I want to say Thank you...

To all the new people who kindly chose to follow my blog.  I know many have snooty attitudes about giveaways and new followings, but I find it a fast way to get quick exposure to my blog.  If you don't like me, then you don't get that extra point on the rafflecopter!  If you don't mind, and I'm another blog you skim though, big deal.  If you find me super exciting, then we were meant to be friends, and the giveaway was worth it weight in gold.  Actually, it was funded by items that I have won in other giveaways, so basically it was free for me!  Before I get serious, I'm going to say a few things.  Why does blogger have HORRID spelling suggestions?  See up there, where I wrote "rafflecopter"?  I know it's a brand, and I don't care if I didn't capitalize it, and I know I spelled it right....but when I right-click for it's suggestion, it wants me to hyphenate everything or put a space between the words.  I get really annoyed at the end of the post when there are too many red squiggles.  I hope everyone had a nice holiday this weekend.  I'm not super religious, but more spiritual and I usually like to keep that part of my life to myself!

When you lose a member of your family, it feels like you lost a vital piece of yourself.  It feels like the family unit is down a leg, or missing an arm.  It feels like you don't function at your optimum potential.  You always feel that phantom pain for what is missing.  And it's always more apparent when you have a big family.  And that people in their 50's love to comment on their photos that they take of their family on Holidays.  Unknowingly pissing their "disabled" family the F*** off.  I still feel weird using obscene language, because I want to be professional enough to be taken seriously, but I really like the F word.  Sometimes that is the word that is the most accurate for a given situation.  My family consists of my parents, me, my teenage daughter, and my deceased sister (who was engaged).  I think of us as a starfish with a ghost limb, which would obviously be my sister's part.  She is always here, no doubt.  But you can feel that she's not here (paradox, I know) the most on holidays.  I don't like participating in the activities, because ignoring them is easier for me.  If I'm not eating Easter dinner, then I don't have to see her NOT eating Easter dinner.  If I don't see it not-happening, then it's not as painful for me.  What I'm missing out on, is special time with my family to rebuild some of the substance of unity that disappeared with my sister.  So I'm giving up a lot, in order not to feel that much pain.  Because it still hurts.  I think of the millions of people running around outside or in their houses finding eggs, and I miss when I was little and me and my sister were pushing each other out of the way to find eggs.  She was better at finding them than me, even though she was 2 years younger.  My age definitely didn't make my size two years older, because we were always the same size since she was 5.

People just don't always think, and assume that you are on the same elated level as them.  Scrolling through all the families getting together for the holidays, and people who post way too many pictures (of anything) are irritants to me on days like this.  I'm not trying to bring anyone down.  I'm being about as honest as I can get.  I am going through my almost third year of life without her.  If you grew up with someone and saw them all the time for over 25 years, I don't think 3 years is enough time to get-over-it-already. I don't feel like this every day.  I miss her every day, and that unbearable knocked-out, kicked-in-the-stomach, kneeling over holding your stomach, then kicked-in-your-kidneys (back) as-hard-as-possible absence of-breath feeling from kneeling-over pain is gone.  Basically, when you get gut punched, then fall down holding your burning intestines, and having that guy ninja-fly over your back until he's facing your back and kicking as hard as he can with multiple kicks, in one leap, than turning around and running away to do more ninja stuff elsewhere....  Where your soul is ripped out from the bottom of your heart, mashed up into a ball shape filled with spikey gloom, and punched back hard again, into where it goes by the bottom of your heart and lungs. *this is what I imagine it to be, since I studied anatomy and physiology quite closely, and that's where it hurt the most, when that second of life was ripped out of my body and replanted.  It took awhile for that new memory to heal in my heart.  And it goes through a LOT of emotions, sometimes back and forth in a single day.  I feel like I know the depths of life/death too early, than when I should have.  There are women who lose babies, or can't carry a baby that know this pain.  There are mothers and fathers who lose a child, before they are "supposed" to, that know of this pain.  And there are sisters, brothers, cousins, family and friends, that know this pain, but some are lucky not to feel this until they are 40 or 50, when they lose their parent(s)/other significant person.  Maybe you know how it feels, and maybe you are lucky if you don't.  And if you don't know what to say to someone, it's probably for the best that you don't, and your hug will be a great substitute for words.  Because those are what ring hollow in my head when I get in these funks.  And people can really say some off-putting stupid things, when full of anxiety on what they should say.  That's why humans have non-verbal communication, and that's when you should decide to use that option.  I know that I appreciate that the most.  Because grief is a monster that pits logic and love against you.

