I had a chance to chat with Chris Rodell, the Author behind the bestselling book of stories of what he calls the “Golf King.” First, I must share our connection together. If you recall back in 2010, TSA became a nightmare and pat-downs became more invasive in airports across the country. It was on the nightly news night after night. I shared this on my Facebook Page: “I am Pat Downs and I do not appreciate people not wanting me in their airports!” READ MORE…
While most go to Starbucks for their morning coffee, I go for these people. When it comes to coffee, I am what you call a “weak” drinker. When I do drink coffee, I have to load it up with tons of creamer and Splenda to be able to handle it. These ladies have mastered my favorite “Patty” smoothie that over time we have mixed and changed and laughed over. It starts out with what we call “frozen chocolate milk.” Cold non-fat milk, 1.5 pumps of their superb mocha, frozen, double blended is the mixture. READ MORE…
By Pat Downs, Miss September 2018
If you have ever been through the busy drive-through lane at Chick-Fil-A #11525, you have surely met Ronda. This Chick-Fil-A is super busy and the drive-thru lane can wrap outside this Pleasant Ridge Location. This fine lady makes it worth the wait. Not taking anything away from the great food and service that Chick-Fil-A offers, but Ronda is a delight! It doesn’t matter if it is early morning rush, lunch, or anytime that she is working, it is all smiles from Ronda. READ MORE about Ronda here.
I am honored to be named Blogger of the Month for September. I started just a few short months ago in March of 2018. My son (who was my baby) had just gotten married and I found myself being a little down and in a bit of a rut.
For those who know me well know that I have the “gift to gab.” I also love to cook at our office for my co-worker’s in our old ancient oven, I call Betsy. I was talking to one of my co-worker’s and said, “I think I will blog.” She encouraged me to do just that. Having an extensive background in computers and software applications, the technical part came easy. I knew that I didn’t want to blog all about myself. I wanted to share stories of others that have touched my life in some way. I also wanted to mix a food blog with a lifestyle blog in hopes that I would inspire others.
I found myself part of this wonderful group of Arkansas Women Bloggers and have been encouraged and enjoy being part of a group that supports each other. I sat down to begin blogging and I have become obsessive about it since. I am truly honored to have several articles published in OIA and have been able to write stories about some wonderful people that have blessed me tremendously.
My blog has really grown and has taken off in a short amount of time. The stories I have written about hospitality have been my biggest views. My nephew called and said he heard “The Buzz” talking about the blog and the story that I had written on Ronda at Chic-Fil-A. I was more excited to see how much Ronda loved all the attention. It was when I was recognized with a wonderful note from the Owner of Chic-Fil-A, that I knew I was to continue writing about others.
I am a Native Arkansan. It has been said that I am about as “southern sounding” as they come. I have been married for 29 years and have two beautiful children. I recently gained a beautiful daughter in February when my son walked down the aisle. I come from a huge family and I am the baby of seven. I have so many nieces and nephews that I must keep up with them in a spreadsheet. We have four animals. My little shiatzu is named Blake Shelton after the Country Singer. I am obsessed with NCIS and Elvis. Greg (I call husband) and I go to the movies just about every weekend.
Some fun facts about me that come to mind would be:
1. I would rather have a good glass of sweet tea than the best steak you could buy.
2. I was interviewed several years ago for an article for MSNBC.com about my name due to the attention of “pat downs” in airports. The article went viral which led to me talking on the air with the late Jay Thomas (Cheers Sitcom) on his morning radio show in New York. He picked up the paper on his commute to New York and saw my photo with the tagline “I am Pat Downs and I do not appreciate people not wanting me in their airports!” The author of the story, Chris Rodell and I have kept in touch since.
3. I have taught hundreds of people Microsoft Office Applications including being honored to teach some of Arkansas best “Your Honors.”
Thank you again for this incredible recognition. Please follow me on my social media accounts:
Blog: https://www.sweetyellowcornbread.com
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/sweetyellowcornbread
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sweetyellowcornbread
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/patdowns1
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sweetyellowcornbread and https://www.facebook.com/patdowns
New York is my soul city. I love the energy there. And I love Broadway musicals, so it’s the perfect place for me. I’ve been 9 times so far, and so when my friends go, they always ask for my tips and recommendations. I wrote up all of my favorite things to do and see so when someone asks, I can just send them my link.
