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Have You Ever Won a Blog Contest?

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Winning is everything right?  Have you ever won a contest or even a sweepstakes? I have and I have some tips on winning a blog contest!  First of all let me tell you a little about me.  I have been entering and winning contests, sweepstakes and giveaways for five years.  I have not entered consistently over all those years which means I haven’t won consistently either, but I have been winning.

Blogging is a big part of my life

Now that blogging takes a central role in my life,  the natural thing for me, a sweepstakes fanatic, to do is enter blog contests.  To be honest, blog contests are not my favorite thing to enter.  The reason why is because they take a heckuva long time to enter.  I have to take the time to think about a comment I want to leave.  With other sweepstakes all I have to do is use Roboform (form filling software), I push one button and then enter and I am in.  Blog contests slow me down!

Benefits of  entering a blogging contest

Even though a blogging contest is a speedbump in my entering giveaways online, I still enter them.  A blogging contest has great odds for winning.  The reasons why are less people enter, bonus entries, short entry period and sometimes more than one prize. Let’s go over each one of these in more detail! Read more

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Real Moms Talk About Romano’s Macaroni Grill Restaurant Favorites.

I was recently given the opportunity to taste and review Romano’s Macaroni Grill’s new boxed dinner kits thanks to MyBlogSpark

We received the Creamy Basil dinner and I have to say that my children loved it! All four of them! (Needless to say we need two boxes to feed everyone)

I cooked some chicken while the noodles boiled then added the sauce packet and voila’ ~ yummy goodness that we’ll be purchasing from the store on a regular basis from now on – it’s that good.

The dinner kits include everything needed to create a high-quality meal in one box including premium ingredients such as such as vine-ripened tomatoes, select cooking wines, specialty herbs and 100% semolina pasta. All you have to do is add one pound of chicken or your choice of proteins such as shrimp or Italian sausage. Varieties of Romano’s Macaroni Grill Restaurant Favorites dinner kits include Garlic & Herb Chicken Penne, Creamy Basil Parmesan Chicken & Pasta, Chicken Alfredo with Linguine and Chicken Marsala with Linguine.

When I received my Romano’s Macaroni Grill Creamy Basil Dinner it came with some lovely accoutrements.

Along with the boxed dinner I received a colander, a spoon and the sweetest little cheese grater you’ve ever seen.

My Blog Spark is letting Moms In A Blog giveaway not one or two but THREE of these gift sets to a few of our lucky readers.

How do you win?

Simply answer these three questions in your comments

• How often to you eat dinner together as a family?
• What is your biggest struggle with preparing dinner for your family?
• What is your favorite thing to talk about with your family at the dinner table?

Or better yet, create your own blog post mentioning our contest and the answers to the questions.

This contest is only open to US Residents and will end at Midnight on Friday May 15, 2009.

We’ll choose three winners from the comments & blog posts submitted.

This stuff is good~ you really want to win this

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Real Moms Talk About The Spice Depot

The lovely people at The Spice Depot sent me a few of their Grinder Top Spice Blends to try. The minute I received them I was intrigued and ultimately fell in love with them.  They are easy to use & provide fresh spices with every use.  I received Spicy Sea Salt, JoJo Potato and Salad Seasoning

These nifty little spice bottles have a grinder incorporated right into the tops of the bottle essentially giving you the ability to have “fresh” spice with the flick of your wrist.

I adore cooking with spices and the blends I was able to try were well put together and enhanced my dishes with fresh flavors.

An incredibly simple but tasty meal I cooked for my family was a simple tilapia.  I placed a little olive oil on a baking sheet, placed the fish on top and used the freshly ground Spicy Sea Salt right on top.  The result was a lovely fish dish that every member of my family from age 1 to the adults enjoyed.

The Spice Depot Grinders can be purchased locally at your neighborhood Walmart.  I am personally cleaning out my spice cabinet and replacing almost everything with my new favorite spices.  Yes, they are really that good.

You can find some really great recipes in The Spice Depot Recipes

From their site:

All-natural, always fresh-ground flavor each and every time. Each twist of the spice bottle top’s built-in grinder releases essential oils and aromatic flavors and essences locked deep within the fresh-dried spice pieces. Always Grind Fresh™

WINNER: Baba from http://babasfarmlife.blogspot.com/

The Spice Depot has graciously offered to giveaway a set of 3 assorted spice grinders to one of our readers.

How Can You Win?:  Visit The Spice Depot take a look around.  Come back and leave a comment to let us know which spice you’d like to try the most and sign up for their newsletter.

Want Extra Entries: SimplyStumble, Twitter, FaceBook or Blog about the giveaway and leave a link  to your post, tweet, etc.  in our comments section.

When Does It End?:  You have until Midnight on Monday, April 20, 2009.

