YUMMY SUPPER COOKBOOK GIVEAWAY WINNER & HERMANCE'S HIDDEN TREASURES PART I

Many thanks to all of you for entering my YummySupper Giveaway. I was delighted to read your lovely comments and to see that so many people from all over the world took part in it. Your participation really means a lot to me...

I am very happy to announce that the lucky winner is Regula Melo-Jocknevich of "Molly Mell". Congratulations, you just won a copy Erin Scott's cookbook, "Yummy Supper - 100 Fresh, Luscious & Honest Recipes From A {Gluten-free} Omnivore"!!!

NOVICA REVIEW & GIVEAWAY

Those of you who enjoy my blog and are acquainted with me know that I am an honest person with values, principles, ideals and an acute sense of integrity. This is why I take my role as a "influential" blogger seriously, refuse to bullshit my trusty followers and exclusively associate myself with brands I can relate to.

As a matter of fact, I regularly turn down offers as I'm very exclusive/picky in my selection. My desire is not to brainwash you with cheap adverts for useless knacks or tacky bric-a-brac. All I want to do is showcase items that have a real value to my eyes and which I can present to you without feeling like a complete sell-out or a vulgar whore running after freebies or a few easily earned coins...

Now that we have cleared this point, I wish to talk to you about NOVICA, a US-based company with whom I have previously collaborated twice (in 2011 and 2012) and whose business etiquette is fully compatible with my beliefs. 

I embrace their philosophy and truly adore their goods, hence when they contacted me for the third time and proposed to organize another giveaway, there was no way I was going to refuse the opportunity of making one of my readers a lucky winner and treating myself to one of their exquisite and irresistible objects.

What I really like about them is that they are different and fight to promote an alternative. NOVICA wants to provide us with access to unique, hard-to-find items at bargain prices that only the internet infrastructure can allow. Their aim is to give artisans around the world a global platform where they have the possibility to express their true artistic talents as well as spur their creativity and forge ties with the buyers.

In association with THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, this fairtrade and eco-friendly organization's purpose is to establish a revolutionary system through which small producers (the team comes from different cultures, countries and language sets - Andes, Bali & Java, Brazil, Central America, India, Mexico, Thailand and West Africa) can display their fine works to an international audience of prospective customers.

NOVICA does not charge artists any fees for listing their items on the website. Furthermore, they remain thouroughly independent (free to raise or lower their prices and remove their items from the website). By cutting out the long strings of middlemen, NOVICA allows both consumers and craftspersons to get the most out of each and every transaction. In addition, customers have the chance to help the artisans by making a interest-free loan (microfinance service) directly to them.

They sell a vast array of products ranging from home decor (furniture, tableware, sculptures, tapestries, etc...), fashion and jewelry (women's clothing, women's accessories, men's clothing, men's accessories, men's scarves, women's scarves, short dresses, Peruvian Chrysocolla jewelry, pearl drop earrings, etc...) to paintings (abstract, religious, landscapes, etc...) and also specialise in corporate as well as green gifts. Perfect if you want to spoil yourself or others!

As you can imagine it was very difficult for me to choose something from their catalogue as there are so many wonderful items to pick from. Anyway, being a big fan of South American art, a food enthusiast who loves handmade tableware and a photographer with a soft spot for pretty props, I decided to order a set of four delicately manufactured and enchantingly colorful Talavera soup bowls made by Pedro Alba from Mexico.
 
The merchandise was fastly shipped (I placed my order on a Tuesday evening and my parcel arrived on Friday) and everything came to destination in mint condition (extremely well-packed).

After a very long session of packet opening, I finally discovered the objects of my longings. For a few seconds, I stood there breathless and incredulously gawping at my flawless, refined, elegant and beautiful ceramic bowls (they look even better than on the photos). How on earth did I manage to get my hands on such gems, I asked myself in disbelief. I felt like a kid in a candy store and bubbles of happiness were dancing in my heart. A dream had come true...

GIVEAWAY
One 75$ gift certificate.

Rules and Entry Details:
- You must leave a COMMENT in the comment section of this post (one entry per person).
- Winner will be chosen using the "hat method".
- Winner will be notified via email (please leave your e-mail adress if you don't have a blog).
- This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE (please check NOVICA's International Shipping Table to know if they can ship to your country).
- The contest closes on the 4th of October 2013 at 12pm CEST.

Statement:
This giveaway is provided to you by NOVICA. Please note that I only promote things that stay true to my tastes, convictions and interests. The opinions expressed on Rosa's Yummy Yums are purely my own and based upon my personal experiences with NOVICA. I was given a gift certificate, however I was not paid to publish a positive review.

