Category: Blogger of the Month

Shine

by Jacqueline Presley, Miss July 2015

shine

Our theme this month is SHINE. The first thing I think of when I hear that word is this verse from the Bible, “In the same way, let your light SHINE before others, that they may see your good deeds & glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5:16 As a Christian, as a person in this world, I hope my life shines. I hope people feel loved & cared for in my company. I don’t want to waste my life, by not loving people as I could have, but chose not to; for various reasons.

Lately, I have been teaching my kids about the verse, “If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do & doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.” James 4:17 My heart is for them see their own responsibility to respond to the world around them. If they see good that needs to be done, if they see injustice or a need, or someone being treated in an unkind way…I want them to see that it is in this way they SHINE in this world. It will not be by proclaiming loudly what they disagree with. It is not by shunning, shaming or avoiding giving help or a kind word.

As a person, if my life does not somehow make your life better for having known me, I have failed to SHINE.

“The Lord bless you & keep you; the Lord make His face to SHINE on you & be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you & give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26

Jacqueline Presley Miss July 2015

Hey y’all. My name is Jacqueline and  I am grateful to be the July Blogger of the Month for Arkansas Women Bloggers. I absolutely adore being a part of this community. 

Profile pic for AWBThe very first blogging I ever did was for NWA Motherlode. They invited me to blog through my pregnancy as “Mommy in Progress”.  That got me interested. Once my daughter was born in 2009, I started my own blog, Creative Outpour. I had become a stay-at-home-mom, and I wanted to connect with people online that shared similar interests. Back then, I spent a lot of time drooling over interior design blogs, so I wanted to start one of my own. It was fun to post on various topics like, “How to Decorate Your Entry” or “DIY Wall Art.” Over time, it has evolved into a blog that also includes posts about faith, family, organizing and my life. 

I began to do some small posts for brands reviewing products and giveaways. Eventually, I joined blogger networks and started getting higher paid sponsored posts. It was awesome to be able to contribute our family’s income from home. A little over a year ago, I began working as a Social Media Manager for Oh Baby Foods. Still, I have been fortunate to be able to mostly work from home and slowly transition into working more in the office as my children become school-aged. I have been helped every step of the way from this amazing community. 

If I can ever be helpful to you or if you ever want to collaborate in some way, it would be my privilege. Let’s chat.

 
 
 
 
Where you can find me online:
 
 
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A Journey South for Vacation {Blogger of the Month}

 by Rhonda Franz, Miss June 2015

This summer, we took a journey south, way south to the beach for our first real family vacation. My husband, me the boys—the longest car trip the kiddos have been on (and our first that wasn’t a stay at the grandparents’ house).

We ended up going through states that are part of The Women Bloggers community, stopping a few places along the way.

We’re latecomers to technology trends. Boys made do with a borrowed DVD player, a Kindle, and plenty of books.
We’re latecomers to technology trends. Boys made do with a borrowed DVD player, a Kindle, and plenty of books.

We traveled south to Conway, Arkansas, home of some of our south-in-the-state Arkansas Women Bloggers, and a nice stopping point for lunch. (We are the family who takes breaks on road trips.) Who doesn’t love Marketplace Grill?

On to Memphis, where we ate at Huey’s. Burgers, tamales, fries, salads. I forgot to take a picture of my tamales. They sure were good.

Our next stop: Mississippi. Home of the Mississippi Women Bloggers. Birthplace of Elvis.

Elvis lives on.
Elvis lives on.

And then on to Gulf in south Alabama, where the Alabama Women Bloggers live.

Gulf Shores at last. See that stairway to the beach?
Gulf Shores at last. See that stairway to the beach?

We ate great big food at The Hangout on Gulf Shores, a family-friendly outdoor restaurant a few feet from the shore. No shower required.

After a morning of swimming, we’re hungry. And The Hangout restaurant knows it.
After a morning of swimming, we’re hungry. And The Hangout restaurant knows it.

