Mama Kat's WW: Blogging Challenges

I've decided that today is the perfect day to take on Mama Kat's Writer's Workshop, as this prompt is just calling to me after my long weekend at Type A Parent Conference.

* What do you find most challenging about blogging?

Wouldn't it be easy for me to say everything? But that would so not be true.

I love blogging. I love writing. I love being me. I love revealing more of who I am to the world at large, or the 400 or so people who may choose to read me on any given day. Or something like that.

I love reading what other people have to say - about themselves, their family members, their friends, books, TV shows, their jobs, their wishes, hopes and dreams. And whatever else is on their minds.

I love connecting. I love putting myself out there and receiving even the tiniest bit of validation in return.

I love commenting. I love reminding people that their words are being read, even if it's just by me.

I HATE no-reply-at-blogger ... uhm, yeah. That's a pet peeve as if I can't get back to you or figure out where you blog or how to email you it's going to drive me somewhat crazy. And with so many people moving to WordPress, that is definitely difficult and showing up more often. I wish there were a way to adjust things so at least I'd know their URL info when they comment.

I'm not the hugest fan of captcha either, and think that people would fare better with comments when they remove that and moderate if they are that worried about spam. I was a late convert to that as I figured it would cause mayhem, but all is well in the GGGR world. Whew. It's all good. (Knock on wood 3x or something like that!)

And sometimes I would say the most challenging thing about blogging is ME.

That would be my answer. Because you know what? It's MY blog. MY space. I put the criteria up for myself. I set myself up to fail. I am the only one who can tell me that I'm too small, too fluffy, too easy, too whatever else I might categorize myself as on any given day.

I learned a lot of things this past weekend at the conference. My very first blogging conference experience. But I also learned that it's okay to just be me. I may not be as big a blogger as some, or as small as others, but the same way I convince myself to accept my size, my motivation or lack thereof, and who I am inside and out, I need to do the same with blogging.

I need to remind myself that I belonged at that conference in Asheville. I belong out here in the blogosphere. I belong wherever I deem myself as belonging. I am worthy. I'm special. I'm me. And I am not going to challenge that anymore.

Or at the very least, not as often as I have in the past. Because damnit, I'm good enough. I'm sweet enough. I'm cute enough. And people like me. So there!

p.s. For anyone looking for my South of Superior review, it's coming - just hang tight!

What I learned ... Part I.

On that last night of Type A Parent conference I decided that I wanted to take all of the tweets (either my own or those by others) from the various informative sessions and compile them into a post. And so ... here goes. It's a bit of what I found to be the most important tidbits from the sessions I did attend. I am quite sure you will find loads more at the hashtag here: #typeacon

Send your reviews TO the companies. Good AND bad. Generate interest. Want them to know you exist. - @GregoryNg...

Quoting @cecilyk at #typeacon Brands need to remember that bloggers are required to disclose, and they could get in trouble if they don't.

Bloggers should expect professionalism, communication, understanding of yr values & importance of disclosure. #typeacon

You got them, bring them back. know your audience. - @heathersolos

Just finished incredible session @childhood. Reminds us that nobody does exactly what WE do.

Reach the person in the way back of the room to guarantee you reach everyone else in the room. Words of wisdom from @barbieangell

Write your ideas down AS you come up with them. #typeacon

Want your brand to be solid & your topics to be strong. Brand=you @barbieangell

Social media is not something that we do, it is something that we are. - @whymommy

As a personal blogger I was able to change focus as my life evolved. Go with your passions. @chelechestnut

My blog is my sandbox, it's my place to play. --@staceynerdin

If you feel you are worth more than just your traffic + reach let the business know, professionally. Don't be afraid- @hollyhamann

Amazing-businesses are still asking bloggers not to disclose. "Can't believe we are still talking about disclosure." - @dbinkowski

Connecting with people locally is of great importance. @dbinkowski

If we want to be taken as professionals we need to act professional EVERYWHERE. - @HighimpactMom

@Childhood Kelly Loubet “@goodgirlgonered 2nd time I've heard the importance of #LinkedIn @childhood @dbinkowski Still torn on that but thinking.” -do it!

@goodgirlgonered: Don't think being a Mommy blogger is a negative. @TedRubin / it's not! As long as u operate professionally.

Be inspired by those around you, the blogs that you read. - @MyGOMOM But I think she also means 'you do you.' My interpretation.

We have created a totally different landscape of choices for our children. - @Staceynerdin

I don't do it all, I don't want to. I don't think any of us do it all. @mom101

Stick a post-it note with why you blog by your computer. @mom101 REMIND YOURSELF!

You can't be all things to all people. - @mom101 And that is okay. Brands appreciate that.

Just reading an email does not waste your time. Limit how you voice your frustrations. @mom101

There is enough bandwidth to go around for all of us. There's not one person out there who ONLY reads ONE blog. - @mom101

I plan on following up with some tweets and tips that I grabbed off of Twitter from those sessions that I did not attend. Thing about this kind of conference is that you simply cannot make it to everything. I hope this "summation" of the twitter discussions from my perspective works to help many of you who were not at the event to get a feel of what were the hot topics and what was important to me while I was there!

Tapestry Baby ~ info before review!

I'm participating in the Pump Up Your Book tour for The Tapestry Baby, a book written by Carole Waterhouse. Unfortunately, having been overwhelmed with Type A Conference, I'm totally slack on completing this book and having it ready for review.

I'll admit I'm having a rough time getting into it, as I'm distracted and totally focused on getting out everything I can think of about the conference, along with whatever else is on my mind this week. So I'm introducing you all to the book, along with some links to the author's website, and some interviews and reviews so you can find out more about it all as I take my time catching up!

So, to find more on the author: Click here! And for more details on the Pump Up Your Book tour for The Tapestry Baby (which will provide links to interviews and reviews!) head on over this way!

