“My husband is in Afghanistan and a few ‘favorite things’ would brighten my day!”
How about that, Sisters?!? OK, Edie, please contact Living Proof Ministries at toll free (888) 700-1999 and give us an address. Please ask for Kimberly or Susan. Knowing what we now know, all of us here would want so much to send you to the beach…but, instead, we’re sending the beach to you. ENJOY!!!
PROCEED WITH CAUTION: this post will embody most everything you anticipate and perhaps even despise about women’s ministry. There will even be pink nail polish. As the great Professor Thornbury said a few weeks ago on the Twitterverse “something is not a stumbling block if you can see it coming.” So, consider yourself warned.
Colin and I just returned from a week at the beach in Mexico. It was crazy fantastic. I slept. I read classic literature. I also swam with a dolphin named Duey. And on the day I returned home I was greeted abrasively by a stomach bug and a crick in my neck so bad I could barely move my head. Oh, and then my 100 lb puppy Winston ate my over-priced prescription eye-glasses. But how can I really be frustrated with this bad boy?
Anyway, since this weekend was the Memorial Day holiday I scrolled through numerous tweets from people who were somewhere fabulous while I was at home with a bag of frozen corn under my neck. And I began to weep for the serenity of the ocean and my dolphin Duey.
But enough about me.
I want to talk about you.
I got to thinking that there may be some of you who won’t get a break this summer. While nearly everyone you know is off to some fabulous island, you won’t get a moment’s rest. For whatever reason, you won’t be able to retreat to the beach or the mountains or to wherever else makes your heart happy. We want to send a little fun and lots of love your direction so we’re doing a random give-away. And it will not include commentaries, concordances, or anything super useful or meaningful.
This giveaway is simply full of some of my personal favorite summer things including: Bobbi Brown Beach parfum (seriously smells exactly like the beach!), classic Ray-Ban aviators, Votivo Candle in White Ocean Sands, a pair of bright yellow Moleskine notebooks, Tea Forte’ Pomegranate Blackberry Iced Tea, and America’s Test Kitchen Best Summer Dessert recipes. See the contents below:
There are really no conditions for this giveaway. My hope, of course, is that this gift makes it into the hands of someone who simply can’t get a break this year and not someone who is heading to the Maldives or Bora Bora next week to stay in one of those little huts with glass floors sprawled across sparkling turquoise waters. But truly, if this gift brings a big smile to a single one of your faces that is quite enough for me.
So, please enter your name in the comments section if you could use a little sunshine in your world. We’ll do a random drawing and announce the winner at noon on this Thursday the 31st.
You are loved.
Melissa
Would love a relaxing summer give away – thanks for the opportunity 🙂
This would be so fun! I am having a baby in a matter of weeks, so no vacation for me! Thank you from me and my houseful of boys!
How sweet of y’all to do this!! Would love this bag of goodies!
Can I nominate someone that is not me? My mom:
Diane Deschenes
really needs a good pick-me-up right now. My brother sustained a head injury recently where he lost a lot of memory. My mother is under tons of stress and deserves some doting on! #DotingonDiane
Thanks, Anna Marie Deschenes
Sunshine! I need Sunshine in my life!:)
Thanks for the chance to win some of that yumminess! 🙂
hope im lucky enough to win this!
I AM getting away this summer, but if I win anything, I’m giving it to someone who isn’t. I promise!
I love it! Great idea! As a mom of four, working over the summer this summer fo the first time…this looks awesome! Trying to create some fun in the sun for the kids despite my seeing clients three to four days a week.
I am going nowhere at all this summer! My daughter had a new baby 3 days ago and I am spending it helping her!!
Looks awesome!
Trish Blackwell—please enter me. Thanks:)
such a sweet summer-y give-a-way! 🙂 thanks for bringing a smile to someone’s day!
Recovering from jaw surgery with 3 kids… one being a 2yo who keeps hitting me in the face, making the recovery longer. Oh boy, do I need a beach!!!!
OOOH! ME ME ME! Cancelled our beach vacation because our car blew up and today…today I ruined one of my most beloved possessions, my Kindle. Used it yesterday outside as I was spending my 18th wedding anniversary painting trim, forgot it outside and we had a surprise summer downpour. I have been so sad all day, this give away made me smile! Thank you!!
What a great idea! Thanks!
Amy from KC 🙂
Ohh!!! So fun! I have never won anything before I hope I win!
What a fun idea, Melissa! Makes me feel almost warm just looking at the gifts! (The PNW is NOT getting much sun these days, or even temps. out of the 60s!)
Luci west could really use some sun in a basket this summer:-)
I love this idea!! Thank you so much for doing this and I hope that your neck feels better soon =)
What a blessing if God lets me win!!!!!!!!!!!Jodi Lapham
What a fabulous giveaway!
Oh my goodness…it’s the beach in a bag!
What a sweet thing to do!
I would love a gift basket like this!
Would love to imagine myself on vacation somewhere right now rather than to be recovering from breasted cancer surgery. But praise God, the pathology report was very good. No cancer found in the lymph nodes! He has provided me an opportunity to slow down for a little while and draw closer to Him!
We are expecting a baby girl in June so there will be no vacation for me! In fact, lots of sleepless nights and hundreds of diaper changes… But oh so worth it!! I would love a little vacation in a bag!!
I am entering for a sweet friend who I know would love this and could use some pampering – so if I win, its hers! This is SO nice of you Melissa -<3
Oh what a FUN idea!!
kathy fowler
This is a fantastic giveaway. I would love to win it and share it with my family and a friend who will be having surgery soon.
I’d love this!
Ooohh…pick me, pick me!! 🙂
What fun! Thrilled that you were able to enjoy some down time.
I am blessed in this season of life with a Man that “hearts” traveling.
Love,
Yolanda
Wish I was going to the Maldives also…but those goodies, would make my summer working retail at a big box store extra manageable.
Katy Roberts 🙂 The whole set looks relaxing!
Please enter me…Stephanie Edens 🙂
I would live to win this for my Mom:-)How gracious of you!!
What fun!
Oh please, oh please, oh please! 🙂
Brittany. This sounds amazing
How wonderful! I will definitely not be going someplace this summer, except the fun of my backyard with my awesome hubby and two babies. We are working hard to get debt free and rarely even get date nights. It is amazing to be loved on like this!
What a wonderful treat. 🙂
what a fun, fun giveaway!
Given that my 8 month old will be crawling, maybe even walking by summer I don’t think a RELAXING vacation will be in my future for a while. I love him to bits but a vacation by the beach won’t be the same for awhile. However, although it’s not relaxing it is hugely rewarding to watch your child discover new things every day.
Hi Melissa,
Why, I can feel the sand between my toes just looking at that giveaway! Thank you so much!
karen:)
I would love to have a sample what a vacation might feel like if I were to go on one! Thanks for the opportunity.
this looks amazing, i can pretend i’m at the beach!
(hand raised) “Ooh, pick me!”
Me please!!
Would love a chance to win. Thank you for thinking of us
Jan Jones