How far would you go for $25,000?

It's funny sometimes what we will do for money. But how far will we actually go?  Would you dig in the mud for keys to a new Jeep? Would you keep your hand on a car, to see if you would be the last person standing, to take away a huge prize? Would you eat 100 hot dogs in a short amount of time, to hopefully win $1000? What about $5,000? Do we have a price on doing things that most people wouldn't dream of doing?

The reason why I am bringing this up is because of an article that I came across, I believe on MSN.com and thought I would share it with you guys.


Check out this great MSN Video: Brides nosh on cake for cash

Personally, I'm always up for a laugh and trying something new. As long as it isn't illegible or immoral.  However, I am not sure I could ever participate in an eating contest.  I have a strong feeling I would be the person that vomits all over the place, while someone records it and later puts it up on youtube.com!  (I think I've mention this fear before now that I think about it.)

But it takes all kinds I guess and that's what makes this hobby so interesting to me.  There are many ways to win many different prizes.  They are as different as the people that enter them.  You never know until you try it, if you will like it.  Also, no guts no glory, eh?  Of course, after eating nine wedding cakes in that above contest, you would probably need  and end up with, a lot of guts, huh?

A pretty GRAND week for me!

In my previous post, I had mentioned that I had hopes that the week would be filled with more wins, as I had a win on Monday.  I've talked before about the superstition that sweepers seem to have with this in this post here.

Well, after winning two movie passes on Monday, I got an envelope in my mailbox, with a vitamin water coupon.  It was from a Facebook promotion with vitamin water.  I can't really remember this one, and maybe it's not even considered a win to some people, but free is free, right?  But that's not the only win I've had this week.

The next day, which was Wednesday I got a phone call, while on the phone with my sister.  It was actually kind of interesting as I had both my cell phone AND my home phone ring at the same time.  Now I've talked about how I am using Google Voice for my sweepstaking also in another post, which you can find here.  Well now I know another reason why I like Google Voice for this hobby.  Since I am only using this number for my sweepstakes entries, when they call me for a win (hopefully) it will send it to both phones, thus making them each ring.  If I am at home while this happens, it kind of gives me a little heads up so to speak, that the phone call coming in, is from a promotion/contest/sweepstakes.

So when I heard both phones ringing, I got a little tingle, and hoped filled my heart that I was going to be a winner at something.  Well, I can't give much detail YET, as I just want to make sure and double check that it all goes through, but I basically won a Grand Prize in a national sweepstakes, where I only entered one time through the mail and the prize is a $1000 American Express Gift Card!  ~WHOOT~

Talk about getting your blood pumping! This is the kind of wins I LOVE to get.  At the moment, money is really tight in our household, like I am sure it is for a lot of other people.  If everything goes well, and I am praying that it does, then this money will surly come in handy.  So if you can, please keep your fingers crossed and say a prayer that everything goes smoothly and I get this Gift Card quickly!

When everything is a done deal, I will post more information about this, as there is a bit of a funny back story to it.  :)  Later that day, after my winning phone call, I also got a soccer football delivered to me, that came from Budweiser.  Actually my husband won that, but it's neither here nor there, right? 

Then in today's email I got another win.  Although it is a much smaller win.  I was one of (100) first prize winners that won "The Ultimate Pet ID" value $20.

So for this week, I've already gotten 3-4 wins (depending upon how you look at it)  Either way, I can't wait to see if tomorrow brings in anything.  I am really hoping that it does, because that's what makes sweepstaking so much fun.  Also, this win that I got notified of on Wednesday is the biggest win that I've gotten this year and it also marks my second snail mail win!  

