Ohmystinkinheck

So, you may have noticed that I have gone against my previous decision to remove ads from my site, and put my Blogher Ads up again. There are a myriad of reasons, but the one forefront in my mind was the last giveaway. Um…yeah, it sorta bit me in the butt.

Books = cheap.
Twistables = cheap.
Stamp pads = cheap.

However, two of the winners were out of the country and for some reason I didn’t pay attention to the fact that Amazon doesn’t actually SELL Twistables, meaning they would have someone ELSE ship it. That, of course, equals double shipping. Bottom line. I spent $125.00 to buy and ship three books, 2 packages of Twistables and 1 stamp pad.

Mr. OMSH was quiet - in that silent way that says a LOT.

And then, there are the CMHS swaps. Oh my goodness how I love to swap. In fact, there is an Organization Swap going on RIGHT NOW that you probably haven’t considered signing up for, but SHOULD (go ahead, I’ll wait).

Those? They cost money.

And then there is this horrible Etsy habit I have. I truly wouldn’t have that habit if I stopped searching using their color wheel thing-a-ma-jig, but alas, I’m a sucker for odd ways to search. You know, sometimes you just need to buy something BLUE and at Etsy, you can do just that!

And finally? My regular income - y’know the monies I make for writing and designing and coding and walking tightropes? THAT is gonna get eaten up by taxes this year because apparently you can’t show a loss for more than a few years without getting audited. And when you work from your home and your only write-off is about 2% of your house and the occasional supplies, you fall into the lovely leech category. Don’t know which one I’m talking about? That is the one where the IRS comes and applies leeches to your skin until you hand over the money you buried in PVC pipes in the backyard or stuffed your child’s collection of 2 dozen Webkinz^© with.

Oh wait, there’s one more reason. The lovely Jenny over at Blogher Ads? She alerted me to the fact that I can opt out of anything I don’t like. What? Really! So, I have full control?! YES! I LOVE CONTROL.

So, call me a sell-out or call me greedy or call me out a Quesadilla Explosion from Chili’s and email me to let me know when to go pick it up, because I’m putting them back up.

THAT SAID…

IF you should ever see anything that you question, PLEASE contact me before clicking and buying into the whole deal. For the record, I don’t support MLMs and I don’t really have 2 dozen Webkinz^© in my house, but they will likely advertise on my blog again, because that’s just what they do.

If you want to make money online, you’ll have to give it time, monetary investment and lots of work - there is NO SUCH THING AS QUICK, EASY MONEY. I spend about 10 hours/day online and sometimes I don’t have a life…if that works for you, get into web development and you’ll fit right in with the rest of us who function on 5 hours of sleep and drink entirely too much caffeine.

NOW…if you support my decision, feel free to say so. If you don’t, feel free to say so too. If you just need me to end this post because you’re sick of hearing my excuses, you’re in luck.

One more thing.

Isn’t he just the cutest thing ever?

Oh yeah baby, BRING ON THE BODY GLITTER and RHINESTONES.

26 Responses to “*ahem*”

1. Lori

   I’ve never used Blogher ads yet but I may in the future. I use a network like that for my food blog with great results but it only displays food related stuff. I think you’re traffic has to be good in for those type of networks, no?

   Sorry about the tax thing. I didn’t have to claim last year but I will this year:( I’m keeping every single receipt I can!

   I’m sooo lookin’ forward to the swap!! I had so much fun with the tote one:) I do have one addiction…QVC ~~Lord help me!

   Good lookin’ fella there…oh, I meant beautiful princess;)

2. Rhi

   Etsy is a dirty, filthy habit. And, I love it. Love it, love it.

   Thanks for bringing up taxes. Perhaps I should do mine? Maybe?

3. Jummy

   I support your decision, OMSH, even without the explanation. And I’ll do my part to get you as many CPMs as I can…or whatever they call it.

   Of all of Mr. OMSH’s adornment it’s the earrings that get me giggling. Rock on, Mr. OMSH!

4. Angella

   Tell Jeff that he needs to coach Matthew in getting in touch with his girly side.

5. cc

   I have questions about the remnant ads they are thinking about using. I don’t know if I should leave it be, or opt out. What are you going to do?

   As for the photo, it’s better than this:
   http://www.flickr.com/search/?q=shawn%20in%20pigtails&w=93117951%40N00

6. Kate

   You spend a lot of time online entertaining, educating and making us go “Awwwww!” that if you want/need to make a few pesos from your efforts, I fully support that. Heck, I pay the cable company a good chunk every month and I’m not nearly as entertained by what they put out.

7. Pumpkin

   It is your blog and you can do what you want.

   I will come to read all your wonderful posts no matter what is on the sidebar.

   I just started putting up ads and it made me nervous at first but I think my readers understand that I am a stay at home mother and money is tight.

