Archive for Category: Sponsored Post
On Laundry
When we got married my grandparents gave us money to buy a washer and dryer. I don’t know why I was so excited at the prospect of having my own, but I was; even though we waited till we bought our first house to buy this laundry set. That was in 2000, and I am so relieved that they have lasted this long. Michael had to replace the belt on the washer, but that’s it. I think we’re lucky because do you know how much laundry we do in a week’s time.
A. LOT.
I swear we do one or two (maybe more) loads daily. That’s a lot of washing and drying. And, let me just take a moment to acknowledge Mikey and Livey and all they do in the way of the laundry chore. We would surely not have many clean clothes to wear, and if we did we’d probably have to search through piles and piles to find clean Underoos. I’m just not very good at laundry. I proved this from the get-go.
Michael’s favorite story to tell about my laundry ability was when I left clothes in the washer for three days because I got sidetracked by MTV when we lived in this little studio apartment in downtown Buffalo.
“Mishelle, you have to take the laundry out of the washing machine and dry it, you know, or it doesn’t count,” he sternly stated.
“But, but, but…there was an Unplugged Marathon on MTV!” I exclaimed.
I can still see him shaking his head as he cursed under his breath about the moldy smelling clothes. But, I digress.
Now, that’s not to say that I don’t look forward to the day that we have a pair of those fancy-shmancy duos. Maybe then I’d be motivated to do the laundry chore by myself.
Oh, who am I kidding?
I Love What I Do. Do You?
I have dabbled in photography my whole life, though there was a period of a few years where all I did was take snapshots of my growing babies. In 2005, when I started my blog, I got back into taking photos. This sparked a new vision and my eyes started to see things differently. This vision allowed me to pursue the one thing in life that truly makes me feel complete. It doesn’t matter who or what I am taking pictures of, I am simply fulfilled with a camera in my hand.
Starting my photography business was the best (and hardest) thing I have ever done. There are so many photography businesses out there that sometimes it’s daunting, but I tell myself that if I stay true to my technique and style I will succeed. Slowly and surely I have!
This weekend I ran into an old family friend, and we were talking about my photography business. I said to her, “I just love what I do,” and she replied that with that sentiment I can do nothing but succeed!
I absolutely believe that if you love what you do, you are bound to succeed, and your customers and clients will see that in you and your business.
If you already have your own business or even if you are a big fan of some of your local businesses, check out Intuit’s Love a Local Business competition!
They are helping small businesses achieve their dreams. Each month Intuit will be giving away $25,000 to a deserving local business. And, in July they will be awarding $50,000 in grants to businesses in the two cities that get the most love. Your votes will determine the winners. You can even vote for ‘Mishelle Lane Photography’.
It’s been very exciting starting my own business, so I’m curious to know: What dream business would you love to start? By replying you will be entered to win an iPad 2!
Save Money with MyCoupons.com
Established in 1995, MyCoupons.com is America’s first online coupon site. To date, visitors have clicked on over 44 milions online and printable coupons and coupon codes. They originated the online coupon, along with coupon codes and web shopping forums. Customers have saved over 130 million dollars and counting.
You can find Home Depot Coupons, QVC Coupons, Walgreens Coupons, along with many more famous retailers that offer hundreds of coupon codes at MCoupons.com; exclusive offers that are only available on the site. Along with amazing savings from favorite stores, such as those mentioned, there are ‘Coupon Pros‘ on hand that have an open dialogue with merchants to help users get awesome deals, as well as help with couponing and ultimately saving money.
Some other interesting points to mentions:
- MyCoupons.com emails a weekly newsletter filled with top deals and promotions.
- Their Facebook site offers a VIP List for additional deals and weekly prize giveaways
- They have discounted gift cards that allow you to purchase retailer cards below face value (I don’t know about you but I like saving money where ever I can.)
- One of the coolest features is that it’s the first coupon site—not to mention one of the first companies in the US—to adapt Google +1.
