Bukisa and Random Ramblings

I wrote an article for Bukisa and it was approved yesterday and I have already made money on it! Granted, it isn't much, BUT, it is money and I'm excited. I was a little weary of Bukisa simply because it is new and I really didn't know much about it but it seems really good. Shout out to Jenny and Kimmi for letting me know about it and explaining it to me. :)

The girls are sick today and now I think I am coming down with something. I didnt feel well on Monday, then Tuesday I was fine, today I woke up with a super scratchy throat and nothing can seem to make it go away. I tried gargling with saltwater, taking medicine, cough drops. Argh! I hate this more than a sore throat. I was thinking maybe it came on since we got half a foot of snow yesterday and I was out shoveling the driveway without gloves (I know, real smart)! Oh well, it had to be done, what are you gonna do?

Okay, no more distractions, back to working and writing...I swear I really might be the biggest procrastinator in the world. :)

List of Mystery Shopping Companies

First off, let me say I have NEVER worked so hard on a blog post in my life! I spent hours researching all the links in this list, so if anything is broken or incorrect please leave me a comment and I will fix it.

I have worked off an on as a mystery shopper for about 7 years now and I really enjoy it. It is a great way to earn some extra money and you have the freedom to pick and choose your assignments so that it fits your schedule. I know some mystery shoppers make a full-time income at, but I never pursued it at that level. I think I averaged about $400 or $500 a month and worked about 2, sometimes 3 days a week for a few hours. The trick is to sign up with every possible mystery shopping company and try to get multiple assignments in the same area. If 5 different companies all have a job near your neighborhood with the same date range, you can pick up all of those shops and knock them out in one day, and you could make $50-80 depending on what types of shops were offered. I have compiled a list of mystery shopping companies in (almost) alphabetical order for everyone. As of this writing, it is to the best of my knowledge that all of these companies are MSPA members, which gives them a certain level of credibility. I have performed shops for many of companies, if not most and I have never had a problem. I wrote a step by step article on How To Become A Mystery Shopper so check that out and then come back and apply to as many or all of the companies listed! Happy Shopping!!

