You are here: Home / Closed Contests / Back from BlogHer ’10 NYC! *$50 Pay it Forward Giveaway!* (Closed)

Back from BlogHer ’10 NYC! *$50 Pay it Forward Giveaway!* (Closed)

August 10, 2010 By Tanya 934 Comments

Life is too short to overlook the good things that happen in life. While I had a hard, long and busy summer, there are so many things that happened that made me really appreciate my life, my family, my friends and even my adventures. Life isn’t all about ‘me, me, me’, but here we go… ready? Oh,  holy moly, what a BUSY two months this has been. I apologize to you all, my readers, subscribers & sweepers for the lack of my presence lately. In less than a month:

  • We broke down in Wichita, KS in July
  • Flew to Texas in July
  • Went back to Wichita in July (busy July, huh?)
  • Then went to visit the inlaws in NW Iowa
  • and last – but not least – we went to BlogHer in New York City for the past week.

What an adventure it was! Truly was an amazing opportunity to meet up with some old friends, meet some new ones, I had fun exploring New York City with  my hubby

With the help of an amazing sponsor, Aetrex (more info to come this week!), I was able to walk comfortably in NYC, be in style and track my ‘mileage’. Hard to believe I walked 2.93 miles in one MORNING, but we did and I felt great and went to do more the next day.

While at BlogHer ’10, I saw tweets where a lot of people were eating in style, all day… every day. While this may be fun, this is not my style. Why?

  1. I refused to spend $50 on one meal, times three, for 4 days. That adds up. We were very frugal and found a Whole Foods market our first hour of being in the city and we bought sandwich stuff (ham, cheese, bread and even doritos – to make our famous sandwiches) This, my lovelies, was my breakfast on Friday morning. It was a.m.a.z.i.n.g.! Don’t hate.
  2. We spent about $40.00 on food, water, sandwich stuff, Gatorade, chips, and even sprung for some beer. This lasted us from Wednesday afternoon through Saturday afternoon. Frugal? You bet your ass I was frugal.
  3. Confession: I spent $34.00 on one meal for hubby & I – the entire trip. Why? Because I deserved it. :D

While I was at BlogHer ’10, I met up with companies that I have worked with for years, I chatted the family companies that I have grown more and more to love and I even made it to a few parties and events. This year, I didn’t announce where I was going to be at, until I had already left due to privacy and stalker issues, but I was so excited to have found out that Jennifer from The Dirty t-shirt was my partner in crime, and my hubby was our personal bodyguard and navigator. This was a blast!!! Jen, my husband and I all were invited to a fun filled cocktail hour with Smucker’s,

to a truly heartwarming event with Ralph Lauren

I cried during this presentation. Seriously, ask anyone. It was touching! They were so kind to have invited my husband to come with me, AND they even presented him with a gift bag of his own. Thank you!

Once this was over with, Jen (The Dirty t-shirt), hubby and I ventured over to a rooftop event with Nikon, where we sat back and relaxed while I drooled over the D300s.

On Saturday, we caught a cab in to NYC and met up with a bestie that I had never met face to face; yet we have known each other online for about 5 years. This trip was jam packed with knowledge, information, laughter, shock, fun & an entire novel of memories.

I have SO much to say, SO many pictures to share, and so many thoughts and thank you’s to present. With this said, I am feeling like paying it forward to one lucky reader.

I have a $50.00 American Express Gift Card to give away for one reader. Why? Because you deserve it.I learned a lot about life, business ethics, people… and myself in general.

  • Prize: $50.00 American Express Gift Card – 1 winner
  • How to enter: Main entry – required - Please post a comment to me if you have ‘Paid it Forward’ to someone. If so, what was it? If you have not, what would you love to do for someone else?
  • Entrants: US and Canada entries
  • Entries: Unlimited entries/comments on this post and unlimited tweets – just be sure to comment here with your link to your new tweet and make sure that the required entry is your first entry, then you can tweet away, enter daily, tell your friends, send a smoke signal, or even make me a Dorito sandwich.
  • Contest deadline: This contest will end on August 28, 2010 at 11:59pm Central Time.
  • Prize Details: Prize will be mailed out with a tracking number, the following Monday after prize is claimed. (This is my shipping time frame)

This is not a sponsored post by or for anyone. I firmly believe in paying it forward.

