29
Wedding Bliss Photo Giveaway FINALISTS!
UPDATE {4.2.11}: Voting is now closed! Thank you!
I’m sorry I’m a day late posting this–being sick over the weekend put me a little behind. Nevertheless, I’m pleased (nay, THRILLED) to announce the three finalists for the Veronica Varos Wedding Photography Package Giveaway. It was incredibly difficult to choose, as everyone’s stories truly touched our hearts. We wish all of the couples who entered (or were nominated for) this contest a life of true, unconditional, and selfless love and joy.
You, the Secret Agent L Project followers, will get to vote for the couple you feel most deserves this amazing giveaway prize.
How to vote:
1. Leave a comment on this post OR on the Secret Agent L Facebook Discussions page and let us know who you’re voting for. One comment per person, please. {You can view all of the original nominations and comments here.}
2. All votes must be received by 11:59 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2011.
3. The couple who receives the most votes will receive the wedding photography package.
4. The winning couple will be announced here and on the Facebook page {and they will notified by email} on Monday, April 4, 2011.
The finalists are {in no particular order}:
1. CARLA and LARRY
Here are some of the entries we received for Carla and Larry:
2. SARAH and MATTHEW
Here are some of the entries we received for Sarah and Matthew:
3. JES and BRYAN (Team Awesomesauce)
Here are some of the entries we received for Jes and Bryan:
Good luck to everyone! {And, um, you know, if the winning couple feels like having Secret Agent L at their wedding, that’d be AWESOME!}
28
MISSION: Easing into Spring
Last week in Pittsburgh, we experienced 70+ degree weather and 20+ degree weather within just days of one another. Talk about moody! Needless to say, I’m sure other cities in our region our feeling the finicky nature of Mother Nature just like we are. And you know what? We’ve all had it! Even though spring is on its way, there are still sniffly noses, chapped lips, and low energy levels.
Luckily, our Affiliated Agent J in Cleveland decided to leave an act of kindness to help combat those problems. And we love him for it!
DATE:
Thursday, 24 March 2011
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent J
LOCATION:
bus stop
Mayfield Road
Cleveland Heights, OH
TIME:
4:45 p.m.
After a long, cold winter in Cleveland, I thought somebody might like a small package of items to ease into spring. Lip balm, tissues, mints, and trail mix would be universally appreciated. I placed the items in a brown paper bag with a silver bow and stapled the official Secret Agent card to the outside along with a note that read, “Psst, you. Yes, you. This gift of kindness is for you, just because.” At 4:45 P.M. EST on March 24th, 2011, I placed the package at a bus top on Mayfield Road in Cleveland Heights, Ohio.
Mission accomplished
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27
MISSION: Wonderfulness in Wisconsin
I have a confession to make. Wisconsin and I have a pretty rocky past. I lived there for a couple of years after I graduated college, and, well, it didn’t go so well. I went through three major job disappointments, debilitating loneliness, and a very {VERY} painful breakup. Needless to say, I get a little bit of PTSD when I hear or think about Wisconsin.
BUT!
Affiliated Agent C’s mission of kindness has shown me that I don’t have any reason to be sad about Wisconsin anymore. There is love and kindness there. Most certainly. And that will help heal my heart. Even from afar.
DATE:
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent C
LOCATION:
University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee
Enderis Hall, Ladies’ Room
Milwaukee, WI
TIME:
3:15 p.m.
I finished my first mission yesterday! It was very exciting! I work at UW-Milwaukee and with Wisconsin’s budget issues, winter, exams, tough deadlines, etc… I thought one of our students, faculty or staff could use a little pick me up. I found the most adorable card and added the following message (if you can’t read it in the photo):
Dear Wonderful You!
Just wanted to remind you that you are so brilliant and talented and that you rock! Hope you have a wonderful day and enjoy my little gifts of kindness for you.
Included is a journal (so that you can write about all of your amazing adventures and share your creative thoughts), some Bandit-Os (I think they are fun) and some super yummy lip gloss (it was a three pack but I gave the other two away)!
