We have arrived!

Hello People!

Well my husband and I are at the hotel where the 2010 National Sweepstakers Convention is being held in Minnesota. We are actually staying at the same hotel where the 2000 LPA National Convention was held, which is the last LPA convention that I'd actually been to, and the only convention that my husband has ever been to. This hotel (Sheraton) is a great hotel and so far we are very pleased with everything that they have to offer. The food in the restaurant is a little over priced in my opinion, but we ate everything on our plate this afternoon. It was VERY tasty!

Stevie and I actually arrived late last night. We were on the road for almost 12 hours and by the time we got into our rooms, I was dead dog tired and all my muscles ached! Even though the beds are comfortable, the pillows were a little too big and I had a sore neck when I woke up. I'm glad we thought to bring a couple of our own pillows with us. I am hoping tonight is a little better in the sleeping department. But the showers here were nice and hot, which helped eased my muscles!

We haven't done too much today, as the sweepstakes convention doesn't really start until Thursday night and officially on Friday morning. We thought that we would do best, if we arrived early, so that we didn't have to rush and could relax before everything begins. I am glad we did too, as we got a good parking space as well as small fridge for our room.

I am planning on writing more about the convention while I am here, as well as take some photos. I also brought my little flip mini camcorder which I won, from the Hotels.com contest, which I am still hoping that people are remembering to vote for me.

We are also hoping to attend the Minnesota State Fair before we leave. I've only been to the state Fairs in Texas and I would love to see how they compare with another state. I am also hoping to take pictures if we make it out there too. Plus, from what I understand there are lot of opportunities to enter for prizes.

Tomorrow, Stevie and I are planning on finding the nearest post office, so that we can buy the stamps which are needed for the raffles, which are held on Saturday during the banquet. This year's raffles include:

First Class Stamps
Post Cards Stamps
USPS Postcards
Minnesota Lottery Scratch Off Tickets
Gift Cards
Cash

I will be sure and write and let everyone know if we win any of the raffles. Last year, I won 500 first class stamps. The year before, I won Stamps and Lottery Tickets. No big winner on the Lottery tickets, but wouldn't that be something, if someone here wins one of the big ones from a scratch off ticket? This year, I would love to win Cash or Gift Cards. I will be a "little" broke by the time we get home, but that's ok as this is Stevie's main vacation for the year.

Well, I think I am off to rest a little bit more and to try and enter a few more sweeps. I know that once the convention starts, there won't be much time for me to do it. I will be spending too much time talking to other people that share the love of this wonderful hobby, while my husband enjoys his Guinness!

Take Care Everyone

Lisa

Thought I'd pop in

Hello everyone,

I thought I'd take a moment and write a little bit.  As far as my wins goes, I got a few to report.

2 movie tickets
Make up from Lord knows where
T-shirt from Facebook sweep
but my biggest win was from the Hotels.com sweep and even though it's not the big one from there (yet) I won the flip mini camercorder from the daily entry with the most votes.  So thank you so much for all your help, and hopefully you won't mind continuing voting for me.  I still would love to win the Grand Prize of $102,000!  and i know that with the help of family, friends, blog readers, and more, I could.  Anything is possible, is what I tell myself.

I am also no longer trying to enter 10 daily snail mail sweeps.  After seven months of it, I began to get burn out in this hobby, and I even started back on another interest of mine, which is playing World of Warcraft! (btw..I'm on Echo Isles if anyone is interested! LOL)  So now I am trying to get back into the swing of entering.  I think I needed the break to be honest.  Entering Sweepstakes should be fun...not a job!  I had begun to think of it as a Jobby (Job/Hobby) and to be honest, I don't need to do that.  I'm fortunate to have a situation where I don't NEED to win things, to have a good life.  All my wins are basically "gravy", so to speak.  Now of course, I do like to win, and I hope and pray a good one is just around the corner.  