Nothing much happening on the home front.  My daughter is preparing for the Taks test (which I hate) and will be taking sometime in the first of April.  Easter will be upon us soon, and to be honest, I am not looking forward to it.  Easter was a time where we usually shared it with my Aunt Evie, who recently passed away back in January of this year.  We would go to her house to color Easter eggs, hide them and just have general family get together and eat and visit and Aunt Evie always made anyone and everyone feel welcomed.  It hurts knowing that she isn't going to be here.  On Easter, if I can I am going to see if I can find any old Easter photos that have my Aunt in them and share them here on Little Sweeper's Little Corner.  It makes me feel like she's still with us. 

But on a happier note, we have been invited to spend Easter with some sweeping friends of ours and I am looking forward to that, very much.  This couple is an amazing couple and I love them to death.  The lady, who has been involved in sweeping for many many years, is so interesting and also a wonderful cook.  She won $5000 in 2008's Pillsbury bake off, so you know she's got talent!  You can read more about her by going here.  Their names are Gwen and Robert.  They are very active with their own Sweepstakes Site, called SweepsU.com

Man if I only could cook like her, it would be a wonderful thing! And then maybe my family and I would be healthier. Who knows, maybe sometime this summer, I might actually try cooking again.  Being short stature and trying to turn the oven on or off, without burning your boobs off, is a trick I still am learning.  I've actually caught my hair on fire once, so I'm not really one to want to try and catch anything else on fire.  But what can I say...at least I was HOT once!

~Until next time~

Spring Break Updates

Well my little one (who isn't so little anymore, it seems) just recently had a week off of school for spring break.  I love spring and I am so glad that it's here.  Even though you couldn't tell that it was spring, as a couple of days ago we had SNOW!  I am just amazed by the weather here, cause where I live in Texas, we never really get that much snow and this is the most snow we have had in so many years and on the official day of spring, it snows!  Go figure.

So with my child being off of school, I felt that it was my Mommybird duty to give her some attention and make plans and keep them, and just enjoy being a Mom and a family.  So I didn't blog.  I missed it though and I should probably have checked in, as I was fortunate to have won several things from last week.

Starting with Sunday, March 12th through March 18, 2010 I won:
  • $50 Adidas Gift Card from a text sweep
  • Desperate Housewives Calendar - Online Sweep
  • $10 Dollar General gift card  - Online Sweep
  •  Trevor Hall CD - Online Sweep 
  • $100 Kroger Gift Card - FIRST SNAIL MAIL SWEEP WIN
  •  2 free movie pass - Local Online Sweep
and then in today's email I found out that I won
  • 2 MORE free movie pass - From a different Local Online Sweep
another Monday win, so I would love to think that the wins will continue to roll on in, this week too.

During Spring Break I also had a delivery from a win earlier this year.  I received A mini-helmet display case which is suppose to be worth $100!  Now I am not a sport memorabilia collector, so I am trading this with someone from my local sweeps club for sweepstakes supplies, which I do love!  The display case with the mini helmets did look nice though and I also thought I would share a photo of that win here today with you guys.



During spring break, we also had company.  My husband and I allowed our child to invite a friend to spend the night, which turned into two night (ah the joys of childhood) and then later in that week, we also had two cousins spend the night.  (However, we did learn our lesson and told our child that it would only be for one night).  I even surprised myself by taking my child and her friend out for brunch on Sunday at I-Hop, as well as to the park twice in one week.  We also rented several movies during this week, as my child was ssssoooo BORED this week, when her friends/family were not around.  I now have a new appreciation for teachers and year long schools.  I am seriously thinking about finding an all year school for my kid, as I am dreading this summer.  

I will not only be driven nuts by hearing how bored my kid is, but also will probably have to declare bankruptcy from trying to find things to do, to entertain her. And before anyone mentions, I do realize that I shouldn't have to entertain her so much or spend much to do it, as it makes a child spoiled. I just remember how long and lonely the summer was when I was between the ages of 11-12.   I was too old for toys, but too young for boys.  (Of course, I had my older sister to aggravate when I got really, really bored and alas my child doesn't have any siblings) I also know that bored teens/tweens tend to get into more trouble.  So it my hope for this summer to be filled with more activities than we usually do in the summer time.  Normally, we just veg out for three months in front of the computer/TV/grandma's house.  I just want something different this year.

