A Mother's Day of Love... (and a giveaway!)

 Comments are closed. Giveaway is over.

The winner has been chosen via Random.org and is #2, Judy VanHoose! Congrats, Judy, and thank you to everyone for entering. I still have 2 other giveaways running and will have several more in the coming weeks.
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I love promotions that are truly from the heart of a company. This year, Macy’s has partnered with five charities in honor of mothers. To participate, simply head to Macy's Thank-a-Mom on Facebook April 24 through Mother’s Day and send free, personalized Mother’s Day e-cards to the special moms in your life. For each e-card sent, Macy’s will donate $3 to the charity of your choice, up to $400,000.
-        American Heart Association’s Go Red For Women^® movement
-        Futures Without Violence
-        Make-A-Wish Foundation^®
-        National Park Foundation
-        Reading Is Fundamental

I am personally choosing the Make-A-Wish Foundation as my charity recipient in honor of fellow LTYM producer, Stephanie Precourt. Stephanie's son, Noah, suffered from a severe form of epilepsy as a young boy. I remember reading her story in 2006.... it has always stuck with me. Make-A-Wish granted Noah a wish in 2006 and I would like to help them grant more wishes for the young who are suffering. I hope you choose Make a Wish as the recipient for your free Mother's Day E-Card.

Macy's is also generously offering a reader of my blog a gift for helping to spread the word about Thank-a-Mom on Facebook. One reader will receive a Jones New York Wrap Satin Pashmina.

Oooh! Aaahhh! Very lovely and very beautiful and I so, so wish I had one for this Sunday at the Listen To Your Mother show...

Simply enter below who you want to write an e-card to and you will be entered in this contest. If you tweet or share this giveaway on Facebook, you can enter an extra comment for an extra entry, but only one extra entry per person (so that means TWO ENTRIES MAX each).

We'll draw the winner on May 13!

(Open to U.S. residents only)



*Disclosure: I was contacted by M80 on behalf of Macy's. I am being compensated for this post with product, but all words and opinions remain my own.

Win Tickets for Listen To Your Mother, Chicago!

As you may have heard, Listen To Your Mother in Chicago sold out in a week. Melisa and I are naturally ecstatic about this but worried that some people may not have had a chance to buy their tickets.

Well, cry no more. For we have 2 sets of tickets available for you to win! One set on my blog, and one on Melisa's!

Cue the angels singing....

The rules are simple:

1. You may not win both sets of tickets.
2. If you win, you must respond by noon on Thursday, April 26 to our email notification or we will have to choose another winner.

Please be sure that you are available to attend before entering! We'd hate to have the tickets go to waste!

Listen To Your Mother
Sunday, May 6 at 7:00 pm
Victory Gardens Biograph Theater
2433 North Lincoln Ave. Chicago

You will have until 11:55 pm CST on April 24th to enter both giveaways. We will pick the winners by random drawings.

WAYS TO ENTER (be sure to add a comment for every entry!)

~ Comment that you are able to attend or that the person you will be gifting these to will be able to attend.

~ Tweet about these giveaways: "Win 2 tickets for the sold out LTYM show! #LTYMChi2012" Be sure to also include the link for this giveaway. 1 comment per tweet, please.

~ Share this giveaway on Facebook, Google+, etc. and comment for each share.


Good luck and we hope to see you at the show!

Edited to add: Be sure that you have an email address attached to your profile or posted in the comments so that we know how to reach you!!!!

The Winner of the American Express Gift Card

Person #123 is the person who, naturally, has the name of "Won." Congratulations, W! I clicked to your site and have read your story. I am touched by the strength you and your son have shown and the love that continues to be obvious in your writings. I hope that this gift card will bring a moment of joy into your life.

Happy Holidays and congratulations!

Info on Random.org from their home page...

How Many Days Left Till Christmas?

Be sure to read allllll the way to the end for a Big SURPRISE!

This is the first year in the History of Tracey's Adulthood that I haven't had at least half of my Christmas shopping done by now. I usually pick up items through the summer and fall that I think will work out for any of my 5 nieces and nephews, 2 sisters, parents, in-laws, many grab bags, my own kids and my husband...

I? Am starting to FREAK. OUT.
Deep breaths...

I'm hoping that this unintentional procrastination will lead to a better experience, though. Like, I get all of my shopping done in 1 or 2 days, straight. It could happen, right? Right? It kinda has to happen, so it BETTER happen!

(All of this deep breathing is going to make me pass out...)

At least I know what I want to give to most of the people we love and purchase for. That is a HUGE step. And with our visit to the Chicago Toy and Game Fair today, we'll probably find many of the gifts we'll want to buy for the remaining children (and adults!). So I'm not totally freaking out. Yet. I mean, Christmas is supposed to be about giving from the heart, enjoying each other's company, and letting those you care about KNOW that you love them. All of that is practically free.