The winner will be notified via email so please be sure to include it or your entry will be disqualified.  The winner will have 3 days to claim their prize.  If we have not heard from the winner by then an alternater winner will be chosen.

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Love Vampires? Win Prizes!

Our friends over at Love Impossible.com are having a contest and we thought it would be fun to let ya’ll get in on the goodies!

Here’s the contest info -

At www.LoveImpossible.com — Vampires make us steamy.

If you can relate, join us for our latest contest.

PRIZES:

You may win one of  the following:

Twilight on DVD.

1. Twilight Saga DVD preordered and shipped to your home. OR

2. Choice of any Vampire Romance book on our website shipped to your home. OR

3. Twilight Bella Inspired Swarovski Crystal CLEAR Heart Pewter Wolf Apple Clasp Bracelet courtesy of Jeweled Ambrosia

HOW TO WIN:

Post a review of any item on LoveImpossible.com in the comments on this site under the book that you’re reviewing.

OR

Post on your own blog about this contest and link to LoveImpossible.com, then come over here and let us know by clicking here and commenting!

Don’t forget to stop over at  Jeweled Ambrosia to take a look at her gorgeous jewelry and comment on her blog to let her know  you appreciate her contribution to this contest.

Be sure to comment below with a link to your post to claim your prizes.

All winner will be chosen at random and notified via email so please be sure to include it or your entry will be disqualified.  The winner will have 3 days to contact us with your mailing address.  If we have not heard from the winner by then another winner will be chosen.

Open to US Residents only.

Contest ends March 1st, 2009.

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Purry Logic – Book Review & Giveaway

Now here is a cute Christmas gift idea for the cat lovers in your life. Purry Logic is the fifth book in the Furry Logic series. This little book has beautiful illustrations and describes the inner workings of a cat’s brain.

As a cat owner (I have two cats – Jazzy and Little - who make it quite clear that I was put on this earth to adore them) the quips inside the cover of this book had me smiling, chuckling, and literally laughing out loud.

Some of my favorites include:

“I can do without the essentials, but I must have my luxuries.”

“As a matter of fact, I haven’t moved since you left this morning.”

“Why can’t you need my eternal devotion at a more convenient time?”

“When asked to come out from under the furniture count to three… hundred thousand.”

Yep, that sums up the lives of my cats. Do you have a cat lover in your life? This book would make an excellent gift for them come Christmas time or any other time of the year. The artwork is amazing and the little snippets will have you cracking up as you recognize your cats’ behaviors.

Would you like to win this book? Leave a comment here and tell us a great story about a cat. It can be funny, heroic, adorable, whatever! But be sure to do it by November 30th. The winner will be announced on December 1. Want an extra entry? Subscribe to our blog or stumble this post (and be sure to tell us you did it in a comment)! Winners must have a US address to get their book.

Finally, just for a little additional fun, check out this post about Dog and Cat diaries from Thoughts Fur Paws.

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Spooky Book Giveaway!

Ok all you Halloween fans! Moms in a Blog has not one, not two, but FIVE sets of 10 spooky books to giveaway that were generously provided by the Hatchette Book Group USA! What are the prizes? Here is a list of all the books:

1. THE HERETIC’S DAUGHTER By Kathleen Kent
2. ISOLATION By Travis Thrasher
3. THE 13 BEST HORROR STORIES OF ALL TIME By Leslie Pockell
4. THE MONSTERS: Mary Shelley and the Curse of Frankenstein By Dorothy Hoobler , Thomas Hoobler
5. THE MYRTLES PLANTATION: The True Story of America ’s Most Haunted House By Frances Kermeen
6. GHOSTLY ENCOUNTERS: True Stories of America ’s Haunted Inns and Hotels By Frances Kermeen
7. THE TERROR By Dan Simmons
8. DRACULA By Bram Stoker
9. WHEN GHOSTS SPEAK: Understanding the World of Earthbound Spirits By Mary Ann Winkowski
10. THE HISTORIAN By Elizabeth Kostova

So, of course, now the question is: How do you win them?

First of all, you must be a resident of either the US and Canada and if you do win, we cannot ship the books to a PO Box. You can win a couple of different ways. Everyone must visit Hatchette Book Group USA’s Web site and tell us (in a comment) which of the books they are currently featuring looks most interesting to you and why. You can get additional entries by:

1. Post on your own blog about one of these books that you may have read and give a review of it. Be sure to link back to this post. Return to this post and leave a comment here so we can read your review. -or-
2. Post on your own blog about the scariest book you have ever read and why it was so creepy. Be sure to link back to this post. Return to this post and leave a comment here so we can read your review.
3. Stumbling this article
4. Tweeting this post (be sure to let @amcmoore know)
5. Sign up for our mailing list.

So there you have it. You can get up to five entries for the contest. The deadline is midnight of Thursday, October 30th. The winner will be announced on October 31st (how appropriate, don’t you think).