BLACK AND WHITE WEDNESDAY #27 - NOVICA GIVEAWAY WINNER

~ Ram Love ~

~ Protective ~

~ Vineyard On A Sunny January Day ~

All three pictures were submitted to "Black & White Wednesday", an event created by Susan at "The Well-Seasoned Cook".

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Many thanks to all of you for entering my second NOVICA giveaway. I was delighted to read your lovely comments and to see that so many people from all over the world took part in it. Your participation really means a lot to me.

The winner was democratically selected in a very old-fashioned way, using the hat method. All the names listed in the comment section of the post were placed in a container for a blind draw operated by myself...

We have a lucky winner, drumroll please!!!!!!!
Congratulations to ICEDGURL of "...Trek..." who wins the 50$ NOVICA gift certificate!

NOVICA GIVEAWAY - BLACK AND WHITE WEDNESDAY #26

If you know me and have read my blog for a while, you must have seen that I associate myself with businesses and brands I feel comfortable with and only accept to advertize for them if I can relate to what they are doing as well as fully appreciate the products they put out on the market. I regularly turn down offers as I'm very exclusive in my selection and my aim is not to brainwash you with cheap adverts for useless knacks or cheap bric-a-brac. I want to showcase items that have a real value to my eyes and which I can present to you without feeling dishonnest or like a vulgar whore running after a few easily earned coins. This is absolutely not my kind...

So, when NOVICA contacted me again and proposed to organize another giveaway, there was no way I was going to refuse the opportunity of making one of my readers a lucky winner and treating myself to a few of their exquisite and irresistible objects.

Their way of doing business is totally adequate with my beliefs. What I really like about them is that they are different and fight to promote an alternative. NOVICA wants to provide us with access to unique, hard-to-find items at bargain prices that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. Their aim is to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform where they can express their true artistic talents as well as spur their creativity and create a bridge between them and buyers. It is important to NOVICA that we know about who we are buying from in order for us to feel an attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In association with THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, this fairtrade and eco-friendly organization's purpose is to create a revolutionary system through which the artists and artisans (the team comes from different cultures, countries and language sets - Andes, Bali & Java, Brazil, Central America, India, Mexico, Thailand and West Africa) can display their fine works to an international audience of prospective customers.

 
NOVICA does not charge artists any fees for listing their items on the website. Furthermore, they remain fully independent (free to raise or lower their prices and remove their items from the website). By cutting out the long strings of middlemen, NOVICA allows both consumers and artisans to get the most out of each and every transaction. Besides, they also give the customer the chance to help the artists by making a free of interest loan (microfinance service) directly to craftspersons.

They sell a vast array of products ranging from home decor (furniture, tableware, tapestries, etc...), jewelry & apparels (earrings, bracelets, necklaces, women's accessories, men's accessories, cufflinks, men's scarves, women's scarves, walking sticks, etc...) to paintings (abstract, religious, landscapes, etc...) and also specialise in corporate as well as green gifts.

Lately they have launched a new division giving consultants* the opportunity to showcase beautiful gifts and jewelry through home parties in an entertaining way, while supporting the people who create them. In case you would be tempted to host an event (Novica Live), then I recommend you to visit their Home Party Opportunities page or if home based selling interests you, then please view their Home Party Consultant page.

As you can imagine it was very difficult for me to choose from their catalogue as there are so many wonderful items on offer. Anyway, being a foodie and loving handmade tableware I decided to order another batch of bowls as the first one had given me full satisfaction.

I've always been a big fan of Southest Asian art, so it was all naturally that I ordered two pairs of delicately manufactured ceramic bowls made by Putu Oka Mahendra from Bali: "Lithe Gecko" and "Frangipani Flowers".

I placed my order on a Monday afternoon and both my items arrived at the same time, on Friday of the same week. What a fast shipment considering the fact that the merchandise came directly from the artists' place in Indonesia! Everything was well-packed and came to destination in perfect condition.

When I discovered my items I was totally blown away by their sheer perfection, refinement, elegance and beauty. In front of me were bowls that were extremely splendid and gorgeously executed. They are even nicer than on the photo (and the photos were good)! No need to say that I am incredibly pleased with my gifts. What a delight for the eyes and senses. The perfect addition to my table!

*  The starter kits are only $199 and have over $400 worth of samples and $150 in business materials. They have a lot of promotions going on for our early consultants, including anyone that becomes a Director this year will go to Bali next year.

GIVEAWAY

1x 50$ gift certificate.

