This blogging thing is pretty fun even if I am the only one to see it, but I would by lying if I said it wasn't a little bit gratifying that other people read it too. Naturally comments show this, but another wonderful help is Google Analytics. It's a great way to track the traffic to your site - how many people go there, how they get there, and what they look at while they are there, over the past 30 days.
Interestingly enough, a great group of people find my blog through search engines looking for Petite Tresors Cocoa Dusted Belgian truffles. If you've had them, you understand. In the past month alone I've had 97 unique pageviews of the post about them (plus 32 on the update). Of the search engine traffic I got, probably 95% of the people found me doing some kind of truffle search. I also had visitors that searched for "amish don," "military bed making," "family home evening idea blogs," and "year of scouting," among a few others. If someone found me with "amish don," I'm sure you're dying to know how people get to you.
I guess there are a lot of people who can sympathize with sheet issues too (or like to mock those that have them), because the day I posted about that I had more visitors than any other day in the past month.
When I updated the look of my blog almost a month ago I sent out one of the posts to a lot of people. Analytics showed no visitors for the next few days and I was really disappointed... until I realized that when I updated it took off the code you add in for the tracking. So be aware of that - if you add it in, don't forget to keep it there if you make changes.
Pretty fun really. Try it out and see what you can learn about your own blog, I would love to hear about it.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Major 2008 Goal
I'm not usually a big New Year's goal kind of person. I guess I figure that when I see a need to change, why wait, just do it. But pre-end-of-the-year this year I set a couple goals for myself, one of which I feel like discussing for a moment.
This is the year to GET RID and organize. The get rid is the main part. The organize should be a lovely by-product.
I've of course known about goals for years, but it wasn't until I went to Wood Badge (scout leadership training) that I really learned how to set goals by making sure they are SMART (specific, measureable, attainable, relevant, time), and by setting a plan of the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
This goal is a necessary one and thus very relevant, but it's still very scary for me. I start knotting up when I start thinking about getting rid of some things. I know, dumb. Usually if I get away from them for a while and talk myself into realizing I don't need them then I'm okay, but spur of the moment is much harder. My method takes more time. I started cataloging my boxes of books for just that purpose, so I couldn't lovingly hold them in my hand while deciding whether they should stay or go. I swear all this stuff can talk.
I've got a great new-found friend that is totally the opposite of saving everything, entirely unsentimental. After she told me that one day on the phone, I was looking through boxes downstairs for my copy of the book our book club is reading this month and suddenly there was her voice in my head. "Why do you still have that? You haven't used it yet, when are you planning to?" The next day when I e-mailed her that I couldn't find the book but I was sure I could find the paper I wrote in high school on it, she wrote back and told me to bring it to book group and she would throw it away for me. I don't know about that, but everyone needs a friend like that to help them deal with their personal issues, whatever they may be.
Just a bit earlier I had a burst of inspiration to help me with the "When" on this goal. Thursday is our garbage day and Thursday is also our library day. If I could promise myself a trip to the basement every Wednesday at some point, the trash could go out the next day and the DI's could go out the door with us. Brilliant!
I've been thinking about posting some pictures so all ya'll could help me make it measureable and verify that I was doing a good job, but so far I haven't talked myself into it. Sorry.
On a final note, here's a gem from Thomas Edison's wife Mina I read while we were learning about him.
A great goal to work towards.
This is the year to GET RID and organize. The get rid is the main part. The organize should be a lovely by-product.
I've of course known about goals for years, but it wasn't until I went to Wood Badge (scout leadership training) that I really learned how to set goals by making sure they are SMART (specific, measureable, attainable, relevant, time), and by setting a plan of the who, what, when, where, why, and how.
This goal is a necessary one and thus very relevant, but it's still very scary for me. I start knotting up when I start thinking about getting rid of some things. I know, dumb. Usually if I get away from them for a while and talk myself into realizing I don't need them then I'm okay, but spur of the moment is much harder. My method takes more time. I started cataloging my boxes of books for just that purpose, so I couldn't lovingly hold them in my hand while deciding whether they should stay or go. I swear all this stuff can talk.
