Sunday, July 18, 2010

Giveaway!

I truly appreciate everyone that stops by and leaves a comment! It's a fun and amazing adventure for me in this great world of blogging! So many wonderful bloggers out there to meet...with such diverse reasons for blogging.

Many of you may already know that I started blogging as a way to share a bit about me and my life that is behind the Personalized Sketches artwork that I do.  I will be doing giveaways for my 100th post that are for free drawings and for gift certificates to be used for your own Personalized Sketches art.

But today, I am happy to announce a wonderful opportunity for a
$40 CSN gift certificate towards ANY product you can find at CSN online Stores.

(This post ties in with -  what was asked to share about - one of the many wonderful things you may find at the CSN stores... & the topic happens to be one of our first purchases...)

WHEN?

...way, way back, in New Mexico...when my hubby and I were mere babies!
~taken on our first Christmas...1982~
I was about 3 months pregnant with Girly~Twirly.
...our tree had strung popcorn strands, a bit of tinsel and a few handmade ornaments. 
This photo was taken after our 2nd big home purchase that we made together.

WHAT?
Now, let me tell you about one of our first purchases that my hubby and I made as newlyweds......that big ticket item, for us, was a solid oak dining table with 6 chairs.
Back in 1983, this was about $1000! And whew! That was quite a lot for us as newlyweds! We were married in Feb, and waited a little while before buying this. (Nothing else was in the dining room of our military house.,,,and it would be a long while before we bought anything else. :o) It really is a quality, sturdy set, but my hubby has wondered for when it was purchased, if the ones who sold it to us saw some "naive, young 'uns" coming and steered us to their higher ticket items.

...Lots of things transpired after that first year of marriage and 1988...(6 years later after Mr. B's flight school in Alabama).

After flight school, we moved to Hawaii, which was my hubby's first assignment as a Blackhawk helicopter pilot...


(taken at the Hilo Airport...we had stayed with his parents a few months until we were able to get military housing on Oahu.)

We were now parents of 2 beautiful little girls...

& owners of an addition to our dining room...

...in the corner of the dining room was a china cabinet that matched perfectly in style and it was also solid oak, although it was bought years later in Hawaii.

(That is Girly~Twirly checking out her uncle after "fixing" his hair with ponytail holders and scrunchies! And Girly~Whirly and I are looking at her creative work that was done on that very patient uncle.)

Now this past June 2010, Girly~Whirly and two of her dear friends/classmates drove down for a week to see a little of Savannah and get a change of scenery to do some studying for their Dental Board exams.

(June 2010)

Here is the most recent photo of those two pieces of dining furniture.  
I took this photo after our daughter Girly~Whirly and two of her dear friends/classmates left to drive back up to Kentucky.  The girls bought me a beautiful bouquet of hydrangeas before they left. 


They really have been solid pieces of furniture and have lasted a long time!  

Well...we have had the dining table and chairs for 28+ years (almost as long as we have been married!) ....and the china cabinet is about 22 years old.  We have had many, many dinner meals with family and friends on this table...crafts...studying...games...etc...  

Our tastes have changed some and so my hubby and I have looked at other dining furniture... but we haven't quite decided on anything yet. We may hang on to them...before too long...these will be "antique". haha (I love antiques.)

Here are a few from CSN that I think are very beautiful...

~Trump Home Central Park~

~Sunset Dining Set in Cappacino~


~Derby Counter height in Cappacino~

The CSN Giveaway ends next Sunday, July 25th at midnight... & winner will be announced on Thursday, July 29th.

Mandatory entry is:
1. Go to the CSN site (below) and let me know by leaving a comment on the
furniture that you like or is your style.

Optional entry:
2. Leave a separate entry, if you follow already or become a follower.

3. Leave a separate entry, if you have my button.


Please be sure to include your email. 

