Tuesday, July 27, 2010

EAT PRAY LOVE and win

Need a new backpack or luggage? Back to school or vacation?

CSN has graciously offered a $50 gift card to give away.

And I've been thinking of all the vacations I wish I could go on. I'm finally reading EAT PRAY LOVE by Elizabeth Gilbert. Great book- but it's at least PG-13 with its swearing and loose moral standards.

If you haven't already read it or seen the movie (is it out yet?), I'll give you the basic idea. Single lady takes a year and spends time in Italy, India and Indonesia searching for her true self.

For a stay-at-home mom with five kids and limited resources, I have an impossible time relating to what it would feel like to put life on hold for a year and travel. That said, it did send me into my memory banks to find those few moments in life that I did spend alone, in sheer bliss somewhere far away from my home.

Maybe I wouldn't choose the same countries as Elizabeth, but traveling is one of my loves. I've had a list of places I wish to go for as long as I can remember. Sometimes I've been lucky enough to get there, but many places are still on the list. Some places I've been to and have made the list of places I will return.

So as long as I'm living in a fantasy world in my head, here ten places I want to see either for the first time, or again.

1. Ireland
2. East coast (and many states therein)
3. West coast
4. Hawaii
5 Australia
6. New Zealand
7. Europe (there are so many countries so close together, just let me loose for a while so I can wander)
8. Jerusalem
9. UK
10. Iceland

It's not that I missed the whole point of her story, but that I've taken out of it things that I CAN relate to. -Enjoying, Listening, Learning, Living. Those are the things I need to make a bigger part of my life. I'm not going to get a year abroad to find it, but somewhere amidst the craziness of life, I have to figure out how to incorporate more of that.

Now, for the contest. If you want to win a $50 gift card to CSN (which is actually a code e-mailed to you) please include the following in a comment....

1) tell me somewhere you want to go
2) tell me something you want to learn (they don't have to be related)
3) include your e-mail

A qualifying winner will be selected August 10 using random.org.

Hmmm, and if you want to win my already-been-read copy of EAT PRAY LOVE, tell me. I'll choose a separate winner for that, too.

44 comments:

Julie S said...

You've got a great to visit list there. I'd love to go travel all over, it's just hard to name a few. But I too after reading Eat Pray Love want to visit Rome and eat my way through learning Italian culture.

juliecookies(at)gmail.com

Stormi said...

I so want to see that movie and didn't know there was a BOOK, so I might have to check that out since they are always better.

Anyway, I have a little bit of Irish blood running through my veins so I would like to go to Ireland and learn a little Celtic language. Just have some fun. I love traveling. :)

Great contest,
Stormi
booklady2007[at]gmail[dot]com

Katy said...

I have wanted to visit the UK for a long time.

I want to learn how to knit. :) I'm envious of people who can do that.

srfbluemama[at]gmail[dot]com

Anonymous said...

I'm going to Vancouver next month (can't wait) but I'd like to to play on the east coast and Hawaii some time soon :) From there it'll be more international but for now, let's play in my own pool.

Something I'd like to learn: well, does relearn count? I'd love the chance to remember the languages I started studying back in college and finally master them? That and maybe French. I'd also like to learn how to blow glass and weld jewelery.

Thanks for the contest!
chichai_hana at hotmail dot com

PS: I think Eat Pray Love is out soon, not yet?

wildflower00 said...

I want to spend a summer in Germany studying my families history and looking at all the beautiful sites that Germany has. My husband was also an army baby born in Germany and he has always wanted to see it as well. It would be a dream come true trip for our family

wildflower00 said...

forgot my email sorry texasgirl (at) rocketmail (dot) com

Libby's Library said...

Ireland, Holland, Scotland.
I want to learn how to train my new
(fingers and toes crossed) service dog, when he/she is chosen.

Thanks so much for the giveaway.

libneas[at]aol[dot]com

baileythebookworm said...

