Show off Your Favorites...for a Chance to Win a $250 Target Gift Card!

*****10:30pm 3/4/09*****

I've just closed comments for the contest and will no longer be taking Mr. Linky entries.
Thanks so much to everyone who took the time to enter.  The winner of the contest has been chosen by the Random Number Generator and will be announced tomorrow morning, 3/5/09 at 6:00AM!

****************************************************************************

If all goes well, and I don't have an absolute heartastroke putting this post together (I am missing the geek/techie gene that allows one to put together cool badges and buttons for this kind of thing, and then create the code for them.  Also, Mr. Linky and I have an on-again-off-again relationship!), I hope this post will be the official kick-off to something I have been looking forward to for about 6 weeks...

YOUR CHANCE TO WIN A $250 TARGET GIFT CARD!

As of right now, I'm still trying to create the badge and figure out how to create one of those cool looking "code box" thingies.  I've done it before dammit!  Alas, in order to have accomplished it in the past, I had to Google a butt-load of sites just to find the code to create the code to place the code in...make sense?  Yeah, not so much to me either.  But I did do it.  Past tense.   In between now and then I upgraded browsers and with that upgrade went all my bookmarks.  Dammit!  Among those beloved bookmarks (and you're wondering why I haven't been by your blog lately?  Blame Firefox!) was the site that gave me step-by-step guidelines for creating text boxes.  It was so simple the Little Imp could have followed it.  And now....It.Is.Gone.

But you don't really care about that do you? 

You just want to know how to get your hands on the $250 Target gift card, don't you? 

You want me to shut up and tell you what ridiculous stunts you're going to have to pull, in order to win this, don't you?

Oh...wait a sec.  There are no ridiculous stunts. 

I'll wait whilst you rub your eyes and make sure you read that correctly.  NO RIDICULOUS STUNTS.

No pictures of stickers/post its on your forehead.

No shots of what's under your bed.

No virtual bloggy dinner parties where you have to invite 10 of your favorite bloggers to dinner and then post about it.

Hang on just a moment!  There is something you'll have to do!   But this is good.  I promise.  It's all about you!

All you have to do to enter for a chance to win the $250 Target Gift card is create a post which links to your Top 5 or 10 Favorite Posts.    They can be your funniest, most profound, thoughtful, entertaining...whatever.  Just as long as they are your favorites.    Then, once you've done that, come back here and link that post in the Mr. Linky area and LEAVE A COMMENT ON THIS POST!  Also,  make sure, somewhere in your post, that you link back here to Barking Mad!  The contest runs through tonight, until march 4th, 2009 at 10:00PM EST.

THE FINE PRINT - Void where prohibited...which really is just my fancy way of saying that if I've had sex with you,  you gave birth to me, if I gave birth to you,  if you are a sibling (rivalrous or not), or in any, way, shape, or form related to me, nanny nanny boo boo, you can't enter the contest. 

One more thing...please add the button below, that will appear here momentarily (I hope, I have to first publish the post in order to get the URL for the code), to your sidebar. Seeing as how I can't create that damn box, just lift the code I'll paste below the box.  It will work, I just hate how I don't have a neat little box to put the code in.  Pfffft!

That's all!  Yes, I'm serious.  No, you don't have to take a picture of yourself acting like a jackass and post it too.  Although, if you want to, go for it. 

The idea behind the contest came from me surfing so many new blogs and really enjoying what I was reading, but yet wanting to get to know the writer/blogger better.  Anyhow, I thought this would be a cool way to show off your best and share it with other people too!  It's just one big linky love-fest...without the bell bottoms, bongs, and VW vans painted with daisies and rainbows.

So...are you guys ready to show off your best?  Your favorite? The posts you are most proud of?

Well then, what are you waiting for?  There's a $250 Target gift card up for grabs!

Questions?  Email me at iambarkingmad@gmail.com and I'll do my best to answer.

Oh...check back later tonight.  Mr. Linky will be up and so will the code for the nifty (OK so it kinda sucks, just keep in mind what I said about not possessing that geek gene!) badge you see below.

Good luck!

<a href="http://abritandabit.typepad.com/spotted_dick_and_other_mu/2009/02/show-off-your-favoritesfor-a-chance-to-win-a-250-target-gift-card-.html "><img src="http://abritandabit.typepad.com/targetgiftcardbadge.JPG "></a>

10:30pm 3/4/09 COMMENTS FOR THIS ENTRY ARE NOW CLOSED

Comments

[Karelle]

It sucks that I've pulled my blog. :( I'd love to play. Maybe I'll relocate it and revive it for a bit. $250 would come in handy!

