Monday, January 26, 2009

Bloggy Giveaway - Bleeding Hearts

Am I insane? Why give away more? (see Sweet Giveaway and Deal, Cupcake, you can enter to win this too) I think it is because I am insane? Or I'm just hoping to get more exposure, I mean that is why you do a giveaway. Right?


So what can you win with this one? How about something that would be nice for Valentines Day?
How about my Bleeding Heart Fine Art Print?
That's it, and in 8x10 with an off-white mat ($30 value not including shipping), so you can just pop it right into an 11x14 frame. It is great for Valentines day and spring.

And talking about Valentines, I would love to hear about your favorite Valentine ever. Was it in fourth grade when that boy you had a crush put a valentine on your desk? Or in high school when you got a red carnation from a secret admirer? Or maybe the first Valentine with your husband? Or let me know the Valentine you dream of.

What was mine? Oh, that is tough. I'm sure once I post something here I will later realize that there was something even more special that I momentarily have forgotten. But let me try.

One I remember clearly was the first Valentine with my husband, but at that time he was just my boyfriend. We had been dating since June of the year before and worked together, so it was all hush, hush at work. I was disappointed because I thought that there was no way I was going to get any flowers or anything for my desk. I had pretended to be single for almost a year, but of course there was rumors around work by now. Still I was sure I wouldn't get anything until well after the work day had ended because that would just be a conformation of the rumors.

Then, in the afternoon, around the corner comes a delivery main carrying not just a dozen long steamed red roses in a vase, but also a bouquet of balloons, a large heart shaped box of chocolates, and a sweet little teddy bear, and they were for me! WoW! The gig was up. LOL. But he didn't stop there. Later on my desk was an invitation to dinner with just enough information to peek my interest. I can't remember exactly where we went to dinner, but I do remember it was a wonderful day and I still have that teddy bear. Of course my husbands romantic nature is one of the reasons I married him.

To enter to win tell me your Valentine story and with it be sure it includes a way of contacting you. Comments will be closed January 30th at 12 pm EST. I will ship internationally for this giveaway.

For a second chance to win, blog about my giveaway with a link back and then post it in a new comment.
And a third, tell your friends via Facebook or Twitter with a link and let me know via a new comment.

On January 31st I will pick the winner of this giveaway using the random number generator ( found here) to randomly select a number associated with a comment entry name.

OH, and I have a sale going on in my store. It is a sweet deal, because if you put "sweet" in the notes to seller when you make your purchase, not only do you get 20% off, but you are entered on to my Sweet Giveaway, Cupcake!

Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival Button

This giveaway is part of Bloggy Giveaways Quarterly Carnival which runs January 26-30. Check out all the wonderful giveaways and free stuff you can enter to win at BloggyGiveaways.com.


UPDATE:

I have loved reading all of your valentine stories. Just wonderful. Thank you to all who have entered. I'm so glad I'm doing this via lottery, because I wouldn't want to try to pick the best story.

51 comments:

Jodi said...

That photograph is beautiful! Thank you so much for the giveaway. My favorite Valentine looking back came from a younger boy who had a crush on me when I was in 5th grade. He made a gift in boy scouts that was supposed to be for their moms and he gave his to me. I wish I had held on to it, but in 5th grade I was more embarrassed by it than anything else. Looking back though, it was really sweet.

Amanda said...

My favorite Valentines story does not have to do with a boy, rather my mother. I was a sophomore at Clemson University, living in the campus dorms. I had no special "Valentine" (as usual, I didn't really date until I was a senior at Clemson). Anyway, I received a special package that day and it was a box full of homemade sugar cookies, shaped in hearts with pink frosting - made by mom!

She died a little over a year later from Leukemia. It has been almost 16 years and I still miss her so. I think about her cookies every Valentine's Day!

Melanie @ Whimsical Creations said...

My favorite Valentines is when my now husband asked me to marry him. We now celebrate valentines on the 11th (when he asked me)...nice to not wait for a table. =D

Unknown said...

beautiful picture! My favorite valentines was a couple of years ago, when my husband took me to my favorite park and we had a picnic in the middle of winter (it was cold but fun!) Thanks for entering me!
unforgetable_dreamer_always AT hotmail DOT com

Norberto Kurrle said...

