T*G(oodness)*I*F+ Contest Winners Announced

The Tales from Bloggeritaville 2010 Costume Contest has come to an end.  I want to thank everyone who entered. It's always fun to see all the costumes!  And my goodness, each year I am amazed at the work put into them. I think we all had our favorites this year. It was a close race and a fair race. The Tales from Bloggeritaville 2010 Costume Contest winners are as follows:
Best Adult Costume: "A" Dust Bunny (not to be confused with the Dust Bunny Hostage)
Best Children's Costume: Little Clown ("Bean")
Best Animal Costume: Inmate Puppy

And what is it that you win?Well let me just tell you.....

Al Malekovic is the creator of Country Bob's Sauce. I had the opportunity to sample and review Counrty Bob's sauce, a sauce that can be used on just about anything to eat! Country Bob's has so generously given the winners of  the children's and the animal costume contest  a Country Bob's Gift Basket.

Each Gift Pack Includes:1 Bottle of Original All Purpose Sauce,1 Bottle of Spicy All Purpose Sauce,1 Bottle of Barbecue Sauce,1 Container of Seasoning Salt as well as the  Country Bob's Cookbook. I myself own this cookbook. It feautres some wonderful recipes featuring The World's Greatest Sauce, as well as  The history of Country Bob, Inc. . But what I really appreciate about both the cookbook and Country Bob's Company is their steadfast stance on morals, values, family and most of all-God. Throughout the cookbook you will find inspiring scriptures for living an abundant life. This giftpack has a value Price of $28.95.

And guess what...Bob is so convinced-and generous that you will love Country Bob's Sauce too, that he is offering Tales from Bloggeritaville readers a bottle of sauce for free, check it out. Yes-everyone's a winner in this deal!
That's not all....
Penelope Poet has always been a wonderful friend and sponsor of Tales from Bloggeritaville.  If you haven't checked out the Penelope Poet website, you are missing out. Artist, Creator and Business Savy mom, Joanne Gouaux is the founder of this equisite jewlery line in which she handcrafts custom pieces that are-sheer wearable  poetry! Joanne has so generously given the winner of the adult costume contest a Nashelle's silk friendship bracelet. The bracelet  is hand braided from plush silk threads, laced with strands of delicate gold chain, and accented with a beautiful hand-hammered clasp made of recycled precious metal. This artisan bracelet celebrates the beauty and refined strength of friendship with a contemporary style in your choice of three earthy hues: camel, chocolate, or black. Each color choice lends itself to a feeling of chic simplicity and sophistication. Joanne has chosen for you, the camel color. Value-$72.00














Because the race was so tight between the adult contest winners (there was a 1vote difference between the two) Country Bob's agreed to give a gift basket to the runner up in the adult costume contest . That is Sarah Hinson aka Sarah "Palin". Sarah wrote about her costume that she wore for a Halloween party on her blog. You can read all about it here.

Congratulations to the Winners. If you will please email me your home mailing address so that I can have your prize shipped to you. Thanks to everyone that entered. You were really ALL winners in my book!
Sincere Thanks to the Tales from Bloggeritaville 2010 Halloween Costume Contest Sponsors:
Penelope Poet Unique Jewelry and Gifts
Country Bob's Sauce

I mentioned earlier this week that some folks had some problems getting through to vote. I am sorry for that.  I think it was isolated instances, but there were a few that did comment to say that.  I did try and do some things to my blog that I thought might help, though I am not a very computer literate person. I took off applications that I thought might make it slow. One of these was my play list. I have to tell you, I got so many emails regarding the removal of the music. I was quite surprised.  I know it's a split subject with many so when I first put music on my blog,long ago,  I put my list at the top of the page so that if you do not like the music you can press pause. Or simply turn your computer sound down. But again, I got so many emails regarding the removal of the  playlist, requesting to  "put it back up". Telling me that you like the music. Telling me that you "love the playlist selections, that is "It makes (you) happy." It makes you dance. Someone even emailed saying that they pop up my blog, and turn up the sound and do household chores, which made me laugh out loud. Ha! I love that! And I love music too, which is why I put it on my blog. I am glad that some of you find it so enjoyable.So today, since the Halloween contest is complete, I invite those of you that enjoy it, to sing along, turn up it and to stay awhile in Bloggeritaville. I always enjoy the company with friends!
Speaking of friends.....
Did you get a chance to visit all of the Thrifty Thursday participants yesterday? So many of you are so good to take the time and visit everyone, like the good party guest that you are. I appareciate that. Its fun, its interesting to see all the great finds and creative ideas and  the best part-making new friends and catching up with old ones!
Yesterday in making the rounds I came across some fabulous finds....I cannot share them all, but I did want to share a handfull.

