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Thursday, April 1, 2010

Happy Birthday, and the Gift Is For You-- No Foolin'!


Barnes and Noble Contest Now Closed: Winner is Katy F.!

*          *          *

I've seen other bloggers do this in the past and I thought it was a great idea--  Gift giving on my birthday, only YOU get the gift!  It's also the 15th anniversary of the day I married Jonathan Hartness, my best friend and Soul Mate.  I'm so grateful that we were brought together all those years ago in college, and I'm privileged to be his wife.  And to top it off, it's going to be his 40th BIRTHDAY on Saturday!!  So we're both 39 for two days, and then he leaps forward into middle-agedom.  I'm right behind you, honey!

A comment on the wedding photo:  We were both 24 that day, with Jonathan turning 25 two days later.  The ceremony was held at Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC.  My parents were married there in 1968.  We had the same florist, baker, processional music, recessional, organist and cake design.  Both mom and I were married on our 24th birthdays, and my brother @DonovanWoodside later married on his 26th birthday on 8/25/2000.  We love carrying on traditions!  I would've worn my mother's beautiful gown, but it had not been preserved and was falling apart.  Instead, I found a $1,100 gown in New Jersey that I liked - but found it on the rack as a bridal salon sample dress in Biloxi, MS for $450!!  It was a beautiful spring day, the best way we could have begun our lives together.

In addition to celebrating these wonderful milestones, I'm celebrating 6 months of The Calico Critic. Without getting too personal, the last year was really difficult.  I began this blog in October of 2009, and it's brought me so much joy.  I've loved meeting so many interesting people from around the world, both on my blog, on others' sites, Facebook and Twitter.  We've exchanged ideas, debated a bit, shared books, cried on virtual shoulders and tweeted about anything and everything. This "hobby" has brought quite a bit of sunshine (and more than a few books!) into my life.

So to thank you loyal readers (and newbies who discover this site), I'm offering $20 in credit at Barnes & Noble (two $10 GCs).  Here's how to enter - read carefully!


  • Leave a comment below; this counts as your entry.
  • Entries accepted until 11:59pm on Saturday, April 10th
  • Open to U.S. addresses only.
  • Make sure at least one posted comment includes your email address. If you'd rather not have your email posted here, you may contact me directly to give me that information after you've entered.
  • I will compile the entries and the winner will be chosen by Random.org, so even one entry can make you a winner!
  • Should you win, I will contact you on Sunday the 11th.  Please take measures to ensure that my email will make it past your spam filters, lest you miss my message! (CalicoCritic@gmail.com) You'll have 72 hours to respond before I pick another winner.
  • More information on the giveaway policies can be found on the Contact / Policies page.

Bonus Entries (Please make note of your bonus entries in your comment(s)):

  • Follow the blog by clicking on the Google "Follow" button on my sidebar (old or new followers both get the bonus entry, just let me know you're following).
  • Follow me (@LHartness) on Twitter (Please tell me your @UserName).
  • Tweet about this giveaway on Twitter.com; be sure to use an URL linking back to this contest in your tweet. You may do this as frequently as every 8 hours between now and April 10th at 11:59pm EST.  For each tweet, please come back and post the direct URL link to that specific tweet, not just your @Username.

So that's it!  Thanks again for stopping by and HAPPY APRIL FOOLS DAY!!


 Our anniversary date location- Ocean Grill in Vero Beach
We had the best seat in the house, the corner table facing out toward the beach.

87 comments:

  1. Thanks! I'm a follower.

    shutupjessicasreading @ gmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  2. Happy Birthday!!
    email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com
    I am a google friend follower
    I follow you on twitter @bangersis
    I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/11406457259

    ReplyDelete
  3. I would love to be entered!

    +1 follower
    +1 follow on twitter @thebookcellarx

    :) Erica
    thebookcellar@wi.rr.com

    ReplyDelete
  4. Hi Laura,
    Awesome blog! Happy Birthday and Happy 15th Wedding Anniversary- that's awesome!
    my email is: juliehdurham@yahoo.com

    Happy Spring to you and your family! :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Laura,
    Happy Birthday and Happy 15 years of marriage! That's Wonderful!!!
    my email is juliehdurham@yahoo.com

    Happy Spring! :)

    ReplyDelete
  6. Happy Birthday and Anniversary!

    I'm already a follower.

    I follow on Twitter. Username: Door2Wonderland.

    Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11407640866

    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great giveaway!!

    Follower
    Twitter follower: @kpic724

    Thanks!!

    kpic724 (at) gmail (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sweet contest! Congrats on the B'day and your anniversary!

