Photo Scavenger Hunt Swap

Stress Buster

Send this eCard !

Christmas Ornament Swap

1. CD Photo Ornament http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/treeornaments/l/blorncdphoto.htm

2.3D Star

http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/christmas/3dstar/

3. Simple Cardboard ornaments

http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/treeornaments/l/blorncardboards.htm

4. Christmas dough and hand ornaments

http://www.mommysavers.com/christmas/christmas-ornaments.shtml

5. 4 items – slightly older child.

http://christmas.howstuffworks.com/how-to-make-easy-christmas-ornaments1.htm

6. Pie Plate Ornaments

http://jas.familyfun.go.com/crafts?page=CraftDisplay&craftid=11886

7. How to Make Felt Mitten Ornaments for Christmas

Ornaments Are Inexpensive to Create and Come with Easy Instructions

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/433268/how_to_make_felt_mitten_ornaments_for.html

Extras

Christmas recipe:

Sugarless Heart Cookies http://www.allhomemadecookies.com/recipes/cutout/sugarlesscookies.htm

Easy 5-in-1 No Bake Cookies

http://www.allhomemadecookies.com/recipes/healthy/easy5n1cookies.htm

Decoration tips: 12 Christmas Decorating Ideas

http://www.bestchristmasideas.com/decoration/

Holidays:

Christmas craft ideas http://iafrica.com/diy/projects/simpleprojects/491059.htm

Colouring In pages http://www.coloring-page.net/christmas.html

Printable & Online Christmas Coloring Pages for Kids!

http://www.thekidzpage.com/christmas/colouring.htm

Christmas Clipart:

http://holidays.kaboose.com/xmas-clip-snow.html

http://www.christmas-graphics-plus.com/

http://www.hellasmultimedia.com/webimages/christ-htm/images-christ.htm

WW # 30

Personality and careers

Your Personality is Somewhat Rare (ENFP)

Your personality type is enthusiastic, giving, cautious, and loyal. Only about 8% of all people have your personality, including 9% of all women and 6% of all men You are Extroverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Perceiving.

How Rare Is Your Personality?

Above test taken on 10/04/ 2007

Test below taken on 26/11/2007

Test Results

Your personality type is ENFJ.

Extraverted (E) 68%	Introverted (I) 32%
Intuitive (N) 55%	Sensing (S) 45%
Feeling (F) 70%	Thinking (T) 30%
Judging (J) 55%	Perceiving (P) 45%

http://www.kisa.ca/personality/

So which one is really me? After reading the career advise and by the way according to both personalities I am in the correct profession, I think the perceiving describes me better than the judging thought I do not doubt for a second that I swing between the two.

Blog Hunt 1

Find a blog that deals with:

1.Health issues:
By Doth Friends Keep Saying I Should Blog…

2.Children:
Three Kid Circus by Jenny, Coloring Pages

3. Spiritual issues:
By Darcy Spiritual Blog Reviews Abey of Arts
By Julie Smith Healing the wounded Feminine

4. Food (recipes, diets etc...):
By Elise Simple Recipes (you can share recipe on facebook) By R.E. A Healthy Path

5. Free Stuff:
http://myspacebirthdaycomments.blogspot.com/
Princess Crafts

Link to swappers:

1. Partner 1: Suzanne Grace from Suzy's Corner

2. Partner 2: Wakela from Wakela Runen's World

Free association # 8

Unconscious Mutterings by Luna Nina

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Filthy :: dirty
   
2. Therapist :helper
3. Duck ::quack
4. Slant ::plant
5. Artist ::cards, draw, free
   
6. Lease ::peace
7. Wish ::wisha wisha wisha
   
8. Doormat ::christian, trappled on
   
9. Global ::world wide
   
10. Apartment ::freedom

seems like I am in a ryhming mode today.

Blog Review 6

evey in orbit

Website
Live Journal
Blog

Veronica is very talented artist with interest in various forms from ATC, painting to photography to hand crafts to writing poetry. Her blog is just starting up. From reading her website and Live Journal, I look forward to seeing some interesting work on her blog. Check out her work and leave her a comment. And if live in New York you might what to check out her group CraftBaker - I know I would.

Blog Review 4 and 5

Blog Review 4:

The term "Zakka (from the Japanese 'zak-ka'（雑貨）or 'many things') is a fashion and design phenomenon that has spread from Japan throughout Asia. The term refers to everything and anything that improves your home, life and outlook. Zakka has also been described as "the art of seeing the savvy in the ordinary and mundane"." from Wikipedia

Well that actually sums up the Zakka Zakka blog. Key Mistress shares movie reviews, beauty tips, designs, books, craft ideas and tutorials with great photographs. A woman of multiple talents and interests. You are sure to find something of interest or something that is useful.

