Lunch Break Check-In

Posted on May 17, 2013 by bethp146

Hey y’all! I am posting this from the Kroger parking lot while on my lunch break. I had to run in and grab a few things, and now I need to pick up something for lunch and take it back to work. Since I didn’t get a real post written for Thursday or today, I just wanted to pop in and say hi. It’s been one of those blah, discouraging weeks, and I just haven’t felt like myself. Our house has been a mess with dishes piled high in the sink and dog food spilled all over our bathroom thanks to two doxies I know. I finally got caught up on my cleaning last night, and I’m ready to put this week behind me and enjoy the weekend! Some weeks are just like this, I guess, and that’s okay. It makes me appreciate the sunny, happy, glorious days!

One of the passages in my daily reading plan yesterday was Psalm 136.
Psalm 136:1
“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

God is good all the time! Through sunny weeks and blah weeks. Through messy houses and sleepless nights and days when you’ve got your act together. I’m so thankful for His love!

Next week I have some posts planned that I’m really excited about – cheese straws, managing your crazy expectations of yourself, a small historical town, and more! Until then, I hope you have a fantastic weekend! – Beth

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Random Facts + Favorite Reads

Posted on April 4, 2013 by bethp146

My sweet friend Sara from This Southern Mom nominated me for a Versatile blogger award. Sara just started blogging again with a new name and spiffy new layout, and I always look forward to her posts. Plus, she recently PAINTED her kitchen counters – pretty amazing. Go check it out!

I’m going to be a rule breaker today. I received and fully accepted this award a couple years ago, but I wanted to acknowledge this in some way. Thanks, Sara! Instead of doing the full acceptance, I thought I would just share some random facts and favorite blog reads. It’s been a while since I’ve done either.

Random Facts

1. We are a dachshund family. There’s just something about them. My parents have Shoalie and Lula. Laura and Wes have Betty Jo. We have Bailey and that silly Charlie in the photo above.

2. The only reason I wear glasses is because of an astigmatism. My eyesight is actually normal otherwise. The glasses help with the terrible headaches I get from reading and staring at a computer screen all day.

3. I am a technical writer. I can’t remember if I’ve shared that before.

4. I have always thought it would be fun to design stationery or open my own pen and paper store.

5. I love ice cream. Other than actual homemade, my favorite is Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla.

6. I once got to meet Harper Lee! This probably deserves it’s own post one day, but it was one of the most memorable experiences of my life. To Kill a Mockingbird is one of my favorite books.

7. John 14 is my favorite chapter in the New Testament.

Favorite Reads

I love reading blogs and finding new blogs to follow. My new Feedly account has quickly filled up. These are some of my favorites:

1. Blue Eyed Bride
Erin is so honest in her writing and impresses me post after post.

2. Lamberts Lately
Leslie is a fellow Bama fan and Alabama blogger. She has an adorable daughter who just turned 1!

3. Loved & Lovely
Ryan is expecting her first child any day. I’ve loved all her posts on getting ready for motherhood.

4. The Heart of Hannah
I actually just found Hannah’s blog this week because someone shared one of her posts on Facebook. It has quickly become a favorite.

5. 12450 Miles
I love Christine’s photography, design, and stories about Spencer!

6. Chasing Big Dreams
This is also a newish read for me. Carrie has such a cute blog, and I love her focus on encouraging others.

7. Kelly’s Korner
Who doesn’t love Kelly’s blog? She’s amazing!

I could go on and on, so I may have to do a favorite reads part 2 post soon. The great thing about blogging is that there is always someone to learn from!

What are your favorite reads?

Still Here

Posted on February 26, 2013 by bethp146

I really didn’t mean to take such a long break from blogging. This has been a strange year so far, and I think I needed to take a step back to think about where I want to go next with Love You Muches. After a busy and stressful few weeks, I’m beyond ready to get back to writing! I’ve got some new posts planned, but I just wanted to take a moment to say I’m still here.

I hope you come back tomorrow. Bailey and Charlie do, too
(I had to throw in some recent cute puppy pictures.)

Love, Beth

Blogging Blahs

Posted on October 18, 2012 by bethp146

Burnout can come easily if you do something long enough – even if it’s something you love. Thankfully, I haven’t reached that point with blogging yet, but I don’t want to get there. It seems silly, but I care about Love You Muches too much to give up on blogging. So why am I writing a post called Blogging Blahs?