Thoughts about words...

UGH.  You know what's the worst?  When you open your mouth and say something offensive to someone else before really thinking about it.  Usually when you find something really annoying in someone else, it's because you don't like that quality in yourself or are afraid that you have that same quality; unless that person is THAT person who is just annoying....admit it, we all know one of those guys.

And I opened my mouth on someone else's blog, because I took offense to something, and left my personal thoughts on it.  And you know what she did?  She wrote back, thanking me for my comments, and spelling out what I took offense to was NOT what her message was, but explained more on what she was getting at. AND she was super kind in her email.  I feel like a giant ass.  Because, I took offense to something she didn't even mean.  One of my giant flaws, is taking offense to things because I feel less-than other people.  I might seem confident or assertive with my thoughts in public, but I'm also listening and triple-analyzing the way someone said something, or trying to figure out the hidden message behind their words.  When you are online, a lot of the time, it's 2 dimensional.  You can't hear the tone of the voice, so you create it in your own head.  What the hell does that mean?  or That is SO ME!!!  or Uh, where is this chick coming from?  Unless it's obvious, you kinda fill in the voice and tone of the message with your own voice.  I mean, you get someone when they are explaining something.  That's easy.  They are informing you about information they want to present.  It's a little harder, when that person is leaving their personal thoughts, opinions and "rants".  What happens when you don't agree?  What should you do when you get that urge to leave your thoughts so they are clear on why their thinking is "wrong"?  And what gives me the right to leave my opinion on why I think you are misguided?  Maybe I shouldn't.  Maybe I should just leave it be.  I don't have to leave my wisdom at every interaction I engage in.  And I probably learned a major lesson today in blogging.  I think I will stick to the very old adage of "If you can't say something nice"... or at least disagree in a positive way.  I don't always have to agree and find logic in other people's lives.  I need to keep thinking and not rush a response because I'm tired and have insomnia at 4:35 a.m.  I think I'll remember this one for awhile.

Tula Pink 10" Fabric swap

Mama Spark's World is having a fabric swap and she has 4 spots open if you are interested in joining!  Their flickr group is here, and you can find out more information by clicking on her blog.  All you need is 2 yards of 2 different fabrics that you cut into 10" squares.

Some Giveaways (I get points for blogging about)

1.  44th Street Fabric- Giving away 3.5 yds of beautiful Chevron fabric (7 different colors) and a bag pattern by Jennifer Jangles.  Ends at the end of March.

2.  Back East Blonde- She sponsored Northern Belle Diaries this March, and teamed up with 12 other bloggers to offer Ad Space.  Ends in 2 days. Must Follow NBD

3.  They Call her Meghan: TOATS Group Giveaway: $125 Cash & Goodies-HURRY ends in 20 minutes!

4.  The Foley Fam: Party Giveaway: Ends in 5 days. Link up your blog!

Things I've been meaning to do, but have failed at Life

1.  Get a better blog pic.  Like I haven't taken a better pic of myself since last June?

2.  Get a new job.  Subbing is HELL.  I hate it.  The funness and newness have definitely worn off.  I can't seem to get a job older than Grade 3.  I'm sure you have lovely kids, so don't be offended.  But they are not fun in a group of 30.  And I have the weirdest interactions with teachers (when they are in the building doing learning things for teaching).  Oh, 5 out of your 30 kids aren't Hellions, and they come up to me, to personally thank me for yelling at them that much because they never listen because they have headaches every day?  Do I include these private comments back to the teacher?  Probably not, if I want to come back.

3. Clean out my car

4.  Sew the binding on this baby quilt I made.  But I'm kinda confused, then looked it up, thought I knew what I was going to do, then got kinda confused when I sat back down to do it, a week later.

5.  Finish my 2 books by Monday so I can focus solely on Item 2 until I obtain that goal.

6.  Finish testing these Influenster products.  How hard is it to walk to the bathroom with 3 items to set by the sink so I remember to use them?  Apparently very.

7.  Um.  I watching some Ghost hunter show until the top of the hour.  Some chick freaked bc she just touched "by something" and is freaking bc she couldn't see it.  She's about as great as a Ghost Hunter than I am as a sub.  maybe I should email her to see if we can switch jobs.  Ooh, she's pregnant, so she obviously likes kids!

