POP goes my giveaway! (1 Month Supply of Pop Chips)

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**If you don't get the title (or it isn't making you sing a song in your head), please reference this amazing faux music video courtesy of Hugh Grant from the movie Music and Lyrics. I don't know why it's so catchy.**

Happy Valentine's Day! 

I am in Chicago this weekend and am planning to make a delicious Valentine's Day dinner tonight. Melty cheese, basil, and apricot appetizer, filet mignon, a salad, and parmesan roasted brussels sprouts, finished off with a chocolate cake from Portillo's. Hey, it's the least I can do for a husband who provided David Yurman for Valentine's Day... <3

In honor of this special day, I wanted to give you a gift! That's right. You're my valentine. Well, one of you, at least. One lucky reader will receive one month's supply of Pop Chips!

What the heck are Pop Chips? A naturally delicious line of popped potato, popped tortilla and popped corn chips with all the flavor and half the fat of fried chips. 

So, this Valentine's Day, I bring you...

To Enter the Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

This giveaway is courtesy of Pop Chips' "Bring The Fun" campaign, which gives you a chance to win a round trip for two to Jillian Michaels' Maximize Your Life Tour, a 1 year subscription to FitFusion, and a 1 year supply of Pop Chips! If you want to enter that giveaway, click here.

**I was not compensated financially for this post, but I am being sent a delicious box of Pop Chips! Yum**

TGIF NuNaturals Giveaway - 4 Winners!

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Happy Friday, folks! I, for one, am pretty darn thrilled that I made it through the week. We can all rejoice - because it's Friday! For some reason, I enjoy everything more on Friday, and even the biggest annoyances can't get to me. Can't touch this... TGIF.

Today's post is a double celebration. Not only am I celebrating my favorite day of the week (yes, I like Friday more than Saturday), but I'm also celebrating a GIVEAWAY!

NuNaturals is my new favorite thing. Not even kidding. I've got about 4 containers sitting out on my counter, two in my purse, and a shaker full of powder at my desk. When recently asked what my favorite item in my kitchen was, my fiance suggested, "Those container things you have a bunch of everywhere." Hmm... container things = NuNaturals. Completely natural and safe, ZERO-CALORIE flavor sweeteners that you can add to... well, just about anything.

THE SPOILS:
So what's the deal? Four - yes, FOUR! - of you will receive four bottles of NuNaturals, each :)

• (1) one bottle of Lemon Flavored Stevia Liquid
• (1) one bottle of Orange Flavored Stevia Liquid
• (1) one bottle of Peppermint Flavored Stevia Liquid
• AND (1) one bottle of their brand spankin' new Chocolate Flavored Stevia Liquid

HOW TO WIN:
There are 5 ways to win! Enter here...

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Are you wondering how you'd use them?
Thought you might wonder -- so I've been using them in posts and recipes for the past few months. You can also use them to substitute in anything that requires sugar or stevia - click here for my recipe page to check some of those recipes out!

Orange Whiskey BOKO Cocktail

1920s Champagne Punch

ThinMint Protein Shake

Chocolate Coconut Iced Coffee

Happy Valentine's Day & Gentle Bath Company Giveaway Winner!

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Happy Valentines Day to one and all! I am a sucker for any excuse to celebrate anything (seriously, I threw a Speakeasy Party just because I wanted to liven up this year's Chicago winter), so Valentine's Day is, as usual, an exciting day for Carly.

First, it's exciting because I have amazing plans for the night. A few months ago, my fiance made a prime time reservation at Moto. Let's just say that I can't wait to add my Yelp review to that list, because I'm convinced it's going to be a night to remember. I'm even planning to bring my camera. Yep, I'll be that dork with a DLSR at dinner. But really, dinner at Moto practically begs to be photographed.

Image Credit

An edible menu?! Image Credit

Food that looks like a cigar?! Image Credit

There are a bunch of more interesting images here, but you get the idea. It's pretty much a food blogger's dream, so... consider yourself warned that I will be hyped and posting all about it.


