April Winners

Meet some of bsp's recent winners, and check out our frequent giveaways at baystateparent.com as well as updates on Facebook (We are 875 and growing strong on Facebook. Join us!).

Alvin and the Chipmunks the Squeakquel DVDs: Victoria Collins, Marlborough; Jen Braley, Sterling; Maryann DeCell, Worcester

Aveeno Baby products: Angelica Galindez, Worcester

Target's Rescue Me! Stuffed animal: Renee Sullivan, Auburn

Mud Gloves Mother/Child Garden Glove Set: Sarah Clark, Franklin

$50 Gift Certificates to Adventure Boot Camp

Two of our readers each won a $50 gift certificate to Adventure Book Camp in Worcester.

Congratulations to:

Conni Sullivan
and
Stephanie Fontaine

Check out Adventure Boot Camp, who offer a four-week outdoor program of fitness instruction, nutritional counseling, and motivational training.

February Winners

Meet some of our February winners who entered our giveaways:

Angela Haugabrook, Framingham: an adult-sized fitness hoop from Full Motion Family ($100 value)
Sharon Cohen, Ashland, Preserve Products ($50 value)
Deb St. Angelo, Marlboroough, Mt. Wachusett Lift ticket ($54 value)
Shelley Cook, Upton Mt. Wachusett Lift ticket ($54 value)
Nancy Rotatori, North Grafton; Patrick Seemungal, Marlboro; Ruth Kos of North Grafton: Family Four-Packs to the Worcester Sharks ($56 value each pack)

Winner of Preserve Products!

Congratulations to Dina Gagne of Leominster who won containers, bowls, etc. from Massachusetts based Preserve Products (valued at $45).

We are giving away another one of these stylish gift packs in January, just visit "Enter our Contests" on the home page of our Web site.

Winners to the January 31st Worcester Sharks Game!

Congratulations to the following readers who won family four-packs to the
Worcester Sharks' Jan. 31st game featuring Twilight werewolf, Chaske Spencer!

David Mc Barron of Auburn

and

Michele Murch of Hubbardston

Lee Jeans Slender Secret Jeans

Some of the winners of baystateparent's LEE Slender Secret jeans giveaway are:

Michelle Trudeau of Webster
Shelly Fietz of Fitchburg
Veronica Gold of Worcester
Tracy Poplawski, Webster


baystateparent gave away 20 pairs of LEE jeans in all.
Congratulations ladies!

Old Sturbridge Village: Twelve Nights of Christmas

Bonnie Mousseau won two free tickets (worth $28/both) for Old Sturbridge Village's "Twelve Nights of Christmas" Dec. 17 - 20 from 4 - 9 p.m.
Join our facebook page if you'd like to stay updated on freebies (posted several times per week). Just search " baystateparent Magazine."

Hotel for Dogs and Monster Vs. Aliens

Congrats to the latest DVD winners. Pick up every issue of baystateparent because
we give away the latest DVDs....


Hotel for Dogs DVD:

Austion Comeras, Natick
Brett Dickhaut, Oxford
Amanda Kasper, Ashby

Monsters vs. Aliens DVD:

Maria Martin, Waltham
Tristan Ohler, Acton
Exodus Gonzalez, Worcester
Bella Kristina Calnana, Whitinsville

Winners of the Brave Girl Adventure Pack!

Meet some of the Brave Girls who entered baystateparent’s “Brave Girl Adventure Pack Contest:

Mom Evelyn Larson wrote that her daughter Audrey is brave everyday by overcoming some of the many social obstacles that come along with being homeschooled. Audrey strives to be pleasant, to stand up for her educational rights, and to be brave about being different!
Good work Audrey, that’s what BRAVE is all about!

Kaylei Carlson is a special child who holds true to the #1 principal of braveness; she never talks down to her friends and truly sees the good in everyone. Being a social butterfly, she loves to include new friends into her peer group.
Thanks Kaylei, you help set a great example for girls who rock!

Little 2 ½-year-old Ellie shows her bravery in ways both large and small. She is fearless around animals, loves to climb and jump despite her small size, and is brave with her emotions. Says her mother, she is always trying to let us know exactly how she feels. Ellie, you are growing up to be one brave little lady!

Katie, 12, is brave everyday because she is strong and independent, with an “I can do anything attitude.” baystateparent loves that! As her mother says, “In today’s world, being 12 can be difficult, and middle school can be challenging. She is her own person, and stays true to herself. I admire that in her, and wish I was more like Katie when I was growing up.”
What a great mom and daughter team!

Mom, Daniele Sarkisian-West, told us that her daughters are so brave and adventurous. Not only do they take swimming lessons in the rain but they are not afraid of bugs! Her oldest daughter, who is 8, went to an overnight camp for 2 weeks and wants to go back for a month!
Thanks for showing us that girls can do anything!

OUR WINNERS
Although baystateparent wishes we could have let everyone who entered our contest win, we had to choose. And while you are all brave in your own amazing ways please meet our brave winners.

Shayla Yu Ping Nicholson, 4, was left at the door of an orphanage in China. Someone found her and she took 4 planes to get to the U.S where she now lives with her loving mom and dad. Shayla has overcome a Cleft Palate repair, learned to speak English, and began school everyday in West Boylston. That takes bravery!

Megan, 7, of Mendon shows her courageousness everyday. Unfortunately, mean spirited children taunt Megan and try to hurt her feelings. Megan does the right things and uses her bravery to ignore these comments and tell herself that she is and can be the best girl she wants to be!
baystateparent is very proud of you Megan! Keep up the good work!

