My Virtual World

My Step-Mom wants the new Kindle HD!

2013-12-15T14:15:00.000-06:00

My step-mother told me she wanted the new Kindle for Christmas! It is more expensive than just a paperwhite, but it definitely has more features. I might like one instead of an iPad. I will do my research and see what my brain tells me.

However, if you want one, Amazon has a special running now where you can pay for it in 4 quarterly payments! Interested in the super-duper Kindle, then click

Kindle Fire HDX 8.9", HDX Display, Wi-Fi, 64 GB - Includes Special Offers

If you want the lesser priced one, click
Kindle Fire HDX 8.9", HDX Display, Wi-Fi, 16 GB - Includes Special Offers Yes, I will receive a small commission, but you know that I am worth it. If you already have one of these amazing new Kindles, then leave me a comment below to tell me how you like it! You will be helping me and any other visitors who might need a review.

My Mom's Chocolate Covered Cherries

2013-12-10T13:38:00.001-06:00

Every year I try to carry on the tradition of making candy for the Christmas Holidays. This year my attempt turned ugly. I search all over for cherries with stems and had no luck until I hit the local Walmart. The cherries were even organic! How great is that? I followed a recipe similar to one my mother used to make when I was a child. I must have done something wrong, however, because the chocolate that covered these juicy fruit developed bubbles and a white haze. I think it had something to do with "tempering" the chocolate, whatever that means. Oh well, my Christmas Cherries taste good in-spite of their ugliness.

An early Christmas Greeting

2013-12-02T09:37:00.000-06:00

Those are my seven little elves giving you all an early Christmas greeting. After the photo was made, I gathered them in the garage to make a really fun craft: Pompom Decorated Pinecone Christmas Tree (yes, that is a clickable link!)

If you click the link above, you will be taken to an article I wrote on Squidoo.com that will show you how to make these small trees with your own children. I had fun with the children and it was a really good way to get in the Christmas Spirit.

My Christmas Devotion Begins Today!

2013-12-01T15:17:00.002-06:00

December 1st begins a daily online Christmas devotional sponsored by members of Living Faith Community UMC in Hoover, AL. You can find it here on Blogger at this address: LFC Christmas Devotional.

The study is following a book by Thomas Kinkade, titled Christ, the Light of the World. If you would like to read about the book, I wrote an introductory article on Squidoo. Click A Christmas Devotional. You can order the book from that site as well. I am donating the proceeds to LFC, by the way.

Come on, get in the holiday spirit. I dare you.

Review This!

2013-02-27T15:07:00.001-06:00

I was recently asked to contribute to a blog called "Review This!" The contributors to this page are all lensmasters (writers) on a site called Squidoo.com. Once one "joins" Squidoo, he/she can write articles about what interests them the most--what they are passionate about. The best part is, if your article rises in the rankings, you can earn money.

The process that keeps Squidoo in existence as a "free" website is one called "commerce". I write articles about all kinds of things from making repairs to real books to how to spray paint a plastic pot to look like new again. When one writes an article, he/she can find a product on Amazon.com or eBay.com. If a sale is made, then the author gets a percentage of the commission. What I have learned over the last 8 years of writing on www.Squidoo.com is that the more traffic and sales to the site, the more money I can make! I am not getting rich (I have made more than $300 during one Christmas season, but never more than that. I have been pulling in about $100 a month for the last year or so.)

I would like to invite anyone who reads this post to join Squidoo and start writing good articles. There are plenty of members on Squidoo who are there to help you. Join the "RocketSquids" (newbie writers who have less than 25 articles published on Squidoo). The templates are very easy to use and you will love hanging out there. All I ask is that you write about what you know and be honest with your opinions.

Yes, you can promote yourself or items that you might sell. Just be ethical and truthful.

Well, back to "Review This!". I am a contributor to this blog that promotes articles written on Squidoo. Usually, an article on Squidoo reviews or offers suggestions for products (as I said before). The more traffic Squids get, the better for the website.

Click the badge below to get started on Squidoo:

Why write on Squidoo--Part Two

2013-01-11T10:01:00.000-06:00

As stated by me in the past, I write on Squidoo because the website is easy to use--most of the time! The staff at HQ are very savvy and are constantly making upgrades to the underlying structure of the site. Recently they converted the algorithm to accommodate the fact that most of the world now accesses the internet using a mobile phone or tablet. The changes HQ made were supposed to make the articles easier to read on these devices. Not being as knowledgeable as most in the way of the internet, I did not foresee this happening nor did the company let the community know about the changes. Here is an article about this change written by Paula Atwell (lakeerieartists) Squidoo's New Responsive Layout,
if you need more information.

