*This giveaway has been extended until March 28, 2019*
Holy Smithereens –I can still clearly remember the time, not too long ago, when I classified being 35 and above as a “raisin age”. Brown, wrinkly, and not too exciting.
And here I am, turning 38 in 24 hours. I’m still brown, I’ve invited more wrinkles and crinkles to the party, and some liken my life to a choose your own adventure (and doomsday) gamebook.
There are many, many things I learned along the way. I won’t bore you with life lessons, but the most important thing I want to share is:
Age is not just a number. Turning a year older is a privilege denied to many. Lately, I have unfortunately been surrounded by news of people within and connected to my circles passing. When you dread getting older or even hide your age, I feel you are not being grateful for the gift that for some is like a rug that gets rudely swept off their feet. You’re still cruising in that rug. Be happy and proud.
And because I’ve been given another year of shenanigans, I decided to throw a little birthday giveaway. I also would like to honour my alter ego – Holy Smithereens. I have been through a lot the past couple of years and HS really has been my staunchly steady companion that helped pull me through.
And most of all – to all of you who have been following me, my travels, and all the tomfoolery. THANK YOU.
Ok, without further adieu, here’s the giveaway.
There are two items. One winner each.
One item is open to all entrants worldwide.
The second item is for entrants from the USA.
These items will surely help you on your next travels!
First:
I am giving away a pair of designer sunglasses (Prada) from VisionDirect. This is open to all WORLDWIDE.
The winner will be asked to choose one pair from the following Prada sunglasses. This will all depend on availability of course.
The devil wears Prada, and indeed I find that my pair of Prada sunglasses are one of the best to take travelling with. It’s big, stylish, and offers a lot of sun protection.
Buying sunglasses online is very tricky. And the reason I partnered with VisionDirect is how they made online shopping for sunnies so easy and convenient. They have a virtual try-on site that actually looks realistic and not like a snapchat filter.
And apart from carrying top designer brands, they also have a 2-year warranty that comes with every purchase. This is very helpful when you travel with your sunnies a lot.
The second prize is a Voyager Waxed Weekender Bag by BoardingPass.
Boarding Pass is a New York-based travel brand. All their products – from their luggage tags, to weekender bags and duffel bags, are all designed and made in the United States. What I love about their bags is they have a relaxed yet classic look that goes well whether you’re travelling for work or leisure.
How to Enter the Giveaway:
In order to enter my birthday giveaway, I just need some teeny bit of love and support.
1.) Subscribe to Holy Smithereens’ YouTube Channel
My YouTube Channel is way older than Holy Smithereens. Because words simply aren’t enough to showcase experiences and travel!
Subscribe now.
2.) Follow Holy Smithereens on Instagram
They say that being famous on Instagram is basically the same as being rich in Monopoly. If that is the case, I’m along Vermont and Indiana Avenue kind of “rich” and still need a long way to New York Avenue. I sometimes divulge way too much on my captions anyhow, so it’s worth a follow if you want a good non-IG perfect travel monologue.
Follow now.
3.) Answer this question (on a comment in this blog post):
Where would you like to go on YOUR birthday getaway and why?
and you must indicate your location and which giveaway item you’d like ( please remember, the weekender bag is for US entrants only).
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This giveaway closes on the 28th of March. Winners will be announced – on IG Stories and Facebook (and as an update in this blog) on the 28th of March 2019.
This is not a game of chance. 2 winners will be chosen based on answers. 1 winner for the Prada Sunglasses (worldwide), and 1 winner or the Boarding Pass Weekender bag (for US-based entrants only).
The winners must agree to have their names and answers published in this blog and on IG stories and Holy Smithereens’ Facebook page.
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Alright, I’d love to see your answers! 🙂
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Hey Jean,
Stuck at home feeding a baby so I thought I’d take part and dream a little!
I would definitely choose Argentina, I’ve been wanting to visit for ages! Such an exotic and diverse country, from grasslands to glaciers it has it all, plus it’s a little off the beaten track so it’s more of an adventure. I’ve also been told the meat is amazing there, and the locals are friendly and welcoming, what else could you ask for?
Entering for the sunglasses as I’m based in Singapore 🙂
Rosie xx
On my 50th birthday 2020 i would love to go to Bethlehem because im a Christmas eve baby .
Happy Birthday Jean!
I would like to have a getaway to Singapore for my birthday since it’s my fave city and I love It’s cleanliness, people and everything of it. I just had my birthday on Feb 27 actually 😉 I’m from Indonesia. I would like to have PR53US sungglasses, please..Thank you 🙂
I would like to have a getaway to Singapore since it is my fave city and i love the cleanliness, people and everything about it. I just had my birthday on Feb 27 actually 😉 I would love to get Prada PR53US sungglases please 🙂 Thank you.
Jean! Happy belated birthday! Long-time reader (first time commenter!) of your blog, viewer of your YouTube, and of course, follower of your IG. You do NOT look 38! Have always loved watching your videos as I get ready in the morning, haha! I hope you have a wonderful birthday week. This is an incredible giveaway, and I would love pair of the sunglasses, if I were to win!
So, for my birthday getaway this year, I would love to have a long, luxurious weekend in Paris with my husband and our little boy. It might seem an obvious choice (I could have gone with Sri Lanka! India! Iceland!), but – hear me out – although my husband is often in Paris for work, the last time I was in the city was two years ago. I was staying in a sweet but gorgeous hotel in the Marais (we enjoyed croissasnts and fresh orange juice on the balcony!) with my best friend – and eating mini M&S sausage rolls whilst sitting on the edge of the bathtub at 3:00 a.m. as I was in the early stages of pregnancy and feeling ravenous all the time. I remember walking through the sun-dappled streets feeling so hopeful and grateful to have that time with my lovely friend, and for the new life growing within me, having had three miscarriages before. That trip was magical. I felt it in my veins. Everything felt so right and true. I’m looking to recreate those moments, but this time with my son in tow. I want to introduce him to a place that was so special to me when I was pregnant with him, and treat him to a little hot chocolate from Angelina, plus a stroll through the Tuileries. The memories!
xo Jaime
I’d love to go the south of France if possible for the food and sun. I’d like the sunglasses.
I would love to go to Havana Cuba for my birthday Getaway. It’s still not touristy and not the mainstream type of vacation that you’ll go not to mention it has a rich historical facts and places especially I was born and raise in the Philippines, it shares same conquisador which was under the Spanish Regime. (plus also I would be able to compare how the Spanish conqueror leave their mark in Cuba in terms of infrastructures and such). Cuba has it touch and remnant of the 50-60’s vibes where you can still feel that you’re blast to the past. I still hope that a few years from now it will still remain the same and not subtlely influence by the American’s big company etc.
Happy belated birthday, Jean! I feel ya on getting older as I recently turned 40 ?
The best part of that was all the travel surrounding it.
At the moment I’m based in the Washington, DC area. I’d go with the Prada sunglasses if I won as I could use a nice new pair for the upcoming summer in North America.
For my next birthday if I could travel anywhere I’d probably choose Japan – I haven’t visited Japan yet and the culture, culinary scene and architecture would be wonderful to experience!
Happy travels! ?
For my birthday getaway I’d like to go to Ireland. For no other reason than I’ve felt drawn to that country since I was a child. Something about the vivid greens and whimsy of fairies (good and bad) and the strength and mysticism of the Celts. Maybe a few beers too lol. Thanks for the opportunity to daydream a little today about my fantasy trip! As for the prize I would like to be in the running for, I think weekender…I’m always up for weekend trips and can use a new bag.
Fiji! It’s on my bucket list