Callista’s Ramblings Birth Story

I’ve reflected on why I started blogging a few times before. When I was asked for an Ask Callista post, I said:

“I actually started blogging WAY back in 2003. I had websites from geocities starting in 1999 for many different things and on one I did book reviews. Then I found amazon.com and started putting my reviews there. Then in 2003 they changed the rules and didn’t allow anyone to post reviews on amazon.com if they hadn’t purchased from there and I didn’t have a credit card so I couldn’t purchase from there.

So I was planning to go back to my website for reviews when I stumbled upon a book blog and saw that this would be a great place to feature my book reviews. So I started my book review blog first and then shortly after, started this one. It was originally mostly for me, with results from online quizzes and my own thoughts. Then I saw that others were blogging for an audience and I knew that’s what I wanted to do. The direction of Callista’s Ramblings has changed many times but that’s how it all started.”

I also talked about how my blog has evolved over the years in this recent post for The Great Canadian Blog Bash:

Callista’s Ramblings Over the Years

• Started 2003  - when I was a teen and was new to blogging. Posts from back then are mostly memes, personal thoughts and silly quizzes.
• 2004-2006 – I posted irregularly, mostly in little spurts.
• 2007 – Mid year I started taking blogging a bit more seriously and started trying to post regularly. Still mostly memes and such though.
• 2008 – late in the year I started getting contacted by companies and started out with small posts with product compensation.
• 2009 – This is when I consider myself to really be a serious blogger that works with brands. I started doing more reviews and giveaways with opinion and random posts mixed in. April 2009 I got my current design. I also accepted my first guest post.
• 2010  - Posted the post that has received the most page views and searches EVER on my blog, even to this day it is the most popular and it’s very simple and I wrote it on my own. Why is an Orange Called and Orange? I also got my first “gig” with Mom Central as a Majesta Mom. I also held my first special event: Camping Week
• 2011 – big year for brand work and building readership. I participated in my first cash giveaway and started doing blog giveaway hops and sponsored posts. I also did my first Christmas Gift Guide
• 2012 – Realized I was getting to be too much reviews and giveaways and not other content like I had originally hoped. I’ve lately started to write other posts (such as 6 Things to Remember When Hosting a Child’s Birthday) but have been catching up on reviews. I plan on unveiling more content soon.

So if I wrote about this before, why go through it again? I was tagged by Newlywed Survival to do a post on how my blog came to be.

So now I pass on the tagging.  I’ve included one of their more recent posts if you want to check them out.

1. Darcy of Tales From the Nursery – Recent Post: Moxie Girlz  True Hope Dolls Support Center Research (+Giveaway)
2. Tiffany of Fabulous Finds by novembergirlxoxo – Recent Post: Culturelle for Kids Tummy Truths 14 Day Challenge: Day 12 plus a giveaway
3. Kari of Mommy to Elodie – Recent Post: Spinach and Soy Chorizo Quiche “Recipe”
4. Amanda of The Frugal Greenish Mama – Recent Post: Get a Free Personalized Downloadable Elmo Song
5. Cristina of Tailor Made Momma – Recent Post: Brandcation Here I Come

Wordless Wednesday: My 3 Week Old Liam

End of Year Meme 2009

I got this from Bleeding Espresso

1. What did you do in 2009 that you’d never done before? Went to a Harlem Globetrotters game, got my book blog listed in an e-book, visited Kitchener/Waterloo [Ontario], took the train
2. Did you keep your new year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year? No not really. I don't make resolutions per say but do make some general goals. I don't take them too seriously though because I know they never get stuck to.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth? Two of my friends
4. Did anyone close to you die? My dad's friend.
5. What countries did you visit? USA, does that count? That's as far as I've gone and not even that far, just Chicago.
6. What would you like to have in 2010 that you lacked in 2009? Good health and a new baby
7. What dates from 2009 will remain etched upon your memory, and why? January 2009 because I got a little closer to figuring out the specifics of something that's wrong with me (rather not give details) and October 2009 because I had surgery (again no details sorry)
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year? My book blog has gotten more successful.
9. What was your biggest failure?Not sure.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury? Well as I said I needed surgery in 2009 but that was from something that happened in 2007.
11. What was the best thing you bought? I haven't really bought a whole lot. Oh my Wii.
12. Whose behavior merited celebration? I have no idea
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed? I have no idea.
14. Where did most of your money go? Bills LOL
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about? Visiting my brother in Waterloo.
16. What song will always remind you of 2009? Boom Boom Pow Black Eyed Peas
17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer? Sadder, Fatter, Richer (but not by much)
18. What do you wish you’d done more of? Reading and Blogging
19. What do you wish you’d done less of? Worrying and Overthinking
20. How did you spend Christmas? Christmas Eve at my moms, Christmas Day with my family. We were going to do Boxing Day with hubbie's family but we had to cancel.

