Poetic Creations by abitosunshine!

Squidoo is Keeping me Hopping

2012-01-27T22:15:00.001-05:00

Yes, it has been a couple of weeks without a post from me, which I will address later on with another blog post. In the meantime, I want to make a quick post to update my readers with a bit of my recent activity at Squidoo.

Of course, this means I will link this blog post up with HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot!

Marsha invites all Squidoo lensmasters to share their Squidoo activity each week. You will find a link to her current post via the information link (above).

My Newest Squidoo Lenses

I finally got around to creating my Perfect 10 Newest Squidoo Lens List. This lens will keep all my Squidoo friends and viewers up to date on my most recent lenses at Squidoo.
I am really excited about another Squidoo lens I recently created and published. I discovered today that Greatest Mother and Son Love Story Ever Told is currently being featured on the Squidoo Monsterboard: Best of Squidoo - Valentine's Day Love Stories. I am deeply honored and appreciative of this feature.

My Squidoo News

I have two announcements to make, both of which I will probably create and publish lenses for in the near future.

I am proud to say that I am now a Giant Squid (25 level). What an honor to be accepted to the Giant Squid Club.
I am delighted to announce that I am an angel! I have been given my SquidAngel wings and am now a member of the SquidAngel Program.

My Latest Squidoo Creation

Squidoo ToDo's Notebook by abitosunshine

No more ink on scraps of paper for this Squidoo Lensmaster! All of my Squidoo To-Do's and ideas are now put in my notebook. And I am loving crossing things off the lists! Order yourself one of these motivational organizer notebooks. It really helps to alleviate desktop and creative clutter!

Merry Christmas from abitosunshine!

2011-12-25T10:23:00.000-05:00

Wishing you and those whom you love nuttin' but sunshine today and every day...

Visit Tumbleweed Christmas Tree for more seasonal spirit.

Now What?

2011-12-17T22:05:00.008-05:00

When I think of business goals or personal goals, I think of them as rocks to climb. This post marks week nine of the Shop Hop challenge of weekly online business goals. We set out to list and share five specific things to do each week towards reaching our goals.

I'm not sure if I completed all five goals in any one week. However, I know that I tried, some weeks with more effort and positive results than in others. Untimately, I learned a bit more about rock climbing and a whole lot more about myself.

5 Things Learned from the rock climbing challenge:

Listing 5 rocks to climb each week increased my desire to reach my goals. Having a goal set, and shared with others, seemed to light my fire, so to speak.
Each week my productivity increased. The fire seemed to burn a bit brighter because in publishing my weekly goals I wanted to keep my commitment to myself and others.
I've learned that my moods, my frame of mind, and my life happenings from day to day have a direct positive or negative influence on my work. I want to work through that; I want to be able to produce regardless of environmental or emotional factors.
I realized that time management is one of my biggest issues. I definitely need to structure my time online more efficiently. I tend to get lost surfing along, hopping from place to place but getting nowhere fast, with my goal becoming a dying ember.
I discovered that I like to start a lot of projects but do not like to finish them. Bottom line — hidden deep down inside was the fact that I feel that my project cannot be judged if it is not completed. This was the greatest discovery to surface and now I can roll that rock right out of my way!

Now What

Buy This at Allposters.com

I'll continue to climb! How about you? Will you join us?

This is your invitation to join SHOP HOP Saturday. We will continue to blog about our shops and online businesses and money making opportunities. We will support one another along the way in any way we can and then some.

The first Saturday of 2012, I will issue a new challenge for the new year. Come climb with us in 2012!

Next week will be an off week for this blog hop. EnJOY...

Merry Christmas!

Happy Holidays!

Seasons Greetings!
Happy New Year!

Hop and Squidoo Lenses to View, Linky, and Payday too!

2011-12-17T07:53:00.000-05:00

I HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot each week! Do you? If you are a Squidoo lensmaster you will want to do so. It's a great way to link your blog posts sharing your Squidoo activity and you can link up your lenses too! For me, this blog hop is just another way to support other lensmasters and gain some additional motivation to continue to create and publish amazing Squidoo pages. I thank Marsha for this opportunity.

This week was our monthly payday at Squidoo! You can read the details of my Squidoo paydays on my Squidformation Highway lens where I share the highlights of my Squidoo journey. If you're not yet a part of this community, I encourage you to sign up now to become a Squidoo lensmaster.

I've had loads of fun visiting fellow lensmasters this week! My newest way to select lenses to view is to visit all of those lensmasters listed on the Squidoo Lensmaster Linky List. So if you're a member of Squidoo, be sure to add your profile link to the list.

I have 2 new lenses created and published to share with you:

Both of these pages were such fun to create! Marsha was delighted with the lens I created for her and wants everything on the gift idea list! Me too! And Brenda's gifts for book lovers is terrific. If you love to read you won't want to miss the books we've shared. If you find something on either of these lenses that interests you or a friend, be sure to share the pages on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+. (Share links are in the top right corner of each lens.)

Now, it's time for me to get ready for a day at the J-O-B! I'll be posting my Shop Hop blog post this afternoon when I get home, so be sure to check back later for that post. Happy blogging and Squidoo hopping!

Shop Hop and a Giveaway

2011-12-11T09:19:00.000-05:00

It seems no matter my good intentions I am late shop hop posting again this week. I came in from a long day at work yesterday, planned to publish my blog post but took a nap instead, one which turned into sleeping through the night! I'm rested up now and have the next three days scheduled off work from my j-o-b, so I shall be utilizing that time by doing some serious rock climbing of online money making activities.

That said, here are my rocks to climb for this coming week...

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 8

Squidoo: Lens love to all on the Squidoo Linky List.
RedGage: upload 3 items of interest.
Blogging: Post to each of my 4 blogs.
Gather: Post and reunite with my friends there that I don't see elsewhere.
Create 1 new product for my shop at CafePress AND for my Zazzle store.

Number 5 will be of utmost importance, as my shops are listed in a fabulous giveaway, so I need to add products!

A Sunny Holiday Giveaway!

Six (6) online shop owners have gathered together to give away $20 for the winner of the giveaway to spend at any one of their shops!

Gale of Such Fun To Give is the blog host for this giveaway event, as she should be since this was her brilliant idea.

So head on over, introduce yourself, and get your entries in and you may be winner of A Sunny Holiday Giveaway!

SHOP HOP Saturday was created to link up with and support those who do business online. Come join us each week as we share our efforts and accomplishments and our business concerns.

Occasionally, I will prompt you with a challenge, such as the current rock climbing challenge. In fact, begin thinking about your business and shop goals for 2012, as I plan to issue a challenge for the new year for all of us business bloggers.

I am delighted to announce we have a newcomer to the shop hop! Welcome Summer Foovay aka Demented-Pixie.com!

Motivational Quote

~Jimmy Carter

"If you have a task to perform and are vitally interested in it, excited and challenged by it, then you will exert maximum energy. But in the excitement, the pain of fatigue dissipates, and the exuberance of what you hope to achieve overcomes the weariness."

Tumbleweeds Hop and Squidoo

2011-12-08T19:30:00.001-05:00

One of my weekly goals is to create and publish a new lens (page) at Squidoo. This month I really wanted to publish a lens that would meet the criteria for the Happy Snowman on Squidoo magazine — I achieved my goal!

Tumbleweed Christmas Tree

The spirit of the season is captured in the tumbleweeds, featuring the children's book "Tumbleweed Christmas" by author Beverly Stowe McClure.

I really enjoyed creating this holiday lens. And the magic of the season is blowing in the wind along with the tumbleweeds.

This is my 32nd lens and I am delighted to feature it here on my blog via HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot! I'm working on a couple of more lenses, so stay tuned, for I'll be announcing them as soon as they go public.

In the meantime, you can sign up at Squidoo through my referral link and publish your own lenses of interest too. Be sure to hop along with Marsha when you do and we'll stop by in support of you and your efforts.

Compassionate Climb

2011-12-05T20:43:00.003-05:00

Full responsibility for the publication of this blog post this evening goes to none other than my friend Gale aka Scribbleprints.

In the wake of a week or more of personal crisis situations, my blog and other online commitments have been sorely neglected. Offline, I've pretty much been burying myself with work and when online I've just been going through the motions, so to speak, along with commenting on other people's activity. Work is purely out of financial need and isolating myself is what I often do when I am struggling personally. Work is a good activity. Isolation is not-so-good, especially when one is on the brink of a depression dive.

Enter Gale and an email I received from her earlier today. The exact words within the email are not nearly as important as the feeling of warmth that radiated within me when reading them. I could almost reach out and touch this gal's compassionate hand. Embraced in her empathic concern, I stood myself up on that cliff and instead of diving into a downward spiral I began an upward climb, kicking the pebbles of distress out of my way.

Thank you, Gale!

And now, though it's Monday, it's time for SHOP HOP Saturday! Those of you who are doing business online are urged to link up with this blog hop each week to share your business and shop endeavors and to reach out in support of others doing same.

Come business blog hop with us -- any day of the week!

My Shop Hop Challenge goals for the coming week:

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 7

Squidoo: Create and publish 1 new lens (page).
RedGage: upload 3 items of interest.
Blogging: Post to each of my 4 blogs.
Gather: Post and reunite with my friends there that I don't see elsewhere.
Create 1 new product for my shop at CafePress or for my Zazzle store.

In other business this past week...

I did manage to publish 2 new Squidoo lenses, which I will be doing a separate blog post to announce... so don't forget to watch for the post ... smiles.

I'm delighted to say 3 of my invitations to Superpoints were accepted, so I have 3 new friends there. Together, we are earning cash and gift cards. Come join us!

Challenges and Hops

2011-11-26T15:52:00.003-05:00

Due to the Thanksgiving holiday this week, many of us had little time for rock or mountain climbing. Personally, I climbed a few boulders, but reached no mountaintops.

Previously, as part of the Shop Hop Saturday blog hop, a challenge was issued, which I'll repost here and hope I get a few more mountain movers and shakers from the business bloggers that abound to take me up on this challenge for the duration of this year:

CHALLENGE: Set and share 5 specific online business goals—rocks to climb. With each week's challenge post, share how you reached the summit, crossed the finish line, for the previous week.

You may, of course, change your goals from week to week as you reach a mountain peak, or as new opportunities arise.

Challenge
Buy This at Allposters.com

My goals for the coming week:

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 6

Squidoo: I will create and publish 1 new lens (page).
RedGage: Post a minimum of 1 item daily and catch up on comment replies.
Giving Thanks: Continue posts throughout the month of November on my abitosunshine blog.
Read. Write. Publish a book review.
I will create 1 new product for my shop at CafePress or for my Zazzle store.

As stated above, I did manage to toss a few boulders out of my way, so to speak.

My contribution for the HOP and SQUIDOO blog hop over at Marsha's Spot was to create a linkup for my lensmater friends and associates from Squidoo.

Check out the Squidoo Linky List and if you're a lensmaster, add your profile link too!

We Squidoo for fun, $$$, and/or charity and you can too! If you are not yet a Squidoo lensmaster, you can get started NOW!

I am also delighted to say that my efforts at RedGage have once again paid off.

I won RedGage's Daily Contest for the 2nd time! $25.00!

Come, join us at RedGage as we share photos, links, and posts of interest.

SHOP HOP Saturday is a blog hop for those who blog about their online shop, business, and money making opportunities. Come hop with us!

Oh! This week (and weeks hereafter) our linky list for the Shop Hop includes thumbnail views with your links. Choose them wisely...wink!

Cheers to Making Money on RedGage

2011-11-21T11:22:00.001-05:00

The title of this blog post is the message I received enclosed with the $25 RedGage Visa Reward Card in the mail last week:

"CHEERS TO MAKING MONEY ON REDGAGE!"

I had received this reward for entering and winning RedGage's Daily Contest, as previously posted about here on my blog. Have you received a similar reward for your efforts at the RedGage community?

I joined RedGage about a month ago and I am delighted by my welcome within the community. I've discovered old friends and new friends sharing photos, blogs, links, and more. I have found RedGage a great place for creating quality backlinks to my other forum activity, such as my blogs, Squidoo, and Gather.

Have you been a featured member at RedGage? Today I received an email notification that abitosunshine has been chosen to be one of the sixteen Featured Users on the RedGage Homepage. I am truly honored by this feature.

If you are already a member of the RedGage community, please leave your profile link in the comment section below so I can hook up with you!

Shop Hop at a Snail's Pace

2011-11-20T09:24:00.005-05:00

My apologies to all my blog readers for my Shop Hop Saturday post being a day late this week. Work and personal issues took precedence over blogging yesterday. Better late than never, as the snail saying goes...

Greeting Card - Sammy Snail by TinyTailz
Be a greeting card affiliate with Zazzle.

Meanwhile, back to rock climbing ... Top on my list for 4 weeks has been this rock to climb:

Squidoo: I will make good use of sidebar widgets, using 3 per lens on all (31) lenses.

I am happy to report that in the wee hours of the morn' I reached the peak of this rock! Now, that was making good use of time, as an insomnia attack was utilized to finish this to-do.

While on the subject of Squidoo, I'll also share with you my earnings this month, which are much lower than I have hoped for; but, again, nobody to blame but myself for decreased earnings. Hopefully, with better time management and a whole lot of UMPH, I'll get those earnings to rise in the coming months and report TRIUMPH.

September 2011 royalties (paid out 11/15/2011)

Total featured lenses on date: 6 lenses

Total paid in cash via PayPal: $1.70

Total donated to charity: $0.37

HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot

Squidoo lensmasters and bloggers have an opportunity to share their pages and activity at Squidoo via Marsha's blog hop. Don't miss this opportunity to give and to receive the priceless gift of support of others in the Squidoo and blogging community.

As you see, Ruthi is a Squidoo Lensmaster. I Squidoo for fun, $$$, and/or charity and you can too! Get started NOW!

Climb the mountain of success with me.

Become a High Flyer!

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 5

Squidoo: I will create and publish 1 new lens (page).
RedGage: Post a minimum of 1 item daily and catch up on comment replies.
Giving Thanks: Continue daily posts throughout the month of November on my abitosunshine blog.
Ruthi Reads! : Read. Write. Publish a book review.
I will create 1 new product for my shop at CafePress or for my Zazzle store.

SHOP HOP Saturday is a blog hop for those who blog about their online shop, business, and money making opportunities. Come hop with us!

Triumph

2011-11-12T17:54:00.004-05:00

It is time for SHOP HOP Saturday!

All bloggers who blog about their shops, business, and/or money making opportunites are encouraged to hop along each week.

Following my weekly posts, you will see that I have been goal setting. I term it rock and/or mountain climbing. I am fast learning the lesson of our elephant friend below...

Buy This Allposters.com

"The difference between try and triumph is a little umph."

Yes, I definitely need to apply more UMPH!

That said, of my rock climbing last week, I fully accomplished two out of five rocks to climb. I have kept up with my daily blog posts at abitosunshine for giving thanks throughout the month of November. I also created a new product for sale in my CafePress shop at Poetic Creations by abitosunshine.

Love is... heART and SOuL

Product Details

Of course, the climbs I did not complete will remain on the list for the coming week, as well as my posts of thanksgiving.

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 4

Squidoo: I will make good use of sidebar widgets, using 3 per lens on all (31) lenses.
RedGage: Post a minimum of 1 item daily and catch up on comment replies.
Giving Thanks: Continue daily posts throughout the month of November on my abitosunshine blog.
Ruthi Reads! : Read. Write. Publish a book review.
Zazzle: I will create 1 new product for my shop.

What rocks to you plan to climb in the coming week? Blog about your business goals and let us know, too, if and when you reach the peak.

The Business of Mountain Climbing

2011-11-05T19:00:00.003-04:00

Although I am quickly learning how out of shape body and mind can be, I am really enjoying hiking the hills as I head to the mountain peak. And, quitting before I reach the top is not an option for me.

