Three 31


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BIG ANNOUNCEMENT … 12.12.12 Link-Up

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Calling all bloggers ……. mark your calendar for Wednesday, December 12 and join the 12.12.12 Link-Up hosted by Yours Truly here at Three 31.

The theme of your 12.12.12. post must focus on the number TWELVE (12).

Be creative and original. Make a list. Make a collage. Share photos you’ve taken. Show off all those DIY or craft projects you’ve accomplished (or failed) in 2012. Whatever you wish!

Here are some other suggestions:
12 recipes
12 photos
12 tips for ____
12 favorite blog posts
12 favorite Pinterest pins
12 best/worst Tweets or Facebook posts
12 lessons learned in 2012

Then, on Wednesday, December 12, come back here to Three 31 and add your post’s URL to the link-up widget at the bottom of my 12.12.12 post. You’ll have the opportunity to visit other blogs participating in the 12.12.12 Link-Up with a simple click of the mouse. Easy-peasy!

You still have plenty of time to prepare your post and join the fun. In the meantime, share this link-up by adding this button to your blog or Facebook page. You have my permission!

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Get those creative juices flowing and start preparing your 12.12.12 post. Share and promote this on your social media pages and encourage your friends to join the fun!

See you on 12.12.12. =)

 


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POLITICAL FUNNIES (a guest post)

 

I don’t know about you but I’m so over the politics — debates and election — of 2012. The commercials are on my nerves and November 6 can’t come soon enough. Politics are a private matter for me, and it’s been that way since I started voting at age 18.

The emotions coming from coworkers, family members, and Facebook friends are very strong and, in some instances, cruel and mean.  I’ve even seen comments threatening to un-friend anyone who disagrees with their political candidate or opinion.

REALLY?!?!

You’re willing to dismiss all opinions that differ from yours to the point you don’t care?? Hmm, let me know how that goes when the election is over and you need a friend!!!! Sometimes, I want to un-friend a person for being so obnoxious!!!!! But I won’t. Regardless, nobody’s going to convince me to vote their direction in response to inappropriate statements and rants.

Facebook and Twitter have mostly been the two places that I see the political rants day and night. Perhaps, now that I think about it, I should unplug from both social networks so I am not exposed to all the angry comments. I have no intentions of telling anyone WHO I’m voting for, but I promise you I AM voting. I believe we all have a voice and our vote counts.

In the meantime, and the rants continue, I’m going to enjoy the light-hearted cartoons such as these I found on Pinterest:

I’m so glad Nicole asked me to guest post on her blog while she is currently on a mission trip to Haiti. She and I met in-person a while back at the DFW Bloggers event. We had an incredible evening drinking wine, painting on canvas (even though we both decided to keep our day jobs!!!!!!), and meeting all the lovely ladies who we follow in the blog world. We could light a small city with our smiles, don’t you think?!

 


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{ a few random things }

This week, I’m volunteering in the church office while the staff person is on vacation. So far, I’ve answered a few phone calls and provided three families with meals from the food pantry. By doing this, I’ve had a distraction-free workplace and been able to format the church’s monthly newsletter and work on personal blog posts. Today, I plan to finish worship bulletins, an announcement sheet, and media slides for Sunday morning. Later this evening, I’m leading a contextual Bible study class.

I registered my blog on the Coast To Coast blog directory. I think it’s super-duper-fan-tabulous that bloggers all over the U.S. are registered. Last night, I found a blog from a girl in Evansville, Indiana (close to where I grew up) and several bloggers in the Dallas and Fort Worth areas. What a great idea, thank you Shane at Whispering Sweet Nothings!!!!!

I found an opened bag of Skittles at the bottom of my over-sized L.L. Bean bag. I did the trusty-rusty smell test. Then I ate the colors of the rainbows … in this order: purple (yuck!), green (ewww!), yellow (blah!), orange, and red (YUM-O!).

