Carol's random babble

Welcome to the 5K Fanbration for Camp Wags and Route 249! To thank our fans, we are throwing a Fanbration Event! ONE Winner takes both prizes! Camp Wags is sponsoring some fun toys for your pups. 2 ChuckIt glow in the dark tennis balls and ChuckIt Pocket Ball Launcher ! Route 249 is sponsoring $25 Amazon Gift Card! Special thanks to the following great bloggers for joining us on this fun giveaway!   Mom Does Reviews | Emptynester Reviews | Building Carpenters | Powered By Mom | Mom Blog Society | Mommy and Baby Reviews | Kat's Cafe | Natural Hair Latina | Mom to Bed by 8 | Thrifty Mom and Wife | Rockin Rebel Deals | Donna's Deals and More | Something Like Life | Giveaway Gator | Saving You Dinero | | Africa's Blog | Mandy Cakes & Company | The Butterfly Mom | My Photopage | Jessiicali- Words of a SAHM | Sweet N Sour Deals | Divalicious Pinoy Mom | Shawnies Samples and Savings | Couponing to Cruise | Whirlwind...

The New iPad Giveaway Event  is a  free  blogger event. You will receive one link at no cost as a thank you for participating in this event. Free Link options are: Email, RSS, Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest. Prize: The New iPad ~ iPad3 16GB (value $499)  Open to:  Worldwide (note – non-US residents will receive the cash equivalent). The event dates:  July 1 at 12:01 am to July 15 11:59am What is required to join?  Post about the event with the button above linking back to this post. Feel free to copy paste this (below) along with the button. Mom to Bed by 8 , the Iowa-Mom is proud to present the The New iPad Giveaway Event, sponsored by BeeSavy .  Event dates: July 1 to July 15. Details: This is a free blogger event, open worldwide and blog accepting sign ups now.  Join The New iPad Giveaway event  with special co-host voiceBoks today! If you do not wish to post the announcemen...

Many of you who are on Facebook have probably seen other bloggers posting about the new "featured posts" thing that Facebook is doing. Basically, it boils down to this: Page posts go out to a certain percentage of the fans (I've seen mine vary between 1 percent and 6 percent) or if the page admin wishes, they can PAY for the post to be seen by all the fans. The payment could be anywhere from $5 to hundreds of dollars (I've seen bloggers claim $300). Per post. While some mom bloggers make a living at this, I suspect many are like me - I'd like to make money, but haven't yet. And the bloggers who do make money blogging probably spend it on riotous living paying bills and taking care of their families. So now that Facebook is charging for this - if you all want to see all the posts, you will probably have to come to my page . I will continue to post directly to my Facebook page, as well as create new posts here, but I don't know how many people wil...

Button created in My Memories software My Memories digital scrapbooking software is fun and easy to use. There are a lot of free kits you can download so you can have many options without spending a whole lot of money. With digital scrapbooking, once you purchase a kit, it's yours forever and you can use it as much as you want. Another advantage over physical scrapbooking is that with real paper, if you run out and go back to the store (another trip!), you might find out that it's out of stock. Not so with digital scrapbooking. I've been doing other stuff with My Memories - I made the cover for the Carol's Random Babble Facebook page and for another blog Facebook page with it. My Memories fan page on Facebook has very nearly 17,000 fans and once that goal is reached, they will have a lot of goodies to give out. Go on over and "like" My Memories on Facebook - you don't have to have the software. They have exclusive freebies on Facebook that ch...

Literally. Cayla and I got to church late - after Sacrament Meeting. I attended Sunday School, but during Relief Society the pain in my back got pretty bad so I went out to the foyer. Jacqui asked me what was wrong and the floodgates opened. Later on, I figured it is like walking and chewing gum for those who have difficulties with that kind of thing. In my case, I could manage my reaction to the pain better if I wasn't trying to carry on a conversation at the same time (or drive, as I found out later). Another factor is stress - I am definitely stressed out lately, what with having to move and not having found a place yet ... So, the combination of being stressed out, being in a lot of pain and having to talk to people just made me cry to no end today. At church. In public. It was the ugly cry. The tears rolling down, snot dripping, whiny voice, ugly cry. And I couldn't stop for the longest time. I would get sort of calmed down and then someone else would ask wh...

