Be My Valentine?

I will not lie to you. I am not exactly looking forward to Friday. Well, I was. But then, Sunday happened and all of sudden, I realized I wouldn't have a date for Valentine's Day after all. Not the real date-date at least. Not that the kids and I haven't been spending Valentine's Day with each other the past so and so years. We took family dates the first few years R wasn't around, then realized we were just stressing ourselves out with the crowd, the wait, the traffic, and all the hassle the day of hearts brings.

Last year, A and I took home Quiznos hoagies for dinner. Meanwhile, RL went out with KY and my mom. He later came home with a box of doughnuts and some chocolates for us. And that, dear folks, is how it is on Valentine's Day.

Last year's Valentine's treat from my little boy and his achi.

This year? Well this year, I was supposed to go out on a date (!!!). Alas, my date had to leave to clear out some work issues in the province. And so, we're back to having take-out tomorrow. Or maybe I'll cook, since the nanny will be away (even she has a date!). Not that I was expecting something grand this year, but you know, things have been better, and although we're not exactly where we want to be, God sure knows how to fill the void.

Today, in a conversation with my favorite aunt about Valentine's and how she is spending it with friends, relegating her dinner date to the less-traffic weekend, she says "It's just tradition. Valentine's is every day, if you know how to make it so. It's not the day, it's the date - the person or people you are with."

And so, I realized I celebrated Valentine's with my man Saturday night. I had that Valentine's date after all.

If there is one thing I am thankful for each time this day comes around, it is this: I've never been without love. In fact, every year, I am reminded that I am blessed to have who I have. Plus, I am expectant! I know that one day, when that day finally comes and I get to spend Valentine's Day out on a date, I can look back and say, hey, those take-out, date-less Valentine's Days weren't so bad after all.

And with that, here's another giveaway to celebrate Hearts Day with you! I am giving one of my readers an brand new, original 16" Mickey Mouse Valentine's plush! You know the drill. Happy Valentine's Day, friends. You are loved.

Won't you please be Mickey's Valentine?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway starts now! You have until 11:59PM of Sunday, February 18, to accomplish the steps required by Rafflecopter. I shall draw the winner the following day. You must use a valid email address when registering for Rafflecopter. I will use that email address to notify you, should you be my winner. This giveaway is open to anyone with a Philippine address.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Jars of Clay CD Winners!

Sorry! Sorry! I was planning on posting this a few weeks back, but events at the office got in the way, and I completely forgot this was still pending. As such, I am throwing in a couple of freebies (secret!) when I send out your prizes!

Without any more delays, here are the winners for that Jars of Clay promo! Each winning a Jars of Clay THE SHELTER CD plus something... uh... secret. Hehe.

DIANE CAMILLE ADRAQUE

JONATHAN BLAS

JOVIL OROZCO

JAYLORD RODRIGUEZ

PAUL MICHAEL CO

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Congratulations, winners! I shall send you an email over the weekend on how to claim your prize. Please expect it on the email address you used to join the giveaway.

Special thanks to House of Praise for the Jars of Clay loot!

Okay, now that that's done... it's time for another one... SOON!

Day 13: Oh Yes! Tickets!

I know. I know. Hahaha, same ol' spiel. Delayed. Maybe I should just forget about that Birthday Giveaway, but then, what will I do with the prizes? LOL! Just kidding.

So anyway, Becca Music sent me some tickets for this Friday's SAVED FESTIVAL - good seats, too! At first, I thought of giving out these tickets to five different individuals, but then, what fun would it be to watch all by your lonesome? So, after conferring with my brother (who incidentally has a pending giveaway on this blog for my birthday - yes, he heads Worship Generation), we decided to make this giveaway a little bit more awesome.

Presenting... DAY 13 of my very-much-delayed, sorry-to-keep-you-waiting, but-here-it-is-finally, and thank-you-for-your-patience BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT!

THE SAVED FESTIVAL 2012 BARKADA TREAT!

One winner to get 5 - Patron (101 BLUE) Tickets to SAVED Festival 2012
PLUS! 5 - 2012 SAVED Festival Shirts for a barkada of five!

Yes, that's 5 Patron SAVED Festival tickets from Becca Music and 5 original SAVED Festival Shirts from Worship Generation! Excited enough? Here's how to win this treat for your group!

1. Follow all the steps required by Rafflecopter below. If you don't see the template below, click on this link.

2. Leave a comment after this blog to tell me you joined this promo.

3. Deadline for entries is at 12noon on Thursday. Winner will be announced thereafter.

3. You, together with your four other friends (or relatives) must be able to claim your tickets at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday, Oct 26, between 5-7pm. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

So that's it! I wish you all the best of blessings! Haha! See you on Friday! Don't forget, you must be a group of five, ready and able to watch this amazing event at the Mall of Asia Arena on Friday!

This blowout has been brought to you by my good friends at Becca Music, Inc. and my beloved brothers, KM and KA of Worship Generation. Worship Generation shirts are available exclusively through House of Praise and House of Praise Direct.

