Downton Deliberations Etc

I am a day behind this week but don't worry, The Etiquette Guy and I have another installment of Downton Deliberations for you!  This week we discuss a naughty Irishman, Edith's future, and the tough choices a mother has to make. Please pop over to Jay's blog to read our take on this week's episode.

In other news...

I passed my long gun exam!  95% overall which isn't bad (I am sure there are people who fail it).  A couple of the questions were very hard to understand so I just guessed at them.  The instructors were great and made the course and test fun - I can't wait until the end of February when I do the handgun course!

I finally figured out how to get my blog to email me when someone comments - so expect some interaction from me at long last.  Now if only I could figure out how to get it to let me add a 'Reply' button to your comments...



Comments keep bloggers inspired...please take the time to say hello!

Have a fabulous day!

Blog Housekeeping

Maybe it's the whiff of spring, the longer days, looming daylight savings time...I don't know but I suddenly feel energized and want to pump some life into my blog again.  I wouldn't say I have neglected it, but I have felt a bit uninspired this winter and my blog has shown the signs.  Truth be told I think I have had a case of SAD for a while now - I spend a lot of my time thinking about sitting in the sun which tells me I need a big shot of VitD.  And some UV rays.  I long for days without socks.

This week I am making some changes to my blog to prepare for more writing and posting!

I would like to take a moment to remind everyone that my logo and blog banner were designed for me, paid for by me and property of...me.  Please refrain from using them except when speaking about me and linking back to my blog.  I was told someone is using my logo as their Facebook picture and that is just not cool. I have spent 3 years building my brand, reputation and image in the social media world and I do not appreciate it being compromised by someone who lacks the imagination to come up with their own logo.

I took my blogroll off and moved every blog I read into Google Reader.  It took a bit of getting used to but I now like being able to quickly scroll through posts, skipping the ones that have no interest for me and commenting on the ones that do.

I have been making a concerted effort to leave a lot more comments on other blogs.  I have noticed readers don't comment like they used to...one of my posts has more than 1000 views and 9 comments.  Considering I have over 500 followers it makes me wonder why 98% of them aren't leaving comments.  Even a simple 'Have a great day!' let's a blogger know you are reading.  I had a conversation with someone on Twitter and we suspect people being able to tweet their comments means they wont leave them on a blog.  So, I am taking a little Twitter break.  I will still pop in on a daily basis but I would prefer you leave comments here.  I love being able to go back years later and read what everyone said about posts...that just isn't possible with Twitter.  When the Little Prince is all grown up I want to be able to show him my blog and let him read what the world thought of it!

Less time spent tweeting means more time to spend writing blog posts and coming up with some fresh ideas for The Life of a Suburban Princess!

To all of you who do leave comments...thank you!  I look forward to reading them every day and if you have a blog I am not commenting on, please give me the link so I can follow you!

While we are talking about leaving comments....I really wish blogs didn't have word verification, especially now that blogger has made the 'word' even more complicated.  You might not even be aware your blog requires readers to jump through hoops so please take a moment to check.  Go to your blog settings, click on comments and scroll down to this setting.  Change it to 'No' and your readers will be able to comment without proving themselves human.

I always appreciate when I click to comment on a post and the comment box is a popup.  This means I don't have to click back over and over to get to the main list of blog posts.  To have your comments in a popup box simply click on settings, then comments and scroll down to this option.

You may have noticed I also have my links set up to open in a new window.  When you create a link on a word, click the little box and this will ensure your readers stay on YOUR page and don't have to click back a dozen times to find you again.

I have added some buttons at the bottom of each post...this will make it easy for you to share information.  When something strikes your fancy please take a second and share it through one of the buttons!

My Facebook page is updated every time I post.  Do you know if you don't interact when someone posts Facebook will stop showing you their posts?  Please take one second and 'like' updates when you see them in your news feed.  Also, in your news feed you have the option to view items by popularity or chronologically.  Just below the status update box is the word 'Sort'.  Click on the little down arrow to choose 'Most Recent' and you will see all of the items in your news feed instead of just the ones others have deemed important.

I am still in deep smit with Pinterest.  Like so many others,  I get a lot of ideas from there and love being able to gather everything in one spot!   Every day I look for new ideas, recipes, outfits to pin so if you are on there please add me!  I have created a board on Pinterest just for my blog so I am busy pinning pictures that link back to here.

