In Honor Of My Birthday, I'm Offering You A Gift!

Today is my birthday but why should I receive all the attention and love? Giving gifts is even better than receiving them. So I have decided to choose my special day as the day to offer a prize to you, one of my loyal three readers. (But don't forget to read my birthday post since this is just about the contest)!

I wish I had enough money to buy everyone a gift but those lottery tickets that aren't available here in Alabama have yet to pay off for me. So one gift for now is what I can offer. I have no sponsors or advertisements. This comes from my own pocketbook (which is small).

I wanted to give away something that represents my sense of humor and personality. During the stressful weeks that led up to my business conference, I came home and would de-stress by reading a cookbook. A cookbook, you ask? Yes, but it's not just any old boring cookbook by Rachel Ray or Giada. It's a comedian cookbook by Amy Sedaris. By far, it's one of the funniest things I have ever read or laid my eyes on.

When I sat at the dinner table to feed Vivian, who would have tantrum after tantrum, I'd pull out "I Like You: Hospitality Under The Influence," and laugh until my stomach hurt.

Now, this book is NOT for everyone. It contains some wonderful recipes mixed in with some very odd and crude things. For example, Amy offers instructions on how to properly clean your vagina, how to make panty hose crafts and how to design unique cakes for a stepmother or gay person just coming out of the closet. Yes, it's that kind of funny book. So it may not be your cup of tea.

I love it though! It's so far out there and exactly what I need to unwind from a busy day. Plus, it really does have tasty recipes in it along with beautiful pictures of those scrumptious meals you can make. Read the book reviews to determine if it would be a match for you (or your friends).

RULES: If you would like to win this cookbook, all you have to do is

(1) Leave a comment below. Yes, that's it! See how easy-going I am?

I'd prefer it if you explain why you want the book but you don't have to. I am not even going to advertise this on my facebook page. I'm becoming rather bored with Facebook anyway. I'll just see who happens to read this entry. I don't have the energy to self-promote it. I'm turning 31, remember?

I don't twitter so you don't have to tweet about this giveaway. What's with all that tweeting, chirping and tooting your own horn anyway? I don't get it. Or maybe I just don't need another distraction in my life.

(2) If you become a public follower of me, then that's cool. Why should I give you an extra chance for that though? I don't want to peer pressure anyone to read my blog. Shouldn't you be here because you like it and want to be here? Give me a good reason and then I'll maybe throw in an extra chance to win. But if you don't want to be a follower, that's okay too. I really don't care. I like a small, tight group of family and friends anyway. Just our own cozy therapy session, each of us holding hands and singing Kumbaya.

(3) If you want to blog about me or the giveaway, that's cool. But is it really worth all that trouble just to win a book? I don't know. You tell me. I'm new at all this stuff. I'm just trying to make it easy on me, err, I mean you. That way I can be lazy, oops, I mean so you don't have to think too hard on this one.

NOTE: Your comment must be left below by 12:01 a.m. on August 16, 2009.

DETERMINING A WINNER: I will use no scientific method or random number site to pull names or numbers. I'll do it the old-fashioned way - I'll write out your names on a sheet of paper and pull it from a shoe box. How hard can it be? There will probably only be two of you so I can just sing "eeny, meeny, miny, moe." If by some miracle more than two names enter this little contest, then I'll have Vivian pull the winning name. If I can, I'll try to video her doing it so you will know it's fair!

Now some may say, Ooooh, you're trying to be trendy, Mandy. Just giving away something since everyone else gives stuff away too. Oh puh-lease! I'm not a trendy type of person. Didn't you see this post I wrote awhile back? Need I say more! Believe it or not, I can be a nice person. So that is the only motivation behind this. And you really should read this cookbook. It is so hilarious and I believe in sharing good laughter! Would I lie?

DRAWING OF THE WINNER: The drawing will take place on August 16th, Sunday morning, whenever I wake up (or whenever I feel like getting my butt up off the couch and doing the work). I will announce the winner by mid-day. Good luck! And as the extremely funny Miss Amy Sedaris would say, I'm doing this because "I Like You."

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


And special thanks to Brandy over at The Buzz for giving me an early birthday gift - another blog award.



Awww, shucks ma'am! You're a sweetheart. I love my gift of friendship. I will pass it on eventually but right now I reserve the right to gloat and keep it all to myself. It's my birthday so I've earned that right. :-) Thank you!