A little about you:
You read my thoughts (literally, you guys). You leave me encouraging and hilarious comments. You laugh with me. You cry with me. You click Facebook “likes” and Twitter retweet buttons for me. You defend me to my critics. You introduce me to your friends. You’re awesome.
A little about me:
I write a blog that people other than (and including) my mom like to read. Until recently, I used my English degree and nerdy affinities to work as a book editor, ghost writer, and copy editor. I’m working right now with Civitas Press to compile and edit a community collection of essays, What a Woman is Worth. I’m a music school drop-out, but I love to sing with my worship team. I have a dirty sense of humor.
A little Christmas fun:
To show my appreciation, I want to share some of my gifts with you. Starting this Friday and over the course of the next two weeks, I’ll be giving out two gifts on every new blog post here (including guest posts and the jump to my monthly Deeper Story post).
But if you know me at all, you know I’m not going to just give it to you– I’m going to make it really fun. Ahem.
Each blog post will include a real gift and a white elephant gift. To enter to receive a gift, you’ll leave a comment on that day’s post. The next day, I’ll announce the randomly chosen recipient of each one.
The recipient of the real gift can go on his or her merry way. The recipient of the white elephant gift will have a decision to make: Keep it for yourself or re-gift it to another commenter you choose from the same post. If you’re the recipient of the re-gift, you keep it!
A little sneak peek:
Based on recent Twitter and Facebook feedback, I created your very own TOL 12 Gifts of Christmas Wish List! You can take a peek at the gifts now, but you’ll have to come back to see which have been paired up on each post. 
Real Gifts
1. I review/edit/advise on a post/document/manuscript sample of yours (800 words or fewer) or offer a general critique of your blog.
2. My worship team and I record your favorite Christmas song.
3. I guest post for you.
4. I promote your blog/website/cause in one of my blog posts.
5. You interview me for your blog.
6. You choose the topic of a post I write.
White elephant gifts
7. I send you the infamous Hot Stuff sign, personalized as I see fit.
8. I virtually haunt you on Twitter for a day with a feigned strong emotion of my choosing (e.g. indignation, adoration, etc.).
9. I send you a tacky Florida postcard.
10. I leave an IYKWIM/TWSS/Ahem comment on your blog.
11. I search bomb you.
12. I send you a homemade Christmas card. (Note: I am artistically disinclined.)
I can’t wait to start handing these out! Which gift are you most excited about?
I’m completely in love with the idea of being search bombed, and should I win said prize, I totally expect the most amazing search bomb ever.
If you win the search bomb, I will blow your mind.
ooh so many good options – my evil twin streak is gleaming at the “You choose the topic of a post I write” while my giant massive ego is drooling at the “I promote your blog/website/cause in one of my blog posts.” and of course feigned strong emotion twitterage looks like fun [depending on said emotion] and favourite Christmas song depending on how far i can stretch the definition of Christmas song and to what genres your worship band would stoop to go… great idea.
I don’t think there’s a genre our band wouldn’t touch, except *maybe* rap. I don’t really see myself taking the lead vocals on that, anyway.
Being Twitter haunted by you sounds like the most. fun. ever.
And in the actual gifts? I totally want you to sing for me.
I kinda feel like I Twitter stalk you anyway, but you know I’d kick it into high gear if you won!
Tamara,
I only subscribed last week to your blog and have already laughed, cried and spilt my coffee whilst reading.
And today, what a brilliant idea! When I was reading the top part and your mention of a free gift I was trying to work out how much it would cost you to ship a Washing Machine to Manchester, England if I won one particular day. Then when I saw the actual gifts … even better than a kettle.
As someone who has been blogging just less than a year any of the first six would be cool, but I really hope for the Florida Postcard – I’ve always had a soft spot for the Miami Dolphins, and once saw the Florida Marlins!
Thanks (in anticipation!)
Thanks for subscribing! If you win the postcard, though, I’m gonna want one back with some nifty British words.
This is beyond hilarious. Looking forward to it (and wish I had thought of it first!). =)
Thanks! I’m excited about it too!
The first real gift is awesome, though an artistic Christmas card is also very appealing.
I’m glad you like them! I’ll warn you, though: I’m a tough editor, and I am terrible at arts-n-crafts.
Bahahahahaha!!! Oh, Tamara…Thanks, I needed that, lol
Ha! I haven’t even given anything out yet!
Hooray for tacky postcards!
and all the rest obviously! FAB!
I cannot wait to go postcard shopping. It’s going to be as ridiculous as possible.
Bahahahaha. Entered.
I had you at “white elephant,” didn’t I? Make sure you come back and enter on each post!
Aren’t you just fabalicious. And thanks for the linky love on the bomb.
You know I give it up for my best buds.
as someone who feels guilty just reading your blog (because of my ultraconservative background… that still bleeds into my current life) I am not sure I can accept any white elephant gifts… although I might be able to handle twitter stalking depending on the emotion.
I am also pretty sure I could never have you guest post on my blog (due to my conservative readers…ie my mom and sisters)
But it still sounds like lots of fun!!
Hahaha! I’m banned from your blog– that’s awesome. Hope you’ll find a day or two when it feels safe enough to play. And don’t forget– if you get something you don’t want, you can re-gift to another commenter!
The real gifts are awesome but being haunted by you on Twitter? Genius. I wouldn’t mind being search bombed by you again. Those were the days…
You are such a giver. #iykwim
‘Tis better to give than receive. Sometimes. IYKWIM
Please don’t give my gift to someone else!
Hahaha! What if you hate it? We’ll see, we’ll see.
I love this idea!
Thanks, Tony! I’m pumped about it!
I don’t have a blog but I know someone who does. Can I win for them?