Basically I have spent the last week making sure it is easy for you to keep up, follow along and leave comments!  Hopefully more bloggers will do the same so we can get back to supporting each other the way we did a couple of years ago.


Have a fabulous day!

PS...dont miss my Luxe Box giveaway! Enter for yourself or a friend!

Surprise from High Heeled Life

On Friday my nice mail lady brought me this little surprise from High Heeled Life!  A nice encouraging card (she really does write the best letters), a thing to plant and will grow wildflowers, a pink heart necklace from her trip to to South America at Christmas and a bag of chocolates!

Here's what I love about branding...it gives you a signature.  Mine is a crown, HHL's is a high heeled shoe...and look!  She found chocolates with high heels on them!  How adorable!

Thank you High Heeled Life for my wonderful present!  I can't wait to eat the chocolates, wear the necklace and watch the flowers grow!

Have a fabulous day!

Blogs of note!

There are a few blogs I have been reading lately and would love my bloggy friends to read them too!

My friend Jen has recently started One Butt Kitchen and for a novice her blog looks amazing!  She loves cooking and comes up with some incredibly delicious meals that are easy to make and dont cost a fortune! 

Dolce has left the nest so to speak and has his own blog now.  For your weekly dose of cuteness I suggest visiting him!

Rich Life (On a budget) has very quickly come to be one of my favourite blog.  I have only been reading this blog for a few weeks but I cant get enough!  To me, it is exactly the kind of blog I lovelovelove to read.  Adrienne's warmth oozes from every post and I can tell she thinks the world of her family.

The Daily Prep, even tho it isnt daily, is the...the preppy blog.  Old school, hardcore, no messing around prep.  No bells, no whistles, no frills...just like Muffy. 

Suburban Matron can spin a tale in such a charming way I find myself checking every day for new posts.  She reminds me of Irma Bombeck when she wrote about life in the 'burbs.

The Southern Blossoms is a beautiful blog written by a southern belle living in Japan!  Her children are GORGEOUS and their adventures always make me smile.

Dont forget to enter my Luna Bar giveaway!  Click on the picture on the sidebar or scroll down to the post below.

Have a fabulous day!

Spreading Christmas Cheer!

Last week Brown Eyed Belle and I were both saying how much we wanted to get on with Christmas but felt it was just a touch too early (not here in Canada really, but my American friends need to get through Thanksgiving first before they get in the Christmas mood) so we decided to wait until today and do a grand unveiling of our blogs together!

If you dont know Brown Eyed Belle you really must visit her blog and say hello!  She always posts the most beautiful photos and loves all things pretty!  She is just the most adorable girl and spreads cheer all year long!

I have a very busy few weeks ahead of me starting this past weekend (I know, it's behind me now but ya know, I've been busy) with the lunch I provided for my Rotary club.  I made a big pot of soup and arranged lots of subs, chips, cakes, cookies, fruit and hot chocolate for all of the members who went to the Habitat For Humanity build site for the day.  It was a lot of running around making sure everything was where it was supposed to be at the right times but it was fun and everyone had a great lunch to warm them up! 

If you are looking for something to do in a charitable way, please consider contacting your local Habitat For Humanity to arrange lunch for the workers.  They rely on the good hearts of neighbours, local businesses and anyone who would like to help out so anything we can do to help feed the people who volunteer their time to help is most appreciated!

Today I am determined to finish staining the bookshelf I have been working on for a few weeks now - I keep thinking I've done enough then decide it needs just one more coat.

Then I need to make a hot chocolate and get on with Christmas decorating.  I am looking out the window right now and it's raining which isn't exactly putting me in the mood - but a candy cane stir stick, my MadMen style Christmas CDs and some tinsel should get me into my seasonal Elfin state of mind!

I also need to get the pumpkins off my front step and replace them with garlands, a wreath, lights and other decor.  I am looking for some sort of potted tree with twinkly lights on it.  The Suburban Prince showed me one in Friday's flyer that was 70% off (now you speaka my language!) and just this second I told him he should go and get it on his way home from the Little Prince's skating lessons.  Guess who didn't tell me the sale was only at the weekend?  Guess who is in a bit of hot water? 