Life is too short to let it pass you by. Stop, take time to smell and soak in the beauty of life and life around you. Smile every chance you get. Laugh every second you can. Love every minute of every day.

Be Sociable, Share!
0saves
Save
If you enjoyed this post, please consider leaving a comment or subscribing to the RSS feed to have future articles delivered to your feed reader.
Filed Under Closed Contests, General, Pay it Forward

About Tanya
After working professionally in computer information technology, as well as prior work in the telecommunications industry, Tanya Gordon relocated to southwest Iowa in conjunction with her husband’s job. Mommy Goggles launched over 5 years ago, rising to prominence as a national Mom Blogger and highly sought after by brands to work closely with them on their reach to Mom consumers. In addition, Tanya happily parents two wondrous children who despite best efforts still have been known to engage in ongoing sibling squabbles: Tucker, 6, and Kambry, 3 1/2.You can read more about Tanya here.

Comments

  1. 806
    JoeyfromSC says:
    August 27, 2010 at 1:45 PM

    tweet

    http://twitter.com/JoeyfromSC/status/22289527280

    ajoebloe(at)gmail(dot)com

  2. 805
  3. 804
  4. 803
    Jammie says:
    August 27, 2010 at 1:17 PM

    Glad to hear you had a great time, sounds like your summer has not only been busy, aggravating but also FUN. Only time I have ever been out of state was when we was moving or had to attend a funereal not fun times. I have paid it forward to several different people. I have taken all my daughters baby clothes and gave them to a young girl in need. We had over 3 garbage bags full, yea it might not have been much. But the look on her face when she received them all was priceless, she was so thankful. It is the little things like that, that people will never forget. I have also taken some of the things I have won via giveaways and gave them to children I new had nothing. Makes entering them that much more fun, knowing that even if I can’t use what I win, someone else might beable to. Thanks for paying it forward.

  5. 802
    Izzie says:
    August 27, 2010 at 1:08 PM

    I paid it forward by paying (and am still paying) for my daughter’s college education — in NYC, where we have both found out that with a little wisdom, you can be frugal there.

  6. 801
    Happi Shopr says:
    August 27, 2010 at 12:42 PM

    We were two people back in line at the grocery store and a family was paying for their groceries unfortunately their card kept getting denied. I slipped forward and paid the bill for them.

  7. 800
  8. 799
    Tara Funair says:
    August 27, 2010 at 11:55 AM

    I love to (when I have the extra cash) to pay for the order of the vehicle behind me while in a drive thru. The last time was at McDonalds. I had won free smoothie coupons and the vehicle behind me had added one to their order so not only did i pay for the happy meal, but used one of my smoothie coupons for the mom. It felt good :heart:

  9. 798
  10. 797
  11. 796
  12. 795
  13. 794
  14. 793
  15. 792
  16. 791
  17. 790
    Patricia Treskovich says:
    August 27, 2010 at 8:18 AM

    friday tweeted Latest: http://www.mommygoggles.com/back-from-blogher-nyc/ less than 5 seconds ago

  18. 789
    Elizabeth I says:
    August 27, 2010 at 7:56 AM

    http://twitter.com/Superfrugalette/status/22260845349 daily tweet topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com

  19. 788
  20. 787
  21. 786
    Lewis F says:
    August 27, 2010 at 7:51 AM

    Tweeted the contest

  22. 785
  23. 784
  24. 783
  25. 782
  26. 781
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 27, 2010 at 2:47 AM

    tweeting
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/22248674326
    staceyx at telus dot net

  27. 780
  28. 779
  29. 778
    Lewis F says:
    August 27, 2010 at 12:17 AM

    Sometimes one can’t pay back another’s gratuitous help. Instead why not help a different person in need?

