Thank you for your support
Kidswap.ca is now permanently closed to postings. Please see below for further details.
Thank you and Good night!
Although Kidswap has been online since 2003, I have recently made the very difficult decision to remove the buy and sell area completely until I can spend some time deciding what, if any, the future of Kidswap will be. The buy and sell is closed permanently.
If you came here to buy or sell, there are many options including craigslist, facebook, and other classified sites.
If you have arrived looking for the Kidswap forum, please visit Britt at http://www.canadianmomscommunity.com/ . This is a great Canadian forum for moms.
Kidswap was a fantastic venue at one time, and although it has come to this inevitable conclusion, I would like to thank those of you who bought and sold on here. A great community of parents surrounded this site from it’s inception, and I will be forever glad for those that I met and chatted with as my children grew up.
The term “Kidswap” is trademarked by myself in Canada and by another company in the USA. If you are interested in using the term Kidswap in Canada for any reason, please contact me via email. My email address will remain open indefinitely, but all other emails will be closed.
Alternately, if you are interested in this domain and trademark, please contact me there as well.
Shelly
Freelancing 101: I make money at home, really, I do. Honest.
I simply cannot find my Christmas spirit, and I was going to write about that today but am feeling BLAH about the loss of my festive mood so much so that I don’t even feel the need to write about it! How about that?
I’ve been asked a number of times how I make an income working from home. Believe me when I say this; I spent years trying to figure out how to make money while still taking care of my kids full time. Years. I just never thought it was possible. I have researched every single thing out there, and watched as others sold Goji juice or other direct marketing things.
I spent some of my time promoting Kidswap through press releases I wrote. I always had great success with the releases locally, and gained a lot of press for myself, so I thought I might be able to do that for other people. In 2008, I found a web site called Odesk. I signed up, not really thinking that I would find something for myself on there. I bid on a few jobs and didn’t have any success. I was asking for $9 per hour, which is really low, but I thought if I could get some feedback I would have a chance to start working.
My first job was as an editor for a video about gas consumption. I did the video for the client, then edited his eBook for him. As I was working for him, I found another job writing short articles for a company in Australia. When they asked me to bid on that job, I panicked! I really thought that my writing skills weren’t up to par with the other providers, and worried I’d get horrible feedback.
I did my first assignment for the client, and felt sick when I sent it off. She came back to me practically glowing about my writing, and hired me for a long term project right away.
I worked for her for 6 months, and as time went on I picked up small jobs here and there. I’d write press releases for random people, do web copy, book descriptions, even edited and rewrote an advanced Masters level Psychology paper. I think I knew more about it than she did!
As I progressed on Odesk and my 5 star feedback grew, I also upped my rate. I think the key to freelancing is starting off low and then slowly increasing your rate when your feedback goes up. I went from $9 per hour to $11, then $15, then $19. I’m now at $27, and I’m quite happy there. For me, that is a realistic amount of money for certain writing.
As my feedback went up, I stopped getting invitations for certain jobs (like video editing) and was asked to do jobs for bigger companies. I have a regular client who I tweet and blog for, as well as another who I blog for, and three more who I regularly write articles for. Generally I’ve made over $1000 per month for the past few months, and really, that is nothing to sneeze at. It’s not full time, and although I work weekends and evenings, for me it is simply the best job I could have.
I do have a work in progress, like many of the other writers on Twitter, and I try to get to it as much as I can. Some weeks it’s all I can do to write 500 words of fiction before I head back to writing about drums, cymbals, or the environment.
My experience has only been on Odesk, although I get updates from sites like Elance and they look appealing as well. I’ve never had a bad experience on Odesk, although I have had a few on Craigslist. The two jobs I took for paying gigs on Craigslist have resulted in a byline in a local magazine, but no pay and 3 press releases that a lady HOUNDED me for and never paid me. She likes to use the illusion of “Oh, I sent you an email months ago”. I have written it off as a bad experience, and just blocked her from my email.
Juggling the children while working is difficult. I tend to try to do work in the mornings after I drop them off at school, then forget about it until evening when I try to work again. I’ve worked until 1 am if I can manage to stay up that late, and I’ve worked straight through my last pregnancy and right after delivery. If I can manage to come home 15 hours after giving birth and empty the dishwasher, I can write an article or two. And I did. I actually think freelancing would be more difficult for someone with one little baby or toddler at home, because of the constant attention they require. My kids play together, and at 8,6, and 4, they are all fairly self-sufficient and understand if I have to work. The baby, at almost 6 months, is another story, but I try to squeeze stuff in between naps and I drink ALOT of coffee (preferably StarBucks but mostly Tim Hortons b/c it has a kick to it like a shot of speed).
