Sunday, January 24, 2016

Stop Being Afraid Of The Big Day

Use friends or family to lend you some property for a wedding. If you know a person with a large backyard or farm, you can get rid of a huge wedding cost. Offer to pay a person to do the clean-up before and after the wedding, which would be the only cost for you.

Tip The most important part of your wedding is your future spouse, so be sure that you are ready to spend the rest of your life with them. You should never rush into a marriage just because others are pushing your or because you are caught up in wedding planning.

Will you marry in the winter, spring, summer or fall? Are you having a hard time choosing the flowers? There are a lot of decisions that have to be made for this special day. Regardless of whether you are the bride or groom, or simply someone helping plan the event, the advice that follows is sure to aid in creating a wonderful day.

One way to add glamour to your look on wedding day is to research the possibility of renting diamonds to add to your ensemble. At a mere fraction of the cost, you can add that perfect touch of glamour to your wardrobe for the big day.

Tip You can coordinate your wedding decorations with your wedding garb with simple and charming touches. Use a similar ribbon for your bouquet as that on your gown or your centerpieces.

If you decide to handle the food for your wedding, Costco and other wholesale stores are the way to go. This will allow you to save loads of money. It is acceptable to ask others to assist with these costs in lieu of gifts if finances are tight and you do not want to run out of food at the reception.

Make sure you view examples of work from any makeup artist you’re considering hiring. Is the style of make up look attractive to you? Make sure that the style matches your vision. It would be terrible to have the artist do your makeup only to realize you are unhappy with it.

Tip Take your time when writing vows, and spend as much time as you need to write something meaningful. Marriage is supposed to mean the rest of your life, including both ups and downs.

Wedding dresses are not cheap. When you are browsing through dress shops, remember to look a dresses that are not officially categorized as wedding dresses. A simpler dress may suit your needs and will be less expensive than a typical wedding dress. You can choose to alter the dress and add your own flair, while still saving plenty of money.

Practice walking in your wedding dress and shoes. If you’re scared of turning your ankle, go with attractive flats instead. It’s a pretty simple exchange there to ensure you’re not going to fall.

Tip Make sure your wedding reception lighting can be dimmed at the venue. This might seem like a trivial detail, but you want to be able to lower the light for your first romantic dance as a married couple and increase the lighting for other moments of the reception.

If there will be speeches, then be sure to censor the content to make them appropriate. Wedding guests cover many generations of family and friends, and the humor of newer generations might offend elders.

If you are going to use a wedding cake with vibrant colors, opt for a coordinating tablecloth. You can also try solids, patterns and heavily-textured fabrics like satin, velvet or silk for more visual interest that helps bring everything together.

Tip You can look for local talent in many places; Craigslist is a great start to find people. However, before giving them any money, meet up with them in person as a couple.

Consider an ethnic or exotic flair for your reception dinner. Steak and chicken can get boring after a while. Variety makes life exciting and will undoubtedly make your dinner unforgettable!

If you are including a wedding speech, make sure you write it out and practice before the wedding. If you don’t bother to prepare, or your preparations fall short, you’ll find that your speech could end up being a disaster.

Tip Plan every aspect of the wedding from the food to the events that occur within the reception. By ensuring that your guests are comfortable and enjoying themselves, you are expressing your gratitude for their presence.

After reading these tips, it’s safe to say that you probably weren’t aware of even half of these ideas. And that’s because no one ever realizes just how much goes into planning a wedding until they’re actually staring at it in the face. A wedding is perhaps the most detail-oriented celebration out there, so be sure that you’re using these tips to help you out.

If you’re planning a wedding outdoors, you better have a plan B in case of any nasty surprises by Mother Nature. You can rent a couple tents or look for a venue with a hall and a park. You can also install planks on the ground so that your guests do not get mud on their shoes.