8.  Does anyone get so emotional and sad for people on gameshows that are losing, that you can't watch gameshows? I have always rooted for the oldest person since I discovered gameshows at the age of 5.  But lately, I can even watch them.  I would LOVE to know, if anyone gets like this too.

It's time for da da daahh!!! Influenster Sugar 'n Spice VOXBOX 2013

Imagine Kool-aid Man popping through your computer screen, saying "OH YEAH!!"  (because that's where my mind went right now.)

SO I got my second super awesome Influenster VoxBox in the mail on Tuesday. This one, as the title suggests, is called Sugar 'n Spice.  I'm going to introduce you to the sweet and spicy items in my box today, and in the next few weeks, post my opinions to let you know what I think!  Before I begin, I think I'm really going to like them!

If you aren't familiar with Influenster, I'll tell you a little about it before I begin my intro.  Influenster is free to join, and if you qualify after being asked about your social network numbers, then they will send you new products to test, and you give your honest opinion by blogging, tweeting, and on Facebook in exchange for free products and discounts on products that you test.  Still curious?  Click on the link at the beginning of this paragraph.  If you are interested in joining, let me know by sending your email, and I will try to set you up!  The minimum of what they ask you is easy to do.  In a few weeks, each Brand will have their own challenges, such as making a YouTube showing how I use a product or tweeting with a pic, and I have a chance to win bigger prizes associated with that Brand.



SO on to the good. You may have already seen this box already, but you haven't seen it by me!

1. Vaseline Spray & Go Moisturizer Total Moisture: sells for $7.99 for 6.5 oz. can

This new Spray & Go Moisturizer is a continuous spray lotion that moisturizes and absorbs in seconds, and leaves your skin feeling instantly soft-not sticky or greasy.  For best results, hold 4" from skin and spray over arms, legs, and body in a continuous motion, then quickly rub into skin.  My bottle (can) is full sized, and comes in a light yellow spray can and indicates that it's infused with pure oat extract.  I can imagine that the 3 means that it moisturizes all 3 skin layers, but maybe it's a chemical thing.  I love the bottle, and it's something that would attract my eye.  I HATE most lotions.  I don't use lotion unless my flesh is visibly falling off, because I hate the greasiness on my hands.  Which is horrible, because I'm a nurse and I usually wash my hands a few hundred times a day, and they can become bad in the winter.  The price lifts an eyebrow, but if it does what it promises, and lasts for at least a month, then this will not be a problem.  I'm looking forward to using it tomorrow! Go to their website to find a store near you that sells their products! And go to their facebook page to try and win one for yourself until April 14/13!



2.  NECTRESSE: sells for $6.99 for 5.9 oz. container, or $3.99 for box of 40 packets.

I received a box of 40 packets, and by looking at the orange box, I know that these are from the maker of Splenda, and it's a 100% natural no calorie sweetener made from monk fruit.  This sweetener is supposed to taste like sugar, has zero calories and is made primarily from monk fruit combined with other natural sweeteners.  For the past year, I have been using Equal in my tea instead of regular sugar, in hopes to cut out sugar and lose some calories.  Actually I use Meijer brand generic substitute for the brand name, because I like it better.  I like my tea sweet and will usually use 5 packs in my tumbler glass.  I think that sweeteners can have a chemical taste, and at times if you use too much, you can definitely taste it, which is gross.  When I was getting up really early, I would use Splenda in my coffee, because I find it least offensive. I will not touch the Pink Stuff.  I really like Splenda, but my Ex started me on the blue stuff in my tea, and it's just by habit now.  I REALLY look forward to testing NECTRESSE out in my tea later.  I have no idea what monk fruit is, but I'm sure I can find a pretty pic for you when I review the product later!  Their website has a lot of information on the products, plus offers a free sample.  On their facebook page, you can get a coupon for $1.50 off their 140-serving canister. So go look at some recipes, info, and request a sample for yourself, then go get a coupon on facebook!

*I also received a nectresse recipe booklet in my box*



3.  Dickinson's Original Witch Hazel Oil Controlling Towelettes: $5.99 for a 20-count box.

I received a 20 pack box that comes in a small light colored box that has light green banners to advertise that these towelettes cleans & conditions on the go, and are oil controlling towelettes.  The soothing blend of Witch Hazel and aloe on these facial wipes rejuvenates your skin by gently lifting dirt, oil and impurities from your pores while nourishing even the most sensitive skin.  It promises the result is a clean, refreshed and blemish-free complexion even when you're out and about.  On the front of the box it advertises that it gently removes dirt, oil, and impurities while eliminating shine with botanical extracts/gentle formula, touched with aloe.  You can buy these products at Walgreens.  This is one product in a collection, so go check out their website.  You can also learn about Witch Hazel, which works on all skin types, and join their tone up challenge under the Healthy Living tab!

