Blog Freebies

Meet March’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller

Spring has sprung!  That’s as exciting an announcement as the winner of my latest First Friday Freebie!  Hyacinths are blooming, daffodils are getting just a little daffy, tulips are waving their greens as a pre-show and this Freebie is in the hands of   –

Eva from New Franklin, Missouri!

Congratulations, Eva!

Eva won the multi-strand “Blessed” bracelet and I think it goes really well with the necklace she’s wearing in the photo. 

Enjoy this great accessory this spring, Eva.  Eva enters to win fairly often.  She does that by commenting as directed on my post on the first Friday of the month.  The bracelet is a great find from Factory Connection. .  If you’d like to see past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original freebie offer here. 

Not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller yet?  Let my Freebies entice you to become one – they’re for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  Subscribe with an email you intend to keep and check the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of notifying winners.  If it isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Computers, tablets, smartphones – they all give this blog a different appearance, but you can easily find the subscription area in the menu under “CONTACT”.  Confirm your subscription when the email arrives.  If you’ve don’t receive a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people.  Would you believe that a very small percentage of the world’s population out there have even heard of Smuffy?  That’s sad, isn’t it?  Join me in sharing his stories and all my recipes and other fun and informative articles here. When you share with all your friends via MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free.  Let’s be clear – Smuffy is spoken for, but his stories are free.  Does it get any better than this?

On April 1st, you’ll see the new Freebie.  Enter to win that day.  A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight.  Then, check your email in the days following. 

Smartphone reminders might help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, April 1st, 2022.

Next up:  I’m going just a little nuts!  

It’s Freebie Day!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 10 Comments

Welcome to the month of March.  The weather may be more unusual than usual around here, but at least you can count on the First Friday Freebie.

Let’s see what you might win –  

Blessed Bracelet www.midweststoryteller.com

Looking for an update for your accessories?  This multi-strand bracelet is a pretty mix of textures and elements.  I always love a mix of fancy and casual – like jeans and a lace top.  Here we have the look of pearls, leather, hammered metal and brushed gold all in one piece.  I think this lends it to being worn with almost anything.  The charms give a remind you that you can always count your blessings and where they come from.   Turn on the news for five minutes and you’ll be reminded of how important it is to remember that.  It’s a great find from Factory Connection. 

To enter to win the blessed bracelet, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I am so blessed!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, March 4, 2022.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so you’ll want to subscribe over on the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so.

I hope you get excited about winning freebies and share them and my blog stories with your friends and family through all your social media. If you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, March 4th, by leaving a comment which says, “I am so blessed!”

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

I appreciate you all and enjoy blessing you each and every month!

February’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller

Snow days come and snow days go, but First Friday Freebies – they just keep on happening.  Aren’t you glad it’s not the other way around? Here’s to hoping that snow days around here are over for 2022.  Three weeks in a row, we’ve had snow or ice that kept folks at home till the temps melted things off.  I’m hoping to March on to better days, like the one we’re having today.  Now that things have thawed, I was able to get February’s freebie to its winner, let’s meet her  –

February Freebie Winner Ginger

Ginger from Prairie Home, Missouri!

Congratulations, Ginger!

Ginger won the “Love is Enough” wall décor and considering the colors on this pretty sign, she’ll be able to decorate with it into the spring days ahead. 

I hope you enjoy it, Ginger.  Ginger keeps her eye on this blog and enters often, so this is not the first time she’s won a First Friday Freebie.  She won it by commenting as directed on my post on the first Friday in February.  It’s a great find from Factory Connection. .  If you’d like to see past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original freebie offer here. 

Not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller yet?  Let my Freebies might entice you to become one – they’re for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  Subscribe with an email you intend to keep and check the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of notifying winners.  If it isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Computers, tablets, smartphones – they all give this blog a different appearance, but you can easily find the subscription area in the menu under “CONTACT”.  Confirm your subscription when the email arrives.  If you’ve don’t receive a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people.  There’s a whole world full of folks out there who haven’t even heard of Smuffy and that’s a shame.  Join me in sharing his stories and all my recipes and other fun and informative articles here. When you share with all your friends via MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free.  Let’s be clear – Smuffy is spoken for, but his stories are free.  Does it get any better than this?

On March 4th, you’ll see the new Freebie.  Enter to win that day.  A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight.  Then, check that email in the days following. 

Smartphone reminders might help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, March 4th, 2022.

Next up:  Something just downright silly.   