I've got a great new-found friend that is totally the opposite of saving everything, entirely unsentimental. After she told me that one day on the phone, I was looking through boxes downstairs for my copy of the book our book club is reading this month and suddenly there was her voice in my head. "Why do you still have that? You haven't used it yet, when are you planning to?" The next day when I e-mailed her that I couldn't find the book but I was sure I could find the paper I wrote in high school on it, she wrote back and told me to bring it to book group and she would throw it away for me. I don't know about that, but everyone needs a friend like that to help them deal with their personal issues, whatever they may be.
Just a bit earlier I had a burst of inspiration to help me with the "When" on this goal. Thursday is our garbage day and Thursday is also our library day. If I could promise myself a trip to the basement every Wednesday at some point, the trash could go out the next day and the DI's could go out the door with us. Brilliant!
I've been thinking about posting some pictures so all ya'll could help me make it measureable and verify that I was doing a good job, but so far I haven't talked myself into it. Sorry.
On a final note, here's a gem from Thomas Edison's wife Mina I read while we were learning about him.
"We have tried to organize our home and our home life to give results just as much as the laboratory."
A great goal to work towards.
Monday, January 7, 2008
I am a Bed Making Loser
On Saturday hubby and I finally made it in to do some Christmas present exchanging. I have been thinking about getting a new quilt/sheets set for quite a while, and yippee I found some that I really like! When we got home I ran them through a quick wash, tried to get the fitted sheet on the bed.... did a lot of wrestling... stood on my head... got others in the family to help... nothing doing. The fitted sheet was NOT going on the bed.
We don't have any extra bells and whistles kind of mattress, not on the deep side, so I figured they packed a full sheet with the queen set. I took all kinds of measurements that seemed to show that as well. The package says it would fit a 60x80 mattress, ours is that if not just under, and from the short side tops of the seams corner to corner I only get 51". I can't imagine that they would intend the seams to be on top of the mattress...?
So today I went in and exchanged it for the exact same set. Got home, skipped the washing, and STILL can't get the fitted sheet on the bed! On one of the corners the seam even pulled apart, though I wasn't trying nearly as hard as I did the other day realizing right off that I was in the same dilemma.
Have I been making the bed wrong all these years? I can't imagine there are that many methods for putting a fitted sheet on a mattress. I even did a google search on how to make the bed, and the world apparently doesn't think it's that hard because it was all instructions on sharp hospital/military corners.
I'm totally dumbfounded. I was thinking maybe I should go get king sheets so I can get the fitted sheet on, but then we would probably be smothered under all the extra flat sheet material.
Any bedmaking suggestions? Then again, it probably won't matter, these are definitely taking the quick road back to stay. I have enough stress without being taunted by bedsheets.
We don't have any extra bells and whistles kind of mattress, not on the deep side, so I figured they packed a full sheet with the queen set. I took all kinds of measurements that seemed to show that as well. The package says it would fit a 60x80 mattress, ours is that if not just under, and from the short side tops of the seams corner to corner I only get 51". I can't imagine that they would intend the seams to be on top of the mattress...?
So today I went in and exchanged it for the exact same set. Got home, skipped the washing, and STILL can't get the fitted sheet on the bed! On one of the corners the seam even pulled apart, though I wasn't trying nearly as hard as I did the other day realizing right off that I was in the same dilemma.
Have I been making the bed wrong all these years? I can't imagine there are that many methods for putting a fitted sheet on a mattress. I even did a google search on how to make the bed, and the world apparently doesn't think it's that hard because it was all instructions on sharp hospital/military corners.
I'm totally dumbfounded. I was thinking maybe I should go get king sheets so I can get the fitted sheet on, but then we would probably be smothered under all the extra flat sheet material.
Any bedmaking suggestions? Then again, it probably won't matter, these are definitely taking the quick road back to stay. I have enough stress without being taunted by bedsheets.
Sunday, January 6, 2008
Easy To Do to Get Done
I just finished copying the past several year's worth of family photos to CD. It's about time, you say? I know. Yes, I do love all those pictures, and yes, I've heard of plenty of people's family pictures GONE from one computer oops to another. So what took me so long? Pure lack of knowledge. I figured all those unedited photos would take up tons and tons of space, but just in case you're wondering, they don't. I backed up my whole website on one CD, and an entire year's worth of pictures would also fit on one CD.
