Tuesday, January 31, 2006

First Renter

I have my first renter through BlogExplosion... so you all be really nice to her and check her blog out. She was the one that told me about the myheritage site...



C-Ya!

What celebrity do I look like?

Ok... having fun on the web I came across a blog talking about MyHeritage.com and they take a picture of you and tell you what celebrities you look the most like... so I used the picture at the top of me with the coffee cup and this is my top 5:
1. Audrey Tautou
2. Sharon Tate
3. Asia Argento
4. Katie Holmes
5. Indira Ghandi

Ok.... interesting...
I guess they are a beta site and will be doing something related to geneology or something.. so go have fun if you so choose.
C-Ya!

January Pictures..

I recently downloaded/uploaded a ton of pictures...so here are some new ones:
Puppy Pictures:


Kid Photos (first with Grandma, second with their gifts from the Up North Crew):

Kids watching one of their favorite cartoons - Dora:


As you can see... Max is really growing...Maggie, not so much...
C-Ya!

Another one about me

Found on agent713 who found it on Dawnn

1. Where were you when the ball dropped for 2006?
At home scrapbooking with Nick.
2. How did you get the idea for your profile name?
I have talked about this... but Empress from the heroine of a book I read and 4 from my favorite number.
3. What time were you born?
11:30am (right, mom?). C-section due to being breech and difficult (I think I stopped breathing twice after I was born).
4. Has the death of a celebrity ever made you cry?
Not that I remember. Though I have gotten sad at hearing about some of them.
5. What color panties are you wearing?
White
6. Do you want a baby?
Hmm... kind of want #3 someday...not today though.
7. What did you do this morning?
Got up, had breakfast, let the dogs out and eat, got Samantha ready, and Nick drove me to the bus.
8. What does your dad do for a living?
Retired.
9. Where do you work?
---- just in case the walls have eyes!!
10. What ended your last relationship?
He was a dork!!! Easiest breakup - we just stopped talking. (thankfully that was a LONG time ago).
11. What are the last 2 digits of your cellphone number?
04 (and yes - planned that way... I got to choose my number from a list and I had to have the one I got).
12. What was the last concert you attended?
I guess I saw Boyz II Men this summer at the free festival in St. Paul. Before that...gosh it has been so long.
13. Who was with you?
Mom and Kids (it was free!)
14. What was the Last Movie you watched?
Oh... "Finding Nemo" .. we have Blockbuster Online, so I have gotten to see a lot of movies.
15. Who do you dislike at the moment?
My co-worker (good answer Heidi!)
16. What food do you crave right now?
NOTHING... still trying to get back to eating.
17. Did you dream last night?
Not that I remember.
18. What was the last TV show you watched?
In Style Celebrity Weddings - because Las Vegas was a repeat.
19. What is your favorite piece of jewelry?
My wedding ring. Nick picked out the engagement ring (1 carat Solitare) and then I got a wrap around it... over 5 yrs later (well longer then that because I had been looking and thinking it was going to be that one for quite sometime) I still love it.
20. What is to the left of you?
Cube walls.
21. What was the last thing you ate?
Waffles
22. Who is your best friend of the opposite sex?
Nick! Has to be...I don't really talk much to other guys.
23. Write some song lyrics that are in your head:
My mind is blank.... I have had some of the songs we have been singing in church in my head lately.
24. Who last IMd you?
I don't IM (not that I wouldn't ;) )
26. Are you on any medication?
No
27. What side of the bed do you sleep on?
Looking at the bed - right side.
28. What shirt are you wearing?
White long sleeve with a blue and white sweater on top.
29. What color is your razor?
Pink
30. What is your favorite frozen treat?
Hot fudge sundae
31. How many tattoos/piercings do you have?
2 piercings on each ear... no tattoos... yet..
32. What's your favorite store?
Unfortunately - Target
33. Are you thirsty right now?
Little bit...
34. Can you imagine yourself ever getting married?
Hmm... ah yes... since I am...
35. Who's someone you haven't seen in a while and miss?
Everyone... any of my IRL and online friends that I have not seen lately.
36. What did you do last night?
Laid in bed or on the couch and watched TV.
37. Do you care what people think about you?
Yea... I try to act like I don't.. and their feelings don't rule my life... but yes, I kind of do.
38. Have you ever done something to instigate trouble?
Yea..
39. What song(s) do you think your ex's listen to and think of you?
Well, I bet most of them don't think of me... and if they do... I wouldn't know
40. What song(s) do you listen to and think of ex's?
Again, I don't really think of them.. If I do hear some from the winter of 96-97 it sometimes brings back memories.
41. What is one thing you wish you were better at?
Not procrastinating. And maybe singing... so I could get paid to do it.
42. What do you think about the person that posted this?
Heidi is the best - one of my first good online friends. And I am glad I had the chance to meet her.

