Yep that's the word that comes into my mind, when I realize how long it's been since I've last written on this blog. I can't believe that a month has almost passed and not one post from little old me.
What have I been up to, you may wonder?
Well, basically I went on a trip win, with my sister (who I call Sissy..I know, I know. Original, isn't it?) and have been back home for almost a week. My Sissy actually won the trip last year from an online sweepstakes. It was the only prize and it was a good one, if I do say so myself. (Which I just did.)
The prize included airfare, flight for two people, hotel stay for 5 nights/6 days at the Wynn (which is a swank hotel btw), up to $350 per person for show tickets, up to $300 per person for salon/spa services, a tour of the Hoover dam and a helicopter tour with champagne brunch at the Grand Canyon. I don't think I've left anything out. AVR $6,000! Whoot!
Now we couldn't actually take the helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon, because my Sissy is also a little person, like myself. Nowadays, no one wants to be liable when helping anyone on and/or off of helicopters, airplanes, whatever. Now my Sissy could have taken anyone with her and if she had taken someone of average heights, who is more able bodied than myself, then it could have been more possible to have done this Grand Canyon tour.
In fact, for many years Sissy has said that if she ever won a trip to Vegas, she would take our Mom. Mom loves Vegas as much as we do and it's been awhile since she's been out there. However, when Sissy won the trip, Mom wasn't feeling all that great and didn't think that she could handle all the walking that was likely on this trip. So Sissy extended the invite to me.
Sissy talked with the company that handled the arrangements of the trip and let it be known that we were both disabled. The company actually did great on most things and since we couldn't take advantage of the helicopter tour, we ended up getting another show added onto the itinerary and it was awesome! They also changed the Hoover dam tour to one that included the Grand Canyon, so we wouldn't have to miss out on that. I will go into more of how that went, later on.
So Sissy and I ended up seeing the Beatles "Love" by Cirque De Solei at the Mirage as well as Phantom of the Opera at the Venetian. They were both really good shows. I would probably have to say that I enjoyed the Phantom better. Not sure why, but since we were on the second row, that might have had something to do with it. But the music on both performances, where wonderful and thoroughly enjoyed.
I am hoping to upload some photos from our trip later on. I do have a flickr account, and might add them there. I'm still unsure of how to put them on here, without making it take forever for the page to load. I'm still learning, what can I say?
At the moment, I am tying this on my laptop and it's acting weird . So I will go ahead and post this, so that maybe my readers, if I still have any, will know that I didn't drop off the face of the earth. I am hoping to post again a lot sooner, than last time. Maybe in 21 day instead of 24.
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Here's an article that I wanted to share with you guys. What's interesting to me is I actually do know more than half of the people mentioned in this article. I meet them through this wonderful hobby at a yearly convention for Sweepers. This year's convention is being held in Bloomington, MN and is being coordinated by Bob Mendell, who is also mentioned in this article.
If you are interested in learning more about the yearly sweepstaking convention, you can visit the website that Bob Mendell has put together for prices, information and other various things related to this. This year's convention is being held right before/during Labor Day. I believe that usually the Sweeper's convention is held in June, however the prices for the hotel was better during Labor day this year, so that's when they decided to hold it. I'm not particular, as I am disabled and I can pretty much pick up and leave for trips. The only stinky part of it, it's also the same time of year when school starts. So I have to figure out who's going to house sit and take my kid to school, while I'm off meeting old friends, renewing my interest in this wonderful hobby and Lord willing, winning more stuff. It's 3 days of fun for me. I look forward to it every year.
If you are interested in learning more about the yearly sweepstaking convention, you can visit the website that Bob Mendell has put together for prices, information and other various things related to this. This year's convention is being held right before/during Labor Day. I believe that usually the Sweeper's convention is held in June, however the prices for the hotel was better during Labor day this year, so that's when they decided to hold it. I'm not particular, as I am disabled and I can pretty much pick up and leave for trips. The only stinky part of it, it's also the same time of year when school starts. So I have to figure out who's going to house sit and take my kid to school, while I'm off meeting old friends, renewing my interest in this wonderful hobby and Lord willing, winning more stuff. It's 3 days of fun for me. I look forward to it every year.
It's my intention to share some photo's from this coming year's convention on this blog. I love to take photo's of the decorated envelopes (this is something that I will discuss at another time), my friends, my wins if there are any and I always hope and pray that there are, as well as photo's of the interesting area that we may be visiting for that particular year. This year's convention also happens to be during the same time as the Minnesota State Fair! I am also looking forward to going to that as well. MMMM Cotton Candy! My favorite Fair Food, next to the corn dogs, and fried Twinkies and of course there's the...wait..we were talking about sweepstakes convention.
Then of course, there is also the Mall of America. I've actually been there once before, for another convention. I believe it was back in 2000, at the Little People of America's convention. I'm not totally positive, but I think we are even staying at the same hotel!
Anyhoo, I just lost some of what I've just written down and I hate it when it does that! Ggrrr.