And thanks for being patient with me. Happy reading!

Why I wanted to go ... part I.

A huge part of why I wanted to go to this exceptional event was to meet some of the people that I absolutely idolize. I adore. I love and want to be them, or at the very least their BFFs.

Do I sound like a stalker yet? I'm not, I promise.

If you haven't had a chance to read my friend Fadra's post about why "you" (or I) should attend a blog conference, have at it. It's over here at Social Dialect, and as you'll see, yours truly was one of the interviewees.

I answered her questions on why I wanted to attend, why I started blogging, and who I couldn't wait to meet. Again, that stalking aspect of my personality. Or so you would think.

I so totally wanted to meet Katherine Stone, of Postpartum Progress. And yet, the so non-stalkerish side of me had me see her like 3-4 times before I approached, introduced myself and asked if I could give her a hug.

If you want to know anything about PPD in the blogging world you need to know who Katherine is. If you don't - you must. MUST. Last year she won the Type A Conference bloganthropy award. This weekend she tweeted the definition of bloganthropy and what they do: "@bloganthropy honors bloggers using social media to do good/make positive change" ...amazing, no?

I found a wonderful tweet quoting her from one of the attendees that I want to share as it strikes me as so important: "Bloggers are successful because they work their asses off." - @postpartumprogr

It's so true. But awesome that she stated it so matter-of-factly. She's such a sweetheart. So real and so nice and so down to earth. And my GAWD, she is beautiful. Seriously. She has totally magnificent (ehem, and red) really long hair. I even got a picture with her. Wanna see?


I'm grateful for the connection I have felt with Katherine and the various women and stories she shares with us, the way that she reminds us all that we're not just permitted-but supposed to talk about PPD. It's not taboo. It's real. It's okay and important to discuss it, to raise awareness and support one another, whether we're past the experience personally, whether we know someone who is suffering, or whether we - ourselves - are in the thick of it, she reminds us how important it is to talk about it. To spread the word. To remind women everywhere that they are not alone.

One of the most touching, real and raw things I have ever found off of Postpartum Progress is the Surviving and Thriving Mothers Photo Album. It nearly brings me to tears [happy ones] every time I see it. Go look. Take your time. And if you're among the many who belongs in these pages, email Katherine and she'll get you in there. I did.

And so, I say thank you to Type A Conference for making one of my bloggy connection hopes come true! And thank you, Katherine, for rocking it all and being as amazing and approachable as you are. It was great to meet you and I hope to see you again in real life 'round the bloggy world!

Type A Conference Recap Post #1 can be found here!

I'm back and I'm Lazy

I really didn't get into the whole *I'm getting ready for the Type A Parent Conference* type of details out here in bloggyland. I think I mostly spoke about it on Twitter, which was where the action was as far as chatting, planning, packing and carpooling. And so on and so forth.

And so I'm back, and I'm lazy and I'm whirlwinding through the ideas and information, the connections and new friendships, the actually meeting people in real life, and so I am on overload, and wanted to just post, say hey, I'm here, and I'm not nearly as together as so many bloggers appear to be, who have already posted their first recaps (and yes, my oh-so-functioning roommate, Lisa, over at Two Bears Farm is totally one of those people - so go take a look, while I sit her eating the chocolatey goodness she made me ... yeah, I know you're jealous!).

And while you're at it, here's a picture of us enjoying one of the parties there in Asheville.


Yeah, our eyes are looking at the phone in my hand that was acting as a camera, but honestly? This picture is awesome-sauce. I love it. It's an award-winning cell phone shot, if you ask me.

So that's my first post about the conference. I have lots more to say and lots of ideas, I'm just not put together that way. My laundry *first load* is waiting to be moved to the dryer, we haven't had lunch - but we only ate breakfast at like one o'clock (OK, maybe not that late - but still ...) and I'm avoiding the couch at all costs or else I'll be asleep on it.

Hope you're all well and stay tuned for more details on the incredible long weekend I experienced. My first blog conference was a successful one and I definitely would love to do more of them in the future. AND be sure that I return to Type A, as well. Because you know what? You don't have to BE Type A to attend Type A. Cool, right?

p.s. It seriously just took me seven minutes to write that post - picture and all. How not Type A am I!?!?!

Ten Beach Road ~ Book Review

We start this book with Madeline, and unless we review the back cover (or at least my version, I don't have the beautiful cover shown above, and sometimes I really wished I did!) we don't know that there is so much more to come.

Maddie learns that her husband lost his job [months ago], and ultimately lost almost all of their money to a swindler named Malcolm Dyer. He's been pretending to go to work, suit and all, until his cover is blown and he winds up on the couch, a permanent fixture. Oh, and his mom moves in. And their daughter moves home. And their son wants money because he blew his scholarship. Don't you NOT wish you were Maddie right now?

But man, Maddie turns into a powerhouse. Seriously. She's an amazing mom, and she finds so much of herself as she makes her way to Bella Flora - the beachfront property that she shares, owning 1/3 of with both, Avery (a former HGTV star) and Nikki (a celeb match-maker of sorts).

We learn about Avery's history, and how her father taught her so much, and how her mother disappeared on them both. We learn about Nikki, and her brother, and how she as much as raised him when their mom died at a young age.

All three women lost mega-money to Malcolm Dyer and his swindling schemes and find themselves working together to save and maintain the one thing they have left. A "mansion" in Florida. Bella Flora has the potential, as each of these women, to be beautiful, breath-taking and strong.

Let me say that overall I really enjoyed this book. I did, however, find it to be a little bit longer than I would have liked for a beach read, which I figured this should have been, what with the title and beautiful cover and all.

