Pick Your Paradise

Colorful French Post-Impressionist, Paul Gauguin, is known for painting pretty Polynesians. I don't want to Bora, Bora you, but Bora Bora Organic Foods is giving away a 6-night couples retreat to the island paradise. Or, you can opt to receive a $5,000 a check. I'd rather use the money to visit Paris, where Gauguin was born, and marvel over his masterpieces at the Musee d'Orsay. Either way, you can't loose. You'll also receive a free nutrition bar for submitting the form. Get a taste of paradise and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Taste Paradise Contest:

http://www.boraborafoods.com/couples-retreat.aspx

Timing Is Everything

One of my favorite novels this year is The Elegance of the Hedgehog. This quiet, rambling story explores the unlikely relationship between Madame Michel, a middle-aged concierge who hides her intelligence while she looks after an exclusive apartment building in Paris, and Paloma, a smart 12-year-old tenant, who intends to commit suicide when she turns 13. If "incunabulum" and "seppuku" aren't in your lexicon, keep a dictionary nearby. The enchanting vocabulary is part of the joy of reading this unusual book, which riffs on the meaning of beauty, art, culture, and cats. Given the philosophical ruminations peppering the narrative, it's enlightening to discover that the author, Muriel Barbery, was a philosophy professor. There are, however, few descriptions of Paris itself, and 7 rue de Grenelle, where the book is set, is currently a Prada boutique. Heavy on ideas and thin on plot, the story doesn't gather steam until the arrival of a new tenant, Mr. Kakuro. As soon as this Japanese gentleman sees Madame Michel for who she really is, this wonderful, insightful, heartbreaking novel is hard to put down. When you're through, your concept of time will be altered.

And speaking of time, the present prepares you for Paris. Real Simple is giving away $3,000 to, well, buy yourself a little time. What you do with it is up to you. Stop procrastinating and enter.


Voilà - the link to the Real Simple Gift of Time Sweepstakes:

http://www.realsimple.com/static/sweepstakes/gift-of-time-sweepstakes/

Everything's Coming Up Roses

Last night, I saw a preview of Valentine's Day, a delightful romantic comedy, opening just in time for the cupid fest on February 12th. It's the perfect mushy date movie. In the film, Ashton Kutcher plays the owner of a flower shop, which reminded me of the time I took a temp job at a florist right before Valentine's Day. Fragrant flowers, especially freesia, flip my senses, so I figured it would be fun. Who wouldn't want to be surrounded by beautiful, intoxicating, floral creations? Sure enough, the cozy shop was packed with aromatic arrangements. Outside, in the back, a makeshift studio had been set up for about 20 temporary designers, who churned out row after row of captivating creations. My job was to answer the phone, which never stopped ringing, and take orders. Valentine's Day is the busiest holiday of the year for florists, so note to Ashton's character: if you really owned a flower shop, on the 14th, you wouldn't have time to do anything but run it. Anyway, I was tucked into a cubby hole with three other order processors, right next to the sole bathroom. When you add in 40 drivers, who pop in and out to pick up deliveries, plus the owner and the regular staff, there were about 75 people using the one and only windowless restroom. To combat the limited ventilation, people didn't skimp on using chemical air freshner. Soon, that toxic smell was blooming. It didn't help that we worked in shifts around the clock. A rose is a rose, but after a few days, that revolting, manufactured air spray out-reeked every flower in the shop. By the time the holiday was over, I couldn't stomach another malodorous whiff of fake-breeze. Now I have enough sense to stick to buying bouquets instead of selling them.

Have you arranged something for Valentine's Day? Gorgeous roses sell out early. If you feel lucky and really want to plan ahead, 1-800-flowers.com is giving away a romantic, Hollywood (Why oh why couldn't it have been Paris?!?!) Getaway for 3 nights, including a year of flowers. Smell the roses and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Romantic Hollywood Getaway Sweepstakes:

http://1800flowers.promo.eprize.com/romanticholidaygetaway/

Hard Punch

You know the old adage, when life hands you lemons, make lemonade. Take French Impressionist Edouard Manet, who painted them. Okay, you may not be artistic, but you can still create your own sweet solution. Mike's Hard Lemonade Company is going to help you do just that with their Hard Punch Rocks Sweepstakes. Click the orange pick on the entry page to get your cap code. The grand prize is a trip for 4 to your choice of London, L.A., or New York, or you can opt for $12,000 in cash. That's plenty for your Parisian paradise, provided you don't live in CA, UT, or PR where rockers aren't eligible. Squeeze those lemons and enter.


