Connecting with Local Mommy Bloggers

This morning, I had the opportunity to attend the Columbus Metropolitan Library Summer Reading Club kick-off event. The library welcomed local Columbus Mommy Bloggers for a special talk given by the library’s director. It was a great experience, and my first time every connecting face-to-face with other mommy bloggers!

We were all able to exchange blog information, websites, twitter urls, and contact information. I was the newest mommy blogger out of all of the attendees, although some of the other moms had been blogging for years! I also learned that there are other local events for mommy bloggers which I may be interested in.

The mommy bloggers I met:

Summer
@EverythingMoms and http://everythingmoms.blogspot.com

Amy
@amyturnsharp or @littlealouette and http://www.alittlealoutte.com

Kristin
@cbusmom and http://www.cbusmom.com

Christina
@mommystory and http://amommystory.blogspot.com

Alvin
@wyliemac and http://the270.com

Dawn
@thiswomanswork and http://www.thiswomanswork.com

Sometimes, being the New Breed Mamas that we are, we don’t always have the chance to meet and talk to our internet and twitter friends face to face. However, I encourage anyone who has the opportunity, to venture out and meet other local mommy bloggers face to face. Building local connections is a great way to build up readership and to stay ‘in-the-know’ about what’s going on for mothers in your neck of the woods!

“To blog, or not to blog?”

First, it must be said that I am a newbie blogger. It’s been a little over a month since I started blogging, and it’s no secret that I absolutely love it! I love writing. I love the rush I get when I hit the “publish” button. And I love reading everyone else’s blogs!

If only someone would pay me to spend my days at home writing articles, blogging, and reading the amazing blogs written by other, fabulous, New Breed Mamas... (And if, by some chance, you are someone willing to pay me to do just that, by all means, email me now! *Hint,hint. Wink, wink.*)

With that being said, my family can obviously not afford the luxury of me staying home to work on building up my writing career. That leaves little ole me to juggle a full-time, job, two kids, my husband, my house, our dog, and whatever else is needing done on any given day.

For this New Breed Mama, who is trying to do it all, finding time to work on my blog and other articles is difficult. (And that, my friends, may be the understatement of the year!) However, since I am a passionate woman, who is passionate about writing, I make the time – at least on most days.

Luckily, I am blessed with an amazing husband, who is super-supportive of my dream. He picks up where I leave off, and for that reason, he is my hero.

Still, there are days when it is very hard to find the time and energy to write. Today is one of those days.

Yesterday was my sons’ field day at school. Being the super-mom that I am, I had volunteered to run one of the activities. After agreeing to spend my Thursday with a bunch of crazy-excitable children who were ready for summer vacation, I had thought that I might as well schedule my Friday off work too. And heck, since I had Friday off too, and my 10 year high school reunion coming up the following week, and a fro that was desperately in need of some TLC, I was determined to pencil in a trip to Indianapolis to visit my rockin’ hairdresser of a mama!

So, my last day and a half has been a whirlwind of, 1- sugared-up elementary school students, 2 - driving three hours through a torrential down-pour with two argumentative, cranky, seven year olds who were coming down from a sugar-high, 3 – visiting with my mama and stepfather, and later my baby sister and brother in law, 4 – stepfather taking my boys for a fast ride in his little BMW convertible, 5 – brother in law taking each of the boys on their first-ever Harley ride, while I watched in absolute terror (yes, I made them wear helmets!), 6 – a spa day for me (yay!) including a manicure, pedicure, cut, color, and wax, while the boys spent the day swimming with grandpa, 7 – rushing home to make sure the boys made it to their 7 pm baseball game, 8 – spending a half hour waiting in the rain at the ball field, only to find out that their game was cancelled (which, then, the sun promptly re-appears!), 9 – dinner out with the family at a sports bar/restaurant (where, by the way, this woman won $65 dollars playing keno!), and finally 10 – home again, home again, jiggity, jig.

Once in the safety and comfort of my own home, as I felt the tiredness settling in, I had to ask myself, “To blog, or not to blog?”

What would you do?

How I Became Addicted to Twitter

It all started last November, when I began tossing around my age-old dream of writing a book. I had always wanted to write a book, but I never had any good book ideas. I know me, and I know that in order to devote the time and effort to write a book, the subject would have to be something that I’m truly passionate about.

One morning, during my husband’s “busy season” at work, while I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off, trying to get the boys dressed and out the door, it occurred to me that I am A New Breed of Mom. It occurred to me that I, like most other moms today, am somehow different than my mom and, really, all other generations of moms that have come before me. That morning, an idea sparked in my head. When I write my book, it will be about A New Breed of Mom.

