Category: This & That

A little bit of this and a tad bit of that

Small Talk’s Top Posts of 2015

Small Talk’s Top Posts of 2015

Posted on by Mama

topposts2015As the year rapidly comes to an end, it’s always fun to see where the last year took us and how my blogging life was received. After the complete meltdown of Small Talk Mama the fall before, I was forced to make some decisions about the future of my little space of bloggy bliss; and after much deliberation, a false-start and returning to my first love, Small Talk Mama was reborn (slowly) and is still in the repairing process. I continually discover old posts that simply vanished forever, and I’m just so sure those were some of my best stuff.

Okay, enough wound licking. . . let’s get on to my best posts of 2015. These are not necessarily my favorite items, but now that’s why statistics exist. Here are the top five most visited posts of the year and although I find a couple of them surprising, I’m just going with it and hopefully learning a lesson or two. If you see something you missed, I hope you will give it a visit before we move on to 2016.

 

#5:  Secret Subject Swap — Mike Rowe, Come Clean My Dreamcatcher
 This was a post for Baking in a Tornado’s monthly Secret Subject Swap. You just never know what subject I will be writing about when it comes to these posts, but surprisingly it’s a lot of fun. This particular subject started out as one of my least favorites, but ended up being a lot of fun.

 

#4:  My Saltine Packin’ Sister’s Spicy Ranch Crackers
My sister arrived for a visit one day toting these highly addictive and super delicious homemade crackers. While she was here, we made two more batches and a family favorite was quickly born.

crackers

 

#3:  Cozy Lodge Christmas Cards
I created a couple of cards using some new Cozy Lodge Christmas paper and submitted them to Cards In Envy’s weekly challenge. To my joy, I won the top “First-Class” award for that week’s theme, which was a first for me.

adirondackcard1

 

#2:  DASANI Drops — Delicious Anywhere, Anytime
Talk about a surprise! This was a sponsored post for DASANI Infusions that flavor basic bland water into something more enjoyable. It was a lot of fun trying out the different flavored drops; and in fact, I have several cans of DASANI sparkling water in my fridge right now. So I guess my little trial worked. . . for at least one person in the world.

DASANI 

Top Post of 2015: Mad for Plaid at Home for Christmas
This was a fun little post for a blog hop hosted by Country Living and Hometalk. It showcased just a few of the ways I used plaid fabric throughout my home for Christmas. Next year, I promise to start decorating early so that I can take some better photos, but first I have to take down all of the current holly and jolly. *sigh*

Iantern

 

photo credit: Sparkler / Wunderkerze II via photopin (license)

Dining Etiquette Made Simple

Posted on by Mama

In just a couple of days many of us will be hosting or attending a large family gathering , and for some of you it will probably be a more formal affair than most dinners at home. If you’re like me, just figuring out which glass is mine or the proper use order of forks can be daunting. It’s not like I was born in a barn or anything, but we also didn’t host too many fancy sit-downs either. 

Thankfully the nice folks at Liberty Tabletop have simplified the whole process of when to use what, what to do with it when you’re finished and some simple principles of etiquette with their handy dandy graphic seen below.

Now if you’re one of those families that puts out the best paper plates, solo cups and plastic ware (with maybe even a spork sighting or two), more power to you. Of course there is always room for manners; but unfortunately, I don’t have a graphic for labeling your cup with a marker, licking your fork before dessert or grabbing a paper towel when the napkins run dry. Hmmm, maybe I was born at least close to a barn. . .

Happy Thanksgiving to all, no matter the plate from which your turkey comes!!

 dining-v1-final

Secret Subject Swap — Dear Me at Fourteen

Secret Subject Swap — Dear Me at Fourteen

Posted on by Mama

SecretSwapNoBorderWelcome to a Secret Subject Swap. This week, 15 brave bloggers picked a secret subject for someone else and were assigned a secret subject to interpret in their own style. Today we are all simultaneously divulging our topics and submitting our posts.

My Secret Subject is:
If you could go back and give your fourteen year old self advice, what advice would you give? Is there any advice you’d purposely not give? Would fourteen year old you listen?

It was submitted by: berghamchronicles.blogspot.com

Dear Me at Fourteen,

I know this will find you doing well, but since a little help is usually appreciated, I want to share some insight from several years on the other side of teenage us. See, you didn’t do anything too crazy that you’re not still cookin’; although, you might want to be a bit careful around fast cars, automobile sparks and Firebirds that flame. I’m kind of seeing a trend here, but the open road equals freedom through your future years; so embrace it, but be careful. By the way, the speedometer on that Firebird will peg out and keep going, so maybe you just shouldn’t go there.

Okay, pertinent stuff aside, let me just tell you that I realize you’re not a gushy, mushy sort of gal; so instead of writing from the heart (and, yes, we have one), I decided to simply compile a list of dos and a list of don’ts pertaining to your next few years (college is a whole other story, consisting of its own entirely different volume of dos, don’ts and do differents). I know you will disregard a few of my warnings and embrace several too, but hopefully this will make life a bit easier, moments more enjoyable and each day a whole lot more fun. Although I have to tell you, our teenage years were pretty great the first time through.

So from 30-plus years down the road, keep the wheel straight, the windows rolled down and enjoy every stop along the way.

Love,
Your Still Optimist, But a Bit Cynical Future You

Do This

  1. Trust your instincts. They are right on target (even if you ignore them when it comes to affairs of your own heart).
  2. Think a little harder before you give up basketball one day. You will miss it.
  3. Forgive your sister when she says she doesn’t care what you think, because she won’t even remember she said it.
  4. Definitely climb up on Melissa’s roof and throw those eggs, but don’t be surprised when you have to crawl back up the next day and clean it all off.
  5. Encourage your mom to buy that brand new Firebird the year before you start driving. You won’t be disappointed.
  6. Pay more attention in French class — you will actually have several chances to use what you learn.
  7. Take that graduation trip to Padre Island. It will have its bumps, but it will be a blast!
  8. Journal more. Lots more. You will have a full life and you should really put your thoughts on paper.
  9. Continue to think the best of people. It makes life so much more enjoyable.
  10. Do trust that the Lord is always there, and when the Holy Spirit speaks loudly you ought to listen.

Don’t Do That

  1. Don’t race a Mustang along school property; but if you do, be nice to the jerky cop that pulls you over because he doesn’t plan to give you a ticket.
  2. Don’t outsmart your sophomore science teacher.
  3. Don’t say you will never drive a mini van, over and over again. Hint: eventually you will.
  4. Don’t put so much on your platter. Enjoy some down time.
  5. Don’t be such a perfectionist. It leads to procrastination.
  6. Don’t leave your mom waiting while you tote your friend all the way home after cheer tryouts. Mom will be mad, really really mad.
  7. Don’t lose touch with your childhood friends. You will miss them.
  8. Don’t forget to tell your Mom and Dad you love them every day.
  9. Don’t wait so long to tell a certain senior to, “Shut up and kiss me.”
  10. Don’t read bad books. Life is too short to finish it just because you started.

*****

If you want to read more of the fun, here are links to all the sites now featuring Secret Subject Swap posts.  Sit back, grab a cup, and check them all out. See you there:

 

Page 6 of 13
1 … 4 5 6 7 8 … 13