January 26, 2009

Wilbert the Bear

It's Bloggy Giveaway Carnival time again!

Years and years ago, when I was a wee small thing, a department store in our town held a regular drawing for kids. Each month my younger brother and I would carefully write down our names and phone numbers on the tiny entry slips and watch them drop through the slot into the wooden box with all the naive hope of youth.

The drawings were usually for a small stuffed animal or toy, probably some leftover item the staff wanted to clear out of the storeroom. But one month we rounded the corner to see what we were sure was the most wonderful teddy bear in the world. Four feet tall with honey brown fur and arms open wide like he was waiting for a hug. I never filled out an entry form with such passion. I loved that bear. I wanted that bear.

My dumb pipsqueak of a brother won that bear. It took me years to forgive him.

It's no four foot tall bear, but you can have your choice of a $15 gift card for iTunes or Amazon. Because online shopping is just right for these dreary winter months. To enter, leave a comment on this post. You don't need to be a blogger to win, but you do need to leave me a way to contact you. One entry per person per day, please. Comments will close at 10:00 p.m. PST on January 30. The winner will be chosen randomly and posted this weekend.

If you are stuck in The Diaper Years--or need a gift for someone else who is--be sure to check out the chic handmade diaper tote we're giving away at the review blog Northwest Mom Finds. And of course you're more than welcome to subscribe or come back here to visit for a glimpse into the life of an adoptive mom of two spunky babes.

Good luck!

The entry period has closed--thanks to all who entered! The winner will be announced some time this weekend.

708 comments:

  1. I'm sorry you didn't get the bear. Perhaps I'll have better luck for the amazon GC.

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  2. Love that music! Have a wonderful morning!

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  3. I'd love to win the gift card. And sorry about the bear =D

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  4. Thanks for the giveaway!

    kamlchap(at)gmail(dot)com

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  5. Thank you for sharing your story. Great giveaway!

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  6. The good luck was at least the bear came home. You could still see and hug it when bro was not looking. So what ever happened to teddy?? Did it get too much love and became just a furless lump? Has it been passed onto his child? Did he finally after years of you longingly looking at teddy, give him to you?? What is the rest of the story?
    Thank you for the chance to win a 41 gc for amazon. I will use it to purchase True Lemon since I do not trust the cleanliness of restaurant sliced lemons.

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  7. Brothers, can't live with them, can't...well you know...sorry about the bear. Great giveaway.

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  8. I hope your brother loved that bear as much as you would have.
    Thanks for sharing the story. My
    oldest daughter won a prize package from burger king. All little mermaid stuff and i made her share with her sister. I suppose its hard to share a big 4 foot bear. I guess king solomon rules apply here. You loved the bear more so you were the better person.

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  9. LOL@pipsqueak of a brother

    froggypartyof2@aol.com

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  10. Oh I love love giveaways too. Where is the bear now?

    Hope I win!switchlaser@gmail.com

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  11. thanks. could always use a $15 gift card to amazon.com. best website to order from.

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  12. I'm entering! Thanks!
    Kendra

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  13. Sorry you didn't win the bear. I've never won anything myself, but hoping my luck will change. I am typing this with much passion.

    I'm at
    brailledot(at)yahoo.com

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  14. I think everyone likes to win something. Thanks for the giveaway and the bear story!

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  15. Great story. Thanks!

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  16. I think the bear would have mysteriously disappeared from my brothers room one night. :)

    :) Thank you for the wonderful giveaway! :)

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  17. Aww, I'm sorry you didn't get the bear. I'd like the Amazon gift card if I win. Thanks!

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  18. I entered those contests as well but never wins, so your brother didn't share the bear with you?

    anyway, I wouldn't might a itunes gift certificate

    thanks and have a wonderful week!

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  19. Thanks for the giveaway. I could use either gift card.

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  20. Thanks for the giveaway, personally I'd prefer the Amazon GC.

    Thanks!

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  21. I know what its like to have a sibling get the things that you wanted, I would love the Amazon card.

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  22. Mine was a bike that my sister got. I had to use her old one. Sometimes Life just isn't fair. I would love to win the Itunes gift card.

