Genesis Moments - A Writer's Journey

Goals for 2010

My goals for 2010 are simple:

Eat Less

Exercise More

Pray More

Walk in Wisdom

Be a Better Teacher, Mom, Wife

Love, Live, Laugh, Write about it

Praise the Lord to the end of my days!

Now, if you want to play along, head over to The Happy Housewife for the 2010 Goals Link-Up!

Beginning 2010 with a Bang

I feel like a bear that is stuffed fulled of goodies, ready to go into hibernation and burn it off in a cave sleeping for the next three months. Only, I'm not a bear and I am stuffed full of goodies and I DON'T get to sleep it off for the next three months.

The bang I refer to in this title is me practically fainting when I stepped on the scales this AM. It's ain't pretty folks. It is also what happened when I took a good look at what I actually spent at Christmas.

Why do we get sooo out of control? What happens to all our good intentions in the last quarter of the year. All the self-sacrifice and discipline just -- poof! On vacation for the holidays.

When you are a compulsive person like myself, letting go leads to more letting go that leads to more letting go and then you are in a pile of mess and it means hitting rock bottom once again and starting over.

I'll be honest with you- I get into trouble when I stop keeping track - eating or spending. That's when the little justifications begin - little here, a little there. Suddenly - the weight and credit card balances are up and you are shaking your head sadly saying - where did I go wrong?

But, what better time to start fresh? Today is a new day. Time to pull out the forgotten calorie counter and gym shoes. Time to pull out the coupon organizer. Time to pray and thank God for my many, many blessings and start gaining control once again.

How is your new year starting out?

2009 Blog Recap Carnival

 
Today I am joining Jo-Lynne's Blog Recap Carnival! Below you will see the first line of the first post of each month of 2009 with a little commentary I couldn't resist plus a few highlights from the month (as always -- trying to accomplish too much with one post). Delving into the archives now:

January: Gelato and Art

Lindsey and I went to the Artisan's Cafe over the holidays. After a few minutes of conversation, she looked around and said, "This is my favorite place in the whole world -- surrounded by art and ice cream."

At the time I was writing for the Philly Moms Blog and this was the beginning of a story I was linking to over there. (I wrote for them until life got a little crazy in January as I became a college professor for Writing for the Media & started writing a frugal column in the local paper and had to let some things go.)

January 2009 Highlights: Became a College Professor, a Columnist for The Phoenix, and an extra in "Law Abiding Citizen" where I met Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx. Ran the first ever Philadephia Metro-West Presbytery PresWIC Prayer retreat and continued doing personal story interviews for Story of My Life.

February: It's Groundhog Day

Today is Groundhog Day! The Official Groundhog site says: ...

This post appears to start somewhat academically and then goes into a mental block I was having against laundry. Funny where our minds take us when we ramble. And, I STILL have a mental block to laundry. Go figure. Some things never change.

February 2009 Highlights: Went to Blissdom -- my first official blogging conference, met Beth Feldman of Rolemommy at Colleen's house during a girl's night, and learned more and more about teaching students in college (and officially gave up trying to sell Pampered Chef!)

March: What I Learned This Week: BBQ is just so easy!

I have come to LOVE cooking pork BBQ for our family because it is just so easy.

Joining Jo-Lynne's weekly carnival on What I Learned This Week, this post holds one of my first ever VLOGs in which I make BBQ from scratch and share my tips for doing it. My daughter filmed it which is why it is so shaky. I learned to use a tripod after this.

March 2009 Highlights: Went to the Philly Film Festival where we saw Tony Luke Jr. and watched his movie The Nail -- in which I was an extra during 2008 as a nurse, planned a tax day TEA party, and learned to use Constant Contact for e-newsletters.

April: A packing we will go!

Time to get packed for Spring Break. I have been putting it off all week and now I can't ignore the job any longer.

Looking back at the post, it looks like I was getting overwhelmed trying to continue teaching craft classes at the YMCA AND teach college students. Go figure! Looks like I also gave up volunteer counseling at the local Pregnancy Center about the same time --under the guise of working on my dreams of dedicating more time to fiction writing. Hmmm. . .  what happened to that?

April 2009 Highlights: Went to the PresWIC annual leadership training at Covenant College in Lookout Mtn., GA, published my first article in Parenting Squad, held our Tax Day Tea Party with overwhelming support & went skiing in Vail!

