Musically Gifted? Nah, Just Practicing!

Being a work-at-home writer, aspiring novelist, full-time wife-and-mother doesn't leave a lot of time to sit around eating bon-bons which watching soap operas (are there even any soap operas left?!?). But a lot of my non-writer, work-out-of-home friends seem to think that's all I do. Actually my days are fairly regimented - nonfiction writing from X-Y, fiction research and writing from Q-R, social media stuff, researching new markets, reading journals and reading for fun. Add in all the toddler hoopla and making meals and I'm a busy girl.

That doesn't stop me from picking up new hobbies constantly, though. I scrapbook, I quilt, I still practice music (I was a lead Clarinetist in high school thankyouverymuch). But I recently picked up the guitar, too, and I'm teaching myself to play. Once I become decent I'll decide if I want professional lessons, but for now I look for guitar chord chart and information online and practice, practice, practice.

I've found that hobbies - getting out of my chair and away from my desk - keeps my writing more focused and linear. So I'll keep picking up new hobbies...why don't you try one?

Seriously? Just Order More!

So last summer the hubster and I installed a pool because...well, we love swimming and it's cheap entertainment for the summer. We figured out that it costs us (basically) $.02/minute for the summer. Not bad.

Except for one thing. Our local pool supply ran out of the type of filters we need (seriously? It was only July!)...so we checked Target (also out), WalMart (out) and Meijer ( also out). And we need filters. Badly did we need them. I know I'm a little anal, but I like to change the filters weekly because we have a lot of cotton and locust trees in our neighborhood and they all shed. Badly. So I try to stay ahead. After my weekend driving all over creation looking for filters and not having any luck, I've turned to the Internet - and purchased a case of 10! - and found these pool accessories
guys. 10 filters...Good enough for the rest of this summer and the start of next year. Plus some fun stuff like a robo-cleaner thing that helps keep everything spic-and-span. I love shopping online!

Reports Reports Reports!

So during the course of my writing day I do a lot of business writing. Small business tips, services, new trends for marketing. That sort of thing. One thing I've learned since the Interwebz exploded a couple years ago is that business is nothing without reporting capabilities. By that I mean it's not enough to throw a display ad out there and hope someone notices. Or a blog post or a few social media updates, tweets and shares. You have to know what you're sending out, how people are engaging with it and what they're doing after its gotten their attention. Which is where this report engine comes in. In a single dashboard it tracks how your campaigns and efforts are going, which gives SMBs the tools they need to tweak and optimize their online efforts to make more money. And don't we all want to make more money?

No Picture

A couple of years ago we switched out all of our old TV sets for hi-def flat screens. Which means we've had older tube sets sitting in our garage for ever. Well, just a couple of weeks ago, a fried told us they were setting up a new mission and needed all kinds of older electronics - including TVs - furniture...you name it. We mentioned our old sets and said we were happy to donate but didn't know if they would work. Well, they do, thanks to some analog box converter sets. Good as new - but even better, out of my house and on to a place where they'll be used and enjoyed.

Electronics Fix

They've been hot for several years now, but with the release of the new iOS 5 iPhones and ipods are expected to be another hot gift item for Christmas 2011. Or so says an expert I interviewed this week for a techie article. What else is hot? They're expecting the Kindle Fire to...well, catch fire (lol). If you're looking for great prices on the hottest items, check out the link above.

Pictures Arrived

So one of my favorite assignments before I left television reporting was traveling with an air ambulance service during an in-depth feature on the services, etc. The air nurse and doctor, the pilot were all so kind and giving - and funny! In the down time they told the best stories! But I'd forgotten all about our time together - 24 very stressful hours! - until pictures came this week.

I'd forgotten that along with the school pictures and whatnot I'd included a few old pictures from that year - and two group pictures were right there, waiting when I opened the envelope. Good memories.

Pictures Ordered!

So, kiddo's school pictures came in today - the photographer working with the school does a really cool thing and puts every pic on a flash drive so you have them forever. We then order whatever we want print-wise and go from there. So this afternoon I've been ordering fall pics and making up our yearly holiday cards. I started using SeeHere (the Fuji film site) a couple of years ago. I'm a total Kodak girl, but the Fuji site has way more options when it comes to making cards, getting prints, etc. Plus, they always have coupons available. I used this SeeHere promo code and saved about $10 - plus got free shipping. Nice!

Mud Soap - Who Knew?

I never knew adopting a child would bring so much...difference into my life. Not just the up-all-night stuff. But the stuff I was totally unprepared for - she has allergies which lead to breathing issues, light eczema...those don't sound like big things but they're on-going.

We've been fighting the eczema since birth, with doctors telling us to up the lotion, try this dry-rub, wrap warm cloths around her body to absorb additional moisture. The list of crazy things goes on. The latest? Not from our doctor but from a family friend. She suggested we try mud soap - literally made from mud, by the way - which I poo-poo'd. But then an especially bad area came up behind kiddo's knee. And I figured it couldn't hurt.

The spot behind her knee - which had grown to about 2 inches in diameter by the time the soap arrived - was gone within a few days. And no new spots have come up. So, I'm thinking we'll keep up with the mud for a while. Can't hurt, right?

These Could Be Fun!

So I've had a bit of a blog hiatus recently - nothing wrong, just busy busy. In that busy-ness I, of course, still took some time to shop. And, without further ado...

For the females on your shopping lists that are incredibly hard to buy for. Like my sister. She buys everything she needs or wants without thinking about the gift-buying we'll all have to do to find something she would like and use. So, I'm forever on the lookout for good shopping buys online (I can never find anything for her in a normal mall). Jewelry is always a good choice but sometimes that is even hard. I found cool steel bracelets, though, that I think will be great for this Christmas...I'll check with her hubster first, though, to make sure he doesn't have something like that in mind - since she's the more 'edgy' of the two of us. Yay!

They Came! They Came!

So, earlier this week I told you guys about the great deal I got on new suede moc-ballet shoes. Well, they arrived today! Yippee!! And even though it's still August and they're lined in warm, fuzzy fur, I just had to try them on. They haven't been off yet. Sooooo comfy! My feet will definitely thank me once the weather turns up here and I'm dragging the kiddo to school at the crack of dawn.


I got them in black, they also come in a pretty brown...and EMLTreasures, where I purchased mine, have them on sale right now for $13.99 - can't beat the price! So if you're looking for a great everyday mocassin/ballet shoe for the fall months, definitely check these out!