Sunshine and Sippy Cups — Page 153 — Smart Solutions for Busy Moms!

Touring the Nike HQ – Young Athletes Innovation Summit #NikeKids

Remember when I told you that we’d be heading out soon to the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit at the Nike World Headquarters, in Beaverton, Oregon? Well – We’re HEEEEEERE!!!! The campus here at the Nike is over-the-top amazing. They call it a campus, and I can see why – It’s set up just like a college campus, with lots of separate buildings set around some beautiful open outdoor spaces. It is absolutely GORGEOUS, and must be just an amazing site to go to work at each day. This place is over 190 acres of pure awesomeness.

“The only one who can tell you ‘you can’t ‘ is you. And you don’t have to listen.” – Nike

We have had a total blast today touring the Nike World Headquarters, meeting some totally amazing people, and getting to join in on some super fun stuff. The kids got along great – and some really good new friends were made – I think that Cade has a total new best friend!! And it wasn’t JUST the kids making new friends – I LOVED finally getting a chance to meet some of my favorite online bloggy buddies in real life, like Mickey from A Helicopter Mom, Jeannette from The Adventures of J-Man and MillerBug, Linette from Kids Fun Review, Daisy from The It Mom, Angela from About a Mom – and I met some totally amazing new people too. Seriously, I could not have asked for a better bunch of ladies to spend the weekend with!

He Just DID It…. Designed his own one-of-a-kind Nike shoes!

There were so, so, SO very many amazing things that we saw, heard, and learned about during the day. And there were so, so, SO very many amazing activities that the kids got to do. But – since I’m super limited on time today – Here are just a few highlights from our adventures at Nike:

The kids got to climb rock walls, go swimming in the Lance Armstrong Center pool, create their own, totally customized shoes with the Nike design team – and they even got to go into some Top Secret areas where the athletes help test out new products!
The moms – and the 2 dads! – got to tour the campus, learn about some super-cool upcoming products Nike will be launching later this year, had a Q & A Skype session with Mia Hamm, and got to do some serious shopping at the Nike Company Store. LOVE it!
They even set up two separate lounge areas – one for the kids, that had a Wii, an XBox, AND a Playstation – and loads of snacks. And another for the adults, with some of the best cookies and pastries I’ve ever eaten in my entire life. Seriously.

I know that you guys have been waiting for some updates on our trip – but since I don’t have a laptop, I’m using the business center computer here at The Nines hotel to give you this quick update – which means I don’t have a way to load up any cool new pics to share! Our flight leaves soon – so I’m going to have to make this post short and sweet. But – I’ve been posting updates on social media like crazy all weekend, and you can check out more of the pics and cool info here:

Instagram: You can find me on Instagram at sunandsipcups, or if you want to check out my pics on the web, you can see them here – web.stagram.
Facebook: You KNOW I’m on Facebook all darn day, right? Lol. So watch for fun photos, updates, and cool stuff from the trip posted on my Facebook wall too! Have questions for Nike? Post ’em to my wall and I’ll try to get you some answers while I’m there!
Twitter: You can follow me at @sunandsipcups, and see all of the fun tweets, pics, and posts from the event by following hashtag #NikeKids!

I have SOOO much more amazing stuff to share with you guys – From info about the new Nike Free shoes, tips on how to keep your own little athletes safe when training for their favorite sports, to some cool behind-the-scenes info about the Nike campus – I can’t wait to get home and write a longer post, with more of my pics! so, I’ll give you a better update tomorrow – and once I get some of the photos that Nike took of the kids, {we all felt like we were on a reality show, with all the camera crew following us around all day! The kids looooved it!} – I’ll have even more to share with you guys next week – So totally stay tuned. And if you have any questions about the Nike campus, leave me some comments, and I’ll answer them in the next post – Promise :)

Kids Nike FREE Run: If your feet flex, shouldn’t your shoes flex too? Must-have flexibility for young feet.

HUGE thank you’s to the Nike team, and to the great people from Glam – for setting up such an amazing experience for our kids! Every detail was planned and thought of, we were all treated to some amazing gear, meals, and good times, and both the adults and the kiddo’s made some really wonderful new friends that will last long after this event. I know I speak for all of us when we say – Nike Kids Rocks!!!!

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

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 28, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 20 Comments

What’s lurking under Your Kitchen Sink? The #GetClean Makeover!

