by Sarah | Dec 2, 2013 | All About Indiana, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Indy Geek Girls
I have this awesome friend, maybe you know her?
Emily, aka Designhermomma
Back in early October she made
<—This tweet.
I was intrigued, and asked if she wanted another participant for control. She said “Sure!” and off I went to the races.
Over the course of 3 days I entered 100 random giveaways using the #giveaway hashtag on twitter.
I was NOT picky. Not in the slightest.
I signed up for iPads, Kindles, ebooks, diapers (which, really, I don’t need), toys, power tools…pretty much everything under the sun including coupons.
I figured, hey…it’s just for fun.
I guessed I’d win 1…maybe 2 tops…since I don’t have stellar luck most times (Still in total shock I won a KitchenAid 6 years back).
To keep my mental status somewhat in check I kept records.
The websites URL, the end date, and the product. I figured I’d win something I had NO use for and donate it to someone who did.
I kept track, and as the month, and most of the giveaways, drew to a close I realized I had won a grand total of…
ZERO.
None.
None?
I know my luck is bad, but that couldn’t be right. 100 giveaways and nothing?
I thought it was a fluke, so I tried again. I took another weekend and randomly entered another 100 giveaways (plus a few I spotted I really wanted…grand total was probably around 125).
This time I was even more particular. I didn’t put extra entries in anything, I did the minimum required entry for everything and left it at that (no matter how bad I really wanted it). Figured maybe a level playing field would be better.
As November drew to a close and still no “Congratulations!!” emails came my way…
I mean really?
I’m not a greedy person, and I didn’t care one way or another.
But 200+ giveaways entered, and I won…NOTHING?
Talk about a bust!
So this was one social experiment that, for me, was a wash.
Emily? Oh, she entered about 80 and won 4 little items.
Wonder if she’ll send me some of her luck?
by Sarah | Nov 14, 2013 | All About Indiana, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Indiana State Museum, Indy Geek Girls, NaBloPoMo, The Reluctant Hoosier
Did you know that Mammoths and Mastodons probably walked the very ground you’re walking on? That it’s possible when you’re walking through a park or driving past a field of corn, underneath those layers of soil could be the bones of Ice Age giants?
I had NO idea of this myself – or I was just blissfully ignorant of the fact.
Either way, I was totally privileged to get a sneak peek of a new IMAX movie and the ensuing exhibit at the Indiana State Museum yesterday.
The IMAX movie is in 3D and let me just tell you – the last 3D movie I went to was the Muppets show at Disney World in 1994…and holy shnikies, 3D today is NOT your Momma’s 3D! The imagery and cinematography was amazing. The CGI – incredible! I was in awe and wonder throughout the whole movie, even though I think Erik got a little vertigo at the sweeping landscape shots, he was impressed too.
Then we were able to step into the exhibit itself which is both big in scope and detail, and easily geared toward kids – including a dig site and a bone they can touch!!
Throughout the exhibit you get to see how Mammoth and Mastodon skulls could well have been the inspiration behind the Cyclops of legend and myth, how the animals had growth plates just like humans and animals today, and see teeth as big as your head.
I mean, how awesome is that? I could have spent hours in there, and I know my kids will spend hours in there this weekend.
At the very end you get to see two full size skeletons and just awe over how there were tons of flesh and fur over them.
It’s an exhibit totally worth seeing (even if it did replace the Star Wars exhibit ~pout~)…and I can’t wait to let my girls “dig” in!
This exhibit opens to the public on Saturday, November 16th at 11AM. Get more information at the Indiana State Museum’s website!
Now…onto what I know you’re waiting for – the pictures!!..
The Mammoth’s greatest threat – Man:
Porous bones look like ancient caverns:
The Inspiration for Cyclops”
Growth plates:
TEETH:
I loved this one. You set your hands down, and not just hear the sound, but FEEL the vibrations:
Tiny Bones:
Dig:
by Sarah | Nov 4, 2013 | All About Kennedy, All About Learning, All About Me, All About Molly, Blogging Life, Indy Geek Girls
On almost any day of the week you can find the members of this family with their noses buried in a book.