[Allison @ Slice of Heaven]

What a great idea...I will work on mine, but I think I am going to do it as my 100th post, so it might be in about 9 or 10 days. But I'll link up when I get it posted!

[Coco]

Sounds like fun! I'll have mine up by this weekend. But first, my 100th post and MY giveaway (it'll happen tomorrow).

[flutter]

This is a really cool idea, Auds. :) Just so happens I link to my essential posts on my about page. Handy, that.

[Andi]

I am going to try!!
Do we have a "due date" - I work best under pressure!

[Tyne White]

Auds, you are so fun. What a great idea. I hate making those text code boxes! Pain in my arse. I'll see if I can find my super fast tutorial and email it your way. I am going to work on your great contest, too. God knows I could use a target gc since I will have three in diapers in less than a month!

[Harriet]

Great idea.
Thanks!

[Laura]

Great idea Auds, I just finished my list!

http://3boys247.blogspot.com/2009/02/testosterone-zone-top-ten.html

[Jen E @ mommablogsalot]

Okay I'm a nerd and I'm turning in my assignment early. I just posted it. I'll keep looking in to see if the Mr Linky is up yet. :)

[Nancy]

I entered in the Mr. Linky above, #2!

[MomZombie]

Hey Auds,
Perfect timing. I've been having a bit of a blockage lately. This is just the Metamucil I need to get moving. And since we haven't had sex, I guess I'm eligible. "-)
Nice idea to have a virtual meet and greet with a door prize on top of it.

[nikki]

What a HUGE giveaway!!! How very generous. I'll have to sign up...but I'm glad you gave us some time to put a post together!

[jean m.]

Fun idea! Heard this from Jen at mommablogsalot. I'm linked up.

[3boys1mommy]

HOT DAMN AUDS! $250 SMACKERS! I'll be playing for sure. I'm in it to win it Auds!

[An]

cool! i'm entered. i can't get the button to work though...

[Andi]

Look Audrey! I did it! I even found more than 10! :)

[Kate Mommyk8]

Well I would love to play but I don't have a blog. I am not a very good writer anyway.

[Mama Zen]

This was so much fun!

[Jaime]

I'm excited about your giveaway and I'll be posting my top 5 posts soon! :)

[Ms Cupcake]

Dropping by from sits. Have a relaxing Sunday and make it a cupcake day!

In case you're interested my blog giveaway ends tonight. Grand prize is Juicy Couture cupcake earrings.

[starrlife]

I'm coming with my post!A couple of days... put up the linky and the button already tho! Thanks- so cool!

[Michele]

250 big ones! Ya got me hooked.

[Michele]

Oops. I don't think I followed directions. I just linked to my favorite post. That's not what you asked, is it? I'll post about my top 5 posts tomorrow and will re-link. Oops. Sorry. Great idea, though.

[Heather B]

Fun trip down memory lane. Thanks for the giveaway!

[Shay]

I copycatted off of Mama Zen!

[Ryan Ashley Scott]

I love this idea - so much fun to play and see all the other fav posts! Thanks.

[Julia]

Thanks for offering this one. Great Idea!!!!!!!!!!! I really could use the $ for sure. And it's a great way to do the "best of."

[wanda]

What a great idea. And thank you for not asking me to take a picture of under my bed. Scary down there!

I linked & buttoned!

Woohoo!

[Suzi]

Hi-
I just entered your giveaway and blogged it. Thanks for the giveaway.

[A]

This is such a great idea! I just posted my list, and I'm looking forward to reading some new, fabulous blogs.

Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

[Erin Monahan]

OK I only found you today, but I love your blog, and THIS post - oh the fun I am having surfing through the blogs of all those that are playing along!

And of course, I blogged about your giveaway and joined!

[Crystal]

Whooo... can't wait to see how this turns out... I can't wait to read everyone favorite blog posts. LOL.

[Bethany]

This looks like oodles of fun. I am enjoying getting to know all these people through their blogs!

[Michele]

Ok, I am back.I am # 15 and #27. I goofed with the first post. But, it's all fixed now. My 5 best posts are up. Sorry for not following directions. Recess detention, maybe? ;-)

[So Not Mom-a-licious]

I forgot to comment!!! Thanks for this. And it's been fun having people stop by to read my old posts. Fun for me at least.

[Lara]

Oh, let me figure out who to send you to.. BUT I know a couple of my readers actually DO these things for free and REALY well!!! For somereason your feed dropped me.. what do I smell or something? I'm just gonna blogger follow ya again! Come by I'm doing some fun stuff too.

