That’s All Folks!

After much thought . . .

After much internal debate . . .

I have decided to stop updating this blog. I could bore you with all the reasons, (privacy, time constraints, other projects) but I just don’t have the time to keep up with it any longer.

BUT, I will NOT be deleting the blog. The few tutorials I’ve done, the links to the freebies I’ve made, the odd knitting pattern I’ve put up . . . those will all stay right here.

Please, feel free to use those, for personal use, as much as you want. And pass a link to my blog to any new digi-scrappers as it’s always good to have some free things to get started!

I love the blogging community. I read so many blogs every day. I, however, won’t be contributing anymore. It just came down to a simple equation. Not enough hours in the day plus trying to limit the amount of information about my kids online.

Thank you all for your support. It’s meant more than I can say. Truly.

I’m still around.

Reading.

Thanks!

And I hope you all find joy and choose happy. Everyday.

Soothing An Itchy Cast

The girl broke her arm.

She has a hot pink, waterproof, cast that she loves.

Except when it starts to itch. Then she starts to beg me to take it off.

And the more she thinks about it, the worse it gets. As I’ve never had a cast, I had no idea how to help her. And is there anything worse, as a mommy, then not being able to help your child when they are uncomfortable?

We tried all sorts of scratching items (knitting needles, spatulas, q-tips) but I know that’s a big no-no. But it’s the only thing I could think of. (I did find that a long ice tea spoon is blunt, smooth, and long enough to get some of the itches.

One of the only times it felt good was when we were in the pool. But we can’t be in the pool 24/7. So, I racked my brain and then remembered we had a bottle of Cetaphil in the bathroom. It’s a very mild soap that can be left on the skin. It can be used with water OR if you can’t take a regular bath, it can be wiped on and gently wiped off, leaving a residue on the skin. That residue helps keep the skin moist.

Hmm.

Two nights ago, after washing and rinsing her arm and rinsing more, I literally poured Cetaphil down her cast. I rinsed, then dumped some more.

She had a few complaints yesterday but NOTHING compared to the last few days.

Last night, I poured dumped more in there, lightly rinsed it through the cast, then poured in a bit lot more and added just enough water so that the Cetaphil would wash throughout her cast.

Not ONE complaint since last night.

I’m almost afraid to ask her.

In fact, I don’t. I’m assuming that if she isn’t complaining, it isn’t a problem!

I love the waterproof cast. The amount of water that goes through that thing should keep her arm clean. We’ve been at our pool, which is not chlorine but salt-water, almost every day. Then showers where I basically hook up the nozzle to her arm and run the water through the cast.

But nothing can stop the itchies.

Or can it?

Let’s hope we found a solution. Because listening to her cry and not being able to help . . . ugh. Worst feeling ever.

============
Remember to click HERE, before July 8th, 2009, if you want a chance to win $250.

Confessions {Plus Glow Freebie}

{edited to include freebie info only}

Now, a freebie.

I posted a layout the other day. My first layout in weeks and weeks. I found a few tutorials at Vunky Search and I couldn't resist playing. A lot of the stuff there was WAY out of what I could figure out. But I read a bunch of them and came up with the glow set of squiggly lines.

Then I threw in some glowing love and a basic gradient background just for fun.

And now, I'm giving them away. Just cool lines to add to a digital scrapbook layout or any photo!

If you like 'em, leave me a comment, here on the bog, and let me know if you want more! They were fun to make (although a tad tedious) and if enough people are interested, I'll put together another set. Something with flowers and little leaves and hearts, I think . . . so . . . let me know!

Click to DOWNLOAD the Glow set of lines!

Blog Statistics and Internet Privacy/Safety

After this post I wrote about my daughter's picture being found on my blog and posted alongside rather inappropriate pictures, I got a few comments and emails about how I track visitors to my blog.

I use two services.  The first one, and the one I use the most is called BlogPatrol. The reason I like BlogPatrol is because it's live.  The statistics are tracked in real time.  I can follow what pages are being looked at and if a freebie is getting noticed right away.

