Free Bag ~ A Chance to Win $$ ~ Make a Statement

Kroger [and the Kroger family of stores] is once again asking us to design our own reusable bag[s].

• Submit a bag design get a credit on your store loyalty card for a free reusable bag [99¢ value]
• Submit the winning design and win a $1,000 gift card and see your bag in stores!
• Make a Statement, tell the world what you think. Oh, and you can buy your bag for $12.99 over on Cafe Press.

You can create and submit as many designs as you want, but your goal is to get those votes. So, if you like my bag design [uh, it's up there at the top of this post], then vote for my bag design today. {Thanks!}

Design A Reusable Bag – Make A Personal Statement is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

I drive a 2004 Jeep Wrangler. That’s a picture of my baby. Okay, it’s not practical, but it will be my last car [for a very long time]. I know the oil needs to be changed every 3500 miles. How do I know this? It says so in my owner’s manual. Yeah, I actually read that little book housed in my glove compartment. I even go one step further. I write down every time my oil is changed, if my air filter is changed, and check to see what other things may be due for a look-see. But I wasn’t always this diligent. Maybe it’s true what they say ~ with age comes wisdom.

I also own a 1999 Chevy Malibu. This is a wonderful car and the well-over 100,000 miles with no signs of stopping just proves this even more. Now that my girls drive it, it is even more important that we maintain its reliability and life expectancy.

These days Dwayne changes the oil in my Jeep [I can, too, but why when he will]. The Malibu is too low to the ground, though. So, I took the Malibu over to Jiffy Lube for its oil change. This worked out well as the Malibu was just over its 3000-miles-til-its-scheduled-service. Amanda was fortunate enough to make this trip with me.

My oil change experience

I really am not a complete ditz, but the oil change guy waved me over one way, then the other, then the other just to position the car correctly. He laughed when he said that had to be the most directional changes he’s ever given in his bay. I just smiled. Amanda said it was embarrassing. Here I am thinking he smiled, I smiled, we had fun and all is well.

They looked over the vehicle, then called us over to discuss my options. Since I don’t use synthetic oil I opted for the Conventional Oil Change using Pennzoil Motor Oil. This was discounted to $32.99. Additionally, he noted a valve needed replacement. I opted to have that done as well [another $10.99]. My air filter, on the other hand, looked practically brand new. I kid you not, but we couldn’t have been there more than 10 or 15 minutes [if that!]. The car runs well and the staff were oh so friendly, too.

Did you know?

• According to a study by the Automotive Aftermarket Industry Association, nearly 9 out of 10 female motorists are involved in their household’s vehicle maintenance and repair
• According to a national survey that polled 522 women, 46 percent incorrectly assumed simply switching from conventional engine oil to synthetic oil enables the number of miles between oil changes to be safely extended*
• Using a quality motor oil in the right grade can help maximize fuel economy, and help save money by preventing costly engine damage
• Off-brand, no-name or discount oils that do not meet industry standards or the vehicle manufacturer´s requirements could cost consumers in the long run by potentially damaging the vehicle´s engine or possibly voiding the manufacturer´s warrant

* Jiffy Lube Survey Conducted by Opinion Research Corporation, 2006

Win it

How would you like to win $35 towards your next oil change? Shell Lubricants, MotorOilMatters.org, and MyBlogSpark have offered to give one of my lucky readers a (1) $35 gift card to do just that!

The Rules:

Main Entry ~

• Leave me a comment telling me one thing you learned from MotorOilMatters.org. Make sure you leave a way for me to contact you [email, blog contact info].

Extra Entries [make sure you leave a separate comment for each] ~

• Subscribe to my blog
• Fan my page on Facebook [an in-progress venture]
• Follow me on Twitter
• Check out the P50 Allied Bloggers. Visit one of their sites & leave a thoughtful comment. Then come back and tell me [be sure to include a link to the post where you left the comment] ~ you may do this as many times as you like.
• Tweet about this giveaway ~ just copy and paste: Win a $35 Jiffy Lube gift card from @AnneOnline & let your car know how much you care http://tr.im/Hqcs RT please [may do this once per hour] leave a link to your tweet, please
• Blog about this giveaway
• Digg it, Stumble it, Delicious it [?] ~ buttons are at the bottom of this post for your convenience

This giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.

This giveaway will end on December 19, 2009 @ 11:59 pm ET.

I will contact the winner via email or blog contact info [or both] and you will have 72 hours to get back with me. In the event I do not hear back from the winner in a timely manner I will choose a new winner. I will use Random.org to choose the winner and will post the results in a separate post on Sunday, December 20th.

Wait, there’s more

Since I am ultra-frugal and all that, I wanted to let you know that even if you don’t win [or if you do] to get your $5 off an oil change coupon from Jiffy Lube. Remember, I said I received a $32.99 oil change and replaced a valve for $10.99. With my $35 gift card and $5 coupon I paid a mere $5.38!

