I started dabbling with blogging in 2008 under duress. At my first Christian writers’ conference a few years earlier, everyone urged me to begin building an online platform. They claimed if I wanted publishers to consider my nonfiction book proposals, I’d better start “building a platform.” I panicked at first. Then, I dove head first, drowning in the technology challenges.
As a writer, a writing instructor, and blogger, I enjoy encouraging others to tell their faith and family stories—because when we tell the stories that matter most, lives change and heart heal. I recognize the need for people to tell their stories. Passing along their legacy stories helps them make sense of some of the crucial issues that they face in life. I know the powerful impact of story.
As a mother and grandmother, I also know the importance of sharing my faith stories with my children and grandchildren. I believe my stories will be my spiritual legacy to the next generation. I’m working with another writers on a book for grandparents, encouraging them to consider the legacy they will leave to the next generation—especially their faith and family stories.
My husband, Dan, and I have been married 40-plus years. Native Texans, we moved to Central Arkansas from Texas with our two children, Adam and Tara, several decades ago. Then, we moved to Hot Springs Village a few years ago, preparing for my husband’s recent retirement. Our children and their families (seven grandchildren) live in Texas and Arkansas.
March is always an interesting month. It comes “in like a lion” and goes “out like a lamb.” This familiar saying refers to March weather. However, I believe it applies to life as well. I’ve enjoyed my time as the featured blogger this month. I will close my session with a few of my favorite entires from my Addicted to Fries blog.
Who can forget the Academy Awards? This year’s show was controversial long before the telecast aired. Comedian Chris Rock accepted the challenge of hosting the film industry event amid the backlash. While watching the show, I realized five very big lessons were playing out in front of the world. This post examines the broadcast and the lessons showcased.
Remember the unthinkable mistake Steve Harvey made while hosting the Miss Universe Pageant? Can you imagine making an untimely mistake on live television for the world to witness? I looked the lessons everyone could learn from the mistake and how Mr. Harvey handled it. Included isa worksheet to help handle future mistakes.
I attended the Blog Elevated Conference in Dallas last October. I enjoyed the event and learned a lot. The conference covered a variety of topics including SEO, social media strategy and email newsletters. In this post, I share my favorite takeaways and a downloadable tip sheet for blogging success.
As we close the month of March, I encourage you to get up, get out, do something different…and write about it. You never know where your adventure may lead you or the lessons you could learn.
My days vary a lot. As a social media manager, I am often researching trends, writing content and touching base with those inside and outside the company for project issues. I work in the retail industry with a primary focus on social media and digital marketing.
Although there are various responsibilities in my professional life, a few things remain the same:
• Arrive at work by 8:30 AM (most days)
• I have breakfast in the company cafe with a coworker before 9:30 AM
• Check the latest industry happenings and trends by reading industry daily newsletters from Smartbrief, MediaPost and others.
• I also take note of what’s happening in pop culture. Who’s tweeting? What are they tweeting about? What’s trending?
Other duties that I’m responsible for throughout any given day range from content writing, creating editorial calendars, and publishing content on our social media channels. I also research and brainstorm ways to promote our content and products in the fast-moving social media space. It’s not as boring as it sounds. My recent days have included:
• A visit to the Facebook Headquarters in Menlo Park, CA
• Sitting on a panel at a Northwest Arkansas PRSA event
• Presenting to UofA journalism students on social media and PR.
After work, my hours are dedicated to personal projects and volunteer assignments. In the evenings and late nights I find time to write for my blog, Addicted to Fries; watch webinars or read professional development materials; manage the website and complete graphic design projects for my sorority. I love to read, but don’t get to do as much reading as I would like. I have subscriptions to several blogging and writing publications and several books are my must-read list. I also find time to support my niece and nephew. They are active in sports. I attend games whenever I can.
The best relaxation for me is watching my favorite TV shows and series. I spend time each night catching up on episodes I missed over the weekend or watching first-run airings of reality shows, scripted series on cable and broadcast networks. My must-watch list includes Married at First Sight, Real Housewives of {All of Them}, Moonshiners and Showtime’s Shameless. New additions that are almost on the must-watch list include Quantico on ABC and American Crime Story: The People vs. O.J. Simpson on FX.
