March Away from Facebook

I am getting the shakes already. Can I do it? Can I actually commit and follow through? Is my willpower enough?

What am I doing away with? Soda? Nope, did that in February! WOOT! Cigarettes? Nope, I don't smoke. Wine? Hahahahhahaha.

Facebook. I'm taking a March break from Facebook.

Now, before you laugh hysterically, let me preface...I am not doing away with ALL social media. (baby steps, baby steps.) I am doing 99% away from Facebook. I say 99% away because there are still 1-2 groups I am either in charge of or need to check in on, such as the local Home School Co-op. If I need to tell my students' parents something, I may need to hop on our Facebook group and do so. But that's it...no sharing, no updates, no group discussions, no banging my head against the keyboard.

Now, before you yell at me on March first that something posted....hang on. My Instagram is connected to my Facebook so I will share from time to time,  Instagram pics just as I do now. My flickr is also connected, although I am grossly neglecting my photography as of late. There's probably a few other things that auto post that I forget about like running apps and My Fitness Pal, etc. So if something pops up, don't start yelling at me that I'm on Facebook.

So why am I doing this? Well, I don't actually have any issues with Facebook, I feel like I can manage it effectively. I don't feel the need to post every time I eat a sandwich. (although a successful gluten free baked good deserves sharing.) I tend to check it from time to time during the day when the kids are busy with school work and then at night when I'm snug in my bed with a dog and yarn.

I have met a HUGE number of AWESOME people via Facebook, from a variety of interests that we have in common such as motherhood, homeschooling, gluten free, opposing Common Core, handmade business owners, crocheters, craft addicts and more. I've met amazing people and am forever grateful to Facebook for that. But sometimes you need a break. Sometimes you need to step away from the screen and focus on other things.

So, if you see me on Facebook here are the things I'm allowed to do:
Check in on the local co-op.
Plan and share an upcoming Common Core/Homeschooling workshop I am organizing. I may not have the contact of people other than Facebook, so if I need to message them I may have to do so via Facebook.

Other than that, if it's not an 'auto post' or connected app, TELL ME TO GET OFF FACEBOOK!

The world will NOT end I'm not on Facebook and maybe, just maybe, I'll get some stuff done.

To stay in touch, follow me on Instagram, www.instagram.com/mamaslittlemonkeys and if you really want to go old school, message me on Facebook for my email address and let's EMAIL! Or REALLY really old school and WRITE A LETTER!??? WHAAAAAAAAAAAAT?

But really, if you honestly need to contact me and have no other way, you can send a facebook message, those can pop up independently of Facebook so I can sorta cheat that way.....

I'm a little leery that I can actually do this.....Getting the shakes already.

Could you March Away from Facebook?

~~Amy

girl, disconnected....almost over...

The end is near, the end is near! Two more days and my experiment is over! It's been a long month! I don't think I'll be doing such an experiment again...but I did learn a lot. I learned I can most definitely cut back on the internet. As long as I am running an online business, I obviously cannot give it up entirely ever. But I can institute an unplugged day, or weekend, etc.

I think I will do one day a week of unplugged. This will be particularly helpful when the kids start school and I can devote a straight period of time to work, cleaning, etc.

But overall, I missed being connected. I missed chit chatting with friends, seeing pics of cute kids, and learning cool recipes, ideas, and websites. I missed it, I really did. Social networking, when used responsibly, is a great addition to our crazy busy lives. Just use it smartly! Instead of only going online to play games and ask friends for boards for your non existent farm, chit chat with friends, comment on their lives, and grow closer! Use social networking to build relationships, share a joke, and CONNECT!

So I'll see ya'll soon!!! I miss you!
~~Amy

girl disconnected...4 more days

4 more days and I get my online life back.