[Michaela]

What a great idea!! I'm playing along and linked and added the button to my blog.

[Kathy]

Cool idea!

[Shannon]

What a cool idea for a contest! I'll definitely be playing along! Thanks :)

[Call Me Cate @ ShowMyFace]

Mine's up, awesome giveaway and I can't wait to check out some of the other blogs!

[tmc]

$250?!?! That's a lot of knee socks!

Interesting premise... it's not very often that I go back and read what I've written.

[The Me/ The Wife/ The Mom]

How fabulous and generous! Congrats on your longevity! Continued success...I"m going to try and get my act together and participate!

[Jacky]

I would LOVE to win this!! =) Click The Sweetest Petunia (in Mr. Linky) to visit my blog! =)

[melissa]

I have no idea how to link. But I will give it a whirl:)

[Tammy Sprinkle]

WOW! $250 to Target! WoooooHoooo!! Okay, I am off to get the posts organized and I will be back to link you to it. Thank you sooooo much for this wonderful oportunity to win such an awesomely generous gift!!!
{{{HUGS}}}

[Kris]

Woohooo!! I've got my post up and I'm ready for the GiveAway. I'll be smiling all the way to Target.

Have a Happy Day

Kris

[Phil Bennett]

What a cool idea! Kris is holding a gun to my head as I type. :)

Thanks,

Phil

[MandaPanda]

Ok, you simply HAVE to go look at my favorites, and leave me a commment on each one telling me what you think! I'm so happy to have gone back and read them again, thankyou for the excuse!! lol
Um, I'm not sure.....is target different in Aus than it is in the US?
Oh well, whatever. I had fun!!

[tattooedminivanmom]

Okey, Dokey Artichokey. I did it.

I think it's a great idea...that you give me the card.

[Nikki the Momma]

I arrived from TMM...love your blog!

[Heather @ nobody but yourself]

I am so, so, so in - loopy from paint fumes and cabin-fevered from being stuck inside with a sick kindergartner over her winter break, but in nonetheless!

Thanks for this awesome giveaway chance! WOOT!

[rachael s]

this is an awesome giveaway + an awesome way to give something away. thank you for hosting this. you, my dear, rock!

[monica]

Thanks for the opportunity to win the gift card. I also had a great time going back through my posts and re-reading some of my posts.

[Joanne]

I saw this at http://sonothotmama.blogspot.com Thanks for the opportunity to win the gift card. And thanks for reminding me that I need to step up my writing because I didn't have that many posts to choose from that I really liked.

[Megan R.]

I am so excited for this giveaway! What a great way to get to know others!

[Alicia @ Oh2122]

I'm linked!

This is such a cool idea.

I promise if I win to only spen part of it on diapers.

Ok. Half Only half.

I'll buy myself some nice socks, ok?

[Karen]

This is awesome! Fingers are crossed, I so want to win this card. LOL

Found you through Rachael @ Little Bites of Heaven!

[Ronnica]

Love this idea, and of course I lvoe the idea of winning! Thanks for hosting this...I look forward to reading the others' posts!

[stef]

thanks for the reminder about the contest, i would have never remembered otherwise! :)

[ElleBee]

What a fun idea! I posted mine through Mr. Linky, but Blogger was giving me fits trying to post the button code. I finally gave up and just did massive links to your site throughout my post. I hope you don't disqualify me! :)

[Karelle]

My new blog is up so now I can play. :)

[Coco]

Hi! I found you through Heather at Nobody-But-Yourself. I posted my favorites and linked here; will have the badge up shortly!

What a great contest. Thanks for hosting it! Now I'm inspired to do a giveaway for my 200th post, though I don't think it'll be as wonderful as this one.

Coco @ Mommyhood and Life

[ChefBliss]

What a great giveaway. I am happy to play along. I had a great time revisiting my posts!!! Thanks!

[CDB]

This is a great idea, and everyone benefits at the same time. Very... socialist Brit! (:

I just discovered your blog from TattooedMiniMom, and popped over to see what it was all about.

I'm in, been meaning to do this anyway since I'm a fairly new blogger. But I won't link up until it's up. Honest Yank.

[Sassy Britches]

What a wonderful idea to bring out some posts that might have been previously overlooked! Thanks for this opportunity!

[Sarah]

This is an awesome giveaway! I had fun looking back and picking my favorite posts! :) Great idea!

[Mary Kate]

Great Giveaway!! I had fun participating and could really use $250 to Target!!!

[Jori-O]

Duh, I just realized I forgot to comment--and tell you what a great idea this is! I'm in like Flynn!

