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Do you like to compete? Sure you do. Do you follow movita’s annual pumpkin carving competition? Of course you do. Do you want to wow people with your pumpkin carving prowess this year? Hells yah, you do!

This annual battle of the gourds began as a wee competition between myself and the dreaded Rutherfords. If you’ve been reading this blog for any length of time – and care in the least about me – you hate The Rutherfords just about as much as I do. They are just so damn perfect. Honestly? It’s sickening. Since they beat me at just about everything, I figured recruiting strangers to help me defeat them would be a good idea. So, last year, I opened Pumpkin Carve-Off to the ENTIRE WORLD. Unfortunately, the plan backfired, and The Rutherfords won Pumpkin Carve-Off 2011. Also, I came in last.

So, here we are – Pumpkin Carve-Off 2012. I know you’re all gunna take this squash smack down to the next level this year, so I got you a prize. I’m hoping this means you’ll put more effort into beating The Rutherfords and/or other strangers from the interwebs this year.

Here’s what you do:

1. Create a super-awesome carved pumpkin. You can affix crap to the pumpkin, but there must be some carving.
2. Send movita a picture (two maximum) of your super-awesome pumpkin by Saturday, October 27th @ midnight. (In your time zone – stop freaking out.) Photos shouldn’t include you/your kids/your pets – we just wanna see your pumpkin. I’d suggest a photo in natural light if you’d like to show the carved details, and one in the dark – you know, illuminated from the inside. But that’s just me. (Also, if you could downsize your photos to around 500k, that would be awesome. Please don’t crash my email.)
3. Listen, people, I’m not kidding about the two photo thing. Some of you like to send in, say, twelve photos with a charming note that says, “oh, I dunno, movita, you pick.” Cut it out. I don’t have time for that crap. Send in TWO photos. If you send more, I will return your email to you and tell you to pick TWO photos and re-submit your entry. I don’t like it when my voice sounds like this. 
4. Don’t send me some photo you found online and then claim it as your own. Seriously.
5. Be sure to send your name, email and any other information you might want included with your entry. That’s right – I’ll post some lame-ass story you tell me about your super-awesome pumpkin on the interweb. If you’re a blogger, feel free to send along a link to your blog – that way we can all come visit you over there. Your personal information will not be posted on the interweb. That would be creepy. Just your first name, your photos, and anything dumb you’ve insisted I include about your pumpkin like, “my cat helped me carve this pumpkin! Isn’t that hilarious? LOL!!” Actually, I refuse to post LOL’s on my blog. So don’t bother trying.
6. Watch for your super-awesome pumpkin to appear on movita beaucoup. I will, in all likelihood, make fun of your pumpkin. Deal.
7. Watch people vote for your super-awesome pumpkin. (The voting will take place Sunday, October 28th to Tuesday, October 30. The winner will be announced on October 31st.)
8. Win the respect and admiration of many, and, wait for it… a prize!

SprinkleBakes: Dessert Recipes to Inspire Your Inner Artist {paperback}

and

CakeSpy Presents Sweet Treats for a Sugar-Filled Life {paperback}.

These books are both on my wishlist. But like your mother, I’m giving them to you, because I place your happiness above my own. And because I don’t have copies of either of these books, I will email you frequently to ask you to look things up for me. Should I happen to win Pumpkin Carve-Off 2012 (which seems unlikely given last year’s results) – the prize will go to the runner up.

Sounds like fun, right? Good, it’s settled. Send me your photos.

Email photo(s) of your entry to movita {at} live.ca by Saturday, October 27th, 2012. FYI, when you send your photos in early, it makes me love you more.

Here’s the link to past Pumpkin Carve-Offs.

You can find tips on winning movita competitions here.

The competition starts… NOW!