Giveaways/Reviews

Blogiversary Giveaway #1!

January 18, 2011 by Amy

I hope y’all had a great weekend! For us, it was a pretty long, 3-day weekend that resulted in getting a good bit of housework done. I’m ashamed to admit that the kitchen was basically closed most of the weekend (we ate out…a lot.), but hey, it’s ok to take a cooking/baking break every once in a while!

I’m sure you want me to stop rambling and get to the good stuff.

The first of the blogiversary giveaways is for a $20 credit to CSN stores! I actually really never knew about them until a few blogger friends held giveaways, and after winning one myself, I was able to see if they are a good online store or not. I ended up not buying anything food related, since I have WAY too many kitchen gadgets as it is!

I was actually first looking at their luggage stores for a few upcoming trips I’m taking, but I ended up purchasing something for crafting (typical). I’m happy to say that I got my order within a week, which is pretty awesome since I didn’t pay extra for shipping.

So, when CSN reached out to have a giveaway at The Nifty Foodie, I knew I couldn’t say no! Free moolah? Why not go for this?!

All you have to do to enter is comment telling me, what you would buy from CSN stores with the credit.

For an additional giveaway entry, post this on your Twitter and comment back with the Twitter link: “I just entered @niftyfoodie’s Blogiversary Giveaway: $20 credit to @csnstores. Enter here! http://bit.ly/hRWZB2“

You have until Friday, January, 21st at 11:59pm to comment.

Just a note: only US/Canada readers can enter this giveaway. (Just as an FYI to Canadian readers, CSN’s shipping may cost more due to international shipping charges.)

FTC Disclosure: This prize is provided by CSN Stores.

Best of luck! Oh, and stay tuned….tomorrow’s giveaway is going to feature my FAVORITE guy from Food Network! :-)

Filed Under: Giveaways/Reviews, Other

Pet Photography Session Winner!

November 11, 2010 by Amy 1 Comment

I’m so excited that so many of you wanted a pet photo session! I have to thank Lacey for her generous giveaway, and of course, if you don’t win, there are great specials going on this month for her photography sessions!

So, without further ado…here is the winner!

And that lucky commenter is:

Congratulations Carly!! I will be passing your email to Lacey Rabalais for you to book your session!

Filed Under: Giveaways/Reviews

GIVEAWAY: Pet Photography Session

November 4, 2010 by Amy 11 Comments

A while back, I entered Millie for a pet photography contest sponsored by local photographer, Lacey Rabalais. As you may already know (especially if you follow me on Twitter), I take TONS of pictures of Millie, mostly on my iPhone, but none of them are anywhere close to looking frame-worthy.

I thought winning this mini session would be a great opportunity for Millie to run around, let loose and get photos of her in her prime hyper, happy element. Luckily, because of friends (and some readers), Millie won the free session!!

When Millie saw Lacey with that camera, it became a fun game of **catch me if you can** for her. She was running in circles, and whenever she finally calmed down for a picture, she started running again. Eventually, her little puppy-ness caught up to her and she calmed down for some tremendously adorable photos!

Check them out here!

I have to say, Lacey really did an awesome job with Millie. She played right along with her and was very patient with our excited puppy. Her photographs perfectly captured Millie’s personality too. I look at every single photo, and tell myself that’s SO her ::insert emotion here:: face. It’s so wonderful to have these captured in photos. Thank you, Lacey!

After Millie’s session, Lacey graciously offered to host a pet photography session GIVEAWAY on my blog!! Wahoo!!

Credit: Lacey Rabalais Photography

This is only for my local Baton Rouge area readers, though, since Lacey can’t exactly drive to Vermont or say, Paris in 10 minutes.

Also, check out Lacey’s specials this month for Military Families, Families with adopted children, and of course, for your PETS!

Giveaway Details:

One person will be randomly chosen to win a free 30 minute session, which includes an online gallery to view your pictures and also, receive a disc of 10 images from the shoot.

TO ENTER: Just leave a comment here or on Lacey’s blog about your lovely pet or pets by Sunday, November 7th at 11:59pm.