21. Did you fall in love in 2009? Nope, was already in love.
22. What was your favorite TV program? Big Bang Theory

23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year? Dislike: Yes. Hate: no
24. What was the best book you read? I still haven't picked my top of 2009 (yeah I know just a BIT behind) but the one that comes to mind is Book Whisperer by Donalyn Miller.
25. What was your greatest musical discovery? Uhhh. I don't think I discovered music LOL.
26. What did you want and get? An MP3 player
27. What did you want and not get? A laptop
28. What was your favorite film of this year? Orphan was AWESOME!
29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you? I turned 26 and I visited my brother in Waterloo, ON and bought myself things.
30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying? Blogging all year with no breaks.
31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2009? Fashion? Me? Yeah right.
32. What kept you sane? Who said I was sane?
33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most? I don't really pay much attention to celebrities.
34. What political issue stirred you the most? I don't talk politics on my blog.
35. Who did you miss? My brother
36. Who was the best new person you met? I met a bunch of new friends at playgroup. So far I don't see them outside of playgroup but we're still good friends.
37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2009. Quality vs Quantity

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year. 
Is it too late
Nothing to salvage
You look away
Clear all the damage

The meaning to
All words of love
Has disappeared

We used to love one another
Give to each other
Lie under covers so,
Are you friend or foe
-  Friend or Foe, TATU

Google Meme

Okay you got me, I'll participate. I've seen this many places but the last place was Life With a Little One and More.

The idea is you search google for "_____ needs" with the blank being your name. I used my real name, Kathleen because I figured it would come up with more. My comments are in italics.

1. Kathleen needs to talk to people she trusts for reassurance that things will turn out great on the day.
Not sure which day they mean but yes I can always use more reassurances.

2. Kathleen Needs A Ride Home
Well since I don't have a car...

3. Kathleen needs MySpace
No thanks. I barely use facebook. I'll stick to the other social media/communities.

4. Kathleen needs to get the glory
Whose glory? Perhaps the glory of owning the best blog ever? Yeah right.

5. Kathleen needs to focus more on her learning and not on socializing
Actually I spend ALL my time on learning and NONE of my time on socializing. Social media is my extent of socializing.

6. Kathleen needs to get the oil changed & tires rotated today
On whose car? I said earlier I don't have one!

7. Kathleen needs a hobby
Blogging is my hobby! I also enjoy photography and scrapbooking.

8. Kathleen needs help at work and family
Well I don't work, except blogging but I can always use help with family.

9. Kathleen needs your vote
Well I think this was from a politics page but I could use your vote on stumbleupon

10. Kathleen needs to turn 6 more or gain 129 more Zombie points to reach the next ...
Umm yeah..

If you participate, leave a link!
I also found another Kathleen who participated and she has a LONG list.

Wordless Wednesday - My Computer Nerd in Training

See more participants

Wordless Wednesday

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Photo Meme

This meme has been going around and a few blogs I've read said to just tag yourself so here goes.

Rules:

The rules are simple - post the 4th picture in the 4th file of your 'My Pictures' folder

Technically this isn't from My Pictures but from Shared Pictures. The 4th pic in 4th folder of My Pictures was just a logo for a reading challenge I belong to. The Shared Pictures is where the actual PHOTOS are.

Anyways the mommy dog is Essence and these are just 3 of 9 puppies. Essence passed away July 06 and the puppies are now 4 years old.

So I'd like to tag my brother Tony but I don't know where the link to his blog is right now.

Also Candid Karina if she hasn't already done it. I don't see it.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

Friday Five

Wanna play?

