The Afrobella Giveaway – The Delights of Dushi Trade
Guess who’s back with a decidedly less controversial giveaway! And we’ve been working on this one behind the scenes for a while.
I first mentioned the beautiful jewelry of Dushi Trade back in October.
Since then, I’ve learned much more about the designer, Leah Nolden. Leah has a a degree in menswear but after disenchantment from working in the NYC fashion industry, she decided to step away
and do her own thing. Hence, Dushi Trade — a jewelry line designed by music, nature, and whatever strikes Leah as being fly!
“I would make feather dangle earrings to match outfits when I was going out to party when I just didn’t have the right earring to make the outfit complete. When I wore the earrings, I would get compliments and inquires on where I got them. After about a year of urging from a couple of friends and again my sister, I decided to get serious and I invested a bit of my personal savings and started Dushi Trade,” she explains.
I love that kind of ingenuity, and when Leah reached out and offered to design a special limited edition Afrobella jewelry set, I was just BEYOND psyched.
That’s it up above — a graceful golden butterfly, a peacock feather, and a wooden circle make up the necklace, and the butterfly flutters in a gold hoop for the earrings, all bedecked with beads in beautiful ocean colors.
And for a special Afrobella/Dushi Trade giveaway, I’ve got one pair of beautiful Afrobella earrings, and one pair of Dushi peacock feather hoop earrings — to be sent to two very lucky readers!
Leah wanted me to ask a specific question of you bellas: If you had a Christmas wish list and could only get one item/ thing (not limited to an material item, could be a trip, a deed, etc), what would it be?
In the interest of turning around these giveaways speedily for the holidays — I will leave the comments open until Tuesday morning, then the comments will be closed and two winners will be chosen. So tell me, bellas — what do you want for Christmas? It could be anything!
** edited Sunday night at 11 p.m. — If you’ve got eyes on something else from Dushi Trade, now’s your time to shop! From now into December 31st, you can utilize coupon code “AFROBELLA†to get 15% off any purchase at the Dushi Trade online store.
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- The Dushi Giveaway Winners Are… | afrobella | December 17, 2008
I need those earrings!!! If I could have only one thing for Christmas, it would be to have ALL of my family(husbands side,my side) from all over the world together in my house for a few days just to celebrate our unity and togetherness….I would be so happy!
The best X-Mas gift for me right now would be an economic turn around. Its very depressing to see so many loosing jobs right now that I can’t imagine a merry X-mas. Not because people won’t have money to buy material things but because the state of mind people are in as a result. This year, its depressing! So the best Christmas wish come true for me this year would be a better economy with a positive change in the current state of employment.
I would love to go to South Africa this Christmas. Not because I want to go back to “the motherland,” as an African-American my ancestry is probably Western and Central African, not Southern African, but I digress. I hear that it is an absoultely beautiful country and I kinda just need a change in space. A chance to breathe different air for the holidays would be simply sublime.
I want my parents to realize, beyond a shadow of a doubt, how much they mean to me, and how proud I am to be their chosen one (I was adopted). I plan to do my best to express this to them when we all spend time together over the holidays.
I would love for every single child on this planet to be in a loving home where he/she is taken care of and treated with kindness and love, never abused, never abandoned. Whether it’s being raised by one parent, two parents of whatever gender, every child deserves a good home.
I would love to have an understanding of how credit ratings work, a REAL understanding,( like, why should WHERE I shop matter, as long as I pay the bill in full/on time) and then be able to teach that to others. I don’t think that people, esp. people of color really understand what all goes into a credit score, and how much it affects their lives.
In the same vein, I’d love for someone to sit down with me and tell me how to do what and help (knowledge-wise) me with buying a house. I’m so afraid I’ll be taken for a loop, I constantly put it off.
