Riding The Waves... Sorting The Boxes

Those rascally transitions. You are up one minute, riding the wave, and down the next, rolling with the punches.

I've taken a short sabbatical from my blog to sort the boxes- it's what I call "processing the information."

God has both given me a tremendous gift and is testing my faith all at the same time.

On one hand, I have landed a hand full of projects that will in essence (all together,) pay me more than I was bringing home full time. However, on the other hand, none of these are permanent. With that - I have to make some tough choices and TRUST that this will all work out in the end. 

**insert panic here... panic from the planner.**

Yes, I am a chronic planner. It is not in my character to say, "We'll see what happens." Okay, well.. maybe I say it from time to time, but I rarely mean it. I'm like that duck analogy - You'll see me gliding along the ponds, water just rolling off my back, but what is really going on is I am kicking up a storm underneath putting things in motion. 

But for once, I'm just gliding... trying something new - Trusting that I will make the right decision when the time comes. I don't have to solve anything right now. But at the same time....

Oh it's all just very scary. No real safety net except for my faith. No where to run if it all falls apart. It's just me, my prayers to God, and my ability to get stuff done.

I'm really excited about some of the pending projects I have going on. I'm back in the whole journalism field. (Who would have seen THAT one coming?) That's right, I was hired by a local arts alliance to become the lead embedded arts journalist in our community. That's pretty exciting - combining two things I love (Writing & the Arts.) I have also been asked to write for 3 more companies, as well as handle all of the media relations from my former job, AND be the publicist for a contemporary Christian author. 

Wow. Wow. Wow. 

Basically...  it's official-  I'm back to being a paid writer. 

(Don't judge my professional life on what you see written here.) My blog is nothing more than a fun little brain dumping ground. A poor man's therapy, if you will. 

I write - then I hit send. Rarely do I ever proof read this crap. I'm just purging. 

You know, I've often said that I never should have left TV, but I had to - if for nothing else, for more money. I was good at it, and I can only imagine, if I had stayed with it, I would have been great. But I left, and started a completely different venture. I ran that course for a very long time, and some how, I have found myself right back where I started from. Single & Telling Stories... just like I did when I graduated from college.

Life really is a crazy adventure, isn't it?

 

Should this be the end?

I am not sure what is going on, but on several occasions over the past couple of weeks I have been toying with the idea of ending the blog.

I know.. I know...

You might be asking, WHY?

Well....

I have several reasons.

Maybe they aren't good. Maybe they are silly.. but I am just not feeling like.. writing here.

Weird?

I am coming up on 3 years, almost daily sharing on Destination Unknown. I have poured my heart and soul out on this page.

In the beginning, it was sort of an unknown little place to share my life with my exchange students and family around the world. Imagine how incredibly difficult it is to send letters, flooding someones email inbox, or even calling around 14 students, and about 10 friends and family in Egypt. (Let's not forget my family living in Georgia.) It worked as a place to sort of.. share.

I don't know what changed, but by March of 2010, suddenly my 8 followers blew up into 56 followers (and hung in there for months.) Interesting bloggers from around the world started sharing their lives with me. I felt honored and intrigued by their comments, and was blown away by their blogs. It sort of opened up a whole new world for me. I think back then, my total blog views for an entire month was around 100.

By 2011, I had hundreds of followers, maybe 2,000 a month in views, and a dedicated group of actual friends on FB following and commenting. It was fun to share my life and my challenges with people from my past and getting feedback from them. It served a purpose during a difficult transition for me,  an even better distraction from a difficult job and even more challenging cultural exchange at home.

Here we are in 2012 and right before I started my new job I was reaching almost 56,000 views a week (now the views are much lower... around 23,000 or so a week,) and hundreds more are following. I'm not bragging.. I promise... but I am actually getting to a point -

I am having a hard time not sharing my personal life. Does that make sense? With my new job, I am thrust back into the public eye and in a much smaller pond and it sometimes feels like my every move is being judged. Heck, I even got hate mail after doing a tv interview. I don't know how you would handle it, but for me.. it really sucked. There is no other way to put it.

My personal life is basically shit these days. By having to keep it a little more personal, it is actually driving me more insane. I thought about starting another blog, an anonymous blog, and using that space to tell my more personal story.. but I am not a big believer in hiding. I like to live out loud.. and unfortunately, it's not as much an option as it used to be.

Also, I don't get a lot of feedback anymore. No.. I'm not doing it for feedback, but it does make  the experience sooo much better. I see the numbers - but the sharing of thoughts is sort of gone... and as a writer, though we hate to admit it, we need that feedback. Our writing is like a conversation, one we throw out there and hope that someone will eventually read our thoughts and say to us, "Yes.. I understand." It makes it all worth while.

*exhale*

When I stop to think about.. who wants to read this crap? Who actually reads it? WHY do you read it?

I feel so self-indulgent sometimes.. sharing everything with anyone... and... oh... I don't know...

What am I doing right? What am I doing wrong? WHY do I bother?

Do you get anything out of this?

Is it even worth it to continue?

These are the questions I am pondering....

So many things!

There are sooo many good things happening right now, I simply don't know where to begin.

How about HERE. With the picture above.

My dear friend, Leanne, from "From Chaos Comes Happiness"  is a wonderful artist. She is witty, she is whimsical, she is tremendously creative and I am now the PROUD owner of some of her work. How COOL is that? I ordered the smaller print you see about "living life" and the magnet up on the right. But guess what I found when I opened my packaged- ALL OF THIS. My absolute favorite piece is the larger one above titled, "You are enough." I don't know if you remember me posting a quote a long time ago.. and it said something like, "I am enough." I love how Leanne captured that moment and sort of validated my affirmation with, "YOU ARE ENOUGH." I don't know what special "joo joo" she put into that picture when she was painting it, but it has empowered me... and good things will follow.

You KNOW I am all about supporting local artists. Why not support my friend Leanne? Like me, she was let go from her employer almost a year ago. Just a few months ago, she had an opportunity to go back into the corporate world, but she did something so many of us only wish we had the gall to do - She became what she always was - An Artist.

Please visit her Etsy site - Leanne's Etsy Shop link. Her prices are FANTASTIC. She makes jewelry, magnets, book marks, note cards, and basic artistic pieces. All are super positive and PS - Guess who created my little cartoon Nicole/Header? LEANNE!

