Enter giveaway on 10 blogs to win The Workbox from the Original Scrapbox

  The Grand Prize

There will be 10 finalists selected from 10 blogs, to be entered into a final giveaway. Then one grand prize winner will be selected to win this beautiful Workbox from the Original Scrapbox.

Ten finalists will win their choice of either The Ribbon Box or the ScrapMaBob.

This qualifier contest ends on October 8, and the grand prize winner will be drawn on October 12.

The 10 blogs to enter the contest include:
Vanilla Joy
Make It and Love It
Rachelle Writes
Auntie Thesis
The Mommy Files
My Organized Chaos
Life As Lou

PriscillaStyles

Cricut Chrismas

Capadia Designs

Finalists prizes

                                                    

                                                               The perfect way to organize all your ribbons!

The Ribbon Box stores all your ribbon spools in one convenient box.

Holds 27 ribbons spools.

Color Casual Cream.

Dimensions: 13"x13"x7".

Easy to assemble, simple to use!

Create a mess free work area!

Avoid destructive rings in your project area.

The ScrapMaBob™ is a drink holder & trash bag in one.

Holds 32 ounces and fits on most countertops and tables!

Made of durable steel construction.

“Enter this code when you place your order to get $100 off your shipping: 100Writes.”

N.C. issues amber alert for two missing girls, one is nine months pregnant

UPDATE - AMBER ALERT CANCELED - CHILDREN FOUND SAFE IN TENNESEE, MAN ARRESTED, CHARGED WITH CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT

On Sept. 24, two sisters, Keara, 12, and Sierra Hess, 11, disappeared from their home in Mooresville, N.C. Last night an official Amber Alert was issued for the girls.

Their adoptive father, Mathew Charles Hess, is the suspect being sought.

There's growing concern about Keara, who is nine months pregnant, and may be in need of immediate medical attention. The father of her baby is unknown.

If you see the girls or their father you are asked to call 911. If you have information, that would help locate the girls, please contact the Iredell County Sheriff's Department, at 704-924-4057.

Possible destinations include Fayetteville and the state of Tennessee.

The vehicle is a green 1993 Ford Explorer with an N.C. license tag number of YTE-8014. The vehicle's back passenger window is reportedly broken and has been covered with Plexiglass and duct-taped in place.

• Missing Child Keara Hess
• Nine months pregnant
• Hair Color: Brown Eyes Color: Brown
• Skin Color: Black Age: 12 year old 
• Height: 5 foot 1 in Weight: 128 lbs.
• Gender: Female

• Missing Child Sierra Hess
• Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Brown
• Skin Color: Black Age: 11 year old 
• Height: 5 feet Weight: 100 lbs 
• Gender: Female

• Suspect
• Name: Mathew Charles Hess  
• Hair Color: Brown Eye Color: Green
• Skin Color: White Age: 40 year old 
• Height: 5 ft 10 in Weight: 160 lbs 
• Gender: Male
• Description: Three tattoos: a blue devil on his right upper arm, a heart with a ribbon going through it on his left upper arm, and a blue dragon on his left forearm

• Vehicle Information
•  Make: Ford Model: Explorer
• Color: Green Interior Color:
• License State: NC License Text: YTE-8014
• Vehicle Description: Back passenger window is broken and has been covered with Plexiglass and duct taped in place

 

Blog Hop: Kids need to learn not to trust strangers, responsibility and manners

To keep from getting a lot of the same obvious answers, try to be specific and let's bypass some of the obvious: be honest, love your parents, love God, be kind to others, accept Jesus as your Savior (Christian parents will feel obligated to list some of those). This is not a list of the most important, so do not feel like you must list the highest priority or the obvious, which will end up having the same thing repeated by everyone over and over. Try to be specific and creative with your three items in a sentence or two explanation.

