U.S. only version:
International version:
http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/108915
Shelbysbarn Wednesday, December 28, 2011 2 comments
This is addicting! I haven't won anything yet, but I can keep hoping. Here are some more great blog giveaways going on right now:
Note: I'm going to be updating this as I go through them.
About A Mom
Prize: Mertado Plus Blanket
http://www.aboutamom.com/2011/12/mertado-plush-blanket-review-giveaway.html
Being MVP
Prize: Shimmer & Bliss Scarf
http://beingmvp.blogspot.com/2011/11/gift-gathering-hop-giveaway.html
Prize: I See Me! children's personalized book
http://beingmvp.blogspot.com/2011/11/getting-into-christmas-spirit-with.html
Prize: Magic Green School Bus
http://beingmvp.blogspot.com/2011/11/review-giveaway-magic-green-school-bus.html
Prize: Gourmet Gift Basket
http://beingmvp.blogspot.com/2011/12/getting-into-christmas-spirit-with.html
Granny Loves Gift Baskets
Prize: Choice of $25 Best Buy E-Gift Card (U.S. Only), or $25 Amazon.com E-Gift Card, or $25 via PayPal (WorldWide)
http://grannylovesgiftbaskets.com/?p=16329
Also check out: http://www.tanga.com/ for great daily deals!
Shelbysbarn Sunday, December 4, 2011 5 comments
Diamond Candles is looking for 100 bloggers to review their product! Also for giveaways. These are unique soy candles with a great ring surprise hidden inside. Be sure to check out all the details here:
http://celebratewomantoday.blogspot.com/2011/12/diamond-candles-campaign-announcement_03.html
Shelbysbarn 0 comments
Shelbysbarn Friday, December 2, 2011 6 comments
Shelbysbarn Monday, November 28, 2011 1 comments
Shelbysbarn Sunday, November 27, 2011 1 comments
My friend, Megan, introduced me to blog giveaways recently and I'm officially hooked. I haven't won anything yet because I just started them and most of the submission deadlines haven't passed. But I'm finding all sorts of great things that bloggers are giving away for free! All you have to do is follow a checklist they supply with things such as: follow their blog, like their page on facebook, follow them on twitter, tweet their contest on twitter...and other such things. I'm going on legit sites only that I've found recommended. I'm sure there are some out there that aren't very trust worthy, so just have to be careful.
Now Megan's site is here:
http://www.naturallythrifty.com/
And the post that introduced me to my first giveway is:
http://www.naturallythrifty.com/?p=3168
This is a Christmas Treasure Train, that includes a blog giveaway hop and treasure hunt. You can join all 24 of the giveaways or do as I've done and just join the ones you are interested in. Here are a few I've submitted to so far:
The Mama Zone
Prize: My Memories Suite (digital scrapbook software)
http://www.themamazone.com/2011/11/welcome-to-christmas-treasure-train.html
Laughter Does the Heart Good
Prize: Southern Living At Home Hemingway Hurricane
http://godcreatedlaughter.blogspot.com/2011/11/welcome-to-christmas-treasure-train.html
Susan Heim on Parenting
Prize: Skylanders Spyro's Adventure Starter Pack
http://susanheim.blogspot.com/2011/11/christmas-treasure-train-blog-hop-and.html
About A Mom
Prize: ReCon 6.0 Programmable Rover
http://www.aboutamom.com/2011/11/recon-60-programmable-rover-giveaway.html
At The Maple Table
Prize: $25 Amazon Gift Certificate
http://www.atthemapletable.com/2011/11/christmas-treasure-trainblog-hop.html
Couponing Texas
Prize: Pink Monogram Gift
http://couponingreviewingintexas.com/2011/%2011/pink-monogram-review-and-giveaway.html
Prize: Stampin' Up Sweet Pressed Cookie Stamps
http://couponingreviewingintexas.com/2011/%2011/stampin-up-sweet-pressed-cookie-stamps-review-and-giveaway.html
A Gal Needs...
Prize: Christmas Classic Gourmet Gift Basket
http://helena-agalneedsatleast2blogs.blogspot.com/2011/11/win-gourmet-gift-baskets-christmas.html
I will add more to this post as I enter more! Finding some great stuff, even if I only win one thing that would be great! Of course, one can always hope for more ;)
Shelbysbarn Saturday, November 26, 2011 2 comments
This year for Thanksgiving
So much I'm thankful for.
Sometimes its hard to see past
The rough times we endure.
But this year I have come
To appreciate the things
That may seem so small
But happiness they bring.
I'm thankful for my family
Without whom I'd be lost;
For the times they've stood beside me
When grey hairs it did them cost.
I'm thankful for a husband
Who loves me more than I can say.
And is there for me always
In each and every way.
I'm thankful for our son
And all the joy he brings.
Along with all the silly things
He says and funny songs he sings.
