On Saturday, Mabel and I traveled west to Front Royal for a blogging conference. I am a classic introvert, so it was a bit of a stretch for me. Mabel strongly dislikes travel, so it was definitely a stretch for her. Because I would be gone for most of an entire day, I went prepared. I packed multiple outfits for Mabel, and even a change of clothes for myself, just in case. I grabbed a granola bar and placed three small plums in a bowl and covered them tightly in cellophane wrap to keep the ants out. (My car sat for two months after Mabel was born, and ants took up residence. I keep forgetting to deal with the situation.) Last minute, I remembered to pull a Hope and Justin CD out of my desk drawer, and I grabbed my make up bag too. I’d need the tweezers. Once in my car, I used the tweezers to grab the CD out of the cd player that, in its old age, only partially ejects cds. I put in Hope and Justin and hoped they would make Mabel happy. I looked at the clock and saw that I was only leaving about 15 minutes later than I had planned, which is pretty good. Twenty minutes down the road Mabel wasn’t crying, and I was feeling a little proud of myself. I might be on time! Sitting at a red light, I grabbed my printed directions off the dash to remind myself of how long it was supposed to take, an hour and a half? As I scanned them, I realized that none of the streets looked familiar. With horror, I realized that I wasn’t holding my directions, but Jonny’s directions to the boys’ weekend baseball tournament.
I picked up our TracFone, the crappy little flip phone (that’s right) that doesn’t take incoming calls anymore for some reason, and only sustains a phone call for a minute, sometimes less, before emitting a very loud never-ending beep. I called home, hoping Jonny would still be there and we could meet and swap directions. Seth answered, and told me that no, Daddy had just printed himself new directions and headed to the game. I think I slapped the steering wheel; I definitely fought tears. I turned around and went back home. Once there, I had to pull Mabel out of the car to nurse again, hoping she would make the entire trip without us needing to stop. Eventually, I was on the road again. Mabel slept to the music for about 45 minutes, but then cried the second half of the trip. By the time I arrived at my destination, I felt a little frazzled. A friend saw me pull up and met me at my car to offer help. She noticed me place my mug on the hood of the car and asked if I wanted her to grab it. Feigning normalcy, I explained that no, I just put it there so the ants don’t swarm it for the residual honey. Doesn’t everyone do that?
The conference itself was lovely. My close friend Elizabeth was the keynote speaker. While we have been friends for years, she rarely agrees to speaking engagements, so this was my first time hearing her speak to a group. She was encouraging and convicting in all the right ways. I got to see Mary, whom I met last year at Edel, and seeing her again reminded me that I need more Mary in my life. I met lots of other neat ladies, and had a great time. I am not sure how Rosie, the host, pulled it off while 30 weeks pregnant! I think one of the more memorable moments was a few minutes into Jenny Ryan’s talk when she shouted, “Oh my! There’s a BEAR!” And sure enough a lanky bear cub was running across the yard. Bears are fast!
I answered a few questions on a Q & A panel at the end of the day, including one about finding time to write. I feel like that gets harder all the time, and I’ve just learned to squeeze it in where I can. If you could see the process of me trying to write a blog post, you’d just laugh. I’ve been interrupted so many times in the writing of this post despite the fact that I was sneaky and got up early (so did everyone else today!) This is life.
p.s. After Saturday’s ordeal (okay, that’s an exaggeration) I think I might buy a proper cell phone. Is there anything I need to know? I think if I’m going to do it, I want one with a good camera. So iPhone? That’s what people seem to have. I don’t need the latest one, right?
p.p.s. There is still a tiny bit of yarn left in my shop!
Your mention of everyone else getting up early too made me laugh. This is from a Facebook post of mine last week:
“To illustrate what life is like with children:
Yesterday we had an 8 am dentist appointment for both children, so I had to drag them out of blanket cocoons at 6:45, bribe them with muffins, beg them to get dressed, assist in getting ready, and we made it to the appointment by the skin of our teeth.
Today I decided to get up early to get an hour or two of work in before the kids got up, as I am on deadline and it’s hard to concentrate with a cacophony in the background (even when they’re not trying to kill each other, they’re often loud). I figured they’d sleep until 8 or so if I left them alone and didn’t use a timer for my tea. I kid you not, FIVE MINUTES after I opened Microsoft Word, K. was sitting next to me, fully dressed and ready to chat about her night. A. followed, well before 8 am.”
