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GIVEAWAY: Festival Fun Pack!

Here in southern Louisiana, with fall comes my favorite time of year...FESTIVAL SEASON!
If you're from Southern Louisiana as well, I know you're busy looking at your calendar trying to jam-pack your weekends with every little bit of festival you can. (Who managed to get the most out of Festival Acadiens & the Gumbo Cookoff this weekend?)
And as for the rest of y'all, I can tell from the blogs that you guys are hitting up county fairs, pumpkin patches, and fall festivities while trying to "laissez le bon temps rouler!"
All this fall-lovin' has got me thinking that we need to be prepared for the fun fall/festival times ahead...and what better time to introduce you guys to my favorite embroidery company, Fine Thread Art!


The fabulous folks at Fine Thread Art are joining up with me to give-away:

Canvas Tote Bag with an appliqued fleur de lis and "Laissez les bon temps roulez" embroidered around it

Insulated Travel Mug with a blue and red crawfish patterned insert which can be embroidered with a name, initials, or phrase (You can match me!)

Waffle-Weave Bar Towel with a margarita fleur de lis embroidered on it.

Mix you up a nice magarita, put it in your "geaux-cup", grab your tote, and head on down to the festival!





Soooo...How do you win??



Each entry needs to be on a separate comment. If you put everything on one comment, it will be counted as 1 entry.

1. One entry just for telling me you're a follower. You know how much we like followers here at Dixie-Lust

2. One entry for being a fan of Fine Thread Art on Facebook - let me know you've become one!

3. One entry for posting a link to this giveaway some where else...(Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, Twitter) Just post the link so I can check it out...
4. One entry for telling us your favorite thing about fall festivals!

Winner will be announced on 10.18.10!!

King Cake Giveaway Winners

Oh my gosh!

I think this has been my favorite of giveaway answers!

Y'all were so creative in answering the giveaway question.

This week's winners are:

Phil

&

KS

Send me your addresses kiddos!

Ps. I want photos of you & your king cake babies!

Heyyyy Baby! King Cake Giveaway #3 - 2 Winners!

***TWO WINNERS WILL BE CHOSEN***

As I was searching for the internet for a formal explanation of King Cakes, I came to the realization that sometimes the all-knowing internet... just doesn't know.

As I was searching for an articulate bit on the symbolism of the Baby Jesus that gets hidden in each cake, I've read some people saying if you get the baby you'll get "knocked up" (yes...thats the terminology used) or some even saying that the baby is bad luck and to avoid it!

Um. Hi. We're the South.

For the most part, we're a friendly happy people who wish you well.

Trust me! You WANT to get the baby in your slice!

Finding a little plastic baby in your slice of cake grants you the title of King/Queen of the party!

((But with great power comes great responsibility! Get the baby and it's your job to bring the king cake to the next party!))

As you already know, I absolutely love sharing bits of my upbringing and culture with others. So when my Canadian friend Jess came down last year for Mardi Gras - I had a list of things that she hadddd to experience.

First up? King Cake.

And in order to let her get the full experience, I not so stealthily hid Baby Jesus in her slice. And then I told her about it. If you're not on the lookout for him, Jesus can be a bit of a choking hazard.

Insanity ensued as we exchanged not so politically correct jabs at each other's religions - "You do realize you're licking icing and sprinkles of your Lord and Savior, right?"

And in a hazy moment of truce and genius, we decided to make King Cake Baby our third wheel for the weekend....

Check him out.

The Before Shot

"OH JESS! You got the baby!"

Cleaning the baby up

So what exactly do I do with him now?

King Cake Baby Jesus (KCBJ) surfing on the North Shore.

Audience with his people from his papal balcony

Looking for tigers in the jungles of Costa Rica

Squashing grapes in the wine region of China

Camping Trip to Sweet Tea Reserve

Tasting the sensation...

Exhausting Photo Shoots at the Wal-Mart Picture Studio

Blowing up the club with his boy, Hot Boy Ronald

Writing a little poetry at the local Art Bar

He's with the band...

