Free Jewelry with Random Acts of Bling
16 July 2007
Update: This contest is now closed, I will be posting the winner of the tiara in a few minutes. Thanks to all who entered, some of the entries even made me cry & all of them made me think. Check back Monday morning for another jewelry prize. The banner in the sidebar will always be updated to lead you to that week’s prize.
Update: I’ve decided to keep this contest open through Friday July 20th.
This week, I’m giving away a silver plated tiara for random acts of bling. Don’t know what random acts of bling is? Don’t feel bad, today is the first day.
The bottom line, is that all you have to do is comment on this post to enter to win a free piece of jewelry. If this goes well, I will be holding this contest every Monday. The winner will be chosen at random with an online random number generator on 6pm Mountain Time on Thursday. I’m not going by central time, because quite frankly, I never get that right. The comment can either be a trackback, a regular comment, or a link to a post on your blog. The comment/post should contain an example of an act of kindness that you have seen or heard about, something that makes me think, “Maybe people don’t suck so much”. A link back is appreciated but not required.
Now for the why behind the contest. Lately, I’ve been in a “Why do people suck so much?” mood. This isn’t very princess like, I just keep saying, “It’s not my fault that they are so stupid”. I don’t want to be like this.
A few years ago, I was watching an episode of Oprah about America’s poor. They all seemed to say the exact same phrase, “I feel invisible”. This got me thinking, if the ring in Lord of The Rings can make you feel invisible, then a piece of jewelry can make you feel seen. Random Acts of Bling is my way of saying, I get that life is hard, here’s something sparkley, look at it & feel special. It’s not a life changing thing, I’m just trying to make more of an effort to really see people & make them feel special.
The Rules:
You can’t sell the jewelry. It must be worn & preferably make you feel special. It’s yours to keep, or give away. If you’ve already won a piece of jewelry, feel free to keep entering, but you must give the jewelry away to someone you don’t know. I’ve decided to use my blogs to promote this rather than doing it in person because I will be able to reach more people. I would love to see this jewelry go to the Mom whose kids are screaming in the grocery store, or the waitress who works 12 hours a day. Basically, anyone who needs a reminder that they are special & that good things can happen. I have no way of policing this, but I would love if you left a testimonial about your experience.
One entry per person, per week.
You must be ok with giving me your shipping address if you win. I pinky swear that I won’t sell it or spam you. I will pay for all shipping costs.
Contestants must live in the lower 48 states, unless someone can suggest an inexpensive way to ship to other countries.
Most of the jewelry will be things that can be worn everyday, such as rings. However, I couldn’t resist giving away a tiara. Why do you need a tiara? Well, you probably don’t have one & it’s a surefire way to remember that you are a princess. Feel free to use this graphic to tell other people about free sparkley stuff.
on July 16th, 2007 at 8:37 am
All through the summer we camp/rv at Lake Roosevelt with a group of friends. My friend’s 12 year old daughter went up a day before everyone else with her grandparents and two of their friends. On friday they decided to go out on a boat ride and left the 12 yr old by herself at the rv. A thunderstorm can thru and tore off the canopy of the friend’s rv and was about to do the same to the grandparent’s rv. Holly was outside in the storm, holding onto the canopy and yelling for help. Two guys from different campsites came over and helped her put the canopy down and made sure she was okay. We all got there about an hour later (with the mom having a few choice words for the grandma & grandpa) and needless to say Holly was a wreck. But she was thankful (as were we all) that someone had come to help her. We really did realize that people don’t suck!
on July 16th, 2007 at 2:49 pm
Well, if I win I’ll offer it as a prize on my own blog with a special mention here to spread the love
on July 16th, 2007 at 4:52 pm
Well, you know my faith in humanity could easily be in the crapper right now with the divorce in process. But I am surrounded by loving people that keep my faith solid.
But here’s the one that got me this past weekend.
