Squidoo Me and Other Network Writings

Free Giveaway Picture Collage Maker Pro

2011-12-08T16:22:00.001-06:00

With this photo software, you can make your own photo cards and collages.. So easy that even non-computer savvy person (like my husband) can start making unique and special photo gifts right away.

Generate ordinary pictures into a spectacular gift or keepsake. With the holiday season coming up, send out some photo cards that give out Season Greetings on all ready made templates. Just add the pictures and you are done, ready to print them out.

Picture Collage Maker Pro Christmas Gift photo software, you can make your own photo cards and collages.. So easy that even non-computer savvy person (like my husband) can start making unique and special photo gifts right away.

Generate ordinary pictures into a spectacular gift or keepsake. With the holiday season coming up, send out some photo cards that give out Season Greetings on all ready made templates. Just add the pictures and you are done, ready to print them out.

What else can you make with Picture Collage Maker Pro?

Photos are used in scrapbook pages, calendars, greeting cards, and posters. Use your imagination and create something special and unique with a pre-made or plain template to start from scratch.

For the easiest and fastest way to create beautiful photo art, Picture Collage Maker Pro has 130 deluxe photo collage templates that are easy to download from their website.

These templates include template packs for Baby, Wedding, Birthday, Anniversary, Calendars, Pets, Sports, Travel, Graduations, Congratulations, Friendship and many of the holidays.

Read on how you can get Free Picture Collage Maker Pro here!

Beauty of Autumn

2011-11-10T10:14:00.001-06:00

It is Autumn, so why is there snow outside!!! Seriously, 2" of snow fell yesterday. That isn't too bad when up north 6 to 9 inches fell. But it is too early for snow. I want to enjoy Fall a little longer.

To put me back into the Autumn season, I would like to share a few of my Autumn articles and gifts.

Beautiful autumn posters show the transition between Summer and Winter. The leaves begin to change color from green to colors of gold, brown, orange and red. It is a beautiful time of the year. Taking a brisk walk along an autumn trail is invigorating.

We love to drive up north (north eastern) where the leaves first change color. It is also there where there are an abundance of trees lining the water of Lake Michigan. The colors that reflect off the lake are nothing short of spectacular. Read more and see the beauty of nature on Autumn Posters and Prints.

Autumn colors in psychedelic, funky, soul, art deco, pop art, vintage, retro, music of the 60s and 70s, are the theme for these posters. Go back in time where being a hippie meant free love, sex, drugs and living off the land.

Psychedelic colors were the art form and has revived itself in present time. History repeats itself with fashion and artwork. We love vintage and retro. It takes us to a more carefree and happy place in our mind. Read more and get your grove on at
Autumn Psychedelic and Funky Posters

Autumn recipes that are delightfully delicious and the right time of the year to include the Autumn Rise Cheesecake and Old Fashion Brownies. Add an Autumn Caramel Glaze to the brownies and enjoy the chocolate and caramel goodness that will keep a smile on your face.These recipes make great gifts to send from house to house in my recipe card collection on Zazzle. Read more and check out the cool recipe cards on
Autumn Recipes and Cards

Personalize Recipe Boxes to hold your recipes. These gift boxes come in two sizes. The 6x6 inch box holds 3x5 cards or the postcards from Zazzle. Create your own recipe cards. Many recipes on postcards already made in the Zazzle Marketplace and some on Sandyspider Gifts too. Buy several of these for desserts, main dishes, appetizers and more. Change the "RECIPE" word on the box to your own. Add your favorite recipes in these decorative recipe boxes. The 6x6 recipe box will fit your recipe postcards. Read and see more of these unique gifts for your kitchen on
Personalized Autumn Recipe Boxes.

Thanksgiving clothing on Zazzle has never been more fun. So many different styles and sizes available of t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies to choose from, with just a few clicks you can change the design you like to any of the 65 different styles of women, men, kids, toddlers and baby shirts, not to mention colors to choose from. All without having to leave the product page which you had selected. How many sites can you say have that option? See and read more of
Custom Thanksgiving Clothing on Zazzle.

2011-09-19T13:54:00.001-05:00

Delighted when one two Facebook friends and a few Hubbers shared their pet photos with me to add to my Halloween Kingdom of Animals Shop on Zazzle. If you too have some pet photos that you would like to share with me in this way, I will add backlinks to your site within the descriptions and articles. The articles that have been made of these pets with a voting poll added for your favorite is

Vote for Favorite Pet Photos on Halloween Hats

Pet Photos on Halloween Stickers

Pet Photos on Halloween Magnets http://bit.ly/oyaRU1

The Key to Earning Money on Squidoo

2011-09-19T09:46:00.000-05:00

I started earning money as opposed to getting some pocket change as my Nana would call it when I realized what niche actually meant. I used to think okay I’ll write about the eighties that will be my niche…….. a niche is a much narrower idea than that which I refer to as a theme.

My first real niche lens was about one product only – Bonnie (our super Rocket Mom – it was for a Rocket Mom’s assignment) called it a super, super niche lens.

What happened? It started making sales! I had such a super niche as not only was I focused on one product I was marketing it at a particular color of that product so that when people searched for it they were ready to buy.

Writing niche lenses is where the keyword research side of the debate sometimes comes unstuck. This particular lens was written with no keyword research as I hadn’t really understood how to do that side of things at that time and yet it worked. If I had done my keyword research instead of following my instincts and writing about something I wanted that was very specific then I probably wouldn’t have done the lens at all.

Why? There were less than 100 searches made per month for my main long tail keyword, I would get about 10 visits per week, but the majority of them were buying off of the lens whereas another lens of mine was pulling in 1000s of visitors per month, but not buying a thing!

Am I saying not to do keyword research?

Absolutely not! However, sometimes you need to ask yourself whether you need to get a lot of traffic with every keyword or whether you can convert over 50% of the traffic you will get.

My niche a/c has 33 lenses in it at the moment and this week it’s gotten 469 visits in total which averages out to 14 visits per lens – not a lot. However, my amazon a/c has made 5 sales of the product this week and I’ve got 2 sales on my dashboard for the week along with 3 ebay sales that aren’t showing up in the $$ column yet. It’s not enough to live on (yet!), but I have only had this niche a/c for 8 months and with life getting in the way I haven’t been as active with it as I had planned.

This niche has so much competition for the high traffic keywords that I’m deliberately trying to target lower traffic and more niche keywords for the lenses and then using Featured Lenses to try and draw traffic to a couple of high competition lenses. It’s slowly working and if I spent more time I’m sure it would work really well.

A great example of using your keyword research wisely is to make sure you’re targeting the word/phrase that people are actually typing in to Google and not what you would call it, this is especially important when doing a lens on a single product. For example when I was researching a Lego set that I wanted to write about the actual set name only showed double digits traffic for the month when the Lego product number showed a few hundred – at other times this is the reverse.

My advice today is to make sure you write super niche lenses and link them to a niche lens ie if you want to write about Bruce Springsteen’s music make that your niche lens that ties your super niche lenses together……..make super niche lenses on each individual album. By the way this is just an example I haven’t found music lenses to be the most profitable although they are fun to write.

Research your keywords to make sure that you’re using the best possible ones for your lens, but make your own decision over how much traffic you need to target. If it’s the type of keywords that you would type in when you were merely looking for information then you’re best to aim for a lot of traffic, but if you feel they are ‘buying’ keywords then you actually do not necessarily need a lot of traffic.

Sermon over! If you’d like to find out more about earning money on Squidoo then I’ve written some lenses to help you out so pop over to How to Earn Money on Squidoo.

Today's blog guest is lou16 on Squidoo. Thank you for your contribution.

2011-08-24T08:57:00.001-05:00

Footage of the news events played out. The third airline that crash into the Pentagon and the heroes of United Airlines Flight 93, the passengers who prevented the aircraft from reaching the hijackers' intended target. Where Were You That September Day http://bit.ly/oGsNGl

2011-08-09T09:50:00.001-05:00

On that horrific day, 2,977 people killed through the terrorist suicide attacks on United States soil. President George W. Bush signed the resolution into law on December 18, 2001 and proclaimed September 11, 2002 as Patriot Day.

Show your pride with 9 11 stickers in this article Remembrance of 9-11 and American Bald Eagle Stickers http://bit.ly/nPyvmo

Poke in the Dark

2011-08-05T15:09:00.001-05:00

Poke in the Dark: "July 26, 2011 at12:30 a.m., he gave out the grin that I have seen so many times before. Yes, I knew what that grin meant. He said, 'I am going to bed. Coming up?'

Sitting in the living room, I looked over at our college age daughter.Brittany, seemingly oblivious of her surroundings, her fingers were working overtime at frantic speed, texting on her phone. Then I look at the laptop in front of me, with thousands of email to go through. Oh how I have fallen behind online. Becoming harder and harder to keep up. 'No, I need to get through some of my email. Then I will come to bed.'"

Read more here Poke in the Dark.

2011-07-16T12:07:00.001-05:00

June I began posting my Zazzle sales for that month along with blessings all tied in one article Zazzle June 2011 Sales and Blessings. It may not look like a lot, but it was a profitable month. My largest sale was 33 t-shirts. For the month of July, I have followed the same posting. So far in the middle of July it doesn't come close to June sales. Tell me what you think on July's article. Zazzle July 2011 Sales and Blessings. http://bit.ly/qmrCNJ

2011-07-16T12:01:00.001-05:00

On July 4th was my 3 year anniversary on Squidoo. Since then a lot has changed with Squdoo and my writing. I would like to think it has all gotten better. The day has passed but you can still help me celebrate. Three Years on Squidoo. http://bit.ly/puYh6A

2011-07-16T11:58:00.001-05:00

Back in 2008, my dog Buddy ran for President along with his cousin Ringo as Vice President. Again he is running. Now you may think this is crazy, but this country has gone down hill with politicians. I believe any pet can make a better governor, congressperson, president and any other office held. Prove me right or wrong in the debate duel. Enjoy some from gifts too. Election Pets Zazzle and Debate http://bit.ly/qpIlRG

2011-07-16T11:42:00.001-05:00

Can't believe we still haven't gone camping this year. It is always fun taking the dog along. One night after setting up the tent, we will sit around the camp fire and roast hot dogs and later marshmallows. The following night, we will go to the outdoor theater. Of course shopping is fun at the homemade fudge shops. Before we go, I will check my article about My Top Ten Camping Essentials. http://bit.ly/raHBzG

2011-07-13T12:45:00.001-05:00

Help me should I decide to dip into my profits and buy t-shirts for my family. Help me decide which ones you like best. Pick up to three t-shirts. $6 off t-shirts today (July 13, 2011) on Zazzle. USE PROMO CODE: ZBDAYTSHIRTS when ordering. Course the awesome thing about Zazzle is if you miss the $6 off t-shirts today to help celebrate Zazzle's 6 birthday, there will always be special codes for products. But why wait! This is a great deal! Beside, with every purchase, Zazzle will give you $5 towards your next one. http://bit.ly/oBRk9D

Two Years on HubPages

2011-06-06T11:43:00.000-05:00

Two Years on HubPages: "Two years ago, I joined HubPages from a person I knew on Squidoo and he is more popular here on HubPages. You know him as bgamall.

Being on HubPages has been a rollercoaster for me. Chugging along the rail to reach the top, getting closer and closer to the first peak (can you feel the excitement)"...

Please leave your comment and answer the poll on the article above.

Will My Traffic Be Lost to the Ever Evolving Squidoo

2011-05-30T14:35:00.001-05:00

My 3-year anniversary is coming up on Squidoo, I joined on July 4, 2008. This is an easy date to remember, since Americans celebrate Independence Day on that particular day in July.

Squidoo has evolved more than any social network that I know.

When I first joined, Squidoo had groups. It took me about a year to discover this. I joined every group that I could, hopping to bring more traffic to my lenses (articles). I even listed these groups on my lenses for backlinking. Those groups have dissolved since then.

Moving modules on Squidoo was a little difficult to do. A vast improvement has been made since that time.

Many other changes that I liked and didn't like. One of the latest, which we have now been given a little more time to fix is the page breaks. I believe firmly in the KILL system. Keep It Long and Lengthy. I found these page breaks very helpful to some of my lenses.

I have fixed a number of my lenses on the page break thing. This one took me more than week to finish and I wanted to publish my new lenses all at the same time.

Why?

Because they all tied into one another with my Internet Addiction lens, which I broke down to 5 additional lenses. Theses are the lenses plus the new and improved Internet Addiction lens. Please, please visit and add to the plexos.

Are You an Internet Addict?
Blogging and RSS Addiction
Addiction of Facebook and Other Social Networking
Websites and Internet Addiction
Shopping Online Addiction
YouTube Addiction

Now I am wondering if all this work is worth it. Hardly anyone so far has been to these new lenses. The Squidteam has made it harder yet to get traffic. Custom bios, fan club and Squidcast were taken away a few days ago.

What is a Squidooer to do?

Note: At the moment this lens still has page breaks on it. I still don't know what to do with it. Sandyspider on Squidoo.

Squidoo Will Get Rid of the Page Break Module

2011-05-19T22:36:00.001-05:00

Getting an email yesterday for Giant Squids, it broke my heart and turned it blue. Why is it that every time I like something it is taken away?

More than a year ago, Squidoo introduced the Page Break module for the Giant Squids to try out. Since I am one of those lensmasters who tend to write very long lenses, this was ideal. I started with my ever-growing lensography and broke it down into pages. Since then I have done a number of lenses with page breaks. My latest one with my Squid Angel of Zazzle lens, with the idea for this one to have the main information of being a Squid Angel and what I would be looking for. Then the following pages would be those who I blessed for certain months.

Now Squidoo is doing away with the Page Break module. In the information given, we have a week to change our lenses or create new lenses. That really doesn't give much time.

The Squid team stated that nothing would be lost on these lenses. The page breaks would be turned into text modules. Of course, where I have throughout links to the other pages won't make any sense and will have to be taken out.

Last night I decided to start making new lenses, starting with the one I thought would be the easiest. My Squid Angel of Zazzle has two additional page breaks for the months of Feb./March and April/May. I created a new lens for Feb. and March blessings. If it was going as easy as transferring the information from one lens to another, that would be great. However, it is not, modules need to be recreated, though the information can be copied into those modules. After two wasted hours with my new lens and foreseeing many more hours of work involved, I deleted the new lens.

I think I will just let them be for now and fix them or break them off into other lenses if need be down the road. It is not like these lenses are getting heavy traffic as is anyway.

These are some of the lenses. With over 260 lenses, if is hard to find all of them. Read them before they are changed. Give me suggestions on how to break these up into smaller lenses too.

nternet addiction disorder (IAD) is excessive computer use that interferes with daily life. It becomes a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addict's life. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, relationships, health and work. Just like gambling, excessive gaming, a growing sexual addiction or compulsive shopping. Read more, take the test and add to the plexos at: Are You an Internet Addict?