I promise it's not as painless as you might think. If you haven't already, go do it.
Now if the 6 or 7 year long family recipe book project would finish itself up...
I promise it's not as painless as you might think. If you haven't already, go do it.
Now if the 6 or 7 year long family recipe book project would finish itself up...
Thursday, December 20, 2007
5 Days and Counting...
Christmas is really really close and I suddenly have this nasty bug that has slowed down my entire procrastinating process. I still have two little girl stockings to make, the law and in-law parents gifts to finish, Christmas letters, half the neighbor treats, besides other minor here's and there's that have waited till the last minute to get tied up. Instead, I have spent the day on the couch watching Karate Kid III and something else before that that I can't even remember (obviously very memorable). Hoping for a big ol' perk up tomorrow. Or maybe tonight even. The early hours of the new day are always a great time to get things done.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Mysterious Women
I've heard it said that men think there is always something women are hiding, making them mysterious. I've also heard the advice given to women that they should hold something back so that men think they are more fascinating. I don't know that I've specifically done that, but it's funny to me when suddenly I learn something about myself that I really didn't know before. So I guess without realizing it I am still a mystery to myself. How very... alluring. (kidding)
Today for instance. Here is something, or maybe a few things, I learned about myself today. By the way, I found myself waxing way so eloquently, so sappily, that the letters were almost dripping off the page. So this is the Cliff Notes.
I was reading a friend's blog and she mentioned something that really disturbed me. I'm going to keep that a mystery (bwa-ha-ha!), but it bothered me so much that without realizing it I was really down in mind and spirit for quite a while. When I get like that my soul needs uplifting. Amazing classical music (like Handel's Messiah and Beethoven's 9th) does a wonderful job of this. Like the music helps my spirit cry for a while and release all the built up negative. Yes, that last part was still very sappy.
Very funny, though. When I am almost in tears explaining the Hallelujah Chorus to my children, they gaze back with a look so clear you can almost read it on their faces, "Wow Mom, you really DO need to be committed."
I also decided that this same great classical music is MY cleaning music. There are others I have tried, but although I like the music very much, I usually end up dancing and singing more than cleaning, which defeats the purpose. I got a lot done today, probably because I was so involved in the music that I could almost forget I was cleaning. Super bonus!
While I was cleaning I contemplated the kitchen garbage can. Thank goodness I'm tall enough to that I don't regularly view it eye-to-eye, but down cleaning the floor it is much easier to get a good look at. I knew the lid was in need of some serious bleach and scrubbing, but hello, the front and sides were just as nasty! Do people throw food AT the garbage? I am baffled. I vow to solve this mystery. We homemakers have so few truly intellectually stimulating diversions in the cleaning department, I think this should fit the bill.
And finally, Carolyn. She took a 1 1/2 hour bath today and was in pure heaven. She was calling me at one point so I went in to see what she needed. The plug was down, but almost no bathwater.
Me: Are you all done?
Carolyn: No.
Me: Theeeeennnnn... where's all the water?
Carolyn: I let it out.
Me: How come?
Carolyn: I ruined it.
Me: (Not sure what to say, thinking "Biiiiiig uh oh," then)
Carolyn: I got it too soapy.
Me: Oh!
Carolyn: Can you get me more water?
See, she's only 3 and already knows how to string me along.
Today for instance. Here is something, or maybe a few things, I learned about myself today. By the way, I found myself waxing way so eloquently, so sappily, that the letters were almost dripping off the page. So this is the Cliff Notes.
I was reading a friend's blog and she mentioned something that really disturbed me. I'm going to keep that a mystery (bwa-ha-ha!), but it bothered me so much that without realizing it I was really down in mind and spirit for quite a while. When I get like that my soul needs uplifting. Amazing classical music (like Handel's Messiah and Beethoven's 9th) does a wonderful job of this. Like the music helps my spirit cry for a while and release all the built up negative. Yes, that last part was still very sappy.
Very funny, though. When I am almost in tears explaining the Hallelujah Chorus to my children, they gaze back with a look so clear you can almost read it on their faces, "Wow Mom, you really DO need to be committed."