As moms, our biggest job in life is keeping our kids safe. Yes – we want them to be so many things: funny as heck, star athletes, amazingly talented performers, creators of beautiful artwork, compassionate and kind individuals, and much more. But – the #1 job is keeping them safe, so that they can grow into those amazing people we imagine that they’ll become. And one of the ways that we keep our little ones safe is by keeping our home clean, and free from dangerous germs, right? Well – these facts may surprise the heck out of you:

Is your home dirtier after you clean it?

You totally get this great feeling when you’ve cleaned, scrubbed, and disinfected your whole house, right? But – you would NEVER let your little ones play with toxic chemicals, so why would you use them to clean up a spill on the floor that they play on??

The EPA says that only a portion of the 81,00o registered chemicals in household cleaners, only a fraction have been tested for health concerns.
More than 9 out of 10 accidental poisonings happen at home – many from household cleaners.
Due to the use of air fresheners and cleaners, the levels of organic pollutants is 2 to 5 times higher INSIDE your home, then outside.

So what do you do? Well, you can learn about a new Smart Mom Solution I’m really excited about, that will help you clean your home with cleaners that don’t leave more toxins than the toxins their supposed to clean.

A Healthier Life for Everyone and a Better Life for Anyone

I’m always looking for new household cleaning helpers that are cleaner, greener, safer – but still really WORK. I’m also all about living a frugal lifestyle, so I hate spending a ridiculous amount of money on cleaners with fancy package, that call themselves “Green”, with no real facts to back that up. But these have all been reviewed and endorsed for their safety by Healthy Child Healthy World, who I totally trust for good information. I am incredibly glad that I was introduced to Shaklee – this is now my new go-to brand, and can easily just about everything else I was using in my home!

The #GetClean Under Sink Makeover!

This is my under-sink kitchen makeover – Notice how many LESS products I have under there by switching to the Shaklee products? I counted 17 different cleaners, sprays, wipes, and powders in my cupboard in the “Before” pic – but with the Shaklee Starter Kit, I only have 6 – plus some great reusable cleaning cloths which allow me to get rid of all those rolls of paper towels. I totally encourage you to take a look under your sink, and then check out the U.S. Department of Health and Human Resources website, Household Products Database – and learn about the crazy-harmful chemicals that you are wiping onto your counters, scrubbing onto your dishes, and spraying into your air. It is insane – seriously.

Makeover YOUR Kitchen Sink!

I used the Shaklee Starter Kit to replace all of that super yucky toxic junk under my sink. It’s a bit of an upfront investment – Around $100 bucks for the set. BUT – when you make your cleaners, you fill each bottle with water, and less than a teaspoon of concentrate from a big full-size bottle. Can you even imagine how long that is going to last?? Here are a few great benefits:

It’s Frugal: Frugal isn’t about spending less, it’s about spending smart. And you would spend $3400 for ready to use cleaners to get the same amount of clean found in the Get Clean Starter Kit! Can you say value?
It’s Safe: No harmful fumes or hazardous chemicals. If you have kids with asthma, eczema, or any other sensitivities – imagine what a difference that could make for them?
It Works: They say that it rivals or outperforms 20 national leading brands – I can tell you that every product that I have works just as well or better than any of the major brand products that I replaced. And I’m a clean freak, with pretty high standards on that stuff.
Eco Friendly: Not only are they better on the earth due to the lack of gross chemicals that will end up polluting the air and water – But with their refillable packaging and concentrated products, you keep 108 pounds of packaging waste from landfills!

Awesome Fact: My favorite product, the Basic H2® Organic Super Cleaning Concentrate – just 1/4 tsp. makes 16oz. of all-purpose cleaner for only 3 cents!!! Whaaaaat? Yep, it’s true.

You can learn more about the Shaklee line, including their healthy weight and nutrition products, other home items, and even a healthy beauty line – on their website. And be sure to follow Shaklee on Facebook and Twitter too, to stay updated on new products and promotions.

{Disclaimer: I received a complimentary product kit from Mom Spark Media to facilitate this review. All photos and opinions are 100% my own – I love this stuff, and know you will too!}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 25, 2012 Filed Under: Busy Mom Solution | 2 Comments

KitchenAid Artisan Mixer Giveaway!

The pvc fittings company Commercial Industrial Supply is giving away a KitchenAid Artisan Mixer!