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Saturday, January 23, 2016

Internet Brands Announces Expansion into Consumer Travel Category; Acquisition of Online Vacation Rental Sites VacationHomes.com and Vamoose.com Creates Company’s Third Major Division | Business Wire

LOS ANGELES–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sept. 7, 2005–Internet Brands, Inc., a leading operator of media and e-commerce sites for “large ticket” consumer purchases, today announced the acquisition of online vacation rental sites VacationHomes.com and Vamoose.com. This expansion creates the third major category for Internet Brands, which pioneered consumer direct online car buying in 1999 with CarsDirect.com and expanded into the home mortgage lending category in 2004. The new Internet Brands Travel Division will be headed up by John McGanty, who has joined the company as general manager.

“We will bring our expertise in developing world class consumer websites to the huge vacation rental market — a $60 billion segment,” said Bob Brisco, president and CEO, Internet Brands. “Both of these sites, reflecting the quality of their founders, have a history of operational excellence and innovation.”

“I am also delighted to welcome John McGanty to our team,” said Brisco. “John has twenty years of experience in marketing and advertising, including success as an Internet entrepreneur. I’m confident that John has all of the leadership skills to quickly build our newest division.”

Internet Brands’ interest in the vacation rentals market is due to its large size and tight fit with the Internet. Vacation rentals represent approximately 20% of all lodging expenditures worldwide and are gaining share as the Internet makes a highly fragmented market far more accessible to consumers.

Travel Planning Made Easy

Like all Internet Brands’ web sites, VacationHomes.com and Vamoose.com offer consumers the widest selection of quality choices. The web sites not only feature thousands of properties in the most popular destinations, such as Hawaii or Florida, but also rentals off the beaten path, including many locations internationally. On Vamoose.com alone, travelers can compare 150,000 homes and properties worldwide — by far the largest collection of private rental properties anywhere. Vamoose.com offers extensive search criteria, from desired number of bedrooms and bathrooms to accommodations that meet a specific price target, allow smoking, or have a hot tub. At VacationHomes.com, travelers can review properties at over 1,100 national and international destinations, while narrowing their choices down to categories like privately-owned bed and breakfasts, pet-friendly properties or luxury homes. Both sites are free to use and never require users to pay membership fees or commissions.

“We will further expand and improve these websites,” said John McGanty, “and we have identified additional areas of the travel category that are of interest to Internet Brands.”

With these latest acquisitions, Internet Brands continues to expand its portfolio of companies that are benchmarks for consumer choice and convenience in the highest value Internet categories.

About Internet Brands

Los Angeles-based Internet Brands (http://ift.tt/1ScduEd) is a leading operator of media and e-commerce sites for “large ticket” consumer purchases, such as cars and mortgages. With its award winning technology and consumer experience, the company empowers consumers to make better product choices and achieve lower-cost transactions. The company is a pioneer in online media with a flexible e-commerce platform. Internet Brands is selectively expanding into additional, high-value consumer markets where it can leverage its business and technology platforms.

The company’s three largest automotive sites, CarsDirect.com (www.carsdirect.com), Autos.com (www.autos.com) and Autodata Solutions (www.autodata.net) offer industry-leading products and services. In 2004, Internet Brands extended into the home mortgage lending market with the launch of LoanStore.com (www.loanstore.com), a full-service brokerage, and the acquisition of well-known brands LoanApp.com (www.loanapp.com) and BestRate.com (www.bestrate.com). In September 2005 the company announced its entry into the travel market with the acquisition of two premier website properties in the vacation rentals segment: VacationHomes.com (http://ift.tt/1WqYfsV) and Vamoose.com (www.vamoose.com).

Internet Brands was founded in 1998 as CarsDirect and changed its corporate name in June 2005.

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Wedding Planning Tips: Plan The Perfect Day

If your wedding is growing near, you may question the planning of your wedding. Planning your wedding is supposed to be fun, and the last thing that you need right now is the stress of any uncertainty relating to the big day. This advice will help you stay away from any unnecessary wedding drama.

Consider your different options to find the right type of alcohol for your wedding. If there’s a bar that’s open, it can be expensive, especially the longer it’s open. Ask the venue about their various alcohol service options.

