Blogging is Hard......* Kinda

I recently found this fun July linkup from Juliette that I thought I would join in again! 

So the last prompt for Blog Everyday in July is "Blogging is Hard".

So I have a few thoughts on this. First blogging is not like brain surgery. Its something you choose do to either for enjoyment or some times as a job. For me, it started out as enjoyment and has turned into a little monthly side money but its not like I break a sweat blogging. However, I do not work outside the house, I consider myself pretty tech savvy, and writing comes natural for me. I have kept a journal since I was old enough to write. I have been blogging since January 2006. YIKES! Makes me feel old! I have the first few years private because they were disaster blog posts but its been a long hobby for me.  But I really really enjoy it. I moved on into making videos a few years ago and have also been enjoying that a lot too. Blogging becomes hard for me when life becomes hard. I can't really get on here and fake it. Firstly, I want things on this blog to be true to time and true in life. Second, I am just too much of an emotional person to try to fake it until I make it. I have learned over the years of blogging that is probably not a good thing to do when you are upset. When those times roll around, I simply turn off the computer and wait until I feel better. Otherwise it will be hard to say anything nice and spread positive energy.

The other way it is " hard " is all the steps that go into a good blog post and or video. Think about it....you need to write, edit photos/videos, proof read, and publish. But it doesn't end there. I pay for a services that publishes my blog post on facebook/twitter but I always always go to my facebook accounts and share the post with more pictures. Then don't forget about making a good pin-able image for pinterest. Yep.. you know you should be doing it. Then if you join up in link ups you have to add your links to their sites for optional views. If you want your blog to be successful, you have to invest time and energy not only in the content but blog design and maintenance, advertise as much as possible, host giveaways for your wonderful.. and I mean wonderful subscribers who come back over and over to view your blog. Its not that its really hard for me, but it is totally time consuming. Another part of blogging that is hard is I basically work from home with this blog and my youtube videos. I make $300-500 a month right now and I am totally happy with that. But being its a home based job, it seems like I am always always working. The kids don't really think of it as a job, instead they see mommy sitting at the computer all day long. So balancing my time is not easy. I am always thinking about a blog post/video and its hard to turn off. That's one of the reasons planners and schedules work so well for me. I also think the reason I don't really consider it hard is because I love it so much so it does't feel like a job. I have 8 years of content right here....and if I didn't love it... I would have never ever kept up with it this long. I love documenting our lives and I love the relationships I have made over the years from this blog and my youtube channels. So for me... its not as much as it being hard but being very time consuming. 

Have a beautiful and blessed night! I will be back tomorrow with my ipsy bag update and giveaway winners! 

If you want to find me buzzing around online, here's where to go! :) Facebook| Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube Main Channel | Youtube Vlogging Channel | Bloglovin

Sorry...I'm NOT Sorry

I recently found this fun July linkup from Juliette that I thought I would join in a little late into the month. I can't promise I will follow along every day but I will sure try! Today's prompt is sorry..but I'm not sorry so here we go! 

That I am political. I feel strongly about my beliefs. It matters and even when I get on here and bash Republicans, I still understand they have the right to feel, think, vote and say what they want. But I won't apologize for actually standing up and speaking out. 

that chances are, you will be covered in cat/dog hair if you come to visit. They are our furry family and most of the time we like them better than most people. Don't come visit wearing black! 

that I never check voicemails. I know it might be rude but I just can't stand listening to them. You better text or email if you are really trying to get a hold of me. Right now there are 15 messages and you couldn't even leave one if you wanted. 

I am a planner and schedule addicted. I know how well my day goes when I follow a schedule.  I am also - sorry I am not sorry - when I get a little testy about changes in the calendar. I just like a neat and tidy planner and changes just mess it up! 

that I am just not a neighborly person. I just don't like the Russian Spies on the left of me and the animal abusers on the right of me..I need a country house!

that I have fought back with the mean commentators, haters, and gossipers who like to criticize and judge. Even though I think they are seriously becoming my greatest teachers and maybe I should send the assholes a thank you card, I meant everything I said and I am not sorry about it at all.  If you don't like me.. why be on my blog or my youtube channels? Makes no sense to me. 

that I don't exercise...Yea. I am so not doing that stuff. Maybe some walking and or yoga but that's where I have to draw the line. I can find better things to do to get hot, sweaty, and tired. 

that most of the time my life is such not pin-able image that I can put on pinterest. Most of the time there is a basket of towels waiting on me to fold them, a sink full of dishes that I need to tend to, toys laying in the hallway, and I am so not sorry for it. We live here, its our home not some cold museum. We live a very real life here and I wouldn't want it any other way! 

