I'm having a CONTEST with a PRIZE. Here is how it works. I picked the most delightful prize and I make the rules. I do not play like other blogs. I am not giving this to a random commenter because this is not a prize coming from a company. I purchased it out of my random stuff budget for February because I want to have fun with my readers.
The Prize: It's a mystery box. All items are brand new and I assure you that they are sufficiently AWESOME. I mean, they are AMAZING. I do not give away things that I would not want for myself. Once the contest is done, I will post a photo of the contents so that you can all be sufficiently jealous. It is a gender neutral prize. Approximate value of items in mystery box: $45.
The Contest: You have to leave a comment on the blog. (FB Fan Page comments do not count.) Describe why you want the mystery box. It's that simple. Be creative. Or don't. You can tell me you've had a shitty week. You can tell me that I am awesome. (Kissing my ass has never hurt, but if everyone tells me I have pretty hair, you are going to have to come up with something better. But really, non-stop compliments have nothing to do with why you want the mystery box anyway.) You can do it in a haiku, because you know I love haiku. You can write a sonnet, but I will check for proper form. You can say whatever you want.
You have from today until the end of 2/16/2010. Just enter the comment on this thread. Feel free to pass it along to everyone you know.
As long as it isn’t something lawerly (even though I am a lawyer) and its some sort of food, I woud be a happy recipient of the mystery box.
While I will not reveal too many clues, I will state that this is not remotely lawyerly. I’d give fair warning for something like that.
I like to get surprises in the mail and think that you are neato!
Oh hell… now I have to figure out how to use “doppelganger” in a haiku.
Please hold….I need to google “haiku” and “sonnet” to refresh my memory on form. High school was a long time ago and sadly I have not written in either since. I am willing to do the work if it is going to wine me this AWESOME prize. I’ve read all your blogs…I trust you. (I am secretly hoping you will be mailing a detoxifying foot bath. I have been grossly intrigued since your pictures and I researched to find there are none in my area.)
I meant win, not wine. Freudian slip.
OK, Danielle, you’ve piqued my interest. I want to win. I’m serious about this. I am not a winner of prizes, by nature. Please change my contest karma … pick me! (Hey, I think I deserve serious consideration for the correct usage of “piqued.” I’m not one of those boneheads that confuses it with “peaked.”)
Here’s my attempt #1- 3.
Week sucked.
Bruised my butt when I fell down the steps.
Snowed in.
———————————————
Silent treatment
Would be a welcome change.
I have a headache.
———————————————
Chocolate chip cookies
Wish I had the ingredients
No such luck!
Danielle,
literary goddess,
send me the box.
a week of unending editing at work, and the promise of more mindnumbing spacing and punctuation checking to come… A pick me up would be awesome.
I’m a sweeps tweet and I found you from a tweet we we’re both mentioned in from Budgets Are Sexy. I’m addicted to twitter and contest… (I won sunglasses from a RT contest Budgets had). Anyhow I would love to win especially because it’s a mystery and those are incredibly fun to win. Also I’m going to RT your tweet to all my darling contest followers so please forgive me if you get a bit overwhelmed.. kidding it won’t be that bad. Anyhow thanks for the fun and have a great time with your first contest
@ivannawin on twitter
Good Luck to all who enter…. Have FUN!!!!
Booooo!!! went over tweet limit… but will tweet as soon as I can get back it LOL
stupid typos
I’d like to win because….well, who doesn’t like to win? The mystery element is really fun – and since I picture lawyers as having good taste, I imagine the items will be well worth my time! Plus, now I’ve found a new blog to read and peruse and follow…to add to my ever growing list of blogs that I already can’t keep up with reading! You’re welcome to visit my blog, too, if you want!
I want the box because I am Champ Hotness, Entrepreneur. Yes I am putting this nickname OUT THERE.
Sure this blog is about you and how awesome you are doing all of this stuff to improve your finances and therefore your LIFE and that is transformational. In fact you inspire others.
While true none of this changes the fact that the box should be mine. Because. Just because. I don’t need a reason. I am Champ Hotness, Entrepreneur.
I should win the box
I am just a poor college student
Bring joy to my life
There, a haiku!!
My face hurts.
So I don’t know if I want the box. I like getting stuff in the mail, mailed boxes rock my socks but I’m on the bigtime narcotics right now and couldn’t tell you half the thoughts I’ve left unfinished for lack of brain power today. You should give the box to someone who would really love it. And all its contents. It might be me. I have no idea.
