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Favorite Quotes---Of all the things you can lose, your temper is one that can't be replaced.
---Work like you don't need the money, love like you've never been hurt, and dance like you do when no one is watching.
---Any nation that does not honor its heros will not long endure. (Abraham Lincoln) -
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Grab My Button!
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Would You Like to Earn Money While Blogging
As I’ve been experimenting with my blog, I’ve found lots of blogs and articles on making money with your blog. I have to admit that many confuse me, and many require a very large reader base that I don’t think I have (yet) so I don’t think they would prove to be very profitable for me. I also don’t personally like the look of a bunch of advertisement built into the design of my blog so I’ve passed on those types; however, one type I have found that I do enjoy is blogging about specific websites or products in a post. I like that I have the choice to pick whether or not I want to blog about that website so that I don’t just fill up my blog with advertisements. If you see an advertisement or review here, it was carefully chosen and is my honest opinion.
I’ve signed up with a new company that I think looks really promising along these lines called SocialSpark. If you’ve not heard of it, let me tell you a little about this upcoming pay to blog site. One thing I like is that SocialSpark encourages you, in fact demands, that you disclose in your posts that they are sponsored posts. Unlike a couple other companies I’ve experimented with that don’t want you to disclose. I think you, my blog readers, deserve to know when my reviews are those I’m doing for pay and those that I do just because I feel like it. Others may not like this, but like I said, I choose my paid posts carefully. I don’t take every opportunity available. I only do those that I feel I can give my readers a real and relevant post about. Also Social Spark allows for your TRUE opinion. Every post does not have to positive. Wow?! Isn’t that amazing? That you will be paid to give your true opinion? This makes it much different than other sites I’ve looked at and experimented with because usually you are only allowed to give good reviews (this is one of the reasons I’ve turned down many opportunities).
A feature of this site that I already like is that you don’t have to constantly refresh their site, waiting on an aopportnity to turn green and then grab it so fast you don’t have time to really look at it in fear of someone else grabbing all of them first. There’s a much better system here, you look for the opportunities you qualify for by looking for at the boxes like the one below. These boxes tell you two different details about the post. First of all if the job is open, you will see a “green light,” and then if you are qualified for the opportunity you will see a second “green light.”
Don’t have time to look through pages and pages of posts? Social Spark has an answer for that too. You can search by activating a filter that will only show you opportunities that are both open and that you are qualified for.
Additionally, while you are paid a flat rate for an opportunity, you also have the opportunity to make even more for high quality work (a feature I have not seen anywhere else). For example, as you can see below for doing a superior job on a post about Social Spark (like this one), you have the chance to make another $100. On other sites, I have seen where people throw together the quickest posts they can for paid opportunities. They will not be very informative and be the minimum words required. I also roll my eyes and think, “Why would people want to read this?” and “Why would advertisers pay for this?” It was almost disheartening to think of the thought and work I try to put into my posts to see that these people were making as much as me (or maybe more as they would also take every opportunity they could). That is not the case at Social Spark. I may never get this bonus, but it’s nice to see that quality does matter to them.
Finally, there is one other pretty interesting feature I’ve found so far at Social Spark. They have many paid opportunities, but they also have a very unique type of opportunity - Blog U Back opportunities. Individuals can list their blogs and just ask for you to review their site and create a link back to it. In exchange, they will do the same for you. If you are in the beginning stages of blogging like I am, this seems like it could prove to be quite profitable in your rankings and increasing your readers. I plan to look over the Blog U Back opportunities over the next couple days in hopes of finding some blogs related to mine and set up a few exchanges.
This is, in fact, my first paid post for Social Spark, and I hope that it has been helpful to any of you who may be wanting to make a little extra money with your blog. In this wavering economy, any extra money can prove to be helpful, and I’m looking forward to giving Social Spark a try. If you are already using or if you sign up with Social Spark, please come back and let me know what you think of your experience with this company.
Daily Contest: This One is For All The Mom’s Out There
Today’s contest is for all the busy mom’s out there. It’s a giveaway that is being hosted on the blog, Livin with Me. Livin with Me is giving away 2008-2009 momAgenda Desktop day planner. This is a very awesome looking organizer. If I don’t win, I’m really thinking of ordering one myself anyways. To enter, all you have to do is go comment on her contest post on the Livin with Me Blog. This is the planner of all planners for ladies. This planner has monthly and weekly views, a removable address book section that you can use year after year, and even a place to track your kids activities and what you are having for dinner. How awesome is that? They also come in a very fashionable colors that any mom would be proud to carry around. Check them out, and remember for your chance to win, head over to LivinWithMe and leave a comment.
Daily Contest: On the Road with the King of Queens Sweepstakes
If you are looking to plan a family vacation, but can’t make any decisions try out this contest. A family road trip would be something my family would enjoy I know. Enter the On the Road with the King of Queens Sweepstakes.
One Grand Prize Winner Will Receive:
-One two week rental of a motor home, provided by Winnebago (ARV $2,000.00)
-$500 Gasoline Giftcard (ARV $500.00)
-a The King of Queens prize pack (ARV $25.00)
Total ARV of Grand Prize is $2,525.00
Five First Prize Winners Will Receive:
-a The King of Queens prize pack (ARV $25.00)
Total ARV of each First Prize is $25.00
The Details:
- Void in Rhode Island and where prohibited by law.
- Entrant must be 13 years old as of 05/12/08 and a permanent legal resident of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia (excluding Rhode Island), physically located and residing therein.
- Limit one (1) entry per person per the entire Sweepstakes Period.
- A potential Grand Prize Winner will be randomly selected in a drawing on or about 06/13/08
Hannah Montana The Movie
Attention to all Hannah Montana fans (or parents of Hannah Montana fans), according to BizJournals.com, during Spring of 2009 a new movie will hit the cinema entitled “Hannah Montana: The Movie.” They did not release much information (nothing regarding a storyline), but said that filming was being done in Los Angeles and Nashville. But after doing some “googling,” I found a plot reveal on IMDB that says that the story will follow a trip back to Nashville for Miley at the insistance of her father (Billy Ray Cyrus) as stardom has begun to take over her life. Also according to IMDB, most of the faces of this movie will be those we are used to seeing on Hannah Montana, Miley and Billy Ray of course, but also Emily Osment as her best friend, Lilly, Jason Earles as her brother Jackson, and Mitchell Musso as Oliver. New faces that will star in the movie, according to IMDB, Lucas Till, Margo Martindale, Beau Billingslea, Valerie Hubbard, Lawrence Bull Jr, and Ashton Gosnell.
Moving On With the Building Plans
As the school year wraps up quickly, I am moving on with my thoughts to the house addition that I’m hoping to start this summer. I’m still waiting to find out how much I’ll actually be receiving with my bonus (and then I’ll have to see how much Uncle Sam will be taking), but even if we don’t start it as soon as I am hoping for, it is definitly in my long term plans. Therefore, I’m trying to be wise and do some research to see exactly what all I shoudl include in this addition. After all, at this time, I plan to live in this house for a very long time. One thing I’m considering now is an air filter. While this could probably be done later, I think it would be easier to install an filter such as the IQAir system while we are going. Decisions, decisions. This would not be a cheap endeavor, and we actually don’t have allergy problems, but it would definitly be a healthy addition to the house, but I just don’t know. It seems wise, but then again, I’ve never been one to be one of those “worrying moms.” We don’t wash our hands a million times a day, I don’t watch over her so closely that she can’t breathe, and my daughter’s only been to the doctor one time in almost 8 years for being sick. If anyone has any experience with these types of systems, I’d love to ehar about it whiel I ponder whether or not to make this purchase.
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