Missing

I read a lot of blogs from all over that cover a wide range of topics.  Some of my favorites relate to homemaking, parenting, crafting, quilting and home-school.  I often feel like I know these fellow bloggers.  It’s as if they are my real-life friends.  So it saddens me terribly when I realize a favorite blog has (without warning) been abandoned. 

I fret about it. 

Yesterday, I was reviewing some of the many blogs I follow.  I was just going through the list and clicking on favorites – catching up with them and enjoying it.  I came to one that always made me smile, and saw that she hasn’t posted in over a year.

What has happened to my “friend”? 

Has she moved to another blog, and decided not to tell her readers?

Has she decided blogging is too much work, and tossed in the towel?

Has she decided to be a back up dancer for Justin Beiber and doesn’t have reliable internet service on the road?

Has she died?!?

Maybe it’s just me, but when I see that a blog I love hasn’t been updated in months or a year or more, I start to wonder.  Usually the “final” post is something entirely benign about reupholstering a kitchen chair or trying a new cookie recipe.  There is never any foreboding, no warning of future absence.  Everything just stops.

And it makes me a little bit sad.

I hope that they’re just so busy, they simply have no spare time to write.  I miss them though.  Silly, right?  This is, I suppose, one of the downfalls to this virtual world we share.  We think we know someone because we are reading about their hopes and dreams, but when they disappear we realize maybe we don’t know them at all.

Maybe she was one of the three big winners in the Mega Millions a few weeks ago, and simply decided that she’d get a new hobby – like renovating an old mansion, or buying a baseball team.  I hope its something like that - something wonderful and not at all sad.  I wish her well, wherever she is, and I hope someday I'll see more posts from her again.

Passing It Along...

Miss TopChelseaGirl over of How Soon is Now is a sweet gal.  She writes about the things she loves (vintage, home décor, movies, fashion and travel etc).  Her blog is always interesting and a joy to read.  She has recently received a “Liebster” award, and in turn has passed one along to me.  (see!  I told you she’s a sweet gal).

Apparently Liebster" is a German word meaning dear, sweet, kind, nice, good, beloved, lovely, kindly, pleasant, valued, cute, endearing, and welcome.

The Liebster is a way to show a little Blog Love to bloggers who currently have less than 200 followers and I'm definitely in this club.

The rules:

1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog.
4. Have faith that your followers will spread the love to other bloggers.
5. And most of all - have fun!
Less than 200 eh?  I’m so far below 200 its laughable.  I do believe I’ve had the same loyal 29 followers for over a year now.  I press on with the whole blogging thing because though I may not have a large audience… I do love the one that I have.  (you guys are awesome!!)

But I digress…I love reading a lot of different blogs, covering a wide variety of topics - but only some fit into this “less than 200 followers” category.  Please take a moment (or two or three) to visit these lovely ladies and while you’re there – tell them hello.  You won’t be sorry.

Oh, and a note to those I’m passing this award along to: If you aren’t a fan of awards and such, that is okay.  No pressure to pass this along, I promise.  Just know that you are appreciated and that you (and your blog) have made a difference to me.

Here are the blogs I’d like to honor with this Liebster award:

Zoe at Pennyblossoms

One of my British bloggy friends….Zoe is the sweetest.  She is so very clever and always makes me laugh.  She writes on a variety of topics that are close to her heart. 

Mindy at Double Chocolate Thoughts

Mindy is SuperMom.  She runs.  She bakes.  She takes care of her fantastic family.  She does it all with grace and passion.  The photos of all the yummy food she concocts will be worth a visit alone.  Keep a towel handy so you can wipe the drool off your keyboard.

Jodi at Gumbo Lilly 

She writes about her life on a ranch…about her family…about her hobbies.  Every time I go to her blog, I feel a sense of warmth.  The coziness of her home shines through every post.  She is the kind of homemaker I could only wish to be.

Juicy Fig

Another from far away across the “pond”, this gal can make anything, and then she sells it on Etsy.  Great pics of luscious creations and clever ideas.  If you are at all into crafts with class – visit this blog.

MaryAnn at My Squeaky Clean Blog

Funny, funny, funny….MA is not only a fellow blogger but also a dear friend in real life.  We met in a childrens’ lit class in college a million years ago and have been friends since – even though we now live far, far apart.  Read her blog about life as a pastor’s wife and mother of three, and you’ll laugh your socks off. 

So there you have it.... enjoy.

No Time for THAT!

