I love reusable shopping bags!

I do. I really do, but I only have a couple. Actually, I HAD a couple until my daughter packed for college. She had books and magazines in one bag and clothes stuffed in the other. So I decided I needed to buy myself two or three and hide them. When I googled reusable shopping bags I found a blog that was giving away a Yoga Mom Grocery Bag. The bag looks roomy and strong. Needless to say, I'm entering and my fingers are crossed. You can enter too by going here: Naddez's Goody Corner. While you're there, take a look around this fun blog! Thanks Naddez!

I just found another shopping tote giveaway at Confessions of a Psychotic Housewife. This blog is full of honest reviews and giveaways, as well as thrifty deals. Gotta love that! Go enter and check out this great blog. Oh, I think the author has a corgi or two. As a fellow corgi owner, I feel a kinship!

What a Summer!

It's August and I have just one question - What happened to June and July??? And hasn't this been a news filled summer? Michael Jackson and Farrah, Jon and Kate, Palin, Sotomayor, the gym shooting, universal health care... (and here's where I'm gonna insert a little something to think about: Norman Mattoon Thomas (November 20, 1884 - December 19, 1968) was a leading American socialist, pacifist, and six-time presidential candidate for the Socialist Party of America.

The Socialist Party candidate for President of the US, Norman Thomas, said this in a 1944 campaign speech:

"The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism. But, under the name of 'liberalism,' they will adopt every principle of our socialist program, until one day America will be a socialist nation, without ever knowing how it happened." He went on to say: "I no longer need to run on the Socialist Party ticket because the Democrat Party has now adopted our platform.)

Anyone who isn't worried about the direction our country is currently headed should take a few days to read a bit of history and think about the future of their children.

Summer Block Party Starts Tomorrow!

The Virtual Summer Block Party Starts Tomorrow and I can't wait. The four hosts are the Mom Buzz, Life in a House of Blue, As They Grow Up, and Look What Mom Found. These ladies have been working on this huge giveaway(s) for months. They have almost 40 sponsors and aboug 50 items to giveaway. Three lucky winners will win large prize packs! Read more about this huge event here. Below are the Prize Packages and the sponsors:

SIZZLING SUMMER PRIZE PACK
(Prize Pack A - $900)

Vado Pocket Video Camera
Bumbleride Flyer
Peek for E-mail
UV Skinz Shirt
Shapewear

Toddler Glasses from Eyes Cream Shades
Blurb.com
VictoriaPZurcher Personalized Kids Stainless Steel Water Bottles
VanOodles CDs
No Throws
Dunkin Donuts
Intelligent First Aid Kit




WEAR-YOUR-SHADES PRIZE PACK
(Prize Pack B - $700)
Vado Pocket Video Camera
Tuga Sunwear
Shapewear
Blurb.com
Keeta Collection - $70 Gift Card
Kokopax Baby Carrier
VanOodles CDs
No Throws
Safety Mate Talking First Aid Kit
VictoriaPZurcher Personalized Kids Stainless Steel Water Bottles




"COOL SUMMER" PRIZE PACK
(Prize Pack C - TOTAL VALUE $400)
Vado Pocket Video Camera
Shapewear
UV Skinz Bucket Hat
Blurb.com
Kushies
VanOodles CDs
Cuisinart Icecream Maker



Other $900 worth of prizes from other fabulous sponsors include:

Bissell Versus
Casio EX-S12
Boob-Eez
LTDChix -Laundry Shirt
Blurb.com - (2 More Winners!)
SockGram
FlipFlops
Going to Grandma's Suitcase
Protectabub-stroller shade or car seat shade
Pedipeds
Breezy Bags reusable bags
Anklet from The Jewelry Box
Baby Banz
Mutsy Grow Up Seat
Eyes Cream Shades

Revolution Foods Jammy Sammy Sampler and Kids TShirt
WallarooHats
gr8x.net Diaper Bag
Dozen Dunkin Donuts
Little Fit
Popits
Sheer Tan Starter Set with 6 Sheer Tan Sunless Tanning Aerosols

Good luck to all and many thanks to the sponsors and hosts!

Another Weekend and a Few Great Giveaways!

