Introducing Widge!

NAME:
Widge


LOCATION:
New Zealand


AGE:
29


HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BLOGGING FOR:

Since May 2009



WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION THE MEDIA GIVES OF WOMEN:

That to be happy we must portray the myth of a perfect life. There is no such thing.



WHAT INSPIRES YOU THE MOST:

Sincere words of encouragement.
Seeing other women living with a passion for what they are doing.


WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME:

Well lately I have to say it's been blogging :) but I also love to meet up with my best friends when I have spare time. They always refill my tank.

I paint and draw and love to read. I find going for a long walk a great way to relax.


WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BLOG:

I love the idea of it and I was honoured to be asked! I'm passionate about women! I think they are amazing and I'm very glad to be one.


DO YOU HAVE A FAVOURITE DISH:

ooooh that's a hard one, I like food a lot. I recently had braised lamb shanks to die for! And my favourite dessert is lemon meringue pie.


YOUR FAVOURITE PLACE TO SPEND TIME:

I have a very old ugly recliner chair in the most sunny part of my lounge that I love to sit in and read (or have a nana nap)



WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE A WOMAN:

When I look at my 4 amazing kids and marvel at how I was able to grow them in my own body. Also when I see how my Husband and I can be so different yet compliment each other so well.


BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED WAS:

We're all just idiots on the bus ( My amazing Canadian friend Cat)

Welcome La'Tonya

NAME:

La'Tonya Richardson

LOCATION:

Pine Bluff, AR

AGE:

I'm 41, and loving every minute of it. I don't look 41, and I like to think I look 26. At least I feel 26.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BLOGGING FOR:

September 9, made one year. Happy Bloggyversery to me!

WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION THE MEDIA GIVES OF WOMEN:

The media puts us in categories. We're either the hot in the pants hussy, the happy home maker, domineering man hater, or the timid woman who has grits for brains, and is just waiting for a man to come rescue her. We are so much more, lawyers, doctors, mothers and super hero's to name a few.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU THE MOST:

Watching God in nature. How a tree blooms every spring, and reaches toward the sky, geese flying in formation, the a perfect sunset, in colors on God has in his box.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME:

Writing, cooking, and watching movies with the family.

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BLOG:

I love sites that bring together women in positive ventures.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE DISH:

Today, my favorite dish is fried green tomatoes. Technically it's still summer, and it has been my favorite southern summer dish for the past few months. Give me another month, I'll have a fall favorite.

YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SPEND TIME:

A small community called Caledonia, on about 80 acres. Although my grandparents are no longer there, the memories, and peace remain.

WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE A WOMAN:

That I came from proud, hard working, smart women, and now I have the opportunity to pass that on to my four girls.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED WAS:

Never ask for more than you're willing to work for. Remembering that, makes me think twice before I raise my hand.

INTRODUCING:

NAME: GIONI BONNELL

LOCATION: JEROMESVILLE, OHIO

OCCUPATION: INTERIOR DECORATOR,STAGER,WRITER, HOLLYWOOD PROPS


BUSINESS: COUNTRY ACCENTS & PRIMITVES

AGE: 54

HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BLOGGING FOR:

I'VE BEEN BLOGGING FOR A YEAR & DON'T KNOW WHY I DIDN'T START SOONER :) SUCH A GREAT COMMUNITY OF BLOGGERS & VERY SUPPORTIVE.


WHAT IS THE BIGGEST MISCONCEPTION THE MEDIA GIVES OF WOMEN:

THAT THEY CAN'T ACHIEVE THE GOALS & STATUS OF A MAN, SO SOMETIMES AREN'T
WILLING TO GIVE US A TRY.

WHAT INSPIRES YOU THE MOST:

I'M INSPIRED BY WOMEN WHO THROUGH ADVERSITY RISE UP & ACCOMPLISH & FULLFILL
THEIR DREAMS & ASPIRATIONS & NEVER GIVE UP ON THEIR GOALS.

