This year bloggers from around b5media’s Lifestyles and Health and Wellness channels are giving readers a special surprise. We’ve created a virtual mall to help ease the anxiety of shopping for those on your Christmas list who may be a little more difficult to buy for!

Cherie from Career and Kids has the perfect list for the business woman/working parent.

Mary Emma from One Book Two Book shares a suggest shopping list for the avid reader and artist on your list.

Everyone knows what to get a jewelry lover – but do you know what to get one who loves to make jewelry? Cyndi at Jewelry and Beading has the answer!

Cherie at Diabetes Notes shares gift ideas to keep those visions of sugar plum fairies dancing for the diabetics on your list.

Chloe at The Doggy Blog shares an adorable wish list as written to Santa Paws.

Christine at Mad Cropper knows how to please those who are crazy about scrapbooking during the holiday season.

Quilters anyone? This unique craft makes for the tougher shopping experience – but that’s so yesterday considering we have a pro in our corner. Let Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork help you pick out the perfect gift.

Angela from Breastfeeding 1-2-3 provides a list of gifts for the breastfeeding mother on your list.

So maybe giving kitchen appliances isn’t the best idea – but what about a cool and unique Cooking Gadget? I’d say your bound to surprise the cook on your list with something from Cyndi’s list.

Peggy at Lively Women has put together a list of gift ideas for the health conscious female on your list.

Christine at Our One Heart shares tips and gift ideas to keep that Bride-to-Be happy during the Christmas season.

Tracee at BlogFabulous has put together an amazing store displaying gift ideas for the woman’s woman.

Christmas is for everyone and shopping for an Alzheimer’s patients can present a challenge – allow Mary Emma at Alzheimer’s Notes helps you overcome that challenge and get on to the joys of the season.

Have someone who might be looking to become a little more organized in the new year? Let Jennifer at Declutter It help you give the gift of time and organization.

Do you have a fabric-aholic or a needlehead on your Christmas list? Don’t get them the same old boring sing-song gift – let Chloe at Tangled Thread help you pick the perfect gift.

Unique gift ideas for the mixed media art lover on your list is what Cyndi from Layers Upon Layers has on display.

Have an aspiring to advanced chef on your list this year? Cyndi at Busy Family Meals has an extensive list to cover every stage of cooking from beginner to pro.

Eliza has pieced together a shop that covers mom, dad and baby at Babylune. Why leave anyone out?

Heather at The Food Bowl is taking care of pets and their people with a fun list that’s bound to connect you with the perfect gift.

Did someone say chocolate? Heather at Chocolate Bytes did! Our resident chocolate expert has put together sweetest gift shop you won’t want to miss.

Who says married couples are boring? Check out the letters to Santa as shared by Marc and Marye of Marriage Actually and see what might appeal to the married couple on your list.

Jennifer from Tree Hugging Family provides a wonderful list to help you go a little more green this holiday season.

Don’t forget about that single and dating friend or relative! We all know how difficult it can be to buy for them – Lucky for us we have Dating Dames and the Dames have the answers.

It’s never too early to start buying for your favorite gardener and Linette at Mother Earth’s Garden has a wonderful list to help you decide.

Have someone a little offbeat or kooky on your list this year? Let Jennifer of Offbeat Homes help you find the gift that’s spot on.

Linette at Play Library is haring the Best of Toys list this year – check out what’s hot and get to buying! We know how quick those hot toys sell out every year.

Have someone on your list who always hosts the best parties? Surprise that person with a unique gift as recommended by Linette at She Knows Parties!

Marcie from One Book Two Book and A Child Chosen shares a wonderful shopping list she’s broken down by age groups and hobbies.

Whether it’s tea or coffee you are looking for, Marye from Kettle and Cup has unique gift ideas that’s sure to add a little spice to your favorite hot beverage.

Haven’t figured out just how to shop for the junk lover and crafter on your list? Let Peggy from Junk Creation assist you with your selection.

Susan from Grounded Fitness has a little something for the health and fitness buff on your shopping list.

Liz at Health Bolt offers up a nifty gift idea list for everyone in the family – down to the computer geek.

Just what do you buy someone who’s crazy about genetics? Let our very own Grace Ilbay help you with that one at Genetics and Health

For those on your list who have a taste for wine and cocktails – check out Drinks After Dark and the shop full of gifts that Colleen has compiled that might just add to the element of surprise this year.

