Pickup lines are hard to pull off, no matter what age you are. The wrong pickup line will have women running in the opposite direction, leaving you feeling awkward and embarrassed. You will probably only have one chance to get it right, so make the most of it by effectively employing the pickup lines in these 30 blogs.

Cheesiest Pickup Lines

Effective pickup lines are an art form, and require perfect composition and delivery. Sometimes a cheesy pickup line will get a strong reaction, albeit, for all the wrong reasons. Making a woman laugh is one thing, but making her laugh as she’s walking away is quite another. Cheesy pickup lines are a risk, however, they can work in the right circumstances. These five blogs explore some of the most cringe-worthy pickup lines ever delivered.

• Pickup lines: What works, what’s obnoxious and what’s just creepy
• 10 Sweet Pick Up Lines to Use in a Public Place
• Funny, Cute, Flattering and Cheesy Pick-up Lines!
• 17 funny yet possibly effective pickup lines
• Stupid pick up lines

Romance is the Word

If you are looking for romance, cut to the chase with a line like Cupid’s arrow, straight to the heart. The great thing about romantic pickup lines is that if she’s also in the market for something long term, the right line will strike a chord with her and help ignite that initial spark between you. There is a fine line between romantic and cheesy here, so tread carefully and don’t go over the top. Love doesn’t have to be a battlefield; the sweeter side is perfectly expressed in these five blogs with a collection of cute and romantic pickup lines.

• Top 20 Romantic Pick-Up Lines for Guys
• Romantic Pick Up Lines
• Romantic Chat Up Lines
• Top 10 Romantic Pick-Up Lines to Steal a Lady’s Heart
• Romantic Pick Up Lines and Valentine’s Day Tips

Clever Ice Breakers

If you want success in your love life, you’re going to have to rely on more than your heart and wit. One of the most important aspects of a successful pickup line is its ability to break down barriers. The collections of pickup lines in these five blogs are innovative, clever and designed to act as perfect icebreakers. Approaching the world of dating in middle age can be daunting, but these snappy lines might actually work to your advantage.

• The BEST Pick Up Line Ever
• I Can’t Believe This Pick-Up Line Actually Worked
• The Best Ice Breaker Pick Up Lines
• The best worst travel pick-up lines
• 60 Great Pick Up Lines: Most Original, Ordinary, and Outrageous

Online Dating, Dos and Don’ts

Online dating sites present a bit of problem when using pickup lines as a way of getting over the initial dating hurdle. There is no face to face interaction, which means that you lose the option of expressing yourself through body language and tone of voice. All you are left with is your words, so a lot of pickup lines just won’t work properly. Luckily, the expert advice in these five blogs will guide you safely through the dos and don’ts of online pickup lines.

• Online Dating Pick Up Lines You Should Never Use (Including Real Life Examples!)
• Online Dating: Pick Up Lines from the Guys, Part II.
• Top 10: Worst Pickup Lines
• So pick up lines still exist in online dating
• Please Put Down the Pickup Lines

Worst Pickup Lines Ever

Some pickup lines are just plain wrong. The composition is sloppy or offensive, or the delivery makes everyone involved feel awkward. This is a situation that you will want to avoid at all costs. Remember, you only have a small window of opportunity to make an impression. Before you put yourself out there, read these five blogs for some of the worst pickup lines ever conceived and a basic idea of what not to say.

• Worst Pickup Lines Ever
• Top Ten Worst Pickup Lines
• Very, Very Bad Pickup Lines
• I Lost My Phone Number, Can I Have Yours?
• 50 nerdy pick-up lines

Boys and Their Toys and Hobbies

Sometimes it’s easier to deliver a pickup line if you are already playing on your strengths. By focusing on what you know, you will come across much more confidently. Some of these pickup lines are cheesy, while others are creative or romantic. The pickup lines in these five blogs all follow a theme, which – in the right situation – could make for a killer line.

• Wanna Ride On My Harley?
• Do high-price sports cars attract or repel women?
• Top 15 Science Fiction Geek Pickup Lines
• 16 Marketing Pick-Up Lines to Snag Your Next Hot Date
• Star Wars Pickup Lines

Do you love reading, but lack the time to do it?  Instead of trying to tackle a lengthy novel, why not try reading some short stories instead? You can find tons of free short stories online in every genre, ranging from romance to fantasy to sci-fi. Many of these blogs upload different free stories on a regular basis, so you can bookmark them and check back from time to time as they post new stories.  If you are looking for stories to read to your kids, you can also find free kid’s stories online for every age group.  Often, new authors who are trying to build a following will do so by publishing free short stories, making it easy to find some really interesting new stories online.  These 28 blog posts include free selections to get you started.

