Real Life

Your Life, Your Blog: Guest Host, Adoption, and Five For Fighting

2009-11-08T22:14:00.003-05:00

Hello fantasic bloggers! Another week has flown by, and it's time for Your Life, Your Blog again!

I have a few random thoughts and then we'll Link, Read, Tweet and Stumble!

Jen, from One Mom's World joined me last week on my live MomTV show, and she's coming back! This week, we'll be cooking up holiday recipes, and she's going to make some Weight Watcher's desserts. I'm so excited!
November is National Adoption Month and I'll be posting about it. If you're an adoptive mom, and you'd like to submit a guest post, you can send it to sarah@reallifeblog.net
Does anyone want an autographed CD from Five for Fighting? You can enter here through the 13th.

The only guideline is that it must be reated PG! This is a family blog, folks! You can share your life with your kids, a funny commentary, a contest you're hosting, reviews, an informative post, video, anything, really!

Read, comment and stumble! Please link back to this post, so others can join in! (You can just put a small phrase at the bottom of the post, like "This post included in Real Life's Your Life Your Blog" or include the button). Please spread the word, because this carnival will be more effective if lots of people are linking and reading. And each Monday, the links from the previous "Your Life, Your Blog" will be converted to "real" links. It's all about the love, right?

Here's the code for the button if you'd like to display it on your blog:

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Get Real on MomTV! Operation Christmas Child Packing Party Thursday!

2009-11-04T10:32:00.005-05:00

I am SO excited about this Thursday's Mom TV show! We are hosting a Virtual Packing Party for Operation Christmas Child! We are most likely going to broadcast directly from the National Headquarters here in Boone NC, and Jen from One Mom's World will be co-hosting with me!

CLICK HERE to see the show live Thursday at 1PM est!

In order to win these prizes, be sure to link your OCC post to the carnival on this page today.

Grand Prize: Veggie Tales DVD Prize Pack

Stuffed Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato
Veggie Tales 25 Favorite Christmas songs CD
Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving DVD
A Little Golden Book - Saint Nicholas: A Veggie Christmas Story
Veggie Tales family devotional (one day sample)
2 activity booklets for kids w/ VT coupon

Runners Up: OCC Hoodie, and an OCC tumbler!

I will have SURPRISE prizes just for coming to the MomTV Show. One of the prizes might just have something to do with little white things you put in your ears... Just a hint. For these prizes, you don't have to post, just attend the show Thursday at 1PM!

Are you coming? Go ahead and set up an email reminder at MomTV by clicking here.

Here is the replay of Get Real: PETS! Meet Napoleon, featuring Michele, Kelly, and Niki and their pets!

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Real Cool Music: Five For Fighting "Slice," Review and Giveaway

2009-11-03T21:52:00.004-05:00

The simple, but haunting, piano melody begins. The pure, exquisite voice pierces the room, making me smile. Enter: the gentle drum beat, prompting a head bob, opening up to a full rhythm. Dancing with the dishes, is that such a good idea?

This is the scene as I first listen to Five for Fighting's song, "Slice" from the so-titled new CD release! I don't know why, but I always first listen to new music while I'm cleaning the kitchen! If it makes me dance a little while I scrub, wishing I knew the words - or stop in amazement, listening to the melodic and harmonic intricacies, then I know it's good! And Slice made me do both!

John Ondrasik has such a huge vocal range, and a signature sound that is immediately recognizable! When he seemlessly and beautifully goes into the falsetto range, or throws in a blue note, it really makes me stop and smile, and sometimes gives me chills! And I always say that if an artist can hold his/her own with just a piano and a mic, there is no denying that talent! But don't take my word for it, listen yourself!

My favorite thing about John Ondrasik and Five for Fighting is the work he does for charity and the US Military troops

In Feb 2007 John launched a charity driven website – whatkindofworlddoyouwant.com that raises money for various charities when users view video clips provided by visitors to the site. Current views are over 3 million with approx. $300,000 donated!
John is a dedicated supporter of US Troops, performing for US Forces at Guantanamo Bay, Hawaii, Guam & Japan on USO tours John created & produced “For the Troops”, a CD compilation of superstar recordings that is available for free to every active service person in US Armed Forces

If you're on the West Coast, you can catch Five For Fighting LIVE at these locations:

6-Nov Portland, OR
10-Nov San Francisco, CA
11-Nov Los Angeles, CA

NOW, here's how you can win a copy of "Slice" by John Ondrasik! (Can't wait? Order it here at Amazon!)

