tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-57781656153538555382024-02-20T09:54:58.979-08:00Pursuing HarmonyJenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.comBlogger97125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-34698906112748104152011-05-25T04:43:00.000-07:002011-05-25T04:53:30.424-07:00(Mostly) Wordless Wednesday - Senior Hottie Linkup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1990</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Really, with the hair, it needs no introduction.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> I lived in midwestern America and my sense of fashion was just like everyone else's at the time. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/JeniBug/jeni88.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/JeniBug/jeni88.jpg" width="135" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">the first and only time I wore a strapless dress. It was my date's favorite color</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/JeniBug/Top-5-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/JeniBug/Top-5-1.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">One of the pictures from my official senior photo session in the school cafeteria. Vests and long sleeved shirts buttoned all the way up with a statement pin were highly fashionable that year. </div><div style="text-align: center;">This look is all over my yearbook. I loved the comedy-tragedy pin I had on in this picture</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gnFAmfHP3FE/TdzoqvO2BBI/AAAAAAAACB0/XdhzEK4_-6k/s1600/n527909091_1477160_2357992.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-gnFAmfHP3FE/TdzoqvO2BBI/AAAAAAAACB0/XdhzEK4_-6k/s320/n527909091_1477160_2357992.jpg" width="236" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">graduation night with my BFF. She is STILL my BFF too!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
Linked up with a <a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/2011/05/senior-photos.html">Belle, a Bean, and a Chicago Dog</a> here:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.bellebeanchicagodog.com/2011/05/senior-photos.html"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_WA3x7pkwBI/TdztWWuRBgI/AAAAAAAACB8/-HAh7JBVv6o/s1600/iStock_000001437035XSmall-1-1.jpg" /></a></div><br />
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-14762336938005648072011-02-25T07:44:00.000-08:002011-02-25T07:56:49.114-08:00Small Giving Can Make a Big Impact!<div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px; line-height: 18px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> I met the Love Drop team at the Blissdom blogging conference recently, and have spent the last several weeks getting to know Lauren, J. Money, and Nate through twitter conversation, email, and reading just about everything I can get my hands on related to Love Drop. I like to do my research :)</span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><br />
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</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YLyBQshByVw/TWbeg-3n_II/AAAAAAAAAEo/WhBqQGliFqQ/s1600/lovedropteam.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5577389846758423682" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YLyBQshByVw/TWbeg-3n_II/AAAAAAAAAEo/WhBqQGliFqQ/s320/lovedropteam.jpg" style="cursor: hand; cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 213px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a></span><br />
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<div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/BudgetsAreSexy">J. Money</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ItStartsWithUs">Nate</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/laurenlankford">Lauren</a></span></span></span></span></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/southernfairytale/">Rachel</a> at<a href="http://asouthernfairytale.com/"> Southern Fairytale</a> </span></span></span></span></span></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; color: black; font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></span></div></div></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Simply put, they are my kind of people. Authentic is really important to me, and there is no pretense to any of them. What you see is what you get. And they don't make much secret to the fact that what they have been through in life has fueled their compassion for others. They know we're all the same inside, and we all need support and community sometimes. It has inspired them to find simple, reachable ways to change the world. </span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">The basic idea behind Love Drop is called micro-giving. You can go <a href="http://lovedrop.us/">here</a> to sign up to contribute as little as $1 a month, more if you want to. The <span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; line-height: 18px;">big idea is that if hundreds or thousands of people do it at the same time, the $1, $5, $10 per month add up in a really impressive way. People from more than 100 countries are already part of the team.</span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>The Process</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></span></span></span></span><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;">Each month they take suggestions from Love Drop team members who know an individual or a family struggling to cover some expense, and the team comes together to cover it for them. Examples of the expenses are things like their mortgage, medical bills, or groceries, things you might expect. </span></span></span></span></div><div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;">However, for the Love Drop team, it’s about much, much more than money. They also want to help the recipients of the Love Drop mission get back on their feet in tangible ways: by offering love and support, by strengthening their local support system of friends and family, and sometimes getting business local to them involved in helping as well. Love Drop tends to focus on people in particular who are working to give back to others, even though they are struggling at the moment.</span></span></span></span></div></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">The story of every month's Love Drop gets told in increments each week, through videos, pictures, blog posts, and interviews</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"> posted </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">on <a href="http://lovedrop.us/">http://LoveDrop.us</a>. The team reaches out to people who have expressed interest in helping </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">through social networks and via email to find more </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">resources and generate buzz, if you will, and at the same time, they are building an active, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">engaged community around the Drop recipient. At the end of each </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">month, founding team members Nate and J. Money spend several days promoting </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">and making the Love Drop in person, shooting video and posting on social networks to keep the rest of the team all over the world involved in what they are supporting. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><b>February's Mission</b></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">This month, Love Drop is trying to raise $13,000 to place and train a highly skilled service dog with a family touched by autism through <a href="http://www.4pawsforability.org/"> 4 Paws for Ability</a> . More information about this months mission can be found <a href="http://www.lovedrop.us/#episode2">here</a>. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">They are just under $9000 toward the goal, it's down to the wire, and I have posted here hoping that you will be inspired to join me in giving. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse;">The February mission is THIS WEEKEND! If you can, please sign up to be a part of the team. If that's not in your finances right now, then help me spread the word on twitter, facebook, and any other social network you are a part of. </span></span><br />
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<div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Would you post this for Love Drop?</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">The Love Drop for Ethan and Alex is this Saturday! Small giving can make a big impact: <a class="twitter-timeline-link" href="http://bit.ly/gwwqby" rel="nofollow" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank" title="http://www.lovedrop.us/" url="http://www.lovedrop.us/">http://bit.ly/gwwqby</a> #autism @LoveDropTeam</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: separate; font-family: Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Thank you for listening. This is really important to me, and I was compelled to share.</span></span></span><br />
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</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">--------------------------</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Additional links for you:</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">Become a member of the Love Drop Blogger Network</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.lovedrop.us/blogger-network" target="_blank">http://www.lovedrop.us/<wbr></wbr>blogger-network</a></span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">More information about Love Drop</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.lovedrop.us/faqs" target="_blank">http://www.lovedrop.us/faqs</a></span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">A Question and Answer Session with Nate St. Pierre of Love Drop:</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://www.spinsucks.com/entrepreneur/love-drop-making-money-by-giving-it-away/" target="_blank">http://www.spinsucks.com/<wbr></wbr>entrepreneur/love-drop-making-<wbr></wbr>money-by-giving-it-away/</a></span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">An Interview with J. Money of Love Drop:</span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://finance.feedables.com/story/7433776/Interview-With-Love-Drop-Co-Founder-J-Money" target="_blank">http://finance.feedables.com/<wbr></wbr>story/7433776/Interview-With-<wbr></wbr>Love-Drop-Co-Founder-J-Money</a></span></span></span></div><div style="border-collapse: collapse; line-height: normal;"></div></div><br />
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</span></span></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-54703896206345429302011-01-09T19:05:00.000-08:002011-01-09T21:33:45.504-08:00Project We - First Entry, Week 1: NewThis is the first in a series of weekly blog posts I will be making with my oldest daughter. I will write mine, and link to hers. If I can get the widget to work, you can follow the link to JennyOnTheSpot's blog and her Project We.<br />
