Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Blogging. Show all posts

Monday, February 25, 2013

The Reason Why I Blog. . . . . . .



 if you have a blog,
this is a really good question to ask once in awhile.
i mean, there are definitely some who know 
why they blog.
usually, it means they're really good at something. . . . . .
cooking, crafting, writing, photography, parenting, couponing, organizing.
something!
and they are kind enough to share it with the rest of us.
thank you for that!
but for a few of us, we are just as clueless as to why we blog
as you are when you look at our blog.
take mine for instance.
it's all over the place!
sometimes in the same post...now that's crazy.
but that's me.

and i think it's really important,
if you like to blog,
to take a look at the why's of it every once in awhile.
so that's what i'm doing today.
and guess what conclusion i'm coming to.
my reasons are pretty much the same,
i just get off track every so often.
but basically, i blog for me.
yep, you read that right.
for me.
every now and then i start writing for others,
and that's when i go off track.
that's when i get stuck.
and that is when i think " this is stupid...i'm done with this silly 'ol blog".

but within a few weeks, i miss it.
then i'm back:)
lucky you!  
hahahaha. . . . .just kidding:)

well, maybe i don't just blog for me.
i also blog for you!
i just meant i blog about the things i would like to read if i were you.
hmmmmm. . . . .i have a feeling that didn't come out quite right,
 but my intentions are good:)

because i have not taken the time to master
any one particular thing 
(i can do a lot of things but am master of pretty much none:)
i  steer away from trying to teach others my
half-baked way of doing something.
unless i am totally confident i did it right the first time:)
which is why you rarely see tutorials on my blog.
a teacher i am not.
(i do find great photos though, don't ya think? :)
but what/who  i am, is this;
~ ~ a friend, mother, wife, daughter, sister
~ ~ whose faith is important to her
~ ~ who is extremely forgetful and downright flaky
~ ~ who still hasn't totally grown up. . . and never will
~ ~ who has somehow, so far, managed to raise 2 pretty incredible young ladies
~ ~ who loves to laugh and cry. . . .sometimes in the same conversation
~ ~ who is still a dreamer. . . .and who encourages that in others
~ ~ who would rather stay home with her family, 
watch reruns on tv and eat caramel corn way more than a fancy dinner out 
~ ~ who is very nice. . . .until you mess with her children. 
 or dogs. who are not pets but boys. my precious boys.
so don't mess with them;)
~ ~ who is grossly unorganized but tries to fix this every day.  not successful but i try.
~ ~ who was once told she was a "simpleton" by a somewhat confused patient. . . and didn't know it was a compliment, until now. i'll take simple every day of the week:)
~ ~ who has everything and nothing in this crazy world figured out.
~who has her own struggles and flaws
~ ~ who believes that if nothing else, sharing a smile with someone is a fabulous achievement.
 which brings me to this blog.
why i blog. . . . .
not because i do or say anything brilliant.
but because i try, most days, to be happy about something.
to smile about something.
at least once.
because that is important.
and if i can make someone else smile at my blog,
i did something fabulous.
so that's it.
that's why i blog.
i don't say the words "smile" or "be happy" casually.
i don't always feel like smiling, and i am not always happy.
and i know the same goes for you too.
but i do believe if we look around us, there has to be something worth smiling about.
so with that, i hope that today, you smile. . . .at someone or something.
and feel a teeny tiny bit of happiness.
and if not today, i hope tomorrow is a better day.
i may not be the best at blog comments,
but if you need a friendly shoulder to lean on,
i'm right here, willing and able:)
because besides blogging for me, i really do blog for you. (there, i said it:)
i just don't keep track of visits, comments or followers closely.
don't get me wrong, i LOVE them.
i simply hope that the person who needs something i have to give will
somehow stumble on my lowly blog.
and be happy:)
Suzanne

Tuesday, January 22, 2013

My Top 10 Most Popular Posts of 2012. . . .Fruit Loops, Swamps and Shabby Chic

well!
i've never done one of these posts before.
i have to say, it's kinda FUN looking back on the year.
and it's really COOL to see which posts are the most 
POPULAR for your readers.

as you can tell by the title,
my blog posts are all over the place.
and my readers are looking for fun and
interesting posts about decorating, parties, FASHION and treats:)

 i thought i'd list the 10 posts, with a link to take you to each one,
just in case you missed out, you know:)
before i do,
thank you to the many, many wonderful readers who visit my blog
on a daily basis.
that is so much more than i deserve,
and i am so grateful!
i wrote 147 posts last year, and here are
My 10 Most Popular posts of 2012,
starting with 
number 10 and working down to number 1. . . . 

10.  for mom......a shabby chic dream cottage and soft, cuddly puppies......






