Free set of social media icons!

I created this set of fun social media icons with Photoshop, and they are available for your use on your blog or sites. Free of charge. Hope you enjoy. I have more styles coming!

Just save the image to your server and upload to your blog or site. And please remember these are free just because and not available for commercial use.

If you need something custom for your blog, please contact me at shortpumppreppy @ gmail dot com.

Rite Aid has a contest going on right now where you can win a year’s worth of gas. 

Um…

I had to read further.  It’s not that I’m ungrateful…but I’ve had 48 year’s worth of gas and now my dogs are so gassy we gave them their own room…ventilation not connected to the rest of the house.

It’s the only way we can survive.

I just got rid of the gassy ex-husband and I’m not looking to “fuel” the teens. 

So….Rite Aid, it’s really nice of you to offer, and I know you have a whole aisle devoted to handling gas issues…Beano, GasX…and this could be a real win for you…hope you sell bunches. 

Imagine…the guy in the cubicle next to the winner.   He’s a goner if he doesn’t keep something handy…thinking those bird flu masks might help?   The spouse…the kids… for sure they will stock up on those products just to be prepared for …Gasaggedon.

I hope you will re-think this for next year, and moving forward give away something that would beautify the world.

#justsayin

I’m so excited to be going~!  Relevant ‘10 is a Christian blogging conference held in Hershey, PA, and looks like a fabulous opportunity for fellowship, fun and learning.  They have a rockstar panel of speakers and I’m sure it will be  inspirational.

And I get to hang out with cool bloggers for a few days.  I’m all over that.

Are you going?  Or have any plans to attend conferences this year?

Did we celebrate or what?  Yes, I had a ball at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration.  I mean who wouldn’t?  Being treated like rockstars all week.

Dinner celebrations with characters, entertainment, including a concert with Joe Jonas and Demi Lovato and food prepared by Food Network’s Mr. Dinner Impossible.

Characters everywhere and at every event…

I could concentrate this post on the media fast pass that allowed us to get immediate fastpass tickets even when they were sold out…and ride Toy Story in 4D over and over and …

I could talk about meeting Disney Channel stars and how cool that was for my kids…I mean how often does a kid get to plant trees and chat with Allison Stoner discussing teen stuff?

Guy Kawasaki, Kathy Ireland, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Chris Brogan and Maxine Clark just to name a few, shared their insight.

I could share all that amazingness, but I have something else to share.

It’s a fabulous program offered at Disney this year.  Give A Day, Get A Disney Day…and it’s focus is on volunteering in your community…one day in exchange for a one theme-one day pass at the Disney Parks.

How cool is that?

You can check out the places in your area where you can volunteer…it’s all explained on the site.

And while you’re at it, check out the initiative the Disney Channel Stars are championing the Friends For Change project, (as seen on the Friends for Change Fact Sheet encouraging kids and people to do just the little things to help the environment.

Turning off the water while you brush your teeth…turning off lights when you leave a room….the little things that all add up.

We were so fortunate to experience these and other events at Social Media Moms Celebration.  And let me tell you it is a week we will not soon forget.  We came away with some fun and over the top experiences, but also an appreciation for volunteerism and making changes in the world.

Disclosure: We received a “sweetheart” deal from Disney to attend the event which included tickets, accomodations and meals at a discount to our family.

I’m feeling all powerful in the kitchen right now, and it’s all about the Frigidaire.

I’m feeling a little like Bobby and Buddy put together.  I cannot fail!

Yes I know that’s totally irrational and way over the edge, but this new Range and Microwave have me giddy.  And I’m rarely giddy.

It’s not a good look for me.

Let’s talk about my range.  Let’s talk about the TOP OF THE RANGE KNOWN AS THE STOVETOP.

Or Betty…I think it suits her.

I can run 4 burners and a warmer all at once…..

*

OH YES I CAN

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SEE?  It’s the Grand Central Station of stove tops.  And I’m not even really cooking in this photo and you are still impressed!

This Frigidaire Range has 2 burners on the left that can become one long one for pancake griddles NOM NOM….a large burner in the front right and a smaller burner in the right back and a …wait for it…

WARMING BURNER IN THE CENTER

see?

You are giddy too, and oh my, it’s actually a good look for you!!

Want to learn more about it?

Real stainless steel with a protective coating that reduces fingerprints and smudges – and we smudge a lot – so it’s easy to clean.

Preheats fast!  Boils water fast!  HAS A PIZZA SETTING I. KID. YOU. NOT.

Has more racks than you know what to do with, and we will show that in another post because you will not believe.

Share my love for my Frigidaire, and check back for more about this piece of heaven in my kitchen!

“I wrote this review while participating in a Test Drive Campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Frigidaire and received a Frigidaire Range/Microwave to facilitate my review.”

I was lucky enough to receive some wardrobe help in the form of a gift card from Lane Bryant, and I’d like to share some tips for style and comfortable attire.

Yes, I need to work on my LINES….GET IT?

Is it looking a little different here? Not the header…or the background – but thank you I like them too…

It’s the content.

You used to see tons of reviews and giveaways here.  In fact that’s about all you saw.  I was caught up in a cycle of “we love your blog – review our stuff we’ll send you one and one to giveaway” and thought “You Love Me You Really Love Me!!”.

It had turned into an “Elvis vs. the Panty Throwers” concert.  I was getting everything thrown at me…even the kitchen sink. UPS and FEDEX were at my house every day bringing me fun stuff, and MAN WAS THAT COOL THANKYOUVERYMUCH {WINK}.