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<center><a href="http://www.blogger.com/%E2%80%9Dhttp://www.jennyonthespot.com/project-we/%E2%80%9D" mce_href="”http://www.jennyonthespot.com/project-we/”"><img border="”0″" mce_src="”http://www.jennyonthespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/projectwe1-e1294082570909.jpg”/" src="”http://www.jennyonthespot.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/projectwe1-e1294082570909.jpg”"/></a></center><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">New</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/TSp2fEDxFSI/AAAAAAAACBU/-kX_b5VLOXQ/s1600/dell-inspiron-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/TSp2fEDxFSI/AAAAAAAACBU/-kX_b5VLOXQ/s320/dell-inspiron-14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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I got a new laptop!!! I have never owned a laptop before, and am thrilled with the ability to curl up in bed and watch movies and tv episodes, be on twitter and facebook, and to be able to use wifi at Starbucks and Barnes and Noble when I can get away to think for a while. My friend Andy got this laptop for me, it is a Dell (I have owned several desktops from Dell), it is refurbished (pre-owned but looks and behaves as if it is factory perfect), and it is a perfect size and weight to be portable. I am most looking forward to the ability to take it to blogging conferences to take notes.<br />
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It is my very favorite new thing. Maybe ever. :)<br />
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My daughter's entry for New is here:<br />
<a href="http://furrymouse.blogspot.com/2011/01/project-we-first-entry-week-1-new.html">furrymouse: Project We, Week 1, New</a>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-84964094084502916252010-04-28T13:17:00.000-07:002010-04-28T13:17:20.032-07:00Wordless Wednesday (not really)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S9iVv4bPKbI/AAAAAAAACA4/_Nb4DR99cVE/s1600/breneartbyali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S9iVv4bPKbI/AAAAAAAACA4/_Nb4DR99cVE/s400/breneartbyali.jpg" width="380" /></a></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">From <a href="http://www.aliedwards.com/2010/03/you-are-worthy-brene-brown-.html">Ali Edward's Digital Scrapbooking</a></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-9406351485945980392010-04-13T20:13:00.000-07:002010-04-13T20:13:43.486-07:00Wordless Wednesday<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S8Uy5P6ZjrI/AAAAAAAACAo/vNgS0-Zd3GY/s1600/IMG_8554.JPG"><img border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S8Uy5P6ZjrI/AAAAAAAACAo/vNgS0-Zd3GY/s320/IMG_8554.JPG" /></a><div style='clear:both; text-align:NONE'><a href='http://picasa.google.com/blogger/' target='ext'><img src='http://photos1.blogger.com/pbp.gif' alt='Posted by Picasa' style='border: 0px none ; padding: 0px; background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 50%; -moz-background-clip: initial; -moz-background-origin: initial; -moz-background-inline-policy: initial;' align='middle' border='0' /></a></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-36360899919175564462010-03-07T18:02:00.000-08:002010-03-07T18:02:03.391-08:00The Fairy House, and an interview with Ella<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "MS Shell Dlg"; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 13px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, serif; line-height: 22px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; margin: 14px 0px; outline-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/JeniBug/blog%20images/IMG_8534-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" kt="true" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v400/JeniBug/blog%20images/IMG_8534-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
</div>This afternoon, Ella, Maddie, and their friend Brooke collected some nature items to make a fairy house. Maddie suggested the idea, Brooke suggested the box, and Ella suggested the leaves and buttercups.<br />
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Some conversation about the contents of the fairy house:<br />
we can use leaves for beds<br />
we should use flowers for pillows<br />
we put buttercup flowers as blankets<br />
we made a bathtub with a container and filled it with clovers and flowers<br />
we got pennies so they could wish on them and throw them in the bathtub<br />
we could have made a stick roof but we didn't have time<br />
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Here is what Ella, age 10, hopes will happen:<br />
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"I hope that fairies will come and sleep in the beds, and in the morning they will still be sleeping so I can get a picture of real fairies! I think they will be happy that someone cares for them and made them beds, also I think it would be embarassing if I saw a fairy naked. A fairy in the bathtub! She would go "aaaaah!" in her little tiny squeaky voice. It would be cool if one of the fairies had a baby fairy. Then I would be able to see a baby fairy!!! "Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-339582430917770912010-03-02T13:08:00.000-08:002011-03-05T06:05:45.691-08:00Pray for Allie's Heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S41-KHSfOXI/AAAAAAAAB_g/7IEraBro7TE/s1600-h/jeffersonlakebjc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" kt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S41-KHSfOXI/AAAAAAAAB_g/7IEraBro7TE/s320/jeffersonlakebjc.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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I first remember meeting Allie when I told her I was going to marry her son. I walked right up to her after a concert at the park when I was about 11 years old and I said, "I just want you to know, I'm going to be your daughter in law someday".<br />
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I was so sure of it, too.<br />
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I think the fact that my brain-to-mouth filter had not yet developed, and the fact that I was so doe-eyed over her beloved youngest son, endeared me to her. From as far back as I can remember, she was happy to talk to me, she spoke to me as a friend or a peer rather than as an adult to a child. I was in band once a week with her son through the 8th grade, and in choir and band with him all through high school. There were concerts, competitions, trips, and all sorts of opportunties for me to visit with her. <br />
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She always welcomed me with a warm and enthusiastic hug. As I grew older, she wanted to know what classes I was taking, how I was doing in school; she would congratulate me when I did well at district competition in band, and rejoiced with me when I made All State Choir. She was always very curious, animated, engaged, and genuinely interested in what I had to say.<br />
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I kept in touch with her after high school, visiting her at work when I was in town, and calling when I had news of a new baby or a move, or I just missed her. We seemed to move past the child/adult barrier into woman to woman friendship very easily, without even noticing. She celebrated with me as our family welcomed each of our four children, she would share her concern about that youngest son of hers (because he was a magnet for trouble and she knew I still wanted to know about him), about her older kids, her grandbabies, and what she was busy with. We spoke during some difficult times for both of us, too, sharing heavy burdens, trusting each other with secrets and doubts, and rejoicing in the Providence of God to take care of the details.<br />
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We visited several times over Christmas this past year, and were immediately able to pick up where we had left off, even able to dive deep into family dynamic type subject matter in the middle of her workplace. She has always made time for me. She has always shared from her heart with me. In a lot of ways, she provides a strong link to home for me, even though she's not my mother. <br />
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Allie's always had this very unique personality... often playful, very generous, worldly wise yet very optimistic, always expecting the best from people, with a soft heart but very strong shoulders. She has been through an awful lot in her life, and you'd never know it by the openness and joy she gives off like a sunbeam.<br />
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I'm talking about Allie today, because she had a heart attack followed by immediate quintuple bypass surgery last week, and is not doing well in her recovery. She has been moved to a larger hospital in a bigger city, in the hopes that some more knowledgable doctors will be able to set her on the path to healing. She is responsive but well sedated, and her doctors don't really have a prognosis yet. My heart is just aching for her and for her family. She has 4 grown children, many grandchildren including a grandbaby that's 4 weeks old, and a grown grandaughter she hasn't seen in more than 15 years just waiting for her to wake up and love on them.<br />
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Please tak a few minutes to pray for her. She is a wonderful, darling, sweet woman. As much as I know that God would enjoy having her at His side, her family needs her desperately, and she has so many more people to touch with her goodness. <br />
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Thank you. Thank you for listening and getting to know Allie. And for praying for her.Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-56343575226156528382010-02-23T08:02:00.000-08:002010-02-23T08:02:00.206-08:00Why Am I Here?On this blog, writing, I mean.<br />
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<b>Why I Write - Writing!</b><br />
I started my blog last spring right after Ella got diagnosed with Aspergers as a way to process and vent, and to seek counsel from other moms of children with Aspergers. As time went on, I also discovered that blogging regularly was also helpful as a writing exercise. I have never really had aspirations of being a writer, but it is something I was always good at in school. It certainly keeps my mind from turning to mush with the endless stream of chatter from four young children!<br />
