If I'm Not Here...

If I'm not here then please make sure you look for me over here. It's hard coming up with stuff to write on two blogs everyday. So, if I don't have a new post up here, please stop by Livin' With Me to see if that's where I am.

Thanks!

An Exciting Announcement

I am Rich has been working on creating me my very own blog. Isn't that exciting?

My plan is to work on getting my page rank up with my new blog and to eventually use it to do more of the paid posting. It will take a few months because most advertisers want to see an established blog. For now, I'll probably be posting on both blogs. You know, because I love blogging so much and I have tons of free time. But, mostly just because I love blogging so much.

It's a work in progress right now- but if you want to check it out you can go to Livin' With Me. I'd appreciate it so very much if you'd add my new blog to your blogroll to help my page ranking.

If you have any problems while visiting, please let me know so that we Rich can get all of the bugs worked out. And also- leave me a comment, so I know that you stopped by!

Thank ya very much!

Some Random Things

Just some random stuff today. No rhyme or reason to my thoughts today. Not that there usually is...... Anyhoo-

About a week ago I posted about my dad getting a buck while he was hunting. I posted about it here. I had said that I would post a picture if anyone wanted to see it and there was a request to see a picture. Here is my dad smiling proudly next to his buck.

This picture is here just because I think it's cute. I put Hailey's hair in pig-tails and thought it was cute and wanted to share it with you. I probably won't be doing her hair like this very often though because she did not enjoy the experience very much. (Actually if you click to enlarge the picture a little bit, you might be able to see some left over tears.)

In other exciting Happy Happenings news- I have joined another mommy group. So, Hailey and I now belong to three mommy groups- MOPS, MOMS, and our latest group which I can not share the name of because it would give away where I live and I like to try to keep that a secret. But, there are activities for us to be a part of 2-3 times each week with our newest group. We won't participate in everything as some things happen during Hailey's naps. But, between the three groups we will certainly be able to get out of the house at least a couple times each week. I still think that time at home is important but I don't want to feel like I did last winter when I thought I would certainly lose my mind if I didn't have some adult interaction (you can only talk to the cashiers at Target for so long).

With our new busy schedule and Christmas shopping, wrapping presents, working on Christmas cards, baking cookies, and all that stuff- plus the regular every day stuff- I might not be around quite as much as usual. Oh and I plan to start walking on my treadmill during Hailey's afternoon nap, which is when I usually visit everyone's blogs. So, please forgive me if I miss a day now and then.

And so, that is all for now. Come back tomorrow for another thought provoking post.

It's a Twofer Today

I'm still playing catch up on the memes I have been tagged to do. About 50 years ago I was tagged by JennieBoo to do the middle name meme. Then while I was on vacation I was tagged again for this meme by Pam.

So here goes...

The rules:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My middle name is Louise. This is my mom's middle name too and was my grandmother's name as well.

L- I Love my family.
O- I enjoy visiting the Ocean.
U- I always wear clean Underwear. You know- just in case I'm in an accident and the people in the emergency room will be checking to see if my underwear is acceptable, of course. (Aren't you proud of me, mom?)
I- Ice cream is one of my favorite foods.
S- I can be very Silly when I am with certain people.
E- I have my degree to teach Elementary school.

I'm not going to tag anyone. Yes, I am breaking rule #4; I'm such a rebel. But, please do feel free to play along- and let me know if you do so I can read yours.

And since I'm playing catch up on my memes, here's another one. Many moons ago Dawnae at Nifty Nicholson News tagged me with the Resurrecting Old Posts meme.

So, here goes:

1. This first post must be an old post about your family- This shouldn't be too hard since that's pretty much all I ever blog about. I couldn't figure out which on to pick, so I decided to just go with the oldest one I have. This is a post of pictures from Christmas 2006.

2. This post should be about your friends- Friends? Sadly I don't really have any posts about my friends. Most of my friends live inside my computer. I was able to find this post- a High School Meme where I mentioned my best friend from high school. I really must get out more.

3. This post must be about yourself- I decided to pick my post from the first time I was ever tagged. I was tagged to do a post of 7 Random Things About Me- so it's all about me.

4. This link is about something you love- And since it says something I love I can not talk about the people I love. So, I picked this Fun Monday post where I discuss my love for Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip cookies.

5. This one should be about your favorite post- Well, I have two favorite posts- so I will list them both. This one called Babies Don't Keep and my Blogaholic posts are my favorites.

And now I am supposed to tag five people, but I just don't want to. So, if you want to play along- please let me know so that I can read yours.

