Fall Giveaway Festival

If you have a lot of time on your hands, or just really want an iPad2 head on over to  Sassy Mama in LA, Simply Stacie, Makobi Scribe and Matter of Cents. All four blogs are offering you a chance to win an iPad2, sponsored by retailmenot, which I've already mentioned is a favorite site of mine for finding great coupon codes. In addition, over 100 other blogs are also running contests worth at least $25. The links are either at the bottom of the Fall Giveaway Festival posts on each blog or under a giveaway tab. 


So go click away and hopefully win a prize.

Totsy Giveaway

Over at What Mama Wants, you can enter to win a super cute Tat ‘r Tots Pink/Army Large size plush blanket courtesy of Totsy. Totsy is a private-sale site, with great prices on items geared towards kids and families. You have to be a member of Totsy to shop the sales, but it's worth it if you're a fan of any of the brands they feature.

More Charity Ideas

Yesterday I posted a link to the BB2G Auction Page, which is such a great cause to support. Today I have a couple more ways that you can help out great causes.

One is brought to you by Betty Confidential, which is a fun online magazine for women.Betty Confidential is running a fantastic contest with some great prizes, including a deluxe beauty bag from Nordstrom, a hair dryer donate by LockandMane.com, Fandango gift cards, and suprise beauty bag from Betty Confidential . All you have to do to enter is donate any amount to April’s Team in Training donation page,which benefits the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). Both Betty Confidential and April's Team in Training page can do this great cause more justice.

The second cause is brought to you by HSN, in support of UNICEF. HSN is selling FEED Trick-or-Treat bags, which come with a Halloween JELLO mold. The bag is selling for $12.50, $3.50 of which HSN will donate to UNICEF to provide micronutrient powder for an entire year to a child in a developing country.

Shop for a Cause

I know that there are tons of products out there that you can buy to support various causes. Some products will donate all proceeds to a certain cause or charity, and others will donate a portion of the proceeds. Today I want to tell you about an auction going on to support Band Back Together, which is a group blog where anyone can post their story, or their family's story, about any topic under the sun. In addition there are resources pages covering a huger range of topics from abandonment to worms. All posts are reviewed by the sites moderators, and all comments are moderated, as well. The founder, Becky Sherrick Harks of Mommy Wants Vodka, recently turned Band Back Together into a nonprofit, and the auction is to support the site.

Here is a link to the auction site: http://auction.bandbacktogether.com/

Take a look at all the great things you can bid on and support a fantastic site. A place where anybody can tell their story and feel safe and secure in doing so.

Restuarant E-mails

Many restaurants have E-mail newsletters that give you certain perks if you sign up to receive them. Chili's Bar and Grill sends me two or three coupons a week for free appetizers, free desserts, or kids eat free. Ruby Tuesdays sends me a coupon about once a week for a discount on my meal, occasionally even a buy one dinner get one free. Many restaurants will also send you coupons on your birthday for a free meal or free dessert. Red Robin will give you a free burger on your birthday. IHOP will give you a free meal on your birthday and on the one-year anniversary of signing to be part of their Pancake Revolution.

These are just a few of the many e-mail clubs restaurants offer. If you have a favorite restaurant, go on their website and see if they have an e-mail club and offer incentives for joining.

Monday Contests

Here are some links for contests to enter today. Many of them are expiring soon. Many are also on Facebook, which will require you to have a Facebook account and to Like the sponsoring company on Facebook.

Lucky Magazine - October Lucky Breaks: http://www.luckymag.com/breaks/luckysweeps#slide=1 (expires October 31st)
Lucky Magazine - Win a trip to Lucky Shops (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/LuckyMagazine?sk=app_185591521465419 (expires September 24th)
Lucky Magazine - Lucky Style Spotter Sweestakes: http://stylespotter.luckymag.com/special_offers (expires October 11th)
Ann Taylor - AT Insider (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/AnnTaylor?v=app_139993212700692 (Daily Prize)
Self Magazine - Win Amrita Singh Jewlery!:
https://secure.self.com/magazine/sweeps/1011_amrita_singh/entry/long/ (expires October 17th)
Denim Therapy - 7 For All Mankind Flare Leg Jeans (Blog Giveaway, requires a blog comment, and to like Denim Therapy and 7 For All Mankind on Facebook, and follow Denim Therapy and 7 For All Mankind on Twitter): http://blog.denimtherapy.com/2011/09/7-for-all-mankind-flare-leg-jeans-giveaway-enter-before-september-23rd/g/  (expires September 23rd)
GNC Live Well - bpi Prizes (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/GNCLiveWell?v=app_155399697825855 (expires September 24th)
Nissan - Win a Nissan Leaf or weekly prizes (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/innovationforendurance?sk=app_113206415420204 (expires April 29th, 2012)
Talbots - Win a Trip to New York (Facebook, requires photo): https://www.facebook.com/TALBOTS?v=app_100142423390621 (expires today, September 19th)
Cherokee - $100 Gift Card to Target (Blog Giveaway, requires a blog comment): https://www.google.com/reader/view/?tab=my#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.sundrymourning.com%2Ffeed%2F (expires September 21st)
Cherokee - 1st Day of School Photo Contest (Facebook, requires photo): http://www.facebook.com/cherokeeusa?sk=app_229374760434753 (expires September 30th)
Marie Claire Magazine - Trendsetter Looks (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/?ref=home#!/MarieClaire?sk=app_216264411740316 (expires September 30th)
Marie Claire Magazine - Gotta Have It (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/MarieClaire?sk=app_190322544333196 (Daily Prize)
Dillard's Inc. - Lovestruck Vera Wang Giveaway: http://www.dillards.com/fbtwo/fbcontest?campaign=fcbk_Lovestruck (expires September 23rd)
Lilsugar - J. Crew Gift Card (Need to Like lilsugar and J. Crew on Facebook): http://www.lilsugar.com/Show-Us-Your-Crewcuts-Back--School-Style-Win-1000-18871093 (expires September 27th)
Clinique - Lucky Day Sweeps (Facebook): http://www.facebook.com/clinique#!/clinique?sk=app_196634163690983 (expires April 2nd, 2012; weekly prize)
Drugstore.com - Sonicare Giveaway (Facebook): https://www.facebook.com/drugstore.com?sk=app_104368186292004 (expires today, September 19th)
Parenting Magazine - Hasbro Game Pack Giveaway: http://www.parenting.com/sweepstakes.jsp?ID=1000012669&src=soc&dom=tw (expires October 12th)
Real Style Network - Glee Season 2: http://www.realstylenetwork.com/index.php/Glee-Giveaway/glee-giveaway/menu-id-369.html (expires September 26th)

