House of Earnest

December 7, 2012

giveaway week: $200 at Minted! – GIVEAWAY CLOSED

We’ve reached the grand finale of our House of Earnest Holiday Giveaway Week! It’s been an amazing week with so many wonderful brands who all came together to work with House of Earnest on these giveaways and donate prizes for you all to win.

…but there is still one more. One amazingly lucky reader will win complimentary holiday cards from Minted – up to $200! Have you seen their collections this year? They’re holiday cards are designed by indie graphic designers and printed on heavyweight luxe paper. I have been having so much trouble narrowing down my options, but I think I’ve finally decided the design I’m getting. Before I divulge that information, however, I want to hear which design is your favorite! This is such a big giveaway, that we’re only running it today – it ends tonight, so hurry up and enter!

**THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED**

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below telling me which holiday card design is your favorite.
For up to four (4) additional entries you can:
‘Like’ House of Earnest on Facebook – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
follow House of Earnest on Twitter – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
‘Like’ minted on Facebook – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Follow minted on Twitter – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Giveaway will close at Tonight at Midnight EST
Open to US residents only
No purchase is necessary

HAPPY FRIDAY!

p.s. really love giveaways? I’m also participating in the 24 Merry Days. Today’s 24 Merry Days giveaway is over at Hank and Hunt.

97 Comments

December 6, 2012

giveaway week: Illume candles – GIVEAWAY CLOSED

in act now with 160 Comments

Just a few weeks ago, I showcased the Monogram Collection from Illume as party favors and as namecards for my harvest dinner party. I have just been smitten with their products lately and am beyond eager to share the joy with you!

The Naughty & Nice candles aren’t only witty, they’re actually made to go together. Nice smells like sugared vanilla cream and naughty smells of woodsy musk. Burnt together, the scents layer and mix so nicely, you’ll know that you certainly can’t have nice in your life without the naughty!

So, are you ready for this? Not only do you get to enter to win both all three of these nuggets of joy, but ALL readers get 15% off and Free Shipping on the entire site! That’s pretty nice, right? Stock up on gifts for all those loved ones and holiday parties – just enter HERNEST at checkout!

To Enter the Naughty and Nice giveaway – **THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED**

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below which includes the word ‘NAUGHTY’
For up to four (4) additional entries you can:
‘Like’ House of Earnest on Facebook – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
follow House of Earnest on Twitter – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
‘Like’ Illume on Facebook – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Follow Illume on Twitter – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Giveaway will close at Midnight EST on Friday, December 7th.
Open to US residents only
No purchase is necessary

Have a NICE Thursday!

p.s. really love giveaways? I’m also participating in the 24 Merry Days. Today’s 24 Merry Days giveaway is over at This Little Street.

160 Comments

December 5, 2012

giveaway week: Ella Lou Turkish Towels – GIVEAWAY CLOSED

in act now with 115 Comments

We’re back for another giveaway! It’s no secret that I love luxe linen, whether it’s sheets, towels, or coasters. You name it, I love it. The reason is because linen gets softer with time and as a natural fiber it holds up amazingly well to lots of washes. Ella Lou is not only sponsoring a giveaway for House of Earnest readers, but they’re also a House of Earnest sponsor! I have enjoyed getting to know one of the co-founders, Lindsay, over the past few months and am so excited to share their story and seriously perfect towels with you.

These luxe linens are 100% organic linen made in Turkey by traditional weaving methods and are carefully selected and imported for their customers. We’ve got our hands on some of the first hand towels from their new collection, and couldn’t be happier to be giving them to you!

Today we’re giving one lucky reader TWO punchy orange hand towels and ONE Orange Blossom beach or bath towel.

To Enter **THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED**

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below which includes the word ‘WRAP’
For up to three (3) additional entries you can:
‘Like’ House of Earnest on Facebook – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
follow House of Earnest on Twitter – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
‘Like’ Ella Lou on Facebook – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Giveaway will close at Midnight EST on Friday, December 7th.
Open to US residents only
No purchase is necessary

Happy Wednesday, guys!

p.s. really love giveaways? I’m also participating in the 24 Merry Days. Today’s 24 Merry Days giveaway is over at That’s Happy.

p.p.s. I’m hosting these giveaways all week in an effort to distract you from the fact that I’m on vacation in the Caribbean. If you’re not into being distracted, you can follow my adventures on Instagram and see my Ella Lou turkish beach towel in action!