I discovered a great article by the Hankamer School of business to share with you that deals with Business, Teaching, and Mountain Climbing. ***Let me know what you think the most important information found in the article is, as it applies to you and your shop, business, and/or money making endeavors online.***

As for my rock climbing goals this past week, I feel I did pretty good. I reached 3 out of 5 of my climbs:

Gather post: Freestyle? I did it my way! (Submission to a writing prompt.)
Ruthi Reads blog: Flower Child by Author Sheila Deeth, Book Review
Zazzle: AGAPE Brotherly Love Poster by abitosunshine

AGAPE Brotherly Love Poster by abitosunshine
Join Zazzle's art affiliate program

Of course, the 2 climbs I did not complete will top the list for the coming week.

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 3

Squidoo: I will make good use of sidebar widgets, using 3 per lens on all (31) lenses.
CafePress: I will create 1 new product for sale in my shop.
RedGage: Post a minimum of 1 item daily and catch up on comment replies.
Giving Thanks: Continue daily posts throughout the month of November on my abitosunshine blog.
Book Review: Read. Write. Publish a book review.

Special Project: Begin preliminary design and poetry for items to donate for raffle for a local business raising funds for a needy family for Christmas. (More on this project later.)

SuperPoints Share: I joined The SuperPoints Network in August and have redeemed points earning me $5 weekly. This week, I am happy to report that I redeemed points earning me $10! An invitation awaits you on Making Money Online.

SHOP HOP Saturday is a blog hop for those who blog about their online shop, business, and money making opportunities. Come join us! And I hope you take us up on our Rock Climbing Challenge, too.

Setting Goals and Rock Climbing Week Two

2011-10-29T20:03:00.001-04:00

Oh my! Rock climbing is not easy! I am thinking maybe I should have taken lessons before setting out on this weekly goal setting climb. To read more about my climb you can visit Ruthi Rock Climbing Week One.

Join me on this rock climbing and business goal setting journey by joining me each week for SHOP HOP Saturday! Spread the word among your business blogger friends -- the more the merrier!

So, how did I do on last week's climb? Well, I can tell you that I completed only one of my goals! Funny thing, I was rewarded, too! I achieved my goal at RedGage and I Thank you, RedGage, for the Rock to Climb!

Two items on my list, a Zazzle store and a CafePress shop product addition ... no, I did not get either of these done, so they will be on the list again this week.

As for blog posting goals ... I have four different blogs and set a goal to post on each of them this week. Three out of four ain't bad! Visit my blogs listed below to see posts for this week:

1 new posts at abitosunshine
2 new posts at Ruthi Reads!
2 new posts at Poetic Creations by abitosunshine

Squidoo goals ... I made it through about one-fourth of my lens updates I wanted to achieve this week.

Needless to say, I need to work on time management. And I did read a great blog post on Meeting Your Goals that will help with goal setting.

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 2

Squidoo: I will make good use of sidebar widgets, using 3 per lens on all (31) lenses.
CafePress: I will create 1 new product for sale in my shop.
Zazzle: I will create 1 new product for sale in my store.
Book Reviews: I will post 1 book review to Ruthi Reads!
Gather: I will publish 1 post.

How do you manage your time and efforts for your money-making online? Do you set goals? Do you blog about your online shop and business and money making endeavors?

Climb Aboard as we Hop and Squidoo

2011-10-27T17:07:00.000-04:00

I am a curious Squidoo lensmaster ... what goals have you set for yourself with Squidoo?

Not yet a member of the Squidoo community? Oh my! Climb aboard!

And remember to Hop and Squidoo with Marsha's Spot, too! Marsha has created this blog hop for Squidoo lensmasters to share with you their lenses to view. We are ready, willing, and able to lend our support in your Squidoo activity, too.

This past week I began rock climbing! One of my rocks to climb for this week pertains to Squidoo: I will make good use of sidebar widgets, using 3 per lens on all (31) lenses.

I am finding this rock a bit more difficult to climb than I thought it would be, but I am determined to achieve this goal in time to report to you in my next Shop Hop Saturday post that I have done so.

At Squidoo, I am currently at Level 61, with 24 Trophies, and 31 Featured Lenses. I also have 2 Work-in-Progress lenses.

My October PAYDAY from Squidoo:
August 2011 royalties (paid out 10/13/2011)

Total featured lenses on date: 10 lenses
Total paid in cash via PayPal: $3.50
Total donated to charity: $0.40

Earnings down just a bit from last month, a wee warning for me to focus on spending more time and effort on my goals for myself at Squidoo. That said, it is time for this squidlet to climb that rock!

Buy This Allposters.com

Thank you, RedGage, for the Rock to Climb

2011-10-26T19:28:00.000-04:00

Over the weekend, I spoke of rocks to climb, pairing rock climbing to making money online. Having just joined the RedGage community, one of my rocks to climb is to add quality content to my RedGage profile on a daily basis. Each day, I have added two or three items: photos, poetic creations, links, and even a blog.

Also each day, RedGage runs a contest, based on content, mentioning them in other forums, and inviting others to join the community. And I enter the contest daily.

Early this morning, I was rewarded for taking the bull by the horns and keeping my goal in focus — I won the RedGage Daily Contest!

Oh, what did I win?

I won a $25.00 RedGage Visa Card!

Come join me in the RedGage community, sharing your items of interest. Take the bull by the horns, climb that mountain — just do it!

The Reward of a Thing Well Done
Buy This Allposters.com

Ruthi Rock Climbing Week One

2011-10-23T13:42:00.003-04:00

Sometimes we may feel as though we may never reach the goals we have set for ourselves. Maybe we just need to switch gears and view the summit from a different vantage point. It helps to set goals for our business endeavors that allow us to set our sight on the finish line.

Every now and then, I find myself kicking pebbles and boulders out of my pathway, but instead I have decided I will choose to take up rock climbing, so to speak.

Hence, today I am switching gears in my weekly SHOP HOP Saturday post. This, then, is also a challenge to each of you. I trust you will accept the challenge, which will continue throughout the rest of the year (2011).

To accept the challenge, just snag the Shop Hop button and link for your own rock climbing post each week; compose your five business goals into a blog post, adding the challenge to your post; return to add your blog post link to the linky list on the current Shop Hop post each week here at abitosunshine. (You do not have to do this on Saturday, any day of the week is accepted.)

CHALLENGE: Set and share 5 specific online business goals—rocks to climb. With each week's challenge post, share how you reached the summit, crossed the finish line, for the previous week.

Ruthi Rock Climbing - Week 1

Squidoo: I will make good use of sidebar widgets, using 3 per lens on all (31) lenses.
RedGage: I will add a minimum of 2 content items each day.
CafePress: I will create 1 new product for sale in my shop.
Zazzle: I will create 1 new product for sale in my shop.
Blogs: I will publish 1 new blog post for each of my 4 blogs.

Business-Management: Goal Setting

Buy This Allposters.com

Worn, Not Worn Out

2011-10-08T18:56:00.000-04:00

A telephone conversation with a friend is the inspiration for the title of this post, as well as the thing that inspires this question:

Would you rather be old and arthritic as part of the natural aging process or would you rather be old and arthritic because you worked hard physically most of your life?

I figure I am going to be old and arthritic, either way; so, I am happier knowing I am working my body hard, still, and will continue to do so for as long as I am able. All the aches and pains I now have and those yet to be felt... well, I am proud of them, you see. I give my all for them.

Sure, I am worn, but I am not worn out! (By the way, Monday is my 57th happy birthday!)

How about you? Still have some hard physical labor left in that life of yours? Are you worn; or, are you worn out?

For now, it's back to the moment with the focus on working hard to earn an income online. (Possibly for when the time comes that body is more worn than mind.)

It's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! (Yes, a bit late today, as it has been another long day with job and home responsibilities coming first.)

SHOP HOP Saturday is a blog hop for those of us who blog about making money online. We share our shops and businesses, as well as other sources of income and money making opportunities. We do our best to support one another, faithfully, in any way we can.

Blogging about business this week? Snag the SHOP HOP Saturday button and link, add it to your post, and then add your post title and link to the linky list below at the end of the weekly post. (You can link up anytime throughout the week and as many times as you wish, as long as your blog post is about business and as long as you use the banner and blog hop link in your post.)

This week, I've concentrated mostly on health, home, my dog, and my writing--in that order. So, I have little business to report.

I have picked up a couple of new referrals via Facebook for earning additional income at SuperPoints, InboxDollars, and at SendEarnings. You can read more about these opportunities in my blog post here: Making Money Online.

I have been updating a few lenses at Squidoo, but have not had the time nor mental energy to publish a new lens the last couple of weeks. That will be rectified in the coming week! While I'm mentioning Squidoo, as a money-making writing and creative endeavor, I also want to mention that if you are already a member of Squidoo, please hook up with Marsha's Spot for her blog hop, HOP and SQUIDOO! It is a great way to keep in touch with lensmasters and share your Squidoo activity.

Another thing I did this week, just today: I signed up for a free internet marketing course via Copyblogger.com. You can find out more and sign up here for Internet Marketing for Smart People.

I feel like a "smart people" just for signing up. And, I know I'll be a bit smarter over the course of the next 20 weeks for having done so. Are you a "smart people" too?

New SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Winner

2011-10-04T17:39:00.001-04:00

Our previously announced winner of the SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway has conceded her win. Therefore, we go down the original Random.org sequence to the 2nd on the list.

So, who wins the Shot o' Sunshine?

WINNER
Comment #28 Karrieann said...
..joined your GFC

Congratulations Karrieann!
You win a shot o' sunshine today!

You will receive email notification and your Shot o' Sunshine Shot Glass will be shipped as soon as I receive mailing information from you. Thank you ever so much for entering this giveaway.

For those of you who haven't met Karrieann yet, you can visit and get to know her at...
Karrieann...following my heart, dreams and Jesus.

Who Won a Shot of Sunshine?

2011-10-03T13:25:00.003-04:00

The SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway CLOSED. That means we have a winner!

Who won a shot o' sunshine?
Random.org picked...

WINNER

Comment #25 GALE said:

I am none of the above, but I have several friends who collect these.
Which answers my second question...for them!
Black interior!

Congratulations Gale!
You won a shot o' sunshine today!

You will receive email notification and your Shot o' Sunshine Shot Glass will be shipped as soon as I receive mailing information from you. Thank you ever so much for entering this giveaway.

For those of you who haven't met Gale yet, you can visit and get to know her at Scribbleprints.

Hop and Shop and Swap

2011-10-01T11:14:00.000-04:00

First, I am giving thanks for co-worker and new friend, Shell, for working my shift today which allows me to nurse whatever bug has bitten me. In between a lot of napping, I also hope to accomplish a bit of computer catch-up.

Now, it's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! Here, we hope to connect with other business bloggers, sharing our online shops, businesses, and money making venues. Snag the Shop Hop button and link for your latest blog post sharing your shop, business, money making tips, business concerns, new additions to your shop - basically anything that you blog about business online. Be sure to add your blog post to the linky list provided each week and visit and share the Shop Hop with other business bloggers.

In support of one another I am ready, willing, and able to SWAP A SHOP interview with you. This is a great way to get your product(s) noticed in the blog community and a wonderful way to support another shop owner.

This is an invitation to you to swap shop interviews! If you are interested, just leave a comment letting me know and I'll be happy to swap blog post interviews with you.

For an example of what my blog post interview with you might look like, visit my Swap A Shop Interview with Marsha's Spot.

As a Zazzle shop owner, I recently received a $10 credit toward a Zazzle purchase of ten dollars or more. I took advantage of this offer and bought myself one of my own products, my Patience is a Virtue Tee Shirt. Funny thing - and sort of a stupid thing - in doing so, I discovered I had earned income sitting in my Zazzle account of which I was unaware! Fortunately for me, I was able to use that credit toward my purchase, too. End result, my tee was shipped to me for only $8.97! Awesome deal and my shirt looks awesome! And, a reminder to keep better watch on my earnings, gheesh!

Giveaway Reminder: Don't miss my SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway which ends Monday at noon EST!

One more item to share, er, actually 3 items to share. I created a new design and it is available on 3 new products in my shop at CafePress. This product line was designed especially in honor of World Teachers' Day 2011.

Visit World Teacher Day Tote for a larger view and product information on all 3 of my new products with this design.

Win a Fifty Dollar CafePress Coupon Code

2011-09-27T11:36:00.002-04:00

Yes, you read right - that title says $50!

Head on over to the Closer To Lucy blog and Enter to win a $50 gift code in the CafePress Giveaway! (Ends October 18th)

Of course, don't forget that if you win that fifty dollar gift code giveaway that you can spend a portion of it at my shop at the CafePress marketplace: Poetic Creations by abitosunshine!

Good luck and have fun shopping when you win!

OH! In case you haven't heard - I'm hosting a giveaway, too! Enter to win my SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway! (Also a CafePress product!)

SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway CLOSED

2011-09-24T18:43:00.002-04:00

Whether you are a shooter, a sipper, or a collector, you are sure to appreciate this shot of sunshine! The SOS Shot o' Sunshine shot glass was created by abitosunshine on a cloudy day. I needed a shot of sunshine and created my own!

Thinking maybe you could use a bit of sunshine, too, I decided to share the sunshine! You can purchase my SOS Shot o' Sunshine Shot Glass or you can enter the giveaway to win one.

This 1.9 ounce ceramic shot glass is available with a white or black interior.

SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway

SOS Sunshine Shot Glass winner will be selected by random.org on Monday, October 3rd, at NOON EST. Winner will be notified via email and will also be announced in a winner blog post here at Poetic Creations by abitosunshine. Winner will have 48 hours to reply to email and if does not, a new winner will be selected.

NOTE: You MUST leave your email address with EACH entry comment so I can easily contact you if you win. (Example: ruthcox at abitosunshine dot net) If you do not do this, your comment will be deleted. If you do not do the mandatory entry, all of your extra entries will be deleted. All entries will be verified.

MANDATORY ENTRY: you MUST first leave one comment answering these three questions:

Are you a shot glass Shooter, Sipper, or Collector?
Why do you want to win the SOS Sunshine shot glass?
White or black interior?

EXTRA ENTRIES, you can do all or none, it's up to you, but you MUST leave a separate comment for each that you do in order for it to be counted as an extra entry:

Blog about this giveaway on your blog. Leave the link to your blog post in the comment section for verification.
Join this site with Google Friend Connect (located in the top left sidebar). Leave your GFC name in the comment section.
Subscribe to this site via email (located in the top left sidebar). Comment that you did so with your email address.
Twitter tweet this giveaway. Comment with your Twitter Tweet Status Link.
Share this giveaway on Facebook. Comment with your Facebook Status Link.

I found another one!

2011-09-24T16:41:00.000-04:00

Another one? What, you ask. And, I'll answer you in a moment or two!

First, an explanation of SHOP HOP Saturday: A blog hop created to unite bloggers who do business online.

I post something/anything business, shop, and/or money making each week and invite you to do the same. In order to participate, please add the hop button and link to your blog post and link your post to the linky list provided at the end of each SHOP HOP Saturday post. Be sure to check in weekly and visit others on the list, offering motivational support and more. Networking works, if we work it!

Now for my find: I found another shop hop! Actually, Pixel Berry Pie Designs found me, by submitting a giveaway to my abitosunshine GIVEAWAYS linky list. I visited her site from there and discovered she hosts the SHOPHOP for shop owners. This looks great for those of you who sell handmade items online. So be sure to check it out and get linked up!

As for me and my business activity, it's been a bit of everything this past week. I've sold SOS shot glasses and my Patience is a Virtue tee. I've cashed out for another $5 at Superpoints.

I have a Poetic Creations by abitosunshine giveaway planned soon, so say tuned...smiles! And, I have a friend who will also be giving away one of my abitosunshine Zazzle products soon, so stay tuned for that announcement, too!

Other than that, I am way behind in business ToDo's, but working my way down the list. How about you and your shop, business, and money making activity? I hope it has been a great week for you, too.

Shot of Sunshine for a Cloudy Day

2011-09-17T16:00:00.003-04:00

Sometimes we just need a shot of sunshine to chase the clouds away. In need of such, I created my own Shot O' Sunshine just in time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

Larger view and Product Details and/or Buy Now

While you sip on a bit o' sunshine, I'll share a few details of my money making online for the past week:

Before heading to work this morning, I redeemed 500 points at SuperPoints for $5 cash in PayPal. That's $30 I've made since joining on August 11th!
Yesterday, I wrote and sold 2 personalized poems by abitosunshine per request for $20.
Yesterday was payday at Squidoo: $4.15 cash via PayPal. Full details on this payday available at Hop and Squidoo Payday and Highlights.

