Category: Uncategorized

We Love Healthy Families!

By now, you’ve probably heard the news: Healthy Families will be the presenting sponsor for the 2012 #AWBU Conference!

Healthy Families is the sassy new makeover of an initiative that’s been active in Arkansas for nearly twenty years – you may remember it as the Campaign for Healthier Babies. It’s a program spearheaded by the Arkansas Department of Human Services with the sole purpose of providing reliable resources for happy and healthy pregnancies, babies and families in Arkansas and western Tennessee.

Remember the Happy Birthday Baby Book? They are part of the Healthy Families campaign, and thanks to the new Healthy Families website, you can access these free and informative ebooks online (or order copies if you prefer)!

It’s a natural fit for Arkansas Women Bloggers to partner with Healthy Families, and we are so excited to have them join us at this year’s conference. You’ll see our friends representing the Healthy Families initiative the minute you arrive and check in for the conference on August 24 in Mountain View, and they’ll be with us all weekend. They’ll give you copies of the Happy Birthday Baby Books, and they’ll be with us all weekend to meet and mingle with all of you.

Be thinking about how you can help spread the word about this important initiative. There’s not much that binds women bloggers across Arkansas together more than the mutual desire that all of our families be healthy, happy and prosperous. So whether you’re a mom to be, a seasoned parent or grandparent or are not certain whether having a family will ever be in the cards for you, join us in supporting Healthy Families.

We ask that each of you, whether you plan to attend the conference or not, unite with us for this cause. Please consider doing the following:

VISIT www.HealthyFamiliesNow.Net
GET one or both of the free ebooks.
ORDER copies of the books for a friend, neighbor, your church or to accompany a baby shower gift!
BLOG about it. Did you panic while dealing with postpartum depression or a colicky baby? Is a jealous older sibling creating challenges? Have you ever considered adoption? There’s collective wisdom in both your experiences and the resources offered by Healthy Families. Help others access that information and learn from it.
BADGE – will you put the one below on your blog? At least until August 31, but as long as you like! Link it to www.HealthyFamiliesNow.Net/ebooks so that others can access these resources. (Just copy the code from the box below and paste it into a text widget in your sidebar.)

We were thrilled to be able to award free conference registration during last night’s Twitter party to Karen at Ting’s Mom thanks to the support of Healthy Families, and they are sponsoring another free conference registration next Tuesday, July 31! We’ll draw the winner from a blogger who is 1) registered on the Arkansas Women Bloggers website and 2) has the Healthy Families badge on their blog!

One of the things that is so special about Arkansas Women Bloggers is that it is truly a grassroots network – our mission of Gather ~ Grow ~ Connect is all about women helping women. Intelligent and devoted sponsors like Healthy Families help us deliver a fantastic blogging resource to you. Help return the love!

Info Needed for Brand Ambassador Programs

Porch Swing Marketing, the parent company of Arkansas Women Bloggers, is looking for passionate and influential bloggers, tweeters, and social media users to work with brands that know the power of the woman blogger. For us to design innovative, targeted campaigns for these companies (many who would like to meet you at the Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged Conference 2012), we need some information from you so we can link you with brands that fit naturally into your conversations and established niches. Please fill out the following survey as soon as possible so you can be a part of these exciting opportunities: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ZNXGPG2

#AWBU Conference Details!

Happy July, ladies! We hope you are enjoying posts from Miss July, Amanda Brown!

As for the Arkansas Women Bloggers leadership team… we are getting REALLY excited to see you all in just a few short weeks for the Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged (fondly known as #AWBU) conference and retreat!

We’ve told you before that we’re NOT a big, typical blogger conference… we’re better! We’re more affordable, closer to home and the connections are deeper. Every single one of the nearly fifty women who attended last year’s conference found that it was more than they expected, and very different! Think of it as going away to “grown-up camp” for the weekend, but with the added benefit of expert bloggers, workshops, speakers and all kind of fun activities.

Without further ado, HERE’S THE SCHEDULE! We’ve included very basic descriptions of the workshops and only a few of the speakers and panelists because, frankly, we are still chasing down the most fantastic people we can find to make the weekend perfect. We listened carefully to your feedback from last year and we’ve made a number of tweaks to our sessions. A few little updates and reminders for you:

1. HURRY! The early bird registration fee for the conference is $135 until the end of this month, and then it goes to $150!