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I have several mindblowingly creative daughters who have given me great children's stories. In fact, Annelise, my four year old, dictated a storybook to me as we drove on an errand one night. An entire story. I just have to find someone to illustrate it! My oldest has an amazing idea for a children's novel, one I would be interested in reading, and I know that she and I do not have the raw talent or the skill to craft a good book. I know that daily/several times a week writing will help me practice, and that learning more about the process of publishing will help me get a correct vision of how to proceed.<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://it.coe.uga.edu/">http://it.coe.uga.edu</a></div><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold;">Why I write - Connecting!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;">One of the things I have tried to learn about during the blog conferences I attend is the heart of writing. I still don't know a whole lot about the mechanics, but being almost totally right brained, why be concerned about mechanics when I can pay an editor for that someday? Just kidding. </span>Right now, I am writing for pleasure. To express my heart, and to connect with you. I told you in my last blog post that I thrive on connecting.<br />
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I am so grateful to those of you who have found and read my blog. My little tiny speck of a blog in this great big blogworld. I am going to try to make it more worth your while to stop by. I write best from my heart, stream of consciousness, and not written, re-written, polished, spellchecked, reviewed and re-reviewed before posting. Not that there's anything wrong with that (*cough* <a href="http://jana-sugarspicelife.blogspot.com/">Jana</a> *cough*) it's just not what I have ever done. In high school and college, I was the worlds worst procrastinator and my first draft was my only draft. Some things never change.<br />
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<b>How do you want to connect?</b><br />
Speaking to the desire to want to connect more with you and get to know you better, I have set up a <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Pursuing-Harmony-Fan-Page/362606603997?ref=ts#!/pages/The-Pursuing-Harmony-Fan-Page/362606603997?ref=mf">facebook fan page</a>. I would love for you to friend request me if you haven't already. And if you have a facebook fan page or a networkedblog page, please let me know! I have most of you with blogs on my google reader, but some don't show that they have blogs, and I know I am not great at keeping up with reading and commenting. I am also trying to figure out how to install disqus comments on my blog so I can more easily comment back. I am not making loads of effort to turn my blog into this big "thing", it is an outlet for me, and a way to express creativity and to converse with other people I might not otherwise meet. I can't imagine having ads and sponsors and things like that. I'm working over at <a href="http://specialmomtalk.com/">SpecialMomTalk </a>with that, though!<br />
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(I hope I made the link right for the facebook page. You can search for Pursuing Harmony fan and find it that way. I may be a geek wife, but I'm not to be counted upon for my personal tech-savvy-ness.)<br />
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So tell me why you're here! On your blog, I mean :)Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-766584576919626892010-02-19T04:42:00.000-08:002010-02-21T21:46:16.161-08:00Blissdom 10 - Friday Recap in Pictures<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">Opening Remarks by <a href="http://allisonworthingtonmedia.com/">Alli Worthington</a>, <a href="http://one2onenetwork.com/">Paula Bruno, and Barbara Jones</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cYxKsjwEI/AAAAAAAAB7A/uyoXps5zyc0/s1600-h/4334303434_b1dc718f4f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cYxKsjwEI/AAAAAAAAB7A/uyoXps5zyc0/s320/4334303434_b1dc718f4f.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Opening Keynote - Kevin Carroll</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://play-activities.com/blog/blissdom-keynote-kevin-carroll-talks-about-play/">Notes provided by http://Play-Activities.com</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cZdY8_e6I/AAAAAAAAB7I/JnfmIKNWepc/s1600-h/4342120033_54f5b17149_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cZdY8_e6I/AAAAAAAAB7I/JnfmIKNWepc/s320/4342120033_54f5b17149_b.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://www.twitter.com/cheeriokeeper">cheeriokeeper</a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Steps in Resigning from Adulthood</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cZkEafv0I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/n6hGbWgJ4DI/s1600-h/4344202459_85a2d50607_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cZkEafv0I/AAAAAAAAB7Q/n6hGbWgJ4DI/s320/4344202459_85a2d50607_o.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Kevin's Red Rubber Ball</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cZqRGlzqI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/MbluHuHclYY/s1600-h/4344202037_b0e0b512a8_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cZqRGlzqI/AAAAAAAAB7Y/MbluHuHclYY/s320/4344202037_b0e0b512a8_o.jpg" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">photos courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/secretagentmama">http://twitter.com/secretagentmama</a></div><div style="text-align: center;">You Should Know Better Full Session, speakers Susan Getgood, Liza Barry-Kessler, Kristen Berman</div><div style="text-align: center;">Notes provided <a href="http://keeperofthecheerios.com/2010/02/what-i-learned-about-ftc-guidelines-and-accounting-at-blissdom-2010/">here</a> by <a href="http://twitter.com/cheeriokeeper">Miranda</a> at <a href="http://keeperofthecheerios.com/">Keeper of the Cheerios</a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">George Durant Makes Lunch!!!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cb7J7TYiI/AAAAAAAAB7g/aEULiIv5nB8/s1600-h/4333560721_a9b174247d_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cb7J7TYiI/AAAAAAAAB7g/aEULiIv5nB8/s320/4333560721_a9b174247d_b.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/mooshinindy">Casey </a>at <a href="http://mooshinindy.com/">Mooshinindy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3ccpd8unNI/AAAAAAAAB7o/hwwGNbOYwlg/s1600-h/4335709073_8ec5ba0670_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3ccpd8unNI/AAAAAAAAB7o/hwwGNbOYwlg/s320/4335709073_8ec5ba0670_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://myhomesweethomelonline.net/">Dawn MHSH </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Lunch catered at Volare by Hunts</div><div style="text-align: center;">personal opportunity to meet Kevin Carroll from the keynote speech</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cdescCa7I/AAAAAAAAB7w/7HxF2FD16oU/s1600-h/4350119738_bc335f1cb6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cdescCa7I/AAAAAAAAB7w/7HxF2FD16oU/s320/4350119738_bc335f1cb6_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of DawnMHSH</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Eggplant Parmesan</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cdv3LYfbI/AAAAAAAAB8A/g06k3v2ssCc/s1600-h/4343219571_b25e5b0aa4_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cdv3LYfbI/AAAAAAAAB8A/g06k3v2ssCc/s320/4343219571_b25e5b0aa4_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photos courtesy of s<a href="http://twitter.com/secretagentmama">ecretagentmama</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cdoU-hJdI/AAAAAAAAB74/RL-Vb7fYbys/s1600-h/4342160656_6be90ff179.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3cdoU-hJdI/AAAAAAAAB74/RL-Vb7fYbys/s320/4342160656_6be90ff179.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/justheather">Heather Sokol</a></div><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Personal Branding - Defining "You" Online</div><div style="text-align: center;">Shelly Kramer V3 Integrated Marketing @shellykramer, Liz Strauss, Successful Blog, @lizstrauss, Alli Worthington @alliworthington</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.milkbreathandmargaritas.com/2010/02/personal-branding-snapshots-from.html">Personal Branding Notes </a>provided by <a href="http://milkbreathandmargaritas.com/">Milk Breath and Margaritas</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3dCNU6KQEI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/tONc8WMoDUQ/s1600-h/4345135756_97288d9f7c_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3dCNU6KQEI/AAAAAAAAB8Y/tONc8WMoDUQ/s320/4345135756_97288d9f7c_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/secretagentmama">secretagentmama</a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Connecting With Your community of Readers</div><div style="text-align: center;">Connecting With Your Community of Readers Session with speakers Laurie Turk, <a href="http://twitter.com/tipjunkie">@TipJunkie</a>, Amy Clark, <a href="http://twitter.com/momadvice">@momadvice</a>, Stephanie Precourt, <a href="http://twitter.com/babysteph">@babysteph</a>, Mindy Roberts, <a href="http://twitter.com/themommyblog">@themommyblog</a>. <a href="http://www.justheather.com/2010/02/05/live-blogging-blissdom-connecting-with-your-community-of-readers/">Notes</a> from this session taken by <a href="http://twitter.com/justheather">Heather at justheather.com</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3eSxcmUzpI/AAAAAAAAB8w/kG6OB-lPVCQ/s1600-h/connectingcommpanel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3eSxcmUzpI/AAAAAAAAB8w/kG6OB-lPVCQ/s320/connectingcommpanel.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/sthrnfairytale">Rachel</a> at <a href="http://twitter.com/asouthernfairytale">A Southern Fairytale</a> </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Community Chest, Learning from Community Powerhouse Sites</div><div style="text-align: center;">Janice Croze <a href="http://twitter.com/5minutesformom">@5minutesformom</a>, Holly Hamann <a href="http://twitter.com/hollyk">@hollyk</a>, Debba Haupert, <a href="http://twitter.com/girlfriendology">@girlfriendology</a>, Rachael Herrscher <a href="http://twitter.com/todaysmama">@todaysmama</a>, Jennifer James <a href="http://twitter.com/mombloggersclub">@mombloggersclub</a>, Erin Kane <a href="http://twitter.com/emkprgal">@emkprgal</a> </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Striking a Balance - Peaceful co-existance between your online and offline life</div><div style="text-align: center;">speakers Christine Koh, <a href="http://twitter.com/bostonmamas">@bostonmamas</a>, Deb Rox, <a href="http://twitter.com/debontherocks">@debontherocks</a>, Megan Jordan, <a href="http://twitter.com/velveteenmind">@velveteenmind</a>, Carmen Stacier, <a href="http://twitter.com/mttsm">@mttsm</a>. <a href="http://www.justheather.com/2010/02/05/live-blogging-blissdom-striking-a-balance/">Notes</a> from this session taken by <a href="http://twitter.com/justheather">Heather at justheather.com</a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">tweets from balance:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">It's not weakness to say I can't do it all. It's real. -Carmen Stacier </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">Opportunity can be dangerous, it's not always The best thing . -Christine Koh</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitter.com/velveteenmind">@VelveteenMind</a> "I just-a-seconded my kids out of a whole day. Does that make me a bad mom? I think you feel me here" </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">RT <a href="http://twitter.com/peapodsquadmom">@peapodsquadmom</a>: i may not be on a top 50 blog list but i'm on my kids' top list. that's so much more important.