Iowahippiechick

The administration at Today.com has decided to discontinue allowing it’s bloggers to participate with Entrecard.  (So, this will be my last top dropper post.)

Here are my March and final top droppers:

• Sound of a Soft Breath 
• Scandinavian Ways 
• Themelib
  
• Computer Aid
• The Frugal Housewife
• Blogger Templates
• The Way I See It
• The Toy Report
• Random Ramblings
• All Contests

Thanks so much to all my top droppers … I appreciate your dedicated dropping!

I’m a little sad to take down the Entrecard widget

-I also wanted to highlight a cool new blog that has terrific money-saving ideas.  It’s called “A Cheap Chick’s Ray of Sunshine.”  The blog author’s name is Julie and I really think you’ll like her.  Here is her story in her own words …

Welcome! This site was inspired by a shopping addiction and corporate layoffs. My name is Julie and until a little over a year ago my husband and I were managers in Corporate America. We made comfortable salaries and I enjoyed shopping. A lot. Don’t get me wrong, I didn’t do designer bags or jewelry. I do, however, know every Ross, Marshall’s, T.J. Maxx, Nordstrom Rack, etc., etc., in my metropolitan area. Need something at Target? That will be a quick 2 hours and $300 dollars and I’ll probably forget what I went there for. No problem, I’ll just run to Walmart……. Anyway, when my husband and I found ourselves “downsized” out of a job we were forced to change. It’s been an interesting journey, sometimes painful, but I’ve learned some pretty cool stuff. One of my favorite things is that freebies exist, the other is how to stretch a buck like its silly putty. I hope you like my little corner of the world and find some useful information along the way.

Pretty relevant stuff don’t you think?

So head on over and check out A Cheap Chick’s Ray of Sunshine.

You won’t be disappointed!

Have a terrific day!

dawn @ iowahippiechick

This past week while trolling the blogosphere - I noticed quite a few posts on gratitude.  Isn’t that terrific?  Especially during these difficult times we are living in …

This ability to ask the question - What do I have? (And be thankful for it.) Instead of the question - What do I lack? Allows us the opportunity to be grateful for the simple blessings in our lives, and will ultimately give us the strength to overcome such difficult times!

• If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, “thank you,” that would suffice.   -Meister Eckhart
• Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.  - Marcel Proust
• Gratitude is the fairest blossom which springs from the soul. - Henry Ward Beecher
• Let us rise up and be thankful, for if we didn’t learn a lot today, at least we learned a little, and if we didn’t learn a little, at least we didn’t get sick, and if we got sick, at least we didn’t die; so, let us all be thankful. - Buddha

In this spirit of gratitude …

I would like to show a little link love in honor of my February Entrecard Top Droppers.

1. Themelib 
2. The Frugal Housewife
3. Guilty Pleasures
4. EZGreatLife
5. Blogger Templates
6. Sound of a Soft Breath
7. Cinnamon, Spice & Everything Nice
8. All Contests
9. Junkfoodaholic
10. For Your Health

Photo Credit: Craig

If your answer is yes - All you have to do is write an essay.  Which could possibly win you one of six houses located in Cassville,Wisconsin.  The contest started February 1st, 2009 and they are accepting essays until March 15, 2009.  Click here to check out their website and download the official rules.  (I’ve always wanted a house along the Mississippi River!)

Now for some must reads …

Personal Finance

1. 91 Ways to Save on Almost Anything 
2. 52 Ways to Make Extra Money 
3. 7 Ways to Make Extra Money 
4. Coupon Websites: Never Pay Full Price Again?
5. How to Earn Passive Income Using The Internet
6. Top 100 Personal Finance Blogs

Blogging Related

1. Grow a Blog - Market,Promote,Drive Traffic,Find Readers,and More
2. RSS - Blog Directories (TopRank best list of directories to submit your blog feed.)
3. bloggerunited,blogerella,Sited and Blogged (Check these out … they look cool!)
4. How To Sell Ads On a New Blog

Very Interesting Websites

1. ScrapbooksEtc.com
2. YouCanMakeThis.com
3. DollarSurveys.net

Until Next time,

dawn @ iowahippiechick

Photo Credit: Cody

personal finance

You should!

