexploits.blogspot.com/2012/02/terrified.html