WHAT DO YOU ENJOY DOING IN YOUR SPARE TIME:

I ENJOY LIVING LIFE, TAKING TIME TO ENJOY THE SMALL THINGS, WHETHER IT BE
WALKING IN THE GARDEN & WATCHING A BEE OR ON THE HUNT FOR THAT TREASURE AT FLEA
MARKETS & TAG SALES. I ENJOY CREATING, WRITING, READING, GARDENING,YOGA, ANTIQUEING & MAKING PEOPLE SMILE WITH MY CRAZINESS :)

WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO CONTRIBUTE TO THIS BLOG:

I HAVE BEEN A WRITER SINCE I WAS 14, POETRY & SHORT STORIES BACK THEN. I BELIEVE
I HAVE A LOT OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT DECORATING, HERBOLOGY, GARDENING, MEDICINE &
LOVE TO SHARE WITH OTHERS EASY SHORTCUTS TO EVERYDAY DILEMMAS.

DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE DISH:

I LOVE COOKING ITALIAN....SHRIMP SCAMPI, EGGPLANT PARMESAN; I MAKE A KILLER
GOURMET GRILLED CHEESE & BACON SANDWICHES.

YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO SPEND TIME:

TOUGH ONE.....I HAVE A VINTAGE CAMPER, THAT I GLAMMED UP (GLAMPER), I GO THERE
TO "CHILL" & READ & TRY TO BLOCK OUT ALL THE WORK I HAVE TO DO AT HOME. I MAKE
SEVERAL TRIPS A YEAR TO CONNECTICUT FOR "TREASURES" & I TRY TO ESCAPE TO MY
STUDIO IN THE BACKYARD TO WRITE, WHEN IT'S NOT FILLED WITH PROJECTS.

WHAT MAKES YOU PROUD TO BE A WOMAN:

WHEN I KNOW I HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO PEOPLES LIVES, WHETHER IT BE FROM MY
CREATIONS, SEEING THE LOOKS ON PEOPLES FACES WHEN THEY PURCHASE SOMETHING I MADE
OR WHETHER IT BE FROM MEDICAL KNOWLEDGE I HAVE PASSED ON TO THEM OR JUST BEING A
SHOULDER FOR SOMEONE TO LEAN ON, BASICALLY KNOWING THAT I HELPED SOMEONE.

BEST PIECE OF ADVICE YOU EVER RECEIVED WAS:
DO WHAT YOU LOVE & FIGURE OUT HOW TO GET PAID FOR IT & GO FOR YOUR DREAM
(MOTHER)! SHE HAD QUITE A SENSE OF HUMOR

Workshifting for Life Balance

I thought I had this personal life vs. work life balance thing in check. When I worked for another company, it was easy to leave the office early to attend one of my son's sporting events or go serve cupcakes at a class party and not think twice about it. Those e-mails could be answered tomorrow. Those phone calls could wait a few hours to be returned. I had my priorities perfectly aligned. My son always came first.
But, now that I am working for myself, I am having a harder time segregating my two lives. Technology has provided us with some wonderfully life-enhancing tools: the internet, the iPhone, the laptop computer... it makes it wonderfully easy to work on the go.
My husband is a fabulous father who not only goes to all of our son's sports games, but the practices as well. He wants to be there to see what my son needs to work on so he is the best player he can be. It's how they bond - through sports. But my son always jokes about how "Dad's on his Crackberry" checking e-mails and taking phone calls while he's throwing the ball to my son with the other hand. So, how truly engaged and in the moment is he?
Now that I am working for myself, as a partner in Gangway Advertising agency, I find that the lines between my personal and work life are blurred more than ever. I have more to accomplish than ever before and I feel the heated breathe of time right on my heels, chasing me every minute of the day.
In the old days (you know, like two years ago) an agency would develop a campaign for a client, develop ads, negotiate a media buy and then we were off to the races. The ads would run in various publications or messages would play over the radio or TV and our job was to sit back and evaluate response and return on investment (ROI).
Social media is revolutionizing the world of advertising and it's such an exciting time to be in this field. At the same time, twitter never turns off. In social media content is everything. If you don't have engaging content that people will forward (or re-tweet) and comment on - you have nothing. In today's marketing world our clients have social media strategies that call for me to find, create and post content not only on a daily basis - but multiple times throughout the day. And then there's the research and the tracking involved in growing their base of followers.

