What Camera Would You Recommend?

It has been snowing on and off the past couple of week sin my neighborhood. Sometimes we get freezing rain and sleet that makes the snowy roads more dangerous. By turning them into a sheet of ice. My street is one street over from the road. The city will not clear the roads unless it is a main street. Thus, my road will turn into a sheet of ice before winter is over.

These were the last winter photos I was able to take with my camera. Before my camera card fell apart. I am hoping to replace my camera card soon. 

If it is too old, it will be time for me to look for another camera. The one I have is ten years old. I do love my camera but it has been through the ringer. Last year, fryer oil was spilled all over it. I was able to save the camera. Now the buttons stick and are hard to push. I plan to use it til it dies if I can replace the camera card. If not, I will look for another one for around $200. As I can't afford to replace the one I have for what I paid for it. 

Have you replaced a camera? If so, what would you recommend for someone who loves to take photographs?

Photos by and © belong to Sandy KS aka rusty2rusty.

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5 Ways To Have a Further Reach With Your Blog

One thing I have done with my blog is experiment with how far my reach can go. Everyone knows the more you promote and gain followers, the further your reach can be. these are my top 5 ways I promote my social media that has helped em gained more followers. I am always working on one or the other to help further my content and the content of other bloggers. I am on many more social media websites where I am currently growing my followers and within my niche.

Here are 5 Ways To Further Your Reach

1. Co-Promote - is a way to promote your content to new audiences, engage with those with similar interests, creating more buzz around your blog, and much more. You need to have your profiles on your social media filled out completely that way others can easily see who you follow and promote. The more similar creators to you are more than likely to share your content. It takes a few minutes each day to promote your content through Co-promote. The more you share others content each day, the higher your reach can go. 

2. Facebook groups - are a great way to promote your content. You can find niche groups to share your content in. Or join share groups where you are required to share from one member to all members who participate in the thread. If you do join groups, please respect the group admins and mods by following the rules. With each group, each has their own set of rules. Make sure to read the description of each group to make sure you are breaking the rules.

3. Twitter - I love how you can share short and straight to the point links to promote your content or other members content. My Twitter is growing every day. I have made it a point to connect with anyone who connects with me. With few exceptions, which would be a failure to fill out your profile. Or those who want to promote sex or share naked photos. I am not into any of that. I won't promote it.

4. Flipboard - Similar to Pinterest. You create magazines of different interest. People can follow you or one of your magazines. You can check your analyze to see which boards are popular and which are not. that way it is easier to get rid of magazines not working for you. Flipboard seems to work better for me when I flip more of other people's content compared to my own.

5. Pinterest - You create boards to share your content and others. I love using Pinterest to find more recipes, DIY everything, and gardening ideas.

Blogging Facts And Questions

Today the topic can be about FAQ business. If you don't write on business, you are given the option of writing about FAQ in your niche or whatever you write about. I don't write on business, I blog. This blog will be FAQ towards blogging on what I know or have learned.

What is blogging?
Blogging is when someone creates a blog and contributes to it by writing a blog post or article.

Why do you blog?
I started blogging when many of the paid to write websites started ripping members off by not paying the members. Or changing the rules at the last minute to not pay members. I wanted a place of my own with my thoughts and opinions. A place where I could create and share help articles.

What do you blog about?
I have two blogs. I have a food niche blog I recently started called "Food With A Plan". It is about creating recipes on a budget. At the same time discussing anything to do with food or the kitchen. I also have this blog "Rusty2rusty's Chatter". It started as a place for me to put my articles when writing websites went down. It has grown it to more of a lifestyle blog featuring articles about pets & animals, home &graden, family & DIY, and writing challenge.

If I was starting a blog today, what advice would you give me?
I would suggest choosing a niche. Or choosing a couple subjects that flow together nicely. You can blog about anything. Yet, if you are all over the place. It makes it harder for people to follow. People tend to follow niche blogs, compared to blogs that are all over the place.

What is a niche?
A niche is writing on one particular subject. It could be travel, fashion, home & garden, DIY, food, etc.

I am computer beginner, could I start a blog?
Yes, you can start out on free blog websites like Blogspot or Wordpress. Set up is easy. Once you get use to it and decide you want to take the next step. You should buy a domain and web hosting. If you don't feel you can do that or can afford to do so. Stick with the free website til you are ready.

