Rant to end all rants

I am sick of rants in answer to rants. Just because someone "called you out" (based on their assumptions, and their prejudices and their waking up on the wrong side of the bed-ness, or whatever) doesn't mean you have to call them out on the internet for all to see as well.

What are you proving?

What is anyone proving by doing this?

Why can't we all just get along?!

I realize that the adage "if you don't have something nice to say, then don't say anything" is too simplified a rule for this complicated world we live in. Perhaps it should be, "if you don't have something nice to say, wait 5 minutes and then engage in a less angry and more enlivened debate where we listen to each other before responding and both come out of the discussion feeling better about where that went."

I get mad about things on the internet all the time! But you know what, I don't live on the internet. If someone doesn't agree with me, that's cool! Good for them! I'm going to go for a walk in the ravine now!

If something makes an assumption about the life I lead and sends me a snarky email or posts a snarky comment on a blog post, oh well. These photos won't scrapbook themselves! And also, I think I will invite my friends over for margaritas now!

I blog my life, but my life is not my blog. I don't require the internet for my business, livelihood, or social activities & mental well-being. I can take a step back (a giant leap really) and not have it impact the way I provide for my family or the way "my personal brand" (oh barf) is perceived.

And thank goodness for that!

If someone slanders your name, address it directly. If someone sends you an email that threatens your life, do something about it!

But don't use the vast and polarizing nature of the Internet to be nasty just because somebody said something you didn't agree with. This goes for trolls and bonafide "Internet Personalities" as well.

As soon as you get on your soapbox to address somebody else who got on their soapbox (ad nauseum) you've just got a bunch of people fist-pumping you or throwing figurative rotten tomatoes at you and no one is listening to anything that is actually being said or trying to solve the damn problem that was brought up in the first place! And before you know it everybody has taken up their own soapbox of indignant righteousness and we lose a little bit more of that empathy towards each other (you know, the actual living breathing warm human person on the other side of the screen) that this medium threatens on a daily basis.

I'd rather watch thousands of cat videos than see that happen.

Why is it so hard to say: "I'm sorry you feel that way. Do you have an idea of a constructive solution to this issue that you have brought up today? Let's discuss!"

Or rather, say nothing at all.

And so ends my rant towards other rants in response to other rants.

The Internet is a nasty mistress.

xo Lisa

p.s. I love cats, and their videos.

DON'T GET TOO EXCITED!

I have been thinking a lot about my blog lately, and I feel really good about not being here all the time. But I also miss some of the connections that I was making here - with others and with myself.

dammit. I'm back...

Lately, I've felt more and more like I am floundering. And I can't keep hoping it will go away. I must take concrete steps toward grounding myself, finding and living my best life, and making connections within myself and with yous guys "out there".

That means goals people! So I will be back here at least once a month (possibly twice, possibly thrice...) to post some goals for the month.

This keeps me somewhat accountable! This gets me thinking and planning and hoping for the future, and being purposeful about my action items instead of just plodding through each day as if it were the same and will always be the same.

April is pretty much done, but I have high hopes for May!

build some Adirondack chairs for my deck

hang twinkle lights

date night with my girlfriends!

date night with Mom & Amy

find a playground near my house - where are all the playgrounds?!

play a ridiculous amount of drunk and/or sober Bocce (but probably drunk ;)

invite people over to enjoy the above

SIGN UP FOR THE GYM - NO MORE EXCUSES

more running

more drawing

more scrapbooking 

more art

more reading

build epic Lego things with Dude

organize a play date for Dude

That is all...forgive me good intentions. I guess I needed my blog more than I thought.

lisa

Tell me if you've heard this one before...

In this recent-ish post I alluded to a thought I had about blogging and memory keeping and what not. Well, I am back to put a little explanation to this abrupt blurt-out. And I was going to sit on this post a little bit longer, but now that I've finished typing it, it just feels like the right thing to do.

On Blogging Burnout

I have decided that I don't actually care about this blog anymore. I no longer have my free Fridays that used to see me create and post content for weeks at a time. In the evenings, I have a house to maintain, and homework to help out with all by myself. And the last thing I want to do is spend more time on the computer after a long day at work spent doing just that. And when I do have spare time, I would much rather spend it on making art, or scrapbooking, or hanging out with BFF. Or pretty much anything other than this space. Gah, if I never have to edit another bad photo again...

I have enough stress in my life without adding the imagined guilt of not maintaining my blog. And that's silly stress that I would rather do without. And that I can do without...it's an easy fix after all. And blogging is supposed to be fun, it used to be fun. And if it's not (and it's not), then what's the point?!

In closing, something had to give and I am afraid it's the blog. I will (hopefully) continue documenting my adventures via some sort of scrapbooking method. And if not, oh well. What a change of life I am experiencing! What turmoil, and change, and finding myself...it's a hell of a lot of work!