(prize details)

a Commercial Industrial Supply giveaway powered by Rafflecopter

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 25, 2012 Filed Under: Giveaways | 6 Comments

Diet for a Day – See My Results

Have you been wondering how my Nutrisystem journey is going? Wondering why you hadn’t seen an update lately? Well – I missed last week’s post, and am late on this week’s, because my site got hacked and was down for almost 6 days! Yikes, right? But as of this morning – I’m BAAACK, bay-bee!! And I’m here to share a little more about how things are going for me, and what results I’m seeing. But first – I’d like to give you a taste of what it’s like following the Nutrisystem plan. Check it out, see if it’s a good fit for you too – and learn my latest results at the bottom of the post…

Breakfast Time – 6:00 am

I love so many of the breakfast options at Nutrisystem – but this one is definitely my favorite. Super yummy, and so filling. I have this in the morning with one of the awesome chocolate shakes – Love that cool shaker container that they send for mixing these. Works amazing! And the protein in the shakes really does help me from getting hungry again for awhile. Plus, all breakfast frozen options take only 1-2 minutes to pop in the microwave, making it quick and easy to grab and then jump on the computer and get to work.

Morning Snack Time – 9:00 am

A couple hours after breakfast I grab a quick snack. For this option, you add in what’s called a PowerFuel – things like a string cheese, yogurt, or a hard-boiled egg. You can also add in a non-starchy veggie too, if you’re hungry. {Some days are crazier than others – and with all the rushing around, I find myself hungrier than usual!} I also love that the snacks that are good for my diet are also good for the kids – and make great healthy options for Abby to snack with me during the day.

Lunch Time: 12:00 noon

For lunch, you just grab any of your easy to prepare options, and they’re even marked with the big lunch label, making them easy to find. You can get frozen options like an Italian Style Turkey & Sausage Melt or this uh-MAY-zing Margherita Pizza, or shelf-stable portions of soups or pastas. Pair your lunch entree with another PowerFuel, and as many non-starchy veggies as you like! I usually build a big salad at lunch time – it fills me up, and gets me a ton of servings of veggies. {You’re allowed 3 “extras” per day – which is where you get the dressing for your salad.}

Afternoon Snack: 3:00 pm

I eat a snack right before the boys get home from school – so that I’m full, and not tempted to eat any of the not-so-diet-friendly snacks that they might crave when they get home. The afternoon snack is a SmartCarb – I usually add in a fruit – something like raisins, an orange, or a banana. If I’m not using many extras in my days meals – I’ll have a bowl of strawberries and a bit of non-fat whip cream. Mmmmmm :)

Dinner time: 6:00 pm

This is my FAVORITE of the Nutrisystem dinner entrees – the Citrus BBQ Glazed Pork! The texture of the meat is amazing, I’ve never had a frozen dinner be so good. The flavor is awesome – the combo of sweet and spicy is SO good. At dinner you add another SmartCarb – so I usually add a whole grain roll, or a side of baked beans if it fits the meal. Then I add more veggies – either another big salad, or my favorite – A big serving of green beans! Man, I could eat a whole can of those. I can’t wait until my garden gets going this year, and I can have fresh ones each night. I love that all of my meals, all day long, are already measured to perfect portions, balanced with great nutrition, and protein-packed to keep me powered up. It’s so simple to grab, munch and enjoy, and go!

Dessert: 9:00 pm

While I finish up blogging work at the computer late at night, I always crave a little treat. That is my very favorite thing about the Nutrisystem plan – they make it easy to follow by not restricting you from your favorite foods. Every single night you can choose a dessert – from a piece of chocolate cake or a white-chocolate chunk cookie – to frozen options like a creamy fudge or orange cream bar. If you’re more of a salty type, you can choose from cheese puffs or buttery popcorn. Love it, right?

Read more about my Nutrisystem Weight Loss journey, and follow my Weight Loss board on Pinterest too!

Now… For the Results!

Well, I have to admit it – I didn’t see as much loss the past two weeks as I would have liked to. But, I was also at a conference in Texas for 4 days – and between the hotel breakfast, airport food, and dinners out, it was really tough to stay on track. But – thanks to following this plan for so long now, I am totally able to make better choices, and realize what a “real” portion looks like. {Can you say – Doggie Bag Please??} – But, I AM still losing! Last weigh in was 179 pounds. I’m now at 177 – so only a pound per week for the past two weeks. BUT…

My Last Measurements

These were taken at the end of my first month on the Nutrisystem plan, and I saw a decrease in every single category, versus my original measurements. Not a huge change – but it was measurable, and that totally thrilled me.

