Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition #BigFishGames

Thank you to Big Fish Games for providing a complimentary game code to facilitate this PC game review.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Being a casual gamer, I am a huge fan of Big Fish Games.  They have such a vast inventory of PC games for people like me, who only have time to play once a week (or sometimes less).  I have played many different hidden objects games before, but this new release, Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition, has been my favorite thus far.

For this game, I played in "casual" mode, which let's me ask for hints and allows me to use a map that indicates in which locations I still have pending business.  The game is quite intricate.  There are multiple buildings and many different rooms to unlock in each one.  The hidden objects portion is split into two facets.  There are hidden objects throughout the regular game areas for which you can earn achievement awards when you find them and there are hidden object mini games.  In the mini games, you must search for pieces of three objects and when you've found all the pieces, the fractured objects reassemble and then join together to make one item you need for the game.  Much of the game is collecting objects to access another key item or to unlock more content.  For myself, I did not find the hidden object mini games to be extremely challenging, but there were always 1 to 3 objects per game that were a challenge to find.

In addition to the hidden object games, there are a variety of mini games.  Usually, the hidden object games are what I enjoy the most, but this game offers mini games that I found to be quite unique and challenging because they mostly involve problem-solving.  See the example below . . .

As you can see, the graphics are quite beautiful for this game, which adds to the magic.  The storyline is about a detective (yourself) who finds herself in a fantasy world with mermaids, man-eating eels, and sorcery.  I would say it took me approximately 6 hours to play this game from start to finish.  During the last two hours I had 3 children glued to my side because they started watching me and got hooked by this game.  In my opinion, young children might be frightened by the eel and some of the evil-doers, but I think a child who is 9 or 10 years old or older would enjoy this game as much as an adult.

I also want to point out that my Windows tablet with an Atom processor ran this game just fine, although it was much easier to find the hidden objects on a 22" monitor than on a 10" screen.

If you have some time to kill at night or on the weekends, I highly recommend this game.  It was quite entertaining all-around.  You can try Dark Parables: The Little Mermaid and the Purple Tide Collector's Edition for free and then purchase the full version if you like it at www.BigFishGames.com.

Game System Requirements:
OS: Windows XP/Windows Vista/Windows 7/Windows 8
CPU: 1.6 GHz
RAM: 1024 MB
DirectX: 9.0
Hard Drive: 862 MB

Game Manager System Requirements:
Browser: Internet Explorer 7 or later

My Grammy, Bingo Night, and Me

I am an online gamer, have been for nearly 13 years. Something about playing against real people at any time of the day without any time spent trying to meet and organize is very appealing to my busy life. By the time I get home and do everything I need to do, its 9PM or later before I can get a little time for entertainment. Online games are perfect for the time I have, within minutes I am in the thick of battle, a challenging maze, or about to solve a puzzle, all against real live people (most of whom I've never met!)

Although I have my favorite games to play, I really am up for anything that pits me against real people. Once you go head to head online playing against a real person an artificially controlled opponent doesn't cut it anymore. Let's face it, there is nothing more satisfying that being better than a competitor. Especially in your boxer shorts at midnight from halfway around the world!

My aunts and grandmother used to play bingo every week way back in the day. Rain, sleet or snow they needed to get to bingo or the world would end. How many times did I have to tell a date or my buddies they needed to wait for me because I needed to take Grammy to bingo?  Dozens, for sure! If my grandparents were alive today I would make sure they had a PC with high speed internet to bring bingo right to their home. I can imagine it now: "Grammy, just click where it says 'online bingo click here' " and I would have made all my dates on time!

The convenience of online gaming is really what impresses me. I can play against anybody in the world, anytime, and pretty much anywhere. I have online apps for my Smartphone that can pit me against a real opponent in moments while I am not even home. Imagine my grandmother sitting at the beach playing her bingo on a phone! Who am I kidding, my grandmother would be "fragging noobs" with a high end gaming laptop drinking a Kahlua on the porch if she was alive today!

I can't imagine what online gaming will bring next. One thing for sure is, I will be ready and willing for whatever it is!