What an excellent photo! My fave V-day memory was when my boyfriend (now hubby) took me on a city-wide scavenger hunt to find pieces of a heart. The last piece lead me to a romantic homemade dinner by candlelight! I think that was the last time he's ever made dinner! lol

free indeed said...

There use to be this bachelor fellow that worked as a janitor at the nursing home across the street. He was so good to us kids, letting us play baseball in the parking lot (as long as we removed the rock bases before going home). His nickname was Popeye and I adored him! Every Valentine's day he broght me a big box of chocolates in a heart shaped box. (no fear back then of perverts...and my husband doesn't even do this for me). I felt so special...this was probably when I was 6-9ish. I was going to marry that man! Well, the year Valentine's day fell on a Sat morning, I was still in my PJs watching cartoons when he came. I was so embarrassed to be in Pjs AND watching something so juvenile as cartoons, I was alittle cold toward him....he never came again after that...I should have gone and explained but what 10 year old knows how to do that? Sigh...he's been gone along time now; never married; and I think I broke his heart! I have regrets over this childish memory....

Anonymous said...

My favorite valentines day was the one that ended with my darling husband being released from the hospital after an accident at work. I am queenesperfect at yahoo.com

MamaGames - Alexa C. said...

Oh, Valentine's Day 2002. I was pregnant, and we CLOSED ON OUR HOUSE. My husband was doing everything he could to get us in our house before the baby came, and it was an act of love.

Julie said...

My best v-day was 2 yrs ago. I was 2 weeks overdue with baby #2 and that night I finally went into labor. She was born barely into the 15th.

Anonymous said...

What a lovely picture!

My best was last year when my husband took me and our boys to McD's to eat by candle light. I really enjoyed spending this special time with my four men!

Anonymous said...

Okay, since I already own a print of this beautiful photo I guess I can't win, but I wanted to share my favorite valentine story. My then boyfriend took me to a little out of the way place we liked to go for a beer, and proposed (we're married now). Here's the funny part though: he didn't know it was Valentines Day. :)

Crunchy Green Mom - Suzanne said...

I love your V-day story.. how sweet!!!

My best Valentine's Day? The one coming up. I've never really had a good one.. kinda sad after 35 years that not a single one stands out huh?

My guy and I have been dating for 4 months.. (4 months today... Hrm... kinds cool :))

So this V-day I've got so much planned for him. I've been planning things for months now... it should be a wonderful day!!

LilithSilvermane(at)gmail(dot)com

Anonymous said...

hihi that is a lovely print!
my best Valentine's Day was 2 years ago and myself and my boyfriend are at different schoold abotu 4 houres apart, he sent me a box on the bus full of Valentine's Day candy and one of his t-shirts that I could ware to sleep untill I got to see him again, it may be silly but I loved it.
thanks
angyla678@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

My most memorable Valentine story happened 8 years ago when I got very sick after I got my first (very stressful, hectic job..computer programmer). My boyfriend and I were living miles apart and right after we talked on the phone on Valentine's night, I slept and woke up at 12 midnight to hear him opening the door with a bouquet of flowers in his hand and lots of groceries. He cooked food for the sick me and and took care of me ala Florence Nightingale. That was the turning point in making me decide whom I'll marry...

That photo of yours is so nice!

sandierpastures at gmail dot com

An iMperfect wIfe said...

My favorite vday gift was the year I was a freshman in a new high school. I'd only been there a month. I was sitting in homeroom among lots of other girls getting flowers (from friends and boyfriends...) and then I GOT ONE TOO. It was from a secret admirer. It only cost a few dollars but the person never came forward. It saved me a lot of angst and anxiety that morning to receive it in front of everyone and made me feel good to carry it around all day.

Very special ;)

Jenny

Merry said...

My favorite Valentine's day memory is of dinner with my husband on a deck overlooking the ocean in Hawaii.

Lovely poster, bleeding hearts are one of my favorite flowers.

worthy2bpraised{at}gmail{dot}com

Alison Du Bois said...