I'd really like to go to Rome and visit all of the historical sites there, and learn about them firsthand. I've been an avid Latin fan since I was in seventh grade (I have a Latin tattoo on my forearm), and I have always wanted to go to Rome as a result.

baileythebookworm[at]gmail.com

Linda Kish said...

I have always wanted to go to Egypt to see the pyramids.

What would I like to learn...how to cook well.

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Linda Kish said...

I'd love to win your copy of Eat, Pray, Love

lkish77123 at gmail dot com

Reading said...

I would love to visit Italy. I want to see the small village where my grandmother grew up.
I want to learn how to Knit.
Thanks for the great giveaway.

lizzi0915 at aol dot com

brandy c said...

I would love to go to Ireland because of my ancestory..I would also love to learn how to sew!! thanks for the giveaway!!

brandyj1121 @ hotmail dot com

Jolene Perry said...

My list of places I'd love to go is a mile long but right now? I'd LOVE to just be at my house ALONE. Blissfully alone, and honestly? I just need a few days.

Learn? I'd like to learn to fly, I grew up in small planes, my dad was a pilot. So, I've always wanted to learn how to fly.

Tracey said...

I'd like to visit Tahiti. Or any other tropical island. I'd like to learn another language.
traymona[at]aol.com

Jolynn_Reads said...

I'd like to go somewhere tropical.

I'd like to learn to get rid of the pain and health problems I have Everyday. I have Fibromyalgia.

Jolynn_Reads@yahoo.com

Stacey Brucale said...

I'd love to go to Italy and learn what real gelato tastes like :)

xxsquigglesxx(at)gmail(dot)com

Angie Bailey said...

I'd love to visit Germany so that I could learn about my ancestors, which I don't know much about. abailey_crace@yahoo.com

Angie Bailey said...

I'd love to win a copy of the book as well! The movie looks great and I like reading the books first in cases like these. abailey_crace@yahoo.com

Diana D said...

I have an itch to see Australia. We're retired military and have the opportunity to see many places which I'm Australia. I would love to learn how to be more efficient with the computer.

Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

Diana D said...

I am a GFC follower. Thanks for the wonderful giveaway.

dianad8008 AT gmail DOT com

Mandy said...

I'm Italian, so I would love to go to Italy and learn To speak Italian, so I can fully embrace my heritage.
Bratdownstairs @ yahoo

Esme said...

great list-I have read this book and loved it-I want to read her follow up book-places I want to visit"

Yunnan province in China,
Pantagonia
maybe return to India-and study yoga
I am always up for France-I want to take some cooking classes there

I have no artistic talent but would love to learn to paint and speak Italian.

thank you

chocolateandcroissants at yahoo . com

Nebraska Hockey Mom said...

Oh gosh...there are SOOO many places I want to go...I know I want to visit each of the Wonders of the World...but if there were only once place...hmm...I would have to say Jerusalem and I would like to learn about Jesus' time.
jtfilleman@cox.net

Anonymous said...

1) tell me somewhere you want to go
I would love to go see my boys out in Oklahoma City, they are living there while they are going to Bible College.
2) tell me something you want to learn (they don't have to be related)
I have been studying photography. I recently got a new camera and the thing I would love to learn is how to use my new camera.

3) include your e-mail
mommiesgotfivechildren at hotmail dot com

windycindy said...

What a fabulous prize giveaway and I love your entry questions...
My paternal grandmother came over
to Ellis island when she was 13 on a cattle ship. Her parents and she came from Calais, France and I have
always wanted to visit there and research my roots, further!
Many thanks, Cindi
jchoppes[at]hotmail[dot]com

lag123 said...

I want to go to Hawaii
I want to learn how to paddle surf. Do you think a 51 year old can learn how to do that?

lag110 at mchsi dot com

Stephanie said...

I'd love to go to Scotland.
I want to learn how to fix a car.

Skk25@aol.com

Hailey said...

