10 years

I was looking at some old posts and I realized that today is the anniversary of this blog and that it has been 10 years since I started this blog. It's been named different things and I've been on and off with it for those 10 years but I keep coming back. I didn't write or do much of anything for a year after BT's diagnosis but then I was honestly in the middle of a breakdown. I've found writing down some of this stuff lately has been cathartic even if no one is reading this anymore. I'm fine with that. I just like saying stuff "outloud," writing down my thoughts. Still I think it is really neat that I've managed to save something for a decade.

The end of The Little Bookworm

If you didn't know I ran a fairly "successful" book blog for many years, 6 to be exact. And Wednesday I officially shut it down. I hadn't blogged over there since May and I've only blogged sporadically since I had Button. I always thought I'd go back and pick it back up but the truth is I got out of the habit of book blogging and dealing with that whole world. I started it as an outlet for all the books I was reading without understanding that there is a whole community. And then I got involved in that community and met some wonderful people and generally had a good time. But like most things, I just couldn't get up with the pace and I stopped reading altogether for a long time. I've always been a reader so the fact that I didn't want to pick up a book was alarming to me. I know it had more to do with having a newborn and a school-age child than the idea of having to review but the truth is that was a contributing factor. And if your hobby is stopping you from doing something you love, then it's not a good hobby anymore. Still I tried because I loved it and I still doing on some level. It just started to feel like more of a burden than a hobby. So after not blogging or even looking at it for 3 months I decided to just call it quits. One day I might pick it back up. After all my consistency is here is not always the best but I keep coming back (for 7 years now). But as I said over there, today is not that day. I'm thinking one day in a year or two that I might go back. But for now I'm happy that I made it official.

He cooks, she cooks.

My husband is an excellent cook. Me, not so much. I just never give it the attention that it needs. I am a careless cook. I forget to watch the stove and something burns or boils over. I'm a better baker. It requires more precision and more science. I like exactness and scheduling. Cooking is about tasting and trying. I'm a creative person, just not a creative cook. BT is better though. It must run in his blood. His Noni was a good cook and his brother has been professionally trained as a chef. So it's not really no surprise that he turned out as good as he is. Damn that boy can cook is one of my favorite phrases along with that's why I married him. But lately as our work and life schedules has changed I've had to take a more active role in the dinner making process. It's not something I was excited about but it's been a necessity. I've had to go outside my box and start making better food. Pinterest has been helpful.

So BT had the idea of a food blog where he can write about the more elaborately fine things he cooks and I can talk about the quick meals that I make. We talked about it briefly but then one day he said he really wanted to do this. So I obliged and made a blog on WordPress, a new platform for me. And with that He bites. She bites. Wee bites. was born.  I still working on layout and trying to figure out WordPress but it's coming along. Food blogging is something completely new to me and not something I ever thought I'd do. But it's a fun activity for the two of us and it's nice having a hobby together.

Back to Book Blogging

I quit book blogging for a year. I just couldn't seem to care with having to take care of a newborn and a kid and reading fell by the wayside. But a year makes a difference because I started up again this year over at The Little Bookworm. But I've changed the way I'm book blogging. There are no more everyday reviews because I have even less time to read everyday than I use to and I don't do challenges anymore. At least not right now. I might do one or two next year for fun. And I've quit commenting so much on other's blogs. That is the only one I really want to change. I just need to find a new reader now that Google Reader is being discontinued. But I feel like if I want others to read what I write I should go out and do that same.

I'm enjoying getting back into it and remembering why I liked it in the first place before it became about book tours and ARCs and publishing everyday. I like the community though. The people are generally nice and very passionate about reading and books. So I am doing my best to provide a little content each week though sometimes it is just a wrap up of the previous week and a "What I'm Reading" feature. And that's ok. I am fine with that.

On quitting book blogging

So for almost 3 years I've been running a book blog. And I loved it until mid-summer last year. We had some personal issues going on and then I got pregnant and so my love of reviewing books just fell away. But I felt like I had this obligation so I kept at it, slowly posting less and less and stop commenting altogether. Then it dawned on me what I was doing. And I didn't know how to continue. Plus I knew that when the baby is born I really won't have time to blog that much. Or at least read and review. I thought, well I'll just take a hiatus when the baby is born, no big deal. But as the end of 2011 approach I realized that wasn't what I wanted to do. I just didn't want to do it anymore.

