Maybe You Never Knew...I enter contests

I have updated this post and have it featured on my new blog SAVING UP FOR DISNEY.

Back when I was a girl (long before the internet, of course) my dad would occasionally receive a newsprint mailer that had national contests. I was intringued by the thought of possibly winning a vacation, cash, even a car. I recall a few times, filling out postcards with the contest addresses as per the instructions and sending them off in the mail, fingers crossed. I never won anything, of course.

When I was in high school my dad won a contest in the newspaper to name a casino in Las Vegas. He was one of many who chose the name ("Excalibur") and was awarded a weekend stay at the new hotel and my mom and he got all their meals for free. That was fun!

I've been pretty lucky through the years, winning a savings bond at my school's grad night party, had my name pulled from the barrel of thousands at the mall when Wheel of Fortune did a casting call (I made it on the show!) and most recently won a $50 Macy's gift card, San Diego Safari Park tickets and an overnight weekend at the Disneyland Resort complete with 2-day park tickets for all four of us.


Us, on the recent Disney trip that I won!

My motto: Someone has to win, why not me?

You know, you can't win if you don't play. I am by no means a professional at this and there are many websites that will go into more detail but this is how I do it:

At least once a week, I do an internet search for contests that sound interesting to me and load the links into an email that I send to myself. There are websites that list tons of contests in a directory like Sweepstakes Advantage and About.com These are the two I use most. I like to look for specific contests too, like travel to Walt Disney World, and I find Disney-themed contest on Mousesavers.

I don't really enter contests with prizes I don't want or need.

I do "like" certain companies on Facebook that run frequent promotions and then check their sites to see when they start new contests.

I also follow blogs that I enjoy reading and enter their contests as well. I won a gift certificate last year to Party Box Design on a blog and was able to get the baby's birthday invitations designed for free. Some blogs have more complicated entry processes like tweeting, following their Pinterest boards, liking them on Facebook and others only require a simple comment.

I like Pinterest contests and essays best because they take a certain creativity. The Ellen Show frequently has essay contests with fantastic prizes. I made it to the top 20 of a recent Pinterest contest to win a Whirlpool fridge!

Reading the fine print:

Read those Official Rules. Really. At least the parts that tell you how many times you can enter, how long the contest lasts, how the winners will be contacted and what it is exactly that you're entering to win.

Pay attention to how many times you can enter. I steer away from contests that tell me I can enter "up to 100 times a day". 'Ain't nobody got time for that! I prefer contests that only allow one entry per person/email address. This really evens the playing field.

Look at the starting and ending dates of the contest. Try and get in on the beginning of the contest if you are able to enter once a day to give you the best odds. I've entered every single day for the HGTV Dream Home contest; technically twice, because they let you enter at both HGTV.com and Frontdoor.com. They also offer a flooring contest from Lumber Liquidators & another for a GMC vehicle. I entered them all, every day of the contest so my odds are as great as they can possibly be! Of course, I'm in the mix with millions of others, but remember, someone has to win! Why not me? (or you!)

Some contests will ask for a code or something from a proof of purchase but there are often alternate ways of obtaining the entry (some as easy as just clicking a link that will supply you with a code without a purchase).

Watch those clickable boxes at the end of the entry form! If you don't want to receive a bunch of unwanted spam or junk mail or accidentally sign up for something you don't want (like a magazine subscription). Make sure you know what you've clicked (sometimes the boxes are already clicked and you need to unclick them each time).

Find your favorite stores and internet shops on Facebook and Pinterest and see if they are running any online contests.

Magazines often have contests or sweepstakes so a quick online search of your favorites should let you know what is available to enter.

Your local radio station probably has call-in contests (that's how I won the $50 Macy's card) but they often have online sweepstakes as well (that's how I won the Disney trip!).

Blogs are great place to enter and depending on the number of readers/entrants, the odds can be pretty good! Just over the weekend, I won a bottle of cleaner for stainless steel appliances and a microfiber cloth from Tidy Mom. We don't have stainless steel appliances in our apartment but our new house does *wink!*.

Last of all, good luck! Be consistent with your entering, have fun and have hope. Don't get discouraged if you don't win anything. I enter hundreds of contests and have only won a handful but I have my fingers crossed for a big one someday!

Maybe you never knew...I USED to have a crummy phone

I was prepared to write a Maybe you never knew about my antiquated cell phone and how frugal my husband and I are and how we didn't even have texting and that my phone was for one purpose and one purpose only and that was to make phone calls... but then something happened.

My husband lost his phone.