At the moment, I am also trying to make arrangements for our yearly Sweepers Convention, which is in two weeks! I'm so excited to be honest, as I love to see all my friends that share in this wonderful hobby.  This year's it's in Minneapolis, MN and I am also looking forward to hopefully seeing the Mall of America as well as the State Fair!  There is nothing like Fair Food, is there? I wonder if I will be able to get my fried Oreo's?  Or Fried Twinkies?  Or Fried Reese's? (Do you see the theme here?)  Thank God the fair is only a once a year thing for most people and for myself, more like a once in ten year treat.  Otherwise, I am pretty sure I would end up with a heart attack at some point in the very near future.

In other news,  I've been out of sorts because I've changed my computer.  I admit it now...I am now a MAC user!  I went out and bought myself one of the new I-Mac's!  I still can't believe I did that, and I *am* slowly getting used to it.  The hardest part was trying to figure out my e-mails.  I entered all my information for my favorite e-mail, which is with G-mail.  This ended up being a HUGE mistake as it tried to download OVER a 160,000 emails! yeah, I basically froze my new Mac!  So I've had to make some changes and I now get all my gmail's and old e-mail accounts on my laptop, which I've had a few years.  It's now the only windows pc we have.  We gave my old computer to my Dad, and hopefully he is now using it to read this blog!  Hi Daddy! :)

Well that's all I can think of to write for now.  What about you guys?  Any wins?  Please feel free to share.  I love hearing about other people's wins, experiences, etc from this wonderful hobby.  One of the things that I am hoping to do while at the National Sweepstakes Convention, is take some photos of the decorated envelopes that are usually submitted for a contest that they have each year.  You will probably be amazed at some of the talent that goes into this.  I know I am each year.  I don't let it get me discouraged though, because most people don't go into that much detail when entering sweepstakes.  Mainly because some people don't want the judging agencies to think that they might be considered a *pro* in entering sweepstakes. 

Ta Ta For Now!
Lisa

Hard At Work...or is it hardly working?

I'm wanted to take a moment and say Thank you for all those who have voted for me in the contest from Hotels.com.  I sincerely appreciate it, and feel free to continue to vote until September 6th, 2010.  I am slowly moving up and I would love to win this thing.  But then who wouldn't love to win $100,000 right?

To find my entry for this contest, you would need to go HERE and look for Lisa Renea M. I am so hoping that I will eventually make it to the first page of Most Popular. 

Being in a voting contest is harder work, than you might think.  I am trying to repay favors, and vote for other people, in other voting contest.  I am posting in sweeping message boards, calling family and friends, posting on facebook and twitter, and other various activities, to hopefully get more votes.

And to think there are some people that do this a lot!  Some people have a real talent for contest, and to be honest, there is a better chance to win a contest, than perhaps a sweepstakes.  That's because most people look at a contest, and either don't bother with it, or think they will come back to enter it, yet they never do.  The pool of entrants are much smaller, so you odds of winning are much better.  I just wish for this particular contest, I had entered when it first started, instead of when I did.  But like the old saying goes..."Better late, than never".

At the moment, I am trying to update here on this little blog, enter sweepstakes online and through my cell phone, as well as taking care of various things around the house.  It's hard to do some of the things that need to be done, as my scooter is in serious need of being charged.  I really need to replace the battery on that thing, as I am having to charge it more and more frequently.

I am so grateful for having a device like my little scooter, as it makes getting around so much easier, as well as enjoying any trips I may go on, so I don't get all tuckered out.  But other times I feel so dejected, because my butt keeps getting bigger and bigger from the lack of exercise.  But whenever I try to do more, without my scooter, I end up hurting and then I get depressed.  I hate pain! 

One of the things that I am *trying* to do, is clean house.  Why am I in the "cleaning' mode?  Because we have Merry Maids coming.  Yep!  I'm cleaning the house for the maids.  It makes absolutely NO sense, what so ever, does it?  In fact, I personally think all of this cleaning for  the maids, is a serious sign of a sickness or something.  But at least once Merry Maids have come, cleaned and then leave, I will be left with somewhat of a nice looking home.  For at least two days I reckon.