The print on demand shop, Zazzle has been an addiction for me since 2009. Living in the snow belt of Wisconsin where the weather can be harsh, can warp the mind! That is why my designs look a little twisted. I started my Zazzle site when we were having a record-breaking snowfall for the winter of 2008-2009. I envisioned this snowflake with a wicked face. It is how I felt about the weather. Read more on the product lines in this article of Sandyspider Gifts Zazzle Showcase

Have you seen a spider crawling around? Perhaps a creature that is a little unusual, offbeat or twisted. How about one with a gray body and a human face? If so, then you have seen a sandyspider; a strange but virtuous spider. She will not tangle you up in her web of deception. Nor spin you around and around with strands of her fine threaded silk. Even if it is only to help feed her little ones. No! There is no reason to be afraid. This spider won't even bite...MUCH! See most on my lenses featured here on the worlds longest article. Sandyspider on Squidoo

Blessed by many angels since being part of this wonderful Squidoo community back in July 4, 2008 and I have often thought what it would be like to be a Squid Angel. The confirmation came on Feb, 12, 2011. Now I am ideally an Angel for: the neighborhood of Internet > Ecommerce Tips > Zazzle Sellers and Tips.

If you have Zazzle lenses that really didn't have a place to fit, now you do. See the lenses for the months of Feb., March, April and May that have been blessed. Also read what it takes for me to find your Zazzle lens. Squid Angel of Zazzle

If you have stumbled on here and don't know what Squidoo is, it is a Social Network where you can write about almost anything and get paid royalty. It is free to join and extremely addictive. Don't take my word for it!
Join Squidoo here!

Squidoo books to help you get started:

Seek and You Shall Find Seekyt

2011-05-06T09:23:00.000-05:00

Seekyt is a backlinking, revenue sharing, social network site. It is (I believe) less than a year old and is already doing well in Google search engines.

The article editor is rather plain and you will not find all the widgets that other social networks have. But it is a growing site with friendly members and admin. As long as you can wite a quality article with at least 400 original words and no spam, this is the place for you.

I find that it is easiest to write out my article with photos on word first then add it to the editor. I explain how to do this in one of my articles. Once you get the hang of it, you can produce some attractive looking articles.

Seekyt offers Adsense (70%) and Amazon sharing revenue. I still have not been able to get many followers yet, but I am sure that will come in time. Moreover, you are not writing for the members of the site that you are on. You are writing for a much larger audience on the internet.

Unfortunately, you have to be a member to leave a comment. After corresponding with admin, he did have it opened for everyone at one time. But a lot of spam came in. This is something that he is working on.

Here is a list of articles that I have on Seekyt. You can join off any of these article links too.
Sunshine Cheesecake
History of the Easter Bunny and Gifts
Design Your Own Keds Shoes on Zazzle
How I Add Screenshots and Photo Images on Seekyt
Picture Collage Maker Pro Review

2011-04-28T13:07:00.001-05:00

Mother's Day is a celebration to let mom know how much she is appreciated. Special cards, a bouquet of flowers or giving a box of candy are only a few ways to tell her how much you care. Have you bought your mother a nice card yet? Mother’s Day Celebration Cards http://bit.ly/jBO25u

Toy Story Birthday Party

2011-04-25T23:04:00.000-05:00

Toy Story is a big hit with girls and boys of all ages, including adults. As an adult, I have watched all the Toy Story animated movies. I am a big fan of Woody and Buzz Lightyear.

What make Toy Story a big hit with adults are the nostalgic toys within the movies. Toys like the ones we played with as children and our parents toys.

Woody is a simply cowboy doll that talks when pulling the string on his back. He is very devoted to the boy, Andy. Buzz Lightyear is a more modern toy, who first thought he was a real astronaut. That's right, these toys come to life when no human is present.

What child would not want a Toy Story theme birthday party?

Read more at http://www.squidoo.com/toy-story-birthday-party

2011-04-04T21:58:00.001-05:00

Green is a nice tranquil color, but reference to green does not always mean the color green. When we think of green, we see money, emeralds, living green, hippies, using recyclable bags, St Patrick's Day, green beer, green animals and feeling at peace.

Green is makes great gifts on Amazon and Zazzle too.

Read more on Green Gifts and Articles http://bit.ly/hfRvOK

2011-04-04T21:55:00.001-05:00

As a Squid angel, I knew on April Fools day I would be flying around blessing lenses. I had twenty lenses from my neighborhood of Internet > Ecommerce Tips > Zazzle Sellers and Tips all lined up.

The April's prank was on me. As an angel, we were to bless twenty-five lenses outside of our neighborhood. Since I am an animal lover, it was not hard to figure out where to go. These might not all be in the same sub-topics but the main topic is "Pets & Animals". Below are the twenty-five lenses blessed on this prankster's day from this Zazzle Angel.

Read more on Animal April Fools Angel Blessing http://bit.ly/heSuaR

2011-04-04T21:51:00.001-05:00

Being a perfectionist means striving to be the best. To do everything in a meticulous manner, analyzing each project thoroughly right down to microscopic details before even starting the project, is a sickness of the perfectionist. .

A perfectionist will set high standards for themselves. She or he will experience great pain or guilt for not achieving those standards. Many times the goal is unachievable, because there is no such thing as perfect. At least in the perfectionist's viewpoint!

Read more on Life as a Perfectionist http://bit.ly/euyfoX

Animal April Fools Angel Blessing

2011-04-01T12:29:00.001-05:00

As a Squid angel, I knew on April Fools day I would be flying around blessing lenses. I had twenty lenses from my neighborhood of Internet > Ecommerce Tips > Zazzle Sellers and Tips all lined up.

The April's prank was on me. As an angel, we were to bless twenty-five lenses outside of our neighborhood. Since I am an animal lover, it was not hard to figure out where to go. These might not all be in the same sub-topics but the main topic is "Pets & Animals".

Join me here to see all the blessed animals lenses.
Animal April Fools Angel Blessing

Recover Soon Doc

2011-03-30T15:14:00.002-05:00

Nancy, I have known you on Squidoo for more than two years now. I know DOC from your tribute that you have written about him. He seems like such a special man and husband. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you. My thoughts and prayers and wishing DOC to get recover soon.

Types of Back Offices

2011-03-23T00:59:00.000-05:00

Types of Back Offices

There are three types of back offices. The first two are positive. The third one...well let us just say that you will be looking forward for the weekend off.

First, there is the online back office. This is a good thing and a plus for anyone trying to market him or herself.

The second would be a home office. This could be for a hobby or for the self-employed. The great part of working for yourself is that you are your own boss. You choice your own hours, take breaks when you need to, and no boss from hell. Unless you are the boss from hell and really, really, treat yourself like the devil. This does happen when we expect success to happen overnight.

Find out what the third one is and read about the humorous look between working at home and outside of the home. Click on the link above.

Home office furniture:

Squidoo Clean up Month and New Lenses

2011-03-20T17:32:00.000-05:00

March is clean up week on Squidoo. The Squid Team is encouraging everyone to go through their older, lower ranked lenses and clean them up to what they have learned on how to write better lenses.

Plus, just like another social network that I know of, the Squid Team will be on the look out a little more so for spam take and substandard lenses. I believe my lenses are safe. But I have to admit that out of my 250 plus lenses, more than half of these can be fixed up or broken up into smaller lenses. I tend to overdo and overkill, not knowing when to stop. This even applies to my latest lenses. Well, some dogs are hard to train!

I have cleaned up several lenses, but these below had major overhauls and probably took more time to clean up then it was to write the first time around. In addition, the last two are new lenses, which I also cleaned up. You will see some long lenses here. I am not good at using the KISS System.

All comments, bookmarking, sharing and giving thumbs up are welcome on these lenses. One of my goals this year is to get a LOTD. Only you can make this happen. (Note: If you are not a Squidoo member, you can still comment and give a thumbs up.)

Gifts for All Occasions
The print on demand shop, Zazzle has been an addiction for me since 2009. Living in the snow belt of Wisconsin where the weather can be harsh, can warp the mind! That is why my designs look a little twisted. I started my Zazzle site when we were having a record-breaking snowfall for the winter of 2008-2009. I envisioned this snowflake with a wicked face. It is how I felt about the weather. Read more and find some great custom gifts on Sandyspider Gifts Zazzle Showcase

What is Internet Addiction Disorder?
Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is excessive computer use that interferes with daily life. It becomes a compulsive behavior that completely dominates the addict's life. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family, relationships, health and work. Just like gambling, excessive gaming, a growing sexual addiction or compulsive shopping. Read more, take the addiction test and add your links to this page on
Are You an Internet Addict?

Chocolate Gift Ideas
This is a collection of my Chocoholics Unite! product line on Zazzle and Sandy Mertens on Amazon. Additonal chocolate on Zazzle is found in Chocolate with Sandyspider. Anyone who appreciates the taste of this luxurious treat, will enjoy seeing these creamy, rich, mouth watering products. But be careful! The major side effect of viewing this Zazzle shop is weight gain. Share some love and give the gift of chocolate found in this article Chocoholics Unite Gallery of Gifts

These are the two newer lenses but have already been cleaned up since first published.

Bi-Winning, Rock Star and Tiger Blood Apparel
The online print on demand world of Zazzle and CafePress has gone wild with Charlie Sheen inspired quotes. Amazon and other shopping sites have gotten in on the bandwagon. He was fired from "Two and a Half Men". It is sad to say goodbye to this show that first aired in 2002. Nevertheless, no one can take Sheen's place. See some wild Charlie Sheen t-shirts from his own quotes and some of mine on Inspired Charlie Sheen T-Shirts

For the Love of Green
Green is a nice tranquil color, but reference to green does not always mean the color green. When we think of green, we see money, emeralds, living green, hippies, using recyclable bags, St Patrick's Day, green beer, green animals and feeling at peace. See all the green products on
Green Gifts and Articles

If you are a Squidoo Member,these and any of my other lenses can be nominated by you for a Purple Star and LOTD. If you are not a member you are still welcome to add you comment in the guestbook and give it a like up. Squidoo is free, fun and a wonderful place to write. If interested you can
Join Here!

Smells Like HubPages

2011-03-16T23:51:00.007-05:00

I published this article on Qondio on March 16, 2011. After fixing 24 of my hubs in order for them to not be deleted by the editors according to the new rules for articles. The warning was that there were to many Amazon products on these hubs. The new rule is one Amazon or eBay product per 50 words. As in the brag as much as you want with your Zazzle products on Squidoo, the Amazon and eBay products seemed unlimited on HubPages. Well this is not the case any more! These are all fixed (took all day), except one which is a recipe hub and will be a new recipe lens on Squidoo soon. You can leave a comment and rate this on Qondio Here!

Bellow is the article I published.

Smells Like HubPages

By Sandy Mertens

New rules on Hubpages have made me love Squidoo even more!
Having never really understood HubPages and their point system, I have asked for help with some of the masters there. I followed their advice with getting more involved with the forums, groups, contest, commenting voting up hubs, keywords, adding more content, staying active on HubPages and promoting as much as I can. My score remains in the low 80s.

For a very short time, my hubscore was in the low 90s. If your score is not 100 or near that, no one will find you from the main page.

I can't help but feel that HubPages is a good old boys club, if you are not in it, too bad for you.

I know people with a few hubs and a high score on their main page. These people are not as active on HubPages either.

Scoring does not mean you don't have well written content. I have seen many hubs from popular hubbers with near perfect scores that were short and substandard. Yet the score on their hub was high. Now I am not trying to take apart any particular hubber. There are many talented writers there. However, the scoring does not add up. I have been following one hubber who happens to be a doctor. She writes about all different medical problems in terms a layperson can understand. Her hubs are always well written and informative. At the time that I am writing this, her score is 1. That is right! A single digest number score. Maybe she hasn't participated as much as I have or added as many pretty pictures in her hub. But does she deserve a 1 in her main profile page?

New rules added to HubPages will make it harder to enjoy this social network site.

1. All duplicate content hubs will be eliminated from their site. Fair enough, I believe in originality and not duplicate content. Out of my 80 hubs, one is label duplicate. It is a recipe hub. The article links the editors sent me where not even close to my recipe. There were similarities, but all recipes will have this. I love this recipe and I am sure the people on Squidoo will too!

2. There is now a limit to how many Amazon and eBay products that one can have listed in your hubs. These also reflex on the word content verses products in your hub. Nothing wrong with that unless your article is about those products and Squidoo recently enforced a limit to Amazon and eBay products as well. But Squidoo is more flexible if your main purpose is to have a product lens. In fact, selling Amazon products is encouraged.

I have many gift hubs that now have this warning. If I don't fix it by March 25, 2011, these hubs of mine may not be in existence.

Not a new change but something you should know, HubPages only allowed two links to an outside site, unless you were able to RSS it. While Squidoo, it is nine. If you are a Zazzler it is hard to promote your shop on HubPages. On Squidoo the link limit does not apply to Zazzle products. You can promote and brag away.

It looks like a lot of overhauling on HubPages or moving my hubs to friendlier places.

Here are some Kindle and paperback books on Hubpages, Squidoo and social networking.

Inspired Charlie Sheen T-Shirts and RocketMom

2011-03-08T22:25:00.000-06:00

These are my two latest articles on Squidoo. The first one is my latest on funny t-shirts from one funny actor who may be having a meltdown.

The online print on demand world of Zazzle and CafePress has gone wild with Charlie Sheen inspired quotes. Amazon and other shopping sites have gotten in on the bandwagon. He was fired Two and a Half Men. It is sad to say goodbye to this show that first aired in 2002. Nevertheless, no one can take Sheen's place. See the funny t-shirts inspired by Sheen on Inspired Charlie Sheen T-Shirts.

Second article is a compilation lens about the articles written for for Session 12 of RocketMoms. This is also a main lens that will used for future lensographies of my RocketMom lens.

The first time I saw a RocketMoms lens was from lensmaster OhMe. How did she get that? It looked so different and unique than all the other type of lens templates.

Through her, I discovered RocketMoms and joined with the Second Session. Since then I have participated in all sessions except a couple during the summer of 2010. Read more about this on RocketMom Sandyspider.

Governor Scott Walker Stripping Workers Rights

2011-02-24T12:42:00.001-06:00

Governor Scott Walker Stripping Workers Rights: "The state of Wisconsin is broke. Governor Scott Walker claims his Budget Repair Bill is the only answer to getting Wisconsin back on its feet. However, what he really is doing is taking away workers rights in collective bargaining, busting up the unions, taking 50% of the pensions from hard working teachers, nurses and other public employees."

Read more about it here Governor Scott Walker Stripping Workers Rights

(This is not a Squidoo article, but it is something heavy on my mind since I live in the state of Wisconsin).

