another cool contest

Over on my beauty blog (yes, I have a split blog personality!) I'm hosting a giveaway for a collection of Softlips lip balms and a Certain-Dri anti-perspirant - go check it out and enter!

It's open to all US residents and really simple to enter - so go check out the post on my Cinnamon Kitten blog and good luck!

pandacub april giveaway

Yes, that's right! The pandacub giveaway returns for the third month in a row, but this time, with a twist!

I'm very excited that it's finally getting warmer here in Toronto so to celebrate I'm giving away some spring-inspired bobby pins!


THREE lucky winners will each receive a pair of spring welcome bobby pins. This lovely pair of bobby pins includes one bird and one blossom and the winners will get to choose the colours they want (see my Etsy listing for more details and all available colour choices)

There are THREE ways to enter (you can enter 1, 2 or all 3 ways to increase your chances!):
- Become a fan of pandacub on Facebook
OR
- Sign up for the pandacub monthly newsletter (use the form at the top-left hand corner of this blog to sign up)

OR
- Follow me on Twitter (pandacubcafe) and tweet about this contest (please use the tag @pandacubcafe so I can see your tweet). (Each tweet per day will count as one entry)

If you're already a pandacub Facebook fan or e-newsletter subscriber then you're already entered!

Winners will be contacted via the way they entered (email to the e-newsletter winner, Facebook message to the Facebook winner and Direct Message to the Twitter winner).

Notes:
- This contest closes at midnight (ET) on Friday, April 30, 2010.
- This giveaway is open worldwide.

GOOD LUCK, EVERYONE!

mmm...macarons!

My sister went to Las Vegas last week and brought me back a SUPER treat.

When my hubby and I went to Vegas back in November, we stayed at the Venetian and every day we had breakfast at the Bouchon Bakery (it was in our hotel lobby). I got to try a different item every day (mmmm, macarons, chocolatines, sticky buns...)

Anyhow, we had told my sister and her husband about the Bakery and they ended up falling in love with it as well. So as a souvenir they brought us back a pack of Bouchon macarons!

Look at them!!! (Did I mention that these are HUGE? Like almost 2.5 inches wide!)

MMM....each one was a different flavour:
- pink: passion fruit (I think - it was fruity)
- green: chocolate mint
- yellow: lemon

- cream: vanilla
- light brown: coffee
- brown: chocolate

pandacub wants...a newspaper

Well, kind of. To celebrate the upcoming launch of the pandacub e-newsletter (have you signed up for it yet?) I did a quick search on Etsy for some nice newspaper inspired items and look what I found!

Top row:
1. Headline News Reusable Sandwich Baggie w/ Waterproof Lining, $6.75 by bellsandunicorns
2. On the Toilets - open edition print, $15.00 by TheNebulousKingdom
3. My Medium Purse- Extra, Extra, Read All About It, $16.00 by wildmustangs

Middle row:
4. The Daily Prophet Reporter - badge, $2.00 by celestefrittata
5. Newsprint and Dot Reversible Headband, $10.00 by darlingdaisy2468
6. Toronto Egg Prices, $35.00 by jennlawrence

Bottom row:
7. NewsPaper Retro Circle Pendant Necklace, $14.00 by PaisleyChainsaw
8. Newspaper and Billboard Messenger Bag, $69.99 by ReclaimedWreckage
9. Lovely Real retro Vintage Fabric newspaper Patch Petticoat skirt with Ruffles, $180.00 by malam

what's new? a pandacub newsletter - that's what's new!

I'm very excited to announce that pandacub will be launch an e-newsletter next month!

Sent approximately once a month, the e-newsletter will have sneak peeks at upcoming products, special discount codes for members, exclusive e-newsletter contests and other fun tidbits!

I won't have the same content as my blog, but I hope that my friends and customers will find it useful.

Sign up now by using the handy little subscriber box on the left hand side of this blog!

march giveaway winner

Thanks everyone for entering my March giveaway for a set of house collection bobby pins!