Directions: At work, at play, on the go-use these refreshing wipes anytime you want to remove dirt, excess oil and impurities from your skin.  Simply wipe cloth across face and neck for instant cleansing, refreshment and moisturization.

Ingredients: All Natural Witch Hazel (containing Natural Grain Alcohol 14% and Witch Hazel Extract), Aloe, Barbadensis, Leaf Juice, Sodium Benzoate.

Dickinson's Witch Hazel formula has been an American tradition since 1866.  It advertises the benefits of witch hazel:

• refines pores
• removes & controls oil
• soothes irritation
• locks in moisture

The packets are individually wrapped, and look like the yellow box.  The towelettes are a 5" X 7" cloth  I really like how these are packaged, and if they do what they say, I think these are reasonably priced.  I usually don't buy special products for my skin, because it's very dry in the winter, and all I use is Olay moisturizer on it.  At least now I know why Witch Hazel can sting!  It's made out of alcohol!

*I also received 5 coupons for $2 off!!!

4.  belVita Breakfast Biscuits: $3.69 for a box of 5 packets of 4 biscuits.

I got a package of Cinnamon Brown Sugar biscuits, which have 4 biscuits in the package.  The Nabisco product is in a yellow foil package, and when I hold the package, it seems like it would be a good size for a snack.  These biscuits are advertised to be made with delicious ingredients and carefully baked to release steady energy that lasts all morning.  They are a good source of Fiber and B vitamins and contain no high fructose corn syrup, have 18-20 grams of whole grain per 50 gram serving and taste great.  Perfect for on the go!

So I look for the nutrition values that are important for me and find that this pack is a serving size that has 230 calories, fat cal 80, and total fat of 8g,  Sat Fat 0.5g.  This product contains wheat and soy-for my special allergy people.  I think these look pretty good, but I'm worried that they might taste more like cinnamon cardboard box than a delicious breakfast biscuit.  But I'm excited to try them, and if they are good, I wouldn't mind paying that price for them.  Especially if they keep me energized all morning.  I'm going to test these out at school tomorrow while I'm subbing for the Ultimate Test!

***There's also a contest to win free biscuits &/ $100 on their facebook page. 101 winners daily***

5-7.  My last three products are from Colgate and are the Colgate Optic White Regimen.

• Toothpaste: $2.99 for 4 oz tube
• Mouthwash: $2.99 for 8 oz bottle
• Toothbrush: $2.99 per brush

The directions are to use the Optic White toothbrush, mouthwash, and toothpaste together for whiter teeth in 5 days (vs. brushing with an ordinary toothpaste alone).

I received full sized samples that are packaged in shiny red.  The new 360' Optic White toothbrush has whitening cusps, cheek & tongue cleaner and polishing bristles.  The Optic White toothpaste has a sparkling mint flavor and promises whiter teeth in one week.  The directions are to brush thoroughly after each meal or twice a day.  The new Optic White sparkling fresh min mouthwash is alcohol free (important for someone like me!).  It promises to effective whiten teeth and freshens breath, helps to protects against future stains, reaches hard-to-brush areas, kills bad-breath germs and is enamel safe.  The directions are to rinse for 60 seconds with 15 mls (3 teaspoonfuls) of the dynamic foaming mouthwash in the morning and night, after brushing.  I'm ready to start this 5 day challenge and let you see the difference in 5 days!

Overall, I'm really excited to try out the products that Influenster sent me!  Who doesn't like cutting calories and having whiter teeth!  The lotion looks promising and I think I'll really like the facial wipes.  I'll let you know soon!  Thanks for reading my looong post, if you stuck it out this far!  You can check out the product's website to find out where you can you find their product near you, find deals and tips, and follow their facebook pages and other social media.

I received these products complimentary from Influenster for testing purposes.

