Birthday Week Giveaway
I had a teacher in high school who gave a present to his mother every time it was his birthday instead of the other way around. He told us that he wouldn’t be here if not for her; she did the hard work on that day and she should be celebrated for bringing life into this world and raising him all these years. That the gifts should flow towards the people who helped you reach the birthday instead of towards you. And even though giving a gift to his mother is the most family-building-normative way of thinking that negates whole ways of constructing family and raising children (gee, thanks Mr. S), I do like the sentiment behind it. The idea that we wouldn’t get through another year without the people who hold us up, and on the turning point of each year, recognizing them with a gift.
I could restrict the gift giving to my mother, but that excludes my father, who might not have squeezed me out, but certainly had a hand in raising me. And I could give something to both my parents, but that leaves out my siblings who certainly influenced the person I’ve become. And I could give something to my parents and siblings (and their partners) but that leaves out my nieces. And we haven’t even gotten to Josh. And the twins. And all my friends growing up and now.
Quite the conundrum.
Instead, the kind people at ThinkFun, amused by my gushing post about their games, have agreed to give away copies of the physical games and iPhone/iPad apps to you. I know that I normally don’t do giveaways, but I honestly believe that my ThinkFun games have made me smarter (at least, that is what I tell my friend, C, when I am slightly buzzed off of hard cider and we’re trying to play Chocolate Fix). And they are so damn portable. And beyond Apple products and L.L.Bean clothing, ThinkFun is one of the only companies that consistently impress me. That I can put my stamp of approval on it and say, “this company has never let me down.” (L.L.Bean, if you’re reading this and want to give away a pair of curvy-line jeans to a reader, I’m down with that too).
So, in honour of my birthday this week, I am hosting a giveaway of four ThinkFun games:
- Rush Hour
- What’s Gnu (and you can read here how we play the game)
- Rush Hour iPhone/iPad app
- Solitaire Chess iPhone/iPad app
These toys are all good for kids and adults; meaning, I play them without the kids around. And I don’t mean I play them because they left them out. I mean that I packed Solitaire Chess and had it with me when I went to BlogHer last year.
And this is how it works — you need to give a word gift for someone else. Yes, that’s right, as we do for the Purim giveaway, you need to go leave a comment somewhere.
- Leave a comment below (yes, a rockin’ toy that is good for kids and adults alike 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.
- 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. 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, “ThinkFun games are so much fun!” I’ll nod my head with you, 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 separate 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.
- In addition to everything else in your comment, please list which of the games you want to win. You can write “all” if you’d be happy to get any of them or you can write “1 and 2” if you don’t have an iPad. Or you can write “2 and 4” if you don’t like Rush Hour, etc. Please write this information in each comment you leave.
- The giveaway ends at 9 pm EST on Thursday the 2nd, therefore, you can return all week 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. The winners will be contacted by email, but I’ll also list them in the next Friday Blog Roundup.
Sample Comment (just so you get the idea):
I commented on Life from Here’s post about her daughter’s birthday (http://lifefromhere.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/two-years-old-almost/). It blew my mind that she’s already two! And I’d like to win 1, 3, or 4.
*******
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 and then pay it forward by going to someone else’s post and commenting on it. You know how good it feels when someone leaves you a comment, so go do the same.
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.
So, that’s it. In order to win, you have to join in my kumbaya-comment love fest. But it’s really worth it. These games rock. And ThinkFun, I’m having a blogoversary coming up in a few weeks if you want to do this again… (and L.L.Bean and Apple, feel free to join in too).
28 comments
Today I read a blog where a fellow inferitle is struggling with her new identity, being pregnant. She has also had some rude comments made to her about her blog title which breaks my heart. Her blog “The Princess and the Pee Stick,” can be found at http://theprincessandthepeestick.blogspot.com/
1 and 2
I don’t want a prize. But I do want to tell you that your birthday is also my anniversary, so THAT’s cool. And I did the gift-giving thing to my parents and relatives for my 25th … I ordered roses to be delivered to where we were visiting my grandmother. Everyone was overcome. 🙂 I would make you cake if you were in my ‘hood!
I commented (with great sadness) on the final post (EVER) to be written at The Modernity Ward. I am really, really, really sad that this blog is closing down. It’s a beautiful farewell post.
http://leerypolyp.blogs.com/the_modernity_ward/2011/05/the-day-the-music-died.html
I don’t want the prize either (I have yet to get over my angry birds obsession, and it’s already taking up too much time and iPhone battery). Just wanted to say that I think giving other people presents on your birthday is an absolutely awesome concept. And happy early birthday Mel! Mazal Tov!
I have been crying all week over the loss of baby Owen at 6 months of age over at “Three Times the Fun”. Owen is survived by his other two triplet brothers and an older brother as well as a loving mommy and daddy. The entire Bissing Family needs your strength and kind words this week. The post about holding Owen for the last time about ripped my heart out and yet Owen was the one without a heart after it had been donated to another child. http://bissingfamily.wordpress.com/2011/05/28/he-doesnt-have-a-heart/
P.S.
Please enter me in for 1 or 2. Happy Birthday – what a neat idea!
