Shutterfly Review & Giveaway 10 Winners (Closed)

I love taking photos of my family!  I have so many that it's nearly impossible to store them all.  We have photos in boxes and lots of digital photos on our laptop.  One of the things I just haven't had time for has been trying to organize and scrapbook all my latest photos.  


When I was presented with the opportunity to try out Shutterfly, I was very excited!  I had heard a lot about this site on the web, but I hadn't yet had the chance to try it out.


Shutterfly allows you to upload your digital photos to create Photo Books, Cards & Stationary,  Calendars, Photo Gifts, and even Prints.  They have cards for every special occasion!  For example, you can create Wedding Announcements, Christening Invitations,  and Baptism Invitations.  We have a baby on the way, so I'm sure that I will be checking out their Birth Announcements soon! These will make wonderful memories for your scrapbooks!


I tried out their Photo Books.  The process is fairly simple; just upload your digital photos and you can customize your book page by page.  Or, you can choose the Simple path and have them instantly make your book for you!    They have hundreds of backgrounds to choose from as well as different page layouts and fonts.  It's like having your own digital scrapbook!  


You will need to dedicate a bit of time if you are disorganized like I am.  The most time I spent was trying to find and organize all of my digital photos and then put them in order in the book.  I really liked the background choices and layouts available.  I didn't have to be super creative or crafty  to make a book that I know my family will enjoy for years to come.


Their prices are also very reasonable.  I've heard they often give discount codes and promotions at various times throughout the year!


You can keep up with Shutterfly on Facebook and Twitter.  


Giveaway:  Shutterfly has offered 10 of my readers (yes I said 10!) the chance to try out their Photobooks.  You will receive an 8x8 20 page Hardcover Photobook **(winner will have to pay for their own shipping cost and codes expire  3/31/11).

Required Entry: (don't forget to leave your email address if it's not in your profile)

Head over to Shutterfly and tell me what other item you might like to make from their site.

Extra Entries: (leave a separate comment for each thing you do):

1.  Follow Shutterfly on Twitter

2.  Follow Shutterfly on Facebook

3.  Follow my blog publicly on Google Friend and leave a comment that you are a follower

4.  Subscribe to my blog via email on Feedburner and leave a comment (right sidebar)

5.  Follow me on Twitter and leave a comment with your username

6.  Tweet about this giveaway and leave a direct link to your tweet in a comment (one tweet per day). You can copy and paste the following tweet:

#Win a Photobook from @Shutterfly @atticgirl76 10 Winners! Ends 12/13 http://bit.ly/fc1St8 #giveaway

7.  Add The Attic Girl button and/or my store button to your blog and leave the link (one entry for each button)

8.  Vote for The Attic Girl at Top Mommy Blogs (click on the button below)

This giveaway ends:  Monday Dec 13 at 12:00 Midnight EST and is open to US residents 18 and older only.  A code will be provided by the sponsor for the cost of the Photobook (winners will be responsible to pay their own shipping).

Disclosure:  I received a code for a free Photobook for the purpose of review; no other compensation was received.  All opinions expressed in this post are my own.  For more information, see my Disclosure Policy.

Mom Rocks The Holidays Sweepstakes From Rayovac and Five Minutes For Mom

Here is a great contest from Rayovac via the ladies at 5minutesformom.com:

In a few words you can tell Rayovoc how you (or your mom) Rock the Holidays and be entered to win $1000 Cash!

Here's How:

“Like” Rayovac on Facebook: Facebook.com/Rayovac
Go to Rayovac.com, complete the entry form and at their option, tell Rayovac in 120 words or less how you (or your mom) rocks the holidays.


Grand Prize: Three (3) Lucky winners will win $1,000 cash from Rayovac.

Runner Up Prizes: Twenty (20) First Place Prize winners will receive a Rayovac Jam kit including a Paper Jamz guitar, drum, amp and guitar strap as well as 2 packs of Rayovac Alkaline AAA 24 packs (prize package valued at $90).

The sweepstakes runs through Monday, December 5th.

Disclosure: Followers who promote the Rayovac Mom Rocks the Holidays Sweepstakes may receive gifts from Rayovac

Winner of the Del Monte Fresh Fruit Booklet

Thank you to all who entered the Del Monte Fresh Fruit booklet/certificate giveaway.  The winner according to Random.org is:

#19 Lisa Moore Gee

Congrats!  I will be emailing you soon for your info.