And the only aspect of the book I struggled with was Avery's comparison to "don't ask-don't tell" and her use of "don't ask-don't yell" with her relationship with Chase (mmn, Chase sounds like he'd be someone I'd enjoy looking at. He and FBI Guy Giraldi, they made for some fun eye candy as I turned the pages. I could see this turning into a mini-series on Lifetime!).

So if you're looking for a beach read that will cover your week-long vacation, or stay at your fabulous beach house so you can pick it up and start where you left off the weekend before (and if this is the case, don't tell me, I don't want to covet your beach abode from this far!), this is the perfect read for you. Enjoy -- and happy lounging AND reading!

If you liked Seven Year Switch, Claire Cook you should enjoy this book. (Though it is obviously much longer and therefore not as quick a read!)

Wordless Wednesday: I met @NYCPatty!

Island Girl ~ Book Review & Giveaway!

There is so much to say about Alzheimer's Disease, and if you have not been impacted by it surely you know someone who has. And if you haven't before, well, now you do.

My paternal grandmother suffered from Alzheimer's for thirteen years. She lived many of those years in a nursing home. Alzheimer's was not *well known* back then. Or at least to me, in my teenage years, it did not seem to be. It is well known now. People know it, they fight against it and they fight to cure it. It's a horrible, horrible disease.

I never knew the extent that my grandmother (Bubby, we called her bubby!) knew what was happening to her. At such a young age, to me, she didn't seem to. But the more I read about characters and people who did know, I think to myself that perhaps, even without an official diagnosis - or maybe she had one? I really need to ask my parents - she knew. She felt her world slipping away.

Did she ever think to herself how much she wanted the suffering to end? Ruby does. Ruby isn't even at the fullest extent of the illness when we first meet her, and yet she is already preparing her future. Her ending. She leaves notes all over the place, and I love how immediate and short they are, telling her what to do next, what to do to remain herself.

Ruby's daughters are pivotal to the story. I love that we get their precise perspective. They have their own chapters. Actually, at that point, the first page I turned to that was not in Ruby's voice (I must check, but I think it was Liz that we met before Grace), I knew I'd love this book. Something about hearing the voices of more than one primary sole character leads me to love a book just a little bit more.

There are secrets and anger, relationships fallen apart and put back together. Memories fading and burning in the mind's eye. Emotions and silence. Love, pure and frightening. These characters, along with the others who join them on their journey, are real. They live. They live in the pages of Lynda Simmons' book. Island Girl is a place you'll want to go to be impacted in a way that you didn't expect when reading a book.

There's water and birds. Open air and a place to call home. Go join them there and hide away in their world for a bit. Watch Ruby flick through her notes to herself and see what she s going through. What happens next?

I can't tell you. You'll have to see for yourselves!


If you'd like to read this book for yourself, now's your chance. Lynda has graciously offered up a copy for one of my readers (US/Canada) to receive.

All you have to do to enter is tell me the last book you've read.

For extra entries there are a few options (1 entry available per comment):

* Tell me about one of your favorite books or authors.
* Tweet about this giveaway and provide the link to your tweet here.
* Encourage a friend to come and enter and have them let me know you invited them in their comment

New addition to my reviews ~ let me know if it seems like a good idea to you!

If you liked: Still Alice, Lisa Genova you will enjoy this book!

** I received a copy of this book from Pump Up Your Book to review, and was offered an extra copy to give away to my readers. All opinions expressed are strictly my own. **

Congrats to commenter #3 - Lisa, from Two Bears Farm, our winner of this book!

Getting Past the Physical

They'll never know her the way I do. She's my best friend. She's beautiful. But they don't see past that. They don't notice me in her shadow, and that's okay. She's my best friend. And she's beautiful.

But she's so much more than that.

The friendships I had growing up? They were real. Guy friends. Girl friends. The relationships and connections were real. Or as real as they could be at that time in our lives, I suppose. They may be long gone now, but they were what they were. You know how it is. You're in high school, and many a guy is your soul mate? Nope, not for me. I had crushes (you know it - I've written about them before), but I had friends. Guys to hang out with. Houses to sleep over. Yeah, I'm serious. I slept over a guy's house in high school. Imagine that, right?

But not her. Her beauty, her body, it separated her from the crowd in that way. She didn't have the male friendships. The true connections. She had the teenage boys lusting after her. She had the flirting and the smiling. The winking. But not the phone calls late at night to talk before bed. Yes, me, *I* had those, too.

They flirted, they crushed, but she did not let them in. She went older. More mature? Perhaps. More real? I don't know. She lost the chance to be a regular teen because of her beauty, although looking back one might not see it. Perhaps me, in my own little world, I did not know it then, either. When my close guy friend who I had a small crush on liked her. It was okay. It didn't really, truly hurt me. I expected it. She was beautiful. She is beautiful.

But she finally, now, in her adult life, has the man of her dreams. The man that she let in and let know her like nobody else. Who loves her as I do, fails and all. She is a woman, a mother, an incredible person. She hates that I love the more natural pictures of her. As she says they're "a mess," so impacted by her own beauty, perhaps? But perhaps just forced to own it, as she has been for all these years.

Is it her body? Her long, beautiful hair? Her deep eyes? Or is it just who she is? The smile. A crooked tooth. A funky laugh? It's all there. That physical beauty. But she's strong, powerful, independent, emotional and worthy. She's incredible and forceful, and perhaps it is because of the way that she looks that she wound up that way. Some might say yes, others no. It's a draw, I suppose. The positives and negatives. The way what she looks like affects who she is. Inside. Out. Outside. In.

They never knew her the way that I did. The way that I do. But now? Now she has someone who truly does. She's my best friend. And she's beautiful.

