Guest Post: 5 Suggestions On How To Decorate Your Office Desk For Christmas

Home office desks are still part of the home. It would be out of place if the rest of the house is decorated with anything that reminds one of Christmas, but when one moves or enters the home office, it is bare. Therefore, it is only right that the Christmas air is present in the office without preventing the worker from being productive.
Here are a few suggestions that can liven up your home office without forgetting the work that should be done:

1. Make the Christmas tree a focal point.  The most visible and obvious symbol of Christmas is the Christmas tree.  They also come in different sizes.  For those who will inhabit the office desk, a Christmas tree that is a foot tall or less will do the trick. The size of the office desk and how large or small a space you will need will determine the size of the tree. The larger the desk, the larger the tree.  Make sure that it doesn’t get in the way of your work.
2. Jars in the form and shape of Santa Claus and Christmas trees.  Aside from being decorative, such jars can contain candies, chocolates, cookies, nuts or jelly beans.  If the jar is see-through, it is best to contain colorful candies.  The color adds more fun and life in which may otherwise be a drab and monotonous space. Home-based workers may have family members -- especially children -- dropping by. In the spirit of Christmas, giving them candies can give cheer as well as maybe rid them of staying too long so that you, the office worker, could get things done. Workers themselves could benefit from having something to munch on while thinking of steps or solutions to address a problem.  It may also increase one’s creativity.
3. Adorn the monitor with a garland.  Homes have wreaths on the doors and garlands around handrails and banisters. When it comes to the office desk, the monitor can get an enhancement. It is at this time that the simple and common appliance of an office can dress up. The garland can also have tiny embellishments or lights to make it more festive. Just make sure that the embellishments don’t get in the way of reading or watching what is on-screen.  This can be an option if there is no room for a Christmas tree.
4. Decorate with ornaments. If a table faces or is placed against a wall or window, Christmas ornaments such as bells and balls can be hanged.  Such ornaments, if they are tiny, can also be attached to the garland.  They can even be twined around a lamp or used as a paperweight.
5. Compliment the office with a Christmas doily or mouse pad. A large office desk can have flowers or plants.  Underneath it may lay a doily which is often reminiscent of snowflakes when the cold months of Christmas roll in. A Christmas scene can also be depicted in a mouse pad and it wouldn’t even be an unnecessary use of space.

Maria Dublin is a PR Assistant in the blog community for ComputerDesk.com. She loves helping people find the right accessories for their home office. Visit ComputerDesk.com for free shipping on every desk, every day.

Attached Images:  License: Creative Commons image source 

Guest Post: Food Safety: Best Ways to Store Party Leftovers

Throwing parties can be a lot of fun, but they do require plenty of work on the part of the host or hostess. There are many things that need to be considered with regards to the food, knowing what to serve and how to serve it. This is crucial because food safety should play a key role. When entertaining, do think of how long certain foods will be sitting on a buffet table, and how long they will keep before spoiling. Then, once all is said and done, you will have to put leftovers away.

However, you will have to determine which foods are still good enough to store, and that means having a greater knowledge on food safety and its storage. Below, find tips on storing leftovers without any fear of food poisoning, as different products go beyond our daily bread.

1. Leftovers should not be kept longer than four days in the refrigerator, to begin with. Lengthier storage increases the risk of food poisoning because of bacteria that will grow. If foods have been in the fridge over four days, dispose of them. If you believe they will not be consumed within that time-frame, simply freeze them as soon as possible.

2. Storing foods after a party can only be done safely if they have not been sitting out at room temperature for over two hours. This is especially true of meat, poultry, eggs, fish, and dairy products. In warmer temperatures, these foods will not keep for more than one hour. Bacteria multiply quickly in average room temperature settings, so set out foods at the appropriate time and refrigerate them promptly after guests have eaten. This is true of sandwiches and cold salads, too.

