Ah, the magic.
The never-ending magic.
The “Where Bloggers Live” tribe is at it again…and this month we’re talking about our blogging spaces…a behind the scenes look at our blogging life…or as Bettye’s lovely description promises: “where the magic happens.”
For way too long, my “blogging life” has taken a back seat to my LIFE life.
You probably wouldn’t have guessed, but I’m not a professional at this.
What? Who knew?
I’m what I call a “hobby blogger.” I don’t really pursue referrals or affiliates…though I am not at all opposed to that kind of thing. I’m just not “big” enough for anyone to care.
And for the past year or so, I have blogged less than I’d like. Blogging is a treat for me…and a great opportunity for self expression. But it started several years ago as a way of “reporting” what I was accomplishing around the house. It isn’t that I’ve stopped accomplishing. On the contrary, I really have gotten a lot done. BUT…I don’t take the time to write about it as often as I used to.
Telling the tale is easy…having it make sense, reflect fairly decent grammar, accompany it with watermarked photos, tagging and keywording things, promoting and trying to increase readership…that stuff is time consuming. I was a more frequent poster when none of that mattered; when I blogged for personal accountability. Conversely, at that time, even fewer people read what I wrote (if that’s even possible, haha.) Seriously, post upon post with ZERO views.
Eventually, by submitting and linking a few posts to other sites, I started to have visitors, then a few followers. And then, tragically, scrapers.
A scraper is someone with a large following who takes your content and photos, adds a phrase like “‘according to Em at Dust and Doghair,” then markets YOUR post on THEIR website. A search engine doesn’t care who wrote it, so it sends people to the place where it gets read more frequently. (THAT’S why I watermark all my photos.) Grrrr!!! Highly UNmagical!
Despite all that, one day something that WAS magical happened. Someone left an actual comment. Eventually that started to happen with more regularity….and THAT made all the extra time very worthwhile.
Where the blogging magic happens? All around my house, I guess….depending on what I’m blogging about.
The actual posting happens here.
This is my computer desk, shopping station, lunch spot for noshing on whatever is in a chip bag or snacking on a Reese’s peanut butter anything. Usually, I wash it down with a coffee…or recently, with a mini glass of “Relax.” Relax is highly sugared Reisling wine that gives me a nearly-instant headache. I like coffee better.
As for blogging “magic,” lately I am mostly coronagrumpy and asymptomagical. But stuff is still happening around the house. The positive virus benefit, is that there are NO unannounced guests, so the magic can just stay in place until I finish a task.
The big magic lately is my all-too-frequently-mentioned-but-still-in-progress Living Room window treatments. A couple of weeks ago, I FINALLY made it past Decision Paralysis (at which I am an expert) and things are very well underway…with half of the 8 panels completed!!!! I cut and prehemmed all of the fabric, interlining, and lining, and they remain magically rolled and staged on my dining room table so they won’t get too wrinkled.
When I am ready to assemble a panel, I move three components to my basement, where I use a pingpong table as a “Workroom” table.
There, I layer and layout the components, making sure they’re all unwrinkled from handling, press in the hems, then HAND-FREAKING-SEW the 100-inch-long components together. (MORE ON THIS and/or my curtain rod makeover IN MY NEXT POSTS…PINKY PROMISE!!!)
I “hand-freaking-sew” them (and, yes, that’s a technical workroom term, haha) even though I have a sewing machine because I am a crazy a$$ perfectionist when it comes to sewing projects.
(I have also developed quite the potty mouth during the last month which I am sure has nothing to do with living with six magical adults during a viral pandemic). Kindly remember I used to have the place to myself, back when we all agreed about everything and my family was mostly perfect.
Just kidding, they’re still perfect…it’s just that now I turn to “Relax” to reinstate their perfection. (Still kidding…)
To prevent the skin from peeling away from my hand-sewing-needle-pushing index finger. I cover it with band-aids to help push the needle through the layers of fabric. Perhaps someone could come up with a metal device I surprisingly do not own. It would be dimpled and slide over my finger….and I would call it….
A THIMBLE!!! WHO doesn’t own a thimble?!!! ME! That’s who.
In other magic, because we no longer eat take out food, I have been baking a lot of home-made pizza. All pizza is magical. Even bad pizza. But good pizza is David Copperfield-level magic. Here is that magic happening… right on my very own kitchen counter courtesy of my magical oven.
Perhaps the most magical thing of all is the hair magic I worked yesterday morning. I did it in my powder room sink. I was magically transformed from a hag into a somewhat contemporary fifty-something.
