More About Moi - The Liebster Award

I must first thank Jennifer for the nomination and apologize to CJ for never accepting my original nomination from her out of pure laziness! But it makes for another blog post about me...especially if you don't know much about me! 

The Liebster Award is given to bloggers, by bloggers. It is a way to acknowledge each other and say, “You are doing a great job.” It is for blogs with 200 or less followers, so it is also a great way to spread the word about smaller blogs and get them more readers and followers! When you receive the award you post eleven random facts about yourself, and answer eleven questions from the person who nominated you.

So here are my 11 random facts:

1. I'm pregnant..........just kidding! Well, of course I'm not kidding but that's not random at all. Okay, think...
   I cannot stand having notifications on my iPhone. I must read the email, check the Facebook notification, Tweet, etc. as soon as I see it...I cannot stand those little red numbers all over my screen. (Also, I'm Type A...if you haven't noticed!)
2. I think I'm in love with The Lorax. Not the mythical creature as old as time, but the movie. The music...still haven't gotten sick of it yet!
3. I am working on getting myself to BlogHer13 next year and I would love to room with Lacey, Libby, Ashley, Heather...to name a few!
4. I clean my floors almost every day. If you had a husky and hardwood floors...you'd understand and probably do it too!
5. I just got a brand new Canon T3i and I cannot WAIT to show you some pics once I get out there and use it!
6. I have only about 60 friends/famly on Facebook, I don't like Facebook much and I don't want people all up in my business...and I know you're thinking "why does she have a blog, then?" but it's just something that would take way too long to explain.
7. I think I have small feet for my height. I'm a 9.5 shoe for being 6'1" tall. I usually buy a 10 because not to many places sell 1/2 sizes.
8. I did a rap in a grade 4 talent show.
9. I once got a guy's number while driving down highway 2 to Calgary with friends. We even dated for a few weeks after that.
10. I like the idea of doing crafts...especially with Braden...but I am too lazy and could care less at the end of the day and don't feel like any less of a mother for it.
11. I used to rock the mushroom cut...WITH A PERM. Yup, you read that right and I'm not ashamed to admit it!

And here are Jennifer's questions for me:

1.  What made you decide to start a blog?

I did it actually almost 3 years ago to document the last of my pregnancy as a way to keep family and friends updated on that and the eventual birth of Braden. My friend Marie, who blogs privately, was a big inspiration to me to start blogging again.

 2.  Best cure for writers block?

Go and take some pictures. I love my camera and I'll go through spurts of taking it everywhere...and then taking it nowhere. I love a post with pictures...the more the better, actually...so go and do a photo shoot of your kid(s) or anything really...blog about it! BUT if I am not in the mood for pics or nothing's happening, I just don't blog. It's that simple.

 3.  Do you have a nickname?

Not one that has ever stuck. My brother calls me Stinky and I call him Ugly. Not because I smell and he's an eyesore, just because we're silly like that. At work one of the tall docs calls me Stretch, which I've also heard before. And Jay calls me Pinky sometimes. Because I love the color pink and because of the old cartoon...har har.

 4.  Are you a cat or dog person? {or neither}

Both. I just wish they didn't cause so much housework...

 5.  Last movie you saw in a Theater?

The Hunger Games...and it's already out on DVD, this makes me sad. We'll be lucky if we can catch one more flick before baby comes!

6.  What is the first thing you would do if you won the lottery?

Pay off our mortgage and line of credit. BOOM!

7.  What was your first car?

It's awful I can't remember the year...but it was a little white Chevy Cavalier. I loved that thing.

8.  What is your favorite blog to follow?

I can't pick just one. I'm loving A Sorta Fairytale a lot lately and The Mom Diggity's bump updates are awesome!

 9.  If you had to choose a last meal, what would it be?

Steak and lobster. Prime rib and lobster tail to be exact. Drool.... I need to get to Ruth's Chris before this baby comes! 9 more weeks, Jay...9 more weeks!

10. Name something on your bucket list.

Go to Africa.

11. What is your favorite family tradition?

Christmas Eve. My side of the family has always done our big celebration on Christmas Eve. Steak and lobster for supper - always - and then we open presents!


You pass the award onto other blogs, (make sure you let them know they were nominated.) and ask them eleven questions. You are not allowed to nominate the blog that nominated you. Now start nominating!