Upper Arms: 13.0
Chest: 41.5
Waist: 36.0
Hips: 43.5
Thighs: 24.5

So… What did I see in this next set of measurements?? I’d only lost 2 pounds, but I HAD been super active. With the travel, the constant action of the conference I attended, and the extra exercise that I’ve been adding into my day, I was hoping to see at least a slight change….

My New Measurements:

These were taken today – Date: 04/24/2012. Check ’em out babeeeeee – I am so super excited to see that again, I have lost a measurable amount in EVERY single category. How amazing is this??

Upper Arms: 12.0
Chest: 42.0
Waist: 35.5
Hips: 41.5
Thighs: 22.5

If you add it all up – that’s a total of 6 inches that I’ve lost off of this body! Woah. Yes – the results are not super dramatic. But – this is not a quick-fix diet. This is all about healthy lifestyle changes, and long-term weight loss. I am totally blown away by both how easy it is, and how effective it’s been for me – even when I’m not able to follow it perfectly, while I’m away on business trips. Imagine what it can do for you too!

WANT TO LOSE WEIGHT AND GET HEALTHY ON NUTRISYSTEM?

Join today by calling 1-888-853-4689 or by visiting Nutrisystem.com. It’s simple to get started, the foods are actually really good, with loads of variety. Heck – you even get to have chocolate cake or ice cream each night for dessert, how great is that? Get started today – it’s the best choice you’ll make this year!

{Disclaimer: I’m receiving a complimentary membership and access to all Nutrisystem products and services, to review here for you. All photos, opinions, and results here are 100% my own personal experience – and may vary for others.}

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 24, 2012 Filed Under: Nutrisystem | No Comments

The Phrase “Working Mother” is Redundant…

“THE PHRASE “WORKING MOTHER” IS REDUNDANT.” – Unknown

I found this perfectly funny little story on Facebook today – it came from my very favorite Scentsy rep – Lucinda Faragher. {Love Scentsy? Check her out – She is the so amazingly helpful, love her. Anyway – I think all of you will totally relate to this too. And after the crazy-stressful-awful week I’ve just been through with my website getting hacked, I am in need of some good laughs! If you’ve got a funny post to share – leave me some comments. Totally need to read some humor today!

Life in the Motherhood…

A man came home from work and found his 3 children outside, still in their pyjamas, playing in the mud, with empty food boxes and wrappers strewn around the yard. The door of his wife’s car was open, as was the front door to the house – and no sign of the dog. Walking in the door, he found an even bigger mess. A lamp had been knocked over, the throw rug was against one wall, in the front room the TV was on loudly with the cartoon channel, the family room was strewn with toys and various items of clothing. In the kitchen, dishes filled the sink, breakfast food was spilled on the counter, the fridge door was open wide, dog food was spilled on the floor, a broken glass lay under the table, and a small pile of sand was spread by the back door. He quickly headed up the stairs, stepping over toys and more piles of clothes, looking for his wife.

He was worried she might be ill, or that something serious had happened.

He was met with a small trickle of water as it made its way out the bathroom door. As he peered inside he found wet towels, scummy soap and more toys strewn over the floor. Miles of toilet paper lay in a heap and toothpaste had been smeared over the mirror and walls. As he rushed to the bedroom, he found his wife curled up in the bed in her pajamas, reading a novel… She looked up at him, smiled and asked how his day went. He looked at her bewildered and asked, ‘What happened here today?’ She again smiled and answered, ‘You know every day when you come home from work and you ask me what in the world do I do all day?… ”Yes,” was his incredulous reply..

She answered, ‘Well, today I didn’t do it.’

Right?? Love it. So true. And if you are an over-worked mom that appreciates a bit of “mommy humor” – check out my board devoted to it on Pinterest. It’s one of my favorites.