Leave a comment here telling us your favorite Five for Fighting song! You can listen to some on the widget above, or tell another on from his repertoire. (REQUIRED) I'm trying out the new MckLinky Contest Entry widget, so if you have any problems, ping me.

Leave another comment for these optional extra entries

Subscribe to Real Life's RSS Feed
Follow @RealLifeSarah on Twitter
Tweet or Blog this contest (leave link) Example: "Win the new CD from @johnondrasik Five for Fighting from @reallifesarah "
Follow @JohnOndrasik on Twitter
Become a Five For Fighting Facebook Fan

Special thanks to One2One Network for providing a digital download of the album, and providing the product for giveaway!

This giveaway listed here:
http://dkmommyspot.com/more-giveaways/
http://www.eightymphmom.com/2009/06/giveaway-linky-and-other-blog-giveaways.html?
http://www.thecontesthub.com/
http://www.morethancents.info/
http://www.ithodeyouso.com/

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When a Friend Expects Your Secrecy.. But You Think Someone Else Needs to Know

2009-11-03T20:21:00.001-05:00

I've been writing about my experience with a trusted friend, whom I felt had betrayed my trust. Read the first post, "The Kindred Spirit Friend," and the second, "The Trust Factor: Broken"

Please forgive me if this posts starts like one of those personality quizzes in Seventeen Magazine!

So here's the scenario:

Your very close friend shares something that she's been feeling. She admits it is not necessarily right-thinking, but it spills out of her heart in a low moment.
She really needs to talk directly to another party about this issue, and she admits as much, but either doesn't have the courage yet, or is confused in some way.
You feel conflicted, because you really believe the right thing would be for your friend to converse with the parties involved.

What are your options?

Keep it to yourself completely, ignoring your strong feelings about what your friend should do. Just pray for her, and all parties.
Go tell the person yourself. After all, it's clear your friend doesn't have the guts yet.
Tell your friend how you feel, and that if she doesn't communicate with the right people, you will be compelled to do it.

Which one would you choose? Which one have you chosen?

I believe the appropriate response would be number 3. I just feel that someone's trust is such an intimate and delicate thing, you have to do everything to protect it. People are sometimes wrong. Sometimes people will vent to you and share something they shouldn't. Have you ever done it? If you're a woman, chances are you have!

This type of thing happens with my children, as well. I want them to trust me explicitly, but I let them know that I do not keep secrets from their daddy. Last week, Princess came home with a behavior issue, and she whispered it in my ear. She said she didn't want daddy to know. I gently told her that I would not keep her secret, but that I would stand with her as she told her daddy. That meant so much more to her than if I'd have walked away and told him behind her back.

There is a time to listen, support, and pray. There is a time to talk to your friend about hard truths, even when she's wrong. But in my opinion, there is never a time to go behind her back when there is an expectation of privacy.

What do you think?

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The Trust Factor: Broken

2009-11-02T21:08:00.004-05:00

I've been writing about my experience with a "Kindred Spirit" friend. Read the first post here if you haven't yet.

This post is going to sound sort of negative. Well, it pretty much IS negative. I don't share this to sound like a victim or to complain, I was in the wrong, too. But to be honest about my Real Life. Every day, my skin gets thicker and thicker, but my real goal is to hopefully help myself and others deal with these things realistically. And kind of to vent... but it's my blog, I can do that, right?

For me, it seems in many relationships, the trust factor has an expiration date. In this case, the expiration date was a few weeks ago. I was at a low-point when this friend called me. SO I spilled the beans. It had been pent up inside for a long time, as I tried to work it out, and I probably should have confronted the people I needed to. I hate confrontation unless I know I'm right, so I usually think a while, figure out if it's something I just need to let go, get my perspective right. But, like I said... weak moment.

I was surprised by an intense note of judgment in her voice when I shared how I was feeling. I tried to state again and again that I didn't want her to agree with me, that I knew I needed help, and I was asking for prayer to deal with it the way I should. But the sharpness continued, as if I hadn't listened to the same type of outcry from her own heart many times. I couldn't take it anymore, so I abruptly ended the conversation. And cried... really hard.

It was a blow to the safety that I felt in this friend, and my heart was hurting. But I figured maybe I caught her on a bad day, too. So when she called two days later, I apologized for getting upset. And then came the blow that really knocked me down.