Do you ever feel like time is going by so quickly that you can't catch your breath? It seems as if I wake up in the morning and before I know it, it's night again and I'm back in bed. I keep thinking Christmas was only a week ago, so how can it be May already? And wasn't it yesterday that my daughter was yelling "April Fool" after putting a fake spider on my shoulder! How can it be May 1st??? Anyway, it's the weekend again and here are a few giveaways I'm entering:

* Simply Stacie is having an Asian heritage month giveaway. I love to read, and the prize includes several books which interest me greatly because I have 2 daughters adopted from China and S. Korea. Stacie is also hosting a Latino Book Month giveaway. I would be happy winning either one. Thanks Stacie!

* carp(e) libris reviews is also giving away an Asian American fiction novel. As I mentioned above, my daughters are Asian so I'm always interested in reading Asian literature. This giveaway is Water Ghosts by Shawna Yang Ryan. I just read the review for this book on Amazon and I can't wait to get my hands on it!

* In honor of her daughter's 7th birthday, Sweet Savings is giving away a $50 GC to Borders! I would rather read than do almost anything else. My mother is the same way, and if I won this I would give it to her for Mother's Day! To enter, go here: http://onesweetdeal.blogspot.com/2009/04/birthday-giveaway.html Happy Birthday to Sweet Savings' daughter!

* The last 3 giveaways have been book related, so I'll continue with that theme. Ready When You Are, C.B. (I love that name) is hosting a giveaway for a vampire novel. I believe this particular book was made into a movie in Sweden, but I'm not sure. The title of the book is Let the Right One In by John Ajvide Lindqvist and translated by Ebba Segerberg. It's about vampires, but not the cute, sexy ones that are so popular right now. To read more about this book and to enter the giveaway go here: http://readywhenyouarecb.blogspot.com/2009/04/let-right-on-in-by-john-ajvide.html

* I can't believe I found yet another book related giveaway! I love books and I read whenever I get a few free minutes. Melissa's Bookshelf is giving one very lucky reader a $20 GC to Amazon. If I won this, I think I would use it to buy my daughter the first book in the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. She wants to read the entire series this summer. I love when my kids read! Thanks for this giveaway Melissa!

* 3 Kids and Us is giving away a little item I have wanted for over a year - the Keurig Platinum Brewing System! The Keurig Platinum Brewing system is a single-cup brewing system that allows you to enjoy a variety of hot drinks like coffee, tea and hot cocoa. To read more about this product and other Keurig items, go to the Keurig site. Good Luck.

* Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House is hosting a giveaway for something I would love to own - A steam mop from Reliable. It's the Steamboy T1 Steam Floor Mop and it makes cleaning a snap. I am trying to eliminate as many harmful chemical as possible, so cleaning with steam would be a welcome addition to my cleaning supplies. And did you know this steam floor mop cleans carpet stains!!! Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House is also giving one reader the chance to win a $25 GC to Build-A-Bear. To enter, go here: http://twoofakindworkingonafullhouse.blogspot.com/2009/05/build-bear-thinks-mom-rocks-giveaway.html. Good Luck!

* I love food and I love those cheese biscuits at Red Lobster. 5 Minutes for Giveaways is giving away a $50 GC to Red Lobster! I wonder how many cheese biscuits $50 will buy? Thanks 5 Minutes for Giveaways for the chance to stuff myself with yummy seafood! Oh, after you enter don't forget to visit the other 5 Minutes sites. They're all good!

* Where'd All My Money Go?! is hosting my favorite kind of giveaway - a $100 GC to anywhere the winner chooses. How great is that!! This is in celebration of the blog owners 10,000 blog hits. After you enter, and I know you will, look around this blog. Where'd All My Money Go?! is an avid paper crafter and some of her scrapbook pages are just downright gorgeous!

* The Mom Buzz is hosting a "green" giveaway for a Scott Green Gift Bag. You really should check out the new Scott Naturals products because I'm sure you will find new ways to help your family go green! I know I did.

* I ran across this giveaway when I was searching for something to send my 3 year old niece. I was searching for something personalized and this is what I found - a giveaway for a personalized CD of children's songs. This would be absolutely perfect to send to a young child that you have special feelings for. If I win, I'm going to put it in a decorated envelope and mail it to my favorite 3 year old! The giveaway is hosted by The Giveaway. Go, enter!