We made a hotel in Fairhope, Alabama our home for the week, taking a couple of visits to the town pier and beach. Beautiful views, wonderful weather, quaint downtown shops and restaurants: Fairhope is a terrific place to stay, nestled conveniently within an hourish or less drive to Gulf Shores, Mobile, and Pensacola, Florida.

Downtown Fairhope, Alabama.
Downtown Fairhope, Alabama.

Great service and friendly conversations at every place we stopped helped keep our family vacation enjoyable: an example, I am certain, of genuine Southern hospitality. I suspect it won’t be too long before I’ll want to go back.

Where did (or where will) you journey on vacation this year?

 

A Journey to Contentment: 33 Pleasures of Summer

by Rhonda Franz, Miss June 2015

I’m nothing if not a lover of simple pleasures. When the going gets tough, I go after the things that make me smile: during the week, during the day, sometimes during one hour—things offer respite and refreshment, however small. Seeking out the good in the ordinary helps me out in such extraordinary ways.

Call them things to be thankful for, things to help cheer up a despondent disposition, or things that encourage peace and contentment. This is my current list of the simple pleasures of summer. What’s yours?

  1. Breakfast outside.
  2. Morning summer sun shining through a window.
  3. The dishwasher.
  4. Air conditioning.
  5. A less-scheduled season.
  6. The city pool.
  7. A public library.
  8. Vacation Bible School.
  9. Sidewalk chalk.  

    Summer and sidewalk chalk just go together.
    Summer and sidewalk chalk just go together.


  10. Fresh tomatoes from the garden.
  11. Fresh peaches from the orchard.
  12. Checking the blackberry bush every day.
  13. A relaxed meal plan.
  14. Popcorn and snack foods for when there isn’t a meal plan in sight.
  15. Supper outside.
  16. Paper plates.
  17. Sprinklers.
  18. Swings.

    A boy on the swing at the park.
    A boy on the swing at the park.


  19. A vacuum that sucks up all most of the daily summer dirt.
  20. Family outings.
  21. Summer date nights, even if rare.
  22. The smell of sunblock.
  23. Books around the house for everyone to read.
  24. Literacy, so we can read all those books.
  25. Quiet time (every day, after lunch).
  26. Meet-ups with friends at the park.
  27. A washing machine for all the sweaty summer laundry.
  28. Coupons for free summer treats for children from the doctor’s office (a decent trade-off for having to go to the doctor in the summer).
  29. Fun Facebook statuses of others’ family vacations.
  30. Summer rains.

    Plants and flowers enjoying the frequent summer rains in northwest Arkansas this year.
    Plants and flowers enjoying the frequent summer rains in northwest Arkansas this year.


  31. Lemonade.
  32. A free coffee reward on the Starbucks app at the start of summer anytime.
  33. An outdoor movie with friends.

What’s on your summer list of simple pleasures? 

How to Take a Road Trip With One Child (When You Have Three)

by June Blogger of the Month Rhonda Franz

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A June wedding out of state, 48 hours at our disposal, and three children: this is what we I had to work with. Sometimes, these kinds of experiences make for fun family memories. Sometimes family peace (and survival) means splitting everyone up.

Turns out, there’s a bit of an art to leaving for a weekend with one child when you have three. Before the road trip journey began, I had to get past the days leading up to the trip.

1. Put the road trip on the calendar. Write your name and your oldest child’s name along with it, establishing the authority of the family calendar above all else. If there are any gripes about everyone not getting to go, simply point to the wedding date, and remind the complainers that what is on the calendar remains on the calendar. Never mind that there are multiple previous events crossed out on the calendar.

2. Make sure someone stays with the children. With such limited time available, my husband and I decided he would remain at home with the younger two. No matter how much you might want to embrace Free Range parenting, you can’t leave a six-year old and a four-year old at home without supervision.

roadtripkidsRoad trip drama: I regret to inform you that two of you boys will be staying behind.