May: All Over the 'Net

I have started writing over at Parenting Squad! New gig, which means my daily blog has been sadly ignored once again.

Here's you see links to a Parenting Squad article, my local column in the Phoenix, and an interview for Story of My Life. Though I was busy teaching, I was determined to keep up my writing online - keeping those skills sharp!

May 2009 Highlights: Attended the mom blogging Hebrew National Picnic, held a Sun & Earth giveaway which prompted me to quit BlogHer ads when they had a problem with a $52 giveaway, played auctioneer at our church's country auction fundraiser, went to the circus with the Feld Family activator program through Mom Central, went to the Survivor Season Finale in NYC, launched my new website DIYFrugal to house my growing number of articles in the paper, and played a villager for several days in "The Last Airbender" which will be in theaters summer 2010.

June: Old Jean Shorts: Lessons from Nehemiah 9

You know summer is coming when you put on your jeans and you begin to feel prickly sweat start to crawl up your shins, defying gravity.

This post relates to life getting out of control before we realize it- like pulling out a pair of old jean shorts from the previous summer and wondering when they got so worn out. I relate this experience to God's grace and starting fresh.

June 2009 Highlights: Met Kelly Ripa at a NYC media event promoting her role as spokesperson for Electrolux's online lemonade stand fundraiser for ovarian cancer research and was an extra in "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" with Danny DeVito (though I probably shouldn't admit it) before heading to my parent's house in NC for a couple of weeks where my girls enjoyed horseback riding camp.

July: Catching Up

Summer vacation, bat infestations, fire ants, peach cobbler, sweet southern tea, horse camp, beach bonfires, alligators . . . where do I begin?

I didn't write too much this month but that pretty much sums it up!

July 2009 Highlights: Did NOT go to BlogHer in Chicago but heard tons about it; took one kid to art camp and another to acting camp (not sure WHERE she got that idea ;) before leaving for our annual campmeeting at the cottage grounds.

August: Blog It Forward to Fight Hunger

This month, General Mills and ShopRite are donating one box of cereal to a food bank in ShopRite's trading area for the first 30 people to comment on THIS post.

Here I continue to support good causes as they arise. I think my picture is coming out on a cereal box for this one -hopefully not b/c I am missing (you know, like the milk cartons). Not funny if I have to explain it, is it?

August 2009 Highlights: Came home from campmeeting, attended Right Online 2009, published my first article in the Voice of Grace & Truth, and took the girls to NYC to meet Billy Ray Cyrus who was acting spokesperson for Hellmann's Feeding America fundraiser. There we met Maria Bailey of Mom Select, Mom Talk Radio and BSM Media. We also held a Zhu Zhu pet party for Laura's birthday where we previewed what we didn't realized would become the hottest new toy on the market for Christmas.

September: Burgoon's Theory of Personal Space Violations

Now, it is time to get serious about feeding young minds because I am teaching college and I am supposed to be a little serious about it, you would assume or that is at least my theory (systemic, informed set of hunches) about keeping and expanding my job as a professor. So, why is a dog man’s best friend?

Here I attempt to apply one of the theories I was teaching to my everyday life. There were many practical theories but life got so busy trying to learn and teach them that I did little writing during this period and really for the next three months.

September 2009 Highlights: My job at the college triples as I teach Communication Theory, Intro to Digital Media and begin the process of learning how to create an online course for Writing for the Media for the Spring. I also joined several mom bloggers on a trip to NYC to meet Jillian Michaels and learn about her new Wii fit exercise program. Great lady -- just wish I could stick to her routine. I need her RIGHT HERE, RIGHT NOW!

October: Max Your Menu: Thank the Lord for Cooking Shortcuts

There are times in life you just need a quick way to get a LOT done. If you can find shortcuts, take them.

About now, I needed some shortcuts!

October 2009 Highlights: Busy, busy, busy keeping up with what we began in September. Girls start practicing for school ballet- The Nutcracker. Wisk sponsors a Bubbles blogging event at my house.

November 2009: Let the Filming Begin!

Ever had one of those AAAHHHHHH moments of sheer joy, sheer excitement, and absolute terrifying fear all at once?! Sounds like a roller coaster ride, doesn't it? Only this is REAL life.

