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Bloggertunities: Grow Your Blog with This Week’s Best Opps & Leads

Grow your blog – Monetize, find new leads and blogging opportunities, and get the best tips too… Hi all! Welcome to another weekly Bloggertunities post, a round-up of the best blogging tips, tools, leads, opps, and events of the week. I hope you’ll find some helpful stuff – and if you do, be sure to share it with your networks too!

Blogging tips, opportunities, and ways to earn money blogging“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friend.” – Walt Disney

Love this week’s quote. This totally relates to blogging – what we each hope for is that our posts are so entertaining, educating, and enlightening that not only do people want to come back again to read more – but they want to share it with their friends too. That’s the whole point of good marketing – and as bloggers, that’s what we are: Marketers. Whether it’s for a brand or sponsor, or just for our OWN brands – we’re in the business of marketing our words, our sites, ourselves. And who else is more inspirational for people like us than Mr. Disney himself, right? :) I hope you find some helpful info here this week – and that’s it’s helpful enough for you to want to share it too! And for all of my much-loved bloggy buddies on the East Coast – I hope you’re all recovering from the storm as best as you can. Definitely thinking of you guys!

I’m hosting my first Blog Hop Giveaway – Join me, and some of my best-est bloggy buddies for a free event –Jingle Jubilee! Get details and join the fun today!

Monetize Your Blog

  • Pinbooster: Sign up, set up a quick account, and set a “per pin” price. Then, get offers to be paid to pin things to your Pinterest boards from brands. I’m brand new here, but have heard good things… {It was recommended to me by the absolutely amazing and super smart Stacie at SimplyStacie. So I trust it :)}
  • zuuzs: This is an awesome site that I still earn a consistent income with each month. They share awesome discount codes, and do really big-ticket giveaways. But they also give you cash back when you shop – Not just on your purchases, but those of your friends and family too. Build a big network, earn a big income. Check it out: Join zuuzs.com.
  • Affiliate: Join the One Kings Lane Affiliate Program Today – it’s super simple to earn commissions, since the deals rock. And for every referral you send their way, you earn $10 bucks each!
  • Social Media Chimps: I just started working with them, and couldn’t be happier! They offer an ad network to monetize your traffic, sponsored posts, and fun review opportunities. Learn more and apply to join here: https://socialmediachimps.com/publishers/apply.
  • Walmart: Walmart is opening up a new affiliate program – this could be a huge money-maker over the holidays. It says on the site that they are only accepting the first 100 sign-ups, but then it gives a link to share the opp with others who might be interested. I’m thinking maybe they want a list, to be able to take more people as they’re ready for it. Check it out and get on the list!
  • Shoe Dazzle: Earn $10 when you refer new affiliates, $20 for every sale through your affiliate link, and a $1 every time someone simply registers their info on the Shoe Dazzle site. Join the ShoeDazzle Affiliate Program on ShareASale. I’ve already earned almost $100, and it’s been really popular with my readers. Win-win, right?
  • Examiner: I’m the Yakima Frugal Living Examiner – meaning I get to post anything related to my life as a mom trying to stay on a budget, as long as I can tie it to something local. Here’s an example of a post on my column that’s very locally focused:Fall Fun in Yakima for Under $10, or another that’s easy to promote to any audience:Frugal Grocery Tips for Busy Moms. Once you’re writing for awhile, you’ll earn “Local Credentials” – meaning you can request passes to local events and cool happenings. Learn more and sign up to start earning.

Tips, Tools,and Resources

  • Skinny Scoop: I just set up an account here – {Check me out, and follow me if you wanna hang out there :)} It has a TON of cool tools you can utilize for blog posts – I’m kind of excited to take a little time, and start using some of them.
  • Checklist: This is a great one to keep in your blogging binder. {Do you use one? It’s a total life-saver for me} – the 7-Point Blog Health Checklist is a basic set of things to look for on our your blog to make sure it’s running well. I check my site with these points once a month, it’s a great reminder.
  • Deals: Are you always looking for sweet new deals to share with your readers? Then sign up for the BlogOffers.net newsletter. You can see an example of what they’ll send you – it’s an easy to share round-up of deals and discounts exclusively for bloggers and their readers. Sounds cool, eh?
  • Planner: Free Blog Marketing and Editorial Calendar template to download. She explains each section, how she uses it, and offers it up as a free download for you too!
  • Peer Index: This one is really similar to Klout – I don’t pay too much attention to it, honestly, but I do like that my score gets me sweet free stuff. Today I just got 100 free mini-cards from Moo, which rocks. Check out Peer Index.

