Christmas / Snow Link-Up!

I know you were all as shocked as I was to get a White Christmas – who ever thought we would see that??

(And for those of you in the very unfortunate areas of the state that missed out, you have my sincerest condolences.)

At any rate, link up your Christmas and Snow posts here, and let’s all visit each other’s holidays!

I hope you all had a wonderfully Merry Christmas!!

Score For Your Team Football Carnival!!

The Score For your Team Football Carnival has officially begun!!! The link-up is at the bottom.

Although the button above just shows Alabama and Auburn, You can participate in this carnival no matter what team you root for!! If I don't already have a button available for your school, ask me for one and I’ll make it!

Participating is a great way to get to know other Alabama Bloggers, have other bloggers visit your blog, and a fun way to celebrate the onset of football season.

And as a bonus, we have two amazing sponsors that will be rewarding some of the participants!

The amazing Birmingham Gourmet Burger joint, Baha Burgers, will be providing $10 gift cards to five randomly selected participants. You don’t have to be on the winning team to win one of these – you just have to participate in the Carnival.

And the grand prize is provided by Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe – one winner will be chosen at random from the winning team to get a tailgate party catered by Taziki’s for 10 people!

Thank you SO much to Baha and Taziki's for their wonderful prizes!!!

Here’s how the Carnival works:

You can score points for your team in three different ways:

1. Field Goal: You score three points for your team if you put your team’s button on the sidebar of your blog (buttons will be below). Be sure to comment on this post or the next post that you added the button so I can properly add your field goal!

2. Touchdown: You score seven points for your team if you write a blog post about your football experience/team/thoughts with your team’s button at the top, and you link up to THIS POST (the link-up is at the bottom).

3. Extra Point: You can score one extra point for your team by tweeting or facebooking about the Football Carnival. Be sure to comment on this post or the next post that you tweeted or facebooked!

You can link up your posts anytime between now and Monday, September 6th. The winning team will be announced on Tuesday, September 7th, as well as all of the prize winners.

As far as the prizes go, you will get one entry into the drawing for the prizes for each point you score for your team.

And, as a bonus, you can get extra entries into the drawings by:

• following Taziki’s on Twitter,
• following Baha Burgers on Twitter,
• liking Taziki’s on Facebook, and
• liking Baha Burgers on Facebook.

Again, let me know that you earned any of these entries in a comment so that I can credit them to you!! You can put all of your extra entries and information into one comment, as I'm keeping a spreadsheet of points and entries.

Be sure to watch Twitter and the top of this blog for score updates!!

Here are the codes for the buttons. To grab one, just copy and paste the code below the button of your choice. You can either paste it into a blog post or a sidebar (for Blogger, choose an HTML/Javascript Gadget). Let me know if you need any help!

Alabama Large (400px):

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="400" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AlabamaScorecopy-2.jpg" border="0" height="400" /></a>


Alabama Medium (200px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AlabamaScorecopy-1.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>


Alabama Small (150px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="150" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AlabamaScorecopy-1-1.jpg" border="0" height="150" /></a>


Auburn Large (400px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="400" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AuburnScorecopy-1.jpg" border="0" height="400" /></a>


Auburn Medium (200px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AuburnScorecopy-1-1.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>

Auburn Small (150px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="150" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AuburnScorecopy-1-1-1.jpg" border="0" height="150" /></a>

Arkansas Razorbacks:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/ArkansasScorecopy.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>

Mississippi State Bulldogs:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/MissStateScorecopy.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>
UAB Blazers:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/UABScorecopy.jpg " border="0" height="200" /></a>

Tennessee Vols:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/TennesseeScorecopy-1.jpg " border="0" height="200" /></a>

Here's the Link-up - be sure to link the specific URL of your Score for your Team post - not just to your main blog URL. If you have any questions as to how to do this, let me know!! Be sure to go visit the other participants and read about their Football Experience!



Let the scoring begin!!!!

Second Annual Score For Your Team Football Carnival!!