With more to do than ever before and only so many hours in the day to do it - the struggle then becomes, how to fit it all in?! If you are doing multiple tasks at the same time, are you really able to give 100% to any one thing? I used to joke that "I worked my day job from 9 to 5, then went home to do my other full-time job - Motherhood." Now, I have to figure out a way to do both jobs at 100% at the same time. Oh yeah, and find time for my friends and personal interests. (Hi friends! Remember me!)
I envy the Gen Y'ers. This is the only life they've ever known and for them the integration between their work and personal life is seamless. But I'm an old dog trying to learn some new tricks. Let's hear it for the old dogs! Woot!
Is this new life better than the old way of life. In some ways, yes. in some ways, no. But there's no turning back. How do you balance between your personal and work life? Feel free to share your tips and tricks.


- Cynthia Smoot
Cynthia lives in Dallas, Texas. She is Mother to a nine year-old son, a Mommy Blogger who's blog Oh So Cynthia talks about her life as a working Mother and a Partner and Integrated Media Director for Gangway Advertising

I went all the way to Asia to spend time with myself

I went on a trip to Asia with a friend. I thought it was going to be a wonderful girls trip. About 5 days in i realized that what I wanted to [do/see/experience] were different than my companions. So I broke off and made my own way. We would meet up at night or in the morning and share our days or our plans.

The trip was [amazing/challenging/tiring/fun/beautiful/disgusting/long]. Along the way I got to see so many wonderful things. I fell in love with three different cultures {China, KOREA & Japan}. I tried three unique cuisines. I saw ancient architecture, shopped in large and small markets and traveled by all modes we could think ok. By [Plane/train/bus/subway/car/ferry/taxi].

Along the way I learned something’s about myself.

I could travel alone and be ok: In Korea my travel buddies wanted to spend more time in beauty parlor than seeing the sites. Both of the ladies I was with had been to Seoul or Lived there. So I was pretty much on my own. I would get up early and leave before they woke up. I would stay out all day riding around the subway on my own, booking trips, eating local food, visiting site, the DMZ, and enjoying Seoul on my own.

At first I was a little nervous to go out on my own into a city I had never been to. It was so empowering to be out on my own, making my way on my own. I loved every minute of it. I took my trip into my own hands and did everything I wanted. I left knowing I had done everything I wanted in Seoul.

Down falls of traveling alone: you have to count on the photographic skills of strangers. You take most of your pictures with one arm. Occasionally you forget to zoom out.

I am adventurous: I have a nervous stomach. I once had parasites that messed me up forever. So I was a little concerned about eating the local food. BUT I DID! I tried it all. RAW horse, fish with a head still on, stinky tofu, Kimchi, Korean BBQ, lotus roots & silk larva.

Some of it made me want to gag. Other food I LOVED. It was fun to be adventurous and try everything put in front of me.

Stinky Tofu in China, Pumpkin Gruel in Korea, Lotus Roots in Japan

I am strong: During the trip I walked at minimum of 6 miles a day. Up and down hills, across town, over all sorts of terrain. I dragged my butt up and down thousands of flights of stairs in and out of the subway. Most of it while carrying my 30lbs carry on bag. Sometimes in the pouring rain. ALL of it high temperatures and 100% humidity. There were days I thought I couldn’t go another step, but I did.

I hiked up all 3937 feet up to the top of Namsam tower. It made for a long night after hiking around all day, and walking down the third infantry tunnel at the DMZ. But I did it. Even after the Buff guys walking down said “She’ll never make it”. WELL SCREW YOU I AM STRONG, and I made it!

I can make friends anywhere: While in Okinawa I booked a dive trip. I was a little hesitant at first. I was supposed to go diving with one of the girls I was traveling with. She bailed. I pushed forward. There were two things I wanted to do. See the great wall and go Diving in Okinawa. The great wall fell through, I wasn’t going to let diving slip through my fingers. So I went. I made new friends.

The trip ended up being a lot of fun. I made SCUBA friends! We spent the day chatting and diving, swimming and chatting. We exchanged emails addresses and are now keeping in touch.

