Oops!

I must have looked like a crazy person, telling you all I ran a marathon. (Duh, you read my race recap) Error on my part. I have a running blog that’s been private for a while where I used to detail my running. It’s been a bit of a start and go thing (both on the running and on the run blogging) over the years, but I thought I’d try to document my run training for this next marathon cycle coming up.

No, I haven’t signed up yet, but I am definitely thinking about another marathon in October. I’m just waiting on medical clearance for my hip!

Sorry for the confusion!

Should I make the run blog public? I just figure no one cares to read pages and pages of “I ran 7km. It was raining. Good run.” Let me know.

xox,

b

11 things about me

The lovely Amber tagged me in this Things about You post. It’s Saturday evening, my husband is out of town and my dog is snoring. Perfect time to blog

Rules:

[01.] You must post the rules.

[02.] Post eleven fun facts about yourself on the blog post.

[03.] Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post, and then create eleven new questions to ask the people you’ve tagged.

[04.] Tag eleven people and link them on your post

[05.] Let them know you’ve tagged them!

—–

11 things about me:

1. I would much rather eat chocolate than drink alcohol.

2. I really dislike feet (probably because mine are really ugly from years of running/basketball/rugby)

3. When T is out of town, I often mess up setting the alarm and sleep in. The alarm is his job.

4. I’m a terrible backseat driver

5. I eat the same thing for breakfast every day (oatmeal with a scoop of peanut butter)

6. I feel seriously pretentious when I tell people I’m ‘attending graduate school’

7. I have to dress up for my teaching job but I’m most comfortable in my lululemon yoga pants at home

8. I drink coffee on the weekends with T but I really prefer drinking tea

9. I’m often torn between my desire for a quiet family life with my love for bustling city adventures.

10. Now that I have braces, I floss even more than I flossed before. I think it’s bordering on obsessive now. Oral hygiene is very important dontchaknow

11. I’m a morning person. I’d much rather wake up early than stay up late.

—-

Amber’s questions for me:

1 – What’s your favorite t.v. show? Oh, I have a few. My regulars are The Biggest Loser, Grey’s and Private Practice. Being Erica just ended, but it was one of my favourites as well.

2 – Are you living in your dream town/city? If not where would you move? See above with confusion about living location. I do love where I live though – this is an amazing and gorgeous place in the world to live.

3 – Sweet tooth or a lover of saltiness? Sweet all the way. I’d take or leave chips, but put dessert in front of me and you may have to hold me back.

4 – Favorite vacation destination? Mexico was pretty fantastic, but really I could be anywhere as long as I’m with the people I love.

5 – Do you believe in love at first sight? No, but I do think you can know you’ll be good together fairly quickly. I’m a good judge of character.

6 – Hobby? Reading, sewing, running

7 – Do you like to cook? (Fave recipe please!) I like to cook, but I love to bake. My favourite recipe is Sue Mendelsen’s Double Chocolate Cake with Incredible Chocolate Icing (DROOL)

8 – Coffee or tea? Tea.

9 – How many kids would you like to have? In a world where I had unlimited money? 4 or 5. In this world? 2 or 3. I’d really like 3. T would really like 2. We’ll see how it goes.

10 – Is your hair color au natural or coloured? Currently, it’s faded out old colour. My roots are natural

11 – Biggest pet peeve? When people say “expecially”

My questions for you!

 1. Do you floss? If not, do you lie to your hygienist about it?

2. It’s Friday night. What would you love to be doing?

3. Favourite movie of all time?

4. Do you remember your dreams?

5. What’s the worst pick up line you’ve ever heard?

6. If you won the lottery would you quit your job?

7. Do you like mitts or gloves better?

8. Do you use the library?

9. Would you rather travel to the future or the past?

10. How much is too much to spend on a pair of jeans? Shoes?

11. Favourite song of the day?

Tag! You’re it!

Andi @ On Call RN

Aly @ Breathe Gently

Terri @ Sweet Home Alabama

Thoughtsy @ Thoughts Appear

Kate @ Hot Potato Running

Oops!

I’ve been a terrible blogger. Life got crazy. In the last month or so I’ve:

• Finished my first semester of grad school
• Got an A in said first semester of grad school (Can I get a WOOT?!)
• Cut my hair
• Got braces
• Read several books that hopefully if I get my stuff together I can write reviews on
• Ate a whole lot of peanut butter and toast

I will attempt to be around more. I miss all you lovely people!

xox

b

 

Just Breathe

I am running around like a mad woman these days. With papers due, evaluations for my students and work drama, it’s been a heck of a crazy last two weeks.

I’m still here and my lovely project food blog posts are coming, I promise.

Be back soon!

Trying not to have a brain overload,

b

Kate digs me and I dig you!