I think I have learned what I needed to learn. I'll recap:

1. I do not NEED the internet and social networking. Should tragedy befall us and we had to cut things...I'd turn it off, no problem.
2. Although I do not NEED social networking...I WANT social networking. Being a WAHM generally surrounded by humans under 4 feet tall, a dog, no one or a combination of those three....I need the connection sites like facebook bring me. I also, apparently, like to talk and social networking helps me ease that.
3. I did not accomplish many of the goals I wanted to accomplish. I did start making small changes to our diet and grocery purchases. I'm still a coupon fanatic but am seeking out more healthy purchases with the coupons. But in these tight times, I gotta do what I gotta do to feed my family!
4. I did not create much at all. But this has little do with with disconnecting. My kids are home on summer break and all consuming. So summer was probably NOT a great time to try disconnecting.
5. I did see how disconnecting is valuable and am trying to decide what day each week I want to be my "unplugged" day.


here is how my goals broke down. (Mind you these were long term goals listed here, but I wanted to update my progress.) (Updates are in Red)
*Integrate stevia and blue agave nectar into diet more.--Working on! They no longer make Sun Crystals, my sweetener of choice for my coffee, but I can make my own by mixing stevia and real cane sugar. I also got some local honey and agave nectar and have been using them in coffee and smoothies!

*Use up current stockpile of all items that contain high fructose corn syrup, and multiple chemicals on the label. Working on....slowly and surely.

*As we use that stock up, research alternatives for such items.Working on....slowly and surely.

*Limit our soda intake. Once it’s used up...purchase natural sodas without HFCS. Working on....slowly and surely.

*Drink more Water. Working on....slowly and surely. Sort of failing in this one...

*Cut back on sugar.   Working on....slowly and surely. Sort of failing in this one...
 
*Eliminate or drastically cut back on food dyes. Working on....slowly and surely. I think I'm doing good in this one, it was mostly for the boys and as I look at their diet, they don't eat much with food dyes. Their fruit jerky (fruit strips) are colored with fruit and veggie dyes. Their cereals don't contain dyes. Their juices are all natural. Probably their biggest downfall is the occasional popsicle at PawPaw's house, but I also want to be realistic, the sometimes popsicle isn't going to kill them. Fruit Chewy Treats are probably the last majorly dyed food they ingest, and again, I'm not going to go all Gestapo on their butts.

*Purchase meats, dairy and produce that I KNOW where it came from. Working on....slowly and surely. This information is harder to get than I thought.
    *Purchase red meat and chicken only from our local grocery store Working on....slowly and surely. Local and organic meats are SUPER costly.
    *Purchase the ‘dirtiest’ produce list http://www.kitchenstewardship.com/2010/04/29/2010-dirty-dozen-produce-list-released-by-the-ewg/ organic and preferably, locally grown.Working on....slowly and surely.
    *Purchase locally grown and organic fed dairy products. Working on....slowly and surely. Thankfully most of the milk I buy is from local farmers who supposedly don't use hormones or any of that. Still trying to find a good, clean, quiet source of Raw Milk. Since it's illegal I can't even tell you if I find one anyways.

*Exercise more! FAILED miserably. I've walked the dog...that's about it. I've put on about 8 lbs in the past six months. I'm a new mission to get ripped.

*Spend more time in bible study. Working on....slowly and surely. I've not done enough of this, absolutely not.
 
*Cleaning and Housework.  Working on....slowly and surely. Getting better. I'm still trying to make myself get on a good schedule, but I'm not a good schedule keeper. But I've done okay keeping things going, since it is summer and both kids are home...it's a lot harder to keep things clean!

*Purge some of the plastic. Working on....slowly and surely. Purged some and am working on purging more. Slowly (it's costly!) replacing my plastic items with glass.
*Read More! Doing good! I'm up to 9 books finished on my kindle alone. I think my goal to read in 2011 was 20-25. I'm reading a few books off the kindle (what are these called now, In Real Life books?) and as always, my stack of magazines.

*Un-Plug More. Semi Accomplished!! As this girl disconnected series draws to a close, I admit I've sneaked on some social networking sites, I've still used my iPad and I've still done what I needed to do for my business online. But I was offline a WHOLE lot more than I've ever been in recent years. I of course didn't have a ton of time to BE online since it's summer, but not even being ALLOWED online helped ease my stress and guilt for 'not getting enough done.'

