Happy (Almost) Canada Day!!!

As a proud Canadian I just wanted to wish all my fellow Canadians a great big Happy Canada Day! And hey since we are such a likable bunch, give your favorite Canadian a big great big hug eh! =P

I'm excited that tomorrow they will be relighting the Canadian Cauldron from the Vancouver 2010 Olympics! So if you are in the area definitely go check it out because you might not know when they will relight it! Also they want everyone to bring their red mittens! You know what red mittens I'm talking about! The crazy red wool mittens that everyone wanted to get!

Winners! (Long over due!)

I know these giveaways ended a while ago and that I dropped the ball but I finally got around to drawing the winners for some of the great giveaways!


So for the winner of a Lulu's dress of choice, there were a total of 687 entries and:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

76 

Timestamp: 2010-06-30 22:18:38 UTC

So Emily is the very lucky winner!

For the Louis Anthony Pearl Earrings there were a total of 739 entries and:

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random nu

mbers:

499 

Timestamp: 2010-06-30 22:24:51 UTC

The very lucky winner was anonymous!

Finally for the winner of the Pearl Outlet Giveaway of the pearl set, there were a total of 647 entries!

Random Integer Generator

Here are your random numbers:

367 

Timestamp: 2010-06-30 22:28:24 UTC

and the very lucky winner is: VickieB!

Congrats goes out to all the winners! I have emailed you! Please email me back within two days or I will have to choose a new winner!

There are tons more giveaways to enter! =)

Alibi by Teri Woods, Review and Giveaway! 5 Winners!

What would you do if you told one little lie and that little lie eventually consumed you? What if you were forced to go on the run hoping that no one would find you but knowing full well that you always have to watch your back and look around every corner?

Alibi a great book by Teri Woods goes deep into the belly of Philadelphia's crime scene and doesn't turn back.

Here is a little teaser from the official Hachette site:

Two men think they've found the perfect opportunity--a chance to rob the stash house of Simon Shuller, one of Philadelphia's biggest drug lords. But their plans are spoiled when one of Shuller's men catches them as they break into the stash house. Temperatures flare as the men capture Shuller's worker, Poncho, and force him to show them the goods. What they didn't expect was for Poncho's partner to be armed and very dangerous. An altercation breaks out and when the smoke clears, Nard, Poncho's accomplice, is the only one left standing.

Thinking quickly, Nard cleans shop and makes his escape, but not before being spotted by a few neighbors. Not wanting to kill anyone else, he makes a mad dash for the streets but wonders if the witnesses will give up his identity. What he needs now is a plausible alibi. If he doesn't come up with one fast, it could mean life in prison, or death on the streets.


And here is more about the author of this great book:


Teri Woods was born in Delaware and later moved to Philadelphia, PA where she worked as a legal secretary/paralegal for eight years in a Philadelphia law firm. She began writing True to the Game in 1993 and began to submit her work to publishers. After being turned down, the book sat dormant in a closet for two years. In 1998, she began selling handmade copies of the book out of the trunk of her car. With the success of the handmade books, she started her own publishing and production company, Meow Meow Productions. Teri Woods lives in New Jersey with her three children. She is hard at work on her next novel.

My Review:

I really enjoyed this book and it was a real page turner. I thought that the characters were developed and you really felt connected to Daisy, the main character. You really felt bad for her because of the situation that she got herself into with telling just one lie.

This book is a great indepth look into the lives of gang members and shows the real and very unglamorous side to a life of crime. Nard is an 18-year-old drug runner for Simon Shuller, and Poncho is his partner. Sticks is part of Shuller's team, and was supposed to be the lookout on the day that two young street thugs decide that they can make a quick buck by robbing the two drug runners as they sit in the stash house. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out very well for them, and now Nard needs an alibi.

This is where Daisy Fothergill, a 22-year-old stripper who is one of Stick's "girlfriends" comes into the picture. Stick offers her money to provide Nard with an alibi for the day in question and she willingly accepts, even though she's not a very good liar. She thinks, "I'll just tell this to the investigator, and that will be that." She does it simply because her mother needs the money and she can not make enough being just a stripper.