I am going to nominate:

• babEblessings
• a couple. a dog. a baby. their blog.
• Terrell Family Fun
• Brixton Makes Three

Don't feel obligated to do this ladies...but I'd love to read your answers if you do want to participate:

1. What is your favorite season and why?
2. What is your dream vacation?
3. If you could do over something in your life, would you and what is it?
4. Describe your dream home.
5. What are your favorite iPhone app(s)?
6. Are you going to have anymore little ones?
7. What is your biggest pet peeve?
8. What is one thing on your bucket list?
9. You have one day all to yourself. No obligations, no kids, no husband, nothing. What do you do?
10. Do you enter blog giveaways? Have you ever won anything?
11. Favorite snack food?

Come back and link up your post if you participate!

Eleven Tings!

You know "tings" like my Scandinavian ancestors would say! I got tagged by the "shamazing" (as she would say!) Ashley of The Stauffer Shenanigans. I love a blog game and I'm feeling non-creative lately so I'd love to play!

1. Post the rules.
2. Post a photo of yourself & 11 random things.
3. Answer the questions set for your in the original post.
4. Create 11 new questions and tag people to answer them.
5. Go to their blog/twitter & tell them that you've tagged them.

Here are my eleven random facts:

1. I.need.coffee. in the morning. Pretty much don't try to talk to me unless I have a cup o' joe in my hot little hands. Also, I didn't start drinking coffee consistently until I had Braden!
2. Part of me would love to live in a big city with all the hustle and bustle and the convenience of being so close to everything...but I would never trade my quiet, country life for it!
3. I would love to pursue photography as a mini-side-career only for close family and friends, but I'm too scared, I lack confidence to do it.
4. I think I have small feet for my height. I'm 6'1" and I have size 10 feet. I know lots of girls shorter than me with bigger feet...this makes me happy!
5. We only had 1 boy name when we were pregnant with Braden, so when we get pregnant again, I have NO CLUE what we are going to do if we have another boy!
6. I am so stinkin' excited for The Hunger Games to come out in the theatres at the end of the month I could squeal! This is probably the most captivating book I've ever read, could hardly put it down and Jay read the whole series in about 5 days when we were in Maui.
7. My brother and SIL are a few weeks away from becoming parents and I hate that they live 3 hours away, I really want to have a great bond & relationship with my niece!
8. I can't find the time for reality TV anymore. I used to be an American Idol, Bachelor, you name it addict, but now I just stick to my comedies and that's more than enough TV for me! Buuuut I'll probably watch Dancing With The Stars when it starts!
9. I am scared of having a baby girl. I want one, one day...I really do, but I am SUCH a boy mom and have always found girls (of all ages) to be whiny and needy, sorry...that's the truth!
10. I want to be a perfectionist, but it stresses me out to no end. I want to have the perfect house: clean, tidy, laundry done, decorated...but it just ain't happening and I'm slowly learning to accept this and be okay with it!
11. Even if I won the lottery, I would still work. As much as I complain about it, I really do love my job and being a nurse! I could not imagine me doing any other career.

Questions from Ashley:

1. Salty or sweet, which is your snack vice?

Actually, my sweet tooth is diminishing, definitely salty as of late!

2. Why did you start blogging?

I started as a way to keep my family and friends updated on my pregnancy and my eBFF Marie was a big inspiration to start blogging and again. Now it has turned into a way to meet wonderful new friends and even make a bit of moola!

3. Who's on your laminated card?

Call me lame...but I don't really have one! But in spirit of my favorite show EVER, which I know Ashley, Laura, Natalie, & Jess appreciate...

• Johnny Depp
• Ryan Gosling
• Matthew McConaughey
• Josh Duhamel
• David Beckham

*Update: For those of you who don't know what this is in reference to...CLICK HERE & THEN CLICK HERE!*

4. What's your favorite piece of jewlery?

I don't wear jewellery. I love the idea, but I'm a horrible accessorizer. I wear my wedding set on a regular basis and that's about it. I have lots of sentimental pieces I love. Like my "Mom" necklace Jay gave me after Braden was born.

5. What movie can you recite all the lines of?

Ha! What movie can't I? All the Austin Powers, any Will Ferrell movie, and now pretty much any Disney movie and Thomas...sigh!

6. Favorite childhood memory?
I can't think of one specific one! I loved the block we grew up on. Had 3 wonderful girls to play with and one of them is still one of my best friends!

