friday links - subscriber {giveaway} edition!

**This giveaway is closed and the winner is announced at the bottom**

I do giveaways about twice a month, and I'm really picky about what I pass along to my readers. A couple of weeks ago, I did my first facebook-only giveaway (a beautiful pair of jade Stella + Dot earrings), to recognize the HH facebook page members.

But then that got me thinking that I've never truly celebrated my blog subscribers in a giveaway. And I want to, because you regular readers are who keep me churning out the posts. Building a little community here at HH has been one of the biggest joys of blogging.

So. A watch. A white watch. A Nixon Rubber Player watch. It is DRAMATIC in person. I love it. Big and white and perfect for Spring. Can you wear a white watch before Easter? Of course you can.

The details:

Leave a comment on this post telling me how you subscribe (through a reader, via email, or if you're a facebook fan. Yes, I'm counting facebook fans for this one).

You can leave a separate comment for EACH way you're subscribed. For example, if you're an email subscriber and you're also a facebook fan, you get two entries. But only if you leave two separate comments.

Giveaway is open to US and International residents. Because I hate it when I have to leave out my international readers during giveaways.

You have until Monday, February 20 at midnight EST to enter. I'll use Random.Org to choose a winner and I'll mail it on Tuesday.

Now, this giveaway (worth $175) is somewhat on the honor system. Since I have a policy of not checking who my subscribers are (so that readers may subscribe or unsubscribe at any time), I'll just have to trust that you're being honest when you say that you're an HH subscriber. I would hate to think that any of my readers would be big ole liars anyway.

Thank you for reading. Thank you for subscribing. Good luck!

Not sure what a subscriber is? If you subscribe through a feed reader, I'm assuming you understand what you're doing. If you're interested in learning more about subscription feed readers, here is an article by ProBlogger that explains it pretty well. For reference, I use Google reader.

If all that is too complicated, you can receive my posts in your email inbox instead of coming to the site every day. The email only goes out once a day - in the morning - and only on days I post. To sign up to subscribe this way, enter your email address in the box in my right hand sidebar. No spam here, just my posts.

Lastly, if you "like" the Hollywood Housewife page on facebook, you'll get a link to my posts whenever they're new, as well as original content and my random musings.

Now, for your weekend reading pleasure:

Sticking to some of my New Year's resolutions, I'm taking a Photoshop Elements class online with Nicole's Classes. I'm woefully behind in the class, but I'm learning a ton. About the program, and about the way I shoot photographs. I'll give a full review of the class once I'm finished, but I thought some of you might want to check out what they're offering. It's all about my 2012 mantra to Start Where You Are.

Staying technical - and this might rank as one of the single most random things I've ever written here - has anyone else noticed an influx of group texts? Suddenly, different groups of friends have started group texting me. And I felt like an inept clod because I would simply reply and it would only go to the sender and everyone was frustrated with me. Turns out, I had "Group Messaging" turned off. If you have an iPhone, go to settings>messages>group messaging and make sure it says "on." (Does anyone else think it's hilarious that in 1992 we had conference calls, in 2002 we had mass emails, and in 2012 it's group texting? At least we're all communicating!)

Jonathan Franzen is so frequently wrong that of course he's wrong about ebooks. I love reading on my iPad and I love reading physically books. One does not have to be in one camp or the other. Funnily enough, I read Franzen's Freedom on my iPad. (Mashable)

I've been vocal about my distaste for the designer collabs with Target, but I though that the recent Jason Wu pieces looked really cute. Then I read this post about quality issues, then I saw them for myself. And...yep. (The Recessionista)

My own husband, who doesn't do any sort of social media himself despite producing major forms of pop culture, is very supportive of this blog. Still, I totally understood this post because I've had similar conversations with friends and family. I Don't Get Why You Blog. (Wordbitches)

We have houseguests in town and I'm preparing to leave next week for the Blissdom blogging conference in Nashville. February has been so busy, but so great. I'm thankful because, truth be told, 2012 started out a little wobbly.

Happy weekend, HH readers!