Cheers!
Secret Agent C
I also included your card and the list of items from the bag. I was so worried about someone thinking the lip gloss wasn’t good because it wasn’t in the original package.
I put my present into a grocery bag and went to the bathroom in Enderis. Two people were in there. They must have thought I was quite odd with a gigantic Grocery bag in the stall with me. I originally placed the gift bag on the toilet paper dispenser but that creeped me out a little so I move it to on the counter by the sink.
I checked this morning and it was gone! I hope whoever got it enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed giving it.
I have purchased 20 more items and will be making up more presents to distribute. Very addictive!
Thanks!
THANK YOU, Affiliated Agent C! As someone who works at a university, I can tell you that any student, faculty or staff member would have been THRILLED to get your gift of kindness. Well done! And, boy! Do I wish I’d come across that card when *I* lived in Wisconsin. I could have used that fairy godmother with her magical wand and combat boots!
26
MISSION: A Shot of Luck
I know St. Patty’s Day has come and gone, but its kindness has been sitting in my inbox and deserves to see the light of day again. Affiliated Agent T showed some serious generosity in her act of kindness in Wheeling, West Virginia. Bravo, AAT!
{By the way, Secret Agent L was born in Wheeling. ::high five::}
DATE:
Saturday, 12 March 2011
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent T
LOCATION:
Just outside of Wheeling, WV
TIME:
7:30 p.m.
On Saturday, my husband and I were traveling to West Virginia to meet up with a group of my high school friends for dinner. I only get to see them about twice a year, so I was really excited. I thought, what a better way to share my joy than to do a mission? Since it was also the same day as many St. Patrick’s Day celebrations, I decided to give the mission a St. Patty’s theme.
First I made a card. I found a cute website where you could made printable cards for free. So I typed up a card, short and sweet. The theme of the card was everyone needs a little luck, so I was helping make the person who found it a little luckier today.
Then I attached a $10 dollar bill, and a Secret Agent L card.
Next, I decorated and envelope, and made sure who ever found it knew it was meant for him or her.
Off we went to WV, and I enjoyed a wonderful evening with friends. We laughed for 2 hours straight. After dinner, we were getting ready for our long ride home, but not before I finished my mission.
We stopped at a Sheetz gas station, and I slipped inside to make the drop. The place was packed, since it was a Saturday night, so I had to be sneaky, but make sure I left the envelope in a place it would be noticed. I settled for the coffee bar, right by the teabags and coffee creamers. It was hard to take a picture, without looking suspicious, so the picture of the drop is a little fuzzy.
In times like this, a shot of luck can make all the difference. I hope it did for the recipient!
24
MISSION: Great Kindness in Gunnison, Colorado
This mission? Well, let’s just say it left me grinning ear-to-ear, big time. Plus, the operative’s narrative was pretty funny. {And her pictures–all 17 of them–are AWESOME.}
I think I might like to visit Gunnison, Colorado someday and hang out with Affiliated Agent L. Anyone wanna join me?
DATE:
Thursday, 10 March 2011
and
Friday, 11 March 11
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent L
LOCATION:
all over Gunnison, Colorado
TIME:
various
First of all, my cover was blown before I even got started! I was only checking out your Secret Agent L Facebook page and my husband walked by and said, “Secret Agent L?” My first name also starts with L and so he thinking it’s me and has been signing (to the tune of Secret Agent Man) “Secret Aaaagent L… With her seeeecret plans!” Anyways, so I’ve been trying to convince him ever since that I’m not Secret Agent L, which is the truth because I am Secret Affiliated Agent L! Ha!
So my first task was to find a super fun cheap gift. I went browsing on the Internet and found the website www.live-inspired.com and I’m so glad I did because they have the cutest feel-good gifts, with a $5-and-under section to boot! So I ordered 7 inspirational notebooks at $2.95 each. I marked my mission day for Thursday, because that’s when the notebooks were supposed to arrive. I had four days.
The next day I got started on my notes and envelopes. I decided to use crayons because crayons make everybody happy. I made one original letter and 6 copies and you can’t even tell. Lot’s of color, exclamation points and LOVE!!