For the baker on your list – Marye from Baking Delights shares some of her personal favorites for her baking adventures in the kitchen. At a time when flavors, colors, aromas and tastes are at their peak, finding the perfect gift can be a bit of a challenge.

Eliza at She Knows Coupons has a fun list of items that will make any couponing mom jump with joy. The only thing that makes a coupon mom more excited than an awesome deal is doing it in an organized fashion.

And last but certainly not least, I’ve compiled a list of MomGadget Favorites – A Year in Review 2008 instead of a storefront for you to shop.

From all of us at Lifestyles – Health & Wellness

We wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful 2009!

Image credit: Stock.xchng

Technorati Tags: holiday gift guide,shopping guide,unique gift ideas,b5media,lifestyles channel,health and wellness,christmas gifts,black friday shopping,cyber monday

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

What an awesome response to Monday’s Blogtoberfest sponsored prize post! I’m sure pairing it up with the two-minute microwave fudge recipe didn’t hurt either!

The winner from Monday’s Blogtoberfest post is AmandaK!

AmandaK won a Search for the Cure Stationary Caddy! Each caddy contains 25 pearl-white correspondence cards with a pink ribbon icon at the top. Coordinating pink mist envelopes are included, and the package is wrapped with a pink ribbon. $2 per box will donated by Crane & Co., a breast cancer awareness organization.

Congrats, AmandaK!

Everyone else, thank you for participating and keep an eye out – there are tons more prizes to be won both here at Chocolate Bytes and across the rest of the Lifestyles channel!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

To do this, we’ve joined forces with hundreds of sponsors to create a two week extravaganza of giveaways, jump-starting the holiday season and allowing our readers to win gifts, both for themselves and for giving. This year’s Blogtoberfest is better than ever before. We have simplified the process and the sponsors have been extremely generous in the gifts that they are offering and as a result, we’ll be passing on in excess of $7,000 worth of prizes! Don’t miss a minute of the fun!

Blogtoberfest officially kicks off today – Monday, October 6, 2008

There are lots of great prizes to be given away. Prizes are available to U.S. and Canada residents unless otherwise noted. All you have to do is:

1. Browse the channel or visit your favorite blogs.

2. Watch for sponsored prize winning posts wearing the official Blogtoberfest button shown above.
3. Leave a comment on that exact post. Your comment IS your entry.
4. Check back with that blog within a week and see what the prize is and if you’re the lucky winner.

Consider subscribing to the Chocolate Bytes blog feed, and some of the other Lifestyles channel blog feeds to make sure you don’t miss out on any exciting opportunities. Many blogs will be conducting between 2 and 7 giveaways and just where those will be appearing is a secret and half the fun!

Each prize-winning post will share links to other prize winning blogs for that same day. This makes hunting easier and improves your chances of winning! That’s it! Participating blogs can be found at our channel hub.

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

The b5media Lifestyles Channel is excited to announce our Second Annual Channel Wide Blogtoberfest!

Blogtoberfest will run an entire two weeks throughout our channel beginning Monday, October 6th and wrapping up Friday, October 17th.

Here’s how it will work:

Each day select blogs within the channel will post as usual, the only difference is, they’ll post our beautiful Blogtoberfest button (shown above) and a special note letting you know that it is a sponsored post. That particular post will have a secret prize assigned to it from our list of awesome prizes that will be announced prior to opening day.

All you have to do to enter to win that prize is leave a comment! That’s it! All prizes will be available to the U.S. and Canada unless otherwise noted. We do have some goodies for our global friends too!

Within a few days of leaving your comment, check back with that blog to see what the prize is and if you’re the lucky winner as well as instructions on just how to claim your prize.

Our objective is to reward our loyal readers and subscribers. Loyal readers will know when to comment, if they’ve won and how to get their prize! Pretty good, huh?

Does that sound like you? Do you want that to sound like you?

If you would like to become a loyal reader, visit our channel blogs – add them to your favorites, subscribing to their feeds and checking back are the only ways to win.

And well, with the holidays just around the corner, it’s a great way to kick off your holiday shopping! For Free!

We do hope you’ll come celebrate Blogtoberfest with us! Happy Fall Y’all!

This post will be updated with links to important information about this event! Feel free to bookmark this exact post and check back for updates.

