Thank you all for entering our contest! I had to do the random number generator to choose our winner this time because all of the entries were so worthy. I would like to congratulate our winner, Andrea from Mommy Snacks, and we hope that this little gift will make her family’s holiday a little brighter. Andrea said this:
“I would give this to my mom. My father passed 3 years ago and there is a beautiful pic of the two of them that she keeps around – you can immediately sense his personality when you see that picture. Mom hasn’t taken off her wedding ring, not sure she will, not sure that’s easy to do. But, with this necklace, this pic will be close to her heart everyday and she’ll know – ring or not – he is with her 
”
Thank you again to everyone who entered and check back each week for new giveaways!
I am such a fan of you, Alli, why did you decide to start blogging over at Mrs. Fussypants Guide to Life?
Thank you, Amy. And I, of you. I discovered blogs about a year and a half ago when I researching homeschool resources. I fell in love with blogs instantly. I wanted a site that would reflect me and be a collection of little bits of my personality. What I didn’t know is how blogging would change my life through all the amazing women I have met and grown to love through their words.
I try to keep in mind that my site is my time capsule. My sons, my grandchildren, and 25 generations to come will know of me through what I write. Hopefully someone will say, “Ol’ Great Granny Alli, she sure was a funny lady back then.” I love that thought.
I am the editor for your Family Bliss Channel for Blissfully Domestic so you know I am already a super fan. Can you tell our readers a little bit about what Blissfully Domestic is and what you hope to provide with your site?
Blissfully Domestic is an wonderful group of talented women who have joined together as the ‘Domestic Divas’. There are 14 channels and over 250 women who contribute.
My vision for Blissfully Domestic was to provide a platform for women to show off their wisdom. As a mother of little kids, I used to get lost in that role. It wasn’t until I discovered blogging and began sharing my thoughts with the world, that I realized I had more and more wisdom to share. I believe every woman has knowledge to share with the world!
Blissfully Domestic is different than most online magazines because we are 100% real women. I founded the site with $27 and a few friends sharing their wisdom in weekly articles. The success has been humbling and I am very honored to be at the helm of a magazine that is packed with meaningful, useful articles. I hope we are a blessing to all who write for the site and who read.
You threw your first blogger bash, Blissdom ’08 recently and are planning another event in February. What are you hoping to offer with this event and what makes it unique?
BlissDom was a celebration of the power and wonderful voice of female bloggers. We shared our secrets, our tips and our motivation. It was an amazing experience.
In February, I hope to bring more aspects of Blissfully Domestic in to BlissDom. My vision is a retreat weekend for women. I hope to incorporate Blissful Style, Blissful Home, Inspired Bliss, Family Bliss and more.
You know, I hear Family Bliss is a huge hit. {winks}
As a mother of a zillion children (just kidding), how do you balance motherhood with running your site?
I do have a whole bunch of boys! I have 5 sons, the youngest is 5 months and the oldest is 10. Balancing motherhood and my sites is a constant challenge. This year, after homeschooling my sons for years, I enrolled them in a small church school. I knew it was time to focus on my sites as a business and make sure the boys were getting what they needed. Now I work with a two year old playing cars around me and nursing the baby. Thank goodness for my wireless laptop.
Can you share one tip for a blogger who is just getting started?
Join Twitter and meet new friends. Keep your writing pithy, your pictures pretty and never use auto music.
Blogging, just like life is not a zero-sum game. Supporting the successes of others is very important. It is important to treat others in a respectful way and never be underhanded or cruel online. Online reputations are of utmost importance. Our circles are small and every single thing we do is public.
When building a blog, a brand or a large network- you will get back what you give. When you work with a passion and make it your goal to support others as well as yourself, others will be drawn for the right reasons.
In her free time, Alli works very hard at Fussypants Designs creating beautiful photo heirloom jewelry. Browse around her site and look at all of the beautiful choices and find out how to order them here for the holidays. Remember, it is always good to support our fabulous work-at-home mommas!
Alli has generously offered our readers the chance to win one of her amazing pieces of work. We will be giving one winner one of these beautiful necklaces. To enter, please leave a comment here by Wednesday (11/26) at 8PM (EST) and tell me who you would give this necklace to and why. The best answer to this question will win so please be creative with your responses. Be sure to sign in to your Blogger account so your name is clickable or leave your email address in the comments if you are signing in anonymously. I will need to be able to contact you if you win! Good luck, everyone!
I would give the necklace to my mother. Nearly 2 years ago, my husband and I and our 10 month old daughter moved to west Africa as missionaries. Eight months ago, we welcomed our son in to the world. My parents were recently able to visit us and get reaquainted with their granddaughter and meet their grandson for the very first time! It is very hard to be away from family and my parents didn’t choose to make this sacrifice but they support us 100%. All that they ask is that we send pictures! What a perfect gift so that Gramma can have some bragging rights of her grandkids adorning her neck. Thanks for this great giveaway and your site is such a blessing!