** This post is in response to this week's prompt at Red Writing Hood over at The Red Dress Club, where we were asked to write about a physically beautiful character who is impacted by that trait. I have also chosen to incorporate a previous prompt given by adding in my friend's Happy Ending experience. Ehem-Get yer minds out of the gutter, people! Initially I had planned to use both prompts somehow in a piece of fiction, but this is what came out. Maybe it's because I saw my best friend last week when I was in NYC, and I miss her terribly already. Or maybe it's just where my mind went today, and so I followed it. Thanks for reading, and constructive critique is always welcomed.**

Jerusalem Maiden ~ Book Review

My immediate confession is that I have not yet completed this book. You may not want to read any further, and if so, that's okay with me. (I do apologize to TLC Tours, though. I'm all over the place these last few weeks!)

I am going to continue reading it, because I am really enjoying it -- but it's slower reading than I expected because it is really, REALLY intense.

My heart is breaking for Esther because she is forced to stifle a talent that not only fulfills her beyond her expectations, but feeds her soul in a way that the rest of her world and her life seemingly never will.

To watch her question her religion, her family's beliefs, and the reasons that exist behind the rules of Judaism as she knows it is something that is having such an impact on me. As a Jewish woman I know of what she speaks, but not to the extent she does. I know what it's like to see your brother have a bar mitzvah and find yourself, 20-something years later wishing you had had a ceremony of your own. But I suppose I learned too late that the "importance" for boys really could have been important for me, as well. [Though it is seemingly never too late, and perhaps I will have my turn at the Torah someday!]

My father was (is?) old school. I never even learned Hebrew. Fortunately I do not otherwise live in a world such as Esther's. My hope is that many Jewish women, Orthodox or otherwise, are able to show their strengths and talents and develop in ways beyond the means of the character in this book.

You may think I focus only on Esther's wants because I am not yet done with the read, but I would say that from the minute I turned the first page I knew that I would stick with my heart and discuss this detail of the story, of HER story, and how important it is to me.

I look forward to learning more about Esther and her family, and see if she gets to establish the relationships and the talent that burn within her mind and her heart.


Updated review upon completion of this book:

I finished this book the day after I posted the review, I just didn't have a moment to come back and update since I have been stretched pretty thin these days. Anyway, I stand by my initial comments expressing my love for this story. I also truly believe this is not a book to be rushed through, nor devoured within hours. But a story that needs to be fully enjoyed, revealed slowly through each chapter - or perhaps - honestly, through each and every page.

I still remain focused on Esther, as she is the primary character of this story. I love the ways that the author tied together the information we were lacking before the end, and how the connections nearly exploded across the page for us, the reader, who then became somewhat surprised - but pleasantly so.

So - what became of Esther? I cannot say. I honestly can't say much about the ending except that it left me wanting to turn a few more pages. And I will leave that all to your imagination. But if you've read the book feel free to email me and let's discuss. Or find me on goodreads and we can chew on it together over there. There is a lot to say, but to do so would give too much away. And that - dear readers - is so totally not my reviewing style!

** Thanks to TLC Book tours for providing me with a copy of this book to facilitate my review. All expressed opinions are strictly my own. And if the author has an opportunity to comment, I encourage her to do so, but even more - I'd love for her to reach out via email so I can discuss the book more freely with her - without revealing too much to my readers!**

Rockin' The Bump!

Linking up today with Shell over at Things I Can't Say and Rockin' the Bump. I will confess that I was someone who LOVED being pregnant. I was never more at ease or relaxed in my body, and I never had that explosive baby bump that I actually longed for. Oh, don't get me wrong, she was there and she showed, but I was a large pregnant woman with a not-so-large belly for most of my pregnancy!



Here's a picture of me in Germany at somewhere around 4-5 (I think it was more like 4-1/2) months pregnant.

And here is a shot of me with my newborn niece six weeks before my own daughter was born. I flew into New York for her birth, with my big ole pregnant belly and fears that the seatbelt on the airplane wouldn't close! But I did just fine, my not-yet-here-baby did great and stayed put, and my niece enjoyed resting on the bump for a bit.


I really don't have nearly enough shots. I mean, I have pregnancy pics and all, of just day-to-day or special events during the 38 weeks, but nothing like here's my big ole belly and monthly or weekly stomach shots as some women do.

Thanks to Shell for reminding me what a blessing pregnancy was for us, and how it really feels amazing to respect and adore one's body as I did at that time!

Graveminder ~ Book Review

I recently received a copy of this book in the mail, and thought to myself - what on earth is this? I didn't request this book. It's totally NOT my kind of read.

And then I skimmed the info on the back cover. I held the book in my hand. It felt right. It felt like something I could read and might enjoy [in case you're wondering why I still don't have an eReader ... there's your answer!]. I even liked the cover enough - and yes, I judge a book by its cover. Show me someone who doesn't!

So? I gave it a shot.

And I liked it. I wouldn't say it was the best book I've ever read, but I have a really long list of those incredible and must-read recommendations, so that'd be something crazy amazing to have it pull that off.

Rebekkah is our main character, and I like her a lot. There is so much about her we don't know, and so much about herself she's yet to learn, but we learn together and we are entwined in her future, the family history and so much more.

There is so much we don't understand about this little odd town called Claysville, and we learn it as we turn each page. We're taken to another side of the world, and survive the losses both, Rebekkah and Byron (more on him later) are faced with as they go through their days.

We learn about their history, and man, we (I) love Byron. I can totally picture him, kind of a cross between a tall and goofy Finn from Glee and a more intense, albeit equally as handsome stranger. [Cory Monteith - if this ever gets made into a movie I have the perfect role for you!] His strength and support for Rebekkah, their connection, it's undeniable. And even more the case as we learn more about why they're truly meant for one another.

Anyway, this is just a reminder from me, that while judging a book by its cover is all good, let's remember that sometimes the kind of book you might never choose to read can also be the perfect book for you to take your mind off the everyday, and a nice break from the regular ole books you flip through on a day-to-day basis.

