You Asked, I Instagramed

Hello lovelies!  I hope you had a great Easter yesterday, that you ate too much and celebrated in a way that helped you feel more loved.

Yesterday I tweeted for people to send me their questions and I would answer them.  The way I intended to answer all the questions was through my Instagram photos. So let's let the questions and photo answers begin.

Question -  Can animals have a spirit animal? 

Answer - YES!  Every animal has a spirit animal.  The thing about animals and their spirit animals is that their spirit animal has to be a celebrity.  Determining who your pet's spirit animal is can take some time and effort.  It took me six months to figure out who Penny's spirit animal was.  I only know now because her latest haircut was probably too short and she looked like a different dog.



 

After I took her "After" photo I knew who her spirit animal was, Matthew McConaughey.  They both can be a the height of their physical game, and they both can transform their physical appearance to look ragged and gaunt.  They also both like playing the bongos naked.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="630"] via[/caption]

 

Question - What does one wear to a jam making party? 

Answer - I think the answer to this is quite obvious, DJ Kitty shirt.  Wearing an equally unique shirt for a unique party is a must.  It will help you harness your pun making abilities and spread the love because we are jammin'!



 

Question - What is the hot color for Spring and Summer? 

Answer - According to my alter ego, LIttle Miss Coral, the hot color of the season is coral.

 



 

Question - Should I ever leave my phone at home and take time to enjoy the world around me?

Answer - NO!  That is the worst thing you could ever do.  What if you forgot your phone while you were walking your puppy around the neighborhood and you see the saddest fire hydrant in the world? How would you be able to photograph it and caption the photo "whomp whomp?"  Good thing I had my phone when this event transpired.



 

Question - How do I build better relationships with my neighbors?

Answer - Take your dog for an early morning walk so that she can relieve herself and go number 2.  Then plan to have her go more number 2 than she have ever gone in her life.  While you are cleaning up after your dog, because you are a good human who cleans up their dog's poop, have the neighbor boy run outside and have your dog run away from you.

In the process run after your dog and attempt to untangle her leash.  While you are at it make sure you do not tie up the poopy bag.  Hopefully some of your dog's poop will make its way on the neighbor boy and your friendship with the neighbors will be solidified.  You will even exchange hand written letters.



I also blogged extensively about this instance, which you can read here and here.

 

Question - Is Siri a man?

Answer - It is my experience that it is best practice to just ask the source.



 

Question - As an English Teacher I am sure you have the best book recommendations.  Can you please recommend a book that will make me laugh, cry, and think?

Answer - Yes I can do that.  I recommend the award-winning canine literature favorite Sorry I Pooped in Your Shoe.  You won't be able to put it down.



 

Question - I have been trying to lose a couple of pounds.  Do you think I need to lose weight? 

Answer - I think I will just let this photo speak for itself.



 

Question - Do you think Miley Cyrus is negatively affecting the youth of the world?

Answer - According to a recent Gallup poll young ladies reporting increased incidents of tweaking and tongue sticking outing.  The number of these incidents has risen an outstanding 23487%



 

Question - When does life begin? 

Answer - I look for all my answers to life's biggest questions in the card aisle of Target.  I think I have found just the card to answer your important question.



 

This concludes today's edition of You Asked, I Instagramed.  If you would like to ask a question for a future post feel free to email me at ericajacquline@gmail.com.  You can also follow all of my Instagram ways here @ericajacquline

Blogging, Beaching, Running

This weekend was so jam packed with fun and friends I totally need a day off to recover from it all!

A weekend of OC Bloggers, brunch, beach views, and the Brea8K race!

The weekend started off with an OC Blogger event.  I saw Melyssa advertise it on her blog The Nectar Collective that there was going to be a brunch for Orange County, California bloggers and I felt like I had to go, and I am so glad that I did.

The event was held at Great Over Good in Santa Ana and was a perfect, creative space.  It was a joy to meet other bloggers in person, eat some amazing food, and pretend I am crafty.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="717"] I made a craft and even tied a ribbon on it. Please do not notice that the ribbon could have been shorter.[/caption]

One of my favorite movements came from Jess from Jess Loves This Life.  As soon as she met me she said "Penny!" and I knew I would love her.  I told Penny she had a fan and she has been unbearable ever since!

[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="717"] Jess from Jess Loves This Life![/caption]

Another highlight for me was meeting Rachel, Nicole, and Raewyn in person. I had already read their blogs so it was cool to meet them face to face after reading and sponsoring their blogs.

I think the best part of the day for me on a personal note was not just meeting more bloggers, which was amazing, but being encouraged that pursuing my PhD was the right thing to be doing.  I was kind of getting discouraged and considering not doing it next year.  Some of the ladies that were there were are actually working as professors already or were in school.  They totally gave me the encouragement I needed to know that I was making the right choice and that even though it would be hard it was worth it.  Um hello working 3 days a week!

After the brunch I decided I needed some "Erica Time" and went down to San Clemente for a few hours to walk around and soak up the beach.

