Tuesday, July 22, 2025
I thought today would be a fun chit chat where I talk about random things that aren’t enough for a post in and of themselves.
First, I generated this image with AI. Is that why it has two handles? Oh man!
Blogging:
I am having fun blogging this summer and keeping to my normal schedule. I hate that many blogs loose steam in the summer because that is when I always had more time. Sometimes I feel like a broken record and that I need to infuse some new-ness into my blog.
I am struggling to respond to comments but it’s very important to me that I do respond if someone has taken the time to leave one. I only want to be on my computer for an hour in the morning and then the comments trickle in all day and oops – when do I respond? What do you do if you are a blogger? I had the idea to get back on the computer while I am waiting on dinner to cook? I don’t know. I don’t love to respond from the app on my phone because typing there takes longer, so I really would love to respond on my laptop at some point in the day.
My mom’s house/estate:
My mom’s house has been on the market since the end of June. We haven’t had any offers yet. Do I worry? Molly and I really want to get it sold but Kate is chill about it and is in no hurry. We haven’t had to do any work to speak of this summer in regards to it so that is really nice for Kate and Molly who start school back before we know it and who wanted to enjoy their summer. We have all had nice time to process my mom’s sudden death at the end of January. We talk openly about what it looked like for us to have all the stuff to handle in the second semester of school.
Cleaning/Dog hair:
We have had three chocolate labs and this one sheds way more than the other two did. I have decided that the dry Swiffer is as good as anything for getting up the hair. I also just use a good old fashioned broom and dustpan. Then, I can run the Dyson stick over the surfaces.
One problem – this is really the only thing I can’t do with press on nails – I can’t push the Swiffer cloth into the four holes so I devised a chopstick method and use the chopstick to press it into the holes. I also use a chopstick to clean out the Dyson stick canister.
Chopsticks – they’re not just for your Chinese food.
Also, how many times did I just say the word chopstick?
Tom/Amy Shower Shelf Battle:
In the three shelf shower wars, I came up with a new plan. I have dedicated the middle shelf to shaving – for both of us.
I also got smaller shampoo and conditioner bottles for me and I really like this brand which is a bonus.
I felt that this was very giving of me.
Cleaning/Decluttering:
When I have the urge to shop, I like to declutter. This book is really good but I am just skimming it.
She says when there is a statistic she has probably made it up!
Here is an example of what happened last week. I get really excited when someone recommends something whether I needed it or not.
Kat James talked about these Pixi products – ph reactive lip and cheek. It looked so pretty on her. Now, these prices won’t break the bank, but I went and cleaned out my makeup and saw some things I forgot I had and was pretty happy.
A blogger recommended this doohickey and I added to cart. I cleaned out my closet and realized I had a lot of pants/skirt hangers and that I also had shelving to fold my shorts. I wanted a better frother but then I changed my batteries in my current frother and got the desired frothiness.
It’s all too easy to add to cart, right? And, I still might get some of these things but a 72 hour holding period is a good idea!
For Michigan, sisters and I created a thank you gift for Neal and his wife. We brought products from our three states – mostly food things. I brought bourbon mustard and Ale 8 bbq sauce. I had it on my list to go buy a bag for the gift but I found one in my cabinet that would work just fine. I also was going to go buy a new cooler just for Michigan but we used one we had. So, when we use things we have we save money and we reduce an errand for ourselves.
We have covered some topics today!
What would you say over a steaming hot cup of coffee with two handles?
Amy
Coffee and Cocktails at the Casa 
I know this is random but I love the wood in your shower- so so cool!
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Thank you so much! We still love it!
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The struggle is real when it comes to responding to blog comments. I used to do all my responses on Saturday mornings but now I try – taking lots of liberties with the word – to respond when I see the notification in my email. But between those comments, Tik Tok and IG and my job, it’s a lot.
xo,
Kellyann
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Thank you for making me feel better! It is very time consuming, but I want to do it. If it get overwhelmed, I have started putting that in my next blog entry – that I haven’t gotten to all the comments yet.