Poof! Just like that it was gone. He recalls his last conversation with the insurance adjuster (someone hit our truck in a parking lot) while he was at work last week and then he doesn't know where his phone went. He spent a good part of the weekend deep-cleaning the car and pulling the trunk apart, searching for his phone.

Danny's old phone

Nothing. Gone. Bye-bye lame phone!

In any case, he needed a phone, of course. We don't have a landline so our two cell phones are the only way we can be reached. We knew the day would come where we'd have to take the leap into the 21st century and get Smart Phones. We'd mumble to people, "Sorry, I don't have texting". I think Danny's tipping point came when a man from Ghana laughed out loud when Danny told him this, as if everyone in the world had texting, even those from remote areas of Ghana for the love of Pete!

Danny's phone wasn't quite as remedial as mine (his had a flip top, ooohhh!) but it was still the second cheapest phone you can buy at T-Mobile...one guess as to who had the cheapest phone?

I had to search "Old Samsung Cell Phones" to find this image of my old phone. The website I found this image on (from 2009, when I got my phone) actually said that Samsung unofficially called this phone "their first mobile phone especially designed for old people". That pretty much seals the deal, doesn't it! I needed something new.

So if hubby was getting a new phone, I was getting one too...hurray! My phone was three and a half years old and in the electronics world, that might as well be a hundred years, right?

This is what I got...
Samsung Galaxy S-4G

The funny thing about this whole process is that my husband and I are like 80-year olds when it comes to all things "Smart phone" related. Texting? Apps? Touch screen? Widget? Camera phone? It's fascinating and frightening at the same time. So much to learn, I feel like I'm years behind on all the cool trends.

I can navigate the internet like a pro on a desktop computer but my husband is less knowledgable in that area. But when it comes to the phones, we are both pretty much in square one together. I think my favorite part was when we texted each other for the first time to try it out (we were in the same room) and he laughed and said, "Look, our writing is in a cartoon bubble!" I, at least, knew that's what it looked like when you texted!

So who will have the old-person phone now? It's being handed down to my parents, (certified grandparents) to replace their pay-as-you-go Trac-phone with buttons large enough to press with the palm of your hand.

You're welcome, Mom. Or maybe I should say, I'm sorry? You'll be next in line for an upgrade, okay?

Maybe You Never Knew...Debut!

Do you like the new look? I thought I'd do a little Spring-cleaning on the blog and spruce things up a bit!

Maybe you never knew...

I'm kicking off a new reoccuring feature on the blog called just this, "Maybe you never knew" and I'll dig deep within my personal day-to-day life and reveal tidbits about me that perhaps you never knew. Fascinating, I'm sure! *wink*

Today, maybe you never knew...

I'm a seamstress.

Well, most of you probably do know that because it's been a part of me for so long and many of you have been the recipient of my handiwork. Here is the evolution:


An appliqued Minnie outfit from 2009

I started sewing in my sophomore year of high school. Our first project was a ruffled pillow with a zipper. I chose sweet little calico prints in peach and light blue (gag! But it was the late 80s!).

And you know what? I HATED SEWING.

I had been so excited to take the class and was so miserably bad at it, that I started to hate the whole process. I couldn't get the squares to line up on the front of the pillow. I sewed my ruffle into the seam so many times that the poor ruffle had puncture holes in it. The zipper was a nightmare. My seamripper was practically glued to my hand the entire time, I was using it so much. When I finally finished that stupid pillow, I couldn't stand to look at it, it just made me so frustrated!

Looking back I can see that my problem was that I was going way too fast. I wasn't basting properly or pressing seams often enough, I wasn't keeping accurate seam allowances and I was simply trying to get the whole thing done so quickly that I just wasn't being very careful.

Mermaid print halter sundress, 2009

I got better. When we started learning about patterns, I stuck to the pattern carefully and was able to get quicker. I made many outfits for myself & my younger cousins. My aunt took me to the fabric store and bought fabric for me to make her daughter's school wardrobe (lots of bright patterns & neon, as I recall!).

A Nutcracker Ballet inspired nightgown, 2008

When a girl I babysat for needed a competative rollerskating costume, her mom asked if I could make one. There was a pattern, it required me to use stretch fabrics (which I'd never used before) and I'd need to be more creative with design. I drew up hundreds of ideas. Her mom pretty much gave me free reign and I went for it full-force. There were beautiful shimmering sheer fabrics that I would use at the bodice or down the arms, handsewing on tons of beads and sequins. I made a mermaid costume. I made one that was all fringe with a matching jacket. I wish I could go back and make those costumes again with all that I know now about serged hems, rolled edges and stretch fabrics.