And I’ve only got the two…. 🙂
I love Apple but a cell plan for an iPhone is not in our budget, so last year I switched to Republic Wireless with an Android phone; I pay $12-$13/ month. However, I still use my old iPhone 5c for pictures 🙂 Best of both worlds I guess!
Phone Advice – another 5 cents worth!!!
I have tracfone, about a year ago I traded up from my flip phone to a smart phone look alike because I wanted to be able to text without doing the press, press, press thing for each letter
I got the newer style phone at Walmart for about $12 and rolled over my number and minutes it was easy
I did NOT buy a case stupid mistake, just because I couldn’t find one locally, and dropped the phone more than once and wrecked it
Back to Walmart, bigger, newer ALCATEL phone – still tracfone, texts, take pictures, receives emails, can connect to the web
IF I lived somewhere with great cell service everywhere I go, I would be thrilled with this phone, it was $35 and I bought a case on Amazon for $15.
They had Galaxy phones for Tracfone at my local Walmart, but they runon Verizon, which has no service in the town where I live, otherwise that would have been my first choice.
BUT, here in Maine the cell reception is crappy at best………….so now I am thinking about an ATnT iPhone……….but wow the $$ seems too much for me for how little I actually use my current phone.
If you have great coverage there, then try out a newer model tracfone first.
I have been happy with my iphone. I’ve been needing to upgrade mine (I have a 4S), and my husband (who is a computer programmer for a cell phone company) has been telling me that I should get the SE for the camera. I know that he told me that one of the iphone 5 models has a bad camera, but I can’t remember if it’s the 5 or 5S.
Oh you sweet mama! I’m glad you persevered! 🙂
Try an iPhone SE. It’s cheaper than other iPhones (so you can get more memory for less), plus it has some iPhone 6 parts, including a good camera. I just switched one out for my iPhone 5s, and it has the same body.
I’m very happy with my used iPhone 5s, an Otterbox case and screen protector. Ting service so I only pay for what I use. Good luck!
Definitely look into the TING service! You only pay for what you use, and you always have access to data (for internet and GPS!) but don’t get charged for it if you don’t need it. I have been on the TING plan for two years and am very happy with it and thrilled to have a small phone bill. This plan is especially great if you have a home phone line that you do most of your talking on anyways. It is easy to add additional lines and cheap (great if you want someone to have a cell phone for emergencies or travel, but don’t want to pay for it if its not in use). It is also easy to switch your number with TING to a new phone if your current one gets lost or broken (easiest time we have ever had with this process).
We got used Galaxy phones off Craigslist. There should also be options on the TING website and even on Amazon. TING has helpful customer service too.
Good luck! This is always a tricky and time consuming endeavor…
Oh! Otterbox cases are worth the money! Get the Defender Series. or higher for the best protection. This case will absolutely save your phone when it gets dropped (by all) and handled by little ones. Sometimes Amazon has good deals on these, and sometimes you can get a good deal on Craigslist!
get a water proof galaxy. You wont regret it, I had my five for a few years of repeated punishment. I can drop it on the pavement in a wet slushy puddle and just wipe it off and it still works unlike an I phone that would die with just a bit of water, let alone a large puddle worth.
I have a Samsung galaxy J3 that was about $40 when I signed up for a month to month plan with Boost (runs on the Sprint network). I have $30/month phone bills including data and texting and the phone is far superior to my old iPhone + Verizon’s network. I bought mine at RadioShack.
p.s. your baby is darling!
I’m sure others have already claimed this, but I’ll add in my two cents on the phone: I bought a galaxy specifically because of the picture quality, as I might sometimes have to use it for work. It takes a nice picture!
(I was also one of the last people on the planet to get a smart phone, less than a year ago. I still mostly ignore it.)
The other thing with the cost of the phone is that it’s usually free when you sign up for service, or something like $100. So it’s not like you generally have to pay $650 for a new phone b
Not b. Lol! That’s a phone typing error right there!
I just got a Galaxy for free and the camera is awesome!
You are awesome, Ginny! I’d be so pissed after accidentally taking the wrong directions with me…but you just turned around and started out on the same journey again, all with a baby, no problem :).
As for your phone-question: I have an Android (I forget what kind exactly, whoops – it’s pretty old). It works fine for all the basic things, but my storage is running out 24/7 and picture quality is not great. Once I’ll buy a new phone, which will probably be an iPhone: every other member in my family has had one for YEARS and they have literally never had any problems with them, ever. The photo quality is also really good. So, yes, although iPhones are pricy, they’re worth the money, in my opinion.
PS. Love the pics of you and Mabel – so adorable!
