Hello Friends & Happy New Year Monday
By now you’ve probably read a Business Report that listed some of the top jobs in Social Media for 2014. If not, here’s a list of just a few:
- SEO Specialist
- Social Media Strategist
- Online Community Manager
- Social Media Marketing Manager
- Social Media Coordination
- Blogger
So what does that mean to you and I – it’s GOOD NEWS!!! We may be in a position to write our own ticket if we stick to the 3-P’s:
- Passion
- Patience
- Perseverance
Blogging is no longer just a hobby for many nor is it a get-rich-scheme. Advertisers are looking to put their money somewhere – so why not with you and your blog?
In order to monetize a blog not only do you have to stick with the 3-P’s, you also have to remember the 3-C’s:
- Content
- Communities
- Collaboration
No man is an island and neither is a blogger – we can’t survive alone. Our content must be great – ABC (Always Be Creating). Advertisers are looking for blogs with good numbers, check your ratings, use analytics, email marketing, social media and keep current with your stats.
Share, comment, meet and greet and join a community – ABC (Always Be Creating). My experience has shown that bloggers are very willing to share their knowledge, we are all experts in our own niche. Join a community like Sverve, be active, participate, hangout and share. Respond to your comments and comment on other blogs, learn, read and stay current, it will help to increase your numbers. You don’t need to join every social media site out there, just pick one or two but be very active on them.
Collaborate, support each other, follow up don’t just comment and run, stay paired up and shared up. Blogging is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and the pot is big – envy and jealousy has no place! “Congratulate ~ Don’t Hate” when others get opportunities, follow them to learn how they did it.
There is no magic bullet…no one size fits all or only one way way to monetize your blog. Try out different methods – do what works best for you – mind your P’s and C’s but remember to have fun – everything else will fall into place.
What have you done to successfully grow your blogging business?
Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!
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Hello Friends and Happy Saturday
Today many people in the Northeast are digging themselves out from under the results of the first major snow storm of the new year. Snowstorm Hercules caused a lot of problems for many travelers up and down the eastern seaboard and today we are experiencing dangerously low temperatures and high winds causing snow drifts.
Thursday afternoon I left work early to get a jump on the impending storm and made it home safely before any major snow began to fall. However, it was well before 8:00 pm when the intensity of the snow increased and calls from the School Districts began. I decided to use a PTO day in order to avoid a long and possible 3 hour commute into work on Friday.
The snow continued throughout the night and into the early morning which excited hubby because he would finally be able to use his snow blower! He purchased a Craftsman Snow Blower three years ago after the big storm of 2010, but it went unused due to the extremely mild winters that followed.
Like a kid with a new toy, he stayed out so long that the tips of his fingers began to tingle. Did he use the extra gloves and hand warmers that I threw out to him – nope ~ oh well, too bad, so sad!
Despite the intense cold and blustery winds I ran outside a few times to capture the beauty of the day.
These scenes from the back deck and pool made me think – CAN’T WAIT FOR SPRING!
The beauty of the snow was only intensified by God’s gift of light!
Where you affected by snowstorm, and if so, how did you spend the day?
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in the New Year!
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Hello Friends and Happy 1st Fri-Yay 2014!
Today’s Foodie Feature is a 4 ingredient 40 minute meal ~ Shrimp Alfredo
Ingredients:
- Ragu Cheesy Sauce – 1 Jar
- Thin Pasta – 1/2 box
- Broccoli – 2 crowns
- Shrimp – small raw, deveined, tail off
Place frozen shrimp in a steamer pot or double boiler (fill bottom pan with water) – cover and steam on low heat until shrimp turns pink.
Rinse and cut stems from fresh broccoli. Steam or microwave if you prefer tender broccoli crowns.
Boil water and cook pasta according to box directions, or for approximately 7 minutes.
Drain but do not rinse pasta and return to pan.
Add broccoli crowns
Pour in entire jar of Ragu Cheesy Sauce, adding a little water to the empty jar, shake and pour into pan. Stir to mix ingredients thoroughly and cook on low for an additional 7-10 minutes to heat sauce and soften broccoli crowns.
Seasoned only with a little black pepper this made for an easy breezy meal and was a big hit with my men.
Stay Blessed ~ No Stress in the New Year!
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Hello Friends and Happy Thankful Thursday
Last month I received a wonderful gift-from-the-heart from a fellow blogger who will remain nameless, but it gave me an opportunity to “pay it forward”. Sharing your blessings not only makes you feel good but it can also make you look good too!
