Sweeties Sweeps Reader Wins BIG!

Let me introduce you to the latest BIG winner on Sweeties Sweeps. It seems the winner list is growing larger everyday. There must be something good in the water these days.

Barbara and I have been friends for a couple of months now. She just started entering sweepstakes last Fall and found my site just a few months ago. She sends me sweepstakes and freebies from time to time and we struck up a friendship.

What did Barbara win?

Barbara was the single grand prize winner in the Brooks Run Happy Place Instant Win Game and Sweepstakes that I posted a few weeks ago. She won the 10 x 12 Cabana and:

• a ProForm Treadmill
• Samsung 40” LCD Flat Panel HDTV
• Samsung Home Theater Stereo System
• Avanti Water Cooler/Dispenser

This prize is valued at over $32,000!

I got an email from Barbara with HELP ME! in the Subject and I had to laugh as I remember the feeling when you win big. With trembling hands Barbara dialed my number and I helped her figure out what she needed to ask the judging agency, what paperwork she would probably have to fill out, as well as what she could expect for taxes on her prize.

Please take a minute to check out the sponsor’s website. Brooks makes high-performance running shoes and apparel. You can follow their updates on Twitter @brooksrunning, find out where to buy their products, learn how to take care of shoes and apparel, and even sign up to receive their e-newsletter, The Loop, and be automatically entered to win a pair of running shoes each month.

They have also created the Brooks Run Happy® Group as a place where you can:

• Connect with other runners and Brooks fans
• Blog about what makes you Run Happy or life in general
• Easily track your workouts
• Be eligible to win weekly (prizes of Brooks gear!)

Every week, they randomly award prizes of Brooks running shoes and apparel. All you have to do is log your run or workout to be entered. How’s that for motivation? Join The Brooks Run Happy Group @ Sweat 365 Today!

Maybe Brook’s will do a special giveaway for Sweetie’s readers. Let’s hope they contact me.
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Here is Barbara’s winning story:

When did you start entering sweepstakes?

I started entering sweeps approximately in October of 2008. (This particular sweep that I won only ran for a month in March 2009.)

Has Sweeties Sweeps helped you in anyway?

Sweeties Sweeps has helped me to organize and sort out my sweeps. Wendy offers great tips for contests, sweeps, etc., and is so willing to share, so that everyone can be a winner! She is the first person I contacted when I found out I won!

Winning the Brook’s Sweeps comes on the heels of losing my job in August 2008, and I have 700+ resumes/applications out there; still have not found a job due to the economy and so many people unemployed. My husband has a disability and can only work minimal hours. We would never be able to afford these things I won. We live very modest and on a strict budget.

I have always wanted a ProForm Treadmill, but could not fit it into our budget. It is going to be great to get healthy and fit using it! I also have bad knees, so it will be less invasive and not as much impact for me.

Our TVs are all non-DTV ready; we had to get the converter boxes. It will be nice to have one that is modern and DTV ready, and the bonus is that it has a theater system that comes with it! What a treat!

How did you feel when you won?

I was in the state of shock for at least a day and a half after I found out I won! I consider this a real blessing, especially in these trying times. For anyone that thinks you can’t be a winner, I beg to disagree with them! I don’t even do my sweeps everyday; just when I have the time or any free time, mostly late at night and early morning! I try to do my IWG at the early times of the morning like Wendy/Sweeties Sweep suggested/advised; great information!

I believe the real key is to always maintain a positive attitude toward entering and winning the sweeps! Do not let yourself get discouraged; I look at it as a fun game! Since October 2008, I have won other smaller contests/sweeps, etc., for a total of about $350. This consists of freebie coupons, gift cards, merchandise, etc. I feel blessed winning every one of them!

When I won an NFL signed football (ARV: $100) back in January 2009, you would have thought that I won $1,000,000! I was ecstatic and told all my friends/bloggers about it at the time! Try to view each win as something you did not have before, whether it is big or small!

I received a $50.00 Shell Gas Gift Card as a winner of the On Air with Ryan Seacrest “Seacrest Stimulus Package” Sweepstakes! I also recently won a movie ticket from the Top Secret Monster Mission IWG on my first time out playing. I won it by skipping the puzzle, as Wendy suggested.

See, you can win, too; if I can, you can! I didn’t even know this was coming or that I won; it just came in the mail!!!! WOOHOO!!!!! I am winning just by typing my name, address, e-mail address, phone number, etc., on a form! I feel so blessed, and I sure can use it!

And, don’t ever give up………you could be a winner like me!!!! It is a great feeling and is a confidence booster!

Barbara didn’t want to share a picture of herself but she was glad to share a picture of her dog, Buster. Isn’t he cute?