I was in Old Navy with future-ex and my two boys. The boys were dancing and hamming it up in front of a long mirror. I was about 5 feet away looking at cute tops (remember, I’m trying to dump the dumpy look). Liam (7) said, “Where’s Cai?” I looked for my 3 yr old and he was nowhere to be seen. So we start looking and calling out his name. Future ex heard and joined the search. An employee was there and immediately asked what he was wearing. I told her and she got on her walkie talkie and I heard her give the command to not let anyone leave the store. It seemed a bit dramatic but until I put my eyes on that sweet boy, NOBODY WAS LEAVING!!! Suddenly I heard a little, “Oh hi daddy!” Future ex had found him. YEAH!!! But it was that employee who took action. And the right action. She didn’t roll her eyes at the overly dramatic panicked mom. She didn’t judge me with that “Why weren’t you WATCHING HIM?!” look. She just gave that order that simultaneously stopped my heard and made me want to hug her. So she gave the ok to let people out and I nearly started crying. I mean, for some reason, her absolute resolve in her action could have kept my kid from being on a milk carton. And I would have hugged her if I wasn’t almost in tears.
If I won a lottery today, she’d get a huge portion of it.
Individual examples of humanity can amaze me. En masse, we still confound me.
on July 17th, 2007 at 10:32 am
Okay, see…I was trying to wait until I could post something that made me say, “People don’t suck”, but I haven’t encountered anything as of yet. I’m still on the lookout!
on July 18th, 2007 at 8:17 am
darn I really wanted to enter….I’m in Canada tho.
on July 18th, 2007 at 8:17 am
There’s proof out there that the attitudes of teens don’t suck these days. I currently ride the busses these days because of lack of car insurance. On a certain bus it is normally packed with teens who have just left school at 3pm.
On this day it was packed as normal. A mom with baby carrier, stroller and two other kids was trying to get on the packed bus. As my husband and I helped the woman with all her luggage, two teens actually got up from thier seats and let the woman sit there.
This was a total suprise to me because usually the teens act like they own the bus at that time and will not give up a seat for anyone.
Oh and I also spread the love about your contest and blog on my blog.
on July 18th, 2007 at 10:40 am
I work in a restaurant, and the other day two little kids came in with their mom. I’m not going to lie - when kids come in, the employees groan. Kids in general make a mess, are loud, throw their food, spill their drinks, and again, make a mess.
But whatever. So they went over to a table. And like any good restaurant, we gave them some coloring books and crayons. With a sigh, I watched as these kids ripped right into them, knowing they would leave behind a big mess for the waitress.
The kids, one boy and one girl, were about five years old. They were both drawing with great vigor, and obviously having fun. But a few seconds later, the boy had broken his crayon and it had crumbled. Needless to say, tears rolled down and he started wailing.
I was going to go get him another crayon, when suddenly the little girl stopped and carefully broke her crayon in half. She handed one to her brother, so he could keep playing. His tears stopped, and they went back to their pictures.
But I was surprised. The mother never asked the kids to share the crayon, but the little girl did anyway. It’s not like we didn’t have more crayons, but the fact that a little kid, without being prompted, was willing to share half of her own crayon with her brother - well, that made me realize that as long as people can still be like this, not everyone can suck. Maybe that little girl will go one to be a future president, teacher or activist, or something major. Or maybe she’ll be a stay at home mom. Or whatever. But this five year old has given me enough hope to say, “We can’t really be on such a downward spiral if we still have people like her in the world.”
on July 19th, 2007 at 6:50 pm
Recently while at the park with my family,I watched a 6 year old boy sit down and braid daisy flowers to make a long necklace.He stood up,looked around,as if he was looking for someone,he then came over to my 93 year old great aunt, who was in a wheel chair,and placed that flower necklace over her head and smiled at her.He then ran off.I looked at my aunt and tears were falling as she held on to the garland of flowers.The strange thing about this entire episode was that no one knew that little boy.We could not find him to thank him.Aunt Susie died 2 weeks later and I still have her dried garland of flower.I put them in a frame because they meant so much to her and always will be a reminder to me,to expect the unexpected.
on July 20th, 2007 at 2:49 am
In todays world everyone seems to be in their own little world of me. It seems like people have forgotten how to be polite and kind to one another. I now make it a point to talk to someone or just smile and say hello to someone I don’t know. It’s amazing how just a kind word to will bring a smile to someone’s face. Perhaps, everyone should give it a try.
on July 20th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
Hi: I am a male, and wear little jewelry myself, but I work in Retail. I see people all the time looking and wishing, but know they can’t afford something so many people take for granted. The Ability to buy what they wish, when they want. I work in something called RTV (return to vendor), and throw away so much, that could benefit so many, that would have no other way of obtaining these items. It breaks my heart to throw away things that I know, could be so usefull, or at least, beneficial to others. I’ve been lucky to some extent. Some items, like furniture and food, I’ve been able to talk the store managment into donating to food shelves and shelters. If I win, I can really promise, it will go some one that has that light in their eyes, but nothing with which to make it reality.
on July 20th, 2007 at 3:39 pm
About a month ago, my friend, my 11-year-old son, and I were strolling toward a picnic table in a small local park while we waited on a movie to begin across the street. I looked back and didn’t see my son behind us like I expected, and I guess I looked a litle panicked.
