Blogging

Blogging Every Day in May

May 1, 2013 · 2 comments

in Blogging, Kids, Serious

I have blogging for five years now and much like a marriage, the conversation starts to lag after a while. Life gets busy and things happen and blogging seems like more of chore than a joy. Also, I love posting short funny little things on Instagram that I might have posted on my blog a few years ago. You can’t really blame me, though, because Instagram is so quick and easy. (Not following me on Instagram? Shame on you! I’m @heyhildie. Follow me and I’ll follow you too. Unless all you do is post pictures of your kids or dogs. Not that I hate your kids/dogs but if I don’t know the kids/dogs, it’s not so interesting. Even if I do know your dog, I still don’t care because dogs looks the same in pretty much every picture. Kids at least can have a funny expression.)

Jenni over at Story of My Life came up with a challenge to post every day in May. Even on the weekends (I’m going to need to find an app for that). She was clever enough to include writing prompts, since everyone knows the hardest part of blogging is coming up with an idea of what to write about.

Today’s prompt is to tell you my life story in 250 words or less. I don’t even know how long that is. About a paragraph? Oh, look! There’s a word counter right here in Word Press. Fancy! So here we go: Day 1 of the Every Day in May.

I was born and raised around Detroit, Michigan. It’s a grimy place and I never liked it. I have one younger sister and one younger brother. My sister was my worst enemy growing up but now she’s my best friend. We talk most days. My mother is pretty weird and eccentric and I think a lot of who I am is both because of and despite her. That’s true of most mothers, though. But my mom is particularly bold and strange.

I am pretty smart and have always been proud of that. Sadly I am also lazy. I always had terrible grades because really, who cares? Now that I’m grown up I realize I was spot on. Grades have nothing to do with anything when you’re a grown up. Confidence is about a million times more important but you can’t teach that in school. Good thing I’m confident too. I went to college and majored in Art History and Geography. I met my husband when I was 19 and we got married when I was 21. I was a tiny child and had no business getting married so young, but it’s worked out pretty well. We celebrate our 21st anniversary next month. That’s as long as my parents had been married when they split up.

I graduated from college when I was enormously pregnant with my first child, India. I adore being a mother which surprised everyone because I was a pretty mean person growing up. But you know how it is when you have kids: your heart cracks open and love floods your soul. I ended up being pretty decent at motherhood and decided to make the world a super awesome place by having lots of offspring. There were many complications along the way but I finally ended up with three boys and three girls.

Now everyone is in school all day and let me tell you, it’s the best. If you’ve got toddlers just keep going. You’ll get there and it will be wonderful. I spend my days now doing I don’t know what. Lots of church stuff and service. Guess I wasn’t really a mean person after all. I still try to learn things all the time. Grades may not be important but nobody likes a dummy.

 

Hey, that was way more that 250 words! Easy peasy! If you feel like perking up your blog, join in the Blog Every Day in May challenge. Even if you get a late start, just do it!

 




The Little Laptop that Couldn’t

June 19, 2012 · 3 comments

in Bad Things, Blogging, Cars, Mister


Today is How-To Tuesday. And all my photographs for tutorials are stuck on my hard drive. The hard drive that is having an existential crisis and simply won’t start because even though it’s less than a year old, what’s the point. What is the point of it all? That’s what I imagine my hard drive is saying because why else would it not behave itself? It could also be evil. That’s another possibility.

We have been an Apple computer family since way back in the early 90s. Way before ipods or even those really brightly colored Macs. Mister liked Apple products so much he would go to MacWorld every year and wait excitedly to hear Steve Jobs (We shall not remark on the nerdiness or non-nerdiness of my husband). Eventually he started his own Mac store. And then a second one. (Those were the good old days. We always had new computers.) But he has since sold both stores. And so now I have my Macbook Air which is almost four years old. And it’s kind of a lemon.

I’ll be the first to admit that I am extremely hard on my computers. My computers have always taken a beating. But this MacBook Air has had more than its share of problems (you will recall this post where I personally replaced the speaker wiring a few months ago. Yet another repair!) But I got it the first year it came out and that’s always an issue with any product; it takes a while to get the kinks out.

The first year we were married we got a brand new VW Passat. I was so excited, having never gotten a brand new car in my entire life. Unfortunately it was the first year the Passat was being made and there were issues: the windows would spontaneously roll down on their own, it would stall as we were driving, and their air conditioning was seriously messed up. It was terrible and I swore I would never again get a car in the first year of production. And I never have.

Now I’m having that realization about computers too. And I had to remind Mister about our bad luck when he was making me watch the entire multi-hour announcement about the new Macs and drooling all over the place (Ok, they’re super thin. I get it).