So, overall, I'm not doing TOO terrible I think!!

See ya'll soon! FOUR MORE DAYS!
~~amy 

girl, disconnected...I Think I Get It Now...

I think I get it now. I think I understand why this girl disconnected break is so hard. I think I understand why taking a break from most social networking is becoming harder every day.

I NEED to vent. I NEED instant gratification. I NEED feedback. I NEED to hear I'm not a horrible person, that tomorrow is another day, have a martini, whatever platitudes your friends near and far tell you when you're having a crappy day. I miss that. Horribly.

My life is absolutely not hard, especially difficult or made-for-tv-movie worthy. (Okay, parts of my childhood may have been tv movie worthy, but that's for another time....)
So why do I deserve the right to vent, I wonder? My child is not dying of cancer. My husband has not left me for another woman (or man.). We are not about to lose our house in foreclosure. We are all relatively healthy, wealthy (in relative terms) and happy.....so the need I have to vent and complain also at the same time makes me feel horribly inadequate, ungrateful and stupid.

But still, I cannot resist that urge. Take today for example. Our oldest got to spend the night at a close friend's house (we're all family friends.). And he had a good time as expected. Now, he's been giving me a LOT of lip lately, bad attitude and in particular, being ungrateful and unappreciative. But, he was out of the house, and although I enjoyed the time of having just one tiny human to attend to, I missed him.

So we go to pick him up, first thing he said is, "I don't want to go home." Now, I kinda sloughed that off because we ALL did that growing up when we went over to a friend's house. Grass is greener sorta thing, you know.

Still I got hugs and we had a relatively nice visit with friends, where he pretty much behaved other than the usual whining about having to eat dinner. (The child would exist on gummy bears if I let him.) So it's time to go. Commence meltdowns. Now, I did give him slack knowing that he went to bed late but still got up at dawn like he always does. I took that into consideration.

But he's still so damn frustrating. The whining, the crying, the fussing, the ARGUING (be quiet everyone who knows me personally...yeah yeah yeah, it's like looking in a mirror, I KNOW. My older siblings: Shut it.) This kid should be a lawyer, I tell you. He was all upset because his little brother has a special car toy at home that we got for E because he FINALLY ate his 30 healthy foods (also, a horrible eater.) So he got to pick out a special toy. H just was not down with this. He just cannot understand that he doesn't get a toy every time E does (and vice versa.) I tried reminding him how he got special things when he hit milestones, and about the fact that he had JUST spent the night with his friend just like he wanted to!! THAT was a special treat.

Nope, not good enough. Somehow...someway, this child has become spoiled rotten. So now, I'm stuck, now I've got to fix this (which I'm not sure how it totally GOT Like this because E is not this way, and we're not exactly parents who don't say "NO" a lot.) Still, I'm stuck. Feeling like a worthless, stupid, useless mother who's own child doesn't even want her. I'm moping over my martini right now...

and I can't go on facebook to whine about it. THAT is what I miss. I generally do not randomly bitch and moan on my personal update (at least I try not to because that drama aggravates me.) But, I do have private groups of friends (mostly fellow moms) who totally get it and that is where I vent. But, I can't do that.

So I sit here...and it festers. And THAT my friends is what I'm learning the most as my disconnect enters the homestretch.

I do not NEED facebook, twitter, plurk, cafemom, craftforum or any other social networking/forum. But I WANT it. I LIKE that I can connect with siblings 3k miles away at no cost. I LIKE that I can quickly in one fell swoop update myself on all my friends lives. Sure, a huge chunk of my facebook friends are people I've never laid eyes on in real life, but so what? They still support my endeavours, they laugh with me, cry with me, and share their own lives with me. Perhaps we found each other through Etsy, Artfire, handmade life, music, gluten free life, autism, or what have you...but we found each other. We're friends.

And I miss you all, I really do.