Right now, what I want for Xmas is a scholarship or grant that will pay for my Bar review courses and the Bar exam. With the economy being the way it is, Bar loans are getting harder to come by. Not only did I slave through 3 years of law school… now I have to cough up thousands of dollars I don’t have. Ugh. So I need Santa to plop that blessing under my tree this year. Those earrings wouldn’t hurt either!
Well this giveaway comes in the middle of finals for me and I am writing quite a few papers about Haiti this semester, which have caused me to think day and night about this country. I would honestly say that I would wish for more trees and an economic turnaround in that country. I would ask for trees, because there are virtually no trees left there due to mass deforestation which leads to intensified effects from natural disasters like hurricanes, and considering the fact that 4 hurricanes hit Haiti in 2008 alone, some trees could have helped lessen the impact of these storms – i.e. flooding, mudslides, etc. And finally an economic turnaround is due in this country because too many people are living in extreme poverty there. I feel that I have been so blessed that this Christmas, I would want to do more for others who need so much more.
And – those earrings and necklace are super cute!!!
Outside of materials things I’d love to get a sense of confidence in my future career plans. I graduated this year with my MFA in Creative Writing/Poetry and have been an adjunct professor since then. I’m slowly, but surely building up my teaching resume and my publications, but I would love to feel secure that sometime within the next few years I can wholly be Professor Athena. This is the only thing I’ve ever wanted to do and now that I am on the cusp of it, I need one last push.
If I could do anything for Christmas… I woud remodel my Dad’s house, which used to be my grandmothers house and isstill the place where all of our family gatherings take place. Everybody loves the house but it just needs a new look and I think it is too much for my Dad to handle on his own. Maybe the whoe family could come and we could do an extreme makeover. That would be alot of fun.
If I could only have one thing for Christmas it would be another Christmas with my Papa. He died unexpectedly on September 29 and I know that this Christmas will probably be the hardest one my family has ever had. He was truly the patriarch of the family, so it’ll be up to my Nana and the younger generations to step up to the challenge. I’m extremely grateful for always having my Papa in my life, but one more Christmas would be the best thing I could ask for.
Her designs are beautiful !
Ok not to tug at heartstrings but I would totally wish for a trip to Haiti (or for my citizenship papers to come through faster). I know it’s really dangerous to travel there right but my grandmother is there – I was 18 months old when she last saw me!! I just want to meet her and be like “Hi ! You’re my history !! (in Creole/Kreyol of course)”. I want to be able to visit the country, touch the dirt, see the houses that my parents grew up in ( they are still there!! I’ve seen pics !), see their schools, the people – everything!! I would totally jump on a plane with a purse and duffel bag and just go if I could.
What do I want for Christmas?
Appreciation.
Appreciation for serving my community for ten years in an area high school as a teacher, healer, counselor, motivational speaker, pseudo-parent, nurse, spiritual guide and tutor. As an English chair, Wordsmith Creative Writing Team sponsor, Advisor of the National English Honor Society, and a student working towards her MFA, I honestly can say that most days I can’t believe that I get paid to touch the lives of young people. But a little appreciation would go very far in encouraging me to continue to give my best. Sometimes, I wonder if I’m really making a difference at all…
My one wish for christmas was to have my entire family together from my father’s side. This year has been very hard b/c my grandmother passed and so did my grandfather. Unfortunately my full wish will never come true b/c of these deaths but I know that they are there in spirit! I love you grandma and grandpa!!!!
Just an FYI, I fail to get this info to Bella in time from now into December 31st, you can utilize coupon code “AFROBELLA” to get 15% off any purchase at the Dushi Trade online store. Happy Holidays to you all!
Well if i could get one thing for christmas , it would be enough to give to folks. I would want to be a blessing to others.I love to give and i believe that in making my dreams come through it’s a bigger blessing to make someone elses dream come through.
So i would wish that i could have enough to give and make other’s happy for this season……
Bless
A job. I’ve been unemployed for almost 2 years. So a job would be a wonderful gift.