  30. 777
    DANIELLE WALDO says:
    August 27, 2010 at 12:09 AM

    I pay it forward every chance i am able to. I believe in in Karma Donated items to Goodwill two weeks ago. Donated some appliances to three college girls who had nothing for thier apartment three weeks ago, We ended up with extra school supplys and hopefull i can get down to the child crisis center this sunday to drop them off. Believe it or not even a small gesture like buying a gift for a child not your own at christmas time makes an impact in your life and thiers.

    waitressdani (at) hotmail (dot) com

  31. 776
  32. 775
  33. 774
    Michelle C says:
    August 26, 2010 at 8:42 PM

    tweet http://twitter.com/MrsMChappell/statuses/22227898001

    mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

  34. 773
  35. 772
    reallycool31 says:
    August 26, 2010 at 8:37 PM

    I have paid it forward. Someone ahead of me at a toll paid for 3 cars, including myself so I paid for the next car or two.

    Thanks for sponsoring the contest :)

  36. 771
    Marc-Andre Taillefer says:
    August 26, 2010 at 8:31 PM

    I’ve paid it forward this week by driving people around this week.

  37. 770
  38. 769
  39. 768
  40. 767
  41. 766
  42. 765
    Marcia L says:
    August 26, 2010 at 4:29 PM

    We love to keep a box downstairs for of new toys that we find on sale, and donate them every holiday to the local shelter so the kids can have a present to open. Thanks for the chance!

  43. 764
    JoeyfromSC says:
    August 26, 2010 at 4:01 PM

    Daily tweet:

    https://twitter.com/JoeyfromSC/status/22208800178

    ajoebloe(at)gmail(dot)com

  44. 763
  45. 762
  46. 761
  47. 760
  48. 759
  49. 758
  50. 757
  51. 756
  52. 755
  53. 754
  54. 753
  55. 752
  56. 751
  57. 750
  58. 749
  59. 748
    Huguette English says:
    August 26, 2010 at 8:33 AM

    I’ve paid it forward this week by driving people around this week.
    henglish at nb sympatico dot ca

  60. 747
    Elizabeth I says:
    August 26, 2010 at 8:08 AM

    http://twitter.com/Superfrugalette/status/22171454547 daily tweet topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com

  61. 746
    Patricia Treskovich says:
    August 26, 2010 at 8:02 AM

    used the retweet button

  62. 745
    Kathy Scott says:
    August 26, 2010 at 7:40 AM

    After winning an ipod, I gave my old ipod to a family with four boys who can’t afford electronics. It made their day and they were happy to share it.

  63. 744
    Betty N says:
    August 26, 2010 at 6:59 AM

    Since my husband does ministry work, people know they can call and talk and ask for prayer for various situations in their life. While God does not always change the situation, it can strengthen the person to better deal with the situation.

  64. 743
    Betty N says:
    August 26, 2010 at 6:57 AM

    We have house watched many times. When neighbors go out of town they feel so much better if someone just checks on the house. It seems that just knowing someone will go buy, look around the house, try the doors…..gives them a peace of mind they would not otherwise have.

  65. 742
    Betty N says:
    August 26, 2010 at 6:55 AM

    We try to be frugal and plan ahead for our own expenses so that we may bless someone else also. We buy a new car every 10-12 years and then during that time we save the money to buy our next car. Then we can give away our old car…once it was to a relative; once to a ministry (obviously we don’t have many to give because we keep them so long but those we did were soooo appreciative)

  66. 741
    Betty N says:
    August 26, 2010 at 6:51 AM

    My husband plans ahead to help. He keeps a tire pump and battery cables/charger in the car not just for us but as he sees someone who needs these, he stops to help. The tire pump has also been used to blow up bicycle tires for kids in the neighborhood.