Roxie laughs, Roxie survives, and Roxie writes from the heart, in her blog Roxie in Recovery.

I’m just getting to know her myself -

And am very impressed with her compassion and empathy.

(Two things I believe the world dearly needs more of.)

Recently Roxie tagged me with “The Life is Grand” award.

I am grateful for this opportunity -

To list five reasons that I believe Life is Grand:

1. Life is grand because I am able to care for my father, who was ALWAYS there for me.
2. Life is grand because my husband was able to seek help for addiction - And as of today been clean for over 4 years.
3. Life is grand because I have access to health care via insurance.  (Something many don’t have and need just as much as I.)
4. Life is grand because my two sons are happy, healthy, and productive members of our community.
5. Life is grand because I’m blessed to have family & friends that truly love me.

According to the rules of the meme …

I’m supposed to tag five others with the award.

But due to an unfortunate incident in my blogging past - 

I’m going to leave an open invitation to anyone who would like to participate.

Please tag yourself -

Have fun,

dawn @ iowahippiechick

Yesterday everyone who uses Entrecard was supposed to participate in Top Dropper Day.  Normally, I’m not one to conform on what one is supposed to do - But what the hey!

So here are my top droppers for January 2009 -

1. The Frugal Housewife (27 drops) - She blogs about her family’s journey into frugal living.
2. “Cents”able Momma (25 drops) -  A blog that gives ideas for frugal living as well as store deals and freebies. It also lists some ways to make some extra money on the side through surveys and other reward sites.
3. A Journey For Life (24 drops) - A blog that is all about her everyday life.
4. Theme lib dot com (24) - A blog about Blogger Templates, Blogger Tutorials, Wordpress Themes, Wordpress Tutorials and much more
5. EzGreat Life (23 drops) - This site is about life, family and getting fit, both physically and financially. Discussing any and all aspects of attaining a great life.
6. Camping and Outdoors Blog (22) - Great wild outdoors features reviews of outdoor gear, safety information, animal identification, and more.
7. Life After Meth (20) - This blog has been deleted from Entrecard.
8. Personal Budgeting Doesn’t Have To Be Difficult (19) - Personal budgeting and finances does not have to be difficult.
9. The Sewing Mom (18) - Personal blog showcasing my fabric creations. I also talk about family, friends, hobbies, cooking and daily life.
10. The Path to the Pegasus Letter (18) - It’s not smart to play it safe but it’s safe to play it smart.

I’d like to thank all my top droppers -

Your all terrific!

Please click on the links and check out all their blogs!

I was trying to do my top dropper post for “Top Dropper Day.”  But the Entrecard website was bogged down - it just wouldn’t load for me.  So, I guess my top dropper day will have to be tomorrow!

What I was reading from the web this week-

1. 8 ways to botch your retirement 
2. 8 ways to make a million bucks 
3. How to sell your stuff on eBay
4. How to increase sales on eBay by offering international shipping
5. An introduction to making money selling digital photos 
6. Make extra money without getting a second job
   

Can you tell that I’m interested in making a few extra bucks, these days?  Well I am - Because spring break is fast approaching and I’m taking a trip with my sister, my niece, and her girlfriend.  We are heading down to NOLA … and I can hardly wait for it!

(This will probably be one of our last girl trips for awhile - Because my niece will be graduating from high school this year and getting busy with college/friends/jobs/etc.) 

Potpourri-

1. Bidboxr … A beta auctions 2.0 site.
2. A Full Cup … Savings by the cup full - start saving money today.
3. The Caregivers Marketplace … Caring for a loved one isn’t easy, saving on the things they need is.
4. 70% off at Nike.com … For more information - check out this post at My Good Cents.
5. $20 off $20 or more stamp at Staples … For more information - check out this post at Money Saving Methods.
6. Share a secret for stain removal, and receive a free sample of Surf w/essential oils. Click here.

Have a wonderful day!

dawn @ iowahippiechick