    Google friend follower :)

    I follow you on twitter @lexley

    I tweeted about it!
    http://twitter.com/lexley/status/11422261668


    must.read.faster@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  9. My tweet post didn't work here is the right one:
    http://twitter.com/lexley/status/11422367802

    @lexley

    must.read.faster@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  10. follow the blog
    follow you on twitter @aprilmom00
    happy Birthday/anniversary
    aprilmom00 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hi Laura, heres my comment: You are a beautiful bride!

    I am following your blog

    I am following you on twitter

    I will retweet this right now :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hey Lindsey! Thanks for stopping by, entering, & for your nice comment! You were a pretty bride yourself, Miss Thing:

    http://lindseylu8.blogspot.com/2010/02/21610-my-shape-magazine.html

    ReplyDelete
  13. Happy Birthday and Anniversary!

    I am already a follower here and on twitter(bbricke) and I tweeted.
    http://twitter.com/bbricke/status/11435818975

    ReplyDelete
  14. just noticed we have the same background!

    I just reblogged about your giveaway: http://lindseylu8.blogspot.com/2010/04/4110-april-fools-day-which-i-dont-do.html

    ReplyDelete
  15. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11437658414

    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  16. Aww, happy birthday and anniversary! What a sweet picture!

    Please count me in. I'm a blog follower.

    stephaniet117(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Gorgeous pic, you are stunning.! A very happy birthday!

    Imogen Rose

    ReplyDelete
  18. Remember Mar 31-Apr1, 1995 well; Chris 15, then half a life away now, and I drove to Charlotte amidst the blooming spring!!I It was a glorious time!! My Dad was there too. Precious Memories!! Happy Ann, BD's and C&M's coming up soon!!!

    ReplyDelete
  19. Happy birthday and happy anniversary too! :) What a lovely wedding picture! My anniversary is this month too--it will be our 12th on the 18th.

    I'm following your blog (Google Friend Connect) and following you on twitter (@afewmorepages)

    srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  20. Katy:

    Thanks for stopping by and for the well wishes. Congrats on your DOZEN years (how did it go by so fast?!?!) married! It's a good month for a wedding.

    Good luck on the contest!

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  21. Happy Birthday to both of you -- the blog and the hubby!

    I'd like to be entered and follow in google reader.

    I also follow on twitter @SavvyVerseWit

    savvyverseandwit at gmail

    ReplyDelete
  22. here's my tweet: http://twitter.com/SavvyVerseWit/status/11493433836

    ReplyDelete
  23. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11501502334

    Thanks!
    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Happy Birthday and Anniversary! The best years are still to come... ;-)

    Both a Google and Twitter Follower.

    Bill ;-)

    http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/
    Author of "Back to the Homeplace"
    http://thehomeplaceseries.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  25. I would love to win!! Thanks for the offer! I love your site!


    jeffintennessee at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  26. I follow you on google blog

    I follow you on twitter!

    I tweeted about this giveaway!!
    http://twitter.com/jeffintennessee/status/11513753365

    jeffintennessee at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  27. Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary!!!

    +1 Please enter me
    +1 following the blog
    +1 following you on twitter (@thebookvixen)
    +1 tweeted

    thebookvixen at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  28. happy bday and anny

    meandi09@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. Happy Bithday! and Happy Anniversary!!

    I have to say that is a beautiful picture!

    +1 Follow with Google Connect
    +1 Follow on Twitter (I am @mellhay)
    +1 for commenting
    ___

    3 Total! Thank you!

    ReplyDelete
  30. Tweet! http://twitter.com/afewmorepages/status/11539662225

    srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  31. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11549621586

    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  32. Happy Birthday and Anniversary! (to you both!) What a fun and generous thing to do to celebrate! Thanks!
    JHolden955(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  33. Happy Anniversary and Blogovesary!

    Great giveaway! I would love a chance to win!
    xx,
    E.J.

    +1 following

    e.j.stevens.author[at]gmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  34. Laura your picture is beautiful! Happy birthday and anniversary :)

    journey through books @ gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. I follow you on twitter

    bookjourney

    journey through books @ gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  36. I follow your blog :)

    Journey through books @ gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  37. Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  38. follow on google

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  39. follow on twitter

    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  40. Please enter me. Your photos and story are beautiful! I would love a chance to win. Thanks. newt at imsa dot edu

    p.s. I came here from LibraryThing.com

    ReplyDelete
  41. Bermuda:

    That's so cool! One of my bridesmaids was from Mint Hill!

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  42. Happy anniversary/birthday!

    xicecreamsjx@aol.com

    I'm a follower of your blog.
    I'm a follower of you on twitter. Username: faellie_lupe
    I Tweeted this post --->
    http://twitter.com/faellie_lupe/status/11610798600

    ReplyDelete
  43. Happy birthday and happy anniversary!
    sonia_j_1000@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  44. Happy Birthday! I would love to be a lucky recipient. msmainon at gmail dot com
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  45. Hi! I'd like to be entered in the Giveaway.