Cindy of Cottage Instincts  shared a fabulous project on the cheap. Take a look what she created with gorilla Glue and tell me it wouldn't make awesome Christmas gifts? I see the cheesedomes at the Thrift often-as in everytime I go. With the additions that can be found easily, you have a priceless gift for someone special!

Jan at Bobby Pins Boardwalk gets the award for using the most skill. You will NOT beleive her thrifty creation....these custom made bookshelves. She walks her readers through the entire process over at her blog. I still am in shock!

And really, who IS Mamie Jane? Who IS this woman? Every week she is cranking out ingenious yet thrifty  ideas that I almost believe even I can do if I put my mind to it. This week she uses tennis brackets to make the cutest Christmas tree.

Yes, people. Tennis brackets! Before that, she used them in her Halloween decor.
Mamie Jane, I cannot help when I visit your blog to think back to my childhood days in vacation bible school. The arts and crafts lady at the VBS I attended always had the coolest things to make year after year. If I said I went to vacation bible school for the crafts each year, it wouldnt be a lie. But don't think ofr a moment I wasn't praising God for this crafty woman who made things fun. Honest the crafts were not textbook tiddlywash. They were amazing!!!!When I go to Mamie Jane's Blog, I think that  Jane could've very well have been the one teaching craft class (but I think she and I are about the same age so it's not possible) And Mamie Jane, perhaps you should teach crafting classes...I am ready to sign up! You astound me each week!I just adore you and your creativity, Jane! Mamie Jane, I bow to you!!!

I invite you to stop by my food blog, PLATES & PLACES, for Foodie Friday! There I am sharing a dish (by way of video) from a local restautant located in Helena, my hometown. The dish is Creole Pasta by 122 Tree Lane. It's simple, it's quick, its filling and its delicious. Oh-and it's authentic creole. The chef is from "Lu-ze-anna" and can cook up some food like nobody's business. I LOVE her cucumber salad...it's like my grandmother made it. Umm, memories. Anyway, drop by and educate yourself in some creole dishes.
Have a wonderful weekend, my friends! I truly appreciate you taking time from your bbusy day to stop byy, comment, email. I really do. I send the love right back at cha!
Sing*Dance* LIVE (really live)
HUGS!
Leigh

Costume Contest Participants-Vote!

UPDATED!!! There were some technical difficulties on Monday with the contest. Many people could not get through to vote, fortunantley the contest is open all week and only one vote per catagory is allowed. You may vote for all three catagories.
I hope to have worked out any kinks by putting all of the contestant photos up versus the slideshow. You can click any photo for a closer look.  I also used one photo per contestant.  Votes left in the comments will not be counted.  To vote, go to the sidebar on the top right of the blog and vote under each catagory. 
In that computer problem, "Pumpkin" in the adult catagory was not listed. It is now up. In fairness, Votes for Pumpkin will be counted by vote number rather than percentage and then tallied at the end of the week with all of the adult contestants to provide the winner.
If you have any further questions, let me know. Hope this fixes the problem. I apologize for the issues. I still do not know what happened, but hopefully I have resolved the problem.
Now, go and VOTE for your favorite! Best of Luck to everyone!

I hope everyone had a great Halloween! By the looks of the contest entries for the 2009 Tales from Bloggeritaville Halloween Contest, it appears everyone did! We have some outstanding costumes, it's going to be very difficult to chose a winner, they are all so good. Fortunate for me, I am not making the decision, that is up to you to cast your vote (one entry per catagory). You can ask your friends and family to vote too!