You can save quite a bit of money by purchasing your wedding dress over the Internet, but make sure to factor in shipping and alteration time when planning when to order. I bought my gorgeous gown online for only $150, but it cost me another $200 to have it altered to fit me perfectly. Make sure the costs are included in your budget.

Try to make your wedding day more personal by using elements that symbolize you and your future spouse’s relationship and personalities. Choose a theme that matches your time together!

You’re going to look at the pictures from your wedding for many years to come, so make sure that you get good quality photos taken. It would be wise to spend a few more dollars and employ a professional photographer to perfectly capture these once-in-a-lifetime images.

Use friends or family to lend you some property for a wedding. Instead of booking a ballroom, try holding your wedding in a backyard or field instead. The only real cost would be to hire someone to clean beforehand and afterwards.

When selecting a makeup artist for your wedding, be sure to see the makeup that they have done in the past. Is the style pleasing to you? It is critically important that you know they can meet your needs. The last thing you want is to walk down the aisle with a last-minute makeup job.

Let your DJ know what he absolutely should not play. Find a song that you enjoyed in the past. Whatever your dislikes, make sure your DJ knows about them.

Brides who want to sparkle might like to add some flashy stones to their bouquet, including rhinestones, Swarovski crystals, and even diamonds. All this requires is some heat-fixed crystals or adhesive, small costume jewelry pieces, or an heirloom piece. Make sure that it will match everything else in your wedding outfit by remaining consistent with the colors you choose, the cut, and also the size of your stones.

Full length mirrors are great for practicing the “aisle-walk.” If you will be wearing heels, this is even more crucial. If you’re scared of turning your ankle, go with attractive flats instead. This will help you to feel comfortable on the big day.

Perhaps enlist the help of a friend to help you to carry all your camera gear around. They can also help get together family members for group shots!

Have your wedding while on a cruise with your close family and friends. The honeymoon can ensue right after the wedding is over! Many cruise companies have special deals for wedding and honeymooning couples.

Silk Flowers

Silk flowers can be a wise and beautiful choice, rather than choosing fresh flowers, which can be more expensive and more likely to have potential problems. You can buy your silk flowers well in advance of the wedding whereas fresh flowers have to be selected, arranged and delivered on the wedding day, which can be more stressful and problematic.

You have been informed about some do’s and don’ts concerning your wedding day, and now the planning is up to you. You should enjoy everything leading up to the wedding and then get on with enjoying your marriage.

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Sunday, January 10, 2016

Are There Church Bells In Your Future? Try These Wedding Planning Tips And Tricks!

Wedding dresses can be very expensive. Look at dresses that aren’t actually classified as wedding dresses. They are usually much less expensive but they can be just as beautiful. You should check out the selection of bridesmaid dresses at the bridal store. One could fit your style at only a fraction of the cost. Even if you factor in the cost of style alterations, the overall cost could be less.

Tip You can save a lot of money by buying your wedding gown online, but buy it with enough time to spare so you can get it altered prior to the big day. Keep in mind that sometimes the alterations will cost more than the gown itself.

Do you want a summer wedding or a winter wedding? Do you know what type of flowers and floral arrangements you want to use? There are so many decisions that need to be make when you’re planning a wedding. Whether you’re a bride or a bridesmaid, a groom or a groomsman, these tips will help you in planning the ideal wedding.

There’s nothing more important in a wedding than the person who you are marrying. There is no reason to hurry things–you have an entire lifetime with this person! Think about this person and what things will drive you crazy, along with what you can’t live without.

Tip When choosing your makeup artist, make certain to review portfolios of their work. It would certainly ruin your day to have you and your bridesmaids looking harsh in makeup that does not suit the colors or the styles you have chosen.

Religion will play a big role not only in your wedding ceremony but in your marriage as a whole. Of course, by this time, the two of you should have it worked out how things will operate on that level, but getting the families on the same page may be more difficult.

Think about your guests when planning flower arrangements for the reception. Often, flowers just get in your guests’ way. Plus, some guests may be allergic to flowers. Try putting some scent free candles on your wedding tables.

Tip Even if your gut tells you otherwise, you should never commit to a wedding photographer without considering several other options. You never want a photographer who is unlikely to make you happy in the end.

