Our Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Boutique opens Tuesday, April 30, at 11AM ET.

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Rue La La’s Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Sweepstakes

Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE DOES NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.

Please read these rules (the “Official Rules”) before entering the Sweepstakes. By entering and participating in the Sweepstakes, you agree to be bound by these Official Rules and represent that you satisfy all of the eligibility requirements set forth below.

Sweepstakes may only be entered in or from the 50 United States and the District of Columbia and entries originating from any other jurisdiction are not eligible for entry.  This Sweepstakes is governed exclusively by the laws of the United States.  You are not authorized to participate in the Sweepstakes if you are not located within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.

1. Eligibility. Participation in Rue La La’s Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) is open only to legal residents of the 50 United States & DC who are aged 18 or older. Sweepstakes is void elsewhere and where prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. Employees, officers and directors of Retail Convergence.com, LP (“Sponsor”) and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, and each of their respective parent and related companies, affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, partners, advertising and promotion agencies, and any manufacturers or distributors of Sweepstakes materials (collectively, all of the foregoing, the “Released Parties”), and their immediate family members (parents, children, siblings, spouse) or members of the same household (whether related or not) of such employees/officers/directors are not eligible to enter.  You are not authorized to participate in the Sweepstakes if you are not located within the 50 United States or the District of Columbia.  All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply.

2. How to Enter.  To enter the Sweepstakes, you must log into the Rue La La website at www.ruelala.com using your account information, read and agree to the Official Rules, and click the “Enter Now” button.

All entrants must have a valid email address. Limit one (1) entry per person/email address during the Sweepstakes Period, as defined below. No automated entry devices and/or programs permitted.  All entries become the sole and exclusive property of Sponsor and receipt of entries will not be acknowledged or returned. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, illegible, stolen, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, misdirected, technically corrupted or garbled entries, which will be disqualified, or for problems of any kind whether mechanical, human or electronic.  Only fully completed entries are eligible.  Proof of submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor.

3. Start/End Dates. Sweepstakes begins at 11:00:01 am Eastern Time (“ET”) on April 30, 2013 and ends at 10:59:59 am ET on May 7, 2013 (the “Sweepstakes Period”).

4. Random Drawing/Odds.  One (1) grand prize winner and fourteen (14) other winners (collectively, the “Winners”) will be selected in a random drawing on or about May 8, 2013 from all eligible entries received during the Sweepstakes Period.  Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received for the drawing. All random drawings will be conducted by Sponsor.  By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant fully and unconditionally agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Sweepstakes.

5. Prizes:  One (1) Winner will be awarded the grand prize of a Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams promotion code (the “Promotion Code”) in the amount of $2,000.00.  Four (4) Winners will each be awarded Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Promotion Code in the amount of $1,500.00.  Ten (10) Winners will be awarded an autographed copy of “The Comfortable Home”, each with an approximate retail value of $35.00.  The Promotion Codes are subject to the following terms and conditions: (a) one time use only, (b) no partial redemption, (c) the Promotion Code must be used on or before June 21, 2014, and (d) the Promotion Code can be used in store or on the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams website located at www.mgbwhome.com.  The Promotion Code cannot be combined with any other offer and cannot be used for previous purchases. The Promotion Code is not transferable and cannot be substituted for another item or cash redemption.  The winner is responsible for all applicable sales tax.  Other terms and conditions for use of the Promotion Code are printed on the Promotion Code itself or in any material accompanying the Promotion Code.  The total estimated retail value (“ERV”) of the prizes is eight thousand, three hundred and fifty dollars ($8,350.00 USD).  If in the case of unavailability of the prize, Sponsor reserves the right to substitute a prize of equal or greater value.  All federal, state and local taxes and unspecified expenses are the sole responsibility of each Winner.

Winners acknowledge that the Sponsor, Released Parties and all other businesses affiliated with this Sweepstakes and their agents do not make, nor are in any manner responsible for any warranty, representations, expressed or implied, in fact or in law, relative to the quality, conditions, fitness or merchantability of any aspect of the prize being offered.

AN ENTRANT is not a winner of any prize, even if the sweepstakes SHOULD so indicate, unless and until entrant’s eligibility HAS been verified and entrant has been notified that verification is complete.  Sponsor will not accept screen shots or other evidence of winning in lieu of its validation process.