-ali
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I would give this necklace to my friend. She and her husband lost their daughter 3 years ago this January, and I know that having her picture near her heart would bring joy to her life! Their daughter was born with many physical challenges, and she wasn’t supposed to live much longer past birth. However, she lived to be 7 1/2 years old, and was a joy and delight to her family!
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I would give this necklace to my sister. She is the best Aunt any little girl could ever ask for. Sometimes, I feel like she is the mother and I’m just watching on the sidelines! She will often tell me “Oh, she needs this at this time” or “When she wakes up from her nap, remember to…” I think she forgets that I am the mom
She is so protective of my daughter, and her love for her is so amazing to experience. I know when the time comes that my daughter wants to confide in someone other than her mom, she will go right to her crazy Aunt for advice. I’m so fortunate to share my daughter with my sister. The old saying “It takes a village to raise a child” reminds me how fortunate I am to have my family around as my daughter grows up.
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I would give this to my friend Elizabeth. She is adopting a baby BOY (yes, boy) from China and won’t get him for another 6-8 months, but she has his picture and I know she’d love to wear it close to her heart since she can’t be with him.
jenny at momminitup dot com
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The pieces are beautiful! I’d wrap it up for my best friend Debby. She’s had a very tough time the past several years with infertility, then was blessed with three beautiful girls only to learn two years ago that one daughter has leukemia. To add to her heartbreak, Deb’s husband left her about a year ago. Through it all, Deb has put her girls first, doing everything in her power to ensure they are happy. She is truly an inspiration and has taught me so much. I know she would enjoy some “bling” and to have something with her girls’ picture, well… it would simply be perfect. Thanks so much!
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Is it wrong if I want to keep the necklace for myself? I love it!
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I would give it to my grandmother, with a picture of her great granddaughter in it – she waited 87 years for her great granddaughter and is so proud! She is the woman who has everything, and I know she would love this.
Thanks Alli and Amy – mwah!
Steph
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I would give this to my mother in law with a picture of either all of her grandkids or just my two. Most people don’t like their mother in law, but I love mine. Not only did she raise a wonderful man for me to marry, she stepped into the role of friend when my own mother passed away. She’s a really great lady, and a hard worker, and I would love to give her something as special as this necklace.
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I would give this to my mom. She sometimes feels a little disconnected from our family since she only gets to see us twice a year.
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to my mother, without a doubt!
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Alli – and Amy; I'd like to ask you both – how did you get started with your actual site? I've been readers of both your sites for quite some time now, and enjoy them both.
My husband and I are starting a business/organization & while it won't be based online, I'd like to have a nice site set up.
So, Alli, when you say you started it with $27, what do you mean?
Thanks!
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I would give this gift to my mom. her grandkids are her life and her first grandchild died in March. It has been hard for everyone and she would love to have a picture of her grandkids always with her!
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I would be so thrilled to give this to a dear friend who has had health problems and could really use some encouragement. I know she feels like her son has suffered because she is sick so often but I know he has learned to be compassionate and patient. Thanks for doing this! I love Alli and Amy!
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I would give the necklace to my husbands grandmother and my girls great grandmother. She is the one who holds our family together. She took me in when I had no one. In a lot of ways she is like a mother to me. We adore this lady we call Mamere.
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I would have to say I would give this to my sister-in-law. She has been pregnant 14 times and finally got a little boy which will be her last pregnancy since it was so high risk for her.
Thanks
auntnetto6@yahoo.com
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I would give this to my mom. My father passed 3 years ago and there is a beautiful pic of the two of them that she keeps around – you can immediately sense his personality when you see that picture.
Mom hasn’t taken off her wedding ring, not sure she will, not sure that’s easy to do. But, with this neclace, this pic will be close to her heart everyday and she’ll know – ring or not – he is with her
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I would give this to my best friend Jennifer. She is the rock that holds her family together. She has suffered from infertility. She had over 9 miscarriges, 2 times they were twins. She finally had one little girl 4 years ago, then 2 years ago she had her twins. Sadly one of the twins died 5 days after he was born. Since that time, her mother found out she has leukemia and she takes care of all of her troubles. The bills for both households, driving and sitting with her mother at all of her appointments. She literally does everything and has nothing for herself. I can’t remember a time when she even got a shower by herself. Her mom is back in the hospital with cancer for the third time and Jen is run ragged again. I just want this small blessin for her.
Thanks for listening.
Amy
aabcd75@hotmail.com
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I would give this to my Mother. She is my rock and the one person I cant trust anything with.
