Showing posts with label blogging. Show all posts

Random Facts About Me, What about you?

When I read my friend Diana’s latest blog post, I had to join in on the fun. This is a fun interactive post where you can learn about each other. Have fun reading about me and if you have a blog I hope you join in. Instructions how to play along will be at the end of the post. 
Here goes…..


1.  Where do you like to vacation?
We like to vacation in our camper in North Myrtle Beach, SC.

2.  Do you have pets?
No. I love animals but do not want the responsibility. If I had a pet, I would get a hedgehog. 

3.  What is your favorite color?
I have never had a favorite color. I like neutral earth tone colors.

4.  How many are in your family?
Just three in my household. I also have my mom and dad, 2 brothers, and a sister.

5.  What is your least favorite thing to do?
Wash silverware. 

6.  What is your most favorite thing to do?
Sit on the beach in the morning with a cup of coffee.

7.  If money were no object what would you like to do when you retire?
Have a small RV and go places. I would also settle for a house on the beach. 

8.  What is your favorite season?
Summer 

9.   What book are you currently reading?
I am not currently reading any books. I wish I liked to read but it’s just not my thing,

10. What time do you go to bed, get up in the morning?
I go to bed each night around 11 and my Eco dot Alexa wakes me up every morning at 6.

11. How long have you been blogging?
I started my blog in 2011 but did not really get into it until 2015.
That’s 11 years!!! Wow. 

11 Random things about me. 
1.   I’m left handed.
2.   I can not swim. ( but I can float).
3.   I still have my tonsils though the doctor can’t find them.
4.   I have 3 tattoos.
5.   I sneeze when I eat peppermint.
6.   I’m a Christian.
7.   I can drive a stick shift car.
8.   I’m a minimalist.
9.   I have been in Nutrisystem ads as a success story.
10.  I am afraid of snakes and spiders.
11.  I am a lucid dreamer. 


So...now...YOU...copy the questions below and paste to a new blog post. Then tell us 11 random things about yourself. 
When your finished, head over to TheNanaDiana and share the link to your blog post in her comments and she will share your blog on her page. 
Have fun!

1.  Where do you like to vacation?
2.  Do you have pets?
3.  What is your favorite color?
4.  How many are in your family?
5.  What is your least favorite thing to do?
6.  What is your most favorite thing to do?
7.  If money were no object what would you like to do when you retire?
8.   What is your favorite season?
9.   What book are you currently reading?
10. What time do you go to bed, get up in the morning?
11. How long have you been blogging?


It’s Been A While

It’s been a while since my last blog post. I mean, not a really long time, but longer than I had planned. 
I’ll try not to let it happen again but I’m sure I will.

I have trouble writing blog post when things are not comfortable in the world around me. I like to blog positive, happy or fun post. 
Oh, I have a lot to say about the things going on in the world today but I try to stay away from political topics or bad news. We get enough of that on TV. 

I also had a pretty busy week last week so I was never in a quiet frame to write a post. 
As I have mentioned in a previous post, I have been crocheting “ear savers”. They are these little bands that fit around the back of your head with a button on each end. Medical workers use them to hold their mask on without having to put the masks around their ears. They have been wearing mask so much that their ears are sore. These are a big relief to them. 


There is business in my town called “Morgans Shoes and Bootery’. They also are a big supplier of professional scrubs. This is where most medical workers and others buy their uniform scrubs. This means they are probably in need for ear savers too. My handmade ear savers are a big hit and they sell out quick. They have been ordering 50 at time from me. I can have them ready usually within 3 days. 


I also had a couple of job interviews last week. Both interviews went well and they seemed to like me. 
One already denied me and I am currently waiting back from the other. My search continues. 
With all the craziness going on right now, a lot of businesses have put a freeze on hiring. Hopefully things will get better. I’m tired of being home all the time. However, I love all the quality time I get to have with my husband. 


Old Things

I have been a bad blogger lately. I was putting out at least three post a week, now I’m lucky to get out one a week. I’m still here and still read other post each morning during my breakfast. I just can’t seem to come up with a post for some reason. I guess my life is just that boring right now. With all the time I have on my hands, you’d think I would be crafting, cooking and exploring more, but I’m not. Well, except crocheting. Been doing a lot of that.

