Blogaversary Week Giveaway [updated]

As I mentioned in an earlier post today, I'd like to make this week a giveaway week in gratitude for five years of blogging here at Studeo. I know things have gotten quieter on and off, but this blog and those I've encountered through it (and in a surprising number of situations, actually met in person!) mean a great deal to me. I think it's also the case that, though additional teaching, activities, and general hub-bub have reduced the quantity of blogging here, that without this blog, Love2learn Moments and lot of my conference talks and other projects wouldn't exist. This has always been my sort of quiet thinking spot and I've found it to be a tremendous resource in both organizing my thoughts and favorite quotes and looking back later to find ideas and things I've worked on in the past and want to include in the radio spots or talks or whatever.

Anyway, I'll be including all of the prizes in this one post, so please leave a comment here if you'd like to be in the drawing. The drawing will take place on Friday, April 30th. Also check back during the week as I'm expecting to be adding more goodies here throughout the week.

P.S. Just wanted to mention that the collection of goodies coming directly from our family are slightly random - many are ones that I picked up on sale in various places and thought were fun and appropriate to this giveaway.

Also, I was originally planning these as gifts of gratitude for the good that has come to me through this outlet. I was surprised and humbled that people were interested in donating items for this giveaway. Feel free to e-mail me if you'd like to be included in some way.

1. Subscriptions to mater et magistra magazine: (3 copies)

I'll be giving away three subscriptions to the one Catholic homeschool magazine in print. I think it's a lovely magazine and a lot of people put a lot of effort into making it a beautiful and encouraging magazine for all Catholic homeschoolers. However, it's fair to say that I might be biased because I'm the reviews editor and write for it occasionally in other ways too. :)

For those who may be interested, I've been helping out with this magazine since its previous existence as Heart and Mind Magazine. One of the interesting projects that came out of that one (though it hasn't been updated in awhile) and actually started out as a unit study for Heart and Mind is our family's Architecture for Kids blog.

And on a funny side note: Some of the students at Latin Convention call their female teachers "magistra" and so my daughter Ria has taken to calling me "mater et magistra" on occasion. ;)

2. I Remember Mama - Irene Dunne, 1948 (3 copies)

I'll be giving away three copies of this hilarious classic film that means a lot to me and my family. Both of my grandmothers grew up in or near San Francisco (both were 1906 earthquake survivors - including one still in utero) and I found out just a few years ago that my Grandma Lawless, who died several years before I was born, especially loved this movie.

3. Christmas in Connecticut - Barbara Stanwyck, 1945 (3 copies)

Though the classic Christmas story on this DVD is fun (and quite a bit silly), our family particularly fell in love with the Oscar winning short, Star in the Night, contained in the special features. It's delightful, hilarious, and rather Chestertonian in spirit. I think I forgot to post about it here on Studeo, but we had to have 4 or 5 showings of it at our big Christmas Day party last year to accomodate all those at the party who wanted to see it. There are three copies of this movie as well.

4. Books by Melissa Wiley (3 books) [UPDATED]

The Far Side of the Loch by Melissa Wiley (1 copy) - This is a beautiful hardcover (unabridged and out-of-print) I just happened to find used (but in nearly perfect shape) today.

Across the Puddingstone Dam by Melissa Wiley (2 copies) - This is one of the unabridged Little House prequels that sadly went out of print a few years ago. I decided to pick them up from Old World Wisconsin awhile ago, thinking someone might enjoy them.

Not only are they great stories, but Melissa is one the many friends I've made via the blogosphere (and hers is one of the handful of Catholic homeschool mom blogs that predates mine!).

5. The Kitchen Madonna by Rumer Godden (1 copy)

When I was a child, I generally didn't enjoy being read aloud to as I'm very much NOT an auditory learner. But there were two books my mom read aloud to us during my homeschool years, despite the fact that I was a teenager at that point and I REALLY enjoyed both of them: The Kitchen Madonna and Alice in Wonderland. I'm thrilled that it's been reprinted by Bethlehem Books to be enjoyed by new generations of homeschoolers and non-auditory learners. ;)

6. The Rosary: Keeping Company with Jesus and Mary by Karen Edmisten (1 copy)

My dear friend Karen, who I also met through the blogosphere (I think I found both hers and Melissa's blogs through Danielle Beans' blog), has kindly donated a copy of her lovely book on the Rosary for our drawing. Thanks much Karen! By the way, I stole the lovely image above from my dear friend Alice's blog.

7. The Catholic Homeschool Companion, edited by Maureen Wittmann and Rachel Mackson (1 copy)

Maureen Wittmann, a long time friend from the Catholic homeschool online world (honestly, I don't even remember how we met anymore!) has generously donated a copy of the Catholic Homeschool Companion for this giveaway. I've known her long enough to have contributed an essay on apologetics for teens. Thanks Maureen!

8. Homeschool Connections Subscription Service (1 month free subscription)

Maureen has also donated a one-month subscription to Homeschool Connections' Subscription Service. If you're not yet familiar with Homeschool Connections, you should definitely take a look. We know many people who have enjoyed, and been extremely pleased with, online classees for Catholic homeschoolers through this great organization. They also offer a number of free webinars (that can still be viewed online) about Catholic homeschooling, including one I did last year on Choosing Worthwhile Homeschool Materials. Thanks much Maureen!

9. Two Books by G.K. Chesterton

A giveaway here really wouldn't be complete without something by Chesterton, and I've decided on two of my person favorites - The Man Who Was Thursday and St. Francis of Assisi. (1 copy of each)

The blogosphere has been a terrific place for me to fall more in love with Chesterton and had a particular strong effect on my children. I'm particularly grateful to my friends Nancy Brown and to Dr. Thursday and also to the American Chesterton Society on the whole who have been wonderful Chestertonian mentors to our family.

10. Two Pairs of Earrings from Singing Ladybug Jewelry

My sweet friend Maria has kindly donated two pairs of earrings from her Etsy shop, Singing Ladybug Jewelry, for our giveaway. One pair is the "Really Cute, Sweet and Sassy" and the other is the "Subtle Sophistication." Thanks Maria! :)