CARMINA'S BIRTHDAY PRIZE GIVEAWAY! ALESSI CUTE SUSHI SET FROM MODERN FURNITURE & INTERIORS SITE ALLMODERN.COM
It’s my birthday, wahhh! I never celebrate my “big day”; Halloween and New Years and this blog’s anniversary and my cat’s birthday take precedence. But I really appreciate your messages; I’m so grateful to you, my dear darklings. So on this gift-giving day, I’m turning the tables… and unleashing SEVERAL cute prizes in a contest starting today!
First, hugs for my spooky comrades who have supported me in work, play, and every conceivable mash-up of the two. For my Theme Restaurants book (now available), Happy Phantom and friends created elaborate costumes and made the photoshoots a blast. I think this blog really came into its own once they stepped onto the stage.
Gratitude for my editors, agent, and publishers for giving me a shot at a dream job. As I said in yesterday’s interview, “They sent me to Tokyo on the coolest mission ever: Take pictures at over 30 theme restaurants. I was waited upon by monkeys, had people screaming at me, attacking me. It was amazing!” (Above: Princess Heart in Ginza)
And domo arigato gozaimasu to my kitty, Basil Farrow… yes, I’m a crazy obsessed cat lady, but my cookbook Cute Yummy Time wouldn’t exist without him (he’s the star). Dare I say he’s made all our lives more kawaii? (Above, photos of a cat cafe from my Theme Restaurants book.)
While I’m in a sappy mood, we might as well give away a prize! Modern interiors retailer AllModern.com follows my blog and knows I’m a design addict (recall this and this post about Rococo decor, Marie Antoinette beds, burnt furniture…).
I was tickled that AllModern.com contacted me, since I often browse through their immense selection of modern furniture and home accessories. Brands such as Herman Miller, Knoll, Kartell, Magis… design gods such as Philippe Starck, Eero Saarinen, Isamu Noguchi, Verner Panton… this retailer’s got it all. I’d furnish my dream pad with (above photo) a Terribear lamp, Death Wish mirror, Louis Ghost theme chair, Kartell bourgie lamp, and Alessi cat bowls.
Aww, how cute is this Lily Pond Sushi Set by Stefano Giovannoni? Enter La Carmina’s birthday contest and it could be yours! Allmodern.com generously donated this whimsical piece, inspired by Taiwan’s National Palace Museum collection. Winner gets the “plate and chopsticks in melamine”; “small plate for soy sauce and chopstick holder in fine bone china.”
† HOW TO ENTER (contest open to US and Canada residents only)
1) Read the description of my Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurants book on this page. Then comment here, telling me which Tokyo theme restaurant you’d most like to visit and why.
2) Bonus point if you promote the contest in a blog post or forum, or link to it via Facebook, Twitter, Stumble or any other social network. Simply comment here with a link to where you spread the word. If your comment doesn’t show up, don’t worry – I’ll check my Spam regularly and approve your entries.
International readers, fret not… tomorrow, you’ll have another chance to win one of three devilishly cute prizes!
Thank you so much for your support! I am thrilled to share my Theme Restaurants book with you (available now)… please keep it in mind if you’re looking for something new and fun to read.
Song of the Day #177: The Birthday Party – Release The Bats
† † † † † † †
Contest ends midnight Pacific Time on Sunday, August 23, 2009. Maximum two (2) entries per person. OPEN TO US AND CANADA RESIDENTS ONLY. To enter, follow the instructions above. You must include a valid email address (it will not be visible). Winners will be chosen with a random number generator; the order of entry determines your number. Winners will be contacted via email. The prize will be shipped by the manufacturer to the winner’s address; La Carmina is not responsible for lost or undelivered prizes. Contact Carmina if you have questions about the contest.
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LA CARMINA
115 Comments
Oooh happy birthday! I just logged on facebook and saw the reminder. Hope you have a wonderful day today love!!!
And good luck to all contest participants! Even though I can't enter I shall still promote it around! =)
Oooh happy birthday! I just logged on facebook and saw the reminder. Hope you have a wonderful day today love!!!
And good luck to all contest participants! Even though I can’t enter I shall still promote it around! =)
Thank you for the wishes, and for spreading the word!
Just wanted to drop by to say happy birthday Carmen! I sincerely hope your day is filled with wonder and magic, with perhaps a dash of cuteness and madness on the side! :)
Just wanted to drop by to say happy birthday Carmen! I sincerely hope your day is filled with wonder and magic, with perhaps a dash of cuteness and madness on the side! :)
You’re the sweetest – thank you! I sincerely hope we’ll find a chance to meet up in LA… maybe have a glass of absinthe? ;)
Most certainly!
happy birthday carmen!!
i love your blog so much!
upload a video about your birthday day… =)
I have to say the Valley of The Fairies restaurant for me!
