It's Friday morning and my plans are to spend the day relaxing and reading a book - two things I have not done in ages. While I haven't done a lot of writing this week I have made some terrific new connections and made great progress on getting better organized.
I'm in the process of cleaning up my computer - being guilty of saving everything but then being unable to find things when I want them this was needed.
I also started a project with two of my grandchildren (Andrew 7 & Colleen 4) sorting out family photographs. This has provided great fun for the kids seeing their Mom, uncles, and Grandma as we were growing up. It also gave me a great blessing. In the tub of photos which contained a dozen albums that were falling apart and pictures falling out I found a picture of my Mom and her three brothers (my 3 favorite uncles - one has since passed away) that I didn't realize or remember I had.
An unexpected but rewarding activity this week was signing up with Redgage. At Redgage you can share writing, links, and photo. The only reason I joined was to share some of the 1000s of pictures I have on my computer but I got a great surprise. The second day I was a member one of my photos 'Lilies' was chosen as a featured photograph. Two days later I found myself on the 'Featured Users' list. Not sure how I managed that as I don't feel I've done anything other than share some pictures and make a few new friends but was/am honored.
While there have been some down times or disappointments for the most part I would say this has been a terrific week filled with productivity, blessings, and rewards. Do you take joy in the small joys or are you waiting for the big prize? Myself am very happy with the little things and I hope you have had as great a week as I have.
A Christian, Mom, Grandma, Author, Photographer, and Gardener - Rambling through life and the Internet.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Live Q&A Session on Skype With Guest Author Annie Fox
Cindy Springsteen - Expert Advice on Raising Teens
http://www.cindy-springsteen.com/
“I’d love to invite you to join me and Annie Fox online advisor and author of the new Middle School Confidential series, in a dynamic, live Q&A session on Skype: “Why 21st Century Kids Need 21st Century Parenting,” next Thursday February 25, 2010 at 5 pm PST (8 pm ET). Please RSVP with your skype address by emailing …CINDYSBD@aol.com as spaces are limited.”
Parents you are not going to want to miss out on this special event. We will be open to discussing your concerns, teen pregnancy issues and any other problems you are facing with your tweens/teens.
~~~~
I'm really looking forward to this discussion even though my 'kids' are past the teen years I do have grandchildren nearing the age... Highly recommend to all parents, grandparents or other adults involved in the lives of kids! Be sure to contact Cindy as soon as possible as space is limited as to how many can take part.
http://www.cindy-springsteen.com/
“I’d love to invite you to join me and Annie Fox online advisor and author of the new Middle School Confidential series, in a dynamic, live Q&A session on Skype: “Why 21st Century Kids Need 21st Century Parenting,” next Thursday February 25, 2010 at 5 pm PST (8 pm ET). Please RSVP with your skype address by emailing …CINDYSBD@aol.com as spaces are limited.”
Parents you are not going to want to miss out on this special event. We will be open to discussing your concerns, teen pregnancy issues and any other problems you are facing with your tweens/teens.
~~~~
I'm really looking forward to this discussion even though my 'kids' are past the teen years I do have grandchildren nearing the age... Highly recommend to all parents, grandparents or other adults involved in the lives of kids! Be sure to contact Cindy as soon as possible as space is limited as to how many can take part.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Mom Bloggers Club
Sorry all my men friends this one is NOT for you unless you have a wife, sister, friend or other 'Mom' in your life who blogs. I was introduced to the Mom Bloggers Club a couple weeks ago. Mom Bloggers Club claims to have over 6000 members and I would believe it from the number of great Moms I have met already.
Sign-up for the club is free and you get a profile page where you can share your blog information, Twitter id, and a number of other things you would like to share with other Mom Bloggers. Then you can start meeting the other Moms and their blogs. Be forewarned there are a lot of blogs and all are terrific. You might want to start by posting a note on the discussion board just introducing yourself. You can find discussion boards on topics such as Giveaways, Motherhood, Parenting & Family, and Mom-to_Mom Business along with many others.