43. What is across the room from you?
Other cubes.

C-Ya!

Ack sick!

Well, I had to take my first sick day of the year yesterday. I got sick Sunday night and I don't know if it was a "food thing" or something else... but I spent most of the day yesterday resting.
On a brighter note.. I weighed myself last night and am a weight I know I have not seen in 8 years!! (Got to find a silver lining, right?)
So I have a lot of pics to add and hope to get to that today.
C-Ya!

Friday, January 27, 2006

Silver Jewelry...

Ok... got another affiliate...



I am not a big silver jewelry fan, but I actually did get a ring from there. Basically you get the piece free and pay shipping/handling.
So check it out...new stuff comes up every 15 minutes.
C-Ya!

Sign



Thanks SS-Turtle for the heads up!!
C-Ya!

Headache

I have been told be some that they never get headaches or have gotten less then a handful in their life. I also know others that get debilitating migraines at the drop of a hat. I am in the middle. I usually get 1 to 5 in a month. Either way, they suck. And yes, right now, I have a headache. Woke up with one... which only goes along with that I have slept like crap this week. It is a dull one, so I don't feel like taking 2 or 3 Advil.. but it is still just hanging around.
At least today is Friday, right? No big plans this weekend.
My Dad had shoulder surgery today. Something with his rotator cuff and bone spurs in his right shoulder. Mom says the surgery is already done, that is good. Unfortunately that means he wont be able to watch the kids for about a month.
Oh, and I won a $20 Starbucks card from Judysbook.com That after I got a good chunk of change doing reviews in a promotion they had a couple weeks ago! Yippee!
Still thinking of a theme for the other blog... though thinking ain't happenin right now with this headache.
C-Ya!

Thursday, January 26, 2006

What Hit Song of 2005 Are You?

Your 2005 Song Is

Since You've Been Gone by Kelly Clarkson

"But since you've been gone
I can breathe for the first time
I'm so moving on"

In 2005, you moved on.


Well I like Kelly, but I cannot say I can relate to the words... this is a great song to jam too, though!!
C-Ya!

Am I venting?

Today I woke up - stressed - but yet it has been sunny and really warm for January - so I am trying to keep a positive outlook. That said *warning* vent ahead.
Ok... I try not to talk about work here, because I need to keep my job. Well, I need to complain. At work there is a gal... she used to work at the front desk. Then she got "promoted" to a job that was never advertise, in the same department, doing something that she thinks is management while everyone else knows she is an assistant like the rest of us (or coordinator - we sometimes call ourselves that). Well she is sarcastic in a mean way, but I digress. Anyways.. she is "in charge" of the "front desk backup team" i.e. scheduling, "rules", etc. I, unfortunately because of her, am in that said team. She, is not, even though it is her department. Huh? First thing that makes me mad. Then she makes a schedule, from now till March.. I don't know when I will even take a day off next..but it could be February, it could be March.. and then she sends out an email wondering if we have any days off from April-June or something like that?? Huh again? Like I know that. Second thing that makes me mad. Lastly, she has insulted my department and my friends, and for that, I am MAD. Hate can be such a strong word, yet when I think about her, that word comes to mind. Thankfully I can vent to others that know her.
Another vent. It is hard being the wife of someone that owns their own small business. Of course it is harder on Nick, I give him that, but life is still stressful. I just really want him to succeed and be one of the premiere businesses in the area.
On another note, I have been working on my annual Mary Kay order (since I am a personal use consultant). And I definitely have enough orders!!!
And tomorrow is Friday, so....

C-Ya!

