My Annual Sweepstakes WIN Post

Here are my wins for 2014

January

* Snicker's bar
* 6 pack of Zevia soda

February

* What You Leave Behind (Book Win)
* The Joshua Effect (Book Win)
* It's Not About Sex (Book Win)
* Lost City (Book Win)
* Ten Women (Book Win)

March

* Between Heaven and Earth: Understanding Eternity and Why It Matters Today (Book Win)
* Team Seven (Book Win)
* A Match Made in Texas (Deep in the Heart of Texas, #6) (Book Win)
* The Map Thief: The Gripping Story of an Esteemed Rare-Map Dealer Who Made Millions Stealing Priceless Maps (Book Win)
* Breath of Spring (Book Win)
* Eternal Vern (Book Win)
* Catching Fire (DVD)

April

* The Director (Book Win)
* Cheap Shot (Book Win)
* The Way Life Should Be (Book Win)
* Beyond the Clearing (Book Win)
* Hotel Florida: Truth, Love, and Death in the Spanish Civil War (Book Win)
* Jack Daniels Music T-shirt (Text Win)
* Plato Blinked (Book Win)

May

* Go Wild: Free Your Body and Mind from the Afflictions of Civilization (Book Win)
* Eating on the Wild Side: The Missing Link to Optimum Health (Book Win)
* Rocket Ship (Book Win)
* Retribution (Book Win)
* Last Witness (Book Win)
* BearWallow (Book Win)
* Busy Buddy Twist ‘n Treat dispenser by Premier.

June

* The Yonahlossee Riding Camp for Girls (Book Win)
* $1,000 check from Miller Light (Twitter contest)
* $6 “Movies At Home Cash”
* 4 tickets to IMAX movie & $25 Visa Gift Card
* Monday, Monday (book win)
* Sacred Light Spirit Eagle: My Visionary Life and Near Death Experience (book win)
* Away (book win)
* $25 iTunes Gift Card (Instagram)
* $25 7-Eleven Gift Card (Instagram)

July

* Walk in Their Shoes: Can One Person Change the World? (book win)
* Everybody Freaks Out! But It's Going To Be Okay (book win)
* Can't Look Away (book win)
* Mumfie’s Quest: The Movie DVD

August

* Patina Outdoor Fire Pit ($225)
* Ride Around Shining (book win)
* R5 Louder CD
* $25 Buffalo Wild Wings Gift Card (text win)
* Mountain Dew Soccer Ball.

September

* $1 Off Value Basket
* Walk in Their Shoes (book win)
* BOGO Culver’s Bacon Deluxe coupon

October

* FREE Hulu Plus for 1 month from McDonald's
* Small Frappe from McDonalds
* A One-Day Redbox Rental
* One FREE Fries Code from McDonalds
* Breakfast Sandwich (excludes McMuffin®), ARV: $2.89
* A One-Day Redbox Rental
* * One FREE Code from McDonalds for Medium Fries from McDonalds ARV: $1.80
* A One-Day Redbox Rental
* * One FREE Code from McDonalds for Medium Fries from McDonalds ARV: $1.80
* One FREE Code from McDonalds for Breakfast Sandwich (excludes McMuffin®), from McDonalds ARV: $2.89
* One Free Frappe or Smoothie from McDonalds
* * One FREE Code from McDonalds for Medium Fries from McDonalds ARV: $1.80
* One FREE Code from McDonalds for Breakfast Sandwich (excludes McMuffin®), from McDonalds ARV: $2.89
* * One FREE Code from McDonalds for Medium Fries from McDonalds ARV: $1.80
* One FREE Code from McDonalds for Regular McFlurry from McDonalds ($2.58)
* One FREE Code from McDonalds for Medium Fries from McDonalds ARV: $1.80
* One Free Frappe or Smoothie from McDonalds
* A One-Day Redbox Rental
* FREE Hulu Plus for 1 month from McDonald's
* One FREE Code from McDonalds for Medium Fries from McDonalds
* One Free Frappe or Smoothie from McDonalds
* 50 MCR points from McDonalds
* One FREE Code from McDonalds for Regular McFlurry from McDonalds ($2.58)
* One Free Frappe or Smoothie from McDonalds
* *One FREE Code from McDonalds for Medium Fries from McDonalds ARV: $1.80
* Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 "Papi" plush and a Beverly Hills Chihuahua 3 "Rosa" plush ("First Prize"). USD $18.74
* Favorite Team Prize consisting of four (4) tickets to a 2014 regular-season game of winner’s choice for the Favorite Team selected at the time of Entry. Approximate retail value is up to $1,600.00.
* A One-Day Redbox Rental
* One FREE Code from McDonalds for Quarter Pounder with Cheese $3.96
* A One-Day Redbox Rental
* A One-Day Redbox Rental
* Four tickets to see the Washington Redskins play from Bud Light ($1,600)
* Two Participant passes in Houston's One Tough Mudder from Dos EXIS ($250)