I've been a fan of fairies since I was little and practically devoured every type of book, magazine, movie, and tv show that featured them, and I still do today. Plus the idea of eating while there's a magical glen around me is just too cute to ignore!
I'd have to say that the Alice in Wonderland Cafe would be the choice for me! ^-^
Alice in wonderland was one of my favorite stories growing up…& I'm currently trying to track down all movies based around it. (It's a work in-progress.) It would be SO amazing to be able to place myself in the center of such a wacky & delightful fantasy land, while nibbleing on some scrumptious foods!
You'd love this restaurant! The waitresses wear wings and music box music plays… and you dine in rose and silk-covered tents!
In writing the book, one of my favorite experiences was visiting the Alice cafe… we all dressed up like the characters and had a madddd tea party! Thanks for the entry.
Thank you so much! <3 <3
I have a cute cupcake Death Cookbook video on the way…
You're the sweetest – thank you! I sincerely hope we'll find a chance to meet up in LA… maybe have a glass of absinthe? ;)
Thank you for the wishes, and for spreading the word!
… I am fretting T_T.
Hahah! But you won't be tomorrow, once you see what you can win… :)
HAPPY BDAY AGAIn ^_^ i posted the links for ur blog, this contest and the restaurant theme book on my fb and myspace as always ^_^ I'd goto the vampire cafe, because I am a vampire ;) lol at least i have the super pale skin and live in Victorian period clothing, i think i'd fit in just fine.
Heheh, the staff would love you! There's a cute vampire waiter who works there… we always swoon over him… :D
Thanks so much for spreading the word. ^^
Most certainly!
happy birthday carmen!!
i love your blog so much!
upload a video about your birthday day… =)
Thank you so much! <3 <3
I have a cute cupcake Death Cookbook video on the way…
I have to say the Valley of The Fairies restaurant for me!
I’ve been a fan of fairies since I was little and practically devoured every type of book, magazine, movie, and tv show that featured them, and I still do today. Plus the idea of eating while there’s a magical glen around me is just too cute to ignore!
You’d love this restaurant! The waitresses wear wings and music box music plays… and you dine in rose and silk-covered tents!
I just squeed when I read that. Now I have to save up to fly to Japan, just to eat there. Music boxes are my weakness, and when you add in fairy wings? I’m so there.
I’d have to say that the Alice in Wonderland Cafe would be the choice for me! ^-^
Alice in wonderland was one of my favorite stories growing up…& I’m currently trying to track down all movies based around it. (It’s a work in-progress.) It would be SO amazing to be able to place myself in the center of such a wacky & delightful fantasy land, while nibbleing on some scrumptious foods!
In writing the book, one of my favorite experiences was visiting the Alice cafe… we all dressed up like the characters and had a madddd tea party! Thanks for the entry.
That’s gonna have 2 be one of my goals!, 2 travel there & have a madddd tea party of my own! lol
I can’t wait for Tim burtons take on Alice in wonderland to come out next year!
also just in case u didn’t get my message, HAPPY BIRTHDAY again! =^-^=
… I am fretting T_T.
Hahah! But you won’t be tomorrow, once you see what you can win… :)
HAPPY BDAY AGAIn ^_^ i posted the links for ur blog, this contest and the restaurant theme book on my fb and myspace as always ^_^ I’d goto the vampire cafe, because I am a vampire ;) lol at least i have the super pale skin and live in Victorian period clothing, i think i’d fit in just fine.
Heheh, the staff would love you! There’s a cute vampire waiter who works there… we always swoon over him… :D
Thanks so much for spreading the word. ^^
hahha another reason to go
I would definitely love to go to #24 the Cat-themed resturant. I looove kitties. XD
So kawaii…
I just squeed when I read that. Now I have to save up to fly to Japan, just to eat there. Music boxes are my weakness, and when you add in fairy wings? I'm so there.
I would definitely love to go to #24 the Cat-themed resturant. I looove kitties. XD
So kawaii…
Happy birthday!
As for the contest I think the Alice in Wonderland one. I love the books and just from the picture it looks adorable and like tons of fun!
Promoted: http://twitter.com/SweetAsCyanide
Hey La Carmina.
First time commenting! Happy Birthday! I can't wait for Cute Yummy Time to come out! October is too far away!
As for the contest:
I would love to go to the Gothic Lolita cafe because I just adore everything about the fashion. I'm new to it and would never have known that there was such a huge selection of things to buy if it wasn't for reading that article about you in the Vancouver Sun a couple of weeks ago. Thanks so much for introducing me!