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">RT <a href="http://twitter.com/momstart">@MomStart</a>: When you're on twitter, promote your friends 80% and yourself 20%, it will help you grow</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">RT <a href="http://twitter.com/extraordmommy">@ExtraordMommy</a>: "If you don't ask for help you are denying someone else an opportunity" via <a href="http://twitter.com/velveteenmind">@velveteenmind</a> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitter.com/velveteenmind">@VelveteenMind</a> "not only do you not have to do it all, you probably shouldn't "</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">RT <a href="http://twitter.com/DExtraordinaire">@DExtraordinaire</a>: You can't say yes 2 everyone else, because it will benefit everyone else, but does nothing to help me <a href="http://twitter.com/mttsm">http://twitter.com/mttsm</a> </div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Harry Connick, Jr. in Concert at Fuse</div><div style="text-align: center;">you can watch his opening comments to the crowd <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H5qx_EDpD58">here</a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36CRRezquI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/DGyhQmNlAqw/s1600-h/4343484035_336c146790.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36CRRezquI/AAAAAAAAB9Y/DGyhQmNlAqw/s320/4343484035_336c146790.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photos courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/justheather">Heather</a> at <a href="http://justheather.com/">justheather.com</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36CHWRUj3I/AAAAAAAAB9I/mLoUDv_Drjs/s1600-h/4335165231_9b975fec03_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36CHWRUj3I/AAAAAAAAB9I/mLoUDv_Drjs/s320/4335165231_9b975fec03_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/DawnMHSH">Dawn</a> at <a href="http://myhomesweethomeonline.net/">MHSH</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36C9xDNG8I/AAAAAAAAB9o/_NDE9_AFO6I/s1600-h/4345141608_698d725930_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36C9xDNG8I/AAAAAAAAB9o/_NDE9_AFO6I/s320/4345141608_698d725930_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/secretagentmama">secretagentmama</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Tastemaker Cook-Off</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36EgQVIkaI/AAAAAAAAB-A/dDroVsu6UYs/s1600-h/4346136866_48030277ee_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36EgQVIkaI/AAAAAAAAB-A/dDroVsu6UYs/s320/4346136866_48030277ee_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36EPxQ49NI/AAAAAAAAB94/l1x2SHcKgGs/s1600-h/4346129018_80945a08db_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36EPxQ49NI/AAAAAAAAB94/l1x2SHcKgGs/s320/4346129018_80945a08db_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36EKoBUroI/AAAAAAAAB9w/VY3jESC9riI/s1600-h/4345401993_1e589d3a20_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36EKoBUroI/AAAAAAAAB9w/VY3jESC9riI/s320/4345401993_1e589d3a20_o.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photos courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/secretagentmama">@secretagentmama</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36FD0PrrLI/AAAAAAAAB-I/83XaUoTv2eg/s1600-h/4344785129_4d3226f61e.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36FD0PrrLI/AAAAAAAAB-I/83XaUoTv2eg/s320/4344785129_4d3226f61e.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36FIMyI7xI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/jeqmYc3azvM/s1600-h/4344880803_8ee78b6707.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36FIMyI7xI/AAAAAAAAB-Q/jeqmYc3azvM/s320/4344880803_8ee78b6707.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photos courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/DExtraordinaire">@DExtraordinaire</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Incourage Afterparty</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36FtRz2bvI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/4Ec4LsMwIMw/s1600-h/17272_286734214091_527909091_3373182_2993926_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S36FtRz2bvI/AAAAAAAAB-Y/4Ec4LsMwIMw/s320/17272_286734214091_527909091_3373182_2993926_n.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of<a href="http://twitter.com/frrelle"> frelle</a></div><br />
<div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-67174261874388999412010-02-12T21:52:00.000-08:002010-02-13T14:06:26.785-08:00What Did We Learn at BlissDom? Wisdom Workshops Notes and Information<div style="text-align: center;">Last September, I had the pleasure of attending the TypeAMom Blogging Conference, and it certainly whet my appetite for attending other blogging conferences as often as I could. I made several posts about my experience there, including on that was very information heavy with links to notes taken at the sessions: <a href="http://pursuingharmony.blogspot.com/2009/09/type-mom-conference-recap-part-1.html">TypeAMomCon Recap, Part 1</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">I have a feeling I will be making several blog posts about Blissdom, but I wanted to make sure a few were the sort that brought together as much educational information as I could find for you!</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Blissdom 10 - Wisdom Workshops</span></b></div><br />
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<b>Wisdom Workshop 1 – Say What you Want to Say<br />
What’s Your Story?</b><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Lgkr1pUQI/AAAAAAAAB2o/ewnGQ1Z7Xbs/s1600-h/4343856457_d7b714d83b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" kt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Lgkr1pUQI/AAAAAAAAB2o/ewnGQ1Z7Xbs/s200/4343856457_d7b714d83b_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/secretagentmama">Mishelle</a> at <a href="http://secretagentmama.com/">Secretagentmama</a><br />
Shortly after arriving, I attended a media training workshop called "Say What You want To Say", given by Dan Barber and Jessica Smith <a href="http://twitter.com/jessicaknows">@jessicaknows</a> from <a href="http://www.fleishman.com/">Fleishman-Hillard International Communcations.</a><br />
notes provided by <a href="http://twitter.com/econemicliving">Sami Cone</a> at <a href="http://www.econemicliving.com/">Econemic Living</a><br />
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<b> Message Points</b><br />
Message points are a few carefully prepared, concise and memorable thoughts that closely align with your brand and business objectives; the thoughts you most want your audience to remember – above all else. 3 or 4 bullet points<br />
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<b>-Message points are your brand – use your brand</b><br />
Your messages aren’t just for the media; every form of communication is an opportunity: flights, elevator rides, cocktail parties<br />
*About section of blog/website<br />
*Partnership/business discussions<br />
*Speaking opportunities<br />
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<b>-Purpose of Message points:</b><br />
*Define your agenda and help you focus<br />
*Once you have the cues down, you have them in place to tell your story<br />
-make it easy for you to “tell your story” and for others to remember it<br />
-Give you a life raft to cling to if the waters turn rough<br />
-Ensure you’re delivering a consistent message over time<br />
*If you want them to work, you have to stick with them<br />
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<b>Good Messages are:</b><br />
-Concise, simple and specific<br />
*Differentiate<br />
-Memorable, genuine and personal<br />
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<b>Strategic (Call to action)</b><br />
*Why are you doing an interview? What do you want someone to do after hearing you? Media is just a means to get to the audience you want to reach<br />
***Talk to local media about shared content – create stories with a business objective in mind<br />
***Paid to Pitch – Product Reviews by bloggers Draw Scrutiny – Blogola: The FTC Takes on Paid Posts***<br />
(AP – press releases)<br />
Key to paid relationship: even though there’s compensation involved, you still have to believe in it. Find your own voice and the way you feel most comfortable<br />
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<b>Media Relations: The foundation</b><br />
-Reporters are looking for “news”<br />
*Controversy and conflict<br />
*new, unique and unusual<br />
*local<br />
-Your job: make your messages stand out<br />
*Have an agenda for every interview<br />
*Be ready for the well-prepared as well as the ill-prepared reporter<br />
-Be smart<br />
*There’s no such thing as “off the record”<br />
*If you don’t know, don’t speculate (Never lie to the media)<br />
*Don’t confuse media relationships with friendships<br />
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<b>Setting up the Interview</b><br />
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-When you contact them<br />
*Do your homework<br />
*Remember the “New, unique, unusual” – and local!<br />
*Think of what’s in it for their readers/viewers/listeners<br />
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-When they contact you<br />
*Never leap in, start by asking questions<br />
--What’s your deadline? What’s the story you’re pursuing? Who else are you talking with? I want to make sure I can help you and I’m the right person for you<br />
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*If it’s a good opportunity, then buy a little time<br />
-“I’m wrapping something up…” What am I going to say? Take advantage of this opportunity. Collect your thoughts<br />
*Prepare and practice<br />
*Call them back or meet them when you said you would – do what you say you’re going to do<br />
The interview: anticipate the questions<br />
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*Be ready for:<br />
-The first question (softball question – hit a homerun! Set a table of contents for the rest of the interview with your message points)<br />
-The “Gotcha” questions<br />
-The dreaded questions<br />
-The last question<br />
*Use blocking and bridging to get from the question to your message points<br />
“Does anyone have any questions for my answers?” –<br />
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<b>BLOCKING AND BRIDGING</b><br />
-definition: The use of smooth connecting phrases to move the conversation from an off-agenda area (unproductive, hostile, irrelevant, etc) to your messages<br />
***Tonality is the key to effective blocking & bridging***<br />
“The great thing about all the attention is….” (What you want to talk about is great because it allows me the attention to talk about what’s important to me…)<br />