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hahaha! That cup did make me chuckle. I didn’t even notice the two handles until you said.
I tend to only respond to comments on my blog if someone asks a question but I do try to recipricate and comment on their blogs.
hahaha! Good use for the chopstick. I don’t envy you having to clean all the dog hair up. x
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I like the two handles on a mug- it gives the drinker options! Use two hands/handles, use one- the choices are endless, er, you have two of them!! I like blog posts about random things. Just normal life things/happenings/thoughts/products, etc. I like other kinds of posts, recaps and whatnot but random life things rank high for me :). As for responding to comments, I appreciate a response but, goodness, it’s not expected and certainly no time frame is expected. I think everyone understands that a blogger has “life” to do that precludes devoting lots of time (and certainly a timeframe) to commenting. When/if you have the time to respond do so then. Have a great Tuesday!
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Double-fist it for coffee, love that! We have 2 labs and a rescue that is mostly english shepherd. She sheds the most and it is intense! I finally got a stick vacuum that works well so I don’t have to drag out the Dyson each time. When I sold real estate, the fall was always the busiest time for me, not summer. Hopefully, your offers will come rolling in during those months. Or, a price reduction is needed. Have a great day!
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Responding to comments is tricky. I am never sure if I should reply directly to the comment on my blog, email the commenter if they have email listed, or comment on their blog if they have one. I try to visit and comment everyone who leaves a comment, but it usually takes me more than a day. Not always, but often. I like the Argon too. I switch around my hair products, but that one is in the rotation. I almost always leave things in my cart to think about. Sometimes I go back and wonder why I added it. Have a great day!
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Homer sheds soooo much. We do the same dry swiffer about every other day. Thank goodness he’s cute. I loved the shower wars update 🤣
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The biggest problem I have right now is finding time during the Summer. We have traveled more than normal this year since I became a travel agent, so it’s a pattern of vacation, laundry, repack, rinse & repeat. We have one more major trip at the beginning of August, and then travel is done for 2025. I am hoping to get back into a regular posting pattern. Stopping in from Talking About It Tuesdays!
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I’m not going to lie, I usually lose steam in the summer! But this year, I have truly loved blogging and connecting with so many people. I’m glad you’re having fun with it! Have you ever tried the Olive and June glue for press on nails? It’s really strong! My nails are still on after 3 weeks and I have to peel them off for a new set! You can get it on Amazon!
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I started playing with ChatGPT…it’s fun, but I could use up a lot of time with that. I try to respond to comments within a day or two because WordPress is just weird when you get a backlog of comments. Luckily, we have ivory carpet so Jack’s hair doesn’t show up. Our Dyson stick’s battery died, and Mike got a new one off Amazon. It doesn’t seem to be working. I am with you…prefer a broom and dustpan. We shower in separate bathrooms so no war of the shelves!
https://marshainthemiddle.com
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I received a battery operated stick frother for Christmas and adored it until it ran out of power.
It came with a stand and an adorable small creamer pitcher. I ended up ordering a rechargeable stick frother from Amazon. I charge it at the beginning of the month along with my chocolate labs’ flashing collars.
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We have one shelf in the shower, so you can imagine how that goes. We use the same shampoo etc, so that helps! I know what you mean about the online shopping. I have started “adding to cart” and then waiting a few days. Usually, I have forgotten about the item by the time I go back to look. I was explaining to the kids a few weeks ago about how back in the 90’s, the only thing that told me I had to have something was an ad in a magazine or the Target weekly newspaper ad. What a different time. I feel your pain on the dog hair. Mollie does shed a lot, but nothing compared to our lab/husky mix that we had. I respond to blog comments if I can email back. I don’t go back to the blog post to reply. More often, I just go comment on their blog. I don’t get offended if people don’t reply to comments, unless I ask a specific question. And some days, I just don’t make time to reply unless they ask something. I guess I’m a low key comment style blog!