2. Lodging? The Ozark Folk Center cabins have offered us a special#AWBU rate that is very affordable. The cabins are walking distance to all activities and an excellent value. They aren’t rustic and they have indoor plumbing, so don’t fret. The nightly rate is $77.70 ($7o for cabin plus taxes), which you can split with a roommate, yes, $38.85 a night, not bad, not bad at all. There are two queen beds so you can cram as many as four people in to economize if you’d like! For more than 2 people, add $10 per person. Since they gave us this super cool blogger chic rate, you must call to register and tell them you are with #AWBU conference. 1-800-264-3655

3. Need a roomie? Don’t know anyone? Don’t worry! This is a super friendly group of people. They’ll welcome you and you’ll feel like part of the gang right away. If you need a roommate for your cabin, Julie Kohl can set you right up! Just send her a note at julie@arkansaswomenbloggers.com.

4. Extras: We have some FUN additional options! Our Foodie Friday is a special conference add-on beginning at noon and lasting until 5pm on Friday prior to the full conference. Here is the working #FF agenda. We’ll have panelists, food photography & styling and… of course… a chance for you to do some food prep. You can also elect to do a special craft or Loco Ropes course excursion on Sunday. Each add-on is $25 and requires pre-registration.

5. Support: One of the best parts about the #AWBU conference is growing yourself and your blog. We will have several options for you to be matched with a Blog Mentor or to sign up for a Blog Review with a group of panelists – both of these options are intended to give you some constructive (and friendly, non-intimidating) feedback on your blog. Interested? Email beth@arkansaswomenbloggers.com to learn more.

Ok, that’s all for today – GO REGISTER!

Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged 2012 Registration NOW OPEN!

Ladies, ladies, ladies! We hope we haven’t kept you on pins and needles for too long as we needed to make sure everything for the conference was just perfect before we let you sign up! We have been working frantically over the last two weeks to make a few changes and get everything in place so we can offer you a truly wonderful conference experience.

THE TIME HAS ARRIVED! Registration for Arkansas Women Bloggers Unplugged 2012 is NOW OPEN!

Full conference details are available here with an expanded schedule to be posted in the next few days.

But for now, let’s get you where you want to go.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR AWBU2012!

We can not wait to see you in the mountains!

101_0083 — The ARWB Gals - Beth, Stephanie, & Julie

Farmers’ Market Shopping 101

Written by ARWB Founder The Park Wife

Farmers Market season is upon us with many markets already open while others must wait until late June or July before farmers’ fields are productive. Four years ago, I started and ran two farmers markets – coordinating with the towns, recruiting vendors, connecting with customers and devising eccentric activities that keep the customers returning to the market even after their shopping was done. With four market seasons under my belt and my time on the Arkansas Farmers’ Market Board, I have garnered a little wisdom (and a lot of farmer friends) and want to share a few tips with you that can enhance your farmers marketing experience.

Know Your Farmer, Know Your Food. Spend a few minutes chatting it up at your local farmers’ market! It takes tremendous dedication to both science and art (not to mention dirty feet and nails) to turn out beautiful produce on a small farm, and the time you spend inquiring about the results of that dedication will yield both useful information and infectious enthusiasm.

A huge benefit of farmers’ markets is your ability to look the farmer in the eye and ask anything you want about how the food was grown. That’s a rare opportunity in our supermarket culture. Do it! Ask about a food you don’t recognize, how to cook it, and whether it’s coming in or heading out of season. Find out what the farmer expects to bring to market next week so you can start to plan ahead. Learn all you can about the farmer’s growing practices, and make sure you know who you’re buying from. And, sweet strawberry, make sure you are buying from a real farmer, not a peddler who went to a warehouse or south of the border and bought a truck load of produce to sell.

Know Your Seasons: If someone is selling watermelons in May in Arkansas, you can bet that they did not grow them locally. Check out the Arkansas crop harvest calendar. http://www.pickyourown.org/ARharvestcalendar.htm

The Early Bird Gets the Worm, or Best Tomatoes: The season’s first blueberries and finest tomatoes will disappear within the first hour that the market is open, so if you’ve got your heart set on something in particular, it pays to wake up early. Hopefully the market you frequent will serve coffee.

Go Big: If it is in season, buy as much as you can! You’ll enjoy the best flavors and the best prices when you buy a lot of whatever is at its harvest peak. How to use it all up? Try new recipes with favorite vegetables or learn the lost art of preserving food. Freezing, canning, and drying are just some of the ways you can save seasonal tastes you find at the farmers market for later in the year.