Here is Key Mistress' review of my Blog: Review

Blog Review 5

Fitz's Stitches

This a crafter blog. SueFitz loves crafts (especially counted x-stitch). She shares various projects that she plans to do and has completed. She makes items for family and for charity like StitchforPleasureStitchforCharity. Check out her "work" and drop her a line.

Blog Review 6 is coming soon.

Blog Readability Test

Get a Cash Advance

My Blog Reviewers

Swap-bot Website Review I

12Nov2007 – 1406hrs | by keymistress

Simone’s Butterfly
Simone loves to swap and I really like her digital scrapbooking swaps, but read on and you’ll find very personal entries about her life and her family. I think it’s very interesting to read her blog compared to some other bimbotic websites that I’m guilty of surfing where they do nothing but whine about their materialistic life. Take some time to read, a penny for your thoughts.

At Zakka Zakka

Review by Rachel from Rachel: Words & Things

Simone’s Butterfly

Simone’s Butterfly is the blog of Simone who has been keeping the online journal since October of 2006. her blog is dedicated to personal growth, health and wellness, swaps, and everyday-type stuff. She recently posted about digital scrapbooking which I find interesting, and she posts lovely photographs for “Wordless Wednesdays”. Overall her blog is very honest and inspirational.

Review by CIYOU from Colours City

Simone’s Butterfly is a blogger from South Africa. Digital Scrapbooking of her's is one of my favorite things to see along her blog. She also shares alot of tips on heath and exercise, motivation song, her daily life too. We share the comman favorite color of blue ~.

If you like digital scrapbooking and health articals, do visit her Simone’s Butterfly blog.

Digital Scrapbooking

I have exploring the world of digital scrapbooking. I created my own template in Powerpoint of all places.
I find that I am a bit too impatient with Adobe Photoshop. Hopefully this holiday I will read through the manual and figure it out. I really like what I see on the scrapbooking sites. I have downloaded some free material for digital scrapbooking but I can't seem to the pictures in the way I want to.

5 Post Meme

I was tagged by Gill's Jottings :

1. Post 5 links to 5 of your previously written posts. The posts have to relate to the 5 key words given below (family, friend, yourself, your love, anything you like).
2. Tag 5 other friends to do this meme. Try to tag at least 2 new acquaintances (if not, your current blog buddies will do) so that you get to know them each a little bit better.
3. Don’t forget to read the archived post and leave comments.

I this is a pretty cool meme.

Here we go:

1. Family

Family Vision Board

2. Friend

Humour (friendly advise), New leaves

3. Yourself

Relections

4. Your Love

Question me (how I met my husband)

5.Anything you like

Giving up Coffee? (includes a poem that i wrote years ago)
Journey of the Soul,
Dreams
Ten accomplishments I am proud of. Lists


I tag:

1. Nicole from Modern Goddess
2. When from Opinion Minions
3. Wakela Runen from Wakela Runen's World
4. Addie from Addie’s Random Ramblings
5. Amy from Amy's Random Thoughts

And Don’t forget to read the archived post and leave comments.

Blog Hunt 2

Find a blog that deals with:

1. Personal growth: Be the change you want to see in yourself by CatherineM Modern Goddess
   
2. Poetry: Abbey Arts and My Pen My Pain
   
3. Pets: Dragonheart
4. A blog whose name starts with a P eg. Pieces of Me (http://emmyrose.bravejournal.com/)

Purposeful Growth: Building Personal Growth on a Foundation of Purpose

Link to swapper:

1. Melydia
   

The Song is......

The the song name that I could not remember is

Out Of This (Autamata)

"But I believe in truth

Out of this noise, here comes the stillness

Out of this chaos, here comes the order

Out of this language, out of this language

Out of these words"

WW # 29

Original photograph

Artistic rose

Songs of Inspiration #1

A number of songs have kept me going through the years. Sometimes its more the tune than words, or words more than the tune and sometimes its both.

I recently watched a movie (Tara Road), and the theme song really got stuck in my head. But now for the life of me I cannot find it. I will have to watch the movie again!

Here are a few songs I really enjoy:

*Seize the day by Carol Arends

*I hope you dance by Ronan Keating

*Two beds and a coffee machine by Savage Garden

*Soak up the Sun by Sherly Crow

* Life is Precious, life is sweet by Wes King

WES KING lyrics

What songs inspire you? What songs give hope? Lift up when you feel down?

