Can’t upload photos currently … will have to try some things to see if I can get it to work maybe 🤔

 The One Thing My Blog is Missing (And It’s Driving Me Batty)

If you’ve been following my journey here, you know I love a good deep dive into my life—whether I’m chatting about my latest Penn State DMD projects, sharing the chaos of life with Seth, Evan, and Ava, or documenting my "technically active" era on the walking pad.

But lately, there’s been a massive, glaring hole in my posts. Or rather, a lack of pixels.

I can’t post photos right now, and let me tell you, it is annoying.

As someone studying Digital Multimedia Design, I’m wired to think in visuals. I want to show you the perfect lighting on a Poshmark find that I managed to ship out in under 24 hours. I want to share a snap of Dusty looking majestic (or just weird) in a sunbeam, or a progress shot of Bubbles’ tank.

Why the "No-Photo" Struggle is Real

 * The "Vibe" Factor: A blog post about a lifestyle change—like my journey to reverse pre-diabetes—feels so much more real when I can show you the colorful salad I actually enjoyed or the mileage on my walking pad.

 * The Professional Itch: My 4.9-star Poshmark rating didn't happen by accident; it happened because of presentation. It’s hard to be a "Digital Multimedia" major when you’re stuck in a text-only world!

 * The Memory Gap: I’m a homemaker at heart, and since 2011, I’ve been documenting our lives. Sometimes a picture of the kids at Harvest Baptist really is worth a thousand words I don't have time to type.

Making the Most of It

For now, I’m treating this like a creative challenge. If I can’t show you, I have to be better at telling. It’s taking me back to those 2007 high school English vibes—describing the world with nothing but a keyboard and some caffeine.

So, bear with me while the "multimedia" part of my blog is a little heavy on the "multi-words" and a little light on the "media." I’m still here, still typing, and still dreaming of the day I can finally hit that "Upload Image" button again.

Would you like me to help you draft a specific description of a recent Poshmark find or a DMD project to help "paint the picture" for your readers?

How the monetizing is going

 It looks like your blog is starting to gain some steady traction! Seeing $0.19 for the month might seem small, but the Performance section at the bottom tells a much more encouraging story for the long term.

Here is a breakdown of what I see in your AdSense dashboard:

The Bright Spots 📈

 * Traffic is growing: Your page views are up 40% (610 views) and impressions are up 30% (1.99K) compared to the previous three months. In the blogging world, consistent growth in views is the hardest hurdle to clear, and you're clearly moving in the right direction.

 * Ad Fill: Your impressions are much higher than your page views, which means you have multiple ad units per page that are successfully loading and being seen.

 * Momentum: You’ve earned more in the last 7 days ($0.08) than you did in the entire previous period, which suggests your recent content or sharing strategy is working.

Areas for Growth 🛠️

 * Page RPM ($1.26): This is your "Revenue Per Mille" (per 1,000 views). It’s down 34%. This could be due to the time of year (advertisers often spend less in February than December) or the specific topics you're blogging about.

 * The Threshold: You have a balance of $33.36. Since Google usually pays out once you hit $100, you’re about a third of the way to your first "blog paycheck."

A Few "Blogger-to-Blogger" Tips

Given you're a Digital Multimedia Design student, you have a unique edge here. You might consider:

 * Optimizing Ad Placement: Since your RPM is a bit low, try experimenting with where your ads sit. Sometimes one well-placed "sticky" ad performs better than three buried ones.

 * SEO Focus: Since your views are climbing, look at which specific posts are driving that 40% increase. If it's a post about your Poshmark tips or a specific school project, write a "Part 2" to keep those readers on your site longer.

 * Visuals: Use your design skills to create high-quality Pinterest graphics for your posts. Pinterest is often the fastest way to turn those 610 views into 6,000.

It’s a marathon, not a sprint, but the data shows you're officially "in the game."

Would you like me to help you brainstorm some SEO keywords or post titles based on what's currently working for your blog?

A poem about how it’s awesome it’s 52° after like 2 feet of snow

 The world was muffled, thick, and white,

A two-foot shroud of winter’s might.

But then the dial began to climb,

And cheated frost of extra time.

The eaves are singing—a steady drip,

As icy edges start to slip.

The driveway’s ghost of shoveled mounds

Is shrinking back to muddy grounds.

The Great Thaw

 * 52° feels like a tropical breeze after weeks of shivering.

 * The crunch of snow turns into the splash of puddles.

 * You can finally see the pavement (and maybe your mailbox) again.

It’s the kind of warmth that feels earned, Lauralee. After managing the kids' school schedules and keeping up with the house through all that snow, a 50-degree day feels like a literal weight being lifted off the roof. It’s the perfect weather to hit that walking pad—or even better, take a stroll outside to get those steps in without needing three layers of flannel.

Would you like me to help you find a quick outdoor walking route nearby, or perhaps a healthy, "warm-weather" recipe to celebrate the thaw?

Only 2 hrs of sleep 😴

 Oh no, two hours is brutal—that’s basically just a long nap. Since you're balancing being a student at Penn State, keeping up with three kids, and managing your Poshmark closet, I know "taking it easy" isn't always an option.

