Top Viewed Blog Posts

Can you believe that it is almost 2020? How can that be?? As I am writing this, I am house/animal sitting for a friend, and the snow is falling outside :) I am not entirely sad about it!

I hope that you had a wonderful Christmas, and that you are able to enjoy family time with lots of food this week! Some people say that Christmas is over, and I call "eggnog", b/c it's not over until Jan 2nd!!! Yes, I am still listening to Christmas carols, and watching Christmas movies.

I will try to get a blog or two written about our Christmas with my family, but for now, I thought I would do something another blogger talked about on IG earlier today, and that is to post my top viewed blog posts of all time! Suzanne is a law enforcement wife and mama, who lives in Ohio, and she is the sweetest thing! She is real, but also has some very fun ideas, IG stories, and pictures. They have 3 kiddos, and she is also a foster mama! When I saw on IG stories that she had just posted about her top viewed blog posts, I thought that it would be fun :)

So, here goes!

First off.....I have been blogging for just over 12 years. The blog has taken a few different turns in the last 10+ years, but I think where it is right now is a happy medium of real, raw, honest, but also fun and hip! I think only have 38 followers, and I have had 97.4K views of all time, which is pretty cool. I used to worry about how many people followed me, and now I don't really care. I just like to see my blog viewed at all. I actually had no idea how to find out what my top 10 were!! My blog template/layout is pretty simple. I have spent 0 money on it, and I have also received 0 money! Though I have done a few reviews :) Someone else said that blogging is dead, but judging by the amount of blogs that I follow (we won't go there), and the amount of posts that I see in my blogging feed every day, I hardly think so!

1)  Goals I want to Crush This Year

This was written in November 2018, and it had 1.28K views!!! I am surprised that this one made the top ten at all, much less the top spot! The funny thing is, this post wasn't a part of a link up, and it garnered/generated that many views on its own! (According to my full page information, this number didn't changed. See below for clarification.)

**I have never really been one to set goals. I mean, realistic ones. Sure, I would love to get skinny and win $1M, but as for realistic goals, I tend not really tend to stick with the work. At the start of the school year (for those who are new to my blog, I am an Education assistant in a school), I had hoped to set (and work towards) some realistic goals. So far, I really haven't done much towards that, but here they are, anyway.**

2)   Five on Friday/ SUYL

This was written Feb 2014, and it has 676 views, which is quite a bit different than over 1,000! I am not going to post a snippet of that posts here, but you can you find it if you click on the link. This was back when another blogger did Show Us Your Life (one of the first blog. hops that I did!). According to the full page info, this came in at 749 views.

3)  SUYL: Tips On Finding Jobs

This was written May 2013, while I was in the throws of looking for work :) I actually was really surprised by the amount of views that it did get (466). (The full information page had this at 557).

**I have LOTS of resumes/cover letters out and about in our city, both in retail and in Community/Angency positions. I hope I hear back from them soon, as I would LOVE (and NEED) to have some more hours and of course, experience in my new chosen field. I LOVE my job that I do have, but I don't have as many hours as I would like, and I need another jobs to supplement it.**

4)  She's Here!

This was written in March of 2017, when my sister, Vienna, came home for about 18 months, before heading off to The Philippines again (where she is now). This had 410 views. 

Now, before I go any further, there seems to be a discrepancy regarding the number of views per post. In one area, it says one (usually a lower number), and when you click on the link (in the "Stats" area), it has a higher number. Sometimes, it is only up a few, but others, it is more than a hundred! I cannot find out how to find the real amount of views (nor do I want to start ALL OVER AGAIN), so I am going to go with the list that I have, and anyone who knows how to find the correct number, please let me know! Ok...carrying on....
So, according to one area, this had 410 views, but once I clicked on the full page information on that post, it was at 454 views.

**We had big plans of all going up to my brother and SIL's house after picking up said sister for a quick bite to eat dinner. Well, life doesn't always turn out the way we hoped, planned and wanted. Her plane got delayed (get this), 3 times! Yo...I didn't know it was even POSSIBLE for planes to get delayed FROM Canada (she was coming from YVR) that many times! Poor thing had been there for 7 hours, and had been travelling for 48 (or something).**

5)  SUYL: Infertility

This was written June 21, 2013, and it came in at 399 (or 563) views. This was another one of a Show Us Your Life posts, and I think the topic must have been in infertility, as that is what I wrote about. Either that, or something that was hard, etc. I tend not to write or dwell on it to much, but whenever I have the chance to write or talk about it, I generally will. 