NOVEMBER

* A Royal Christmas Rescue (The Royal Heirs Book 2) (book win)
* People Who Hate America (book win)
* Gale Gand's Lunch by Gale Gand (book win)
* Ouija barrel sling duffel bag, Ouija tee shirt, Dracula untold temporary tattoos, Ouija Pendant,
* Dead or Alive. Craig Simpson (book win)
* Presumption of Guilt (book win)
* $25 McArch Card from MyCokeRewards
* $50 Gas Card (Text sweepstakes)
* Good Loving: How Christian Couples Can Discover Sexual Intimacy, Pleasure and Fulfillment (Book win)

DECEMBER

* $100 Dallas Cowboy GC (second chance lottery ticket)
* $25 iTunes Card
* Sarah & Katy and the Imagination Blankets (book win)

* 6 pack of Zevia soda
* Daily Wisdom for Women 2015 Devotional Collection (book win)
* One (1) Kevin Harvick’s Red, White and Blue car
* Starbucks Cranberry Bliss Bar

* 6 pack of Zevia soda

The Melting Pot Hosting #MeltySelfieMonday Contests

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but at The Melting Pot thinks a good selfie is worth a pot of fondue! Each Monday through Sept. 15, The Melting 

Pot will release a new #MeltySelfieMonday photo challenge on Facebook at
https://www.facebook.com/themeltingpotrestaurants and on Instagram @TheMeltingPo. The Melting Pot will award 10 great selfie-takers each week with $50 Melting Pot gift card.

From upside-down to group selfie themes, there are multiple chances to participate and win! So, don’t hold back. Showing us your cheesiest selfie could earn you a potof cheese fondue!  Stay connected with The Melting Pot on Facebook and Instagram to join the #MeltySelfieMonday fun!

It's Official - We Will Be Part Of The Super Bowl Half-Time Show!!!!

I've been wanting to announce this officially for days but I have been waiting for our NFL background check to come through.  Well now it's official.  I was one of 50 lucky fans that was selected for an on-field experience during Beyonce's Pepsi Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show performance seen by millions of viewers around the world.

I submitted photos of specific poses such as head bops, toe taps, jumping, and more. in order to win this exciting prize which includes a trip for two to New Orleans, $500 spending money, the opportunity to attend a private Pepsi Party, and of course an on field experience during the half-time show.

This is another one of those "Only In Sweepstakes Moments" and my husband and I are so very excited about this win.  I can't wait to share our experience with you.

I Feel A WIN Coming On!!

Here’s a question for my fellow sweepers.  Have you ever entered a sweepstakes or a contest and just knew you were going to win?  This may sound crazy but it’s actually happened to me on more than one occasion.

A few years ago I entered a sweepstakes for a trip to Scotland.  I remember seeing the sweepstakes listed and just as I read the prize I just knew I was going to win it.  I was so certain I actually looked up the hotels that were listed as part of the prize.  Still I was surprised when I actually did win.

Another time I entered a sweepstakes that had a grand prize of a trip to California to meet the star of a show and go on a behind the scenes of the show.  This sounded very exciting.  The only problem was I didn’t read the rules.  Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.  I was certain I would win but within moments of entering I caught myself felt an urge to go back and actually read the rules.  Turned out the sweepstakes was only for nurses and I am NOT a nurse.  Oh well I said to myself.  I only entered once I probably won’t win. 

Wouldn’t you know it, I did win and I felt like a real fool having to explain that I hadn’t read the rules because there was another sweepstakes for the same prize that didn’t have that stipulation.  The promotion company really was good about it and didn’t give me a lot of grief and even thanked me for my enthusiasm about the show. 

Getting that funny feeling that I’m going to win a particular prize isn’t a new phenomenon for me.   Years ago I remember learning that Phil Collins was coming to concert and one of my favorite stations was giving away skybox tickets to the show every other hour.  I was on the road about an hour and a half and I remember looking at the clock on my dashboard thinking I would arrive at my destination just in time to win.  Believe it or not that’s exactly what happened. 

I drove into the parking lot of my boyfriend’s apartment with the radio station blaring.  I shut off the car and ran up the stairs.  When he opened the door I ran past him and headed for his telephone telling him to turn on the radio as I began to dial.  On the second try the DJ congratulated me and told me I was the winner. 

I wish I could say that every time I enter a sweepstakes I could tell if I were going to win or lose. If that were true I could save myself a lot of time by not entering the sweepstakes I wouldn’t win. 

This Thursday I saw a contest sponsored by Pepsi and I just had this crazy feeling that if I entered I would win.  They were giving away 50 trips for two to New Orleans to participate in the Super Bowl Half Time Show.   To enter, visit the site and follow the directions to upload a photo. The winners were going to be chosen at random.

While I was taking a photo of my foot tapping that funny feeling came back over me.  I felt I was going to win something.  I didn’t want to get too excited but I just couldn’t shake that feeling that I won something.

