Attention Mom's, Dad's & Grandparents Take Photos and Journal Jot

Memories last a lifetime is a quote I have always heard.  Unfortunately as we get older there are times when we forget certain special times with our children, family and friends.

Since I lost my only child at the age of 17, I advise everyone to take as many photos as you can and don't stop when they get out of that "cute" stage.  Keep taking pics their whole life.  Pictures are one of the greatest mind joggers of memories every.  It is rewarding to see a picture and then remember the time.

I always tell people all that I have is pictures and memories.  Now to the memories, I am so afraid of forgetting something.  Your situation is different, start to "Journal Jot" every day.  "Journal Jot" is each and every day jot down something about the day concerning your children, husband, parents, friends & who ever you come into contact that day.  "Journal Jot" is different than journaling, of course I made this phrase up when I started to remember things from the past.  For example usually when you journal you write nice sentences and give it some emotional touches here and there.  "Journal Jots" are like the following and take less time.

• Dustin hit a grand slam 07-15-2001
• Mom hit a deer with her car
• My hubby brought me beautiful flowers
• My best friend Leah sent me a card

That is it.  Not a lot of thought process or time to "Journal Jot."  These "Journal Jots" will mean the world to you as you look back and it jogs your memory to a happy time or to something very important.

This week as I sat watching America's Got Talent the Backstreet Boys sang.  Honestly I didn't hear a word they said as the cobwebs of my mind were cleared and a beautiful memory came to me that I had forgotten.  My son may have been around 11 years old when he came from his room and handed me a CD and told to listen to "The Perfect Fan."  He then said, "It's all about you Mom."

I scrambled to get to a CD player to hear this song.  Then I sat there crying.  Why?  Because he realized I was there for him and I knew he loved me for that.  You see all through his sports....ahem....blush...everyone knew I was there.  I was a big cheerleader for the whole team.

Sharing some of my favorite photos.

Don't put it off start today to "Journal Jot."  Use a regular notebook, a steno pad (do they still make these?  lol) just start jotting down special events, saying, songs, everything needs to be jotted.

Start today taking pictures of everything you can!

The PINcentive Blog Hop

Don't you love new things?  Well here I am again with a new Pinterest Incentive Blog Hop.  Check this out!

New Bloggers On Blogger (Blogspot) Facebook Group

The fabulous Kathe With An E has started a new Facebook group:  Bloggers On Blogger (Blogspot)  Isn't about time that Bloggers on Blogspot have their own Facebook group?

We are excited about it so I want to tell all of you.  The talk is about Blogger ahem of course and other interesting topics as they come.

Come to join us, we are a private group.  Send me your email address so I can invite you to join.  We want your knowledge and also we want you to learn the best of the best about Blogger.  Why not?

My email is myeclecticloft@gmail.com hopefully you fill up my inbox with your emails.

Blogger Tips 2, Sidebar & Word Verification

Have you ever been to that blog that just stands out and makes you say "Wow!" and it looks pretty awesome?  Yeah, me too.  I have not gotten there yet but I am striving for that and it take some time to learn all that they already know.

One thing that jumps out at me is there sidebar.  So nice and neat.  How did they do that?  Look at these blogs Cropped Stories & Dysfunction Junction look these sites over there are lots of great info.  Mainly look at their sidebars.  They are so nice and cohesive.

The secret?  When you enter an HTML code place <center> right before the code and ></center> right after the code and it centers everything so it is nice and neat.


Also in the HTML section of you post, top left, Compose and HTML in between HTML codes you can add  
<br />
<br />
<br />
This spaces all out evenly.  Easy isn't it?

When someone visits your blog and they want to leave a comment at times it is aggravating to have to do the word verification code.  Here is how to get rid of it.

 When you first sign into your blog go to the Design Tab and click it.  This is where it takes you.  Click on Settings.

Next click on Posts and Comments.

Scroll down and you will see Show word verification.  Change the yes to no.  You are done!

Too Funny Me Sharing a Recipe

All that know me know I can cook and do so very tastily.  My Mom has been know for her cooking and baking for years.  I always strived to be like her.   That will just not happen.  The knowledge she has would never fit in my brain.  The stuff like how much baking soda and baking powder to use in anything.

I got this from The Dublin Pub on Facebook  This is real food to me.....I know two starches together but it is comfort food.

