Monster Jam 2022 - Columbia, SC

Special thanks to the Columbia SC Mommy Blogger Tribe and Monster Jam for hosting us.

Monster Jam is here in Columbia, SC and you still have time to see a show! If you’re looking for a last-minute family-friendly outing this is perfect to add to your to-do list. The last show is tomorrow, April 3, 2022, and you can purchase tickets here; the show is being held at the Colonial Life Arena.

This was my first Monster Jam show and I really had no idea what to expect. My son loves all types of trucks and I knew this would be right up his alley. When he saw all of the monster trucks driving around the arena he was amazed and that made it worth it. We brought the entire family and they all enjoyed it. Seeing the cool designs on the trucks and getting to watch the drivers do their thing was fascinating.

This brought back memories for my husband, he hasn’t seen a show live in the last 10 years and it was even better than he remembered. Monster Jam has been around for 30+ years – it’s a completion of large “monster” trucks showing off their skills on the dirt. Monster Jam turns the event into your hands by allowing you to vote for your favorites based on performance.

Tips for visiting a Monster Jam Show

Monster Jam travels all over the United States, keep an eye out if they are coming to a city near you. See the schedule here.

1.      Wear something comfortable you may have to do a lot of walking.

2.      Bring ear muffs or noise-canceling headphones – it can get pretty loud. There are some available for purchase at the event.

3.      Bring a mobile device – you can vote for the drivers.

Our favorite drivers of the night were Kayla Blood (Solider Fortune), Bari Musawwir (Zombie), and Tyler Menninga (Grave Digger). We are already looking forward to the next show!  Check out a quick video clip from the show.

Turn Your Hobby Into A Profitable Side Hustle

If you want to make money from your hobby or if you want to pick up a hobby, with hopes that one day you can turn it into a full business, then you have come to the right place. Here you will find out the top hobbies you can make money from so that you can start making good choices.

Writing

Writing and even publishing content online is a great way for you to make money. You can use it to further your career and you can also establish yourself as being an expert in the field. It is very possible for you to build your own platform and you may find that it is also very easy to share your ideas. You can even rent out your skills if you want. The best way for you to make money through writing would be for you to work as a freelancer. You can sign up with Upwork or even Fiverr if you want, and when you do, this will help you to get paid for the gigs that you do. If you have a lot of discipline and you know how to write a good post, then you may be able to start your own blogging-based business by simply picking a niche and then building your audience.

Learn the Market

Another way that you can make money would be for you to try and learn how to trade. You can invest in the stock market, and you can even try and practice by using demo sites if you want. This is a very good way for you to pick up a new hobby and you may even find that it gives you the chance to properly learn the market. If you don’t know where to start, then it is very easy for you to look into CFD trading.

Illustration

Just like writing, illustration, writing and design are all very good ways for you to make money at home. You can do it on a freelance basis, or you can get signed up with a third-party company. If you do want more creative control then you may find that it is possible for you to print your designs on canvases, t-shirts and more. It’s vital to understand that if you want to turn your art into a product, then you have to cater to a market or a particular niche. If you can do this, then you will soon find that it is easier for you to stand out and make sales.

Music

Next up, music. It’s more than possible for you to sell music online and when you do, you will soon find that it is possible for you to turn your hobby into a business. You can record your own songs and you can list them through services such as SoundCloud or you can even try and create beats or samples. When you do things like this, you will soon find that musicians can then use them as a background for their music.

5 Ways to Feel Better About Yourself

Everyone should feel good about themselves. When you truly believe in yourself, you can achieve pretty much anything you put your mind to. 

Feeling good about yourself makes life happier, not to mention easier. If you do not currently feel great about yourself, but you want to, here are a few ways to achieve that.

1. Focus on the physical

It is not shallow to want to look your best. When you look good, you tend to feel good too. So, if you have been neglecting your appearance for a bit, start thinking about what you can do to change that whether it’s a new haircut, a handful of teeth whitening sessions, or hitting the gym to get your booty back in shape. Once you start to look better, you will almost certainly start to feel better too. 