I'm thankful for the blessings
That God has given us
Even when we don't deserve it
He sees beyond our fuss.
I'm thankful for so many things
I don't know where to start
But if you're on my friends list
Know I'm thankful for your part!
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!!
Shelbysbarn Thursday, November 24, 2011 4 comments
For us it has become a necessity. Luckily I my inner dweeb enjoys the challenge of figuring out which store has the best deals every 2 weeks on grocery day and finding coupons around the internet and in store ads that I can use to help lower the cost even more.
Two weeks ago began my official start of couponing and comparison shopping. I was desperate to save money somewhere and have seen and heard about all these people that save TONS of money with extreme couponing. While I know I don't have the time or the resources to go the extreme route I figured surely I could at least save a little! The first thing I did was call all the grocery stores in the area asking several questions: Did they take manufacturer coupons (all did), if they price matched (only Walmart does that), if they double coupons (no one does that anymore I guess), and if they had a store discount card (only Smith's and Alco have it).
Next I compared normal every day prices between all the stores in the area. Walmart has gone up on everything lately and isn't the cheapest anymore on many things, at least in this area. But that varies from item to item and week to week. So now what I've started doing is to gather up the store newspaper ads every other week on pay day and go through them comparing prices.
I make a lit of things we HAVE to have first...toilet paper, milk, etc. Then I go through all the store ads and find if any of them are on sale and where I can get them cheapest. Then I look at other things on sale and write down what is cheapest and where so I know where to buy all the other food to stock us up as much as possible for the next two weeks.
After that I start browsing internet coupon sites. A few of my favorites:
So I have to say the tips from the first week were actually quite helpful! I've been keeping a checklist on the fridge, right where I"ll see it every time I walk through the kitchen.
Week 2 is Organize Your Priorities
Goodness knows I don't do a very good job of that. One very important Priority will always come first, although I certainly struggle with that on a day to day basis.
Week 2 Goals:
Shelbysbarn Friday, September 2, 2011 0 comments
Yes I know, I haven't updated in months! I keep wanting to and get sidetracked, but that's how life is right? I have tons of things I have wanted to blog about but just haven't done it! Anyhow, better late than never and besides I'm not supposed to be beating myself up over not blogging...
Sometimes I can be so very organized. Most of the time I am a complete pack rat and can't find anything I need. Just ask my husband. I found this book I've been wanting to buy for some time at Barnes & Noble bookstore last week: "Organize Now!" by Jennifer Ford Berry. It gives you a week by week system to help clear up clutter. Now I'm a bit of a dork (ok a big HUGE dork) so this book has me all excited. For some reason I sometimes need a step by step guide because otherwise my poor brain just runs in circles and can't figure out where to start.
Shelbysbarn Tuesday, August 23, 2011 0 comments
This time of year is so nice, when its warming up and we can start spending more time outside. I've always wanted to have my own flower garden, and now that I finally have a place of my own I can actually work on planning one. My dream is to have lots of big, gorgeous flower beds eventually, but that takes time and money so I'm starting small.
Shelbysbarn Friday, April 22, 2011 4 comments
There is this beautiful book I found on amazon.com a while back with fun sewing projects. Its called Sew & Stow by Betty Oppenheimer, and you can find it here. As if I needed more projects, I've been trying to teach myself to sew and this book is filled with fun storage-useful projects. Last night I was flipping through it and found a few things I think would be useful to make for convention. So thought I'd share them here.
Shelbysbarn Saturday, April 9, 2011 2 comments
Writing is a passion of mine. Has been for as long as I can remember. Not that I am that great at it or have anything of importance to say but I do enjoy it and don't do it as much as I'd like. Reading others blogs for a while now has had me in the mood to start one of my own. Not exactly sure why other than my love of writing...or maybe I should say rambling. I tend to do that a lot. Just ask my hubby.
Anyhow...so I finally decided to sit down and do this. I don't have a specific topic that I plan to blog about. Mostly just things going on with our family, projects I'm working on, useful tips or interesting info I stumble across. Ramblings basically. Hence the obvious name of the blog.
If I do this like I tend to do every other project I start...I'll go gung-ho at first, then slack off for a bit, then start blogging a bunch again. But thats ok. This is meant to be relaxing and stree-free.
I'd love to add others blogs to my blogroll, friends and family who keep a blog. I'm considering making this blog private so only people I allow can read it, but haven't decided yet. I'm one of those paranoid people that doesn't like to share my life with the whole world, but rather only with those I know & love. So we'll see what happens.
Please feel free to comment, ignore, share anything here. I love interaction but not sure that I'll necessarily post anything worth interacting with. Thanks for visiting and hope you at least find my nonsensical ramblings somewhat entertaining.
And finally, just because I don't like to read things without any pictures whatsoever (yes thats bad)...here is a random photo:
Shelbysbarn 2 comments