So give Graveminder a shot. Melissa Marr does not disappoint. And for all you Twilight fans out there, of whom I am not a part of, I think you'd like it, too!

**I was not compensated for this review in any way, but I was provided with a copy of this book to facilitate my review. **

A Fresh Take on Southern Living ...

I am excited to welcome The Drama Mama to my 'hood today with her guest post. She's a fun blogger over at The Scoop on Poop, and if that isn't enough to get you over there, well, I don't know what is!




I am so delighted to be hanging out over here with Andrea today! In honor of her move from city life to redneck country, I decided to do my guest post about where I live. My husband is a certified redneck too, and you’ll see why!!

I live in Virginia. Virginia is not only for lovers, but it’s also for rednecks…

And where I live in Virginia? It’s smack between 2 major metropolises in Washington, DC and Richmond, so you know, just KNOW that I am neck deep in it here and losing air quickly.

Just like any other state, there are key things that are unique to Virginians (hey, that’s VirginIANS!) that only other redneck states can claim, and possibly a few that are unique only to us:

• Speed limits are just suggestions
• It’s not actually tailgating unless your bumper is touching the car in front of you
• Despite the fact that Virginia fought for the south, has thousands of civil war tourists sites, we are not, under ANY circumstances, according to other states “southerners” unless the state is north of the Mason/Dixon line.
• A dusting of snow and we miss 3 days of school
• All the potholes add excitement to our driving experience
• If you stay on the same road long enough, it will eventually have 3 new names.
• You have never been served tea without the waitress asking “sweet or unsweet?”
• A yellow light means at least 5 more cars will get through; a red light means at least 2 more will
• It takes 30 minutes to drive 10 miles
• You can cross 4 lanes of traffic in under 30 seconds

We have our own language too…

• Ever been to the crick? Of course you have. It’s down yonder just beyond Bobby’s house. It has the BEST perch in it ever. Come on, y’all.
• Wanna go to the riva? Ok, meet you at the beach (ocean), the pier (lake), or the Rappahannock (river)!
• My personal favorite and often used expression? I’m fixin’ to…

I hear we have our accent too, but that’s just not true. Everyone else does, though.

As for my husband (I call him George Clooney, you'll have to ask me why)? He hails from the country. The difference between him and a country boy?

• When he bends over, you want to JUST SAY NO.
• The pickup trucks owned by him, his dad, and his brother cost more than their educations did
• He had to remove a toothpick for our wedding pictures
• He prefers car keys to q-tips (which is not only GROSS but annoying!)
• He owns at least 3 t-shirts with the sleeves ripped out of them
• He considers personalized plates any plates with our initials on them (GMC-1948 anyone?)

But most of all? Up until our recent move, everyone knew we were a redneck family because directions to our house included “turn off the paved road".

So, there you have it. The official scoop on the redneck poop in my world. To borrow a phrase from a favorite country song ‘round these parts…”We say grace, we say ma’am, if you ain’t into that, we don’t give a damn.”

What redneck characteristics have YOU picked up from YOUR state?

Tales from the Wrong Side of Vintage

I'd like to introduce you to my most favorite fashionista in the world. Yes, I said it, the world. She's someone who actually gets me interested in fashion, although I am pretty sure she's got more style in her pinky finger than many a person I've ever known, she never makes me feel like I should glam it up more - she just makes me WANT to!

So, I introduce you to Elisa, of Globetrotting in Heels!

=======

I think I'm getting old.

A couple of months ago I read that now that it's 20 years since the 1990s, original 90s fashion is officially vintage. I was a teen in the 90s! I guess that makes me vintage, too. Fabulous. If only I was a bottle of wine.

Yes, I am getting old. 'cause isn't it typical old people criticizing current music and fashion? And that mixture of smugness and embarrassment I feel, when most of the outfits on the prominent fashion blogs frankly seem insane to me - that too sounds remarkably like it belongs in the range of emotions characteristic of an old fart.

Exhibit A.

Young: OMG! Love them! Want them! Wear them all the time!
Old: Huh. It's like Lady Gaga and the Wicked Witch of the West had a very ugly baby. (But just in case they are jealous, there's one for Glinda and Dorothy, as well.)

Exhibit B.

Young: OMG! Love them! Rhianna has a pair just like them!
I think they totally make me look like a rockstar!
Old: Sweetie, I'm sorry to break this to you, but they make you look more like a dominatrix.

Exhibit C.

Young: OMG! Love it! Balmain is a genius.
Old: holy s**t. Balmain has been taken over by mutant moths.

Well, that seals it. And what's tragic, I think I'll really suck as an old person. For one, I LOVE high heels, and absolutely despise anything remotely resembling orthopedic shoes, or even sensible shoes. F**k that -- I'm going to wear shoes, they're going to be fabulous, otherwise I might as well go barefoot.

That's another thing. I swear quite a bit. And that's just inappropriate. No one wants to see a sweet old lady swear like a sailor.

Also, I love dancing, which is especially bad when you pair it with my love of high heels -- can you say broken hip?

Oh, and I can't knit -- I am absolutely hopeless at anything handmade. Which means I suck at crafts, too -- oh my God, what will I ever do with my grandkids?

I guess I'll have to resort to teaching them to walk in high heels - unless they are boys, in which case I'll teach them to swear.

Hey - anyone interested in a grandma in training?

Elisa is Italian, which gives her a good excuse to be bossy, loud and obnoxious. She is not old enough to be a grandma but if you are interested in swearing lessons or learning to walk in high heels she might be able to accomodate you, as long as you are willing to travel to Zurich, Switzerland, where she currently lives with her family, on account of a lot of them being Swiss. She blogs at Globetrotting in Heels.

eReaders ... Guest Post by Frume Sarah

Frume Sarah, of Frume Sarah's World, is an enjoyable writer, a kindred spirit and someone who you just have to know.