Romance

If you are looking for something quick to read before bed or on your coffee break, these stories might fit the bill. These short romances range in spiciness, so find ones that are to your liking by checking out several different authors and blogs.  The following seven blog entries are full of heated romance and cover a variety of topics that you may enjoy.

• Seductive Deception
• A Cup of Coffee and the Warmth of Free Reads
• Kept
• Romancing the Weekend
• A Valentine Promise—A Free Short Story from Flirty & Feisty Romance
• The Blind Werewolf Lover by Marcy Jacks
• Free Short Story Read: A Clean Romance

Fantasy

Fantasy stories usually deal with imaginary worlds full of magic and people blessed with other worldly gifts and powers. You may get some genre bending in some of these stories, combining fantasy and sci-fi or fantasy and romance. Some of these stories have to be downloaded to your computer and others you can read on the screen. You can even print some of them out and take them with you to read later.  See if you can find any new authors to read on these seven blog articles.

• Sea Oak
• The Best of January’s Short Stories (That You Can Read for Free Online)
• Free Short Story
• The Gray Road, a Free YA Short Story—Part of Project Unicorn
• Free Short Story
• Free Short Story on Smashwords
• Free Short Story

Sci-Fi

If the murky world of aliens and outer space has always interested you, then sci-fi short stories will be right up your alley. Futuristic weapons, time travel and extraterrestrial beings are hallmarks of sci-fi, but they aren’t the only components that make up this genre. For more sci-fi reading, check out these seven blog entries.

• The Water that Falls On You from Nowhere
• Master Stargazer—Currently #3 on Amazon Free Sci-Fi Short Stories
• Interweave
• The Light—a Sci-Fi Short Story
• My Free Short Story, and the Best Sci-Fi Novels of 2012
• Free Short Story: Sci-Fi Dark Fantasy Tale Masters of Chaos
• Free Short Story—The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction

Kids

Whether you are looking for stories to read to your kids at bedtime or stories that your kids might want to read on their own, you can find them on these seven blog posts.  Many children’s authors make their debut online, publishing short stories for the enjoyment of creating fun stuff for kids to read. Pulling different short stories from online may help your child figure out what kind of stories he really likes.  Take a look and find one to read tonight.

• Free Download Auto Shop Boys: A Collection of Short Stories a Thesis Lesson Planning
• Free Short Story & More
• 10 Free Short Stories by George Saunders, Author of Tenth of December, “The Best Book You’ll Read this Year”
• Cory Doctorow, Little Brother
• Top 5 Sites to Free Download Short Stories for Kids on Christmas
• FREE Short Story of the Week
• Children’s Stories—Fun Online

In this day and age, time is more valuable than ever. Even so, it’s still important to make sure that your family is eating good, healthy foods that won’t break the bank. Here are ten food items you probably buy on a weekly basis that you easily can make at home. The homemade version will not include the same chemical additives and questionable preservatives that processed foods do, and they’re far tastier! What’s even better is that you can make them unique to the tastes of you and your family, skipping ingredients you don’t like and bumping up the ratios of those that you prefer.

1. Spaghetti Sauce – Spaghetti sauce in a jar can come in handy as a quick fix, but it costs more than the ingredients used and almost never has the same quality of flavor as homemade. Instead, pick up some fresh or canned tomatoes and create your own. Just add a few of your favorite Italian spices and voila! Now you have delicious homemade spaghetti sauce. The leftovers usually stretch a little farther with a batch of homemade sauce, too.
2. Salsa – Along the same lines as spaghetti sauce, salsa is a no brainer. Mild is too mild, medium is either still too hot or more mild than you’d want and hot is too much to handle. So, solve the problem by creating your own homemade salsa. It only requires a handful of ingredients, and doesn’t take much time at all. You can add or subtract from any ingredients of the recipe you have on hand until you have restaurant-quality salsa at your fingertips.
3. Frosting – The frosting for your child’s birthday cake may be easy to get from a can, but it will taste better if made by hand. Just a few ingredients create almost the same taste, or better! It’s also a fun activity to do with your child. It gives them that much more to appreciate about their birthday, and allows you to control the ingredients so that chemicals and preservatives aren’t invited to the party.
4. Gravy – Store-bought gravy is a waste of money. If you are cooking the meat in a slow cooker, a saucepan or the oven, the gravy will practically create itself. Use the juices from the meat and mix either cornstarch or flour until it gets to the consistency you like. There you go, homemade gravy that isn’t loaded down with salt like the store-bought jars tend to be.
5. Bottled Iced Tea – Bottled drinks are hard to get behind in general, but iced tea tops the list. Most teas can be brewed to create your favorite iced tea flavors in practically no time. There are even some brands that carry cold-brew iced tea, so you don’t even have to take the time to boil water beforehand. If you live in a warmer climate, or if it’s summer, you can also brew your tea with the power of the sun. Simply fill a container with water, add the number of tea bags you’d like to use and let it sit in a patch of sunshine for a few hours. Be sure to check on it regularly until it reaches the desired strength.
6. Flavored Milk – It’s a given that kids love chocolate and strawberry milk, but there’s no reason to buy it that way. Instead, get chocolate sauce or strawberry syrup so your kids can create their own. It’s a fun game for them and it won’t waste milk. Your child may promise to drink an entire gallon of flavored milk, but why would you want him to? Chances are you’ll be sending half of that milk down the drain, and if he finishes the gallon he’s unnecessarily loading himself with sweeteners and additives. Purchasing regular milk means that your child can create his own flavored version instead of keeping three separate gallons in the fridge.
7. Bread Crumbs – It may seem more convenient at first blush, but you can create your own breadcrumbs instead of spending $5 on a can of them with very little fuss. They will taste better when they’re fresh, and you can season them yourself if you’d like to add some flavor.
8. French Fries – Frozen French fries are hit or miss. They are usually packed with preservatives and additives that you and your family probably shouldn’t be eating on a regular basis. So, create your own! Just pick up a few potatoes, julienne them to the desired size and fry or bake them. This will also ensure that you only make as much as you need at the moment.
9. Salad Kits – It’s tempting to pick up those premade salad kits at the grocery store, but before you do, think about how much you’re spending on half a portion of salad. Instead, go back down the produce aisle and pick out a head of lettuce and whatever other veggies you’d like to add. Keeping things separate will allow everyone in the family to put what they want on their own salads instead of picking through a premade version, and you’ll save a bundle in the process.
10. Trail Mix – Again, the preservatives used to keep these ingredients “fresh” are enough to make even laid-back moms gasp. Instead, get creative and craft your own version of the tasty snack with a food dehydrator and some imagination.

