It’s a place to give artists and artisans around the world a global platform to express their true artistic talents and to spur their creativity. And, we want to provide you with access to unique, hard-to-find items at great values that only the Internet infrastructure can allow.  At the deepest essence of our philosophy, we want to create a bridge between you and the many talented artisans across the globe.  We want you to know about who you’re buying from. We want you to feel that attachment to the product and to the hands that created it.  In the spirit of the Internet, let us bring you together. NOVICA. The World is Your Market. (taken from site)

As I browsed around I was amazed at these products by people from around the world.  With so many things from home decor to beautiful necklaces I knew it was going to be a tough choice.  I finally decided on one of their handbags.  I am sure that is not a big surprise to those who know me.  When the package arrived I was so excited I tore right into it, but not before snapping a few pictures of how pretty the wrapping was and seeing the handwritten thank you post card in both english and the designers native language.

Here is a little better shot of the purse so you can see the beauty and detail:

I just love this bag, it’s so summery and the room in it, let’s just say there is a ton of room.  I love roomy purses.  I tried to get the link so you could go order it for yourself if you wanted but I could not find it on the site anymore.  However it took me quite a long time to narrow down to this purse so I am pretty sure you will be able to find something for yourself.

Whether you are looking for a handbag, jewelry, home decor, paintings, or even clothing over at Novica you are sure to find something beautiful and unique.  These items are made from artisans around the world so you are getting some of the persons culture when you buy from them.  I just love that.

Now let’s get to the fun part.  When I was contacted I was offered a $150 gift card  to use on the site  for myself but after seeing the items over there I couldn’t not share it with my readers so I instead broke it up into two $75.00 ones.  One for myself so I could get the above item to review and one to giveaway.  I really want one of my readers to be able to enjoy something from Novica. Tomorrow is my 31st birthday (July 31) and for my birthday I am giving you all a present LOL.

WIN IT

One Reader will win a $75.00 gift card to Novica to pick any item they want.  If the total (with shipping) is equal to or less than the gift card amount you pay nothing, if it is more you pay the difference.

Required Entry

Head over to Novica and let me know something that catches your eye.  THIS IS REQUIRED AND MUST BE DONE TO QUALIFY (or before doing any of the extra entries)

Extra Entries *The below entries are completely optional, above required entry must be done for these to count*:

1 Entry Each :

• Subscribe to my blog through the orange feedburner icon (in sidebar)
• Subscribe to my blog through email (in sidebar)
• Follow me through Google Friend Connect (in sidebar)
• Follow @totally_toni on twitter (leave  your twitter name)
• Like A Daily Dose on Facebook
• Follow A Daily Dose on Facebook Networked Blogs.
• Follow @Novica on twitter.
• Fan Novica on Facebook.

5 Entries: Blog about this contest with a link back to this post.  Leave url in comment.

DAILY  (optional) ENTRIES :  Tweet the following message as many times as you like daily : ” Win a $75 gift card to @novica http://bit.ly/cyGxjv from @totally_toni “  Please leave tweet url in your comment.

Giveaway will close on August 21 at 8:00 p.m. CST.

Details to pay attention to when entering contests at A Daily Dose:

1. Required entry MUST be done to qualify, not following this entry will result in all entries being deleted.
2. Optional entries can only be done IF the required entry has been met.  However they are completely optional and do not have to be done.
3. Be sure to leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry so you don’t short yourself
4. Winner will be picked at random by Random.Org
5. Winner will be emailed using the email they supplied to enter and will have 48 hours to respond or prize will be redrawn.

For more on my review, giveaway, winner, and disclosure policies please see my disclosure.

Disclosure:  Review and Giveaway items are given by the company or pr firm on behalf of the company.  I was given a gift card to purchase an item from the above site for sole purpose of reviewing the product.  Reception of product does not influence my views and as always they are honest and 100% my own.  No other form of compensation was received for this review.

Along with the grand prize there is also a daily prize from Creativity Pack.  It includes a dry erase board set, dry erase board decals (garden party), dry erase decals (pipe dreams), and a dry erase poster set.  It’s great for those little artists you have in your house.  So daily you can enter for the grand prize as well as be entered into the daily drawing for the above.  So click on the link below to head over and enter daily until October 15, 2010.

*Disclaimer: I was not asked to post this I posted because I think it is a great thing.  That is all.

Hey y’all it’s time to link up your giveaways from around the web. Every Thursday I have a giveaway linky that stays open until Wednesday afternoon. It’s a great way to promote the giveaways you have going on.

Right now I have 4 giveaways going on
~ Despicable Me Gift Pack (ending TODAY 7/29)
~ Walmart Gift Card Giveaway (ending on 7/31)
~ American Girl Doll Giveaway (ending 7/31)
~ $25 iTunes Gift Card Giveaway (ending on 8/3)

Link up your giveaways below using the following format
Line 1: Site Name, Giveaway, End Date *please note if it is an adult themed giveaway*
Line 2: Url to the giveaway NOT the main site url

Now get to linkin’ up!

All day yesterday I was immersed in Murphy USA‘s annual DM meeting and will be again today. I don’t have a lot of time to post and frankly still need to wrap my thoughts around everything. It was a great great meeting. A quick note to any brands reading this post, if you want to know what to do right with your company and social media, keep an eye on Murphy. THEY GET IT!

Because I am their biggest fan (sorry no one can top one who loves a brand so much a tattoo is considered) and well I love the company I have now titled myself “The Official MUM” The Murphy USA Mom. It’s an unofficial title (for now) but I plan on telling them it should be made into something official for me very soon. Until I can get a deep post up about everything I wanted to share a little of what I love about Murphy USA.