Voilà - the link to Mike's Hard Punch Rocks Sweepstakes:

http://www.mikeshard.com/sweeps-enter.php

Laissez Les Bons Temps Rouler!

Mardi Gras kicks off on February 16th this year. To keep the party going, Zatarain's, the Cajun food company, is running a hot and spicy contest for a trip for 4 to any House of Blues in the United States. Part of the prize is awarded in a $4,000 check. Rock out at a concert in your home town, or jet off to a destination en route to the home country. Either way, you'll figure out how to have fun. Don't know what Mardi Gras is? Dig up Mardi Gras (1958), then see the latest Mardi Gras when it opens February 19th. Toss some beads and enter!

Voilà - the link to the Zatarain's Mardi Gras Sweepstakes:

http://www.zatarains.com/Giveaway.aspx

Share And Share Alike

If you're more than an armchair traveler, you know what works and what doesn't when you're on the road. Share your opinion with Travel and Leisure, and you could win a $10,000 dream trip. It's all about choices. Choose to enter.

Voilà - the link to Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards Survey and $10,000 Dream Trip Sweepstakes:

http://tlworldsbest.roiresearch.com/home.aspx

Winging It

According to the dictionary, "aerie" means the nest of a bird of prey, as in an eagle or a hawk; a lofty nest of any large bird; and a house, fortress, or the like, located high on a hill or mountain. For you Aerie means another possible free trip to Paris. Yes, this American Eagle Outfitters division is giving away one lofty adventure - 2 round trip tickets to Paris, 5 nights in a yet-to-be-named chic hotel, and a pre-trip undie spree, so you can prepare to fall in love. Remember how Mom always warned you how important it was to wear pretty underwear? Now, you know why. "Under"-stand and enter.

Voilà - the link to Aerie's Paris Sweeps:

http://www.aerie.com/aerie/sweepstakes/index.jsp?icid=AHP:ParisSweeps

Baring It All

After the horrific earthquake in Haiti, you can't help but rethink what matters. Continue the pondering on a lighter note with Bare Escentuals. Answer 5 multiple choice questions, and you may win a trip for two to Paris, along with 7 nights at the Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme, a double decker bus tour of the city, some meals, and $1,000.00 spending money. Every week 500 women will receive free bareMinerals goodies just for participating. Start rethinking and enter.

Voilà - the link the Rethink What Matters conversation:

http://www.rethinkwhatmatters.com/

Book It

Part of the fun of traveling is planning a trip. Contemporary travel memoirs and novels set in a city I'm planning to visit are my favorite entrée. I dread being a tourist, so I prefer to experience a place as a resident. Foreign Tongue: A Novel of Life and Love in Paris, Paris Hangover, Capturing Paris: A Novel, and Almost French: Love and a New Life in Paris are a few of the books I've used to transport myself to France. You can find my reviews of these and others on www.goodreads.com - if you ask me to add you as a friend. Anytime I see an article about a place I intend to visit, I also put it in a file for that destination. That way, everything I need is one place. Need to get organized? Better Homes & Gardens is giving winners a $1,750 Staples gift card to do just that. Staple this to remind yourself to enter.

