CONTESTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

First of all, I wanted to let you know that this column will be taking a break on March 23rd due to my family’s much needed vacation. It will be the first time for the girls (& me) to be in the snow! Wish this warm-weather girl luck!

This week’s Blog Blast, courtesy of The Parent Bloggers Network, is about Save, Share, Simplify. To participate, just publish a post on March 14th discussing how you’re saving, sharing, and simplifying in regards to your family. Then email your link to PBN and four random winners will be selected to win either a $50 gift card to giggle or Patagonia.

The Nest Baby is holding a Bump Contest where one lucky pregnant woman could win a trip to Jamaica, a mommy & baby photo shoot, and a Just For Mom gift basket. To enter, just submit a photo of your belly before May 5th and have all your friends vote for you. Stop by the official site for more information.

Michelle of Scribbit is holding her monthly Write Away contest. This time the theme is “The Next Twenty Years”. Enter before March 19th and you could win an Alaskan ulu and a cool button to display.

A great way to meet other bloggers in your niche is by participating in blog carnivals. Here are a few that you may be interested in – Carnival of Family Life, Family Funnies, Review Bloggers, Empowering Women, & Mom’s Blogging Carnival.

The people at Tangled & True are having a Modern Layette Swap. Basically, if you have a modern/eco-friendly baby item that your child has outgrown, just email Tangled & True with some basic information and they will pair you up with a partner to exchange with. Deadline to sign-up is March 17th.

Overwhelmed With Joy is holding her monthly Pay it Forward Book Exchange. Deadline to participate in her giveaway is March 21st.

BLOG GIVEAWAYS

• Books:
  • Laura Williams’ Musings – The Fortune Cookie Chronicles (March 13th)
• Music & Movies:
  • An Island Review – Little Einsteins Race for Space DVD (midnight tonight)
  • Close to Home – Baby Einstein’s Baby’s First Moves “Get Up and Go!” DVD (March 10th)
  • A Family Runs Through It – 4GB iPod Nano (March 15th)
  • momsational – Backyardigans Tales of the Mightly Knights DVD (March 17th)
• Baby Essentials
  • Props & Pans – Johnson & Johnson Bedtime Wash & Sudzing Bars (March 10th)
  • From Dates to Diapers and Beyond – Nest Egg from Blessed Nest (March 16th)
  • mod*mom – 5 “green” compostable diaper starter kits (March 24th)
  • Classy Mommy – Musty Spider Stroller (March 29th)
• Health & Beauty Products
  • Fitness for Mommies – Julie B Fit 3-DVD Set (March 12th)
  • teensygreen – My Daddy is a Pretzel and Lotuspad eco-yoga mat set (March 13th)
• Kitchen & Household
  • Made in the USA – Platter by Siyeh Studio (March 10th)
  • An Island Life – $50 to Warm Biscuit Bedding Company (March 11th)
  • Crunchy Domestic Goddess – Basic H2 cleaner from Shaklee (March 13th)
  • mod*mom – 5 non-toxic bathroom cleaner sets (March 17th)
  • Pennies In My Pocket – a year supply of Dropps Laundry Detergent (March 31st)
  • mod*mom – organic fair trade easter basket + boxes (March 24th)
  • Drea Custom Designs – Premium Silk Dupioni Panels (June 15th)
• Things for the Kids
  • Lookit! I Spy . . . – Inspector Hector Plaque Detector & Tooth Protector (March 12th)
  • You Da Mom – Little Capers long-sleeved “Lightning” superhero shirt in 18-24 months (March 16th)
  • Sher’s Wares – $30 gift certificate (March 31st)
  • Pink Lemonade – Various children items from Gobaby, MyMommysbracelets, UncommonlyCute, and Crazy Harry (March 31st)
• Things for Mom
  • The FlipFlop Mamma – a set of handmade cards (March 10th)
  • SheFinds – Nomination Star Pendant Earrings (March 13th)
  • Crazy Hip Blog Mamas – $100 to Ann Taylor Maternity (March 13th)
  • An Island Life – $300 to Mommy Tags (March 14th)
• Misc. Giveaways
  • mod*mom – 3 tax return online prep, efiling + support (March 19th)

COOL WEBSITES

MinuteFix – Having computer problems? Looking for someone who can explain things in a language that you can understand? The people at MinuteFix can help. They specialize in helping women and mothers with all their computer questions. To help promote their new service, they’re offering free tech support until March 15th. After that it’s only $0.99 a minute. The best part is that if they can’t fix the problem, you don’t have to pay a penny! Now that’s customer service!

Outback Steakhouse – Did you know that Outback Steakhouse is celebrating their 20th anniversary? This also means 20 years of their famous Bloomin’ Onion! For a limited time only, they’re offering special menu items that will satisfy any appetite!

GREAT DEALS

• Mamas *Little* Treasures is generously offering a cute butterfly & flutter flower applique pattern for FREE! Stop by and check it out in her sidebar.
• $5 off any toy purchase of $25 or more from Target.
• Free Kids Tableware Set from Motts.
• Free sample of Tide with Dawn Stainscrubbers.
• Free sample of Skin MD for Bloggers willing to post a product review.

If you would like to have a post on your blog featured in 5 Minutes Around The Blogosphere, please send us an email with the actual link to your post at features5minutesformom at gmail dot com and we’ll see if it can be arranged.

Kailani can be found at An Island Life, An Island Review, & Island Baby Boutique.