On blogging

I was reminded last week about why I started this blog. It was as simple as the trawling through my archives and the kids getting excited about seeing old photo's of themselves. They were excited beyond belief that they were seeing old photo's and hearing stories about what was happening in our lives at that time.

It's the same for me when I stumble across an old craft project and remember the process of making it. For a while I had been questioning whether I should keep Actually Amy up and running. Truthfully, I had lost my passion for this space a long time ago. All my blogging headspace was being taken up by And Sew We Craft and all other headspace was being occupied by my kids. I was simply running out of time and the desire to blog here.

But then that changed this week. Seeing my kids smile whilst reading about themselves was the kick up the bum I needed to keep going so that Darcy can enjoy the same thing that his older siblings do.

Now just to keep the blogging mojo alive.

Wish me luck!

Better late then never

So Google Reader will be no longer as of July 1st... So I thought now was a good a time as any to let you know how you can go about reading this blog if Google reader has been your reader of choice.

You can find Actually Amy here on bloglovin'

And don't forget you can find me on:  

and Flickr

How will you be doing your blog reading once Google Reader is no longer?

the simple things week 9 {with linky}

a weekly linky where we all can share the simple things in life that are making us smile.

On Friday I received a very special email that made me smile from ear to ear!

CONGRATULATIONS! Your blog has been nominated for VOICES OF 2013 in the Creative & Home category. Someone loves what you're doing and has put you forward for an award. 

I expressed my glee, disbelief and excitement on my Facebook page and shared my thanks there but wanted to say thank you again here.

Thank you for joining me here, thank you for sharing my journey, for helping me through our recent move, for  being inside my computer!

And thank you for nominating this little blog of mine!

xx

What simple things made you smile this week? I would love it if you linked up below and shared your simple things from this week.

Guidelines:
• it would be fantastic if you grabbed the badge below and added it to your post.
• please stop by and visit some of the other posts that are linked up.
• please spread the word about this linky. That would really make my day xx  

 

 <center><a href="http://www.actuallyamy.com/search/label/the%20simple%20things" target="_blank"><img alt="Actually Amy" src="http://i161.photobucket.com/albums/t215/CadensMummy/image_zpse796cb61.jpg"/></a></center><br>

Why I do reviews and giveaways

There is always a little mumble going on in the blogosphere about whether people love or hate reviews,  giveaways and advertising on blogs. Today I wanted to share why I choose to do them.

First off, I just want to say why I do blog. I blog for connection to the world outside my role as a (mostly) stay at home Mum. It can get pretty lonely at home day in, day out, with only children 5 years old and under to talk to. Also until very recently, B worked a rotating day/night roster which meant many a nights where I just couldn't sleep and I ended up turning to blogs to feel connected to people outside of my home. That is where the seed was planted for me to start my own.

My blog is also a place for me to share what I am sewing, baking, making and thinking. I did not start blogging to make money or receive free stuff. I didn't even know you could actually make anything or receive anything for blogging until a few months after starting this blog. And you know what, the little bit of money and 'free' stuff has meant that I haven't had to return to work in the same capacity that I did before I had Ethan. 

Sure I don't make a motza from this gig, but a couple of bucks a week to share my inane ramblings is better than nothing. It doesn't devalue what I have to say, everything written here is my opinion, thoughts and I stand behind it 100%. Sure there was the time I wrote about some Vaseline Moisturiser and then thought why the hell am I writing this. The product costs less then $10, my time and yours is more valuable than that and from then on I have changed my rules. I still stand by what I wrote in the review, but if I had my time over, I wouldn't write it again.

I will continue to review DVDs, magazine, households items and anything else that I think I might find useful in my home and that I think you could too. I hope to be able to run giveaways along side most reviews so that I can give you a chance to win something. It is a way for me to say thank you for the time you spend reading and commenting here.

I will also continue to run advertising on the blog. I know this seems to be a bug bear with some people, but again, I really don't see how it detracts from anything else here. This is my blog and these are my words. No advertising will change that.

Does that make sense?

So do you like or loathe advertising, reviews and giveaways on blogs? Please be honest, I would love to know your thoughts and opinions.

I am linking up with Jess from Diary of a SAHM for IBOT.

I got a make over

Well my blog did! The talented Suger has been playing around and this is what she has come up with! 

I love me some chevron stripes, what about you?

