Sorry for the delay in announcing the winner of the Guess the birth date contest – things have not been smooth as I wanted it to be. But, I finally went through all the entries and found out that 5 people have guessed October 28, 2011!

They are, in order of comment posting:

1. Lucie Cristler
2. Yvette
3. Bing
4. tetski
5. Ellen Alcarez

I have assigned each a number with earliest commenter as #1 and so on and used random.org to generate one lucky number.

Here is the winner!

Congratulations to tetski, from Japan! Hope you enjoy your prize and thank you everyone for playing!

If you’re from the UAE, not too caught up with the long weekend and thus reading my blog at this time, good for you. Here’s a chance to win a Canon Powershot 10 Mega Pixel camera from a local blog called Lifealicious! The blog turned 2 years old today and to celebrate that, Jacky’s Electronics UAE has sponsored a giveaway prize!

Head on to the blog now to cast in your entries. The contest link is here. The contest will close real soon on Friday, 3rd December at midnight so hurry. Good luck!

Contest is open to UAE residents only.

Today is Tuesday. I know. As far as my blog schedule is concerned, I post a contest on Tuesday, until of late when I haven’t/can’t. But I will soon and the ones on the lineup are all beautiful. Please bear with me.

Speaking of contests, I have joined a contest sponsored by Kodak Middle East and the deadline is tomorrow. Basically I submitted a photo entry that screams “KODAK MOMENT”. The photo I submitted is one of my favorites – one of those unguarded moments caught on camera.

~ My husband’s younger brother and his bride on their wedding day in Japan ~

Don’t you think this lovely Kodak moment deserve to win? I do! But it’s only possible with a little help from all my lovely blog readers. Yeah, YOU!

Here’s how to vote for my entry. It’s easy, as long as you have a Facebook account. There will be no giving away of your personal information or any annoying Facebook application that begs access to your profile. Are you ready?

1. Go to http://facebook.com/kodakme and click the “Like” button.

Note: You may have to login to your Facebook account if you’re not currently logged in.

2. Go to the Photos tab and below, you can find many photo entries.

3. Find my photo entry (that above picture) and LEAVE A COMMENT. Any comment will do!

Note: One entry per person, they say though. In case you’re lost, here the direct link of the photo.

Don’t forget, DEADLINE IS TOMORROW!

Thank you very much for your votes! If you need  the same kind of favor from me, just let me know.

Final Note: Of course you can leave a comment on other photos as well, if they strike your fancy, just don’t forget to leave a comment on mine too.

Uhm, friends? Can I ask for a little help? It’s nothing about money (sigh of relief) or about doing anything biggie for me…you only need to have a Facebook account and most importantly, mercy. For me. Okay?

Here goes, I need your (votes) Facebook Likes for the photo I entered into a room makeover competition. Not a biggie, right?

If you’ve been reading my blog for at least a year or been digging through my archives, you’ll know that I used to live in an apartment that’s only a little bit bigger than Paris Hilton’s dog’s house. Then we transfered last February to a much bigger space (with much bigger kitchen) leaving me running here and there as to what to fill it. Most of our stuff are pre-loved (second hand) which we got (for cheap) from families leaving Dubai. Seeing more and more people leaving this transient place only after 1 or 2 years made us decide we’ll start with second hand stuffs, at least until we’re settled and can afford new and more beautiful ones. We didn’t know how many years we’ll stay anyway.

Well hello, almost 4 years in Dubai and our room still lacked glam.

Our furnitures, coming from different sources have different colors: beech, camel brown, dark brown and black. I know they clash and color analysts and interior designers would cry if they see it.

And Lordy, our walls!! Oh our walls, they are barren and empty because I don’t know what to put in it – don’t want to add more to the unbalanced/uncoordinated atmosphere. Bugger, zero interior designing skills!

So now we have the space but definitely not the taste and more importantly, not the RESOURCES! Irony Home Dubai offers a 30,000 AED (US$8,000) of room makeover package to the room most deserving to have a makeover!

Here’s my entry (our living room):

Here are the fine print (a.k.a. quickie painless rules):

• Visit the sponsor Irony Home Dubai Fan page and click “Like” to be their friend
• On their Photos -> Photos by Others, click “Like” on my entry (the photo that looks exactly like I posted here) so I’ll be one vote closer to winning!

Just make sure you click Like on the Photo above, not the others, ok?

On September 30, 2010, 3 rooms with the highest number of likes will be selected but only 1 room will be selected for the makeover. Will you help me win?

I take that as a yes?

Thanks so much!!

THIS should have been my Wordless Wednesday post for yesterday.

I always knew there’s some sort of mystical power in those two hands. I mean, don’t you see it? I kept staring at it since their contest promotion and you know what? Those two hands spoke to me, in a warp-y kind of way.

Ok, enough of crap talk.

It was announced on Twitter that I won a new HP Mini 210 Netbook thanks to the lovely people at HP Middle East!
 

I suggest you all  be on Twitter now because Twitter totally HAS a purpose. Don’t argue. And don’t forget to follow @HPandMe!