[post text by Gayla McCord]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

We’re in the last throes of summer, when even the most enthusiastic fans of the season begin to wish for things start cooling down soon. For this last official month of summer, the Lifestyles channel decided to introduce you to what makes our dog days a little more bearable!

At The Food Bowl, I’ve got a frosty treat to help your dog beat the heat with a home-made, doggy-approved ice cream recipe, and I want to know how you calm your upset pet when it comes time for travel and vacation. You can also meet my menagerie here.

Linette at Mother Earth’s Garden shares photos of her four legged garden companions. Robust Cooking has 9 Healthy Treats you can make for your dog. And, it’s dog party planning time at She Knows Parties, with dog party invitations, and dog party games.

When you write for Simply Thrifty, even your dogs have thrifty habits and it sounds like Katelyn’s dogs are well on their way. 

Peggy at Tree Hugging Family explores reasons to choose a hemp dog collar and looks at a company that specializes in them.  At Junk Creation she features some tutorials from various crafters — including making a dog bed from a skirt to recycling old dog collars into new ones.

Susan at PlayLibrary shares news of the Little Tikes Dog Days of Summer Sale which includes pools, playgrounds, bounce houses and more.  Check out the pics of her basset hound getting in on the bounce house fun at her triplets’ 4th birthday party!

Tracee from BlogFabulous to her kids – “Heck yeah, you can have hampsters if it only costs me $5, and there is virtually no maintenance involved,” while visiting country garage sale.

Colleen at Drinks After Dark shares the story of her dog Jackson.  Jack was an adopted via her local SPCA.  It’s great to hear and read heartwarming success stories.

Chloe at Tangled Thread has been sewing easy & inexpensive bandannas for her dogs to dress them up for summertime.

Noreen’s small dog keeps her hopping as he grabs and runs with yarn and other treasures in the studio while she authors Hankering for Yarn.

Christina at SoloMother tells of the tales she shares with her son, of the beloved pets of her youth while looking forward to the day when they can welcome a new dog into their own little family.

Mary Emma Allen at Quilting and Patchwork shares some pattern and design ideas in Quilting Goes to the Dogs. 

And then there is Gayla’s contribution on Supernanny Rules – the latest picture of her precious tiny Yorkie, Molly, who has had a very rough summer battling parvo and adverse reactions to vaccinations.  At 2.9 pounds, she has a very strong will to live.

If you or someone you know is thinking about adding a pet to your family, please consider adopting a shelter pet. If you want a specific breed consider finding a rescue organization. You can even look online at petfinder.com.

[image: sxc]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

This is the week of Bloggy Giveaways! Don’t forget your chance to win ‘The Essential Chocolate Chip Cookbook’ ends tonight, as does the contest for “Hugs for Chocolate Lovers” at JLo Stalker.

Check out the rest of the giveaways happening around the Lifestyles Channel this week!

The Food Bowl: 2 copies of “Take Our Cat, Please!” A Get Fuzzy collection
Contest Ends: July 31

Inside Motherhood: Hoover WindTunnel™ Self-Propelled Vacuum
Contest Ends: July 31

Weary Parent: EZSchoolSupplies.com school supply pack
Contest Ends: July 31

Inside Fatherhood: Your Baby Can Read! Starter DVD and Word Cards
Contest Ends: July 31

Babylune: The Book of Calamities; A is for Atticus
Contest Ends: August 1

MomGadget: Dooney and Bourke PDA Cell Phone Case
Contest Ends: August 1

Quilting and Patchwork: Sarah’s Patchwork by Stephanie Grace Whitson; What I Learned from God While Quilting, by Ruth McHaney Danner and Cristine Bolley
Contest Ends: August 1

Play Library: Nine Giveaways
Contests Ends: August 1

Blog Fabulous: Mama Gena’s Owner’s and Operator’s Guide to Men
Contest Ends: August 3

Hankering for Yarn: Several contests
Contest Ends: August 3

[image: sxc]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

This month, the Lifestyles channel decided to have a little fun with one of summer’s favorite pastimes – a picnic!

Let’s start with dessert first!

Strawberry Rhubarb Crunch by Robust Cooking

Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade at All Holiday Cafe

Rice Krispie Treats at Keeping the Castle

Homemade Oreo Ice Cream at Chocolate Bytes

Cool Summer Snacking at Inside Motherhood

Baking Delights is bringing enough chocolate for everyone to catch a chocobuzz with her favorite brownies

Nothing like sweet tea on a hot, summer day…Wait..I taste lime..mint…is that a non-alcoholic Mojito?  Kettle and Cup has the answer.

