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Connecting Cultures with Fashion: Dia de los Muertos

Dia de los Muertos… On Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 it is Hispanic tradition to hold a holiday to remember dead ancestors and celebrate their rebirth. The tradition began with pre-Hispanic culture influences that saw death as a transition between lives. {Learn more about Dia de los Muertos.} This tradition is celebrated all over the valley where I live here in Central Washington – since our local economy is based on agriculture, we have a really large Hispanic population here. It’s very cool that over the past few years we’ve seen bigger and better celebrations that are important to their culture, and give us a chance to learn more about them. We have one of the biggest {maybe even THE biggest} Cinco de Mayo celebration in the state, an amazingly delicious Tamale Festival, and several events to celebrate Dia de los Muertos. I love that Abby gets a chance to be exposed to new experiences like this.

Mixed Up Clothing is a multiethnic children's clothing line [Read more…]

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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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We’re in a New Cookbook – & a Dinner with the Chef Giveaway!

Some of you may already know – Abby and I are now featured in our second cookbook. Earlier this year we had the honor of having some of our favorite baby food recipes included in the first ever Baby Brezza Cookbook – Baby Brezza Cookbook: 47 Mom-Tested Recipes and Tips – and now, we got to be a part of the super fun Chef Boyardee eCookbook, which is was a collaboration with a bunch of other amazing real-life moms sharing their best tips for cooking with kids too. And to celebrate the launch of our brand new super awesome ebook – I have a fantastic prize package to give away! Check it out…

Chef Boyardee dinner - cookin' with kids [Read more…]

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3 Reasons to Make Your Own Jingle Right Meow

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Meow Mix for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

Meow, Meow, Meow, Meow…. You know how it goes right? I’m talking about the Meow Mix Jingle. That crazy-annoying-yet-catchy jingle from the makers of your fave cat food products. Silly, but fun. It’s crazy that it’s been around so long – I remember annoying my own mom by singing it {is “singing” the right term?…} all day. Well, now you creative types can create your own Meow Mix Jingle. {Grab the kids. They will LOVE this. So much so that you can probably hand over the computer and get at least 15 minutes of alone time while they play with the site. Cherish it.}

Meow Mix make your own jingle3 Reasons to Make Your Own Jingle Right Meow: Head over to the Meow Mix on Sam’s Club and check out this fun little tool, and learn a little more about the best  cat food brand for your little furr-babies:

  • Reason 1: As I mentioned, your kids will love it. They will spend a good amount of time playing with the cat sounds, laughing and giggling, mixing and matching, until they have perfected their meow-sterpiece. {I couldn’t resist.} This gives you a few free minutes. What will you do with them? Luxurious things like go to the bathroom alone, find a clean shirt, put matching socks on? It’s up to you. Live it up, momma.
  • Reason 2: You can learn a little more about Meow Mix before handing over the laptop to the kids. Like that the Tender Centers cat food is crunchy outside, meaty inside, white meat chicken and salmon flavors mixed in perfect harmony, packed with the essential nutrition that your cat needs. {Hmm, that sounds almost better than what I made us for dinner last night…}
  • Reason 3: It’s fun to share! Once you have your Meow Mix jingle finished and created, you can share to Facebook and Twitter, or grab a link to share anywhere else – amazing your friends and family with your meow-tastic mixing skills. Check out my a-meow-zing {ok, I’ll stop now, lol} hit here: Meagan’s Meow Mix Jingle Jam. Even I had to laugh while using this – I love the little techno cat, I named him Kanye West. And the fluffy little opera cat rocks too.

So – Check it out on the Meow Mix page. It’ll shake up your day a little, and give you a good laugh. I promise the kids will love it. Even the 9 year old who is usually “too cool” for everything lately thought it was hilarious. And then follow Meow Mix on Facebook and Twitter, for new product updates and promotions. Do it meow….