6. Notification. The Winners will be notified by email on or about May 8, 2013 and may be required to sign and return, where legal, a W9 and a Declaration of Eligibility and Release within seven (7) days of prize notification.  If a Winner cannot be contacted within five (5) calendar days of first notification attempt, if any prize or prize notification is returned as undeliverable, if a Winner rejects his/her prize, or in the event of noncompliance with these Official Rules, the prize will be forfeited and an alternate Winner will be selected from among all remaining eligible entries, time permitting. Upon prize forfeiture, no compensation will be given.  Limit one prize per person or household.

7. License/Usage. By entering the Sweepstakes, each entrant fully and unconditionally agrees to be bound by these Official Rules, which will be final and binding in all matters relating to the Sweepstakes. By entering, each entrant agrees to the use of his/her name, address (city and state), photograph, picture, portrait, voice, likenesses, biographical information, and/or statements for purposes of advertising, trade, or promotion in any media (now known or hereafter known) throughout the world in perpetuity, without further compensation, notification or permission, unless prohibited by law. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to obligate Sponsor to make use of any of the rights granted herein and each Winner waives any right to inspect or approve any such use of any and every nature and kind. If any Winner is deemed a minor in his/her jurisdiction of residence, then such prize will be awarded to such Winner’s parent or legal guardian.

8. Release. By participating, each entrant and Winner agrees to release, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor and the Released Parties from any and all liability, for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost or expense whatsoever including without limitation, property damage, personal injury and/or death which may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in Sweepstakes, or possession, acceptance and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Sweepstakes-related activity and claims based on publicity rights, defamation, invasion of privacy, breach of contract and/or merchandise delivery. Neither Sponsor nor any Released Parties are responsible for any damages, taxes, or expenses that Winner(s) might incur as a result of this Sweepstakes or receipt of prize. Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules, or attempt to interfere with this Sweepstakes in any way, may be disqualified.

9. Additional Terms. In case of dispute as to identity of entrant, entry will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the email address submitted at time of entry. “Authorized Account Holder” is defined as the natural person who is assigned an email address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g., business, educational, institution, etc.) responsible for assigning email addresses or the domain associated with the submitted email address. Any attempted form of entry other than as set forth above is prohibited; no automatic, programmed, robotic or similar means of entry are permitted. Neither Sponsor nor Released Parties are  responsible for technical, hardware, software, telephone or other communications malfunctions, errors or failures of any kind, lost or unavailable network connections, web-site, Internet, or ISP availability, unauthorized human intervention, traffic congestion, incomplete or inaccurate capture of entry information (regardless of cause) or failed, incomplete, garbled, jumbled or delayed computer transmissions which may limit one’s ability to enter the Sweepstakes, including any injury or damage to participant’s or any other person’s computer relating to or resulting from participating in this Sweepstakes or downloading any materials in this Sweepstakes.  Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to cancel, terminate, modify, extend or suspend this Sweepstakes should (in its sole discretion) virus, bugs, non-authorized human intervention, fraud or other causes beyond its control corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness or proper conduct of the Sweepstakes. In case of termination, Sponsor will select the Winners from all eligible entries received prior to and/or after (if appropriate) the action taken by Sponsor. Sponsor reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual it finds, in its sole discretion, to be tampering with the entry process or the operation of the Sweepstakes or website.  Sponsor may prohibit an entrant from participating in the Sweepstakes or winning a prize if, in its sole discretion, it determines that said entrant is attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices (including the use of automated quick entry programs) or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other entrants or Sponsor representatives. There is no purchase or sales presentation required to participate.  A purchase does not increase odds of winning.  Sponsor is not responsible if Sweepstakes cannot take place or if any prize cannot be awarded due to travel cancellations, delays or interruptions due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disasters, weather or acts of terrorism or for any other reason outside Sponsor’s reasonable control. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded.

CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB-SITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE SWEEPSTAKES MAY BE A VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM ANY SUCH PERSON TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.

10.  Limitation of Liability; Disclaimer of Warranties.  IN NO EVENT WILL THE RELEASED PARTIES BE RESPONSIBLE OR LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES OR LOSSES OF ANY KIND, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, CONSEQUENTIAL OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF YOUR ACCESS TO AND USE OF THE SERVICE AND/OR THE SWEEPSTAKES, DOWNLOADING FROM AND/OR PRINTING MATERIAL DOWNLOADED FROM ANY WEBSITES ASSOCIATED WITH THE SWEEPSTAKES. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE RELEASED PARTIES’ TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL DAMAGES, LOSSES, OR CAUSES OF ACTION EXCEED $10.00. WITHOUT LIMITING THE FOREGOING, THIS SWEEPSTAKES AND ALL PRIZES ARE PROVIDED “AS IS”  WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. SOME JURISDICTIONS MAY NOT ALLOW THE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY FOR INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR EXCLUSION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES SO SOME OF THE ABOVE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS MAY NOT APPLY TO YOU. CHECK YOUR LOCAL LAWS FOR ANY RESTRICTIONS OR LIMITATIONS REGARDING THESE LIMITATIONS OR EXCLUSIONS.