3. Inform the children who are being left behind. Despite the fact that “no” is a complete sentence, it might be helpful to explain to the littles that older brother is going and they are getting to stay at home. This should probably be done a few days ahead of time, and not right before you dash out the door—leaving tantrums in your wake.

4. Remember who you are. You are a mom of multiple children. You banished guilt a long time ago. The word “guilt” shouldn’t even be part of your vocabulary. Make the decision and don’t look back. Do not entertain any guilty thoughts. Stop thinking about how guilty you might be feeling. Remember, you’re the mom of multiple children. You banished guilt a long time ago…

5. Be careful about what you say. It’s not like you can appease the younger kids by convincing them that weddings are totally boring—informing them they would have to: sit for a really long time without talking or wiggling or moving in any way or making faces or swinging their feet or clapping their hands or crossing their eyes or looking behind them or laughing or hanging upside in their chair like monkeys or making any noise whatsoever…because then the oldest child will overhear you (or surely be told by his siblings) and will have second thoughts about going.

6. Play up the whole “getting to stay with Daddy” experience for the younger ones. Daddy is the one they love best, anyway. When the oldest child isn’t around, remind them that Daddy doles out Lucky Charms for breakfast, licorice for snack, and other fun things they never get to do when Mommy is around.

7. Play up the whole “you’re getting to come with Mommy!” experience for the oldest. When his younger brothers are not around, remind him that he will get to see his Mama and Papa, have undivided attention from family, and get to eat wedding food. Wedding food!

8. Relax. You’ve done your job. The younger children know what’s going on and are fine with it. The oldest child is excited about the trip. All is good. #success

9. Do not mess up the success of your plan. Make a mental note that next time, putting the one mobile device shared by all the children in the car while the younger two are watching is a terrible mistake.

roadtrip1

10. Drive away. Do not look back at the tantrums in your wake. #parentingfail

Weight Loss and Fitness Journey

by Rhonda Franz, Miss June 2015

One of my issues with articles on fitness and weight loss is that people don’t get specific (or maybe honest) about what helped them lose weight and improve their fitness. After a frustrating plateau of two years, I’m down 15 pounds from January 2015 and more fit than I’ve been in a while. I have about five pounds to go because a buffer is a nice thing. Once in a while a girl wants some fries.

It’s intimidating for me to write about my weight loss, but I’ve been asked about it, so I’m using this opportunity to share some of what has helped me on this journey in case it helps someone else.

  1. Starting with a baseline of several numbers. The scale presents only one number. So does body mass index (BMI), which doesn’t distinguish between fat weight and muscle weight. I’ve also used: body fat percentage, heart rate, and an endurance test.

  1. Knowing I couldn’t go back. Weight loss and fitness is a lifestyle change. I do take heart in the fact that to maintain a weight allows me to eat a little more than I was able to in order to lose it.

  1. Realizing that diet, rather than exercise, plays the most crucial role in weight loss. Read about how celebrities lose weight for movie roles. That kind of extreme dieting comes with significant health risks, but you see my point.

  1. Not relying on calories in/calories out. This doesn’t work for me. It depends on the type and quality of calorie.

  1. Considerably reducing carbohydrates. The majority of what I eat is protein with vegetables added in.

  1. Making breakfast my biggest meal. I eat about 400 calories at breakfast: two eggs with a little butter, five to six grape tomatoes, a spoonful of pickled jalapeños, and a little cheddar cheese. I have a 10 to 12-oz mug of coffee with half and half and raw sugar. This helps me keep lunches and suppers small (tucked under 400 calories) most days.

Breakfast is the best: eggs, tomatoes, jalapeños, a glass of water. And coffee. I don’t give up coffee.
Breakfast is the best: eggs, tomatoes, jalapeños, a glass of water. And coffee. I don’t give up coffee.
  1. Not relying on any gadget or app to rule my food/calorie recommendations. If I’d continued to eat what a popular fitness app told me I could, I would have steadily gained weight.

