I knew this would happen...

I can't believe it. It's been forever since I blogged and I only did three entries before I gave up! Actually, what happened was that I won something once or twice a day for a week or two. It was really hard to keep up with all the books I've won. So I'm going to do a quick summary/shout out to all my blog wins and start again! Here goes:

February 18 - I won two tickets to a Camila concert in LA from Verizon Wireless. I have NO idea how I won, I entered for a phone and didn't know they were offering tickets!

February 19 - Coupon for $5 Dole Salad from Dole

February 20 - A book (Step Out on Nothing by Byron Pitts) from The Book Tree Blog

February 22 - e Gift Certificate to Sears from Sears

February 23 - Book (Drowning City by Amanda Downum) from Number One Novels

February 23 - Rainbow Brite CD from Lil Maddies Meemaw

February 24 - Two Novels of my Choice (Redheaded Stepchild and A Black Tie Affair) from My Reading Room

February 24 - Book (Among Thieves) suprise win from Review Broads Blog

February 28 - Book (How to do Nothing With Nobody All By Yourself) from Goodreads.com

February 28 - Book (Corked) from My Book Views

March 2 - eBook (Silver Kiss) from Urban Fantasy

March 2 - Book (Dead Game - autographed) from Library at the End of the Universe

March 3 - Book (Still Life) from Bingo

March 4 - DVD (I Hate Valentine's Day) from Tribeca Film surprise win!

March 9 - Book (Andrea Carter and the Trouble with Treasure) from Goodreads.com

March 18 - $10 gift card to Dollar General

MMMMMM.... Coffee

Woot! Whoever invented blogs is a genius! Not only do I have a place to vent where no one I know personally will see it (unlike my diary my stepbrother read when I was 16), but I can enter also all these blog giveaways. I won a sample pack of Starbucks VIA coffee from The Flying Salmon, a travel blog. Just looking at the pics of the free spirited ladies who host the site makes me want to jump on a bus and go where e'er the wind may take me! Backpack through Europe perhaps? I don't think I'll be getting there by bus...

I've also been trying to read The Secret lately. For a 140 page book it really is taking me a long time. I know it seems strange, but I can sit down with a novel and temporarily believe in fairies, dragons, time travel, aliens, vampires, magicians, witches, talking mice, Bigfoot and Hogwarts. But I can't suspend my cynicism enough to believe in the power of positive thinking. What would Gandalf say?

A New Day & A New Win

Ever since I started sweeping I wake up with twinkle in my fingers and a tingle in my eye! Wait, maybe it's the other way around. Anyway, I'm excited to check my email for a new win! It's been about 5 days since my last, so I'm up for a new one. Besides, karma owes me. I decided not to send in the affidavit for the Harrah's casino win, I figured someone who lives in the area should win. So pay up karma!

I got my winning email today, just in time to keep me from getting discouraged! I won a free sample of Pretty Woman Pure Oil Rollerball Perfume (that's a mouthful) from BeautyStyleWatch. It's gorgeous looking, and can you believe it, I've never tried roll on perfume before! I can't wait to receive this one.

It keeps getting better though! Last night I came home to a big, gorgeous box from Kraft Foods. My fooooooooood... mmmmm... Here, have a picture. Fuzzy... but so delicious...

It came just in time too... right when we started our diet! I plan on making spinach dip and eating it with flatbread, original cheesecake with chopped pecans on top, chocolate macaroons, oreo pudding cake, rice crispy treats, chicken salad, the list goes on and on...

Catching Up

I decided to create a blog today. Yep, woke up and thought it sounded like a good idea. It's not as hard as it sounds, this is actually my second blog. I was posting fairly religiously on my last blog (about my knitting and my Etsy store) but like all of my fads, that faded. Actually, knitting isn't a fad to me. But each winter I sell a hundred scarves on Etsy and nearly give myself carpal tunnel getting them all knitted by Christmas. Then... I need a break. So my solution is to give myself carpal tunnel entering sweepstakes! :)

On January 21, 2010, I entered my first sweepstake. I went about this new fad my usual way. I was surfing the Internet and read an article about a woman who won a Camaro. Instantly I saw myself surrounded with items I could win, an Xbox, Wii, trips, cars, games, everything I want and can't afford right now. I was hooked!

I checked out a few sweepstakes sites before I decided to join one. I chose to sign up with Online-Sweepstakes (OLS) because they record each sweepstakes you've entered. That way, you don't enter any twice and disqualify yourself, and you can keep track of those you need to enter daily, weekly or monthly. They also have an active forum with great members. I paid $12.50 for a premium membership for 3 months and made a pact, if I didn't win anything worth over that amount within 3 months I wouldn't renew.

I entered about 50-100 sweepstakes a day, until January 26. Then, I received my first Win notification! It was from a website called Goodreads.com. This site is a place to review books, list those you've read, they also have an extensive list of books they give away each month. There were 10 copies of The Cougar Club being given away and 2601 entrants. And I won a copy!

My second win notification came on February 1 from a finance blog called Make Mine Happen. The blog owner's name is Carrie and her blog talks about how to improve yourself and make your dreams come true. I won a copy of a book called Living in the Trenches. There was one book prize and 43 entrants. Not bad for my first two weeks!

My third win (and my favorite so far) came on February 4 from a parenting blog called Parenting Squad. The blog is full of tips for families. There's actually so much to offer in this blog I can't even list it all! I won a Kraft food basket with all sorts of goodies including Oreos, marshmallows, crackers, cookies, dressing, nuts, chocolate, coffee, recipes, kitchen utensils... the list goes on and on! I can't WAIT to get this one... and neither can my boyfriend.

The last win I received on February 12 is a little touchy. This was a premium sweep, I entered for a 2 night stay at Harrah's Casino in New Orleans. There were several 2nd-5th place prizes of a nights stay at another Harrah's Casino. I entered on February 11 and was instantly notified that I'd won a free night stay at a Harrah's Casino valued at $109! The problem? The casino I can stay at is in New Jersey! I thought about giving up the prize for a few reasons, 1) I have to pay taxes on it, 2) Someone else can use it, 3) When will I ever visit New Jersey? I decided to keep it. Who knows what the next year will hold, maybe I can win some airline miles and fly out there! Or, I can donate it to someone who needs it, or sell it on eBay, or even ask Harrah's if I can use it at the casino here in Cali. I think every win happens for a reason.

Next Post: I just received The Secret... I'm all for thinking positive but I'll let you know if it affects my wins!