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<b>SAMPLE Blocking and Bridging Language:</b><br />
-“I think what you’re really asking is…” (rephrase the question)<br />
-“That speaks to a bigger point, which is…” (when they’re in the weeds, talking about something miniscule)<br />
-“That demonstrates how complex this can be, but I think what it all comes down to is…”<br />
-“You’d have to ask them, what I can tell you is…”<br />
-“Those things are true, but I think the real news here is…” “What I think is really important….”<br />
-“I’m not the right person to talk about those issues, but what I can address is…”<br />
NEVER SAY, “no Comment”<br />
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<b>Another way to think of using messages:</b><br />
-Tell them what you’re going to tell them<br />
*Take advantage of the opening ?<br />
-Tell Them<br />
*Follow up with your proof points (why you’re unique and uniquely effective<br />
-Tell them what you told them<br />
*Take advantage of the closing questions to bookend the interview<br />
*Never give them anything you don’t want to use<br />
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<b>More Interview Specifics</b><br />
*Control your answers<br />
*Be repetitive, but not robotic<br />
*Use easy to understand examples or stories to illustrate your point<br />
*Say what you want to say and then stop talking! – Enjoy the pause<br />
*You can call a “time-out”, it’s OK to pause<br />
Control Your Answers<br />
-Remember, if you don’t know, don’t speculate<br />
-Be careful with humor and sarcasm (often lacks context-Always keep your cool<br />
-Never repeat a negative<br />
-Think of an interview as a business transaction – be polite but firm<br />
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<b>CONTROL YOUR ENVIRONMENT</b><br />
-Let others know a reporter is coming<br />
-Limit distractions as best you can<br />
-With video/photos think of the backdrop<br />
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<b>APPEARANCE and ATTITUDE:</b><br />
-Clothing neutral unless it helps to tell your story (don’t wear something to distract from the interview)<br />
-Body language:<br />
-Make eye contact<br />
-Find a good balance between enthusiasm and calmness<br />
-Gesture naturally: let the camera and microphones find you<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Tweets I noted that were sent out during this workshop:</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1266038132517">@AngEngland</a><a href="http://twitter.com/angengland"> </a> "If your message doesn't fit in less than one page you aren't ready to put yourself out there."</div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/heathersolos">@HeatherSolos</a> "Even when given a message to relay, as a spokesperson you must believe it yourself" </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/reallifesarah">@RealLifeSarah</a> "Never confuse media relationships with friendships!!" Dan Barber </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/debontherocks">@debontherocks</a> "Thank interviewer even interview was antagonistic. You may get to follow up & have a long relationship w/that interviewer" </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/jennfowler">@JennFowler</a> "If you have time, research the reporter so you know their veiwpoint."</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/domesticchicky">@DomesticChicky</a> "Want to get your blog noticed? Start local-let your local paper know what you're doing." </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif;"><a href="http://twitter.com/angengland">@AngEngland</a> "The second credibility goes out the window, the value goes out the window"</div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Herstory - Wisdom Workshop 1, Writing Track</b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Y3UZL2c8I/AAAAAAAAB64/fpIsi6FY_X4/s1600-h/IMG_3941_jpg_scaled_1000.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Y3UZL2c8I/AAAAAAAAB64/fpIsi6FY_X4/s200/IMG_3941_jpg_scaled_1000.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">The first of several Wisdom Workshops I attended that day was the HerStory Wisdom Workshop – The Powerful Art of Telling Your Stories. This is the writeup done by <a href="http://twitter.com/alizasherman">Aliza Sherman</a> as a descriptor for the workshop: </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">"As girls, we were taught to be quiet, polite, not draw attention to ourselves. As women, we often fail to acknowledge our own achievements, especially in public. Based on the storytelling arts of indigenous peoples, this interactive, inspirational workshop guides us to tell our stories, to articulate our successes. You have the power. Let’s hear you roar! Led by Web pioneer and motivational speaker Aliza Sherman, founder of the first three web sites for women – Cybergrrl, Webgrrls and Femina - and still making HerStory online every day."</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">These are Aliza's notes from the workshop that she and <a href="http://twitter.com/thinkmaya">Maya</a> presented for us.</div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">1. WHO ARE YOU</div><div style="text-align: center;">Go around the room and ask people to introduce themselves in 1 sentence.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Explain afterward: Women always define or limit ourselves by our occupations. But it will be interesting to see if anyone breaks ranks, meaning that if the first person says: Hi I'm Jane and I'm a writer" then chances are each woman will define themselves by occupation. If someone says "I'm a mom" then many will identify themselves by familial ties. The challenge is to see if anyone introduces themselves by their dreams, aspirations, personality, qualities, etc. If not, point this out.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">2. DREAMS</div><div style="text-align: center;">Have women fold a piece of paper and then write on the outside what they do for a living today.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then ask them to open the paper and inside write what they dreamed of being when they were a child.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Then fold the paper again and look at the outside. Then open and look at the inside to contemplate how close or how far to their dreams they are.</div><div style="text-align: center;">How many women wrote the same thing on both sides?</div><div style="text-align: center;">How many women are happy with where they are?</div><div style="text-align: center;">How many women would like to take a new path in their life or work?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">3. A HEROINE'S JOURNEY</div><div style="text-align: center;">Write where you are today on left side of a piece of paper (Point A) and on the right side (Point B), where they want to be by the end of this year and have them makes 3 dots in between then to NAME the dots from point A to point B.</div><div style="text-align: center;">1. What internal obstacles must you overcome?</div><div style="text-align: center;">2. What external obstacles must you overcome?</div><div style="text-align: center;">3. What single action can you take to move forward?</div><div style="text-align: center;">These 3 points become the arc of a story line.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Homework: They can craft their FUTURESTORY. It is up to them to fill in the words.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;">4. CHILDHOOD LESSONS</div><div style="text-align: center;">To think of something they did, heard, saw, felt or learned as a child and how it still impacts their life and work today. My story that I tell is of a candle. Short version: I used to love lighting a candle at night when I was quite young - maybe 9 or 10. One nite my dad woke up and I blew out the candle and hid it under my bed. He turned on the light and asked what the smell was. And I lied. His reaction has stuck with me to this very day and had kept me from lying since a young age, so much so that I'm almost too painfully honest, even in business and yet I firmly believe in the power of honesty.</div><div style="text-align: center;">Tell your childhood lesson story.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: center;">5. TITLE FOR THE STORY OF YOUR LIFE</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you were to write your life story, what would your title be?</div><div style="text-align: center;">Aliza's Title: "From Gunpoint to Motherhood: Moving from Fear to Acceptance". Maya's Title: "Learning to Love Myself: Letting Myself Fly and Sharing the Flight With Others"</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Y280HgFXI/AAAAAAAAB6w/z1nOR5tFueM/s1600-h/photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Y280HgFXI/AAAAAAAAB6w/z1nOR5tFueM/s320/photo.jpg" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/alizasherman">Aliza Sherman </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Inspirational Writing - Wisdom Workshop 2 - Writing Track</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3LpHxov9gI/AAAAAAAAB3g/VnYT_gteZnQ/s1600-h/4331456510_30669c45b3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" kt="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3LpHxov9gI/AAAAAAAAB3g/VnYT_gteZnQ/s200/4331456510_30669c45b3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/mooshinindy">Casey</a> at <a href="http://mooshinindy.com/">Mooshinindy </a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.justheather.com/2010/02/04/blissdom-live-blogging-inspirational-writing-workshop/">Notes from this session taken by Heather at Justheather.com</a> with speakers </div><div style="text-align: center;">Sarah Mueller – <a href="http://twitter.com/hallmarksarah">@HallmarkSarah</a>, Casey Mullins – <a href="http://twitter.com/mooshinindy">@MooshinIndy</a>, Molly Wigand – <a href="http://twitter.com/hmkmollyw">@hmkmollyw</a>, Stephanie Precourt – <a href="http://twitter.com/babysteph">@babysteph</a>. <a href="http://justheather.com/"></a></div><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>SEO and Counting What Counts- Wisdom Workshop 2, Geeked Out Track </b></div><div style="text-align: center;">Speakers Kelby Carr <a href="http://twitter.com/typeamom">@typeamom</a> and Angela England <a href="http://twitter.com/angengland">@angengland</a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://angengland.com/seo-tips-for-bloggers/">Notes provided by Angela England</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Writer's Craft - Wisdom Workshop 3, Writing Track</b></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3L8xWKGBtI/AAAAAAAAB4A/e-QgWBPjsn4/s1600-h/4331456816_55ff362638.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" kt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3L8xWKGBtI/AAAAAAAAB4A/e-QgWBPjsn4/s200/4331456816_55ff362638.jpg" width="200" /></a></div> Writer's Craft - Wisdom Workshop with speakers <a href="http://therunamuck.com/">Amber Haines</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/amberrunsamuck">@amberrunsamuck</a>, <a href="http://blog-nosh.com/">Megan Jordan</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/velveteenmind">@velveteenmind</a>, Deb Rox <a href="http://twitter.com/debontherocks">@debontherocks</a>, and <a href="http://tothinkistocreate.com/">Arianne Segerman</a> <a href="http://twitter.com/tothink">@tothink</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><b>Social Media and the Women Who Love it (Advanced Social Media), </b></div><div style="text-align: center;"><b>Wisdom Workshop 3 - Business Track</b></div>speakers Susan Getgood <a href="http://twitter.com/sgetgood">@sgetgood</a>, Shelly Kramer <a href="http://twitter.com/shellykramer">@shellykramer</a>, Lucretia Pruitt <a href="http://twitter.com/geekmommy">@geekmommy</a><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">Notes provided by <a href="http://twitter.com/econemicliving">Sami Cone</a> at <a href="http://econemicliving.com/">Econemic Living</a></div><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Generator"></meta><meta content="Microsoft Word 11" name="Originator"></meta><link href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CRob%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List"></link><style>