This is the before….
You may recall that last month I contemplated this Tiger King hairstyle for my overly long hair because I knew it was within my skill set.
I have not given myself an overall haircut since my mid thirties… when I lost a battle with monthly hormonal changes and gained a short haircut an hour before playgroup convened. But this time, hormonal-induced confidence was unnecessary because there was no peril… Seriously, there is VERY little that would look worse than this. Let’s look at it again.
YEESH!!!
Also, I believe there is very little badness that can’t be cured by a curling iron, except as proven by the above photo, too long hair. SO… yesterday, I went to town with my scissors in the powder room. In fact, I didn’t even wet my hair first…which I know is a no no.
I used Dollar Tree scissors and mimicked what I remembered from every haircut I’ve had EXCEPT THE LAST ONE, when my stylist bailed at the last minute and left me in the hands of a poor substitute.
After hacking away for about fifteen minutes, I broke out the color kit and colored my roots.
Then I washed and dried my hair (fyi, I only DRY with the dryer; I never style while drying )….and it came out like this. Which for me was not as abnormal-looking as you might expect…my hair is like straw.
And once I used the magical curling iron…to me it looked, dare I say, “Em normal.”
I mean, you’ve seen the “before” picture….how much more magic could I hope for???!!!
If you’re looking for some REAL Magic, check out my blogging buds:
Welcome to the monthly edition of Where Bloggers Live. It’s kind of like HGTV’s “Celebrities at Home,” but…Bloggers! Who doesn’t like to peek behind the scenes and see inside people’s homes? Over the next few months, a group of seven bloggers will be sharing their workspaces, their homes, towns and more!
Make sure you visit everyone to see where the magic happens!
Bettye at Fashion Schlub
Daenel at Living Outside the Stacks
Iris at Iris’ Original Ramblings
Jodie at Jodie’s Touch of Style
Em at Dust and Doghair
Julia at When the Girls Rule
Leslie at Once Upon a Time & Happily Ever After
I laughed out loud at sewing the 100 inch long pieces by hand, because why? Well, I already knew you were a perfectionist at analysis paralysis. They go together like shrimp and grits! (Doesn’t that make me sound Southern? I only live in the South. I’m a Midwestern girl at heart.) Congratulations on your powder room haircut! It looks great. FAR better than I could manage if left to my own devices with scissors… Last self trim for me was two weeks before my First Communion. In the powder room. I wanted bangs. That day ranked right up with getting my finger stuck in the Play-Doh shape extruder…
Haha… Oh, my goodness! I can picture the bangs (my niece had that haircut). That’s a great story!!!
I have no idea if shrimp is supposed to go with grits. I’m hoping its like wings and pizza. Either way, I do have analysis paralysis….and the curtains are finished! Now, if I can just take the time to write the post, you’ll know why I did it all by hand!
Glad you stopped by, Liz. I can tell you’re a hoot!
I FINALLY got around to reading this post, and how delightful it was! A lot to relate to as a new blogger, and I learned what “scrapers” are – a pox upon their houses! The “window treatment” (doesn’t that sound like something for a disease?!?) is awesome, and I love the fabric. You are hilarious, so keep up the great work!
Haha, hello, Mary Katherine whose name is lovely! You are SO correct; the window treatments have indeed been a cure …for coronavirus crazies! I know that when this is all over I will be able to point to one positive thing that has come from it. I’ve also happily gained a couple of on line buds who have brightened my days, like this visit from you.
Are you enjoying your foray into blogging?
You’re a riot!
I cannot sew with a thimble. Doesn’t it get in the way? Am I overthinking the process? I can’t wait to see the finished curtains.
I cut and dye my own hair and have for years. We grew up in Italy and there weren’t many hairdressers who were comfortable doing black girl hair, sooooo… I think you did a great job, by the way. It’s hard to cut layers on your own.
I think the thimble would be in the way, but would also be helpful pushing it through. I’m just happy to be making progress, but I do seem to “like” whining and doing things the hard way.
How cool that you grew up in Italy…and that you do such a great job on your hair. (Did you even do the shave/undercut? Because, wow..brave! Not to mention how great it looks 👍🏻.)
I don’t sew but do have a thimble. Could make you a real good deal on it!!
Can’t wait to see the window treatments finished and hanging. That fabric and those colors are lovely. I am mad for paisley.
Your transformation is dazzling. I need to have a good 3″ snipped off. Could you help a sister out? I don’t do anything with my hair beside sleep on it. Wash it occasionally. Blow it dry. But nothing else and yet it still get terribly brittle. The stylists always ask me if I use conditioner (yes). I figure with a 3″ cut off, I would about be back to my natural color with about 30% silver mixed in.