Mission day finally arrived and the UPS man usually comes at around 2. He was late and so while I waited I rummaged around my house for other things I could slip into the envelopes with the note cards. Oooh! A box of motivational cards by Louise Hay! Perfect! I picked out seven cards that had general “feel good” messages. Gotta love Louise!
Then I found that I had exactly seven packets of Pez candies! Nice and colorful to match my color theme and who doesn’t love Pez?
Finally my notebooks came and they were cuter and nicer than I expected for only $2.95. There were lots of others to choose from than the 4 different styles I got, so I’ll definitely go back for more. I love the positive messages and cute designs.
So I slipped in the note books, sealed ‘em up and headed out to downtown Gunnison, a chilly little college town on the western slope of the Colorado Rockies.
We’re a town with a big heart full of lots of do-gooding people, so I can’t wait to drop off my little gifts of JOY for seven lucky Gunnison citizens! It was very exciting to think about where to place them, not getting caught (especially knowing I’d have to take a picture!) and who was going to find them. The most fun I’ve had all week!
I decided not to plan my drop off locations and just enjoy walking around town and see what caught my attention. So my first stop was the Gunnison Library (3/10 3:30pm). I walked around feeling paranoid, like everyone knew I was up to something! My heart was racing as I placed it on the audio book shelf and took a picture. Then my heart sang with glee as I walked away and left the building…. Mission Accomplished! What a fun feeling! Who will find it? What will they think?
Then I walked by a consignment shop called BoomARang (3/10 3:45pm),one of my favorite stores, and left one on a chair outside. Lots of people around and lots of cars going by but I don’t think anyone saw me. Whew!
Then I walked into Taco Bell and dropped one off in the women’s bathroom. (3/10 3:50pm) Too easy, I don’t think I’ll do anymore bathroom drop offs.
Then I walked by the bank and left one on the trash can by the ATM. (3/10 3:55) By this time I had to call it a day and go back to work. Bummer! The note card delivery being late set my timing off a little. I was disappointed but told myself that the universe was making sure these gifts got into all the right hands and for some secret reason, the last three drop offs would have to wait!
The next morning, my husband asked to use the camera. Eeek! My cover was about to be blown. With a guilty look and pathetic smile, I asked him not to look at the pictures on the camera. He immediately asked me if there were Secret Agent L photos on the camera and started signing the song again! He doesn’t even know what Secret Agent L even means at this point, but it’s pretty funny, don’t you think? What a smart guy! I really don’t mind if my husband knows about this, I just thought it would be more fun if nobody knew. Especially if it creates a buzz around town, which it probably will because we are a small town of giddy people who love this kind of stuff. But, to be figured out so early? Ugh, oh well!
So after he got done with the camera (and he says he didn’t look) I head out to walk to work with three more drops on my mind. I went inside the Main Street Clinic (natural healing doctors) and left one in the lobby.
Then I left one on an empty Gunnison Country Times newspaper rack inside the Main Street Mall.
Lastly, I walked into an apartment complex for senior citizens front lobby and dropped off one on top of the mail boxes.
Seven gifts, seven drop off locations, seven photos and I didn’t get caught. The only problem is, I want to do this every day now! Thanks Secret Agent L!
THIS IS AMAZING! Your photos are GORGEOUS, your creativity is incredible, and your kindness–above all–is absolutely astounding! THANK YOU!!
By the way, here’s an email I received from one of the recipients of this mission:
Hello!
Me and my friend Sara who I work with at BoomARang found your present today! I just wanted to say thanks for the card and present. It definitely brightened our day! Thanks for making my day:)
Sierra
22
MISSION: Giving Grace
Sometimes, it only takes a few words of love to help us get through those moments of hurt, frustration, and loneliness in our lives. Affiliated Agent K found just the way to share those words.
DATE:
Tuesday, 8 March 2011
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent K
LOCATION:
91 Bus Route
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
TIME:
1 p.m.
