Image: © Paul-andré Belle-isle

When I was younger, I studied classical piano for over 10 years. I practiced “every day” (*yeah, right*) and attended lessons every weekend. There were recitals, competitions, and performances. More recently, I’ve had the hankering to learn how to play guitar.

I know some people are able to learn music on their own, but others prefer a more structured or more formal music training. However find the right music teacher isn’t always easy. How do you know they’re qualified? How do you know you’ll like them? What if their teaching style doesn’t work? TakeLessons.com offers an innovative way to help you find a music instructor and learn music – whether it’s in your home, in a music studio, or online.

TakeLessons.com taps their network of private music teachers, art instructors, and tutors throughout the US to provide music lessons on everything from the mandolin to the cello. Their certified teachers are pre-screened and vetted through skill assessments, interviews, reference checks, and background checks. You can use the TakeLessons.com “Search for a Teacher” tool to find a teacher near you or to find an online instructor. The price of your lessons will vary based on your location and the length of your lesson.

I decided to check out the options for learning guitar online. I really liked how they offer so much information about the instructors and their backgrounds. You can also read reviews from other students and view the availability for online lessons for each instructor. For online music training, all you need is a webcam, Skype, and the internet – so convenient!

TakeLessons.com Summer Kickoff Sale

If you’ve been thinking about learning to sing or play a musical instrument, this summer is a great time to learn. TakeLessons.com is offering a special sale from today, May 23rd, through May 28th, where you can save 20% off all lesson packages. You can book your music lessons online or call them at 619-618-7445 and use code MUSICMOM5 to receive the discount.

Save 20% off Music Lessons at TakeLessons.com!

Disclaimer: This post was sponsored by TakeLessons.com. All opinions expressed are 100% mine.

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The article "Get Musical with TakeLessons.com – Memorial Day Sale!" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

Mid Atlantic

NW (or all), Connecticut :: Parenting Miracles
Boston (or all), Massachusetts :: Maven of Savin
Central, New Jersey :: Our Good LIfe
Adirondak Mountains and Central, New York :: For This Season
Buffalo/Niagara Falls, New York :: Ann’s Entitled Life
Syracuse, New York :: I am THAT lady
Erie, Pennsylvania :: Growing Kids Ministry
Greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania :: Family Balance Sheet
Hershey, Pennsylvania :: Good Deal Mama
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania :: Beyond the Cover
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania :: The Coupon “High”
Poconos, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains
Scranton, Pennsylvania :: Bucktown Bargains

Midwest

Des Moines, Iowa :: Make the best of everything
Aurora, Illinois :: A Savings WOW!
Central, Illinois :: The Homeschool Scientist
Chicago, Illinois :: Chicagoland Homeschool Network
Naperville, Illinois :: The Sensible Mom
Schaumburg, Illinois :: Ravings By Rae
Fort Wayne, Indiana :: Simplified Saving
Indianapolis, Indiana (Metro Area) :: In Good Cents
Muncie, Indiana (Central IN) :: the daisyhead
Northern Indiana :: So Dough Savvy
Kansas City Area :: Kansas City Mamas
Metro Detroit, Michigan :: Saving Dollars and Sense
Grand Rapids, Michigan :: Give Me Neither
Oakland County, Michigan :: Bargain Shopper Mom
Minneapolis, Minnesota :: Creative Couponing
Rural Minnesota (either Southern our Lake Country) :: Mommysavers.com
St. Cloud, Minnesota :: Frugal Finders
Kansas City, Missouri/Kansas :: Kosher on a Budget
Springfield, Missouri :: Getting Freedom
Cincinnati, Ohio :: Family Friendly Cincinnati
Columbus, Ohio :: Cleverly Simple
Dayton, Ohio :: Savings Lifestyle: Dayton
Mansfield, Ohio :: The Traveling Praters
NE Ohio :: Raising Lifelong Learners
Northeast Ohio (Canton, Akron, Cleveland) :: Sisters Shopping on a Shoestring
Black Hills, South Dakota :: Little House Living
South Dakota :: Moms Mustard Seeds
Oshkosh, Wisconsin :: Adventures of a Stay at Home Mom

