Iguana Veggie Platter

I've been entering (and sometimes winning) sweepstakes, contests, and competitions for a long time. There is a part of me that LOVES Las Vegas and the thrill of the win. Luckily I can deal with the disappointment of losing, but when artistic skill is involved, depending what it is, it could increase my chances.

A little over 10 years ago, I entered a LEGO Master Model Builder competition with my LEGO creations for a chance at a dream job and won! 

So when my fellow former LEGO Master Model Builder friend and Freelance LEGO Artist available for hire, Eric Hunter, suggested I enter Chinet's #ratemyplate2win contest, I immediately knew I was going to enter one of my veggie sculptures. I brainstormed a brand new idea, one that I had never done before, and with the help of my hubby watching our little guy, I spent 4 hours last Saturday, creating a veggie iguana on a Chinet paper plate.

The prize was a $2000 backyard makeover. Although I think my sorry/scary backyard could use a lot more than $2000 for a makeover, every little bit counts in this house, so I was all over this - "on the Money!" We've been working on finishing our front yard and have not even made a dent in the back, yet.

The rules stated that the Chinet contest was going to be judged and I entered an older creation on twitter, first - my veggie chick, because the rules stated you could have multiple entries. I was worried that I wouldn't have time to do something new, and I just wanted to get something out there...

Then my hubby came through and took our two year old to the Lowes and worked in the front yard all day with the little guy "helping" while I got to work on my latest creation. I've been blogging about Hubby's creative labor of love in the front yard, too. LOVE him and love his work! (Oh and he was a Master Model Builder, too! Us creatives stick together...)

Armed with my paring knife, sculpture tools, a touch of vegan cream cheese from Trader Joe's and a whole bunch of fresh organic veggies, I got to work!

Here's where I used the cream cheese...

I'm not going to lie, being a SAHM the past few years made me a little "hungry" for a paycheck. I am Mommy on the Money. I would LOVE to be compensated $$$ and recognized for cool things that I do. I'm always looking for a little extra cash. As a Master Model Builder, I was on the Jimmy Kimmel Show, CBS Sunday Morning, among other shows and prior to that I was doing celebrity weddings and parties in LA with my own business. A little attention couldn't hurt, either.



I was important. I made money. I got attention. I was special. But now I'm just a mom. A (horrible) housekeeper. A laundry loader. A left sock loser. Burning dinner since 2011. Oh and I'm a blogger, so I make money, right?! Hahaha. Fellow bloggers - you know how it goes... Minimum wage sounds real good right about now, doesn't it?

So I put some of my chips on the table and spent 4 hours doing this...

I read the rules to the contest over a few times and checked every day until today, 7/18, when the finalists were supposed to be announced. And they were. 

Here they are: http://www.hlntv.com/interactive/2014/07/11/rate-my-plate-vote

Go ahead and vote. I did. Someone has to win. Was it a random drawing? I'm a little confused. The bacon wrapped thing, well I don't really know what is in that. Is it a loaf of bread? Worlds fattest sausage? A groundhog? That nasty neighbor's forearm... The american flag is cute. The bbq skewers are pretty. The strawberry shortcake looks kinda yummy. 

From the rules: A panel of qualified judges (the “Judges”) will select the top five Entries (“Top Five”) from among all eligible Entries received during the Contest Period based on the following criteria applied to each Entry: (i) overall appeal (34%) (ii) creativity (33%), and (iii) quality of composition (33%) (the “Judging Criteria”). 

I'm not sure how the qualified judges scored these or any of the other entries. I probably would have chosen different finalists, but c'est la vie.

One thing I've learned over the years of my "sweeping" and entering contests and giveaways is that the odds are usually stacked against you. Just like Vegas, you  usually are not a winner, but if you know this going in, you can still have an awesome time! Just make sure you see a Cirque show, drink a lot of free booze, and wreck your diet in an all-you-can-eat buffet... or two.

Don't get me wrong, I had a great time making this project. 

I just wish I hadn't made it on a PAPER PLATE. I was trying to use the brand. However, the concept gives me some bigger and better ideas of unlimited ways you can position veggie iguanas and make an amazing, edible work of art. Believe me, I can already picture it in my mind. 

So who wants to pay me for it? 

My backyard still needs a makeover. My knife is ready, and I just got my CSA box this morning from Farm Fresh to You. Make me an offer. No offer is too small. I make roughly $.06/hr as a blogger. I'm a glorified Third World factory worker who never has to shower or change out of her sweatpants to go to work!

Oh, and here's my entry for next year...

Wish me luck.