I have an iphone4S and I don’t recommend it, very disappointed. The camera isn’t terrific and I hardly have any space for photos. Next I’d go an android, like a Sensation.
I also use Republic Wireless and have been happy with the service. I use the refund plan that gives you money back for the data that you don’t use and usually end up paying about $12.50 per month. I have the Moto G 3rd generation and it takes pretty nice pictures.
Next phone I get, when my current one dies, will definitely be a Fairphone. iPhones and other big brand smart phones are great, but the people making them work under terrible conditions, metals in the phones are often mined by child labor and the phones are built to last like 2 years, leading to unnecessary environmental waste and more consumption. Fairphones are built to last and can repaired when they break, unlike other brands and every step involved is with everyone’s well-being in mind. I like that 🙂
These sound great, but don’t seem to be widely used in the U.S., or am I wrong?
Perhaps not! I live in Sweden and I think the company that makes these phones is based in Holland. They’re available here but not many people know about them yet. I haven’t found them on typical websites that sell an array of smart phone brands, only on this site: https://www.fairphone.com/
Hopefully the word will spread and they’ll become more popular.
Good luck on the phone hunt, and thanks for hours of reading and knitting inspiration 😉
I couldn’t find my flip phone this past March when I went to NYC to meet my daughter so I went to Rite Aid and bought an AT&T android (ZTE) that is a pay as you go…like Tracfone. The camera is ok, not as good as IPhone but a lot cheaper. I pay monthly and you can change your plan around as your needs change that particular month. So far it’s worked for me. I don’t use it that much. I don’t like cell phones for all the health risks involved.
This evening I am going to put some marigold yarn (or goldenrod?) I made last year into an iron after bath and see what happens. I just can’t seem to get very scientific about it. And my skein I just wrapped with my niddy noddy looks so horrible!
We bought a refurbished iphone 4 on Amazon for less than $45 and it has worked great. It doesn’t support some of the newer apps but it is easy to use, the camera is pretty good, and for that price, I’m not too worried if it got dropped or spilled on. We do have a case (also from Amazon) to protect it.
If you are an Apple family, of course you would get an iphone. We are not Apple fans, used Windows products at work and home for decades…yikes…and find that the Samsung Galaxy phones are all great. As others mentioned, the camera on Galaxy phones is better than those on iphones, generation by generation, and you can talk to your Android just like Siri and all smart phones have apps for driving directions, etc.
The only thing you might want to compare between ios and Android are the educational apps since you homeschool. Some folks say that there are more educational apps for ios.
I would get an iPhone SE 🙂 The camera is really good, and it’s not as big and unwieldy as the 6S and 6S Plus is (or the 7s will be). The flagship Samsung phones have good cameras as well, but I prefer iPhones just for the ease of use and the fact that it integrates nicely with my other Apple products.
Others seem to have different experiences, but they last a long time for me. My old iPhone 4, bought in 2010, is now with its fourth owner, and while it dosen’t support all the new apps and operating systems, the phone itself works just fine. My iPhone 5, bought in 2012, is now with its third owner and works perfectly fine still too.
But yeah, wait until after the Apple event tomorrow, as the next models will be announced and there’s a chance the SE will either get an upgrade or have its price lowered, and the current models, which are really great phones, might also get a price decrease.
I agree on all counts. We have had both apple and Android smart phones and had much better luck with Apple. My original iPhone 4 has been passed on but still works! I got it 5 years ago. As far as the camera goes, it’s one area where I can tell a difference between newer and older phones, so I would also recommend something like the iPhone SE if you prefer something small, or at least an iPhone 5S if you go with an older model.
fun! an Iphone will work best (I think??) if you have other Mac things. That’s my impression anyway. I have an Android Galaxy Note 4. Love it. The latest one though, by Samsung (the 7) is having battery-fire issues, so a total recall on that one!
I think all of us have things we have a hard time getting to (like a car not being used) and with a young baby + your family, it happens.
I am glad you had a nice time; sounds lovely! Glory to God! He is so good to us!
We use an iPhone with both an Apple iMac computer and a Windows PC computer, no troubles either way. It toggles between the two with no difference.
right (and Hi Grace!) … I had read that Mac Photos works best (their photo storage which costs $) with all mac things, which is why I did not know. Thanks for letting me know! 🙂
Hi Elizabeth! The photos are still the same format (JPEG files), so it doesn’t seem to matter. Our iMac is still not working so we only have the Windows PC and it’s no problem!
I love the picture of Mabel with her tongue sticking out! So much personality already!
