Friday, February 24, 2012

Harrods and a GIVEAWAY! WaHoo!


Let me start with a little bit of personal information that may leave some of you aghast…and I apologize in advance.  I do not like to shop.  Unless it’s at a grocery store, a bookstore or a cook store!  ….but I HAD to go to Harrods!


I have two amazing sisters, Mary and Susan.  They are the best sisters, supportive, fun, funny and each so talented that I feel I am often in the presence of giants.  Did I mention they are also VERY tall? ….and I’m a whoppin’ 5’ 3”!


Believe it or not, I actually have a point.  My sisters L.O.V.E. to shop....and not just a little bit!  When I go with them after an hour - or five - I do the following to keep my sanity:
  1. Find a rack that is sturdy enough to lean against
  2. Offer to watch their bags, purchases, whatever isn’t moving
  3. Break out my cell phone and play Plants vs. Zombies

They will wander and meander in what appears to be aimless circles while they try on clothes and touch doo-dads (Susan touches EVERYTHING) and circle back to me adding to the pile. 


However, Harrods was different!  When you walked into this HUGE store, each department was it’s own “building”.  There was a store for handbags…lovely, but what-evs…


A store for perfumes…smelled good, but *yawn*


TONS of designers....


Even “Harrods” labeled merchandise….cute bears, bags, mugs…nice, touristy and expected.


I even saw the Diana and Dodi Memorial.  It was - surprisingly - tucked away with the escalators!

then…….




Then……



THEN....there is the grocery section!  


Fresh produce, meats, teas, spices, jams, picnic items and fresh foods that you can purchase or have served to you!


NIRVANA!


THIS is a store that my sisters could wander and pick me up in the food section.  


The store is big enough that it would take them a week or two to touch everything, but that’s okay!  I know where the food is!  Take your time, I’m good…..


While I was in England I did shop a little bit!  I purchased The British Pub Cookbook that I've been cooking from all week and some English Jams from Harrods….and I’d like to give them away to you!


So….here’s how you can win these and it’s open to everyone, wherever you live!


Leave me a comment!  That’s it and you’re in! 

If you’d like more chances to win, here’s how….just make sure you leave separate comments for each!
  1. Subscribe to Cooking Healthy For Me via RSS or Email.  
    • Since Google Friend Connect is going away – this is a GREAT opportunity to switch over!
  2. Follow Cooking Healthy For Me on Facebook
  3. Follow me on Pinterest
  4. Follow me on Twitter 
This giveaway was provided by CHFM, and my daughter since she fronted me the $$$ because I was pick-pocketed…but I’ve paid her back!   …thank you times a zillion, Patty!

I’ll pick the winner via Random [dot] org and announce the winner at 7pm on Monday, February 27th.

and finally….

I had such a delightful trip to England and France and I have to thank my daughter and her family for it.  While touring and visiting two amazing countries was wonderful, the highlight was hugging and playing with my grand children and visiting with Patty & Joe. 


The comments have been closed and a winner has been selected!  

Congratulations to:

LIZ!  Liz, I'll send you an email and we'll get the prize out to you! 
Thank you EVERYONE for participating!

118 comments:

  1. So glad you had fun, Ann!

    And OMG I've been to the Harrods grocery section and it is HEAVEN! The giveaway is very generous, good luck to all!

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  2. Like you, I don't like to shop either. Unless I'm going grocery shopping, bookstore or a cook store.

    Nice giveaway.

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  3. Oh I know where you are coming from when it comes to shopping I am not a shopper either but also TOTALLY agree with you about food shopping and HARRODS well... I used to work around the corner and would go there in my lunch hour just for a look! You went to Harvey Nicks round the corner too I hope! Great restaurant bar on top floor! Great photos too, thanks Ann!

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  4. I won't be joining the giveway as just ordered the book after reading about it on your blog!

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  5. Unlike I can shop till I can drop, thank god I was not at Harrods, there goes my credit cards. Lovely gift away and may the best win this gift.

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  6. I do enjoy shopping but never have the time for
    It anymore. Plus with everything so so expensive now it's not as
    Much fun as it use to be. However put me into a gourmet market, kitchen shop or bookstore and I'm in heaven. It's often where I go to escape so I totally know what you mean. This is such a nice giveaway. I love cookbooks from different places. Thank you for the chance to win this fun book that you've been sharing great recipes from.