Stay well, you and yours!!
My post-meno hair has gotten really weird. Not good curly but electrocution curly in spots. My fam has gotten used to me letting it ride lately…but every few days I try to style it to remind them I haven’t given up yet.
Yours looks great. Your color grow out looks really nice and you have such lovely waves! Yay you!
You don’t sew with a thimble?!!! Oh my goodness. I can’t live without my thimble. But, that’s because of my very long ago home ec teacher. YOU WORE A THIMBLE in her class! And, so I learned. But I can’t imagine you sewing all those curtains by hand. And you lay them out so neatly. You don’t want to see the area when I make curtains.
Love the haircut. You did a great job. I’ve butchered mine many times over the years and have just decided to “try” to wait and see what it’ll actually look like this time. Though, unlike you, I don’t see many people these days the furbabies don’t seem to care.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
Hello, Iris!
The thimble….I know. My band-aid thimble has been doing a fairly adequate job, now that I double layer it…but I am definitely adding thimbles to my next Amazon order.
I think the curtains are laid out neatly because I’m trying VERY hard not to get them too wrinkled. Having to press things over and over… But I sew like I cook, and that usually involves a mess…or a trail. HOWEVER, with everyone home with trails of their own, I’m trying to be more tidy. (Another thing no one ever accuses me of.)
Stay safe!
Well, I was wise enough to get myself a bowl of ice cream (with mashed up cake…and a little ginger orange marmalade…and a dash of amaretto) before I sat down to read your post cuz I knew I’d be here awhile. And I was not disappointed! Seriously, woman, you should be writing something somewhere where WAY more people were seeing it (and that cause someone to send you money for it). Your posts are always a delight.
So, that curtain hell you’re in, ha ha. Remind me to find pictures of some swoopy PATTERN MIXED (in case Jodie comes back, she’ll like that) window valances I made. This was in the 90s when valances were still a thing. But anyway, I HAVE a thimble and STILL wouldn’t do all that sewing! I’m a “Wonder Under” girl, all the way! Why sew when you can just PRESS???
I love “Relax.” I also love a super sweet Reisling. And super sweet coffee. Quarantine has put me back on the sugar train HARD. But that’s okay.
And your haircut looks fine! When my hair was longer I always cut it myself, long and long-layered hair is the easiest! Bangs can be tricky, but I did them anyway 🙂
YOU are magical!!!
Bettye
Okay, FIRST…that dessert requires a name! YUM! Ginger orange and amaretto….like the clothes and prints you fashion people assemble, I would have NEVER considered this flavor explosion. I never say the G in OMG, but this sounds like an OMG-worthy combination (I am loopholing through abbreviation). I just read your paragraph to my daughter…her eyes grew very wide. It will be a poor substitute, but I am about a half-hour away from a bowl of salted caramel ice cream that arrived yesterday (and was hastily dipped in disinfectant wash).
Actually, curtain hell is not the only hell I feel like I’m in, haha (but that’s another post). I miss valances…I will do a photo swap with you at some point. And mine will likewise reek of the 90’s! But that was fun, fast sewing. Oh, and balloon shades. That decade would be on my highlight reel. Thank you for the Wonder Under reminder. I am going to put that on “the list.”
Relax is now relegated to the evenings, when it is less headache inducing. But, Mr. just procured an embarrassingly large shipment of Blue Moon for me, so I guess I’ll be back on the beer wagon for this week…or by the size of the order, until fall.
Thank you for tolerating my word counts, haha!
Hello Dear,
Awesome looking fabric you chose.
I too cut my own hair and cover the immense mass of grays.
Thanks for keeping it real.
Just a midwest housewife in my recliner.
Hello, Jane,
Fabric I chose? Oh heavens no, I am incapable of making a decision. This fabric was suggested by the lady who sold us the chairs in that room. What a relief it was to not have to be responsible for that! Liberating!
Things are real-er than I would prefer lately, but I try to be honest with people who take the time to read my drivel. I’m glad you like that!
I am looking forward to some recliner time myself this afternoon!
Thank you SO much for visiting. (I love friends who don’t make me vacuum before they stop by .)
Seriously, post upon post with ZERO views.
*****
Well, if there’s that much candy lying around, I’m sure as shooting going to find it. If today’s is any indication (it is, checked) – I’m going to mine those “older” posts. Get ready for a reader.
