Wow-Another Bloggaversary!

Last year I had a drawing to mark the one year mark to my blog. On May 30th, a second year milestone was reached and it escaped my attention completely.  I guess that means blogging has become such a part of my routine, I don't even think about it any more. The first year brought wide sweeping changes to my life, but the last 12 months have kind of fallen into the same pattern as blogging-pretty routine. DD#2 starting high school and being in all things possible sure has kept me busy. We got our Washington DC vacation in, but other than that, I've been a side line player to much of the activity around me. My children, family, and friends traveled, took on new jobs and social outlets, and I was an onlooker.

I suppose there is comfort in stability, and the fact that things are not in surprise and turmoil, except maybe in my own brain, is what I needed for a year. However, I don't do complacency well.  I tend to get lazy when I get complacent, and I feel a bit that is what year two was like. I road the coat tails of others. I'm not looking to immerse myself in excitement, but I'd like to enhance this creative outlet. I don't have any elaborate goals for the following 12 months blogging wise, but have subscribed to or signed up to have a YouTube channel  to potentially get some video up of cooking in the kitchen, bargain hunting, and my out and about trips. If I could persuade a few people to join me, perhaps some coffee talks about books or movies could be posted. I've been exploring the world of more mature vloggers, and there are not many of us out there. Why should we let the millennials have all the fun? 

First is to get a half decent camera with video capabilities. I have been hoarding a $100 and a $40 target card for going on two years now to put towards one, and I don't want to learn a new profession so it must be simple to use.  I've played on YouTube with an old video from DD#2's Middle School finale taken on my little camera. She'll be behind a music stand, up from the piano, down from a tall boy in a tie, wearing a white vest. Don't let her small mouth movement fool you. The boy playing the piano is an incredible musician. I hope this works and hope you enjoy-you're my test subjects.

In the mean time, I'll keep plugging at the other social media that I have taken baby steps in.Feel free to find me at these places, and as always, your feedback positive or negative, if coming from a place of good, is appreciated.

Twitter
@samandcoffee65

Instagram (good luck there-nothing posted at all)
@samandcoffee65

and my Facebook page
Sam, Coffee, Money, and Thyme

Winner to the Anniversary Giveaway

Thank you for sharing this past year and bear with me as I reflect a bit before getting to the winner. I started the blog for a variety of reasons, most importantly as a outlet for the ideas, thoughts, and noises that spin in my head, and thought this could be a way to harness the chaos. Over time I settled on a theme of looking for more simplicity, relevance, and intentionality in my life.  I decided to write about things that bring me joy  but also the challenges I and others may face in having a joyful life.  I used anyone reading to talk to about a few life decisions, and to share my angst about decisions of others. I've written about simple things like baking bread and making soup, and using old church cookbooks.  Some posts were about  happy times, and others about sadness and loss, and several of you have written comments back and it is so appreciated. What a difference a year makes. 

I've by default brought a few others along for my blog world ride. There is my husband DH, daughters DD#1 and #2, and my son DS.  You've met pup, and pig, though sadly, pig was only with us for 8 months. The biggest loss and change was that of my father in law.  Not suddenly, as he has had chronic heart issues for over a decade, but too soon all the same.  This loss was after losing both my parents, my sister, and her husband within the last four years. I dealt with surgery and recuperation, and learned to let my standards and expectations for Christmas change, and realized simpler doesn't mean inferior. I left a  job I used to love, but had been wearing me down to a soul less drone the last two years, and found a place where I think I truly am going to fit in. It has been only three months, but the air feels lighter all around me.

I have met other bloggers, literally from all over the world, whose lives are so different in some ways, but not so different in others. I feel like a bit of a groupie with some, hanging out on my dashboard with my blog list scrolling waiting for the next post. It fascinates me that some of the bloggers do this as part of gainful employment, yet some of the most popular as measured by their follower numbers, just like to give of their knowledge and ideas.  That is pretty cool.  I did go ahead and sign on to the AdSense option with  blogger. This was out of curiosity, though I can admit I did think it could be a nice little splash of cash to put towards future dreams. The tiny amounts are laughable but maybe the coffee a day or two once I settle in the UK will be courtesy of my blog readers. To wrap up my year, I invited anyone reading to  make a comment over the last10 days or add my blog to your follow list, for a chance to be put in a 1st Anniversary Giveaway.  Hailing from the great state of Minnesota, the prize will be a gift basket of all things Minnesota.  While I cannot pack a lake, hopefully the winner will get a kick out of some of the things in the basket. 

And the winner is Frugally Challenged. FC has been a constant reader, and this seems fitting.  Congratulations and thanks for reading everyone.

The Giveaway name drawing bowl.

