Looking For SEO

Unfortunately, I haven't had much time to write on this blog lately because I've been so busy with my other sites. Mainly, I've been migrating my DIY site from Blogger to Wordpress (not by myself - that would be a disaster!) and trying to figure out how to use all the cool, but very different formats, tools etc. Of course, this new blog now has a Google rating of 0, zero, zilch because it's considered a new site, so I have to work very hard in getting it seen out there by all you folk.

Search engine optimization is not something I consider myself very good at. I've been spending a lot of time online reading whatever I can get my hands on, trying to work out the puzzle of what works and what doesn't. I can't say I've found the answers yet. I may have found some interesting and revelatory information, but nothing that says exactly what I need to do in the way I can absorb it.

Writing is my forte. This is what I do well. I sometimes think I'm spending too much time doing something I have no real interest in (the SEO stuff). Yet, if I want to take my writing further and be someone online, there is no other alternative. I feel as though I'm in a catch 22 situation. My writing is suffering from all this rushing about trying to glean information. However, the alternative is to write like crazy and hope to get discovered for my brilliance :-)

What do I do? It's a real puzzle to which I've yet to find the answer. Thanks for bearing with me as I chase the invisible.

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A Bit Of Gardening

It's that time of year again when spending time in the garden (whether you love gardening or not) is a necessity.  As most of you know, this is my first proper Spring in our new house. We moved house last spring (how time has flown by!) but I was so busy with unpacking and trying to keep some normalcy to family life, I had practically no time for gardening.

I still don't, if truth be told. Our builders have just finished major building work, so I'm super busy with painting, decorating, and cleaning up the mess - it all seems never-ending. Meanwhile, to hold off doing more gardening than I have to, I've discovered a super solution to keep the weeding to a minimum. Our local diy and gardening shop has just started selling rubber mulch, a clever item which was originally used only in children's playgrounds. You may have stepped on its soft surface while taking your own kids to the sea-saws.

It's 100% recycled from old rubber, is soft and safe, and comes in several bright colours. I remember collecting some leftover red ones (8 years ago) from my daughter's old school when they re-did their playground. I used the loot in the front of the kids' playhouse at home. I was surprised when I noticed it (in smaller portions) as an option for the domestic garden.

I bought some and used it as landscape mulch around my roses late last summer and have had no problems whatsoever with weeds. A week ago, I got some more, as I've got ideas of how I can use them in the garden functionally and aesthetically - it's a win-win situation. When the garden is in good shape, I shall be taking some pictures to share with you.

Have you discovered something clever lately? Have you used something domestically which was originally only used industrially?

Married People And Valentine's Day

Valentine's day for people no longer in their teenage (and twenties) years can be somewhat run-of-the-mill. Not many of us celebrate any more. And this makes perfect sense. After all, we may have kids' birthdays to plan, a wedding anniversary to celebrate, and many little things in life that seep the cute-and-cuddly novelty out of the lowly Valentine's Day (sorry Cupid).

Some friends of mine have a rule that neither of them should spend more than £5.00 for a Valentine's Day present (no matter how special the chocolates are). We're not heartless, but my husband and I do something similar. Some years we agree not to buy anything at all for each other on Valentine's day (you have to know I ignore this and buy him something anyway :-) after which he freaks out that he was the one who stuck to the original plan. It still works year after year). This 'plan' is convenient for us because our wedding anniversary is a mere 2 weeks away from February 14th.

I've been looking around to find small and affordable - but meaningful - Valentine's Day presents and found a site that engraves and personalises presents. Many people like to give mugs and engraved pens for small gifts. These of course, can be purchased from selected chemists or high street shops.  However, this site does these things really cheaply. Most importantly, the range of personalised items is as wide as it possibly could be.

I think it's a great idea to give your spouse something small for their desk at work, lovingly personalised by you. (A personalised stapler will be much appreciated. I know from experience!) I usually get my single sister a small gift for Valentine's Day. Instead of the usual chocolate, (she's trying to lose weight) some custom printed envelopes may be just the ticket.

Go to Amsterdam Printing personalized pens if you're interested.  And here's a humorous Valentine's Day article I wrote a couple of years ago Cupid: The Secrets He's Hidden From You

Did you know I've got 2 new blogs? Check them out here: DIY Projects and Build Confidence. Thank you.

image source

Cold Hands, Warm Heart?

Years ago, I realised that something was wrong with the blood flow in my hands. My doctor pretended I was making it all up at first. A few years later he gave up placated me with a couple of unnecessary, painful procedures on my hands, only to find that neither of them worked (surprise!).