Heyy, that's awesome that you saw the article! ^^
The Gothic Lolita cafe is run by two musicians (the classical/Goth band Kokusyoku Sumire) and it's like stepping into a Victorian child's dreamworld. Stuffed toys, ornate antiques, plush velvet sofas… and the pumpkin cake is to die for!
Thank you for the birthday wishes and contest entry! :) More sneak peeks at the theme restaurant book to come..
Happy birthday!
As for the contest I think the Alice in Wonderland one. I love the books and just from the picture it looks adorable and like tons of fun!
Promoted: http://twitter.com/SweetAsCyanide
Thank you for the birthday wishes and contest entry! :) More sneak peeks at the theme restaurant book to come..
Hey La Carmina.
First time commenting! Happy Birthday! I can’t wait for Cute Yummy Time to come out! October is too far away!
As for the contest:
I would love to go to the Gothic Lolita cafe because I just adore everything about the fashion. I’m new to it and would never have known that there was such a huge selection of things to buy if it wasn’t for reading that article about you in the Vancouver Sun a couple of weeks ago. Thanks so much for introducing me!
Heyy, that’s awesome that you saw the article! ^^
The Gothic Lolita cafe is run by two musicians (the classical/Goth band Kokusyoku Sumire) and it’s like stepping into a Victorian child’s dreamworld. Stuffed toys, ornate antiques, plush velvet sofas… and the pumpkin cake is to die for!
That's gonna have 2 be one of my goals!, 2 travel there & have a madddd tea party of my own! lol
I can't wait for Tim burtons take on Alice in wonderland to come out next year!
also just in case u didn't get my message, HAPPY BIRTHDAY again! =^-^=
I was actually in Tokyo for the first time last year and completely fell in love with the city! We went to the lock-up which was very fun but if I had to choose a different theme restaurant to visit I'd say Christon. The pictures you had previously posted made kick myself for not knowing about it while we were there. The decor and dark Christian undertones make it elegant yet non-religous which makes it perfect and sin free. I already told my husband when we renew our vows I'd like to do it there ;) Happy Birthday by the way!
I was actually in Tokyo for the first time last year and completely fell in love with the city! We went to the lock-up which was very fun but if I had to choose a different theme restaurant to visit I’d say Christon. The pictures you had previously posted made kick myself for not knowing about it while we were there. The decor and dark Christian undertones make it elegant yet non-religous which makes it perfect and sin free. I already told my husband when we renew our vows I’d like to do it there ;) Happy Birthday by the way!
Hope you had a awesome birthday! The cafe for me would be the Edelstein! I would love to be served by hot Japanese guys dressed in there school outfits. ^0^!!
Hope you had a awesome birthday! The cafe for me would be the Edelstein! I would love to be served by hot Japanese guys dressed in there school outfits. ^0^!!
hahha another reason to go
Wizard of the Opera because I loved phantom of the opera as kid!
wizard of the opera
i like the pic
and the poor translation
oh definitely valley of the fairies
or alice in wonderland.
loved alice in wonderland as a kid, and loved candyland- all that jazz… give me a restaurant with childhood favorites and a slightly twisted take on it and i'm there
fun!
Wizard of the Opera because I loved phantom of the opera as kid!
wizard of the opera
i like the pic
and the poor translation
Alice in Wonderland Cafe.
It just seems so fun and crazy.
I love the book always have!
To sit and have the crazy characters around me would kinda…
And I know it sounds kinda dumb!
But it would be like an awesome dream come true for me!
Sounds dumb??? You're speaking to the girl who recreated a mad tea party with her friends! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONO0EceyAc
Sounds dumb??? You're speaking to the girl who recreated a mad tea party with her friends! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONO0EceyAc
oh definitely valley of the fairies
or alice in wonderland.
loved alice in wonderland as a kid, and loved candyland- all that jazz… give me a restaurant with childhood favorites and a slightly twisted take on it and i’m there
fun!
Alice in Wonderland Cafe.
It just seems so fun and crazy.
I love the book always have!
To sit and have the crazy characters around me would kinda…
And I know it sounds kinda dumb!
But it would be like an awesome dream come true for me!
Sounds dumb??? You’re speaking to the girl who recreated a mad tea party with her friends! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONO0EceyAc
Sounds dumb??? You’re speaking to the girl who recreated a mad tea party with her friends! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONO0EceyAc
def vampire cafe
i love your cover
its so cute
awww you're so cute; thanks love
def wizard of the opera LOL
def vampire cafe
i love your cover
its so cute
awww you’re so cute; thanks love
def wizard of the opera LOL
happy brthdayand lets hope you have a wonderful bday full of joy and overflowing with happiness. :D
Happy birthday! ^^ The Alice in Wonderland sounds the most interesting!