I get up each morning, pour myself a cup of coffee and sit down to breakfast. While I have my breakfast and for about the next hour and five cups of coffee afterwards, I read from my Bible app, read blogs, and apply for jobs on Indeed. I also look at my facebook and instagram but that’s pretty much all day long.

Mid morning I will turn on the tv and do some hula hooping and other small exercises in the living room. I think I have seen every episode at least 10 times of Rosanne, Mom and Two and Half men. I think that’s more than all the Gilligan's Island and Andy Griffin shows I’ve watched. 

I look forward to going to the grocery store now as it’s an excuse to get out and buy something. Some days we will just ride around and visit Antique malls and thrift stores. Life is pretty boring to me right now. I do not like being without a job and no money coming in. I hope something gives soon. However, I love the time I get to spend with my sweet husband. 

Speaking of Antique malls, We visited one this past weekend and I snapped a couple photos of some old things that will tell you my age.

Metal Skates.

I had a pair just like these, you just tied them on your shoes. One size adjusted to fit all.  Honestly, I’m not sure if they were my moms and she let me play with them or if they were mine. But I also remember later having a pair of booted skates with metal wheels and could never understand why I couldn’t wear them in the skate rink. “They are sidewalk skates”, they said. 

School Desk.

I sat in many of these during middle school. By high school, we had larger wooden desk with arm rest made for all the right handed students. 
I’m a lefty but learned to manage. They were all so uncomfortable and as far as I know, they still use the wooden ones. 

Tennis Racket

Oh this brings back memories. Mom and Dad had a set of these old tennis rackets with the wooden frames. We played with them a lot.
In high school, I wanted to play tennis. We practiced with nice larger and short handled aluminum rackets, like you see today.
Well, I made the tennis team but in order to play, I had to have my own racket. I remember daddy taking me to the mall and after seeing the prices on new rackets, he decided I didn’t need a new racket like everyone else. I was often reminded that I “was not like everyone else”. 
He said I will just have to use the old rackets we already had. Needless to say, I never played tennis. They never believed I would stick to anything or succeed in much. They were pretty much right. I know they didn’t mean it in a negative way. I was just that kind of kid.  

It’s always fun to see old antiques and relive old memories. 
I bet the other girls rackets on the tennis team are not worth 48.00 now days. 

Getting It Together

Once again I am on a mission for a planning technique. I love my Rocketbook erasable notebook and have used it since the first of the year. I do not need an event or life planner. I use my Google calendar for that. What I really need is a "blog planner". I really enjoy blogging and I want to get it more organized and I need a place to keep my blog ideas, keep up with social blog interactions, reviews, numbers, influencer task and more.

Image result for blogging

My problem is organizing. I love being organized and I just can't accomplish anything if it's not.
Though my Rocketbook seems to work pretty good for me, I am just tired of loading everything up and taking it with me everywhere. I use an iPad for blogging and therefore, I want to keep everything in the palm of my hand. I do not want to have to take out a notepad, and special pens just to jot down a note or idea. I want to open and close with just a click of a button.

I also enjoy hand writing and drawing. My husband got me a really cool iPencil which allows me to take handwritten notes, draw and highlight on my iPad. I still have so much to learn.

I am ready to go digital. I have been searching for a digital blog planners. I have found several. Some are already to go and some you have to add your own pages and create yourself. I am somewhere in the middle. I think it will be nice to have everything I need for blogging in one place.

Do you use a blog planner? Do you use a program on your computer or tablet? I would love some ideas and input on this matter. I have some really creative and successful blog friends out here.

Rocket Book

At the beginning of the year I decided to start a bullet style journal. I am not sure what I'm doing yet but so far it seems to help me keep up with the things I need to do, goals for the month and blogging ideas.

I purchased a reusable smart notebook called a RocketBook Everlast and I love it.


