Today is the Day...

...that I drag this blog up from the depths.

I may have unintentionally set the record for how long one goes without posting on a blog.

Over 2 years.

Anyone want to check the Guiness Book of World Records for me?

Ah, well. Water under the bridge.

As I've considered whether or not to begin blogging again, I've done a bit of introspection and found how much I've changed in the last 2 years. Or maybe not exactly changed, but refined. I think I still have the same interests, especially in the creative arts and natural health; but I feel my interests have/are becoming more specific.

For instance:
 I am passionate about herbal medicine. I seek out alternative methods for treating sickness for our family, choosing to try natural remedies.
I was introduce to Young Living essential oils in May of 2012 and began using them for our family in June of 2013. I love essential oils because they are the strongest concentration of the plant form and therefore, extremely effective and versatile in application.

Regarding the creative arts, I still have far more interests than I have time to engage; and as seems to be my way, I get super into something and can't get enough of it for a spell, then I move onto something else. Never dropping it completely, but my obsession waxes and wanes.

Currently I am trying my hand at refashioning/altering clothing.  Love, LOVE, LOVE doing this.

In other news, we've been trying to incorporate a cleaner eating lifestyle since August of 2013.

We've gone gluten free and have cut out processed foods and refined sugar. We've definitely had many health benefits as a result; the largest being, weight loss and reduction of inflammation in the body. Win. Win.

I decided to blog again, not because I want to be popular or even noticed particularly. This go 'round, I'm doing this for me. To chronicle my interests. To journal. To have a holding place for my projects and interests. 

This I do for me.

Come along, if you like.

Who's Your Grammar?

I posted a status on Facebook today that sparked a record (for me) 18 comments.

What would incite such scintillating conversation?

Grammar.

Oh yeah. I live on the edge.

In the process, I learned of this website. (Herein is the link to the particular issue that plagued me.) If you want to learn some dirty little literary secrets, go take a peek.

The Beginners Beginning Guide to Couponing

Let me say, right off the bat, that most of the information here comes from a coupon workshop I just took led by Jenny Martin from Southern Savers and from the information on the website. So jump on over there and check out her easy to navigate site. (Uh, right after you read this post.) I am receiving NO compensation from Jenny or Southern Savers by writing this post.

I've been clipping coupons for my grocery shopping ever since I got married over 20 years ago. However, in the last month, I think I've realized how to save money more effectively with coupons.

Excuse me...did you just say, " I don't have time to clip coupons?"! (Yes you did. I heard you.)

That's like saying "I don't have time to save money" which we all know is just stupid. As with any new activity, you're not going to be proficient right away. It takes practice. But I betcha if you do this ONE time and save a significant amount of money, you.will.be.hooked. I saved $100 at the grocery store on my first try and now I can't wait to go play the "grocery game" again.

Image: Danilo Rizzuti / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

It's super simple.

You are going to maximize your savings by buying an item on sale and pairing a coupon (or two) with it. That's pretty much it in a nutshell.

Now if you're going to do this, here are some basic things you need to know.

1. You need coupons.
2. You need to know what's on sale.
3. You can't have brand loyalty.
4. You don't HAVE to go to a bunch of different stores to save money. (But you might want to go to more than one.)

Coupons: Find them in the Sunday paper (larger city papers have the most to offer) or online at sites like coupons.com, redplum.com and smartsource.com. You can also buy coupons online. One reputable source that I'm most familiar with is The Coupon Clippers . Now why in the world would someone BUY coupons?! Yeah. I wondered that too, so I asked. Here's what Rachel from The Coupon Clippers said: "Well, because many places the newspaper costs $2.75... if someone wants, say 10 of one item (i.e., 10 packages of Marcal toilet paper), they'd have to spend $27.50 buying 10 Atlanta Journal and Constitutions.... and then do all the pulling out of the coupons and then the cutting. Whereas, they can just pay us $2.00 and we'll ship them 10 coupons for the $2 off Marcal Toilet paper. So, it saves them time and money. Instead, we buy the papers and do the cutting.

If you spend $6, you're going to save $60 at the store, if you do not double the coupon value."