They are only taking the first 50 people who sign up, so it's a limited time opportunity. To thank our fans, Camp Wags and Route 249 want to give away some great prizes: $25 to Amazon ChuckIt Pocket Ball Launcher 2 Chuck it glow in the dark tennis balls. Giveaway starts Wednesday 5/30 at 9 pm est and ends 6/9 12:01 am We will take the first 50 bloggers, FB links only. Join the FB group for updates: http://www.facebook.com/groups/322602574450528/

Boxes, boxes, boxes. I went to Walmart Monday night after 11 p.m. and scored a bunch of (flattened) boxes, mostly from the laundry/chemical aisle. They made my car smell like laundry detergent. I finally got the boxes out of the trunk yesterday and brought them into the house - not easy, as it was quite a windy day. Now I just have to fill them up ... NOT looking forward to that. I hate to move.

Here's the moment we've all been waiting for! Acadiana's Thrifty Mom has teamed up with American Family and an awesome group of bloggers to bring you our BIGGEST giveaway yet! One lucky fan will win a Disney Cruise for a family of 4 valued at $3000! That's right, a Disney Cruise ♥ This awesome giveaway is brought to you by American Family and Acadiana's Thrifty Mom , and hosted by Frugality For Less , and Debbie Does Coupons . GOOD LUCK! *This giveaway is opened to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years of age to enter to win. The winner will be responsible for transportation to and from the port of departure. This giveaway is not affiliated with Facebook, Google, Pinterest, or Twitter in any way. Please read HERE for complete rules. a Rafflecopter giveaway

The  Techy Summer Xbox Kinect Bundle Event  is a  free  blogger event. You will receive one link at no cost as a thank you for participating in this event. Prize: Xbox 360 4GB Kinect Bundle includes the Xbox 360 console, Kinect Sensor and Kinect Adventures Game  (retail value $299) Open to:  Worldwide (note – if the winner is outside of the US are responsible for any duties, taxes,etc that is not covered by basic shipping cost). The event dates:  July 8 at 12:01 am to July 22 11:59pm Cost:  Free (facebook link) Additional links are available for $3 each (see  signup form  for details) Co-host/Sponsor Slot is open (see  signup form  for details) What is required to join?  Post about the event with the button above linking back to this post . Simply copy and paste the information (below) along with the button. Techy Tribe and  Mom to Bed by 8 are proud to present the Techy Sum...

Carol's Random Babble is pleased to be in a group with Plum Crazy About Coupons and a great bunch of fellow bloggers to bring you this giveaway for a $25 Lowe's Gift Card. One winner will receive One $25 Lowe's Gift Card. The giveaway will run from Sunday, May 20, 2012 at 12:01 AM until Monday, May 21, 2012 Tuesday, May 22, at 9:00 PM. This giveaway is open to US Residents 18 of age or older. Please stop by to hi to all the bloggers that made this giveaway possible: Plum Crazy About Coupons | Bodhi's Mews | Donna's Deals and More | Are We There Yet? | Bonkers 4 Coupons | A little bit of everything | Mom Does Reviews | Mama Chocolate | Mama to 4 Blessings | Love It | Why We Love Green | Just Like June | Livin' The MOMMY Life | One House Schoolroom | Coupon Queen of Texas | Family Savings Center | Thrifty Momma Ramblings | Work at Home Wife and Mother | Gustosa Giveaways | The Giveaway Tree | The Review Wire | Fruga...