(Note: I am waiting to get confirmation that this CSN giveaway opportunity is open only to those in the United States and Canada.   But please still participate and I will update if it is open to all.)  ***CONFIRMATION--Sorry, but at this time, the CSN online store is offering this giveaway only to those in the United States and Canada.****

Blessings & Aloha!
(Happy Birthday to my dad!!! (July 18th) 
& Happy Birthday to our Girly~Twirly aka the Luckiest Mrs.!!! (July 20th). 
I will be posting a little about the birthdays 
& share some more Personalized Sketches art orders on another post). 

41 comments:

Suburban prep said...

I like the Modus Hudson Dining 7 Piece Counter Top Round Table with Wine Storage Counter Height Dining Table Set in Mocha.
It is one that looks like it could pass for a formal set as well. I like the wine storage as well (though I do not drink alcohol).
msgb245 at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

and I have your button on my buttons page! :-)

Anonymous said...

I am a follower already :-)

Anonymous said...

I like what you picked! But, I also liked Hillsdale Wilshire 5 Piece Antique White Counter Height Dining Table Set - 4508 Series

Lena Loves said...

i like the casablanca set it is so elegant and gorgeous!

ltung06@gmail.com

Vivek said...

Hi Maria,

It was a my pleasure reading your blogs , thanks.

You are blessed with so many memories... and the collection of pics you have of the times when I was even not born.

I also like photography..but due to some constraints could't able to do so....but as it is said there is a fixed time before which , how much one try can't get it..till the time come..

You both Looking Very cute in the Christmas pic..(cutest couple).

Lovely family pic ..and Gen Next..
and Loved the way you still have those beautiful Items at home , looking brand new.

I liked "Trump Home Central Park " & " Derby Counter height in Cappacino" You can pick any of them.

Thanks for such a lovely post.

Take care..

Have a great week ahead.
Keep smiling :)
God Bless!

theluckiestmrs said...

Mom! I LOVE those dining sets! ...of course, I'm a tad nostalgic about the old set. It's literally been around since before I was born! I love it! ;) Soooo...if you end up purchasing a new set and wanna pass it on to someone...say, your eldest daughter... ;) haha!

p.s. I have a couple awards for you on my blog! Check it out!

Domestic Diva said...

I follow on gfc

Domestic Diva said...

I'd get a guidecraft kitchen helper. For the dining room, I'm a mission style kind of girl.

LeksiDesigns said...

I love the Derby Counter Height! It is just my style!

I also stopped my to also let you know I gave you a Blog Award!! To get it go here: http://leksidesigns.blogspot.com/2010/07/blog-awards.html

Happy Sunday!

Bacardi Mama said...

We really must be alike because I love the Derby Counter height in cappacino.

Bacardi Mama said...

I've had your button for a long time too.

Bacardi Mama said...

I've been a follower for quite awhile and I'd follow you anywhere.

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

I like the Broyhill Vantana 7 pc leg table dining room set. Nice red/brown colors and seats are cushioned. We've had our set for nearly 30 years, bought in Alamogordo, NM, before our daughter was born. We didn't have a dining room table when we moved into base housing and decided it was time. I was tired of using my pregnant tummy as my table while sitting on the living room couch for dinner. That's what happens when you don't have any furniture but a bed and couches! But those were the good times.

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

I am already a follower of a lady that writes this blog! We used to live in the same town and be on the same Air Force base in NM. What a small world it is and now we meet through blogland! :o) Hugs!

Muthering Heights said...

I like the Aico Tuscano furniture. So pretty!

Thanks for the entry! :)

Bearly Sane said...

Hi Maria!
Thanks for stopping by last week, I needed a nudge. It's been head down, butt up, for quite a while and I have been wanting to catch up with my blogging buddies.
In regards to your dining furnityre and to be honest, I like what you have already...I love the warmth of that beautiful oak timber...if I lived closer I would be asking you how much you wanted for it!!
Thanks also for the awards.
Warmest Hugs,
Sandi @ Bearly Sane

Michelle A'etonu said...

i am already a follower!

