Contests: Everyday Beauty Contest

February 3, 2015February 2, 2015Leave a comment

February is here – and you know what that means! It’s time for our annual Everyday Beauty Contest!

Developed with the intent to inspire us to look past traditional definitions of beauty, the Everyday Beauty Contest empowers you to capture a photo from everyday life for a chance to win fabulous Pierogi Picnic prizes! The contest kicks off today and runs through Valentine’s Day. Here are the deets:

What: Everyday Beauty Photo Contest

When: Now – February 14th

2015 Photo Theme: Reflections

Two winners: Most Likes + Best Photo

Prizes: $50 Pierogi Picnic Gift Certificates

To take part in this year’s contest, head over to the Pierogi Picnic Facebook page and post your favorite photo that captures this year’s theme. You can also post the picture to your personal Facebook page – just be sure to tag @pierogipicnic so it lands in our queue.

After uploading your, pic you’ll want to share it with friends and family in the hopes of landing lots of likes. The photo with the most likes by midnight on February 14th will be declared the winner and will receive a $50 credit to the Pierogi Picnic Etsy store! We’ll also choose a second pic as “Best Photo” – so you have two shots at landing a prize!

So start dreaming up what photo you’ll be taking and then start sharing! The sooner you post and tag your photo the better your chances of winning.

Happy snapping and sharing!

Events: 2014 Everyday Beauty Contest

February 7, 2014February 6, 2014Leave a comment

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day – and all the warm fuzzy feelings that we incur thanks to it – we’re happy to announce our fourth annual Everyday Beauty Contest! This annual Pierogi Picnic tradition encourages you – our fans, supporters and cheerleaders – to show us what you find beautiful in your day to day life.

What: Everyday Beauty Photo Contest

Theme: Hearts

How: Post your photo to the Pierogi Picnic Facebook Page

When: February 7th-February 14th

Prizes: $40 Pierogi Picnic Gift Certificates

Two winners: Most Likes + Best Photo

To take part in this year’s contest, head over to the Pierogi Picnic Facebook page and post your favorite photo that captures this year’s theme: hearts! After uploading your pic you’ll want to share it with friends and family in the hopes of landing lots of likes. The photo with the most likes by midnight on February 14th will be declared the winner! We’ll also choose a second pic as “Best Photo” – so you have two shots at landing a prize!

So start going through your photos and get to posting one today! The sooner you post, the more opportunities you’ll have to gather up votes.

Happy sharing!

30 Reasons to Love 30

November 7, 2013January 19, 2016Leave a comment

Maybe it’s not exactly a “Living Green” topic outright – but embracing your age can be quite the life-changing experience! Rather than lamenting about entering a new decade, I have the opportunity to embrace a new chapter of my life with zest and zeal!

Having turned the corner to 30 just this week, I’ve been considering all the shifts that are ahead of me. “What will 30 feel like?” “What changes will this decade bring?” “How will I grow as a person, wife, sister, and friend?” These are all incredibly important questions that force me to pause and think upon the life I’ve been leading, and how I can continue to improve upon it. And not in superficial ways, but in the things that matter most: friends, family, personal accountability, and faith.

The excitement and intrigue of entering this new chapter inspired me to create the graphic above – simply titled – 30 Awesome Things About 30. Call me cheesy or sappy – but I think it’s important to reflect on these kinds of milestones and to approach them with grace and thanksgiving – which is what I hope I’ve done!

So for any of you who are nearing a milestone, or have recently entered a new chapter of your life, I hope this post inspires you to look beyond a number and indulge in the beauties of enjoying a full life!

Happy aging!

Meet the Models: Nahrain

September 24, 2013September 17, 2013Leave a comment

A spirited first-generation Assyrian, Nahrain is a woman who’s laughter is not only contagious, but fills up a room with light! Having met while taking a financial management class at Harvest, Nahrain and I instantly hit things off and I knew I’d have to recruit her as a Pierogi Picnic model.

When Nahrain’s not busy spending time with her hubby (also a PP model!) and their friends, or working at her local non-profit, you can find her cuddled up with a good book and a steamy cup of coffee. An extroverted introvert, Nahrain says that many people are surprised to find out she’s actually on the shy side (fooled us!).

A couple of other things people may not know about this ethnic beauty:

She is absolutely terrified of being underwater.
Has a tradition of going on an adventure each November to celebrate her birthday.
Is passionate about learning to play the drums (though she doesn’t read sheet music).
Absolutely adores green peppers!

This spirited little lady is an absolute natural in front of the camera lens – which is why you’ll be seeing her time and time again in our photo lineup! We’re glad to count Nahrain as one of our Pierogi Picnic own!

About: What’s in a Model?

July 18, 2013July 18, 2013Leave a comment

I’ll never forget the scene. It was 2011 and Pierogi Picnic was really up and kickin’. I was in the midst of preparing for a huge show, had lots of orders coming in off of Etsy, and press to match. And then that phone call came. The one that you never think will really happen to you – it’s just something you read off some crafter-gone-pro’s website.

But then it happens. You’re invited to participate in a huge, whirlwind, opportunity-of-your-dreams. There will be press, runways, news cams, hundreds of thousands of people, a stage and more.

The business manager in you kicks in and you ask the big questions. And you get the answers.

So what does a gal like me do in this situation? I decline. Continue reading →

Everyday Beauty: Photo Contest

February 22, 2011February 3, 20121 Comment

I’m giving away a $75 gift certificate to my Pierogi Picnic Etsy shop to the winner of our “Everyday Beauty Contest.”

Submit a photo to the Pierogi Picnic Facebook of what “everyday beauty” means to you for a chance to win! The contest began on February 20th and runs until March 6th. The winner will be determined by who has the most ‘likes’ on their photo.

No purchase necessary – just a snapshot of what you find beautiful in day to day life. It can be the first plant of Spring, your favorite wrinkle or the latte that gets you to your feet in the morning.

Let’s celebrate the beauty in the details of each day!

Extreme Makeover: Shame on Elle

January 12, 2011June 8, 2011Leave a comment

Now…I’m not going to deny the heavy handed use of Photoshop throughout my Etsy shop and beyond. But there is such a thing as going too far and Elle Magazine has done just that.

By whitewashing the stunning Indian beauty Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the publication has stooped to an all-time low by forcing its homogeneous ideals on Bachchan and readers alike.

Above is Elle‘s Cover with a photoshopped inset that I created with Aishwarya’s more natural skin hue.

As mentioned, I’m not one for finger pointing, but this latest development has really stricken me with grief as it’s clear that our color-blindness continues in international media. There’s nothing more breath-taking then representing beauty of all races, ethnicities, sizes, and shapes – and Elle, along with many other mainstream magazines continues to evade this ideal by reinforcing ‘white is right’ stereotypes.

If this burns you up as much as it does me – take a moment to sign the following petition asking for Elle to fix and republish the issue with a formal apology:

http://www.change.org/petitions/view/elle_magazine_apologize_for_trying_to_whiten_indian_skin