I thought I’d have a little giveaway to add some sunshine to the February blahs! The giveaway includes two of my wishlist/favorite things here… I’m sure you’ll guess by the end of the post which ones they are.
A clue; sorry, it’s not a Oprah-esque giveaway! 😉
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This post isn’t really sugar related, but I do have other things I love besides my sweet hobby; a few of which I’ll share with you:
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1. Anne Taintor Products
Her name is Anne Taintor and she runs a humorous business selling greeting cards, notepads, magnets, purses etc., which, to quote the words on her site, “…give voice to modern women’s secretly subversive thoughts.”
I just knew that when I found this charming Anne Taintor I Don’t Recall Asking notepad, it would be a perfect gift for my female colleagues studying Culinary Arts in Kingston this past summer. We definitely did enjoy some interesting, insolent humour together. (That’s Liz and Delia below):
They did get a kick out of their parting gift from me. (Notepad above). You can find Anne Taintor’s hilarious items on her site here or if you’re an Amazon fan, at my affiliate link here.
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2. Kindle
This one’s on the wish list. Ever since I used a Kindle (a wireless reading device), at a friend’s place over the Christmas holidays, I’ve been thinking of getting one. If you have one I’d love to hear what you think of it in the comment section.
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3. iPhone
The iPhone… Also don’t have one of these yet, but I’ve certainly looked at them longingly a few times. I’ve pledged not to get one until my old phone dies, but I’m really looking forward to that day.
You should see my phone. My students think it’s so old and retro that it’s ‘sick’. Here’s a pic:
Pretty battered huh?
I’m glad this pic is in my favorite things after all. This phone has lasted me a long time, and (my DH will laugh at this), it has great reception. Let me tell you, there’s been many a time that all the BlackBerries in the room didn’t get a signal and I did. It is analog-digital after all.
Ahem… on to another favorite thing. This one is a gadget as well – seems like I like a lot of them.
This one has helped me take better pictures this year.
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4. Canon Rebel Xsi Camera
The Canon Digital Rebel XSi is what I use. I’m still learning lots on how to use it, but even on the automatic settings it does a great job!
I really do dislike getting my picture taken – it rarely works out. So, only because I wanted to post a pic of the camera and needed a mirror to take a its snapshot, I’ve put a photo of me in here with it. (Okay, and because I actually paid some attention to my hair this day I was out with my friend. I was waiting in change room for her to try on some clothes and I had recently acquired the camera).
Anyways, on to the next item.
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5. MACRO LENS
With this Canon Macro Lens you can easily get great close-up shots; I used it to take this next photo:
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6. Cupcake Charm
Of course something sweet related had to sneak in here. I gave this cupcake charm to my friend Kim earlier this year… she’s a sweet-nut as well. I don’t have one yet but might just head over to Amazon to order one. They’re $17.99 (Guess you know now Kim. Actuuuually, really they were SO expensive when I went to buy one. They’re on sale now).
Ahem.
The next fave is, alright, another sweet related item.
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7. KopyKake Projector
Not a very pretty looking thing, is it?
It’s big, it’s awkward-looking, (although it doesn’t look quite as bad with the table clamp option), but I know I couldn’t have created many of the cookies I did this year without this Kopykake Projector . If you’re new to visiting Sweetopia, you can find some examples of cookies I made using the projector by clicking these links:
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8. My Winter Coat
What is there to say? I love it! I have to wear it every day in the climate I live in and never get tired of it. (I don’t think I look like her in it though!)
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9. EMU Australia Winter Boot
These boots keep me so snuggly warm! Enough said!
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10. Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes Book
I’d like to practice more of my cake skills in 2010 and am going to use this inspiring cake book by Martha Stewart and Wendy Kromer. Here’s a small sampling of what you’ll find inside:
Excuse the crooked images; I took actual pictures of my book.
Wendy Kromer, the creator behind many of Martha’s cakes, is coming to the Bonnie Gordon School in April. I’m so excited to be signed up for one of her classes and will keep you posted on that!
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Now that I’ve shared my current 10 favorite items, it’s time to have a giveaway for TWO of them!
Wish I could be like Oprah, but even though they aren’t a KopyKake Projector or a Kindle, they are FREE! (If you win!)
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Martha Stewart Wedding Cakes and Cupcake Charm Giveaway!
If you’d like the chance to win a copy of Martha Stewart’s Wedding Cakes & a Cupcake Charm Necklace, leave a comment below, maybe sharing one of your favorite things or whatever you’d like to write! CONTEST CLOSED
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- Another way to enter is to retweet this post on twitter. You can tweet as many times as you choose; they will be added to the draw! CONTEST CLOSED.
