Contest
Adoption giveaway - three prizes
These are just small tokens, but I'd like to pass them on to acknowledge families who've responded to God's call for us to take care of orphans. These cuddly bunnies - named Shaoey in honor of Steven Curtis Chapman's first adopted daughter Shaohannah - were produced by Gund to...April 12, 2008 - 9:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack
Jet Blue ticket raffle - for Loudoun VSA
This is a raffle to benefit Very Special Arts of Loudoun County. But you don't have to live in Loudoun to enter and you do not have to be present to win. What you will need to do to enter is to blow up the above poster to 8...April 11, 2008 - 4:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Win Randy Alcorn's "Heaven for Kids"
I've met Randy Alcorn - a man who once upon a time lost everything for his pro-life work and lived to tell about it :) He is a kind, compassionate, gracious and authentic man. In addition to establishing Eternal Perspective Ministries, Randy has also also is an excellent writer with...March 6, 2008 - 6:16 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
My Blog Birthday - and Book Giveaway Winners
Today is the day! My third Blog Birthday! In the past three years, I have written 2468 entries at MommyLife – and you have made 10,110 comments. Together we have informed and encouraged each other. You have seen me lose 90 pounds and I have seen you all have...January 15, 2008 - 7:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBack
Book Giveaway Update
Update! Barbara's Blog Birthday Book Giveaway!!! Great news!!! Two of my publishers have kicked in an extra 10 of each of my books (still waiting to hear from the third) - so there will be more books to giveaway! Barbara's Blog Birthday Book Giveaway!!! Between now and January 14,...January 9, 2008 - 7:51 AM | Permalink
Children's Christian Book Giveaway
Click above to find out more about winning a free book this month. Thanks Kris for creating this giveaway and letting me know so I could share it with my readers....November 1, 2007 - 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
And the winner is:
The winner of today's drawing is receiving Tasra Dawson's awesome tome (say that five times fast :) on scrapbooking. As promised, the judging was impartial. Here is Maddy with my old business cards, writing a name on the back of each one (note my statue of Joan of Arc...August 20, 2007 - 3:42 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Win prizes at the end-of-summer Blog-Abration!
My friend Tasra at Real Women Scrap has organized this special contest with prizes galore. You can sign in to enter the contest or contribute a prize by clicking on the Blog-abration button above. Have fun!...August 14, 2007 - 9:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Real Women Scrap! Win a free book!
I met an amazing woman at the Mt. Hermon Writers' Conference last year. Well, there are always amazing people at that conference, but when I'm mixed in with 400+ people who all have stories to tell, I'm grateful for those "divine appointments" like the one last spring where I decided...August 14, 2007 - 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (25) | TrackBack
Danielle Bean's online raffle
Danielle Bean is hosting an online raffle. This is the first one I've ever heard of. It is for the benefit of St. Gianna Maternity Home in Warsaw, ND. For a $5 donation through paypal you get a chance to win one of 45 different gifts....June 6, 2007 - 5:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Essay Contest students 12-18
Regenerated Magazine™ is all about transformation, inspiring young Christians everyday to change our culture. Through the renewing of our minds with our biblical worldview, we challenge our peers to live for the glory of God. How can you do this? How can you regenerate our culture in politics, in...March 19, 2007 - 9:37 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Free Bible for a mom who's never read one!
I had five children before I ever read the Bible. Like many intellectual/cultural elites, I'd accepted the prevailing wisdom that Christianity was not worth investigating. That Christians were narrow-minded and stupid. That the Bible was a musty old book full of meaningless and misleading - not to mention boring -...March 3, 2007 - 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Win a copy of The Mommy Survival Guide!
Remember the mom who wore the apron with the curvaceous bod - the one I (mistakenly)thought must be a newlywed but apparently just has a better sense of humor than I - the one who tied for 10th place with the Grandmother of the Apron Movement? Well, it turns out...January 26, 2007 - 11:13 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Second chance for I Love Lucy apron
The irony of Connie winning the Apron Power! first prize - a retro I Love Lucy apron just like mine - is that to meet the clamor for that apron (the original manufacturer seems to have gone out of business), Connie bought up the exact same oilcloth and began taking...January 21, 2007 - 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Hidden Treasure Blog Awards
From Jules at Everday Mommy: Announcing the First Annual Hidden Treasure Blog Awards . The idea is simple; to recognize blog authors of excellence, with deserving posts which may go unnoticed. All of us have our favorite blogs, the ones we read faithfully. They are dear friends, like a comfortable...January 19, 2007 - 2:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron Power! Voting closes at midnight!