Wordless Wednesday: 36 Weeks

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom. You can also share your Wordless Wednesday post in the linky below.

Teaser Tuesdays: The Witness by Dee Henderson

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"She shrugged. 'It's blood money. Call it an oversensitive conscience or the fact I believe in heaven and hell. I take the cash, and I'm on a moral path I could probably never come back from-money is too seductive.'"

--pg. 39 The Witness by Dee Henderson

What are you reading?  If you have a teaser, you can head on over to Miz B's blog or share it here by leaving a comment.

Bah Humbug Me Thinks I smell Like Scrooge

I was having a discussion with some of my friends the other day that got me thinking.  One of my friends brought up how the Grinch was coming on t.v. and that Christmas music was beginning to play all day on the radio.  She was all excited to be in the holiday spirit.  To which I replied, "Bah Humbug!"

Now, I love Christmas and it's one of my all time favorite holidays.  But I'm weary of all the commercialization of Christmas that starts as soon as Halloween.  Whatever happened to enjoying one holiday before preparing for the next?  I mean, do we really want to see Christmas trees next to the chocolate bars and Halloween masks?

So I told my friends that I am not going to be acknowledging Christmas music or holiday movies until the day after Thanksgiving.  If that makes me a Scrooge, then so be it.  I would like to enjoy a time of thanksgiving, turkey, and relaxation with my family and then I will get into the Christmas mood.

What do you think?  How do you feel about Christmas music playing in stores and on radio stations, holiday movies starting before Thanksgiving and Christmas trees appearing as early as Halloween?

Wordless Wednesday: Did You Say Something?

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom. You can also share your Wordless Wednesday post in the linky below.

Teaser Tuesdays: Hearts Crossing by Marianne Evans

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading.

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
* Grab your current read
* Open to a random page
* Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
* BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
* Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser:

"The realization fell on Collin's heart as Daveny gathered their reinforcements. The weight was unpleasant, but it burned off nicely in the face of his bitterness. No matter Daveny's brightness and appeal, he refused to feel bad about leaving church life, and God, behind."

--pg. 13 Hearts Crossing by Marianne Evans

What are you reading?  If you have a teaser, you can head on over to Miz B's blog or share it here by leaving a comment.

Five Minutes for Mom's Christmas Giveaway 2010

It's that time of year again!  The gals at Five Minutes for Mom, the lovely hostess(es) with the mostess(es) are having a Christmas Giveaway where you can find some great gift ideas and win some amazing prizes!  The prize list is growing daily so head on over and check it out!  The giveaway entry time ends Tuesday, November 30th at 8pm EST.

While you're there, you can also find out more about the 3rd annual Under The Tree program.  This wonderful program will be giving away gifts for families in need.  You can nominate a family that you know who is struggling this Christmas season and may not be able to provide gifts for their children.  Nominations are open until November 19th.




Disclosure:  I did not receive any compensation for this post.

Wordless Wednesday: Ready, Aim, Fire

These were taken at a Fall Festival at Kinderfarm Park.  The corn cannons are a blast!

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom. You can also share your Wordless Wednesday post in the linky below.

Book Review Christmas Book Little Star by Anthony DeStefano

Summary from publisher:

“I think I understand!” Little Star cried out. “The baby Jesus is a king! He’s just little!”
 
A king is about to be born! The stars in the heavens are competing to shine the brightest to celebrate his birth. But when they see the poor family, the donkey, the shabby stable, the stars all think, That can’t possibly be a king. We’ve been fooled.

All except one. The smallest, loneliest star in the sky, Little Star, is the only one to understand what the king was about to bring to the world. But what can Little Star do for him? 

Certain to become a Christmas classic, this delightful tale connects the star atop our Christmas trees to the true meaning of Christmas, the birth of Jesus, in the hearts and minds of young children.


About the Author:

Anthony DeStefano is the bestselling author of A Travel Guide to Heaven, Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes To, This Little Prayer of Mine, and I Just Can't Take it Anymore!  

About the Illustrator:


Mark Elliott's brilliant illustrations have appeared in many picture books and novels for young readers, including Gail Carson Levine's ever popular Princess Tales series.  His acclaimed artwork delivers inspiration, wonder, and timeless beauty on every page.


My Review/Thoughts:


I love children's picture books, especially ones with an important message.  As a teacher for ten years, I know the importance of reading out loud to children, especially books that will capture their imaginations and their hearts.  This book is no exception! 


