Friday Follow:

Another Friday Follow, Folks. Last week I didn't get to through as much of the list as I would have liked, but I will try to better this week :)

Welcome to the seventh Friday Follow celebration hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to follow other interesting blogs. It is all about sharing and having fun.
Here’s how YOU can join the celebration:

* Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky below – Only need to on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
* Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots
* Follow as many blogs as you’d like
* Comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow
* Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow

*If you are interested in entering blog giveaways, please see Just Contest Stuff. I put up a list of 30 or more New Blog giveaways 5-7 days a week.

How to Make a Button

Believe it or not, it's not that difficult. Henrietta, from A Hen's Nest, made the button for Just Contest Stuff, but I wanted to see if I could make one for this blog. And I can. So, if I Can do it, you can do it, too.

Start by finding ~OR~ designing your image. I found a free image on the web, but you can upload, scan or design your image however you feel comfortable.

Now, load that image to whatever photo editing software you know how to use. I used good old Paint. Stretch it, shrink it, add text. Play around, have fun with it. Get it how you want it. Easy peasy so far, right?

OK. So, you've got your image how you want it to look. The size is good, the colors fit your blog. Upload it to a photo hosting site {like Photobucket}.
This is my code:

<br /><center><a href= "http://pixie13-justrandomstuff.blogspot.com/"><br /><img alt="Just Random Stuff" src="http://s932.photobucket.com/albums/ad168/pixie13sweeps/fractal_sirograph_blue.jpg" border="0" /></a></center><br />

Where I have http://pixie13-justrandomstuff.blogspot.com/, you need to cut that out & paste in your blog URL.
Where I have Just Random Stuff, you ned to cut that out & paste in the name of your blog.
Where I have http://s932.photobucket.com/albums/ad168/pixie13sweeps/fractal_sirograph_blue.jpg, you need to cut that out & paste in the direct link to your image in Photobucket (or where ever)




And it looks like this:


<center><a href="http://pixie13-justrandomstuff.blogspot.com/"><img alt="Just Random Stuff" src="http://s932.photobucket.com/albums/ad168/pixie13sweeps/fractal_sirograph_blue.jpg" border="0" /></a></center>


Button made. Yay!
I really tried to put up the code for the code box but can't get it to show. I can email it to you if you want it.

My Last Straw

This past week has been just a bit too much for my tight schedule. Kitten had grandma & grandpa over for lunch on Thusrday, and it took most of the morning to make lunch, cupcakes, and visit. Friday's "sleepover" lasted well into Saturday. Sunday my husband had a bad headache & took the whole day to recover, AND my one of my cats got out. He's decided that living outside with the feral colony is so much more fun than being safe inside a nice warm house. Can't catch him no matter what I do.
It was my turn for a headache yesterday. A 3 hour nap in the afternoon & went to bed at 10:00pm.
I got up this morning, ready to go! I'm going to catch up with it all! Nope. During the night, my internet provider "upgraded" the system. Fun. Every time they do that, I end up on the phone for an hour, trying to fix my connection. This morning was even better. 3 1/2 hours after I turned on my computer I can finally clear my reader, answer emails, and put up at least a few things. I am, at this point, so far behind that I can't possibly catch up with the giveaways sitting starred in my reader.
So I'm not going to try. I am turning off my computer. I'm going to have a late lunch, then play with my daughter. Do a little cleaning, maybe a bit of knitting, maybe read a bit.
At some point today I may get back online. Later. Much, much later.

Ahh, Family

Sooo.....My brother calls me last night.
Brother: Can I ask you for a favor?
Me (rather warily): Um, what?
Brother: Can you watch the kids tomorrow? Please?
Me: For how long?
Brother: Overnight? I'll pay you $30.
Me: {after conversation with husband} OKaaaaay.
Brother gives proper thanks, tells me time of drop off/pick up. Says good-bye & I hang up the phone.

Fast forward to this evening. I am now in charge of 4 children under the age of ten & 1 surly teenager. 5 hours of settling disputes, distributing food & drink & making sure all sanitary procedures are followed after using the restroom, and I finally get to sit down. Are they asleep? No, only the teenager. But, hey, 10:00 PM is quiet time, guys.
By 10:30, the first 4 year old is finally asleep. An hour later Kitten finally gives up the fight & conks out. Now if I could just get the other 2 to accept reality. C'mon guys, it's almost midnight & auntie is tired!