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  7. Fun! I remember wandering around that grocery section for ages. Ah, Harrods!

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  8. We went nuts in Harrods. We spent like 4 hours in the grocery section! So glad you got to go there :)

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  9. Harrods would have had to drag me kicking and screaming from the food section. Nirvana is right!

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  10. I've heard of Harrods from my friends, and we googled it and everything, seems like a fun and fantastic store! I want to go in the grocery section and shop, shop, shop!!

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  12. Ann,
    I already follow you on all the site you mentioned. The pictures of Harrods are great! I am so glad you enjoyed your visit with your family, while visiting London/Paris. It must have made this trip so much more fun. I hope to check out Harrods and all the other things in London in 2013. Cant wait.

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  13. Until I met you, I thought I was "strange and peculiar " because I enjoy checking out frocery stores and food markets! Now I know I was a foodie and didn't know it!!! Was in Harrods once and could have moved in and lived there!!! Great post, Ann!

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  14. Entered through all of the above; nice giveaway, Ann! (p.s. I always pictured you as TALL, funny, huh? I'm short too but I've got 3/4" on you, and I'm taking every quarter inch I can :)

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  15. Oh my, we're alike in so many aspects, I love how that happens with people I meet online.
    Not a shock for me, as I also hate shopping, love bookstores, the produce section and also like playing Plants vs. Zombies! :-)

    Thanks for the chance to win, as you can imagine, I also LOVE cookbooks <3

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  16. Oh, and let's up my chances :-)

    I follow via RSS

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  18. And am also following you on Twitter :)

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  19. I am subscribed to CHFM via email. Love getting my morning post from you!

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  20. wow Ms.Ann that was such a big grocery..like you yes I would rather sit and let my cousins shop..I am just not into shopping but I go for groceries heheeeee..buying something to cook for my kids have always been my priority to make them smile..passing by before I sleep Ms.Ann..gudnyt *hugs* ;)

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  21. You pretty much have the same strategy as my husband uses, find a place to sit or lean on, hord our shopping treasures and play some game on the phone.

    OH cool! my eyes popped out too when I saw the grocery, fresh meat and cheese section. ahh... I miss this stuff!

    I dont mind winning! ;)

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  22. What a wonderful giveaway! That looks like a fun store to stroll through (and secretly add items to the cart when the hubby isn't looking:) Thanks for the chance to enter!

    lauralee_220 at hotmail dot com

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  23. I follow you on facebook.

    lauralee_220 at hotmail dot com

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  24. I just recently started following your blog, but I love your recipes and your whitty posts. I added you on pintrest and facebook too =)

    This store looks amazing! I live in an area where we don't get alot of fun specialty food items. If I ever went to this store I just might never leave!

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  25. what a wonderful trip you've had...agree totally about playing with the grandchildren. my son and family are moving back across the country where he's been doing his residency. just found out and in my head at least, have been doing the snoopy happy dance!! thanks for the opportunity to win something fun from harrod's...ooooooooooooooh. have a great day

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  26. I just recently started following your blog on RSS. I also added you on Pinterest and Facebook. I love your recipes and your pictures are amazing!

    I live in an area that doesn't have much for specialty shops. If I went to this store I might never leave!

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  27. Oh, I'm swooning over the grocery section!

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  29. I think I could get lost in a few sections of that store! This is a great giveaway!

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  33. I LOVE Harrods, was there last week while visiting my daughter in London, but I'm like you, it's the food hall that appeals most to me. Actually, it's probably about the only thing I can afford at Harrods! I'm so happy to see your pictures as I took a ton, almost to the embarrassment of my daughter and then realized when I got back to her house that I did not have a chip in the camera! I was so disappointed so thanks for these lovely memories! Did you try any of the bakery? We love to go to Harrods when the weather's nice and purchase a bunch of their amazing stuff and then head to Hyde Park for lunch, so fun!!

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  34. I've enjoyed reading about your travels and recipes. Looks like a fabulous trip.

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  35. Hello Sister! Your foodie-friends obviously know that you are very talented in your own right (but you are the short one). Dropping in to let you know that "You Rock Most, NO Take Back!" (note that I took the time to write it out vs YRMNTB) As you are aware, if I get the win, Terri wins the prize for her upcoming wedding (except the jam). :) Love ya!

