Introducing Glue and Glitter

I'm excited about this  green website and blog by Becky Striepe, the mind behind Glue and Glitter. This crafty crafter is the creator of handmade sustainable lunch bags and kits made from vintage and reclaimed materials and is featured in the designbook Lunch Bags! Becky is a green gal and is also a featured contributor on eco-friendly sites like Green Upgrader and Ecopolitology which are just two sites affiliated with the Live Oak Group of sites dedicated to eco-politics and living life more sustain-ably.  I've been mentioning a lot of green sites lately because  I know I don't think often enough about the impact things I do have on the environment (you know, out of sight out of mind?). I figure if I can mention more ways we all can do good for this world and share it with others, the more good we can do realistically, right? You can find Becky on Facebook, Twitter, and her Etsy Shop. Stay tuned, because I have a surprise coming up for everyone in my next post :0)

Exciting News for Cece Wilson!

O. . .M. . .Goodness! I am so in shock right now that I think I'm going to laugh, cry and squeal at the same time (Is it possible?)! I just submitted my first article for publication in an online newsletter/magazine The Pen Point and it's (the article) going to be put in September's issue! Yay God! Yay Me! OK, this is a very big step for me because I love to write and friends tell me I have lots of great things to say, but I didn't always have the confidence to put it out there for the world to see. Well, now I have. Even more significantly the company that the newsletter is associated with also has an Aspiring Authors grant for Christian writers that will be awarded at the end of this year to 10 authors and one playwright for publishing and production costs respectively. Whew! I have three books in my head and not yet in my computer. My desire is to finish the first book by the end of this year and see what happens. Even if I don't win this year, I am going to get a book finished and submit it so that I can give myself the opportunity to do what I've always wanted to do: be an author. The awesome thing about this grant is that I can reapply the next year so. . . What's holding me back really? Pray for me and wish me luck on this endeavor. I love you guys!

Introducing Ebony Intuition

I would like everyone to meet Tiffany the author of the blog Ebony Intuition. She instantly caught my attention for two reasons: I found her page when she posted a to DIE for (metaphorically speaking of course) black and white environmentally friendly and sustainable little number being modelled by the actress Kerry Washington in the May 2010 issue of Vogue magazine AND the fact that she is from Toronto, Canada where my beloved husband was born and is still a citizen (although he's been here like ALL his life--go fig).  Anyway, this post is for those of you who are style divas and interested things like the look of the day, great posts on culture, style, fashion, etc. Tiffany also has another page Beauty Is Diverse which features pics, articles, and videos all for the purpose of celebrating the diversity and varied beauty of this world. I am learning to appreciate the fact that even with all our "imperfections" each of us is unique: beautiful and wonderfully crafted. I hope that you will get a chance to check these pages out and appreciate the variation and creativity God has placed in each of us. Have a great week everyone!

Introducing the Movie Mom

Hi guys! I know it's been like a week since I've checked in, but I was trying to get my husband back off to work successfully (he's a teacher). It's one down and two to go (my boys start school next week)! Although summer is over, I'd like to introduce you to Nell Minow, the Movie Mom. I think that many of you would appreciate this Beliefnet blog on recent and current movie reviews as well as her mom's eye view on films and the things that are important to parents when looking for good entertainment.  She is very objective, candid, and systematic in her approach to grading and rating a film and she is my go-to gal for her take on a particular film.  Of course there are other websites out there like Kids-In-Mind which has a unique rating system for the frequency of certain thematic elements in movies and Rotten Tomatoes which combines professional critic consensus and public consensus to determine how popular a film is, however, as a mom, I really like Nell's site because sometimes I would prefer to see the big picture on a film and whether or not it would be a good choice for my family's entertainment. I like that fact that she not only lists movies new to theater, but also mentions new release DVD's.  It's like getting an opinion from a friend that has seen the movie first and knows how to tell me all the things about it my kids don't want me to know.  I can get a head's up so that I don't have any surprises when we pop the DVD in the player (which has happened lemme tell you).  For a fun treat, you can send in your questions on movies who's names you can't remember, but  can remember the decade, and some plot elements/memorable details. Nell is really good about finding the name of the films and the actors that play in them. Occasionally, she will even post a clip or two! I hope you get to check out the Movie Mom page and add it to your list of great sites!

Letting Go of Unhealthy Sacrifice

I know that I usually blog about other blogs that I think you would find interesting but technically I suppose Oprah's Online magazine would be considered a blog. My sissy sent me the link to this article: 10 Steps to Letting Go of Unhealthy Sacrifice (she knows me). I must admit the article hurt. LOL! I didn't really want to read it and I knew my sister sent it to me to help me but dang it! It really got to the heart of several matters for me including: not telling people what I really want, being authentic, giving too much of myself, my "yes" maybe meaning yes, but usually was originally intended to mean "no" (yeah), and even the accursed feeling guilty for being happy when others are not (what it that, really?). I recommend that you to also take the Sacrifice (Martyr) test and see where you are before you read the article. So, here's the article. I hope you get to read it and I really hope that if you are one of these people (like unto myself) that you will benefit from it. Happy blogging!

Introducing Spicy Wifey

How does the saying go? Variety is the spice of life! I'd like to introduce you to Spicy Wifey. This is a blog which is dedicated to celebrating the lifestyles of the committed  and married. That statement alone gives them my vote! What I like about this blog and company is the variety of products and services offered as well as the commitment to encouraging women to be the best women they are. I was duly impressed with Weight a Minute Mondays,  The Spicy Wifey Cookbook, and the boutique which includes: Seasoning Sessions (in the Atlanta, GA area) for giving women tools to add "spice" to their relationships, Zumba classes (also in the Atlanta area), and fashion apparel for a woman and her spice (Theoretically, the plural of "spouse" is "spice", right? It's a stretch, I know). If you like what you see, you can check Spicy Wifey out on their website, at their blogger page, and on Facebook. Bon Appetit!

Introducing Ms. Single Mama

Hello my fellow blog-mates and friends! I would like to take a moment to introduce you to Ms. Single Mama, Alaina Sheer. Her story is one that is in many ways familiar, but exceptionally unique. She had a marriage that like 50% of marriages in this country didn't make it, but instead of letting it be her "the end", she focused her situation and energy into a blog, an e-book, and series of You Tube Videos that equate to a life uninterrupted. Having grown up with a single parent, I know that there were many nights when my mother felt like taking us (there were three of us), dropping us off somewhere, and wishing us luck, but I also know my mom had a strength not to be matched by the strongest body-builders. My mom is a survivor and I see that in Alaina. Even more than surviving, Alaina thrives and encourages other  people to do the same. From her v-log questions, and pics, to her candid advice on things that really matter to single parents, Alaina has proven  that she has a wisdom and strength at a young age that can only be admired and applauded. I truly love her transparency and just "her-ness" that many of us can relate to whether married or not, and I appreciate that she is willing to share it with us. I hope that you will check out her pages, videos, and yes, Facebook: she has terrific give-aways and events for married and single moms and dads alike. Oh, and you have to go to her blog to find out some awesome news about her and a special someone in her life ;) As always, Happy Blogging!