Brand Leads and Opps

  • Social Chorus: I’ve heard some great things about this site. I was sure that I’d applied a few months ago, but when I heard about a fun campaign today, and went to log-in and check it out {I’d forgotten all about this site} – It said I wasn’t a member. So I just joined again – not sure if only some are approved, or if maybe I didn’t fill it all out last time {I’m tired most days, lol} – But I hear cool stuff, so it’s worth checking out! Social Chorus.
  • Holiday Baking: {EXPIRED} Sign up for this holiday baking opportunity, featuring either Domino Sugar, or C&H Sugar, depending what part of the country you live in. I don’t know many details on it – but here is the sign-up form if you’re interested.
  • Madame Deals: Join her group by filling out this form, to get access to great tutorials and her group, plus get connected to opps like reviews, giveaways, and more.
  • Simply Sassy Media: This is a great network to join – lots of opps from cool products to paid posts. You can request to join the Facebook group, and then check out their website to sign up to get their Blogger Outreach emails with new campaigns to apply for.

Linkys, Hops, & Events

  • Sweet event to join now: I’m helping to host the online portion of the NYC Activision Family Game Night Summit! Register before October 31 to be eligible for a swag bag valued at over $200 bucks!!
  • Free Event: Join the $100 Cash Holiday Shopping Giveaway – get a free link just for helping to spread the word about the event, and add additional links if desired. Sounds like a great way to kick off the holiday season, right?
  • NaBlPoMo: Yep, it’s time to join the National Blog Posting Month if you haven’t already – You have until November 5th to sign up. You can get details on the site – and there are even prizes available for everyone who reaches their goal of posting at least once a day during the month!
  • Giveaway: Join this completely free event for Bloggers with over 2,000 Social Fans – $50 Mirth in a Box Giveaway is now taking sign-ups!
  • Crock Pot Recipes: This is a super fun giveaway going on over on What U Talking Bout Willis – share your favorite crock pot recipes for a chance to WIN a sweet new crock pot for holiday cooking. {And I bet there’s a good chance she’ll be sharing that winning recipe on her site too!}
  • Nuby: Join The Miracle Momma as she co-hosts the Nuby Twitter Party on November 8th! Great products, great hosts, great prizes = a GREAT time! RSVP here to be eligible to win.
As always, if you have anything cool to share, leave a comment here. Affiliates that aren’t posted already, blog hops, linkys, or tips posts – anything that others might find helpful too. I do my best to get through the comments each week and tweet them all out too – so make sure to leave your links. Other than that – I hope you’re all safe, doing well, and having a rockin’ week!

BROWSE ALL OF THE GOOD STUFF IN PAST BLOGGERTUNITIES POSTS, AND CHECK OUT MY BIG BLOGGING & SOCIAL MEDIA BOARD ON PINTEREST FOR MORE TIPS TOO!

{Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. But all opps and leads listed are things that I trust, and have used myself. I only share what I love with ya’all! Photo Credit.}

Pretty Darn Cute - Modern WordPress Themes for the Feminine Blogger

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How to Create Photo Books to Market Your Blog or Business

Check out this “hauntingly” good Halloween deal from Blurb!… Save 20% off any book you create through 10/31 with special code SPOOKYSALE!  Have a Blurb book that you have been working on? Or maybe you’ve been wanting to create a book with all the pictures you have stored on your camera, on Facebook or on Instagram? Well NOW is the time to order a book from Blurb during this huge sale. Keep reading to get some super creative ideas on how you can use Blurb photo books for more than just personal use – you can make them work for your business or blog too.

