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
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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?
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?
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
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!
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!
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!
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!
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.
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.
Well today is the second Saturday of the month, which means "Sweepers Meetings!" I haven't been in several months (Actually this was my first meeting for this year..yikes!) but I did enjoy myself today. I have been a member of this club for probably four or five years, but I've made many friends and I truly enjoy the comradeship of it all.
Of course, it's always fun to participate in the drawings that we have. In case you have never been to a sweeper's meeting in your area, here is a little bit of how our club does it, each month. Most clubs follow a very similar pattern, I'm sure. (If I've already written about local clubs, please forgive me.)
We meet once a month, in a local eatery, that has a separate dinning hall, that allows us to hold our meeting with a little bit of privacy. The place that we go to, actually doesn't charge us to use this dinning hall, but does hope that we bring business to it, by eating their food and drink. This usually isn't a probably, as we have our meeting during lunch time, and I would say about half of us, if not more, eats something. They have really good food, so it's not hard at all to do.
We start our meeting around 1pm and it usually goes until 3pm. That's how long we have our room booked for. This same room is also used by other people for family reunions, other club meetings, or what have you. I like this time of day, since I am *SO* not a morning person. In fact, if it was later, it would only suit me better. But then I am lazy.
We have five drawings each month, which you can enter. You are not required to, but it is fun to participate. The five drawings consist of: 5 decorated envelopes, five first class stamps (.44 cents at the moment), $1 lottery tickets, $1.00 for the cash drawing, and 5 Picture Postcards. The limit that we have is one entry for everything, except for the lotto and the cash drawing. Those are unlimited.
It all depends on how many people are in a club, as to how they split the pot up. For us, we usually have two winners for each drawing. The $1.00 lottery tickets and the $1.00 cash is actually drawn only one winner, and the other winner is the club. The funds received from these two drawings, goes into our "pot" and is used for our Christmas party that we have at the end of the year.
Another thing that is done at our meetings is Promotions! These are fun little games for our members, to win prizes. Each month a different person hosts these promotions and sponsors the prizes. We've played games like Bingo, guess the number of ??? in the jar (jellybeans, candy, whatever you want), Blackjack, 20 questions (we did this one today and it was a lot of fun, I must say) and so many more. I must say, I am horrible at thinking of promotions. I think it stems from my experience of low self esteem. ( I am still working on it, what I can I say?)
Something else that we are doing is creating Baskets. They can be any size or theme. We sell raffle tickets and then draw a winner from that. I actually won one of this months baskets and I am thrilled with it. The person that put it together is so good at putting these things together and I know I will get a lot of enjoyment from my prize (which included various sweeping supplies) I might even take a photo of it, and share it with you guys. It wasn't in a typical "basket" form, but something else, that I thought was very creative!
The money that is collected for these basket raffles, at this time is going towards the National Sweepers convention. The National convention gives away TONS of prizes each year, and a lot of the prizes given away are actually given to the host, to giveaway. Our group usually takes the money collected and purchase a visa gift card or two, and gives it away. The National Convention always mentions who donated the prize, which I think is nice.
Another thing that our group does, which is nice is everyone donates something small to whoever is celebrating a birthday in that same month. It can range from decorated envelopes, 3 x 5 papers/cards, stamps, candles, candy, and whatever use you can think of. We had two birthdays this month and I think it's a really nice treat for the birthday person.
While we are at our meeting, we also share what we have won during the month since the last meeting, and we take turns and go around in a circle. After wards we share other sweepstakes related news. Weather it's a local mall drop box, or something seen in the paper. We bring Official Entry Blanks to the meeting, if we find any and share those. This is where some of us can find out new information. We share tips or tricks on entering sweepstakes.
Today has been such a beautiful day and I did enjoy myself. Of course, winning my prize didn't hurt either! :) The only downside, is now I'm pooped!
Of course, it's always fun to participate in the drawings that we have. In case you have never been to a sweeper's meeting in your area, here is a little bit of how our club does it, each month. Most clubs follow a very similar pattern, I'm sure. (If I've already written about local clubs, please forgive me.)
We meet once a month, in a local eatery, that has a separate dinning hall, that allows us to hold our meeting with a little bit of privacy. The place that we go to, actually doesn't charge us to use this dinning hall, but does hope that we bring business to it, by eating their food and drink. This usually isn't a probably, as we have our meeting during lunch time, and I would say about half of us, if not more, eats something. They have really good food, so it's not hard at all to do.
We start our meeting around 1pm and it usually goes until 3pm. That's how long we have our room booked for. This same room is also used by other people for family reunions, other club meetings, or what have you. I like this time of day, since I am *SO* not a morning person. In fact, if it was later, it would only suit me better. But then I am lazy.
We have five drawings each month, which you can enter. You are not required to, but it is fun to participate. The five drawings consist of: 5 decorated envelopes, five first class stamps (.44 cents at the moment), $1 lottery tickets, $1.00 for the cash drawing, and 5 Picture Postcards. The limit that we have is one entry for everything, except for the lotto and the cash drawing. Those are unlimited.
It all depends on how many people are in a club, as to how they split the pot up. For us, we usually have two winners for each drawing. The $1.00 lottery tickets and the $1.00 cash is actually drawn only one winner, and the other winner is the club. The funds received from these two drawings, goes into our "pot" and is used for our Christmas party that we have at the end of the year.
Another thing that is done at our meetings is Promotions! These are fun little games for our members, to win prizes. Each month a different person hosts these promotions and sponsors the prizes. We've played games like Bingo, guess the number of ??? in the jar (jellybeans, candy, whatever you want), Blackjack, 20 questions (we did this one today and it was a lot of fun, I must say) and so many more. I must say, I am horrible at thinking of promotions. I think it stems from my experience of low self esteem. ( I am still working on it, what I can I say?)
Something else that we are doing is creating Baskets. They can be any size or theme. We sell raffle tickets and then draw a winner from that. I actually won one of this months baskets and I am thrilled with it. The person that put it together is so good at putting these things together and I know I will get a lot of enjoyment from my prize (which included various sweeping supplies) I might even take a photo of it, and share it with you guys. It wasn't in a typical "basket" form, but something else, that I thought was very creative!
The money that is collected for these basket raffles, at this time is going towards the National Sweepers convention. The National convention gives away TONS of prizes each year, and a lot of the prizes given away are actually given to the host, to giveaway. Our group usually takes the money collected and purchase a visa gift card or two, and gives it away. The National Convention always mentions who donated the prize, which I think is nice.
Another thing that our group does, which is nice is everyone donates something small to whoever is celebrating a birthday in that same month. It can range from decorated envelopes, 3 x 5 papers/cards, stamps, candles, candy, and whatever use you can think of. We had two birthdays this month and I think it's a really nice treat for the birthday person.
While we are at our meeting, we also share what we have won during the month since the last meeting, and we take turns and go around in a circle. After wards we share other sweepstakes related news. Weather it's a local mall drop box, or something seen in the paper. We bring Official Entry Blanks to the meeting, if we find any and share those. This is where some of us can find out new information. We share tips or tricks on entering sweepstakes.
Today has been such a beautiful day and I did enjoy myself. Of course, winning my prize didn't hurt either! :) The only downside, is now I'm pooped!
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.
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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