So, how productive have you been with your shop, business, and money making online this week?

Join us at SHOP HOP Saturday, a blog hop for business bloggers! Hop in anytime throughout the week. We support you - you support us - we all win!

Hop and Squidoo Payday and Highlights

2011-09-16T19:50:00.000-04:00

If you are a Squidoo lensmaster and a blogger, then it's time for you to blog HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot!

Fortunately, you can hop along with Marsha anytime throughout the week; although, Marsha does publish her host post on Thursday. I'm a day late, but not a dollar short, for...

Today was PAYDAY at Squidoo:
July 2011 royalties (paid out 09/15/2011)

Total featured lenses on date: 15 lenses
Total paid in cash via PayPal: $4.15
Total donated to charity: $0.47

Unfortunately, I've worked the last 7 days without a day off, so I've just not had the time nor energy to do much online. I do have a Work-In-Progress lens going, but it will probably be another week before that will get published.

That said, I would like to highlight a few of my Squidoo lenses for you and trust you'll leave a comment in each lens guestbook to let me know you visited and your thoughts on the topic at hand:

NOTE: if you're not yet affiliated with Squidoo, you can SIGN UP NOW under my referral link and you can begin to Squidoo for cash and charity, too!

Don't get too close to your computer screen-Virus

2011-09-10T18:09:00.003-04:00

PROCEED with CAUTION: You may catch my virus!

Seriously, I have been sick as a dog this past few days. And it could be viral, so heed my warning not to get too close to your computer screen. I thought I felt better yesterday (day off from work) so I went to work today. Ha! A long, long day! And, needless to say, I needed a nap after work for energy to post today.

That said, it's time for:

SHOP HOP Saturday
This weekly blog hop is for those of us who blog about our online shop, business, and all things we do to make money online. Created to encourage, to support, and to promote each other. Whatever your business, whatever your shop, whatever your wares -- we show we care -- share!

I wish to take a moment to show appreciation to a hard working gal who has missed only one Saturday Shop Hop -- and that was her honeymoon weekend! Thank you, Marsha, for your constant support! You are my inspiration, my motivator, and you are truly appreciated for the fine example you set for those of us working online to earn an income.

If you all don't know Marsha yet, you can visit her on her blog:
Marsha's Spot

My business week was minimal, but productive:

I earned $45 doing web design work.
I redeemed points at Swagbucks for $5 in my PayPal account.
I redeemed points at SuperPoints for $5 in my PayPal account.
I created a Work-In-Progress Squidoo lens for my abitosunshine Jerky Direct business.
I gained a new referral in myLot and Superpoints via an invitation link on my Squidoo lens: My Online Money Makers
I gained a new referral in Superpoints via an invitation link in my email signature.

Referrals are awesome! It's People Helping People! Everybody wins!

SHOP HOP Tip of the Week:

Subscribe to the Robert Genn Twice-Weekly Letter

Bunny Loves Her Quilt

2011-09-04T17:54:00.001-04:00

What a lovely little quilt I won from Holly's giveaway! It's perfect for the bunny doll I previously purchased from Holly.

My bunny sits perched upon the quilt upon the edge of a stair on the way up to my bedroom. I can see them when in the living room and from my desk in the sunroom. Nice!

My camera has mysteriously disappeared, so no pretty dolly photos from me to share. However, you can see my bunny and her quilt pictured in posts at Holly's Crafts Blog:

Doll Size Quilt

Easter Bunny Doll

THANK YOU, HOLLY!

You're a dolly!

Knee-Jerk Reaction

2011-09-03T08:29:00.000-04:00

A knee-jerk reaction, figuratively speaking, is an automatic or reflex reaction; an immediate reaction made without examining causes or facts; also defined as an automatic response to something.

When I first heard about the Jerky Direct business opportunity (from Marsha of Marsha's Spot) my immediate response, without thinking, was: Yes, I'll do this one day! That day has arrived! After further investigation of the product and network marketing opportunity, my positive reaction was in line with my knee-jerk reaction: an automatic Just do it!

You'll hear more about this money making opportunity from me in the coming days. For now, I invite you to take a look at the premium products and business opportunity available via my business website: abitosunshine Jerky Direct and you can take the tour to find out more.

I'm truly excited about this network marketing opportunity and being able to share it with others. And, I'm really excited about getting a new flavor each month for only $12 plus $1.97 shipping! That's all it costs to join in this money making opportunity.

That's about it for me with business today. How about you? Any new business to share?

Those of you who have shops and businesses online and blog about them are invited to hop right along with us at SHOP HOP Saturday! Share anything and everything about your business or shop and I will do all I can to support and motivate you.

Business Blog Post Titles

2011-08-27T17:17:00.002-04:00

Do you have an online shop or business? Do you blog about your shop or business? If you answer Yes to the first question, you should answer Yes to the second question.

Next question: Assuming you answered Yes to both questions above... (And, yes, I do know how the saying goes..:-) Anyway, back to the question: Do you participate in business blog hops?

If Yes, good for you and for your business, too! If No, here's an invite for you!

SHOP HOP Saturday

This weekly blog hop is for those of us who blog about our online shop or business. Created to encourage, to support, and to promote each other. Whatever your business, whatever your shop, whatever your wares -- let's show we care -- share!

Snag the hop button and link for your blog post. Then add your post link and post title to the linky list each week. If you can't make it on Saturday, anytime throughout the week is fine. You are encouraged to share the Shop Hop with others. The more the merrier money-making for one and for all.

I've been pre-occupied with my day job this past week or so, working extra hours. Honestly, I'd be better off in the long run if I'd apply those hours to my business endeavors online. My goal is to work myself out of my J-O-B, but if I continue to make it my number one priority, that won't happen!

Sooooo... Motivate me!

At best, I've concentrated on my Squidoo income, which you can read about in previous posts on this blog.

SHOP HOP TIP of the WEEK:

Subscribe to PROBLOGGER Newsletter!

One of my pet peeves: Your NAME is not a TITLE for a blog post or link!
(This includes linky lists..:-)

For more information about blog post titles: "How to Craft Post Titles that Draw Readers Into Your Blog"

Dog Days of Summer Hop and Squidoo

2011-08-26T17:15:00.004-04:00

August 26th, generally one of the hottest of the dog days of summer, and, most importantly, National Dog Day here in the USA!

My love of dogs compelled me to create a tribute lens for the occasion, celebrating National Dog Day the Squidoo way!

This lens brings me to Level 60 with 24 Trophies and 31 Featured Lenses. I'm stroking along quite swimmingly on my Squidformation Highway!

Of course, for me, publishing a new Squidoo lens would not be complete without sharing it in a blog hop. If you're not yet a Squidoo lensmaster you can sign up to create your first lens, then follow me to join the link-up of Squidoo lensmasters at HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot!

You Gotta Want It

2011-08-20T16:43:00.006-04:00

No matter our dreams or desires, business or personal, we really gotta want it or we ain't never gonna get it! For your motivational listening pleasure...

Shop Hop Saturday is a blog hop created with online shop owners and bloggers in mind. We welcome all bloggers who have shops or businesses online and who blog about them. We hope to encourage and support one another as we work towards growth of our business and making money online.

***

Again this week I have concentrated on creating and updating lenses at Squidoo. I created my first HeyMonkeyBrain lens, which is a bit controversial, based on recent research that claims we can earn more in the workplace by being mean than by being nice.

I've also been doing some serious updating of lenses (an ongoing project).

***

Last week on A Push for Shop Hoppers, I told you about SuperPoints. Since then, I've redeemed my points for $5 in PayPal cash and am halfway to another cashout already!

I have an invitation good for 1 person to join Superpoints to earn cash and prizes, too. Of course, when you do, I win, too!

ACCEPT YOUR INVITATION: Copy and paste this link as your invite token on the sign-up form: http://superpoints.com/wrpgs/eu1546

***

GIVEAWAY NEWS! Thanks to UPrinting.com, I am giving away 250 Print Labels. Enter to win the giveaway at abitosunshine!

***

That's about it for me with shops and business this week. How about you? Any new business to share?

Something Old, Something New

2011-08-18T12:30:00.006-04:00

Something old, something new
Lenses to behold, HOP and SQUIDOO!

We love sharing our Squidoo activity with you and hope you'll blog hop along with us and share your Squidoo lenses, too.

Visit Marsha's Spot for full blog hop details.

And, visit her latest HOP and SQUIDOO blog post to join in the latest lensmaster camaraderie. I do hope to see your blog post linked up!

***

For my latest lens creation, I decided to try my hand at the Squidoo co-brand of HeyMonkeyBrain! To quench my thirst for lively debate, I've published my first MonkeyBrain lens in the creation of Earn More by Being Mean in the Workplace. I look forward to your additions on this lens duel debate.

I am currently at Level 59, with 24 Trophies, and 30 Featured Lenses.

***

Question for You ... What do you think I can do to improve upon my book review lenses to gain more views and comments on them?

(Access my book reviews via Ruthi Reads Lensography.)

A Push for Shop Hoppers

2011-08-13T17:29:00.006-04:00

Last week a challenge was issued to the bloggers who join together each week for SHOP HOP Saturday. In keeping with my own challenge, here's my musical motivator for this week:

Come fly with us!

We will give you the push you need!

(And you get to push me!)

Bloggers who blog about their online shops and business are invited to SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! Networking works -- if we work at it! If you can't make it on Saturday, any time throughout the week is just fine with us. Snag the hop button and link to add to your shop post and be sure to add your post title and post URL to the linky list at the end of each weekly Shop Hop post.

I'm still working on a couple of projects started last week. I was hoping to cross these off my ToDo list, but it didn't happen. So I need a PUSH from you!

Yesterday was payday at Squidoo and you can read all about my Squidoo activity on my previous blog post here on this blog. And, I got a new Squidoo referral! One of these days we're all gonna have monster paydays!

FYI: In that activity post mentioned above is a gem of a Squidoo eBook you all need to check out!

Last week I signed on at Superpoints. I'm happy to say that for five minutes a day I have made 303 superpoints (which equates to $3.03, since I elect payment directly into my PayPal). 123 of those points were made due to referrals! Here's an INVITATION good for 1 new Friend!

That's about it for me with shops and business this week. How about you? Any great new products to share?

HOP and SQUIDOO Mrs. Cooper

2011-08-11T18:53:00.002-04:00

Mrs. Cooper would be Marsha, the hostess of the HOP and SQUIDOO blog hop. I just couldn't resist the urge to congratulate her, once again, on becoming a married lady! Marsha took last week off from blog activity for honeymooning and such, so Welcome back, Marsha!

Today was payday at Squidoo:

June 2011 royalties (paid out 08/11/2011)

Total featured lenses on date: 16 lenses

Total paid in cash via PayPal: $3.93

Total donated to charity: $0.43

My latest lens creation is
Book Review: Echoes of a Woman's Soul
which also has an author interview with Dianna Doles Petry, whom I've met face-to-face!

This brings me to Level 59, with 24 Trophies, and 29 Featured Lenses, with 1 LOTD lens and 2 Purple Star lenses.

I'm going to highlight my girls here, as they're feeling a bit neglected these days, so I do hope you'll all pay them a visit. Their tales are waggin' and they're sittin' pretty on their lenses for ya!

SQUIDOO LENSMASTER SPOTLIGHT:

Blogger Sara Duggan
aka
Lensmaster MomwithAHook

I was so excited a couple of weeks ago when I ran across Sara's blog post and I need to share it with all of you. Whether you are just thinking about signing on at Squidoo, new at Squidoo, or a lensmaster who may need a refresher course of the basics...

Sara has recently announced the publication of her first eBook!

Build Your First Squidoo Lens

That's all, folks!
Happy Hopping and Squidooing!

Motivational Music for Shop Hop Bloggers

2011-08-06T18:57:00.000-04:00

Hello there shoppers and hoppers! It's late posting again this week, as I worked extra hours today, and honestly, until just a few moments ago I forgot it was Saturday! My, it's been a long week! I'm working a lot of extra hours at work to pay for a lot of car repairs.

I've also been busy online and have earned a bit, too. I did a wee bit of web design and I cashed out for $10 cash via PayPal at Swagbucks.

I've gained a few new referrals this week in several different money making opportunities: Inbox Dollars, SendEarnings, Swagbucks, and Squidoo.

I also signed on for something new, through a Gather friend: Superpoints. Now, the Superpoints Network is a "by invitation only" network, so HERE is YOUR invitation, good for only 7 days, so hurry up and sign up! If for some good reason someone uses the invite before you do, just leave me a comment here on this post with the email addy to send you an invitation personally. Basically, Superpoints is one of those 10-minute a day programs where you can do things to earn points to redeem for prizes, including cash via PayPal.

I Published a new Squidoo lens: Book Review: Echoes of a Woman's Soul. There is also an interview with the author, Dianna Doles Petry, on the lens. So do stop by and meet the author.

I'm in the midst of two projects. One, a giveaway! And, two, a new journal for my CafePress shop. Stay tuned to this blog for announcements on both of these projects.

This week, I have another challenge for the SHOP HOP Saturday bloggers: Post your business-themed motivator video tune in your Shop Hop posts! The tune can change on occasion, but I would like us all to share some motivational music.

My tune for today is an oldie but goodie:

BTO - Bachman Turner Overdrive - Takin' Care of Business...

Storms Stopped Shop Hop

2011-07-31T06:03:00.001-04:00

Due to a severe thunderstorm here in central Ohio on Friday evening, my cable, internet, and phone have been non-working until some time while I lay sleeping last night. Of course, I was happy to see the internet connect this morning, but needless to say, I didn't get to post my SHOP HOP Saturday yesterday!

For those of you who did post for the shop hop, please leave your Shop Hop post link and I'll visit your post when I get in from work this afternoon.

I'm also having vehicle issues, so will be hitching a ride from my roommate until my car is repaired later in the week! What fun life can sometimes be, ha!

See you after work. Have a sunny Sunday!

SHOP HOP Saturday After Noon

2011-07-23T16:39:00.002-04:00

Yes, it is way into the late afternoon, which means my SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine Host Post has been delayed by numerous things, namely weather and work.

SHOP HOP Saturday has been created to unite business bloggers online. We post about our online shops and businesses, then link our blog posts to the linky list tool at the bottom of my weekly posts. Then, the best part, we visit others on the list, in an effort to support one another.

We share anything business: our products, services, ideas, concerns, giveaways, and so forth.

Hop in any time throughout the week (Saturday isn't written in stone). And, I encourage you to share this SHOP HOP with all bloggers you know who have a shop or business online.

----------

My business activity this week? Slim to none! No excuse -- just plain lack of motivation. Push me, PahLEASE!

I collected $10 in Gather earnings this week.

I created a page at Facebook for Poetic Creations by abitosunshine, so you are invited to Like it, if you like...smiles. I haven't a clue why I did this, other than many friends suggesting over time that I should do so. Seems to me to be just another ToDo! What are your thoughts on a Facebook profile just for your business or shop?

Other Business, which falls under HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot, another fantastic blog hop for those wishing to earn an income at Squidoo.

I published a new lens yesterday at Squidoo: Disrupted Lives Book Review and Interview with Author Brenda Youngerman.

----------

"When defeat comes, accept it as a signal that your plans are not sound, rebuild those plans, and set sail once more toward your coveted goal."
~Napolean Hill

Attitude: Sailing
Buy This Allposters.com

I'm setting sail with a new attitude for the week.

How about you?

Hop and Squidoo Thanksgiving

2011-07-21T17:19:00.000-04:00

"A little early for a Thanksgiving blog post," you say, "Especially since HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot is a weekly blog hop for Squidoo lensmasters and bloggers."

Ah! Correct you may be! However, the word "thanksgiving" means something special to me. I was reminded of such (again) today as I visited a fellow Squidoo lensmaster's lens after she had SquidAngel blessed one of my lenses.