  1. Using a structure that works for me. I did use the app to count calories for about two weeks, now only occasionally. And I record my weight whenever it drops: I’m a sucker for a nice, downward-sloped line on a graph.

  1. Not eating a lot of sugar. The only regular sugar I have in a day is what I put in my (one to two cups) coffee.

  1. Knowing my food weaknesses. I tend to gorge on chips and salsa, which means being bloated the next day and packing on pounds it took three weeks to get off.

  1. Turning those food weaknesses into strengths. Since I love the chips-and-salsa flavors, a better choice for me is a black bean taco packed with lettuce, salsa, and avocado. And since protein and spicy foods suit me, keeping things like hard-boiled eggs, sausage balls, rotisserie chicken, and flavorful soup handy is key to having something healthy to stuff in my mouth eat.

  1. Accountability. I run and work out/swim once a week with a couple of friends, one of whom happens to be a trainer and gave me advice on diet and exercise (thanks, SM and KT).

  1. Upping the ante on exercise. This means changing up workouts every now and then, and getting my heart rate up at least four days a week. When I only have 10 or 20 minutes, I do low impact workouts like Pilates, yoga, Classical Stretch: effective exercises that don’t require putting on shoes before or taking a shower after.

Jump rope, do yoga, run around, repeat.
Jump rope, do yoga, run around, repeat.
  1. Paying attention to my body and how it responds to certain foods and certain weights. Whether or not it was energized or fatigued, hungry or satiated. Losing weight and changing my diet made me more in tune to this until it became a habit, rather than something I had to think a lot about. My body and I are one. Namaste 

More weight loss wins:

  • Water, drinking it all day.

  • Walking away. For me, the battle with eating something I shouldn’t is won or lost in the first minute or two. I try to go do something else to get my mind off of it, or eat a couple of bites and leave the kitchen. A few chocolate chips might be all it takes to satisfy a sweet tooth.

  • Jumping rope. It’s my go-to cardiovascular exercise when I’m especially short on time. Jumping rope is efficient, requires little space, and can be done while watching children.

  • Ballet exercises. When I hit an exercise plateau, I searched for these on YouTube. I’ve learned this: I do not want to be on the wrong side of a ballet dancer in a dark alley late at night.

If you have questions about my weight loss and fitness I haven’t answered, leave a comment with your question below: I might use my last post to answer those questions. If you prefer to ask a question anonymously, email me at rhondafranz@gmail.com and I won’t post your name.

Disclaimer: I’m not a physician, personal trainer, nutrition expert, or weight loss guru. Consult with your doctor and stuff.

 

Rhonda Franz Miss June 2015

Ho, hey. My name is Rhonda and I’m excited to be the Blogger of the Month at Arkansas Women Bloggers.

I’m an educator, wife to a pilot, mom to three lively boys, and a home operations specialist (fancy term, accurate description).

In a previous life season, I was a special education teacher—teaching children at a school housed in the midtown district and Mexican community of Wichita, Kansas. I worked with a wonderful principal and a team of dedicated, passionate teachers. It was my dream job.

rhonda franz headshotIn 2002, I left the dream job to marry my Arkansas flyboy and move to The Natural State. For a few years I drove to homes in three counties working with infants, toddlers, and families as part of the federal Early Intervention program for children with special needs. Those journeys on back roads and busy streets were my ticket to learning the lay of the land in northwest Arkansas. The job took me to huge, high-dollar houses of prominent people in the community, and to humble homes way, way off the beaten path. I met and worked with lots of neat families and children.

A few months before my own child was born, I handed over the teaching responsibility and started my work as mom and manager of All Things Domestic. My husband and I moved outside of town to a neighborhood with an acre of land, woods to roam, and a few unwelcome snakes.