  67. 740
  68. 739
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 26, 2010 at 3:05 AM

    tweeting
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/22160288491
    staceyx at telus dot net

  69. 738
  70. 737
    cristine says:
    August 26, 2010 at 2:11 AM

    We have helped out of work friends in the past, hopefully someone will shine down on us now.
    thanks for the giveaway – and the good thoughts

  71. 736
    Jill H says:
    August 26, 2010 at 1:57 AM

    It’s late and a Doritos sandwich sure sounds good! :-D

  72. 735
  73. 734
    dawn says:
    August 26, 2010 at 12:52 AM

    I found five dollars on the sidewalk and put it in the salvation army can.

  74. 733
  75. 732
    Michelle R. says:
    August 25, 2010 at 11:33 PM

    Yes, I’ve paid it forward. I was involved in a little “fender bender”. I was hit at a red light from behind by an 18 year old college student who was on the phone. The only damage to the car was a little bend on the edge of the right side and a little paint gone. Anyway, the girl who hit me was very upset and I told her “Let the next one off the hook.” She totally got it and even if she didn’t, I still payed it forward.

  76. 731
    Erica C. says:
    August 25, 2010 at 9:26 PM

    I like to donate money to my local animal shelter. I like paying it forward to the amazing dogs who are waiting for their forever home.

  77. 730
  78. 729
  79. 728
  80. 727
  81. 726
    Doris C says:
    August 25, 2010 at 8:06 PM

    Tweet
    http://twitter.com/dewinner/status/22135448349

    (don’t think my last one posted)

  82. 725
  83. 724
    Michelle C says:
    August 25, 2010 at 8:01 PM

    tweet http://twitter.com/MrsMChappell/statuses/22135200020

    mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

  84. 723
  85. 722
  86. 721
  87. 720
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 25, 2010 at 6:12 PM

    TWEETING
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/22127753604
    staceyx at telus dot net

  88. 719
    JoeyfromSC says:
    August 25, 2010 at 3:59 PM

    Tweet:

    http://twitter.com/JoeyfromSC/status/22118948764

    ajoebloe(at)gmail(dot)com

    *Brought you another sammich! ha :good:

  89. 718
    Candace says:
    August 25, 2010 at 3:52 PM

    I’ve done a pay it forward at a starbucks once.

  90. 717
  91. 716
  92. 715
  93. 714
    Elizabeth I says:
    August 25, 2010 at 2:55 PM

    http://twitter.com/Superfrugalette/status/22082429930 daily tweet topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com

  94. 713
  95. 712
  96. 711
  97. 710
    Betty N says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:18 PM

    we find that all we have to do is make ourselves available to our relatives and friends and there are always things that we can do for them…from encouragment, to babysitting, to picking kids up from activities,to providing a meal during rush tmes, to helping with grandkid homework, etc. Since we are retired, we have a lot more time that our kids who are working and parenting.

  98. 709
    Betty N says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:11 PM

    We plan ahead to set aside money to help others…one of these times is at
    christmas—with the economy the way it is, parents, and especially single parents are suffering. A second major time is back to school time. We try to stretch our funds as far as possible. The school supply giveaway was before one of our local stores put on their sales…so we shopped their sales which were wonderful—one cent paper and spiral notebooks with a 12 limit so my husband and I each got our limit and I have put this away for next school year.

  99. 708
  100. 707
    Tara says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:05 PM

    A few years ago I used to buy one of my friends lunch…almost every single day. I knew she was struggling with a lot of debt and was and while it wasn’t a big strain on me financially , I know it really helped her out!