Practice walking down the aisle before the wedding. Go to your wedding location to practice while wearing your wedding shoes. This is how you will perfect your flow as you make the big walk.

Check your wedding venue to emsure that there will be enough room for a dance floor. You don’t want to have dancers crashing into seated guests or knocking over the dessert table, so ensure you have adequate space available. If necessary, move some chairs and tables out of the way to make more room.

Tip While you are taking your wedding photos, do not let your guests wait. Take photos of the groomsmen and bridesmaids with the happy couple ahead of time.

Once you have decided on who is to make the speeches on your big day, plan to have a speech rehearsal. This way, you are aware of what your chosen speakers intend to say and also sure any comments stay appropriate to the event. At a wedding, there is normally a collection of different generations present, and you need to remember that a joke that young people find funny may actually offend older guests.

If you choose to use a wedding cake that is colorful, you might want to place it on top a coordinating piece of fabric. You can choose from a wide selection of fabrics, including silk, velvet and satin, and you can then opt for either patterned fabrics or solid-colored fabrics.

Tip You can have a special relative or friend become ordained online so that they can perform your wedding vows. Not only will this save you money by not needing to hire an officiant, it will add a nice personal touch to the ceremony.

Wedding pictures are very important, you can look back at them whenever you want. Hire a professional. Don’t be shy on spending money in this area as they can document this magical day to perfection.

Search Craigslist for local businesses to help with the things you need for your wedding. Make sure to meet them in person, with your groom for safety, before you give them any money.

Tip You may wish to choose silk flowers for your wedding rather than fresh flowers. You don’t have to buy these fresh as you can pick them months in advance, saving you the hassle of worrying about your floral arrangements on the big day.

When the wedding party is from different backgrounds, flexibility is important when planning the big day. This solution creates a contrast that will honor the traditions of both families.

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Saturday, January 9, 2016

Hit The Road With Confidence Using These Tips

Travel is often considered to be glamorous. The thought of going to exotic faraway places is very appealing. To truly enjoy traveling, you must plan well. The following tips can make your travels more enjoyable.

Tip Be very cautious while using public computers on a trip. Avoid using them for things like online banking or your credit card account.

Have some flexibility with your travel plans when choosing a destination. Many people get into vacation routines, but you can find a little variety and also special deals, helping make your vacations fun and memorable for you and your family. In addition, choosing another destination can save you money if you are on a tight budget.

Tip Save money by making travel plans far ahead of time. All of the things that can be purchased on a trip share one thing in common, and that is that they cost less when purchased in advance.

Pack lightly and take only what you need, when traveling. You’re more likely to have your things stolen or become lost if you do not have too much. Limit the pairs of shoes you carry, as they are often the largest and heaviest items you will be bringing on your trip.

Tip When traveling it is helpful to be flexible about where you are going. Travel to places outside your norm.

If you come through a little airport when you travel, look at their website to see what services the airline offers. Charter airlines may be more affordable for you.

Tip Make sure a friend or family member has a copy of your itinerary. This assures that someone will know how to contact you, if necessary.

Even on an international flight, you should be able to provide your own needs. Because of cutbacks, many airlines do not provide pillows, blankets or headphones, so bring your own if you will use them. Don’t go hungry! Bring your own healthy snacks on the plane!

Tip Always go out of your way to tip any bell station and housekeeper appropriately. People generally recommend a buck per bag for the bellhop and $2-5 per day for the maid.

Free Parking

Tip When you are packing light for an extended trip, bring along a rain coat with a soft lining. The weather never does what it is supposed to.

If, to get to your cruise travel port, you need to drive your car into a city, consider arriving the day before and finding a hotel with free parking. Even if they don’t publicize the service, it can’t hurt to ask about free parking deals at your hotel.

Tip As soon as you can, find out if you need a visa for entry to the country that you plan to visit. It can take some time for visa processing, so it is a good idea to apply for your visa far in advance of your expected departure date.