Now, I wonder how many actually READ this...that's another story. I know life is busy. And that is one reason social networking works.....we can connect in an instant. Whether you're a morning person or a night person, you can find your friends, check in, and move on. Sure, it's not true face time interaction, but it's SOMETHING. It's better than being closed off from the world.

I thought this experiment would give me more time, less stress, and more time with "real life" friends. My in person interactions stayed roughly the same....because although I was not checking online as much, I still had two boys to keep from killing each other, a new dog to take care of, a home and a business to run! Yet now, I can't have my quick, end of the day check in, laugh, funny pics, whatever, with friends!

My friend Celeste over on our blog, Real Housewives of NOLA gets it too! Read about it here. http://realhousewivesofnola.com/2011/06/22/oh-how-i-city-of-wonder-how-you-get-your-farmville-growing-while-sending-hearts/

Enough bitching, time to go drink my martini....Day 21 over.

~~Amy

girl disconnected...Things I Would Have Said...

I thought would be funny/clever/annoying/stupid (whatever your mood may be) for me to keep track of what I WOULD have posted on facebook/twitter/plurk this month had I stayed connected. So here we go. In no particular order.

~~~~

"Thing #284 you never said until you had kids: Son you may not lick your brother."

"Holy SMOKES it's FRICKIN HOT!"

"Cuddly dog snuggling with you bed...awesomesauce. Cuddly dog letting loose silent but deadly farts....not so awesomesauce."

"Eli is doing GREAT potty training!! So far no #2 in the potty but he's getting better with the pee pee!"

"Anyone have a solution for backtalk or overall attitude in kids? He's only 5....and a boy....should I be greatful he's not a girl?"

"Marc Broussard's new cd...go get it. And if you didn't get Amos Lee's and Adele's? Go get those too. Now. You will thank me later!"

"Dog is allergic to SOMETHING...we're not sure what. 3 vet trips in 2 weeks. (One wellcheck/cat scratch in eye, one eye recheck, one crazy allergic rash.....coming up...another eye recheck.) Dogs are more expensive than kids!"

"sooooooo, have you checked out my shops lately? Jus sayin."

"Eli can now sing most of the words to "Rumour Has It" on Adele's new cd. Your welcome world."

"Apparently summer break means no sewing for mama. Mama no likey that."

"Did I mention it's INSANELY HOT!!??"

"70's music on mp3 player....baking blueberry muffins (gluten free!) Handmade apron 'round my waist....cutie patootie running around in his skivvies....I love my life."


..........more to come............

girl disconnected....thin mints and real friends...

See world...even if you cut yourself off from Facebook, Twitter and whatever things you use to connect...your real friends hunt you down. They text you on your phone (even though it takes you 20 minutes to tap out a response...) They email you and send you recipes for GLUTEN FREE THIN MINTS! (Merry.....I heart you!) And they actually call.

I admit, its' been REALLY hard these first 10 days to be off Facebook and Plurk. I confess...I checked Facebook 1-2x for messages. I also apparently liked some things while searching for doggy stuff. I also broke down and got on Plurk a few times to show off Libby the dog because I have a lot of animal nuts over there who I knew would love to see her! So yea.....cold turkey, I didn't QUITE do...but I have mostly behaved myself. Any online purchases were doggy related (IE a 30 lb bag of dog food that even the UPS guy had to ask, "what is in this??" I shoulda told him something scary....).

But Twitter....I haven't even noticed. There are maybe 3 people who I connect with only on Twitter (because they've as of yet to GET on facebook), and one is baby-mooning, so she isn't on much anyways. So I really am not missing Twitter.

I am enjoying that I'm actually talking on the phone to my friends more. And still...to this day....they seem to know when I've JUST sat down and gotten comfy before they call. Or I have raw chicken on my hands....it's always one of the two....

Sooooo, I've learned....whether you check your facebook or not....life goes on. The sun rises. Kids misbehave (or behave!) and still you are there. I'm learning what I get out of social networking is the instant gratification. The feeling of, "Hey, someone read that!" or "Hey someone liked that!!" It's like I'm Sally Field all day long, "They LIKE ME! They REALLY LIKE ME!!"

