Christmas Giftaway: Almond Breeze Summer Hamper and the Best Gift I've Ever Received

I am loving the Christmas Blogging Challenge and today - I'm doing two days in one. Yesterday as you know, I forgot to hit publish - so I had to make sure the Wonderful Pistachios Christmas Giftaway was posted first!

Yesterdays question was; "What's your favourite Christmas Song" and for me - that's a tricky one. Michael Buble's Have a Holly Jolly Christmas (actually, I love me some Michael Buble regardless!) always put me in a happy, festive mood but I also love the vocals in Mariah Carey's God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

Today's prompt is "Best Gift You've Ever Received". The best gift I've ever received is a tie - but there's one special little girl who may always take the top spot. Chanel wasn't a Christmas present, but a birthday present. 

My parents had spotted Chanel at the pet store with her scruffy little brother and knew straight away I'd love her. They come home and said "we nearly bought you a puppy today" and I freaked out. My Pa immediately piped up and said "BUY IT! I'll buy it!" and before I knew it, we were in the car racing to the pet store. 

I saw her and fell in love. She was a tiny little bunch of fluff with big beautiful eyes and the lady quickly had her in my hands to see if she liked me too. That little pup crawled all over me and wouldn't leave my side. I wanted her so bad - but then at the same time, being the cautious person I am, I wanted to think about it and make sure I wasn't wasting my Pa's money. Why I even needed to think about anything, I'll never know now!

She is the gift that makes me smile and laugh every single day and she is the sweetest little thing you'll ever meet. All she ever wants to do is cuddle and the second you walk in the door she will fuss over you like you're Jesus on Earth - and makes sure she greets you with one of her favourite toys.

But, I want to give a gift to you! Did you think I had too many competitions already? I didn't!

If you've read Southern In Law for a while, you'll know that I love Almond Breeze. Thankfully, the team at Almond Breeze Australia and I have teamed up to share the love with you

Each hamper includes:

• A copy of the new best-selling book The 20/20 Diet from nutritionist Lola Berry
• Beach towel
• Original Almond Breeze
• Unsweetened Almond Breeze
• Blue Diamond almonds
• Digital recipe booklet with recipe ideas
• Almond Breeze mug

With the goodies, you'll be able to try one of Lola Berry's healthy recipes - like her grain free soaked cinnamon muesli with banana and maple syrup. 

I often bake with Almond Breeze (and use Almond Breeze as a Dairy Free/Vegan Milk Substitute in my recipes). Almond Milk can be used to substitute any type of milk - from regular cow's milk to soy or rice milk and it can be used in any recipe or food. 

The texture of Almond Breeze is just like milk - so it's perfect for using when cooking sauces, baking or when baking soups. Unsweetened Almond Breeze can be used in any recipe, but it's perfect for savoury dishes - whilst the Original Almond Breeze is sweetened and is perfect for baking.

So how do you enter?

Just tell me What Your Favourite Almond Milk Recipe is in the comments below with your email address (Perhaps it might be one of my recipes that you've made!)

For additional entries; 

• "Like" Almond Breeze Australia and Southern In Law on Facebook 
• Share the Giftaway with your friends on Facebook and tag Almond Breeze Australia and Southern In Law (you can find the competition post on either page)

PLEASE NOTE: I will need a way to contact you if you are the winner. Please be sure to leave your email address or email me at southerninlaw@gmail.com.
Make sure you leave a separate comment for all of your additional entries!

Competition closes Monday 7th January, 2013 at 11:59am EST. The winner will be chosen by a random generator and notified by email. This competition is only open to Australian Residents. Kristy does not endorse any of the information provided in the 20/20 Diet nor does she endorse any diet. You should always seek the advice of a medical professional in regards to any health condition or concern. 

Christmas Giftaway: Wonderful Pistachios - and my Santa Experience

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Santa, that big jolly guy with the reindeer who fly through the night, pulling along his sleigh so that he can deliver all of the presents to boys and girls across the world.

