Ok, so I am sitting at my desk this morning minding my own business (ok, I was bag shopping when I should have been working, but that's not the point.) And Ben, our General Manager of Madness and Mayhem at IWON (I call him M squared) stops by to tell me that some of you lucky users have been winning diamonds. Did you hear what I just said? D-I-A-M-O-N-D-S! Yeah, and I had no idea we even had diamonds lying around here!

Naturally my first question was, where are we storing these puppies? But M squared didn't feel like sharing. I'm sure it had nothing to do with what happened last week. (They found me in the prize closet covered in Prada bags just smelling the leather. I have an addiction and I'm dealing with that.) So I asked him who was lucky enough to grab the most precious of prizes right before the holidays no less!

He told me that someone, specifically bima777, already grabbed a fabulous diamond pendant playing Prize Pop, our new bonus game you can only find in Diamond Slots! Get it? Diamond Slots, diamond pendant...I tell you it's genius. And there are still more to win! Score three white diamonds and you get a chance to pop one of three balloons. Behind one of them is that mouth-watering icy treat. Pick the right one, and it's yours! I mean has it ever been easier to take home such a treasure? It was certainly a lot tougher getting one from my husband! I put in six and half years for that! And I had to give birth to my son get my diamond earrings - this seems like a much easier endeavor to me!

So start pulling that lever in Diamond Slots, and you may get a chance to make me insanely jealous! And feel free to congratulate our first diamond pendant winner by checking out her profile page. The only thing a woman likes more than diamonds are compliments!

Ok, I can't hold my excitement in any longer! I just found out that IWON is giving away a $1,000 shopping spree to Macy's! Yes, Macy's!!!! The holiday shopping capital of the universe! I still remember my first trip to Macy's in Herald Square as a little girl. (Ok, so I was 19 at the time, which I guess isn't too little. But it left a lasting impression.) Oh the beauty of it. Floors and floors of clothes, shoes, bags, perfume, makeup, the list goes on and on. It's like Utopia. I mean, everything you could possibly want is there. Throw in a shower and I would pack my bags and live there if I could.

And now you can snag $1,000 and go nuts in this fabulous store! You can shop for everyone on your list, including your favorite blogger, should you feel so inclined! (I'm a size small on a good day.)

What's even cooler is that IWON is giving you new games to play that may help you score this primo prize. And these newbies happen to be some of the most fun games we all grew up with. Like Skeeball and Air Hockey! I'll have you know, I happen to be an Air Hockey master! I can shoot in a puck with intense speed, yet not even chip one magnificently manicured nail. I do get a bit competitive though. I know, it's shocking isn't it? There's a lot you don't know about me, but I have a big mouth so eventually it will all spill out. (Maybe one day I'll even tell you how I tricked the bigwigs here into thinking I actually know what I'm doing.)

Alright, well the game is on kids. Get out there and make me proud!

So, how did you all do this weekend? I was not as successful as I had hoped to be; although I did pick up some cute outfits at Baby Gap for my little one. I think I have a sickness when it comes to shopping for him. I just can't stop! But my husband will be relieved to know that I didn't buy a single thing for myself! I, on the other hand, am none too pleased with that unfortunate fact. All that effort and not a single reward for myself. Well, unless you count that chocolate chip cookie I devoured at the food court. Yum!

I have to say, though, I'm totally worn out! Battling the crowds is tough business! I even found myself out of breath at times. Did I not train hard enough for this? The extra baby weight (and the excess cookie calories) must have slowed me down this year. Maybe I need a break, or a vacation!

Doesn't that sound great? I mean, don't you wish you could just escape from it all? I mean, wouldn't it be fabulous to go to a place where people actually say excuse me when they knock you over (unlike that behemoth that practically trampled me when trying to score the last sequined t-shirt at J.Crew.) Where is common courtesy these days? I think it went the same way as my investments...down the toilet!

Anyway, with all the stress of holiday shopping and the endless commitments that fill up your weekends, wouldn't it be nice to take off and leave it all behind? Well, leave it to IWON to give you that chance. You aren't going to believe this...in addition to offering new games that help your take a break from it all, IWON is also giving you the opportunity to escape for real by adding an American Airlines $500 gift card to their already impressive list of prizes! I tell you, if I could win that, I would drop what I was doing and get on a plane to anywhere but here! (Don't worry, I would be sure to finish my work first...eh, who am I kidding? It would be fiesta time!)

