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Archives for February 2012

Color, Click, Capture: Fall Flowers

THIS WEEK’S COLOR IS GREEN

Welcome to Week 3 of the Color, Click, Capture photography challenge hosted by East9thStreet, A Helicopter Mom, Nap Time Is My Time and Sunshine and Sippy Cups. Each week we have a new color theme – and this weeks color is green!

Nature, flowers, photography

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu

This is another picture from my garden – this time taken in the fall. I was learning to use the Macro setting on my camera, and I love the way the picture captures the tiny prickles on the flower stems and leaves.

This Week’s Photography Tip

This week’s photography tips comes from Emily Anderson of Emily Anderson Photography.  Emily has been photographing children and families in the Northeast Arkansas area for several years.

“Don’t forget the details. Include more than just one image of the overall view. A wide shot of the entire object or scene may be necessary, but you can make it more interesting by including detail shots, too. Take a close up of an interesting button on a sewing project or one corner of the cake you baked, showing the texture of the icing. It can be very tempting to snap one or two images when you are in a hurry to get them uploaded to the computer for a blog or Facebook post, but challenge yourself to take several different images. This also applies to photographing people. Think about what details tell the story – wrinkled hands, grass-stained jeans, flip-flop tan lines, etc. You may find that you can take several different images in a row before you run out of ideas. Don’t give up then. Keep shooting. That’s when you turn on your creativity.”

WANT TO JOIN THE CHALLENGE?

Want to participate in our challenge?  It’s super easy!  Here’s how It Works:

  1. Take a picture the represents the color of the week.
  2. Write a blog post that features your picture and link it up.
  3. Visit other people’s posts and hopefully find some inspiration!
  4. You can put the button and link code on your blog if you wish but it’s not a requirement.

Join the Party – Link up your favorite Green photo

Here is the linky code:

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Posted by on February 22, 2012 Filed Under: Blog Hops | 7 Comments

Join the StumbleUpon Party!

StumbleUpon, Stumble upon for bloggers

Stumble Tumble Tuesday

This fun weekly event is hosted by Acting Balanced, Sunshine and Sippy Cups and Wyoming Girl Turned Coastie Wife! The goal of this hop is to use Stumble Upon to help you promote your blog posts and get more traffic. It’s fun, it’s a big boost to your best posts, and you can find new great friends to follow too!

Even if you think you are stumbling correctly, please read this post on how to check and see if your stumble was successful. Some stumbles aren’t showing up, thanks!

It’s Simple to Join the Party

  1. Add a link to a blog post that you would like people to stumble to the linky below. It *must* be a link to an actual post and NOT your main site. Please do not list giveaways, time-sensitive coupons or deals, or other content that is not appropriate for StumbleUpon.
  2. Stumble as many other posts as you care to, check to make sure that your stumble went through by clicking on the “Info” icon. If you’d like to, you can leave a comment on their post saying something like, “I’m stopping by from Stumble Tumble Tuesday and just stumbled you – great post! My post is _____(add link)”. That makes it easier for them to return the love! The great thing about Stumble Upon is that it is fast and easy to do with the Stumble Upon toolbar.
    PLEASE DO NOT ADD YOUR LINK IF YOU AREN’T GOING TO STUMBLE ANY POSTS – Let’s all have fun and play fair :)
  3. Remember, link directly to the actual post, not your home page.
  4. PLEASE – Don’t list any giveaways. StumbleUpon is for Evergreen posts.
  5. PLEASE – Only one link per blog.

Feel free to post about Stumble Tumble Tuesday on your blog too, and help us spread the word – The more people are stumbling, the more traffic we’ll all get, and, hey – the more, the merrier, right? It’s easy to add it, you can grab the code right under the linky below! {Feel free to use my image and copy too, just be sure to link back to the hosts. If you join us let me know in a comment so I can promote YOUR post too!}

Let’s Get to Stumblin’ – and Have some Fun!