Bodies start piling up and Daisy realizes that the one little lie that she told might just end up costing her everything. When she comes across an unexpected windfall, she uses it to leave both Philadelphia and city life. The FBI, the police, and Shuller are all after her. The question now is, "Who will find her first?"

As you can tell this is one page turning book that you can't put down because you just want to know what happens in the end!

The Giveaway:

The lovely people over at the Hachette Book Group are going to give five lucky winners the opportunity to win this great book!

This giveaway is only open to residents of Canada and the US! And you have to have an actual address no P.O boxes!

This giveaway will end on July 24th!

How to Enter:

1) Go to Hachette Book Group and comment on a book that has caught your eye on their site for one entry! (THIS IS MADATORY!!!)
2) If you become a new follower you get four more entries
3) If you are currently a follower you get six more entries (Yay for being loyal blog followers!)
4) If you post my button on your blog you get five extra entries
5) If you blog about this contest and include a link to
Hachette Book Group (http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/) you gain five more entries. Make sure you include a link to the post.
6)If you follow me on twitter you get two extra entries (@thegiveawaydiva)
7)If you tweet about this giveaway you get one extra entry and this can be done once a day for an extra entry! Make sure to include a link to the giveaway as well as @thegiveawaydiva
8) Enter any of the other giveaways for two extra entries
9) Become a fan of The Giveaway Diva on Facebook for two extra entries

Nimli Scarf Giveaway

If you are trying to make more green choices when it comes to the items you purchase, Nimli is a great resource to find natural, organic and eco-friendly items for a green lifestyle.



Nimli is an eco-friendly company that provides natural, organic, and sustainable products made by independent designers who combine their effortless creativity with Nimli's environmentally conscious ethic to offer an array of home decor items, clothing, and beauty products that are natural, organic, recycled, sweatshop-free, and cruelty-free. They have such a great selection of items that you can find almost anything!


Many people may have a preconceived notion of green items picturing dull colours and itchy fabrics, but if you look through Nimli's items you will find it hard to believe that these products are either natural, organic or eco-friendly. And that is the true beauty of their items because you can not only get exceptional style and design but you are also doing your part to save the environment.



Nimli has been featured in so many great publications and there is no doubt that everyone is embracing a greener lifestyle. Nimli's products have been featured in such publications as Marie Clare, Lucky, Glamour, InStyle, People and so much more!

My Review:


The lovely people over at Nimli offered me the opportunity to review an amazing product from their online catalog. They were so kind in sending me the Azuri Ombre Silk Chiffon Scarf

This soft and sheer Ombre Silk Chiffon Scarf is the ideal accessory to accentuate any look. Expertly crafted from the finest silk, this Silk Chiffon Scarf is incredibly versatile and can be worn for any occasion. 100% Silk. Here are the dimensions of it: 50" length x 14" width. Imported. Dry clean.


I love how light and airy this scarf is and how it is not to heavy for summer months. It's the perfect length in order to wrap around my neck and I love the colour of it. So far I have worn it many different ways with many different outfits. Most of the scarves that I have are much heavier and are more suited to winter or fall, but this scarf is perfect end to an outfit. I find that I feel more dressed up whenever I add a scarf and it certainly adds another element to an outfit.



I think that the best part of Nimli's scarves is the fact that they have such a wide variety of colours. All there scarves are available in such a wide selection of colours that it's hard to choose the colour that you like best. And another great thing is that Nimli's scarves are all on sale for great prices! The scarf I reviewed was regularly $80 but it's now on sale for only $22!

The Giveaway:


Nimli has been so generous to offer one very lucky Giveaway Diva reader the chance to win the amazing Chiffon scarf that I had the chance to review. With all the amazing colours the winner will have a hard time deciding which one to get!

