I don't like to take a lot of personal space on my blog - especially if it has nothing to do with books directly. But I am feeling really overwhelmed right now, and I feel like I'm letting everyone down - but most of all, I'm letting myself down.

When reading my dear friend Marq's blog, she was talking about being in a reading funk, I thought, yes, that's me. But then I realized... it's much bigger than that. I am in a LIFE FUNK. And it's impacting all the parts of my world. In particular, however, it's given me less time and desire to read, which means not being able to keep up with my review schedule. It means less time to stay organized and on top of review books coming in my door. It means less attention to my blog and how it's holding up. It means less time to tweet and blog hop. This all equals stress.

This leads me to a whole other set of issues. My blog. I love my little blog and I don't have great ambitions, however, things have been really slow lately.  The number of daily visitors (not just people who comment) has diminished an unbelievable amount. This makes me so sad.  I am VERY APPRECIATIVE of all of you that continue to stop by... I don't want to seem ungrateful! But, I work so hard on my blog, and it's just not getting out there any more. Part of the problem was a widget for Amazon Associates - it was creating a problem when loading my blog. I know of at least 4 people that could not view my blog at all for a couple months. Who knows how many others it impacted and they never told me. How do I get those people back who maybe left because of problems?  Another problem is my blog is no longer showing up on Google searches. I mean - it will if I get super specific, but if I type in something general like "Review of <insert book title we have reviewed>" I don't show up at all - at least not in the first 10 pages.  I think this all started happening about the time I purchased my own domain name.  *sigh*

I just don't have the expertise or energy to deal with these problems.  I am not a whiner - these are serious concerns and issues for me. But with my life spiraling out of control... How do I make time to deal with problems I don't even know how to describe or quantify?

Anyhow. Thank you for allowing me this little personal space. I have spent too many nights crying. I hope I don't lose you as a reader of my blog. I promise that soon I will find my missing piece (peace?) and get back in the swing of things. Meanwhile, if you know of anyone who has the expertise to deal with my blog problems, please let me know. I'd love to try and get That's What I'm Talking About back up and running in the most effect way possible.

Thank you and Happy Reading!

Yesterday was the first day of school here in my town.  My boy is in second grade, and this is "old hat" for the two of us. But it was also the first day of kindergarten for my baby girl. That was a big step for both of us.

I don't talk a lot about my family on my blog, so let me give you a little background. My girl is my baby. Although born full-term, she was a peanut and had a number of minor medical concerns in her little life.  At 5-1/2 years old, she is only 29 pounds. For those that don't know, that is the "average" weight of a girl who is less than 3 years old.  And height-wise, she's not much better.  She is a peanut.  She's my baby.

I worried, would she be able to carry her backpack? Would she be able to get up on the toilet? Will she hold the line up trying to go up and down the stairs? And the biggest concern... would she be able to get on the bus?

I got her on the bus this morning and didn't shed a tear. I drove behind the bus up to her school so I could take a photo of her getting off the bus. When she got off the bus, she hung her head and walked by me, not acknowledging me at all. But not in that "mom, you are embarrassing me" kind of way.  It was in her "I'm sad" way.  I stood and watched as she got about half-way to the school and then stopped.

My baby girl (back to me) and her giant backpack.

I walked over to her and noticed a tear in her eye. That is when I lost it. I cried for my baby and for me. I wasn't ready for her to get so big.  I held her hand (and didn't let her see me crying), and walked her to her teacher.  She gave me a hug and a kiss. I walked away. I spotted friends and went for a hug. And I cried.

Later, she got off the bus and played with her friends. She told me in great detail all about her first day and how much fun it was. I'm glad it all went well, because I worried.

It's going to be a bit strange not to have her around, tugging at my shirt, asking for help. I will miss having her with me during the day.  But she is a big girl now. I love her and am proud of my kindergartener!

Tomorrow's post: Woo-hoo! I have free time again!  (just kidding - about the post, still happy about free time!)

Isn't summer supposed to be about relaxing and having fun?  Sure, I've got down the "having fun" part, but relaxing?! I think I'm busier now than during the school year when I'm working 2-3 days per week!

And reading -- It's not happening!! Take the book I'm reading now, The Lady of the Storm by Kathryne Kennedy. I am really enjoying it; at about the halfway mark, it's reading like a 4 Star book. However, instead of reading about 50 pages per day, I'm reading 20 pages. I wanted to have the review for today and I'm not even close to finishing it!  I blame it on the later sunset - more time playing outside. But honestly, I just don't know where the time goes.

