Tuesday 25 September 2012

How I Stopped The Novice Blogger Fear!


Ok this blog post is very important so I am hoping you are paying attention!
I was very pleased to be asked to write a blog post for the Tots 100 site.
Then the panic set in!!
Was I good enough?
Could I write something interesting and helpful?
After a sleepless night thinking about a subject I decided on,

“How I stopped the novice blogger fear”.

I’ve been blogging for nearly two years. My niece is a very experienced blogger, and when she first mentioned I should try I thought she was mad!
Why on earth would I do that, I really did not understand the concept at all.
So we sat and she very kindly explained as much as she could to this older brain how to start. I decided on a name, a good start point and I was off!
I am no expert but over the last two years I think I have learnt a great deal from trial and error. I am not sure if what I have picked up is helpful, but here goes.

Get an identity!

The first thing I did was find an identity. I wanted my blog to open and people identify the page with me. I asked my son if he could help and he found a great image which was so me. I love craft and sewing so my little lady at the sewing machine fitted so well. He helped to put things in and take things out, and I really like it so much. I think it is so important to build your identity  so people can straight away know who you are. If you don’t have a kind niece or talented son, there are lots of excellent sites and people who you could ask to design for you.

What will I say?

“What will I say”? How many bloggers say that? I’ve no magic answer as I have to admit I still suffer myself. I think we as bloggers, novice or not, face this problem often.
I always want to say something smart or clever or funny. I want to set the world alight with my wonderful writing !!
Some blogs are about a set subject, and at first I thought that was where I was heading. However I found myself chatting about my life in general rather than sticking to one area.
So you may know from the start or decide later what you will be writing about.
I enjoy treating my blog as a fun way to write my memories and feelings. Some will have a strong idea where you want to go with your blog. Others like myself learn (and are still learning) as you go along.

Never be scared to ask for help!

In general I have found the blogging world kind and helpful. There is always someone out there who can offer advice. As I said I am no expert, and I have the for the last year been blogging alone. I have had times when I was stuck but I have always managed to put it out there, and get an answer back.
There are so many excellent sites that can help such as tots100. There are also many more experienced bloggers who will be delighted to share their knowledge.

Stay Calm and jump in!


I know it is scary! If you are new to blogging it can be a huge world. I know at first I was so nervous of making a mistake. I was afraid to attempt things for fear of making a real blooper. I know I did made one mistake at first but once it was explained from a far more experienced blogger, I learnt and went on from there. I think you have to just jump in! You need to relax and not be afraid to try. It is your blog and you can write whatever you want really. Yes I expect you will make mistakes, but you will learn!
I think being scared of making a mistake is the biggest fear a newbie blogger has. You just have to get out there and get going. The more you blog, the more you read other blogs the more you learn.
I don’t think you ever stop learning but if you don’t jump in you never will.

Building traffic


I’m not sure that  even I have  learnt this myself! I wish I had the magic answers to encouraging people to visit you.
I have written posts that I thought  wonderful and it’s not got one comment. Then I have written ones that I thought was not so good and it got loads!! There are always sites that say they can give you ideas to promote traffic. For me I think it is just plain hard work. You have to work at getting traffic it’s not going to just fall in your lap.
I love to blog hop! There are loads and loads and if you just put the subject into your search engine you will find some to take part in.
It’s easy and once you have done one you will be fine. Each blog hop normally has some rules, so take time to read through. It is then fairly simple to follow the prompts and join in. It is polite to comment on a few of the other blogs already there. When I do that I always ask if they would like to visit me so that equals traffic.
Using twitter and face book or any other social media is another way to gain readers. Its fun and you can make lots of new friends which has got to be good.
Visit other sites  as there is so much information out there. And if you have any great ideas pass them onto me!


