Tag Archives: blogging

Transitional Parenting

More Saturday Sharrrring

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I wish this was all that was on my task list. What's on your task list?
I wish this was all that was on my task list.

Last Saturday, I introduced a new feature here, Saturday Sharrrring, where I share links to some can’t miss blogs I’ve either read for a while or recently discovered through NaBloPoMo.  Today, I’ve got another fine array of samples for you to enjoy.

But, before I go any further, I really need to give a shout-out to the folks behind BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo 2013 at Yeah Write. You gals and guys have managed to pull me back into the vortex of endless blog reading, contemplating, commenting, and laughing. I don’t even include the hours I’ve spent writing, lost in my own thoughts, while I toy with ideas and metaphors. Oh, the joy of it all! Thank you!

However, there is a dark side here that must be openly discussed.

Team at Yeah Write, I blame you for the days (all 16) my kitchen has been left in some state of disarray at the end of the day as laundry piles up in overflowing hampers. I should have known to step away from a kitchen remodel during the month of November. Apparently, I cannot be creative simultaneously in multiple areas in my life; it’s plain unrealistic. My husband asks about paint color and all I can think is, “Oh, this (process) is going on the blog.”  It’s barely a process yet because I spend all my time reading and writing. What a cursed life this is! The convenient links to so many terrific blogs on your main page should come with a warning like those “No fuel or food for 50 miles” signs on desolate stretches of highway.  Yours should read,  “No clean laundry or fresh food for the next 4 weeks” or  “Warning, long periods may elapse between showers.” I’m sure my family isn’t the only one that  would have appreciated  a full disclosure warning when I said, “I signed up to do NaBloPoMo.” Just sayin’.

Now, back to more of those terrific blogs that will leave you ignoring laundry on this Saturday…

Though there isn’t a post I don’t genuinely enjoy reading by the following bloggers, I’ve linked to specific posts they put up in the last week that really resonated with me. Some are funny, some insightful, and some are just beautiful. Ignore the laundry, grab another cup of coffee, and lose yourself in the vortex with me for just a bit.

Much Needed Advice: Not only does Sabrina, a personal and executive coach, offer “Much Needed Advice” on her blog, she always seems to know just what I need to hear. In this particular post, she writes about vision boards, and Sheryl Sandberg, and fear. More importantly, though, she writes about moving forward. Pop over, and prepare yourself to lean in.

Beyond the Backyard Blues: Elin’s talent as a writer both inspires and amazes me. She has  eloquence that is…beyond this writer’s ability to put into words. Whether she is sharing recollections about her dad or sadness over a reminder about the fragility in life, Elin is able to leave you wanting more; more of her voice, her words, her grace. In this post, she invites her reader to stand next to her at the window and see the world through her eyes. It’s a view you won’t want to miss.

Miss Edee: Just writing her name makes me smile!  Edee writes about life and all sorts of stuff that falls out of her head, and I am thrilled she does. Some days, she shares the adventures of her stinkin’ cute fur babies. Other days, as in the post I’ve linked here, she shares more practical advice about cheese slices and hot flashes. Yes, there is a correlation, but you have to click over to find out what it is. She is a font of wisdom, that Miss Edee!

Ambling & Rambling: Oh, the number of ways I relate to this mom! She talks about life honestly, be it the tales of mothering a teen, the trials of food service and obnoxious customers, or as she does in the post, the dilemmas of purging plastic ware. And, because I like to help people, I publically offer to aid her purging pains by taking the piece of furniture she has pictured in this post. (I’m generous like that.)

Empty House Full Mind: One of best “Midlife” blogs I’ve found to date! I believe in finding good mentors; those that have been there, stumbled, dusted off, restarted, and share that wisdom freely. Sharon writes about all things related to being a woman in midlife, the empty nest, marriage, and more. In this post, she responds to the popular (viral) post “Marriage Isn’t For You” by Seth Adam Smith. As a woman fast approaching her 3rd decade with the same man, I loved this post and whole heartedly agree!

