I am not a schmoozer. I don’t try to go out of my way to rub shoulders with people in hopes to get something out of, or from, them. It just feels dirty to me. That’s why I love natural, unforced, connections. Like the one I had in April while in Southern CA for a conference.
Setting: Lunch at Pei Wei with some big deals. And until I looked most of them up on twitter later that day I had no idea they were big deals. I sat at the end of a very long table across from a gentleman I had not met till that moment. His name is David. While trying to engage myself in conversation with him I kept finding my eyes drifting down to the table top, just right of his plate, where his iPhone sat. I know, everyone and their yard-art has an iPhone these days so big deal, right? Yah. It was his iPhone case that I was so smitten with! Ohmy-retinas it was a thing of beauty, I tell ya!
I eventually interrupted our conversation to compliment his case and he quickly began bragging about it while looking at my uncased, unprotected, vulnerable iPhone with splashes of peanut sauce all over it. Then I learned he was one of the people behind CaseCrown. [Go ahead...click over] Then I learned he works with Deco-mates and bdellium tools. [Click on those too!] But the best part of this discovery was when he began sharing what he is really passionate about…The Giving Project. This was the moment when David really lit up! It was so amazing listening to him share his love about this. In short, The Giving Project is highlighting one charity every week throughout 2012 while also donating a nice amount to that charity. Seriously, I think this is fabulous and should be known about!
Back to the non-schmoozing-me and my new friend, David, for a sec. I tell him my iPhone case busted over a year ago and he looked appalled.
“You haven’t had a case on for that long?! Go to my CaseCrown site and pick yourself out one and I’ll send it to you.”
What?
“Really! Do it. In fact, go to this one and this one, too, and pick out some stuff.”
What do you want from me, creeper?
Well, Okay! But I can’t just let you give me stuff. How about I write a review on the items and do a blog post about them?!
“That would be great!”
[Now I don't feel dirty.]
“And, Tam, don’t be shy. Pick out as much as you’d like.”
*Chuckle*
Well, I was shy. No, truthfully, I didn’t want to abuse his generosity. So I went on all three sites and picked one item from each. And, friends…I love them all!!!
My new “Headboard” from Deco Mates. I love this wall decal!!! There were so many great ones to choose from so it was hard picking one but I am thrilled with this. It took two of us to apply it but once we got into a groove it went fast. It hasn’t peeled one bit. I think it looks beautiful!
My make-up brushes from dbellium tools. Girls, these brushes are eco-friendly & anti-bacterial brushes. And they feel like silk gliding across your skin. Get. These.
Last, but not least, my new best friend, Limey, from CaseCrown. I adore this case! It has a slight fabric feel. It grips so well in my hands. And is very snug on the phone. And because of its fabric nature I was concerned the first time I saw a spot on it but it wiped clean away…no trace of any spot at all. I’ve received tons of compliments on this case!
Ok. So there are my reviews. All 100% legit and I back these products up completely!
I bet you’d like to get your hands on something too, eh?
Well, one of you can score a free sumpin-sumpin from David very easily. All you have to do is answer this one question.
Now that summer is upon us…What is your favorite summer memory?
I will, randomly, pick one reply and they will receive one item from one of the sites reviewed above.
So go at it…
What’s your favorite summer memory?
Lovely lovely items Tam!!!
It 18 days it will be 10 years ago he popped the question and one of my most favorite memories ever!
Okay, my FAVORITE summer memory would be July 20th, 2002. Trevor proposed to me, behind a waterfall at Silver Falls, Oregon and I said yes
awesome! free stuff for a blog post….SCORE!!
My favorite summer memory…..still sweet to my heart! My favorite was when I took my children on their first airplane trip…LOL first trip…5 hours across country to Oregon!! We had the most awesome time! Spent time with the most awesome people (I am sure you know them *wink*). Met more awesome people, took walks to Dutch bros, and interviewed a cat which turned out to be two cats….hahahahaha still funny. The one and only vacation that broke our hearts to come home, and I am still sure that a piece of my heart is still there. Here's the confusing part….then that piece broke again and is now in Nashville. It was the best summer memory ever!! I even made a video where I didn't know the answers and everything was "yes"… nothing has or will ever compare to that summer memory. love you all!
oh my….Oregon has great sites too, we loved all the places we went to, but the company was the best!
My favorite summer memory is back in 2007 when I found out when I was pregnant with my little boy. That summer was the best summer ever considering I was carrying my little bundle of energy inside me. The expectation and anticipation of him arriving the following early spring just elated me to a whole other level that can't be duplicated, ever.
Marni…you won! your comment was randomly picked so, YAY!!!
you can pick one item from one of the three sites in this post then email the link of your item to me and i will get it to david.
congratulations!!
How do you pick ONE favorite summer memory? I guess the best part of just about every summer since I was 10 is the HUGE fourth of July festival my town has every year. its always hot and over-crowded but its SOOO fun! Parades, crafts, music, fireworks and of course food!
Thanks to an amazing youth group experience…I have so many amazing summer memories during my jr, high and high school days. I would say that my favorite summer memories was over a few weeks in July of 1993. (YIKES!) I was a counselor at a children's camp and during the middle of the week the boy I had had my eye on for months suddenly showed up. it was a super fun few days of being pursued which led to my first date when we got back home that weekend. Such a fun, carefree teenage summer.
Naturally my summer memory happened in winter since I'm from the arse end of the world.
January 1990, blazing hot summer of nothing in particular gave way to my first trip to Europe on a choir tour…with the whole family since both my sisters were also in the choir, and mum & dad came along as tour parents.
Amazing time around Europe singing in cathedrals built before white people knew Australia existed, getting snowed in for a couple of days in Scotland, teaching girls how to hem their dresses on the bus, red light district walks in Amsterdam. I could go on. Brilliant fun and got me hooked on travel & international cuisine.
And how many years is it since I actually commented here instead of just reading? …… :-/
David, please know, I'm donating my prize to you if I win, because your use of the word "arse" is perfect.
Lol – thanks Juliet! I'm in with a double chance now! Yeehaa!
Hugging Cathi and Mark as they came off the plane in Cleveland. And seeing Lincoln for The first time in a year. Thanks for asking.
If I win, I want you to give my prize to David because he used the word "Arse" in his response.
I wrote a whole great thing here, but lost it all while signing in.
Waaaahhh.
Favourite summer memory is standing holding hands with people from England, Finland, Zambia and South Africa as the waves of the Indian Ocean washed over our feet and splashed us. I couldn't believe that the sea could be so warm – and it was winter in South Africa but it was the warmest temperatures I experienced all that summer (hey, I live in Scotland!). I remember all the support I got from my blog readers and twitter friends who prayed for me when I was terrified somebody would puke on one of the 6 planes it took to get from Edinburgh to Durban. The joy they shared with me as I came home and shared the pictures and sounds of a country going through healing and still hurting deeply. The little girl who climbed to be constantly hugged each day and fell asleep in my arms every day.
I remember having lots of fun at the Edinburgh festivals that summer too – spotting rock god wannabes dressed like Gandalf/Dumbledore sitting on steps of cathedrals, checking out random comedy gigs and seeing people juggling while dressed up in inflatable sumo wrestler suits!