9.  Cool Summer Treats and Cool Stuff to Do in the Heat of Summer!



8.  I Love LIME...the spring trend is NEON!


7.  Spring Fashion Week 2012...Pretty as a Princess



6.  Aloha...Palm Sunday, Bunnies, Bunny Bait and Hawaii




5.  lessons in decorating from a country girl/surfer girl/cowgirl....




4.  My Life in Candy

3.  i'm just crazy about mirrored furniture............




2.  (This one cracks me up)  Swamp People Birthday Party



never can tell, can you?:)

and my number 1 most popular post of 2012. . . . .

1.  fruit loops, prayer, recipes and Oscar dresses... 





so there you have it.
i have to say, this really surprises me. . . . .
but in a good way.
and i think it tells me something.
as i said before, my readers know they can come for a light,
fun, happy, pretty, positive blog post.
no rocket science here. . . .
my blog is what it is. . . .
and so am I:)

xoxoxoxoxoxo
Suzanne


Tuesday, October 2, 2012

happy rules and inspiration from afar.......

i explained yesterday about my blog.......
 giving it up, keeping it, 
doing what makes me happy.
and i talked about wonderful people who read your blog,
people whom you have never met and likely never will. 

well, yesterday i received another very SPECIAL email..........
all the way from Bulgaria!
Maria is a beautiful 19 year old who said i inspired her, 
and she hoped I would keep my blog.
me? inspiring?  that's sooooo nice to know.  
and so cool that it comes from a 19 year old!
i have two teenaged girls and my hope is that i inspire them
and that they find others who can inspire them also.
what Maria doesn't know is,
she inspired and encouraged me with her email!
so to beautiful Maria from Bulgaria,
thank you so very much!
your email is a keeper for when i need a boost:)

awhile back, i read
The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin.

i felt some of it applied to my life and some of it didn't.
but let's face it,
 we all need a bit more "happy" in our everyday.

one thing she suggests if you start your own "happiness project" is to
make a list of happiness "rules".
i thought it wasn't a bad thing to think about that,
so here is my own list of happiness rules to live by.
i'm not perfect.
i have bad days.....too many:)
basically, i think i'm doing okay with life,
by the grace of God only:)
but i kinda like my little happy rules list:)
and if it serves as a reminder to laugh instead of cry,
or do instead of watch,
then it's a good thing:)
hope you have a happy, colorful week!
i promise, next time i post something, 
it will be my usual, random, shallow stuff;)
hugs,
suzanne

Monday, October 1, 2012

why i LOVE my blog...

ya know, 
sometimes i think about giving this blog up.
i don't post as often as i would like,
i'm totally crappy at answering comments,
i have a million other things to do.
but i like it!
i still like it.

and even though i know it is not advised to do this in blogland,
i like changing my blog to suit my mood/feelings...
kinda like how it's changed now.
but it's REALLY changed this time.
i really believe God wants his children to be happy.
and we want to be happy.
but we sometimes manage to sabotage our chances every single day.
at least i do.
and i'm guessing many of you do, too.
well, welcome to my new blog, 
"my kinda happy"!

it's very similar to the old one, because i always tried to keep it
 positive, light and happy before.
but now, even more so.
no need to bore you here.......
hopefully you'll see/feel the difference.

i changed the look for Fall...
and to reflect the style i am crazy happy about these days.......
RUSTIC CHIC.
like it?

but here is the REAL reason i like blogging.
every now and then, right out of the blue,
someone stumbles on my blog and writes me the most amazing email.
someone i've never met in my life.
someone like Sandra.
last night, Sandra, 
from all the way across the country in California wrote me this email........
"Dear Suzanne,
I just found your blog through Pinterest.  Your last blog post was
on Sept. 24 and you asked for prayers for Maui.  
I haven't stopped thinking of you and how you must be feeling.
How did Maui do?  I pray he made it through this ok.
How are you doing? 
Take care,
Sandra"
can you believe that?
she stumbled on my blog,
read about my worries about sweet Maui,

and took the time to pray for him AND write to see how he was.
there are such good people in the world and i've met many through my
 lil 'ol blog:)
Thank you from the bottom of my heart Sandra!
it's because of people like you that i just received a call from my vet saying
Maui had a NON-malignant tumor removed!!!!!
YAYYYYY!
she was sorry to scare us so but said when she removed it,
it SO resembled a malignant tumor that she thought it best to prepare us.

most of you know i have MS.
and i'm doing great.
the only real issue is i get BONE TIRED pretty much daily.
but that's nothing a nap won't help.
and guess who takes a nap with me every day.......
my Maui.
on this day i was in Jordan's bed and freddy joined us too:)
Maui snuggles right up to me.......
i would be lost without him:)
and Freddy...i think he wonders what all the fuss is about.
but he's been an exceptionally good boy since Maui had surgery.