After signing up, you choose a counter to display on your blog page.  I chose the invisible one which is just a little icon at the bottom right side of my blog. Just that little blue square.

And with that, I can see the information in the graph below. This was this morning.  Before I posted.  It shows me I've had about 20 visitors and with the current rate of traffic, I can expect just shy of 50 of visitors for the day.  It also shows me the last few days.  And it keeps about a month's work of current traffic.  Nothing long term.  It's more of an instant gratification type of info!

It also shows me the top 10 pages for the week and the last 10 viewed.

And below is where I found the site that disturbed me so much.  Here I see my top referrers for the week.  If I post a freebie, it's usually blogs such as digifree or ikeagoddess or the3chickens.  If I don't, it's usually people who have me bookmarked or in a reader or such.

The next part is the last 10 referrers.  That's an instant snapshot.  And that's where I had found the offending site the other night.

 

But, what if I hadn't checked right then and it wasn't showing?  Well, I also use Google Analytics.  It's a great site.  LOTS and LOTS of information.  Lots I don't understand how to even interpret.  It collates the data and updates once every 24 hours.  So, although the information is great, for an instant gratification girl like me, I usually check BlogPatrol every day and Google Analytics every few days.

Google Analytics is super clean with fun info. PLUS it keeps the information long term.  Not just a few weeks like BlogPatrol but I can scroll back to when I first started using them to compare stats over time.  This is the home page.  Just hits and page views.

This is one of the reports on referrals. It's very detailed AND it keeps an ongoing record of all sites that have referred me.  I found the "bad" site had sent six hits to my blog.  Now, a few of those were mine as I double-checked things had been deleted.  But it also gives me an overall idea of how people are finding my blog.

And this is just for fun.  I love looking at this one. Stats for all over the world.  Even 15 hits from Sweden! How cool is that?

The two sites don't always agree with their numbers but they are usually close enough to satisfy me.  And I can get a good look at who is looking at my blog.

And finally I'm going to leave you with a video that Amy left me with a link in her comment. I'm still going to post pictures.  Because would this post be as fun without photos?  But I'm going to think twice about what pictures I post, what words I use, and keep names and locations off.

What are you doing to keep yourself safe?

Sick to My Stomach

This isn't a pleasant post.  It's actually quite disturbing.

And I debated if I should post it as it may worry people. But, I do know that I would want to know.

I can be a bit wordy so hang in there with me . . .

When my son started kindergarten I had a sudden revelation that I had been too fast and loose with his privacy.  So I went on a deleting binge.  I deleted all of my digi-scrap layouts that mentioned names.  I combed through my blog to delete all references to the kids names.  I've also kept a web site for my family since I was pregnant with my son.  I deleted it off the internet.  I switched to a blog format and have kept all names off of it.  We will eventually be making our family site private, by invitation only.

This need for privacy wasn't driven by fear of internet predators but rather by a desire to respect my son's privacy.  He's in elementary school now.  As he gets older it's not fair that every child in his class could have instant access to his baby pictures!  But, in the back of my head, I also realized that after so many years online, that there was just too much information out there and I needed to streamline things.

Done.

I felt good.

Ok, I track statistics on this blog.  For no other reason than curiosity.  I like to see what pages get hit.  I like to see where my visitors come from.  I like to see which sites or blogs are referring people to me.  If only so I can go over and visit them.  This weekend there was a new referrer.  And if I don't recognize it, and since I had a few minutes, I clicked to see who it is.

It was from Japan.  And it was a list of photos.  As I wasn't fully paying attention, I just thought cool . . . another digi-freebie collaborator site has picked up my blog.  Heck, I have ones from France and Russia and South America so it didn't really hit me at first.  They all post previews of my digi-scrap freebies and link to my blog.  I love these people.  They drive a lot of traffic to my site and keep my freebies downloading. 