Using photo books for business and blogging [Read more…]

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Bloggertunities: Blogging Tips, Opportunities, Leads, and Events

Grow your blog – Monetize, find new leads and blogging opportunities, and get the best tips too… Hi all! Welcome to another weekly Bloggertunities post, a round-up of the best blogging tips, tools, leads, opps, and events of the week. I hope you’ll find some helpful stuff – and if you do, be sure to share it with your networks too!

bloggertunties: Blogging opportunites and blogging tips for mom bloggers

“The only thing we can control is us…our attitudes, our outlooks, our choices. Don’t stress over the rest. FOCUS on what you can control.” – Kim Garst {Found on the fab Domestic Executive Online} [Read more…]

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Bloggertunities

Bloggertunities, blogging opportunities for women bloggers

“If I’d observed all the rules, I’d never have got anywhere.” – Marilyn Monroe

When it comes to the wild, wild, web – there are a million rules. And most of them have reasons to be broken. It’s smart to study, read, and research – but just like when it comes to parenting advice, remember that your blog is unique, and what works/doesn’t work for someone else, may NOT be what’s right for you. And being as fully YOU as possible each week is the best way to be successful – for both your blog, and your own happiness! Enjoy the list this week of opps, leads, tips, and reads. Pick the ones that are best for you and your goals. And then be sure to leave your own helpers in the comments – event sign ups, linkys, hops, tips posts, fave affiliate links – whatever you think might help another blogger reading this post! Thanks for all you do – and have a great week!

Hey ladies – Want to win a full VIP Inner Circle Membership to the new Blogs to Riches Club? Enter to WIN today!

Networks and Linkys

  • Social Fabric: Many of you have probably heard about Collective Bias/Social Fabric – the’re the company that does the fun shopping trips and product post. Not really a typical review, and there are always tons of new projects to work on with them. They’re open to new sign ups again – the key to success with them is great quality photos, good content, and creativity. They have a really generous compensation plan, are very supportive of everyone in their community, and a great company to work with!Networks & Linkys to Join
  • Mommy Solutions: This is one of my favorite linkys to join each week. I get great traffic from it, I love that she features the previous week’s most popular posts to promote them, and whooooo boy – I find some awesome posts to check out each week when I go to link up! The Mommy Club: Share your resources and solutions!
  • POP Alerts: Sign up for these newsletters on the Mom Fuse site – Get POP Alerts – to get updates when there are new promotions, campaigns, review opps, and more. Mom Fuse POP (Post Our Pitch) alerts are targeted towards mom bloggers, but are diverse enough to work great for everyone.
  • She Heard: Are you a blogger looking to connect with brands for blogging opportunities like giveaways, reviews, sponsored posts & Twitter parties? Then sign up as a member of SheHeard today!

Freelance Writing

  • Social Media Direct: From their newsletter: “Do you have a social media tip you’d like to share? Or an online marketing strategy that worked for you? We’re looking for guest posts and would love to share your awesomeness on our site, promote your biz and show you off to our fans and followers as well! Just send in your guest post idea to prerna@socialmediadirectbiz.com and let’s get started!”
  • Examiner: I love the way that I’m able to use this local column to connect with cool local businesses. Everyone wants to be featured and promoted – it’s a great thing for those businesses to be able to share on their own social media – So I have so many people on my “To Cover” list, waiting to be posted about. It’s a super fun way to get to know people in your area, make new connections, and get fun freebies that help you write about local events. Find your favorite topic of expertise locally {I’m a Yakima Frugal Living Examiner} – then sign up to host your own column too.

