wedding cake {a giveaway}

**Congratulations to Melinda J, the winner of Wedding Cake for Breakfast**

I didn’t have a wedding cake.  Instead, we opted for a dessert reception to include eclairs and chocolate-covered strawberries.  Oh.  And there was wine.  Of course there was wine.

The morning after our wedding, Jeff and I joined up with my family and traipsed across the border down into Mexico, solely because my brother’s baby mama was celebrating her, ahem, 18th birthday and there was a certain novelty in visiting a country where she could legally order a margarita.  We found a “bar” that welcomed children (we had four in tow) and paid a buck a piece for barely diluted cheap tequila in salt-rimmed glasses.  My brother’s baby mama took a single whiff and pushed her glass to arm’s length.  The rest of us followed suit.  The remainder of my first day as Mrs. Maranich was spent puddle-jumping through the streets of Nogales, fending off persistent and overtly perverted carnation/silver bracelet/Viagra peddlers.  I kept a death grip on my children–heeding the advisory that locals could fetch a fortune for blonde-headed children at the kidnappers auction.  It was a hoot.

And that was only the first twenty-four hours.

The next 364 days would usher in a whole slew of mountains to climb; deployment and the blending of a family accounting for only the tip of the iceberg.

There is a new book–Wedding Cake for Breakfast–that features essays on the unforgettable first year of marriage from twenty-three “acclaimed women writers.”  Wait a minute.  Make that twenty-two acclaimed women writers.  Plus me.

I received my copy of the book on Tuesday and–during every spare moment–I’ve been devouring the essays contained therein.  The stories are candid.  Funny.  Relatable.  But more than that they capture snapshots of lives in motion, dropping the reader headfirst in the midst of those often frustrating, but equally exhilarating, first 365 days of  wedded bliss {or utter lack thereof}.

I’m giving away a copy of the book.  I trust that, should you win, you will flip immediately to page 73 to read my essay, All the Time in the World.  And that you will be so enamored by it that you will proceed to order a hefty supply–enough to stock your gift closet and enable you to proudly present one at every shower, wedding or anniversary party you attend over the course of the next fifteen years.  Those of you that don’t win should feel free to do likewise.

No but really, the book is a thoroughly entertaining read, even for us old married folks.  All the single ladies, too.  Oh, and bachelors.  They might learn a thing or two.

To enter, just leave me a comment that sums up your marriage (or your prospective marriage, or the marriage of your parents, or anything marriage related) in exactly six words. Here are some examples:

  • Annoyed me then, annoys me still.
  • Love is patient.  Very, very patient.
  • True love finds us every day.

Normally, I despise those giveaways in which extra entries are granted for tweeting and facebooking a link.  But in the name of shameless self-promotion, I’m going to offer:

  • one extra entry for tweeting a link to this giveaway
  • one extra entry for posting a link on Facebook

Just leave separate comments telling me you did so.

A winner will be randomly selected from all eligible entries and announced on May 11th.  Good luck! PS. Cute cover, right?

29 comments

  1. Call me biased…but I love the story starting on page 73. Oh, and even though I’m not eligible…”I’m so lucky you chose me.” I think that sums up our marriage quite nicely.

  2. Congratulations on the book … or article in the book. You rock!

    After 38 years ….I am married to my best friend who I laugh with, dream of and love.

  3. Where has the time gone now

    We’ll be married 8 years this year, and were just talking about how we certainly can’t be THAT old. Haha!

  4. “You’re The Cinnamon To My Toast”

    (I always tell Husband that. ;))

    So excited for you! You are NOW an “acclaimed woman writer!” ;) These would make a great shower gift, for certain.

  5. Congrats!! You know that I’ve always been a fan of your writing.
    Here’s my entry:
    ” Prince Charming in every day life”.

  6. “Working hard at it every day”

    Congrats! How exciting for you! Can’t wait to read it!

  7. My entry is ‘Babe, I am the lucky one’….

    Yay for being apart of a book! That is one of my dreams!

  8. In good times and in bad.

    Oh man. I had like four different six-word answers. I’m so not succinct. Or decisive. Anyway, congratulations! I love your writing and I can’t wait to read the whole story :)

  9. PS I facebook’ed you. Facebook’d? Whatever. I linked your post to my facebook wall. ;)

  10. 41 years-still my prince charming!

    Hard first year myself but so glad we stuck it out-hope he feels the same way. I think he is!

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