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  36. Wow, what an amazing post Ann. Would it be nice if our malls had a produce store in it? I would be the same: just leave me there and pick me up when you are done! Good thing about our malls, most of them have a kitchen store where I can get lost for hours!

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  37. First of all, yes you do have great sisters! I personally know that Mary is not only a fantastic person, but is a shopping queen! This place looks fabulous. My youngest daughter Caitlin would love, love, love to go there. She wants to go to culinary school so anything about food is top on her list! Thanks for this great blog!

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  38. --I love Harrods. I bought my hat there for Mr. Liverpool's sister's wedding!

    I will follow you anywhere you go, but first I'll find you on Facebook. Xxxx

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  39. Great giveaway! I have so very much enjoyed hearing about your trip and adventures (not the pickpocket story but all of the rest). Happy to hear about your excitment of the grocery store in Harrods. I like to shop but the three categories you named are my favorite as well.

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  41. Are you saying it's over? The European Series is over? Ohh.... It was so much fun! Thank you for sharing it with all of us, Ann! Harrods looks like a lot of fun :) Thanks for the giveaway!

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  46. Harrods food hall is the greatest thing ever! Those photos are amazing. I want to go soooo badly. I also share your dislike for shopping. I hate it - if it can't be purchased in 2 minutes online then I have no need for it. Happy Friday!!!

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  47. This place looks like one I would have to go to without any deadline-I could definitely spend several hours in there. So glad you found that grocery section, no telling how much time you spent there! Thanks for sharing this and have a great weekend!

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  48. I HATE shopping too! You wouldn't know it from all the crap I own, but I'm just a wickedly experienced online shopper. I can click, click, click my way into a new wardrobe in the span of 15 minutes - And don't have to interact with one pushy salesperson, or lay a finger on fabric. But grocery sections? That's my weakness... I would be living in the Harrods grocery section! I'm glad to know I'm not the only one. Love this post!

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  49. My husband and I went on a honeymoon to London in 2009, and one of the funnest things we did was simply take a stroll through Harrods. It's magical! And that's coming from someone who ALSO doesn't like to shop! Thanks for sharing this wonderful giveaway. You have a great blog, Ann.

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  50. I so want to go to Harrod's now, that grocery section looks amazing!!

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  51. And I now follow you on Pinterest!

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  52. I love harrods! I got the perfect marmalade there :)

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  53. What an amazing holiday you have had Ann, and so wonderful to be able to share it. Gallery Lafayette in Paris also has a wonderful food section and an even better kitchen sections. The give away is amazing and thank you for sharing it with us.
    I still love you even though you don't like to shop ;-)

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  54. I'm the same as you, but instead of sisters both my mom & my sister could shop forever. We clearly have to visit Harrods! Looks amazing!

    By the way, I already like you on facebook. :)

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  57. Hi ya sister. 5'3"...in what dream/or shoes, probably more like 5'2". Although you make up for you size with way more sweetness than us! Sisters Rock!

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  58. What a fabulous giveaway! Will you ship to Israel or the US? If so, I'm in! Your trip to Harrod's sounds awesome. I'm not much of a shopper either unless it involves food :-)

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  62. You really had to go to Harrods, but I don't really like to shop either. That's why I always have my Kindle in my purse whenever I am with people who do. You had such a fun trip! Is Google Friend Connect going away in general, or just on your site?

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  63. My in-laws went to London a while back and brought me some Harrod's tea. I have been rationing it out and used the last of it before Christmas! Since then, Harrod's has been on my foodie world destination list!

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  64. Ann, I feel your pain regarding shopping! There are only really two kinds of shopping I like: food/kitchen equipment stores and Apple stores. I could spend hours in either of those places, but don't really care for the rest and get bored easily ;) Thanks again for these past weeks of your travels and so happy you shared...

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  65. I am with you on the shopping. Get me out of there. Cool give-away I am in. I just followed you on pinterest, also.

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  67. That food store looks awesome! Subscribed to your RSS :)

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  68. Hi Ann, I like the "idea" of shopping, and the anticipation. Only problem is, as soon as I get to the stores and I see the throngs of people I immediately feel completely bored and just want to escape :D

    I went to the Harrod's food-store... a great many years ago. I remember buying a bottle of water and saffron buns - that was about it, lol :D

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  69. Hi Ann, It's great that you had an opportunity to visit Harrod's. It's one of my favourite places. I'm so looking forward to visit family and friends over there this year!! I subscribed to your blog some time ago and always look forward to your posts.