The lovely Kate from Hot Potato Running tagged me for the I Dig Your Blog award.

Fun, right? Kate, I definitely dig you too!

So, as per the blog award, here are three random facts about me:

1. I hate melons. Watermelon, honeydew, cantaloupe…all disgusting. Don’t like them one little bit.
2. I love filling out forms (and making lists but ya’ll knew that if you watched my vlog)
3. I have absolutely no idea how to ‘do hair’ which is why I’m most often seen in a pony tail, or with down and frizzy hair.

And now, I tag 5 of you lovely people:

A at A Long Distance Love Story

Red Stethoscope at The One With The Red Stethoscope

Aly at Breathe Gently

Andi at On Call RN

Maryanne at Think Sweet Things

Blogging Fail

I knew I’d be a bit terrible at trying to keep up with blogging while living my stupidly busy life right now. Despite being so busy, I feel like I don’t have much to say. How bout I try for some bullets. That might help me get back into some blogging fun.

• Someone at work called me a big flirt. I sort of resent the fact that being friendly = flirting. I don’t really think I’m all that flirtatious of a person. I’m also not sure why it’s bothering me so much.
• Despite the fact that teaching means I leave my house for my regular job at 7:15 am and don’t get home til after 10:30pm, the more I’m doing it, the more I love it. I really feel so much more fulfilled and interested with my career choice.
• My first weekend of my master’s program was last week. I learned to juggle. It seems very laid back but with lots of very interesting (and heated) discussions around health. I’m really looking forward to going back this weekend.
• I made a new friend at school. I was worried I wouldn’t but I’m glad that I’ve found someone who I can sit next to for the next two years
• I did some sewing, but until everyone who I sent them to gets them in the mail (I’m looking at you A!) I won’t post about them. I was very impressed with myself though.
• I got my Erin Condren life planner last week. Unfortunately, I’ve been so busy that I haven’t had much time to sit down and fill it all in. It’s beautiful though (and huge! and heavy!)
• I’m running again. Slowly. Partly because I need to have an active living journal for school. Partly because the stress is starting to eat me alive. I’ve made a 6 month training plan (because I’m crazy and jump head first into exercise) but I’m hoping I can stick to it. I’d really like to tackle the elusive marathon before I have babies in a few years.
• Gus can’t run with me. 6 minutes in and I was dragging him along behind me. If he didn’t weigh 50lbs, I would have picked him up.
• We rearranged our office (T calls it his office, but I have invaded) so that I have my own desk now. I love my little space. Here’s a picture. 

Blurry view of the bookshelf attached to the desk.

• I finally got my early access to Pottermore (I’m a big Harry Potter nerd if you didn’t know) but the site keeps crashing so I haven’t been able to be sorted into a house yet. I do however have a wand. Yes, I’m 25. I know that makes me 100 times cooler in your eyes.
• T has been travelling like crazy so it’s been me and Gus for a lot of September. He still loves T more.
• I guess I had a fair bit to say after all. I will try to be better, I promise

Hope you’re enjoying your Sunday!

xox

b

Can’t stay away forever

It’s been a few months now since I decided to stop blogging and it’s been nice to be away. The pressure to blog (and be entertaining) has gone away and I’ve come to miss being connected more concretely to the blogging community as I knew I would. I’ve been reading the same blogs and following along on twitter and tumblr, but still feeling like I was missing. I know all about your lives and you don’t know much about what’s going on over here. Seems like I’m creeping all the time!

I thought I’d come back slowly. Blogging from my phone (gosh, I’m so technologically advanced!) or randomly as I feel the urge. Hopefully you won’t mind (that is if there’s anyone out there??).

What’s changed in the last few months?

Well, we added this lovely fella to our family:

His name is Gus and he’s a hoot (also, the stinkiest dog known to mankind!). T is madly in love with him and is thrilled to have his life-long dream of owning a dog realized.

I was accepted to my Master’s degree program and am about to start a very very busy way of life in September. I’m thrilled and terrified all at the same time. I’m going school supply shopping shortly – my absolute favourite part of going back to school.

I paid off my student loan (WOOHOO!) after 4 long years. I made cake to celebrate.

Other than that, we’ve just been living our lives, chugging along. Ain’t life grand!

xox,

b

Goodbye, Farewell, Until we meet again

I’ve taken a long time to write this post because I didn’t want to rush into something I wasn’t 100% sure about. After lots of contemplation and discussions with T, I’ve decided that my blogging days are over for now.

There’s so many reasons why I love the blogging community – support, encouragement, love, friendship – and those are the reasons you’ll see me commenting on your blogs still and hanging about.

The anxiety and stress I’m feeling over blogging lately is not the reason I enjoyed blogging in the first place and so after 6 years of blogging, I’m taking it as a sign that it’s time to move on.