Have a great night! 

If you want to find me buzzing around online, here's where to go! :) Facebook| Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube Main Channel | Youtube Vlogging Channel | Bloglovin

Snaps & Likes...a linkup

I recently found this fun July linkup from Juliette that I thought I would join in a little late into the month. I can't promise I will follow along every day but I will sure try!  I am making up with Monday post combining it with today's...hope you don't mind! 

Yesterday Monday's link was  3 Pictures -  1 of anything, 1 you took, and 1 selfie.

Here's my pictures:

My Anything: So if you are a follower of anything of mine, you know I am on the search for a Afghan Hound to join our family. It probably won't happen until after the first of the year but I am really wanting this dog to move in! Look how beautiful and majestic this dog is! I feel like for the first stage in my life we have had golden retriever - you know because they are good with the kids - The middle stage will be this beautiful breed of dog - and in the last chapters of my life I will get a small dog that is easy to care for. Right now.. I'm in the middle and its time to find my dream puppy! :)

My Selfie: I am also a cat person and I loved this selfie I took with Romeo. The sun was shinning so beautifully but I wish Romeo had a better look on his face. I love it though.. its a favorite! 

My picture: I took this picture a couple years ago of the kids. They are seriously the best things I ever did. They are such sweet independent little people who teach me more about myself everyday. Both are growing up so fast and along the way, trying to figure out who they are and how they fit into this world. They consume my thoughts most days and my goal in life is to make sure that after I am gone, they will be ok. That they will be able to stand on their own feet, make strong decisions, who love God and who be themselves... no matter who that might be. They are my hope. 

Today's Topic: All about ME. 5 Things I like about myself. 

1. My planning abilities: I am a planner through and through. I love calendars, planners, and kind of organization really. But I am super good at planning things out. Almost to a fault because if life happens as it normally does, it doesn't make me too happy when things go off schedule. But I am good planner even if every detail is not followed! 

2. Being a Homebody: I like being a homebody. I use to do the clubs and all that kind of stuff ( ha! almost 20 years ago...wow, I feel old ) but as time passed, I quickly figured out...home is where I belong. I feel safe and secure here. Some people think being a hermit is not such a good thing but I beg to differ! 

3. My eyes: I hate to admit it but its basically the only good thing my father has given me. We have identical eyes which I do get complimented on them a lot which does make me feel good. However, its not really the same for me being I only occasionally see them in the mirror or pictures! :) And lets face it, they have shown me everything. 

4. My Confidence: It has taken a long while to figure out what I believe in, what matters to me and feel comfortable in my own skin. After 38 years on this earth, I am starting to figure it out. I feel better in my decisions and that all comes from wisdom from my life experiences. But it also comes from wisdom of people who have been there before. 

5. My Love: I feel like I love hard. I am loyal and think love is one of the only things you can take with you. I fall in love many times a day with as many things as I can. I have compassion for others and I want the world to be a better place and we do that through L♥ve. 

If you want to find me buzzing around online, here's where to go! :) Facebook| Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube Main Channel | Youtube Vlogging Channel | Bloglovin

Finish the Sentence...

I recently found this fun July linkup from Juliette that I thought I would join in a little late into the month. I can't promise I will follow along every day but I will sure try! Hope you enjoy. 

When I open the fridge, I always hope I find... 

Normally I am looking for some kind of anitpasto items such as some prosciutto, melons, and different cheeses. I really like lighter foods in the summer!

Last week I was really pissed when...

I found out my husband didn't mail off a box that he was supposed to send. I knew he was so full of shit when he said it was in the mail when in fact it was sitting on the desk. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Needless to say, he finally got it mailed off! 

One thing nobody understands about me is...

I like home. Its not so popular with my kids or husband but I like being home. My mom and sister are totally the opposite but I got the anti social gene from my dad. I really don't plan on changing anything about it either. I know I am safe at home and I pretty much don't bother anyone. Its just my happy place! 

One thing I don't understand is...

Why it takes so long to really learn how to extract happiness from life. I guess you have to grow into your own skin but it has taken a long time for me to figure out how not to fight the world and be happy. Its kinda scary though.. I am 38 and just starting to figure out what real happiness it and in a way if feels like I don't have a lot of time left. Never take today for granted. 

The world would be a better place if...