Knowing what's on sale: What I love about Southern Savers is, Jenny posts the absolute best price on items. She doesn't just list items in the sale flyer, because not every item in the flyer is really on sale. She's doing the work for you.

Items are usually on sale once every 6 weeks. This is called the sale cycle. So when you find an item on sale at it's lowest price, you will buy as many as you need to last you six weeks, making sure to pair a coupon with each item. That might mean one box of cereal or three, depending on your family.

Now there are slightly less than a jillion ways to organize coupons. My favorite lazy way is to get my coupons out of the Sunday paper and write the date in marker on the front of the insert and file it in an accordion file according to month. Each week, I check Southern Savers for the grocery specials which lists the coupon needed for each item and then I go through my inserts and cut my coupons. Easy, peasy, lemon cheesy.

Hopefully, this has piqued your interest and encouraged you to TRY. It is not hard. It takes a little time and a little thought, but it is SO worth it.

If you're curious to learn more, go here for Jenny's Get Started Guide.

I'm betting the first time you save some money or actually get something FREE, you'll scoot over here and tell me and the rest of the world about it, won't you?

WON'T YOU?!

I thought so.

The Flower

{Click on the photo for a clearer view of the poem.}

Speaking to My Heart

In the past few years, I've discovered Stampington Publishing. If you love creativity and artistic expression, go over and sift through their magazine offerings. Their product is professional and high quality.

One of my "must-haves" is Artful Blogging which unlocks and opens the door to many creative bloggers that I would have never found just trolling through the internet on my own.

In the current winter issue, while soaking up the inspiration laid out among the pages, I came across an article about Carmen Torbus and her blog called, Distracted by Design.

Part of the article was a partial post from her blog--a poem. As I read it, I realized it spoke exactly what I feel.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

Feeling Tender and Vulnerable

by Carmen Torbus

Sometimes I sit and dream.

I think of all the things I'd like to do.

I put off the stuff that needs to be done

trading that time for daydreams.

Thinking of conversations I'd like to have,

with old friends,

current friends and

with friends I've not yet made.

Wondering where the other people like me are.

How do I find them?

How do I connect?

I long to sit and laugh,

sip coffee, or hot cocoa, or tea,

while making a mess with art supplies,

or just chatting about nothing in particular,

or the meaning of life itself.

Deep conversations,

light conversations,

no conversation,

just being.

I don't want to just be a dreamer,

I want to be a doer.

I want to paint.

I want to write.

I want to take pictures.

I want to talk.

I want to listen.

I want to have a tribe of my own,

and be a part of the tribe of others.

I want to be a part of something bigger.

Something good.

Something powerful.

Make a contribution to the world.

Somethimes I think it's me that gets in my way.

Is it fear that stops me?

Lack of belief?

Lack of motivation or energy?

Lack of work?

I sit back and watch others do what I know in my heart

I can do too.

Sometimes envious, or jealous, wondering what the

secret is.

Wishing I could know what they know,

I cheer them on

Pat them on the back.

Encourage

Congratulate

Sit in awe of.

Recognizing their potential,

their strength,

their capabilities,

their talent,

their accomplishments.

What is the missing piece?

How do I reach my full potential,

my strength,

my capabilities,

my talent,

so that I can realize and accomplish my dreams,

and contribute.

I suppose I'm not alone in my desires,

my dreams,

my paralysis.

I suppose the only way to find out is to "do" while

continuing to dream.

I suppose I don't have to know how, I just have to start.

(used by permission)

See the original post here.

Accomplishment?

Up.

I dress to run.

I pause at the door listening to the house breathing it's sighs of sleep.

I see the couch adorned with all manner of clothing.

"Working out" takes on a whole new meaning.

I revel in the luxury of completing tasks.

Alone.

Unbidden by others.

In the accomplishment of one thing, another goes undone.

My Dream Job

One of my twitter "tweeps", Monica over at Daily Dwelling, made a comment last week about being a book reviewer for Thomas Nelson publishing. Intrigued, I made a comment that I would love to do something like that. She kindly gave me the info and I went exploring.

Apparently there are two qualifications.

You must be able to read and give an opinion.

