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!

We have two fuzzy dogs. Two large fuzzy dogs. Two large fuzzy dogs with lots of white hair. Long white hair. And just like human hair can look dull and dry or healthy and shiny, dog hair can also look dry or healthy. But unlike human hair, you can’t really deep condition your pets to help their coats look healthier. You need to work from the inside out.

AvoDerm® Natural premium dog and cat food formulas are designed to help your pet’s fur be softer, shinier, and healthier in just 6 weeks. Not only does AvoDerm have antioxidants, vitamins and minerals to help your pet be healthy, but it also is made with avocados to help your pet’s skin and coat be as healthy as possible. Avocados are known for being packed with nutrients including vitamins A, C, and E as well as being rich in rich in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids.

AvoDerm is so confident that AvoDerm Natural premium dog and cat food formulas will improve your pet’s coat, they guarantee results in six weeks with the AvoDerm Challenge.

Take the AvoDerm Challenge today and you’ll be entered to win a year’s supply of Avoderm Natural premium dog and cat food. Plus, everyone who enters will also receive a $5 AvoDerm coupon to kick start your pet’s journey to healthier skin and coats.

You can find AvoDerm at PetCo and other pet stores nationwide. You can also buy AvoDerm Natural dog and cat foods online from Amazon.com.

Take the AvoDerm Challenge & enter to win a year’s supply of AvoDerm Natural today!

AvoDerm Natural Online

• Visit the AvoDerm Natural Website
• “Like” AvoDerm Natural on Facebook
• Follow AvoDerm Natural on Twitter

Disclaimer: I was compensated for this sponsored post made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. This post contains affiliate links.

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The article "Take the AvoDerm Challenge & Enter to Win a Year’s Supply of AvoDerm #ad" 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!

Kraft Fresh Take is a cheese and breadcrumb mix that can take dishes from favorites to phenomenal (or phenomenal family favorites.) It combines pre-seasoned breadcrumbs with freshly shredded cheese that you can use for any number of uses beyond just coating meat (which you can totally do too if you want.) I used the Rosemary and Roasted Garlic Kraft Fresh Take to make Baked Spaghetti & Meatballs and the Smokey Mesquite BBQ Kraft Fresh Take to make a simply delicious baked chicken. Both were big hits. BIG hits.

Want to learn more about Kraft Fresh Take?

How about win a $100 Walmart Gift Card?

I hope you’ll join me on May 21, 2013 for the Kraft #FreshTake Twitter party, where we’ll be talking about Memorial Day and how Kraft Fresh Take can help you add a little something special to some of your family’s favorite dishes. In addition, we’ll be giving away five $100 Walmart Gift Cards! Make sure you RSVP below and tweet with us at the party using #FreshTake for your chance to win!

Nom nom nom.

#FreshTake Twitter Party Details

Date: May 21, 2013

Time: 12pm-1pm EST (10am MST, 9am PST)

Follow: Host – @WiCProject, Co-hosts – @paulabendfeldt and @cbTweetChat

Custom Tweetgrid: http://cbi.as/a69xu

Party Hashtag: #FreshTake

Prizes: FIVE (5) $100 Walmart Gift Cards are up for grabs – a total of $500 in prizes!

Join @kraftfoods #FreshTake Twitter Party 5/21 12n ET. Memorial Day Recipes & Prizes!RSVP cbi.as/pj3rw #cbias

— Miriam T. (@WiCProject) May 10, 2013

RSVP for Your Chance to Win!

RSVP by entering your Twitter handle (ex: @WiCProject), link to your Twitter profile (ex: http://twitter.com/WiCProject), and email in the Linky form below for your chance to win one of the $100 Walmart GCs!

Twitter Party Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. VOID WHERE TAXED, PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. Subject to Official Rules. Open only to residents of the United States.