She said that she had shared what I said with someone else (exactly the person I didn't want to know), and promptly informed me that the other person didn't think I should be sharing those feelings. I didn't say anything right there, except to admit that I have not shared that with ANYONE else, and I thought I could be safe to ask for prayer from her. A shrug and a "hmmm" in response. The thing that really got me was that she had been hurt by this exact situation the year before. And man, I fiercely defended her!

And that's when I knew, the statute of limitations on our trusting friendship had been reached. The stunning revelation that I no longer had a trusted friend in her. That maybe her sanctimony had outgrown her grace for someone who may be wrong, but was reaching out? Did she think she was doing the right thing, or knowingly stinging me for some reason? Did I get what I deserved for being rash and letting my guard off of my tongue? Does it matter?

Have you had a similar experience? What did you do? I don't know whether to simply go on, accepting I cannot share my heart with her anymore, or to try to fix it. I don't know if that's possible, or if it's worth the effort. Is this kind of trust an illusion altogether?

More tomorrow on how I would have handled it if I were in her position.

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Your Life, Your Blog: Big Week with Operation Christmas Child!

2009-11-01T21:24:00.004-05:00

Hello lovely Bloggers! Your Life, Your Blog was suspended last week, for a special project with Operation Christmas Child, a ministry which brings millions of "shoebox" presents to poor children around the world! We have a Bloggy Carnival going on!

If you have packed shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child, or plan to this year, you can post on your blog about what it means to you! Then you link up on the Carnival Post
One blogger will win the Grand Veggie Tales DVD Prize Pack (lots of great stuff).
The winner will be announced on my Mom TV show Thursday at 1PM est! We will be having a Virtual Packing Party, so come on your webcam and show us what's going into your shoeboxes! We'll also feature tips, info and inpiring stories! If you want to come on the show from your webcam and share your story, let me know!

But for now! Let's hear what is going on in Your Life, Your blog! Link up any post, and I encourage you to Stumble, Digg, and Tweet each other's posts!

The only guideline is that it must be reated PG! This is a family blog, folks! You can share your life with your kids, a funny commentary, a contest you're hosting, reviews, an informative post, video, anything, really!

Read, comment and stumble! Please link back to this post, so others can join in! (You can just put a small phrase at the bottom of the post, like "This post included in Real Life's Your Life Your Blog" or include the button). Please spread the word, because this carnival will be more effective if lots of people are linking and reading. And each Monday, the links from the previous "Your Life, Your Blog" will be converted to "real" links. It's all about the love, right?

Here's the code for the button if you'd like to display it on your blog:

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Do You Have a "Kindred Spirit" Friend?

2009-11-01T18:55:00.005-05:00

Have you ever had the kind of friend that you could go to with anything? When the feelings bubble up from where you've stuffed them, when you're angry, when you're feeling catty, even when you know you're wrong, you can share them with this friend. She will listen with a grain of salt. She may try to encourage you to get on the right track, but would never be sanctimonious or look down her nose. She will pray for you, when she knows you need to confront someone else, but she would never betray your trust.

I have a couple of friends like this, but one in particular. For several years, we had been confidants. I stayed by her side as she went through a difficult situation within the Body of Christ. I stood underneath her as she ventured out on her own as a leader. Were there times when I thought she could handle things a little differently? Sure. But I mainly saw my friendship as a listening ear, and a praying heart- advice when she asked.

And she did the same for me, for the most part, although this period was not a very challenging one for me in that way. I always knew that I could trust her, even when I knew God needed to change my heart, and I would say as much. "I KNOW this is wrong thinking, but I feel... can you pray with me for God to change my heart?"

Have you ever had a friend like this? How long did it last?

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In Which I Was Abducted by Mannequins!

2009-10-28T22:52:00.002-04:00

I had a meeting at Panera today, and I can’t wait to tell you who I met with and the subject, but it’s not quite ready yet!! There are so many brilliant people here, I’m amazed!! So after I walked out of Panera, the Super Modelquins from Old Navy literally reached out into the mall and GRABBED me, forcing me to check out their Clearance sales!

After getting over the shock of abducted by mannequins, I found the most amazing deals! Certain Clearance items are an extra 50% off! I got about 8 shirts for $30. Given, they were summer shirts, but I got a lot of camis and tanks I can wear under layers.

So if you have time, run over to Old Navy and stock up for next summer!

Disclosure: This post is purely my honest opinion, as always! I receive no compensation of any kind for this post.

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Christmas Charity on a Shoestring!

2009-10-27T22:25:00.002-04:00

Many of you know that I am coordinating a Blog Carnival and Contest for the Operation Christmas Child charity. We'll have a virtual packing party on MomTV Thursday, Nov 5. This is one of my favorite projects, because you can really put a personal touch to it, and even send a letter or family picture!