Wednesday, January 25, 2006

Blog Charm

From the people that brought you Blog Explosion, the way to bring traffic to your blog... here comes blogcharm... a way to get paid for your blog automatically... so I signed up - Empress4 - BlogCharm . Yes, yes... I do not need another blog. But, I thought, why not try it out.. I still want this to be my main blog.. but I was thinking the blogcharm one should have a theme... maybe crazy news like Turtle has... maybe fun link a day... maybe random pictures...
Anyways... I was wondering if anyone had a suggestion?
Either way... it is in beta testing, so the site wont really start making money till March 1. Till then, I might as well play around.
C-Ya!

NASCAR - Daytona 500



Yep! Less then a month away as I write this. If you don't already know, we are big into NASCAR in our house (NASCAR post from August). The Daytona 500 is Sunday, February 19, which starts the opening of racing. Though the Bud Shootout is the week before (which includes Bud Pole Winners from last year, past winners of the race and past Champions). The kids even know Darrell Waltrip's (former champion, now FOX Broadcaster) famous phrase, "Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Let's go racing!". Jeffrey particullarly likes to say it and will ask us if it is Boogity, Boogity, Boogity, Let's go racing time. And when he watches football he changes it to Let's go Football.
So we are looking forward to the start of racing (especially if Jeff Gordon can do well this year!).
C-Ya!

Monday, January 23, 2006

Scrapbook site..

Ok... I just added my self to scrapbook.com so I could add comments to peoples blogs like LoriDear and EmmasMum.
I may add other stuff scrapbooking related there.. like wish lists and layouts... I just need to get a feel for it.
C-Ya!

Fun with Frogs

Try this out for yourself:



And for you with a blog... TAG your it!

C-Ya!

Goals

Ok.. I am not a goal person. Let me clarify that, I do "make" goals - I just do not normally follow through. I often wonder, how do people set themself up to complete their goals? What really motivates them?
I struggle so much with this because I go through life following along as the tide flows. This may make some jealous because I rarely stress over things; but it is not a very productive way to live my life.
I feel like I should be so much better then I am. I am smart, really I am. I took these tests in a book on finding out what you are good at and they tested Business, Clerical, Logic, Mechanical, Numerical and Social. And in everything I was above average with being significantly superior in clerical and numerical. Makes me feel great about myself... but how can I translate that?
I do not know. I just really want to set a goal, or path, for my life and my success and want to succeed for once.
Nick wants me to be able to quit my job someday because that would mean his company is doing really well. But I do not want to completely leave the job market... so how do I do that with out having to work retail or something like that (not that I am against retail - I just enjoy not being in it for the past 5 years)?
And in a good and bad way, I bet there is a lot of people that can relate. Has anyone ever turned their life around?
C-Ya!

Friday, January 20, 2006

What Element Are You?

Funny that I found this because in reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" the main character talks about how she has too much water like her mother.
So this is what element I am:

Your Element is Earth

Your power color: yellow

Your energy: balancing

Your season: changing of seasons

Dedicated and responsible, you are a rock to your friends.
You are skilled at working out even the most difficult problems.
Low key and calm, you are happiest when you are around loved ones.
Ambitious and goal oriented, you have long term plans to be successful.

I think a lot of it is true. I do try to be the stable one, always making sure things are fair and balanced. And most people would agree I am so low key you often wonder if I have a pulse.. and of course I am the happiest around my husband and kids. Now if only I could make those long term plans to be successful! ;)
C-Ya!

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Stories, links and more..