- The contest is international
- The draw will be held on Sunday, February 7th, at 7 pm EST
- I’ll be using www.random.org to draw the winning comment.
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Good luck!
xo,
Marian
Susan says
I can’ think of a list of favorite things right now. I do think the cake book would be awesome.
Kimberly M says
I have been drooling over the kopycake projector since I first saw it on your site!
My husband has a Kindle, and he loves it. However, I also love it, and I’ve practically stolen it from him. I love that I can shop for a book right on it, it gets sent directly to it, and I’m reading within a couple of minute. Plus, it’s screen is so eye-friendly.
I would love to add Martha’s book to my cake book collection. It’s so gorgeous. Thank you!
Diane says
Yay a I love Martha Stewart!
Leona says
I love the cupcake charm it’s so adorable and I could really use that wedding cake book. Thanks for having this giveaway I love your site!!
Nicki C K says
I am relatively new to your blog and I have to say that I’ve enjoyed looking over all of your posts, old and new. My daughter and I are attempting to make and ice some cookies for V-Day and I’ve got some really great tips from you site..so thank you! I would love to have everything on your favs/wishlist too! That KopyKat Projector is SUPER COOL–I had never seen one before! 🙂 Thank you for the chance win a couple of your favs!
Sara F says
Please enter me in the giveaway. Thanks.
Sara
~~Rhonda says
Thanks for hosting a great giveaway. The book and the charm are both fun! A macro lens is on my wish list, too. DH gave me a telephoto lens for my birthday last year. Maybe I’ll get the macro this year! 🙂 ~~Rhonda
Domanique says
I love love love my new jeans! But a cute little charm and cake book could very definitely be my new faves.
Trisha says
I have been wanting that book! Oh how I would love to win it!
Casey Smith says
I love your site!
Hope I win!!
Casey
Rebecca says
My favourite things include anything sweet, of course. And scented candles. A really good vanilla or cinnamon spice candle can never be beat. Love your blog!
caroline roberts says
I love looking at pictures of cakes, cookies, and cupcakes. I google and oogle them. Being a baking noob I also love finding recipes to try!
Carol says
Thanks for the give-away. The camera would be tops on my wish list too.
Jena Marie says
Ooh what a lovely wishlist.. it looks pretty similar to mine! And that cupcake charm is just adorable!
rianne says
Mmm…that book is on my wishlist!! I, too, wish to improve my cake decorating skills this year!
Beth Lachance Hesson says
Great info, Marian! I do like your favourite things. I guess my newest, favourite thing is my brand new Disney Marathon ribbon. It is beautiful! Not only do I enjoy looking at the giant Mickey Mouse medallion because it is so cute, it is a wonderful reminder of a great family trip where 10 of my family, which included three grandchildren met me at the finish line, cheering me on dressed in red t-shirts embroidered with a Canada Flag and TEAM BETH on each! Sorry, no picture, but great memories!
Pauline Rogers says
Wow, how I wish I could decorate cakes Lile that! WOW!!!
Kathy says
I think I’m going to have to put the Kopykake projector on my wishlist too. Especially after seeing the cookies you made with it!
Karri says
Just recently started reading your blog… thanks so much for the cookie tips. I LOVE doing cupcakes, though, and fell in love with the cupcake charm… I hope I’m lucky enough to win it, but if not, I’ve added it to MY Amazon wish list. 🙂
Erin says
Ooohhh….I love the Martha Stewart book! I am getting married in November and love to decorate cakes, so it would entertain me for months!
Autumn says
While I don’t personally have the Kindle, my friend does and she raves constantly about the thing. She’s got me wanting one. lol I love the charm, it’s adorable!
Stacy says
Sweetopia has been one of my five favorite blogs for a year now… and it was the first one I’d discovered! You inspire my baking all the time – I am self-taught, but by your generously sharing the various tips and tricks, I’ve come a long way, baby! …. that being said, I LOVE Anne Taintor products, and so does my sister! We buy each other her magnets all the time… my favorite has the mom with the wooden spoon and the mixing bowl, saying, “You’ll eat it, and you’ll LIKE it!”… I love the 50’s Stepford moms with the scathing wit sayings. Lastly, after several more weeks of playing and getting my royal icing cookies down pat, I may – skeptically, MAY be ready to own my own Kopykake. And dear Marian, my neighbor to the north, I would never have been able to aspire to all this baking greatness without your help. Many, many thanks!
