No skin off my nose

So it looks like Google is retiring Google Reader.
I think this upsets a lot of bloggers because of the Followers widget many have on their blogs.
Some bloggers have A LOT of followers and it shows up on their blog. And personally if I see a blog that has a lot of followers, I think "Wow, they must post some good stuff."
Or at least that is what I used to think.
I've come to realize that is not really the case.
I haven't used Google Reader since my second kiddo was born because I don't really have the time to read up on others and I have lost interest.
For a while I was following a lot of folks and I enjoyed reading most of who I was following.
Then I got bored... and annoyed. Too many link-ups, sponsor posts and complaints about their big beautiful homes turned me off.
And some folks just changed their writing style to a more poetic, flowery style, and there is nothing wrong with that. I just don't like reading it.
I don't get symbolism and I cant follow too many adjectives in row. It makes me feel dejected, lugubrious, and as though I am adrift at sea without a paddle. So I just give up and move on to something else, like PINTEREST! (so pretty)
If I REALLY want to keep up with a particular blogger I follow them on Facebook and Twitter. If their little blurb catches my eye THEN I go to their site.
It works for them and me because I get to pick and choose what I read and they get traffic to their site.
Its a Win-Win!
So if you still want to keep up on my bloggy happi-haps, I suggest subscribing via email or following me on Twitter.
I like to keep my Facebook personalish so Im not really sharing that. (I add the ish because how well do I really know all 304 of you.)

China Bots

I noticed an usual hike in my blogger stats the other day.
 Although my content is extremely exciting and engaging, like this post and this post, I was not anticipating much traffic to my little corner of the world wide webosphere.
Here is a screen shot of the traffic to my site:

I havent posted since Feb.
I then took a look at where this traffic might be coming from and take a look...

For whatever reason CHINA loves my little blog as of late! Ill deal with the issue of Brazilians not checking things out later. In the mean time I will choose to not be offended. 

Soooooo why China?

Most likely its some sort of spamming or phishing robot that keeps hitting my site. 

Thats so boring. 

Id like to explore some other options. And since you are still reading wont you explore with me?

Here are a few very probably scenarios as to why China loves me so. 

Government Secrets 

China thinks my site contains government secrets.WHICH IT DOES! Check here and here. 

Just kidding. No government secrets found here... maybe. Or perhaps some things got lost in translation. Which leads me to the next scenario.

I DIM Sum

I have a page called "I DIM!" Which is short for I Did It Myself. Its just a collection of successful different projects I have taken on. Perhaps an English speaking person in China is looking for a recipe on dim sum and my little website comes up in their search. They are probably so disappointed when they see this. 

Celebrity Status

And lastly and I think the most probable, is that my face has been used to market popular products in China and folks are just trying to find out "Who is that girl?".

If you happen to be taking a little stroll in downtown Shanghai, check this out!

I'm VERY marketable

I am not sure how they got my face, name or blog url but they did and I have yet to see a dime. Ah well. It is what it is. Or as they say in China "WaiYuSoTan".

And the Oscar goes to...

Sadly I wont make it to the Oscars this year. 

Its a long story so I wont bore you with it, lets just say Jennifer Lawrence and I are no longer friends. 

If I wore going I think I would go for the following looks that I created on Polyvore. 

I love sequins and Im on a mint and coral kick right now. 

The gingham dress is just loud and fun. 

So enjoy watching the Oscars this year, but I have to say its going to be PRETTY dull without me around. 

And the Oscar goes to... by legendaryee on polyvore.com

Downton Abbey Season 3 Finale Recap

I love Downton Abbey.
I just watched the finale last night.
Here is my recap.
It is short and a little cryptic.
Spoiler Alert?

Downton Abbey Season 3 final recap via iphone Emoji

And then I dont feel soooooo baaaad.