Back in high school and college, I was the weird student who liked essay tests and writing research papers. Writing at home in this season for no one in particular turned into writing for publication after attending a workshop by the Writers’ Guild of Arkansas. Freelance Writing Gigs published my first online piece, “Confessions of a Coffee House Writer” about seven years ago. After a hilarious attempt to complete a yoga workout with my then 10-month-old in the room, I wrote a first draft about the experience. Many revisions later, and with the help of the Guild (who became my critique group), “Yoga Night” published in the local Peekaboo family magazine and in Chicken Soup for the Soul for New Moms.

I was hooked, and freelance work followed (so did more children). I wrote for and worked as the managing editor of Parenting Squad and sold education and parenting articles to regional magazines around the country. My work has been published in Arkansas Gardener, American Saver newsletter, and on Proctor and Gamble’s P&G Everyday site.

Last year, I heeded the call from The Park Wife to come aboard with The Women Bloggers. Girl Friday: that’s me. I am loving the opportunity to learn from and work with bloggers and take on new responsibilities.

RFranzCaptainMom_Logo_Facebook

Most of what I do—in addition to raising boys and cooking double batches of everything—I do from home. This allows me to live and work on a flexible routine, a priority for me with my husband’s inconsistent, unpredictable, last-minute job schedule. I started writing about the dynamics of working around (and working with) an on-call, traveling parent and the idea of Captain Mom was born. I switched my blog over to the new name earlier this year, drafted a sketchy flight plan, and took off on the journey.

I really like:

  • long walks & hiking

  • simple pleasures & adventures

  • swimming laps

  • music

  • bookstores

  • popcorn

  • eggs

  • Jesus

  • my boys’ big smiles and belly laughs

  • the Oxford comma

  • punctuality

I really don’t like:

  • seafood

  • spiders

  • rudeness

  • green beans (don’t tell my kids)

  • horror films

 

You can find me:

Explore Your Hometown {Blogger of the Month}

By Sarah Shotts, Miss May 2015

I’ve always loved traveling… from my first solo flight to a Girl Scout Wider Op in Michigan to my later years studying abroad in Mexico and then earning my Masters in London. And thoughout all my travels there’s one thing that really stood out to me.

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Taking where you live for granted is universal.

Right out of college when I was an intern in Washington D.C. I spent most of my days off wandering the Smithsonian or Botanical Gardens. I was befuddled to find that D.C. locals generally went once for a school trip and then never again.

I thought it was a fluke.

dc-bontanicalgardens

Then during my year living abroad in London (trying to cram in as much as I could) I was constantly told by Brits that I was going and doing things they’d never done themselves. I helped them see the city with new eyes.

It’s an easy trap to fall into. No matter how amazing, we have the natural tendency to grow accustomed to where we live and what it has to offer (whether that’s Crystal Bridges, a Presidential Library, or the Tower of London). It’s normal to us. We tend to only explore what our local community has to offer when guests come to town.

towerguard-toweroflondon

We all do this. We all overlook the magic of what makes where we live unique. Just take a moment to think about the fact that our day-to-day is someone else’s exotic.

When we’re on a trip or living somewhere short term we know we have to make the most of it. But when it’s as simple as dropping by that local museum… it’s easy to never make the time.

crystalbridges-bentonvillearkansas

This week’s challenge is to explore your own neighborhood. Where are those places you’ve never been? (Or haven’t been since you went for a school field trip?) Where do you always mean to visit and put off? What’s a local haunt you love that you haven’t visited for years? Choose one and visit this week! 

I can’t wait to see where your adventures take you! 

Remember to use #WeeklyVenture so we can all connect and share our ventures on social media. 🙂 

Cheers,

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P.S. With all these new adventure ideas it can be hard to keep track. I’d love to invite you to download the free sample page of my new printable Venture Planner. It’s made to help you schedule your new micro-ventures into your daily life.

Picnic Adventure {Blogger of the Month}

by Sarah Shotts, Miss May 2015

Ready for another adventure?

This week it’s simple… go on a picnic.

romanticpicnic

We bloggers can become all too familiar with the glow of our computer screens and neglect the chance to get outside enjoy the sunshine.