IF EVERYONE WILL EMAIL THEIR LIST OF THREE THINGS TO ME, I'LL COMPILE THEM INTO A NICE e-BOOK FOR EVERY ONE (free of course) (brent@brentriggs.com)

1. Don't trust strangers is the first thing I think parents need to drill into their children's head for their own safety. I don't think it's ever enough. One child that comes up missing, or worse, because they make a mistake trusting someone they didn't know is too many. As parents, we may say, "not my child". But if a stranger is online posing as someone tempting your child with something they can't get from you, and all they have to do is meet that person on the corner to get it, what will your child really do?
2. Responsibility is a two-way street. We have to be responsible enough to provide the tools our kids need and teach them how to use them. Then, they have to use the tools we've given them in a responsible manner.
3. Manners are so lacking in today's world. Have we forgotten how to teach our kids to say thank you, I'm sorry, and you're welcome? Or is it that we ourselves are so lacking in manners that we don't know how to teach our children manners?

I'm proud to say my children and grandchildren were raised to be cautious of strangers even when computers weren't a threat. They have always been responsible and never lacking in manners. I'm know I'm very lucky.

Special thanks to Shoplet.com-Purell Hand Sanitizers for sponsoring this blog hop.

Eat at Chili's today and help St. Jude kids

You can help save a child today by going out to eat.

Today is the big day at Chili's when 100% of the profits will go to St. Jude Chilren's Research Hospital.

If you would like to have a little fun you can create a pepper of your own and others can vote on your creation. The pepper featured here is last weeks winner.

Save 80%, get $25 restaurant GC for $2

restaurant.com Make sure you use the code CHEF at checkout and hit apply

Country Contemporary Christian Music singing contest lets you pick the winner

TheNetStar.comhttp://thenetstar.com/country_contemporary_christian.php is hosting an online singing contest and you get to vote for the winner.

There are five contestants remaining, and the top three spots have switched drastically during the weekend.

Lisa Illobre, of Lebanon, Tennessee, has risen from third to first place with 1,269 votes.

Martine Kelsey, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, has dropped to second place from first with 1,094 votes.

Cheryl Lynn Moore, of Denton, Texas, has dropped from second to third place with 623 votes.

"Desperado," is what Illobre chose to sing for session one and Kelsey sings, "Face To Face".

Moore sings, "Who I am", a song she wrote herself.

"This song I wrote, "Who I am", is probably the closest to my heart. I hope it touches you in a special way," Moore said.

Personally, I listened to Moore sing her beautiful song over and over. It touched me. It meant something to me. I hope it touches you, too.

I hope you take a minute out of your busy day and cast a vote for her beautiful voice before she loses her chance at a recording contract. She should be singing God's word to the masses.

It is very important, for your vote to count, you must complete the voting process by confirming your vote in your email.

The winner gets to record with Grammy award winning musicians and engineers and an internationally acclaimed producer in a state-of-the-art studio. A package worth more than $75,000.

Moore said on The Net Star, "I know that each one of my fellow contestants not only have amazing voices and talents, but also have a dream. Mine is not more important than yours. I am praying for God's will to be accomplished in each of our lives, regardless of what the final outcome is for this contest. I pray that each one of you would always remember the gift that God has blessed you with, hold on to that, choose the right thing to do in every situation and you will always come out a winner. Keep on singing!

"Remember, there will always be someone better than you, but there is only one of you. Celebrate you and live life accountable. In the end this is who you are," Moore concluded.

Reach Moore on Facebook

Talk to Moore on Twitter 

Giveaway Blog Hop: I'm #77, Win a CVS GC $100 if I win, $25 if I lose, ends 10/2

Big Lots Stores recalls bunk beds due to collapse and fall hazards; four injured

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Big Lots Stores, Inc., today announced a voluntary recall of wooden bunk beds. Consumers should stop using the beds immediately due to collapse and fall hazards.