It’s been a while since I really wrote anything of substance for this little blog of mine. I hate excuses, but here are mine: I was pregnant. Then I was even more pregnant (and mildly miserable). Then I gave birth to a lovely little boy (our second). Then I was on maternity leave and for some reason I could not focus on writing much more than a post card. Then Little Guy had his CT scan, and his surgery and Baby Boy was too adorable to ever put down, etc… and then my leave was over.

After I returned to work, it felt like every waking “free” moment should be spent with Hubby and the boys (working Mama guilt sometimes overwhelms yours truly).

So anyway, things like writing and sewing and reading have taken a back seat of late to the crazy little every day stuff that makes my life so vivid and rewarding (and frankly, worth writing about in the first place).

I’m really sorry that I haven’t made more of an effort with blogging these last few weeks/months …. not sorry for you (I know you probably have better things to do than read my silly ramblings), but sorry for me. Sorry because even though my bits of this and that are often silly and disjointed, writing helps me clear the fog from my brain. It soothes me in a way that a bubble bath can soothe after a crazy stressful day. When the world seems out of control around me, writing down my thoughts brings the spinning, surging, stampeding whirlwind that is life… into crisp focus. The rush of it all slows down (though maybe for only a few minutes) and I can see clearly. The stuff that does not matter begins to recede and I’m left with some moments of calm.

And frankly, I can use all the calm I can get right now…so stay tuned. More posts to come.

 

“Live life fully while you’re here. Experience everything. Take care of yourself and your friends. Have fun, be crazy, be weird. Go out and screw up! You’re going to anyway, so you might as well enjoy the process. Take the opportunity to learn from your mistakes: find the cause of your problem and eliminate it. Don’t try to be perfect, just be an excellent example of being human.”

-Tony Robbins

Pay It Forward

The sweet and fabulous Zoe of PennyBlossoms has honored me with a little bloggy award. Thank you Zoe!!

As a recipient, I am tasked with forwarding it to some other wonderful bloggers… the catch being that they must have fewer than 300 followers. I love reading the posts of all of my favorites, and it is with great pleasure that I introduce you to a few who deserve an award, but who have (like me) not yet attained the level of 300 followers… (yikes! I’ve been blogging for over a year and haven’t even cracked 30! Haha)

In no particular order…

Mindy from Double Chocolate Thoughts – if you like yummy food…and funny Mommy stories, you will adore Mindy’s lovely blog. Be prepared to drool over her cakes and cookies.

Jody from Gumbo Lily – she talks about life on the American prairie, her faith, and her family. She also shares crafts and recipe ideas. Her blog always puts a smile on my face.

Diane from Heart Shaped – her photos always make me feel like I’m on a lovely European voyage. She tells stories of the places she’s visited, and shares tidbits about her life. Need a break from the monotony of wherever you are? Visit Diane for a quickie virtual vacation!

TopChelseaGirl from How Soon is Now? – another of my blog pals from across the big pond, she loves to dress and decorate on a budget and always manages to come up with the most wonderful end results!

My college friend MaryAnn from You Say - she is funny and sarcastic and irreverent, and always makes me laugh no matter what kind of day I'm having.

This list is not all-inclusive, but it gives you a feel for the variety of blogs I enjoy reading.  Pay them a visit if you have the time.  If you have even more time...check out the other wonderful blogs in my blog roll!  They are all worth a read.  Have a wonderful day!!!

Playing Around

with my new laptop!!  Got it this weekend, and am loving it so far.  Expect to see more from me here in the future.  For now, I'll leave you with this...its my first experiment with the photo editing software that came with my computer.

One Year of Blogging!

One year ago today I introduced myself to the blogging community with this post.

Here are the five biggest things I’ve learned about blogging in the past year:

1. Comments make me happy.
2. Followers come and followers go.
3. I should proofread more carefully before I publish posts.
4. I’ve met some truly lovely ladies who blog, and though I may never meet them in person, they have made a positive impact on my life. Thank you.
5. I have a lot more to learn.

It’s been a really fun year, and I have discovered that I enjoy writing in this format even more than I’d anticipated. I have a full-time day job as a technical writer - a good job to be sure (and I am thankful for it), but it is not a wonderful outlet for creativity. This blog has allowed me to express myself in a way I did not have before. I am very thankful for that.

In addition to my first anniversary today, this post happens to mark another milestone: it’s my 200th!

In celebration of one year and 200 posts, I’ll soon be hosting a give-away. Details will be coming soon, I promise.