You must live in the Baton Rouge area to be eligible to win.

Best of luck!

Filed Under: A Paw-Fect Life, Giveaways/Reviews, Photography

I love blogging…

November 1, 2010 by Amy 6 Comments

You might already know this, but I enjoy blogging. I find it so neat that I can just write about random topics on my mind, and about 5 (or more) people are actually interested in what I have to say!

I also enjoy reading blogs. I find so many other bloggers to be the coolest people ever. In fact, as much as I’d love to go to get togethers or conferences to meet other bloggers, I have a feeling the introvert in me would show up and make me a quiet, starstruck weirdo. It happens. I sort of think of bloggers as mini celebs. Y’all are crazy cool!

Anywho, lately, I’ve noticed that I’ve gotten a bit of a stage fright in my blogging. I start writing and wonder if y’all will hate me or find me lame. After looking through old entries and thinking about the fundamentals, it made me remember that I blog because it gives ME the warm fuzzies. If people grow to hate me, they can simply unsubscribe, right? It’s not like y’all will throw my gym bag in dog poop…heh.

So, this month, I’m going back to the basics. I’m blogging everyday this month, since it’s NaBloPoMo (National Blog Posting Month). I hope my AP English IV teacher never finds my blog though. I think she enjoyed writing large “C”s or “D”s on my papers. Sorry Mrs. Thompson…my below average writing has made its way on the Internet.

Hope y’all don’t hate me after this month. I have quite a few great bloggity ideas in store!

Another reason I love blogging? The freebies/giveaways!

Y’all…before blogging, I never really won anything. Ok, I lie. I won a $25 gift certificate to a local restaurant in 5th grade, because I made the winning poster for nutrition awareness month in elementary school……

Ok, ok.

And maybe I won kids bingo ONCE at my Dad’s company bingo day. $20 Walmart gift card…mmhmm! I bought some major Jane make-up with that…anyone remember that line?

Anyway, since I got into reading the 241 blogs that I read regularly, I’ve gotten hooked on entering giveaways. It’s free to enter, and EVERYONE has the same chances, so why not?!

October was a pretty lucky month for me! I won two pretty awesome things…Christmas in October, for sure!

Check this out…I won a RoadID bracelet from Krista of Commitment is Liberating. RoadID offers bracelets and other items to help ID you in case something bad happened while you were exercising outside. I like to always prepare for the worst…I’ve been known to pass out in high heat, so this was a wonderful prize to win. Thanks Krista for hosting!

You didn’t think I’d leave my information on the Internet, did ya? Ok, well I’ll away that I’m O neg….no worries, I donate this “universal donor” blood regularly. Good karma.

As you may know, I don’t necessarily run marathons, but I am getting back into an exercise routine and just having this on me will make me feel a little more safe while exercising in the great outdoors.

I won another giveaway too, though. Complete opposite of fitness…baking goodies! I read a blog called Baby Loving Mama. It’s a pretty huge blog, where she gives away items ALL.THE.TIME. I started reading when she gave away a Coach bag around last Christmas. I’m not into designers, but I figured I’d enter and just probably would have gifted this to my Coach obsessed sister had I won. (Sister of the Year award, anyone?)

Anyway, she had a LIVE giveaway last week. Neat idea…all the readers comment back and forth (this time it was about Halloween baking, since it was a Wilton giveaway) and you have to be a certain commenter, like commenter #100. I didn’t think I would win, but I thought I’d start commenting about royal icing and other fun cookie things. Lo and behold, I won the first prize! Look at all of this baking stuff! Most of it will have to wait until next year…sadly I was sick towards the end of last week. No baking for me.

Wilton Giveaway

Or maybe coworkers will get super late Halloween baked goodies…hmm.

What do y’all like about blogging?

Filed Under: About Us, Giveaways/Reviews

Finally Complete

June 1, 2010 by Amy Leave a Comment

A few months ago, I posted that I was going to Craft It Forward to 5 of my awesome readers.

I had plans to sew something for each person, but my sewing skills aren’t quite amazing enough to make anything impressive. It took me a few project trials before I stopped having massive sewing fails, and here’s what I came up with for each person: dish towels.

