MasterCard MarketPlace makes your holiday brighter! A review and $100 giveaway.

Looking for amazing deals this holiday season that are easy to take advantage of online?  Me too!

I love doing my holiday shopping by the glow of my computer monitor.

By the way, if you said no, I am highly confused by you…  Because it either means you don’t like great deals (huh?) you don’t shop online (huh?) or you had all your holiday shopping done already weeks ago (I am a little jealous of you!).

Jealous or not, you know what?  This is going to be beneficial to you too, Timely Shopper, because this place has deals year round, as well as some great holiday deals to help with the ole’ hurtin’ on the wallet that happens around this time of year!  Something for all of us to take advantage of as the cheer of the holiday season sweeps us off our feet is waiting online…

Click here to read more and enter to win $100!

A whole bunch of random crap all at once. You’re welcome.

• I posted a review of this Wired Sea Cuff on my review blog – cleverly named: lotus reviews. I know, I know – my creativity astounds you.  The post is a giveaway post, so go find out what I think of the Wired Sea Cuff and then enter to win $50 to spend at Studio Jewel. (Ends TODAY 9pm CST)

(Coming up, I’ll be running review/giveaway posts about 2 different camera bags, as well. Keep your eye on the review blog if that kind of thing interests you. Subscribe here.)

• Because I know so many of you dig photography, I also wanted to tell you about a fun meme that a couple of my friends are doing.  It’s called “The Flip Side” and it gives you an opportunity to share a self portrait – reflection, shadow, or classic type portrait – every week.  This is a great incentive to practice the art of the self portrait if you want to increase your photography skill.  I am going to be playing along.

• The September issue of Room 704 is up. The theme is “Educate.”  I write/edit on that website, and I’ve got 3 posts there this issue, including one that basically outlines what a moron I was in grad school.  It’s fun to self deprecate.  At least, that’s what I keep telling myself.

• I’m still running like a mofo. I’m currently using the Bridge to 10K app (picks up where C25K left off and trains you from 5K to 10K level).  Running makes me feel powerful and strong.  Yes. It is hard.  But POWERFUL! and STRONG!  Also, my legs look insanely better than I think they ever have before.  EVER.  So there’s that.

If you want to stay apprised of all the fitness nonsense I get up to, join me on Dailymile.

• I’m going to be running the Austin, TX Komen Race for the Cure on November 7th.  I’ll be talking about that here again more between now and then, but for now, I’d like to ask you to go ahead and think about sponsoring me.  I’d really like to raise a good chunk of money.

• Oh, and my kid is apparently in training to be a shoplifter.  Go figure.

Happy Thursday!

Support a fabulous woman; win some cool shiz.

During the time that I’ve been blogging and utilizing social media networking sites, I’ve virtually met quite a lot of people.  Many of them have impacted me in some profound way without even realizing it.  I’ve been hurt a few times, moved to laughter as well as tears, and been inspired and humbled.

I’ve made some wicked good friends. I’ve been reminded of how many amazing people exist out there, if only you look… kind, caring, generous people.  The sort of folks you love to see in the world.

If you’ve ever seen Piper, you’ll know that she shines like the sun and you can’t miss her.

And then you can’t stop yourself from doing a double-take and a triple-take.  And when you get to know her, you realize that her beauty starts from the inside and radiates outward.  She’s one of those people.

She’s had some rough freaking times lately.  Heartache of serious proportions.  A car on fire and ruined.  Hey, Universe? GIVE HER A BREAK, ALREADY.

A group of her friends online want to help her.  She needs funds for a new car, and to pick herself up and move on with her two sweet boys.  So a giveaway of sorts has been thrown together by several of us and Adam was awesome enough to get it organized and posted on his site.

Basically, you donate $10 to the pot to help Piper back to her feet, and you get a chance at winning a prize. The Grand Prize is an 8GB Ipod Touch, but there are several others.

I donated handmade paper as one of the items:

You can head over to Adam’s Post to see the specifics and the rest of the items you could win.  Please make your $10 donation and stay tuned! (And if you’d like to donate an item, he has instructions on how to do so there, as well.)

Help us get the word out by sharing this giveaway on Twitter, Facebook, and wherever else you can.

Let’s pick her up, guys.  Let’s each be one more of those people we love to see in the world.

Not going to Blogher?

A post with swag. And bewbs. Everyone should really be happy. What more is there?