Disclosure: Shell Lubricants, MotorOilMatters.org, & MyBlogSpark provided me with a $35 gift card to Jiffy Lube. All opinions given are my own and written by me. No other compensation was received.

Show your vehicle how much you care this holiday season. Schedule an oil change. ~ Did I mention this is a giveaway, too? is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

I checked out everyone’s entry yet I forgot to vote. {smacks forehead}

Every week the wonderful folks at PlotDog Press hold the W.O.O.F. Contest where you submit your writing and you and others who submit vote and choose their [your] favorites. W.O.O.F. stands for Writers Offering Our Finest and here are the finest from this past week:

WOOF Contest – Top Picks

Poetry

Jennifer M Scott – “Misery and her Sister” – A bad couple of days at work channeled into words.

dragon blogger – “Curious Storefront” – Poem about a merchant dealer of souls.

Zorlone – “Meteor Shower of Tears” – A lonesome man remembering the love he professed to a woman.

Brought to you by PlotDog Press with the Serial Suspense Screenplay “Intervention”

Presenting the finest of the writer’s blogs by the bloggers who write them. Highlighting the top posts as chosen by the November 13, 2009 WOOF Contest participants. Want in to join the next WOOF? The next contest ends November 20. Submit a link to your best writing post of the last 3 weeks using the form on this page. Participants, repost the winning link list within a week and you’re all set.

WOOF Contest 11/13 Winners is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Want to give someone an *awesome* gift at absolutely no cost to you?

Well, who wouldn’t want to do that?! Trisha, the awesomeness behind MomDot.com has entered a contest and has asked all of us to vote for her. Now, she didn’t ask we get everyone and their mother to vote or to vote every day [which you can, ya know?]. No, she just asked us to go vote once and help her out a bit. I have so much fun over at Trisha’s blog that I wanted to do more than just vote once. I am going to vote every day [as long as I remember, and I am trying to remember].

If you want to help just click here to vote for Trisha to win a Smile Makeover. Watch the video, it’s touching. Trisha makes me laugh every time I visit her site and I never noticed she hid her smile. Well, I know how that feels and I don’t want her to have to do that anymore!

There is no registration or signing up or anything. Just click on vote and you have done your part.

Tis the Season for Giving is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Have you bought or used anything listed on JCPenney.com? Then why not write a review! It’s super simple, too.

1. Select an item you have bought or used
2. Click on write a review
3. Give the item a rating and share your thoughts

Just click on the image above to get started. Click here for the complete rules.

Contest ends November 30, 2009.

Review & Win up to $250 with JCPenney is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Break out those cameras and record your 30 second video for a chance to win free Wendy’s hamburgers for a year. The best part? They pick a new winner every day!

Click on the above image to enter.

Promotion Dates: October 12, 2009 – November 5, 2009

Rules: Be sure to read the complete rules here.

Find more great sweepstakes and contests at Sweeties Sweeps.

Win Free Wendy's Hamburgers for a Year is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Wasn’t that one of the BEST MOVIES EVER! *sigh*

Now on to the giveaways [in end date order]:

• Mom Most Traveled – 250 Custom Holiday Greeting Cards, ends 10/11/09 @ 11:59 pm cst [one of 7 giveaways listed]
• I Am A Money Magnet – Once in a Blue Moon, by Eileen Goudge, ends 10/13/09 @ 7:00 pm cst
• Little People Wealth – Aicero $10 Handmade Item – Your Choice, ends 10/13/09
• The New Frugal Mom – Swanson’s Chicken $26.94 Value – ends, 10/13/09 @ 10:00 pm est
• A Day In The Life – $25 Target Gift Card, ends 10/16/09 @ 8:00 pm [est?]
• Delightful Chaos – The Couponizer Coupon Organizer – ends 10/21/09 @ 11:59 pm est [one of 3 giveaways listed]

*** GOOD LUCK! ***

Time to Spread Some Bloggy Love – Great Giveaways Around the Blogosphere is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

image courtesy of Scott Dungan

Fall is my favorite time of year. I think this has to do with when I was born. Okay, so my birthday technically falls in summer. What is the saying? A day late and a dollar short. Ah, now I have let the proverbial cat out of the bag. If you actually keep track of the seasons, then you know exactly when I turn thirty-ehrmph. Huh? Didn’t get that? I said thirty-eihrmph. Okay, thirty-eight! That is not too old, is it? I am not quite forty, yet. Which is more than I can say for my oldest brother [turns forty-two today, must call].

Yes, I am holding on to my 30′s for as long as possible. My twenties slipped by and before I knew it I was thirty-five! How did that happen? And then it was mid-thirties, and mid-to-late thirties. And just when I was getting comfortable with saying I am thirty-seven another year has passed and, well, now I am officially in my late thirties. Don’t laugh. Someday this will be you.