This particular style has 36 pages (18 sheets) that can be used over and over as much as you want. What's so cool about this note book is that when you no longer need a page of notes you can simply moisten the fiber cloth (included) and erase the page and start over. Sort of like a dry erase board in a book. Pretty cool huh?


One of the other styles (called the Wave), you put in the microwave to erase the sheets. I can not see myself doing that and the pages only work through a few uses.

With RocketBook you can down load the RocketBook app and simply scan a page of notes then save it to an online file of your choice. That way you can keep your important stuff safe and at your fingertips.



So far this book has helped me stay accountable. I love to sit down at night and look at what I have accomplished and what I need to work on.

I tried to use a planner but I never stuck to it. I would start each month faithfully, but once I messed up, it looked messy and I would lose interest.

With the RocketBook, if I mess up or need to change something, I can simply just erase it. I will be using the RocketBook for ideas, blog, social media, etc. I plan to continue using my Google calendar on my iPad and iPhone to keep events and appointments.

You never know how busy you are until you start writing it all down.


I suggest the "Everlast"
includes: one FriXion pen and micro fiber cloth.

Find RocketBook 





New Blogger Shout Out

Hope everyone had a Happy New Years Day. I had a great day with a house full of family. Everyone came over for the traditional New Years Dinner. We fixed pork roast, collard greens, black eye peas, potatoes, macaroni and cheese and rolls. It was a great feast and I am still stuffed. I am ready to dive into the year with new goals. 

Speaking of new, there is a new blogger in town. Well, she is way out of town for me but we are all in the same blogging world, right? Get ready for some positive words and motivation! 

Meet Michelle. 


I had the privilege to spend a few day with her during my last Nutrisystem Photo/Commercial shoot in Orlando Florida. You can see her in several of the Nutrisystem Commercials and is cute as a button. When I met Michelle it was like we already knew each other. It is like that with all of the girls and guys I met during these shoots as they are all so nice and we all have something in common. I call her one of my NutriSisters.

Michelle is always smiling her big signature smile and is as fun as she looks. She is also great at promoting and works hard for the things she is passionate about. Though she is new to the blogging world, her first post already proves her writing talent. I’ll stop here and let you read more about her and see for yourself. Just head over to “Life On The Bright Side” and show her blog some love.

Good Luck Michelle!





New Year New Goals

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Hope everyone is doing great and recovering from the mid night activities. My husband and I went out for a nice dinner then back home to start the preparation for my annual family New Years Dinner. We are not fans of late night partying. We like to stay in and stay sober.

I started my morning off using this little New Years coaster I whipped up for fun.


Crochet pattern HERE.

I love having a coaster under my coffee mug so it doesn't clank on the table.

Later, we will be enjoying a feast of meat, black eye peas, collard greens, potatoes, macaroni n cheese, bread and dessert. When everyone comes, I can have a crowd of about 13 people. However, now that the nephews are all grown up, they can't be forced to come over and eat greens.


Do you make resolutions for the new year?
I don't make what I call resolutions but I do make goals for myself. Here are my top five.
I will always be adding new goals throughout the year.

1. I have lost the weight, now I want to get healthier.
My goal is to be able to run a mile without stopping, be able to do 50 sit ups by my 50th birthday, and loose another 10 lbs by Summer. I will also be taking more vitamins and collagen to help with my skin and muscles.

2. My car will be paid off in July.
My goal is to purchase a new one by Fall. I like to keep a new car so I never have to worry about putting money into always fixing an old one. I like warranty protection and new car smells.

3. I want to get more involved in blogging.
My goal is to get more involved as an influencer while still keeping my blog personal. 
I want to build my blog followers and reach out more.

4. Keeping up- I can never keep a planner going. I always fall short. I find it easier to just jot things down to remember other than adding them to a certain date on a calendar.
My goal is to start a bullet style journal using my new "Rocketbook" for keeping blog ideas, to do list, social media activities, and goals. I will keep using my Google calendar on my phone and iPad for appointments and events. This also keeps "Alexa" in the loop. haha.

5. Call me crazy, but I want to start a small Loofah garden.  I think it will be something different to try and fun results at the end.
My goal is to be able to actually get it to produce.