**** The Link-Up Is now at the bottom of this post!!! ****

Football season is approaching rapidly, so that means it’s time for everyone to show their school spirit!

Last year, we had the first carnival to see how the blogosphere divided up according to the rivalries of our state. Alabama won last year, and Auburn was second, ALMOST overtaken by Arkansas fans! So I fully expect Auburn to step up to the plate this year and show their competitive spirit.

Although the button above just shows Alabama and Auburn, You can participate in this carnival no matter what team you root for!! If I don't already have a button available for your school, ask me for one and I’ll make it!

Participating is a great way to get to know other Alabama Bloggers, have other bloggers visit your blog, and a fun way to celebrate the onset of football season.

And as a bonus, we have two amazing sponsors that will be rewarding some of the participants!

The amazing Birmingham Gourmet Burger joint, Baha Burgers, will be providing $10 gift cards to five randomly selected participants. You don’t have to be on the winning team to win one of these – you just have to participate in the Carnival.

If you haven’t tried Baha Burgers yet, you’re missing out! They have the most delicious hamburgers in Birmingham. They have two locations - Chace Lake in Hoover and the Colonnade on 280. They have gourmet burgers of every variety, including Angus Beef, Lamb, Pork, Turkey, and Chicken! You can pick one of their finely crafted and topped burgers, or you can select all of your own toppings from their extensive list! They also have a choice between regular fries and sweet potato fries, both coming with fried okra mixed in with them. It’s a MUST TRY experience.

And the grand prize is provided by Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe – one winner will be chosen at random from the winning team to get a tailgate party catered by Taziki’s for 10 people!

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe currently has seven locations – six in Birmingham and one in Huntsville - and will be soon opening new locations in Tuscaloosa and Morgantown, WV. They serve up an amazingly delicious variety of Mediterranean inspired cuisine, with choices for everyone.

If you win the grand prize, you can choose a catered meal for ten people of either Chicken Roll-ups with fruit and chips or the Friday Special, which is one of their customer favorite dishes of Grilled Chicken and pasta tossed in homemade balsamic vinaigrette and served on a bed of mixed lettuces with feta, tomatoes, and fresh basil.

SO. Here’s how the Carnival works:

You can score points for your team in three different ways:

1. Field Goal: You score three points for your team if you put your team’s button on the sidebar of your blog (buttons will be below). Be sure to comment on this post or the next post that you added the button so I can properly add your field goal!

2. Touchdown: You score seven points for your team if you write a blog post about your football experience/team/thoughts with your team’s button at the top, and you link up to the Score For Your Team Post that will go up next Tuesday.

3. Extra Point: You can score one extra point for your team by tweeting or facebooking about the Football Carnival. Be sure to comment on this post or the next post that you tweeted or facebooked!

As far as the prizes go, you will get one entry into the drawing for the prizes for each point you score for your team.

And, as a bonus, you can get extra entries into the drawings by:

• following Taziki’s on Twitter,
• following Baha Burgers on Twitter,
• liking Taziki’s on Facebook, and
• liking Baha Burgers on Facebook.

Again, let me know that you earned any of these entries in a comment so that I can credit them to you!!

The link-up will go live Tuesday, August 24th. You can link up your posts anytime between then and Monday, September 6th. The winning team will be announced on Tuesday, September 7th, as well as all of the prize winners.

You can go ahead and start scoring field goals and extra points now – again, if I don’t have one for your favorite school yet, let me know and I’ll make one!!

Here are the codes for the buttons. To grab one, just copy and paste the code below the button of your choice. You can either paste it into a blog post or a sidebar (for Blogger, choose an HTML/Javascript Gadget). Let me know if you need any help!