Clair from Mummy Deals is also hosting an "In Real Life" Packing party near Chicago! As I was talking with Clair on the phone last night, she shared with me her post series on How to give on a budget. And let me tell you, this girl can SAVE! SO I asked if I could share some of her tips here for those packing boxes for OCC. This is also useful for local homeless shelters, food pantries, etc.

Here are the first five tips in her ten part series:

1. Seasonal Clearance: Clair stocked up all year, after last Christmas, Valentines Day. Independence Day, etc. She recently found Dollar General summer Clearance at 90% off! I honestly live right near a Dollar General, but have only stepped inside once! Time to go back! Read this post here.

2.Freebies: If you read Mummy Deals, you will learn how to get FREE stuff from drugstores, mail orders, etc. Clair doesn't just stockpile the stuff for the family, she gives it away! ~to Habitat for Humanity, friends in need, and of course, OCC! Read this post here.

3. McDonald's and other Fast Food toys! Mine actually get thrown under the bed, lost in the abyss of the toybox, or eaten by the dog. I am going to start swiping them when the kids don't play with them to stick in my OCC stash! Read this post here

4. Re-Gifting: Hmmm... Never thought about this for OCC, but it's a great idea! We usually re-gift for the family "White Elephant" gift exchange. There's a hideous Christmas sweater that's been going around for years! Read this post here.

5. Promo Items/Swag: Oooh, I'm thinking I need to go through my bags from the Conferences I've been to and see what I can give. Oh, of course I wouldn't give away the stuff from your company, just those other ones! Read this post here

What are YOUR tips for giving to charities on a budget?

This post included in Works for Me Wednesday at We Are THAT Family. Click here to see tons more tips!

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Operation Christmas Child Carnival and Contest!

2009-10-26T21:24:00.016-04:00

Well, it's that time of year again! October is almost over, and it's time to start thinking about Christmas... which means presents... packed in shoeboxes... to send around the world to needy children!

Am I Right? Well, if you've never heard of Operation Christmas Child Shoeboxes, you're in the right place! We are gathering bloggers from all over the blogosphere to share their experiences with Operation Christmas Child. Even if you're new to OCC, you can participate this year, and share what you're looking forward to about the project!

Every year, we go to a dollar store, or another discount store, I give the kids each a certain amount of money to purchase gifts for another child. There is something about having them go to a store, where they really want some of the items, and buy those items for someone else. And when we make it a huge family affair, it makes it more meaningful!

One year, we were in church small group with one of the Samaritan's Purse videographers, Tracy Eakes. We had a packing party at small group one week with all the kids (we had about 20 kids in the group, no lie!) Tracy knew he was going on a trip to film the distribution of the boxes, so he made sure to take our boxes with him. He then filmed the kids getting OUR boxes that we packed, and played it for us when he got back! It was such a treat for the kids to see the fruit of their giving, and make a personal connection.

Another way to make a personal connection is to include a picture of your family and a note to the cihld who receives your box. You will get chills when you read this story by Holly Johnson, a SC mom about how OCC boxes connected them to lifelong friends accross the globe: It All Started with a Shoebox

Here's a little video featuring Shannon Kozee from Operation Christmas Child about packing a box. You can also take a peek into the national distribution center in Boone, NC!

So we are going to have a great time sharing stories, and I can't wait to read yours! Here is how to participate:

OCT 26-NOV 5: Write a post on your blog sharing what OCC means to you. One winner will receive a Veggie Tales DVD Prize Pack!

Stuffed Larry the Cucumber and Bob the Tomato
Veggie Tales 25 Favorite Christmas songs CD
Saint Nicholas: A Story of Joyful Giving DVD
A Little Golden Book - Saint Nicholas: A Veggie Christmas Story
Veggie Tales family devotional (one day sample)
2 activity booklets for kids w/ VT coupon

One Runner-up will receive and OCC Hoodie, and another will receive an OCC tumbler!

Link your post in the Linky below, and don't forget to link back here so others can participate! Please do not host a linky on your own site, so that all participants will be eligible to win the prize!

Your Carnival Post Could Include:

Extraordinary Shoe Box Story Have you ever received a letter from a child who received your shoe box and corresponded through letters?Has your church “adopted” a community because of a shoe box gift?Do you have a heart for a certain country and then learned your shoe box gift was delivered there?

Leaders Do you lead a large group or church that packs shoe box gifts every year?Have you ever hosted or plan to host a huge packing party?