Even (unknown) rockstars want to get a photo with him...

"Jess... Why is KCBJ always picking on me?!?"

Here's the Details:

• A post will go up each Thursday about King Cakes.
• Leave a comment on the King Cake Post telling me you're a follower for one entry.
• Leave another comment answering that posts question for a second entry.
• Post about the giveaway on any social media outlet, and leave a comment with the link to it for a third entry.
• Each entry must be left in a separate comment, or it will all be counted as one entry!
• No one is exempt from the contest! Anyone and everyone is encouraged to enter!
• If you don't win one week, come back and enter the next week!
• That weeks entry deadline is the Tuesday following the post at noon CST.
• I will draw the 2 winners at random and announce it at 1pm CST on Tuesday.
• That weeks winners will have until midnight on Tuesday to send me their mailing address.
• King Cakes will be shipped out on Wednesday and the whole thing will begin again the next day.

**I feel silly for posting this, but it must be said. I have nothing to do with the making of the king cakes, therefore, please know that Dixie Lust is not responsible for any food allergies or reactions that may occur**

This week's Q: If you got the baby in your slice of king cake, what would you do with it? Carry him around for good luck? Tape him to your computer monitor? Send him in a care package? Paint him on a little Saints Uniform??

Black and Gold... SUPER BOWL!!

THIS IS OUR HOUSE

OH. MY. GOD.

I am truly besides myself.

Really. I can't even think straight right now.

This is our destiny.

After 43 years, our boys will be in Super Bowl XLIV.

It's a beautiful day.

ps. I know that I haven't posted the King Cake Giveaway for last Thursday. My (real life) job was insanely busy and required all my energy. So to make up for it, I will put up the King Cake post on Thursday and draw 2 winners on Tuesday.

King Cake Winner: Round 2

This weeks winner of a King Cake from Meche's is:

Comment #4

otherwise known as

LYLA, my coworker and adventure co-pilot.

Thats right, y'all. No one's exempt from this one - cause really... EVERYONE deserves a little King Cake in their life.

So if you didn't get a chance to enter, or if you haven't won yet, come back on Thursday for your chance to win a King Cake from Meche's Bakery.

"Sum" More King Cake Madness

my ollie getting ready for some mardi gras fun.

***

It's that time again, folks! Yes Mammer Jammers it is. It's me, Summer doing a "pass by" to help my sista out. She is busy at the moment but will return soon!

It's King Cake time.

(via)

Y'all ready?

The Deets:

~ A post will go up each Thursday about King Cakes.
~ Leave a comment on the King Cake Post telling me you're a follower for one entry.
~ Leave another comment answering that posts question for a second entry.
~ Post about the giveaway on any social media outlet, and leave a comment with the link to it for a third entry.
~ Each entry must be left in a separate comment, or it will all be counted as one entry!
~ No one is exempt from the contest! Anyone and everyone is encouraged to enter!
~ If you don't win one week, come back and enter the next week!
~ That weeks entry deadline is the Tuesday following the post at noon CST.
~ I will draw the winner at random and announce it at 1pm CST on Tuesday.
~ That weeks winner will have until midnight on Tuesday to send me their mailing address.
~ King Cakes will be shipped out on Wednesday and the whole thing will begin again the next day.

This week's Q: King Cakes have lots of yummy fillings. What filling(s) would you choose?

man with big mardi gras balls, i mean beads.

First King Cake Winner Announced

The very first winner of my multi-week King Cake Giveway is....

Breanna from A Southern Girl With Curls!

Breanna - Be sure to send me your shipping address before tonight!

Thanks to everyone who entered, and remember if you didn't win this week, round 2 of King Cake Posts and another chance to win will be coming on Thursday!