3. Do not return any dips made with sour cream, or other dairy products in their original containers after they were placed on serving bowls, plates or pitchers. Instead, use plastic wrap and seal them tightly. 

3. Leftover fruits, vegetables, and salads will not keep as long in the fridge. In fact, they may become moldy or wilted soon after.

4. All foods that are left over are best placed in airtight glass containers, which minimize the risk of bacteria from growing.

5. For stuffed turkey, remove the stuffing and chill both separately.

6. Canned sauces should be completely removed from the cans before refrigerating, or they will spoil quicker as well as leave a metallic taste.

Guest Post: 5 Ways To Remove Tough Stains From A Carpet

A light-colored carpet combined in a high-traffic home with rowdy kids, pets and busy schedules can be a recipe for disaster, often resulting in stains that seem impossible to remove. Whether it's red wine, mud, blood, grease or some other diabolical substance, your carpet can look like a Jackson Pollock painting at the end of the day. Although it might seem like a hopeless situation, you can remove these impossible stains quicker than ever using the following methods.

1. Blood
Whether your little one got a boo-boo or you cut yourself shaving and didn't notice, accidents happen and blood stains can often be the result. These deep stains aren't the kind you can quickly wipe up with a sponge, so listen up if you're in this predicament. Hydrogen peroxide is a strong oxidizer that can be used to deep-clean the stain and restore the look of your carpet. Because it can often have a bleaching effect, test it first on an inconspicuous area of your carpet.

2. Coffee
Who can get through the day without this basic fuel? It's probably not uncommon for you to be rushing around trying to get ready in the morning, with a cup of hot coffee in your hand. This scenario is exactly why it's probably not surprising that coffee stains will show up on your carpet. Although cleaning up these stains might make you five minutes late for work, it can help preserve the quality of your carpet. To start, spray the stain with detergent solution and blot with a dry cloth, then spray the area with a vinegar solution and blot dry again. Spray once more with detergent solution and follow up with a spray of lukewarm water, blotting after each application. Repeat these steps as many times as necessary.

3. Urine
If you've got furry friends in the home, urine stains can become your worst enemy. But this house-training woe doesn't have to get you down with a few simple cleaning steps. To remove urine stains, start by soaking up as much of the liquid as possible with paper towels. You can do this by folding several paper towels together and pressing firmly on the stain. Repeat until the stain has dried and pour cold water on top to re-saturate the area. Blot up the cold water and then spray a mixture of equal parts vinegar and water onto the stain. Let this sit for up to 15 minutes. Repeat until the stain is fully removed.

4. Grease
Remove all excess grease from the affected area and sprinkle with baking soda, cornstarch or another absorbent substance to soak up all residual grease. Let this sit for up to 15 minutes and then vacuum up the remainder. Apply a dry-cleaning solvent to a clean white cloth and sponge the stain until it has penetrated the carpet. Blot until the solvent is completely absorbed. If some of the stain still remains, use a solution of one tablespoon liquid dishwashing soap, one tablespoon of white vinegar and two cups of warm water. Blot to absorb the liquid, sponge with cold water and blot with a dry towel to fully remove the solution.

5. Lipstick
Although it might make you look better, lipstick can make your carpet look worse if an accidental fumble causes a deep stain. To remove this stain, simply dab the area with denatured alcohol and soak up the substance with a soft white cloth. Follow this treatment by applying a good detergent and letting it sit for 15 minutes. After this period, use cold water to rinse away the detergent and restore the carpet back to its original state.
These tips will certainly help with the bulk of serious stains. However, sometimes a stain can sit for too long or get too deep into the carpet fibers to clean out. In these instances, it might be best to opt for a professional carpet cleaning to restore your carpet and extend its life. By using coupons for this cleaning, this option can be both practical and affordable for having your carpet looking good as new.

