Yippee!

I do love my contests. Like really love my contests. Perhaps that's because I win them. A lot. I can't explain the winning part. Perhaps sometimes its talent, or wit, or just pure luck. I don't really get myself too concerned about it. I figure if you don't enter 'em, you'll never win 'em. Well, I do enter a good number of contests, but I also consider the size of the contest, the length of the contest period, and a few other factors. So I honestly don't enter each and every contest that comes my way. Really.

But amazingly, I won two contests yesterday. Once I found this out, I had considered going out and buying a lotto ticket, but with a tornado watch on for Edmonton, I figured I better stay at home. I mean its one thing to be one in a million to win a contest, but you certainly don't want to be the one in a million person who gets struck by lighting...or sucked up in a funnel cloud. Just sayin'.

So the first contest I won was for a day at Ravenwood Ranch in Caroline, AB. This Spring we were at a friend's BBQ, and we were able to sample some of the farms most delicious burgers. We happened to be in need of a new local meat supplier, and so I befriended them on facebook. Then, they had this contest, "Why my family needs to spend a day at Ravenwood Ranch." So I wrote a little 250 word essay, and huzzah, our family won! So we get to spend an entire day learning about life on the farm, lending a hand, eating delicious local food, and then we camp that night and have a Sunday breakfast. Fairly fab deal if you ask me. I think it will be a wonderful experience for the kids, and for this self-proclaimed city girl.

On their website they have a cute little list with some of the "Fun Stuff You Might get to do":
-collect fresh eggs
-learn how to milk a cow
-learn how to bake buns
-feed pigs
-move chickens to fresh pasture
-helping with haying
-make pickles
-feeding the rabbits
-bottle feed baby goats
-brush horses
-learn how to make jam
-give a pig a back rub*

*I'm especially partial to this last item on the list.

The second contest I won was announced today on their facebook page. A local mall, Southgate Centre (which we used to live quite close to for 3 years) was hosting a "Cool Dad" contest. In 140 words, you needed to say why your cool Dad, needs a makeover. Of course its not my Dad, but my children's cool Dad. Anyway, he won, and he gets a $500 shopping spree with a personal stylist! Um wow. I'm slightly envious, but also super excited for Rob to pick out some fab clothes and get some style advice. Although I must admit, the control freak in me is thinking I may just need to tag along. Lets be serious, $500 can go a long way...if you spend it right. We'll see. It will be interesting to see what Rob decides his "style" is.

This was the entry I submitted...
"I’d like to introduce you to Rob. He is the cool Dad of Abbi and Gabe. A cool Dad who works long, hard hours as a carpenter to support his family. Rob is a Dad who makes the most of the moments with his children. A cool Dad who takes the time to thrill his kids with a weekend visit to the fish store to gaze at the “snarks.” A cool Dad who regularly surprises his kids with a movie night, complete with pillows, blankets, and of course, popcorn. A cool Dad who will spend hours building forts with pillows, blankets, and couches. Unfortunately, Rob rarely takes the time to stock up on cool Dad clothes, but lucky for him, his kids have no idea who Tommy, Eddie or Calvin are (other than kids they meet on the playground)."

The cool Dad himself.
If you go to this Southgate link, and scroll down to the "Southgate News" section, they have a blog entry entitled, "Father's Day Contest" and you can see Rob's picture and entry, as well as the picture and entry of the other winner. Very cool.