What fun things do you like to do with your tween/teen?  I am thinking swimming, library's (Thank God my child loves to read), dollar movies, park, arts & crafts,and maybe throw in Six Flags, if it's possible, money wise.  I, of course, am also praying that I win things like Six Flags tickets,casa maƱana tickets and things like that.  It always help financially during the summer, to entertain my child and also myself.  I don't know about anyone else, but I hate being stuck in the house all summer, even though I also admit, I hate getting out in the heat too.

One thing that I am hoping and praying that we get to do, before school is out is to go and see the musical Wicked.  It's coming to our area and my daughter and I so desperately want to see this.  I have a family member that went to the one in Chicago, and loved it! 

Well that's it for now.  I am hoping to get back into blogging more this week.  Maybe every other day or so.  I hope everyone is doing well and enjoying the spring time weather.  Hopefully no more snow! (I can't believe I just wrote THAT)

Until Next Time

More Twitter Information

I just came across this article about how to use Twitter for entering contest and thought I would share it with you guys.  I'm in the middle of reading it myself and even I am hoping to learn something from it, and Lord willing, win something.  Click HERE to read more.

At the moment, I am personally feeling like crap!  I don't know if it's the weather or what, but my arthritis is flaring up big time, and add to the fact that every time I take my arthritis medication, my chest seems to "lock down" when I eat (I have terrible acid reflux, hital hernia and a narrow esophagus) and I end up throwing up, I just feel like death warmed over.

I also know that I am not eating as healthy as I need to, and that's one of the sucky things about being a little person who can't cook. You end up eating all the wrong kinds of foods and I am being a very poor example to my child and that always makes me feel worse.

I am hoping to feel better very soon, so that I can update this blog and get back to feeling bouncy and happy again.  I just wish my knee didn't feel like it's been hit with a baseball bat every time I lay down.  I've been told I have spinal stenosis (sp?) and  I don't have a doctor that can help me with that, so basically it's just a wait and pray that it will soon get a little better, more than anything else.

I will post again, hopefully when I feeling better.
~Later~

Are You Game?

for trying out for game shows?  This is an area that I don't really get into.  Quite possibly because I don't tend to think quick on my feet, plus I honestly don't think TV producers or whoever is in charge of picking contestants, wants disabled people to be seen on their shows.  Even though Little People are getting more and better public attention than in previous years, you just don't see that many disabled/little people on Jeopardy or Wheel of Fortune, etc.

The one game show that I've always wanted to be on was The Price is Right!  I don't know why, but it was just the one I remember with the most fondness as a child.  I loved Plinko and the possibility of winning a new car.  Plus the Showcase Showdown was great and exciting!  Now that Drew Carey is the host, I still think I would really enjoy being on that show.  However, I don't think anyone would see anything but the top of my head, trying to shout out bids when they called me to "Come On Down!"  Hopefully I wouldn't have a bad hair day that day.

Another game show that was watched quite regularly when my mema was alive was "Wheel of Fortune".  I like this show for the most part, but I'm just not that great at it.  I would love to be on it, however can you imagine a little person, like myself, leaning over to spin the wheel, falling head first and go around spinning and spinning in a circle and then throwing up on Pat Sajak?  That would live on forever on YouTube, I just know it!

Now my Dad, he loves Jepordy!  I personally hate that dang show for some reason.  I guess because I realize how little I truly listened in high school and how little I do know.  I only have two answers anytime I watch Jepordy.  It's either Abraham Lincoln or Gone with the Wind!  Yes I know that stupid,  but that's just me! :)  (But I was actually right one time!  Go figure.)

Now I also like Deal or No Deal.  I have no clue if that's even still on the air, but I liked Howie Mandel and they did actually have a little person on their program, so they get a gold star from me for that!

