A fun kid's writing contest from an unexpected source

Twitter is a fantastic world where celebs and non-celebs mingle and chat, sometimes without even realizing who each might be.

Imagine my surprise when I clicked on a couple links and found myself face to face with none other than the infamous Mimi from The Drew Carey Show stripped of her garish makeup and sitting in a surprising setting - a cozy library corner.

On her new site, www.MrsP.com, she'll enchant you and your children with charming classic stories. Pull up a chair, browse through the stacks, and enjoy a lively tale or ten.

She's even got a great event for kids ages 4-13 that started yesterday - the “Be a Famous Writer Contest,” which runs until October 15. Kids can write on any topic, fiction or non-fiction, from 250 – 1000 words.

Two grand prize winners will see their stories brought to life through original illustrations and a lively reading done by Mrs. P (Kathy Kinney). Both stories will be put up on the Mrs. P site so that everyone can watch and enjoy!

One of Mrs. P's goals is to have kids become the creative force. There’s no charge for a child to use their imagination and no charge for the Mrs. P website, it’s FREE.

Win a laptop for yourself... or your kids!

CookiesKids.com Laptop Giveaway Sweepstakes

Is your current computer stalling and giving you blue screen nightmares? Would you love to be able to have one that the kids could use (alas, staying off of yours)?

CookiesKids.com feels your pain and has come to your rescue!

Sign up to receive the Cookies Kids Newsletter via e-mail and you're automatically entered to win one of 4 brand new laptops!!

Simply fill out the form below to be entered into our Laptop Giveaway Sweepstakes. Please be sure to read the Giveaway Sweepstakes "Terms and Conditions" before entering your information.

This is the form you MUST fill out to be entered to win one of the laptops: http://cli.gs/6dGhsh

Contest ends 9/30/09 at 11:59 AM ET.
This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

Win an iPhone 3G from Packtel!

Give Us Your Conference Call Blooper and Win an iPhone 3G from Packetel!

Have you ever said the wrong thing to a client? Have you ever been caught not paying attention on the line? Have your kids screamed something crazy during a call...

If so - Packetel wants to hear about it!

If not - that's OK! You can still enter. Just try out Packetel's Web Conferencing services FREE for 30-days and tell us about your experience!

Packetel Turbo Meeting makes web conferencing simple and easy to do. Here are just a few of their web conferencing features:

• Share screens/desktops with multiple participants
• Assign and acknowledge meeting roles of presenter and controller of keyboard/mouse
• Allow an unlimited number of users to host a web conference
• Schedule meetings and webinars
• Hold ad hoc meetings and webinars and use verbal meeting invitations without resorting to e-mail
• Integrate with Outlook for sending e-mail invitations
• Optimized for different Internet connection speeds ranging from broadband to 28KB dial-up
• Annotation over the entire screen/desktop
• Whiteboard and chat functionalities

Win an iPhone for your misdeed on a conference call? Yes! Here's how you can win:

1. Fill out the form below, including your blooper story

OR

2. Try out Packetel's Web Conferencing Service for FREE for 30 days, fill out the form including your experience with the server

This is the form you MUST fill out to be entered to win: http://cli.gs/PsvX9W

Bonus Entries! After you've completed 1 or 2 above and filled out the form you can also...

- Blog about Packetel's Online Fax Service and link the text "packetel's web conference service" to: http://www.packetel.com/web-conferencing-turbo-meeting-main.asp

- Become a Fan of Packetel at their Brand New Facebook Fan Page here: http://facebook.com/pages/edit/?id=121265230239#

Contest ends 7/31/09 at 11:59 AM ET.
This contest brought to you courtesy of the Momfluence network.

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Introducing House of Gems!

Have you ever wanted to start your own handmade jewelry store on Etsy or Silkfair, but didn't know where to start? Maybe you already enjoy scrapbooking and knitting and thought beading might be worth a try, but weren't sure about the investment.

Now you can win a bracelet making kit plus $75 in product - a $100 value - by entering the "Bejeweled Giveaway" contest. Ten readers across the Momfluence network blogs will be chosen to win!

