Happy Birthday to YOU! My darling friend Carissa Paige entered a new decade yesterday – the 30s! – and she wants to give one of YOU a birthday present! How sweet is that!? 

I adore Carissa. I have said here before I’m pretty sure she’s a fairy in disguise. She rocks an adorable style that’s perfectly her (in fact, those are her yellow tights and mary-janes in this necklace). She is kind-hearted. She loves to laugh. She’s deep. She trusts everything happens for a reason. She lives way too far away. And she’s super-talented.


On her blog, Carissa bravely shares some of the struggles she’s faced in her first 30 years, including growing up with an alcoholic mother who once drove all of her journals to the dumpster. Rather than allow her history to overshadow her dreams, Carissa has courageously forged ahead on the road to happiness. She views art and writing as self-help tools – critical ingredients for baking up and living the glorious life she deserves. I feel like her past, present and future all converge when she paints her beautiful girls – eerie and sweet, soft and soulful, eccentric and enigmatic. Like her art? You’ll love her blog and tweets, too.


WIN IT! So, on to your “birthday present.” Carissa’s providing one of you with a $25 gift certificate to her shop! Here’s how to enter:

and share which piece of art you love most!

{the rules}
Be sure to enter by midnight central on Friday (2.04.11)
Include your email address or a link to it with your entry.
One winner will be randomly chosen by random.org.
If winner does not respond within 3 days, a new winner will be chosen. 
Once you’ve answered the question above, 
feel free to boost your chances with the bonus opportunities below!

(leave an additional comment for each bonus opportunity)

do you follow @choosingbeauty on twitter? = 1 entry
do you “like” choosing beauty on facebook? = 1 entry
do you subscribe to the monthly choosing beauty newsletter? = 1 entry
do you subscribe to this blog via email? = 1 entry
did you link to this contest on twitter or facebook? = 1 entry each
do you follow this blog (see followers in side bar)? = 1 entry
did you do something kind for someone today? = good karma


This contest is now closed. 

Congratulations to this week’s winner, Aik in Malaysia!