Friday Follow

Hosted by One 2 Try, Hearts Make Families and Midday Escapades

Here's how YOU can join the celebration: {From Midday Escapades}

• * Link up your blog name and URL using the MckLinky here.
• * Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
• * Follow as many blogs as you like
• * Comment on the blogs telling them you're from Friday Follow
• * Follow back when you get a new follower through Friday Follow

This is a brilliant idea. First, because it's a wonderful way to find new & interesting blogs to read. And second, you may just get a few new & interesting followers!


*If you are interested in entering blog giveaways, please see Just Contest Stuff. I put up a list of 30 or more New Blog giveaways 5-7 days a week.

Swagbucks

What is Swagbucks? Swagbucks is basically a search engine. You get rewarded with swagbucks for searching the web. You also get rewarded for other things, like shopping, completing offers, viewing vidoes, signing up for sites, etc. You can trade your swagbucks in for all sorts of different rewards. A $5 Amazon GC takes 45 Swagbucks.
If you haven't signed up yet, you may want to do so before February 25, as there is supposed to be a huge birthday celebration.


You can sign up using the widget.

The Lunch Punch®

For those who haven't seen them, The Lunch Punch® is a food cutter specifically designed for cutting the crusts off of your sandwiches with minimal waste. The Lunch Punch® is taller than a cookie cutter, so it easily cuts through two pieces of bread without "squishing" them.
I won a set of The Lunch Punch® from Sugar Pop Ribbons & couldn't wait to get them in the mail. I opted for the Match & Munch™ set. I LOVE companies that go above & beyond what they promise! Not only did I receive the Match & Munch™ set, they also sent the Critter Cutters™ set!
Kitten loves them. But of course, it isn't that dificult to impress a four year old. Mohawk Man loves them, too. (Psst! Don't tell him I told you) It is much more difficult to impress an "I'm-too-cool-for-everything" Teenager. He was actually all like, "Cool!" and "I have to make myself a sandwich!" (A miracle in & of itself)
And The Lunch Punch® sets actually work. I really hate it when you get something & it only sorta-kinda works like it's supposed to. I didn't have that disappointment with The Lunch Punch®. They actually cut right through the bread & filling with no problems.
The Lunch Punch® can be bought in the US at Sweet Madys for $14.00 a set.


FTC: I won these on another blog. No one asked me to write about them; no one asked me to link to anyone. I just think this is a neat product that actually does what it claims to do, & wanted to let people know. I received no compensation for this post.

What Do You Do If You Don't Like a Book? (or product or whatever?)

Today I read a review of a book that was just plain ugly.
The blogger obviously did not like the book. OK. Check. Got it. Not sayin' lie about it.
But goodness.
I have not read the book in question. I have read a lot of reviews about the book, though, and while none of them were a gushing recommendation, most were fairly positive.
I'll be the first to acknowledge tact is not a native characteristic for me, and I have been known to offend people with my opinions. I get being honest. But even I cringed for this poor author. The review was that brutal.
So what do you do? Do you try to find something positive to say? Do you say it wasn't for me, but if you like XYZ maybe it would be for you? Do you return it to the author/company & tell them you can't write a positive review for them? Or do you open up with both barrels & blast away?

Update

Uh-huh. I have been accused of unnatural searches. (Sounds rah-ther perverse, doesn't it?) My Swagbucks account has been re-instated. The irony here being is that I can't actually use the Swagbucks search engine as I naturally would, else I am accused of unnatural searches. Ah, well. Back to Google I go.

Huh?

Swagbucks deactivated my account! What? WHY? According to the rules, there are 3 possible reasons:
1. I have more than 1 account. ~~~Nope
2. There is more than one account registered to this household.~~~Again, nope.
3. I am using it wrong (IE "unnatural" searches.)~~~Huh?

Yup, I do a LOT of searches. Yup, I click on the same websites many times a day. But, the rules also state that if Swagbucks thinks you are "cheating" they will give you a warning. Did I get a warning? Nope.
Ah, but there may be a clue in the "Search Engine Sweepstakes" official rules.

"The browser through which you access Sponsor's website to enter must accept cookies or any similar, successor, known, or hereinafter devised technology which Sponsor does or may use to track Sweepstakes entries. Sponsor will not disclose any cookie results to third parties except as required under statute, court order, warrant, subpoena, or any other legal process"

So...I wonder...does the fact that my cookies clear EVERY time I close my browser have something to do with it? If leaving cookies on my computer is the price to pay for Swagbucks, no, uh-uh.