For some of the things that AREN'T free, however, I will be using an American Express card with Rewards Points. I am usually not a credit card person, only because it's never occurred to me that you can actually EARN free stuff when you use a card. It's been talked about for, oh, my entire ADULTHOOD on commercials and mailers, but I just haven't looked into it in great detail. The details are what sometimes scare this Cash User. So it'll be interesting to see how I fare and feel about swiping that bit of plastic through the swiper-thingy at checkout. I'm a bit pumped about it, actually!

American Express is currently working on a campaign to educate consumers about the benefits of shopping with purpose and doing so at small businesses. I felt like such a heel when I realized that I don't generally pay attention to whether or not I frequent small businesses. I just shop and I'll bet that most of my purchases are at large retailers. That kinda makes me bummed out. Sorry Small Businesses! I promise to use my American Express card at your locations this year! In fact, I think a small hobby shop with Dungeons & Dragons paraphernalia may be seeing me on November 26 on Small Business Saturday.

To help out even more shoppers, American Express is extending this gift card of $250 to one lucky commenter!*

It's easy to enter, but please be sure to follow all of the rules and use a different comment for each entry! Also, I MUST HAVE an email to reach you at! If I don't see an email on your comment or through your name's link, I will have no choice but to pick another winner and that would just STINK for both of us.

Mandatory Entry:

~ Tell me how you save money during the holiday season or leave a tip for us all on how you manage to stay within your budget!

~ Tweet this giveaway and link back. Up to 5 a day.

~ Write about this giveaway on Facebook and link back. 1 time a day.

~ Follow me on Twitter.

~ Subscribe to my blog.


We will pick the winner on Saturday, November 26 after 5 pm CST. If we're eating dinner, and I don't draw the name until 6 pm CST, then you have 1 extra hour to enter. Or 2, if we want to be honest on how long it can take us to eat dinner... Because that's just how I roll.

Good Luck!!


Important! I will use Random.org for the comment number to be chosen, so please be sure to write every entry on a SEPARATE COMMENT.

*No points are included.

Disclaimer: I received a $250 American Express card with 40,000 points to use during this holiday season. All views on my experience using American Express will be my own.


Comments are now closed. A winner will be announced shortly!!

Have I got a deal for you....

Want a vacation for your family? For free?!? Check out my coolest giveaway EVAH!!!

You seriously don't want to miss this one!!

Giveaway updates!

As you may or may not realize, I have a review site which I use for reviews and giveaways. There are 2 giveaways that expire in the next few days with low entries, so I hope you check them out to see if they are of interest to you! I also plan on reviewing a new blender from CSN with half of a $100 gift certificate that I will be sharing with one reader! Be sure to keep your eyes open for that one! In the meantime, I encourage you to check out the CSN site. You can choose anything from a bathroom vanity to car seats or blenders.

Check out the Bucky Balls giveaway and WalletBe giveaways on Just Another Review Blog before they run out!

For EVERYone!

I love receiving and reviewing products on my review site. I LOVE it. Really. But one of the best parts of it is that I also get to pass along free stuff to YOU guys, too. And I have a REALLY fabulous product for you to check out and benefit from! I swear, this is not one you'll want to miss!!

When I get down, I bake a pie. And eat the #$@% out of it...

Yes. That is a heart on top of an apple pie. Yes. I peeled every apple, sliced them with Justin, made the crust myself and baked it until the house smelled divine. Yes. It tastes AWESOME. And yes; it certainly helped me feel a little better...

I'm happy to say that I was busy today. Too busy to be depressed. Busy taking care of a little boy who will be here for 2 hours a day while his parents are between shifts. I think that this little bit of money and little bit of routine will be really good for me (and the family). I'm hoping, at least. Plus, he's only one year old! There's nothing sweeter than a baby that age. It should be just enough baby time in the house to get rid of any baby longings I may be having. Not that I'm having any. At all. But, well. You know.

(Ok, ok. A TINY BIT OF ME wants another baby. Probably the tiny bit that will ALWAYS want another baby. But that tiny little bit will just have to suck it up and get over itself because we are DONE.)

So, a little extra cash for food and a little extra time playing with a cute little baby. Sounds like a good deal...
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Hey, if anyone knows who the idiot is who stole the front of my cd player out of my van, please pass along my congratulations on being an IDIOT because they didn't take ALL of the stereo, just the facing. Which sucks for me because I can't play any music or tell what time it is. But it sucks for the thief as well because they can't EITHER. Also, thanks for picking on the family that can barely afford FOOD. I certainly hope you didn't steal from us to pay for an operation or something because you won't get ANY MONEY for simply the facing, you IDIOT.