Enter by RSVPing for the Twitter party on the link above, be actively participating in the party and are using the hashtag #FreshTaste. To be eligible, entries must be received by 12:55 p.m. EST  except that mail in entries must be mailed separately and postmarked by May 17, 2013. To enter without purchase, hand write your name, completed address, age and telephone number on a 3”x5” card and mail it to Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712.

Prizes will be limited to five (5) $100 gift cards will be given away throughout the 1 hour duration of the party on May 21, 2013.  All winners will be chosen using random.org from the RSVP link and winners must be present and participating in the party using the hashtag #FreshTake at the time that they are drawn as a winner. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Winner will be notified via Twitter @ message by @paulabendfeldt during the party on May 21, 2013 and must respond to @therebelchick within 5 minutes of being selected to claim their prize. All entries will be eligible for any unclaimed prizes after the close of the Twitter party via random drawing held on June 4, 2013 .

To obtain a copy of the Official Rules, send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712.

SPONSORS: Collective Bias, 205 S. Main Street, Ste. 1, Bentonville, AR 72712

All winners will be chosen using random.org from the RSVP link and winners must be present and participating in the party at the time that they are drawn as a winner. There is a limit of 1 (one) prize per household during the party. Please allow 4-6 weeks for prize fulfillment.

Disclaimer: I am a member of the Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community. I am being compensated to host this party as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias® #cbias #SocialFabric

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The article "Save the Date: Kraft #FreshTake Twitter Party – 5/21, 12PM EST – $500 in Prizes! RSVP Now!" 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 next few years will definitely be a learning process as I continue testing out my green thumb in the new gardens. I have visions of flower beds filled with bright colors and possibly some sort of orchard, or at least a few fruit trees. Whether this northern weather allows it remains to be seen. I’m still trying to figure out .

Over these past months, I’ve learned a lot about gardening. An intro to gardening, if you will. One thing I didn’t know about was mulch. Not only can mulch help your yard look a bit more manicured, but it also helps retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing.

This spring, consider mulching your yards with Scotts Florida Select Natural Eucalyptus Mulch. While mulch can be made of many things – ranging from shredded bark to grass trimmings – Scotts Florida Select Natural Eucalyptus Mulch is made from 100% Florida-grown Eucalyptus. Not only does the mulch support the local growers in Florida  but it’s sustainably-harvested and plantation grown, making it a great option for sustainable gardening.

Don’t live in Florida? Scotts still has a great option for your landscapes with Scotts Nature Scapes mulch. Made of natural forest products, Scotts Nature Scapes mulch comes in three distinct colors to help match your yard’s decor. We just put some lava rocks around so the Sierra Red color would go perfectly. Other options include Classic Black and Deep Forest Brown.

I think the Sierra Red would also look great in the flowerbeds next to the deck.

In addition to mulch, here are a few other gardening supplies that I’ve found useful for those who are just starting (or a reviving) their gardens.

A Few Gardening Essentials

1. Gardening Gloves

When you’re digging around in the dirt, a sturdy pair of gloves will not only help prevent dirt from getting under your nails, but can also provide protection from thorns, plant “goo”, and worms. *ick*. I got a pair of gloves that was a soft leather that both provides protection and enough movement so I could grab small weeds.

There were a lot of worms when I cleared out this flowerbed. Ick factor of 100. Gloves were a must.

2. Spade

I think this is probably one of the basic tools you’ll need for gardening. You’ll use it to dig holes, shovel soil, and possibly smoosh some snails.

3. Hand Rake

When you’re working in smaller garden beds, you can use a hand rake to help clear out weeds and prepare the soil for planting.

4. Gardening Pruners

Another lesson learned is that pruning isn’t just for making plants look like animals. Some plants actually need to be pruned in the winter. You can also use the pruners to help clear away any dead branches or leaves.

5. Watering can.

Because plants need water.

We still have a few more projects to do around the yard, and I seriously need to weed a couple of garden beds, but I’m so excited to see the results!

Do you mulch your yard? If so, what mulch do you use?

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The article "Eucalyptus Mulch and Other Gardening Essentials for Starting Gardens" 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!