**This has become a very real and sad reality for Anker and I. And this has a special place in my heart. I haven't really talked too much about our infertile journey, but there are a few posts in which I have highlighted/touched on it. **

6)  Random-ness

This came in at 397 (or 463) views, and was written March 17, 2017. I love me a random post :)

7)  Canada Day Memes and Jokes

This one came in at 338 (or 356) views, and was written June 30, 2018. I am not going to post anything about that here...you can go and check it out for yourself.

8)  Random Post

I wrote this October 2018, and it came in at 294 (on both info pages) views.

9)  Five on Friday/SUYL: Show us Your Apps

I wrote this August 9, 2013, and the viewing numbers are really different for/on this one: 294 on one page, then in another page, it says 432. Weird. I love me a link up post :)

**I am doing a two-in-one post today (plus another post later on today), as I am doing my FOF, and SUYL. 

I am enjoying my day off, with no husband. I left him at the ranch (more on that in the next post), and I am hanging out on my own this wknd. I ran errands this morning, and am now home to nurse my ear infection. Thank goodness for Antibiotics...which will start off with FOF.**

10)  Don't Forget to Play in the Leaves

I wrote this in October of 2018, and the viewing numbers are very similar with this one...292 on one, and 296 on the other page. As much as I love doing "regular day" posts, I do like writing thoughtful and provoking posts as well.

**I played in the leaves! I took a walk in a park across from my brother and sister-in-laws), to mainly take pictures of the trees. I also decided to have some fun, and I sat down, and I played with/in the leaves. Did I feel a foolish? Yes, a bit. Did I care, not one bit! Why? Because I wanted to have some fun, and take a break from "adulting", and to be a kid again.**

There ya have it! My top 10 posts of the last 12 years of blogging! I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing them!

This photo has nothing to do with my post...I just like adding a picture in, so that it doesn't look weird when I publish and share it. This was from the other day (or week?) while I was at Starbucks (where else? duh!) reading and getting caffeinated.

Friday Favourites (CHRISTmas Edition)

I am going to just dive right in!

1) School Life: A couple of weeks ago, we had Secret Santa at work :) I had fun giving and receiving gifts this year! Can I get an Amen for 16 days off???  That being said...I got some pretty "sweet" gifts from the students this year! My teacher also gave me some lovely gifts. I got a shirt (which I love, and I wore it today from Northern Reflections. My top is similar to this, but in sapphire. She also gave me chocolate, and a book :) I am very blessed (and tired!), indeed!

2) Advent: Ok, this should be #1, but hey, I just post them as they come to me! I am thankful that JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON!

3) Family: We found out today that one of my brothers and his wife are having another baby! I ended up calling him (we kids found out through FB...thankfully, the grandparents got told the old-fashioned way.....a phone call!) K (2.5 yrs) told everyone today via a video that her other gramma posted. At first, I thought they found out they were going to have a girl, but that is what K wants :) Ha! They are due in June.

4) Christmas Drinks/Tree: As I said in my last post, I have had more than my fair share of Christmas drinks this season. I think my favourite is the Peppermint HC with Eggnog! Yum!!!! I have made a similar drink at home with store bought eggnog and HC and I add a candy cane to it. I have had one or two holiday coffee visits with friends, and I hope to have a few more next week. As well, I ended up getting a small REAL tree this year (I asked my brother and his wife to see if they could get me one...I didn't think they would, but sure enough, they came home with 3 trees for me!). I took the smallest one, and I put it in our room :)

5) Driving/Dinner/Drinks: I have gone on a few drives with friends on a couple of occasions, and it is has been really fun :) My other friend and I went out for dinner before we drove around to check out the lights. I am thankful that the weather has mostly cooperated with said driving :)

6) Snow (but not too much!): We have some snow, but not a whole ton :) I am thankful :)

7) Concerts: I went to H's concert last Sunday, and it was pretty cute!!! I took another friend to our school's Christmas play (I didn't have to help this year), and it was fun seeing it from the audience's view :)

8) GC: Our church gave us a GC to Walmart :) I am thankful. The end.

9) Housesitting: A friend has asked me to house sit for them next week (well, I guess it's next weekend, actually). I cannot wait. One big TV, and myself.

10) My gramma is coming for NY!!! I am hoping that the roads will be good enough to go back out and see her. (see #7)

Magazines, Movies, Mixers, Music, Mincemeat Tarts, and Mocha (s)

Yes, I am behind. No, I don't really care!

Here are few things from the last couple of weeks:

Magazines: This is probably from all of the MANY Christmas-related magazines that I have read in the last few weeks. I also am trying to get caught up on my weekly magazines. I just haven't felt the need (as much) to read celebrity magazines lately. I get that way sometimes. 

