Playful Advent giveaway (c/d 13 December 2013)

"I'm late, I'm late", I keep saying like The White Rabbit. I meant to start this giveaway early in the morning, but with it being Sunday and kids asking this and that, I'm afraid I am fashionably late.

I invite you to join in my Playful giveaway. Each day for 12 days I will be revealing a new gift (chocolates, gift tags, ribbons, vouchers etc) and asking a new question.

Day 1 gift: a personalised teacup and saucer.

The winner's name will appear on this cup

I have been doing gifts for my little man's teachers and TAs, writing their names with porcelain paints on china cups, and have one spare cup. The winner will have a name of their choice written on the cup.

For a chance to win this prize (and those that will follow) just answer today's question.

1. What gift(s) do you ask Santa for this year? (please go to question 2 below for 2 December)
Please leave a comment below.
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I can see that day no.1 was a big success, many thanks for all your comments, I really enjoyed reading all your wishes. I won't be able to comment on each one, but wanted to say that I appreciate each and every one of them.

Now, day no.2 is here. The other day I happened to be browsing the chocolate aisle in Waitrose, when I noticed the shiny new chocolate bars. I'm a bit like a magpie, shiny things attract me, even better when they are chocolatey. I haven't seen them before but I liked the sound of Seriously Velvety hazelnut truffle milk chocolate and Seriously Nutty almond milk chocolate. Hope you will like them too. If the winner is allergic to nuts, I will try to buy an alternative nuts-free version, though as they are all together on the shelves, I cannot guarantee they are not contaminated.

Question for Day 2: When it comes to Christmas desserts, are you a traditionalist and go for a Christmas pudding, or do you enjoy a slice of panettone (or any other alternative dessert)? (question 3 is below)

Two chocolate bars

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As I am going to be on the run all morning, I decided to reveal the third prize a bit earlier today, and hope you don't mind. You can always leave an answer to the previous question until the giveaway is closed if you want.
In fact, I wanted to mention, if it's the first time you are on this page, don't think you have missed the giveaway. You can start right now, and good luck!

For Day 3 I offer you a Tiptree trio: 2 small 42g-sized jars of jam (black currant and strawberry with champagne) and a little dish with a spoon to serve jam.

Trio of Tiptree goodies

Question no.3
What do you like for breakfast on Christmas day? Anything special like a full English or continental breakfast or something very light to have space for a big meal ahead?


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Day 4:
We love Kelly's of Cornwall ice cream, it's fabulous in summer and winter. Just the other day I served it with caramelised kumquats.
To share our love of Kelly's, today's prize is four vouchers for Kelly's of Cornwall ice cream of your choice (this prize will be dispatched by the brand representative separately).

Four tubs of Kelly's of Cornwall ice cream (Vouchers)

Question no.4: What is your favourite way of eating ice cream: in a cone, straight from the tub or in a fancy glass or dish like Knickerbocker Glory? (find question five below)

For a bonus entry, Like Kelly's of Cornwall on Facebook and leave a separate comment that you do/did so.
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Day 5.
The prize of the day - five vouchers for any Rachel's Organic yogurt.

Five tubs of Rachel's Organic yogurt (vouchers)

Question for day 5: What do you plan for Christmas dinner, is it a traditional turkey, goose or duck? A huge ham? or  a vegetarian feast of flavours like squash and blue cheese Wellington or nut log? (question 6 is below)
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Day 6.
Today prize is a selection of cardmaking goodies, six in total, to continue with the theme, including two lovely A5 Decoupage & Pyramage Kits from Papermania, two sheets of beautiful Glitter transfers (Papermania), a small book of notelets (Papermania) and a paper craft tape (4x5m rolls).

Six cardmaking goodies

And the question no.6 is: Christmas cards, homemade or bought? And if homemade, how far in advance do you start making your Christmas cards? (see a new question below)

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Day 7: More chocolate is added to the total prize:
a selection of Green & Black's mini chocolates.

Seven mini-chocs from Green & Black's

Question no.7: What is your favourite brand (and type/flavour) of chocolate? (see new question below)

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Day 8: a small but useful pack of festive Christmas gift tags from Waitrose (8 tags in a pack).

Eight Christmas festive gift tags

Question no.8:
What was the best Christmas present you ever received?
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Day 9. Oh my, it is already day 9. Soon all these goodies will be sent to one of my blog readers, who hopefully will enjoy unpacking, eating and crafting.
For day 9 you will get Nine Ladies Dancing, or to be precise, nine metres of Gisela Graham wide ribbon (63mm wide), very pretty and festive.

Nine metres of festive ribbon by Gisela Graham

I have been entering hundreds of the Advent competitions online like crazy, but have nothing to report win-wise, except two teeny-tiny bubbly Santas from M&S Pass the parcel.
My question no.9 is: do you enjoy entering Advent competitions or cannot be bothered, and have you been lucky? (see new question below)

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Day 10: Time flies, we are on day 10 today. And the prize for today is ten Swiss chocolate truffles from M&S (milk & dark). Very moreish.

Ten Swiss chocolate truffles

Question no.10: What is your favourite Christmas song or carol?

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Day 11: We attended our younger son's Nativity play yesterday, and he was a little calf. Not a major part, but one can argue that the cows are more important than the three kings and shepherds as they came later, while the cows where present at the time of the birth.
For day 11 there is a small bag of white chocolate coins, I didn't open the netting to count 11 coins, so there are more than 11, but do forgive me for not being very precise with the numbers.

Question 11: Do you love pantomimes, and which is your favourite Panto?

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Goodness me, it is already Day 12. Have you had any wins from those Advent comps? They seem to elude me, and I'm on the point of giving up on them. Wishing you all good luck!
Now, the last prize to be added to the total one is a set of 12 Gisela Graham Jingle Bells in white and red.

Question 12: What is your dearest Christmas memory? 

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T&Cs:
The giveaway is open to the UK residents.

You don't have to answer questions every day, but do come and have a peep at what will appear.

If you answer questions every day, you will have a bonus entry for each separate comment. There will be a different question every day (a new question and photo of the gift will appear some time around 9am).

The giveaway will end on the 13th of December (last prize/question will be posted on the 12th). The winner will be chosen from all entries and contacted at once. If the winner doesn't respond in 3 days, I will redraw another winner (sorry, for the short notice but due to the nature of the gift - I will have to write a name, wait for 24 hours for it to dry before baking in the oven) I want to make sure everything arrives before Christmas.

I will do my best to wrap the gift in the bubble wrap etc, but if it arrives in pieces thanks to the Royal Mail, I won't be sending a replacement, as I don't have any spare cups.

This giveaway is not sponsored, I have bought most of the prizes (except one that was offered by a brand).

If you are commenting as Anonymous, please leave your name in the comment and some means of contacting you, like your Twitter name.

That's it, folks!
Good luck and Merry Christmas!

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Thank you for all your wonderful comments, I really enjoyed reading them.
It took me ages to write down all the names on little pieces of paper, and the winner as selected by my younger son Eddie who cannot read and can be considered a totally fair & unbiased judge, is...

JENNA GLEAVE

Big well done, Jenna! I have emailed you, you have three days to get back to me (as specified in the T&Cs above). Hope to hear from you soon