I continued to go to see him because of this problem. I had excruciating pain, and my hands could never get warm enough no matter how thick my gloves were. Eventually, when he realised he didn't know what was wrong, he pretended it was all in my head. Yes! he pretended I was pretending. (If you close your eyes, it will all go away - right?)  I made use of hand warmers and other artificial methods to keep myself warm in the winter months. I needed to wear fingerless gloves even indoors, to make the coldness just bearable.

It was 7 years later until I found a doctor who told me I had thoracic outlet syndrome. All along the problem was in my shoulder - not in my hands. I would later have a terribly painful surgery to cut the bone which was growing from my shoulder into my chest. However, by then so many nerve endings had been damaged, the surgery couldn't correct anything - it could only stop it from getting worse. So I'm still left with shoulder pains and icy hands - minus chest-growing bone.

I spend a lot of time looking for and collecting all types of handwarmers. Of course, because my hands are perpetually cold, other parts of my body follow suit. Over the years, I've used many types of warmers. Some I've liked and others - not so much. Nowadays I stick with the disposable type. I'd rather use something that I can make use of again, but I find that many of these warmers can be a bit tricky to use and not long-lasting enough. Then you have to re-heat them to be able to use them again.

Lately, I've found a website that sells hand warmers at half the price I pay for them here in the UK (and I thought the ones I used to get were cheap). I only came across them by accident too! I've noticed that they also do Foot Warmers and Toasti Toes but I don't need these half as much.

Has anyone else got this problem of cold hands? If so, what have you found to be the best way to deal with it?

Birth Flowers and Stones

I've been thinking of something I could post here that would be both useful and informative for the start of this year. While I'm not a fan of astrological limitations of what a person should be, based on when he/she happened to be born, I quite like the idea of jewellery (who doesn't, right). Flowers don't hurt either.

I've made a list of birth stones and flowers which make traditional gifts for friends and family (especially women) related to the month in which they were born. Make a note of these for when you're shopping for presents for the rest of the year.

January

Stone - Garnet

Flower - Carnation or Snowdrop 

February

  Stone - Amethyst

 Flower – Violet or Primrose

March

 Stone - Aquamarine 

Flower - Daffodil

April

Stone - Diamonds

Flower – Sweet pea or Daisy

May

    Stone - Emerald

The Lily of the Valley

June

Stone - Pearl

Flower – the Rose

July

Stone - Ruby

Flower – the Water Lily

August

Stone - Peridot

Flower - the Gladiolus or Poppy

September

Stone - Sapphire

Flower – the Aster or Morning Glory

October

Stone - Opal

Flower – the Calendula (Marigold)

November

Stone – Topaz

Flower – the Chrysanthemum

December

Stone – Turquoise

Flower – the Narcissus

So this year there is no excuse for not getting the right presents. Hope your recipients appreciate your generosity. Happy New Year!

Please share this post on your favourite networking site if you find it useful. Thank you.

Christmas Has Gone To The Dogs

In order to wrap up 2010's posting on this blog (I still have a few posts left in me for my other sites) before I leave for my Christmas hols with relatives, I want to bring you some 'awwww' inducing pictures of little Christmas doggies. They're all dressed in the most fabulous, seasonal garb and definitely put me in the Christmas spirit. I've trawled through dozens to bring you some of the best ones. All say, 'Awwww....'

The urls for all the images are at the end of this post.

Aren't they cute!

Happy Christmas to you and a very prosperous and blessed 2011

Photo sources for the above images, in order of appearance:
http://www.sassypup.net/Christmas-Dog-Dress-Poinsettia-Harness-Holidays-p-16564.html
http://www.freechristmaswallpapers.net/wallpaper/Sweet-Dog-Under-Xmas-Tree/
http://animals.desktopnexus.com/wallpaper/1405/
http://hotshotphoto.com/blog/dogs-xmas-hats
http://scruffmacduff.blogspot.com/
http://www.scenicreflections.com/media/284353/Christmas_Dog_Wallpaper/
http://www.wagsntailsmaltese.com/About_Us.html
http://dogs.icanhascheezburger.com/2007/12/page/7/

A Post In Pictures

I've always wanted to create a full post in progressive pictures. I think I've managed to do just that today. This is how I transformed my son's bed from plain and dull, to one that's fun and colourful. With just an old, dusty headboard and some well-chosen material, you to can make a stunning piece of furniture out of your old, boring bed.
Note: use an old, soft blanket under your top layer of material to create a softer, more cushiony  feel and look.