So I raise my glass of water, juice, soy milk or wine in welcome, ask you to sit back and enjoy as she takes us through her thoughts about eReaders. See how well she knows me already? She knew just what topic would be the perfect fit for my 'hood. Now go, sit back and enjoy ...

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I have a love/hate relationship with my iPad. More specifically I have a love/hate relationship with the Nook and Kindle apps on my iPad. Sure, the convenience of an eReader is unsurpassed. To have every book ever written, more-or-less, at my fingertips is both convenient and enticing.

But, as I have discovered, it isn't just that I love to read. I love books. I love everything about them. I feel as Eudora Welty did, as she described in One Writer's Beginnings, "...I cannot remember a time when I was not in love with them -- with the books themselves, cover and binding and the paper they were printed on, with their smell and their weight and with their possession in my arms, captured and carried off to myself." Books have always had a physical presence in my life.

I see a direct correlation between my love of the printed word and my exposure to books as a young child. The adults around me were readers. That my parents and grandparents had libraries in the home did not strike me as out-of-the-ordinary. Not until visitor after visitor would remark on its presence. Additionally, our synagogue housed its library in my parents' home until it moved into its permanent building. Never was I at a loss for something to read.

I admit, the instantaneous access to millions of book titles was intoxicating. At first. No matter what my mood, I could select a book to match it. Which might explain why I have so many uncompleted titles on my iPad. Never had the chance to read The Complete Collection of Sherlock Holmes? No problem. Amazon.com can have it on my Kindle app in seconds. Same with Household Tales, by Brothers Grimm and Aesop's Fables, among others.

A woman possessed, I downloaded dozens of titles in anticipation of any and all states of mind. Only to find that most of the time, I find the sheer number of options overwhelming.

For an eReader to be a perfect choice, it needs to correct the following flaws:

1. Bad things happen when one takes the iPad into the bath - I read anywhere but unwinding in a bath with a book in hand is my favourite way to unwind after a long day. Not recommended with electronic devices. (So I hear...)

2. A Danielle Steel novel feels the same as War and Peace - I'm a tactile person. Reading is, historically, a physical experience. Each book has its own feel. Its own scent. And a heft to match the subject. A Barbara Cartland romance just shouldn't feel the same as Les Miserables.

3. Observant Jews don't use electronic devices on the Sabbath - For those who refrain from anything with an on/off switch for a twenty-five hour period each week, keeping all of one's reads on an eReader means no reading on the Sabbath. And what is better on the day of rest than spending it between the pages of a good book?

4. Impossible to snoop around a person's shelves - Most people can't resist peeking in the medicine cabinets of others. How rude! But give me five minutes scoping out someone's bookshelves and I can tell you everything there is to know about the owner.

5. Eliminates IRL browsing ... especially in used bookstores - For the serious reader there are few pastimes more enjoyable than perusing the aisles of a bookstore. Used bookstores offer particular pleasure and unexpected finds. Not to mention the interaction with fellow bibliophiles.

For convenience nothing beats the apps on my iPad. As far as the complete reading experience, though, I won't be abandoning the printing press any time soon.

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About Frume Sarah: She is a FORTY year-old fun, hip, Rabbi who loves to bring people closer to God. She is married to her high school sweetheart and together they are being brought up by their three crazy kids. For more on Frume Sarah and the incredible life she lives, check out Frume Sarah's World.

The Council of Dads ~ Book Review

My apologies for the late posting. Let's call it a glitch. Ooops!

Bruce Feiler writes of an interesting concept. A council of men (dads, obviously) to support and stand by his daughters when he is gone. Seems kind of out there, in the future, for most, as who wants to think of when you won't be around anymore?

But as a father to two young daughters, recently diagnosed with a cancer in his leg that normally shows (to my understanding) in children, with a long road ahead of him and no understanding of whether he will or won't make it into their teenage years, let alone be able to walk them down the aisle, this is something he is looking for as a support for himself, a sort of cushion to the possible blows that come his way, and as a resource for his wife, who can and will be an incredible mother, but can in no way replace him as their dad - should it come to that.

I actually love the concept. It even got me thinking to myself, despite not wanting to think about the inevitable, who knows ME well enough to represent me to my child(ren) when I am gone? And who could do that for my daughter if my husband were gone, as well. I hate these kinds of thoughts, I'll admit [Who doesn't?] and this is probably the only thing that gave me pause as I turned these pages.

I struggled with the thought of him losing his battle and leaving his babies in such a way. But - and this is not a spoiler at all - he survives. And this council of men he has at the ready also become and important and essential part of his children's lives.

I most enjoyed reading the letters written by Bruce during his battle with illness. I think it brought me insight to the many people I know who have fought the hard fight with the beast that is cancer and won (my mom included) and sadly, the many I know who fought the fight only to be beaten by the beast.

I also thought that the history of his relationships with his council, and how he asked, their responses, etc. was a core part of the book. I loved getting to know the people who know him best. It was an interesting read, one that I struggled with some, despite the easy size of it. But any time I felt a bit anxious turning a page or over-emotional, all I had to do was head to the back cover, or peek ahead to the end where there is a picture of his beautiful family, with him IN it.

This was an enjoyable and insightful read. I do believe that certain people may not be able to read this book without the emotional impact being too overwhelming, so I think one has to choose for themselves whether the book is right for them.

** I received a copy of The Council of Dads for review from TLC Tours. This free copy did not impact my comments above. All opinions are strictly my own. **

Best Staged Plans ~ Book Review

So I am truly lucky to get another of Claire Cook's wonderful books to review again this summer (okay, so it's not yet summer, but this is totally a summer read - trust me!). I was really excited about the opportunity and thrilled to sink my teeth into her latest release.

