My wonderful, lovely, amazing, intelligent husband gave me one of the best xmas presents EVER!!!!!
He gave me a website to help promote myself as a writer. He took time to create it and set it up. He took some time to read (dreadfully I am sure- since my writing isn't his "type" of choice, seeing how it isn't a manual of some kind or technical.)
Please check out my website and like my new Facebook page as well.
cldoering.com
https://www.facebook.com/CLDoeringmodernlit
Check back often. My goal is to write more this year and "publish" more on my site, Facebook page, my blog, and my examiner.
I have a lot of other goals too. My next blog may be my goals. If I put it out there I may be more likely to achieve them right?
May be you can help push me towards reaching them! Are you in?
Thursday, December 27, 2012
My (xmas) and bday wish list
Kitchen towels
Kitchen wash clothes
Hand towels for 3 bathrooms: (blue, yellow, and light blue would work)
Bread Maker
Bras from Victoria Secret
Trifle Bowl
Grater
Boots (whatever is in style now size 8 or 8.5) (and boots with the fur)
Good walking shoes
Oven Mitts
Major wish list:
Photographer classes
Editing/Query Letter Writing course
An editor and a publisher
Resume and cover letter writing service
A new job
Happy Shopping
Now that the holidays are over I need to update my list since my birthday is only a few short months away:
Bread maker
Bras from Victoria Secret
Boots
Good walking shoes
Dress shoes for work
A year paid membership to Weight Watchers
A family membership to the Union Terminal Museum Center
Passes to Kings Island for me and the kids
Zoo pass (not sure when mine expires but I think I have sometime on that)
Photography classes
Editing/Query letter writing classes
An editor and a publisher
Resume and cover letter writing service
A new job
I will add items as I think of them.
Please feel free to purchase any of these for me ;)
Much love-
Crystal
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Merry Christmas
I know I am a day late, but I wasn't feeling the best yesterday. We had a great Christmas Eve and Christmas Day here at our house.
My holiday started on Sunday with Yule, it was a wonderful, cold outdoor ritual hosted by someone of the Viking path.
On Monday my mother in law came over for dinner and gifts. Right before bed we went out and sprinkled Magic Reindeer food on our front lawn for Santa's Reindeer. We came back in off to bed. Clayton had a hard time falling asleep and about 10 PM or so I had to go up and lay with him. Jeff, thank goodness, came to wake me up a little after 11. I was lucky this year that I didn't have anything to assemble, just packages to open and put batteries in. I did have a couple of gifts to wrap for the family, but that was a fast job.
Jillian climbed in bed with us sometime Christmas morning, but didn't ask to go downstairs, I am not sure she realized that Santa had come. Shortly after I heard Clayton's feet pounding on the steps, he didn't bother to come get us up. I had to yell down to him not to touch anything and Jillian sprang from the bed to join him. I woke Jeff up and told him he better hurry and get up.
My favorite part of Christmas morning (well besides seeing the kids get excited about their gifts) is staying in my jamies and sleeping off and on all day. Clayton told me that he used his new camera to take a picture of me sleeping on the chair, hehe I did the same thing to Jeff last year. I really had an excuse to be sleeping, I was not feeling well at all. We watched a couple of the new movies that the kids got for Christmas: The Lorax and Puss and Boots. Of course I didn't get to see the whole movie of either movie. Thanks Joe for cleaning up as I dozed. At 3 o'clock I got a phone call asking if we were coming to dinner at my parents. Apparently dinner was at 3 PM this year and I didn't know it. My dad asked if I was going to call and find out. My feelings were a bit hurt because of course I started to assume things. As I cried Jeff asked me why I was so upset and I told him I was and I didn't even want to go. He told me "don't go". We went of course, but we were closer to 4 than 3. Everyone was eating and almost done by time we walked in. I was grouchy and snappy towards my brother. I felt like everyone was whispering about me, again assumptions. Come to find out all that I had assumed before we left the house was not true and I will never know if my other assumptions are true or not. After dinner the kids opened gifts and played for a while. My mom was pretty sick and she laid on the couch most of the time. Good thing the babies wanted to snuggle with her on the couch. My night ended falling asleep on the couch watching The Grinch on TV.
