Sorry this is so late. We went to a birthday/Halloween party last night and had the first of two birthday parties for my son today.The carnival is fun but I'm glad it's over! Though I'm sure in January we'll all be saying, "Already? It seems like we just had a carnival!"

Thank you to everyone who entered. I really wanted this carnival to be at least as good as my last one and it ended up being better! Thank you too to my sponsors, EarthExpressions and Dropps for offering such great prizes. Congratulations everyone!

The winners:

The Target card goes to Chantelle.


The grand prize winner of a three-month supply of Dropps is Grace. Betsy and Emily (no blog) are the runners up and will receive samples.


The book lover's prize goes to Suz.

The handmade pendant from EarthExpressions goes to ahiltz.

The three boxes of Jer's Handmade chocolates goes to Rebecca (no blog).

Go back to the Bloggy Carnival Giveaway to see a list of all the winners.

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 5- $25 Target Gift Card

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED** Short and sweet today. I'm a bargain shopper by nature. I avoid paying full price whenever I can. I research things online and cut coupons. This is the first time in several years the holidays are going to take more than a little creativity on my part. And I know I'm not alone. Hopefully this will help.

To enter:
1. Leave a comment. More than "enter me," or "I'm in!" please. What are you doing this weekend? What did you have for dinner last night? Tell me a joke. Whatever.

2. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

3. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

4. I will use random.org to draw the winners and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

***My other 4 giveaways also end tonight. Odds are pretty good!***

Day 1: chocolate from Jer's Handmade

Day 2: handmade pendant from Etsy seller EarthExpressions

Day 3: great fiction book, $5 each to Starbucks/Barnes and Noble, tote

Day 4: enviro friendly Dropps laundry soap

Bloggy Giveaway Day 4- Enviro Friendly Laundry Soap

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED**  

Going green and changing the impact my family has on the environment can often seem daunting. Sometimes it's hard for me to know where to start, what changes to make, what we can afford to do and what changes will have the most impact.


I believe we all need to be more conscious of what is happening to our planet, but I also believe in doing what is practical for you and your family. I'd love to stop using paper towels, but know I'd never be able to keep up with the laundry so I try to buy recycled ones and I use cloth towels for dusting and light cleaning.


One change I have been able to stick with is using environmentally friendly laundry soap. When I saw an ad for today's sponsor, I emailed and they responded right away with a really great offer for THREE winners!



Dropps are concentrated liquid gel pods just like ones for the dishwasher. They dissolve immediately, are biodegradable and are phosphate, chlorine and NPE free (I had to look up the last one, it's nonylphenol ethoxylate). Dropps are sold online through their site, Amazon and Drugstore; and in Target, Wal Mart and Whole Foods.


They come in three sizes: 2,20 and 26 load pouches. I asked if a larger size is available through Costco or Sam's. A 42 load size will be available in December but only at the current locations. They come in a Fresh scent or dye-free non-scented which would be good for hubby's eczema.

One winner will receive a three-month supply of Dropps! That's 60 washloads (three 20 load pouches)! And two runners up will receive sample packages.


**Update: The literal second I hit publish, the doorbell rang with my samples! I'm not being dramatic either. I swear! Funny how things like that happen. Like when you think of a song and it comes on the radio. Anyway, I gathered up some of the mountains of my laundry and used one of the 2-load packs for a large load. The packs float and look like dying jellyfish while they're dissolving.


To enter:

1. Go to the Dropps site to read more about their environmental benefits.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me your impressions or what you're doing to be more green - required.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winners and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1. The lowest number will be grand prize winner.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)
 
***Enter the day 1 chocolate giveaway here, day 2 handmade pendant here and day 3 book lover's prize here. Tomorrow: Target

Bloggy Giveaway Day 3- Book Lovers Prize

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED** If you have been here before you know how much I like to read. If you haven't been here before, I REALLY like to read. In my reading list recently I gave a big thumbs up to Joshilyn Jackson and predicted she'd become one of my favorite auhors. After reading her latest book, The Girl Who Stopped Swimming, I stand by that statement even more. The book was really good. No, great. I couldn't put it down. If you're not reading her, you should be.

