5 Minutes Around the Blogospere - Week

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Stop by An Island Life and join in the 2008 Christmas Ornament Exchange. Deadline to enter is Nov 24th.

Mom Most Traveled is hosting a Tea Party Giveaway just for women. After all, don’t we need a little pampering, too? There are great prizes to be won like Baby-G Watch, Abaca Tea Box, Fair Trade Silk Sari Handbag, $100 Gift Certificate to dotPhoto Eurobook, and many other others!

Real World Martha is also hosting a great giveaway celebration - “Tis Better To Give Than to Receive”. For the month of November, stop by and enter to win some fabulous prizes just by answering that week’s question.

From now until the 26th, Thoughts from the Mrs. is holding a 12 Days of Christmas Giveaway event. A new giveaway will be announced every day!

CONTESTS & SWEEPSTAKES

Launching this Monday, November 17, Every Day with Rachael Ray magazine will be offering over $90,000 in prizes online at www.rachaelraymag.com. Items will include: Rachael Ray cookware, family travel packages, Kay Jewelers gift certificates, and even a Viking range! No catch – just log on and enter, what do you have to lose?!

BLOG GIVEAWAYS

For Everyone

• Unexpected Bliss - $50 via Visa (Nov 17th)
• Close to Home - Seal Soul CD along with a cool retro iPod speaker (Nov 18th/US)
• An Island Review - $25 via PayPal (Nov 22nd/US)
• Sassy Frazz - 4 HP gift cards for the free 4×6 prints (Nov 20th/Cont US)
• Mommy’s Idea - $20 Gift Card to Simple Salutations (Nov 22nd/US)
• We Like Stuff - 20 free HP photosmart Express prints (Nov 23rd)
• Livin’ With Me - $50 Gap Gift Card (Nov 23rd)
• Bettyconfidential - Prize packages from Brita, Greenworks, Delight.com and Norton Internet Security (Nov 24th)
• Mommy’s Idea - A Bag of Personalized Photo Confetti (Nov 24th/Any)
• Mommy’s Idea - Gift Certificate to EclectiQue Soul Paper and Gifts (Nov 26th/US, Can)
• Mommy’s Idea - $50 Gift Certificate to How Fast They Grow (Nov 29th/Any)

Just for Mom

• SAHM Reviews – Spa “Basket of Indulgence (Nov 17th)
• An Island Life - PeaceLoveMom Thermal (Nov 18th/US)
• FineLine Antiques - $25 gift certificate (Nov 20th)
• An Island Review - $25 to Docia Lynn Jewelry (Nov 23rd/Any)
• Livin’ With Me - Lands End Giveaway (Nov 23rd/US, Can)
• NW Mom Finds - Silver Love Letters O Charm (Nov 24th)
• Mommy’s Idea - A t-shirt from Ltd Chix (Nov 26th/US, Can)

Just for Kids

• Did You See That? - XEKO Mission: China & Panda Plushie (Nov 17th)
• An Island Review - Flower Hairclip from Your Couture Kid (Nov 18th/Any)
• An Island Review - Your Baby Can Read Book & DVD (Nov 19th/Any)
• Simple - Winners Choice of Creativity for Kids Garden Kit (Nov 19th)
• Muse Reviews - BOB Books Set 1 (Nov 19th)
• An Island Review - The Emotes (Nov 20th/Any)
• The Gift Closet - “The Gift of Christmas” DVD and a Really Woolly “Baby Jesus is Here” Book (Nov 20th/US)
• An Island Review - The Secret Mountain Books (Nov 22nd/Any)
• An Island Life - XEKO Mission: China & Panda Plushie (Nov 22nd/US)
• Muse Reviews - Two felt hair clips (Nov 22nd/US)
• Livin’ With Me - VTech Giveaway (Nov 23rd/US)
• An Island Life - Personalized Canvas Growth Chart from Olive Kids (Nov 24th/US)
• Sassy Frazz - U*neaks shoes and also a pair of socks (Nov 24th/Cont US)
• Red Sox Mommy - A pair of Smaller shoes from See Kai Run (Nov 25th/US)
• A Mom’s Review - Shrek The Halls DVD (Dec 2nd)
• A Mom’s Review - $10 Build A Bear Gift Certificate (Dec 2nd)

Baby Essentials

• Rookie Moms - Scootababy Carrier (Nov 16th/US)
• Glimpse - An eco-friendly Baby Wrap (Nov 17th)
• Adventures in Babywearing - Nest Baby Sling & Hatchling Sling (Nov 17th)
• Nurse Mommy - mother-ease cloth siaper, liner, and cover (Nov 19th/US, Can)
• Nurse Mommy - $20 GC to Soft Star Shoes (Nov 19th)
• The Laughs Will Go On - A set of Bummas Cloth Wipes (Nov 19th)
• Just a mom’s take on things - Baby Language One of Two Onesies Set (Nov 20th/US)
  
• Northwest Mom Finds - Ergo Hands Free Baby Carrier System (Nov 26th)
• Sticky Feet - LaZella Roe Boutique Shopping Cart Cover (Nov 30th)
• The Glamorous WAHM - A pair of mink baby booties (Dec 1st/US)

Home & Garden

• Nurse Mommy - $35 certificate code to iWrapped for custom wrapping paper (Nov 16th/US)
• A Mom’s Review - Dove Prize Pack (Nov 18th)
• A Mom’s Review - Jennie-O $20 Off Coupons (Nov 18th)
• Mom of 3 Girls - 2 coupons for $15 off of a Butterball turkey (Nov 19th/US)
• Did You See That? - Pillsbury Savorings Gift Basket (Nov 20th)
• An Island Review - Dawn Plus Hand Renewal (Nov 22nd/US)
• Livin’ With Me - Velveeta Giveaway (Nov 23rd/US)
• Livin’ With Me - Bosch Mixxo Giveaway (Nov 23rd/US)

Books for Grown-Ups

• Quiverfull Family - One Perfect Day by Lauraine Snelling (Nov 20th/US, Can)
• Red Sox Mommy - A bucket of CLR cleaning supplies (Nov 29th/US)
• The Bluestocking Guide - How To Profit From the Coming Rapture (Dec 3rd/US, Can)

COOL WEBSITES

Today Microsoft is helping a new Seattle-based startup, Sabi Inc., launch a new category of fun children’s learning games with the introduction of its first computer-based game, ItzaBitza. Created by one ambitious mom, Margaret Johnson, the game leverages ground-breaking technology from Microsoft—and is intended to nurture creativity, inspire play and encourage young children learning to read—by allowing children to see their drawings come to life. Margaret is not only an entrepreneur, but the mother of two children and was inspired by a very personal commitment to ensure that children have age appropriate games that build confidence, and build reading skills while having a lot of fun.

Writing letters to Santa Claus is an age-old Christmas tradition for children all over the world. Macy’s is collecting these letters in a special Santa letterbox at all Macy’s stores. For each letter received, Macy’s will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. The Believe Meter will measure America’s belief, based on our collective spirit – including the amount of letters received and other current events that reflect the season’s generosity. This holiday season, Macy’s wants everyone - from the most enthusiastic to the most cynical- to Believe in and embrace the holiday spirit of love and charity.

INTERESTING POSTS

• Razoo - 6 Steps to Rasing a Charitable Child
• Hippos Toes - Tents of Hope

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, Family Review Network & Island Baby Boutique.