This past week, I sat down and made a list of everything I needed to do. Then Monday/Tuesday I set time aside to do everything and now I am officially ready. YAY ME!
I literally got ALL my Holiday shopping done in 20 minutes flat, thanks to Amazon!
I gave 5 minutes of searching per person on my list and if I hadn't decided on anything for them in 5 minutes, they got the last thing I looked at. I know sounds, slightly non personal. But seriously, I found some awesome gifts that way.
I actually took some tips from my new friend Rachel McMichael's Blog, she shared a few weeks ago about planning. I made me some lists and goal lists for the week, and wahoo they all got done as well as one that I had been putting off for over a year! Guess, I have hit that point in my life that I need a list to motivate me more than just knowing it needs to be done. But hey, whatever works right!
This morning I have my Dr. Appt about my back.
I wasn't going to tell you all this, but I am seriously worried about it. I cannot sit or stand in the same position for more than 2 minutes before I am in excruciating pain. I can't walk around much, definitely bending is out, no lifting. I almost cannot even stand up straight anymore, I have this pathetic leaning thing going on. And I officially cringe at the thought of having to get out of bed in the morning and have the pain start. (I know I sound 90 years old, and not a healthy 90.)
Pretty much the only thing I can do that makes it feel better is putting heat on it and laying on my side.
I have an incredibly high amount of pain tolerance, always have (think that's what makes me so perfectly fit for running a marathon, lol.) but that tolerance is reaching its limits, I definitely need help! Wish me luck and if you're a praying person, I'd be incredibly thankful for a prayer that the Dr's can get this figured out quick for me.
When I first started this blog, I would share this next bit of info quite frequently, but this past year I have allowed my writing to take a back burner to the rest of life.
So some of you may or may not know, a few years ago I wrote an Adult Historical Fiction Romance based during the Vietnam War. I got so busy and never got around to seeing if I could get a publisher to like it enough to give me a chance and publish it. I am finally getting on that, and I am going to get it ready to go.
I've also got a few other books in progress. One particular YA that I have started working on the past few weeks a little.
I've been asked by so many local friends to write a beginners book to blogging, which I haven't really done, but I have been compiling stuff for it. Which I will tell you more about in the next section, but since I will be teaching blogging classes, it may be in my best interest to finally get around to.
One thing that is definitely not going to get put off any longer is my love and dream of becoming a published book author, so time to get moving on that!
Last, if you're a blogger I would love your advice.I have been asked by the County I live in to teach a introduction to blogging/beginners blogging/all the things you need/like to know to begin blogging etc... class in February.
It will be held in a conference room at one of the county libraries. I will share more information on it, soon in case any of you locally may like to attend.
But I need a title for the class, and a short catch phrase (call to action) to grab attention for the advertisement on it that will be going out. I could let their marketing team do it, but then again they know nothing about blogging. So I asked to title it all myself, well myself with the help of some of you:)
So my creative blogging friends throw your thinking cap on, and if you have any ideas for me, I'd love to hear them!
If it goes well, I may be doing more of these. The best part is, I am actually getting paid as a public speaker to do this:) Just another great way blogging is the fun gift that has been so generous to me this year!
So that's pretty much it!
I will quickly mention, the time off since September I have been taking for my foot/ankle work injury I believe is paying off, I've seen significant healing. If it wasn't for my back, I'd be out walking/running right now to know for sure. I am bound and determined to make 2016 my comeback year. I know what you're thinking, I said that about 2015. But when first you don't succeed, try try again, right!
Oh, I have a giveaway going on that started today as well. Click on the Mid Winters Hop image on my sidebar for a chance to win a great prize.
If your a follower of mine, you probably know I don't believe in being politically correct, and I never will.
So I would like to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas, and may you and your families experience the true meaning behind it, and share that meaning with others this week!
I am linking up with HoHo Runs and Mississippididdlin today for their Weekly Wrap!
Are you ready for Christmas? What is your favorite Christmas Tradition?