Two hours later I had a knock on the door.  It was the UPS guy.  I figured it was something my husband ordered but I was wrong.  One of the boxes was something I had ordered with a $25 gift card I had won.  The other one was very light and at first glance a mystery. 

Inside the box was a large white envelope that contained a certificate congratulating me about winning a $100 GC for Dallas Cowboys .  Talk about coincidences.  This must be what  I was expecting.  Mystery solved.

The GC came from a second chance sweep I entered through a scratch-off ticket from the Texas Lottery folks.  That's actually the second time I've won from one of their scratch-off games.  A Redskin's fan myself, I must say I'm probably going to wind up giving this  as a Christmas gift. 

Monday morning I came home from my walk to find a message on my phone.  It was from the people at Pepsi letting me know that I was a potential WINNER.  I will know if I'm a winner once I pass my background check.

So what's included?  Each grand prize includes a trip for two to New Orleans, Louisiana to participate in the Pepsi Super Bowl Halftime Show and attend a private Pepsi Party. The prize includes airfare, hotel, admission to the Super Bowl Half Time Show Practice, Super Bowl Half Time Show, and to the Pepsi Private Party, and $500 spending cash.

Now if I could just have that feeling I'm going to win Powerball. 

2012 A Year Of Winning

A year or so ago I began keeping track of my sweepstakess by breaking them down by month.  It made the dry times seem more tolerable because I realized I really won more than I though.

This year marks the first time I won a second chance prize from a lottery drawing. It is also the first time I won a Pinterest prize.  Sure the Pinterest prize was a consolation prize but who am I to argue with a $25 e-Gift Card?  I used it to buy NEXT YEARS Christmas gifts for my dogs. 

All in all it was a pretty good year that included TWO trips. How great is that? 

Here are my wins for 2012:

JANUARY
*  Papa John's pizza with one (1) topping, awarded in the form of a unique, one-time use promotion code
*  A subscription to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine from Purex
* Quaker Flip Flops - Pepsi's Challenge sweepstakes

FEBRUARY
*  One (1) winner shall receive a Guy's Guy Weekend which includes a Trip for two (winner and winner's travel companion) to meet ESPN Radio personalities at ESPN Audio's Guy's Guys Weekend at Walt Disney World in Orlando, FL . Trip includes roundtrip airfare for two to Orlando, FL, 4 days/3 nights accommodations for two at Disney's Yacht Club Resort; a Welcome Reception (includes dinner, drinks, fireworks); a "Drive Time" night NASCAR racing experience at Richard Petty Racing, optional 18-holes of Golf at Disney's Magnolia Golf Course, a Saturday afternoon Atlanta Braves baseball game at the Champion Stadium at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex, and !iViva Los Guys! "Casino" Night. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV") of $7,600 USD. 1-800-Flowers.com® - Arrangement of the Month 12 Month Bouquet Club (Product Code: 95119C12, ARV: $899.76 USD), Stock Yards® - The Twelve-Month Club (Product Code: #8805, ARV: $1,649.95 USD) and SONY - PS3™ Sports Champions™ Move HW Bundle (ARV: $349.00 USD). Total ARV of Grand Prize: $10,498.71 USD
*  Science Diet® Share the Love Sweepstakes

MARCH
* One (1) Underworld Trilogy on Blu-Ray.  One (1) Underworld Awakening Soundtrack.  Two (2) IMAX ticket vouchers
* Two Family Fun Cash Certificates valid for $5 of any movie or towards the purchase of any DVD electronics, sporting goods, or toy items at participating theaters/retailers. 
*  $10 Dollar General Gift Card
*  Reese's peanut butter cup coupon

APRIL
*  Reese's t-shirt (ARV $6.58).
*  Autographed Hunter Hayes CD.
*  Trip for winner and one (1) guest to attend the UFC Event as defined in Rule #2. Trip consists of round-trip coach air transportation (from gateway city nearest winner's home), double-occupancy hotel accommodations for two (2) consecutive nights, one (1) Bud Light/UFC gift bag (contents to be determined by Sponsor at a later date), two (2) tickets to the UFC Fight and access to Bud Light sponsored events. UFC Event and Fight date, location and seating assignments will be determined by Sponsor and Zuffa, LLC, in Sponsor's and Zuffa's sole discretion, at a later date and is subject to availability and change. Winner and guest must travel on the same itinerary and on the dates specified by Sponsor or prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner. Winner and guest must comply with all travel requirements, which may include, without limitation, presenting necessary identification (including passport or driver's license) at the time of travel. Flight schedules are subject to change without notice. Any costs incurred due to changes to the original itinerary are solely the winner's responsibility. Travel and accommodations are at the Sponsor's discretion and subject to availability and change. If winner cannot accept prize as specified, prize will be forfeited and awarded to an alternate winner (time permitting). Ground transportation, meals, gratuities and all other expenses not specified herein are solely winner's responsibility. Approximate Retail Value ("ARV"): $1,235.00

MAY
*  Four complimentary Souplantation/Sweet Tomatoes dining passes
*  Package of Thomas' English Muffins or Bagels awarded in the form of a $5 electronic coupon.
*  $5 Amazon gift code.

