Sunday, April 21, 2013

A to Z: Special Sunday Stuff

I'm doing my S post early, so I can have Monday off for work stuff. In fact, my new writing gig for Monday is part of what I'm going to talk about today. I've had three exciting things come up this past week, so this post is going to serve as a miscellaneous post to talk about those things.

"Defiance" articles
I'm a Yahoo Contributor, and have six weekly assignments writing about six different TV shows: "Grimm," "Suits," "Person of Interest," "Go On," "Elementary" and now "Defiance." Those first three were the first beats I ever got, based on a fan article I wrote about the show "Grimm."

Those three allow me to write about any topic relating to each of those shows each and every week, even when the show is on hiatus. The other three are for recaps only. I'm really excited about "Defiance," because it's a brand new show, and the recaps will include fun elements that have not been detailed yet.

My first "Defiance" preview article!
Along with the new recaps, I will have a second new weekly assignment for "Defiance." This other assignment will allow me to write about an exclusive preview video of the show each week before it airs. This will be my highest paying assignment so far, although I will not be paid for views.

The reason it will pay so well up-front is because it is a quick-turnaround piece. In fact, I got the assignment by doing the first video in the series on Friday. I had 30 minutes to complete the article, including the time it took to view the video, think about it, and look up the names of the characters and actors so I could get the correct spelling!

These new preview articles are not linked to my Yahoo Contributor profile, but they do link to a "blog" profile that will list all of my preview articles. It won't list my other articles, but it is kind of cool that my name will be on them, and that it looks as if I'm one of the Yahoo bloggers. I don't actually have access to that blog account, but it does put my name in a higher profile position, especially since all of these articles will be listed as "featured videos" on every page of Yahoo! TV.

My cousin's invention
My cousin Jesse invented a new kind of baby bottle! I'm so proud of him. He's so talented! Whenever I visit Jesse, we end up staying up for hours, just talking about various ideas and things we would like to invent. The baby bottle idea was undoubtedly spurned by the fact that he has a brand new baby daughter. Check out his invention, and vote for it if you think it's a good idea! Feel free to share it with your friends!

Three blogger awards
I'm so happy to have three blogger (two Liebster and one Very Inspiring Blogger) award nominations! I know these awards are just a way for bloggers to get more eyes on their blogs, but I feel honored to have been selected!

My blog is so new, and I don't even have a theme. As the title of my blog states, it's just "random musings." I suppose I just needed a way to get my thoughts out of my brain. I'm not really selling anything, and I don't even have a completed novel yet. I'm just laying down my thoughts -- and I love it! Who knew that random writings could make me so happy?

Perhaps it is because I've set aside a place for the blog in which I am free to write ... whatever. Someone asked when I thought I'd be done with a post I was working on, and my instinctive reaction was to say, "Please don't ever ask me a question like that when it comes to my blog." I was surprised to actually hear those words come out of my mouth, but that's how I feel.

When I write an article for payment, I have a schedule and deadline. But when I write for my blog, it's different; it's totally free writing: no limitations; no deadlines; no critical thinking; no thought put into removing sections, or tightening up for length and readability.

Extra stuff: Wild Kitty Cat Food and Ant Free bowls
The cute little packet on the right is mixed with water
and raw turkey to create the delicious (to a cat, anyway)
slop on the left. And it's placed in an Ant Free Pet Bowl!
I was so happy to find Wild Kitty for my cats! I just take a packet of vitamins and minerals, and mix it with some water and raw organic turkey. The kitties love it, and I'm so happy that they are getting fully digestible raw food, filled with enzymes. The main reason you can't just feed cats raw meat all the time is because it's not like what they would get from eating an animal in the wild; many of the nutrients are missing. So, Wild Kitty fills in by adding those missing nutrients back into the raw food. I love this stuff!

The other awesome find is the Bergan Ant Free Pet Bowls. Now that it's not freezing anymore, the cat food was beginning to swarm with ants. I had to put small bowls of food within larger bowls of water to create a mote. So I thought, there's got to be something that works this way without the horrible mess. I searched Amazon, and finally found something that is completely ant-free, because it has a built-in mote! They have smaller bowls, but those aren't entirely ant free. I wanted something fool proof for my active kitties, and this is it!