Some foods are necessary to buy at a store, but these are simple ones you can make on your own that can be customized to fit your tastes. Leave the jars and bottles behind, and pave your own way to healthier, more delicious foods.

In a sea of mega-chain coffee shops with an identical footprint taking over the landscape, it’s easy to miss some of the impressive local, independent chains around the country. These are 10 of the most celebrated local chains in the United States, each of which is worth trying out if you find yourself in the area.

1. Firestorm Cafe And Books, Asheville, North Carolina – Rated one of the 10 Coolest Independent Coffee Shops Across the US by Zagat in 2011, Firestorm Cafe & Books in Asheville, North Carolina is widely regarded as one of the coolest spots in town. A worker-owned and managed business, Firestorm brings something of the counter culture to every cup of coffee.
2. Joe the Art of Coffee, New York and Philadelphia – There’s something about coffee culture and New York City that go hand in hand, a theory further proven by the minds behind the Joe chain. The winners of a 2013 Good Food Award for their Ethiopian Camp roast and new digs in Philadelphia make the decade-old Joe the Art of Coffee a local chain to watch.
3. Ritual Coffee Roasters, San Francisco, California – With beans sourced from Central America, South America and Africa, Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco boasts three locations around the region and consistently wins awards for their high-quality brew.
4. Bongo Java, Nashville, Tennessee – The original Bongo Java location in Nashville, Tennessee is the Music City’s oldest coffee company, established in 1993. Since then, the chain has grown to encompass a Bongo Java Roasting Company, Fido, Cafe East and Grins Vegetarian Cafe.
5. Mary Lou’s Coffee Shop, Massachusetts – The first Mary Lou’s coffee shop was opened in 1986 in Hanover, Massachusetts. Since then, the chain has expanded to include 31 locations in the region. The baristas at Mary Lou’s are the talk of the South Shore, as employee culture at Mary Lou’s is paramount to the chain’s success.
6. Sumptown, Portland, Oregon – Sumptown started as a local chain in Portland, Oregon, but has since expanded to the Atlantic coast as well. Currently, there’s a roaster in Red Hook, New York and two locations in Manhattan. Sumptown beans are served in cafes around the country, from big-box chains to mom-and-pop brew shops.
7. Gimme! Coffee, New York, New York – Gimme! is a New York-based chain that strives to bring high-end, craft coffee products to consumers in the area. Artisanal roasting and a unique “farm to cup” bean program sets Gimme! above the competition in many ways, as do their beloved and knowledgeable baristas.
8. Octane Coffee, Atlanta, Georgia – With three locations in Atlanta and one Birmingham, Alabama location, Octane is a local coffee chain that serves their own roasts and local bakery treats. The menu has recently expanded to include craft-beer dinners and a unique line of coffee cocktails.
9. Spyhouse Coffee, Minneapolis, Minnesota – With both pour-over and Chemex drips and three locations, Spyhouse is a hot chain serving coffee aficionados in the Minneapolis area.
10. Commonplace Coffee Co. House and Roasters, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – Owned by couple Julie and TJ Fairchild, the Pittsburgh-based Commonplace Coffee Roasters chain now boasts locations in Indiana, PA and Pittsburgh. Dedicated to bringing a cup of coffee that’s anything but commonplace to the residents of Pittsburgh, the Fairchilds are true connoisseurs with a genuine love for their employees and customers alike.