Have you ever seen the most amazing dress ever, only to discover that the most amazing dress ever is sold out in your size? Maybe in a last-ditch attempt to find the most amazing dress ever in your size, you scoured every other rack in the dress department, as well as the "discard" rack outside the fitting rooms. Admittedly, been there. Done that.

Sears.com carries more styles, sizes, and colors than could ever fit in a regular brick and mortar. That means, the odds that you'll find the most amazing dress ever in your size goes up quite a bit when you shop at Sears.com. (It also means you won't have to spend so much time hunting through the clothing racks.)

Sears.com even offers an amazing in-store pick-up option where you can buy the most amazing dress ever (or anything else that catches your eye) online and then schedule an in-store pickup. If your item isn't ready in 5 minutes or less, you get a $5 in-store coupon – guaranteed!

I grew up thinking that Sears was just a home and appliances store, but have since learned that Sears offers so much more than your favorite washer and dryer brands. On Sears.com, you can find the newest arrivals and styles from the latest designer brands, like Michael Kors, Steve Madden, Calvin Klein, and more.

What's really impressed me during my recent visit to Sears.com was how they help you save money. For example, I love this JBS Ruffle Dress. Not only is it already marked down to $24.99, a 50% savings, but they also show me how I can save an additional 15% off, earn points back, and get free shipping. All of that is in addition to their featured marketplace offers.

Think you've seen it all at Sears? Well, chances are tomorrow, you won't have. Sears.com adds hundreds of new designers and styles to the website each day, helping ensure that you find exactly what you want in the size and color you want.

Have you seen everything that Sears.com has to offer?

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The article "The Right Style. The Right Size. The Right Price. Sears." 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!

After a long day of working in the garden, coding, or cleaning, relaxing at the end of the day is a priority. This year, you can give your mom, wife, sister, or loved one the gift of relaxation with the Wahl Hot/Cold Massager. This handheld massager is a great way to help relieve the stress and aches and pains at the end of the day. I’ve tried a few different massagers before, but there are couple of things that really make the Wahl Hot/Cold Massager stand out.

This is the first massager I’ve seen that also offers both hot and cold therapy options. To help increase circulation and relax sore muscles, you can use the hot setting. To have an “ice-pack-like” treatment, you can use the cold therapy setting to help reduce swelling and inflammation from sprained ankles, pulled muscles, etc.

While some “heated” massagers might look fancy and glow red to provide heat, the heat usually isn’t much more than a luke warm. The heat on the Wahl Massager is definitely hot – heating up to 130F – enough to be noticeable but not burning. The cool drops down to 48F, so it feels similar to an icepack except it doesn’t melt.

The Wahl Hot/Cold Massager has four different interchangeable massage attachments. Two are ideal for hot and two for cold. They can easily be removed and attached to the head of the massager.

I was really impressed with the strength of the massager. It has two speed settings you can use depending on the type of massage you want. The low speed is ideal if you’re just looking for relaxation while the high speed can really help muscle soreness beyond just the surface.

Using the Wahl Hot/Cold Massager is like having your own masseuse within the comfort of your own home, only better. You don’t have to pay per use and you can concentrate on specific areas as much as you want. The hot and cold options, low and high speed settings, and the different attachments really allow you to customize your massage.

If you’d like to pick up the Wahl Hot Cold Massager as a Mother’s Day gift, or even to treat yourself, you can find it at various retailers in-store and online. You can buy the Wahl Hot/Cold Massager on Amazon for just $57.22.

About the Wahl Hot/Cold Massager

The WiC Project Wahl Hot/Cold Massager Giveaway

The Prize:

One winner will receive their own Wahl Hot/Cold Massager ($59.99 MSRP)

Disclaimer: This review was made possible by Mom Spark Media. Thoughts are my own. I received a Wahl Hot/Cold Massager for the purpose of this review.

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The article "Give Mom the Gift of Relaxation with the Wahl Hot/Cold Massager" 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!