I’m Springing a Freebie on You!

Last month, when I offered the First Friday Freebie, I spoke prematurely in saying that spring seemed to be arriving early this year.  It was, indeed, just a teaser, as we once again this week found ourselves covering up outdoor plants and ourselves against the freeze.

I’m going to push the warm weather idea and offer you a freebie for April that definitely speaks of better weather.

Metal Bird Art www.midweststoryteller.com

 This little piece of metal art is a Hobby Lobby find by The Spring Shop that you can display inside or out.  It measures 12.68” X 5” and will look great on a wall, on a porch post, hanging from a shepherd’s hook or even on the back yard fence.  The three-dimensional bird and leaves have a weathered look already so they’ll just become a little more so as they spend time outdoors. You have the option of hanging it by the curved metal piece or with the attached twine.     

To enter to win the metal bird art, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “A little birdie told me I might win this freebie!” You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, April 5th, 2024.

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.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.  You’re not officially subscribed until you confirm by email.

No one will get to enjoy all the great things here on the blog unless you share it with your friends and family through all your social media, so if you like an idea, recipe or story you see here, be sure to share and if you save things on Pinterest like I do, 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, April 5tht, by leaving a comment which says, “A little birdie told me I might win this freebie!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

SPRING TIP:  Have you heard about any of the scientific research concerning grounding?  Grounding, to put it in ultra-layman’s terms, is when you get outdoors, get your bare toes in the grass and get your body in touch with the earth, thus setting off a whole batch of good health benefits you may not have even known you needed.  Your grandma probably knew it.  She was probably the one who said, “Get out and work in the dirt – it’ll do you good!”  You may have thought she was just trying to get you to do her gardening chores, but she was imparting wisdom, health and life to you with those words.

It’s less than two weeks till planting time here.  Make plans to get out and get grounded!  Try singing while you’re at it.  It may make the neighbors stare, but it’ll multiply the health benefits for you.

If it’s still too cold for you, take some time and catch up here at Midwest Storyteller.  Check out all the tabs and explore the pages.  You’ll find plenty to smile about on my “Life with Smuffy” and “Laugh!” pages.

Happy Spring!

Welcoming June with a Freebie!

It’s the season for summertime fun with picnics, barbecues and other outdoor fun.  I’m here to help you brighten up the festivities.

There’s always a freebie offer on the first Friday of each month, so let’s take a look at what June has to offer.

Bumble Bee Kitchen Linens www.midweststoryteller.com

Is it time to toss those grungy potholders and replace them with something a little more cheery?  Maybe it’s just time to put the ones with the bunnies away till next spring.  These kitchen helpers with a bumble bee and flower theme will have your kitchen or barbecue area looking summery and bright.  The bees hum among the soft yellow flowers and gray leaf print.  Included are one oven mitt, two potholders and one drying mat.

By the way, where have drying mats been all my life?  I’ve come to really appreciate these things and use them all the time.  Someday we’ll be telling our children that there was a time when they didn’t exist and things just sat there on a soggy tea towel.  They’ll stare in disbelief, just like when we told them that phones used to be attached to the wall and you had no idea who was calling. 

To enter to win the bumble bee kitchen set, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I’d bee thrilled to have this freebie!”  You’ll need to leave your comment before midnight TONIGHT, June 2nd, 2023.

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.

If you are new to Midwest Storyteller and haven’t subscribed, you’ll need to do that before entering to win.  Head to the right sidebar or use the menu to navigate to the “Contact” page where you can fill in your email address and then watch for your confirmation email.

My Life with Smuffy, recipes, freebies, fun things to make you laugh, reviews, creative ideas and even thoughts for you from Phoebe June – they’re all here on the blog so click through the menu and be sure to share with friends and family through all your social media.  They’ll never know about it unless you do.  If you save things on Pinterest like I do, 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, June 2nd, by leaving a comment which says, “I’d bee thrilled to have this freebie!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here.

Enjoy your summer. I hope to be bringing you more information and fun now that the glories of spring are about to give way to the swelter of the Midwest’s summers. 

Last month’s winner has been notified and will be revealed soon.  We’ve had issues connecting due to the fact that she’s been on vacation. 