What are you reading today? Please share in the comments.

Inspired Transitioning, Transitional Parenting

Saturday Sharrrring

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IMG_3434Robert Fulghum may have learned all he needed to know when he was in kindergarten, but when it came to sharing, my sister and I learned that from a 1970’s Cracker Jack commercial. After returning home from school, the father, who had been attempting to hide his large box of  the caramel corn, asked his son what he learned in school; the boy, with wide eyes, replied, “Sharrrring.”  Whether wanting a piece of candy from the other when we were small or a coveted sweater in high school, my younger sister and I regularly used the “sharrrring” tagline in our negotiations. Thus, I learned to share, really well, and that is what I am doing here today.

In the last 3 years, I’ve stumbled across some terrific sites and met some fabulous bloggers online. In the last 10 days, that list has more than doubled. Through the blogging community, my day is filled with humor and wisdom, compassion and inspiration, and a heaping handful of  good ol’ fashioned harvest pumpkin chips  fun. As a young girl, I learned how to share well, thanks to my sister and Cracker Jack (but not necessarily in that order.)  Therefore, during the month of NaBloPoMo, also known as November, Saturday’s posts will be dedicated to “sharrrring” my old favorites and my newly discovered. And, because I don’t want to overwhelm you with too much goodness at one time and  ensuring each blog/site gets the attention it deserves, I’m going to be serving these up on small plates (5-7 links per post). Therefore, my sharing may continue well through December… happy holidays.

(In no particular order, kind of like American Idol finalists.)

MidlifeBoulevard:  I secretly, and not so secretly, love finding the “next hot thing” first, so I can share it with friends. Well, friends, this site is it! Midlife Boulevard is site about “where we’ve been…where we’re going.” And, since it just launched this week, now is your chance to watch the next big site (think: Huffington Post)  grow from the very beginning.

The Lucky Mom: Lisha calls herself “The Lucky Mom”, but she is far too humble. We, those that get to grab a cup of tea and set a spell with her, are the lucky ones. Humor mixed with compassion and all things real in being a woman, wife, and mother to 3 boys, is served up regularly.

Carol Cassara : As a dog lover, Carol had me when I saw a category named “Dogville”. But wait, folks, there’s more. She talks food and travel and about “creating our best lives.” She will open your eyes to the world and to yourself.

Midlife at the Oasis: If you remember the song, Midnight at the Oasis, by Maria Muldaur, you belong here. Even if you don’t remember it, you belong here. Lois, who is the running to win Blogger Idol, will make you laugh, think, and wish she lived next door.

Cranium Crunches: Let’s face it, tone arms and a firm bum aren’t the only things we lose if we don’t use ’em as we age; our brains are no different. And I, for one, and my husband and children, for two, three, and four, would prefer to keep my brain toned as I move into my 3rd act. Ruth, the Captain Cruncher, helps keep the old synapses firing through challenging games and fun, so our brains remain toned and flexible.

The Monster in Your Closet: As a writer, I’m embarrassed to admit that I have a hard time formulating the words to describe Deborah Bryan’s  blog over at The Monster in Your Closet. Feelings get in the way. Probably because that’s what her blog does; it makes you feel. She writes from her heart, and she shares with honesty. She is a (new) wife, mother, career-woman, and so much more than those “titles” convey. She is a writer of books and a blog. She is insightful, thought-provoking, and oozes compassion through the computer screen. I’ve walked with her the longest on my blog walk, and I couldn’t be more grateful to her for inspiring me in ways well beyond blogging.

There it is; your first plateful of Saturday Sharrrring. Grab another cup of coffee or tea, settle in, and go visit some of my friends.  Then, be sure to join me here next Saturday for another installment.  Happy Saturday, everyone!

P.S. If you have a favorite blog or site, or are new here,  please share nicely and leave a (your) link in the comments.