Open Call for Guest Bloggers

WANTED:  Guest bloggers who want to share ideas, tips, tricks and advice on products and all things beauty, fashion, travel, cars and green living.  You want to talk about your obsession with lip gloss? Go ahead!  Love the new models rolling out of Detroit?  Tell me about and share with MPR's readers. 

I'm looking for bloggers who want to submit a post or two and reach a new audience.  Email me at veamason AT gmail DOT com.

Tips for Getting Product Reviews on Your Blog

Spend any time at all immersed in the blog world and you’ll begin to notice that some bloggers get to review different products from time to time, and some bloggers to get to review different products all the time and some bloggers get to review products none of the time. And yet, you’ve never been offered a chance to review any products. Why is that? How come some bloggers have so many different opportunities to review products and some have none at all?

1.      Make your contact information easy to find

Companies are constantly perusing the web to find different places to promote their products. However, if they can’t find any way to get in touch with you, they’ll never reach out to you to try their products, which is why it’s imperative to have a Contact tab on your blog that gives a valid email address and explains that you’re open to discussing honest product reviews.

2.      Reach out to companies you’re interested in promoting

If there’s a particular company or product that you really believe in and want to promote you should email their marketing person and ask them about coordinating a review or sponsoring a giveaway on your blog. You don’t have to wait for someone to find your blog, and a lot of companies are more than happy to work with bloggers and get some additional exposure.

3.      Join a blogging network

There are a lot of different blogging networks out there that will partner with you to create a mutually beneficial relationship – they’ll place specific ads on your website and in turn will promote you as well. A lot of companies find blogs to utilize for product promotions through these types of networks.

4.      Review products on your own

If there’s something you’re passionate about – whether it’s in a positive or negative light – review it on your blog! This will help show others that you’re the type of blogger that does open and honest reviews, both of which are qualities that companies appreciate. No one wants to read glowing reviews all of the time, they want to read truthful reviews. This will also show marketers that your blog is a place for credible information and good exposure.

5.      Use social media to your advantage

Promote, promote, promote. Promote your blog, promote any reviews you’re doing, link to companies on Twitter, tag companies on Facebook – do whatever you have to do in terms of social media promotion to get people’s attention. Social media is a free and easy resource to connect with others, so use it!

It might be a little intimidating at first to contact a company, but most are more than willing to at least talk to you about sponsoring a review, and once you have one it becomes easier for other companies to find you and utilize you. Reviewing products is fun and informative, and readers love unbiased opinions on products. If someone knows they can count on you to give a candid review of something, even if it’s not necessarily the most glowing review, you immediately become a credible source of information and will become more and more likely to be contacted for product reviews on your blog.

Author Bio

Nancy Parker was a professional nanny and she loves to write about wide range of subjects like health, Parenting, Child Care, and Babysitting, find a nanny tips etc. You can reach her @ nancy.parker015 @ gmail.com.

The Best Parental Control Software to Protect Your Family

The Internet can be an incredible resource for your children, but it can also put them in danger without proper supervision. There are many ways that a child can be at risk online, including predatory websites, bullying, and, exposure to graphic content. Parents cannot
monitor their kids Internet activities all the time. This makes using parental control software very handy, especially for working parents.

Not all parental filter software available today offers the best protection for your kids. Some may have the protection you want, but they’re not user friendly. For your ease and for the safety of your kids, here are a few of the top most effective and easy to use programs you can
buy.

Net Nanny

Net Nanny ranks first among the rest of the filtering software because it blocks not only adult
content but also suspicious chat rooms, emails account, and other forms of Internet danger.
It assures that your children can only play and install games that you think are appropriate.
This parent control program is simple to install and easy to set-up. It also has a feature that
helps you to choose the appropriate program, games and other online activities based on your
child’s age.

PureSight PC

PureSight is a newer company – they’ve been protecting kids from online treats since 1998
– but their software is still very effective. Its latest filtering software ensures your child’s
protection from sites that are considered threats, but at the same time allows access to sites
that are useful. Similar to Net Nanny, PureSight also has many user-friendly features in its
interface.

PureSight is designed to totally block pornographic sites. It allows social networking sites
such as Facebook and chat rooms but under strict real time analysis where parents are alerted
in case suspicious interactions or communication happens.

CYBERsitter

CYBERsitter may not be the most popular name in parental software, but it is one of the best
filtering programs available today. It’s effective and easy to use and is designed to protect
kids from any treats that can be accessed through the Internet. The program is developed so
that you can customize filtering features for any program that allows chatting and emails.
This program also helps to avoid ‘overblocking’ (blocking of harmless programs)
and ‘underblocking’ features (unblocking programs that are considered as threats).

There are many great programs out there to help a busy parent keep an eye on their child’s
online behavior for a reasonable price. For other objective and data driven comparisons, be
sure to check out FindTheBest, where you can compare everything from antivirus software to
tablets.