Recipe reviews are coming up next!

Celebrating Freedom and a Freebie!

Since Smuffy shares a birthday with the greatest country on earth, things will be busy for me in the next couple of days.  So, let me take this First Friday Freebie post to also wish you a Happy & Free Independence Day! (And, Happy Birthday, Smuffy!)  I invite you to make this Sunday more than a great time for family and fireworks.  Spend some time with those you love celebrating the real meaning of what it means to be an American and the brilliance and freedoms established and granted to us by our Declaration of Independence and our Constitution.  These are short documents, but do we know what’s in them?  We are a country of political will and ideals that are not found anywhere else on earth. 

If I may quote Ronald Reagan from a 1988 speech –

“America represents something universal in the human spirit. I received a letter not long ago from a man who said, ‘You can go to Japan to live, but you cannot become Japanese. You can go to France to live and not become a Frenchman. You can go to live in Germany or Turkey, and you won’t become a German or a Turk.’ But then he added, ‘Anybody from any corner of the world can come to America to live and become an American.'”

I just heard some early fireworks going off outside as I finished typing that quote, as if to punctuate this truth.

Now, remembering that today is the first Friday of the month, let’s take a look at your Freebie.

The Spring Shop Red Daisy www.midweststoryteller.com

This bright red metal daisy with its sunny yellow center from The Spring Shop shouts of summer and also of the fact that I’ve been roaming around Hobby Lobby again.  It measures 8.75” across and is ½” deep.  My first thought how this would make your garden area pop if hung on a fence.  Then, I quickly realized that it would look great inside the house as well, adding a little summer to any room.  Kitchen, kids’ room, porch – anywhere that bit of red to catch the eye is needed.

To enter to win the red metal daisy, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I love freedom and a freebie!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, July 2nd, 2021.

NOTE:  There seems to be an occasional problem with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  If this happens, please 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 love it when people enjoy my blog stories and recipes and get excited about winning freebies.  Share with all 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!

Subscribers win every single month!  On the “Freebies” page, you’ll be able to see what they’ve been winning.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, July 2nd by leaving a comment which says, “I love freedom and a freebie!” 

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here

Why not subscribe and confirm right now before you forget?

Do you have special Independence Day traditions?  Leave a comment and let me know how you make the day special.

When Life Gives You Lemons, It’s a Freebie!

It seems we careened past Memorial Day and now have come to a pleasant pause with our toes on the edge of summer.  There’s a freshness to this new beginning that makes me want to plan outings or just sit in the back yard chaise and watch Phoebe June chase bugs and lizards and give squirrels a piece of her mind.  The planting is finished, the weeds are pulled (for a while) and blooms are popping. 

A little summer citrus fits in just perfectly with the season, so let’s have a lemon First Friday Freebie!

Lemony Kitchen Linens www.midweststoryteller.com

These lemony additions to your kitchen by Home Collection are both useful and pretty.  Included are two 7” potholders and a 15” X 25” microfiber dish towel.  They’ll freshen up your décor with a summer feel while you’re preparing all those trim and healthy summer recipes to nourish your family.  Wink!  Wink!

To enter to win the lemon kitchen set, all you need to do is “Leave a Comment” on this post, saying, “I’m squeezing the best out of summer!”  You’ll need to do that before midnight TONIGHT, June 4th, 2021.

NOTE:  There seems to be an occasional problem with subscribers not receiving confirmation emails.  If this happens, please email me at barb@midweststoryteller.com and let me know 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.

Let’s get the word out!  I love it when people enjoy my blog stories and recipes and get excited about winning freebies.  Share with all 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”.

Subscribers win every single month!  On the “Freebies” page, you’ll be able to see what they’ve been winning.

A winner will be chosen at random from those subscribers who enter before midnight tonight, June 4th by leaving a comment which says, “I’m squeezing the best out of summer!” 

After you do that, fix a lemonade, go outside and dream up your plans for a fun summer!

For the complete First Friday Freebie rules, click here

Why not subscribe and confirm right now before you forget?

Leave a comment.  What are your plans for making Summer 2021 lots more fun than last year. That’s not a very high bar to set, now is it?