It's Your Wonderful Life" Party and Giveaway

Welcome to the third, and last "It's Your Wonderful Life" Party!  I am so appreciative to all of my readers and to those that took the time to link up to the parties.  The Linky Party is below the giveaway information.

Winner of Mrs. Christmas Apron

First of all I want to announce that Jamie. hostess of the blog "From My Kitchen to Yours" won the Mrs. Christmas apron!  It's going in the mail tomorrow and with some Christmas Luck it will arrive before Christmas.  I want to thank Jacqueline, my sister, hostess of Purple Chocolat Home for making and giving such a great apron.  I know Jamie will love it!

This Week's Giveaway

In the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life" George and Mary buy the "drafty old home" at 320 Sycamore Street.  It's the home that Mary and George throw rocks in the window and make wishes.  The first giveaway gift is a pair of "Socks to Stay Home In."  I have a pair just like them.  Don't you think Mary would have loved a pair to keep her warm in that drafty old home?

At the end of the movie, the town has come with financial donations to help George.  They are standing around a Christmas tree, in George and Mary's home, and they hear a bell ring.  ZuZu says, "Teacher says every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings."  It is then that they realize that Clarence has received his wings.  The second giveaway gift is a bell.  I am so glad that Clarence received his wings! 

A local newspaper columnist, Ann Cannon wrote that one Thanksgiving after planning the dinner, making the dinner, setting the table, and calling everyone to dinner, her husband asked HER to give the prayer over the Thanksgiving feast.   Her response was, "I might as well, I did everything else!"  If you are like me, you have been so busy preparing for Christmas, and doing most of the preparations, that you deserve a little something for yourself.  The third giveaway gift is a $25 gift card to Bath and Body Works.  Buy a little something for yourself that didn't come under the Christmas tree.

I have enjoyed looking at your "Wonderful" posts and thinking about the movie "It's a Wonderful Life."  I love its eternal message that each ordinary man and women make more of a difference in the lives of others than they think they do. 

Giveaway Rules

• The contest will run until Sunday December 26 at 10 pm MST.
• You must provide a way for me to contact you via e-mail -- either on your blog or in you comment.  You do not need to host a blog to win this contest.
• Winner will be chosen with the aid of Random.Org.
• I will contact the winner by e-mail; you e-mail must be readily visible on your blog or in your comments.

You have three chances to win.

1.  First Chance:  This is mandatory to win a prize.  You must be a GFC follower, former or new, to win.  You can become a follower of Red Couch Recipes by clicking on the follower button on the left side of my blog.

Second Chance:  Post an entry to this week's "It's Your Wonderful Life Party."  The linky is below the contest rules.  Tell me in your comment the name of the post.

Third Chance:  Post this contest, along with my giveaway photo, on your sidebar.  Tell me in the comment

that you did post to your sidebar.

In closing, I leave you with a great quote from "It's a Wonderful Life."  In this scene George is talking to Mr. Potter who owns the town's bank and wants to own the Bailey Building and Loan business.


Link Up To "It's Your Wonderful Life" Linky Party!

In closing, I leave you with a great quote from "It's a Wonderful Life." In this scene George is talking to Mr. Potter who owns the town's bank and wants to own the Bailey Building and Loan
business." 

Just a minute — just a minute. Now, hold on, Mr. Potter. You're right when you say my father was no business man. I know that. Why he ever started this cheap, penny-ante Building and Loan, I'll never know. But neither you nor anybody else can say anything against his character, because his whole life was...Why, in the twenty-five years since he and Uncle Billy started this thing, he never once thought of himself. Isn't that right, Uncle Billy? He didn't save enough money to send Harry to school, let alone me. But he did help a few people get out of your slums, Mr. Potter. And what's wrong with that? Why...Here, you're all businessmen here. Doesn't it make them better citizens? Doesn't it make them better customers? You...you said...What'd you say just a minute ago?...They had to wait and save their money before they even ought to think of a decent home. Wait! Wait for what? Until their children grow up and leave them? Until they're so old and broken-down that they...Do you know how long it takes a working man to save five thousand dollars? Just remember this, Mr. Potter, that this rabble you're talking about...they do most of the working and paying and living and dying in this community. Well, is it too much to have them work and pay and live and die in a couple of decent rooms and a bath? Anyway, my father didn't think so. People were human beings to him, but to you, a warped frustrated old man, they're cattle. Well, in my book he died a much richer man than you'll ever be!"

I hope you have a WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

"It's Your Wonderful Life" Party, Mrs. Christmas Apron Giveaway, and Winner of $75 CSN Gift Code!