Do you have any ideas I could use as a title for the blog class I will be teaching? Or a catch phrase for it?
I really like how you approached Christmas shopping, Kristy. I tried to not get too wrapped up in finding the "perfect" gift for everybody this year. There's just way too much going on right now! And Amazon was my BFF when it came to getting most of my shopping done too! What did we ever do before online shopping?!?
ReplyDeleteThat's fast shopping! I often end up buying the first item I look at when I shop so I should probably just quit searching after I see one good idea. My blog class title idea: So You Want to Start a Blog?
ReplyDeleteI'm very similar with my approach to shopping, although I don't set the time limit. That's a neat idea. I hope your back is okay, sounds painful. The blogging class is interesting. I wonder what type of people you will attract? There are many (myself included) that are initially attracted to it as a way to journal something and share with family and friends. There may be others that are specifically looking to it as a business opportunity. Perhaps something that appeals to all? "How to develop a blog that is a reflection of your interests" That probably isn't catchy enough. But I think you get the idea.
ReplyDeleteI did all my shopping online, and most of it on Amazon. It makes gift giving so much easier! I hope the doctor can help with your back or at least figure out what's going on. And good luck with getting the books published! That sounds so exciting.
ReplyDeleteA blog class? How exciting! I do probably 80% of my shopping online these days. Makes it so much easier!!
ReplyDeleteLove Amazon! We did a majority of our shopping on Amazon too! Love Prime and their free shipping! I hope your doctor finds out what is wrong with your back. Hoping he helps with alleviating that pain! Great to hear you will be teaching a blogging course! Such a great opportunity for you! Have a great week and Merry Christmas Kristy!
ReplyDeleteI am ready! and I too have to thank Amazon for helping me get the gift shopping done! Love it! Congrats on the blogging class teacher, enjoy it! and you have a prayer from me, good luck with the doctor! thinking of you!
ReplyDeleteoh no so sorry to hear that you are still in so much pain. I hope you get the answers you are looking for at the DR. I did most of my shopping on line too. The blogging course sounds like a lot of fun. Can't wait to hear about it!
ReplyDeleteWow, thank goodness for Amazon! I am sorry to hear you are still in pain...sending you lot of healing energy and love, xo
ReplyDeleteThanks Kathryn! It actually worked really well, and I don't think if I spent hours looking for gifts I would have found anything better than I did in a few minutes, LOL
ReplyDeleteAmazon is such a BFF isn't it! I totally agree, I love online shopping, it's a lifesaver!
It was fast shopping, and seriously I don't think I would have found them better gifts if I spent hours in the stores, LOL so I am happy with it all.
ReplyDeleteI do like that title, thanks for the suggestion Tina!!!
I know, I have wondered what type of people it will attract too. When they first approached me to do it, I said to them, do you think people will actually come. I hope there is at least 5-6 people, but I am taking it upon myself to advertise it to a few publishing companies in case their authors may want to attend:) I don't want an empty room, LOL
ReplyDeleteDefinitely love your idea, I see exactly where you are going with that, that may be part of the tag line I use!!! Thanks for the idea!
Oh doesn't it, it makes it so much easier!!!!
ReplyDeleteThank you, I actually returned from the Dr's and some possible good news, along with some great pain meds and fingers crossed that I will be healed up soon, either way I will know in 1 week:)
I know, online shopping is seriously the best isn't it!
ReplyDeleteI need to sign up with Prime, I buy there enough that it would more than pay for itself!
ReplyDeleteThanks, I did visit the Doc this morning and its partially good news, and we are hitting it hard with some pain meds and steroids so hopefully by Monday I might be pain free, oh I hope!!!! Thank you, and you have a Merry Christmas too!!!
Thanks MB!!! Oh Amazon is amazing, I seriously couldn't of done it this year without them! I also love that they emailed me this morning and let me know my package will be arriving in few hours, perfect to know when to watch for it!
