Firmoo Review { #giftguide2015 #review }

Hey all. You know how much I love Firmoo.com! my daughter needed some new glasses so i was happy to be able to order some new ones from Firmoo!

Firmoo.com offers a great selection of glasses online. They have glasses starting at just $8.00! These would be great to add to your Gift list for 2015. Next time my husband needs some new glasses i want to order some for him too from Firmoo.com. Right now they are also having a black Friday sale.

DARK TURNS: Blog Tour & Book Review and #giveaway

Hey everyone, I have a great book review and even a giveaway for a copy of the book for you today too.

I am joining the blog tour for the book, "Dark Turns," by Cate Holahan.

Should You Use a Virtual Private Server for Your Affiliate Site?

Affiliate marketing is a tough gig. There are a number of variables that play a role in your success. One of the most underestimated factors is the web hosting you are using. Many new affiliates want to save their money for their PPC campaigns and SEO linkbuilding, which means that they often choose the cheapest possible hosting plan. Unfortunately, this means that they are often going to be bleeding conversions, because the site has poor uptime and a lot of their traffic never makes it to the site.

After you register your domain name, you should seriously think about investing in a virtual private server (VPS) to host your affiliate site. Here are some benefits to be aware of.

Greater Stability

The uptime of web hosting plans has improved in recent years. However, some hosting providers still crash and others take a long time to load. VPS hosted sites are more reliable and load more quickly. This is crucial for any affiliate that is trying to boost their conversions. This stability also helps improve your SEO.

Better Customization

One of the drawbacks of regular hosting plans is that you have to wait for your hosting provider to support certain applications before you can install them. One of the benefits of using a VPS is that you have control of your hosting at the root level, which means that you don’t have to wait for your hosting provider to support an application before installing it.

Cheaper than Dedicated Hosting

Many affiliates recognize that shared hosting isn’t the best option. They often try to purchase dedicated hosting instead, which can cost $100 or more a month. VPS hosting is a cheaper alternative that still provides great stability and server space. You can generally get a VPS hosting from the same hosting company for less than half the cost of dedicated hosting. Paul Cunningham told the writers at Problogger that this was the best option for his site.

Scalability Options

Another one of the many benefits of a VPS is that you can easily scale your plan. You can start off by purchasing the minimum resources that you need, which is recommended for new affiliates. However, as your site gains more traffic, you can start scaling it by purchasing more resources.

More Feasible for PPV

If you are buying PPV from Traffic Vance, 50 On Red, or Lead Impact, then you need to make sure that your pages load as quickly as possible. Users are usually disinterested in pops and will close them if you can’t grab their attention in three quarters of a second. It is easier to get their attention with a VPS, because the pages load much more quickly.

Create More Complex Landing Pages

Landing pages are some of the most important elements of most affiliate marketing campaigns. Most successful landing pages are fairly basic, because the users tend to be turned off by a lot of graphics.

However, there are definitely some exceptions to this rule of thumb. Some niches such as gaming and credit report providers do better with very sophisticated landing pages with lots of graphics. The downside affiliates typically face with these campaigns is that they have slow load times, which can decimate their conversions if they are using interruption marketing. This isn’t nearly as much of a concern if you are using a VPS.

WW: Pecans!

Remember those Pecan trees at my son's school? well I've been picking some over the past month. 

This is some of the pecan's I have (my husband did one day too) picked. This just may look like a big bunch of brown nuts. But there is a lot that actually goes into getting these. lol

Why KISS is the Best Standard for Web Design

The design of your website plays a very important role in your success. Unfortunately, many online businesses make a number of flawed assumptions when developing their site, which ultimately hurts their conversions. The biggest mistake is using a very complex design. You can actually significantly boost your conversions by using a simpler layout. Here are some reasons to use KISS (Keep it Simple Stupid).

Soft Sell More Easily

Visitors are often turned away from websites with very complex layouts. They often seem too commercial and can lead to a similar phenomenon as banner blindness. According to one study, 86% of customers suffer from banner blindness, which is starting to affect their perception of websites.

A 2012 study from Google found that simpler websites perform much better. Consumers actually find websites with fewer visual elements to be more aesthetically appealing, which probably explains why so many of those sites with excessive Flash animation fell off the face of the earth.

Easier Navigation

Ease of navigation is one of the most important things that websites need to be successful. According to one study, 44% of consumers felt website navigation is too difficult on most websites. You need to make the site more accessible to get more people to your money pages.