This giveaway is open to US and Canadian Residents. This giveaway will end on August 28th


How to Enter:

1) Go to Nimli and comment on your favorite item on their site for one entry! (THIS IS MADATORY!!!)
2) If you become a new follower you get four more entries
3) If you are currently a follower you get six more entries (Yay for being loyal blog followers!)
4) If you post my button on your blog you get five extra entries
5) If you blog about this contest and include a link to
Nimli (http://www.nimli.com) you gain five more entries. Make sure you include a link to the post.
6)If you follow me on twitter you get two extra entries (@thegiveawaydiva)
7)If you tweet about this giveaway you get one extra entry and this can be done once a day for an extra entry! Make sure to include a link to the giveaway as well as @thegiveawaydiva
8) Enter any of the other giveaways for two extra entries
9) Become a fan of The Giveaway Diva on Facebook for two extra entries

*Disclosure: Please note that I was sent the scarf by Nimli in order to conduct a fair and insightful review. I was not compensated to write this post and as a result all opinions and experiences are that of my own.
o

Sorry for being MIA

Sorry for the lack of posts recently but I haven't been feeling so well, so the posts have not been my top priority. But I'm getting better now so I'll be able to provide more posts! Thanks for your patience! =)

Alexis Bittar Giveaway!

If you live in New York and are a huge fan of Alexis Bittar's edgy designs you should sign up to win this amazing contest! Three winners will each receive the large scaled cuff in rose gold ($285) from Alexis Bittar's spring '10 collection! It's such an amazing cuff and I wish I could win it! The best part is that THREE lucky ladies get to win it! The only sad thing is you have to be able to pick it up in New York!

Click on over here to enter!

Upcoming Review from CSN Stores!!

Gift giving can be hard work! I mean first of all you need to think about what to get the person and then you actually have to go through the trouble of trying to hunt it down! I recently discovered csnstores.com which is such a great resource when it comes to finding the perfect gift for that special someone! csnstores.com has over 200 sites that specialize in such things as platform beds, kids furniture, shoes and even the latest kitchen tools! What I also love is that they have tons of great products that are from the most popular brands and they have such great discounts! Discounts of up to 80% can be found if you search hard enough!

Here are some of the great products that CSN Stores has to offer:



So look forward to a review on a great product courtesy of CSN Stores!

Husband and Wife: Book Review

What would you do if you found out that your husband cheated on you and he wrote a book about it? That's the dilemma that Sarah faces when her husband Nathan makes the startling confession right as they are about to go to a friends wedding.

Husband and Wife is the amazing and page turning book by Leah Stewart who is also the author of the smash hit The Myth of You and Me and Body of A Girl. You can visit her site here to learn more about all the great novels that she has written!

Here is an official synopsis of the book:

Sarah Price is thirty-five years old. She doesn't feel as though she's getting older, but there are some noticeable changes: a hangover after two beers, the stray gray hair, and, most of all, she's called “Mom” by two small children. Always responsible, Sarah traded her MFA for a steady job, which allows her husband, Nathan, to write fiction. But Sarah is happy and she believes Nathan is too, until a truth is revealed: Nathan's upcoming novel, Infidelity, is based in fact.

Suddenly Sarah's world is turned upside down. Adding to her confusion, Nathan abdicates responsibility for the fate of their relationship and of his novel's publication—a financial lifesaver they have been depending upon—leaving both in Sarah's hands. Reeling from his betrayal, she is plagued by dark questions. How well does she really know Nathan? And, more important, how well does she know herself?

For answers, Sarah looks back to her artistic twenty-something self to try to understand what happened to her dreams. When did it all seem to change? Pushed from her complacent plateau, Sarah begins to act—for the first time not so responsibly—on all the things she has let go of for so long: her blank computer screen; her best friend, Helen; the volumes of Proust on her bookshelf. And then there is that e-mail in her inbox: a note from Rajiv, a beautiful man from her past who once tempted her to stray. The struggle to find which version of herself is the essential one—artist, wife, or mother—takes Sarah hundreds of miles away from her marriage on a surprising journey.

Wise, funny, and sharply drawn, Leah Stewart's Husband and Wife probes our deepest relationships, the promises we make and break, and the consequences they hold for our lives, revealing that it's never too late to step back and start over.

