Thursday, July 18, 2013

BLOG HOP COMING: Back 2 School Bash 2 Blog Hop

Trista from Andersons Angels and Courtney from Joy of Momma Joyner are excited to have teamed up again to host a FUN blog hop called Back 2 School Bash 2! It will run from 12:01am EST Friday August 2, 2013 through 11:59pm EST Saturday August 17, 2013. It's super easy to join in on the fun of getting our kiddos ready to go head back to school!







Rules to Participate:

  • You must get at least a $25 prize/package together to be given away during the event. It can be anything school related. (Ideas: snacks, lunch boxes, backpacks,  labels, school supplies, etc.)
  • Participation is completely FREE! All you have to do is make sure the button is on your blog side bar, and write a post encouraging other bloggers to join in the fun! Put the link to your blog post in the form below.
  • If you would like to participate but do not want to post about the event you can send $5.00  waiver fee via Paypal to andersonsangels2010@gmail.com.

If you have any questions feel free to email Trista at andersonsangels2010@gmail.com,  or Courtney at joyofmommajoyner@gmail.com.
You will definitely want to join in this FUN Event! But you've got to HURRY! Sign-ups will end as soon as there are 50 blogs participating OR by July 30, 2013! Your spot on the Linky will be determined by how soon you fill out the form. Don't forget, once you have your blog post up or paid the waiver fee to fill out THIS FORM and put the link to your post in the form.







Are you a company or brand looking to participate? If so then please contact Trista at andersonsangels2010@gmail.com or Courtney at joyofmommajoyner@gmail.com to discuss sponsorship opportunities. We can help you connect with a blogger or bloggers also if you would like!

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Christmas In July: Letter Game

free image

Guess what everyone! We're going to have fun this month in the theme of Christmas in July. A game we are going to play is the Letter Game! Each day that I'm on I will post to my blog, and a note here of where to go, a LETTER from the word Christmas and ask you to type out as many words related to Christmas on the REPLY to the post and then I will take a look and declare a winner. 

I moderate my blog and will keep them all from being posted until after a winner is declared. That way no one cheats from someone else (I know you wouldn't do that!) 

The prizes will be announced each day that I do this. Thanks and have a great time!



"C" was won by ROE CLARK!
"H" was won by ROE CLARK! 
"R" was won by ROE CLARK!
"I"  is not won by anyone. Late entries.  Time was  over at midnight. 


TODAY IS THE LETTER "S".  Please use the comment section to come up with as many "S" words as you can that relate to Christmas in some way.  Or the other WINTER Holidays.  You need to have at least 10 words to be the winner.   Feel free to use GOOGLE.  The person with the MOST WORDS by tonight (Friday, 7/26/13) MIDNIGHT, EDT wins!  


credit: bubble letters

credit: Festival Advices



credit: all things Christmas

Day 26

Win It Wednesday! Christmas in July 6pm PT 9pm ET


First Game 6:00pm PT / 9:00pm ET

   We're going to be working through the whole word, CHRISTMAS by the end of the month!  So starting tonight, use the COMMENT section of this blog entry and write all the 3-letter and up words that you can think of that are associated with any of the words: cold, snow, Christmas and record them in the comment section.  ALL comments are on moderation and when you are done go back to the group to the announcement of the WIN IT WEDNESDAY post and type "done" and I will let the game go on for 30 mins.  then I call TIME on the post and then release all the posts and call the winner.  If you don't understand the rules and explanation please send me your question through the MESSAGE on our group, ChattingWithCarolyn (click on the words).  Have fun!

ROE CLARK!  Congrats!  Your gifts are going to be selected by you on the MESSAGES on the group.  Yay!



THIRD and FINAL game of the night!  This is a toughie and I'm giving you an hour to do it.  Starting at the time that you see this until 9pm PT and 12am ET.  Have fun!

Write as many movie title's that you can do in an HOUR!  Begin!  Have fun! AND... all the names of the movies go on the COMMENT together... be sure to copy and paste there since it's easy to lose the words on a comment if you're not careful.  PLEASE try to think from your head and not from a movie list.  Thanks!

Roe Clark wins again!  Thanks so much Roe for playing the games!!  Way to go, woo hoo!