Guest Post: Basic Guide To Getting Started With Pinterest

Almost everyone I know, is talking about pinterest. It is basically an online cork-board that allows you to share your thoughts by 'pinning'. People who are already members of the site tend to state that it can make your life craftier, easier and even interesting. For a newbie, they might find the site to be quite challenging as they are not familiar with it. This being the case, it would be great if you had five simple steps that can help you create an account and start using pinterest effectively.

1 Getting an account

Pinterest is not an online platform that you can join just like that. Registration is only through invitation. It is not hard to get an invitation as you can do so by requesting one from the site or from someone you know who is already a member. It is likely that a Facebook friend might be on pinterest and can easily send you an invite. When you are registering for a username, it is advisable to get one that is similar or closely matching the rest of your usernames on other social sites. This will help people who are looking for you to find you easily.

2. Create your Pinterest boards

Once you have registered and created your basic biography, you can begin creating boards. Think about the pinning topics. It can be cool hairstyles, healthy recipes and nursery inspirations. Boards are available in all types of categories. Your pinterest boards can be about your business, your hobby or just anything you feel like putting up.For example, there is a pinterest board that is called 'things that make me laugh' and another 'if I had a million dollars'. If you are not sure what you want as your board, you can take a look at the site and find ideas of what you can use as your board topic.

3. Find people to follow

Now that you have created your boards, you will need to find followers. A good idea would be to look for people who are already following you on other social sites like Facebook and Twitter. When you invite such people to join you on pinterest or to follow your boards, you have a high chance of getting the people who follow them from other sites. This will in turn give you a bigger following of people with different ideas and skills.Once you have found people, connect to them and comment on their pins, like or re-pin them to your own boards. Take note that you do not need to follow all of an individual's boards. Clicking follow on their profile is enough. This way, you will avoid overwhelming your feed.

4. Start pinning

The fourth step is having fun with pinterest by pinning. The best way to go about this is adding the bookmarklet to your browser. This should be done via your account as it will allow you to pin anything you come across when you are browsing the web. Once you see anything you like when browsing, just click on the 'pin it' button. A pop up window will appear with instructions on the rest of the procedure. Images that are attractive have a higher likelihood to be pinned. If you are on the go, you can use the Pinterest iPhone app. 

5. Like, re-pin, comment

Pinterest is a social network. This means that connections are the key to success. They are also the key to become part of the community and a fun way to meet new people. Apart from looking for inspiration to pin, you should also acknowledge pins by others. In pinterest, it is easy to 'like' something. You just follow the same process you would on Facebook or Instagram. This is the same process that will occur for commenting. You comments and likes in pinterest will appear in your main page, just the same way they do on Facebook. You can also re-pin an image, which will mean you will be actually putting it on your own board.

Basically, following these steps will not only ensure you have an account with pinterest, but it will also ensure your site is up and running. Such steps will also help you gain a lot of followers and knowledge making your pinterest experience worthwhile.

About the Author

Rahul Makhija has been in the internet marketing industry for more than 6 years. For more information you can visit web design. He is an expert on SEO & PPC tactics and in his free times likes to read and understand about human behavior.

Guest Post: SEO & Its Effect On Blogging

By now we all know SEO changes (search engine optimization) very often. We, the SEO specialist have a very hard job in keeping up with Google and other major search engines because they adjust their SERP (search engine results page) almost every day. However, there are several little tasks anyone of us can do to improve rankings specifically on Google, which owns most of the market anyway. I’ve tested several methods and I’ll go over them so that you can apply them to your own website. 

#1 – Try to get content that is share worthy

Finding the right content can sometimes be daunting. By using simple tools offered by Google, you can discover subjects that are related to your field and are popular. Here is a list of Google tools I use before I start any content strategy:

·         Google Adwords

·         Google Traffic Estimator

·         Google Insights

·         Looking at other popular blogs

By using these simple and very affective tools, you can find out your keyword strategy for your blog without guessing what users are searching for.