Voilà - the link to The Better Homes & Gardens Gift of Organization Sweepstakes:

http://www.bhg.com/bhg/file.jsp?item=/contests/BHG_GiftOrganization/bhg_GiftOrganization_LandingPage&temp=yes

Wild Oats

In honor of Conan O'Brien's final episode of the Tonight Show last night, it's time to pay homage to an Irish staple - oatmeal. I was raised on Quaker Oats, but McCann's Steel Cut Irish Oatmeal is my favorite. Over the years, my uncle and my cousin perfected the perfect blend of raisins, nuts, and fruit to mix with McCann's, so I think of them whenever I tuck into it. My twist? A dash of brown sugar. No matter which way you like it, chances are you'll want to win McCann's 7-night trip for two to the 5-Star Heritage Golf & Spa Resort in Killenard, County Laois, Ireland. Included are one full body massage per person, one spa experience per person, 2 rounds of golf per person, and a check for $500 to help you enjoy your stay. Sounds like a great place to recover from jet lag before zipping over to Paris. Sow your oats and enter!

Voilà - the link to McCann's Irish Oatmeal Body and Soul Sweepstakes:

http://www.mccanns.ie/sweepstakes/

Transformers

Chances are you made some New Year's resolutions that involve your appearance. There's more than a caloric difference between talking and doing. Lip service can only get you so far. Ziploc's Fresh for Success Sweepstakes turns that makeover musing into a reality. By the time you've won a trip to New York, a pro make-up and hair consult, and sifted through the racks with a personal shopper, you'll look as fashionable as Coco Before Chanel. Spend some of the cash you pocket for a trip to Paris to show off your new look. Time to get fresh and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Ziploc® Fresh for Success Sweepstakes:

http://www.ziploc.com/sweepstake/2009--12/

The Golden Ticket

My favorite awards show, The Golden Globes, airs tonight on NBC. Since champagne flows beforehand, the speeches tend to be more, um, lively. Who can forget: Mary-Louise Parker's shout out to her new baby for making her boobs look better? Waiting for Christine Lahti to emerge from the bathroom? Sacha Baron Cohen's tale of seeing the ugly side of America while filming Borat, specifically the nether regions of his co-star, Ken Davitian. Tina Fey's reminder, "If you ever start to feel too good about yourself, they have this thing called the internet." And even though he had that not so Divine incident, Hugh Grant consistently delivers some of the funniest speeches I've seen. Let's hope there are more memorable laughs this evening!

In honor of the main event, Radar Online is giving away a $5,000 swag bag packed with goodies the stars receive - a $1,500 Croton watch, membership to the House of Blues Foundation Room, Live Nation concert tickets, and a host of other treats. No, it doesn't have anything to do with Paris, but when you're traveling, you can wear that belt, underwear, perfume, and other items you win. Don't bag it, enter!

Voilà - the link to the Radar Online Golden Globe Celebrity Gift Bag:

www.radaronline.com/giveaways

Project Runaway - Part Deux

New Year. New you. New round of Project Runway. To kick off the 7th season on Lifetime (I still can't get used to the fact it's no longer on Bravo!), Project Runway is running a New York, New You Sweepstakes. And yes, this is different than the last one you entered. As Heidi Klum would say, at stake is $10,000, a trip to New York for 2, a make over, and a fashion consult with Nina Garcia from Marie Claire. Who doesn't want to up their game before going on vacation? Plus, it's just a jump across the pond to Paris when you're done. Project yourself down this runway and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Project Runway New York, New You Sweepstakes:

www.mylifetime.com/sweepstakes/project-runway-sweeps/entry

From Paris With Love

Oh to be signing postcards with that phrase! John Travolta's new thriller, From Paris With Love, opens February 5th. Expect to see Paris in a whole new light since Luc Besson, who gave us the riveting La Femme Nikita, wrote the script. Ooh la la - there's a From Paris With Love Sweepstakes running in conjunction with the film. The Grand Prize includes 5 nights in a hotel, round trip airfare, and a look at the city that made the film possible! Get those weapons ready and enter.