$3.00 Office Space

I'm going to work out of the office this morning.  It will be quiet in the office anyway, leading up to a three day weekend. I have a mid-afternoon meeting, but this will allow me to miss about 15 minutes worth of traffic by not driving peek rush hour. In the next few months, I will be adding more and more telecommuting days, so I decided today to plant my self in a local Dunn Brothers and test out a coffee shop as my remote office. While mostly I intend to just work from my own home, sometimes I need a little extra noise and stimulation, besides a better cup of coffee than I can make at home, to get my mind really producing.

Veteran remote office worker friends have their schedule almost to a science.  My friend A, who worked for years as the Executive Director of a start-up non-profit, spent at least 50% of her job on the road, and was always in a green light go mental state. She would have crashed if she tried to work from home more than a day a week. She coordinated her coffee shop offices with other meetings and appointments she needed to fit in, but essentially had three main hubs, one in St Paul, another in a  Minneapolis neighborhood near her home, and one near downtown. She would purchase her muffin or scone and a large cup of dark roast, and be set for the morning. A family member, L, who works in publishing, remote offices in coffee shops in or near book stores, preferably independent versions of both, for her office. 

I won't be of the ilk that A or L are, but I am trying to see if this works. Not to miss an opportunity to research, that is, be nosy about my people watching, I decided to scan the shop. Most people are coming in and out very quickly, beverage in hand, and I can see a  drive through four deep with cars. Inside, there is a trio of women discussing life and 31 Bags, and passing around samples of what I think looks like Tastefully Simple catalogs or flyer's. I know the bags, in fact am carrying one now, and I know that is what they are discussing because each woman has a couple with them, and one commented to me while I was getting my cream, "Did you know 31 has a bag with almost the same pattern as your shirt?" I get it.  This is a home shopping, small business owners, networking brain trust. There were two other men with laptops typing away, when I came in, but both have since left.  I see a couple students and a few tables with people just talking.There are still ample empty tables and the fireplace area is free, so at present I don't think I would be overstaying my welcome working here an hour or two. It is still too early for the mommy crowd that I have noticed on other days, and at other coffee shops, that seem to congregate mid-morning.

My large coffee was $2.56, quite pricey when I can brew a moderately, but not nearly as strong, good brew at home.  I left the change in the cup, making it $3.00. I have awesomely fast Internet speed.  I like that.  It is pretty good at home, but I find spotty patches and glitches still occur even after the upgrade.  I'm in a relatively sunny spot by a window and can gaze out and see green, but mostly I am seeing cars driving through town. I managed to snag a comfy deep seat chair, so using my lap as a desk.  I work better this way than I do in the office, though ergonomically, I am probably doing everything wrong for my future posture. At home I have my beloved chaise, and can look out at my own front yard.

My verdict? While this might be a nice change of pace, It will be a rare occurrence in my telecommuting cycle.  I think I would rather work early from home, and if I want a  different scenery, schedule a late breakfast or lunch with someone. Today, since I am in the office later anyway I dressed for work.  Normally if I telecommute, I'll be able to work in the comfort of whatever I feel like putting on, or even stay in my pajamas if I want, though that is not likely. I don't want to perpetuate a telecommuting stereotype. If I would work remotely, but out of my own house, I would feel like I still need to dress as if going to work, though it is a work casual environment. Who else out there combines home offices with coffee offices?  What are your reasons for doing both, or are you a predominantly coffee commuter?  

 Anniversary Giveaway

Only 8 more days until I tick the box on my to do list that says, Start and Maintain a Blog. I wasn't going to consider it a done deal until I made it one year.  Remember to add a comment if you want to a chance for a Minnesota package giveaway. By the way, Dunn Brothers is a Minnesota based company, and may be featured in the basket, though I am not receiving any gift, benefit, or sponsorship from the company. I mention for trivia value, and enticement to enter! Did I mention, you can comment on any post between now and before 9:00 a.m. Minnesota time to enter?  Now I have. 

Anniversary Giveaway

May 30 marks my one year anniversary of launching this blog.  In honor of my ability to stay at it for a whole year, and in sincere appreciation for everyone who has read, commented, or shared anything I wrote, I'm having an anniversary give away. To enter, comment or send me an e-mail on any post starting with this one. You'll get an entry for each comment or e-mail sent. If you follow my blog, thank you to all three of you, or start to follow, you automatically get an entry. On May 30th, 9:00 a.m. US Central time, I will put all names in my big yellow mixing bowl, and draw a name. If you want to comment, but not be in the drawing as I will need to follow-up to get the winners mailing details, just mention you are opting out (but thank you for still participating).

I've been noodling what to give as a prize. As I love reading blogs from all over the world, but think there is something fine about my own back yard, I have decided to put together a Minnesota Care package. It isn't complete yet, but think wild rice, salted nut rolls, and maybe a piece of kitsch or two. I might be breaking the bank on postage, but I am not going to limit who can enter. This is a celebration after all. 

Just a sample of what might be in the prize...