You see, to me, the state of thanksgiving is the act of showing gratitude; not just thinking or mouthing my thankfulness. So, along with posting a thank you comment on the lensmaster's profile and Twitter tweeting a thank you publicly, I chose to reciprocate lens visits. I selected "Mary Oliver - Inspiration for Living" and, oh my, what a fabulous lens creation by Diana aka Lensmaster RenaissanceWoman2010.

I trust you will make and take the time to visit this amazing lens and I also am confident you will be inspired to action living. Afterwards, please return and share, here in the comment section of this post, your thoughts and inspiration.

Yesterday I was humbled by a Squidoo Purple Star. This star was awarded to my Sunshine Girls lens. I could never be more proud than I am for me and my girls. When you visit the lens, please take a moment to visit each of the girls' SquidPaws lenses and give them a bit of lens love, too. We BoWoW our thanks to you!

Oh! Part of the Purple Star Program at Squidoo is that when you are awarded a purple star, you're given the opportunity to "pay the purple forward" via the purple star quest. Can you guess which lens link I submitted for this stellar award?

I have 2 lenses in progress, one should be ready tomorrow, so I may post to the hop again, rather than wait until next week. The other, I'm struggling with, as it's huge. I'm thinking I should have waited until I got all my content together before actually starting the lens. Oh well, I'll finish it eventually.

Now, I'm off to link up at Marsha's Hop and Squidoo post for this week and to visit those lensmasters who've hopped along, too. Hope to see you there!

Tomorrow Promises To Be

2011-07-15T21:35:00.002-04:00

...a very busy day for me! For starters, it's my Monday, the start of my work week. (And I should already be in bed, for that alarm raises me at 4am.) I also have a book review to write tomorrow for the Disrupted Lives Book Tour for author Brenda Youngerman. The review will be posted on Sunday on my book blog Ruthi Reads.

So, I've decided to post SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine early for a change! I invite all of you who are bloggers and online shop and business owners to blog hop along with us. We're here to support each other in our money making opportunities and strategies, as we share anything and everything about our shops and business.

This week I seem to be getting back into the groove of things. I cashed out for another $5 via Swagbucks, sold another of my Oneness poster prints in my Cafepress shop, and I did a bit of web design.

And ... this week was payday at Squidoo:

May 2011 royalties (paid out 07/14/2011)

Total featured lenses on date: 12 lenses
Total paid in cash via PayPal: $3.48
Total donated to charity: $0.09

Speaking of Squidoo, I just today created my newest lens, which brings me to Level 58, 22 Trophies, and 27 Featured Lenses, with 1 WIP lens.

The new lens is a charity-themed lensography entitled A Tithe is a Tenth Lensography. Due to the theme of the lens, I had a lot of updating to do on my other lens creations. I'm happy to say that now each of my lenses have a Squidoo Charity Donation module and each lens is set to donate 10 percent of the proceeds to a chosen charity.

I hope every one of you has had a great week for business! I now bid you Good Night and leave you with this quote, mixing business with pleasure, by Dan Bennett:

Real charity doesn't care if it's tax-deductible or not.

HOP and SQUIDOO and a SPOTLIGHT or TWO

2011-07-14T13:36:00.001-04:00

...or three or more!

Yes, it's time for HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot. This is a blog hop for bloggers and Squidoo lensmasters. So hop right in and join the camaraderie as we share and support one another.

Do you ever wonder what you will post for your blog hop participation? I was experiencing that issue today for this hop, as I'd failed to create a new Squidoo lens this week. So, I was surfing around at links of interest I'd bookmarked this past week while responding to incoming email. BINGO!

I have an email subscription to Sara Duggan –Momwithahook on Squidoo. An email from her blog arrived and I found myself squid-squealing with delight at the blog post "Squidoo Blog Hop with Marsha" as much to my surprise, Sara had spotlighted one of my Squidoo lenses! Be sure to visit Sara to see which lens.

Earlier in the day, Lensmaster MomwithAHook had SquidAngel blessed the same lens. I'm really feeling pretty special today. Thank you, Sara!

In keeping with the "Spotlight" theme, today I'm sharing one of my favorite Squidoo links with you. Are you subscribed to email updates from Squidoo HQ? If you are not, you should be!

Delighted to say -- today is Squidoo Payday! Read all about it on the Squidformation Highway, where I share my Squidoo paydays and a whole lot more.

If you're not yet a Squidoo lensmaster you can Sign up Now and HOP and SQUIDOO with us too!

Long Week and Shop Hop and Squidoo

2011-07-09T15:03:00.001-04:00

SHOP HOP Saturday is a blog hop for those of you who have an online shop or business and blog about it. SHOP HOP is for anything business and money-making online. We share our opportunities, our activities, our slow business and our great business, supporting one another along the way. It's a "people helping people" attitude that makes winners of all of us.

Come join the business blogger fun each week with SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! Snag the hop button and link for your post, then add your post to the linky list at the end of each week's post. If you can't make it on Saturday, that's just fine, hop in anytime!

My shop and business endeavors were fairly limited this past week due to a death in the family, which you can read all about in my tribute lens at Squidoo - Loss of a Pea in a Pod - which will be an ongoing tribute to a grand lady, my Aunt Martha Bell.

I cashed in for another $5 PayPal at Swagbucks, and got myself another referral there this week. I also got another referral at Sponsored Tweets, myLot, and at SendEarnings. These are sweet treats and make my earning online add up a bit faster!

And, by the way, all but one of these referrals are a direct result of My Online Money Makers lens at Squidoo! So, if you ever doubted how important sharing your money making opportunities can be -- don't! And, best of all, I also got a new Squidoo referral, so I hope all you Lensmasters out there will stop by and welcome RendaBrooks to Squidoo!

If you're not yet a lensmaster at Squidoo, you can Sign Up Now, and once you do, be sure to blog hop along with HOP and SQUIDOO at Marsha's Spot, too!

I was fortunate to get a bit of web design work this week, too, so that client will be buying me yet another tank of gas to get to and from my day job soon. Thanks, Brenda ... smiles to you and Reviews4Reviews.com!

While we encourage your shop and business endeavors, we also want to leave you with this cautionary quote from Robert Louis Stevenson:

"Perpetual devotion to what a man calls his business, is only to be sustained by perpetual neglect of many other things."

What a Week and Hops

2011-07-02T13:19:00.001-04:00

Right now, it's raining and it's pouring, which is fine, as it suits my mood of mourning.

It has been quite a week! Due to this fact, I've been remiss in my blog hops and online activity has been more of a hit and miss kind of thing than anything else. So ... this post will serve as my blog posts for both my SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine and Marsha's HOP and SQUIDOO Lenses to View.

The only thing even remotely resembling business that I have accomplished this week is the creation of a new lens at Squidoo, which is in tribute to my beloved Aunt Martha Bell. "Loss of a Pea in a Pod" will be an ever-growing lens, I am sure of it, as my aunt is a very special member of my family. Right now the lens has been published with minimal content, but I assure you, it will be updated in time.

This lens brings this Squidoo lensmaster to Level 57, 21 Trophies, and 26 Featured Lenses, with 1 WIP lens.

I hope the sunshine is beaming brightly in your business world and I leave you with these Salutes to Prosperity (as also noted on My Online Money Makers lens):

"Live long and prosper." This is the famous line from Amok Time, a Star Trek episode, spoken after the Vulcan salute, originated by actor and author Leonard Nimoy.

In Romeo and Juliet, by author William Shakespeare, Romeo gives Balthasar money and says: "Live, and be prosperous: and farewell good fellow."

Shop Hop Saturday

2011-06-25T14:03:00.001-04:00

It's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine and the sun is shining brightly here, at the moment. How's the weather in your neck of the woods?

I invite you to join us online shop and business owners who blog about our business endeavors. This is a Saturday blog hop but you can hop right in any day of the week. Just snag the hop button and link for your blog post and add your post name and link to the linky list below.

I've been contemplating opening an Etsy shop to sell my poetic creations. I'd like your opinion on this matter, so I've created a poll for you to take and hope that you'll leave a comment to explain your vote.

web polls

In other business this week -- things have been slow -- myself and sales. However, I did cash out at Gather for $10 and at SwagBucks for $10 this past week, so I have a tank full of gas to get me back and forth to that "J-O-B" of mine for another week.

Still working diligently on making amazing lenses at Squidoo, which you can read all about on my Summertime Fun With Hop and Squidoo post here on this blog.

I leave you with this quote by John F. Kennedy to ponder...

"The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity. In a crisis, be aware of the danger - but recognize the opportunity."

Summertime Fun With HOP and SQUIDOO

2011-06-23T16:41:00.000-04:00

Are you all ready for summer? It's here and now, and how -- quite hot and humid here in rural central Ohio. That's okay, for I've spent the day basking in the shade of old silver maple trees, with a cool book in one hand and a cold drink in the other hand. Well, sort of...

I've been working most of the afternoon on my latest Squidoo lens and just a few moments ago hit the publish button. The creation of Sipping On Summer Reading List was inspired by a Squidoo Quest that landed in my Squidoo dashboard. This is my second quest lens, with Lyrical Impressions being the first of my SquidQuests.

Check them both out and leave me a comment to let me know what you think of my quests and to offer any suggests to make the lens more interesting. Constructive critique is always welcome from my peers and followers at Squidoo.

Have you created Squidoo Quest lenses? If so, I do hope you share the links to them, as I enjoy seeing what others create in their quests, especially if it happens to be the same quest I've completed.

This lens brings me to Level 56, with 25 Featured Lenses, and 21 Trophies at Squidoo. I'm excited to be halfway to the first lens-count goal I set for myself -- 50 amazing lenses being the original goal. I feel like a third to half of my lenses are amazing, with the rest still needing some polishing to meet the high standards I set for myself in my creations, as well as to meet the lens requirements set by Squidoo.

Sharing with you HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot where Squidoo Lensmasters and bloggers share their Squidoo activities in their blog posts, all linked up together so we can all support one another. Come join us! It's a great way to promote your lenses -- Thumbs Up to one and all!

More Shopping Than Hopping

2011-06-18T12:27:00.000-04:00

I don't know about you, (But, you're gonna tell me, right?), I think I did more shopping than hopping this week.

Last week in my SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine post, I offered up a wishlist challenge to all of you. Well, Number 1 on my challenge wishlist was my desire to purchase a few of my own Zazzle Freedom Footprints posters and send them to area abuse shelters. So, I shopped from my own shop this week. I bought 5 posters, one for myself and four to donate locally.

Other than that, I've little else to report shop or business-wise for the week. Oh, I take that back. I did do a bit of web design work for Reviews4Reviews.com, so I earned enough to fill up my gas tank to get me to and from my "job" for the week.

Still busy updating my lenses at Squidoo and I have two lenses in progress, which I hope to post today or tomorrow for HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot.

I leave you with this quote from Tom Brokaw:

It’s easy to make a buck.

It’s a lot tougher to make a difference.

Shopping Online Wish List Challenge

2011-06-16T09:36:00.001-04:00

Having issued this Challenge as part of the blog hop SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! I decided I'd better complete my own hop post for the prompt. (Setting a positive example for others to follow is important.)

The Challenge: Create your "Shopping Online Wish List". Provide a list of 10 items you wish you could Buy Now online AND tell why each item found its way to your wish list. You can provide links to the items, photos of the items, links to the shop owner's blog, and/or anything else you'd like to share about the products on your wish list.

Number 1 on my wish list is a poster I created in my Zazzle store. The reason I've selected "Freedom Footprints" is that I wish to purchase several of these to donate to abuse shelters in my home state of Ohio. It is my hope for victims of abuse and their abusers to find this positive affirmation one they will feel deep in their spirit and act upon. Of course, I invite you to do the same! Share this poster with others in your own community -- your gift may just be the powerful tool to save a soul to encourage another to Arise Against Abuse.

Freedom Footprints by abitosunshine

sell my posters online at Zazzle.

Number 2: Growing Up In Boom Times by author and Gather friend, Chris Brockman. This book is a recent release and I await my signed copy from the author. Baby boomers will enjoy Chris's nudge to reminisce and those younguns born after the birthing boom will gain insight into the realm of living and breathing in Boom Times. As an author, Brockman is tops on my list and I look forward to adding yet another of his books to my bookshelf.

Number 3 on my wish list is the Handpainted Woodburned Sunflower Gourd Trinket Box from natskreations at Etsy. I love anything and everything sunflowers! This is one-of-a-kind and if I do manage to buy this before anyone else does, it will sit upon my desk and become the home for all my little scraps of papers whereupon I've penned my writing prompts and poetic creations ideas and wishes.

Number 4 would fulfill my wish to nibble on freshly popped corn while working at my computer. My old popper bit the dust and microwave popcorn just doesn't do the same for me. Any hot air popper would do, but the Presto 114316 04820 PopLite Hot Air Corn Popper would work just fine.

Number 5 on my wishlist hasn't been created yet. It's a "support a friend" and treat myself, too, kind of item. I wish I may and I wish I might find a perfect sunshine fabric to send to my friend at Marsha's Spot so I could pay her to make me sunny throw pillows for my living room sofa and loveseat. I've had this wishful thought in mind ever since we did our Swap A Shop interviews!

Number 6 would find itself on my long-term wish list is a mini laptop so in the warm weather months I could work out of doors instead of inside at my desktop. I prefer HP products, so I've currently selected this HP Pavilion model. I dream of writing my sunny poems in pure sweet sunshine and fresh country air.

Number 7 is pure wishful thinking -- an airline ticket to California -- I wish to vist California specifically to meet a couple of friends face-to-face: my favorite writing aMUSEr Len and good friend and author Brenda Youngerman. While in California, I'd also like to visit the Crystal Cathedral, a long-time wish of mine.

Number 8 is a poster I used on my Squidoo lens Writing, Wishlists, and Window Shopping Online. I just love this poster and had to get it on one of my wish lists...

Life in a Wish Bowl
Buy This Allposters.com

Number 9 on my wish list is to have my friend of the family, Jerry, do a life-sized chainsaw carving of my dogs Scratch and Tidbit so I can have them with me always. Jerry says he can do this from my favorite photos of the girls, so hopefully one day soon this wish will come true.

Number 10 would be for me to finish my publication projects of two chapbooks of my poetry and prose that I've been working on intermittently for the past year. I will make this wish come true!

So ... How about you? Do you have ten wishes to share? Please do create your own blog post in response to this challenge!

And please accept my invitation to you to join us at SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! where bloggers and online shop and business owners support one another and share weekly blog hop posts of our business endeavors.

This Shop Hop challenge post now added to the linky list for Hopping to go Shopping Online.

Hopping to go Shopping Online

2011-06-11T13:32:00.002-04:00

It's Saturday and it's time to SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

And ... I have a SHOP HOP Challenge for you this week, too. I'd like to see all blogger shop and business owners share a special Shop Hop blog post sometime during the week. Just snag the hop button and link for your post, then add your post link to the linky list below.

The Challenge: Create your "Shopping Online Wish List". Provide a list of 10 items you wish you could Buy Now online AND tell why each item found its way to your wish list. You can provide links to the items, photos of the items, links to the shop owner's blog, and/or anything else you'd like to share about the products on your wish list.

NOTE: If you are a Squidoo lensmaster, you may want to also publish a lens on the same subject, similar to Writing, Wishlists, and Shopping Online or Looks and Likes.

Now, for my shop news... short and sweet today: I published a new Squidoo lens on a topic near and dear to my spirit, entitled "Arise Against Abuse". For the occasion, I created several products, and I share one of them with you here...

Freedom Footprints by abitosunshine
sell my posters online at Zazzle.

I look forward to having you Shop Hop along and look forward to your wishlist posts, too!

My business quote for you today is from Oscar Wilde:

"Anyone who lives within their means suffers from a lack of imagination."

I Hop and Squidoo -- Do you?

2011-06-09T10:39:00.004-04:00

Well, do you? If not, please do!

Join us at HOP and SQUIDOO Lenses to View at Marsha's Spot! It's a great blog hop for Squidoo lensmasters and bloggers. We share our Squidoo activity, current and updated lenses, and support one another via the blog hop and at Squidoo.

I've been looking forward to posting this week, as I chose not to announce my latest Squidoo lens until my post for Marsha's blog hop.

