Sunday, 6 November 2011

My loss is your gain: a Japanese style giveaway

Someone very important to me is embarking on the journey of a lifetime. My house cleaner/ The Crazy Kid's babysitter/ my baby sister and my best friend is moving to Japan on 29th November (yes, I pay my sister to clean my house for me - it is nearly impossible to keep on top of Cyclone Crazy's mess!).



Where I have always been a bit of a homebody, my sister is the free spirit. This is the second time she has made the move overseas and it would be easier to count the countries that she hasn't visited rather than the ones she has. It is her aim to become fluent in Japanese so that she can pursue a furture career using the language and she decided that what better way to learn a language than to move to the country that speaks it.

I am going to really miss my little sis, life isn't going to be the same without our daily phonecalls (or if we keep up our daily phonecalls then its going to be bloody expensive!). But I am also hugely proud of her. I doubt that I would ever have the courage to move to a non-English speaking country. So, to celebrate her courage I thought that I would throw a Japanese themed giveaway.

Over the last week I have reviewed some amazing hand made products from Okoii and now you have the opportunity to try some of these gorgeous products for yourself. There will be two prizes, with Okoii kindly agreeing to sponsor second prize. The prizes are:

First Prize

Cherry Blossom Starter Set: Your ideal introduction to Okoii skincare. The pack includes:
Organic Azuki Bean Scrub with Organic Green Tea 10gm
Luxury Rice Bran Face Soap 13gm
Authentic Green Tea Purifying Toner 30ml
Green Tea Beauty Moisturiser 15gm
Camellia Night Beauty Oil 5ml





Second Prize

Luxury Rice Bran Face Soap: This was my favourite product that I tried from the Okoii range and it is honestly one of the most creamy, luxurious and gentle cleansers that I have had the pleasure of using. Warning, you too will get hooked on this cleanser!

How to enter

Entry is easy! All you have to do is follow my blog either by GFC or email and then leave a comment stating how you follow or your GFC name plus a peice of advice for my sister. This could be anything from places she must visit in Japan, how to cope in a non-English speaking country, what beauty products she should send back to me to review or simply just wish her luck. That's all you have to do to enter.

I would love for you to follow me on Twitter and Facebook, and to also follow Okoii on Twitter and to tweet about the giveaway though it won't earn you bonus points for this comp. I'm building up the courage to run a bonus point giveaway, but dread the thought of collating all the entries!

The giveaway will run until 8.00pm Sunday November 20th and will be drawn using random.org within a couple of days. The winner will be notified by email and will have 48 hours to get back to me with their address. This comp is open to Australian residents only (international followers, i'll have a comp for you guys shortly).

Thank and good luck!
Posted by Sarah Kretchmer at 08:00
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Olgie · 699 weeks ago

I follow via GFC and my username is olgiepolgie.
I know everyone goes there, but your sister definitely needs to visit Kyoto and Hiroshima.
As for skincare and makeup, she needs to send you one of everything! Haha. Just kidding.
A tip for Japan is to learn the basic 'hello' and 'thanks you' etc before she goes (until she picks up more of the language) because they really appreciate the effort.
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Cally · 699 weeks ago

Ohh, very cool giveaway, but I do feel for you! My sister recently went on a three week holiday to Italy and I secretly teared up at the airport!

I follow you through GFC and my username is Calendula.

My advice for your sister is to embrace the Japanese beauty culture - try Japanese inspired makeup/fashion - it looks so fun!
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Bianca · 699 weeks ago

What a lovely giveaway.
I reckon your sister will pick up the simple things really fast, like how to ask where the toilet is, how to order at restaurants etc but my advice would be to not be too closed in/scared of a new place. Take the opportunities to see/do something different or speak another language (even if you get it wrong just take it all on board) and HAVE FUN!!!!
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meedee · 699 weeks ago

Oh she sounds just like my Miss 23 who has visited places i didnt even know exsisted.
My advice is more for you then it is for your sister but it will help the two of you keep in touch....as far as phone calls are concerned you need to shop around for the best value phone card. I found one for my calls to the US and pretty much for $30 I get just over 700mins of calls which is brilliant and means that if you wanted to have an hour long conversation once a week that its not that much of a big deal.

I am following you by email.
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Tash · 699 weeks ago

what a lovely giveaway, i hope she has an amazing time...my friend went to turkey for sometime for an exchange program and said it was the best thing she had ever done...so many opportunities:) as for her sending you things to trial....well i agree with Olgie...get her to send you everything she comes across. good luck :)
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Lucinda · 699 weeks ago

I follow you by GFC Lucinda_Fraser27
Tell your sister to take some nuts in her luggage so she can declare them in customs. You get through so much faster when you declare something.
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Kylie · 698 weeks ago

I follow you by both email and GFC. kooks1313
My tips
1. Use Skype for your much needed contact with each other. Viber an iphone app is also supposed to be good though never used it.
2. HAVE FUN! - Don't let anything stop you! If you remotely want to see it/do it then DO IT!! No regrets!
Enjoy....Dream. Believe. Receive!
Love your bog! I have never enjoyed cosmetics so much!
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Vita · 698 weeks ago

GFC: Vita
Email: Splintazz@gmail.com

Your sister has to go to Kyoto to see the gorgeous temples. Also try Japanese soft serve icecream with green tea (matcha) topping - delicious!
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Made Up Maiden · 698 weeks ago

Hi, I follow you by GFC, Made Up Maiden.

