Happy First Night of Hanukkah!
Yes, Hanukkah is preposterously early this year – only a few days away from being a “Thanksgivakkuh.” But that doesn’t mean we can’t nosh leftovers and latkes, and celebrate!
Every year we do a giveaway for each night of Hanukkah, and I wouldn’t dream of skipping this year. We’ve got lovely things to give away, and I love celebrating with you.
Today’s prize is: a Kate Spade Greta Court Ina bag in Dusty Peony!
Isn’t it pretty? (I love shopping for the giveaways each year, I confess.)
Want some specs?
- The bag measures approximately 7″h x 11″w x 4.3″d
- It has a zip closure across the top
- It has a cross body/shoulder strap that’s detachable, and handles at the top
Want to enter? Yay!
Just leave a comment and tell us what brought some light into your world this past year?
Standard disclaimers apply: I am not being compensated for this giveaway. Void where prohibited. Open to international residents where permitted by applicable law. Must be over 18 and ready to carry all your gorgeous, possibly glittery, necessary essentials. Not responsible for overall upgrades to outlook when carrying this bag.
Comments will close 29 November 2021 at or near 12pm ET, and winner will be announced shortly afterward.
Good luck, Happy Hanukkah, and thank you for being part of Smart Bitches!
Thanks for celebrating with us this year!
Winner update: Congratulations to Becks! Please keep an eye on your inbox.
The reopening of live theater has brought me much joy—and a new job.
My expanded vegetable garden brought me joy this year (still does! I pulled a parsnip, a couple potatoes, and a beautiful leek for our dinner tonight) Watching old seasons of GBBO with my husband has been a great way to spend weekend evenings 🙂
The answer to prayer that mom died in her sleep, painfree, peaceful on Thurs morning. It has been a long 4 months
Walking the Lake Padden trail, throughout the seasons, and so grateful for it!
So pretty! Re-reading my favorite books, re-watching the Hobbit movies and snuggles with my loved ones has been the best part of my year.
My cousin regularly sends me videos of her granddaughter who will be 3 on Christmas and sooner with be a big sister to twin boys.
Also, See’s Candies opens a pop up shop in our town yearly. Love me some almond squares.
It’s been a rough year, but I retired, so that has been a huge relief. I can deal with a lot now because suddenly I have the mental bandwidth available!
@Gloriamarie Amalfitano, I’m sorry for your loss and hope you and your family find peace and feel grace in the coming days.
As much as I love anime, there’s something about the J-dramas that are BASED on manga and anime that I just love. The live-action versions of WAKAKOZAKE (about a 26-year-old office worker who deals with her annoying job by treating herself to beautifully filmed food and drink afterwards at the local izakayas) and CHERRY MAGIC! THIRTY YEARS OF VIRGINITY CAN TURN YOU INTO A WIZARD?! (worst title ever for an incredibly sweet m/m romance boasting two appealing leads and very good aro rep in a supporting female character) are really helping me cope right now…
I’ve rediscovered my love of running in the early mornings! So important to have alone time in a house full of family.
My bright moment this year was bittersweet. I’m a retired educator, and I started distance tutoring a student in math April 2020. She was in fourth grade, and we worked together twice a week through August 2021. As of September, she has been very successful in math, and I no longer tutor her. I miss working with her, but I’m proud of how her hard work paid off.
My family trip to Yellowstone. It was so nice for the four of us to spend uninterrupted time together, see the gorgeous views, and listen to Project Hail Mary as we saw some truly amazing things.
Romance books. Chronically ill and recovering from surgeries, romance keeps me going.
Drinking lots of tea!
Walking my Great Dane means I have to go outside every day, and every day it improves my outlook. Especially when the neighborhood children yell greetings to him, because he’s a local celebrity.
a new job
My new volunteer position working with ninth graders has been an unexpected source of optimism. These kids have dealt with a lot of crap at a difficult time (having spent half of their 7th grade and all of their 8th grade years in distance learning, for one thing) and they’re still super funny, bright, and charmingly unfashionable.
My dog gave me light this year.
@Gloriamarie, sending sympathetic thoughts to you.
Also sending sympathy to you, @Monique.
My toddler being able to start preschool and interact with kids his age for the first time in a long time!
Reading, sewing, and Acorn channel – mostly murder tv, but some wholesome drama as well.
Making art more often!
Being able to gather together with people brought a lot of lightness and joy(thank you Moderna!) I also had a reunion with some childhood friends over the summer. Then I got to celebrate Thanksgiving with family, after missing out on all the family get togethers last year.
Books have brought me joy. When I couldn’t get out, I could still travel in my armchair. My sanity.
Is it really sad, that I had to really think for a bit before I could come up with something? But when I did, it did make me smile. I moved into a new apartment in a new neighborhood at the end of the year and with nicer weather, I met most of the neighbors on the block – which has never happened anywhere I have lived before. It is quite lovely knowing and trusting the people living around you, being able to have small conversations daily, and feeling more support.
TO @Gloriamarie, @Monique and @Donna, my sympathies for the loss of your loved ones. May their memories be a blessing.
Finding new communities online! I’m 56 and surprised at how much appreciation, wisdom, and community I’ve found in new online communities through advocacy and hedge witch work. I am definitely introverted and solitary, but communities like these and the Bitches are awesome resources to have at hand. ❤️
Zoom book events. I hope it continues doing it going forward. Thanks for the chance!
I travel between library branches as part of my job. One of my branches, C-town, is the highlight of my week. Small, mostly friendly community, the two staffers are always full of ideas and reach out to me for help with patrons and projects, and working with them is so fabulous. I love those two so much.
Chemo knocked my dad’s bladder cancer on its ass. 🙂
My family, always. ❤️
Discovering the Heaving Bosoms podcast through your collaboration brought me great joy during my commute throughout this year.
My daughter (4) and my students (middle school) have kept me going this year.
Happy Hanukkah! Being able to work from home has definitely brought a lot of light into my life. I’ve been able to spend a lot more quality time with my family and especially my two senior dogs.
What brought some light into my world this year was honestly giving myself permission to put some care into myself. I think for the last few years I have lived in a place where I needed to feel comfy and safe (probably because it was my way of reacting to everything going on atm) and so I settled into a routine of comfy clothing that while being comfy, didn’t really make me feel special. I recently gave myself permission to splurge on a new clothing item that was completely out of my comfort zone and was astounded at how I felt when wearing it. I felt like I had found an old piece of myself that I didn’t realise I was missing. self-care equals light.
Rediscovering the joy and therapeutic qualities of making art has definitely brought a light into my life. Painting calms me when I’m anxious. And I am so stoked that my youngest son also has the artistic bug!
This website and community, every single day.
My cats daily bring me light and joy.
My two cats, Jessie and Jamie, are a joy every day. It is so nice to be greated with such enthusiasm after a long day at work. I am choosing to ignore the fact that they are so eager to see me because I feed them.