Thanks for making the announcement, Leah! Like she said bellas – there’s a sweet discount for those of you who have your eye on other items from Dushi Trade. I’ll make sure to add that to my original post when I get home!
Firstly the products are BEAUTIFUL. Now, if I could have anything for Christmas, I’d want to be able to make sure that no child left school without the tools they need to make something of themselves. Everything is so rough these days, and it just seems wrong that schools throw our children out the door with a piece of paper when they don’t even know how to read. I guess what I’m really asking for, is a future for us as people. ( I feel like that sounds cheesy, but it’s the truth)
Financial security for my daddy. My dad is a widower/retiree and I know he struggles financially. A lot of it’s due to helping to many other people. I send him a little money when I can, but it’s hard living so far away. So I wish my daddy could be debt free, so that I no longer worry about him.
I would want my husband to be healthy and energetic. H injured his back while I was out of the country, six months ago.Since then he has had many trials including struggling with unemployment and paying for medical costs.
He is just not the same energetic and active man that I left.If I could have anything it would be for him to have his health or at least a sense of hope.
More time in a day. I work full-time, go to grad school part-time, have my own craft business, and I’m a single mom to a six year old. I’m juggling like we all do but I still need more time to get things done.
If I could only choose one item, it would be for my special gentleman freind to be blessed with employment. He has been out-of-work for almost a year, and although it’s always been a strain, it is becoming more so as time goes on. He’s been a sweetheart to me, and I want the best for him. I am trying to be as helpful as I can in inspiring him…but it is hard seeing him everyday knowing that I alone cannot change his situation.
World peace! *miss america smile* no, but seriously. if i could have one thing, absolutely anything, it would have to be a scholarship to go back to school. it doesn’t even have to be a full ride (though i’d really, REALLY appreciate it if it was); just enough to assure me that i’d be able to quit my job and go full time. i’m 26 and i really miss being in school; i finished undergrad in 2004 and i’m making good money doing mindless, unchallenging tasks, but not using my degree. i’m a writer, but i’m not writing, and im not writing because after working the 9-5 i hardly have the energy to cook and shower myself let alone finish writing the next great American masterpiece. i’m restless and unfulfilled, and i’m sure this is why. it’s likely that i won’t be able to get back into school until/unless i surrender the gig and get a parttime job, but with the economy the way it is, that’s a more terrifying thought now than ever. so, until then, looks like i’m stuck here. being an adult is STRESSFUL!
and if i cant have that, we can go with world peace.
I wish for Christmas for my two sons and I, Family. Family means completeness. I am estranged from my family and miss them terribly. I have not spoken to my mother in two years and my father lost his battle with cancer two years ago. I really dislike this time of the year because for the past two years, it has not felt complete. I wish I could give my boys the warmth, laughter, love and peace that comes from having family around. I would give my life if my two beautiful boys could have their grandparents.
I love to reunite with My Dark Knight. I miss him very much.
As a 21 year old female, there are a quite a few things i would like for christmas. A new pair of boots, a dooney & burke bag, and a bike to help me get back in shape lol. But right now, probably more than anything i would like to be able to have an appointment with one the nation’s best dermatologists, so they could properly diagnosis the reasons for my premature hair loss (not just saying it is stress), and properly cure it.it would be nice to have my confidence back.
Dushi Trade….your jewelry is BEAUTIFUL!!! Much success to you and your business.
If I could have anything for Christmas this year it would be for broken hearts to be HEALED! There are many hurt people- due to all different reasons (unresolved childhood issues, relationships, financial & career problems, etc…). I wish that everyone could find some kind of peace in their lives and that love, self-esteem, confidence, and joy could be restored to everyone. If this happened, I think there would be a direct effect on many other situations many of us are facing right now.
I love the jewelry set, that is so sweet that Leah designed jewelry inspired by you Afrobella!!
The one thing I would want for Christmas is to be financially independent. I’ve been unemployed for the past few months and would like to have some money coming in. It’s hard for me to live in the moment when all I can think about is “will I have enough money for the necessities each month?” I want to have that freedom to live in the moment without worry or fear.