Both and top and corduroy skirt were thrifted from Goodwill
Textured tights | Walmart
Whenever you get a chance, pay it forward my friends and you’ll stay blessed!
Thrifting and Shoes are my two favorite things – what are yours?Come on over to Katherine’s Corner and share at today’s Favorite Things Hop!
Stay Blessed – No Stress in the New Year!
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I am wishing you a very Happy and Prosperous New Year!
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Hello Friends and Happy New Year’s Eve!
As we close out the year 2013, I would like to take this time to say, “Thank You” to all my wonderful bloggy friends and followers.
A Blog is defined as:
-
“a personal website or web page on which an individual records opinions, links to other sites, etc. on a regular basis.”
Yet it is so much more, a blog becomes part of you, a special part of your life an extension of your personality. If done in the right spirit it can fill you with added joy and happiness.
Each of you in your own unique way has definitely added more joy and happiness to my life. When you take the time to read and comment on my posts, write your own uplifting and informational posts – take beautiful photographs and fashionable attire, you open your home and hearts to others…and all of this makes my life brighter.
Thank you D-Anna at Style Salvation, a fashionista diva for nominating me for a “Best Moment” award and thank you Clouds n Cups, jewelry designers extraordinaire for the “Blog of The Year 2013” award nomination!
Thank you all my bloggy friends for everything you have done and for everything that you are! Continue inspiring, delighting and informing others with your blogs.
I am wishing you Peace and Prosperity as we enter another year in our lives.
Be Safe and Be Happy &
May God Richly Bless You All!
Happy New Year!
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Hello Friends and Happy Monday
I trust you all had a wonderful weekend and I know most of you are still on holiday which probably made it even better. Did you hit the stores and do a little more shopping or did you just stay home and relax?
I went back to work on Thursday but took off on Friday and it was mah-va-lous, I put on a pair of leggings, a tunic and no makeup, it was great.
Christmas 2013 was very nice, a little quieter than in previous years but never the less it was nice being together as a family. None of us got up before 10, and after opening our gifts we spent a lazy day watching “A Christmas Story“, eating and napping.
This was my husband’s first try at stocking stuffing and I had to laugh because mine looked as though it threw up a scarf! The Moscato was a gift from Pockets Discount Liquors and I will popping it open on New Year’s Eve.
A stadium chair for those hard bleachers at Malik’s wrestling matches; Philadelphia Eagles car mats for Tayair and another jewelry box to help me organize the top of my dresser.
Tayair received a US Polo Assn jacket and the Polaroid A8 Tablet that I purchased from Walgreens.
Baltimore Raven’s pajama bottoms, a US Polo Assn jacket and heavy duty car mats for al-Malik.
Socks (thrown a-la A Christmas Story), Old Spice and a Fireproof Safe
A bathrobe and a Gillette Set
Earrings, animal printer slippers and a watch from my mini-men
Warm tops and Hot Sauces
Gift Cards and Stockings full of sweets and a toothbrush!
Hubby would love for me to wear the scarf this way…but I say, “no way”!
Some things never change!
How was your Christmas?
Blog Hopping with Maria @ Monday Mingle
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Hello Friends and Happy (soggy) Sunday
Sitting here at the kitchen table, cutting out coupons and watching the rain fall I decided to fire up the iPad and read my emails (multi-tasking to the max). After reading a new comment from Kirsten Womack I decided to repost the Kale and Black Eye Pea Soup recipe as a twist on my traditional New Year’s Eve dinner.
The cooking and eating of Black Eye Peas and Collard Greens is a New Year’s Day tradition deeply rooted in the African American culture. I have for many years always had a big pot of Black Eye Peas and Collard Greens simmering on the stove top while chicken wings were being deep fried on the side. It’s tradition to eat a little of each immediately after kneeling in prayer on New Years Eve for good luck and prosperity heading forward.
This year will be no exception, however, I may use the Crock Pot to cook them both together not only for the added luck but because it will make for an easier clean up.
We also send one of our sons outside with money in his pocket and then have him be the first to walk through the front door. This is not an African American tradition it’s just something fun to do!
What are your New Year’s Eve Traditions?