I’m really sorry to those who are getting these surprises late. I know I promised them by April 15th, but seriously, if I sent y’all something with the sewing skills I had then, you’d end up with torn scraps. This is a step up, or so I’d like to think.

I figure that everyone uses dish towels, and dishes suck. So, I thought some fun, fresh colors on a towel might make the chore a little less daunting.

I really enjoyed making these, and I hope you Crafting it Forward-ers love them.

Now, from what I can see, I have more than 5 readers on my little ol’ blog. If you aren’t someone who I’m sending these to, don’t despair. I’m hosting a giveaway for two of these bad boys on my food blog, so everyone has a chance to get a pair of these! Go head on over to the food blog and enter!

Filed Under: Crafts, Giveaways/Reviews

Giveaway: Cute Dish Towels

June 1, 2010 by Amy 69 Comments

I love to cook and bake. It’s instant gratification to have the results of your work in an hour or so, but I’ve been wanting to branch out for a while.

I just started sewing earlier this year, and there are many times that I want to throw projects out of the window. I’m not a very patient person, and some projects take HOURS. However, I really love the results when they come out great, and that kind of keeps me going.

I read sewing blogs and look around for inspiration everywhere for great project ideas, and came across this one.

I’ve become a little kitchen towel decorating machine, and now, I’d like to giveaway a set of 2 towels to one lucky reader!

Do you want to win these cute dish towels for your kitchen? I promise they will make dish-washing a little more fun.

To win: just tell me about a hobby, other than cooking, that you’ve been giving a try lately.You have until Monday, June 8th to enter. This giveaway is only valid to readers in the continental U.S.

More ways to win (and please comment each time you do one of these)

Follow me on Twitter

Become a Fan on Facebook

Mention/Retweet this giveaway on Twitter (leave the link of the tweet)

Subscribe to this blog

Filed Under: Giveaways/Reviews, Other

The Winner!

May 26, 2010 by Amy Leave a Comment

Thanks for all the entries, folks! There were 28 entries in there, and quite a few of you had some great ideas for business cards!

The winner, according to random.org is lucky #26, who is Jenn! Y’all should totally check out Jenn’s food blog, by the way. She takes awesome pictures and has great gluten-free ideas/recipes!

This goes to show you that extra entries can give you better odds. Congrats Jenn! I’ll send your info to UPrinting, and the folks there will get in touch with you to redeem your prize.

Filed Under: Giveaways/Reviews

UPrinting GIVEAWAY!

May 21, 2010 by Amy 28 Comments

I remember when I had my first business cards. I purchased a pack of printing sheets, sized to business cards, and designed babysitter business cards. I felt super cool when I had those cards on me, but I was sleek about giving them out. Whenever I babysat, I left a little stack in the kitchen somewhere, and I’d like to think it helped me get work.

Business cards are so fun. Something about a business card makes you important and fancy. Plus, you can actually enter those lunch giveaways at your favorite restaurant for dropping your card. Awesome.

Thanks to the folks at UPrinting, one reader of The Nifty Foodie is going to win 500 business cards!!

Image source

Here are the details of the giveaway:

500 business cards from UPrinting.com
2 x 3.5”, 2 x 2” (square card) or 1.75 x 3.5” (slim card)
14 pt gloss cardstock, 14 pt matte cardstock or 13 pt recycled uncoated cardstock
Full Color Both Sides; Offset Press; 3 Business Day Printing
FREE UPS Ground Shipping

To enter, just comment letting me know what you would use the business cards for. Do you have a home business? Using them for a project? Want to advertise your blog?

This giveaway ends on Wednesday, May 26th at NOON.

More ways to win (please leave a comment each time):

Follow me on Twitter

Become a Fan on Facebook

Mention/Retweet this giveaway on Twitter (leave the link of the tweet)

Subscribe to this blog

This giveaway is for US Residents only. Must be 18 years old and up.

This giveaway is sponsored by UPrinting.com.