Another great way to meet other Mom Bloggers are the long list of groups you can join. I joined Moms on Twitter first, then Under 100 Followers Club-Blogger and just the other day Christian Mom Bloggers.
Some other examples of groups available at Mom Bloggers Club include:
Friends Following Friends!
How to Become a Product Reviewer
Contests and Giveaways Galore!
The Mommy Reviewers
Blog/Site Design
Rate My Blog
Military wives
Word Press Support Group
The Giveaway Enthusiasts
The Funny Moms
Through the Bible in 2010
Aspiring Writers
Running Mommies
If you see the badge below you can be pretty sure that blog you are visiting is a member of Mom Bloggers Club. If you are a Mom with a blog or even a Mom to Be you may want to come on over and join the club. Be sure to look me up, I'd love to meet you, you can find me HERE!
Sign-up for the club is free and you get a profile page where you can share your blog information, Twitter id, and a number of other things you would like to share with other Mom Bloggers. Then you can start meeting the other Moms and their blogs. Be forewarned there are a lot of blogs and all are terrific. You might want to start by posting a note on the discussion board just introducing yourself. You can find discussion boards on topics such as Giveaways, Motherhood, Parenting & Family, and Mom-to_Mom Business along with many others.
Another great way to meet other Mom Bloggers are the long list of groups you can join. I joined Moms on Twitter first, then Under 100 Followers Club-Blogger and just the other day Christian Mom Bloggers.
Some other examples of groups available at Mom Bloggers Club include:
Friends Following Friends!
How to Become a Product Reviewer
Contests and Giveaways Galore!
The Mommy Reviewers
Blog/Site Design
Rate My Blog
Military wives
Word Press Support Group
The Giveaway Enthusiasts
The Funny Moms
Through the Bible in 2010
Aspiring Writers
Running Mommies
If you see the badge below you can be pretty sure that blog you are visiting is a member of Mom Bloggers Club. If you are a Mom with a blog or even a Mom to Be you may want to come on over and join the club. Be sure to look me up, I'd love to meet you, you can find me HERE!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Giving Out Rewards
It was late afternoon and I had to get to the bank before it closed. My horrid dilemma hit when I could not find my eye glasses. I can not drive without my glasses, my driver license says so. Plus I admit I can not see well without them (I’m near sighted).
I turned the house upside down searching, retracing my steps for the day turned up no sign of the needed spectacles. I knew they did not walk away on their own and as I was the only one whom used them I could not blame the disappearance on the kids.
Closing time was nearing so I broke down and offered a reward to the kids. ‘There’s a $5.00 reward for my glasses. I need them now!”
My next oldest son, about 15 at the time and standing over 6 foot tall sauntered into the kitchen where I was, “Mom does it matter where we find them? Do we still get the money?”
I did not understand his question but in a frantic I responded “Yes” to both his questions.
With a gesture much like I picture Sir Galahad my son swept his hand over my head and presented me with my eye glasses… He then put out his other hand with a look on his face that could only mean, “Ok, give me the money.”
Yes, the entire hour or more I was searching the house my glasses were right there on top of my own head – a place I have a habit of putting them as I do not need them unless driving, watching television, or on the rare occasion there is something I actually want to see that is more than 10 feet from my face.
I paid my son the money although a bit grudgingly. The real kicker was a week later my oldest son, 17 at the time, came in the house and asked, “Hey Mom do you know where your glasses are?”
A bit confused by his question I glanced towards the coffee table where my glasses rested and answered, “Yes, why?”
“Cause I need some money and figured that would be a quick way to make some.” We both laughed yet in our hearts neither of us really thought it was funny. He still needed money and I was still out $5 for my own stupidity.
I realized then that a week later I was still dissatisfied with having to keep my word and pay $5 for the missing glasses that were right on top of my own head.