The first person to “like” a post on StumbleUpon assigns it a category. If your post has not been discovered yet, please leave the category you would like, in your link to help the discoverer assign it correctly. Example: Strawberry Shortcake Recipe (food).

If you have ANY questions on how this works – remember to read the post above, which covers some great basics. If that doesn’t answer it, leave me a comment here or on my Facebook wall – and I’ll get back to your right away. StumbleUpon can be an uh-MAY-zing new way to increase traffic to your site – and this is a fun way to use it!

Stumble Tumble Tuesday Linky

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Posted by on February 22, 2012 Filed Under: Blog Hops | 3 Comments

Rockin’ Summer Footwear for Little Fashionistas!

Sparkly jewelry, accessories

“The only thing that separates us from the animals is our ability to accessorize.” – Robert Harling

I’m a total girl – I admit it. I’ve always said that sparkle is my favorite color. I love ruffly things, and bows, and pink, and shoes, and accessories. So, I am totally happy that my little one is already turning into quite the girly-girl too. I know – we shouldn’t have those stereotypes. And it’s not like I “make” her be a girl… She goes to the shop and “helps” daddy work on race cars. I bought her a dump truck for Christmas. She has a family of dinosaurs. But I can’t help it – I love that she gets into my jewelry box and fill up her arms with bangle bracelets. And she’s so funny when she puts on a pair of mommy’s high heels and walks around the house. The other day she even said sparkle for the first time – Ahhhh, totally amazing mother-daughter bonding moment over rhinestone cocktail rings. Love it.

havaianas sandals, kids sandals, shoes, flip flops for baby

“I base most of my fashion sense on what doesn’t itch.” – Gilda Radner

In my “old life”, before baby and blog, I used to work in Fashion Merchandising and Management. Getting dressed to work at home is a lot different than those days, for sure. But, whether I’m getting all done up, or just dressing for a day in the home office – I love fashion, but it has to be comfy. And while I adore fancy, pretty heels – I absolutely LIVE in flip flops. My favorite brand has always been Havaianas, so I was totally excited when I found out that they now have a line of baby and kids sandals! Havaianas are my absolute favorite – They are amazingly comfortable, and are made out of much better materials than most flip flops – meaning that they look good as new even after a few seasons of regular wear. {My gold pair above? I’ve had those for 4 years now!}

Havaianas sandals, kids sandals, flip flops

“The only rule is don’t be boring and dress cute wherever you go. Life is too short to blend in.” – Paris Hilton

When Abby’s new kids Baby Pets sandals from Havaianas arrived, I was really pleased to see that they were just the same high quality as the sandals that I’m used to buying for myself. {Some brands tend to make “cheaper” versions of their products for kids. Hate that.} I’m telling you – I have 4 pairs of Havaianas sandals, and wear them to death. What makes them different than others is that the soles don’t wear down – You can feel the difference when you walk in them too, they’re so comfortable! Plus, when you buy a cheap sandal, the pattern on the shoe wears off after a week or two – not so on Havaianas. So that adorable little cat graphic on Abby’s new sandals will still look just as good at the end of the summer as it does today! If you have a little fashionista too, and want her to rock the same trendy summer footwear that you do – You’ve got to check out their new collections!

kids shoes, kids sandals, kids fashion

Get Your Own Pair of Havaianas!

Make sure to follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates on new products and promotions. And to get your own pair, shop online at Havaianas.com!

