Not Just For Novices

I’ve been around the virtual block a time or two. I can find my way through just about any search engine and online shop with the best but when it comes to blogging I am a real tenderfoot. Look at my posts here – my very first post was on February 7. Since then I have figured out how to add a gadget, a widget and links. All I can say, “ is I wish I had a copy of Blogging For Bliss: Crafting Your Own Online Journal by Tara Frey two weeks ago.” It would have made starting my blog a lot easier.

Rather than making new bloggers rely on trial and error, Tara Frey takes the neophyte and the savvy through every step of blogging from choosing a platform to deciding on topics. The differences between a self hosted or domain hosted blog are finally explained in plain language. Simple HTML codes are taught, jargon is explained and “blog speak” is decoded. Every chapter had me SOL (smiling out loud.)

Yet, Tara never makes you feel dumb or simple as some books do. There is no talking down; there is just clear language from an experienced blogger. The reader doesn’t just get Tara’s point of view, she interviews old hand bloggers who share their experiences and advice. That is one of the things I like most about Blogging for Bliss, the reader gets the chance to learn from people who actually blog.

One of the best “Meet the Blogger” interviews is with Andrea Singarella who advises bloggers to incorporate a picture in every blog post. In the preceding chapter, the step by step instruction on editing your photos to uploading them to your blog shows you just how to do it.

But if you are looking for a book that is just a text book of instructions this is not the book for you. Blogging for Bliss has the look of an artist magazine. It is a visually beautiful as it is informative. Photos of vintage items, blog pages and banners make it a delight for the eye and the mind.

Whether you are novice or an expert this book has something to offer, some trick of the trade to help perfect your blogging skills or story of blogging bliss to which you can relate.

Purple Passion

My six year old niece has a passion for purple. Give her a brand new box of crayon – the big 120 count box and she will invariably go for the purples. The lavender, eggplant, plum and violets are first crayons to wear down to nubs. Her room, her hair ribbons, her favorite clothes are all purple.

But then I seem to remember having purple as my favorite color at that age and well beyond. Even now I can barely resist anything with an amethyst stone or crystal. Grape colored yarn can still delight me and violet eye shadow will have me reaching for my wallet.

So in honor of the little girl in all women here are my picks to satisfy your passion for purple.

The What Knot Shop’s handmade 5 sailor's bracelet made with custom dyed cotton cord is pale lavender dream. http://bit.ly/5O6olQ A unique look in braided cotton bangle. And the What Knot shop will make custom sizes.

AJ’s Designs hand stamped and gold embossed Mandela card would look at home in a frame like a purple master piece. The colors are eggplant and teal cardstock with gold accents. Six layers of paper trimmed and then layered with foam tape for dimension. Eggplant and teal ultrafine glitter and 5 size 16 Swarovski crystal provide the glitz. The size of the card is 5¼”x5¼” and comes with a crisp white envelope. The inside is blank for your personal sentiment.

Inspired by the Roman Goddess of love and beauty the deep rich violet and redish pink undertones Painted Ladies Venus is shadow enough to bring out the purple passion in any woman. The shadow is suitable for use as eye shadow or liner.

From Stillpointworks I chose purple and green hollow-constructed polymer which has been heavily textured and colored with acrylic paints. The beads are then heat set for durability and sealed with a satin finish for durability.

As an adult my favorite colors tend to lean toward oranges, golds and greens though I still have a penchant for amyethyst stones. I am not sure what that means but I know that I am more commortable with myself now. What are your favorite colors ? Have they changed since? What do you think that says about you?

This Too Will Melt

The snow is piling up outside (again). I have to admit the snow is beautiful. My back yard has this wonderful surreal look about it. It was also surreal to have to go out with a shovel to rescue my dog that had gotten under the deck and was trapped. Ah well, this too shall melt --one day.


I decided to put together a collection of “Spring IS coming favorites” from Zibbet guaranteed to chase away the winter “whites”.

My first pick is ChristianMarie’s multicolored clutch purse with a pearl snap closure and orange lining. The floral print is just the thing to bring in some color with sunny yellow, hot pink and warm turquoise. This little bag makes me want to put a sundress and take my pup for a walk.

The Western Wood Lilly

Nothing says spring like flowers and the seeds of the Western Wood lily from agardenofmagick make me think of my garden in bloom. These pretty lilies that grow in sun or partial shade are perfect for my tree lined yard. In fact I ordered some to plant. I’ll be getting them started in a cold frame as soon as the snow melts.

I adore this little Lucite ring in light blue and royal shaped like a spring flower from Dreamylyneshop.  It is dramatic and feminine rolled together in one springy little package.