7. Where did you last vacation at?

Maui! Bet you're sick of hearing about it!

8. What blog makes you smile when you read it?

I have so many favorites but Libby's blog always makes me smile and laugh!

9. Last concert you went to?

Josh Groban with Laura, it was great!

10. Favorite comfort meal?

My (which is my Mom's recipe) lasagna!

11. What word/phrase annoys the bejesus out of you?

Sorry if I offend anyone, but these sayings drive me nuts: 

• "Just sayin'"
• "oh hai"
• "cray cray"
• "presh"

And my questions for the people I am tagging:

1. If you could have any career/job in the world, what would it be?
2. What are your daily website/blog visits/reads?
3. What is your biggest pet peeve?
4. What is your guilty pleasure?
5. Where is your favorite place(s) to shop for clothes?
6. If you had to give up one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be?
7. Most of you are mommies or mommies-to-be...if you had the entire day to yourself, what would you do?
8. What do you see yourself doing in 5 years?
9. What is your favorite thing about yourself?
10. What's your biggest source of procrastination other than reading my blog? :)
11. What chore do you absolutely hate doing?

Tagging: Lacey, Jess, another Jess, Amanda, Katie, & Mindi!

Blogger's Block

I am 100% stumped as to what to blog about these days, and I'm not about to start blogging about random, boring things just to have a blog post everyday, not part of my MO that's for sure. But I find myself like that in other parts of my life. I've hardly picked up my camera since we got back from Maui. I have, which is also probably why I don't have anything to blog about lately! Can you have seasonal affective blogging disorder? I know Lacey feels the same as me right now! Feels like nothing new is going on, but come spring...hopefully new things will arise!

So for now...how about that red lipstick? That is honestly the first lipstick I've ever bought and put on. Like a real tube of lipstick, not just lip gloss. I felt like a vampire...really white skin with bright red lips! I wore it to Costco today - hah! It seems like there's a red lipstick movement going on in the bloggy world right now.

As I say TTFN, are there any suggestions you have for me as blogging topics? Comment away, I'm totally stumped! Some Flashback Friday pics for you... February 2011:

February 2010:

Blog Conference or Not?

First of all - hello! I am back in the real world...however after only 3 hours of sleep in the last 36 hours or so...doesn't feel like my real world yet! Before I get busy busy busy blogging about all the things that having been floating through my noggin since we have been in Maui, this one takes priority because the early registration discount ends in less than 5 days, so I have to make a decision quick.

As you may have guessed by the title, I have an opportunity to go to my first blog conference. It's called Blog West and it's inaugural year is being hosted in my hometown of Edmonton. It's so appealing because my accommodations would be free...and since it's at the beginning of March, Jay should be able to have Braden no problem.

Here's where I need your help bloggy friends. Do I go? Do I need to go? I never ever pictured myself going to a big conference like BlogHer or anything like that...really the big appeal is that it's so close to home! It does still cost $200 to go and I just don't know if I'd benefit from it. Here's more thoughts in bullets, because that's about all the brain function I've got left right now...

• I blog for me, for no one else
• I am not, nor do I aspire to be, a professional writer
• I do this for fun, I don't want to do this as my career
• I do not have a business to promote through my blog
• I'm really not all that outgoing, ex. for networking
• I don't have anyone to go with...
• I am not that crafty
• I am really not much of a fashionista
• I don't party anymore, really...like I see all the other bloggers having fun doing at conferences!

So maybe I just answered my own question? I guess I just don't know what I'd benefit from going there? Spending $200 on what? I love doing my little giveaways and being able to promote certain products...but I think that's about it!

Let me know your thoughts...have you been to any blog conferences? What was/were your experience(s) like?

Blog Awards

As  I mentioned before, I've been given blog awards from fellow bloggers, but have (quite frankly) been too lazy to write the post to accept them. So....

Thank you to Kelly-Marie from Our Footprints on the World Amanda from Our Little Men for awarding me with the Kreativ Blogger Award!

In order to officially accept the award I need to tell you 7 things about me and pass it on to 10 other bloggers...here we go!