Mystery Shopping Companies	Contact Person	Phone
Instant-Replays, Inc.	Jodi Bray	919-861-4541
Advanis	Craig Hiltz	888-944-9212
ClientSmart	Kimberly Peterson	404-542-8882
Coast to Coast Scheduling Services	CTCSS	562-943-0646
Customer Feedback, LLC	Laurie Dortch	425-888-7700
Devon Hill Associates	Barbara Gerber	858-456-7800
Dynamic Advantage, Inc.	Gregory Doomanis	818-238-1251
GfK Mystery Shopping	Maria Noll	(212) 240-5300
Goodwin and Associates Hospitality Services LLC	Brian Calderone	603.485.4111
IMYST, INC.	Michael Hardy	734-786-8468
Management Consultant Group, LLC	Shopper	504-218-5981
Marketing Endeavors, LLC	Aaron Conley	866-445-9117
Mystique Shopper	John Saccheri	888-750-Shop
National In-Store	Carol Hovsepian	941-953-3866
Perception Strategies, Inc.	Brooke Billingsley	(877) 546-0970
Premier Service Inc.	Keren Dolan	800-452-5150
Service Excellence Group Inc	Marci Bikshorn	(800)888-9189
Service Sleuth	Tom Mills	800-723-1150 x 14
The Sentry Marketing Group	David Agius	214-295-2615
TrendSource	Scott Cranford	(619)718-7467
A Closer Look	Chuck Paul	888-446-5665 Ext. 106
A Top Shop!	Lori Niemczyk	720-283-8377
AboutFace	Paige Hall	678.989.2290
ACE Mystery Shopping	Julie Brant	866-240-7324
Advisory Group, Inc.	Shopper Contact	301-907-7470
AIM Field Service	T Lyons	(407)886-5305
Alexandria's Marketing Company	Tony Maichen	574-243-1907
Aloha Solutions	Shawn Kiley	704-989-4709
Amusement Advantage, Inc.	Christine Carson	800-362-9946
Anonymous Insights Inc	Patti Lengel	(614)761-0939
Anonymous Shoppers and Assessments of Pittsburgh, ASAP	Tracy Pavlick	412-831-1227
Ardent Services	Tracey Estes	303-525-8892
At Your Service Marketing	Lynda Childs	(940)644-2893
ath Power Consulting Corporation	M Spinello	(978)474-6464
Automotive Associates	Ron Saetermoe	949-273-6201
Automotive Insights	Jim Murphy	314-409-2206
Baird Consulting, Inc	Kristin Baird	920-563-4684
Bare Associates International Inc.	Gwen Johnson	(800)296-6699 x 3131
bds mktg	Randy Schrock	949-472-6700
BestMark Shoppers		1-800-969-8477
Beyond Hello Inc	Gary Godding	(800)321-2588
Big K Mystery Shopping	Candor Gutierrez Vara	+52 (81) 12 34 33 89
BMA Mystery Shopping	Peter Thorwarth	800-355-5040
Business Evaluation Services	Charles Stiles	888-300-8292
Certified Marketing Research Services		(518)758-6403
CheckUp Marketing	Lori Miller	800-274-9669
Cirrus Marketing Consultants	Monnie Howard	888-899-7600
CKA Group, Inc.	Shopper	800-764-1996
Confero Inc	Elaine Buxton	(919)469-5200
Consumer Impressions, Inc.	Jodi Paul	972-8671956
Corporate Research International	Jenny Miracle-Turner	419-422-3196
Corporate Risk Solutions	Kendra Webb Parker	678-566-0220
Coyle Hospitality Group	Jim Coyle	800-891-9292
Creative Image Associates, Inc.	Shopper Contact	978-582-7005
CRG Mystery Shopping	Tracey Conners	(613)596-2916 ext. 223
Cross Financial Group	Tom Hershberger	402-441-3131
Customer 1st	Carl Phillips	800-288-7408 x 3214
Customer Perspectives	Recruiter	(603)647-1300
Customer Service Experts, Inc.
Customer Service Profiles	Shopper Contact	800-841-7954 x 101
Data Quest Ltd.	Tracey Turgeon	617-437-0030
David Sparks and Associates	Shopper Contact	864-654-7571
Draude Marketing	Nancy Draude	717-371-5310
DSG Associates Inc	Shopper Contact	(714)835-3020
Ellis, Partners in Mystery Shopping (EPMS)	E Slater	972-256-3767
Examine Your Practice	Jodi Manfredi	866.505.3926
Feedback Plus, Inc.	Scheduling Manager	(972)661-8989
Freeman Group Measurement	S Baker	972-479-1345
GAPbuster Worldwide	Suzan Izzet	770.781.3181
Grass Roots Performance Measurement	Jane Edwards-Hall	305-347-4340
Guest Check	Derek Wood	303-991-6173
Harland Clarke	Linda Schrock	800-291-6117
Hart Associates	Mike Hart	419-893-9600
Healthcare Hospitality Consultants	Jesse Rosenblatt	914-307-1717 x101
ICC Decision Services	David Rich	(800)444-1717
ICU Associates	Marc MacGillvray	877-574-6682