So I hope there is something in this post that will be helpful to you. I am no expert I am just a 50+ lady. I think that if I can learn then anyone can. You have to just get on and do it. Learn as you go and I think the biggest advice to the novice, is have fun! I have had a wonderful time meeting new e friends and as I spend a fair amount of time alone, it has really opened the world up to me.
Relax and enjoy your blog because you can only get better by trying. Just know that the blogging world is huge, and in the most, very helpful and kind.
So stop the novice blogger fear and have fun
Happy blogging


www.tots100.co.uk

Saturday 22 September 2012

What is special to me

What is special to me...... I was sitting trying to think of what I wanted to share today and this title just came to me.
I think in this day and age we are all so busy and involved with our day to day lives, that it is easy to forget what is special to me.

Sadly I lost her far to young at 64 of cancer , and for me a little of me went with her. I had a young family so I had to get on with my life. Even though I lost her early she was special and I still love and miss her even today over 20 years later.
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My family is not big and we don't see each other much but they all hold a special place in my heart. I wish we were all together and had big happy christmas parties like the movies, but sadly that is not to be.
My own family is special to me in so many ways. I have been married for 33 yrs to Kevin who is a firefighter. We met and married very fast and have never looked back. We have had tough times but we always stuck by each other and we are looking into the future . In November he retires and we are hoping to really enjoy our later years.


We have two wonderful children Matthew and Natalie who are married and doing well. I am so proud of both of them, and only wish my parents could have seen how great they turned out.



My home is special as it is my little safe place, a place were I can be me and not worry. I love to be home and be able to craft and play with the cats lol. I am very lucky to live in a beautiful place with  open fields to look at. Its special as I was born in London so to live in the countryside is a dream come true.


My friends are special and also my online friends. My best friend is Sue who I have been friends with for over 20 years. We don't see each other much but I would always be there for her and I think she would be for me. I think of her more as a sister and she is the sort of special friend we only make rarely.
I am also lucky enough to have many many online friends such as Darian, April and Janie. New friends such as Emma from www,knitone-purlone.com who is a lovely young lady that I chat to. She make me laugh and also sells fab wool by the way.

I also think my pets are special. I know I am that sad cat woman and I will stand up and own that lol. I have had 3 cats and all were special but one was the most special of them all. Her name was cefer and she was my constant companion for 16 years day and night. She died early this year and it totally broke my heart. I still miss her every day and even though I have another cat and my daughters kitten, its not the same. I hope I will get to see her again one day.

Cefer cat
Daisy


I think I could go on as when you sit and think you see how many special things you have in your life, I know I did. I would love to hear your special things very much.

Oh to finish off I am very grateful for my blog pals who take time to read my boring stuff lol


Tuesday 18 September 2012

Noah's Ark


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Noah's Ark : Everything I need to know, I learned from Noah's Ark ....

ONE: Don't miss the boat.
TWO: Remember that we are all in the same boat!
THREE: Plan ahead.. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
FOUR: Stay fit. When you're 60 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

 FIVE: Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
SIX: Build your future on high ground.
SEVEN: For safety's sake, travel in pairs.
EIGHT: Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were on board with the cheetahs.
NINE: When you're stressed, float awhile..
TEN: Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.
ELEVEN: No matter the storm,  there's always a rainbow waiting.

This was sent to me today and I thought it was sweet and wanted to share with you.

Saturday 15 September 2012

Royal's Private Life

Royal's Private Life is all over the television today. On the back of the Prince Harry picture's come the latest news's of yet more problems for them.
Unless you have been in a cave you will know that a French magazine, has published pictures of Kate duchess of Cambridge sunbathing topless .
I have to say I think its terrible that they did this. Someone went out of their way to crash their private holiday to take these pictures. Then to put them out into the world is despicable  as far as I am concerned.

They were both on holiday and relaxing, which I think you will agree is something they should have the right to do. With all the issues around Princess Diana's death and the press, you would have thought lessons have been learnt.
I have no interest in seeing these pictures and I think that it is a gross infringement of her privacy and it should be stopped.

I applaud the Duke and Duchess for standing up for their rights and going to court. I hope that they get these pictures stopped and the magazine or photographer has to face charges.
This young couple are facing a life in the public eye. So far I think they are doing an excellent job and I think Prince William's mother would have been very proud.
So let them do their job with dignity and not constantly seek to embarrass them in this manner.