I have emailed Swagbucks & am waiting to see if I get a response.
Having been doing this for a grand total of 3 weeks, I'm sure I've made mistakes.
Still, if I am doing something wrong, a warning (which they clearly say they will give you) would have been nice.

So not happy right now }:-(

Book Review: King by Right of Blood and Might by Anna L. Walls

A disaster of tremendous proportions destroys our world. An asteroid crashes into the moon, causing global upheaval & changing the human race forever. A million years into the future, Prince Harris O'Aidyn must learn to be a King & draw his land back together. His allies are shapeshifters, psychics, and magic. But so are his enemies.

I liked this book. In fact, I loved this book. I've been wanting to read it since September, when I first saw it on another blog. The story is one of the past set in the future. The writing is fantastic, with nothing to skip over or skim through.

What is even more amazing is the fact that the book is self-published. I LOVE that the author was willing to take such a chance on herself. If you like fantasy, I really think you should give this book a try.
To buy on Amazon
To buy on Barnes & Noble

Authors websites
Anna's Obsession
Anna's Passion

{psst! FTC Geniuses: I bought this book myself. I received no monetary compensation for this review. I just like the book. kthanxbai}

Wins for 2010

1. Progresso Panko prize pack from Mommy's Memorandum 1/1 received 1/12
2. $100 Visa GC from Megan's Rad Reviews 1/3 received 1/28
3. The Boy Who Couldn't Sleep & Never Had To from Knopf Doubleday 1/6 received 1/19
4. Rimmel Urban Seductress makeup palette from Martian Delights 1/10 received 1/21
5. Kodak Printer from Natural Mommie 1/12 received 2/4
6. The Little Giant of Aberdeen County from Bookin' with Bingo 1/16 received 2/5
7. The Survivors Club from The Cajun Book Lady 1/16 received 1/28
8. Travel Buddy from Steals & Deals 1/18 received ???
9. Points of Power from You Wanna Know What I Think? 1/20 received ???
10. Girly Stuff from Mama Mirage Reviews & Giveaways 1/21 received 1/28
11. $20 GC Hollywood Cookie Diet Store from 512Kidz 1/22 received 1/22
12. Book from ? 1/23 received 2/2
13. Love in 90 Days from 1/25 received 2/5
14. Seduced by a Rogue at Reviews by Martha's Bookshelf 1/30
15. Lunch Punch set from Sugar Pop Ribbons 1/31
16. Sleep No More from My Guilty Pleasures 1/31
17. Swan Thieves from Thoughts from an Evil Overlord 1/31
18. Single Husbands at Roxanne's Realm 2/2
19. Valentine Pack from MiMi's Mini Tales 2/2 received 2/8
20. WondaWedge from Sugar Pop Ribbons 2/3
21. Bamboosa Pajamas from The Penny-Pinching Mama 2/4
22. Gentlemen Prefer Succubi from You Wanna Know What I Think? 2/5
23. Denise's Daily Dozen from My Reading Room 2/5
24. Kitty's House of Horrors from Readaholic 2/6
25. Ecstacy Unveiled at Zesty Nachos 2/7
26. Countess of Scandal from Roxanne Rhoads 2/9
27. Durex from Misadventures in Baby Raising 2/13
28. Organix at One Income Dollar 2/14
29. Wilton Heart Shaped from Cake Mom 2/17
30. Eden Fantasys $25 Gc from Things That Make You Go Yay! 2/20
31. A Black Tie Affair from Starting Fresh 2/24
32. Powerhouse Hit The Deck from Tara's View of the World 2/25
33. Jordan from Freda's Voice 2/26

Sugar Doll Award

CC Chronicles was nice enough to give me this award on Wednesday. I love her book reviews. They are short & honest & well-written. If you haven't checked out her blog yet, you really should.

I'm supposed to tell you ten things about myself & then pass the award along to other bloggers.

1. I can knit, crochet & quilt.
2. I read 20-30 books a month.
3. I was born in North Carolina & spent most of my childhood there.
4. I don't care much for instructions & feel things like "recipes" & "patterns" are merely suggestions.
5. I don't have "favorites". No favorite song, movie, color, book, writer, etc.
6. I will be watching the Superbowl today & will be rooting for the Saints.
7. My nails grow freakishly fast. I find it very difficult to do anything with short nails.
8. I'm a cat person. I currently have 3 indoor cats & feed a feral colony that lives in my neighborhood.

Seriously, I can't think of anything else. So... to pass this along...

1. Henrietta at A Hen's Nest
2. Julee at Mommy's Memorandum

OK. I can't think of anybody else right now.