1. I really don't listen to music anymore. I used to love love love going to concerts, went by the screen name "Punk Rock Princess" and had every single CD known to man...but now I just stick with what I've got and rarely download new music. Other than Michael Buble. LOVE HIM.
2. I want a squishy newborn to squish. Like. Right now. But....as I've said before, waiting a bit more is best for my own sanity in the end!
3. I cannot stand Jersey Shore or anything about it. How those orange-colored party animals make more money than me...for getting drunk and hooking up with people, I'll never understand.
4. I love poking people. With needles at work! It's sick, really, but I think it's an essential part of being a nurse.
5. I really want to learn how to sew (again). I'm hoping Santa will bring me a sewing machine.
6. Jay and I had our 7 year date-iversary on December 4th...and I totally didn't even realize that until Friday :(
7. I'm a big scaredy cat. My brother totrured me growing up. Hiding in closets, behind doors, you name it, and scaring the bejesus out of me. I'm a big chicken because of him.

And I will nominate some of my current faves right now! If you have the award already you don't have to post again about it, and if you don't want to...I totally understand!

1. Libby at ELF: A Family Blog
2. Ashley at The Stauffer Shenanigans
3. Kristin at Our Growing Garden
4. Mama G at Growing Up Geeky
5. Lacey at The Southern Mommy Chronicles
6. Carly at The Johnston Diaries
7. Candice at The New Modern Momma
8. Allie at a couple. a dog. a baby. their blog.
9. Shannon at Baby Shmizz
10. Sarah at It's a Vol

Way back when I got awarded the Blog on Fire award from Katie at Love, Lattes, & Lullabies. Same rules apply for that award and I'm going to cheat and take those previous 7 items and 10 nominees and award them both! Thanks all!

My 100th Follower Giveaway Celebration! CLOSED

Yay! 101 followers, to be exact! I am in no hurry to get numbers for this blog, but I'm happy I hit this milestone and just thought I'd celebrate by doing a giveaway! I have had so many wonderful experiences going public with this blog. Just take a look at the post below this one to figure out why. I've made so many amazing friends and met lots of lovely ladies and social network all the time with them on Twitter and Instagram. So here's the part where I give back to you!

My child loves books! This thrills me to no end. We might have Thomas, Bob, or George on the tube for 1/2 of his day...but he's definitely not always watching or glued to it. Often I'll find him shuffling through his library "reading" his books. I have to take books back to his room every day because he always brings them out to us during the day wanting to read. Yesterday, my Mom (Braden's Poppy) sent him an early Christmas present...and this was his reaction:

He LOVES the Llama Llama books by Anna Dewdney. They are definitely his favorite books lately, always asking for his "ya ya" books. It was so suiting that my Mom was thoughtful enough to send this book for him to enjoy before Christmas!

So Braden and I want to share his favorite book with one of you! This will be a quick, 3 day giveaway so you and your little one can enjoy it for Christmas, if you have a little one to share it with! Anyone and everyone is welcomed and encouraged to enter to win! I love my Rafflecopter entries, but to make it super SUPER easy...all you have to do is leave a comment on this post! That's it!

I also wanted to add that my emotional "time of the month" self got a bit teary eyed at the end of the book. A very good message to teach your children about Christmas! Braden also woke up at 5AM the morning after he opened this gift, happily saying "ya ya? Ya ya?" On the monitor. I went in, gave him a fresh diaper change (just because) and gently told him we'd read his Llama book when it was morning...and he slept for 3 more hours!

Win! One lucky reader will win 1 copy of Llama Llama Holiday Drama shipped from Amazon directly to them! Please be sure your email is connected to your Google account or post it in your comment!

This giveaway is open until Thursday December 8 at 0800 MST. I will pick the winner using Random.org when I get up on Thursday morning! Winner will have 24 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. Residents of Canada and U.S.A. eligible.

*Note: I am not affiliated with Anna Dewdney or Amazon, nor was I paid for or given this book by them for review. I'm just giving this away with the money out of my own PayPal account and the goodness of my heart! :)


WINNER!!

The new winner is Lacey from The Southern Mommy Chronicles!

Blog & Link Love

I have gotten a few shout outs from fellow bloggers over the last few months and some have nominated me for blogging awards, which I am very flattered by, but have never accepted...out of pure laziness. I just wanted to do a blog/link post about some of my favorite things that I've come across on the interwebs that I think you'll enjoy too!

She's my favorite Texan and is having her first baby in January! (I have a soft spot for January due dates!)

I'm very active on Twitter and her, her, and her are always good about responding to my tweets!

