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Enter the Holiday Hair Bows giveaway.
Lexie (#10) is the winner of the Breastfeeding Set!
Saturday Giveaways 11/8/08
Friday November 7, 2008 by Danelle Ice
Saturday Giveaways 11/8/08
This is the 2nd edition of our new blog carnival, Saturday Giveaways at Homemaker Barbi! Every weekend you can use Saturday Giveaways to link giveaways and contests you’re doing on your blog. The best part about Saturday Giveaways is that you can enter the best contests and giveaways on the web, all together in one place.
Want to participate by posting your contest? Just leave a link to your giveaway below. (You must use your permalink, not link to your homepage, and follow the guidelines: How to participate in Saturday Giveaways.) Feel free to let everyone know your giveaways are listed at Homemaker Barbi by using our Saturday Giveaways banner on your blog!
Saturday Giveaways: Holiday Hair Bow Sets
Friday November 7, 2008 by Danelle Ice
Adorable Girls’ Holiday Hair Bows Giveaway
Thanks to our awesome contributor, I Heart Bowheads, this week we’re giving away 2 Girls’ Holiday Hair Bow Packs! That’s right, we’ll be choosing 2 winners for these sets, which would make wonderful accessories for any girl’s holiday outfit this Christmas. No daughters? Enter anyway - these packs make great Christmas gifts!
Enter to win the Girls’ Holiday Hair Bow Sets Giveaway, which contain the following:
Pack #1 -Baby Bow-nanza: This hair bow set contains 8 super cute Baby Bow Clips - Seasons Greetings, Deck the Halls, Merry Christmas, Red and Green, Music, Homerun, Brown and pink, Brown and blue. A $12.50 value. (Left)
#2 - Holiday Ponytail Pack: This set contains three ponytail holders - gold and silver snow angel, Seasons Greetings, and Happy Holidays. A $9.50 value. (Below)
Holly, the owner of the I Heart Bowheads store, has wonderful hair bows for girls of all ages.
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Baby bows are perfect for baby’s portraits or to go with special outfits.
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Baby bow headbands for the newborn without much hair!
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She has awesome tween or teen cheerleaders’ hair bows (or just for sports fans): basketball, football, soccer, baseball and more sports to choose from in a variety of styles/colors.
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Birthday hair bows to go with a special birthday girl’s outfit.
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Seasonal and holiday bows, perfect for Christmas dresses and holiday concerts.
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Ponytail holders featuring cartoon character favorites like Hello Kitty and Dora the Explorer.
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Matching "sisters" hair bow sets so your girls can match.
How to Enter
To Enter: Go to the I Heart Bowheads Store and look at all their adorable hair bows and ponytail holders. Then come back here and leave a comment on this post telling the name of your favorite bow in her store. Be sure to leave a valid email address. This contest open only to USA shipping addresses. By entering this contest, you agree to our Giveaway Terms and Conditions.
Extra entry #1: Blog about this giveaway! Leave the link on this post in a separate comment for an extra entry.
Extra entry #2: Subscribe to Homemaker Barbi’s free email subscription, then leave another comment on this post for an extra entry.
Extra entry #3: Twitter this giveaway, including the name of the prize and a link to this post. Then come back here and leave another comment on this post including the link to your Twitter profile for an extra entry.
When: Leave a comment anytime between today and Friday, November 21st. Contest closes 11-21-08 at midnight PST.
Winner to be announced Saturday, November 22nd, 2008.
Related Articles:
Are Your Home and Family Getting First Quality?
Thursday November 6, 2008 by Danelle IceI was attacked by a refrigerator and butter - no kidding!
Two days ago I opened the refrigerator, only to be accosted by a freak accident from a relatively organized appliance. As I opened the door, the top plastic compartment flung open, hurling a box of butter at me, which - in turn- emptied itself as butter cubes took flight across the kitchen!
