Adding a little bling to the blog

Last week I created a favicon for my blog.  How do you like it?

What is a favicon you ask?

Really?

Okay, I didn't know what they were before last week either, but lets pretend I did.

It's like adding a little something-something extra to the blog.  Making your brand that much more recognizable.

See up there in the address line of my blog.  You should see a little KB preceding the address.  That's a favicon.  

I stumbled across a post for a web design site talking about key components to your site.  The favicon was one of the things I had never heard about.  But I started to play with the idea of creating my own.  I knew what they were because I had seem them all over the web but had no idea what they were called. 

After some more fun research and begging, pleading and bribing IT Guy I stumbled upon a site that offered up a way to create one for free.  And you know I love me some free stuff.

So now the question is; do you like it?  Chances are you would never have noticed it had I not pointed it out, but lets just pretend you did notice it.  Is the KB pretty clear?  Do you think the colors are good?  Just a little feedback so I can get it tweaked.

Also just an FYI.  If you decide to play around with a favicon and add one to your blog it takes a couple of days for it to show up after you have uploaded it.  Originally I thought I had done something wrong until I learned that it can take sometimes two or three days for the favicon to show up.

Bookhungy: Needed a Saltwater Fix

Bookhungry spent this month on the high seas.

Our selection come from Ms. Karla Nellenbach over at The Last Word

We reviewed Tawna Fenske's debut novel Making Waves.

I spent a Saturday reading this delicious tale about a crew of dysfunctional pirates, a crazy cook and one quirky heroine. 

The blurb from amazon reads as follows:

She always wanted to belong...just not to a dysfunctional pirate crew

Juli has trouble fitting in, though she'd prefer to keep the reasons to herself. But when she mistakenly stows away on a ship of misfit corporate castoffs, her own secrets become the least of her concerns.

He knows plotting a diamond heist may be considered unusual behavior...

But Alex isn't feeling very normal when his unscrupulous boss kicks him to the curb. Meeting Juli doesn't do much to restore normalcy to Alex's life either, but it sure is exhilarating!
As Alex and Juli bare their secrets-and a whole lot more-they find that while normal is nice, weird can be wonderful.

This book was a satisfying read from start to finish.   Kind of like watching a hurricane name Juli run roughshod over an unsuspecting man on a mission.  The plot of this book was original and the hilarity that ensures is sure to keep you laughing through the entire story. 

A funny thing happened to Juli on her way to spread her Uncle's ashes.  Yep, that's a good way to start this review.  Add in a wacky rendition of the Newlywed Game, an allergic reaction to some seasickness medication, a couple of pirates a boat loaded with diamonds and you got yourself a madcap laugh-yourself-silly story that only Tawna could tell.

But don't take my word for it...read it for yourself.  This is one read you don't want to miss.

Sometimes it's the little things

A few months ago when we were in Miami I found a magazine that I fell in love with.

It's called Olive.

I had desperately wanted to get myself a subscription to this magazine but since it's a British publication was having a difficult time.  At least until I found it on Amazon.  The only problem was they wanted $134.00 for a one year subscription. 

Yes, really.

Hello, I didn't like the magazine that much!

So imagine my surprise last night as I was pursuing the internet looking for fun and funky new apps when I stumbled across a magazine app that allows me to buy my favorites in a digital format. 

And they offered Olive.

O.M.G.

Guess what I am doing today?  I am taking a much needed day off to lounge by the pool and catch up on my magazine reading.  No only was I able to buy a new yearly subscription but, I was also able to purchase back copies of the magazine as well.

In case your wondering the app is Zinio and it's free (one of my favorite words when it comes to apps).  The subscriptions aren't.  I'm okay with that though, because if I could I would have purchased the printed version.  This way I save some money and make my carbon footprint just a little bit smaller.  God, I love technology.

Happy Birthday BookHungry

This month BookHungry turns One.  Okay it was technically last month as we formed the book club in July of last year.  But since our first review was in August I'm going with August.

How cool is that?  

A year ago during a twitterfest session with some of my favorite tweeps an idea was born.  It was quite brilliant in its simplicity.  We enjoyed sharing we all loved to read so why not start a book club.  Of course this book club wouldn't be your normal type.  

