From The Contest Queen

WOO HOO! We just won a prize from a very rare form of entry here in Canada; a Second Chance Drawing.

When my husband Craig was scouring the snack isle, while doing the groceries last month, he spotted an Old Dutch chips display.  On the bag they were announcing a promotion to win a trip for two to the CHL Memorial Cup in Rimouski QC.  Being the dutiful husband of an avid contestor, he bought a bag.

While we were putting the groceries away, I saw the words instant win on the chips.  I promptly opened the bag.  After having a few handfuls of chips, I thought I should see if I won and what the rules were.  After discovering there was no little winning card in the bag, I cleaned off my greasy hands and headed to my computer to read the online rules.

I discovered if you did not find a card inside the bag you were not a winner.  No surprise there!  I saw they had a No Purchase Entry method.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY

2. To enter the contest without a purchase, hand print your name, address, day and evening phone numbers and your age on a 3″ x 5″ piece of paper, and include a self-addressed envelope bearing sufficient postage and mail it to: Old Dutch “MasterCard Memorial Cup Trip” Game Piece Message Request, PO Box 5843, Stn A, Calgary, AB, T2H 1Y3. A randomly selected Game Piece Message will be returned in your self-addressed envelope. The Game Piece Message may or may not contain a winning prize message. Limit: 1 request per envelope. All mail-in requests must be handwritten, photocopies or facsimiles not accepted. All mail-in requests must be postmarked by April 10, 2009 and received by April 17, 2009 for timely processing. All requests become the exclusive property of Old Dutch Foods Ltd. (Sponsor), and none will be acknowledged or returned. Proof of sending or submission will not be deemed to be proof of receipt by Sponsor. Sponsor is not responsible for lost, late, incomplete, invalid, unintelligible, illegible, misdirected or postage-due requests, which will be disqualified. In the event any Grand Prize is not claimed by 11:59 pm (MST) on April 24, 2009, the Contest Administrator will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all entries received in the No Purchase Necessary Request, on or about April 29, 2009.

I decided I wanted to see what I was looking for in each bag.  It was April 8th and all the No Purchase entries had to be postmarked by April 10th.  So I filled out two entries for me and two for my husband Craig.

Last week I got the four SASE envelopes back with a little bright yellow card enclosed stating SORRY TRY AGAIN. Also included was a set of the rules with the following line highlighted:

In the event any Grand Prize is not claimed by 11:59 pm (MST) on April 24, 2009, the Contest Administrator will award the applicable prize to an alternate winner by random drawing from among all entries received in the No Purchase Necessary Request, on or about April 29, 2009.

Now, my number one tip is READ THE RULES! In my rush to get out our four instant win entries, I did not read past when the entries had to be received.  The moment I looked at the highlighted line, I knew we were going to win.  I don’t know why.  I just did.  (Some would say I was tapping in to the Universal consciousness.)

I then looked at the dates the trip was (May 22-25) comparing them to my calendar.  Hmmm…on the Saturday I was already booked to spend a day training with Jack Canfield.  I have been wanting to take training with Jack for years.  I thought to myself, “Well, if I meant to win I will and I’ll deal with the calendar conflict at that time.”

Then when cleaning my desk, I had the urge to put a set of the rules in my win box.  “What a crazy thought,” I thought, “I have not even won yet!”

Last night while driving to to my weekly Toastmasters meeting Craig called me.  He just got off the phone with the contest management company.  He had won the Grand Prize!

The moral of this story is to:
1) always read the full rules,
2) enter using all entry methods (in-person, call-in, mail-in, online, and text messaging) and
3) even if the odds are slim, enter.  It only takes one to win!

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

Scarlett Lounge Ultimate Girls Day Contest

I am testing different contest sharing methods that I am finding on the Internet. This one made it’s own blog post, which I had to edit!

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

NOTE: This contest is for Canadians.

If you follow me on Twitter, you know I was tweeting live from the annual Michigan Wolverines’ spring sweepstakes meeting this past weekend.  What a great weekend filled with heaps of activities, fun and many sweeping friends.