*snicker*

If I'm awake, I have an opinion. And after spending most of my life having people ask me to keep my opinions to myself.... well, you could understand how giddy I am that someone is asking--perhaps begging--for my opinion on something.

And reading... I read the cereal box at breakfast. I read in the tub, while I blow dry my hair, on the treadmill and as I go to sleep at night. Shoot. If I could figure out how to read while I sleep, I'd not only be a millionaire to all the other over-achievers, I'd be a happy girl.

Can you see why this has the potential of being my dream come true?!

I'm looking forward to being a reviewer because I think it will stretch me. I tend to gravitate to the same type of book. Light, fun to read, entertaining. Although I have the luxury of choosing the book I'd like to review, it may not be a book I'd choose normally.

Case in point:

I wouldn't normally choose a book like this, but I'm drawn to it because I have to be a bit of a salesperson as a hairstylist. It will be interesting to learn about the science behind what makes men and women make buying choices.

And for once, I won't have to keep my opinions to myself. :)

The Reluctant Graduate

Sorry for my lackadaisical blog entries. It's not for lack of desire. I even have a few things I'd like to write about, one of which, I'm trying to do research on.

We are down to one computer. "My" laptop. I say "my" because it was bought with the intention that I would use it for work and keep client info on it. Ideally, no one else would put "their stuff" on it. BUT. When you are married, everything is "ours" so I can't very well say--"Keep your stinkin' paws off my laptop, I gotta blog to update!" now can I? (O.K., you may be braver than I, but I can't say it OUT LOUD.)

School is out. I am now the proud mother of a preschool graduate. A preschool graduate who is wise beyond her years.

Case in point:

The morning of her graduation as I was getting ready I said to her, "I know kindergarten will be good, but mommy will really miss (preschool teachers and director) Miss Julie, Miss Beverly, Miss Jill and Miss Ann at your preschool." To which she sagely replied: "Mommy, don't be sad because Miss Julie, Miss Beverly, Miss Jill and Miss Ann will still be at preschool. And Miss Coffey (kindergarten teacher) is so sweet!"

You're right.

But mommy doesn't wanna graduate.

Don't Give Up On Me...

I was on a roll posting pics from NY and I have more.

But inevitably, when I'm on a roll, life jumps up and slaps me in the face. I have worked a good bit this last week and on top of that, the internet at home has given up the ghost. I tried to post from my phone; but my Blackberry, cool though it is, is a dinasour and told me in no uncertain terms that it couldn't help me out there--sorry.

Hopefully, the internet connection which was supposed to be fixed yesterday, (Memo to Frontier: you need some competition.) will be repaired today.

Funny.

When I have something to post on my blog, I can't. When I'm able to post on my blog, I find myself with a lack of subject matter.

Go figure.

Pssst. C'mere...

I am not a financial advisor. I know just enough to be dangerous. Actually, I probably don't know enough and am; therefore, dangerous.

With that encouraging disclaimer out of the way, I'm going to give you a hot stock tip.

Invest in facial tissue.

I'm serious. I am personally buying enough Kleenex and Puffs Plus right now to totally make it a worthwhile venture.

The advent of warmer weather has unleashed some killer pollen. Don't believe the hype about flowers and their beauty. Their beauty is a masquerade. They draw you in with their loveliness. You even lean down to inhale their fragrance and suck up even more of their powerful pollen potion into your airways.

Then you wonder why in the world you can't breathe. Your nasal passages close up completely, yet your nose drips like a faucet defying the laws of physics. I suggest you round out your portfolio with sinus and allergy medicine while you're at it.

All I ask is a small percentage of your profits.