Here I learned that I aced an audition I went to in upstate NY for a TV host of a reality food competition but filming has been postponed for now. Such a fickle business. Whatever. Life is good and busy as it is. It would be fun for this to come through but for now I am focusing on the present and trying to not think about it until it actually happens or I will go NUTS. God is in control!

November 2009 Highlights: Went to NYC to see Bobby Flay sharing tips for the holidays; delved into teaching crunch time and went to NC for Thanksgiving.

December: Do You Have a Facebook Faith?

As I prepared to write an article for our local Christian newspaper, The Voice of Grace & Truth, I asked myself, how can I combine my teaching on digital media at a local college with my faith?

Here I try to apply some of what I have been teaching at school with the explosion of social media and digital media to my faith. Still working on this one.

December Highlights: Attended more mom blogging events and saw my kids through their performances in The Nutcracker and at the school musical concerts as I graded finals and finished the online course I was prepping. Juggling, juggling. Oh, oh, and my new nephew was born to my twin brother!!

WOW! What a year. I just don't know how I will top this one in 2010. God has blessed me richly at a time when I have walked with friends through both joy and sadness and my biggest desire is to acknowledge those blessings through praise and service to my Lord and King who is the creator of ALL good things. Praise the Lord.

If you actually just read through all that, you really do deserve something so I simply thank you deeply. I am humbled.

Start a Plan of Action for the New Year

You are getting an exclusive preview TODAY of Saturday's column in the Phoenix! I have also posted it over at DIYFrugal b/c I need to hear it and so do you!!

The New Year is a great time to dream dreams, set goals and make a plan of action. Begin this year knowing what you want to achieve and setting out to make it happen.

Here are a couple of pointers to start you on your way:

1.       Evaluate 2009. What were your goals for last year? How far did you get? What steps did you take? What happened good you want to do again? What happened bad you want to never have happen again? What can you do about it, if anything?

2.       Make a list of what needs to happen right now. Clean up from the holidays? Throw out the Christmas tree? Reevaluate your budget? Step on the scales? Send thank you cards? What do you need to get done today? What needs to happen this week?

3.       Then, make a list of what needs to happen next. Leave room for steps you are going to take in January, steps that had better be done by March-April and then, what you are going to look at in June to see where you are half way through the year. By continually revisiting important goals, you hold yourself accountable and have a much higher likelihood of success.

4.       Under each goal, write what tools you are going to invest in to meet your goals. Do you need a book on personal finance? Do you need an appointment with a finance counselor? Do you need weight advice or a session with a personal trainer? Do you need a professional home organizer to get you on the right path?

Success takes investment of time and discipline. If you received money for the holidays, use a little of it to invest in the goals you wish to achieve. If there is nothing left, free up cash by returning items you don’t need or selling the old.

Prove to yourself and those closest to you that you are serious about defining steps to achieving goals you didn’t reach in 2009 or perhaps dreaming new dreams. Let others hold you accountable and encourage others to join your journey. Whether you decide to run a marathon, lose fifteen pounds, strengthen your faith, actually save money, get a new job or just get a job period, or learn a new skill, your issues are not uncommon. Many have gone before you on this quest and with the Internet full of great information, don’t shut yourself off. Ask for help. Look around for resources that have been created for your goals. They are out there and in fact, may be sitting on your shelf waiting for you to pick up and read and be reminded of what you forgot last year.

You can do it. I am rooting for you. Let me know what I can research or write to help you reach your goals this year!

With questions or comments, e-mail Sarah at sarah@peppel.com or send me a tweet at www.twitter.com/DIYFrugal. Head over to DIYFrugal.com for more money saving tips.

Disney on Ice: Let's Celebrate

As a part of the Feld Family Activators through Mom Central, we once again enjoyed a fun evening at Disney on Ice in the Wachovia Center. The theme for this one was Let's Celebrate.

 

Skaters swirling magically, fantastic props and classic prince and princess numbers greeted us during the icy celebration. I have to say it was my favorite because it added some unique elements like glow-in-the-dark skating broomsticks that accompanied Mickey Mouse as a Wizard, the new prince & princess from The Princess and The Frog, and several international numbers. With such great seats, you really see and appreciate the skill and talent that goes into doing what they do- on ice!