1. What was the most sick that you've ever been?
I had a twisted bowel a few times as a kid. That means I had non-stop vomiting and diarrhea for 24 hours or so with a fever. It was beyond horrible.

2. What disease are you afraid of getting?
Cancer. Or anything else that's not curable.

3. Are you a big baby when it comes to taking medicine/shots for your illnesses?
Medicine no, shots YES! I'm a big baby.

4. Is going to the doctor really THAT bad?
No it's not THAT bad. It's just annoying sometimes when there is "never anything wrong with you."

5. Would you have the flu twice a month if you were paid $1,000 for having it?
No way! I'd only agree if the flu were for sure only lasting 24 hours each time and I was paid a million.

Friday's Feast #160

Wanna join the feast?

Appetizer
When was the last time you visited a hospital?
The last time I was in a hospital was 4 1/2 months ago when I gave birth to my youngest daughter.

Soup
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how ambitious are you?
Well I often think up new things I'd love to do, so in that regard a 7 but then I usually never actually go through with them so in that regard a 4.

Salad
Make a sentence using the letters of a body part. (Example: (mouth) My other ukelele tings healthily.)
THIGH - This Hero Is Going Home

Main Course
If you were to start a club, what would the subject matter be, and what would you name it?
*I took this question incorrectly, I was thinking club like a party club.*
Hmm. It would be a club for parents, with an adjacent overnight day care center for the kids so you can party. There would also be a place for the parents to crash. Then next day when they are sober, they could pick up their kids and go home. It would be called The Getaway.

Dessert
What color is the carpet/flooring in your home?
The softwood floor is a light brown colour, the bathroom and kitchen tiles are white and the carpeting downstairs is grey and a weird dusty rose upstairs.

Friday Fill-in

This week there is a married one and a food one for those who aren't married/engaged but I wanted to do both!

1. I met him/her _online through a yahoo group I started_.

2. We dated _for only 6 1/2 months_ before we got engaged_.

3. I knew he/she was the one _almost right away, I just felt it_.

4. The thing I like best about him/her _is that he loves me for who I am_.

5. When he/she proposed _it was Valentine's Day and he wrote a poem_.

6. The song we had/want at our wedding _The Broken Road by ??_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _relaxing_, tomorrow my plans include _Niece's birthday party and Rosh Hashanah Dinner_ and Sunday, I want to _Visit my parents_!

1. Chips or chocolate? _chocolate__.

2. Pickles on your hamburger? _no, on the side__

3. Baked potato: with everything or _cheese, bacon and sourcream_.

4. The perfect meal _poutine, is that a meal?_.

5. Martinis, wine, beer or _none of the above yech!_.

6. Your favorite pirate is (technically not food, but still yummy)_Jack Sparrow (if he was all cleaned up)_.

The Name Game

I tagged myself at The Diaper Diaries

1. YOUR ROCK STAR NAME: (first pet & current car) Kelly LeSabre
2.YOUR GANGSTA NAME: (fave ice cream flavor, favorite cookie) Chocolate Viva Puff
3. YOUR “FLY Guy/Girl” NAME: (first initial of first name, first three letters of your last name) K-Gar
4. YOUR DETECTIVE NAME: (favorite color, favorite animal) Yellow Dog
5. YOUR SOAP OPERA NAME: (middle name, city where you were born) sorry don't share my middle name
6. YOUR STAR WARS NAME: (the first 3 letters of your last name, first 2 letters of your first)Gar-Ka
7. SUPERHERO NAME: (”The” + 2nd favorite color, favorite drink) The Blue Iced Cappuchino
8. NASCAR NAME: (the first names of your grandfathers) Jay William
9. STRIPPER NAME: ( the name of your favorite perfume/cologne/scent, favorite candy) Ghost Myst Fuzzy Peaches (LOLOLOLOL)
10.WITNESS PROTECTION NAME: (mother’s & father’s middle names ) Ann Lawrence
11. TV WEATHER ANCHOR NAME: (Your 5th grade teacher’s last name, a major city that starts with the same letter) Ewer Edmonton
12. SPY NAME: (your favorite season/holiday, flower) Summer Tulip
13. CARTOON NAME: (favorite fruit, article of clothing you’re wearing right now + “ie” or “y”) Blueberry Shirtie
14. HIPPY NAME: (What you ate for breakfast, your favorite tree) Toast Oak
15. YOUR ROCKSTAR TOUR NAME: (”The” + Your fave hobby/craft, fave weather element + “Tour”) The Scrapbooking Thunder Tour

I'm tagging:

1. JennieBoo
2. Joy
3. Tony
4. Anyone else who wants to play (just tell me in the comments so I can visit.)

Wordless Wednesday

Tackle It Tuesday

Okay well I actually did this yesterday but I almost NEVER feel like doing much on a Tuesday. Hope no one minds.