Travel Seattle, Super Bowl, Chocolate and Toys

2011-02-22T10:52:00.000-06:00

My latest lenses on Seattle, The Super Bow Champions, Zazzle Gifts and My Little Pony, are featured below. To read more, go to the links to the articles.

Everyone can leave a comment on these Squidoo lenses. Squidoo is the best place to promote your business, shops and more. Free to join here!

Planning on a Seattle family vacation?
Seattle has electrifying energy. A big city filled with life. Easy to sightsee on foot and by monorail to see many of the main attractions that this city has to offer. Be prepared for walking up and down steep hills. Read more on things to do in Seattle here Seattle Attractions

The Green Bay Packers Won the Super Bowl
National Football Conference (NFC) champions Green Bay Packers defeated the American Football Conference (AFC) champions Pittsburgh Steelers at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas on February 6, 2011 for the Super Bowl championship. Read more on this great victory on Super Bowl Champions XLV

The Amour of Chocolate and Hearts
Being a chocoholic, I admit on eating too much of this delightful, sinfully, delicious candy. I am in heaven with chocolate truffles. Give me a box of chocolates in a heart shaped box and I will love you forever. Read more on this yummy lens on Chocolate and Hearts

My Little Pony is a Great Toy for the Imagination
My Little Pony was one of my daughter's favorite toys when she was little. She was a collector of every single one out there. Then there were the Little Pony accessories. She would often get together with her best friend from day care, both ready to play an adventure with their little ponies. See more of these colorful ponies on My Little Pony for Girls

New Squid Angel of Zazzle

2011-02-16T12:36:00.002-06:00

On Feb. 12, 2011 I became a Squid Angel. My neighborhood being in Internet > Ecommerce Tips > Zazzle Sellers and Tips.

I am one busy person and taking on such a task confirms the fact that I am crazy after all. However, I decided to take on as many as I can each day. Not every single lens with Zazzle has to have me visit it all in one day. For anyone who knows me, this is a hard challenge for myself to not overdo. I tend to go full force online.

Flying around on Squidoo, I have seen many fantastic Zazzle lenses still in a different topic category than the above mention topics. This is new with the topic and subtopic that recently has been added. I am thinking that not too many people are aware of it yet or feel their lens is better suited elsewhere.

I have blessed many so far in the Zazzle Seller and Tips area for subtopics, however when I see a great Zazzle Tip lens or Zazzle lens elsewhere, this Angel will be there to bless the lens. I have even few outside of my neighborhood for a blessing here and there.

As I take it, this neighborhood that I am blessing is Zazzle lenses and Zazzle tip lenses. So for everyone who is reading this, please check to see if your lens is a good fit and make the changes in your lens setting. This way, I can find you.

You never know when a "Squid Angel of Zazzle" will be hovering over your masterpiece lens.

My Angel lens has been divided into page breaks. The second page shows the lenses that I have blessed for the months of Feb. and March. Right now, the lenses are shown as featured lenses, but I will probably have a combination of both (featured lenses and plexos) in order for the page not to get too long.

Zazzle and Squidoo go hand in hand. The best site to brag endlessly about your Zazzle. Join Squidoo for free and start bragging today.

Read more about this on Squid Angel of Zazzle

(Note: If you would like to be a guest writer for any of my blogs, send me a message.)

Rid the Clutter from My Life

2011-02-04T16:12:00.001-06:00

Getting rid of the clutter in my life is one of my New Years resolution goals. I am a pack rat. It is hard to separate the junk from what I should keep. The same goes for my online work.

November 2007 I started my first blog called Embrace the Hill. Then I bought my first Domain with the same name. Not really sure where I was going with it. Did I like the name?

Who knows what my mind was thinking. The blog is now about getting older and the funny side of it. The name has been changed a bit along with the URL. You can find it by clicking on the spider lady found here where it states about me or above.

The Domain with the same name sat for nearly a year before I figured out what to do with it. 2008 was an election year. Many of us have become dissatisfied with the government. All in fun, I created an alternate party called the Canine National Party. So now, the website has gone to the dogs with Buddy and Ringo.

Neither blog nor website has gotten much traffic. I haven't worked on either of them for the longest time. Should I get rid of these and are they cluttering up my life?

This same holds true for all my blogs, websites, and social activity. This blog is a collage of clutter.

Needing to have a blog for all my writing and social activity, but do I need another blog? I could change the name on this one, but then I would change the URL and change it all over the internet. Life of a pack rat produces a whole load of clutter droppings.

Below are my latest ten articles on Squidoo, including two goal setting lenses. Click on the links to read about unique gifts, goals for 2010 and the Green Bay Packers.
Things Coaster Would Say
Things a Keychain Would Say
Setting Goals with Color
Acheiveing My Goals with Color Therapy
http://www.squidoo.com/vintage-valentine-ladies-cherub-desk-clocks
Unique Valentine Desk Clocks
Unique Valentine Tile Pen Holders
2010 NFC Champions Green Bay Packers Collectibles
Things a T-shirt Would Say
Things a Shoe Would Say

2010 NFC Champions Green Bay Packers Collectibles

2011-01-26T13:53:00.003-06:00

2010 NFC Champions Green Bay Packers Collectibles

It came to no surprise when the Green Bay Packers blew away the Chicago Bears Sunday, Jan. 23, 2011. The Packers played their best the first quarter of the game. Then it became intense. Keeping in with the Green Bay Packer fashion, the offense weaken the fourth quarter allowing Chicago to run the ball. In the end, the Packers won with a 21-14 score.

Feb. 6, 2011 they will play the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Super Bowl for the Lombardi Trophy.

Read more from the link above and telling me in the guestbook, who you think will win.

Christmas Holiday on Squidoo

2010-12-20T21:53:00.000-06:00

Christmas in Hawaii, Hawaiian Christmas Ornaments, Wacky Christmas Songs, Corn Casserole Recipe and Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup are the top five lenses Sandyspider on Squidoo

How else do these tie in?

A winter vacation during the Christmas season would be ideal where it is warm and sunny. Hawaii is the perfect vacation spot. Find some wonderful Hawaiian Christmas ornaments to bring home. If you can only take the trip in your mind, then these ornaments are a great find on the lens below.

Christmas is about having fun and enjoying some funny songs with your guest. Have everyone bring a dish to the Christmas feast. Corn casserole makes a yummy side dish. And when it is all over, make some soup form the recipe lens below. Substitute the left over turkey in place of chicken.

These are the top five lenses waiting to move into the top tier with your help, please! Comment, share it with friends, Tweet it, Digg it, brag about it on Facebook and email it to others. Just click on the links to read more of these articles.

Hawaiian Christmas Ornaments
I'm dreaming of a Hawaiian Christmas. With the warm weather, beautiful sunsets, peaceful sound of the ocean waves and a surfing Santa.

Christmas in HawaiiHawaii is an exotic getaway from the cold, dreary and miserable Wintery season. At least for a week or two, an escape to Hawaii is the ultimate Christmas present.

Wacky Christmas Songs
Humorous Christmas songs are fun to listen to and sing around the holiday. So many beautiful Christmas carols, like "O' Holy Night", "Silent Night" and "Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful" are sung around this holiday season. But sometimes we all could use a good laugh.

Corn Casserole Recipe
This easy recipe is much like a pudding filled with corn, sour cream, eggs, butter, cheddar cheese and the cornbread muffin mix. I like to spice it up with onions and green chilies.

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup
Chicken noodle soup has long been known as one of the best healthy comfort foods. When we think of chicken noodle soup, we feel emotionally secure. It is what our mother had given us when we were sick with a cold.

2011 Print on Demand Calendars and Mouse Pads

2010-11-06T10:31:00.002-05:00

2011 Print on Demand Calendars
Custom made print-on-demand calendars make wonderful gifts. Zazzle is one of the best customized online shops. The quality of the products can't be beat. I know! Not only do I have two free shops on Zazzle, I have also bought some of there products.

2011 is just around the corner. Photo calendars are the type of gift that does not need to be returned for a smaller size or too tacky for one's taste. Calendars are something that we all need. The best way to keep track of the days of the week, month and year. We need calendars to keep track of Birthdays, Anniversaries and other special occasions. It is a place that we write down important appointments too. (Read more by clicking the link above.)

2011 Custom Calendar Mouse Pads
What better way to keep track of the days in the month than having a custom calendar mouse pad right there at your fingertips.

With the newer computers, mouse pads are not always needed. However, a mouse pad still gives that extra cushion for one's wrist to rest on. For those who use a mouse while computing, a mousepad allows the mouse to glide over the surface more easily. It protects the surface underneath the mouse from scratches. I personally will never get tired of using a beautiful customized mouse pad. on Sandyspider Gifts on Zazzle, I have created 12 mouse pad calendars. (Read more about this by clicking on the link above).

Though this is a Squidoo blog, these are two Hubs that were just created for my wall calendars and calendar mousepads on HubPages. Find these and other great products on Sandyspider Gifts on Zazzle.

National Chocolate Day Oct. 28th

2010-10-28T14:13:00.000-05:00

Today is National Chocolate Day, Oct 28th. Chocolate was introduced to the Western world in the 16th century following the arrival of Spanish explorers. During that time, chocolate was used not only as a food, but also as a currency. All I know is that it is the sweetest thing on earth.

Find chocolate gifts on Sandyspider Gifts: Chocolate
Here are a couple samples of chocolate, plus raspberries (they always go good with chocolate.

by Sandyspider

To celebrate this delicious day, here are a few articles from Squidoo and Hubpages with chocolate. Please click on the links to read more on the articles.

Confessions of a Chocoholic
I am a chocoholic. I love chocolate. At times it is my best friend. Some times it is my only friend. I can eat it at any part of the day. There have been times when I have eaten an entire 16 oz. bag of chocolate, a small box of candy or a giant size bar of chocolate in one sitting. This hasn't happen in a long time. But the cravings for chocolate are always there. "My name is Sandy and I'm a chocoholic!"

Chocoholics Unite! Zazzle Gallery
No better way to say it than with chocolate. This is for all chocoholics. Chocolate interacts with brain chemistry. It is natures feel good drug. Men, but mostly women crave it. Some of us just can't get enough of it.

Chocolate comes in many different varieties. To name a few: there is solid milk chocolate, dark chocolate, white chocolate and even chocolate truffles.

Rich Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake
Rich, creamy, mouth watering, sinfully delightful, chocolate raspberry cheesecake. A pleasure for a chocoholic's taste buds. Slowly savor this guilt ridden desirable dessert of ecstasy. Blend together raspberries, chocolate and cream cheese for pure delight.

Unique Chocolate Gifts for Her
Give her the gift of chocolate. Chocolate can be candy, jewelry, vases, movies, recipes, spa treatments, bedding, liquor and chocolate shower gels with just the right scent to heighten the mood.

She would love a chocolate truffle mousepad, cocoa mug or truffle shoes These gifts are pleasantly soothing with no calories. Unless you add the cocoa to the mug.Be sure to check out the chocolate diamond ring.

Christmas Candy Recipes
I have been cooking since I was a little girl. I love to cook and create my own recipes. Or take a recipe and improve on it. I learned from my mother, who learned from her mother and so on.

The one thing I love about Christmas time is the candy. Oh I love candy! After all, isn't that one of the major food groups?

I have many candy recipes that have came from my grandmother and great grandmother. The fudge recipes are before the marshmallow fluff days of making candy. They are more sweat than the recipes of today. This is not diet food! Oh...we loved our sugar.

Enjoy these delicious treats.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
Everyone loves oatmeal cookies. Some people add raisins, which is the typical ingredient in these cookies. But being a chocoholic, I prefer chocolate chips. Recently, I made these chocolate chip oatmeal cookies on the insistent from my husband. Actually, he asked for oatmeal cookies. After I had added all the ingredients, I happened to stumble upon a bag of chocolate chips.

Sunshine Cheesecake
The days of the plain old cheesecake are gone. My favorite is cherry cheesecake. But I like to try different recipes. Cheesecake can be made in a variety of favors and styles. The Sunshine Cheesecake is made with whole cranberry sauce in other recipes. Of course it is a personal preference. Often my recipes will come from my head and only written down when someone will ask me how to make it. There are many recipes which have been handed down in my family. I have made this cheesecake recipe a few times with my own twist of cherries. Taste great with dollops of whipped cream. My family loves it.

Black Forest Coffee Recipe and More
Remember the day when you ordered a cup of coffee and that is just what it was. Fresh ground brewed coffee or if you weren’t so lucky, instant coffee. Not that the taste of instant coffee is bad, but it doesn’t compare to home brewed coffee. Enjoy this coffee recipe with a touch of chocolate.

Antioxidants of Chocolate
Dark chocolate has four times as much antioxidant as compared to black tea. Dark chocolate may be higher than a cup of green tea, approximately 42 mg to 50 mg of catechins. Studies have found that dark chocolate had 53.5 mg of catechins (a polyphenolic antioxidant plant metabolite) per 100 gm.

Pumpkin Coffee Gift Sets and Politics

2010-10-28T13:28:00.000-05:00

What does Pumpkin coffee gift sets and Politics have in common?

Nothing except the fact that they are both Squidoo lenses.

First time of the year that we think of pumpkins is around Halloween. Pumpkins are good anytime of the year. For Halloween we turn pumpkins into Jack o' lanterns. Holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas, pumpkin pie is a favorite dessert.

We have sixteen pumpkins from my garden this year, fourteen of which are shown in front of my house. We had talked about selling some of them. But they look nice sitting out there.

What is not to love about pumpkins?

Read more about it on Pumpkin Mugs and Coffee Gift Baskets

Here are a few gift sets found:

Politics as Usual Merchandise
Whether you are a Democrat, Republican or belong to a different political party. These Zazzle and CafePress designs are about both parties having D.U.M.B. and those who have a blind eye of the WRONG party.

Find more Politics and D.U.M.B. products listed on Embracethehill.com Store for a list of my CafePress shops and a see the Canine National Party. These products carry over on Zazzle in Have D.U.M.B. Merchandise product line.

Taking a neutral stand here on the two main parties in America; Republicans and Democrats will be equally poked fun of. Not allowing my own convictions here on saying how one particular party has set this country back and pushed us further in debt or the fact that we will be forever mopping up many, many years of bad politics.

These bumper stickers, buttons, t-shirts, hats and more are good for anytime during and after an upcoming election. After all...it will always be Politics as usual.

The product for the intro image is Republicans Have D.U.M.B. Mouse Pad found in Funnyjokes Shop on Zazzle.

Read more about it here:
Politically Incorrect Gifts

Republicans Have D.U.M.B. T Shirts
Democrats Have D.U.M.B. Pull Over Sweatshirt

Monsters, Ferrets and Wall Clocks of Hawaii

2010-10-20T15:05:00.001-05:00

Playing catch up as always, these are the latest articles of Sandyspider on Squidoo.

Starting out with the No Monsters. This is in regard to those party poopers who don't like to practice in giving out treats on Halloween. This article contains many Zazzle products of expressing your distaste for Halloween. Click on the links and images to go to the products and articles.