The story is a simple and beautiful perspective on Christ's birth.  Children can relate to the Little Star burning bright and trying his best for the baby King.  And the message is very clear: the sacrifice of love.  


The illustrations are equally amazing.  There are bright and vivid colors that jump out from the darkness of the sky.  I highly recommend this for young children and I look forward to reading this to my little one when she arrives.  


Buy It:


You can purchase Little Star on Amazon.


Disclosure:  Thank you to Anthony DeStefano for sending me a copy for the purpose of review.

Reviewers Retreat Twitter Party Tomorrow

If you are a review blogger, you may want to check out the Reviewers Retreat conference specifically for review bloggers hosted by The Double Duty Divas and Great Wolf Lodge.  It sounds like a fun and informative conference!

The Reviewers Retreat is also having a Twitter party tomorrow.  Here are the details from their website:

Join us for a Reviewer’s Retreat Twitter party where we’ll be chatting about “review blogger” issues and giving away conference themed prizes and fun swag from our sponsors.

When: Tuesday, November 9, 2010 from 9:00-10:00 p.m. EST

Where: Twitter hashtag #RR11 and #reviewer; follow @coolbabykid, @BridgetteLA and @DoubleDutyDivas

Prizes: Pampers Prize Packs, About One One Year Subscription, Free Reviewer’s Retreat conference pass, Free One Day Conference Meal Plan, a One Night Stay at Great Wolf Resort, Poconos-PA, and more!

RSVP: While not necessary, we will be giving away special prizes for those who RSVP and/or blog about the party. Please include your name and a link to your blog. If you blogged about the party please RSVP twice.”

You can find out more here


Disclosure:  I was not compensated to share this post with my readers.

Del Monte Fresh "Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms" Contest & Giveaway

DEL MONTE FRESH SUPPORTS TEACHERS WITH CASH & FRESH FRUIT IN
"TEACHER MONDAY: CASH FOR CLASSROOMS"

Del Monte Fresh Produce, North America, Inc. announced today that it is launching a program to help support kindergarten thru 12th grade public school teachers across North and Central America with cash to purchase school supplies and fresh fruit in the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” campaign. One hundred prizes totaling $1,000 each will be awarded to teachers who get the most votes in the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” online contest at www.fruits.com.

“Monday’s can be difficult for all of us, but public school teachers face even bigger challenges these days with the largest budget cuts in 30 years expected this academic year,” said Dennis Christou, Vice President, Marketing, North America for Del Monte Fresh Produce. “Larger classrooms and far less supplies are putting enormous pressure on our teachers. The “Teacher Monday” program was designed to take some of the burden off teachers, many who pay for school supplies out of their own pockets. It will also provide teachers with tools and incentives to incorporate healthy eating messages into their curriculums, giving us an opportunity to help school children eat and live healthier,” Christou added.

To be eligible to win, teachers must register for the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” online contest at www.fruits.com. After teachers register their name and school, they can get all their fans -- from parents to students, to friends and family -- to vote for them. Ten winners will be selected each Monday for five consecutive weeks in October/November, 2010, for a total of 50 winning teachers North American teachers. (There are only TWO Mondays left in this contest!)  Winners are based solely on the number of votes they receive. Winning teachers will receive $750 in cash to purchase school supplies and $250 in Del Monte fresh fruit coupons for classroom snacks and to use in fruit educational activities.

In an effort to support schools in less developed countries where many Del Monte products are grown, and where classrooms are also experiencing economic disadvantages, the “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” program will link winning U.S. classrooms with a school in Guatemala or Costa Rica. The 50 selected Central American schools will also receive $1,000 each for school supplies.

“By linking U.S. and Central American schools, we want to help further the education of students by introducing them to another culture. Our hope is that sister schools will communicate with each other about fun physical activities and their favorite fruit dishes,” said Christou.

Beginning early Fall, consumers can expect to see “Teacher Monday: Cash for Classrooms” stickers on Del Monte Fresh Produce such as pineapples, bananas, melons, grapes, tomatoes and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, as well as colorful posters and other materials in produce departments.

Finally, each week of promotion, Del Monte will distribute $25 gift certificate booklets for Del Monte Fresh Produce to consumers in major markets across the U.S. and Canada. Consumers will be notified about the giveaways via Twitter, Facebook, and radio promotions.

