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 the 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 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 various 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 found at the bottom of our channel hub: www.b5media.com/channels_lifestyles.html

A special thanks to Randa Clay Design for our beautiful Blogtoberfest Button!

Post from: Play Library

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

Post from: Play Library

Here at PlayLibrary, I  share suggestions for several books for grandparents including activity books for grandparents and grandchildren to enjoy together and memory books for grandparents to give to their grandchildren, which are sure to become family treasures handed down from generation to generation.

At Quilting and Patchwork, Mary Emma Allen writes a tribute to her grandmother for a quilting heritage.

When Linette at Mother Earth’s Garden thinks about her grandparents, she has many fond memories in the garden. One of her favorite recipes is her grandma’s recipe for canning pickled beets.

Mary Emma at One Book Two Book reminisces about the reading heritage she received from her grandparents.

Cyndi at Layers Upon Layers no longer has grandparents, and hasn’t had any for a long time.  Although she loved her grandparents deeply, she says she never really thought that much about what their feelings were towards her…until she had her own first grandbaby and felt the overwhelming love just flow out to continue the cycle of life through the generations.

Katelyn from Simply Thrifty is glad her great-grandma passed thriftiness down to her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Chloe from Tangled Thread along with her mom, created a series of memorial church textiles to celebrate her grandmother’s life.

And at MomGadget, Gayla remembers the influence and memories with her grandparents that help mold the person she is today.

Other Grandparent posts around the channel at – Marriage Actually and Baking Delights 

Post from: Play Library

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

At The Food Bowl, Heather’s got a frosty treat to help your dog beat the heat with a home-made, doggy-approved ice cream recipe, and she wants to know how you calm your upset pet when it comes time for travel and vacation.

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.

Tracee from BlogFabulous to her kids – “Heck yeah, you can have hamsters 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 from Gayla on Supernanny Rules – the latest picture of her 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, I urge you to check the internet.  There are rescues that operate on just about every breed – or check the SPCA or local animal shelters.  It’s been my personal experience that unwanted or abandoned pets seem ultimately gracious to their new homes and masters.  My basset hound was a rescue from that I found through PetFinder.com!

Post from: Play Library

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

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

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 – perhaps you can kick back with a nice frozen beverage.  MomGadget prefers the Dominican Coco Loco

Post from: Play Library

Here on PlayLibrary I shared my memories of playing the classic game of Zimm Zamm during my family’s annual July 4th barbecue celebration.

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 nations capital.

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.

Gayla at MomGadget shares a Bluegrass Kinda Fourth of July.

Post from: Play Library

Mary Emma Allen at One Book Two Book reminds you to check our your local library for their summer reading programs which can be great fun for youngsters, parents, and grandparents.

Noreen Crone-Findlay at Hankering for Yarn designed a crocheted fake wasp nest to trick the wasps and yellow jackets into staying away from her home. 

Elizabeth at Career and Kids shares tips for those busy potluck and picnic days at work and home.  And on GenBetween she also shares 10 warm weather tips for aging adults.

Kadi Prescott of Supernanny Rules discusses the importance of continued learning during those long summer breaks from school.

Deborah Ng at Simply Thrifty paints a portrait of life as a kid in the 70’s in Queens with Dining Al Fresco in the Summers of My Youth.

Cyndi Lavin of Jewelry and Beading wants her readers to win a beautiful medallion, just in time for some summertime beading fun.  On Layers Upon Layers you’ll learn some digital effects for your summertime pictures!  Busy Family Meals has a special salad dressing giveaway.

Christine Gooding at MadCropper While she is about to enter her own winter months, she joins in our project with memories of her own summers as a child.

Heather at Chocolate Bytes has two recipes that say “summertime” to her first, chocolate zucchini cake and how about whipping up some Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream to top it off?  If you hop over to The Food Bowl, she offers tips on heat stroke prevention for your pets.

Sherry at Inside Motherhood discusses taking her daughter to the market and explaining to her how it’s better to support locally grown farm foods rather than importing food as a bit of an educational field trip.

Christina at Solo Mother share’s a bit of a then and now as she discusses Sunday rituals as a child and those of today with her own child.

Maricar at Keeping the Castle shares a guest post by Jeff Wilson of the DIY Network where he discusses simple steps to an amazing deck makeover.

Karen at Thrifty Mommy shares two very popular classic posts – 15 Summer Cooking Tips and 10 Thrifty Ways to Deal with Mosquitos

Peggy at Junk Creation shares how to make a Vacation Scrapbook Planter from a Sour Cream Container.

Tracee at BlogFabulous shares a rather memorable experience during potty training.  Any mother of boys will be able to relate to this one.

Katelyn from Stamping Mad has created a mixed media collage to remind herself to take time to enjoy the wonderful summer weather.

Farley at Behind the Vines is preparing for some summertime wine tasting.  The only thing left to do is decide on a destination.

Sandy Mitchell at Robust Cooking shares 9 Quick Vegetable Grilling Tricks and if you hop over to her other blog All Holiday Cafe, she shares 10 Ways to Save Money on Summer Holiday Travel

Susan Gunelius at Play Library shares fond memories of her younger days spending hours in the family pool and flashes forward to today and the fun and affordable pool toys that are available.

Chloe Findlay-Harder at Tangled Thread shares a tutorial on how to make a cooling bandana to help relieve those super hot dog days of summer.

Linette Gerlach at Mother Earth’s Garden shares tips on Creating an Outdoor Space to escape to for relaxation and at She Knows Parties, Linette shares a Party Punch Decorative Ice Ring for a cool refreshing treat on a hot summer day.

Noel Bautista at Unplugged Living enlightens us on solar cooking options as an alternative to traditional grilling methods.

Gayla McCord at MomGadget, takes a stroll down memory lane as she lists some of my personal favorite dishes and flavors of summertime. 

Check out the summertime posts around the b5media Lifestyles Channel when you get a chance!

Image: Flickr

Post from: Play Library