So, I got a call from my landlady on May 4. She's coming here on June 9 to start working on the house to put it on the market. So we have to move. I hate to move. I wrote down all the places I remember living and here's the breakdown: I moved six times as a kid. I moved 31 times as an adult Nine of the times I moved as an adult, I had at least one kid I'm not looking forward to this. There's some good advice in the video. Boxes are important. I have gotten them from liquor stores (on my mom's advice and neither of us drink), print shops, Walmart (the frozen food aisle has smaller boxes, which is good if you have a lot of books). Good advice here , except I disagree with the thing about the planning notebook being more important than boxes and tape. Both are vital. And one thing I have already done: rented a storage space so I can sort through things in preparation for this move. The last time I moved, I requested a day off from work, but the pe...

This is a pretty important topic, but one that I think a lot of people either forget about or just don't take the time to research thoroughly. Of course, you can check your credit report for free once a year (in the United States). But what about the rest of the year? Do you have something in place to keep an eye on what's going on with your credit and your identity? It was recently discovered that an illegal immigrant who had worked in security - most recently supervising airport security people - allegedly had been using the identity of a dead man for 20 years. He has pleaded not guilty. Imagine, though - he had passed several background checks in New Jersey. I also know someone who had his bank account emptied by hackers from another country. There's never a good time for this to happen, but in this case it happened right before he was going on a trip. You can't always keep track of your own information. Sometimes organizations lose clients' data or i...

First, I have to say that I know and work with the author (Jane Curtis writing as Edna Flannigan), and consider her a friend. So, for what it's worth, here is my review: I really enjoyed "Pigs Must Fly." It tells the story of Iris Haugsdahl, who was unloved and unappreciated by her parents, who married but felt unloved and unappreciated by her husband, a dairy farmer. When her husband dies after they had made plans to go to Las Vegas so he could receive a veteran's award, she goes anyway and has the adventure of her life. Iris meets Kitty Velour, a transgender lounge singer. A mishap makes Kitty feel responsible for Iris, so Kitty brings Iris under her wing, so to speak. Throw in the Stimples, Iris's obnoxious neighbors from Iowa; Dave Handy, a "pipefitter" from Idaho; and Ms. Nicole, a canasta-playing psychic, and things start getting out of hand. Iris slips the leash and gets in a little trouble on her own. This is the kind of book I find myse...

Well, here's a mixed bag of things I've seen and heard recently. You know the "fashion" where guys wear their pants low so they can show off their underwear? I recently saw a man walking down the street in that fashion, except he forgot the last bit, where you actually wear the underwear. Well, maybe he accidentally pulled that down too low, too. I don't know. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and thought I had it wrong. But I was driving and had to be careful - I can imagine telling the cop, "Officer, it wasn't my fault! That guy wasn't wearing any underwear so of course I ran into a light pole!" The next day I saw a man crossing the street wearing one of those ankle monitor devices. I wondered if he was supposed to be out and about, then my mind segued into old "Wild Kingdom" shows (or Animal Planet - take your pick) where they tag the bear or other animal so they can track its movements. On May 8, I attended a Get Motiv...

Another giveaway! Who's excited? You don't have to be a dad to appreciate these prizes: It's time to give back to DAD! Sponsored by: Route 249 Mom Does Reviews Jackie's Reviews, Mom Blog Society It is open to both US and; Canada The giveaway will run May 15th, 12:01 a.m. EST until May 31st 12:01 a.m. EST. 1 winner will receive their choice of the gas grill or Paypal Cash Value $129.00 $100 Gift Certificate to Omaha Steaks DAD Branding Iron Wood Chip Box and an Injector Kit and 7-Piece BBQ Set with Apron $100 Omaha Steaks Gift Card Sponsored by Mom To Bed By 8 Branding Iron and Wood Chip Box and an Injector Kit Sponsored by Dixie Lands Deals 7-Piece BBQ Set with Apron Sponsored by I Love My Coupon Fans and Coupon Queen that Saves the Green This Fiesta gas grill is spacious enough to meet your grilling needs. It is suitable for preparing a meal for up to four people. With this grill, you will enjoy cooking your favorite meals outdoor...

