Blog Necessities

New Year, 1st Blogoversary

January 1, 2012 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Happy New Year! And Happy 1st Blogoversary to my MwM!

I have received my annual report from WordPress and I love it! I had the most readers from America (obviously), then Australia (surprisingly), with Canada following not far behind. I love reading these stats. It’s a good motivation for me to keep going. Thank you everyone who’s supported me through all of this!

January

Staring a New Blog and 2011 New Year Resolution: Post up a different dish twice a month if not even more and continue this blog until next year. I have continued to post and it’s all thanks to y’all. Thank you!
Changed New Years Resolutions: make one new dish a month. Though I did end up with 12 new dishes, it wasn’t made once a month. But we will count it.

February

First Chinese New Years not with the family and spending it other than in Houston.

Made caramel from scratch for the first time.

May

Decided to start Couch to 5k and opening up a little on my blog.
Went to my first Houston Rodeo.

June

Started reaching out to the Blog World. Thank you for everything y’all!

Appreciated everything in my life after reading Miss Alabama USA, Madeline Mitchell’s story.
Having my first Magnum Ice Cream since coming to the states.

July

Best friend from high school, Alyssa, got engaged.
Had my first OOIAJ!
Finished my C25K!
Finally posting up my Bucket List.
Signed up for Pinterest! Find me @cripple15.
My Very First Giveaway!

Holding Baby Katherine.

August

Went to the Inaugural 2011 Houston Beer Fest.

Amanda’s Birthday Weekend where I wore a skirt without tights for the first time, staying out so late in Houston for the first time, and sleeping somewhere overnight in Houston for the first time.
First Houston Restaurant Week at Le Mistral with the mum!
Winning my first Giveaway from Lauren from Team Giles.

September

Having my first dinner party at my new apartment.

UTSA’s Inaugural Football Game.
De Lorenzo getting my hair done professionally and walking down the “runway”.
My very own popcorn machine that I use on the daily … almost.
Finding The Country Network.

October

Would You Rather Be A Mermaid or a Whale?
Ropes Course
New Phone for the next two years!

First Halloweekend spent with the brother and his friends. Found a picture of myself enjoying my first bratwurst from that night.

November

Fashion Out Cancer Show.

Opening a wine bottle without a wine opener …
Spending Thanksgiving weekend and Mum’s birthday with family, and Brother’s birthday with him and his friends.

December

Going to the Holocaust Museum and getting to listen to Rose’s story.
Christmas with Family.

**********

Wow. This year has gone by so quickly! And so many things happened. I am happy I started documenting my life here because I wouldn’t have realized how wonderful my life is.

Next post? My 2012 New Years Resolution.

Keep a lookout. Until then, Happy New Year!

What are your New Years Resolutions?

I Make My Own Rules!

October 13, 2011 by Mellie Dee 1 Comment

My, oh, my.

You know that rule where bloggers should post regularly. Either once a week on the same day (like a Wednesday) or three times a day around the same time?

Sorry. I don’t follow that rule. Sometimes my workload prevents me from writing posts and other times I have no workload I can write a bajillion post everyday in a week. That’s how it works.

Do know I still read blogs and comment everyday!

Luckily, I have content to give you so I actually have something to write. Whoo!!

****************************

This is the first time I won a Blogger Award. Embarrassed smile

I haven’t really had time to put myself out there in the blogging world so I’m very thankful I was nominated!

Thank you so much Rachael from Happy Healthy Runner! She’s my number one reader. I’m sure of it. She has helped me so much in this world. Thank you. Thank you.

Since it’s my first time, I have to follow the rules.

So this is what I have to do:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award and provide a link to their post. You are amazing. I think I would of lost interest if it wasn’t for your support!
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Award this award to 15 recently discovered blogs

Seven Things About Me….

I’m not a fan of sweet things (chocolate, candy, ice cream, desserts, etc.) but I love to bake for people. I do crave sweets sometimes … but that is rarely.
When I started this blog it was just a place to write about food and working out. But once I started to reach out to other bloggers six months later, I’ve grown to love this community. I’ve actually gotten happier after a long while of being in a black hole. So thank you everyone!
I love ketchup. Ketchup, ketchup, ketchup. I got ketchup from a friend for my birthday before because he thought it was funny. I thought it was genius since I ran out a few days prior.
I love music. I love to play it, sing it, listen to it. I wish I could have a little band and just jam out. I’m not great at all though.
I graduated high school with 1000+ other classmates. Yes. We had a REALLY long ceremony. I liked it though. I met a lot of new people. I love meeting people!
I watch Chinese Soap Operas online while doing stuff on the computer (like now). I have to multi-task and Chinese is easier for me to understand while doing so.
I am very competitive in sports. I have a mean face on while playing and 10 minutes or so after. I love sports.

15 Blogs to Check Out:

Brittany @ Blissful Britt
Corrie Anne @ Corrie Anne
Jordan @ Healthy College Girl
Tiffany @ Texan on the Run
Chelsea @ Chelsea Alysse
Christina @ The Athletarian
Amanda @ Tomboy That Wears Makeup
Taylor @ Crumbs Don’t Count
Becca @ I Heart Eggs
Heidi @ The Sweet Life
Brittaney @ Fit Chick Britt
Emily @ Perfection Isn’t Happy
Shannon @ Healthiful Balance
Ell @ Healthy Rundown
Renxkyoko @ Mega Worth It

Tell me something about yourself!!

WINNER for My Very First Giveaway!

July 29, 2011 by Mellie Dee Leave a Comment

Thanks to everyone that participated!! This giveaway spiked my views all the way up as well as the most comments on a post. That sounds kinda horrible, huh?

I wish I could give everyone a $30 gift card to Whole Foods but I’m a broke college student. Don’t worry though. I see more giveaways in the future.

“Shut up and tell me the winner already, Melissa! Geeze …”

Okay, okay. Drum roll, please!

Congratulations to Tiffany from Texan on the Run! Email me your name and address and I’ll send it on your way! You have til Monday night to reply or else … onto the next winner!!

Their Loss

July 28, 2011 by Mellie Dee 2 Comments

Empty Wallets

What does one do when an email pops up saying there’s a sale going on? Go crazy and empty out that wallet of course.

You would think it’s a sale on clothes but if you know me by now, it certainly not clothes but BOOKS! This is sad that we’re pretty much putting all our money on books. But we get free shipping so, not so bad, right?

Barnes and Nobles sent me an email notifying me about their sale. That’s how they get you because before I know it I was checking out eight more fictional books for myself and six cookbooks for Mum.

It was such a good deal since my books were less than three dollars. The cookbooks, on the other hand, were quite expensive but will be much appreciated once they arrive.

Giveaway Thoughts

I’m happy with how my first giveaway is going. Don’t forget to enter before Friday, July 29th at 12pm!

Before posting the giveaway, I told myself that if at least three people entered, I did well. I aim low. It’s been more than three people so that means I beat my goal and things are going very well.

I reached an all time high amount of views yesterday but they didn’t enter the giveaway. Their loss, right?

Networks

If I have never told you before, I’ll tell you this now. I have a lot of networking sites. This blog, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Tumblr, etc. Lately, I stopped using a majority of them ever since I started reaching out to other bloggers in June. I jumped into the blogging world and just feel I don’t have as much time as I use to with all the other networks.

It was brought to my attention when some friends commented and texted me asking why I was never online anymore. Whoops … They don’t know about the blog so I couldn’t tell them.

I need to manage my time better or else I will have no more offline friends!

How do you manage your time?!

My Very First Giveaway

July 25, 2011 by Mellie Dee 31 Comments

I reached my 1,000th site views a few weeks back and decided a Giveaway is in order. Therefore I will be giving away a $30.00 gift card to one reader from Whole Foods because who wouldn’t want to feel fancy while the eat?

There are four ways to enter so if you do it all, you have four chances!!

Follow my blog or if you already do follow my blog, leave a comment saying you do/did so.
Tweet “@cripple15 is giving away one $30 whole foods gift card!! http://tinyurl.com/3rym8az” and leave a comment saying you did so and your twitter name/handle.
Blog about the giveaway then leave a comment saying you’ve done so.
Leave a comment saying what you would buy with your Whole Foods Gift Card.

All entries must be in by Friday, July, 29th at 12pm to be considered for the giveaway!!

“Muchas wheatgracias” for reading and entering for my first ever giveaway!!