Good luck! For more giveaways, check out the Bloggy Giveaways Carnival.

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Precious Girls Club Giveaway

And our winners are:  Sandy, Jennifer, Shilo & Jo.  Congratulations, Ladies!  Please look for an email from us soon.

Precious Girls Club is more than a club – it’s a way of thinking, acting and living. We are dedicated to helping young girls discover how wonderful and fun it is to be precious. Thank you for allowing us to be part of the life of your very own Precious Girl. We’re blessed to be part of this very important mission.

We have copies of the first Precious Girls book A Little Bit Of Faith by Cindy Kenney to giveaway to 4 lucky girls.

Created as a safe place for girls to play and learn, Precious Girls Club is also somewhere Moms can connect with their daughters.

Precious Girls Club makes it easy for mothers to participate in their daughters’ online activities. From your own page on our website, you can email from the “real” world to your daughter’s “virtual laptop” in her Precious Girls Club room. So, when your child demonstrates “caring” in the real world, you can send her a congratulatory message and points toward an online “caring” charm. The parent’s section even suggests ideas for helping your daughter earn her virtue charms at home or in her community.

The Precious Girls Club site is even more providing coloring pages, crafts and games

To participate in the giveaway please visit the Precious Girls Club Website and let us know which craft or game you’ll be participating in first.  Then, come back here and leave us a comment.

This giveaway will end on Friday, October 3, 2008.  The winner will be notified via email so only entries that include a valid email address will be qualified.  Please make this an email address you check often so that you’ll be sure to receive our email notification.  If we do not hear from you within 3 days of sending our winner’s notification email we will choose another winner.

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BigIQKids.com 12 Month Membership Giveaway

Congratulations Betty!  Your BigIQKids.com info is on its way!

BigIQKids.com

Moms In A Blog is pleased to be able to giveaway one 12 month bundle membership to BigIQKids.com.

BigIQkids.com presents a unique learning method designed to help each child develop the skills needed to perform to his/her full potential. Our award winning programs are designed for students in grades K-6 and promote spelling efficiency, vocabulary building, math fact mastery and US geography knowledge via multimedia reinforcement and independent learning.

The Bundle Package (worth $99.99) includes memberships for

• SpellingTime.com
• BigMathTime.com
• BigStatesTime.com
• BigVocabTime.com

For more information on why you should choose BigIQKids.com for your Big IQ Kid >>Click Here<<

How Do You Win?

In order to be entered, all you have to do is go to BigIQKids.com and let us know how winning a BigIQKids.com 12 month bundle membership would help YOUR child succeed.  Then come back here and share with us in your comment.

If you’d like a second entry just  stumble it, write a tweet, post it on your Facebook page, mention it on your favorite mom forum, or write about it on your blog and leave a second comment letting us know what you did.

If you do something in addition to commenting, please let us know in your comment and don’t forget to add us as a friend on www.twitter.com/momsinablog, on Facebook or on Mom Bloggers Club.

All valid entries will be put into a hat and drawn at random.

When Does It End?

You have until 10 pm Eastern time, Monday, October 13, 2008 to comment, stumble, twitter, facebook or blog.

IMPORTANT: The winner will only be notified via email.  If you do not include your email in your comment, your entry will be disqualified.  We will send an email to the email address noted on the comment.  The winner will then have 3 days from the date of the email to claim their prize.  If we have not heard from the winner by then another winner will be chosen.

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Moms In A Contest: The Old Schoolhouse Magazine With Bonus!

Our winner never contacted us so we’re offering this again.

First person to twitter to me the number of children I have wins!

The great folks at The Old Schoolhouse Magazine are giving away a 12 month digital subscription to one of our lucky readers.

If you’re not familiar with this great homeschool magazine here are a few reasons you might be interested in winning this awesome prize:

Why should you subscribe to our Digital Edition?

* Instant delivery—No waiting for your mail to arrive. Your sub starts with you immediately receiving our Summer ‘08 issue. You’ll receive our next three issues as they go to print.
* Huge savings – At $16.95, our digital subscription is 32% less than our US print subscription price, 43% less than Canadian print subscription prices, and 65% less than our international print prices. If price has kept you from subscribing before, you can’t go wrong with the huge savings on our digital subscription.
* Helpful links – No more running to the computer to check out an advertised product or website reference. One click and you’re there!
* Exciting features – Print or email articles to share with up to five of your friends.
* Fun, dynamic format – Flip through a real online magazine, not a pdf file.
* Never lose your magazine again – Save all your TOS issues to your computer.
* More of what you love – Enjoy the same high-quality content and beautiful design of The Old Schoolhouse Magazine print edition.

The Summer issue of TOS is not to be missed. It provides product reviews, teaching ideas, and numerous articles written by your favorite homeschool experts.