115 Comments

December 4, 2012

giveaway week: Olive Box – GIVEAWAY CLOSED

in act now with 149 Comments

It’s Day Two in our week of giveaways and I am SO excited to share this one with you! Launched this past September, OliveBox is a monthly subscription service which delivers paper and lifestyle goodies to your doorstep every month. OliveBox has teamed up with some of the most coveted artists and specialty paper boutiques to offer you a themed surprise each month that you’ll love.

OliveBox is a fabulous idea for that someone crafty on your gift list and is so wonderful and unique in that it keeps on giving for many months. Here is the bonus news – Readers who sign up this week get 10% off of their OliveBox order (just enter houseofearnest10 at checkout)!

…but ONE lucky reader will get one OliveBox for free in this giveaway! There are five (5) ways to enter!

To Enter: **THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED**

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below which includes the word ‘JOURNEY’
For up to four (4) additional entries you can:
‘Like’ House of Earnest on Facebook - comment back here letting me know that you did so.
follow House of Earnest on Twitter - comment back here letting me know that you did so.
‘Like’ OliveBox on Facebook - comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Follow Olivebox on Twitter – comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Giveaway will close at Midnight EST on Friday, December 7th.
Open to US residents only
No purchase is necessary

Happy Tuesday!

p.s. really love giveaways? I’m also participating in the 24 Merry Days. Today’s 24 Merry Days giveaway is over at The Sweetest Occasion.

149 Comments

December 3, 2012

giveaway week: Mrs. Meyers Clean Day – GIVEAWAY CLOSED

in act now with 127 Comments

It’s here! The House of Earnest Holiday giveaway week! Every day this week we are giving away one of our favorite things to one lucky reader. The giveaways will increase in value until we reach the grand prize on Friday. All of the giveaways will close at Midnight on Friday – so act fast! Each winner will receive their prize prior to Christmas, so why not make it a gift? (or keep it for yourself, I won’t tell!)

Today we’re giving away a Mrs. Meyers Clean Day gift set in the seasonal scent, Iowa Pine valued at $16. This joyful scent may only be around for a limited time, but it will keep your house smelling awesome for months to come.

To Enter **THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED AND A WINNER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED**

Mandatory Entry: Leave a comment below which includes the word ‘CLEAN’
For up to two (2) additional entries you can ‘Like’ House of Earnest on Facebook and/or follow House of Earnest on Twitter - comment back here letting me know that you did so.
Giveaway will close at Midnight EST on Friday, December 7th.
Open to US residents only
No purchase is necessary

Happy Monday, guys! (get ready for a packed week of exciting giveaways!)

p.s. really love giveaways? I’m also participating in the 24 Merry Days. Today’s 24 Merry Days giveaway is over at Sugar & Cloth

127 Comments

November 30, 2012

Friday Faves 11.30 + Huge News!

in friday favorites with 0 Comments

ONE Monday’s fresh prize; TWO Tuesday’s wrapped with flair; THREE Wednesday will bring sweet news; FOUR Thursday celebrates a season for lights; FIVE Friday is a ‘minted’ deal!

I hinted at it a week ago, but get ready for some exciting holiday cheer! Next week, for the entire week, we’ll have a giveaway every single day. Monday through Thursday are still surprises (that I know you’ll love) and Friday I gave away already, as $200 to buy your holiday cards from minted. I want you to be ready for it, because it’s big and you’ll only have 24 hours to enter!

Although each giveaway starts on a different day, they all close at Midnight Friday, December 7th, so you’ll have five days to enter for Monday four for Tuesday and so on. You’re going to love these prizes, so come back next Monday for the first dose of surprise holiday cheer!

Get your commenting fingers ready this weekend and I’ll see you back here on Monday!