Without further Ado...Here are our nominees (I always wanted to say that. LOL)

Children's Contestants:

Skunk

Flower

Bat Princess

Fairy Princess

Charlie Brown as a Ghost

Chomp, Chomp (Little Tebow)

Hulk

Cinderella

Titantic Ghost

Wicked Witch of Oz

Little Clown

HR Pufnstuff, Mayor of Living Island

MadHatter(from Alice in Wonderland)

Strawberry Shortcake

Penguin

ADULT CONTESTANTS:

Jolly Green Giant and Little Sprout

Hippy Chic

Sarah Palin

A Dust Bunny (not to be confused with the DB)

PUMPKIN

In the Animal Group: There were only two
It's a head to head battle between
Princess Puppy

and
Inmate Puppy

You can find the Voting Tab on the Tales from Bloggeritaville sidebar, just underneath the "Follower" button on the top right.
Polls close at 6PM on November 5th.
Be sure to tell your friends and family to vote!
You can vote one time per catagory.

On November 6th I will announce the winner of each category.
The winner in each category will receive a Bloggeritaville Prize. I am hoping to get some business sponsorship on that one. If anyone is interested, let me know (if anyone wants to join in and donate prizes, let me know. It's good marketing and lots of fun).

Sarah of LuShae Jewelry is hosting a competition on her website, LuShae Jewelry. Be sure to click over for more information on how you can win $200.00 CASH.  That's right, I said cash. While there, be sure to check out the blog badges. To visit the site: CLICK here.

If you missed  how we spent our Halloween in Funky Town., you will NOT want to miss, click on "Funky Town" to see the party that rivals a Martha Stweart Halloween Event. Hope you all had a fun Halloween.

Thanks for stopping by, friends-old and new. And if you are new, won't you become a follower by clicking the button on the top right sidebar. Bloggeritaville always has room on the "island" for more friends!
Welcome!

Bloggeritaville Halloween Contest

Today is the last day to get in those pictures of your favorite costumed character  (characters must belong to you /family)

If you missed the details about the contest, here they are:

Last year, I hosted Tales from Bloggeritaville Halloween Costume contest.
It was such fun, that I want to do it again this year. You can start sending in your costume pictures now.
I will accept entries until November 1st at 6PM.
That should give those who want to send in Costume pics from this year time to get them in.
And there are prizes!

The Rules:
From now until 6 PM November 1st, email (profile) me your best costume. You may enter each category as many entries as you want. It can be a costume of years past or you may want to wait until Halloween of this year to submit.

Photos must be sent as Jpeg's and send small (about 8x10 in size).Photos must be in good taste. Nothing that will make me blush or embarrass your momma should she Google you and find you on the Internet. Be tasteful. Be respectful. Be courteous of your fellow bloggers.

If you do not have a blog, you can still play, just be sure to leave your email address (Which I will not publish). And a link to your blog, if you have one.

Your costume entry can be a costume of years past or you may want to wait until Halloween night to enter.

Pictures MUST be your own. You may not enter someone else's pictures or ones that might have been "borrowed" from the web or email source. You must own the rights to publish.

Please tell me what "character you are" or name your photo. BE SURE TO SEND IN BLOG LINK, if you have one (though to enter you do not have to have a blog). Please do not send in 12 people in one photo. The judging will be based on one character.

On November 2nd  all entries will be listed by category slideshow and a voting poll will be opened. I will have a poll on the sidebar to determine votes. Once the polls are opened, you may vote just once for each category. Don’t forget to ask your friends to vote for you, too!