Money to make

  • Business2Blogger: This is a great network filled with cool opps you can apply for – I was able to go on an all-expenses paid trip to Texas to work with an awesome company earlier this year, connected to me by an opp on this site. Very cool stuff. Blogger Outreach – Join today.
  • Monetize Your Blog: This is a post that I wrote a couple of months ago for the Bi-Annual Blogathon event. It’s my best tips on how to earn an income from your blog – most people can find at least one or two new ideas here. 5 Simple Ways to Monetize Your Blog.
  • Social Spark: Simple to complete campaigns, and really great payouts. Request a PayPal payment everytime you have $50 in your account {or pay a small fee if you have less but want your cash asap} – Love this site, especially during the holiday season. Join Social Spark.
  • Paper Coterie: I’ve told you before how much I adore this site… If you’d like to see their products yourself, and get pics to make it easier to promote their great stuff, get a FREE $40 worth of products until the end of the month. Seriously – $40 off a $40 purchase – how much more rockin’ can you get? If you love it, sign up as a member of their affiliate program too. You get free product codes monthly, access to great deals to promote, and more.
  • Escalate: This is one of the easiest affiliates to work with, and they have SUPER quick payouts each month, at only $25 minimum to get a check our PayPal payment. Sweet, right? Great offers for mom bloggers.
  • Logical: One of my fave things about Logical Media is that the offers they have available stay valid for a LONG time. So that I can get clicks and conversions on posts that I wrote a year ago, that still get random traffic. So great! Logical Media – Make Money!
  • Glam: This is my much-loved ad network. I do NOT suggest ever relying on Google Adsense, since they are known to strip people of their earnings at the drop of a hat {Happened to me, $11oo bucks. Ugh.} But a network like Glam does more than just provide you with ad codes to help you monetize your sidebars. They also have an amazing sponsored post program too. Apply to be a part of their network here {don’t let the huge traffic numbers scare you away- I didn’t meet that when I applied either!} – But do know that the biggest thing that Glam is looking for is bloggers with unique content.
  • Free Product: Ok, this isn’t a way to get paid cash {although one of the tips does include getting real checks…} – But, as a blogger, you have a huge network and sphere of influence. As a busy mom, you have a great eye for quality and what’s cool. As someone who’s online a LOT, you know a good deal when you see one. So combine those things, and use this list to share the best daily deals, and earn a TON of free credit to buy the things that your family wants most. 15 Awesome Ways to Shop for Free. I did this before I blogged, and have even more success now. I was able to do almost all of our holiday shopping last year {gifts, outfits, events and experiences, and food} for almost free, using these sites. LOVE.

Product opps

  • Sample Party: If you’re a member of Mom’s Meet {if you’re not, there’s a link to apply right in this survey} – apply to host a National Geographic Super Readers party for your moms group or playdate members. Learn more and fill out the survey to apply.
  • Twitter Tuesday: You definitely should subscribe to email updates on the Blogathon site – she posts tons of helpful content each week, and my favorite is this weekly Twitter Leads post.

Good reads, tools, resources

  • Affiliates: If you do any affiliate marketing – you might be interested in the new Affiliate Benchmark Survey results. It’s filled with best practices for making affiliate marketing work for you – Great info.
  • Blogging Checklist: This is a really solid basic checklist of things to check for on your blog, to ensure you’re successful. The Ultimate Blogging Checklist.
  • Website Down: Were you affected by the HUGE GoDaddy crash a few days ago? {I was. Ugh. So frustrating!} Young, Fabulous, and Self Employed has a great article with tips on what to do if your site goes down, and how to tell if it’s really down or not.
  • Facebook: Get 100 ideas to jumpstart your Facebook page – this list of 100 Facebook Page Posting ideas runs from basic to more creative – and will help you boost engagement with your fans by mixing up the way you share content there.
  • Smore: This is SUCH a cool site. I used it a couple of weeks ago to make an online flyer to promote my latest giveaways, and it got over 100 views in 3 hours. So cool. This free tool works great for so many things – school fundraisers, local events, birthdays, house parties, business promotions, sales, and so much more. Learn how to make a free online promotional flyer using Smore.com today.

Events & Giveaways:

FOLLOW ME FOR NEW WEEKLY UPDATES!

You can sign up to get my daily email updates – up there in the sidebar – if you want to make sure you never miss a weekly Bloggertunities post. You can also browse through all of the good stuff in the past Bloggertunities posts, and check out my big Blogging & Social Media board on Pinterest too. Have a great week!

If you love it then you shoulda put a tweet on it….

Have a fab week ladies! And don’t forget to share your news/opps/events in the comments!

{Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. But all opps and leads listed are things that I trust, and have used myself. I only share what I love with ya’all! Photo Credit.}

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How Busy Moms Use Skype to be More Productive

“All one needs is a computer, a network connection, and a bright spark of initiative and creativity to join the economy.” – Don Tapscott… My life has changed so dramatically in the past couple of years. The switch from a fast-paced job in retail management, to the even faster-paced life of a work-at-home mom has brought a lot of unique challenges. While the unpredictable nature of the work I do makes it tough to create a daily schedule, I do my best to keep up with consistent routines. I build in time for snacks, naps, housekeeping, and of course – working. And, with all of the awesome technology that exists, I’m able to work almost anywhere that my busy day takes me…

work from home mom

“The phrase ‘working mother’ is redundant.” – Jane Sellman

I usually get up with the sun – I start my day around 6am, grab a BIG cup of coffee, and head out to the patio with my laptop to start working. I check emails for anything urgent, then get out my planner to see what I have scheduled for the day. I try to do as much of my serious working as I can in the morning before the kids are up – things like phone calls, articles to write, or Skype chats with potential partners. Abby’s afternoon naps are kind of sporadic, so I can’t count on nap time to be a quiet time. And it can get awkward trying to have a phone call with a brand rep while you have a toddler screaming for another cookie in the background. {I’m sure you know what I’m talking about, right? Ah, the joys of motherhood.} Once the kiddos get up, I take a break to get them all dressed, fed, and set up with an activity – like a cartoon, puzzles, or coloring. I love that I finally splurged on a new laptop – so that as we move into summer afternoons, I can work on the patio while I keep an eye on the kids in the pool, or pack it up to take with me when we head to the park. Between blogging, freelance writing, campaign projects, and my social media addiction – I’m connected pretty much 24/7 by either computer or my iPhone. Crazy, I know.

Productivity Tools for Busy Moms

Since I’m online so much, most of the tools that I use each day to help me stay on track are techy-type solutions – I love, love, LOVE using Google Calendar to manage my family’s schedules. I use Mint.com to help me track my spending and keep good records. I couldn’t live without all of the amazing apps on my iPhone. And, when it comes to keeping in touch with business contacts – Skype is a lifesaver for me! We use Skype to connect with our extended family that live far away – {Abby loves to chat with her Papa} – and I just love the ability to get time face-to-face with people, instead of just speaking over the phone. I’m definitely a people person, so using Skype is a perfect solution for me. And when you’ve got a group of people who need to run a project together, there is just nothing better than getting them all together on a Skype group chat to bounce ideas off of each other. Crazy how productive those can get. So – if you’re ready to give Skype a try, here are a few tips for a successful chat:

  • Connection: Obviously you need access to the internet to use Skype – but you also need to make sure you’ve got a connection that’s high speed enough that you’re chat can be smooth and seamless. A slow connection can make your call really choppy and frustrating.
  • Location: You want to set up your computer in a quiet location, without a lot of background noise. If possible, find a room with good natural light – maybe near a window. Try to have a “clean” background without a ton of clutter, so that it’s not distracting the attention away from what you have to say.
  • Appearance: Ok – I Skype in my pajamas with no make-up all the time when talking to my family or friends. But if it’s business time – even with my blogging buddies – I bump it up a notch. The camera can kind of wash you out, so make sure to add a little blush and lip gloss. Some eyeliner and mascara will help your eyes stand out better on the screen too. Find a top in a solid color or small print, and a couple of great accessories. Not only will you look better on the Skype screen – but you’ll feel more confident too.

Once you think you’ve got these all down – practice! If you’re planning your first Skype chat as an interview or business connection, I totally recommend trying it out a couple of times with friends first, to make sure your volume settings are good, the lighting looks great, and your equipment all works fine. Don’t worry – a couple of times using Skype, and you’ll be a pro!

how to use skype

It’s time to say more and stay human.  It’s time for Skype.

{Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Skype via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Skype. Photo credit by Anastassia.}

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Free Corporations for First Time Entrepreneurs #eminutes

eMinutes is on a mission to help 500 entrepreneurs form companies for free…  If you are a first-time entrepreneur in California or New York, and you have a passion for your business, then they would love to learn about your business, and help you give it a boost. And when they say free, they mean FREE – they are even paying for your state filing fees. This pretty much rocks.

This Week In Startups Sizzle from Jeff Unger on Vimeo.

 So who is Jeff Unger, the guy giving this all away free?