Chic Algene of I Heart Giveaways and The Coffee Chic is celebrating her birthday today! To make things more exciting, she has teamed up with me to bring you an awesome giveaway. One lucky entrant will win $150 Paypal Cash. Finish the entries in one sitting or bookmark this site and come back tomorrow. Remember, the higher number of entries you complete, the higher the chance of winning. Good luck! This event would not become possible without the help and support of these co-hosts: Bay Area Mommy , Zoe's Printable Coupons , Samut-Sari , Wrap with Jolene , Mamal Diane and Stiletto Files . The giveaway will be open worldwide. The rafflecopter widget will be closed on May 30, 2012 (11:59 PM). a Rafflecopter giveaway <a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js">You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway</a&am...

Winners announced here . May 20, 2012 Summer is here and the scorching heat can be dangerous to our eyes. The best way to be protected is by wearing cool sunglasses to shield our eyes from the sun's harmful rays.  Firmoo.com is the emerging global online optical store of prescription eyeglasses and prescription sunglasses. Years of expertise in optical industry enable Firmoo.com to offer varieties of prescription eyewear to the consuming public in high quality yet at extremely affordable prices. The low prices in Firmoo.com never compromise the quality of eyewear while treating the quality and services to consumers as top priority. Firmoo.com's mission is far more beyond providing refractive corrections for our customers. Our product portfolio offers wide varieties of most stylish frames for both budget- and fashion-conscious wearers. Firmoo.com will help you realize your dream of creating your own eyeglasses wardrobe! The good news is that  Firmoo G...

  Oh yeah! We did it again :) Acadiana's Thrifty Mom has teamed up with FreebieShark and an awesome group of bloggers to bring you this AWESOME prize! One lucky fan will win a year's supply (600+ loads) of Tide laundry detergent! WOW, can you imagine not buying laundry detergent for an entire year? Well, all you have to do is complete this super easy rafflecopter and you're on your way to your chance of winning! Good luck! *This giveaway is opened to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway is in NO WAY affiliated with Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Google.

It's time to give back to DAD! Sponsored by: Route 249 Mom Does Reviews Jackie's Reviews, Mom Blog Society It is open to both US & Canada The giveaway will run May 15th, 12:01 until May 31st 12:01 1 winner will receive their choice of the gas grill or Paypal Cash Value 129.00 $100 Gift Certificate to Omaha Steaks DAD Branding Iron Wood Chip Box and an Injector Kit & 7-Piece BBQ Set with Apron $100 Omaha Steaks Gift Card Sponsored by Mom To Bed By 8 Branding Iron and Wood Chip Box and an Injector Kit Sponsored by Dixie Lands Deals 7-Piece BBQ Set with Apron Sponsored by I Love My Coupon Fans & Coupon Queen That's Saving The Green This Fiesta gas grill is spacious enough to meet your grilling needs. It is suitable for preparing a meal for up to four people. With this grill, you will enjoy cooking your favorite meals outdoors. Fiesta 25,000 BTU 2-Burner Gas Grill with Side Burner, Blue: Porcelain-coated cooking grid ...

  Oh yeah! We did it again! This time Acadiana's Thrifty Mom has teamed up with SaleCamel to bring you a super-D-duper giveaway for 3 amazon.com gift cards! Yes, 3 lucky winners will each win a $200 Amazon gift card! Be sure to finish all the entries so you increase your chances of winning! This giveaway runs from April 30 until May 21. This giveaway is sponsored by SaleCamel and hosted by Acadiana's Thrifty Mom and Baby Coupons & Stuff . Enter the simple rafflecopter form below. GOOD LUCK! This giveaway will be open to U.S. residents only. You must be 18 years old to enter to win. This giveaway is, in no way, affiliated with Facebook.