So what? It’s not the accident that was important, but the OUTCOME. I recovered the unharmed whole and partial butter cubes, and put the empty butter package into the trash. Somehow in the scuffle, the cardboard box mysteriously ripped the end off its own box! Only ONE THING remained on the floor, right in front of my big toe: the end of the butter box which said: "FIRST QUALITY"
Was it a sign? What kind of message was the butter trying to give me?! My mind raced to figure out the possible significance of this cryptic note. Am I putting first quality into all I do? Is my website getting first quality? What about my home, my family, myself?
People tend to get caught up in trying to do so much that they end up spreading themselves thin. We may get the meals cooked, the homeschooling done, the house cleaned, but did we give any one of those things our full attention? I am guilty as charged - I try to do it all, but haven’t given my house or my family "first quality" lately.
How can we make time for First Quality?
We’re all busy, it’s inevitable. Homemakers, moms, dads, household managers: we wear so many hats, are responsible for so many people other than ourselves, and many times bear the weight of all these chores alone. How can we possibly give first quality in any area when there’s barely enough time to get our work done and still have time to sleep?
1. Decide what is most important. Does it really matter if all the DVDs are alphabetized? Is it essential that all the toothpaste streaks are out of the sink each morning after the kids brush their teeth? If your answer is no, you can stand to simplify your list of responsibilities you have given yourself.
2. Make a "now" list. Write down all of the chores and responsibilities you have NOW. Put a star next to the most important things. Cross out the jobs that can go without making your life crumble!
Example: Giving the kids a bath? Star. Volunteering for the PTA’s Thanksgiving Carnival? You volunteered for Halloween already. Cross it off.
3. Write a "new" list called FIRST QUALITY. Write down all the starred items from your other list. This new list should be much shorter and more focused. Put it on the refrigerator, the bathroom mirror, or wherever you will see it every day. This new list is to remind you of the things you give first quality effort to.
4. Work hard on only the most important things. Don’t feel bad if you spend extra time on homeschool lesson preparation, or do a fantastic job on organizing your kitchen. If it’s on your list, it gets to claim your time. If it’s not on the list, feel free to quickly breeze through it - or forget about it altogether.
5. Don’t feel guilty. YOU design your life, YOU are in charge of your time. Feel good about the choices you make!
Every person’s First Quality list will look different, and that’s okay. My list contains my top priorities, which are:
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My marriage
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My family
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My businesses
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My home organization and systems
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My home cleaning
Notice that cleaning is last?! Don’t get me wrong, I love a clean house as much as the next homemaker. However, since I also have two children and run two businesses, I’d rather spend an hour on a family meeting than cleaning dust bunnies from under my bed. Make sense?
The butter attack gave me a great reminder: I need to keep my priorities in mind and NOT try to do it all. Life is meant to be enjoyed, not hurried away. It’s easy to feel good about hard work when you give it your all, your best, your first quality. If you can look at your project and feel proud of what you’ve done, that feeling will fill you up and spill out to others.
Whether you give your all to your kids, your house, your job, your blog, your artwork - give it your best and feel great about delivering first quality. Stop trying to do it all. Then feel proud - you’ve earned it.
13 Best Homemaker Christmas Toys Worth Buying
Tuesday November 4, 2008 by Danelle IceHomemaker Toys - Is There Really Such a Thing?!
Many homemakers (including myself) dream of the day when all household cleaning and chores will be delegated to the children so we can finally take a day off! What better way to prepare kids for cleaning, cooking, and homemaking than with "homemaker toys", also known as the 13 toys listed below! These teaching toys show off some of the jobs we as homemakers, moms, dads, and family managers do in a fun way. Children love to help, and doing grown-up jobs with kid-size tools will let them feel helpful and important.
Toys worth buying are the ones that don’t get put into the donation station 2 days after Christmas because they were complete bombs (i.e. nobody wants to play with them)! Don’t let your Christmas gifts be relegated to the return station either, forcing you to brave the exchange lines at the stores after Christmas. Choose some double-duty educational toys that let your kids become your little helpers. Presenting the 13 Best Homemaker Toys Worth Buying!