Blogfabulous is serving up a super easy, keep your butt out of the hot kitchen solution to Hors’ devours.

Weary Parent is serving Chocolate Puppy Chow, a snack that’s bound to be popular with the kids

Offbeat Homes is sharing details on how to hold an offbeat picnic in four easy steps.

Tree Hugging Family shares 10 tips for an easy green picnic or green potluck

Just because you choose to live thrifty doesn’t mean you have to throw a thrifty picnic.  Simply Thrifty shares tips for an elegant and inexpensive potluck

What fun is a summer BBQ if you feel disorganized and in disarray?  Declutter It shares five tips to help you organize your summer BBQ.

10 Summer party ideas and themes for your next backyard barbecue, or potluck.

Add some backyard Olympic games to your next barbecue, in honor of the Summer Olympics

And speaking of games, Marriage Actually is bringing a fun game for the grownups.  Life Stories – a fun way to find out more about your spouse, friends and extended family.

Cyndi won’t go anyplace to picnic unless she can grill, but she doesn’t want to spend all day doing it.  Try her tips for Grilling Chicken Fast, and get a jumpstart on your next picnic!

Who says picnics have to be complicated affairs?  Keep it simple with cheeses, meats and homemade bread.  Brewha-ha.com has a few suggestions – including a recipe for Polish beer rye bread

Whether you’re having a picnic, a barbecue or just looking for a fun activity to do with your kids outside, Susan at PlayLibrary offers a list of 50 outdoor toys and games that are perfect for summer.

This time of year there are bugs everywhere, don’t forget to bring the bug repellent along with your favorite dish to your next cookout.

Christine at Mad Cropper not only shares her favourite winter or summer recipe but also shares that you can turn recipes into creative works of arts. Find out how!

And while you’re out having all the fun and good food you can handle, don’t forget your pets – they enjoy special summer treats too!

At Quilting and Patchwork enjoy an array of potluck foods and memories from the Food Bloggers.

You never know what medical emergency could happen while your are picnicking…Marye at Simply Home Remedies is bringing the antidote for nearly anything!

Eliza at Babylune provides a checklist of tips to consider when taking baby picnicking.

Finally, when it’s all said and done, kick back with a nice frozen beverage.  MomGadget prefers the Dominican Coco Loco

[image: flickr]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

While the writers here at the Lifestyles Channel reside all across the globe, one thing that remains constant are the celebrations of fireworks. Whether it’s here in the U.S. with the Fourth of July or on the other side of the world in New Zealand we all know a summer celebration isn’t the same without fireworks and the memories that go with them.

Chloe of Tangled Thread shares a few festive fireworks and needlework patterns.

Kerri and Cory at Marriage Actually talk about why having a shared past is one of the best parts about being married.

Heather at A Creative Journal shares her first memory of firecrackers with a view from Australia.

Christine at Mad Cropper remembers Guy Fawkes Day, a day celebrated in New Zealand with lots of fireworks. Find out why Guy Fawkes is celebrated by the English and most commonwealth countries. It is indeed a blast from the past!

Mary Emma at Quilting and Patchwork, provides a quiz for her readers.  See how many of the quilt designs you can connect with historical Americana – events, objects or people.

Marye at Baking Delights reflects on just how much menu’s have changed over the years while at Kettle and Cup she shares a modern twist that many are sure to love with her Non-Alcoholic Long Island Iced Tea

Kelly Saunders at Thrifty Mommy shares her favorite 4th of July memory – I just can’t spoil the surprise – check it out.

Char and Christine continue Camp Weary Parent with this weeks Patriotic activities:  Star Spangled Rocket and a week full of other fun projects

Marcie and Mary Emma are blasting through books with Fourth of July and summer recommendations at One Book Two Book. Make sure to check out Fourth of July Books for Teens and The 10 Best Fourth of July Picture Books

Linette at Robust Cooking shares 10 Healthy 4th of July Dessert Ideas.  At Mother Earth’s Garden she calls out the old saying about corn – “Knee high by the fourth of July.”  At She Knows Parties, she shares fond memories of her summers and holidays as a child.

Karen at Thrifty Mommy probably has the most reason to celebrate the fourth as anyone I’ve heard – join Karen as she shares family photos of one of the most memorable nights in her families lives.

