Tuesday, November 16, 2010

25 Days of Gratitude Thankful Jar with $100 contest *contest closed*

This is a compensated review by BlogHer and Pop-Tarts®.




We made a Thankful Countdown jar to help keep us in the Thankful spirit all month long.


We started out by following Valerie Lee's template that you can download here. It comes with directions on how to put this advent together. There are 26 Thankful-For themes as well as suggested activities for each theme.


We cut them out, rolled them up, tied them with ribbon, and put them in our Thankful Jar. November 1st we started pulling one out a day, talking about that day's Thankful subject, and then did the activity as suggested. It's a great reminder for the kids to be more thankful for every day things (and people!)




Check out the video we made!






Want to enter the contest for $100 Visa Gift card from BlogHer? Sure you do! Please comment on this post and tell me how you keep your family feeling thankful. This contest (in association with our Pumpkin Pie flavored Pop-Tarts post) runs November 11, 2010 until November 25, 2010. Please leave a name and email so if you win I can contact you!

We have had so much fun making and using our Thanksgiving Countdown. You should try it! You have 9 chances to win! Check out the other reviewers’ recipes by visiting the BlogHer.com exclusive offers page. And learn all about Pumpkin Pie flavored Pop-Tarts here.

To enter, leave a comment

For a second entry, you can:

· Tweet about this post with a link to it (and put your tweet URL in a separate comment below)

· Blog about this post with a link to it (and put your blog post URL in a separate comment below)

· Read the official rules for alternate form of entry.

Official rules can be seen here.

See what else we’re doing over on my main blog, Life with the Boys.

93 comments:

Mami2jcn said...

We pray every night and thank God for our blessings.

mami2jcn at gmail dot com

Mami2jcn said...

tweet:

http://twitter.com/mami2jcn/status/4917005656264706

Amy said...

We try to do things for others who are less fortunate to highlight our thankfulness.

avennett AT verizon DOT net

Anonymous said...

We volunteer at the church.

MCantu1019@aol.com

Anonymous said...

Being able to come together is something to be thankful about. Especially if my brother in Iraq is able to join us.

laine.stacy AT gmail.com

susan1215 said...

Before we eat Thanksgiving we talk about what we are thankful for.

s2s2 at comcast dot net

Angel Jacklyn said...

I TRY TO REMIND THEM TO THINK ABOUT WHAT THEY GOT, NOT WHAT THEY DON'T GOT kytah00@yahoo.com

Angel Jacklyn said...

2ND ENTRY TWEET http://twitter.com/#!/kytah00/status/5492335781613570 kytah00@yahoo.com

makeetis said...

We just usually talk about everything we are thankful for. I love your jar idea. Might try that if I can remember it next year.
brewerchickey78@yahoo.com

JC said...

We taught kids to be able to give and share is a blessing. And donate to food bank and church regularly.
tcarolinep at gmail dot com

JC said...

tweet.http://twitter.com/tcarolinep/status/5501237004869633

Tabathia B said...

Even though we don't have much we always make sure they remember there are those that are less fortunate than us and we always volunteer
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Tabathia B said...

tweeted
http://twitter.com/ChelleB36/status/5503195849695232
tbarrettno1 at gmail dot com

Joseph said...

We keep thankful by donating extra food we get with free coupons from the store to a local food bank or shelter.

Jamie Newman said...

We donate food to the food bank throughout the year, not just during the holidays.
jamienewman79 at gmail dot com

sustahl said...

I keep my family Thankful be reminding my son that he has things to be grateful for when he starts complaining about life.
prizeentry @ wesharewithyou dot com

sustahl said...

I tweeted http://twitter.com/rsmstahley/status/5788064127389696

prizeentry @ wesharewithyou dot com

sustahl said...

I tweeted http://twitter.com/rsmstahley/status/5788064127389696

prizeentry @ wesharewithyou dot com

Anonymous said...

I keep them thankful by cooking for them.

duckstrawberry@aol.com

Unknown said...

We try to keep in mind those less fortunate.
amandarwest at gmaildotcom

Unknown said...

Tweeted http://twitter.com/amandawk/status/5811266660601856

Kerry said...

We pray a lot together - and always before our meals.
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

Kerry said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/KerryBishop/status/5814964782632960
nuthouse(at)centurytel(dot)net

Kristen said...

We like to do things for other people in need, to remind ourselves how much we really have. (not just material things!)

Tracy R said...

We don't have everything that we want, but I like to remind them that there are people all over the world who don't even have enough to eat, yet many of them still know how to laugh and enjoy life.

sodahoney said...

My kids are grown. I was widowed when they were young. We didn;t have very much outside of each other.
We talk all year long about how we were blessed with health and family love.

sodahoney said...

http://twitter.com/sodahoney/status/5950262942367744

shirley said...