Mountain

Phoenix, Arizona :: Mom Endeavors
Scottsdale, Arizona :: Saving For Someday
Tucson, Arizona :: Desert Chica Ramblings
Colorado Springs, Colorado :: The Greenbacks Gal
Denver, Colorado :: Bargain Blessings
Helena, Montana :: The WiC Project
Omaha, Nebraska :: Mom Endeavors
Reno, Nevada – Lake Tahoe (Northern Nevada) :: Saving in Nevada

Pacific

Fresno, California (Central Valley) :: NerdFamily Blog
Los Angeles, California :: Savings.com
San Diego, California :: Good Cheap Eats
San Diego, California :: Life as MOM
Portland, Oregon :: Frugal Living NW
Seattle, Washington :: Thrifty NW Mom

South Atlantic

Arkansas :: Discovering Arkansas
Washington, DC :: Kidventurous
Clearwater Beach, Florida :: Bargain Briana
Jacksonville, Florida :: Saving The Family Money
Southwest Florida (Ft. Myers area) :: Chaos Is Bliss
St. Augustine, Florida :: Simply St. Augustine
Tallahassee, Florida :: SwagGrabber
Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: Hodgepodge
Atlanta, Georgia (metro area) :: The Couponing Couple
Annapolis, Maryland :: The Happy Housewife
Hagerstown, Maryland :: Cheryl Pitt
Asheville, North Carolina :: Paradise Praises
Charlotte, North Carolina :: from our front porch lookin’ in…
Raleigh/Southeastern, North Carolina :: Upside Down Homeschooling
Upstate South Carolina :: The Tween & Me
Charlottesville, Virginia :: How to Have it All
Richmond, Virginia :: Teachers of Good Things
Smithfield, Virginia :: Walking in High Cotton
Virginia Beach, Virginia :: The Coupon Challenge

South Central

Coastal Alabama :: Meet Penny
Huntsville, Alabama :: The Traveling Praters
Northern Kentucky :: Simply Sherryl
Chattanooga, Tennessee :: Living Chic on the Cheap
East Tennessee (Smoky Mountains, Knoxville) :: Finding Joy on the Journey
Nashville, Tennessee :: Montessori Tidbits
Arlington, Texas :: Grocery Shop For FREE
Austin, Texas (Hill Country) :: Ponder the Path
College Station, Texas :: How to Homeschool My Child
Dallas, Texas :: Surviving The Stores
East Dallas, Texas :: Funky Faith Girl
Fort Worth, Texas :: Coupons & Freebies Mom
Houston, Texas :: MomsToolbox
Houston, Texas :: MyLitter
Katy, Texas :: Moms Confession
McAllen, Texas (Rio Grande Valley) :: iLoveMy5Kids
San Antonio, Texas :: Melissa’s Bargains

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The article "Staycation Destination and Travel Guides" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

Which will you choose? $200 Amazon GC or $200 Cash?

Now’s your chance to win a little bit of extra cash or extra funds for your next Amazon purchase. Just enter our giveaway below for your chance to win your choice of a $200 Amazon Gift Card or $200 USD Cash via PayPal. This giveaway ends at 11:59PM EST on June 5, 2013 and is open to all eligible entrants worldwide!

Enter to win!

The Prize:
One winner will receive their choice of $200 Amazon GC or $200 Cash (via PayPal).

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: No compensation was given for this review/giveaway.

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The article "Win a $200 Amazon GC or $200 Cash!" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

The truth is that Helena, Montana’s capital, is one of the best places to have an affordable and fun-filled vacation or staycation. Before I list some of the things you can do in Helena, let me quickly list off a few things that make Helena awesome.

1. No traffic. Like, ever.
2. There’s a reason it’s called Big Sky Country. Big, beautiful skies that are free of pollution and smog.
3. An airport without lines. (OK, worst case, you might have 10 minute wait…barely.)
4. Did I mention no traffic?