In a perfect world, my days would consist of hot chocolate, sunny skies and lots of writing and reading by a beach. The Bahama Islands are calling my name. It’s time to book a trip.
The theme for March is adventure. There are many different interpretations of the this theme. I chose to provide details and insights on a recent trip to the west coast. I believe adventures are opportunities to step outside your comfort zone and enjoy life…while learning a few things.
Take a Flight
As I entered the airport, the clock struck noon. The terminal was busy with the buzz of hurried travelers. This was my first flight in 5 months and my first trip to San Bruno (CA). I looked forward to the sunny days and warmer weather. It was freezing here in NW Arkansas. After grabbing a chocolate nut bar and a Fuji water, I boarded the plane and settled in for the long trip.
We landed in Dallas after a short flight from XNA. Part one of the trip was over. As I sat quietly in the terminal gate area, I watched and watched more. There are so many things to notice and observe – people, things, planes and situations.
Levels
When going on an adventure there a levels of emotions – anticipation, excitement, anxiousness, relaxation, relief and more. Honestly, adventures can be full of moments of high exuberance as well as minutes of despair and sadness. In the end, your adventure is either a lesson or blessing. After a layover in Dallas, I was ready for the longest leg of flight.
Tip: Sitting in a window seat offers a unique view of the world.
While flying over the country, I saw the towns below appear and disappear in the distance. I recognized the mountain ranges and what I’m claiming to be the Grand Canyon. However, the most relaxing view was of the horizon. Oftentimes, we stop and experience the vastness of the sky above with the sun, the moon and the clouds. On this adventure, I gazed out the window and looked at the clouds below.
During the flight, the plane maneuvered over a storm and cloudy skies. AT that moment I realized that adventures are not only fun, but we can also learn a lot. For example: We go about life each day “smooth sailing” through activities similar to the way planes zoom across the sky. We take turns when necessary. We ascend and descend to get around the turbulence. And, we even face stormy weather (read rough times). Just as the plane flew over the storms, in life sometimes the best path through a “storm” is to fly above it.
What do I mean?
When going through tough times, it’s easy to get caught up in the moment and only see the negative situation. The pain takes over and you feel defeated. When you fly above the storms you choose to:
Not let the storm of life bring you down. Keep pressing toward your prize. Because in the end you’re gonna win. Focus your energy on positivity and making it to your destination (a solution, a resolution or a conclusion).
Keep going. Above the storm is a horizon with sunny days. Did you know the sun is always shining. It’s always brightening the world and the universe. You may not see it everyday, but it’s there. When the storms in life arise, realize that there’s a bright side somewhere.
As with any weather system, the storms will pass. Trouble and heartache don’t last always. Your current situation doesn’t have to be you destination. Stay focused on your goal and continue to make the right decisions. Be patient, your rainbow is on the way.
Be prepared. There WILL be storms.Your storms can arrive in different forms: The job you wanted will be given to someone else with less experience. The person you love doesn’t treat you right. The sickness you thought was gone returns with a vengeance. The parents you love will need you more than ever. The people you thought were true friends will turn their backs on you when you need them most. Be ready for the cloudy days in life so you can stay ready for the stormy days ahead.
In the end, my trip to San Bruno was better than expected! I also spent time in Menlo Park and Palo Alto. It’s really beautiful there. California is growing on me. It was great to experience new things and try new foods. The Crab Nachos at New England Lobster Market in Burlingame were ah-mazing. They also make a great Blueberry Lemonade! It was great to get away and find perspective on living a better life. When the opportunity arises, choose your adventure. You might be surprised with what you learn.
CTA: Think of your recent adventures. What did you learn? How did your life change? Share your story in the comments section below.
It’s Ramona! I’m excited to be the featured blogger for the month of March. I am the Founder and Chief Content Creator of Addicted to Fries, a personal/lifestyle blog. My blog is my life…one post at a time. I started blogging in March 2007 on Blogger. I eventually moved to WordPress.com, and then to my current self-hosted site which I launched 2014. I have always blogged about the happenings in my life, from online dating to my weight loss journey to my favorite foods…and of course french fries.