The site is so easy to use. The most popular links can be found on the left side along with categories for all the coupons. Check them out, you won’t be sorry!
[Disclosure: I was compensated for this post.]
Email, How You Love Me
Thank you to Yahoo! Mail for sponsoring this post about staying connected. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
My Dearest Email,
Over the years you have done so much for me. You’ve made me laugh, so-much-so that I spat Coke or coffee on my keyboard countless times. You’ve delivered good news, like babies being born and promotions being won. You’ve connected me and reconnected me to those who matter most, for [you] are as brilliant at those that you are tethered to in life. You’ve done your part to help me network and build my business, allowing clients to contact me enabling me to spread my professional wings.
Don’t get me wrong, though, Email; sometimes you’ve made me cry, too. That kind of ugly cry with huge crocodile tears falling on to dormant fingers. But, as with everything, life brings the good, the bad, and the ugly. I do not fault you. Not one bit.
You’ve been there with me through miles apart, helping me stay connected with those I love. You’ve helped me express forgiveness, helping my heart heal and show even more love. You’ve given me the stregnth to work out problems, helping love affairs and friendships mend. You’ve also made it easier for me to say goodbye, because not all relationships can last forever.
You? Are a reliable old friend, Email, and that’s a fact. You’ve made it easy for me to say words like I’m sorry, I love you, I need you in my life, Let’s be friends, I appreciate you, You hurt me, but let’s work it out, You’re the best, Goodbye, and I’m thinking of you.
So, I thank you. From my fingertips to your Inbox, you have seen the best of me, and the worst of me. Yet there you are, always there for me. I venture to say that you do love me as much as I love you.
I won’t ever take you for granted.
I promise to take the Trash out, and keep the Spam folder clean. Always.
Yours very truly,
Mishelle Lane
Your email loves you, too. It’ll help you stay connected to those you love (and, I guarantee, their email loves them, too!) Email is powerful.
I wrote this post while participating in a blog tour conducted by Clever Girls Collective on behalf of Children’s Claritin®. I have been compensated for my time commitment to the program.
For as long as I could remember, my eldest son, Mikey, has been affected by spring and fall allergies. In Buffalo fall-time allergies were pretty harsh, but the spring season, here in Georgia, is the absolute worst. There’s so much pollen that our vehicles (anything outside, really) become caked with a yellow film. Some days it’s so bad that we have to stay inside.
The dreaded words, usually yelled out, “Mama, where’s my raaaaaaag?” have always signified the start of allergy season.
Mikey doesn’t blow his nose, he wipes it. It’s frustrating because we’ve told him that if he just blew his nose he’d feel so much better, but he continues to just wipe it. Those dreaded words used to come with days of us not seeing Mikey’s face. He just hide under those numerous handkerchiefs that we’ve amassed over the allergy seasons. I think it was my mother who got him started on them, and he even has some that are monogrammed.
Of course, he wasn’t sick, so our activities would continue; only there he would be hidden under “a rag”. One time we were grocery shopping, and in the produce section an elderly gentleman saw Mikey pull out his hanky to wipe his nose. He smiled and told us how wonderful it was to see such a young boy using a handkerchief. I told him that Mikey had his very own collection of them. These teen-aged days he’s not so keen on carrying around his “rag”, as he calls them, but he does still use them in and around the house. I guess it’s not cool to sport one. Oh, that elderly gentleman would disagree, I’m sure.
Instead Mikey would much rather manage his allergies with medicine, but it’s been hard to find one that doesn’t make him drowsy. Claritin has a non-drowsy formula that works; they also make chewables, a dye-free liquid form, and 12-hour Reditabs for children six and older. These options will be so helpful, in the fall, when Mikey goes to Middle School. He won’t be able to keep the hanky close, so on days when he suffers we know that there is an option to give him relief.
But, I still won’t get rid of his collection of “rags”.
[Get a coupon for $3 off allergy meds for kids!]
For more tips on relieving allergies, visit www.Facebook.com/Claritin. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.
Recent Comments