We got guns under control. We have become a country who is gun obsessed all while our kids are dying in the schools. I don't understand it. I come from a big gun family and I am kinda the black sheep on that too. I just think there has to be something done before it gets out of hand even more than what it already is. 

If I had a million dollars I'd...

Travel..travel..travel. I would jump on a plane and probably never come back. And I would probably turn this into a travel vlog! There is so much I want to see around the world that I would travel until the money was gone. I would pack up the family and we would go on the biggest adventure ever. I have traveled a lot but the world is huge and there is so much left. 

If I could change one thing about myself, it would be...

I would change my personality to be a bouncy bubbly happy person. You know who I am talking about right!? Just those naturally happy people who never seem to run out of smiles or energy! 

Something that can always make me happy is...

Kitty cats...particularly this kitty cat. Romeo is the king of our house. Some people might think it would be my husband, Scott but nope. Once Romeo moved in, life changed. I hate to admit it, but the other cats and even the dog moved down the latter a bit. Romeo is so calm and loving that you can totally cuddle with him anytime. I don't think he has a mean bone in his body. And to be honest I am suprised he knows how to walk on his own because most of the time he is carried through the house. The kids and my Scott all think he is their kitty cat but he's all mine! Romeo is the best gift Scott ever got me and I wish I could clone him! :) 

Something I'll never blog about is...

I can't think of anything. I love politics so I am always talking shit about Republicans...sorry it's just the way I feel but I am married to one! I don't mind talking about sex if the blog post requires it.  I can't think of one thing that I would shy away from. 

If I could go anywhere I would go...

to Florida. 

because...

that's where I eventually want to get back to. I live in beautiful South Carolina and I really do like it here but I am still being pulled even further south. We have family there...a church we love...friends...so it's just a matter of time. We have moved around a lot and I just want to move when its the right time. I don't want to get there and have to move again so it has to be the final place!

If I were an animal I would be a....

I would hope to be a well taken care of cat! 

A job I've always wanted is..

Congresswoman, Judge, Journalist. I went to school for a very long time and life worked out where I am able to stay home and I love it. Its not exactly how I thought things would be but again.. I feel safe here and that really matters. I get to spend a lot of time with the kids, my husband and animals and they are a full time job within themselves! 

My idea of a perfect day is..

I have many ideas of perfect days depending on the mood I am in. Here's a few....

• A day when things going according the schedule and everything happens when its suppose to. 
• Fun day with the kids when everyone gets along. 
• Day dates with Scott where we just have alone time. 
• Spending the day with family I don't get to see very often. 
• Enjoying nature like when we went floating down Green River. 
• Shopping days with Scott....we shop really good together! 
• Picking up a new animal to join our family. :) We are getting a Afghan Hound in the coming months! And I am pretty sure the day we pick him up, will be a perfect day!
• Rainy days when thunder and rain fills the sky. 
• When someone tells me I touched their life with this blog or with one of my videos. 
• Hiking and picnics with my family...we always have such a nice time. 

If I knew I'd die next week, this week I'd...

Be ashamed of all the time I wasted. I would probably be begging for more time but if I couldn't talk God out of it, I would do everything I could to prepare my family. I would make tons of videos of things I want to share with my family and I would just want every minute possible with all the people I love. I think the only things you can take with you to the other side is the love we have inside and our memories. I would fill up my memory bank as full as I could get it and hopefully leave my family knowing they will be ok. I want to make sure they all know how I feel about them and how they changed my life. I would apologize for anything I ever did that hurt anyone. I would try to remind my kids that no matter if I am here or not, they still have a big life to live. I would try to make the most impact in the shortest amount of time. I would probably throw my beloved schedule out the window and just be free. I would soak in the sun and pray that my grandfather and brother will would me when I crossed over. I would try to hold my husband a little tighter and remind him that he forever changed my life. If I had the time I might just find him a new wife to help with everything! I would have that hard talk about how it ok for him to move on. I would also remind him of who should not be at my funeral. I would trust him to handle things right because for the most part, he always has. I would enjoy one last bite of a summer peach, piece of chocolate pie and nice glass of wine. And at the end I would want my mom there more than anything. She was there when I came into this world and she would be the one person who must be holding my hand till the end. I would give every second I had to the people I loved most. 

- That was really hard to write...maybe we should all live the way we would if we knew we were dying. Have a beautiful and blessed night. 

If you want to find me buzzing around online, here's where to go! :) Facebook| Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Youtube Main Channel | Youtube Vlogging Channel | Bloglovin