Goood stuff, people. Just really good stuff!

ps - Though Leanne and I have never met in person, she and I formed such a wonderful friendship through blogging. Since then, we email and call one another to "check in." I hope some day soon Leanne and I will meet up - either in Chicago (her hometown,) or my southern belle of a city - Macon, Georgia. If you are a "silent follower" or have ever toyed with blogging, trust me - it's an excellent place to make friends from all over the world. I recommend you do it! You never know, one day I might be able to say, "You know that famous blogger/artist Leanne? Yep, she's my friend." ;-)

Bad Blogger

EEk.

I have been neglecting my baby. My pride and joy, my little piece of something I can leave behind in this God-forsaken world.


Got to do better.

I wanted to just let you know that I am well, however, I am just crazy busy this week. Since I just started a new job at the "passion" choice, I am jumping in head first and going for the gold!

I promise to be back up and running very soon. My posts may soon come at the end of the day, versus the beginning of the day - so if you enjoy reading Destination Unknown, you might need to adjust your times you stop by.

I promise to be by YOUR blogs very soon.

I hope you are having a GREAT week.

So You Think You Can Blog

The ad read, "With so many blogs out there, how can you make yours stand above the rest?"

How could I say no?

Since my blog is essentially my baby - I decided this would be one of those workshops I would attend.

Remember the writing group I joined recently? It's called "See Jane Write," and I am a member of a subgroup of bloggers called - "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pens." Tonight was our night - It was the night of bloggers!

You guys know I have been trying to take my blog more seriously, I even tried to create a strategic editorial calendar. Either way - if I write the scheduled stuff, or I write randomly - it's all stuff I WANT to write about. But I want you to know, I am listening... so I adjusted my blog a bit.

August will be 2 years with Destination:Unknown. I have well over 1,000 posts... I have stumbled, I have fallen, I have bared my soul... all in all.. it's my online journal. I love it. I write for me, and I cannot deny, I write for you.

Sooo... I go back to the original question - how to stand out?

Sorry the pic is blurry..

We had a few highly qualified bloggers share their stories. According to the paper I have the bios read:

Rachel Callahan from Grasping For Objectivity - started building an audience for her writing with her blog, as well as starting the blogging community called: Alabama Bloggers. She was recently selected as a BlogHer "Voice of the Year" honoree.

Jennifer West launched her blog, The Jen West Quest, on March 30, 2010 and has posted something every day. Because of the nature of her blog, she has worked with Health Magazine and has even appeared on the Rachel Ray show and was just on Good Morning America.

Laura Kate Whitney made a name for herself in Birmingham just a few months after arriving in the city thanks to her blog, Magic City Manifesto.  Her blog has led to opportunities locally with B Metro magazine and got the attention of skirt! magazine.

There was a very good turnout... I snuck a quick shot as it was wrapping up.

I promised to share with you guys what I learned... and I am happy to report - especially to my fellow bloggers that read and visit in the same circle I do - You are doing it all right!!

That's right, for the most part, I felt validated on what I stumbled upon!

If you are a new blogger, and sincerely want to know, here is the advice I heard (and few extras I would add... )

- There was the big debate on Word Press.com versus Wordpress.org and Blogger. I am a blogger girl and happy with it. The ladies on the panel chose Wordpress.org

- If you want to make money- the Google clicks were not popular. These ladies recommend selling ads ($18 - $25 per 1,000 clicks..) and/or getting a sponsor for your blog.

- Themes work for some... randomness works for others. Consistency is key

- Joining network groups is key

- Blog Hops, Link ups, etc are a good way to build your readership

- Comment and respond to comments

Honestly guys... do what you are doing now, but network the hell out of it!

At the end of the day - make a plan, network, join, write - write - write.
 ;-)

The biggest thing I took away was 1. I feel like I am on the right path and 2. I met some really nice people....



Until next time...

Changes are afoot

While away on vacation, I made a couple decisions about my blog. I thought about why I originally started writing, how it has grown and matured a little, and where I want to take it. Yes, I am ready to start taking baby steps to the next level.

What does that mean and what does that look like, I am still trying to decide. This is my baby and it is my ultimate passion. With over 12,000 to 13,000 views a week, I would like to see that grow. I want to reach people, but still stay authentic. If people want to follow, so be it. If not, that's okay. If you google search a certain topic, I would love to be one of the options. I still want to share all of my personal stories: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But I think it is time I get a little more serious about it. Not in a weirdo way of trying to market myself and be super obvious about it. But just clean it up a bit, do what I do best, and share all of the bazillion ideas that are in my head.

For one, I think I figured out a way to keep it personal, without totally ticking people off. I also like sharing some of the research I do from time to time. I like making my lists. I like sharing my favorites.
Why not turn all of that into something a little more... how do I say it?.... organized!

I know me, and I know I am NOT a planner. I like things to be fluid, and just get inspired. I promise you, that will always remain my main source of material to write about. But I do have a million ideas, and I thought I would start jotting them down, and somehow write the way I know how.

For one, I have a small notebook I am keeping in my purse. Anytime something sparks my interest, I jot it down. That "inspiration" will one day become a blog post.

I also plan to keep my camera in my bag also. I am always finding waay cool items to share with people. I want you to see what I see, experience what I experience.

I have made a schedule of sorts (I say that loosely) of how I can get all of this organized. I think the routine will be good for me. I am actually trying to put more structure in my life. It is all part of the Happiness Project.

Okay.. soo.. here is what I have (tentatively) decided to try:

- Sunday - I still like the idea I started about 1/2 a year ago (and sort of fell off) about my spiritual Sundays. I have sort of lost my passion for the Zen and the Spiritual, so I think by making Sundays my day to write about my passion - My Spirit. I will call it - Nicole's Zen Moments. Maybe I write about a Saint, or prayer, or God, or meditation, or new agey stuff. Who knows. What ever sparks my interest will make it to the blog.  I think by starting my day off with this type of information will remind me to keep Sunday holy. So.. be it!

- Monday - Since Mondays are usually hectic, I thought I would use Mondays as a great day to highlight my favorites! I am calling it, Nicole's Choice. What I will do is feature a recipe for the week, perhaps a favorite quote, a must-see movie, a "song" I am totally loving, a book you simply must purchase, perhaps a local restaurant I visited that week, and my favorite one of all - FEATURING ONE BLOGGER I THINK YOU SHOULD FOLLOW! I follow quite a few, but there are a few I love, love, LOVE. Each week I will highlight one I want you to go check out. This is combining a million different items I love to write about into one post a week!

- Tuesday - You guys know I have 500 passionate causes I like to get behind. If you follow me on my personal FB page, I am constantly posting a video or story, or whatever. I have decided Monday will be- Nicole's Passion. I have a long list of items/causes/etc. that I want to make you aware of. That's the business I am in, and that is what I like the most. I am finally tackling some topics I keep putting off. I am going to put this out there, because I have been approached by a few nonprofits to blog about their cause.. and I will - only if I truly feel a passion for it. If you are a nonprofit or a an activist of sorts, send me an email and I will check out your site.

