First off before we get to the chocolate, I need to extend some very special thanks (picture of me weeping at their feet) to people who made my launch possible.
The very first thanks goes to Erin at Nirvana Mamma who hosted the blog makeover contest and personally awarded me (through her randomly generated number) the winner. Thank you Erin – without you I’m not sure when it would have occurred to me to give my blog a much-needed extreme makeover.
The next very large thank you goes to Pepper (that’s her real name – I would love to have that name) at UniqueHorn Designs who, as you can see, did a beautiful job on the logo, the background and the theme. Installation wasn’t included in my free makeover, but Pepper went above and beyond duty to help me install the theme and her design. You can visit her website through the button in my footer, and do consider it if you want to go the professional route. Thank you Pepper, for my beautiful everything.
Following that is Gigi at Kludgy Mom (pronounced like clue-gee) who seems to tirelessly inform the poor, the wretched, the stupid (grin) on everything blog-related. Thank you Gigi for your e-books, your communication and your advice. May you get back what you freely give a hundred-fold.
And finally, a very large thank you to Catherine Sanderson, author of Petite Anglaise and French Kissing (both of which can be purchased at Amazon). If you want to be inspired by a blogging pioneer, and someone who got a book deal out of their blog, you won’t want to miss her books. Catherine navigated me through the intricacies of coding, plugins, social networks. Aw – who am I kidding? She started to navigate me through it and when she saw I was floundering, left me to doggy paddle while she olympic-swam the rest of the way through. Without her my blog would be very pretty but it wouldn’t function. Thank you Catherine.
And now, on to the chocolate. And more importantly – who gets to eat it.
In honor of A Lady in France‘s launch (and in honor of the City of Love, our upcoming ten-year wedding anniversary and a pure love of chocolate), I’m fedexing overnight one chocolate-stoked winner a box of assorted perfection from the celebrated House of Chocolate, offering unique artisanal creations (aka: doing their stuff) since 1955.
I had trouble getting a photo of the box of chocolate since La Maison du Chocolat protects their images on the website, so I considered it my civic duty to go to the Champs Elysées and buy a box so you would know what you’re getting (over 250 grams and 28 pieces of assorted chocolate in a compact box). I then considered it my civic duty to test the chocolate to make sure the quality is up to par, and rest assured there are no problems there.
If you’re interested in winning this and live in an English-speaking country to which it can be delivered (sadly not Australia or New Zealand), or if you live in France (although that would hardly be the point, heh?) than simply blog about, tweet or “like” this giveaway in a various social media and then leave me a comment here to let me know which one you’ve chosen.
I will then choose a highly-personalized, randomly generated number based on the comments I receive. Oh, it would be awfully nice if you subscribed to my blog too so my subscriber page doesn’t look so lonely.
Offer ends 31 October 2010 when I return from my second honeymoon (our anniversary trip to the Loire Valley). Somebody’s gettin’ lucky!
Ahem – with chocolates!
I’m so happy to explore this wonderful site … the only thing better, would be to do this . . . with CHOCOLATE!!! 😉
Congratulations on what is going to be a favorite blog of mine! The work and time spent shows, and it is absolutely lovely!!! I’m about to blog about your new site and the giveaway (and keep my fingers crossed that I win!) Wonderful job!
What a beautiful site, Jennie!!! Love it and cannot wait to continue reading…so keep writing! 🙂 I posted the link on Facebook & Twitter, and would have done so even without the potential for French chocolates! xoxo
Beautiful blog! I tweeted your giveaway:
http://twitter.com/calmond/status/27468033380
christinaalmond@gmail.com
jennie – great blog – what a lovely bride you were !! Theta Pi days seem so long ago…i love paris – if i get back over there i will for sure look you up
happy anniversary !
Jennie,
Wonderful blog!! I have shared on Facebook. I can’t wait to keep visiting.
Danielle Graumann Aepelbacher
Dear Australian Customs,
Although I love our country and the fact that you have done such a good job at keeping creepy crawlies out – chocolate isn’t allowed? From France? Are you sure? Do you realise what misery you are subjecting Ozzie women to? Pull your socks up – I could have won an important competition here, that would have put in me a good mood for at least 28 days. Have you thought about the fact you are annoying women on multiple continents? Well, alright, alright… you’re right, I guess I will just have to enjoy Jennie’s new website. Yes, and I know that won’t be too difficult because she is intelligent, witty and entertaining, not to mention a great photographer and her children and husband are obviously delightful. And the new website is spectacular. Yes, yes, yes, alright, *sighing deeply* I guess I can’t read a blog and eat my chocolate too. 🙁
Stoopid customs.