I also decided that this same great classical music is MY cleaning music. There are others I have tried, but although I like the music very much, I usually end up dancing and singing more than cleaning, which defeats the purpose. I got a lot done today, probably because I was so involved in the music that I could almost forget I was cleaning. Super bonus!
While I was cleaning I contemplated the kitchen garbage can. Thank goodness I'm tall enough to that I don't regularly view it eye-to-eye, but down cleaning the floor it is much easier to get a good look at. I knew the lid was in need of some serious bleach and scrubbing, but hello, the front and sides were just as nasty! Do people throw food AT the garbage? I am baffled. I vow to solve this mystery. We homemakers have so few truly intellectually stimulating diversions in the cleaning department, I think this should fit the bill.
And finally, Carolyn. She took a 1 1/2 hour bath today and was in pure heaven. She was calling me at one point so I went in to see what she needed. The plug was down, but almost no bathwater.
Me: Are you all done?
Carolyn: No.
Me: Theeeeennnnn... where's all the water?
Carolyn: I let it out.
Me: How come?
Carolyn: I ruined it.
Me: (Not sure what to say, thinking "Biiiiiig uh oh," then)
Carolyn: I got it too soapy.
Me: Oh!
Carolyn: Can you get me more water?
See, she's only 3 and already knows how to string me along.
Blog Brownies
I learned about these from Holly's blog. Reading the recipe alone had me drooling, so I made them a few weeks ago for a family Christmas party. After tasting them, I told Jamie we should stop and buy some cookies and just eat these all ourselves. Seeing as how I am so kind, not only did we take them to the party, I made more a couple nights ago to take to the neighbors for our yearly Merry Christmas treat.
ENJOY! Oh, and where the recipe was posted they were called Grasshopper Brownies, but I'm choosing to call them:
Absolutely Divine Mint Brownies
Brownies:
2 boxes brownie mix
Mint Frosting:
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup soft butter
2 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
4 drops green food coloring
Chocolate Topping:
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (I used some of the really dark chocolate ones)
3/4 cup butter
1 tsp. peppermint extract
1) To make the Brownies follow the recipe for "cake-like" brownies. Or if there isn't one, add 3 more eggs. (The recipe I used called for 3 eggs per box for the "cake-like," but I did 5 total. Just couldn't entirely make the "cake-like" jump.) Pour into a LARGE (I used my 20ish x 12ish), greased cookie sheet, bake and let cool completely
2) To make the mint frosting, combine powdered sugar, butter, water, peppermint extract and food coloring. Mix. Spread over cooled brownies and refrigerate until hard on top.
3) To make chocolate topping microwave chocolate chips and butter for 2 minutes. Stir until all chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Add 1-2 tsp. peppermint extract. As soon as this mixture thickens and is no longer hot, spread over mint topping on brownies. Put back into the refrigerator until hard.
4) Enjoy! This batch makes A LOT.
ENJOY! Oh, and where the recipe was posted they were called Grasshopper Brownies, but I'm choosing to call them:
Absolutely Divine Mint Brownies
Brownies:
2 boxes brownie mix
Mint Frosting:
4 cups powdered sugar
1 cup soft butter
2 Tbsp. water
1 1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
4 drops green food coloring
Chocolate Topping:
12 ounces semisweet chocolate chips (I used some of the really dark chocolate ones)
3/4 cup butter
1 tsp. peppermint extract
1) To make the Brownies follow the recipe for "cake-like" brownies. Or if there isn't one, add 3 more eggs. (The recipe I used called for 3 eggs per box for the "cake-like," but I did 5 total. Just couldn't entirely make the "cake-like" jump.) Pour into a LARGE (I used my 20ish x 12ish), greased cookie sheet, bake and let cool completely
2) To make the mint frosting, combine powdered sugar, butter, water, peppermint extract and food coloring. Mix. Spread over cooled brownies and refrigerate until hard on top.
3) To make chocolate topping microwave chocolate chips and butter for 2 minutes. Stir until all chocolate chips are melted and the mixture is smooth. Add 1-2 tsp. peppermint extract. As soon as this mixture thickens and is no longer hot, spread over mint topping on brownies. Put back into the refrigerator until hard.
4) Enjoy! This batch makes A LOT.