You all know how I enter (almost, just almost) every contest but this one? I wasn’t serious with this one and I left my entry at the last minute. HP asked people to Retweet their contest on Twitter (which I did) and tag their name on a promotion photo in Facebook on Monday. And I did while saying “what the heck lalala, tag!”, just before I switched my PC off after work at 6:30 pm.

Not. My. Legs.

I had no internet connection last Tuesday and Facebook is now blocked at work so Monday was my only chance of getting my entry in! And that entry won me a netbook on Wednesday!!

As of now, I don’t know if I’ll be getting the HP 210 Vivienne Tam edition or the plain black netbook but either way, I would love to have those legs, I mean netbook! (I’m so distracted)

When I saw that tweet, I only wanted to do three things: scream, jump and dance. And possibly, scream some more. All of which I wasn’t able to do because I was at work. You all know how hard that is? We’re talking like stopping a gush of dam water!

I can only squirm in my seat and scream inside. Heh. Have to tell you, muffled screams are not healthy and they *may* cause involuntary farting.

Just a quick post before the contest deadline.

I am entering to win a new blog design by Doodlebug Designs. I found this wonderful blog theme designer at Maggie’s Mind, who has a beautiful blog made by Doodlebug Designs. Maggie’s even nominated for the 2008 Okie Blog Awards for best looking blog!

Contest ends on the 24th so all you new blog design seekers out there, check it out! I seldom win in contest but I definitely would want to win this.

Remember my desperation to win an iPod over the radio and my frustration of not winning it? News flash: I did not stop attempting. Friends told me to buy, quit listening to the radio endlessly and just tip my wallet over for an iPod. I wanted it badly so why the charade?

So I promised myself this was my last attempt and did not even bother to listen to the draw that night. The next day, someone called me and told me I won the iPod from the previous night’s draw!! Holly molly, I almost screamed! Well, I did. A little. Then I was breathless. Who knew!!??

I claimed my prize today – an iPod….shuffle (2GB)…but I have no complaints! It’s free and I even got $100 worth of gift vouchers to Virgin Megastore! Oooh la la!

I was listening to the radio in my cellphone this morning because that’s what paid employees do at work har, har, har I had not much to do and no one really makes it an issue. I was using earphones of course, carefully hidden, thanks to my long hair.

It’s summer time in the UAE, I mean, most of the year it’s summer here but it’s the peak of summer and radio stations have perked up their programs and give listeners chances to win lots of lovely items, from gift vouchers to store and restaurants to iPods to a pair of tickets to the super jumbo jet Airbus 380 maiden flight from Dubai to New York!

The DJ said he’ll play a song and that’s the cue to call their number to get your name to the draw for an iPod. I knew the song, duh, I listen to the radio even when I sleep so I was able to dial as soon as the first tune was played. For the first time, my call went through, thanks to speed dialing. I can’t believe it, I am in the draw tonight for an iPod!

I know the chance is slim and as always, I sounded a little silly on the radio, but still, wish me luck!

** This contest has ended. **

I felt left out during Fall Y’All bloggy giveaway carnival last year but guess what? I will not be feeling like a castaway this time! For some reason, I am able to access typepad blogs now and therefore, be a part of this year’s first Bloggy Giveaways carnival at Shannon’s Rocks in My Dryer.

So since I am caught by surprise with this sudden change of luck, I didn’t have time to think about or shop for a ‘creative’ giveaway so it will be:

PRIZE: $20 gift certificate to Amazon (I’ll give you the liberty to shop for your favorite book)

HOW TO WIN: Just comment mentioning your current/ultimate favorite book here.

DRAW: A winner will be chosen at random on February 3.

This giveaway is open to anyone, anywhere and you don’t even need a blog to join. Goodluck!

This should be fun! I’ll see if I can come up with another giveaway (something unique) on my way home today.

Today is the official one year anniversary since the birth of this little blog. Sandier Pastures, first inspired by my relocation to Dubai and my want to share our desert living  experience with the world, is one year and 475 posts old!

~ don’t clink your glasses too loud, alcohol is prohibited in public places! ~

It has been a great year. Writing about life in Dubai has brought me to discover more about this diverse (sometimes strange) place, it’s history and culture. At first, I thought I would tire of it and give up but I haven’t  and I’m surprised it actually made me think of my surroundings and made me strive to experience something new every week.

So what’s in store for the bloggiversary party? In case you forgot, there was a little contest I posted three weeks ago which got an overwhelming response! Thanks to all those who helped spread the word.

Now, without much further ado, I present you the winner of a blog makeover I wished was for me:

UPDATE: I was informed that Susan already won the SAME prize at a different blog so I get to chose another contestant. She is twice lucky!

 Congratulations to Susan of Dirt Makes Fat Nathalie of Kennedy & Friends Co.

Nathalie wins a Gold Package Blog Makeover (valued at $100) courtesy of RS Designs.

Thanks to everyone who participated, posted shout outs and greetings. All your comments and visits had become an inspiration for me to post every single day. Here’s to another year of blogging!