Best Staged Plans is the perfect length, despite my wanting more once it ended. But isn't that a sign of a great read? Finding yourself not ready to say goodbye? Turning that last page and thinking, I wonder what else can happen to these characters?

Lately I've been bogged down with 400-500+ page books, and I just can't seem to flow through them the way I want to with a summer read. Summer reads should be non-committal. They should be light with a serious enough storyline that lets you truly connect with the characters without having to put your life on hold to figure them out. Best Staged Plans is a great combination of all of those things. It's a perfect escape from the every day.

Sandy Sullivan is that kind of character. She's spunky and strong, and we learn to enjoy her as she makes a choice and sticks to it. She's emotional, but not too much so. She's funny, but not annoying. And she's got great values, great friends and some interesting family members.

Early on we learn about Sandy and her readers. Which are her adorable eyeglasses. She thinks she sent her favorite pair to her daughter by mistake. Then she thinks the ponytail dude at the post office stole them. So she goes on a mission to get them back. The hilarity involved in this part of the story goes beyond what I can share here, so as not to give too much away!

She also has a flair for style, and the decor she's got going at the newly acquired run-down hotel owned by her best friend's untrustworthy boyfriend sounds incredible. And if that sentence hasn't drawn you in, I don't know what will!

If anything I really wanted the book to go on so I could see the completed project. It's seriously the kind of place you want to escape to with your girlfriends and feel like you've jet-setted somewhere important. Or that you are someONE important. And that sounds like a place to be to me.

And Sandy and her best friend Denise have the kind of relationship I want to have with a friend when my daughter is grown and I need someone to rely on, connect with and stand beside. I think we all need that kind of forever friend, but I imagine that at the "empty nest" stage of life a woman looks for them and needs them even more.

I also took in how her relationship with her daughter was a light-hearted and yet powerful one. And I felt like I could get that. I could see myself and my own mother, hope for that for me and my daughter, and see them all as real people. Again, something important in the books I choose to read.

Most importantly, I have grown to really like Claire Cook. Just by communicating with her on Twitter alone has shown me that she really appreciates her readers, and she really considers what they have to say, what they offer up and what she means to them - and they mean to her. And for that, I'm really thrilled to say that not only is she a great writer with truly enjoyable books, but she's a nice person. And that - to me - is the coolest thing of all.

So go pick up a copy of Best Staged Plans for your next trip to the beach. Or the next time you're hiding out in your favorite coffeehouse or bookstore. You'll be glad you did!

Oh, and don't forget your readers ...

For more information on Readers for Readers, please check out Claire's website here.

**I was not compensated for this review in any way, but I was provided with a copy of this book to facilitate my review. **

An easy tell ...

Prompt for this week: Write about what your character wants most. I tried to be obvious and not obvious at the same time. Constructive criticism is welcome.

I watched as she sat there, twirling her hair in her hand. Twisting and turning the strands and thinking.

She looked down at the letters in front of her. I watched her bite her lip, an instant tell. Did she even know she did that? Was I the only one who knew? She gnawed on it slowly. Intently. I watched as she leaned forward, placing tile after tile on the unsteady board.

"Prithy?" She nodded. "That is so not a word."

"It is, too."

"In what language?" She shrugged. I knew I had her. "It's so not a word, Em."

"Oh, shut up. It's better than your last attempt."

"Hey, Glamazon is too a word. I see it all the time!"

"On what? America's Next Top Model?" she giggled, a small snort escaping.

"Did you just snort?" No way, she really did. G-d, how I missed that sound. "You did, HA! You snorted. Hilarious. I've missed hearing that." We made eye contact and she seemed to force herself to look away. Did I really just say that? Yikes. Dumb. Really dumb. "Sorry." She blushed. I might miss that even more.

Okay, getting myself together. Focus back on the game.

She took a small sip of the wine next to her. Placed the glass back down slowly. I watched her put her hand to her throat, feeling the burn. I knew red wasn't her choice, but it was all we had.

"You alright?" She nodded. "You sure?" Another nod. Maybe a half-nod. She jumped up, startled, nearly knocking the board over.

"I'll be --" she took off to the bathroom.

**He stands, waiting. Trying not to listen, but listening at the same time. Should he go to her? Should he stay where he stands? What a fool. What a fool he's been. He wants to run to her. Check on her. Hold her hair if she needs him to. But it's not his place now. And he's lost. But there's nobody else here. What should he do?**

I walk slowly, stopping to stand outside the bathroom door. "Em?" Is she crying?

Weeping. It sounds like weeping.

"Em, what happened? Can I come in?" More crying. "I'm coming in." I push the door gently, remembering that she might be right behind it. She is. I manage to squeeze through and sit down next to her. "What's wrong? What happened?" I hear my own voice whisper, softly.

She looks up at me, tears in her eyes. She's crying, and she's beautiful. She's so beautiful, even when she cries. She puts her hand to her mouth again. I shift out of the way. I hold her hair back. Her soft and beautiful hair. I sense nothing else but the need for me to be here, right now, with her.

My mind is racing ... Whatever it is I'll help her through it. If she's sick, I'll be here. I'll find a way. Whoever he is, he's gone. I want him gone. What's happening here? What has he done to her? What is wrong? Is she sick?

I can't sit still, but there is nowhere for me to go. She leans back, her head resting on my lap. Her eyes closed. I wipe a tear from her face. Gently. Slowly.

God, she is so beautiful.

She opens her eyes. A small smile. Takes my hand.

I am with Emmalyn now, and that is the only place I want to be.





This story jumps around a bit, but you can find some more entries by checking out: this link.