The Boy in a Donald Duck tee I appliqued, 2009

Coming out of high school I was accepted into the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) but with the astronimical cost there was no affording it. I did some sewing and costume design at Grossmont College in the theatre department. I made complete costumes for the students I taught at the rec center. Their dance & gymnastic recitals featured my craftwork (Shirley Temple dresses are still my favorite!).


I sold lots of these a-line dresses, love the polka dots and penguins!

A great many Halloween costumes were sewn, including this Spiderman outfit which was made over 10 years ago.


It was designed while looking at a Spiderman action figure and has happily served the dress-up desires of three little boys.

And then my workhorse sewing machine, the Mongomery Ward Computer 2000 (circa 1970-something) that had been my mom's stopped working. And thus I hung up my scissors for a while and took a sewing sabbatical.

I started back crafting when The Boy was about 2. I belong to a small private online parenting group of woman that I've known since I was pregnant. A few of them commissioned me to paint overalls for their kids.


The Boy, modeling one of the first Ebay items I listed.


I loved painting all the flowers and butterflies, which inspired my shop name

The moms encouraged me to sell on Ebay, which I did. And I got the old sewing machine fixed and started making simple dresses and pants to sell.


The simplicity of these, I cringe! I had so much to learn!


Decoupage jeans were very popular!


The Boy was always a willing model for me, 2007. So little and cute!

I started tweaking patterns, blending two or more together, adding ruffles here or there, mixing in handpainted details, pretty much "making it my own". I've always had a more simplistic view, letting the fabrics make a statement with clean lines and unique details.


I loved this fabric! I took a peasant blouse and added criss-crossing ribbons across the bodice for a "princess" look


Autumn themed patchwork dress with handpainted pumpkins. Look, I finally got my patchwork squares lined up straight!


One of my most favorite items and one of the best selling. This is about the time when I got my logo created, based on the color scheme of this particular outfit!

I learned how to applique, which would eventually become my bread and butter. At the request of my parenting board "mamas", I started making personalized tees.


It started with these birthday cupcake tees, which I still make


Seasonal tees are very popular

I was selling regularly on Ebay and added Etsy to my sales platform. I learned how to sew with knits and bought myself a BabyLock serger, which I absolutely adore. Eventually the Computer 2000 died completely and I added my Viking Sapphire, which is a dream to work on.


My most popular Ebay outfit ever sold, I made many of these (with yards and yards of ruffles!)

Eventually sales on Ebay for boutique customs cooled. Ebay's selling costs really put a kink in that and many sellers moved over to Etsy exclusively, as have I. For the most part, I sell appliqued tees only with the occassional knit dress, dolly or resell added to my shop.

Before Baby D was born, I committed myself to sewing things for him. I made my first quilt, a pennant for over his changing table, changing table pads and a Boppy pillow cover. I have a stacking ring toy partly finished and soft blocks cut but not yet sewn.



I have tons of fabric (and I mean that quite literally). I have a very small amount at home, in paper sacks under my sewing desk. I have the bulk of it stored in bins in my parent's garage, stacked up on the floor and on metal shelving. Given time, I plan on getting through it all without buying more by making simple things like pillowcases and sundresses and listing them on Etsy.


Quilt I made for Baby D

Unfortunately at this time (living in our tiny apartment) my sewing space is shared with Baby D. Since I work fulltime and he's in bed early, I don't really have the chance to do any sewing except for on the weekends.


Baby D in the Boppy Pillow, with the cover I made

I've been hooked on making these upcycled tee dresses for the girl and plan on starting to list these soon. They are quick for me to make and as I'm sure you know, with a newborn baby and a full-time job outside the home, I don't have a lot of time to spend behind the sewing machine like I used to.


Knit dress sewn onto a tee

I miss having the time to make more elaborately ruffled confections. I do miss the creativity I was able to put into my outfits and the wonderful feedback I'd receive from mom's across the country about the outfits I'd custom made for their children. I'll get back into those ruffles again...eventually!


My most popular item on Etsy, the Jack Skellington personalized tee

But I still make the appliqued tees (I get about one or two sales a week) with all the letters and pieces individually traced, ironed onto fabric, cut, pieced and free-hand-sewn on my Viking.



And now you know a little bit more about me! Till next time, maybe you'll find out more that you never knew (or ever wanted to know?) about me! Well, each life is a journey and this one is mine. Thanks for letting me share!