Hi everyone and welcome to my "It's Your Wonderful Life" Party! As you might have guessed, this is my favorite Christmas movie. This movie was also a favorite with the star, Jimmy Stewart. The Merry Network has an interview with Jimmy Stewart, the star of  "It's a Wonderful Life." I have used these quotes from the interview with the Merry Network's permission. You can click HERE to see the whole interview. "It's a Wonderful Life" Images from Google.  The $75 CSN gift code winner is announed below, as well as details on the Mrs. Christmas Apron and the Link-Up for the "It's Your Wonderful Life" Party.

• "Production of It's a Wonderful Life started April 15, 1946, and from the beginning there was a certain something special about the film. Even the set was special. Two months had been spent creating the town of Bedford Falls, New York. For the winter scenes, the special effects department invented a new kind of realistic snow instead of using the traditional white cornflakes."

• "And although it earned several Oscar nominations, despite our high hopes it won nothing. "Best picture for 1946" went to The Best Years of Our Lives. By the end of 1947 the film was quietly put on the shelf.  But a curious thing happened. The movie simply refused to stay on the shelf. Those who loved it loved it a lot, and they must have told others. They wouldn't let it die any more than the angel Clarence would let George Bailey die. When it began to be shown on televison, a whole new audience fell in love with it."

• "Today I've heard the filmed called "an American cultural phenomenon". Well, maybe so, but it seems to me there is nothing phenomenal about the movie itself. It's simply about an ordinary man who discovers that living each ordinary day honorably, with faith in God and selfless concern for others, can make for a truly wonderful life."

Thank you Jimmy for being such a great George Bailey!

Winner of $75 CSN Giveaway

The winner of the $75 CSN code is comment #42 Kelly Massman.  Kelly is the host of an inspiring scrapbook blog entitled "Uniquely Me, Imperfections and All."  Merry Christmas Kelly!

Mrs. Christmas Apron Giveaway Information

The new giveaway for this week is the Mrs. Christmas Apron.  This is handcrafted by my very talented and creative sister Jacqueline who hosts the blog Purple Chocolat Home.  It is made of Moda fabric designed by, for the most part, Kate Spain.  Can't you just see Donna Reed, Mary, in the movie wearing this apron?  I will place the Mrs. Christmas Apron in the mail on the 20th and with just a bit of Christmas Luck, you might get it before Christmas!  This is the ultimate in Christmas aprons and I know the winner will love this WONDERFUL Mrs. Christmas Apron!

1.  First Chance.  You must be a GFC Follower of Red Couch Recipes.  Tell me in the comment that you follow Red Couch Recipes.  If you are not a current follower, you can sign up on the left hand side of my blog.  

2.  Second Chance.  Follow my sister, who made the apron's blog and tell me that you are a follower in a comment.  Why wouldn't you want to be a follower of my sister's blog?  She has an incredible blog!  Click HERE to follow Purple Chocolat Home.  Stop by and say "hi" to her!

3.  Third Chance:  Post a picture of the Mrs. Christmas Apron on your Sidebar with a link back to this post.  Please tell me that you posted this to your sidebar in a comment.

4.  Fourth Chance:  Post below anything WONDERFUl to the "It's Your Wonderful Life" Party.  Please write in a comment the name of your post.

• Available only to those living in the United States and Canada.
• The Contest ends on Sunday, December 19th at 10 pm MST.
• The winner will be decided with the aid of Random.Org.
• I will notify the winner by e-mail so your e-mail must be visible on your blog or be posted in your comments.

"It's Your Wonderful Life" Linky Party



Mrs. Christmas Apron Giveaway and Reminder about "It's Your Wonderful Life" Party

Just a reminder to link up tonight for the "It's a Wonderful Life" Party where this week I will be giving away a WONDERFUL Mrs. Christmas Apron. This apron has been handcrafted by Jacqueline (Purple Chocolat Home)  and is made from Moda fabric with most of the fabric designed by Kate Spain.

Remember to sign up tonight!

"It's Your Wonderful Life" Linky Party and CSN Giveaway!!

ZuZu:  "Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets its wings."

I am thrilled to be hosting my "It's Your Wonderful Life" Party and a $75 gift code giveaway from the WONDERFUL CSN STORES, where you can do your Christmas shopping and find everything from a leather briefcase to boots and even WONDERFUL Christmas dishes at their over 200 online stores.  Link up to the "It's Your Wonderful Life." party below.

CSN has something for men...

and something for women....

$75 CSN Gift Code Contest

I was really amazed at all the briefcases for men and women and laptop carriers, even rolling ones.

You have four chances to enter the contest:

First Chance: You must be a GFC Follower, previous or new; this is mandatory. My follower button is on the left side of my blog. Tell me in your comment that you are a follower -- I do verify this before awarding the prize.
Second Chance: To have a second chance, click HERE and tell me which is your favorite briefcase or laptop carrier. 
Third Chance: Link HERE for the "It's A Wonderful Life" trivia quiz by the Dayton Daily News or tell me your favorite thing about the movie. If you opt to take the quiz, it only takes a minute or two, tell me your SCORE, letter or percentage, in your comment. I have seen this movie countless times and I received a D...Ouch!