I’ve given my computer several days to get itself together and have an attitude adjustment. (That and Mister has finally taken pity on me trying to write blog posts on my phone.) We shall attempt to fix my laptop again today. Please keep us in your prayers.

The Flap about Snap–A Recap

April 24, 2012 · 18 comments

in Blogging, Good Things, Photos of Hildie, Things We've Done

Last weekend I went up to Utah for the Snap Conference: a get together for bloggers who craft or DIY. Before I get into how fun it was, let me apologize for not contacting anyone who lives in Utah. It was a quick trip in and out. I plan on coming back to Utah this summer and will hopefully see every friend or relative I have. Let’s move on.

How much fun did I have? A ton. This has got to be the nicest and friendliest bunch of people anywhere. I stayed with two other Austin bloggers, Kristen Duke, who woke up at the unhumanly crack of dawn early every day to teach a photography class and Lorie from Be Different Act Normal. Kristen is quite possibly the most outgoing person I’ve ever met and Lorie is hilarious. It made for a fun hotel room.

Classes were offered. Among those I took were SEO which means Search Engine Optimization. Also known as How to Get Google to Like You. I wrote things down but I have no idea what they mean. The guy who taught the class was Dutch and had really cool blue and tan saddle shoes.

Also somewhat mindblowing was the class on Photoshop. I can do a few things in Photoshop–zit removal and such–but I need to improve my skills tremendously.  The teacher, Amanda Padgett, happens to be brilliant and a very good teacher. I am an utter dunce at most things computer-related but I learned how to do a bunch of super useful and generally awesome things in Photoshop Elements. By the end of this year my pictures are going to be so stunning you’ll cry!

The other classes were more crafty; things like party planning and flower arranging. One of my favorite classes was about growing your handmade business. I don’t have a handmade business and the main thing I learned was that I never want to have one. What a pain! I also enjoyed a class about developing your own style taught by, among others, Shelley from House of Smiths. She is one of the funniest people ever.

I forgot to take any pictures but fortunately Kristen did and I stole this from her blog.

This is a photo of Kristen Duke, Kirsten from KoJo Designs who is simply gorgeous in real life, me (contrary to appearances I am neither pregnant nor obese; just wearing a flowy shirt that wasn’t behaving itself), and Heidi from Sew.Craft. Create (who is way cuter in real life).

Such a fantastic trip. I feel energized and excited to get back into a creative groove. Now I just have to put this stuff away (remind me again why I thought it was a good idea to unpack in the family room):

The Importance of Not Being Jennie

March 4, 2012 · 21 comments

in Baby Names, Blogging, Craziness (hildie's), Good Things, Serious

JenJennJennyJennieJennifer

We are everywhere.

Unless you are one of us you do not understand the trauma of being one of three girls with the same name in every class you’ve ever been in. You don’t comprehend the pure suckiness of always having to follow your name with an initial because Jenny C. is one side and Jenny F. is on the other.

Sure, our mothers claim that they had no idea, none at all, that the name was so mega-popular. In my case I was named after my great aunt Jennie (Jennie was in the top ten in the 1870′s. Weird!).  But none of that matters when people are trying to figure out which Jennie’s phone number is written on the stall of the middle school bathroom.

It’s kind of a non-name, like having beige walls in a house. You don’t even notice them because they’re so not interesting; so dull; so bland.

In high school the Jennie situation got completely out of hand. In our class of 90 girls there was me, Jennie Davis. Then there was her, also Jennie Davis. So it came down to middle names: her Lyn to my Hildegard.

Yes, that is right. My middle name is the clunkiest of clunkers. The name they give Hippos in children’s books.

When you have one name that is the ultimate yawner you start to love the brazen uniqueness of something completely wacky. I started going by Hildie off and on because of high school. Mostly just to make it easier for myself. Also because I loved being the only person with that name.

Oh yes, except for my mother, Hildegard. She has always gone by Lorie (not sure where that came from) to differentiate herself from her mother. Also Hildegard. It’s the name of an oldest daughter of an oldest daughter of an oldest daughter*. Here are the three of us shortly before my grandmother died (I’m the baby, obviously):

Hildegard means something to me. I was thrilled to get rid of my last name when I got married but there was no way I was getting rid of Hildie.

So what’s the point of all this?

I’m dumping the name Jennie.

I can’t stand it. It’s just not me. Or rather it’s just everyone.

I’m sorry if you think this is completely bizarre. I’m simply trying to explain to you the reason behind it. I will probably remain Jennie in real life. I mean, it’s not like I’m having a mid-life crisis or anything. It’s only that on the interwebs, where you are nothing more than a name and a tiny avatar picture, it’s kind of hard to figure out which Jen/Jenn/Jenny/Jennie/Jennifer goes with which blog. If I suddenly become famous and have to be Hildie all the time, that’s fine too. I am just as much Hildie as I am Jennie.