But it's not just that..it's not just about me. I really do enjoy reading about my friends, near and far. I enjoy hearing their adventures, and misadventures. That is something social networking really does...it DOES help you feel connected to those you can't be physically near (IF You use it right and don't do stupid things like Post naked pics of yourself.....or join facebook...start drama....then leave. Repeat. For the love of cheese, ya'll, please stop doing that.)

Social networking is anonymity and closeness all at once. It's an enigma....and while I'm missing it at times...

I think I can live without it.

~~amy

girl, disconnected...day 5--A Boy and His Dog

If you read yesterday's post you saw that we adopted a sweet little pug mix we named Libby. (Technically, Libby Jo). Well, she's adjusting incredibly well. She was supposed to be MY dog but I highly suspect Harrison will end up being her 'true' master. She's still learning the ropes with us, but has made herself quite at home. It's as if she was always supposed to be here! She's snoozing on the end of my bed as I type!

And Harrison and Eli have really surprised me. I thought they'd be scared of her, like they had been before, but Harrison, especially has been super attentive, loving, caring and watchful over her. I'm very impressed. Today was the first day Harrison hasn't frustrated me immensely in a looooooooooooong time!! Perhaps he was MEANT to have his dog!

I AM missing being connected to social networking, but I'm only 5 days in (technically 6 now) but even now the desire and urge is manageable and even now I see how I can easily schedule 'online' time during nap times, evenings, etc. Facebook, twitter, forums, etc can be such a time suck but they don't HAVE to be.

Of course I've been googling more than I planned because I've been doing my doggy research! I also did have to do a little Amazon shopping to get a good deal on her dog food (have you SMELLED a dog's fart when on Purina or other crappy dog food? Yeah, um no.)

So, yes, I haven't been COMPLETELY disconnected as I planned...I am still keeping an eye on my shops, on my blogs, Handmade Louisiana and Real Housewives of NOLA. But overall, the computer is off much of the day! It is a nice change. I've watched documentaries, walked the dog, watched the boys swim, visited with friends and just RELAXED!

Now, I'm off to google "how to freshen a dog's smell" or some such to make Miss Libby here a little more sweet smelling to match her sunny disposition! :)
~~Amy

girl, disconnected...day 4---Getting the Shakes....

Okay.....so I'm starting to get the urge....I miss facebook.....I miss the constant communication and instant gratification of that little notification reminder.

I probably wouldn't be jonesing as bad except that I want to show off our new DOGGY!

However, what we thought would be named Maxwell....is actually a GIRL!! Ooops. Mama can't read the info on Adopt-A-Pet.com! DUH! But it's all good in the hood because I had a girl name picked out in the first place!!

So I give you, Libby the Dog! :)

She's a sweet doggy. 3.5 years old, and house trained. She was very hyper when she first got here but she's calmed down. So far there's been no potty accidents inside and she's a sweetie. She's a bit stinky, so if anyone has any tips on making her smell fresher, I'm all ears!! She had a quick bath today but we'll bathe her again longer tomorrow.

I'm also open to any tips on good dog food, treats, etc. She's already sprung a leak in the stuffed toy I got her so we'll be getting a NON stuffed toy tomorrow on her visit to Petsmart.

I introduce to you, Miss Libby :)

~~~now leave me comments and make me happy...I need instant gratification...

girl, disconnected....day 2

i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.
i love my children.




It's been a long day. I miss venting with my online friends.

I've not heard any updates on Mrs. Jo Ann....I hope to go visit her tomorrow afternoon. She did start the chemo at 3:45 am Wednesday, June 2nd.

We're scheduled to go see the doggy on Sunday!! If we adopt him, I've already got his name picked out.....

 Stay tuned to see if children survive....how much Mommy drinks....and if we become Doggy Parents.

~~amy

Twas the Night Before Disconnecting....

and all through the house, not a monkey was stirring...because after a loooooooooooooong, exhausting day, my glorious husband took them out of the house for a couple of hours. I. Love. Him.