Contrary to popular belief, Montana is not like Alaska. We are not covered in snow all year. There is sun. And there is green. (There are even buffalo.) The weather is warm in the summer and cold in the winter, which make it perfect for both summer and winter outdoor activities.

Have a Staycation in Helena, MT

Things to Do in Helena, MT

From boating on Hauser Lake to hiking in Helena National Forest, Helena, MT is a prime location for outdoor enthusiasts.

Boating

There are three lakes surround Helena – Canyon Ferry Lake, Hauser Lake, and Holter Lake, each offering spectacular boating opportunities. There are several boat landings that you can put into absolutely free. The great thing about boating in Helena is that if you have a boat, you can motor around to your heart’s content absolutely free. If you don’t have a boat, Kim’s Marina offers boat and canoe rentals on Canyon Ferry Lake for as little as $30/day or $10/hour.

Fishing

When we first visited Helena, we were amazed to see people hanging out by the road fishing. It was almost as if you could just throw in a line and start catching fish. And actually, you can! You do need a fishing license to fish in state waters which can be purchased online or at one of the many license providers around town.

Hiking

Helena is surrounded by forest. Literally. Wherever you turn, there are mountains that can be climbed and summits to be reached. Visit

If you have a hankering for more, Yellowstone National Park is just a few hours south of Helena. At Yellowstone, you can visit Old Faithful and see tons of wildlife – including bears, bison, and wolves.

Bison in Yellowstone

Skiing

During the winter months, Helena is a prime location for both downhill and cross country skiing, snowboarding, and other snow sports. There are several ski areas all within a 30 minute drive of down, offering winter recreation for both beginners and advanced skiers, with incredible views and scenery.

Shopping

One of the things I enjoy is walking around Downtown Helena. There is a wide variety of shops in the walking mall, and I found myself popping into this bookstore or that shop just to see what was inside. There is fine dining and quick bites all within a few minutes walk. When the weather is warm, make sure you stop by the Great Northern Carousel & Ice Cream Co. where you can ride a beautiful carousel and enjoy homemade ice cream. If you have a sweet tooth, Parrot Confectionery has been making excellent chocolates in Helena since 1922 and is worthy of a taste.

Relaxing

If you’re from the city, you’ll notice that the pace of Helena is a bit slower. Just being in Helena brings on a feeling of relaxation. If you’re looking for quiet, you don’t have far to look to get it. I’m often amazed that the rumble I hear when I step outside is from the wind blowing through the trees instead of cars rolling down a busy street. Head up into the hills and you’ll be amazed at the number of stars you can actually

Why yes, you can see the stars. That big white dot? That’s the moon.

During the summer, Helena, MT features the Alive @ 5 Concert Series. Every Wednesday, from 5-9PM, you can head over to Downtown Helena and enjoy free music, good food, and great fun.

For more holistic relaxation, pop down to the Boulder Hot Springs Inn and Spa, where you can find hot and cool pools and steam rooms that use geothermal mineral water, as well as the more traditional spa treatments.

With so much to do and so much to see and experience in Helena, it seems like you could spend years here and still not have seen it all. Even better – most Helena adventures are free, making Helena a great city for your next staycation or vacation!

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The article "Have a Staycation in Helena, Montana" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

A few years ago, we went to a blog conference in Pennsylvania. It was the first time I’d been to PA (my first blog conference as well, if I recall.) While we were there, we decided to spend one of the days being “tourists.” I had no idea what things we could do and was pleasantly surprised to learn that Hershey, PA – home of Hersheypark was nearby. Since it was just a few hours drive away from Maryland, we called up a few friends and decided to make our visit to Hershey “The Sweetest Place on Earth” an event.

As soon as we stepped into the Hersheypark, my first stop was the candy story. I mean, come on…we were at HERSHEYPARK! Of course I’m going to shop for some of my favorite Hershey’s chocolates. And wow – that store was amazing. Chocolate on every wall. Bite sized. Giant sized. It was like chocolate heaven. Gil logically told me that we should go shopping for souvenirs after we visited the park. There were roller coasters to be ridden and food to be eaten. Bags of souvenirs could wait until later.