* With all the news concerning the swine flu or whatever they want us to call it now, this is a very timely giveaway. 3 Kids and Us is giving one lucky reader the chance to win a box of Kleenex Anti-Viral tissues and a $50 Visa GC! Woooohoooo To read about Kleenex Anti-Viral Tissues and ways to stay healthy go to Battle the Bug. Good luck and be well.

* I grew up eating Betty Crocker brownies and cakes. I loved them then and I love them now! Sage and Savvy is giving away the Mixer Gift Basket filled with items to help you bake yummmy Betty Crocker treats. Go to this site, The Mixer, and read about some neat cooking tips and hints. Thank you Sage and Savvy!

$250 Visa Card Giveaway at Therapeutic (AD-FREE)

Thanks to BlogHer and Capri-Sun Sunrise you can enter to win a $250 Visa Gift Card!!
Just head over to Therapeutic (AD_FREE) and leave a comment or two. Entries are easy, just the way I like them! Good luck.

Not just any old gift basket

Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House is hosting a giveaway for a gift basket from Gourmet Gift Baskets. The basket being given away is a Mother's Day Classic Gardening basket, and boy oh boy is it full of good stuff! Go read about it at Two of a Kind, Working on a Full House. Enter!

Great Giveaways around the Blogosphere

* STL Mommy is giving away a $25 Target GC. If you love Target as much as I do, enter before May 1st at 5pm! STL Mommy is a wonderful blog for moms, especially those of us trying to cash in on bargains. She also hosts great giveaways like this Target GC and another current giveaway for a Betty Crocker Goodie basket. For details head over to STL Mommy and enter. I grew up eating Betty Crocker products and using my mother's Betty Crocker Cookbook. STL Mommy is also giving away $40 worth of Mary Kay products. Mary Kay is one of those companies that I know always has first rate products. I love their lipsticks.

Helping Mommies Win is Hosting an Amazon GC Giveaway

Helping Mommies Win is a site dedicated to helping us moms find giveaways. I just discovered this site, and I've enjoyed the tips on winning as well as the lists of giveaways. Currently, the author of Helping Mommies Win is offering her readers a chance to win a $15 Amazon GC. I love Amazon so my fingers are crossed! Go enter and good luck.

I'm Having Fun with Swagbucks. So Can You!

I joined Swagbucks almost two weeks ago and I've already earned enough swagbucks for a $5 Amazon GC! How, you ask? By doing what I always do when I log onto the internet. I merely search for the things I normally search for, but instead of using google I use the Swagbucks search engine. You can download the toolbar, or not. It's up to you. I just go to www.swagbucks.com and log in. Then I start visiting the sites I normally visit, or I search for other sites. You never know when you'll win a swagbuck, but I think it's normal to win 2 or 3 a day. The site lets you know when you win one (or more), and your running total is always displayed. You can also earn swagbucks by following Swagbucks on twitter or facebook and watching for certain codes. All of this becomes clear after you sign up. It's really easy and fun and takes no extra effort! So, use the link above or on my sidebar and join today. You automatically earn three swagbucks when you sign up!

Another Weekend Full of Giveaways

When I first started entering blog giveaways, I immediately wanted to have one of my own. I didn't know how to host a giveaway, but I stumbled through a couple by giving away new things that I had on hand. Then I had a Flip Note giveaway and actively advertised to attract entries. Giveaways aren't as simple as they look, and I admire the work and dedication that giveaways require. I don't enter giveaways for things I don't need or want because I don't want to win something that I know someone else might really need. The following are the giveaways I'm entering this weekend and they are all things I would love to have! And thank you reviewers and giveawayers...is that a word?

* Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls is giving away a Savespro $20 GC. I was not familiar with Savespro till I read a couple of reviews about this company. Savespro has great prices and a huge selection of products. I'm sure I'll be buying something from this company in the near future. Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls is also hosting a giveaway for a Macaroni Grill gift package. The package includes a sample of the Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken Pasta variety, three coupons for you to try the other varieties the next time you visit your local grocer, a colander, serving spoon and cheese grater. Good luck!