*Guest post by Tom, who is part of the editorial staff at FindTheBest.

Top 3 Summer Shoes at Shoebuy.com

Summer is finally here once again! Get the best summer footwear for your entire family from Shoebuy.com! Shoebuy.com is a great place to shop online for shoes. This season, Shouebuy.com has hundreds of summer shoes for you to choose from! Browse through their top 3 categories of summer sandals to find the ones right for your favorite summer vacation activities at affordable process that fit into your budget!

Thinking of visiting the beach this summer? Be prepared with fashionable beach sandals! Shoebuy.com has sandals for everyone. Family favorites include the tiny Scott Hawaii Manini sandals for kids, Da Viccino Susan flip flops for women, and Havaianas Brazil flip flops for men. Find your favorite brands like Crocs, Skechers, Diesel, Hush Puppies and more! Shoebuy.com has many choices of durable beach sandals that you will love.



If you love being in the great outdoors during the summer, Shoebuy.com has the sandals for you! Get sturdy sandals made to withstand all the adventures of an active lifestyle. Browse through tons of strap on sandals that will give you the support you need for all of your summer expeditions. Get everything you need from lightweight walking sandals like the Spenco Yumi sandals or rugged active sandals such as the Nevados Kariba Leather sandals.



Don’t forget to get shoes for a night out on the town! Find hundreds of beautiful evening sandals for women. Choose from many colors, brands, and styles starting at just $27.45! Get sexy high heels like the Michael Antonia Monaco shoes or cute wedges such as the Beston Flagship sandals. You’ll look fantastic at all of your favorite summer events!

Shoebuy.com is a great place to find all the shoes that you need for summer and beyond! Showbuy.com also offers millions of products that are able to be shipped worldwide, and shipping is absolutely free within the United States! Shoebuy.com charges no sales tax, so shopping here can save you tons of money, especially if you live somewhere with outrageously high sales tax. If you aren’t 100% satisfied with your product, Shoebuy.com will pay for the shipping to exchange your product and will refund you back all of your money if you just want to return the item. Be sure to visit today because they’re having a giveaway! Just open an account and you could win a $100 gift card! When you shop online, use Shoebuy.com coupons to save on your next purchase. Check out this $5 off any order of $50 or more Shoebuy coupon code.

Deal for Dad: Free Shipping on $99 at Macy’s

Yes, it’s that time of year again! June is here which means Father’s Day will soon be here! It’s Sunday, June 19th to be exact. Now is the time to shop for the best gift for Dad. So many great stores are offering special sales and discounts on men’s apparel, cologne, tools and other awesome items for men. Since he’s worked hard to give you the best, you’ll want to buy gifts that will help him relax from his hectic work schedule and gifts that will make him feel like the special guy the family knows and loves. Macy’s has some really great options this year. There are a lot of great items on sale like this Hotel Collection "Cotton" Long Bath Robe now $99.99 marked down from $135! That will save you about $35.



Dad will definitely enjoy his special day while lounging around and being waited on by all who love him. This plush rob is made of 100% cotton, machine washable and looks delightfully cozy. Macys.com online shoppers gave it a 4.3 out of 5 stars review! All he needs is his comfy recliner for an afternoon of rest and relaxation! Mom might be a bit jealous, so remember to tell her where she can get her own for this awesome price.

When you spend $99 you automatically will get FREE SHIPPING! This is nice and is offered year-round. No one wants to pay shipping costs, but online shoppers love the convenience so it’s nice to have this option as an incentive. You should also look around for Macy’s coupon codes and printable Macy’s coupons as they will likely be giving out some great ones closer to Father’s Day.




*Guest post by CouponMountain.com

Tips for Hiring a Nanny

Candi Wingate, founder of Nannies4Hire, is a guest blogger today at MPR.  Her wonderful site offers loads of advice, tips and ideas on caring for your children, finding good childcare and so much more.  She offered up the following tips for hiring a nanny. 
Top 9 Tips When Hiring a Nanny

In today’s society, finding quality childcare is important to so many families - no matter where you live. Here are some of the most important things for you to consider when selecting a new nanny for your children.

1. The nanny should be able to relate easily and bond well with your children while also maintaining a clear distinction from them. Nannies must be able to play with and enjoy your children (which can often be construed by the child as peer-level interaction) while also maintaining discipline. It is easy for a nanny (and a parent) to feel more comfortable in one role or the other: to be most comfortable being friends with the children, or to be most comfortable supervising the children and redirecting their errant behaviors. Parents and nannies must have a shared understanding of how to navigate both roles successfully and strike a balance between peer-level interaction and parent-level interaction with the children.