It was a repeat of last year (April 2008 spring meeting blog post). The meeting was held at the same place as last year, The Gazebo, except this year’s theme was Mardi Gras (I forgot and had no costume!) and to leave more time for prizes and fun, it was held from 11am-4pm.

As usual, the Wolverine’s put together a fantastic afternoon.  There were gift boxes upon arrival.  The raffle area was very organized.  It was very smooth getting every one through to submit their entries or to buy tickets.

Once everyone settled down we had a wonderful buffet lunch followed by a specially decorated cake.

Then everyone’s favourite part, PRIZES!!  Al Sayward was the MC again.  He is always cracking very corny jokes, soliciting groans and chuckles from the crowd.

We then had a contest for the best costume. Guess who won?!

The meeting has already been booked for next year; same place, April 17, 2010.  Tickets will be $45 each.  Hope to see you there!!

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!!

Scott Blitstein wrote and interesting blog on RoboForm and how you can utilize it for online passwords.  This is a great tip since so many contest and sweepstakes now ask you to login rather than fill out an entry form.

RoboForm Keeps Passwords in Sync

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

While sitting with my friend, Carol McLaughlin (of This N That Sweepstakes Newsletter) in the lobby of the Hampton Inn hotel in Warren MI swapping sweeping tips, I came across the following video:

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

With a heavy heart I must inform the contesting community that Betty Yearling, one of the original Affadaisies, has passed away.

Betty Yearling PAYNE
Betty G. Yearling, 85, of Payne, was looking forward to seeing her Lord & Savior, Jesus Christ when she passed away at 1:25 p.m., Thursday, March 12, 2009 at Parkview Hospital, Fort Wayne.

She was born in Payne on March 24, 1923, the daughter of the late Elden & Blanche (Skinner) Gernhardt. Betty was an active member of St. James Lutheran Church, Payne, & the WELCA, where she participated in various bible classes, prayer groups, also teaching Sunday school and vacation Bible school. She was also a member of the Gideons International Auxiliary. Having been finalist in the 1963 Pillsbury Baking Contest, Betty enjoyed creating new recipes and entering skill contests. After high school she worked for an attorney in Paulding and did office work in Payne, until her marriage in 1942 to Carl E. Yearling, who died in 2000. They farmed together for 58 years. Betty will be sadly missed by her daughter, Ann (Gregg) Kroen of Maitland, FL; son,
Jack of Payne; daughter-in-law, Eunice of Payne; three grandchildren, Heather (Jamie) Hart and Kirsten
(Brian) King, both of Winter Park, Fla., Jana Yearling of Payne; three great-grandchildren, Sydnie and Mackinley Hart and Madison King. Also preceding her in death was her son, Michael in 2006.

On a lighter note, I would like to share an excerpt from my book; one of Betty’s wonderful contest creations. This is her winning recipe from the 1963 Pillsbury Bake-Off.

Party Pork Barbecue
Bake-Off 15 (Los Angeles, 1964)
Mrs. C. E. Yearling ~ Payne, OH

NOTE: Three cups leftover pork roast may be substituted for the pork shoulder.
Pillsbury BESTall purpose flour
½ teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
1½ lb. boneless pork shoulder, cut in bite-size pieces
3 tablespoons cooking oil or shortening
1½ cups chopped celery
1 medium onion, sliced and broken into rings
1 cup (8-oz. can) undrained pineapple tidbits
1 cup catsup
½ cup water
2 tablespoons chopped green pepper
2 tablespoons prepared mustard
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt

Drop Biscuits
1 cup flour*
1½ teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon celery salt
¼ cup shortening
1/3 cup milk
1 slightly beaten egg
1 tablespoon dry onion flakes
2tablespoons mushrooms, chopped, if desired
* If using self rising flour, omit baking powder and salt in biscuits.

