Sunday, July 1, 2012

Weekend Update & A Surprise!

So funny story, I have been wanting link up with SamiDana, and Leeann, since they started this fun little link up. It just hasn't happened due to boring work and horrendous fires.
Didn't feel right to celebrate that...ya know?



Well, the fires are still going and I still had to work, but I'm in the right mindset now.
#1 I was supposed to have Saturday off, but my GF wanted to do a fundraiser for Breast Cancer, so of course I agreed to work her shift.
#2 The fires aren't going to be fully contained or put out until mid July, which is nerve wracking, but we have hope.  As the community has banded together, we are all being lifted up in the spirit of solidarity and it is quite a beautiful thing.

Borrowed from the "I Love Colorado Springs" Facebook page:
"Here is a reason to love Colorado Springs....Since the trajic events of the Waldo Canyon Fire began, the community outreach has been amazing...last I heard, the community has already donated more than 1/2 million POUNDS of food and supplies to Care & Share. The citizens of this community are an amazing reason to love this city!"


In other exciting news, I bought myself a new toy:
Photobucket
These babies run at over $100, and I found it on Groupon for $30!
I have a sweet Dyson already, but now I can use the Shark for the tedious tasks like the stairs and in-between-vacuum puppy hair. It also does hard flooring, which is good because I HATE sweeping.
Yes, I know that I have reached that point where appliances make my weekend.
Still totally ok with it. Haha.

Now for the big surprise!
I'm not sure if you will find it as exciting as I, but that's ok.
In order to build up a little excitement, I will give you some backstory.
{Or just skip to the surprise. Whatev}

We all know that there are some bloggers fortunate enough to have lovely sponsors each month that pay for their blogging addiction support their blogs monetarily.
I am NOT one of those bloggers.
I am quite happy when I am asked to do a product review or host a giveaway, but that's about as far as it goes. However, I have been blessed to meet WONDERFUL bloggers that ask me to sponsor their blogs or we trade buttons and/or guest posts. Thus far this has been totally ok with me, and I have actually struggled with the thought of asking for monetary sponsorship or adding advertisements to my blog. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but I'm just not sure if I am ready for that or ready to lose the simplicity of my content. I like being able to post what I want, when I want, not having to worry about dedicating myself and my blog to sponsors, reviews, ads, and giveaways.
Does that make sense?

I have also struggled with getting back to the roots of why I began blogging, which was to document our life and as a creative outlet.  I know I'm not the only one, which I discovered through Julie and other bloggers, so I made a pledge to myself that I will make some changes within myself and my
blog. Then, the perfect inspiration came along that would help me with all of my struggles!

Ashley, my friend and Travel Blogger, had a genius idea for a giveaway, and I decided to borrow it for my own version. Now that I have rambled, here is the skinny:



I am opening my blog to Sponsors for the first time EVER!
Guess what it will cost you...




Nothing but a little bit of creativity ;)

If you are interested in sponsoring my blog for the month of August, all you have to do is choose one of the following prompts, and submit a short writing piece, along with a photo of yourself, and your blog button. Sounds easy (and hopefully fun), right?

Prompt #1:
Share an experience with my followers of a time where someone perceived you in a way that surprised you or was not true, and how that affected you negatively or positively.
Example: I could share about the fact that everyone perceives me as a "dumb blonde" or ten years younger than I actually am. I could then explain how it used to bother me, and now I find it entertaining.
Prompt #2:
Share and experience where you misjudged someone, and what you learned from those false perceptions. This could be that you trusted someone that ended up hurting you, but I'd prefer that you judged someone negatively that ended up being the wrong assumption.
I'd like to showcase the negative side of perceptions, but will accept both entries.
Example: I almost believed the judgments of others, and didn't give my best friend a chance.
Now I realize that I would be lost with out her!
Prompt #3:
Share the positive side of a negative experience you faced.
Example: Enduring my husband's deployment is hard, but I am happy that I love someone so much that every minute is worth it.