I was woke up this morning with Clayton in my face saying, "Why are you still sleeping? Look at the time." I rolled over to see the clock, it was 9 AM. Man I couldn't believe my kids slept that late. As a matter of fact Jillian was still sleeping. I had to peek in on her to make sure she was still breathing. So far today we have made fortune cookies with Jillian's fortune cookie maker, Jeff and Clay worked on their wooden cars, and played in the snow! Playing in the snow was great! The kids went sled riding down our front hill, Jeff and Clayton had a snow ball fight. Jillian was supplying Jeff with giant snow balls. Now me and Jillian are snuggling on the couch warming up and Jeff and Clayton are building Star Wars Legos. The plan is to go have dinner at City Barbecue here in a little bit.
My holiday started on Sunday with Yule, it was a wonderful, cold outdoor ritual hosted by someone of the Viking path.
On Monday my mother in law came over for dinner and gifts. Right before bed we went out and sprinkled Magic Reindeer food on our front lawn for Santa's Reindeer. We came back in off to bed. Clayton had a hard time falling asleep and about 10 PM or so I had to go up and lay with him. Jeff, thank goodness, came to wake me up a little after 11. I was lucky this year that I didn't have anything to assemble, just packages to open and put batteries in. I did have a couple of gifts to wrap for the family, but that was a fast job.
Jillian climbed in bed with us sometime Christmas morning, but didn't ask to go downstairs, I am not sure she realized that Santa had come. Shortly after I heard Clayton's feet pounding on the steps, he didn't bother to come get us up. I had to yell down to him not to touch anything and Jillian sprang from the bed to join him. I woke Jeff up and told him he better hurry and get up.
My favorite part of Christmas morning (well besides seeing the kids get excited about their gifts) is staying in my jamies and sleeping off and on all day. Clayton told me that he used his new camera to take a picture of me sleeping on the chair, hehe I did the same thing to Jeff last year. I really had an excuse to be sleeping, I was not feeling well at all. We watched a couple of the new movies that the kids got for Christmas: The Lorax and Puss and Boots. Of course I didn't get to see the whole movie of either movie. Thanks Joe for cleaning up as I dozed. At 3 o'clock I got a phone call asking if we were coming to dinner at my parents. Apparently dinner was at 3 PM this year and I didn't know it. My dad asked if I was going to call and find out. My feelings were a bit hurt because of course I started to assume things. As I cried Jeff asked me why I was so upset and I told him I was and I didn't even want to go. He told me "don't go". We went of course, but we were closer to 4 than 3. Everyone was eating and almost done by time we walked in. I was grouchy and snappy towards my brother. I felt like everyone was whispering about me, again assumptions. Come to find out all that I had assumed before we left the house was not true and I will never know if my other assumptions are true or not. After dinner the kids opened gifts and played for a while. My mom was pretty sick and she laid on the couch most of the time. Good thing the babies wanted to snuggle with her on the couch. My night ended falling asleep on the couch watching The Grinch on TV.
I was woke up this morning with Clayton in my face saying, "Why are you still sleeping? Look at the time." I rolled over to see the clock, it was 9 AM. Man I couldn't believe my kids slept that late. As a matter of fact Jillian was still sleeping. I had to peek in on her to make sure she was still breathing. So far today we have made fortune cookies with Jillian's fortune cookie maker, Jeff and Clay worked on their wooden cars, and played in the snow! Playing in the snow was great! The kids went sled riding down our front hill, Jeff and Clayton had a snow ball fight. Jillian was supplying Jeff with giant snow balls. Now me and Jillian are snuggling on the couch warming up and Jeff and Clayton are building Star Wars Legos. The plan is to go have dinner at City Barbecue here in a little bit.
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Candy cane sleighs
Candy cane sleighs
Just in time for Holiday gift giving. Check out my Examiner page to find out more about these cute and easy Candy Cane Sleighs.
