Monday, April 30

How To Generate More Traffic

In the spirit of Jennifer's Blog Carnival I am going to post a little something something about how to get more people to see your blog.

Ha. As if I really know anything about that.

All I really know is that it helped me tremendously to comment on other people's blogs. Once I found some that I liked to read myself I just started to post comments. It brought those people back to my site as well as some others.

I get a bit weirded out by the unknown weirdos who may be out there but thankfully I have only met really nice people. Knock on wood I haven't had any bad comments from anyone as well as nothing that has wanted me to password protect my blog.

So that is my great and wonderful advice that no one has been able to live without. hee hee

And I have one more trick
- participate in a blog carnival. ;-)

Friday, April 27

TGIF

I am so glad it is Friday.

The weather is supposed to be nice this weekend so that is a plus.

I just got 2 free tickets to see Seussical so Belle and I are going to do that tomorrow. I hope she likes it.

She has soccer pictures and a soccer game on Sunday.

J has a fishing tournament on Sunday also and I hope he does really well.

I hope to do some sewing and knitting and hopefully photo editing this weekend also.

My laundry is already just about done. Another plus.

I just can't wait to get this weekend started.

Now I just hope it doesn't go by too quickly...

Wednesday, April 25

TV

I realize as I type this that the argument can be made that I watch too much TV. I am not arguing back. I do watch too much.

Thankfully I don't sit in front of the TV all night long every night.

And more often than not I fall asleep while trying to watch. But once it is 8:00-9:00pm on Sunday through Thursday I have shows I like to see. If I miss them, though, I don't worry as my trusty tiv*o box will record them for me.

I try to catch up in the mornings while I am getting ready for work. I fast forward through a lot of the crafty or talk show shows and only watch the parts that interest me.

But what I hate more than anything is if a new show is on and you start to watch it. You get involved in the story line and then without notice it isn't on this week. Or next. Or the week after that. After awhile you start to wonder if you have just missed it. Did they switch days? Or the dreaded is it cancelled thoughts creep in.

There are several shows lately that this has happened to me on. So today I decided to search for the info to know the answer.

I already knew that The Vanishing was taken off but I don't have time to watch the episodes on the computer so that I can know once and for all what happened to the senators wife and was she really who she said she was.

But I found out that Veronica Mars has been cancelled. This was a culty type of show but it was good. Granted not as good as it had been in the past but still good.

I struggled with The Black Donnellys and The Wedding Bells but still got to know the characters.

I am glad that Jericho may have been saved from the cutting room floor as I really like this show.

Also that Friday Night Lights seems that it will be back next year for a second season.

Now granted I have many other shows that I watch such as The Apprentice, Extreme Home Makeover, Dancing with the Stars, American Idal, ER, Lost, Real World and Road Rules Challenges, Greys Anatomy, Ugly Betty, House, and I am sure there are others.

My TV is anything but quiet. There are many a time that I like to leave it turned off on a weekend morning but that only lasts until someone else in the house wakes up.

I just need closure with the shows they get you interested in and then throw out without so much as a goodbye.

Tuesday, April 24

Hmmmphf

So last Saturday was my birthday.

I usually don't get excited about my birthday because they tend to be crappy days.

But for the most part Saturday was a pretty good day. I got to spend the morning with Belle since my husband went fishing. She had soccer practice then I planned on taking her to our favorite local ice cream shop that just re-opened Saturday for the summer. So my first bummer part was the fact that my husband came home earlier than expected and was able to go with us. I wouldn't have minded that really but that meant his mom had to come with us. I usually don't care about that either but I was really looking forward to it being just Belle and I.

Then we went home and I still had to clean the bathroom and poop scoop from our little dog. There is just something wrong with dealing with poop on your birthday. But hey someone had to do it if we were going to let people see our bathroom and also play on the grass in the back yard. So that was my second bummer of the day. My husband told me if he had cleaned it that I just would have gone and done it again anyway. As this may be partially true I would have only had to do a double check.

Everyone came over and we all had a good time but again it was up to me to get out all of the food and then clean up. Nobody really helped. I couple people offered but at that point I was almost done. I even tried to leave some stuff in the sink but no one stepped up to take over. The only dishes I wanted to wash were my good serving pieces. But other than that it was free game. Sadly I don't have a dishwasher.

