Giveaway: A box of (mostly) Alaskan stocking stuffers.

by

Very glad I started this giveaway series in time for the holidays. Judging from the response I got to the previous one, so are a whole lot of readers.

While gift cards are easier to send (especially if they’re e-gift cards), my original intent was also to give away some Alaska items in order to support the local economy this holiday season. Hence the current giveaway: the small flat-rate box of (mostly) Alaskan stocking stuffers.

Don’t celebrate Christmas? Give them as “just thinking about you” presents. Donate them to a shelter. Or keep them all to yourself. Who’s gonna know?

A bunch of these items are courtesy of my BFF, Linda B., who is conducting a fairly ruthless purge of Stuff. Like many of us, she has come by sooooo much Stuff. Even if you have a biggish house (which she does), there’s only so much Stuff you can display/use.

Linda has been finding good homes for a lot of the Stuff through our local Buy Nothing Facebook page. Art, outerwear, jewelry, tchotchkes…It’s been fun to watch. And, occasionally, to participate in, as I was able to snare some things for the mostly Alaska stocking stuffers.

That box includes but is not limited to:

 

Headband/ear-warmer. Made of fleece, it’s very cozy and is also a fashion statement.

Anchorage Convention and Visitors Bureau keychain/penknife. Because who doesn’t need one of those???

A “Tundra” comics collection. This one is “packed in its own juices,” according to cartoonist Chad Carpenter. Published in 2000, this book is apparently now out of print so you might be sitting on a collectible, here. Chad’s stuff has always done well with readers.

Iditarod Trail patch. Sew it to your jacket and let people wonder, “Wait…Is that a professional musher standing next to me in the supermarket line???”

 

ASDRA commemorative pin. Bet you didn’t know that the Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association has been around for 71 years. This is the 50th anniversary pin, however. (Fun fact: The ASDRA race course is right in the middle of town. I once ran it myself, with a borrowed team, for the annual Media Sled Dog Race during the winter carnival. I came in third, even though the team was two-thirds standard poodles. Also had the most colorful finale: I crossed the finish line on my face, being dragged along as I hung grimly to the tipped-over sled. Fortunately, my daughter was laughing too hard to get a photo of this.)

Three pairs of earrings. All are lightweight (i.e., they won’t drag your earlobes down) and charming. Here’s a look at the scrolled woodwork hummingbird earrings.

Left Coast Crime enamel pin. Many years back, the Alaska chapter of Sisters in Crime* hosted the Left Coast Crime conference. One of the conference logos was “the dead snowman,” who was variously dispatched by bears, moose and a snowmachiner. SinC had notecards, tote bags and these pins done up for the occasion. The pin I’m giving away is  death by bruin. (My personal favorite was the moose, which calmly chowed down on the carrot it had plucked from the snowman’s head.) The designs were done as a favor by Alaska Native artist Rebecca Lyon; for a look at some of her work, visit the Anchorage Museum website.

Alaska Berry Fairies lip balm, from a local company called Denali Dreams. Blueberry Lip Bliss should help get your mouth ready for winter’s drying air.

Lavender oatmeal soap, also from Denali Dreams. I don’t know about you, but schmancy soap like this makes me feel like a rich lady.

Harry Potter page clips. These discreet little bookmarks are replicas of the logos of the four houses in the Potter-verse: Gryffindor, Slytherin, Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. If there’s a Potter fan in your life, that person will be delighted.

“Moose Crossing” fridge magnets. Two of them, with a silhouette of the title ungulate. If these were to be truly authentic, though, I would have taken them outside and shot a few holes through them – certain northern numbskulls like to use road signs for target practice.

Finally, just for giggles and grins, I will add a $10 gift card of the winner’s choice. Coffee? Movies? Pancakes? Pet stuff? You decide.

For your chance(s) to win, do one or more of the following:

Be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry (e.g., “Subscribed via e-mail” or “Follow you on Twitter”).

The deadline to enter is 6 p.m. PDT Friday, Oct. 9. If I don’t hear back from the winner by 6 p.m. PDT Sunday, Oct. 11, I’ll have the random number generator pull a new name.

Note: Due to the high cost of international shipping, this giveaway is open only to residents of the United States.

*Our motto was, “Where the trail is always cold.” I’m rather proud of having come up with that slogan myself.

Please follow and like us:

99 thoughts on “Giveaway: A box of (mostly) Alaskan stocking stuffers.”

  8. Absolutely count me in…long time reader and admirer…The Tundra Comics are HILARIOUS….Chad is a unique and gifted individual…As for the gift card…Pancakes of course!

    Reply

  9. Loved Alaska on my 1st Vacation there, I can’t wait till Covid 19 pandemic is over, I plan to definitely return to see more, the most beautiful and unique placeI have visited. Thanks for doing giveaway of local items!❤️

    Reply

  15. Wow Donna, what an eclectic offering of treasures! I’m sure any of your readers would loves these unique items. Count me in! Receive yours postings via email.

    Reply

  31. How fun! These would make great out-of-the-ordinary small Christmas gifts for extended family members who are hard to buy for.

    Reply

  35. Please add me, Those items would raise a few eyebrows here in South Carolina
    I Love your Blog, been following for years, since MSN days. Enjoy your daughters blog also. What a year 2020 has been!! Crazy!!

    Reply

  49. Still have a resin totem pole on the mantel from our trip in 2007. These posts always remind me of the fun we had on that trip.

    Reply

  59. Love your blog posts. I’m always looking forward to them. Thanks for your “frugal advice”and for your offers of gifts.

    CarolH

    Reply

  92. This article made me chuckle. Completely need to de-stash as well. I’m an e-mail subscriber & now follow you on Pinterest & Twitter!

    Reply

Leave a Comment