2. The nanny must be able to relate with your family and administer discipline to your children in a manner that is appropriate and consistent with your family’s boundaries. You and your nanny should discuss, prior to hiring, the discipline style that your family would like the nanny to use.

3. The nanny should have years of experience, solid references from prior employer-families, a clean background (pursuant to background checks), and completed training on nanny basics (CPR, first aid, the Heimlich maneuver, basic nutrition and food preparation, and general personal and home hygiene). Background checks may be obtained through Nannies4hire.com. If you need your nanny to drive, then your nanny should have a valid driver’s license and a clean (or as close to clean as possible) driving record.

4. The nanny should be able to develop and carry out fun, creative, and educational experiences for your child.

5. The nanny should be capable of handling small “crises” on his/her own. You and your nanny should come to an agreement about what issues may warrant a call to you and what issues the nanny is authorized to handle on his/her own. Your nanny should be able to act comfortably within the boundaries you have provided.

6. The nanny should be able to commit to your family for an extended period of time (unless your needs require less). Children often become attached to their nannies. When nannies leave, children often experience grief associated with that separation. Therefore, it is advantageous to hire a nanny who will be able to stay with your children for an extended amount of time.

7. The nanny’s expectations regarding terms and conditions of employment should be close to the terms and conditions of employment that you are offering. If you are seeking a live-in nanny, a prospective nanny that seeks a live-out arrangement may not be a good fit for your family. If you wish to hire a nanny in a smoking home, a non-smoking prospective nanny may not be a good fit for your family. Pay rates for nannies should be discussed up front to ensure that the prospective nannies are willing to work for the income you offer.

8. The nanny should not have fears or concerns about the non-negotiable aspects of the job with your family. If you have a cat, and your prospective nanny is severely allergic to cats, the prospective nanny may not be a good fit for your family. (Side note: some allergic reactions can be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medications or other accommodations that may be used by the allergic nanny.)

9. The nanny should be a positive, loving influence in your household.
 
About Nannies4Hire:



Nannies4Hire, a booming online database registry that matches families, nannies and babysitters across the United States and Canada, was recently named to the Inc. 500 List of fastest growing companies. Care4Hire is a database registry that provides a variety of other valuable services, such as last-minute babysitters, personal assistants, tutors and eldercare.

As the former nanny for a couple with five children, Candi Wingate quickly learned about the needs of a modern day family. Based on that experience, Wingate, now a wife and mother, purchased her very own nanny placement agency. Based in Nebraska and serving the U.S. and Canada, Nannies4Hire’s booming online database registry serves more than 500,000 families, nannies, and babysitters. The rapidly growing agency has developed ongoing relationships with The Dr. Phil Show, Supernanny, Good Morning America and TLC’s hit show Jon and Kate Plus 8. Ready for the next level, Candi recently launched Care4Hire.com, a database registry for personal assistants, tutors, eldercare, and other services. For more information, please visit http://www.nannies4hire.com/.

Disclaimer:  This is not a sponsored post.  MPR was not paid for this post.

My Kids and the Refrigerator Door

I am thankful that when an appliance breaks you don’t always have to buy a new appliance. I have an old Whirlpool refrigerator that has been keeping my family’s food and beverages cold and fresh for over ten years and I really don’t want to get rid of it. Luckily when it finally did break I was able to get Whirlpool parts from my friends over at www.AppliancePartsPros.com. Here’s my story.

I have three kids, all teenagers, and my refrigerator door gets a workout every single day. Between the trips in the morning while they’re scrambling to get out to school and the fly-bys in the afternoon, that door is probably opened and closed over a hundred times a day. I suppose it was inevitable that eventually something would break.

It was a warm sunny afternoon in May and the kids were out in the yard playing basketball. This type of activity is always particularly tough on our old Whirlpool refrigerator because our household population doubles with friends and the trips in and out are multiplied by the need for a constant supply of cold beverages. It was about halfway through a game that was being contested to twenty-one when my son came out of the house with the refrigerator handle in his hand.

“Dad,” he said, “It wasn’t my fault.” If I had a dime for every time I’ve heard those words I would be a millionaire. My first instinct was anger but the look on his face made me laugh. It really wasn’t his fault. That old Whirlpool refrigerator had given us its all for ten years and it was bound to break at some point. I was just happy it was only one of the two refrigerator handles and not the appliance that had broken.

After checking to make sure the door itself wasn’t damaged, I went on line to Appliance Parts Pros and found the handle I was looking for at a price of just $33.13. It was a Whirlpool part and could be shipped that day so I could have it in hand and on the door before the week was out. I ordered the appliance part and went back outside to watch the end of the game. The whole process, from the break to the confirmation of shipping, took me less than half an hour and I had an opportunity to look through the Appliance Parts Pros website while I was ordering. They have over 1,000,000 appliance parts from all different manufacturers. I’ll never go to the hardware store again.



By: Michael B.