I'm going to shoot for it.  I'm way behind in writing here since my dad has been sick. I'm looking at it as an incentive to write more!  We will see if I make it.  I have a good start.  Getting to bed before 3 am will be a good start.  I'm going to be a zombie tomorrow!!

Maybe, if I make the time.  Not a "holiday" person per say.

Hi all, I'm still here in NH this beautiful Sunday morning, hubby is sleeping like a baby so I figured I'd try and get some reviews written. It would be nice to get the recognition but I have a feeling I'm a little late to get them all in on time.

I want the HH badge, but I'm not going to kill myself trying to win the contest.  I have a hard enough time finding new things to write about as it is.  I could never do even 100 reviews in a month, let alone 400.

We were just launching and there was a contest similar to this one but with just 3 winners as I recall. I mostly did it to get content onto the site. Back then, I was writing 1000 word reviews too! It was INSANE. And in August when I should have been outside or doing anything but writing 400 reviews. The funny thing? I came in 3rd place anyway. HAHA.

Those days are gone. I will write more this week for fun but will never kill myself like THAT again. I think I have definitely gotten less competitive over the past couple of years. I tend to be very much into winning when I take on a challenge which is why I won't take this challenge on. Though I will add more reviews than usual if I can for the sake of adding content and getting ready for the holiday season. I am trying to rate as much as possible as well. Lots of new reviews are popping up all over the site!

I'd like it, but I don't really have reviews for products in those categories, that I could crank out a 900 character review on. And I couldn't come up with new ones in a week. I'd have to buy new stuff to review it!

I should share some of my stuff with you. I could write 5000 reviews before I actually ran out of stuff to review I think. And how sad is THAT? Just look at my makeup and bath and body bins and you'll see. I'm on a buying break. No more anything until I need more of it.

We'll see how long that lasts.

I should have done Girl Scouts when I was little...I'm totally into the badge thing now!  My only issue is that I don't have a ton of the things on the list to review...no food processor, no blender, no baby, no experience AT ALL with tools, so I'm wracking my brains on the remaining categories!

I'll take what I can get!

I want it.  I've got the reviews done that I need to have it, although it hasn't been easy to find the time to write 10 reviews w/ 900 words a piece.  LOL - Still, I want that dumb badge.

I forgot how to get one. Someone want to add the details. Tks, Cyndi (who has a cold or hopefully not worse).

I write 900 characters in my intro! I really need to cut down the wordage on my reviews but it isn't easy. I'm so used to giving every detail that I feel like I'm not being helpful if I don't cover my bases. But lately MOST have been about 500-600 words with an occasional longgggg review tossed in.

I have no problem coming up with stuff to review but I have lots of stuff to do this week so I won't have time to really get into this contest. I already did write enough for the badge though and that's the real prize. Another badge for my showcase. lol.

CyndiA said…

I forgot how to get one. Someone want to add the details. Tks, Cyndi (who has a cold or hopefully not worse).

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Cyndi, the info is all on the VP front page and scattered around the site. Write 10 reviews in key areas and get a Holiday Helper 09 badge. Also they are giving away 4 gift cards to the the reviewers who write the most reviews in those categories between Oct 8 and Oct 15.

The categories are baby, beauty, health, electronics, clothing, computers, home & garden, and toys. Maybe one more. I just know beauty, health, and clothing are my niches. I even wrote two reviews in home & garden. It was so hard. I like my niche areas.

Get better soon!

Baby

• Car Seats
• High Chairs
• Baby Bottles
• Baby Toys
• Formula
• Baby Monitors
• Baby Swings

Maternity

• Clothes
• Breast Pumps
• Pregnancy Tests
• Nursing Bras

Beauty

• Anti-aging Cream
• Shampoo
• Conditioner
• Acne Treatments
• Flat Irons
• Eye Cream
• Razors

Computers

• Laptop
• Wireless Router
• Desktop
• Printer

Electronics

• Video Game Console
• Home Telephone
• Cell Phone
• Radar Detector
• Digital Cameras
• Cordless Phone
• GPS System

Health & Fitness

• Treadmill
• Electric Toothbrush
• Elliptical
• Home Gym
• Stationary Bike
• Prescription Medicine
• Over-the-counter Medicine
• Workout Videos
• Hearing Aids

Home Appliances

• Furnace
• Main Heater
• Air Conditioner
• Air Purifier
• Dehumidifier
• Space Heater
• Vacuum

Home Improvement

• Paint
• Lighting
• Flooring
• Safety & Security Systems
• Garage Openers
• Replacement Windows
• Hot Tubs

General Home

• Mattress
• Iron
• Sewing Machine
• Garment Steamer
• Home Furnishings

Small Kitchen Appliances

• Microwave Oven
• Blender
• Bread Machine
• Coffee Maker
• Crock Pot
• Deep Fryer
• Food Processor
• Ice Cream Maker
• Indoor Grill
• Juicers
• Mixers
• Popcorn Makers
• Rice Cookers
• Toaster Ovens
• Toasters
• Waffle Makers
• Bakeware
• Cookware

Large Kitchen Appliances

• Refrigerator
• Dishwasher
• Cooktop
• Oven

Garden & Outdoor

• Snow Blower
• Leaf Blower
• Lawn Mower
• Grill
• Hedge Trimmers

Tools

• Drills
• Sanders
• Shop Vac
• Circular Saw
• Miter Saw
• Nail Gun
• Chain Saw
• Wrenches

Wait a minute! So only SOME items in the categories count? I have been doing cosmetics and things and they are not on this list. I am NOT HAPPY AT ALL right now if that is the case. And clothes isn't on the above list yet is one category we can write in.

