What A Trip!

I’ve been back from my 23andMe super-secret-special-project extravaganza trip for some time now.  I’ve been basking in the glory that was four days away from household chores, drop-off, pick up, and frigid temperatures. I did miss my kids and hubby, tis true, but it was a small price to pay for a little solitude, a bit of fun, and a whole lot of information about personal genome testing.

But my giveaway jacket is chocolate brown!

Since I am still bound by the 23andMe code of secrecy, I can’t tell you too much about why I was there and what I’ll be doing for the company.  I can, however, tell you that while I was there I scored an ENORMOUS amount of swag.  One of the cutest things I got was the little jacket pictured here (only mine is chocolate brown)., by wati design.  Sadly, it’s a size two.  Too small for my 8 year old daughter.  But that’s where you come in: leave a comment below, and you could win this gorgeous little embroidered size 2T blazer, sure to make any little girl look like a million bucks.  (Just make sure to leave your email so I can find you if you win.)

Keep reading and I’ll tell you more about the rules and regs at the end of the post.

ANYWAY – another of the totally beautiful things I got was personalized stationary from www.lobird.com.  Whimsical, beautiful, and on truly heavy, matte card stock, these sophisticated little cards are worth a click.

In the arena of “this guy must think I really have a lot of readers,” I also got a $100 gift card for a SmartyPig online savings account.  SmartyPig let’s you (or your kids) save for a specific goal with automatic deductions from your account each month. (you determine the amount).  There are all sorts of incentives along the way, to help you reach your self-set goal.  It sure seems like a great way to teach kids about saving for something they really want to do.  And not such a bad way for parents to put a little away each month just because.

Perhaps the coolest thing I got was the new Flip Mino.  Not that I would really know, once my kids saw this thing, I couldn’t get my hands on it.  In fairness to them, it is seriously cool.  A video camera, no bigger than a little digital camera, that shoots 60 mins. of high-quality digital video with sound, and has a plug and play USB plug (or whatever you call it) built right in. And a touch screen.

There were slippers and a robe and lovely not-too-sweet-smelly bath products from Soap and Glory.  Honestly, who do these people think read my blog?

Lastly, and most sadly for me, there was a voucher for three months of Weight Watchers.  Again with the Weight Watchers.  And since the trip also included dinner at Nola in downtown Palo Alto, and Flea Street Cafe – a local, organic, sustainable DELICIOUS restaurant where the owner was so nice she drove new friend and fellow blogger Megan Francis (pregnant with her FIFTH!) and her husband (I said FIFTH right?) back to the hotel.

Needless to say, I came back having gained a few.  And since I also gained a few on our trip to Mexico, I have now officially gained more than a few.  A bunch.  Hence the Weight Watchers vouchers. (Do you think they knew I was coming when they procured that swag?  And do you think they would offer that swag to a group of male bloggers?  Hah! I don’t think so.)

In any case, I will be joining the WW for the bazillionith time. (really, I counted)  Hey – it’s my twenty year quest to lose the same ten pounds.  Maybe this time, I’ll actually get there.

OK: here’s the entry details.  Leave a comment (only nice comments will be considered.  My blog. My rules)  Contest will end Friday, Jan 30th at 9pm Eastern.  Winner will be picked by random.org. Don’t forget to leave your email (it won’t be displayed) and good luck!