(Del Monte Press Release)

GIVEAWAY:  

Del Monte Is giving a $25 Del Monte fresh fruit gift certificate booklet to one of my readers (valid in US only)*

*This certificate/coupon is good toward the purchase of $25 or more on fruits/veggies 

Mandatory Entry  (Don't forget to leave your email address):

Visit Del Monte and tell me what is your favorite Del Monte Fresh product.

Extra Entries: (Leave a separate Comment for Each)

1.  Follow Del Monte on Twitter (Leave username)

2.  Follow Del Monte on Facebook (Leave username)

3.  Follow My Blog Publicly on Google Friend

4.  Subscribe to my blog via email (right sidebar)

5.  Follow me on Twitter (Leave username)

6. Tweet about this giveaway and leave a direct link to your tweet (one tweet per day). You can copy and paste the following tweet:

#Win a $25 gift cert booklet to @DelMonteFresh Ends 11/26 @atticgirl76 http://bit.ly/au8tpC #giveaway

7.  Vote for The Attic Girl on Top Mommy Blogs (click on button below)

This giveaway ends:   Nov. 26th at Midnight EST and is open to US residents 18 and older only.


Disclosure:  I received two vouchers (one to keep and one to giveaway) from Del Monte Fresh in exchange for this post.

Aloha Friday: What Time Do You Wake Up

Here is how Aloha Friday works from Kailani's blog An Island Life:

In Hawaii, Aloha Friday is the day that we take it easy and look forward to the weekend. So I thought that on Fridays I would take it easy on posting, too. Therefore, I’ll ask a simple question for you to answer. Nothing that requires a lengthy response.


This weekend is Daylight Savings Time. I don't mind "falling back" even though it does mess with my internal clock a bit. I guess I'm getting a jump start on the extra hour because this morning I hit my alarm and accidentally changed the time instead of the alarm to go off again. Yet another sign of pregnancy brain. So I woke up at 9:30! Oopsies. Normally I get up at 6 on a school day but thankfully my son didn't have school because of teacher workshop.

My Question For You This Week: What Time Do You Wake Up?

Pregnancy Brain

If you wonder why I haven't been consistently posting, it's because I am suffering from what people term "pregnancy brain."  Quite literally.  Lately, I have done some very stupid things.  Things that I normally wouldn't do.  And since I'm preoccupied with so many different issues lately, I just haven't had the time to devote to blogging.

Today, I'll share with you one of those "pregnancy brain" moments that I am incredibly upset and embarassed about.

My sweet hubby came home with a surprise for me.  He said that he got an upgrade for his phone since his old one was pretty much dead and that he was able to get me a phone for free.  One of those special deals since our contract expired.  I was excited because this phone was not only pretty, but also very fun to play with since it had a slide out keyboard.  And since it was free, I couldn't object!

So I put aside my old phone (which I had to borrow from my in-laws because my last phone got chewed by my dog, which is a whole 'nother story!) and happily started using the new one.  And loved it!

I kept this phone with me wherever I went just in case I got a phone call from my son's school.  I was waiting for a teacher to call and I also want to make sure I'm available in case my son misses the school bus so I can pick him up (he has had to call me a few times because of after school activities being cancelled).  My pregnant brain thought I was doing a GOOD thing.

After I had picked up my son from school, I bustled around the house cleaning up messes, threw in some laundry and went about my usual day.  One of the things I threw in was the shorts I'd been wearing since I was doing dark colors and they needed to be washed.

Then I thought about my phone....Where had I put that thing?

In panic mode, I ran around the house (if you can call waddling like a penguin really running) looking in all the usual places that I might put my phone down.  It was nowhere to be found.   My son and my mom (who was visiting with us) joined in the scavenger hunt.  I retraced my steps to the mailbox, from the car, the counter....no luck.

Then I thought about the washing machine....so I stopped it mid-cycle, removed clothes and looked in pockets.  Didn't see it.  So I hit the washer cycle again, and started the "where did I put that thing" hunt all over again.  I had pretty much decided that it would turn up eventually.

Which it did:  when I went to put the clothes into the dryer.  There it was, my shiny new phone in the bottom of the washing machine.  And you can pretty much guess the rest.  I had that phone for not even a week.

Do things like this ever happen to you?  I'm chalking it up to pregnancy brain.  And using my old phone (and keeping it out of my pockets!).

Wordless Wednesday: 31 Weeks

For more Wordless Wednesday, visit Five Minutes for Mom.  You can also share your Wordless Wednesday post in the linky below.