 Falling behind in one book means somewhere, someplace, another review has to give. With so many great books coming up - ones that I WANT to read, even if I don't have them for "official review" - I just don't know what to do!  I see my IAD Reading Challenge being axed again this month.  Does that make me a bad person? I can't even keep up with my own reading challenge.  *sigh*

But I have accomplished some good things this summer.

The big news...  I HAVE MY OWN DOMAIN NAME!  That's right, you can now find That's What I'm Talking About at www.twimom227.com  NO "blogspot" any longer.  I'm very excited about this! If you have my button on your blog, please notice ... an updated "button" with the new domain name is available.


<br /> <center><a href="http://twimom227.com"><img src="http://i467.photobucket.com/albums/rr32/jenanneb/Button-RB-180width.gif" /></a></center><br />

I've also been running several contests. Currently I've got two great giveaways going on:

Open until July 30: What a Goddess Wants by Stephanie Julian ... enter HERE
Open until Aug. 5: The Magic of Lavender ebook by Cate Masters ... enter HERE
And next week, I'll have even more books to giveaway, so please stop in again!




Lastly... AAD is coming in less than 2 weeks! For those not familiar, AAD = Authors After Dark Convention.  AAD 2011 is going to be in Philadelphia and I will be attending from August 10 to 14. I am SO excited for this opportunity to be away from my kids for 4 days meet several great authors and fellow bloggers. I'm still at a loss as to what to wear to the Steampunk Ball. I am not a "costume" gal and I don't want to spend a lot of money on new clothing. Any suggestions on pieces to purchase that I can later integrate into my "everyday" wardrobe?  I'd be most appreciative!  And I'm considering finally getting that tattoo I designed almost 20 years ago... do I tell my family first?! I've already been reassured by Ava Riley, Marq, and Ferishia that they will hold my hand if I do get one.

So life has been busy and fun... summer is in full swing and I'm tackling it head on.  But there are consequences.  Now... maybe I'll go read for a while!  What have you been up to this summer? What are you planning to do before fall arrives?

I can't believe it's almost December 25! It is true... the older you get, the faster time seems to move.  Jobs, family time, holiday parties, sporting events, school activities... They all crowd up this busy time of year.  When I was younger, it seemed like Christmas vacation (it was still called that way back then) lasted FOREVER! It was filled with days outside playing in the snow, trying out the new toys, just hanging out with my family, enjoying TV specials (no DVDs or OnDemand back then). I think back to that time with amazement. Then I wonder, am I providing my children with the same great memories? Or am I too busy with "stuff?" As I read my books, spend time online, run to the stores,  text on my phone, am I forgetting to just slow down and spend quality time with the family?

We have one more week until vacation time begins. My goal is to slow down and give more time back to my family. I want to create magical childhood memories for my kids. And I'd love to get back a little of the magic for myself.  What about you? What are your plans for the holiday season?

BEHIND.

I hate feeling like this. I don't like it when I can't maintain my carefully planned schedules. I hate when clutter infiltrates my life. I feel overwhelmed when I have so much on my to do list that I need a separate list just to keep track of what isn't yet on my to do list.

It's not even that I'm overly busy, but sometimes life just gets in the way of best intentions.

I have worked hard in the past 11 months to create a blog of which I am really proud. I have enjoyed the ups and downs, the growing pains and the successes. I've read countless new books, discovered several new authors, and found numerous new bloggers and tweeps, many of which I am happy to call friend.

Lately, I have fallen behind in my reading and blogging. I can blame work - I've had to put in an extra day each week for the past month (my only day I have off to myself). I can blame family - I'm a wife and a mom of two young monsters, and we have a busy schedule. I can blame the holidays - Thanksgiving, time off from school, Christmas, parties, shopping, cards, etc.

But the bottom line is that although all of those factors contribute to the craziness in my life, I realize that sometimes I just need a "time out." Even though I enjoy reading, I found lately that I prefer to be visiting with friends and socializing rather than reading, and I only have so many hours in the day. However, my wonderful little blog is being a bit neglected.   For that, I am a sad.

I apologize to my wonderful readers that come to me for reviews, opinions, interviews and book talk.  I hope that after the holidays are over I will be back up to speed and putting out 2 or so reviews per week.  I know you all have big hearts and hopefully will stick with me as I try to figure out a happy medium in my life.

Thanks and Happy Reading!

 

• Anything goes and it's believable.

•  Social issues can be addressed in sometimes sneaky ways.

•  Escapism. 

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