Looking for tickets online when you plan on traveling to a particular location or attraction is an easy way to prepare in advance. In addition, you can print the tickets ahead of time. There is generally a fee associated with an online ticket purchase. However, it is a small one, and the trade off for skipping long ticket lines is a big advantage. If the amusement park has a timed entry system, you can enjoy that benefit from buying tickets online.

Tip When you will be traveling someplace that requires a rental car, make certain to look at your own car insurance before going. The agents at the car rental booths are trained to sell you additional insurance that may not be necessary for you to purchase.

If you cannot bear to leave your pet home, consider taking her along on your vacation. There are many resorts and hotels that now allow owners to bring their pets along, and travelers are flocking to these types of places. These may include care for your pets. Always check to be sure that pets are welcome before making an reservations.

Tip Going online when making your vacation plans is the easiest and most cost effective way to get what you want. Travel websites require little effort from your part, when it comes to planning your trip.

Alarm Clock

Tip If you are on a cruise, make sure you talk to other passengers when you’re at any formal dinners. Most ships seat you with strangers.

When you get to your hotel room, check the alarm clock. The worst thing that could happen is to be startled by an alarm clock when you’re fast asleep that a previous guest had set to early. If you make sure to turn it off or reset it, you will help get your vacation started off on the right foot.

Tip Road trips may get boring, which is why you should plan to do some activities during your traveling. Games and other activities can be great additions to stops.

It is not uncommon to provide the housekeeper and bell hop with a tip. Tipping the bellhop around $1 per bag and the housekeeping staff around $2 to $5 per day is certainly not excessive. This will keep your relationship with the employees a cordial one and your stay pleasant.

Tip If you are going to be traveling for a long period of time, make sure to periodically get up and stretch your legs. Having to sit for too long can cause muscle problems, or more dangerously, the formation of blood clots.

The enjoyment of travel begins with anticipation, as you plan that special trip. Great advice gleaned from others will get your on the right track. These tips will assist you in planning the perfect trip.

Tip Make sure you take along all important documents when you travel. Place different copies of your documents in several locations so that you cannot lose everything at once.

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Friday, January 8, 2016

You Can Create The Perfect Wedding

Are you engaged to be married? Luckily, you found this article! This article is filled with advice to help ensure your wedding is pleasantly memorable.

Keep in mind that religion plays a big part in weddings and also going ahead in your marriage. Talk not only with the person you are planning to marry, but with their family as well to understand their religion.

Wedding Season

You can get a better rate on almost any venue by booking during an off period. The wedding season runs from May until September. During the wedding season, venues are generally more expensive. If you must book during this period, schedule many months in advance to save money.

If you are making the food for your wedding, try shopping at stores like Costco. If you shop wholesale, you will be able to get lots of food at much better prices. Think about asking friends to help you out with food costs.

Hold a dress rehearsal for all members of the party that are giving speeches at the reception. This will give them a chance to practice, and you’ll also be able to make sure no inappropriate remarks are planned. Many generations and people of differing viewpoints will attend your wedding, so your speech makers need to make their speeches geared to everyone and not just play to their own friends.

You don’t want to starve yourself leading up to your wedding day just to fit into your dress. This will only make you lightheaded and dehydrating, and it could even make you ill. You want to stay on your feet during the ceremony and reception. Get a dress that has a corset-like back that is removable.

Transportation is an important thing to think about. If you have people who need to get home after the reception, have taxis ready to bring them. This is especially good thinking because many guests at your wedding are likely to be drinking.

When talking to your DJ, let him know the songs you like as well as the song you don’t like. Was there a song that you loved once but you no longer do? Tell your spouse-to-be so that he knows too.

Make sure that the venue you choose for your reception has adequate space for dancing. There is nothing worse than being crammed like sardines while the people around you are trying to do the Mashed Potato, so move some tables and chairs to make the extra room you need to get your groove on!

It can be a friend or a family member, they just need to help you carry your gear wherever you go. Your assistant can also be useful when it comes to group shots and rounding up all the required family members.

You don’t want to have your guests waiting as you have your wedding photos taken. You should take wedding pictures beforehand. Make a list of all the shots that you want and arrange for many of them to be taken before the wedding begins.