Polls close at 6PM on November 5th.
On November 6th I will announce the winner of each category.
The winner in each category will receive a Bloggeritaville Prize. I am hoping to get some business sponsorship on that one. If anyone is interested, let me know (if anyone wants to join in and donate prizes, let me know. It's good marketing and lots of fun).
The categories are:
Best Child Costume
Best Adult Costume
Best Pet Costume
You can take a look at last years Tales from Bloggeritaville Halloween Costume Contestants (there were some goooood ones) Click here.
That’s it. Let me know if you have any questions!
Good luck!
FYI: Voting does not start until November 2nd and will end on Thursday, November 5th at 6PM CST

We Have Winners in the First Annual Bloggeritaville Halloween Contest

I have to say, I really enjoyed the Bloggeritaville Costume Contest! Looking at those fantastic costumes was great! Everyone looked fabulous....but we can only have one winner in each category. I wish everyone could win because you all deserve to!
But the votes were counted by automated polls and they are in. Over 350 people voted collectively and were able to cast only one vote per catagory.

The winners of the First Annual Bloggeritaville Costume Contest is as follows:

Children's Costume-222 People voted in this catagory. With over 70% of the vote, the winner is the Bride of Frankenstein courtesy of Scrappin Hillybilly. But everyone knows, you really cannot mess with a "hillbilly". I know from experience. I too am from a long line of cultured hillbilly's Is that an oxymoron? Anyway, let it be known that prior to this contest I had no knowledge of the Scrappin Hillbilly. We are not related. Or not that I am aware....



Adult Costume-142 people voted in this catagory. It was a neck in neck contest between Gretel/Slim Jim (37%) and The Flintstones, but the Flintstones (the modern stone age family) slugged it out for the win at 43%.

Congratulations to Valarie Lea from Tennessee, now from Alabama, who had a team of folks working in costume for the vote.
Valarie Lea and crew went all out...even recreating the Flintstones house!

Pet Costume-Valarie Lea's Dog from Tennessee, now from Alabama


And what do you win?

Children's Winner-a certificate to pick out a flipside hat from the web site Cat in an Apron. You can chose out your own size and fabric from that which featured on the website. Cat in the Apron is the place to find the most original and very best accoutrement's for your life with baby.
Everything is limited edition and completely original!!
Cat in an Apron is pleased to offer beautifully tailored clothing, gifts and accessories for “life with baby.” Gorgeous textiles, surprising details and original designs are features Cat in an Apron are proud to display in each and every one of their products.
I will forward the winners info onto Marne Maykowskyj Nordean of Cat in an Apron. She will provide you with the info of how to go about claiming your flipside hat. Wear it in style!



Adult Costume-$25.00 Gift Certificate to Sonic. Perhaps you can all have a celebration party on Bloggeritaville. In the words of ACDC, "Have a drink on me" er... Leigh and make it a cherry limeaide! Or really, whatever you want. Congratulations! Valarie, be sure to email me with your home mailing address so I can get out your GC and puppy pack.

Pet Costume- A pet package that any pet would love to get! It's the least I can do for what that little guy endured. I loved his costume!



Congratulations to everyone on a job well done. All the entries is what made this contest so much fun! I am so appreciative of all of you.... the entries and those that voted. Next year, I plan to make it even bigger and better! So start planning your costumes now!

Sincere thanks to all-you are all winners in my book!

Bloggeritaville Costume Contest-go vote now!

It's time for the Bloggeritaville Costume Contest ! Sorry about the delay in running on Sunday (it began to run at 10:30 AM to be exact). I was away from my computer and had all set to go,...which of course there were some technical difficulties....that's Murphy's Law!
Remember, you only get one vote. So chose wisely! You can move your cursor over the pic in the slideshow and it will show the name of the entry that corresponds with the poll on the sidebar to lessen any confusion.
Do not leave your vote in the comments but vote on the sidebar. That is the vote that will be counted.

My friend Zinnia pointed out to me that I left out Dracula!!! I apologize. And I could not add him back in since people had already begun to vote, it would not let me. I just feel terrible. But what I did was add the poll below the children's poll for our Dracula. If you want to vote for Dracula, plase do so in that poll. Use the honor system, you can only vote for one child and for one adult.

Be sure to ask your family and friends to vote. Post about it and ask your readers...I don't care!
Voting will end on Monday, November 3rd at 11:30 PM.

Good Luck everyone!

Here is the way it is shaping up.