"A Better World" is a Free-to-Play Facebook Game About Doing Good

Although I have played other online games, I have never tried a Facebook game.  At best, I would describe myself as a casual gamer because of the limited amount of time I have for playing.  This means I usually go for PC games that do not involve extensive interaction with other players.  A Better World is a game that allows me to play as much or as little as I would like because my progress depends solely on myself and is not part of a group effort.

Our oldest son will be officially a "tween" next January and has already begun showing interest in PC gaming.  Because of this, I understand the concerns of parents who may be worried about the unsavory themes that accompany some of these games, such as being rewarded with gold or treasure for the act of killing something, looting, and over-the-top rivalry.  ToonUps, the creator of A Better World, has created a game where the players are rewarded with Do-Good Gold and Positive Points (needed to level) for doing good.  Some examples would be . . .

• Registering their real-life good deed for the day or giving someone a thumbs-up for their good deed at the Department of Do-Good
• Sharing a hope for the future or lighting a candle to show support for a hope someone else has shared in the Sanctuary of Hope
• Posting something they are thankful for or giving feedback about someone else's post at the Gratitude Grotto
• Sending a positive message or a heart to a friend on Facebook
• Leaving a gift in a friend's home

Please take a minute to watch this video showing you some of the highlights of A Better World . . . 

If you are a fan of shopping, then this is the game for you.  After you have earned some Do-Good Gold, you can spend it at the various establishments on East and West Main Street.  My favorite places to spend my gold are the Home Decor store, the Clothing Boutique, and the Emporium.  The Salon was quite fun, as well.

In addition to doing good deeds and supporting others, there are opportunities to be good to the Earth by planting flowers, bushes, and trees in the Community Garden.  One of my favorite ways to earn Do-Good Gold and Positive Points is to play the "Positive Puzzler" game in the Arcade.  It is a game where you need to use your brain to solve the puzzle by filling in the letters.  The sooner you solve the puzzle, the more Do-Good Gold and Positive Points you earn.  The puzzles involve book titles, song titles, sayings, magical places, and people who do or have done good for the world.  Everyday you login, you will receive a new Daily Mission with 3 optional tasks to complete to earn Do-Good Gold and Positive Points.  The goal of these Daily Missions is to get you to try out different aspects of the game that you may not have explored on your own.  There are 15 places to visit thus far and there will be new ones added in the future.

A fun feature of this game is that it allows you to take snapshots of your character to post on your Facebook page.  Here I am after getting a makeover at the Salon, buying some new clothes at the Clothing Boutique, and furnishing my new bedroom at Level 5 . . .

Everyone is allowed one character.  You can customize your character's gender, skin color, face shape, hair style and color, clothing, and shoes.  Each character comes with a one-room house, some Do-Good Gold, and some furniture to start.  New rooms and additional floors are added onto the house as you reach certain levels.  Here I am at Level 10 in my newly purchased jammies standing in my newly furnished dining room . . .

There are 3 other things you should know about this game . . .

The first is that it is free to play, but there are items that are only available for purchase with Facebook credits, which requires real life money.  That being said, I have not spent one dime out-of-pocket and have been able to enjoy the game, purchase clothing, get a makeover, and furnish three rooms of my house.  I was not able to, however, purchase a pet in the new Better Pets shop.  Hopefully, in the future, the game will sell pets for Do-Good Gold and not only Facebook credits.

The second thing you should know is that there are many younger players in this game.  As a parent, I completely approve of the way this game is set up.  The only way characters can communicate with each other are by leaving each other notes at the other player's in-game house or by sending the person a Heart or a Positive Post to their Facebook wall.

The third thing is that you will constantly have to uncheck the box "Post to Facebook Wall" if you do not want an abundance of consecutive updates from A Better World on your wall.  Almost every action you take in this game will be posted on your wall if you do not take care to uncheck that box.

Aside from that 3rd thing and that the Thump-A-Thought game in the arcade is always laggy for me, I wholeheartedly approve of this game.  If you are having a bad day or are just feeling down, you can go to the Gratitude Grotto and read what other people are thankful for or go to the Sanctuary of Hope and read about what other's truly wish for.  I have to say, it is wonderful to read how people, both young and old, appreciate the important things in life and to see how many strangers can support each other's hopes and dreams.