We weren't going to take turns hosting dinner or debating over who should bring the wine.  In fact I had never met any of the other book club literary lovers since we all cover different areas of the United States there was definitely a challenge here.

But one we were willing to rise to.

And rise we did.

Through emails and blogs we have managed to "meet" to discuss our selections and debate what we did or didn't like about each title.  And let me tell you it has been interesting. Every month a new member brings their selection to the table.  We read and discuss and every third Thursday of the month we post our review via our own blogs.  

But last night we introduced a game changer.  And I think it was appropriate that it happened now.  Right when we are turning a year old, growing and changing.  We conference called with each other and this months book selection author.  It was awesome.  The best part was after this months author left the line the Bookhungry ladies stayed on the call for another thirty minutes just chatting.

I for one am hoping this becomes part of our monthly norm.  I realize we won't always be able to have said book author join us, but after last night we're sure gonna try.     

So Happy Birthday BookHungry and thank you to all the ladies of Bookhungry.  You give me something to look forward to each and every month.  

Going the Distance

I had a conversation with a lovely young women that has met that special someone.  She is in love.  For years she has been asking me how did I know?  When I met the Captain, how did I know he was the one?

Like any smart women I went with the standard patent answer; you just do.

Because really, that is how it worked.

She laughed.  And went on to explain why that couldn't possibly be the right answer.  First of all there had to be something that attracted me to him?  Well duh, of course there was.  His chiseled good looks.  Those electric eyes that look like blue flames when he is in an amorous mood.  That smoking hot body.  That's right I said it, boy's butt is so tight you can bounce a quarter off it. 

Too much information?

Seriously, it wasn't just his good looks that convinced me he was the man of my dreams.  The one I wanted to spend the rest of my life with.  Quite simply, it was how I felt in his company.  That magic, make-my-heart-beat-at-the-speed-of-light-think-I-could-fly feeling that started that day some twenty years ago and has never left.

Then she asked if I knew why I was one of the lucky ones.  Lucky ones?  What?  You know, how some women are lucky enough to find that one person they are meant to spend the rest of their lives with?  How did I get to be one of those women?  Honestly, I don't consider myself lucky.  I consider myself a hard worker and lets be clear here, marriage is the hardest job you'll ever have. 

Recently another friend said if she had met her husband later in life and not when she was twenty, she doesn't know if she would have been so courageous to have leaped.  Me, I think I agreed for about a minute.  Then I remembered that no one has ever loved, challenged, encouraged, infuriated, supported and exhilarated me all at the same time quite like the Captain has.  

And in the end love is ALWAYS worth the risk.  

Something to sink your teeth into

Today I had a dental appointment.  I had to get a crown delivered.

Why do they say it that way?  And by they I mean everyone in my dentist's office.

Receptionist at dentist office, "Good Morning Ms. Breakey, I see your here for your crown delivery."

That's a little freaky for me.  Your taking out the temporary and installing the permanent one.  How are you delivering anything during this process?  And if you are delivering something during this process how come I'm the one in all the pain?  

These are the things I ponder.  

And it does hurt.  

Okay the deliver part didn't actually hurt.  Doh, now they have me doing it.  No while I was in there getting delivery of one I had to have two more teeth prepped for another delivery.  Or would that be deliveries?  No clue.

They shaved the teeth down and let me look at them.  I really wish I could delete that visual from my brain.  It totally grossed me out.  I will have dreams that this is how I now look, I know it.

Then I got a look at the instruments on the tray.  Some of that stuff was more intimidating than what my gyno uses.  Seriously.

By the way if this write up doesn't make sense I have a perfectly good explanation.  I'm on pain meds.  

Whipped into a frenzy

Life seems to be moving at the speed of light lately.

And I gotta tell you I don't like it.

I'm the kinda gal who likes to stop and smell the roses but at the rate in which things are going I don't even recognize the roses lately.  Instead I have been wearing the rose scented perfume.  Yeah, its a little like cheating.  But it makes me feel better.  

Monday night we had a hellish storm come rolling through.  There was lightning dancing across the sky and water was being dumped on us at a rate that was reminiscent with the water falls I had experienced in Jamaica.  It was stunning to watch from the inside of our home. 

But like foreplay the best part of the storm was right before.