Found this great overview on YouTube:

Because my husband likes his evenings at home, I have taken the opportunity with each show to invite one friend of my daughters. For the circus, we brought my youngest's best friend from down the street. For the last Disney on Ice, we brought a friend of my oldest daughter from school.

For this one, we took the daughter of friends of family. The best part about taking this little girl (even if she is 14 and older than my two) is that she LOVES Disney and had been asking her mom about going this year after hearing about it on the radio. When I learned that she wanted to go, I was more than happy to have her take the extra ticket. I honestly didn't even ask my husband b/c I knew it would mean so much more to her and it did.

With the help of Disney & Mom Central, I was able to make one little girl's dream come true! (Well, actually three little girl's dreams come true but who's counting?)

 

My youngest, our friend's daughter, my oldest - Three little mousekateers!

***The show is still going through January 3rd and tickets are available through ComcastTix. Use Coupon Code: MOM to get 4 tickets for $44!

Product Review: Powermat Wireless Charger

When I first saw the Powermat Wireless Charger on one of the news stations promoting gifts for men, the technology looked too good to be true (and in some ways it is but I'll get to that) but I could see its advantages so I agreed to review this hot new gadget.

For the review, I received the Powermat Home and Office Mat, the Powermat Portable Mat, the enabling cases for the DSi and for an ITouch.

Both the Home and Office Mat and the Portable Mat charge up to 3 Powermat-enabled devices simultaneously (plus one USB power port). And, they work with all Powermat receivers. Included in the box for each is a universal Powercube with 8 tips that enable you to charge different devices. A magnetized case for holding the tips is also included.

Both mats retail for $99.99. The ITouch case retails for $39.99 and the DSi case retails for $29.99.

After opening the mat and testing it on my phone and several of my children's devices, I took it to my Intro to Digital Media class. One student charged her ITouch and another charged his phone while they took their final.

I found out a couple of things and I will break them down into advantages and disadvantages for you:

Advantages:

• By keeping all the devices charging together, we only use one outlet in the wall which fulfills the claim of this gadget cleaning up the electronic clutter on your countertop.
• We also know where to go to find our devices rather than searching the walls for wires leading to DSs my children randomly plug in everywhere.
• In a hotel room (of let's say, four mom bloggers on conference), having one place to plug in the portable mat could be quite convenient especially since you might not have a car for all your usual car chargers if you are travelling.
• The USB port is nice for the Apple devices if you use your smart phone to communicate and not a laptop when travelling. (One particular student of mine likes the portable option the best. I do think this one gets my vote for usefulness especially for those who travel or students who max out their dorm room outlets & space!)

Disadvantages:

• I found out quickly that I had received DSi cases but we have two DSs which take a different enabler. (Fortunately, I actually won a DSi and will be giving it to my daughter for Christmas. Then, we can use the case!)
• ***I also realized that without an enabling case, you are back to the old plug-in system which is okay but then you only have one powering cube.
• The enabling cases that allow you to quickly drop your device onto a mat without plugging in (thus the word "wireless" in the description) would have to replace any current casing you use which may not sit too well with device owners that love their variety of colors.
• I also found that while the ITouch case worked perfectly for my student who had a more recently released ITouch, it did not slide easily onto my first generation one. Amazing what a hair breadth of difference makes.
• And, this system is a bit pricey for a way to get more organized.

Recommendations:

I would use this device over common charging stations that I see on the market, like the ones with little pockets or shelves that could look cluttered with wires hanging out the back. This product is cleaner and more compact.

I would probably buy 2 more power cubes to maximize the space on the mat. The power cubes allow me to plug in devices without searching for cases to the things I really want to charge which may or may not be available. 

This mat is most useful if you have a lot of devices to charge and limited space. I like the portable mat the best for regular travellers and college students.

Nativity Blog Hop

Here's my entry for Janmary's Nativity Blog Hop! There another nativity in the post below about our Christmas decorations but this is our main one. Great idea, Janmary!

 

Taking the Bloganthropy Pledge

Bloganthropy is challenging individuals to take a pledge to use social media for a good cause. 