Slow steps towards health

Day 1 has passed. I managed most of my goals. Two things I need to add today is the more water and some exercise.

Second Hearing Test

Had my second hearing test. The right ear was a little better, the left ear the same. It was a different audiologist (same practise). The verdict is the same too much hearing loss for my age and unusual type of loss. Now the results will be sent to the ENT and then .........

Candida or Not?

It has been a bit of a bumpy ride the last couple of weeks. I was once again find myself saying - Okay Simone , so you have made some bad decision now it is time to get back on track again.

I got a diagnosis of Candida from my doctor based on my symptoms and a Candida questionnaire. He sad that test were not always conclusive and as I tested negative last year, it may come back negative now. He said we should just treat it.

So I went on medication and started making dietary changes. At first I resisted the dietary changes because they were so hard and the information from various sources contradictory. Books I took out on the illness were also not conclusive. Eventually the headaches, nausea and dizziness stopped. All I could think of was food. I ate at least one thing "wrong" everyday but not junk food. It was surmised that I would at least lose weight if nothing else. But no wheat, no sugar, no yeast - my food tasted like cardboard.

Slowly I began breaking my diet rules - at first with no side effects and then....... in the last two weeks a full breakdown in diet occurred and despite the fact that my symptoms came I kept saying to myself tomorrow I will start again. I even started drinking coffee again. Now I am congested, post nasal drip, some dizziness, heartburn, depression, lack of concentration, headaches have all returned.

One thing I learned from reading books on the subject, is that every persons recovery or path to wellness was different. They had some common traits:
1. Changing jobs or not working at all.
2. Finding out specific food triggers
3. Exercise (In some patients it was a reduction and others and increase)
Medication varied.

Today I start will more conviction and less doubt, armed with the experience of this last two months.

THE PLAN

JOB
I have a different teaching load for next year same amount of periods but a few different subjects. It looks a lot better than Fruit Salad of subjects I had this year. I plan to do a lot preparation this "Holiday". We are also working on our finances so I that I can take a 'year or so' off work. There is also a possibility of working overseas to better our financial position.

FOOD/DIET
Instead of going on an elimination diet right now by removing everything and then adding in slowly. I could maybe do this when the holidays start if necessary. I am going to exclude things and see if there is an improvement - Starting with coffee & junk food, then yeast, then sugar, then diary and then only and only then wheat.
In the meantime I plan to take a pro-biotic, colon cleanse (physlium Husk) and detox tea. I will follow a low GI diet.

EXERCISE
Brain Gym or Stretching every morning
Walking or DVD aerobics every day for 30min.
during the holidays I plan to increase it to 1hr per day - 30min in the morning and 30min in the afternoon. Including hiking and swimming.

Two more weeks till our Summer vacation!

My Butterfly transformation begins today !

Free association # 7

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Treadmill : exercise
   
2. Stroke : death
   
3. Exclusively : commitment
   
4. Lash : hiding
   
5. Red carpet: famous, important
   
6. Credit card : pain, debt
   
7. Points : to ponder, win
   
8. Domestic : violence, cat
9. 21 : sweet
   
10. Inject : printer

Unconscious Mutterings by LunaNina at http://subliminal.lunanina.com

Free association is described as a "psychonanalytic procedure in which a person is encouraged to give free rein to his or her thoughts and feelings, verbalizing whatever comes into the mind without monitoring its content." Over time, this technique is supposed to help bring forth repressed thoughts and feelings that the person can then work through to gain a better sense of self.

That's an admirable goal, but for the purposes of this excercise, we're just hoping to have a little fun with the technique. Each week I'll post ten words to which you can respond to with the first thing that comes to mind.

"Rules are, there are no rules." There are no right or wrong answers. Don't limit yourself to one word responses; just say everything that pops into your head. AND you don't have to have your words up on Sunday. Take all week if you want!

The Handwritting is on the wall

mmmmmm............. The first part has been true - however I think I have lost some of the vigour and energy but I plan on reclaiming that part of myself. The next part is true - and I am happy with myself as far as that is concerned My mom's words to me all my life has been - Simone you need to find a happy medium. balance - what is that? In general I do get along well with others. True Traditional - well I realised after a while that its actually true. Growing up I like the idea that I was a 'rebel' but it was always in bounds. I may have been very different compared to the people I grew up with and the people in the church but overall I like the stability of traditions - One of my favourite movies and plays is Fiddler on the Roof - theme song TRADITIONS. I am definitely open to change. Think my husband would agree with the last line. What Your Handwriting Says About You

You are highly energetic. You are a passionate, intense, vigorous person. You range from very outgoing to very shy. You are a shapeshifter who is very versatile. You adapt well, and you look at things from many angles. You are balanced and grounded. You know how to get along well with others. You need a bit of space in your life, but you're not a recluse. You expect people to give you a small amount of privacy, and you respect their privacy as well. You are somewhat traditional, but you are also open to change. You listen to your head and your heart. You are a decent communicator. You eventually get your point across, but sometimes you leave things a bit ambiguous.