Sure, the teen took a really, really long time to come around, but once he did he was unstoppable.
The girls read well above their comprehension level just to get words on the page.
So when I heard McDonald’s was replacing toys with books in their Happy Meals? I was pretty stoked. My girls will love getting books, and I love that McDonald’s is taking this step.
Included in our Happy Meals are these fun titles that involve teaching children about eating right when sometimes it’s not so easy to do:
But they aren’t stopping there, which is even better. Want to know why?
McDonald’s of Central Indiana is leading a “Give a Book, Get a Book” campaign.
All around Indy, from November 1st through the 14th, at Ronald McDonald Houses, local libraries, and Indy Reads there will be Book Donation sites set up.
In exchange for a donation of a new (or gently used) children’s book, you’ll get a “Be Our Guest” card good for a free Happy Meal!
And to top it all off, participating libraries will host a “Happy Meal Day” filled with kid’s activities and McDonald’s Happy Meal books!!
Since 2011 McDonald’s has been finding new ways to take action and fulfill their “Commitments to Offer Improved Nutrition Choices”. Each of the stories in these unique, limited edition books, is a fun and nutritional message that kids can understand.
Now onto the part I know you’ve been waiting for. My Giveaway! One lucky winner will get a week’s worth of Happy Meal Coupons, a $10 Amazon Gift Card, and a copy of a Happy Meal Book!
To make it easier, I whipped up a rafflecopter this time. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
by Sarah | Oct 10, 2013 | All About Indiana, All About Me, All of Us, Blogging Life, Giveaway, Indy Geek Girls, The Reluctant Hoosier
I am, without a doubt, a big ol’ fraidy cat.
Growing up (and, admittedly, even today) I can’t watch a scary movie for nothing. I have never, and I mean never-ever-ever, been to a Haunted House before this week.
Then I got an invite to The Children’s Museum’s 50th Anniversary “Time Warp” Haunted House – celebrating 50 years of Haunting the museum.
And I went.
The “50 years of fear” includes the addition of 3-D glasses (which you don’t NEED to enjoy it if 3D’s bother your eyes)…and takes you on a journey through time. You enter through the elevator and the disorientation begins in the tunnel, taking you all the way back to the 1960’s…and the Upside Down Room featured in TCM’s first Haunted Houses. Then it’s onto the 70’s with a creepy basement and then my favorite room of the whole haunted house (see if you can guess what that is from my pictures below). You’ll fly into the 80’s with neon clothes, a horrifying Chucky doll (scared me the mostest) and a pinball room that I’m assured in the scare hours is extra freaky. If you’re a child of the 90’s you’ll be treated to horrific flashbacks of internet dial up tones and “You’ve got mail” while surrounded by cables, wires and reminders of the terrifying reality of Y2k…and the witches take us on a further treat by sending us into the terrifying future 50 years ahead, before finally sending us back to the present.
The Children’s Museum Haunted House is a great treat for any age, especially with the new “Choose Your Scare Options.” Here’s how you can get tickets, choose your scare, then it’s onto the giveaway and pictures!!
General Admission:
$6 @ Marsh Supermarkets
$7 @ the Box Office or Online
XTreme Scream:
$12 @ the Box Office or Online
Light’s On Hours (i.e. Kid and ‘Fraidy-Cat safe):
Wed’s-Sat’s: 10A-3P
Wed’s Oct 16 & 23: 3:30-8:30P
Sun’s: 11A-5P
Halloween: 10A-3P
Frightening Hours:
Thu’s & Fri’s: 3:30-8:30P
Wed, Oct 30: 3:30-8:30P
Sat’s: 3:30-9:30P
Halloween – None
Xtreme Scream (For those looking for an INTENSE psychological scare):
Fridays: 9-11P
Now for the Children’s Museum Giveaway!! I have four, count them, FOUR tickets to giveaway for The Children’s Museum 50th Anniversary Time Warp Haunted House!!
