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Congratulations To Winners Of The PetLvr Twitter Survey Contest

For seven days ending June 20, 2009 .. I ran a simple twitter survey on my twitter.com/PetLvr account. The link to the survey was posted in my profile, and I was tweeting the survey about 3 times a day. Here are the results:

1. How do you know HART aka PetLvr? (answer all that applies)

Most Popular Answer:
> From Twitter

2. How many pets do you have?

Most Popular Answer:
> I have no pets but always wanted to

3. Would you say you are a….

Most Popular Answer:
> PetLvr

4. Do you Follow HART on twitter? Which accounts do you follow?

Most Popular Answer:
> PetLvr

5. If you are following any (or all) of HART’s twitter accounts .. what type of ‘Tweets’ do you prefer to see the best?

Most Popular Answer: (tie)
> They are all great!
> Tweets from your blogs of upcoming posts

6. What is your Twitter name? (optional)

Most Popular Answer:
> 80% of respondents provided their twitter name!

Summary Page: Will you be entering our contest?

Most Popular Answer
> 80% of respondents said Yes

(I should note - that twitter was down for one entrant, and the last entrant arrived before the deadline end of day June 20th but, the survey in a different timezone locked up)

Congratulations To All Contest Winners!!

I have already contacted each and every one of the following contest winners via twitter. If you do not already have your banner on one of my blogs .. contact me via Direct Message (DM) on my twitter.com/PetLvr (@PetLvr) account!

To be entered in my contest, I asked participants if they wanted to be entered in a random draw to have a free 125×125 banner on my blogs for the months of July and August 2009. I would provide 3 spots on EACH AndYouWill.com and BattlingForHealth.com. All they had to do was tweet one or the other messages.

Well … only TEN (10) people responded to my survey .. so, I have decided to award all 10 entrants a free banner on my blog until September 1, 2009!

Please take time to look at their banners, follow them on twitter, and visit their sites!

HART

HERE ARE ALL OF THE CONTEST WINNERS FOR 125 x 125 BANNER SPOTS

Contest Winners With Free Ads on And You Will Blog

1)
Twitter: twitter.com/coolbuster
Site: coolbusteratyourservice.blogspot.com/

2)
Twitter: twitter.com/_McLaughlin
Site: richardmclaughlin.biz/

3)
Twitter: twitter.com/toops7
Site: www.twittad.com/a/BRw

4)
Twitter: twitter.com/rabbitmatch
Site: www.rabbitmatch.org/

5)
Twitter: twitter.com/jsinkeywest
Site: potpolitics.com/

6)
Twitter: twitter.com/wchingya
Site: www.wchingya.com/

Contest Winners With Free Ads on Battling For Health Blog

1)
Twitter: twitter.com/DihydrogenOxide
Site: www.charitywater.org/

2)
Twitter: twitter.com/timethief
Site: thistimethisspace.com/

3)
Twitter: twitter.com/farffa
Site: tlmarketing.net/

4)
Twitter: twitter.com/bdgrlaw
Site: www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenchappell

               

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Turn Your Flaws Into Assets for Success

We all have little personality quirks that can be, well, a bit annoying. Sometimes these characteristics can cause us problems with work or in relationships. The good news is that you can often take these traits and turn them into assets with a little purposeful introspection.

Where’s the Strength?

Sit down and take stock of your personality flaw. Write down ways in which it’s caused you problems in the past. Now consider how the trait could be a good thing. For example, do you tend to be stubborn? Than can cause you difficulties when you refuse to give up in an argument with your spouse or can’t compromise, but what an asset it is to be persistent when reaching for your goals. Concentrate your efforts into positive actions, using your unique characteristic to your advantage.

Make Some Alternations

So you’re changing your mindset about your little quirk. That’s good, but that doesn’t mean you should totally embrace it and forget about the issues it can sometimes cause. Continue your brainstorming session by looking at times your particular trait has gotten in your way or been a challenge. Think about your own culpability in these situations and work to discover ways that you could have made changes or compromises that would have led to improved outcomes. Taking accountability for your actions can be eye-opening and empowering. And it gets easier with practice.