I ran across this story in the local paper... How to Start a Blog if anyone is interested.
My Australian friend Veronica has a new look to the top of her blog that you need to check out. It is so pretty and may inspire me to do my own creative page topper.
Camp Snoopy at the Mall of America is no more. I am lucky enough to live in the same metro area as MOA - and still really love to go - especially when there is not a lot of people. It will be weird to see the rides with "common" names and to not see the "Peanuts Gang". I think for many Minnesotans this will be a really hard transition because Charles Schulz was born here and went to the high school that my Dad ended up going to (some years after Charles). Now it will be called "The Park at MOA".
Miss America is airing on Saturday on CMT. I am glad that we are not losing this franchise - more for the tradition of it then anything. I could care less what bathing suit the contestants wear, I just feel this pageant is the standardbearer of all other pageants.
Did I tell you I made City Editor on Judysbook? I got a trust score of 6 and will get some cool swag!! Writing in this blog and writing reviews has really made me want to write more... maybe some day I can do it and make money off of it.
Countdown to the 2006 Winter Olympics. I do not get as excited for the winter ones, probably because I do not really like the cold. But they are still fun to watch. Of course one of my favorites is the ice skating!! And I really like that x number of years ago they decided to not have the Summer and Winter Olympics in the same year. That there is an Olympics every two years (or so). And maybe one year we will get to go see some of the competitions. My family (parents & brother - at the time) were thinking of going down for the 2006 Summer Olympics in Atlanta because we have family down there, but we never did. Oh well! It will be in the U.S. again.
ETA... Since I have been bomarded with offers to buy Girl Scout Cookies, I thought I would mention it. So far four people have asked Nick or myself if we wanted to buy them. We have had to turn down a couple people, I did buy one box from another, and have not responded to the email of the fourth (though we may buy cookies because you are a relative). I think it is one of those "I am an adult" moments when you get so many offers!! And sad thing is... I still have cookies in my freezer from 2-3 years ago that we bought from my Cousin who is too old to be a Girl Scout now.
Otherwise life is ok. There is a thing at work that I am kind of upset about but really cannot discuss here. I just want to say AAAAHHHHHHUUUGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!
C-Ya!

Tuesday, January 17, 2006

3 day weekends..

3 Day weekends are so lovely - the only thing that can compete with them are 4, 5 and 6 day weekends or weeklong vacations. Though I bet most of you can agree.
This weekend was a pretty quiet one. Besides going to church Sunday morning, Nick and I were at church Sunday night for their Alpha program.
And then Monday night was my Creative Memories meeting.
Otherwise I had time to do all the laundry (good thing too, the washing machine is having problems), clean the bathroom, and scrap.
And the good thing is I have another 3 day weekend in a month! Makes me feel happy already.
I did hang out a lot at Judysbook.com. I got my trust score up to 6 and became a city editor - yippee for me! Nice to have goals in life, huh?
And one of the things I scrapped was for a swap due the beginning of February and I am already done with it!!
Maybe me getting stuff done is going to be a trend... I really hope it will be.

C-Ya!

Creative Memories

Most of my family and friends that read this know I am a Creative Memories Consultant. And that being one has had its highs and lows. For those that don't know, CM is a direct sales "album-making" company. And if I were to give you my 30-second commercial about it I would say: I am a Creative Memories Consultant. I help busy people put their pictures and memorabilia in photo safe albums. I have three opportunities. 1. To give others the opportunity to have a great full or part time career. 2. To earn free product by hosting a Get Together. 3. To sell you photo safe products and get me as your personal coach.
All fine and dandy... but I am not the best consultant. That said, I really want to grow my business. I may have multiple opportunities this year to get in front of others and I really hope to take full advantage of that. Because deep down I really like CM and I want to be a Consultant for life.
That said, if anyone local ever wants to scrapbook with me, give me a call, I love to have company when I scrap.
And, keep a look out for the end of February/beginning of March when I will have my own Creative Memories website.
C-Ya!

We interrupt our regular blogging..

Haha... I guess you can say I don't always blog regularly... I had Monday off and not much to say this weekend. So till I do have something to say.. another Getting to know You copied from Veronica who copied it from Heidi who copied it from Miriam...