- Wednesday - I am all about doing something. Not just talking about it. I know it sometimes takes me a while to take the steps, but I thought I would dedicate Tuesdays to Nicole's Action. It could be as simple as how to take action on or a part two on my passion, or perhaps it is 5 tips for doing XYZ.  Maybe it could be a challenge of some kind (like our Happiness Project we are working on.) Whatever it is.. it's something we can all do. Literally - DO.

- Thursday -  This is another favorite idea of mine, one I have tinkered with off and on. It will be called, Destination: _________. That blank could be ANYTHING. Could be a place I love to visit, some place I hope to visit, maybe something I hope to accomplish. It's a way to showcase the people/places/things that I believe in.

- Friday - This is the day I slowly begin to decompress on. I figure.. why not list out everything I have learned that week. So Fridays will feature: Things I have learned this week. I hope to come up with a better title, but this is the basic idea. I do one from time to time, but I think it is an excellent way to share my findings, and sort of unofficially vent. ;-)

- Saturday - I am bringing back the State of the Union. That's right. Every Saturday I will catch you up on my personal life. This one might be a little lengthy, but it will keep you up on my friends, work, and of course.. the never ending saga with the egyptian. :-)

There you have it. A way to organize all of the things I am already doing - but making sure I get it done. That does not mean I will not post a random from time to time.

What are your thoughts? Do you think this will help me? Do you like the topics?

Just curious!

But Do I Have Anything To Say?

"The role of a writer is not to say what we all can say, but what we are unable to say." ~Anaïs Nin


I took an interesting step tonight. I accepted an invitation to attend a writer's workshop. The title of the class was, "How To Become Your Own Book." It was led by Jim Reed, a local author as well as proprietor of books and publisher for Blue Rooster Press.

I had no intentions or expectations - just thought I would open myself up to the world of publishing, learn a few new tricks of the trade, and possibly meet some really interesting people.

First of all, Mr. Reed was quite a character! Intelligent, quirky, and interesting. Definitely a story teller - and shameless promoter!  He discussed everything from Carl Sagan to the Pioneer Satellite, Egyptology to the Lascaux caves in France. I was in heaven. It is rare for me to listen to anyone that is about as random as I am. At least, not since I have moved to Alabama. He is truly a writer and definitely thinks like one.

What I thought I would do tonight is share a few tips and tricks I learned at the workshop. Granted, you may already know this, but it never hurts to see what other professionals are saying about the publishing industry.

First thing - Mr. Reed suggests we should all read, "Zen & The Art of Writing," by Ray Bradbury. Of course, I am a HUGE fan of Ray Bradbury, so I can only imagine this book is probably very helpful for the writer.

Next, he tackled discipline. I know, as a Blogger, discipline is key. In Marketing - consistency and relevance is key. Put those items together and you just might finish a manuscript. He stressed, "No one is going to rescue you." Learn to be your own boss, and become brutally realistic with yourself.

After you have gotten in touch with the desire and the discipline, it's time to plan strategically. Ask yourself: Who is my audience? What form do I want to write in? If you can  answer those two questions, you are 1/2 of the way there.

After you have written your piece, you MUST find an editor. Someone who can truly guide you on the process. He went on to mention the famous author (from Alabama), Harper Lee (author of To Kill a Mockingbird.) He said after she pulled her story together, she worked with an editor for 2 whole years to get the story ready. Finally, she was published.

Next, are you writing for the joy or to win a Pulitzer Prize? Joy is a way to guarantee happiness. Getting actually published is like winning the lottery. He suggests self publishing or "vanity publishing." Many writers sort of turn their noses up at this technique, but he reminded us:
Charles Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, John Grisham and Mark Twain all self published. There is no shame in their game. They knew they had something that the public wanted.

Mr. Reed explained he is part of a writer's group that reads 12 novels a year and recommends one. He says it is amazing how many excellent pieces never make it to print. So don't be afraid to try by yourself. Again, an Editor is necessary to really polish your book.

If you want to make it to the big time he says you have to be: Super polished, have a book right for the market, and know what the publishers want. When he talked about polished, he said - most writers can't do that. That's where the editor comes in. That alone made me feel 500% better, as a writer, you guys know I have typos and errors.. etc. Good to hear that most are not the best at the editing part.

The next step is marketing your book. Luckily, that comes easy for me. That's what I do for a living. Sooo... knowing how to self-promote is the next step. Then there is the advice about making a name for yourself. He suggested you "go against the grain," get involved - join groups of writers and really listen to what they are saying.

Other words of wisdom:
- Learn what NOT to do
- Listen and ask questions
- Be humble
- Be willing to compromise

Now I don't know if this is something I will ever do, but it did cross my mind. I know many of you in the blogging community are interested in publishing. Since I have some time, I thought I would gather as much info as possible and share it with you guys.

If you are looking for self-publishing houses - I found a great list:
Go to: http://www.writersdigest.com/article/directory-of-self-publishing-companies/

If you have any questions, feel free to ask!

Bad Blog Friend

Lately, I have been a bad blog friend to the blogging community. I know many of you read my blog on my FB fan page are not bloggers, so I do not have to apologize to you guys. But there is another community - about 221 of them - that follow me - that do blog.

Yep. I have not had any time to read and comment on their posts. I feel really bad about that. I do make a point to scroll to about 3 of them that I never miss. However, I have not been leaving comments.. and that's a bad blog friend.

The blogging community is a fascinating network of some really amazing people. I have "met" some of the nicest, most insightful writers. I have even received a birthday gift from one, and hope to meet up soon in person. One that hails all of the way from New Hampshire (and now lives in NYC) was driving cross country and made a point to meet me for lunch in Birmingham. Again - all amazing people.

For those of you that do not blog - I highly recommend it. Even if it is just a place to show pictures, or collect quotes, or share poems.. whatever - give it a whirl. I also think networking is really important. As much as we say we write for ourselves (I believe that is 80% true,) I know for a fact that I would not enjoy it as much if I did not have friends to comment on posts that touched them in some way.

You just never know - perhaps something you are going through could affect someone else. Perhaps your triumphs and falls give someone else inspiration to dust themselves off and try again.