It's the weekend!

It's the weekend and as normal I have nothing planned really. I never really think of a set "weekend" as my husband has worked shifts for the last 30yrs. He never works the same hours every week so a weekend for me could be any time.
I guess at times it is a pain as it is very hard to make a date to do anything. When my kids were small I really wanted to get a job. Because of the shift pattern it was impossible to arrange anything. Its also meant that we have zero social life, as it makes arranging a social event hard. We have to look at his rota and we can't just do things off the cuff.
Recently I seem to be home most of the time. This is due yes in part to the shift pattern but also my mobility which is getting worse for sure. I do find it hard as in my head I can do it all but in truth my body fights me all the way.
I do not let it get me down and thankfully I love to craft and sew and bake so I do what I can. I do not know what I would do if I could not sew !
I also would hate to not be able to do my new craft which is cake decorating. I have got really into baking and I love making cakes for people, and even better when someone tells me how great they are.
I am even going to enrol on a course to teach me even more and I am so excited.

So whats your plans this weekend, I would love to know and I really hope its much more exciting than mine!


Thursday 13 September 2012

operation shower


I was recently contacted by a sweet lady who told me of a charity that I really wanted to share. I have been a military wife and I know how hard it all is. Lucky for me my husband never went to war and I am very thankfull. This is the information about Operation Shower.

Operation Shower is about celebrating and honoring military families.  Operation Shower is a  501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides joyful baby showers for military families to ease the burden of deployment.

For military families who are expecting a new baby and are experiencing or have recently experienced deployment, we accomplish our mission through:

hosting amazing baby showers
delivering high-quality products
creating a shared experience
partnering with organizations to provide value-added services, such as health-related information
History
Operation Shower began in March 2007, when LeAnn Morrissey, looking for a way to give back to her uncle who was deployed overseas, was asked to send a card to 4 women who were expecting babies while their spouses were deployed.   LeAnn decided to try to do much more for these families.  She set out with family and friends to send a “shower in a box” to the four military families who were expecting babies while the husband was deployed. The overwhelming support she received putting these boxes together and the messages of thanks she received from these moms left her with little doubt that this was something worth doing — over and over again!   She joined with Kris Jackson, to hold the first unit-wide shower at Ft. Bragg, NC in June 2007.   From that point forward, they made it official and Operation Shower was born!

As of August 2012, the Operation Shower team has, through the generous donations of individuals and corporations and through volunteer-power, showered over 850 women.  We have held 24 unit-wide showers on military bases across the country for the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and National Guard.  Operation Shower feels blessed and honored to be able to join with these women for a special celebration during what is otherwise an often stressful time. The showers provide wonderful items for the new babies and moms, and help bring the women together to celebrate with others in the same situation.

Operation Shower was founded specifically because we know that moms in a military family who hold it all together at home — moms who go through a pregnancy without their spouse by their side, deployed to a another part of the world, proudly serving our country, but wishing they could do more for those at home — these moms deserve our support, our thanks, our love and of course, they deserve a party!

I think you will agree it sounds very worthwhile so go check out their web site and if you can help great!

http://www.shoedazzle.com
http://operationshower.org/


Tuesday 11 September 2012

First days back at school!

First days back at school, ah its been awhile for me but I still remember. I live by two schools so the children go past my house every day. I love to see them all smart in new uniform all shiny and bright.
My children are grown-up now but I always loved that first day. I really enjoyed getting the uniform and seeing them on that first day.

These days the supermarkets carry so much uniform and at such a great price. I wish they had been available when I had them at school. I don't envy the cost of uniform these days if the school have something that's set by them. I think all schools should pick uniform that is easy to buy anywhere.

I hope you have all gone though those first few days with ease. I know when my daughter started school she was fine. All the other kids were crying but she was happy and smiling. I was so pleased and thought we would sail through those first few weeks.
However, it was not to be as by the second week all the other kids had stopped crying and she started!
In the end she was fine and settled in over the weeks and months. School was easy for my oldest he never really had any major issue. My daughter was harder and she found school a really problem at times.
She suffers from chronic fatigue so it made going to school very hard. We were lucky in her last few years to get a tutor and she was home schooled for the last two years. She ended up passing all her exams which was a surprise I have to say.