Then again, if there’s a more me-like giveaway coming up, save me for that one, if we can only win once.
Wow, I finished a thought!
Honestly, I would love to win because I have never won anything in my life and I am bound and determined to stay up late everynight until I win something lol…. (Have 3 kiddos and so no time in the day)Help me get some sleep by letting me win! haha!
It’s a mystery
Provided with your money
Please give it to me!
Obviously I am not very good at Haiku, but you mentioned kissing up was good and you love Haiku, so I thought I would give it a try. I really would love to win and the mystery of it makes it even more appealing!! Thanks!
The top 10 reasons why I should win the prize:
10. I have had a REALLY shitty year.
9. My husband has had a really shitty year, too.
8. My husband’s shittyness, has caused me to feel even shittier.
7. Since September, my husband and I have had a combined total of 9 shit-ass surgeries (5 for him, 4 for me).
6. That’s a lot of shit!
5. It’s cold as shit here, and there’s all kinds of white shit all over my yard, so we are stuck in the shitty house.
4. I know Danielle would pick out some good shit for her prize, because she knows her shit. (Of course she has pretty hair, also.)
3. What’s left of my boob feels like shit, because I have a balloon catheter shoved in there for my radiation treatments.
2. I am trying to get my shit together for the Chinese New Year.
1. Finally, the number one reason is because I am sick of all this shit, and I need an awesome prize to cheer me up!
I don’t want this box because I am afraid it will be filled with foot related items and that scares.
Just for Schrothtastic – here’s another hint – it is nothing foot related. I swear.
I should win, because if I don’t I’ll call the nuns.
And seeing how it’s free, I want TWO.
Let’s see…reasons why you should send this mystery box to me…
The Poor Me Plug: I’m a single mom who works full time while attending law school at night and am finally winning the battle of the bulge thanks to my diabetes diagnosis back in July.
The You Rock Plug: I saw your interview, which lead me to your blog and you have great hair. Also, what chins?? I saw no chins…
The Nuns Plug: Upon reading the post above me (I have limited time due to the situation described in the “Poor Me Plug”) I figure being related to a nun (my bestest aunt is one) would be an added plug to help my chances of winning!
So…why not me?! When should I be expecting said box?
(PS: I’m glad I found your blog! Feel better…)
1. Dad, stop threatening me with the nuns. I got over that when I went to Catholic high school. Although your point about two boxes is well taken. You did teach me well. Maybe I need to make this a two prize first giveaway.
2. j’lynn, Did you really see the interview? Where and when? Now I’m just curious. Mostly because I have yet to see it… Thanks for finding me. And the entries are closed on 2/16 and I’ll be announcing the winner shortly after that.
Danielle: I must win. Why? I have your cats (the naked ones). Oh, you think the naked gods are with you, but no, they’re not. I have your naked cats (the real ones, not the fake snuggie wearing ones), and if you want to see them again, you will make me win. This is not a threat, Missy, it’s a negotiation point. Prize to me, cats to you.
PS: I think Kathy Bloom should really win because I had a shitty year also, but her year was shittier. Plus, I’ve always wanted to use the word “shitty” in a comment but never really had the chance until Kathy came along.
Keep the peace (and I’ll keep the cats).
I want the mystery box in the worst way. I want it because:
Danielle picked it out. She was/is addicted to gilt. Have you seen the gilt stuff? Nice.
It’s a mystery box, duh!
Danielle has GREAT taste. I’ve seen her shoes.
I’ve read Danielle’s blogs so I know (from the description of how she packaged her ebay items) that the mystery box will be stunning in presentation alone. Who wouldn’t want a mystery box that was stunning in presentation alone? Crazy people, that’s who. I’m not crazy. Well, not that crazy.
I am trying to pay down my own debt, so I haven’t purchased anything fun or pretty for myself in FOREVER. FOREVER is a long time. Ask Wendy.
Winning the mystery box will help me be less depressed that I haven’t been able to have my hair dyed in six months. I was not blessed with Danielle’s naturally beautiful hair. My hair is naturally mousy brown and….are you ready….GRAY. Yes, you read correctly, GRAY. I can’t color my own hair; it’s way too long. There are purple spots on my bathroom ceiling from the last time I did it myself. I’m OCD – the purple spots call out to me at night. This means any extra money (ha ha) will have to be spent on paint.