Donating things and time, keep the kids feeling thankful.
supergrand2009@yahoo.com

Lorie said...

I loved your jar idea last year and this year too. I really need to do it with the kids next year.

We have a countdown calendar and the kids write down things they are thankful for, we put them in the pockets and then pull them out each day and talk about them at dinner.

Deb Anderson said...

We usually take a moment when we're at the dinner table to say what we are thankful for. But I love your idea!! May try that this year. :)

tnshadylady at gmail.com

Deb Anderson said...

tweeted http://twitter.com/tnshadylady/status/6040585374793728

tnshadylady at gmail.com

Bonnie P said...

I remind my daughter how hard her father works for everything she has. But she doesn't listen. Wait till she has to go out and work!
bepoia(at)hotmail(dot)com

The Murray Crew said...

The only way we can keep our kids thankful and content is to model it ourselves.

Deb said...

My boys are both scouts, so we do a lot of community service, especially around the holiday season. I think this really keeps them grounded and they understand just how fortunate they are.

Unknown said...

We actually started a Thankful jar ourselves at our house too about a month ago. Love it.

gmissycat at yahoo dot com

Unknown said...

Tweeted here too

http://twitter.com/gmissycat/status/6138724291186688

gmissycat at yahoo dot com

AStarrA said...

We don't have a lot so we're always thankful for anything we get or can do together
disintegratingstarr@hotmail.com

LAMusing said...

My mom beat cancer last year - we never forget to be grateful :)
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

LAMusing said...

tweet! http://twitter.com/LAMusing/status/6176464667942912
adrianecoros(at)gmail(dot)com

Norma said...

whenever any of us complain, we stop- and think of at least one thing we're grateful for
bingomamanorma(at)gmail(dot)com

Tarissa said...

We often talk about things we're grateful for in our lives. There are so many blessings God has given us.

bdiane34 said...

Our family tries to be thankful every year. I have lost both of my parents over the last few years. And I show the kids importance of family by gathering all of our family together each year to celebrate with good food, lots of love and laughter
sweokgrl@gmail.com

bdiane34 said...

I tweeted on twitter
sweokgrl@gmail.com
http://twitter.com/bdiane34/status/6187721055801345

jakiesmom said...

we made spacial cards for those we care for most
nannypanpan at sbcglobal.net

The Sunshyn said...

Its easy for me to remember to be thankful after spending many long years barely get out of bed and isolated from most of my family. I make sure to emphasize how special the time we have together really is.
chainmail(at) iwon(dot) com

The Sunshyn said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/The_Sunshyn/status/6234033226776576

Anonymous said...

Think and do for someone who needs your help. You are never to young/old to volunteer. My granddaughter has her first volunteer position and is very happy to be of service to others.

Anonymous said...

When we pray,it is easy to think of all we are thankful for,on "hard" days, we Thank him for air...and then sometimes have an interesting conversation about the miracle of brathing...
tattgiff at centurytel dot net

Tamara said...

We have at different times through the years kept a family journal of things that we are thankful for. We always write the date and name when we write down new things. So that we can look back on it one day & know at what age each child was.

won said...

We remember....every day.

Having lost a child, we (my son and I) know gratitude each day for what we do have.

won said...

http://twitter.com/#!/won2x/status/6487599224979456

Thank you!

Susan said...

What a great idea. We have so much to be Thankful for...and so much we take for granted. Thanks for the chance to win.

Just call me "B" said...

We stay "thankful" by thanking God for the things He has blessed us with, and trying not to take the small things for granted.

Margie said...

I like to remind my family of all the wonderful things we are blessed with. We always try to be helpful to those in need.

heather said...

We keep our family thankful by continually reminding them how blessed they are to live where we live. Also getting them involoved with projects at our church to help those who are truly less fortunate.
Heather M. Hutchinson
crimsonwhite@earthlink.net

marybug2 said...

My family is grown so I live by myself and just before my feet hit the floor in the morning, I thank God for all the blessings he has given me.
marybug2@yahoo.com

marybug2 said...

I tweeted
http://twitter.com/#!/marybug2/status/6726801023836160
marybug2 at yahoo.com

abitnerdy said...

Oh I Love your thanksgiving day jar idea! I'm going to have to implement that STAT! You know honestly we dont do anything special, I really have to start, i do my best to make sure I hug and kiss and show everyone I love them. thank you for the idea ;)

abitnerdygirl[at]gmail[dot]com

abitnerdy said...

tweeted: http://twitter.com/abitnerdy/status/6796780750503937

abitnerdygirl AT gmail dot com

deb126 said...

