Happy New Year (of Freebies)!

I cannot even express how the first Friday of January has sneaked up behind me and caught me off guard!  Somehow, though, in the middle of the holiday bustle and other life changes going on all around me, I did manage to remember that not only did I have a First Friday Freebie for you – I actually remembered to offer it to you today!

I’ll be having some announcements to make soon, but not today – it’s Freebie Day!

Before we get to January’s Freebie, let’s take a look back.  December is always a rush and I believe the postal service, in their busiest time of the year, was a little late in getting the Freebie to its new home.  I’m sorry I don’t have a photo to post as usual, but I do want to announce that December’s Freebie, the embroidered oven mitt and potholder set, went all the way to –

Tamara in Lexington, South Carolina!  Congratulations Tamara and I really appreciated your sweet note of thanks.  I hope you enjoy your First Friday Freebie!

You can see the gift Tamara won here.

January is upon us and so is the cold.  Actually, it’s been rather pleasant here lately, but I’ve lived here all my life and I know how this works.  When January toys with you, offering you a few days of spring-like weather, it’s merely gearing up for the next round of torture.  It’s bound to hit soon and when it does, you’ll be glad you have January’s First Friday Freebie.

Green Collar Scarf FREEBIE!  www.midweststoryteller.com

This eco-friendly green collar scarf by Life is Beautiful appears at first glance, to be the world’s shortest scarf, but as you see in the photo, when folded in the opposite direction, becomes a warm fringed collar that you can slip on over a coat or jacket to keep the winter chill from whistling down your neck and at the same time, keep long scarf “tails” from getting in your way.  Green, many times, becomes a neutral because it coordinates with so many other colors, so it will go with many of your coats and jackets.  Or, how about wearing it indoors?  As shown in the photo, it’s a great way to spiff up a plain pullover.

No matter how I tried to adjust the photos, the color just doesn’t show to be as pretty of a color as the scarf actually is. In reality, the green is “happier”.

To win the fringed green collar scarf, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post saying, “Warm me up, Midwest Storyteller!”

You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, January 3rd, 2020! 

Important:  Once you’ve entered, you MUST keep checking the email address you used to subscribe or you may not know you’ve won and have to forfeit your free gift.  Also, remember that this particular comment must be made here on the blog post and not on Facebook or other social media sites. 

My Freebies last for one day only – on the First Friday of each month.  Tell your friends and family TODAY through social media, send them the link in an email or just tell them, “It’s Freebie Day!”   

Leave your comment now before you forget! 

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.  You’ll find a subscription area in the right sidebar or you can use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page and subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so already. Confirming your subscription through the confirmation email you’ll receive is absolutely necessary, so don’t forget that!

The Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest icons on this page are there to help you share.

Past gifts and their happy winners are on my “Freebies” page.

Remember, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “Warm me up, Midwest Storyteller!”  

I send Freebies to any winner who lives within the continental United States.  For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, CLICK HERE

Glitches happen.  If you subscribe and do not receive a confirmation email for some reason, please email me and let me know at barb@midweststoryteller.com

Have a bright and happy 2020 with and may your year be blessed beyond anything you can ask or imagine!

‘Tis the Season for a Freebie!

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been baking cookies!  Lots of cookies!  By the time I get through the Christmas season, my kitchen needs a little help.  Of course, if you’ve been keeping up with Smuffy’s kitchen makeover, you know mine needs a lot of help!

The smallest thing can add a bright spot during the holidays, so I think you’ll really enjoy December’s Freebie.

Tartan Oven Mitt & Potholder Set www.midweststoryteller.com

This oven mitt and potholder set will liven up your kitchen.  Who wants to have people over for a festive gathering and show them all the potholders and mitts you’ve wrecked and scorched in the days and weeks leading up to the event?  This set from “Handmade Holiday” was a great find at joann.com

I’ve really fallen for all the bright plaids that are on trend right now and this red tartan set is beautiful with its embroidered wish for a “Merry Christmas”! I suppose you could use it as a gift for someone else, but – awww…go on! Keep it!

I find so many great things at Joann. They offer great Doorbuster sales, wonderful coupons and are often times willing to combine them. For those of you who think they are just a store for crafters or those who sew, you might want to check out their great selection of home decor.

To win the Tartan Plaid Oven Mitt & Potholder Set, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post saying, “Merry Christmas, Midwest Storyteller!”

You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, December 6th, 2019! 

Important:  Once you’ve entered, you MUST keep checking the email address you used to subscribe or you may not know you’ve won and have to forfeit your free gift.  Also, remember that this particular comment must be made here on the blog post and not on Facebook or other social media sites. 

My Freebies always happen on the First Friday of each month and last for one day only.  Spread the word to your friends and family TODAY through social media, send them the link in an email or just tell them, “It’s Freebie Day!”   

Make your way to the comment section now before you forget!  ‘Tis the season, Dear Readers, for having so much on your plate that you begin to forget everything.

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.  You’ll find a subscription area in the right sidebar or you can use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page and subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so already. Confirming your subscription through the confirmation email you’ll receive is absolutely necessary, so don’t forget that!

The Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest icons on this page are there to help you share.

Past gifts and their happy winners are on my “Freebies” page.