If I were to have one Christmas wish fulfilled, it would be for my mother to be completely healed from her ailments.
If I could have anything for Christmas, I would love to have my dad meet my daughter. He passed away 5 months before she was conceived, so he didn’t even know that I was about to have his first grandchild. Its a totally impossible Christmas wish, but that’s what I’d want.
If I could have anything for Christmas it would be to travel to France with my 13 year old daughter.
I will probably never get to travel with her because of health and economics but I’d love to see Paris with her. Versailles, Giverny, Provence.
She speaks French and I love the history associated with the country.
marg
I just want 24 hours of peace of mind. An uninterrupted stretch of time where I’m not worried about bills, boyfriend, family needs, NOTHING.
Tis the season for change, and change for the better. Like most bellas I wish the best for my friends and family, and pray for the well-being of everyone around the world. In this climate of fear, where job loss, poverty, desperation, and violence, seem to constantly be on everyone’s mind, I pray that we all experience a moment of peace, and that we catch hold of the spirit embodied by President-elect Barack Obama’s message of change. I believe we all have the potential to change our own live’s and that we can have an impact on the lives of others for the better.
Be blessed bellas.
If I had one wish…..
I would wish for three wishes! (LOL) Seriously, if I could have anything, I heal my parents of their physical issues. Mom has respiratory problems that come from years of smoking and Dad has lingering intestinal problems…for the first time recently, I realized that my parents are almost 60! I would like them to hang around long enough to meet their son and daughter in law (neither me nor my brother are married) and any future grandchildren.
If I could have one Christmas gift, it would have to be for me to let go of negative people in my life that is blocking me from my Blessings of joy and happines.I’m not trying to sound selffish because believe me that is far from how I am. I have decided to go back to school to have a better life for me and my son.Before I couldn’t do that because I was too focus on everyone else and their same situations. I’ve learned no matter how hard you try to help someone with baggage in there life it dosen’t matter if their not willing to help themselves. Me on the other hand would still end up drained emotion, phsical and mental. I’ve learned also some people don’t really want help but just to pull you down to their level of misery. So now all I can offer is my Prayers. My main goal is My son well being, my well being and a focus mind to finish school. I’m 33 years old and it’s time for me to be where I should be. I starting a little late but I’m willing with God on my side to work my behind off to make a Joyful, Happy life for me and my Son.
I’d like a bailout.
If I could have one thing for Christmas, and I mean this, it would be, magically, for people to listen to each other. And, I mean reallyyyyy listen with the intention to understand and seek more awareness and to eliminate judgement in their lives. That’s it….
My husband and I were married March 28th this year, and we began visiting a fertility about 3 1/2 months ago to get pregant(we’ve been together for 4 years) We both have some issues going on that have made it difficult….so my wish for Christmas is that the insemination we are scheduled to have at the end of the month actually takes this time!
I’m a stressed out college student who is a journalism major. Right now things are obviously not good in the industry. So for xmas I want to secure an internship so that I can advance my career and make it despite the odds against myself and entire generation. I’d also like my mom to be happy and a 4.0
For Christmas I would like to have my student loans paid off. I went to college and graduate school to get degrees so that I can make a difference in people’s lives, with the expectation that the career would be under-appreciated and underpaid yet still wanting to do it. In return, I’ve gotten the shaft from a well-known loan corporation and there are no federal government financial (grant or scholarship) programs available to assist people in my profession who want to help others and make a difference in people’s lives. And the state that I live in has a program, but it’s only limited to less than 200 people and one must work in certain counties in order to be eligible. The county in which I work is not eligible because apparently my state government doesn’t think or care that my county DOES in fact have numerous challenges.
Sorry for the rambling, but having my student loans paid off would be the best Christmas present I could ever receive.