Children's Entries:

Adult Entries:

We had only one Pet Costume entry, so I think it would be safe to say that not only are me and Valarie the only warped ones who find pleasure in seeing our pets a bit humiliated because we dress up our pets, her little shih tzu is deemed the winner of the Pets in Costume portion of the Bloggeritaville Contest. Congrats to her little rodeo comboy emsemble. Precious! Valarie, email me your address so that I can send your fur baby it's prize.


While you are voting for the Halloween Costume Contest, be sure, if you haven't already, to vote in the Bloggeritaville Mock Election.

Good Luck to everyone!

Halloween Contest Entries for Thursday

Here are today's Bloggeritaville Costume Contest entries:

Cindy sent in the cutest sea creature......Her little octupus who is also her son. I have never seen a more precious little sea creature than this one. And look! His eyes match his "skin".

And we also have Emil.

He is eleven years old son of Cheryl. Cheryl made his costume with much love! He is Jareth the Goblin King from David Bowies Labyrinth! He is certainly one cool and creative kid!

Get your entries in, time is running out!

To recap the rules:

From now until November 1st, email me your best costume. You may enter each category as many entries as you want. It can be a costume of years past or you may want to wait until Halloween of this year to submit.Photos must be sent as Jpeg's and send small.
On November 2nd, all entries will be listed by category slideshow and a voting poll will be opened on the sidebar. Once the polls are opened, you may vote just once for each category. Don’t forget to ask your friends to vote for you, too!
The winner in each category will receive a Bloggeritaville Prize.

The categories are:
Best Child Costume
Best Adult Costume
Best Pet Costume

That’s it. Let me know if you have any questions!
Good luck!
FYI: Voting does not start until November 2nd

Bloggeritaville Costume Contest Entries for Wednesday

I am just loving looking at all of the great costumes that have been submitted. I always the one to fight anyone off from answering the door on Halloween so I can see the great costumes. This is great. And boy! You people are talented! There have been some great entries.
Today is no different as you will see.......


Susan of Psych Ward makes a great Issac of the Love Boat. I am sure she can mix up a mean margarita!


Valarie Lea enters the contest as a lovely clown

And again as a terrific Ethel with her friend, Lucy.

Her children get into the act as an elderly couple

And Valarie's friends husband poses as an big and beautiful ballerina

Someone please email this to his coworkers. I am sure they'd have a field day with that one. I see blackmail in his future.

And thank Heaven's for Valarie! She entered her dog into the contest. Our first animal in costume. Is Valarie and I the only ones (sick) that find enjoyment in putting their pets in costume and seeing them look ticked off?

Lindsey's entry is her precious daughter, "MM" as a perfect Annie:

Scrappin Hillbilly -who is an ingeniously crafty woman. Here is what she says about her costumed kids, "One is of my son & the other is my dd...my son is going as "When good spiders go bad"

and my dd is the classic "Bride of Frankenstein" (and yep that is her real hair lol)

I threw in a close up of my dd's "classic scream queen" pose just for fun :) This has to be one of my most favorite costumes we have come up with yet! They wanted to be in a small town costume contest and I only had one night to make their costumes so it was a mad rush to find an old sheet (thank God for grandma-in-laws) and some tea to dye it with."

Amazing. I would've thought that these costumes were store bought they look so good.

J of Musings From Left Field is pictured here with her friend Slim Jim. J is a fine Gretel from Hansel & Gretel!!!!

Get your entries in, time is running out!

To recap the rules:

From now until November 1st, email me your best costume. You may enter each category as many entries as you want. It can be a costume of years past or you may want to wait until Halloween of this year to submit.Photos must be sent as Jpeg's and send small.

On November 2nd, all entries will be listed by category slideshow and a voting poll will be opened on the sidebar. Once the polls are opened, you may vote just once for each category. Don’t forget to ask your friends to vote for you, too!

The winner in each category will receive a Bloggeritaville Prize.

The categories are:

Best Child Costume

Best Adult Costume

Best Pet Costume

That’s it. Let me know if you have any questions!

Good luck!

FYI: Voting does not start until November 2nd.