In "Winning" News, I've been fortunate to have won $10 Conoco gas card in the ConocoPhillips-Gas for Life Sweepstakes last week, as well as a Team Lowe's Racing drink coozie from Lowe's® Ultimate Man Cave for Dad Contest.  I've added the link there, so you might want to check them out, if you haven't already.

I missed out yesterday, mailing my daily ten snail mail entries.  I'm a bit bummed out about it, but oh well.  (That's always been my motto, for not letting things get to me).  In today's mail I have twenty entries ready to go to the post office.  I'm trying to stay on top of it, but I am *really* longing for another wonderful trip win (NYC or Paris/London are my two top choices)  In fact, I keep dreaming that I am in New York.

Have you ever been on a trip which you've won from Sweepstakes or a Contest?  If so, please share where you went and where you would like to go to.  I would love to hear from more people that also share this wonderful hobby as I do. 

Last but not least, I am seriously thinking about having my own little promotion here.  Now a lot of sweepers don't like blog sweepstakes, as it usually takes a lot of time to enter.  Sometimes if feels like you have to jump through hoops to get entries into those drawings.  I think if I do have a giveaway, I want to make it as painless as possible.  I am trying to also think of what I could give away too.  If you have any suggestions, please feel free to comment or write me an e-mail with suggestions.  I look forward to hearing from you.

~Cheers~
Lisa

What I get up to when I can't sleep

Well it's after 4 AM here and I am still awake.  What happens to me, when I don't go to sleep like normal people?  I go and look for and enter contest and sweepstakes.  Now that isn't bad, is it?  However, tonight I found one that is actually a voting contest.  

I normally stay far away from voting contest.  Mainly because they are just so dang hard to win.  The people that do win, are usually either college kids, who understand the whole twitter/facebook a lot better than I, as well as staying up with their friends and keep voting, well into the morning.  Then the other problem is that some techy person knows how to set up bots and rig it, so that they have the most votes.  This will usually get the person disqualified, however someone else has to bring it to the sponsors attention.  Plus, some sites don't really care, as they are thinking it's getting people to their sites and that's the main objective to them.


So I stay away from voting contest.  Except tonight.  I found a post on a local board that I belong to, and thought I would go ahead and enter it.  Mainly because the prize is fantastic.  The grand prize winner will recieve a check for $102,250 check.  This is so that the grand prize winner can take a vacation every year for the next 50 years.  Now granted, I seriouly doubt I will live to be 93..BUT I would travel so much more, if I had an amount like $102,250 in my checking account!

So I thought to myself after I entered this, how/what is the best way for me to get votes.  Cause the winner with the most votes win.  From what I've seen, you can't vote down someone else's entry, which I'm glad about.  That's when voting contest can turn real ugly, real quick. So I started thinking and I first posted my request for votes, by the method the website suggested, which was e-mails, facebook and twitter.  Now I don't have hundreds of friends that I coresspond thru emails with, nor do I have hundreds of friends on facebook, yet those friends have friends that I don't have, so I am also hoping that they will "share" this with their friends and on their facebook accounts. 

The other way that I thought I could get votes, is by asking for them in various sweepstakes message boards and forums.  That will hopefully bring in some votes.  Then I also remembered "DUH" I have a blog for goodness sakes!  So if you care to help this little sweeper/bloggie person, win a wonderful contest, that honestly would make a HUGE difference in my life, please check my entry out and vote for me.

The contest is being sponsored by Hotels.com and the web address is...

http://ineedavacation.hotels.com/Gallery.aspx

Just go to most recent and look for "Lisa Renea M"  At the moment, I am the most current, but that will change...so you should be able to look for me by my name. 

This promotion actually ends on September 6, 2010 and I am sure you guys will get sick of me mentioning this.  So I am going to try and limit my request for votes on this blog, only at one a week..or maybe one every two weeks.