ReplyDeleteThanks, at first when they asked me to do the blogging class I wondered if there would even be interest in the community, but we shall see. I am half excited for it, always great to do things that kind of scare ya a little right:)
ReplyDeleteThank you Lauren! Oh yes, thank goodness for Amazon, this years Christmas wouldn't be happening without them, for those I gift at least:)
ReplyDeleteI do hope you get some answers from you Dr's appointment and by all means I'll pray for you and the doctors. Wow what a great opportunity to teach a blogging class! I've told you before, I've learned more from you my friend than any one person since I've been blogging. I wish I was better about catchy phrases, I will think on it and if I come up with something I'll hollar! Oh and that is exactly why I like you! Merry Christmas to you too!
ReplyDeleteMy thoughts are with you today and I hope you get good news at your doctor appointment! I can't imagine how frustrating it must be to deal with that type of pain on a daily basis.
ReplyDeleteLol - I like your method for picking out Christmas gifts! I tend to overthink presents too much and end up going back and forth trying to find the perfect thing for each person. I'll have to remember that tip for next year to save a bit of time.
My favorite holiday tradition is Christmas brunch with the family. I love getting to see everyone and enjoy some tasty eats. Merry Christmas to you as well!
So awesome to get all of your shopping done in 20 minutes - gotta love Amazon! I sure hope you get some relief soon for your back. Merry Christmas to you too :)
ReplyDeleteAmazon is a wonderful place, and lists make my world go round. <3
ReplyDeleteI'm really really sorry to hear about your back. :[ Definitely sending you lots of good thoughts/vibes + prayers, and I hope they figure out what's going on so they can fix it soon! <3
I am unfortunately terrible with coming up with titles, but I hope something awesome crosses your mind soon!
Good luck getting those books published, and have a very merry Christmas! :D!
I am so excited for you on the writing front! After the marathon I need to start concentrating on more of my writing too! I gave up writing for the magazine for a few months just because I knew I would be stressed about making the deadlines while training. We need to keep eachother motivated in that area. Your blog class sounds great! I'll be thinking of a name for ya! Hope you get good news at the dr!
ReplyDeleteThanks Tricia! I do remember you saying that, and that just made my day again:) I am excited to teach the class, my only fear is its something that no one is interested in, so just in case I am going to fill it a little with a few friends, LOL because that is what friends are for right, to help you not bomb, LOL
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas Tricia!
Thanks Sun! I did get some semi good news, I will know by next Monday if what we are trying is working or if we have to try something new, so fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteI have been like that in the past for Christmas gifts, but this year I can't lie I loved the stress free method I tried, and I really do think I found them better gifts that way quickly than if I stretched it out and shopped around:)
Oh how fun, that would be awesome to do Christmas brunch with your family! Have a Merry Christmas Sun!
Amazon is totally the best, livesaver for sure!!! Merry Christmas Denise!!!
ReplyDeleteOh Amazon is such a wonderful place, of all things technology and online wise, it's seriously the best, LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks Farrah, since you are in the medical field you will probably understand this, I did meet with the Doc today and we are taking a very aggressive approach since right now it is looking like it may be muscle related or my Sciatic Nerve since both can be treated the same way, we are going hard core with one method that usually works, if it does I should see major relief in a week. If not, we are going to go with plan B, not sure what that is, but if needed my doc is awesome and told me just to call and we will discuss it over the phone:)
You have a very Merry Christmas too Farrah!!! Hope you get to settle down and stay in one place this week and enjoy it:)
Thank you Meranda!
ReplyDeleteWe definitely do need to motivate each other. Like you writing is one of my passions I am not sure why I let things take over it. But it happens, and sometimes there is the burn out factor and like you sometimes other things in life need to take priority to reduce stress. But I am so beyond totally ready to get going on it full bore again, and just see what happens. You and me both, lets do it!!!
Oh heck, I've been wishing just about all of my patients Merry Christmas (unless they are wearing a head scarf). It's that time of year.