What Does Your Handwriting Say About You?

Blog Review 3

It is a real privilege for me to review Rachel’s Blog. She and her husband created and run swap-bot – WOW.

This blog has been up and running since November 2003. It’s the longest running blog that I have come across. I know some bloggers just stop writing or remove their blogs (I have), so I think that is pretty amazing.

Rachels own description of her blog sums it up very nicely : It is a combination journal, scrapbook, portfolio, and family newsletter. I update it (almost) daily and I like to use lots of images.

I like her blog layout and design. Found another I idea might use in the future – Face Book link. She has all the right “bells and whistles” as Critique My Blog would say.

Very interesting blog, some of the post made me laugh, others gave good craft ideas. Overall Rachel is a very talented and interesting person and this is reflected in her blog. So I invite to meet Rachel and be prepared to be inspired.

For Blog Reviews 1 and Blog Review 2

Exchange Website Reviews and Links

Life's to short

So what are you going to do to make the most of your life?

WW 28

Photograph taken at Stoney Point Betty's Bay 10 November 2007.

Elephant seal - apparently a rare sighting on our coast.

Touch Therapy

We all know the importance of being touched. Numerous scientific studies have verified what we instinctively know.

I have tried self massage - but nothing beats being massaged by some else. My personal experience is that I prefer my husbands massage to a professional massage.

I come from a family and a church which frequently hugs and kisses. Now that I am so far from them, I really miss them and that type of contact. I find myself holding back because I don' want to offend people or step in their person space. But I wonder if I am not robbing them and myself something that is important. Human touch - a sense of belonging, knowing, loving........

An article from Heal South emphasises this:

" Children and adolescents, who have been hospitalised for psychiatric problems, show remarkable reductions in their anxiety levels and demonstrate positive changes in their attitude when they receive a brief daily back rub.

In other studies, the arteries of rabbits fed a high-cholesterol diet and petted regularly had 60% fewer blockages than those of un-petted, but similarly fed rabbits. Rats, handled for 15 minutes a day during the first three weeks of their lives, showed dramatically less brain cell deterioration and memory loss as they grew old, compared with non-handled rats.

Despite all of these reasons to reach out and touch someone, we still find it difficult and often withdraw, reserving our touch for a brisk handshake or an occasional farewell embrace.

Is it possible that many of the woes of the world are simply a desperate cry for a reassuring, nurturing touch?

Could a simple hug a day keep the threat of teen pregnancy and STD’s away?"

Swap Hosting

Blog Hunt

Put this image on your site!

Copy the code below and paste it on your site:

I swap with Swap-bot!

Swap Homepage:	http://www.simonesbutterfly.blogspot.com/
Swap-bot URL:	http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/9135
Swap Coordinator:	Simone (contact)
Swap categories:	Challenges Miscellaneous Promotional
Number of people in swap:	1
Last day to signup/drop:	November 25, 2007
Date items must be sent by:	December 5, 2007
Number of swap partners:	2
Description:
The aim of this swap is to share different blogs, increase traffic to your blog and meet new bloggers. Post your answers on your blog, include links to your partners and swap host's blog. E-mail your partner and swap host once you have posted on your blog. Find a blog that deals with: Health issues Children Spiritual issues Food (recipes, diets etc...) Free stuff Links 1. Partner 1 2. Partner 2 3. http://www.simonesbutterfly.blogspot.com/ Open to all BLOGGERS,newbies included. Photo Scavenger Hunt (e-mail) Put this image on your site! Copy the code below and paste it on your site: I swap with Swap-bot! Swap-bot URL: http://www.swap-bot.com/swap/show/9134 Swap Coordinator: Simone (contact) Swap categories: Photography Number of people in swap: 1 Last day to signup/drop: November 30, 2007 Date items must be sent by: December 10, 2007 Number of swap partners: 2 Description: No cost swap. Sharing photographs. Photo Scavenger Hunt List Something Red Food Child Nature Animal Coffee/Tea e-mail or post on your blog or both. Open to all, newbies included.

Blog Review 2

I really enjoyed reading Wakela Runen’s blog. I feel I have found a kindred spirit. I have now linked to her blog permanently.