Yum Yum... Gimme Sum! King Cake Giveaway

It's time to face the facts. My little Dixie Lust can't do it all. I can detail carnival traditions that I've taken part of since I was a toddler. I can take you along on this year's Mardi Gras adventures with my tweets. Hundreds of uploaded photos can draw you in to the flashy metallics of the beads and dublooms. Weekly music playlists can make you want to dance in the streets along with the second line.

But you and I know both know the best way to experience something - to experience something like a true southerner is to taste it!

So! I'm so super excited to announce that every week between now and Mardi Gras I will be giving away one of these babies....

((hey hey baby Jesus!))

((so this isn't a Meche's King Cake but its all I have on such short notice. Check back next week for actual photos))

That's right. Every week between now and February 16th, Dixie Lust is going to be giving away a King Cake along with some other Mardi Gras goodies.

Everyone around here is fiercely protective of their favorite bakery when the talk turns to King Cakes. There are entire conversati...*ahem* arguments over which bakery in south Louisana has the best cake. And I'm no different. I absolutely love the King Cakes from Meche's Bakery. I grew up on them and to this day they're my go-to cake. If you win, you'll get to see what all the fuss is about!

Here's the Details:

• A post will go up each Thursday about King Cakes.
• Leave a comment on the King Cake Post telling me you're a follower for one entry.
• Leave another comment answering that posts question for a second entry.
• Post about the giveaway on any social media outlet, and leave a comment with the link to it for a third entry.
• Each entry must be left in a separate comment, or it will all be counted as one entry!
• No one is exempt from the contest! Anyone and everyone is encouraged to enter!
• If you don't win one week, come back and enter the next week!
• That weeks entry deadline is the Tuesday following the post at noon CST.
• I will draw the winner at random and announce it at 1pm CST on Tuesday.
• That weeks winner will have until midnight on Tuesday to send me their mailing address.
• King Cakes will be shipped out on Wednesday and the whole thing will begin again the next day.

**I feel silly for posting this, but it must be said. I have nothing to do with the making of the king cakes, therefore, please know that Dixie Lust is not responsible for any food allergies or reactions that may occur**

Got all that?!

Good. Now enter!

This week's Q: What's one thing you're looking forward to learning about Mardi Gras?

Marc Broussard Prize Pack Winner

I'm a weee bit late posting this, but I chose the winner of the Marc Broussard Prize Pack Giveaway this morning and the winner is...

Megan
from

Houma, LA

Megan will be receiving a copy of my favorite Marc Broussard CD, Carencro, a Marc Broussard T-shirt, a box of Macaroons from Sucre on Magazine Street, and a wooden fleur key chain.

Thanks to everyone who entered. I can't wait to put together more prize packs for you guys to win!

Two Things...

Uno.

Today is the last day to enter my Marc Broussard Prize Pack giveaway!

Get your heinie over this way and enter if your haven't already done so.

Dos.

My silly little stache submission has made the top three! Make your way over to B is for Brown to vote on the order you think we should be ranked! Plus get to see all the over fabulous stache entries!

Back with a GIVEAWAY!

A Marc Broussard GIVEAWAY, that is!

Most of you know that I'm headed to New Orleans this weekend, but what you may not know is that the real reason for my rendezvous with the Big Easy is so that I can push Marc Broussard schwag at his show at One Eyed Jack's - Thats right, I'm a merch girl.

There's nothing I love more than helping out some of the most talented artists from my beloved Louisiana, and through these amazing opportunities, I've had the chance to meet some incredible people along the way.

One you might know from the comments here on Dixie Lust - Rachel aka the Sheriff (don't make her lay down the law)... She's the uhhh-mazing insane talent that manages the scheduling of merch ladies like myself. Somehow Rachel found her way to Dixie Lust and brought an idea to Marc's tour manager and brother, Chris (confused yet?!), that I should do a Marc B giveaway here at the home of all things down home & southern.

And here we are ladies (and a few gents), I present to you:

Marc Broussard Prize Pack:

a Star Logo Tee

a Copy of my favorite Marc Broussard Album, CARENCRO

and two surprises from this week's trip to NOLA

How to Enter:

Each entry needs to be on a separate comment. If you put everything on one comment, it will be counted as 1 entry.