The sky started to darken and the clouds started to rise.  There were flashes of light high up in the tops, in the lightest part.  I watched as the palm trees started to sway to music only mother nature could provide and only they could hear.  As the pace started to increase and the clouds changed their direction, diving away from each other and rolling out like dark ominous waves about to crash down on us, I couldn't help but stand right there and watch.  

It was amazing and it was beautiful.  Reminding me of how small I really am.  Then the rain started lashing out as if to say, "you idiots, get into the house" and the lighting streaks were no longer shooting up toward the heavens but snaking down toward the ground.  We were directly in their path.  Finally we listened and headed into the house.  

But right before we closed the door I could have swore I smelled...no it wasn't roses.  But that would have been ironic huh?  No instead, I smelled the grass as it started to drink the rain.  One of my favorite smells.  Reminds me why I love summer so much.  Who needs roses anyway? 

Cheer me up Charlie

Because he makes me smile.  Every. Time.

It has been decided.  When I die I want to come back as one of my cats.  They have the perfect life.  And quite frankly, I am jealous.

This is Charlie...and he is taking his afternoon Siesta.  He does it every day at the same time and in the same place.

Jealous, right?

Getting my Read on!

Today's Friday and I am sooooooooooooooo glad.  

This week has been super-crazy-busy-nuts!  That should really be capitalized.  But I am just too tired to worry about it.

Work has been gangbuster.  Things are starting to pick up which is good news for the company but means that I am burning my candle at both ends.  And let me just say that I am pretty entertaining when my hair catches fire, not when my nether regions do.  Let's just say; it ain't pretty.

There are like 100 things on NetFlix I want to be streaming to my TV and watching but I am too busy for that right now and by the time I have the time to watch it NetFlix will no longer be offering these title for stream.  Wait, did that make sense?  Whatever...too tired to worry that as well.

I have about 1000 books in my TBR pile that keeps getting bigger and bigger and the time I get to spend with said pile keeps getting smaller and smaller.  Of course my TBR pile is actually all of the titles that I have downloaded to my kindle but have yet to read.  

Yes people 1000 is a large number and I have many interest and diverse taste in subjects and authors so when I say 1000 I mean 42.  I know this because I counted.  Good God, when I am going to find the time to read 42 books that I am sure will have grown before the end of the day because something else will have snared my attention.

So this weekend I'm thinking it's going to be all about me.  I am going to spend some quality time alone.  Hanging by the pool with my kindle and reading.  I am going to finish at least three books this weekend or hurt myself trying.  

Wish me luck. 

I'll never see a bicycle the same

Here's what I got for video Thursday.

Say what you will...but this was pretty amazing even using spotters.

I can't even dance in sync with my hip hop abs DVD.  No way in hell could I ever do this.

AquaPalooza was AquaFabulous

Saturday we spent the day on the boat.

Gasp!  Shock! 

I know.  You can't believe that I spent a whole day out on the water.  

Anyway, this is a story I want to share with you guys...but I think I want to do it in pictures.

So here they go.

It was a great day.  Okay, the hamburgers they served were a little to raw for me, but Nae' liked them.

That's what friends are for...

I've started a new tradition.

I like tradition.  I'm a big fan.  Every year at Thanksgiving we fry our turkey.  And at Christmas time I put up four trees and no that is not excessive.  When the Captain has a birthday he gets to wear a crown.  Come on, I have to let him be king for at least a day.  For my birthday every year the Captain treats me to a wonderful lunch at my favorite restaurant.  

See, tradition.  I like them.  So now lets talk about my new one.

From now on; instead of buying gifts for my girlfriends when their birthdays roll around I'm doing something out of the ordinary.  I'm buying a gift for myself.

Blows. Your. Mind.  Right?

I know what your thinking.  This could be a new trend and I always wanted to be a trend-setter. 

At the end of July Muffy had a birthday.  She turned 27.  Again.  I wrote about it here.

Since I posted I received the shoes and here is what they look like on. 

Pretty smokin' hot don'tcha think?  Yeah, they kill but a girls gotta do what a girls gotta do for this look.

Well yesterday; another friend had a birthday.  Angie...I  think she turned 30.  Again.

So in honor of her birthday I decided to celebrate with another pair of shoes for myself. See, tradition.  I'm loving this new idea. 

