Flash Giveaway #1 ~ Janet Evanovich Book and Holiday Tote Bag

I really need to get this blog back to the readership that I used to have, so to kick that off I'm doing a giveaway for the Janet Evanovich book Plum Lovin and a cute snowman tote bag.  If I can get to 200 Facebook fans by Christmas, I will do a separate giveaway for a $25.00 Target Gift Card.

To enter:  simply comment with the name of your favorite author. 

Earn 1 extra entry for each of the following:  please be sure to leave a separate comment for each entry.  A winner will be chosen at midnight on Thursday December 8th.

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Top 5 ways to make some extra money at the Holidays

 I know times are tough, so I've put together my Top 5 favorite ways to make some extra money at the Holidays.  Actually, most of this can be done year round but I know how hard it is to find the cash to cover the extra expense of gifts for friends and family, food and clothing for Holiday parties, and all of the other things that go along with it.  Fortunately, most of these are really easy to do and can help you to make some money fairly quickly.

5.  Sell used items on e-marketplaces such as Ebay or Craigslist or have a yard sale.  You can easily generate an extra $100-$200 in a weekend just buy selling items that you know longer use or need.

4.  Use coupons to save money each week on your weekly grocery bill and to save money on date night with the hubby or significant other.  It may not seem like a lot, but I save an average of $30-70 a week so that goes straight into my bottom line.  Remember, a penny saved is a penny earned.

3.  Do mystery shopping to make some money while shopping at your favorite stores.  You pick the jobs, and shop as you normally would, then write up the reports and submit them to get paid.  For a complete FREE listing of Mystery Shopping companies go to Volition.com.  It's an awesome site with links to hundreds of Mystery Shopping Companies.  Remember, you do not EVER need to pay to be a Mystery Shopper.   

2.  Get paid for posting affiliate links on websites that you already use such as Facebook, Twitter, or Craigslist.  Put together a Holiday Gift Guide and fill it with Affiliate Links and then post links to it or specific items everywhere that you can possibly imagine.  You would be surprised how easy it can be to make money through affiliate links.  Some of my favorite affiliate companies are:  Escalate Network, Market Leverage, and Commission Junction. 

1.  Get paid for writing reviews.  I use Sponsored Reviews and Business2Blogger among others. 

Bonus:  I have not tried this, but I'm going to one of these days.  I keep hearing that people are making money from posting videos on their own YouTube channels.  I haven't done it yet because I don't know what I could do that could be that interesting, but who knows maybe one of these day I will figure it out.  


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Facebook Fan Page

 If  I can get this blog to 200 Fans by Christmas, I will give away a $25.00 Target Gift Card.  So, please share my fan page with your friends and help me get there so I can give this away. 



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The Betty 10 - Red Hot Holiday Trends

Like most of us, you're probably gearing up for a wonderful holiday season filled with great family, great friends, and of course, great food.  Thankfully, Betty Crocker is here to help make cooking and entertaining easier than ever with Betty Crocker’s Red Hot Holiday Trends 2011! The food experts at Betty Crocker have selected trends that will be red hot this holiday season, and have created delicious recipes to bring each one to life. These fun and delicious recipes are sure to fire up any holiday event, and keep you toasty and warm for the New Year ahead.

Trend: Double Desserts Taking two desserts and mixing and mashing them together is one of our favorite trends. Things like pie shakes, cookie stuffed cookies, and pie-filled cupcakes deliver a whole new kind of delicious. It’s a 1+1=3 kind of thing. Recipe: Pumpkin Pie Cookies Pie, meet cookie. Cookie, say hello to pie. When two all-time favorites come together, you get Pumpkin Pie Cookies, the star at your next holiday cookie exchange.

Trend: Boozy Baking From booze cakes to cocktail pies, bakers everywhere are bringing the bar into the kitchen. A titch of tequila or a skosh of scotch whiskey adds a serious shot of fun and flavor for the over 21 crowd. We’re loving these boozy baked goods! Recipe: Boozy Bourbon Chocolate Cupcakes Taste for yourself what the buzz is all about! A bit of bourbon, a hit of coffee liqueur and some vanilla vodka-spiked frosting make these sophisticated chocolate cupcakes the ultimate “holiday helpers.”

Trend: Color. Flavor. Fun. Traditional baked goods are being transformed with bright colors and playful flavors. With a little creativity and imagination, no one can resist this happy, fun food! Recipe: Cake Batter Cookie Stackers Take sugar cookies to a whole new level of delicious! Kids and adults will love these cake batter flavored cookies with colorful frosting, and lots of sprinkles! Stack ‘em up and watch ‘em go.

Trend: From Cave to Kitchen Forget the man cave. Today guys are in the kitchen making (or at least appreciating) really good food. Big food. Really good, big food that’s stacked and stuffed with the flavors they can’t resist. Recipe: Mantastic Fried Chicken ‘n’ Waffle Sandwich Here’s a new take on chicken ‘n’ waffles - made better with beer, bacon, and bourbon. It’s the ultimate manly man meal.

Trend: Skinny Cocktails Here’s the skinny! Drinking high-calorie cocktails is so last year. The modern mixologist is shaking things up with light & flavorful cocktails. Recipe: Skinny Clementine Martini Add some clever sparkle to your next party. Enjoy these natural, light martinis made with fresh juice, high-quality liquor, and a splash of club soda. Lower calorie cocktails never tasted, or looked, so sweet. Cheers!

Trend: Better Than Bought From canning to candy making, there’s a renewed interest in handcrafted foods. This season, homemade food gifts are just the right thing to show your care and creativity. Recipe: Cajeta Caramel Fudge Create the perfect combination of flavor and crunch with this homemade candy. Rich chocolate fudge layered with cajeta caramel, cashews and a sprinkle of sea salt—a recipe to impress.

Trend: Veggie Love Once just tolerated, vegetables are now celebrated. Omnivores and herbivores alike have discovered that veggies offer variety and great taste, and are feeling the love. Recipe: Sweet Potato Hummus Hummus with fresh sweet potato packs even more plant power. Add a delicious blend of smoked paprika, coriander, and cumin to make this flavorful dip.

Trend: Shareworthy & Allergen-Friendly Allergen-friendly foods may be free from things like nuts, dairy and eggs, but shouldn’t be free from flavor. Thankfully, we’re seeing new foods and recipes that can be enjoyed by everyone – whether you’re allergy-sensitive or not. Recipe: Gluten-Free Pumpkin Bread Gather everyone around the table to enjoy this moist and delicious pumpkin bread. Made with no nuts, no dairy, no eggs, and no gluten - no kidding!

Trend: D-I-Y for D-O-G Man’s best friend deserves man’s best effort. That’s why making your own dog food is one of the latest canine crazes! This year, homemade dog treats are at the top of fido’s list. Recipe: Dog Bark This treat will make your dog sit up and beg for more. Make the bark by melting carob chips and peanut butter then top with your dog’s favorite ingredients – bacon and cheese. Bow WOW!

Trend: Food Craft The kitchen is the new craft room. With food as their medium, clever cooks are making amazing edible food crafts that are as good to look at as they are to eat. Recipe: Chocolate Coal Lumps Naughty or nice, everyone will love these easy cho-coal-late treats. Cocoa Puffs® cereal dipped in melted chocolate and marshmallows create these tasty stocking stuffers.

I received the details of this post from Betty Crocker through MyBlogSpark.

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