Monday, February 1, 2010

The Friendship Stone - Review and Giveaway


If you're looking for a unique and precious gift to give to someone this Valentine's Day, you should definitely consider something from The Friendship Stone. I continue to be re-impressed by their generosity and integrity every time that I visit their website, and was delighted by the review product sample they sent to me.

The Friendship Stone began when the company's founder visited South Africa and came across the Tiger's Eye stone. She then began passing them out to others as a tangible way to express friendship, love, and support, and thus The Friendship Stone was born. Today, the company offers stone gift packs, jewlery, and even a Friendship Stone game. Each product, of course, features a unique and beautiful Tiger's Eye stone.

About the stone...(according to www.thefriendshipstone.com)
Discovered in large quantities in Western South African soil in the 1880’s, the Tiger’s Eye is a semi-precious gemstone displaying an effect of a thin band of light, called Chatoyancy, that changes position as the stone is turned back and forth.


The Tiger’s Eye is made up of crystal deposits of quartz and a fibrous blue mineral called crocidolite. While in the earth, these crystals condense simultaneously from hot-mineral rich fluids coursing through tiny cracks in the rock that grow and fill it1. The combination of the two crystals as well as the crocidolite fibers help form the Chatoyancy effect the Tiger’s Eye is well-known for.
 
Why choose a stone as a gift? I think they put it best...
The Friendship Stone is meant to serve as an important reminder of the bond of friendship. The ability of the stone to change with the rays of light is an important message for how one chooses to view life and friendship. Just like the stone’s appearance changes, the Friendship Stone symbolizes the power of choice, of positive thinking and of one’s ability to alter direction in life.


The structure of the stone is as beautiful, distinctive and irreplaceable as the people that comprise one’s life. The stone, small-enough to be permanently carried around, serves as a constant trigger to the importance of each individual in our life. By giving the Friendship Stone, one provides a keepsake, an everlasting sign that regardless of location, there will always be an enduring connection between those two particular individuals.
 
What I Think
First of all, I love the concept of giving someone a tangible way to provide support and encouragement. I was sent the Friendship Stone Individual Pack to review and found that the stone is absolutely beautiful and the packaging done well with a small bag to hold the stone and an explanation booklet included. I had planned to keep the gift pack for when someone needed a special nudge of support, but my daughter got to it first and was equally mesmorized by the stone, even as a 14-month-old girl. It's fine, though, because I was hoping to give it to her anyway when she was a little older. :-) You won't be dissapointed by the stone's quality or beauty. It surely is unique and beautiful, providing a great example of how individuals are also beautiful, unique, and strong even in times of adversary!
 
The second thing I really like is that this company supports a lot of great causes. They have partnered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America to give back 20% of their profits gained from this site, and also donate 10% of their general proceeds to Project South Africa (to support the communities where the Tiger's Eye orginiates).
 
My Recommendations:
A Stone Necklace
The Desk Stone
The Power of Two Friendship Pack (way better than a BFF necklace)
Send someone a Virtual Stone for free
 
Buy It!
Enter the code "Valentine" to receive 14% off on the complete line of Friendship Stone Gifts and Jewelry! Search through the rest of their website to find other great deals (like 20% off of all necklaces).
 
Win It!

Win your own Friendship Stone Individual pack ($19.95) from The Friendship Stone! Since this is a Valentine's Event giveaway, I'm only requiring that you leave me a message below and tell me why you want to win this. Be sure to include an email address and separate comment for each entry! Contest will end 2/15/10 at 11:59, EST. Yeah, that means you'll actually need to buy your own stone to give to someone for V-Day. :-)

Extra Entries:
  • Follow FS on Twitter
  • Follow FS on Facebook 
  • Send a Virtual Friendship Stone
  • Follow Life More Simply
  • Subscribe to Life More Simply
  • Tweet about this contest (1x/day)
  • Grab my regular button
  • Grab my V-Day button (two extra entries if you grabbed it BEFORE 2/1, 1 entry if after!)
  • Spread the word about this contest (leave the link below)--can be anything! Facebook, message boards, emailing friends...
Review is based on free product sample provided by The Friendship Stone. No other compensation was received.

80 comments:

  1. I love these stones! I went to a renaissance festival last year and they had beautiful necklaces that a woman hand crafted, and each year she gets more amazing than the last!!!

    I think these are wonderful gifts for friends, it's unique and geniune. The stones themselves are amazing! I saw the little pack and that is simply adorable!

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  2. Happy Valentine's. A divine giveaway. I love to give gifts that mean something.

    marypres@gmail.com

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  3. I would love to give this to my daughter for Valentine's day. She is really struggling with friendship in the 6th grade. Girls can be so mean to each other. I would love to give this to her to brighten her day! :)

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  4. http://twitter.com/mysweetcarolina/status/8542582443
    tweeted

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  5. I would love to win because I think the idea and the product are fantatic. Looks like a beautiful kit and has a great message along with it.