It's been 10 years shy a month that I have been blogging. TEN YEARS! I still have ideas (loads of ideas, as evidenced in my super long drafts folder!) and I still love blogs, but I just don't have it in me anymore.

I realize that I could have just drifted off into the ether, and stopped posting. Some people might not have even noticed. But some of you would have, and it is for you (and for me) that I write this farewell post. And with that, I'm not sure what else there is to say. Except to thank you for being here. Thank you to the friendships I have made and nourished thanks to this space. Thank you to all the people who commented and made me feel like I am not alone in this world. Thank you for your encouragement, and your jokes, and your kind words. Thank you. And goodnight...

Thank goodness for Instagram, amiright?!

later loves

Blog & Life Busy

I am full of ideas right now, and I finally have the energy to put those ideas to work. But some days I just don't know where to start. And most days I would rather watch Jeopardy with the boys, or go sit in a pub with BFF instead of whittle away my to-do list.

The ultimate blogger and creative dilemma. I am kind of in a good boat compared to others, as I don't rely on this place for an income. It is my creative space. A place for me to share my life, my interests, and meet new and awesome folks in the process. But there is always that pressure to do more, and be more. And spend more time blogging and creating content for the blog.

And yet, it's also kind of a no-brainer.

Time spent away from here and out there with my boys always wins.

Just as it should...

later loves

Let's Chat

Hanging out for a whole day with Nicole back in September - aside from being the bestest most best Saturday ever - gave me a lot of opportunities to geek out over Blogs. And chat about blogging, and what we like and don't like about certain blogs, and what makes us subscribe (and unsubscribe).

Y'know, I've been blogging for years, and I have way less followers than some ladies who have only been blogging for a couple of months. And truthfully, most of my followers are real-life friends, family, or spammers from overseas! Am I jealous of those upstart bloggers and all their readers? My feelings on that range from "not really" to "heck no". And I'm really okay with that.

A lot of bloggers (new and old) offer "advice" on getting more readers, retaining those you already have, connecting on social media, building your "audience", how to manage comments and giveaways and sponsors and blah blah blah.

I will never ever understand how people can take a blog and make it a business. And I guess those are the blogs that I have started to avoid.

To me, blogs started out as being personal online journals for making friends and sharing your story. And I guess that's kind of where I want my blog to live. I deem my blog a "success" as long as I enjoy writing it, and if I can meet some sweet new friends through it. Some even "IRL"....ermagherd.

I continually turn down (loser) requests for sponsored guest posts that "will really interest your readers"....my ass.....I want to write about things I like and if somebody else out there likes it too, well then shucks. Ain't that just super fun! And if I get some hate mail along the way, well then I'll know I've really "made it." HA!

Please note: Every once and awhile I feel I've just got to get things off my chest. I haven't yet determined exactly what kind of filter I could put on the blog for privacy, etc. That has never really entered my universe of thought, and I doubt it will any time soon. I like to rant in real life, so why the heck shouldn't it spill over here. If you take offence, please send me my first piece of hate mail so I know I'll have really made it!

And yes, I realize this is a super loser post to be putting out here right before Christmas, but it was the only one in my Drafts folder that was pretty much good-to-go! This week has been a gong show for me, working 9 hour days (not including the commute...), leaving and coming home in the dark. Ugh. I really just want to sit and relax, and scrapbook, and hang out with Dude & R! I hope to get some Christmas things under my belt before the weekend, but I'm not holding my breath.

But Christmas is next week! I get to see my brother, sister-in-law and nephew!! I get to hang out with my family, and play games, and drink too much! And snuggle babies! I get to drink homemade nog and watch old movies with BFF!! I'm fricken going to Disneyland! That's a lot to look forward to....and to help me take this week for what it's worth.

later loves

Inspired to Blog?!

I sat down at the computer the other night and tried to blog...because I had to! Y'see, I don't just create and sustain "not ladylike". I also maintain the blogs for Treasured Memories. And I was getting behind (far far behind) on my posts for them.

And then I texted BFF, and talked about how I was trying to fight my way through this writer's block (and he said "well, as long as you make it out alive" hardy har har). And then I texted back something about my stupid mouse not making it out alive. And to make a long story a little less long, I think I did it! Get out of my blog-writer's block that is!

And it was damn hard! I haven't actually wanted to do much in the way of create lately. My Project Life album took a (much deserved) break last week, and will probably continue on hiatus this week. And coming home after sitting in front of a computer all day with the prospect of spending another hour on it before bed was not appealing.

It's actually amazing how much living you can fit in to your life when you don't have to worry about blogging about it!

So I got some personal posts set up, and some TM ones scheduled as well. I'm still behind, but only "far" (and not "far far"!). And you can expect more posts from me than the "few and far between" ones that have been happening lately.