To learn more about A Better World, visit A Better World on Facebook, where you will find the link to enable the A Better World game app.


I was given the opportunity to share my thoughts and opinions on A Better World. I received a gift card as a thank you for my participation. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Math Blaster Online Learning Game by JumpStart

Math Blaster is a new award-winning game from the makers of JumpStart that teaches elementary school age kids to use math to solve problems for the characters. Featuring different types of math at all different math skill levels, Math Blaster turns computer time into a fun learning experience for kids in all grades.

We received a free subscription for Math Blaster and Avery, my 9 year old third grader, was very excited to try it out. Avery is a total math lover and a bit of a computer nerd, so he was in heaven playing this game.

He really couldn’t answer when I asked which game was his favorite, because he liked all the mini-games so much. I did, however, notice that he played one section a lot where he had to scale levels and answer math questions about tenths, hundredths, etc . . . to go forward. He played that particular section several times that I saw.

(Click any image to enlarge)

You can learn more about Math Blaster at www.mathblaster.com, the Math Blaster Blog, and the Math Blaster Facebook Page.   To find out more about the preschool learning games available through JumpStart at www.jumpstart.com.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a 6 Month Membership to the Math Blaster online game AND JumpStart.com (ARV $48).

Limitations:
This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing.

How to Gain Entries:

Leave a comment telling me what type of math your child could use more practice with. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1)  For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.


2)  For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3)  For 1 extra entry each, if you are a Friend of mine on Facebook and/or if you have "liked" the 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires Facebook page, then leave a separate comment here telling me so with the link to your Facebook profile.

4)  For 1 extra entry each, follow JumpStart on Twitter and/or "Like" Math Blaster on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment for each with the link to your Twitter or Facebook profile.


5)  Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

6)  Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

7)  Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

8)  Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, May 16th, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!

Review: Dream Day True Love (PC Game)

When I was offered a chance to review the PC game Dream Day True Love, I thought that it sounded a little sappy for my taste.  I am so glad I decided to give the game a chance because it turned out to be quite entertaining.  I think the main reason for this is because, although it is considered a hidden pictures game, it is packed full of a variety of games . . . so no long drawn out storyline, but rather one interesting game after another.

The premise of the game is based on your job as a wedding and event planner to coordinate a 70th anniversary party, which takes place at the couple's old house in the country.  Each game or task presented to you is actually designed with your end goal in mind, so the game was very cohesive and not random at all.

Aside from the classic hidden picture games, other mini-games included in Dream Day True Love were:

• Following recipes
• Sorting and organizing items into a grid
• Fitting items into a space without overlapping
• Decorating and designing objects or spaces
• Spotting the differences between two pictures
• Spotting what is new in a picture
• Completing a picture with multiple choices
• Card games
• Cleaning objects with limited supplies
• Assembling puzzle pieces into a grid
• Hidden picture puzzles where you can move the items around (Example pictured below)

I found the mini-games to have a wide range of difficulty.  Some were barely challenging at all, while others were wonderfully difficult.  I must say that I even found the easy games to be engaging.  You may have an added challenge if you are not familiar with some of the objects the game asks you to find in the home decor, fashion, and home improvement categories.  I know there was one tool that I had never heard of before and I had to ask my husband for help, who only had a vague idea of what it was himself.

I think I finished the entire game in approximately 4 hours combined.  I still need to go back and complete the the more advanced level of hidden picture games in order to reveal what is inside the anniversary gifts.  I thought it was smart of the game designers to add that in because it extends the play time, which adds value to the game.  Currently the game is available to download for a free trial at iPlay.com or can be purchased for $19.95 for non-members and between $6.95 and $9.95 for members.

System Requirements:
Operating system: Windows XP/Vista/Windows 7
Processor speed: Pentium III, 1000MHz
RAM: 512MB, 1024MB recommended
Video RAM: 128MB recommended
Hard drive space (uncompressed): 150MB free hard disk space
Resolution: 1024x768
DirectX version: Dir


Thank you to Oberon Media for providing a complimentary sample download of this game for us to base this review upon.