As a result of this revision, one of my top ranked pages that had consistently been in the top 100 on Squidoo for over one year, suddenly took a hit and slid down (#127) in the rankings almost over night. I visited this page of mine a few days ago and made some changes. I removed the code that made the font larger and I also took out a lot of css that put borders around the text. The very next day, my page was back in the top 100 (#52). That rise was quite literally an over night improvement.

I am now in the painstaking process of making similar changes to other lenses. I will continue to post my observations on changes in traffic to my articles. What does all that have to do with why I choose to do most of my writing on Squidoo? I write on Squidoo because I have found some level of success. I love the look of the pages after they are published and I still think it is the easiest website to pubish articles and earn a bit of money.

Why write on Squidoo?

2013-01-09T12:09:00.003-06:00

First of all, my Squidoo lenses are not really blog entries like so many of my friends believe they are. My pages on Squidoo are just "articles" I write about stuff. Some of my pages are about products that I review. Yes, I have made some money--not much--as a result of someone buying a book, toy or whatever as a result of my opinions. That is the beauty of the website, or any website for that matter. I can even make some cash from this blog, too.

I recently became an affiliate for Night Owl Paper Goods because I love the cards and gifts that they create or make available. I also like the fact that it is an Alabama company and I want to support the wonderful people in my home state. This company also possesses some of the values that I believe in. They use environmentally sustainable materials for their goods and they believe in good customer service. I also feel that their products promote good old homemade, crafty ideals. Yes, I hope to sell some of the cards and gift items that Night Owl creates. Check out my pages on Squidoo about this wonderful, Alabama Company:
Perfect Valentines for a New Girl (or Guy) Friend
Personalized Photo Greeting Cards
Night Owl Halloween Cards

In the meantime, aren't these "night owl" embellishments cute? (not from Night Owl Paper Goods, btw)

Jesse James 485269 Dress It Up Embellishments-Night Owls (Google Affiliate Ad)

I have two Top Ranked Pages on the Web! I am so Excited!

2012-04-14T16:18:00.000-05:00

Today I have two webpages in the top 100 on Squidoo! I am so very excited about this accomplishment. Why, you might ask. Well, there are well over 1 million pages that are published on this web-hosting site and to have 2, yes, two articles I have written to be ranked in the top 100 is amazing.

My "Easy Book Repairs" (aka: Book Care and Repair), www.squidoo.com/BookRepair, has been in the top 100 since January 2011. Now its "sister" page, Repurpose, Recycle or Upcycle Old Books has joined her. (The image here is of a wreath made with paper that I took with an iPhone.)

Festive Uses for Old Books

2011-11-16T09:16:00.000-06:00

If you have a book that is beyond repair, you could use it to decorate for the upcoming holidays.

I have a page on Squidoo about re-purposing old books. There is a section on that page listing festive uses for old books.

Today I put on a new project that seems like a lovely use for an old hynmal. Go check it out by clicking the "festive" link above.

Happy Caramel Apple Day!

2011-10-31T14:07:00.000-05:00

Google Halloween--I was absolutely enthralled with this Halloween creation from Google! I know you will enjoy it too!

However, I would be remiss if I did not tell you that today is National Caramel Apple Day. So go and Celebrate the Caramel Apple why don't you!

My own book Pivate Eye!

2011-09-09T12:43:00.000-05:00

As I age gracefully, I find that I have trouble remembering stuff. That fact becomes the most aggravating to me when I am trying to find a book that I want to read or another book just like one I have read. Well, today while exploring my virtual world, I discovered a handy tool. It is the Book Sleuth from AbeBooks. This page in their "community" promises that it will help you find those books if you can remember the plot, the name of a character, or even what the front cover looks like. You just post what you can remember on the forum, and a member will probably know exactly what book/author you are looking for!

AbeBooks even gives you other Book Sleuthing Websites! With all that help, I am sure that I can find that mystery book with the long legged fly in the title!

Growing Tomatoes In Containers - The Tasteful Garden

2011-06-09T07:01:00.001-05:00

Growing Tomatoes In Containers - The Tasteful Garden

Great comprehensive article about growing vegetables in Containers. I must emphasize that you use a potting MIX and not potting SOIL in your containers. The mix is specially formulated for container gardening, the soil is just that, soil.

Has anyone tried worm casings? I must do that. I have seen them for sale at Pepper Place. I try to be as organic as I can, but sometimes one just has to use manufactured chemicals and fertilizers.

I do wish I had the land to grow really good vegetables. Fusarium wilt struck big time in my raised bed garden this summer and I lost two beautiful tomato plants almost over night. I just might stick to growing herbs and flowers from now on. With so many trips planned this year and the drought that has hit our area so soon this year, nurturing my veggies is almost a lost cause. It would be easier to go to the farmer's market and buy my produce.

In case you have to harvest your tomatoes before they ripen on the vine (like when the wilt strikes) I have assembled a few green tomato recipes. I have made the green tomato sauce and the casserole many times and have gotten rave reviews from friends and family.

