Here it is - THE GIVEAWAY!

It seems like most of my shopping dollars are spent online these days. I always shop first online – and only as a last resort will I venture out to the big retail stores, or, heaven forbid, the dreaded mall.

I recently found a new favorite place to shop online, called CSN Stores – which is actually kind of like a virtual mega-mall – over 200 stores. Two things I like about these stores – first, most of the items I have looked at have free shipping. Now you all know I am a beancounter, and I know that there is really no such thing as “free shipping” – someone has to be paid to bring you what you order. What it really means is that shipping is already priced in – so there are no surprises when you go to check out. Secondly, they take PayPal, which is my preferred way to pay.

My first purchase from a CSN store were shoes from Shoesgotsole.com – in my hard to find ski-length size. My last purchase was this cedar storage bench for my deck. One thing I love about it is the story behind the company that made it - Cedar Creek was developed to provide work and career opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

I have been doing some remodeling and rearranging at my house, and I have decided to move my sewing room to the basement, and returning that room to a guest room. (This will keep me from having to arm wrestle guests when I try to get them to sleep in the beds and let me sleep on the couch – you and you know who I am talking about!) Anyhow – I decided to put a twin sleeper sofa in this smallish room, and lo and behold, CSNSofas.com has a huge sleeper sofa collection. Here’s one called "Ludlow" and is the one I have just about decided on, in leaf green:

OK – enough about my shopping habits – you came here for the GIVEAWAY! The nice folks at CSN said that I can give away a $40 gift card, which can be used in any of their 200+stores! The contest is open to those in US and Canada. Many items have free shipping, but be aware that some items may have shipping charges or in the case of Canadian readers, international fees, for certain products.

All of the items that I posted in Wednesday’s teaser are available in one of the CSN stores for less than $40. Look at some of the other cool stuff I found, for my dog friends in particular:

The $40 gift certificate would make a big dent on the purchase of the essential Picnic Time chair at tailgatepartyingsupply.com!

And look at this very cool pet gate (called a Gate N Crate) at allpetfurniture.com that converts a bunch of different ways (sorry the pic is so fuzzy - check it out here):

Ok - Here are the particulars: You can get up to five chances to win in a random drawing for the $40 gift card – choose any or all of the following options:

1. Just post a comment to this post with your email address (just so I can email you when you win - if you know I have your addy, you don't have to post it) saying that you would like to win.

2. Check out a sleeper sofa and post a comment letting me know which one you like best.

3. Blog a link to this post on your own blog, and leave me a comment here that you did that.

4. Follow me on Twitter and tweet a link to this post (and leave a comment here saying that did that)

5. Facebook a link to this post (and leave a comment here saying that you did it). Please friend me if we have not friended already!

Entries close at midnight EDT on Memorial Day, May 31, and I will post the winner ASAP. Good luck!!