Winner!

Random.org chose #26 as the winner of the $25 Home Reserve gift certificate.  Congratulations Gail from myrepurposedlife.net!

Halloween Village

The last couple of times I went to Dollar Tree, I kept noticing these little ceramic houses.  They have battery operated lighting, and I figured they were intended for Christmas.  However, even though I thought they were cute, they didn’t really say Christmas to me, partly because the lighting is orange.




At some point, I was struck with inspiration, and realized they would make a cute little Halloween village.  That required spray paint, and so I cut around the glue and removed the light pack so the bulb wouldn’t be covered with black paint. (When I read on the tag that the batteries would last for only 10 hrs, I got a package of extras at DT.)



I gave them a coat of primer, and a couple coats of glossy black.  A couple of twigs, also painted black, became trees.



When I was using my glue gun to reattach the lights, the inevitable glue strings gave me the idea to cover the houses with “cobwebs”.



Fast, cheap haunted village.  Well, my kids are impressed, anyway.

The Final Blogiversary Giveaway

I’m excited about this one!  I have literally been waiting two weeks for this to come through, and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do today if it didn’t.  I got the call yesterday afternoon, just in time!

About a month ago, I did a post about The Lakeside Collection.  A representative from the company left a comment on that post, thanking me.  A couple weeks later I posted about Home Reserve, and they left a comment offering me a free chair!  That gave me the idea to contact the lady from Lakeside and ask if she wanted to provide a giveaway for my blog.

Long story shorter, since then it’s been two weeks of phone tag, and I’ve never actually spoken to the first girl.  Yesterday the phone call was from someone she delegated, and who really didn’t know the whole story.  It’s actually still somewhat a mystery to me, as well, because she didn’t have all the answers.

Apparently, they are trying to get up to speed with the blogging/social networking scene and have had other similar requests, I gather.  But I’m the first one with whom they’re actually doing something!  I’m blazing trails, people!

It seems that they are sending me at least some of the items I blogged about in that post.  At this point I’m not sure how many of them, or which ones.  The prize for this giveaway will depend on what arrives on my doorstep. 

For now, visit my previous Lakeside post, and leave a comment telling me of the items I blogged about which one you would choose (though I can’t guarantee that the one you choose will be part of the giveaway).  In the end, we’ll all be surprised!

This giveaway will be open until Thursday, Oct. 7 at 11:59 pm.

There’s still plenty of time to enter all the other giveaways too:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

Thursday’s Giveaway: Starbucks

I hope you’ve been enjoying the giveaways this week!  Today’s prize is a $15 Starbucks gift card.  Maybe not the most original thing ever, but who doesn’t like Starbucks?  Even if you are one of the two people in the world who doesn’t like coffee, you can get a muffin or something.  Or even pass it on to someone for whom you need a gift , like a teacher.

Many of you may like to use it for the special treat that’s only available this time of year:

Myself, I would probably get a Java Chip Frappuccino, because of my experience with the Pumpkin Spice.  But don’t let that stop you!

This one is easy to enter…no hoops to jump through, just leave a comment!

This giveaway will close Wednesday, Oct. 6 at 11:59 pm.

More giveaways to enter:  Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday

Giveaway #3: CSN Stores

Today’s giveaway gives the winner options…lots of options.  Whether you are looking for a drop leaf table, a mailbox, shoes, or a baby stroller, CSN stores has all that and much more.

The lucky winner will receive a $55 gift certificate to use in any of the CSN stores, on anything you want.  If you choose something at a higher price, the $55 will be applied to your balance. (The $55 does not include shipping, but many items ship for free.)

I actually recently won a CSN giveaway hosted by Tricia at Three Petunias, and did some shopping at the website over the weekend.  I’m still undecided, but here are some items I’m considering.

I’ve been wanting a pendant for over the kitchen sink, and I found quite a few options within the $55 range, like the Madison Mini Pendant for $47.70 with free shipping.


I would also like a new faucet for my powder room, to compliment my vanity makeover.  This Price Pfister is $57.12.



Of course, I could be persuaded to go with a new pair of boots instead.  The possibilities are endless!



Two ways to enter:

1.  Follow me on Twitter or Facebook by clicking on the icon on the right and taking the appropriate steps, then come back here and leave a comment telling me you did so.

2.  If you take the extra step and spread the news about the giveaway either on Twitter or FB, then come back here and leave a second comment, you will get a second entry.

This giveaway will be open until Tuesday, Oct 5 at 11:59 pm.

You can also enter Monday’s giveaway, and Tuesday’s.

Tuesday’s Giveaway: Home Reserve

Last week I received a free chair from Home Reserve furniture to review.  You can read all about that and how it came to be here.  I was pleased with the chair, and they were pleased with my honest review, and I asked if they would like to provide a giveaway for my readers.

They have generously provided a $25 gift certificate to be used at their website!  There are some choices that would be covered by the $25.

Throw pillows come in several different shapes and many fabric choices. 

This is the 16” square pillow in Jacinta Spa ($19):

Rectangle pillow in Kiowa Black ($21):

 

Fabric wall art 12”x16” in Miles Citrus ($22):

Fabric wall art 10”x32” in Savory Cocoa ($24):

If you chose to do so, you could put the $25 toward any other choice.  I think the  the designer cubes would be useful.  They all have storage and could be used as a footrest, coffee table, living room toy box, etc.

Small designer cube (17”w, 23”l, 19”h) in Ella Citrus ($49):

The large cube (20x45x15) might work well at the end of a bed (Kia Onyx $71):

Two ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Follow me on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway (leave a separate comment for this one).

This giveaway will be open until Monday Oct. 4 at 11:59 pm.

Be sure to enter Monday’s giveaway, and check back every day this week for more prizes!

Welcome to the Birthday Party!

If you've been reading my blog for a while, you will notice a few changes around here.  My blog turned 2 last week, and I figured it was time to shake things up a little.  Nothing major; mostly just layout and design.  My awesome hubby Craig worked for several hours this weekend implementing my ideas.  Probably there are still a few glitches that need to be worked out; if you find any (like a link that doesn't work) please let me know.  Also, you can now follow Homebody on Twitter, Facebook and Feedburner.  I've been a little slow in embracing the social networking scene, so I hope you'll bear with me while I try to get up to speed.


Now on to the party!  I have several giveaways planned this week.  I'm hoping to have one every day, but if they don't come through that quickly, I may have to postpone a couple.


Today's prize involves one of the changes you may have noticed.  I am now offering advertising space on Homebody.  The logistics are still a work in progress, although if you or anyone you know may be interested in advertising here, email me (link top right).


Today I am giving away 3 months of advertising space.  You could promote your etsy shop or other business, or even your blog, as long as it's family friendly and preferably in the home/family/decor/women's interests realm.  You will need to provide a 125x125 button (static), although if you don't have one and don't know how to make one, I might be able to get Craig to work up a simple button for you if you're the winner.


Two ways to enter:


1. Leave a comment on this post.


2. Help me get Homebody's Facebook page rolling by leaving a comment there answering this question: What is your favorite kind of blog linky party?
Leave a separate comment here telling me you did that.


This giveaway will be open until Sunday, Oct. 3 at 11:59 pm.
Make sure I am able to contact you if you are the winner.