Can you make money blogging?
Yes, you can make money blogging depending on what you choose to do. It is not overnight nor instant. It is hard work. Sometimes taking years.

How do you make money blogging?
I use Google Adsense, ads, affiliate marketing, and different programs I have learned about. I also do product reviews where I get a product for free or a deep discount in exchange for reviews. Other people do freelance work, sell articles or photography. There are numerous ways to make money blogging.

How do you grow your blog following?
I promote my articles through different social media websites. Such as - Facebook timeline, Facebookpage, Facebook groups, Flipboard, Google+, Pinterest, Titter, Yummly, Yumprint and more.


Is blogging expensive?
That really depends on how much you want to put into your blog. There are many different things to choose from as far as price. You don't have to choose the most expensive packaging, themes, hosting or plug ins. Many bloggers use low cost or free ones to keep their monthly cost under a certain budget. As they do not want their blogs to cost more to run than they bring in.

Do you recommend free blog service or a paid one?
To be honest, if you wish to make a lot of money, you need a paid website. A free one is great if you don't plan on making any money. This is something I have learned from expert bloggers.

Why should I take your advice?
Good question. I have learned through trial and error what will work with free blogging and what won't. Next month I plan to get my own domain for my food blog. I am not sure if I wish to do it will this blog yet or not. As it is not generalized yet. I do get good views. However, I am not sure if I want to pursue two domains at this time.

Do you have any questions.please feel free to ask?

This month I am participating in the "Ultimate Blog Challenge, I will be joining others in creating a new post each day on my blog in the month of January. To learn more about this challenge, please go to http://ultimateblogchallenge.com/

If you would like to share your posts while promoting others, please apply for membership at "Blogging Friends". You will be asked where you blog at, which you must respond to before you will be allowed to become a member. Once you provide your blog link, you will be allowed in.

Photo from Pixabay a free use photo sharing website.

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What Is A Goal You Have For 2017?

Happy New Years to all those who come across my blog post. I am going to write about my upcoming goals for the year for the 2017 January Ultimate Blog Challenge. (You can learn more about that at the bottom of this blog.) Instead of writing about a New Year's resolution. As I always seem to either never go through with a New Years resolution as I place it to steep for me to obtain, I forget about it. Or I make a resolution to become a better person than I was last year.

2017 New Year Goals

1. To obtain a vehicle. That way I am not dependent on others to take me to where I ned to go.

2. To find alternative ways to communicate with my daughter without all the drama and negativity.

3. To complete a weekend update blog post each weekend about all the post I create throughout the week on any blog or website.

4. To obtain a domain & hosting for each of my blogs. Starting with my Food With A Plan blog.

5. To have a bigger garden. Even if it means gardening in tubs and flower pots. 

What is a goal you have for 2017?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This month I am participating in the "Ultimate Blog Challenge, I will be joining others in creating a new post each day on my blog in the month of January. To learn more about this challenge, please go to http://ultimateblogchallenge.com/

If you would like to share your posts with others, please apply for membership at "Blogging Friends". You will be asked where you blog at, which you must respond to before you will be allowed to become a member. Once you provide your blog link, you will be allowed in.

January Writing Challenges

Each month I write up a month's worth of writing ideas. prompts and challenges. I do this in order to help other writers or bloggers who are having writer's block to come up with something to write about.  I do it as it gives me a monthly goal to write about something different and unique every day. 

If you take one of my ideas, I ask you to share this post that way others can find them too.

January Writing Challenges

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

1. Happy New Year's

2. What is your New Year's resolution?

3. What are your goals for the year?

4. Creative story - 'If I was a snowflake'. Write what life would be like if you were a snowflake.

5. What do you do on a cold day or a day you are snowed in?

6. You look outside your window to see a snowman moving around your yard, finish the story.

7. Write a poem about snow.

8. Sharing a recipe or DIY project using snow.

9. Go on an expedition to the North Pole. Share your experience.

10.  What are the pros and cons of winter?

11. Ten things you can do in the snow.

12. Ways you avoid the snow

13. Imagine having a penguin as a pet. Would it be an inside pet or an outside pet? What would be the day in the life of your pet penguin?

14. Write a story about the abominable snowman.

14. Write a story about polar bears.

15. National soup month - Share a soup recipe or story.

16. Friendly Friday - Write about an app, website or product that is helpful in your life.

17. Ice skating

18. Write about a memory you have of a baby. 

19. Motivation Monday - List what you plan to write about for the week. Plus, give highlights for what you wrote about last week.

