What I Learned At Blissdom 2010

So, the big news around this somewhat forgotten about blog is that I went to Blissdom this past weekend. And it was AMAZING!! So many friends...so many discussions...so many lessons learned.

• I learned that I am so blessed to have an awesome, wonderful group of blogging buddies. They are true friends and a great support. And the only thing better than chatting with them online through twitter, Skype, email and blog comments is to actually hang out with them live and in person. Face to face friends who get this whole blogging thing. We shared stories, tips, ideas and lots of laughs. Is there anything better than that?
• I learned that trekking miles and miles through the ginormous Gaylord Opryland Hotel is rough on the feet, even when you're wearing shoes that are supposed to be "comfortable."
• I learned that if women are a powerful force, women bloggers are a powerful force with a voice that is loud and far-reaching. The impact of these simple words we write on our simple little blogs is enormous, even within our own community.
  
• I learned that Kevin Carroll is an amazing motivational speaker with an inspiring, unforgettable story. I don't know that I'll ever be able to get his words out of my mind. I scribbled several of his comments down while he was speaking. Here's an example of his powerful words - "Don't talk about it. BE about it."
• I learned that the real learning doesn't occur during the planned sessions, but during the impromptu gatherings in hallways, around fireplaces, at dinner tables and in hotel rooms.
• I learned that pretending my camera can actually take decent pictures of people indoors (even when I know full well it can not) is incredibly frustrating.
• I learned that it's impossible to say good-bye to everyone you want to say good-bye to. But I also learned that that's not all bad, because it gives you a perfect excuse to get together again.

And already I can tell you, I can't wait for that next time!

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Heading To Blissdom

For the past few days I've been busily getting prepared for Blissdom. I'm always amazed at the amount of work that goes into getting ready. This will be my third blogging conference and you'd think I'd have a handle on things by now. You'd think...but you'd be wrong.

Actually though, I have things pretty well set up for Eric and the kids while I'm gone. And I'm crossing things off of my work to-do list pretty quickly. I've got menu plans finished. I'm in the process of getting my Stolen Moments Menu Planning swag together for Savvy Blogging. My business cards are ready.

So, I guess I'm not as bad off as I feel like I am. My suitcase isn't packed yet, but that will be a pretty quick process. I'm trying to not worry too hard about clothes this time around. For me, this trip to Blissdom is more about spending time with my friends than anything else. And there are SO many wonderful online friends that I'll be meeting in person for the first time. Why stress about clothes for that?

In addition to all those usual preparations, I've been preparing myself mentally. That's the hardest preparation of all for my SHY (super shy) self. I'm committed to breaking out of my shell at least a little bit this time around. We'll see how that goes though.

I can't to share pictures and stories here after I get home!

If you're going to Blissdom too, please let me know.

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My 2010 Blogging Goals

Who knew how revitalizing a two week hiatus from this little blog could be? I kept blogging on Cooking During Stolen Moments and continued to run Stolen Moments Menu Planning, but just letting go of the tiny bit of stress I feel when I don't write here was a huge help!

I spent some time over the past few weeks finalizing a business plan and blogging plan for 2010. (A 5 hour drive to and from Chicago sure helped with finding the time to do that!) When I saw that Savvy Blogging was posting a Mr. Linky for us all to share our blogging goals for the year, I was so excited to participate.

So here are my goals for 2010.

1. Continue to keep Priority #1 as priority #1 - God first, husband second, kids third. I got a bit off track earlier in 2009 and let twitter and other things play too much of a role in my life. I've since cut down my online socializing time to virtually nothing, and I'm reaping the rewards. I'll admit I still need to improve in some areas with this, but I'm feeling much better about how I divide my time.
2. Post at least 4-5 new recipes on Cooking During Stolen Moments per week. Begin posting more tutorials and informational posts as well.
3. Update the Wordpress plug-ins I use for CDSM. I tend to be very lazy when it comes to maintaining the backend of my blogs.
4. Stay on top of organizing alphabetical course listings of the recipes. I haven't done this is 6 months, and it needs to be done! (See #3.)
5. Actually write some of the different series I've been contemplating on A Simple Walk. If this means I skip a few opportunities to add my name to Mr. Linky once in awhile, that's okay!
   
6. Keep A Simple Walk updated at least 3-4 times a week, and let go of the guilt if it doesn't get done more often.
7. Increase RSS subscribers on both sites, and increase daily visitors. I don't have a set number for here, but I'd like to at least double both numbers by May on Cooking During Stolen Moments. I'll re-evaluate after that.
8. Continue building and nurturing my relationship with Share Our Strength. Doing good feels so good!
9. Keeping Goal #1 in mind, increase community involvement. Leave comments at other blogs, participate on twitter and skype, even if for only a few minutes a week. And stay disciplined with that time by setting a timer.
   