I'm Addicted to the "Cooking Dash 3: Thrills and Spills" PC Game

As I have previously mentioned, I do not have much free time for serious gaming. Once in awhile though, I do indulge in a little casual gaming. When I was invited to try Cooking Dash 3: Thrills and Spills, I was intrigued because I had never tried the previous editions. I also was not expecting too much because, from my experience, a game that can be downloaded for less than $10 often can be finished in about 6 hours or so. I have been playing this game for almost a month and I still have yet to finish it. Although I get frustrated at times, I am officially addicted to this game.

The premise of this game is about how a theme park owner gives a girl who runs a successful food cart the responsibility of reviving the five restaurants within the park. In order to move onto the next level and to earn money to make improvements to each restaurant, you must beat the points goal for each level. This game requires concentration and speed. You must learn which customers are priority and what each type of customer prefers. The higher levels of each restaurant are challenging. I definitely do worse when I am tired, with slower reflexes and blurry eyes.

There are also mini games between levels where you can earn extra food for the next level, which means less food you need to prepare. The games include spot and click type games, similar to whack-a-mole, hidden picture games, and a side-to-side navigational game. When you do not make your goal and need to restart the level, you are required to play the mini game again. My only complaint is that the various individual hidden picture games do not change. So, if I needed to attempt a level 5 times before I could reach the points goal, I end up doing the same hidden pictures game 5 times. After the first time I play a hidden pictures game, I know where everything is hidden for the most part. So this particular aspect of the game is very redundant and I just try to get through it as quickly as I can so I can get on with the game.

There are two difficulty levels for this game . . . "Casual" and "Expert". Right now, I am on the last level of the first restaurant on the Expert level. This game is very challenging and obviously holds my attention. I cannot play it for a long time in one sitting though. After 5 or 6 run-throughs, my arm and shoulder begin to hurt and my eyes get dry and blurry. I suppose this is a good thing because it keeps me from sitting at the computer playing this game for hours at a time.

If you would like to learn more about Cooking Dash 3: Thrills and Spills for Windows, visit PlayFirst.com . This game is currently available to download for just $6.99 (regularly $9.99).

System Requirements:

• Windows XP/Vista
• 1.2 GHz or faster processor
• 1024 MB RAM
• 70 MB hard disk space
• DirectX 9.0 or higher

Thank you to PlayFirst for providing a complimentary download of this game for us to base this review upon.

Review: Women's Murder Club - Little Black Lies (PC Game)

James Patterson's Women's Murder Club characters come back to life in this recently released PC game by I-play titled Women's Murder Club: Little Black Lies. I had never watched any episodes from this television series, so I am unable to compare how well each character was translated into the game. What appealed to me about this game is that it is partially based on hidden picture puzzles, something I have always enjoyed.

(Click any image to enlarge)

The game starts off with the murder of true-crime author Regina Blacklock, who was researching an unsolved murder in a small town from decades ago. This game allows you to step into the shoes of a few different characters from the Women's Murder Club, who are working to solve both murders. This game is not just a series of hidden picture puzzles. It contains other types of mini game puzzles, as well. You also are required to do some detective work, using logic and reasoning based on clues.

I invite you to take a minute to watch this trailer . . .

Overall, I found this game to be enjoyable. It is definitely challenging enough for adults to be entertained. It would also be suitable for young adults, since the games are not timed and the strategy guide, journal, and map make deciding what to do next quite easy, should you decide to use all these tools.

I did not complete this game in one sitting, but I could have easily done so. I estimate it took me about 5 hours to finish the game. If you are not an I-play GameSaver member, then this game will cost you $19.95 to download. If you are a GameSaver member, then this game could cost you as little as $6.95 to download. If you are curious about this game, you can download a free trial at iplay.com .

System Requirements:

• Operating system: Windows XP/VISTA Windows 7
• Processor speed: Pentium III, 1 GHz
• RAM: 256 MB, 512Mb for Vista & Windows 7
• Video RAM: 64Mb
• Hard drive space (uncompressed): 200 MB
• DirectX version: DirectX 9.0
• Resolution: 1024x768

Thank you to I-play for providing a complimentary sample download of this game to base this review upon.