So today I quit. I posted about an extended indefinite hiatus. The funny thing is now that I don't have to anymore, I kind of feel like I want to. I know that I'll still post reviews here and there but it feels like a burden is gone. I hated feeling like something that was suppose to be a hobby was a burden and now that feeling is lifted. I don't have to accept books for review or have review every book I read. I can just read for fun again without feeling like I need to bookmark and analyze.

I really do hope to get back to book blogging again one day. But right now I just want to read for myself. I'd also like to put some more time into this blog which I've woefully neglected for too long now. I can't decide how much I have to say about anything. I did enjoy recapping Lost and wouldn't mind doing the same for the only show I really watch now, Once Upon a Time. I don't know. I'll just have to see.

Blog Everyday in October?

So I have been contemplating blogging every day in October.  I am so unhappy that I've neglected blogging.  Even my book blog is suffering from some inattention.  I just can't seem to focus on anything internet related right now.  But I don't want to let this blog fall into disuse as is the case right now.  Blogging everyday seems to give me focus and makes me write and is actually fairly helpful to me.  Blogging everyday though is a big undertaking but I have done it before many times.  So, yes, I think I'll give it another shot in October.  I'll try to start writing up things this month though, just to get started.

Christmasy

Adori Graphics put this, well, adorable free Christmas theme up for her Freebie Friday and I thought it was so freaking cute and a fun way to add a bit of Christmas to my blog.

Second {Belated} Blogversary

nce again I failed to acknowledge my blogversary on its actual date (August 7 which is so weird since that is my dad's birthday).  Anyway, here is my acknowledgment.  This blog has never taken a real direction and is very random, much like my inner monologue.  But that's ok.  It's nice to have a place to put things down.  My favorite thing to do is reviews.  I have a whole book blog and it has done reasonably well.  I've done TV shows for this one and really enjoyed doing Lost Thoughts.  Sadly I don't think any other TV shows will be as awesome or thought provoking as Lost.  I miss that show.  But it explains my lack of TV recaps or thought posts.

But I've had this blog for 2 years now and that is a long time for me to committ to a blog especially one with no "theme" or focus.  But happy 2 year to Annie, I think which used to call many many other things.

On naming blogs and other things

Sometimes I spend my time thinking of blog names which is funny since I had such a hard time deciding on a name for this blog.  It's been called Five x Five after one of my favorite Buffy characters,  Half Asleep in Plaid Pajamas after one of my favorite Tom Robbins books among other things that I can't remember now.  I honestly have no idea what I originally titled it.  Now Annie, I think seems like the perfect name as it encompasses a title of one of my favorite books (Alice, I Think) and also the fact that this blog is very often just a collection of my random thoughts and whims.  So cool, love it, mark it, fine.

I've acquired a Tumblr and had to go through the whole thing again, finally settling on Never Fully Dressed after my favorite Annie song.  (Yes, Virginia there is a pattern).  I feel good about this name.  And now I've thought of a couple of new names for blogs but I'm not about to start blogging in 5 different places.  Let's not get crazy.

But when I think of new names I wonder how many other people have thought of the same name.  So on Blogger I'll start putting in blog addresses that I would use for these names and seeing what I get.  Most often it turns out that, yes, someone else has thought of it too.  But most of these blogs haven't been updated or really used at all.  I see a lot of "My first blog post, more to come" and then nothing.  I wonder what happens to these people.  Do they get new blogs somewhere else?  Did they just not like blogging that one blog?  Are they lazy?  Do they just like thinking of names for things like me?  I'll never know.  But in the meantime, they are taking up perfectly good urls.  Hrmpf.

Writing it down

It's funny.  I find myself wanting to write a blog post because I am frustrated.  But it is not something that I actually want to talk about on the internet or, indeed, to anyone who is not my husband.  So it's crazy that one of my instincts is to write a post about the thing that is frustrating me.  There is something cathatric about complaining on the internet.  Not many people read my blog though I know some do and I know who some of them are (Hey!) which is fine.  That's what this is for.  If I don't want something read or I don't want someone to know something about me, then the last thing I do is post a blog about it.  Because it is unreasonable to think that no one is going to read it.  But just the act of writing it down feels good which is why a lot of people keep journals.  I use to do that, maybe I should go back to it for these things that are not internet appropriate.  It's just so easy to type something up.  I mean, I have Twitter, I have this blog, I have a Tumbler, I have Facebook.  I am all over the place.  But I trying to share out the savvy bits of me while withholding the parts of me that belong to the private world. 

Playing with new Blogger

I've been experimenting with the new blogger templates trying to make this a little more custom and separating out the sidebar sections.  I think it is looking pretty good and I like how much you can customize the templates especially the 3 column and split column that are already included.  I'd like to do something like this with The Little Bookworm but I can't with the new menu bar I just got. :(  Still pretty neat.