It's pretty pathetic to be a criminal. But it's downright embarrassing to be a STUPID ONE.
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Don't forget to enter to win my Bonefish Grill giveaway and BeiBambini baby clothes giveaway! I'll pick the winners after 12 noon on Friday and anounce ASAP. Good luck to all!

$500 BeiBambini Baby clothes Giveaway!!

I have been so excited about this giveaway! My fingers have been twitching as I worked out the details with my contact and it's finally done!

BeiBambini is an online retailer for children's clothing by Jeanine Johnsen. Simply adorable and very traditional while still being trendy, their baby clothes make me tilt my head and do that little "Ooh!" sigh that any woman who adores babies would recognize.

So, when I found out that I could offer 2 readers the chance to win a collection from last year's line, each worth $500? I almost considered getting knocked up, just so that I could keep one for myself!

Almost.

Keep reading and see how you can win one!!

Hopes

Please head on over to my review site to win a free Discovery Toys' gift! It's worth the click, I promise.
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Keeping quiet today. I'll write soon, I promise.

Hope you hug someone you love today.

Hope you have someone tell you they love you.

Hope you love them back....

Seeing Sunshine!

I am so excited! I get to surprise Corinne with a girls' only day to see Gustafer Yellowgold at Schuba's in Chicago!! Eeeee!!

What? Don't know Gustafer? Dude. Don't you remember my post from April?!? Haven't you all memorized my ENTIRE BLOG yet?!? I thought I had sufficiently obsessed readers!

Whatever.

Just in case you don't know the music I am referring to, I give you this:


Weird but cool, right?

The best part is that Corinne and I actually both really like this music.

I. Am. Stoked.

The couple behind the music, Morgan Taylor and Rachel Loshak have offered a little gift for one reader. A plush Gustafer doll and a t-shirt from their site. :) I recommend you check out their music and, if you're in the Chicagoland area on Sunday, October 11, come out to Schuba's Tavern at 3159 North Southport. Let me know and I'll look for you. I'll be there with my own little rocker!

Leave a comment below and I'll pick a winner for the doll and shirt on Monday, October 5.

Just Cuz

I posted this on my Review site, but wanted to put it here too because isn't she cute?? :)

Make an on-line slide show at www.OneTrueMedia.com

So. How YOU doin?

My prayers were answered!! I asked for someone to send me something to review that I really, REALLY needed like FOOD, and the heavens opened and showered upon me great vats of delicious applesauce!!Well, not vats. That would be a bit much. But a BUNCH of applesauce... Continue reading and enter to win...

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When your kids are little, the internet is a simple place. They are monitored while online 100%, simply for the fact that they could break something if you walk away! But as they age, you tend to walk away more and more, thinking "What can he possibly find at this age? He's so innocent and still loves Pokemon, for crying out loud!"

I will admit that I fell into that protected bubble. I felt my kids were relatively safe since I was never farther than a room away. And while I don't believe they would ever intentionally look for "bad internet stuff" I DO believe that "bad internet stuff" looks for them. I am NOT ok with that.
Continue reading and enter to win...

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If your kids are into art projects, then I have a truly fun giveaway for you!

Clay So Cute is a new book by Sherri Haab all about the cool crafts you can make with polymer clay. Though the releases all say it is designed with an aim towards 8-12 year old girls, I disagree. The projects in this book appealed to all 3 of my kids, none of which fall into that marketing bracket...

Continue reading and enter to win...
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DANG. That is a lot of giveaways in a short time! Any other folks interested in reviews or giveaways, please remember that I love hosting them on my review blog. Also as an FYI to you readers, the internet protection software has only ONE ENTRY as of right now! I can't figure that one out as it's a great program and worth over $60! WAKE UP FOLKS!!

I have been absent as the sun has been shining, my book has been calling, homeschool planning is in full swing, and there hasn't been enough chocolate to satisify my cravings. (Hellllooo, Brother-in-law! I'm sure you are thrilled to know I share the same womanly cycle as your wife! And now the ENTIRE* world knows, too!!) So just be a good little blogger, click on over to my review blog, and just enter so I don't get all menstrual-crazy on your ass.

*Don't burst my bubble and point out that only 1 gajillionth of the world's population reads this blog. Let's just pretend that folks in Southeast Asia actually ARE interested in the mystical magic that is my personal menstrual cycle. Though, that is pretty creepy. Especially considering one of the grossest random googles I got on my site recently. I won't get too specific but let's just say someone found my blog because they googled how to pleasure themselves with shampoo... Ew. But at least I have clean perverts on my site, right?!?!

Brew, Coffee. BREW!

Rather than bore you with my daily tedium (again) I thought I'd just post a couple of cute pics, grab a cup of coffee, and hope to keep my pre-menstrual brain from going to "that place."

