Rebirth

I thought since I was resurrecting this blog with fresh content, it needed a fresh look too!  What do you think?

Let's Mingle!!

Alright then, I was looking around on the web for some inspiration and checking out some memes when I can across this wonderful project. Indigo at That's My Answer has started this "monthly mingle" so to speak and I think it's fantabulous!! It's a wonderful way to meet new bloggers!! All you have to do is sign up and put the lovely "mingle button" in your sidebar. Then each Thursday, visit the blogs of three fellow "minglers" and leave a nice note for them. It starts over each month and don't worry about being late, you can join in at any time! I'm so excited to meet new bloggy friends! Why don't you come mingle with me??

Let's Party!!!!!

Sarah over at Real Life and the Wii Fit Mommies are having a Twitter Party--a Wiimoms ‘Lots of Love (Handles) to Give’ Twitter Bling Party to be exact and you could win some fabo stuff!!! The party is Friday, 2/13 from 8-10pm EST. Sarah has all the specifics on her blog so go check her out. And while you are there, sit and visit for a spell. She has lots of great info including money saving tips and awesome web designs!!

Hope to see you there!!!

I won!! I won!!!

Sheila at Designs by Shelia was giving away a free blog design. I've been wanting a new design but I know nothing about that kind of stuff so I entered not expected anything to come of it because I NEVER win!! But I DID WIN!!!

Go on over to her site and check out her work. It's AWESOME!!! Thanks so much, Sheila! I can't wait to work with you!!

Name Update

Well, the two people who read my blog have spoken and I'm gonna leave it as is. But I'm leaving the Wag More pic at the top. :) Thanks!!!!

Should I or shouldn't I??

I've been toying with renaming my blog. I know, it's not something you typically do, especially with a large readership. But I think the one or two people who currently visit would be able to keep up. :)

So, why am I thinking about renaming it? I dunno. I really like the sentiment of "Sunny With a Chance of Clouds". But really, it's a bit long, don'tcha think? I could just never come up with a better way to say it.

So, you ask, to what would you change it? Honestly, the more I think about it, the more I really really like "Wag More, Bark Less". Or maybe just "Wag More". I mean, it's simple, slips easier off the tongue, kinda makes you go "HHHhhhmmmmm", kinda catchy so you might remember it. It's meaning goes right along with tagline I currently have.

So what do you think? Should I go for it?
(I also have a poll on the top of the sidebar if you'd like to vote.)

Another Try??

Is this better? I love the background but I think it is a bit hard to read. And I've lost all my widgets and such. Honest feedback please!!!! I can take it!

Blech!!

Ok, I do NOT like what I have done to my template. I have lots of trouble trying to work with the templates here. But bear with me while I try to find something else.

Please Help a Fellow Blogger

Kim is a fellow blogger at The Merits of the Case. She is working to complete her law degree and she has breast cancer. She's competing for a blogging scholarship to help pay for her law degree since breast cancer treatments have put a financial strain on the family. Please check out her post and help her out by voting for her. It's free. All it takes is a click and every click helps.

Bring 'em on!!!

Thanks to Mama Zen at The Zen of Motherhood for letting me know that today is "The Great Delurk". I LOVE comments and they are very important to me as I wrote in this post. But I admit that I’m guilty of lurking, also—especially since I tend to check blogs while at work……ssshhh, don’t tell!!!

But I’m going to make a point of leaving more comments as I visit and I’d love to hear what YOU have to say!!!! So comment away!!!!

Just Like Me?

I was talking with my Mom the other day after our recent visit “home”. While there, the children had written their names on Mom’s memo board. She loves it and has promised anyone who erases it a painful death!! But she said she had to look twice at my daughter’s name to decide who had actually written it. Sara, my 7 year old daughter’s handwriting looked just like mine. I hadn’t really realized it but Mom was right. It was almost exactly the way I write—the same curve to the letters, the same spacing and size. This little thing got me thinking about what else my daughter and I have in common and how else have I influenced her.

At times I look at Sara and feel I’m looking into a mirror. It’s a good feeling. She loves music and singing, just like me. Sara is good at math, just like me. She has fair skin and freckles across her nose, just like me. She has stick straight hair, just like me. At other times I see the darker side of me. Sara is impatient and volatile, just like me. She is quick to anger, just like me.

But in many ways Sara is not like me at all. She is shy but still more outgoing than I was as a child. She is reserved at first but makes friends easily. Sara hesitates to try new things but with encouragement, she will participate and in the end excel. I was always a loner but she is a joiner and needs others around her. She loves roller coasters while I’m terrified of them. I see behaviors in her that “I” would like to have. In many ways, she is like me…..but better.

As mothers, it’s our responsibility to model behavior for our daughters, and sons for that matter. I’m pleased to see my positive influence on my daughter. However, it is very difficult to see my negative influences in her. Our goals, then, must be to recognize our opportunities to improve ourselves and to model only positive attributes for our children. In the end, I hope and pray Sara is just like me.

This post was submitted to the Mothers and Daughters Blog Carnival being hosted by Real Life.

Comments Anyone?

Jeana over at Days To Come has posed the question, “What is the purpose of Comments”.

Realistically, when we open our blogs to comments, we are inviting everyone who reads to say anything they want about us. This can be very difficult to do. I mean, most of us bloggers are posting about ourselves, our lives, our families, our convictions, dreams, acccomplishments, fears. It can be hard to hear someone disagree with us. A negative comment can be a slap in the face. Thankfully, from my experience with my blog and others, the negative comments don’t happen very often. And honestly, I welcome a different perspective as long as it is presented with a degree of civility.

I think the other reason we take comments is to get that pat on the back. I admit that I get excited when someone leaves a comment. I secretly envy those blogs whose posts get 10 or 20 comments. That means that people are really connecting with them. It shows that they are great authors who make people laugh, or cry or think. A comment is a Kudo, a round of applause, a head nod. Let’s face it, we all want to have our Sally Field moment, “You like me…..You REALLY like me!!!!!”

So I’m gonna keep writing and reading comments. Hopefully, I learn a bit about my audience to continually improve my writing and some day I’ll have my OWN Sally Field moment!