2. Make a list of your achievements

When you are feeling down on yourself, it’s easy to feel like you’re a failure who’s never done anything good,m but that almost certainly is not true. So, sit down with a pen and paper and start really thinking about your life and what you've done. From graduating college to helping the homeless not down all of the good thighs you have achieved in your life, and remind yourself of them regularly. You will soon start to feel better about yourself if you do. 

3. Practice positive thinking

People who don’t like themselves tend to be negative thinkers. They go through everything that is wrong with them over and over in their brains, never thinking about the good things in life. Something that can help you change this, and start feeling better about yourself if it is a problem you have, is meditation.

When you meditate, you learn how to minimize negative thoughts and maximize positive ones. Focus on challenging every negative thought you have about yourself with a good one, and it won’t be long before you’re loving who you are again. 

4. Take up a new hobby

You might be wondering how taking up a new hobby can help you feel better about yourself. It’s pretty simple really; not only does taking up a new hobby give you something positive to focus on, but as you learn new skills and start to excel, you will see that you are capable of doing good things in your life and this will give you a real confidence boost. Try something that is challenging, but not too difficult, to get you started, and have fun!

5. Spend time with people who love you

Spending time with people who love and care for you is a great way to feel better about yourself because, if you are someone who is worthy of love, you can’t be that bad, right? You are loved for a reason and you need to remember that!

As you can see, there are lots of things you can do to start to feel better today, but you need to get out there and make things happen! So what are you waiting for?

How To Present Yourself With Confidence

Have you ever heard the saying “Confidence is key?” Well, it is, how you present yourself says a lot about you.

Presenting yourself in the best possible way can have many positive effects. First, it can enhance your confidence levels while eliminating self-esteem issues. Likewise, it's one of the best ways to show yourself love and leave a lasting impression in other people's minds. Indeed, a survey revealed that 91% of American women are unsatisfied and seek to enhance their looks. But drastic and expensive enhancements are not always necessary. Here are some simple changes you can make. 

Create a skincare routine

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Your skin loses its appeal as you age due to wrinkles, sagging, sun damage, etc. However, practicing skincare will ensure that your skin is well protected and maintains its suppleness and elasticity. That said, protect your skin from the sun by using sunscreen and seeking shade when it's blazing. Reduce your bath time and use mild cleansers to maintain the oils on your skin. By all means, avoid stressing yourself out and eat a balanced diet. 

Maintain Your Hair

Your hair is instrumental to your looks, and it is essential to take good care of it. Your hair significantly enhances your overall appeal, leading to increased self-esteem. Moreover, your hair reflects your state of health and alerts you on when to focus on your well-being. Also, taking care of your hair prevents premature hair loss, dryness, split ends, etc. It's prudent to wash your hair regularly to eliminate dirt and excess oil. Likewise, ensure that your shampoo is chemical-free, as certain chemicals can cause hormonal imbalances and scalp irritation. Consequently, let your hair dry naturally, and leverage coconut, castor, or olive oil to nourish your hair. 

A balanced diet is essential fot growing luscious hair, so ensure that your meals have the needed nutrients. While hair blowers and straighteners are convenient, prolonged use can dry your hair and cause split ends. Therefore, it's best to style your hair naturally for the best results. And if you're experiencing hair loss, using the RGA hair growth technique will prove helpful. 

Lengthen your body frame

Your posture comprises how you hold your body when lying down, standing, or sitting. Maintaining a good posture has many advantages that you can't ignore. For starters, standing or sitting straight helps you to look poised and self-assured, while slouching can communicate low self-esteem. Moreover, you can look skinnier by lengthening your frame when you stand up tall, so keep this in mind. Other benefits include improved mood and digestion, increased lung capacity, enhanced concentration, reduced headaches, etc. Therefore, you want to practice good posture if you haven't already. 

Indeed, good posture may not come naturally for some, making it important to be deliberate about it. It's important to stand up straight, keep your shoulders back, and pull your stomach in. you also want to put your weight on the balls of your feet and keep your head level. When sitting down, ensure that you relax your shoulders, and your elbows are close to your body. Using good ergonomic chairs will help you maintain the right posture, so feel free to leverage them. You can also engage in workouts like planks for the best results.