Finally! Valana Faux Brush Winners!

Bellas, let me tell you — behind the scenes of these giveaways, it ain’t always easy. Valerie Reed of Valana Minerals found that out the hard way. Not only did she wind up with more than 600 bellas and fellas entering her contest, but she had some really great resolutions to choose from!

“Once everything was sorted we still had 644 valid entries! We were certainly surprised at the number of entries. There were a wide range of resolutions with entries from all over the world. Most of the resolutions were heartfelt and sincere and we appreciate all of the entrants who shared their resolutions. We wish each Bella and Bello (yes men entered as well) the best in meeting their goals for the new year,” says Valerie.

644! I can’t even imagine. It took a bit longer than anticipated, but Valerie slogged through your entries to choose just two winners. Without further ado, the two winners are:

Yarbrah Peeples of Athens, Georgia!

Yarbrah’s resolution is: “For a long time I have been waiting on “my season” believing that it entailed wonderful things being bestowed upon me.Year after year I have claimed it, and year after year I have trudged along dissapointed because “my season” never really seemed to materialize. What I am now realizing is that “my season” has been waiting on me. My season will only come when I become a full participant in making it happen. When I begin to set goals, believe I can achieve them and work earnestly to reach them. I can’t sit idlely hoping for good things to happen…I have to do some work. This year I pray that I love the person God made me to be. I pray this year I will lift myself up in love and learn to accept and celebrate who I am and where I am. Rather than bemoan my present circumstance I want to learn to rejoice anyhow. I want to love my body more and take care of it better. I want to continue to be cautious about my finances but not allow them to control my spirit. I want to gain a strong relationship with God and myself rather than sulk about the lack of a love life. I want to lose control and trust God to lead me. I want to learn more about love and faith and accept that neither have to do with me being in control. This year I won’t set weightloss goals. I won’t cry about my skin and hair. I won’t sulk about not having a boyfriend, fiancee or husband. I will be me…in all the glory He designed.”

and

Kelli Wilson of Middleton, Idaho. This was Kelli’s resolution: “My new years resolution is to smile more. 2008, and actually 2007 were hard years for me. It took someone saying “I haven’t seen you smile…” to make me realize how my life was heading so my new years resolution is to do more things that make me smile. If I am stressed out, I will leave the situation or do whatever it takes to end it quickly so I can go back to smiling. It sounds so easy to do but I have been working on it for about 2 weeks now and it is not as easy as it sounds. I will continue though because life is too short to sit and let it pass by frowning. I hope you have a smiling day.”

Well Kelli and Yarbrah, I hope you have smiling days today. You are the Afrobella and Valana winners! Your winning responses will be posted on the Valana Minerals website, Valana already has your contact info, and the brush sets will be sent next week.

Thanks for entering, bellas, and as I always, ALWAYS say – fret not if you didn’t win this giveaway! This is but the first for 2009, and I’m lining up all kinds of sweet giveaways for every month of the year. So keep reading, keep entering, and it’s bound to be your turn sometime soon!