You have been presented with some ideas for helping you plan your wedding, and now the rest is up to you. You should be able to enjoy your wedding day as a result of your great planning.

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Friday, January 1, 2016

Geek Beat: Apps to Build Better Habits

‘Tis the season for year-end recaps (see today’s Bytemarks Cafe), top-ten lists (more on this tomorrow), and yes, New Year’s resolutions. For this morning’s Geek Beat segment on Hawaii News Now‘s Sunrise morning show, we covered three apps to help you keep those resolutions.

Of course, our last Geek Beat segment of 2014 had a similar theme, and my top pick then — Coach.me — is still around. But the company has shifted its focus and the “habit tracker” app is feeling more and more like an afterthought. Fortunately, the productivity app space is crowded with a lot of great options.

Streaks

First up is Streaks, a “Best of 2015” app according to Apple, priced at $3.99. The app credits comedian Jerry Seinfeld and his mantra of, “Don’t break the chain.” Do something daily, and the longer you go without missing a day, the more motivated you are to keep going.

I found it when looking for alternatives to Coach.me, and Streaks stands apart for its apparent simplicity. Coach.me has a social component and the ability to add any number of daily tasks. (It also wants to sell you coaching plans.) Streaks, on the other hand, is focused entirely on helping you track your running streak of success for only six habits.

I’ll admit, the limited number of tasks annoyed me at first, but looking at my own track record on Coach.me, I now think most people are kidding themselves if they think they can build more than six new habits at once (unless you count things like “brush your teeth” and other things you probably already do every day). And Streaks just looks good. Clean, elegant, very Apple-like.

Streaks does more than meets the eye, however. You can customize its reminder notifications, set icons for each habit, and tie certain fitness habits to the built in Health app on iOS. And there’s also an Apple Watch app with a simple complication of six dots that can show you at a glance how well you’re doing any time of day.

Streaks is the app my wife uses to make sure she gets around to a growing number of habits that make her happy: reading, practicing a foreign language (last year it was via Duolingo, now it’s Memrise), going for a walk, and practicing on her electric bass… her Christmas gift from yours truly.

I think Streaks is worth it for the polish, but similar, free apps include Strides, Productive, and Way of Life.

Balanced

If you are looking for a little bit more than six dots and a calendar, there’s Balanced. It’s actually from the same developer who makes Productive, but Balanced has a more pronounced point of view. It’s not just about completing tasks and building good habits, but about living a balanced life. And the app is emphatically positive, built for motivation and focus.

Flexibility is one of the key differentiators for Balanced. You can skip activities without getting picked on, and while it cheers you on for maintaining a long daily streak, it’s also fine to check something off only a few times a week, or even a few times a year. And your lists of tasks can be prioritized, so it always highlights the most important things to you that are left to do.

Perhaps most helpfully, Balanced has provides a long list of suggested activities for your “happiness list,” positive ideas to choose from when you’ve managed to do everything else you’ve set out to do.

The Balanced interface is bright and friendly, gesture heavy (so you can swipe, pull, tap, and shake your way through the day), and includes little delightful touches clearly designed to cheer you on. I like my task managers and apps in general to be sleek and a little cold, but if you’re looking for more warmth, Balanced is a great option.

Habitica

Although I completely blanked on the name of this app on TV (and even got its old name wrong, it was HabitRPG not HabitDNA), Habitica is easily the most interesting habit-builting app out there. It started as an open-source software project, for one, a web tool that anyone could deploy and improve. And it made the jump to mobile platforms via a Kickstarter campaign that raised over $40,000 (well over its $25,000 goal).

The way Habitica motivates its users to succeed is by turning your tasks and goals into a role playing game. If you’ve ever quibbled over hit points in an imaginary battle between wizards and trolls, Habitica is for you.

While other apps may talk about “gamification,” Habitica gets very deep very fast. You start off designing and avatar, and as you progress, you can get fancier clothes and even pets. You have health points that go up when you’re being productive and down when you’re not, and you can collect gold coins for achievements that can then be traded in for virtual or even real-world goodies. You can form teams to work together or fight against each other.