Well... that's what I used to think! Today Yesterday, the Christmas Blogging Challenge asks When/How did you learn that Santa wasn't real? (I was the silly girl who didn't click publish last night!)

This is something I remember exactly and likely always will (it helps that I have a very very good photographic memory). 

I was pretty smart for my age, and very inquisitive and when inspecting the tags of one of my toys which "Santa" brought, I found that it said "Made in China". 

Cue light bulb moment. 

I knew that Santa was supposed to make the toys in the North Pole - and I knew that China definitely wasn't in the North Pole - So I confronted my Mum straight away. 

She was taking down the Christmas tree at the time, when I said.... 

"Santa's not real.. isn't he? That's why this says made in China" 

She looked at me half shocked and half upset because she knew it was coming and simply said "No... he isn't real"

I said "Oh, okay" before pondering what I'd just found out and getting hit with a massive realisation... 

"Oh gosh, Mum... The tooth fairy isn't real? The Easter Bunny isn't real either?!?!!" 

I don't know whether my Mum was more upset or I - not only had I found out that Santa wasn't real - everything else fell like dominoes! 

My mum reassured me and told me that no, they weren't real either - but I couldn't tell my sister or any of the other kids at school.

I still got to pretend that Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy were real since my sister was younger and so were my cousins - but I remember bursting into tears when my sister found out that Santa wasn't real because my 11 year old self thought that Christmas was ruined and we'd never get any presents again :P 

Now, whilst Santa isn't real - that doesn't mean I can't giveaway presents to you - so how about a delicious Pistachio Pack from Wonderful Pistachios!

The lucky winner will receive a hamper containing;

• 3x Roasted and Salted Pistachios 
• 3x Salt and Pepper Pistachios 
• 3x Sweet Chilli Pistachios 
• 1x Joseph Aboud Pistachio Serving Dish (perfect for entertaining!) 

All you have to do to enter is tell me, 

How did you find out that Santa wasn't real? 

For additional entries; 

• "Like" Southern In Law on Facebook and sharing the Giftaway with your friends. 

PLEASE NOTE: I will need a way to contact you if you are the winner. On Facebook/Twitter/Instagram this is easy, however, if you are simply leaving a comment - be sure to leave your email address.

Competition closes Sunday 16th December, 2012 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen by a random generator and notified by email. This competition is only open to Australian Residents 

This giveaway is now closed.

Christmas Giftaway: Shoe Envy

Why hello lovelies, I have a very exciting post to share with you all today! Thanks to Southern In Law, I recently discovered an incredible small business with both amazing products and values. 

That business is Shoe Envy. Not only do Shoe Envy make killer shoes (check out their collection, seriously!) their collection is also animal friendly. All shoes are vegan and a portion of the profit from each and every shoe sold is donated to animal charities such as WSPA and the Costa Rica Sloth Sanctuary.

Shoes from Shoe Envy are eye catching and definitely statement pieces!

I have the Goldrush Heels which are super sparkly and the perfect accent shoe. They're really comfortable and extremely well made.

I am so excited for their flats collection to come out (I'm definitely a flats fan!). 

Best of all - you, my lovely readers, can pick up a pair for yourself and receive FREE shipping and 30 % off! Simply use the coupon code "SOUTHERNIL" at the checkout. 

Shipping is super speedy with items delivered in 1-2 days - so if you order them during the week, they'll be ready to hit the town on Friday or Saturday night!

But why does the title say Christmas Giftaway? well, that would be because I want to share the love with you! 

One lucky Southern In Law reader will win any pair of Shoe Envy shoes of their choice plus delivery to their door! (Australian residents only). 

All you have to do to win is head onto the Shoe Envy Website and tell me which pair is your favourite!

PLEASE NOTE: I will need a way to contact you if you are the winner. On Facebook/Twitter/Instagram this is easy, however, if you are simply leaving a comment - be sure to leave your email address.

Competition closes Sunday 16th December, 2012 at 11:59pm EST. The winner will be chosen by a random generator and notified by email. 

This giveaway is now closed.