I’ve been making my way around the b5media Lifestyles Channel.  Here are some interesting articles I have found.  Enjoy!

Making Your Own Journal Saves You Money

The 2 Minutes Toss It Rule

Solar Powered Car for $5,560

Having Fun with Acrostic Poetry

Homemade Cough Syrup

Easy Hamburger Stroganoff

11 Ways to Use Pumpkins

Recycled Ghost Party Favors

Polenta with Prosciutto and Onions

Starbucks Hot Caramel Apple Cider Recipe

Trick or Treat Safety Tips

Congratulations to Mindy!  She is our first Blogtoberfest winner.  Mindy has won a Living the Dream laundry mom t-shirt from LTDchix.com.  LTDchix has fun apparel for every mom.  Check out their other shirts which include multi-tasking, working, cleaning, workout, cooking, beach cart, laundry, mini-van, referee, and shopping.  LTDchix was also interviewed on ABC News.  I hope you’ll stop by to see their humorous t-shirts.

Thanks to LTDchix for donating our first Blogtoberfest prize.

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!

While the writers of the b5media Lifestyles Channel may be scattered about globally, one thing we all have in common is a celebration of fireworks.  I hope you’ll enjoy our blast from the past.

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.  Check out the surprise.

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 has a very special reason to celebrate the fourth.  Check out the photos as she shares one of the most memorable nights in her families’ lives.

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.

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.

And finally, there’s Gayla at MomGadget - Without fail, each year her memories race back to an earlier time when life was much simpler and she’d celebrate her summer holiday with relatives down in the holler in the hills of Kentucky - this year - she shares a Bluegrass Kinda Fourth of July.

To all our readers in the U.S. - we wish you the happiest and safest of holidays - and everyone else, thanks for allowing us to share our own memories with each of you.

As some of you already know, my family will be moving in a few weeks.  In just five weeks, we need to:

• sell and/or giveaway about half of our possessions
• finish the home repairs we started
• put our house on the market
• pack our things
• celebrate our two children’s birthdays, which includes a small birthday party
• take the kids for their yearly well check-up exams
• take the kids to the dentist for a check-up
• visit with the people here before we move
• and tons more!!!!

As you can imagine, my schedule is pretty tight.  As much as I love writing for Thrifty Mommy, I could certainly use the time to work around here.

I am open to accepting guest posts from our audience and other bloggers.  As you know, Kelly and I try to write about ways to save time and money.  Guests posts could be about sales, Amazon codes, free stuff, organization, a round up of prizes and giveaways in the blogosphere, recipes, frugal living, and so much more!  Of course, as a thank you, I would include a byline for your website.

If you would like to contribute, please email me at Karen@b5media.com.  Please make the title of your email “guest post for Karen”.  This will help me to fish your email from the spam box. 

Thanks for your help! 

Amazon is one of my favorite places to go shopping at. Why? haha, I don’t have to leave the house and most of the time I have tons of gift certificates from things I’ve done online. In the past few months I’ve racked up about $100+ in Amazon GCs and I’ve just discovered how to find more things on sale.

In case you don’t normally purchase online you just fill up your cart and click on check out. Once at check out you will get a chance to place your code or promotion. Here’s a few codes for you:

JUNEBAR8- Save $10 when you spend $39 or more.

SENSEO15- Save 30% on Senseo. 

KETTLE45- Save 40% off Kettle Chips

Keep in mind when you spend over $25 you can also get FREE Shipping. Don’t forget to check out the bargains on Amazon. I’ve been searching for movies lately so my first stop is DVD deals where they have movies under $5.99 and others marked 50% off. Hope this helps.

This post was written by Eliza Ferree of Babylune.

Each hour today, we are blogging for charity.  Please consider making a donation to The Children’s Hunger Fund.

In celebration of the June 20th summer solstice, b5media is having The Great Blog Off.  Participating b5media blogs from the Lifestyles, Business, and Entertainment channels will post content at least once per hour for each hour of the day. 

This is the first time since 1975 that the summer solstice hasn’t occurred on June 21.  On this day, the daytime hours are at a maximum in the Northern hemisphere and night time is at a minimum.  It is officially the first day of summer.

The great blog off begins at 12:01 am on June 20th.  Each blog channel will be accepting charitable pledges for a charity that they have chosen. 

Stay tuned, as we will be having articles from guest writers.  Enjoy!

As much as I will miss my blogging twin over at Babylune, I am excited to announce that Eliza Ferree has taken over.  She will do great as she has 4 kids under the age of 10 and obviously knows what she is talking about.  So go on over and welcome Eliza to the b5 family.  I am sure she will appreciate all the conversation she will be getting as she gets to know all of you.

Are you ready for Christmas? We are pleased to announce the First Annual b5media Lifestyles Channel Holiday Blogging Awards.

Judges from around the blogosphere will judge the best entries for the following categories:

Best Holiday decoration of a Blog - Any blog or blogger who has decorated their blog for the holidays either entirely or in an subtle way. Prize: $20 USD via Paypal and links from channel blogs.

Best post about Christmas on a Blog - The best posting about Christmas or holiday activities on a blog. It can be religious or non-religious, but should celebrate the spirit of the season. Prize: $20 USD via Paypal and links from channel blogs.

Best Holiday image or video on a Blog - The best display of your own personal holiday decorations on a blog. It can be religious or non-religious, but again, should celebrate the spirit of the season. Prize: $20 USD via Paypal and links from channel blogs.

All you have to do to win is submit your entry to our Holiday Blogging Awards host post. Be sure to include the link to be judged or risk disqualification. It’s THAT Easy and what’s better than FREE Money!?!

Nominations will close at midnight December 13th and winners will be announced on Monday December 17th.

I am pleased to announce that the second prize in the Blogtoberfest is a 6-Month Membership to MySuperSaving.com!  The membership provides a private collection of samples, savings, shopping, rebates, and coupons to help you and your family save.  Also included in the winner’s package is a Lemongrass Clay facial soap.  This package is valued at $18.00.

This prize goes to Richelle.  Congratulations, Richelle!

Thanks to MySuperSaving.com for donating the prize.  Thanks to all of you readers for participating.  Be looking for another Blogtoberfest button soon!