Hello everyone! I’m so honored to be asked to be the October blogger of the month. It’s another wonderful reminder of how important it is to “gather, grow, and connect” – because great things can come of it!

Who is this Deborah person?

I’ve been a full-time freelance writer off and on since I first graduated from college, with this last wave lasting for the past 8 years. I started out as a writer/producer of corporate videos, TV and radio commercials, newspaper ads, etc. and worked with or for companies such as Pizza Hut, Taco Bell International, Ryan International Airlines, Koch Industries, and a whole bunch of ad agencies, marketing companies, and video production facilities.

That’s me at the camera, hanging over the water while deciding on the perfect cute kid shot

The best part was it allowed me to move wherever I wanted, including Orlando, Florida. Unfortunately, I was there when the bottom fell out economically. Or rather, it basically keeled over and died for a while. Several struggling clients told me they were sorry but couldn’t pay my invoices and I was suddenly out several thousands of dollars. And starting to panic.

But you know that old saying about how when 1 door closes, another opens? Thankfully, that’s what happened. Orlando is a HUGE market for conferences of all types. (I guess everyone likes the idea of getting away to a place where they can bring along the whole family!)

Medical + Travel = Great Combination

In 2008, when I was approached about covering a medical conference in town that had already started, I said yes without completely understanding that it meant I’d be interviewing doctors and writing about newly presented research with a short 1-2 day turnaround. Yikes! I’m super grateful that the editor was very forgiving of my very amateurish efforts. But a strange thing happened – I really, really liked writing about medical topics and started learning everything I could.

That eventually led to a full-time contract (but still technically freelancing!) writing job in 2010 with an online news company’s psychiatry and mental health department, where I still am today.

Around the time I was reinventing myself as a medical writer, I began writing published travel stories. Hey, I was in Orlando so there was always something interesting to write about! Not surprisingly, writing about medical research and writing about a brand new roller coaster seemed to take different parts of the brain. It was fun giving each side of the mind a rest. And I fell in love with my new, dual career.

I’m on the right, screaming my head off!

Unfortunately, as I wrote before for this site, I left Orlando in a cloud of sadness after an important person to me suddenly passed away 4 years ago. [ http://arkansaswomenbloggers.com/reclaiming-beloved-city/ ] But it was Arkansas that welcomed me in a warm, comforting embrace. I’ll admit that as much as I appreciated my new state, I was very sad for quite a while and went back to just writing medical stories… That is, until the beauty of Arkansas started poking at me and re-awakened my love of travel, and exploring, and adventure. And boy, does this state have a lot to offer!

Enjoying the views on Mount Magazine

I suddenly wanted to write about all of its hidden spots and fantastic locations, the great food (Bacon Bowl!!) and its thriving music scene. And I wanted to finally start writing about the wonderful countries I was being sent to when covering medical conferences. And so, the Travel Browsing With Deb blog was born. 🙂 [ ]

Huge credit goes to the Arkansas Women Bloggers. I created my blog last year, right before AWBU. That conference was instrumental in helping me decide what direction I’d like to take the blog and that it didn’t have to just be a portfolio of sample stories, but rather an interactive space that could even make some money. Wowza!

The bottom line? Never say no to a unique opportunity, realize that sometimes something bad happens right before wonderful occurs, and keep digging until you find yourself doing what you love. Oh, and AWB rocks!

I look forward to hanging out with everyone this month. And can’t wait to connect! Here are my social sites. (I promise to add Facebook business and Instagram sites soon) –

https://twitter.com/DeborahBrauser
www.linkedin.com/in/deborahbrauser/
www.DeborahBrauser.com

By Alicia Dowell, Miss September 2014

When I was growing up, my neighborhood was very different from my friends’ who were growing up in town. There would be days where the only vehicles that came down our road were the other people who lived on our road.

The only drawback was the limited amount playmates, my sisters were who I spent most of my time with. I learned very quickly the best place to hide from them when we all had enough of each other. The best pluses of living in our neighborhood were my Mamaw lived two houses down from where we lived. When I say two houses down, it was close to a quarter mile down the road. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough to walk down to Mamaw’s house alone. It always seemed like my older sister could do whatever she wanted because she was just the right age. Child logic is was a strange thing.

Finally at the age of nine, I was old enough walk down the road alone to stay the night with Mamaw. All I could think of when I got the end of our driveway, I looked back at the house and didn’t see anyone. Yes my Momma told me it was okay and that Mamaw was waiting but as I viewed her house which seemed like it was so far away. There was no way I could do this alone. My mom HAD to come with me. It was the only way to get there. She agreed to walk half way there so I could still have the joy of walking alone. (This was in the time before cell phones and having to worry about letting your kids out of your sight.) So there I was walking the last half alone with my sleeping bag and backpack thinking how cool it was.