If you don’t live in any of these cities, you may still have a stellar local chain in your own area that you’re as yet unaware of. It never hurts to do a bit of digging to find an independent business or two in your neighborhood worth supporting, especially if you normally get your morning fix from a crowded, impersonal national chain.

Everyone has their own individual interests, but there are some who take those interests to a bizarre and unsettling level. These are 10 of the most unusual attachments documented, obsessions that their bearers have taken to entirely new and awkward heights.

1. Mermaids – Mermaids are the stuff of glorious, graceful legend. From the protagonist of animated blockbusters to the dangerous legends said to prey on sailors, there’s something enchanting about the idea of these fish/human hybrids. 22-year-old Crystal River, Florida native Eric Ducharme is so obsessed with mermaids and mermen, however, that he dons homemade tails rendered in exquisite detail to spend as much time as possible in the water.
2. Music – Music can make you smarter, set the mood and is the centerpiece of many people’s lives. For Swedish metal devotee Roger Tullgren, however, his love of harsh metal is classified by the government as an addiction so severe it’s actually a handicap. He receives supplemental income from the government and a dispensation to listen to loud music while he works as a dishwasher in a restaurant.
3. Video Games – As technology advances and the way that video games are distributed changes, it’s no surprise that they’re taking over more and more of the average person’s free time. The seedy underbelly of video game addiction entails more than a nagging case of carpal tunnel and a body that’s out of shape due to such sedentary pursuits; children and adults alike have actually been known to kill one another over video games, while others have died of exhaustion. Addiction to video games even led 15-year-old Ionut Silviu Savin to stab his adoptive mother 17 times after she canceled his Internet subscription in a bid to end his affair with online gaming.
4. Extreme Body Modification – Once the bastion of sailors and convicts, tattoos and other body modification are slowly evolving into a more socially acceptable means of expressing individuality. For a Montreal native known as “Zombie Boy” and others like him, however, tattoos are a very real obsession. Zombie Boy, whose real name is Rick Genest, has embarked upon the lengthy and unsettling project of turning his body into a partially decomposed zombie by way of tattoos and modification.
5. Plastic Surgery – Nips, tucks, a bit of Botox here or a collagen shot there are becoming the norm for a society obsessed with the preservation of youth and aesthetic perfection. Addicts and obsessive fans of plastic surgery like Jocelyn Wildenstein, however, take elective operations to a more bizarre plane. Wildenstein has spent more than four million dollars on procedures to make her look more like a cat.
6. Shopping – A bit of retail therapy now and then generally does more good than harm, but that’s not the case for shopping addicts. Compulsive shopping is recognized as an actual medical condition, which experts refer to as oniomania.
7. Hair Dryers – Of all the things to be obsessed with, few are as strange as Lori Broady’s fixation on her hair dryer. From the age of eight, Broady has been unable to sleep unless the hair dryer was turned on next to her in the bed, even though she has burned herself so severely in the past that she has scars from the encounters.
8. Animal Hoarding – Hoarding is a compulsion to collect objects that can take over the lives of the sufferers, but few obsessions are as heartbreaking as that of the animal hoarder. The majority of animal hoarders are middle-aged women, who often live in deplorable conditions that keep them from being able to care for their animals properly. Their homes become filled with animal waste and, under extreme conditions, the bodies of animals that have died.
9. Cars – There are plenty of car enthusiasts out there, but none quite as obsessive as a man named Nathaniel that starred in a 2012 episode of TLC’s series My Strange Addiction. He claims to be in a romantic relationship with his car, which he’s named “Chase.”
10. Vampirism – Fanatics of a certain sparkling vampire franchise might seem to be unhealthily attached to their sanguinary heroes, but none have as yet been found guzzling a glass of pig’s blood. That’s not the case for Lancaster, California resident Michelle, who is obsessed with drinking blood and appeared on the fourth season finale of My Strange Addiction.

There’s no shame in having a hobby, but these 10 people have moved far beyond the normal, healthy boundaries that most enthusiasts keep in place.

Divorce is something that no married couple ever wants to go into without considering all other options first. There are no winners in a divorce, so exploring all your options and seeking reconciliation, if possible, is the preferable course of action. When it becomes apparent, however, that the marriage is over, both parties need to enter proceedings fully prepared. These 20 blogs are for couples who are going through separation and thinking about filing for divorce.