News from Room 704 and Me:

Not attending Blogher 09, and bummed about it? Blogher@Home is hosting posts and giveaways to keep you entertained and get you in on the fun, even if you can’t attend! Check them out.


Friends of Maddie is kicking off a charity that will support families and babies by raffling a Netbook.  Your donation will honor Maddie, help families and babies who need it, and enter you for a chance to win.  Trifecta.

Sitting at home, but you still want swag?

Click the appropriate link below, pay flat rate shipping, and get entered to win swag collected for you from fabulous merchants/companies by The Purveyors of Swag (Room 704).

For $10.00, anyone in the USA and Canada can buy a ticket.
For $20.00, everyone else in the WORLD can buy a ticket.

Click to pay your shipping/buy your swag ticket:

US/Canada
International

One swag ticket = One piece of swag.

Who wins? EVERYONE who has a ticket.

You buy a ticket = You win swag.


We have LOTS of swag. The more tickets sell, the more we show you.

Swag Teaser List so far:

Elf Makeup Sets/Products & Accessories
Jewelry from RBH Designs
Assorted Children’s Books
Reusable Shopping Bags
Baby Products
$50 Crocs Gift Certificates
$50 Monkey Toes Gift Certificate
Nava Atlas’s Secret Recipes for the Modern Wife
Eden Fantasys Bullet Vibe

More to be revealed as tickets sell… so, so much more. Buy your ticket!


Still bummed you’re not attending Blogher 09, even though we’re throwing swag at you?

at least your bewbs aren’t going w/o you. like mine did last year.

If you’re STILL bummed… Dude. I can’t help you.

I mean. Bewbs. ^  At least smile. Sheesh.

Did I mention that the chocolate cake was AWESOME?

It’s not hard to make the people who mean something to you feel special.

But it can be easy to forget to do it regularly.  I know that a lot of people don’t like Mother’s/Father’s Day because of the excessive commercialization.  I’m not really bothered by that aspect of it – that the days are advertised and talked about just means I’ll remember to send something to the woman who spent hours playing in the sun with me, and the man who taught me how to love a garden.

That’s quite alright with me.

Yesterday, John let me play outside without worry, as he took care of household duties.  I mowed the lawn and played with my flower beds.  I watched him and Braden play together, talking of birdies and such.  It was really lovely.  (The chocolate cake I got to cram into my facehole last night wasn’t bad either.)

I can’t say I didn’t spend considerable time off and on thinking about things related to Mother’s day that are sad and which have no emotional or logical resolution that I know of right now.  Things related to what is and what is not, what could have, would have, should have been.  For myself.  For others.

But I also spent a lot of time being aware of what I have and being grateful.

And, you know, eating that chocolate cake.  Layered with chocolate mousse.  *drool*

And while I enjoyed my day, I knew that there was a photo magnet and card from Snapfish in my mom’s hands, and the same for John’s mom.  I know that even if I’m too much of a distractible, lazy douche to let them know every day, at least right now those two moms know I appreciate them.

I have a few things stashed away for June 21 (Father’s Day), too.  Snapfish also helped with that.  And there’s a $50 giveaway over here from them you can enter to get a jump start on your gifts, too.  You can thank me later. (With Chocolate Tall Cake from Ruby Tuesdays.  Just, you know, if you were wondering.  IT’S GOOD.)

Because Free Shoes = FREAKING AWESOME

UPDATE!
WINNER HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY RANDOM.ORG

CONGRATULATIONS TO CONNIE!

_________________________________________________

Are you sad because you missed your chance to win Monkey Toes shoes on my giveaway site, Who Doesn’t Like Free? last week? Well, I am bringing you another chance!

These shoes are adorable! Many people know about them because Suri Cruise wears the Ladybug MaryJanes. Personally, I just love a cute little kid’s shoe, no matter who wears it.

From the site:

Monkey-Toes is a playful line of fun animal and insect themed footwear for children. Our original collection of hand-painted sneakers and matching socks is designed with both parents and kids in mind.

Just have a look around the site – there are several different adorable shoe designs to choose from, as well as socks and shirts!

For this giveaway, we’re focusing on your choice of one of these 2 designs:

Limited Edition Glow Bugs Tennis Shoes (only available until October 15th!)

(more styles available, see site)

Glow Bugs Mjs

(more styles available, see site)

You can be the winner of one pair, and you get to choose the style/size on the pair you win.

This giveaway contest will run from 12:01AM, CST October 4th, 2008 to 11:59PM, CST October 10th. The Winner will be randomly selected and announced on October 11th, 2008.