Try Something New Each Week. A benefit of farmers’ markets, as compared to CSAs, is the increased ability to stay within your comfort zone if you so choose. But if you are lucky enough to visit a farmers’ market with a selection of unusual produce, why not try one new food each time you visit? At best, maybe you’ll discover a new love. At worst, you will know better next time.

BYOB -Bring your own bag, and maybe a cooler. Yea hippie chics, that reusable canvas tote is good for the earth and it helps the farmers out by not cutting into their already slim profit margins. You are also being kind to yourself, because those el cheapo plastic bags are no way to carry cantaloupes and a dozen ears of corn in one hand, yes, I have seen them bust resulting in bruised produce and embarrassed foodies. If your market sells eggs, cheese, or meat, bring a cooler. The only thing worse than passing up a dozen beautiful eggs because you’re not prepared to bring them home is bringing them home anyway and they ruin.

And, my favorite-
Volunteer at the Market! By volunteering at the market not only do you get a better understanding of the workings of a farmers market and farm-to-market relationships, but you also enjoy an opportunity to spend some time outside volunteering for a good cause. By volunteering at the market, you reduce the substantial workload faced by the market manager. A good market manager makes a market, help them do their job, they usually are doing it for free. It will make your local market stronger and you may also earn some free fruit, vegetables or other food as many vendors will leave goods they don’t want to take home with market volunteers and management.

Celebrate your market and your local farmers. Buy fresh, buy local and buy in season.

The Park Wife

Putting Wings on Your Dreams

Putting Wings on Your Dreams
Written by ARWB May 2012 Blogger of the Month. Ruthanne Genco of Eclectic Whatnot.

I am a dreamer.

Big, crazy dreams.

Small, almost insignificant dreams.

And every dream in between.

Only within the last year have I started to verbalize my dreams, but I’ve always dreamed.

My dreams have changed over the years just as I’ve changed.

At one time, my dreams were only about myself. Now, my dreams involve my husband, our marriage and our children.

When we dream up plans and goals for our future, it gives our life a focused pursuit. It keeps us from becoming stagnant. It keeps us growing as individuals.

Don’t let your dreams just stay safely tucked away inside your head. Take action. Put wings on your dreams and let them take flight.

You want to be an artist? Buy some paint.

You want to be a writer? Start writing.

You want to be a runner? Train your body.

You want to be a pianist? Sign up for lessons.

Yes, there will be work involved. Learn to embrace it.

Yes, there will be cost involved. Learn to prepare for it.

And yes, there will be setbacks and disappointments involved. Learn to find the joy in the midst of the journey.

All of those things are part of making your dreams become a reality.

What would I tell myself at eighteen just out of high school?

The same thing I tell myself today ~ Dream big, dream often and never stop.

Windows {Spring Cleaning}

Windows {Spring Cleaning}
Written by ARWB April 2012 Blogger of the Month. Jeanette Larson of Spinning Dreams and Weaving Yarns

Spring ran through the Ozarks very quickly this year. We went from mostly brown winter hills to glossy green dotted with azalea pink, forsythia yellow and dogwood white in less than three weeks. As I opened my windows to enjoy the soft air and peeper frog symphonies, I noticed how dirty the glass was. I couldn’t stand to close them again.

Washing windows is a chore, but the results are so gratifying. We had installed new insulated windows before this winter, and I had never gotten around to cleaning them after we installed them. Suddenly, Spring was here and I had to have clean windows.

While I don’t mind washing windows, I do hate to run to the store, especially on a day I have off work. So, I took stock of my cleaning supplies on hand. We don’t like using and storing chemicals, so the supplies were pretty sparse. I have cleaned windows with soapy water, washing and rinsing and drying until they shine. After all, it works on drinking glasses. But that’s not the easiest way.

I have a friend who uses the windshield wiper fluid made for automobiles. She just fills up a squirt bottle when she refills her car. But I’ve been getting my wiper fluid topped off when I get my oil changed.

My dad has always used white vinegar and newspaper to clean windows. I had apple cider vinegar and paper towels. We always put our newspaper out for recycling, and besides, our little weekly wouldn’t clean too many windows. I opted to try the cider vinegar. It worked great. I hate to waste paper towels, so I used t-shirt rags.

But, my next challenge was those stickers that talk about the energy efficiency of the windows. They were really stuck on. They’d been on a while at our house and who knows for how long before they got here.

My grandmother often said, “Use it up or wear it out, make it do, or do without.” I bet your grandma did too.