Here are the basic pledge rules from the Bloganthropy website:

Will you join us in our three steps to a better world pledge? Promise to:

1. Choose one charitable project, organization, or cause.
2. Spread the word on at least two social media platforms (your blog, Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Whrrl, Flickr, forums, etc.) about the charitable effort of your choice.
3. Volunteer at least three hours of your time to the charitable effort of your choice.

When you pledge, you will not only be making a commitment to your community and yourself, you will also be using your social media influence to make your message viral.

And we’ll help you spread the word, too–just end us your links on Facebook or Twitter (@bloganthropy use the hashtag #bloganthropy). We will also hold a carnival of philanthropy on the last Friday of every month, starting in January 2010.

Lend a hand and inspire others and together, we can build a better world.

Again, click here to take part in this celebration of helping others!

I first heard of Bloganthropy when Debbie from Mamanista invited me to go with her tomorrow to deliver a car load of toys to Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania down in Philadelphia. I told her I would be happy to go and tweeted it to her too. I saw she was using the hashtag #bloganthropy and I had to go check it out. What a great idea! If I had thought of it first, I would have loved to start a blog committed to philanthropy. I am an avid believer in volunteering and helping our community with our time.

Which is why I am hoping to make my volunteer commitment to the Phoenixville Area Time Bank. I just wrote an article about it on my other blog DIYFrugal. Check it out HERE.

There are Time Banks nationwide but there is a really active chapter near me. While I plan to earn some hours to bank and receive services back, I can also volunteer hours to donate to the PA Helping Fund that gives help to others who can't give back right away.

Now, go take your own pledge!

Home for the Holidays

My girls did most of the decorating this year as I finished grading finals and submitting grades. This post is in their honor for their ingenuity and innovation. (BUT, I will say I added the Santa hat to the Grandma doll). I really see the years I worked at Ten Thousand Villages coming across in my decorations. There are also a number of cleverly painted items from my aunt Pat.

I missed all the home tour carnivals (like at The Nester who had 1085 entries!! Go check out all the creativity and holiday spirit.) But, what can you do? Maybe next year (when I actually get my Christmas wreaths on the windows and front doors again.)

 

   
 
  

 

New Years Ruminations. . . a little early . . .

I sit down in a post-Cabernet Sauvignon funk to think about why I blog, why I put my thoughts out for the world to see, why I would rather be writing than watching TV right now, what my goals for 2010 might be and then, the front door opens as if by magic -- my children know when I actually sit down to take a break -- interrupting the few moments of solitude.

"Can you come here for a sec?"

"No. Why?"

"I think I dislocated my hip."

"Okay, then come in and take off everything [namely, snow clothes]."

"No way. I'm going back out."

"Fine." (though this last part isn't even heard by the assumed hip dislocated daughter who in one second declares she is in pain and the other is running back outside which would be physically impossible if she really hurt herself.)

I just got home from trudging through the snow to catch up with a neighbor who is going through a tough month. We talked about life, God, God's ultimate plan and the tests we have to go through whether we like it or not. She relates to the analogy from her recent classes towards her Masters and I can relate b/c I have to give those tests as a professor. I tell her that I tell my students that the tests are going to be hard but I give the material to succeed. What they do with that material is up to them.  Some excel. Some fail.

I think about life that way. God knows what tests are ahead and He gives us the material to handle them. What we do with that material is up to us. I could stop the tests my students take but how would they learn? How would they process the material and learn from it? God knows what we need to know to handle the trials in life. He also gave us His word (the Bible) and then the Holy Spirit in our hearts to be prepared for what life brings on.

I am feeling totally convicted right now that I need to read my Bible more. I need to stick to my budget more. I need to stick to my diet more. I think I am having a pre-New Year's Resolutions moment. January 1st is coming fast and I already have my list started. There are so many things to think through for 2010. So many things to do, to praise God for, to achieve, to accomplish, to enjoy, to cry about, to cry with, to experience. Where do I begin?

First of all, what am I truly trying to achieve through blogging?

What am I truly trying to achieve out of life?

What glorifies the Lord?

What honors Him?

How do I fulfill my obligations fully?

How do I do one thing well? Or, am I created to do multiple things and nothing to perfection?

Should I write my book this year? Should I write more posts . . articles  . . . books? Should I focus on my classes and community obligations more?

Oh, so many questions. Nothing like a little red wine to make the mind introspective. Forgive me. I am signing off now.