You’re sitting at the computer, feeling all cozy while drinking a cup
of hot cocoa and staring at the wildlife outside.

What would make it more perfect? Entering to win free gifts!

Grounded Fitness is
helping you be all sporty. Stop by to enter to win a Danskin Puffer Hooded Vest.

Healthbolt is having a whole
month of giveaways. Right now, enter to win a Rhythms
Starter Pack Dance Exercise Program.

Kids Health Notes has
tons of giveaways in progress. Check out HappyGreenBee
Giveaway for an organic cotton blanket.

Weighting Line has a
Sansa slotMusic Don’t Quit!
fitness bundle.

A Child Chosen is giving
away My First Shades and much more.

One Book Two Book has
ECO Baby Organic Playdough
and several other fun giveaways.

Tree Hugging Family is
offering copies of Hallmark Card Studio
Deluxe 2009.

Play Library is helping you
win LoudEnough Ear Phones for kids by Ultimate Ears and lots of other stuff.

Babylune has Scooterbees for you.

Pet Lovers: You have a couple of days left to enter to win Chicken Soup for the Soul: Loving
Our Dogs and Chicken
Soup for the Soul: Loving Our Cats at Couture Critters!

From Mother’s Earth
Garden, win Vaseline Clinical Therapy Lotion.

At Jewelry and Beading,
enter to win a Blue Moon Beads
necklace inspired by Sarah Jessica Parker.

Good luck!

Deer image brought to you by flickr.

Post from: Blisstree

Win Stuff For Christmas

But, I’ve given it some thought and though the Capitalists have F’ed things up royally with a complete and total lack of long-term planning or insight into how their business practices truly effect the overall economy and political stability of the United States and the entire world economy as a whole . . .

We need to spend some dough. As much as possible right now. By “possible” I mean as much as you can afford to spend in CASH. Credit card spending isn’t helping anything – it’s how we got in this mess.

But, if you get a PAYCHECK and CASH IT and PAY YOUR BILLS and meet your LIVING NEEDS and you have some LEFT OVER – then you should throw some Cold Hard Cash at the economy and pray it will keep the good companies in business.

Shop consciously. My friend Jeanne from Jeanne’s Endo Blog emailed me and suggested that since I can’t collect commissions through my own Amazon store I might shop through hers.

Which is freaking brilliant! Of course I should shop through a blogger-sister’s Amazon store to boost her economy. Hurts Amazon none and helps my friends in the Blogosphere. And since I’m using actual cash and not credit its like Motrin for the economy.

Do that for me at my Empowering Girls: So Sioux Me site and at my Blog Fabulous Giving Guide, please.

If you want to see a business survive the winter – spend some money there (by there I mean HERE).

This year bloggers from around b5media’s Lifestyles, 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.

Stop by Kettle and Cup and select your favorite hot beverage, kick back and browse this years Holiday Gift Guide Shopping Extravaganza.

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

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All around b5media’s Beauty & Style Channel, the Splendicity bloggers have put together some amazing holiday gift guides. Everything from makeup and skincare products to little black dresses and accessories, we have it all.

Let’s go shopping!

Beth at Aging Fabulous offers a selection of terrific beauty gifts.

SP shows you some terrific handbags at Banging Bags, fabulous stocking stuffers at Shopaholics Daily, and even more holiday gifts at Style Her Hair.

Nikki shows us some wonderful little black dresses at Celeb Look.

Gayla features some adorable gifts for your pets at Couture Critters.

Aly offers beauty products for holidays at eBeautyDaily.

Star shows us a selection of fabulous gifts for him and her at Glamour Gift Guide.

Chloe features jewelry gifts for family and friends at Gleaming Things, and offers The Twelve Days of Shopping Christmas Guide at Her Accessories.

Tracy has a not so secret wish list and her holiday gift guide at Hot Mama Daily.

Dexie’s jewelry gift guide for her lights up She Knows Best. And don’t miss out on her Under $100 Holiday Looks at Style It Less.