Considering Separation: What You Need to Know

Separation is often the first step that couples take before filing for divorce. Whether the separation is for an agreed-upon trial period, or is a precursor to filing for divorce, married couples need to prepare for what’s ahead. Talk it over with your spouse, and seriously consider what is best for both of you before making definite decisions on your future. These four blogs will help you decide on how you move forward and will help prepare you for life without your spouse.

• Divorce Test
• My Husband Is Living In Our Home – Doesn’t He Owe Something For This?
• Separation: Tips to Help
• Divorce and Separation: Being On Your Own Again

Reconciliation Attempts

Many married couples will attempt to reconcile their differences in order to save their marriage before divorce becomes a real consideration. This is a very stressful period for both husband and wife, as uncertainty about the future and ghosts from the past put strains on an already fragile relationship. This stage of a break-up determines the future of your marriage, so think carefully before committing to any major decisions. These four blogs are aimed at those married couples who are attempting to save their marriage.

• Divorce and Reconciliation Attempts
• The Divorce Life-Cycle Stage 5: Reconciliation
• Breaking Up Is Hard To Do: How Can You Call Your Divorce Quits If You Decide to Reconcile
• ATTEMPTING TO SAVE YOUR MARRIAGE

Children and Divorce

When there are children involved, divorce is no longer just about the wants and needs of the husband and wife. Regardless of your feelings for each other, both of you must look after the emotional wellbeing of your children. They will need support from both parents, and reassurance that they are not to blame for your decision to separate. These four blogs will guide you through how to help your children cope with separation and divorce. There are also accounts from the child’s perspective, which is something that all married couples need to consider.

• Helping kids cope with the split.
• Children Of Divorce Are Anything But Resilient
• Talking to your child about divorce – Children and Divorce Series
• Cause and Effect

Dividing Possessions and Assets

Divorce does not just deal with the emotional and interpersonal break up of a marriage, but the material aspects, too. Possessions and assets need to be divided, preferably in a way is fair and agreeable to both parties. There are many different factors that come into play when it comes to dividing assets, such as prenuptial agreements, property rights and investments. There is no simple template for how assets are divided; however, it is in your best interest to learn your rights and responsibilities. These four blogs deal with the distribution of property and assets in the case of divorce.

• Division of Property and Debt in Divorce
• Division of Marital Property in a Divorce: Part 2
• New Tax Changes May Affect the Division of Assets in Your Divorce
• The Importance of Pleading Certificates of Pending Litigation

Filing for Divorce: What You Need to Do

If you and your spouse have made all attempts to reconcile without success, then it may be time to file for divorce. A long drawn out divorce does not benefit either party, so knowing how to file for divorce and getting the proceedings over with as quickly as possible is preferable. Remember, until your divorce is finalized you are still husband and wife. There are laws that you must abide by and procedures to follow. These four blogs deal with the actual process of filing for divorce and what you need to do.

• How to File for Divorce
• 4 Questions To Ask Yourself Before Filing For Divorce [EXPERT]
• Residency requirements to file for Divorce
• The Basic Steps To Filing for Divorce

Barring a successful reconciliation, an amicable divorce is best all around – especially if there are children involved. It is understandable that one or both parties may feel hurt, betrayed or vulnerable because of the break up, too, so give each other the space that each of you needs.

Maybe you’ve always liked to take pictures and want to take your photo shooting abilities to the next level, but have never had any formal training.  If you don’t know where to start, don’t worry, it’s not as hard as you might think.  First things first, you’ll need to make sure that you have the right equipment.  Once you have your gear, you’ll need to shoot a lot of pictures.  Practice.  Practice.  Practice.  Thankfully, with the invention of the digital camera, you see your pictures immediately and can shoot as many as you want without it costing you a thing.  While you are practicing, you might want to take a little advice from the experts on these 30 blog entries.

Equipment

It’s not necessary to go out and buy the most advanced and expensive camera that they have on the market.  However, you do need to have a little better equipment than just a point-and-shoot camera if you want to go to the next level, because fancier cameras allow you to do more with your pictures.  Other equipment, like a light meter, is helpful.  Check out these five blog posts and see what else the experts recommend.

1. 10 Tips for Buying Camera Gear on eBay
2. Tips for Buying Used Camera Equipment
3. Inside Product Photography Advice: Photographing Camera Equipment
4. Buying Photography Equipment – 3 Vital Tips to Buy The Right Equipment
5. Photo Tips—Photography Equipment; When to Buy It

Landscapes

What’s the difference between an amateur taking a picture of a sunset and a professional photographer shooting the same sunset?  The amateur can just point and click with his camera and may end up with a slightly dark photo.  The professional, on the other hand, has made some adjustments to her camera so that she allows the most light into her shot.  For more tips from the experts, take a look at these five blog articles.