1. One entry just for telling me you're a follower.

2. One entry for telling me about your favorite Marc Broussard song. Don't know Marc's music? Go Here - and be sure to check out this one, this one, this one and this one ... oh crap, don't forget this one.

3. One entry for posting a link to this contest some where else...(Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, Twitter) Just post the link so I can check it out...

Winner will be announced on 11.16.09!!

Ellen Ishee Studios Giveaway Winner!

The winner of the felted clutch and pin from Ellen Ishee Studios is comment #15....

Katie from The Perks!


Congrats Ms. Katie!


E-Mail me with your shipping address!
&
Thanks to everyone who celebrated with me!

Roadside Photography Giveaway at Off Switch

Katie at Off Switch has paired up with Roadside Photography for a giveaway!

Head here to enter.

Shall We Celebrate?

Yo Folks!

It's Thursday night and while all you lovelies are getting your prime time TV on, I'm here to demand you get off your bum and celebrate with me.

Life has been lovely this week at Dixie Lust and I want to do a quick and easy give away to thank all you classy broads who make this oh-so fun!

First off, what are we celebrating?

• My first Guest Post EVVVER
• Picking the winner of Dixie Lust's First Photo Contest
• Reaching 80 amazingly sweet followers
• My not having to go to the doctor today
• Winning a lovely little award from Marguerite at Cajun Delights
• Me actually fixing my hair this morning - HOLLLLA
• Feeling Good in the Neighborhood when it comes to my pesky infections
• Urrrrrh... Why not celebrate?
  

So I announce....

While at Tinsel & Treasure this past weekend, I searched high and low for a little something for y'all. I came up a booth for Ellen Ishee Studios from Roland, AR and I fell in love. The booth was chock full of imported silk saris and re purposed Indian rice bag messenger bags, but my absolute favorite finds were their felt clutches and pins imported from Nepal. I made sure to pick up one set for myself and one for youuuu!

How to Enter:

We'll keep this one easssssy-peaaasssy. Each entry needs to be on a separate comment. If you put everything on one comment, it will be counted as 1 entry.

1. One entry just for telling me you're a follower.

2. One entry for telling me what you'd like to celebrate.

3. One entry for posting a link to this contest some where else...(Myspace, Facebook, Blogger, Twitter) Just post the link so I can check it out...

Winner will be announced on Monday Night!

(10.5.09)

And the winner is.....

LyLa has made her decision and the winner of the first ever Dixie Lust Photo Contest is.....

Summer from B is for Brown

I sent an e-mail over to LyLa with my 6 favorite photos and she narrowed them down, then she asked me to send over the stories behind each photo. Here's what Summer said about her photo:

Our best southern adventure besides Adam's first crawfish extravaganza, hurricane katrina and rita and getting married was dressing up as saints fans only a few months after katrina when the owner, tom benson was trying to move our boys to san antonio. if you look closely, you will see a knife in my back and we wrote in big letters on the back of our shirts - "San Antonio can take the owner and New Orleans will keep the team". we lived in lake charles during that time (from may 2005-sept 2006 for adam's law clerkship). die hard fans!

Here's what LyLa had to say about why she picked Summer's Die Hard Fans Photo:

I have to admit, this was a tough one to choose. I loved all of the pictures and thought they each showed something really great about the lives of the people in them. But... drumrolllllllll... I have to pick the Saints picture!!! I think it's a perfect photo to represent the South and what means the most to us down here... supporting the people and places we love. It shows pride and strength, with the best thing of all.. a touch of Southern sass and humor. I love how this photo signifies not only the comeback of a team that's taken us on a rollercoaster ride from day one, but also the comeback of people... rebuilding houses and lives, restoring a sense of home, and believing in something that no one else does. Ask Kora... I LOVE the South, and I LOVE Louisiana. I have since I was little. I support all of the local festivals, cookoffs, restaurants, artists, everything. So, this photo just really stood out for me as a testament of who we try to be here. We're always there when someone needs encouragement or a little faith or a little company... but we always, always have a good time doing it. So, laissez le bon temps roulez, and Congratulations to Ms. Summer!!!