Sylvia says
I just discovered your blog a few days ago! Your cookies are gorgeous!
evelyn says
thanx for the great wishlist. my favorite item is my kitchen aid. cant live without it!!!
judy says
Hi Marian,
I still owe you some pictures from our P. Porchen class… will try to send them in the next few days. Am taking B. Gordon’s Confectionary Arts Program… started this week… I’ll keep you posted.
Judy
Memoria says
I would love that cookbook!! Cool! I just found your blog; it’s amazing!!
Linda Vandermeer says
Love your fav things list and the blog. My fav thing at the moment is tea parties with my 2 little girls (3 and 5), am making some cupcakes based on your last post for this weekend. Already have the flowers and leaves ready and the girls cant wait.
Jessi H says
The little cupcake charms are soooo cute!! Thanks for the giveway!
Stephanie says
@ linda:
First off I have to say THANK YOU!! You have a wonderful site and the information is step-by-step…LOVE IT!! I am in the early stages of learning sugar art and while you make it look so easy, your instructions give me the self-confidence I need to do it!
I look forward to your blog and all the fun things you take on!
Looking forward to 2010 and all the great ideas to try!
Shannon says
sweetopia is trippin’!
i think those decorated cookies you do are mad cute and i could only wish i can do ’em as nicely as you!
the cupcake charm is precious(:
Julie says
I love my Kindle! I’ve had it almost a year now and love it more each day. So easy to use, I no longer have piles of read books laying around that I don’t know what to do with, it’s easy to take when travelling, I can get a new “book” in mere seconds!
Love my iphone, too, though I’m still learning how to use all the options.
Joanne says
My favourite thing has to be your website – your work is bloody fantastic – makes me so very jealous ; )
Melissa Kelly says
Hello 😀 I love your blog and all your creations! I found you one day in Flickr and I see we have a common heroe! Peggy Porschen 🙂 My wish is to someday make a pretty cake like her 🙂
Applecore says
I wouldn’t even know where to start with my wishlist, I spend too much time on the internet looking at adorable things I want! One thing I am especially in love with at the moment though are the dresses from Baby the Stars Shine Bright, I am saving for one but am a looong way off.
I have seen you mention the KopyKake before and was a little sad after searching for it and seeing the price 😀
Also you are doing the draw for the prize on my birthday so will be checking to see the result!
O2 says
I really enjoy your website, thanks so much for your time and tip sharing!! Crossing my fingers…..
SandyG says
I have SO enjoyed reading your blog for a while now. You inspire me with your creations. Would love to have the Martha wedding book – I’ve made all my daughter’s birthday cakes (she’s 13), and would like to branch out a little. Maybe this would help! Love love love you blog – keep up the good work!
Kristin Kunoff says
Love your website! Pick me!
doreen says
I have an iPhone and my husband had to twist my arm into getting one b/c he wanted one so badly. I do love it though and think you should definitely get one.
On my wish list is a nice camera like yours!
Thanks for hosting this giveaway!!
Kelly says
Love your blog. I don’t really have anything on my wishlist currently.
As far as the kindle, I don’t think I’d like to give up holding a real paper book. Thanks for the giveaway!!
Angela says
Thank you Marian for sharing your list of favorite things.. and your generosity of the giveaway.. I’m still trying my luck to win this book! My wish list now is very simple handheld mixer so I could make meringue for macarons. Its easier to use a handheld for whipping up very little eggwhite
brianna says
ooohhh lala .. i want one… i wonder if i win it if i can keep it away from my 3 year old.. she would want this baaadly…
alisa says
I want!!
Amy (Sing For Your Supper) says
Awesome giveaway! I love the cupcake charm – so cute!!
Betsy says
pick me!
Sharon says
Thanks for offering this great giveaway! I too have a really old phone, but it’s the same with reception — with age comes wisdom, haha!
Erin says
I’d have to say chocolate cupcake with buttercream frosting in a bowl of milk. If could be that I’m just craving this right now, but it always makes me happy.
Nadia H. says
I love the cupcake charm, actually this last christmas I made some yarn cupcakes they look adorable on my pink christmas tree. I am thinking to put them on my kitchen all year around. thanks for the giveaway.
aurora says
OOH I’d love to win that Cupcake Charm!!
Stacey says
I just discovered your website and I LOVE it!!! I had to forward it to all my friends.
ELizabeth says
Just found your site via bake it pretty via bakerella. Can’t wait to get into reading more!