A few weeks ago I posted about Medelita and their $50 AMEX gift card contest. I know quite a few people who read this blog entry said they would enter, so I’m just wondering if anyone that I know happened to win? 
I love entering blog contests, because you just never know when you’re going to win! Last December I won a $500 Kmart gift card from IZEA. Last January I won a spiffy ornament storage chest from blessednestperch.com, and a few weeks ago I won a hardcover copy of NurtureShock from reviews.nanashi-inc.net.
So yes, I am definitely big on blog contests! You never know what you might win, just by leaving a comment or reading a post about lab coats.
Have you ever won anything from a blog contest?
I have several reviews to post, as well as a few more upcoming reviews to add, but wow, I am seriously numb in the head right now. I have dedicated the last week to Demand Studios, and while the money is great, the unfortunate consequence is that the last thing I have time for or feel like doing is blogging! Writing about cats and babies and weight loss pills and health conditions has me seriously flat-lining here!
Anyway, real quick, a few upcoming things I’ll be reviewing and writing about soon: ChopSaver lip balm, Spotless Paw and Sexy Hair (I was inspired by Allyson to try their hair products)!
As you can see from the screenshot, Demand Studios does indeed pay! And so does Be a Magpie!
Full reviews of both companies coming soon.
I know that In My Bag is a product review blog, but I want to write about Demand Studios because making money and having it to spend on the items and services I review definitely go hand in hand!
Anyway, Demand Studios is a freelancing website that supplies jobs for writers, editors, title proofreaders, film makers and more. A few days ago I applied and was approved as a writer, and as I type this I have 16 approved articles, 7 pending review and 6 claimed. The articles are submitted to sites like eHow and livestrong.com, and perhaps to a free directory or two.
The article writing is easy enough, as there are more than enough guides, examples and templates to follow. There are literally thousands of topics to choose from, so there’s no shortage whatsoever. I’ve written about everything from high hormone levels to Playmobil toys to high potassium in cats. Best of all? Each article pays $15. Do the math — that can quickly add up! As it stands, I should be paid about $400 by the end of the week.
After I’ve written a few more articles and have received a few payouts I’ll do a full review of Demand Studios, but so far it’s looking very promising!
I love Target, and I really love checking out their clearance bins. Today I found a little trio sample pack of Yes to Carrots products: shampoo, conditioner and shower gel. I’ve been itching to try some new stuff for my hair and body, and at $2.48 the opportunity to do both at once is too cheap to resist!
I like my cars to smell good, especially since I’m frequently transporting kids and sometimes my dog in them as we run here and there for groceries, a good sale, errands, whatever. So, I use air fresheners. Through the years I’ve used a variety of air fresheners, and I think my favorite ones are the liquid variety. The liquid ones seem to give off a scent that doesn’t get stale over time, though they generally don’t last any longer than the hanging cardboard variety.
One of my favorite types of liquid vehicle air fresheners is the Auto Expressions Vent Fresh. It’s available in a variety of scents (my favorites are fresh cotton and outdoor breeze), and the handy dial lets you control the intensity of the scent.
Vent Fresh works just as it says it should. It’s easy to install, pleasing to the eye, non-intrusive, and the scents are true to their names and not overpowering.
Rating: 
I love the fact that my husband and I own our own home, but I have to admit, renting is nice because the repairs and maintenance issues are handled and paid for by somebody else. Since moving here we’ve had to replace the kitchen faucet (May 2007), the faucets in both bathrooms (June 2007, July 2009), the lighting fixture in the hallway (cheap, thank god), and we’ve had to pay for repairs to our washer twice ($300+ combined). Then there’s the homeowner’s insurance to worry about. While not as expensive as motorhome insurance can be, it’s still a small chunk out of our budget, mainly because the year is paid for all at once. The bank thoughtfully included homeowner’s insurance for us through this coming February, but from then on out we’re on our own.
But on the flip side, owning our place leaves us free to do whatever we want with it. Before we moved in we painted all three bedrooms, and we’ve thrown around ideas for new living room carpet in a few years. Then there’s our autistic headbanging son and the holes and dents he has put into the walls in his bedroom. I’m sure that wouldn’t go over so well with a landlord!
Do you own your own home? What do you love/hate about owning?
Hello, and welcome to In My Bag! My name is Jenn, and this is my product review blog. In My Bag is where I showcase my reviews of many of the products and services I buy and use, as well as the occasional trials, coupons and freebies that come my way. Interested in learning more? 