10. Respond to all emails within 48 hours!

There are honestly a ton more, but I don't want to bore you. I have a month-by-month plan laid out that will be broken down into weekly plans as the year moves forward.

As I mentioned, I also have a new business plan in place for Stolen Moments Menu Planning. I am excited to start going after some of the things that I've planned out.

All in all, I'm thinking 2010 has the potential to be a very exciting year. I'm looking forward to seeing where it leads - for myself, for blogging in general and for all of you!

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Rabbit Trails and Degrees of Separation

Photo by marttj

I have this little routine every night that kind of annoys me, yet I'm somehow powerless to stop it. Once I get the kids in bed, my plan is always to head for my computer in our bedroom and get started on blogging stuff.

But the house is quiet and there is nothing that must be done right that second - no child asking me for something or laundry waiting to be folded. Invariably, I think of something that I want to look up on the computer. So I'll stand in front of the laptop, look up what I wanted, and then it begins...I hit a rabbit trail.

I see an interesting link, so I click through. Usually I'm looking at blogs and we all know what a plethora of interesting links that is. So I click another link. And on and on until I realize I've been standing in the kitchen for an hour.

I've tried just walking straight to my bedroom, but it's like there is a magnet on the laptop and I just get pulled into it. Please tell me I am not the only one this happens to.

These rabbit trails have taught me something though. The blogosphere is a very inter-connected place. And we all like to link to each other whenever we can.

Well, why not have a little fun with that fact, six degrees of separation style? Go to your favorite bigger-named blog and see how many clicks it takes for you to get back to your own blog. And have fun heading down some rabbit trails of your own. Then come back here and let me know how many degrees of separation you are from your favorite.

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Pampers & Unicef: One Pack=One Vaccine

I know vaccines are a hotly debated topic. They've even been debated on a regular basis in my own house. But I believe this is one program we can all get behind, no matter our personal views. So, that topic is not up for debate right now.

The program I'd like to tell you about today is called the One Pack = One Vaccine initiative. Pampers has partnered with UNICEF to help provide life-saving tetanus shots to less-industrialized countries. Although highly preventable, "tetanus claims the lives of approximately 128,000 infants and 30,000 mothers in less industrialized nations each year – that’s approximately one death every four minutes."

From February 5 through May 1, 2009, parents in the U.S. and Canada have the opportunity to help UNICEF protect moms and babies around the world against tetanus by simply purchasing specially-marked packages of Pampers diapers and wipes. Each product they buy triggers one life-saving vaccine*. These specially marked packages of diapers and wipes cost the same as traditional products and are available wherever Pampers products are sold. For more information, go to: http://www.pampers.com/en_US/unicefhome

In addition to product, parents can also redeem a special campaign “baby body suit” or baby body suit using Gifts to Grow points though Pampers.com beginning in February – each baby body suit triggers a life-saving vaccine*. http://www.pampers.com/giftstogrow

It really couldn't be any easier. By simply buying products we need anyhow, we can help save lives. Next you need to buy diapers or wipes, just look for the specially marked packages like the one above. Each purchase will trigger the donation of a life-saving vaccine to a pregnant woman or a woman of child-bearing age in the less industrialized world.

Even if your family doesn't need diapers, why not pick up a few of the specially marked packages now to help with this program? The diapers and wipes can be donated or held onto to give as a baby shower gift.

To date, 3 million vaccines have been donated. The goal is 31 million. The power of the blogosphere is phenomenal, so I have no doubt we can help Pampers and UNICEF reach this goal. If you want to help spread the word, check out this page for widgets and other ideas.

I have 4 of the Pampers Baby Bodysuits to giveaway to 4 readers. They are all size 12 mos. They say "Together we can help save a life" on the front and the Pampers and UNICEF logos are on the bottom.

To enter the giveaway, just leave me a comment. And although it's not a requirement to enter, I strongly encourage you to visit here to help learn more and spread the word yourself.

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Mmm...Free Warm Delights

I took advantage of this free sample last time it was offered and they were SO good. It made a perfect last-minute dessert for Eric and I one night. Sign up to get your sample now!

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A Wonderful Deal

I encourage you to stop by my friend FishMama's site Life As Mom today or tomorrow. While you are there, take advantage of this fantastic ebook deal she is offering.That's right, she is offering her two ebooks for the special price of $1 each. These books are a great resource for everyone focused on family and frugality.