While it had been awhile since being at an amusement park, Hersheypark did not disappoint. They have rides for kids both young and old. They have the traditional amusement parks snacks, and I happily enjoyed churros, hot dogs, and even picked up a giant bag of kettle corn for our drive home the next day.

If rides aren’t your thing, Hershey offers plenty of other entertainment options as well. When we visited, they were actually hosting a marching band competition. While we walked towards the park, we got to see drumlines and flag throwers practicing their performances. This summer, you can catch performances from Tony Bennett, Dave Matthews Band, and other big names at Hersheypark or one of the other entertainment centers.

After getting our fill of roller coasters and food, we decided to wind down for the evening by stopping at Hershey’s Chocolate World. There, we got to sit down and enjoy a relaxing ride while we learned about the chocolate making process.

At the end of the ride, we decided to go on the chocolate tour and make our own chocolate bars. From toppings to packaging, we got to become chocolatiers and create our perfect chocolate bar. My chocolate bar had peanuts and pretzels with sprinkles on top. It was the perfect conclusion to a fun-filled day.

The perfect Hershey’s Bar!

If you’re even in Hershey, PA – or if you’re within driving distance of Hershey, (which most East coasters are), I’d definitely recommend a visit. It’s a great place for a family vacation, with so much to see and so much to experience. It truly was “The Sweetest Place On Earth.”

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The article "A “Sweet” Vacation in Hershey, PA" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

I’ll begin this post by saying, if you aren’t trying to monetize your blog, or turn your blog into a business, or to make blogging a full time job, that’s totally fine! There are lots of people who blog purely for the fun of blogging. The question of value might not be an issue for you because you get everything you want as soon as you hit the “Publish” button. I think all bloggers can learn from that perspective and it’s a reminder that even if bloggers blog for money, this should still be fun.

That being said, there are also bloggers who want to supplement their incomes or use blogging as a full-time job to help pay bills or save extra cash. This post is mainly for you. This post is for bloggers who want to make money through their blogs but maybe don’t quite know how to start.

Follow the Money Flow

We’ll begin with a picture:

Do you want money to flow to you?

Companies are here for one thing – to make money. And they do make money. They make money because they have something that the consumer wants and will pay money for. Then the company takes some of that money  and advertises to more consumers to get more people to spend more money buying from the company. The company has money flowing in and money flowing out.

Part of the money flowing out goes to their employees – at least one of which is some sort of marketing manager or VP of sales or some other title. Regardless of what they’re called, that marketing person does not work for free. They get paid. They get paid for their knowledge and expertise in advertising, marketing, and growing consumer demand. When they interviewed for the position, they likely had a minimum salary requirement and possibly negotiated for a higher salary.

Sometimes the head of marketing will also work with an external marketing or PR firm. The external marketing or PR firm does not work for free. They get paid. They get paid because they offer a service, have knowledge, or can provide something that the head of marketing needs. When they were hired for the job, they likely submitted a bid or negotiated a rate to compensate for their time.

Company marketing folks and pr firm folks both work with bloggers. The question here is: Do you want to be a part of the money flow?

The company makes money. The marketing people make money. The PR firms make money. Why shouldn’t you?

Overcoming Doubts

I’ve noticed that many bloggers, especially ones that are first starting out, immediately start making excuses for why they shouldn’t get paid.

I’m just starting and my numbers are too low.

What if I ask for too much money?

What if they say “no”?

To all of those things, to all of those doubts, I say STOP BEING AFRAID.

In the working world, even interns fresh out of college get paid. If someone is contacting you about posting on your blog, then they’re contacting you for a reason. They see value in you.

If you ask for too much money, most companies that value you and your time will negotiate. Negotiations are standard business practice for all businesses – including blogging.

If they say “no” then what do you lose? They weren’t going to pay you anything anyways, right? I know many may think “But what if they don’t email me anymore? What if I lose the business connection?” And to that I say, “What’s wrong with losing the connection to a company that doesn’t value you or your time?”

