Ann~Margaret

Artist ~ Writer ~ Photographer

 

The Joy of a Smile and a Christmas Surprise

There is nothing better than being out and about during Christmastime and finding smiling faces in the hustle and bustle of shopping and enjoying Christmas activities.  It’s amazing the difference a SMILE can make; it really is quite therapeutic!  This time of year is often filled with people scurrying here and there trying to check off all those things on their gift lists, hurrying to grab a few items in the grocery store so they can make that perfect dessert for school or work, or frantic drivers thinking they just don’t have enough time to slow down and let someone in front of them.  But, what about all the people that do pass a smile your way while they are busy carrying all their goodies to the register, those that turn to say hello on the baking aisle and share a few tidbits with you about their favorite recipe, and what about the person that smiles happily and ushers you to go ahead and pull out in front of them?  They are out there…sometimes we have to look really hard for them, and well, other times it seems as though someone pops up with a thoughtful gesture at the moment we may need it most.

More and more each day I learn that we truly don’t know what others are dealing with in their lives.  And, I realize that sometimes I may smile at someone and really help them to feel better about the day…just with a simple SMILE.  I know I am guilty of having 10 million things racing through my head and hurrying to try to get some of them done, and goodness, it makes me crazy when I finally slow down because it’s almost as though I have to retrace what all I did just to make sure I did actually accomplish something.  If I really stop and think about it while I’m out…think about actually looking someone in the face and smiling genuinely at them…think about that it might actually cheer them up or make their day a little brighter…well, I like that.  It’s the little things in life {know you’ve read this lots of times on my blog} that can mean so much.  So, as you go through these next few days preparing for Christmas, be sure to SMILE at those you meet, and be sure to look up every now and then because someone might just be smiling back at you! 🙂

Because I promise you this…you may really add a healthy dose of sunshine to someone’s day…and, it may mean the world to them.  And, what if this were the case…what if YOUR SMILE was the only one they saw that day??  Wow…what a difference you just made!

I want you to know that you make a difference to me…each time you leave a comment, say “hi” on my Facebook page, drop me an email, shop with me, or tell a friend about my blog or shoppe.  I notice and appreciate everything you do, and I “thank you” so much.  Thank you for your support and encouragement, letting me know that you like what I am creating, checking on me to see where I’ve been, and for showing such love to me and my sweet Tucker.  We are SMILING big at you and want you to know it means so much to us.  {Tucker was just sitting in my lap while I’m typing this, and he said to be sure to tell y’all how much he luvs all the sweet comments and “hugs” you send his way.}.  We want to help you have a Merry Christmas so we are going to host a fun giveaway here on the blog just for YOU!  This is going to be a short one; I have been out of town a good bit this month so this is going to be a fun and crazy giveaway…kinda like my shopping has been!! LOL  But, I am happy to report I have gotten alot done in a short amount of time so I think this giveaway is going to be fun this way.  Here’s the scoop:

Ann~Margaret’s Christmas Giveaway
There will be 3 Surprises:   2 ~ $25 Gift Certificates and the 3rd surprise will be a tall travel mug with one of my new mixed media designs in it {I will be debuting these designs in the New Year}. I take care of postage so you may spend the entire gift certificate toward the item/items you choose from my shoppe.

The giveaway is open from right now until Thursday night at 11:59pm CST…yes, tomorrow night (Dec 22nd).  I will announce the 3 winners on Friday morning so there is time for me to email the gift certificates to the winners if they would like to use them as a gift for someone for Christmas {it will be a pretty gift certificate that you may print from your email}.  My shoppe will reopen in January, and the gift certificates may be redeemed at that time.  Please note that I always fill orders and gift certificates in the order in which they are received, and my items do take 5-7 business days for creation.

All you need to do is leave a comment telling me what you would choose from my shoppe if you win a gift certificate…This must be done in order to enter the giveaway initially.  Then, you may leave additional comments if you Tweet about the giveaway, share it on Facebook, share it on your blog with a link to this blog post, or if you sign up for my newsletter {if you are already signed up for my newsletter you may also state this for that comment}.  You may sign up for my newsletter via that cute little tab over on the left here on the blog or on my shoppe page {bottom left corner}.  I will start my newsletters up again in 2012 so stay tuned for lots of fun stuff coming in those! 🙂

So, you have up to 5 times you may enter! 🙂  This is a short giveaway, but I am doing it this way so there will be time for me to email the gift certificates out just in case the winners would like to wrap it up for someone as a Christmas gift.  But, you may certainly keep it just for YOU and have fun shopping with me in 2012!!  You don’t have to share your surprise! 🙂

Now, pretty please ~ spread the word, tell your friends, and join in the fun!! I can’t wait to create something special for the winners!  I am so excited about 2012!! ~ I can’t wait to share some of the new things I am working on for my signature line…I promise they will make you SMILE!!

Have fun and good luck!!

Hugs, sweet friends!!

2011 Copyright Ann-Margaret’s/Ann-Margaret’s Visions
Please do not copy/use text, photos, or images (graphics) without permission.
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Ann~Margaret

Artist ~ Writer ~ Photographer