Free Pyrex Pot Holder

The first 120,000 people to fill out and submit the form found HERE will recieve a FREE Pyrex Potholder. Limit one potholder per household or address. No PO boxes allowed except for residents or North Dakota. Please allow 6-8 weeks for delivery.

Their Journey

Tonight I am going to share the quick version of how Kari & Barry met, but first I need to say thank you.  Thank you to everyone who has reached out to Kari & Barry with phone calls, texts, emails, blog comments, and emails of support.  And thanks to everyone who has emailed me, messaged me, and called to let me know there is a lot of support for these 2- A LOT of support. 

Family is important, but the Stearns and Richards families (Kari's family) and the Conklins know what matters most in this world; Life and Love!  One night Kari and I were chatting and weighing the merits of being a cat collector (like my nana) and the next night we're chatting about Barry. 

One evening Kari paid her Grandma Richards a visit while she was in the hospital.  As fate would have it Barry's mom was Grandma Richards' room mate.  You can tell a lot about a man by the way he treats his mom.  Jokes and small talk turned into dates and romance.  Barry proves time and time again what Kari knew from day one.  He is loving, dedicated, and kind.   The list goes on and on, but again- more on that tomorrow :) 

Tomorrow the real work will start.  Are you ready for a mission?  By Saturday at 9am my attack plan will be in full swing.  Please check back tomorrow for the launch of Kari & Barry's blog, facebook fan page, and Mission Control Center.  Please join me in flooding the in boxes of people in high places that can help make a huge difference for Kari & Barry!  Let's pound on Nate Berkus' door (and the door of several others), nominate them for Valentine's Day Sweeps, and Score them some swag.  Let's lift them up and shower them with love and warm fuzzies.  Two years ago Barry popped the question on Valentine's Day.  Let's help them find the smiles they had (pic above) on that special day!  If you know of a contest or local hot spot in the Hudson Valley or in the NYC area, please share. 

Thank you for your help Clippers.  I am amazed at the responses I have received in the past 24 hours and I cannot wait to see what happens in the next 24!  Pull out your Rolodex or Palm and get ready to put your connections to work. 

Romantic At Heart? Help Move A Mountain!

Hello Clippers! Meet Kari and Barry.  Over the next 12 days you will be reading a bit about them and about how you can help me lift a significant burden from them.  Kari and I met in the 5th Grade and here we are many moons later.  We go together like peas and carrots.  She really is one in a million.  Why am I introducing them to you?  I am trying to draw some national attention to them in hopes of a Valentine's Day Miracle.  These two have the greatest love story.  I will share that tomorrow.  Just when Kari thought she would be always a bridesmaid and never a bride; Just as she thought she was destined to become a crazy cat lady; fate intervened and these two love birds found their lobster!  I am going to jump ahead to today and what is going on in their lives.  Tomorrow we will have a flash  back and I'll tell you all about how they met.  Kari and Barry were married in September, but getting to the alter was not all fun and games.  They have been thrown one curve ball after another.  A few months before their wedding Kari's dad was diagnosed with cancer and began treatment.  Weeks before their wedding Kari's beloved Grandma Sterns was diagnosed with terminal cancer.  They held their breath and hoped both would be well enough to share in their special day.  If those worries were not enough, Kari started having GI symptoms that were thought to be stress related at the time.  She spent the week before the wedding in the hospital and was quite uncertain about getting out of the hospital in time for their wedding.  With less than 24 hours until the blessed event, her doctor cleared her for discharge and they hoped that her scary experience with intestinal blockage and diverticulitis was behind them.  She found herself  back in the hospital within 48 hours of their wedding.  The following week Kari was diagnosed with Stage 4 colon cancer and Barry's mom passed away.  The last few months have been filled with resections, infections, complications, ablations, perforations, recuperation, and vegetation with no possible vacation in the immediate or distant future.  Kari is dealing with the effects of her cancer and her aggressive treatment protocol. On top of that, she has been having great difficulty with her ability to move and get around.  She was recently diagnosed with a rare autoimmune disorder called Dermatomyositis.  This complication is like getting struck by lightening sssssix-ssssix-sisisi..tee.tttee.sssix times (ala The Great Outdoors).  What would make Kari & Barry happy right now? A Temperpedic Adjustable Bed and housing with handicap features.  They are locked into a lease and are trying to make due with what they have, but at the moment Kari cannot get to her bedroom to sleep.  She has no access to her tub and shower.  She sleeps in her recliner and Barry curls up near her on the couch.  He is a trooper and I love him and admire all of the fine things he does to bring love and joy to Kari every single day.   Love is in the air and many nationally syndicated shows are hosting love bird contests.  Help me spread this story and this cause like a bad virus!  In the coming days I am going to be asking all of you to vote and help me in my quest to knock on the doors of Oprah, Ellen, Regis & Kelly, Nate Berkus, Dr. Phil and Dr. Oz. Power in numbers, my friends!  Stay tuned for ways to get involved, please.  And pass this story along to everyone you can think of.  My goal is to start plugging this cause like crazy over the next few days.  If you believe in love, If you believe in miracles, join me to move a mountain for Kari and Barry.  It's about time for their luck to change. 

Winner Winter Wednesday- Contest #2

What has made this morning fantastic? Chocolate filled butterhorns (from scratch).  Recipe to follow.  Time for another contest. 

Up for Grabs:
$20 Groupon for Chocolate.com (can be used towards tax and shipping).

Yummo!

Contest closed at midnight tonight.

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Win on Winter Wednesday :)

I hope everyone is snug as a bug and ready to ride out the great blizzard of 2011.  I am!  What could be better than a cuddle day filled with PJs, hot chocolate, and rest? Prizes!!!  I have a few give aways today check back often to enter!

Up first......(drum roll...............)

25 FREE Valentine Photo Cards from Shutterfly (4x5 premium). (Only pay shipping, handling, tax)

Contest opens now 2/2/11 @ 6:43am.  Contest closes tonight at midnight.  I will email the gift card code to the winner tomorrow morning.

As always I do not share names and email addresses from contest entries.  Please leave an email so that I can send your code if you win!

Create your free online surveys with SurveyMonkey, the world's leading questionnaire tool.

Home Made Simple- Coupons worth over $35

CLICK HERE to request your FREE Home Made Simple coupon pack.  These are fantastic and always line up with drug store sale deals.