Hey sugarplums!

There’s a little something going on over at Minted (you know… the awesome stationary company) that I wanted to tell you about!

Minted is having a rad (and suuuuper easy to enter) photo contest!

It’s all about JOY!  Not me… that would be weird.. but JOY the emotion… big bursting smiles, laughter, bright eyes, happy times… you get the idea.

See, Minted is looking waaaay into the future and already planning for the holidays.  Weird.  I know.  But this photo contest has some pretty great prizes that will come in handy around the holidays: a super profesh photo session and dollars towards custom holiday stationary!

People have got all sorts of JOY surrounding them.  Just looking through the entries is a heartwarmer.

Want to see? It’ll make you smile… unless you’re a robot.

Trampoline in the brush JOY.

Little baby pumpkinbear JOY.

OMG, I just got a diamond JOY.

We totally just had a fancy wedding JOY.

Sleeping with kittens JOY.

Shirtless brother JOY.

I suggest you share your own joy with Minted.

It’s super easy.

Here’s how you enter and what you might win.

I’m a guest judge.  Probably because my name is Joy.  That can’t just be a coincidence.

I have really great news friends!  

Number One: I had chicken and waffles for dinner last night.  Hot dang!  Roscoe’s House of Chicken and Waffles… you were great news for my belly.

Number Two:  Remember a few days ago when I was telling you how lovely the people at Minted.com are?  Turns out… I was totally spot on!  I love when that happens.  I was right about their intrinsic awesomeness, which leads right into my third bit of great news…

Number Three:  Minted.com is offering every single one  of you a 15% discount on any holiday card order you place between now and Wednesday November 11th. Coupon code is: JOYTHEBAKER  Whaaaat!?  Yea.  Awesome.  So. Super. Sweet.  

Now here’s the deal.  I totally think you should hop on over to Minted.com and make up some super cute holiday cards.  Make sure you order enough so that you can send me on.  Seriously.  I want your smiling face in my mailbox.  It’ll make my insides happy.  Order them.  Email me.  I’ll send you my address.  I want a card.  If you think I’m kidding, think again.  

Aaaaand!  One last and very exciting bit of great news for one lucky reader…

Number Four (on the list of really great news):  Melissa Anizor.  You have some seriously lucky birthday mojo because Random.org chose shining number 657.  That’s you!  You win holiday cards!  Also… Happy freakin’ Birthday!

Here we are, staring November right in the eye.  Am I the only one giving November dirty looks?  I mean seriously November… how did you sneak up on me like this?  Did you just trample over September and October to rub your impending holiday spirit in my face?

I’m not sure I’m ready to dive into the season… but you know what?  I’ve gone and pushed myself into that pool.  Ok… not really.  I had some help.  Minted.com gave me a shove… a friendly shove.. but still a shove.

See, Minted.com wanted to share something with you.  They also wanted to me look super organized in my holiday spiriting.  Thanks for that Minted. Well played.  

So!  Here’s the situation.  Minted.com makes awesome, cute, rad ,modern, hip, tasteful, bodacious, colorful and fun holiday cards.  Remember the long photo holiday cards your Mom would send out in 1983?  They were decorated with some sort of pixelated wreath and an unflattering picture of you and your sister  pretending to decorate a Christmas tree?  Yea… that doesn’t have to happen anymore.  Thank you Minted.com.  Thank you.  

Now… how cute is this?  You know, for when you want to show off how darling and precious your new baby is.  Awesome.  Pinch.  Cheeks.  Want.

These are also pretty rad.  Yes… everyone seems to have babies to show off.  Don’t hate.  

And.  Yes.  Minted.com has totally raised the bar on holiday cards.  How about holiday books, people!?  Holiday books!  I made a Holiday MiniBook Card and packed it full of photos, recipes and a charming, if not slightly threatening holiday message for my friends and family.

I love these books.  I love the people… actual people at Minted.com who organized the layout and gave me proofs of my little books to review before they were printed.  Actual people.  

I love that I have one set of Holiday MiniBook Cards to give to one reader.  Imagine… your holiday cards printed and paid for!  It’s a dream, I tell you.  

To win a set of 25 Holiday MiniBooks custom designed by you and Minted… plus standard shipping, just leave a comment on this post before Wedensday 9pm PST.  

Thanks Minted.com.  For reals.