And whine though I may about the cold and the snow in a few short weeks I will be whining equally loud about the mosquitoes that seem to arrive even before the spring flowers. So my final spring pick is Bayberrymeadowherbs bug away camp soap. Nothing says warm weather like the scents of citronella and lavender.

As I watch the snow fall I remember that this too shall melt as snow eventually does though I expect it will be cold comfort as we shovel away this latest blanket of white.

Just Breathe

As a component of a stress management course I teach meditation. The biggest factor in learning to meditate is learning to breathe with the abdomen.



Why is abdominal breathing important? First, abdominal breathing is more effective. By learning to breathe air into the lower portion of your lungs you are able to get more air into your body, muscles, blood and, ultimately, to your brain.


Second, abdominal breathing allows you speak and use your voice without straining your throat or vocal cords. Speaking with shallow breath or by only filling the top portion of your lungs make the throat do the majority of work for producing sound. Over a period of time this can damage the throat causing polyps, lesions and damage to the vocal cords.


Third, abdominal breathing helps when you are under stress. When you are under stress your muscles tense up and there is a tendency to hold your breath as prepare your body prepares for a fight or flight response. This is a reaction of the sympathetic nervous system. The problem is that your body reacts the same way whether you are stressed out by lion trying to you or just the evening drive. If you have trained yourself to breathe using your abdominal muscles more air will get to your muscles as they prepare for your reaction.


What does abdominal breathing have to do with meditation? In meditation we try to control our breath to slow it down and there by slow our racing heart and lower our blood pressure. With abdominal breathing you can meditate anywhere, anytime you have 5 minutes to spare with the same stress reducing benefits.


Abdominal Breathing Exercise


1. Lay comfortably on the floor or the bed


2. Place one hand on your chest and one on your stomach.


3. Slowly inhale through your nose


4. As you inhale your should feel your diaphragm expand. If your chest expands as you are breathing shallowly or with your chest. Concentrate on filling the lower portion of your lungs using your stomach.


5. Slowly exhale.


This exercise can also be done seated as well.


So the next time you are feeling stressed take a nice deep breathe and relax.

A Valentine's Day Guide for Procrastinators.

Valentine’s Day is only one weeks and away and time is running out. Most Etsy shops have a February 6 deadline for shipping. And if you are like me that deadline is going to come and go before I have made up my mind what to get my DH. I am always looking for gifts to grab at the last minute. So I have searched Etsy for some ideas for verified members of the procrastinators club – like me – guaranteed to you make look as clever and creative as if you shopped for weeks.

I found these darling little boxes at The Posh Event ( http://bit.ly/91hDu5 ) on Etsy. I can just imagine them filled with repackaged chocolate covered cherry (available everywhere) or better yet homemade chocolate covered strawberries. At the grocery store pick out the ripest and prettiest strawberries you can find and grab a bad of chocolate chips. You can use either dark or milk chocolate. Rinse and dry the berries leaving the cap on. Put the chocolate chips in a microwave safe shallow bowl and microwave. I use 30 second intervals so I don’t boil the chocolate. When the chocolate is melted dip the berries and place on a wax paper covered plate and refrigerate overnight. These can be made as late as February 13 and on V-day all you have to do is put your hand dipped berries in the box you have printed yourself.

Get an “Love you “ Poster for your sweetie at Etsy’s Hearts for Haiti (http://bit.ly/bhCa2e ) shop. Not only will he or she be impressed with this bright red calligraphy poster simply printed on card stock and framed in a red or white frame, you will have helped the relief efforts in Haiti.

My personal favorite in the last minute gift department is the Gift certificate. Now, I know that sounds less than romantic but then it is all the presentation – box, some red tissue and a big bow can make all the difference. A search at Etsy will bring a number of shops offering gift certificates. The shop I picked is a Tea for All Reasons because of their special blend of Valentine Teas ( http://bit.ly/aZfbx2 ). My person choice of their flavors is Romance, a specialty teal with flavors of cherry and chocolate. I do love my chocolate.

So relax. There is plenty of time left to find the perfect gift for your special someone.

Fleur de Lis Prinatable Purse boxes from Posh Printables. These adorable little boxes are perfect to fill with a few of your hand dipped strawberries and give to anyone special in your life.
http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39372610
 
 
 
 

The printable "love you" poster from bubbo.etsy.com donated to Hearts for Haiti .

VALENTINE'S DAY TEA - Sweet Hearts - Specialty Rooibos - 2oz. bag for $6.60 is only one of the choices your Sweet Heart can make with a gift certificat from a Tea for all Reasons