Pinterest Change

I just switched my Pinterest account, because it says they will make everyone change soon.  They say it's to make our pictures bigger.  It just looks cluttered and super  boxy to me.  You no longer have the option to "See it Now" after you pin or repin something, which makes repinning in giveaways super easy to do.  So they either don't know this helped, or they are trying to change it, to make things harder in my life ;)  I guess that's my biggest complaint.  I thought I would just get it over with, because, really, how can you make Pinterest WORSE?!  Well, they did for me, and I'm pouting about it!

Bloglovin Giveaway!!!

With the big announcement by Google that they're getting rid of Goolge Reader, there has been a huge push to move towards Bloglovin', and it's such a fun way to follow and keep up with blogs.  So in order to help our followers move to that platform a bunch of us bloggers got together and have a HUGE giveaway to celebrate.  The response was intense, and so we ended up with 4 different gift cards at a $320 value!  Amazing!

In order to keep you from getting too intimidated by the rafflecopter we've broken it down into 4 different ones, go ahead and enter them all if you'd like! :) This also ensures you have a much higher chance of winning!  

HUGE GIVEAWAY starting at 3 am HERE!!!

So come back at 3 am to enter a HUGE giveaway to win 1 of 4 awesome giftcards.  Kudos to Ms. Angie from My So-Called Chaos for organizing and getting this huge giveaway up and started!!!  Because I was super lazy and slothful, and because I promised her a new pic of my face, it so did not happen, so she used the one of me in my last post that I look like an assface in, literally.  That was 1 out of 76 pictures I took for my Influenster pic that I needed to tweet, and I ended up with this crazy look because I couldn't just take a normal pic that day.  It was super impossible, don't ask me why.

Now, to give Ms. Angie credit, she did offer to change out my pic, but I want a million people to see that pic, and say who is that asshat, and come check out my blog, just for that horrible picture.  If you couldn't tell by now, I am what I am.  I look good some days, and I look not-so good other days, and most days I can't get a good pic.  I think it's funnier to leave it up there, than to put up my blurry pic where I LOOK GOOD.  I can never get a win-win!

So between the giveaway posts, and my NEW Sugar n Spice VoxBox, I'm sure you will get a glimpse of a couple more goofy looking pics.

If anyone cares, I'm reading these:

I took this pic from Amazon's website, don't really click on it and expect something to happen :)

Ditto

AND I started this after Christmas at the beginning of Genesis...

Sorry they are blurry, but since Border's doesn't exist, I won't use another website except Amazon to steal pics from.  I actually purchased this Bible from Amazon, and credit Amazon, so I think I'm ok to steal their pic.  Maybe not.  I'll let you know if they contact me.  So now I'm to the part where David became King.  I really wanted to see The Bible on TV, but it just hasn't worked out.  And because DirecTV is a giant fungus-eater, we only have one DVR box, and let's just say, I don't have that one.  We have been LOYAL customers, as they call us, since 2007, but we can't get any of the deals to upgrade our equipment for free.  Then you have to be away for at least a year to come back to be a "new" customer again.  But you won't be Loyal anymore.  I do have plans to snatch that baby and put it in my bedroom.  No one would probably notice anyway.  Then you don't have to listen to me babble on about The Bible on TV. 

COME BACK AT 3 AM TODAY to get your luck on at this awesome giveaway I'm in (with the asshole picture) :)


OH! And I really, really, really want this: 
ONLY $17.60!!!

A few things by me

SO.  My 30 days of blogging in the middle did terrible.  So, I will start on April 2nd and continue to blog every day of April.  You can blame it on The Quilting Gallery having a blog hop with about 200 giveaways.  I won a few patterns, but that was it.  I need to stick to the blogging giveaways that I have more luck with.

You CAN follow my blog with the bloglovin button over there to the right.  It's been there for about 8 months, so no need to freak, you still have like 90 days to do something about that!  It's so funny to read about people melting down about such a non-important thing in life, when you really get down to it.  I really wish we could all get together and protest gas prices, and other important things.

I got my second Influenster box today, so I'll be blogging about that for the next few weeks, then I'll get down and dirty with my 30 days.

Super Awesome Girl

That's me testing out the last box.  I love free stuff, so I love Influenster! 