All in all I had a good birthday. Nearly perfect. It just is such a downer for me because I get such mixed emotions going. I don't like to be the center of attention but yet it would be so nice if I was just pampered and had something truly special done for me. Maybe someday that will happen.

My birthday has also lighted the fire under me to get a move on with my weight loss efforts. I am really trying to be a good little ww member and write down my foods. I would love to lose 25 pounds by the time Belle goes to kindergarten. I realize that is a lofty goal but a girl has to aim high. Yesterday I did pretty good and I am trying to do even better today. We will see how it goes.

Monday, April 16

Tragedy

My heart goes out to all students and parents today. Especially those involved in today's events.

I can't even imagine and I don't want to.

It is so very sad. And scary.

Flying Saucers

Belle and I were in a store shopping on Saturday.

She is being silly and loudly saying things like, "Mommy, watch out there is a bear behind you"
and "Mommy, watch out there is a lion over there that is going to get you. Watch out!"

And then, "Mommy, watch out there is a flying saucer over your head!"

I of course crack up.

I ask her if she knows what a flying saucer is.

She tells me, "It is something that flies spilling sauce"

I stop right there in the store and give her a great big hug and tell her how much she makes me laugh and that her description makes total sense but that is not what a flying saucer is.

I tell her it is like a spaceship that carries aliens. I also ask her if she knows what an alien is.

Oh boy because she doesn't know what an alien is. And without wanting to go into the whole what is life thing and how it may be possible we are the only planet with life but then again we may not be and aliens may just be something people have made up in their minds and in movies. But you definitely don't want to be abducted by them just in case they are real and they really do perform tests on us mere humans since we may or may not be smarter than aliens. blah blah blah.

I just asked her if she remembered the movie where "hitch" (will smith) was in a different movie that he had to get the bad monsters (aliens) and wore a black suit. Thankfully (or not) she remembered even though I didn't let her watch that whole movie (too many guns) and then it was smooth sailing from there.

Who knows what she really got out of that but I know I got a great memory. My girl definitely cracks me up (in a great way)!

Saturday, April 14

Frustrated

I am so frustrated with my little craft project. It was a sewing project that I was quite excited about until I got into it.

You see I have never used fusible interfacing before and let me tell you I am not liking it so far.

I fused it to the proper side.

I then pinned my pieces together.

I tried to sew the front and the back together.

This is where the problems start. My thread keeps bunching up and breaking.

I have to rip it all out and I just had to step away.

UGH>>>>

Monday, April 9

Happy Easter

What a great weekend. I got most of my lists finished. Had time to enjoy things.

And most importantly my girl had so much fun as did the other kids.

We had some bad weather which forced the egg hunt inside which turned out to be fun. Except when someone broke the ceramic on my double crock pot. At least it wasn't something I use very often. I can probably do without it.

When I asked Belle what her favorite part of the day was she told me it was the egg hunt with a huge smile on her face and her shoulders pulled up in excitement. I guess it didn't hurt that she found the "golden" egg worth a prize of $10.

Friday, April 6

Cute Story

Yesterday morning Belle woke up too early. I was up already but she still had a little while to sleep.

So I went upstairs but left the lights turned off so I wouldn't wake her up more.

I go to sit on her bed and grab her because she was crying a bit since I didn't hear her right away (I was washing dishes and didn't hear much of anything else).

I am groping around trying to find her and I am saying, "Where are you? I can't see you." in a silly kind of voice.

She gets on my lap and puts both of her little hands on my face and says, "mommy, I'm right here."

It was just so cute I couldn't stand it.

Gratitude Friday

I wish I had a picture to go with this little story but I don't and that is ok.

As you know I have been sick all week. I am very grateful that I have not had a fever, though. A fever stops me in my tracks.

