Queen for a Day Giveaway 2011

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks for entering!

Welcome to Simple Living Media’s Queen for a Day Giveaway! Today we’ve got five giveaways full of treats to celebrate the mom in your life, just in time for Mother’s Day on May 8.

Here at Simple Organic, a lot of our readers are mamas so we tackle a lot of issues and topics that related to mothering and parenting within the natural living realm. And f you’re not a mother, because I know plenty of our readers are not, chances are you know someone who you could bless the socks off with the gifts from this great giveaway if you win.

I love the idea of pampering mom with little treats and sweet nothings that let her know how special she is. We can, of course, make her feel this way any day of the year, but Mother’s Day gives us the chance to make the day all about her and what she does for the family.

This week, I’m stoked to get to bless one mama with a gift basket full of these fabulous and fun items! And for those of you who need shopping ideas, everything included would make a unique, affordable gift for Mother’s Day.

1. Tote Bag from Bag Full Of Posies

I already love my jute tote bag that Kellie at Bag Full of Posies sent me. It has such a whimsical design to it and is also a great size to hold everything from groceries and farmer’s market finds to library books and beach towels.

Kellie’s shop is full of adorable bags, with both stitched and stamped designs, along with a few other fun pillows and kids’ accessories. I love this customizable rosette tote, and I know my daughter would adore this petite tip toes and tutus bag! Between now and May 7th, you can use the code “SIMPLELIVING” for 15% off your gift purchase!

Kellie is including one tote bag (design of the winner’s choice) in this Simple Organic Queen for a Day gift basket!

2. Journal from Gadanke

I was so thankful when Katie sent me my handmade journal from her shop, Gadanke, as journaling is something I’ve been wanting to get back into. I chose the Seeking Grace prayer journal, and I really love all the prompts and ideas inside.

Katie’s creative touch is on every page and makes for an inspiring little notebook that is easy to take along or sit over coffee and writing in. As I looked through her shop, I was also eyeing the gratitude journal called The Little Things and the Love Where You Live minibook, which is to journal all about the place you call home. Katie is offering our readers 10% off, good until April 29th, with the code “LOVEMOM10.”

Katie is including one journal (design of the winner’s choice) in this Simple Organic Queen for a Day gift basket!

3. Large Beesilk Package + Large Au Chocolat Package from MadeOn Skin Care

What a treat it was to get this set of Bee Silk and Au Chocolat lotion bars from Renee at MadeOn Skin Care. I love the simplicity of her products, not to mention the fact that they are handmade (and totally non-toxic). If you’ve never used hard lotion, it’s a bar (looks like a bar of soap) that you rub on your skin to moisturize. Your own body heat softens it just enough to rub on.

I had tried her Bee Silk bars before, but this was my first time sampling the Au Chocolat. It has a delicious smell which comes naturally from the cocoa butter (my daughter loved the chocolate scent). Renee even sells a DIY kit, for making your own lotion and lip balm! If you need to do some Mother’s Day shopping, be sure to use the code “lotion4mom” for 15% off all cart items through May 5th.

Renee is including one Large Bee Silk Package plus one Large Au Chocolat Package (each comes with a large bar, pocket-sized bar and lip balm) in this Simple Organic Queen for a Day gift basket!

4. Necklace from Tea and Laundry

Who doesn’t love a little handcrafted jewelry? I love the necklace that Emily from Tea and Laundry sent me and she picked out a lovely one (pictured) that one of you is going to win as well. When I wore my new necklace just for a few hours I got several compliments, and for good reason– it’s beautiful!

Emily also makes other jewelry (I think I’m going to need these ice cream cone earrings!), accessories and some beautiful paper goods as well. Be sure to visit her Etsy shop and check out all she has to offer! For free shipping on your Tea and Laundry order, use the code “MOMFREESHIP” until the end of May.

Emily is including one handmade glass necklace in this Simple Organic Queen for a Day gift basket!

5. Ice Cream Sampler from Graeter’s

Anyone who knows me knows that I am an ice cream aficionado. I especially love handmade, artisan and small-batched ice cream, and that’s exactly what Graeter’s is known for. They use fresh cream with no rBST, cane sugar and no hydrogenated oils, and the process they use is totally new to me; here’s a little information on how they make it.

Our secret recipe of fresh cream and egg custard is gently swirled along the chilled sides of a slowly spinning French Pot Freezer. As the creamy blend thickens, a blade softly scrapes the sides of the pot, folding the ice cream into itself. Then we add the fresh ingredients to complete our unique flavors.

The gentle folding process prevents air from whipping into our ice cream and accounts for the extremely dense and creamy consistency. Where a typical pint of ice cream can weigh as little as 8 ounces, a Graeter’s pint weighs nearly a full pound! Graeter’s ice cream is so rich and creamy that we have to pack every pint by hand.

Graeter’s is including one 6-pint variety pack of their delicious ice cream in this Simple Organic Queen for a Day gift basket!

6. Book Collection

This amazing gift basket also will include one copy of each of the following books, which are sure to inspire Mom in various aspects of her life:

Organized Simplicity: The Clutter-Free Approach to Intentional Living by Tsh Oxenreider
This book has been really helpful and inspiring for my family as we’ve been working on decluttering and simplifying. From the family mission statement guidelines to the practical room-by-room workbook, my husband and I have really enjoyed working through Tsh’s great ideas and philosophy.

Steady Days: A Journey Toward Intentional, Professional Motherhood by Jamie Martin
Jamie (editor of Simple Homeschool)’s book is one that I’ve only recently began to dig into, and already I can see that her experiences have given her a wealth of helpful tips and suggestions that are going to assist me in my daily “job” as a mom. I love that she wrote it in small, easy-to-read chapters, which I’ve been able to glean from in small doses at a time. This book is a gem for anyone with young children!

The Reluctant Entertainer: Every Woman’s Guide to Simple and Gracious Hospitality by Sandy Coughlin
I wasn’t familiar with Sandy’s popular blog before I received her book, but now that I know about it, I’m sure it will become a useful resource for me when I’m entertaining. Her book is real, sincere and heartfelt and sure to inspire its readers to a lifestyle that’s more inclined to hospitality. I love how she reiterates how we don’t have to have the perfect home to be hospitable!

Green Market Baking Book: 100 Delicious Recipes for Naturally Sweet & Savory Treats by Laura C. Martin
This book is sort of a dream come true for me, and truly came at the perfect time. My husband and I are serious sweets-lovers and I’d been feeling more and more inspired to try using more natural sweeteners in my baking and cooking. In just a couple of weeks, I’ve already learned so much from this book and already made several recipes (the honey-sweetened strawberry shortcake was amazing!). I love that it’s laid out seasonally and can’t wait to work my way through more of it (it’s also beautifully illustrated, which doesn’t hurt!).

How to win

This giveaway is now closed; congratulations to Veronica!

One Simple Organic reader will win all of the items listed above, making it a sweet gift basket to bless the mama in your life (maybe it’s YOU)!

Everyone has three chances to win. Here’s how:

1. Comment on this post, answering this: Tell me something you love about a mother in your life.

2. For an extra entry, “like” Simple Organic on Facebook. Then leave an additional comment letting me know you’ve done so.

3. For an extra entry, tweet about this giveaway, using @Simple_Organic and the hashtag #mothersday. Then leave an additional comment letting me know you’ve done so.

This giveaway will end this Saturday, April 30 at 11:59 p.m. EST, and I’ll announce the winner this Sunday. I hope you win!