11. Disputes; Governing Law.  The parties waive all rights to trial in any action or proceeding instituted in connection with these Official Rules, including, without limitation, the Sweepstakes. Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to these Official Rules and/or the Sweepstakes shall be settled by binding arbitration in accordance with the commercial arbitration rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such controversy or claim shall be arbitrated on an individual basis, and shall not be consolidated in any arbitration with any claim or controversy of any other party. The arbitration shall be conducted in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, City of Boston.

THESE OFFICIAL RULES AND THE INTERPRETATION OF ITS TERMS SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS WITHOUT REGARD TO ITS CONFLICTS OF LAWS RULES. For any matters which are not subject to arbitration as set forth in these Official Rules and/or in connection with the entering of any judgment on an arbitration award in connection with these Official Rules and/or the Sweepstakes, the parties irrevocably submit and consent to the exclusive jurisdiction and venue of the state and federal courts located in or closest to the County of Suffolk in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The parties agree not to raise the defense of forum non conveniens.

12.  Use of Data.  Sponsor will be collecting personal data about entrants online, in accordance with its privacy policy.  Please review the Sponsor’s privacy policy at http://www.ruelala.com/common/privacy.  By participating in the Sweepstakes, each entrant hereby agrees to Sponsor’s collection and usage of their personal information and acknowledges that they have read and accepted Sponsor’s privacy policy.

13. List of Winners. To obtain a list of Winners, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope by June 30, 2013 to: Retail Convergence.com, LP, 20 Channel Center, Boston, MA 02210, Attn: Marketing Department: Winner Confirmation Request – Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams Sweepstakes.

14. Sponsor. Retail Convergence.com, LP, 20 Channel Center, Boston, MA 02210.

Yesterday, we tried out this week’s Rue How-To and upcycled old T-shirts into Nantucket-inspired bracelets. How’s that for Earth Day spirit?

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

Are you creative like Rue Associates? Check out all of our openings on Rue La La Careers.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Since we’re always looking for ways to pump up our wardrobes here at Rue La La, we decided to give it a try. (But we didn’t limit it to clothes – since we welcomed additional odds and ends, we called ours the “Stuff Swap.”)

While not as mobbed as our infamous sample sales, the Stuff Swap proved to be a success. The majority of the goods were clothing and accessories, but there were some hidden little gems, too. Where else can you find a The Muppet Show DVD set, kitchen canisters, and leopard print thank-you cards in the same place?

And the best part? In the end, everything that wasn’t nabbed by a Rue employee was packed up to be donated to Goodwill. Scoring new clothes and benefiting charity – what’s not to love?

By Anna Kuchinsky, Staff Writer

Have any tips for hosting a Clothing Swap? Share them in the comments below, or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Candy Cane Oreo Balls
“The crushed candy canes added a minty flavor and crunchy texture that’s seriously amazing, and they look so festive!” —Melissa M., Copywriter

Joyce’s Molasses Cookies
“These are our favorite molasses cookies. The recipe is special in the sense that it’s from my fiancé’s grandmother, who unfortunately passed away some years ago.” —Shaina M., Copyeditor

Six-Layer Bars
“My aunt used to make these bars when I was little, so I snagged the recipe to bake them myself in college. They’re always a hit and perfect for the holidays (or any time of year).” —Brianna L., Junior Copywriter

Peanut Butter Cup Cookies
“These are for lovers of all things peanut butter.” —Julia I., Junior Copywriter

Rum Balls
“My father called these ‘decadent’ the first time he tasted them. They’re now the most requested treat not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year.” —Jess H., Copyeditor

And that isn’t all. If you wish it were still pumpkin (rather than peppermint) season, try Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cuffins. Editor Joanna B. says, “They’re dense and cakey, somewhere between a cookie and a muffin. Try baking them in mini muffin tins and serving them for brunch.” And if you’re craving fruit, Raspberry-Pecan Bars are a delicious change of pace.

Sarah R., a junior designer, fell in love with these Mint Chocolate Chip Cookies when her best friend made them for her birthday last year. She uncovered the secret to even more ooey-gooey deliciousness: switching out the crème de menthe chips for Andes Chocolate Mints. And Designer Melinda B., in discovering “everyone’s dream: a chocolate chip cookie meets a brownie,” whipped up a batch of Brooksters for everyone to enjoy.