I am grateful that I have been able to accomplish the following from my spring cleaning list:

Main Bathroom:
-clean tub
-clean light fixture

Upstairs Bathroom:
-clean toilet
-clean sink
-clean mirror
-vacuum

Basement Bathroom:
-clean toilet
-clean sink
-clean mirror
-sweep floor
-mop floor

Basement
-sweep
-mop
-straighten up
-wash all clothes

Upstairs
-change sheets
-make beds
-vacuum

Living Room
-straighten up
-clean glass curio

Dining Room
-clean glass light fixture
-replace light bulbs

Craft/Guest Room
-clean ceiling fan
-clean light

Belle's Room/Play Room
-straighten up
-organize
-clean ceiling fan
-clean light

Kitchen
-put up key hooks
-wash counters
-wash top of microwave
-wash inside of microwave
-clean window
-clean fan
-clean light

So overall I think that is pretty good. Some things I am purposely saving for tonight and tomorrow so they are freshly done for Easter. Some things won't get done this week but that is ok.

And I am most grateful for my daughter laying her hand on mine last night and telling me she will take good care of me always. So sweet!!

p.s. I am always glad it is Friday!!!

Tuesday, April 3

So Much To Do - So Little Time

Why oh why do I do this to myself. I host Easter at my house. Generally the weather is nice enough for our easter egg hunt outside and then we hide the kids baskets around my house. We eat dinner and just hang out.

But.....

I also use this as my excuse to do my spring cleaning. So I go beyond the normal cleaning my house would need to be more than presentable.

Warning: boring list you can totally skip if you want.

I have made the following list by room of items I need to complete by Saturday (preferably Friday). Did I mention I work full time also?!

Main Bathroom:
-clean tub
-clean sink
-clean toilet
-clean walls
-sweep floor
-scrup floor
-replace moulding around tub
-clean light fixture
-dust curtains
-clean mirrors
-clean window

Upstairs Bathroom:
-clean toilet
-clean sink
-clean mirror
-vacumm

Basement Bathroom:
-clean toilet
-clean sink
-clean mirror
-clean shower
-sweep floor
-mop floor

Basement
-sweep
-dust
-mop
-straighten up
-wash all clothes
-clean tables

Upstairs
-change sheets
-make beds
-clean windows
-straighten up
-dust
-vacumm
-clean ceiling fan

Living Room
-dust
-vacumm
-straighten up
-wash blankets
-clean windows
-clean glass curio

Dining Room
-clean glass patio doors
-dust
-sweep floor
-mop floor
-put up pictures
-touch up paint
-put away mail
-put away shoes
-change mat
-put away shelf stuff
-clean glass light fixture
-replace light bulbs

Craft/Guest Room
-straighten up
-dust
-put up shelves
-put up shelf curtains
-vacumm
-clean windows
-clean ceiling fan
-clean light

Belle's Room/Play Room
-straighten up
-organize
-get rid of small clothes/shoes
-get rid of toys
-dust
-vacumm
-clean windows
-clean ceiling fan
-clean light

Kitchen
-put up key hooks
-get and put up magazine type rack
-wash counters
-fix tiles behind sink
-wash top of microwave
-wash inside of microwave
-wash sink
-wash stove
-wash cabinets
-sweep floor
-mop floor
-clean steps
-put out Easter towels
-put out Easter rug
-change deep fryer oil
-empty recycle stuff
-clean out refrigerator
-clean out freezer
-clean window
-clean fan
-clean light


Then I need to do some set up work so that I am not crazy on Easter:
-put out plates
-put out cups
-put out silverware
-get out ice bucket
-get serving plates out and set up
-thaw bunny cakes
-decorate bunny cakes
-slice cucumbers
-make veggie dip
-put up spare table and table cloth
-put out candy
-peel & cut potatoes
-stuff baskets
-hide baskets
-stuff 500 plastic eggs
-scatter plastic eggs
-make deviled eggs
-color Easter eggs


So if anyone is still reading this I commend you. I am really just trying to get my game plan in order. What should I do on each day to accomplish this long list. I know it won't all get done and a lot of it is extra spring cleaning stuff but I would love to accomplish this list. Once this list is done I can relax for the summer. Plus my birthday is 2 weeks after Easter so everyone will be back at my house. If I can get this list done I won't have to do much at all for my birthday which is a bonus.

I am also trying my best to fight off a cold. UGH>

I shall overcome!! hee hee