Happy Hanukkah, everyone!
Each year, we host giveaways for every night of Hanukkah, and this year is no different.
It’s time to find the menorot, figure out where I put the Hanukkah candles, and throw a big party in the hot pink palace to celebrate!
For our first night of Hanukkah, we have a Kate Spade Flash Glitter Satchel in pink!
Look how cute!
This color is just lovely. Here are the specs:
- Measurements: 9.3″ W x 7.6″ H x 4.6″ D
- Handle Drop: 5.0″
- Strap Drop: 22″
- Closure Type: top zip closure
- Interior: back slip pocket
To enter, please comment and tell us what brought light and contentment into your world this past year? Big wins, little wins, quiet joys – please share!
Standard disclaimers apply: We are 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 look adorably fashionable while having plenty of room for wallet, keys, phone, book or ereader, and snacks. May cause feelings of insouciant whimsy.
Comments will close 19 December 2022 at or near 11:59pm ET, and winner will be announced shortly afterward.
Good luck, Happy Hanukkah, and thank you for being part of Smart Bitches!
Winner update: Congratulations to Melissandre!
We finished a 3 year long dungeons and dragons campaign. We stayed in person, had to switch to online, but were able to come back together and finish it all together. And we are still playing every week.
I started a new relationship with one of the kindest most open hearted men I’ve ever met. We live on different continents, but we have had a few chances to be together face to face. He even inspires me to keep writing. He gives me joy
Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!
My husband, daughter, sister, and friends all brought light into my life; I am a fortunate woman.
Reading more fantasy and submerging into beautiful worlds brought light and contentment to my own world. Whether everything through doorways, portals, or arches; I went on every journey.
Seeing Hugh Jackman in Music Man on Broadway with my best friend on Broadway in November after having to cancel in January because of ding dang Covid. It wasn’t just because of seeing Hugh (although that was wonderful) but the whole weekend. Spending time with my best friend, watching Bridgerton together, amazing food, talking and laughing.
My husband (who I’ve been with almost 30 years) continues to be the light of my life (and my shamash for an added Hanukkah reference, har har). My weekly Spanish lessons also give me a sense of satisfaction plus some fun conversation. But we also moved to Malta this year and have been exploring our new home plus traveling around Europe. The change of scenery and cultures shook me out of my 6+ year rut of feeling scared and only seeing the ugly things going on in the world.
My cousin moved back home after living abroad for a few years, so there were a lot more gossiping sessions over dim sum this year.
My son got married in October to the loveliest, sweetest girl imaginable. I love being a mother-in-law! It was a beautiful, drama-free wedding with just a couple of the kind of hiccups everyone can laugh about. Everyone had a wonderful time, and all they could talk about was how happy they looked.
My supportive friends
My parents, both in their late 80s, survived a bout with COVID and are doing well today.
My two lovely, beautiful, and adorable cats. They come sit by or on me when I’m working from home, they gently wake me when it is time to eat, they lull me to sleep with their purring and let me pet them which gives lots of contentment to me at least. Then they add spice when they have the zoomies and race around the bedroom at night, jump on my sleeping self to settle down for a quick nap, and one of them persists in bathing my hair. I am also grateful to the animal shelter who let me adopt them.
We’ve suffered some losses this year, like everyone, but I am so fortunate to have a brother and sister-in-law who are right there with me, providing support and laughter. In fact, should I win it, the bag would be for my sister-in-law for being the person who keeps it all together with style. (I’m more of a tweed girl, myself.)
My twin nephews have brought so much joy and brightness into my life this past year. They are four years old and are utterly amazing (and often hilarious at the same time.) I love visiting them and getting photos of their many adventures texted to me.
Finally getting to take cruise again. I go by myself and spend most of my time reading. It really serves as a time to recharge and I come back ready to be a better everything I have going on in my life
My husband and I becoming true “empty-nesters” and seeing all three of our daughters settled happily into their adult lives with jobs, apartments, their own friends & social groups & interests, and totally responsible for all of their own bills too (lol). It was a bittersweet moment when we helped our last remaining living-at-home child move into an apartment in another city, but hubby and I are ready to embrace this next phase of our life journey.
Along those same lines, after working for the past 12 years with students who are on the severe end of the autism spectrum, I moved to a classroom with students who are higher-functioning and are given more independence and ability to perform their own self-care. With this move to a job that requires less physical intervention, I’ve been able to postpone my retirement (which had been tentatively scheduled for next May) and possibly continue working for several more years—at least until my husband (who is a few years younger than me) is ready to retire.
My son had a rough time transitioning into kindergarten last year after being home for the pandemic. After much deliberation we decided to have him repeat…and now he is thriving! Excited to go each day, making friends, learning lots, and loving life.
