Swagbucks~ Earning Part 1

Well, I have not been blogging often as you may have noticed. We are now expecting our 3rd baby and I have gone from babysitting to a home daycare type of situation creating me to be busier than ever, but I am going to try and return to blogging  somewhat during naps. And honestly, with nursing the new little one I will be stuck on my butt anyway so I'd like to help share insight with other adults while I do:) Today, I'd like to hit on Swagbucks some....

We all know that you can earn Swagbucks through searching. Let's be honest I probably earn 30-50 swagbucks a day from searches. While that is a great amount of bucks I would not cash out often on that alone. I do however cash out several times a month and many people have asked me how I rack up my bucks. Well, today we're going to delve into some of the ways to earn.

Referrals~ If you are logged into your account, click on Tools, then click Invite & Earn. There you will find a referral link as well as the ability to invite your friends via email, twitter, and facebook. For each referral you get you will receive 1000 swagbucks. These bucks are earned as a match to what your referral earns from searching. So if they sign up and earn 0 you earn 0, 100 you earn 100, etc. The threshold is 1000 though. Once your re feral receives more than 1000 bucks for searching you will no longer receive matching bucks.

Coupons~ You are able to print coupons through Swagbucks and redeem them during your normal shopping. For each coupon you print and redeem you will receive 10 bucks. Remember you will not receive these right away. You must first redeem them and then they must be processed by the store and manufacturer. This can take 8-12 weeks but think if you use 10 coupons at the store that's 100 bucks!

Swagbucks TV~ This is something you can run and just keep switching while you are working on your other Internet things. For example I have it running right now.You click a video(I keep my sound off) and let it run until the meter hits the next percentage. You often do not have to watch the entire video, just the first 45 secs or so. Each time you reach 100% you will receive 3 swagbucks. You can max out at 75 swagbucks a day. Note that this whole process is easier if you have downloaded and use the toolbar.

Toolbar~ Not only does it make SB TV simpler, but you will receive 1 SB everyday just for having it downloaded. That's 365 SB's I will receive this year on both mine and my husbands account just for having the tool bar and using the site daily.

Trusted Surveys~ I do alot of survey sites else where, but these can be great to up your total if you need enough to hit a gift card. Simply answer the ?s and be rewarded. Even if you don't qualify you will be rewarded a buck for each of the first 5 you are disqualified from. A simple way to add up some bucks

Daily Deals~Each day there are available deals that you can purchase and be awarded bucks. I rarely do these, but if it is something you are needing or wanting to purchase anyway you might as well rack up some bucks while doing it.

Stay tuned for more ways to earn!

Thankfulness Day #15

Today I am thankful for modern conveniences. I  had quite a day yesterday and so I decided today  I really needed to get somethings accomplished. I started this morning by throwing the painted clothes in the washing machine. After scrubbing them last night I  let them soak through the night before using my washer to remove the last of the soil. Then I went on to making homemade applesauce. My grandmother stopped by shortly after I got everything in the crockpot and I mentioned doing it and she was in shock I did it in the crockpot, for in her day she had to spend long hours  slaving over a stove to do such things. I also, managed to turn in important legal documents and do some Christmas shopping both via the Internet. Imagine there was a day  where you weren't able to do things such as these from the convenience of your own home. As I am just starting dinner, my husband sent me a text message to hold off he would be late returning from work tonight. How nice it was not to have to sit and wait for him  and eat cold food. Cellphones and particularly text messaging have made communication almost instantaneous and while it can be a annoying at times, it can be an amazing asset.

Thankfulness Day 13 &14

I will start by saying I did actually do these, they just never posted so I am combining and posting today:)

Day 13
Today I am thankful for my awesome children and the ability to spend time with them. I am in the childcare business and while I love it, my kids ALWAYS have to share there space, toys, and honestly if you ask them more importantly their mom. Sure there are fights over toys and such, but there are alot of times they want to climb on my lap and have me hold them and read to them, but I have to care for someone else who needs a diaper change, bottle, time out, etc. However, today we have no other kids visiting us and we are able to spend time together(even get out of the house!!! which is a big thing for us). I wouldn't change my life for anything, but I am thankful for the special moments I get to just hold them and nothing else matters or takes priority for that moment.



Day 14
Today I am thankful for my wonderful and loving husband. Of course there are days he drives me nuts or we don't see eye to eye, but honestly he is a good , loving, God-fearing man. I am so proud of who he is and that his family only takes the second to God and God alone.

I had a rough day today(life of a typical mom!). One of my daycare kids woke both my kids up early creating cranky kids on all fronts, then I swear it was a full moon or I was speaking a foreign language to them all day.I had issues with some things I was trying to accomplish during nap time, and the husband messaged me and said he was working late(praise the Lord for money, but ohh what a day I could have used him home). Only to get home and try to get something accomplished in our upstairs addition. We decided to do some spot painting while the girls played in the empty rooms with ride-ons. We have done it a million times before, but this time was a little different. Our 22 month old decided shed test out the paint and put her entire hand in the gallon of white paint and proceeded to put it all over the floor(the only finished floor upstairs!), as well as her black shirt and dark jeans(literally my favorite outfit). After a cry for help to my husband who forgot to mention he was leaving the room, we managed to get the mess cleaned up and finish the job. It doesn't sound so terrible(and isn't my means of measure), but I know there are moms out there who know what I mean with I say it was a million little things that went wrong that day and in the end my husband worked so hard just to make me smile. He didn't get frustrated or complain he had a long day too, he smiled and got the kids ready for bed so that I could sit and take a break. He ran and got me my medicine that I could have gotten myself, he gave me one of those endearing looks from across the room that says "I Love You", he did what he could to make me smile rough day or not. There are countless reasons as to why I am thankful for my husband and today was just one of them.