Not to mention what I have learned about other people. I followed a teenager that sailed across the world, and documented the entire process. I remember when she was lost at sea - and I how scared I felt for her. I followed a woman battled cancer - I read every post about all of her treatments, until a few weeks past and I heard nothing. Finally, her husband left a final post describing her final moments. I follow a few people going through depression, living with bi polar, one who left her husband in the middle of the night due to abuse... (Unfortunately she has not updated since that last post about her leaving that night.) I follow some really cool SAHMs that are all brilliant, and funny and still keep busy raising an amazing family. I laugh when they laugh. I get a little tear in my eye when they are sad. It's like reality tv - but in the written word.

With that being said, my real life has gotten in the way of my blogging time. Many times I pound out a post in the early am before work - I am in bed so early these days. This is my formal apology to my sweet followers who comment.

Have a great week!

Topicals

Some of my super cool followers on FB have given me some excellent topics to cover. I actually attempted one this morning - I posted, then I deleted. I don't think I actually thought it through.

BUT - I have accepted the challenge, and I want to do it right.
Clearly, I am still a little consumed at work, so my writing is suffering right now. I want to grab it by the horns and change things starting Friday. I am traveling again (back down to the coast) - but will be back in the land of the living on Friday.

Here are the topics I have been given:

1. What if?
2. Retrospect
3. Kindness
4. Treasures
5. What I am most passionate about.
6. If I had a million dollars, how would I spend it?
7. Films that have left an incredible mark on my life
8. If I woke up as someone else, who would it be?
9. Songs that best describe each decade of my life.


Do you have an idea? If so - leave the topic in the comment line!

Spam Comments and Other Blog Annoyances

As my little corner of the blog-o-sphere grows, and the more I learn about how this whole "writing" social network works, I find.. as always in my life.. there are a few little annoyances.

1. Spam comments. Seriously? Do you think any of us are going to fall for the ad from escorts or travel agencies, etc? The only reason I took off the captcha stuff was to make it easy and quicker for my peeps to comment, now every wacko wants to leave crap. Thank God the Spam filter picks up most... but there are a few that slide in.

2. Following then unfollowing. What is up with that? Have you noticed how your numbers will sometimes change in a day - then change back. I would prefer if the person who decided to follow me would just stick with it - or don't. It's that simple. Makes you wonder - why did they leave? Then I get a complex about it. ;-)

3. Blog Hop Politics. Sooo... I might visit your blog, but that does mean I will follow you. Yes, I will leave a comment if I visit. Now, I welcome you to visit me, leave a comment and let me know you care.. and you do not have to follow me. BUT - don't visit me, leave a comment for me to follow you back, follow me... then wait it out. You check to see if I am following you or not, and when I don't - you quit following me. WHAT? LOL I feel like I am in middle school again typing that.

4. Soooo many memes. Sometimes I look forward to the good old days of coming up with your own stuff. Or memes that last forever. It's kind of fun at first, then it gets old.

5. Lack of substance. Lord knows I am guilty of this one. It is hard to come up with something really riveting everyday. I guess I need to learn to just take a break as needed.

6. People (this one goes out to my sister) who start a blog, it is a really good blog, then decide they don't like it. Then delete it. Then start another.... then another... then another..???? FOLLOW THROUGH. Hang in there.

7. Putting a theme on your blog is a tough one. You better be ready to hold on tight. A few of you do it well. If I follow you and you have I theme - I think you do it well!! :-)

8. Not networking. Come on people - it's fun! I have truly enjoyed my community of writers. (PS - if you do not blog, and you just enjoying reading... that's great too! But there are several networking groups and it is a lot of fun!)

9. Featured blogs that make you scratch your head and go, "Huh?" That's when a blog network showcases a blog that they feel deserves attention. Some of these are high on the fluff side.

10. Blogs you have grown to love, then the writer falls off the face of the earth without even so much as a "Hey I am taking a break" post.

That's it. My little vent du jour. Which one of these do you agree with and what would you add to the list?

What it means to be a blogger

“Writing is a form of personal freedom. It frees us from the mass identity we see in the making all around us. In the end, writers will write not to be outlaw heroes of some underculture but mainly to save themselves, to survive as individuals.” ~ Don Delillo

I feel like I just went to a really GREAT party!

Networking in the blog-o-sphere is very tricky. Finding good, solid followers that actually engage with you is also very difficult. Finding a blog to follow is even harder.

I was lucky enough to make some good "blog friends" early on, and after a little tour of their piece of internet real estate, I discovered networks to join.

These networks like: Lady Blogger's Society, SITS, Mama's Nestwork, BlogHer and SheWrites are excellent ways to break into the whole "network" of fellow writers. It is truly a very strong community. It is a completely different subculture.

These little network groups provide opportunities from time to time to openly meet other writers and even publicly discuss the content of the blog. It is a good day when people choose to review your posts, and in turn, you get a few new readers. However, more often than not, I think many people with really good blogs get looked over.

You guys know I have been vehemently against Blog Hops since my FIRST one. I followed a "Friday Flip Off" blog hop, and was a little confused on how they work. So I linked up, then was getting ready to write a post and was immediately called out by one of the participants for not doing it right. That rubbed me the wrong way.

Later I joined another one, I liked the theme - it was about "Living Green." I linked up, then headed back to my blog to figure out what to write about. No sooner do I figure it out, I noticed I had a new comment. The organizer of that Blog Hop basically said she would pull my entry because I did not have a "Green" post. Seriously people? This is a networking opportunity.

Long story short - my favorite networking opportunity was the Lady Blogger Tea Party. For whatever reason, there is only one or so a month now, and that happens to be one of the ones that is a WONDERFUL strong resource for excellent networking, however - you really have to work at it to meet new people and find excellent blogs to follow. You see, I don't do it so much for the "followers" as I like to find amazing things to read!!

Yesterday, I bit the bullet and joined up with another Blog Hop. I was really wanting to find some new blogs to follow. I love to start my morning off with a cup of coffee and reading what others write.

I was leery, but I did it. To my regulars - folks, I feel like I attended a progressive dinner party, and several of the guests stopped by Destination: Unknown for a quick cup of coffee. Excellent! The "guests" did not just post - "I am following you, follow me back." It was more like actual answers, and when I checked out their blogs - there was good stuff.

In my little "circle of regulars" we are a fairly tight knit group and our circle has enclosed with each other supporting the other. My friends, I am proud to say - I made 8 new connections yesterday and I welcome each of you with open arms!

No, I have never claimed to be the best writer. Sorry, I am not a mommy blog. No, I don't have all the answers for weight loss, budget tips, nor do I claim to be an expert in blogging (so don't expect any professional tips or meme ideas.) But I do like to express myself, share my life and just have a good time with this.

