Gifts and Giving ... and a Giveaway Sweepstake

Today's post is about gifts.  First, a story about a special gift I once received. Then, I have something I am really excited to give away!

Family Affair

Can you think of the best gift you have ever given?  How about the best gift you have ever received? December is a month full of gifts and giving - so I have been thinking about what makes a gift special. 

Sometimes, knowing how much effort the giver put into choosing or obtaining the gift can make it more meaningful.  Such was the case with my last doll. 

I was past the age for dolls, and I hadn't even played with them for several years. But I really, really wanted one that was featured on my favorite television show.  (I'm going to date myself, but does anyone remember Family Affair with Mr. French, the little girl Buffy, and Buffy's doll, Mrs. Beasley?)

I really wanted to have a Mrs. Beasley doll. She wore little granny glasses and talked (when you pulled a string.) My parents searched and searched, but couldn't find one anywhere in the whole city of Calgary. (Remember, this was long before the Internet!) Mrs. Beasley was as scarce as The Original Tickle Me Elmo had been in 1996, when every toddler wanted one!

My maternal grandparents lived in Pennsylvania, and somehow became involved in the quest to find a Mrs. Beasley. Amazingly enough, they located one - and Mrs. Beasley traveled to Canada, arriving in time to be wrapped and under our tree on Christmas morning.  I still have her, although her glasses have long since disappeared. Who could part with something representing so much love - especially when getting it was such a family affair?!

My grandmother visited me many years after I received my Mrs. Beasley,  and I showed her that I still had the doll!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Welcome to today's stop on the 

“31 Days of Blogging Deals, Freebies, & Giveaways Blog Tour”

Today I am feeling a bit like Santa Claus! That is because I am hosting a sweepstake in which one very lucky person will win a prize! Unfortunately, unless you are a blogger or thinking about starting a blog, it may not interest you. But, I think it is a pretty amazing gift for anyone who blogs, or is thinking about blogging!

Tanya from Blogelina, chose my blog to be one of the stops on her “31 Days of Blogging Deals, Freebies, & Giveaways Blog Tour.”  Today, and today only, I get to offer my readers the opportunity to win one of the prizes she is offering! Use the Rafflecopter form below, and enter as many ways as possible to improve your chance to win a class seat in the Profitable Blogging for Beginners Class, offered by Blogelina. The class runs for four weeks in January.  See more details here:

Profitable Blogging for Beginners: Class Details

This prize would be awesome for anyone thinking of starting a blog, new to blogging, or even an established blogger who want to learn some new things.  If you are not a blogger, but would like to be - this would be a perfect way to start.

Contest Details:

Only followers of this blog,  the most - - of every moment, will be eligible to win. (Please be sure to enter your email address in the Rafflecopter form below, so we can contact you if you win!)

Also, to win, you MUST do at least one of the following of the Rafflecopter selections below: 

• Pin this Giveaway Post on Pinterest

• Like Blogelina on Facebook,

• Follow Blogelina on Twitter.

No purchase necessary to win; odds of winning are based on the number of entries. Sweepstake runs from 5:00 am E.S.T. until 11:59 pm E.S.T. on December 15, 2013. To be eligible to win, you must follow this blog, and be 18 years of age or older. One winner worldwide will be selected at random, and will be contacted by Blogelina with further details.  Once Blogelina is notified of the winner of this sweepstake, this blog and its administrator have no further responsibility in the provision of this prize.
  

Blogelina has been kind enough to offer me a seat in the class as well - just for hosting this giveaway!  I can't wait to learn which of my readers will be a winner - and I look forward to learning better blogging skills in the on-line class together.

There are still a lot of days left in the Blogelina tour.  Be sure to visit all of the other participating blogs for chances to win some other great stuff for your blog!  And if you haven't - be sure to check out the Blogelina website, and join the 20,000+ other bloggers who get lots of helpful information there!

But first - remember to complete the Rafflecopter form below, and enter as many ways as you can to win  - before midnight tonight!

Good Luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway
This post may be linked to one of the great link-up parties I follow and list on my blog. Check them out!

Note: In the spirit of full disclosure, this post contains affiliate links, for which I may receive compensation if any purchases are made.  Also, I am being compensated for this post, as I will be receiving the same gift that is being given away today. All opinions expressed, however, are entirely my own.