My Review:

I really enjoyed reading this book and I thought that it really went into Sarah who is the narrator's mind. It really showed the reader her feelings and emotions that went through her mind during the whole process and it felt as if you were her best friend and she was confiding all her deep dark secrets to you.

I also liked reading about her two children Binx and Mattie who really took on the mannerisms of real children. I thought that all the characters were well rounded and I felt compelled to keep turning the pages in order to find out if Sarah decides to forgive Nathan for his affair.

I would recommend this book for being funny, heart wrenching and captivating! Perfect for the beach!

You can purchase this book here on Amazon for only $16.99!

*Disclosure: I received this book from Heather and Harper Collins through my membership with the Product Review Place. I was not compensated to write this post and all opinions are that of my own and may differ from others

For the Very Special Father: Splurge Save Steal

This special edition of Splure Save Steal is dedicated to all of the Father's out there! The one's who cheer you on and are there for you every step of the way. Here are some gifts that would be perfect for that special dad in your life

Steal:

These are pretty cool whiskey stones from Think Geek will ensure your dad's whisky stays nice and cool without thining it out like ice does! (here)

This motorized tie rack is perfect for the dad who likes to remain organized! It's also a great help when he's late for work! $39.99 (here)


For the dad who loves fashion and being comfortable at the same time, give him the gift of customized Chuck Taylors just the way he wants them! $62.00 (here)

Save:

For the Dad that loves to grill, this basket is jam packed with everything he could ever ask for! And the best part is that you will get some delicious BBQ!! $98.95 (here)


Give dad a well deserved break with this massaging bed rest! His sore back will thank you! $99.00 (here)



For the dad who loves to stay connected to technology, ensure that his gadets will always be charged. $89.50 (here)

Splurge:

For the dads that love to golf this is perfect because it's a golf swing recorder and it can help your dad improve his game! $349.99 (here)


Ensure that Dad captures all the important moments in life with this amazing JVC High Definition Camcorder. $1285.95 (here)

Marlo Noel Giveaway!

Can you sense it in the air? That's right wedding season is fast coming upon us and very soon everywhere you look there will be happy couples getting married. If you are a bride you may be wondering what you could possibly get as a gift to thank all of your bridesmaids. Well have no fear because the amazing Marlo Noel is here to provide the most breath taking pieces of jewlery!



I love the wide selection of great earrings, bracelets and necklaces that are found in Marlo Noel's shop! She pays such great attention to detail and that really shows in everything that she does! I love the great packaging that each and every Marlo Noel piece comes in! Look at how amazing those gift boxes look!


Marlo has a great selection of jewelry at every price point so even if your wallet is a bit tight you can still afford to own one of her amazing designs. Marlo Noel features great classic pieces that pack a real punch whether you are wearing it with a tank top and jeans or if it is the centerpiece to your wedding dress. Just take a look at the amazing clasp that she has on all her necklaces! It's so sweet!


Let's get to know more abut Marlo through this great interview:

Name: Marlo Noël Bontempo

Name of shop: Marlo Noël

Website: www.marlonoel.etsy.com, www.marlonoel.com

Location: Cardiff by the Sea, California

Favorite item from your shop: That changes frequently...currently my favorites are probably the Mabel necklace, the Anna VI necklace, and the Alice earrings. I loved the Rachelle necklace, but it is currently sold out!

Tell us a little bit about yourself: I have been running a business making jewelry for 16 years, since I was in about fourth grade. I was always an entrepreneur, selling friendship bracelets or earrings made with tie wire and marbles to my mom's coworkers. I have a very supportive family who always encouraged me to do what I loved, and told me someday it would turn into a real (more profitable) business. Through various jobs in high school and college at a bakery, escrow company, and salon, I knew that eventually I would be doing something that made me much happier and more fulfilled as a career. I still work part-time at Paper Source, but Etsy allows me to have my jewelry available for people around the world to see, and I make things as they are purchased, so I don't have to keep a huge inventory or work in brick-and-mortar shop all day everyday.

