It's My Birthday and I'm Having a Giveaway!

I wonder what was going through my head when this photograph was taken more than fifty years ago? Knowing me, I'm sure I was being quite bashful around the photographer. I love the tiny red bows in my hair and the cute little pinafore dress that my dear mother so carefully chose for me. My bangs don't even look too crooked (which was unusual back in those days!).

We had a contest at work a few years ago where we each brought in a baby photo of ourselves and everyone tried to match the baby with the now-grown co-worker. For some reason, everyone--and I mean everyone, matched me up with no problem! I suppose that is a compliment...Now that I look at this photo, there are many similarities to my now middle-aged face: I have grown bangs again (although now they're there to hide the wrinkles), my teeth are nice and white (well, thanks to those handy whitening strips), and I'm still petite (due to all those miles I log on my treadmill each day). Hey, I am talking myself into feeling pretty good about this birthday after all! And it is a big one--half way between 50 and 60 which will now get me the senior citizen discount in a few restaurants. I just can't believe I am this old, but as my dear husband always says: "It's better than the alternative!"

So, in honor of my birthday and my one-year blogoversary, I've decided to offer a little giveaway--or, more accurately, three little giveaways. I'm always sad when there is only one winner for a huge amount of cross-stitching stash, so I've broken this up to result in three winners...You all know that last year I was stitching nothing but ornaments, so what better things to offer in my giveaway than ornament related goodies:

In GIVEAWAY #1 is Prairie Schooler's Book No. 110: "Santa & Friends" plus all the DMC floss needed to stitch each ornament.

In GIVEAWAY #2 is Plum Pudding Needleart's "Candy Cane Wishes" plus all the DMC floss needed to stitch each ornament.

In GIVEAWAY #3 is a stitched-by-me ornament from Prairie Schooler's "Santas & Snowmen" chart featuring this snowman with his little rabbit buddy.

To enter, simply leave a comment, on this post only, with the numbers of the giveaways you would like to win. Please include your email address if I can't reach you through your blog. And to make it more interesting for the librarian side of me, please let me know the name of the favorite book that you've read or listened to over the past year. Haven't read or listened to a book? Hmmm--get yourself to your nearest library soon :) No, seriously, I know how busy life can get, so how about the name of your favorite book from childhood? For me, the choice is easy... I just finished listening to "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett--probably the best audio book I have ever heard...really incredible. It is about life in Jackson, Mississippi in the early sixties as the Civil Rights movement was just getting underway. The book deals with a young white journalist, Miss Skeeter, and her journey to write a book about the experiences of the black maids ("the help") in the town. I laughed, I cried, I didn't want the book to end...

The deadline for the drawing will be Friday, January 29th at 5 PM Eastern Standard Time and I'll announce the winners on Saturday, January 30th. Good luck to all!

And thank you again, for all of your amazing comments on my last post--they mean so much to me!