But this one was different.  I saw a digi-scrap layout here and there but mostly just pictures of girls and even a cute little blue dress.  Then I noticed a word in the top navigation that I simply don't associate with scrapbook.  It was a word you only hear in a medical setting or in porn.

Alarmed, I scrolled some more.  And mixed in with the innocuous pictures of little girls was porn.

Ugly stuff.

I actually don't have a problem with porn.  Adult porn.  Do what you want.  Leave me out of it, but it's none of my business.  But start mixing pictures of little girls??  It made me physically sick to look at.

But where did they find a link to *my* blog in this mess??  I scrolled and scrolled.  Eventually I had to look at the source code and I found it.

It was a layout I did a while back of my daughter and a friend's daughter.  Completely innocent.  Nothing sexual in it at all.  Sweet. 

Both the thumbnail-sized layout and the words from my blog were linked. I clicked on them both.  The layout has long been deleted from my digi-scrap gallery.  It came up page missing.  The only thing anyone could see was the tiny thumbnail of the layout.  If you click on the words, it comes up to the blog post I did with that layout.  I've now deleted that post in my blog.  So, when they click on the words, it comes up gone as well.

So, mine is gone.  Just empty pages but these people are out there.  Scrape-ing our photos.  Our layouts.  Our family web sites.  Our blogs.  Using our pictures in a way we can't even imagine.

I called the mom of the friend mentioned in my layout.  We're of the same mind.  There isn't any harm done.  Everything has been deleted and it's all so small that nothing can be read.

But it's still wrong.

Oh so wrong.

And what are we to do?  Hide in fear?  Keep everything off the internet.  Even though my family is scattered across the country and they enjoy the pictures and stories I post?

I have little fear from this for my daughter's safety.  But I still feel violated.

I'm going to continue to take safety precautions.  I will continue to NOT post names.  Or locations. Or school names. I won't post anything provocative in any way to an average person.  I've talked to my kids about internet safety.  And about strangers. And I will continue to track how people are finding my blog.

But I don't think I'm going to take everything down.

I don't think.  That would be letting them win. 

But seeing my sweet daughter amongst pictures of porn?

Oh man.

It does make me consider it.

Finally, I do NOT want to post the link to the site.  I don't want them to see traffic coming from my blog to them.  I don't want to give them any extra traffic.  But if any of you are worried, I'm going to spell it out here using the words dot and slash instead of the actual symbols.  You'll have to type it in for yourselves.  And be warned.  It does contain porn.  Don't have the kids around when you open it up.

It's www dot netart dot jp slash onanie slash little%20girls

It's disturbing.  It's sick.

And it makes me more aware of the safety precautions I can make and will continue to make.  If you post pictures or layouts on a blog or digi-scrap web site of your family, keep in mind what sort of people are out there.  And forward this information or a link to this post to anyone that posts pictures or layouts on line as well. 

We should all be aware of what's out there.

And yes, I know I can email and fight this.  But, I'm sure, there are 1,000s more sites just like this one.  And we aren't going to be able to stop them all.  All we can do is make sure we are comfortable with what we post and we have done all we can to protect ourselves and our loved ones from this sort of insanity.

edited to add: by request, here's a post on how I track the traffic to my blog.

I Don't Iron {plus the Precious FREEBIE!}

{edited to include freebie info only}

Shall we move on to a new freebie??

It was inspired by a picture of my new nephew. And he is precious, hence the name of the new kit! It has five backgrounds, glitter stars (both small and big), cloth stars, small hanging tag, stitching, square mat, flower, beaded wire, great word art, and more!! And great colors that will showcase all sorts of memories in a beautiful way!

I sure hope you all enjoy it because I had a lot of fun making it!!

You can DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

Enjoy.

And if you use it to post online, credit:
Precious page kit by Beth Nixon available on her blog
(and list my blog address if you're allowed: http://bethnixon.blogspot.com)

Thanks and have a great day!

(And I've added a secure paypal donate button to my blog over there on the right. As most of you, every spare dollar counts anymore. If you've enjoyed my designs or tutorials and have an extra dollar or two, I'd appreciate it! But I appreciate your comments on my blog even more!!)

