This last week I went to a social media Conference in Des Moines Iowa called 140 Character Conference.  At first I was like I know everything there is to know about social media.  And to be honest was not really sure why I was even going. But I learned very quickly that there is so much more out there that you hould know and you should be doing.  I of course came home and put some of my new knowledge to work.

First.  I learned that really I was not being very social.  I was like evryone else and just putting links up to try and get traffic to my sites.  But I was not being social.  When you walk up to someone for the first time do you say.  Http://triciagardner.com.  Well not yet we don’t.  No we introduce ourselfs and make conversation.  So why are we not doing that on Facebook and Twitter?  Why are we so quick to post links and nothing else?  So I come home set up my second computer and run twitter on it all day.  I make it my goal engage in conversations at least five times and I don’t go crazy with links.

Must of that I learned from one of my three favorite speakers at the event, Dave Murr.  Dave caught my attention at the beginning of his speech and kept my attention the hole time.  During his speech I had some serious ah ha moments that I am greatful for.  Now I can become more social..

Another amazing speaker was Ryan Johnson.  He rocked it when he spoke about getting real with social media.  I loved every bit of what he had to say and again there were a a lot of ah ha moments while listening to him.    He also wrote a great post that kind of sums up his speech HERE.

SO here is to me become more social and less linky….

Haylee has had a small crush on Billy the Exterminator for some time and when she got the chance to meet him and get his signature she was at a lose of words.

Since we have moved in the hall closet has become the catch all.

So when this weeks Tackle it Tuesday rolled around I jumped on the hall closet.

Before

After

Before

After

Before

After

My Niece is on the left.. Beautiful girl that we love more than words can explain.

Dear Dad,

I remember when I was a teenager and a young adult I always thought I was right and I always thought I knew everything.  But boy oh boy was I ever wrong.  Now that I have grown up and I have my own family, I have to say that you were always right.

You were right about they will not always be my friends.

You were right about I was running with the wrong crowd.

You were right about being a grown up is not as much fun as it look.

You were right Dad.

It has only taken me 36 years and the loss of you to realize it.

I want to thank you for everything you have taught me.

I appreciate you being a single Father and raising us the best you could.

Thank you for always putting us kids first.

Thank you for teaching me to cook even if we did not always like what you were cooking us.

Thank you for teaching me the real meaning of love and understanding.  You taught me how to be a loving parent and always put my kids first.

I appreciate the way you taught me to always keep a clean house.

I appreciate the way you taught me that making an income for myself was very important.

I appreciate the way taught me how to work on my own car.

I appreciate the way you taught me to be strong and independent.

I appreciate that you loved me no matter what I did and how much of a jerk I was.

I appreciate you letting me be your little girl no matter how big I got or how much I grew up.

I appreciate you not always lecturing me when I so deserved it.

Daddy I appreciate you…

Love your daughter,

Tricia

Now that I am done with that part it is time to get started with the room near and dear to my heart.  My sewing room / second office.  Yes in our new home we have place for me to begin working on my passion.  Rag quilting and sewing.  I am also planning on keeping my extra watkins and office supplies in this room also.

To tackle this project I will be unpacking all my fabric, putting away all my office inventory, and get my sewing machine out and running.  Plus I hope to start putting together my first project.

So below are before and after pictures of my sewing room.

The reason that I don’t post my breakfast is because it is the same every single day.

I drink a Chocolate Shakeology every morning.

Monday

Lunch ~ Pizza

Dinner ~ Chicken Enchilada and Rice

Tuesday

Lunch ~ Turkey Burger

Dinner ~ Steak, baked potato and green beans

Wednesday

Lunch ~ Salad

Dinner ~ Chili

Thursday

Lunch ~ Chili Dogs

Dinner ~ Take Out Thursday

Friday

Lunch ~ Left Overs

Dinner  ~ Chicken Wrap

Saturday

Lunch ~ Sandwiches and chips

Dinner ~ Spaghetti

Sunday

Lunch ~ Meatball subs

Dinner ~ we will be taking J home during dinner time

With this weeks menu I will only need to get about 10 things from the store.  Everything else I already have.

Unpacking the boxes.  Uggghhh… I laid in bed this morning and thought.  Ok you need to get up and start unpacking boxes.  You guys can’t live out of boxes forever.  And to be honest I probably even laid there and argued with myself for a while.  But decided it was time.

Time to get rid of all these boxes and make this house a home.  I think I dislike unpacking boxes the most because it takes me forever to decided where something is going to go.  Unpacking it is the easy part.  Deciding where I should put it and if it looks good is the hard part.

I do have two rooms unpacked.  My office and the dining room so that is a start.  Today I plan on getting the whole main floor unpacked.

That includes:

• Jim’s office
• The entry way
• The Kitchen
• Haylee’s room
• The Living room

My plan is that if I can get these rooms unpacked today then I can start sharing beautiful pictures of the rest of my house.