Defamiliarization

The heat surrounded me. My eyes felt gritty and it seemed light was coming from everywhere. I squinted, trying to think some sort of coherent thought. Where do I go from here?
I could feel sweat trickling, tickling. "Odd." I remember thinking. "The very process that is designed to cool me is only making me feel hotter." I gasped for breath, licking my parched lips which only served to make them sticky.
How did I get to this place?
On the horizon in the shimmering distance, I thought I could make out some sort of shelter. I pushed on. My body felt liquid. I dragged my limbs along feeling as if I were slinging them ahead of me as I pulled my body to join them.
There was a pounding in my ears; part maddening, yet serving to drive me on. I tried to take each step on beat. Bam. Bam. Step. Step. How much farther could I go before I collapsed?
Faintly, I heard a sound. I tried to sort out what I had heard. There it was again. Was that a voice? What were they saying? I made a supreme effort to concentrate. The pounding in my head was overwhelming. I paused.
Yes. It was unmistakable now.
My name.
I heard my name.
Startled, I turned.
I see a figure standing beside me.
I'm disoriented for a moment, then my eyes regain their focus.

"Oh, hi." I say smoothly, turning to snatch up my water bottle. The pounding ceases abruptly as the music overhead changes and I slow to a walk.

Spreadin' the Love

Bloggy love from Bebe at Peaches and Dreams...

Here are the rules of this award.

1. The receiver can put the logo on his or her blog.

2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.

3. Nominate at least 7 other bloggers.

4. Put links of those blogs on your blog.

5. Leave a message on the blogs of those you mentioned.

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Guess Who's Blessed

Late to Life

Mrs. Blogoway

Standing at the Water's Edge

Rose Campion

Star Crafty

Mabel's House

A Bumpy Bloggy Ride

Who knew blogging could be so "dangerous"?

I'm naive. About a lot of stuff.

I know there's trash on the internet. Fortunately, I seem to miss most of it.

I love visiting bloggers. I explore mostly blogs that have to do with design, crafting and art. There are some really cool, imaginative, creative people out there and I have enjoyed drawing inspiration from them. From one blogger's blogroll, I'll be drawn more deeply into the forest of blogdom. I can get lost for hours.

I flit around leaving a comment here or there. Or not. No pressure, no expectations. I read certain bloggers everyday. I'm addicted-what can I say? It has never occurred to me that if I left a comment with them they would come to my blog. (Well, maybe briefly.) My point is, I don't comment to try and increase my readership here. (If I had...well, I've failed miserably.)

As I flitted yesterday, I discovered "the dark side of blogging". Apparently there is a "code of ethics" in blogging. That's great. I would expect it to be something to the effect of "treat others the way you would like to be treated."

Ah, no.

I stumbled upon a blog that shall remain nameless where a reader emailed the blogger and said that she liked what she had read could she link to this blog? The blogger's response took me by surprise. It sounded harsh and ungrateful. After reading comments and going back today for an update, I realized not everyone is naive me. There are spammers out there. There are people who grab your content and paste it on their site. I remember when that happened to me and I was hot to trot. Spamming was the issue here and this blogger responded accordingly.

I think what I love most about blogging is that it gives me the opportunity to say what I want to say how I want to say it. These are my opinions. Take it or leave it.

There's no tried and true "netiquette". I thought it only polite to ask someone beforehand if you could link to them. I've been informed "that's lame".

Somebody hand me some crutches.

How Do You Do It?

My, it's amazing what comes out of those clothes when you wash and dry them!

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So.

How do you write your blog?

Do you sit down at the keyboard and wait for inspiration to strike? Do you know when you sit down, what you are going to say? Do you walk around through life now thinking in "blog entries"? Do you write down ideas for blogging subjects?

I'm still trying to figure out myself.

I do find myself going through my day's experiences writing snippets in my head. Filing it away as fodder for this page. (Lucky you, half of it doesn't make it. I already worry that I'm boring you to tears as there is nothing remotely interesting that happens.)

The other day, I had a "scathingly brilliant" idea and wrote it down knowing if I didn't, it would be gone forever. Sometimes, I write things down, especially if I don't want to lose the exact wording I came up with. I don't write down half the stuff I think of. (Think of the brilliant things I've lost!) My hubby on the other hand, I think writes down his every thought! He is always jotting. And it's always something deep, philosophical and thoughtful. I'm thinking of what I'm going to do on my next day off. (As opposed to what I want to do!)

Usually, I sit down here and lightly drum the keypad a couple of times hoping the blog will write itself while miraculously becoming witty and entertaining by the end.

Don't worry, I'll keep working on it.

(Drat Blogger! It won't let me put spaces in again!)