Currently, I blog for fun. However, I would like to evolve my site into a platform to help others with digital marketing and social media. I’m still working on what that will look like exactly. Stay tuned! I found the Arkansas Women Bloggers group through my blogging friends in Little Rock. I watched the activity from a distance for many months before officially uniting with the group a few years ago. Since that time I’ve made new friends, attended great conferences and created lasting memories online and IRL – in real life.
Let me tell you a little bit more about who I am and what I love. Here are 7 things you may not know about me.
I grew up in Central Arkansas. I was born in Monticello (in Southeast Arkansas) and was raised in Sherwood, AR. I enjoyed my childhood and had a wonderful time playing games in our cul-de-sac and catching tadpoles in the creek behind our house.
I am the oldest of 3 children and the only girl. As the oldest child, it was my obligation to not only set an example for my younger brothers, but to also tell them what to do! Isn’t that what the oldest siblings are made for; it’s our duty.
I lived on an island…Long Island. I am proud to say that I was a resident of the NYC metro area. I lived in Nassau County for three years on the top level of a single family home in a one-bedroom apartment. I worked in a park for nonprofit organization. I enjoyed my time on Long Island, and I think of it often.
I have been to Paris, but I didn’t leave the [Charles de Gaulle] airport. I could see the city in the distance as we landed. I was there for 4 hours on a layover on my return flight to New York City from Istanbul, Turkey. Side note: The French Security Authority confiscated my Turkish wine, and my hopes of starting an international wine collection were quickly squashed.
I took six years of French between high school and college…SIX YEARS. However, I couldn’t understand one word [of French] from the Air France flight attendants on my Parisian flight to NYC. I repeat, I took six years of this language.
I love to write. I have a degree from the University of Arkansas in journalism, and I wrote my first book in the 5th grade. I still have this self-published masterpiece (somewhere). And, by self-published I mean produced with cardboard, construction paper and lined notebook paper and cursive writing. I was creative, if nothing else.
One of my dream jobs is to be a scriptwriter for a television show. I took a scriptwriting class where I created a sample concept for the current TV drama “Castle.” I plan to continue pursuing this dream with more courses and training.
I look forward to sharing more during this month. You can find me on social media or on my blog.
Every day always starts with coffee. Strong coffee. If there’s no coffee I might just decide to go back to bed.
I engage in the usual dance of waking up kids, grabbing backpacks, rationing hot water, finding keys, finishing homework, and getting out the door in time to beat tardy bells and office hours.
All of this calls for pot of coffee number two!
For most of my week, I manage a church office. I’m not crazy about the title of Church Secretary but most people look at me funny when I say Parish Administrator. I juggle phone calls, podcasts recordings, website and social media, and paper jams. I am the thermostat-nazi, official poster maker, and room reserver (I am both the Gatekeep and the Keymaster).
But recently with a change to the office schedule, I now have Fridays off. A whole day alone at my house focused on my passion for creating art and growing a garden. I draw and paint or start seeds and prepare garden beds or reluctantly dabble in laundry. The TV is either dead quiet or rolling through episode after episode of my latest favorite (as my husband likes to refer to them) “non-American English speaking” television show. Some Fridays could be all computer based as I list artwork online, finish up blog post, design logos or build a website. My Fridays can get busy but always leave me with a sense of accomplishment.
I am giddy for Friday not because Saturday comes next but because of how I might will the day. What will I create or write or grow?
For someone who constantly craves the times when I can be by myself, togetherness is not always met with fanfare. I may have more than once looked through the want ads for listings labeled “Hermit Wanted.” The idea of being in a remote location with all the time in the world to work on my art uninterrupted is my dream life. But we don’t live in our dreams. We live in a reality that includes people. People we are daily both inspired and irritated by.
Creativity is fueled by experiences and ideas. These experiences and ideas are never as fruitful as they could be when we subtract human contact. I reluctantly admit this. Many times as an artist and blogger I want to keep my ideas to myself until they are finished either out of fear of rejection or imitation. Our creations become part of us and any critique is felt personally.