Lately I feel stuck when it comes to blogging. Sometimes I don’t know what I want to say. Sometimes I’m worried I post just to be posting. Even M has noticed that my posts aren’t what they used to be. He made a comment that my short story for Kudzu Chronicles sounded like me and my old posts.

I love documenting and sharing this time in my life. Blogging is a way for me to practice my love of writing. I want to keep blogging for me, but I also want other people to want to read! Otherwise I’m just going on and on about nothing to no one, and that’s no fun. Whether I have two readers (hi M & Mama!) or many, my readers deserve the best I can give.

There may be some changes coming soon. I’m still learning as I go, and I have a few ideas of different kinds of posts I want to write. You may see some of the following:
- reviews of local restaurants, stores, and traditions. I loved writing about Fiddlers, and I think more posts like it will be fun to write!
- more posts on southern culture
- better pictures!
- more faith and devo type posts
- recipe posts or reviews. I never make anything original, and I’ve had my share of kitchen disasters. Still, I miss sharing recipes.
- more quilting and DIY projects
- anything else that strikes my fancy!

Above all, I just want to get back to telling my story.

What types of things would you like to see here? How can I make Love You Muches bigger and better?

Makeover

Posted on August 9, 2012 by bethp146

Love You Muches has a new look!

The header was designed by the talented Allison Richter. She was so wonderful to work with. She listened to my ideas and made the design look even better than I could ever imagine.

Allison also designed a new logo for me. I feel so official! I can’t recommend Allison enough. (No, I wasn’t compensated in any way for saying this. I’m just a happy customer. Email Allison at allisonrichter@ymail.com if you have any graphic design needs.)

I may be tweaking some things over the next few week, but for now I love this new layout. What do you think?

I’ll Just Write – Finding my Voice

Posted on July 31, 2012 by bethp146

Every piece of advice I’ve ever read about blogging has said something along the lines of “you have to find your voice.” I’m always trying to improve, and I like to read these types of advice posts. Yet, they also make me feel like a bad blogger. It’s been over a year since I started Love You Muches, and I feel like I still haven’t found my voice. In fact, I don’t really know what that means.

I’ve said before that I post about what’s on my mind. I like this philosophy. Blogging is how I document. If someone out there wants to listen while I share my thoughts, that’s an added bonus! Thanks for reading and for letting me ramble on. Hopefully as I publish more posts, I’ll discover more about myself and what I want this blog to be. In the meantime, I’ll just write.

Goofed

Posted on April 3, 2012 by bethp146

I’m embarrassed. I wrote this big, celebratory post about my blog-a-versary. It turns out, I lied to you. Please accept my apologies.

I was looking through my planner for April when I saw that I wrote blog-a-versary on April 22. I scribbled it out because, duh, I’d already acknowledged Love You Muches 1st birthday in a very public way. Then, that nagging voice of worry in the back of my head started working in overdrive. Did I jump the gun? Did I really start blogging in April? I looked back at my posts, and yes, yes I did jump the gun.

Love You Muches doesn’t turn 1 until April 22. I’m not sure how I got March and April mixed up. When I was writing that post, I did think it was strange that I created a blog in March and didn’t really write until after the tornados. It turns out I did start this blog and then immediately things got crazy with the storms. I didn’t mean to lie to you!

Put simply, I goofed.

Hi, New Readers!

Posted on April 3, 2012 by bethp146

My husband is a pretty smart fellow. We were talking a few days ago about Love You Muches, and he suggested that I write a post to introduce myself to new readers. I thought April would be a perfect time to do just that. If you have recently started reading and have wondered what Love You Muches is all about….Here is your official big hello and a welcome hug! I am truly glad you stopped by.

Some Things I love: God, M (my husband), my family and friends, Bailey and Charlie (our puppies), my job, ice cream, books, words, college football (Roll Tide), quilts, fabric, being silly, pretty dresses, watches, fishing, Diet Mountain Dew, pearls, making M laugh, coffee, notebooks, paper, pens, my planner, the river, and cookbooks.

Things I don’t love: pettiness, people who try to bring others down, seafood, rudeness, scary movies, heights, basketball, high heels (I know, tragic. I love them on others, but I don’t love falling all over the place when I wear them), short shorts, running (and exercise in general if we’re being honest), my eternal shyness, and the fact that I chopped all my hair off and it’s taking forever to grow back.