Alabama Large (400px):

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="400" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AlabamaScorecopy-2.jpg" border="0" height="400" /></a>


Alabama Medium (200px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AlabamaScorecopy-1.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>


Alabama Small (150px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="150" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AlabamaScorecopy-1-1.jpg" border="0" height="150" /></a>


Auburn Large (400px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="400" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AuburnScorecopy-1.jpg" border="0" height="400" /></a>


Auburn Medium (200px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AuburnScorecopy-1-1.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>

Auburn Small (150px):


<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="150" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/AuburnScorecopy-1-1-1.jpg" border="0" height="150" /></a>

Arkansas Razorbacks:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/ArkansasScorecopy.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>

Mississippi State Bulldogs:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/MissStateScorecopy.jpg" border="0" height="200" /></a>
UAB Blazers:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/UABScorecopy.jpg " border="0" height="200" /></a>

Tennessee Vols:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/TennesseeScorecopy-1.jpg " border="0" height="200" /></a>

Penn State Nittany Lions:

<a href="http://www.alabamabloggers.com/2010/08/second-annual-score-for-your-team.html" target="_blank"><br/><br/><img width="200" alt="Alabama Bloggers" src=" http://i784.photobucket.com/albums/yy130/AlabamaBloggers/PennStatecopy-1.jpg " border="0" height="200" /></a>

Let me know if you have any questions about how the carnival works!!

Here's the Link-up - be sure to link the specific URL of your Score for your Team post - not just to your main blog URL. If you have any questions as to how to do this, let me know!! Be sure to go visit the other participants and read about their Football Experience!



Let the scoring begin!!!!

Blogblast for Peace - Dona Nobis Pacem

By Jennifer from Dust Bunny Hostage

Today is the Blog Blast for Peace (background information can be found HERE). I am thrilled that Alabama Bloggers will represent our state in a movement that has world wide participation. It is a good day to be an Alabamian.

Current Alabama Governor Bob Riley once said, "Alabamians are a faithful people who believe that creating a better world for our children and helping our neighbors are both sacred duties." I interpret this to mean that creating a better world starts at home. It starts with me. Just as peace starts with me. The way I treat my family, my neighbors, people in the community, a stranger on the street... these are all crucial elements to peace.

To find other participants for the Blog Blast for Peace, please visit it's founder Mimi Lennox.

If YOU are participating in the Blogblast for Peace, link up here!

Peace Y'all!

Reminder: TOMORROW is the Blogblast for Peace!

Reprinted from October 22, 2009

By Jennifer at Dust Bunny Hostage

Mimi Lennox had what some might call an epiphany. While looking at a bowl of her Papa's hand made marbles (a bunch of rocks says she) the Peace Globe was born. Mimi took the idea of the Peace Globe and brought it to the Blogosphere. Bloggers from all over the world, in the name of Peace, grabbed the badge and personalized it for themselves. Then those bloggers (from all over the world), posted the Peace Globe on their blog.

And a movement was born.

It is not a politcal or religious movement (though personal interpretation is welcome)... the Blogblast for Peace is simply people united in the desire for Peace. It is an opportunity to look within ourselves, and to resolve to live peacefully in our day to day lives. We start the peace movement in our home, or more specifically, in our heart. And, as a blogging community, we can carry the message of Peace all over the Blogosphere.

If words are powerful, then this matters.

If you would like to participate in the Blogblast for Peace, go HERE for your Peace Globe. Personalize it and post your Peace Globe on your blog on November 5, 2009, linking back to Mimi Lennox and 'linking up' on her site. If you have any questions, or need help personalizing your globe, you can contact me at jendt55@yahoo.com ... I would be more than happy to help you.

Have a blessed and peaceful day Y'all!

*Please note that Blogblast for Peace can also be found on Facebook.

Link Up Your Halloween Photo Posts!!

I've been seeing some AWESOME Halloween pictures in my desperate attempts to get caught up on my blog reading.

However, I know that there are more out there! So, link up your Halloween posts here - whether they're you dressed up, or your kids dressed up - and let's all enjoy a Halloween Carnival o' photos! Oh - and I want to see some awesome pumpkins, too - especially since I totally dropped the ball and didn't even get a pumpkin this year.

Can't wait to visit your Halloween Festivity recaps!!

Be sure to link the direct link to your Halloween post - you can usually get this by clicking on the title of the blog post you want to link in, then copying the link at the top of your browser.