On Thursday we are finally, finally having the 50th anniversary party for my inlaws.  I have been working on this party for 6 months and so can't wait for it to be over!  Dealing with some of their friends has made me seriously question their ability to make lucid judgements about other people.  I've always believed a good barometer of someone is how they treat your children and when a friend of my inlaws is a jerk to me, it makes me wonder what kind of people they spend their time with!  Anyhoooooooooo I have everything ready except the favour boxes which will be done *fingers crossed* tomorrow if not tonight.  Lots of photos of the cake and desserts will be coming!  I have big plans for the dessert table so I hope reality can compare to what is in my mind!

Oh and then after the party I need to get myself back to town (a 100km drive, in rush hour traffic no less) for a candle or jewelry or container party of some sort.  My neighbour invited me to come with her and for the life of me I can't remember what I committed to!

On Friday our town is doing their annual Candlelight Walk down the main street and to the town park where we will sing carols and light up the park!  This is always so much fun as everyone is there and it's a big social event.  The theatre will be filled with Christmas trees decorated by local businesses to be raffled off - the money raised goes to local charities so we will be buying lots of tickets over the next few weeks!

After the candlight walk and tree lighting I will be heading home to put the Little Prince to bed and Hermes Scarf Friend will be dropping her teenage son off here and she and I will be going out for a cocktail and catch up (read: gossip about people we know) in one of the local bars.  When I say bar I mean tiny little drinking hole, not rowdy nightclub.  See the empty martini glass?  This is how mine will look at around 9:05pm because darlin', mama needs a cocktail!  (How was that?  I have been working on my Southern drawl!).

And because I might be bored this week with nothing to do...I am hoping to go to the Christmas House Tour on Saturday afternoon with a neighbour.  She is going to see about tickets today so I will know soon enough!  I will be posting lots of photos of this too!  On Saturday evening the same neighbour is coming to watch movies with me so it will be jammies, SATC2 and take out!

On Sunday...I can fall down!  Oh no wait, I will have to catch up on everything else!  I have no idea how working moms do it - if I had a job outside of my house I would need a wife!  Thank goodness for scheduled blog posts written at 11pm!


Have a fabulous day!

My book is a published reality!

As you might know, I did a series of posts in the Spring of all the important things I have learned since I was 14.  A number of people suggested I turn this into a book and with a little bit of prodding I did just that! 

This has been a labour of love as I struggle with the technical aspects of making this sort of thing happen but I plugged along, shed some tears, stomped around in frustration and even gave up on a few occassions.  I kept going back to it and now my book is available for purchase, for the whole world, for everyone.

My book is 80 pages including lots of inspiring images and would make a great stocking stuffer or gift for any of the young (or older) girls in your life! 

You can read about it and purchase it here and it will be shipped directly to you.  If you would like your copy/copies personalized and signed please contact me and we will make those arrangements.

Thank you to everyone who encouraged me to turn this into a book!  I am looking forward to hearing your feedback!  I had no idea this is the direction my life would take me so I am very excited about the future of my book!


Have a fabulous day!

Questions Answered!

Thank you for all of the wonderful messages and congratulations on my 300 posts!  It feels like such a huge accomplishment and I am very fortunate to have such amazing bloggy friends!

I was asked so many great questions it has taken me a while to get them all answered so here they are, more than a week later!  It doesn't help that blogger isn't letting me upload photos without a struggle so something that should take 30 minutes to complete it taking a couple of hours.  I hear I am not the only one with this problem but I can't find where to contact blogger customer support.

Knitwit asked...Road Trip or Cruise?

I think cruise even tho I have never been on one.  I love the idea of having so much to do and never being bored.  I am not very good at lying by the pool or on the beach so when I vaycay I like to have lots of activities and entertainment.  A road trip is fun to as I can control the vehicle and stop when I want and take detours any time I see something that looks interesting!

BroncoMom asked...What has been your favorite thing to post thus far?

Well, I do love an awesome giveaway!  But as for everyday topics...anything that gets a big response from my blog friends.  I am like Tinkerbell, I need applause to live!  The Suburban Prince always says, 'Some flowers wilt at the periphery of attention'.

Do you know there is such a thing as the TinkerBell Syndrome?