Your Favorite Blog? {Plus Frame It Up FREEBIE!}

I just went through a blog purge. I realized that some of my blogs I was merely glancing at. And in an attempt to optimize my computer time, I deleted a few from my reader. But I do have my favorites. My favorites, in no particular order are:

• The Creative Junkie by Andrea. She never fails to make me laugh with her AND at her AND at myself!
• Then there's Photoshop Disasters. Truly a blog that makes me shake my head and laugh out loud!
• And, of course, anyone who reads blogs knows about The Pioneer Woman! I love her writing style plus she has more than awesome give a ways!!
• I'm also enjoying Creative Organizing. What great tips! It's where I found out about the SHED book I mentioned a few posts below.
• Then there's Matt Logelin's blog, matt, liz, and madeline. You'll cry and laugh and totally admire his photography skills!
• And how about Ikea Goddess? Now, there's some fantastic freebies!!
• Last, there's Jessica Sprague's blog. It always makes me think and inspires.

So . . . what is YOUR favorite blog?? Link me up!! Some of my favorites I found from friends so I want to know what you love to read!! Give me a few so I can fill up those few minutes of computer time I have every day!

Ok, on to the freebie.

I did three sets of overlays/frames for 4"x6" photos. (you can find the Print It NOW series in the freebie section) The point of those frames was to make it SUPER easy to just print!! To get those photos OFF your computer and printed up while still adding a creative touch.

Then I did two sets of 12"x12" overlays. (again, check out In A Snap 1 and 2 in the freebie section!) Those were super fun to make and seem to be popular with you all.

SO, the next size? 10"x8". I'm not waiting to scrap a picture to perfection. I'm just throwing on one of my overlays and getting it up on the wall. NOW.

'Cause it makes me smile every time I see it. And I don't want it hidden on my computer but hanging on my wall. 'Cause I need to smile more often!

Here the are. Set 1 of Frame It Up. Which means, hopefully, set 2 will come soon!

It has six 10"x8" overlays. They can also be re-sized to smaller rectangular sizes!
Download them HERE.

If you use them to post online, credit:
Frame It Up 1 by Beth Nixon, available on her blog
(and post my blog address if allowed: http://bethnixon.blogspot.com)

And if you like 'em, leave me a comment here!! The more comments I get, the more I know you all like them!

Enjoy!

And I'm looking forward to your favorite blogs!

A New Location {and another In A Snap FREEBIE!!}

{edited to include freebie info only}

Enough about me. I've been hard at work with another set of overlays as you all seemed to like the last set so much! (You can find the first set, and all my freebies, right here!)

Here's the link to DOWNLOAD IT! Just like the first set, you can use them as is (both black and white are included), add a shadow for a sticker effect, or re-size to any square size smaller than 12" x 12"! Lots of ways to get creative!

Enjoy them. And, please, leave a comment if you like them and want more. Or, if you would like other sizes. (like the 10"x8" set I'm working on now!) If you use these, link me up to your layout! I'd love to see how you all use them.

If you use the overlays, credit:
In A Snap 2 by Beth Nixon, available on her blog
(and put my blog address if allowed: http://bethnixon.blogspot.com)

And that cute little boy smiling in the preview?? You can read about that smiling ending right here!

Organize, Be GREEN, and a FREEBIE {Summer's End}

{edited to list freebie info only}

Ok . . . last but certainly not least . . . a NEW freebie!! It's a pack of ten beautifully digital backgrounds! I started with four and then just kept going! I certainly hope you all enjoy them!! Leave me a comment if you pick 'em up and a link if you scrap with 'em!!

The backgrounds are called "Summer's End" for no other reason than it was created at the end of the summer!

You can DOWNLOAD 'EM HERE. (link will be good until the end of September)

If you use them, credit Summer's End by Beth Nixon available on her blog (and list my blog address if allowed! http://bethnixon.blogspot.com)

Thanks! And enjoy your weekend!!