With that - I welcome all of you, and feel like I just left a really GREAT party! Cheesy, right? ;-)

Breast Cancer is NO joke

"My cancer scare changed my life.  I'm grateful for every new, healthy day I have. It has helped me prioritize my life."  ~Olivia Newton-John

Who can't relate to what Olivia said? It can and WILL change your life - forever. Sadly, for some, that opportunity to experience a full life will never come.

I am the type of person to champion many causes, however, I usually steer clear from the cancer arena. It frightens me. 

At 22, I remember standing in the Bibb County Health Department crying my eyes out to the doctors on duty because I felt a lump in my breast. I did not have insurance at the time (this is back before Obama was in office - obviously - and children of a certain age were unable to remain on their parent's insurance. (Thank you Obama for fixing that!)  I was a college student - so no insurance for me.) Later, I found out it was just fibrocystic.

Then at 27, I had some issues with my cervix and later would have a hysterectomy due to cancerous cells. Then, this past year - I ended up waiting patiently for results after a routine mammogram showed some "abnormalities." Turned out - fibrocystic, again.

I met Teta (the egyptian's grandmother) just a couple of weeks before she lost her battle with breast cancer. She did not speak English, nor I Arabic - but her smile captivated me, and her soft little wrinkled hands made me feel welcomed in her home. She died just two weeks after I left Egypt.......

I found out last year (or so) a friend of mine from Boston ended up with Breast Cancer. She is my age. Seeing pics (post chemo) was tough. My dear, strong, spunky friend was on the battle of her life......

One of my best friends from childhood, Bridgett, lost her mother after a very long battle with breast cancer. Bridgett's mom was like a second mom to me. I hate to know that she will not get the opportunity to see her grandchildren grow into the beautiful women they are going to be......

If things had turned out bad from my little mammogram visit - what would life be like for me now? Would I be laying in bed, sick from chemo and radiation? Would I only have one breast? Would my mom be here with me - taking retirement a little earlier due to a sick daughter? Those thoughts scare me......

That very fear is why I decided to devote my blog page to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Yes, yes - I work for the "other" guys - the Heart people - and yes, we compete for the same donor dollars and media air time (so .. yes.. cancer is my biggest competitor) - but it is STILL something that needs to be addressed. All of us - every woman (and men are at risk also, don't forget) - have a fear of it striking someone we love - or even ... us.

I pray to GOD it is not something I will ever have to deal with. Oh how I pray to God. That's the scary thing about cancer... those genes can turn on you. Add to it a less than healthy lifestyle and BAM - death can come a' knockin' - or not. Either way, you are in for the fight of your life.

There is one more person I need to mention. My 2nd cousin - Brenda. She has spent the past year battling breast cancer. She is my mom's age, and it looks like she is on the mend. But I often think of her daughter, my cousin Holly, who is my age. What if that was MY mom? I live so much further away. What would happen? How does that work?......

My only hope is that one day - there will be a cure. Or something...

I decided... that for each new follower I get from 10/10/10 until 10/17/10 - I will donate $1 to the American Cancer Society for breast cancer research. I know for a fact, this is a credible organization and would appreciate anything any of us would be willing to give.

If you have a friend with a story about Breast Cancer, or if you would like to write about a friend or family member who lost their battle - I will gladly accept a submission as a guest blogger and post it this week.

If you are a survivor and would like to leave a comment, please do.

I figure.. it's the little things, right?

For all of the people who might be reading this that are facing their greatest battle, I give you this quote:

"When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold. They believe that when some thing's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful." ~Barbara Bloom

Defining a Writer

There's nothing to writing.  All you do is sit down at a typewriter and open a vein.  ~Walter Wellesley "Red" Smith

I have owned a journal since the 3rd grade. I still have that journal, and from time to time (and when I need a really good laugh,) I open it up for a little read. Owning a journal is not so much a big deal to most, but for me it defined who I am, who I used to be, and who I hoped to become.

You see, I have always reveled in the written word - whether it was a classic author who tempted my imagination or my own simple scribbles. I am never without a book or two, (or three.) I write once if not two times daily in  this blog. I write press releases most days. I write scripts, speeches, quotes, you name it. I keep a prayer journal, a poetry journal, and an old trunk FULL of old scraps of paper with ideas and short stories. I have video tapes full of packages I edited (package is a broadcaster's term for a story.) On those tapes, I have entire newscasts (because I was the producer, I pretty much wrote the whole thing, on a daily basis.) I have magazines upon magazines and newspaper clippings with my work on it.  My degree is in journalism.

I am, for better or for worse, a writer. (Yes, I actually get PAID to do this.)

Before you click your tongue or get too judgemental, I write in broadcast style - sorry. Which means, I am conversational. You can see the difference if you pop over to my sister's blog. She writes more like a print person.  I spent 5 years learning that style, then using ONLY that style forever. Many times, what you see is exactly what I would say to you. I want to speak directly to you. Crazy thing is - Punctuation and caps are not considered when writing in broadcast style. The above sentence would look more like this: MANY TIMES... WHAT YOU SEE IS EXACTLY WHAT I WOULD SAY TO YOU//

(If this style of writing bothers you, I do apologize!)

What is fascinating about writing these days is that everyone considers themselves a writer in some form or another. I LOVE it, I really do. It is fun to see friends begin to tackle something that  is wonderful for their self expression, great to exercise the mind and finally because it gives people a sense of accomplishment. Whether or not the sentences flow, or the thoughts are profound or original does not matter -it's just a great thing to see people TRY.

Look at the amount of blogs surfacing on the Internet! I think it is a wonderful thing to see people share something that means so much to them (with the world.) People write for so many different reasons: To vent, to educate, to share, to work through, to remember... and on and on. Some share their art work, or their expertise.. some even sell things - for whatever reason, they have found a place in the world that is all their own.

The other phenomenon that gives me giggles are the "want to be published" folks. Man.. you are talking about a HARD industry to break into, unless.. of course.. you choose to "self publish." (Which means you put up all the money for the actual book, then try to sell it somewhere like - local bookstores or amazon.) To me - getting a book published and picked up by a major publishing house is like getting a role as a supporting actor or leading lady in a movie. It's the privileged few. Then again.. you never know unless you try.

It is a beautiful thing to see something like Ballet become second nature to most little girls. I remember when I was small, there were only a few of us who pursued the art. Now it is commonplace and almost expected. More and more art classes are popping up everywhere, and theater is an excellent resource in most communities. The one other art form that is slowly creepy up is writing. FINALLY it is cool to hang out in libraries and carry a journal. I am thrilled to see the changes. (I remember taking a creative writing class once, and my friends in school were like - "WHAT?" They were busy with softball, you see.)