Second, today is exciting because we have our Save The Dates and Engagement Party invites back from the printer! I'm extremely picky when it comes to design and announcements, etc, so I designed both the Save The Date we'll be sending out as well as the invite for the Engagement Party my parents are throwing next month for the bridal party, family, and some local guests. I used some of the engagement shots taken by Daniel Peter and then went from there. Some pictures of those announcements/invites coming soon! Can't wait to share my custom monogram. Don't roll your eyes.


Third, today is exciting because it's a big sale day. Companies always go out of their way to roll out the Valentine's carpet and offer good deals. Perhaps it's because people are either in a wonderful mood (buy stuff) or a horrible mood (buy even more stuff). Here are a few sales I'm keeping my eye on:

• GNC is offering 25% off their entire online shop if you use the code IHEARTGNC
• Juicy Couture is offering 30% off track and handbags (View the items on sale here)
• World Market is offering 25% off bubbly and vino for members (if you're not a member, it's easy to join, you can do it in the store)
• J Crew is offering 30% off all final sale items with the coupon code STYLE30 (I don't think this discount is exclusive to today's holiday by the way)

Fourth, today is exciting because I'm announcing the winner of the Gentle Bath Company Giveaway! I'm very thrilled to announce that the winner is...

TIFFANY A.

I used random number generator to choose a winner based on the comments that were left. Tiffany, because you did not use a google or blogger account to leave your comment, I do not have an email address for you to shoot you a note letting you know you've won -- so I'll give you until Monday to email me at carly@createliveblog.com and claim your prize! On Monday, if I've not heard from you, I'll have to re-draw! Don't make me...

The Gentle Bath Company Giveaway!

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There's something about pampering yourself that makes the world feel like a softer, gentler place. Whether you're treating yourself or a loved one, the gift of care and pampering says, I love you. I appreciate you. You matter to me, and I wish for you to feel comfort and joy.

The weekend before I got engaged, I planned a special date weekend of pampering and fun for my soon-to-be-fiance. It even culminated in me fake-proposing at Cite, on the 70th floor of Lake Point Tower (Little did I know that he would be proposing to me not even a full week later. We were just on the same page, I guess!). Anyway, part of my gift to him was to set him up for his first massage at Lillie Ann's in West Loop. He absolutely loved it, and I think it made him feel surprisingly relaxed and special.

Sounds like the perfect gift, doesn't it? :)

Well, go figure... I have a wonderful giveaway for you today! Brenda from The Gentle Bath Company contacted me to set up a Valentine's Day Giveaway. That's right. She doesn't even know you, yet she wants to give you free stuff! What on earth could be better?

We're giving one awesome reader a One Hundred Roses Soak & Scrub Basket, designed to help you pamper yourself or a loved one this Valentine's Day. It retails at $60.00, but you're getting it for a whopping 0. That's right, people. ONE HUNDRED PERCENT OFF.

You will win:
One Belaire Hand Towel in White (Valued at $14.95), a One-hundred Roses Exfoliating Sugar Scrub (Valued at $14.95), Self Magazine's Award Winning Bubble Bath (Valued at $9.95), a Natural Sea Wool Sponge (Valued at $6.95), a Bath Pillow in your chosen color (Valued at $8.95), and a Square Corn Husk Basket with Suede Handles also included (Valued at $9.95).

There are four ways to enter this giveaway.  
You can enter once, twice, three times, or four times. Whatever suits your fancy. To make my life a little easier, please leave a separate comment for each thing you do, because I use a random number generator to choose one of the comments as the winner.

1. Leave a comment telling us someone who YOU think deserves to be pampered this Valentine's Day! It could be your husband, your wife, your mother, or even yourself! Anything goes!