The first is a guide to cooking with children. You know that cooking from scratch is a great way to save money. And if you prepare these dishes with your children's help, it's also a cheap form of entertainment. Not to mention that you're teaching them life skills in the process. FishMama's Guide to Cooking with Children features:

• Seasonal kitchen activities for parents to enjoy with their children


• Over 25 kid - friendly recipes sure to satisfy even the pickiest eaters


• Safety tips and tricks for easy kitchen clean-up

The second book, entitled, Pretty. Cool. Cakes, is a handbook for creating your own festive birthday cakes at home. Usually bakery cakes cost upwards from $12. For less than half that, you can create a fun, theme cake that looks cooler than ones you would pay for. This book features a baker's dozen (13) of themed cake designs, including The Breakfast Cake, Fancy Nancy, and Indiana Jones as well as a basic tutorial to craft one of your own design.

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It's Been A Year Already?

I can not believe that it was one year ago tonight that I first started writing this blog. Well, to be honest, I did write 2 posts on here back in 2005. Then, we were without internet for 2 and a half years. When we reconnected, I immediately thought I'd like to try blogging again.

When I first started this last year, I had no idea what direction I wanted to head. But I promised myself that I would see if I could make it a habit and stick it out for 21 days. Obviously the habit stuck!

So, since it is Thursday {Thirteen} day over at Happy To Be At Home, I decided to commemorate the occasion with a series of 13 things.

13 Favorite Posts

1. My Strength Is Not Sufficient
   
2. Celebrate The Simple, Celebrate The Mundane
3. Growing Pains
4. The post that started it all - My Blog in May
5. A 3 Moms Tip For The Day
6. Inevitability
7. Just Another Imperfect Post From Another Imperfect Blogger
8. Frugal Ideas For Date Nights At Home
9. Confessions of a Former Literary Snob
10. The Perfect Pair Of Jeans For A Quarter
11. Showing and Telling In My Kitchen
12. What Is The Line Between Childhood And Adulthood?
13. Every single post that included something about my kids, or pictures of my kids. There are just far too many to list!

13 Things I Just Realized While Looking Through My Archives

1. I can be a little long-winded at times.
   
2. Why didn't someone tell me the importance of the return key sooner? Following grammatical paragraph structure on a blog is unnecessary and even I had a hard time reading through posts with not many returns.
3. My tone or style haven't changed very much over this past year, but my focus has shifted a bit.
4. I need to clean up my archives one of these days.
   
5. I have learned a lotover the past year. For example, I know how to tweak and write some html now. A year ago, I didn't even know what html was. (Joy deserves lots of credit for this!)
   
6. I need to do a better job of self-editing.
7. There are so many more places to find stock images to use in posts then I ever imagined. Allposters.com used to be the only thing I used.
8. A lot of you have been part of this blog since early on.
   
9. And I still enjoy each and every one of your blogs.
10. A blog is a wonderful tool to document your family's life, from the simplest things to the extraordinary.
    
11. Eric's views of blogging have changed a lot.
12. I had no idea I'd be able to form so many wonderful, life-changing friendships.
13. I still love comments as much today as I did when I got my very first.

Stop by Happy To Be At Home for more Thursday {Thirteen}.

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A Few Good Offers

Sign up to receive a $1.50 off coupon from Pampers.

Sign up to receive a free sample of Pantene shampoo and conditioner.


Print out a free coupon for 1 box of Touch of Gray.

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Join Me!

Our family lives in a 1000-square foot house. We have 4 children whom we homeschool. Do you see the problem?

Actually, I say that it is a problem, but I really don't mean it. After 5 years of homeschooling, we've learned to make the most of our small space by schooling simply, yet substantially. Space just isn't much of an issue for us because when we really need a new space for something, we always find a way somehow.

To read the rest of this post, please stop by at Keeper of the Home today, where I am honored to be guest posting.

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$10 in Coupons from Eat Better America

Click above to sign up for $10 in coupons from eatbetteramerica. There are some awesome coupons offered, and ones that I'll actually be able to use on stuff that we buy on a regular basis.

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Reflections By Tree-Light

Every year I love to spend some time curled up on the couch by the light of the Christmas tree. To me, there is nothing more peaceful than a quiet house, the smell of pine, and twinkling lights.

This setting always provides ample opportunity for reflecting on the past year and looking ahead to the new one. It's also a setting ripe for prayer or conversation, or both. This is the stuff that memories are made of.

However, I haven't taken many opportunities to just sit by the tree this year. I am running out of time. I know Eric and I will spend some time there on Christmas Eve relaxing together after the kids have gone to bed. But I need to find some quiet reflection time there by myself also.

So tonight, carving out time by myself in front of the Christmas tree is really working for me. I will push aside the to-do list to focus on the real reason for the season. I will remember the birth of our Savior on that long ago night. I will sing "Oh Holy Night" and "Away In A Manager" to myself. And I will thank the Lord for giving me more than I could have ever imagined.

I will be spending the next few days delighting in my husband and children and all things Christmas. I hope you will be doing the same! I'll see you back here on Friday, or maybe even a few days after that.

I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas!