Who else lives this everyday? – The Phrase “Working Mother” is Redundant… #momhumor sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/04/the-ph… via @sunandsipcups

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) April 25, 2012

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 24, 2012 Filed Under: Fun Stuff | 3 Comments

Weekly Bloggertunities – 4/24

Weekly Blogging Opportunities

I’m BAAAAACK!!! As most of you know by now – I was hacked. Not just a little issue – I was knocked down, repeatedly, for almost a week. If you want to know what happened, how to know if your WordPress site was hacked, and what do if you DO get hacked, you can read the whole story in my last post. Long story short – It sucked. But, I learned a lot – including what a great group of bloggy buddies I’ve built up over this past year. You guys all ROCK! So – this post was started almost 2 weeks ago, but wasn’t able to be posted due to the issues I had going on. If anything is outdated by now, I apologize. I tried to check ’em all – but I’m in a posting frenzy today, so I might have missed something! Just leave me a comment so if you find something that’s no longer valid. Thank you!

Learn to be a blogging ninja – @sunandsipcups shares her weekly tips and tricks sunshineandsippycups.com/2012/04/weekly… #mombloggers

— SunandSipCups (@SunandSipCups) April 24, 2012

Good Reading for Bloggers

As a blogger – or anyone at all who works primarily online – you MUST be constantly learning and staying updated. The web, social media, search – they are all constantly changing and evolving, so it’s important that you are too. Here are a few great reads this week –

Dealing with Disappointment: My friend Ellen wrote a great post about why you might not be chosen for a specific blogging opportunity – and why you shouldn’t let it get you down! She also offers some tips to help you improve, so that you can start getting more of the opps that you want.
Social Media: This book just got delivered today – 30 Days to Social Media Success: The 30 Day Results Guide to Making the Most of Twitter, Blogging, LinkedIN, and Facebook – and I am SUPER excited to get started reading it. I’m part of a group that will be going through the book together, and sharing our thoughts. Watch for a review of it coming soon – and buy it too if you’d like to follow along with my updates.
Rafflecopter: Read this great post with a tutorial on how to add giveaway images right to your Rafflcopter form. Love it.
Time Management: This is a round-up of posts from some of my favorite bloggers, sharing their time management tips and tricks. Good stuff.

Want more? I have a whole board on Pinterest devoted to Blogging & Social Media – tips, resources, cool tools, creative ideas, and more. Check it out and find some good stuff.

Earn an Income with Your Blog

As always – the biggest question I am asked by other bloggers is how to monetize their site. So, here are a few things you can use to start earning more money with your site – and watch for a more comprehensive series of posts on smart monetizing skills coming in a few weeks!

InfoStable: Super simple, and it’s very easy to earn. They have a limited amount of offers, and they’re mostly giveaways to promote. I signed up for a few to test it – no spam. Check it out and start earning today – InfoStable Sign Up.
Maggie’s Direct: This started out a little crazy – but they’ve simplified their Pro Blogger program, making it MUCH easier to participate! Set up a free account, then sign up for the Pro Blogger program! Learn more on their site – but it includes shopping credit for you, free products, and more. I haven’t used this much yet – and I’ve heard mixed reviews. But it’s working GREAT for some people, so it’s worth looking into.
Social Spark: Many bloggers start with posts in the $15-$25 range, which is where I started with them around 6 months ago. Now I average $65 per post, with some as high as $100-$200. Super easy, and pays via PayPal as soon as you reach $50. Sign up and learn more.
Bloggertise: This one is a little trickier. I earn quite a bit with them – BUT, not all of their offers are, um, quality. And I do NOT ever recommend posting something JUST because you can earn some bucks. So, only post if the required info can educate or entertain your readers. That said – I find loads of projects that I can make into interesting articles, and use it weekly. Learn more and sign up here.
Examiner: I just got promoted to be eligible to receive media credentials to local events – I’m so excited! I love writing here, love connecting with more local companies, and have a lot of fun having a forum to share on besides my blog. Interested? You’re already a writer, so this may be a great fit for you too – Examiner.com Application.

What are your favorite networks to connect you with sponsored posts or other opportunities to earn an income with your writing? Share them in the comments – maybe I’ll find a new favorite!

Networks to Join

I’m a member of so many great networks – I love meeting new people, sharing tips and resources, and having access to some really great opps and info. Here are a few that I’m a member of…

Mom Spark: This is the only network that I pay to be a part of – and it’s definitely worth it. I get connected to awesome opps through them, and having access to their tutorials and community is priceless.
Moms Do It Better: This is a really helpful new network that I’ve just joined – A lot of fun tips, and great opportunities to be found. Join here.
Mommy PR: She is an awesome chick, with equally awesome stuff to share with other bloggers. Sign up for her PR Friendly Bloggers mailing list to learn about new opps each week.