no playing for Maui for awhile.......
but he can still go for car rides!
does this crack you up or what?
i mean, he looks like he is really watching where we are going:)
(the t-shirt is to protect his stitches)

anyway, thank you to Sandra and each one of you who
prayed and sent us good wishes.
YOU are the reason i love to blog and will keep it up!

my blog can still be accessed via
 and now via

be HAPPY, be BLESSED,
Suzanne
xoxoxoxoxo

Sunday, January 15, 2012

all about STUFF...

wow...that would almost be a good name for a blog like mine...
since i seem to just ramble and it's not about anything
special.
it's just about STUFF.

well, not this time.
i DID change the name
(same web address...can't change that. DARN:)
so while the blog address is still shabby chicks,
the NAME is
land of sugarplum fairies, southern girls and sandy toes...
courtesy of my sis Deb.
she wrote me over the Holidays and ended her email with
"i hope things are good in the land of 
sugarplum fairies, southern girls and sandy toes".
NO WAY!!!!!
the proverbial lightbulb EXPLODED in my head:)
i was amazed at how that covered the fun stuff we love...
ballet, southern/country life, the BEACH...
all of it.
except our love of junky stuff...but i still have "shabby chicks" to cover that:)
COOL, huh?
thanks Deb!!!!

so, to launch my newly-named blog, which "they" say you should never do
(change the name of your blog.)
  who cares...life is short...make it fun, i say:)
anyway, to celebrate...i'm having a week full of 
STUFF i LOVE.

i know, i know...what DO i know.
hey...i ask myself that every day:)
but maybe someone out there will like SOMETHING i mention.
at least i know my mom will! (thanks mom)
first up for Monday...
STUFF i LOVE 
BEAUTY products.
i might even show a before and after photo.
might.
maybe.
but probably not.
STILL...you never know:)

before i go, here's something i REALLY love.
 inspirational messages.
sometimes they're deep...and sometimes they're a short, simple reminder.
like this...

have a beautiful day!
Suzanne

Friday, September 16, 2011

Fantabulous Friday Favorites...

don't you just love that word...
FANTABULOUS?
what's not to love about a word that has
fantastic and fabulous all rolled up in one great word!

no mindless rambling today...
(not yet anyway)
let's just get right to the favorites!

favorite BALLERINA Taylor...
 is auditioning tomorrow for her part(s) in the Nutcracker
with Naples Ballet.
i'm proud and she hasn't even taken the stage!
that's because when she dances, she SHINES!
the flier for Nutcracker 20011...
my little girl.
(yes you are Taylor and always will be so deal with it;)
xoxoxoxo

favorite FUN LOVING girl Jordan...
 was interviewed this week by the Naples Daily News and will be featured
this weekend in a story about her swim for MS...
which she has raised over $1500 for with more donations coming in.
 she had a photo shoot last week, so that was COOL 
I'd say she did something pretty
AWESOME with her summer!
xoxoxox

my favorite DAD in the whole world...
 and his golf buddies.
(he's the one in the hat!)
reminds me of the saying 
"you don't stop playing because you get old...
you get old because you stop playing".
and somebody should add......you also get old when you don't LAUGH every day...
because ya gotta laugh sometimes.
these guys knew that!
 (haha)
one of my favorite blogs is Brayton Homestead Interiors.
Karen is the amazing decorator who had the idea for our
BARN CHICKS PARTIES.
 that was when i REALLY fell in love with old barns!
anyway, she has a new website so i'm spreading the word for the 
sweet and very talented Karen.
you can click on either link to pay her a visit:)
yes girls, we have the barn chicks to blame for me DESPERATELY
wanting one of you to get married in a barn.
don't hate me......it'll be SPECTACULAR!

a few favorite images from PINTEREST...
a pretty hydrangea wreath on a chippy frame......love CHIPPY anything!

frozen cookies and cream hot cocoa...

these ADORABLE silhouette tags.
 you will not BELIEVE how many free printables you'll find on this site...

it's no secret what i think about facebook...even if i end up back there for
reasons out of my control...i still think THIS...
 hahahahahahaha...come on!  
you KNOW it's true!!!:)

somebody pinned this quote and i was so HAPPY to see it...
 yes virginia...there ARE still a few nice girls in the world.

my last favorite is of a beautiful photo that i "picnik'd"
with one of my favorite quotes.
 hope you like it too!