I learned two lessons from this simple situation. One, if you lose something look for it in the obvious place first. Second, if you offer a reward, or anything else, be prepared to pay up but with a happy heart.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (New International Version)
I turned the house upside down searching, retracing my steps for the day turned up no sign of the needed spectacles. I knew they did not walk away on their own and as I was the only one whom used them I could not blame the disappearance on the kids.
Closing time was nearing so I broke down and offered a reward to the kids. ‘There’s a $5.00 reward for my glasses. I need them now!”
My next oldest son, about 15 at the time and standing over 6 foot tall sauntered into the kitchen where I was, “Mom does it matter where we find them? Do we still get the money?”
I did not understand his question but in a frantic I responded “Yes” to both his questions.
With a gesture much like I picture Sir Galahad my son swept his hand over my head and presented me with my eye glasses… He then put out his other hand with a look on his face that could only mean, “Ok, give me the money.”
Yes, the entire hour or more I was searching the house my glasses were right there on top of my own head – a place I have a habit of putting them as I do not need them unless driving, watching television, or on the rare occasion there is something I actually want to see that is more than 10 feet from my face.
I paid my son the money although a bit grudgingly. The real kicker was a week later my oldest son, 17 at the time, came in the house and asked, “Hey Mom do you know where your glasses are?”
A bit confused by his question I glanced towards the coffee table where my glasses rested and answered, “Yes, why?”
“Cause I need some money and figured that would be a quick way to make some.” We both laughed yet in our hearts neither of us really thought it was funny. He still needed money and I was still out $5 for my own stupidity.
I realized then that a week later I was still dissatisfied with having to keep my word and pay $5 for the missing glasses that were right on top of my own head.
I learned two lessons from this simple situation. One, if you lose something look for it in the obvious place first. Second, if you offer a reward, or anything else, be prepared to pay up but with a happy heart.
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38 (New International Version)
May the Lord Bless you till we meet again,
Faith aka byfaithonly
Latest Published Work:
Travel destinations: Alnwick Castle, Northumbria
~ 
Friday, February 12, 2010
New Look, New Name, New Attitude
We are now over a month into the New Year and as with years past I have found myself struggling for ‘information’ to post on a regular basis. Most blog gurus will say you should publish on a blog what you know or love. I am sorry but in the past my desire was to ‘make money on the internet’ so attempted to post information in that area.
Where was I going wrong? Although I do have some experience with earning money online I certainly would not say I know a great deal. Also, my heart has not been into testing programs over and over only to meet disappointment and in effect make money for someone else and little for myself.
This brings us to where we are now, The Ramblings of Faith. For many years I have had people say I needed to write a book about all the things that have happened to me and I have experienced. For 30 years I have worked on what I lovingly refer to as ‘The Book’ but never made it past the first few pages. I just was not geared for the autobiography type writing.
A few years ago the brain storm idea came to me – a collection of short stories from my life, The Ramblings of Faith. My blog will now be largely composed of those stories. I am very excited about this change in my blog and hope you will join me in the journey through my life. Share a laugh, a tear, encouragement and some disappointments.
I will from time to time share information or knowledge I pick up along the way as I ramble around the internet, internet addict that I am.
If you would like to keep up with me please take a minute and follow me on Twitter, follow The Ramblings of Faith via Google Friends, or subscribe to my rss feed. You can find all the information to do any or all of these things on the right panel. I would love to have you leave a comment here and let me know what you are up to – I love to follow people back and make new friends along the way.
May the Lord Bless you till we meet again,
Faith
Sunday, February 07, 2010
OnlyWire (Test/Review)
“Auto-Syndicate Your Content to Millions of Readers with One Button”
This past week I was introduced to OnlyWire. Being a publisher, blogger, and webmaster I felt this would be a very helpful system to syndicate my content to several social and bookmarking sites at one time. Using this system would boost traffic to my content, save me time by submitting with just the click of a button, and increase my search engine rankings with backlinks.