Also, stay tuned to this blog, as in the near future (a week or so) I shall be making another announcement regarding my Arise Against Abuse Zazzle products.

ARISE AGAINST ABUSE

On this lens, I share my personal story in hopes of stirring others to take a stand against domestic violence and arise against abuse.

You may comment here, or directly in the lens guestbook, or both; I thank you in advance for your comments; I also hope you will share the lens link with others.

Being a voice for the victims and survivors of abuse is a cause near and dear to my spirit.

This topic brings me to my second lens creation for the week. I've created my fourth SquidLit lens, which is a book review lens: Public Lies by author Brenda Youngerman.

These latest Squidoo lenses bring me to Level 55 with 24 Featured Lenses and 20 Trophies.

For you bloggers out there who are not yet Squidoo addicted, you can sign up right here, right now and hop right into the fun of creating amazing Squidoo lenses about topics of interest to you and your readers. You can even donate a portion of your lens earnings to charity!

Shop Hopping Right Along

2011-06-04T16:20:00.003-04:00

Well, with the Memorial Day holiday (here in the USA) this past Monday, this has been a short week, but a slow-moving one for myself ... How about you?

I've worked hard at work and at business endeavors this week, progressing! For my Zazzle shop, I created a new T-Shirt design, and am happy to report I've sold 3 of them already. Even though I've said for a long time that I need to create this shirt for me, I'd put it off, until...

My pal Brenda over at Fiction With A Purpose hosts a blog hop with writing prompts. This week's writing prompt was "Patience" which fit right into my thoughts for a shirt reflecting my thoughts on the phrase, "Patience is a virtue." And, Brenda is a collector of pelicans... So, the tee shirt is attributed to her as well. And ... Yes, Brenda bought herself a tee; actually, a hoodie! (Thank you, m'dear!)

Patience is a Virtue by abitosunshine
Become a shirt affiliate for Zazzle.

If you visit the Patience is a Virtue link, you can click on Design and get a magnified view of the shirt design. From that view, can you tell I'm not a patient person?

Other than that, my concentration has been on my lens creations at Squidoo and I should announce 2 new lenses later this week. Both are a work-in-progress, one impromptu and the other I've been working on for a couple of weeks -- a major emotional lens for me, on the subect of abuse.

I look forward to hearing about all the work you've accomplished this week! If you have a shop or business online that you blog about, hop along! Come join us at SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine -- created to support your efforts at growing your online shops and money making pursuits. Just add the Shop Hop badge and link to your business blog posts, then submit your post link Name and URL to the linky list below.

Today, I leave you with a business quote to ponder:

"Behold the turtle, he makes progress only when he sticks his neck out."
~Bruce Levin

Aldabra Tortoise on Beach, Picard Island, Aldabra, Seychelles
Buy This Allposters.com

Shopping and Hopping

2011-05-28T15:18:00.002-04:00

Do you find that you sometimes do more shopping than hopping right along with working at building your business online? We're here to help keep you hopping!

Come join us at SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine -- created to support your efforts at growing your online shops and money making pursuits. Just add the Shop Hop badge and link to your business blog posts, then submit your post link Name and URL to the linky list below.

I've had busy but not busy-ness sort of week. For the most part I've concentrated my efforts at Squidoo this week. You can read all about that money-making fun right here on my blog post, Hop and Squidoo and a new Lens to View.

I'm getting better at utilizing my AllPosters affiliation on my Squidoo lenses and blogs, and though I've not yet made a sales commission, I've recruited two referrals.

Oh! Speaking of sales and Squidoo -- I made my first Amazon sale from one of my lenses! One of my visitors to my Ruthi lens ordered a book from a link I shared on the lens. I was pretty excited about that easily made $0.29.

I've been making money online in other ways, too. This week I received a check for $31.56 from Inbox Dollars!

I sold 2 T-Shirts this week -- Arise Against Abuse and Honey Hunting. The funny thing about my Honey shirt is that I was wearing it and, yes, I sold the shirt right off my back! I guess I need to wear my own products more often ... and be sure to have a spare to wear along with me!

I leave you with a business quote by one of my favorite authors, Og Mandino:

"Obstacles are necessary for success because in selling, as in all careers of importance, victory comes only after many struggles and countless defeats."

Hop and Squidoo and a new Lens to View

2011-05-27T12:47:00.007-04:00

How about you? Are you a Squidoo Lensmaster and a blogger, too? If so, head on over to Marsha's Spot and read her HOP and SQUIDOO blog hop details and hop along with us! The hop is a great way to share your Squidoo activity, developing supportive friendships with others along the way.

What with the changing and evolving at Squidoo, it's more important than ever for lensmasters to rally 'round one another. I see this "evolvement" as one more reason for "involvement". The end of squidcasts, favorites, lensrolling, and fan clubs means we'll have to put forth a bit more effort in order to keep in touch with all of our Squidoo friends' current lenses and updates. This means keeping an eye and ear open for blog posts, Twitter tweets, and Facebook postings alerting us to their goings-ons. It means, too, that if you want fellow lensmasters to know what you're currently doing at Squidoo, well, then, you're going to have to communicate and network.

Self-promotion, as well as supporting others, is an integral part of a successful adventure at Squidoo, just like anywhere else. When visiting a lens I like, I never fail to Squidlike the lens (give it a Thumbs Up), and Share it at Facebook and Twitter. It also pays (in numerous ways) to interact on the lenses via taking the polls, commenting in the guestbook and duels, and adding links to any offered Plexo lists.

For you bloggers out there who are not yet Squidoo addicted, you can sign up right here, right now and hop right into the fun of creating amazing Squidoo lenses about topics of interest to you and your readers. You can even donate a portion of your lens earnings to charity!

Life in a Wish Bowl

Buy This Allposters.com

The art print above depicts the topic of my newly published Squidoo lens. Writing, Wishlists, and Window Shopping Online is all about my releasing my wishes from swimming around in the windows of my mind. I'm really excited about this lens creation, as well as the thoughts behind it. Of course, I look forward to your comments on the lens.

This lens brings me to Level 54, with 22 Featured Lenses, 19 Trophies, and 1 Work-In-Progress lens. Seven of my lenses are now at 100% on the Squidoo Progress Bar. I'm pretty pleased with moving right along at Squidoo and keeping up with creating at least one new lens per week, while continuously updating previous lenses.

Sunny SHOP HOP Saturday

2011-05-21T13:40:00.001-04:00

I trust all of you are having a day filled with nuttin' but sunshine! It's a beauty of a day here and even though I had to work today, I am loving that I'm home early enough to enjoy the warmth of a sunny day. We haven't had but a few days of sunshine in the past couple of months, mostly rainy day blues here. So tell me, is the sun shining brightly for you today?

SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine is a blog hop for those of you who blog about your online business and shops. We share anything and everything about making money online via our shops and do our best to support each others business endeavors. I do hope you'll snag the hop banner and link for your business blogging posts and add your links to the linky list below. Hop along with us!

This past week, I created a naughty but nice T-Shirt for abitosunshine at CafePress. I'm pretty excited about this honey of a design. Let me know what you think, please and thank you!

Visit Honey Hunting for a larger view,

product details, and/or to Buy Now

I've had a bit of web design work again this week and am pretty pleased about that, too. I think I need to promote my abitosunshine hosting and design business a bit better, so I guess I'll add that to my ToDo list. If you're in need of a personal website or banners for your business, do let me know!

If any of you are interested in a blog interview for you and your shop or online business, just let me know and we can swap interviews! I do enjoy promoting others and blog interviews are a great forum for such. You can check out the SWAP A SHOP interview I did with Marsha's Spot to get an idea of my spotlight posts.

HOP and SQUIDOO and a Party too!

2011-05-19T15:55:00.002-04:00

Are you a blogger? Are you a lensmaster at Squidoo? If you are both, then HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot, too! For those of you who are not yet Squidoo addicted, Sign Up Now to get into the fun of creating lenses (pages) detailing anything and everything that interests you.

Now, let's party!

Number 21
Buy This Allposters.com

My latest Squidoo lens is a Number 21 Lensography birthday party and you're all invited! I turned 21 again ... I wish! Actually, I created my 21st lens and that's something worthy of a special celebration at Squidoo. I even got a trophy, too.

This brings me to Level 53, 21 Featured Lenses, 19 Squidoo Trophies, and 1 Work-In-Progress lens. (Yes, I'm still working on that special project lens.) I'm having o' so very much fun at Squidoo! How about you?

Saturday Afternoon SHOP HOP

2011-05-14T17:19:00.003-04:00

Saturday is actully my "Monday", so to speak, as it's the start of my work week. This week began with my having to work a few hours later than scheduled, hence the lateness of the host post. I'm not complaining, mind you, as I'm still paying for this new computer and monitor, so the extra hours and tips are appreciated, kinda-sorta!

I hope all of you shop owners and business bloggers have had a great week in your online businesses and do look forward to your sharing via SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

My week has been another whirlwind of activity. My Teachers are Heroes lens at Squidoo received the Lens of the Day award and has risen in the ranks to 513 overall, currently. I am overjoyed and overwhelmed at the teacher appreciation being shown in the comments and activity. You can read more about it at Blog HOP and SQUIDOO for JOY.

Also, it was payday at Squidoo this week! This was my first official payday and I am tickled green.

March 2011 royalties (paid out 05/13/2011)

Total featured lenses on date: 7 lenses
Total paid in cash via PayPal: $2.35
Total donated to charity: $0.26

I also searched and earned another payday via Swagbucks and received this delightful email message:

Hello abitosunshine,
Just thought you'd like to know
THE SWAG STORE sent you $5.00 USD.

And ... I got 2 new referrals this week, hooRAYo!

Gotta love my Swagbucks!

Again this week, I've made a bit of money in web design and maintenace work via my client, Review4Reviews.com, owned by Brenda Youngerman of Fiction With A Purpose. This website would be of interest to published authors and book reviewers, so you may wish to take a look at it. Whether you're an author, or a reviewer, or just a book lover -- there's a place for you at Reviews4Reviews!

All in all, a pretty good week for online earnings for me! How about you?

For my Zazzle store, I've created two new products this past week. These were created for a special upcoming event that you'll hear more about later on this month. However, here the poetic creations are unveiled and ready for purchase...

Arise Against Abuse by abitosunshine
Browse other t-shirt designs made on zazzle.com

Arise Against Abuse by abitosunshine
View more Arise Posters

Well, that's it for my business activity this past week. I do look forward to your blog post, so SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! Or, any day, for that matter; just hop right in if you're doing business online!

Blog HOP and SQUIDOO for JOY

2011-05-12T13:58:00.000-04:00

...as well as for cash and for charity, too! Do you blog? Do you Squidoo? If yes to both, then you could also HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot, too! This is a great opportunity to share your squidoo activity with your blog readers and a wonderful way to meet and greet others who are active at Squidoo as well as busy bloggers. Come Join the Hop and Swim with us at Squidoo!

Speaking of JOY -- I am overjoyed and overwhelmed by being awarded Squidoo Lens Of The Day for my Teachers are Heroes lens for Teacher Appreciation Day. And, WoW! We have plenty of teacher appreciation going on at the lens. I'll be busy for a month just thanking all who've commented and visiting their lenses, too. I wish to thank new Squidoo Lensmaster RamblingRosy for nominating the lens for LOTD.

As Squidoo Lensmaster Ruthi, I am currently at Level 52 with 18 Trophies and with 20 Featured Lenses and 1 Work-In-Progress lens.

My latest lens addition is a collection of Pets and Animals Poetry. I'll be adding much more to this collection as time goes by. Thumbs Up for me, as this lens is the fifth in my SquidPaws lens collection:

Have you created SquidPaws lenses for your animal friends? Do share the links if you have done so and I'll swim by for a visit and give you a bit of lens love with a Thumbs Up, Like, and a Lensroll to my critter friends.

For those of you who are in need of graphics for your Squidoo lenses, take a look at AllPosters. I signed up as an associate this past week and have already utilized several of their Posters on my lenses. This is a great way to add some color and profitability to your lenses. Yes, if a sale is made via your link, you gain a monetary commission. You can also make money via your referral link, which can be used on Squidoo lenses, websites, and blogs, too!

Do you set yourself goals for your Squidoo activity? If you do, please share your goals in your Hop and Squidoo posts so we can aid in your achievement.

My long term goal is to create a monthly income of $500 from my Squidoo lenses. I realize this will take a lot of work on my part, but I'm in this for the long haul and plan to get er done!

I have one mini goal, which is to get all of my lenses to 100% on the Lens Progress Bar. All of my lenses are at either 100, 92, or 91 percent -- 6 lenses are currently at 100%. That last 8 or 9 percent on the lens progress is based on two things: Get at least 20 SquidLikes and Get SquidLiked by a Giant Squid. Hence, participation on other lensmaster lenses and lens promotion are quite important, as well as creating "amazing lenses".

I have several lenses on the verge of reaching 100 percent, so if you get a chance to visit these, Thumbs Up, please and thank you:

How about your lenses? Need some help with getting to 100% on the Squidoo Progress Bar? Share the links and I'll gladly give you my support.

Well, that's about it for me this week. I can't wait to unfurl my work-in-progress lens for you, but I simply must, so I'll see you all next week. Thank each one of you for your support via HOP and SQUIDOO!

Share Your Online Shop in the SHOP HOP Saturday

2011-05-07T14:44:00.003-04:00

First, let me wish all you Mothers out there a Happy Mother's Day! I'll be working, in fact, later than usual, giving younger moms a chance to be home with their children.

Next, If you're a blogger with a shop or business online, I invite you to join this weekly blog hop! We're here to promote our businesses and help you promote yours, as well. We talk about anything that has to do with our online business, promote each other and ourselves. Just snag the SHOP HOP banner and link for your blog post about your shop or business and add your post name and link to the linky list provided, and SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! And, of course, visit others on the list and share with your fellow shop owner friends -- the more the merrier!

I've had quite a productive week with my online money making endeavors. As Lensmaster Ruthi at Squidoo, I created a lens for Teacher Appreciation, which is quickly rising high in the ranks, much to my surprise. For that lens, I also created a new product for my Zazzle store, Teacher Appreciation mug, available in different shapes and sizes.

Teacher Appreciation by abitosunshine
Design custom mugs and steins at Zazzle

I'm currently working on another Squidoo lens, and for the lens I've created two new products for my Cafepress shop, a Tote Bag and a Throw Pillow.

Also for my Cafepress shop, I created a new greeting card, which is fast becoming a best seller! "Kindness" is great to send to a friend who may be feeling a bit blue...

Next order of business ... I signed on as an affiliate for AllPosters.com. The great thing about partnering with AllPosters.com is that it enables me to utilize their posters and art prints on my Squidoo lenses and I make a sales commission on any purchases through my lens links! Of course, I can also promote the links on my four blogs, and I certainly plan to do so.

If this is something you think might be advantageous to you, my referral banner is right here for you to click and sign on as an affiliate:

Webmasters Make $$$

I think that's about it for me and my online business this week. I hope to hear that you have had a great week with your shops and businesses, too!

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Hop To Squidoo and Marsha's Spot, Too

2011-05-05T15:37:00.001-04:00

Yes, it's time once again to blog hop about Squidoo and the blog hop we can do that through is HOP and SQUIDOO, hosted by Marsha's Spot. This is a great opportunity to share your squidoo activity with your blog readers and a wonderful way to meet and greet others who are active at Squidoo as well as busy bloggers. Come Join the Hop and Swim with us at Squidoo!

As Squidoo Lensmaster Ruthi, I am currently at Level 50 with 19 Featured Lenses and 1 Work-In-Progress lens. I'm pretty excited about my latest lens creation, as it promises to be one which I doubt I'll run out of content ideas for; in fact, I may end up with another lens or two topic-related to its theme of showing appreciation for teachers. This lens will spotlight a few traditional and non-traditional teachers. Coincidentally, my first interview was with Marsha, the host of this hop, a Squidoo lensmaster, and a homeschooling teacher! So be sure to visit Teachers are Heroes to read what Marsha has to say on the topic of education. While there, you'll see one of my latest Zazzle creations, too ... smiles.