All you have to do to enter is:
1. Leave a comment telling me if you’re a ‘Fraidy-Cat or if you’re braving the Scary Hours (or the XTreme Scream)!!! ~1 entry point
2. Tweet This:
Enter to win 4 tickets to Time Warp: #50YearsofFear Haunted House @TCMIndy from @SadieCass http://bit.ly/1czw45T #Giveaway #Indy
~1 entry Point for the exact copied tweet
3. PIN this post (Pin button above) and leave a comment w/ the link. ~ 1 entry point
The giveaway ends on Monday 10/14 at 9AM. The winner will have 36 hours to get back to me or I’ll choose another winner.
If you want more chances to win (and you know you do) visit the wonderous blogs below:
Hoosier Party Girl
Just Like the Number
Indy With Kids
Now do you want to see some pictures? Because I want to show them! These are not nearly all of the pictures I took, but I wanted to leave you some surprises.
by Sarah | Jun 11, 2013 | All About Indiana, All About Me, Blogging Life, Indiana State Museum, Indy Geek Girls, The Geek
I’ve had a lot of awesome geeky nights – which I won’t get into here – but a couple weeks ago I got stalked by a Wookiee.
I don’t know why that wasn’t on my bucket list.
Except I never thought it would happen.
I was fortunate enough to go to the midnight opening party for the Star Wars®: Where Science Meets Imagination exhibit at the Indiana State Museum.
That meant being in the belly of the beast with fellow geeks, and a lot of them.
While there I got to have fun testing out some of the science stations. While building a moisture farm on Tatooine it began. While minding my own business, filming a video of what I was failing at, something touched my head. A drape of long fur covered my eyes.
Yes, I actually shrieked. But when I looked up and saw Tarrful above me, I laughed and got a bit giddy. Three more times the Wookiee found me and scared me, until I managed to get a hug with him (and then another with Chewbacca, because, of course).
While I can’t guarantee you’ll get stalked by a Wookie (or Darth Vader as my friend Heather was) – the exhibit itself is something to behold. There are three science stations where you can learn to build a droid (or learn that you suck at building droids like I did ~ahem~). You can build a mag-lev vehicle (out of legos!!). You can build a spaceport or a moisture farm on tatooine (unless you ignore directions like I did). You can even ride a hovercraft!
In between all the fan-friendly science games are real props and models from the movies. Among my favorites? Being able to look through the eyes of Vader:
Because seriously, how cool is that?
The exhibit is only $10 for museum members – or an additional $10 on top of your museum admission. The tickets are timed, and they let in 64 people every 15 minutes. You can stay as long as you like once in the exhibit, take all the pictures you want (I may have taken over 500-many of which I’m still editing) – just no flash.
I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell you that for another $5 you can go into the cockpit of the Milennium Falcon and take a ride through space (which is also awesome).
There is so much to see, that I’ve spent almost 3 hours combined in 2 visits and could spend another full day there without feeling like I’d seen everything. Scattered throughout the next few weeks I’ll be giving you more posts that go more in depth o the offered fun at the exhibit, from the displays to the science fun. I have to do it a little at a time – there is so much to offer!
For now I’ll leave you with a few pictures from the amazing exhibits…and the promise of many more pictures to come:
by Sarah | May 21, 2013 | All About Indiana, All About Me, Blogging Life, Indiana State Museum, Indy Geek Girls, The Reluctant Hoosier
I just spent my day at the Indiana State Museum with these guys.
People…I’m SOOO geeking out right now. You’ll get another post very soon about the exhibit itself…but really…
This geek is so very happy.
I have this awesome friend, maybe you know her?