Wordless Wednesday: Christmas in July on Chatting With Carolyn's FB page and here!

Did you remember "Christmas in July?"



Since I sell Scentsy, I will be making great offers this month!  Today I'm going to show some of the best things about Scentsy in July!

My store:  https://carolynscandlesforsale.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy

For sale this month!  The page you want to visit is this:
https://carolynscandlesforsale.scentsy.us/Scentsy/Buy/Category/388
























COMMENT PLEASE?  Which of these above items would you be interested in learning about (if you haven't gone to their page already and ordered?)     Also, please state if you want a sample of items I have on hand and your email address and I will write to you to get your physical address!   Thanks!  I have samples of some of the scents. 


Come to the group and join in!  https://www.facebook.com/Chattingwithcarolyn









Sunday, July 14, 2013

Puppy Treat Recipe, Best Suburban Dog Breeds & Breast Cancer Detection by Pat Howard

Guest Blog

By on July 14, 2013

Puppy Care & Dog Adoption

A love for dogs was in the air this week on daytime talk shows. Get advice from these segments on how to make a puppy treat recipe, the best suburban dog breeds, how dogs detect breast cancer, and much more.

Beth Ostrosky Stern Summertime Puppy Tips & Puppy Treat Recipe

Puppy Treat Recipe, Best Suburban Dog Breeds & Breast Cancer Detection
Learn to make a puppy treat recipe, discover the best suburban dog breeds, and see how canines are helping in the healthcare industry with these stories.

Beth Ostrosky Stern loves her animals, and she even wrote the book on puppy care. This week, for Kelly & Michael’s Bow Wow Week: Puppy Edition, she shared advice about grooming your new little friend, as well as how to create a refreshing summer treat for your four-legged friend. Keep reading below!
Beth Ostrosky Stern Summertime Puppy Tips & Puppy Treat Recipe

How Therapy Dogs Improve Health & People Animal Connection Program

There is something healing about spending time with animals. Just ask UCLA Medical Center, where the People Animal Connection is using pets to help improve patient moods and lower their anxiety. Therapy dogs can lower stress hormones and raise levels of oxytocin in the body. Click to read more!
How Therapy Dogs Improve Health & People Animal Connection Program

Best Suburban Dog Breeds Vs City, Kid-Friendly Puppies & Allergy Dogs

Are you in the market for a new puppy? That’s great, but don’t forget that it can be a lot of responsibility. Find out the best types of dog breeds depending on where you live, how much you travel, and other lifestyle factors that can guide your choice. And don’t forget to adopt!
Best City Dog, Suburban Breeds, Kid-Friendly Puppies & Allergy Dogs

The View: Bernadette Peters Broadway Barks & ASPCA Dogs For Adoption

Puppies are adorable, but sometimes people make commitments they cannot follow through on. That is where shelters like the ASPCA come in. Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore started the Broadway Barks program to raise money and awareness about animals who need homes. Read on by clicking this link.
The View: Bernadette Peters Broadway Barks & ASPCA Dogs For Adoption

The Drs: Dog Detects Breast Cancer

Did you know that dogs have noses 100,000 times more powerful than humans? Now, some are starting to believe that dogs are able to detect serious illnesses, such as cancer, based on chemical changes in the body. Learn why you should call the doctor if your dog is sniffing your body differently than usual by clicking below.
The Drs: Dog Detects Breast Cancer & Chili Powder Punishment Kills

Saturday, July 13, 2013

SHARED: FAT FLUSH WATER and a free DOWNLOAD of 30 recipes to go with it!



photo credit:  Internet search free photo


You’ve seen Fat Flush Water all over the web, but does it really get results?

Over 25 years ago, the Fat Flush diet concept was originally introduced in creator Ann Louise Gittleman’s first book Beyond Pritikin with the Two-Week Fat Flush. The complete plan is featured in the New York Times bestseller The Fat Flush Plan and the 4 other Fat Flush books that have followed.

While the Fat Flush diet plans have evolved over the years to incorporate the latest in slimming research, the main principle of detoxifying the liver to accelerate weight loss has always remained. A liver clogged with poisons, toxins and excess fats cannot perform its fat-burning duties. Freeing up the liver to do its job may be the single most important step you can take to reach your weight loss goals.