I've been using my local library more and more since our budget can't keep up with book bingeing. I got the email that the new book was available last Wednesday but didn't pick it up until Friday literally minutes before the 5 o'clock closing time. I started reading it in the evening after dinner, stayed up till about midnight and finished it at 12:47 pm on Saturday. Did I mention it's a really good book?

Jackson has a very easy writing style. Her characters are unique and vibrant. The stories flow and the plots are engaging. When I saw one of her books on the clearance rack, I knew it would make a great giveaway.

The winner will receive a new hardback copy of Jackson's book Between, Georgia, a $5 Starbucks card, $5 Barnes and Noble card and a re-usable tote.


To enter:

1. Go to Joshilyn Jackson's site to read the synopses of her three books (She doesn't know I'm doing this).

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me which you'd like to read first (under the books tab) - required.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

**Enter the day 1 chocolate giveaway here and the day 2 pendant here**

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 2- Handmade Pendant

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED** As Napoleon Dynamite would say, "Lucky!" Today I have a handmade wood pendant from the Etsy shop of Susy at EarthExpressions. It will pain me to give this away.

Susy's jewelry is just beautiful. I'm so happy she responded to my tweet and offered to participate in my giveaway. In addition to the wood pendants she has recycled glass pendants and rings.

Susy has a special going on right now, be sure to read the details when you click over to her site (the one of a kind pieces are awesome!). You can also sign up for her mailing list to be alerted to other sales and specials. AND she has generously offered a 15% discount to any order placed during the Carnival (10/27-10/31). Use code ADramaticMommy at checkout. Susy will apply the discount for you or you can ask for a revised invoice. Awesome!

The winner of today's giveaway will receive this pendant and tin:


Gorgeous, right? Here's how to enter:

1. Go to the EarthExpressions shop to see the other items Susy offers.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what you'd buy - required.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. Guess what internationals? You're in! (Thanks Susy!)

***Enter my day 1 chocolate giveaway here***

Bloggy Carnival Giveaway Day 1- Gourmet Chocolates

**COMMENTS NOW CLOSED** It's the most wonderful time of the year! Bloggy Giveaway Carnival time! I have so much fun during this week. The last carnival had over 1,000 participants and with the holidays coming, I bet it will be that big again (if not bigger!)

Welcome to people visiting for the first time. I appreciate you stopping by and I'd love to see you back again. My last carnival went so well I decided to do it again. I'll have a different item each day this week so please check back.

I thought I'd start the week with chocolate. It's one of my addictions and this company, Jer's Gourmet Chocolates, feeds the addiction well. Jer's is a local company started by Jerry Swain in his parent's kitchen. If you like chocolate and peanut butter, you'll love these!

I have three boxes of the newest item in their product line, the peanut butter bars. The winner will receive one box each of Toffee Break, Cara Mella and the Original IncrediBar (I'm keeping the Pretzo Change-O!). Each box has two bars.


To enter:

1. Go to the Jer's Handmade site to see the other items offered.

2. Come back here and leave a comment on this post and tell me what you'd buy - required.

3. I MUST have a way to get in touch with you! NoReply@Blogger will not send you a response. I will have to delete comments with no contact info.

4. Comments will close on Friday, October 31st at 11:59pm CA time.

5. I will use random.org to draw the winner and post the results/notify winner via email and in a "Winners" post on Saturday 11/1.

6. You don't need a blog to win, but I MUST have a way to contact you. US residents only (sorry!)

7. If you live in a warm weather state, I will ship them as quickly as I can afford to but I'm not responsible for their condition on arrival.

It's Here!

I won a Sherbert Party from Elle's New England Kitchen and it arrived today. I promised Drama Kid I wouldn't open it until he got home but I forgot it's a martial arts day! Grr. Now I have to wait and patience isn't one of my better traits. I'll post pictures of us sampling all the flavors (and trying to fit five cartons of sherbert in my freezer!).