Add a comment to this post to enter – you can enter here up to seven times – but only once a day!

Each comment you leave on this post counts as an entry BUT YOU MAY ONLY ENTER ONCE A DAY.

Remember, you don’t have to have kids to enter! Everyone knows someone with kids, and you can always give your winning as a gift to a friend with a little cutie.

Anyone want $50?

WINNER SELECTED!

Winner randomly selected (www.random.org):
Caryn B

Congratulations! You will be contacted by email and put in touch with the owner of Good For The Kids. Enjoy your $50 Gift Certificate!

****************

Sure, I know lots of bazillionaires read my blog because I clearly appeal to that audience, but for those few of you who could use a little help in the monetary department occasionally, how about a simple way to get your hands on $50 worth of free shiznite for your kids?

I see you nodding.

Check it – I’ve had a button on my right sidebar for some time now, but if you haven’t already visited Good For The Kids, you should do so now. Like, uh-mee-dee-eht-LEE!

Browse around and find $50 worth of stuff you like. Trust me, it will be EASY b/c the site is packed with tons of great products for your little ones.

The site has all kinds of toys (everything you can imagine), feeding gear and essentials, clothes, books, and more!


A few of my favorites from GFK:

This Handy Sack tote to store things when out and about with kiddo is so cute it almost makes me cry.



These Safe Sippy Cups have a great design, cute colors, and are BPA free!



And this toy is just all around wonderful simplicity.  My little brother had one just like it growing up, and we adored it.  What’s more fun than pounding away?  Nothing, I tell you.  Nothing.



If you’d like the chance to win a $50 Gift Certificate to Good For The Kids, just hop over to the website, browse around and discover all the wonderful items you want, and then hop back over here and comment on your very favorite item from the website (that I did NOT mention in this post).

Your comment must include an item from the website that I did not mention in this post!  If you are randomly chosen as the winner at the end of the week and you did not do that, I will be forced to choose another winner. (Yes, I’d really like you to go look at the site.)

The contest will run from Saturday afternoon, September 13th at 5pm EST until Saturday, September 20th at 11:59PM EST. The Winner will be announced on Sunday, September 21st, and notified by email.

You can leave a comment entry once a day – at up to 7 entries!  Each of your comment entries must have a different item named in it. But that’s easy!

So there you have it, Good For The Kids and I are teaming up to give you $50 worth of cool, free stuff.

Making your lives better!

That’s what I’m here for, people.  

_____________________

Disclosure: In exchange for hosting this $50 Gift Card Giveaway, I received a $40 Gift Card for Good For The Kids.

Check Out My Rack

It has never looked finer than it does right now, with one of these badass shirts gracing it!

I know what you might be thinking.

“But Lotus, your rack is splendid every day!”

While this may be true, you cannot deny the added glory of the LTDchix shirt.

Have you seen these shirts? GO LOOK AT THEM.

And GUESS WHAT!?

You have the chance to win one.*

That’s right. All you have to do is leave a comment on this post, and by the end of the week, one of you lucky commenters will be randomly chosen to win a free LTDchix shirt! You get to choose the one you like and the lovely ladies of LTDchix (Nina and Cindi) will send it to you, free of charge. (does not include the thermals, sorry!)

These shirts really make a statement that any mom can identify with.

If you’re a mom, you’ll love them! If you’re not a mom, I guarantee that you know a mom that would love one – win her Christmas present now!

Moms:
Remember when you were pregnant for the first time, and dreaming of the wonderful motherhood journey you would experience? You were going to have a little bundle of joy and raise and nurture him/her to be a happy, loving child… living happily ever after, etc…

Then reality set in. Now you’re wise to the Pooperiffic, Drooly, Screamalicious truth of it all!

You juggle seventy-three hundred things in your head at once, never sleep, and have dirty laundry shooting out your butt.

You are/will be a nanny, maid, wetnurse, cook, bus boy, chauffer, dispute resolution advisor, janitor, nurse, and more!

The fairy-tail dream you once had sometimes feels like a nightmare.

Once you’re ACTUALLY a mom, you realize what a fantasy you were mentally creating for yourself while you were pregnant. But the great thing is, that even once your fantasy is completely obliterated, it’s still the best life you’ve ever lived!

Truly Amazing.

That is what these shirts celebrate. With one of them on, you can show everyone that you’re “Living the Dream!”

And now let’s close with another look at my rack.

PS: Mention this giveaway in a post and link it back to this one, and get entered twice!**