The quest to fill 20 suitcases for the mission trip to Haiti officially began today. A very generous person ~ I won’t mention their name ~ delivered a box of condoms. That’s very thoughtful. Thank you.

My friend redesigned her blog. She’s hosting a celebratory giveaway. She rocks my socks and I’m tempted to get in the car and drive to Virginia Beach tonight to hug her neck.

I finished reading an e-book on my Kindle late Tuesday night (morning) and at 3:42am (GASP!) I realized I was reading 50 Shades ….book two … for the third time. Oh, Christian Grey.

Husband and I have gone to the gun range twice in two weeks to “shoooooooot summmthin.”
Actually, we’re shooting paper targets. But we act like nerds by using funny voices when talking about guns, ammo, and target practice. It’s a blast.

I’m going to Washington, D.C. next week.

Let me set the scene for you: I’m in my car with the windows down and the radio LOUD. At a red light, I’m singing a Jason Aldean song really LOUD. A truck pulls up beside me with its windows down too. The driver tunes his radio to the same station and cranks the volume up LOUD. I acknowledged our mutual likeness for country music finery with a nod and quickly sped away in my 4-cylinder Camry. Speedy McSpeedy, baby! Wait, was that guy flirting with me? ~OR~ do we both have great taste in music? ~OR~ was he trying to disguise my voice? Things that make you go HMMMMM.

I’m begging Husband for *TWO* Basset Hound puppies … name them Hatfield and McCoy.

This week, I joined a blogging network specifically for Southern Bloggers. HOLLA!

I will begin a blogger’s button swap on July 1. This is exciting stuff for someone who knows NOTHING about the inner-workings of a blog site and has zilch-zero-nada talent in the graphic design department. My button is really simple. BUT it was made using Photoshop. Import a picture ~ add a text box square ~ edit the font ~ VOILA! I know, my skillz are crazy-mad.

I am a comment-holic. I really like when people comment on my Facebook posts, Twitter tweets, blog posts, anything ~ basically ~ where someone else leaves their feedback. I like that. I like the connection. I wish people commented more. I really feel all warm and fuzzy inside when I have comment notifications. How sad am I?!

So, friend, what’s new with you?

Of course, I ask that question in hopes you’ll leave a comment.

Tee. Hee. Hee.


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Sunday Social ~ Week One

Neely and Ashley have created this weekly Sunday Social link-up and, while I’m a bit late, I’m happy to participate. Besides, this is something I really enjoy about blogging: meeting other bloggers. Check it out!!!!!

Sunday Social

How did you come up with your blog name?
Three 31 is our anniversary date. Husband and I were married on Saturday, March 31, 2007. It was a pretty awesome day and full of fun too. I’d do it all over again tomorrow!

What is your favorite thing about blogging?
The friendships I have made for sure. I would really love to go on a vacation trip with several of my gal-pals that I’ve met through blogging.

What have you have discovered because of blogging and now can’t live without?
Two things: my Kindle Touch and Nikon DSLR camera. Both were recommendations of Lisa.
I never thought I would enjoy the Kindle as much as I do and my photos are getting better.

Facebook or Twitter? and why?
I’ve used Twitter more in the last month than I have in two years, but Facebook is still my favorite. Perhaps that will change as I learn to utilize Twitter better. I’m new to all this fancy-schmancy stuff. I don’t even TEXT, who would’ve thought I’d be able to blog?!

If one celeb read your blog who would you want it to be?
I would love if Bethenny Frankel read my blog. I’m not a stalker – REALLY! – but I watched her on Martha Stewart’s The Apprentice, The Real Housewives of New York, Bethenny Getting Married, and Bethenny Ever After. I’m really excited about her new talk-show starting this week on FOX, it’s produced by Ellen DeGeneres (my second choice for celeb blog reader!!!!). Y’all don’t think I’m a stalker, do you?