My son went on to college and University and got his degree so I am very proud. My daughter at present is hoping to go onto University next year to study nursing, proving its never too late.

So whatever stage in schooling you are at I hope its with stress. Enjoy those little gems of first days and store them up, one day you will look back and think of them with a smile.


Friday 7 September 2012

Firmoo Review

Firmoo Review today! I was lucky enough to be asked to write a review for this glasses company.
I wear glasses everyday so its very important for me to get the right kind. They have to do the job of letting me see! They have to look good and more important to be comfortable.

So let me start with some details of Firmoo


Why choose Firmoo.com?

Here at Firmoo, we offer over 300 styles of affordable and stylish frames for you to choose from. Customers even can buy 8 pairs of different eyewear on our site instead of only one pair at the local retail outlet or mall with the same amount money. Different clothes, different mood, different glasses every day, sounds interesting, huh? And if you don’t want to rack your brain to think it over which style suits you most, we offer Virtual Try-On System that helps you see how you look with our glasses or sunglasses. You even are able to use your own photo to try our eyewear virtually.Which I  thought it’s pretty fun and helpful! You are welcome to visit http://www.firmoo.com/why-choose-firmoo.html and http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.487435274619984.123737.145216628841852&type=1

So I went onto the web site and found they had a good range of glasses and sun glasses to pick from. Kind of cool that you can put in a picture of yourself and try on glasses, fab idea to give you a clue what you would look like in them.
I wanted a frame less style as I wanted them to not been seen really. They had a few styles and I was exciting to pick on. The only fault I found really was some of the frame less styles were fairly hard to see, but I am not sure if that was just my lap top. I was still able to pick one out and it did look really nice.



I then filled out a form with my prescription and then e mailed it all off. I was thinking that as I am in the UK it may take time to come, as it is an overseas company. However, in about a week I got a parcel and opened it up to find my glasses.
I was delighted ! They were excellent quality and so well made. They looked like a very expensive glasses and yet were light and comfortable. I could see out of them clear and sharp and they felt great from the second I put them on. They even come with a hard case, a soft case and a little tool for your key ring.

I know it is a risk to order online an item such as this, but this is a great company.
I know that I will be ordering more as their prices are great as well.

So I know I love my Firmoo glasses and I am sure you will love them as well. If you go over to their web site, new customers can even get a free pair of glasses so what have you got to lose!

Please note all opinion's are my own and I was not paid for this review only receiving a pair of glasses
 http://www.firmoo.com/free-glasses.html

Sunday 2 September 2012

Dallas Original Series 1-2



Dallas Original series 1-2 ..... what a blast from the past. This week I was lucky enough to be sent this by the lovely people Warner's, so sit and watch and review. I remember this series the first time around, and how as a family we would all sit and wait to see what adventures the family got up to.
So with the new series about to start this was a great way to get in touch with the family again. Or if you were too young to remember it the first time, to allow you to see what they are all about.

So back round...... The series centred around the Ewing's a oil rich Texas family. The show was very well know for its cliff hangers , the most famous being "Who shot J.R?"
The family consists of older brother J.R, mean , nasty and scheming, his long suffering wife Sue-Ellen who has a problem with drink. Younger brother Bobby who is deep down a nice guy but constantly living with his brothers greedy nature. His wife Pam. There parents Jock and Miss Ellie and niece Lucy.
The show first appeared on April 2nd 1978 and went on till 1991.

The rivalry between the families Barnes and Ewing's was a story that had been going on for years, and the further into the series you go the more you learn about why.s
With 357 episodes Dallas is one of the longest ever T.V series and I think it still stands up even today.
So treat yourself to this set and get to know the cast. I will be watching the new series for sure.



Please note all opinions are my own and I only received  a copy to review.