Jeff Unger is a graduate of Babson College where he was awarded the Economics Letter of Achievement. Then in 1997, he founded eMinutes, a corporate law firm that forms corporations and LLCs for some pretty awesome people – like A-list movie stars, Grammy award-winning musicians, and athletes. Jeff is admitted to practice in both California and New York – giving him the ability to split time between Los Angeles and Manhattan, and help entrepreneurs on both coasts.

Why is he giving this away for free?

Jeff explains “I had the idea to form free corporations for 500 first-time entrepreneurs. I thought it was a great way to build my brand and to meet some really interesting people, but I had no idea how it would impact me on a personal and emotional level. Corporate lawyers usually don’t get thank you notes and now I have bunches of them. We love the enthusiasm and passion that each entrepreneur brings to our lives”. A few quick facts about eMinutes, and why it rocks:

  • 10,000 Trees: As lawyers, the team at eMinutes knows first hand how much paper gets wasted each day. So they have a goal of planting 10,000 trees by 2013, and have switched to mostly paperless options in their business.
  • Operate like a Business: They study metrics like crazy, and operate more like a business than a traditional law firm. That means they have the same entrepreneur type mindset that you have.
  • Flat Fees: They don’t have time clocks that tick along, adding up more and more minutes of time that you’ll get an unexpected bill for. They have a flat rate of $1,250 to form a corporation or LLC – but right now, you can get it done for FREE. Amazing, I know.

So – if you’re an entrepreneur in California or New York – the states that Jeff does business in – you have got to check this out today before it completely fills up! And while you’re on the site, click around a little and read the stories of the other business owners he’s already helped out for free. So cool.

eMinutes: A law firm like no other.


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No Budget to Hire a Nerd? Try Smore.com!

In the age of Facebook and Twitter, is the good ol’ flyer a thing of the past?… If you need to get the word out about an event, you may feel inclined to type up something in Helvetica and head to the photocopier, but we have a better idea…

Smore makes creating web pages simple - no coding needed

Meet your new event coordinator— Smore

Imagine, you (yes, you!) can create a beautiful web page with no coding experience and no design chops. Whether you’re spreading the word about a book club event, a small business, a networking event or a bake sale fundraiser for your local theatre, Smore is a great way to create a compelling online flyer with all the information, share it through social media and email, and how many people it’s reaching. Creating a flyer is fun, fast and it looks so professional everyone will think you have a design nerd on staff.

Smore makes pretty web pages… no coding required

I am seriously in love with this site. I’ve been playing around with it this morning, and it is seriously simple to use – very intuitive. {And if you know me well, you know I’m NOT a techy type. Yes, I run a blog, but what I’m good at is taking pretty pictures, writing stories, and telling jokes. The tech side is more challenging to me. Which is why I LOVE that my girls at Digitwirl teach me these great tips each week. Subscribe to them. Seriously, so smart.} Anyway – the site is very easy to use, and I’m still turning my brain thinking of cool new ways to use it…

  • It’s got tons of options: Choose Event Invitation, Product to Sell, Personal Flyer for a Person, Flyer for a Business or Shop, Informational Newsletter Style, or just use the “other” if nothing really fits. Coupon or Ad Promotion, and App are coming soon too.
  • Get Inspired: Check out this sweet gallery of cool ideas and examples of what you can create with their online templates, and find inspiration for new ways to create buzz for your event or new promotion. They all use the same layout, and while they do share a similar feel – they are all able to give a totally custom feel using different photos, fonts, colors, and styles. Love it.

I’m definitely going to be using this a lot – and am SO super grateful to the ladies at Digitwirl for sharing this. The video made it SO easy to jump right in and get started. {For more tech made simple tips, services, and products – browse my board on Pinterest.}

What Ideas do You Have for Fun Ways to Use this Free Service?

Carley from DigitwirlDigitwirl is the weekly web show that offers simple solutions to modern day problems. In 3 minutes, Digitwirl brings busy women the very best time, money, and sanity-saving technology, and then teaches them how to use it, step-by-step. Digitwirl was created by technology lifestyle expert Carley Knobloch, who uses lots of technology to manage her busy life as mom of two and entrepreneur. Become a subscriber to get weekly show alerts and exclusive deals at Digitwirl.com, or follow Digitwirl on Twitter at @digitwirl.

 

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