February is ovah

Well, I managed to post everyday in February.  I'm glad I did and it wasn't too hard.  I think I'm getting better at this.  And, no, my topics weren't always great and on Saturdays I mostly did Quotes but I wanted to work on getting things out and making this blog a little more of priority.  I spend so much time on my book blog, tweaking and writing that I felt like I was neglecting this one.  I wanted to find a greater purpose for it but I figured out that I just wanted someone to post whatever I wanted, not just on a specific thing.  I like doing TV and movie things so I think mostly I will do that, but I also like just writing about whatever is on my mind.  And with a new look designed by me with the header by Adori Graphics, I feel really good about this blog and this month.

New Look!

Louise at Adori Graphics has done it again!  She did such a great job on The Little Bookworm that I wanted her to do the header for Annie, I think and here it is.  Isn't it just so cute?  Thanks so much, Louise!!!  You are made of win.

Spam

This morning when I checked my e-mail, I found 120+ comments had been made overnight on this blog.  All of them spam which is just so great.  I've been deleting them this morning and now I have enabled word verification on all posts and comment moderation on post 15 days or older.  Not that I get so many comments, but I don't want to have to do that again.  It is frustrating because Blogger only allows comment deletion one comment at a time.  They really need to work on their comment system because you can't edit comments either.  I hate deleting and then starting over when I mess up on a comment somewhere and I'm sure others do too. 

Adori Graphics Countdown to Christmas Giveway!

One of my favorite blogs is having a super great Countdown to Christmas Giveaway. Louise at Adori Graphics is giving away custom blog items everyday.  So if you are looking for something to add that extra special something to your blog, head on over there.  She does excellent work.  Check out my header at The Little Bookworm to see.

So far she's doing a giveway for the following:
Day 1 - win a premade template - CLOSED - winner is Crazy For Books
Day 2 - win a custom Christmas card design - CLOSED - winner is Peterson Family
Day 3 - win a Christmas or winter themed digital scrapbooking kit - closes 17th
Day 4 - win a grab box - closes 27th Dec
Day 5 - win a favicon (5 winners) - closes 27th
Day 6 - win a custom Twitter background - closes 27th Dec
Day 7 - win a custom or premade business card design - closes 27th Dec
Day 8 - Win a menu bar - closes 27th Dec
Day 9 - Win a £5 gift certificate for my store - closes 27th Dec
Day10 - Win a blog background - closes 27th Dec
Day 11 - Win a large blog button - closes 27th Dec
Day 12 - Win a signature graphic - closes 27th Dec
Day 13 - Win a post icon - closes 27th Dec
Day 14 - Win a custom decorative sidebar photo frame design - closes 27th Dec
Day 15 - Win a custom header - closes 27th Dec
Day 16 - Win a photo style rotating header - closes 27th Dec
Day 17 - Win a set of custom digital pin badge style buttons - closes 27th Dec
Day 18 - Win a logo design - closes 27th Dec
Day 19 - Win a watermark - closes 27th Dec
Day 20 - Win an owl themed premade template - closes 27th Dec
Day 21 - Win a custom mini makeover - closes 27th Dec
Day 22 - Win a header - closes 27th Dec
Day 23 - Win a background - closes 27th Dec
Day 24 - Win a £10 gift certificate - closes 27th Dec
Day 25 - Win a basic makeover - closes 27th Dec

Update on blog

You may have noticed a change in this blog.  I talked before about how I can't settle on anything.  But I was strangely burdened by the name Half Asleep in Plaid Pajamas which I changed to HA in Paisley PJs and made a new background and header for it and everything.   But I felt pinned down by the name and couldn't decide what it was about.  So after some thought, I decided on Annie, I Think which I liked a lot and think it reflects who I am.  So here we are and I've picked a background that is very me as well.  I'm not saying that won't change but the name is staying.  I promise!
But now I feel I can talk about anything since most everything I post is really my thoughts on things I find interesting.  And with my shows coming back on, I'll be discussing my TV shows a lot and movies, occasionally books (but I have a separate blog for that) and anecdotes from my real life too.  I doubt I will be able to post everyday (it's tiring having to do that), but I plan on at least twice if not three times a week.

Happy Belated Blogiversary!