* 10 Reasons to Homeschool Your Child With Special Needs
* Nothing compares with the good, old-fashioned, tried-and-true learning that takes place outdoors, especially for special needs children.
* In a family with a disabled child, following the Holy Spirit each day, minute by minute, is the key to balancing all these parental responsibilities.
* Homeschooling the gifted child
* Charlotte Mason Homeschooling including an article about using this method with autistic children
* Natural Schoolhouse – We can learn both spiritual and practical lessons by observing sheep.
* Adoption – several articles about open adoption, domestic adoption and international adoption
* Science – read and learn about Intelligent Design, theistic evolution, Creationist documentary about the life of Darwin, and changing history theories
* Get an update about the homeschool situation in California
* Homeschooling is a means of discipleship as we train our children for God’s glory. God equips those whom he calls to homeschool—including single moms.
* Intelligent Design: What’s the Fuss and What’s It All About?
* Nature Walking – One of the consequences of removing God from the public school classroom is that wonder about His creation has been lost.
* Study the topic of flight and the men behind the creation of airplanes. Also learn what it’s like to be a pilot!
* Meet other homeschooling families and see how homeschooling works in their homes!
* Learn more about the country of Canada
* Homeschooling and the Kinesthetic Child
* Educational Neglect, Habitual Truancy, and Homeschooling
* Help your child learn to love reading! Also, things to remember if you have a late reader
* Read an interview With Dr. Mary Hood
* Get great product reviews!

Want To See A Sample Issue? Take a look at the Summer 2007 Issue

BONUS

As a special bonus our very own Dr. Daisy Sutherland has offered a 30 minute Homeschool Coaching session. A $40 value.

As your coach Dr. Daisy will:

• Help you with time management and establishing routines that will make your day less stressful
• Help you choose the curriculum that will work for you and your family
• Implement discipline to help you bring your home to order
• Organize your schedule and clutter
• Help you determine your homeschooling style
• Help with suggestions and ideas to make learning fun
• Most importantly get it all organized so mom can have time for herself at the end of the day to reflect and plan for the coming day

How Do You Win?

In order to be entered, all you have to do is leave us a comment and let us know how you and your children will benefit from a 12 month digital subscription to The Old Schoolhouse Magazine & 30 minute coaching session with Dr. Daisy.

If you’d like a second entry just  stumble it, write a tweet, post it on your Facebook page, mention it on your favorite mom forum, or write about it on your blog and leave a second comment letting us know what you did as well as a link.

Don’t forget to add us as a friend on www.twitter.com/momsinablog, on Facebook or on Mom Bloggers Club.

When Does It End?

You have until Noon on Friday, September 12, 2008.

The winner will be notified via email so please be sure to include a valid email address or your entry will be disqualified.  The winner will have 3 days to claim their prize.  If we have not heard from the winner by then another winner will be chosen.

This contest is open to any homeschooling parent WORLDWIDE!!

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Moms In A Contest: ListPlanIt.com 12 Month Membership

CONGRATULATIONS TO our WINNER – April Tara.   April, I know you’ll love this year long membership.

What Can You Win?

A 12 month membership to ListPlanIt.Com

What Is List Plan It?

On List Plan It you will find over 350 ready-made lists for you to put your world in order.  Whether that is simply printing, punching holes, and filing them into a 3-ring binder or placing them on the refrigerator for the whole family to see, you are taking control.  Minimal graphics and color is used in order to conserve printer ink, but with all the benefits of organized, uniform pages!

ListPlanIt.com gives you 24/7 Access to 350+ Printable Lists & Planning Pages with memberships priced at $9.95 for 3 months or $29.95 for a 12 month  membership.
Which List(s) Would Make Your Life Easier?

Lists that would make MY life easier?  The Business Planning Lists! And for the upcoming Holiday – ListPlanIt.com has Holiday & Special Occasion Lists

Sign up for ListPlanIt.com ’s newletter to get a FREE Website Favorites List and more planning pages delivered weekly

Want to see some Sample Lists? And don’t forget to check out the List Mama Blog

How Do You Win?

In order to be entered, all you have to do is go to ListPlanIt.com and let us know which list(s) would make YOUR life easier.  Then come back here and share which list(s) and why in your comment.

If you’d like a second entry just  stumble it, write a tweet, post it on your Facebook page, mention it on your favorite mom forum, or write about it on your blog and leave a second comment letting us know what you did

If you do something in addition to commenting, please let us know in your comment and don’t forget to add us as a friend on www.twitter.com/momsinablog, on Facebook or on Mom Bloggers Club.

When Does It End?

You have until Noon on Friday, September 5, 2008.

The winner will be notified via email so please be sure to include it or your entry will be disqualified.  The winner will have 3 days to claim their prize.  If we have not heard from the winner by then another winner will be chosen.

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