What is something you want people to know about your blog?
It’s not perfect ~ it’s far from pretty ~ but it’s 100-percent me. The stories, the experiences, everything on here is authentic, real, and genuinely me. I wish more people commented because a comment, to me, is a real connection to my blog’s readers. I respond to every one of them because I care and I appreciate the person who spent the time reading my post and sharing their thoughts. I’m a comment-holic, I admit my disease. I also want to be acknowledged and accepted and comments make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.

 

Until next week’s Sunday Social,


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get connected …… pretty please

When I’m not home being Husband’s Wife or at school substitute teaching, I’m heavily involved at my church. In addition to attending the weekly worship service on Sundays and Wednesday night Bible study, I coordinate a book club (small group ministry), assist with outreach events (including mission trip leadership), and I’m also the editor of the monthly newsletter. Doing these effectively would be impossible without one major component:

* COMMUNICATION *

Last week, I spent several hours in multiple conversations regarding the communication (including marketing and public relations) efforts at First United Methodist Church in Joshua, Texas … it’s an exciting time and I’m glad to be a part of the team!

All this talk got me thinking about Three 31 and how I engage with blog readers.
I’m thankful to every person who reads this blog and I sincerely hope that readership continues to increase, as well as the number of comments posted. I make it a priority to reply to every comment that’s posted because it’s important for me to acknowledge your thoughts. I really appreciate the time you spend on this page.

In the spirit of encouraging you to CONNECT with me, I’ve compiled a myriad of ways you can do so right here with social media:

  • Subscribe via email to this blog, Three 31
  • *Friend* me on Facebook
  • *Follow* me on Twitter
  • *Follow* my boards on Pinterest

I encourage all of my blog readers to *SUBSCRIBE* via email to Three 31. This way, every time a new post is published, it’s immediately sent to your inbox.

* * * * * * * * *

Now that Facebook is a publicly-traded company, I’m anxious to see the changes (if any) made to the social media giant. Join me on Facebook.

* * * * * * * * *

I’m a self-proclaimed Pinterest addict but I really enjoy this collection of pin boards. If you are on Pinterest, please FOLLOW me. If you would like to join the madness, send me an email and I’ll help you get access!

* * * * * * * * *

Are you a Tweeter? Me too! Join me on Twitter (@nmhutch). By the way, I get extremely giddy when somebody re-tweets or replies something I’ve posted. I know, my ability to be entertained is easy and pathetic.

Happy Weekend to ya!


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#photoadayMay – Group 2

Thanks to fatmumslim, I’m participating in her #photoadayMay this month. Want to join me? Check out her site!

Here is group TWO of my photographs:

May 6 — ME!

I really hate for my photo to be taken. I cheated and took a photo of my Facebook wall on the computer screen. Let’s move on.

May 7 — someone that inspires me

There are so many people that inspire me. I’m blessed with incredible people from all walks of life that guide me, teach me, challenge me, entertain me, and nurture me. For the sake of this post, I’m breaking the rules because I did not take this photo of Lisa. Besides, it’s hard to take a photo of someone who lives in Virginia. Please, visit Lisa’s blog and tell her I said hello.

May 8 — a smell that I adore

It’s hard to describe the smell in the back woods of western Kentucky. Luckily, I have this picture from a trip to Kentucky last summer ….. I’m on a roll of breaking the rules, so forgive me …… that takes my breath away every time. The trees, the water, the sky, it’s peaceful, sacred, and, most importantly, it’s my Kentucky home. I miss it. A lot.

May 9 — something I do everyday

Humor me. I doubt the world is ready for the offspring Husband and I have the potential of creating. It’s better for everyone that I take these pills every day. Seriously.

May 10 — a favorite word

Again, my sense of humor is on overload.

This photo challenge is really difficult for me. I don’t take my camera with me wherever I go on a daily basis and I’m always scrambling to complete this goal. I envy those with cell phones that take pictures. I won’t bore you with the ancient features of my cell phone: it dials numbers and receives incoming calls. Is there an app for that?!

Anyway, happy shootin’ and see you next week for Group 3 photos!

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