Jo
Poor Jo – that stinks, doesn’t it? Although I’m not sure if it’s customs that’s the problem or La Maison du Chocolat that hasn’t done the sprawl.
Great blog! Thanks Christine for the link. Can’t wait to read more!
Yum! La Maison du Chocolat (: Liked you on facebook! Love your makeover – just beautiful!
Thanks! It’s funny because most of the commenters are old sorority sisters. I’m not trying to be nepotistic, the odds are there that one of them will win. 🙂
Thanks for the wonderful shout-out, Jennie. THe new blog looks great and I am always happy to help 🙂
I wouldn’t mind some chocolat, either!
The blog makeover est magnifique!!! Tweeted this AND liked you on FB. Many thanks to Leanne for making the introduction … 🙂
Thank you Yenta Mary! 🙂
I’m really enjoying your new blog. 🙂
I just tweeted! http://twitter.com/#!/fromtracie/status/27772653744
And I subscribed! I’m looking forward to reading more.
(The blog looks beautiful!)
Yeah Jennie! I am so happy to have you back! I have become addicted to your blog. The new site is just gorgeous! I look forward to visiting here often-I love to share in your latest reflections and insights. You are amazing!
THE SITE LOOKS FANTASTIC!! So excited for wonderful, wonderful you. And yes, I subscribed. And yes, I want chocolate. I LOVE YOU!
chocolat, chocolate, chocolate.
I want it!!
Please, I have quite a problem with it.
Thank you!
love this new look (and the previous one too)! have fun at loire valley, drink lots of sancerre and some sauvignon blanc
Your new blog looks so lovely. Makes me want to redecorate at my place. So glad you’re back!
I’m going to tweet about your giveaway. I apologize though for I’m a lowly twitterer with few followers!
Aw, thanks for the comment – who cares about how many followers, right?
I’m going to tweet about this… as soon as I figure out how!
Tweet accomplished!
ooh! pick me! pick me!! I LOOOOVE La Maison Du Choculat!!! Just subscribed to follow you via email & liked you on FB! how ’bout some macarons thrown in? asking too much? 🙂 Love that you’re doing a france blog. You’re going to be my go to source when I plan my france trip…plus, I can pretend I’m living in France via your blog till I get there!
Okay – I promise a trip to Ladurée for macarons when you come Mrs Dougherty. (Grin). Kisses!
What a fun site… and being a confessed hopeless chocoholic you sucked me right in with the free chocolate offer! You make France sound just delightful- have never been as Italy keeps pulling us there (I married Italian!)… but if/when I do make it to France I will look you up! I’m liking this on Facebook fyi. We enjoyed our 10 year anniversary/2nd honeymoon in Mexico this past summer… aren’t 10th anniversaries wonderful!!!
Hi Heidi! Do look us up if ever you make it to France as well as Italy. I understand – if you have an Italian husband that’s first priority …. Congrats on your 10 years (plus) too. I’ll keep you posted on the draw.
Hello, I found your blog yesterday and have been peeking around a little bit. I really enjoyed reading the story of how you and your husband got together. I can tell I’m going to enjoy reading more about your life.
I tweeted about your giveaway: http://preview.tinyurl.com/2cwkhhy
I shared this give away on Facebook!
Good luck Jackie (and thank you for leaving a comment). I’ll do the draw first thing tomorrow morning.
http://twitter.com/#!/JackieCross/status/29001916022
Hey Jennie!
I just wanted you to know how much I loooooooooveeeee your blog. I love to get a nice cup of coffee and sit down and read. You life seems so much more romantic than mine! I of course am definately into getting those chocolates! I posted a link on Facebook inviting everyone I knew to come read! I’m so proud of you. I had no idea what a talented writer you were!
Thanks for your sweet comment Tonia. I’m doing the draw tomorrow just to give everyone a chance til the last minute. And my life is only sometimes more romantic, like when we go away to the jagged Normandy cliffs instead of the Jersey shore. Most of the time, however, it’s cooking, cleaning .. you get the picture. 😉