I would love to have an ALL expense paid trip for me and my bestie for my last spring break as a college student. I Graduate in May 2009!!!!! And one of my biggest dreams is to go to Bora Bora and stay at the La Merida Resort!
I AM LEAH’S BIGGEST FAN! THE JEWELRY IS SOOOO HOT I HAD TO PUT IT IN MY NEXT BOOK! GO LEAH, KEEP DOING IT BIG!
If I could have one thing for Christmas it would be the completion of the adoption process for 4 children I have had custody of for 2 yrs!! My husband and I have their older sister and one son of our own. I never thought the process would take sooooo long. It would allow us to start the next year with without worrying if they will be taken from us.
The one thing I would ask for is a closing of the vast socio-economic gap between the super poor countries in the world and the rich western ones. Its so hard to watch these images of folks in places like Haiti and Zimbabwe struggling to stay alive while we in America and Europe prepare for a season of excess…
If I could have one thing for Christmas it would be a full scholarship to Howard University.I am almost finish obtaining my high school diploma at the age of 40,and I would love to go to Howard University.I’m not giving up because of my inability to pay,but a full scholarship would be the one gift for me this Christmas.
This Christmas our family and friends are focusing on spirit and fellowship. Gifts must be homemade OR cost $10 or less. My sister is an incredible knitter (can’t wait to see my purple scarf!), my wife is a gifted disc jockey (can’t wait to receive my cool new playlists), my mum has perfected her chai tea recipe (hello!).
I’m sharing with most everyone a paperback copy of “Listening is an Act of Love” — an anthology of essays from the Story Corp Project. Each essay reveals the extraordinary moments in the lives of ordinary people. It’s pretty incredible. Forget about the celebrities and listen to your next door neighbor. I highly recommend it.
Happy Holidays, y’all (and Ms. Thing, I would love to be considered for the giveaway)!
Afrobella, I tell you the truth, you are one hardworking powerful lady. I totally love this blog. You are the one that can fuse fashion, beauty and real life events into one post. I read 3 blogs consistently and this is where I always go for a voice of reason in the blogosphere.
O.k. If I could have anyhting. I would want enough capital to start my own business doing what I love. I’m 30, and I’v always had “a job” or “a career”, while this was ideal for everyone else, it was not totally ideal for me. Now I’m laid off, but, I’ve been knowing for a while that having “a job” or even a “career” is not the way to financial freedom. In times like these, If I had to have “a job” I would love to have my own financial buffer to add to my networth.
Shout Outs:
AmandaG-Thank you for the info you gave on Haiti. Most of of us have an idea. But, it reminds me that we should be very thankful, because things could be a lot worse.
Nikki- Thank you for your heartfelt comment. I believe that we Americans are use to people doing things because it’s “their job”. But, we really should want people to care about their positions. Nikki, what you do requires a lot of energy, thought, and love. I think we should thank people more for what they do, even if it is “their job”. But maybe in a more special way than saying thank you. You know what thank you I’m talking about. It’s the clicheic, fast talking, I’m on the move to go no where, I don’t really care, but I was brought up to say “thank you”. Maybe more eye contact would suffice. Maybe a budget friendly letter of some sort…
You reminded me that a special way of saying thanks, to make people feel appreciated goes a long way.
Thank you Nikki for being open enough to tell us how you feel. And I’m sure you are positively affecting the lives of many:)
Those earrings are absolutely gorgeous.
As for what I would want for Christmas, I’m not picky. It really doesn’t matter to me if someone gives e something expensive, cheap, or even homemade (which doesn’t mean it’s cheap
I know because I knit). If I had to ask for something, I would only ask that whatever I would be given would be something well thought out. I know that’s not really a specific gift, but after many years of gifts that really have nothing to do with who I am, I think that I would just once like to have someone say ” I saw this and right away I new that you would love it”. Even if it’s something from the dollar store, I truly believe it’s the thought put into the choice that matters most.
I would like a husband!