I get stressed, a lot, but this is what is best for my family. I find I envy those whose kids take the bus to school or have full time house keepers. My WIP would be finished I think, if I had any time at all. Did I mention my husband frequently travels for work and often works evenings and weekend? Oh yes, it’s basically just me on duty over here.
I hope this helps those of you who asked how you can really work at home, because it really works for me.
Happy Holidays!
Freelance writing opportunities
Are you a freelance writer? Ever thought of getting into something like freelance writing? I will be writing an article about my experiences as a freelance writer soon (I’m too busy writing for other people right now), but in the meantime I will be posting different job postings that I find across the Internet that appear legitimate. I’ve applied for a few jobs on Craigslist before and have even got a byline out of one of them, so you can trust that more than a few are looking for actual writers.
Christmas TV listings on Kidswap.ca
What’s new tonight on TV?
4:00 PM
Holiday Celebration on Ice (NBC)
8:00 PM
The Dog Who Saved Christmas (ABC Family)
11:30 PM
Larry the Cable Guy’s Christmas Spectacular (CMT)
Getting Christmasy: What’s on TV tonight?
*Clicks on the TV* It’s officially Christmas!!!
Starting tonight! Watch your favorite classic or the newest edition of the Christmas cartoon family. We’ll be posting what’s on daily.
8:00 PM on NBC
Merry Madagascar (NBC)
9:00 PM
Jingle All the Way (TBS)
Did you know that Kidswap was on Dragon’s Den in 2006? No? Read on
If you want the whole story, go visit my freelance site at http://www.iwriteit.ca. I will post the blog here eventually, but am rushing around this morning because a wonderful trip of Christmas shopping is imminent! I’ve packed my water, a change of clothes, and my bat. All set.
So, I was asked to appear on CBC’s Dragons Den. I actually wrote a little article about it for the local paper a few years back, and I will post that excerpt here. Looking back, it wasn’t a very good article, but I wasn’t much of a writer back then. I was into WEBSITES! (As this is from 2007, I will inject future Shelly in brackets wherever I feel necessary)
Within 1 month I had a request from CBC to appear in the den itself. Seized by fear, I asked myself the question every small business owner asks at one point or another, “Is any publicity better than no publicity?” I decided that having Kidswap’s name flogged across the country wasn’t such a bad thing, and made myself get on that plane to Toronto. (I didn’t mention in this article but while on that plane to Toronto, they had to pull out the oxygen mask because we hit a bad patch of turbulence over the great lakes and I had a full scale panic attack. The flight attendant actually grabbed the sleeping idiot beside me and almost tossed him into the aisle. Then she helped me breath while I calmed down. As people were obviously concerned, she said “Don’t worry everyone, she is fine. She’s going to be on reality television.” No one asked for my autograph, but I could tell they were intrigued!)
(And now, back to the den) As is stands, there was good reason to be afraid of the Dragon’s Den.
I stood at the top of a long flight of stairs. A strong yeasty aroma surrounded me in the fermentation room of Toronto’s Distillery District. Despite pep talks from the producers, I was shaking in my shoes. Descending the dark staircase, I found my mark and opened my mouth to start my pitch. 30 seconds later, my 2 minutes of ‘uninterrupted speaking’ was over as I was peppered with questions (I’ll go with the word “attacked” here instead. Yes, attacked works much better than “peppered” in this case). Immediately I realized why they called them ‘Dragons’. I was being attacked (see?) with queries and condemnations about my business model, my lack of market knowledge, and the competitive target audience I was striving for. In the space of 3 minutes it was being decided that what I really had was nothing more than a hobby that couldn’t go anywhere.
Then an interesting thing happened; I started arguing.
I thought about all of the people who sold on the site, all of the parents who eschew large corporate sites for buying and selling, the small businesses whom needed places to advertise and gain exposure. They were attacking my baby, and I was irate. My shining moment came when poised a question by dotcom millionaire Robert Herjavec, “Come on, why would a mother in Newmarket, Ontario sell on Kidswap?” To that I grabbed a sweater from a pile of props (namely sweaters that they asked me to bring in as display) I had brought and stated very firmly, “I purchased THIS from a mom in Newmarket, Ontario. She makes a killing on Kidswap.” He and I looked at each other for a moment of silence, after which he uttered the dreaded words “I’m out.”
Each Dragon agreed with Robert, and decided against the investment quickly. My eyes rested on Kevin O’Leary, creator of the Learning Company and investment guru for the television program ‘Squeeze Play’, who had yet to give a final decision. “I like you. I think you may have something here.” Long pause. I attempt to remain upright and continue breathing, but at this point I am sweating to the roots of my hair. He continued, “If I hadn’t lost so much money in dotcom’s, I really think I’d be into this.” Pause again as he taps his pencil on the pile of money sitting beside him. “Ok, well, I’m going to have to say no I think. I’m out.”