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</div><div></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Google timeline- Who, what, when, where, why, how</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Use multiple tools to reach multiple people – </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">consistent voice (twitter, facebook, newsletter) – </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">be the same everywhere</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Facebook is where the fish are – always fish where the fish are</div><div style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Times,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;">Group vs. Fan Page (business equivalent of your profile)<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">Huge thanks to all those who spoke at these workshops, to <a href="http://mooshinindy.com/">Casey</a> and <a href="http://secretagentmama.com/">Mishelle</a>, the photographers who captured the moments, and to <a href="http://alizasherman.com/">Aliza </a>and <a href="http://econemicliving.com/">Sami</a> who submitted notes for the sessions!<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: center;">If you attended these workshops and have notes you would like to add, please email me at frelle4@live.com and I will link them in the main body of this post. I am hoping that this can be a resource to share! Thanks! </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-17794444655808163352010-02-08T08:29:00.000-08:002011-09-07T11:11:22.524-07:00Initial Impressions of Blissdom 10<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: right;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://blissfullydomestic.com/">Blissfully Domestic</a> is an online magazine and community of women. For the last three years, there has been a blogging conference put on by <a href="http://allisonworthingtonmedia.com/">Allison Worthington</a> and <a href="http://one2onenetwork.com/">Barbara Jones</a>, this year also organized by <a href="http://one2onenetwork.com/">Paula Bruno</a>. The magazine is very diverse, and the women who attend the conference are likewise all over the spectrum. Women from 21-75, bloggers and non-bloggers, those active in social media, those involved in public relations for companies who want to reach out to women who are using blogging and social media... all ethnic and cultural backgrounds and from varying locations around (mostly) North America.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Freak Out!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RnD-R9_jI/AAAAAAAAB5I/xTKOfVUvh8E/s1600-h/4335172177_e9f28d61c1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RnD-R9_jI/AAAAAAAAB5I/xTKOfVUvh8E/s320/4335172177_e9f28d61c1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mooshinindy">Casey</a> at <a href="http://mooshinindy.com/">MooshInIndy</a> </div><span class="UIStory_Message"></span><span class="UIStory_Message"></span><br />
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<span class="UIStory_Message">After the Harry Connick concert Friday night, (which may get it's own post on my blog) there was a moment in the club during the <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB_QGKW_bbI">Black Eyed Peas song "I Gotta Feeling"</a> when about 50 of us, and several of them were women I'd really connected with, were jumping, hands in the air. Women who were diverse in every way just throwin the heck down in this moment with no self consciousness and loving who they were and where they were. </span><span class="UIStory_Message">I knew I was going to remember that moment with absolute crystal clarity. I am so excited that it was captured on camera for me! Bless you, my Caseymoosh!</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rma79MRTI/AAAAAAAAB4g/OhbbzvHrAew/s1600-h/1disco.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rma79MRTI/AAAAAAAAB4g/OhbbzvHrAew/s400/1disco.png" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mooshinindy">Casey</a> at<a href="http://mooshinindy.com/"> MooshInIndy</a></div><br />
<span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show">Many of that same group were shutting the post-Blissdom movie and pajama party down with me, and having a fantastic time with karaoke!</span></span><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show"></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RnUeKsi1I/AAAAAAAAB5Y/hKcwOhEkt78/s1600-h/4345944399_4abaeed3fd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="212" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RnUeKsi1I/AAAAAAAAB5Y/hKcwOhEkt78/s320/4345944399_4abaeed3fd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">1) <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/secretagentmama">@secretagentmama</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mooshinindy">@mooshinindy</a> singing "I'm Too Sexy" </div><div style="border: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rnn_YqdwI/AAAAAAAAB5o/jhNMo1j4vDg/s1600-h/4345320928_64165d906c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="238" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rnn_YqdwI/AAAAAAAAB5o/jhNMo1j4vDg/s320/4345320928_64165d906c.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">2) <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/redneckmommy">@redneckmommy</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mooshinindy">@mooshinindy</a> sing "Redneck Woman", </div><div class="" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">3) <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/birdonthestreet">@birdonthestreet</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/lovethatmax">@lovethatmax</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/momtriedit">@momtriedit</a> sing "Material Girl"</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rm4Nm5vLI/AAAAAAAAB44/fH6uM3Uu9ak/s1600-h/4342890764_54a9c31b2b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rm4Nm5vLI/AAAAAAAAB44/fH6uM3Uu9ak/s400/4342890764_54a9c31b2b_b.jpg" width="400" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rmz0XNbpI/AAAAAAAAB4w/VZ0isb7O8w0/s1600-h/4342153667_ab68b5aa1b_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rmz0XNbpI/AAAAAAAAB4w/VZ0isb7O8w0/s400/4342153667_ab68b5aa1b_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">4) <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/redneckmommy">@redneckmommy</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/busydadblog">@busydadblog</a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/secretagentmama">@secretagentmama</a> singing "Love Shack"</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo 1 courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dextraordinaire">Heather Durdil</a> at <a href="http://www.domesticextraordinaire.com/">Domestic Extraordinaire</a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo 2 courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/angryjulie">Julie</a> at <a href="http://angryjuliemonday.com/">Angry Julie Monday</a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">photos 3 and 4 courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/cheeriokeeper">Miranda</a> at <a href="http://keeperofthecheerios.com/">Keeper of the Cheerios</a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">At the end of the karaoke performances, the DJ happened to put on "I Gotta Feeling" again, and many of us had remembered the electricity in the crowd from the night before. Several others have identified the song as the unofficial theme song. I don't know that it would have been a favorite of mine without the memory of my sisterfriends at Blissdom sharing in it.</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RsKEQEWsI/AAAAAAAAB54/BavrzsNwjzY/s1600-h/4343501783_e30a0631e7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RsKEQEWsI/AAAAAAAAB54/BavrzsNwjzY/s400/4343501783_e30a0631e7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/justheather">Heather</a> at <a href="http://justheather.com/">Just Heather</a></div><div class="separator" style="border: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border: medium none;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show">We didn't learn all weekend how to be better home managers or learn new skills about being domestic. At the Blissfully Domestic conference, the focus was way more on the bliss than on the domestic. We heard a whole lot more about finding bliss and joy and centeredness by being real and authentic and meaningfully connecting with others... </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rwyz3LPCI/AAAAAAAAB6A/a4mw_-L9ZDE/s1600-h/4334305160_c66ed24284_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3Rwyz3LPCI/AAAAAAAAB6A/a4mw_-L9ZDE/s400/4334305160_c66ed24284_b.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/sarasophia">@sarasophia</a> and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/janawarnke">@janawarnke</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/mooshinindy">Casey</a> at <a href="http://mooshinindy.com/">MooshInIndy</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3SsxSKLUVI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/JkwklLHoTsU/s1600-h/4345481279_c99fbd6f8f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3SsxSKLUVI/AAAAAAAAB6Y/JkwklLHoTsU/s400/4345481279_c99fbd6f8f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/EricaMueller">@ericamueller </a>and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/JessicaNow">@jessicanow</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtesy of <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/ericamueller">Erica Mueller</a> at <a href="http://ericasays.com/">Erica Says</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">photo courtsey of<a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dawnMHSH"> Dawn</a> at <a href="http://myhomesweethomeonline.net/">MyHomeSweetHomeOnline</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">We were encouraged to be authentic in connecting with businesses to partner with, other bloggers, other women where we live and online. We were encouraged to step out of comfort zones, we learned how to express ourselves better in writing, learned more about what companies want to hear from bloggers who advertise for them and work on campaigns.. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RxEhuc1HI/AAAAAAAAB6I/9PVm5Wxr9Yo/s1600-h/4343856457_d7b714d83b_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="267" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RxEhuc1HI/AAAAAAAAB6I/9PVm5Wxr9Yo/s400/4343856457_d7b714d83b_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RxVRgnsXI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/Q5pfGH7UuaQ/s1600-h/4345608033_852a95d54e_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="267" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S3RxVRgnsXI/AAAAAAAAB6Q/Q5pfGH7UuaQ/s400/4345608033_852a95d54e_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div align="center" style="border: medium none;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show">photos courtesy of <a href="http://secretagentmama.com/">Mishelle Lane</a> at <a href="http://www.mishellelanephotography.com/">Mishelle Lane Photography</a></span></span></div><div align="center" style="border: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border: medium none;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show">We also learned more about owning your voice ... That what you write from your genuine passion for it is what others will be the most impacted by. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="border: medium none;"><span class="UIStory_Message"><span class="text_exposed_show"> This conference was exactly what I needed, for so many reasons. Time to get my own groove back as a woman and a separate entity from my family, time to remember how much I enjoy connecting deeply with others, networking for myself as well as helping others connect with one another, being reassured that my innate desire to be authentic and genuine and real is exactly what resonates with others, and so very many more things that my "words of affirmation" love language needing self needed to hear. And I'm pretty sure the other 499 women at Blissdom needed it too. </span></span><br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-45111302213440434832010-02-01T15:16:00.000-08:002010-02-01T15:16:07.622-08:00Gearing up for Blissdom 10!This Thursday begins an amazing blogging conference centered around the website <a href="http://blissfullydomestic.com/">Blissfully Domestic</a>. The site was started by <a href="http://twitter.com/alliworthington">Alli Worthington</a>, author of the blog<a href="http://mrsfussypants.com/"> Mrs Fussypants</a>. Blissfully Domestic is a site about everyday living, and contains articles and interactive forums for everything from Bible Study to vintage clothes, microwave meals to financial advice, green living to kids crafts. It's really a site for all women, not a section of apron wearing artificially happy housewives.<br />
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I attended the <a href="http://pursuingharmony.blogspot.com/2009/09/type-mom-conference-recap-part-1.html">TypeAMom blog conference</a> last fall and had a fantastic time meeting women I had interacted with on twitter and in the blogosphere, women who love to multitask and who were taking notes and on twitter, adn updating facebook and talking to someone at their table all while a session was being given. Women who "get" how you can find a real authentic connection with someone you've never met, and how you can hug the stuffing out of someone you've never actually laid eyes on. <br />
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I am planning to mostly attend the writing workshops at <a href="http://blissdomconferece.com/">Blissdom</a>, but will probably get to a few of the business ones as well. I am planning to attend a few of the afterparties, and definitely looking forward to the Harry Connick Jr. concert on Friday night!!!<br />
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The conference is being held in Nashville (my old stomping grounds) at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaylord_Opryland_Resort_&_Convention_Center">Opryland Resort and Convention Center</a>! I am looking forward to staying with my friend <a href="http://twitter.com/singindawg">Jennifer</a> the night before the conference, and then rooming with <a href="http://twitter.com/multitaskingme">MultitaskingMe</a>, <a href="http://highimpactmom.com/">HighImpactMom</a>, and <a href="http://twitter.com/amylynnandrews">AmyLynnAndrews</a> while we are at the conference.<br />
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There are SO many women I am excited to see again and to meet for the first time at this conference! Also, I am going to be away from all four of the kids for the first time EVER. I have alwys had at least one child with me wherever I have retreated to or conferenced at. So this is a true getaway. Complete with 10 hour roadtrip alone with my music to and from the conference!!!<br />
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I will keep you posted on all the stuff worth reporting, and promise to dive into writing here with some renewed vigor and purpose. A blog redesign is probably forthcoming, too. Hold on to your hats!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-78992212774285969042010-01-19T18:09:00.000-08:002010-01-19T18:09:15.254-08:00listen to your broccoli writing exerciseSo y'all may have noticed that I stopped blogging late last fall.<br />
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No, really?<br />
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I had several epiphanies, I made some changes, I started really talking to my best girlfriends about the things that were on my heart. I backed way off from conversing with anyone I did not know really well. This was a huge change for me: I withdrew. I was thinking big thoughts and wanted to be left alone except for my inner circle of women friends.<br />
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<a href="http://www.marieclaire.com/fashion/trends/articles/bohemian-fashion-spring08">image courtesy of Marie Claire</a><br />
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image courtesy of Marie Claire Magazine</a><br />
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I am needing to re-enter the world of the communicative, but tentatively. I cannot be totally authentic and share my heart on this blog, because it is a public blog. So I am trying to figure out what to say here in this space. Sticking to my blogging schedule will probably help.<br />
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I am the sort of person who strives to be authentic, genuine, without pretense. I don't have the emotional energy to make polite conversation much these days because of the heavy things I am thinking. <br />
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But I am here. And I want to write. So stay tuned. Thanks for sticking with me!<br />
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<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-35195581083324718592010-01-16T13:22:00.000-08:002010-01-16T13:22:26.212-08:00Premades For A PurposeOne of my very favorite blog layout/background sites is called <a href="http://simplyfabulousbloggertemplates.com/">Simply Fabulous Blogger Templates</a> . The creative force behind this site is a woman named Lena. She and her family are in the process of adopting, and she is using premade blogger templates as a way to raise money to afford adoption. I have used many of her free templates in the past, but decided that I wanted to support her adoption right now. Please check out her website, her great talent and thoughtful creativity, and read about her <a href="http://premades4purpose.blogspot.com/">Premades For a Purpose</a>!Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-56375212677536576842010-01-13T17:29:00.000-08:002010-01-13T17:29:07.659-08:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S05zV80UKrI/AAAAAAAAB0o/b4F54ipR1B8/s1600-h/jackgeckowhchair.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/S05zV80UKrI/AAAAAAAAB0o/b4F54ipR1B8/s400/jackgeckowhchair.jpg" /></a><br />
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I bought a watch for my oldest daughter yesterday.<br />
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<strong>2. When was the last time you complimented someone, and what was their reaction? </strong><br />
I complemented my daughter's friend on her owl pajamas last night.<br />
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<strong>3. When was the last time you had to return a <a href="" id="AdBriteInlineAd_purchase" name="AdBriteInlineAd_purchase" style="-moz-background-clip: border; -moz-background-inline-policy: continuous; -moz-background-origin: padding; background: transparent url(http://files.adbrite.com/mb/images/green-double-underline-006600.gif) repeat-x scroll center bottom; color: #006600; cursor: pointer; margin-bottom: -2px; padding-bottom: 2px; text-decoration: none;" target="_top">purchase</a> to the store? What was it and why? </strong><br />
I don't remember! But ask me in 2 weeks and I'm sure I will have an answer!<br />
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<strong>5. When was the last time you had to go to the doctor’s office? </strong><br />
I went to the doctor a few weeks ago for a checkup<br />
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<strong>6. When was the last time a stranger was kind to you? </strong> <br />
a man held the door for me to go into the coffee shop this morning!<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">I will come back and identify the people and the year, but the woman holding the little girl in front is my great grandmother, and I'm not sure which little boy is my paternal grandfather.<br />
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</div> <a href="http://mamikaze.com/">Astacia </a>is teh awesomesauce. I love her forthright honesty, her ready smile, her passion for her kids, and her servant heart. She is a great encourager, she is very brave, and is stronger than she realizes. I met her at the <a href="http://typeamomconference.com/">Type A Mom Conference</a> and saw her in action, and spoke with her in the special needs blogging session. She is a passionate and educated advocate for herself and for her children! <br />
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The "About" page on her blog is great, here are some highlights:<br />