Hope your life is going well today.

How to Make Garden Paving Stones with Your Kids | DoItYourself.com

2011-06-04T10:19:00.002-05:00

Found this project that looks like a good one for gardening with the grand-kids.

How to Make Garden Paving Stones with Your Kids | DoItYourself.com

A Supercell Storm Broke the Heart of Dixie

2011-05-02T08:28:00.000-05:00

I have spent the last few days following updates about the Alabama 2011 tornado. I am overwhelmed by the amount of information on the internet. There are literally hundreds of videos of the storm that raced across the state of Alabama from Mississippi to Georgia. The number of images is staggering. One cannot possibly see them all. Some of the images are so sad that one cannot bear to look at them. I saw one yesterday on Facebook of a dog standing over the body of a German Shepherd. Cannot look--but on the same page is an image that warms the heart as well!

This note was found pinned to an article of clothing that had been donated to disaster relief. I am sure that it expresses the thoughts of so many who have been thinking and praying for my beloved state.

Keep the injured, homeless and grieving people in your prayers.

If you have time, please visit my article on Squidoo about April 27, 2011.The Broken Heart of Dixie.

Candies that are Less Than 100 calories!

2011-04-19T14:02:00.000-05:00

This information makes my day!

One Reese's Milk Chocolate Peanut Butter Eggs 1.2 oz has only 90 calories! I do not know why, but the egg shaped peanut butter cup just seems to taste better than a round peanut butter cup. This "Easter" candy has been around for a long time--this must be so because I remember the Bunny bringing them to my children who are now 33 and 30!

Another favorite candy found in Easter Baskets is not so easy on the diet; three Robin's Eggs are 100 calories. Three, not four, three.

5 Jordan Almonds are 90 calories. If you can eat all five without breaking a tooth, that is wonderful news for me. Five is better than three pieces. However, the Peanut Butter Egg is still looking like the best choice.

Whoa nelly, 6 Cadbury Mini Eggs are 95 calories! Now that is what I am talking about! These little eggs are so pretty I love having them around the house in pretty little bowls. I would enjoy that 95 calorie snack!

The image above is from Amazon

Diet Tip #3--Keep a Food Journal--No kidding!

2011-02-18T08:57:00.000-06:00

To stay focused and keep losing weight, one must keep a Diet Journal.

What is a diet journal, you ask? Well, it is some form of written (or typed) documentation of what you ate during the day.

When I did Weight Watchers many years ago, we had to keep track in a booklet. Doing this journal is very instructive, indeed. I was surprised at the amount that I was eating. I was also surprised that I was not eating well -- not enough meat (protein) and fruit.

In today's electronic world, there are numerous sources for an online journal. I am using myfitnesspal.com. No bells and whistles here to distract you. No menus are suggested. I like it because I can easily enter a recipe and have the calorie count figured up. What I do not like is that everyone can enter in a food to the data bank and sometimes there are too many choices in a category. For example, when I was looking for sliced deli chicken, there were about 20 choices. I could not find the ONE that I needed, so I put in my own. Now there are about 21 choices. It just takes more time to enter one's calories when there are so many choices.

For the past two days, I have been gaining weight. Not a lot, just a half pound here and there. Why? I have not been keeping track of what I have been eating. (I have not been exercising, either!) If a dieter just enters in what was eaten on myfitnesspal.com, the journal for that day will tell you how many more calories you have to eat that day. It will also give you an idea of what you need to eat to have a balanced day, nutrition-wise.

Today I will be entering my food intake again. Let's hope I can burn some calories doing it.

Free Valentine Downloads from "Skip To My Lou"

2011-02-02T14:33:00.000-06:00

Here is a link to Printable Valentines at Skip To My Lou. This "Blog" constantly surprises me with what can be found that is free and fun to create on the web.

With Valentines Day just around the corner (and everyone's budget tight) the free designs and downloads are a blessing to all of us. The Valentine Box (pictured below) is only one of the craft ideas you will find on Skip To My Lou.

Diet Tip # 2: Do Not Add Velveeta to Your Spaghetti Sauce

2011-01-30T10:08:00.000-06:00

Do not add the southern basic, processed cheese food (aka: Velveeta) to any sauce if you want to loose weight.

It adds calories, fat and lots of salt (especially if salt is already an ingredient in your recipe) that is a diet killer.

My dad is famous for his spaghetti. When I was a child, he used to cook spaghetti for church fundraisers. I do not remember it being as salty way back then. It was that original spaghetti that made his recipe "famous". Today, he is famous for making the saltiest spaghetti. We all go in the kitchen to ask him to cut down on the salt in the recipe. He replies with a grin, "This is a one cook kitchen." We suspect that he then proceeds to add more salt. Our "Pop" is a hard-headed man who is now "famous" for not taking anyone's advice--especially if you are one of his children or are married to him.