Michelle A'etonu said...

I'm a big fan of casual dining and the Wildon Home Dixon 7 Piece Dining Set with Leaf Extension in Oak Finish would be my pick. I love the bench that goes with it too!

xinex said...

Hi Maria! SO nice of your daughter ad fiends to visit and so thoughtful of them to give you hydranges. Your dining room set really lasted so that makes it worth the price you paid for. I usually like traditional dining set for the formal dining room and farmhouse style for the kitchen....Christine

xinex said...

And you know I am a follower!..Christine

Natasha in Oz said...

Many happy returns! I hope the birthday celebrations are lots of fun.

Best wishes,
Natasha.

LV said...

Be sure to drop by my blog today,Tuesday. I do not have one of those stores around here. You will make some person happy.

GardenOfDaisies said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog the other day! You are so lucky! I would love to meet Paula Deen someday. :-)

DT ~ RDH said...

Oh my goodness, I am always amazed at the wonderful folks in the blogging community and how much I find in common! I was also a military "brat" whose parents met overseas (Hong Kong) and who lived in Hawaii (age 6-13), and am also a recently licensed RDH! I'm now living in Fl and have restarted blogging just last week.
Your blog is wonderful, and I love the stories, photos, and your amazing artwork! Aloha nui to you!

Debbiedoos said...

What neat post this is...I can't get over the table and how it held up. I know what you mean though, we too where very poor newlyweds...but those where the days! I am a follower and would love a chance to win the card, I need some kitchen utensils and things like that.

Unknown said...

wow, what quality pieces of furniture! in the long run, it was worth the money! i'm liking all your choices! here's mine
http://www.diningroomsdirect.com/2Y2161R-2Y0266-MO3254.html

Unknown said...

i'm cracking up that your button is actually a button! love it! i just put it up on my bloggity blog!

Unknown said...

and i'm already a follower! have a wonderful rest of the week!

hugs,
mo

Debbiedoos said...

Hi there...me again, and I am a follower:) Debbie
micmanno@aol.com

DT ~ RDH said...

So nice to see your comments on my blog today! Thanks for noticing I didn't have the "followers" gadget up ~ I guess I somehow deleted it, but it's up now. I long for Hawaii every day and plan to return within the next 2 years. So many things I want/need to do, esp. EAT!!! I swear, I will physically kiss the ground as soon as I touch it! :D

Debbie said...

I'd love to have this one: http://www.diningroomsdirect.com/Hudson-Dining-Series-MO3139.html
It doesn't look anything like what I have but I sure do love it!

Debbie said...

I am a follower.

mary.anne.gruen@gmail.com said...

What a beautiful story about your family and those two pieces of furniture.

We bought a second hand dining table at a garage sale this past year that had obviously lived through a lot of children and dogs. LOL There were crayon marks under the table where some of the previous owner's kids had left them, probably while pretending the table was a fort or something. I love picturing the life that table has known.

Diana said...

Hi Maria! Not entering, just visiting again... and enjoying all the beautiful furniture photos. And the flowers the girls gave you are gorgeous!! Realized I forgot to do the follow thing, so remedied that - I follow your blog now. =)

annies home said...

like the Wildon Home Derby 7 Piece Counter Height Dining Table with Wheat Back Bar Stool in Rich Cappuccino - 21154Tfsjft
shopannies@Yahoo.com

annies home said...

new follower
shopannies@yahoo.com

Cheryl said...

The Trump Home Mar-a-Lago 9 Piece Allegra Round Dining Set in Dark Cherry inspires me to want to make beautiful food, to adorn it.

dizzybloom at gmail dot com

Cheryl said...

I have become your newest follower :)

Thank you for the opportunity to enter my name.

dizzybloom at gmail dot com

Anonymous said...

I like the Broyhill Vantana set!

Anonymous said...

I'm a follower! But you know that!

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