think pretty thoughts

Click HERE for the Essentials by Ellen Holiday 2015 Release Blog Hop

Click HERE for the Latina Crafter Blog Hop

Hello and Happy Thursday!  This week has been especially busy but it's how the month of August is panning out both personally and bloggie-wise.

So seriously, how cute is that unicorn?  

cardstock:  recollections/110/white, stampin' up strawberry slush  stamps:  sweet stamp shop unicorn/monogram it  ink:  memento tuxedo, various copics, fresh ink/grass

I combined it with the now (sadly) retired Monogram it set <-- love that one.  I'm such a fan of the Sweet Stamp Shop!  Love all the humor and cuteness.

Think Pretty Thoughts:  I like that.

I'm definitely a rainbows & unicorn blogger.  I certainly don't tend to overshare, except if it has to do with the kidlets:)  At home I'm a constant repeater of stories...the girl is always quick to tell me that she's "heard that one" where the boy acts like it's the first time he's heard it.  I don't know if I should be happy that the girl actually listens to me or that the boy doesn't..HA.

So chatting about repeated stories, I've shared this on FB and wanted to go ahead and share it here (again):

The default setting is for all blogger users to be a NO-REPLY blogger.  What does that mean?

disclaimer:  I don't mean to pick on Donna but she makes an easier example since there is no last name associated

This is a comment I received via email (don't mind the pinked out portion).  See how Donna's email address shows as noreply-comment@blogger.com?  That means via my email account, I cannot REPLY to her comment.

Okay, so big deal?  Well, I'm guessing that Donna is perhaps leaving me a comment because she wants to be in the drawing for the gorgeous Essentials by Ellen Mistletoe & Holly set.  When I actually clicked on Donna's name {blue hyperlinked one}, it took me to her blogger profile and guess what?  She doesn't have a blog or any contact information.  It would make me super sad if her name was drawn using random.org because there is no way for me to contact her.  

I actually took the time to do a survey of 100 comments left on my Essentials by Ellen Holiday 2015 Release Hop post.  Any guesses of the percentage of commenters that either were REPLY Bloggers or at least provided their contact email?  

23%

Of the 23%, 3 people were NO-REPLY-comment bloggers but actually provided an email within the body of the comment (YAY!!!).

That means out of 100 comments, there were 77 people that were NO-REPLY-comment bloggers.  

There is a SUPER EASY fix people...super easy:  READ THIS

Please.

I had such positive response of FB...people don't realize that they are set up this way.  I understand this....help me spread the word.  As an organizer of a quarterly blog hop (Yay for the Coffee Lovers out there!)....I'm in charge of using random.org to draw from over 500 link ups.  Please make this an enjoyable process for everyone involved♡

Okay, okay...stoppin' with the lecturing.  Now back to my regularly scheduled bloggie post.

Did you guess that my unicorn card was inspired by the oh-so-awesome Joan B's Muse card?

I actually have the same stamps that Joan used but since I hadn't inked up my Sweet Stamp Shop unicorn, I decided to go kawaii route.  I adore laurel twigs and Joan's card is lovely!

In other news, I posted this on FB & IG but also wanted to record it on my blog:

The kids surprised me with a glorious iMac.  Well actually Darin surprised me with the iMac but the kids put together a mega scavenger hunt for me to find it.  An early birthday gift.  I had no idea this was the gift and gah, yes, I cried when I popped open the trunk of my car.  The kids had me going in the backyard, the front yard, the mailbox...all the while I was trying to shake the side effects of dramamine.  I take that stuff when Darin and I go flying and that morning we flew to my favorite local destination, Friday Harbor.  I so very grateful for my beautiful family ♡