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I would give this necklace to my mother. My family and I live in Indonesia (my husband is a missionary pilot), and my parents live in Ecuador (my dad is a missionary doctor). We both call Indiana “home”, but when are we ever there at the same time? Almost never! I have two little girls who are now 3 years and 8 months. My mom has only been able to spend about 4 months total with my three year old, and a couple months with my baby (we were blessed that she could be there when my youngest was born, and come back with me to Indonesia for a month!) I would LOVE to give her this necklace. My mom would never think of getting anything like this for herself. But, I know she would just love to have pictures of her only two grandbabies to wear, as she lives so far away from them!!!
*I deleted my original comment and edited it because I didn’t want it to seem misleading. Thanks!
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I would give this to our daughter. She has been married for several years and is just now expecting her first child in March. She waited till she was “Mature enough to care for a child” and I love that abouth her. I was not very mature when I had her, and watching her grow into such a beautiful wife and mother is why I would give her this gift. Thanks
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I would give it to my mom. We had a ruff time with i was young but now we are best friends.
vickers at comcast dot net
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I would give this necklace to my dear friend whose 20 year old daughter just passed away a couple months ago so she could put a picture of her daughter in the necklace. Thank you.
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I just wanted to say to Alli, your word of advice to new bloggers are really inspiring and very true. You deserve every bit of success because of the kind of person you are.
Cheers,
Emma
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I would give this necklace to my mother-in-law. She lost her husband and two adult sons within the span of five years time. Now she only has my husband, myself and our two darling children. She sold her house and moved 200 miles north to be with us and she has no regrets…but it can’t be easy for her. I’d like this necklace for her so she can place her favorite family picture in it. Thank you for the giveaway!
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My mom…my best friend. She has been such an inspiration in my life that I’m always trying to find ways to let her know how much she means. I think of her before myself…THEN I would have to buy me one.
Nifty2BThrifty@aol.com
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I would give it to my mom, who is a wonderful grandmother who adores her little twin granbabies! She is such an inspiration and role model to me!
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I would give this necklace to my Mom. My mom divorced when I was only two and it was just the two of us, my Dad wasn’t involved. Mom had to work three jobs to support us, and although I didn’t see my mom as much as I would have liked, she made every moment with me special. I never questioned or doubted for one second that I was the most important person in her world. I now live in a different state than my mom as my husband finishes up his schooling, I have her only two grandchildren that she never gets to see. My mother also loves antique items. And I think this would be the absolute most perfect present I could give her, with either a picture of her and I when I was little or of my two girls.
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I would give this necklace to my Mom – it is beautiful! When asked what she collects, she says, “memories” and I think this would be a wonderful way for her to carry one of those sweet memories close to her heart! With my Dad just being diagnosed with cancer, I think all of our perspectives will be a little more focused on those we love! Great giveaway, Amy!
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I think our Nana, who just turned 101 would love this necklace. She has been having some health problems lately and it may give her the cheer she needs to start feeling better. She wasn’t a great grandmother till our daughter was born 19 months ago, so I would put her picture on it.
mom2maria at hotmail
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I would give this necklace to my Mom – she is suffering from the early stages of Alzheimers. It has gotten worse in the 2 years since my Dad died. She gets very nervous and anxious in most situations, the one thing that calms her is to look at a picture of the two of them together that I keep near her bed. I think that if she were wearing a necklace with that picture on it, she could reach up and touch it and feel peace more often.
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I would keep it for myself. My mom has a necklace like this of me when I was a baby and it would be great to have a matching one.
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Wow, you are going to have a tough time choosing, there are so many good ones! I would give this to my mom. It is so her style and she has been really sad since we moved out of state lately. This would be such an ideal gift for her and I know she would wear it everyday and show off her two beautiful grandchildren proudly.
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I would definitely give this to my mother. Recently we found that my mother has cancer in her uterus and needs to have it all removed. But before they could do the surgery her EKG came back bad and now she needs to have all sorts of tests done on her heart. While my mother is only 3 hours away I have no way to get to her. We have one job, two kids and two cars that are dying. This way I could be there for her somehow.
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Relaxation is hard to find nowadays. This is such a unique necklace. I have never seen anything quite like it. I would love to wear this with great pride.
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I would have to give this to my mother. She does so much for me and my children that it would be such a fitting gift to remind her of the love we have for her.
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My Stepmom who will be having open heart surgery on Dec 3 2008 and will have a double bypass triple valve replacement because 2 1/2 years ago she had breast cancer and a double mastecomy and chemo for a year and was cancer free, then months later she found out she had lung cancer where the tumor was in her breast and had radiation for 6 weeks everyday and the cancer fee again! YEA! Well just recently found out the radiation caused scar tisssue and fluid build up on her heart and she cant breath on her own or walk she is beridden and only 62 years old with 2 young grandsons and I would love to give her something like this from the heart to lift her spirts when he can come home from a 10 hour surgery and a 2 week hospital stay and the family has decided to celebrate Xmas in January when she is stronger and feeling beteer, that is who I would chose for such a wonderful touching gift! Jennifer Daugherty
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