Squash all of those fears right now. YOU ARE WORTH SOMETHING.

To help drive this point home, let’s say a car wash need someone to stand on the corner holding a “Car Wash This Way” sign. They email 100 people and say “Hey! We need someone to stand on the corner for 8 hours holding our sign!” Do you a) email them back and say “yes! I’ll hold your sign!” or b) email them back and say “I love your car wash! Is there any compensation for standing on the corner holding your sign for 8 hours?”

If your answer was a, please watch this video – you need a pep talk YOU ARE WORTH SOMETHING. “You were made to be awesome.”

If your answer was b, then we’re ready to start negotiations.

Calculating Your Worth

How much is your time worth?

Once you’ve decided that your time is worth something, the next question is usually “How much?” For some, it can be a box of crayons. For others it can be $500. You determine how much your time is worth.

Blogging, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest – those are all considered “social media.” As a blogger who manages and maintains all of those things for your blog, you’re doing the work of a Social Media Manager. According to PayScale, social media managers with less than 1 year of experience earn from $8.79 – $24.66 per hour. At a minimum, that’s what the “real world” values your time as. If you took your skills to a company as a social media manager, you’d likely make at least that (and probably more) right off the bat. Is your time worth less because you’re working for yourself?

An article on Babble last year proposed the following equation:

# of page views + # of twitter followers ÷ page rank # x $ .01 ÷ 2 = your approximate sponsored post rate.

While that can be a good starting point, that rate is based heavily on page views and Twitter followers. The author also states it doesn’t work for blogs with a high page rank – or even a page rank of 0. This equation also doesn’t take into account your influence, quality of writing, or reader engagement. The article also shares some of the rates and numbers that other bloggers were charging at the time and could give you some ideas of what other bloggers were successfully able to ask (and receive) for their work.

For me, it’s ultimately about finding a number that I can live with. For example, if it takes me about an hour to write, edit, and optimize a post, 30 minutes to photograph and PhotoShop, and additional hour of promoting across the social networks, at a minimum, I’d want to feel like I was fairly compensated for 2.5 hours of work.

How much time does it take to write a post?

Do you do any shopping or prep work or testing?

Do you take photographs or create custom graphics?

Do you promote your posts on Facebook? On Twitter? In a newsletter?

All of these things are valuable and are things people will pay for.

I suggest you take the average amount of time it takes for you to do these things, multiply by an hourly rate that you’re comfortable with (I’d suggest at least $15-$20,) then add on $10 (or more or less) for “negotiating room.” If you have engaged readers, lots of traffic or lots of fans, add more.

It’s a matter of how much is your time worth? How much money or compensation would you need to receive so you didn’t feel like you were taken advantage of when the work is done?

Starting Negotiations

Now that you’ve decided how much you want to charge, it’s time to start negotiating. Unfortunately, with the way blogging is now, if you don’t ask for something, you’ll rarely get offered something. There are PR firms that will offer some form of compensation up front and there are companies that will pay you for your work. But for the most part, you need to ask in order to receive.

There are a lot of PR companies that follow the “spray and pray” technique. They’ll email 1000s of bloggers in hopes of getting some percentage of them to respond and/or post. I recommend using a standard response for all of these types of emails such as:

Hi {PR Person’s Name},

Thank you for contacting us about {opportunity.} This would be a great fit for our readers and we would love to discuss how we can partner together to help promote {brand.} I’m attaching our media kit for your review, which includes some ideas on how we can work together and our rates.

Please let me know if you have any questions. I look forward to hearing from you.

Regards,
{Your Name}

By using a standard response, it takes out all of the guess work of whether or not or what to respond. I don’t “feel bad” about asking for compensation because it’s my “standard policy.” You might be using a little Jedi mind trick on yourself, but it helps to detach from the situation and remove any worries or doubts when it becomes a matter of copy and paste.

I won’t paint rainbows here – most of the time I hear crickets when I respond with my media kit. Don’t let that bother you. If you hear crickets, it’s not because they don’t like you. It’s not because they don’t like your blog. It’s because you won’t post their information for free. You are not their target blogger. They are targeting the bloggers who will work for free. Shake it off and move on.