0 Comments

November 29, 2012

Simple, Seasonal: The Happy Hostess

in Party Style, Seasonal with 8 Comments

I spent the last weekend with my two sister-in-laws and both asked me for something a little different in terms of ideas they were looking for this holiday season. One, for good hostess gifts that aren’t boring, but also aren’t crazy expensive. One for some really simple, but impactful ideas for projects or decor DIYs. I decided that I would start a little holiday only column entitled, Simple, Seasonal. It would be easy, go-to ideas to make this season a little less hectic.

First up on the list is a hostess gift that anyone throwing a soiree would love to receive – breakfast. As they wake the day after their gala with dishes in the sink, and maybe a little headache, provide them with a little something to wash down with their morning coffee.

It doesn’t have to be hard. These scones are Pumpkin Cranberry from a mix sold by Trader Joe’s but they still have a homemade texture. If you have a really great bakery in town, picking up some delicacies and wrapping them up nice is just as thoughtful. Your happy hostess will be thinking of you the next morning and how thankful she is you are friends.

Have a LOVELY Thursday!

p.s. for the other sister-in-laws request for simple, easy decor projects, I have a few really fun ideas coming your way after my WEEK of giveaways next week (get excited for some awesome prizes!

8 Comments

November 28, 2012

Before & After: Holiday Pop-up Bar

in Home Decor with 11 Comments

There’s nothing quite like some of the sweet, spicy, rich drinks that lure us through the holiday season and definitely put some of the ‘fest’ in festive. If you don’t have a bar area in your home, but are entertaining this holiday, don’t feel underwhelmed and set up a quick watering hole of your own.

In my house, the kitchen is a little tight and rooms are closed off (no open concept here). To help prevent bottlenecks in the kitchen, I move the bar into another room to help keep people moving around and mingling. All you need is a couple of Command hooks and some garland to define the perfect space to wet your whistle during all of that carolling (wait, you don’t carol?)

I showed this pop up bar that I’d created in my Holiday Style Challenge post for The Home Depot and got a lot of feedback about where in my house this gem was located. Don’t be afraid to make some moves in your house for the holidays, and think of creative ways to get people moving and mingling.

Now, how about that drink, shall we?

Have a SPLENDID Wednesday!

11 Comments

November 27, 2012

To and From: For Holiday Giving

in soapbox: things I love and you should too with 7 Comments

Gift giving just got easier. This holiday season Katie Anderson of Modern Eve and Meg Biram of MegBiram.com put their lovely little heads together to come up with an entire magazine dedicated to gift giving called To & From. I put in my two cents for when you’re buying gifts for the entertainers in your life, but there are 138 other pages of gift guides for moms, dads, tweens, babies, friends, travelers, cooks, and more. Some of my favorite bloggers chipped in with their suggestions and another one of my faves even shows a good handmade gift idea (and you know I love those).

Here is a sneak peak at my page, but hop on over to To and From Magazine to see the links, read about my favorite Christmas tradition and get ideas for every single person on your list.

Whats more, the duo is planning multiple issues of this mag throughout the year with gifts for every season (mothers day, valentines day, birthdays, etc). How sweet is that?

Have a Happy Tuesday!!

7 Comments

November 26, 2012

Holiday 2012: Color Direction

in Home Decor with 10 Comments

It’s that time! I’ve been waiting for it, and it’s finally here – Holiday decorating time! I spoke last year about decorating ‘themes’ and although I don’t like a lot of kitsch, I do think that establishing a theme helps maintain focus when overwhelmed with possibilities. In the past few years, I’ve taken a rustic, woodland approach and although this year, I’m not making a big departure from that theme, I do have a swing in my color choices.

My theme (if you will) this year is Woodsy Gilded White. I want to use a lot of white, but not in a fancy way. The theme will utilize textures like felt, fur, and birch to create layers of cream and white and the ‘gild’ will come in the form of rich browns and metallics.

The whole look will be grounded with woodgrain and green (the tree) to keep it from getting to formal or serious. Gifts wrapped simply in solid colors will further reinforce the color scheme.

I’m so excited to share my projects that support Woodsy Gilded White over the next few weeks. I’ll have a mixture of hands-on projects, really simple style (that anyone can do), and some tips, treats, and ideas for a perfect holiday! Get excited!

Now, how’s that for a happy Monday?

10 Comments