  101. 706
    Betty N says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:01 PM

    A lady is starting a puppet ministry with a group of youth at a church…thus a need for puppets. I have (had) some wonderful puppets packed away where they were doing noone any good. So today I had my husband take them to the person. I belive things shoud be used and if I am not using something, then it should be passed on

  102. 705
    Betty N says:
    August 25, 2010 at 12:49 PM

    I think my husband is a great example of random acts of kindness. Today he looked out the window and saw someone in the neighborhood pushing a stroller and it was just starting to rain…so he told me to talk to her and he would get the car out so we could take her she and her little girl home. He takes doughnuts to people doing roadwork on our street, chocolate to secretaries that are helpful, etc

  103. 704
  104. 703
  105. 702
  106. 701
  107. 700
  108. 699
  109. 698
  110. 697
    Patricia Treskovich says:
    August 25, 2010 at 8:42 AM

    tweeted using retweet button

  111. 696
  112. 695
  113. 694
  114. 693
  115. 692
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 25, 2010 at 1:38 AM

    tweeting
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/22067727281
    staceyx at telus dot net

  116. 691
  117. 690
  118. 689
  119. 688
  120. 687
  121. 686
  122. 685
  123. 684
    fChristina says:
    August 24, 2010 at 10:07 PM

    I took care of my niece Sarah (my brother’s child) as if she were my own ever since her mother died of cancer when she was 9. She’s almost 21 now and studying music at the university and has turned out so well! It was difficult because I have many other responsibilities, but well worth it! She needed a “female” influence because her mother had died.

  124. 683
    Betty N says:
    August 24, 2010 at 8:06 PM

    For a few years I had a place that would give me good used baby clothes . I would sort it and give it to a free clothes closet….sometimes we just have to be a channel for someone to be blessed

  125. 682
    Betty N says:
    August 24, 2010 at 8:01 PM

    My DIL works at a school with a lot of children from low income homes . Her church has partnered with her school to provide meals for the K-1 students and parents who attend the
    partners in print, a help session for parents to learn how to help their children with reading skills and children receive books to read to their parents. Many people help with the food, serving, etc. Once I provided chili (along with four others), for feb I made cookies.

  126. 681
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 24, 2010 at 7:55 PM

    tweeting
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/22046413258
    staceyx at telus dot net

  127. 680
  128. 679
    Rachel Higgs says:
    August 24, 2010 at 7:18 PM

    crazyred61 @ yahoo.com
    I was given some money for my birthday and I used to to buy a friend a gift

  129. 678
    Michelle C says:
    August 24, 2010 at 7:15 PM

    tweet http://twitter.com/MrsMChappell/statuses/22043767544

    mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

  130. 677
  131. 676
  132. 675
  133. 674
  134. 673
  135. 672
  136. 671
  137. 670
    JoeyfromSC says:
    August 24, 2010 at 2:04 PM

    Tweet:

    https://twitter.com/JoeyfromSC/status/22023597290

    ajoebloe(at)gmail(dot)com

  138. 669
  139. 668
  140. 667
  141. 666
  142. 665
    Anne Taylor says:
    August 24, 2010 at 10:53 AM

    http://twitter.com/greeeneyedwhwom/status/22011062742

    ty

    nancyrobster at gmail dot com

  143. 664
  144. 663
  145. 662
  146. 661
  147. 660
    Patricia Treskovich says:
    August 24, 2010 at 7:32 AM

    tues. tweet Latest: http://www.mommygoggles.com/back-from-blogher-nyc/ enter less than 5 seconds agoLatest: http://www.mommygoggles.com/back-from-blogher-nyc/ enter less than 5 seconds ago from web

  148. 659
    Tricia Andrews says:
    August 24, 2010 at 7:31 AM

    I do cat rescue with homeless cats. I have paid for spay/neuter surgeries for people who couldn’t afford the surgeries for their pets.