The lens I'm working on will be my 5th SquidPaws lens. Five of these gets a lensmaster 500 extra points at Squidoo, so I need to get that one completed ASAP. It's a fun lens creation, for it will be a collection of animal and pet poetry I've written. This will, of course, encourage me to write more critter poems and create sellable animalistic products, in order to keep the lens updated and growing and making money, which is one of the main purposes of my Squidoo activity.

This past month has given me an opportunity to reflect on my Squidoo (and other) work online. I lost my computer a few weeks ago in a storm surge during a tornado, so I was without a computer for nearly a week and spent a week just learning the new one and finding all my "stuff". During that time, there was little activity on my lenses.

Once I got back to Squidoo work, I began sending out squidcasts and twitter and facebook blurbs to promote my lenses. I also spent a lot of time visiting other lensmasters' lenses. I've now tested and discovered that each time I send out an "updated this lens" squidcast or Twitter tweeted the update, I immediately had visitor activity on the lens. Blurbs at Facebook showed little gain to the lens. It was refreshing to see that nearly all visits to other Squidoo lensmasters were also immediately reciprocated. My point is that I learned, once again, promotion is extremely important. I re-learned, too, that if you give, you shall receive (generally, tenfold, as the saying goes).

That's about it for me this Squidoo post. Now, it's time to hop around and see what you have been up to ... so ... HOP and SQUIDOO!

Nobody Cares About You

2011-04-30T17:10:00.002-04:00

This past week I read a fantastic and informative blog post that I received via email subscription. I've mentioned Copyblogger.com in many of my SHOP HOP Saturday posts and I decided this time to give it a post of its own. Seriously, I highly recommend that every blogger, especially business bloggers, subscribe to Copyblogger.com -- IF, and only if, you are serious about your business blogging.

The post that I read, saved to my computer, and will now link here, is entitled...

Why Nobody Cares About Your Content

(And What to do About it)

I trust we'll all DO something about it!

Let me know what you think of the post and let me know if you're now an email subscriber to Copyblogger.com.

Computer Crashed and SHOP HOP

2011-04-30T13:31:00.000-04:00

Well, my screaming two weeks ago didn't help much when the tornado blew through on Tuesday -- I lost my computer in that storm. So, I went computer shopping after all! I've spent this past week getting used to Windows 7 and installing all of my software and programs to this newfangled machine. We've had storm after storm and I've been without power quite a lot this past two weeks.

I've also worked the last eight days in a row and work tomorrow, too. Needless to say, I've not accomplished much of anything online the past couple of weeks.

I did manage to do a bit of design work this week for two of my web design clients, so I've made a wee bit of money from this new computer already, hooRAYo!

That's the extent of my SHOP HOP work to share, but you can bet I'll have much more completed this next week.

How about all of you? Anything new in your online shops and businesses?

SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

If you're a blogger who blogs about your online business and/or shop, I do hope you'll hop along with us. We're here to promote our businesses and help you promote yours, as well. We talk about anything that has to do with our online business, promote each other and ourselves. Just snag the SHOP HOP banner and link for your blog post about your shop or business and add your post name and link to the linky list provided. And, of course, visit others on the list and share with your fellow shop owner friends -- the more the merrier!

Computer Issues and SHOP HOP

2011-04-16T16:07:00.002-04:00

GRRRRRR! OK, I feel better now that I've screamed! I'm having computer issues today. I couldn't get online at all before work this morning to post or anything else. Seems fine now, so I'm guessing the overnight and early morning storms must have affected my good old (hahaha!) AT&T ISP! Seriously, it is the worst ISP I've ever had, but the only one available here in this rural area. Anyway, at least I don't have to go computer shopping. Instead...

It's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

If you're a blogger who blogs about your online business and/or shop, I do hope you'll hop along with us. We're here to promote our businesses and help you promote yours, as well. We talk about anything that has to do with our online business, promote each other and ourselves. Just snag the SHOP HOP banner and link for your blog post about your shop or business and add your post name and link to the linky list provided. And, of course, visit others on the list and share with your fellow shop owner friends -- the more the merrier!

I've been busy promoting my shop at Cafepress, Poetic Creations by abitosunshine, and my new shop, abitosunshine at Zazzle, this week. And I've a list of items I hope to create for both shops on my day off from work on Tuesday, so more about those products next week. I'm happy to say I've sold eight T-Shirts in my Zazzle shop this week -- two "70 is Heavenly" birthday tees and six of my "Slip Into a Tee" shirts. And, I've sold six "Sunshine Blessings" buttons! I'm bedazzled!

I'm happy to report that I am now an official blogger for Swagbucks.com via my Bloggin' by abitosunshine! blog. And...I just received another $5 PayPal from Swagbucks! I absolutely love my Swagbucks search and earn online way of making money, as I love getting paid to do something now that I've done online for years. You, too, can surf the net and earn cash and prizes -- Sign Up Now and we can earn together!

Of course, I'm still working on my Squidoo lenses, and in fact, I've now stated publicly that it is my goal to reach a point where I am making $500 monthly at Squidoo, so that will be my main focus for this year. If you do not yet Squidoo, you can Sign Up Now! I Squidoo for cash and for charity and you can too!

I'm still working on my poetry chapbook projects and hope to achieve self-publishing both of those this year -- we shall see! More on that later, for sure.

So... tell me, how are things with your online shops and businesses this week? Do you feel that blogging about your business is a positive form of promotion for the products and/or services you are selling? Why or why not?

I want to recommend Copyblogger.com to all of you. I subscribe to the blog posts via email and glean great tidbits of blogging and business information from them. This week, I found "The Good Advice That Killed My Conversion Rate" to be a wealth of information, so you might want to visit the post and check out the blog.

Cash in the Hopper

2011-04-14T16:48:00.002-04:00

As always, I'm excited about participating in this blog hop - HOP and SQUIDOO - hosted by Marsha. I do hope you'll Hop and Squidoo along with us! Not only is this blog hop a great promotional tool for yourself and your Squidoo activities; it is also a way to be supportive of other Squidoo Lensmasters. (Friends!)

This week I'm especially delighted, as it's Squidoo Payday! At Squidoo, I have my Paypal threshold set at $5, so I didn't actually get paid. However, I received this message today:

Happy payday!
April 14, 2011 (Payout day for royalties earned in February 2011)

Hey, you've got an estimated $1.27 in your Reserve Hopper*, just waiting until your account reaches your Cash Payout Threshold!

Since I joined Squidoo in mid-January and I don't actually make money for the first 30 days, this means I made the $1.27 in my first 2 weeks of earning capability. I'm looking forward to next payday and therafter, as I'm learning much each month on my Squidformation Highway. For today, Cash in the Hopper works for me! I'm in the money now and that's the first baby step for this Squidlet. Soon you'll see Ruthi run, er, swim, as I navigate the money making opportunities at Squidoo.

Speaking of which, if you're not yet affiliated with Squidoo, you can SIGN UP NOW under my referral link and you can begin to Squidoo for cash and charity, too! Then, when you make your first $15, I will make $5!

I'm now at Level 49, with 18 Featured Lenses, and 1 Purple Star lens, my "about me" or SquidWho is Ruthi lens. I'm pretty proud of this lens and continue to add to it. Pretty soon you'll all know more about me than you may want to know, ha!

This past week, I've created 1 lens, a SquidPaws lens about Tidbit's pup, NewBe, Named for New Beginnings. If you haven't visited her lens yet, please do, she's a cutie!

I continue adding to my lenses to make them more interesting and informational. I've found the new Progress Bar has presented me with a challenge to continue to develop my lenses so they all reach 100% on the bar. I've learned, too, that it helps to be Miss Social Sunshine at Squidoo in order to make that happen and I'm having loads of fun meeting and greeting new lensmasters along the way.

My first Squidoo goal is to be making $500 per month as a Squidoo Lensmaster! There, I've said it, now it's time for me to work to make it happen as quickly as possible! How about you? Have you set yourself a Squidoo goal?

SHOP HOP Saturday with Where is the Sunshine

2011-04-09T13:49:00.000-04:00

Seriously, I need a bit o' sunshine! It'd cloudy, rainy, and a damp feeling chilly to the bones here today! But anyway, rain or shine, it's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

My online business concentration this past week has been to concentrate on Squidoo and a list of ideas for ny Cafepress shop and my Zazzle store. However, I've also been working on another project, a chapbook of my poetry and prose. More about that sooner than later, I hope.

Other than that I just want to remind you all of the two challenges I've set before you. These challenges can, and should, be done by all of us on a regular basis for our online businesses and shops. If you do, and add the Shop Hop banner and link, then you can add your blog post link to that week's current linky list. Doing this is another backlink to your blog and promotion for your business...smiles.

The first challenge: Feature/Interview a fellow shop owner/business blogger in a blog post this week and share the post link for the featured shop in your SHOP HOP Saturday post next week. This featured one does NOT have to be involved in this hop, but, of course, this is an opportunity for you to share the hop information with another. I look forward to your posts!

The second challenge: Product Post. I want you to do a blog post telling me about one specific product you sell and convince me to buy it. Show me pictures, tell me the story behind the product, and share as much information about this one product as you wish. Tell me why I want to buy your product instead of someone else's product. Make me a believer -- Sell it to me! Who knows, you may just sell it to me and a few other readers, too.

Be sure to add the link to your Product Post as an extra link in the Shop Hop linky list when it's completed so I can find it (and add the shop hop button to the post, please). And be sure in your blog post to give me explicit directions to your shop, just in case you've convinced me to Buy your product!

So, tell me what you've been doing as far as your activities for promoting your online shops and businesses. I'm truly interested in helping you promote your wares!

FYI...Holly accepted this challenge right away and sold her product...to me! Check out her challenge post: Handmade Cloth Doll Easter Bunny

For those of you who've not yet done so, you're invited to SHOP HOP with abitosunshine! Just grab the hop button and link for your blog post all about your online shop and/or business. Then add your post name and post URL to the linky list provided each week.

HOP and SQUIDOO #6

2011-04-03T19:13:00.001-04:00

I've had a great couple of weeks at Squidoo and I'm delighted to be able to share my progress with you via this blog hop hosted by Marsha's Spot: HOP and SQUIDOO Lenses to View!

I Squidoo for cash and/or charity and you can, too -- Join NOW to get started at Squidoo!

I'm now at Level 47, with 17 Featured Lenses, and 14 Trophies. Actually, my 17th lens was created yesterday and is still "in the pink" today as a Work In Progress, although I have Published it, so it should brighten up sometime today. I'm pretty excited about my newest lens, as it is all about my latest creative and money making endeavor, entitled: Bedazzled at Zazzle by abitosunshine.

I'm also delighted by my latest Squidoo Trophy -- I received my first Purple Star! I unlocked this trophy on 04/01/2011 and I couldn't be more proud to wear it on my "About Me" lens -- SquidWho is Ruthi. I truly appreciate and am humbled by this honor. I feel like a good little girl who has just finished all my chores and Momma gave me a gold star on my chore list on the fridge!

How do you feel about the new Squidoo Feature: The Lens Progress Bar? I love it! In fact, I've spent a lot of time this past week or so working to improve my current lenses because of it. And it is a welcome reminder of how important it is to take the time and make the effort to share lens love with others, in the way of Thumbs Up (Suidliking), lensrolling, favoriting, and Facebook Liking their lenses. Everyone needs and appreciates a boost for their efforts. The progress bar has also caused me to pop into the Squid University a little more often to spend time socializing with and learn from my peers at Squidoo.

SHOP HOP Saturday 4/2/11

2011-04-02T13:13:00.000-04:00

Once again, it's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! And, once again, I've some delightful business and blogging to share with you!

First, I'll remind you of my Shop Hop post and challenge of last week. I was delighted to see Holly take up the challenge immediately! And you can visit Holly's Product Post to see the lovely Handmade Doll Easter Bunny she sold me! Polly arrived snailmail yesterday and is now perched on a stair on the stairway to my bedroom while she awaits my purchasing a special shelf for her to sit upon permanently. As soon as I get her situated, I'll do a product review post complete with photos. Polly is an adorable doll in an adorable spring dress with a delightful bow upon her head. The neatest thing is that Holly will be making additional holiday costumes for Polly, which I will, of course, be purchasing in the future. What a splendid idea to go along with the initial purchase. Great sales tactic, Holly!

Next order of business -- abitosunshine at Zazzle is progressing nicely! Yesterday I created another specialty T-Shirt which will be the first in a line of Birthday Tees. My "70 is Heavenly" tee shirt is inspired and created for my roomie, Scott, who will turn 70 on April 9th. I just know he'll love his new shirt! And I'm betting a few others will like it, too. Take a peek and let me know what you think, please and thank you.

Oh... I'm also giving away one of my Cafepress creations! You can read all about it on my other blog, Bloggin' by abitosunshine! Visit my Ninety-Nine Bottles blog post for details. And please leave me a comment on the post so I know you were there, please and thank you.

Although I'll be doing a HOP and SQUIDOO post later today, I just have to share this tidbit with you -- I received my first Purple Star on a Squidoo lens! I'm so excited and appreciative, as I've spent my Squidoo time this week sprucing up all my lenses and this Purple Star on my Ruthi lens is my reward for my efforts, hooRAYo!

I'm looking forward to all of you business bloggers out there hopping along with SHOP HOP Saturday this week. Networking works -- if we work it!

Bloggin by abitosunshine!: Niney-Nine Bottles

2011-03-30T09:58:00.001-04:00

Bloggin by abitosunshine!: Ninety-Nine Bottles: "OOPs! Actually, that should say 99 bloggers now follow Bloggin' by abitosunshine! I'd like to hit 100 today. And, my 100th blogger to follow..."

SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine 3/26/11

2011-03-26T14:18:00.001-04:00

It's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! And I'm in the mood to do a little shopping!

So, this week's post comes with a Shop Hop Challenge for you ... smiles ... a Product Post. I want you to do a blog post telling me about one specific product you sell and convince me to buy it. Show me pictures, tell me the story behind the product, and share as much information about this one product as you wish. Tell me why I want to buy your product instead of someone else's product. Make me a believer -- Sell it to me! Who knows, you may just sell it to me and a few other readers, too.

Be sure to add the link to your Product Post as an extra link in the Shop Hop linky list when it's completed so I can find it (and add the shop hop button to the post, please). And be sure in your blog post to give me explicit directions to your shop, just in case you've convinced me to Buy your product!

I will, of course, do a product review on any Shop Hop items I choose to purchase..:-)

As always, it's been a busy week for me, offline moreso than online. However, I'm delighted to say that this week I finally bit the bullet and have opened up abitosunshine at Zazzle! I have created three items for sale this week. Please have a look and tell me what you think so far.

My first two creations are nuttin' but sweet sunshine! And, I do have to share with you my third Zazzle creation, which is my Slip Into A Tee. This one was really an impromptu creation, totally unplanned. I am a member of Gather.com and have joined a few writing communities therein. Last evening I submitted to a writing prompt and as I typed my title for the writing, I said to myself, "This would be great on a T-Shirt!" So, I real quick headed to Zazzle and created the title tee to go along with my writing submission. Please take a moment to read Slip Into Someone Comfortable and let me know if you feel my tee does the tale justice. (You can comment there, or here, or both!) Thank you! Here's a sneak peek at my T-Shirt:

I'm pretty excited about now having two shops, abitosunshine at CafePress and abitosunshine at Zazzle. Each has its own unique products, as well as unique shoppers, so hopefully I'll double my interest and income by being in both venues.

For those of you who've not yet done so, you're invited to SHOP HOP with abitosunshine! Just grab the hop button and link for your blog post all about your online shop and/or business. Then add your post name and post URL to the linky list provided each week.

SHOP HOP Saturday 3/19

2011-03-19T04:56:00.000-04:00

Happy early morning Saturday! How I wish I could say I'd be shopping today; alas, I'm getting ready for work instead. I'm still not used to this new job and the schedule it has me on; getting up hours before sunrise has me retiring before sunset and I'm exhausted mentally moreso, I think, than physically.

So, I'm afraid I must admit I've done very little online as far as business and/or money-making endeavors this past week. About the only thing I've kept up with online is Squidoo, which you can read about on my previous post: HOP and SQUIDOO #5.