It only takes a minute to sign up with OnlyWire and they offer both free and paid memberships. Of course I love free so went for that right off. Once you have a membership you are given a page that list the top social networking sites (see list below). This is the part that is time consuming if you don't already have memberships with each of the individual sites. There are spaces for each site to enter your Username and Passwords.
I spent several hours signing up with the sites I didn't already have memberships with but if you prefer you can just use the ones you have at the time and add more later as you join more social or bookmarking sites.
Once you have your OnlyWire profile set up you can start to submit content. You will need the title, url, keywords, brief description of the content you plan to submit (article, web page, blog post). For my test run I submitted my publisher's page for Associated Content, an article, and one of my blogs. The following list is the sites and results of my submission using OnlyWire. Sites with * I recommend using!
Ask --- found no trace of any of my submissions
*Bebo --- all three submissions posted
*Bibsonomy --- all three submissions posted
Blinklist --- no sign of submitted links did submit manually fine
BookmarkSync --- posts but not public or searchable
*Connotea --- all three submissions posted
*Delicious --- all three submissions posted
*Digg --- all three submissions posted
Diigo --- posts auto but set as private
Fark --- posted 'not approved' very unprofessional site in my view
Faves --- said posted but found no trace of my content
FriendFeed ---didn't post, I did import bookmarks from delicious
*GoogleBookmarks --- all three submissions posted
Hi5 --- no links game site 'for the youth market'
Jumptags ---both tests failed, is good site worth manual,
*LinkaGoGo --- 2 failed 1 successful, imported bookmarks from delicious
*Mixx --- all three submissions posted
*Multiply --- all three submissions posted
*MySpace --- said succeeded only 1 of 3 posted
Newsvine ---news articles only permitted
Plaxo ---failed all posts
*Plurk --- all three submissions posted
*Simpy --- all three submissions posted to my
Slashdot --- failed all posts
*Spurl --- all three submissions posted
Tumblr ---unable to access site
Stumbleupon ---said all succeeded but none posted
*Mister-Wong --- all three submissions posted
I did not submit to these 3 sites because I had already manually submitted my content to them.
Twitter
Yahoo Bookmarks
Facebook
At the time I ran the test submissions I did not have memberships with these two sites so they were not included in the test.
Propeller
Reddit
Although not terrific results I will use OnlyWire again in the future.
This past week I was introduced to OnlyWire. Being a publisher, blogger, and webmaster I felt this would be a very helpful system to syndicate my content to several social and bookmarking sites at one time. Using this system would boost traffic to my content, save me time by submitting with just the click of a button, and increase my search engine rankings with backlinks.
It only takes a minute to sign up with OnlyWire and they offer both free and paid memberships. Of course I love free so went for that right off. Once you have a membership you are given a page that list the top social networking sites (see list below). This is the part that is time consuming if you don't already have memberships with each of the individual sites. There are spaces for each site to enter your Username and Passwords.
I spent several hours signing up with the sites I didn't already have memberships with but if you prefer you can just use the ones you have at the time and add more later as you join more social or bookmarking sites.
Once you have your OnlyWire profile set up you can start to submit content. You will need the title, url, keywords, brief description of the content you plan to submit (article, web page, blog post). For my test run I submitted my publisher's page for Associated Content, an article, and one of my blogs. The following list is the sites and results of my submission using OnlyWire. Sites with * I recommend using!