If you want to visit NYC someday, check out some of these fun things we’ve done over the years. Or if you’ve been to New York, I would love to hear if you have been to any of these places and get your other suggestions for our next trip.
As a Southern woman, I love three things: a good party, a good party theme and party punch. I think every party should at least have a color theme, and most are more fun with some themed decorations and other touches. I threw a bumblebee baby shower for a friend and, naturally, we needed a yellow punch. There’s always lemonade, but I wanted something different. I’m sort of known for my punch in my party circle, so I needed something special. This pineapple lemonade is tart and tangy and sweet and perfect. And to be honest, it would be great as a cocktail with some light rum added.
Read more and get the recipe here.
I remember in high school trying really hard to fit in, feigning interest in Call of Duty to hang with boys who liked it. Being into music I didn’t love because it was cool. Don’t we all struggle with trying to fit in? Over the years, I’ve learned that it’s way more important to follow your passions and your interests, and then find your tribe around those things. And that’s what blogging has been for me.
I’m Brittney, and I blog over at Razorback Britt. I am married to Tyler, a police officer, and we have one daughter, Remington. We also have two rambunctious pups and a pond full of catfish. I work full-time doing digital marketing, and spend my free time with friends, at church, at concerts, shopping, cooking and dancing around my house. Three of my favorite things are queso (and chips), Hanson (yes, MMMBop Hanson), and group texting (with GIFs). Enough about me. How did I get here?
I started blogging back in 2009. I was in graduate school studying digital communication, and decided I should jump into the medium I was studying. I loved reading blogs, and wanted to join the fun. I was planning a wedding, living on my own for the first time, and chugging away as a full time graduate student. That’s what my content was about, and that’s the community I found.
Over the years, I’ve documented building our home, navigating life and work, and growing our family. I’ve always connected with people in similar life situations, or people with similar interests. Nowadays, my blog is mostly about my sweet (almost) 2-year-old daughter, our family adventures, and my hobbies of fitness, Broadway musicals and cooking. Every step of the way, the Arkansas Women Bloggers have been there to support, encourage and help me find my voice.
I’m honored to serve as the Arkansas Women Blogger of the Month for August. This month, I’m excited to share a little more about my passions and my interests with you. Maybe you’ll learn something new or find a common interest with me.
I love online communities. They may not be in-person, but they are real. I find real support, real connections, and real friendships through this keyboard. I hope people get to know me through my blog, and I look forward to getting to know new friends as well.
Fun Facts:
I originally wanted to study music education and own a music studio. But I learned that there would be a TON of learning about instruments, and I was easily frustrated learning piano and guitar, and decided that wasn’t for me.
I was Arkansas Baby Miss America in 1988. My family went to California for the Baby Miss America pageant. I didn’t place, but we had a fun trip.
I’m obsessed with Broadway musicals. I have seen more than 100 professional shows, either on Broadway or touring companies.
I listen to podcasts. A lot. I listen while I drive (60 minutes round trip each day), while I get ready and while I clean. I subscribe to more than 30 podcasts at any point in time.
https://www.facebook.com/RazorbackBritt/
https://twitter.com/brittneydeanne
by Katharine Trauger, Miss July 2018
Once, so long ago—it almost seems a dream—I did what we dream of, and seldom do: I traveled to meet a virtual friend. Such an enchanting drive across this fair land into a world with different flora! Such an alluring visit as we finally met, shared gifts, and enjoyed her amazing teen offspring! Spending the night, encountering new books I could not wait to own and read, sampling of her very best cooking, and absorbing such a welcome, I marveled at the joy and peace and love that could thrive inside the very, very simplest of worlds . . .READ MORE
by Katharine Trauger, Miss July 2018
Fear. It grips us. We can feel it in our bones. Smell it. Sometimes, even, others can smell it on us. It cripples, paralyzes, and robs us. It causes us to miss out, to fall back, to give up.
We can be talented, cheery, sharp, and brilliant. We really can.
If we don’t “chicken out” . . .READ MORE
by Katharine Trauger, Miss July 2018
We grow. And we wait.
Little girls long for the day when we become grown, have adult bodies, bear children. Then those days arrive and suddenly we are overwhelmed. Suddenly we are unaware of the passage of time. Suddenly we are old and we forget what, if anything, we did with the time.
It doesn’t take long to wish for our youth back, to begin looking for comfort, to catch ourselves faltering, to wonder . . .READ MORE