It’s the perfect time of year to pack up our food and enjoy it in the great outdoors! For this week’s challenge you choose whether to go on a romantic picnic, a family picnic, or even a lunch-break picnic. What’s important is that you break up your day-to-day routine and get some fresh air.

devilsdenstatepark-arkansas

I love packing finger foods for picnics because it means I don’t have to cook anything. 😉 Some of my favorites are: berries, cheese, crackers, salami, pickles & sometimes (if I want to be romantic) sparkling grape juice. Of course good ‘ole sandwiches are always classic too. Especially if there’s avocado and Petit Jean bacon involved.

picnicfood-berries

Then pull out your cooler, picnic basket, or backpack and tuck everything inside. Don’t forget to throw in some paper towels and an extra shopping bag or two for easy clean up. There may not be a trash can handy at your picnic spot. I’ve been there.

picnicfingerfoods

Choose a spot that’s handy or use this opportunity to explore somewhere new. One of my favorite places to picnic is Devil’s Den State Park where Nathan & I got hitched. 😉 These photos are from our anniversary picnic last year (which is why they’re so fancy.) I’ve also been known to rock the tupperware/ziploc bag style picnic. Don’t overthink it. Have whatever kind of picnic floats your boat.

Don’t forget to snap a photo at your picnic and share it on Instagram & Twitter using #WeeklyVenture so we can find each other’s photos. Now get out there and enjoy some fresh air!

Cheers,

sarahsignature

Photo Walk Adventure {Blogger of the Month}

By Sarah Shotts, Miss May 2015

Ready for your first adventure?

Last week* I challenged you to go on one mini-adventure each week this month. Here’s your first adventure prompt. You can also write about these adventures on your blog if you’re looking for new blog ideas. Adventures are a great way to get un-stuck if you’re feeling in a rut.

Adventure #1 – Photo Walk

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This is a very simple adventure you can even do in your own neighborhood. Here’s how it works…

Choose a location that you’re very familiar with. It can even be the inside of your own home. I chose the park where I go walking every morning.

foggymorning-arkansas

Take 10-15 minutes and explore that space with your camera in hand. 

This isn’t about taking good photos.  This is about SEEING a familiar area with fresh eyes. Use a camera that you’re comfortable with (like the one in your mobile phone) and try to notice things that you don’t usually pay attention to. Each time something catches your eye take a photo.

springflowersinfog

Slow down and really pay attention. Look closely at details. Go off the beaten path.

dandeliondewdrops

(But if you’re likely to go off road like me be sure to dress appropriately. My yoga pants got soaked and covered in cut grass this foggy morning.) Hahaha… 😉

jeepwalkingshoes

Look all around…not just at eye level. Look up. Look down. Peek over and around. Keep a special lookout for anything that’s changed. Has something new bloomed? Grown? Appeared? Take a photo.

springtimeflowers

Hopefully this mini-adventure will give you some inspiration. I formed the idea for this blog post on my regular morning walk. I found myself enamored with the fog and realized I was more focused on taking photos than walking laps.

My exercise routine had turned into a photo walk and that sounded like a fun adventure prompt to share with you. Even if your space isn’t covered in fog or dew I’m sure you can discover some new things about it by taking a closer look. Maybe you’ll get inspired with an idea of your own. 🙂 

foggymorningtree

Walks also free up our subconscious to work on problem solving in the background. This isn’t the main point of our adventure, but is a nice side benefit. 😉 While you’re taking photos your brain will continue puzzling out whatever you’re currently working on. 

After your adventure look through your photos and decide how you want to share them. Did you notice something specific you’d like to write a blog post about? Is there one photo you’re dying to post to Instagram? Do you want to upload the whole she-bang to a photo gallery? Do it! 

foggyplayground-arkansas

When you share your adventures on Instagram & Twitter be sure to use #WeeklyVenture so we can find each other’s photo walks. I can’t wait to see what you discover!

Cheers,

sarahsignature