I’ve been I’ve been waiting for a while to be able to complete my first mission. I’ve bought things in the past, but ended up giving them out in NOT so random acts of kindness, such as a thank you to a cashier at a crazy store around Christmas. Today, while at the Hallmark store, inspiration struck, so I’m proud to present my first mission.
I stopped by the Hallmark Store in Fifth Avenue Place to pick up some cards for recent family occurrences. While I was there, I saw the perfect card for a mission. The front read: “Grace gets in through the broken pieces, usually when we weren’t even looking for it.” I’ve found that to be so true in a recent past that’s been cluttered with some frustration and irritation, so I picked it up immediately. The next question became what to package with my card, so I wandered around the store for a while, hoping something would speak to me.
I’m pretty sure that the employees probably thought I was casing the joint for a robbery or something equally as nefarious, because several times I was asked if I needed any help. I didn’t want to offer up my plans, in case I decided to leave the gift in a nearby place and one of the employees was my recipient, so I kept looking solo.
Finally, I realized that usually, when people are in need of grace, they’re also in need of chocolate. “Bingo,” I thought, “there’s the Sarris rack!” In an effort to keep the package relatively guilt-free, I picked up the new Pretzel Slims: Sarris’ chocolate covered pretzels with only 100 calories in the package. Perfect. Next, I wandered to the Post-It note section, where again, I found perfection in the form of Post-It notes that said “Random Acts of Kindness Never Go Out of Style.” Finally, at the cash register were adorable little bags of Jelly Belly Jelly Beans. I bought them all with a beautiful orange and yellow bag that I hoped would remind the lucky recipient of brighter days to come, and set off to combine my gifts.
I sat at the Fifth Avenue Place food court and wrote my card. It quickly became obvious that I would be pretty apparent leaving the gift there. So, once I was finished, I wandered around downtown looking for a good place to leave my small bit of sunshine. I couldn’t find anywhere after looking for almost half an hour, so my thought was to take the bag home and then place it another day. Once I got on the bus and was able to score a seat by myself (!), I realized that this was the perfect place for my package. I snuck it out of the huge purple plastic bag that I’d been carrying it in and sat it on the seat next to me. Luckily, no one realized that I’d left it, and I was able to safely get off the bus without being called back for my forgotten package.
I hope that the recipient of my package enjoyed the offerings and that the thought I put into the contents shone through. I can’t wait for mission #2!
21
Next to Normal Tickets Winners!
When I was contacted by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust about collaborating on the Pittsburgh engagement of the national tour of Broadway’s hit show Next to Normal, I knew something special was about to happen. I am always–ALWAYS–on board with anyone and any organization wishing to bring awareness to mental illness and help erase the stigma. But what I wasn’t prepared for was the outpouring of bravery, candidness, and love that each of you who entered the contest were about to share with me and my readers.
I wish–with all my heart–that I could personally send each of you to see this show. And I wish even more that I could wrap my arms around every. single. one. of you and tell you how much I love you, admire you, and thank you for sharing with us the very personal and often painful realities that mental illness has played in your lives.
I understand that pain. I understand those realities. And I love you even more because of that.
THANK YOU–each one of you–for entering this contest by putting your story out there for us. I will never ever forget just how powerful of an experience this has been for me, and I certainly hope that it has been the same for you. I hope that by reading all of the stories posted in the comments section, you feel less alone, more comforted, and more hopeful.
Without further ado, I am pleased to announce the five winners!
The winners are:
#12
#13
#36
#3
#23
Congratulations to all our winners! I will email you for your mailing addresses and mail your tickets to you this week. If you’d like, feel free to take a photo of yourself and your guest at the Next to Normal show and email it to me. I’ll be at the show on April 5th, too, so if you see me, PLEASE come up and introduce yourself! I’d love to meet you!
Blessings for your bravery, and HAVE FUN at the show! {P.S. I’ve been told it’s a real tear-jerker, so bring those tissues!}
**Fine Print: There were 39 comments total. Commenter #4 left two comments, which I counted as one. She indicated that she’d be out of town for the show, but I left her in the running in case she wanted to give the tickets to friends. Commenter #11 lives in California and entered just to share her story. I skipped over her when counting to see who the winners were, since she was ineligible due to geographic location.