I love San Clemente.  It is my favorite beach town to just go and hang out and shop, eat and walk along the beach.  It is not overcrowd like some of the beaches in Southern California and it is relaxed and welcoming.

While I was there I tried my hand at using my camera a little more and took a few photos to document the lovely day. The first four photos were of a cute little shop on Del Mar that had awesome shabby chic furniture and handmade signs. I would have spent my whole paycheck there if there was a way to get it all home.

Then I went down to the pier and took some photos of the scenery.  Sorry if you do not like beachy ocean photos.  This would be the time to quite reading my blog if you hate beauty.

[caption id="attachment_891" align="aligncenter" width="620"] San Clemente Pier[/caption]





I also had the opportunity to participate in an 8K this weekend, I thought it was a 5K but whatever, I owned it.

Truth be told I didn't run that much. I ran enough so that when I say "I ran in an 8K" it isn't a lie.  It was a very fast walk though and I beat all those old people and children so that as all that mattered.  If you are thinking about a 5K or 8K or half marathon or whatever, just do it.  It was really fun and not at all terrible.

[caption id="attachment_894" align="aligncenter" width="620"] I ran in the 8k Brea Classic and the picture a stranger took of me was tragic so all you get is this to prove I did it.[/caption]

One last note before I leave you for today.  I just want the world to realize I am so smart when it comes to hockey.  I made the following prediction on Friday's post, A Girl's Guide to Olympic Hockey, and I was right!  If only I was in Vegas at the Sports Book and I could have made a few dollars.

[caption id="attachment_868" align="aligncenter" width="600"] Bam! I called it![/caption]

Linking up with Rachel and Emily today as I provided a wrap up and I am grateful for the great weekend I had!

I also ail be continuing my series on starting a blog tomorrow with the following theme:

How To Grow Your Blog - Live and Learn

Today I am happy to join the party over at The Craft Practitioner and pals for Live and Learn Thursday.



One of the things I have been living and learning this month has really been in relationship to my blog.  I have had a huge increase in readership and interactions this month and I have loved every minute of it.  The more I learn about blogging the more I love it and want more of it.

I have noticed some of the biggest blogs do a few things and I totally gave into their peer pressure.  Here are the things that I now do or own and the result has been a more visited blog.  The truth is probably due to some great giveaways, but for today this is how i lived and learned on how to grow my blog.

Take a DSLR photo of yourself

This does not mean take a lot of photos with a DSLR camera, or even buy a DSLR camera.  All you need to do is take a photo of yourself holding a DSLR camera.  Borrow one from your uncle, neighbor, or Best Buy take a photo and slap that bad boy on every social media outlet you have.  Let the world know you were in the presence of a DSLR camera, thus legitimizing your blog.

 

Get a Dog

This one will be a little harder to fake.  Sure you can take a photo with a friend's dog now and then but if you do not post pictures of your fur baby at least twice a day none of us professional bloggers will believe you.  This will probably be the largest investment you can make for your blog.  So far Penny has cost me 16 crap loads (that is an exact figure.)   But the joy she brings me when I get 20 likes on Instagram is irreplaceable.

Get in a relationship

I have been told I am too picky when it comes to dating.  Once I lowered my standards and just dated people to have blog material I became much more relatable and open.  Instead of looking for my Thor-like man to hold me in his incredibly buff arms I can date guys who play Playstation hockey and then tell you they are pretty my Thor or a NHL player and you ÷don't even know the difference.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="508"] I would like you to meet my boyfriend.[/caption]

Write about blogging

Blogger cannot get enough of blogging.  I mean it is like our black tar heroin, I am not even sure if that is a thing i just heard about it once on the street. I am telling you my posts about blogging are my most viewed posts.  For example Things This Blogger has Yet to Say and Best Blogs To Sponsor.  Now this post will be up there with the huge posts about blogging in the past.

This is of course all in good fun! 

I loved working with Lindsey on this post.  She is the very sweet and crafty lady over at The Crafty Practitioner.  You should read more of her posts about Live and Learn.  You will also be so jealous that she did not make your birthday party Lorax themed when you see what she did for her son's birthday.

She is a Nurse Practitioner and a crafter.  She does a great job of sharing her love for people and her love for crafts on her blog.  You can follow her on Bloglovin, Twitter, and Facebook.

The One With Christmas Photos

It is the second day of the New Year and I am just now posting my Christmas photos.  I hosted Christmas at my little condo this year.  I took a few photos of the condo and my family.




[caption id="attachment_362" align="aligncenter" width="640"] So I am not crafty or fancy, but I thought it was cute.[/caption]



[caption id="attachment_364" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This is as close to a granddaughter my mom is getting.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_392" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The floor is littered with Penny's toys. She is a little bit spoiled.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_366" align="aligncenter" width="640"] My grandma made a big tada over looking "natural" in a picture. I think it looks awkward so yes, she achieved her natural goal[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_368" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The cousins.[/caption]

[caption id="attachment_369" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Our little family![/caption]

[caption id="attachment_370" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Merry Christmas from Penny and me![/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="640"] I made the photo on the mantle. It was described as "The Best Christmas Gift Ever!"[/caption]