So get away from it all! Play new games and win new prizes! And if you do win, can I come too?

Oh it's the moment I've been waiting for! Black Friday is here! This is just the start of the best weekend of the year! I am so ready for this. I have created a map of my local mall that will allow me to be extremely strategic and move quickly. I also have on my new pair of Asics, which give me the speed and agility I need to cover everyone on my list!

Doesn't it always feel like each year there are more gifts you need to grab? I mean, do I really need to get my brother-in-law's cats a gift? I've never even met the felines! But I'm told they are now a part of the family and of course I don't want to be rude! But I swear, with all the presents I need to purchase, I wish I could find a way to score more cash for myself! (Ummm, bosses, are you listening? 'Tis the season to give a little bonus, no? So what if I just started working here and have trouble getting here on time! I try really hard! Ok, I try...somewhat.)

Too bad I don't have the luck you all do. Your chances of scoring cash and prizes this weekend are way better than mine! IWON is constantly giving you more ways to win! And since we're all going to be a bit slower this weekend after stuffing our traps with tryptophan, why not take a load off in front of the computer and play some of the best online games you can get your mouse on! After all, you've earned it! (Especially if you've had to put up with those insane relatives you only see once a year. Can someone please explain to me why crazy Uncle Harry thinks it's ok to floss at the table?!)

Alright, I wish I could chat longer, but each minute is critical! I'll be back next week to let you know how I did! And why don't you let me know how you do on IWON this weekend? Send me a comment! I'd love to hear about it!

Good luck everyone at the mall and on IWON!

Ok, I think it's a surprise to no one that I love to shop - especially my husband, who reviews the credit card bill on a monthly basis. (Looking at it each week was having some sort of effect on his blood pressure.) Anyway, it should not come as a total shock that I am counting down the days until Black Friday! It is the day I plan for every single year. You must plan because if you don't, one of two things inevitably happen. You either become one of those unfortunate individuals that get trampled on at 5 a.m. before you've even had a cup of half decent coffee (and then you have to explain to your kids why Mommy has footprints all over her face) or you become a victim of tryptophan and end up sleeping through some of the best sales of the season!

Well not me, my friends! I have my own personal alarm clock (my hungry 5-month old) and a plan of attack. See, this year, I think the bargains will be plentiful so I will be sure to get a bit of beauty sleep first before charging the gates of the mall. Gift list in my left hand, credit card in my right, I am a force to be reckoned with. (Don't even try to get in my way for that Elmo Live doll. My son WILL have that for the holidays.)

And of course, what are the holidays without a little gift to oneself? After all, with the economy taking a hit, is it so bad for me to take advantage of all the incredible sales and grab a new handbag for myself? Seeing as though my husband will be getting me a fabulous right-hand ring for the holidays (or he will after he reads this), I have to think about my needs, not my wants. And every woman NEEDS a bag (especially a Michael Kors bag that goes fabulously with my new coat!)

But at the end of each Black Friday, I kick off my shoes and want to have some fun. Battling the crowds takes a lot out of a girl! And that's when my day gets even better. I get onto IWON and start playing my favorites. I know, I can't win all the cash and incredible prizes IWON offers - we all know this by now! But you can. So start off the holiday shopping season with the chance to put some cash in your pocket! After all, that's what IWON loves to do! And stay tuned, I'll let you in on some more fun holiday treats heading your way soon!

Alright, I have to go pick up some shoulder and knee pads for Friday. (Last year I made the stupid mistake of going unprotected...won't do that again! My muscles still ache.) Later!

It's that time again! Time for us to do what we do best - hand out more cash! And we had some fierce competition going on in October, especially for IWON Team Challenge! So who walked away victorious? Drum roll, please ...

None other than... Best Friends Animal Society and Wounded Warriors! Congratulations to you glorious gamers who each take home a $10,000 donation for your respective charities. And of course we must give a special shout out to last month's top 10 teams:

National Charity Teams
1. Best Friends Animal Society
2. St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital
3. Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
4. American Cancer Society
5. Doctors Without Borders USA Inc.
6. Feed The Children
7. Paralyzed Veterans of America
8. Fund For Animals Inc.
9. Armed Services YMCA of the USA
10. Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center

Member-Created Teams
1. Wounded Warriors
2. Tigers Against Diabetes
3. Common Cents
4. Andie's Team Against MS
5. Hope to Autism!
6. For All the Dogs
7. Fight Against Cancer
8. American Red Cross
9. Bell Ringers (Salvation Army)
10. A Chance to Realize a Dream

Remember, there's still plenty of time left in November, and a lot more prizes to be won! Don't forget that we'll be awarding our 2nd place team $2,000 and 3rd place with $1,000! So gather everyone you know and get them playing for your favorite cause. You never know what a little team spirit can do!