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary pair of kids sandals from Havaianas so that I could share a review with you ladies – But all photos, opinions, and over-use of exclamation points is totally my own! I love Havaianas and I know you will too!}

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Posted by on February 21, 2012 Filed Under: Shopping | 9 Comments

Simple Solution: Affordable Natural Care for Baby

Toddler, Messes, Products for Toddlers

“You can learn many things from children. How much patience you have, for instance.” – Franklin P. Jones

Ahhhh….. Motherhood. It’s such a roller coaster ride, isn’t it? The amazing highs of a sweet kiss from your little cutie pie… followed by a trail of soggy toilet paper from another of their fun bathroom adventures. Good times, right? My little girl is 18 months old now – and myohmy! – she sure keeps this momma busy! She was so super excited the other day to show me her “colors” that she had drawn all over her tummy. FYI Dad, we don’t give markers to toddlers and let them color alone. At least it was her tummy, and not the couch. A tummy is much more washable. If you’ve got a toddler too, you know that they come with a  lot of messes. All of those messes means lots of bath times too – but so many kids products are filled with yucky chemicals, colors, and fragrances that just don’t work very well on sensitive skin. You could buy bath care items from a natural or organic brand – but those can be expensive! Well – Another “Busy Mom Solution” to the rescue – Johnson’s Natural line of baby care products is an affordable and effective cleaner, with totally natural ingredients!

Johnson's Natural, Baby Products, Natural Baby Care

“Making the decision to have a child- it’s momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking outside your body.” – Elizabeth Stone

The amount of choices when shopping for baby care products can be totally overwhelming. But one brand that I guarantee every single mom out there has used and trusted is Johnson’s. That traditional pink bottle of baby lotion has been used by moms across the country for over 100 years. And now, they’ve updated their trusted baby care goods, and developed a line made from 98% natural ingredients. Here are a few things that make this new product line totally amazing:

  • Paraben-free, dye-free, and allergen-free
  • ALLERFREE™ allergen-free fragrance, with a clean, natural scent rooted in our ingredient
  • No essential oils, which can be irritating to some delicate babies skin.

What I love most about these products is that they are an affordable option that is easy for any mom to find at her local stores. Many of the other natural lines of baby products are much more expensive, or only sold at boutiques – but you can find Johnson’s Natural at most grocery stores, or major retailers like Target and Walmart.

 Building a Cleaner, Greener Life

As a blogger with a baby, you bet your buttons that I’ve tried a million baby care products. And since I’ve been on a mission to make our life cleaner and greener since Abby was born, I’m always searching for new natural and organic products for our home. I’m lucky that Abby’s skin isn’t too sensitive, and we can use almost any brand without trouble. But it’s so important to me to limit the amount of chemicals and yucky additives that her little system is exposed to as she grows and develops. That’s why I am so happy to have found Johnson’s Natural – It includes everything you need – Baby Wash, Shampoo, and Lotion, at an affordable price. It’s the perfect GREEN Busy Mom Solution for any family. Are you taking baby steps towards a more natural life too? Share your tips, ideas, or challenges with me in the comments!

“A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten, and the future worth living for.” – Unknown

To learn more about Johnson’s new Natural Baby Products, visit them online today to read product details, watch some great videos with helpful tips on going green with your family, and great coupons too!

{Disclaimer: I wrote this review while participating in a campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Johnson’s Natural and received a product sample to facilitate my review, and a promotional item to thank me for participating.}

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Posted by on February 21, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 9 Comments

Smart Solution for Busy Moms: The Couponizer Saves More than Money – #Giveaway

Couponizer, Coupons, Saving Money, Shopping, Grocerys

Shopping Used To Be A Chore…But Not Any More!!

We love couponing and finding deals for our readers!! We also want to make sure you have a system for organizing your coupons that way you don’t get frustrated or overwhelmed. I’ve teamed up with the super smart Shopper’s Haul, and a ton of other great bloggers to give away a The Couponizer System
to one lucky reader. The Couponizer does more than save you money – it saves you time too. And one super lucky winner is going to get that full system for free in this awesome giveaway!

The Couponizer System Includes:

  • The Couponizer (With Elastic Closure Strap)
  • Customer Loyalty Card Sleeves (Inside Couponizer)
  • Shopping List
  • CoupTracker
  • Scissors
  • CoupStacker-Expandable Coupon Sorting Mat
  • Clear Zipped Carrying Bag

To be entered in the giveaway, complete the entries on the Rafflecopter Form below. Entries will be verified and no duplicate entries will be allowed. This giveaway is open to U.S. residents and will end on 2/25 12:01 EST!