Review: Max & the Magic Marker (PC Game)

Having seen how much my 6 year old son enjoys the computer drawing game Shidonni, I was sure he would enjoy the game Max & the Magic Marker, which has been released in several countries throughout 2010. This is an animated computer game for children that allows the player to draw what he or she needs to further their progress in the game. This is such a unique concept, which taps into both a child's imagination and problem-solving skills.

To my surprise, my son did not take to this game. I think it was the obstacles that turned him off. The game is recommended for ages 8 and up, so perhaps he was not psychologically prepared to face these challenges. There was nothing remotely frightening about these obstacles, such as the possibility of falling off something, running out of ink, and the mean fellow who shows up now and then to steal all his ink. That last one was my son's least favorite part of the game.

After two attempts, I decided I should just play Max & the Magic Marker on my own, so I could report back to my readers about this game. I found the game to be very enjoyable. It does require similar skills to other computer games of this nature, such as being able to jump up on a small platform, but not fall off the other side. The only negative consequence to a fatal error is simply returning to a pre-determined start point.

The one thing a younger child might not understand are the properties of physics that are strongly present in this game. When my son tried to draw a bridge to help him cross a ravine, his bridge fell into the water. This frustrated him very much. An older child or an adult would understand how to draw the bridge so it would be more stable and less susceptible to the laws of gravity. Another example of how gravity plays a part in this game is shown in the use of teeter totters. In some cases, Max needs to draw an object heavy enough to fall onto one side in order to toss himself up high enough to reach his destination. I learned that the height at which the object is drawn and the amount of ink that is used is in direct relation to how heavy the object turns out to be.

Max collects ink by touching the ink bubbles that can be found along the way as he travels forward through this game. I learned that he can regain some of his ink used by erasing an object he has previously drawn.

Much of this game is trial and error. For example, I had to learn that Max could not walk up a steep line and that drawing steps worked out much better. I think the unwillingness for my son to try again in such situations is what ruined the game for him.

When you have completed a level, you can take Max through a portal. The software can save up to 3 different games, which is great if you have multiple children in your household. The game has 15 levels in all and you can see your progress, total time spent playing, and other stats at any time. I thought it was odd not to have an "exit" button. I think pressing ESC to quit is not intuitive for a child.

Overall, I think this game would be perfect for a child 8 years and older. The graphics are very pleasing and would appeal to any child. It does require a bit of reading if you want to take advantage of the tips the little green guys offer Max when he walks by them.

This game retails for $20 and is available for the PC, MAC, and WiiWare. You can buy Max & the Magic Marker right on MaxAndTheMagicMarker.com .

PC System Requirements:

Pentium III
512 MB RAM
3D-graphics card
DirectX9
200 MB on the hard drive

online activation

MAC System Requirements:

Intel based Mac

512 MB RAM

Thank you to Press Play for providing us with a sample download of this game free of charge to base this review upon for the Game Review Network.

Play Accor Hotels "Around the World" Photo Hunt Game

Through July 23rd, 2010, you are invited to try your hand at winning a 12-Night European Vacation by playing the Around the World Photo Hunt game brought to you by AccorHotels.com . If you are a fan of hidden picture games, then this one might be right up your alley. You need only find the four differences between two photos in each of the 15 rounds.

You can even earn Bonus Points by doing a variety of things, such as sharing your score on Twitter or Facebook, challenging a friend to play, and more.

Not only is it fun, but you can try to be one of the top 10 players, who will be awarded some great prizes . . .

• Grand Prize is a 12-Night European Vacation for two to Barcelona, Paris, and Berlin
• 2nd Place Prize is a Sofitel SoBed Mattress Package
• 3rd Place Prize is a 46" Samsung HD LCD TV
• 4th Place Prize is Panasonic Blu-ray Home Theater System
• 5th Place Prize is a 26" Sharp LCD/DVD Combo TV
• 6th Place Prize is a Bose Wave Music System
• 7th Place Prize is Nikon CoolPix Camera
• 8th Place Prize is a Sony DVD HandyCam Camcorder
• 9th Place Prize is a Samsung Home Theater System
• 10th Place Prize is a Silhouette 22" Carry On Suitcase
• Plus one $50 Mastercard Gift Card will be given away daily

Please read the official contest terms and conditions. This game ends on July 23rd, 2010 at 11:59pm EST.