Mother's Day Giveaway Winners Announced

Thanks for your patience!

baystateparent is happy to announce the winners of our Mother's Day Giveaway!!

Barbara Andrews-Carlson, Shrewsbury
Shawna Mead, West Boylston
Lisa Nelson, Grafton
Shannon Haraldsen, Framingham
Shelly Fietz, Fitchburg
Michelle Maley, Grafton
Carly Ricard, Fitchburg
Martina Arndt, North Grafton
Jen Bricher, Shrewsbury
Mellisa Pratt, Shrewsbury
Tina Graham, Auburn
Laurie Dansereau, Natick
Justin Boyle, Webster
Barbara Alteri, Worcester
Betsy Rajotte, Sutton
Katie Schiff, Worcester

Mother's Day Giveaway Winners

Dear Readers,
It's Monday, June 8th, and I am working on packaging all the prizes from our May Mother's Day Giveaway and posting the winners online.
Stay tuned for a list of winners!
Carrie Wattu
editor

Free Dora Live Tickets on Thursday, May 7 and Friday, May 8

Late-Breaking Reader Prize:
If you'd like to receive free Dora the Explorer Live tickets at Boston Opera House, for Thursday, May 7 at 2 p.m. and Friday, May 8 at 7 p.m., let us know via e-mail:
editor@baystateparent. We can mail them to you tomorrow.
Carrie Wattu, editor
413.265.1202

Closet Contest

The winner of the baystateparent Closet Facelift from Alisa Neely at Scout, valued at $375, is Erika McDonald of Maynard.

Congratulations Erika!!! Meet Erika here as well as some of the fabulous moms who wrote to us.

Erika is mom to 19-month-old Anna and the assistant director of admissions for Harvard Kennedy School, the graduate school for public policy at Harvard University.

She writes:

"I was lucky enough to take a 10 month leave of absence from my job. Needless to say, when I went back to work in September of 2008, my non-maternity wardrobe was tired-looking. In fact, I hadn't worn non-maternity professional clothes in almost two years!

Every morning I lose a battle with my closet because my work wardrobe is either bordering on out of style, or doesn't fit quite right. I have to rotate two suits, while trying to mix in some other pieces to try to create 'dressier' outfits. It's the sad truth that your body never does return to the exact shape it was before baby. Items are either baggy where they shouldn't be, tight around the waist or too short. I have bought a few items, but money is tight since I'm back to work part-time.

I would love to rediscover some key, timeless pieces in my own closet that can be re-purposed, and learn how to select sweaters, shirts or pants that match the existing wardrobe I own."

baystateparent hopes to share Erika's closet facelift with you in a future issue.

baystateparent gives free prizes in Boston!

Jennifer Antkowiak, our promotions coordinator, raffled off these great prizes at the American Baby and Family Expo in Boston over the weekend. Congrats to:
Colleen Finocchiaro of Danvers
Holly Deak of Brookline
Michelle Morrison of Lowell
Maggie Robinson of Brookline
Barbara Lufkin of Brockton
Amy Hook of Lynn
Tara Jean of Dracut
Lisa Tucker of Norwood

Thanks for stopping by our booth, which looks fabulous, by the way.

Thanks to Balloon Platoon for making our booth look so fantastic.
We are giving our more "wicked good cookies" with our February cover on them next Tuesday at Girls' Night Out --Tush Denim on Green St. in Worcester. Hope you can join us!

Closet Facelift Entries

The baystateparent "WIN A CLOSET FACELIFT WITH A TOP BOSTON STYLIST" is now closed for entries. We will be picking the winner this week.

Alisa Neely, voted Best of Boston 2007: Personal Shopper by Boston Magazine, will be taking an in-depth look into one lucky mom's closet the first week of April. This prize is valued at $375!

The results with photographs as well as anecdotes from some our mom-entries will be featured in our May Mother's Day issue.

Thank you Alisa Neely for partnering with us. Thank you moms for entering. We've got some fabulous moms reading baystateparent. And even if you don't think you are fashionable, you sure are funny and sincere. The hearts of our readers really shined through in your letters and photos.

Stay tuned...

2008 Cover Contest Winner!

baystateparent is proud to announce our 2008 Cover Contest Winner

Evan Taylor, age 4, of Worcester!

Thank you to all of the families who entered this year's contest. We are
thrilled to feature all of the finalists in an upcoming issue (possibly May 2009) with Evan on our cover.

Congratulations Evan and to the Taylor family!

2009 Cover Contest Winners!

Our 2009 Cover Contest Winners will be announced in our upcoming February issue. Be sure to pick up a copy next week to see the finalists.
Thank you to everyone who entered, and enjoy your beautiful kids!
Best,
Carrie Wattu
editor@baystateparent.com

Congratulations to our Horton Hears a Who DVD winners!

Lily Mae Rice, Oakham
Jillian Lang, Worcester
Liam McCarron, Millbury
Max Miller, Wrentham
Sarah Carney, Oxford

Pick up our February issue for more coloring contests and keep checking our Web site for more giveaways!

Thank you!

Winners of Nim's Island DVD

In our September issue, baystateparent gave away the "Nim's Island" DVD.

Congratulations to our winners!

Steven Rousseau, Leominster
Cassandra Stejskal, Millbury
Jhonyel Galvis, Framingham
Thomas Mazeika, Sturbridge
Anna Bonin, Spencer

Pick up the November issue for more free contests!