I hope all of you are busy as can be with your shops and businesses. Share a productive week and hopefully that will energize me for the coming week. I surely need some motivation, thank you! With your support and the arrival of Spring a day away, maybe I'll have a much more productive week to report next Saturday.

HOP and SQUIDOO #5

2011-03-17T18:35:00.000-04:00

It's that time again, to share with you my activity for the week at Squidoo. I thank Marsha for her weekly blog hop as an opportunity to network with Squidoo Lensmasters, as well as to share with all of my blog followers the lenses I've created and other Squidoo things.

If you're not yet Squidoo addicted, JOIN SQUIDOO, let me know when you do, and I'll join your fan club, too! Of course, I invite You to Join my Fan Club at Squidoo, and be sure to HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot! I truly enJOY supporting fellow Lensmasters from the blog hop.

This week, I'm at level 45 with 16 featured lenses. I created one new lens this week:

My Online Money Makers

Obviously, a lens about the things I do to make money online. And, obviously, I'd like to see this lens, as well as my sunshine dollar signs, GROW!

I've also been busy adding a few things to each of my current lenses and utilizing Squidcast, Facebook, and Twitter to promote them.

I've fallen in love with SquidAngels and I've created a special graphic to use on my lenses to thank and link to the SquidAngel Lensmasters who work diligently to bless quality lenses. I truly appreciate their time and effort within Squidoo and am honored each time I am blessed.

HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot #4

2011-03-12T17:04:00.001-05:00

I'm behind on my hopping, but do have a few things to share with all of you in the HOP and SQUIDOO Lenses to View for this week. You can find the blog hop Host Post at Marsha's Spot.

First of all, if you're not yet Squidoo addicted, JOIN SQUIDOO, let me know when you do, and I'll join your fan club, too! Of course, I invite You to Join my Fan Club at Squidoo, and be sure to HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot! I truly enJOY supporting fellow Lensmasters from the blog hop.

I've published the following new lenses:

Squidformation Highway ... this lens is all about my Squidoo journey and the things I'm learning along the way; fun and informative.
Postcards for a Purpose ... a lens about my postcard creations and collections.

I hope to publish another new lens or two on my days off this week -- we shall see! Most importantly, I do make time each day to surf through Squidoo leaving a bit of lens love -- comments, thumbs up, lensrolling, and Like lenses, too. That helps the lensmaster know he or she is doing a fine job and helps them earn a bit, too. I find it a great example, too, of "Do unto others..." as I enJOY when I receive lens love, too. Don't you?

Online Business Bloggers SHOP HOP Saturday March 12th

2011-03-12T05:07:00.000-05:00

Happy Saturday Shop Hoppers! It's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

I've had an interesting week with my online business endeavors. First, I did a bit of design work for a website client, Reviews4Reviews.com. My abitosunshine...hosting and design business is one I started when I first became unemployed (2 years ago). It's been a very slow building of the business, but, once again, that would be my fault in that I don't promote it to the degree that I should.

Interestingly, I had a new blog follower this past week who also signed up for web hosting! This blogger also signed up as my newest Swagbucks referral. This reminds me to remind you how important it is to blog about all things business that you do to make money online. This person discovered my hosting business and Swagbucks money-making due to my having on two of my four blogs a post entitled Making Money Online!

Just to let you know, I also make money via Sidetick and received $25 in my PayPal account from them yesterday...smiles! Sidetick has changed a lot the past few months, but is still an easy way to make $25 about every 6 to 8 weeks.

I've also continued with lenses at Squidoo, creating a couple new ones this past week, which I'll discuss in a post later today. (I'm behind in my Squidoo postings, but do plan to get caught up this weekend!)

Well, that's about it for me today and it's time to get ready for work. Still getting used to this new job and early morning schedule. I hate early mornings!

I do hope you share your business/shop endeavors for the week by hopping along with us! Share your concerns, better business tips, new creations, giveaways, and anything else regarding your shops and businesses online!

SHOP HOP Saturday March 5th

2011-03-05T05:30:00.000-05:00

Good Saturday morning to you! It's time for SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine!

Unfortunately, I've not had time for much at all this week in the way of building my online business(s). Fortunately, the reason for my lack of online time is the fact that I am no longer among the unemployed! I began a job this week and my body and brain are pretty much rejecting this new schedule adjustment -- I'm exhausted! I'm not complaining, really, as this has been long awaited.

I have managed to pass out a few business cards for Poetic Creations by abitosunshine at Cafepress -- to my new fellow employees, ha! So, I hope to gain a few new customers from doing this; we shall see.

I did find time to create one new Squidoo lens -- Squidformation Highway -- which is a lens for recording my journey at Squidoo toward making money and forming new relationships, as well as a lens for posting informational links for others doing same. If you're not yet signed up at Squidoo, you can Sign up NOW! I believe there is great earning poetential at Squidoo, if, as with all things, I apply myself.

Well, that's about it for me this week. I do hope you share your business/shop endeavors for the week by hopping along with us! Share your concerns, better business tips, new creations, giveaways, and anything else regarding your shops and businesses online!

SHOP HOP Saturday Sunshine

2011-02-26T09:57:00.002-05:00

Good sunshine morning! Yes, I awoke to sunshine today and I hope that all of you awoke to same. I'm wide awake and ready to shop!

I do have to do some shopping today, but it won't be online. I have to shop for work "uniforms" as I am no longer unemployed! I begin a server position on Monday morning. So, I need to shop for the required white oxford shirts and black dress pants.

Now, it's time for SHOP HOP Saturday!

Last week I offered up a Challenge for us all to do a featured shop/business owner interview. My selection was an artist who sells her fabulous paintings and designs in several venues, online and offline: Featured Artist - Delia Pacheco. When you visit my post, please leave a comment for the artist, please and thank you. Be sure to add your interview post link URL to your Shop Hop Saturday post when you complete the challenge so that we all can visit to meet the person you introduce on your blog.

I've been so busy with job interviews and training that I've done only small things for my shop and businesses this past week. As the saying goes -- little things mean a lot!

I submitted this blog to the free blog directory at the Society of Socialpreneurs. Thats free advertising to get my name and product "out there"! This reminds me to ask you -- are you on the Fence yet? If not, you should be! It's another listing, more free advertisement for your blog and business! And, be sure when you're blog hopping that if you see a blogger on the fence, that you vote for them, too.

I also re-ordered my business cards, as I only have about 50 left from my original order of 500. That means I've been handing them out and dropping them everywhere. I'd be interested in knowing if you have a business card to utilize for prospecting customers offline. I also include my card in any sales or gifts of my products that I ship myself. For instance, this past week I sold two framed poems to a local vintage thrift shop, so I included about 2 dozen business cards with the sale. The shop owner has a business card display rack right on the counter and put mine right in there with about a dozen others. I must say, my bright sunshine did its job out-shining all the other cards!

As for my Poetic Creations by abitosunshine, I had one sale this past week and again, it was a special order. I seem to be getting those a lot lately. This request was for a poster print and personalized poem in tribute to a deceased pet. How did this request come about?

When my dog, Scratch, had to be euthanized this past summer, I had written a special poem about it and, of course, a graphic design to go along with it. I printed and framed one for myself and then another for the vet to hang on her "critter wall". Of course, I left business cards with the vet to give to anyone interested in a personalized poem for their own pet. I got a call on Monday, details from the client via phone as well as photos through email, and I delivered the print on Wednesday. The gal was delighted with my cat creation and plans to tell all of her animal lover friends about me, so I expect more of these special pet requests.

Of course, I am still working on building my Squidoo business, which you can read all about on my HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha #3 blog post. There is a link to my SquidPaws lens for Scratch in that post, so you can visit that lens to see my poetic creation tribute for my Scratchy Sunshine.

That's pretty much it for this week. I look forward to reading all about your business activity this past week, too, so hop along with abitosunshine in this SHOP HOP Saturday blog hop!

HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha #3

2011-02-25T14:25:00.006-05:00

I've been hopping all week, online and offline, so my blog hop post for Marsha's HOP and SQUIDOO is a day late, but not a dollar short...smiles...and in case you don't follow my other blogs, I did just post a bit of an "about me" in my Bloggin' by abitosunshine post, Sunshine Blessings.

I've been quite busy with Squidoo related things again this week. My lenses seem to be getting quite a bit of attention now, which is delightful.

I'm now at Level 42 with 13 featured lenses and 1 work in progress lens.

I published 2 new lenses this week:

Scratchy Sunshine...my 3rd SquidPaws lens - this one, in tribute to my dog, Scratch, who I lost this past July.
Sprint Fans Start Your Engines...a NASCAR lens, created just as the first Spint Cup Series race began. I'll be adding to this one throughout the season.

I've still not figured out how to utilize the Featured Lenses module to feature SquidAngel Blessings on my lenses, but I will eventually! I've seen others do it, but somehow they modify it to only show the lensmaster photo and name (linked, of course), and it's this modification that I can't seem to figure out.

I met d-artist at Squidoo and introduced her here on this blog in Featured Artist - Delia Pacheco. I do hope you'll check out the interview, as well as look her up at Squidoo!

Something else I've been doing, and hope that you all do, too ... I've signed up for email notifications of Lens Of The Day, and, of course, I visit the daily lens to give it a whole lot of lens love! This is a great way to meet and applaud Lensmasters.

Again, I invite YOU to JOIN my FAN CLUB at Squidoo, if you haven't already. Of course, if you're not yet Squid addicted, JOIN SQUIDOO and I'll join your Fan Club, too! And be sure to HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot!

Featured Artist Interview - Delia Pacheco

2011-02-23T22:27:00.025-05:00

It is my pleasure to introduce to you a treasure of an artist...

Delia Pacheco

And a treasury of fine artistry by...

Delia<><

Delia, When/Where/Why did you first become interested in painting? And, are you self-taught or schooled in your fine artist qualifications?

Since childhood I have drawn or painted images of animals, in particular the horse. Both of my parents were artistic, and most likely this has been passed on to me...I was always involved in art projects or contest in my youth, even taking art classes at the DeYoung Museum in San Francisco. When I graduated from High school a job was offered to me designing labels and brochures at a company called Shaklee. After that I did freelance artwork and started painting for myself and commissions for the Equine industry including newsletters, business cards and such.

Basically I am self taught..there are many wonderful artist out there and I'm sure I'm not the best, but my goal is to be the best that I can be.

For the last few years I have participated in Plein Air painting and really enjoy doing that, mostly painting landscapes...It's fun having to press yourself to paint quickly on the scene, and it has helped me to become loser in my style.

Andalusion

On a lot of products including cafepress items.

Please tell us about the profits/proceeds from your artwork:

I am a cancer survivor, and having gone through what I had experienced, I realized God gave me a second chance in life...I thought about, who am I and what was my purpose, what should I do with my life? And how can I Glorify God...after all He gave me life and the gift of being able to portray my visions into the art form. This then brought me to signing my name with the fish symbol Ichthy's...I also decided to donate money from my proceeds to organizations that meant something to me...like Spreading the Word of God, Animal Rescue, and Veterans. Most of my artworks are donated to events and charities fundraising...My pieces of artworks are sold for reasonable prices, just so I can donate the profit/proceeds.

Interestingly enough people look at you suspiciously when you have low priced artwork, they either think it's not worthy because of the low price or they question if the money really goes to the organizations. I assure that the money goes for a cause and you in return get a painting that would have cost much more somewhere else?

Animals on a porch.

A donated art piece used for cards for UW Vet school.

Delia, please share with us the special awards and accolades you've been the recipient of in your fine art career:

As of now I actually don't have time to participate in many contest anymore, but have had awards, ribbons and cash from my art for many years...I don't advertise my wins, as I know there are many better artists out there then me, and judging is so objective.

Do you prefer commissioned work or projects of your own?

I definitely prefer to do my own projects, they are less stressful, although I take commissions that have a meaning to me or are special circumstances.

Black Friesian ridden by a trainer was a commission.

Tell us a bit about the many forms of your artwork. What is your personal painting preference, medium and theme?

I love painting on anything that doesn't move, of course I have painted moving objects as well, face painting children.

Acrylic paints are my preference, but I also use pastels, colored pencils and watercolors. I have specialized in horses for many years, and when my Muse Ibn died in 2008 my heart went with him, it has been difficult for me to paint horses. I was painting a panel when my Horse died, he was 29 years old and his mate died 6 month earlier also 29, I used their image as a tribute in the Mural Panel for the famed Canadian traveling Mosaic Mural "The Horse Gift Mural-Le Cadeau Du Cheval"

I have also designed and painted other wall murals and participated in several Equine Mosaic Murals, designing one of them.

I'm interested in painting on recycled or reclaimed materials as well, something I have done for a while now, I find it challenging to see how it turns out (these are usually my own projects, unless someone requests something)

How do you handle, and feel about, the business side of fine art?

I am not fond of the business part and keeping close records, it is always a challenge at tax time and I'm always forgetting to deduct something... so doing the donations has been a bit easier on me.

Chair with cat image donate for a local Hospital auction.

And now, please share all the links to where we can purchase your artwork, with a brief description of each venue:

CafePress you can type in art by Delia and most of my store come up http://www.cafepress.com/equinepalace

Miniature and ACEO art can be purchased here http://sitekreator.com/artbydelia/main_page.html

Artwanted.com I display artwork type in my full name http://www.artwanted.com/myart4sale

artcardwanted has ACEO prints available http://www.artcardswanted.com/

Blogger.com I have sites, one with art for the donating events and items that can be purchased http://deliapacheco.blogspot.com/

Squidoo features some of my art in lenses as well http://www.squidoo.com/lensmasters/d-artist

This website can not be accesed with Mozilla/Firefox "Animal art and Hobbies by Delia" http://webpages.charter.net/depach

GallopHome.com - here is an equine Game, Puzzles, Coloring Book I designed http://store.gallophome.com/index.html

BorneSaddlery.com a saddle image design http://www.bornesaddlery.com/Ambassador-Designer-Saddle-p/amb-design.htm

Also, share the links to your social forums (twitter, squidoo, and so forth):

Twitter my ID is http://twitter.com/deliart
Squidoo ID is d-artist or Delia Pacheco
Facebook, again my full name

How about an inspirational art quote from d-artist (your own words):

In my own words, "Art can be a tangible evidence of the human heart and spirit."

But nothing is better then this Proverb quote: "What you are is God's gift to you, what you do with yourself is your gift to God." Danish Proverb

Delia, as you know, it was your animal paintings that first caught my eye (via Squidoo). I've just discovered your rock paintings and I will soon be contacting you about your doing a rock painting of my dog, Scratch. Please tell my blog readers about this specialty of yours!

For many years I have collected rocks of various shapes and sizes, finding them interesting because I would see a form or design in them, then one day I had a rock that looked like a sleeping dog, so I painted what I saw, it was really nice because of the form, it's hard to find rocks like that and unfortunately have used up most all of them in particular the small 1"-2" ones.

It was also hard to transport the rocks to the shows and mailing them because of their weight, if I only had them as an inventory, it would not have been hard for me.

A small pet rock with a dog image.

Egg with image of a Troika

Ornament with bike rider.

I also enjoy painting eggs, in particular wooden eggs (especially since so many of my real fragile eggs broke easily) I also started to paint ornaments, and have a nice clientele for those.

Foal and Butterfly
Delia's Signature Painting

And there you have it, my friends, fine art from a fine lady. I hope you've enJOYed this view of Delia's work. I also hope you'll visit the web links she's shared -- I assure you that you shall be lost in a wonderful world of art by Delia<><

Oh! I have one more link that you must simply see for another thing our artist Delia is famous for: ME...the last Sun Maid Raisin Girl

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I chose to interview Delia Pacheco based on the beauty of her talent. My meeting this lady was perfect timing, as this feature also fulfills my Shop Hop Challenge.

Blogger with a shop online?

2011-02-19T10:12:00.002-05:00

If you're an online shop/business owner and blog about it, this is your invitation to SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine! Created to unite shop owner bloggers, for motivational and promotional rewards.