  149. 658
  150. 657
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 24, 2010 at 6:51 AM

    tweeting
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/21994310840
    staceyx at telus dot net

  151. 656
  152. 655
  153. 654
  154. 653
    Jill H says:
    August 24, 2010 at 2:39 AM

    Well, made it through Monday ok! LOL

  155. 652
  156. 651
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 24, 2010 at 2:38 AM

    tweet
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/21982546346
    staceyx at telus dot net

  157. 650
  158. 649
    katklaw777 says:
    August 24, 2010 at 1:15 AM

    What would I like to do??? Win the lotto and start an animal sanctuary. :-)

  159. 648
    katklaw777 says:
    August 24, 2010 at 1:12 AM

    I used to luv paying it forward at fast food restaurants…I had read about it and decided to try it.
    You pay for the person in one of the cars behind you. I can’t afford a big bill so I usually ask if there is one around $5.00 and if there is, I pay for it and when the person drives up, SURPRISE! It’s very rewarding to make someones day…

  160. 647
  161. 646
  162. 645
  163. 644
  164. 643
  165. 642
  166. 641
    Jill H says:
    August 23, 2010 at 6:39 PM

    Sending you a virtual Dorito Sammich!! <3

  167. 640
    Jill H says:
    August 23, 2010 at 6:37 PM

    I try to pay it forward in many ways:

    Donate clothing and other items to goodwill and friends that need them
    Donate prizes I win that I don’t need to children’s hospital and friends that need them
    Leave extra coupons on items at the grocery store for others.

  168. 639
  169. 638
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 23, 2010 at 6:34 PM

    tweeting
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/21952917949
    staceyx at telus dot net

  170. 637
    ted says:
    August 23, 2010 at 5:44 PM

    i volunteer at my local pet shelter, its being part of my yearly good deed commitment

  171. 636
    PATRICK says:
    August 23, 2010 at 5:32 PM

    i volunteer sometime at my local spca center, this is also part of my yearly good deed commitment

  172. 635
  173. 634
  174. 633
    stacey dempsey (roswell) says:
    August 23, 2010 at 4:07 PM

    tweeting
    http://twitter.com/roswello/status/21943065440
    staceyx at telus dot net

  175. 632
  176. 631
    Betty N says:
    August 23, 2010 at 2:48 PM

    People tend to love their animals as they do children. We are retired and really don’t want to have another pet but we do enjoy dogs from time to time so we “dog sit” from time to time (free of course) for friends/relatives. This provides them time to be away without taking the dog or putting him/her in a strange kennels. It is something that we can do to show caring for others

  177. 630
  178. 629
  179. 628
    Michelle C says:
    August 23, 2010 at 2:42 PM

    tweet http://twitter.com/MrsMChappell/statuses/21937953412

    mrsmchappell at gmail dot com

  180. 627
  181. 626
  182. 625
  183. 624
    Kara P. says:
    August 23, 2010 at 1:21 PM

    Ok I just have to say that I have tears in my eyes from reading your blog post. I’m so glad you had an amazing time with your hubby, despite the trials along the way. BlogHer sounds like a blast and I’m so glad you could go.

    On that note, I LOVE paying it forward. I truly enjoy doing things for others than having others do it for me. I LOVE buying some stranger’s meal without them knowing, taking meals to a friend or someone who is sick, lost a loved one or had a baby.

  184. 623
  185. 622
  186. 621
  187. 620
  188. 619
  189. 618
  190. 617
  191. 616
    Patricia Treskovich says:
    August 23, 2010 at 10:30 AM

    Latest: http://www.mommygoggles.com/back-from-blogher-nyc/ less than 5 seconds ago monday tweet

  192. 615
  193. 614
  194. 613
  195. 612
  196. 611
  197. 610
  198. 609
    Elizabeth I says:
    August 23, 2010 at 8:11 AM

    http://twitter.com/Superfrugalette/status/21907845870 daily tweet topgun34er(at)hotmail(dot)com

  199. 608
    kelly w says:
    August 23, 2010 at 7:43 AM

    I pay it forward by giving coupons that I can not use to those who can use them.

  200. 607
« Older Comments
Newer Comments »

Trackbacks/Pingbacks