Until my friend nodded his head at a part of the park a hundred yards or so away, and quietly said, “There he is…”
There was my boy, running toward an elderly woman whose two young great-grandchildren had run off to play. She was carrying two large paper grocery bags, and when he reached her, I saw him say something to her. She smiled down at him, and he carefully took the bags from her and carried them both, talking with her and laughing with her all the way to the picnic table, where he very carefully put the bags down at her request.
They said goodbye to each other, and he ran back to us. I told him I’d watched him help that woman, and asked him why. (Curious what he’d say…)
“She didn’t need to be carrying those and I just wanted to help her.” He got a hug and kiss and a thank you just for that. *How embarrassing for a young man his age, in public even!*
My grown daughter is the same way…she’ll bend over backward to help someone if she can. They make me proud.
on July 20th, 2007 at 3:43 pm
My son’s house was robbed by some very young teenagers. They were caught and were dealt with by authorities, except one very young boy. He had was ordered to repay in dollars to my son his share of the theft. His mothers was crying and he felt very bad. My son accepted the agreement, but is putting the $”s in an account and is going to give to the boy’s mother when he finishes paying. (they were very poor). My son is the best!
on July 20th, 2007 at 6:01 pm
I help take care of my elderly parents most evenings. I was really busy and had alot to get done at my house. My teenage daughter said to just leave it because it would be there tomorrow but my parents might not be. She even offered to go with me. So we went over together to spend time with them and I don’t regret it.
on August 11th, 2007 at 6:40 am
thank you for having contest!
on October 23rd, 2007 at 6:58 am
Contests are a great way to get people to notice your outfit.
on November 2nd, 2007 at 5:26 am
would make a lovely gift for who ever wins for what ever reason
on November 6th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
would be nice to have a nice piece all i have for bling is a wedding ring
on January 22nd, 2008 at 3:38 am
who wouldn’t love this?!!!
on February 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 pm
This is such a great website-it is awesome to be here on a daily basis.
on February 14th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
There are so many interesting blogs entered. It is fun to read them all.
on February 20th, 2008 at 10:20 pm
This is a fantastic site and winning would be nice.
on March 1st, 2008 at 9:42 pm
Still hoping to win-love this site.
on March 25th, 2008 at 3:22 am
love this contest - i wanna win
on March 25th, 2008 at 3:25 am
i actually stopped for someone was walking in the rain and gave her a ride only 1/8 mile but she said bless you- like i was not already blessed to have the car and gas to give her a ride.
on March 25th, 2008 at 3:32 am
my 14 yr old daughter died of bone cancer- 6 yrs ago and she started the domino fund for cancer kids so i have traveled from maine to tx to ca to ok and all the time continuing to see(make) smiles in hopes that if they see her before me they will say yr mom still loves. if ok can u spare a stamp and go to hugsandhope.com? lots of cancer kids need a smile.
on May 15th, 2008 at 4:16 am
I was driving and saw a couple dump a dog on the major highway with cars going 70+ mph. As I pulled over to get the little puppy, 2 other cars pulled over as well. It was nice to know this lil guy wasn’t going to become dead or a stray. I brought him home to my family and lo and behold he is a pit bull, but you know what. That would have never been our pick, but he is quite the lovable, adorable baby boy. An addition to our bungalow!
on June 22nd, 2008 at 2:17 am
great prize
on September 24th, 2008 at 7:50 pm
The prizes on here are great
on October 7th, 2008 at 6:29 am
I wanna win some jewelry!
on October 14th, 2008 at 8:49 pm
I can always use more jewerly.
on October 29th, 2008 at 6:10 am
what an awesome prize. make a great gift for my young one.
on December 15th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
great suprise for someone!!!
on December 18th, 2008 at 10:32 pm
thanks