So my "blogiversary" has come and gone. It was August 7 and I just now remembered. I feel like this blog has very little direction. I'm fairly sure my life is boring so I don't feel like writing about it. I like writing about TV shows but nothing is on right now. I need to figure out exactly what I'm going for here. I mainly got this b/c I thought it would be fun. I just need to decide what to do with it.

Blog Backgrounds

I've been experimenting with different backgrounds and stuff ever since I made the one for this blog. My practice blog is where I do all the experiments and see how things look, etc. I really like the one that is up right now. Look now before it becomes something else.

I have a problem

If you regularly read this, then you've notice that I can't stop playing with the look of my blog. I have a problem, an addiction if you will. I can't seem to find a template or a background that I like for this blog. I've settled on something for my book blog that even though it isn't quite right, I'm keeping until I find something that is or I buy or make something. But it looks good and is very clear. This blog though I have been searching and searching but nothing is quite right so I keep changing it, but I just want to find something right, that fits. I wanted something plaid to go with the name, but I've find nothing that completely appeals to me. I like a 3 column blog with a clear header. I like plaid, I like pink, but nothing too busy. I could change the name of the blog, but it took me forever to settle on Half Asleep in Plaid Pajamas and I like that name since I am half asleep most of the time. I could eliminate the pj part and just call it Half Asleep but I don't know if that is better or worse. Or I could call it Annie Kawaii like my twitter name and that might be cute and free me up from the burden of plaid. And I could find something really cute and maybe leave it alone. Hmmm.... well if this blog suddenly changes its name and look (once again), here was fair warning.

ETA: So after I wrote this blog, I made a new background and header. Yes, I made it so I could have something I liked. We'll see how long this last, but I think it came out pretty good.

These are a few of my favorite things, er, blogs

Like everyone, I have blogs that I visited everyday or check weekly depending on my mood and how busy I am. I, of course, am obsessed with Twitter and keep it open all day at work and at home too. I have a book Twitter too so that I can share books with people and then I have my personal Twitter for the other stuff I like and for my life. The same thing goes for my blogs: I have this one for personal things and whatever and I have a book blog, just for that. And I have a Facebook, which I checked daily, and a Myspace that I never check and am thinking of deleting anyway.

But there are websites that I love and have on occasion obsessed about. Here they are, in very little order, my favorite blogs:


Occupation: Girl - Cleolinda Jones
I first found her blog when doing a search on Breaking Dawn reactions after Amazon blew up when all the Twihards started freaking out. Up til Breaking Dawn, I was just straight up in love with those books but that book just did something to me. Anyway, I found her recaps of BD and then read the rest of her Twilight recaps and commentary and I was hooked and was now in it for the lulz. She was posting everyday but lately she's giving herself a much needed rest and is posting every couple of days or so. Her main thing right now is The Secret Life of Dolls which is about the adventures of her, um, dolls including The Littlest Edward, a bunch of Lord of the Ring dolls, Lyra Belacqua, and a lot more. Look, it's funny, just trust me. She is a writer working on a steampunk/vampire? book and she talks about that too. She also wrote a book called Movies in Fifteen Minutes (which I own) and has posted some online including Twilight the movie. I could fangirl her so much more but 1. I don't want to sound creepy and 2. it could get really long so let's just say she's awesome and move on.

eric three thousand

I found him one day looking for Project Runway recaps. His are very funny and very accurate. He makes up dialogue and talks about the designs. He also does Top Chef which is another of my favorite shows and has started doing The Fashion Show from Bravo. He is very funny if you like these shows.

Libba Bray - the author, of course!

I LOVE A Great and Terrible Beauty so I went looking for her website and found her blog. I use to check weekly but now it's more like monthly. She is fantastically funny and insightful. I had a bad experience posting comments on her blog (not her, another commenter) so I don't do that now but she is still fun to read.

Maureen Johnson - the author (of course)

I can't remember when I started following her but it was definitely after I read 13 Blue Envelopes. She is insanely funny and posts really long and very funny blogs. I participated in the BEDA project that she started and meet some great people through it. She usually writes about writing or hamsters or J.K. Rowling. You just have to read it.

Speaking of BEDA, I still follow my BEDA buddies blogs (including someone who was my unofficial BEDA buddy) They are

Letter, Words, Thought, Ideas, Stories... - Tiffany Schmidt who is extremely funny

You Should Only Know - Erica Manney who writes about her life

Library Notebook - lindsaygail who is a librarian like me and writes about books and being a librarian

Life in Denim and Flip Flops - Becky Jean who is also a librarian and writes about different things like work, making cards, poetry, etc.

Anyway, these are just some of my favorite blogs. I actually have more, but this is getting long.