Chelle's Spot

Michael Buble - Today Show 10/13/2009

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 14:49:00 +0000

Now ya'll know I love Michael Buble, but ummm, what was the deal with the torn jeans on the Today Show this morning? It was disturbing... his stylist should have known better than that. He's back to the more clean cut look (except the jeans) and he's lost quite a bit of weight. He looks healthy. I noticed it when he was on Oprah last week, but it was even more obvious this morning.

I'm really anxious to get this CD. I want to get the MP3 download, but I also like to have something to hold on to...something real, not just digital. I actually picked it up in the store Saturday when I was running errands and such, but I put it back. Guess I was just not ready yet.

OH! The Drama

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Wed, 30 Sep 2009 23:52:00 +0000

Seems as if I have spent the better part of this year putting out one dramatic fire after another, but I must say that my resolve has been thoroughly tested in since July 2009. It has been a back to back stream of issues that had the potential to drive me insane.

Just when it seemed as if everything was under as much control as possible, another shoe dropped. We have a leak! Yes water is leaking... the arrow on the water meter was spinning fast even though no one in the house was using water. The bad news is that this has resulted in a $245 water bill, the good news is that the leak is NOT in the house (phew)! It was strategically hidden slightly under ground at an outdoor faucet. Even though the ground appeared to be intact and dry, we discovered that once the top soil was disturbed, it fell away and revealed a large puddle... like a mini-sinkhole.

Oh well, at least it can be fixed without the need for a plumber.

Starting From Scratch

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:03:00 +0000

Time to begin again. I'm revisiting Chelle's Spot Blog because sometimes I find I DO have things to say that are only appropriate here, so we'll see how it goes.

Time To Face Facts...

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Sat, 23 May 2009 04:09:00 +0000

So, I'm giving up on the weekly roundups. With my many responsibilities an extracurricular activities (reading), I can't seem to find the time. I'll still post here when I have something to say, but as it stands, I won't have a "regularly scheduled" post.

...Stay Tuned...

Also, if you're interested, you can join me at:

http://twitter.com/otherworlders
(for tweets of my book reviews and reading adventures)

http://twitter.com/rachelledesigns
(design related tips)

Subscribe to my reading blog at:
http://otherworlders.blogspot.com

Weekly Roundup 04/03/2009

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 16:40:00 +0000

Read a lot this week (mostly over the weekend) since there wasn't much to do. Found a new series by Kresley Cole to add to the growing lists of series that I read. It gives me something to do... I play catchup on them while awaiting the next release.

Vampire, Interrupted by Lynsay Sands

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars
I think this is my favorite book in the series thus far. I found my self laughing quite a bit, and the mystery/plot was as good as, if not better than the romance.

View all my reviews.

The Rogue Hunter by Lynsay Sands

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
The Rogue Hunter was okay... not as good as some of the previous vamp books though. Mortimer and Sam were a bit dull, and what was meant to be funny really wasn't. The plot was good, but overall the story was a little flat. It's still worth reading, and if you are following this series, according to Ms. Sands, Mortimer and Sam will be in future books, and it's a nice to know how they got their start.

View all my reviews.

A Hunger Like No Other by Kresley Cole

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews.

No Rest for the Wicked by Kresley Cole

My review

rating: 5 of 5 stars

View all my reviews.

Father Mine: Zsadist and Bella's Story by J.R. Ward

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews.

Weekly Roundup 03/27/2009

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Even though this was last week, I'll add it here as I'm starting this new weekly roundup with little events from throughout the week. Rob put a little chicken and vegetables on the grill last Thursday, so I didn't have to cook. I just cut up the veggies and put them on the skewers for the kabobs. So lately our indoor cat, Madison, who is not allowed outside, has had an itch to run out the door every time it opens, and since he was in and out the french doors in the kitchen, she either made her way out then, or N2 let her out of the front door. N2 has a habit of holding the screen door open.