Rules and Entry Details:
- You must leave a COMMENT in the comment section of this post (one entry per person).
- Winner will be chosen using the "hat method".
- Winner will be notified via email (please leave your e-mail adress if you don't have a blog).
- This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE (please check NOVICA's International Shipping Table to know if they can ship to your country).
- The contest closes on Wednesday, January 25th, 2012 at Midnight, 12:00am CET.

Statement:
This giveaway is provided to you by NOVICA. Please note that I only promote things that stay true to my tastes, convictions and interests. The opinions expressed on Rosa's Yummy Yums are purely my own and based upon my personal experiences with NOVICA. I was given a gift certificate, however I was not paid to publish a positive review.
Thank you NOVICA for sharing your wonderful tableware with us!

All three black and white pictures were submitted to "Black & White Wednesday", an event created by Susan at "The Well-Seasoned Cook".

GIVEAWAY & NOVICA TABBLEWARE REVIEW

I am not the kind of person who likes advertising for just any product in oreder to make money or having a blog that looks more like the pages of a newspaper than that of an independent site. I enjoy my freedom and refuse to have an internet page that ressembles a catalog and is polluted by senseless ads...

It is for that reason that I generally decline advertisement offers. If one proposition sounds interesting and the philosophy of the firm in question fits my way of thinking and principles, then I might take it in consideration and accept it. I need to stay 100% behind what I'm promoting as well as I feel obligated to be honest with my readers, otherwise I would feel like a fake and a liar.

Therefore when I was contacted by NOVICA I knew that it was something for me as their way of doing business is totally adequate with my believes and respects them. What I really like about them is that they are different and fight to promote an alternative. NOVICA wants to provide us with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow. Their aim is to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity as well as to create a bridge between us and the many talented artisans across the globe. It is important to them that we know about who we are buying from, to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.

In association with THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC, this fairtrade and eco-friendly organization's purpose is to create a revolutionary system through which the artists and artisans of the world (the global team comes from different cultures, countries and language sets - Andes, Bali & Java, Brazil, Central America, India, Mexico, Thailand and West Africa) can display their fine works to a global audience of prospective customers.

NOVICA does not charge artists any fees for listing their items on the website. Furthermore, artists remain fully independent (they are free to raise their prices, lower their prices, or remove their items from their website). By cutting out the long strings of middlemen, NOVICA allows both consumers and artisans to get the most out of each and every transaction. Besides, they also give the customer the chance to help the artists by making a free of interest loan (microfinance service) directly to craftspersons.

They offer a vast array of products ranging from home decor (furniture, tableware, tapestries, etc...), jewelry & apparels (earrings, bracelets, necklaces, etc...) to paintings (abstract, religious, landscapes, etc...) and also specialise in corporate as well as green gifts. As you can imagine it was very difficult for me to choose from their catalog as there are so many exquisite objects on offer. Anyway, being a foodie and loving hadmade tabbleware I decided to order some bowls.

I've always been a big fan of Southest Asian art and lately I've been dreaming of finding Mexican dishes, so it was all naturally that I ordered a "Ceramic Salsa Bowl" made by Javier Servin from the state of Guanajuato in Mexico and a pair of "Frangipani Leaves" bowls made by Putu Oka Mahendra from Bali in Indonesia.

I placed my order last Monday and both my items arrived at the same time, on Friday (same week). What a fast shipment considering the fact that the merchandise came directly from the artists' place! Everything was well-packed and came to destination in perfect condition.

When I discovered my items I was totally blown away by their sheer perfection, refinement, elegance and beauty. In front of me were three exceptional items that were extremely splendid and gorgeously executed. They were even nicer than on the photo (and the photos were good)! I was so pleased with my gifts. What a delight for the eyes and senses!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

GIVEAWAY

1x 100$ gift certificate

Rules and Entry Details:
- You must leave a COMMENT in the comment section of this post (one entry per person).
- Winner will be chosen using the "hat method".
- Winner will be notified via the contact email provided on the comment contact form (please leave your e-mail adress if you don't have a blog).
- This giveaway is open WORLDWIDE (please check their International Shipping Table to know if they can ship to your country).
- The contest closes on Sunday, February 13th, 2011 at Midnight, 12:00am CET.

Statement:
This giveaway is provided to you by NOVICA. Please note that I only promote things that stay true to my tastes, convictions and interests. The opinions expressed on Rosa's Yummy Yums are purely my own and based upon my personal experiences with NOVICA. I was given a gift certificate, however I was not paid to publish a positive review.
Thank you NOVICA for sharing your wonderful tabbleware with us!