My Very First Giveaway

Have you ever read The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants series?  They're fabulous books.  They're about jeans.  And friendships.  And a really cute guy named Kostas.  I read them along with two great friends I met teaching, Lisa and Sarah.  The three of us got in a bit of trouble once talking about the books during our lunch break.  We were discussing the "rules" of the pants the four main characters have to follow while wearing them.  Our administrator overheard us and said, "WHAT ARE YOU GUYS READING?!?!  YOU BETTER NOT BE READING THOSE BOOKS OUTLOUD IN CLASS!!"  He wasn't a quiet fellow.

And we were reading them outloud in class.

These stories are so intertwined with my friendship with Lisa and Sarah.  One Friday morning before school started, Lisa and Sarah walked into my classroom to chat, and Lisa was wearing the coolest pair of jeans I'd ever seen.  She was telling me a story about something and I said, "I'm sorry Lisa, I am not paying attention to a word you're saying because I love your jeans!"  And Sarah agreed.  We needed a pair ourselves. 

That Friday was a half-day of school. So later that day, when I think we were supposed to be working on curriculum, Lisa, Sarah, and I went to the mall and bought a pair of jeans just like Lisa.  They're my very own "sisterhood jeans."  I bought them in 2002 and I still have them. I won't get rid of them because when I put them on I feel brave, and I remember the risk I took in leaving my first job and going to teach at Goshen Middle School. And I remember meeting Sarah and Lisa. 

Taking risks is scary.  Putting yourself in a different environment is nerve racking.  You might not like it.  You might fail.  But you might also find some friends that make you laugh so hard you think you might die.  And you might walk away from that situation with a great pair of jeans that reminds you to take risks and be brave because you have friends rooting for you, even when they're far away.

Thankfully, I'm still in touch with Sarah and Lisa.  I work on a pretty cool project with Lisa, and today, I want to talk about these adorable Coffee Hugs that Sarah makes.

You can find her Etsy shop here.  These things are so cute, and I'm thinking about using them as stocking stuffers, maybe wrap 'em around a Starbucks gift card or something like that.  I love the patterns she chooses, but I think the buttons are my favorite.

Sarah came up with the idea for a Coffee Hug after a trip to Starbucks.  "I had taken the plain brown cardboard sleeve off the cup and was playing around with it. It came apart easily, and when layed flat, the shape was very simple. I realized that I could make one from fabric. I spent most of that afternoon making a pattern and sewing my first Coffee Hug. I made the first one with button and loop closures, and I now make reversible Coffee Hugs that close with velcro as well." 

Did I say the best part was the buttons?  Maybe I should take that back.  The best part is drinking my coffee while folding laundry....

...and having a touch of style added to my morning made by a good friend. 

Or having a reminder on an otherwise "normal" day.....

...that I have some stories to tell my daughters about the friends I made when I was a teacher. 

However, NFN readers, you might think the best part is that Sarah wants to give one of her Coffee Hugs away for free!  That's right, folks.  I have one that she sent that is wrapped in a pretty bow with her Coffee Hugs tag on it.

Want one?  Here's what you can do:

1)Leave a comment on this blog.

2)Be a "follower" of this blog.  Geez.  That sounds so Junior High.  Well, I used to teach those kiddos, so there you go.

3)Follow me on Twitter: @calliefeyen

Heck, do all three!  I'll pick someone at random, so the more times you enter, the better your chances are.  I'll announce the winner on Tuesday, November 23. 

In the meantime, go pour yourself a cup of coffee and be thankful for the friends you have that make you laugh until you cry, or cheer you on when you're doing something difficult, or bring out a talent that you didn't know you had.  I know that's what I'm going to do....just as soon as I change Harper's diaper.