I am still trying to think of other ways to gather votes, and so far the only idea I've got is to take an ad out on Craig's list, but I'm not sure if that's allowed.  LOL.  I have no shame, do I? :)

btw...the photo on their site is a bit small, so I thought I would also post a bigger photo of it here, so that you can see me in my full glory!  The idea is to submit a photo of yourself, and why you need a vacation.  I personally feel like I need a vacation, so my eyes can return to normal from looking at my computer screen all the time.  Sadly, they didn't let us add comments to our entries, but I hope I get my point accross in my little pictures...I mean, it could happen right?

http://ineedavacation.hotels.com/Gallery.aspx

If anyone reading this has any ideas on how I can get votes for this contest, please please, pretty please send me an e-mail or submit a comment.  I honestly would appreciate it so very much!

Another thing I forgot to mention, is that there is a daily prize of a Flip camcorder for the people that vote, so think of it as an incentive to vote. 

On to other news....

Not much has been going on with me.  I actually got back from vacation with my daughter and my cousin Ricky.  We drove up to Fort Collins, Colorado and met some wonderful people in our guild on World of Warcraft.  We also drove all around Colorado and I now wish I lived there.  Especially during summer.  Texas heat and humidity is about to do me in.

While I was gone, my husband won a PS3 game, called backbreaker or something.  I have no clue.  We just bought a PS3 for my birthday and I don't play those kind of games.  I am more of a cutesy easy, looks more like a cartoon, gamer.  I actually want to get the new Toy Story game on the PS3.  I actually play more with my Wii than the PS3.  (I love Harvest Moon games)

Nothing else is going on with me.  Which is so totally boring.  That's probably why I haven't updated the blog that much.  I have won a few things, here and there..like a facial mask and music downloads.  I know the next fun/big win is just around the corner.

Now I'm off to contemplate if I should take an ad out in our local newspaper, wear a T-shirt asking for votes or getting a magnetic sign to put on my car, asking for votes...See how desperate I am?  I really, really want to win this!

~cheers~

Lisa

Back on the Wagon

That's how it feels to me anyways.  On May 25th, 2010 I forgot to mail my 10 snail mail entries.  I am so disappointed with myself.  I think mainly because my husband has told me he didn't think I would be able to follow through with that plan for the whole year.  It stinks that he was right!

The reason why I forgot to mail any snail mail sweeps that day was I had been feeling a bit under the weather and I ended up checking my blood sugar and it was on the high side.  (164 for a morning test) but I have read that being under stress and being sick can raise those numbers up.  Now, to my knowledge I am not a diabetic.  Both my parents are though, so it keeps me concerned enough to want to watch it as well as my diet.  I seriously don't want to have diabetes and it scares me.  So for a couple of days after May 25th, I just didn't worry about my sweepstaking hobby and tried to get to feeling better, which I admit that I am feeling much better, compared to a week or so ago.

I've gotten back on track with my snail mail entries as of June 1st and I am going to try and continue onward, as I truly want to have a good year with wins, if at all possible and Lord willing. 

Today is also the last day of school for my child and I will be picking her up in about an hour.  She asked me if I could please please please, get her out early, and I said I would consider it.  Yet the more I thought about how we now are going to have her home for the next 11 weeks, without school I figured a couple of more hours couldn't hurt her, right? :)  What can I say?  This little Momma wants access to her desk to do her sweeps.  Mimi tends to take over my desk, so that she can play her favorite pc activity, which is The Sims!  (2 is her favorite, but she also likes Sims 3) 



I am hoping to look for a desk for her this week-end, since I haven't been able to score any gift cards to office supply stores or furniture stores, so that I could buy her, her own desk.  This girl seriously needs her own desk/PC.  Whenever I do manage to get my space back, it's usually littered with cups, soda cans, crumbs, and wrappers of some kind of food left behind. 

So a quick question for anyone that might be reading this blog.  Am I the only person that gets frustrated when my spouse is right about something?  Probably just me, but dang I hate it that he so called *knew* I wouldn't be able to manage my goal for sweeping.  Oh well, he's my Lovie, so I guess I will keep him!

Much ado about ...Nothing

I really haven't had a lot of things to write about recently.  My sleeping is totally messed up (as always) and so my days and nights are switched.  At the moment, it's is almost 5 in the morning.  Am I up early?  Nope...I woke up at 11pm and I'm still up.