2. Like The Gentle Bath Company on Facebook, then leave a comment on this post saying, "I liked The Gentle Bath Company on Facebook!" I'm going to make this one verrryy easy for you by embedding the Facebook Like button below:

3. Like Createlive on Facebook, then leave a comment on this post saying, "I liked Createlive on Facebook!" If you've already liked Createlive on Facebook, that's fine - just leave a comment letting us know!

4. Send the URL to this giveaway to a friend or loved one, telling them to get in on the action! Then, leave a comment on this post saying, "I forwarded to a friend!"

Note: This giveaway will close at 12:00CST on Sunday, February 10th, so that the winner can hopefully have their box by February 14th!

Engagement Celebration - My Sweet November Necklace Giveaway!

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To celebrate my engagement, Candy from My Sweet November is giving away a necklace to one lucky reader! There are 3 ways to enter!
1. Comment on this post and include the phrase "YES TO THE NECKLACE!"
2. Like Createlive on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so.
3. Like My Sweet November on Facebook and leave a comment letting me know you did so.


**This giveaway will close at midnight, Central Time, on Monday, 12/17!**

Guess what else?!
Candy is also offering a 15% discount to Createlive readers who make any purchase from her shop! Use the coupon code CLB15!

Memphis in 30 Seconds, Free Jewelry, and a New Banner!

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Yeah, I know I usually only post once a day, but I've got some news to share with ya! You know, things like free jewelry (umm, yes please?), a new banner (sometimes inspiration takes hold of ya!), and a 30-second visual recap of my trip to Memphis this weekend!

Free Jewelry

Did you hear about the giveaway? I'm teaming up with Scene Not Herd to give away some awesome jewelry. It's free if you win! To enter, head on over to this post and leave a comment! You can comment up to 4 times before the end of the month!

New Banner

How do you like it?! I'm working on making the Createlive brand a bit more apparent... this is the first in a laundry list of small changes you might be noticing over the next few months! Get excited :)

Memphis

For those of you who didn't know, I was in Memphis, Tennessee this weekend. I was in town for an alumni seminar... but, obviously, we made sure to get out of the classroom and into the city! Here's my trip in animated gif format. Have 30 seconds? Here ya go!! (It keeps repeating but the clip technically begins in the car with Justin, on the way to the airport!)

*For the record, I worked out 3 times (once each day) on this trip... but only plagued you with one hilarious -- err, embarrassing workout clip in there. You are hereby and forevermore banned from making fun of said workout clip. Mark my words!  By the way, coming soon is a great travel workout using a simple rubberized workout band! Get fit on the road, my friends! To buy the workout bands now so that you have them for your summer trips, click here!

*Included: Justin's Car, O'Hare International Airport, Memphis Cityscape, Rhodes College, Nail Bar, The Pyramid (soon to be a Bass Pro shop), The Flying Saucer, More Rhodes College, Central BBQ, Marriot Crowne Plaza Hotel, Automatic Slims, Beale Street, Silky O'Sullivan's, Bosco's, Memphis International Airport.

For those foodies out there (come on, this blog is pretty much half food...), here are a few shots to tease you...

Clockwise from top left: BBQ Chicken Nachos at Central BBQ, "Butterfly" Martini (Vodka, grapefruit juice, mint leaves, basil leaves) at Automatic Slims, Tuna Tacos at Automatic Slims, "Diver" (who even knows what is in there? seems to incorporate beer, wine, liquor, and some kind of cherry juice) at Silky O'Sullivan's.

BBQ Chicken Nachos at Central BBQ -- because I know you wanted a closer look!

A few more Instagram-dumped shots:

Yes, don't I look good for being 72 years old (how old I'd be if I graduated at 22 in 1962)?

Elvis made an appearance at a grad party in the Peabody Hotel. 

Reppin' sweet home Chicago! :)

'Tis The Season for Bonhomie

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Falalalala lala la la.

It seems fitting that, as Christmas approaches, I keep trying to give you gifts -- right?

Bonhomie Charms is giving away $40 shop credit to their website, bonhomiejewelry.com. 