We have an ant problem...but only in the winter months. I thought ants were a summer problem, but apparently that is not the case and every winter these little creepers march into our home and try to feast off of our crumbs. One particular colony (we have a couple colonies, I KNOW, its gross) likes our bathroom. Why? I don't know. I promise you I DO NOT eat in our bathroom. Maybe the little guys are thirsty and this is the only place they can find water. Perhaps they like hair and dust because that is really all there is on our bathroom floor. (Don't act like your bathroom floor doesn't have hair on it). Usually there are not a lot of ants. Maybe like four or five just kinda wandering around. They seemed lost and perhaps a little desperate.

To take care of the problem I bought some ant traps and strategically placed them in their path. Soon there were a bunch of ants feasting on the poison and you know what...I felt bad.
You see, I have this way about me...I talk to animals like they are people (see this story). I used to try to save spiders instead of kill them until this happened.
As I was watching the little buggers march in and out of the bait trap I imagined what those ants must have been feeling.

After weeks of sending scouts in search of anything to feed the family in the bathroom (eye roll) they were about to lose all hope. Then one scout comes back with great news...FOOD!!! This scout was the hero. He saved the colony! It's going to be the best winter ever. Come on everybody lets go! Follow me!
And so they march...find the prize and bring it back to their queen.

The rest is history.
I don't know how much they have to eat to die from the poison or how long it takes. All I know is that it will only last for about 3 months. Then we have to set a new trap. Why is that you think? I could Google it, but I don't feel like it.
I think only the living ants die (redundant I know) and the eggs live. And when they hatch, there are a bunch of little Orphan Anties (see what I did there).  And then the cycle continues. That is until summer, then they make their way outside again. 

I think I need to stop imagining the ants are like this:

pic from Disneys Bugs Life. Please dont sue me.

And imagine them more like this:

Walking Dead mob o' zombies

Ants are not cute little Pixar characters that have inter-species friends that break out in song occasionally.
NO! They are mindless consumers with a mob mentality.
After I follow my  rabbit trail of thoughts,  I don't feel so bad for poisoning the little creepers and leaving their offspring orphans. 

                        

The Space Between...

I don't know about you or most people but I get the post-Christmas blues almost every year.
I really enjoyed Christmas this year despite our lack of space.
We have a new little babe and a fun little tot whom was able to appreciate all things Christmassy this year.
Perhaps Ill post pictures...but that is a lot of work...Trust me it was fun.
So after much planning and prepping I feel relief and enjoy relaxing the days following Christmas.
Then I feel kinda like "eh".
I feel itchy for something new and exciting but I also feel unmotivated.
I want to move someplace warm or have some sort of adventure or just SOMETHING special happen.
There are a ton of DIYs I want to try and things I want to blog...BUT at the same time I just don't FEEL like it.
So like before, I just keep on keeping on.
And I pray and try to be thankful for all that is around me.
I have a lot to be thankful for.
I figure in a week or so Ill snap out of it and get back in a groove.
On that note, tomorrow I'm teaching children's church.
The funny thing is the lesson is about peace and I'm really sweatin' it. Figure that one out :)

It will be fine, I'm sure. If not...its only a little more than an hour :)
On a different note: The following made me giggle...enjoy.

My new saying. "So it has come to this."

If I dont see ya in a couple days HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Cookie Exchange Fail

I wont bore you with the details but I will share with you my latest adventure in dabbling in the domestics.
Huh...
Anyways.
Twas our annual Cookie Exchange Christmas Wrap party.
Many moons ago the party started off as a Christmas wrapping party. We would bring presents to one location and use each others wrapping paper and bows and wrap our gifts together. Later we added exchanging cookies into the mix. Then as the babes were born, one by one we stopped bringing our presents to wrap and just brought cookies. This year one person brought stuff to wrap and we just watched her wrap whilst we ate cookies. 
Looooooooooooooong story short, I wanted to make these:

I know I know...not a cookie. 

I ended up with this:

One of my "friends" was so offended she took one home in a separate container from the rest of her exchanged cookies so as not to contaminate the proper cookies. 

Eh. (Shoulder Shrug). I got to take home more cookies than everybody else. MERRY CHRISTMAS SUCKAS!!!

HO HO HO!