Alien Warning by funnyjokes
Design ceramic coffee mugs with zazzle.com

No Monsters for Halloween
Taking my daughter trick-or-treating when she was younger, we would pass by several homes where they refuse to participate in giving out candy to the children. What really got to me was the house up the block. Their children would dress up and go door to door. Yet when a child would go to their door, they would say that it was against their religion and they weren't participating.

For people who are against Halloween, they should wear a "No Monsters" t-shirt and hat and sit outside their door and throw out "No Monsters" stickers to make their Anti-Halloween statement clearer. (Read more by clicking on the link above).

We used to have an adorable albino ferret named Roxie Lady. If you go into the pet store and see ferrets, they are usually twice the size our petite ferret was. At her healthiest weight she weighed 1.6 lbs. When she was sick, she was under a pound. There two lenses are about Roxie, what you need for your ferret before bring one home and fun ferret toys and fashions.

White Baby Ferret by Sandyspider
Learn how to sell art on Zazzle.com

Bringing Home a Ferret
Before we had the dogs (Buddy and Trixie), there was Roxie Lady, our albino ferret. We bought her when she was a 6 week old kit from the breeder. Among the litter of 8 baby ferrets, she was one of two albinos and the runt of all the ferrets.

It hadn't been that long since we put our dog Wendy to sleep. Something we hoped to never have to go through again. We vowed not to have another pet. But for that short period, it wasn't the same in our household.

Our daughter kept reading up on ferrets and brought up all the information she learned to our attention. She finally broke me down and Roxie came home with us to my husband's surprise. (Read more by clicking on the link above).

Ferret Toys and Accessories
Ferrets are curious animals and want to discover everything. Our pet ferret, Roxie Lady loved her toys. Many of her toys were ferret and cat toys. She liked toys that had little bells and squeaky toys. She even had a toy ferret that made different sounds. Every time this toy would make a sound she would jump up and down as in a little dance.

One of Roxie's favorite toys was the tunnel toy. The longer the tunnel, the more she enjoyed it.

When we went camping, everyone loved the little white ferret on the leash. (Read more by clicking on the link above).

On 3drose.com they have personalized gifts from aprons, light switch covers, mugs, coffee gift sets, coasters, pen holders, wall clocks and more. From all these items, look under Sandy Mertens to find all my designs. Many of these same photos and images are also found on Sandyspider Gifts on Zazzle. Though there are exclusive design just on 3drose. Most of these items can be bought on Amazon as well Below are my top ten Hawaii Wall Clocks shown in the article.

Hawaii travel designs are featured on these beautiful handcrafted wall clocks. A stunning high gloss ceramic-like finish is applied, giving a brilliant shine to these one of a kind clocks shown on Amazon.

The photos are taken from my daughter's trip to the main island. The ocean is so beautiful and the black beach is amazing. My favorite of all the pictures is the dead tree that overlooks the ocean.
Wall Clocks of Hawaii
She will be going back to Hawaii again and taking more pictures. These photos on the wall clocks are my favorite that includes the ocean, sunset, dolphins and the Hawaiian tree. (Click on the link above to read more on these clocks and vote for your favorite one).

Calendars, Halloween and Funnyjokes Shop

2010-10-15T09:52:00.000-05:00

Calendars make wonderful gifts. We use calendars everyday to keep track of appointments, Birthday, Anniversaries and just to know what day it is. Below are three calendar lenses, tow about the RocketMoms and one about the calendars on Sandyspider Gifts: Calendars.

Rocket Moms Rock Mousepad by Sandyspider
See other Rocket moms Mousepads

Mousepad Calendars of the RocketMoms
Inquiring about the calendar template for mousepads in my RocketMoms Zazzle group started an avalanche of new mousepad calendars. With all this excitement about mousepads, a RocketMoms lens was in order.

Zazzle custom mousepads are high quality, full of vibrant colors, and keep your mouse dust-free and sailing smooth. Enjoy these calendar mousepads from these talented women in a wide variety of designs from ships, butterflies, lighthouses, flowers, and a dove, chocolate, strawberry plant, fireworks, Christmas bells, Blue Mountains and more.

CARTOON ANIMALS 2011 by Sandyspider
Browse other Cartoon animals Calendars

Calendars of the RocketMoms

RocketMoms in my Zazzle group are so creative and talented. They were recently asked to share their calendars that can be bought on Zazzle. These calendars are made on high quality paper. Most products on Zazzle can be personalized for the customer to change the photos, text or add to it. There is no better place to shop online than Zazzle.

(Click on any of these images to go to the product)

Lilacs Flowers Calendar Mousepad by Sandyspider
Learn how to sell artwork online at Zazzle.com

Custom Calendars For Christmas
Why not give out a calendar for Christmas?

With the upcoming year just a week away from Christmas, it is the prefect gift. Zazzle calendars are made on high quality paper. Personalize the calendars using your own photographs, images, and text. Most pre-designed calendars can be customized this way.

How about a calendar right at your fingertips on a mousepad?

These mousepads are high quality. Durable cloth cover is dust and stain resistant with non-slip backing.

Don't send your little ones out to go trick-or-treating without their Halloween water bottle.

My Top 10 Halloween Water Bottles

Water bottles are a great prize to give out at your next Halloween party. Fill up a water bottle for your little goblins before they go trick-or-treating.

These are my top ten picks of the best Halloween water bottles on Amazon. Take the poll to pick out your favorite.

Sports bottles are a popular addition in today's busy world. Filling up a bottle with water is much healthier than drinking soda. It is fun to walk around trick-or-treating with your vintage witch water bottle.

Funnyjokes Shop

"Funny quotes, sayings, rude quotes, insults, funny jokes, insulting humor, jokes about memory lapse, funny phrases, silly sayings, elderly jokes and more humor to follow." This is the first line of Funnyjokes Shop on Zazzle.

With so many different product lines in my other shop Sandyspider Gifts, I felt the humorous quote part of it was getting unnoticed.

Funnyjokes Shop is not just quotes but anything I find (hopefully you do too) funny. Below are some of the product types with the product lines near the guestbook, click on the images and links to go to the items in the shop. This lens will be updated as it grows. More items are shown in Funnyjokes Shop on Zazzle.

Zazzle products include everything from t-shirts, greeting cards, post cards, Ked shoes, stamps, buttons, refrigerator magnets, mugs, hats, stickers, bumper stickers, keychains, skateboards, tote bags, aprons, binders, invitations, ties, posters and more. If there is a product type that you would like to see not shown in the product line just let me know. Special request are welcome too.

Have a Monster Squidoo Party

2010-10-06T11:09:00.000-05:00

Won an award for the Squidoo Monster party challenge. My job was to help supply party favors and gifts to this challenge.

Here are the lenses that have been added. Please go to these lenses and vote on your favorite gifts.

My Top Ten Caps To Wear for Halloween
Modern and vintage Halloween caps for this magically and mysterious day are fun to wear. The Squdioo monsters asked me to pick out some caps to give away as prizes at the Halloween party.

These are my top 10 picks out of 30 Halloween caps located on Amazon that are also located on 3drose caps under Sandy Mertens.

Cast your vote below on which cap you like the best for the monsters to give out.

Ten Fun Halloween Stickers
Halloween stickers go great as trick-or-trick gifts. A great alternative to candy. These are also perfect to go with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these Halloween stickers. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these stickers can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

My Top 10 Halloween Pen Holders
Halloween pen holders go perfect with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with the party. There will be many games. Some games will be puzzle and guessing games involving filling in your answer on sheets of paper for prizes. Along with the paper, the monsters said they will need plenty of pens to pass out for the guess to play these games. I won't be supplying the pens, but I will be supplying the pen holders to go with the theme of the decorations. Help the Squidoo monsters decide which pen holder would look the best. Vote on my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

My Top Ten Vintage Halloween Pen Holders
Vintage Halloween button pins go perfect with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these vintage buttons. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these vintage buttons can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

My Top 10 Vintage Halloween Buttons
Vintage Halloween button pins go perfect with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these vintage buttons. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these vintage buttons can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

Ten Fun Halloween Stickers
Halloween stickers go great as trick-or-trick gifts. A great alternative to candy. These are also perfect to go with the Squidoo monsters Halloween party. The monsters asked me if I would help out with some party favors. The guest would love to wear one of these Halloween stickers. These are my top ten that I have chosen for this party.

All these stickers can be customized. You can change the image to one of your own and change the text or take it off completely. Change the background color too.

Halloween, Autumn, Thanksgiving and Pet and Articles

2010-10-01T11:18:00.000-05:00

Many new articles (lenses) about dog toys, Buddy the German Shepherd, Halloween, Autumn, Thanksgiving and Pizza.

Here they are. See what you have missed.

Dog Toys for Halloween
Halloween toys for your dog are found in a wide selection of toys. From a "Plush & Crinkle Pumpkin Dog Toy" to a "Treat Boo Halloween Bungee Dog Toy"

My dog Buddy loves plush squeaky toys the best. He is a spoiled dog and has more toys than we know what to do with. For the most part, he is good with his toys, with maybe an occasional chewed up ear or two.

Birthday Wish List for My Dog
I'm a German Shepherd and behind me is my cousin Ringo. My birthday is February 2. Whether it is too early or too late for my big day doesn't mean you have to wait in fulfilling my birthday wish list quest.

Halloween Porcelain Snowflake Ornaments
Decorate your Halloween tree with beautiful porcelain snowflake ornaments. Christmas is no longer the only holiday where indoor trees are decorated. A Halloween tree can have spooky monsters or keep within a snowflake theme of jack o' lanterns, witches or black cats.

Halloween Greeting Cards on Amazon
Buying Halloween greeting cards is practical and easy. Amazon offers various payment methods from using your PayPal to a credit card.

On Zazzle you can buy individual cards or in groups. The more you purchase of a greeting card the better discount you will receive. These same cards you will find in Sandyspider Gifts on Zazzle.

Hawaiian Tile Napkin Holders
Hawaiian tile napkin holders are a first start to adding a theme to your kitchen or dining room accessories. An appreciation for travel photos from the Big Island of Hawaii.

Hosting a luau featuring a Hawaiian feast of roast pig, glazed pineapples, coconut milk beverage and entertainment; the décor adds to the mix. Make sure to have Hawaiian design napkins to go with the napkin holders. But why stop there! Add tablecloths, salt and pepper shakers and more Hawaiian decorations.

Growing Pumpkins and Recipes
Grow your own pumpkins is easy. Fresh pumpkins not only make funny or scary Jack o' lanterns for Halloween, but make delicious homemade pumpkin recipes too. Don't throw away the seeds, roast them in the oven for a tasty snack.

Autumn Posters and Prints
Beautiful autumn posters show the transition between Summer and Winter. The leaves begin to change color from green to colors of gold, brown, orange and red. It is a beautiful time of the year. Taking a brisk walk along an autumn trail is invigorating.

We love to drive up north (north eastern) where the leaves first change color. It is also there where there are an abundance of trees lining the water of Lake Michigan. The colors that reflect off the lake are nothing short of spectacular.

Non-Edible Cornucopia Gifts
Dating back to the 5th century, the cornucopia is a symbol of food and abundance. It is represented today as the horn of plenty in a harvest wicker basket shaped cone loaded with festive fruits and vegetables. In North America, the cornucopia has come to be associated with Thanksgiving and the Fall harvest. Whistler, British Columbia, Canada has their November Wine and Food celebration which is named Cornucopia.

Custom Thanksgiving Clothing on Zazzle
Thanksgiving clothing on Zazzle has never been more fun. So many different styles and sizes available of t-shirts, sweatshirts and hoodies to choose from, with just a few clicks you can change the design you like to any of the 65 different styles of women, mens, kids, toddlers and baby shirts, not to mention colors to choose from. All without having to leave the product page which you had selected. How many sites can you say have that option?

Rich Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

2010-09-22T11:03:00.000-05:00

Rich, creamy, mouth watering, sinfully delightful, chocolate raspberry cheesecake. A pleasure for a chocoholic's taste buds. Slowly savor this guilt ridden desirable dessert of ecstasy. Blend together raspberries, chocolate and cream cheese for pure delight.

Raspberries are healthy, delicious and packed with vitamin C. Dark chocolate is full of flavonoids, which act as antioxidants. Cream cheese is a dairy product with vitamin D and calcium. Though high in fat and calories a light cream cheese or cottage cheese are both alternates to this savoring recipe.

Find this recipe on Rich Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake

Chocolate Raspberry Cheesecake by Sandyspider
More Chocolate raspberry cheesecake T-Shirts

Profile on Google

2010-09-14T20:44:00.001-05:00

Just added a profile on Google http://www.google.com/profiles/sandyswebnetwork

Let me know if it shows up.

Mosquitos, Gardening, Halloween and Ostriches

2010-08-31T23:32:00.000-05:00

Beginning with a hot, humid, wet summer brought an unbelievable amount of mosquitoes. During this time of hiding in the house in order to not get bit, many lenses (articles) had been written. The first article of the summer was about mosquitoes and Zazzle products. Moving on to gardening with green beans, green bean recipes, melon punch recipes, Halloween movies, costumes, making a mask, Halloween Zazzle products and a visit to an ostrich farm.

Summer RocketMoms Session 8 began with an online cookbook The 2010 RocketMoms Cookbook. I finished 4 or the 5 recipe challenge assignments. First time since joining RocketMoms that I didn't complete everything to graduate get the cool looking badge to add to my lenses.

Here are the four recipe lenses completed for this assignment. (Note: the oatmeal cookies have previously been posted on this blog.)Along with related Zazzle products related to these lenses. Click on the images to go to product and links to go to the lenses.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies
My Hubby's Way of Grilling Walleye
Melon Punch Recipes
Garden Fresh Green Bean Salad Recipes
My images are copyrighted and have a digital thumb print on file. They are protected at

Before the Halloween challenge began with RocketMoms Session 9, combined with Squidboo Blast and Get Cracking on Facebook, the weather prompts me to create an article on mosquitoes. Shortly before the challenge of 13 lenses in 31 days, I created one Halloween lens about Vintage Sexy Women. This is followed by the ostrich lens and of course more Zazzle products to go with these articles. Here is the remainder of my lenses to pay catch up. The last Halloween lens is a collection of all the Halloween articles written. Zazzle for these lenses have been added below too. Click on the images to go to product and links to go to the lenses.
Mosquito Facts and Zazzle
Ostrich Farm
How to Make Healthier Zucchini Bread

Sexy Women of Halloween Vintage
Halloween Vintage on Zazzle
How to Create a Plaster and Paper Mache Mask
Trick or Treat Matching Apparel
Halloween Mask Movies
Everything Halloween and More

Today I Sold My First Lens – Let it RIP

2010-08-03T00:29:00.001-05:00

Often I have thought about selling my lenses or writing for someone. I have never gotten around to posting it on a site of lenses for sale or my services offered, though I have in the pass received offers for lenses through email and have turned them down.