But I am learning to give my peers and friends the benefit of the doubt. Surround yourself with sincerity, trust, and encouragement. These aspects are not always easy to find and can take time. This very realization is why I cherish the community of bloggers and influencers that create under The Women Bloggers umbrella.
Daily I remind that grumpy curmudgeon the lives in my head (she’ll never leave completely) to give people a chance to prove her wrong. That sharing ideas and experiences can bring more inspiration and more creativity. Which leads to more art, more writing, more parts of me that can inspire others.
Find your creative collective.
Give as much or more support and encouragement as you receive.
See what you can create together.
*All photos were taken on a trip to the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Northwest Arkansas.
Hello there, I’m Jeanetta: an artist, writer, and sometimes homesteader (yes, totally made that last title up myself). Arkansas Women Bloggers (and the other state communities it has birthed) have been an amazing support to me over the past few years and I am thrilled to share some things with you here.
So if I’m being completely honest, when I was asked to wear the crown of Blogger of the Month my first reaction was, “What took so long?!” I can be a little full of myself. Then my second reaction was, “CRAP! Now I’ve got a lot of work to do!” I am also a procrastinator. Here’s a quick overview. I drink coffee. A lot. All day. I can be bribed with boxed chocolates. I’m a Whovian-Star Wars-Harry Potter fanatic. love my garden, good food, good beer, and a good fireside.
I am a maker (I honestly have no idea how to turn that off). I believe all humans really are no matter how loudly they protest. We were made in the image of the Great Creator after all how can we not be driven to create. I have been doodling and painting and creating little things out of anything I could get my hands on since I can remember. My subjects range from whatever catches my fancy — vegetables in my garden to mythological beasts. My style may change with my mediums or just what I am feeling at the time. I dislike the concept that artists must box themselves into one particular “style” or way of creating art. Being creative is an outpouring of ourselves. Why would we want to contain that!
I write about the day to day victories and failures (many of them) with my art, family, farming, gardening and life in general. So nailing what I blog about down to a couple of words as a description can be difficult sometimes. Writing is not my first avenue of expression. But there are times that the words and stories just bottle neck in my brain and scream to be let out. Thank goodness for blogging because talking about the voices in my head might have committed me in those early years of motherhood.
I say I’m a “sometimes homesteader.” Sometimes I get things right more often than I get things wrong but I keep trying. I am passionate about the self- sustainability movement and am fully embraced in the struggle to implement the practices in my day- to- day life. Growing, raising and preserving the food my family needs means a lot to me. I believe reviving the knowledge of craftsmanship and sustainable skills can bring everyone to a better understanding of what is important such as becoming better stewards, innovative problem solvers, and resourceful citizens of the world.
Ten years ago this coming summer I started blogging. It was such a different world on the wide web back then. My blog was for getting thoughts out of my head and selling the things I made at the time while I stayed home with the kids. Actually, not a lot has changed. Other than the kids are almost on autopilot and comment regularly that such and such friend found pictures of them doing some craft project online from some old blog post of mine. If I had to boil down what I like to blog about to one word, it would be “try.” Just try the things that interest. Try to draw or cook or grow your own food or raise chickens. Okay, that last one might be a bit more involved but if it’s something you wish and dream about more than a few times a day, then do it. All of my snarky comments aside, I really am honored to be representing Arkansas Women Bloggers this month. I promise to “try” to be on my best behavior during my reign (I’m working on my wave just in case there’s a parade.)
I’ve really enjoyed being Miss January this month. For my last entry, I’m featuring some of my favorite posts from my blog.
Last spring, a group of Ag blogger friends of mine worked together on a group blog about a Texas country musician, Aaron Watson, and his album, the Underdog. I wrote about all the people who feel judged and intimidated by food and news about food. Those people are the reason I write my blog. I’ve always cheered for the Underdog.
In most of my posts, I try to address the questions and concerns people have about meat or the livestock industry. Everything I write in my posts is backed by science, and I try to include links to help you find more information. I want to help people feel more informed about the food they feed their families.
I have a whole series of posts about meat labels, but the most popular post on my blog has been the one I wrote about the label ‘Raised without hormones.’ In meat science, we love to talk about the fact that there is no such thing as hormone-free meat. Everything has hormones, but did you know that it is against the law in the US to treat pigs and poultry with artificial hormones? I also write about hormones used in cattle production, and how they change the concentration of hormones in the beef. You might be surprised what you learn.