Passion for OCC Have you participated in the project for a number of years? \

Other Powerful Stories Has your community or group become closer because of this project?Do you have an amazing story about how the Operation Christmas Child project has impacted you or someone you know?

Your plans to pack shoeboxes this year

NOV 5: a virtual Packing Party November 5, at 1PM est on my live MomTV Webcast Show!

The Veggie Tales Winner will be announced here, but you don't have to be present to win! You can get on your webcam with us, or you can join in the chatroom during the show! It's always a lot of fun!

Resources

OCC Homepage
OCC Fact Sheet (PDF)
OCC Home Packing Party Guide (PDF)
YouTube Promo Video

Are you going to Join in? Leave a comment and let us know! Click here to sign up for future "Bloggers Care" email alerts!

If you'd like to put the button on your site, you can use this code. I will change out the image depending on the campaign that is taking place, or replace it with a generic Blogger's Care badge. Don't feel pressured, but I would be honored.

<center><a href="http://www.reallifeblog.net" target="_blank"><img border="0" alt="Bloggers Care Button" src="http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk253/RealLifeDesign/Real%20Life/BloggersCareButton.gif"/></a></center>

Full Disclosure: I do NOT receive any compensation whatsoever for this outreach.

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Bloggers Care: Operation Christmas Child

2009-10-25T23:04:00.003-04:00

Comments are closed here

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE CARNIVAL/CONTEST LINKY!

---------------------------------------------------

Welcome to the very first Bloggers Care project! I've been blessed so much by the community of bloggers, and I'm so thankful to the Lord for leading me into this exciting part of life!

It's time to give back, so I'm going beyond just posting on my blog, to try to organize other bloggers for causes and charities. I have no idea how God is going to guide this endeavor, or if it will even go beyond this campaign, but I am placing it in His hands to use as He pleases.

Many of you know that I live in the tiny mountain town of Boone, NC. However, did you know that the Samaritan's Purse/ Operation Christmas Child International Headquarters lives here too? I absolutely love Operation Christmas Child, and I know many of the volunteers and Samaritan's Purse employees who help pack, load and deliver the shoeboxes around the world! We will be partnering to spread the word and encourage our readers to pack shoeboxes For needy children.

I would be SO excited if you would join with me to give needy children presents, and hope in Christ!

This campaign will consist of (you can do any and/or all of the components)

NOW- OCT 25: Blog Post announcing the project and recruiting other bloggers to join us
OCT 26-NOV 5: a posting carnival/contest where we share OCC impact stories, or plans for this year (winner gets a Veggie Tales DVD Library)
NOV 5: a virtual Packing Party November 5, at 1PM est on my live MomTV Show! ~Sarah Pinnix, Real Life Blog

Resources

OCC Homepage
OCC Fact Sheet (PDF)
OCC Home Packing Party Guide (PDF)
YouTube Promo Video

Your Carnival Post Could Include:

Extraordinary Shoe Box Story

Have you ever received a letter from a child who received your shoe box and corresponded through letters?Has your church “adopted” a community because of a shoe box gift?Do you have a heart for a certain country and then learned your shoe box gift was delivered there?

Leaders

Do you lead a large group or church that packs shoe box gifts every year?Have you ever hosted or plan to host a huge packing party?

Passion for OCC

Have you participated in the project for a number of years? \

Other Powerful Stories

Has your community or group become closer because of this project?Do you have an amazing story about how the Operation Christmas Child project has impacted you or someone you know?

Your plans to pack shoeboxes this year

Are you going to Join in? Leave a comment and let us know! You can also leave a link to your announcement post! Click here to sign up for future "Bloggers Care" email alerts!

Full Disclosure: I do NOT receive any compensation whatsoever for this outreach. This post is linked up to Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family, because giving to the needy at Christmas through OCC works for our family! Click here to see tons more tips for life!

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Yoplait Fiber One Yogurt Giveaway: 50 WINNERS!

2009-10-23T13:48:00.008-04:00

I am so excited to be able to feature this giveaway from Yoplait! The first 50 readers will have the opportunity to sign-up to receive a coupon for a free 4-pack of Fiber One yogurt!

If you're wondering why I featured this as a Wii Mommies Fitness Friday, FiberOne Yogurt is a great solution for healthy snacking, with a touch of a sweet treat! Here are some facts about eating healthy with Yoplait FiberOne:

Yoplait Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt is the only leading nonfat yogurt with 50 calories and 5 grams of fiber. With the low-cal, low-fat and high fiber, guess how many Weight Watchers' Points for a serving of this yogurt? The big... fat...