XOXOXOXO
Suzanne

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Red Velvet Brownies and Getting back on Track...

red velvet brownies?
say it isn't so!!!!!
oh, but it is!:)

but first things first...
my 14 year old...my BUSY 14 year old,
says she misses my blog,
that I need to get it going again.
hmmm...I'm flattered she misses this silly thing...
but girlfriend, one of the reasons I DON'T blog more is
YOU keep me busy! 
 (hahaha...but I wouldn't have it any other way:)

so here I am,
starting my little online journal...AGAIN:)
but it's all GOOD, right?

now...RED VELVET BROWNIES...
OMG!!!!!
are these delicious, gorgeous and mouth watering all in one
or WHAT???
oh...and you will probably gain 10lbs...
but you will LOVE doing it:)
The recipe, from Howsweeteats is below...



Red Velvet Brownies
1/2 cup butter, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons cocoa powder
2 tablespoons red food coloring
2/3 cups chocolate chips (optional)
Preheat oven to 350.
Butter and flour an 8 x 8 cake pan.
In a small bowl, combine cocoa powder, red food coloring, and 1 teaspoon vanilla to create a paste.
In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, then add remaining teaspoon of vanilla. With the mixer on medium speed, add in cocoa powder mixture. Beat until batter is completely red. (If at this time your batter is NOT red, you can add a little more food coloring if desired. Color will depend on brand.) Add flour and salt, mixing until just combined. Fold in chocolate chips.
Spread in the 8 x 8 pan. Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Let cool completely before frosting.
**** We found that they were done at 25 min. and guess what...
they were WAY better the next day.
Re: frosting, we went with a cream cheese but you could also
use a white chocolate buttercream:)
you're welcome...for the great recipe and the extra pounds:)
XOXOXOXOXOXO
Suzanne

Monday, January 31, 2011

Fresh Starts and Winter Whites...

So I've managed to do it again...
take such a LONG break from my blog that friends are wondering if I'm okay.
That's nice!

To answer that question, I'm totally okay.
Busy, tired...but okay.
And still remembering to find a bit of HAPPY in each day.

I actually thought a lot about my blog.
It isn't that I don't have time or ideas...
too many sometimes.
But I get sidetracked and feel bad about posting something new on my blog
when I have yet to answer comments and emails.
So I don't blog...and then wish I did.
On that note, guess what I am doing?
Turning off comments to my blog.
Just for a week or so...
and during that time I want to post...and go back to visit/answer those sweet comments.

Moving on...
have you heard of "Blogging without Obligation?
Tiffini came up with this because she saw people apologizing all over the place when they hadn't blogged.  (haven't read her site...just this post)
Her philosophy:
  • Because you shouldn’t have to look at your blog like it is a treadmill.
  • Because its okay to just say what you have to say. If that makes for a long post, fine. Short post, fine. Frequent post, fine. Infrequent post, fine.
  • Because its okay to not always be enthralled with the sound of your own typing.
  • Because sometimes less is more.
  • Because only blogging when you feel truly inspired keeps up the integrity of your blog.
  • Because they are probably not going to inscribe your stat, link and comment numbers on your tombstone.
  • Because for most of us blogging is just a hobby. A way to express yourself and connect with others. You should not have to apologize for lapses in posts. Just take a step back and enjoy life, not everything you do has to be “bloggable”.
  • Because if you blog without obligation you will naturally keep your blog around longer, because it won’t be a chore. Plus, just think you will be doing your part to eradicate post pollution. One post at a time. . .
I would say "what do you think"...
but my comments are off.
Now that's a bummer:)
But I think I like this blogging without obligation!

Here's what else I like...
WHITE!
Notice my new look?
Very white, soft...peaceful.
at least I hope:)
This is one of my favorite cookies...
whether in cookie or bar form...
DELICIOUS!
WHITE Chocolate Macadamia Nut Cookies
Makes about 3 dozen cookies.

1 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup light brown sugar, packed
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 eggs
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoons baking soda
10 ounces white chocolate (chips or bars cut in chunks)
1 cup macadamia nuts, chopped into chunks
Directions:
Heat oven to 375 F. In large bowl, beat butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt with electric mixer until creamy. Add eggs, beat well. Stir together flour, and the baking soda; gradually add to butter mixture,beating until well blended. Stir in white chocolate chips and macadamia nuts. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. (Edges are golden brown and center is set.) Cool slightly, remove from cookie sheet to wire rack to cool completely.
These would SCORE big at a Superbowl party!
YUM~YUM~YUM!!!!!

And lastly..
this is NOT what it looks like outside my window...
but I wish it did.
Crazy, I know.
But isn't it so pretty?
 Okay, so remember, comments are off for a few days.
Not because I don't want to hear from you
(I do have an email link you know...hahaha)
But because I want to get off to a fresh start with my blog...
new habits,,,old and new friends...
and tons of HAPPY thoughts!

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