1. 5 Tips for Getting Sharper Images
2. Interview With Jay & Varina Patel- Landscape Photographers Extraordinaire
3. Check Out These Awesome Photography Tips and Tricks
4. 5 Ways to Improve Your Photography Without Touching Your Camera
5. Top Tips for Landscape Photography

Kids

Professional photographers have a way of capturing the cutest shots of kids, and you’d probably like to know their secrets.  The biggest secret is to shoot the kids while they are playing.  Check out these five blog posts for some expert tips to help you capture professional looking pictures of your own kids.

1. 10 Tips for Photographing Children’s Parties
2. 5 Tips for Photographing Children
3. Tips on Photographing Expressive Children
4. Easy Tips for Photographing Little Kids
5. Cut the Cheese: 5 Tips for Photographing Kids

Food

Photographing food can be difficult.  You not only need to style the food in an appealing way so that it looks totally delicious, but you need to light it properly.  Pictures of food often end up looking dark, which makes the food look gray and unappealing.  Lighting can be tricky, but here are some tips from these five bloggers that might help improve your food photos.

1. 5 Tips for Photographing Food (from a Very Amateur Photographer)
2. Finding the Right Light
3. Top Tips for Photographing Food with Jamie Oliver
4. Easy Tips for Photographing Food
5. 5 Tips for Food Photography

Nature

When shooting nature shots, you need to get up early in the morning when the light is at its best.  If you wait too long, you’ll end up getting lots of shadows in your pictures because the sun is too high.  While walking around outside in the rain doesn’t sound like a lot of fun, rainy days actually do provide a nice light to photograph in.  For other tips and tricks, check out these five blog posts.

1. Tips and Tricks: Shooting in Winter with Kathleen Clemons 
2. 6 Tips for Photographing Shorebirds
3. Photographing Roses: Some Experiences and Tips
4. 7 Tips for Shooting and Selling Nature Stock Photography
5. Photographing Waves or Swells—Do You Know the Difference?

Nighttime

There’s something about night photography that is so much more dramatic than daytime photography.  Maybe it’s the mystery of what you can’t see or the twinkle of the lights.  Shooting pictures at night is tricky; here are some tips from the experts that can help.

1. Low Light Photography Tips: Shooting Landscape
2. Tips and Tricks for Night Photography
3. Tips for Shooting at Night
4. 7 Photographers Share Tips for Shooting in Low Light
5. 10 Tips for Shooting the Lights at Night

In the world of blogging, it is an unwritten rule that you must not deviate from your niche audience. However, when it comes to mommy bloggers, no such rule exists. There is a wealth of crossover in mommy blogs, which isn’t surprising given how much moms do in an average day. Mommy bloggers can delve into areas ranging from childcare and education to technology and transport. These 35 blogs are examples of exactly how versatile mommies are. You will discover tips on parenting from pregnancy right through to teenage years and beyond, along with inspiration for creating your own mom blog.

Pregnancy Blogs

Pregnancy blogs are where most mommies first cut their teeth in the online world. It helps to document the experience, and at the same time it provides valuable tips for other mommies who are searching for pregnancy information. It doesn’t do any harm to have a quick reference guide for your next child, either. These six blogs cover a number of topics; however, the main focus of each is on pregnancy.

• Pregnancy Blog
• A Little Pregnant
• Milk Friendly
• The Unnecesarean
• Dear Baby
• Digital Mom Blog

New-Born and Toddler Blogs

Every mommy needs support when caring for newborns and toddlers. So who better to get it from than other mommies who have already been there? The blogs here were created with new mommies in mind, which means lots of tips on breastfeeding, sleepless nights and budgeting for your baby. New-baby bloggers come from across the parenting spectrum, making this a hugely competitive niche.

• Chronicles of a Babywise Mom
• Baby Care Blog
• Young Mommies Blogs
• Rookie Moms
• New Mommy Oasis
• Dear Baby Blog

Children’s Food and Wellbeing

If there is one thing that all mommies eventually learn, it is how to come up with creative recipes for kids. Of course, nutritional eating is a concern for mommies, too. This niche is a collection of mommy bloggers who love creating, cooking and writing about food. If you are looking for ideas for recipes, or you think you could write your own mommy recipe blog, then these six blogs will give you the inspiration you need.

• Full Bellies, Happy Kids
• Kids Cooking and Cookbook Blog
• Jamie and Jen Dish it Out
• Playing Kitchen Blog
• Easy Kids Recipes
• Mom’s Kitchen Cooking

Personal Mommy Blogs

Nobody does personal blogs better than a mommy. These types of blogs typically chronicle the day-to-day trials and tribulations of parenting. It is the unique, personal voice, however, that keeps other mommies coming back to read every day. Personal mommy blogs are more like parenting groups than traditional blogs, in a lot of respects. These six mommy bloggers create a personal connection with their audience, while also providing invaluable parenting tips.