I left a comment here at Creating Motherhood where she was talking about the question “what does it feel like to be a single mother?” http://creatingmotherhood.com/2011/05/30/not-knowing-the-difference/comment-page-1/#comment-120050
And I’d like one of the first two games, since I don’t have any of these iGadgets like all the kids today.
Calliope at Creating Motherhood wrote a wonderful post about the “single” part of single motherhood.
http://creatingmotherhood.com/2011/05/30/not-knowing-the-difference/
I’d want to win #4.
Happy Birthday!!
WHAT? Only 7 comments???
I left a comment today at Bloodsigns:
http://bloodsigns.wordpress.com/2011/05/26/and-so-the-matter-was-decided-accidentally/
(although it is awaiting moderation.)
Worldgirl reflects on how their new insurance policy will not cover IVF, which means the end of family building for them, as far as they can see at the moment.
Happy Birthday week!
I left a comment at I’m very far away: http://imveryfaraway.blogspot.com/2011/05/3-minute-update.html
She’s stimming for her 2nd IUI and it’s taking longer than she expected and she’s already feeling quite bloated. Not a good feeling!
I’d like game # 1 or 2.
(I’ve been trying to comment ever since you posted this, Mel, but Blogger has been having issues and I couldn’t post on anyone’s blog. It seems to be fixed now)
I left a comment at Eggs in a Basketcase: http://eggsinabasketcase.blogspot.com/2011/05/emergency-broadcast-system.html
Some of the hardest words to hear are from your own sister, who has only been TTC one month.
I’d like game # 1 or 2.
I left a comment at Ready for my baby bump:
It sure looks like a 2nd line to me!
I’d like game # 1 or 2.
I left a comment at The cat lady who has endometriosis: http://www.mom-wanna-be.blogspot.com/
She just went through her 3rd IVF today and is feeling quite positive. Wish her a good 2WW.
I’d like game # 1 or 2.
I leave comments all over, but the most recent was congratulating Kelcey on her new iPhone. (http://www.mamabirddiaries.com/the-mamabird-diaries/hey-its-manhattan-we-used-to-live-here-its-awesome/#comment-32458)
Maybe I should go back and send her here, because she probably needs an app. Me, I need Rush Hour (for the iPad) because I’m almost out of the free levels!
I left a comment here: http://sohardtrying.blogspot.com/2011/05/doing-fine.html. Michelle is taking a break from reading many blogs, as she is 19 wks along with twins and finds it hard to read the blogs w/o thinking a miscarriage or something terrible will happen to her. She posted a great picture and announced if she is having boys, girls, or one of each.
I would love to win either 1 or 2.
Happy birthday
I left a comment for grace at: http://chois-r-us.blogspot.com/2011/05/once-upon-time.html. She is loving life with her newly adopted son. He is so funny. I love reading about him and seeing the pictures of him enjoying life.
Just commented on grace’s story of her boy’s haircut. it is hilarious. she is a fabulous mom. http://chois-r-us.blogspot.com/2011/05/laters-lovely-locks.html
i would love to win #1, second choice #2
happy b-day
I commented over at The Spohr’s Are Multiplying. http://thespohrsaremultiplying.com/heather/beach-baby/ Annie is so damned cute and Heather is a fabulous photographer.
#1 or #2
I commented over at Edenland… http://edenriley.blogspot.com/2011/05/burnouts-and-donuts.html …go congratulate her on her well deserved award!
#1 or #2
I commented over at Mommy Odyssey http://mommyodyssey.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/a-letter-to-an-old-friend/ …a really cute post begging her body to cooperate this cycle.
I commented over at My Blog Is Boring… http://www.myblogisboring.com/2011/05/after-dinner-conversation.html …she has a great sense of humor and it shows in this short, funny post.
#1 or #2
I commented over at In One Ear http://seivadjen.blogspot.com/2011/05/muffin-tin-x-4.html She makes her kids the cutest, most imaginative lunches.
I commented over at Bionic Mamas http://bionicmamas.blogspot.com/2011/05/memorial-day.html She linked back to an incredibly touching memorial day piece about a friend.
I posted over at Untypically Jia http://www.untypicallyjia.com/2011/05/i-finally-did-it-for-him.html She is a brilliantly funny writer. Go read it if you need a laugh (and don’t get scared off. I promise the post isn’t going where you think it’s going).
#1 and #2
I posted over at My Dusty Uterus http://mydustyuterus.blogspot.com/2011/05/fun-game.html She posted about how hard it can be to accept the weight gain of pregnancy (even when you’ve fought hard for the pregnancy) when weight has been an issue for you. Very poignant and a bit of snarky fun at the end.
#1 or #2
I commented over at Not A Fertile Myrtle http://www.notafertilemyrtle.com/2011/05/perfection-and-infertility.html It’s a great post about how infertility has brought some perfect moments to her life.
#1 or #2
I commented over at Kir’s Corner she is such a talented and eloquent writer and you can see it in this post about family and Memorial Day weekend.
#1 or #2
I left a comment for Melissa (http://www.savingcentswithsense.net/2011/05/oxygen-magazine-4-99year/) because she made my YEAR with a deal for Oxygen magazine! I have her in my facebook feed so I never miss a deal!
I commented on Lori’s post about childhood summers. She makes me wistful for experiences I never even had.
http://writemindopenheart.com/2011/06/fort-luz.html
(#4)
Happy Birthday, for reals this time!