You know those slides – super tall, at water or amusement parks? With multiple whoop-de-whoops on your slippy, whooshy way to the splash?
This post felt like that. Like, ha! Haha! Hahaha!!! HAHHHHHHHHAAAAAA!
This woman is FUNNY.
Em, you are **funny**. Officially.
I like your little made-up words. (They should be real.) (They ARE real.)
I like your pictures. (And your haircut – ended up stellar!)
The witch hat!! and broom!!!!!! haaaaaahahahahahah!!!
The curtains, the snark, the sass, and the sighs. Keep doing this. Write. If they steal it – slimy rat finks – well, then there’s more of you in the world. Write on.
Do you think your family gives you props for being this funny? Or do you hide your light under a bushel at home? Just curious.
I didn’t even know you weren’t a fashion blogger. Don’t let that stop you.
Cathy in Missouri
Hi, Cathy!
Not sure how much candy is in the early posts, haha. I think I was more of a broccoli farm for a very long time. But amazing comments like yours are definitely the positive reinforcement my fragile ego needs and it provides direction for future posts, as well.
Do you write? Because your comments read like they’re from someone who writes. I could dive entirely into the rich imagery in your slide analogy. Actually, it made me want to set up a slide of some kind. Something off the roof that doesn’t end up in my being hospitalized…. “slippy, wooshy way” –that’s poetry to me. So IF this post in any way gave you that kind of feeling (where the description of the feeling was better than the post), you make me wish I wrote more.
And if you don’t write…you should (IF you think it would be fun)…because all elements of the things I love to read are in your comment… (I mean, make no mistake, your very high praise gives me a smile that wraps around the back of my head)…but your sentence construction, alliterations and rhythm, cadence, connection…..it’s all there, sister! There’s a writer in you!
Thank you for all your lovely words…a joy to read in every wayl!
I always save your post for last because 1- I know I’ll be laughing. and 2-I have to read each word and then go back a couple of times to reread it to Rob!!
So of course I love that you are continuing blogging because I have learned SO much from you. (We still refer to the chess board and lights on twigs on the ceiling. And of course I’ve copied your photo shelf idea only the easy way. You’ll see that soon here) And really…if people are using your content…that just goes to show how smart you are. I don’t have to worry about that, LOL!!
BTW, I don’t have a thimble either…they just don’t stay on. Maybe you should come up with a fix for that? But I CANNOT believe you do that all by hand. That is serious craziness!!
Another BTW…my new hairdresser cuts curly hair dry. Granted yours is no way curly. And you did an amazing job. Did you see the video I shared in my emails awhile back of the lady cutting her own hair? You should have videoed it…it could have gone viral with your commentary!!
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I left you a comment somewhere, but the video you shared WAS the catalyst. That woman was hilarious and completely fearless (although perhaps a little more fear might not have been a bad thing in her case). I am slowly getting better about pictures….a video would have been a whole other tamale. Oh, my gosh, the self criticism, haha. Maybe I’ll start with an IG story…they only last for a day.
I didn’t start out thinking those curtains would be handsewn…it was a somewhat fortuitous accident (which will be described in the post)… but once I got on board, I’m really glad. I might not do all of my windows this way, but it’s working.
Thanks for your first sentence! Makes me feel glad that I keep this up when I’m always on the verge of throwing in the towel.
xoxo….happy day to your mom tomorrow!
Thank you for sparkling up a dreary CVid forced to cohabitate with others morning!!
Did I say thank you?!! Your humor put a spark of fun reading on a cold dreary day…nevermind the forced regime of living with others and not seeing those persons (hairdresser and grandbaby) and places that used to bring joy and meaning to our lives. Em, I commend you on you accomplishments and enjoy redecorating my home vicariously thru your posts. One day I hope to be able to decide where to use the fabrics I’ve bought in fits of inspired DIY dreams. For now, I’m content to read about making curtains and decorating ideas thru bloggers such as yourself. I especially enjoy your posts! Thanks again for adding a shot of humor to my day and I wish you and yours all the best!
Thanks, Joanne. Your comment was the first one I read and it made me happy that I stayed up late to get the post in on time! I’m such a procrastinator, and the inspiration often hits when I need it to, versus when I want it to…and I have a lifetime of training with that process.
Since I SO enjoy your beautiful posts of blooming trees and flowers that occur several weeks before Buffalo decides to warm up, I’m happy you find something I can offer in return. Yay!
When this is all done, I want to drive to Pittsburg and go to the Strip with you! Coolest market ever!!!
And best to you and yours, as well!