What are a few of your favorites? What do you like most about them – and what do you find most helpful?

Cool Opportunities

Hopefully these are still available – Most of these were opportunities that I came across last week – but some are brand new too.

Fashion Bloggers: Belt Buckle Boutique is looking for bloggers who write about 75% of their content focused on fashion to do an upcoming review and giveaway opportunity – Fill out the form if you are all about fashion!
Foodie Guest Posts: Trio of Tastebuds – my favorite foodie site! – is looking for people to contribute a favorite recipe to their “three views” posts. Get details and contact info here.
Paid Posts: Fill out this form to be considered for upcoming paid writing opps, or for paid guest posting on your own site. Sounds cool.
Mom Ambassador: I’ve been a member here for a couple of years – It’s called Moms Meet, and you get to do regular house parties to share all organic, green, healthy products with your group. The shipments are always very generous and actually worth sharing! Learn more and sign up here.
CBS: If you have a mostly US based readership and audience, fill out this form for a new partnership opportunity with CBS.
All You Magazine: What’s your most clever way to stay on top of all of the paperwork that comes home from school (and your mail too!)? Tell us at Reallife@allyou.com for a chance to be featured in our magazine.

I hope you get connected to some fun review and giveaway opps here – I LOVE hearing stories from people who got into a great campaign from hearing about it in my post :) Some of you have gotten into things I REALLY wanted too, but I didn’t get chosen, lol. But I love being able to share!

Events to Join

Again, some of these I added awhile back – so if something is no longer taking sign-ups, and I missed removing it – just leave me a comment so that I know to remove it from the list!

Birthday Bash: This will start May 11th – and prizes will be announced as more bloggers join! It’s only $2 a link, I joined with 2 links, and hope to see some of you join us too – Sign up here.
Free Event: You get one link for free, $1 for each additional link. Very cool, right? Sign up and learn more.
Baby Shower: This is another totally FREE event – you get one link free, and can get a second one if you share the sign up form. This is Facebook and Twitter only, and starts soon – so get in today!
Huge list of events: This is a really great list of tons of giveaway events that you can join – with loads more free options too! Check it out and sign up for some fun stuff.
Bloggy Bootcamp: If you can’t attend any of these great events this year due to the travel costs, why not check out the awesome online-only package option? Very cool! Online Bloggy Bootcamp.

Do you have a cool event coming up that you’d like to share – or need sign ups for an upcoming giveaway? Share your sign up link in the comments!

Love it? Share it with your own network of awesome bloggy buddies too!

Posted by Meagan Paullin on April 24, 2012 Filed Under: Weekly Opp's | 6 Comments

What I Learned By Getting Hacked

“The Internet is the first thing that humanity has built that humanity doesn’t understand, the largest experiment in anarchy that we have ever had.” – Eric Schmidt

Most of you know by now that my website was hacked last week. You probably saw big warning screens like the one above when you tried to visit my site. And most of you have been asking what happened. So… Here’s the story: I’m traveling like crazy this month, so I had to cram most of this months blogging work into one week and a half long period in between a conference in Texas, and my trip to the Nike Young Athletes Innovation Summit in a couple of days. I was pretty stressed at how much work I had to do, but ready for the challenge.

Then – I got hacked.

I mean, majorly hacked. I had been working on a sponsored posts for Clever Girls, and took a break for lunch. When I came back to my desk, my dashboard had been replaced by a huge malware warning screen. I freaked out a bit. I’m NOT tech savvy, and am not good at troubleshooting when things go wrong. So my first step was to check in to my Facebook groups to ask for help. None of the simple solutions worked. Ugh. What to do?