Here is what they look like.  

Yeah, I like these too.  So Happy Birthday Angie.  Hope it was a good one and just know that every time I wear these...well I'll just be looking hot, hot, hot.

And I just love that. 

This is one you'll Flip for...

Every once in a while something happens and you ask yourself a question.

Why?

That happened to me last night. 

The new version of blogger decided to un-follow me from all the blogs I had been following.  

Every. Single. One.

This in turn forced me to find a solution to the problem.  Yes, I could have just run back and re-followed every blog I had previously been un-followed from.  And don't get me wrong I did immediately do that with a few.  The ones that were currently stuck in my head.  But I realized that could take all night.  

Instead I got on my trusty iPad and started playing around with an app I already downloaded called Flipboard.  I liked this app before yesterday, but after my mini-melt down last night I think I kicked like to the curb and fell head over heels in love.  With an app no less.  

As a self proclaimed tech loving geek I feel no shame in admitting this.

Here's the description from the iPad store:

Flipboard is a fast, beautiful way to flip through the news, photos, videos, and updates your friends are sharing on Facebook, Twitter, Google Reader, Flickr, and Instagram. See your social media in a magazine layout that is easy to scan and fun to read. Catch up on the latest stories, videos and posts from popular publications and people such as National Geographic, The New Yorker, Wired, Rolling Stone, Oprah, Forbes, Robert Scoble, and Brain Pickings' Maria Popova. Share articles and photos, comment on posts, and like or favorite anything. Customize your Flipboard with sections created from your favorite news, people, blogs, and topics.

Your Flipboard is everything you care about in one place. It's your magazine. It's your Flipboard.

And keep in mind.  This one is Free!  If you have an iPad and don't have this app go and get it now.  If you don't have an iPad...um, sorry. 

I was able to go back and through Google Reader add most of the blogs I was following and now I can browse the content in a much more streamlined and cleaner way.  Plus I caught some postings I had missed the first time around and yes I can even comment form this app.  The downsize is it doesn't show me following your blog; but I just wanted all of you to know I'm still here and I'm still reading your stuff.

Thinking Thursday...see if this one doesn't make you go hmmm...

As you know on Thursday I like to give you guys some fantastic video's to look at.  

Okay, maybe I don't do it every Thursday.  So what if I not always consistent.  That's what keeps you guys coming back.  My blog is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get.  (In case you didn't know I totally ripped that line off. Scandalous.)

Anyway, yesterday, as I was surfing the tweets of my twitterati I stumbled upon one from @THansenWrites.  It blew my mind.  Seriously.  With a capital S.  

No, don't take my word for it.  Just go ahead and watch it.  

I'll wait.


\

How freaking cool is that and where can I get mine?  

After watching this...what would you "print"???

Stuck between a wedge and a muffintop

I was spending some quality time in the office this weekend.  

Well I had to get my monitors installed.  Not for work.  So I can play the shoe sites against each other while I am shopping.  I like to save money while I add to my shoe collection.  Shhh.

Today is Muffintopmommy's birthday.  She turned 27.  

Again.  

I think this is like the fifth or sixth time.  I can't keep track.  Hell, I can't keep track of how many times I turned 27, so no way am I trying to keep up with hers.  That is too exhausting.  Kind of like when you want to stuff your fat butt into a pair of too tight jeans and have to use a clothes hanger to pull the zipper up.  E-X-H-A-U-S-T-I-N-G.  You know who you are.  And yes we've all done it. 

Well since today is her birthday and we are going to out to celebrate tonight.  No, not me and Muffy, me and the Captain.  In all actuality I have never met Janet AKA muffintopmommy.  Although she did come to Pensacola one time not too long ago.  She even had the nerve-the nerve I tell you-to ask me for directions to Destin, never once inviting me for a drink or anything.  

Bitch.

I couldn't have went even if she asked.  I was doing something that weekend. 

No, I can't remember what it was now.  But I am sure I was really busy.  

What were we talking about?

Oh, yes.  So this weekend in honor of my friend turning 27. 

Again.

I went shoe shopping.  Well, DSW did send me a coupon and I had like another $15.00 in free money to use on their site.  What's a girl to do.  Me?  I bought shoes.  (Aren't they fabulous?) Plus I got a great free tote out of the deal.  

