I love December 1st. Each year we host a small tree trimming party and finally get around to putting up our tree. It’s funny I say finally… because I don’t really see it as a last minute thing. If I had my way, all talk of Christmas (and everything else) would be banned until December 1st. Who is with me here?
These days the Christmas chatter, including decorations and the whole commercial Christmas campaign in stores, seems to happen from early September. It has me over Christmas before it has even begun.
Once upon a time, December would mark the start of Christmas parties and get togethers but this year, most of the end of year parties have been and gone. It makes sense though. It’s such a busy time of year for everyone and the more you can get out of the road or put off entirely before December hits the better.
I usually do a huge end of year giveaway here on AMC that includes several collaborations with my favourite brands and bloggers. This year, with my daughter recovering from surgery and me needing some time out to look after her, I’m not my usual organised self. I not myself at all.
Truth be told, I wasn’t convinced the surgery would go so well, or I would be back to blogging business for December. I didn’t want to over commit myself by starting something I wasn’t sure I could finish.
The good news is my daughter seems to be recovering well. While I still need to be here 24/7 for the next week or so and my daughter has a good six-ish weeks of recovery ahead of her, I will have lots of time to dedicate to entering and promoting all your giveaways together with running a few of my own.
You could say December is going to be all about blogging giveaways here on AMC. Starting with our next Blog Exchange challenge “All I want for Christmas is…”. I will also be kick starting our next round of Worth Casing Blog Awards.
There’s more, a whole lot more but I’m glad to report I’m not throwing in any steak knives into the mix.
Apparently, according to my mother-in-law, gifting steak knives (or any knife) is a recipe for disaster and brings on a whole lot of bad luck. So does putting new shoes on the table. Now I’m not sure I buy into all that superstition but I’m not sure I’m game to test it either after the month we have just had.
What I will say… winners are most certainly grinners and you definitely have to be in it to win it.
Aussie Giveaway Linkup instructions:
If you’re a blogger or business wanting to take part in the Aussie Giveaway Linkup:
- Only link directly to the giveaway post/s.
- Include the prize and end date in the linky tool below.
- Link each giveaway separately.
- Giveaways must be open to Australian residents and be run by Australian-based bloggers or businesses.
- Grab the AGL button to add to your post or sidebar (optional but much appreciated).
- A new list is added on the 1st of the month so bloggers and business owners need to add their links monthly.
- Start entering the giveaways! Entry is at your own risk. We do not take responsibility for unfulfilled prizes or a blogger/business not abiding by their own terms and conditions.
- Leave a comment each time you link. It really is the quickest way to notify me of your giveaway, so I can start sharing the social media love your way.
Do you know of any great giveaways this month? Is there a blogging equivalent of ‘stay tuned’?
Glad to hear your daughter is ok. Hoping the 6 weeks goes smoothly.
I desperately need a new set of knives so if your MIL gets any she can pass them on to me lol.
Thanks Deb. LOL I need a new set of knives as well.
Your daughter is lucky to have such a caring mother! I’m glad she is recovering better than you expected!
Thanks Ingrid. Hopefully she will continue to improve.
Thanks so much for hosting the giveaway Raychael. Hope you’re hanging in there. It’ll be crazy from here on in.
Anne xx
Thanks Anne,
Feel like I’m failing on all fronts at the moment. I’m hoping a night or two of sleep might help.
It says the linky list is now closed 🙁 … here’s mine anyway, closing 10/12: http://www.middleagedmama.com.au/gift-ideas-for-middle-aged-men-incl-giveaway/ $100 Crazy Sales Gift Voucher! Take it easy over the summer/Christmas craziness – you deserve it!
Not sure what is going on. Still looks open this end. Will add your link from here. Thanks
Thanks Raych! It looks open again now, but appreciate you linking me up x
Thanks lovely for hosting this. So glad your daughter is recovering well
Thanks Natalie. Still a long way to go but slowly getting there.
Thanks for hosting!! I have shared the link up via social media 🙂
Thanks so much for sharing Sonia.
Happy 1st December love! Sending you lots of positive vibes for a jolly festive season xx
Thanks so much. Right back at you. Have a wonderful Christmas.
So glad to hear that your daughter is on the mend. There’s nothing scarier x
It’s been two steps forward and one step back with the recovery. Just hoping that my daughter continues to improve.
I’m glad that she is recovering well. It’s very hard seeing your kids suffering.
Thanks Jess. She had a bit of a set back this week but hoping to be back on track soon.
Thank goodness your daughter is going well. You’ve certainly been through the mill this year. This giveaway link up is a brilliant idea. I will have a couple coming up in the next couple of weeks, so I’ll be sure to link up x
Yes it certainly has been a trying year. Hopefully all that is behind us now.
December seems to be giveaway month on my blog too! Glad your daughter is recovering well {I have my #teamIBOT hat on today too}.
Bring on the giveaways. I’m hoping I actually win something this month.
Glad your daughter is recovering well and hoping your Christmas is relaxed and restful for all!
Re: gifting knives, if the recipient pays the giver a token amount (say 5 cents), then they have effectively “bought” the knives from them and it’s not a gift so any bad luck is negated. Defs no shoes on the table though!!
Any others I should know about Beth? I’m keen for our run of bad luck to be behind us.
Never give a purse as a gift unless it has money in it!
Take the time needed to be there for your daughter. What an incredibly busy year you’ve had. I hope you are able to take some time out for yourself this Christmas. Thank you so much for running this giveaway thread. You are so valued highly in the blogging community for what you do. xx
Thanks so much. Means a lot coming from you. Will definitely be taking some much needed time out over Christmas.
I hope your daughter is going along well! Kids recover so quickly.
I had trouble getting onto your blog for the past week – was your site down? (Or was it just my connection to it?)
Yes, Christmas and commercialism. Sadly, it’s spoils the whole thing doesn’t it. I always wish we had no TV or internet from Sept onwards so that Christmas could feel a little more traditional and worthwhile.
Sadly and rather annoyingly my end. Another hack attempt, following some nasty trolling. My hosts put the blog in time out as I was offline. A slight hiccup with my daughter’s recovery. Of course when I did resurface, it was the last thing I really wanted to deal with. Onwards and upwards.
Popping over again! X
So many fab giveaways this month. Thanks again for linking up.
I hope you get the chance to enjoy a lovely xmas with your family – hoping your daughter’s recovery is still tracking well x
A bit of back tracking with the jaw trying to move back but hopefully a few more hooks have done the trick. Would hate to think she has gone through all this for nothing.
Back again – almost embarrassing! There’s loads more to come too. (Trying to clear a huge backlog and reclaim my desk!) Hope all’s well with you. x
I’m in the same boat but running out of time to get it all on.
… And I am back again! ? What an insane time of year! X