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Surving & Thriving Through A Year of Poverty

I'd like to welcome all the visitors from Rocks In My Dryer. I hope you enjoy your visit.

On this blog, I share lots of tips and habits on living simply and frugally that we learned throughout that year. We learned to be happy with less, and that is a lesson we have not forgotten. I hope that shows through in a lot of my posts. (I've also posted a variation of the lentil & rice chili recipe, that I mentioned in my post, here.)

If you'd like to read more, you can subscribe to my RSS feed here.

You can also find me over at Happy To Be At Home and at Cooking During Stolen Moments.

For anyone who hasn't read my "What I'd Like For You To Know" post on surviving and thriving through a year of poverty, you can find it here.

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Delgo - An Unique & Exciting New Movie

Exclusive image from Fathom Studios' Delgo, opening in theaters
December 12, 2008

It is a difficult thing to find a movie that all of my children will sit down and watch together. Either the content is too young for Isabelle at 9, or Alex and Olivia (4 and 3) quickly get bored. However, from what I've read and seen of the new movie Delgo, I think I may have found a great option for the whole family to enjoy together.

Both the storyline and the animation are unique and extraordinary. I know my youngest (perhaps even Gracie) will really be drawn to the characters and animation. I know Isabelle will appreciate and learn a lot from the interesting perspective. I can tell that Eric and I will really enjoy it also.

Here is a description of the movie from a recent press release:

Fast-paced action and adventure, a mystical land, an unlikely hero, a princess and a message of acceptance between different cultures make Delgo the perfect family-friendly movie this holiday season.

...The story takes place in the magical land of Jhamora which is divided between two cultures – the Nohrin, winged masters of the skies, and the Lockni, the terrestrial tribe who harness the mystical powers of the land. When Delgo (Freddie Prinze, Jr.), a reckless Lockni teenager, forms a forbidden friendship with the spunky Nohrin Princess Kyla (Jennifer Love Hewitt), hostilities between the two peoples escalate, setting the stage for an exiled empress (Anne Bancroft) to exact her revenge and reclaim her rule.

Falsely imprisoned, Delgo and his best friend, Filo (Chris Kattan), must put aside their differences to join forces with a sworn enemy, Bogardus (Val Kilmer), and travel to the mysterious land of Perran to rescue Princess Kyla. Here they encounter fanciful creatures and discover more than just a kidnapped princess, they learn the value of different cultures and the importance of working together.

I think the voice cast is exciting and intriguing. It will be interesting to see how the combination of different actors are used.

You can head over to the Delgo website to watch 2 trailers from the movie. If you do watch them, I would love to hear what you think!

I am thinking that this may have to be an outing for us during Eric's few days off at Christmastime. I think this movie would be a perfect option for taking the whole family to the movie theater for the first time.

One caveat: According to the website, the movie is rated PG. We will have to do a little research into the rating before we take the whole family.

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A Few Offers To Share

Sign up to receive the Fisher-Price e-newsletter and receive special offers and gift ideas.


Download the Shop at home Toolbar and get exclusive coupons and cash back at over 2,000 stores.

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A Bloggy Progressive Dinner - You're Invited

Exciting news, everyone…we’re having a party, and you’re all invited! It’s a progressive dinner, blog-style. Here’s how it works:

Please join us at our bloggy homes the week of December 15th as we celebrate the season. Stop by for some great holiday recipes. Mr. Linky will be all set up so you can share your own holiday recipes, party ideas and tips, and decorations if you feel so inclined. Link up each night if you’d like, and share a recipe that goes with the evening’s theme. The more the merrier! We hope you can make it!

• 12/15 Joy serves drinks at Five J’s
• 12/16 I'll serve the appetizers at A Simple Walk
• 12/17 JessieLeigh serves salad at Parenting the Tiniest of Miracles
• 12/18 Amy will serve the main course at The Finer Things in Life
• 12/19 Toni serves dessert at The Happy Housewife

Please invite your friends!

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Looking For Some Christmas-Inspired Recipe Ideas?

Betty Crocker and Pillsbury recipes are always a hit, especially for entertaining. These recipe newsletters look great!

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MobiStories Giveaway Winner

The randomly selected winner of the $10 MobiStories giveaway is Proverbs30one. Please send me an email to get your coupon code.

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Great New Offers

Click here to sign up for Pillsbury's recipe newsletter and receive a free booklet with $10 worth of coupons.
And then click over to Home Made Simple for over $27 in coupons for cleaning products.
Or sign up for one of these free cookbooks.

And while your at it, why not check out one of these free ebooks. I'll definitely benefit from the first one since I still have yet to jump on the CVS train and start earning ECBs.

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Passing The Birthday Candles

I am officially passing the birthday candles on to my bloggy buddy Amy. Stop in at The Finer Things in Life and wish Amy a Happy Birthday today!

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