REPOST from 12/13/13
Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is Kale & Black Eye Pea Soup
Sunday I purchased a container of CutnClean Kale from Safeway to be used in my salads for the week. However, after hearing the weather forecast for more snow I decided to use it to make a Crock Pot soup with Black Eye Peas.
In the winter, my grandmother used to make the best homemade vegetable soups using ingredients she already had in the refrigerator, freezer or pantry. So in keeping with tradition I used some leftover celery stalks, an onion, garlic, carrots and Bouillon cubes to make this soup.
Ingredients:
- Dry Black Eye Peas – 1/2 bag
- Kale – 1/2 package
- Celery – diced
- Carrots – diced
- Onion – diced
- Garlic – diced
- Bouillon Cubes (2)
- Water
- Olive Oil
- Black Pepper
- Smoked Turkey Necks (optional)
Mama Midget (yes that was her name), never used measuring cups or spoons so neither do I especially when using the Crock Pot. I just throw in what I have or think is enough.
Rinse and drain 1/2 bag of dry Black Eye peas
Add 2 Bouillon Cubes to 3 cups of hot water
Pour Olive Oil into Crock Pot just enough to cover bottom
Chop onion, garlic, carrots and celery and add to Crock Pot
Add Kale and sprinkle with Black Pepper
Pour in Bouillon Stock, adding more water to cover all ingredients if necessary
Stir and if desired add Smoked Turkey Legs or Necks
Cover and cook on low 8 hour, high 4 hours – depending on Crock Pot model. Don’t forget to make some Skillet Corn Bread!
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Hello Friends and Happy Fri-Yay after Christmas!!!
Today’s Friday Foodie Feature is
Slow Cooked Boneless Beef Ribs & Bean Soup
This recipe would definitely be something to fix during your time off from work. It’s an easy-breezy-no-stress-fix-it and-forget-it hardy meal.
Ingredients
Boneless Beef Ribs or any cheap cut of beef
1 large can of Tomato Sauce
1 large can of Diced Tomatoes
1 medium onion – diced
1 bag of dry beans
seasoning of choice
Cooking Spray
Rinse beans in cool water and strain then dice onion into bite size pieces. Spray Crock Pot with a cooking spray for easier cleanup.
Layer ribs and sprinkle with seasoning of choice, I crushed a Knorr’s Cilantro Bouillon Cube over mine.
Top with diced onions
Add beans and cans of tomato sauce and diced tomatoes
Stir slightly
Cover and cook on low for 8-10 hours or high for 4 hours – depending on Crock Pot Model. Needless to say, the house was smelling delicious and my men loved it!
I think this might be my new favorite Crock Pot soup, what is yours?
Linking up with the Northeast Bloggers Network for the
Five on Friday (there ARE 5 ingredients in this recipe) blog hop and Pin It Link Party.
Have a blessed day and be a blessing to others – Smooches!
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Hello Friends and Happy Kwanzaa!
I trust you all had an enjoyable and peaceful Christmas and that you received everything you wanted.
Today is the first day of Kwanzaa and the first principle is Umoja or “Unity”. As you go about your day I ask that you spread a little kindness with a smile or a simple “how do you do”. This can make someone’s day brighter because we are all in this crazy mixed-up world together!
The last day of Kwanzaa is January 1st and if you have plans of going out for New Year’s Eve you’re probably in need of a new outfit.
As a stylist with the Goodwill 2014 Runway Show I’ve had the opportunity to pull together outfits for the various models. I’ve also pulled some dresses for the show that I think would be great for a New Year’s Eve event.
All of these dresses were under $20.00, most were only $5.00, so if you broke the bank at Christmas you can definitely save money for New Years.
Whether you’ll be dancing and prancing or just sitting and staring at others on the dance floor, you’ll look good doing it in a new dress or gown from Goodwill. Accessories such as new shoes, scarves, jewelry and handbags can also be found at your local Goodwill.
As you can see, several of these dresses and shoes are new with the tags still attached. There are definitely bargains to be found at Goodwill and you’ll be giving back and helping others in your community not only with your purchases but with your donations as well.
So what do you think, will it be a “Breakfast At Tiffany’s” or “Sex in the City” type of night?
Have a wonderful time and be safe!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!
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Collaborate, support each other, follow up don’t just comment and run, stay paired up and shared up. Blogging is not a sprint, it’s a marathon and the pot is big – envy and jealousy has no place! “Congratulate ~ Don’t Hate” when others get opportunities, follow them to learn how they did it.