Google Reader and Feeder

I'm a little behind, but I just noticed all the hype about Google dropping reader in July.   First, I would like to say that I think it's great of Google to give 3 months for us to transition to a new way to read our favorite blogs.  I've spent the last hour or so researching about Feedly, which I also see a lot of hype about today.  These are some of my thoughts about Feedly, Google Reader ending, and Bloglovin (which is a reader for blogs)

Some PROS:

1. I LOVE Feedly.  I am really happy that Google is focusing on whatever they have to do, to make G+ work for them!
2. The transition to Feedly is super easy.  You press ONE button, and it imports ALL your blogs from Google Reader into Feedly.  There is absolutely NO confusion about it.  You can also give permission for Feedly to access your Twitter and Facebook acounts.
3. I love the way Feedly looks, which is SUPER important to me.  It's very uncluttered, which is good, because I felt Google Reader was very cluttered.  You can change the color and choose a theme.
4. This is the best website I found that teaches you about Feedly.  It shows how to organize your Feedly, how to add blogs AND websites, how to organize your categories, and how to change your theme.  WATCH the 6 minute video.  It's so worth it! It gives you clear, concise information that you will love to know about Feedly.
5. I LOVE how Feedly looks, in regards to displaying your blog's information.  It gives you the same options as Reader, to allow you to view the blog's name and post in a list, in a magazine view (which I find cluttered), in a list view that shows a pic from the post or if there's not a post-then the blogger's button, and you can choose to view just the post, post plus pics, or post plus pics and video.  It's a BIG improvement over Google Reader.  You can also choose 1 of 3 fonts to view your blog. 
6. It makes adding a blog SO easy.  There's a mini tool at the bottom of the page, and you just click "Follow" and you can add it to a category. Super Easy!!!  You can choose what displays on this mini tool bar by choosing from Facebook, Twitter, Evernote, Tumblr, Pinboard (??), and there are more that I can't recall at the moment.
7. You can search within your blog using hashtags, OR you can use hashtags to search the web! Right on the top left of your screen!  
8. If you love to keep your blogs organized into different categories, then this is the reader for you!  Unfortunately, I never organized my blogs into category, so to use this feeder to it's optimal use, I'm going to have to spend some hours doing that.  BUT when that's done, then I'm good to go!  And it will be SO easy to read my Quilting blogs or my Fashion blogs, or my Favorite Blogs.  ***I know this is the same as Bloglovin, but you can only follow a blog on Bloglovin that is signed up for BL.  On Feedly, you can follow ANY website and blog!
9. That reminds me, that there is an option to have your favorite blogs appear first on your reader.  GO TO THE WEBSITE in #2!!!
10. Feedly uses the information from your searches and other info, to suggest websites and articles that you may like, that you would otherwise not know about.  This may be what I like about Feedly the most.  I love quilting and sewing blogs.  If it can find and tell me about something awesome that I may miss, I'm going to be super grateful to Feedly :)  You can also "like" articles and posts, and this is part of the info Feedly takes in account to show you about those things you may miss.  So when you really Like something, then press that button!!
11. Did I mention that there's an app for iPhone AND Android?

Some CONS: (about Reader leaving)

1. You don't have GFC, which we all know shows how many followers you have to yourself and the whole world.  BUT you do have the same easy one-click of a button to follow a blog.
2. As I was saying, Bloglovin is a reader for blogs, but it limits you because you can only follow blogs that are signed up for Bloglovin.  With Feeder, you can follow anything!
3. ??? I don't know right now.  I'm sure there may be other issues that come up, but I feel confident that I will still be able to access and view everything that I love to read.
4. A lot of my quilting blogs are not technically savvy.  Not all of them, but some of the older generation. I hope this doesn't deter them from posting!

Did I ever tell you that I love to READ your blogs more than I care to write on my blog?  Or that I would rather have 20 special followers than 1000 readers that I don't interact with?  I'm still learning how to interact with my readers, and take time to respond to the wonderful comments I get.  I feel like I'm in slow motion lately.  I have SOOO much to do.  A lot of people are going to be upset, because they aren't going to be able to display their numbers.  But really, I found your blog because I want to read it.  Not because I'm a number.  I love that I have readers, but I care about them reading what I write, not that they are a number.  If they have a random question about a disease or how many quilts I have mad, I would love to answer that, more than I have 100 readers because I signed up to be in a giveaway.  I know that's the main way to get readers, but I want the chance to have exposure THEN the reader can choose to follow me or not.  I have over 1000 blog subscriptions.  I will scan through them on the weekends, or when I have time.  I get my favorite blogs emailed to me, and I read those every day when I check my mail.  Blogdom isn't going to end because Google Reader is dissolving.  In fact, it opened a new door for me!  And I'm excited about the future!  

What are your opinions about Feedly?