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  6. I'd like to win this to give to my younger sister, who has been my best friend and shoulder.

    nancy at 513ventures dot com

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  7. following them on twitter: nanceattack

    nancy at 513ventures dot com

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  8. email subscriber

    nancy at 513ventures dot com

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  9. vday button: www.diapersanddimples.com

    nancy at 513ventures dot com

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  10. early vday button: www.diapersanddimples.com

    nancy at 513ventures dot com

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  11. I'd like to win this because it would be a great item to give to my daughter as a gesture to show her I care and love her, especially as times are particularly difficult at this time. Thanks!

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

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  12. I follow FS on Twitter (MamandeEDS).

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  13. I follow Life More Simply.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  14. I subscribe to Life More Simply.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  15. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/8572341517

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  16. I want to win it because this year was a lot about friendship and I would either give it to a special friend or keep it to remind me of the aspects of friendship (your choice how you look at it)...
    violaho(at) gmx (dot) net

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  17. I follow your blog.

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  18. I subscribed to your blog.

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  19. I sent a virtual friendship stone.

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  20. I grabbed your V-Day button before Feb. 1st. #1

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  21. I grabbed your V-Day button before Feb. 1st. #2

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  22. I follow FS on Facebook.

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  23. I grabbed your regular button.
    http://violarissasblog.typepad.com/blog/2010/02/life-more-simply.htm

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  24. I want to win because it would be a nice gift to give someone , although it is also something that I would wear myself so I can't guarantee I wouldn't keep it :D

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  25. tweeted http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/8688825160

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  26. daily tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/8738666790

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  27. i'm a big sister, so anything that supports this cause is amazing!

    Roxy
    hockiemack at hotmail.com

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  28. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/8778995237

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  29. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/8796690905

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  30. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/8822588199


    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  31. had v-day button before feb 1 entry 1

    http://misfitmomma.blogspot.com/

    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  32. had v-day button before feb 1 entry 2

    http://misfitmomma.blogspot.com/

    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  33. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/8841698114

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  34. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/8872651864

    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  35. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/8919466960


    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

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  36. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  37. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  38. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/8942310431

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

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  39. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/8974802619

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  40. your regular button

    http://misfitmomma.blogspot.com/

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  41. I love the concept behind this and I have a best friend who would love to receive it.

    Ravish30 at aol dot com

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  42. I am following your blog

    Ravish30 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  43. I am following FS on twitter as @Ravish30

    Ravish30 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  44. tweet- http://twitter.com/Ravish30/status/8989350022

    ravish30 at aol dot com

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  45. Entered your Alex and Ani Jewelry giveaway

    ravish30 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  46. Entered your Pacific Designs Jewelry giveaway

    ravish30 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  47. Entered your Bed Voyage Giveaway

    ravish30 at aol dot com

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  48. Entered your Gourmet Gift Baskets Giveaway

    ravish30 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  49. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/8994936917

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  50. I entered the Gourmet Gift Basket giveaway.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  51. I entered the Alex and Ani jewelry giveaway.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  52. I entered the BedVoyage giveaway.

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  53. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/9021675974


    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  54. tweet- http://twitter.com/Ravish30/status/9033235394

    ravish30 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  55. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/9042442113

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  56. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/9068248182


    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  57. tweet-
    http://twitter.com/Ravish30/status/9078103443
    ravish30 at aol dot com

    ReplyDelete
  58. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/9085056670

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  59. I would love to win this to give this as a gift to my best friend.



    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  60. I follow your blog


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  61. I am an email subscriber


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  62. tweeted

    http://twitter.com/Prairiebelle/status/9087433593


    bluebelle0367(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  63. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/9111328710


    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  64. I would love to win this so I could give it to my BFF for her birthday. This would be such a memorable gift for her.
    couponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net

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  65. I entered the Gourmet Gift Basket giveaway.
    couponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  66. I entered the BedVoyage Blanket giveaway.
    couponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  67. I entered the Pacific Jewelry giveaway.
    couponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  68. I entered the Alex and Ani giveaway.
    couponsiwant(at)verizon(dot)net

    ReplyDelete
  69. I'd like to win this because it would make a unique gift for my best friend.

    ajolly1456 at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  70. tweet http://twitter.com/Missy_wpg/status/9160142819


    seksi_missy at hotmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  71. I would like to give this to my daughter, she is my best friend.
    skiandboard (at) verizon (dot) net

    ReplyDelete
  72. tweet
    http://twitter.com/MamandeEDS/status/9171638857

    lmarston AT yahoo DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  73. Hi,

    Just found your site. Very nice pictures and fun looking jewellery.

    ReplyDelete

incredibly interesting comments!