The only thing close to a game show that I've ever been on was something that was done on the Tony Danza Show.  He had a promotion on his show, called the Extravadanza or something like that.  You either entered online or through the mail and you had to list something that you felt like an expert on, in regards to trivia.  I entered a few times and I actually got called!  Man was that exciting.  I was on his second to last show before he got canceled.

My trivia was on Marilyn Monroe.  I don't know why, but I've always loved learning about her.  The question had to be answered in ten seconds.  My question was, "Marilyn Monroe was in two movies that had the name "business" in the title.  What where they?"  I thought my heart was gonna stop that day, but I answered in time and I answered correctly.  I won $5,000!  Man what a rush! I did however sound like a dork on the phone, but I didn't care at the time.  (BTW the answers were "No Business Like Show Business" and "Monkey Business")

One the reasons why I am bringing this up, is because an article was written on trying out for the Wheel of Fortune, by our local news station. You can find it here.  You might find it interesting and learn something from it, and maybe it can help you prepare for an audition sometime.  The auditions for our area has already passed, but they usually come around every other year or so. 

Have you ever tried out for a game show? Have you ever been on a game show?  If so, which one?  I would love to hear about your experience.  You can shoot me an email at LittleSweepers@Gmail.com.  Or just leave a comment here, to share with everyone.

It's not as easy

as I thought it would be, to enter ten snail mail entries a day that is.  Like I've mentioned before, for this year I am trying to up my game a bit in regards to entering snail mail sweepstakes and figured I would enter at least ten snail mail sweeps each day when the mail went out, except for National Holidays of course. 

But you know what?  It's hard!  Snail mail sweeps are slowly disappearing and I hate that.  I understand why, since the internet makes it just so much easier and cheaper for the sponsor and whoever is involved with having a sweepstakes.

But I love printing my name and address over and over again.  I'm sick in the head I guess.

I've actually been working on my spreadsheet for my Sweepstakes Wins for 2010.  I came to the realization that all the wins for this year, have been won by only entering once!  This is just amazing to me, even though I do realize that it only takes one to win.  You can't win, if you're not in it!

So far, my family and I have won a total of ten sweepstakes/contest for 2010.  That's not a lot so far, and I am hoping to have that number increase.  We've also won by many different ways of entering. We've won by online sweepstakes, online instant wins, Twitter, Facebook, Game Pieces, Second Chance drawing and text entries.  You know how we haven't won?  By snail mail entries! Yep that right. It's making me wonder if I should rethink this whole thing, ya know?  BUT I am going to try and continue onward with it for at least until the end of June.  That means I've given it six months and hopefully I will have seen something from all my efforts.  If not, then I will not worry about making sure I hit the post office each and every day.

I have also worked on a template to share with those of you, who may be interested in keeping track of your wins as well.  You can find it by going here.  It's a Google document and it's actually my first time in sharing anything with Google docs.  I will say in advance that it's nothing spectacular, just a basic spreadsheet to help you remember what you've won and other important information regarding those wins.  My next spreadsheet that I will be working on, will be something to help me keep track and remember to enter Twitter Sweepstakes.

 I have all my entries made out for tomorrow and ready to go.  I am trying to get a little ahead and have entries made out for the following day, and at the moment, I only have eight entries for Tuesday.  However, I should be getting a new issue of Sweepsheet by sometime tonight.  I am hoping that I can find a few interesting sweepstakes to enter by snail mail and revive my interest.

Early this morning (since I couldn't sleep of course) I entered a few online/instant win sweepstakes and actually got this...

It's been awhile since I've seen a Congratulations on an instant win game.  My prize is a Mini Budweiser World Cup soccer ball!  Since my husband loves soccer Football, then it's kind of a neat prize.  I mainly entered this sweepstakes because the Grand Prize is a trip to South Africa for the World Cup this summer and I know my husband would love to go to that. So I will be keeping my fingers crossed that we win one of the ten prizes on this one.
Well, I guess I'm off to try and find two more snail mail sweepstakes to enter for Tuesday's mail day.
~Later~

Wanna Get Cozi?