In the mean time, thank you. Thank you for popping by on occasion and letting me share my life with you. You are always welcome, so come back as often as you’d like.

Why this Bluebird Sings

Recently I began to realize that all I’ve talked about on this blog lately is my family and some craft projects. I adore my family, which is why they are so often featured. As for those craft projects…I have several in the works, but many are Christmas presents for those who read my silly blog, therefore I can’t unveil much at the moment.

So, to fill the void – and to mix things up a bit… I’ve decided to start a weekly post where I share with you a little bit of what is making my life so darn wonderful at the moment. These are the little things in life that get me going…the books, the songs, the movies, the food, the everyday stuff that makes me happy. You know about the people I love. Now you can learn about the stuff I love as well.

In no particular order… here are the cherries on the top of this week’s wickedhappy sundae:

What I’m Listening to: Heartbeat City by The Cars. I dug this one out of the old CD collection after hearing this week that they are now recording a new album! Hurrah!! For years they’ve claimed a reunion would never happen, so this is a wonderful surprise to fans everywhere. I’ve been a huge fan myself since 9th grade when a friend first handed me a cassette tape of their iconic Greatest Hits album. Everyone has that one, right? I typically prefer British music, but these boys from Boston have always held a soft spot in my heart. Reunion projects tend to be awful or amazing. Crossing my fingers for amazing on this one. Oh by the way… my favorite Cars song ever? Just What I Needed.

What I’m Reading: Ender’s Game by Orson Scott Card. Science Fiction is not my usual reading choice, but this one is quite interesting. Written in 1985, this book has become a classic of sorts. It was recommended to me by a friend maybe fifteen years ago, and I’d forgotten all about it till I saw it featured on a “Staff Picks” rack at the local library. I’m not done yet, but so far…it’s pretty great.

Teaser from Wikipedia: Set in Earth's future, the novel presents an imperiled humankind who have barely survived two conflicts with the Formics (an insectoid alien race also known as the "Buggers"). In preparation for an anticipated third invasion, an international fleet maintains a school to find and train future fleet commanders. The world's most talented children, including the novel's protagonist, Ender Wiggin, are taken at a very young age to a training center known as the Battle School. There, teachers train them in the arts of war through increasingly difficult games including ones undertaken in zero gravity in the Battle Room where Ender's tactical genius is revealed.

What I'm working on: Dan got me a box of estate jewelry on eBay (sight unseen).  Some of the pieces are really fun, some need work, some are not for me... but overall, I see several projects that I can work on using the items (primarily necklaces) in that box.  I'll show you my first project next week maybe.

What Inspires me: The Bible verse that is on my mind right now: “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. (Psalm 46:1-3)
Over the past week or so, I felt in conflict. Two friends were at odds with one another. I treasure each of these folks and was worried and stressed. This verse reminds me that I don’t need to fear. God has it all under control.

My Weekend Plans: Relax a bit, clean a bit, play with my fellas.... Savor the loveliness of a weekend with no real agenda on the books.  I hope you also have a beautiful weekend ahead.



Full Disclosure: My opinion is not for sale. I am not being paid to say anything to you about any of the items mentioned above. Any and all wickedhappy content is written solely for my own amusement, and not for monetary gain. Rest assured, my taste in stuff is mine alone and is not subject to outside influence. If/when that changes, you will be the first to know.

I'm Back

So, I was gone for a bit (on a family centered road trip/vacation)... but now I'm back. I spent some lovely times with family, but my Fellas and I are very glad to be back home again. Consider this post fair warning, that I'll soon be back to my usual bloggy self.

Hope you all are having a wonderful day.

The fabulous TopChelseaGirl has nominated me for an award – how sweet is she? You should check out her blog, if you haven’t yet. You won’t be sorry. This is my second little bloggy award (I’m as shocked as you are) and the rules for this one are similar to the last one. To accept this award, I must tell you seven (more) things you may not know about me, so here they are:

I won’t eat any kind of melon
I’m wildly allergic to Erythromycin
I’m a bit horrified that stone washed jeans and neon high-tops are back in fashion
My parents are two of my best friends
I wear my sunglasses more often as a hair accessory than as eye protection
I’ve never particularly liked Elvis or the Beatles (I’m sorry, but it’s true)
I have a birthmark shaped like South America

I’m nominating everyone on my blogroll…and all the blogs I follow. If you have a minute…go check one (or all) of them out.

The Envelope Please....