* If you had ever had the pleasure of riding in a car with me, you would know how much I need a GPS system. Mom Fuse is giving away a Motorola Motonav TN30, one of the neatest GPS devices available. It has a touch and drag screen, 2D and 3D map perspectives, no activation or monthly fees, etc. To read all about the Motonav TN30, go to Mom Fuse. Don't forget to enter!

* Jamie's Precious Peas is giving away either a T3 Pro Blow Dryer or a Flat Iron. These are both much nicer than any blow dryer or flat iron I've ever owned. I usually get hair styling items from Walmart, and I don't put much thought into the purchase. After reading the review of these products, I know they are well made and work beautifully. I would love to own either the dryer or the flat iron!

* Have you seen the new decorator Clorox canisters? They are pretty enough to leave out in any room, and they are functional! The dispenser only dispenses one wipe at a time to cut down on waste. And we all know about Clorox's cleaning power! If you want a chance to win a Clorox canister (10 winners in all!) go enter at Lisa Reviews. Good luck!

Tax Day Giveaways

A Giveaway Addicted Mommy is giving one lucky reader a Magellan GPS system (Magellan Maestro 4350) valued at $399.99! I could really use this. My kids can tell you some funny stories about the times we've been lost. I've even been lost in my own town! Go enter this great giveaway. It ends on May 6th.

Savin' Some is hosting a Macaroni Grill gift set giveaway. The gift basket containins a box of creamy basil parmesan chicken and pasta (yummmm), a colander, a cheese grater, and a spoon. Sounds perfect to me!

The Alternative Consumer is hosting a HUGE giveaway for a Black and Decker rechargable lawnmower! This Eco friendly lawnmower is worth over $400. AND there is a second prize for a cordless leaf blower worth approximately $70. This is one of the best giveaways I've entered and I hope whoever wins really needs a new lawnmower!

This next giveaway is very interesting and unique. Is It Monday Already? is offering 5 readers a membership to Breakpals. Breakpals is a workout program that uses a widget on your computer that displays small videos to give you breaks through exercise. How neat is that! I'm not entirely sure how it works, but we all need more exercise and this sounds like a fun way to get more!

This Full House Reviews is hosting a Disneynature Earth giveaway in honor of Earth Day 2009. The prize package includes: Disneynature canvas tote, a reusable grocery bag, a biodegradable tumbler, a tree seedling, and more. Thanks Disney and This Full House Reviews!

Do You Love Yummy Giveaways?

If you love chocolate (and who doesn't??) you need to visit Frugal Mommy of 2 Girls for a chance to win a Fairytale Cocoa Duo from Fairytale Brownies. Now I have chocolate on the mind! I wonder what's left in my daughters' Easter baskets?

The second yummy giveaway I discovered is a $25 GC to Outback Steakhouse. This is generously offered to one lucky reader of On Our Way a blog dedicated to saving money. It's fascinating because it is written by twenty something year olds who are actually changing their lifestyles in order to retire early! I am so happy to find people that young who are already thinking about the future!

This giveaway isn't for the actual yummy item, but for what carries the yummy items. Jamie's Precious Peas is giving away reusable shopping bags from hotSACKS. This company even carries mesh bags for fruits and vegetables. These bags have great color patterns and are roomy. Go, enter!

Mama's Money Savers is also hosting a giveaway for reusable shopping bags. Her giveaway is from ECObags. These bags hold up to 40 lbs and the possibilities are endless. They are expandable, lightweight, strong, durable, fun, and fashionable! Thanks Mama's Money Savers!

Ragu is the next yummmmmy giveaway. Skimbaco Lifestyle is hosting a giveaway for a six month supply of Ragu plus a cookbook by Chef Robin Miller. I grew up eating Ragu spaghetti sauce, so I usually have a couple of jars on hand. I use it in spaghetti, lasagna, and chicken parmesan. I've even used it in chili! Good luck!

OK, this is not really a food related giveaway, but my youngest thinks it is one yummy giveaway. A Mom's Balancing Act is giving away a Hannah Montana gift bag filled with beauty supplies. Some of the items included are nail polish, shampoo, lipgloss, and toothpaste. If I won this, my daughter would think it was Christmas again! After you enter the giveaway, look around A Mom's Balancing Act. This blog has frugal tips, parenting advice, insights into marriage, and...well, just about everything. You will enjoy this blog, I promise!