We have smart phones (we are not “an Apple family”) and most of them were “refurbished” purchases. I have the most basic (Samsung J3) and my teenagers love to pick on me about my “old” phone that I’ve only had for 3 months. As most everyone else has said, get a protective screen cover and case!
I also procrastinated about getting a smart phone because I thought I didn’t really need it, but it is a lifesaver – not just phone and email but Kindle, Overdrive, Google maps, Facebook, Instagram, on and on and on…..
The map and email elements have been HUGE lifesavers for me, I find I’m always having to look up AGAIN where we are going.
Loved your photo’s of the kiddo’s playing golf, showing affection for one another, Mabel’s little faces, etc. I love your yarn description slips (I’m not sure what to call them). I think they look so professional! I don’t know how you do it with all your kids. I asked my mom how my grandmother did it since she had 9 children…she responded, you just do! Hope you have a great week.
My husband loves his iPhone 5. He’s always talking to the lady on the phone (Siri). They have quite the conversations. He loves that you can speak into the phone and it will type your text message…saves you from getting into a long conversation with someone on your phone…and he’s not a fast typist.
I love my iPhone and love that it has GPS and can give me directions. 🙂
We’re an Apple family. If you use an Apple computer you might be happier with an iPhone than another kind of smart phone. You might try a gently used or refurbished iPhone. The prices of older models do come down once the latest and greatest is announced. But still pricey. We usually buy new but have also bought gently used and refurbished and been happy. Longevity hasn’t been an issue for us. Usually, my husband gets a new model, I get his older phone, and then we pass mine down to the oldest kid…and so on…to the youngest kid. (They’re all big kids!) A good, sturdy case is a necessity, especially since you have little ones. Drops happen. And though they are making iPhones sturdier, it’s still an investment worth protecting.
I didn’t want a smartphone because I didn’t think I’d use it to its potential. Wrong. I use the camera, maps, Kindle app, calendar, texting, email, Instagram, etc. I’m not a junky but it is very nice to have all that at my disposal – and it fits in my pocket/purse so I always have all that with me.
Good luck, it can be daunting!
Do you have any other blogging conferences that you have attended or recommend for blogging homeschooling moms?
I adore your candor! So refreshing and full of grace. Your life lived naturally, pure, and honest is such a guiding light to us all.
I have an iPhone 5c that I love. Good camera and I use it for almost everything. I can check my email, I have my music on there, my calendar, I have an app for daily readings/prayers/devotions called “Laudate”, and, of course, my phone (LOL). I have Google Maps which is awesome for GPS directions. I’ve never used a Samsung, but I’ve found the iPhone to be very easy to use.
If you wait for the iPhone seven to come out the 6s iPhone will be less expensive.
I LOVE my iPhone 6 and the camera does a great job. Also the learning curve is minimal since you have an iPad mini.
You don’t need more than a 16 gig since everything is cloud storage (Dropbox)
My husband and son own the iPhone SE and love that. It’s the size of the iPhone 5 with a 6s processor and camera on the inside.
messgae me if you need more info than that.
(Ps – we couldn’t drive anywhere for a whole year with our son when he was born without him screaming his head off, once he was a year he stopped crying but if he was done being in the car he would throw toys at us to the front seat!!)
The newer I phone SE has a great camera – the phone is not too large – cheap cover from Amazon keeps it safe . With all the levels of schooling you have going on I am sure an extra tool to get to internet would be useful.
Your blog is so encouraging! Glad you made it – we all have days like this. Check out Ting for good basic phone service and pre-owned phones.
My only camera iPhone advice for you is that after downgrading from a 6 to a 4, the 6 camera is WAY better. Comparatively, the 4 is terrible. I briefly had a 5 and as expected, the camera is somewhere in the middle, but the phone itself seemed more durable than a 6. The 6 just seems more easily breakable with drops than the 5 or 6.
What a story! I’m sure it was an exhausting, but fun, trip!
I had a Tracfone for years and finally got an iPhone 5 three years ago. It still works like a charm, and the camera is really good. The battery lasts a long time and the maps feature is SO helpful! The 5 will go on sale soon, after the iPhone 7 is announced– so wait for that!
Whatever phone you get, you MUST get a good case so nothing happens to it. I like the Otterbox, but the Lifeproof brand is good too, if you want waterproof.
You made it, Ginny; you didn’t give up – that’s the main thing. 🙂 Your girls walking together, so beautiful. Your knitting project, gorgeous! Cute, smiling baby.