So to all of you budding writers and to those of you waaay more accomplished than many of us will ever be - this post is dedicated to you.

Because.. isn't that what all writers do? Thank someone... ;-)

Experiment Results

As promised, I am sharing the highlights and results from my "Themed experiement." Consider it a Destination: Happiness, if you will.

First of all, thank you all so much for hanging in there with me this week. Aside from a quick post on my allergies, I kept most of you guys out of the loop on my personal life. I stuck to the past, and topics of growth. So if you like the personal stuff more - here it comes!! (You know me, always a little something for everyone!)

I started out my themed week with an Energized Saturday. For 2 Saturdays now I have started my mornings off with a Zumba class. AMAZING. It really is an excellent way to kick start any weekend. I was pink faced and sweating by the time I left (I know, not an image you really want to know about) however, it told me one thing - I worked hard! I have been spending Saturdays reading, writing, catching up on some movies and tv shows, and cleaning this house. So yes - Saturdays have turned out quite nicely! I have to say, yesterday was probably the best Saturday I have had in a really long time. The kicker - there was nothing unusual about it! I woke up around 6am (the egyptian was already awake!) I had coffee, he had tea and we ate breakfast together. He did, however, go back to bed - I decided to do two loads of laundry, write my blog post, and then head to the gym for Zumba time! WORKED sooo hard.. came back, showered, had a really delish Mediterranean style lunch - then I engaged in a marathon of Jersey Shore Season 1. LOL. Afterward, I went to Publix and bought things to make icecream sundaes (all low fat or sugar free) - and we indulged. Spent a little quality time together.. and then relaxed watching movies and chatting. Yep was excellent!

Soul enriching Sunday went really well last week. I must admit, I did not go to mass, but I did read several devotions, took some time to pray and meditate and just relaxed. I was calm, peaceful and just felt an overall since of understanding. It was a start - and it went well.

New Beginnings Monday again - excellent day. Made a check list, got a lot of things accomplished, and I can honestly say - at the end of the week, I was able to leave work and feel like I truly made a difference. It worked!

Positive Tuesdays met up with a friend for coffee, had an excellent conversation (both of us lifting one another up!) and I was even able to help the egyptian gain some focus.

Rockin' Wednesday I actually used the whole music idea all day long. My co-worker, Laura, sits in the office next to me.. she even called out, "Umm.. Nicole, I like your music today." LOL Perhaps she was picking on me, because I happened to be singing along. LOL

Thankful Thursday I was pretty bold on Thursday to say that the week was going well. People joked and said that I probably jinxed myself. But honestly - it was a beautiful day. I made a point to show gratitude and be kind to others.

Flawless Friday was fun because I made a point to finalize the week, took a little extra time on my outershell, and reminded others that it is okay to celebrate your actualy physical beauty.

That completes the circle. Yes, I will continue to think along these lines. It's all a process, right?

Making a difference

In the end, I just want to know I made a difference.

That's what I took away from my week with family and friends.

As I sat and listened to each of my "people", I tried to soak in what was being said. Listen for the needs and wants and wishes - and just be there for them.

Perhaps it is one of the gifts my job has afforded me to polish off - "needs" based listening. I just wanted to make a difference, in any small way that I could.

On the way down to Georgia, the egyptian and I enjoyed a very tasty lunch. I listened as he talked about what was next for him. He asked lots of questions about different cities, and lifestyles - just lots and lots of questions. I tried to answer them to the best of my ability. What I gathered from him was his need to feel useful. To find a routine that works best for him. To be the man he hoped he would one day be.

When I finally arrived at my home, my mom talked openly about her excitement about retirement. She is ready to embrace a lifestyle where she can pursue her talents - something she is very clear about. I listened to my sister talk about a website she was working on, and how she was struggling with financial aid at her university and most importantly, I listened to how she was excited and proud of her daughter's progress.

My father on the other hand had a more "traumatic" and life altering week. I listened as he expressed his concern over his new-found retirement. He was forced to take disability due to health issues and for the first time in 40 some odd years, he felt useless. I listened to him explain how he needs to create a new routine, pursue some hobbies and work on a new life - a foreign life. I heard him loud and clear - Change is not comfortable to him.

I visited with friends on Saturday night and listened to them discuss grandchildren, and kids and in high school, and vacation plans, and health issues. We are all forging our way through middle age and I feel like the stress and ridiculous issues of our 20s and early 30s are finally gone.

I attended a work conference and listened to how the American Heart Association created Life's Simple 7 - where optimal health was officially defined. I heard our board president and epidemiologist explain how standards are set now to PREVENT cvd occurrences versus treating the issue. I heard change. I heard health.

I spent the night with one of my best friends and listened as she explained her current hopes and dreams. How life was quickly changing and she finally has some simple clarification on the next half.

I watched as my husband spoke to a middle school and explained what the similarities and differences are between the middle east and islam. I heard the sincerity in the children's questions. I saw they genuine interest. It gave me hope.

I traveled to a mountain city with my family and watched as age and money has officially become a factor. I heard in my husband's impatience that I talk a little too much and possible repeat myself (old age?? ) I saw the beauty in every single detail.

I listened to Native Americans as they shared their connection to the earth at the Ocmulgee Indian Festival. I watched colorful dancers move around a field to the beat of the drum. It reminded me that I am a guest here - and lucky to be born on this land.

I listened. I learned. I recharged. That's where I am going these days - I want to listen.

In the end, perhaps the things I learn and garner can be shared here - and together, we learn.

Blog Hop Rant- just for *giggles* (Word of the Day)

**image from the greendove.com

My last word of the day is giggle. I can giggle. Sure - and it usually involves some type of sarcastic remark. THAT brings giggles out of me.

In order to throw as much sarcasm your way as humanly possible - I have a rant. OOOh.. it's a good one. Yes, I am back on the "Blog Hop" rant.

Grrrrrr

I am not sure where to begin - but I want to make a statement: It is all about Quality over Quantity.

I have only seen one or two Blog Hops that added a bit of quality. The Friday Flip Off required you to voice your rants of the week. There was another Blog that wanted you to share a story on how you went green. Then of course you hop around and "follow."

I have come across some blogs that 1,000+ followers. If you actually take time to go through their blog - each day is another blog hop, or a give away or something ridiculous like that trying to pull you in. What happened to good old fashioned baring your soul writing?