Mommy Goggles is Hosting Several Great Giveaways

Mommy Goggles always has wonderful giveaways. I have entered several contests there and I'm always impressed with her honest and well worded reviews. Today I'm entering for a chance to win a reusable shopping bag and coupons for Bright Green cleaning supplies. These cleaning supplies could put a big dent in my spring cleaning! I'm also entering a giveaway for a chance to win a Vado HD Pocket Video Cam. Even if you don't enter the giveaway, go to Mommy Goggles and read about this great little camera. If I owned one I would take it everywhere! Another great giveaway from Mommy Goggles is a Lean Cuisine coupon giveaway. I'm always struggling with my weight, and I'm a big fan of Lean Cuisine frozen meals. The last giveaway I'm entering today at Mommy Goggles is for Seventh Generation Living Home Starter Kit. I am serious about using as few harmful chemicals as possible in my everyday life. Seventh Generation products will help me achieve that goal.

Weekend Giveaways from a Few Generous Bloggers

There are currently a lot of great giveaways out there in blog world and I'm ready to enter a few. I don't have time to enter as many as I would like, but here's what I'm entering:

* 5 minutes for Giveaways is giving away two Twilight packages. One is for the movie, the other for the books (hardbound!). To enter you are going to have to visit a site called Shmoop. I am so glad I did because I will be using this site as a homeschooling aid. Go to 5 Minutes for Giveaways and read all about Shmoop!

* I am always losing my sunglasses, cell phone, keys, and brain. Just ask my kids! I was happy to find a giveaway for sunglasses at Life Starring Ellie and Eve. Go, enter!

* I got lucky again when I found this giveaway: a $25 GC to Sunglass Warehouse! You too can enter this great giveaway at Tales from a Shopaholic Mommy. Don't you just love that name!

* I entered 4 (that's right, FOUR) great giveaways at Eighty MPH Mom. The first is for a Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorator. These are great for decorating cookies, cakes, etc. I actually owned one and I loaned it to a friend who was decorating cookies for a bakesale. I just had to say, "Oh, you've got to try this, it will make decorating so much easier!" Did I get it back? NO. The second giveaway I entered at Eighty MPH Mom is for a WomenHeart's All Health Family Cookbook. I love cookbooks and this would be a welcome addition to my collection. The third giveaway I entered is for a $15 GC to Starbucks. yummmmm The last giveaway is for e.l.f. cosmetics. The winner gets an entire mineral starter kit! How great is that! So, go enter all of these fantastic giveaways. Thank you Eighty MPH Mom!

* The Funky Monkey is one of the first review type blogs I discovered. She always has awesome giveaways and the one I just entered is certainly top notch. This giveaway is a huge pancake breakfast gift basket. It looks absolutely delicious. My mouth is drooling and my fingers are crossed. After you enter this giveaway, look for Funky Monkey's Carson Binocular giveaway. I'm entering that one too!

* Chic Shopper Chic is giving away a Nankeen Tote Bag. These bags aren't your ordinary tote bags. They are works of art! The Totes are roomy, gorgeous, and durable. I want one!!!!

* This giveaway comes from a blog that is new to me: Life in the Carpool Lane. In honor of her 101st post, the author of this fun blog is giving away a $50 GC to Target, my favorite store! Needless to say, my fingers and toes are crossed. So, go visit Life in the Carpool Lane and enter to win a Target GC. While you're there, take a look at Logan and Jack, the two cutie guys to the left of the post. Your heart will melt.

* OK, this is something I really, really need - a basket of Weiman cleaning products! These green cleaning products really do the job and I need them. Just ask my kids! Rockin Mama is hosting this fabulous giveaway.

* Two of A Kind, Working on a Full House is giving 3 readers a new Clorox Disinfecting Wipes Decor Canister. These gorgeous canisters would look good in any room, but I think I need one most in my son's bathroom. I haven't seen these in stores yet, but I'm looking! Good luck.

