Back to Basics

Instagram collage 

A new blog layout...again.

I have reverted back to basics with my blog. Simple and no nonsense.

This blogging caper has reaffirmed what I always knew about myself..I like to keep it simple.

Simple doesn't hurt my head!

Annie xx

Issues

Hello everyone.
Well it's almost lunchtime in my neck of the woods and I've just wasted most of the morning sorting out social media stuff.
My twitter account was hacked and after some consideration I have deactivated that account. Will I return to twitter...frankly I'm not sure.
Then I needed to change passwords etc on other social media accounts and boy it is tedious. This first world social media drama has me thinking seriously just what social media I really need in my life. Over the last several months I have been contemplating which aspects of my on line life need simplifying so my rambling today is just me finally thinking out loud and I suppose this mornings effort has triggered this post. And no! I'm not caving in to the imbeciles out there, on the contrary.
Even though the dilemma I faced this morning is not the end of the world I feel rather cross how certain characters use peoples accounts to be nothing more than vexatious and annoying.

I have decided to keep posing here before I venture on holidays and use the time away to contemplate the direction I need to settle on regards my involvement in social media. One thing I do know is that above all else Instagram is the ants pants and my favourite medium.
I started a FB page to be a sister to this blog and I am feeling my way, I needed to try that medium to decide the direction Red Roses and Crystal would veer.

So on that note.....Have a lovely day friends. A little bit of  retail therapy sounds good to me right now!!

Annie xx

Thank You

Thank you one and all for making my first blog anniversary special.

The lovely comments you posted made my heart sing.

Annie xx

Happy 1st Birthday Red Roses and Crystal Hip Hip Hooray!

Well my dear lovely readers I made it!
Today is exactly one year since my foray into this blogging biz and can I just say..I have learnt stuff I never ever realized I could learn!
Blogging has taught me very valuable skills and brought insight into human nature. The blog love swirling around me is amazing (now if I allowed anon/unmoderated comments it may be different but I don't have the inclination to deal with nasty folk). This is my Happy space.

Blog Love...the friends I've made are exceptional women, both in real life and online and for this I'm truly grateful. Another thing I've learnt is that fellow bloggers/readers 'get it'. They understand the appeal and what keeps us churning out our thoughts in this crazy world of technology. Now I've experienced many thoughts of 'why why why am I writing a blog'? To this day I'm not totally sure and have no idea if this foray is going to be a permanent part of the rest of my life but for now it's a hell of a ride and when I look at my little blog I see something I've created and feel just a tad proud.
On the whole this caper has been a thoroughly enjoyable hoot but I have witnessed the vicious side of blogging when a dear real life blog friend endured cyber bullying over many months. Nasty vile vicious stuff. A valuable life lesson...be mindful of wolves in sheeps clothing.



Now for something especially wonderful, as well as my bloggy birthday this weekend my family celebrated my dear Mum's 84th Birthday. Love my Mum to bits because she is a real trooper and she taught me the meaning of stoicism. My little family spent the morning visiting at her care facility with cake (only one candle, thought 84 might be overdoing it and set off the smoke alarms) and presents.
Family is very precious.

So once again thank you one and all for tuning in to my ramblings.
To my family and blog pals who give me encouragement.. you Rock!
Reaching this milestone has made me Happy.

Hugs
Annie xx

Another Test Run

My clever son has helped me connect Blog press app for iPad so I can draft and publish posts from the iPad. I really am winging it with all these techy gizmos but I'm kind of having a ball learning how to use these apps.
I just took a quick snap of the pooch for this test.




Annie xx

A Test Run

Hello all. This short post is a test of the Blogging app I have installed on my iPhone. Increasingly I'm getting lazy about switching on the computer so if this app works for me it will be great for those days i wish to get a post up quickly and maybe to use when travelling.