CLARIFICATION PLEASE!

Yeah I think that's why so many people are having trouble coming up with reviews. The average person only has one of those things in each specific category.

That's the list that popped up when I clicked for the details from my homepage.

I don't think that it is the whole list. The front page shows the most common and most searched items in categories but that doesn't mean we can't write about ANYTHING in a  category. I will write and see.

Edit: I saw the list when I clicked too but how can they say clothing and not have any clothing options listed. Oh, I'm all hyper now. I'm logging of and going to another site. :/

In response to your question Patty, I am going to try and get ten published, but its going to be very tough for me this particular week.  If it was for the whole month, I would try hard in the competition, but its just a bad week for me. 

Hopefully they decide to host another competition such as this next week, or later in the month so that we can have a second chance.

Good luck to the writers that are going after the prizes.

Patty,

If you click on the Notification about the badge contect on your My Home page, it shows that list of the things MRSverret posted, but if you find out differently, PLEASE let us know.  I could go to town on cosmetics, but other than that, I've been feeling a little stunted compared to my normal flow.  Thanks!

PattyTherre said…

Wait a minute! So only SOME items in the categories count? I have been doing cosmetics and things and they are not on this list. I am NOT HAPPY AT ALL right now if that is the case. And clothes isn't on the above list yet is one category we can write in.

CLARIFICATION PLEASE!

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My understanding of the rules is that it can be any review within the eight listed categories.

dmlichnerowicz said…

Patty,

If you click on the Notification about the badge contect on your My Home page, it shows that list of the things MRSverret posted, but if you find out differently, PLEASE let us know.  I could go to town on cosmetics, but other than that, I've been feeling a little stunted compared to my normal flow.  Thanks!

---

I HAVE been going to town with cosmetics. I am not writing anything else until someone clarifies. The rules say one thing and the list says another.

I'm all in Patty, back in '07 it was you, me, and Bryan on the leader board...I worte my fingers of back then...

OMG, I remember it well. It took 5 years off my life! lol.

I think anyone would be happy with a new badge, and the icing on the cake is $$$$. I will try, but this is my busy time for work which sucks!!! I'll try and find the time. There are so many things I could write about, but from reading PattyTherre comments, could be confusing what is and isn't included. You'd hate to spend your time just to find out it doesn't qualify. I'll give it a shot, as I am proud just to have a Simple Thanks Badge!!!  (the writer one, still makes me laugh, cuz I can't write..ha ha ha).

I can do the cosmetic thing until the cows come home and leave again but I'm adding (or trying to at least)  a variety of items I know and love, like or not like so much. It's not easy that's for sure.

Not worried about it...

I believe spokaneman is right b/c the rules listed these 8 categories only.  

Qualifying reviews must be submitted on a product in these (8) categories: Baby, Beauty, Clothing, Computers, Electronics, Health, Home & Garden, and Toys. Reviews in the Auto, Books & Magazines, Education, Finance, Food/Drink, Local, Music & Arts, Movies, Office, Pets, Travel, Miscellaneous and Websites categories are ineligible under this Promotion.

It does not say anything here about specific products within those categories.  I'm not sure where people were getting that from.

Anyway, I'm not even trying for the badge or the prizes. 1) I have a busy week and don't have time to even do 10 I don't think (and the week is half over).  2) I already sent in feedback that I don't like this "most reviews win" type of contest because it means the person who has the most products around, or the most time on their hands, will win.  I don't have a chance.

OMG I totally remember that contest, Patty!  I think I wrote something like 88 that month and it was brutal!  I do want the HH badge so I'm going to enough to get it.  I love those little badges.

As for the rules, I don't know the specifics on this one, but I'm sure Meredith will stop in as soon as she can to clarify. At first I was concerned that it was only those few things within the categories, but if you click on the rules it states what the categories are.  So I'm going on the assumption that it's anything in that category until Meredith clarifies. 

I think it is everything in those categories because, when you click on the "ad" from your home page and it brings up the list of what to review, Toys and Clothes aren't even on the list yet those are two of the categories that were in the official rules.

I think it would be better to give people the badge for 10  reviews and an extra entry for every 5 reviews, then have a sweepstakes for the prizes. That way, anyone who wrote 10 and got the badge is in the running and those who have time to write more get extra entries. That doesn't mean they will win though.

I'm going to try and shoot for the HH badge as well. It gives me an incentive to write some more. As for the contest, I doubt that I can even sustain anything after the ten needed but anything is possible.