But when you do get a response, woah – is that awesome! It’s awesome because you’ve found a company that appreciates you and the time you’ve spent building your blog. It’s awesome because you’ve found a “marketing partner” that you can truly work with. Sometimes they’ll ask for more information. Sometimes they’ll counter with a lower rate. Sometimes they’ll counter with more product. This is all good stuff because now you’re talking/emailing with someone that does value your time and wants you to be happy working with them. This is the type of company you can create a real business partnership with.

From Me to You

It’s possible that you’ve read all of this and think “That all sounds great but…” And to that I say, “I’ve been there.” I’ve been in your shoes. I was on Blogger. I didn’t have my own domain name. I had a PR of 0. I had no connections. I posted everything for free. I know what it feels like to think you don’t have whatever it is you need to make money blogging. I’ve experienced those doubts and fears and worries, and thanks to some very supportive friends have faced and overcome those fears that were holding me back.

As a blogger, there’s still so much for me to learn. I’ve seen my income grow from nothing to something. Would I like it to be even more? Most definitely. Part of that journey is consistently and constantly placing a value on my time, my blog, and my knowledge.

I’m here to tell you that it is possible to make money blogging if you want to. But the first step is to believe you are worth something. Because you are.

If you have any questions, want some advice, or want to share some advice, please leave a comment below. Let’s support each other and grow as a blogging community that can benefit our readers, our brand partners, and ourselves.

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The article "How to Calculate Your Worth as a Blogger – Is Your Time Worth Nothing?" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

Want to win one of your very own? Now’s your chance to win your choice of an iPad or a Microsoft Surface in the May iPad/Surface giveaway!

This month’s giveaway is hosted by Bay Area Mommy, The WiC Project, Life’s Cheap Thrills, Simply Stacie, Spaceships and Laser Beams, Capri’s Coupons, and 3 Boys and a Dog.

Giveaway Details:

Start Date - May 15, 2013 at 12:01 am EST
End Date – June 16, 2013 at 11:59pm EST
Who can enter – Open to entrants, 18 years+, Worldwide
Prize options - Winner’s choice between iPad or Microsoft Surface. Non US/Canada residents may opt for cash equivalent.

To enter, use the Rafflecopter form below. Good luck!

Enter to win an iPad or Microsoft Surface!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclaimer: No compensation was received for this post. This blog is not responsible for prize fulfillment. For questions regarding this giveaway, please email Bay Area Mommy at isis@bayareamommy.net.

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The article "May iPad/Surface Giveaway" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

Many times, you’ll hear parents say that they want to provide their child with more than what they had. Whether it’s more family time, more security, or more opportunities, we can work hard and strive to give our progeny things that we never had, or more of the things we love. We dream big for our kids – the next CEO, the next president, or the next amazing parent. Whatever our dreams are for them, one of the things that could certainly help make those dreams happen is $5,000.

Huggies® and Dollar General are giving you the chance to win $5,000 in the Huggies® Little Hands, Big Plans Essay Contest. Now through September, 2013 two winners will be selected each month (for a total of 10 winners) to win $5,000 to help achieve your dreams for your children. Use that cash to start a college fund, for space camp, an awesome family vacation, or whatever dream you have for your little ones.

How to Enter the Huggies® Little Hands, Big Plans Essay

For your chance to win $5,000 to help make dreams for your kids come true, head over to the Huggies® Little Hands, Big Plans Essay Contest website and click “Enter Now.” Fill out the information and submit your story, your essay, your mission statement, your dreams for your children in 250 words or less.

For each submission period, judges will select the winning essays based on creativity and originality, quality of submission, and how well it fits into the Huggies® Little Hands, Big Plans theme. Since non-winning entries roll over to the next submission period, you’ll have more “chances” to win if you submit your essay early.

The deadline for the first submission period is the end of this month (May 31, 2013) and the very last chance you’ll have to submit your entry is on September 30, 2013.

