I am calling this a party, because most good parties have people, fun and prizes. Here is the scoop…
I scored a free copy of the soon to be released book called My French Life, by Vicki Archer. This book is a memoir about France, mainly the South of France and Provence, but there is a bit about Paris in there as well. This book is not your typical memoir. It reads like a memoir, but in a large coffee table size padded hardcover, and the best part…it is loaded with gorgeous pictures. The story is interesting, if not a bit familiar and overdone, told from the wife/mothers point of view about a family with more money than I could imagine making in a lifetime, moving half way round the world, buying a dilapidated villa in the South of France, and restoring it (sounds like Under the Tuscan Sun). Don’t get me wrong here, there are some lovely stories, very vivid descriptions and I can relate to some of the things she likes and talks about. Flea markets, French food and food markets, shopping, cafes, the landscape, the views..and oh yeah…did I mention some tales of her trips to Paris. French Style. You can tell she has fallen in love with France.
The real reason I love this book, the shining star above and beyond the story, for me, is the page after page of glorious full size color photos of the best that France has to offer. Wonderful stacks of monogrammed linens, clumps of deep blue lavender plants in full bloom, rows and rows of olive trees, the deep azure water along the coast, cafes in Paris, landscapes in every season, antiques, table settings and markets. There are many impressive transformation pictures, before and after shots of the villa, which of course is now stunning. There are wonderful vignettes and sneak peaks into different rooms of her home. St. Remy and Paris are two of the most highlighted areas – and just looking at this book reminds me of why I love Paris, and why I long too see Provence.
So, I have decided to make some lucky reader appreciate France the way I do, by giving them this lovely book (which retails for $35), for free! And I will pay for shipping! Here’s how it works…
From now until Friday, November 9th, you can enter to win. You have a few different options, and you can be entered many, many times…thereby increasing your chance to win!
1. If you are not a *subscriber* either through my feed or through email, you can subscribe and put a comment on this post letting me know that you have subscribed. I will then enter your name in the hat. Subscribing is really easy. Just click on the square orange widget on the left column of my blog or click the updates through email button.
2. If you are a blogger, you can show me some *link love* Just link me in your blog-roll, and post a comment on this post telling me you linked me, and I’ll enter your name in the hat.
3. Refer a friend. Maybe you have a friend, family member or co-worker that you think may enjoy My Melange. If you have a blog, perhaps some of your readers might enjoy My Melange. You can help get the word out. If you refer a friend, and that friend *subscribes*, your friend should leave a comment on this post telling me that she/he subscribed and *who* referred them. Your friend will be entered, and you will be entered again for referring that friend. No limit here folks. If 10 friends that you referred subscribe and leave a comment stating you referred them, I put 10 of your name in the hat!
4. Last but not least. If you have a blog, and are so inclined to want to do an entire post dedicated to my little party (and believe me I am not vein enough to think that all you have to do with your day is talk about little old me) and encouraging new readers to pop on by, and subscribe…then you shall be rewarded! You guessed it, after you do a post on your blog, just let me know by putting the link in a comment on this post and your name goes in the hat.
On Friday November 9th, a name will be drawn from the hat and the winner will be posted! I racked my brain over this one folks. Tried to make it creative, interesting and most of all….fun!!
So…come on over, join the party! Invite your friends. Look around, see what you like. Do some mingling. Hopefully we get to know the *regulars* a little better and encourage some of our new friends to get in on the fun! And somebody gets a door prize! And for goodness sake…don’t forget the champagne!
Bonne Chance!