JUNE
*  Box of drumsticks cones
*  $2 Pepsi download

JULY
*  10 MYCOKEREWARDS Points
*  $100 Aerosoles gift card
*   FREE one-year subscription to Ladies’ Home Journal magazine!
*  Guitar Bottle Opener (ARV $9).
*  Dot.Mine, day planner (ARV $13.99)
*  Hawaiian Falls Family 4-Pak includes four admission tickets, four combo meals and all day drinks
*  International Delight Iced Coffee free product coupon (ARV $3.99)
*  Chicago Fire soccer ball, outdoor blanket, in addition to Quaker products (Real Medleys, Cookies, Oats, Chewy Bars, Quaker Oatmeal Squares)
*  FREE any size bag of Kettle Brand Chips
*  Music Trivia Playing Cards (ARV $5.99)

AUGUST
*  Coupon for Buy 2 SHEBA® canned food for cats, and get 1 FREE. MAX Value: $.59
*  $10 Cheesecake Factory Gift Card
*  $50 Fandango Card
*  $25 Fandango Card
*  $100 Aerosoles Gift Card

SEPTEMBER
*  Panasonic Earbuds (ARV $9.99)

OCTOBER
*  A three month VIP memberships to the exclusive Inner Circle of the Blogs to Riches Club
*  A $5 O'Reilly Auto Parts Promotional Certificate*.
*  Travel Earbud Set (ARV $30).

NOVEMBER
*  Autographed copy of A Bride's Dilemma in Friendship, Tennessee by Diana Lesire Brandmeyer (ARV $13)
*  Congratulations on winning a $25 American Express® Shop Small® Gift Card,
*  Quaker/Play60 t-shirt (ARV $10).

DECEMBER
*  $25 MasterCard® Prepaid Code
*  You've won a $10 Walgreens Gift Card
*  $25 Frontgate gift certificate (first pinterest win)
*  Congratulations! You were selected as a prize pack winner in the TX Lottery World Series of Poker 2nd chance drawing.  Prize includes a WSOP branded poker table top, WSOP branded Automatic Card Shuffler and Shoe, WSOP branded Poker 400 Piece Poker Set, WSOP branded Watch and Custom Leather Case, WSOP branded Sunglasses and Hard Shell Case, WSOP branded Premium Fitted Cap. 

Captain Saved From Pirates

Happy Easter!!!!!!!!!!!!

My son Dan called me this morning to wish me a Happy Easter. He told me that he doesn't get the kids today. That's pretty sad. Liza seems to get the kids EVERY holiday. Then a few hours later my son Michael called me. Michael went to mass in a monastery that was built in 700 AD.

The big story today is that the Captain of the U.s flagged ship has been rescued from Somali Pirates. U.S. Navy snipers opened fire and killed three pirates holding an American captain at gunpoint, delivering the skipper unharmed and ending a five-day high-seas hostage drama on Easter Sunday.

The pirates were pointing AK-47s at Capt. Richard Phillips and he was in "imminent danger" of being killed when the commander of the nearby USS Bainbridge made the split-second decision to order his men to shoot, Vice Adm. Bill Gortney said.

As always it was a very busy day. We went grocery shopping and then walked around Walmart and Lowes pricing stuff. We also had lunch at CiCi's pizza which is basically an all you can eat pizza place.

I have been working on an essay for this contest for three days. I finally have it the way I want it but since I can enter more than once I'm working on another essay even as we speak.


Last year I was a finalist and they didn't give the finalists ANYTHING. I was pretty disappointed. The year before I was a finalist in this and won some airmiles but we didn't get to use them. Turned out that after one year the airline deleted them from your account so it was as though I didn't win anything. We were a finalist in yet another essay contest with them so who knows. Maybe I will be a finalist again.

If you've never entered an essay contest, I think you should try. I am obviously not the world's greatest writer yet I do pretty well on these. I wish I won as often as I entered. I don't. I do win enough to keep me trying though.

1-800-Flowers.com - Spotlight a Mom Contest

Nominee Grand Prize: 4-day/3-night trip for a family of four (2 adults/2 children) to winner's choice of any of the four Beaches All-Inclusive Resorts in Turks and Caicos or Jamaica from within the Continental U.S.; includes year of flowers from 1-800-Flowers.com and Cheryl & Co. Vera Bradley comestic bag and tote set (ARV $6,762.99).
Nominator Grand Prize Prize: One year of flowers from 1-800-Flowers.com and Cheryl & Co. Vera Bradley comestic bag and tote set (ARV $562.99).
Nominator Finalist Prizes (9): Three months of flowers from 1-800-Flowers.com (ARV $116.95).
Nominator Daily Prizes (25 - 1 per day): $100 1-800-Flowers.com gift card or Garden Whimsy Tin & Tower from The Popcorn Factory (ARV $100).