• Name of Product: Wooden Bunk Beds
• Units: About 20,000
• Importer: Big Lots Stores, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio
• Hazard: The bunk beds’ mattress support slats and side support railings can break, posing a risk of the bunk bed collapsing and a fall hazard to consumers.
• Incidents/Injuries: Big Lots has received 14 reports of the recalled bunk beds’ support slats cracking or breaking, including four reports of minor injuries.
• Description: This recall includes wooden bunk beds with a three step ladder. Model numbers WP-9108-1 and WP-9108-2 are included in this recall. The model number is located on a sticker on the bunk bed’s interior panel of the headboard or the footboard.
• Sold exclusively at: Big Lots stores nationwide from May 2008 through February 2009 for about $300.
• Manufactured in: Vietnam
• Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using recalled bunk beds and contact Big Lots to return the defective parts and to receive a free repair kit.
• Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Big Lots toll-free at (866) 244-5687 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Cold Stone Creamery is Making Wishes Come True; join the "World’s Largest Ice Cream Social"

If you love ice cream and children, mark your calendars for Thursday from 5 to 8 p.m.

Nationwide, Cold Stone Creamery are hosting a month-long fundraising celebration, cumulating with the eighth annual, “World’s Largest Ice Cream Social” on September 24, to help make wishes come true for children.

Cold Stone Creamery® is dishing up free ice cream in exchange for a donation to the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that grants wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions. 

Donate and receive a 3 oz. Jack’s Creation in a Like It™ Cup. Jack's Creation is Sweet Cream mixed with Brownies and Rainbow Sprinkles topped with Caramel. 

No substitutions are allowed. There is a limit of one per customer, while supplies last.

An estimated 85 percent of all donations in September will benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.

Cold Stone Creamery has supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation since 2002, generating $3.2 million in donations. This year, 5-year-old Make-A-Wish® kid Jack teamed up with Cold Stone Creamery’s Tastemaster™ Ray Karam to create his own ice cream Creation to commemorate the alliance. Jack was named “Junior Tastemaster” as he created his special creation.

Cold Stone stores are also selling customizable paper wish stars for $1 each to adorn the walls and benefit your local Make-A-Wish chapter.

"Ice Cream and children is a simple combination, but throw in community support, and now we have a magical experience,” said Dan Beem, president of Cold Stone Creamery. “We are proud to have all of our Cold Stone stores nationwide coming together to serve ice cream to benefit this great cause year after year.”

To help celebrate the “World’s Largest Ice Cream Social,” Jack will be at Cold Stone

Creamery’s flagship store in Times Square New York. With Jack, World Wrestling

Entertainment® (WWE®) Superstars the Hart Dynasty™ will also be at the Times Square Cold Stone location to help serve guests during the event. As part of WWE’s Make-A-Wish Road to WrestleMania 26, WWE Superstars will make special appearances at a Detroit and Chicago Cold Stone location.

Ice cream lovers and supporters of the Make-A-Wish Foundation are encouraged to visit their local Cold Stone Creamery on Thursday, and throughout the month to participate in the fundraising festivities.

Blog Hop: My first giveaway $25/$100 CVS gift card

This week's Blog Hop is why should anyone read my blog. Some days I ask myself that question.

Most days I think I offer something that will help someone. Barbara's Beat was started in April as a way to join giveaways, but it quickly changed into a means to help others.

Some days I will post coupons, or recalls. Then I might decide to write about something like a crook stealing our ID at ATM machines, or teens killing themselves texting while driving.

I don't limit myself as to what I can cover, because I don't want to.

I'm a mother, daughter, grandma, and friend, who has worked hard all my life. I may not be able to get around or accomplish much these days because of my disability, but I am not giving up.

I hope I can still offer someone inspiration, hope, a smile, a few tears, a new idea, or yes, a prize.

I am still learning and have no one telling me how to do things, or teaching me the ropes. I am just using my money and having my first giveaway. And it's so exciting.

Thank you to all my new readers. Even if you are passing by, it's so nice to meet you.

DO NOT LEAVE COMMENTS ON THIS STORY FOR THE GIVEAWAY.
Please use the above giveaway link. Thanks.



Special thanks to Grace Jacobsen for sponsoring this blog hop.

How to sneak fruits and veggies into a child’s diet

Children can be fussy eaters. It's hard to get them to eat what they should eat, like fruits and veggies. Children may eat fruit and veggies if they are offered in a different form.

A lot of veggies can be changed from one form to another to hide them or cover their taste and get a child to eat them. Sometimes we have to play hide-and-seek with veggies and fruit.