By Jess Huckins, Staff Writer

What’s your favorite holiday cookie? Share it in the comments below or tweet us at @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now. 

Meet Mike, our VP of Audience Development and Syndication. That fancy title means he helps establish Rue’s presence via social networking channels, like our blog. He has to be in-tune with our Members, and is ever-knowledgable about the biggest, of-the-moment social media trends. Check out the gifts he’s picked for those lucky enough to make his list.

For my team: ”Nothing says, ‘Get some work done on the weekend!’ like an eye-catching laptop sleeve from Vera Bradley.”

For myself: ”I will never forget watching with my late father when Jack Nicklaus won the 1986 Masters. I’d love to experience the tournament in person.”

For my girlfriend: ”She would really like diamond earrings, so I’m choosing these cozy and sweet pillows. Plus, what better inspiration for our Words With Friends games?”

For my children: “Teaching kids to be responsible with money is really important, and a piggy bank is a great conversation starter. Matthew and Charlie are identical twins, though, so I’ll need two.”

Find all these gifts (and lots, lots more) in our Get Gifty: Our Holiday Gift Shop Boutique, open now.

By Anna Kuchinsky, Staff Writer

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

When you find that perfect gift, be sure to check on a few key pieces of information:

“Ships in” Window
When you find the dress for your holiday soiree or a great cashmere sweater for Mom, be sure to check when it’s expected to head out the door. Since we use different shipping methods on different pieces, some do take longer to send out than others. Checking this window will let you know if the dress won’t make it to you until after the party’s over.

Estimated Date of Delivery
After you order, the date that your package is expected to arrive will be in your order history. This is handy if you need to hide a gift from some (overly) curious eyes.

Guaranteed Christmas Delivery
This one’s for those last-minute shoppers. Until 2PM ET on Friday, December 21, every Boutique is guaranteed to be in your hands by Christmas Eve. Starting Wednesday, December 19, expedited shipping charges (2nd Day Air® or Next Day Air®) will apply – and be sure to select Guaranteed Christmas Delivery as your shipping option on the checkout page.

Return Policy
Each item on Rue has its return policy listed as the first bullet in the details. While we have extended returns until January 15, 2013, some pieces (like swimwear and lingerie) are always Final Sale. Anything that can’t be returned will have a yellow dot at the top of the page and will mention “Final Sale” in the details section.

Have any other questions about holiday deliveries? Share them in the comments section or tweet us at @ruelala_help.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

Meet Austin, our Studio Operations Coordinator. He’s the man behind the scenes of our incredible in-house studio, and he has a hand in everything from booking models to painting sets (ever so artfully). Check out the gifts he’s picked for those lucky enough to make his list.

For my mom: ”She’s an illustrator/graphic designer, and spends a lot of her time sitting in front of her computer. This should definitely help her stay warm through the winter in her home office.”

For my younger brother: ”He’s a senior in college, and he needs some more grown-up sweaters he can dress up with. This is a good start.”

For my roommates: ”In our quest to be real adults in our mid-twenties, my roommates and I have been cooking a lot of meals that don’t involve the microwave. I’d say a real set of knives works better than my old, hand-me-down butter knives – plus, it’s a gift I can also use.”

Find all these gifts (and lots, lots more) in our Get Gifty: Our Holiday Gift Shop Boutique, open now.

By Anna Kuchinsky, Staff Writer

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

It isn’t all fun and fashion working at Rue (though those are huge components). We still have to do our fair share of research when it comes to putting together the fun, inspirational copy we all know and love. Here are the writing resources lining our copywriters’ work shelves:

The Associated Press Stylebook – Our A to Z guide on grammar, abbreviation, and number usage.

The Elements of Style – A classic reference to clear and concise writing.

The Associated Press Guide to Punctuation – Everything we need to know about dashes, brackets, and slashes. Nerd alert.

Fortune-Telling Book of Dreams – Don’t judge. Check out our Rue Horoscopes if you need any clarification.

The Copyeditor’s Handbook  – A very hefty guide (think Harry Potter dense) on editing procedures and typecoding. Also, a pretty useful weapon should an intruder ever wander through the office.

The Complete Fashion Sourcebook – A year-by-year illustrated volume on all things fashion, from 1920s silhouettes to the structured attire of the 80s.

The Little Guide to Vintage Shopping – A how-to guidebook for spotting modern couture from a mile away.

Oh, and Vogue. Lots and lots of Vogue.

By Lauryn Paiva, Staff Writer

What books are you reading in your office? Share the titles in the comments below or tweet us @ruelala.

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.