Missing In Action

 Hello Readers..

I just wanted to post quickly and say that I am sorry that I have been MIA lately..

I have had a few family issues to deal with in the past weeks (months) that have required my full attention.  I am hoping that things will slow down soon and get back to normal, but I just don't know if that is still a possibility or not!

The past few weeks have really made me think about how we treasure the people in our lives, how the small things can make a huge impact, how our medical system is out of whack, and how caring for our aging parents can be challenging!  I will share some of these thoughts in my future posts, but for now I just don't think it would be such a good idea!

 But for now.. I just want you all to know I haven't dropped off the Blogging Map (lol) or missing in action any longer; and ask you to keep my family in your thought and prayers if you'd like! (& Thanks in advance)

I hope all is well with each one of you; and that you are learning something new with each given day & that you are showing those you love, just how much! :)

See ya Soon!    

 

Is your Comment viewed as Spam?

I have received many comments on my Blog recently... most of them are great comments saying how much they love my blog ((Thanks)), but they don't fit the topic being discussed... or they are brief comments on the blog, but clearly trying to link their site! .. and sadly I don't publish these comments because they don't add to the Topic Conversation.. and I hate that!!

I understand wanting to share your Blog or Website, and get more traffic... So, I have added a spot for everyone to do just that!!

I want my readers to find new places on the web that they enjoy.. But I want them to also read valuable comments to the conversations they are reading as well.

So.. If you want to share a link or shout out a short comment with your link, I have created a place for that!  And I won't publish any more replies to other conversations that don't benefit it.. if they are links, I'll have to mark as spam because they aren't meant there.  I hate to result to that but I am just becoming overwhelmed with these type of comments and it is distracting my view from the Blog and don't know another way to solve the problem.

Don't let your comment become spam on Life...  Share your Links on Life HERE!

Thanks!!!  :)

I am addicted!

OMG.. I'm gonna have to buy a hub to store all of my MyMemorys Suite (MMS) freebies and cool stuff!

Over the past month, I have seen so many AMAZING pages from others, and I have snagged a ton of awesome kits... best of all, they were ALL Free!  :)

Prom is right around the corner and it has given me a reason to play with the software more and more... and I can honestly say that I am ADDICTed ((lol))!!  I just wish I had more time to mess with it!  I can't wait to get the Prom pages finished...

Over Mother's Day I have a family member & a friend that were struggling this Holiday because they lost their babies.. ((So, Sad))

So, I threw together a few things I found online,used a freebie kit background from the MMS shop, and added some word art..

It didn't take long to put together, but it was a sweet gesture that I could share with them (and other mom's in their situation) to let them know they were thought of on Mother's Day!

I have always loved to scrapbook, and being able to create digital pages is awesome!!  But MMS can be used for so much more... I have seen a lady that has created all kinds of banners and timeline covers with the software.  I can't wait to learn all of the possibilities that MMS offers.  I bet the possibilities all endless!

If you haven't tried the software, check it out at www.MyMemories.com and take advantage of the free trial; and make sure to use the code in the sidebar (to your right) to get a great discount if when you decide to keep it (lol).

*If you are a MMS owner.. What do you love about MMS?  & Feel free to hare your awesome creations (if you'd like)

How to Set & Accomplish Goals in Life

Some people make it look easy reaching goals in life, while others struggle to accomplish theirs... Why is this!?

Are there steps they follow?  Does it have anything to do with the their upbringings, support system, self confidence?  Is there a 'big secret' that others could learn from....  

I have often struggled over the years accomplishing any 'Goal' that I have set for myself.  (lol) In my defence, these goals normally focused on weight-loss; and we ALL know how hard that can be.. Either from a personal standpoint or seeing it with family or friends.  However, I have recently accomplished a life goal when I wanted to go back to school.. I have received my Associates Degree and 1/2 way through my Bachelor's, this is an amazing feeling of accomplishment in my life.

How did I accomplish this Goal?  and What things did I use to help me?  I've thought about these things a lot because I want to use the answers to help me set and accomplish new goals in my Life; and help others do the same!! :)   

So... here are a few tips that I believe will help us accomplish the goals we set in our lives!

1. Define the Goal .
2. Write down the reasons WHY the Goal is important & how life will change because you did it! Journal along the way to express the challenges and successful times.
3. Create a detailed Plan... Creating Goal Charts, Steps Lists, etc. can help with this task!
4. Believe that you can accomplish the Goal you have Set... "Never say you CAN'T do it!"
5. Stay focused.
6. Don't beat yourself up if you slip.. Just dust yourself off as having a bad moment and pick up where you left off! 
7. Reward yourself in the little accomplishments.. every step is ONE step closer to the overall Goal! 
8. Revise the Plan 1/2 way through to define new visions that will help in accomplishing the Goal.
9. Read the statements from step #2 often (daily could have great results) and continue to document the journey (this will help with future goals).
10. Vision Success & KNOW that it is accomplishable... Tell yourself daily that "YOU CAN DO IT!"