These 13 homemaker toys will be a great buy for kids’ Christmas presents this holiday season:
1. Toy cleaning sets. Dirt Devil Junior ~ 12 Piece Play Cleaning Set
2. Little Tikes Shopping Cart
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Have kids unload grocery bags by putting items into their cart
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Have kids "shop for" ingredients for dinner from the pantry and bring them back in the shopping cart
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and many more.
3. Toy cookware. Dining Room Pots & Pans
4. Toy vacuum cleaners. Fisher Price - Laugh & Learn Learning Vacuum Cleaner
5. Toy brooms that REALLY clean! The Silly Sam Talking Broom with Dust Pan
6. Cleaning cart with REAL working hand vacuum. My Cleaning Trolley Set with Hand Vacuum Cleaner
7. Toy ironing board set. Let your child pretend ironing and hanging up clean pressed clothes with this great learning toy. Ironing Board With Iron
8. Toy washing machine. Washing Machine
9. Toy Microwave Oven
10. Toy coffee maker and toaster. A pretend coffee maker and toaster like the iPlay Gourmet Breakfast Blend let little ones pretend to make a "grown-up breakfast" of toast and coffee for their parent before work! Good practice for teaching toaster safety and dishwashing for the cups.
11. Toy baking set. The Alex Completer Cook, 9 piece set
12. Their own play kitchen! The Little Tikes Inside/Outside Cook N Grill Kitchen
13. Kids’ aprons.
There you have it - the top 13 best homemaker toys worth buying. Make sure the Christmas presents you pick for your toddlers and preschoolers do double duty: they can be fun and educational at the same time! Instead of focusing solely on educational toys that teach math and reading this year, let’s remember the toys that teach homemaking skills as well. Homemaker toys work for me!
For more great toy picks this holiday season from real parents, visit Works For Me Wednesday.
Election Day 2008 - Vote Today!
Tuesday November 4, 2008 by Danelle IceIt’s Election Day - Remember to Vote!
It’s November 4th, which signifies General Election Day for all of us in the United States. This is a presidential election for the history books, no matter which side wins. Get your kids involved - take them with you to the polls. They’ll be able to tell the story of voting today in this historic race to their children someday. Remember to vote today and make your voice count!
After you hit the polls, go get your free goodies:
Krispy Kreme is offering a free star-shaped doughnut today to all customers who voted (just show your "I Voted" sticker). Participating locations only.
Also, Ben & Jerry’s participating scoop shops are giving out free scoops of ice cream November 4th from 5-8pm. Isn’t democracy sweet?!
(Subscribers will have to click through to Homemaker Barbi.com to view the video.)
Free Samples and Freebies 11/3/08
Monday November 3, 2008 by Danelle Ice
Free Stuff 11/3/08 - Free DVDs, Walmart Samples, Toothpaste and More
Sign up for all the free items, freebies and free samples online today. Frugal moms like me love getting free stuff in the mail, and you can too! (As always, if you have a freebie to tell us about, email freebies@HomemakerBarbi.com so we can share it with the world. If we share your freebie, we’ll use your name!)
If you missed Saturday Giveaways, visit it right now to enter giveaways for great prizes, such as a Sony Cybershot digital camera! Enter our breastfeeding set giveaway here.
Ready for family movie night? Get your free DVD rental from Redbox today by Redbox promo code: 67JFP8
Free samples of Always Infinity (Walmart)
Free samples of mystery hair product (Walmart)
Free samples of Stayfree & Carefree (Walmart).
Free samples of Aquaphor healing ointment (site only works sometimes, so keep trying)
Free samples of Nexxus Therappe Shampoo and Humectress Conditioner
Free samples of Awakening Skin Lotion (they send you 8 lotion samples!)