Source: tumblr.com via Janna on Pinterest


After submissions are in, I will choose the "winners", which will rank as such:
#1 will be the "Large Ad" Sponsor
#2 and #3 will be the Medium "Ad Sponsors"
And dependent on the the number of entries, I will decide how many "Small Ad" Sponsors there will be, and then feature ALL of the entries on Perception Is Everything!
That means that everyone is a winner. Woohoo!

To enter email me directly, jannabogert@yahoo.com, with the following:
Your name
A photo of yourself
Your blog button
Your answer to the prompt of choice
Subject line: August Sponsors

All entries will be accepted until July 22nd, 11:59PM.
Please inform me of ANY questions you have, and I would LOVE to hear if you are participating.
We all claim to love writing so much, so I am excited to see what the participants come up with, and who will be up for the challenge!
Are you?

18 comments:

Megan Wadsworth said...

Soooo I totally Grouponed the same vacuum... It will be here tomorrow :)

Sarah said...

Haha I love that a vacuum made your weekend :) And you know I would LOVE to be a sponsor....if you have me, of course! xo

lesley: the dream tree said...

yep, i'm in! now, i just have to think of something to write. i'm stumped at the moment, haha.

Leeann @ Join the Gossip said...

Thanks for linking up with us!

The fire situation is so sad. It devastating to see land get destroyed. Hoping that they can contain it soon!

Niken said...

hope that fire situation will be over soon:)

Jana, this is the most GENIOUS idea about sponsorship ever!

P!nky said...

WOOHOO sounds so awesome! I might have a story or two to write!

lovers you!

xoxo

Sami said...

I need a new vaccum will you by me one :) Just kidding! I love your sponsorship idea! Thanks for linking up love! We need to plan a trip so you can come up here and visit and we can get brunch!

two birds said...

a new vacuum would have made my weekend, too...in fact i'm a little jealous that i didn't see this groupon!

Courtney B said...

It is amazing to see communities pull together to survive these fires! My heart breaks for Colorado and the terrifying fires there! I swear a new fire starts every single day in Utah... praying for rain for both our states! We are all in desperate need!
And you know we are officially grown ups when we get excited about vacuums... ha ha!

CeCe said...

Blog Sponsors! So exciting. I may or may not put my name in the hat depending on if I can come up with anything I feel is worth writing about! I have to admit I'm still not sure I understand the whole blog sponsor thing. I can't imagine ever asking money from anyone to be on my blog. Maybe I need to work on my self esteem?? :) I think it's awesome that bloggers have the confidence to do so and it maybe could be just that I'm not there yet.

The Pink Growl said...

That is such a great deal on that vacuum! Good find! I have a shark and it's the best thing ever. I love it!

DSR said...

You know you're getting old when you get super excited about a vacuum. Trust me, I've been there!

Great idea on the blog sponsors. I've limited mine to blogs that I have a collaboration with that month or an ongoing collaboration. Makes it much more manageable.

Kelly { MessyDirtyHair } said...

We need a new vacuum so badly. You got such a great deal. I'd be excited about it too. Living in a house w 4 cats and 2 dogs a vacuum is your best friend! I love your sponsor challenge!!! Such a great idea & of course I'll accept the challenge!! Loveyouuuu

Zara said...

Are you kidding me?! Appliances totally make me giddy! Especially when they make life easier!

I am pretty dang excited for your sponsor giveaway thingy! You'll find my entry sometime soon ;-)

<3

Tiffany said...

Visitng from Weekend Update! Love the kindness of people during tragedies like the fires. Gives me hope about the world!

~Tiffany
http://tiffanyd22.blogspot.com

Unknown said...

Such an awesome idea!! I will have to put a story together and enter :)

xo Shane

Nicole said...

Ok, maybe I'm a nerd, but I thought the new vacuum was the surprise! LOL...I get excited about new appliances too :)

Whitney @ EHFAR said...

Love the idea of sponsorship! I'm going to have to think of a story to write :)

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