Oh well, basically I love the National Sweeper's conventions and I look forward to them each and every year. In case you are unable to make this year's convention, the following year's convention is going to be held somewhere in Indiana (I believe) I will admit, that I'm not sure if I will be able to make that one, as I have been to the last five conventions, but I would also hate missing out too.
There is also another convention that I would love to go to, and that's a blogher's convention in NYC in August. I won a trip to NYC and went last November, and I fell in love with New York! My best friend went with me and we had a blast! She is also a blogger and we are trying to see if we can go to that, if at all possible.
Of course, if I had enough money, I would also be going to the LPA (Little People of America's) convention in July. Then of course there is also the Blizzard convention for my husband and I, who both play World of Warcraft. I believe that convention is usually held in October, but I could be wrong. Man, I think I need intervention from all these conventions! or maybe find a convention for people that love to go to conventions? Yep, I need intervention! Or win the lottery and then go to all the conventions, to my little heart's content!
Do you go to any conventions? If so, which ones?
I just wanted to pop on here for a moment and to wish everyone a wonderful Easter. I will be back to posting in a day or so, as I've been caught up visiting with family and doing things with my daughter.
Today we went to a bowling alley for a friend's birthday party and tomorrow, we will hopefully be joining some friends for some Easter lunch and an Easter egg hunt for the kiddo's. I am hoping to take some pictures with a new camera that I just won on April Fool's day of all day. It's charging up now and I am hoping that it takes good pictures. My favorite camera seems to be missing and I am hoping to run across it, as it is my personal favorite of any camera I've ever had. But it will be fun playing around with this new toy.
I won a Fuji Film Finepix Z70 camera from an online sweepstakes (Bloomingdale's Smile Sweepstakes). This particular sweepstakes you had to submit a photo or 60-second or less video of what makes you smile. Even though it took a little more effort than just entering your usual information for a sweepstakes, it was a random draw. They ended up giving away 264 of these cameras. So I just choose a funny photo of my husband. Of course he wasn't all that happy about it, but I love this particular photo as it ALWAYS makes me smile to myself. I even use this photo on my iphone, so that whenever he calls me, it pops up.
What can I say? He's all mine! :)
On this particular sweepstakes, it was a 1 entry only sweep too! Whoot!
I had NO idea it was coming and that's a great thing about this hobby. Anyday it could feel like Christmas or your birthday. This camera looks to be a nice one too. It's 12 MP and also has a 5x optical zoom with a 2.7 LCD screen on the back. The only thing it doesn't have is a place where you put your eye and look at it through. A view finder may be what it's referred to, but I am having a serious brain fart at the moment and can't think right. I only got about five hours sleep last night and it's already after 10pm. I have to get up bright and early tomorrow, to help the Easter bunny at Wal-mart. (Sometimes I really slack off some of the mom duties and pay for it in other ways, like having to get up at the butt crack of dawn, so I can make my kid happy)
Anyhoo..I hope everyone is doing well and has a great Easter Sunday!
Today we went to a bowling alley for a friend's birthday party and tomorrow, we will hopefully be joining some friends for some Easter lunch and an Easter egg hunt for the kiddo's. I am hoping to take some pictures with a new camera that I just won on April Fool's day of all day. It's charging up now and I am hoping that it takes good pictures. My favorite camera seems to be missing and I am hoping to run across it, as it is my personal favorite of any camera I've ever had. But it will be fun playing around with this new toy.
I won a Fuji Film Finepix Z70 camera from an online sweepstakes (Bloomingdale's Smile Sweepstakes). This particular sweepstakes you had to submit a photo or 60-second or less video of what makes you smile. Even though it took a little more effort than just entering your usual information for a sweepstakes, it was a random draw. They ended up giving away 264 of these cameras. So I just choose a funny photo of my husband. Of course he wasn't all that happy about it, but I love this particular photo as it ALWAYS makes me smile to myself. I even use this photo on my iphone, so that whenever he calls me, it pops up.
What can I say? He's all mine! :)
Here is a couple of photo's of the new camera I got!
I had NO idea it was coming and that's a great thing about this hobby. Anyday it could feel like Christmas or your birthday. This camera looks to be a nice one too. It's 12 MP and also has a 5x optical zoom with a 2.7 LCD screen on the back. The only thing it doesn't have is a place where you put your eye and look at it through. A view finder may be what it's referred to, but I am having a serious brain fart at the moment and can't think right. I only got about five hours sleep last night and it's already after 10pm. I have to get up bright and early tomorrow, to help the Easter bunny at Wal-mart. (Sometimes I really slack off some of the mom duties and pay for it in other ways, like having to get up at the butt crack of dawn, so I can make my kid happy)
Anyhoo..I hope everyone is doing well and has a great Easter Sunday!
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?
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?
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 asoccer football delivered to me, that came from Budweiser. Actually my husband won that, but it's neither here nor there, right?
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
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~
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:
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.
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
- 2 MORE free movie pass - From a different Local Online Sweep
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 mañana 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
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
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~
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~
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