In the fat-burning process, drinking plenty of water is essential to keep you system flushed out and allow your liver and lymphatic system to function properly — we always recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces of water daily.
But, what about this “Fat Flush Water” — will it actually flush the fat?

Over the years, we’ve learned that with popularity comes imitation, and so we weren’t surprised to see a guest on Dr. Oz promoting a “new” Fat Flush Water. Since then, you’ve probably seen it on Pinterest or Twitter or maybe even a blog or two, and the pictures do look delicious and refreshing. It is a lovely way to add a nice citrusy flavor to your water, but does this “Fat Flush Water” live up to all the hype? Does it really flush fat?
First, let’s look at the ingredients — water with a sliced grapefruit, a sliced tangerine, ½ a cucumber and a few peppermint leaves floating in it.

These are healthy foods with qualities that can be helpful during weight loss — peppermint helps with digestion, grapefruit contains an antioxidant flavonoid that can increase insulin sensitivity, tangerines are a rich source of vitamin C which stimulates the liver’s premier antioxidant (glutathione), and cucumbers have diuretic properties.
However, infusing your water is giving you almost none of the benefits of simply eating these foods, and quite honestly, isn’t flushing the fat.

fat flush water
photo credit:  Internet search free photo


A Fat Flush Water that really makes cellulite vanish!
The good news is we do have a Fat Flush Water that really does flush out bloat and stubborn fat deposits. It works so well that we’ve heard from Fat Flushers who have lost as much as 6 to 7 lbs of backlogged water weight in the first day!

Our signature Fat Flush Cran-Water contains water mixed with pure unsweetened cranberry juice — how simple is that? You can mix it up in the morning and sip on it throughout the day — we recommend 64-ounces (eight 8-ounce glasses) daily.
Cranberry juice is a natural diuretic and packed with flavonoids, enzymes and organic acids such as malic acid, citric acid, and quinic acid which have an emulsifying effect on stubborn fat deposits in the lymphatic system. The lymphatic system — the body’s “garbage collector” — transports all kinds of waste products not processed by the liver. With the help of the organic acid components, cranberry juice digests stagnated lymphatic wastes. This explains why so many Fat Flushers report that their cellulite disappears!

Even if you’re not following a specific diet or trying to lost weight, you can sip this tart and refreshing beverage daily to help flush out water weight, balance blood sugar, improve cellulite and keep you liver and lymph in optimum cleansing mode.

Here’s the Fat Flush Cran-Water recipe -
Mix together:

1 ounce 100% pure unsweetened cranberry juice* 7 ounces water
To save time during the day, mix a full batch (64 ounces) in the morning — add 1 cup (8 oz) cranberry juice to a half-gallon container and fill the rest with water.

*Look for brands like Knudsen, Trader Joe’s, Mountain Sun, or Simple Truth available at your supermarket or health food store.
Enjoy – Let’s drink to flushing fat and busting bloat with our signature cranberry Fat Flush Water!


 Fat Flush Recipes
For 30 FREE Fat Flush Recipes, download our Taste of Fat Flush Cookbook
Posted on May 29, 2013
Tags:



photo credit:  Biggest Loser

This water was featured on the “Biggest Loser”. There are many variations of it all simple, all delicious. Grapefruit has tons of vitamin C to help your body turn fat into fuel.

Tangerine increases your sensitivity to insulin, stabilizes blood sugar, and stimulates genes to burn fat.

Cucumber helps you feel full and acts as a natural diuretic, which means less bloating and water retention.
Peppermint promotes better digestion and stomach calm. Make a big pitcher (64oz) of Fat Flush Water at night, and drink the next day, throughout the day.
64 oz. purified Water
1/2 grapefruit sliced
1 tangerine
1 cucumber, sliced
4 peppermint leaves
Ice (made from purified water)

Combine all ingredients in a large pitcher. Make sure you are using organic so you can keep the skins on. The skins have super valuable nutrients and you do NOT want pesticides soaking in your water. Scrubbing does NOT remove pesticides which infiltrate the skins. It is important to clean your organic fruits and vegetables, to remove organic matter.  I have a vegetable/fruit  washer that I use religiously called Bio Kleen Produce Wash:


Bio Kleen Produce Wash






Price: $4.59 ($0.12 / oz)


In Stock. 
Ships from and sold by Vitacost.
Note: $4.99 shipping when purchased from Vitacost.  Offers with free Prime shipping available in more buying choices.
Size: 16 Oz

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Dry Shampoo that you can make at home!