There is no extra money for paint. This means I will never sleep again – “Hey you! Look at us four purple spots on the bathroom ceiling. Four purple spots that almost, but don’t quite, make a perfect square. Hey you wake up, na na na na, whatcha gonna do about me?” It goes on and on. If I had a mystery box I could take it out and look at it when I’m awake at 3 a.m. on a work night. Perhaps it will even be shiny and the shininess will hypnotize me and I will fall asleep. It could happen.
I’m a single mom, sometimes that’s super hard. Winning the mystery box could save a life. You think I jest? I guess I forgot to mention the “child” is 19 year old girl. This means I get the “You are as dumb as a box of rocks” look at least once a day.
I really want people to be sufficiently jealous that it was I who won the mystery box.
There are lots of other reasons, but I could’ve probably stopped at the first three –
Danielle picked it out
It’s a mystery box, duh!
Danielle has great taste
Hey that’s kind of a haiku, imagine that!
I would like to add to my above posts that I am very impressed that you are using your Feb. random stuff budget for us. It’s still pretty early in the month and it would be fairly easy for you to just keep it for yourself. Very unselfish, Danielle! I commend your generosity!
P.S.- I’ll admit that I am disappointed that it contains nothing foot related, but I still want it.
simple
–i love mysteries and surprises
I want to win the mystery box because wondering what’s inside is driving me crazy. Ah, the human condition—wanting something so badly when ya don’t even know what it is-lol
Thanks for the chance to win! You ARE awesome 
An Ode The Box o’ Mystery:
Box O’ Mystery
I may not deserve thee
As I have already received
A Box O’ Glee
I know I should share
Your bounty with others
But who cares about fair?
I don’t.
I want what you got, and I want it now!
(Besides, Danielle loves my rack,
And there’s no competing with that!)
Mail yourself to me
Oh Box O’ Mystery!!!!
Haiku:
Her first giveaway
With a prize that is awesome
I want to win it.
Winter snow is deep.
Kitten keeping my lap warm.
A cup of hot tea.
Surprises are fun
You can send it to me now
I will be grateful.
danielle, i have decided to enter your contest.
pedophile barney told me to.
“make a noise like a motorcycle…vroom, vroom!”
Because I just clicked on every advertisement on your site and looked around for some nice stuff. My girlfriend may be getting something from Endless soon.
perfect unicorn
send the box to me post haste
you won’t be sorry
danielle…I saw the interview like a few days before I posted, actually I think around 2/1 or 2/2, but I’m not exactly positive. If you track visitors, it would have been the first day I signed into your blog. I saw the interview in connection with either ABC News or NBC News. I’m sorry I cannot really remember. I just remember seeing the interview and did a google search to find your blog while I was watching it. Sorry, I’m not much…but I did see it and it was good~~good enough that it made me take time out of my hectic schedule to find you!!
PICK ME PICK ME PICK ME!
Some half-assed reasons:
1. We are internet bestie twins.
2. My fur emitting wondermutts are desperate for more items to emit fur onto in their quest to blanket the world in dust, dirt, and dog dander.
3. Alliteration acts as an attractant to awesome awards.
4. I love getting mail, and my mailman, Kirk, loves to bring it to me. Seriously, my mailman’s name is Kirk, but his last name isn’t Cameron. Actually, he sort of favors a 40-something Burt Reynolds. He’s totally charming. AND HE LOVES TO BRING ME MAIL. Don’t let Kirk down, Danielle.
5. I will send you a thank you note, but it probably wouldn’t be until at least 6 months pass, because I’m rarely on time with things like that.
6. OMG Kirk just came to the porch with the mail and I can now report that he has grown a mullet. Win.
7. I love presents.
8. If the gift is something usable and not something that is meant to be gazed at and admired, I will take great pleasure in using the hell out of it.
9. If I were raising my hand any higher right now (PICK ME!) I’d tear my rotator cuff. [You ever wonder why that's cuff but cough is cough? Seems like cuff should be cugh. I'm going to ask the OED WTF is up with that.
10. You made me crap my pants with sinus surgery horror stories.
11. If it weren't for being half-assed, I'd have no ass at all.
12. I love surprises.
13. I love the internets, the internets, the internets, the in-ternets, in-ternets, in-ter-nets [that's supposed to be sung to the theme of Peter and the Wold].
14. Whoa, I just accidentally closed this tab and lost all these reasons and then when I got my history to open this tab back up, all this shite I’d type was gone and I was in the middle of writing an expletive-laden comment explaining as much when all of these reasons reappeared! MAGIC!
15. Call it fate. Call it luck. Call it karma. (–Ghostbusters)
Because I just clicked on every ad to the right and searched the sites for awesome stuff!