And with the passing of my youth another year, wait a minute. I must stop and comment on a change in my writing style. My wonderful sister, sent me a lovely comment regarding my blog. Yes, she reads this. Everyone say Hi, Tracey! She ever-so kindly pointed out my ancientness in writing style as I like adding two spaces after every period as opposed to the one space that has become more commonplace. All of my posts today have used this one-space style and I must say, “I do not like it.” But I will try it out a little more and see if I can make it fit. (fit, fashion, see how it all seems to go together)

Now back to my regularly scheduled post. Fashion.

Yes, there is a point to my rambling on about my age. As we get older we should pay attention to how we dress. Are we holding on to our youth because we cannot let go? Or is it that we just do not realize we have aged and our sense of style has just stagnated? For me it is about wanting to feel a certain way. I want to dress in something comfortable, pretty, and age appropriate. I am not sure I always hit my mark on this, but that is my goal.

As I think about what is a must have for fall I cannot help but think earth tones and the familiar scents of the season. Apple pie baking and hot chocolate with cinnamon sprinkled on top. Family and holidays and reminiscing and preparing for the end of one year and the beginning of the next.

My five fashion must-haves for fall are:

1. Jeans. Jeans never go out of style. They are comfortable and versatile. I am not talking about the super low-rise, make my butt crack show [as my kids would say, "crack kills]. I am talking comfy and proper fit. Medium tones and to the floor. No high waters for me.

2. Boots. I love my boots. Boots with faux fur and without, to the knee, to the thigh if you can pull it off. A medium heel, not too high. I prefer a square toe, but cowboy boots can be fun, too. And a good hiking boot for those fun fall days of raking up leaves and then jumping in the pile.

image courtesy of chicgeek

3. Skirts. I am a girl and what girl does not like to wear a pretty skirt. I know the fashionistas will spout the virtues of the mini, but I am not built for the mini, not right now anyway. There is always winter and spring! I prefer a longer, looser skirt. I like them to fall below my knee, showing off the smallest part of my leg.

4. Shirts. I am all for the simple off-white t-shirt/blouse. If you are in a warmer climate, then a pretty tank top paired with a nice shawl says fall. -Hey, that rhymes -

5. Scarves. I am a sucker for a scarf. Not around my neck, but in my hair. Ever since I read an article in Self magazine two years ago about protecting your hair from the damaging effects of the sun by wearing a scarf I have been sold on the high fashion of the scarf. Oh, and a nicely placed bandana works nicely, too.

«««««««««««««««««««««««««««

This post is one of many promoting the upcoming Shop Smart Look Fab event taking place at over 140 GGP malls nationwide from September 17-20. Want a chance to win one of 50 $25 GGP mall gift cards? Head on over to TwitterMoms for complete details and answer this question: “What are your 5 fashion must haves for fall?”

Fall Fashion Must Haves – 30-Somethingish Style is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

Confession time.  I hate telling others about great giveaways that I would really love to win.  Why?  Well, because I want to win them and the fewer that enter the better my chances.  But, in reality, if I am meant to win, then I will and why not give others the opportunity to win as well.  There you have it, I am not perfect!  lol

Now for the fun part…  Some of my most favorite blogs are hosting giveaways right now!  Why not check them out, enter, and while you are there check out the rest of the site(s).  These are my favorites for a reason, right?

I am going to list these in end date order (soonest first), for your convenience:

• Win 2 coupons for FREE (up to $2.99) Edward’s Singles desserts at Sweeties Swag.  Ends September 5 @ midnight EST (Then be sure to check out Wendy’s other site Sweeties Sweeps for the most winnable Sweepstakes around.)

• Win the 10th Anniversary Edition of Educating Esme: Diary of a Teacher’s First Year at I Am A Money Magnet. Ends September 8 @ 7 pm CST (Jamie was just listed as a “blog to follow” at NBC Dallas-Fort Worth.)

• Win Solavie Facial and Hair Care Products at Frugal & Fabulous.  Ends September 11 @ 7 pm EST (Lindsay constantly has giveaways and shares her $150/month grocery budget journey.)

• Win your choice of a 4GB or 8GB Kodak Picture Keeper at Mom Most Traveled.  Ends September 12 @ 11:59 pm CST (CanCan has many other giveways going on right now, so be sure to check them out, too.)

• Win a $30 gift card to Kroger or any of their family of stores at Grocery Price Blog.  Ends September 26 @ 11:59 pm EST (Toni-Lynn has many other great giveaways going on right now, too.)

Kim over at Work at Home Mafia is trying to get 1000 Facebook fans in 30 days.  As an added incentive, Kim is going to randomly draw one fan’s name to win a $100 Amazon gift card.  And, if she gets her goal she may even add more prizes!  So, be sure to check out the Work at Home Mafia Facebook fan page and become a fan today.  Oh, and Kim lists some of the best, and legitimate, work at home opportunities available.

I use Zoomerang online surveys.

Giveaways on My Favorite Blogs is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010

• Read about Megan here.
• Vote for Megan here.

Vote for Megan is a post from: AnneOnLife where life happens quite regularly. If you liked that, you'll love me on and .
© AnneOnLife 2008-2010