I bet you will really miss her! Tell her to make friends with the locals as soon as she can, because they'll expose her to things that tourists wouldn't really get the chance to do, and she'll get to try local cuisine, etc, that she wouldn't otherwise know about!
Good luck to her! :)
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Me my best and I · 698 weeks ago

Aww I've always wanted a sister- I'm sure you will miss her- do you both have iphones? Viber is an app that you can do free calls via voip? Ive never been to Japan(will do one day) but having "travelled" to Australia for a year I would say go with an oppen mind, dont set any boundaries on where/when/how long/with who you will travel for- life has a funny way of defining these things for us - I'm living proof!! Hope she has a blast ! PS Aduki beans scrub sounds great- I used to love the body shop aduki bean blackhead grains.....wonder do they still do them actually.....
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Belinda · 698 weeks ago

I'm now following through GFC - bkcalvert (at) gmail (dot com). What a nice giveaway! Why don't you and your sister try out Skype so you don't have those expensive phone bills? :) And please tell your sister to send you some Japanese sunscreen as I think it is quite possibly the best in the world! Mentholatum Sunplay, Kanebo, Shiseido... it's all good! So lightweight and awesome. I do hope she picks up the language - I learned it for 2 years in school and found it challenging. I've forgotten most of it now!
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Vanessa · 698 weeks ago

I follow via GFC Carey79 or facebook Vanessa Carey was Stubbs.

I love Japanese culture and food, I think your sister is very lucky!

I would get her to send back some silkworm coccoons (Mayutama). They are used to exfolliate the face.
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Jasmine1485 · 698 weeks ago

I'm following via GFC as Jasmine1485 :)

Good on her, she's very brave moving so far away, and as you said, to a non-English speaking country. I'm sure you'll miss her very much, I hope you find a way that you can keep in contact regularly. If it were me, I'd get her to send me back lots of cutesie stationery like erasers that look like sushi, but that's just me! Best of luck to both you :)

kate1485 at hotmail.com
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catrinam 11p · 698 weeks ago

Following by email catrinamurray@yahoo.com.au learn the basis language I would say I've never been os so not much help there
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Victoria · 698 weeks ago

Hello! What a fabulous giveaway. My sister is moving to San Fransisco next year, so I feel your loss. Newcastle to Sydney seems too great a distance for my sister and I already! I'm following now with GFC: vmorgan00
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nita_01 2p · 698 weeks ago

The Camellia Night Oil looks amazing, great prizes.
Hope your sister has a great time.
Following by email and blogger.
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Alina · 698 weeks ago

Follwing by GFC and my username is Lynnie.
Advice for your sister: Try cult Japenese beauty products such as K-Palette eyeliners or the classic Fairydrops mascara and bring backs lots for her sister too!
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keppers · 698 weeks ago

Follow on GFC-keppers

Japan is one of my Favorite countries. Shop in 100 yen stores as the range is so good and exactly like Daiso but cheaper. And Tokyu Hands has some very quirky products for just about everything from looking like Cleopatra to a store with a cat petting zoo
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Michelle · 698 weeks ago

I follow you via GFC and my username is Michelle or shelld79.

I'd love to offers some advice but I've never even been out of Australia yet so the best thing I can say is for her to have an awesome time and enjoy every minute!
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renee's avatar

renee · 697 weeks ago

Hi Sarah! I follow you by email and goodluck to your sister! I think she should send you some Tatcha blotting tissues. Go to their website they're gorgeous. And if she can find one she should go to a traditional japanese medicine man. They sell concoctions that've been passed down for centuries and are really very effective. x
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aliciaraul · 697 weeks ago

Hi Sarah. Good luck to your baby sister. What an adventure!

Don't know much about Japanese beauty products but did travel to China on the way to Europe in August. Found that Chinese woman were obsessed with lightening products for their skin. I know a lot of Asian cultures value pale skin. So if the Japanese are the same tell you sis to stay out of the sun and she'll be the belle of the ball in the land of the rising sun.

I follow you by email...
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Mandy · 697 weeks ago

Hey :) I follow you via GFC. Wow, what a fantastic adventure for your sister! There's an abundance of cute *stuff* from Japan, gorgeous designer fabrics spring to mind, for me ;) Good luck!
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Truc · 697 weeks ago

Hi Sarah, I'm following you by email. I love Japanese culture. My dream is to learn the language and live there for a few year. I'm sure your sister will have a great time there :)

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