Please add your SHOP HOP Saturday post link URL to the linky list, NOT your main blog URL...thank you! (If you don't post this week, please don't link.) And be sure to visit the members on the list each week so we all can support one another. Please add the SHOP HOP Saturday link and button to your post so others may find us too!

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Again, most of my online money-making concentration this week has been on Squidoo, discussed in my HOP and SQUIDOO post.

Also happy to report that I won a $25 Visa gift card for participation in the One2One Network -- just for having my membership badge on my blog! I highly recommend this network as a great resource for ideas and knowledge to assist you in your online businesses and blogging.

And from this, I'm reminded once again of the importance of our blog buttons and badges. We need to be swapping buttons with each other as a method of supporting one another!

I've had no sales from my shop at Cafepress this week, which means I need to do some promotion and new item creations -- no excuses! I figure if my business isn't growing, then I have stagnated, not the business! If what I'm doing -- or in this case, NOT doing -- isn't working, then I need to figure out what does work and get er done!

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SHOP HOP CHALLENGE:
Feature/Interview a fellow shop owner/business blogger in a blog post this week and share the post link for the featured shop in your SHOP HOP Saturday post next week. This featured one does NOT have to be involved in this hop, but, of course, this is an opportunity for you to share the hop information with another. I look forward to your posts!

I HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha! Do you?

2011-02-17T13:28:00.001-05:00

Week two of my blog friend Marsha's new blog hop - HOP and SQUIDOO -- and I have new lenses for you to view!

First, I must tell you that I am certain I have become Squidoo addicted. As a matter of fact, I've even decided to begin collecting "squid" and found a great bath ensemble of octopus via a CSN Stores browsing (because my friend Brenda is running a $50 CSN giveaway on her blog this week).

At Squidoo, I'm happy to say I survived my first month and got a cupcake trophy for doing so, hooRAYo! I have published 11 lenses and have 2 work-in-progress lenses. I created and published these 3 lenses this week:

1) Sunshine Girls - my 2nd SquidPaws lens
2) Blog Hop Along - a Froggy introduction to blog hop participation
3) Lyrical Impressions - my first Squidoo music lens, also my 1st Quest

I've set myself a goal to become a Giant Squid and hope to achieve that goal by the March 31st deadline. So I have 39 more awesome lenses to create! Give me ideas for lenses in your comments, please! And be sure when you comment on my lenses to let me know if you think there is something more I can do to make the lens more amazing!

I'm in the need to know: One, should I set my guestbook comments for logged in Squidoo members only or allow anyone to comment? Two, how on earth do I get spotlight widgets into the right column of my lense instead of the main portion of the lens?

Something important I learned this week: When I surf onto an amazing lens I need to visit that lensmaster's profile and join their Fan Club! And, I need to keep an eye on my own fan club to see who has joined it and be sure to return the favor! Also, I learned that by adding a lens to my Favorites if and when the lensmaster updates that lens and squidcasts such, I'll get notification in the Favorites tab on my profile so I can view the lens right away and give my friend a whole lot o' lens love!

That leads me to invite YOU to JOIN my FAN CLUB if you haven't already. Of course, if you're not yet Squid addicted, JOIN SQUIDOO and I'll view your lenses, too!

OK, as much as I'd love to work on another lens right now, I can't, as it's time for me to head to the nursing home to visit my Aunt Martha Bell and give her a squid squeeze or two. But, I'll be back this evening for more blog hopping, and of course, more Squidoo!

Do Not Miss this Cafepress Giveaway

2011-02-12T13:11:00.001-05:00

Enter the CAFEPRESS GIVEAWAY!
Hosted by So Much More Than A Mom!
Win up to $60 in CafePress goodies!
And yes, that means you could select products from
my abitosunshine shop!

Details:
Contest ends at midnight (CST) Sunday, February 20th 2011.
U.S. Residents only.
Winners will be chosen at random and notified via e-mail on February 21st 2011.

SHOP HOP Saturday in the Sunshine

2011-02-12T11:06:00.004-05:00

Good morning Shop Hoppers! I awoke to pure sweet sunshine today, hooRAYo! And the temperature is rising; warming up for Valentine's Day, perhaps.

As you know from my previous SHOP HOP Saturday posts, I'm concentrating a lot of my money-making efforts at Squidoo right now. So, along with that topic, I'm so excited about something new this week:

HOP and SQUIDOO

A new blog hop hosted by Marsha of Marsha's Spot. This hop is for all of us Squidoo Lensmasters to share our latest lens creations, as well as sharing the lenses of others. If you're not already a member of Squidoo, you can Sign Up Now and then you can hop along!

You can visit my first HOP and SQUIDOO post to get a feel for what my content for Marsha's hop will generally be. And, by the way, Marsha asked me to create her hop button for her, so do let me know what you think of it.

I've also created a blog banner and hop button for another friend, but I'll let her tell you all about that when she's ready to do so..:-)

I create buttons and banners for a nominal fee, so if you need one, please contact me.

OK, my Cafepress shop, abitosunshine ... I've created a new product, although it hasn't been added to my shop yet. That should be done this week. I first had to create for special request orders, which made me quite happy!

I've spent some time this week checking into marketing my poetry via creations to be sold through Etsy. More on that project a bit later.

Well, that is about it for me as far as business blogging this week. I can't wait to read all about your business ventures this week. So please do jump into the hop at any time throughout the week with your post link.

Reminder: If any of you shop owner/business bloggers are interested in exchanging business blog interviews, please let me know. I'd love to spotlight other shops here on Poetic Creations by abitosunshine. I've done a SWAP A SHOP exchange with Marsha, which you can visit here: Swap A Shop with Marsha's Spot.

Please add your SHOP HOP Saturday post link URL to the linky list, NOT your main blog URL...thank you! (If you don't post this week, please don't link.) And be sure to visit the members on the list each week so we all can support one another. Please add the SHOP HOP Saturday link and button to your post so others may find us too!

HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot

2011-02-10T12:16:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited! My friend, Marsha, starts her blog hop today: HOP and SQUIDOO. I hope you hop and squidoo along with us! This blog hop is sure to motivate us to create more squidoo lenses for others to view.

If you've been following my SHOP HOP Saturday blog hop posts, you'll see that I'm fairly new with my activity at Squidoo, but I've sure been busy creating lenses and since my Shop Hop is about online business, I generally share my Squidoo work on that hop. Now, I'll be sharing it on HOP and SQUIDOO, too!

My first Squidoo lens was Poetic Creations by abitosunshine! Created to promote my online shop at Cafepress. After I created that lens, I decided lens after lens of just my shop would get old and rather boring, so in keeping with my eclectic personality, I decided to create lenses for anything and everything I'm passionate about.

I've created 8 lenses so far and you can access these from my Ruthi On Squidoo profile page. While there, I hope you Join my Fan Club, and I will return the favor.

I have one WIP (Work In Progress) lense. It's a SquidPaws page that I'll hopefully finish up and publish by this weekend. I'm on a mission to create 5 SquidPaws lenses and my first was The Queen *itch of abitosunshine!, which is all about my girl, Tidbit.

This past month, I've actually spent more time researching Squidoo than creating lenses. There is much to learn and I want to learn it all and I want to learn it now, ha! The greatest thing is the money-making opportunity that being a good squidoo lensmaster has to offer. Getting paid to have fun being creative and meeting and making new friends...what could be better than that?

I'm learning all about Squidoo Co-Branding from the Community Organizer Team. From Megan Casey, a founder of Squidoo, I learned about Giant Squids and I do want to become one -- now, ha! Most joyous of all are the Squid Angels. You'll know your lens is good when it's been blessed by an angel. And, I'm happy to say that I've had a lens or two already blessed by angels. And, our very own Marsha is a Squid Angel, too! I'm sure she'll be happy to tell you all about her duties and blessings..:-)

Well, that's about it for my first HOP and SQUIDOO post. Be sure to hop along with us. I Squidoo for fun, $$$, and/or charity and you can too! If you're not yet a Squidoo Lensmaster: Get Started NOW! And once you do, be sure to HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot! It's a fun and fabulous way to promote your lenses and to promote the lenses of other Squidoo Lensmasters in return. Networking works -- if you work it!

SHOP HOP Saturday 2/5/11

2011-02-05T13:48:00.003-05:00

OOPs! I slept in this morning! Rather, my dog Tidbit let me sleep in, thanks to Mother Nature. She must have looked out the bedroom window and saw all the white fluff falling and went back to sleep--Tidbit does not do white fluff unless I make her. It was still falling when I awoke at noon. Yes, noon! I haven't slept in like this for years and I must say I rather enJOYed it for a change.

SHOP HOP Saturday and I bet you all shopped without me this morning. I hope you've got lots to share!

I had a week busy with my web design business, abitosunshine Hosting and Design, so I didn't get as much shop stuff accomplished as I would have liked. However, I made enough money to pay my abitosunshine.net yearly website renewal, so I'm not complaining a bit.

My website needs a serious updating, which is on my 2011 ToDo List. I've had the site for a decade now and it's always been a personal site and a site where I share my writing freely. I've decided I want to incorporate my online businesses into the site this year. This week, I did remove the links to most of my poetry and linked up my Cafepress abitosunshine shop instead, so that's a beginning. Next will be to give the hosting and design section of the site a major overhaul so I can then get back to promoting that business.

Oh, I had a writing group challenge/prompt this week that gave me an opportunity to not only promote my hosting and design business, but also promoted one of our Shop Hop member sites, Brenda Youngerman's business, Reviews4Reviews.com. So if you'd like to take a look and let me know what you think, please visit Website Spotlight. Just an FYI, this was posted at Gather.com, which is a paid social networking site, so if you're not already a member of Gather, get yourself signed up and start getting paid a bit for posts and socializing!

I've been keeping up with my lens creations at Squidoo this past week. I created my SquidWho Ruthi lens, which is all about me. I also created a lens for Valentine's Day. I'm really enJOYing my activity there and, as I've said previously, I do hope that by the end of 2011 that I am making a decent buck from Squidoo. You can Sign up at Squidoo and make some lenses too! And if you're already there, connect with me and we can support one another there, too.

I've had to set up an account with a new free linky service, since the one I'd been using decided no more free service, so I do hope this linky list works today. Now utilizing inlinkz for SHOP HOP Saturday. Only text lists are free; hence, no more thumbnail linky list for this hop.

Reminder: If any of you shop owner/business bloggers are interested in exchanging business blog interviews, please let me know. I'd love to spotlight other shops here on Poetic Creations by abitosunshine. I've done a SWAP A SHOP exchange with Marsha, which you can visit here: Swap A Shop with Marsha's Spot.

Please add your SHOP HOP Saturday post link URL to the linky list, NOT your main blog URL...thank you! (If you don't post this week, please don't link.) And be sure to visit the members on the list each week so we all can support one another. Please add the SHOP HOP Saturday link and button to your post so others may find us too!

SHOP HOP Saturday 1/29/11

2011-01-29T11:13:00.004-05:00

This is the last SHOP HOP Saturday in January, oh my! It's hard to believe a month of 2011 has already gone by.

How do you feel about your shop and business productivity for the month of January? Have you met your goals for the month? Have you been blogging and networking with other shop owners online? Promoting yourself as well as others?

I feel as though I've been more focused toward my money-making endeavors so far this year. I'd planned to network more with my peers and I'm certainly doing such--mingling with other shop hoppers is one way to do so, as well as promoting the Shop Hop.

I'd set a goal for 2 creations at my Cafepress shop for the month of January. One creation is complete and I have 3 days to create the second! This will get done, as I had discussed the product with a friend and she wants 2 of them, so that's 2 sold already, which means I better get cracking on that creation today!

My February goals? Two new creations to my shop. This is going to be a monthly goal throughout the year.

Also this year, I plan to compile a collection of my poetry in chapbook form to self-publish in a POD (Print On Demand) format. No more hemming and hawing, no more just thinking about it--Just Do It!

I've also set myself a goal to increase my earnings on my writing in paid social networks. With that goal in mind, I'll be concentrating mainly on Squidoo this month. I think there is potential there to earn a bit more than a pittance, so I plan to concentrate on my Squidoo lens creations diligently this year. Oh! I've also got 2 signed up under my Squidoo referral link already, so when they earn, I earn, too, hooRAYo!

I ran across a lens at Squidoo to share with you. Blogging For Handmade Sellers has some great tips, regardless of the products or services you're promoting. Check it out and let me know if you apply any of the ideas to your business blogging. I give the lens a thumbs up and hope that you do, too!

Please add your SHOP HOP Saturday post link URL to the linky list, NOT your main blog URL...thank you! (If you don't post this week, please don't link.) And be sure to visit the members on the list so we all can support one another. Also, keep in mind that you can get the linky code for this hop and add it to your post, which makes it easier for members to hop along! Just click "Get the code here" and add it to your HTML at the bottom of your post.

Please add the
SHOP HOP Saturday
link and button to your post
so others may find us too!

Poetic Creations by abitosunshine!

Squidoo is Keeping me Hopping

Merry Christmas from abitosunshine!

Now What?

Hop and Squidoo Lenses to View, Linky, and Payday too!

Shop Hop and a Giveaway

Tumbleweeds Hop and Squidoo

Compassionate Climb

Challenges and Hops

Cheers to Making Money on RedGage

Shop Hop at a Snail's Pace

Triumph

The Business of Mountain Climbing

Setting Goals and Rock Climbing Week Two

Climb Aboard as we Hop and Squidoo

Thank you, RedGage, for the Rock to Climb

Ruthi Rock Climbing Week One

Worn, Not Worn Out

New SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Winner

Who Won a Shot of Sunshine?

Hop and Shop and Swap

Win a Fifty Dollar CafePress Coupon Code

SOS Sunshine Shot Glass Giveaway CLOSED

I found another one!

Shot of Sunshine for a Cloudy Day

Hop and Squidoo Payday and Highlights

Don't get too close to your computer screen-Virus

Bunny Loves Her Quilt

Knee-Jerk Reaction

Business Blog Post Titles

Dog Days of Summer Hop and Squidoo

You Gotta Want It

Something Old, Something New

A Push for Shop Hoppers

HOP and SQUIDOO Mrs. Cooper

June 2011 royalties (paid out 08/11/2011)

Total featured lenses on date: 16 lenses Total paid in cash via PayPal: $3.93 Total donated to charity: $0.43

Motivational Music for Shop Hop Bloggers

Storms Stopped Shop Hop

SHOP HOP Saturday After Noon

Hop and Squidoo Thanksgiving

Tomorrow Promises To Be

May 2011 royalties (paid out 07/14/2011)

HOP and SQUIDOO and a SPOTLIGHT or TWO

Long Week and Shop Hop and Squidoo

What a Week and Hops

Shop Hop Saturday

Summertime Fun With HOP and SQUIDOO

More Shopping Than Hopping

Shopping Online Wish List Challenge

Hopping to go Shopping Online

I Hop and Squidoo -- Do you?

Shop Hopping Right Along

Shopping and Hopping

Hop and Squidoo and a new Lens to View

Sunny SHOP HOP Saturday

HOP and SQUIDOO and a Party too!

Saturday Afternoon SHOP HOP

March 2011 royalties (paid out 05/13/2011)

Blog HOP and SQUIDOO for JOY

Share Your Online Shop in the SHOP HOP Saturday

Hop To Squidoo and Marsha's Spot, Too

Nobody Cares About You

Computer Crashed and SHOP HOP

Computer Issues and SHOP HOP

Cash in the Hopper

SHOP HOP Saturday with Where is the Sunshine

HOP and SQUIDOO #6

SHOP HOP Saturday 4/2/11

Bloggin by abitosunshine!: Niney-Nine Bottles

SHOP HOP Saturday with abitosunshine 3/26/11

SHOP HOP Saturday 3/19

HOP and SQUIDOO #5

HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha's Spot #4

Online Business Bloggers SHOP HOP Saturday March 12th

SHOP HOP Saturday March 5th

SHOP HOP Saturday Sunshine

HOP and SQUIDOO with Marsha #3

Featured Artist Interview - Delia Pacheco

It is my pleasure to introduce to you a treasure of an artist...

Total featured lenses on date: 16 lenses

Total paid in cash via PayPal: $3.93

Total donated to charity: $0.43