Ask --- found no trace of any of my submissions
*Bebo --- all three submissions posted
*Bibsonomy --- all three submissions posted
Blinklist --- no sign of submitted links did submit manually fine
BookmarkSync --- posts but not public or searchable
*Connotea --- all three submissions posted
*Delicious --- all three submissions posted
*Digg --- all three submissions posted
Diigo --- posts auto but set as private
Fark --- posted 'not approved' very unprofessional site in my view
Faves --- said posted but found no trace of my content
FriendFeed ---didn't post, I did import bookmarks from delicious
*GoogleBookmarks --- all three submissions posted
Hi5 --- no links game site 'for the youth market'
Jumptags ---both tests failed, is good site worth manual,
*LinkaGoGo --- 2 failed 1 successful, imported bookmarks from delicious
*Mixx --- all three submissions posted
*Multiply --- all three submissions posted
*MySpace --- said succeeded only 1 of 3 posted
Newsvine ---news articles only permitted
Plaxo ---failed all posts
*Plurk --- all three submissions posted
*Simpy --- all three submissions posted to my
Slashdot --- failed all posts
*Spurl --- all three submissions posted
Tumblr ---unable to access site
Stumbleupon ---said all succeeded but none posted
*Mister-Wong --- all three submissions posted
I did not submit to these 3 sites because I had already manually submitted my content to them.
Yahoo Bookmarks
At the time I ran the test submissions I did not have memberships with these two sites so they were not included in the test.
Propeller
Although not terrific results I will use OnlyWire again in the future.
Monday, February 01, 2010
Tweeps - Please Read and RT
Have you seen tweets with hash tags such as #AC #bestofAC or #ACwriter ? If not then you don't know what you're missing and should check out my list @byfaithonly/associated-content
Associated Content or AC is a site that publishes articles, stories, videos, poetry, slide shows, and much more. All of the contributors are independent authors and photographers who enjoy sharing their work with others.
Yes, you will see a lot of AC members posting links in their tweets. These people (myself included) are not trying to sell you anything, not trying to get you to sign up for any program, and honestly not earning a whole lot of money for the work put into their published work.
The majority of what we earn comes from pay-per-views (PPV) - people read, view, or listen to our work and we earn. If no one comes to our content we earn pretty much nothing.
Am I encouraging you to 'click those links'? OK, yes I am, I don't write just to see my words in print. I write to share my thoughts, words, knowledge with others and so do most of the other contributors at Associated Content.
So, next time you see those hash tags #AC #bestofAC or #ACwriter how about taking a minute to see what's being offered. You just might be surprised and find something you really enjoy or is very helpful to you.
Peace and Joy,
Faith Draper aka byfaithonly
My Site By Faith Only.com
My Profile Associated Content
Follow Me on Twitter
CraigsList Job Offers
Day one of job searching...
Looking for a job can be a chore. After all the main thing you are doing is 'selling yourself'.
Early this morning I happened upon the 'Jobs' category at Craigslist. I was surprised to find several recent listing in my area. We do after all have an unemployment rate of over 15%.
This opened my eyes to a number of things:
Job positions I had not thought of but would be good at,
Realizing how little I knew about job hunting online,
and How safe is the internet.
Ok, we've all heard the horror stories about women being killed after applying for jobs online. Several of the jobs I found posted I would really love and know I would be good at them. Will I apply? I'm not sure at this point.
I am thinking a 'secure' email address - one that will not contain any of my personal information and simply sending an inquiry letter requesting more information on the listed jobs. I am thinking I could include a brief message as to my concern/safety.
Looking for a job can be a chore. After all the main thing you are doing is 'selling yourself'.
Early this morning I happened upon the 'Jobs' category at Craigslist. I was surprised to find several recent listing in my area. We do after all have an unemployment rate of over 15%.
This opened my eyes to a number of things:
Job positions I had not thought of but would be good at,
Realizing how little I knew about job hunting online,
and How safe is the internet.
Ok, we've all heard the horror stories about women being killed after applying for jobs online. Several of the jobs I found posted I would really love and know I would be good at them. Will I apply? I'm not sure at this point.
I am thinking a 'secure' email address - one that will not contain any of my personal information and simply sending an inquiry letter requesting more information on the listed jobs. I am thinking I could include a brief message as to my concern/safety.
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