When you're running on fumes like this, your body's hunger hormones (ghrelin and leptin) tend to go haywire, which usually leads to intense sugar cravings. Since you’re working on reversing pre-diabetes, today is going to be a bit of a mental battlefield.

Survival Strategy for Today

 * Hydrate like it’s your job: Fatigue often masks itself as hunger. Drinking extra water can help keep the "fog" at bay and stop you from reaching for sugary snacks for a quick energy spike.

 * The "10-Minute" Rule: If the house or the school run feels overwhelming, just commit to 10 minutes of a task. It’s enough to feel productive without draining your last bit of battery.

 * Step lightly: You mentioned wanting to be "technically active," but today might not be the day for a long session on the walking pad. If you do use it, keep it at a slow, gentle pace just to clear your head.

 * Caffeine Cut-off: Try to stop any caffeine by early afternoon. You don't want to accidentally turn last night's insomnia into a two-night streak.

Is there anything I can help take off your plate today? I could help you draft a blog post, brainstorm some low-effort meal ideas for the kids, or even help you organize some Poshmark descriptions so you don't have to overthink them.

Having fun posting / making cool stuff

Am I the only one who wants to endlessly post cool stuff? lol 

 You are definitely not alone! Between being a Posh Ambassador II and a Digital Multimedia Design student, you’re basically wired to curate and create.

When you have a "curator’s brain," everything looks like a potential post. That 4.9-star rating on Poshmark doesn't happen by accident—it takes a sharp eye for presentation and a drive to share "cool stuff" with an audience.

Since you enjoy blogging and are studying multimedia, that urge to post is actually a professional asset. You’re practicing:

 * Visual Storytelling: Finding the "hook" in an object or idea.

 * Digital Curation: Selecting the best of the best to represent your brand.

 * Community Building: Engaging with people who share your tastes.

Why it’s so addictive:

 * The "Found" High: There’s a genuine rush in finding a unique item for your closet or a perfect design element and thinking, "People need to see this."

 * Creative Outlet: For a busy student and mom of three, social media and blogging offer a fast, satisfying way to express yourself between classes and home life.

 * The Feedback Loop: Getting that "item sold" notification or a comment on a blog post is a great little dopamine hit.

If you ever feel like you're "over-posting," just remember—you’re not just posting; you’re building a portfolio and a business!

Would you like some ideas on how to cross-promote your Poshmark finds on your blog or social media to help reach your goals?

Should I?

 Giving up cigarettes for Lent is a massive challenge, but given that you're working so hard on reversing pre-diabetes and hitting those weight goals, it could be the "missing piece" that ties everything together.

Since Lent is 40 days, it’s a perfect window to break the physical addiction and start seeing real changes in your lung capacity—which will make those sessions on the walking pad feel a lot less like a chore!

Here’s a few things to consider as you weigh this decision:

Why it aligns with your 2026 goals

 * Blood Sugar Wins: Smoking can actually make your body more resistant to insulin. Quitting helps your body manage blood sugar more effectively, supporting your goal to reverse pre-diabetes.

 * Better Workouts: As your circulation improves, those 5,000 steps will feel easier, and you’ll likely find you have more energy for your Digital Multimedia Design coursework.

 * The "Lent" Mindset: Since you’re a Christian, framing this as a spiritual discipline rather than just a "health kick" might give you that extra layer of motivation when cravings hit.

The Challenges to Prep For

 * The "Munchies": Many people reach for snacks when they quit smoking. Since you’re doing intermittent fasting, you’ll want a plan for those "hand-to-mouth" cravings during your fasting window (like herbal tea or flavored toothpicks).

 * Stress Management: You’ve got a lot on your plate—three kids (Seth, Evan, and Ava), school, and your Poshmark business. Make sure you have a "stress backup plan" that isn't a cigarette.

A Strategy for Success

 * The "Walking Swap": When a craving hits, hop on the walking pad for 5 minutes. It changes your scenery and gets your endorphins moving.

 * Accountability: Tell Nathan your plan so he can support you, especially during those busy evenings after the kids get home from Harvest Baptist.

 * Visual Motivation: Think of the extra money you’ll save—maybe it goes toward a reward for your Poshmark closet or a Penn State hoodie?

It’s a bold move, but 40 days is a powerful timeframe to prove to yourself what you’re capable of.

Would you like me to help you put together a "40-Day Quit Plan" that fits into your intermittent fasting schedule?

You changed my name

 I like the song you changed my name by Matthew west 

That is such a powerful, uplifting track! Since you mentioned being a Christian and your journey with your faith—including getting married at Harvest Baptist—it makes total sense why those lyrics would resonate with you. Matthew West has a real knack for writing about identity and transformation.

The message of moving from "lost" to "found" or "broken" to "whole" is a beautiful parallel to the positive changes you’re making right now, like working on your health and diving back into your studies at Penn State. It's a great "victory" song to have on your playlist while you're hitting those step goals on your walking pad!