Well, if you've not read by now, I'm taking a month long break from social networking. I will still be online for a short period of time: 1x a day to check shops/package orders, check email and blog progress! That's it! No facebook, no shopping online, no twitter, no googling....this is going to hurt...

I have to say....already I'm going to miss my friends. I know some people scoff when they hear "online friends." They think, really how can you REALLY be friends with people you've never met?

But you can! No, I may not have met them all, or even necessarily know (or remember) their last names...but I KNOW them. I know their favorite mediums to work with. I know if they are addicted to watching Dr. Who. I know if they struggle with money. I know if they have children who they love but drive them crazy. I know if they are going through a divorce. I know because they tell me. Because they share their lives with me through the various forms of social networking and forums available in our tech-filled world.

So, yes, I have online friends. I have casual acquaintances as well, people I know due to the Six Degrees of Separation philosophy. But I do truly have friends. Many of them are you, dear readers. You listen to me talk about my children, their up's and down's. You help me perfect my craft. You purchase my handmade items. You retweet links I share about children's charities, gluten free life, handmade and more. You read....and I assume you read because you ARE interested and you DO care.

Do not think this goes unnoticed. Do not think I do this for naught. I do blog partially for my own personal needs, to get it out, to practice my writing skills. But I also blog for you, my friends and strangers. I blog because maybe one of my tutorials will help a struggling mom at home make something cute for her child. Maybe my dealing with Eli's Autism will help another parent realize they are not alone. I blog because I can and need to.

So, I hope you understand this 'girl, disconnected' series is not to get away from any of my friends. It's not to find out if I NEED the internet...I know I do!! :) It's to help me refocus my personal family and business goals. It's an experiment to see if I can streamline my online time.

But I will miss it, I know it already. I know I will miss seeing my friends update their lives and share it with me. Several friends have already expressed how they'll miss me, and believe me I am touched, I really, truly am! I will miss you too!!

So stay tuned....I'll be blogging my jonesing for the net in a few days...or less.....

With Love...
Amy/mama

girl, disconnected....coming in June

Hey all, you know me, a little A.D.D. and need to change things up from time to time. Well, last month I decided I wanted to do a month of being virtually offline. So for the month of June, I will be doing a blog series, "girl, disconnected". It should probably be, girl--mostly disconnected because I will not be COMPLETELY offline. For one...I can't blog the progress without being ONline. So here's the deal:

I will be allowed online for the following things:
1. To blog the progress of this project, sort of a diary of how I'm doing dealing with disconnecting. I plan to write 2-3x a week...depending on how bad my withdrawal is!!
2. To check in and run my most popular shops, Badge Reels (which is getting it's own website!) and MicroMops. I will also leave all my Artfire shops open, after all I do pay a monthly fee....I have to be a realist and recognize that I am trying to run a business here and I need to keep up with my income. However, it will be, a log in, check for sales, answer customer questions, print shipping, and get offline! No online promoting, etc.
3. My other blogs and sites may 'post' but will be due to scheduled postings I've already planned ahead of time.
4. Weekly check of email so my inbox doesn't implode.

What I will NOT be allowed to do:
1. Facebook, twitter or plurk. Ouch....that's gonna hurt.
2. Look up patterns, tutorials, recipes, etc. I have a wealth of information ALREADY, it's time I use some of it.
3. Shop Online. This one is gonna really hurt too.... I'll miss you Amazon.
4. Print Coupons. Again, I have PLENTY cut already and a decent stockpile.
5. Play online games....bye bye farm on my Ipad....
6. Any other internet access. My family still can, and we do sometimes use Skype as a form of communication, so that is ok, since connecting in REAL life is  my goal here.

I suspect this will be both equally hard and rewarding. There are days where I don't get online much, as is, like the days I take my Dad grocery shopping...and those days are really nice. Running errands, then sitting in my Dad's beautiful green yard sipping sweet tea....seriously I wonder WHY we get so caught up in social networking. I wonder what it'd be like to be more like Kelly, my best friend who is a rare soul, rarely online, no facebook, twitter, blogs, nothing. She barely remembers to check her email. Granted she has three children and is trying to sell her house, so she has zero time for it as is. But she's an old soul...she even fought getting a cell phone tooth and nail. If she didn't have children, she probably still wouldn't have a cell! Perhaps she's on to something....