Why I teamed up to bring you this giveaway…

I am a couponer – but am not a pro! I don’t share many coupons or match-ups here, since it’s definitely NOT something that I’m an expert on. Even so, by spending an extra 20 minutes before a grocery shopping trip, I save us an average of 40% off on our bill each week – which is an enormous help in our super-tight family budget. One of the KEYS to saving with coupons is having a good system and being organized – and the Couponizer totally simplifies that. Since my goal here is to find Smart Solutions for Busy Moms, I knew that this was something I wanted to give you guys a chance to win! {And, if you’re feelin’ lucky – Check out the other giveaways in the sidebar too. There is over $1,500 in prizes to win right now!}

Have fun & Good Luck!

[Read more…]

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Posted by on February 21, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | No Comments

Pinterest 101: Pin Like a Rockstar

Pinterest, Social Media, Blogging

Hi. My name is Meagan, and I’m addicted to Pinterest….

Anyone else here a Pinterest junkie too? It’s such a simple idea, you wonder why no one invented this sooner – and once you start using it, you wonder how we ever lived without it. I’m like a little Magpie on the web each day, collecting new shiny things I find. I used to have huge bookmark lists – But like Amber from Thrifty Ninja shows you in the video below – when you look at your bookmark lists, it’s hard to remember what each link goes to. With Pinterest, I can easily save all of those shiny bits of the web, categorize them into themed boards, and easily find inspiration when I need it. Perfection!

Pinterest, Computer, Procrastinator, Humor

Getting Started on Pinterest

You’ve probably heard the warnings – Beware of joining Pinterest! You’ll get sucked in. You’ll spend hours dreaming and pinning pretty projects to make, organizing strategies you plan to use, recipes you’ll make…. tomorrow. You spend so much time pinning, you don’t have enough time left to DO any of those things you pin. Sometimes you’ll sit down with a glass of wine, to browse, and find yourself on a “pin-binge”, and as you re-pin more and more, you’ll start to hear a Charlie Sheen voice in your head yell, “PINNING!!” It’s ok. We all go off the edge a few times when we first get started. You’ll learn to manage it soon enough. And once you get the hang of it all, it will become one of your most useful tools on the web, guaranteed! Here are a few resources to check out, if you’re new to Pinterest, and need a little help getting started:

Learn to Pin Like a Rockstar

Now that you’ve figured out the basics, you’re ready to pin like a rockstar. Since Pinterest isone of the fastest growing social media sites, ever – it’s definitely something you want to use to the fullest. If you’re a blogger, crafter, designer, or business owner – You can drive huge amounts of traffic to your sites using Pinterest! For many people, it’s now their top traffic referrer – bringing more new faces their way than search engines, StumbleUpon, or any other social media. Here are a few resources to give you some awesome ideas:

  • Seven Cool Ways to Use Pinterest: Once you grasp the basics, this second post from Blogworld.com will show you some more interesting ways to maximize your time using it. Love this post.
  • 10 Creative Ways to Use Pinterest for Marketing: Love these ideas. I also like that he talks about cross-promotion between your Pinterest page and your other social media – I have a few tips to share on that too – Keep reading. But the thing I don’t agree with is pinning coupons – I’ll explain that one too.
Pinterest, Pottery Barn, DIY, Social Media, Humor

A Few Tips for Using Pinterest 

Since Pinterest is still new, the “rules” to using it are still being figured out. You can read a little bit about Pinterest Etiquette on their site. And here are a few of my own personal opinions on using Pinterest. There is no real right or wrong, and not everyone will agree with me, but here we go…