When I moved to the Ozarks, I learned the local version of that saying, “If you ever need anything, just holler and I’ll tell you how you can live without it.”

So, back to the cupboards for something to get those stickers off my windows. I do use google to find housecleaning options, but before I went there, I thought that the anonymous “they” always say peanut butter removes sticky stuff. All we had was all natural, chunky peanut butter, but I grabbed my camera to document this, just in case it worked, and smeared the peanut butter on the back porch window sticker. Then I went to find something to scrape it off.

I figured it was just peanut butter, so I grabbed my favorite kitchen spatula. Just a little bit of scraping, no elbow grease needed, and the sticker was gone. “They” were right again.

Now my windows let me look out on the green grass growing bright and strong in the sheep’s grazing paddocks while I’m cooking dinner or doing the dishes. The grass in the one right outside the window is high enough now that we’ll move the sheep over to it tomorrow. They only get a day or two in each paddock, just enough to mow it down to about 3-inches tall. This keeps the grass strong and the weeds at a minimum. As the grass grows more, it may hold them a little longer.

Perhaps tonight I’ll get to watch a lamb-pede as all the little ones race each other while their moms go about the business of mowing the grass. Is that the sheepie version of “Spring Cleaning”?

Jeanette Larson is the craft director at the Ozark Folk Center in Mountain View, Arkansas. She writes about Spinning Dreams and Weaving Yarns on her blog www.jenonthefarm.com.

Cleaning Me {Spring Cleaning}

Cleaning Me {Spring Cleaning}
written by M.D. of Glitter & Rainbows

Ever since the days have gotten a little longer thanks to Daylight Saving Time, and the weather has been consistently warmer, I have had the itch to get outside and spiff up my yard. It is something that needs doing, and it is much more appealing to me than traditional spring cleaning chores inside my house. I usually start with a little job in mind, say, weed one flower bed, and next thing you know I’ve been outside for a few hours doing this-and-that.

It isn’t easy work. I am usually sore the next day. But it also feels really good. Digging in the dirt, watching the little miracle of nature sending up her shoots and blooms, I am exhausted and happy. I often find my mind wandering, and little jewels of truth occur to me when I am least expecting it.

Here is what my mind conjured up while I was working in a flower bed recently.

I could do a cosmetic job and just pop the tops off the weeds. The bed will look good, but not for long. Those weeds will come back with a vengeance if I don’t take the time to do it right. Digging deep is hard work. Sometimes the root goes far down and plunging my fingers into the unknown is sometimes creepy. It is no telling what I will discover. Beetles, worms, spiders even. Rocks, mystery bulbs, mole tunnels.

It is doing these things in my flower beds that reminds me I need to do these things in my life. If I’m feeling bad or discouraged, a simple fix can usually lift my mood for awhile — treating myself to fancy coffee or buying a new pair of flip flops. These are good things to do for myself occasionally, but I can’t stop there. If I don’t dig deep, despite the scary things I might find, my garden, my self, may never be all that it can be. I know that my life, like my garden, will require maintenance. But if I do the hard work from the very beginning, maintaining it will be much easier.

Sometimes we mourn getting rid of the weeds in our lives. They are our comfortable way of existence. Perhaps when pulling them, we honor the impact they’ve had on us and we make a wish on them for the future.

My mom has said that she likes working in the yard because she can see where’s she’s been. I knew what she meant, but I didn’t really understand it until I had a yard of my own to piddle around in. It feels good to accomplish something. And so many times in life, we may not be able to tell right away if what we are doing is having an impact, if the work we are doing on ourselves is making a difference.

Digging in the ground, getting dirt under my fingernails, yanking up weeds, it is therapeutic. The act itself is good for the body and the result is good for the mind. It makes me feel great to get out, soak up some vitamin D and get moving. And the coming of spring reminds me of all the little things to be grateful for. When I am having a hard time personally, I get that tunnel vision that makes nothing seem right. Spring’s arrival has helped me to take those blinders off and pay attention to the little things in life. The squirrels chasing each other, the rabbits that like to hang out under our deck, the birds building a nest in the box on our apple tree, the bulbs I transplanted from my Granny’s garden that are working their way out of the earth.

While I am spring cleaning in my yard, Spring is cleaning me.

M.D. is married with two fur-babies. She writes about trying to add to her family, and whatever else crosses her mind, at Glitter & Rainbows.