Hello! Love your blog! Helps me when I am staying at home trying not to spend money so that I can pay off my consumer debt. This means I am a. not buying any clothes this year b. not buying any books this year c. not buying any magazines this year d. I need the box to entertain me… I love a good surprise and who doesn’t want something in the mail that isn’t a bill? Pick me, pick me
But even if you don’t… still love the blog!
*Ahem* A ditty! (to be sung to Groove Is In The Heart)
What is in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox?
I need what’s in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox!
What is in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox?!?!
I need what’s in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox!!!!!!!
The thrill that you give
with this contest
brings me chills
Excitement for what’s to come,
Satisfaction when I’ve won!
I really want what’s in the box!
(I-I-I-I-I I)
Oh, I really need what’s in the box!
This blog I do deeply dig
No filters, only the bridge
You’re my SuperFrugal, my SuperFrugal dish! (Unicorns, baby!!!)
I really want what’s in the box!
(Rainbows!)
Oh, I really need what’s in the box!
(And nekked cats!)
Ms. Danielle, oh, she’s on a roll
I’ve been told she can’t be sold
She’s not vicious or malicious
Just de-lovely and delicious
I really want what’s in the box!
Oh, I really need what’s in the box!
What is in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox?
I need what’s in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox!
What is in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox-ox?!?!
I need what’s in the box-ox-ox-ox-ox!!!!!!!
LISTEN LADY,
I NEED IT. I WANT IT. I AM GOING TO WIN IT.
pick MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
I need the mystery box.
I think you put $45.00 worth of pennies in it.
I STILL WANT IT.
I won a frozen turkey once yeah that about covers my winnings.
Kamira is trying too hard!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am going to win.
I made a voodoo doll and everything.
Reason number 11 of my Top “10″ reasons why I should win the prize:
11. No shit(continuing the theme), I gave TFL a plug in my thank you on my FB page to all of the people who supported me through my breast cancer fight – and I meant it! See my post of 2/15, comment #2.
This should be added to my entry from 2/6/10 @ 6:37.
Here’s my attempt at a limerick:
There once was a girl named Lauren
Whose life had gotten a bit boring
So she asked for a mystery box
From Danielle the Frugal Fox
And her life is much more alluring!
Yeah, sob stories and whining–that’s not how I roll. I don’t write haiku so I won’t fake that either. I support you and enjoy learning with you. You inspire me to do things (Pal is the reason I learned more about sphynxes and found Bellini). You inspire me not to do things (law school). One thing we both adore is a nice orderly list. Here ya go Froogs.
A Ask Pal was the begining of it all. I found him on Tivo.
B Bellini loves Tiki
C Cash Commons
D Debt Management Plan
E Entitlement Spending
F Forbearance is over and student loans suck
G Gilt.com is evil and you have learned
H Honda Insight, aka Wind Up Spaceship
I It’s not About the Money
J Jewlery redesign is money well spent & perfect
K Kohl’s should be added to the Evil Trinity
L Libraries are sexy
M Money Coach will delve into financial Hell for you
N Naked Juice Watermelon Chill is a cheap way to indulge
O Others would have given up, you have gotten stronger
P Paid off CitiBank!!
Q Quick! Payoff Discover!!
R Real estate value sucks
S Selling things on eBay has worked out well
T Tiki loves Bellini
U Unicorns on a CitiBank card can’t even make it pretty
V Various saving strategies keep you on budget
W West Elm is part of the Evil Trinity
X Xtreame measures to be on good behavior in DSW
Y Yuppy Whining happens
Z Zen comes with financial freedom
Now send me my damn box!
I definately want to win because I simply love contests. Well honestly I am addicted to entering contests. I know if I won this mystery box it would put a smile on my face and make my day. <3 Thank you.
Just under the wire…one more reason I should get the fabulous mystery box. My daughter rear ended someone today. The other person (and her car) is fine. My daughter’s car is a mess, she has whiplash, I’ve been dealing with insurance people, car rental people, people from the urgent care, and a very sore and pissed off 19 year old since 12:45 this afternoon. Finally got home at 10:00 p.m. and promptly blew my diet to hell by eating carbs, and a lot of them. Let’s not even discuss how much this is all going to cost – SO MUCH!!! I’ll think about that tomorrow, hopefully with the knowledge that my mystery box is on the way!
I deserve the mystery box because…well, because I’m me. And you heart me. And my husband gives you crap. I should get it for that reason alone.