Pretty Pink Tulips asked...What did you do professionally before you started blogging?

I have been a housewife since 2002 so I lunched, took care of the Suburban Prince, played golf, hosted parties, crafted, cooked, shopped etc etc.  Now I do all that, blog AND take care of the Little Prince!

Town and Country Mom asked...What inspired you to begin blogging?

I had never really thought of blogging for myself.  I always thought it was for people in therapy or who hated their lives and needed somewhere to whine because everyone in their real lives was sick of listening to them...mostly because every whiner I know has a blog!  Then...I stumbled upon Melissa C. Morris' blog May December and realised there is a whole society of bloggers who love their lives and enjoy themselves and are happy people!  I was hooked...reading dozens of blogs every day!  Then I thought, heyyyyy, wait a minute...I have a good life...I have fun...I have things to say...and The Life of a Suburban Princess was born!  I think it is pretty cool that someone I have never met inspired me to accomplish so much in just over a year and she has no idea until now!  You know, if she ever reads my blog.

CanadianPrep asked...What is your favorite thing to do in Toronto?

I love so much in Toronto!  Theatre is number one!  I also love the Eaton Centre and Yorkville at Christmas...bubbly at Remy's, high tea at the Windsor Arms, the windows on Queen street at The Bay, boozy coffee in the lounge bar at the Intercontinental hotel...so many wonderful ways to spend a day in December in the big city!

KatiePerk asked...If you could live anywhere where would you live?

This is an easy one!  NYC!  It is my favourite city!  I think I was born to live there...the lights, the sounds, the hustle and the bustle...I love it all!

Hostess of the Humble Bungalow asked...What item(s) in your home or wardrobe are your favourite(s) and why....other than pets and people!

Oooh this is a tough on!  My laptop for sure...TV...ereader...accessories (I cant pick just one!)...all because I love communicating, seeing what's going on in the world, reading and looking good!

High Heeled Life asked...What is your favourite time of day and why?

If I am lucky I can get up before the Little Prince and get an hour of alone time downstairs with breakfast, coffee and the blogs.  I love that hour of the day as it keeps me sane!

Janine asked...How many purses do you own?

Oh dear...You know when you go shopping and try on everything and nothing fits right or it makes you look 20lbs heavier?  I hate leaving empty handed and the shoes and purses always fit!  I have purses for every outfit, every occassion...it's a bit embarassing really.  I was thinking the other day I need to go through them and get rid of the ones I will most likely never use again and hopefully gain some real estate in my closet!  The LV bags are staying.

Carole asked...champagne or proseco?

Champers when I am drinking it and Prosecco when I am mixing it. 

The Preppy Princess asked...If you had fulltime help at home, how would you spend the newly-found time?

I would do a lot of charity work involving lots of parties!  Mostly tho, I would spend time with the Little Prince and the Suburban Prince...and the Furry Prince!  Oh and a little lipo just for good measure!

Semi-Slacker Mom asked...If you were on a deserted island, what 3 material items would you want with you and why?

My full ereader, my full ipod and my laptop (let's hope there is wifi on this deserted island!).  It actually sounds heavenly...maybe just a few days on this deserted island with no one looking to me for meals, laundry and I could actually go to the ladies room without having to lock the door!

 
North of 25A asked...what is your favorite fragrance?
 
I love, adore L'air du Temps, 4711 and a few other classics but normally I wear Heavenly Angels or Amazing Grace.  Life with a little one in small town Canada doesnt exactly call for 200.00 bottles of perfume.  The nice thing is both Heavenly Angels and Amazing grace are unheard of here in Prince Matchabelli country so everyone is duly impressed when they smell me!

Thanks again for all the happy messages and super questions!

Have a fabulous day!

300 Posts!

My 300th post went up last week but I have had so much time sensitive blogging to do I didn't get the chance to celebrate it!

I find it hard to believe I have come up with 300 things to say but what is more amazing is that each time I blog it gives me more inspiration for more posts!  I have come to adore blogging and when I define myself, blogger is always in the list.

I have come to make some great unmet friends as well as my dear friend and partner in snooty pursuits, High Heeled Life, through my blog and it is always so much fun 'meeting' people who share the same interests, lifestyle and aspirations. 