Four ways to enter! Do all four things = leave four comments = four chances to win! 

1. Visit Bonhomie's website and then come back here and leave a comment telling us what your favorite item was.
2. Like Createlive on Facebook (and leave a comment on this post letting me know!)
   
3. Like Bonhomie on Facebook (and leave a comment on this post letting me know!)
   
4. Follow Createlive using Google Friend Connect (the "follow" button up top -- or in the right hand side bar -- or right here).  Click here to follow.

And while you anxiously await the giveaway results, we didn't want to leave you hanging -- after all, this shop is utterly perfect for your heartfelt Christmas gifts (Mom, if you're reading this, please act surprised if you get one of these from me!). Go ahead and get your shop on by entering the code Createlive15 to get 15% off of bonhomiejewelry.com or their etsy shop!

Psst! This giveaway will last until Tuesday, December 13th. Make sure to enter by 11:59:59 PM in order to be included and check back the following day to see if you're a winner!  Because we email winners to orchestrate the "trade-off" of goods, so to speak, please make sure that your comments are left from a profile that includes your email address or that you ensure that your email address is somewhere in the post. Also, here's some full disclosure: I'm not paid for this giveaway or receiving any items for myself as a result of this contest! It's just out of the goodness of our hearts (grin) that we're teaming up to offer you some goodies!

Woodzee Discount?!

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Once upon a time, you all signed up for a giveaway in hopes of winning Woodzee's prize...

And for the next 30 days, get 20% off their entire shop! Just in time for Christmas, eh?! Don't mind if I do...

Enter code "Createlive20" to receive 20% off their shop. Discount valid through December 28, so head on over and do some work for Santa!

Woodzee Giveaway Winner

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**Regardless of whether you're a winner of this giveaway, stick around until the end of the day -- you're all getting a discount for being Createlive fans!**

Congratulations, Allie E. -- you've won the Woodzee Giveaway!

And for the record, while the above comment was the official "Winner," I'd just like to share with you this fabulously creative poem Allie wrote to answer 'Why wood is good...'

Not a winner? Aww! Don't cry yet! You're getting a discount! Check back later for 20% off of Woodzee's Shop!

Woodzee Giveaway

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Got wood?

Get your mind out of the gutter.

Wooden sunglasses, people! You know, like from an actual store called Woodzee.

They're giving you $60 toward their shop. That's a lot of free wood, my friends :)

Four ways to enter! Do all four things = leave four comments = four chances to win! 

1. Leave a comment telling us why wood is good.
2. Like Createlive on Facebook (and leave a comment on this post letting me know!)
   
3. Like Woodzee on Facebook (and leave a comment on this post letting me know!)
   
4. Follow Createlive using Google Friend Connect (the "follow" button up top -- or in the right hand side bar -- or right hurr).  Click here to follow.

Psst! This giveaway will last until Tuesday, November 22nd. Make sure to enter by 11:59:59 PM in order to be included and check back the following day to see if you're a winner!  Because we email winners to orchestrate the "trade-off" of goods, so to speak, please make sure that your comments are left from a profile that includes your email address or that you ensure that your email address is somewhere in the post. Also, here's some full disclosure: I'm not paid for this giveaway or receiving any items for myself as a result of this contest! It's just out of the goodness of our hearts (grin) that we're teaming up to offer you some goodies!

Giveaway Winner & Shopkempt Discount!

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The winner of the Shopkempt Giveaway? We have a winner...
Comment # 35.

 

I know. I know. You're sad. It's hard when you don't win. Sniffle.

Don't cry yet! You're still getting 15% off!!!

Just for entering the giveaway, Shopkempt will take 15% off your entire order from now until Sunday Nov. 27 11:59pm PST.

Just enter this code: CREATELIVEBLOG15

Enjoy :)

G.I.V.E.A.W.A.Y.

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Giveaway! Giveaway! Oh, and did I mention we're giving stuff away?!