I received a gift card from Accor Hotels as a thank you for sharing this information with my readers.

Giveaway & Review: Michael Scott's "The Necromancer" [CLOSED]

On May 25th, "The Necromancer", the fourth book in the bestselling series "The Secrets of The Immortal Nicholas Flemel" will be released. My husband, along with countless other fans, have been waiting anxiously for this book release. Fortunately for him, he received an advanced reader copy two weeks ago, so his wait was cut short.

Without giving away any of the plot, I would like to share some of my husband's thoughts about the fourth installment in this book series . . .

As with the prior three books, my husband enjoyed "The Necromancer" very much. He was extremely pleased to see new characters added, especially because they were more obscure characters from history than some that were introduced in past books. He actually found it interesting to Google each character to find out more about them.

"The Necromancer" seems to be more fast-paced than the previous books. The whole book series only spans the time of less than one week, so the reader always has the feeling that the story will conclude soon, but it does not. The abrupt ending frustrated my husband, which was probably Michael Scott's goal. The end of the book was very suspenseful. My husband does not want the series to end, yet he wants to know the ultimate outcome.

One main theme in this book is that the divide between good and evil or right and wrong begins to become less solid. There are some main characters who begin to question which side they want to stand with.

If you have not read the previous books in this series, my husband recommends that you do so before you read "The Necromancer". Although the book repeats information throughout, it would be much easier to follow and much more enjoyable if the first three books have been read.

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

As an accompaniment to the new book, The Quest For the Codex is a free online game in which you can unlock pieces of the book daily. To keep up the suspense, you are only allowed ten clicks per every 24 hours. It is a fun activity to play before you are able to read "The Necromancer", but it does not appear that it will reveal anything new to you, if you have already read the book.

Thank you to Random House for sending us an advanced reader's copy of this book free of charge to base this review upon and for providing a prize pack to use as the prize for our contest.

What you can win:
One lucky reader will receive a summer reading prize pack containing a paperback copy of "The Necromancer" and a water bottle.

Limitations:

This giveaway is open to U.S. entries only. You do not need to be a blogger to enter, but you must have a valid email address and be age 18 years or older. If you enter anonymously and do not include a valid email address in your comment entries, I will not be able to notify you should you win this random drawing. You must be a member of Facebook to complete the mandatory entry.

How to Gain Entries:

"Like" The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel on Facebook. Then leave a comment with the link to your Facebook profile. You MUST do this to be eligible to win this contest.

Extra Entries:

1) For 5 extra entries, leave a relevant comment on one of my non-giveaway posts. Then leave FIVE separate comments with the name of the post on which you commented. You will earn 5 extra entries for each different non-contest post you comment on.

2) For 5 extra entries, enter one of my other contests. Leave FIVE separate comments here telling me which contest you entered. You will earn 5 extra entries for each contest you enter.

3) For 10 extra entries, blog about this contest linking back to this post AND The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flemel . Then come back here and leave TEN separate comments with the link to your blog post.

4) Friend me on Facebook. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Facebook profile.

5) For 2 extra entries, share the link to this contest post on Facebook. Then leave TWO separate comments with the link to your Facebook profile.

6) Follow me on Twitter. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your Twitter profile.

7) Tweet about this giveaway linking back to this post. Then come back here and leave the link to your tweet in a separate comment. You may do this once per day until the end of the contest.

8) Subscribe to this blog's feed. Or you can follow me through Blogger or subscribe via email (widget is on sidebar). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

9) Subscribe to A Blog of Goodies' feed (the sister site to 3 Garnets & 2 Sapphires). Then leave a separate comment telling me you did so.

10) Add my button or blog link to your blog's sidebar. Then leave a separate comment with the link to your blog.

<br /> <a href="http://www.3garnets2sapphires.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd206/Busymonkeez/Graphics4Me/NEWBlogButton125x125.jpg" /></a><br /><br />

(All entries will be verified prior to awarding this prize.)


Random Drawing:

This contest will be closed on Monday, June 7th, 2010 at 11:59pm EST. A random number drawing will be held shortly after. The winner will be announced here and will be contact via email or through their blog. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours, a new number will be drawn.

Good luck in the drawing!