So, hi there, my name is Hildie! What’s yours?

 

*I gave Hildegard to my oldest daughter too. But I gave her a buffer middle name in case she couldn’t handle it. So India Jane Hildegard she is.

I had to throw in this cute picture of my grandmother Hildegard waitressing in her hometown of Vienna, Austria.

How To Get an Avatar Picture That Will Appear on Most Blogs

October 4, 2011 · 8 comments

in Blogging, How-To

Hello and welcome to my newest blog feature: How-To Tuesday (or maybe I should call it “How-Tue Tuesday”. No? Too obnoxious?) I am going to spill my brain every Tuesday and show you how to do something that might just be new to you.  I’ve got a few ideas up my sleeve but if you have any requests, just holler (via comments, of course).

This first How-To Tuesday is especially for my mother. It is how to get an avatar. No, Mom, not like the James Cameron Movie. You will still be living on Earth. Sorry to burst your bubble. I’m talking about an avatar as in the little picture next to your name when you comment on a blog.  Most commenters to my new WordPress blog are faceless. This happens pretty often if you comment on blogs other than those on the Blogger network. You guys, the world wants to see your loveliness! Here is what you need to do:

Go to Gravatar. Register and upload your photo. In about three minutes you will have a universal picture that will show up all over the blogosphere when you comment. It is super easy and quick.

There are a few blogs that don’t recognize Gravatars, but for the most part you’ll be all set.

From now on I want to see the gorgeous faces of all you witty commenters!

Welcome to my New Blog!

September 12, 2011 · 16 comments

in Blogging

Due to internet trickery, I have probably forwarded you to my new blog without you even noticing. But if you are looking at this in your Reader you should click on through and take a look around. The Blog Fairy has done a lovely job designing this blog for me. It’s just what I wanted*. I’ve had the same blog design since I started blogging almost four years ago. That’s the internet equivalent of living in a split-level built in 1983 that still has goose stencils on the kitchen walls. OK, not really. But I felt like it was time for a change. I also made the big move to WordPress from Blogspot. Exciting, no?

My mother made the header by hand (there are people who actually still do art on paper! With pens and pastels! Crazy!). It’s me (on a super good hair day) and all the stuff I love to do. Thanks Mom! It looks great.

I hope you enjoy your stay here for a couple of minutes every week!

 

*She even put a bird on it! Look at the cute little bird favicon on the address bar! Adorable!

Catch me while you can!

August 19, 2011 · 7 comments

in Blogging, Good Things, Photos of Hildie

Take a look around. This blog as you know it will be evolving soon. The Blog Fairy has worked her magic and the grand unveiling of my new blog (at a new location, no less!) will be happening presently.

I have a cute new picture, courtesy of The Lucky Red Hen (who is sort of a magician considering how I looked in real life that day.) If you’re in Seattle, you should check her out!

Photobucket

This shot is oh so appropriate:

Photobucket

I also have my Facebook page here . I really need a few more people to like so it can be a grown-up’s page with its very own name.

I’m trying to get geared up for my life of delicious freedom which will begin at 8:20 on Monday morning. That is the moment when every single one of my children will be at school.


For seven hours.

I plan on dedicating a little more time and devotion to my blog. As well as spinning around in a field of wildflowers shouting, “wheeeeee!”

Face this!

August 9, 2011 · 1 comment

in Blogging

I finally have a Facebook page for this blog. Go ahead and like me. All the cool kids are doing it. Or rather, they will once they read this post.

Uh, sorry folks

July 4, 2011 · 4 comments

in Blogging

My computer has been freaking out lately. No, “freaking out” is incorrect. It’s more like my computer has been having seizures. It doesn’t like the internet most of the time. But then sometimes, it will let me get on the internet for a day or two. But then for five days it won’t. Mister, with all his computer savvy tried to remedy my problem. But eventually I just got The Shrug and an “I don’t know what you did to it.” Like I would ever do anything to jeopardize my relationship with the interwebs! I’m like a crack whore who can’t get her pipe to work.

I’ve been relying on my iphone to get the most vital info (like tweets from Nathan Fillion). But my blog has been sorely neglected. I even lowered myself enough to try to blog from my kids’ computer. But that requires me to sit at a desk (horrors!). Plus all my photos are on my laptop so I’m rather helpless, you see. And then I have kids sitting next to me the entire time demanding they use their computer for doing vital things like rearranging the furniture for their various Webkinz. Can you believe the trials in my life?

I’ve got some great posts this week, though (if the internet gods can be appeased), including my adventures in making crackers (for real. That’s not some euphamism), What else we do in Austin (alcohol-free version), and the amazing plan to keep my kids occupied this summer.