Visit Sponsor's Site

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How To Turn One Product Into 7 Meals

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Walmart for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

"You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give." – Winston Churchill… I often talk about how and why giving back is so important to me. When I was a little girl, we lived in pretty sever poverty for awhile – my dad lost his job unexpectedly, and my mom was at home with 4 kids under age 6. It was a really tough time for her – but she was so amazing that I really never knew that we were poor. {It helped that I went to a school where most of the kids were from lower-income families too, so I never felt like I didn't fit in.} My mother was incredibly resourceful – she could reuse anything, she grew a garden and canned fruits and veggies, she made all of the beautiful dresses for my second-hand Barbie dolls. But she also relied on the generosity of those in the community who are willing to help those who need a temporary bit of help. Since I know personally what a difference those programs can make, I am really passionate about supporting people who are doing great things. So I am very excited to share a new one with you – It's called Fighting Hunger Together, and it's a new campaign from some of your favorite family-essential brands to help fight hunger in American. Read on to learn how you can help – it's so easy, you can't NOT do it!

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"You must be the change you want to see in the world." – Mahatma Gandhi 

So many problems in the world seem so big, so overwhelming, so out of your hands. But there is always something that you can do to help, no matter how small. But with an amazing campaign like this one, it's simple for you to make a BIG difference! Here's how it works:

  • Until October 12th, purchase family favorites from brands like Kraft Foods, Unilever, General Mills, Kelloggs, and ConAgra foods at Walmart, then visit the hunger relief section of their website {or download the app!} to learn how to help.
  • For every blue fighting hunger code that you enter on the site, you'll be giving a .91 cent donation to Feeding America. Doesn't sound like much – But that's enough to help a food bank secure SEVEN meals to feed needy families! It's amazing what a small amount makes a difference, right? That one box of Cheerios that you buy for your kids can provide 7 healthy meals to help another mom feed her own children. Amazing.
  • You can also get entered into the Golden Spark promotion – This is a chance to win 50K for your community, to help start or expand a backpack program that sends meals and snacks home with kids to help feed them over the weekends when they don't have access to the free school meals.

I remember as a little girl, we had a program like this the last day of school. My mom cried when we showed up at home with the food – it's a big difference in your budget when the kids are home all day, versus when they get a free breakfast and lunch at school each day. I'm DEFINITELY excited for a chance to win this and give back in my own community!

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What do you think?

Are you ready to join me in helping to fight hunger in our communities across the country? Remember – all you do is buy the products you love, like Hamburger Helper, Totinos Pizzas, Chef Boyardee, the list is endless! Then visit Fighting Hunger Together, and enter the codes from thost products. That's it! I don't care how busy you are – anyone can save up their codes and take a few minutes each week to enter them in. 

Will you join me in helping to Fight Hunger together?

I'd love to hear from you guys… How has hunger affected your life too. Have you ever experienced it in your own family, or helped another family who needed it? Share your stories, to help everyone realize why this is such an important cause. Working together – we can make great things happen! Leave me some comments and share your stories and thoughts…. 

Visit Sponsor's Site

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Big Anniversary Bash – Over $300 in Prizes!

Welcome to the Meg’s Moxie 1 Year Anniversary Giveaway!

This giveaway is hosted by Meg’s Moxie, Linda’s Angels, My Coupon Lady,

It’s Yummilicious, and Suburban Coupon Mom!

Please check out this quick video welcome below from Meg herself!

This giveaway starts 9/25 at 12:01am EST and ends 10/10 at 12:01am EST!

Take a look at all of the great prizes we’re giving away below!

  • A $30 Prize Pack full of gourmet seasonings and more from Country Gourmet Home!
  • A $25 Online Gift Code From Chewy.com!
  • A Deluxe LED Fogless Shower Mirror ($50 Value) from ToiletTree Products!
  • A Hydrating Anti-Aging Moisturizer With SPF 30+ ($44 Value) from Mia Mariu!
  • A $30 Gift Certificate from Tootie Tot Designs! (Save 20% when you use the code: FALL2012)
  • A $25 Caribbean Coconut Candle from Hidden Treasure Candles!
  • A $25 Gift Card to Bob’s Red Mill!A $25 Disney Gift Card!
  • 5 Winners Will Each Receive $20 Cash!
  • And 1 Winner Will Receive $15 Cash!

Wait for the Rafflecopter to Load Below and Thank You For Entering!

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Twitter Entries for Eddie Bauer Travel System Giveaway

If you’re entering to win in the super awesome Eddie Bauer Travel System Giveaway – Here are the pages for the Twitter follow entry. Give the page just a minute to load – then click to follow each one, and get your entry! 













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