OOh and these people are nazis about this stuff also. I wanted to give the Green one a try. I had just woken up, saw my news feed showed one of my blogmates had written a "green" post and linked up to this hop. I thought, okay - I will give it another try. Now I understand how these things work. I linked up.. then headed to the coffee pot to start to brew and while there I was pondering, in what ways do I go green? I was away from my computer a total of maybe 10 minutes - came back, had an idea and was ready to write.
I happened upon a new comment I received on a post I had written late the night before. It was from the 'Green' Blog Hop creator. She was basically threatening to remove my button from the Hop if I did not participate fully with a Green post.

Man.. oh man.. I was about to snap this granola eating, open toe shoe - tree hugger in half. Seriously? Were you waiting around and policing the net? 10 minutes... sometimes a girl needs a little inspiration.

Luckily (or maybe not)  - most blog hops have absolutely no substance. But it makes me sad that its just a game to these people. I take my writing very seriously. I don't want you to "follow" me if you are not going to take the time to jump in on the conversation. I assure you - if I follow you, I read each one of your post. I may not always comment, but I do from time to time if I have something to say.

I am just annoyed. Blog hops... rants.. just for giggles.

Tag - I'm it!

Oh my... that little Food Floozie threw me a curve ball. NOW I have to identify 8 of you and answer 8 questions about myself.

Here are here 8 questions:

1. What item of yours has the most sentimental value, and why?

That would be the crucifix that hangs above my bed. It was my great grandmothers (on my mom's side) and it hung above her bed until the day she died. Since then, it has hung above my bed. My Granny was an angel to me - and I miss her deeply. I did not receive anything else from her when she died, just this... and it means the world to me. If there was a fire - yep, this is the one thing I would grab... (well.. that and my passport. ;-) )







2. What is the best compliment you've ever received?


One time, a certain well-respected journalist said to me, "You have such a light in you.. such curiosity and intelligence. Put it to good use.. I have a feel you will do amazing things in this life."

Hmmm.... still waiting for the amazing!

3. What did you want to be when you grew up?


I went through phases. I think I originally wanted to be a nurse. Since, at 3 that's all you saw (besides your mommy.) By 5 I wanted to be a ballerina. By 12 I wanted to be a journalist. Did that.

Now I want to become a photographer or (get paid to ONLY write.)

I am currently a Communications Director (Media Relations/Public Relations.)

4. Do you love or loathe family get-togethers?


I actually enjoy them (for the food) - but can grow weary of them as the day progresses. LOL


5. What is your favorite breakfast?


I am a southerner through and through - I like scrambled eggs with cheese, hash browns, biscuit with gravy and bacon!


6. Where were you born?

I was born in a charming southern town called Macon, Georgia. Home of the Cherry Blossom festival! Check out the link - you might want to visit sometime!



7. What is your favorite holiday?


It is a toss up between Halloween and Christmas. I love decorating for both. I love the treats and traditions of both. Fun Fun Fun! But I guess Christmas would trump Halloween b/c I like presents (giving and receiving) and I enjoy a month long party scene! Ahh.. and the music and twinkle lights!


8. What are you going to do for yourself today to make yourself happy?

I hate to admit it - but I am going to treat myself to an amazing lunch. Had a rough night and busy morning.. ready to drown my cares away in some carbs and caffeine.
 
Now my 8 unsuspecting Bloggy Buddies (and don't forget to scroll down for your questions!)
 

Cassagram

 

From Chaos Comes Happiness

 

Miel & Lait

 

Southern Style

 

Bossy Betty

 

In pursuit of my inner pin-up

 

Phantasmagorical Literarium

 

The Adventures of Mr. CT & Me.

 

My 8 questions for you guys are:

 

**insert evil giggle here**

 

 

1. If you were allowed to only read one book for the rest of your life - what would you choose?

 

2. Imagine you are on death row, and it's time to pick your last meal - what would it be?

 

3. If you had to do it again (or do it for the first time) - what type of wedding would you have??

 

4. If you could live anywhere in the world - where would you choose and what type of dwelling would you live in?

 

5. What are your thoughts on organized religion?

 

6. Describe your most embarrassing moment!

 

7. What are you most proud of?

 

8. Finally... who would be your arch nemesis and why??

 

Make sure to tag friends!

There is a reason

There is no doubt about it, I had a very enlightening and culturally signifigant afternoon. So much so, I had to write about something I heard today.

Let's see if I can explain..

My husband (the egyptian) met a guy at his job named Farnell. Farnell is from Birmingham and I am not sure where he grew up, but he seems to be a really normal, regular guy. Nice, educated, truly a good guy. He and the egyptian became fairly good friends. I have a feeling the two of them discussed religion at great length at work, because Farnell invited the egyptian and I to his church.

For anyone new to my blog - my husband is a 5-times-a-day-praying-fasting-for-ramadan-devout-sunni muslim. I, on the other hand, am roman catholic.

Farnell is.. evangelical christian - at an african american church.

The egyptian was thrilled to go - he had always wanted to see a gospel choir, and I told him - it is truly something to see! Especially down here in the south, the african american churches with the gospel choirs are simply amazing.

We got the address last night as to where to go. I was not sure where Faith Chapel was, then I decided to Google it. It was located in Ensley. Ensley is the west side of Birmingham.

When I first moved to Birmingham from Macon, Georgia - I remembered asking people, "Hey, sooo where should I NOT go after dark?" Meaning - where are the high crime areas. 100% the response was Ensley. As time went on, I watched the news and read more information and it became apparent, this was the hot bed of prostitution, gangs and drugs.

Okay - so THAT is Ensley.

Now back to the church.

I am not one of those (and I am just going to say it) silly white people that freak out about going into the poorer neighborhoods of various ethnic groups. However, I am not a fool either. I mind my own business, do what I need to do, and that's about it. So - it was never an issue with me going there. Though some eyebrows raise anytime someone mentions that part of town.

This morning we prepared for "church" and headed down to Ensley - it takes about 25 minutes from where I live and we meandered through the streets and found the building.

As we drove up and got out of the car, you could almost see people stop in their tracks. Why? Well my dear readers - this is Alabama, not just Alabama - this is Birmingham, and not just Birmingham - this is the more segregated part of town. Don't be fooled my friends in different states, racial issues are alive and well in the deep south. If you are not familiar with the civil rights movement and the events that took place in Birmingham, AL - please click here: http://www.proseandphotos.com/birmingham.htm

See, many older african americans from Birmingham who actually witnessed and/or experienced the civil rights autrocities are still alive and walking around. I stepped foot across the invisible territory line - I was white and in Ensley and standing shoulder to shoulder with people from all types of backgrounds.

You must know this about me - I could care less about the fact I was the only white person. (Hello?? Egypt is in African.. technically I am married to an African..) But I am sensitive to the perception and I know all too well, what the people of Ensley deal with and have dealt with.