A Sweet Family Home Evening
I was given this idea by my wonderful visiting teacher Karen. Sammy's favorite scripture story is Samuel the Lamanite, so we totally had to try it out when it was his turn for the lesson this past Monday.
We first talked about Samuel, and how he tried to teach but they kicked him out of the city, so then he climbed up and preached from the wall. We built the wall using Rice Krispie Treats, and used a Lego guy for Samuel. Then we read Samuel's prophecy of Christ's birth. Then we threw marshmellows at Samuel, while Jamie protected Samuel by deflecting marshmellows with a DVD case.
A very fine, memorable lesson. Thank you Karen!
We first talked about Samuel, and how he tried to teach but they kicked him out of the city, so then he climbed up and preached from the wall. We built the wall using Rice Krispie Treats, and used a Lego guy for Samuel. Then we read Samuel's prophecy of Christ's birth. Then we threw marshmellows at Samuel, while Jamie protected Samuel by deflecting marshmellows with a DVD case.
A very fine, memorable lesson. Thank you Karen!
Monday, December 17, 2007
P.P.S.
Jamie just wandered out from the bedroom (he went in to crash 1 1/2 hours ago) and asked me if I already went to bed. I glanced at the clock, 12:15am. "Already went to bed?" Like I have already slept, and am back in my clothes (the same I wore yesterday nonetheless), and working away? I'm so confused. He went back to bed. I know I talk in my sleep, but it's rare that I walk AND talk in my sleep. Love you, Jamie. Thanks for checking on me. Even if it was only in your dreams. :)
Sunday, December 16, 2007
P.S.
(First, refer to the last post...)
...and then your needle breaks, and you have the tip but then it goes FLYING to the floor, so then you look around a lot and can't see it, and fearing the baby will find it and eat it or that hubby will find it in his foot, you sweep the floor and do finally find it (whew!). Then you get a new needle and get back to work.
Yet, wow! Is this why they tell you to change needles every so often? This is going so smoothly, and even quieter.
I'm sure it would be quicker too, if I stopped turning around to the computer.
...and then your needle breaks, and you have the tip but then it goes FLYING to the floor, so then you look around a lot and can't see it, and fearing the baby will find it and eat it or that hubby will find it in his foot, you sweep the floor and do finally find it (whew!). Then you get a new needle and get back to work.
Yet, wow! Is this why they tell you to change needles every so often? This is going so smoothly, and even quieter.
I'm sure it would be quicker too, if I stopped turning around to the computer.
Procrastination
Isn't it funny how you put things off because you think they will take a long time or that they will be really hard, and then they don't and aren't?
Go figure.
(Don't ask questions at Christmas time.)
Go figure.
(Don't ask questions at Christmas time.)
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Playing Around
While I was adding the list of blogs I like to read earlier (there are many more, but these are some I thought others might be interested in), I realized yet again how boring looking my blog is. I'm feeling kind of odd (sort of migrainish or something) though I'm okay just sitting here mostly still, so I decided to do a little jazzing. Nothing too amazing yet, but I had fun making the heading. Can you tell the thingies hanging off the "Still Swinging" are swings? I am so clever. It definitely needs more 'fun stuff,' but we all know that will take more playing.
This month has been supremely busy so far. I feel like every December I spend so much time getting everyone else's Christmas ready that I can't hardly get ours ready. For "fun" I just counted - I've mailed out 30 orders that involved 61 bracelets. Adding the last week of November, it makes it 37 orders and 78 bracelets. I've got 3 orders (12 bracelets) that need to get made and out the door, and 7 other orders (12 bracelets) still waiting for payment or sizing info. This should all be slowing up soon, since people start getting worried about things being mailed in time, as they should.
This month has been supremely busy so far. I feel like every December I spend so much time getting everyone else's Christmas ready that I can't hardly get ours ready. For "fun" I just counted - I've mailed out 30 orders that involved 61 bracelets. Adding the last week of November, it makes it 37 orders and 78 bracelets. I've got 3 orders (12 bracelets) that need to get made and out the door, and 7 other orders (12 bracelets) still waiting for payment or sizing info. This should all be slowing up soon, since people start getting worried about things being mailed in time, as they should.
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