Twins, twins, twins...check these mamas out!

A fellow boy mommy.

I usually don't like lace, but if I ever have a girl, I'm so doing pictures in this!

I'm so happy that she's doing so well with her Etsy shop!

I sponsor her blog and she has been a great friend in the bloggy world.

I drink Moscato because of her and her...thanks gals!

I would give my namesake a few inches if she wanted some.

So happy that she's pregnant, oh and so is she!

I love these and almost ordered them to send to a select few friends this year.

She rocks. So does she.

I just bought this hat for Braden for the winter, love it! (And now my mom crochets too!)

She is so Pinteresting!

She keeps me in the loop on all Thomas deals!

Just remember what Buddy says!

So there you have it. Thanks to those who have given me shout outs. If I forgot you, it's just simply because of that, not because I don't like ya!

Just a Few Bloggy Requests!

Dear Fabulous Bloggy Friends,

While I am by no means an expert on all-things-blog related...I am definitely a bit anal when it comes to how I not only write, but read and follow blogs too. I like a good looking, colorful blog. I like things lined up all pretty and everything looking all neat and clean. I love it when bloggers focus in on photography and are humorous (I literally just spelled that as "humerus" first...I am such a nurse!)

Here are a few tips, as I may so boldly suggest you do to your blog if you have one! :)

1. Turn off the Captcha on your comments! Captcha is that annoying word verification after you have to enter after you make a comment. This especially is not necessary if you have "blog owner approval" comment moderation. Please click here for a wonderful tutorial from Libby at ELF: A Family Blog. I have had about 5 anonymous/spam comments, but you can delete them very easily under your Blogger/comments section.
2. Make a nice blog love/blog roll page. I have yearned to do this as per my previous anal comment, and the lovely Mama G at Growing Up Geeky did a fabulous tutorial on the same...and you can read that here.
3. Don't be a "no reply" blogger! Attach your email address to your Blogger account. Why? Because when I get comments on my blog posts from you, they go directly to my email and I love to reply to your comments right from there, individually...but when your email isn't attached...I can't! So if you want to fix this, here's a great and easy tutorial!
4. Please use Rafflecopter for your giveaways. I am new at hosting my giveaways, but as soon as I used Rafflecopter to enter giveaways...I knew if I ever started doing my own that is what I would be using! It is SO easy to not only use as a blogger, but easy to use as a reader/enterer-of-giveaways! Most Rafflecopter users (like me) choose for you to leave just 1 mandatory comment on the blog....vs. multiple like the "old" way of entering. I honestly hardly ever enter giveaways any more if they aren't a Rafflecopter or single comment entry. That might be my loss, but if you want high entry giveways...it's something you might want to consider. :)
5. Don't "make" me follow your blog :) To each their own, and I hope I don't step on toes here (and remember, just my preference - you don't have to listen to me!)...but I won't enter a giveaway or use a blog hop if I have to follow a blog. I admit, I certainly used to and it's how I found some of my favorites, but I can tell within a few minutes if I'm going to become a loyal reader of a blog...and it usually isn't by a mandatory follow of the blog.

Just one more thing...my 2nd giveaway is currently going on and I only have 6 people entered. My friends and family are welcome and encouraged to enter as well! Maybe digital scrapbooking isn't everybody's bag, but if you know someone who you think might enjoy it...enter and gift it! It's a $40 value, plus a $10 gift certificate to use in their store. To enter, click the button on the right over there ----->

I have another giveway coming up that will be perfect for holiday greeting cards! Are you sick of all my giveaway tweets and Facbooking? If not, I'll go ahead and start the new giveaway on Monday!

So, there you have it. My 2 cents, all things blog. Is there anything else you'd add to the list?

Haters Gon' Hate

Recently on Twitter I saw that Kristin and Rachael were having a discussion on this awful *website they had come across that is essentially making fun of mommy bloggers. It's not just a website making fun of bloggers, it's a website dedicated to making fun of things that they feel shouldn't be on the internet. At the end of the day, these people are just bullies. And the most cowardly kind - anonymous bullies that hide behind their keyboards and don't have to be accountable to anyone.
*I do not want to give this website any credit, but if you're curious like me and would like the link, tweet or email me.