Habitica has by far the most complicated interface of any task and goal tracker that I’ve seen, but that’s in part a result of it starting out as a web-based tool. And if you enjoy getting lost in the minutiae of RPGs, or if you have a mean competitive streak, you might love Habitica.

Like many geeks, I’m probably more in love with the tools and toys designed for getting things done than I am with actually getting things done. But sometimes, if only by accident, lifehacking apps and strategies actually help. What are your favorites? And how are you going to keep your New Year’s resolutions?

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Whew! A Year of Blogging Daily

Looking back at 365 days of blog posts, documenting everything from the local tech industry to my family’s occasional shenanigans, I’m certain there’s a poignant lesson and great epiphany to be had. Right now, though, as the illegal fireworks startle our cats in relatively peaceful Mililani on New Year’s Eve, the only thought that’s reverberating through my head is, “What was I thinking?”

This blog, which was a spinoff from a blog-free personal site, marked its fifteenth anniversary earlier this year. (I had been writing an online journal at the time, and resisted the whole blog thing for a while.) Seeing this milestone coming for a few months, I got the wacky idea late last year to try and write every day in 2015.

I have a mixed record when it comes to long-term goals. Can I get my ham radio license? Yes. Can I teach myself to program? No. Can I get my real estate license? Yes. Can I teach myself to program? No. I’ve managed to quit soda for more than a year (after downing as many as three or four cans of the stuff a day), but fell off that wagon pretty hard a while back. I was able to walk 10,000 steps a day for almost a year, but that was mostly because I was obsessed with Ingress, and when I stopped playing, I stopped walking regularly.

Things looked good for blogging. Halfway through this year, I definitely felt like I’d built up some momentum, and once I had 200 daily posts under my belt, I was feeling confident that I’d make it, in part because I didn’t want to “break the chain.”

But here on day 364, I’m feeling a little fried. Part of that is seasonal, as real life inevitably gets busy, yet it sure feels like stories also dry up, during the holidays. And part of it is definitely the quintessential challenge of a daily deadline: writing even when you feel like you don’t have anything to say.

Some blog posts were a blast to put together, doing research, conducting interviews, finding or taking photos, and finally publishing a complete story with context and dozens of relevant links. But sometimes, I wouldn’t get a moment to myself until bedtime, and then it was a 90 minute scramble to find a topic with at least a little meat on its bones. Sometimes, my infamous verbosity would turn what I thought would be a 1,000-word blurb into a 10,000 word essay. And sometimes, the time I took away from my family to blog made checking off that daily task a little less satisfying.

To be clear, I love to write, and often write something every day — a habit of many writers that I love and admire. But writing in public, for an audience, isn’t quite the same as spinning words in a contemplative, personal ritual. I’m too much of a perfectionist and a wanna-be journalist to take things I post publicly too lightly.

I want to want to write, not feel like I have to write. And I also have other things I that want to challenge myself to do in 2016. Maybe this will be the year I learn to program?

I won’t blog every day after today, but I will blog often… and I think the more than 10,000 posts in my archives suggests I’ll stick with it. I get deep satisfaction from telling stories that I think need telling, highlighting interesting things, or adding my voice to a broader conversation. And I love connecting with entrepreneurs chasing a dream, artists creating new things, and activists trying to change the world. There is always something interesting happening in Hawaii, and I’m lucky to be able to write about them.

If you’re reading this indulgent piece of end-of-the-year navel gazing, I want to thank you for reading. And most importantly, if you’ve got something that you think would be worth writing about, I want to hear from you.

As an epilogue, because no retrospective is complete without a Top 10 list, here are the ten most viewed Hawaii Blog posts of 2015. (Of course, posts later in the year are at a disadvantage.) It’s always interesting to see what draws people here, and how that differs from what I expect will be the most popular!

Website Design Hawaii

from Kauai i Hawaii Travel Tips http://ift.tt/1mtvv4H
via Website Design Hawaii #hawaiiwedding