I am going to play around hopefully here, and add some photos from my trip to Vegas that my Sissy took me on.  I think part of my problem with updating this site, is that when I was in Vegas I came across a new addiction for me.  Benefit Cosmetics!

Before going to see the "Phantom of the Opera", I went to the Fashion Show Mall in Vegas, which was right across the street from our hotel, the Wynn!  My husband and I have been to Vegas so many times, I can't remember them all.  One of our favorite places to visit in Vegas happens to be the Fashion Show mall.

I thought I might get a little "pick me up" in regards to my face.  I didn't really want to hurry back to the hotel to actually apply my own make-up, so I ended up stopping off at the Benefit Cosmetic counter and OMG, let me just say I have seriously found my all time favorite make-up!

The lady that actually got my hooked on it, was named Shannon and she had the brightest PINK hair, I've ever seen.  It's looked like her real hair, so I don't know where in the heck she found that shade of Pink, but it worked for her!  She totally rocked the look and she was awesome!  She gave me loads of samples and I am hoping that my husband and I can go back to Vegas and I can run across her again, and tell her how much I love these cosmetics.

Anyhoo..Since I've been back from that trip, I've been re-finding my love of make-up.  When I became a Mom, I guess you could say I took a little break from my daily make-up routines.  Okay, a BIG break...more like ten years!  Sad isn't it?

So since finding these new cosmetic's, I have been also watching you-tube video's of how to apply make-up and how to correctly use these new products, which btw, I've invested my child's education funds into, so that this little mama looks and feels good about herself.  I don't feel too guilty, because my daughter is also now finding the love for these cosmetics and is also trying to snag them away from me.  In fact, I am now missing three products and will be asking about them in about an hour, when I wake her happy butt up for school, as to where they are.

So that's what I've been up to.  Trying to take some time out for me, to learn how to look and feel good about myself.   I am still entering my ten a day snail mail sweeps.  I was so worried that when I was on my last trip, that I wasn't going to actually keep up with my goal.  However, I made them all out in advance and put sticky notes on them, for my husband to mail off for me each day.  He is a trooper, let me tell you!

In fact, I occasionally make my entries up in advance.  At the moment, I am about a week ahead of myself, which is nice as I can take a little break from it all.  I love entering sweepstakes and I don't think that will ever change, but even I need to do something different, from time to time.

As far as wins, I think the latest things I've scored on is:

A 4 week Trial Membership to Blockbuster from "ampm Man Facts"
15 Pizza Cash Coupon from the "Huggies Enjoy the Ride" promotion
Ten (10) minutes of pre-paid telephone calling minutes!* by playing the " Colgate-Palmolive Mother's Day Instant Win Game".

and that's about it.  nothing too special to be honest, but it all counts...a win is a win, right?  I do wish I could win something a little bigger (I know it must sound greedy, huh?) but I would really love to go on a vacation with my family.  Either to Disney or England.  I haven't been to England in over 7 years and I am really missing it.  Of course, I wouldn't turn away any cash prizes either, as I could use it to bankroll my benefit addition! 

My First Twitter Party

was tonight!  It was Marshall & TJMaxx and it was kinda cool.  I still don't understand it all that much, as it  goes kind of fast.  The website that I used for this party was TweetChat.  There was several winners over the coarse of two hours.  I, however wasn't one of them.  But that's OK, cause I am still learning.  Going to TweetChat helped me keep track of all the tweets coming from the host and the guest.  The direct messages that came to me, from other guest, was in BOLD and made it easier to keep track, when someone spoke directly to me.

There is another place on the internet that does the same thing that TweetChat does.  It's called Tweet Grid.  I haven't used it yet, so I can't really comment on it.  But you might want to save both those websites, and consider using them, if you ever participate in a Twitter Party.  I thought tonight's party was fun and the time went by really quickly.  I believe it was for two hours, only I got in at the last hour of it. 

Have you ever participated in a twitter party?  If so, please share your thoughts and/or experience with it.  I am trying to learn more about twitter, cause it does seem to be one of the new ways to enter sweepstakes.