Okay, so my title to this entry is a little mmmm..interesting. LOL but it is relevant I promise.

I thought I would post something that could possibly help you in this hobby of Sweepstaking, or maybe just help you in general.  And I promise you it's nothing to do with Google.  (At least I don't think so.  But give them time,  as I am sure they will come up with something very similar)

What I am going to share with you guys today is something that I find helpful when I am trying to keep track of certain sweepstakes. There is a website that is basically an online calendar.  It's called Cozi Calendar.  This can come in handy to help you remember when sweepstakes either start or end.  As well as it can be set up to send you daily/weekly/monthly reminders to either your cell phone as a text msg or to your e-mail in-box, to remind you of whatever it is you don't want to forget.

I used to be a big Yahoo Calendar user, but for some reason, when I switched over to the computer that I am using now (which used to belong to my husband) I kept getting error message and would have to log out and then log back in again.  It really became a big pain in the butt and I got so frustrated, that I quit using it.  I don't remember how I found Cozi,  but quite possibly it was by doing a Google search. On Yahoo Calendar I would set it up, so I would know when to possibly enter a weekly or monthly sweepstakes, or remember when to be by the phone for any particular sweepstakes.  Example: in case Val-Pak called my house (They are well known for calling you once, and if you don't answer, they just move on without leaving you a phone message on your answering machine)  And that's basically what I do with Cozi, among other things.

Another neat feature of Cozi Calender is that you can set it up for family members. I believe you can have up to ten members on one account.  This is great to keep all the family's important dates and social activities all in one place.  It's also free, did I mention that?  You can make list and color code them as well.  You also are able to write down memories or "journal" your thoughts and even add photo's like a digital scrapbook.  I believe you can also share those thoughts with anyone you choose, however I don't do this, so I'm not too sure how well that works.

Right now Cozi is also having a sweepstakes!  So now would be a great time to join.  All the information is there on the front page, so feel free to check it out.  It doesn't run for much longer though, so don't dilly dally sally!  I believe their sweepstakes end either March 10th or March 11th, 2010.

I actually thought to mention it here, because I just went to my own cozi calendar to put in a date that I don't want to forget, which is the open house at my child's school.  (I have to have something to help me not forget these important parental activites).  Then I realized that other people might not actually know about cozi yet, so why not share it with others.

If you have another use for Cozi, that you would like to share here, please feel free to e-mail me at LittleSweepers@Gmail.com or submit a comment to share with everyone!

In other news with this "Little Sweeper", I got a text message on Friday that I was a grand prize winner of a sweepstakes.  It was a text message sweepstakes and it was with Coors Lite.  Even though I am not certain, I believe I  won a super bowl helmet collections.  They were actually giving away 100 of these as well as 100 first prizes of $100 NFLshop.com Gift Cards.  I was kind of hoping for the $100 Gift Cards, since I don't collect any type of sports memoriabilla, but that's ok.  I am sure I can find a home for it.

In other non related sweepstakes news, I went to the movies today with my child and a couple of friends of ours. (Well, actually my daughter's friend and her friend's mother)  We saw Alice in Wonderland.  While it was an interesting movie, I guess I am just not a huge Tim Burton Fan.  We saw it in 3-D and unless my glasses were defective or I just didn't pay good enough attention, I really didn't see anything that made me go WOW!  I also honestly believe that whoever wrote the original story must have done some serious drugs during that time, as that story just kind of freaks me out a little!  And then when you add Tim Burton's vision of how he sees the Mad Hatter and other things in this story, well let's just say that it's probably a good thing I don't want to go to sleep just yet.



It's now almost 2 in the morning and I am still having trouble sleeping.  I do honestly hate being like this.  The only good thing is when it's late like this and I am all on my own, I can post to my blog and not be interupted as well as enter sweepstakes.  Which is what I am off to do now.

Until next Time!