1. My uncle once: gave me a Sapphire ring when I was in the hospital.
2. Never in my life: have I been to Europe/Asia.
3. When I was five: I learned how to use the computer.
4. High School was: a blast. I made it everything I wanted it to be.
5. My parents are: Father - Jewish; Polish/Russian. Mother - Luthern; German/Swedish/English/Irish/etc.
6. I once met: Kristen Alfonso who plays Hope on Days of Our Lives.
7. There's this girl I know who: lives in Australia (well more then one)
8. Once, at a bar: I drank even though I was underaged.
9. Last night: I went to a Creative Memories meeting after making my family meatloaf.
10. Next time I go to church: I will sing in the choir like I do every Sunday.
11. When I turn my head left, I see: my desk, cupboards
12. When I turn my head right, I see: calendars, pictures
13. How many days until my birthday?: About 231
14. If I was a character written by Shakespeare I'd be: Juliet?
15. By this time next year: I hope I am doing something new job-wise.
16. A better name for me would be: Sleepy. I am always tired.
17. I have a hard time understanding: Death.
18. If I ever go back to school I: will get my Masters in something useful.
19. You know I like you if: I tell you personal things.
20. If I won an award, the first person I'd thank would be: My husband and kids and parents so I did not forget them.
21. Take my advice: Don't sweat the small stuff - I like this Veronica! I am copying.
22. My ideal breakfast is: Belgian Waffles, Mimosa, in the sun.
23. If you visit my hometown: you will see a lot of my high school classmates, you can visit my parents and they can tell you how to get to my house about 45 minutes away.
24. Why won't someone: stop this war in Iraq.
25. If you spend the night at my house: you would have to sleep on the couch. And I would hope my son would sleep in and not wake you.
26. I'd stop my wedding: Since my hubby and I were engaged almost 3 years I would not have even had the wedding if I had doubts. But I didn't.
27. The world could do without: Moths
28. I'd rather lick the belly of a cockroach than: Have my child be terminally ill.
29. Paper clips are more useful than: Snowshoes?
30. If I do anything well, it is: Hang out on the internet.
31. And by the way: I am just average.

There ya go..
C-Ya!

Friday, January 13, 2006

TGIF!!

Ok... not too much to say this Friday afternoon. It seems like it has been such a long week - probably partly because I actually had to work 5 days for the first time in probably a month. And next week I get Monday off for Martin Luther King Day... and I am not complaining.
This year I will be celebrating my 5 year anniversary at my job (if I make it that long)!! One of the cool things is now I can take 3 weeks of vacation instead of 2. Yippee.
It seems like every week I am finding a new place to hang out on the internet... besides my favorite site, Scrapshare (which unfortunately is having some issues and not always working - boo hoo), and the deals site, I have also been really enjoying being on http://www.judysbook.com . It is a review site and it is kind of fun to write reviews on various things out there (great way to get your opinion out). If you want to join there is a link on my sidebar towards the bottom - along with my latest reviews... otherwise you can search for me in the Minneapolis are on that site.
So not much planned for the weekend. I hope to scrapbook tonight. I got a new tool that I hope to use.. plus I need to work on my swaps. And many of the Creative Memories Leaders are at Leadership and I am just waiting on pins and needles to hear all the news... I think this is going to be a big one for that!!
So have a safe weekend all!
C-Ya!

Thursday, January 12, 2006

Slow

Every other site I go to on the internet has been slow/not responding the past couple days (or weeks) - uggh!!!!! PITA!
C-Ya!

Cell

Ok I tried to send this yesterday... we will see if it works today...

I am blogging from my cell! I cant see my blog
unfortunately. Oh well. C-ya!


ETA... eventually sent from my yahoo acct.. ah well..

Wednesday, January 11, 2006

Word of the day: Underwear

Ok... not really but I find it has been brought up more then once today.
So in honor I found this (through emmy's blog btw...)

What Your Underwear Says About You

You like to think of yourself as innocent, even though you're not!

You're comfortable in your own skin - and don't care to impress anyone.


Hmmmm...... (*raises eyebrows*)
C-Ya!

Stress!

Have you ever had something happen in your life that is stressing you out and you can even feel the stress... but yet it is so not worth it???
Well I have that right now. And unfortunately I cannot get into it here... but some of my close friends know about it.
I just hate feeling stressed. I am the kind of person that does not let things get to me for that reason. One of my theories is, "Is it going to kill you? If not, well, why stress?" And I think if I did not have this attitude I would be 6 feet under or on happy pills.
It is just, I don't see this stress going away anytime soon.. and I can feel it in my shoulders as I type. Ugghhhh!!
On another note, Nick has been doing some sub contracting work - Yippee! That means money in the winter! Except I have had to get both kids up and ready for two days. And it is not so bad in the summer but when it is dark and cold out.. the last thing I, or the kids, want to do is get out of bed and then walk to day care/bus. But I will survive!!
And check out my blogroll. Another good friend on Scrapshare - plg7_flutterby AKA Pamela - has joined the blogging community. So Welcome!!
C-Ya!