One Project Closer and a $200 GC to Home Depot

Did you know Home Depot rents tools? Well, they do and I was surprised to learn just how extensive the list of tools is. I may be renting a carpet cleaner from Home Depot next week because our carpet picked up a few unidentifiable stains over the winter. If you would like to win a $200 GC to Home Depot, head over to One Project Closer. This is my kind of giveaway - a great prize and easy entries. Just leave a comment or two and you're entered! Good luck and happy projects!

Who wouldn't want to win a $50 Gift Certificate!

I know I would and I bet you would too! Thanks to Sweet Savings we have the chance to win a $50 GC to Bath & Body Works, Borders, Darden Restaurants OR Panara Bread, winners choice. Although it's snowing here, this giveaway is in celebration of spring break. Good luck!

Weekend Giveaways

My daughter and I are watching a Hallmark movie, but it's not holding my interest. I decided to enter a few giveaways while it's on. Here they are:

* "Deal"ectible Mommies is giving away a $25 gift certificate to Outback Steakhouse. All I can say is yummmmmmmmmmm

* Everything Up Close is also giving away a Gift Certificate. This one is a $20 GC to Savespro, a store that offers great deals on hundreds of items. I love the selection and so will you!

* Win a shopping tote from TakeaTote.com at Sweeties Swag
You don't have to be a movie star to get free swag!
Sweeties Swag is the place for the best free magazines, free samples, free coupons, free food, and saving money on shopping, travel, dining out and more.

* Enter to win 400 coupons (2 winners!) at Mom Saves Money. I'm a mom on a budget who uses every coupon I can get my hands on to help save money. If you're like me, you have to enter this giveaway!

* Stuff Under Twenty is offering us a chance to win a $20 GC to Target. It doesn't get any better than a free shopping spree at Target!

* I have wanted a Slanket since they first came out. Really! I don't know why I don't just buy one, and maybe I will if I see one. Can you buy them in stores? I'm not sure, but I'm going to try to win one at Therapeutic Reviews and Giveaways. Thanks for the chance Mom Jen.

* Salad for Breakfast (love that name!) is hosting her first giveaway and it's a big one. She's giving one reader a $50 GC to Amazon! Oh, the books I would buy!

* Granny Janet's Place is hosting a coupon insert giveaway with a value of over $300 and, boy howdy, would I love to win. My coupon collection is getting rather low and I need to build it up! So, my fingers are crossed! Thank you Granny Janet.

* Everything Up Close is giving 3 winners an Envirosax reusable shopping bag. These bags are sturdy and hold way more than normal shopping bags. I would love to own one of these lovely bags.

Get Creative! Design and Win a Flip Note

Flip Note Fan is hosting his first contest and it's going to be fun! Get those creative juices flowing and start designing covers for Flip Notes. Each design submitted will get an entry. There will be five winners, chosen the following ways:
* Three will be chosen by someone at Wellspring (identity unknown)
* Two will be chosen by a vote (working on logistics of that right now)
* One will be chosen by random drawing.
For the random entries you can blog about your reason for entering this contest, post a link to www.flipnotefan.com, or tweet. For all the info on this fun giveaway, go here: http://www.flipnotefan.com/content/design-your-own-flipnote-.
I own and love a Flip Note, and it goes everywhere with me. Whenever I pull it out, someone asks me where I got it. Flip Notes make great, unique gifts. It's almost the end of the school year, and we all like to give our child's teacher a special gift. Wouldn't the Flip Note be perfect! Go enter and good luck!

Mud Bug Giveaways

The Mud Bug is hosting several great giveaways this month. I'm entering her Hoover Cordless Stick Vacuum giveaway and the Keurig Platinum Brewer giveaway. You will find other big giveaways at the Mud Bug, including one for an epson printer, but I'm leaving those for the folks who really need those items. What I do need is a Hoover lightweight cordless vacuum! I have pets and they make cleaning the floors a challenge. I also need something to make coffee and hot chocolate. I use a sauce pan for instant coffee and cocoa. Oh, would I love the Keurig Platinum Brewing system!

$100 at Choyster Cash

Times are tough and we can all use a little something extra. Choyster Cash is offering its readers a $100 giveaway. Just do a few of the regular entry requirements and leave a comment. Good luck!