Privacy and a FREEBIE! {Print It Now 3}

{edited to include freebie only}

OK . . . FREEBIE alert!!

Number three in the Print It Now series is here!!

Download the first two in the freebies section then click below to get the latest installment!!

Then skip below to pick up the newest one!

DOWNLOAD HERE. (It'll be here for about a month or so!)

Enjoy your Sunday!

You're Gonna Miss This {plus Print It Now 2 FREEBIE}

{edited to include freebie only}

And that's where my next freebie comes in! All those digital pictures sitting on your computer? Because you have plans to do it someday or plans to do something with them? Forget it.

Concentrate on RIGHT NOW. Download this second set of frames, pretty 'em up with them (and the first set), add dates and a line of journaling if you wish, and PRINT 'EM!

NOW! Enjoy them NOW . . . not next week or next year.

Forget scrapping each one to artistic perfection or just thinking you'll get to printing them . . . someday.

Just stop thinking about it and 12 other things at the same time. Do it.

Now!

Here's the preview:

DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
(link will be good until the end of August or so)

Enjoy and have a great day!

Favorite Thing . . . {and a FREEBIE, Summer Joy!}

{edited to include freebie info only}

Onto important things . . .

My freebie, Summer Joy, is ready for download!

You can see the layout I made with it here. It has pinks, greens, browns, and a splash of yellow. Beads and glitter. Flowers and more!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE.
Link will be good until the end of August or so.

Enjoy it! And, if you like it, post a comment. Send me a link to a layout you create!

Show your love and I'll keep making more for you all!

You all enjoy the rest of your Sunday and Monday too.

Enjoy the freebie . . . "see" ya all soon!

I Need To SHUT-UP {plus Print It Now FREEBIE!}

{edited to include freebie info only}

Well, I created these to do just that in just a few clicks! Now, I can plop these fun frames on my photos, add a few simple words, if I want, and send them off to get printed! I'll fill up my 4"x6" album in no time and STILL feel like I've added my special creative touch!

You can DOWNLOAD THE FRAMES HERE!
(link will be good until mid-August or so)

And, please, let me know if you like them! I had LOTS of fun creating them and will put together more if you all like 'em!

So, leave me a comment . . . a link to anything you create . . . cause that lets me know you want more!

If you post online, credit:
Print It Now 1 by Beth Nixon
and, if allowed, post my blog address:
http://bethnixon.blogspot.com

Ok, that last part was fun . . . posting the freebie.

You all have a GREAT Friday!

Other

Here's a catch-all for all the posts that don't fit into a neat category.

Thanks for checking in!

What's Better?? {plus Our Summer Template FREEBIE!}

{edited to include freebie info only}

And the perfect summer treat for my digi-scrapping readers is a FREE summer template!

This one has room for twelve photos with a fun sun background. And it's a fun 10" x 8" size which makes it perfect for framing and getting your layouts out of the computer and up on the wall for everyone to admire!

You can DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

I created the template in the hopes that I can instantly scrap my summer. Each month, choose my favorite four photos and on September 1st, print and throw in a frame. Instant review of our summer! But knowing me, I included the years 1998-2008! Because, ahem, I still haven't finished scrapping last summer! Please tell me I'm not alone in my delayed scrapping skills! Here's my layout using the template and last summer's photos!

Credit:
Our Summer Template by Beth Nixon available on her blog. And if allowed, please leave my blog address: http://bethnixon.blogspot.com

And, as always, leave me a comment if you like it. (then I'll know to make more!)

Enjoy the template and enjoy your Thursday!

A New Perspective {and Smile In My Heart FREEBIE!}

{edited to include freebie info only}

Ok, ok. Enough about ME! I know what you all really want . . . the super duper new freebie! This one was SO fun to make. The blues and greens with a pop of yellow and red will make just about any photo (and memory) shine! There are 11 unique png elements and five jpg backgrounds. Scalloped heart, big bracket, notepaper hearts, masking tape and much more!