So here's to you Muffy-wherever you are-and just know; tonight I will be strutting my stuff in my new shoes as we head out for dinner and drinks in your honor.  Okay, I may tell the Captain that tonight is your birthday or, I may not.  If I was a couple of years younger, and by that I mean 21, I would beer bong a couple just for you.  Since that is a big no-can-do my little muffintop friend, I feel like I am going to drown, how's about I just promise to lift a can in your honor?

Happy Birthday!

PS:  I did buy more than one pair of shoes.  I. Just. Couldn't. Help. Myself.

Reading...it does a body good

Recently I have been acquainting myself with GoodReads.  If you are not familiar with it, this site is for people who love to read.  

When I was first introduced to it I thought, "Oh, no.  Not another networking site."  But this weekend I spent some time going through it and was pleasantly surprised.  Yes it is another networking site, but this one connects me directly with peeps who like to read the sames types of titles I do.  Plus through some fancy footwork I stumbled across some stories I now want to go back and re-read.  And it allows me to keep track of what I have read and when.

Here's my question.  Am I supposed to log in every book?  Because I've gotta tell you that could take a long, long, looooooong time.  I am a book slut.  If I were a homeless person my sign would say, "Will work for books."  Okay, I'm not proud, I would work for money, but it would all go to books.  I can't imagine a world without them.  

Of course I used to be a proponent of only the written word and not the digital one.  I clearly remember when the Kindle first came out.  I scoffed at the idea of an e-reader.  Puh-leeze.  No way was I giving up my beloved books.  The feel, the smell of the paper, the sound of a new spine when it was opened for the first time.  For me these things were almost orgasmic.  I said ALMOST.

But then something funny happened.  I got a Kindle as a gift. 

It was one of those unfortunate situations you find yourself in when you are presented with something you swore-on a stack of books no less-that you would never own.  I would not be drawn to the dark side.  Along with the kindle itself I was also presented with a prepacked amazon gift card.  Enough to get me started.  That was what the devil said, "Enough to get you started."  No, the devil didn't give me the gift, but he was the hand that orchestrated my downfall.  Of this I am sure.

So there I was, practically forced to the computer so I could register my new device and purchase the first of many, many, many, and I mean many, e-books.  It was like a drug. 

One that I now have no intention of ever giving up.  Not only does my kindle take up less space, but I can actually see the words without squinting or using my glasses.  But that wasn't the most important thing to me.  I travel a lot.  And when I did I carried books in my overnight bag.  Packed in my suitcase, even in my purse.  Inevitably I would stop in a bookstore no matter where I was because I knew I didn't have enough to get me home.  Ergo, the drug reference.  Once I got my Kindle up and running, I realized I could take books with me wherever I went and they took up less space than my day-timer.  Don't worry, I finally went digital with that too.  

I swear I had a point when I started this rambling.  Oh, yeah, I know. Do I seriously have to go back and enter every book I have ever read into this website?  It could take years.  Literally.

Are you on GoodReads?  If so come and find me so we can be friends.  I want to see what you're reading.

Three really is a charm

Last week I was supposed to get my three monitors set up.  

I didn't. 

I needed a special video card or some such do-thingy that I didn't have.  Instead I had to wait another whole week while said do-thingy was ordered and delivered.

It came on Friday!

Whoo-hoo.

I was so psyched I couldn't wait for the Captain to get home and get it installed.  Well, I did wait.  So I guess that statement is a little misleading.  I mean, I didn't want to install it myself and since only the two of us live here (as much as I beg IT Guy, he won't move in).  I hate the hardware part of computers.  I'm much better with the software.

So Friday night the time arrived and the Captain did his job.  In the fairness of full disclosure I should admit that by the time he did get to it, I no longer cared that he was doing said install.  I was working my way through a bottle of wine and I was closer to the bottom of the bottle than the top.  

When he finished and couldn't make it work I called IT Guy who was MIA.  I had to wait until Saturday to get my three beauty's running right.  Not that the Captain didn't do a good job.  The computer could see the new monitor, it just wasn't recognizing it as part of my desk top.

Don't worry.  Don't anybody panic.  It's all working just fine now.  And see, I have the picture to prove it.