Anyway, later that night as he was cleaning up the grill and bringing in supplies, he called me into the kitchen as he was letting "a" cat in the door to ask me if it was our cat. See, lately there has been an influx of cats in the neighborhood, and there are a few that look similar to Madison, so I guess he wasn't sure. By the time I figured out what he was saying, the cat shot by me and into the living room, which was dark, so I wasn't able to get a good look at the markings of the cat, and it was all just a blur. The cat shot through the foyer as Rob and I were in pursuit, which made it run faster and hi-tail it under the desk in the den. As we were just standing there assuming we had some random cat in the house now and trying to figure out what to do, we started tisking and meowing trying to make "our" cat come out of hiding.

Finally, I headed toward the kitchen with the idea of rattling the cat food bag which usually brings our cat running. Standing in the kitchen doorway was "our" cat looking at me. I reached down to touch her just to make sure it was Madison, and she politely turned around and went and sat down so she could look out the french doors in the kitchen. She was probably wishing she could get away from her crazy humans.

Apparently, while we were trying to figure out if the random cat was still under the desk and if it was our cat or not, she had eased out and gone back to the kitchen. I announced several times, with some relief that it was our cat...It was Madison. Relieved that we didn't have some weird cat invading our space.

=============================================

What I read this week:

Lover Enshrined by J.R. Ward

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This one fell flat for me. Phury didn't grow on me like the other characters have throughout the series. Even with all of his issues, I expected more. The Wizard was a total annoyance... I was just ready for him to shut it! As with the previous book in the series there were a lot of subplots, and in this instance, they turned out to be of more interest than the main characters.

View all my reviews.

Lover Unbound by J.R. Ward

My review

rating: 3 of 5 stars
This one wasn't as gripping as the first 4 of the series. I too was a bit disappointed with how Jane was handled, but it wasn't a big deal. The book seemed like a collection of plots beginnings for new books in the series that happened to occur as V.'s story moved along. Maybe a little too much plotting for the future and not enough attention paid to this story.

View all my reviews.

Vampires Are Forever by Lynsay Sands

My review

rating: 4 of 5 stars

View all my reviews.

MIA

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:15:00 +0000

I know I've been missing in action lately, but I've got a new addiction. I've been reading like crazy, devouring book after book. I've got to pull back... at least until next weekend :-). As soon as I finish one book, I'm already in search of another one to pounce on. It's a good thing, reading I mean, but it's also extremely addictive for me. After I finish my work for the day, all I can think about is my next reading dose. In a way, I've been preparing myself for what I want to do next, which is write. One day, I would love to see my name on the NY TImes or USA Today bestseller list. Wouldn't that be something? I wonder though, if I have anything to say?

I'm pretty sure most of you are not at all interested in what I'm reading...Paranormal Romance..., but it's what I like. I have a preference for the Vampire Romance. I've always looked at practically any Vampire TV series or movie I could, but reading the different takes on Vamps has hooked me. Mentally, I've already started forming the outline of what I want my "otherworld" to be like. I visit the websites of the authors I've read, and looked at their advice on writing. Almost all of them recommend reading as much as possible, and that's what I'm doing.

How did all of this begin? Well, back in October 2008, I started reading a little series by Stephenie Meyers... Twilight. I was also hooked, along with Jazz, on the HBO Original Series... TRUBLOOD based on the Sookie Stackhouse Novels by Charlaine Harris, and that was all it took. After stumbling upon the social network for readers and writers, GoodReads.com, I've been adding "Read" books to my shelf at a steady pace. Check out my books on Goodreads.

So now you know why I haven't been posting much lately. Between work and reading, my time is on lockdown... it's been a fantastic ride and a great escape from the ho-hum of an economic downturn and desparation. If you need an escape, pickup a book (visit your local library or bookstore), read an e-book (eBooks.com) or listen to an audio book or short story. Have fun... escape!

New Rules

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 06:34:00 +0000

Why is Ron Christie Still on TV?

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:22:00 +0000

Don't Forget to VOTE!