That’s pretty much me in a nutshell. I have really enjoyed writing this blog and getting to know many of you. Thanks for reading.

Love you muches,

Beth

Happy Birthday, Love You Muches!

Posted on March 22, 2012 by bethp146

A year ago today, I published my first post to this little blog. My vision for the blog was a place to document our newlywed life, diy projects, and tons of recipes. I wrote my initial post and, later, a post about Easter (since deleted due to technical difficulties). Then, I put the blog on the back burner until I had more content to share. Little did I know, just over a month after my first post, our world would be rocked.

It was at one of my lowest points post-tornado that I realized I needed to share the story. I just started typing and a new post was published. I poured my heart into that post, and, before I knew it, Love You Muches had become my outlet. This is my little corner to share my faith, share our life, and write what’s on my mind.

I’ve said it before, but Love You Muches gave me back my love of writing. I will forever be grateful for that. I am thankful for everyone who reads this blog – family, friends, and readers I don’t know personally. Thank you for your encouragement and love.

There is one person who deserves a special shout out on Love You Muches’ birthday. To M, thank you for being the husband you are. Thank you for supporting this hobby of mine. Thank you for listening to me as I bounce ideas for the blog around. Thank you for not rolling your eyes when I talk about blogging and for understanding how important this outlet is to me. Without you, there would be no Love You Muches.

A year ago I would have never imagined that I would love blogging as much as I have. So much has happened in my life this past year. I am not the same person who wrote that first post on March 22, 2011. There have been mountains I’ve climbed and mountains I’m still climbing. Despite everything, this has been a great year. Things will only get better. Life is good!

A Look Back:

Top Posts – These have been some of my most read posts.

These are some of my personal favorite posts from the past year.

Moving Forward:

I have a few ideas on where to go from here, but I would really love to hear your opinion. Please leave a comment, send an email, send a tweet, or send a message in a bottle telling me what you would like to see more or less of in our second year!

Thanks again for reading. I can never say thank you enough! I love you all muches.

- Beth

Piggy Mush Giveaway!

Posted on March 2, 2012 by bethp146

Piggy Mush might just be the cutest name I’ve ever heard for a home decor brand. I met Allison and Matt of Piggy Mush a couple of years ago through M and mutual friends. When I heard she was starting to create and sell items to help fund their adoption, I was so excited. Here’s a description of Piggy Mush in Allison’s own words:

	“Funding our adoption with paint, glue, and all things old, thrown away, or cast-off. Junk repurposed into fun, vintage-y, chalkboards, picture frames, children’s art boards, magnet boards and knob boards.”

Adoption is something very near and dear to my heart. I can’t imagine what my life would be like if my in-laws hadn’t decided to adopt a certain cutie from South Korea. Last fall, I stopped by Piggy Mush’s booth at the Fiddlers’ Convention and fell in love. I bought the chalkboard above from them and hung it in our hallway as soon as I could. It has really made that wall much more interesting. I love writing different messages and quotes on the chalkboard. Everything they make is so cute. My sister also has one of their chalkboards hanging in her kitchen.

I’m so excited to have the opportunity to give away a Piggy Mush product to one lucky reader! You could win…

… this wooden picture frame with a green burlap bow.This frame fits a 4×6 photo. Would you like to have it? Here’s your chance!

You must leave me a comment below telling me you’re interested.
At this time, I can only ship to readers in the US. Giveaway ends next Thursday, March 8 at 12:00 noon central time. I will choose the winner Thursday night and announce on Friday, March 9.
The winner will be chosen some yet-to-be-determined random way.

For extra entries do one or both of the following and come back and leave separate comments telling me which one you did.

Like Piggy Mush on Facebook
Like Love You Muches on Facebook

Be sure to check out all of Allison’s other products. If you are in Alabama, Piggy Mush will be at the BJCC tomorrow at the Cottantails Village Craft Show. Please stop by if you get a chance. Thanks, Allison for the giveaway!

Good luck

*Full Disclosure: Allison gave me the photo frame to give away when I asked her if I could do a review and giveaway of her products. All opinions are my own* -Beth

Love You Muches

documenting this lovely southern life

Tag Archives: blogging