Remember, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “Merry Christmas, Midwest Storyteller!”   That’s one way to get your Christmas greetings – right? The greatest gift you can send my way is to share Midwest Storyteller with all your family and friends. It really makes a difference in my unseen cyber-world.

I send Freebies to any winner who lives within the continental United States.  For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, CLICK HERE

Glitches happen.  If you subscribe and do not receive a confirmation email for some reason, please email me and let me know at barb@midweststoryteller.com

I wish each of you a blessed Christmas filled with family and friends.  I’m with George Bailey – it truly is a wonderful life when you focus on what matters most.   If you’re out of touch and don’t know who George Bailey is, I’ve just given you a great start on watching Christmas movies!

November’s Freebie Winner!

At least one of my readers is way ahead of me in preparing for the holiday rush.  That’s because she’s now in possession of November’s First Friday Freebie. 

Meet the winner –

Freebie Winner Karen www.midweststoryteller.com

Karen from Boonville, Missouri 

It took Karen a few tries, but eventually, when Smuffy reached in an drew out a name, she won the set of 56 Fabulous Gift Tags!

Congratulations, Karen!

You can see the original freebie offer here.

From glitter to watercolor and from foil to polka dots (along with some handmade Christmas creations of my own) these versatile gift tags will carry Karen through Christmas and various other occasions. 

As a subscriber, Karen receives an email on the first Friday of the month, letting her know that it’s time to read a short blog post and comment as directed.  That’s all it took to enter her name into the drawing.

Freebies are my way of reaching out to more folks who might enjoy the various stories, recipes and more here at Midwest Storyteller.  When you share with all your friends via Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, that gives them the opportunity to subscribe and win also.  Subscribing is free.  Freebies are free.  The helpful information and smiles here are free. Sometimes I feel like I’m just raining wonderfulness!

Freebies happen every month.  My Freebies page features past winners and the free gifts they’ve won.

 December’s drawing is coming on up Friday, November 6tht.

A winner is chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight on the day of the drawing by leaving a comment as instructed in the post. 

REMEMBER:  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.

Be sure to take a moment make yourself familiar with the Freebie Rules by clicking HERE.

These four simple steps will have you ready to enter to win on Friday December 6th, 2019.

Leave a comment!  On a desktop computer, scroll back up under the title of this post and let me know what you’re thinking.  On various devices, you may find “Leave a Comment” at the bottom of the post.

Tag! – You’re It! (if you win November’s Freebie)

Do you tend to procrastinate when preparing for the holidays?  Midwest Storyteller wants to knock one thing off your list and help you get prepared.  I’m one of those people who likes to take one season at a time.  I love to decorate for fall and I love celebrating Thanksgiving from its current blessings all the way back to its historical roots in Plymouth Colony.  Only after that am I in the mood for Bing Crosby, shopping and decorating. 

However, since December’s First Friday will fall on the 6th, that seemed almost a week late for me to offer you this and then send it out.  Take a look at November’s First Friday Freebie –

Freebie Gift Tags www.midweststoryteller.com

I’ve bundled these great gift tags together to help you spiff up all those bags and packages for Christmas, birthdays and more.  There are 56 in all.  Each package contains eight fancy gift tags and I’ve even thrown in some of my own homemade creations.  You can recognize those by the ribbon ties.

These fun tags are from madeforretail.com and Allinthecards and I think I’ve chosen a great array for you.  The set includes bronze and silver glittered tags, various shapes in silver foil prints, rose gold borders, stripes, polka dots, chevrons, the water color add-on pack along with my own Christmas versions.  With strings and ribbons attached, they are ready to add to your boxes and bags.  The majority are “all occasion” rather than seasonal which always makes life easier. You can always enhance them or make them more seasonal with press-on jewels, stickers or other fun art. The kiddos would love to do that!

If you’d like to win the collection of 56 fabulous tags, all you have to do is leave a comment on this blog post saying, “Tag me, Midwest Storyteller!”

You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, November 1st, 2019! 

Important:  Once you’ve entered, you MUST keep checking the email address you used to subscribe or you may not know you’ve won and have to forfeit your free gift.  Also, remember that this particular comment must be made here on the blog post and not on Facebook or other social media sites. 

My Freebies always happen on the First Friday of each month and last for one day only.  Spread the word to your friends and family TODAY through social media, send them the link in an email or just tell them, “It’s Freebie Day!”   

Make your way to the comment section now before you forget!  That, my friends, starts to happen more often as the holiday season gets busy.

First Friday Freebies are for email SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.  You’ll find a subscription area in the right sidebar or you can use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page and subscribe to Midwest Storyteller if you haven’t done so already. Confirming your subscription through the confirmation email you’ll receive is absolutely necessary, so don’t forget that!

The Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest icons on this page are there to help you share.

Past gifts and their happy winners are on my “Freebies” page.

Remember, a winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight by leaving a comment which says, “Tag me, Midwest Storyteller!”

I send Freebies to any winner who lives within the continental United States.  For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, CLICK HERE

Glitches happen.  If you subscribe and do not receive a confirmation email for some reason, please email me and let me know at barb@midweststoryteller.com

I’m thankful for each and every one of you.  As we enter into this special season of Thanksgiving, make it a habit to tell the special people in your life that they are a blessing!