Call for Entries {Spring Cleaning}

We’ve turned the clocks forward, spring rains are falling and if you’re a mom your kids are probably on Spring Break this week. As we prepare for warmer weather it is also that time when we come asking you to send us content to post on Arkansas Women Bloggers!

The topic for the month of April is {Spring Cleaning}. As usual the topic is open to your interpretation. Tell us about all the ways you keep your “house” – not just your home – in order!

Julie, our Content Cultivator and Calendar Girl, is an art teacher by day. One of her favorite sayings in her classroom is, “The more creative – the better!” This applies to the content here on ARWB as well. We provide you with the topics as a spring board but what you do with it and how you interpret them are part of what makes each of you a great and unique blogger!

Why do we need your content?

This site is about YOU! While ARWB is still young and still growing we have a lot of plans for the future of this site and this group. In order to provide you with wonderful conferences, giveaways, exclusive blogger events and so on we need to have a high and active membership. Providing content is one way you can be involved!

What’s in it for me?

At this time we are not able to offer financial compensation for your stories but guest blogging for us does have other rewards. We will provide links to your blog within your post. We will also give you shout outs on Facebook and Twitter. When people read your writing on our blog they are much more likely to click through to your personal blog to read more about you. We will also list you in our Featured Contributors widget in our sidebar.

What can I write about?

We will accept posts on just about any topic! Write what you are comfortable with or challenge yourself to try something new! Additionally, each month we will provide a topic to help you get your ideas flowing. The topics are intentionally vague to allow you to put your own twist on the topic. The topic for April is {Spring Cleaning}. We want you to tell us about all the ways you keep your “house” – not just your home – in order! Do you have a special spring cleaning regimen? Do you have an idea for clearing out the clutter? What are you doing to get your kids out of the house and into the fresh air?

How do I submit a story?

First be sure to check out our Guest Post Guidelines. This will give you all the details about everything you will need to send to us. Posts can be emailed to julie@arkansaswomenbloggers.

Do I have to be a member of ARWB to submit?

The short answer is “No, but…?” We will accept content from non-members but priority will be given to those who have shown a genuine interest in Arkansas Women Bloggers mainly by signing up with us. We have and will post content written by non-members but our goal is to create a place where the members of Arkansas Women Bloggers can get the word out to each other about their own personal blogs! If you haven’t joined us there is no time like the present! You can find our fast, free and easy to fill out registration form right HERE!

Retro Wednesday

Our members are always writing great stuff on their individual blogs! Here are a few links from some of our ARWB Members.

…Girls Night – Desperately Seeking {Gina}

Every couple of months these women gather to talk, eat, reminisce, eat, relax, eat, get-away-from-it-all-for-just-a-day-and-a-half. (did I mention we eat?) Every time I join them for a Girls Night, I leave feeling grateful for the lives of these women that have shaped my own life. There’s the cousin who has breast cancer and somehow manages to be so positive, upbeat, and faithful that it is she who comforts those of us who watch her journey unfold. There’s the Great Aunt who tells of her life with an abusive husband (more than one, I think). There’s the crazy wild cousin who is always positive, cheerful, supportive, and just plain fun. There’s my godmother and my mom’s first cousin who played such a major part of helping me develop some self-esteem when I was a teenager. These are truly great women. Knowing their stories and how they overcame the obstacles of their own youth, adolescence, and adulthood is how I have managed to become a great girl myself (yea…I’m saying so myself 🙂 ) Read More…

The Second Best Decision of My Life – Curly Hair Straight Talk

If you aren’t my friend on Facebook, don’t workout at Curves of Jonesboro, or are not my momma, this may come as a surprise to you!
Yesterday, Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at approximately 2pm, I made the second best decision of my life!
Saying “Yes!” when E asked me to marry him!
I know this is only my second best decision because my first best will be saying, “I do!” Read More…

Other Links of Interest:

Best Movies to Honor Women’s History

Do you have a post on your blog that you would love to share with our readers? We will be doing this through our Retro Wednesday feature. Each Wednesday we will feature several posts from our archives as well as your archives by providing an excerpt and a link to your favorite post from your personal blog. If you would like to submit a post for our Retro Wednesday feature please email a short excerpt (300 characters or less) along with a link to the post to Julie@arkansaswomenbloggers.com with “Retro Wednesday” in the subject line. Please be sure to also include your name and blog title. Please note that we will keep an ongoing list of Retro Wednesday posts and may not be able to notify you regarding the specific day on which your link will appear. Additionally, if you are interested in submitting original content for our site you may click here to see our Posting Guidelines.