Voilà - the link to the From Paris With Love Sweepstakes:

www.frompariswithlovesweepstakes.com

Fantasy Talk

Claire's Knee, Pauline at the Beach, and An Autumn Tale are a few Eric Rohmer films that originally fueled my fantasies of France. Yesterday, Rohmer died of an unknown cause at the age of 89. Unlike his chatty films, which often ended abruptly, Rohmer's influence remains. My favorite twist on Rohmer's subject matter is Jackie Oudney's 2008 comedy, French Film, which deftly explores the difference between the French and the English when it comes to relationships. Is French the language of love? See for yourself. Redbook is running a $100,000 Fantasy Fund Sweepstakes, which should cover all the films you'll ever want to watch as well as a trip to Paris. Stop fantasizing and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Fantasy Fund Sweepstakes:

https://subscribe.hearstmags.com/subscribe/redbook/44412/IDAEJ0215?sub_option=1

Oceans Away

Fear of flying? One way to pop across the Atlantic is on the Queen Mary 2. Granted, it will take days (6 or 7, depending on the cruise) to sail from New York to Southampton, but who cares when you're immersed in luxury? It could be An Affair to Remember. After all, Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr did fall in love on an ocean liner. Want to travel back in time? Travel + Leisure is hosting a New Golden Age of Ocean Travel Sweepstakes, and the Grand Prize is a transatlantic crossing on the Queen Mary 2. Once you're in England, you can zip over to Paris via the Chunnel. Sail on over to the contest and enter.


Voilà - the link to the New Golden Age of Ocean Travel Sweepstakes:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/promo/cunard/

Living Well In the Garden of Earthly Delights

Living well may be the best revenge, but it's going to take some cash to do it. GNC is giving away $5,000 to jump start your goals in 2010. That can easily cover a flight to Paris, Hotel du Jeu de Paume on romantic Ile St. Louis, and a visit to Monet's garden in Giverny. Channel some positive energy, and enter the GNC Live Well Sweepstakes.

Voilà - the link to the GNC contest:

http://gnc.promo.eprize.com/5000/

Pepper Popper

True confession: Dr. Pepper used to be my favorite soda. Currently, I refrain from buying it, but that doesn't mean I don't drink it. On a set, at a party, visiting with friends, Dr. Pepper is my secret splurge. Now, the good doc is offering "unbelievably satisfying experiences" - a trip for 3 to Las Vegas, Miami, or New York, 3 nights at a hotel, plus $500 to spend. That flight to Paris is mighty long, so I wouldn't mind breaking it up with a stopover in New York. Are you a pepper? This trip could be what the doctor ordered. Follow his prescription, and enter.

Voilà - the link to the Dr. Pepper contest:

http://unbelievablysatisfying.com/

Leap of Faith

Romantic comedies always reel me in, even if I can predict the ending before it starts. French Kiss, Forget Paris, Chocolat, Gotcha!, A Fine Romance, Paris When it Sizzles, and Paris Blues, are visual delights when you're stateside and longing for that je ne sais quoi. For the more adventurous, there's Amelie, Charade, and Frantic. Funny Face, An American Dreamer, Until September, Once in Paris, The Last Time I Saw Paris, and French Postcards serve up some staggering French scenery, too. Need a new fix? Leap Year (and no, 2010 isn't one!) opens today. Sure, it's set in Ireland instead of France, but you can enter the Leap Year Sweepstakes to win a trip to the Emerald Isle. Just leap across the channel when you're done. Take a leap of faith and enter.

Voilà - the link to Fandango's Leap Year Sweepstakes:

https://www.fandango.com/sweepstakes/leapyear

Toujours Provence

Peter Mayle's seductive memoirs (A Year in Provence, Encore Provence, Toujours Provence) are easily acquired tastes. He had me at foie gras. Tales of wine tasting, truffle hunting, and searching for the perfect corkscrew are the next best thing to being in the south of France. No wonder, Provence A-Z promptly became my French bible. Yes, I’m a city girl at heart, but come weekends, I like to escape to the country. Paris and Provence are perfect complements. But, when you can’t pop across the pond, a delicious travel memoir is a quick fix. So is the film A Good Year, which was shot in Bonnieux and Gordes. Luckily, Food & Wine and American Express Publishing want to make French fantasies come true. Put down your book, turn off the film, and enter for a chance to win a $25,000 South of France dream vacation tout de suite.

Voilà - the link to The Dream of a Lifetime Sweepstakes:

https://subs.timeinc.net/WI/wi_25kfrance_sweeps.jhtml?experience_id=232950&source_id=11&_requestid=22892&_requestid=22892