Thankfulness Day 8-12

WOW I am way further behind than I thought I was...time just seems to slip away from me some days and once it does I have a hard time gaining traction. However, I refuse to backslide a little and just give up so I'm here to catch up(and hopefully STAY caught up).


Day #8
Today, I am thankful for great friends. They are there to help when you need them, to pray for you when you can't seem to find your path, to share in your good times and your bad. Friends are amazing. I have been blessed with so many people from all walks of life. Friends from school that tho we may no longer keep in touch on a regular basis they have helped make me who I am today. Friends from previous work situations, some that have lasted and some that made a fantastic impression on me during that time period. Friends from church that couldn't be more supportive, who understand and are willing to lift me and my family up in prayer even when they don't know the circumstances. For my virtual friends(you know who you are BBC girls) who I can tell anything too. They are a sounding board for frustrations, a helping hand when I need it, and voice of reason when I can't figure out what to do.  For all of you that I call friend(which is alot) I am thankful for you. You have helped make me who I am today.



Day #9
Today I am thankful for the weekend. Now don't get me wrong I love my work and am so thankful that I have the ability and opportunity to work. However, in a culture where everyone seems to be constantly trying to get ahead I love to remind myself that even GOD rested and that he values it as important. The weekends often are chock full of work at home as well, but we get to take a break from must-haves from others and the only must-have list is our own so if  its not all accomplished no one is waiting with a hammer to smack us down. Weekends are amazing and I am so thankful that I have them to spend with my family.


Day #10
Today I am thankful for the opportunity to serve. At our church  we have a rotating schedule where we volunteer to serve in different parts of the church. My husband and I have volunteered our time in the youngsters class  on Saturday nights. It is awesome to  be able to serve the Lord in a country where we are free to do so without hesitation. Its also, amazing to work with such children as they are still so innocent to the ways of the world.



Day #11
Today I am thankful for an amazing church. When I grew up I attended a separate church than I do now. I learned a ton,built friendships that would last a lifetime, and can tell you the countless fun times I can recall. However, as I grew  and started to date/get engaged to my husband I felt like I was not spiritually growing outside of the  teen program I once loved. My husband  and I decided to look around for other churches where we felt we fit. We found an amazing church that we now call home. I'm so thankful that we had the opportunity to do so, and found such an awesome church. It really is a blessing as we have been able to grow both as individuals and together. Plus, we now have children that we are able to raise in a great family oriented church.



Day #12

Today I am thankful for those who risked there lives to defend my freedom. I know I have mentioned before that I feel like I have won the birthplace lottery and I have. The US is an amazing place and it is the courage of those men and women who allow us all to lay peacefully at night. I also, want to thank their families. Honestly, I know very well God has a plan for us all and I cold NEVER be  a military wife. Those women are stronger than I could ever imagine. The families of our military may not be on the front line, but they sure fight a battle everyday and for that I am forever grateful.

Thankfulness Day #7

Wow, ok I am going to admit I am having a hard time being thankful today. It isn't because I lack anything, I am so beyond blessed and have so many things to be thankful for. However, today I awoke to the disappointing news of the presidential election. It is 6 hours later and I am still sulking.... really I have a million and one things to be thankful for, but when I thought about what to post today, I just couldn't get over my down and out feeling. I simply decided that if I didn't do something, than I'd remain miserable and my misery would change nothing. I stole a few moments away in the bathroom(if your a mom in a house full of kids you understand you lucky if you get peace here) and just prayed for God to soften my heart and bring me out of my lousy mindset. Of course, our God is amazing and he is slowly melting my heart. So today as I sit here I am thankful that God knows our future and that he is here to walk beside us. I praise him that life on this earth is only a finality to our physical body, but not our spirit. Mostly I am thankful because though we chose our leaders collectively,we are willed freely to individually chose our eternity. I chose God and for the freedom to do so I am forever thankful! 

Thankfulness ~ Day #6

Ok, if you are alive and breathing you are probably ready for the election to be over. The commercials, the phone calls, the junk mail...... I know I sure am. Regardless though, I will be heading out this morning to the polls to vote. I am so thankful today that I have the right to do so. I always say I won the birth right lottery and in so many ways. This is one I was born in a country that is a democracy, were I can at least attempt to change out future without facing jail or death. I am also, thankful for those who did fight and for those who have lost there lives preserving my right to vote. So, today exercise your right as it is a blessing to have. Get out there and vote no matter whom its for.

Thankfulness~ Day #5

Each day I am so happy to truly stop and remember why I am thankful, and even more to share the blessing with others. Recently, my husband and I have decided to make some changes. We spent much time in prayer and seeking guidance of fellow Christians. While we are sure we have decided the correct path to follow God's will, I have been overly anxious about those involved will react. This morning I was doing my bible study and found a fantastic  passage of scripture in Nehemiah. The devotion around it suggested prayer for those on the receiving end of changes. I immediately began to follow through and pray for those involved with the situation. I was granted peace and actually excitement about the changes. (which if we are following God's will, we should be excited!). So, today I am thankful for scripture and the ability to freely study God's word. I am thankful for my peace and mostly I am thankful that God has revealed this  passage to me.