Tuesday, January 10, 2006

Empress4

Some may wonder where I got the title of my blog. Which happens to be my nickname almost everywhere you go on the web.
Empress - Many years ago (I think in high school) I read a romance novel and the lead character was named Empress (don't remember the book now, but...). I took note of that name as being very pretty. Then I got a small Chinese (stuffed) frog and named it Empress. Well then I started hanging out on the internet and needed a nickname and knew I just shouldn't be [firstname][lastname] due to safety issues.. and I came up with Empress.
4 - I pretty quickly found that I could not just be Empress - I guess other people out there wanted to be Empresses as well. So I added 4. 4 is my favorite number... I don't know why... just like purple is my favorite color - it just is. And yes... 4 is the number of kids I do want some day... may or may not happen.
So I am Empress4. And any big place you go - Scrapshare, Amazon, Ebay, Babycenter, etc. - I am Empress4.
And therefore my blog is called EMPRESS4.
I hope you enjoy.
C-Ya!

Monday, January 09, 2006

Coffee

Well this is what you call an "everyone is doing it" post!!! Since it seems like everyone is blogging about coffee.. I can not be left out. Well except they talk about Starbucks... I am going to talk about Minnesota-grown Caribou.

I am actually not a big fan of coffee.. I think half of the time I get it because one of my co-workers happens to be going there. And I cannot just get straight coffee.. and will also regret it if I don't get decaf. But I have a couple usuals... mocha or white mocha, decaf... or I will go there and get the tea or chai. Either way, I do prefer Caribou.. and where I work, I do have a choice because we have Caribou, Starbucks and Dunn Brothers within a couple blocks.

So Heidi, Miriam, Emmy and others... here is my thoughts on coffee!!
C-Ya!

MY Blog

It is a funny thing. I actually may check my blog multiple times in one day. Though it isn't to read what I have wrote. Either I am checking for new comments, using the blogroll list to check a friend's blog or using one of the other links on the sidebar. Interesting. My blog is kind of a portal for me.
Weekend was ok. Not busy, so that was nice. We took down and put away most of the Christmas decorations. You know, I love Christmas... but afterwards, when the tree is dying and things are falling down as well as taking up space, I just want it out of the house.
C-Ya!

Saturday, January 07, 2006

Fun with Google...

I just found this site (thanks to another blog) where you can type in anything and it will look like a Google logo... have fun!
Logogle

C-Ya!

Helpful hints for blogging.

For the beginning blogger...

I have wanted to write up some hints for those out there new to the blogging world... so here goes. Now remember, I have never been formally trained nor am I a professional, so I may be wrong.

First off, unless you have a lot of html experience... do not do it by yourself. There are many blog hosting companies out there. The one I am using is
Blogger.com. All you need to do is write.. and if you do know html it is just a bonus. With blogger I have it set up that if I want to email my blogger I can do it.. and most of the times when you see a post without links or pictures, that is how it got there. And when you first start it, use a template. You can always use a different template or make you own.. but anyone that surfs blogs knows mine is from a template. What I have done to “spruce it up” is vary my text and add to and revise my sidebar.
I like blogs with a sidebar. It can keep some important information close to the top where others may see it. I prefer just a sidebar on one side... but others may not. For those using a template for you to know where the sidebar info is... normally it says something like ***This is where the sidebar info is*** on the template. As you can see with my sidebar I start with posts and archives which were part of the template when I set it up. This automatically gets updated with the blog.
Next I have a link so others can have my blog emailed to them. Some people (Heidi!) really prefer this just in case they miss checking mine and others blogs one day. I looked for one then found
Feedblitz and so far it has worked nice because I have one email sent to me a day with everyone’s blogs that I have subscribed to.
Next I have a button for Blogger that came with the template. And a counter that I think I may have found through blogger, though you can find them anywhere. After that is a link to my favorite site on the web,
ScrapShare. This leads me to a hint, to add a link on the sidebar or through html this is what you do you add the following [a href=”http:// and link to your site.com”>Name of your site[/a> except you replace [ with < href="http://this is the blog adress.com/">Name or nickname[/a> and again, I replace [ with <. Next I include some fun stuff. A clock I found at clocklink.com, A “thermometer” I found on weatherpixie.com, and a neopet. After that you come to some ads. These I chose to put on my blog and I can make money from them. The first is through the Amazon.com Associates program, and then the google adsense program. After that is a couple more things that I can earn referrals from – either financial or points. Then comes to some things to assist me in publicizing and tracking my blog. Blog Explosion is a way to add you blog to a site where many others can surf it. Basically you sign up and get points for looking at other people’s blogs as well as through other games and such.. those points translate into hits for your blog ... and get people to see yours as well. Under that is StatCounter.com. This is a free site to track “hits” to my blog and to find out whose visiting. For those running a blog to try to make money, this is what they use to find out if they are getting the visits they are looking for, I use it just for s**ts and giggles!!! Next comes a couple more sites that I have sent my blog address to.
At the bottom I have a couple other things. The first is a map I found at
I also have a link to
Truthlaidbear.com which is a way to see how many blogs in their “ecosystem” are linked to yours.
Also, some of my posts have photos in them. I know some blog hosts – including blogger – have it so you can add your own photos directly to your blog. But if you already have a photo sharing site like
Imageevent or PhotoBucket you can post them on your blog using the following code [img src=http://address to your photos/some name.jpg> again replacing [ with < and if you find the pics our too big you can put height=”xx” width=”yy” between img and src. Usually, on a horizontal photo I put height as 300 and width as 400 if I want one photo in the row or height=150 and width=200 if I want two photos in a row. It is something you can tweak if you want.
The biggest thing is HAVE FUN with your blog. For most a blog is not a job... so don’t worry if things aren’t perfect. Oh, and remember, not matter how private you make it, blogs can be very public. So don’t include things that others may not want published, or things that would embarrass you in the wrong way.
I hope have helped some of you. Blogging is a learning process and I have had fun learning about how to improve mine so far.