Here are the blog contests I entered:

Prize: Disneynature Earth-branded canvas tote, reusable grocery bag, biodegradable tumbler, tree seedling and more (ARV $60).

Prize: Gift basket with Betty Crocker mixing spoon, spatula, measuring spoons and cups, whisk, liquid measuring cup and Betty Crocker Magazine.

Prizes (2): $25 Kroger gift card.

Prize: Exergen TemporalScanner thermometer (ARV $49.99).

Prize: The Tale of Despereaux DVD.

Prize: Windex Outdoor All-In-One starter kit.

Prize: Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Mystery of the Easter Chimpunk and My Little Pony: The World's Biggest Tea Party DVDs.

Prize: Exergen TemporalScanner Infrared Thermometer.

Prize: $30 Pizza Hut e-gift card to host a PANormous Pizza PJ Party and copy of I Got Two Dogs by John Lithgow.

Job Shadow

Today was Job Shadow Day for our students. Job Shadow is an academically motivating activity designed to give kids the unique opportunity of an up-close look at the world of work and provide the answer to the commonly asked question, “Why do I have to learn this?” I think this is an excellent opportunity for our students and I wish more had participated.

This morning I found out this morning I won: Pre-paid access code for state and federal tax preparation and E-filing with TurboTax Deluxe Online Edition and instruction

Then when I returned home I found two boxes on my doorstep. they both contained the same prize which is Martha Stewart's Cooking School: Lessons and Recipes for the Home Cook cookbook and a coupon for a free Hunts product (ARV $26.95). That was from a recipe contest that I entered sponsored by ConAgra foods. I entered twice and I won two cookbooks.

There's also a mystery package waiting to be picked up at the post office. I owe 966 cents postage on that but I wonder if it's m IPod.

I'm also pretty thrilled because I'm back up to three followers. That means either someone came back or I have a new follower. YIP YIP YIPPEE!!!!!!!! I can't tell you just how thrilled I am. I'm trying to figure how to make this blog work and I sure could use some suggestions.

I seem to be doing pretty well with blog contests so I'm going to list the ones I entered today:

Prize: $30 Good For the Kids gift certificate.

Prize: Copy of The Kingmaking by Helen Hollick (ARV $17).

Prize: He's Just Not That Into You CD soundtrack and hoodie.

Prize: He's Just Not That Into You soundtrack CD and hoodie.

Prize: One dozen Toffee Cookies from sugar + spice.

Prize: Bamboo slippers and pair of hand towels.

Prize: Fake Bake Original Self-Tanning Lotion, Lip Glosses and Bronzer.

Prizes (2): Two bottles of Country Bob's All Purpose Sauce.

Prize: Autographed Soul CD.

Prize: Copy of How to Survive (and Perhaps Thrive) on a Teacher's Salary by Danny Kofke.

Some After After Christmas

gifts I bought today include five more ornaments and two hurricane lamps that I have been wanting. I also bought the CD A Very Special Christmas from 1987. I have been wanting this CD forever. It has Madonna singing Santa Baby. I was able to buy if for $4.50 and Walmart gave me a free music download. I bought an old Marvin Gaye song called "Give It Up Part I). This is a cool dance song from back in the day. I'm so very excited about finally getting this DVD.

I started this morning by entering a blog contest for a free flip camcorder. I really want to win one. I found a contest for it on this site called Never Grew Up. I entered it by posting a comment and blogging about it. I made sure I followed their directions exactly. I noticed that the owner sent me a message and wants to add me to their blog roll. In return he wants me to add him to his blog roll. I'm going to have Darryl do just that.

So here are my blog contests I've entered today:

Prize: $50 Photo Fiddle gift certificate.
I entered a blog contest to win a flip camcorder

Prizes (3): Transformers Energon : The Ultimate Collection DVD

Prizes (3): Power Rangers Jungle Fury : Into the Jungle and Power Rangers Jungle Fury : Way of the Master DVDs

Prize: $30 The Children's Place gift card.

Prize: Zenses Ocean and Zenses Rainforest for Nintendo DS.

Prize: A Day With My Dad At The Beach by Lance Waite

Prize: Land's End cashmere tee sweater

Prize: Red Palm Centro mobile phone

Prize: Zenses Rainforest video game for Nintendo DS and Zenses Ocean video game for Nintendo DS. (I seem to be entering contests for this prize often)

Prize: Copy of Life Doesn’t Begin 5 Pounds from Now by Jessica Weiner.

Prize: Zenses Rainforest video game for Nintendo DS and Zenses Ocean video game for Nintendo DS

Prize: VUDU movie set-top-box (ARV $299).

Prize: Zenses Rainforest video game for Nintendo DS and Zenses Ocean video game for Nintendo DS

Prize: GiiNii 7" wedge digital picture frame

Prize: Sling Media Slingbox PRO-HD unit

Prizes (5): Beethoven's Big Break DVD.