Stay tuned.

The weather, The church and Cranberry Beef tacos.

January 20, 2011 · 8 comments

in Blogging, Church, Misc., Recipes, Yum

I have written nearly five different blog posts over the last week. Long ones. But I’m really disliking all of them so they will stay tucked away in my Drafts folder for now. You know how sometimes you want to eat something but nothing sounds good? It’s like that. But with words.

I also took some pictures. I have two cameras (well, three if you count my iphone). One fancy Nikon that makes me feel like a photography poseur every time I take it out (photography remains a puzzlement to me no matter how many books and tutorials I read.) I also have a trusty little Fuji that I still like a lot even though it’s four years old which is like four decades old in the point-and-shoot world. Most of my pictures were on that camera. And it has a dumb little connector that I must have to download pictures onto my computer. Guess where it is? Wrong! It has actually vanished into thin air. So no pictures.

Here’s what I will tell you: it has dropped 11 degrees in the last hour. I don’t like that sort of thing. It makes me edgy. Like a big storm is a-brewin’. Which it probably is.

I’m Mormon. I may mention that a lot but Mormonism is kind of different than many religions because it is NOT a Sunday-only kind of church. It takes a big time commitment. Also, we don’t have a paid clergy which means that your average Joe-blow is in charge of everything. Including the sermons on Sunday. Everybody gets a turn standing up in front of the congregation and talking about an assigned topic. Usually a husband and wife will split the duty. Also, a teenager or two will have a little mini-sermon at the beginning. One guess as to who will be speaking this Sunday. Me! And my assigned topic is fasting. Fasting! Which is not exactly my favorite thing to do. (Surprise, surprise.) My husband gives lessons every morning to the teenagers of our congregation (yes, the teenagers go to church every morning before school. See the above mention about Mormonism being a big time commitment.) He’s really good at throwing together something really thoughtful and interesting. Not me. I’m just hoping most people will zone out during my talk, which is usually what I do.

I made flour tortillas for the first time on Tuesday and not only are they really easy, but they are frighteningly good. Like, so good my kids were just eating the pile of them after we were done with our tacos. Speaking of tacos, this is one of my most favorite recipes. It requires zero cooking skill but is outstanding. People always ask for this recipe. Honestly, these are more like wraps than tacos, so call them whatever you want. They are good enough to serve to company, but easy enough to make them for your family dinner. One warning: this meat needs to spend all day in a slow cooker (aka a Crock-Pot), so plan accordingly. These feed about 4-6 people.

If I were a super blogger I would post pictures, but Pioneer Woman I am not. So you’ll just have to use your imagination.

Cranberry Beef Tacos
1 1/2 lb. beef chuck steaks (not a chuck roast. Totally different.)
1/4 cup lime juice (bottled is fine)
1/4 cup chili sauce (I had no idea what this was the first time I made these. Turns out chili sauce is a condiment near the ketchup.)
1 packet of Taco seasoning (or 2 Tbs if you use the big Costco canister)
Can of whole cranberry sauce
fresh green onions
fresh cilantr0 (must be fresh!)
tortillas (I like flour but corn is fine too)
2 cups shredded cheese (cheddar is good, but mozzarella would work in a pinch.)


Put the steak in the crockpot. Let it warm up while your making the sauce. Combine lime juice, chili sauce and taco seasoning and pour over the steak. Flip it a couple of times so the steak is slathered with sauce. Then put the lid on and turn the heat to low for 7-8 hours. If you forget to start it early in the day (which I do about half of the time), you can cook it on high for 4-5 hours. It will be fine.

When it gets closer to dinnertime, you’ll make the sauce to be served on the tacos. Many kids balk at the idea of putting sauce on things. I totally understand being a sauce-hater most of my life. But this sauce is different. It’s sweet and yummy. It makes me so mad that a couple of my kids won’t eat it that sometimes I will mix a bunch of it in with the meat just so the taste is there.

Sauce
In your blender put:
Cranberry sauce
3 green onions (cut off the roots first)
4-6 stalks of cilantro (it’s one of the rare herbs where more of the taste is in the stem than in the leaves. So just throw the whole thing in.)

Puree until smooth. (This makes A TON of sauce. You can use it as a marinade for something else later on.)

After your meat has finished cooking it will just fall apart. Use a couple of forks to shred it. (I do it while it’s still in the crockpot. Mix it up with the juices in your slow cooker and transfer it to a bowl. (If you have sauce-a-phobes, stir in about 1/4 cup of sauce at this point). Otherwise you will:

Spread a spoonful of cranberry sauce on a tortilla, top with shredded beef and some grated cheese. Roll up and swoon.

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