It’s no April Fools joke… I’ve actually received my first blogging award (how sweet is that?). I must say a humble thank you to the lovely and talented Crafty Helen for the honor. I'm very flattered that she thought of me.


By accepting this award, I am required to tell you 7 things about myself. After some pondering, I’ve come up with the below list…

1. I’m terrified of geese. A couple of those psychotic birds have chosen the entry way to the office where I work as their nest. If you walk too close, the male will hiss & charge with wings flapping! Horrible beasts!

2. I am a complete homebody. I love spending time with my fellas at home or visiting with my folks. I love to curl up on the sofa and craft or read. If I didn’t have an office job to go to, I might not leave the house for days…

3. I love, love, LOVE talk radio – my guiltiest pleasure is anything political! I’m a politics and news junkie (though this blog will remain a politics-free zone, I promise!)

4. I’m currently enrolled in a crochet beginner’s class! It’s put on by the local public school system. Two classes down so far (six to go). Loving it so far. Hoping to be “skilled” enough to finish an afghan by Christmas for my sweet Grandma B… assuming I can put aside all my other little projects long enough to do it, that is.

5. The Ultimate Comfort Food, for me, is a tall creamy milk shake and a giant order of hot greasy French fries.... mmmmmm

6. My first car was a 1979 Chevy Monza – I named her “Mona”. All of my cars have had names… after Mona, there was Myrtle (best car ever!) and then Lucy (horrible girl), followed by Isabella (lovely lady) and now I drive the strong and faithful Ethel.

7. When it was time for our sweet Willie to be born - he was in quite a hurry! The time that passed between my first contraction and my holding him in my arms was a whopping four hours and 15 minutes!

So enough about me.... Now it is my duty to pass this little award on to 7 very deserving bloggers...

I’ve chosen the following ladies (and their blogs) because they each write beautiful and uplifting posts about their lives, their families and their passions. They have wonderful stories, projects and photos to share with you, so if you have a few minutes… give them a visit.


These are truly "Beautiful Bloggers"...

The Ramblings of an Everyday Mummy
Coffee Tea, Books and Me
Contemplative Joy
Gumbo Lilly
Plain Ol Vanilla
Heart Shaped
A Vision Splendid

For the record… it was so very HARD to pick only seven! Check out my blogroll or the list of blogs I follow for even more wonderful blogtastic reading!

New Look

I was unhappy with the header/banner choices I'd come across for my blog... so I dug down deep into my art school background and decided to set up a few still-life arrangements for some pics. My favorite now graces the top of my blog. Runners up are shown below:

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I like this one (I have a thing for buttons), but the words were hard to read.

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I like the idea behind this one... the buttons, the bolts of bright fabric, my old recipe box, my favorite chicken "Louise"... but it was too "busy".

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This one includes a few of my cookbooks and a tiny S&P that I always enjoy, but I felt that this one also just had too much going on.

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so in the end I spread out some of the bright fabric (left over from when I reupholstered our kitchen chairs) and topped it with the buttons and Scrabble tiles. I'm sure it won't be my last new header, but its one I'm happy with for now.

So this is me...

Who am I? My name is Christy. I’m the 30something wife to Dan and mother to an adorable toddler Willie. Dan and I both have jobs we enjoy, a cozy little home we love and a wonderful extended family. Over the years our friends have scattered, but distance doesn’t weaken the bond we share with each of them.

I’m passionate about my son and husband. They make my world go round. We love spending quiet evenings at home or noisy ones at sporting events. I love to read, though with a toddler that’s not always an easy task. I am crafty. Dan balances the checkbook. I love garage sales. Dan shops on eBay. I watch General Hospital. Dan plays video games. We take turns cooking and doing the dishes. We love playing with our son more than anything else. We have fun together. We watch cartoons even when the baby is sleeping. We laugh at silly inside jokes. We do not feel as old as we are.

We aren’t rich. We aren’t movie star beautiful. We have faults. We should go on a diet.

We have hopes and dreams. We have each other. We are wicked happy….

So what will my blog be about? My penchant for bargain hunting? My love of ice cream that often handily beats out my desire to lose weight? My husband’s love of baseball? My son’s silly antics? His milestones? Family vacations? Dirty laundry? Fate?

Yes to all… eventually. You’ll have to be patient with me as I get this ball rolling.

For now, sit back and relax. Take a sip of hot chocolate. Curl up next to your sweetie pie and count your blessings. I bet if you think about it…. your life is pretty amazing too.