I want to visit NA, TN. I know it seems like a boring thing to choose, but I have four siblings, one brother in-law, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins living there, while I live a fifteen hour car drive away. Many of my hildhood friends also live there. And although I visit a couple times a year, it is never enough for me. I am happiest when I am in TN!

shadowofwonder47[at]yahoo[dot]com

heatwave16 said...

There are so many places I want to go, but Greece would be top of the list followed by Italy.

On the to learn side of things, I'd love to learn to speak a 2nd language or maybe even play the drums. :)

heatwave96(at)hotmail.com

DG said...

I'd love to go to New Zealand :)

I would love to learn how to surf.

Thanks so much for the chance! :)

dreamzz12{at}aol{dot]com

Mystica said...

I'd love to go to Kyoto and I would like to learn quilting a bit more than what I know now.

mystica123athotmaildotcom

makeetis said...

Somewhere I would love to go is Italy. I would love to learn how to make those really pretty cakes that cake shops make. I have tried and mine comes out nothing like theirs..lol..
brewerchickey78@yahoo.com

fdigsby said...

I would love to go to Italy and I would love to learn to sew.

felecia@twinoaksfl.org

fdigsby said...

I would love to win your copy of Eat, Pray, Love. It is on my wish list of books to read.

felecia@twinoaksfl.org

andrea b said...

I'd love to travel to Japan and I would love to learn Chinese...

Thanks for the giveaway!

brigneti(at)gmail(dot)com

Elizabeth Morgan said...

I'd love to visit England and the other countries close by. It has such an amazing culture.

I want to learn so many things. Learning French, and Italian(Languages)would be lots of fun.
4everareader(at)comcast(dot)net

throuthehaze said...

I would love to visit Ireland and I would love to learn how to crochet :)
throuthehaze at gmail dot com

M.N. said...

I want to travel TONS, but I have to visit Egypt before I die. I just have to! I love Ancient Egypt so much. And yes, I want to learn more about it. I just might decide to major in it.

thekbseries@yahoo.com

Wendy Swore said...

I'd love to go to Florida with my family and do all the parks (Harry Potter, Disney World, etc)

and then, we'd learn what it's like to swim with dolphins....

Sounds awesome to me.

My email is mrs.farmgirl-at-gmail-dot-com

Sara said...

I just read that book about a month ago. I can definitely relate to what you are saying about how difficult it was to identify with some of the things that the author wrote about. But at the same time, I enjoyed reading it and learning about how someone else views life. I am very excited to see the movie. You know how some people talk about how they would love to backpack across Europe? Well, I would love to EAT my way across Europe! There I said it. I would probably have to backpack too, in order to not weigh 20 pounds heavier when I was finished. I would hope to learn how to limit my quantities ;o), and I would also love to learn more about other Cultures. Thanks for the contest! sarawestbrook24@gmail.com

Unknown said...

my name is kaylee Olsen and my email is puppiesrcute122gmail.com. (for your contest) where i would love to go most is Nome, Alaska. what i would like to learn is how to dog sled i would love to one day own a team of huskies and dog sled race. it has always been a dream of mine to go to alaska.

Unknown said...

hi kaylee agin sorry my email is not what i said before in my last post it is puppiesrcute12@gmail.com sorry!!

Anonymous said...

I love that book! I read it for my Composition English Class last year. I loved the traveling, the trying of new things and the perfect descriptions and words. But the standards are quite skewed.

I've always wanted to go to the California Coast and see the beautiful beach and sunsets.

I want to learn a new language. I've always wanted to take a language class but my schedule is usually full of music classes. It intrigues me that different combinations of sounds can mean so much to different people.

bluebunny73@gmail.com

numberonedashnerfan said...

1.Denmark, Norway, France.... Europe basicaly

2. I want to learn how to speak danish, and how to understand why people think they way they do............

3. You should all ready have it but if not and I win I will send you an email.

Ps. I will be leaving for camp on the 10th at 7am and am returning on the 14 in the afternoon so if I win and don't respond to you that is why....