One of the problems with fancy sites is that they often distract users from the navigation menu or even make it hard to figure out which elements are used to improve functionality and which ones exist solely for visual appeal. If your users complain about accessing your site, then you may need to simplify your design to improve navigation.

What Simple Layouts Work Best?

There are a lot of simple designs that you can try. A site with a soft white background, an organized menu structure, a few image headers and a nice looking logo may be all that you need. This was considered far too basic years ago, but has since become a standard layout for many industries.  You will even notice that major sites such as The New York Times have very simple designs that tend to be much more effective than publishers using loads of unnecessary visuals.

There are a number of resources that you can use to come up with simple designs for your site. You could try to look for free templates from WordPress, but there are a limited number of resources available. Another option is to use a DIY website builder such as this one from Web.com. It has a number of templates that you can customize, which reduces the time that you would need to spend creating something from scratch.

Of course, you will also definitely need a logo for your online business. If you don’t have one already, then it’s essential that you invest in one to stand out. However, it’s still important not to make your logo so flashy that it distracts users from any calls to action, so it may be necessary to deemphasize it if it was created by a designer with Flash.

4 Ways to avoid being grumpy in the mornings

In order to avoid being grumpy in the morning, there are things you can do help with this. If you follow a night time routine, this can ensure that you will get a good night’s sleep.  If you take a few simple steps the the night before, you can possibly wake up feeling great and stop feeling grumpy in when you wake up!

The first thing you should do is give your sleeping area a makeover. If you are having problems sleeping it could be due to your sleep environment. You may need to do an adjustment and give your bedroom a calming effect. I've seen this on some home improvement shows also. Where your bedroom should be clutter free. Also the colors in your room matter.  Neutral colors and help you to relax and get a good night's sleep. You may want to also invest in either blinds or shades to make it dark and keep the light out of your bedroom.

Studies have now shown that use of electronic devices before bedtime can hinder your sleep. In the 21st century everyone is texting, emailing or even playing video games. But doing these things right before bed can stimulate you too much. And then it could be hard to fall asleep.  Also it has been found that the light emitted from electronic devices can work against you getting quality shut eye. The glow that devices such as iPads, and even reading devices such as the Kindle can have small amount of light pass through the retina. Then pass to the part of your brain that controls many areas of sleep activities. Which can delay the release of the sleep inducing hormone melatonin. So, it is recommended to shut down the electronics at least 30 minutes before bedtime. And also importantly to keep the electronics out of the bedroom.

Another factor in getting a good night sleep is what you eat and drink. You should be smart about what you consume throughout the day. Your daytime eating habits can impact your sleep at night. And the hours leading up to bedtime are especially important. One obvious choice is cut down on caffeine. But you may not realize that caffeine can remain in your system for up to 10 or more hours. So you should eliminate caffeine or at least cut back on it starting around lunch time. You should also avoid too much alcohol. As it can actually interfere with sleep. Also eating a heavy meal later in the day can also cause heartburn or stomach problems and may make it harder to fall asleep.

Lastly, you should really pay particular attention to your pillows and mattress. 

If you have a mattress that is not the right firmness, then it could really affect your sleep. Everyone has a different preference on what kind of firmness they need. Although a firmer mattress has been shown to help with sleep quality and relieve any pain while sleeping. Having the right mattress can relieve stress, neck and back pain. So, it may be time to invest in a new mattress.  Also the right  pillow can help with sleep. You can find what pillow works for you. And you may want to wash the pillow case regularly to reduce dust mites. And you can even look into an allergy proof pillow if you suffer from allergies.

These are some tips that will help you get a good night's sleep. And ways that will make you feel less grumpy in the morning.

Traits to Look for When Hiring a Landscape Photographer for Your Business

The landscape surrounding your business can play a big role in driving customers. Taking beautiful pictures of it and posting them on your website, Facebook page and marketing literature can do wonders if you are trying to attract new customers. You need to resist the temptation to save money by taking photographs on your own, because the quality of the photos that you take will probably pale in comparison to those of a seasoned photographer.

The trick to getting great photographs is to find an exceptional landscape photographer. Here are some essential traits that you should look for.

• Locality

Finding a local photographer is usually a huge bonus. They generally have a better idea of the landscapes that resonate with the local population. Even if you are trying to reach out-of- state customers, it’s still a good idea to hire a local photographer, because they have more experience choosing the right angles for the terrain in your region.

