Win Gin! It's Reader Appreciation Day!

****CONTEST IS NOW CLOSED****

In case you hadn't noticed, I have been spending a LOT of time on Twitter, which I finally understand (sorta). I could not explain it to you if I tried, and I definitely could not explain why I spend SO much time there, but at least I get it now (kinda), and this makes me feel less stunted in the SocialMediaWeb2.0 world in which I theoretically work.

The point is, I heard through CityMama (see post below where she has opened my eyes to the magnificence of the cupcake caddy thingamajig) that HER friend, the OTHER mother, has declared April 16th to be Reader Appreciation Day.

And dearest, dearest Invisible Internet Friends, where on earth would I be without you?

(I shudder to think. Like, it's entirely possible that without blogs I would have been reduced to writing single-cat-lady poetry and I am not even kidding. Really, I'm not. Good grief. Thank you.)

So to really thank you for somehow finding time to stop by She Walks, I have decided to host a little contest! Woo!

I mean, I never do this kind of thing because it seems so weirdly pretentious, but I totally want give you something for real. For Real. So I'm trying to think of this as just...um...fun! And boozy! And exciting! (But mostly boozy!)

Here's how it'll work--

• Step One: Cut a hole in the box Leave a comment. You don't have to be registered or anything, but please at least create some name that I can ID you with in the content of your comment along with your city and state. (This is just to try and preempt anonymous folks from posting too many times -- your city and state have to match the city and state I'd be shipping to if you won.)
  

• Step Two: Specify which of the boozy goodness options you'd prefer.

• Step Three: I will stop collecting names/comments on Friday, April 18 [corrected, and happy birthday Sizzle!] at 1:59 p.m. Pacific time. Any comment left after that time won't qualify. (Oooh, I'm getting technical!)

• Step Four: I will put all the names on little pieces of paper and put them in a jar. I will then VIDEO the RANDOM name drawings. (I may or may not be the person pulling these names. Who's to say? But again, ::randomly:: because I could never choose.)

• Step Five: I will post the winners' names and the video sometime next week. I'd love to pick a specific day, but hi. La la la laaaaaa....

And that is all there is to it. I ask that you please not submit your name more than once. I will only enter each name once. (See rules for anonymous commenters above.)

More importantly -- What do you win!?!? Well, that is a good question. And one I had to think about. A la, "What would make ME enter the contest?"

I came up with the following:

First Prize

• $50 gift certificate to Amazon.com!
• Either: A bottle of my favorite gin, bourbon, tequila, wine or champagne! Choice is yours! And if for some reason you do not like booze (??????), I will think of some other fabulous, gourmet drink substitute!
  
• A guest blog post on here (but this is not required if you'd rather not -- by all means)!

Runner-Up

• Choice of bottle, same as above!
• A guest blog post on here (still totally not required -- I'll send you booze regardless)!

Not exactly prize-rich, but hopefully enticing enough. Or at least, worth winning. Yeah? Sorta? Maybe?

In any case, my "favorites" are outlined below. Potential winners, take heed.

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Prizes

For starters, I love gin. There are a lot of gin haters in the world, and that's okay. I don't judge you for being wrong.

Personally, I think martinis should ONLY be served with gin. (Note: I hate olives. I only order martinis with a twist. This lowers my credibility substantially.)

I get that gin has a very distinct taste and I get that it might not appeal to everyone. If you've only ever tried Bombay Sapphire, for example, you're not tasting all of the wonderful possibilities the gin world has to offer. Probably the best gin on the market is Plymouth. Try it before you write off gin forever.

Regardless, Hendricks Gin is my most favoritest of all. It is so fresh, and has a hint of cucumber, and if you drink it with a slice of cucumber or with a twist, it's positively deeeeelightful. (I also prefer adding soda instead of tonic to my carbonated gin drinks. I find it less sweet and more sparkling.)

Mmmmmmm! Tastes like a winner!

My second favorite (hard liquor) would have to be bourbon, though this is a very close second, and a clear winner in the colder months.

My parents' drink of choice was bourbon, so what can you do?

I have had a lot of fantastic bourbons in recent years, but for whatever reason I keep coming back to the Maker's Mark staple. I rather enjoy it, and I love it in a Manhattan.

Warm, smoky, lovely.

As for the tequilas, well. If your only experience with tequila is Jose Cuervo, or any tequila at all that isn't 100% agave, I'm sorry. Most people I know shudder when they hear the word "tequila" because they recall that one time in college (Cuervo) and that's all they'll ever think of. Sadly, if you have this instant-body-recall, even the good stuff won't NOT remind you of that fitful, fateful night and resultant morning.

That said, good tequila is a whole different story. When it's not fortified with sugar (which is what makes you sick, and what happens when it's not 100% agave), it's pretty darn good.

So, if you select the bottle of tequila, I'll pick Patron. You're welcome.



If you'd like wine...well. That is a LOT more challenging -- my favorite changes all the time. If it's wine you seek, not-yet-winner, we'll have to discuss your preferences.



Finally, champagne.

I. Love. Champagne. I drink champagne all the time, not just for special occasions. Or rather, because I think any day that didn't involve tragedy is a day worth celebrating.

Right now, my favorite FAVORITE champagne is a little bit sweet, a little complex, and frankly comes in gorgeous packaging that charms me. It's Sofia Coppola blanc de blanc.

You can get it in the bottle ~

the outer wrapping (yes, it comes like this)

the label, which i love (you can see the same design elements in my blog template, even)

AND, you can also get it in minis! MINIS!!!

That can? Not higher than a juice box. And yes, that's a STRAW it comes with. How can you not love this?
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Those are my offerings to you, fine IIFs and real-life friends alike. I hope you like them. Good luck to all who wish to enter!

And thank you, so, so much for reading.

xoxoxo,
k