Free samples of Aveda Pure Performance shampoo for men (printable coupon that you can take to salon)
Free samples of Head & Shoulders from Teen Fx
Free samples of Pearl Drops toothpaste
Free Betty Crocker Turtle Mix bar (with signup for email newsletter)
Free prayer cloth from Anchored in Faith
Free package of Idahoan potatoes (Click “print coupon” in top right corner, must click “New Customer” and let them know you’ve never tried Idahoan before, or it might print a 75 cents off coupon.)
Free REACH access flosser
Free Arm and Hammer toothpaste
Related Articles:
Introducing Saturday Giveaways!
Friday October 31, 2008 by Danelle Ice
*All NEW* Saturday Giveaways 11/1/08
Welcome to the ALL NEW Saturday Giveaways at Homemaker Barbi! Each Saturday you can look forward to our new feature, a place where you can link your giveaways or signup for the best giveaways on the web. (Nobody says you can’t do both!) Frugal homemakers, moms, dads, and contest lovers everywhere will be in in contest heaven - we all love winning prizes. Have fun!
How to Participate in Saturday Giveaways:
What: Link your blog or website’s giveaways and contests to share with all of our readers; great promotion for your site. Don’t forget to signup for all the great giveaways!
When: Saturday Giveaways will be published every Friday evening so that you can link your current giveaways and get a jump-start on Saturday. (Many of you launch new contests on Fridays; this will give you a chance to get your freshest giveaways for almost a week.)
How: Use the Mr. Linky submission form at the bottom of any Saturday Giveaways post. You can submit a separate link for each current giveaway or contest you have running. List the item you’re giving away in name field (and your name/site name if you want). You MUST link to the permalink of your giveaway, not the main link to your site. You can leave a comment if you want, but comments aren’t required to participate.
Who Can’t Play? Keep it family-friendly!
Banner: Want to let everyone know your giveaways are listed here? Feel free to use our Saturday Giveaways banner on your blog!
Saturday Giveaways: Breastfeeding and Breastmilk Bottle Set
Friday October 31, 2008 by Danelle Ice
Breastfeeding Book and Medela Breastmilk Bottle Giveaway
UPDATED: Winner is #10- Lexie. Congrats!
This week we’re giving away a great Breastfeeding and Breastmilk Bottle Set! This Breastfeeding and Bottle Set is great for expecting moms, new moms or even a gift for a pregnant friend. The breastfeeding book and BPA-free Medela breastmilk bottle can be yours free - good luck!
Enter to win the Breastfeeding and Breastmilk Bottle Set Giveaway, which contains the following:
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Book: Breastfeeding, Keep it Simple by Amy Spangler, RN. Paperback book full of great information for the first-time breastfeeding mom or a refresher course for a veteran!
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Breastmilk Bottle: Medela’s BPA-free, safe for baby, feeding system. Bottle is slow-flow for newborns, dishwasher safe, and works with Medela breast pumps.
How to Enter
To Enter: Leave a comment below (on this post) telling your favorite brand of bottles and why you’d recommend them to a new mom. Be sure to leave a valid email address. All shipping addresses welcome, just for all of our international friends! By entering this contest, you agree to our Giveaway Terms and Conditions.
Spread the Word: Get 1 extra entry by blogging about this giveaway! Leave the link on this post in a separate comment for an extra entry.
When: Leave a comment anytime between today and Friday, November 14 (extended). Contest closes 11-14-08 at midnight PST.
Winner to be announced Saturday, November 15th, 2008.
3 Minute Thank You Card Every Day
Thursday October 30, 2008 by Danelle Ice
Thank You!
Introducing the 3 Minute Thank You Card
Today is an exciting day, because the 3 Minute Thank You Card has just been created! What is it, you ask? The 3 Minute Thank You Card is simply a way to be purposefully thankful each day. Think of it like writing a thank you card, but not necessarily to any person. Dedicate a minimum of three minutes at the start of your day to think of all the things you are grateful for, then let the world know. Everyone is busy, I know, but 3 minutes is such a small amount of time. Everyone can find 3 little minutes in their schedule - make the time!
