oh! ho! ho! the SIXTH.

Let’s get right into it shall we? We’re into the sixth week of thecontestthatneverendsyesitgoesonandonmyfriend and there’s just no need for an introduction!

One of my favorite Christmasy traditions is about ten years in the making. My 5 best friends (my sisterchicks) and I have a Christmas party. We go to someone’s house, bring some food and exchange presents. And maybe throw in a game or two. We always have a food theme–fondue, chili, casseroles, etc. (This year is tapas!) And our gifts are always a themed gift basket. I absolutely adore gift baskets–or themed gifts. (I usually try to theme my gifts for my whole family. One year we did all books–audio books, travel books, kids books! This year I wanted to do an etsy Christmas. Les wasn’t too pshyched about that one.)

Anywhoo. Where was I ?

Oh yeah, our sisterchickck gift baskets. (I should say “basket” because really, they get so big, they just explode into a giant gift! We graduated from actually sticking them in a basket long ago!) This is so fun—we literally talk about these all year. Here are a few of my faves:

• Movie Theme: I did Psycho. I included the movie, a towel, some cute shower curtain hooks and a very large knife–all nestled inside a hotel’s ice bucket!
• Color Theme: I chose pink. Then titled it, “Real Girls Love Pink.” I gave a pink candle, a pink purse, pink chocolate–all pink girly stuff!
• Rooms of the House: I did the kitchen—a big salad bowl with matching tongs, a salad dressing mix carafe and some other stuff that I can’t remember. All I know is I still wish I had that bowl for myself!

Well, our sisterchick party is THIS WEEKEND at MY HOUSE! Oh my goodness, I have so much to do. I really want to tell you about my gift–but well, my chickies read this blog. Sorry. This year, we drew names and we’re doing a gift basket specifically for that person! I can’t wait! I’ve been thinking about mine for months!

So, I want to share in the sisterchick love by giving away a themed gift basket! Now, settle in, because gift baskets need some ‘splaining!

The title of my basket? (Yes, it has a title.)

CHOCOLATE BEACH.

Are you so excited? I am!

Here we go…gift #1:

A few weeks ago, a real live author, Julie Carobini contacted me about giving away a book for oh! ho! ho! (I started reading her blog because she’s a first time author and I’d love to be her! Well, apparently she has read my blog, too! *blush*) Of course I was ecstatic and I had been wanting to do a themed-gift prize but couldn’t think of a good one. So, Julie’s book is our theme cornerstone!

I read this book a few months ago and I loved it. How could you NOT when the title is CHOCOLATE BEACH? It’s a fun chick/mom-lit book about a mama who…well, here’s the publisher’s review:

Bri Stone has it all: the man of her dreams and their surf-ridin’ teenage son, a chocolate-loving best pal, an adorable beach bungalow, and a kicky job as a Southern California tour bus host. She also has a few things she didn’t ask for: a know-it-all friend, a snobby mother-in-law, and a Fabio-meets-Dilbert boss. All three of them seem eager to share their strong opinions and suspicions about Bri’s relationship with her husband, Douglas. When Bri’s rose-colored glasses crack after she finds evidence that Douglas has grown tired of her carefree ways, she resolves to win him back. Can Bri reinvent herself–and recapture his heart?

Fun, right? It was! And it should be because Julie’s fun. (Seriously, who stalks her own books? and her favorite authors? Or takes her kids to see American Idol?) Plus, the characters are forever eating chocolate. Next time, I hope she includes the recipes! (Oh, Julie’s 2nd book is called Truffles by the Sea. YUM. It’s out in February!)

Now onto gift #2…with a title like CHOCOLATE BEACH, you just must have chocolate! So, I went to my favorite chocolatey store to pick up some chocolate for you! And I came home with Harry & David‘s Moose Munch Confection.

If you haven’t had Moose Munch, yet, well, you just haven’t lived. It’s the yummiest caramel popcorn, then a few of those yummy caramel popcorn pieces dipped in chocolate along with cashews and almonds. There’s all kinds of versions–dark chocolate, peppermint and my favorite, dark chocolate cherry. Could I say yummy a few more times?

Gift #3. Here she is folks, the wildly popular Vera Bradley! I’ve got the cutest little book cover in the peacock fabric. This thing would be perfect for your favorite paperback, a journal, a calendar or even a photo album. And considering this chocolatey-beachy theme, that’s what I’ll do, use it as a photo album. (Maybe I could put some cruise pictures in there?)

Gift #4. What else would you need on the BEACH while eating CHOCOLATE and reading your new favorite book? How about a lovely beach-type-bag?!

Do you love this? That pattern just makes me happy! My friend (yes, I’ve actually met her before!) Jen from Crafty Daisies makes the most fun stuff and has it all for sale (hint, hint) in her etsy shop! So, I’m excited to make this bag the official “basket” in our gift-basket!

OK, I know that was long. When I’m tired, I get wordy. (What am I saying? I’m always wordy!) So, in a nutshell:

YOU COULD WIN A BUNCH OF STUFF.

All you have to do is write a post about a themed gift—-either a fun giftbasket someone gave you or the best themed gift you ever gave, or maybe one you’d give if you were a millionaire. I don’t really care, the rules are extremely loose on this one. But the fun part is my sisterchicks and I will be judging them at our party on Saturday, the 15th. (I guess we’ll choose the most creative, or just which one we like best. I’m pretty sure, they’d all be up for some comment bribery, too.) We’ll live blog the winner and then after we all sign the card, your Chocolate Beach present will be in the mail! (I haven’t really told them all we’re doing this. But it is at my house, so I guess I get to choose the entertainment!)

Just write your gift-basket-themed-present post on your blog, sign the Mr. Linky below with the link to that post (not your whole blog). Make sure you link back to me, so everyone can share in the gift-baskety-linky goodness!

And thanks again to Julie Carobini for donating her book Chocolate Beach and for inspiring this fun prize! Make sure you check out buy her books and visit her blog!