November is my birthday month. It’s also the 11th month of the year, a month during which we are all starting to feel the year’s toll yet have to rally and gather up some energy for that last stretch before we can take a few days off to relax. I’ve always resented my fall birthday for its rain and cold temperatures, especially since I am such a summer girl, which is all the more reason to celebrate!

I usually travel for my birthday but I am spending it in Montreal this year and I am happy to be celebrating in my hometown. To get the festivities going – and to spoil you a bit – I am organizing a fabulous giveaway with the grand prize being what I would describe as my perfect birthday weekend. This is what it includes:

A scrumptious Mediterranean brunch for two at BarBounya
This great Outremont spot is one of my favourites in town for brunch and dinner but their weekend morning cornucopia will help restore your energy after a night out with friends.

A wonderful cheese platter from Fromagerie Hamel
Because, cheese! Also because it will help you pull together a wine and cheese soirée with friends, which is my favourite kind of party.

Two bottles of Alsace wine
Because you need wine to go with the aforementioned cheese platter and to enjoy at that fabulous wine and cheese soirée you’ll be throwing.

A Paris Brest cake from Maison Christian Faure
My favourite cake ever in the whole wide world, ever from one of my favourite pastry shops ever! I’ll be getting one for my birthday and you’ll be getting one because you are beautiful and because you won! It would make a perfect dessert at that wine and cheese party (or you can keep it all to yourself, which I would totally understand).

A spa day at Bota Bota, spa-sur-l’eau
A perfect way to relax before or after throwing that wine and cheese get together is to spend a few hours going around Bota Bota’s relaxing water circuit with a friend and the city’s skyline for a background. It is hands down one of the most beautiful and unusual spas you will ever experience.

Cookbooks!
Because one of my favourite weekend activities is to curl up on the couch with a couple of cookbooks and a couple of cats. The winner will receive Choux by my amazing friend Catherine Lefebvre and Ensemble by my most talented friend Christelle Tanielian. I am so proud of these ladies and am ecstatic to be able to share their books with you. You can make some of the easy yet delicious recipes to impress your friends at that wine and cheese party you’re throwing.

The best coffee
In my world, no weekend (or day) would be complete without some great coffee. Café Larue is one of my favourite coffee shops in Montreal and you too can have some of their fabulous beverages on your perfect weekend. You can even invite some friends to join you (or keep all the coffee cards to yourself).

TO PARTICIPATE:

There are several easy ways to participate…

Leave me a comment here and tell me what your favourite birthday activity is OR…

Like my Facebook page and leave me a comment there OR…

Follow me on Twitter and tweet me OR…

Follow me on Instagram and leave a comment on the contest post I’ll put up.

Also, share this with your friends so they can share the prize – and the cake! – with you (and take you to brunch) if they win!

I will randomly draw the name of a winner on November 27th, 2014 and will announce it on my Facebook page and my Twitter account so keep an eye on those spaces.

A COUPLE OF RULES:

• This contest is open to residents of Quebec, mainly because all the prizes that I’m giving away are here in Montreal. If you live elsewhere and you still want to participate, you will have to plan a trip to Montreal if you win to collect your prize!
• I will not mail any of these prizes, the winner will have to pick them up from me or from the different Montreal businesses involved (cake, wine, cheese plate, etc.)
• You have to be 18 years and older to participate.
• The photos in this blog post are for representation only and do not necessarily depict exactly what you will be receiving.

Good luck to you all!