Don’t miss this opportunity to help make your dreams for your kids become a reality. Enter the Huggies® Little Hands, Big Plans Essay Contest today!

What big (or small) dreams do you have for your kids?

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The article "Win $5,000 in the Huggies® Little Hands, Big Plans Essay Contest" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

Then, a few weeks ago, Gorton’s Seafood issued a challenge – a 200 calorie challenge where we would sample one of their 20 products that are under 200 calories. Knowing that Gorton’s already has a reputation for quality frozen seafood, I accepted that challenge. As part of that challenge, Gorton’s Seafood provided us with free product coupons to facilitate our review.

I loved the wide selection of both fish and flavors!

As I browsed the freezer section, I was pleasantly surprised by variety of Gorton’s Seafood products that were under 200 calories. Other people must have liked it too because several of the 20 products that are under 200 calories were sold out. After a few moments of checking out the options, we picked up Gorton’s Grilled Sandwich Fillets (90 calories/serving,) Roasted Garlic & Butter Grilled Tilapia (80 calories/serving) and Cajun Grilled Fillets (90 calories/serving).

Once we were home, I was ready to take the challenge. I started of with the Gorton’s Roasted Garlic & Butter Grilled Tilapia. I figured it was a good first fish, so to speak. Garlic – good. Butter – good. Tilapia???

It was actually delicious! No weird fishiness or slime. The fish is pre-grilled and just needs to be heated in the oven. You don’t need to season or cut or do anything but bake and enjoy. The fish was flaky, not mushy, and packed with flavor. It has completely changed my perception of frozen seafood.

Over the next few days, the rest of the Gorton’s fillets were eaten and thoroughly enjoyed. Both the Grilled Sandwich Fillets and the Cajun Grilled Fillets were packed with flavor. The Sandwich Fillets are great for a quick lunch or dinner option. And all of these are perfect for low calorie meals.

Are you ready to take the 20 under 200 Gorton’s Seafood challenge? Head to the freezer section of your local grocery store, pick up one of the Gorton’s under 200 calories products, and take the challenge yourself!

Gorton’s Seafood Online

• Visit the Gorton’s Website
• “Like” Gorton’s on Facebook
• Follow Gorton’s on Twitter

The WiC Project Gorton’s Seafood Challenge Giveaway

The Prize:
One winner will receive a Gorton’s Seafood prize pack which includes 5 free product coupons for Gorton’s Seafood, and a spatula, oven mitts and apron so you can cook up some yummy Gorton’s Seafood.

Disclaimer: This post consists of my (and/or fellow tester) opinions only. Your experiences may be different. No compensation was given for this review/giveaway. I did receive a free product from the manufacturer or their representing PR agency to use and test for the purposes of this review. This did not affect the outcome of this review.

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The article "Take the 20 Under 200 Calorie Gorton’s Seafood Challenge" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!

I was a happy camper watching these shows until someone told me the truth about Iron Chef secret ingredients which totally changed how I viewed the show. I decided to discover the truth behind some of the other shows I might have watched.

I’ll preface this by saying that these are all things that I’ve read online or heard from other people. These may be rumors or they may be true. Only the people involved with the shows know “for sure”.

7 Disappointing Reality Show Secrets:

1. Iron Chef “Secret” Ingredients Not a Secret

Secret Ingredient? Not quite.

Every episode, the Chairman dramatically reveals the secret ingredient the chefs must use in their dishes. I’ve always been so impressed when Flay or Morimoto seem to come up with dishes on the spot.

Turns out, the chefs actually plan their menus in advance. Before the show, they’re given a list of three or five (I’ve seen different numbers) ingredients from which the secret ingredient will be chosen.

It’s still impressive that they execute the dishes in an hour, but a little disappointing that they know the potential ingredients beforehand.

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The article "7 Disappointing Reality Show Secrets" is written by Miriam Tirips, The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes.. Visit The WiC Project - Faith. Free Giveaways. Product Reviews. Recipes. for more product reviews, great blog giveaways, delicious recipes, and more!