Good luck from all of us here at IWON!

For the longest time, I could not understand my husband's fascination with fantasy football. I mean, here is a man who at one point in time could spend hours at a time on a computer trading players, managing point totals and talking trash to those in his league (who naturally are his best friends.) And he would do it with such intense concentration. You would have thought he was single handedly trying to solve the crisis in the Middle East!

He used to say, "Randi, it's strategic." Yeah ok, big men the size of major appliances ramming into each other seemed to me to be the total opposite, but whatever. So then he says, "Why don't you watch some games with me and see what it's like." Of course my first inclination is to say, umm, I'd rather pay full price on a Louis Vuitton bag with a hole in the bottom. But since we did take vows to love each other for better or for worse, I felt like this could fall into the latter category. (Plus, it would give me good ammo for when I want to go see the Sex and the City sequel.)

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There are certain people I would love to meet. Just to have a few minutes to bend their ear would be amazing! Like for example, I am dying to know where Michelle Obama got her fabulous style from (you are certainly giving Jackie O. a run for her money, Mrs. First Lady to be!) Or Gordon Ramsey! Now there's a guy who is never at a loss for words. (I love you Gordon!! You can hurl insults my way any time you'd like, honey!)

But most of all, I love getting the chance to talk to people who have experienced extraordinary events. And one of my favorites is our Annual Sweepstakes winner, Ray2Scoops, who took home $100,000! You already know what a sweetheart I think he is for putting his winnings toward his boys' education. (Take notes guys!) But he's also just an incredibly sweet guy with a big heart and a sincere love for IWON!

Well, we want to give you all the chance to meet this lucky duck and extend your congratulations or ask him anything you'd like. Personally I'd like to know what he plans to buy his wife since she's the one who got him to put IWON on his computer. Diamonds are a girl's best friend, Ray! Well, then again, so are rubies, emeralds, oh yeah and sapphires...yikes, ok, I have to calm down!

So join us in Diamond Slots (Ray's personal favorite game and my personal favorite gem) on Wednesday, November 12 starting at 9 pm EST/6 pm PST and chat it up with our annual $100,000 winner. He'll be playing for an hour and is looking forward to meeting all of you! So don't miss out!

Now, since we have so many inquisitive individuals who are dying to dish it up with Ray2Scoops, you may find his chat room to be temporarily full, which means you may not see him in the chat room where you are. But don't fret! Just check back again in a moment to see if space has opened up. I know, it seems like a drag, but think about it...even the best sales often have a line at the door! You know it's worth the wait! (That's how I got my fabulous Theory blazer...but I digress.)

Alright, I'm off to go hunt down Gordon...don't tell my husband though!

All the positive energy surrounding IWON Team Challenge these past two months has definitely been contagious. In fact, it got us feeling a bit generous ourselves. Since you've all been doing such a great job motivating each other and working (or should I say playing) extremely hard to make a difference for such worthy causes, we thought you deserved a little something for your efforts.

So as our reward to you, we've added 2 more prizes to Team Challenge this month! Yep, you heard it right - in addition to the $10,000 Grand Prize Winners, we will also award $2,000 to our 2nd place winners and $1,000 to the teams that score 3rd place! So now, you have even more chances to win some cash for your favorite cause!

I have to say, you've really inspired everyone here at IWON with all your heartfelt stories and sincere encouragement. We love reading your team's messages (we even try to follow your inside jokes :)) and look forward to finding out who will take next month's prizes! So keep up the team spirit and keep racking up those coins! Your team could make it to the top!

Not part of a team yet? Well what are you waiting for? It's easy to join the fun! Go to IWON Team Challenge now and make your coins count!

And stay tuned because we have more fun on the way! Our very own Tim will be making an appearance on The Tyra Show soon! In true IWON fashion, he's got a stellar surprise for one lucky individual. You won't want to miss it!

See you soon everyone and good luck from all of us here at IWON!