Just in time for Holiday gift giving. Check out my Examiner page to find out more about these cute and easy Candy Cane Sleighs.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Sacred Self Care Tea Party
If you have a Sacred Self Care Tea Party- let me know, share your experiences, thoughts, and pictures
Sunday, November 18, 2012
Tips on Holiday Tipping
What to give those who make your life a bit easier:
Baby sitter: Tip the cost of one baby-sitting gig with a handwritten note from your child. Or go the DIY route and give hot cocoa mix in a mug and a card that your child made.
Day- Care Provide: Give $25 or less (cash or gift card). Or go the DIY route and prepare some fudge.
Your child's Teacher: Make sure you check the school's policy on giving gifts to teachers. You might chip in for a present from the class or get a bookstore gift certificate for $10.00 to $25.00. Or go the DIY route and organize a neighborhood drive for books to donate to the school library in the teacher's name.
Hairstylist: Tip the cost of one service, but if you tip throughout the year, you can skip this. Or go the DIY route by making them some homemade goodie or make Sun-Dried Tomato Olive Oil (go to allyou.com for recipe.)
Newspaper Carrier: Give approximately $15.00 in cash. Or go the DIY route and make some sweets to eat.
Mail Carrier: Choose a gift valued at less than $20.00. By law, postal workers may not accept cash. Or go the DIY route and make a fleece scarf (see crafts-for-all-seasons.com to learn how).
Great Deal on Emailing a meal: You can buy digital gift certificates to one of 18,000 eateries at restaurant.com. Score 4 worth $25 each for just $20 total at restaurant.com/allyou.
*Thanks to All You magazine, Issue 12, December 14, 2012 for these great tips and links
.................................................................
Baby sitter: Tip the cost of one baby-sitting gig with a handwritten note from your child. Or go the DIY route and give hot cocoa mix in a mug and a card that your child made.
Day- Care Provide: Give $25 or less (cash or gift card). Or go the DIY route and prepare some fudge.
Your child's Teacher: Make sure you check the school's policy on giving gifts to teachers. You might chip in for a present from the class or get a bookstore gift certificate for $10.00 to $25.00. Or go the DIY route and organize a neighborhood drive for books to donate to the school library in the teacher's name.
Hairstylist: Tip the cost of one service, but if you tip throughout the year, you can skip this. Or go the DIY route by making them some homemade goodie or make Sun-Dried Tomato Olive Oil (go to allyou.com for recipe.)
Newspaper Carrier: Give approximately $15.00 in cash. Or go the DIY route and make some sweets to eat.
Mail Carrier: Choose a gift valued at less than $20.00. By law, postal workers may not accept cash. Or go the DIY route and make a fleece scarf (see crafts-for-all-seasons.com to learn how).
Great Deal on Emailing a meal: You can buy digital gift certificates to one of 18,000 eateries at restaurant.com. Score 4 worth $25 each for just $20 total at restaurant.com/allyou.
*Thanks to All You magazine, Issue 12, December 14, 2012 for these great tips and links
.................................................................
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Sample and Coupon tips...
The craze around town now is Couponing. And many of us (I'm not included in that us) save tons of money and get many items for free. I try to coupon, I get the Sunday paper, I cut coupons, I try to use them once I'm at the store, but I usually only save 20 bucks if that. I often find expired coupons in my bag, I spend a lot of time searching for the product on the coupons and end up buying the generic brand because it seems cheaper. And many of the coupons say you have to buy 2 or more to get the savings, to me that doesn't always seem like savings.
I know a few people who coupon and do very well at it (I should have them teach me), but since I suck at it I look for other ways to save a buck or two. One way I do that is through freebies or samples.
Here are some of the latest samples and freebies that I have found:
Kleenex.com has a "promotion" going on right now. You buy Kleenex, get a code, enter your code on their site and you can send a care package to a friend or relative. The Kleenex® Brand Care Pack includes: lip balm, 1 oz. hand sanitizer, coupon booklet, Kleenex® Brand Share Pack, Kleenex® Brand Slim Pack, and card redeemable to download four songs from up and coming Universal Music Artists
To request free samples from Walmart go to InStoresNow.Walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-and-Savings.aspx
For samples from Poctor and Gamble go to PGEveryday.com/pgeds/pg-brandsaver-samples-coupons.jsp
For Target go to Samples.Target.com
For Kraft First Taste go to KraftFirstTaste.com
Look for coupons on convenience store refrigerator doors and shelves.