I've seen and read many different versions of this story when I was younger!
(This one cereal company even had a version of Alice in Wonderland on DVD in their boxes xD)
To go to that restaurant would probably feel like going into the movie~ <3
^^ I also promoted through my tumblr~
http://maisukiyo.tumblr.com/post/166649172/carm…
happy brthdayand lets hope you have a wonderful bday full of joy and overflowing with happiness. :D
Thank you! I had a great one… :)
Happy birthday! ^^ The Alice in Wonderland sounds the most interesting!
I’ve seen and read many different versions of this story when I was younger!
(This one cereal company even had a version of Alice in Wonderland on DVD in their boxes xD)
To go to that restaurant would probably feel like going into the movie~ <3
^^ I also promoted through my tumblr~
http://maisukiyo.tumblr.com/post/166649172/carminas-birthday-prize-giveaway-alessi-cute-sushi
I hadn’t heard about the DVD! How interesting… the things you find in cereal boxes :)You have the cutest Tumbr – very inspiring.
I hadn't heard about the DVD! How interesting… the things you find in cereal boxes :)
You have the cutest Tumbr – very inspiring.
Thank you! I had a great one… :)
Happy birthday! I would love to go to the Vampire Cafe. Why vampires do I need to say more.
Happy birthday! I would love to go to the Vampire Cafe. Why vampires do I need to say more.
Exactly. Vampires – yes!
Hi La Carmina, The Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurant I would love to visit in Japan is The Alice in Wonderland Cafe. Like Alice I would love to fall asleep and wake up in another world. What a trip! I definately think it would be good for my mental health, I sure could use a break from reality, I could use a good laugh. Alice in wonderland was alway's my favorite fairy tale when I was a kid. To be able to experience that as an adult would be wild.
Also I posted this contest on facebook, you can check it out at paulastacey@hotmail.com I also emailed all my buddies with the contest details. when you check me out on facebook you will see:
I'm entering La Carmina's Birthday contest in hopes of winning a Lily Pond Sushi Set by Stefano Giovannoni which was donated by all modern.com feel free to check it out at http://www.allmodern.com/Alessi-ASG90-SET-AAS12…
hope to hear from you soon
take care,
Paula Stacey
Beautiful! Thanks so much for your entry! Looks like Alice is one of the most appealing restaurants to everyone…
:)
Exactly. Vampires – yes!
Hi La Carmina, The Crazy Wacky Theme Restaurant I would love to visit in Japan is The Alice in Wonderland Cafe. Like Alice I would love to fall asleep and wake up in another world. What a trip! I definately think it would be good for my mental health, I sure could use a break from reality, I could use a good laugh. Alice in wonderland was alway’s my favorite fairy tale when I was a kid. To be able to experience that as an adult would be wild.
Also I posted this contest on facebook, you can check it out at paulastacey@hotmail.com I also emailed all my buddies with the contest details. when you check me out on facebook you will see:
I’m entering La Carmina’s Birthday contest in hopes of winning a Lily Pond Sushi Set by Stefano Giovannoni which was donated by all modern.com feel free to check it out at http://www.allmodern.com/Alessi-ASG90-SET-AAS1265.html#ProdDetails
hope to hear from you soon
take care,
Paula Stacey
Beautiful! Thanks so much for your entry! Looks like Alice is one of the most appealing restaurants to everyone…
:)
i want to visit the animal mania ones
because i like to be surrounded by cute things when i eat
:) “it makes you feel less fat” HAHAH
i want to visit the animal mania ones
because i like to be surrounded by cute things when i eat
:) “it makes you feel less fat” HAHAH
I have to buy this book before I go to Tokyo. I'm MAKING my boyfriend go to all the crazy restaurants with me. Even Edelstein! >__<
In a dream world I of course want to go to all of them. But I think the one that I'd want to go to the most would have to be…the ninja one. I think it's because it sounds unpredictable, and I like that “SURPRISE!” sort of thing. I'd jump and squeak and then spill my drink all over the table and feel really silly and just think to myself, “Blarg! I am such a gaijen!”
….and somehow that translates as fun to me? Ha ha ha!
Anything that's spooky and will get me to jump!
I even made a pretty little note. And I like, hardly ever make notes. But maybe now that I actually have the net, I'll be a little more blog happy…. Bah! Regardless, share-age.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&sugge…
Woo hoo!