Only one day left to go! I was waiting for photos and a recipe to go with the last day of my Birthday Blowout. Alas, almost five months after my actual birthday (LOL!), this blowout is coming to a close. Stay tuned!

Day 12: Bet You Thought It Would Take Another Month!

Haha! I am running out of Blog Titles. Hehehe. Trying to be a little funny here. I am trying to fit in a blog post or two, in between typing up permits for our new releases here at work. So excuse the short posts. I just wanted this off my "to-do list".

DAY 12! I know some of you were probably wondering whatever happened to that Birthday Blowout. Well, it took in a little snooze and some shelf space. But yes, it's back. And I shall try to get everything out by the weekend (shoot me, there goes another promise, eeps!). I have a party, no nanny and guests. So yes, let's keep "all appendages crossed" (as Samantha Sotto would say... quoting here, in case some wise crack would accuse me of plagiarism, guffaw!). So where was I? Oh yes, cross those fingers!

Each gift pack contains a San Remo Food Container, a pack of San Remo Penne Pasta,
a pack of San Remo Elbows Pasta and a pack of San Remo La Pasta Alfredo Flavour Pasta and Sauce.

San Remo Pasta is made from 100% Australian Durum Wheat. It contains no artificial flavorings, colors, nor preservatives. Visit the San Remo International Website for great pasta recipes for Penne and Elbows.

Kaye says: You know what I love about San Remo? The pasta is almost always al dente, even if you accidentally over cook by a few minutes. You can never go wrong with San Remo.

Win a gift pack via Rafflecopter below. You must be able to pick up your prize from a House of Praise store (Panay Ave, Robinson's Galleria, SM North Edsa, SM Megamall, St. Francis Square, V-Mall or Festival Supermall).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

*Please note that this contest starts tomorrow (August 18), around lunch time. 

C'est tout. Bonne chance. Have a great long weekend!

Two more giveaways to go for this... uh... delayed birthday blowout. Please be patient with me. :)

http://sanremo.com.au/

DAY 11: Let's All Pretend It's Not The Mid of August.

LOL! Ok, time flew. And I neglected ze blog. :( I am sorry. So let's cut to the chase, get to the point, etc.

DAY 11! Of what used to be... well, my birthday blowout. Eeps!

WIN 1 OF 5 SIGNED CDS FROM THE PLANETSHAKERS!

Originally a youth movement in Australia, the Planetshakers are now known all over the world! ONE is actually their 21st album, recorded LIVE during the 2009 Planetshakers Conference in Melbourne. Includes the hits "Get Up", "No Compromise" and the worship anthems "Like a Fire" and "Lift You High". These albums were signed during their last worship concert in Manila. And is the perfect addition to your original CD collection.

I shall be giving away 5 Signed CDs (one each to 5 blessed winners). You know the drill. Please make sure you are able to pick-up your prize from a House of Praise store, should you win. House of Praise Direct shall shoulder shipping charges for out of town winners. Yay!

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This giveaway has been brought to you by House of Praise Direct. No House of Praise store near you? Order direct from House of Praise Direct and get your loot straight to your doorstep. For inquiries, please email House of Praise Direct via houseofpraisedirect@gmail.com.

3 more Blowout days to be announced . Stay tuned!

House of Praise Direct
www.planetshakers.com

PS. I'd like to thank you all for your patience. And to all my loyal readers who leave me notes on Twitter, Facebook and via email, I appreciate you.

Day 10! Finally!

I think it's high time we resume the giveaway on this blog. Sorry, folks, I've been really busy at work. My little boy is sick today, but I'm here in the office trying to finish stuff for my brother who leaves for a US conference in the middle of my vacay next week. So yea, last minute stuff.

Anyway, on to the giveaway. I've been thinking which ones to put per day, since I had to fast forward the giveaway because of those Jayesslee tickets. But decided to just go with the original sequence. So today, we're doing Smucker's.

Choosy Moms choose JIF and these products from Smucker's!

If you aren't familiar with the Smucker's brand, you should know that Smucker's makes the best peanut butter in the world - JIF. But sadly, my friends at SYSU Marketing didn't give that for this giveaway. JIF Creamy Peanut Butter is LOVE. So we're going for second best - still best in it's category though! Each gift pack comes with a 12oz jar of Smucker's Goober Chocolate (yes, Peanut Butter and Chocolate Stripes! Nom!), a 12.75oz jar of Smucker's Sugar Free Strawberry Preserves (sweetend with Splenda!) and a JIF Oven Mitt. We have FIVE GIFT PACKS to giveaway, and may I remind you that you must be able to pick-up from a House of Praise store when you win. Or if you live outside Metro Manila, you must shoulder shipping charges (sorry, single mom with a limited budget plus brand hasn't sponsored shipping).

This promo is for Philippine residents only.


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 May I please remind you to follow instructions carefully. Wrong entries will be disqualified. If you're tweeting about this giveaway, do note that I have already made a tweet template for this. All you need to do is press "TWEET." Hehe. Good luck!

THIS GIVEAWAY IS BEING BROUGHT TO YOU BY SMUCKER'S.

http://www.smuckers.com/