Search engines have taken social media and raised its importance when it comes to their result page. So what you want to do is pick something that’s popular, relevant and useful to your users. Otherwise, your blog posting will be one in millions, which will never see the light of day.

Remember, content doesn’t just mean written text. It can be a visual as well. For example, using images/videos/infographics gets the attention of any user (boring or not). I’ve noticed people link to content with visuals more often as well. And if you create your own media to publish, your blog posting will see much more traffic since it’s nowhere else to be found. 

Courtesy of SEOMoz

#2 Use social media to promote your blog

Of course social media is a huge outlet to let users know what your blog is all about. The best part is, social media will yield results much faster then search engines. Once you publish your blog post or site on social media sites, your site will get instant recognition in your network. I have a client who installs artificial grass and with simply blogging and sharing he got these results in less then two months.

As you can see the number visitors grew greatly. This is huge because I targeted specific keywords on each blog posting. It ranged anywhere from sustainable building to the benefits of synthetic grass.

Here is a list of social media sites I like to share my information on:

·         Stumbleupon

·         LinkedIn (their personal LinkedIn page)

·         Facebook (their personal fanpage)

·         Google+

·         Reddit

·         Twitter

·         Pinterest

·         Folkd

Keep in mind you have to have an account with each social media site and make sure you interact with others in the same field. Sharing and not being active will not get you anywhere.

#3 Reference your blog post to blogs on your own site & other sites

The whole point of having a content strategy is to get your message across attractively that is beneficial to your readers. Don’t just write a blob of text and not link it to references or other interesting blog postings. Remember, other bloggers will read your post and might share your site on their own if you put their link on your site. 

Also, if you have an article that will explain a subject you briefly talk about link it. Don’t link every single primary keyword but keep it organic and not artificial (in other words don’t be a link horde). Interlinking is a part of SEO and it’s also very important to Google. What I do is have a spreadsheet with all my blog posts with their links. When I write a new article I check if I can interlink between 1-3 blogs for a better user experience. 

Check out my online marketing blog for an in depth look at how you can score huge rankings and visitors through SEO.

#4 Never give up and stay consistent with your goals

A lot of bloggers and new sites tend to start off great. Were writing everyday, sharing our articles through out the web, interacting with users and other bloggers etc… But something happens after a few weeks or months. Our human nature kicks in and we tend to get lazy and give up. This is when you fail your site.

Courtesy of SEOMoz

Stay consistent and you are sure to reap the rewards. I guarantee it!

Puya Turkiyan is a SEO specialist and information architect @ New Media Sources in Beautiful Vancouver, Canada. 

Guest Post: Supermarkets Are Great For Single Eaters

Going out today to do the weekly supermarket shopping? The selection in some markets is endless. Since living alone is a challenge in itself buying the right foods in the correct quantity shouldn't have to be. The fruits and vegetable sections of some larger supermarkets can be holiday parade for most. In this section alone many find and enjoy an abundance of foods that require no preparation time. This alone makes this department for many a number one stop.

The deli section at the supermarket is also a treasure trove for those living alone. From meats, cheeses, prepared salads and simple things like red beat eggs, they are all here and ready to enjoy. Most single eaters can use this section for a major cost cutting factor for preparing foods to enjoy at work and even for many who enjoy that lunch or snack on the go. This section offers many a way to buy prepared foods including whole chickens, pasta salads, heated meals to all kinds of food items that take little to no time to prepare and enjoy. Many snacks and desserts are in this section of the store and most are fully prepared to open and serve.

Apart from the deli there are usually the same types of pre-packaged lunch meats, cheeses and other items of the like at or around the fresh meat area of a supermarket. This is how many, who enjoy food on the go, buy their stock and take home by simply choosing off the racks or shelves. This meat section is where many of the short time cooking items can be bought including ground turkey, beef and chicken can be purchased for those short time recipes.  This is where you can look in for those quick dinner ideas that can take less than 30 minutes and many of which take a lot less due in part to their pre-made selling points.