What do you consider to be your greatest accomplishment? Not giving up on what really makes me happy as a way to earn income, even when it doesn't always seem like the most lucrative route. And though I'm not technically using my degree in Apparel Merchandising and Management, earning that was important to me, too.

When and what made you want to open up your shop? I heard about Etsy through my coworkers at Paper Source, who said I absolutely had to open an Etsy shop to sell my jewelry. I'd been making jewelry since I was 9, and selling it to family, friends, and a couple of small local boutiques, but I hadn't yet found my niche online. I saw some other jewelry designers on Etsy who seemed to be doing extremely well, so I invested in a great camera and macro lens, took a ton of photos, and with my live-in graphic designer brother-in-law to post-produce the photos and help me list my items, created an Etsy shop!

Tell us a little bit more about your creation process: I make jewelry when inspiration strikes, or when I have an order to fill or stores to restock. I keep my jewelry supplies spread out all over the coffee table or my project table (sometimes both), and clean up my mess when it's time to eat dinner. I'm not very good at maintaining a tidy workspace, but I seem to work best when I have a blank slate in front of me. I also have a neat job at Paper Source, where I get to help people design invitations, and I work with my brother-in-law for Hase Design www.hase2.com and get to help him in the creative process with web and print design.

Where do you draw inspiration for all your amazing designs? I am so lucky to live by the Pacific Ocean, and I am inspired everyday I get to drive home next to it. I try to sift through my favorite design blogs every other day or so- Prudent Baby: www.prudentbaby.com, Making it Lovely:www.makingitlovely.com, and a recently discovered blog of a new friend of mine: www.seagrassinteriors.blogspot.com. I am also inspired by beautiful interiors, and I try very hard to keep our apartment fresh, inspiring, and feeling like home.

If you could be an animal what would you be and why? I would be an otter because they are so sweet and caring and form incredible friendships with other otters. And during a trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium last fall, they just stole my heart. Go ahead, look "otters holding hands" on YouTube. You'll be hooked.

If you could have one super power what would it be and why? Well, it's not really a super power, but the ability to stay focused on my work would be really useful. I have a tendency to get distracted by the dishes in the sink, unmade bed, dinner that needs to be cooked, etc. When working from home, it's hard to keep on task. Actually, I'd love to be able to relive certain memorable days in my past- not to do things differently, just to get to experience them again.

The Giveaway:

Marlo has been so kind in offering one very luck The Giveaway Diva reader the chance to win a beautiful necklace of her very own! The winner will get to choose one of the following three options:

Maribel I Necklace ... White Topaz

Annabel II Necklace... London Blue Topaz

Maribel IV Necklace... Mystic Pink Topaz Briolette

And best of all this giveaway is open to everyone! So even if you live far far away you can enter!

This giveaway is valued at $34!!!

How to Enter:

1)Visit Marlo Noel and comment on one other piece of jewelry that you love for one entry! (Note that you must do this before any further entries can count!)
2) Blog about this giveaway! Include the link back to the giveaway post as well as a link to Marlo Noel (http://www.etsy.com/shop/MarloNoel) Do this and you get six extra entries!
3) If you are a new follower, welcome!!! Let me know and you will get four extra entries!
4) For my lovely current followers (followers before this post was published) to show my love and appreciation you get six extra entries!
5) Post my button on your blog and you get five extra entries
6) Heart Marlo Noel's shop on etsy for two extra entries
7) If you make a purchase from her you get ten extra entries! Just let Lisa know when you make your purchase so that she can let me know and I can award you the entries!
8) If you enter any of my other giveaways you get two extra entries!!! Just look on the right side of my blog for all my current giveaways!!!
9) Become a follower on twitter @thegiveawaydiva for one entry
10) Tweet this giveaway including a link to the giveaway! Make sure you @thegiveawaydiva so I can confirm it and you can do this once a day!

This giveaway ends on August 18th!

So head on over to Marlo Noel to check out Marlo's amazing designs now!

*Disclosure: Please note that I was not monetarily compensated to write this post but Marlo has agreed to sponsor a giveaway and all opinions are that of my own.