I also made friends in KOREA! I wanted to see the demilitarized zone, so I headed out on my own. I made friends with some of the Army guys on the trip. We ate silk larva together and hung out in iteawon after the tour was over. It was fun to meet people from all over the world and the US. To make friends. To spend time together. To enjoy new people.

I felt strong and confident on this trip. I had no fear. It was the first time in a long time that I felt like myself again. I wasn't hiding, I wasn't bogged down with work drama. I was me. IT was refreshing to be back to my old self. I know I didn't have to go all the way to China to rememeber who I am. Or all the way to Korea to learn about myself.

BUT the trip didn't hurt! The experince was once in a life time. And it was just what I needed to feel like myself again.

♥ Single Girl

Your Life According to Google!

This is Fun! Try it, good for a laugh!


1 .Type in "[your first name] needs" in the Google search;
Ten reasons why Carly Jack should get back together (it was actually the second one
2.Type in"[your first name] looks like" in google search:
Carly looks like shirley temple (third one)


3: Type in "[your first name] hates" in Google search:
Carly hates spiders!!



4: Type in "[your first name] goes" in Google search:
Carly goes to Hollywood! (Love it!)


5: Type in "[your first name] loves" in Google search:
Carly loves Lauren??


6 type in ''[your first name] eats in google search:
Carly eats a raw oyster


7:Type in "[your first name] has'' in google search:
Carly has face surgery part 1 (scary!)

Summer is Not Over Yet!

Agave Lemondade
SERVES: 4
TIME: 5 minutes

* 1/2 cup of freshly squeezed lemon juice
* 1/2 cup light agave syrup
* 1 quart of water
* a few lemon slices for garnish, if you like

Mix everything together, adding a bit more of any ingredient, if necessary, so it’s just the right mix of sweet and tart for your taste.

Enjoy Ladies!

Happy Hump Day! This is one of my aussie favourites Hope you like!

Musings on the Time Magazine Article

Recently Time Magazine published an article named "Why Exercise Won't make you Thin" by John Cloud http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html
I thought I would respond:
Exercise is essential for weight loss, because without strength-training, you will lose both fat AND muscle, and that will lead to a diminished metabolism. You must perform strength-training or you are doomed to fail.

That being said, the article in Time magazine is interesting. There is a relationship between exercise and the desire to reward oneself.

I did gain almost 20lbs by training for triathlons. For some reason I thought a bagel with cream cheese after a 70 mile bike ride was fine. So, was the McDonalds Milk Shake after running intervals for a hour at the track. Fast forward 10 years...

I actually lost body fat and weight when I had a little baby and he wouldn't sit for more than 30 minutes at a time waiting for me to workout. I had to workout more efficiently and harder. I also "compensated" by eating really strictly!

Although today, our kids are older and would put up with a 2 hour workout, I am pleased with the results that a really intense workout gives me. Time management is awesome. We also have an active lifestyle. I walk my dog, we hike on weekends, we play in the swimming pool with our kids.

I buy only organic, grass fed all natural meats. We eat tons of fresh veggies and fruit. We are trying to lead an active, healthy lifestyle. Exercise enhances life and allows for a better quality of life. Perhaps for some, that’s not important. But as leisure activities take a back seat and calorie consumption increases (women eat an average of 300 calories a day more than 30 yrs. ago), we need to take a long hard look at our lifestyle. A healthy weight is a byproduct of healthy living.

In the past we grew our our own food, cleaned our laundry with our hands, walked to school, did our own gardening. . .we moved all the time. Moving is good. Eating healthy is good.

Just my musings on the article.
Check out our blog at www.formwell.blogspot.com
Heather Odeh

Photoshop Diet

If you type 'Photoshop diet' into YouTube you get an alarming number of these behind the scenes photo manipulation videos, which leave me feeling rather amazed and sick at the same time. I believe it's great that technology is so advanced yet it also sickens me to think that the world sees such a distorted image. It saddens me that young girls across the globe look up to a fake image and sigh and say "I wish I looked that gorgeous/pretty/amazing/thin..." when in fact the image has been photoshopped to death!

This video is an older one which I am sure many readers will have seen yet I believe it is good to watch it again....
I invite you to share this with young girls you know.