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A stay-at-home mom, a self-proclaimed smart-mouthed social media addict, managing editor of <a href="http://typeamom.net/">Type-A Mom</a>, as well as a college student earning a degree in digital design. Mamikaze is a just as you guessed; a combination of Mama and Kamikaze. It describes her dive-bomber lifestyle. She has tremendous up and downs, and these mood changes prove to be excellent blog fodder. it also hones her <a href="http://mamikaze.com/bitchito-ergo-sum/bitchiness-personified">bitchiness</a>.<br />
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Astacia is also a diehard advocate of bloggers using <a href="http://wordpress.org/">Wordpress</a>, she is an SEO nerd, and a writer for the <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-9368-Seattle-Special-Needs-Kids-Examiner">Seattle Special Needs Examiner</a> and <a href="http://www.examiner.com/x-16123-Seattle-Social-Media-Examiner">Seattle Social Media Examiner</a>.<br />
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Kelby (@typeamom) and Astacia (@mamikaze) taken at TypeAMom Conference, need to identify photographer!<br />
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Please go visit Astacia at <a href="http://www.mamikaze.com/">http://www.mamikaze.com</a>, and if you are on twitter, she can be found at <a href="http://twitter.com/mamikaze">@mamikaze</a><br />
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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZrpKygaWI/AAAAAAAAByU/2GujCg_MRLI/s320/karatecat.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZruPm-HII/AAAAAAAAByc/TBFU9GLu_kI/s1600-h/litedcandilsisnotfornom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZruPm-HII/AAAAAAAAByc/TBFU9GLu_kI/s320/litedcandilsisnotfornom.jpg" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZrzwY25QI/AAAAAAAAByk/zqDi1KjL_jU/s1600-h/lolcats-funny-pictures-requests-in-triplicat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZrzwY25QI/AAAAAAAAByk/zqDi1KjL_jU/s320/lolcats-funny-pictures-requests-in-triplicat.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZr3KtfjII/AAAAAAAABys/cQ0M94fw5Eg/s1600-h/lolcatsshoesonsale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZr3KtfjII/AAAAAAAABys/cQ0M94fw5Eg/s320/lolcatsshoesonsale.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZr8_0jPgI/AAAAAAAABy0/ow-XoQgwgp4/s1600-h/loldoctor_dalek.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZr8_0jPgI/AAAAAAAABy0/ow-XoQgwgp4/s320/loldoctor_dalek.png" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZsFnueD1I/AAAAAAAABzE/uUNWEzntzJE/s1600-h/patrickstewartlolcat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZsFnueD1I/AAAAAAAABzE/uUNWEzntzJE/s320/patrickstewartlolcat.jpg" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZsJbzanSI/AAAAAAAABzM/IY2iremcdcw/s1600-h/piratekitteh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZsJbzanSI/AAAAAAAABzM/IY2iremcdcw/s320/piratekitteh.jpg" /></a><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZsNwdXENI/AAAAAAAABzU/0cESOBcNhlk/s1600-h/starbux.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SxZsNwdXENI/AAAAAAAABzU/0cESOBcNhlk/s320/starbux.jpg" /></a><br />
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<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-91731907814420511712009-11-27T07:09:00.000-08:002009-11-27T07:09:00.265-08:00Five Question Friday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/Sw9F2urJbqI/AAAAAAAABwM/IgxGWuztaMA/s1600/5qfriday.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/Sw9F2urJbqI/AAAAAAAABwM/IgxGWuztaMA/s320/5qfriday.png" /></a><br />
</div><b> 1. What is your favorite "eat" on Thanksgiving?</b><br />
pie is my favorite! Apple, Pumpkin, Peach, Blueberry.. :) My favorite ways to eat turkey are actually turkey salad and turkey soup.<br />
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<b>2. What is the name your best girl friend and the best trait about her or how you met (or heck, both!!)?</b><br />
My best girlfriend is Susan. The best trait about her is her sense of humor, followed quickly by her acceptance of others as they are. I met her during our freshman year of high school 19 years ago!<br />
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<b>3. What would you say is one of your "weirdest" quirks?</b><br />
I have a LOT of quirks. Sleeping best wrapped up in my own covers not touching anyone else is my current big one.<br />
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<b>4. What is your favorite genre of music? (Hip hop? Classical? Rock? etc.)</b><br />
Celtic, followed by Christian and 80s music.<br />
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<b>5. Are you a Night Owl...or an Early Bird?</b><br />
Night Owl. <b><br />
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<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-18183618698584331282009-11-25T19:07:00.000-08:002009-11-26T19:08:58.519-08:00Wordless Wednesday - Annelise<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/Sw9CnAqPCwI/AAAAAAAABwE/Ur0U-ZXu8Jw/s1600/14240_181375199091_527909091_2890574_5780108_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/Sw9CnAqPCwI/AAAAAAAABwE/Ur0U-ZXu8Jw/s400/14240_181375199091_527909091_2890574_5780108_n.jpg" /></a><br />
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<input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-12001198633393288832009-11-17T22:45:00.000-08:002009-11-17T22:45:51.586-08:00Wordless Wednesday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXUZFzvKI/AAAAAAAABsM/3pquyPuUF4I/s1600/lilyhair1nov17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXUZFzvKI/AAAAAAAABsM/3pquyPuUF4I/s200/lilyhair1nov17.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Maddie's chop-job <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXW1hWuFI/AAAAAAAABsU/JBsfehIfhMI/s1600/lilyhair3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXW1hWuFI/AAAAAAAABsU/JBsfehIfhMI/s200/lilyhair3.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">she had cut so much into the back that we had to take this much length off to even it up <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXY0pF4UI/AAAAAAAABsc/f_JbMGf-EKE/s1600/lilyhair2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXY0pF4UI/AAAAAAAABsc/f_JbMGf-EKE/s200/lilyhair2.jpg" /></a><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXbN7Ca6I/AAAAAAAABsk/YDKWqyful2Y/s1600/lilyhair4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SwOXbN7Ca6I/AAAAAAAABsk/YDKWqyful2Y/s200/lilyhair4.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><br />
<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-46482317860527189502009-11-14T17:43:00.000-08:002009-11-14T17:43:02.104-08:00Small Talk Six<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/Sv8IuUhImbI/AAAAAAAABp0/6MRZ-SUTBmw/s1600-h/smalltalksix300.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/Sv8IuUhImbI/AAAAAAAABp0/6MRZ-SUTBmw/s320/smalltalksix300.jpeg" /></a><br />
</div><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">6</span> <span style="color: green;">stores</span> <span style="color: red;">at</span> <span style="color: green;">which</span> <span style="color: red;">you</span> <span style="color: green;">wish</span> <span style="color: red;">you</span> <span style="color: green;">could</span> </b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: red;">register</span> <span style="color: green;">for </span><span style="color: red;">Christmas</span> <span style="color: green;">presents</span> <span style="color: red;">for</span> <span style="color: green;">yourself</span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: green;"> </span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: green;">1. IKEA</span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: green;">2. Brighton</span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: green;">3. New York and Company</span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: green;">4. Pottery Barn</span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: green;">5. Target</span></b></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="color: green;">6. Itunes<br />
</span></b></h2><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><br />
<div id="refHTML"></div><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden" /><!--Session data--><input id="jsProxy" onclick="jsCall();" type="hidden" /><div id="refHTML"></div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-8720346340566681562009-11-11T20:47:00.000-08:002009-11-11T20:47:14.957-08:00Wordless Wednesday - Eilean Donan, Scotland<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SvuTN3D1tbI/AAAAAAAABpM/d5t0dctLtqw/s1600-h/EileanDonan2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" sr="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SvuTN3D1tbI/AAAAAAAABpM/d5t0dctLtqw/s400/EileanDonan2.JPG" /></a><br />
</div>Jenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13127083921582976464noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5778165615353855538.post-44643185788786505972009-11-10T18:08:00.000-08:002009-11-10T18:08:00.343-08:00Taste Test Tuesday - Scalloped Potatoes and Franks<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SvI5A96TWxI/AAAAAAAABmo/3tPw2N6Oz38/s1600-h/peppers0676-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_A2eFJwABcgE/SvI5A96TWxI/AAAAAAAABmo/3tPw2N6Oz38/s200/peppers0676-1.jpg" /></a><br />
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Ok, so this recipe seems to be one that you either love or hate. I grew up with this as a regular meal every few weeks, and it is a comfort food of mine now that I am married and have my own family. Some of you may cringe, but this was back in the day of pork chops with cream of mushroom soup over it, koolaid all the time to drink even if you woke up thirsty in the middle of the night, and ham potato and pea casserole. (yeah that last one is just as disgusting as it sounds too. Wugh!)<br />
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So far, 3 out of 4 of my kids don't like Scalloped Potatoes and Franks. I think maybe because it is such a departure from the non-casserole food I serve, and maybe also because of the way it looks. But seriously? A hot dog casserole? With cheese? I can't figure out why they don't like it. What's not to love??<br />
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See what you think. And husband, if you read this, refrain from commenting in the negative. Other people are other people :) <br />
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<b>Scalloped Potatoes and Franks</b><br />
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<b>Ingredients <br />
</b><br />
2 cups raw sliced potatoes<br />
1 onion, sliced<br />
1 can tomato sauce <br />
1 package hot dogs (nitrate free if you can)<br />
4-6 oz cheddar cheese<br />
2T butter<br />
2T flour<br />
parsley<br />
salt<br />
pepper<br />
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<b>Directions</b><br />
Put sliced potatoes and onion in water to cover. Boil 7 minutes. In casserole dish, slice hot dogs, cube cheese, add butter, salt and pepper, and 1/2 of the can of tomato sauce. Drain onions and potatoes, and add them to the casserole. Stir to mix. Top with other half can of tomato sauce and parsley to taste. Cover and microwave 10 minutes on high.<br />
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