Behind the Scenes of Knock on Wood

Last week I was nominated by Meagan from All The Joys to participate in the Tour Through Blogland (you can read her post here). I've done something like this before, but things have changed since then, so lets get to it!

1. What am I working on?
I always have several post ideas going in draft, not all make it onto the blog, but I like to have options to possible go back to and build on. I try to prepare and schedule my posts out in advance,  but we all know that's no always possible. I mean, life happens ya know? Right now I am working on a few posts from the List Yourself challenge I announced last week. I'm also getting ready for the next Conversations Link-up and collecting ideas for some Holiday themed posts.


2. How does my work differ from others of its genre?
I suppose my blog would fit into the "Lifestyle" genre, but it more of a catchall file for those of us who like to write about anything and everything in our lives and then some. What's awesome is that every blogger is so different from one another that it's difficult to compare. I honestly don't think I stand out much from the other bloggers, but I do try to provide entertaining and engaging content for the few who do read my blog.


3. Why do I write what I do?
Mostly, I write for myself. I write what I know and what I feel. I have always be able to express myself more clearly when I write it down versus speaking off the top of my head. So, I write to let go, to convey my crazy ideas, to share a delicious recipe, or to tell a funny story with hopes that my readers are laughing with me, not at me.


4. How does your writing process work?
It starts with an idea for a topic that usually comes to me when I'm not exactly in a place to write things down, like when I'm driving or trying to fall asleep. Sometimes I steal ideas from other blogger (with their permission of course) and sometimes I find inspiration in books, movies, or in the conversations I have with people. I start by just getting everything out, words on the page. Then I polish it up, make it funny, fix errors and, most importantly, make sure it makes at least a little bit of sense. The fun part comes next. Pictures. I love taking, editing, and posting pictures. Finding the perfect image to compliment a post brings me so much joy. But it's not truly "live" until it's on twitter. Social media has been a huge part of growing this space and I'm grateful to have it as a tool.



Also today on the Tour (because all the people I wanted to participate are already doing so!):

Melissa from The Rambling Llama
She blogs about the comedies of her daily life: the struggles in raising two kids (and a husband), finding the time and energy to workout, and delicious healthy recipes! She shows that her life is not always happy go lucky, fun, and sunshine because let’s face it- no one's life isn’t always like that. Melissa is also a super good friend of mine from way back in the day before blogs, smartphones, and twitter were part of our daily lives. So go check her out!!

Anne from Love The Here and Now
How can you not love Anne? She's like the sister you always wanted and one of my favorite bloggers to sponsor. I'm so glad to have "met" Anne here in Blogland and you should go and meet her too!






... and From Last Week on the Tour

Rebecca from The Adventures of Bug and Boo
I've recently started following Rebecca and her sweet little girl. They truly are an amazing inspiration; moving across the atlantic! I don't know how she did it with a toddler, I don't think I could do it with just me and Hubs. OH! And have you seen her new design?! I Love it! Go see for yourself!



What goes on behind the scenes of your blog?

Also linking up with

List Yourself: A Non-Official Link-up

As the seasons change and we prepare ourselves for the inevitable, and sometimes necessary, hibernation that occurs during the winter months we begin to contemplate the things we set aside during the carefree warmth summer provides. The Holiday season promotes this sense of thoughtfulness; looking beyond the masks at Halloween, figuring out what you are thankful for around Thanksgiving, seeing the good in others at Christmas, and contemplating what you need to change about yourself at New Year's Eve. I could make a list for each one. As a blogger, I love lists. But I never thought a list could help me figure out who I really am and what I believe until a couple of years ago when I found a book called List Yourself: List Making As A Way To Self Discovery.

I don't remember why I bought it, but soon after I had to pack it up because my life was changing and, for the third time that year, I was moving. It's stayed tucked away, along with my other books, in a large rolly suitcase stacked among boxes and furniture in a dusty storage unit in Georgia. A few weeks ago I finally unpacked them and discovered this book all over again. As I thumbed through, some prompts stuck out. I marked them determined to make my way through them before the end of the year and then I thought "why not share this with others? I can't be the only one who needs some help letting things go and accepting myself as I am." So here we are.

I invite you to take this challenge with me, but since this is a non-official linkup thing I don't really have any set guidelines or clever hashtags for social media. But I do have some unofficial co-hosts who helped me decide if I should post this for you all or not. So big thanks to Melissa from The Rambling Llama and Kathy from Him & Me.

I just chose 30 prompts that jumped out at me. Some are fun or insightful, while others make you look deeper inside yourself for the answers. You can choose to explain your answers, or not. You can do all them, or only some.  The link-up will remain open, so you can add your list posts as you write them. Self Discovery takes time, after all.

Only one rule: Be honest, especially with yourself.

1. List all the names you've been called, endearing and not so
2. List all those restrictions from stop signs to gravity that you can't stand living with.
3. List what usually goes through your mind just before you fall asleep.
4. List all the qualities in yourself you like the least - the best
5. List all the things you'd like to say to your mother.
6. List all the things you'd like to say to your father.
7. List all the things you hide when your friends come to visit.
8. List the brand names you buy and swear by.
9. List the best gifts you've ever been given.
10. List the ways you have changed for the better.
11. List the places you have visited that have altered your view of the world.
12. List the attitudes and habits you've had to give up to get through life.
13. List some of the people that have really changed your life.
14. List the fads you embraced while growing up.
15. List what makes you laugh. 
16. List the quotes you find yourself spouting.
17. List what values you need in a lover, significant other, or mate.
18. List all the excuses you've used to get out of dates or appointments.
19. List the things that you presently find yourself praying for.
20. List those unanswered questions that have been plaguing you since childhood.
21. List the foods you'd eat if guaranteed you wouldn't get fat.
22. List all the details you can remember from your childhood bedroom.
23. List the ways you sabotage yourself from getting what you want.
24. List the movies you've seen that were really worth two hours of your time.
25. List the real reasons you are inspired to stay alive.
26. List the names of all your pets from childhood until today.
27. List the transitions in your life that taught you the most.
28. List all the habits you just can't break.
29. List the parts of your body that make you feel like you.
30. List how you feel connected to other people around the world.

I'll be adding my own lists to the linky tool as well, so be sure to stop by to watch it grow.

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Conversations with...

... My Hubs

While I like to think I'm pretty decent at cooking, I don't particularly like it. I do like cooking for people, especially my husband. And my favorite is when he helps me cook. We end up having some pretty hilarious conversations during prep and of course while we eat. Take this conversations for example:

Hubs: Hey, smell my hands. *He shoves them in my face*

Me: Oh. *scrunches nose* Garlic.

Hubs: What? You don't like the smell of garlic?

Me: I like the smell of garlic, just not all up in my face.

Hubs: You must be a vampire then.

Me: I thought you were the vampire.

Hubs: I'm only a vampire from the waist down.

Me: *laughing* From the waist down??

Hubs: Yeah. I got fangs in my pants! *gestures to his crotch*

Me: *dies of laughter*


I'm not entirely sure what he means by "fangs in his pants" and I'm pretty sure I don't want to know.

What conversations have you had lately?

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