Vote for your top ten NOW! (ranking not necessary, but must vote for 10) Winners announced tomorrow morning! Apron Power! Click on the image above to see all the entries. Click on the pictures or slideshow to make them bigger and to reveal the entire comment under each (I had...January 19, 2007 - 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! Voting continues thru Friday
Apron Power! Votes are pouring in! Click on the image above to see all the entries. Click on the pictures or slideshow to make them bigger and to reveal the entire comment under each (I had to condense some because of word limits). There are no criteria for voting -...January 16, 2007 - 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #44
Sorry Christy. You submitted your entry in time and somehow I missed it. I am adding it right this minute. Voting continues until 1/19, so if anyone wants to change the votes they've already sent me, let me know! Apron Power! #44 Hi Barbara, I am a new mom of...January 14, 2007 - 8:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! Voting Begins!
Apron Power! Click on the image above to see all the entries. Click on the pictures or slideshow to make them bigger and to reveal the entire comment under each (I had to condense some because of word limits). Please email me your top ten by number. You don't have...January 12, 2007 - 10:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Apron Power! 9 more contest entries 35-43
Apron Power! #35 Praise God for naptime! Once I put an apron on in the kitchen, I usually wear it all day- so this is me "taking a break" with a book and a cup o' chai. I feel so feminine when I wear this one, it is my...January 12, 2007 - 8:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Apron Power! Hurry! Contest Deadline 1/12!
(logo by MommyLife reader Tanisha) Go here to see all contestants so far in the Apron Power! Contest. Entries due January 12. Voting begins January 13. Final day of voting January 19. Winners announced January 20. Read details in the original Apron Power! announcement. I'm hoping you are feeling...January 11, 2007 - 8:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron Power! 11 New Entries
Apron Power! #23 Hi Barbara! I am a SAHM of 6 and I grew up in a family of wonderful Southern cooks (and seamstresses!) This Christmas my sister made aprons for me and my middle daughter as we work together in the kitchen. I can't put it on without...January 10, 2007 - 4:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #22
KD at justabeachkat: Here I am (in green apron with red trim) along with my daughter, Aunt and Mom. Wearing silly head gear and aprons while cooking Christmas cookies has become a family tradition. Afterwards, we reward ourselves with a little vino. I love aprons! Wearing an apron makes...January 6, 2007 - 11:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #21
I am a SAHM of 4 great kids -- 1 boy and 3 girls. We are a homeschool family. My apron is very special to me because it was a Christmas gift from my oldest daughter, Sophie (8). Not only is special because she gave it to me, but,...January 6, 2007 - 11:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! web page
I put together a webpage so you can see all the entries at the same time. You can click on them to enlarge them and also do a slideshow. This will make voting easier too! Go here to see Apron Power! Please spread the word! Our last photo contest -...January 3, 2007 - 11:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #20
Hi, I am a forty year old stay at home mom of a four year old daughter and a one year old daughter. I was a radical seventies feminist, but God has used marriage and children to soften me and bring me back to appreciating my womanly heritage. I...January 3, 2007 - 10:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #19
Barbara, After reading some of your entries about your Apron Power contest, I told my husband that I wanted an apron. I love the idea that putting on my apron symbolizes that I’m ready to do my work as a wife and mom. For Christmas my wonderful husband surprised...January 2, 2007 - 9:07 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #18
From Susan: This apron is small, but it is special to me because it was my grandmother's. The elf in the pocket is just like one we had when I was growing up. I couldn't resist when I saw it at a garage sale! I'm a homeschool mom of...January 2, 2007 - 7:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Retro I Love Lucy Apron
Remember the wonderful retro apron I found and surprised myself with last Christmas :)? Remember how the company and aprons disappeared before some of you who wanted the same apron were able to order one? Well, Connie - who is Apron Power contestent #2 and who made the apron she...January 1, 2007 - 3:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron question
From a reader: I have some fabric lying around the house, cotton I presume. Can I just make an apron with it or is something more substantial needed/more desirable? I have a pattern and it looks easy enough and I hope to make it this week yet and get...January 1, 2007 - 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #17
From Milehimama at Mama Says: Hi Barbara, Here is my entry in your contest! I made this apron with towels my mother sent me for Christmas - 3 years ago. I always thought they were "too nice to use", but I am trying to change my attitude towards the...January 1, 2007 - 10:33 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #16
Aprons around the globe! Monica blogs at Small Things. Dear Barbara, My family work as missionaries in Romania and I want to thank you for the encouragement and inspiration you give me through your blog. Attached are two pictures of my friends and I on Christmas eve in our...January 1, 2007 - 10:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #15
Hi Barbara, it's Lauren from mychoice-hislife. First, I'd like to say how THRILLED I am that you are doing this contest. I heard of the "apron ministry" through my husband's cousin, but didn't think much of it at that time. After reading your posts, and the original article itself,...December 31, 2006 - 6:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #14
Dear Barbara, Here I am wearing my blueberry apron, serving up blueberry muffins to the kids for breakfast. I got this apron last summer, while blueberry-picking at a local patch. We love blueberries around here. There is a slight ultramarine hue to my hands in the picture; I had...December 31, 2006 - 6:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #13