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Tue, 10 Feb 2009 22:09:00 +0000

Support Designs By Rachelle in the 2009 StartupNation Leading Moms in Business Competition

A New Look... Whitehouse.gov

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:37:00 +0000

Official Inaugural Gallery Slide Show

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 05:03:00 +0000

How I Remember Eartha Kitt

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Fri, 26 Dec 2008 23:53:00 +0000

This should take you back....

Tracking Santa...

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 22:19:00 +0000

Things sure have come a long way since Nate and I first tracked Santa online. Look at all the places and ways you can track Santa online this year:

1. Use Google Maps for mobile, and track Santa from your mobile phones. If your phone works with Google Maps, just search for “norad santa” to see Santa’s location.

2. Download Google Earth application and get the NORAD Tracks Santa KML and watch Santa Claus fly across Earth to track Santa in 3D.

3. Add the NORAD Tracks Santa iGoogle gadget to your iGoogle page anytime.

4. Twitter users can follow @noradsanta and receive updates from “Bitz the Elf” on Twitter. You may as well follow me too @rachelledesigns while your at it.

5. Track the Santa Cams - high-tech, high-speed digital cameras pre-positioned at many locations around the world only on Christmas Eve.

6. Visit www.NoradSanta.org starting at 6:00 am EST when Santa’s journey begins.

Are You Posterous?

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:28:00 +0000

I've been using Posterous since it launched. It's a neat little blogging platform that is easy to use. What makes Posterous great is that you can simply start emailing your text and files like video or photos to post@posterous.com and your account will be created automatically. A Posterous account can be created for each of your email addresses if you send to post@posterous.com.

No matter where you are, a simple email adds content to your blog. You can also setup your Posterous account to repost to other blogging or micro blogging platforms like Twitter, Blogger, Wordpress, Facebook, Flickr, etc. This makes maintaining multiple blogs a snap.

What really makes Posterous perfect for me is that I can email from my cell phone which means I don't need to download photos or video to my computer then go through the hassle of uploading them to my blog.

Need to know more? Visit the FAQ at Posterous.com.

Find and Share Documents

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:06:00 +0000

Docstoc an online community to find and share professional documents. "Docstoc provides the platform for users and businesses to upload and share their documents with all the world, and serves as a vast repository of documents in variety of categories including legal, business, financial, technology, educational, and creative. All documents on docstoc can be easily searched, previewed and downloaded for free.

Docstoc also provides technology through various APIs and Widgets to help facilitate the sharing and promotion of documents across the web. The site has popularized the use of embedding documents throughout the blogosphere and mainstream media. You can learn more about embedding documents here: http://blog.docstoc.com/embed-documents-on-docstoc-into-your-blog-or-webiste.html."

******

Issuu is a free resource for uploading your documents and turning them into beautiful online publications. Publish to an audience of millions and get your message across to anyone, anywhere.

Features and benefits include

Upload your documents
Enjoy the best reading experience online (fullscreen with crisp vector graphics).
Explore a living library with the web's most interesting publications.
Post/embed your publications anywhere online (Facebook, MySpace, Blogger, etc.)
Get a high rank on Google and receive detailed statistics about your readers.
Create a custom viewer design and integrate your publications on your website.

******

Scribd provides a place where you publish, discover and discuss original writings and documents. With Scribd's iPaper document reader, anyone can easily upload and immediately share their original works on Scribd.com or any other website. iPaper transforms PDF, Word, PowerPoint and many other file formats into an elegant web display.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas...

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 01:06:00 +0000

Thank goodness! Finally something is going right. After a not so good week, and things just going ALL wrong, I was channel surfing because I have not become absorbed in reading Charlaine Harris', Real Murders. I decided to take a chance, and check the T.V. schedule for SPIKE TV with my fingers crossed that they would have a Bond Marathon for the holiday. YES THEY WILL! (This is me jumping up and down screaming!) I can't tell how many days the Marathon will run, but it will at least cover Christmas Eve and Christmas day!!!! It kicks off at 9am Christmas Eve. The cable guide only had information through Christmas day, but I can hopefully get more info online or wait a few days and check the schedule again.