I felt a mixture of disappointment and relief that the moment I anticipated for a month was over, but as I was walking away my only thought was “I almost had one of them!”
I felt euphoric.
I was a mom of three children, running a business from my kitchen that, although extremely popular, barely generated any income. I had forced myself to go in front of 5 millionaires and pitch an idea that I had already made a reality. (Yes I did, and I am still proud of myself for that) If I never did anything again, at least I can say that I took that risk and showed a passion and belief in my own ideas.
Lessons from the Den? The greatest gift entrepreneurs can give themselves is to listen to those with experience. Although they are millionaires who own companies that provide pizza that I regularly eat and underwear that I admire from the mall windows, they are smart and down to earth. Their assessment of my business may just have been correct, but it was the spunk I took into the den that keeps me dreaming and working toward my goal of profitable ecommerce.
So there you have it in a nutshell. I no longer work toward a goal of profitable ecommerce, but I do still have fond memories of what Kidswap was at one point. Unfortunately for me, Dragons Den was the tip of the slippery slope I went down that year. I needed a new look to the web site before I was going to be broadcast on the show, so I hired a few idiots along the way. Not a good move on my part, but one I can finally forgive me for.
Although this doesn’t directly have anything to do with my writing, it does show you how I went from being a complete ecommerce addict to not really caring at all, and eventually finding what I’m really good at: Writing. I look back almost grateful. (I am, however, still vindictive to those who scammed me! Watch out!)
The Grass is always Greener on the Twitter Side of the Fence
I have become, like many, obsessed by Twitter. I’ve been writing articles for a client all morning, and I manage to pop in there to see what’s up every 10 minutes or so. Lately, for some reason that I couldn’t understand, it has been a source of anxiety for me. After sitting down to really think about it, I have discovered why. On Twitter, I am constantly reminded of the greener pastures that are out there in the world.
Yes, I am happy with my life, but Twitter reminds me that there is something ‘more’ out there that I tend to forget about when I am stuck in the house for days on end, with children who whine about boredom and expect me to simultaneously dance around the room and make homemade playdough at the drop of a hat. Yes, the grass is always greener somewhere else on Twitter.
Want an example?
Weird Al – @alyankovic Getting ready to tape Late Night w/ @jimmyfallon – check it out tonight! (Yes, I am jealous! He’s got a weird singing voice and a vivid imagination, but how on earth did this guy get famous?)
@IN_N_OUT_Burger But well worth the wait! RT @jrev16: http://twitpic.com/naqhf Worst part is having it sit next 2 U in the car & not being able 2 eat it! (Why, oh why, do we not have an InNOut Burger on the upper West Coast? Not to mention the fact that this guy constantly posts pictures of animal style burgers gazing off into the Californian sunset while I sit here, hungry and in the rain.)
@petewentz off to have a lunch meeting about the future. not like time/space more like possibilities. (Should I learn to play bass guitar? It seems like the right thing to do.)
Why do I continue to go back? Well, for one, it’s interesting to watch people try to ‘outwitty’ each other on Twitter. You can read some of the most obscure things on there. Another? I know the news before everyone else, and I can say that I was part of the trending topic the day that Balloon Boy metaphorically ‘took off’ into the space between his dad’s ears.
Yes, the twitter grass is always greener. Maybe someday I can jump that fence and post an update that will make someone want to migrate to my house (as long as they are not a raging psychopath, but I think that there are more lunatics in the local Zellers than on my Twitter feed)
Cyber Monday links on Kidswap.ca
Shopping online just got that much better! Cyber Monday is this Monday. I’ll be posting some stuff from other online shops, but here is Toys R Us.
Take an additional 50% off SELECT items at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
Take an additional 50% off SELECT items at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
Free shipping with purchases of $75 or more at ToysRUs.ca.
Free shipping with purchases of $75 or more at ToysRUs.ca.
3 Day Half Price Event at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.30.09 In-Store and Online!
3 Day Half Price Event at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.30.09 In-Store and Online!
50% off Leap Frog – Didj – Custom Gaming System at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Leap Frog – Didj – Custom Gaming System at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Room Tech – Beingz Mood Lamp – Purple at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Room Tech – Beingz Mood Lamp – Purple at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Monopoly Here & Now World Carry Case at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Monopoly Here & Now World Carry Case at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off LEGO Racers: Desert Hammer at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off LEGO Racers: Desert Hammer at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Waterproof Camera at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Fisher-Price Kid-Tough Waterproof Camera at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Ouija – Pink – English Edition at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
50% off Ouija – Pink – English Edition at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.30.09 Online Only
Travel Zoo Top 20 for this week!
Travel Zoo always has the best deals on Travel, so if you are looking to go somewhere near or far, take a peek at the Top 20 for this week.
Travelzoo Canada Weekly Top 20
Every week we search 1,000+ companies for their very best
sales and compile this Top 20(R) list.