• And Then She Snapped
• The Floundering SAHM
• Dancing and Dishes
• Unscripted
• The Self-Help Mom
• Autumn at Oak Hollow

Parenting Teenagers

A house full of teenagers is a hot-bed of charged energy and activity. Any parent who is raising teenage children will testify to needing a little outside perspective every now and again. This is a subject that only the veteran mommies should tackle. These six bloggers have all been through the wars, so you can be sure that they know how to handle even the most petulant of teens. You can also tell by some of the names in this list that these mommies haven’t lost their sense of humor, either.

• Advice for Parenting Blog
• The Meanest Mom
• Mom to the Screaming Masses
• Annie Fox’s Blog
• Family Matters
• Radical Parenting

The Key to Coping with Multiple Children

These blogs are focused more towards generally coping with multiple children. This is another huge niche in the blogging market. However, there is still plenty of room for fresh perspective from new mommy bloggers. Many of these bloggers talk about their experiences with new technologies and advancements in parenting, which is what keeps the content fresh. These six top-ranking blogs are from some of the mommies who share their experience and tips on raising multiple children.

• Mommy for Two
• Planet Mom
• I’m a Lazy Mom
• Our Kids Mom
• The Playgroup is No Place for Kids

For years, mothers have been working hard at home and getting paid in kisses and hugs. Thanks to the Internet, modern moms can still collect payments of hugs and kisses while making a bit of cold, hard cash on the side. There is money to made from blogging, and moms have a lot of knowledge and information that others will pay to access. If you’ve wondered about ways you could stay at home with the kids and still have a reasonable income, consider these ideas for blogging.

1. Review Products for Amazon.com – This method of earning money can generate residual income over time. Basically, you will write reviews for products you are already familiar with. Whenever someone buys something that you recommend, you get paid a commission. When the customer comes through your site, even if they don’t buy the recommended item but go on to make another purchase, you will still get paid.
2. Use Adsense with Your Product Reviews – When you set up a site with product reviews, you can generate extra income by using Adsense on your site. These ads will complement the item you are reviewing and you will get paid each time someone clicks on the ads. Payment can range as high as $1 to $5 per click. If your site has high traffic, this can generate a substantial income over time.
3. Become an Expert – If you have a topic that you are passionate about or something that you are very familiar with, you can blog about the subject. Focus on growing a community of followers, and be sure to use social media like Facebook and Twitter to help. Once you have a thriving community of followers you can promote products like ebooks and instructional videos to start earning income. It may take some time to get this ball rolling, but it will be worth it in the long run.
4. Blog About Your Life and Experiences – Television is rife with “reality” shows in which viewers get to watch so-called private lives. Humans are very curious creatures that love looking into the lives of others. You can take advantage of this by blogging about your life as it happens. As you contact readers about various items that you use along the way via marketing resources, you will find many of your readers will purchase items based on your suggestions.
5. Blog for Others – There are sites that will pay you to write blog entries for them in order to generate quality content. Pay varies from site to site; you just need to make sure your payments will be secure.
6. Elance – This is a site that you can join where they match your interests with employers who are looking for writers. The nice thing about this site is that you can create a profile that includes all of your expertise.
7. Guru – This company also supplies you with a list of employers looking for writers. You can choose whether or not to bid on the projects and a paid membership will grant you access to dozens of opportunities on a regular basis.
8. Online Spokesperson – Digital media has opened up many doors for moms to share their expertise with others. Companies are beginning to reach out to more bloggers to promote their products now, because the traditional methods don’t have the high returns on investments that some digital efforts are showing. If you have or can generate a large following, then you may have what it takes to become a spokesperson for a particular brand.
9. Sponsored Content – Join a blogger network program, such as One 2 One, Role Mommy or Mom Select, and connect with brands or companies who are willing to pay you to blog about their products. You will need to disclose that you received payment for sponsored content.
10. Craigslist – Occasionally you will find opportunities for freelance writing jobs on Craigslist. Beware of the scams; you should never have to pay for the opportunity to write for someone else unless you are signing up for a clearinghouse service such as Guru or Elance, and even then basic membership is free.
11. Get Local – You don’t need to go after the giants in order to make money. Local businesses would also like to get recognized, and you can help them do that by allowing them to advertise on your site for a nominal fee.
12. Share Your Knowledge – Take advantage of your abilities by sharing what you know with others around you. Smaller businesses may not be aware of or know how to generate more customers by having an online presence. Share your knowledge with them and show how a blog can help generate a larger customer base. Market yourself and your expertise.
13. Use Your Creativity – If you are the creative type, you may find that blog design is a field that you can excel in. Don’t be afraid to test the waters. Create a portfolio and go out and find your customers while using your own blog as an active example of your work.
14. Online Consulting – As an online consultant, you aren’t just blogging about your expertise; you are also sharing it with others and getting paid to help them develop in that area. You can market your advice to novices who are anxious to learn the ropes. You get to set your own hours and fees.
15. Ask for Donations – It works! There are some bloggers who set up a donation station on their site and let their readers know what they need the money for to encourage donations.  If you have a project in need of funding, consider a crowd funding source such as Indiegogo.com. Your blogging will keep donors up to date on how the project is coming along.