Next take a look into pre-packaged boxed meals. These include tacos and other great Mexican or Chinese meals. These meals include the basics for what is needed. In the case of tacos all one has to do is cook and add the beef, hot sauce, lettuce, tomato and any other items that one desires. These simple and basic plans for a quick easy meal are just a step away from completing. With most boxed meals they are be enjoyed in small or large quantities and can be a great item when having friends over for a little get together.

Many young on the go professionals and college attenders also enjoy the cereal sections of stores. With so many nutritional types of cereal on the markets today one can enjoy a quick easy morning meal and be on their way. Hot cereals in this section are also a good quick way to heat and enjoy. The best of these and most popular is oatmeal. Even oats that are not instant can take only a few minutes to heat up and let set for a wholesome morning breakfast. These and many other heart healthy ideas are being looked at by many who know of the carbohydrates and fat issues within morning meals.

Another great section for those living single is the canned food isle. This section includes canned soups and vegetables. The soups in this section are a must have for anyone who has no time to prepare them. Picking from many healthy nutritional kinds that have reduced salt and reduced fats is yet another reason to look harder into this section if one has not done so before. The canned fruits and vegetables make them easy to store and easy to enjoy. Many vegetables in this section are prepared and even chopped or cooked so when adding to a recipe they will cut down on time factors involved with preparing fresh.

The dairy section of any supermarket is another glorious place for anyone living single. This would be where many purchase items like yogurts and dairy ingredients to add to those quick recipes. There are numerous items in the dairy section for single eaters and many more that can be added to that quick meal one might be preparing. Again the great part of the dairy section is the reduced fat content available in items that are stocked at stores throughout the country.  Looking in for those quick dinner ideas one should always take the time to sort out the dairy section as the basic foundation for many meals that take little to no time to prepare.

In submission there are so many parts of a grocery store for anyone living alone. Whether this is a temporary alone time or a long term time period the grocery store will offer you a great selection of items to prepare for the meals you intend to eat alone. No matter the situation it is best to take note of what one enjoys and the time and effort that will or can be involved in preparing. Some of the best items at the supermarket come in their natural form or in the form where the store offers them already done for you to enjoy. 


Leslie Jones is so happy that her local supermarket really caters for the single person. She assumes it may have something to do with a college nearby.

Guest Post: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly-Unusual Pizza Toppings

Pizza has long been a canvas, lovingly embellished with such favorites as pepperoni, mushrooms, cheese. Perhaps pineapple is the craziest you’ve gotten. But there is really no limit to what you can put on a pizza, as people have proven with the following ideas.

The Good

• Seafood pizzas are some of the best pizzas out there, and really don’t get enough appreciation. Crab and lobster have all put in lovely performances on the top of a pizza, and the best pizza I ever had featured salmon.
• Pickles used to be eaten with everything, and that their popularity has fallen off this century is a sad reality. These sour succulents do a great job cutting through the cheese and making your mouth water just a little more.
• Macaroni and Cheese and Pizza are both Italian imports, and American classics. So why not put them together? Why not indeed. This is another bizarre topping that has found many fans—and you may be next.

The Bad

• Pizza being already artery-clogging enough, I don’t believe there’s any draw to put a corndog on top. What’s more, it’s hard to find a good corndog at the best of times. I can’t help but think a good corndog pizza would be even more difficult.
• Now, a breakfast pizza I can see. I just don’t think I fried egg will make it on there. It’s vaguely intriguing at first—could I order my pizza over easy?—but in the end, all I can think of is the usually unavoidable dry white and more liquid yolk, and no way to mix them on the pizza.
• If you can read this next one with a little shiver of disturbance, I will commend you: squid ink. That’s right; it’s the new craze in Asia as a pizza topping. I can’t see squid ink ever being appealing, even on its own, and while pizza can do some miraculous things, it just can’t redeem that.