But it's not like I haven't been creating anything...

later loves

Being Awesome // Contest Closed

I'm just kidding....it wasn't actually a contest. But I think I am done with those "30 Days of Being Awesome" posts. I will post the winner later today, just kidding! He he he. I will post a little "30 Days Re-Cap" in the next week or so...or whatever...

Also, something else I wanted to talk about today...ummm...crap. Give me a minute here to think of it. While I'm doing that, feel free to talk amongst yourselves.

******* ONE TWO THREE DAYS LATER ********

Yeah, I have no idea what I was going to write about. I let it sit in my brain, and I tried not to directly think about it, so I would just spontaneously remember it; and then I thought really hard on what I was doing right before I started typing. But neither strategy was successful. Oh well. Must not have been that important then, eh!?

I will say that I changed up the look of my blog a little bit, so if you're in a Reader, jump out and take a peek! This was completely unplanned and whatever the opposite of pre-meditated is. I got home from work on Saturday night, and was super inspired to "DO SOMETHING," so this was it (until 3am...aiy yi yi). I am a lucky lady in that my JOB is so inspiring. In actual fact, I find it to be the people I work with and the customers that hang out there that are so inspiring to me! These ladies LOVE this hobby as much as I do, and even if I have had a royally crap-tastic week they put a smile on my face. And it doesn't hurt to get a little gossiping time with Nadine, and a lovely visit & coffee from BFF!

Please note: I threw in that "symphony style" pic for symmetry, but don't I look cute? Well...doesn't my lower half look cute (sorry about the feet....) // new blog look! // this is how we roll at TM...dead animal skulls featuring prominently in western-themed photo booths. yee. haw. // Nadine & I were busy making badges on Saturday night, using TM's machine (available for you as well, at 50cents per button!) so I made up matching ones for me & BFF. He approves!

later loves

P.S. If you are visiting me in expectation of a "What to Wear" post, you are in the right place! But at the wrong time...apparently. No need for a time machine! Just come back later (evening-ish?) for my version of What To Wear On Laundry Day. If you are so inclined!

Ahoy-hoy

I have added some interesting (and hopefully familiar) icons to the sidebar of my blog. Over there>>>>>>>>below my handsome face!

My blog is the guinea pig for (most) things that end up on the TM Blogs, of which I am hopelessly in charge! So I thought I would test out some super basic coding on these bad boys before they made the cut and were installed - with much fanfare - on the TM Blogs.

Please test these out and let me know if you like or dislike. I will do up a handy explanation/tutorial for these in a little bit.

Thanks peeps!
later loves


PLEASE NOTE: I did NOT create these buttons! That higher calling comes from a super rad blogger (Kira) and her super rad series "Primp My Blog". These buttons were free, and come in a variety of trendy and lovely colours. And were super easy (if not a little time-consuming for me, cause that's how I roll) to install and link up. Again, your basic tutorial, Lisa-style will be forthcoming. I know I know....you're chomping at the bit! Be patient my pretties!

My Secret to a Full & Healthy Blog

Schedule. Schedule. Schedule.

I took this screen capture on April 12. As you can see, on that date I had eight posts ready to go and scheduled to post automatically for the next two weeks. Whenever I get the urge, and the inspiration (and the time) to blog, I do it. And then I schedule that post to fill a hole in the upcoming week, or weeks.

On my "days off" I like to take time to take photos of recent projects, go back through my camera to see if there are any blog-worthy stories there, and just generally wander around in my brain coming up with content.

I also post "on the fly" when a genius idea comes to me, or somebody sent me something awesome, and it just has to go up. Time sensitive things apply to this category as well.

I don't have a fixed schedule for certain kinds of posts...nothing like "Scrappy Saturdays", or "Fashion Friday." There is no way my brain could wrap itself around that level of organization! I just post things where they fit.

And that is a sneak peek in to the exciting world of blogging...

later loves

Stats

I have been trying not to look at my Blog Stats lately. Mostly because I don't really want to get stuck in that place that a lot of Bloggers find themselves...second-guessing their own taste, obsessing over readership and numbers, and generally just letting their blog get them down.

But I did find some numbers that were humorous, so I thought I would share.

My June Book List is one of the most popular post on my blog...460 views and counting. I am convinced that someone has accidentally set this page as a bookmark, and visits my blog multiple times a day when they are bored. No one is that interested in the books I read in June 2011!

This next one is downright hilarious if you ask me! And new as well. "Leap Year" was a super simple, short, yawner of a post I did up so I would have something on the blog that day. I am chalking the three thousand plus hits up to the link I posted. And the photo is pretty darn cute!

But sometimes I like to pretend that people actually do enjoy my blog that much...a little ego boost never hurt anybody!

I did get my first Google +1 the other day! Yay!?

later loves