20. Snowflakes are unique. Write about how your family is unique. 

21. How to save _____?

22. Snowball fight

23. National Writing Day - Share your handwriting.

24. Opposite day - share a story where things are the opposite of what they are now.

25. Things to do or build in the snow. 

26. Sledding - Share a memory.

27. Write about a blizzard.

28. Fire or fireplace

29. Icecicle, ice or snow photos, and descriptions.

30. Hot chocolate 

31. Enchanted snow fairy

Have fun writing!! 

Do you have writing ideas for January?

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Where I Can Be Me

I took this photograph while I was visiting Texas over the summer. I love this photograph so much I use it as my icon on Facebook and other websites for people to know it is me.

While I was in Florida, I was going through depression spell. I wrote the following poem which I think goes well with this photograph.

Where I Can Be Me

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I know what I am feeling

But do I dare write it out

In the hopes no one sees it

I feel like eyes are all around me

Watching my every move

I hear the voices say

Do this, do that

I try to bring order 

Within my thoughts

Waiting for the love to escape

And bring me peace

When one turns away

No gentle touch

Just a peck on the cheek

Treating me like a sister

It is really hard to fight

This dark accent

I'm waiting for the clouds to part

And allow the sun 

To come shining through

I welcome the night

The darkness I am trapped in

I can hide where no one can see 

Where I can be me.

Photo and poem by Sandy Ks aka rusty2rusty. 

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3 Ingredient Facial Sugar Scrubs

I didn't have much money to get everyone I wanted a gift. Nor did I have a means to go shopping. Except for mom taking me to Big Lots, Dollar Tree, Marshall's, and a few stores in the mall. What made it even harder you ask? My sixteen year older decided she wanted to come along too. She didn't want to stay home knowing I was going to do Christmas shopping.  

I decided to make a compromise and make homemade gifts to hand out. As last year I made a ton of Christmas goodies to hand out. I realized it saved me a ton of money and was able to stretch my budget further. 

I made homemade facial sugar scrubs. I used lavender essential oils to give it a scent. While using food coloring to give it a purple color. I used too much blue and made it a darker purple than I would have liked. 

I handed one to each of my nieces among other people that stopped over on Christmas day. The youngest niece asked if you could eat it. After I explained how you use it. I laughed and said yes, you could. As everything in it is edible. However, I don't think your mom will like you eating all that sugar ay once. 

Facial sugar scrubs make gifts throughout the year. They make perfect birthday gifts. Or something to brighten someone's day.  They are quick and easy to make. Simple ingredients. Plus, you can make them in any scent you like.

Facial Sugar Scrub

1/2 cup coconut oil

3/4 cup sugar

5 to 8 drops of lavender essential oil

food coloring (optional)

You can melt the coconut oil to make it easier to stir. Mix all ingredients together. Place in air tight containers. I used small jelly jars I hand out as samples of any DYI hygiene products I make.

How to use facial sugar scrub -

Rub a generous amount all over the face. Let sit for 45 seconds. Wipe off with a towel. 

After Christmas Clean Up

Yesterday was Christmas. I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas. I was busy like most people. Christmas Eve was spent running around doing last minute errands. 

My little brother and his dad brought over a stove I bought off them for $50.00. I gave them extra money for bringing it as far as they did. Since it was Christmas Eve.

We had to be at my dad and stepmoms by one. We didn't make it til two. As my teen son had to work at KFC. From there we left and stopped in at mom's place. I was glad when we finally made it home. 

Christmas morning was a little hectic to get everything around. As I had to start cooking a meal. As my oldest son, his fiance and my grandson stopped over. My mom stopped over to bringing two of my nieces. 

After everyone left I looked around and seen a massive clean up needed to be done. 

1. Wrapping that was taken off presents needed thrown away. 

2. Food needed put away or thrown away.

3. Dishes needed to be done again.

4. Empty plates and such had to be thrown away. 

5. Floors were swept.

6. Furniture needed to be put back in place.
7. New items needed to find a home and put in place. 

I don't plan on taking the tree down til New Year's Day. I always leave that for last. Today lunch was a vegetable pizza on white sauce. As I am trying to stick with the no meat on Monday. so, far so good.Two weeks with no meat on Monday. 