Heat oven to 400°F. Combine flour, salt and 1/8 teaspoon pepper. Coat pork pieces with flour mixture. Brown well in oil in large skillet.

Add celery, onion rings, pineapple, catsup, water, green pepper, mustard, Worcestershire sauce and salt. Cover; simmer 20 to 30 minutes or until meat is tender. Pour into 2-quart casserole. Drop biscuit mixture (below) by rounded tablespoonfuls onto meat mixture. Bake at 400°F for 20 to 25 minutes until golden brown.

Drop Biscuits
Combine flour, baking powder, salt and celery salt. Cut in shortening until particles are fine. Add milk, egg, dry onion flakes and mushrooms. Stir only until all dry particles are moistened.

Helene has recently been flooded with enquiries about her books, Blueprints, and specifically her SPEC method, from all over the world. People who are worried about their current economic situation want to know why they can’t win money.  Here is her reply verbatim:

EXPLAINING A BLUEPRINT
I enjoy doing people’s Blueprints. It offers so much information about the MISSION one comes into a physical body to experience this lifetime.  I have had so many requests to explain how I set up a chart that I decided to explain and give you a clearer picture what it is all about.

EXAMPLE: A male born September 7, 1960.  (We only work with numbers from 1 to 9, so I add the year to get a 7.)  September is a (9).  Day born is a (7). Year is 1960=(7).  Add the 9+7+7 = 23. 2+3=(5).  His Mission is the ADVENTURER – one who grows and learns about life through being willing to live it to the hilt and to change things (and people).  It represents freedom.

Each Blueprint includes what your name means, your Informative, Productive and Harvest cycles.  I request three birth dates of family or friends that you wish to learn more about, so I can show you the karmic ties you have with them.  I also include the technique of how you can chart information about other people’s Mission.  One of the most revealing aspects about each Blueprint is the card chosen according to your birth.  I also include a card for each person that you included.  Your Sun Sign, where your North Node was at your birth, informing you about what you need to work on while in your physical body; the Tone that resonates to your Sun Sign.  Master numbers are revealed in birth numbers.  Your Chinese animal, KI-ology, and plenty of cartoons, so that you can lighten up while you read all the information about you.

The part that I personally enjoy the most about doing a Blueprint is when I complete it, sit back to read it and write information that you need to consider.  Many times I feel that someone is mentally communicating to me what I should remind you of.  When this happens I feel I learn as much or more than the person whose Blueprint I am doing.  Let me share an actual page that I wrote to the man whose chart I did a number of months ago. You recall he was born September 7, 1960.

SOME THINGS FOR YOU TO CONSIDER
You have some interesting numbers to work with in this incarnation-remember that your parents gave you your name-higher intelligence gave you your numbers.

September a (9) month is your INFORMATION cycle that lasts until you are 31 years old.  The (9) is the vibration of the Humanitarian – whose life must be an example of the realization that all people and all life forms are interdependent.  You must learn to cope, as it requires great amounts of understanding. During this period you were serious and desperately trying to rationalize many things you couldn’t understand because you had a restless streak that pulled you every which way.  You did a lot of reading.  Did you know that you have a natural talent to write-a gift that you had in past lives?  I hope that you are aware of this writing talent.  This was not an easy cycle for you.  It urged you to pursue self-knowledge.  It required a lot of soul searching because your MISSION – as the Adventurer is restless – wants to travel-investigate.  Writing your feelings and experiences would have been an great comfort.  Perhaps a journal that you could have referred to occasionally would have been most beneficial.  But you are no longer in this cycle.

Day born a (7) Your PRODUCTIVE cycle from age 32 to 58 and what you are presently in is the number of the Philosopher – whose inner journey ends only at complete self-knowledge and perfected life-style.  To spend a lot of time analyzing would be a good habit to cultivate.