The Ugly

• You know you’re living life on the edge when you are eating a pizza that includes 10 mini cheeseburgers around the edge. This phenomenon has appeared both in Japan and in the Middle East. If you can’t decide between a burger or a pizza, I guess this is the choice for you, but make sure all your affairs are in order before you start in on that one.
• More vomit-worthy than any other topping I’ve heard of: simply placing the contents for a McDonald’s Happy Meal on a pizza and baking it in. In fact, I don’t think I could look at that monstrosity without going green. That is, in the face, not environmentally friendly.

Exploring new pizza toppings is a growing trend. Finding that new, bizarre flavor combination may be just the thrill you’re looking for, either from the pizza place down the block, or in your own kitchen. Just… leave the squid ink alone, okay?


Jenny Layton is a freelance blogger and occasionally writes for pizzadelivery.org where you can find pizza delivery phoenix.

Guest Post: Infertile Couples: Options, Alternatives and Treatment

Many couples that are unable to conceive due to some form of infertility feel an overwhelming sense of shame and failure. But infertility is a far more common problem than many people know. In fact, the CDC estimates there are 7.1 million women ages 15-44 throughout the U.S. with some form of fertility impairment. One of the most common causes of infertility in women is polycystic ovary syndrome, which results in a failure to ovulate. This and other forms of fertility problems are most often treated with drugs or surgery. There are a number of surgical options for infertile couples looking to start a family.

Drugs – For those women infertile due to ovulation disorders, fertility drugs are the preferred treatment. These medications function as natural hormones to control or induce ovulation. There are a number of different drugs on the market all designed to combat various fertility problems. There are drugs available to treat polycystic ovary syndrome, pituitary issues, infertility due to insulin resistance and drugs that stimulate egg follicles. To find the appropriate course of fertility treatment, a woman should consult her personal physician.

Surgery -- Depending on the cause of infertility, a doctor may recommend surgery as a viable option. Surgery is especially common when the fallopian tubes are blocked or otherwise impaired. Modern surgical methods, such as laparoscopic techniques, have become so advanced that fallopian surgical procedures have become less invasive than in years past.

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ARS) – For women who have a healthy uterus and regular ovulation cycle, ARS is a viable option to conceive a child. The most common form of ARS is in vitro fertilization (IVF). This is a process that involves harvesting healthy and mature eggs from a donor and fertilizing them with viable sperm in a lab. Thousands of babies throughout the U.S. are born each year via methods such as IVF.
There are a number of ARS options for men as well. Electric stimulation helps men who can’t achieve ejaculation (possibly due to a spinal cord injury) to produce semen. Surgical sperm aspiration is another technique that retrieves sperm from various parts of the male reproductive tract, such as the vas deferens and testicle, when the ejaculatory duct is otherwise blocked.

Adoption -- For those who aren’t interested in going the drug or surgical route, there is always adoption. Despite initial apprehensions and misconceptions, many infertile couples that choose adoption find the experience to be greatly rewarding. Over half a million adoptions occur each year throughout the United States. That is a lot of needy children being placed in the hands of loving parents.
Couples who are interested in this alternative should be aware of the basics. There are two different types of adoptions: open adoptions and closed adoptions. Open adoptions are ideal for those couples and mothers who want to be in contact with one another, either for the short or long term. In a closed adoption, on the other hand, the birth mother and adoptive parents do not have contact nor do they have any information about one another. Laws vary from state to state regarding whether or not closed adoption records can be unsealed after a certain amount of years. But no matter the state, couples considering adopting through an agency can expect to face a rigorous screening process.

Foster Care – Couples who are unsure about taking the permanent step of adoption have a more temporary alternative in foster care. While foster care is primarily a crisis intervention service for children who have oftentimes been neglected and/or abused, it can also be the first step towards adoption. But the primary goal in most foster family scenarios is to eventually return the child to his or her birth parents. This means foster parents must be prepared to provide love and support to the child, and also to let the child go if need be. The statistics regarding adoption and foster care are similar, with over 500,000 children in foster homes throughout the U.S. And like adoptions, laws regarding foster care vary from state to state. That being said, most states offer help in the form of training and financial assistance.