We also went to the library where I was able to check out seven videos. Darryl spent most of his day, as he has for the past couple of days, working on trying to fix his computer. He couldn't fix it so now he's setting up the new computer I won for him.

OH my I just received the following email.

Hi, Catherine. Congratulations! Since we didn't hear back from the first winner, you are now the winner of the Thrifty Jinxy Serah's Cupcake Soap Giveaway. Please send me your mailing address so we can have the sponsor get your prize out to you. You must respond within 72 hours of this e-mail or we will have to select a new winner.

Congratulations and thanks for participating in our giveaways!

Chrysa





Chrysa Duran
Thrifty Jinxy
http://thriftyjinxy.blogspot.com/

I sent her my information. Well that will probably go to someone as part of a gift. In the meantime, Darryl set up his new computer and is learning how to use it. It's so different than anything I've ever had. The screen is 25 inches and it has a wireless keyboard and a wireless mouse.

Day Three of Blog Contest Experiment

What a bad day it was supposed to start out as a good day with an easy plan. We were going to go to the library and then stop at Kroger. Easy huh? Not so easy. When Darryl and I left the house at almost eleven in the morning. When we were driving out of the community when Darryl reached down to grab his cell phone, we hit the curb and blew out not one but two tires. Getting just one of these tires took most of the day. Let me tell you how.

First we were going to walk back home. We were about a mile and a half away from home and it might not have been such a daunting thing except it was 28 degrees outside. Fortunately for us Terry saw us and offered to drive us back home. I appreciated it.

We then went to get my car so we could go back to his car and remove a tire. I felt bad for Darryl it was so cold outside he even had to borrow my gloves. Once he finally got the tire off we were off to Walmart. The Walmart that was closer to us did not have a tire center so we had to go down the road a little bit. That was a wasted trip because they couldn't help us.

We left and went to a different store called Discount Tire. They said they would help us and we should come back in an hour. Fine. We went to Kroger and bought our ham, drove back by the house to drop it off and went back to Discount Tire.

Turns out they didn't fix the tire right so we had to leave and come back. This time we went to the library in Cartersville. I was so excited because I was able to get two books I really wanted. I also picked up a few DVDs.

The whole time this is going on Darryl's flashers are on and sitting on the side of the road. So back we go and would you believe it? It still wasn't done quite right but Darryl had to go in and show them how to fix it.

We're both starving by now. Back we go to his car. We had hoped that if he could get the fixed tire on the car along with the spare tire we can get the car back up to Discount Tire to get the other tire fixed. Darryl put the first tire back on and told me to go home and fix dinner. I did that and then as soon as I put the pasta on he called to tell me his battery had died.

His Dad went to help him but didn't jump start him. So Darryl was back at home and after we ate we went to Walmart to buy jumper cables. That was another $30. Back to the car again and now it's too late to get the other tire fixed. We were able to jumpstart the car and get it home.

Tomorrow is Dentist day.

Today was day three of the blog contest experiment and I've been busy. It takes a lot of time to enter these things. I'm just trying to see if it is worth my time.

Prize: $75 Ridemakerz gift card.

Prize: $20 Macy's gift card.

Prize: $20 Starbucks gift card.

eBeautyDaily.com is giving away 5 sets of tickets to see Yes Man with Jim Carrey

Prize: 8 customized Couture Keepsakes

Coffee to Go Go Body Scrub

Prize: Cupid Apron

Prize: Sock Monkey

#1: PHOTO/MUSIC PACKAGE: Sony 8.1 MP digital camera, Apple 16GB iPod Nano, IceTech Portable Pocket Solar Battery, Belkin Car Holder/Tunedock for Apple iPod, and Jensen Universal iPod Docking Station with Full Scan Radio

$100 Sears Gift Card

Package 3: Sony 5-Disc DVD/CD Home Theater System, The Dark Knight DVD, Apple 8GB iPod Nano.

Package 1: The practical one: Black Leather Digital Photo Frame, Polaroid Digital Instant Mobile Photo Printer. PoGo, Apple 8GB iPod Nano, portable DVD player (ARV $495).

Think Local and Win

People often suggest that I'm the luckiest person I know. Ah if that were only true. I believe Roy Chapin was right when he said: Luck is the time when preparation and opportunity meet.

I'm in the same boat as the rest of you when it comes to HUGE NATIONAL SWEEPSTAKES CAMPAIGNS. I've never won Publisher's Clearing House, despite the many letters that assured me my big win was on the way. I have never won the HGTV dream house. So why on earth would you listen to me about how to win contests and sweepstakes?

Well for starters let's look at some of the amazing trips that sweeping has afforded me. I've been to the Bahamas, St Lucia, Scotland, Chicago, New Orleans, Miami, Orlando, etc., etc.. These were not prizes that were fraudulent but rather sponsored by big corporations like Sony, Procter and Gamble, Kraft and others. I don't waste my time entering sweepstakes that are not legitimate and neither should you.