Good Luck!

Sweepstake Sites

There are many great contests out there, some have huge prizes, such as the house that can be won at HGTV.com every year. Others are small, such as a free lipstick or mascara. However, it can often be challenging to figure out where to start looking for great sweepstakes.

Magazine websites are usually a good place to look. Conde Nast (Glamour, Self, Allure, Lucky), Hearst (Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, Redbook), and Meredith Corporation (Parents, BHG, Fitness, LHJ) are all great places to start. However magazine contests are only the start of the many great sweepstakes companies run.

To go beyond magazine contests, it is often necessary to use a site that has a large listing of sweepstakes. My personal favorite is BigSweeps.com, which is best when you set up a login because it allows you to set preferences and keep track of which contest you have entered. Another good site is the Contests and Sweepstakes page on About.com. While it doesn't contain the most comprehensive list of sweepstakes, it does break out contest by category, such as big sweepstakes or cash sweepstakes, and has a good description of each contest and the date they end. The other site I often use is Sweepstakes Advantage, which has a large listing of more obscure contests, such as ones people run on their blogs.

There are so many more sweepstakes sites out there, but these are just my personal favorites. 

Free Digital Magazine Subsriptions

If you don't mind reading magazines online, you can sign up for  a free digital subscription to Women's Health, Men's Health, Runner's World, or Prevention by clicking here and entering your contact information. You will be sent an e-mail every month with your link to the latest issue. The digital subscriptions are hosted by Coverleaf.com.

Another option is through the Read Green Initiative, provided by Zinio.com, which allows you to pick a magazine of your choice (they have a decent selection) and get a digital subscription free when you sign up for an account with Zinio. You will also receive an e-mail from Zinio every month with a link to the latest issue.

Fit Bride

Fit Bride, a Women's Health blog, is currently running a contest to win a copy of Bridesmaids and set of Orly nail polish. You don't need to be a subscriber to win, but you do need to have a registered account. While you're there you can also enter to win their daily sweepstakes - every daily entry also gives you an entry for the monthly grand prize.

Daily Free Sample

Allyou.com is a great site for finding coupons, deals, and a daily free sample. Today they have a link to a free sample of Downy Unstoppables, but their samples cover a wide category of products. I get the e-mails delivered daily, but you can also like them on Facebook or follow them on Twitter. They also have a Daily Savings Blog that has a wide variety of sections to help save you money.

The Best Coupon Sites For Moms

Parenting.com has a great article on The Best Coupon Sites for Moms. Three of my favorites are www.couponcabin.com, www.couponmountain.com, and www.retailmenot.com. I always check these sites before I make any online purchases to ensure I'm getting the best deal.

Also, if you're a subscriber of either version of Parenting magazine you can also sign up for Parenting Privileges and earn cash back on your online purchase as well as find exclusive coupon codes.

Recyclebank

My first deal for the day is Recyclebank. According to their About Us page on their website:

''Who is Recyclebank?

We’re a group of passionate people that believes…

An individual has the power to change the world. A united community is more powerful than the sum of its parts. The world is at its best when none of its elements go to waste. More importantly, we’re a group of passionate people that makes these things happen every day. And it’s all through one pretty simple approach: You take small actions. We give you everyday rewards. The world gets greener.''

I earned 330 points by learning about green changes I can make and pledging to make changes in my own life. I was able to redeem those points for two free magazine subscriptions to Marie Claire and Redbook, and a coupon for a free small smoothie from McDonalds.

 All you have to do to start earning is sign up and start clicking. Here is my personal referral link (I will earn 10 points for every person who signs up through this link):

http://www.recyclebank.com/referafriend/?___store=us&bl=YWtzZXltb3VyQHlhaG9vLmNvbQ==&utm_campaign=Refer-a-friend&utm_medium=direct%20link&utm_source=P3682462&cm_mmc=Refer-a-friend-_-direct%20link-_