If a child likes meatballs or hamburgers, it's a great place to put shredded carrots or shredded broccoli. They get the nutrients and never taste the vegetables.

If you're child likes french fries, try using sweet potatoes for a change.

You can puree carrots into spaghetti sauce. And add pureed squash to macaroni and cheese. Also, cauliflower can be cooked and mashed into potatoes.

The same things can be done with fruit. If a child likes jello, add small pieces of fruit to it. Cooked apples or shredded carrots can be added to cake mixes. A lot of things can be added to muffins or hidden in brownies.

Bananas can be put on a stick and frozen. After they are frozen they can be dipped in chocolate and rolled in nuts for a treat. Strawberries can be dipped in chocolate and apples can be dipped in caramel.
Make fruit kabobs with melons and grill them. Or grill pineapples.

Horizon has created new Little Blends yogurt for kids to help get them to eat their fruit and veggies. Feed the Baby is a game you can play and earn a coupon.

Horizon and TwitterMoms are giving the first 100 bloggers to write about sneaking fruit and veggies into a child's diet, a Thermos snack jar to keep their cool snacks fresh for on-the-go, plus a coupon off Horizon’s new Little Blends yogurt.

Participants will also receive a second prize pack to give away to one of their own readers. That's going to be one of you.

Win a $100 CVS gift card if I win, "Where is the heart of your home?" giveaway; $25 CVS gift card if I don't win

I didn't hear who won the Samsung “Where is the Heart of Your Home” , but it's time to announce my winner. You have waited long enough. I'm sorry for the delay.


AND THE WINNER IS Natalie ... #9, who said "A tip to improve your blog may be some more color, a cute background?"

Which I did, and I hope it meets more with your approval. I am going to email you and I hope to hear from you within 48 hrs.
 
THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.
I CAN'T THANK YOU ENOUGH FOR YOUR BLOGGY LOVE
--------- IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT, I AM SORRY FOR THE DELAY BUT IT IS OUT OF MY HANDS -------

Date: Tue, 6 Oct 2009 16:00:46 -0700

From: megan@twittermoms.com

To: megan@twittermoms.com

Subject: Important Promotion Announcement

Hello Moms,

Thank you for participating in the Samsung “Where is the Heart of Your Home” promotion. I've enjoyed reading all the wonderful blog posts and I know how much time and effort you all put into this contest. However, I'm saddened by the behavior of a small number of people (and the allegations by others). The spirit of the contest was lost and it is time to close this one out and look forward. We have carefully reviewed the entries for the promotion and concluded that we are not comfortable with the integrity of the contest and as a result we have no recourse but to cancel the judging mechanism in the promotion. We still want to award these fabulous Samsung appliances, so we will be holding a random drawing to select a winner from all of the entries submitted. The winner will be announced next Tuesday.

Samsung Home Appliances and TwitterMoms asks, "Where is the heart of your home?

The winner with the most comments on their blog wins a new Samsung washer and dryer. Since I need a new set, I am willing to share the wealth. You show me bloggy love by leaving me real comments, and if I win, I will draw a winner, my first giveaway,  for a $100 CVS gift card.

The "Where is the heart of your home?" contest ends on October 2, and the winner will be announced on October 9. If I win, I will immediately draw a winner.

The heart of my home, where my family gathers together to eat, drink, talk, play, cry and pray, is the dining room. It's where we share the good times and bad, the happy and sad.

My dining room connects my living room and kitchen. It makes it easy to communicate with whomever may be in the other rooms. And if you sit at the correct end of the table, you can watch your favorite show on the flat screen, too.

We share wonderful family meals there. All major holidays, Christmas, Easter and Thanksgiving, will find a spread on the table. Not to mention New Year's Eve, when I make a variety of snacks, because we celebrate at home with family.

Sometimes we throw a seafood fest. We turn the dining room table into a large crab and shrimp buffet. Everyone helps themselves until they have had their fill. When our grandsons first started eating seafood they needed help. Now, they are pros and can give everyone a run for their money digging out the meat.