I remember years spent in my youth bored to TEARS. Do children even experience that now? Do they know what it's like to just SIT and BE?

I don't plan to just sit around during my month of disconnection. I'll still have my business to attend to, but I hope to really focus on my kids, family, home and what I want. Sometimes, I wonder if I really want to continue in my business. As success grows, what do we sacrifice? What would it like to not rush so much for a month? Could I really close down ALL my shops for a month? REALLY, truly disconnect? (that's a later experiment!).

There is so much I want to create, complete, finish. I tend to take on WAY too many tasks, because, well, I don't know. But I do miss the early years after my son was born, before I took up the handmade life, when I just sat, reading a magazine, while he played on the floor....what happened to that? Where did it go?

It went into starting a business...which has been an incredible experience. I have learned SO much the past 3 years that I've been running my handmade shops. I've actually found some success with it, and there is the possibility to have continued, advanced success if I play my cards right. So part of why I'm disconnecting in June is to focus on that...how can I blend a successful business, my family and my dreams into one?

Soooo, stayed tuned, the journey beings June 1st!!!

~~Amy

Turn it Off Thursdays....

Hey gang! I've decided to TRY a little experiment. I'll be honest... I don't know if I can do it. I really don't. I'm going to try although this week is not the best to start it, I admit! The kids have been sick so our TV's, Nintendo's, Leapster, etc have been running more than usual!

But I'd like to start trying a TURN IT OFF THURSDAY! What this means, is, basically, turn off all the unnecessary electronics. I realize this is a huge feat, so I'm going to start small. Limiting myself to checking the businesses just 2x each Thursday (1x in the morning, 1x in the evening). Making sure blog posts, team events, etc are all handled before Thursday. Limiting the children's electronics will be interesting, especially since one is still recovering from the flu.....

I'll allow myself to read my kindle, because to me, that's something I should do more, and part of why I want to do Turn it Off Thursdays. I need a day to retreat, read, create, rejuvenate!

This idea was inspired by two handmade friends :) Danyel of Crazy Socks Crochet does Pajama Thursdays. Heather of Heather's Custom Sewing does a No Internet time.I love these girls, and they're right..WE NEED TO UNPLUG!

What also made me think is this YouTube video someone found....Today Show hosts asking in 1994 "What is the internet?"

1994. Really. I was in high school. I remember learning to program on DOS. Now kids can't imagine life without twitter, facebook, or a world where "google" was not a verb. You can see the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JUs7iG1mNjI

It just seems like the world wide web has "always" been around. But it *GASP* hasn't! We survived before without it, we can survive without it again, if we remember to keep it in check. (yes, I do recognize the irony of me writing yet another "unplug" post while you read my BLOG...on the net.....)

So maybe you'll join me on cutting things off once a week or month? Choose something you THINK you can't live without (cell, net, ipod, tv, kindle, etc) and see how it feels to live without it a day. What else can you get accomplished in that time?

Me, I plan to enjoy some time sewing, reading, and just unplugging---everything! (except music...I need my music....)

Will you unplug with me?

~mama

Social Networking Break Review

Day One:
So, when you read this I'll have completed my social networking break.

I'm already somewhat failing! Due to checking my email once a day (I do have businesses to run here!) I see Facebook comments..so I HAD to reply to one on my page about Amos Lee's new album coming out Jan. 25th..I mean come on...AMOS! I'd have that man's babies for crying out loud.

But I digress....I have mostly avoided social networking today....just that quick facebook check, one quick plurk and done. It was easy this morning....I was running errands with my father! It's not so easy now with the computer RIGHT THERE and kid asleep. BUT I am on a mission. I must reconnect with myself, my disorganized house, my pile of fabric and naturally my children.