My neck has been out the past couple of days. My blood pressure has been 170 or higher for several days now. I really don't feel good. I am going to go lay down. I hope you don't have too much clean up to do. 

38 Odd Things About Myself

I seen this challenge on Facebook. I decided to go a little further than simple one word answers on some of the questions. You can use the questions for yourself if you want. Just use your own answers. As this is all for fun.

1. Do you like blue cheese dressing?

Yes, I love it on salads and burgers fresh off the grill.

2. Have you ever snuck out?

No, I was never that brave as a child. My sisters were.

3. Coke or Dr.Pepper? 

I no longer drink soda. When I did, I loved Dr. Pepper.

4. What flavor Kool Aid was your favorite?

Strawberry was always my favorite. Most of the time ki was stuck drinking Black Cherry. I can't stand Black Cherry Kool-aid now.

5. Do you get nervous before doctor appointment?

I get nervous to go to every single one. It always seem like they have bad news but not really any answers to fix something. Except to take a pill.

6. What do you think of hot dogs?  

I only like eating hot dogs cooked on the grill. My teen son loves hot dogs. He would live off them if he could. 

7. Favorite Christmas movie? 

I don't think I have a favorite Christmas movie. As they all seem to be make believe.

8. What do you prefer to drink in the mornings? 

Most mornings I enjoy water. Some times I like a good hot cup of coffee.

9. Can you do push ups?

Not anymore, I am not strong enough. I messed up my left shoulder. Everytime I try to do a push up. I get a sharp pain. 

10. What's your favorite piece of jewelry? 

My cross necklaces would be my favorite. Next would be the ring my boyfriend has got me.

11. What's your favorite hobby? 

Probably photography, next to blogging.

12. Do you have A.D.D.?

No, I don't. Yet my daughter has ADHD

13. Do you wear glasses?

Yes, I have worn glasses since I was 5 years old. 

14. Who was your childhood idol?

Elvis Presley, he came from nothing and made something of himself.

15. Name 3 thoughts you have right now? 

Why did my mother decide to make her dinner on Christmas Eve, when she knows my stepmom and father has held it on Christmas Eve for over 20years? What is her motive? Is she trying to make her daughters choose?

16. Name 2 or 3 drinks you drink daily :

Water and coffee are usually the other thing I drink. Occasionally I will make me a smoothie. Or order a shake when dining out.

17. Current worry :

If I make Christmas dinner on Christmas, will my family eat it? Or will my efforts not be appreciated?

18. Current hate right now? 

No, hate but do have a pet peeve with all the scamming going on. Where people go without to help others. Who turn out to be scammers.

20. How do you bring in the New Year?

Normally by myself.Or my boyfriend  will have it home minutes before it comes in.

21. Where would you like to go?

Anywhere but this house. i have been cooped up to long and starting to go stir crazy.

22. Name three people who will complete this :

I doubt if anyone will. I rarely see other bloggers do fun stuff like this as a way to get to know them better.

24. What color shirt are you wearing? 

Right now, it would be blue.

25. Do you like satin sheets?

No, they do not stay on the bed very well. I tried years ago to buy a set for someone who liked them. I spent more time putting them back on the bed every morning than i did sleeping.

26. Can you whistle?

No, I never learned how. I did try. I finally gave up trying.

27. Where are you now? 

Home on my computer.

28. Would you be a pirate?

No, but I would make a great pirate wench. 

29. What songs do you sing in the shower?

I don't sing in the shower. I never have.

30. Favorite girl name?

As a little girl I would name all my dolls Sarah.

31. Favorite Boy's Name?

I always liked Brandon, which I named my first born son.

32. What's in your pocket right now?

A quarter that went through the wash in a pair of my jeans.

33. Last thing that made you laugh?

Watching my dog, Rascal turn his head away every time I took a picture. Til i said the word treat, than he would look right at me. 

34. What vehicle do you drive?

Sometimes I drive my boyfriend's KIA. As I do not own a vehicle.

35. Worst injury you've ever had? 

Being shot in the right calf.

36. How many TVs do you have in your house?

Three that work. Two are the old style that we can't give away.

37. Do you like to dance?

Yes, I love to dance. My boyfriend doesn't. I haven't danced in a long time.

38. What's your favorite flavor of ice cream? Butter Pecan. If it isn't available I get vanilla. My favorite stand by.