ReplyDeleteSo exciting about your writing opportunities! Isn't that great!!!
What a great opportunity to share about blogging! :) Every year on Christmas eve since I got married my husband and I watch It's a Wonderful Life on Christmas Eve. The last few years we've had a whole party with his family, but since we move this year it looks like it will be just us again. :)
ReplyDeleteThat sounds like a fun to teach a class for beginning bloggers :) I was clueless when I got into this where I was headed. Some days I still don't know lol I have such mixed emotions about blogging. I sure hope you can get some relief for your back. That sounds awful :(
ReplyDeleteif I think of something catchy I'll be back lol Merry Christmas!!!
That's great your community saw a need for a Blogger's Universe (so to speak). There is SO much to learn, and so many ways to do it. And, they certainly have a more-than-capable instructor ;-) Best of luck, and a Merry Christmas to you!!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness - WOW! So many thoughts - I could literally write you paragraphs! First - thank you for the shout-out! I just LOVE your blog and am SO thankful for all of your fantastic tips and advice. I agree that you need to write a beginners blogging book - what a great way to share your knowledge and a fun additional way to monetize your site! I've been so worried about your back and your ankle, and I'm so glad you're {hopefully} going to be finding some relief for your back pain!! And I am ready for Christmas too! Just dropped of our neighbor's gifts {and ordered almost everything else online too - mostly Amazon!!} :)
ReplyDeleteKristi, I'm so sorry to hear about your back. I suffered with a bad back for many, many years--from the time I was 17, until I moved to Utah 5 years ago. Happy to say, since I moved here, I haven't had any issues, which tells me it was probably stress. I had severe muscle spasms. I couldn't vacuum or lift anything, and my activity was limited. Seeing my chiropractor that I had for 25 years was my biggest relief. I went to him if I was sick with anything, even a cold. He was magic. I hope you see a good chiropractor for your back. Sad to say, I can't recommend because, I haven't needed one since living here.
ReplyDeleteI'll have to think of a catchy catch phrase and class title for you, but I would just say, call it what it is. Beginning Blogging: how to set up, write copy, add gadgets--or all you ever need to know to get started. Something along those lines. If it's too catchy, or techy, I might not know what I'm signing up for and might not know if I want to take the class. Just my two cents. Instead of Beginning Blogging, maybe Better Blogging (I love alliteration)--or maybe that can be your second class, after learning how to set it all up.
I am 90% ready for Christmas. How about you?
And, I love the idea of you writing a blogging book!
Merry Christmas!
I hope your Dr apt went well this morning, and you got some answers! I did pray for you, and will continue to do so! I love how you did your Christmas shopping. That's the way to do it! I wish I lived close by and could attend your blogging class, I know you'll do great!
ReplyDeleteI did 99% of my shopping using Amazon Prime. I wish I had employed your 5 minute rule though. I'm praying you had a good visit with the doctor. Pain of any kind is so frustrating and it's time for good things to happen! I admire your attitude and grace this year! The blogging class would be fun. I still have things to learn. Blogging Basics. Benefits of Blogging. The Black & White of Blogging. You'll come up with something much better! I hope you have a Merry Christmas Kristy! Thanks for linking.
ReplyDeleteAwesome jog on the Amazon shopping!! I so need to do that next year!!! I have all the kiddie gifts just not the parents and sibling gifts....might just end up being gifts from the kiddies :)
ReplyDeleteI am soooooo sorry about your back. I hope you got some answers and/or relief from your Dr visit.
I am so not creative...but I will keep thinking of some catchy words for your class. How exciting though! I actually am writing a post about the blog hop experience....I know I told you before but I LOVED it!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS to you as well!!!
First off, I really hope the back is nothing serious. Fingers crossed for you, but it sounds like you are doing everything right. Just get to that Dr ASAP! Isn't Amazon the best. 99% of my shopping is on Amazon! Can't live without it!! Congrats on the blogging course, so fun! I'll give it some thought for a name! Merry Christmas Kristy!