Times have changed where now; I would never think to let my child walk alone. But we do have the luck to live in a neighborhood which is just family who live on a dead end road. I feel safe letting my child walk down to her Great-Grandmother’s while I am with her and not worrying about anything. It is nice to let her have some the good parts of childhood.

By Alicia Dowell, Miss September 2014

As I sit and write this post, it is the week of Arkansas Women Bloggers, and I am excited. If I had gone to something like this when I was younger I would have been scared out of my mind. I was the kid who sat alone, reading or just trying to look like I didn’t care. I have to admit people terrified me. Thinking how am I going to interact with my classmates seemed, like trying to walk over hot coals. I never got the whole small talk and hanging thing.

See the middle child with the blonde hair? It’s me in my natural environment, turning away from the attention. I could say it is because I am a middle child or because my sisters were more outgoing than me, but really I am just a homebody.

I came to accept it and continued unchanged until after high school. Then college happened. I learned being a homebody is okay, but you have to take a risk and get out there. My childhood (being a middle child and a homebody) taught me some great lessons. Some I think I am still learning and thankful for it all. Any lessons you have learned from your childhood?

By Alicia Dowell, Miss September 2014

September has always meant to me school that is back for another year. When I was younger, summer ending never really upset me. I looked forward to fall for two reasons: my birthday, and the Fair.

As a kid, the fair (besides Christmas) was the big event of the year. First, you had the parade to see, and then off to the actual goodness. The bright lights and sounds begging you to come inside to enjoy this special once-a-year fun, to hang out with friends, daring each other to ride the scariest ride, and trying to spend every last penny your parents gave you.

Now I am one of the parents hoping my child doesn’t want to spend all the money she is sent with. Also, I get to be one of the parents who go with my daughter to see how she did at the fair with her entries.

I get to sit out the rides that I use to get dared to ride.. Instead I get to see Glitter Bug and her Dad on them. And bless him; she loves the ones that go high and fast. This year she is finally tall enough to enjoy most.

Probably the best part is to see the fair through a child’s eyes again and taking you back to when you were a kid. To look forward to the once-a-year fun this is a magical experience for both young children and the young at heart.

Hey y’all! Alicia Dowell here from Simple Words by A. I have the honor of being the September blogger of the month. It was a complete shock when the email arrived. I had to read it again a couple of times.

I grew up in southwest Arkansas middle daughter of three. College was at Southern Arkansas University where I met my wonderful Hubby. We married three years after meeting and didn’t wait to start our family. 

I started blogging almost six years ago as a way to keep in touch with family and a way to write more. I always have had a crazy dream of becoming a published author and thought blogging might help encourage me. This was all while juggling being a new mother and working two jobs. Nothing like trying too much!  I never imagined  where my little blog or myself would end up. It has been a long journey but so many great memories and friends have been made.

I look forward to serving as September’s blogger of the month and look forward to sharing with all of y’all.

By Ceri Wilkin, Miss August 2014

When we travel, we are inclined to stay away from the comfortable familiarity of chain establishments, we like to explore the local Farmers Markets, local supermarkets and of course, the local restaurants. Local food and fare are my preferred way to discover the culture of a town or country. We have consumed pony, whale and rotten shark in Iceland, devoured ribs in Memphis, guzzled gumbo in New Orleans, dined on whole octopus and grilled sardines in Portugal, tasted kangaroo in Australia, snacked on street food in India, and sipped mint juleps in Kentucky.

I tend to research restaurants, and ensure we have a selection of interesting places to eat before even leaving town. Which is how on one very memorable occasion, I enjoyed many fine meals in Las Vegas, but, having avoided organizing accommodations until the very last minute, ended up having to stay at a cheap and tacky hotel a long way from everywhere. 

We have returned home with French butter, New Zealand honeycomb and Illinois wine to enjoy in comfort and contentment with friends and family. Because as much as we love to travel, we love to be back in our neighborhood, with our most favorite kind of souvenir. Edible.

HONEYCOMB AND BRIE WITH APPLE

2 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 red onion, thinly sliced

1 clove garlic, minced

1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves

salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 to 2 apples, sliced horizontally, core removed

6 ounces brie, sliced

honeycomb

Heat oven to 350F. In a medium skillet over medium-low heat, heat the olive oil. Add the onion, garlic and thyme, then sauté for 5 minutes, or until the onion is tender. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Place apple slices on a greased cookie sheet, top with brie and onion mixture. Bake for 10 minutes, until cheese is warm and melted. Remove from oven, transfer to a serving plate and top each with a spoonful of honeycomb.

Enjoy!

Recipe adapted from The Food Network