“I’m working with Brands all the time”, I thought.  “Brands LOVE me and want to give me their stuff so I can blog about my love for them and their stuff and #SQUEEEE!!  It’s the Mutual Admiration Society”

Slowly my audience changed, my old bloggy friends stopped reading or at least commenting.  I had new friends now and YAY I love new friends…except I felt like I had lost something – REAL…. But, wait!   I was getting stuff all the time and I love stuff and I love working with Brands.

Pinch me I just got another kitchen sink…

Then someone banged me over the head one day.

And now I’m beginning to get it…

True relationships with Brands are hard to come by.

It takes nurturing a relationship, communication, and mutual trust to create a bond with PR and Brands.  If you are going to have a real alliance with one, it’s a lot more complicated. You need to be a great fit for them…their product or service, after all they are investing in you…

…and a post telling the pros and cons of a kitchen sink isn’t a relationship.

It may be the trigger that catapults you into that alliance down the road…because it has to start somewhere.   And it’s the Wild West of the internet and changing all the time.

Sink companies may change their social media philosophy.  They may not offer all these sinks one day, you know?

Now I love doing product reviews, don’t get me wrong, and welcome all pitches.  I like giving away fun stuff to readers.  But I’m looking for those products that excite me.  And by excite I mean  “grab the Keurig if the house catches on fire then get the dog”.  When I believe in something I will be it’s biggest cheerleader.  If it’s something I know my readers will go gaga over, I’ll bring it.

“Cool, but you’re not going to say no to the kitchen sink people~!”

Actually I might….

I think as moms many of us don’t know how to say no – we are natural people pleasers.  We worry that if we say no to a Brand we like…well they might not like US anymore…OR… think we don’t like THEM anymore and that would be the kiss of bloggy death and SAD. But maybe the promo isn’t a right fit for us right now.  Think about it.  A Brand says no to you…they have no problem spitting it out and telling you “sorry we don’t have any kitchen sinks to give you right now but we’ll keep you in mind for future sink campaigns” Then how many times do they move on to the blogger that fits the bill – and she gets YOUR KITCHEN SINK.  It’s because they look at it as a business opportunity.  And they should.

My blog is my business…well one of them.  It’s an important part of my overall online persona.  And it’s what gives me the most joy.

I’m going back to that happy time when I owned my whole blog.  When blogging was fun and everything meant something which since I tend to Seinfeld it and write about a bunch of nothing means, um….well, I have no idea what it means, but I’m enjoying myself.

“So wait, are you giving away a kitchen sink or not?”

Yes, and No..

Am I a review blogger?  Hmmmm.  I think I’m just a blogger who does reviews sometimes and wants to connect with Brands that I love.   If any connections lead to something bigger…then great. Yes, I’m now looking for the right Brands…just like the right Brands are looking for me. {WAVES}  And if the wrong opportunity comes along I will nicely say NAH, just like Brands nicely say NAH to me.

“But Linda, there are PR people that love me and are my friends.”

I know, I love them too…

There are many PR people that I love, ADORE and would work with just because. But those relationships didn’t happen overnight and I treasure them. If you have them whatever you do don’t sell them short.  Realize though that at some point you and I may be yesterday’s bloggers and the newer and cuter blog on the block may knock us off their pedestal.

It’s their business. I wouldn’t respect them if they ran their businesses any other way.  Just remain true to yourself, and your brand, and you are more likely to perpetuate those connections.  People want and love the REAL YOU…and ME…

That’s why I’m taking a step back and rethinking the blog.   With that said though, I will still consider all kitchen sinks…I’ve got a lot to clean up around here!

disclosure:  I have not received nor am looking for a kitchen sink.  it just sounded good in the story.  i love my sink and am pretty sure it loves me too.

This was party month at the Sellers’ home.  Fun, food, fancy hairdos.

We had it all here thanks to Suave.  Suave was nice enough to send a stylist, the adorable Erica of Ahead of Hair to my home to give my friends fancy fresh hair styles.

Why would Suave want to come to my house?  Why you’d have to ask them…however, I have made no secret of my love for Suave.  When I like something you know it.  Maybe it’s that, or maybe it’s all the cute ladies that reside here, or maybe it was the dip.  Whatever the reason, I now love them more.

Yes it is possible I made it happen right here in casa de lovely locks…

It was a GLAMTASTIC EVENT…

We were treated to an assortment of product including:

• Suave Professionals Extra Hold Styling Gel and Hair Spray
• Suave Weather Protection 365 Gel and Spray
• Suave Professionals Volumizing Spray

We also received an assortment of shampoos and conditioners for goodie bags.  #SQUEEE The Aloe and Ginseng and Rosemary and Mint were a big hit.

Want to see the fun?  I did not include Maggie’s friends because they are just kids…ok they are teens, but that’s kids to me…

…but here is a recap of the frivolity…

I know! Everyone went curly except I went straight!  (not that there’s anything wrong with that) See I even have less wrinkles when my hair is straight!   Who knew?

Thanks Suave, and thank you Erica, and a big thank you to Deans Dips for providing dips…not my friends, they are not dips..but the food was fabulous!!

Use these for your review of diamonds and Mercedes..

Oh wait, you don’t get those?  Well then use these when you want something fancier than my other badges that are more whimsical…oh and I have more in mind, so come back often!

Use these to identify the posts that might need a little more explaining…and add a little pizazz to being FTC compliant.  Just right click and save…feel free to resize and of course these are free for personal use, but would love to know if you use them..leave me a comment!

Watch the video for an organizational cry for assistance.

Please comment and HALP so I can be fabulous like you..you do look lovely today, by the way…

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