The dinning room is where we always decorate for birthday partiesand baby showers. We set out food, cake and presents to surprise the lucky person.

It's the room we play board games like, "Going to Grandma's House," and card games. We've done science experiments, craft projects, and scrap booking.

Our grandsons play computer games on the laptop at the dining room table, and we helped them make a tombstone for their dog when she died.

We've decorated Easter eggs, and we've carved pumpkins.

We have made and shared many memories in our dining room. The best part is, there are many more memories yet to be made.

I hope you are as lucky. Where is the heart of your home?

The Giveaway

Required Entry for $25 CVS card if I don’t win:

Leave a comment on, "Win a $100 CVS gift card if I win, 'Where is the heart of your home?' giveaway."

Additional entries:

Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry, i.e. 1 comment = 1 entry.

1. Follow @blp3 on Twitter AND tweet about this giveaway – unlimited times. Please leave the link to your tweets in your comments. (Please email me if you do not know how to do this and I will help you.)

2. Blog about this giveaway and leave a link in your comment telling me where to find it - 5 entries

3. Follow my blog publicly (push Follow in sidebar) and leave a comment - 1 entry

4. Add me to your blog list and leave a comment - 1 entry

5. Grab my button (on sidebar) and tell me where to find it on your blog - 1 entry

6. Subscribe to my feed via email (on sidebar) and tell me you did - 1 entry

7. Subscribe to my feed via RSS (on sidebar) and tell me you did – 1 entry

8. Fave on Technorati (use share button here or Technorati on sidebar) and leave your user name - 1 entry

9. Stumble this blog or post (sidebar) and leave comment - 1 entry

10. Become my fan on Facebook and leave your FB name - 1 entry

11. Add me to your Networked Blogs and leave a comment - 1 entry

12. Please give me a tip to improve my blog. I have been doing this since April and it is a slow learning process, because I knew nothing about blogging or networking. – 1 entry

Please leave a valid email address in each of your comments or make sure one is visible in your blogger profile.

Giveaway ends at 11:59 p.m Eastern Time on 10/9/09 or after the winner is announced for the “Where is the heart of the home” giveaway. That contest ends on 10/2/09 so this one will end as well at 11:59 p.m. EST 10/2/09 and they announce the winner 10/09/09 so that is when I can announce the winner as well. Thanks for understanding.

Open to legal US residents and Canadian Residents

Winner will be chosen using random.org and will have 48 hours to respond before a new winner is chosen.

Thanks for entering and good luck!

Free planning calendar with $20 of Nestle savings

Get a booklet of savings from Nestle after filling out a short form on Walmart's site

FDA warns consumers not to use stolen Albuterol and Ipratropium Bromide

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration today advised consumers not to use certain respiratory medications purchased after Sept. 8 and manufactured by Dey L.P., a subsidiary of Mylan Inc., because the medications might have been part of a shipment being transported on a tractor-trailer stolen in Tampa, Fla., on Sept. 8.

The respiratory medications, Ipratropium Bromide Inhalation Solution, 0.02%, and Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution, 0.083%, unit-dose vials, have not been recovered and may be dangerous to use because the drugs may not have been stored and handled properly.

Dey issued an advisory on Sept. 11, regarding the theft. Although the FDA is not aware of any reports of adverse events, the agency is advising patients who use these respiratory medications to check to see if products received or purchased after Sept. 8, are from one of the following lots:

• Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution (892,000 doses; all lots contain 3.0 ml vials and display the brand name “Dey”)
• Lot number 9G04, NDC # 49502-697-29
• Lot number 9FD8, NDC # 49502-697-61
• Lot number 9FD9, NDC # 49502-697-61
• Lot number 9FE1, NDC # 49502-697-61
• Ipratropium Bromide Inhalation Solution (432,000 doses; all lots contain 2.5 ml vials and display the brand name “Dey”)
• Lot number F09089, NDC # 49502-685-31
• Lot number C09119, NDC # 49502-685-62
• Lot number C09120, NDC # 49502-685-62

Do not use Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution or Ipratropium Bromide Inhalation Solution if it is from one of these lots and was purchased or received after Sept. 8. Replace it with the same product from another lot.