Make a Plan

Now decide how you’re going to put your discoveries into action. When I sat down to do this exercise, I looked at my sensitive nature and how it can get me into trouble. My feelings get hurt easily or I can sometimes misconstrue comments made by others as criticism. But when I actually took stock of things, I realized that my sensitivity is what has helped me in my career. As a college adviser, I received the Outstanding Academic Adviser award from the students for two years in a row. I believe that’s because my sensitive and intuitive nature makes me a good counselor. I’ve recently taken steps to bring these skills into my current online career, and I’ve already seen the rewards. What can you do to turn your flaws into assets, and how can you modify your behaviors in situations where they cause you distress?

Please tell me your thoughts. I’d love to hear how you’ve taken a personality flaw and used it to move you toward success.

               

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Should You Get Student Loans?

Financial aid is a way of life for most college students. Tuition can be very expensive, and many families just don’t have the money to help their children pay for college. The fact that obtaining college loans is commonplace doesn’t make it any less intimidating. You may be wondering if it’s a good idea to take out loans for your education. My view on the matter is that it really depends, and the decision should be weighed on individual factors. There’s no right answer for everyone.

Talk To Your Family

You’ll definitely need to get your family’s input on the subject. It’s likely that you have no idea what amount your parents can contribute to your education costs. So sit down and talk to them. Another reason to discuss things with your folks is that you’re required to provide their income information information when filling out applications for federal aid.

Consider the Options

You have such a wide variety of options for your college education. There are private schools, public schools, and community colleges. There are also trade schools. For the most part, private schools are priciest. What do you want to study? Do you really need to attend the top rated private school in order to attain your career goals? Do you have clearly defined career goals yet?

Get Personal

It’s okay if you don’t have a solid idea of your career goals yet - most college freshmen don’t! But it is a wise idea to take some personal inventory. Are you even sure you want to go to college? What kind of a student were you in high school? If your heart’s not really in it, you probably don’t want to jump into a ton of student loan debt. Remember, it will be your responsibility to re-pay any loans you receive.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t get loans or go to college, even if you weren’t a stellar student in high school. You may know in your heart that you want to further your education in some way in order to provide for your future. Perhaps you’ll want to start out at a community college, where the tuition is less expensive and you can develop some strong academic skills.

The Decision Is Yours

See, I told you there was no one right answer. There are many things to take into consideration when deciding whether to take out student loans. Be sure to look into your options and get as much information as you can in order to make an informed decision.

Christopher Penn from Student Loan Network just wrote this post especially for me on the pros and cons of student loans. You should definitely check it out! Thanks, Christopher.

               

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Frugal Gardening Tips

A friend of mine decided to plant a garden to save on food costs.  He saved every receipt for his purchases and at the end of the year, he calculated his costs.  He was shocked to find out that he’d spent more money having his own garden than he would have if he’d gone out and bought organic produce at the local farmer’s market.

Gardening can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. 

Grow Your Own Plants

Growing your plants from seed instead of buying plants can save you lots of money.  You can either start the seeds indoors or plant the seeds in the ground outdoors.

To increase your savings, use non-hybrid(open pollinated) seeds to plant your garden.  That way, you can gather seeds from the this years crop, dry the seeds, and save them to plant next year.  If you use hybrid seeds and save the seeds to plant the following year, you’ll get less than desirable results as a hybrid seed is the result of cross pollination of two different kinds of plant varieties. 

It can be very difficult to find open pollinated seeds, especially if you purchase your seeds off the seed rack in the store.  A great place to find open pollinated seeds is in an heirloom seed catalog.  Your local store might carry heirloom seeds too.

To save seeds, remove them from the vegetable and let them dry.  After they are totally dry, store them in a sealed envelope.

Use Only What You Need

When you purchase seeds off the rack at the store, each package contains perhaps hundreds of seeds.  Do you really need 150 radish plants?  Probably not. 

If you have leftover seeds, you can save them for the next year.  Each year, the amount of seeds that germinate from that package will be reduced, but the seeds can still be used.  If you want to do this, simply fold over the seed package and staple it shut.  Keep your leftover seeds in a dry location until you plant next year’s garden. 