I also have a new badge over there <--- Feel free to grab it!

Now if only I could get a make over for myself... hmmm 

Happy Australia Day everyone!!

Wowsers 300 posts!

So I have been sitting here trying to figure out what I wanted to write about and then I noticed that this would be my 300th post! So instead of writing about some of the things (rants) that have been floating around my head, I thought I would celebrate this little milestone by doing something I was supposed to do last week.

You see about a fortnight ago I was nominated for an award!

Fiona from Naturopathic Health was kind enough to think my little space in the blogosphere was worthy of such a title and I am pleased and excited to accept it! 

So what is a Liebster? Both a word (German for dearest or beloved) and an honour, it is bestowed by those in the early stages of writing a blog (less than 200 followers) upon 3-5 bloggers they admire.

When nominated we should:

1. Link back to the blogger who awarded us.

2. Tag 3-5 blogs to receive the award.

3. Inform them of their nomination.

4. Display the Liebster Award image on our blog.

So without further ado, here are the blogs that I nominate:

 Courtney lives on a diary farm in Northern Victoria and says this about her blog: 'The crazy world I live in, and other random Tid Bits'

 Alyce blogs at Blossom Heart and she describes in these 5 points:

• Christian.
• Wife. 
• Mother.
• Teacher. 
• Craft-maker.
• Decorator.

 To read more about Alyce go here.

Laney from Crash Test Mummy. Head on over and see how she is Crash Testing parenthood, one crazy day at a time.

And finally I am nominating  Jess from Diary of a SAHM (and also linking up with her today for the I Blog on Tuesdays linky ) She has a pretty awesome blog and describes herself as a slightly crazy, possibly zany, and also depressed (yes it's possible to be all three) stay at home mum to four kids.




So there you have it. I celebrated my 300th post with an award celebration and some blog loving!

Now to figure out how I will celebrate my next blogging milestone...

Things I'm Loving!

I have a lot to love this week! First off I actually got to spend some time with Jan the Janome yesterday and I quilted a lap quilt that has been waiting to be quilted for about 6 months

On Wednesday, it was confirmed that I am going to Melbourne next month for a bloggers brunch! This means I can meet some of the bloggers that I regularly chat with on Twitter! And since my birthday is next month I convinced B that we should go together and make in a short trip for the two of us for my birthday!
He has never been to Melbourne before (well he has been to the airport for to take connecting flights to Perth...) So I am excited for him too! I haven't been to Melbourne in over 10 yrs but I love that place!

I am loving that Cadens birthday party last weekend was a success and the rain didn't come until after the party!

I am loving (and not loving) how cheeky this little guy is becoming at the moment!

He is testing is boundaries in a big way at the moment and has also discovered a love of climbing on things, as you could probably tell from the photo!

And how can you not love this girl! Her imagination at the moment is so fun to experience. She came running up to me the other night looking like this...

And saying ARRRR, I'm a pirate!

What are you loving today?

I am linking up with Paisley Jade, pop on over and say hi!

I'm Grateful for...

The week has flown by yet again and it is already Saturday! I really can't believe how fast the days are rolling by.

This week I am grateful for...

1. The blogging community! I want to welcome all the new followers to my blog! The MahliMoo community is now up to 106  107 people not including you guys that subscribe to the RSS feed! 106 107 may not seem like much to some, but to me it is A LOT! Thank you to each and everyone of you.

2. Craft Swaps- I have met a lot of new and wonderful people through participating in craft swaps. They are fun to be a part of and just his week I received an awesome package from Ellen of Creative Passage.

Thanks so much Ellen.

3. I am grateful that not much fazes Caden. He is a happy sole and takes this as they come to him. This week the little guy was faced with some not so nice comments at Kindy. Invites were given out to some kids at kindy for a boys party. Caden didn't get one, which doesn't bother me as not everyone can always be invited, but the Boy announced to Caden that he wasn't invited to his party, apparently Caden was okay with this and said to the boy that when it is his (Caden's) birthday that he would be invited to his party and the Boy told him not to bother as he didn't want to go to his party... Caden was a bit sad when I picked him up from kindy and when he told me the story, but afterwards he told me that it was fine, plenty of other kids would be at his party to play with him on his birthday. I just don't understand why 4 year olds (turning 5) would be saying those kind of things to each other???

What are you grateful for today? Pop on over to Maxabellas and share in the warm and fuzzies