Average Jane

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  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 20: Handwriting

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    I kept an eye out for handwriting samples all day long, but it turns out that most of the things I hand write are confidential. So here's my completely non-secret grocery list.

    I had to run by the store on my way home to get some snacks for a committee meeting being held at my house, as well as some soup and grilled cheese sandwich fixings for my husband's supper. I decided against the cookies in favor of serving some banana cake I made over the weekend.

    Oh, and the Mardi Gras beads just happened to be sitting on my desk thanks to the three parties with that theme I've attended in the past week.

    Febphotoaday

  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 19: Something You Hate To Do

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    I hate to shop for clothes in stores that don't carry anything over a size 6. Let me rephrase that: it's actually impossible for me to shop in such a store, so at least the visit was brief.

    Fortunately I was shopping with two good friends after a lovely brunch, and our further wanderings on that same trip scored me some much-needed haircare products and my favorite soup mix, so it was a net win.

    Febphotoaday

  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 18: Drink

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    I went to a Mardi Gras themed party this evening hosted by Gone Mild. It featured a gorgeous jar of Hurricanes, which was by far the most attractive drink I had the opportunity to photograph all day. They were tasty…and dangerous. I had two small cups and then switched to something that didn't go down quite so quickly.

    Febphotoaday

  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 17: Time

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    For Toby, time is marked by two vitally important events: Doggie Breakfast Time and Doggie Supper Time.

    Doggie Breakfast Time is immediately after he wakes up, whenever that might be. Doggie Supper Time is around 6:00 p.m. or so.

    For each mealtime he gets a half cup of Nulo Chicken and Brown Rice, which is a woefully inadequate portion as far as he's concerned. The veterinarians who developed the serving recommendations beg to disagree, chubby.

    Febphotoaday

  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 16: Something New

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    I couldn't think of what else to post and this is actually an old photo, but here's a gorgeous shot of two pristine cupcakes. Mmm, anticipation!

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  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 15: Phone

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    I'm not a fan of phones. I'd really much prefer to be emailed. Texting is my second choice. Actually talking, well, let's make it brief.

    My desk phone at the office mainly serves as an extra clock. I have my voicemail recordings emailed to me, so it's very seldom that I even pick up the handset. I think the whole concept of a desk phone is probably headed the way of the home landline—and for the same reason.

    In case you're interested, the iPhone app I used today is called Halftone.

    P.S. If the makers of Aveeno are wondering whether it was worth it to give away their product at BlogHer a couple of years ago, the photo above is evidence of a resounding, "Yes!" I am completely sold on their lotion and I have been purchasing it ever since, both for my office and for home. My hands are mummy-dry and I'm very sensitive to perfumes in lotions. Their lotion is truly fragrance free and works wonderfully for me.

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  • It’s Average Jane’s 8th Blogging Anniversary

    FirstpostI started writing this blog on February 15, 2004 and somehow I've kept it going all these years with no end in sight.

    I can't say I've ever really had a plan for the blog—it's just an online home base for me to discuss whatever is on my mind at the time, be it recipes, pets, personal observations or just a diary of what I've been up to.

    I'd like to take this opportunity to thank the readers who have hung on from the beginning as well as those who have discovered it more recently. I know it's a "take it or leave it" kind of blog and I appreciate that you've opted for "take it."

    So how have things changed since the beginning? Well, back then most of my readers came directly to my blog every day to see what was new. Then RSS readers became more popular and I presume that caused a shift in how it was viewed. Fortunately, I've had exactly the same blog template since the very beginning (except for the addition of some sidebar bling, as you can see in the image above), so you don't miss much by not coming directly in.

    Most of my traffic comes from Google and it's mostly people looking for recipes. The rising popularity of Pinterest has me going through my recipes and making a note of which ones don't have photos so I can make the food and take pictures to add to the posts.

    Eight years feels like an achievement but it also seems like it's gone by so fast. This summer I'm planning on attending my eighth BlogHer Conference and I'm trying to decide if I'm going to continue going every year or if maybe it's time I turned my attention (and budget) to other goals, such as travel for travel's sake.

    But that's a decision for the future and this is now and I couldn't be more pleased with the people and opportunities that blogging has brought to my life.

    Thanks for reading! I'll resume the February Photo Challenge later today.

     

     

  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 14: Heart

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    This morning the boss brought in warm peanut butter cookies with (Dove?) chocolate hearts melted onto the tops. They were amazing. They were also the only heart-shaped things I noticed today, so I'm glad I took a photo.

    Tonight my husband surprised me with a dozen red roses while I was cooking dinner. We stayed in, had spaghetti, salad, garlic bread, cheesecake and sparkling wine, and watched the latest Russell Peters comedy special on Netflix. It was a very pleasant way to spend Valentine's Day.

  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 13: Blue

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    I thought a collage would be fun today. My husband and I went to Guitar Center after dinner and while he shopped, I went around looking for blue things in the store to photograph.

    At first I wasn't sure how I was going to combine them all into one image, but then I realized that I could just screen capture the photos folder on my iPhone and crop it. Voilà!

    Febphotoaday

  • Average Jane’s February Photo Challenge Day 12: Inside Your Closet

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    I had a hard time choosing which image to use for this challenge. I went with this one because it's a glimpse at the things I hang on the wall of my dressing room solely for my own enjoyment.

    On the bulletin board you'll see some autographed posters, a vision board from a couple of years ago, every conference badge I've ever had, and some miscellaneous postcards I like. Oh, and the Weekly World News "Frog Baby Born in Kansas" issue, which I naturally had to frame.

    Hanging on the door is a poster I had printed with all of my Facebook friends (at the time). My rule for adding friends on Facebook is that I have to have met you, read your blog for a while, etc. No strangers, is what I'm saying. So looking at this poster every morning and evening makes me really happy. It's such a fun reminder of all the people in the world that I care about and vice versa. 

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