Check out the Library for cheap or free weekly newspapers that will usually contain coupons.
Going to the Post Office? Pick up a Change of Address packet. It contains coupons for hardware stores, dry cleaners, furniture outlets and restaurants.
When you order something off line, make sure you check the packing slip and box carefully for any coupons or discounts the company may have sent you.
Do you have your own tips or tricks? Please share them with me, so I can share them with others!
Happy couponing!
I know a few people who coupon and do very well at it (I should have them teach me), but since I suck at it I look for other ways to save a buck or two. One way I do that is through freebies or samples.
Here are some of the latest samples and freebies that I have found:
Kleenex.com has a "promotion" going on right now. You buy Kleenex, get a code, enter your code on their site and you can send a care package to a friend or relative. The Kleenex® Brand Care Pack includes: lip balm, 1 oz. hand sanitizer, coupon booklet, Kleenex® Brand Share Pack, Kleenex® Brand Slim Pack, and card redeemable to download four songs from up and coming Universal Music Artists
To request free samples from Walmart go to InStoresNow.Walmart.com/In-Stores-Now-Free-Samples-and-Savings.aspx
For samples from Poctor and Gamble go to PGEveryday.com/pgeds/pg-brandsaver-samples-coupons.jsp
For Target go to Samples.Target.com
For Kraft First Taste go to KraftFirstTaste.com
Look for coupons on convenience store refrigerator doors and shelves.
Check out the Library for cheap or free weekly newspapers that will usually contain coupons.
Going to the Post Office? Pick up a Change of Address packet. It contains coupons for hardware stores, dry cleaners, furniture outlets and restaurants.
When you order something off line, make sure you check the packing slip and box carefully for any coupons or discounts the company may have sent you.
Do you have your own tips or tricks? Please share them with me, so I can share them with others!
Happy couponing!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Black Friday Shopping tips
It is hard to believe that the time for Thanksgiving and Christmas shopping is right around the corner. I have a few tips that I have inquired from Women's World magazine that should help us all out a little bit.
1. Check sites such as BFAds.net and BlackFriday.GottaDeal.com for early copies of Black Friday circulars.
2. Compare prices on site such as: BlackFriday.com, Bizrate.com, or PriceSpider.com
3. Plan your route, make sure you read the small print in the ads. Some stores may have 1,000 items on sale and another may only have 20. You will need to decide which store to hit first. Having a bargain buddy could help with this (see item #5 )
4. Call ahead and see where things will be located. You can also check on line to see if the store has a posted a floor plan map. A lot of stores pass out the floor plans for deals while you are standing in line, others have them as you enter the store. It is always better to check online first to help plan your route ahead of time.
5. Bring along buddies to help you. Divide and conquer in a couple of ways. One way to use the buddy system is to go to different stores to get different deals at the same time. Another way is to go in different directions in the same store to get deals.
6. Have a shopping cart guard. Between crowds and very narrow aisles it is almost impossible to navigate a store with a shopping cart on Black Friday. Your arms can only hold so much and if you leave your cart unattended everything you worked so hard to obtain will be gone in seconds. So have someone stay with the cart while you go and seek items. If you have someone waiting in a big ticket item line they are perfect for watching the cart and in exchange for them watching the cart you can go out and get other deals for them.
8. When waiting with a buddy for a great item to be reveled have a plan. Which one of you will get what, from which side, how, and where to meet once you are done. Please be careful not to beat up the person you are working with, we all know things can get crazy sometimes. (Sorry Nikki- I promise this year not to beat you up. Jillian is talking about Monster High Dolls this year so we may need up in that mess again!)
7. When checking out head for the cash registers to the left of the store. We are programmed to go tot he right which leaves the registers to the left not as crowded.
Other tips and tricks:
1. Keep track of who you need to buy for and what you are getting them. Print out a free Christmas gift organizer at: Household-Management-101.com/christmas-gift-list.html, iMom.com/tools/seasonal/christmas/money-saving-christmas-gift-planner, or Ellinee.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/giftplanner.pdf.