Movies: I have been watching Hallmark movies like they are going out of style! These last few days I have been busy (not sure what), so I haven't been watching as much...but I do try to watch when I have a few minutes (or hours!). There have been some good movies on NF and Disney+. I watched Noelle, and on NF, my friend and I watched The Knight Before Christmas. I also have watched some regular Christmas movies: A Christmas Story, The Nativity Story, Miracle on 34th St, It's A Wonderful Life, The Holiday, etc. I also have been watching Christmas episodes of Friends. I had hoped to watch the Christmas episodes of TBBT, but I haven't gotten around to it.

Mixers: I went to our work Christmas party earlier this month, and we had a blast. We closed out the place at 915 pm (because we are wild and crazy like that). We had games, music, and prizes. The next night was our church's party, and it was so fun! Anker wasn't feeling well, so I went alone, but I still had a fun time. I think I got home at 830. #christianspartyhard AND the next night, our ladies Bible Study had our Christmas party. I came home with some lovely earrings :) The food and laughter was much needed! Again, we left at 830 (though, the last two nights were work/school nights for most people). 

Music: I have been trying to listen to all of my Christmas CDs that I have in my collection. I have about 30 Christmas CDs, and I think I have only listened to half of them. I also have gotten some CDs from the library. I have been loving Pentatonix CDs. They are one of my favourite bands to listen to at Christmas. I will also throw some music on Stringray Music or some on YT.

Mochas: What can I say? I have had my fair share of Christmas drinks this season. I won't even tell you the exact number, b/c I really have no clue (to be fair, I didn't buy them ALL).

Mincemeat Tarts: Y'all, I am glad that I cannot make pastry to save my life, or else I would be making pie and tarts ALL.THE.TIME. I had a both a butter tart when I went over to pick up my tree the other week, and then last week, I ate a mincemeat tart. Yum. Just Yum.

Hey, It's Ok......

Hey...Yes...remember me? I ha
ven't been into blogging (or even reading many blogs) much lately, but I thought I would try and a few short/quick blog posts to get me back into the groove...:)

So...remember a few years ago, a certain magazine had an "It's Ok....." column, in which it told its readers (mainly female) that it was/n't ok to do (or not) (or think) certain things? Well, I thought I would try that. I was originally going to go the long, wordy route, but I thought I would go the short, point form route...so...here it goes:

Hey, it's Ok....

1)..........to not really be feeling the Christmas spirit this year.

2)....to not want to put up your tree....but you end up getting a Charlie Brown tree instead! And put it in your bedroom! And to do VERY minimal decorating at your house.

3)...to only send cards back to people who sent you cards (mail), and to only send out a few to a select group of friends and family (local). (And to secretly wish you got a few of the local ones back in return!)...and to actually secretly love getting and send out cards!

4).....to end up buying a good portion of your gifts from the dollar store (#noshameinmygame).

5).....to only want to bake one or two batches of cookies....and then end up eating most of them!

                           Brookies (I burnt most of them!), and gingersnaps (we ate most of them!).

6)......to secretly wish you could go back to the First Christmas...where things were simpler, and probably a bit more quiet!

7)....to not want to blog during this holiday, b/c you feel the pressure to do #allthethings, and wish you were THAT blogger who had all of the sponsors, and #freestuff!

8)....to buy those gift packs, and to split it up btwn the guys and gals in your family.

9)......to secretly not feel guilty for eating junk over the holidays.

10)......to wish, that even though most of the time, you are happy that you have no kids, that you had some kids to spoil, visit Santa, buy (or make) matching PJs for, or to make cookies with (I am thankful that I get to spoil my nephews a little!).

11)....to think that kids (and adults) are too spoiled at Christmas.

12).....to think that Christmas is too commercialized.

13)....to be a bit envious of everyone's Christmas posts/pictures on social media.

14)....to want to spend all your time watching Hallmark/cheesy movies for much of your downtime.

15)....to think that Elf on the Shelf is weird and creepy. Why make more work for yourself?

16).....to want at least ONE PJ day over the holidays...and to sleep in...lots!

17)....to hope and pray that it doesn't snow until you get to your destination! White Christmas can wait!

18).....to read a bunch of fluffy novels over the holidays.

19).....or not read at all....not even magazines! Because movies, food, visiting, and winter sports!!

20).....that even though you love your family, you secretly can't wait to get home and to you own place and have a few days of CALM and QUIET!

21)....to be too excited NOT to sleep Christmas Eve, and to be the first one up on Christmas morning!

22)....to secretly be looking forward to getting back into routine (and seeing your friends!) come Jan 2 (or whenever you go back to work/school).

23)...to be THANKFUL that JESUS is the REASON for the SEASON!

24)......to be THAT person who actually loves fruit cake and mincemeat tarts, and yes, figgy pudding!

25).....to look forward to saying and writing 2020! #allthe2020jokes

Merry CHRISTmas 2019!