OK, I know I sound like a commercial, but I really do love these products. I'm not a Wild Kitty affiliate or anything. I did, however, use an Amazon affiliate link for the pet bowl. Hey, I have to make a living somehow!

30 comments:

  1. Getting paid to write can't be a bad thing.

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    1. I do enjoy it more than my old job! Thanks for stopping by!

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  2. I love reading your weekly recaps. I just started watching Defiance and I'm liking it so far.

    Dark Thoughts Blog

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    1. Thank you! I'm so happy to hear when people enjoy what I write. I have so much fun writing them too. :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  3. wow, so much exciting stuff - who ever thought a bottle could be reinvented?

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    1. Well, it's not exactly a bottle, but a bottle top that has a sensor attached. :) Thanks for stopping by!

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  4. Regular writing for money! you go! :)

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  5. I'm going to have to check out that kitty bowl. We had horrible problems with ants, and then she doesn't want to eat her food.

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    1. Yeah, I had a horrible problem too, and the homemade motes are so messy. It's hard to wash, but totally worth it. Thanks for stopping by!

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  6. When freelancing turns profitable! Great to hear the news.

    Truth be told, I watch so little television that I really don't need reviews and the like. I know enough that Grimm is quite grim. Elementary, as it says, is elementary. You are a Person of Interest. When it comes to suits, I'm sure you can go on for a long time. And I'll defiantly refuse to watch Defiance.

    Blessings and Bear hugs!
    Bears Noting

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    1. You know, I keep the TV on almost all day, even while I'm working, just to keep me company. But then when they ask for a review, I've heard enough in the background that I can usually pull it off. If it's planned ahead though, I will watch closely and take notes.

      Thanks for stopping by!

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  7. The other thing is that you're doing your Monday work on Sunday. I've done the same. I'm trying to get ahead. Which is not surprising. I've been trying to get a head for years. My "S" word is Smudging.

    ~ Bear

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    1. I liked your post too. My Mondays are usually the busiest work days.

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  8. Have fun with your Yahoo! assignments!! Happy A-to-Z 2013! ~Angela, Whole Foods Living, http://www.wholefoodsliving.blogspot.com/

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  9. Hey Kristen,
    I did my "S" a day early due to work! I teach and we're in the middle of testing and it's difficult to be just a little creative during the week by the time I get home!! I enjoy Grimms!! But do not know the others!! Good luck with your April blog challenge!

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    1. Yeah, it can get pretty hectic, but I'm loving blogging so much. I'm new to it though. Thanks for stopping by!

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  10. I'm not really into the current TV shows, but I think that it is really cool that you have a job writing about them. Best wishes to you on that!

    I have an idea for my S post, but do not have it written yet. Maybe I'll actually get one written on time during this challenge. :)

    Thank you for your comments on my blog. Have a great week!

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    1. You're welcome, and thank you for your kind comment as well!

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  11. Congrats on that assignment and to your cousin as well on his invention. I hope he makes scads of money from it.

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  12. Wow, things are hopping for you--great writing assignments and blogger awards! You Rock!

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  13. Random musings is a great start for any blog, and you're a busy lady. I don't know any of the shows, but I'll certainly check it out. Thanks for stopping by MROP. -Belinda.

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  14. Hey Kristen, even I am yet to find a theme to my blog. But that is giving me time to explore lot of areas to see what I like more.
    Loved your random musings!

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  15. You're a busy lady--one of my goals is to get paid for blogging. It's neat that you've found a way to do that and that you obviously enjoy.

    Very interesting blog!

    Stopping by with A to Z

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  16. So much happening.... Keep going and enjoiii!! :)

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  17. So good about your writing endeavors--congratulations! Also glad to see you past the 50 follower milestone. Now on to 100!

    Lee
    An A to Z Co-Host
    Tossing It Out

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  18. Congratulations on the awards, you are doing very well in spite of the short time. Keep going! :D

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  19. So nice to meet you via the Challenge, and congrats on your writing jobs. Work is always nice, but it does make it tough to keep up with the blogs and the other things we do just for fun and to support each other.

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  20. Nope you don't sound like a commercial but u made me laugh by saying that
    It indeed was a special happening Sunday to u ! You Are a yahoo contributor and six weekly assignments
    That's really cool : I would love to do some thing similar
    My husband is a cat lover too
    Every time I read ur posts I tell him :)
    Good day

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