Kori offers fabulous shoes for every woman in your life at ShoeBlitz.

Colleen features wonderful spa and beauty gifts at Spa Beautifully.

Ashley invites you to indulge in luxury at The Latest Luxe.

Lara provides 8 top 8 lists of holiday gifts for everyone at The List Maven.

Happy Shopping!!

Post from: Blisstree

Shop Your Heart Out – Virtual Mall

My blogging mentor and my Channel Editor at b5media, Gayla McCord, just struck it “rich” selling one of her blogs for $95,000.

Over at momgadget.com she writes a compelling story about learning how to do from reading Problogger, the book.

Problogger , Darren Rowse, featured her story on his website too – cause really is there better advertising than having the advice in it propel a blogger to fantastic success?

I’ve read Problogger, the book. And recommended it to several bloggy friends. It’s one of those books with so much valuable information in it that you take baby steps or get overwhelmed. Then go back and read it for more baby steps.

Salute to Gayla – who relied on her prayers during a tough time and then used her business savvy to not just recover from a natural disaster, but reinvented herself as an entrepreneur.

Instead of relaxing after her big sale, she launched two new businesses and hired 5 family members to work for her.

She’s some empowered woman. I’ve been marveling at how she even turns out the plethora of content she does and manages an entire team of writers and teenage children. That’s before I knew about two new businesses and negotiating a big blog deal. AWE. (No, I’m normally not a kiss up).

Read her incredible story in When You Don’t Know What To Do, Say a Prayer And Buy The Book.

Image Source: Amazon.com

Post from: Blisstree

Holy Crapinola Gayla Strikes It Rich!

Did you see Gloria Steinem on Oprah? Oprah asked her why she got married in her mid-60s after she had been famously quoted as saying, “Marriage is death.”

‘Well, you know, … I’ve fought for 30 years to make marriage laws equal, so why not?’” the feminist icon said.

Mommy cried today, my daughter told my husband.

I saw Gloria Steinem on Oprah, I explained.

Truly, I was hoping to pass on to my daughter the profound gratitude I feel toward this woman for standing up to the status quo and insisting on women’s political, legal and economic equality.

My daughter has grown up in a world in which her equality is a given. Gloria held no magic for her.

We’ve lately, with Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin, have confronted our mother issues, our mommy wars, our equality.

I hope it’s clear to someone other than myself that now, our issues may just be our own. In Gloria’s day, it was the men holding us back.

But, because she spend 35 years changing their minds, I find the mommy wars are among . . . the women. Maybe a year ago I realized it was really an internal war – me against myself and the mother voice in my head and my fear of judgement from other women.

Then Sarah Palin made me realize that half of women judge me viciously no matter what I do so I should just do what I want as Gloria suggests.

There’s been lot’s of speculation about why John McCain would choose a woman with so little experience over someone like Kay Baily Hutchinson, the polling showed our own issues with our mothers highly influenced the women’s vote. It’s so complicated who dares hang an election on that?

In the workplace, it seems women are as many women wanting to hold women’s ambitions back as their are men. Certainly, we don’t create an emotional environment for each other where ambition and success are talked about or rewarded.

When asked whether young women today are ungrateful, naive, or entitled or wrong to take their equality for granted Gloria said No. “It’s part of the reason that women do get more activist, more radical, you might say, with age because we have to experience what the unfairnesses are in the workplace and who takes care of kids and who doesn’t,” she says.

The bar has been raised. Marriage laws are equal enough for Gloria to participate in. But, there are other frontiers – family medical leave act for instance. Women only get radial and active once they experience being 8 months pregnant and are then told: We’re sorry, we don’t offer 12 weeks maternity leave because we don’t have to.

Then, BAM – a Feminist is Born and Gloria Steinem becomes your personal hero.

This is a Blogtoberfest Post. I’m giving something away. If you leave a comment guessing what it is you’ll be entered to win.

Image Source: Oprah.com

Post from: Blisstree

Gloria Steinem Got Married