But there's more! Those ten winners will be able to submit a picture of their completed bracelet to the House of Gems, and one will be chosen to receive a $250 gift certificate, enough product to really jump start your business.

To enter: choose one or more ways to enter.

Option 1 - Subscribe to one or more of the House of Gems feeds found at http://www.houseofgems.com/feeds.aspx - each feed subscription counts as a new entry! Once you've subscribed fill out this entry form: http://cli.gs/ND4NMe

Option 2 - Blog about the "Bejeweled Giveaway" contest on your own site then fill out this entry from: http://cli.gs/ND4NMe

Join us on Twitter Saturday, June 27th at 9:00 p.m. eastern for a #houseofgems SiteWarming party where the 10 winners will be announced!

About the House of Gems:

House of Gems, Inc. (www.houseofgems.com) was established to provide quality beads, pearls, findings, pendants, chains and other jewelry making accessories at wholesale prices, directly to the consumer.The people behind Houseofgems.com have been in this business since 1992 and have an extensive network of designers, manufacturers and other direct suppliers to draw upon.

Since they have their own factories,craft shops and import directly, they have the best prices on quality products. Now, with the power of e-commerce they have eliminated the 'middle men', bringing their quality products at low wholesale jewelry prices, directly to your doorstep.

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Web Solution Stylist - Big Bloggy Makeover Giveaway

My good friend over at Web Solution Stylist just wants one thing - to help you make your blog look the best it can.

Have you been lusting after other people's fancy unique blog designs? Have you always wanted to spruce your place up, but never thought you could afford it?

Well, think again. Getting a blog makeover doesn't have to break the bank. And for one of you lucky readers, it's even going to be free. Yes. Free. Because Elizabeth rocks.

Web Solution Stylist is giving away a "Middle of the Road Design," (valued at $85) which includes:

Custom Header

Background

2-3 Customized Columns

Custom Signature

Installation

To enter:
1) Leave a comment letting me know how long you've wanted a redesign.
2) Leave a comment letting me know which of the three sites listed in the Web Solution Stylist portfolio page is your favorite.
3 )Leave a comment letting us know about your absolute favorite blog designs ever.
4) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
5) Subscribe to my other blog's feed. Leave a comment telling me you subscribed.
6) Tweet, email, blog about this giveaway.

That's a grand total of 8 ways you can enter! Please remember to leave me a way to contact you. And please, please, please, leave a separate comment for each of your entries. I can't credit you for each of them if you don't.

Giveaway ends Tuesday, May 12, 2009 at 10pm PST.

This contest is no closed. Thank you for stopping by, please be sure to check out all the other giveaways that are open.

I was in no way compensated for this giveaway.

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Mamapedia - Where Parenting Questions Get Answered

It's 2:00 a.m. and your three month old is crying...again. You're a first time mother, and while you've got a ton of questions, you called your mom at 2:00 in the morning last night about that crazy looking diaper, your best friend the night before about the weird rash on your baby's back, and all your Twitter friends seem to be off line, so you really need to get through this one on your own.

But where can you turn?

The brilliant people at Mamapedia took the wisdom of thousands and thousands of moms and made is searchable! You can head to the computer with that screaming infant in your arms and type,

"Why does my baby cry so much at night?"

And this is what you'll find - an article about a mom who asked a question titled "Sleepless Nights with a 13 week old" and the responses of forty-four moms. You can read those forty-four answers while bouncing your baby, and with a little luck by the time you are through your infant will be fast asleep and you will feel better.

To launch this new mom resource, the Momfluence network and Resourceful Mommy are throwing a party. Join them on Twitter this Friday, May 8th, from 9:00 to 10:00 p.m. eastern time. They, along with mom experts in a variety of parenting areas, will be discussing multiples, kid crafting, health and safety, potty training, home schooling, and a ton more parenting topics.

During the party, details about a "What Can I Learn Today?" contest will be revealed...along with an incredible grand prize.

Join in on the fun by RSVP'ing here!

This event and this post brought to you by Momfluence: rocking the cradle and shaping the world.

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