My idea, at least initially, had faded, just as quickly as it had come to the forefront of my mind. Then, in April, after things in my life had slowed down a little bit, and just when I was starting to feel a little too comfortable and too complacent with my life, the idea came rushing back. I would feed my need to feel productive, and successful, by finally writing my book.

Oh, but wait, who am I? I can’t just run out and write a book and expect for a publisher to notice me, and to see me for what I really am – a diamond in the ruff. No, I would have to have a platform upon which to sell my book. Hmmm…. What I needed was a website, a blog - a place to start publishing my thoughts, advice, and experience about being A New Breed of Mom.

Then, presto! A New Breed of Mom was born!

You’re probably asking yourself, what does this have to do with Twitter? Well, I’ll tell you.

After A New Breed of Mom blog was up and running, I needed to figure out a way to generate some traffic for this site. I had heard of Twitter. My baby sister was on Twitter. But, I didn’t know if it was right for me. A social media marketing and networking sight? Did I have it in me to be that technologically savvy?

If you would have asked me a year ago what Twitter was, I wouldn’t have had the first clue. After several weeks of hearing the constant buzz on the T.V. and radio about “Twitter this” and “Twitter that” and “Follow so and so on Twitter”, I finally broke down and asked my youngest sister - what the heck was Twitter?! Initially, after being explained the concept, I said, “Nope. That’s not for me. I’m not a social media marketing kind of person.”

Ok, back to the somewhat present time. I needed a way to promote my blog. My sister said, join Twitter. It’s a little hard to catch onto, but you’ll love it. Ok. I will do it. I will join Twitter.

Then, I joined Twitter.

At first it was just about finding other ‘mommy bloggers’. Then it was about posting links to promote my articles. Then, it was about gaining followers. Now, it’s about having a network of, dare I say it, friends, who all share my interest in blogging about motherhood, parenthood, and the experiences of being a mother in today’s technologically advanced world.

Yes, my friends, I am addicted to Twitter. Are you?

Memorial Day Tribute

Dear Brave Men and Women of the United States Armed Forces,

On this day of rememberance, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have fought, and many have died, for this wonderful county I call home.

You have fought for our freedom. You have fought for our right to exist peacefully and raise our children in a safe world. You have fought, and you have risked your lives, so my family, and all American families, can peacefully lay our heads down upon our pillows and night, knowing that we are safe.

Because of your courage, bravery, and valor, I have the comfort of knowing that my family, my children, will grow up in a country where they can be anything they want to be and achieve anything they want to achieve. The United States of America is a country full of opportunities. The United States of America is a country where a woman can do anything and be anything she wishes to be. The United States of America is a country founded on freedom.

However, the freedom that is the foundation of The United States of America, has been protected throughout the years, by you, the brave men and women of The Unites States Armed Forces. On this Memorial Day, I remember you, I honor your for your services, and I will pass that on to my children.

Sincerest of thanks,

Lindsay

A Day in the Life of a Suburban Mom

I love my life.


Every single day, I am thankful for all the blessings in my life. I am thankful for my wonderful, supportive husband who loves us all so much. I am thankful for my two handsome boys. I am thankful for our beautiful home. I am thankful for our dog, Maxie, although it can be a love-hate relationship at times. (Maxie still has many, many accidents!) I am thankful for my own wonderful mom. I am thankful for the bond I have with my sisters. I am thankful for my in-laws, who live nearby and are always ready to help out. There is so much to be thankful for.

Today, I slept in until ten-thirty! It was lovely. I woke up and walked downstairs to be greeted by two smiling boys who were eager to go to the swimming pool for the day. My husband had the coffee brewing just as he does for me every morning. (Making me coffee every morning is John’s own little way of reminding me how much he loves me.) After the coffee was ready, we enjoyed a leisurely morning of sipping our coffee and cuddling on the couch, while watching the boys playing with Maxie on the floor.

In the afternoon, we went down to our community pool. My best girlfriend and her baby joined us for a little while. It was fun to watch the boys splashing around in the water. They are big enough now that they can be trusted in the water so you don’t have to watch them every single second. That is nice because I was able to do some reading while relaxing poolside.

After we returned from the pool we had dinner and then all three of my exhausted boys took a nap. Then this mama made a trip to Walmart. I’ll let you in on a secret - Walmart is very important to suburban moms, or at least this one. It’s a one stop shop! I picked up a few groceries, my son’s allergy medication, and some play clothes for the boys all in the same, inexpensive store.

Ok, I ventured off there – this post is starting to sound like a Walmart add!

My point is that life can be crazy for suburban moms. This suburban mom juggles work, playing taxi to her kids, grocery shopping, volunteering for school functions, cooking, cleaning, and the list goes on and on. It’s hard, but I love it.

I love it because there are days like today - days spent relaxing with the family I live and breathe for. What a beautiful life.