C-Ya!

Thursday, January 05, 2006

Job..

Ya know... I need a new job... not like there is not things to like about mine. The pros are the people I work with and that I am in an industry I like. The cons are the amount of money I make and the redundancy to the job.
It is funny, most people I know are feeling that way right now. I guess many of us have been at our present jobs long enough to give it a "fair shake". So I hope, us, and those of you out there, can find what you want to do soon.
As for me... I have been trying to figure out what I like that could be converted to a job. Ultimately it would be great to have flexible hours and/or the chance to work from home some of the time... though I know that may be hard to find.
One thing I really love is the internet... now if I could just take that passion and create a job out of it.. I don't think I am creative enough for internet design... but I could do some of the technical stuff if I was trained on it. I would love to make side money that would turn into an income from something - either e-commerce through/beside my blog or maybe ebay selling (no clue what I could sell) or maybe even some writing.. I do feel my writing has gotten a lot better since I went to college and took some Journalism classes and then got out in the real world and have started writing more.
Or the other thing that I am starting to get interested in is travel. Last year I got to go on my first trip by myself when I went to MD/PA. And for once I was not scared of flying or being alone... I was actually invigorated. Then today my friend was showing me pictures of her trip last week to London and for once I wanted to be there. So maybe something travel related would be fun. Definetly not a pilot or flight attendant... but maybe something where I could travel 25% of the time (of course it would have to be worth it to be away from my family).
Hmmm.... some things to think about.
Anyone have any ideas for me?

C-Ya!

Wednesday, January 04, 2006

Judy's Book

Ok... so y'all are going to be guinea pigs as much as I am. I just found a site called Judysbook. It is some sort of friends/review site in the beta testing phase... and there is nothing like being on the ground floor of a new website. There is no cost to join... so if you want take a look.
Thanks.

C-Ya!

Lunch

Nick and I went to lunch yesterday... this was a rare and special treat.  See I work downtown and he works near our house and they are thirty minutes plus away from each other.  But it just so happens this week (Tuesday-Friday) he is downtown for some landscape expo/training (that is only a couple blocks from work).  So he called me on his lunch "hour" and we went.. and it was great.  See, we never go on dates  - partly to save money/partly to save time/partly because we don't want to have to find a babysitter.  But yet we have had a couple lunches the past couple years and I cannot complain about those.  Though it is funny seeing Nick downtown because he hates downtown and he usually is not dressed like most men on their lunch.  Again I cannot complain... I really loved it!!