The problem is that I do Appalachian cooking as does Mom.  When I met Michael he would cook all of these fancy dishes.  My taste buds were  brought alive and jubilant.  Don't get me wrong I have had all types of food from restaurants I do mean some of the finest dining.  I just didn't cook that way.  When we would the fancy dinners it was Michael that prepared them.  I was the chopper, peeler, etc.

Michael had a massive stroke February 11, 2011.  Since then I have had to do all the cooking.  Laundry too....he did the laundry from the day he moved in....I was so brokenhearted not to do it any more......NOT!!!!  Oh sorry I got off topic.  With all the duties of a caregiver and having an Etsy store and life in general plus my parents were elderly and needed me too.  Cooking was the last thing on my mind.  Ijust threw together food so he wouldn't starve.

Everyday Michael gets on the computer and looks up recipes and I write them down or the aide, Mom whoever is available.  I have never fixed them.

One day during an infomercial he insisted that we order this baking set.  What?  You actually want me to buy these to sit in the cupboard?  Okay I caved in anything that he wants (yes he is soooooo spoiled).  It ended up that I love this set.  They are pretty too.

This is from Temp-Tations and the set that we received.

Now to the recipes he finds each day.  Being spoiled he insisted that I fix this one recipe that he had Mom write down.  So we had most of the ingredients anyway so why not?  Let's do this and make him happy.

I do not usually take photos of my cooking results however I thought I would try it this time.  Please excuse the lighting as it was a spur of the moment I didn't set up my lighting like I do for Etsy pictures.  Here it is in all of its glory.  It is from Campbell's Soup Recipes  This is how their's looked.

Sante Fe Chicken Saute

I wasn't sure of taking this photo as my skillets are terrible!  We have had the same ones forever.

The recipe follows:

2 teaspoons chili powder 
1 teaspoon ground cumin 
1 tablespoon vegetable oil 
1 3/4 pounds skinless, boneless chicken breast halves 
1 teaspoon minced garlic 
4 green onions, minced (about 1/2 cup) 
1 can (10 3/4 ounces) Campbell's® Healthy Request® Condensed Tomato Soup 
1/2 cup Pace® Picante Sauce 
1/2 cup water 
1 can (about 15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained 
1 cup whole kernel corn 
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro leaves (I used cilantro paste)

How to make it

• Stir the chili powder and cumin in a small bowl.  Season the chicken with the chili powder mixture.
• Heat the oil in a 12-inch skillet over medium-high heat.  Add the chicken and cook for 6 minutes or until browned on both sides.  Add the garlic and onions and cook and stir for 1 minute.
• Stir in the soup, picante sauce and water and heat to a boil.  Reduce the heat to medium-low.  Add the beans and corn.  Cover and cook for 15 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through.  Sprinkle with the cilantro.

It was delicious and now I will make more of his recipes.  I hope you will try and enjoy!

Some Newbie Blogger Tips Blogspot

There is no way that I am an expert at all.  However I am a pretty new blogger in the blogging world.  Each day I search for tips, tricks, tutorials.

While being on some blog hops I have noticed that some may question how to make their blog wider or the side bars wider.  Here is how to do that in simple language.  That's how I talk after all!

Click on Design on the top right of your blog.  Here is where that takes you.

Click on the Customize Button

That brings you here.  Click Adjust widths.

Slide the bar.  Go ahead have fun.  Watch your blog change below.  The Entire blog is the middle width.
The slide the sidebar.  Mine is the right because I just have two columns.  I did have three but I changed my width and made into two. 

Click Apply to Blog

 There you have it.  You are done.  Wasn't that just so easy?

While you are in here click on Advanced.  Then click Page Text, select a Font and Size.  Click Apply to Blog

Look at your new blog.  It feels like that.  You will be blogging everywhere now to show off.  Have and enjoy.

Ready, Set, Blog Goals for The Next Days

I was so excited to finally get to bed at a decent time.  Got my jammies on, set the alarm clock for 4 AM to get up to get all my blog and social media stuff accomplished and enjoy.  I laid in bed trying to think of a great post for a MONDAY.  Everything was in my head and planned.  Almost asleep I realized that tomorrow, now today is Friday.  You see when you get old stuff like this tends to happen out of the blue and you aren't expecting it and when it does happen it just screws you all up.........

So today since I am an old (age) new (blogger) I wanted to share what my goals are for the next 10 days.  I am taking notes, checking Google Analytic the who ball of wax,  It's time to get serious.  I have been working my fingers to the bones and I am not getting any where....it's like insanity.

