Birthday giveaway from Knock Knock: A Personal Library Kit and bookmark pad

Today is my birthday, and I am now 26 years old. I’m not going to pretend like my breath didn’t catch a little writing that, even though most of my friends — many old enough to be my parents — sneer and scoff at my angst over getting “older.” “Oh, to be 26 again!” they cry.

But I’m the one crying.

Okay, okay — I’m not. I’m thankful to be here and writing and growing and changing, even if that means changing the digit at the end of my age. I’ve always harbored these delusions that I’d be a young, accomplished and genius author — and as I’m tipping toward 30 now, I guess I’d better get on that.

Before I scurry away to write the next Great American Novel, friends, I have an exciting gift for you: an opportunity to win two adorable products from Knock Knock! I recently discovered the site, which boasts hip and unconventional stationery products and fun gift ideas. Not to sound all saleswoman on y’all, but this stuff is cute. I have the Paper Tweet pad and have been using it to play pranks on my coworkers, so . . . you know. I’ll share the details of that with you soon.

In honor of my 26th birthday, Knock Knock has been kind enough to supply a Personal Library Kit (pictured at top) and Bookmark Pad (right) for one lucky entrant in the U.S.! Knock Knock has all sorts of adorable book-related products with a fun and funky flair, and I love their tongue-in-cheek sense of humor.

The bookmarks are crazy fun, and the library kit is a great way to make sure those novels you lend actually make it back into your hot little hands . . . so do you want them? To enter the giveaway, just leave a comment on this post with a way to reach you. For extra entries, you can:

1. Visit Knock Knock and tell me what your favorite product is.
2. Tweet, Facebook or blog about this contest and let me know where you shared it.

No need to enter them as separate comments, unless that’s easier for you. Maximum number of entries per U.S. entrant: three.

Giveaway will run between Monday, July 18 and 12 p.m. EST on Friday, July 22, and one winner will be randomly selected by Random.org. I’ll email him/her promptly for an address, and then you can wait patiently for your prize to arrive!

EDIT ON JULY 22: Congrats to sara, our winner! I’m emailing you now.

Gift card quandry

On my birthday, I couldn’t have been more thrilled to get an e-mail from the lovely Kelly at The Novel Bookworm — I’d won the $25 Amazon gift card in her blogoversary giveaway!

if_i_stayI was ecstatic, of course — winning anything is always a huge mood booster. After I came down off that high, though, I was left with a serious dilemma… actually choosing what to get.

I know, I know — poor Meg. She has to decide how to spend someone else’s money. But let me tell you, it was a genuine quandry! I had a myriad of things in my cart before I finally settled on the two books I ultimately purchased: Gayle Forman’s If I Stay and Sophie Kinsella’s Twenties Girl. I was even polling my coworkers and family members to see what I should splurge on!

twenties_girlThere’s something about being given a gift card that makes me evaluate every little thing I’m buying with it, wondering if it’s the “right item” to purchase. I chose Twenties Girl since it’s new and a hardcover, and I don’t usually splurge on hardback books. Since I was lucky enough to win Kelly’s prize, I figured I should treat myself to something I wouldn’t typically buy straightaway!

And If I Stay? I’ve seen so many glowing reviews of this one, and I know it’s being made into a film. I love reading books in preparation for seeing the movies — even if the movies aren’t being released for a while! — and definitely want to see what all the fuss is about.  The story sounds gorgeous.

Thank you again, Kelly!