I have to buy this book before I go to Tokyo. I’m MAKING my boyfriend go to all the crazy restaurants with me. Even Edelstein! >__<
In a dream world I of course want to go to all of them. But I think the one that I'd want to go to the most would have to be…the ninja one. I think it's because it sounds unpredictable, and I like that "SURPRISE!" sort of thing. I'd jump and squeak and then spill my drink all over the table and feel really silly and just think to myself, "Blarg! I am such a gaijen!"
….and somehow that translates as fun to me? Ha ha ha!
Anything that's spooky and will get me to jump!
I even made a pretty little note. And I like, hardly ever make notes. But maybe now that I actually have the net, I'll be a little more blog happy…. Bah! Regardless, share-age.
http://www.facebook.com/note.php?created&&suggest¬e_id=138777186840
Woo hoo!
^_^ So I think that Id like to eat at Alice in Wonderland restaraunt just because little does anyone know but those books were the writings of an Opium addict… who just happen to be tripping real hard and made a glorious book out of the whole experience! I'd love to se some kind of real neon lights crazy LSD make you dizzy and see bunnies spin on that, but also I have really cute Cut-Sew patterns of the A.I.W. that I could definately use up!
^_^ So I think that Id like to eat at Alice in Wonderland restaraunt just because little does anyone know but those books were the writings of an Opium addict… who just happen to be tripping real hard and made a glorious book out of the whole experience! I'd love to se some kind of real neon lights crazy LSD make you dizzy and see bunnies spin on that, but also I have really cute Cut-Sew patterns of the A.I.W. that I could definately use up!
^_^ So I think that Id like to eat at Alice in Wonderland restaraunt just because little does anyone know but those books were the writings of an Opium addict… who just happen to be tripping real hard and made a glorious book out of the whole experience! I’d love to se some kind of real neon lights crazy LSD make you dizzy and see bunnies spin on that, but also I have really cute Cut-Sew patterns of the A.I.W. that I could definately use up!
^_^ So I think that Id like to eat at Alice in Wonderland restaraunt just because little does anyone know but those books were the writings of an Opium addict… who just happen to be tripping real hard and made a glorious book out of the whole experience! I’d love to se some kind of real neon lights crazy LSD make you dizzy and see bunnies spin on that, but also I have really cute Cut-Sew patterns of the A.I.W. that I could definately use up!
I'd ahve to say the Alice in Wonderland one, I absolutely love Alice in Wonderland!
Make the dream a reality! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONO0EceyAc
Alice in Wonderland Cafe.
It just seems so fun and crazy.
I love the book always have!
To sit and have the crazy characters around me would kinda…
And I know it sounds kinda dumb!
But it would be like an awesome dream come true for me!
Make the dream a reality! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ONO0EceyAc
I’d ahve to say the Alice in Wonderland one, I absolutely love Alice in Wonderland!
Happy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyyyyy <3
I would want to go to the Wizard of the Opera restaurant. xD
That phantom looks divine ^___~
Thanks so much, hun!!
http://deadevillizard.blogspot.com/
promoted on the sidebar :D
Happy Birthdayyyyyyyyyyyyyy <3
I would want to go to the Wizard of the Opera restaurant. xD
That phantom looks divine ^___~
Thanks so much, hun!!
http://deadevillizard.blogspot.com/
promoted on the sidebar :D
I'd go to the Alice in Wonderland restaurant, just because I remember in the Disney movie Alice would eat these biscuits and drink cordials from these cool-looking vials. And I'd just check out the restaurant to see if I could order the same foods and drinks that Alice had eaten and drank.
I’d go to the Alice in Wonderland restaurant, just because I remember in the Disney movie Alice would eat these biscuits and drink cordials from these cool-looking vials. And I’d just check out the restaurant to see if I could order the same foods and drinks that Alice had eaten and drank.
I liked the Wizard of the Opera, because it was dramatic and yet elegant and you could really wear some Goth Lolita and knock the masque right off the Phantom! But it was a hard choice because all the places were a different kind of cool!
I liked the Wizard of the Opera, because it was dramatic and yet elegant and you could really wear some Goth Lolita and knock the masque right off the Phantom! But it was a hard choice because all the places were a different kind of cool!
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
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I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don’t know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://illinoislottery.info
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment. I don't know what to say except that I have enjoyed reading. Nice blog. I will keep visiting this blog very often.
Betty
http://illinoislottery.info
Great furniture and great food. This is a pretty nice event.
Great furniture and great food. This is a pretty nice event.
That seems a pretty nice place to visit. Hope I could come there someday.
Opium addiction has affected entire populations and international economies, and through the dissemination of other drugs which are derived from it, opium addiction in one form or another has become a worldwide problem.
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