Anyways, I now have a BEDROOM! Plus my baby has a crib to sleep in. We finally moved our bed and dressers downstairs into the front room to make a proper bedroom and we put up the crib. It's SO nice to have a bed that's not just a couch or a mattress on the floor! Today we will be continuing the tackle by bringing my computer desk down and setting it up in the living room so I can get this computer off the table! It will be so nice!

Friday Fill-in

1. The last time someone flirted with me _was never_.

2. I am SO glad _I have two beautiful daughters_.

3. Where in the world is _Carmen SanDiego?_.

4. Long weekends are _the best_.

5. Coming up next: _more blog posts of course_.

6. I adore _blogging_.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to _a games night_, tomorrow my plans include _a day with a friend and his family at their campsite_ and Sunday, I want to _rest!_!

Blogging Meme

From O So Mo Love

1. What do you enjoy MOST about blogging?
Meeting others and reading their opinions and getting opinions on my opinions. LOL.

2. Are you happy with your blog/website?
No, not really. I want to make my own design, I don't like the blogger templates much.

3. Have you altered your blog template or does it display it's original settings?
I've altered it but I"m still mainly using a template.

4. Do you post many pictures on your blog/website?
Not really. For some reason I have a hard time getting them to show up properly. Still working on that. I even tried using a table so the words and photos would show up properly but then it leaves a HUGE gap between title and the post. I would post more photos if I could just get things to work properly.

5. What made you decide to begin "blogging"?
I started it out as my personal journal because I type much faster than I write and my writing isn't very legible. Then as I saw that other bloggers were writing for an audience, I decided I wanted to do that too.

6. Do you make money with your blog?
I recently added Google AdSense ads to my blog but haven't made money yet. I'm afraid if I do too much to make money people will think that's all I care about and won't come visit me but then I can't work and we are struggling so any money I can make would help.

7. Do you post personal info on your blog?
Yes. I try to stay away from my last name and definitely don't post my actual address but I'm not worried about a few things.

8. To your knowledge does your spouse and/or loved ones read your blog?
I point out certain posts to my parents that I feel they might enjoy. My brother reads all my blogs and has one of his own. My hubby could care less about any of them. The two I have for my daughters are the only ones that are read my a lot of family because that's what they were made for. To keep everyone updated.

9. Where do you access your blog?
From home.

10. Have you ever posted a YouTube video on your blog/website?
No.

11. Do you list the blogs/websites of friends/loved ones on your website?
Yes I recently added some blogrolls. I visit many more people than that but those are my main visits.

12. On average, how many comments do your posts receive? Most? Least (if not 0)?
Mostly 0-3 but more if it's a meme (like Thursday thirteen.)

13. Is your blog a creative outlet? A soapbox? A record of your life for future generations? All of the above?
It's a soapbox and a record of my thoughts about various things.

14. What is the one thing you would change about your blog/website?
Well the template mostly.

15. Would you like me to post an entry later displaying your blog/website address?
Sure. http://callistasramblings.blogspot.com/

Thursday Bug

What's your Thursday Bug?

I'm annoyed by the people that come door to door from companies such as Universal Power or Direct Energy who want to provide you with their electricity or gas for a slightly higher price in exchange for a 5-year locked in rate. The idea is that the price would normally get higher than theirs soon so if you lock into their rate, you are safe from that. Problem is the rate doesn't always go up and if it goes down, tough for you. They have a way of convincing you that everybody is going through their system and that it's the only way to be. They say they need to see your bill to see if it's on there. As if it has to be on there.

Be WARY! Don't say yes to any of these external companies, stay with the company that you set up with. Thanks to Universal Power our monthly energy bill is over $400!