As is tradition for milestones in the blogisphere I am going to open this post to all of you to ask me questions - ask anything you want and I will do my best to answer!  Who knows, maybe your questions will inspire future blog post!


Have a fabulous day!

True Prep and Lisa Birnbach - A preppy girl's dream day!

On Tuesday, October 12th I met High Heeled Life in the city and we made our way to Yorkville for the long awaited Lisa Birnbach book signing.  I can't even begin to describe how I was feeling...it was like my entire life was building up to this moment.

We walked into the store to find boys waiting with champers...

...and boys waiting with food!

The two ladies ahead of us chatting with Lisa.  Enlarge the photo and check out the shoes on the girl on the left.

Lisa showing us a shirt she bought that day - she was so happy the logo is tiny!

Lisa was looking at me in this photo - can't you just feel the adoration!?  Would you believe she knew of me before I got there? 

I owe someone a cocktail!

Signing books!

Cue the sophomoric screaming when we saw we were both wearing True Prep bracelets from Jewelry for a Cause!  Lisa was oohing and aahing over my Kiel James Patrick bracelet.  Kiel owes me a cocktail.

Yup.  I am keeping up high standards!

First rule of Lisa Birnbach meetings...don't mention her undergarments.

My to-do list for October 12...sip champers with Lisa Birnbach, declare orange the new black, squeal about matching jewelry and realise I've come a long way, baby.

When I was 14 and TOPH made it's way to me I never in a million, zillion, gazillion years thought I...*I*....little old me...would stand in front of the author, my name already dropped by someone, be told how to contact her and get a video just for my blog.  I tried to explain how it feels to the Suburban Prince...I told him it would be like meeting the biggest, baddest Maori All Black and finding out he has heard of you and he suggests chatting again. 

I now know how The Preppy Princess was feeling when she got to interview Lisa Birnbach and there really are few words to adequately describe it!  Lisa is lots, LOTS of fun, warm, charming and best of all, humble.  Speaking with her was like chatting with an old friend, she just has that kind of personality! 

I am so grateful Lisa added Toronto to her book tour - I am sorry Canadians aren't really that preppy and I wish the store had done more to promote the event.  Next time she comes here *I* will volunteer to plan the event !

Have a fabulous day!

Friday's Random Thoughts

I am loving this style of blogging!  I think this will be a regular feature!

- I bought a Christmas present last week!  I figure it's ok because we are closer to Christmas than we think.  I'm not going to say what it is or who it is for because the recipient reads my blog!

- I have applied for a position on the town council!  HHL actually found the information so I printed off the form, wrote and printed a letter (both on pink paper - if I could find scented pink paper I would've used that.  Yes I did just wake up one morning and said 'I think I will be on the town council!') and sent them in!  Now I just need to wait and see!

- I have my own domain now!  Why I didn't I think of this before! http://www.suburbanprincess.com/

- I am on LinkedIn now.  Click here to go to my page - if you are on there please add me!

- I find it annoying when I remove someone from my Facebook friend list (usually after they havn't responded to messages I have sent them) and 6 months later they message me all offended we aren't connected anymore.  If it takes 6 months to notice I am gone....why bother asking me why?

- Wouldn't it be nice if blogger had a feature to allow us to look at a blog and see who our mutual friends are?

- Small town drama...T is mad at K and telling anyone who will listen....T has had a lot to say about me even though she barely knows me but that doesnt bother me because the crowd she hangs out with is sooooo NOKD...anyhoo T has decided to tell me allllll about what K is supposedly doing.  It's quite hilarious to read pages and pages of emails T has written all about how she isn't one to talk behind someone's back then goes on to talk about K behind her back and none of it is flattering - very upset that K is talking behind her back (which actually isn't true - K's husband is the culprit) so she is now talking behind K's back to make sure everyone knows about it lol!  She keeps talking about karma - T actually sat in K's best friend's living room one afternoon telling her all about why she shouldn't be friends with K anymore....yes, karma.  I happen to have a very drama-free life but I just love other people's drama!

- Speaking of drama - RudeMom's husband was spotted in a 'romantic' situation on the beach a couple of weeks ago.  RudeMom wasn't there.  Do the math.

- High Heeled Life is having an awesome Lilly giveaway!  Please check out her blog - she is the sweetest little thing and is new to the world of Lilly so she is very enthusiastic!