A lovely photograph! And I enjoyed your story about your sweet husband, and reading the comments from others! My favorite valentine's was a surprise candlelight picnic in a meadow at 7,000 feet. There were thousands of stars in the sky and it was very cold, but wonderfully romantic.

Julie said...

My best valentines' day was in 2006 because we found out I was pregnant with our son! We couldn't stop smiling at each other all day! It was very exciting!

3boyzmom said...

I would love to win that photo art, it's beautiful! My favorite Valentine's Day is when I was pregnant with my son, and my husband surprised me with a bouqet of giant balloons, candy, roses, and a stuffed bear!! He drove up in the car to pick me up and the car was filled with the balloons, I saw him coming a mile away!!

3boyzmom said...

I tweeted!!


http://twitter.com/3boyzmom/status/1152247479

Gene and Annie said...

What beautiful photos! One of my favorite valentine's gifts was actually from my mom! She brought and sent me flowers to my house which I thought was super sweet!

Laurel said...

i'd never had a significant other for valentines... well, i sort of did in 2005, but we had just met in person two weeks before (we'd met online two weeks before that). i didn't want to make him feel like he needed to do anything big, as he lived 90 minutes away and it was a weeknight. so i told him not to do anything, and that i'd just see him the next weekend. i didn't want to put a ton of romantic pressure on our budding friendship. he had to CANCEL the order of dozens of tulips that had already gone out for delivery. some delivery guy's wife had an extra-special valentines that night, i bet!! but it's okay, since we got married on feb 18 - the next year. =)

Jessica said...

My favorite Valentine ever was this HUGE box of Godiva Choc. ($135!) that my DH gave me to ask me out on our first date (which was to be on V.Day) Talk about blown away! He's been just as sweet ever since.

Re said...

my favorite v-day memory was when my 3rd grade crush shared his 1/2 eaten candy with me. At the time I was repulsed but as an adult I can see that he was trying to share a piece of himself. :)

MOMFOREVERANDEVER said...

my favorite vday was the year I met my husband- it was on valentines day on our first day of class in college

Erika Powell said...

beautiful photo.
My best was my freshman year in college when I got peanut butter cups and hockey tickets. What can I say, I am a simple girl. Thanks!

Halifax @ Sparkled Beauty said...

My favorite V-Day was one that I celebrated with my boyfriend. We were friends for a while, so it was kinda exciting and funny to become a couple. It went so smooth and sweet

juan_hurrican (at) yahoo (dot) com

Sara said...

My best was last year being able to spend the day with my hubby and our first baby!!
Sara
seewhatisgood at gmail.com

DANIELLERX said...

Last year I got a beautiful engraved water globe. It had a unicorn on the inside (my favorite thing to collect) and played my favorite song "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" Thanks for the giveaway!!

dlfrx(at)sbcglobal(dot)net

Mia J. said...

I just loved the first year my little girl made me a Valentine at preschool. It was the best day and the sweetest card.

L. K. said...

Beautiful picture. My best Valentine's Day was the one where I got flowers for the first time. It was a long time ago but it still makes me smile to think about it. Thanks for the giveaway!

lmillitch (at) gmail (dot) com

Sarah said...

Wow! What a beautiful photo and the name "Bleeding Hearts" is just perfect.

My favorite Valentine's Day was a couple of years ago when the hubs got a sitter & took me to my favorite restaurant. After that we danced under the moon light near a waterfall (artificial) while he hummed "I Love You" by Lenny Williams. So sweet.

Thanks for the chance to win.

Sarah

sarah@thepitterpatterboutique.com

Michele P. said...

I can remember a cute valentine's day when I was about 9 years old and lived in Florida. There was this little boy who liked me and made me a cute little red valentine heart and decorated it with sparkly things and tissue paper. I had never seen anything so beautiful in my life and I ran up and gave him a kiss on the cheek. In front of the class... it was a cute moment, and although I didn't enjoy the teasing and neither did he, we both enjoyed the valentine kiss!

micaela6955 at msn dot com

Annie1 said...

Firstly, what a gorgeous photo!

The best valentine I ever had was when I was quite ill and my three daughters made me a hand makde card with pictures of them all and little notes about how much they loved me!

Thanks

nancyrobster@gmail.com

Michelle Fluttering Butterflies said...