The randomly-drawn winner is:
STYLEEZTA

Congratulations!

Watch for another fun giveaway from pandacub soon!

Crafty By Nature 2010 - now accepting applications!

I wish I could take part in this awesome monthly event, but alas, I live just a tad too far away. But I can definitely help spread the word!

The lovely Alex, who owns Hello Bluebird (the very first shop that to carry pandacub products) also organizes a monthly craft market, Crafty By Nature. It takes place every first Sunday at Shupp's Grove in Adamstown, Pennsylvania (May thru October). This will be their second season and they have now opened the doors for artists, volunteers and local businesses!

Preliminary 2010 season info can be found on the event's online journal site:
http://craftybynature.wordpress.com/2010/03/27/new-2010-vendor-applications-available/

From the photos I saw last year, Crafty By Nature is constantly growing, so if you're in the area and are interested - get your application in now!

50 books in 2010 - update 2

I managed to finish off lots more books in March, which I'm hoping is a good sign that I may actually reach the 50 mark this year. I've also started reading e-books (although I still prefer the real thing) so that's helping me finish off a few more than usual...

1. The Last Boleyn by Karen Harper, finished January 13

2. The Wives of Henry VIII by Antonia Fraser, finished February 7

3. Lamb by Christopher Moore, finished February 12

4. The Man Who Ate the World by Jay Rayner, finished February 20

5. There Will be Dragons by John Ringo, finished February 26

6. The Boleyn Inheritance by Philippa Gregory, finished March 2

7. Emerald Sea by John Ringo, finished March 3

8. In a Time of Darkness by John Ringo, finished March 3

9. Against the Tide by John Ringo, finished March 9

10. East of the Sun, West of the Moon, by John Ringo, finished March 15

11. Daughter of York by Anne Easter Smith, finished March 15

12. The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie, finished March 16

13. Secret Adversary by Agatha Christie, finished March 18

14. Captain Alatriste by Arturo Perez-Reverte, finished March 18

15. Darkly Dreaming Dexter by Jeff Lindsay, finished March 24

Currently reading:

- Buon Appetito, Your Holiness by Mariangela Rinaldi & Mariangela Vicini

- The Constant Princess by Philippa Gregory

- The Devil in the White City by Erik Larson

pandacub wants...to see a robin

I didn't even realize that the first day of Spring has passed - although we did have amazing Spring-like weather here in Toronto last week. Alas, this week, it's back to rain, damp and single digit temperatures again. :(

I'm sooooo ready for Spring. And summer, but I'll settle for Spring. I just want warm weather, so I'm hoping to spot my first robin soon as that always gives me hope that the warmer temperatures are just around the corner.

In the meantime, check out these lovely robin-related items I found on Etsy!

Top row:
1. robin short-sleeved, $22.00 by mollyotshirts
2. Robin Ball Needlefelting Kit, $12.00 by fancytiger
3. Needle Felted Bird Wool Soft Sculpture-Robin With Nest, $22.00 by JaniceCordeiro

Middle row:
4. The Robins are Back - Fine Art Print, $18.00 by theeye
5. Tiny Woodland Terrarium Robin's Nest Necklace, $44.50 by WoodlandBelle
6. Robin Coin Purse, $8.00 by birdversusbird

Bottom row:
7. Robins Nest Bracelet, $26.00 by mootsie
8. Bird Nest 3 - Original Painting, $27.50 by peacockgarden
9. Wee Robin On A Spool, $24.00 by humblebea

happy st. patrick's day!

For those that celebrate it - Have a very HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!!!

I missed my Shamrock Shake this year (McDonald's - you let me down again) but I'm currently wearing a green shirt while I write this (so that I don't get pinched) and had a green cookie earlier today...

Anyhow, I'd like to share one of my favourite Irish toasts:

May misfortune follow you the rest of your life, and never catch up.

May you have food and raiment, a soft pillow for your head.

May you be forty years in heaven before the devil knows you're dead.