It's dry shampoo to the rescue ladies!  For the next week I will be focusing on beauty products that you can make at home.  Today is DRY SHAMPOO!   Every celebrity swears it’s what’s in their purse at all times. Just what is dry shampoo? It’s basically a product that takes the grease out of your hair on those days you missed the alarm and don’t have time to shower.



The crazy thing about all this dry shampoo business, is just how easy it is to make at home, with a few ingredients you probably already have in your pantry.


Here are the ingredients to make your own dry shampoo:
2 Tablespoons Cornstarch
2 Tablespoons Baking Soda
2 Tablespoons Cornmeal
2 Tablespoons Ground Oatmeal

A salt shaker type container to store dry shampoo for your purse and the rest can be kept in a mason jar in your bathroom

dry shampoo 300x254 Make your own dry shampoo

Step 1:
Grind up oatmeal in a blender. You want it to be fine enough to be able to go through a salt shaker, so give it some time in the blender.

dry shampooing 300x200 Make your own dry shampoo

Step 2:

Measure out 2 tablespoons each of: cornstarch, cornmeal, baking soda and the ground up oatmeal. Mix it all together in a bowl and you’ve got yourself some dry shampoo.

Step 3:
Pour your fancy new dry shampoo into a container. You want this to be something you can use over and over again, in the bathroom in your morning rush, so put it into a reusable salt shaker or something of the sort.

salt shaker 300x200 Make your own dry shampoo

Step 4:
Sprinkle some dry shampoo onto your hand. Or sprinkle it straight onto your scalp. This is your head, I’ll let you make the executive decisions here.

Step 5:
Shampoo.
dry shampoo for your hair 186x300 Make your own dry shampoo

Scrub your head like you would in the shower, all lathered up. This is where all the ingredients you’ve so carefully blended gather all the oils on the top of your head.

Step 6:
Now brush. Use a bristle brush or it won’t work properly. Again, do this over a sink or tub. Brush like you’ve got the wind at your back. You need to get all this stuff off your scalp, and hurry!
Not really, but you get the idea.

Step 7:
That’s it! You’re all dry shampooed. And even if you don’t smell like a million bucks, you sure look like it.
Style your hair like you normally would, and pat yourself on the back for the extra 15 minutes of sleep you managed to score. You’re smart like that.


BRUNETTES!

Ingredients for Dark Hair
2 T of Cornstarch or Arrowroot Powder
2 T of Baking Soda
2 T of Oatmeal
4 T +/- a little depending on your color of Cocoa Powder


I have very dark hair and found the 4T to not be enough to blend with my hair so I added more and now I have a nice small mason jar in the bathroom of this DIY (do it yourself) homemade dry shampoo!  I love it!   I ordered a peppermill from Target (inexpensive) and like that it can grind the products at the same time that I'm putting the dry shampoo on my hair.

PS.... I'm giving away dog and cat coupons for supermarket products to anyone who wants some.  That's my thanks for reading this entry!  Just post your email address so I can contact you for your address.  This is for two people so hurry.  First come, first served!  


Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Cross your fingers for us for a potential new dog!

JRT (Jack Russell Terrier)

Fox Terrier






What do you get when you have a cross breed between a JRT (Jack Russell Terrier) with a Fox Terrier?  You get the perfect little boy dog that is up for adoption near us.  

This is his story:  He is looking for a new home because his original caretakers (aka owners) moved and were going to take him to the pound.  (That is where we adopted our present dog, Sandie).  Fortunately he was taken in by a couple who didn't want to see him end up at the pound.  He is playful and affectionate.  He is energetic, alert and enjoys hiking.  He is trained and crate trained.  He is 4 years young!  He is current on his shots. 

This is our current 11 year old dog, (who we call Puppy) and her name is Sandie and she's sitting between between John's legs (she loves her daddy and mommy!)  I took the picture! 