8. Jeana

   Really, you have to have the ads so you can keep your hubby in the plastic jewels.

9. Anna

   I support and have been weighing the balances on what to do about adds and placing them on my blog for months. I get annoyed with them for sure….we all do don’t we?! But I also realize it helps this habbit…and buys coffee and we need that!

10. witchypoo

    I love a manly man, and hopefully, the ads will keep him in his rightful bling.

11. Just Beachy

    I support your decision as well, it is your blog after all, plus, you do so much for other bloggers, “swaps, contests, free advertising…..” you should reap a little recoupement <–I just made that up.

12. Jill

    I just have to say I’m so glad Pioneer Woman had to re-do her website so I could be directed to your blog. Between the two of you I feel so happily entertained each day. Now, if only I was half as talented as either of you. I’ll keep working on that.

13. Reesie

    You go girl. Here’s the thing about ads, if they interest me I click ‘em
    If they don’t I don’t, but either way, I don’t find them offensive and the joy your writing brings far out weighs any downside of seeing ads.
    Besides, gotta love, the Bling Boy!

    P.S. If you don’t have an accountant, GET ONE! Mine saved me 10K in taxes this year. You’d be amazed what can legally be classified as a deduction.

14. Chef

    I hear you on the tax issue as we are in the same boat. UGH!

15. Andrea

    I have ads on my blog, but I also have an ad-blocker on my browser. :D

    “I spend about 10 hours/day online and sometimes I don’t have a life…if that works for you, get into web development and you’ll fit right in with the rest of us who function on 5 hours of sleep and drink entirely too much caffeine.”

    Seriously, are you IN MY HOUSE??? :D

    Canadian taxes are easy, it’s two questions:
    1. how much did you make last year?
    2. send half to us.

16. SparklieSunShine

    I love Etsy, but what I love more is Quesadilla Explosion salads from Chili’s. Thanks for giving me a craving so early in the morning.

    I agree with you having ads. Hey if you can get money blogging just by throwing an ad up more power to you. I just added them to my site so I can try to justify my time spent online.

17. Aileen

    I’m such a technological moron that I don’t understand what the big deal is about having blogher ads, why people would object, what their purpose is, I never even noticed them on your site in the past thats how DUHHHHH I am… so no complaints here.

    But look at the picture!! The earrings really complete the ensemble!! :-)

    I am addicted to Etsy and propose we start up some sort of support group… where we encourage each other to only buy something once a month (week…day…hour…)

    My daughter loves her twistables and is coloring a picture for her daddy’s care package right. this. second. Thanks again!! Hope it didn’t cost you $125 to ship!! ;-)

18. Angie

    I find blogher to be about the least offensive. I took google adsense off mine after a few months of seeing some pretty crazy things pop up.

    KEEP BELIEVING

19. good&crazy

    I’ve been wondering exactly that. What is the deal with giveaways? Seems weird to me as a way to make money? I mean if I win of course I’m thrilled with giveaways. But I have crap to giveaway same as the next, but how exactly does that benefit me and mine??

20. Steph

    I don’t know why this is such a gut-wrenching decision for so many people.

    Heather, you write every day. You take pictures and post them nearly every day. Would you expect a reporter or photojournalist to work without compensation?

    I know what you’re going to say - “But this stuff is about me and my family.” My response - So flippin’ what? People come read it every day. You still put forth time and effort every day to please those readers.

    Why on Earth….or better yet, why IN A CAPITALIST COUNTRY should you feel like you have to justify your decision to make some money from your effort? I say “Good for you!”

    I also say, “Oooooh…Etsy shinies” too, though, so maybe take that into account when you read this comment. :grin:

21. nancypants

    ROFLOL Love the picture!! And I am all about you advertising and making money from your blog! Entrepreneurship baby! Capitalism baby! Feel no shame, no sorrow… unless you feel like you are making dishonest gain (which I don’t think you are…) But don’t apologize again!

22. Vickybu

    Bottom line: it’s your blog, put whatever you want on it. If someone doesn’t like it… um, don’t read it! Love your blog.

23. OMSH

    Hey thanks for the feedback! Although I notice no one called me about a Quesadilla Explosion…geez.

    good&crazy - Giveaways are fun! They don’t make me any money at all. In fact, they cost money. But oh my, they are too much fun!

24. JackieW.

    Started blogging recently on blogger.

    What happens if I click that button that shows up & says I can blog with ads ?

25. Mrs. Wilson

    I fully support your going back to BlogHer ads! I’ve found them to be quite reliable, and I told them which ads I do not want as well.

    GoogleAds? Completely unreliable. I’ve given them a second chance and they totally bit me in the butt. And BlogHer ads are prettier.

26. Angela

    Man oh man! I tried that Quesadilla Explosion from Chili’s last month and WOW talk about the best salad I’ve had. Good luck with the ads. As a viewer, blog her’s ads are great.