I would like to suggest that if you are thinking about beginning this great hobby you remember the first basic rule. This is a HOBBY. You cannot quit your job and wait for the prizes to come in. Repeat the previous phrase a few times and then proceed. You may enter many different contests and not win ANYTHING for a few months or you might win right away. I'm dogged in entering because that's what it takes to be a consistent winner.

It is far easier to win a local sweepstakes than a national one. This is because you are not competing with such a large pool of entrants. Where do you find them? Try your local newspaper. I live in the Atlanta Journal Constitution readership area. This week they are giving away a chance to experience the Atlanta's Ballet performing the Nutcracker. The AJC is also giving away tickets to the FernBank Museum of Natural History. I've been wanting to see it and of course if I won that would be a great experience to do that. Do you know someone who LOVES High School Musical or Hannah Montana? Just go to the AJC contest section to learn how to win a Hannah Montana DVD game and the High School Musical DVD game. This Christmas heel the love with the movie I'm dying to see, Marley and Me. They are giving away movie passes and one person will win a Free in-home consultation for your dog. When's the last time you saw a puppet show? The Center for Pupettry Arts and the AJC are giving away tickets to see Sam the Lovesick Snowman Entering these contests are easy and you don't have to be a subscriber. I have won several things from them and they usually require that you pick your prize up from their offices but this is not always true.

Check out your local television stations. I often watch WSBTV and they are giving away some great prizes right now. For example you can win a two night stay at Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort. OK it's a bit cold for waterparks but there's another great prize on AJC this week. You can win a contest promoting the show Lost. The grand prize includes:(1) 42" 1080p Panasonic Blu-ray Plasma Television, (1) Panasonic Blu-ray DVD Player, and (1) LOST – Season 3 box set on Blu-ray discs If you don't win the grand prize that's OK because there are ten (10) second prizes: LOST Season 3 box sets on standard DVD.

Don't forget to check out your local radio stations. I know what you're thinking. "I'll never get through." I will tell you that when I used to do the radio station call in's I was extremely successful. They aren't the only way to win from radio stations though. Some of their contests are online. I won a trip to St. Lucia and $1,500 worth of Kroger cards from a radio station online entry this year. Check out live remotes. When stations appear at a location they are often giving away tickets to upcoming events, t-shirts, cds, and dvds.

Good luck to you and if you see a contest or sweepstakes that you'd like to share with others let me know.

Merlot Mom and the HP Magic Giveaway

Winning this giveaway from MerlotMom in conjunction with HP.com would touch many lives. Not just mine, not just my family, but the lives of my students. We are just one of many families who have been touched by these difficult economic times. Many people in my place could say that they deserve these computers by virtue of their great need. I would also ask that you examine the impact that these computers would make on the lives of my family and students.

I would love to donate one of these computers to my school. I have been teaching for seventeen years and I’m very proud of my students and want them to succeed. Many of my students still do not have access to current technology and winning this package would allow me to help in that respect.

I would like to share at least one of the computers with my son Michael. Michael is attending college through his service in the Army National Guard. He will soon be taking a break from his studies to be stationed in Iraq. I would love to be able to buy him a computer so he can keep in touch with his family and friends as well as take classes online.

Michael is an outstanding college student with a personal commitment to volunteerism and enhancing civic life in his community. While serving his country he embodies the true spirit of civic engagement and volunteerism as well as a commitment to academic excellence

Love For Sale

OK not that kind of love get your mind out of the gutter. I’m talking about the house. Everyone knows how sad I am about losing the house and all that it represents. As December 15th drew nearer I was getting myself used to the idea that half my house would be gone. I was trying to motivate myself to finish packing my books to send them over to the Cartersville house. I’d been delaying it but I planned to do that this weekend as well as packing my summer clothing.

Earlier this week, I’d been listening to an audio book about the Gospel of John and John’s letters. I’d gotten the book free from I-Tunes and there were famous actors and actresses reading various parts of the story. John was the longest living of the disciples and he was there for much of the early times of the church. I was reminded once again what I knew which was that the house was of this earth. Since it was of this earth its importance should be greatly diminished in my life. I should accept that I was losing it. Whether or not I would be stuck in Cartersville or move to a better house it was not going to be my decision.

We have the For Sale sign in the front yard and someone had looked at it saying he was going to put an offer on the house. Each day for a few days I would ask if we’d heard anything. The act of saying “Did we get an offer?” made the reality of what was going on more concrete. I stopped asking because after a few days I figured that no offer was forthcoming.