Thank You to all who entered! I loved seeing everyone's photos and can't wait to hold another one of these contests! Congrats Summer!

My Picks...

I want to start by apologizing for the delay in announcing these! Things have gotten away from me in the last week. With out any more wait, here are my Top 6 Photos for the first ever Dixie Lust Photography Contest.

LyLa has ultimately decided the winner by choosing her favorite from this batch of photos!

Her pick will be announced at noon today!

By: Stephanie

By: Megan

By: Erika

By: Haley

By: Summer

By: Katie

Gimme Sum(mer!)

Hello lovey-dovies....

I've officially done my first guest post everrrr. I was so excited (& nervous!) to put something together for one of my favorite bloggers. You can find my ode to Summer's fabulosity and a list of 26 of my favorite things over at her blog, B is for Brown.

As with all firsts and big occasions in life, we must celebrate!

More on this tonight =)

I just like to keep everyone waiting. haha

Also, LyLa will be picking the winner of the first ever Dixie Lust Photo Contest and I will announce the winner bright and early tomorrow.

I'll Show You Mine If You Show Me Yours

Now most of you know LyLa as the girl who lets me take pictures of her food (oh...and her eating said food) for all of the Friday Lunch Posts or the girl hiding under her desk... To me, shes a bit more. I've known LyLa since 5th grade. She's been a classmate, a best friend, a roommate, a hair stylist, and more recently - a coworker. Last November, she became the other half of the wondrous "Accounting Girls" duo. On days when I sing (off key) to myself aloud, do random karate kicks as I make my way back from the filing room, and misinterpret classic rock lyrics, I thank the heavens that I work with someone who tolerates me - someone who keeps me laughing as she joins in the chaos.

In recent months, she's shared in this whole blogging experience with me. She feigns Publishers-Clearing-House-Winner like surprise when I get new followers. She follows up listening to my daily analytics report with "Your blog gets so much traffic, you need a crossing guard!" But best of all, she's constantly thinking of new and creative ideas for adventures, posts, and contests.

Last week, I was just babbling aloud about feeling a bit over-whelmed and uninspired. I went on about how the South is just such a big, exciting place and I just didn't know where to start. That's when LyLa's wheels started turning - and she came up with a three-fer.

Letting you guys inspire me to get a' movin in the form of a contest.

Not catching on?
No worries.

Let me explain.

Oak Tree. Main Street. New Iberia, LA

Beginning today, Dixie Lust is holding it's first photography contest.

Here's the run down:

• You must be a follower to enter
• You will have one week to submit your photo (9.16.09 - 9.23.09)
• Photos must be submitted by e-mail
• The theme for the photo contest is "My Southern Adventure" - there are no specific guidelines on photo content. It can range from still life, to landscapes, to vacation photos - anything that makes you think of a southern adventure.
• Photos must be personal photographs - i.e. taken by you, have you in the photograph
• At the end of the contest, I will select 3 - 5 of the photos that I find most inspiring. Out of that batch, LyLa will choose her favorite as the winner.
  

The winner will walk away with:

The Chartres St. Gift Basket from the legendary New Orleans cafe, Cafe Du Monde which includes: Regular coffee and chicory, beignet mix, powdered sugar and powdered sugar shaker

and a "Got Beignets?" T-Shirt also from Cafe Du Monde

After the winner is announced, LyLa and I will use the winner's photo as inspiration for an adventure and take our own southern adventure photos to share with everyone!

UPDATE: Just realized that beignets might be more of a Louisiana culture thing than I thought, so if the above has got you scratching your head, click here to learn more about the "official state doughnut of Louisiana"