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  23. Awwww, I feel your pain about not getting the bear. I love bears, too! If I win, I would prefer the Amazon gift card.

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  24. AW! That's so disappointing. I'd love to enter your contest. gnatalie77@yahoo.com
    Natalie

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  25. Sorry about the bear! Would love to win. utgal2004[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  26. Great giveaway!

    julielaura (at) hotmail (dot) com

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  27. I hope your brother shared time with the bear!

    Mine wouldn't have ... haha!

    Woo Hoo Amazon!

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  28. I would love this.

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  29. BROTHERS!
    You can never have enough iTunes money... :-)

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  30. Thank you for the chance to win! The I-tunes card would really come in handy. :)

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  31. I could use an Amazon card, thanks

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  32. A true friend is not a friend that you can see and know that they are there without a doubt. A true friend is a friend you truly have faith in without a doubt. True friendship is when you don’t see that friend but you know that they are there and you learn to trust and believe in them…that one day you will see them without a doubt! I wa t everyone to feel this way…I WILL make everyone feel this way. Runescape gave me that chance…to know what true friendship really is. Together, we flew in the sky , over the ocean , in a dream that lasted forever! With unbroken bonds of the new existence. I DECLARE THESE BONDS UNBROKEN. I will fly with them forever in a dream that turns to the new reality.I am a blinding light made new, emptied of all preexisting darkness, and I will guide those in the darkness.Believe me..when I say I will do something, I will most likely do it eventually. I live to be the very best, not fine, not decent, good, amazing or outstanding. I live to be the very best.I burned fires of infinitism down the longest path that existed for eternity shedding tears…with my friends in the most magical and legendary lake of all time.These friends are the light that shines in the distant…you are the one in the darkness…looking for that light! That light. Is the only thing there to trust, you leave it to chance. One day you find it but it disappears. You can only have faith. That the light is still there. I found that light and I constantly lose it but I learn to trust it even more. I WILL win THIS. I DECLARE IT!!!!!!!!!!!


    My T VO
    xentrensvo@gmail.com

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  33. You should have stole the bear and hid it in your closet!
    Thanks for the giveaway, these are great fun.

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  34. An Amazon card would be so great, thanks!

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  35. Well, I'm sure he let you look at the bear. :)
    hematopoiesis at hotmail dot com

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  36. Oh, Amazon! I'm in. My email is in my Blogger profile :).

    Thanks!

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  37. Thanks for hosting this giveaway!

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  38. I am so very sorry about the injustice of the world and the big bear.

    Thanks for not allowing bitterness to overtake you, and for remaining a generous, bloggy-giving-away kind of girl. :)

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  39. Aw, I would have been upset as well!!

    I'm so addicted to books...it's quite a problem....so I definitely would love the Amazon card.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

    -Lauren
    lauren51990 AT aol DOT com

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  40. Would love to win the Amazon GC. Need to buy door knobs. I know how you feel about the bear. My brother won a stuffed dog and I got a puzzle. No matter how I begged, he would not trade with me.

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  41. I hope I win the Amazon gift card!

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  42. i love shopping on amazon, please enter me

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  43. I would like to be entered to win the gift card.

    Amazon.com is my preference

    9_26 at myway dot com

    ~Joy

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  44. We are so "book people" at our house & would love the Amazon gift card... thanks for the giveaway!

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  45. Count me in as a music person, lol

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  46. I'd love the Amazon, thanks!

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  47. Thank you so much for this giveaway. Your story about the bear really made me laugh. My brother always seemed to get things that I most wanted. Isn't that the way. lol
    Thanks so much and either the amazon or music would be great if I won. Thanks.

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  48. I love Amazon. You can find just about anything there. I confess to a love of best selling fiction! Thanks for the contest. Charlotte
    charlottewinters@cox.net

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  49. Would love the amazon card, thanks!
    Sammirichardson@yahoo.com

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  50. Brothers are definitely a pain. I'd love to get that Amazon GC to rub in my lil' bro's face. LOL

    ifayabale@yahoo.com

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  51. Awww, sorry you didn't get the bear :)

    jallen(at)huntingdon(dot)edu

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  52. I'd love a GC to Amazon! I've been dying for some nice, warm winter boots.