Sandie (Sharpei mix)
 We take Sandie with us to the rescue this Sat/Sun. to meet the little boy and then we hand in our application Sandie and he seem to get along and then we have a home check and then we will see what they think!


Have you ever adopted an animal from a shelter or rescue or pound?  If you did then you can probably identify with the above poem.  I know I can.   How do you feel about adopting vs. buying at a pet store?  Anything you'd like to share?  I'd love to hear your story (of your opinion or story to share).  Thanks!

Monday, July 8, 2013

Breakfast with a Transient

A transient in her room.












WARNING:  This is a write up of my personal vacation and may carry some undertones or statements about the homeless that you may/may not agree with.  The intention is not to have a discussion about the homeless (that will be another time in July) but to read the story as I tell it from my experience about what I saw there.  Do not go further if you feel you need to debate my personal experience.  I have all comments on moderation and will not post anything negative in this one.  Thank you for stopping at this point or reading on. 


I had a wonderful Fourth of July vacation with my husband, John and my dog Sandie.  We went to an animal friendly hotel a couple of towns away from home.  We do this 2 times a year due to all the illegal fireworks in our neighborhood (ones that scare the heck outta my dog) and the boozing people til 2am at the local bar, and the parties on every side of us.  The hotel has always been very good to us.  We have a refrig. and microwave in our room so we were able to cut back on going out to eat for the two meals a day (breakfast is served buffet style) in the dining room!


One day we were sitting in the dining room and a very skiddish woman (or so we thought) was looking to sit down in the filled room and I had an extra chair at my table with my husband and offered it to her.  Her hands were filled with packets of hot chocolate (8 of them) and oatmeal packets (8 of them) and then a mass of artificial sweetners and creamers that she dropped on the floor.  My husband helped her up with them and she looked perplexed as she looked at the table with no room for all of that.  I found another empty chair and gave that to her and she divided them between the chair and the table.  She sat down and knocked her coffee onto the table (the table was unsteady) and I brought napkins to her and helped her clean up the table and she sat down.



Next it was time for the eggs.  My husband counted 10 hard boiled eggs on the table.  She left the table and went outside and came back with something to hold all the eggs.  I asked her if she needed a bag from my room and she declined saying that she would find something in the dumpster.  I tried to help her but she really didn't want any.  Then I suggested that she eat a waffle and she said, "Yes, I suppose I have time for that."  We all began to eat and enjoy her company.

She was forthright and loud in sharing that she is not staying in the hotel, she is a transient who happened upon this breakfast years back and comes often to get what she can.  I figured it was ok with the hotel. 

I told her about the cold cereal because for the life of me I couldn't figure out how she would get her hot chocolate hot or the oatmeal hot either.  She went and started bringing back boxes of cold cereal.  She shared all about how she picks fruit from all the fruit trees and avocados as well.  She said that she was kicked out of the shelter where we donate clothes and toiletries and games and school supplies for the children.



When it was time for us to leave and we went outside, I asked my husband if he thought she'd get nabbed for all that food when we left there, because the place started to clear out as we left.

On our last morning there, a man who is staying in the hotel told me about the problem of the homelessness and the way in which they abuse the food for breakfast by sneaking in the back door and shoving all that they can into their pockets and leaving.  I then shared with the breakfast attendant that morning what happened on the day no one replaced her for the day.  She said that quite often at the beginning of the month the homeless will come to the hotel and pay to sleep there for about 4 nights and then when they get to the breakfast station they pack boxes with the food and they can't do anything about it because the homeless are now hotel guests.

I was hearing her and agreed with her that it's a really bad situation because the homeless who are sleeping in the woods next to the hotel are taking advantage of the hotel.  They are stuck for a solution to this.  I suggested that they shut the back door and she said that she can't because of vendors coming in and out.  I also saw that she doubles as the breakfast attendant and the front desk gal for checkouts.  No wonder she can't keep her eyes on what is happening with the homeless people.

I was happy to have had breakfast with a transient and learn from her and then learn from the hotel staff.  By the way, during our last night at the hotel a transient came in and went skinny dipping.  We were already gone from the hot tub and pool when that happened but the word was all around the breakfast tables.  Also, I was warned not to go to the local motel because that is where the drug addicts are.  They get their checks and go there to sell drugs to each other and then into the woods to the homeless.  I'm so sad about this situation. But as of now there appears to be no answer to the problem.