Today, my husband and I are having corned beef and cabbage with him and Freda (my wonderfully patient step-mother who I am daily grateful to God for her marrying my widowed Daddy). I am sure that he will be putting an extra handful of salt in the recipe. Hopefully, he is out of Velveeta.

FYI: as of yesterday, I have lost 2 pounds. Only 8 more to go to meet the "Scale Back Alabama" goal.

(the image of the processed cheese unwrapped was found on the blog Red Ravine)

Diet Tip #1

2011-01-25T14:31:00.000-06:00

This past week my husband and I signed up for the "Scale Back Alabama" weight loss program. We have a team of 4 and we are to lose 10 pounds each in 10 weeks. This is a doable thing. I have lost weight before using Weight Watchers and earned my "lifetime" pin. Time and food have not been kind since I earned my status with that diet program. I did learn a lot and I use the skills WW taught me. I just have a problem with portions.

In honor of joining the SBA, I am posting a diet tip. I will try to post new tips as I find them. Here is the first:

The little pieces at the bottom of a chip bag DO NOT have fewer calories.

Memorable Chocolate Covered Cherries

2011-01-22T11:56:00.000-06:00

I had such fun making chocolate covered cherries this past holiday season. I even created a page on Squidoo about my experience.

Since these cherries would be a wonderful and thoughtful gift for Valentine's Day, I want to share the recipe with you today. Yes, February 14th is a little more than a month away, but these covered cherries need that much time to "age" and become a cordial (another term for friendly and "liqueur")eating pleasure.

There are many recipes for chocolate covered fruit on the web and I looked at most of them. It took forever! If I say so myself, I think that the recipe I used on the Memorable Chocolate Covered Cherry Recipe page on Squidoo is a really good and has all of the information one might need to make this delicious homemade candy for gift giving.

I made the candy and the picture of this chocolate cherry!

Go take a look at it and let me know what you think. You do not have to be a member of Squidoo to leave me a comment on that page. You can leave a comment here, too.

SoThisIsChristmas.wmv

2010-12-27T14:56:00.000-06:00

A Christmas Wish from my beloved friend, Wes.

Get Free Christmas Music!

2010-12-15T14:43:00.000-06:00

Yes, FREE.

Amazon is offering 25 Days of free music. Log on every day to find out what new free song has been added. I just found out about this offer today. Day 15! The good news is that I can download all the songs that are shown for free. I picked out a few -- well, more than a few -- and downloaded them to iTunes on my MacBook. With the down-loader offered on Amazon, this is an easy process.

Here is the link to Amazon's 25 Days of Free Holiday Music: 25 Days of Christmas

What did I download? A songs by Dan Fogelberg, Andreas Vollenweider, Chanticleer, Manheim Steamroller, Little and Ashley, Point of Grace and Fleet Foxes.

What free mp3 downloads did I not choose to put on my Christmas Music Playlist? Your Holiday Song by the Indigo Girls; Winter Games by Superchunk, Oh Come All Ye Faithful by Abandon Kansas, Auld Lang Syne by Chris Issak, Time of the Season performed by Isobel
Campbell and Mark Lanegan. Other songs not to my personal taste: Punk Rawk Christmas by MXPX and a song by Shelby Lynne. Just because I did not put them on my list, it does not mean you will not like these Holiday songs. Go give them a look and see if you can find something to get you in the Christmas Spirit.

Don't forget to check out my Holiday Gift Guides on Squidoo. Here is a link to those guides: Mickie_G's Gift Guides.

http://www.squidoo.com/great-secret-pal-gifts-ideas-under-20-dollars

2010-12-13T20:38:00.000-06:00

Well, my sorority is having our Christmas Party this Saturday at 11 AM. I get to bring mimosas! It should be a lot of fun as we will be finding out who our "secret sister" has been for the last year. We draw names in January for a new secret "pal". This year, instead of bring a gift the month of or secret pal's birthday, we decided to have one big "birthday" party in July when everyone brings their pal a gift. Then at the Christmas party, we bring that same pal a present and tell her our name. It will be so much fun.

This year I wrote an article on Squidoo about my search for the perfect gift for my secret sister. We are only supposed to spend between $15 - $20. Please visit Secret Pal Gifts Under $20 to find out what wonderful presents I discovered.

2010-11-07T19:03:00.000-06:00

"Unique "Chin Family" Gifts For Your Home" on Squidoo: "-

Discovered these unique gifts inspired by the National Palace Museum in Taipei while surfing the web. The "Chin Family" is just too adorable for words. If you are looking for a unique and useful gift idea this holiday season, these items just might fit the bill.

Click the above link to meet the rest of this family. You won't be sorry.

Beth Holloway is Back in Aruba

2010-09-18T13:01:00.001-05:00

Beth Holloway is Back in Aruba