I hope that these simple things in combination with self determination can and will help set and accomplish all of the future goals in Life! :)

Misinterpretations in the online classroom....

  Don't get me wrong, I love going to school online; but sometimes it can be a challenge to interpret how someone is meaning a phrase or question.. I hate when I re-read what I have written sometimes and it makes no sense to me (and I wrote it..lol).

  I just started a new class this week and it is another Math.. ugh!  I used to love Math, but over the past 3 years, I have really begun to hate it!  All of the functions and equations give me a Head-Ache!  I really hope that I did not pick a degree that is going I will have to work with these everyday.. because if I did, I foresee a change in the near future. (lol) I am thankful to be this far in my degree (BIG pat on the back) and this is my last Math that I have to take; so, the storm's almost over! :)

   Classes are always 'all over the place' the first week.. learning what each instructor expects, what the schedule is like, meeting new team members, and so on is very hectic, to say the least and when it is a class that isn't easily understand, it is 10x worse (in my personal opinion).

   Well...  getting back to my original point in writing this blog (lol).. misinterpretations in the online classroom (really online, in general)!!

   I get into class and haven't completely understood how the instructor operates his classroom & the new concepts.. Therefore, I asked a few questions and have also replied to students this week.. BUT somehow I am feeling like the replies/comments that I have received are somewhat sarcastic ones!

   And I do not know if I am misinterpreting these because of how uptight and lost I am about the class.. or.. if they are really commenting thinking 'DUH, do you seriously not know what you're talking about?' (lol). Honestly.. I hope it is me just taking them wrong because I do not like taking classes with other's who are arrogant towards their classmates.. but if so, I guess I gotta deal with it somewhat!

    I need (and want) to get this class over and done with ASAP.. where I get on to more fun and creative classes! :)   I'm sure that there will be misunderstandings in some of them as well, but it will all be worth it in the end!!

No One's life is unjudgeable!

     In a conversation with an old friend, that I ran into a few weeks back, we caught up on each other's lives and reminisced about old times; and it was quite nice.  Looking back on the conversation that we had and I realized how easy it can be to judge another person and to be judged as well!

     I was reading the posts on my wall on FB last week and one caught my eye... a friend was ranting and raving about 'someone' (I'm not sure who), that pissed them off.  It happens to us all, but Social Media  really allows people to 'put it out there', if you know what I mean. lol

    No One's life is unjudgeable.. I know I have my faults and I'm sure that you do too!

     My neighbors  friends, family, and even myself.. do things that could be seen as negative, bad, or hurtful by someone with a different outlook on life.. but so often we judge others without looking at our own lives or the things that the person staring back at us in the mirror is doing first.   What could I change to be a better, what could you do to be?

    I read a picture quote that said to "Spread a Smile and it will Brighten another's Day!".. and I think this is so true!

    The next time I am tempted to say what someone else should be doing in their life or why I don't understand why they do some things they do.. I am going to remember to look at my life from outside the box and see what I need to fix as well.  I want to better that woman in the mirror and always remember that no one's life is unjudgeable; and I hope you will too!

     ... Hope you have an awesome day and find something new that brings you true happiness in this life.  See ya soon!

What does your online presence say about you?

Lately I have been reading a lot of posts, blogs, tweets, and Facebook statuses.. and I have formed opinions (as many people do) about the person they belong to; but are these opinions sufficient?

Most people write about the things they are passionate about.. their family, kids, life, and the things they love or hate; and a reader will get the feeling of who the writer is and what their interests are (in some sense).

However, often we will judge or get the wrong impression if the writer doesn't present the message correctly or if they're angry, hurt, or disappointed at the time; and the reader may get the wrong impression about who they really are!

When someone reads what you have written in a post, comment, blog, status update, or tweet does it reflect who you truly are as a person!?

When I am online, I try my best to present myself as I truly am!  I try my best to be the mom I want my kids to look up to and respect; and not someone that embarrasses them or my husband in any way.

However, some times it can be difficult to stay quiet and not express my true thoughts or opinions on certain issues or comment when someone acts disrespectful, "perfect", or inappropriately online!

I find it most difficult to see teenagers presenting themselves in a way that I would never allow my own children to be, unaware of the consequences that could result from the things they say, things they upload or like, and the way they present themselves online! ... Not realizing that some of those things can hurt their reputation, prevent jobs in the future, or even put them at risk of worse things as well.

So.. I wanna know, "What does your online presence say about you?"