Saturday, July 6, 2013

Vicks Cool Mist GermFree Humidifier Review and Giveaway



Rating: 5 stars out of 5
Overview: 
99.9% GermFree, 100% Cool Mist
The V3900 Vicks® Cool Mist GermFree Humidifier kills up to 99.9% of germs, bacteria, and mold in the water prior to producing a cool mist. In addition, you also can add in the soothing relief of Vicks vapors. In other words, if better breathing is your objective, you just might have found a cooler, GermFree answer. 
   Package Information:


Warranty:
  • Three-year warranty
Parts:
  • Uses VSP-19 Vicks Scent Pads or new Sleepy Time VapoPads; one sample Scent Pad is included.
  • Kaz Protec WF2 Filter (included) removes impurities from water.
Manual:
Download the V3900 Vicks Cool Mist GermFree Humidifier product manual (PDF).

Get Adobe® Reader®

Questions? Email ConsumerRelations@kaz.com.

I am so happy that I was given the opportunity to try out this Honeywell Vicks Cool Mist GermFree Humidifier!  I deal with so many allergies year-round that this was the best humidifier for me.  The last time I had one was when I was a child for many years and then I didn't use one as the allergies seemed to clear up with the use of medication.  After being married I wanted to use more natural ways to ease my allergies and that is when I was able to receive (for free with the intended purpose of writing a review) this machine!  It did wonders for me all winter long.  I will need it again in the summer-fall when the Santa Ana winds come to the beach.  The air is filled with dirt and sand that just blows around all day and night.

I love how big the tank is. It will last all night and through the next day (running it periodically, not constantly) and it is really easy to fill with a large handle to help you carry it.

I also love that it plugs into the wall and then has an off setting, low, med, and high settings as well. The high really gets things going and the low one doesn’t seem like it does much. The medium one is what I run most of the time.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia:

A humidifier is a household appliance that increases humidity (moisture) in a single room or in the entire house. There are point-of-use humidifiers, which are commonly used to humidify a single room, and whole-house or furnace humidifiers, which connect to a home's HVAC system to provide humidity to the entire house.

The most common humidifier, an "evaporative", "cool mist", or "wick humidifier", consists of just a few basic parts: a reservoir, wick and fan.

The wick is a filter that absorbs water from the reservoir and provides a larger surface area for it to evaporate from. The fan is adjacent to the wick and blows air onto the wick to aid in the evaporation of the water. Evaporation from the wick is dependent on relative humidity. A room with low humidity will have a higher evaporation rate compared to a room with high humidity. Therefore, this type of humidifier is self-regulating: As the humidity of the room increases, the water vapor output naturally decreases. These wicks become moldy if they are not dried out completely between fillings, and become filled with mineral deposits over time. They regularly need rinsing or replacement—if this does not happen, air cannot pass through them, and the humidifier stops humidifying the area it is in and the water in the tank remains at the same level.

When winter hits, people go inside for warmth and turn on their furnaces. The artificial heat does more than warm a room. It dries out the room. Humidifiers add moisture to the air, making the room more comfortable.
Everyone, young, old, male and female, will at some point in their lives, have problems breathing through their nose. These breathing problems could be related to a medical condition that requires medication or even surgery. The breathing problems could be related to something simple, such as dry air. Either way, for most people, it seems that the nose stuffiness worsens at night.


How Humidifiers Work:






  1. Moistens Dry Skin

    • Your skin loses moisture when the air is dry. You already know this if you have eczema, as your flareups are probably worse in the winter, when the furnace is on. Place a humidifier in the room or rooms you use most frequently to keep your skin supple and any eczema symptoms minimal.

    Unplugs the Nose

    • Running a humidifier at night can alleviate your stuffy nose during the winter and even eliminate the nosebleeds caused by dry air. Artificial heat dries out the nasal passages. A humidifier puts moisture back in the air, giving your nose the conditioning it needs.