17
ANOTHER Giveaway Contest! Wedding Bliss
UPDATE {4.2.11}: VOTING IS NOW CLOSED! THANK YOU!
Know why I love giveaways? Because they create community. That’s right. My Next to Normal giveaway? It allowed so many people to share their stories about mental illness in a safe, supportive environment. And, hopefully, it helped them feel less alone.
Giveaways also allow the individual or group that’s supplying the goodies with a way of sharing their talent or gifts with others. I love that. Like, super a lot.
So when Pittsburgh-based wedding photographer Veronica Varos contacted me about doing a giveaway, I did a little shimmie of happiness–because Veronica’s heart is so huge, as is her talent.
Wedding season is right around the corner, and Veronica wants a deserving couple to have the memories of their special day captured by her…for free. And you, the SAL community, will get to pick the winning couple!
Here’s what Veronica says:
I truly believe that photography is one of the most important aspects of your wedding day. The photos will provide memories to more than just those in attendance for lifetimes to come. It breaks my heart to know that there are couples out there that, for one reason or another, are forced to forego booking a professional photographer at their wedding. This is the one day of your life that you are treated like pure royalty and every couple deserves to have photographs that reflect that.
I meet with many couples each month eager to book a photographer for the happiest day of their lives. The past few months, however, quite a few of my meetings consisted of conversations about personal struggles the couples have recently experienced or are currently experiencing. Although the recession is “officially over” – it seems that the financial effects are taking a serious toll on these newly engaged couples now more than ever before.
For this reason, Secret Agent L and I are teaming up to provide a full wedding photography package to one lucky and truly deserving couple. (Package includes 7 hours of coverage, high quality negatives on a CD, one 8×10 print, printing release, $20 print credit – valued at $2500)
TOTALLY AMAZING AND KIND, RIGHT?!
How to enter:
- Leave a comment {you can remain anonymous, but make sure you include an email address} on this blog post explaining why you/your nominee deserves to win a full wedding photography package.
- Nominate yourself OR nominate a deserving friend/family member.
- Please be detailed in your response.
- Please do not exaggerate.
Requirements:
- Couple must already be engaged and have a wedding date set or in mind.
- Couple must not already have a wedding photographer booked.
- Couple’s wedding date must be on an available date on the calendar.
- Weddings must take place within 35 miles of zip code 15201.
- Couple’s wedding must take place before December 31, 2012.
- Entries must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on March 24, 2011 to qualify.
Fine print:
- Three entries will be chosen by Secret Agent L and Veronica for final voting and will be posted on March 28, 2011. SAL readers will be able to vote for their favorite couple March 28th through April 1st.
- Winning entry will be announced/notified by email on April 4, 2011.
- Prizes are non-transferable and have no cash value.
- Previous and current clients of Veronica Varos Photography are not eligible to win.
- Veronica Varos Photography retains the copyright to all photos taken during the wedding. Winners, by their acceptance, agree to allow their photos to be used for commercial purposes by Veronica Varos Photography.
Blessings and love to everyone who enters!
16
MISSION: Love in Cleveland
I love when I get a mission in my inbox from an Affiliated Agent who has just participated for the first time. So exciting! And I also love it when I get feedback from the recipient of the act of kindness–just like I did this time. Hooray!
DATE:
Saturday, 12 March 2011
OPERATIVE:
Affiliated Agent M
LOCATION:
Perkins restaurant; ladies’ room
Target; sock section
Painesville, OH
TIME:
morning
Well I finished my very first mission yesterday. I had little bears that held some hot chocolate lotion. We are all getting sick of snow here in the Cleveland area so I thought everyone could use a little perk following our latest storm.
I left the first one (in the blue bag) in the bathroom in Perkins (in Painesville) right before breakfast. Unfortunately I got busted on that one. There was a woman coming in right as I went out so I wasn’t really good about being stealthy. However my husband could see her (I had my back to her in the restaurant) and she took the bag and had it on her table. We waited until she left so we could sneak out undetected!