She has been blogging since 2005. Each year her blog entries have increased.

Her blog pieces (posts) come across with a genuine honesty. She shares her joys, sorrows, opinions and experiences openly. Love her poetry.

I will definitely be following her journal entries especially the ones dealing with her weightloss and health problems.

Great blog Wakela , thank you for sharing your life with us.

Blog Review 1

Exchange Website Reviews and Links

http://ciyoucolorscity.blogspot.com/

She actually has three blogs – she is an experience blogger. She has been blogging since 2004

This particular blog is covers her various interests including, crafts, swapping, food/recipes, friends and she also shares a bit about her life. Interesting tidbits and photgraphs of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Most of the blog is in English but her does use a bit of her home language as well. She some great craft ideas and links.

I like the idea of having a list of blogs for fellow swappers – think I might just do that as well.

So if you are looking for some inspiration for swapping, crafting or visiting Malaysia I recomment that you stop over at Colour City.

Pattern Swap

Swap - Holiday Pictures

My daughter

"Suddenly, through birthing a daughter, a woman finds herself face to face not only with an infant, a little girl, a woman-to-be, but also with her own unresolved conflicts from the past and her hopes and dreams for the future.... As though experiencing an earthquake, mothers of daughters may find their lives shifted, their deep feelings unearthed, the balance struck in all relationships once again off kilter." ~Elizabeth Debold and Idelisse Malave

A daughter may outgrow your lap, but she will never outgrow your heart. ~Author Unknown

WW 25

Interesting/Inspiring Blogs

Outfit Inspirations

(Tools to Lift Your Spirits and Help Focus Your Future)

Priscilla Palmer's Personal Development List

(Personal Development Demands Success)

Swaps

I have not being swapping for a while. Things have been a bit muddled up while I was trying to figure out why I was feeling ill.
Now that I am sorting my myself physically and I need a distraction from this stressful period at work. Its exam time and final moderations. So I decided to check out Swap Bot.
But I have overdone it a bit. I joined SIX swaps. The key word of these swaps is that they are FREE.

1. Exchange Website Reviews and Links
2. My last holiday - digital photos swap via email
3. Internet Scavenger Hunt
4. Pattern pictures
5. When I was a baby - digital photo swap via email
6. Internet Scavenger Hunt 2

I have completed the first internet scavenger hunt - just waiting for swap partners to be allocated.
Now I just need to find my camera. For some reason I am sitting with an empty camera bag!

Free association # 6

Unconscious Mutterings by Luna Nina

I say ... and you think ... ?

1. Assets : house, car, money
   
2. Concern : care
   
3. Over the top : too much, crazy
   
4. Supplies : stuff, demand
   
5. Mustache : yuck
   
6. Doug : Nicholas
   
7. Coach : Jake, horses
   
8. Bleachers : sneakers
   
9. Stripes : stars, Flag
   
10. Assortment : variety
    

PMS

I am reading The Heroine's Journey by Maureen Murdock. I came across a concept about the menstrual cycle that I really liked.

In April I wrote the following post:

When does the PMS Cycle really start and end?

She (Maureen) tells of an old belief that the reason a woman stops bleeding when pregnant is that the blood is needing in creating the child. The reason a woman stops bleeding when older (menopause) is to create and give birth to wisdom. I don't have any medical confirmation that I going through early menopause. But I also don't have any medical reason why my cycle has stop despite numerous tests. The fact is that for 5 months I have not experienced bleeding.

She also goes on to describe initiation and descent to the goddess. Putting the myth aside, everything else the emotions and experience are very real for woman and I identify with them.

Now I wonder where does the concepts of the Secret fit in the idea that woman will accept suffering and willing sacrifice. Maybe they are not as opposed to each other as I think. In order to move on with your life according to the descent to the goddess you experience a stripping of yourself, pain and suffering - you stop fighting it, you instead mindfully go through the process and return assertive and strong.

I am not sure if I am making any sense. Just trying to work through these ideas.

Post 350

This is a milestone. The joke is that I am posting this and I will have no idea what it looks like.

Websense is blocking blogspot with "emerging exploits" - which basically means I cannot read my own blog! and a few others too.

When I get to school on Monday, I will be able to see it.

Hopefully the whole problem will be solved soon.

Anyway - I came across this post and meme at Will write for Chocolate on 5 reasons for blogging. I love the cartoons in between.

Here is another cool site with free cartoons for bloggers to use. We Blog Cartoons. I first saw their cartoons on Addie’s Random Ramblings.



Cartoon by Dave Walker. Find more cartoons you can freely re-use on your blog at We Blog Cartoons.