  • Only Pin Evergreen Content: Evergreen content is the type that will still be as relevant a year from now as it is today. A cool recipe for lasagna cupcakes is just as awesome next fall as it was when you pinned it today. But a coupon? That pin only has value for a week or two. If we start pinning and re-pinning content that will quickly expire, then we end up spamming up Pinterest with things that turn into junk. Plus – Yes, pinning that coupon from your site might drive some short-term traffic. But what about 6 months from now when someone comes across that old coupon because it’s pinned on someone else’s wall – If they click it, and their first visit to your site brings them to an expired coupon, it’s doubtful that they’ll be back. – Quick tip: Did you know you can pin videos too? Love that!
  • Link to Correct Sources: One thing that I see a lot is when people pin from the homepage of a blog, instead of going to the post itself first. Then when I click that pin a week later to go and check it out – It takes me to the home page, and the post has been buried away. Another problem is when someone pins directly from Google Images – that pin won’t take me back to original content either. And while Pinterest is all about pretty pictures, the whole point is to be able to easily find the original post for reference too, so be sure to “pin it” so that it links back correctly. Thank you in advance :)
  • Learn What People Pin: You can check to see what content on your site is being pinned, to learn what is most popular. The first time I looked this up, I was really surprised at some of things that people were pinning from my old posts. Type this into your browser to check it out: http://pinterest.com/source/yourdomainhere.com – obviously, type in your site name instead. Very cool tool!
Pinterest, Wine, Humor

Cross Promotion

If you really want to build a following on Pinterest, there are some easy ways to connect it to the other places that you “live” on the web. When I find someone cool online, I always look to see where else I can find them too. Make it easy, since people have short attention spans on the web.

  • Edit Your Profile: On your home page, right under your profile picture, is a button to, yep, you guessed it – “edit profile”. Click it, and link your page to your website, Facebook, and Twitter. Save it, and go back to your profile – See those little social icons under your profile? Now if someone visits your pinterest page and loves it – they can find you everywhere else too. Very cool, right?
  • Add to Facebook: You can also add a Pinterest tab directly to your Facebook page too – If you get confused by her instructions {I did!} read down in the comments, someone left a great tip on installing the tab. If you want to see what it looks like in action – Check it out on my Facebook page.
  • Plugins: Another great way to really maximize your Pinterest page is to add a Plugin – You can see mine, the Pinterest RSS Widget, in my sidebar, under Recent Pins. There are a few others to choose from too, and you’re sure to find one that will be perfect for your site.

Wrapping it up

This is the longest post I’ve written in quite awhile – But heck, when you love something so much, it’s hard to keep it short and sweet, right? I hope I’ve answered some questions, helped you get started, or helped you learn something new. If you have any Pinterest related questions, feel free to ask them here, or on my Facebook page, and I’ll share any answers that I have. Above all, remember – It’s Pinterest – Not Brain Surgery. Have fun with it!

Already pinning? Follow me on Pinterest!

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Posted by on February 20, 2012 Filed Under: Blogging Tools | 27 Comments

Extreme Cash Giveaway: $650 Cash + Kodak Camera!

Cash Giveaway Event - Win Cash

Welcome to the FEBRUARY EXTREME CASH GIVEAWAY!

Our last giveaway was a huge success with over 600,000 entries. This time we’re bringing you MORE PRIZES which means MORE CHANCES for YOU to win!

We are giving away:

(1) $300 Paypal Cash prize
(1) $200 Paypal Cash prize
(1) $100 Paypal Cash prize
(1) $50 Paypal Cash prize
(1) Kodak Easyshare Sport Camera

There are lots of entries available and this giveaway will go on for a whole month, so take your time! Be sure to bookmark this page so you can come back every day and claim your daily entries too.

Feelin’ Lucky?

This giveaway ends 3/15 at 11:59 pm EST and is open worldwide. There are over 100 participating blogs, but you only need to enter the giveaway on ONE of our blogs to have your chances to win. And, if you’re feelin’ lucky – Check out the HUGE list of awesome giveaways over in my sidebar. The more you enter, the more you can win!

Have Fun & Good Luck!

[Read more…]

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Posted by on February 18, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 2 Comments
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