Notify your health care professional of any adverse effects you may have experienced as a result of taking these medications.

Return products from these lots to the pharmacy where you received the medicine to exchange it for products from a different lot, or call Dey customer service at 800-527-4278. Contact your health care professional if you must switch to another product for any reason for possible dose adjustments.

The FDA is asking for help in reporting any information regarding the stolen Dey products to the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) by calling 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site.

Lands' End twitter party tonight 8-10 p.m. EST will help to warm the homeless

Join Lands’ End and Vickie Howell, host of TV’s Knitty Gritty, for a Twitter Party to celebrate the kick-off the FeelGood Campaign. You can help warm the homeless with patterns she has designed for Lands' End. After you complete a project you simply send it to a local participating volunteer group. Many states are in need of Chapter Area Volunteers.

A Twitter party will feature more than 20 fun giveaways ranging from the FeelGood sweater and Vickie Howell’s books, to Lands’ End gift cards and FeelGood yarn.

Time: Tonight from 8pm to 10pm Eastern
Location: #landsend
Event Type: Twitter party
Organized By: Alan Osmond

Lands End FeelGood Campaign with Vickie Howell

Shop the Feel Good Sweaters

You can buy sweaters from Lands End and they will donate Feel Good yarn to One Heart Foundation's Warming Families nationwide charity that knits clothing for the homeless.

With the yarn donated on our behalf, members will knit members will knit 25,000 hats to be distributed to families nationwide.

Momdot is also running a contest in conjunction with the Lands' End Twitter Party tonight.

Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon online auction ends today

The Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon online auction ends today. It will help send kids to camp, families to clinic and provide life-saving research.

Would you like to hang out with your favorite soap star? Or go back stage with an American Idol? Maybe have a unique VIP NCAA Football Experience?

This may be your chance, if the price is right. There are many once in a lifetime opportunities available. In a few hours your dreams can come true. Or maybe it's time to start Christmas shopping.

• Two Daughtry tickets and two meet passes are going for $420  
• Black dress with pink lining worn by Nancy O'Dell during the 2009 Jerry Lewis Telethon $254.00
• 2009 Harley-Davidson Cross Bones Motorcycle Leading Bid: $12,500.00
• 2010 Honda Fit Fuel Economy $ a Goodson Warranty  Leading Bid: $12,898.00
• Days Of Our Lives "Ejami" Experience with actors Alison Sweeney (“Sami”) and James Scott (“EJ”) during the "Day of DAYS" Fan Event on Saturday, November 7 Leading Bid $1,660.00
• Days Of Our Lives VIP Experience with Alison Sweeney on November 5 Leading Bid $2,501.00
• Dr Pepper VIP NCAA Football Experience - Here's your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to go on an all-expense paid trip to one of three Dr Pepper Championship Games. Leading Bid $2,025.00

Not all items are extreme or have a high price tag. You can buy gift certificates, clothing, toys, gas, golf, jewelry, spa&beauty, tickets, home items, travel and so much more. There is more than one auction, so don't forget to check out all of them, and note they close at different times.

• The national auction closes at 2 p.m. Pacific time, 3 p.m. MDT, 5 p.m. EDT. There are 199 items 
• MDA Minneapolis  closes at 6 p.m. EDT, 5 p.m. CDT - 425 items                                   
• MDA OH, MI, IN closes at 9 p.m. EDT - 333 items
• MDA South Texas closes 10 p.m. EDT - 811 items
• MDA Dallas closes 10 p.m. EDT, 9 p.m. CDT - 753 items
• MDA-Utah/Nevada closes 9 p.m. EDT, 6 p.m. PDT - 151 items
• Harley - Davidson MDA Auction closes 10 p.m. EDT - 141 items

Some lucky people are no longer waiting to see if they won. Some items have already closed. So don't hesitate when you see what you want to bid on or you may lose it.

Another way to help is DINING TO DONATE! Bring the Applebee's flyer to any participating Minnesota Applebees on Mondays or Tuesdays in September between 5 and 9 p.m., and 15% of your bill will go directly to MDA.