These have always been for lenses that I value. These offers for lenses that have been my very best, a Purple Star lens and in the top tier on Squidoo and never has an offer been for one of my lenses that are not quite the quality, at the bottom or I just don’t have a use for it anymore.

Not knowing what my lens was worth, I felt I had received a good offer. I had a couple days to think about this and wasn’t sure I wanted to sale this lens.

Now that I have sold it, this person has received a top notch lens. My lens was a Purple Star and had been in the top tier during June, July and the beginning of August, until I sold it.

Garden Fresh Tomato Recipes had everything that one could possibly think of. Not only were there recipes, it talked about my garden, how to plant tomatoes and how to freeze fresh tomatoes. Not to mention some Zazzle items and affiliate products. Now if you go to that link it will take you to a different lensmaster.

From my observation there are certain lensmasters buy top tier lenses; this gives a nice income from Squidoo. There is nothing wrong with this. In fact, I would call these smart entrepreneurs. Though I do find it funny reading the "About Me" Lensmaster SoandSo made 43 lenses from scratch.

I didn’t realize this at the time but my royalties will be going over to the buyer for the months of June and July. Also any affiliate sales like Amazon. And to just think, I had asked everyone to give it a boost because it was a little short of the top tier in July.

I’m not complaining about anyone, except myself. Do I have regrets. Selling off a lens is like sending your child off to kindergarten for the first time.

I do think that since it was my lens until August, all those sales and royalties should go to me. But it doesn’t work that way.

In our RocketMoms Group, lensmaster Treasures by Brenda gave the link to a new tool on SquidUtils Squidoo Lens Valuation. According to what my lens was worth minus the $26 for the last two months on Squidoo, $6 from Amazon, $8 taken out from PayPal and what I had gotten, I took a $104 lost. Or I can just say, "Hey I have more money in my PayPal account."

Will I sell a lens again?

If the opportunity is right and I now know the facts.

Cookies and Birthdays

2010-07-07T10:52:00.001-05:00

Cookies for a Birthday party…sure why not! I have been to Birthday parties with cake and cookies.

My favorite type of cookie is Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. For one thing I am addicted to chocolate. I could and have eaten the entire bag of chocolate chips by themselves. Felt bad afterwards, but Oh…so good going down. This time around I saved the chips for the cookies. Find the recipe on the lens listed above.

These cookies also make nice looking Zazzle products.

Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies by Sandyspider
cheap coffee mug with zazzle

Can’t believe that it has been two years on Squidoo, I joined on July 4, 2008. With thought in mind, it was time to celebrate with birthday cards. Vintage greeting cards are remade in print on demand shops like Zazzle. These are designs or photos that stem back usually in the early 1900s. Unless of course you happen to have the actual vintage postcard or greeting card, vintage cards have become more popular over the years. Personally, I love the old fashion look.

Celebrate my Squidoo Birthday, I have the cookies and you can bring the cake at Vintage and Modern Birthday Cards

Need a card to bring to the party? Here is one that I like.

Vintage Bright Birthday by Sandyspider
View more Vintage bright birthday card Cards

Catching Up with Lenses

2010-06-17T11:38:00.000-05:00

Some many lenses have been made since this blog update. Here are the latest lenses that haven’t been added here. Even non-Squidooers are welcome to sign the guestbook. But it you happen to stumble upon this and not a Squidoo member, then there is no better time to sign up. Squidoo is the best place to promote your, business, Zazzle, write and be heard. Best of all it is free to join. Be part of Squidoo Here!

Internet Activity Tee Shirts

T-shirts or tee shirts, which ever way you prefer to call them are the most popular apparel worn by people of all ages. Even your pet can wear a t-shirt.

It is so easy to become lost on the internet with the Social Networking, chat rooms, etc.

Internet ADHD by Sandyspider
Get tees on zazzle.com

Click Here to See This Funny Lens!

Name That Flower

Orange Upside Down Flowers by Sandyspider

This is where you can tell me the names of the flowers shown on this lens. I have taken pictures and collected many different types of flowers. Some I actually do know their names, like the tulips in my yard, our hibiscus, roses, and the neighbor's lilacs. In general I am bad with flower names. Join me here on this "name that flower' game article.

Look at the many different flowers on Sandyspider Gifts: All Occasion Flowers and Botanical Gardens you will see the product names as "Yellow and Purple Flowers" or "Yellow and Red Stripe Flowers". Most of these I have seen all my life. Going through Green Bay Botanical Garden, the camera snap away, but I failed to write down any names.

Click Here to Read More!

Collection of Six Patriot T-Shirts

Fallen But Not Forgotten by Sandyspider
See more Memorial T-Shirts

T-shirts for Memorial Day, Independence Day, Veterans Day or any time of year to show your patriot support can be found custom made from a print on demand store like Zazzle.

Many shirts from Sandyspider Gifts are vintage design, dating back to 1908. Though modern t-shirts are found as well, including the patriot shirts to other designs.

Zazzle is the best online store to customize any type of t-shirt. A ladies t-shirt shown here can be ordered for a baby, kid or mens t-shirt. Several different styles to chose from too, even hoodies. T-shirts on this page can be found on
Patriotic and Fireworks - T shirts product line from sandyspider.

Click Here to Read More

Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping in Michigan - Click Here to Read About It

Where to stay when visiting Mackinaw City and Mackinac Island, Michigan? If you are adventurous and love camping like we do, the best place to stay at is Mackinaw Mill Creek Camping, located in just outside of Mackinaw City. This campground is rated as Michigan's number one tourist destination to stay and have fun at. Read more by clicking on the link above and see how we stayed in a cardboard cabin.

RocketMoms Session 7 With Sandyspider

Here we go with another round of RocketMoms for Session 7 with the talented group of women on Squidoo who happen to be moms and making a living online. Read the collection of lenses made for this challenge.

RocketMoms Gone Wild by Sandyspider
Get a ceramic mug on zazzle

Click Here To Read More

Cheryl Paton: Talented Artist - Click Here to Read More

Having the privilege of knowing Cheryl Paton through Squidoo and the RocketMoms, she is a talented writer, artist and Zazzler.

In May 2010, talented artist Cheryl Paton (aka CreativeArtist on Squidoo) posted a portrait offer in RocketMoms for the first three people to respond to her request.

See the portrait that Cheryl made of our daughter on this page with the link above.

Necktie Gifts

Neckties come in all different colors and designs. Online print on demand, custom made ties such as Zazzle, can show off the wild man or go for a more traditional look.

We have become a more casual society. Ties are not always the requirement to wear to work or business meetings. But neckties are still around for the fashion conscious man and sometimes women.

Flowers of Botanical Gardens Blue Pattern by Sandyspider
Design ties at Zazzle

Read More Here!

Patriotic and Fireworks Gifts

In the sprit of patriotism, we often buy products with the American flag on the gifts and cards, mugs, hats, mousepads, keychains, buttons and refrigerator magnets. On Zazzle many other countries proudly display products with their countries flag to show their patriotism.

We celebrate holidays with fireworks. In the US, we have New Years Eve, Memorial Day and Independence Day. England, Australia and China are just a few of the countries around the world who celebrate holidays with fireworks display.

Celebrate American Flag by Sandyspider
View other American flag Bags

Click Here to See More

Please be considerate and do not copy any of these pictures. They are all copyrighted and have a digital thumb print on file.

Flower Gifts and Zazzle

2010-05-24T13:04:00.000-05:00

Flowers and Zazzle means more than giving out a greeting card, a mug, t-shirt, necktie, or keychain with flowers to someone you care about. It symbolizes our feelings of love, friendship, remembrance, apology, or a thoughtful expression. A bouquet of flowers is given out on birthdays, anniversary, weddings or part of a get well wish.

Ancient Greeks dedicated flowers to the gods and crowned people of notoriety. Flowers have been in stories by the Greeks, Romans, Egyptians and Chinese as having a mystical language.

While visiting Turkey, the French and English in the mid eighteenth century, brought to their homelands the concept of a language of flowers. Each flower has a different meaning of its own.

Tulips Says it All by Sandyspider
Browse Bouquets of tulips Mugs

Memorial Day Pinback Buttons

2010-05-24T12:36:00.003-05:00

Wear Memorial Day custom design pinback buttons to honor those who gave there lives for our freedom. Custom made on Zazzle. These same designs and others not shown can be found as greeting cards, t-shirts, keychains and more on my Patriotic and Fireworks product line.

Memorial Day, originally called Decoration Day, is a day we give thanks and honor those who have died in our nation's service.

Vintage Patriotic Ribbon and Flowers by Sandyspider
Browse Vintage patriotic ribbon and flowers Buttons

Looking in the Mirror

2010-05-18T12:52:00.000-05:00

Looking in the Mirror by Sandyspider
View more Vintage Cards

Looking in the mirror does not mean seeing your own reflection. Often it means seeing the reflection of the person you want to be or have become.

My father had a dry wit. Not always easy to see if he was joking. Until one would catch the glimmer of a smile in his eyes, then realize, "Oh...he got me!"

He was smart and a teacher of survival skills. He taught me all about finance and how to be thrifty. My family calls it "Tight with money." He embedded these skills in me, for he knew that I would need them for my own survival. Not being anyone's favorite or taking a handout. My father taught me well.

We had a long distant relationship, living in another state. I cherished our phone conversations.

The days following his death (years ago), we helped my mother look for important papers. In this one particular drawer, it was not the insurance or other papers that my mother wanted. It was a drawer filled entirely with all the greeting cards and letters I had ever sent him. In this spot of his world, were keepsake treasures from his daughter. He had not thrown out a single one.

Like many fathers in his time, emotions were not something given out like candy. But this one small place, filled with something that meant more than paper...

Do you remember hearing these words, "I will never be like my parents?"

Have you looked in the mirror?

Read more and find some great Father's Day ideas on Fathers Day Cards and Gift Ideas

Touring Fish Creek Wisconsin

2010-05-17T11:55:00.000-05:00

Touring Fish Creek Wisconsin: "Beautiful Fish Creek, located on DoorCounty’s Peninsula is one of the most picturesque places to visit in Wisconsin. Fish Creek is a small unincorporated community that brings in thousands of visitors to view its historical buildings, shops and scenery. Located off the shore of Green Bay and Lake Michigan, this scenic village has been rated as number one small town getaway destination in Midwest Living."

Not a Squidoo lens, but could use some traffic and comments.

Memorial Weekend Celebration

2010-05-17T10:23:00.000-05:00

This seemed like the perfect lens to give to the Solder Angels. Memorial Day we are honoring commemorates U.S. men and women who died while in the military service. Soldiers' Angels is a volunteer led, non-profit organization providing aid and comfort to the men and women of the United States Army, Marines, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, and their families.

Nominate this at sunshine@squidoo.com for Squidoo's Summer Sunshine Award for Charity. Include this link for the nomination http://www.squidoo.com/dog-party-charity-celebration

Over 1.5 million dollars has been raised since 1990. A partial list of the organizations include: De Pere Optimists, De Pere High School Redbirds Girls Softball, De Pere Wrestling, West De Pere Booster Club, De Pere and West De Pere High Grad Bash/Lock-in, De Pere Police Department, Boy Scouts, De Pere Rotary Club, 432nd Family Readiness Group, Oneida Relay for Life, De Pere Historical Society, the Kress Family Library, Syble Hopp School, NEW Service Dogs, Bay Area Humane Society, Vietnam Veterans, De Pere VFW, De Pere Beautification Committee, Cerebral Palsy Center, Kiwanis Club, Lions Club, De Pere Youth Hockey, De Pere Fire Department and De Pere Christian Outreach.

Read more about the Celebrate Memorial Day in De Pere, WI here.

Dog Party Charity Celebration

2010-05-10T17:36:00.000-05:00

Throw a charity party for your dog (cat or other type of pet). Make it a birthday celebration, holiday or the anniversary of when Fido became part of the family.

Bring gifts, treats, and a donation to The Humane Society of the United States.

According to the Humane Society website:
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest and most effective animal protection organization-backed by 11 million Americans, or one in every 28. Established in 1954, The HSUS seeks a humane and sustainable world for all animals-a world that will also benefit people. We are America's mainstream force against cruelty, exploitation and neglect, as well as the most trusted voice extolling the human-animal bond.

Our mission statement: Celebrating Animals, Confronting Cruelty

100% of this lens donates to The Humane Society of the United States. Please nominate this lens for the Squidoo's Summer Sunshine Award for Charity by email at sunshine@squidoo.com

Read More about this on Dog Party Charity Celebration

Extra Updates

It is easy to fall behind when it comes to blogging. Here are my latest lenses since the last post. With the last one first. If you haven't been there, join stop by and say, "Hello" in the guestbook.

Fun Baby Onesies on Zazzle
We love to dress our babies in cute clothing that have something fun shown, like humorous looking animals or quotes.

What Is the Dachshund?
The word Dachshund means badger dog. They were given this name for they were fearless in burrowing down small holes to flush out small prey and even going head to head with badgers weighing up to 40 pounds. This breed's loud, high pitch bark alerts hunters of the location of the prey. The Dachshund also has a keen sense of smell.

Cupcake Party Gifts
Cupcakes do not have to be filled with calories. They look good on t-shirts, mugs, hats, neckties, aprons, tote bags, shoes, stamps, invitations, refrigerator magnets, buttons, stickers, keychains, mousepads, and skateboards offered at Zazzle.

Sandyspider on Squidoo Facebook Page

2010-04-29T11:30:00.001-05:00

Sandyspider on Squidoo is a Facebook fan page. Squidoo is about lenses (article writing).

I haven't add my last few lenses on here, but this is one of my newest lenses. This has my Facebook page for Sandyspider on Squidoo and a list of all my lenses. My Squidoo Facebook Page and Plexography

A plexography is a collection of lenses in the form of links. My Facebook fan page is about promoting my Squidoo lenses and Squidoo. It tends to make a full circle.

I'm a Giant Squid belonging to the 100 club. Sandyspider can be found on Zazzle, Squidoo, Hubpages, eZine, Redgage, Squidoo Club, and more.

Follow the links above to be in my Squidoo fan page and read my plexography.

Mother’s Day Celebration Cards

2010-04-16T17:41:00.000-05:00

Today I published Mother's Day Celebration Cards on Squidoo. Mother's Day is May 9, 2010. Do you have your cards picked out for Mother's Day?

Here is the intro text to this lens:
Mother's Day is a celebration to let mom know how much she is appreciated. Special cards, a bouquet of flowers or giving a box of candy are only a few ways to tell her how much you care.

Nothing in this world is equal to a mother's love. She nurtured and cared for you. She hugged you when life seemed unbearable. She is your rock...solid and strong. Without her, you wouldn't be...