[Mary Kate]

Great giveway...I had fun participating...I could really use $250!!

[Mary Kate]

Great giveaway...i had fun participating and could really use $250!

[Trina]

Great giveaway! Thanks :)

[Candi]

Awesome idea! I had fun!!

[Jennifer]

I want to win!! I'll get a post ready for tomorrow!!

[Adlibby]

Oh my gosh! Thanks for the opportunity to read the best of the best of everybody's blogs! I know where I'll be all weekend! Cheers!

[kari]

I would really love this!! P.S. You have quite a blog!!!! Very entertaining!

[Reagan]

It was actually fun to go back through the archives! Haven't been blogging very long, but I forgot about all of the content I have. Thanks for the motivation and (in advance) the gift card. ;)

[Hilary]

Wow, what a great giveaway! I love Target and I could really use the gift card, so I entered. Thanks!

[FrankieAnon]

My blog is so new I feel a little cheeky participating. I can't compete with all the wonderful blogs here for the prize, but I'd love to have visitors who like to read non-fiction essays. I hope I did it right...I couldn't figure the little button thingy out, but I put a link to here in my sidebar. What a fun contest idea, and a great way to discover blogs I haven't seen before!

[shawn]

Hi. Your new sitsa here. I would love to win the target card. My favorites aren't that great-since I just started my blog. Hope I can still be counted. I did 5 favorites anyways. Hopefully I have new favorites someday.

[monstergirlee]

Oy! Finally got the whole post together.

I really really really hope I win.
Fun contest Auds, thanks.

[Christine]

Thanks for putting this together! What a great way to get to know some new bloggers.

[Lucy Coats]

Your blackboard is in pride of place in my sidebar--great idea. And am loving the blog. Lucy the Mad British Writer at http://www.scribblecitycentral.blogspot.com

[Heather of the EO]

How could I pass THIS up? What a brilliant idea. Crossing all my fingers and toes in hopes of winning will get very tiring, but I'm up to the task...

[liz]

I"m all ready to win!!!

[April]

Hi there!! I just entered your fantabulous giveaway! How generous!!! Thanks so much for the opportunity! I entered my link above and posted on my blog - thanks again! :o)

[SSP]

Thank you for the opportunity/reminder to consider what I have written and posted for the free world to view...sometimes i click POST a little too hastily, and forget that I am, to paraphrase the cliche, what I write.

[Adrian]

Thanks so much for posting this! Even if I don't win, it's just the kick in the butt I needed to create this post that I've been wanting to do for a long time. Thanks!

[Allison @ Slice of Heaven]

My 100th post finally came....I just linked up! Have a great week!

[Karla]

What a great idea! Thanks for letting us play! $250 is a GREAT gift! :)

Thanks again!

~Karla

[Sang-Shil]

What a great idea! I'm here via Coco (Mommyhood and Life), and would love to play. I just posted my list at:

http://notsocalm.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/my-favorite-posts/

Thanks for letting me play!

[Michelle]

I'm going to do this...but I'm curious...what are you using as a basis for judging the contest???

[Teri]

What a great give away...and fun way to see new blogs and ideas! Thanks!!

[Gale]

Here's the code you need to do the text area box you wanted to put in your sidebar--I've replaced the beginning and ending tags, the ones that look liks sideways Vs on the following code for brackets ([ and ]). If I don't do that it won't show up...so when you put it on your blog just replace each bracket with the "V" which opens in the same direction, and replace the text in caps with your own code below and you should be fine:

[form]
[textarea rows="4" cols="24"]
CODE YOU WANT TO SHARE HERE
[/textarea]
[/form]

[Maggie Smith]

I got mine entered....thank you for making, I mean letting me reminisce.

[Spoodles]

I picked out 5 hopefully-not-too dull posts, but I'm frankly embarrassed by the lack of blogging in the past year or so. I guess having 3 youngins will do that to you. Sigh.

[Kara]

Sweet deal! I think this is amazing and a gread idea! I am exited to read the rest of your blog!

[Michele]

I hope I did this right. I am still a struggling blogger wanna be! I apologize if I did it wrong! After reading folks posts..I do not think I did it right. Oh, well...I tried! Congrats to the lucky winner! It is a generous prize!

[Roxane aka "momo-mama"]

This is such a GREAT IDEA! I have been wanting to create a list of some of my favorite posts and I am glad you gave me the motivation! THANK YOU!

[Julie from Inmates]

What a fun give-away! Thanks. I enjoy your blog =0)

[Sharla]

Wow, what a totally Groovy Giveaway! Seriously, so fun! Glad you thought of it. Wish I had. ;)