I had stopped mentioning the house to Darryl. I secretly entertained myself with the happily ever after movie ending for the house. You’ve seen it time and time again in the movies or on tv. The family is on the verge of losing the house when something major happens. It is unexpected and it always comes just at the last minute. I imagine myself winning the lottery and saying to Darryl “Look honey now we can stay here!” I imagine winning a contest with a large cash prize and as I sign the affy I turn to Darryl saying “I told you we wouldn’t have to leave. I knew that we were meant to be here.” I see clips of an old Little Rascals show where an old woman almost lost her home to the bank when the Little Rascals put on a show and earned enough to save her home. I remember another show where a woman was going to lose her home when she discovers some old stock she had forgotten about and discovered that it was worth a fortune. She’s able to keep her home. I remember the part of the book in the Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio when they were days away from losing their home and she wins the money to pay off the home.

The fantasies entertain me and sometimes comfort me or make me hopeful but my mind is becoming more in sync with reality. We are going to lose this house and it will no longer be my home.

Then I got home and Darryl greeted me with some news about the house. “Did I tell you about the house?” Like I said I haven’t asked him about the status of the house for several days. I didn’t steal myself for what he was about to tell me. It was if I already knew the answer and I was ready to hear it. “No you didn’t. Did that guy make an offer? When do we need to be out?”

I almost didn’t hear his answer. That’s because the video began to flash in my head “We’ve saved the house. You can live here forever” began to play as I half listened to his answer. “The bank says that since we have the house up for sale we can stay here until March. I’ve cancelled the moving van for December 15th. “ WHAT????????????? I was lost for a moment. Did dream that sequence? It couldn’t be real. I dared break the moment because I knew I needed to be in the moment and really understand what was happening. “We can stay here until March? Why is that?’ He then explained that the bank can’t really work with us as far as lowering anything until he gets a job. In the meantime they don’t want a foreclosure on the books or a vacant house or a delinquent loan on the books. It’s better to allow us to remain in the home and try to sell it. They feel it’s easier to sell it if we are in the home and they’d get back more of their investment if we sold it than if it went into foreclosure or if we gave it back to them.

I looked out the window of the loft. The lights twinkled down below and into the distance. Does this mean I can decorate for Christmas? “Sure. If you want to do that this weekend I’ll help you.”

We talked a bit more about the house and about how I’d already begun separating myself from the house and about how for him the house was just a house. He told me that it didn’t matter where we were we could always be happy. He said that there would be other houses and that this wasn’t the end of the world. This is true. I’m just thankful, just grateful that I can stay in the house for the holidays. I don’t’ know if I dare dream that this is some signal that things are going to get better now that I’ve accepted where we are. I do know that for now I am still in the house. It is still up for sale and perhaps someone will buy my house.

I am grateful that I have more time to get my thoughts and feelings in order. I am grateful that I have someone who is there for me. Some people lose it all but I still have so very much to be thankful for and maybe that’s the lesson that I need to draw from this whole experience.

I Actually Made It To The Second Round

I have been entering the HP Blogger Magic Giveaway. I've entered about four of them. One of them involved entering a work of art and it had to include the word gadgeteering. Well there were 137 entries and I made it all the way to the second round as part of 42 entries. I didn't make it to the third round. Hey I'm thrilled considering I can't draw that's great.

Check it out here: First Round Mine is the fourth row second picture in the Second round This time my picture is in row five and the third picture over. I didn't make the final ten. They did pick a winner and I thought it was a good pick.

Many of these contests require you do multiple steps. I'm hoping this will wear some people down. For example in two of them I had to create and post something to youtube. When those contests are over I will post what I entered.

I'm really curious as to how many OLSers are actually entering these things. I guess because the prize is so big I'm willing to do multiple things but I know not everyone is willing to do this. Wish me luck.

Here's more information about the http://www.hp.com/united-states/campaigns/blogger-magic/

HP's Magic Giveaway

I have taught High School Business classes for almost eighteen years now. My school has a diverse population and more almost three-quarters of them are eligible for free or reduced lunch.

We can’t afford to keep up with the technology that our students need to be exposed to. Many of my students do not have access to technology at home. When I heard about HP’s Magic Giveaway, I was so excited because I felt this would help my students in such a major way. Imagine $6,000 in HP technology for my classroom.

I know I certainly could use a new computer. This summer I plan to take some online courses to get my graduate degree in Special Education. With so many of our students mainstreamed into the regular education classes I feel that furthering my education won’t just help me but help the students that need the most help. Of course I could also use the computer to create interactive and exciting lesson plans.

I would share my computer with my husband who recently lost his job. He is an individual who is listed as a statistic in the mass layoffs you’ve been reading about in the paper. He would be able to use the computer to research job openings and compose cover letters and resumes that will hopefully get him re-employed.

My youngest son is now in the Army and getting ready to leave for Iraq. Over the past several years I’ve had students leave for the same destination. It is for this reason I have been involved with the Adopt a Soldier Program. We send a goody box to soldiers once a month as well as cards and letters. I would love to gift him with one of the computers so he can keep in touch with friends and family.

So thank you moosh in indy for letting me know about this great contest Be sure to check out my you tube video about this giveaway and how special it would make the holidays for the people you see in the video.