Available in four flavors – Strawberry, Vanilla, Peach and Key Lime Pie – Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt is a delicious snack that is good for you, contributes 20% of the recommended daily value of fiber and is a good source of calcium as well as vitamins A and D.My kids and husband really like the Key Lime Pie flavor! Sometimes, Judd will eat this instead of ice cream!

Instead of munching on boring lower-calorie foods, you can now snack with zero guilt on Fiber One yogurt, a tasty way to help watch waistlines and keep calorie counts in check. Add a little granola or fresh fruit to spice it up!

Fiber One 50-calorie yogurt features a ‘Hungry Girl Seal of Approval’, the first nationally distributed yogurt to receive this endorsement.

We featured Yoplait and Dr. Kristi Funk on Wii Mommies Blog Talk Radio today, on the topic of Breast Health and their "Your Lid Matters" program. Click here to listen!

After you sign up to receive your free 4-pack of yogurt, leave a comment about your favorite healthy snack or your favorite yogurt flavor! Click "Try it Free" below!

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God Works All Things For Good, Even Unplanned Pregnancy! {guest post by Melissa}

2009-10-20T19:59:00.008-04:00

I am so privileged to have Melissa, from Multitasking Mama as a guest blogger on Real Life today! As many of you know, I have been raising funds for our local Hope Pregnancy Resource Center, which helps women facing unplanned pregnancies with education, resources, material help, even free sonograms. I feel that if I am going to be pro-life, I have to help those that have made that choice! If you feel led to give to my campaign (only two days left), and help young moms like Melissa, you can read all about it here, and go to my FirstGiving.com Page to donate. I need a miracle to come close to my goal of $1000! I've pledged to give $5 for each person who donates any amount.

Getting pregnant at sixteen saved me.

That is not always a popular statement but it is true.

I was in a very self destructive place in my life. Life had taught me that I had no one to rely on but myself. Childhood abuse, rejection and hurt had built a calloused wall around my heart. Promiscuity, drug use and a general loathing of self replaced the little girl that had once dreamed of being a music therapist. The God I had known as a child would never look past the sins I had committed.

When both lines turned blue on the little white stick, I promptly vomited into the trashcan of the fast food bathroom stall I had locked myself in. For several days I pretended I didn’t know what was happening. Then, the panic struck. Pregnant? How can I take care of a baby? All I had was a room in an apartment and a job behind the drive thru window. “I can’t do this”….

Fast forward a week, sitting in a sterile clinic surrounded by literature about birth control, reproductive choices and my “options”. As I filled out the form, my hands began to shake. “I can’t do this”….

Thankfully, God was at work in my life even when I didn’t realize it. I made the decision to have my baby (which I intuitively knew was a boy). God brought people in to my life, including my future husband, who did know what they were doing and helped a seventeen year old girl become a good mama.

It was not easy. Jared was born five weeks premature (because I had an eating disorder and smoked throughout my pregnancy). He spent almost two weeks in the NICU before coming home. I became a statistic again when I became pregnant with Matt when Jared was just six months old.

Jared as a baby

Through it all, God was making a way for me to know Him, who He really is- a God of grace and mercy.

I was in a dark hole of post partum depression after Matt was born. Eighteen years old with a newborn and a sixteen month old, I was convinced I had ruined my life and would never be able to adequately parent my precious babies.

And, then I got the mail. Yes, something as simple as a postcard in the mail made my day AND introduced me to Jesus. Are you a young mom? Need a time-out? Come to xyz church on Tuesday for coffee. Free childcare provided.

Free childcare? You had me at….free childcare.

The next day was Tuesday and I tentatively walked in to a church with my a baby on my hip and a baby in a car seat, screaming as only his colicky self could. And a wonderful Christian woman took those boys from me, pointed me toward a room with a few other gals and I had the first quiet, peaceful two hours that I could remember. “I can do this”…

There was no judgment, no questions about my “situation”, only love. After six months of attending that teen moms support group, not only did I have my GED and was enrolled in the local college, I had found Jesus with clothes on. I was baptized that year and my husband the following year.

Melissa and the family now

We serve a Romans 8:28 God, you know the One that works ALL things together for good?…Becoming pregnant at sixteen saved me….from continuing to hurt myself, from perpetuating cycles of generational sin, from always believing I was too far gone to be saved. I will always be grateful to those women, who looked past the tough exterior of a girl with big chips on her shoulders, to the potential that lied therein. May I always extend the same grace to others.