Sandy at All Holiday Cafe provides us with a list of when Independence Day is celebrated in various countries around the world.

Christina at SoloMother shares her own experiences of celebrating the 4th of July in the nation’s capital.

Susan at PlayLibrary shares her memories of playing the classic game of Zimm Zamm during her family’s annual July 4th barbecue celebration.

Heather at Chocolate Bytes may not be having a ‘blast from the past’ but she’s got one heck of a yummy red, white and blue treat she’s serving up.

Eliza at Babylune reflects back on early holiday celebrations with baby on board and looks to this years celebration – their first out of the military.

Last but certainly not least there’s Gayla at MomGadget, whose memories take place in an earlier time when life was much simpler and her celebrations took place with relatives down in the holler in the hills of Kentucky.

I hope everyone has a safe and fun holiday, no matter where or what you’re celebrating!

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

This month, the writers around the Lifestyles channel were asked to show everyone the views from our windows. Some took a creative approach and painted a portrait with words and others share actual images of what we see on a day-to-day basis:

Mary Emma Allen at One Book Two Book shares a view from her window that entertains and delights her grandchildren. She also tells us how she was influenced by her mothers view from a kitchen window, as well as suggesting views for quilters.

Also at One Book Two Book, Karen shares the sweetest view of her kids playing on the deck and how the two youngsters deal with the heat.

Linette, one of our resident super bloggers is sharing views on three blogs. The first is a beautiful view of her back yard that she’s sharing on She Knows Parties. Next, on Robust Cooking she shares a photo of her window herb garden. Last, on Mother Earth’s Garden she shares a beautiful view from her front porch.

Sandy at All Holiday Cafe shares the view of her garden, a perfect backdrop for any summer holiday.

Marye at Baking Delights shares details of some of her favorite views throughout time and from some of her favorite windows in her massive farmhouse where she lives now.Check out the veggie garden she has in her front yard.

Another of our super bloggers, Heather, shares her view while enjoying everyone’s favorite topic – Chocolate at Chocolate Bytes.  She’s also a very brave mother taking on a topic like chocolate while being a mom to twins when she shares the view from the twins’ window at Inside Motherhood.And what would an animal lover be without sharing their pets favorite view? Heather shares her cat’s view at The Food Bowl.

Susan at Play Library shares a view from her car window as she and her husband go out to dinner for their anniversary.

Trench – our resident Superhero on who spends his time tracking down crime both on the internet at My Crime Space and crimes of passion in the real world at Psycho for Love shares a figurative view of what life looks like from his windows.

Marcie at A Child Chosen shares a glimpse through the “types” of windows in her life as an international adoptive mother and more.

Cyndi from Layers Upon Layers shares the breathtaking view from her front porch in New England.

Peggy at Junk Creation shares an adorable image of Goslings on Parade as they waddle their way by Peggy’s window.

Our newest Lifestyles member Rachel comes on board her first channel carnival with an adorable detailed view of her new window with her fur baby, Louie.

Lastly, but certainly not least, Gayla shares a beautiful sunset in rural Indiana as it rests on full display behind the farm across the road on MomGadget.

[image: sxc]

Post from: Chocolate Bytes

The theme for this month’s Lifestyles day is “The View From My Window.” I decided to take a shot from my little kitchen window because it’s what I look out of when I’m in the kitchen playing with chocolate! It’s located right above the kitchen sink, which is in a corner of the kitchen, so the view from the window is a little awkward. Just to the right of the shot is the front door, which is why you see a little bit of our “No Soliciting” sign in the bottom right corner.

The view isn’t much to look at. Our next door neighbors usually have about six cars parked out in front of their house and ours (half of them with expired tags, and in the case of that pickup, paint marker all over the windows), and for some reason they refuse to use either their own driveway or garage. It makes for a fun time when we try to have guests over and they have to park down the street!

Anyway, we have a really cool tree that winds up around itself (we have no idea what it is), and a huge bunch of one of my favorite flowers, alyssums, all around it. My mom had alyssums planted in our front flower garden when I was growing up and the smell of them brings back many happy memories. We found them on sale at a local nursery a year ago and snatched them up. They’re especially wonderful here because they bloom year-round!

See the view from the cats’ favorite window, and a bedroom window.

Post from: Chocolate Bytes