Insula Research, Inc.	Brian Baker	614-334-2614
Integrity Auditing Services, Inc.	Lee Chidester	484-364-1033
I-Spy Mystery Shoppers	Cory Jensen	(402) 502-0579
J.D. Power and Associates	Chris Denove	805-418-8000
Jancyn Evaluation Shops	Janis Pelletiere	800-339-2861
JM Ridgway	Bob Reister	(408) 879-7503
Kinesis-CEM	Kathy Harper	206-285-2900
KSS International, Inc.	Lorri Kern	520-615-0888
Loss Prevention Partners, LLC	Charles A Borzellieri	732-588-0728
LRA Worldwide	Jeff Gurtman	215-957-1999
Maritz Research	Shopper Contact	1-877-4-MARITZ
Market Force Information	Ellyn Fill	303-402-6929
Marketing Systems Unlimited Corp	Shopper Information	(319)338-3773
MarketWise Consulting Group, Inc.	Carolyn Nankervis	920-735-4970 Ext 102
Measure Consumer Perspectives	Kimberly Nasief-Westergren	502-499-1139
Melinda Brody & Co.	Melinda Brody	407-294-7614
Mercantile Systems	Scheduler	888-222-8301
Michelson & Associates Inc	Mark Michelson	770-642-2223
Mintel International Group, Ltd.	G Rodriguez	312-932-0400
Muscle Marketing	GiGi	949-713-3904
mVentix, Inc.	Matthew Heck	888.455.2341 x104
Mystery Guest, Inc.	J. Newnum	888-269-9468
Mystery Shopper Pros	Jim Johnson	973-347-1572
Mystery Shoppers	Tiffany Gleason	1-865-450-8841
Mystery Shoppers, Inc./Game Film Consultants	Shopper Contact	866-334-3456 ext 1351
National Investigation Bureau	Jennifer Mullen	781-344-0384
Nationwide Services Group	Laura Unger	440-238-3000
New Image Marketing, Ltd.	Peter Boldrin	239-275-9979
Northwest Loss Prevention Consultants	Douglas Rector	425-271-0312
Omega Market Research	Joe Rodriguez	1-787-704-0917
Opinions, Ltd.	Jennifer Maurer	440-893-0300
People Plus Inc	Elaine Morgan	(901)362-0509
Performance Group	Shopper Contact	847-358-3100
Person to Person Quality	Michael Mitchell	(703) 836-1517
Personnel Profiles, Inc.	Kathy Kelly	800-440-8150
Phonesmart	Tron Jordheim	(866) 639-1715
Promotion Network, Inc.	Mary Marcowka	708-361-8747 x221
PROS	Catherine Bebber	800-741-7758
QSI Specialists	Chuck Kenerson	702-891-0550
Quality Assessments Mystery Shoppers	Mary Furrie	(800)580-2500
Quest for Best/Quest Associates Inc	Chuck Roam	(901)388-7203
Reality Check	Ross Thomas	(206)364-9004
Regal Hospitality Group	Russell Jerothe	813-854-1855
Remington Evaluations	Sarah Leeke	866-485-6491
RitterAssociates	Dennis Richard	419-535-5757
Second To None Inc	Jeff Hall	(734)302-8400
Secret Shopper (Sights on Service)	Paul Wilson	(763)525-1460
Secret Shopping Services	Laurie Hines	253-770-0393
Service Alliance Inc	Judi Hartleben	(303)696-2147
Service Evaluation Concepts	Shopper Recruiting	(516) 576-1188
Service Impressions	Dan Crevin	916-683-9895
Service Intelligence	Dana Conn	704-731-0171
Service Performance Group Inc	Jerry Gulyes	919-567-8300
Service Research Corporation	Brandon Stelling	402-434-5000
ServiceProbe	Christy Nichols	423-443-8602
ServiceSense	Amy Zintl	800-465-1182
Shopmetrics, Inc.	Joseph G. Hashim	419-474-6672
Shoppers Confidential Inc.	Julie Anthony	519-208-4779
Shoppers Critique International LLC	Bill Green	(407)834-3337
Shoppers' View	shopper contact	(800)264-5677
Shoppers, Inc.	Kathy Shook	800-259-8551
Shopping by Mystery	Lorraine Bowring	208-559-1550
Signature Worldwide Inc.	Jeff Scholes	800-398-0518
Sinclair Customer Metrics, Inc.	Sean Barna	(800) 600-3871
Six Star Solutions	Richard Bell	(801)274-2213
Special Interests	Cathy Stucker	281-265-7342
Synovate	Bruce Wells	312-526-4088
Tell Us About Us, Inc.	Kirby Gompf	204-453-4757
Texas Shoppers Network, Inc.	Sondra Pulford	713-984-7631
The Benchmark Collaborative	Ron Welty	888-249-9606
The Buyer's View	Nancy Coughlin	623-594-0544
The Emmerich Group	Annice Miller	952-820-0360
The Seer Group LLC	Clifton Wise	302-478-6369
TNS	Contact	404-257-5860
Vision Client, Inc.	Pierre-Paul Levesque	450-653-7653
Winthrop Douglas Inc	Contact Us	212-594-5727