That photo is very pretty! My favourite Valentines for a long time was in high school. I didn't have a date or a boyfriend or anything but my biggest crush and I spent an entire afternoon talking. He was talking to me and listening to what I had to say. It was the best afternoon for a very long time for me :)

Now that I'm married I always have nice Valentines. My husband goes all out and makes his own cards and buys me flowers, takes me out to fancy dinners and surprises me with little treats for about a week. Last year I got chocolates and this beautiful blue heart necklace. I always feel so pampered and special.

Peggy said...

My dream valentines Day would be my man to make dinner without me knowing ,a dozen of red roses and talk,have some wine and just relax with each other,I would love all this to happen on one of the fiji or Cooks islands. A dream come true.
Thanks
matternu@aol.com

Shannon said...

My favorite Valentine's Day was last year. I made my husband's favorite dinner and desert and we ate by candlelight at the kitchen table with our new son for the first time. It was wonderful!

Simply Stacie said...

My favourite Valentines day was when my husband surprised me after work by taking me out to my favourite restaurant and arranging for childcare for our children!

Momma J said...

My favorite Valentine story is when my hubby got me roses & the card said "Love Matt" - Matt is not my hubby's name. He had remembered when long ago I said I would get flowers from Matthew Macanaghy (sp?) before I'd get them from him. I was touched that he remembered I had ever said that!

I would love to win this photo!

Marianne
mommajdesigns(at)gmail(dot)com
www.crochetbymommaj.etsy.com
http://crochetbymommaj.blogspot.com/

Megan said...

my favorite Valentine would have to be the one where my husband proposed.

thanks
cheerket03@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

this is GORGEOUS! thanks for the chance... I want to win so bad :)
My favorite Valentines was also my first with my husband, then boyfriend... it's kind of dorky, but we went to dinner and then build a bear and made a valentine bear together... we still have the bear and it's special to me :)
wonderfullymade729 at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

tweet! tweet!
http://twitter.com/britzy2/status/1157068293
wonderfullymade729 at gmail dot com

Tammi @ My Organized Chaos said...

My fav valentines day was before we had kids and spent the day watching movies, going out for supepr and relaxing - not it's school parties....LOL

Darlene said...

My mother sends me flowers every Valentine's Day. She's so sweet!

Godesseablu said...

One of my favorite Valentine's Day stories is when I got off work and I was single at the time. She picked me up from work because my car wasn't working at the moment. I got her a dozen roses and chocolates and a card. She started crying and tanking me because my dad never gets her anything romantic like that. Thanks, Godesseablu@msn.com

AudreyO said...

My best valentines day was when my husband and I had about 30 people for dinner. Everything I made was in the shape of hearts. We had so much fun.

Angie said...

One of my favorite plants are bleeding hearts..this is a lovely photograph! One of my favorite Valentine's Day memories is from a few years ago. My husband was traveling for business all the time and was never home. I didn't expect him home for another few days and was cooking dinner for the kids..when the doorbell rang. I went to answer it..and there he was..standing there with a bouquet of daisies (my favorite) and a big order of hot wings (the kids and ours fave junk food). He had to drive all the way back for work in the morning..but I was so happy to have him home that night!

sandalsndaisies(at)yahoo(dot)com

Anonymous said...

I fantastize that I will spend a future Valentine's Day with my husband in Paris. I have never been.
I love the photo and would like to win it as a wedding present for a couple of friends. Great!

sc2466 at comcast dot net

Anonymous said...

My valentine story- I remember my father taking me to the lake to fish and surprised me with a basket!
every father should surprise their daughter
ashlomb at yahoo dot com

Donna M. Clark said...

My favorite Valentine was 2001. Mom had just married her new guy, and he gave each of us girls a single red rose in a vase. That was the first flower I had ever received, even though I had been married for 3 years at that time. I was moved to tears.

Reginald said...

when I proposed to my wife and she said yes

reginald2004 at gmail dot com

more great quotes


Don't bother about being modern. Unfortunately it is the one thing that, whatever you do, you cannot avoid.
- Salvador Dali

Living is more a question of what one spends than what one makes.
-Marcel Duchamp