You're welcome.


We can always use a little superhero in our lives. Though I'd prefer one that knew to avoid blinds' cords...

Awwwwww. "There is no charge for our awesomeness. Or attractiveness."
Yay America! Now go whack our nation's colors with a steeeeck....
Little rugrat wouldn't hold still for a picture. This was after 5 or 6 shots of the top of his head. I had to tickle him to make him hold still long enough for the flash...

Ooooh! Aaaahhh!! This picture makes me remember last year's picture.... Man, they grow fast!

FYI, winners for my giveaways are on my review site. Check it out!

Just Another Giveaway...

I have a new giveaway! Anyone with little kids in Illinois should click over to my review site and see what I have to offer....

Winner!

The Scrunchbump winner is Tara! But I don't have your contact information!! Contact me before Friday the 26th, or I'll have to pick another winner... :(

Congratulations!

Just a tidbit...

Rain.

Mud.

400 boys under the age of 12.

Lots of fun! And we get to do it all over again tomorrow! Jealous, aren't you?

On that note, the house is literally caving in from the clutter, dirty camp clothes, and dishes from a week ago (No joke. I was gone from Friday to Sunday, remember?) so this post is just to let you all know the winner of the Girls' Night In giveaway, sponsored by Tropicana.

And the lucky lady is....

Kristi from Interrupted Wanderlust!! Boy, she can use it, too. Have you read about her struggles with the twins and their sleepless nights? I'm thinking it's too bad that the basket doesn't contain a nice bottle of Kaluha or something!

Congrats Kristi! And wish me luck on the removal of all things smelly from my house...

Lots of winners!

Ok folks. I am really bedraggled and sunburnt after the weekend in Kentucky with Justin (more later) and a full day at day camp with Evan today. So please excuse the HORRID video drawing of the winners for the chemistry set and webcams. Only for you, Internets (i.e. potentially the entire world....) would I allow myself to videotape myself looking so ravishing.

And now, without any further adieu...

Not rain nor hail nor even Aunt Flo shall stop our fun times...

Drumroll please....

Using Random.org isn't as much fun as having my kids pull a name from a hat, but they're still asleep and I have packing to do for camping this weekend. Also, you are not seeing me in my bathrobe again. I think the circles and limp hair just might be the final call for some of you readers...

THAT said, the winner is.... Comment #5 - Andria from Boy Crazy! Andria, send me your email address and you will be contacted by the Webkinz rep. It takes about 2 minutes to get it started and you'll have the fun of the Webkinz Jr site for Adam's delight. Enjoy!
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I am off to pack and plan. The best part of being a mom is that when YOU go away, you have to pack and lay things out for the other kids who are still at home. Evan and Corinne are sleeping at a friend's house on Friday, and Evan has his last soccer game on Saturday (his team is undefeated!). We also have day camp that starts on Monday which means I need to get all of our gear ready NOW because I will not have the energy to do any organizing on Sunday night...

Cross your fingers that this trip goes as well as Justin and I are hoping it will. And keep me in your thoughts as I travel for 6 1/2 hours while on my period with a 10 year old boy. Yay.... Great timing, right? I guess it could be worse; as in, getting it while sleeping in a tent in Kentucky and having no supplies handy.... YIKES.

Hey, this could be a great chance to have a longer conversation about where babies come from, right? Can't hardly wait...

Also, please note the new blog on my list in the sidebar. Yes, I have decided to review and do giveaways in ONE spot from now on. I will obviously mention them here, but will link you all over as I don't want my personal blog to feel quite so marketed anymore. I don't want to turn the fun opportunities down, though. Hence, Just Another Review Blog. (Don't you just love that I have a "theme"? It certainly makes it a lot easier to think of a blog name!)

Scrunchbump giveaway

Another giveaway!

(I swear, after the next few that I have promised to do, I will lay off for a bit. But it has helped me to fill in where I would normally be complaining about finances. So yay! I have saved you from those whines. You can thank me below in my comments.)

I was contacted by Priscilla from Scrunchbump (see the ad over in my sidebar!) to do a review and giveaway of her uniquely designed shirt/dress. Since I wasn't pregnant, I directed her to fellow blogger, Dana, who is expecting baby boy #6! Scrunchbump's signature pieces are maternity tops that double as a dress both during and after pregnancy. I had no idea it would look so fabulous on a person AFTER having a baby, but as you can see on Dana's post, it looks beautiful on both her and her non-pregnant sister. Check them out...

This is not just for those who are expecting, obviously! Anyone who wants to win a Scrunchbump top can by commenting below.

3 entries:

~ comment
~ tweet or post on your blog
~ subscribe to my blog

I'll pick the winner on Friday, June 19.


Good luck!