Bloggy Break

I'm taking a little bloggy break but I'll be back next week! Some days blogging feels like another item on my long list of things to do. So, I know it's time to step back and take a little vacation from blogging. I'll still be around to visit you and leave some comments, I just won't be posting for a little while. Here's some of my favorite posts for your reading pleasure while I take a little break.

Babies Don't Keep

Brooke In DC

I Am A Blogaholic

See you soon!!

Recommended Reading

I have three favorite blogs that I read everyday (I actually have many more favorites, but I am only mentioning these three today). If I miss a day I make sure to read the posts that I missed. One of those blogs is It Coulda' Been Worse, which is actually the first blog I ever started reading. Another one is Boo Mama and boy is she one funny lady. The third is Antique Mommy who is the reason that I am posting this entry. Back on July 30th she started a six part series called The Box. I highly recommend that you read it. Make sure you read it in order- Part One, Part Two, Part Three, Part Four, Part Five, and The Conclusion. It might take you a little time to read all of that, but it will be well worth it.

If you haven't already, add these three ladies to your favorites!

Oh, and do be sure you have some tissues before you go and read The Box.

Don't Be Alarmed

Don't be alarmed! It's still me. I'm trying a new look on my blog, so let me know what you think.

I'm also going to add a signature to my posts. I can't decide which one I like best, so I am leaving it up to you, my faithful readers. Leave me a comment with the number of the one you like the best. And, for those of you who don't like to leave comments, send me an email here to pick your favorite.

1.
2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

Thank you so much to Rich for all of the hard work he did on my blog to give me this new look. I'd been trying for weeks to change it myself and he finally took pity on me and helped me out, doing everything in a couple of hours.

I'm still working on my sidebars (Woo Hoo, I have 2 sidebars!!) so please be patient with me while I make some more changes. If I had your name on my blogroll before and it's not there now, please let me know. Also, if you have me on your blogroll, please notice that my web address has changed.

Updated to add- #6 is the winner! (Feel free to vote if you haven't yet, I can always change the winner)

Blogaholic

Hi. My name is Melanie and I am a blogaholic.

Everyone: Hi Melanie.

Me: It all started after Hailey was born. I just wanted a little place to put up pictures of her for my family and friends to see.

Everyone: It always starts so innocently.

Me: Then I had found some other blogs that I enjoyed reading. I made sure to read them everyday. Only a couple of blogs, it didn't take much of my time.

Everyone: Mhmmmmm

Me: Soon I found some more blogs to read. Then I started leaving comments and other people were leaving me comments.

Everyone: That's not too bad.

Me: No, it wasn't too bad. But, before I knew it I was addicted to blogging. I post almost everyday. I have five ten twenty too many to count blogs that I read once in a while everyday. I leave lots of comments. I check my email a gazillion times a day to see if I have any new comments. I even dream about blogging.

Everyone: That does sound pretty bad.

Me: Oh, it is. As soon as Hailey goes down for her nap I start my blogging. I try to tell myself that I will only blog for 15 minutes because there are other things to do- like folding laundry and dusting the house. Before I know it, an hour and a half has passed and Hailey is awake.

Everyone: You're right, this is serious.

Me: Sometimes when Rich is hogging the computer and I can't get my blogging fix during Hailey's nap- I start to twitch.

Everyone: It's worse than we thought!

Me: Yes, it is bad and I don't know what to do!!

Check This Out!

If you want something good to read, you should check out Boo Mama's blog! She is one funny lady. The other day she posted about baking a cake. Who would've thought that could be funny? But, it was! Click here to check it out. Add her to your favorites and make sure you read Boo Mama everyday! She never disappoints.

Thank You!

See what came in the mail today?

Woo Hoo!! It's my book that I won from Laura over at My Quotidian Mysteries. Thank you so much Laura! I love to read and I am always excited to have a new book! Now we are definitely "bloggie-best friends or something!" Thank you, Laura!!

Book Giveaway

Laura over at My Quotidian Mysteries is giving away this book:

Why? Because she loves all of her bloggy friends!! Isn't she sweet?

Click here to enter to win Katie Brazelton's Praying for Purpose for Women (Zondervan, 2005). Hurry up though because the contest ends Thursday!

Pick Me, Pick me, Pick Me!

Everyday Mommy is giving away a blog design for Mother's Day! I really, really, really want to win it! Oh please, oh please, oh please pick me!

Blogging

I have decided to do a bit of writing on my blog. I'm going to try to write about my thoughts and what is going on with us every few days or so. I'm not sure if anyone cares to check my blog that frequently, so I'll try it for a little while and see how it goes. Let me know if you like it or not!