Visit Melissa at Multi-Tasking Mama and give her some comment love!

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Your Life, Your Blog - Pets & MomTV Topics Du Jour

2009-10-18T22:31:00.007-04:00

Hello fabulous bloggers and friends! Thank you so much for your kind and encouraging words last week, as we were going through the loss of our pet, Nigel. We went back and forth a lot, and my husband really felt that he needed to look for another dog to bring into our family. He loves having a canine companion, and was really having a hard time with this loss.

It's a long story (which I will be sharing on Mom TV this week!) but we found the perfect new family member, and I'm really excited to show him to you on Thursday! Napoleon is a three month old, black standard poodle, with a sweet and obedient disposition.

So Thursday at 1PM est, on MomTV's GET REAL , we'll talk all about pets! Dogs, cats, hermit crabs (hee hee), fish, you name it! I'd love for you guys to some on your webcams and show off your pets, and I'll be looking for a prize to give away to one viewer who shows us his/her pet!

If you missed the show last week, we had an incredible discussion about the power of social media to change/save lives. Angela England was there to tell us all about baby Jaeli who is fighting a rare chromosomal disorder, and whose life has been saved by donations of Breast Milk! You can watch the Get Real playback here, by clicking Menu>View Movies.

While you're here, leave me a comment below telling me what topics you'd like to see on Get Real!

SO now, let's here about YOU! I'll be stumbling and tweeting some of the posts as well, and I encourage you to do the same! (I'll also be converting these into "real links" which is good for your SEO)

Every Monday on Real Life, I post a linky where you can share any post from the previous week on your blog! That way, I can go through and read them, and you can too!

The only guideline is that it must be reated PG! This is a family blog, folks! You can share your life with your kids, a funny commentary, a contest you're hosting, reviews, an informative post, video, anything, really!

Read, comment and stumble! Please link back to this post, so others can join in! (You can just put a small phrase at the bottom of the post, like "This post included in Real Life's Your Life Your Blog" or include the button). Please spread the word, because this carnival will be more effective if lots of people are linking and reading. And each Monday, the links from the previous "Your Life, Your Blog" will be converted to "real" links. It's all about the love, right?

Here's the code for the button if you'd like to display it on your blog:

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Flirty Apron Review and Giveaway

2009-10-14T21:53:00.006-04:00

I wish I had a nickel for every time my husband walked into the kitchen and exclaimed, "You're cooking in THAT?" Whether it be a white shirt or a church dress, I always spill something! Anyway, I don't always like to wear an apron, because, ya know, one likes to look cute in the kitchen, right?

The folks at FlirtyAprons.com contacted me to review one of their aprons, and I was so excited when I looked at their designs! These aprons are uber-cute, and great quality! And LOOK: They are on sale for $19.95 with $2.95 shipping for the entire order. It ends Friday, so you'll have to figure out whether to go ahead and get one, or wait to see if you win my giveaway!

It was really hard to choose just one for the review, but I ended up with the one on the right in the above photo. It was really adorable, the colors were great, it was well made and I really liked everything about it.

The number one draw for this apron is the tie behind the neck. Most aprons with the set neck-strap length are too big for me, so I have to try to tie a knot in the strap to get it to sit high enough in the front. Ugh, so cumbersome! But with the Flirty Aprons, you can tie it behind your neck at any length you like! Brilliant.

Also, the waist tie is super long, and it goes around your waist and back to the front to tie. This makes it truly a one-size-fits all item, and it feels secure on my waist. If you are a larger woman, you can be sure that this apron will fit.

I wore my Flirty Apron in my MomTV show "Get Real" last week, and it was a big hit! Watch it below to see the apron in action

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And now, Flirty Aprons is offering an apron of your choice to one of my Real Life readers! Here's how to enter!

Visit www.FlirtyAprons.com and look around at the aprons. Leave a comment here saying which apron you would like! Make sure to leave your email address in the comment (used only to contact the winner.)

For extra entries, leave a comment here when you:

Are a subscriber to Real Life (click here to subscribe)
Follow @RealLifeSarah on Twitter
Tweet this giveaway. (include @reallifesarah and #giveaway in your tweet)
If you think this giveaway is really snazzy, Stumble this post!

Giveaway will run through October 28, and the winner will be announced by email and on the Winners' Page. US residents, age 18 and older are eligible for this contest. Apron was provided for review and giveaway, and no other compensation was received.

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BOO! I Think We Look Kinda Cool as Monsters!