************************************************************
TOP 20 DEALS * — NOVEMBER 25, 2009
************************************************************
$8 & up — WestJet Slashes Prices by up to 65%, 2-Day Sale
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698283/
Source: WestJet
$109 — Legendary Montreal Hotel (Reg. $179)
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-696413/
Source: Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth
$85 & up — Las Vegas: Fly and Stay 4 Nights on The Strip
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698316/
Source: Travelocity.ca
$99 — Toronto Waterfront Hotel, Save 45%
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-696299/
Source: The Westin Harbour Castle
$228 — NY Jets vs. Bills: 2 Tickets & Toronto Hotel Stay
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-697267/
Source: Tidal Ticketing
$109 — Mont Tremblant Condo at Half OFF
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698213/
Source: Wyndham Cap Tremblant
US$349 — Mexican Riviera Weeklong Cruise incl. $100 Credit
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698103/
Source: canadatravels.com
$91 — Beijing Hotel Overlooking Forbidden City, 40% OFF
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-695483/
Source: Wangfujing Grand Hotel Beijing
$99-$129 — Fly to Tremblant from Toronto during Ski Season
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-696365/
Source: Porter Airlines
$266 — Costa Del Sol Apartment for 7 Nights
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-697823/
Source: Sahara Sunset Club
$49 — New Toronto Musical Family 4-Pack
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-695558/
Source: ‘The Princess & the Handmaiden’
$717 — Margarita Island All-Inclusive Package, Save $300
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698356/
Source: Nolitours
$99 — Muskoka Lakefront Resort, Save 35%
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-696473/
Source: Deerhurst Resort
$748 — Mexico All-inclusive Trip, Save $400 this January
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698339/
Source: Signature Vacations
$126 — Weekends at Seattle 4-Diamond Hotel, $100 OFF
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-697526/
Source: W Seattle
$484 — Fly to Zurich, Roundtrip
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698396/
Source: traveldiscounters.ca
$134 — Niagara Falls 1-Night Casino Package incl. Meals
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-696377/
Source: Marriott Niagara Falls Fallsview Hotel
$79-$99 — Fly to Phoenix from Winnipeg or Vancouver
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698349/
Source: Travelzoo SuperSearch
$38 & up — Last-Minute Florida Hotel Sale
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-698327/
Source: Expedia.ca
$649 — Cruise the Caribbean for 7 Nights on New Ship
http://ca.travelzoo.com/top20/4626775-696423/
Source: TravelTST.ca
Black Friday at Toys R US
Black Friday is this week! Score some great deals at Toys R Us!
Strawberry Shortcake Mini Doll with DVD Assortment (reg.$7.99) sale price $3.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Strawberry Shortcake Mini Doll with DVD Assortment (reg.$7.99) sale price $3.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Little Mommy Sweet as Me Doll (reg. $24.99) sale price $12.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Little Mommy Sweet as Me Doll (reg. $24.99) sale price $12.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
You and Me Umbrella Stroller (reg. $9.99) sale price $4.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
You and Me Umbrella Stroller (reg. $9.99) sale price $4.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
New Bright 1:16 RC Outrage (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
New Bright 1:16 RC Outrage (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Fast Lane Interceptor Jet (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Fast Lane Interceptor Jet (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Wolverine Figure Assortment (reg. $10.99) sale price $5.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Wolverine Figure Assortment (reg. $10.99) sale price $5.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Clipo Creativity Table Assortment (reg. $34.99) sale price $17.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Clipo Creativity Table Assortment (reg. $34.99) sale price $17.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Dora Picnic Van (reg. $39.99) sale price $19.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Dora Picnic Van (reg. $39.99) sale price $19.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Diego Dino Vehicle Assortment (reg. $24.99) sale price $12.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Diego Dino Vehicle Assortment (reg. $24.99) sale price $12.47 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Kai Lan Dino Dreams (reg. $39.99) sale price $19.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Kai Lan Dino Dreams (reg. $39.99) sale price $19.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Imaginarium 60 PC Transportation Train Set (reg.$99.99) sale price $49.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Imaginarium 60 PC Transportation Train Set (reg.$99.99) sale price $49.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Disney Fairies or Toy Story Learning Laptop (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Disney Fairies or Toy Story Learning Laptop (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Hall of Fame Toy Pack (reg. $19.99) sale price $9.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Hall of Fame Toy Pack (reg. $19.99) sale price $9.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Baby Trend Expedition Swivel Stroller (reg. $189.99) sale price $94.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Baby Trend Expedition Swivel Stroller (reg. $189.99) sale price $94.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Super Clear Monitor with Dual Receivers (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09
Super Clear Monitor with Dual Receivers (reg. $49.99) sale price $24.97 at ToysRUs.ca. Offer good 11.27.09 to 11.28.09