- I spoke with the person in charge of fundraising for the women's shelter and we are going to get together in the fall to discuss my plans for a fundraising golf tournament in the spring.  I am very excited about this and it will be the first event I chair!

- I've decided I really like the term 'Classy Dame'.  Maybe I have been watching too much Mad Men.

- The Little Prince has learned about knives and forks and loves telling everyone what he is holding!  This is especially fun when we are in a restaurant and he is yelling 'F**k' over and over.  We are working on the letter 'R' this week.

- My cocktail party this past weekend was a success!  Everyone had a good time, lots to eat and enjoyed my musical selections!  I have learned there is a direct correlation between how much I dread a party and how successful it is.  Last year half of our guests cancelled on the day of that party (of course they weren't invited ever again.  They were all new invites.) so I was a bit stressed all day but I struck gold this year and everyone who RSVP'd came and behaved themselves! 

Have a fabulous day!

A blog observation

Free Milk?

I have noticed recently most of the blogs I read are becoming more infomercial than blog.  Every post seems to be about a product which begs the question...are we simply free advertising for companies?

I rarely blog about products unless I am 100% in love with them and before I post I always contact the company to give them a chance to participate in a giveaway to further promote their products.  Some jump at the chance, some ignore the emails...guess which businesses get the free promos?

I get a bit tired of the constant advertising everywhere I turn...Facebook, Twitter, the blogs...a newspaper or tv station wouldn't advertise for free...why do we do it but never ask the company for anything in return?

Small businesses approach me all the time to do giveaways on my blog but only one...ONE...has ever offered to give me something from their product line too!  Why?  Because that particular business person understands the value of blog marketing.  Is this a standard we should be trying to establish in the blogging world?  I actually hope so as I see so many of you sending all of your readers to stores, businesses and crafters to buy their wares yet you are never compensated - do you realise someone else is making money from your blog?  It's a shame to miss the chance to blog about your life and what you are up to as opposed to what clothing, cosmetic and shoe companies are up to.  50 years from now when you read your blog what do you want it to say?

Discuss.

**Update**

From the comments it seems a lot of you think I am talking about blogs that do a lot of giveaways...what I am actually referring to are the blogs that every single day do posts on what cosmetics companies, shoe companies, clothing companies and any other companies are selling...which is essentially free advertising for those companies.  I wonder if these bloggers know they are putting money into these companies' pockets and are getting nothing in return.

Have a fabulous day!

Napkin Swap Loot!

Don't forget to enter my Flower Power giveaway!  The winners will pick from my shop or design their own!

More flowers will be added to my shop this week so there will be lots to choose from or email me to design your own!  Don't wait for me to put the perfect one for you in my shop - let me know what you would like.

I took part in Pink Martinis and Pearls' napkin swap - Marianne sent me the most perfect set of napkins and lots of samples of the beauty products she sells!  Thanks again Marianne!  And thanks PM&P for organizing all of us!


Have a fabulous day!

Taking a couple of days off!

Happy Thursday!

I am taking a couple of days off but I will be back on Sunday with the launch of my new little business and a giveaway contest!

I am feeling a bit frazzled this week with the renovation going on in our house, keeping the Little Prince happy, keeping the Suburban Prince fed, the house tidy and everything else life is throwing my way!  In the middle of all of that I am working on my new business and getting product ready for you!  So between now and Sunday I will be pulling it all together!

I will still comment on blogs as I love to read them when I take breaks - I really can't resist seeing what everyone is up to!

To everyone who doesn't have a Costco near them...the Brookside chocolates are available in other places...I did say I bought them in the grocery store and I have also found them at the drug store - google them for locations. 

Please take a moment to check out the LillyP giveaway at Biscuits Are Never Boring!

Have a wonderful weekend!


Have a fabulous day!

The Big Night, Gratitude, Ads and a Giveaway!

Tonight is the night!!!  I am going with 4 friends - poor Hermes Scarf Friend went and had a child 8 years ago so wont be able to come with us since she feels skipping out on her son's birthday would be bad parenting.  I say it's very, very poor planning on her part.  I told her I would see it again with her next week so I will be seeing it at least twice!  Anyhoooo we just need to wait for one friend to get out of work at 5pm and we will be heading a few towns over to get tickets then go to dinner.  I predict a cocktail or two will be consumed!  I cant wait to hear what everyone thinks of the movie!