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  70. That looks like heaven! My husband told me the other day that he just realized that I would rather go grocery shopping than buy clothes for myself. How right he is! I do like to clothes shop, but I get way more excited about food. That looks like a great time, I had no idea Harrods had a food section. I already follow you on twitter and pinterest. Now to subscribe via email!

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  72. I am so thrilled you had such a good time. And what a store. That would make me pass out. Before hubs got laid off I could shop like your sisters big time. Nowadays I just don't do it. It's just too painful. Lol. Which one is the sister I talked to is what I am wondering? Okay so just tell everyone else to give up cuz I am winning this sucker. Back off folks, I got this.

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  77. Great giveaway Ann! So glad to know you had a good time. :)

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  78. I love to shop - for other people! I have a hard time finding clothes that fit & feeling attractive in them so clothes shopping is usually depression-inducing. But Christmas shopping is my joy of joys! (As are craft stores and grocery stores - yarn stores are like a drug to me).

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  82. I've enjoyed all your French and British dishes...and this is such a fabulous giveaway! I think I need to get back to Harrod's and SOON!

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  83. I am subscribed to your RSS feed~

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  86. And I follow you on Pinterest~

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  87. Shopping at Harrods sounds like so much fun, that's one thing I didn't get to do when I was in London, maybe next time :)

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  88. Harrods, pretty breathtaking, isn't it. When I went there, I suddenly felt very, very...poor. ;))

    However, I left London during Christmas time 2010 and as a little souvenir to bring with me for my mother, I bought one of those limited Harrods Christmas baubles whith the year on them which still cost ridiculously much for something that you hang on a tree but is affordable (think it was something around 12GBP). Don't ask my how it managed to get through the airport undamaged in my hand luggage lol.

    However, she loved it so much that she asked me to get one for her each year so now I am having an excuse to visit this city that I love so much at least once anually! ;)

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  89. I am already following you via RSS. :)

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  90. Ann, I've been enjoying your travel blogs from the sidelines but had to jump in here (not because of your give-away!) to tell you, your last paragraph touched my heart. All the "wonders of the world" (and fancy food shops) can't compare to the JOY you expressed in your family. Simply lovely.

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  91. My first trip to Europe was when I was single and young. My mother had a friend from England and she arranged for me to meet a friend of hers who worked in the food department of Harrods. Believe me, a young girl from Texas whose mother didn't like to cook was very impressed with that visit.

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  92. I am soooo sorry about the pick pocket!

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  93. I am a RSS subscriber.. thanks!

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  94. I am sorry, but I've got to say this... YOU ARE A GRANDMOM?!?!?! I can't believe it :D

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  95. I would love a wonderful cookbook... I don't own any British pub ones. PS.. as many times I have been to London... I have never been to Harrods. I feel like a fool now. :(

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  99. Well it looks like you had a blast Ann!! Thats awesome! :)
    I love that this giveaway is open to everyone YAY! :D hahaha

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  102. Heheheh! I'm not a big shopper anymore too. I was when I was in Japan where national sport is shopping. Now I do look for a rack that is sturdy enough to lean against (you know I was laughing so hard at this point).

    Wonderful giveaway and I do love to go Harrods for sure. :-)

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  103. That grocery store looks amazing! I would have a ball in there.

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  104. Harrods! The perfect store! I truly miss being there...

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  107. I'm with you - I hate to shop unless it has something - anything - to do with cooking. I can see you're having fun with your sisters, so that makes it worth it. :)

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  108. I'm already a subscriber Ann! I'd love to win that cookbook -- I'm all set to make your sausage with mash and onion gravy tomorrow night!!! Thanks for sharing about your trip and lining up the contest. Happy Sunday!

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  109. haha, how similar we are! i could spend many happy hours in a grocery store browsing shelves, reading labels, generally having the time of my life :)

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  110. I'm so glad that you had a great trip, and I've loved you sharing it with us! It was almost as good as getting to go with you. Almost...

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  114. And I think I like you on Pinterest, but I can't get the link to work... :(

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  118. I am always late...sorry I missed the giveaway :(
    I am not big on shopping either, except foodie stuff. And wow on that market, I could spend an entire day there :)

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