The second bear (in the purple bag) I put in the sock section of Target (also in Painesville). When we walked by about 5 or 10 minutes after I put it there it was still there so hopefully someone picked it up later in the day. It was a lot of fun and I have supplies to do a few more missions when I get to writing the notes for them!
And here’s the email I got from the person who found one of Affiliated Agent M’s gifts! Woot!!
I was in Perkins Painesville this a.m. and found your bag in the ladies’ bathroom. Thank you. It really cheered me and my friend up.
Again thanks,
D and M
11
GIVEAWAY CONTEST! Next to Normal
UPDATE: Because my brain is fried and I’m currently unaware of which end is up, I originally made the contest deadline for March 25th, which I thought was a week after I originally posted this online. Turns out, I was a week ahead of myself! Yowza! So, I’ve changed the contest deadline to THIS FRIDAY, March 18th. I will post the winners on Monday, March 21st. Sorry for the confusion! ::heads to her bed to take a nap::
If you’ve been following the Secret Agent L Project for awhile now, you know that I’m very passionate about mental illness awareness. A family member close to me suffers from a very severe form of the illness, which has had a profound impact on my life for the past twenty-three years. In fact, mental illness affects one in four families. It’s much more common than many people realize. If I can help erase the stigma associated with mental illness, create community and inclusiveness, and let others know they are not alone, then my life has been worth it.
Recently, I was approached by the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust about collaborating with them on the Pittsburgh run of the Tony-Award winning Broadway hit, NEXT TO NORMAL. The show, directed by Michael Greif (who also directed Rent), centers around a family trying to take care of themselves and each other, while one of the members struggles with a serious mental illness.
As a professional actor, and a classical musician, I find it so incredibly important that works of art such as Broadway shows tackle the difficult and often messy parts of life that we sometimes don’t want to talk about. It’s one of the best ways we can start to heal. That’s why I am honored to collaborate with the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the National Tour of NEXT TO NORMAL.
The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust and the tour of NEXT TO NORMAL have given me five (5) pairs of tickets to give away as part of the Secret Agent L Project. Each pair of tickets is good for the 7:30 p.m. performance at the Benedum Center on Tuesday, April 5, 2011, only. The tickets are valued at $54 each, which brings the total value of the giveaway to $540. Generous? Absolutely. I heart them. BIG time.
To try to win a pair of tickets, you’re going to have to be brave. Here’s what I’m asking you to do:
1. In the comments section, tell me about an experience you’ve had with mental illness. It could be your own story, the story of a loved one or friend, or an encounter you may have had with someone with a mental illness. Or maybe it’s something new you’ve learned about mental illness recently. Whatever it is, share it with us here. And be brave.
2. Tell me how to contact you via email. You may comment using your real name (which will, in turn, ask for your email address which only I will be able to see). Or you may comment anonymously; just be sure to leave your email address in the comment.
3. Leave your comment by Friday, March 18, 2011, at 11:59 p.m.
4. I will choose five winners at random and announce the winners on Monday, March 21, 2011. Please only enter once so that everyone has a fair chance at winning. Only one set of tickets per household/family, please.
Still interested in seeing the Pittsburgh production of NEXT TO NORMAL but can’t participate in the giveaway contest for the April 5th tickets? Well, there’s good news! The show runs April 5-10, 2011, AND the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has set up a discount code for Secret Agent L followers:
Use promo code KINDNESS to receive $10 off select seats for the Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances of NEXT TO NORMAL, April 5-10 at the Benedum Center. To redeem this discount, buy online , call 412-456-6666 or visit the Box Office at Theater Square.
Not from Pittsburgh? Not to worry!
NEXT TO NORMAL is on its first US tour. To find out where the show will be performed near you, visit their website. Please note: the “KINDNESS” promo code is only available for the Pittsburgh engagement.
For more information about mental illness awareness, visit the National Alliance on Mental Illness website.
Good luck!
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