The side monitors are looking a little bright here because I haven't tweaked my settings, but overall I am really happy with this new set-up.  Plus it was about 1:30 AM Sunday morning when the I took the picture, that's why the room is so dark.

So what did you do on Saturday or should I say Sunday morning?

Yeah, its Friday...so what?

Today is Friday and all I got it...Thank you God!

Have a great weekend everybody!

I searched for a video to express how I feel and I couldn't find one.  So since I want to get the party started and was in the mood for a little teenage dream I am pulling this one out of the archives.

Or at least I was until I found out the video was no longer available.  What the f...?

I didn't think Friday could suck, boy was I wrong. 

So I have the music turned up really loud and Darren Criss is singing teenage dream...unfortunately I can't share with you guys today. 

From me to you...hope your Friday is fairing a little better.

Book Hungry...I'm on a different diet

Today I am supposed to be telling you about this months read.  

I'm not gonna do that.

My Gram always said if you didn't have anything nice to say you shouldn't say anything at all.  And since I don't want to bash any books because I love to read I'm keeping these lips firmly clamped.  Well not really, but you get where I'm going.  I was disappointed, but not surprised that this book didn't resonate with me.  So go check out the other book hungry reviews for this month.

Instead I'll tell you I've been reading like crazy this month.  I just found a new author that I'm really enjoying.  Shannon Stacey.  Well, new to me.  Her Kowalski trilogy is a new favorite.  I liked all three and they each would stand alone really well, but I love authors who write big families.  Especially when they do them well and Stacey does them well.  She is working on the next three from this family and I. Can't. Wait.

I discovered Marie Force last year and more of her books are being released in e-book format.  Good news for me, not so good for my credit card.  I just finished another trilogy about Ganstt Island and am now working on True North.  

With Lifetime's release of Nora Robert's Carnal Innocence I found myself going and re-reading that one again too.  I have the paperback, hardback and e-book.  I am a Nora junkie.  No help needed, thank you.

Catherine Mann had a new book come out this month called Cover Me.  I'm saving that one for this weekend.  Sitting in the pool on my float with my kindle.  *Happy Sigh* Best way to spend the day.  Ever!

Julie James is another recent discovery.  And I was finally able to download Practice Makes Perfect.  This was her first book and I enjoyed it as much as the others.  

I did step out of my comfort zone to read Bad Taste in Boys by my twitter friend and undead spice sista Carrie Harris.  I enjoyed the book, even though I am not a zombie loving girl.  I would never have read this on my own, and honestly bought the book to support Carrie.  Bonus for me that I enjoyed it.

I sucked down a couple of Maureen Child books, one was new and one, an older book re-released in e-book format.  That is the one thing I love about my kindle.  Books that I read years ago are being re-released and sold.  

I cut my teeth on Harlequin and Silhouette books. I wish they would release all of the older ones and sell them for like a dollar or two.  There are definitely books I would love to go back and re-read.  Why haven't they thought of this? 

So that's my reading list for this month and there are still a couple of weeks left.  What are you reading right now?

Reasons to be sad

Yesterday I got some pretty bad news.

Rocky, my "oldest" has been diagnosed with kidney disease. 

I'm heartbroken.  He has been with us since he was a kitten and found by a co-worker in a box in a Wal-mart parking lot.  

I just don't have it in me to try and be happy today.  I don't have it in me to be perky today.  All I really want to do is curl up with him and pet him and tell him everything is going to be alright.  Only it's not going to be.  His is pretty advanced and while the vet didn't give us a timeline, we had to make some changes to his diet immediately.  I can pretty much tell you I will be spending my weekend researching this to see what we can do to prolong his life.  

At some point yesterday I had a friend say to me, "He's a cat."  As if the fact that he is only a pet should have made me feel better.  It didn't.  He's my cat.  He has lived with me for 13 years and has been a trusted friend.  When I worked outside of the home he would meet me at the door everyday and tell me about his day as I headed into my room to change into comfy clothes.  His purr has quieted over the years going from a jet engine type of sound to a softer motor-boat putting around the bay, but when it is time to say good-bye to him it will be hard.

I am not going to spend the time left fixating on the fact that he won't always be here because that was inevitable anyway.  I am going to make sure I enjoy the moments we do have left and spend as much quality time with his as I can.