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  53. At least you got to spend time with the bear when your brother let you... (I hope)

    I tried to win a balloon ride once, and my sister won it. So, I know how you feel.

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  54. Please count me in! iTunes gc would be great! shadowsangell (at) hotmail.com

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  55. I don't think my brother ever won something that I wanted... though we did have a competition as to who could win more free skating parties from the roller rink. I think we were about even.

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  56. I would love the Amazon GC

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  57. I'd love an Amazon gift card, thanks for the giveaway!

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  58. I have a list a mile long of things I want from Amazon right now......*fingers crossed!*

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  59. I love Amazon and ITunes, so either would be fantastic. Thanks!

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  60. Ohh great giveaway I love itunes ;D

    Thanks!

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  61. Great giveaway!! Thanks!

    jt.718@Hotmail.com

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  62. Boy, it would be hard to choose between iTunes and Amazon, but I'd sure love the chance to try! ;)

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  63. Thanks! Both giftcards are great!

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  64. I would love either gift card!

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  65. Thanks so much for hosting this--I love Amazon.

    Come enter my Target GC giveaway!

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  66. Sorry about the bear! Stupid brothers......
    Thanks for the giveaway! Both are great!

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  67. sorry about the bear- i've been there!
    hope i win this tho :)

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  68. thanks for the chance to win a great prize! sadiekate2001@yahoo.com

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  69. Gimme an A! Gimme an M! Gimme another A! Gimme a Z-O-N! Okay, I'm no cheerleader, but Amazon gift cards make me do crazy things.

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  70. Great giveaway! (sucks about the bear though)...


    elkaye[at]gmail[dot]com

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  71. Great giveaway. I LOVE amazon. Thanks.

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  72. I would love to win the amazon gift card. I shop there way too much. Thanks for the giveaway!

    kport207 at gmail dot com

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  73. I'm not sure which one I would pick, haha
    KawaiiNeko2008 (at) aol (dot) com

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  74. Brothers! Older ones are no better! :)
    Nice giveaway.

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  75. I wouldlove to win the itunes card and I have a bear I can give you!

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  76. amazon would love to win. What great things at amazon

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  77. LOL I love the story! I have a very lucky brother who wins everything, gets everything and is just generally a well-loved guy on top of it all.
    I also have a son like that.

    I would NOT share the gc, lol.

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  78. That's a bummer about the bear. :( I'd love to win the amazon card!

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  79. Im sorry about the bear! I would love the amazon card

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  80. Itunes is my newest favorite thing! I'd be so excited to win the gift card.

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  81. New tunes? count me in!!

    Sorry 'bout the bear

    ;)

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  82. amazon is my favorite way to shop.
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    jandh at myfamilylovesit.com

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  83. I'd love an Amazon gift card!

    bridget3420(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  84. so sorry you didn't get the bear.....iTunes would be just the thing to brighten the dreary winter days....

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  85. You can never go wrong with iTunes.
    Great giveaway

    drellis500(at)gmail.com

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  86. Sorry you didn't get the bear,hopefully your brother shared with you.
    I would like that Amazon GC ,maybe buy me a teddy bear..lol.

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  87. LOL I love the title of your blog! Made me smile. I'd love to win the Amazon, I'm a book junkie. Thanks!

    shevilkenevil1 at aol dot com

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  88. I would love to win this. I need a itunes card. thanks for the chance. brewerchickey78(at)yahoo.com

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  89. I would love the Amazon gift card. Sorry you didn't win that bear!

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  90. Thanks for the giveaway!

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  91. Let's see....do I want to be selfish or think of the kids? Selfish won! I would like the Amazon GC!! Actually I will probably buy something for them with it anyways.

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  92. I love to shop Amazon. Please count me in to win.
    -Terra H.
    partymix25(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  93. It would be super to win an iTunes gift card, thank you for the chance.

    mandee220(at)aol(dot)com

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  94. I love amazon! Thanks for entering me!
    unforgetable_dreamer_always (AT) hotmail (DOT) com

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  95. Itunes... Amazon... Itunes... Amazon... I think I need a daisy =P

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  96. I am always buying books from Amazon so winning the GC would be great.