Use What You Have

Frugal friends of mine used leftover PVC piping and string to create a trellis on which to grow their beans. Since the piping was plastic, it could be re-used year after year.

I am not very handy at creating such things, so I usually plant “bush plant varieties”.  I found open pollinated Italian bush beans and planted those.  I saved money because I didn’t have to create a trellis for the beans, and also because I found an open pollinated variety!

Instead of purchasing expensive containers to cover young plants to protect them from frost, you can simply cut the top off a plastic milk jug.  Put the jug over the plants overnight and remove in the morning after the frost is gone.

If you like to use “weed mats” to keep down the weeds, try using cardboard boxes or paper grocery bags instead.  It really does work to control the weeds, and as the board and the bags disintegrate, they enrich the soil.

Gardening is a great hobby.  In these difficult economic times, planting a garden is not only fun, it’s a necessity.  Happy growing!

               

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Review of Your Big Sister’s Guide to Surviving College

I recently read an invaluable resource for young women entering college. It’s a book called Your Big Sister’s Guide to Surviving College by Christie Glasgoe Crowder. Christie is a Certified Life Coach and motivational consultant. She’s also a close online friend of mine, whom I admire greatly. Her words of wisdom come from personal experience, and she gives extremely useful and readable advice on every aspect of college life, from academics to sex. There’s even a chapter for parents.

The book was actually written for Christie’s very own little sister, Kelly, but the message is for every young woman heading off to school for the first time. Christie doesn’t talk down or preach; she’s very straight-to-the-point and doesn’t pull any punches. But she does it all with warmth and humor that I know you’ll appreciate. Here’s a synopsis of the book with some of my favorite excerpts.

For Parents

The very first chapter is dedicated to the parents who are sending their baby girls off into the big, bad world all alone. Christie’s main advice to mom and dad is to keep the channels of communication open and to allow their daughters the opportunity to explore and to make mistakes. It’s impressive that Christie chooses to address the parents right away. She covers all kinds of parent/child relationships, including “no college/some college parents”, “parents of the superstar”, and “parents of the ne’er-do-well.” She tells parents that it’s important to cultivate a good relationship with their daughter before she leaves home and says,”If you don’t, she’ll be looking for that love, attention, approval, and acceptance in all the wrong places.” This couldn’t be more true.

The Reason for Going to College

The next chapter addresses the question many students ask, “Why am I going to college anyway?” Christie tells her own story of wanting to be an interior designer versus her parents desire for her to attend a liberal arts college in order to illustrate the importance of knowing yourself. She raises a good point about getting a grasp on your motivations before heading off to school and points out that the availability of the internet really allows students to research their options these days, unlike when she and I were undergrads!

College Transition

“Adjusting to Campus Life” is the next chapter and gives practical advice on going away to school. You’ll learn what to pack, what to expect, why it’s important to learn to do your laundry and clean up after yourself, and why it’s a good idea to live on campus for awhile. Christie also covers taking care of yourself - mind, body, and soul. I particularly like the section on soul, as this is a topic that is rarely addressed in educational resources. Here, Christie says, “Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel quite right, it probably isn’t. ” The best advice, ever. You’ll also learn about money matters and social life in this chapter.

Academics and Fun

The next two chapters address what Christie considers the first and second most important reasons for going to college - academics and having fun. You’ll benefit from her take on organization and scheduling of classes. Christie gives some great advice on studying and working with professors, as well as with classmates. She also covers why it’s important to get to know your adviser. See, I’m not the only one who thinks so!

The chapter on “Having a Good Time” is amazingly thorough and insightful. Here, Christie talks openly, in a big sisterly kind of way, about drinking, relationships, partying, traveling, and sex. Yes, she goes there, in a way that’s not wishy washy or preachy. Here’s an excerpt from the book just to give you a feel for the tone used.

Sex is not quality time. Beware of the guy who only wants to see you at night.

If your so-called boyfriend never takes you out to public places or never introduces you to his friends, he is only with you for one reason…DROP HIM!

If your so-called boyfriend does nothing, but harp on your looks and show you off to his friends, but never spends any serious quality time with you…bye-bye! You are no trophy.