I have become addicted to looking at a couple websites... slickdeals.net and dealtaker.com... they are filled with links to other sites hot deals, freebies, contests, etc.. check them out if you would like.

Well back to work...
C-Ya!

Tuesday, January 03, 2006

As a service to my Scrapshare friends

Hey, for those of you that go to scrapshare.com... you know that the site is slow/having issues. They are working on them. Now if you have stumbled across my blog on a search engine looking for scrapshare or its temp home... here is the temp home Scrapshare Temp Board.

I HTH!!!
C-Ya!

Another way to get to know me...

This is being passed around... another way to get to know me... If you find this TAG your it!

[A is for age:] - 26
[B is for booze of choice:] - Long Island Iced Tea
[C is for career:] - TV
[D is for your dad's name:] - Ken
[E is for essential items to bring to a party:] - Kick-A$$ Appetizer
[F is for favorite song at the moment:] - "Fast Cars and Freedom" - Rascal Flatts
[G is for favorite game:] - Monopoly
[H is for hometown:] - St. Paul
[I is for instruments you play:] - Violin (just like Veronica - not for a long time & I can play the piano)
[J is for jam or jelly you like:] - Strawberry
[K is for kids?] - 2: Jeffrey 3 1/2 yrs & Samantha 2 yrs
[L is for living arrangements:] - with dh, kids, fil and dogs
[M is for mom's name:] - Terry
[N is for name of your crush ] - Michael Weatherly (NCIS - formed while he was on Dark Angel)
[O is for overnight hospital stays] - Hmm... I think 8... 3 colon bladder/surgeries, 3 illnesses (including one thing I got from my bro) & the best 2 - for giving birth to my kids!!
[P is for phobias:] - Heights
[R is for relationship that lasted the longest] - 8 1/2 yrs and still counting!
[S is for sexual preference:] - Men
[T is for time you wake up:] - About 6:30am for work - sometimes I get to sleep in on the weekends
[U is for underwear:] - white cotton
[V is for vegetable you love:] - Corn
[W is for weekend plans:] - Nothing at the moment
[X is for x-rays you've had:] - Gosh.. another hard one... teeth, chest, finger, there must be more...
[Y is for yummy food you make:] - Spaghetti, meatloaf
[Z is for zodiac sign:] - Virgo

Hey thanks Heidi and Veronica... this was fun!!
C-Ya!

Since everyone is doing it...

... I thought I might as well add my "2 cents"...

About me:
2 Names you go by:
Melissa/Mel/(last name)

Empress4
2 parts of your heritage:
Polish/Russian

German
2 Things that scare you:
Heights

Losing a family member
2 of your everyday essentials:
Sleep

Computer
2 Things that you are wearing right now:
Gray pants

New white cardigan
2 of your favorite bands or musical artists:
Boyz II Men

Big & Rich
2 Things you want in a relationship (other than true love):
Securness (is that a word?)

Fun
2 Truths about me:
I never have energy

I float through life
2 Physical Things that appeal to you (in the opposite sex):
Clean shaven

Great body
2 of your Favorite Hobbies:
Scrapbooking
Internet
2 Material Things you want really badly:
A collection of popular CDs

Sizzlet Alphabet
2 Material Things you NEED really badly:
Underwear

Space
2 places you want to go on vacation:
Bahamas/Caribbean

Greece/Italy
2 Stores you Shop at:
Target

Local Grocery Store
2 Stores you like to Shop at when traveling to the big city:
Anything in the Mall of America

Craft stores

C-Ya!

Sunday, January 01, 2006

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year to all. May all of you have a wonderful, healthy and safe New Year.

So far I really have been enjoying the extra time off from work. The past two nights Nick and I stayed up till 2am till scrapbook (him, landscape pictures; me, family album).. though I did regret it this morning when I had to get up for church.

We still have the stuff on the table so we are trying to decide whether or not to scrap tonight. Otherwise I have not gotten much done, so hopefully tomorrow I will kick my butt into gear.
I have decided the kids are taking after their father. Give them a phone and they wont shut up!! Jeffrey and Samantha have sure had some long conversations with my parents today. Luckily they are ok with talking to a toddler forever - many times they ask to talk!

Otherwise, I still have not decided whether or not to make a resolution.
And I have started reading "Memoirs of a Geisha" it is very good!!
C-Ya!