From the Obama's...

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:23:00 +0000

Mommy, Uncle Jr., and Aunt Wynona

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:42:00 +0000

Photo Post

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:17:00 +0000

MemoryEscape.com is offering 50% off Photo Books

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:22:00 +0000

MemoryEscape.com offers photobooks both large and small. Just enter Discount Code HOLIDAY50 to receive 50% off your photobook order. Choose from a leather, linen, or photocover book.

Additional Memory Escape products include:

Calendars: Get ready for the new year by ordering a 11 x 8.5 calendar with a different photo for each month of the year, both 12 and 18 month calendars available.

Posters: Create a 11 x 17 collage poster with up to 10 photos.

Only one code may be used per order. Offer expires 1/1/09.

Race And The Web

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 17:29:00 +0000

Going After Niche Markets Or Practicing Digital Segregation?

I am so tired of race issues. I posted this because I actually was able to stomach some of the comments to this article. I do agree to some extent with both sides of the argument.

I can say as a 'Black' American who is Web savvy that I don't think I will be using Blackbird. That's not because I feel it's racist, but because I have enough extras on my computer and from a browser standpoint, Firefox is my browser of choice. If I want to look at Black sites, then I know how to Google. I just don't see adding more clutter to my world. Of course, I'll rethink this if Blackbird actually takes off, and it becomes a necessity that I have it. I have to stay up on things.

I thought about informing my friends and family of the new browser "Blackbird" for African-Americans, but after deciding I wasn't going to use it, I didn't want to clutter your worlds either. (But now you have the information... do with it what you will!) I mean, a lot of people don't know which browser they are using anyway. All they care about is getting online to do what they do. Unless you're a techie or designer or whatever, do you really care what browser you use? I think the people debating the issue have completely overlooked this argument.

I have been guilty of playing to this type of niche marketing in the form of BOBOBusiness.com (Black Owned Black Operated Business) and BlackWritersNetwork.com, but these sites are no longer active, and never really took off for various reasons, the main one being that I just didn't have the time to deal with them.

It really trips me out that people get so bent out of shape about things like this. I mean in the grand scheme of things, is it really that important? I have read some really racist things on the Web. I mean statements that you would not have to wonder if they were racists or not. There was no debating it. I don't see arguing over something trying to decide if it's racists or not. If it's racist, trust me, you won't need to wonder about it.

Send FREE Text Messages

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 23:30:00 +0000

Gmail has introduced a new feature allowing users to send free SMS messages through its integrated Chat.

...More Wish List...

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 17:23:00 +0000

From Many to One!

noreply@blogger.com (scrapcraftastic) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:35:00 +0000

I asked the questions a while ago about combining and moving all of my blogs to chellesspotblog.blogspot.com. The few responses I received said to keep them separate. Well, maybe that wasn't a good idea because what has happened is that I don't post to ANY of them because I don't have the time. In addition to this blog, which I consider my personal blog, I also had a design blog, a blog with printing specials, a blog of my favorite websites, a showcase blog, and the list goes on and on and on.

A month or so ago, I did away with my namesake blog and websmartie because I was trying to lessen my burden, but even with the load lighter, I still am not satisfied with my blogging status. So, to make myself happy, I am going to post everything here, and the others will eventually be turned into blogger xml templates that I will sell at ThemeForest.com, my favorite template site. Instead of creating all these blogs that just sit and do nothing, just because I had a great idea for a design that fell by the wayside, I will earn a residual income from them.

I've said all of this to say that... if you decide you would like to continue reading my blog, in addition to the usual posts you find here, there will be more information on web 2.0 applications, printing solutions, design resources, Wordpress, blogger and more. Of course, I will redesign this blog to better house the new subject matter, so please stick around for what's coming.