So without further ado, my vlog:

So now you tell me how many home office employees could tell you the name of the manager (not regional or dm) of a store right when you tell them the city you are moving too.  My guess is not too many off the top of their heads.  I love the fact this company is so humble and takes the time to get to know their employees.  The things they do for them just leaves me speechless, wait until you read about all that.  And the El Dorado promise I mentioned in the vlog, tell me where else EVERY high school child that has been in the school since at least 9th grade can get college paid for!  Okay I have to stop for now to get ready for today but I could go on and on.  So keep a watch for a more detailed post and more videos later.

Thank you to Collective Bias for allowing me to be so involved with a company I respect so much. I look forward to doing so many things with them. *My trip will be compensated for time taken off from my other job but opinions are as always 100% honest and my own*

This is myself and Jerri Ann last night at the night of bowling with Murphy USA District Managers. We spent all day immersed in their annual district manager meeting (more to come on that in a later post) and spoke as well. Then after everyone went bowling and it was AWESOME. Very psychedelic! Now link up your WW posts below!

So things may be a bit quiet here on the Toni Front but hopefully in the evenings I can update at least a few sentences about the days experience.  I am looking forward to meeting so many more people in the company along with the ones I had the privilege of meeting in May when I went down.  While I am not looking forward to rising at 4:30 a.m. I am excited about going.

Don’t forget to follow me on twitter @totally_toni to keep up with my tweets while I am there and @murphy_usa of course.  Now off I go to shower, finish packing and get my tail in bed.

*Disclosure: I am being compensated for my time to go to Murphy, however I was not asked to write any posts.  My opinions are my own and as always honest and reflect my views alone.

Okay tonight I went out to dinner with some amazing peeps from work and while we were there, the lovely Kat showed me a video that had me cracking up. I had to watch it again when I got home and got even more laughs out of it. If you didn’t already know there are some vibrating mascaras out there. Sounds kind of scary but supposed to work really well. Well never fear if you don’t own a vibrating mascara that’s not a problem because you can just do this:

OMGEEEEE!!! I am crying from laughing so hard, and if that is not funny enough check out the spoof:

BWAHAHAHHAHAHA! Tell me you didn’t get a giggle out of those (or in my case laughing so hard you cry). I hereby award both of them BEST YOUTUBE VIDEO (for today anyways). Because she was so serious and he brought in other items they are both winners in a loser kind of way. Definitely a WHAT THE ???? moment for the first girl, but I may just try the technique. If I do I will be sure to video it just for all my readers.

Happy Day, now go find me some more hilarious you tube videos

Photo from Apple.com

Hello all you people out there like me, that ran out and got the iPhone 4 because they are phone freaks.

Yes I admittedly am a phone freak, must have the newest iPhone.  It’s a disease I like to call iNeedNewiPhoneitis.  As I am sure all of the world knows about the iPhone 4 I am sure everyone knows about the dropped signal because of the lovely antenna issue.  Yes it’s an issue, tested it first hand, however I had to have a death grip to get the bars to drop so it’s not much of an issue for me.  Now for those who hold their phones so hard it’s in immediate danger of cracking then they are going to need a case because their signal will drop.

I bought myself a case because well frankly I knew if I tried to be brave and look cool with my iPhone 4 it would hit the ground and break.  It’s a known fact I am sometimes a bit clumsy so for me it’s better safe than sorry.  Because of this antenna issue apple is giving away free cases if you have or buy an iPhone 4 by September 30, 2010.  So that means I get two cases now, yay!!!  I could have just been refunded for my case but I like change so two cases is better than one for me.  Now if you are an iPhone owner and you purchased your iPhone 4 before July 23, you have until August 22 to get your free case so get to gettin’.

How do you get this free case you ask, well I am telling you right this minute.  It’s all explained at Apple but if you are reading this I am going to tell you how now (from their site of course).  Here’s how to get your free case:

Follow these instructions to get your free bumper/case for your iPhone 4.  But first let me tell you there is not much selection only like 5 or 6 plain cases/bumper to choose from so you aren’t getting something super fancy but it’s free.

1. Download the iPhone 4 Case Program app from either your iPhone (by searching “iphone 4 case” then hit the little search button and it should come up) or download it by clicking here.
2. Launch the app on your iPhone (this gives them the information they need to make sure you are eligible) and sign into your iTunes account or Apple id.
3. Select your bumper or case.  (I picked a clear case to show my little baby off on occasion)

*Again you must do this by August 22 if you purchased your phone before July 23 and those after up until September 10, 2010 can do it within 30 days of purchase so remember to do this!

Surely I am not the only one that has these moments.  Right?

Hey everyone it’s time to link up those giveaways/contests from around the web. Every week on Thursdays I have a giveaway linky. It will stay open until the Wednesday before the next weeks link up goes up. So this weeks will close on July 28. Get your contests/giveaways listed so they get advertised for free, you can’t beat free. And while you are here enter some of the others listed.

Right now I have 4 giveaways going on.

• Despicable Me Movie Pack Giveaway ending on July 29
• Walmart Gift Card Giveaway ending on July 31
• American Girl Doll Giveaway ending on July 31
• iTunes Gift Card Giveaway ending on August 3

So head over and enter those while you are here. Now to enter your giveaways simply follow these two steps and you are good to go.

Line 1: Site Name, Giveaway, End Date (also note if it is an adult themed giveaway)
Line 2: Url to the giveaway NOT the main site url.

Now link up those giveaways and enter some, as well as mine while you are here. Happy Thursday