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  97. I would love the Amazon card!!

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  98. What a great contest! Good luck to everyone!!!

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  99. This is a great giveaway!! I would love to win either! Thanks for the chance to win!

    Krista
    clay_walker_fan(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  100. I once convinced my brother to eat mud cookies that i'd baked on our metal slide because he won stuff like that!

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  101. I love amazon. here's hoping
    michelle
    mpelosi@partners.org

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  102. count me in

    1agordon[at]roadrunner.com

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  103. Please count me in! I'm saving my Amazon gift certificates to buy a Kindle one day. Thank you!

    Kim
    turtles8861(at)gmail(dot)com

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  104. Bummer about the bear. :(

    scblog at hotmail dot com

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  105. Oh, I'd love to win! Amazon or iTunes? It's like Sophie's Choice. Either is perfect!

    It's no four foot bear, but I'm giving away a sock monkey at my place.

    admin (at) mymommysplace.com

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  106. Count me in!

    chrissoolee@yahoo.com

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  107. amazon, def......must always have more books!!

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  108. I don't remember anything cool like that from when I was a kid. Oh, well maybe winning an amazon or Itunes gift card will make up for years of missing out! ;)

    Thanks for the chance!

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  109. I could so use the gift card to buy the husband's b'day gift! Thanks!

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  110. i was barely able to stop smiling while i was reading your blog. thanks for this great giveaway

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  111. amazon please -- all I can say is brothers!
    tvollowitz at aol dot com

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  112. Count me in :)

    ktgonyea at gmail.com

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  113. Itunes for me!

    Bloggytime20 (a) yahoo dot com

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  114. oooh i can never justify spending $$ on music when I have the radio. I'd love to win an itunes gift card! thanks for the chance to win.

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  115. shooting for the amazon card! thanks

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  116. I'd love to win the Amazon card. thanks

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  117. awesome giveaway....Thanks

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  118. Would love to win the gift card. Thanks

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  119. I would love the amazon giftcard . Thanks for the giveaway.

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  120. I'd love to win the gift card. And sorry about the bear

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  121. Thanks for the chance!
    Megret
    musesofmegret (at) gmail (dot) com

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  122. I've had my eye on something since Christmas!
    I hope I win!
    Thanks!

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  123. Cute story!

    janetfaye (at) gmail (dot) com

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  124. What a cute story and great giveaway.

    bacchus76 at myself dot com

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  125. Thanks for the giveaway and the story!
    helencutie06@aol.com

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  126. i love the app store on itunes and hope to win to get some new apps for my ipod touch

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  127. Would love to win the Amazon GC

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  128. i can sympathize! i have never won anything. thanks for the chance.

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  129. My hubby has a birthday soon and the itunes gift card would be just the right surprise for him.
    yabbys_5 at yahoo dot com

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  130. Count me in please!
    bunnybx at gmail . com

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  131. Awesome, thanks!
    katiekarr at gmail dot com

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  132. Sibling rivalry at it's finest! I remember my sis getting a large toy that I had clearly asked for on my birthday... Thanks for the chance to win.

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  133. You had one of those brothers too?? I'm pretty sure that mine has won everything he ever entered.

    devenswan at gmail dot com

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  134. this would be handy!!


    elkesten at yahoo dot com

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  135. Great giveaway my two older daughters would fight to get the itunes gift card. Count me in!!

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  136. Thank you for offering this giveaway!
    eyeslikesugar [at] gmail [dot] com

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  137. great giveaway...Love itunes :o)

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  138. With a baby on the way I'd love to have some extra money to Amazon!!!
    give_me_a_latte at yahoo

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  139. I love Amazon. Thanks for sharing some of your story!

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  140. I hope he at least let you play with the bear.

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  141. lol aww i am so sorry about the bear! thanks for the contest

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  142. Please add me to the drawing!
    Sam (GreenEggs)

    samiam1117 at gmail dot com

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  143. Bummer about the bear!! Hope to win!