2. Skip the sweet sugar snacks, pop, and candy while shopping. Instead get a burger, pepperoni pizza or other high- protein snack.
3. When possible sniff something lavender: lotion, candle, perfume. This will help you feel calm and serene in seconds.
Good luck and happy shopping.!
Do you have some tips or tricks you would like to share?
I will be posted my funny Black Friday Shopping stories soon and I would love to hear yours!!!!
1. Check sites such as BFAds.net and BlackFriday.GottaDeal.com for early copies of Black Friday circulars.
2. Compare prices on site such as: BlackFriday.com, Bizrate.com, or PriceSpider.com
3. Plan your route, make sure you read the small print in the ads. Some stores may have 1,000 items on sale and another may only have 20. You will need to decide which store to hit first. Having a bargain buddy could help with this (see item #5 )
4. Call ahead and see where things will be located. You can also check on line to see if the store has a posted a floor plan map. A lot of stores pass out the floor plans for deals while you are standing in line, others have them as you enter the store. It is always better to check online first to help plan your route ahead of time.
5. Bring along buddies to help you. Divide and conquer in a couple of ways. One way to use the buddy system is to go to different stores to get different deals at the same time. Another way is to go in different directions in the same store to get deals.
6. Have a shopping cart guard. Between crowds and very narrow aisles it is almost impossible to navigate a store with a shopping cart on Black Friday. Your arms can only hold so much and if you leave your cart unattended everything you worked so hard to obtain will be gone in seconds. So have someone stay with the cart while you go and seek items. If you have someone waiting in a big ticket item line they are perfect for watching the cart and in exchange for them watching the cart you can go out and get other deals for them.
8. When waiting with a buddy for a great item to be reveled have a plan. Which one of you will get what, from which side, how, and where to meet once you are done. Please be careful not to beat up the person you are working with, we all know things can get crazy sometimes. (Sorry Nikki- I promise this year not to beat you up. Jillian is talking about Monster High Dolls this year so we may need up in that mess again!)
7. When checking out head for the cash registers to the left of the store. We are programmed to go tot he right which leaves the registers to the left not as crowded.
Other tips and tricks:
1. Keep track of who you need to buy for and what you are getting them. Print out a free Christmas gift organizer at: Household-Management-101.com/christmas-gift-list.html, iMom.com/tools/seasonal/christmas/money-saving-christmas-gift-planner, or Ellinee.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/giftplanner.pdf.
2. Skip the sweet sugar snacks, pop, and candy while shopping. Instead get a burger, pepperoni pizza or other high- protein snack.
3. When possible sniff something lavender: lotion, candle, perfume. This will help you feel calm and serene in seconds.
Good luck and happy shopping.!
Do you have some tips or tricks you would like to share?
I will be posted my funny Black Friday Shopping stories soon and I would love to hear yours!!!!
Wednesday, July 18, 2012
Hello and welcome
Hello everyone and welcome to my blog. Let me tell you a little bit about myself: I am 36 years old, I have been married for 7 years (our 8th anniversary is coming up), I have two children; my son is 6 (going to be 7 very soon) and my daughter is 4. I have been teaching for 12 years in public schools, I love to read and to write. I have written many short stories https://sites.google.com/site/cldoeringstoyoumydarling/ and poems https://sites.google.com/site/poetrybycldoering/. I have also written one full manuscript but have not submitted it yet. I also have started a few other novels, but it will take time to complete them. I write for Examiner.com in their Cincinnati Children's Crafts http://www.examiner.com/childrens-crafts-1-in-cincinnati/crystal-doering.
My ultimate dream is to become a famous writer and teach a few courses at a university. I would love to be able to "stay home" and have more time to write, take care of my house and be with my children.
Oh there is so much more I would like to say, but I think this is enough rambling about myself for now.
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out my other pages and come back to this one often.
My ultimate dream is to become a famous writer and teach a few courses at a university. I would love to be able to "stay home" and have more time to write, take care of my house and be with my children.
Oh there is so much more I would like to say, but I think this is enough rambling about myself for now.
Thanks for reading and be sure to check out my other pages and come back to this one often.
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