The petal-strewn thing was a cake, I first thought! Then I noticed the mud. But I just saw a photo yesterday in British Country Living about a woman who grows edible flowers as a business, and there was a white-frosted cake photo with colorful petals all over it.
Republic wireless has been good for us. No contract and you can get a smartphone for as low as $10/month if you are willing to only have data when on wifi.
Oh, and the motorola I have takes really good pictures.
The Samsung S7 is AMAZING. The camera is much better than the iPhone. ALL my iPhone friends are always preferring to use my phone to take our photos, they’re that good 🙂
I’m so so glad you were able to come, despite all the craziness of the morning! There was, I think, a lot conspiring against us all and it was still such a wonderful, grace-filled day 🙂
I do love your writing. 🙂 I too have used a basic, flip tracphone for years but I found out a few months ago that tracphones are compatible with smart phones (who knew!) so I bought an iPhone 4 for $50 and linked it up to tracphone. Such a good decision and I can take pictures. I feel like I’ve just joined the 21st century, ha ha!
Don’t change, Ginny. Love you just the way you are. 🙂 I saw the pictures from the conference and immediately I thought, I MUST MOVE TO VIRGINIA. Because all the cool people and the adorable babies live there!
Flip phone finally died last year and my husband surprised me with an i- phone. Despite my protests of not needing it, I now see the light? Great camera too! And I can finally get to all the away activities without printing and bringing a paper copy. Which is good because I am finding that our baseball team gets sent to the wrong parks frequently!
I switched from tracfone to an att go phone last week. I got a galaxy se3 phone and so far I like it a lot better than tracfone. 🙂 That doesn’t take much.
Ginny, I still have an old school cell phone from about 8 years ago that is my only phone (no house phone), I fear the ones that have all the bells and whistles and can connect to the internet. So i can’t give you advice in that area. ha! But oh that conference sounds amazing. I wish we had things like that on the west coast. I need to connect with more Catholic women, I feel so isolated at the moment. Anyways, enough about my silliness – those pics of you and Mabel LOVE!!!!! I still swear I see some Bea in her 🙂
There’s one in a few weeks in Altadena, CA! Registration is closed but they might be taking late registrations if the date & location work for you 🙂
http://californiatokorea.com/catholicism/sign-stwof-conference
My husband and I reluctantly made the switch to smartphones last fall. I have my mother’s old iPhone (free!) which came with a pre-cracked screen. I found a tempered glass screen protector via Amazon to prevent it from shattering if (ha! When) we dropped it again. The protector was a great investment, one I would recommend, no matter what phone.
Just get a new tracfone. I refuse to get a smartphone for a lot of reasons, and just upgrade my flip phone every couple of years. They don’t last forever, and some are better than others. You can usually transfer your number, minutes, and time contract to the new phone without too much trouble.
I’ll be reading along for phone advice. I’m still holding on to an old flip phone too, but at times it has just been too impractical lately. I can so relate to what you wrote re: printed directions!
I’ve always stuck with Apple products, so my advice is buy an iPhone. It doesn’t have to be the newest one. In fact, the latest iPhone with be coming out either in September or October, which will knock down the prices of the previous models. (That’s what I like to purchase, so the prices are a little more reasonable.) Hope your phone shopping goes well!
And your little girls smile is adorable!
We have phones through Straight Talk – available at Walmart, because that ended up much cheaper for us than a yearly contract. They have pretty decent phones available – not sure if any iPhones. I guess I must be pretty rough on phones – mine never last long enough that I would feel justified buying anything expensive (the young girls at work, who spend half their days looking at their phones, are always horrified by the screen cracks and dents on mine!)
Yuck, ants! I had a family of spiders living in my car back in the spring. I loved them although I think they tried to eat me as I was covered in bites.
I have iPhone and my husband has Samsung, we both think our phone is the best, lol.
I finally got an i-phone, and the latest one was cheapest on special.
I’m so glad you made the effort to come all the way to the conference despite the difficulty getting there!
My phone is broken too and has been since February, haha! Mine still usually takes calls but texting, mapping directions, and telling the actual time are not things it feels like doing anymore 😉
Iphones are decent but they, like most cell phones these days, seem to have a 2-year self-destruct chip built in. Mine was fine, never dropped or misused or anything and then one day all the glitches started. That said while it was working it was a great phone.
I can relate to the nursing baby thing and the frazzle it is to leave the house. It has been my life for some eighteen years now. I can go on autopilot with nursing baby in tow.
We buckled and bought a Samsung Galaxy 6 and we really like it. We bought it used with a few cosmetic scratches and call it “distressed.”