30 Days of Blog Prompts

As you may have noticed, I do not update my blog on a regular basis.  If I don't have something to say, I just don't share it.  And I think that's ok.  I blog for fun, and it's ok if I don't have 1000 followers.  That's not important to me.  I would rather have 20 people that read my blog and interact with me because you think I'm awesome, than just collect the numbers.  I also understand the bloggers that commit to blogging for whatever reason, and spend a lot of time on budgeting, advertising, giveaways, and analyzing the numbers and coming up with new avenues to increase their numbers, and the numbers are invaluable to them.  It's just not for me.  I don't have any "rules" for my blog, and right now due to not having steady employment, I cannot afford to make the beautiful quilts and other sewing projects that I have bookmarked in my folders, that someday will get done, which was the original purpose for my blog.  Actually, I like reading other blogs than updating my own.  I'm just not that cool or focused to have a Super Sweet Blog, and I'm fine with that.

Because I don't blog regularly, I wanted to commit myself to daily writings on my blog.  You can never get to know me, if I don't share about myself.  I did not make up these 30 writing prompts, but I swiped them from Sarah at the fontenot four.  I LOVE reading Sarah's blog. She is amazing.  She has two beautiful daughters, and the youngest one needs 24 hour nursing care.  The family is regularly in and out of the hospital, and that is a hard life.  I remember it, because my sister was in the hospital for most of 2011.  SO go check her out after you read the list:


Day 1: List 10 random facts about yourself.
Day 2: Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and describe how they became fears.
Day 3: Describe your relationship with your parents.
Day 4: List 5 things you would tell your 16 year-old self if you could.
Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you happiest right now?
Day 6: What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?
Day 7: What is your dream job, and why?
Day 8: What are 3 passions you have?
Day 9: List 3 people who have influenced you, and how.
Day 10: Describe your most embarrassing moment.
Day 11: Describe a few of your pet peeves.
Day 12: Describe a typical day in your life.
Day 13: Describe 5 weaknesses you have.
Day 14: Describe 5 strengths you have.
Day 15: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?
Day 16: What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?
Day 17: What is the thing you most wish you were great at?
Day 18: What is the most difficult thing you have had to forgive?
Day 19: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?
Day 20: Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.
Day 21: If you could have 1 superpower, what would it be and what would be the first thing you did with it?
Day 22: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?
Day 23: List your top 3 hobbies and why you love them.
Day 24: Describe your family dynamic from your childhood vs. your family dynamic now.
Day 25: If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be and what would you eat?
Day 26: What popular notion do you think the world has wrong?
Day 27: What is your favorite part of your body and why?
Day 28: What is your love language?
Day 29: What do you think people misunderstand the most about you?
Day 30: List 5 things you would hope to be remembered for.

INSTEAD of posting 3 posts today, I'll just continue my first day here:

DUH DUN DAH DAAAA

PRESENTING

DAY 1: 10 Random Facts about Myself.

1. I am 33 years old but most people think I'm under 20.  I get carded for lottery tickets.

2. I am a teenage Mom.  I got pregnant at 16 and had my beautiful daughter a month after I turned 17. Refer to #1-Strangers DO NOT believe that I have a kid.  They think she is my sister if we are together.

3, Even though I had a baby, I completed my senior year of High School and continued on to college at Eastern Michigan University.

4.  My first major was Accounting.  When I got to the "College of Business", I decided I couldn't stand all the stuck-up snooty people around me, and freaked that I would be around them forever so I changed my major.

5.  I graduated in 2006 with my Bachelor in the Science of Nursing.

6.  I passed the NCLEX on my first try.  I found it super easy.

7. I started quilting a year ago, and have finished a few tops, but I'm scared to do the actual quilting.  This is a goal I have that I want to finish before the Spring ends.

8.  My bday is in MAY!!!

9.  We have 1 dog, 2 cats and a hedgehog living in our house.

10. I'm also a substitute teacher because I took some time off from nursing when my sister was sick.

BONUS: I love to read, I love to walk in the woods, I love animals especially Owls and Octopusses, I want to make beautiful quilts, I love to laugh and make others laugh, I want to buy Modcloth.com and wear dresses every day of my life, and I want to help others that are having a hard time-no matter what it is.

SUPER BONUS: Except for last year, I go trick or treating every year with my daughter.  MEANING, I dress up and get candy! If I have to make the walk, and are lucky enough to look 16, then I'm going to take advantage of it!  Plus it's super fun.  I will find pictures to post for Day 2.

