Just a reminder that there are only just over two weeks remaining before the deadline to submit your entry in our first annual DIY Gingerbread House Challenge! We've had some good entries thus far but we're looking to you to flex your DIY muscles, take advantage of the extra time this weekend will afford you, and get your gingerbread on! Remember, one entry will win $50 towards your purchase in store or online at Red Barn Mercantile, one of our favorite shops in Old Town. And all of our readers get 15% off through Dec. 31 by using coupon code OLDTOWNHOME online, or mentioning our blog in store. 

If you'd like the rules on the competition, go to the main challenge page. If you already have a house ready to go, be sure to submit it today!

Our neighborhood event is scheduled for this weekend, so Alex and I have been "strategizing" our approach for days now. Let's just say some illegal contraband is planned and we're hoping to avoid a TSA-style pat down. We have just two words for our neighbors -- bring it! This group is so competitive, one of its members actually created a maniacal PowerPoint presentation, set to the music of Final Countdown, to taunt me. Sheesh. (Okay, I secretly loved it.)

Scope out your competition and take a look at a couple of our latest submissions. 

Bob - Rochester, NY

Shana - Toronto, ON

Melissa @ HOUSEography - Arlington, VA

Read more about these entries and keep track of all of the submissions on the 2011 Gingerbread Challenge Entrants page.