I sure hope you enjoy it! You can see the layout I made with it here.

As always, please let me know if you like it! Give me a link if you use it so I can come ooh and ahh!
Credits are: Smile In My Heart by Beth Nixon
and if you're allowed, a link to my blog: http://bethnixon.blogspot.com

DOWNLOAD IT HERE
(the link will be good until mid-July or so!)

Enjoy!

Have a great day!!

Tiny {and Lined Up Template FREEBIE}

{edited to include freebie info only}

I have another freebie ready for you! This one is a template framer, Lined Up.

What's a Framer? Well, it's my term for a 10" x 8" layout. The PERFECT size for quick and easy gifts! Or art on your wall! Frames are easy to find for that size and you can print them right on your own printer! Art on your wall, or for a gift, in a matter of minutes!

DOWNLOAD IT HERE!! Then, please, leave a comment if you like it, leave me a link if you use it, or click an ad if it catches your eye!

Credit, if posting on a digi-scrap site, Lined Up Template by Beth Nixon and mention my blog (http://bethnixon.blogspot.com) if you're allowed!

And check back later this week! I have a fun give away planned for your favorite digital scrapbook site or amazon.com! Plus I'm hoping to find the time to not only finish up another kit but also finish up a journaling tutorial!

Then check out my latest post, A Mother's Advice and check out the contest (June 18-19)!

I'm Thankful and the Sweet Summer FREEBIE!

{edited to include freebie info only}

Now, snatch up the freebie down below. Leave me a comment here if you have a moment and you like the freebie. (And please do! If I know you all like these, I'll keep making more!!).

Ok, here's the kit, Sweet Summer. You can DOWNLOAD IT HERE! You can see a layout I did with it here.

As always, if you post, just credit Sweet Summer by Beth Nixon and list my blog address if allowed! http://bethnixon.blogspot.com

Thanks and enjoy!

P.S.
Grab my other freebies while you're here.
Love Life and Ordinary Joy page kits are going away tomorrow. Grab them quick if you don't already have them.

The 19 Circles Template will only be up for another week.

Oh So Happy page kit will be up until mid-June!

Have fun with them!

Bad Leopard {and a Template FREEBIE!}

{edited to include freebie info only}

Ok, it's time for another freebie! This one is a template that I've been meaning to put together for a long time and I finally found the time to get it done!

The template was inspired by this layout of little boy at the circus. And what's great about this template is you can utilize not only LOTS of pictures and memorialize an entire event in one layout, but you can use some really lousy pictures! The pictures I took here were AWFUL. But I was able to crop just the parts I wanted and they didn't look half bad!

Here's the finished template.

You can DOWNLOAD IT HERE!

Enjoy!
(and, as always, I'd love it if you'd leave a comment if you like the freebie or click on an ad if it catches your eye!!)

Have a GREAT Thursday and I'll see y'all soon!

**Beth Nixon. I'm Choosing Happy.**

About Me!

Welcome to my blog! I'm Beth. A mom, a wife, and a learning photographer, knitter, and whatever else catches my eye!

Just like all moms, I'm finding that the time goes by WAY too fast. And some days I feel like I get so wrapped up in the utter nonsense that I'm missing the best parts. I'm doing my absolute best to enjoy every second of it. But somedays . . . well . . . it's just hard.

So, I'm doing my best. My best to find the joy in every day and to choose happy over all the other alternatives. Sure, there are hard times and bad times. But I want to remember how I got through them, not how they defeated me.

Here you will find my musings as I try to find that joy and happiness. Even when it's tough. Also a few digital scrapbook freebies as I have time to create them, some tutorials on design and general Photoshop tips, some knitting, an occasional contest, and the rest of my blatherings.

Feel free to comment and give me suggestions! I love your stories and opinions. It's what brings me back to the computer to blog and to create new freebies.

Come back often or, better yet, sign up for a reader and you'll know as soon as I update!

Thanks and take care!

Thanks for stopping by!