Love is Enough, but Freebies Make Life Better!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 6 Comments

February has come to be known as the month of love.  It’s good that it has received a positive association because here in the Midwest February can get pretty tedious.  The upside is that I get to use this snow day to write this post and that I don’t have to be out in the deep, white stuff.  Lil’Snookie had enough fun in it for the both of us and Smuffy shoveled a path, so I’m just happy to be warm and blessed. 

Welcome to the First Friday of February!  If you’re not new to Midwest Storyteller, you know that means it’s Freebie Day.  And what might I have for you during this month of love?  Let’s take a look –

Love Is Enough www.midweststoryteller.com

This “Love is Enough” wood plaque is 7 7/8” square and can be propped on an easel or hung by its attached twine.  The ivory background with a pale sage leafy floral design has a slightly distressed look and the lettering is done in a dark gray.  Its colors are neutral enough to fit in with your Valentine décor and it can be used year-round as well.  It’s a great find from Factory Connection. 

To enter to win “Love is Enough” plaque, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I love Midwest Storyteller!”  See how I did that?  I know how to get my Valentine wishes, don’t I?  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, February 4, 2022.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so you’ll want to subscribe over on the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so.

I hope you get excited about winning freebies and share them and my blog stories with your friends and family through all your social media. If you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, February 4th, by leaving a comment which says, “I love Midwest Storyteller!”.

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

I love hearing from you and I love blessing you with a free gift.  Love is all around!

With this first First Friday Freebie of the new year comes all my prayers and best wishes that you have a 2022 that is blessed, healthy and happy.

January Has a Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 2 Comments

Do you see a pattern here?  December went out with an unpleasant bang for us as I alluded to in my last post and I don’t even remember how I managed to get to the computer and offer up the January First Friday Freebie.  Then, wouldn’t you know it, the winner had her own set of troubles causing delays in my connecting with her so that she could actually receive her gift.  Well, we are on to better days now so let’s meet January’s winner  –

Winner Vikki www.midweststoryteller.com

Vikki from Boonville, Missouri!

Congratulations, Vikki!

Vikki can now cozy up with this huge scarf if she has to brave the cold but I hope she doesn’t have to do that.  I hope she is hunkered down as we are because I happen to know that a humdinger of a winter storm is headed her way.  I can hear the stuff pelting down right now and later it promises to become deep, white and difficult to navigate with low temps falling below zero when you see this post on Groundhog Day. I don’t think anybody will be casting any shadows for a day or two around here.

Vikki is shown here holding the blush and gray scarf she won by commenting as directed on my post on the first Friday in January.  Enjoy it, Vikki!   It’s a great find from Factory Connection. .  If you’d like to see past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original freebie offer here. 

Not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller yet?  Freebies might entice you to become one – they are for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  If you enjoy entering to win, make sure you subscribe with an email you intend to keep and will be checking the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of letting winners know they’ve won and so if your email isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

The subscription area is easy to find on the “CONTACT” page.  After subscribing, confirm your subscription when the confirmation email arrives in your inbox.  If you’ve done that and not received a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribers don’t miss what’s new here on the blog.  They get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people we wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of a good Smuffy story, would we?  When you share with all your friends via MeWe, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free.  Smuffy is spoken for, but his stories are free.  Does it get any better than this?

Next up:  Some meal prepping tips and February’s First Friday Freebie.   

On February 4th, you’ll see a photo of the Freebie and you can enter to win at any point all day that day.  Don’t forget to check the email that you used to subscribe for notification that you’ve won.

A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing. 

ONCE AGAIN (because you tend to forget):  Pay attention to the email issue mentioned above.  Check your email often in the week following the drawing to keep your prize from being offered to someone else.  Smartphone reminders help with that.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

Subscribers, be ready to enter to win on Friday, February 4th, 2022.

December’s Freebie Winner AT LAST!

~ Midwest Storyteller

Do you ever feel blah in that space in time following Christmas and New Year’s Celebrations?  Does it seem sometimes that nothing bright and cheery is happening until Valentine’s Day or maybe even till spring? 

Well, we had a Christmas we won’t be forgetting anytime soon!  It can all be revealed in an upcoming post, but the super-short version is that I came within a gnat’s eyelash of losing my beloved Smuffy and Christmas didn’t get celebrated until weeks later.  New Year’s is a blur and Lil’ Snookie and I even ended up having our birthday parties together because of all the “stuff of life”.  The bright side is that I’ve still got my Smuffy, he’s miraculously his old self and has provided me with fabulous fodder for the ultimate non-fiction story and if it all hadn’t happened and shaken up our world, I’d have never gotten to have a Baby Shark birthday party.