Elena blogs at My Domestic Church and wrote an entry about aprons that begins: For as long as I could remember,my grandmother ALWAYS wore an apron. Every day, for as long as she was alive at home, she put on a housedress and an apron. It was how she...December 31, 2006 - 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron site
From a long-time reader: Barbara, Thought I'd pass on this great apron site I just found: Jessie Steel Aprons. Laura Here and Now P.S. My husband bought The Mommy Survival Guide for Christmas - I LOVE it!! :) Thanks, Laura!...December 31, 2006 - 3:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! updated announcement
After years of never wearing an apron, I am rarely without my I Love Lucy retro apron - one of those from-me-to-me presents I splurged on last Christmas. Here I am wearing it while making enchiladas on Christmas Eve: I was 70 pounds heavier then. I'll take another soon...December 30, 2006 - 5:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Apron Power! logo
Yay! Still working my way through my Inbox, I found this wonderful logo, created for my Apron Power! contest - by a new reader at MommyLife - Tanisha, who blogs atFamily Renewal Ministries and For Busy Mothers. Tanisha - thank you so much!! Now all of you can add...December 30, 2006 - 5:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #12
Hi, Barbara! I'm a newer reader of your blog, and I love gleaning from your experience and wisdom! My name is Tammy, and I'm a 24-year-old wife and mama to two little boys ages 2.5 and 11 months. We're a second-generation homeschooling family (my two-year-old does projects that we...December 30, 2006 - 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #11
Jessica at Farm Fresh Iowa: Here I am with my sidekicks--Aviana, 2, and Brielle, 4 months, making macaroni tuna casserole. I started wearing vintage aprons because they are free from older women in the family. I am wearing my husband's great-grandmother's and Aviana is wearing one that belonged to...December 30, 2006 - 2:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #10
Barbara--I ran across your blog while checking out another, and saw your apron contest. I LOVE your apron! I wasn't sure how to go about entering the contest, then I saw your email link, and thought I would try that. I am a stay home mom and homeschool teacher...December 23, 2006 - 9:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #9
You can tell this came in from a newlywed :) Hi Barbara~ I didn't make this apron, as so many others seem to have done, but I do wear this every Christmas. My husband gets a big bang out of it, and it does make a messy kitchen a bit...December 23, 2006 - 8:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron Power! site link
I didn't know about this site when I started our Apron Power! contest. Thanks to Shanon of Rocks in My Dryer for discovering and sharing it: Tie One On - About all things aprony make aprons to show and tell! every month there is a different theme. you make the...December 21, 2006 - 3:18 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #8
Hi Barbara, I couldn't resist sending in this picture. It isn't a full shot, because I had to take it of myself! My son and I were baking Christmas cookies and candies this morning and having such a good time - as you can see! (If you want to...December 20, 2006 - 6:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #7
Hi Barbara, My oldest daughter (6) is such a wonderful helper around the house and she loves to wear her craft apron all the time. The other day she was sweeping with her apron on and I just had to take a picture to send you. I know the...December 20, 2006 - 3:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #6
Hi Barbara! This apron says “Love Mongolia” underneath the picture of the ger. My dad brought it back to me from his trip there a year or so ago. It’s a good reminder to my kids and me to pray for the people there (where it’s -28C today!). Blessings!...December 20, 2006 - 3:34 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Contest links
From Elizabeth, who blogs at The Leone Family: Have you seen these aprons? I love them!!! Bella Pamella From another reader: Hi, Barbara! My name is Beth Byler. My husband Dean and I are the blessed parents of 8 awesome children (4 bio and 4 adopted). I have been reading...December 20, 2006 - 1:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #5
From Jema at My So-Called Homeschool: I'm going to have to get hubby to take a picture of me in my apron, I tend to be the picture-taker and don't have many. But I do have some of my sweet daughters in theirs -- beginning a new generation of apron-wearers!...December 16, 2006 - 12:28 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #4
From Lora at Vita Familiae: Barbara, Thanks for your blog. I sure do enjoy it. Looking forward to seeing you at my MOPS group in May! This apron was made for me by my step-mom and little sister last Christmas. I didn't know how much use I would get out...December 16, 2006 - 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #3
Here is my blogger friend Kansas Milkmaid: Barbara: Here is the photo I posted on my blog. This apron was sent to me by a customer. She made it for me knowing I was having a hard time finding aprons. She also sent it with a lovely note praying for...December 14, 2006 - 2:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #2
Hi Barbara, Here are some photos of an apron I made with some vintage fabric and a vintage pattern this past summer. I love wearing it! I don't have a blog, but I have enjoyed yours for a long time. (I even won The Mommy Manual from you just...December 14, 2006 - 2:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBack
Apron Power! #1
Kicking off the Apron Power! photo contest is Maggie from Roanoke. Especially fitting as she has been called The Grandmother of the Internet Apron Movement: Hi Barbara. One of my readers sent me your contest, and I couldn't resist offering my picture. It's not exactly a holiday picture, although it...December 14, 2006 - 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Apron Power! contest update
Okay, I'm gonna do a little tweaking here because like everything else about me, my blog is always a work in progress. While I admire women who do things in a well-thought-out way, my own let's-do-this-now! mentality - which has enough advantages that I've stuck with it - means...December 13, 2006 - 9:46 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Apron Power!