UPrinting Links:
Color Business Cards
Printing Services

Filed Under: Giveaways/Reviews

I Love New Orleans (GIVEAWAY)

May 10, 2010 by Amy 71 Comments

Ahh New Orleans. I used to not appreciate the city at all. All I would relate to New Orleans were the potholes, the murders, and the questionable people walking around everywhere. I saw all of the negatives and it made me thankful to live in the suburbs.

2005 came, and the unimaginable happened. Katrina hit. I used to want to be a meteorologist in school, and would WISH for a hurricane to come near us so I could experience it like the Weather Channel people do (and also, take off of school). Well, Katrina devastated New Orleans. A lot of my family and friends had to rebuild and lost priceless items. My immediate family lucked out, since they live slightly West of New Orleans. (If you’re just west of a hurricane, you seemingly get less of a punch than if you were dead center or just east of it.)

After Katrina hit, all I longed for was New Orleans. The happy New Orleans that I was so blind to originally see. I remember tearing up listening to the 12 Yats of Christmas that December. That February, I went to my first Mardi Gras parade in 2006 since the storm. The city had a mildew-y odor, but I didn’t care. It was New Orleans, and things were coming back. Things still aren’t completely back, 5 years later, but the spirit is stronger than ever!

When I first read about Disney making an animated movie, called The Princess and the Frog, set in New Orleans, I was excited. When the movie came out on DVD (I haven’t gone to a movie at a theater in ages…$10 for one ticket…hecks to the no!), I watched like a giddy 6 year old. ::disneyfreak::

I would smile when I saw St. Louis Cathedral, drool when I saw Tiana serving beignets, tear up when her family shared gumbo with the neighborhood, and giggle when Tiana helped the VooDoo lady make her gumbo “the bee’s knees” with a little Tabasco sauce.

So, to kind of give a shout-out to this movie, which I highly recommend, I’m doing a giveaway. I know most of these items aren’t nationally available in stores, so I want to share some of the featured foods from the movie (with a little bit of lagniappe/something extra) to one lucky reader!

Included in this package:

Cafe Du Monde’s beignet mix (heaven on a plate, basically)
Cajun Gumbo Mix
Tabasco Sauce
Tony Chachere’s Seasoning (good in just about EVERYTHING)
Jambalaya Mix
Dirty Rice Mix

Want to know how to win? Leave a comment about what your favorite NOLA dish is or what NOLA dish you’re interested in trying.

You have until Monday, May 17th to enter. This giveaway is only valid to readers in the continental U.S.

More ways to win (and please comment each time you do one of these)

Follow me on Twitter

Become a Fan on Facebook

Mention/Retweet this giveaway on Twitter (leave the link of the tweet)

Subscribe to this blog

That means you have 5 chances to win this Louisiana Feast!! Laissez les bons temps rouler!!

**Products from this giveaway are provided by The Nifty Foodie.**

Filed Under: Giveaways/Reviews, Louisiana Cuisine

Happy Craft Month!

March 2, 2010 by Amy 9 Comments

March is a great month! I get to have my birthday (gotta love birthday freebies haha), Spring starts and I just found out it’s National Craft month! Holler! So, I’m going to write a post about crafty stuff.

Crafting It Forward

As much as I hate to do this, I promised to craft it forward to 5 readers, and two people never got back to me after I emailed them. So, I’m choosing two people again!

Random.org chose Teale and craftysmurfette!! Congrats ladies! I’ll be emailing you two shortly to get your addresses and some basic information from you two!

Sewing

So, uhm, sewing is pretty fun but HARD. I tried to make a tote bag that was 12×14 and well, ended up with something way smaller because I thought I could cut straight lines with scissors. I realized a little too late that the rotary cutter would be my BFF. Erg..

Check this out. It’s terrible…I’m pretty sure I’m starting over on a new project because I’m impatient. LOL! It was cheap fabric anyway…

Look at how much I stink..I messed up sewing the bias tape flush to the fabric. Boo…I pinned it too. The light pink stuff is supposed to cover the zigzags on the blue fabric, in case you were like me two months ago and are thinking bias tape what?