Fourth Chance: Link up to the "It's a Wonderful Life" Linky party and put in the comment the title of your post. If you link more than once, I will only count one post.

Additional Rules:
1. One $75 CSN gift code will be given away, provided by CSN.
2. I will notify the winner by e-mail so you MUST include your e-mail in your comments or if you have a blog, your e-mail must be visible on your blog.
3. Only those residing in the United States and Canada are eligible to win this gift code.
4. The giveaway will be decided randomly with the aid of Random.Org.
.The contest ends on Sunday, December 12 at 10 pm MST.

Lovely Red Laptop Briefcase

It's "Your Wonderful Life" Party

The movie "It's a Wonderful Life" made it's debut, not to critical acclaim, in 1946 starring Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed, and Henry Travis and produced and directed by Frank Capra.  It is the story of George Bailey, who one Christmas Eve, on the verge of committing suicide, is saved by his guardian angel Clarence.   George who thinks his life is not worth living, is given the wonderful gift of seeing the lives he has touched and the contributions he has made to the community of Bedford Falls.  Indeed, George really had a "Wonderful Life." 

Click HERE to view a trailer for the movie "It's a Wonderful Life."

 Nominated for five Oscars, though never winning any, it has been listed on the American Film Institute's top 100 American films ever made.

George Bailey:  "Now, you listen to me! I don't want any plastics, and I don't want any ground floors, and I don't want to get married - ever - to anyone! You understand that? I want to do what I want to do."

 Link up to my "It's Your Wonderful Life" Linky Party today! It is held today, December 13, and December 20! Please show us all your WONDERFUL posts about the holiday season. Let's see your recipes, wreaths, trees, snowmen, decorations, family outings, community celebrations.....get the picture? Let's see anything WONDERFUL in your life! Is there a WONDERFUL holiday book or music artist you've discovered? We would like to see a post on that too!  I host a family blog, so please link only family-appropriate posts!!! I reserve the right to delete any posts that are not family appropriate.   By linking you give me the right to feature your link in a future post. 

Please take a few minutes to comment on a few of the postings in the collections.  We all love comments! 

Clarence: "Strange, isn't it? Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he?"

All "It's a Wonderful Life" photos from Google Images.

Come Link Up Your Wonderful Life!

It's Your Wonderful Life Linky Party

Link up with Red Couch Recipes on Tuesdays (December 6, 13, and 20)  during the month of December!  Let's see your "wonderful":

• Wreaths
• Decorations
• Christmas Trees
• Holiday Meals
• Desserts
• Family Outings
• Outdoor Decorations
• Crafts
• Family Photos
• Gift Wrapping
• Sledding Outings
• Cookie Baking
• ...Anything that is "wonderful" to you this holiday season!

I will be sharing some of my favorite scenes and quotes, and maybe even a trivia quiz from the movie.

There will be a few giveaway gifties too!  I hope you will link up!

If you would like, grab a button (see top left of my blog) and post it on your sidebar to help get out the word!

My favorite holiday movie, and close to my favorite all-time movie, starring the amazing Jimmy Stewart, is "It's A Wonderful Life."  When I was young, on Christmas Eve, after a wonderful dinner, desserts, and present openings at my Aunt Ionia's home, we would come home to watch "It's A Wonderful Life."  Watching this movie is a family tradition in our home too.  My husband, who LOVES this movie, had never seen it until we were dating and I introduced it to him at Christmas.

I have been told that it is a "goody-goodie" movie!  Well, I must love "goodie-goodie" movies!  "It's a Wonderful Life" is the story of a man, George Bailey, who had big plans in his life to travel and be educated. 

 George is never quite able to achieve his big dreams and when he hits bottom, he feels like his life is not worth living. Clarence, his Guardian Angel, allows George glimpses of what life would be like if George would have never been born. 

Clarence, George's Gardian Angel

 This movie affirms the impact that we can have, and often don't see, on the life of others.  George learns that he really did have "A Wonderful Life!"

I hope you will join me as we celebrate our "Wonderful Lives"  this holiday season.    

Images from Google Images

Today's Thanksgiving Challenge

I am very thankful for all the kind people, including those on blogland, who have made my life more wonderful!  I am thankful for those who gave an extra smile, an encouraging word, and included me in their circle of friends!  I am intrigued by those friends who come in your life in a specific season and are like guardian angels.  Although Clarence may not be my "guardian angel, " I do believe that the heavens are open and there are those that are caring for us and watching over us.