The frenzy of holiday preparations had me a little behind in announcing my First Friday Freebie winner and then when the stuff happened, it flew out of my mind like one of those snake-in-a-tube prank gifts.

Anyhow, let’s re-wind the holidays and make life festive again. Meet December’s winner  –

Eva from New Franklin, Missouri!

Freebie Winner Eva www.midweststoryteller.com

Congratulations, Eva!

This girl has a smile that will cheer you up no matter how gloomy the weather.  Perhaps it’s because she can now offer up cheesy goodness in style.

Eva is shown here with the black and white cheese server and spreader.  She has the option of removing the black ribbon and replacing it with a seasonal one for a Valentine party or spring event.   It’s a great find from Factory Connection. .  If you’d like to see past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

You can see the original freebie offer here. 

If you’re not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller they might entice you to become one – First Friday Freebies are for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  If you enjoy entering to win, please make sure you subscribe with an email you intend to keep and will likely be checking the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of letting winners know they’ve won and so if your email isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Look for the subscription area.  It’s easy to find on the “CONTACT” page and after subscribing, confirm your subscription when the confirmation email arrives in your inbox.  If you’ve done that and not received a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribing is the best way to avoid missing what’s new here on the blog because you’ll get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people who may not have heard about this blog and we wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of a good Smuffy story, would we?  When you share with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free.  Smuffy is spoken for, but his stories are free.  Does it get any better than this?

Next up:  January’s First Friday Freebie winner because not only am I playing catch-up, but the winner was under the weather and…Oh, well, you get the idea.   Hello, “Normal”, I’d like to make a reservation for 2022…”

Then, February’s here so that means that this coming Friday, there is yet another Freebie!     You’ll see a photo of the Freebie and you can enter to win at any point all day that day.  Don’t forget to check the email that you used to subscribe for notification that you’ve won.

A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing. 

ONCE AGAIN (because you tend to forget):  Pay attention to the email issue mentioned above.  Check your email often in the week following the drawing to keep your prize from being offered to someone else.  Perhaps a reminder in the good ‘ole smartphone would help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

These four simple steps will have you ready to enter to win on Friday, February 4th, 2022.

Freebie, It’s Cold Outside!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 9 Comments

To be exact, it is a whopping nine degrees Fahrenheit outside as I type this, making my January First Friday Freebie seem like the wisest choice ever!  Let’s take a look.

I have friends who don’t wear scarves.  They just don’t like them.  I’ll bet they’re wearing them today or wishing they had one.  This big, beautiful scarf by Justin and Taylor is buttery soft and will stop those single-digit winds from whistling around your neck.

The soft gray and blush tones keep the feeling neutral so it will go with many of your outfits and coats.  The colors are separated into the four quadrants of this oversized scarf and as you can see from the photo, it looks like a plaid when arranged just right. On second thought, perhaps you can’t see, as I’ve had some issues getting the colors to show up as they really are. It is definitely as gray as it is blush, so you’ll just have to trust me on this one. Made of 100% polyester, it’s a great find from Factory Connection. 

To enter to win the  blush and gray oversized scarf, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “Storyteller, it’s cold outside!” You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, January 7, 2022.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so you’ll want to subscribe over on the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so.

I hope you get excited about winning freebies and share them and my blog stories with your friends and family through all your social media. If you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, January 7th, by leaving a comment which says, “Storyteller, it’s cold outside!”.

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Subscribe and confirm right now before you forget!

With this first First Friday Freebie of the new year comes all my prayers and best wishes that you have a 2022 that is blessed, healthy and happy.

A Holiday Festive Freebie!

~ Midwest Storyteller ~ 8 Comments

‘Tis the season.  As we turn our hearts toward the celebration of the coming of our Messiah, the festivities and preparation for them begins.  However and whatever you may be celebrating between now and the end of the year, I’m thinking there is a good deal of food involved.

Various treats tempt us during the holidays and many of them are sweet.  High on the list, however, is a category all its own – cheesy goodness.

We’re cheese lovers at our house.  We attributed much of the overstock to Pookie over the years, but after she married and left us to start her own home, we soon discovered that we still could barely get the refrigerator cheese drawer shut.

This time of the year, whether we grab a ready-made at the grocery store or make a favorite family version, we yearn for a cheese ball.  At get-togethers, I confess to often thinking as I make my way toward the heavy-laden buffet, “Is there a cheese ball?”