    I'm a new Follower, and I'm also following you on Twitter. My twitter name is DarkWyrmReads.

    darkwyrmreads(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Happy Birthday!! What a cool way to celebrate traditions.

    I am a blog follower.
    I am a twitter follower (@donnas1)
    Tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/11621180133

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Happy Belated Birthday! Sorry I'm just now stopping by...my sister was in town from Michigan all week and we stayed at my mom's with NO internet! I hope you had a great birthday and a nice anniversary!

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    miller4plusmore(at)bellsouth(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  48. Michelle:

    Thanks for the well-wishes! I'm glad you could stop by and enter. And no internet for a week!?!? I wouldn't know what to do with myself, but I'm sure I'd adapt after a while.

    Have a good week!

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  49. Thanks for the giveaway.
    I would like to enter :)

    greendaygirl2009(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  50. Tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/11653034925

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  51. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11655720868

    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  52. Please enter me - and congrats!

    Blessings -

    Andrea
    andrealschultz[at]gmail[dot]com

    I have a blog - Ponderings by Andrea. Please check it out!

    http://andrealschultz.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  53. Hi Laura -

    I follow you on Twitter. I am @andrealschultz.

    Would love for you to follow back!

    Andrea

    ReplyDelete
  54. I am your 150th Google follower! Thus - another entry!

    And congrats on that milestone also!

    Andrea
    Ponderings by Andrea
    http://andrealschultz.blogpsot.com

    Please come by for book giveaways and reviews!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Andrea! Thanks so much for being my 150th Follower! I think I'll just have to throw a little somethin' extra in for the winner to celebrate the milestone!

    ReplyDelete
  56. A very happy birthday and congratulations on your anniversary. Thank you for hosting this as well.

    mystica123athotmaildotcom

    ReplyDelete
  57. Thanks for sharing on your special days! May you you both be blessed this year!
    *Follow your blog
    *Follow on Tweeter
    cluedn@embarqmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  58. cococroissants

    2 $20 Barnes & Noble credit on The Calico Critic this wk! Deadline is Apr 10th. http://ab14ae96.qvvo.com #giveaway #free #contest


    chocolate and croissants at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I'm following you on blogspot!!


    Julie102794@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  60. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11728511768

    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  61. Tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/11734080437

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  62. I would love to be entered I absolutely love Barnes and Noble Please add me Thanks!:)
    Lindsey
    lindseypa89(at)yahoo(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  63. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11767601523

    Kelsey
    krae991@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  64. Please enter me into the contest!

    +1 follower

    I'll send you my contact info.

    ReplyDelete
  65. tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/11798278634

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  66. Following you on twitter @aikchien

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  67. Following your blog.

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  68. I'd love to enter!

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  69. I tweeted:

    http://twitter.com/aikchien/status/11822589491

    aikychien at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  70. Don't add me in the contest. I just wanted to wish you all the best. What amazing milestones you are hitting - and so close together. Awesome!

    Tweezle from Just One More Paragraph

    ReplyDelete
  71. Tweezle:

    How kind of you! Yes, it was a big "milestone" year with our 15th and my husband's 40th. I can't imagine what we'll do in 10 years when it's our 25th and his 50th!

    Laura

    ReplyDelete
  72. I follow via Google Friend Connect
    dmkayes@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  73. Happy Birthday and congrats on your anniversary. Your dress looked beautiful!
    dmkayes@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  74. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11858123136

    kelsey
    krae991 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  75. I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/11859831931
    email bangersis(at)msn(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  76. tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/11860885422

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  77. I tweeted http://twitter.com/bangersis/status/11907599475

    ReplyDelete
  78. Thanks so much! I follow you here and on twitter (on twitter my username is TheBermuda).

    I also tweeted about this contest here: http://twitter.com/thebermuda/status/11913945680

    So +4. My email is: simplyhumblylove@ gmail . com

    Thanks! :)

    ReplyDelete
  79. Daily tweet: http://twitter.com/Door2Wonderland/status/11916927491

    Kelsey
    krae991 AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  80. http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/11919357909

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  81. happy birthday and anniversary!!

    I am a follower on google friend

    followon Twitter -@ jellybelly82158

    jellybelly82158 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  82. tweet - http://twitter.com/DonnaS1/statuses/11967622548

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

    ReplyDelete
  83. Please enter me. I am a follower.
    Laura
    laura.leahj@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  84. I'm a follower @fireicephotos fireandice.heather@gmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  85. Thanks for the giveaway!

    I'm a new blog follower and an old twitter follower @ssalach21

    ssalach88(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete