I am a Consumer.

First off – I know it has been a month!!!  Ugh!!!  And I keep talking about getting out of my own way and getting on some kind of blogging  and activity schedule and so far, obviosuly I have not.  So I will not do that to you or myself any longer.  All I can do is try to keep moving forward in my life and therefore my wrting.

NOW  onto my post topic – I am a Consumer!  But here is some basic info.  I don’t have money to burn.  I really don’t buy unnecessary things.  I try to compare prices, use coupons, take advantage of sales, get rebates etc.  Not shop at 7-Eleven or bodgas.  But I am far from that organized and efficient these days.  So I try but I am not 100% dedicated – working on it. I am not the first person to get the latest tech or electronics the minute it comes out either and I just got the iPhone 5S lol.

So why am I making a big deal about being a consumer?                                                                      Because not all people really get to know the products you use or the company behind it.  And brand loyalty is not a priority to many people.  I am brand loyal, to a fault sometimes.  I also research the company behind the product and learn what I can about them.  And I will interact on social media with this companies for a variety of reasons,sometimes often. This is something I started getting into a few years ago.  It is what led me to my first blog  – Product Junkie.  I as usual went too hard too fast and bombed badly.  This is a whole other blog post but I will link the site below – I still have it so in the future I can maybe one day revive it!    https://wordpress.com/plans/freeproductjunkie.wordpress.com

One day a few years back I stumbled on a product testing community that I joined and then found some other ones and joined them too.  I really love getting free stuff and these opportiunities play right to the type of consumer I am. One of them is Smiley360. They are and have been my favorite site! And after a longgg break I logged back in, caught up on some general profile surveys and waited for a mission.  I applied and got accepted and today received my new Mission: FREE Necafe Tasters Choice  Single Serve Instant Coffee Packets. Mission Link: http://h5.sml360.com/-/27zn8 Below is a link to my YouTube where  posted a quick video to show what comes in the kit.  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKfaeW0Ytpc1LBQpvyU9JsA                                              (I don’t use Youtube like that but I don’t yet have Premium here and could not upload the video here)

http://baconmeplease.com/   If you like food, different variations of food, trying new things, having something different, please check out the Bacon Salted Caramels from the Denver Bacon Co.  I stumbled on this free sample over a year ago – tried them and was blown away. Delicious caramel with pleasan smoky bacon bit surprises.  Really good stuff! Plus if your an all out bacon afficionadio you will love the other bacon products they carry – I just ordered all three items the other day because I could not choose just one. Oink Oink What makes is even better? This guy Daniel Bailey is totally down to earth and offers some pretty good deals.  He makes it a point to address his marketing emails to you personally. He has a pretty cool backstory and a company I am proud to purchse from and promote.  Small American Business following their own American Dream!  Anybody try or purchase these? Comment Below, especially if you try them after reading my post.

If this is the first time visiting I,Lioness please review my previous post “Brand Loyalty – It Should Mean Something” for a little more insight into my thoughts and feelings on the subject.

I will be doing a part 2 to this soon, there is much more to it for me and I look forward to sharing more about this part of me and my lifestyle.

As always, thanks for reading – until next time peeps 🙂

 

A little bit of everything

So this will  be one of these all over the place posts – talking about a bunch of random stuff.  Cause hey why not?

LOLing to myself – I have watched soooo many episodes of The FBI Files that I am seeing actors who are playing a cop in one had been a dead guy in another or the killer now was a cop in an other episode or vice versa.  I have it on Amazon Fire Stick so I just let episodes play while I am doing stuff on computer or other stuff I am into it.  They are all true stories and it is good “research” for my book.  I don’t sit writing notes but sometimes I will jot down something that stands out or could be used as good inspiration.  I also watch Forensic Files for more technical information on evidence types, gathering etc…

I tried Hummus for the FIRST TIME.  I get a LoveWithFood subscription box full of delicious healthy snacks monthly.  One Box = Two Meals Help Fight Hunger in America!!!  Check the link out here: http://lovewithfood.com/invite?m=r&ref=3tkd   You will save 50% on your first box and by using the link I get the $10 credit – their way of paying it forward to the buyers! Write reviews on the site for each product get 50 points each product.  Redeem credit $ and points for Snacks from previous boxes.  It is  pretty sweet deal!  I got the Wild Garden Hummus To Go in my first box but did not try it until today.  Mainly because I do not like chick peas.  But I decided hey why not – if you don’t like it don’t eat it.  But it was not as bad as I thought.  I had the Sun Dried tomato flavor and ate it with Stonefire Garlic Naan Crisps. Not something I will always buy or eat, however another food to add to my tried it list!

I have been slowly but surely trying to change my eating habits and my thought process on food and drinks all together.  Slowly being the operative word.  4 out of 5 days of the work week I eat Lean Cuisine for lunch.  One day a week for Lunch then usually all three nights of the weekend (Sunday – only during Spring & Summers) I will eat out (usually Italian) but I try not to overeat.  That is way too much eating out. It is expensive and not that healthy most of the time.  I am going to cut out Sunday night and eat at home which is usually Macaroni or make my own healthier meal.  I bought a 2 Liter of Pepsi today but once it is gone I am going to limit myself to only two cans maximum a week.  Lastly I bought an Rove brand Infuser Water Bottle and some different fruits today.  I hardly drink water that is not making me coffee or ice tea lol.  So I am excited to try to get into the habit of drinking water using fruits for flavor 🙂 I got it all ready tonight so the water is really infused for tomorrow.  Just oranges for now – starting out basic.  I have strawberries, plums, apples and peaches for the rest of the week.

I am trying to decide if I am going to go to Florida next month when we close for vacation.  Can I let go of the anxiety of worrying about what may come in the mail at the shop while I am away or can I trust my dad won’t go get it until I return (Wednesday). Also deciding if I am gonna take my nieces with me.  I kinda want the company but I kinda want some alone time.  I mean I can always leave her and the baby at the hotel and do my own thing a few hours a day.  I have family and friends to see alone.   I want to go Big Cat Rescue that I never visited in the 4 years I lived in St. Petersburg FL and I miss Busch Gardens. Definitely want to go to Sawgrass Lake State Park as that is a location I am using in my book, plus it was one of my favorite places to go on the weekends to get out and enjoy the outdoors and wildlife.  Those are activities I want the company for and want the baby to experience.  It will be great to get some photos and new fresh memories to reach for while writing. I’ll grab a map of that whole region while I am there for reference.  So in the next few days I need to decide before prices go up.

I sorted through a lot of paperwork tonight. So that was productive. I got some laundry done today and did some grocery shopping so I have rations for the week. Breakfasts, Lunches, Snacks and Drinks.  Though I’m sure I will be at the grocery store again at least twice.  Always need something.

Got some catching up on Big Brother to do. See you during the week. Aiming for Wednesday or Thursday.

Share me. Comment anything.  Like me. Follow me. Dislike me even.  Whatever feels right. Thanks. Here is to you a Fast Monday

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything gets in the way!!!

YAY!!! I actually did it (patting myself on the back).  After my house work, errands and a shower of course. But here I am,   I opened the computer and immediately started this new post! This is big for me. Normally I would open WP then open Gmail and start mindlessly going through emails. Then the OCD hits me and I will stop that and open some mail but not actually take any action, just pile it up.

My whole point of this post is why I can’t seem to get into a groove.  And my reasons, feelings – excuses, whatever they are!!!

I suffer from Anxiety and Depression for 20+ years.  So sometimes I flat out CANNOT bring myself to set up my work space and write or even doing everything but write. So I watch my shows.

So then the next day I will be gung-ho ready to go but something unavoidable will come up and then I get pissed off because now ” it’s too late” to get anything going. But that is a lie and I know it! I am up till 1 or 2 am anyway. I fester on how I let someone else’s needs come before mine.  And while that is true, I need to actually start putting mine first, not just saying I need to!  Right?  Duh! (slaps head). So what your night did not go as planned and now it is 11pm? You wanna write? Write RIGHT now!

Then there are the times when I have ideas flowing all day – making notes (mental and written), developing character traits and ties to the plot line. And I open up my notes, my laptop and I am stuck! This happens more often than not.  It is like I psych myself out and then instead of remembering my earlier thought process I just think to myself-  it all sucks anyway, no-one will want to read you. From there it is a pity party and I am the host!

Earlier I mentioned Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD.  I want to address that.  Maybe clarify.  I have never discussed with a doctor or been diagnosed by a doctor.  I guess I have OCD tendencies in my own opinion.  Maybe I should seek a professional opinion.  I don’t know.  What I do know is that I do not want to offend anyone who is diagnosed and suffers from OCD in any form. It can be mild, mostly unnoticeable or severe and debilitating.  I am not just claiming to have a serious ailment for attention.  I just like to be open and honest about myself and my feelings and thoughts.  And I feel that I do have some OCD behaviors.

Want to hear one of my most RIDICULOUS reasons I don’t get to write.  It seems like I subliminally punish myself so that if I make a goal publicly and don’t stick to it I almost won’t let myself do it the next day.  I say to myself oh you missed yesterday’s post goal, now you look like a bigger loser than before.  SO I compound the situation by not writing, again. Feeling worse I do it again the next day and so on.  That is why it is 12 days since my last post rather than like I promised! (Ugh loserrr).  This is something I am trying to immediately change about myself.

I must stop this endless cycle of bad thoughts about my writing the bad habit of not writing.  Right now it is for me and if I want to get good I have to stick to the basics. Read, write, edit, read your own stuff, read, edit, write, read, write, write, read, read your own stuff, write, read, write etc

Does it seem like I am being harsh on myself? GOODIE that is what I am going for.  I have to confront what I know is holding me back.  That is the only way I can break free of this shell and grow. Grow as a human, a woman, a writer.

No promises except for see you soon {I hope…}

Thanks for listening!

Ugh…16 Days

Hey Y’all !!!!                                                                                                                                                 {Yes I live in New Yawk but my Momma was a Southerner and I lived in Florida close  to 5 years and I like it }

I know two posts ago I said I was going to really try to get put one post a week.  And I just log in to WordPress and see ” It has been 16 Days…” and I am like Damnnnnnnnnnn It!

Any way I was going to write anyway because I have so much on my mind the past few days.  I feel focused.  I feel like my old self – from 25 years ago. And that’s good, for the most part.  I am trying to create a new routine, set writing and publishing goals and make time for my other activities. Those are supposed to be part of  my what I want to write about too! All while trying not to continue doing the OCD thing I do where I make a list of all the things to do and start at the top every day. And never finish or get anywhere! Baby Steps.  Really tiny baby feet steps lol.

So is it really weird that I have Tampons that I bought in a multi pack that I don’t use and I offered to give away on Facebook. I said to answer via private message or text for obvious reasons.  But it was just ignored. So are people like – WTF is wrong with this crazy woman? It is a shame to throw away and I don’t know if I can donate somewhere?  Any references please comment.

I mean I don’t care all that much what most people on Facebook think of me. Cause I  also started a Social Media purge this week. Deleting people and pages that are not relevant or meaningful to me.  Some family and extended family included.  People talk about me anyway lol.  And I was keeping “friends” on that I had barely or never even interacted with. Then all these pages I have absent minded clicked or been asked/pushed to Like – GONE!  Timelines and news feeds are looking much better!  And this is good because I will be more inclined to use these platforms and interact with more people :).  I am also keeping family from everything but Facebook.

I am going to save some more of this stuff on my mind for next post.  Got some mail and other crap to catch up on and clean up before 11:41.

Remember – Sharing is Caring !!! And all that you do will make a difference to me!!!

I will have another post out by Sunday – Promise y’all!

Toodles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is where I am at – Today.

Been having a down week.

Home life is to say the least, HARD, emotionally.

To explain the whole story of what has me upset since yesterday would be boring and quite long to type.  Bottom line is arguing with my uncle over the dishwasher being on and each of us having to take showers and being told – “From now on ASK to take a shower before you do”. And I was floored!!!

You see I grew up next door to him and lived in the same house since 13.  This is not a new living arrangement. We were quite close.  WERE. Things have been escalating for a long time. And getting more volatile almost daily.  This new thing of his, telling me what to do and how to do it – OH NO I need to end this soon.

You see I work for my Uncle and Dad.  We all live in the same house with their Mother, my Grandmother.  Daily for the last 5 out of 8 years I WAIT for him in the mornings.  He takes an hour to do nothing when I wake him. (Yea I wake him up like his Mommy for his own business.  He is almost 15 years older.)  I used to sit in the car and wait but now I make coffee at home and bring breakfast and lunch.  After a few months into this new routine I realized I could just sit on the couch and relax, get a ten minute cat nap in @ 8:40 a.m.

So about a month ago I was kinda rushing him on bequest of my Dad because of a new employee.  He was deliberately stalling minutes at a time on purpose.  When he came up and saw me laying on the ottoman, he was hostile! He said “if your gonna fucking rush me then you better be outside in the car waiting” I was SHOCKED.   {Sorry for all the capital words I am in a mood)

I have tried to reach out to him on numerous occasions and work on things but he seems to think I am the aggressor and I treat him badly and when I point out various things he does that are mean and nasty, he tells me I take things to heart.  Well yea duh I have one. And I am told by many people its a big one, sorry don’t mean to brag. But I  Swear sometimes I think his is locked up.

Maybe to you my readers this seems frivolous.  And I get that.  I guess you need to know more about our relationship and it’s decline. [Hint hint – guess you better stick around for more info) But I think these things go against basic respect for another person – especially a close family member.

I choose not to elaborate any more right now because I am so hurt and angry from the incident yesterday to something else that happened today that I fear if I go on I will go off on too many tangents and begin to sound a little too far out there.

Please share thoughts and insights – good or bad all is welcome and appreciated. And any sharing you do is too!

Thank you for listening and please keep on keeping on with me, I am working to at least get one post out a week and maybe start adding some other Pages type content for your viewing pleasure.

Any suggestions – anything you want to hear about or hear more about – let me know 🙂

Guest Post #1

Ari Meghlen of The Eternal Scribbler asked me to be a Guest Poster on her blog.  I graciously accepted.  Below is the link to that post.  Please do check it out and then explore Ari’s site.  Especially if you are a writer of any kind her site will help you in so many ways.

My guest post on The Eternal Scribbler got me nominated for The 2016 Liebster award.  Check out my previous post for more information on that!

https://ilionessblog.wordpress.com/2016/06/12/nominated-the-2016-liebster-award/

 

Thank you for stopping by.  All views, likes, follows and shares are greatly appreciated!!!

 

 

Nominated: The 2016 Liebster Award

SHOUT OUT TO:  Brenda @ https://cyberneticblonde.com/

She Nominated me for the 2016 Liebster Award.  I didn’t even know of such an award and I am flattered at the nomination.  Brenda and I just found one another after my guest post on another blog ( see previous post).  She likes my stuff and I like hers. Very thought provoking posts and amazing images she finds to use that are related to her posts. You will definitely not be sorry visiting her page.

 

My favorite Blog right now is:

https://theeternalscribbler.wordpress.com/

Written by Ari Meghlen. I found it through WordPress Reader and I am so happy I did.  Described as “tips, tricks and tutorials for writers” it is ALL that and then some.Ari is intelligent and well spoken.  She brings a personal feel to her writing and you feel an instant connection to her.  I was engulfed in her blog from the first visit.  I visit daily now because she has so much useful content.  Ari and I have also chatted via email and she even invited me to do a guest post on her blog.  https://theeternalscribbler.wordpress.com/2016/06/07/guest-post-am-i-really-a-writer/comment-page-1/#comment-223. She is down to earth and makes you feel like a friend immediately.  That is so refreshing especially when you have questions or want more information on content she has posted.  Her tutorials are a MUST SEE.  They are proving to me invaluable as I trudge along my personal discovery journey and my writing journey.  If you check out MY blog you will begin to learn more about me lol.  After all Ari is the reason I got nominated so HUGE thanks to her.  Because of my guest post on her blog I got found by Brenda and nominated. So please check The Eternal Scribbler out.

 

TEN RANDOM FACTS ABOUT ME:
1. I am allergic to Penicillin

2. My eyes are Blue

3. I cannot ride a Bicycle

4. I love the Crime Genre (Books, TV, Movies Etc)

5. I don’t sleep with a top sheet

6. My middle name is Alice

7. I have two lions tattooed on my back

8. I only eat Onions in Onion Rings, and only occasionly

9. I have a Dog, A Cat and  Fish

10. I have two birthmarks

 

MY NOMINATIONS:

1. The Eternal Scribbler – https://theeternalscribbler.wordpress.com/
2. CyberneticBlonde – http://cyberneticblonde.com/
3. World of Horror – https://amirhoseinghazi.wordpress.com/
4. Anna Kaling – http://annakaling.com/
5. Dirty Sci-Fi Buddha  – http://dirtyscifibuddha.com/

 

OFFICIAL RULES TO ACCEPT AND PARTICIPATE IN THE NOMINATION FOR

THE LIEBSTER AWARD:

http://theglobalaussie.com/the-official-rules-of-the-liebster-award-2016/

 

QUESTIONS FOR MY NOMINEES:

1. What is your biggest regret?
2. Name a run down bar in your community?
3. What is the scariest thing to ever happen to you?
4. Do you believe in ghosts?
5. Do you watch the olympics?
6. Who is your inspiration?
7. When do want to retire?
8. Why do you read other blogs?
9. Name 3 Serial Killers?
10. Where do you want to travel the most?