As we approached the church, a few older gentlemen gave me an odd look and said, "Good morning." I remained humble and smiled. Yes, I was sincerly grateful to be there. 30 years ago, in this very town - not only would I have been beaten for walking into this church (by the cops or "upstanding white people of the community").. the good people of this center could have experienced hardship beyond belief.  Don't believe me? Do you know about the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham? This is just a few miles from where I was this morning - here is what wikipedia says about that church:

The 16th Street Baptist Church bombing was a racially motivated terrorist attack on September 15, 1963, by members of a Ku Klux Klan group in Birmingham, Alabama in the United States. The bombing of the African-American church resulted in the deaths of four girls. Although city leaders had reached a settlement in May with demonstrators and started to integrate public places, not everyone agreed with ending segregation. Other acts of violence followed the settlement. The bombing increased support for people working for civil rights. It marked a turning point in the U.S. 1960s Civil Rights Movement and contributed to support for passage of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. The three-story Sixteenth Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, Alabama was a rallying point for civil rights activities through the spring of 1963, and is where the students who marched out of the church to be arrested during the 1963 Birmingham campaign's Children's Crusade were trained. The demonstrations led to an agreement in May between the city's African-American leaders and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference (SCLC) to integrate public facilities in the country.


At any rate, we entered the church looking for our good friend, Farnell. He, of course was late, and we were asked to wait in the lobby. As people entered in droves.. some lifted eyebrows, some made a point to smile and be welcoming.. and some just looked surprised!

Farnell finally made it in, and we entered the Sanctuary. We had to file into the pews.. and then the usher escorted this lady to our aisle.. she looked at the usher, then looked at me, and the usher just smiled. Every seat was filling up in the sanctuary - but she left one seat between us.
That's okay. I really do understand.

To sum up the experience - the music was PHENOMENAL. Their gospel choir, hands down, was something from a movie. Uplifting, joyous, excellent. There was even lyrical dance and pantomime. (Seriously!) Later, the Pastor came up and began his hour long sermon. I could not take my eyes or ears away from his words. Remember - I am a catholic, and this is completely different from the way I worship. The speaking back to the pastor, the amens, the hallelujahs, the clapping - was sooo different. But the message  - the message was pretty awesome.

No - I am not about to get biblical on you - but there was a little something I took back with me and I think it applies to every one.

The topic was "Give me what is mine." Intrigued yet? Well - basically every one is born with some sort of gift. (If you believe in God - then it comes from God.. If you do not - let's just say it is your natural talent.) Okay.. sometimes we hold onto our "gifts" whatever they are, like a precious jewel. But our gifts are not for us - they are for others. And every single person has a gift. Grace is what allows us to nuture and share our gift. For believers - that means we believe God grants this.. for others, let's just say - you feel the need to make the world a better place!

I was thinking about - what does that mean to me?? I am going to use this outlet  - my blog - as an example. Now we all know I am a horrible typist. I sometimes leave out words, or possibly butcher the grammar. Punctuation - out the door! But it is an outlet. I do like to tackle a wide variety of subjects, and no - I am not just documenting my days, I am leaving things up for discussion.

Now - if I take the sermon this pastor preached, and apply it to my life - my gift is communication. (Ha ha - certifiable.. well.. my degree is BROADCAST JOURNALISM.) It is my duty to give you what is yours - and that is share thought provoking posts that may or may not touch you, cause you to consider a new idea, or validate something you are experiencing.

How appropriate for my one year anniversary. So it is time I be a little honest. Yes, it is about having followers - why? Because i am writing to share a part of me, my existence, my adventures, my life. That is my gift - and with the Grace of God - I reach people.

Again, I am not a religious writer, but I thought it was an excellent point. It's not that I am not being humble - but this is what writing (publicly) is about - spreading and sharing a message. Whatever it may be.

In the end, I am glad I went to Farnell's church. Perhaps my visitation inspired someone who was hurt in the past by people with the same color skin as mine - to see that yes, we can cross that invisible line of segregation and move forward. And yes, I truly enjoyed the sermon and the music.

*not to mention, I did a little networking, one of the anchors at one of my media sponsor tv stations apparently attends, and she approached me and was very happy to see me there. She is african american, and the health reporter/anchor at one of the top stations in town. Perfect timing - and it was great to see her!

So on this 1 year anniversary of my blog - I hope to reach more people, truly open up the communication lines about a variety of topics, and perhaps we can all grow together.

What about you? What are your hopes for your blog or even your life? How are you going to share your gifts with others?

Happy Anniversary Destination: Unknown!

That's right my dearest readers, Happy Anniversary!

What a long, strange trip it has been!

If you have been around since day one (and honestly, that can only be about 7 of you) - THANK YOU for sticking by me. For those of you joining up around March (when my followers really started "chiming in") I am super excited you are in my life and you keep the conversation flowing. If you are brand new to my blog, or just dropped by for the first time - WELCOME!

This little blog has truly grown and blossomed into the little adolescent blog that she is. I definitely started out as a baby blogger. Basic "Blogger" background, and boring template. Then about 4 months into it, I discovered how to find a great background and create a header - which I did. I added a few widgets, and off I went! (Full on Toddler Mode.)

In March I joined up on some really useful blogging network sites and BOOM tons more followers (child mode.) Then I got smart - got some help from a fellow blogger on a more customized header and a button and now.. oh now.. I am in full-on adolescent mode.

I am still confused about the rules of the blog hops, and the different memes.. etc. I just write, though haphazardly, I do a daily post.

I am ready to grow this baby and take it to the next level!

NOW - if you really are new (or an old follower and have not checked out my new tabs, etc.) - let me give you a tour.

First of all - Check out the new About Me Tab. This is a perfect primer on who I am. Then, take the time to check out my picture tab and my video tab. Both will give you a great understanding of who I am. Finally - grab a few recipes, make sure to read the disclosure and definitely - visit my best blog posts tab. Read a few - they are, in my opinion, my best pieces of work.

No - I rarely spell check and I am a horrible typist - but if you can get past that - we will be good friends!

Now for fun - before the end of the day (Sunday) - I would like to be at one hundred google friend followers! Maybe you can help me? Perhaps a little PS in your next post?? Just for fun, I thought I should have 100 followers for my new year. Maybe by year two - 200???
LOL

Again - make sure to check out my new tabs, read some of my favorite posts- and definitely stick around a bit!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY to my little social media experiment - Destination: Unknown.

PS - I assure you, I still have no idea where I am going or what I am doing.. but I am enjoying the ride!