It’s important for any individual experiencing fertility problems to consult a physician sooner rather than later. Early detection of medical problems related to infertility allows for more effective treatment options. Dealing with infertility isn’t easy for anyone, especially those looking to conceive. But throughout the treatment process there are a number of therapy options in the form of counseling and support groups that can help ease the burden of the fertility struggle.


Daylan Jones researches and writes on topics related to donor sperm, artificial insemination, and donor sperm banks for Cryobank

Guest Post: Plum District for Fab Deals for All Moms

I’m always on the lookout for deals online, but my friend Robin is much better than I am at it. Last year around Christmas, she introduced me to Plum District, and I have been in love ever since.

The first deal I ever received from this awesome deals website was two Princess books that were personalized with my daughter’s name and her friends’ names. I received BOTH books for the great price of $7. Yes, that was including shipping!

Robin made out better than I did because since I signed up under her, she received $5 off. So, she was able to get her boy two personalized books for just $2. You couldn’t ask for a better gift!

Since then, I have been able to find deals that I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. I’ve bought a nice diamond candle set for just $14, which was the perfect gift for my candle obsessed mother in law.

I’ve also found more than I really needed to buy for my kids. The community often has sales for cute, unique clothes, and toys that my kids are always thrilled with when they arrive.

Signing up for Plum District takes a minute. Once you’re registered, you can go on to browse the categories in your community or the national deals available. I always search in both because it just seems as though I find what I need or want in at least one of them.

When you find a deal, simply click on the link provided to buy it. You can go through the website to purchase the voucher you need to order your item. Once you have your voucher, use it to order what you’ve just purchased. Some of the purchasing steps are a little different, but this is generally how it works.

How to Save Big on Plum District

I’ve found that visiting the website once a week is just enough to see the updated deals without losing out on any. Most of the deals last for a while, so there’s plenty of time to get your friends interested in them, so you can benefit from the discount of having someone sign up under you – like my friend did.

The last tip I have for you is to always check out the shipping cost. Most of the time it’s either free or minimal, but you should always consider it when you’re about to make a purchase. You don’t want to end up losing out on a good deal because you had to pay a lot in shipping. I always consider the shipping cost, so I like to let people know they should do the same to save through Plum District.

Well, that’s my little deal tip. I hope you find it to be just as exciting and lucrative as I have, and you end up getting all of your own friends crazy about it too.

About the Author: Marcelina Hardy wrote this guest post because she enjoys sharing the tips she finds from financially savvy friends like Robin, who is part of Quickbooks enterprise experts SanAntonio for the San AntonioQuickbooks company AdamsQB.

Body By Vi Guest Post

I just found out about this 90 Day Challenge. About 45 days ago, I started the Challenge! I have already shed 7 pounds and 4.5 inches! Before I started this challenge, I was counting calories and going for a daily walk. I did that for about a month and a half and lost a big fat NOTHING. I was frustrated so I quit doing all of it. A week later I decided to give BODY BY VI a chance. When I started to see results, I decided I was going to promote this awesome product to others. My mom started about 2 weeks after me. She does work out and drinks 2 yummy shakes a day. She is now down 7 pounds in three weeks! Go Mom!

On top of the dropping the weight, I feel better. Before I would tire so easily, I am too young for that and felt I should have more energy. The shakes have really helped with that! I love having this natural energy!

One of the big things that appealed to me- YOU CAN GET YOUR SHAKES FOR FREE (all you pay is the measly shipping cost)! Who can say no to FREE? All you need to do is have three friends join the Challenge with you! This helps in keeping one another accountable. Refer three or more friends on Challenge kits and yours is free! As long as you have three people taking the Challenge with you, yours is always free!