....Not sure about number five. Nick is over there shaking his head. Well, see. I have already bought the seeds.

Do you have any new plans for the new year? 



Blog Planner

I have been going around and around in my mind about using a blog planner or any planner of that matter. I actually bought a little simple planner to play around with until the end of the year. But dog gone it, my life is just not that busy.



I have no idea what to keep up with. I am not so busy that I can't just sit down after work and come up with something to blog about.

But....

I want to make my blog better ( I say this every year). or better organized. I want to spend more time on it and try and bring in more traffic. I want my blog to grow.

I would consider my blog a "lifestyle" blog I think. I blog about things I do, see, or experience. I try my best to leave politics or news out of it. Because I'm not that educated on either one. I often do reviews and sometimes those have deadlines so It would be nice to keep up with them in a planner. Maybe plan out blog post for the future? Right now my post are usually spur of the moment. I have a tag called "random". seriously.

When I go online to read about blog planning. I only find sites that lead me to professional bloggers that do a lot of marketing, and selling. People that are focused on one topic. They speak too big in vocabulary for me to even understand what they are talking about. I mean, heck, I just learned recently what "monetizing" is. 

I do get ideas of a post sometimes and I will either snap a reminder photo or jot it down in my "notes" app on my phone. Maybe that's enough for me or maybe its not. I like being organized and love to be creative. But I want my planner to be more than a pretty book.

So I'm asking my readers for advice.

Do you use a blog planner? What about a daily planner? Do you carry a little journal around with you all day or do you use a special app on your device? I am curious. I would love to have new ideas ready for the new year that will soon be here.

For my blog friends that “Monetize” I’d also love to know what you use for that. 
I use Adsense but for some reason, The ads have stopped showeing up on my page as of November 1st. I’ve checked all my settings and everything is active with no violations. Been to help and support but with no advice. I’m ready to find other options. 



This Weekend

This weekend- I am having a little trouble blogging and I’m rather aggrivated. I do all my blogging from my iPad pro. and occasionally from my iphone. Blogger does not support ipad any longer, so I bought an app called “Blog Touch Pro”. It links to my blogger. I can write a post from there and it is just like writing one on blogger. If I need to work with my blogger settings or layout, then I have to go to my desktop computer in the other room. It’s frustrating sometimes but I’ve adapted pretty well and happy with the app now for a couple years. HOWEVER, when my ipad did an update to IOS 12.0, the blog touch pro crashes and will not stay on more than a second. I have contacted them and they are aware of this and are in the process of fixing it. I wish they would hurry. I could be using the desk top computer now but im Blogging from an iphone, that’s where my photos are.

This weekend- We did some shopping for a couple last minute birthday gifts for my daughter. I saw a lot of things I wanted for myself but held out for another day.

I seen these little wizards things at Belks and fell in love.


I wanted one so bad but not at $30.00. I’d rather put that toward a pair of Fall booties. I shopped for those too but could not find the ones I want.

Then I saw this little biscut can thingy.


I just had no idea what I needed it for. I just liked it. I can’t afford things I “just like”. I have to save for things I “need”, like shoes and pocketbooks. 
Girls, you get it.

I went to the dollar store to get wrapping paper and grabbed these two adorable kitchen towels.


One for me and one for my daughter.

This Weekend- We got out early Saturday morning to the YMCA to watch my little 4 year old nephew play his first ever soccer game. 
He is number 4.


Those kids are just the cutest things. Some played their little hearts out and some stood on the field and cried for their moms. Here is number 4 and his poppy consoling a little boy that was upset.


During the game, you would find some players picking flowers and some doing cartwheels. They were just so funny. The coaches were worn out.

Number 4 was asked to block the goal. Here he is doing just that.


This weekend- We took our daughter out for her birthday dinner with family at the Thia House.


She was showered with gifts, cards and birthday wishes. 


It was a great ending to a long weekend.

Now its back to work. It’s going to be a long day on Monday as I have had some computer and employee problems to deal with, but I will get through it. I always do.