More notes: First of all, yes it's a shame that the company that was making the retro oilcloth aprons like mine seems to be no longer making them. I will continue to try to track them down. In the meantime, I discovered that the same company - Dakat Studio Goods...December 12, 2006 - 1:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Apron Power! a photo contest
After years of never wearing an apron, I am rarely without my I Love Lucy retro apron - one of those from-me-to-me presents I splurged on last Chritmas. Here I am wearing it while making enchiladas on Christmas Eve: I was 70 pounds heavier then. I'll take another this Christmas...December 11, 2006 - 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (16) | TrackBack
Contest News!
Spunky is hosting Capture the Educational Moment - a contest with a Canon Digital Camera as grand prize. Check it out!...September 14, 2006 - 11:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Blog of Beauty Finals
Someone loves me! What a wonderful feeling to rate the beautiful logo above. I am a finalist in the Blogs of Beauty awards in the category Best Meet for a Mocha:The blogger you have never met and would most like to meet in person for a mocha. If we...July 11, 2006 - 10:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Blog subscriptions
Someone asked in the comments how to subscribe to Mommy Life. I know you can subscribe at Bloglines - which has a link in my bottom right sidebar. I don't know how the RSS feeds work, but maybe someone else can explain. And some commenters mentioned other subscription sources. Feel...June 26, 2006 - 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack
Subscriber contest - don't forget
Don't forget I am giving away five of my books (winners' choice) to the five readers with the longest subscription to MommyLife. Details here, where you can see that there are ways to find out when you subscribed via Bloglines or even when you bookmarked a site (I didn't know...June 24, 2006 - 7:04 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBack
Who subscribed first?
I would like to thank all of you who subscribe to MommyLife, either through RSS feed (which remains a mystery to me) or Bloglines (which you can access from my bottom right sidebar). Writers need readers. And you all are important to me. With that in mind, I thought I'd...June 21, 2006 - 9:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack
Lost Mom contest winners
Winners of the Losing Mom contest are - TA DA! Phyllis - whose Buzz Lightyear story zoomed past all competition Sparrow Michelle Jane Becky If you ladies will be so kind as to email me your addresses, I will send the copies I have of Where's Our Mama? to you....June 7, 2006 - 5:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack
Saturday morning / Contest update
It's Saturday morning. Tripp is off to the Saturday Men's Breakfast at church. All the big kids are still asleep. I've fed Jesse, Daniel and Justin and they're dressed and working on big floor puzzles in the foyer. I've cleaned out the refrigerator, done some dishes and laundry. I have...June 3, 2006 - 8:41 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack
Mommy Contest
As a lead-up to this itty-bitty contest, I want to share this excerpt from Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room: I’ll never forget the first time we forgot a child. It was Sunday morning – eight kids then as I remember – and we scurrying to get to...June 2, 2006 - 7:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (34) | TrackBack
Contest Winners!
First Place: Carrie (#11) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Second Place: Kelsey (#19) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Third Place: Shalee (#14) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fourth Place: Annie (#16) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fifth Place: Sarah (#31) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sixth Place (tie): Laura (#13) and Meggan (#22) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Seventh Place: Becky (#25) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Eighth Place (tie): Susanne (#6) and Heather (#17) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Ninth Place:...March 21, 2006 - 5:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (13) | TrackBack
Don't forget to vote!
In the Meet Me in the Laundry Room Contest! 32 brave mothers have sent in their pictures for this and the top ten - as determined by your votes - win free autographed copies of Lord, Please Meet Me in the Laundry Room. Voting ends at 11:59 pm Monday night....March 19, 2006 - 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Can a guy vote?
Yes a guy can vote in the Meet Me in the Laundry Room Contest! But to the guy who asked, I accidentally lost your comment with your votes. Sorry. Will you email to me? And don't forget, voting ends Monday at 11:59 pm. Winners announced Tuesday morning....March 18, 2006 - 4:52 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Meet Me in the Laundry Room Contest
Voting begins NOW! Please email me your top 10. I will not count votes for one picture because this is not a popularity contest so you need to look at all the pictures (can you tell I'm the boss at my house? Well, except for the Big Man :) I...March 16, 2006 - 8:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) |