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  144. I'm sorry you didn't get the bear, but glad you got over it.

    urchiken at gmail dot com

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  145. I can always use a giftcard, thanks!

    screamingicecube at bellsouth dot net

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  146. I would love to win this! Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

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  147. That bear should have been yours.

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  148. That's pretty funny what you scratched out! Thanks!

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  149. I would love to win an itunes giftcard :)

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  150. I love to give exciting surprises to my husband and he loves books so this would just be too cool!! fun.mom.cheratgmaildotcom

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  151. I'm sorry you didn't win the bear! Who knows? You might actually get another chance! :)

    I'd love to win the Amazon gift card!

    orchestratenoise0726[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  152. Amazon is my favorite online store!
    What happened to the bear after your brother won it???
    TRigell at aol dot com

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  153. Hi and thanks for the giveaway! I would love to win the iTunes gift certificate. I am starting to get rid of my bay belly and my ipod music for the gym is so old!


    Thank you for the giveaway!
    Toni-Lynn
    @Holly_GPB
    info[@]grocerypricebooks.com

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  154. i could use either card thanks

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  155. great story!! I'm having so much fun making friends and blog-hopping again this year.

    Thanks for such a generous giveaway! I hope I'm chosen as the lucky winner!!!

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  156. What a great idea, thanks so much!!
    Kim Fissette

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  157. great giveaway! would love to win the itunes card!

    sorry about the bear, i was never one to get lucky in raffles either, but i made up for it with my awesome powers at the squirt-gun race, lol.

    alw606@aol.com

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  158. Thanks for the great giveaway!

    Paula
    forsweeps@bellsouth.net

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  159. I would have fun on amazon!

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  160. I would love to win this!

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  161. I am stuck in the diaper years but could use a book from Amazon as an escape.

    hetz-junk(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  162. An Amazon gift card would be great!

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  163. Awww, where's the bear now-a-days?
    Thanks for the contest!

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  164. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  165. yay! Thanks for the chance to win!

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  166. Great giveaway! And thx for the walk down memory lane! Loved the post.

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  167. This GC could get me Beyonce's CD. Priceless. Please accept my entry. Thank you.

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  168. This is great, please count me in.

    adrian309@juno.com

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  169. Hi, I'd love to be entered to win the gift card. I'm jnaomicline(at)yahoo(dot)com. Thanks for the opportunity!

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  170. I'd love an Amazon gift card to buy myself a new book. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  171. I know the feeling, oh so much! I have a twin sister, and since we're competitive, we didn't want each other to win something so one of us could!


    texas_heartland84[at]yahoo[dot]com

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  172. Ooh, Amazon! Sweeeet!

    Thank you for the great giveaway!

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  173. That story brings back so many memories...not all of them fond, as I have brothers, too. LOL Thank you for the giveaway guill888 at yahoo dot com

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  174. I would love to win an Amazon card, thanks!

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  175. Sorry you didn't win that bear. Hopefully your brother let you play with the bear once in awhile!

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  176. Ouch! The only thing worse than not winning is having a brother win it. So sorry.

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  177. I'm sorry you didn't win the bear. Thanks for the giveaway.

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  178. I'll gladly send you all the stuffed animal bears floating around my house!! LOL!! Thanks for the chance to win!!

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  179. Brilliant giveaway! Good luck with the next one you enter!

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  180. Awe I'm sorry you didn't win the bear. Thanks for the giveaway!
    angelacisco at rocketmail.com

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  181. thanks for the chance to win! I would love an Itunes gc so that I can get some new songs for myself and my son to listen to since he now has his own mp3 player

    zonie_chick81(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  182. Amazon or iTunes is a hard decision!

    delightfulconfection[at]gmail[dot]com

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  183. as a military family living overseas, we live on itunes and amazon. Thanks for the chance to win!

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  184. sorry about the bear, those grabber type machines at the arcade always robbed me of my money and never yielded a stuffed bear, I know how you feel! I would love the amazon GC, I have a bedding set in my wish list that I would put this win towards. ;)

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  185. I'm an Amazon Junkie! Thanks for the chance!
    digicat{AT}sbcglobal{DOT}net

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  186. Have a lovely Tuesday!

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  187. Great fun, love that Amazon

    grayjones5 at yahoo dot com

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