Sure, as long as you have their permission. I’m not gonna go leaving inappropriate comments for unsuspecting bloggers. Then again…
Brilliant. All these gifts are appealing, even “search bombing,” which I had to look up. I have one additional request (because people who want free gifts usually want more): Can you change your gravatar to you in a Santa suit/Virgin Mary garb? That would convince your readers that you were truly committed to the Holiday Spirit.
Ahahahahahahahahahaha! That is inspired. I’ll see what I can do.
twitter stalking me would be fun for everyone….
Yes indeed.
If I win, please warm up for “O Holy Night.” I’ll put your rendition next to Carrie Underwood’s.
By the way, I didn’t see a copyright symbol on your gift list, so I “appropriated” some of the ideas for possible gifts on our next Life List Club Blogfest giveaway. Hope you don’t mind.
That’s my favorite one to sing!
And use all the gift ideas you want– you can always give back a little link love.
Tamara, you continue to amaze me with your creative and fun ideas! I sure hope I win #1, I really need help writing blogs!
I look forward to ALL your posts!
HAPPY HOLIDAYS everyone!
Thanks so much, Jan! Good luck!
I wanna win #6 – you didn’t say anything about family not being eligible.
Oh lord.
I think this is brilliant. I kinda want to interview you for my blog…although I am a little afraid of what you might say!
Depends on what you ask.
Nothing is more heart warming durring the cold winter months than a tacky Florida postcard.
My thoughts exactly. I’m just here to help.
I never win anything. But whatever.
Crossing my fingers for ya!
TOL, I truly, madly, deeply want to be search bombed! Hadn’t heard of that, but I disturbingly like it! Who knows, I may try my first experience doing it to TOL!
http://mjmonaghan.wordpress.com/
Ha! Thanks for the heads-up. One of the beauties of search bombing is that if you know who did it to you, you can get ‘em back…
Not that I don’t normally read your blog, but dude – this just totally insured my commenting shall be appearing with greater frequency.
And while #3 and #4 have me stoked in a “oooh, I’d love that” kinda way, it’s the possibility for the “Hot Stuff” sign that has me the most excited. Because, y’know, it’d totally be ironic.
Haven’t you heard? SAHDs are very hot stuff. Just ask your wife.
Okay, totally hoping for the “Hot Stuff” sign. My hubby thinks you are brilliant! I’m pretty sure it would end up on the wall with all the U2 crap he values more than life.
Well the sign is definitely in the “crap” category.
Your hubby’s right. She is brilliant.
Okay – that sounds like he has a crush on Bono. Hmmm… maybe. What I meant was, it would get framed right alongside other collectables and signed memorabelia.
This is hilarious. I’m so flattered!
You say “He has a crush on Bono” like that’s a bad thing…wait…maybe I shouldn’t admit that in public…
So wait, by posting here I’ve made my first entry into this intensely competitive contest?
It’s getting pretty heated over the search bomb, Twitter stalking, and Hot Stuff sign, huh?
I get it, I read The Rules again, the contest starts Friday. So I take back my previous post. It’s 10:45pm and I’m still at work, so you’ll have to forgive my comprehension levels.
Right, there ya go. See you Friday!
Well, let’s see…I already have more editors than I can handle. (And thank you, God, for those amazing women who usually do not deserve the crap I often feed them.) You might (or might not) have noticed that my blog is currently undergoing a LOOOOONG dry spell due to the fact that there are a measly 24 hours in a day. (Whose idea was that? REALLY! I need at least 72 hours per day, please!) I don’t have a Twitter account. (See previous comment re: measly 24 hours in a day. No more online addictions needed.) But the mere thought of you recording my favorite Christmas carol of all time, “O Holy Night,” sends a shiver of anticipation down my spine and puts a huge smile on my face!
Aw, you know that’s my favorite too! I think that even if the song winner picks a different song, I might have to see if I can twist the band’s arms into recording that one too.
I would like to conduct a Jeopardy-style interview, where one of us provides an answer, then the other provides the question.
“For $200: What is your very specific Christmas request for Tamara?” So funny!
brilliant idea – love it so much! any of the first 5 would be amazing – and I now know what search bombing is – first cup of tea of the day and I’ve learnt something new – I could go back to bed happy now!
thanks for your blog and your sense of fun x
I’m glad you’re excited about it! And yeah, once you discover search bombing, blogging is pretty much never the same again.
I want it all! Right now!
Whaaaat? I was talking to the baby?
So probably ahem or IYKWIM.
I already leave those kinds of comments on your blog! I think you need something from me that will shake it up a little. IYKWIM
Premature button pushing!
I meant to say, #duh!
Hahahaha! I thought it seemed ready. *Ahem.*
the imagination runs wild…
I’m pretty much ecstatic about everything in the white elephant list. But especially the twitter-haunting. I expect you be appalled all day.
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Love your blog. The real gifts do sound intriguing. But, if I get a White Elephant gift, please don’t let it be #9 as I live in Florida and tacky is all too apparent – especially in the apparel for eating out. (Shorts and a screaming Hawaiian touristy shirt at a primo restaurant, any one?)
Thanks! Remember, if you won a gift you didn’t want, you could re-gift it to another commenter from the same post, and then you’d be free to win another gift!
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What fun! I’m torn between the joys of being search bombed and the great lift it would be to have my blog promoted… Hmmm.
Good luck!
I can’t stop smiling! I think I already got my gift.
Great idea!
I really like the gift of you “guest blogging”!
Thanks– good luck!
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ooooh shiny…. I m easily distracted and managed to read your entire post! so thank you! I loves me a creative mind connection.. makes life nice n crunchy!
Ha! Thanks. Glad you liked it!
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