• Zestfulness

The attitude of a photographer plays a huge role in the quality of the pictures that they are going to take. You want to find someone that is eager to wake up every day and do their job, because they will be more detail oriented and passionate about delivering a quality product.

• Track Record for Creating Great Photographs

This should sound obvious, but you are going to want to hire a photographer that has consistently taken great photos. You will need to ask for samples of their work. You can usually find a lot of them on their landscape photography website. It’s also a good idea to search their name and see what photographs are attributed to them online. Here are some questions that you will need to ask yourself while critiquing their work:

• What is the lighting?
• Is the composition right?
• Do they make good use of filters?

Pay close attention to their photographs to make sure their work would support your brand image.

• Responsibility and Professionalism

You want to hire a photographer that is going to show up and deliver the work on time. They should also be responsive and show a sincere desire to follow your guidelines. Here are some questions that you need to ask yourself:

• Do they consistently show up on time to scheduled appointments?
• Do they keep asking the same questions after you have given a clear answer?
• Are they always rescheduling meetings?
• Do they treat you with the respect that you deserve?

The quality of their photographs is important, but won’t compensate for an unprofessional photographer. Screen them carefully before committing to hiring them.

You can gauge their professionalism in the first meeting. However, first impressions aren’t always accurate, so it’s also important to request references whenever possible.

Start Looking for a Great Photographer!

Finding a good photographer can take longer than you might expect. You need to carefully review different professionals in your area before you can make a commitment. If you are going to need a good landscape photographer in the future, then you will need to give yourself enough time.

Dreamitall #review

Hi I've been testing out some products. And I want to share it with you.

It is from the company Dreamitall

picture I took of the products I received 

Here is some product info for you about it

Sleep better with Dreamitall, the only herbal sleep and dreaming supplement on the market today that’s designed to naturally deepen sleep and extend the expression of your REM dream phase.



It is a natural supplement that contains the following ingredients.

Ingredients:

- Hops Flower

- Passion Flower

- Lemon Balm

- Valerian Root

- Peppermint Leaf

- Vitamin B6 and B12

- Melatonin (1.5mg)

Spotlight 3 books: The Eight, A Calculated Risk and The Magic Circle

Hi guys I have a post today for you about 3 books. The books are, "The Eight," "A Calculated Risk," and "The Magic Circle."

Importance Of Changing Your Air Filters

Now that the winter months are arriving, and you may be running your HVAC unit more, there are some important things that you should keep in mind. In order to maintain your home, you should know that it is important to change your air filters often. There are many reasons why it is a good idea to change air filters regularly.

photo attribution: pixabay.com

Many don’t realize this, but furnace filters and air filters are actually the same thing. They are made out of the same materials. And are often actually interchangeable.The first thing you should do is find out what your air filter size is. It is important to get the proper size filter for your HVAC unit. You should select the proper width and length air filter you need. You can usually find the size written on the side of the filter.

One important reason to change your air filters is to reduce mold in your home.  Mold can build up when moisture is present. Mold can reproduce through spores. And can then maybe multiply. If this happens it could pose some health problems. Anything from allergies to infections among some of them. Keeping humidity levels low will help prevent mold. And using 
high quality air filters can help block the mold spores.

Indoor pollutants are something you may not think about. But you may have them in your home. They could be from smoking, a new carpet, pollen dust or dust mites are some other examples. You can help eliminate indoor pollutants by taking steps to keep them out of your home. Such as not allowing smoking inside, or even by vacuuming frequently. Keeping irritants outside and filtering indoor air will help to eliminate the pollutants in your home.

Indoor air quality is important to the health and well being of your family and guests who may visit your home. So that is why changing your air filters when needed is important.

This year's Halloween WW

This year my daughter dressed up in I guess 4 total outfits. Her dance classes dress up on  Halloween week. She did a bunny and a butterfly. The nun costume was kinda funny but we ended up returning it and she didn't wear it to the classes. We got a couple pics of her in it first though. Lol

I thought it was funny but the butterfly was better so we got that instead. 

Kwik Stix #Review and #Giveaway

Hey guys I have a cool review and giveaway for you today. It is for some Kwik Stix.

Here is some info on them

• Dry in 90 seconds!
• No cups, smocks, brushes or water needed
• Truly looks and feels like paint
• Vibrant colors won't fade or crack
• Works on paper, canvas, posters, and even wood

also check out this youtube video