I do little things for my family whenever possible that shows each of them know how much I care about them & how much they mean to me, I'll ask them for dinner ideas and then make their favorite meals or suggestions, I'll run errands for them that they cant do themselves because of their schedules and they know I'm always available to help them in any situation, (ex; ride to work, clothes ironed quickly)in return they will do things for me they know I dislike doing, emptying the dishwasher, bring my clean laundry upstairs from the basement, take out the trash & bring back garbage cans from the street after collection, feed the cats when I'm too busy, we all work together & help each other out as much as possible and its those little things that remind us all how lucky we are to be a family, we are grateful for everything we have & dont have and dont take anything for granted. Thanks for the great giveaway.

deb126 said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/#!/deb126/status/6844852905975808

thanks again for the great giveaway

deb126 said...

Sorry I forgot to leave my email

debis126 at yahoo.com

thanks again for the great giveaway

karenb834 said...

I honestly have to say we don't do anything like that. I don't have a big family, its very small, but I did enjoy the video and maybe I will try that out for next year.
Thanks for this great giveaway and happy thanksgiving

karenb834 said...

tweeted

karenb834atyahoo.com

Debbie said...

When our kids were younger, we made a thankful tree each year and took turns writing on the leaves what we were thankful for.
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

Debbie said...

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/suburbsanity/status/6887767887847424
fourkidsrgreat(at)gmail.com

Megan said...

We stay thankful by first thanking God for all of his blessings. :)

Megan said...

http://twitter.com/#!/megans_madness/status/6890353432985600

Sheila Hickmon said...

We stay thankful by praying to God and thanking him every night for our blessings!

Thanks!
fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

Sheila Hickmon said...

I blogged about it!
http://mom2anutball.blogspot.com/2010/11/blogherpoptart-giveaways.html

fineinsanity {at} live {dot} com

angie lilly said...

We try to always list three things we are thankful for each night before going to sleep. Its amazing how a cruddy day can become a peaceful happy evening when you do this.
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com

angie lilly said...

I tweeted here: http://twitter.com/#!/FotoMacro/status/7055238041182208
Angie
one 4 earth at aol dot com

Scott said...

any time we are feeling sorry for ourselves or having a pity party for whatever reason, one of us will say "but look at all we have that others don't." That always puts things back into perspective.
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com

Scott said...

my tweet http://twitter.com/#!/RePurrPussed/status/7078199418683392
Scott
nynekats at aol dot com

KaHolly said...

Excellent post! This is a wonderful idea. To keep my family thankful EVERY day, I find one thing to verbally thank each member of my family for, and why, daily. It is amazing how infectious it is!

skkorman said...

I think it's always important for adults to lead by example!

skkorman AT bellsouth DOT net

dlhaley said...

We donate can food every year at a local fair.

dlhaley{AT}hotmail{DOT}com

codi said...

I keep my family feeling thankful by reminding them to pray and thank God for everything they have. Thanks for the contest! codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com

codi said...

I tweeted about your giveaway: http://twitter.com/codisweepstakes/status/7321788874760192 codisweepstakes2 (@) gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

We are cordial to one another and we pray together

shopgurl101@gmail.com

Unknown said...

http://sweetqt.wordpress.com/2010/11/24/giveaway-from-blogher-and-pop-tarts/
blogged

shopgurl101@gmail.com

Unknown said...

tweet http://twitter.com/shopgurl/status/7342893559709696

shopgurl101@gmail.com

Julia Ladewski said...

i love your idea!! we made a tree with leaves of thanks on them. i think it's good to do this all year round though!!

workwifemomlife@gmail.com

Unknown said...

We volunteer at the Thanksgiving food drive at my daughter's school every year. On Thanksgiving day, we have a tradition of going around the table and everyone saying what they're thankful for this year.

shel704 at aol dot com

Unknown said...

http://twitter.com/auntiethesis/status/7684470152896512

shel704 at aol dot com

The 4-Crows Blog said...

Oh how wonderful! I want to be like you! I love and hug and tell them how thankful I am for them and others and in return they reciprocate- but I have to admit your idea is so much better! Thank you!

sharhondacrow@cox.net

The 4-Crows Blog said...

tweeted

http://twitter.com/The4Crows/status/7695558437240833

Anonymous said...

My wife and I invite a member of the military to our home for either Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner.

My parents did this when I was a child, it was a tradition that my grandfather started.

pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Anonymous said...

http://twitter.com/lpauld68/status/7837938226298880


pauleyd68 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Susan said...

We daily thank God for our blessings! We are thankful for our family and health. suelee1998 @ gmail.com

Liz Mays said...

Stopping to reflect on our blessings is something we try to do regularly.

bluevioletnut AT gmail DOT com

slehan said...

Our family motto is "Attitude of Gratitude"
Thanks for the contest.
slehan at juno dot com

slehan said...

blogged: http://slehan.blogspot.com/2010/11/win-100-from-pop-tarts-blogher.html

slehan at juno.com