Starting today, almost every morning I’ll be on Twitter as soon as I turn on my computer. I’m going to spend 3 minutes (maybe longer) twittering about the people and things I’m thankful for. You’re welcome to join me! —>
How You Can Participate in the 3 Minute Thank You Card:
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Choose your method: write it in your journal, tell your baby, write it on twitter, write a blog post, telephone someone, whichever way is right for you.
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What: list the things and people you are thankful for today, right this moment. It can even be ideas or emotions, such as love, or actions, such as giving.
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Find 3 minutes (or longer if you want). At the beginning of your day, take at least 3 minutes to write out (or tell someone) all of your thank yous.
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Give details, or not. You can list them, describe them, speak directly about a person’s virtues, etc. You decide how to give your thank yous.
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If you like your experience participating in the 3 Minute Thank You Card, do it again tomorrow.
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If you still like it, do it every day.
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If you feel good from doing 3 Minute Thank You Card, tell your friends and loved ones about it!
Why Being Thankful is Important
Being thankful is the cornerstone of receiving abundance. We can’t ever expect more to be given to us in any area, whether it’s love, money, happiness, or something else, if we don’t already appreciate what we have. Right?
How many times does it occur that someone dies and then everyone is talking about how great their life was? We see newspaper articles and blog posts and magazine articles and news headlines outlining the deceased person’s great accomplishments, giving spirit, helpfulness to others, and impact on the world. Too bad all this wonderful feedback occurs after the person is no longer with us!
Let’s all make an effort, starting today, to make sure people know how much we appreciate them. Be thankful for what you have, if not all day long, at least during your 3 Minute Thank You Card! Won’t you join me on twitter?
If you’re doing blog posts or tweets for your 3 Minute Thank You, please leave me a comment or email with the link. I’m always listening, so let me know if I can help you with anything. After all, I am thankful for every one of you! You make Homemaker Barbi possible, and allow me to help people in 96 different countries. That is definitely something to feel grateful for.
Fight Vampire Electricity Thieves Before Halloween
Wednesday October 29, 2008 by Danelle IceFight Energy Vampires and Lower Your Electric Bill
Vampire taps might be sucking the energy out of your home right now! Chances are, they’re inflating your energy use and raising your electric bill, silently draining the money out of your household budget. We’ve talked before about vampire energy taps in these articles:
Top Energy Wasters in Your Home and
Are Energy Vampire Taps Costing You Money?
What is vampire power? I know Halloween is just around the corner, but vampire energy taps don’t have anything to do with dracula or evil undead creatures! A vampire tap is an electrical device that uses electricity while plugged into an outlet, even if it’s not turned on or in use. Vampire power means you end up paying extra for electricity that you’re not even using. Frugal families can cut down on vampire energy waste and reclaim their energy savings, starting now.
October 30, 2008 is the first ever National Vampire Power Awareness Day as launched by Best Buy. Homemaker Barbi has proudly partnered with Best Buy in their campaign of educating people on ways to lower energy bills and save electricity.
Vampire Power Facts:
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In a typical American home, 40% of all electricity used is from products that are turned off, as reported by the Department of Energy.
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An average American house has between 20 and 40 vampire taps in use.
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How much do vampire taps cost you? Every watt of energy costs $1 per year, and those watts can add up fast.
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$1,000: number of dollars in electricity wasted in the average house each year!
Fight Vampire Energy Right Now:
1. Unplug your electronics when not in use (yes, this includes cell phone chargers).
2. Use a power strip that’s easy to turn off when you leave home or go to bed.
3. Switch to Energy Star products and appliances; they use less energy when turned off and save you money.
4. Watch the spooky video below to find out typical products that drain your power:
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