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: Blisstree

Blogtoberfest Begins Today!

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: Blisstree

Celebrate Blogtoberfest With the Lifestyles Channel

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!

Here 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: Blisstree

The Dog Days of the Lifestyles Channel

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

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: Blisstree

A Lifestyle’s Channel Summer Picnic for Everyone

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: Blisstree

Blasts from the Past

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: Blisstree

The Views from our Windows

The theme for this month’s Lifestyles day is “The View From My Window.” I decided to take a shot out of the window that the cats like to sit in the most. It’s located in the living room and looks out onto the patio in the backyard. You can see the kids’ aqua shoes lined up on the table (they played in the sprinklers yesterday and though we clean up after the dogs I still like the girls to have something on their feet!).

This window gets a lot of late afternoon sun and the cats love laying in it. We’ve contemplated getting something like this for them but our windows aren’t the style they need to be in order to accommodate something like that. Oh well – they’ll live!

As you can see, they have no problem finding other places to snooze!

See the view from my kitchen window, and a bedroom window.

Post from: Blisstree

The View From My Window

Below is a roundup of contests currently running around the b5media Lifestyles Channel. Entering to win is easier and cheaper then playing the lottery! What have you go to lose?

Visit each link provided, leave a comment and you may just end up the lucky winner!

Last chance to enter at Inside Motherhood – Contests end tonight (May 30)! Hop over and register to win one of 10 great prizes!

Mary Emma Allen has a random drawing at Quilting and Patchwork for a quilting booklet, How to Make a Quilt – 25 Easy Lessons for Beginners by Bonnie Leman, founder of Quilters Newsletter Magazine. Leave a comment with the name of your favorite quilting/fabric arts book. Deadline June 6, at 11:59 PM (EDST).

Jewelry and Beading – Win a free copy of “Under $25” by Bead & Button magazine. Simply leave a comment on this post, telling us what your best source of bargain beads is, and you’ll be entered into the drawing. Next Wednesday, I’ll be
randomly selecting 4 winners!!

Three Contests on Keeping the Castle:

1. This giveaway is for one copy of the book “The Peaceful Nursery: Preparing a Home for Your Baby with Feng Shui” by home and lifestyle experts Laura Forbes Carlin and Alison Forbes. The authors use principles from interior design, Feng Shui, healthy, green living and their own parenting experience to help create a balanced, peaceful and green nursery.

2. The EZ-Fit Safety Gate Adapter, – by ’boutKids, provides a mounting surface for attaching pressure- or hardware-mounted safety gates to stairway posts.

3. Three winners will get a Mabel’s Labels Neat Freak Combo (spice, canister and bin labels). These labels are strong enough to “withstand the dishwasher, microwave, UV Rays and hard-wearing children”.

Robust Cooking is giving away a copy of Henry and The Hidden Vegetable Garden. Henry and the Hidden Vegetable Garden was launched on May 1 to help promote the Love Your Veggies Campaign. The Love Your Veggies Campaign was created to help schools improve their students health and nutrition.

Have a great weekend everyone!

(image: stock.xchng)

Post from: Blisstree

Contests Around the Channel

The Lifestyles Channel recently submitted links to entries that say “summertime” to each of us. Our fearless Gayla compiled the list, and if you’ve got a minute check out all the great ideas below, and have a safe Memorial Day weekend!

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

Be gone foul wasp! Noreen Crone-Findlay at Hankering for Yarn has designed a crocheted fake wasp nest to trick the wasps and yellow jackets into staying away from her home. Let’s hope it works!

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 beautiful 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 to give your summertime pictures some zip! And nothing beats crisp tangy salads for summertime eating. Busy Family Meals has a special salad dressing giveaway.

I have two recipes that say “summertime” at Chocolate Bytes — chocolate zucchini cake and Homemade Chocolate Ice Cream. Here at The Food Bowl, I offer tips on heat stroke prevention for your pets.

My co-blogger 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 shares 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 wonderful 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.

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.

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.

Last, Gayla at MomGadget takes a stroll down memory lane with some favorite dishes and flavors of summertime.

[image: sxc, sxc]

Post from: Blisstree

Summertime Links Around the Channel

Last week the Lifestyles Channel shared the spot(s) they write from but I was still out of state and didn’t get a chance to participate, though I wanted to!

So here’s my desk. It’s located in the corner of our family room and is connected to my husband’s desk which is right behind me and faces the wall on the right (he custom-made it). We desperately need an office and hopefully that’ll be happening sooner than rather later!

The dogs’ crates are located on the floor just to the left of the desk.

As of my birthday last year (my husband got me a laptop) this is another spot I can now write from! As you can see it’s also popular with 1/3 of the pet population.

What does your writing space look like?

Post from: Blisstree

Where I Write