You should let us love on you.

No, really.

Shopkempt is giving you a $40 gift card to their site. Go crazy on purses, shoes, jewelry, hats, sweaters... Run a train on that... shop.

Enter the giveaway here!

ShopKempt Giveaway! Gift Card Love

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Guess what, muh friends?! It's giveaway time again! A few weeks ago, I was gushing over some items in ShopKempt's online shop. Turns out, so were a lot of you! So many, in fact, that we've decided to hold a giveaway! 

They're giving away a $40.00 gift card that can be used on ANY of their items online! Head on over to Shopkempt to browse their goodies or have a look here :)

I know, I know. You're wondering... what do I have to do to get these beautiful things?! Read on, my friend!

There are multiple ways to enter this giveaway! For each of the following actions, leave a separate comment letting me know you've done it (makes it 100,000,000 times easier for me to count entries and pick a winner, ya dig?!)

For a max total of three entries, here ya go:

• Check out their site or browse the fabulous items above and let us know what you would love to spend your gift card on!
• Like Createlive on Facebook  <--seems hard? It's not. Because I already did the work for you! Yep, I'm just that nice :) Just click "Like" below and leave a comment letting me know you're legit!
  
• Like Shopkempt on Facebook! <--seems hard? It's not. Because I already did the work for you! Yep, I'm just that nice :) Just click "Like" below and leave a comment letting me know you're legit!

Don't forget to enter by Saturday, November 5th at Midnight! Don't forget to leave an email address so I can get your contact information when you win!

Giveaway Winner - Stitched and Adorned!

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The winner of our Stitched and Adorned giveaway is BeeCute! Be on the lookout for an email from me to get your shipping info!

We're not wasting any time here! Come back later today for a Shopkempt giftcard giveaway!

Giveaway Extended!

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Guess what?! This week's giveaway has been extended until Monday!

Enter to win this clutch from Stitched + Adorned by liking them on facebook and leaving a comment telling us which item from their shop you lurve. By lurve, I mean love. Come on, people. Get with the pro[gram].

HOW TO WIN:

For one entry, like Stitched and Adorned on Facebook and comment on this post letting me know you've done it!

For a SECOND entry, leave a comment and answer this question: If you were an animal, which would you be? Why?!

Are you kind of lazy and not feeling up to finding them on facebook? Fine. I'll do the work for you. BOOM! How's that for ya? All you gotta do is click a button...

Stitched + Adorned Giveaway? Yes please!

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Guess what?! We're doing it again. Yep. That's right. Giving you free stuff. It might sound like B.S. but I actually do enjoy this... 

Enter to win this clutch from Stitched + Adorned by liking them on facebook and leaving a comment telling us which item from their shop you lurve. By lurve, I mean love. Come on, people. Get with the pro[gram].

Are you kind of lazy and not feeling up to finding them on facebook? Fine. I'll do the work for you. BOOM! How's that for ya? All you gotta do is click a button...

Winning, Duh

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And the winner of Old Gold Boutique's giveaway is... [drumroll please]... Comment #9 -- Sydney!


Congratulations, Sydney! 


You'll be receiving an email this week with details on how to redeem your $75 shopping spree at Old Gold Boutique! Can't wait to see what you pick :)

And for now, I'll leave you with a pretty good argument for going to the skating rink:



Be back in a few hours with Whiskey Apple Cider :)

Giveaway - $75 at Old Gold Boutique!

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Want $75 dollars worth of free shopping at Old Gold Boutique?

We want to love on you. We really really do.

Enter the giveaway here or scroll below to "like" them on facebook and leave me a comment letting me know you've done the deed. Enter by Saturday at Midnight for a chance to win!

Enter the giveaway here or like them on Facebook and leave a comment on this post letting me know you've done it!
Wanna know how easy it is? Here -- I'll put it right in front of your face! Now you can't use laziness as an excuse ;-)