“There are three kinds of death in this world. There’s heart death, there’s brain death, and there’s being off the network.” – Guy Almes

I was already starting to get messages – emails, tweets, fb comments – asking what was going on. My next step was to call my hosting company for advice. Long story short – After 2 days of waiting, being assured that the scanning service I had purchased would find the problem, and the GoDaddy security team would help me fix it once found – I was informed that all 5 people I had spoken with had given me the wrong info. While the scanning system would assist me in finding the issue, there was no one at GoDaddy who would be helping me to fix it. Oh. My. Heck. 2 1/2 days of waiting to find out that I was still at square one?? I kind of lost my cool for awhile. Luckily for me, the uh-MAY-zing Beck Ryan from Stone Alley 4 WP came to my rescue!! {Connect with her on Facebook too – she is awesome.} Everyone has told me how super smart she is at fixing just about any WP problem imaginable – so I was so relieved to have her helping me out! She was able to login to my account, find the malware, and clean it up right away. But…. It kept coming back. Again, and again. Since Becky is pretty much a genius with this stuff, she was incredibly frustrated by this – and said she’d never seen anything quite like it. Finally, I felt bad for taking up so much of her time, and decided to look for some additional outside help.

“A blogger is constantly looking over his shoulder, for fear that he is not being followed.” – Robert Brault

At this point my Adsense account had been suspended, I had caused problems for a ton of other bloggers who were linked to me, Google had me blacklisted – and I’d missed an incredible amount of deadlines. And – I’d been online night and day, trying everything I could to get things fixed. Every time we thought things were clean, and starting to clear up – another attack would hit and knock me back down again!! But, finally, we figured out what we THINK was the trigger to it all –

The problem: ADV Plugin Scam for WP – Malware and More!

I’m always super careful about adding plugins. But, this was back at the holidays, the company had looked reputable, and I was so over-worked that I fell for this and didn’t do my research. It was supposed to be for adding ads to my site – but then I didn’t realize in the craziness of the holiday season, but I never heard from this company again, and just kind of forgot about that plugin. It was most likely the door that let the hackers into my site. From what GoDaddy told me, this malware originated in Russia – it caused my site to FILL with porn pop-up ads, and added malicious code that would attack the visitors computer. Since this was such a devastating ordeal, I have named it the Russian Porn Pop-Up Attack of 2012, to try and give it a bit of humorous side. You know, so I don’t cry when I think about it :)

The Silver Lining in the Malware Cloud

Does it seem crazy to say that while this was the MOST stressful thing that has ever happened since I’ve started this site, it also had some positives to it? Well, it did, and I want to share some lessons learned:

I now know SO incredibly much more about the inner workings of my site than I did before. I know what FTP is, where to login to it, and how to change my password. I know how to look at the coding in my site, and some red flags to watch for. And I know everything in my Webmaster Tools dashboard like the back of my hand!
I finally added some extra services to help me run my site. Things have gotten too big for me to handle it all on my own. And, since I rely on only this income to support me and my little girl – I cannot afford another crisis like this! I now have a great security company doing daily scans of my site, monitoring it for problems – as well as basic maintenance package to stay on top of updates.
I learned that I have an incredible group of friends and fans online! I cannot even tell you how helpful all of the tips and information you all sent me. The words of encouragement were so needed and appreciated. And to all of the other bloggers who offered assistance – You all rock. I had no idea how truly amazing the people I’ve met online really were until this crisis hit!

So – Thank you SO much to everyone for sending me the kind words, the offers of assistance, and great tips to try. Luckily, everything is FINALLY fixed, and determined by Google to be totally clean and safe again. Whew – What a week it’s been!

What to do if your site has been hacked:

Most cases of malware are pretty simple to clean up – might be a bad link in a spam comment, or an ad or button in your sidebar causing problems. But if you think you’ve been hacked, here are a few tools and resources to check out:

Check out your sites health in the free security scan on Sucuri.com – it’ll let you know what types of problems your facing.
If your WordPress site was hacked, this article will give you some tips on what to look for – if you’ve got some decent tech skills, you might be able to fix it up yourself.
Need more help? Then check out the great services offered at Stone Alley 4 WP – she is totally affordable, and super amazing!
Want to protect yourself from problems in the future? Check out this article on How to Protect Your Website from Hacker Attacks. Great tips that can help you avoid a huge catastrophe like I just went through.

Make sure to always keep your site updated with the latest versions of WordPress and each of your plugins. Be sure to use secure passwords. Be cautious in how many plugins you use, since they do add a bit of risk to your site. And if your site is more than a hobby, I recommend adding a maintenance package and security services to your site too, to make sure you have access to quick assistance if you need it.

Share your story

Have you ever had your site hacked? Any tips to share – what to avoid, how to fix it, services that rocked? Share your story in the comments – maybe it can help someone else avoid a mess too!