Cheesy Goodness Serving Set www.midweststoryteller.com

December’s First Friday Freebie will help you serve yours up in style.  This black and white cheese server and spreader are just so cute!  It’s neutral colors will go with any of your décor and whether your other serve-ware is farmhouse, modern or somewhere else on the design spectrum, it just “goes”.  You have the option of removing the black ribbon and replacing it with a seasonal one, whether it’s for the holidays, a birthday party, New Year’s Eve or your spring fling. It’s a great find from Factory Connection. 

To enter to win the Cheesy Goodness serving set, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I need cheesy goodness in my life!” You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, December 3rd, 2021.

NOTE:  An occasional problem occurs with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  Should this happen, email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com so that I can report it and have the issue resolved.

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY, so you’ll want to subscribe over on the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so.

I hope you get excited about winning freebies and share them and my blog stories with your friends and family through all your social media. If you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to hover over the photo and “pin it”.  Help me get the word out!

On the “Freebies” page, you can see what readers have been winning every month.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, December 3rd, by leaving a comment which says, “I need cheesy goodness in my life!”.

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Subscribe and confirm right now before you forget!

Perhaps a nice cheese ball will get you into the holiday mood if your weather is not feeling Christmas-like. It’s been warm and wonderful here.  If you’re in the Midwest, you know it’s bound to change soon, so enjoy your Christmas shopping and other preparations while you can and have a blessed Christmas season from start to finish.

Meet November’s Freebie Winner!

~ Midwest Storyteller

Have you ever had one of those weird experiences when you are trying to give something away and it seems like it isn’t meant to be?

As you may have read in my last post, the October freebie winner had a change in email which set off a series of delays in getting the gift to its destination.  Then, in November a winner was notified who also had a change in email and I am sorry to say, she lost out on receiving her First Friday Freebie because I had no other means of contact with her other than the email she used to subscribe.  Then, (do these things come in threes?) when I had to re-draw a name from those who entered, the new winner also had a changed email and did not respond!  I did, however, find another means of contact and she has, at last, been united with her First Friday Freebie.

Meet November’s eventual winner  –

Heather from Prairie Home, Missouri!

Congratulations, Heather!

I was so excited that my freebie found a home that I threw in a bonus gift.

In addition to the cozy scarf in the original First Friday Freebie offer, Heather received the leather earrings you see pictured with her in the photo.  Heather is a first-time winner.  If you’d like to see past winners and their gifts check it out here on my Freebies! page.

The scarf and the earrings are both Factory Connection finds and you can see the original freebie offer here. 

If you’re not yet a subscriber to Midwest Storyteller they might entice you to become one – First Friday Freebies are for email subscribers only.

NOTE:  If you enjoy entering to win, please make sure you subscribe with an email you intend to keep and will likely be checking the week after the drawings.  This is my only means of letting winners know they’ve won and so if your email isn’t up to date, you may not get your gift!

Look for the subscription area.  It’s easy to find on the “CONTACT” page and after subscribing, confirm your subscription when the confirmation email arrives in your inbox.  If you’ve done that and not received a confirmation email, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com – it seems that from time to time, a subscription will get “stuck”. 

Subscribing is the best way to avoid missing what’s new here on the blog because you’ll get an email reminder each time there’s something new – like when there’s a FREEBIE on the First Friday of every month.

Comment as directed on the post that offers the Freebie and you’ll be entered to win. 

Freebies help me reach more people who may not have heard about this blog and we wouldn’t want to deprive anyone of a good Smuffy story, would we?  When you share with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, you’ll give them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free.  Smuffy is spoken for, but his stories are free.  Does it get any better than this?

Coming soon:  December’s First Friday Freebie – that takes place on Friday, December 3rd.   You’ll see a photo of the Freebie and you can enter to win at any point all day that day.  Don’t forget to check the email that you used to subscribe for notification that you’ve won.

A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing. 

ONCE AGAIN (because you tend to forget):  Should your name be drawn as the winner, you will be notified via the email you used to subscribe.  That means you’ll need to check your email often in the week following the drawing so that you can respond and keep the prize from being offered to someone else.  Perhaps a reminder in the good ‘ole smartphone would help.

Take a moment make yourself familiar with the complete Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

These four simple steps will have you ready to enter to win on Friday, December 3rd, 2021. 

Next up recipes to please and smiles to add to your Christmas cheer!