Etsy team chat tonite for my Handmade Louisiana team so I shall pop in there for a bit (I am the boss after all..) I have to admit...this is harder than you realize. You don't realize how much you depend on the internet and social networking until you don't have it. As a stay at home mother many of my friends are far away and the net is the only way for us to communicate. But, I grew up without social networking, I can do it again!!!


Cheerio my friends, thanks to my SN boycott I will hopefully get the following things accomplished this week:
* Girls night in with a friend
* Trip to children's museum with Eli
* Sewing and craft show prep done
* Purging the children's ever multiplying toys
* Visiting local antique/craft show this weekend

So I'm off to listen to Pandora (Lionel Richie/Neil Diamond station...I AM that awesome...) and get some cleaning done!!!


Day Two:
I had to substitute so I didn't really have time to worry about the net...although I did cheat and check facebook while the kids were sleeping.... But I kept busy that afternoon and night cleaning, creating, etc! Success!


Day Three:
Ran errands with my dad....cheated and checked plurk daily (had to to keep my karma up right!??) Only checked Facebook when I got an email from them...darn emails. Kept up with the shops...started to feel the distance.

It's weird but social networking really does help you feel connected....I really don't think I could stay home all day with out. I mean, I'm no party animal, and I do like my hermit times, but I am generally a people person and like to run my mouth...a lot....so facebook, plurk, twitter, etc helps me do that and not feel alone while at home with a 2 yr old!

Day Four:
Caved....couldn't take it anymore....Had cool stuff to show my friends and gave in...but I made it 4 days on a semi break and I could do it again. I did learn that what you need is balance...do not allow online time to overshadow human time....never push people away because you want to check facebook just ONE MORE TIME....

Read a book while you wait in your kid's car line, chit chat with a stranger at the store instead of talking on the phone. Social networking and technology has it's uses and we enjoy it, but don't forget the real good stuff in life too!
~~Mama Amy

(Mostly) Internet Free Week...it's break time again!

Wow, over 300 posts on this blog! I'm impressed with myself!

It is that time where I take a social networking break. It won't be a total internet break because I do have to tend to my shops and business doo dads...but I will not be on plurk, facebook, twitter, etc for a bit. Hopefully I can make a week...not sure if my perserverance is that strong! I like to step away, refocus on thoughts, create, read, etc and take a break from the little addiction known as the internet...

Soooooo, I hope you all have a lovely few days...I shall hopefully be spending time, reading, creating, rearranging shops and focusing on the upcoming craft fair. I also have to do some much needed cleaning, purging, and things to do for the children!
I will still check email once a day so you can catch me there! :)
~~Amy

Internet Diet Weekend Round Two

Soooo. Again I have come to the conclusion that the fact that I hear the plurk ding and the tweetdeck chirp in my sleep means I should probably take an internet break! I am hearing pleas of "Mommy will you PLEASE play with me" that trump any desire or need to be on the computer! So, again, I am implementing internet weekend break. Upon bedtime tonite, I am not getting on the darn internet until Sunday evening other than to check personal emails! No plurking, tweeting, etc. If you see me doing such things, please promptly beat me with a 10 lb bag of nails!

I do have work to do this weekend but hopefully it will not entail time online, just labeling soaps, cleaning up said soap mess and sewing for TWO, count em, TWO upcoming baby showers.

I hope ya'll have a fabulous, sweat free weekend, hug your kids, kiss your mate, and do what puts a smile on your face!

And please don't forget about 48ForLarry, a charity radiothon that you really must checkout!
Charity Ouchie Pouchies for Andrew are also still in my Artfire shop under Charity/PIF.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Internet Diet Over....did I survive?

So I survived my internet diet this weekend....I was on the computer a limited amount of time...no I was not able to stay away ALL weekend, but I did cut back drastically! :)
Now its back to growing my laptop butt.

Off to try to wholesale this weekend!! :) Everyone have a fantastic day!!

~~Amy

Don't forget to listen in to Mom's Cafe at 9 pm Eastern on Wednesday!!