    Saves Money

    • A humid home feels warmer than a home with dry air. On average, a home that is running its furnace has an interior humidity of 20 percent. If you move up the humidity to 40 percent, you will feel warmer. This means that you can turn your heater down and see a smaller utility bill next month.

    Eases Cold Symptoms

    • Winter means cold and flu season, and one of the worst parts of a cold is the stuffy nose and tickling cough that keeps you up at night. Eucalyptus, or menthol, is a natural decongestant. Placing three to nine drops of eucalyptus essential oil in your humidifier tank will diffuse this healing plant's scent into the room and relieve your cold symptoms, giving you a better night's sleep without the use of drugs.

       I plan to add to this review at the end of fall to share how I survived through the Santa Ana winds and allergies. 

      The giveaway is just below here.   All questions need to be answered, they are all mandatory.  Anyone who omits an answer will not be entered into the giveaway.  Thank you!








a Rafflecopter giveaway

The importance of blogging and tips for blogging (SHARED)


Blogs have become the poor man’s website and for good reason. The best thing about a blog is that it is free. Sites like Blogger and WordPress have provided excellent services for people to create websites with ease. But with all of the blogs out on the net, how do you make yours stand out? There are a few methods that work extremely well, and then there are a few methods that don’t work at all.

Creating an online blog is a great way for anybody to get the word out about his or her opinions or online services they can provide.
 
I'm a make up artist and so I talk a lot about make up from various places and how to do certain looks and match them with clothes!  I'm a clothes-horse!

I'm an eclectic blogger but there are topics that I write about more than others.  

The first thing you are going to want to do when creating a blog is picking your niche. A niche is the most important aspect of how successful you are going to be. If you’re going to be writing a blog about web hosting, then good luck. Unless you have a great point of view or thousands of reviews on the best web hosting sites on the Internet, you’re going to find it hard to rank high in the search engines. When you pick your niche, pick a general topic. Now narrow your general topic to something smaller. Now do it again. Now do it again. Now you are ready for your blog. Having a blog that focuses on one aspect of a topic is the best way to get traffic.
 

The next thing that you want to do is write everyday. Updating your blog everyday is the best way to get it picked up by the search engines. Search engines like Google and Yahoo index blogs and websites based on their content. If you are updating your blog everyday and are putting more and more original content up, your blog is going to rank high in the search engines.
 

So you have a blog that has a ton of content and a great niche, but you’re still not seeing any traffic? This is where people get stuck. It’s the all too common tale of somebody with a great product, but no knowledge of how to sell it. This is where one-way linking comes in. As you researched your niche, you probably went though a bunch of discussion forums.


Discussion forums are great because they always rank high in the Google and Yahoo rankings. Join two discussion forums a day and post comments on your topic. They should allow you to link to your blog through your profile. This way when somebody researches your niche, they will see your post and click on your blog.

Article marketing is another way of getting the word out about your blog. Take a couple of the posts that you have published on your blog and re-write them. Now you can submit them to various article directories on the Internet like E zine and Article base. These websites also rank very high in the Google rankings. Just like in the discussion forums, you should be able to post links to your blog from your profile page.

Viral marketing is another way to get an extreme amount of traffic to your website. Sites like Metacafe and Youtube have brought thousands of people’s blogs onto the map. If you enjoy talking about your niche or doing short how-to videos, film a couple of videos and include a link to your blog in the information bracket.


Another great way to build readership to your blog is by giving away free items. You don’t have to have a raffle for a new TV or anything, but you can post downloadable articles, ebooks or software to your blog. This is great because people are always looking to get something for free. When one person gets a free ebook, they are extremely likely to send the link to other people, thus giving you more traffic.
 
Starting a blog is not an easy task. If you’re looking for something that you can update a couple of times a month and share with friends, then you don’t really need to worry about traffic. But if you’re looking to make some extra money or even a full time income, you are going to need a very high volume of traffic and a decent ranking in Google and other search engines. Blogging is a great way to make additional money online.





The use of viral and article marketing is a proven way to bring you the traffic you need. Posting on discussion forums related to your niche is also a great way to get the word out about your blog. Stay away from e books and online sites that will try to sell you blogging tips. Most of the materials you need can be found through You tube videos, online articles or just a little digging.

SHARED:   http://chrisbrocklesby.com/blogging-for-success/
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