Processed meats made the news late last year when the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified them as a Class 1 carcinogen. When news reporters were listing other Class 1 carcinogens like asbestos and tobacco, it sounded really scary. I did some research on the IARC’s findings and wrote a post called The Sky is Not Falling on Hotdogs and Bacon. I found the IARC also lists sunlight and birth control as Class 1 carcinogens, and of the 900+ compounds they’ve examined, only 1 has made the non-carcinogenic category. I also talk about why processed meats are important in keeping meat affordable and helping us waste less food, not to mention being quite tasty.
Everyone loves ground beef, so I wrote a list of Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Ground Beef. The USDA has rules about what can and cannot be labeled as ground beef, and most people don’t understand those rules.
I love to tell the story about the mom at gymnastics who never took her kids to McDonalds because of a movie she’d seen. I wrote a post specifically for busy moms like her who worry every time they pull through the nearest drive-thru to feed their hungry kids. I called it Happy about Happy Meals. I followed it the next week with another post called McNugget Misclaimsabout what’s really in chicken McNuggets. Within a few weeks, my friend sent me a picture of her son enjoying a Happy Meal. It made my day!
My favorite posts come from questions other moms and dads ask me. Please, feel free to ask me anything. Shoot me an email, leave a comment on my blog, send me a message on Twitter or Facebook, or give me a call.
Who knows? Maybe your question will turn into a post on Mom at the Meat Counter.
There is no typical ‘day in the life’ of me. Every day is different and I can definitely say that few are ‘typical.’ Rather than share about one day in my life, I decided to share some of my favorite days from the past year. From that, you can get an idea of all the crazy things I do.
January 20 – Classes begin. My class, Livestock and Meat Evaluation, meets in the spring semester. We cover breeds of livestock, how to evaluate carcasses, meat pricing, and a little about animal growth. I love to teach and work with the students, but it is quite a challenge. Most students have never been exposed to information about meats and can be reluctant to learn something new. Usually by the end of the semester, I have several new faces inspired to learn about meat.
January 31 – Academic Quadrathlon. Four Animal Science students traveled with me to Georgia to compete in a Regional Competition. In addition to showing off their skills as animal scientists, these kids have the chance to travel to a new part of the US to learn about agriculture and food production. This competition covers much more than just meat science, so I learn as much as the students do. Although it was a quick trip, we took a tour of the University of Georgia’s campus and got to enjoy some of the local flavors in downtown Atlanta. Traveling with students is one of my absolute favorite parts of my job.
March 7 – Missouri Meat Processors Product Show. I was invited to serve as an expert judge at a processed meat show in Missouri. I judged bone-in hams and bratwurst. These products come from meat processors all over the state of Missouri. Making cured and processed meats is a craft and an art form as much as it is a science. It was quite a learning experience for me. Of course, I took a #hamselfie!
March 31. Undergraduate Research. We mixed and formed beef patties for a young lady’s senior research project. Those patties were later cooked, and the internal cooked color was measured. Our research reiterated the fact that cooked color is not a good indicator of doneness and that meat thermometers are the best way to tell if ground beef is really done. I really enjoy doing research with students. This young lady found a passion for lab work and is considering a job in the meat industry thanks to this experience.
April 1 – Hosting Mrs. Cavitt’s GT Class. I love to introduce kids to animal science. Most kids don’t see agriculture as interesting or think of it as a future career, so I like to bring kids as young as elementary school to our department and show them all the interesting things we do. We have a special cow that we use for research named Hilda. She has become quite the Northwest Arkansas ambassador for cattle nutrition and animal science in general. In addition to education, Hilda helps us learn about how cows digest their food, what they prefer to eat, the impact they have on the environment, and the way medicines affect her digestion. Cows like Hilda can even help other cows when they are sick.