"No gift to your mother can ever equal her gift to you -- life." ~ Author Unknown

This is also a special day because a couple of my Zazzle products, one that is shown on this lens as a greeting card (though the award is on the postcard with the same design) were handpicked for the Zazzle Artist Award.

According to the email: Your products have been hand-picked as an example of creativity at its finest. Out of the billions of designs on Zazzle, yours was chosen for being one of the best.

As a reward, your product will appear at the top of the page listed below in the "Featured Designs" section for approximately 2 weeks. This means you, your product, and your store will be center stage!

These are the two postcards that have been picked by Zazzle. It is something that I thought I would never see.

Wildflower: Cowslip by Sandyspider
Get your post card printing done with Zazzle

Vintage Lady in Embroidery and Lace Bonnet by Sandyspider

Please be considerate and do not copy any of these pictures. They are all copyrighted and have a digital thumb print on file.

Make a Lens a Day

2010-04-01T23:24:00.003-05:00

Not keeping up with this blog, at the end of 30 days I had made 12 lenses. Making 30 a day was a little hard to do. Though lensmaster vallain made the 30 in that time frame. I congratulate her.

I have added a plexo to when I do follow any of the assignments afterwards. You can even vote which lenses you liked the best. Visit the lens Make a Lens a Day and Not Go Insane To see what lenses I have made. I even added a few Zazzle products that were used within these lenses. Below are a few shown.

Arch Rock, Mackinac Island by Sandyspider
Browse other Arch rock mackinac island Postcards

Easter on Zazzle and Gifts - Get Cracking Lens 18

2010-03-05T01:38:00.002-06:00

This is a collection of my two Easter Product lines. Most products in my shop offer customization with different images and text. Zazzle offers a wide variety of t-shirts and sweatshirts. The same design can be changed from a lady's to a men's t-shirt or even toddlers. Sizes range (depending on the t-shirts) from size 2 to 6X for adult shirts, with a large variety of sizes for kids and infants. Zazzle is a custom print-on-demand site. It offers Binders, Invitations, T-Shirts, Stamps, Cards, Mugs, Keds Shoes, Pet Clothing, Aprons, Tote Bags, Buttons, Hats, Keychains, Magnets, Mousepads, Posters, Stickers, Ties and more.

I'm still working on products for Easter. Not all these product types are made yet. Send me a request to see a product type made off my Easter Collection. I can custom make something just for you. You can even send me a photo of yours for a certain product and I will make it for you.

If you would like to see all of my Zazzle products then Click Here to View Sandyspiders Gifts on Zazzle
All my products are protected by

I plan on adding more images to these product lines. Keep coming back to the Zazzle site to see the latest add. The Vintage images Vintage Easter Angel and Lamb, Vintage Easter Rabbits and Easter Vintage Chickens are from my personal postcard collection given to me from a special friend. These three are dated 1908 to 1910. I have added my personal touch and brought them to the best resolution quality.

Vintage Easter Rabbits by Sandyspider

An Easter Bunny? by Sandyspider
Browse more Easter bunny Cards

My Love of Architecture

2010-03-05T01:26:00.000-06:00

When I took an architectural class in High School, my father gave me his t-square and a 2x3 foot board (not a table but a board).

I was at a crossroads of what I wanted to be in life: An Architect, teacher, writer or psychologist. I chose to further my education in Architecture. Even then it wasn't always easy finding work.

My career has expanded from Architecture to Engineering. The last several years, I had been working more in a wide spectrum of the engineering field. (Due to the economic situation beyond my control, I have been unemployed for an eternity). But architecture is my true love. My resume includes designing and drawing homes, (several of these homes that I designed were in the "Showcase of Homes"), drawings of commercial buildings such as: banks, department stores and industrial buildings. Many of these were local. When my daughter was small and we would go into one of the buildings that I had worked on, I would say, "What do you think of your mom's building?"
Read more on My Love of Architecture

Peter Frampton Great 70s Rock Artist - Get Cracking Lens 10

2010-03-05T01:07:00.001-06:00

I had seen Peter Frampton many years ago in concert. He played all his classic 70s music that made him the great artist of his time. I still have his masterpiece album "Frampton Comes Alive."

The band's most successful song and forever a classic is "Do You Feel Like We Do." This song originally came from the Frampton's Camel album released in 1973. It was the band's second album then called, Frampton's Camel. Originally this song was about waking up with a hangover with the opening lyrics being "Well, woke up this morning with a wine glass in my hand..." It reached 110 on the US charts with the song's track being 6:44 minutes and was not then released as a single.

This song was added to Frampton Comes Alive album, which was released in 1976 and became Peter Frampton's masterpiece album. As a live performance and on the album, this song plays more than twice as long as the originally version, 14:17 minutes.

Disappointed in the lack of success from the Frampton's Camel album, Frampton and his band did not want to be confused with the band named Camel. It was decided to perform under his name, Frampton.

After coming into America from the UK, the band toured as the backup band for two years supporting acts such as the J. Geils Band and ZZ Top.

Read more at Who is Peter Frampton Great 70s Rock Artist

Cake on Zazzle - Lets Get Cracking Lens: 9

2010-03-05T00:59:00.001-06:00

Happy birthday, anniversary, baby shower, holiday, or any special day is the best time to have cake. Get your cake cards, refrigerator magnets, mousepads, keychains, cake buttons, aprons and even cake recipes like the "Dump Cake" on Zazzle. My Cake products are found in the Is It Edible? Product Line

Read more about Cake on Zazzle Here!

Strawberry Shortcake by Sandyspider
Make customized coffee mugs with zazzle

Congratulations Baby! by Sandyspider
Make notecards on Zazzle

Strawberry Shortcake by Sandyspider
Browse more Strawberry cake Aprons

Every Occasion Stickers - Lens 7 in Get Cracking

2010-03-05T00:46:00.000-06:00

This is a partial collection of the stickers from Sandyspdier Gifts on Zazzle You won't see every occasion here yet, but there is a large selection of stickers. To see the entire line of stickers (and yes even spiders) See Sandyspider Gifts Stickers and Sandyspider Gifts Bumper Stickers

Read more on this at Every Occasion Stickers

Mooning Leprechaun by Sandyspider
Create bumper stickers on zazzle

I Squidoo by Sandyspider
Browse I squidoo squidoo squidoo products multi colored squidoo squidoo network squid giant squid colorful squid Bumper Stickers

Spider Products by Sandyspider
More Spider Bumper Stickers

Make a Lens a Day from Lens 3 to 6

2010-02-20T20:54:00.002-06:00

Lens 3 is about St. Patrick's Day. This lens I wrote is St. Patrick's Day on Zazzle Give your special someone that perfect customize St. Patrick's Day Zazzle gift. Zazzle product quality is top of the line. I know because I have brought some of these one of a kind gifts myself. March 17th is St. Patrick's Day. Feel the luck of the Irish in your brand new St. Patrick's Day t-shirt and hat. Tell someone that you care with the St. Patty's cards, mousepads, mugs, Keychains, buttons and more. These can be customized or you can ask me to make something just for you.

St. Patty’s Odd Couple by Sandyspider
Make customized t-shirts at Zazzle

Lens 4 is about Improve Your Health and Well-Being. This is the lens that I wrote My Top 10 Healthful Choices
You don't need anything but the right foods and the right plan to achieve your perfect healthful balance This is the biggest money making scam in the world today: Companies selling you worthless supplements and fat burners with false promises.

Without the right nutritional principles and without the right foods, no supplement will have any effect on your body. It will just be a complete waste of money! This does not mean cutting out vitamin and mineral supplements. They do help with the right principles in healthy choices.

Soda Jerk by walkinwear
Browse Escoffier Posters

Lens 5: Children's Programming (pass)
Lens 6: Write about a simple product (pass)
I passed on lens 5, because I couldn't think of anything right away and needed to work on other thing.s I passed on lens 6, because I'm having some software issues. Took me all day to work on it. In between I was able to clean the house and walk the dog. Then late at night when I was finally on the internet, it really wasn't worth it.

Celebrate Artstreet in Green Bay, WI

2010-02-16T17:57:00.005-06:00

This is the 2nd in the one a day lens for 30 days on the Get Cracking with Bonnie and Robin This assignment was to write about a local event.

The one thing about writing a lens a day is that I don't expect much traffic. But we will see.

Every year Green Bay Wisconsin has its annual art fair event which brings together artists to showcase their works for the public to see. It first started out at Bayfest on the University of Wisconsin Green Bay campus with a few booths set up. It is now held downtown taking over several blocks. Artstreet is more than booths...it is a celebration. Read more about it by going to Celebrate Artstreet in Green Bay, WI

Let's Get Cracking Day One - My First

2010-02-16T17:44:00.001-06:00

Mackinac Island Home by Sandyspider
Make a Custom post card on zazzle

Feb. 15, 2010 was the first day for Let's Get Cracking with Bonnie and Robin This is a challenge on Facebook to do a lens a day with the assignment handed out from Bonnie and Robin. I know I am crazy doing this. I am so far behind with everything else in my life and here I am participating.

The assignment for the first day is write about your "First". This lens I chose fit in with assignment #6 for Session 5 on travel and my first time to Mackinac Island. The pictures in my Zazzle shop are from our trip but without the watermark that is shown above. Here is the beginning of my lens. Everyone is welcome to sign the guestbook.

When I was five months pregnant and experiencing morning, noon and night sickness we traveled to Mackinac Island, Michigan for the first time. We had heard how beautiful this part of Michigan was and wanted to experience it ourselves. We crossed the Mackinac Bridge which spans approximately five miles across to Mackinac City where we stayed at a motel for three nights.

Forgetting to change our watches ahead one hour, we were too late for many activities going on that first evening. Read more at Mackinac Island, Michigan

Vote for Buddy in the Humane Society Photo Contest

2010-02-03T22:28:00.004-06:00

"Buddy Boy"

My dog Buddy is in the Humane Society photo contest. He is the perfect candidate because he was a Humane Society dog. He chose us to be part of his family when he was 18 months old. Buddy had already been through two broken homes and was placed in the back. This is where sick and unmanageable pets were kept.

Buddy's problem was not with people. But with other dogs. According to his papers, the last place he was living at, they had two other dogs which did not get along with Buddy.

He has always been a great part of our family. Feb. 2, 2010, Buddy turned 56 years old. (That's 8 in big dog years.)

Vote for Buddy and help the Humane Society.

Do we ever outgrow coloring books?

2010-02-02T08:54:00.006-06:00

My daughter is a college student and she is always asking for a coloring book. When she is at home we will color together. Coloring in these books give us a calming feeling. It takes the stress out of the day. Who cares if I will occasionally color outside of the lines!

My friend Summer has created some wonderful line art coloring books. This is not line art just for children but for adults too. Go to Color-Your-Own.com for over 300 Free Printable Coloring Pages. Then go to her store at http://www.e-junkie.com/color-your-own for a large selection of downloadable coloring books.

The picture above is to her big e coloring book. 368 pages geared towards adults and older children. These pages contain nature, wildlife, pets, Christmas, Halloween and more. Reasonably priced at $6.00 USD.

Other line art ebooks are priced as low as $2.00 USD. All this is original art from the artist herself Summer Fey Foovay.

Valentines and Anti-Valentine on Squidoo

2010-01-16T00:24:00.003-06:00

A previous blog before this, I wrote about my Valentines Zazzle shop and my lens Valentines Cards Zazzle. This lens has my Valentine's Day card products from the three products lines which I have in Sandyspider Gifts.

More lenses have been created to cover the product lines. Here are the new lenses. Just click on the highlighted text below to go to the articles.

Valentines on Zazzle and Gifts
This is a collection of my Valentine's Day Product line. Most products in my shop offer customization with different images and text. Zazzle offers a wide variety of t-shirts and sweatshirts. The same design can be changed from a lady's to a men's t-shirt or even toddlers. Sizes range (depending on the t-shirts) from size 2 to 6X for adult shirts, with a large variety of sizes for kids and infants. Zazzle is a custom print-on-demand site. It offers Binders, Invitations, T-Shirts, Stamps, Cards, Mugs, Keds Shoes, Pet Clothing, Aprons, Tote Bags, Buttons, Hats, Keychains, Magnets, Mousepads, Posters, Stickers, Ties and more.

Vintage Valentines on Zazzle
Valentine's Day! Give someone special that vintage design gift. Some vintage pictures go back to 1923. These images have been enhanced to give them the highest quality and density possible. Vintage Valentine's Day product line has images of cupid, Victorian ladies, young love, hearts, roses, and vintage poems. See more from this lens article.

Happy Anti-Valentine's Day!
Valentine's Day is for romance, lovers and sweet friendship. It is a special day to show your appreciation and love for one another. Oh...It is a wonderful day. Until that good for nothing two timing son of a ...brighter days are around the corner when you dream of sweet revenge.

Has you heart been broken or ripped in two? Do you hear the words shouting in your ears, "No love for you?" There is no better way to express your dissatisfaction than with an anti-greeting card sent to your ex. Or maybe you are tired of all the commercialism that goes in all these stupid money grabbing holidays.

Lens Experiment Ranking Dec. 2009 to Jan 2010

2010-01-11T11:30:00.007-06:00

I started My Top Ten Squidoo Lens Experiment in the middle of November of 2009. The experiment was to see if I could get my top ten lenses into the top tier in Squidoo. To be in the top tier in Squidoo your lens needs to be #1-2000 in lens ranking. Top payout for the month would be $13 plus any sales from Amazon or eBay. Squidoo is usually two months behind in their payouts. The last payout was for the month of October. This was the best month for me on payment. November and December hadn’t even came close to the traffic that I had been getting.

In this experiment, I asked my lab assistants (you, the reader) to help promote my lenses, by emailing 5 friends, tweeting, sharing with your Facebook friends, blogging, etc. At first this lens was updated on a daily basis. Then it became semi-weekly to finally weekly. Each update showed my top ten lenses at that time. When going into my profile page, it might look a little different than what in shown on this experiment page, depending on when the update was made..

The finally payout from Squidoo for the month of December won’t be out for a while, but it is overdue to give out some type of stats. I have to say that this experiment was harder than expected. It takes a good deal of time. In the month of January, I would like to lay back and see if my fans and friends can make my experiment explosive.

Below are the highest rank achieved for those in the last week shown in this experiment that was less than 2000 overall for Dec. to Jan. 11, 2010. I will keep you posted on the payout when it comes. Note: the best traffic inducer is earning a Lens of the Day. On January 2, 2010 my Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup lens became my first LOTD. Thanks to the Brag-A-Thon sponsored through RocketMoms. In one day, my rating had jumped from 80 to 107. As of Jan. 11, 2010, 118 have rated it.
Corn Casserole Recipe, highest rank achieved: #427 overall.
Hawaiian Christmas Ornaments, highest rank achieved: #1556 overall.
Christmas in Hawaii, highest rank achieved: #361 overall.
Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, highest rank achieved: #32 overall.
Christmas Tree History and More, highest rank achieved: #1027 overall.