Feeling Better

Last month, I shared about my depression and how if affects my life.  I see my Primary Care Physician (PCP) every month to review my meds so I can get my refills.  **A side note: This doctor has saved my life. I love her SO much**  I talked to her about my moods, and she agreed that I was depressed and it was time to adjust my meds.  I take an SNRI to help with my anxiety and depression.  If you didn't know, they come as a pair.  I (used to) have severe anxiety.  To the point where it made me change how I lived my life.  I had extreme anxiety about returning movies (when it was popular to rent them) and library books.  I love to read, so I was only hurting myself with huge fines.  Ok, getting back to my meds, I take the highest dose of my SNRI, so we had to add another med.  I think it's helping a lot.  I am sleeping less, my mood is improving, and I feel motivated to get things done, although I am not at the point of actually doing it.  I think I will get a lot of things done this week.  It's SUCH a relief!


AND HERE COMES THE BAD NEWS:

Remember these guys?

Now I'm going to share with you my bad news.  So last week, I saw an update on the music group Hanson, and how they picked their wives.  Two of them met their spouse at their concerts.  Now all 3 are happily married, and are making lots of babies while they are touring the states in a huge tour bus together.  The BAD NEWS: ever since then, MMM Bop has been stuck in my head.  I can't get rid of it! And it's driving me crazy!  I will be doing random things, like pouring a drink, flipping through the channels or waiting for the computer to start up, and I find myself singing that damn song! So after I hear myself singing this torturous song, it plays in my head loudly until I immerse myself fully into whatever I'm doing.  Then it slowly goes away.  But out of nowhere it will pop up again, and it literally makes me cringe.  When I recognize that I'm singing/humming the words, I make an irritated growling "UGH" noise.  It's seriously driving me nuts.  A song stuck in your head for a day or two, is a normal thing.  This has been a week.  And I HATE this song!  I've never liked it, no offense against Hanson.  I just wish it would stop.  Does anyone else ever have this problem?!

This image also gets stuck in my head!  The older one always has a weird expression, and the youngest one looks like my sister's best friend during elementary school that is a girl.  And that part creeps me out for some reason.

 

BUT, it's been awhile since those days...

Hanson Today.  Improvement, Eh?

The Hanson Fam

Not sure who their wardrobe management is...

The Framed Lady's 1000 FB Follower Giveaway!!!

Today I am participating in The Framed Lady's 1000 FB Follower Giveaway!

This is the first time I have participated in a giveaway.  I am giveaway away $15 Starbucks GC and 3 months of ad space.  I don't sponsor blogs, so you will have a special spot on the right for an entire quarter of the year.  I think that sounds more impressive.  Because I don't sponsor blogs, maybe we can do something fun in those 3 months.  So go enter and win something!  Good luck!!

Items you will win:

$20 Target giftcard from Simply, Ashley

Red, handmade scarf from Annie One Can Cook!

$15 Shop credit and free shipping from Top This By Leanne

2 elastic bracelets and a set of 1 wired bracelet and 1 pair of earrings from Sensational Creations

$15 shop credit to Studio Eleven

These Red Top earrings from Aditi Jewelry

$15 shop credit to Little Glass Slippers

Pacifier clip from Bling For Baby

$10 Amazon giftcard from Part of That World

A Vintage Feel Necklace from Peace Love Sequins

$10 Target giftcard from Sincerely, Leslie

$15 Starbucks giftcard from I Know This Much is True

A set of jeweled bobby pins from Lilla Rose

Ad Space you will win: 

210 x 210 ad from Ladies in Navy

2 Months Large Ad Space from Fox and Hazel

2 Months 200 x 100 ad space from The Crafty Side of Sarcasm

200 x 300 Large ad from Lily White English Rose

Medium ad from Pandora's Craft Box

Large 215 x 215 ad from The Cottage Diaries

Medium ad space from Serenity You

2 months 250 x 250 ad space from Sweet Silver Lining

2 months 200 x 200 ad space from Let It Shine

Medium ad from The Life of a Not So Ordinary Wife

Large Ad from The Domestic Geek

Glass Slipper Ad from Life in a Breakdown

2 Months Large ad space from Homegrown & Healthy

Large ad from Sunny With a Chance of Sprinkles

3 months of 200 x 200 ad space from I Know This Much is True

a Rafflecopter giveaway