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That whole section about making up statistics and numbers just being for dramatic effect cracked me up! I love how honest she is about it. So far this month I’ve bought 3 things on amazon– my water filter for the fridge, replacement Dave’s toothpaste as mine was running low and I’ve never seen it in stores, and a new activity tracker watch because mine broke. I’m feeling pretty proud and hardly ever click add to cart anymore!
I just know that is going to come back to bite me in the butt with Alec moving into an apartment on campus next month. I’m sure he’s going to need some more stuff– though we did shop locally at Kohl’s this week for his bedding and bath stuff (because of course the apartment as double and not twin Xl bed and we gave all the bathroom stuff to his old roommate since this year’s dorm/room wasn’t originally going to have a private bath for him but she does).
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We have a Roomba and it is set to go on every day. It does great with pet hair on carpet and on our Luxury Vinyl Hardwood. We rarely have to vacuum with a regular vacuum.
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What a fun post!! Never feel like you have to comment back on my comments – sometimes I go back to check, but unless I asked a specific question I do not. I can’t figure out how to filter out all the comments in Blogger. It’s good that you give yourself a time limit – sometimes I just whittle away the time without realizing how much time I spend! I can only comment on most blogs on my laptop but usually read from my iPad so that is why I comment so infrequently but I am reading!! My mom swears by her Roomba for her dog hair. Maybe you can “save up” all the money you DON’T spend in your 72-hr wait time and justify the expense?? Don’t sweat the house unless it’s costing you a lot of money to keep it on the market? It will sell – it looks like it is a really great place! The timing of everything wasn’t ideal (never can be, right?) but at least you all have been able to relax a bit this summer. I look at it like this – the “right” buyer might not even know they are in the market for a house yet!! It only takes one person, right? When we moved 10 years ago our house was on the market for most of the summer. . .finally people we knew were looking for a rental and we said “OK” and rented it to them for 4-5 years. They were never able to buy it, moved out, and we had an *immediate* sale b/c the same real estate agent that had had it listed a decade ago took it on again and already had a couple in mind – she showed it to them through FaceTime and the rest is history. . .they just didn’t know they wanted to live there 10 years ago so the Lord gave us a way to hang on to it for them 🙂
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What a fun post!! Never feel like you have to comment back on my comments – sometimes I go back to check, but unless I asked a specific question I do not. I can’t figure out how to filter out all the comments in Blogger. It’s good that you give yourself a time limit – sometimes I just whittle away the time without realizing how much time I spend! I can only comment on most blogs on my laptop but usually read from my iPad so that is why I comment so infrequently but I am reading!! My mom swears by her Roomba for her dog hair. Maybe you can “save up” all the money you DON’T spend in your 72-hr wait time and justify the expense?? Don’t sweat the house unless it’s costing you a lot of money to keep it on the market? It will sell – it looks like it is a really great place! The timing of everything wasn’t ideal (never can be, right?) but at least you all have been able to relax a bit this summer. I look at it like this – the “right” buyer might not even know they are in the market for a house yet!! It only takes one person, right? When we moved 10 years ago our house was on the market for most of the summer. . .finally people we knew were looking for a rental and we said “OK” and rented it to them for 4-5 years. They were never able to buy it, moved out, and we had an *immediate* sale b/c the same real estate agent that had had it listed a decade ago took it on again and already had a couple in mind – she showed it to them through FaceTime and the rest is history. . .they just didn’t know they wanted to live there 10 years ago so the Lord gave us a way to hang on to it for them 🙂
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I’m glad you’re having fun blogging. I do too. Oh those Amazon carts. Sometimes I go back to my cart after about a week and I’m like Oh Yah, I forgot I added that. Then I’m like well I really don’t need that and add something else. I have trouble keeping up with comments too. I try to keep on top of them, that and keeping my emails cleaned out too.
Visiting today from Joanne’s
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