More and more people are looking for ways to work from home to avoid commuting to an office, having to pay for daycare or having to relocate to find a better employment climate. With the job market and economy still struggling to rebound, people are more inclined to hold less traditional positions. This has resulted in more people getting business savvy and making a decent living to boot. These are just a small sampling of the things you can do to make money from the comfort and convenience of your own home.

1. Open an Online Boutique – If you’re the creative type, take those skills online. You can purchase a domain and start your own online boutique, or you can take advantage of artisan sites like Etsy to sell your handmade products.
2. Hold a Virtual Garage Sale – Instead of waiting until garage sale season, try posting your items on an online classifieds site. You may receive more for your items than you would have had you placed them on your lawn with a “for sale” sign, and you’ll avoid the stressors of trying to organize everything for a two day event.
3. Become a Babysitter – Daycare costs can be outrageous, especially in metropolitan and suburban areas. Be sure to check with your city’s regulations and that you adhere to all of the relevant tax laws, but you could work out a deal with a neighbor or a best friend looking for a cheaper, more trustworthy daycare option if you have proven childcare experience.
4. Run a Doggy Daycare – It seems that more people are looking into daycare options for their pets. Consider starting a doggy daycare for friends or neighbors if you are home during the day and have pooch-safe living quarters. If you have small children, consider their safety before agreeing to take on an aggressive breed of dog.
5. E-Tutor – If you have teaching experience, signing up as an online tutor may suit your at-home lifestyle and utilize your existing skill set. You will need to set up an online profile with a tutoring website, which will include details of your experience, the subjects you are able to tutor, your time availability and your expected rates.
6. Become an Expert Witness – If you possess a level of expertise in a particular field, becoming an expert witness for lawsuits may be an option for you to make money from home. Expert witnesses may review documents or appear in court for hourly fees. Submit your resume or CV to online expert directory services.
7. Work as a Virtual Call Center Agent – Some business opt for home-based virtual call center agents. Virtual call center agents provide support and assistance to the business’ customers via the telephone. These kinds of agents are typically paid an hourly wage. They may be independent contractors or be hired on as actual corporate staff. If hired as a direct employee, they will be required to follow all company policies. Regardless of whether you are a member of the staff or an independent contractor, high-speed Internet and a land-line dedicated to the service are required.
8. Become a Freelance Writer – Online freelance writing entails creating articles for a variety of websites. A freelance writer will research a particular subject or use their own expertise to generate enticing articles for a wide range of readers. Freelance writers are typically paid on a per-article basis.
9. Edit Copy from Home – Media websites that utilize online freelance writers may also hire freelance copy editors. Editors proofread and edit articles prior to publishing. Freelance editors are also generally paid on a per-article basis. Typically, sites that use online freelance editors look for copy editors with several years of experience.
10. Self-Publish Books – There are a number of electronic tablets on the market that allow you to read paperless books. If you love to write fiction, looking into the self-publishing options for eBooks can help you generate both buzz and income.
11. Make and Sell Apps – The appeal of smartphones and tablets lies largely in the wide range of apps available to increase their functionality. If you have time on your hands and the gusto to learn about developing apps online, you can spend your days building the new “it” app.
12. Peddle Your Tailoring Skills – If you’ve got a thimble for a thumb, do at home alterations. Advertise your services on social media websites and by word of mouth. Set your appointment hours and have your clients come to you.
13. Sell Your Old Books! – Believe it or not, there are people out there that make a full-time living off of selling old and used books. You can peruse estate sales, tossed library books or your own book shelves for books to sell online. You can even start a book drop-off at your home for locals to drop off unwanted leisure, self-help or textbooks.
14. Train as a Medical Transcriptionist – Put your listening and typing skills to work. Most doctors use an auto-dictation system to record their notes on a specific patient. These audio notes need to be transcribed for the patient’s medical records. To become a medical transcriptionist you will need to take a short-term course to learn the proper equipment and medical terminology. Courses range from 9 – 18 months and financial aid may help you pay for tuition. If you have previously worked in the medical field, you will have a leg up on others just breaking into the field.

The possibilities for starting an at-home business are almost endless. Whatever endeavor you choose, be sure to research the company or proposed line of business to avoid falling victim to scams. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Never give out personal information without a secure site and make sure you’re watching your own back by understanding rules and regulations of your county, city or state. Also be sure to consult with an accountant on the proper ways to handle your taxes for your work-from-home business enterprise.