I saw your article before you pulled it down (that was gonna be the first thing I suggested).
First of all, try to write more eye catching titles, always add a subtitle to every article that includes your keywords. Also, try to write on topics that are going to be "evergreen", meaning they'll draw page views indefinitely (not just during a holiday). If you do submit holiday specific pieces make sure they're offering something unique and different to the subject. The more tightly focused your article is on a unique aspect of a broad niche, the higher your upfronts will be..
The main reason it got the low offer was that your main keyword has already been done to death at AC. Read through this thread where I talk about avoiding oversaturated topics and what kind of specifics AC is looking for.
http://www.blackhatworld.com/blackha...s-today-3.html