ReplyDeleteThanks! Hope you have a Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteOh I love that movie, I haven't watched it yet this year, I might have to break it out tomorrow it really is one of the great ones!
ReplyDeleteThanks Karen! Ya I am excited for it, I hope others will enjoy it and it will help a few get into it the right way from the beginning:)
ReplyDeleteLOL, I like that term:) There is so much to learn and I think a lot get scared about it all and never get into it, but there are so many fun reasons to get into blogging I hope I can give a good intro to it:) You have a Merry Christmas too Kimberly!
ReplyDeleteThanks Rachel, I am really thinking about the book. When I had a few people start asking me to do it months ago I started putting a few ideas together, I've put a lot more together since then but it's still in the idea phase, but who knows it might just happen, we shall see:)
ReplyDeleteI am working with my Dr. now, he thinks he knows what is wrong and we are beginning a very aggressive treatment and I have very high hopes for a recovery in the near future, so thank you!
Oh, and isn't Amazon great!!!
Thanks Susan! Oh that sounds awful, I am glad moving to Utah helped fix it, sometimes we do just need a change of pace to fix the stress, right!
ReplyDeleteYou know, I had a really bad experience with a Chiro years ago. In short because of it and his lies, it has ruined my opinion of them. Even though I know there are some great ones out there, but between that and so many specialists warning me not to see them, I just don't even if I know they do work for some.
But I did visit with the Dr. and my situation wouldn't be helped by one anyway, but on the good news front we think we know what is wrong now, and we started Monday treating it aggressively and I can see small signs of it working already so I am very hopeful it's even possible the pain may be mostly gone by Monday (fingers crossed) If not, we are going to try a 2nd even more aggressive method, but usually the one I am doing now works for patients in my situation so we shall see.
I am ready for Christmas, and I hope you make your 90% to 100% so you can sit back and relax and enjoy the Holiday!
I've been asked so many times by people if I would do a Blogging Book, I won't lie I have been compiling things ever since they started putting the idea in my head, but its so in the idea phase, LOL But maybe it will happen, who knows:)
Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!!
Thanks Katie! I did get some answers and we started Monday treating it aggressively based on what they believe is wrong, so I am hopeful. I can't wait for the day I am no longer in pain.
ReplyDeleteI wish you lived closer to, I'd save ya a front seat, although you are far more beyond the blogging skill set I will be teaching, I am going straight beginners:) Have a Merry Christmas!
Oh ya, isn't Amazon just awesome! Seriously I loved my 5 minute rule, I found most gifts in 2 minutes or less and I really do think I found better gifts this way than if I had spent hours searching stores for them, LOL
ReplyDeleteThose are some great suggestions, thank you! Have a Merry Christmas!
Thanks Sue! I visited the Doctor and we think we know what is wrong, we are treating it very aggressively this week, I should know by Monday if what we are doing is working or not, if not we are going after it a different way. But I am very hopeful and can't wait for the pain to be gone!
ReplyDeleteOh yes, Amazon is seriously the best, I couldn't live with out it, especially this year!
Merry Christmas to you too Sue!
I'm so behind on my blog reading but enjoyed this post and especially the sentiment at the end. I hope you enjoyed Christmas with your family and your back is improving daily. I also did alot of shopping on Amazon, but for a few people I had to go to stores to find exactly what I was looking for. Clothing seems easier to shop for in a store than online and buying for my 89 year old mother is nicer when I see the clothes up close. Somehow I find colors to change when put on the computer screen. Hope you have a wonder New Year and congrats on doing so well with your blog!
ReplyDeleteSo glad to hear that your doc is awesome! I hope plan A worked out and that you're feeling a lot better now! <3
ReplyDeleteI do indeed get to stay in one place for the holidays, so it's been pretty darn awesome (although I've never felt lazier, hahaha). Happy New Year! :]!