It’s the sixth night of Hanukkah, and Smart Bitches gave to me… the Extrava-Hanukkah Giveaway of great simplicity!
Sometimes you just need books, and maybe some things to read with.
Whatever you need, we’ve got you covered: today’s giveaway is….
A $100 Amazon gift certificate!
That’s easy enough, right?
Here’s how to enter: leave a comment below and tell us something good you learned this past year. Maybe it’s a new author, or a new skill, or a Very Important Lesson suitable for a Very Special Episode of Blossom? Whatever it is, tell us about a good thing you learned, and you’re entered to win!
Standard disclaimers apply: I’m not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Must be 18 years of age and ready to shop though there’s no need to stop, drop or roll. We’re all safe here. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Comments will close at or near 12pm ET on Friday 30 December 2016 and winners will be announced shortly afterward.
Good luck and thank you for being here!
Update: The winner is Sue Rice, who learned some pretty powerful things this year.
Here’s to more learning and growing in 2017!
I learned how to take better care of myself and how important that is.
I learned that its important for women to stick together and fight for what matters – fingers crossed that 2017 will be brighter.
This year I learned it’s a lot of fun, but not very lucrative, to not work a full-time job.
This year I learned my good friend loves reading romance novels. It has been such fun giving her recs and getting recs from her.
This year I learned that I am a badass and can do anything. I can lift weights, I can run, I can be more active and healthy and NOTHING CAN STOP ME!
This year I learned how to paint with water colors 🙂
I learned that I’m at least as mean as my parents, but am able to use it in a way that benefits them and they will FINALLY listen to me. 😉
I learned to let go and just relax! 🙂
I used to read romance secretly, and only on my Kindle. But this year, I found this awesome site, and started reading more and more. I even found some favorites in this until-this-year unexplored genre: fantasy romance and regency romance (a la Sarah Maclean). So, I learned romance is amazing and nothing to be ashamed of reading. Cause I’m a smart bitch.
I learned to embrace unexpected outcomes after my beautiful daughter was born blind in her right eye…and how to explain to well meaning children (and some adults) “what’s wrong with her eye”…and I relearned how little sleep I need!
I got a different position at my company this year and learned lots about writing and how fundraising works. It’s also put me in a different position career path-wise and made me think a lot about advancement going forward.
I learned that I am not as selfish/self-centered as I used to be.
And I learned that I can balance my not-so-fit body on a Bosu ball for more-than-a-respectable amount of time.
This year I learned that it’s ok to walk away from something/someone bringing you down with negativity. It lightened my stress and anxiety to simply walk away. No arguments, no hurtful words, no drama. Simply step away and go about my life.
I’ve learned that hard work is sometimes appreciated. I’ve also had reinforced more than learned that it is possible to terribly miss someone you’ve never actually met – the past 2 years have reinforced this one.
That anyone can be a light in dark times. That romance novels provide comfort in hard times. That rodents like my spark plug wires.
I learned sign language (or at least started learning it!). I think maybe I’d like to be a sign language interpreter for live performance someday.
This year I learned something that I think a lot of the bitches on this site will appreciate – I learned to knit! Now I’m not great – I have only a tiny little square of stitches to show for my new skill but they are beautiful little stitches. Hopefully 2017 will see lots more knitting.
This year I learned to view myself with more kindness, forgiveness, and understanding. And I learned how to make awesome cheesecakes. Wins all around!
I learned how much fun I could have playing my viola with a small group (like a string quartet or the like). I’ve been taking lessons and playing in a recital twice a year for a while now, but it’s been ages since I played with a group (like since high school…).
Started following some coupon sites and learned to be a somewhat savvy couponer.
I learned how to fit an entire apartment’s worth of stuff into 2 small cars.
This year I learned to trust my opinions more and to speak up for what I believe is right.
This year I learned it *really* is ok to cut my losses, quit a career I didn’t like and wasn’t going anywhere despite my huge effort (law), and to return to school to prepare for something I really like and, it turns out, I’m quite good at (teaching).
What I learned/discovered was this amazing website called Smart Bitches, Trashy Books! While this sounds like shameless flattery and unctiousness, I mean it sincerely. I’ve been mightily entertained by your words and book, in awe of all the Bitches, and in danger of a TBR avalanche. Thanks so much. Long may we Bitch.
What is yours will come to you when you aren’t trying to push the river 🙂
I learned how to use Adobe Illustrator! It was painfully slow but oh so useful.
I learned this year that I’d you truly want something but are being discouraged by people you respect, go after it anyway with a plan in tow.
A lot of the lessons this year were very hard, but they lead to other lessons – like finding comfort in the small things, like taking care of myself, and wearing safety pins.
The books you want will go on ebook sale if your patient and the gods favor you 😉
I learned to lean on people and ask for help.
I learned that I cannot knit and watch TV at the same time. By the same token, I learned how to correct a lot of knitting mistakes.
I have learned to really appreciate the people in my life and things I have. 2017 is going to be my year of minimalism and just enjoying life.
I relearned how to knit 🙂
I learned that there are some amazing non-romance books out there like Naomi Novik’s great Temeraire series!
Biggest lesson is to cherish the time you have people when you have it… you never know how long you’ll have it
I’ve learned how much time and patience it takes when you adopt a rescue dog. My dog, Ollie, has been with me since March and it has been an experience. This poor little guy’s history is unknown before he was found stray last January, but from his reactions and lack of trust in people he was surely abused. Seeing his progress in trusting humans is at times enough to make me misty-eyed. If I’d known what I was getting into, I would have been to intimidated to try so we are both very lucky I didn’t.
I learned many things this year, many of which were negative. But there were a few highlights. One of the most delightful was finding this website. The reviews with F ratings have been some of the best reading of the year!
This year, I learned to be grateful for the small things in my life. It sounds cheesy as hell but 2016 was a good year for me in spite of the world being a mess.
Happy holidays to you all! I love your site.
This year I learned to accept things I could not change. I don’t know how good that is – but it helped me through some very bad times. I also learned that a lot of dinosaurs had feathers, which I thought was pretty cool. And if the prize goes to the best answer, I know this won’t be it, lol. Anyhow, thanks for offering the prize and Happy Chanukah!
This year I learned so many things. I think the most important one was to start taking time to make myself and my needs a priority every so often. I was buried under work, kids, school, all of that. And guess what? Nothing fell apart!