Finally, my top ten is really top eleven when you count this lens.
My Top Ten Squidoo Lens Experiment, highest rank achieved: #1315 overall.

Thank you for joining me in this experiment. Please keep coming back for this is on going Squidoo experiment. If you are not part of Squidoo you can Join Here!

Valentines Cards Zazzle

2010-01-05T15:05:00.004-06:00

Right before Christmas was here, I knew it was time to get my Valentines products on Zazzle in order. At the time I only had one product line called Happy Anti-Valentine's Day! I started this from a contest that was going on at CafePress. Then carried it over to Zazzle.

Not everyone is suffering from a broken heart. There was a need to start a shop for those who are in love or in like as one of my cards says. So now there are two other product lines. Vintage Valentine’s Day and Valentine's Day

Visit my Valentines Cards Zazzle lens and add your own shop and lenses to the plexo. Sign the guestbook (of course rating and favoring it is a plus) and you don't have to be a Squidoo member to sign the guestbook or add your Zazzle shop. But I do have a pet peeve. Many of my lenses do not have a pre-approval added to the plexos. This may soon change. Too many people add to these plexos and don't even sign the guestbook. To me this is rude. I always sign the guestbooks and usually favor and rate lenses.

If you would like to know more about Zazzle just send me a message.

Chicken Noodle Soup Purple Star and LOTD

2010-01-05T14:11:00.006-06:00

Recently I received a Purple Star for Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup I was so happy. Ever since the beginning, I had wanted to receive a Lens of the Day. Maybe now that it finally received a Purple Star it will get noticed.

Shortly after this RocketMoms were having the very first Brag-A-Thon. This involved bragging about one of your lenses and one of another RocketMom you thought was LOTD worthy. My Chicken Soup lens was chosen as the very first RocketMoms LOTD on Jan. 2, 2010. You can read about it on our group leader's blog at Day 1 "RocketMoms Brag-A-Thon" Lens of the Day: Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Read the about the upcoming RocketMoms LOTD for there as well.

This recipe lens has been the first in many things for me. It is my own creation that was never written down on paper before. It has a secret (no longer a secret) ingredient that gave it that tangy taste. We added on our first YouTube video and of course the first time I was able to get my family involved in one of my internet activities. Below is the video we made. To see the written recipe, go to Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup Even non-Squidoo members are welcome to visit and leave a comment. Join my fan club in both Squidoo and YouTube.

Purple Star Lenses

2009-12-23T09:10:00.003-06:00

These are my purple star lenses. You may write to lotd@squidoo.com and tell them how much my purple star lenses should be Lens of the Day. Or any of my other lenses that have been overlooked. All non-members are welcome. If you are interested in joining Squidoo then Join Here!

Someone told me that I was the best keep secret on the internet. I don't want to be a secret. Here spread the word that I'm out there. Nominate any of my lenses a LOTD.

Christmas in Hawaii
Planning on escaping to the warm tropical temperatures of Hawaii for Christmas?

Often we think of Christmas time, sitting by a warm fireplace sipping on eggnog or hot cocoa after a long day of shoveling snow from our driveway.

Hawaii is an exotic getaway from the cold, dreary and miserable Wintery season. At least for a week or two, an escape to Hawaii is the ultimate Christmas present.

Read more about this by clicking on the link above.

Happy National Zucchini Day!
August 8 is National Zucchini Day or "Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbors' Porch Day." Due to overzealous planting of zucchini, citizens are asked to drop off baskets of the squash on neighbors' doorsteps. This might annoy some neighbors, but a nicer holiday than the "Place a Flaming Brown Paper Bag with Dog Poop on You Neighbors' Porch Day."

National Zucchini day is not to be confused with the April 24th; this is National Zucchini Bread Day.

How did this holiday originated?

Tom and Ruth Roy of Pennsylvania came up with the holiday along with 90 plus holidays that are out of the ordinary.

Read more about this by clicking on the link above.

Al's Hamburger Shop in Green Bay, Wisconsin
Located under a sign that says, "Al's Hamburgers Eat" is a small white building sandwiched between two larger buildings. In all accounts, it is called "Al's Hamburger Shop." This small building looks as if it were an after thought (and maybe it was) added to where an alley separated the two other buildings.

Al's is a Green Bay landmark that "must visit" for tourist.

Al's Hamburger Shop has been around since 1934. A narrow building with a counter on one side of the room and about ten bar stools. Across from the counter (within a few steps from the bar stools), four booths are located by the other wall. The decor is what one would expect from a diner of the 1930's. The prices aren't 1930's, but very reasonable.

Read more about this by clicking on the link above. Note: this lens was nominated for the Giant Squid Awards of 2009.

Personal Message to My Tagfoot Friends

2009-12-10T09:47:00.005-06:00

Tagfoot is on a roll and making more widgets for us to add to our blogs and other sites. I have gotten so far behind with all of that. I will have to back track for all of this. Are there some people that haven’t been using them?

I updated my security firewall and antivirus software yesterday. Since then I can not reply, add a comment or send a private message to anyone on Tagfoot. I am writing this, so you know why I can’t participate in any way. It will only let me share a bookmark and to foot someone up, though I can not upload an image. This is the only way I can contact support. Hopefully will support will read this support and have an answer to my problem.

I am guessing that it is my software, unless support has put a block on me. I could use some help in order to participate here. My software is ZoneAlarm Security Suite.

I am able to go to your sites that you share. I want to thank those few people who have shared some of my lenses with others.

In the meantime, I will foot up people. For my friends, if you would like to send me your email address and we can communicate that way. Especially support if you would like me to communicate back to you.

Note: It must be my software. I was not able to upload a picture into this blog. It took me forever to upload it to Tagfoot, but it won't let me share it. I will contact a bigfeet and ask if he will share this.

Christmas on Zazzle

2009-10-31T21:06:00.000-05:00

buy unique gifts at Zazzle

RocketMom Session 3 Graduate

2009-10-12T10:03:00.005-05:00

Oct. 12, 2009 is the RocketMoms graduation day for Session 3. Unfortunately I missed out on Session 1, but was lucky enough to be invited for Session 2. RocketMoms is a social network club from Squidoo. This club has the smartest, brightest and most creative women. I am proud to be part of it.

Rocketmoms is an invite-only club. To qualify you have to be a mother, step-mother or grandma and a Squidoo lensmaster.

Each session contains several weeks of intense lessons. They have us grow into better writers, lensmasters and learn how to make money online.

When I agreed to continue on with Session 3, I decided to be a part-timer. But since I don't really do anything part-time, I finished all 8 of the assignments. Working with the RocketMoms has helped me achieve my Giant 100 Club statics.

Session 4 will begin Oct. 26, 2009 on how to make money on our Holiday lenses. I can't wait.

How to Save Money Online With BigCrumbs

2009-10-05T22:55:00.009-05:00

If you do any type of shopping online, BigCrumbs is the place to check first for you online purchases. I joined this site in April 2008. Even then, I forgot to take advantage of it! I have been a member of eBay since July 2006. If I had joined BigCrumbs back then, I can only imagine all of the cash back I would have received .

What is BigCrumbs.com?

BigCrumbs has been in business since October of 2005. It's a cash back program that let's you earn cash rewards on the stuff you purchase online already. Here's how it works:

1. Sign in to your BigCrumbs.com account which is 100% free. There are no fees.
2. Choose one of 337 familiar online stores like Best Buy, Office Depot or eBay
3. Shop and check out!

In a few days you'll have received credit for your purchase. Once a month your account's balance will be deposited into your PayPal account! It is that simple.

You can even get paid with the referral program.

How can BigCrumbs do this?
1. The revenue comes from an outside source (the retailers) for whom BigCrumbs provides a valuable service. They believe that it's only fair that we share those fees with our members.
2. There is absolutely no obligation to participate in the referral program to benefit from their service. But it is an added plus.

Click here to learn more about BigCrumbs!

Read more about this by clicking on the title above.

Garden Fresh Tomato Recipes

2009-10-05T22:34:00.003-05:00

I love growing tomatoes. They are one of the easiest plants to grow. Every spring we plant tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, potatoes and watermelon. We have had years with other vegetables like zucchini, pumpkin, corn, carrots and cabbage. If you have a small garden, don't buy too many tomato plants. They do have a tendency to take over.

Recipes fresh from your garden always taste better than from the store and are much healthy for you. Store bought vegetables (unless organic) have been sprayed with pesticides and may have been handled with unwashed hands.

When planting tomatoes choose a sunny spot, tomatoes love warm sunshine. Prepare the garden bed by adding compost to cover the top 3 inches of soil. Tomatoes demand a growing medium rich in organic matter. You can make your own compost or buy it at the store. Since tomatoes are versatile, if you supply a layer of rich garden soil, it will work well also.

Transplant the tomato deeply. Space tomato plants 18 to 36 inches apart. It is important to leave yourself enough space to get in between the plants to water and weed.

Water about 16 ounces of warm water per plant every day for the first 7 to 10 days after transplanting. Use a tomato cage or a stake to support the tomato vine about 14 days after transplanting. This will keep the plants upright. Make sure that you secure the plant to a stake using loose knotted double-loops that won't strangle the plant.

Read more about this from clicking on the title above.

Thank You Squidoo and Fans

2009-10-05T22:25:00.006-05:00

Thank you Squidoo, this is my anniversary date of joining Squidoo, July 4, 2008. On that date, Squidoo was just another social network; one more avenue to advertise, get traffic and network with other entrepreneurs. It had not cross my mind that this was a real community and a unique club of some of the smartest, brightest people on the internet.

When I joined Squidoo, I had just started a website that April 2008 ebooktreesaver.com. It came with a pre-made template which I modified. Not knowing much about HTML, it took a bit to figure it out.

Though, Squidoo is a different type of sea creature when it comes to HTML and CSS. Learning what works from the expert lensmasters has actually helped me with my blogs and websites.

Here is a special acknowledgment to all the lensmasters who have not only shown how to add a HTML or CSS script to your lenses. But those you have shown how to add widgets, special text, images, banners, free spacers and all the other Squidoo goodies that can help make your lenses shine. Many of these experts are included in my resource guide lenses.
Click on title about to read more on the lens.

Giants 100 Club

2009-10-05T20:20:00.013-05:00

One Oct. 5, 2009, I became a member of the Giant 100 Club in Squidoo. What does this mean to me? This mean that I get to share this privilege with other lensmasters who have created 100 plus of tier best lenses.

Before Sept. 30, 2009, I applied for the 100 Club and kept my fingers crossed.

As a member of this special group I must keep up a high level of lenses, help out the newbies, and give out answers to questions that about Squidoo that I have an answer to.

According to Squidoo: THE GIANT SQUIDS
What about the 100 Club?
For existing Giants only
The 100 Club is open to Giants who have been accepted to the program and have hit 100 great lenses. You can't skip straight to the 100 Club--you've got to start as a regular Giant first.

100 Club Giants get a few extra perks, like a turboboost for their single favorite lens, and special access to Seth and Megan and the Giant Squid Organizers for chats and such. Not to mention the pride of having 100 great lenses

Squdoo Badges and What They Mean

2009-07-10T21:18:00.003-05:00

My badges so far:

In July 2009 I became a Giant Squid. Along with being a Giant Squid and beyond comes the stars. Squidoo lens Squidbadges explains this badge and stars as follows:

"Giant" badge: Giant Squids are distinguished by their exceptional skill for making top-notch lenses, and lots of them. Whenever you land on a Giant Squid's lens, you know the person behind it is passionate about the topic and is hard at work making the lens worthy of your time and attention. Giant Squids have 50 or more really great lenses, and they get quite a few perks for all their hard work. This is just one. Learn more about what it takes to be a Giant.

Gold stars: This shows that a particular page is a certified gold star lens, which means it's the best of its kind on Squidoo (or shows some serious potential for getting there.) When your lens gets a gold star, it also automatically gets a little LensRank boost. Not bad. For now, only Giant Squids can get gold stars on their lenses. But turn that frown upside down: All lensmasters are welcome to join the Giant Squid challenge and earn their way in!

Purple stars: They're heeeere. Bow down to the purple star. Only a few purple stars are given out each week, to exceptional NEW lenses created by Giant Squids. Read all the goods and news about purple stars.

To my surprise...my recipe lens Garden Fresh Tomato Recipes earned a purple star.

I wonder if my first recipe lens Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup would of taken a purple star if I had been a Giant Squid at the time that it was published. It is a recipe that I have had created from my head and finally written it down. We also created a video on how to make the soup. I think it is worth a LOTD.

The last three badges are as follows:

December 2008, I won 3rd place in the "Home for the Holidays Contest" with Christmas Tree History and More.

June 2009, I wrote my 50th lens with My Dog Turned 50.

June 5, 2009, I took on the Rocket Mom challenge. Eight week course to work among the smartest women on the web, working together to make Squidoo lenses.

Made Giant Squid - Part 1

2009-07-02T23:08:00.006-05:00

I made Giant Squid on Squidoo. To become a Giant Squidoo your must have 50 quality lenses. Found out on July 2. 2009. Below is a list of all most of my lenses, the way it is shown on my lensography. To see the full list go to Sandyspider on Squidoo Go there and congratulate me in the guest book. No need to be a member of Squidoo.

Health and Family

Are You an Internet Addict?

Internet addiction disorder (IAD) is excessive computer use that interferes with daily life. It becomes a compulsion behavior that completely dominates the addict's life. Internet addicts make the Internet a priority more important than family,...

Pregnant Over 40?

Old, middle age, one foot in the grave, half dead, over the hill and pregnant...How could a woman my age; in my right mind possibly have a baby? Sure it can happen. It happens all the time. After all, I'm not menopausal.

I can imagine when my daughter...

How to Have Fun Getting Fit

Fitness and fun can go hand in hand with the right frame of mind. We tend to think of exercise as boring. Obesity is a growing concern, especially in the United States and the European countries. It is so easy to get into a rut. Become couch potatoes...

My Quest to Become a Loser (Weight Loss)

There is nothing fun about dieting. Some people are so fortunate to never have a weight problem. Some years back I worked with a woman who all her life could not keep the weight on. Yet she was healthy. During the entire course of the day at work,...

Squidoo Resource Guides

HTML Text and Image Squidoo Tips

I am constantly working on improving my lenses to make them look the best that they can be. I was a Newbie when I joined Squidoo, July 2008. I wasn't familiar with how different type of text formats worked on Squidoo. For one thing Squidoo is a ...

HTML, CSS Backgrounds on Squidoo

I am constantly striving to beautify my lenses. Just like many Squidooers starting out, my first lenses are a little plain looking. However there have been vast improvements within Squidoo itself since I began Squidoo in July 2008. For instant, "Text...