April 21 – Moms on the Farm Tour. Twice a year, we host a tour of local farms for people in our community that have little or no experience with agriculture. In April, we toured Susan Anglin’s Dairy Farm and the McGee Beef Farm with over 40 tourists. We introduce them to farmers, show them how food is produced right here in Northwest Arkansas, and answer any questions they may have. We pet baby calves, watch cows being milked from inside the parlor, walk in a beef cow pasture, and enjoy cooking demonstrations from the Arkansas Cattlewomen. Tours are held in April and October, if you’d like to join us, let me know!
May 12 – Huntsville High Graduation. For the past 5 years, I have served on the School Board in our community, and this year, I was asked to hand out the diplomas as the students walk across stage. Most people know that I am a jeans person and generally don’t dress up for anything. But, for graduation, I found a dress and curled my hair because education is important. These students work hard for their diplomas, and I want to celebrate their accomplishments.
June 1. Working in the Meat Lab (Abattoir). This was just one of many days this year we were working in the abattoir. We process beef, pork, lamb, and goats. Working in the meat lab gives me a respect for people who work hard every day to produce the safe and inexpensive food we have in this country. My husband enjoys telling people that his wife is a better meat cutter than he is. When we work in the meat lab we have to wear protective gear like cut-proof gloves, hard hats, white coats, and steel-toed boots. I’ve had those old boots a while.
June 10. Reciprocal Meats Conference. Absolutely one of my favorite weeks of the year. The American Meat Science Association hosts the RMC in different locations each year. A whole vanload of students accompanied me on a road trip to visit processing plants and other aspects of meat science along the way. Last year, we visited a sausage plant, a large beef plant, Anne Burkholder’s feed yard, the USDA Meat Animal Research Center, and a local grocery store where we took #meatcounterselfies. The RMC trip is the pinnacle of traveling with students for me. These are kids interested in meats going to a conference about meat science. The conference is like a big family reunion and a church revival because we collaborate with other meat scientists and get pumped up to go home to do exciting research. My husband was honored at this RMC as one of the AMSA Achievement Award winners for his outstanding contribution to the meats industry as a scientist at Tyson.
July 9. Ketchikan, Alaska. Even on vacation, I’m interested in meat and the food industry. This summer, our family took a trip to Alaska. Every chance I got, I found a grocery store and checked out the meat counter. At this stop in Ketchikan, we found a historic grocery store with a really neat story.
July 20. Washing sheep. I’m also a 4H mom. Vallie had three little sheep for a project this year. I showed sheep when I was young, but we still have a lot to learn. Some of my best days are spent helping with the washing, shearing, and teaching the sheep to show. Showing animals in 4H is really about family time and kids learning to work hard toward a goal.
August 28. Arkansas Women Bloggers Conference. If you are blogging and you are not attending a conference like this one, you are missing out. These ladies are so much fun, and I learn so much about writing, editing, photography, web design, new apps, and anything else associated with blogging and social media. But, I go for the fun! Where else can you work together with 5 grown women to make a guitar out of wrapping paper?
September 28. Hotdog Lab. Most of our students know very little about meat. In their introductory Animal Science class, they have the chance to tour all of the facilities in our department, including the meat lab. The meat lab manager and I give them a quick tour and talk about all the things we do, then we take them into the 45° processing room and let them make some hotdogs. We start with ground meat, mix it with spices, stuff it into casings, and twist it into hotdogs. After class, it’s smoked, cooked and packaged for the students to enjoy the next week in class. This year, making hotdogs even made it on the University of Arkansas snapchat.
November 16. Operation Christmas Child Collection Week. Our family started putting together shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child 6 years ago. OCC collects shoebox gifts to share with children in need worldwide. Gathering things for our boxes is a year-round activity, and we spend a week in November collecting boxes from our church and community to send to OCC. For the past two years, Ed and I have traveled to Dallas to help process boxes for distribution. The OCC boxes are a great way to teach young children the joy of sharing with those in need.
Sometimes I feel like I’m running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I didn’t include all the boring days, working in my office on statistics or writing research papers and blog posts, grading papers and exams, or preparing for all these exciting days. Whether it’s my own kids, my students, other moms, or children in developing countries, whatever I’m doing, I try to help people. I want to help them learn more about agriculture and to improve their lives. And, I take a lot of selfies.