Writing, Writing, and More Writing

Lucky for me that I love to write, since I have spent the entire day doing it. My latest money making idea seems to be going well and I actually enjoy it. Now that I have the hang of eHow I can say it really is easy, I swear. I have posted 6 articles in the last 24 hours and have several views and comments, which is nice. I am going to post regularly about making money through eHow and Bukisa as well as the articles I am writing so you can see for yourself how easy it is. I am pretty excited about this whole thing, so we'll see how it goes. The following are my eHow articles:

How to Get Pregnant

How to Lose Weight--Fast

How to Remove Green Water From An Aquarium or Fish Tank

How to Buy A Prepaid Gift or Debit Card

How to Remove Nail Polish From Your Carpet

How To Make A Vegetarian Holiday Dinner


See--I told you this was random! If you want to add a residual income I highly suggest joining eHow and Bukisa. I will keep you posted!

eHow and Making Money!

Thanks to a wonderful group of ladies I met online, I have started writing for eHow. This is a great way to make some money, build a portfolio and gain some experience for a resume.

First you need to sign up with eHow and sign up for the Writers Compensation Program. Once you do that, you are ready to roll! It's that easy! You write step by step articles and eHow already has the format all laid out for you. You can write about anything you want! You arent paid upfront for your article, this is residual income, but once you start building it will be a decent amount if you put work into it. According to people I spoken with, the average article earns about $3 a month, so if you write a 3 articles a day...well you can do the math! And your articles continue to earn money AFTER you write them. That's the beauty of it.

ANYONE can do this! Check out one of my articles here to see how simple it really is! You don't have to be an English or Journalism major, trust me! If you are thinking about freelance writing or wanting to make money from I think this is a great place to start. I will keep everyone posted on how much money I make!

Trying to Relax

Fridays and Saturdays are my "days off" from my regular job at Legacy (for which I work remotely) and I try to enjoy them. Each week I tell myself I am going to take some time out and relax on Saturday and do something nice for myself--a manicure, a pedicure, a drink with friends, a hot bath, something. Each week it never fails--I find myself working on other things (writing, blogging, cleaning etc.) and if I do try to do something I have 3 little voices begging to go with me.

I think moms, especially working moms, deserve more than just 1 day a year to be recognized. I think we deserve one day a week just for us! Even if we only utilize a few hours of the day, we deserve some time to regroup and relax.

Kohls Coupon

I know we can all use a little help this Holiday season, so I wanted to post a special Kohls coupon for anyone hoping to save some money!! Happy Shopping!!

I work HARD!

So I think that when anyone hears I work from home they think I lay around on the couch and watch tv and eat and live the good life. It is SO NOT true! I WISH! If anything, it is much more stressful in ways. I feel like I am never off the clock. I am constantly trying to do a million things and think with every down second I should be folding laundry or doing dishes or picking up. It is a lot of pressure and sometimes keeps me from doing anything because it all feels so overwhelming. The DH came home from work last week with a really nice card and inside he wrote how much he loves me and how much he appreciates me working from home so that I can be with the girls and still and earn a living. It was nice and something I really needed to hear. In all honesty, I think he was tired of listening to me complain about how much he doesnt appreciate me, but oh well. It was a nice thought. I think anyone who works from home can probably relate. Please tell me I am not the only out there that sometimes just feels so overwhelmed you just let a lot of things slide...