No means no…I don’t care how long you have been together! Forcing you to have sex when you do not want to is RAPE! Apology not accepted! You let him do it once; I promise you it will happen again!

I told you she didn’t pull any punches. It’s a great read that anyone can relate to.

Final Thoughts

There is a short chapter where Christie talks in more detail to you about communicating with your family. This is such an essential aspect of the college experience that is often neglected in other books. She ends the book with “Final Pearls of Wisdom”. Here she touches on self-esteem and how the entire contents of her book revolve around it. Self-esteem is woven into the fabric of every choice you make in college. I can’t stress enough the importance of learning to understand, know, and forgive yourself. Christie deals with this wonderfully. Also found in this final chapter are resources for additional reading, learning, fun, and support.

Your Big Sister’s Guide to Surviving College is a phenomenal resource for women going off to college and on their own for the first time. It may not cover every developmental aspect of the college experience, but it’s not meant to. Christie set out to write a practical guidebook for her own little sister, based on personal experience. This is a book I wish I had before becoming a college student. It’s certainly one I would have recommended to my own students as an academic adviser. Consider picking it up for yourself or for a loved one.

               

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And You Will Sponsor Us!

I have implemented a new platform to assist the self-sponsorship of our And You Will blog with both banner and text link sponsorship using OIO Publisher. This is a wordpress plugin that can easily process paypal payments, and allow you to upload your banner images easily.

I highly recommend this software plugin for managing your own ads, and there is an $8 discount available if you purchase in the month of April 2009 using coupon code … “SPRING-HEN”.

APRIL 2009 SPECIAL PRICING

Meanwhile, I have set the prices for the 125 x 125 banner ads to be $30/month and text link ads to be $15/month (USD) for the month of April. On May 1st prices will go up.

For all sponsors who sign up during the month of April 2009, you will have the opportunity to maintain these prices indefinitely. All you have to do is set the paypal “subscription” option to YES. This will reassure your continued sponsorship at these introductory prices until you (or us) stop the subscription. Spots are first come first serve and 8 spots are available in each category.

               

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How To Subscribe To Our New And Improved Blog

Welcome To The New and Improved AND YOU WILL Blog

Welcome ….

Everything is now in place and the old blogs are redirecting to this domain now. I have redirected the old RSS feeds from the old blogs to this new blog, but the redirection ends April 30, 2009. To be sure to continue to receive all our eNews and updates, we ask that you update your bookmarks and RSS feeds to the following:

Bookmark - AND YOU WILL - AndYouWill.com

RSS Feed for AND YOU WILL (Posts) - feeds2.feedburner.com/AndYouWill

RSS Feed for AND YOU WILL (Comments) - AndYouWill.com/comments/feed/

Receive Twitter Updates! twitter.com/AndYouWill and twitter.com/PetLvr

Subscribe via Email and receive daily eNews and Updates!

Enter your email address:

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RSS By Category Added To AND YOU WILL

We recognize that you may not have an interest in all of our DIY categories, and if you prefer to just subscribe to a specific category instead of the whole blog … please see our sidebar, where you can now subscribe to a specific category of your choosing

In the meantime … we are still officially “under construction” as we massage all of the links, blogroll, pages, and other exciting blog stuff!! If you see something that is broken, please feel free to bring it to our attention (along with the URL and description of the error) using our contact form.

Take care
AND YOU WILL
HART-Empire Network

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Greetings and Salutations!

March 24, 2009 by HART (1-800-HART)  
Filed under . ANNOUNCEMENTS, ... DECORATE, ... GARDEN, ... GRADUATE, ... HAVE COLLECTIBLES, ... HAVE KIDS, ... HAVE RECIPES, ... HELP, ... MARRY, ... NETWORK, ... PLAY, ... RENOVATE, ... RETIRE, ... SUCCEED, ... TRAVEL

Leave a Comment

If you are wondering what’s going on … effective April 1, 2009 we will be combining all “And You Will” series of blogs (the subdomains of AndYouWill.com) into this main blog for all time and existence!

Feel free to watch our progress and offer any of your opinions in the comments .. (we also need to test this new template)

Thank-You for your patience.
AND YOU WILL
HART-Empire Network

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