My pets brought me light in all forms and quantities this year. There’s nothing quite like a silly cat or dog to make the world feel brighter!
We lost our elderly cat last year and one of our greyhounds early this year and the house was so quiet. But we adopted a shy kkitty about six months ago who quickly lost all shyness with us and decided our remaining greyhound is her new best friend. Greyhound is bemused but accepting. Kitty has the silliest little squeaky meow and the house doesn’t seem so quiet anymore.
My extended family has a week-long reunion every three years. We had to postpone a year because of Covid, but 88 people gathered in July’22 to celebrate the joy and peace of family!
My beautiful family. Seeing my sons, their wives and my four grandchildren all around my Thanksgiving table.
In September my niece was born, and she has totally lit up my life. She has two older brothers, and all of us thought she was going to be another boy, so she surprised us all. Despite such a chaotic household she’s the chillest, calmest baby, and I look so forward to seeing her grow.
My parents moved to live closer to me and getting to see them more often has been a blessing as none of us are getting younger…
My boys’ cross country team (I’m one of the coaches) won state and went to nationals!! It was a long season but I’m so proud of them!
What made me happy this year was finally getting to spend a little time with friends. Pandemic plus distance meant we hadn’t seen each other in over two years. (One of the last things we did before everything went to hell was celebrate one friend’s grandson’s first birthday. He’s now nearly four. Yikes.). It was wonderful to see them at last!!!
My dogs settling in to our new home. One is super anxious and the other super needy, but seeing them settled in, enjoying jumping into the new bed or on the new couch for snuggling has made my heart swell with joy. The younger one (needy) really has grown into such a (mostly) good boy and the trust he’s shown us in knowing that he’s got a home is just so lovely. The older one (anxious) is slower to warm up, so seeing her want to go out on the porch or in the backyard is amazing.
Also, I made steak au poivre for boyfriend’s birthday Thursday, didn’t burn the house down lighting the contact, and dinner was delicious.
Being able to spend time with dear friends and escape on fun weekend trips throughout the year! Having those getaways to look forward to really brightened my mood during the not-fun times of the year.
I started a new job in the summer of this year, and I feel much less stressed and more excited about work than I have before. I’ve continued on my knitting journey, progressing to new techniques, like cables and fair isle/stranded sweaters. I’m looking forward to a new year of projects. As usual, my family is my biggest support system, and I’m thankful for them. They are also the Guinea pigs for my various knitting projects!
Hitting my Goodreads goal back in October.
Not scrambling to hit it in the last two months of the year was a nice change and convinced me to tackle a couple of larger books on my tbr.
After all the travel and stress of last year with my Dad, I called this year the year of no muss, no fuss, no stress. And then my SIL was diagnosed with “not a tumor” and had a stroke during the “it’ll only take about an hour and a half” EIGHT HOUR surgery to remove “the not a tumor”, and they didn’t notice until two days later…. ALWAYS check which doctors/hospitals are in your insurance plan. ALWAYS. And you might think that this is all very depressing, but on Thanksgiving I had her, my travelling RN niece and the rest of my family at my table eating, laughing, throwing cresent rolls and being my family. It was everything.
Seeing the kids’ relationships with each other evolve as they’ve matured and know that they’re friends as well as siblings brings me SO much joy! And to have them all home for at least a short while this season fills my heart!
My husband was able to move back to live with me after years of long distance! He brings me so much joy and now we get to be weirdos together again 🙂
Making new friends and reconnecting with old ones this year has really given me so much joy.
חג שמח!
It’s been a rough year but I managed to start traveling again and saw friends/family that hadn’t seen for years!
This year we had the best camping spot on the north shore of Lake Superior – million dollar views for $20/night! We’re planning to go again next year.
Enjoying time with my granddaughter. She’s now 2 and her personality is shining through. 🙂
It’s been a rough year; I had Covid twice, and there was a fire at my workplace the day I was going to return. I was placed in another building, separate from the rest of my department, and that’s ended up being a positive thing. I have more autonomy, and less interruptions. I received a raise, and am working on curtailing my spending, with the goal of being able to stop working.
My niece has brought me so much joy and is the light of my life. Also more superficially Taskmaster never fails to make me laugh.
A weekly walk with a friend.
My win was deepening my meditation practice. Mindfulness for the win!
Finally having a normal kindergarten start with my youngest. We missed so many wonderful school traditions when my oldest had to do online kindergarten in 2020-2021. Even though there’s still a lot of illness happening, it feels really huge to be able to go into a kindergarten classroom and guest read to all the sweet kiddos.