Offline Love

Hey everyone!  I apologize for lack of posts this week, the blogging muse just hasn't been calling name- however the novel writing one has, so I'm not feeling guilty one bit.  Except that I miss interacting with my readers. :)

I'm spending the weekend in Baltimore visiting my dear friend Kate and her new twin baby boys!  Jack and Mark who just turned 6 months old!!!  This will be my first time meeting them!

I'm beyond excited and have decided to unplug this weekend in order to enjoy it to it's fullest.  Although I'm sure my camera will be clicking like crazy.

So with that in mind, have a great weekend everyone!

Let me know what you've been up to in the comments!  Or just gush over how adorable these boys are- up to you.

And it feels like a brand new day.

Guess who's back?

The 500 words a day sticker chart!  I wrote those six hundred and five words in my favorite bakery this morning, wearing my ancient Van Morrison T-shirt that I stole from my mom.  And guess what album they were playing while I wrote?

I think it's a good omen.

Dear Last 30 Pages,

I wanna rock your gypsy soul.

Love,
Sarah

Mending the fire. And suffering.

And as season two of Downton Abbey ended with Matthew proposing to Mary (on bended knee because she demanded it) in a snow globe, all was right with the world.  I even finished this episode feeling some affection towards Edith who can't give up on someone who calls her "lovely."  And for Daisy and her new adopted father.

However if they just skip over the wedding in season three and start with Mary and Matthew already married, I will officially be pissed.  You'd think with all of the scandalous kissing, murder trials, burn victims, big babies, and a fist fight, they could give us a single wedding! I can't believe we didn't get to see Sybil marry Branson!  Are you reading this Julian Fellowes?

Moving on.  How painful was the murder trial?  And okay, O'Brein, fine, you can't help your evil ways.  But Lord Grantham quoting Bates verbatim and Mrs. Hughes uttering the word "bitch"?  Can someone send in a lawyer from the 21st century to keep Bates from hanging from the neck until death??  Preferably a TV lawyer, please.  Speaking of 21st century, did anyone else find Lord Hepworth's haircut to be a bit modern and Paul McCartney-esque?



Just saying.

But what really did happen with Mrs. Bates?  Did she kill herself just to ruin Bates's life?  That's my theory.  Will they ever explain the scratch on his face that O'Brein could not help remembering while under oath?  God, I hope so.

Our last viewing party was bitter sweet as we will have to wait until January of 2013 (I'll  feel as old as Methusala by then) to convene again.  And speaking of 2013, we found out that the CBS Sunday morning piece is not airing until the premiere of season three!  Hopefully we will be able to take a break from driving our flying cars by then, and all remember to watch it.

But the Elegant Ladies and one Elegant Lord went out with a bang.  Lady TeeTee set up a picnic dinner for us all right in the field of Downton Abbey.  Behold!

Downton Abbey projected on the wall!  And you can't see it here but those wild flowers were blowing in the breeze!!

And now, the clothes.

Kate in her riding outfit.  Her horse was waiting outside.

Note Tammy's Hook & Lace necklace!

And Jamilah brought a polaroid camera which gave the night and fun retro feel.  And since it was presiden'ts day- we had off on Monday.  The party was almost as fun as the servant's ball.

Untill 2013 M'ladies and M'lords!

Yours & etc., etc.,


Lady SoSo.

Perfect way to spend a rainy Saturday night

Kitties by my side while I read The Golden Compass on my Kindle and wait for the laundry to be done in the dryer.

What are you up to tonight?  Can't wait for the Downton finale tomorrow!!!

Jumpsuit Friday Vlog #5!

Hey Jumpers!  This week's vlog includes special guest Rachel once again, where she shares with us her second jumpsuit!  We're on our way to global domination!  Won't you join us?



And remember to like us on Facebook and Pinterest for jumpsuit updates through out the week!

PS- Sorry about the echo, but at least we got rid of that beeping noise this time!  And for a better look at Rachel's jumpsuit- to get the full sparkly effect, click here!

Button swap!

via

Does a big jar of buttons remind anyone else of their grandmother's house?  

Just wanted to put a call out there for new buttons to swap!  I'm no longer doing monthly sponsorship so if you'd like your button to be shown in my sidebar, it's free and will stay up there for longer than a month.  Just email me with a 230w x 100h button and the link you'd like it to go to!

And if you'd like to take my button, let me know.  Here they are below I can customize sizes too.

And while you're at it, click around on my current sponsors and make some new friends!

Meet the Comment Challenge's Super Commenter Chrissy!

This is what Chrissy used to keep track of her comments.  How appropriate for the Love Challenge!

You left over 100 comments in two weeks!  Did you have a strategy for the way you commented. Was it difficult to keep it going?  Did it get easier towards the end?

I was positively shocked when i counted over 100 comments!  I had to have my boyfriend double check for me.  It was definitely a "go me!" moment. My strategy for the challenge was bravery... I accepted the challenge knowing that my number one weakness when it came to leaving comments was being put off by a blog's "numbers" - a high number of followers and comments tends to make me feel intimidated.  like i'm not "popular" enough to be a part of the cool kids.  But then I thought that I would never want someone to feel like their comments and opinions didn't matter to me as a blogger and I jumped in feet first.

Has participating in the Comment Love Challenge changed the way you read a blog post or comment on blog?

The only difficulty I had was that sometimes "life" got in the way of logging onto the computer to comment.  Too often I will use the ease of a smart-phone to catch up on posts while on the bus or lunch break but it's not easy to comment using that medium.  By the time i got home the laundry needed doing, the dinner needed cooking, 'misfits' was on  the television....things that would keep me from sitting down with a hot drink and focusing on participating in blogging.  But I took my "me time" and made it happen.

What's your favorite part about leaving comments?  What about receiving them on your own blog?

I still read a post the same but there is definitely a difference in my topic while commenting.  Before the challenge, I would sometimes read a post but what would really stick out in my mind was a cute lamp in the background or a small mention of a new magazine or book quote or...whatever.  I would really want to comment on these points but felt like I might be insulting the blogger by not sticking to their main post topic.  Then I thought about how sometimes when I receive a comment on my blog the more "random" the comment, the more it sparks an interest and conversation.  Or even inspiration for a new post!  So now I roll with it.

My favourite part about leaving comments is knowing that although nothing may ever come of it on my end i may bring a smile to someone's face at a time they may need it, may inspire someone, make them think or even make a new friend!  Anything can happen and you never know what may.

As a blogger yourself, do you think commenting and comments are important?

I absolutely adore blog comments!  I love that someone connected with what I put out there and took the time to let me know!

I think that comments are unbelievably important in the blogging community.  After all, we are a people who have chosen to communicate through the writtten word, so it only makes sense that we continue that circle of words.  Support is a wonderful thing.

Tell us about your adorable blog My Dear Watson!

My blog is my place where I can share my successes, challenges, or even just a really awesome thrift find.  It's about what I wore, saw, learned and laughed about.  It's my world and I hope you'll stop by and have a virtual coffee with me.  **http://mydearwatsonblog.blogspot.com/p/about-blog.html**

Thanks so much for your thoughtful answers Chrissy!  I think that this challenge has taught me that as trivial as comments may seem at times, they're actually really important and can impact the blogging world in such a positive way.  I too love when a seemingly random comment provokes conversation or even a blog post idea.  Thanks for all your hard commenting work Chrissy!  I always enjoy your comments on my blog.