Lens Rank and Traffic on Squidoo

Now that I have learned how to improve on the aesthetics of my lenses, it is time to find traffic. Without the traffic to your Squidoo lens (or even website) it really doesn't matter how beautiful you make your lens. Even with the best quality...

Squidoo Widgets, PayPal and Tools

Squidoo has some great internal widget modules. But what if you wanted to add a Playlist or a different type of Amazon module? This is where external widgets come in. Once you get the hang of it, it becomes easy.

Squidoo is a different type of Squid...

Travel Lenses

Wisconsin - the 30th State

Wisconsin became a state on May 29, 1848. It is part of the twelve Midwestern States. Wisconsin borders two of the five Great Lakes (Lakes Superior and Lake Michigan) and four U.S. states (Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota). Wisconsin's capital...

Big Island of Hawaii

Aloha and welcome to beautiful island of Hawaii. This is also called the Big Island. We hope you enjoyed your 11 hour flight. Before you leave, make sure you have all your belongings. Check under your seats and the overhead cabinets.

Green Bay, Wisconsin

Here you will find that we are more than a football community. Although it might be interesting to know that we have the smallest city in the United States to host a professional sports team, the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay has a west and an east...

CafePress and Zazzle Lenses

Winter T-shirts and More

Mid-western weather can be long. We have nine months of winter and three months of construction. OK, maybe a slight exaggeration!

I feel forced to stay in my house. Walks with my dog have gone from three a day to zero. He is getting fat and I am get...

Christmas Gifts, Cafepress and More

August 2008, I discovered Cafepress.com. Then the addiction began! I opened my first shop. I had debated on if I should go with the paid or free shop. Now I am glad that I have chosen the free shops. The slang, "Build it and they will come" does not...

Anti-Valentine's T-shirts, Gifts & More

>I entered my designs in the Cafepress.com Anti-Valentines Design Contest. This is taken off the site. Entering your design is over, but the winner won't be determine yet.

Enter the Shopkeeper Anti-Valentine's Day Design Contest...

CafePress Shop Pros and Cons

August 29, 2008, the addiction to having a CafePress Shop began. After reading over the two types of shops, Basic and Premium, I decided to start out with the Basic shop. Not wanting to spend any money. I will explain the difference between the two...

Custom Keds Shoes and History

Ked shoes come in many styles.
* Lace Up
* Wedges
* Skimmers
* High Top
* Mary Jane
* Mule
* Boot
* Sandals

There are many custom shops where "you" as the shop owner get to create your own design. Zazzle is one of those shops for custom Keds shoes....

Zazzle Lenses

Custom Postage Stamps and History

Letters were first hand stamped or postmarked with ink. Postmarks were the invention of Henry Bishop and were at first called 'Bishop mark' after the inventor. Bishop marks were first used in 1661 at the London General Post Office. They marked the...

Zazzle Shop Pros and Cons

Jan 2, 2009, the addiction to having a Zazzle shop began. (Any reference to starting in Dec. 2008 were incorrect.) Zazzle offers a free shop to set up. Here, I will break down the pros and cons of Zazzle with some comparison to having a CafePress...

T-shirts on Zazzle

The American T-Shirt began during WWI when American troops noticed European soldiers wearing a comfortable and lightweight cotton undershirt during the hot and humid European summer days. Compared to the wool uniforms that the American soldiers wore,...

Dog T-shirts on Zazzle

New on Zazzle starting this Spring of 2009 are dog t-shirts. I found this out while visiting someone's Zazzle shop. Some of the products on Cafepress like the dog t-shirt, clocks and teddy bear, I had wished they were on Zazzle. Now Zazzle finally ha...

sandyspider's Zazzle Gallery Showcase

Living in the snow belt of Wisconsin where the weather can be harsh, can warp the mind! That is why my designs look a little twisted. I started my Zazzle site when we were having a record breaking snowfall for the winter of 2008-2009. I envisioned...

Made Giant Squid - Part 2

2009-07-02T21:13:00.012-05:00

Holiday and Winter Lenses

Christmas Tree History and More took 3rd place in a Squidoo lens contest.

Snowfall Records for December 2008

It is not just the United States, but all over the world, the weather has been a bit weird. There seems to be a cool down, despite the Global warming. In fact according to the Old Farmer's Almanac: Global cooling may be underway for winter 2008-2009...

Many Faces of Santa

Santa is a jolly, chubby, white bearded man in the red suit. Over the centuries, customs from different parts of the World have come together and created the Santa Claus as we know him - the ageless, timeless, deathless man who gives out gifts on...

Happy National Zucchini Day!

August 8 is National Zucchini Day or "Sneak Some Zucchini onto Your Neighbors' Porch Day." Due to overzealous planting of zucchini, citizens are asked to drop off baskets of the squash on neighbors' doorsteps. This might annoy some neighbors, but a...

Snow Shoveling Humor

December 8
6:00 PM. It started to snow. The first snow of the season and the wife and I took our cocktails and sat for hours by the window watching the huge soft flakes drift down from heaven. It looked like a Grandma Moses Print. So romantic we...

Christmas Tree History and More

This is what the modern Christmas tree looks like today. They come in all different sizes to suit the house or apartment. The Christmas tree can be fir, pine or spruce. And even an artificial one.
(Shown below) The First Christmas Trees! The last...

The SpiderWeb Lenses

Home Based Businesses & The SpiderWeb Marketing System

I've been involved in my home business for years.

Originally, I became involved in my home business because I was excited by the comfort of working from home I wanted to supplement my primary income I loved the idea of flexibility I desperately need...

The SpiderWeb Black Widow Venom

"Black Widow Spiders" video. Remember to come back here afterwards. Black Widow Video
When I joined The Spider Web Marketing System, there was no mention of The Black Widow Partnership Program. And even when I logged into the Spider Web, there was...

Implement the Marketing Strategies

Internet multi-level marketers, purposefully or not, side step the most efficient way to the use the internet and all that the internet offers to build business and social networks. Almost all MLM programs still rely on the old tactic of an ebook...

SpiderWeb vs. Other Systems

There are many different systems out there and the claims they make.

I've seen a lot of different schemes to make money on the Internet, and I know there are a lot out there that don't work. Personally, while investigating other systems in the indus...

Back Office Makes Things Easy

I want to tell you a little bit about an amazing tool that is put into your hands: The SpiderWeb Marketing System Back Office.

The SpiderWeb Marketing System Back Office is an extremely useful and powerful part of the most effective program in the...

MLM BBQ Nightmare!

Today I want to share with you a compelling story from Kimball Roundy, founder and inventor of The SpiderWeb Marketing System. It pretty much describes a lot of his struggles, and how he overcame them and established this awesome system. Personally,...

Dog Lenses

History of the Border Collie

Border Collies have been well known to farmers as early as the 1700-1800s. Border Collies are the descendants of herding dogs used in many countries to help shepherds manage huge flocks of sheep and other cattle. This breed of herding dog that origin...

History of the German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is considered to be one of the newer breeds of dogs. 1891 became the start of the breed that we know today. A group of shepherding dog enthusiasts in Germany formed the Phylax Society with the intention of creating standardized...

Border Collie Would Make a Great Vice President

Ringo Timm has been picked by Buddy Boy Mertens (German Shepherd) as his Canine Party vice presidential running mate, representing the Canine National Party. http://embracethehill.com
Just who is Ringo Timm?

Ringo is a 3...

German Shepherd Would Make a Great President

Buddy Boy Mertens, the presumptive Canine Party presidential nominee, has teamed up with Ringo Timm, (Border Collie) as his vice presidential running mate. Buddy and Ringo were the head of the pack at the Canine N...

Know Your German Shepherd

Is a German Shepherd right for you? How will you know unless you read the owner's manual? Too many pets are brought back to animal shelters or worse, because of inexperience owners. Not just the German Shepherd, but any pet. You need to know as much...

Best Dog Breeds on Twitter

The American Kennel Club has compiled a list of the top 10 dogs of the year for 2008. Will this list change for 2009 and beyond? The American Kennel Club, a not-for-profit organization that maintains the largest registry of purebred dogs in the world...

My Dog Turned 50

Buddy Boy (Buddy for short) joined our family in August 2003. Born February 2, 2002, he had come from two broken homes and was serving time on death roll at our local Humane Society when he found us. He was not a social dog with his own kind. Buddy w...

Everything Spider on Amazon

Spider Lens

Spider Fighting the Tradition

Spider fighting is a big sport in Japan and the Philippines.

The Kumo gassen is an annual traditional event of spider-wrestling match. This event is a long unbroken tradition for four hundred years. Most people in Kajiki rear samurai spider. All the...

Business, Marketing and Tips Lenses

The Ultimate SuperTip Exposed

Hello, my name is Sandy. I have been in the internet marketing business in some form off and on for the last few years. But I have never really taken it seriously until this year.

I've always thought that it would be great to be my own boss and work...

Dog Gone Missed Opportunity

Do you ever have one of those 'Dog gone missed opportunities'? This is when an opportunity comes along and you totally miss it. Then afterwords, you say to yourself, "Dog gone it! I missed it!"

This happened to me and I totally missed it. I failed...

Squidoo Queen Kelly Stone

Kelly Stones Squidoo Queen Version 2.1 Rocks the Market!

Find out how one very determined affiliate cracked the code to making easy money without any investment! The guru's despise her, her members love her and now she is bringing the blueprint...

Tagfoot Lens

The Best About Tagfoot Ever What is Tagfoot? Tagfoot is a no-nonsense social bookmarking, wishlisting, and tagging hangout where we find it, tag it, rate it, share it and talk about it. Free to join. Check it out and Join from my profile page

Education and College Lens

See where my daughter is going to college. Learn how to get the best deals on college textbooks. Lift off with Rockets for Schools.

Rockets For Schools

On May 3-4, 1996, Rockets for School program first launched in Sheboygan, Wisconsin. 240 students participated in the first state-based Rockets for Schools program. NASA Administrator Dan Goldin addressed the students, along with astronaut Mark Lee....

College and High Priced Textbooks

Our daughter is a Junior in College this year. She is going to a public university or state university (which ever way you want to say it). There is no way that we can afford a private college. Tuition this year for the Fall Semester went up another...

eBay Lens

eBay History Facts, Selling Weird and Bizarre

It was September 4, 1995 in San Jose, California, when a computer programmer Pierre Omidyar put up "AuctionWeb" as part of a website for his online consulting firm Echo Bay Technology Group. Omidyar tried to register the domain name EchoBay.com, but...

Eat Food and Watch TV Lenses

Homemade Chicken Noodle Soup

Chicken noodle soup has long been known as one of the best healthy comfort foods. When we think of chicken noodle soup, we feel emotionally secure. It is what our mother had given us when we were sick with a cold. Or even with the flu. I remember my...

Life on Mars TV Show

It is March 18, 2009. I just got done watching one of my favorite TV shows, "Life on Mars". At the end of the program it was announced that the final series episode will be on April 1, 2009. How fitting is that. Where have I been? I didn't even know...

BBQ Recipes for Your Grill

Summertime is the time for picnics and just cooking out in the backyard. Many people will grill hot dogs, hamburgers, brats, chicken, pork chops, steak,and fish.

Today, I will share with you a couple of barbecue recipes that are easy to make and so...

Pop Culture Lens

Pop Art History

Pop art is an art that has regained popularity. The history of pop art emerged in the mid 1950s in Britain and in the 1960s in the United States. Now in the 2000s, pop art has regained popularity.

Pop art is about techniques of commercial art it...

Authors and Books Lenses

My Top 10 Robin Cook Books

Medicine and science fiction has always been a fascination to me.

I have an interest in the human body and how it works, especially the brain. The brain is the most complex organ in our body. It is the commander of how the rest of the organs...

My Top 10 Stephen King Books

Stephen King is one of my favorite authors. The first book of his that I read was "Carrie." Not the newer version, but his first published novel in 1974. Money was tight and and he had almost given up. Since then he has written more than 50 books. Ma...

Robin Cook's Coma (1977)

The story line is about patients who check into Boston Memorial Hospital for routine operations and not checking out. Instead they are hanging in a room, in a coma like state. Never to wake up again.

Coma takes place in the mid 1970's. Dr. Susan Whe...

Family and About Me Lens

In Case of Fire What Would We Save?

For the Rocket Moms Advanced Friday Lens Challenge #2, we are to write about what we would take with us if our house would burn down.

Of course there is the obvious choice that we must go beyond: The Computer, family and pets, money and valuables...

American Kennel Club Top 10 Dogs

2009-06-13T17:22:00.009-05:00

#1: Labrador Retriever
Intelligent and family-friendly Labrador retriever is the most popular breed in the United States for the 18th consecutive year, according to AKC. This breed is also used as guide dogs for the blind, rescue teams, and in narcotics detection. Regular grooming is needed and weighs between 55-70 pounds.

#2: Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terriers offer big personalities in a small package. They like to investigative and energetic. They have long coats that require regular brushing. Yorkshires travels well and makes a suitable pet for many homes. These dogs weigh around 4-7 pounds.

#3: German Shepherd
The German shepherd is the leading police, guard and military dog. This breed is a loyal family pet, herder and show competitor. Energetic and fun-loving, though is a protective dog. They require regular exercise and grooming. Weigh between 49-88 pounds. Click Here to Get "Your Total German Shepherd Dog, A Pet Owner's Guide Right Now"!

#4: Golden Retriever
The golden retriever possesses great intelligence and an eager-to-please attitude. She is a useful hunting companion, service and search-and-rescue dog. She has a water-repellent double coat that sheds seasonally and needs regular brushing. Weigh between 55-80 pounds.

#5: Beagle
A great hunting dog. Beagles are happy-go-lucky and friendly, making them a wonderful family pet. They are curious dogs and often follow their noses. A beagle needs daily activity. The average weight is 22-25 pounds.

#6: Boxer
The boxer is a powerful dog with an intelligent and alert expression. The boxer loves to be with people, though protective. He is an active dog that needs daily exercise. Weighs in at around 55 - 70 pounds

#7: Dachshund
The dachshund is a lovable, playful companion with a keen sense of smell. Known for their long and low bodies, they are eager hunters. Depending on the variety, they can weigh around 11-32 pounds.

#8: Bulldog
These dogs are popular due to their lovable and gentle dispositions. They have massive, short-faced heads and adorable wrinkles. A bulldog requires minimal grooming and exercise. An English Bulldog weighs between 49-55 pounds.

#9: Poodle
The poodle requires frequent grooming, though her coat is also hypoallergenic, which may reduce allergic reactions. The breed is exceptionally smart, hardy and excels in obedience training. The poodle comes in a variety of sizes from the Miniature Poodle to Standard Poodle. The larger dogs weigh between 45-75 pounds.

#10: Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu has a long, flowing double coat that needs daily brushing. Shih Tzu is sweet and playful, but not afraid to stand up for himself! A great companion and house pet. Weighing between 9-16 pounds and requires minimal exercise.

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