The Ninth Wife ~ Book Review

At almost 500 pages, The Ninth Wife is quite a daunting task when you first look at it. It's a pretty cover, and a somewhat hefty book, but it's not terrifyingly scary, just big for the kind of story you think it's going to be.

But Amy Stolls tricked me. She used each and every one of those almost 500 pages for her bidding of these incredible characters. Rory and Bess (isn't that from some old movie or novel? Why is this only just hitting me now as I type this? Oh, wait, that's Porgy ... whoops!).

Bess is our primary character, and we're thrilled to meet her, to learn about her and to walk through her history and her life with her. But then, wait, what's this? We meet Rory, too? HE talks to us, as well? On his own? Not just through her? This is going to be a more entertaining read than I expected, honestly. Something about the changing viewpoints and perspectives is what keeps me turning that page.

And Rory is cute. Not like that kid I knew with the same name in high school cute, but like that guy you watch performing at the bar you used to frequent and wished he'd notice you kind of cute. And here he does. Seriously does.

But wow. Rory has been married eight times before. Seriously. Eight times. Count 'em. 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 times. That's a mouthful to hear. And a lot to process. Especially when you're sort of seemingly being asked to be #9 at the same time as you're learning about #s 1 through 8.

I like Bess. I like her a lot. And I like Rory, too. And I actually begin to accept and feel bad for what he's been through. And I love the transition from him speaking to us to when he begins to tell Bess his story, as well. It's excellent writing. It's a talent I dream of having. Smooth transitions, great storytelling, believable characters. Truly the real deal.

Bess and her job, a historian, go off on a search for his-story. And her own. Her family history. And what we learn, the questions we have as she learns, and her quirky friend Cricket and why he must join her on the journey as she helps her grandparents move from one stage of their lives to the next - literally - it's all fantastic and inter-weaving and just worth the read.

So while you may look at the cover of The Ninth Wife (as shown above) and thinking, this is way more than I can handle in this heat, you're going to surprise yourself, pick it up and turn page after page, devouring Bess, her friends, her family, and Rory, his friends, his family, his history and each and every one of his previous eight wives.

** I was not compensated in any way for this review, but I was provided with a copy of the book to facilitate my review of it. All opinions expressed are truly my own. **

Pouring my Heart Out

I'm about to head up to bed but I feel like pouring my heart out this week.

I am not even 100% sure where this post will be heading, but I have some stuff on my mind and figured, hey, what the heck, right?

So, here I go ...

Sometimes I wonder what it is that I have done to make certain people dislike me so vehemently. Amazing, isn't it? I mean, I spent many years of my life as friend to all. Or to most. I've made friends online, long before it was the popular thing to do. I've met people through school and work and whatever other outlets I have had before me and I've never made enemies. I've volunteered and worked with men and women, both, and never had anyone question my motives to the extent that I'd be looked at as someone only out for me.

And yet, sometimes, nowadays, that is exactly the way I am approached, categorized or seen. And it amazes me. It amazes the hell out of me, if I am being truly honest with you all. Which, as those who know me can see and vouch for, I tend to absolutely do.

Especially when I Pour MY Heart Out here, in my own sacred space.

I am reminded of why although my "best" friends in high school and before then were female, my closest friends (save a handful) after that - in high school, moving along into college and then the workforce, were male. Many of my closest friends to this day are male.

My husband and I were discussing this last night, as I said that I couldn't imagine and am so grateful we are together and neither one of us has any issue with the other being friends with people of the opposite sex. But that's a whole 'nother post.

This one is about why I tend to be friends with men over women, or at least why I used to be that way. Women play more games than men do. Women show their insecurities in ways that are unfair to other women. Women get petty and backstabbing, and women read way too much into things that aren't even there.

So while I am a woman, and proud to be one, I also freely admit that I can be guilty of some of these things, myself. But what I don't understand is when a threat comes into play. Am I someone who has something YOU wanted? Someone who is the way you wish you were? I am not jealous or envious of you - unless you have George Clooney, Mark Wahlberg or Paul Walker waiting on you hand and foot (then maybe I'm seeing green!) - I am me, you are you. You're crazy, I'm crazy. We're both a little neurotic and controlling, maybe a bit OCD. If we're being open and honest here. I'm overweight, you're too thin. I have a daughter, you have a son. I have one child. Two children? Three? More? What's it matter? We are who we are - and we are who we should be.

Please remember that the next time you turn to me and lash out. Or the next time you take a minute and make me feel shitty. Remind yourself that I am human, too, and I am who I am and who I want to be. And so are you. And I don't slight you or want to hurt you for that. I want to support you, but if you don't turn around and offer anything to me in return, I won't be able to. And instead, I'll turn away. I'll walk away. And it'll be your loss. That's one thing I can promise, without fail. It'll be you who loses at that point, because having me on your side, having me at your back, it's something that kicks ass. And you should consider that before you chalk me up to one who doesn't deserve consideration. Trust me. Because I'm nice and I'm sweet and I'm not one of those bitchy people. But if you cross me, well, let's just say that I'm not so nice anymore.

And I hope you don't ever have to see that girl. Because short and sweet are fun sounding words, but I'll put them away if I have to. Just try me.



Disclaimer: This post is not really a direct letter to anyone, it's more of a way for me to address the way certain people make me feel sometimes and my struggle with understanding why. When I'm a friend, I'll be one for life. I'll support you and listen whenever you need me to. And if it's not going to work for us, we'll move on. But we'll survive. But sometimes, whatever it is, it's just not meant to be. So for someone to turn around and hash through how I express what I am feeling, well that part sucks. And for someone to have their own issues impact how they treat me, that's hell in and of itself. And it's unfair. It's something we all deal with now and then, but it's not cool and it should be something we all stop to recognize when it's the mask we're wearing for the day.