I definitely had a moment of panic. What if someone makes fun of me? This blog? Or worse yet, my son? Making fun of a baby? Really? you might ask...? Well, this site made a point of making fun of Kristin's 4 month old daughter. Give me a break, SHE'S A BABY!!! We are all entitled to our own thoughts and opinions, obviously...this is part of the reason why I blog! I figure if you like what I have to say, you'll keep coming back, join my site, and come along for the ride. If not, if I've offended you in any way, you'll just politely leave or send me and email telling me what I've done. I realize that having a public blog, advertising said blog, and joining other blog sites...I'm "putting myself out there" for critique...but at the same time, do I really deserve to hear it? I've read other blogs where writers have gotten hate email because a mom struggling with fertility had finally gotten pregnant again...and was venting that she was extremely ill with puking to the point of being hospitalized. and the email said that she should have been grateful she was pregnant at all! Can you believe it? Another time she was simply blogging her thoughts on forward vs. rear-facing car seats and a reader wrote her a you-might-as-well-kill-your-daughter-if-you're-not-going-to-extend-rear-face-her email! She didn't even say she was going to do it, she was just discussing it!

I just don't get the hate. Back to the old saying:

"If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all."

To turn this post more positive, why do I love blogging?

• sharing our life with family & friends, a WONDERFUL way to keep them updated in a creative way!
• meeting new friends
• getting advice/tips from other moms
• learning more about photography
• I have never been so creative in my life
• it inspires me to be a better mom, wife, chef, & baker!
• the opportunities to work with mompreneurs & companies to blog about their products & do giveaways
• winning free stuff!
• keeping a virtual scrapbook/baby book for Braden

So anyways, I just had to get that first part off my chest because it bothered me so much, and the second part...could be a whole other post!

To my blogger friends...have you ever had to deal with haters and how do you deal with them?

Wordless Wednesday: Vote!

(We're #101!!! Keep those votes coming please!!!")

What's Up With the Voting, Sarah?

Some of you may, or may not, have noticed the "Vote for Us" buttons on the right column of this blog. This is to help me move up in votes on the Top Baby Blogs & Top Mommy Blogs websites! These sites are where I've found most of my favorite blogs to follow and met some great mamas along the way. You can vote once per 24 hours for both sites so if you're here anyway, I'd really appreciate 3 clicks a day!

Two clicks for Top Baby Blogs, click the banner, then click on the owl on the left:

And just one simple click for Top Mommy Blogs per day:

You will find buttons on the right side of the blog, and little tiny buttons under my signature for another friendly reminder. While you're here...if you're a faithful reader of this blog, I'd like ask once again to follow this blog under "Google Friend Connect" over there on the right side under "Join This Site". It's just nice for me to know who's following my blog and helps it gain popularity. Why do I need to be popular, you might ask? Well, I really like connecting with other mommy bloggers, as I mentioned, but I would love to get a big enough following for companies to start contacting me to do reviews and giveaways! Wouldn't that be cool? BUT they aren't going to contact me with only 36 readers! I know I have more than 36 of you...so where are you hiding at? Join the site, follow publicly, it's free and easy! :)

I also decided, on the advice of some mama blogger friends, to add a Facebook page for the blog. I'm still a bit hesitant, because as silly as it may sound I don't want a lot of people from my personal Facebook page to "snoop" on my this way. This is why I stopped blogging in university, had a falling out with a friend and I didn't want her in on my life by cheating and reading my blog! So if you want to "like" us on Facebook that'd be nice! I have it completely separate from my personal page and truly hope that they don't get intertwined. I did a major Facebook friend cleanse today...I really don't use Facebook a lot anymore, mostly only on my phone and if I don't interact with you on Facebook...you're gone! :)

My Very Own Domain!

So some news, be it exciting or not, is that I finally bought my own domain! Which means if you look wayyyyy up at the address bar, you will notice this now:

Easier for you to remember and I get my very own email account too, so please feel free to reach me at:

I hope you like the changes over the blog the past month or so...and I'm very willing and open to positive feedback or constructive criticism at the most! :)

One of the things I've heard from Libby at ELF Family Blog was that sometimes in Google Friend Connect on Blogger it doesn't show updated blog posts. I post almost every day, so please let me know if it's not updating. Also, thanks to all the new followers, I know I have a ton more friends/family that have read this blog from the beginning and it would mean a lot to me if you click the "Join" button on the right there with the 25 pictures of my other wonderful followers! Have a great one!