Your HARVEST cycle is also (7) and it begins when you are 59 years old. You have been dealt a double seven, the Productive and Harvest cycle.  Are you getting the message that you need to focus on the spiritual aspect of who you are – why you are here and what you are here to learn?  I note on your karmic tie page that YOU, your WIFE and SON all have the number (7) in your Harvest cycle.  You all came from the same Soul Group Soul to support each other.  Your card – The Queen of Hearts-The Loving Mother Card – has excellent information and suggestions that can be most beneficial for you to consider.  The Desiderata, on the back cover of your 20 page Blueprint book has a down-to-earth philosophy that makes a lot of sense.  You will be in your physical body for a long time.  Be assured that you will LIVE, not just exist.  Fun and games are still in store for you.  Lighten up kid…that’s why I included all the cartoons for your benefit.  ENJOY!

The man whose Blueprint I just shared with you asked me this question, “Can you please explain in detail how to project prosperity?”

MY ANSWER
I can’t be more specific than what I have repeated thousands of times SPEC! Select It…Project It…Expect It…Collect It.

See yourself as already having what it is you want.  Now that you are aware of what you came into this lifetime to accomplish there will come a time that cars, trips, houses, money, prosperity will not be a priority.  Therefore I suggest that you add this to your goals, wishes, and projects. “If it’s meant to be.” or “If this is for my highest good.”  Jose Silva used the phrase, “God willing.”  I personally believe that we are given everything that we earned in our past and present life. We must ask to receive-that’s what SPEC is all about.

May I remind you that you contacted me to do your Blueprint, and that you may accept or reject anything that I have said.  I realize that I may lose friends and influence enemies, but that’s what I get for being an old SAGE.

Helene Hadsell

Please feel free to share Helene’s message with your friends and family.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

Enjoy this short video interview with Helene speaking about how she won her house.

In my book I have an entire chapter on how to protect yourself from online hazards such as; spyware, adware, malware, spam, pop-ups, etc.  It seems the bad guys are always looking for new ways to circumvent the system.  Now you have be aware when you are on any of the social networking sites such as; Facebook, Twitter or MySpace.

Read Beware the Landmines of Social Networking.

This is important information because more and more companies are placing contests and sweepstakes on social networking sites.  BE SAFE.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!

If you read my blog, you read my post called Goal Setting & Winning, and know I recently set several specific goals for myself. Another goal I have that I didn’t post is; I am a globally well-respected sweepstakes promotional marketing expert. Following Mike Dooley’s advice, “The HOWs are the domain of the Universe”, I set that goal fully aware I did not know how it would come about.

Last week two things occurred I feel brought me closer to my goal.

1. I realized my website was not search engine optimized for the words Sweepstakes Expert or Contest Expert. I am now in the process of updating my website to fulfill that void.
2. I had a fan gift me an afternoon of media training. I had media training in the past so I would be a good interviewee. This media training was so I would be a better interviewer. With Aprile’s help (my assistant), we revamped my entire interview process. I think my interview, Take A Look, from a professional standpoint, is my best yet.

What goals do you have? We notice the leaps, but we also need to notice, and be grateful for, the little steps. What little steps are occurring in your life (maybe even on a daily basis), that are getting you closer to your goals?

While catching up on my contests this weekend I came across one I had bookmarked to check out later: Win With Smart.

I entered, then thought, “I should read the rules.” (I read in a book somewhere – my own – that you should always read the rules first!)  Upon opening the rules, I saw it wasn’t really to win a car, but it was for a reservation draw.  IIf chosen, was going to be given the opportunity to buy one of 10 limited edition vehicles.  WOW!  I was not impressed.

Upon further investigation, going back the the contest home page, re-reading the rules, I discovered there were actually two contests; one giving away a car and the other for the reservation draw.

I think Mercedes did a poor job with the web design and layout of this promotion by putting both sets of rules together and putting the reservation rules first.  When a contest is created it should be kept very simple, easy to navigate and things should be put in common places (such as rules, submit buttons and contact us).

My entry is in and it only takes one to win.
Is yours?  It is still open to Canadians until April 15th.

ENJOY, GOOD LUCK & HAVE FUN!