I am very excited to see I now have 252 followers!  YAY!  Thank you for pointing that out for me Associate Girl!  Thank you to everyone for reading my blog and leaving comments - you really do inspire me to keep writing.  I love reading what you think, agree with, disagree with and every day I feel like 252 one of my closest friends stop by for a chat!

I am accepting ads for my left sidebar!  If you have a business and would like to advertise on my blog please email me!  The monthly rates are very afforable and we get a lot of traffic here!

I have a facebook page!  Please feel free to join me there too!

Please check out Pink Preppy Lilly Lover's Murfee scarf giveaway!  I would so love to win this scarf!  We dont really have Lilly here in the Great White North but I can't get enough of it!  I have been drooling over the Murfees since the day they hit the internet!  Besides her giveaway, her blog is lots of fun so it's worth checking out regardless!

Happy Friday!

I feel like I have been a bit boring lately.  I guess every day can't be tea parties and other fabulous events! 

Lately I have been taking care of the mundane aspects of life.

I decided not to blog about all of the laundry and ironing I have been doing as I get all of the summer clothes ready for the warm weather.

I decided not to blog about how I had to pump my own gas the other day.

I decided not to blog about how it doesn't matter how many times I clean them, there are always tiny little fingerprints on the mirrors and glass doors.

I decided not to blog about the grocery store not having chocolate Ovaltine in stock.

I decided not to blog about Rude Mom.  Turns out she has been told about alllll of the 'rumours' about her husband.  Everyone in town knows he is cheating on her but she says none of those rumours are true. Uh huh.

I decided not to blog about the Little Prince and his language classes.  He is coming along, by the way, and is finally trying to use the words we have been working on.  Every day we practice saying 'princess'.

I have been busy lately, just not with anything terribly fabulous.

I promise to be more interesting starting next week!

Have a fabulous day!

200th Post!

Wow I can't believe I have had enough things to say to warrant 200 posts! 

There is no way I could've come this far with my blog without all of you who read and comment on every post!

Thank you for keeping me motovated and inspiring me to write about my life, interests and the nutty people around me!

Thank you to everyone who commented on my post about ads on blogs - I think I will try it and see how it goes so if anyone wants their ad and link on my blog, please contact me!  I will be switching to a 3-column format so I will be reorganizing a little bit!

I am looking forward to the next 100 posts!


Have a fabulous day!

Your opinion please....

Happy Easter!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

I am hoping to get your opinion on the idea of advertising on my blog.

I was thinking about letting a few small business put an ad on my blog - all businesses I have used, trust and would recommend to anyone who is looking for what they offer.  I am approached quite often to do giveaways and promotions and most of the time I get nothing out of it except maybe a few new followers (always appreciated!) and the chance to make someone happy with a prize.  I started thinking hmmmm...paid advertising might work!

Would this offend you?
Would this bother you in any way?
Would you think less of a blog with ads on it?
Would you continue to read and support a blog with ads on it?
If you don't look at the ads on other blogs, are they google ads?  Or all ads?  For example, ads from other blogs, etsy stores etc.

Please be brutally honest!  I would really love to know what you think of this so I can make the right decision for my blog!

Thanks!


Have a fabulous day!

Oscar night munchies!

Don't forget to enter my March LillyP Giveaway!

With Oscar night quickly approaching (does it seem like it is very early this year?) I thought it would be fun to share some Oscar themed dishes! All of these can be found at Martha Stewart - click here to go to the full list of ideas and recipes! Each dish is based on a past Oscar winner!

When Harry Met Sally!

Ratatouille


Mystic Pizza!


Like Water For Chocolate


Lady and the Tramp!


Julie & Julia!

Fried Green Tomatoes!


Forest Gump!


Chocolat!


Casablanca (which happens to be my absolute favourite movie - I have been to Casablanca, it is nothing like in the movie)!


Bridget Jones' Diary (remember the blue soup?)!


Have a fabulous day!

PS...does anyone else find it almost impossible to get the photos and text to work together in blogger? I have the hardest time getting everything to look the way I want!