Right now I am offering a 25 dollar rebate for any new promoter that signs up! I am so excited to grow my team all over the US! I am also hosting a contest! Whoever gets the most people to 'like' my Body by Vi page will get a prize! Just refer your friends and family and have them post on my wall that you sent them. Just go here:https://www.facebook.com/melodydawson.bodybyvi For more information on this exciting 90 Day Challenge go to www.melodydawson.bodybyvi.com. You can watch the videos which should answer any questions you have. You can also 'like' my facebook page which offers all my special deals. If you have any specific questions, you can email me at Ianandmelody924@yahoo.com.

About the author: My name is Melody. I am the owner of www.makeadollaholla.blogspot.com. I am a part time nurse and a full time Mom of 2. I am married to Ian. We have been married almost 7 years. I live in Pa.

Creative DIY Home Accessories

For those of you who think that decorating your home means driving to an expensive gallery to purchase items while running up your credit card bill, I have a bit of good news: it is possible to give your home a fresh look by making home decor accessories yourself. You don't even have to buy materials, as there is always a DIY project that can be made from the items that already in the house. Each one can be used in a variety of ways. Knick-knacks and even old clothing can be re-purposed into exciting new decor items, in some cases with very little effort. What follows is a few unique ways to add a new piece to your home with existing materials, time, and a little elbow grease. You can even get your kids involved if they're at the right age!

The first project involves transferring photos onto pieces of wood as if it was a frame. This will look great in any room in the home, but can be especially showy in the living or family rooms where everyone can see your creativity on full display. The best part is that with a little paint or wood polish, these pieces can complement any existing furniture like this Homelegance cocktail table. Once you've selected a photo, use a photo editing program to reverse the image so that it comes out the right way on the wood and scale it to fit the dimensions of the wood.  This is much easier than cutting the wood down to the size of the picture! Print it out at 300 DPI. After printing, use a brush to spread a thin layer of gel medium on the image and lay the image down flat with the picture-side down. Smooth out any bubbles, and let dry for at least 8 hours. Set a wet cloth on top of the wood and photo, and press down for a few minutes. When the paper is thoroughly soaked, use either fingers or the wet towel to carefully rub off the paper fibers to expose the photo. Let the piece dry overnight, and then cover in mod podge to preserve the image before hanging the image.  If you're more of a visual learner like me, you may find this video very helpful.

For the next idea, we focus on old board games. Many people have them in their homes, and they are perfect for crafts. One interesting idea for a rec room or a child's room is to take board games and frame them.  They certainly make a very unique statement in any room.  Another idea is to take old game pieces and build something with them.  Off the top of my head, how about coasters made of Scrabble tiles? Each game comes with 100 tiles, and since only 20 are needed per 4x4 coaster, an old set with missing pieces can make 4!  You can even make the coasters spell some fun words that capture some aspect of the room, your home, or your personality. With some glue and a felt or corkboard backing, these coasters will be a conversation piece in any room of the home. Plus, if you own a black and white table like this Modloft side table, they will make an awesome contrast! 

Finally, for the kitchen, how about using some spare change to personalize chairs for each member of the family with their initial or just for fun words on the walls? Obviously, for newer chairs, you're probably best waiting until their freshness fades before taking such action, but it can make older furniture really pop.  Simply get the desired letters, a bunch of shiny spare change, (pennies work best and cheapest :-D) and start gluing. The shine of the metal will give the letters a unique look.  Just be very careful with how you stick them on.  You don't want a misshapen letter giving your house a black eye for the foreseeable future!

I hope you liked these ideas.  If you have others, I'd love to hear them.  Let me know in the comments of any that you've seen or tried so we can all benefit from your experience.

Allison Cooper works for www.beyondstores.com, a leading online retailer of brand name furniture at discount prices.  When not at work, Allison takes care of her family of 4, and enjoys watching Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.