Category: Random

Dr Dog

New music today: Dr Dog.

This album came out yesterday. Listened to it. Liked it so much, I listened to it again right away.

Great if you like Vampire Weekend and/or the Rolling Stones. Or if you like good music in general. If you have Spotify (which I could not handle a day at work without), feel free to have a listen.

They were in Lawrence on Feb 2nd. So if you want to see them live, build a time machine. Or live somewhere other than Kansas.

Pinching Pennies

Just a quick update today. I am trying to make a very conscious effort not to spend money as we begin to count down to our Eurotrip (that is, if I can ever get my passport taken care of, which is a whole different issue I don’t want to get into.)

Money-saving measures:

  • Meal planning: know what my options are so I don’t order pizza in a moment of “I have no idea what to make tonight!” weakness.
  • Use coupons. I am not an Extreme Couponer by any means but if the item in question is one I already buy regularly, and I have a coupon, well there ya go. I WILL NOT buy an item I don’t usually use just because I have a coupon.
  • Clicking “delete” on all West Elm, Crate & Barrel, Joss and Main, etc e-mails I get (daily!) BEFORE I OPEN THEM so there is NO temptation to pick up a little something “because it’s on sale.”
  • Valentine’s day downsize: we will have dinner at home like any other day instead of going to the restaurant we’ve gone to for the past two years.
  • Stay in town on the weekend! Yes, we went to Lawrence two weekends ago but I’m going to make a big effort not to run to the next town over just to “get away.” I’ll have to find another coping mechanism for when I get cabin fever. (Suggestions welcomed!)

How do YOU cut corners and pinch pennies?

Rabbit Hole

Isn’t it fantastic how easy it is to stumble upon a blog you never even knew about–simply by following links from blog to blog? It really is like a rabbit hole of great pictures and wonderful content.

Well, earlier this week Blair posted about the February Comment Love Challenge over at Desirous of Everything. I am so excited to participate! The jist of it is to comment on posts instead of just reading/skimming and moving on. SO SIMPLE! Those who comment at least 42 times by Valentine’s Day are entered for a prize. Comments jut make my day and I know that this is true for all bloggers. Knowing that people have read what you’ve worked so hard on gives a little rush and builds momentum to head forward on more posts and projects. Additionally, insightful and meaningful comments are a major traffic-driver for your own site. It truly is a win-win.

One frustration, though: and perhaps this has happened to you and can tell me why this occurs. When I try to comment on a bigger blog, like Design*Sponge for example, my comment is eaten and never sees the light of day. I can only assume they are getting sent to the spam filter. Whaaaaa?! I try to at least write real, complete sentences, not something banal like “Cute!” …yet the short comments often make it up while mine end up in a black hole somewhere.

Comment Love Challenge

Anyway, I’m SO happy to say that I have commented on various blogs 6 times in the last two days and I hope that my words have brought a smile to another blogger’s face. Hopefully I can comment repeatedly on several blogs and develop some blog buddies ;)

PS: Due to some great responses yesterday, I’m giving Bloglovin a shot. Although this morning I instinctively went to Google Reader. Whoops! I’m “claiming” this blog too, so please Follow my blog with Bloglovin!

PPS: Evidence of comments as traffic-drivers: one time I posted a link to my coffeetable refurbishment post in a comment on Young House Love and I got 365 views in one day! WHAT THE WHAT! Unfortunately, none of them left a comment. Wop wop. However, that was this blog’s busiest day ever! Yay!