Thank you all for impacting my life the way you have!

xox

b

Four Things

Since my life is in chaotic upheaval at the moment and I can’t string two thoughts together, I figured it was time for a meme!

Four Things:

Four Jobs I’ve Had:

1. Dental Hygienist
2. School Supply Packer
3. Cashier
4. Dental Office Assistant

Four Movies I Can Watch Over and Over:

1. The Shawshank Redemption
2. Love Actually
3. Life Is Beautiful
4. The Usual Suspects

Four Places I’ve Lived:

1. Residence
2. Basement
3. Townhouse
4. Apartment

Four Shows I love:

1. Being Erica
2. Parenthood
3. The Biggest Loser
4. Big Bang Theory

Four Places I’ve Vacationed:

1. Costa Rica
2. Boston, MA
3. Calgary, AB
4. Western Caribbean

Four of my Favourite Dishes:

1. Veggie Yakisoba
2. Homemade pizza
3. Veggie Burgers and roasted balsamic cauliflower
4. Chocolate anything

Four Sites I Visit Daily:

1. Google Reader
2. Gmail
3. Twitter
4. Facebook

(oh my gosh I’m addicted to social media)

Four Places I’d Rather Be Right Now:

1. At home in bed
2. Somewhere with my husband
3. Ireland
4. In the sunshine

Four Bloggers I’m Tagging:

1. Go for it! All of you!

(I found this meme here)

xox

b

 

T’s take on Internet Trolls

Hey all, T here.

This is my one (and most likely only) guest post. I don’t tweet, I don’t blog but I certainly do take security and privacy seriously. Recently B had a friend go through some hardship dealing with an internet troll over her WordPress blog. As such, I spent some time doing some investigating and felt the need to highlight some features that exist on the WordPress blog system. (B’s note: I did a brief search on my old blogger address and I can’t seem to find the same features with blogger) These features may help when dealing with trolls or spammers. Before I dive into what you need to do, you really need to know how the internet operates.

When a individual (you) subscribes for internet service via a ISP (internet service provider) that location (home/business) is assigned a IP (internet protocol) address. That IP address, plus the hardware equipment your friendly service provider installs for you (oh, and money too) is how you get to connect to the internet.  Your IP address is unique to your physical location, kinda like a phone number, and there is no duplicate of your IP address out there. Whenever you visit a site, like google.com, it will log your IP address. Organizations out there maintain the limited amount of IP addresses in the world for the ISPs (also, more money). Still with me? Good! For ease of management these organizations maintain the IP address pools by country and region.

Re-cap: You are assigned a IP address by your ISP. This address is unique to your physical location. You need this IP address to access the internet, similar to a telephone number. The IP address at your local Starbucks is different from the one you have at home.

Now it’s story time!

B’s internet friend on WordPress we’ll dub as person ‘Dorothy’. (B’s Note: Sorry, A – I had no control over the name choice!) Dorothy’s blog was suffering from a troll of the worst sort. This troll made harassing and threatening posts on Dorothy’s blog for over a year. One morning Dorothy got out of bed and proclaimed she’d had enough off this internet troll!

Dorothy logged on to her WordPress dashboard. Dorothy selected the ‘Comments’ tab looking for the trolls latest vile spew and notices the IP address under the trolls name/blog/email address (they look like ###.###.###.###) But what can Dorothy do with this information?

Dorothy clicked the ‘Settings’ tab in the dashboard and manoeuvres to ‘Discussion’. Hmm interesting there is this box called “Comment Black List’. Dorothy can then enter the trolls IP address and… Victory is had! Now, all the comments the troll makes will go directly to Dorothy’s spam folder.

While she celebrates in victory she wants to make sure she has black listed all of the trolls IP addresses. She copies all of the IP addresses this troll has ever commented from and pastes them to the ‘Comment Black List’.

Dorothy sleeps well that night knowing she has blocked the troll (for now) and armed with the note pad knows the next steps if the troll does not stop. If the trolls persist, Dorothy can report that troll’s IP address to their ISP using a ‘whois’ search to locate the ISP. A ‘whois’ search is a service that will tell you what IP address is owned by what ISP and governed by what body. Every ISP has an abuse contact method to report offenders! Dorothy also knows that if worse comes to worse she could potentially block an entire country via IP address from visiting her blog.

So there you have it! A happy ending to this story for now.

T

—–

T is pretty intense when it comes to internet security (hence his anonymous face on my blog) and really wanted to post about these crazy internet trolls. I (and many of you I think!) have been lucky enough to avoid them all together. At least now you know a basic way to block them if you need to! Apologies to all you folks who are internet pros and talk of IP’s and ISP’s are basic knowledge.

Anyone know any other blog tricks to block unwanted trolls/spammers? Has anyone else dealt with something like this?

xox

b