Are you ready???  You have to let me know if you think this will work.  I have read so much on getting your blog out there.  To me it seems that some have it and others do not.  BUT that is not what they say.  Patience.  Rome was not built in a day...geez duh!  Where did that phrase come from anyway?  

1. I will visit at least 10 blogs and leave comments each day.
2. The second day will be 20, the first 10 and 10 more new on thus the number 20.
3. Each of their post will be Facebooked, Tweeted, Pinterested, Google +'ed
4. I will hook up to all of their social media places
5. I will write a new post each day
6. I will find my tribe great article from More Than Mommies Blog  on finding your tribe, good read

Okay so that is my big plan.  ahem so, do you think it will work?  Something has to break.  

Well I will keep you post with the amazing stats increase I will be getting.....X your fingers.

Changing Directions Series Part II - How to react when a change occurs

Changing Directions Series Part II

Obviously no two people react to a situation the same, we are all unique when it comes to reaction to trauma.

By now for most of you the trauma has come into your life, made your life take a huge detour and now you are headed in a different direction or directions unsure where to go what to do.

Let's focus, relax and take a deep breath.  I know this is hard but sit right at this moment, take deep breaths and allow yourself a few minutes to relax.  How long has that been?  How to relax here  Take a hot bubble bath, a long shower, walk, eat, whatever it takes to relax, just do it.

Allow yourself to grieve, it is normal and healthy to a point to get us through loss of a Loved One, rape, divorce, career loss, etc.  Grieving is supposed to be a healing process and in comes in no particular order for each one of us again it is different.

Here comes a tough one.  Allow yourself to laugh.  You may be like me after I lost my son Dustin.  I felt guilty to laugh or thought if I did laugh everyone would think I was "over" Dustin's loss.  Believe me nobody ever thinks that only we do in our heads.  Our friends and family love to see us laugh.  I am sure my son Dustin is so happy now that I can laugh, we did that so much.  Laugh at something, movie, joke, something just laugh.  Laughing in itself is very healing.

This series is short but you have homework...yes but no grading....that is the good thing.

• At this point you are in life, the change has happened, where you are now, how are you grieving?  Write down each emotion and action.
• set times to relax totally relax three times a day, set your schedule
• call that friend that you haven't talk to forever, make the first move, yes it's hard but worth it
•  go to a private place allow yourself to cry, talk to God, your Loved One, your cause of this change.  Scream, yell, cry and talk.  Talk to yourself, yes to yourself, we all do it, it is soothing too.
• pick a book, any book and read one chapter
• watch one news program national news 
• watch a TV show completely and actually listen to it
• allow yourself to laugh, come on you can do this
• relax

Now for most of you none of the above has happened in a long time well it's about time, let's go let's start on helping to learn to live with a broken heart.

After you have done the above write in your journal how each made you feel.  Be honest if you actually felt good for a change.  I am giving you suggestions it is up to you to work your program.  Journal, Journal, Journal!

I know you don't feel like doing this crap but for yourself and the ones that love you please try.

You can share your results, email me myeclecticloft@gmail.com or keep it to yourself, private.  No pressures to share.  Just do it!

Love, thoughts and prayers,

Nancy

"Changing Directions" Series to start Monday June 17 - June 17

Definition of INSPIRATION

a : a divine influence or action on a person believed to qualify him or her to receive and communicate sacred revelation 

b : the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions

c : the act of influencing or suggesting opinions 

Day to day different ideas, people, movies, books and the list could on and on as to what inspires a person.  Each person is unique as to what inspires them, we just never know.

Starting next Monday, June 17 I will begin the series "Changing Directions."  Are you going through something you don't think you can go through?  A divorce?  Child Custody?  Job changes?  Loss, grief?  Depression?  Lonely?  Do you just need your heart recharged?  "Changing Directions" is for you. 

"Changing Directions" will not be all me talking, there will be a couple of small workshops for you to participate in, homework (OH NO!!  Easy stuff).

I will have everything posted on Sunday evening but officially the series starts on Monday but feel free to join in at any time.  Any questions please email me at myeclecticloft@gmail.com 

Agenda:

Monday:  A change is happening in your life or has happened

Tuesday: How to react when a change occurs

Wednesday: Making the change work for you

Thursday:  Working through the change

Friday:  Surviving

Please share.