2009-10-14T19:33:00.001-04:00

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A Lost Pet: A Time for Family Bonding

2009-10-14T13:07:00.004-04:00

Many of you know that we lost our dog Nigel (aka The Sock Monster), whom we loved deeply, on Saturday in a freak accident right outside our front yard. It was such a shock to us, and it's the second time in the last 4 years that something like that has happened suddenly.

The thing is, there is nothing we can point to as far as negligence on our part. There's nothing about which to say, "If we hadn't done _________, he would still be here." In a way, that's good. We don't blame ourselves... or anyone really for his loss. But in a way, it's bad, because it is completely senseless, and hard to wrap our minds around.

Judd and I were completely distraught that first day. I cried so hard, my eyes were about swollen shut. But the first thing we worried about is telling the kids. After we lost our dog four years ago, and got Nigel, they kept asking if Nigel was going to die too. We were careful not to promise things that we couldn't control. We just said that we hoped he would be with us for a long, long time, and it was ultimately up to God. We took all the precautions, got a radio invisible fence, trained him not to chase cars, brought him inside a lot. But we just can't control everything.

So how did we guide the kids through their grief, while we ourselves were grieving?

1. We admitted that we were sad, and weren't afraid to cry with the kids. We held each other and cried for a long time that morning. It's good for kids to see their parents feeling and dealing with grief, not stuffing it in to "be strong for the kids." However, we remembered this verse and were careful to season our sadness with Hope from the Lord.

1Thess 4:13-14 Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

I believe that all of God's creation is eternal, and will be present in its glorified state in Heaven. So our message to the kids is, "We are so very sad and will miss Nigel very much. But we know that Jesus is with him in spirit right now, and we will see him again!"

2. We prayed with the children. Our prayers poured out our hearts, asking God to give us peace and guide us through our sadness. We also told God how much we loved Nigel, and that we knew He was taking care of him now.

Samuel 22:7 In my distress I called to the LORD; I called out to my God. From his temple he heard my voice; my cry came to his ears.

3. We communicated that God allowed this to happen and knows how we are feeling, but did not cause Nigel to be killed. The sovereignty of God is tough to understand, even for an adult. I wanted the kids to be secure that God is with them, and that He has a plan for everything. But I also don't believe that He causes tragedy. From what I understand, He allows tragedy so that HE will be glorified in His mercy and restoration. I don't know if the kids got the whole picture, but maybe they will look back later and the message will sink in.
4. Let them achieve a form of closure that is meaningful to them. My creative six year old immediately got out the watercolors and painted pictures of Nigel. My introspective daughter (8yo) wrote notes to him, and wanted to bury them next to Nigel, along with his bone. The whole family went out to the site and had a little prayer ceremony, cried again together, and it was amazingly helpful for all of us.

My husband and I still think we hear him walking through the house or barking outside sometimes; our minds playing tricks on us. My daughters, every now and then, will say, "I really miss Nigel," to which I say, "Me too, sweetie." and hug them tight. But I feel like this weekend together was really healing for us. It built trust between my husband, me and the kids, and brought us closer to the Lord. He truly showed His Mercy and Grace in the face of tragedy.

We love you, Nigel!

Now, my husband wants to get another dog very soon. I'm just not sure I can handle training another puppy right now, or being afraid to lose him. What do you think? Is it best to go ahead and get another dog to fill the space Nigel left in our family?

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Your Life Your Blog: October 12, 2009

2009-10-11T21:34:00.003-04:00

Well, this has been a really crazy weekend for us. After a fabulous time at Disney on Ice Friday night, a tragedy happened early Saturday morning. Our beloved dog was killed in a freak accident right outside our home. I loved Nigel so much, and I am really having a hard time with this. It's all I can do not to sink into a depression, but I know that other families are dealing with so much more. Every time I get really sad, I think about the fact that my children and husband are safe and healthy, and that we will see Nigel again someday in Heaven. I plan on writing more later about the experience and how my kids dealt with it.

The second thing I did when I found out about Nigel, after crying, praying and hugging my family, was to tweet and Facebook about it. I know, it sounds really weird and geeky (OK, it is) but just to reach out and know that hundreds of people would be praying for my family instantly was so comforting! My husband had to leave right away for work, and to read the encouragements and prayers from everyone on Twitter and Facebook really helped me through the morning!

So I'm thinking of talking Social Media on my MomTV show Thursday. Fun stories, touching stories, the power of social media for our daily lives. What do you guys think?

But for now, I need a diversion! Link up your posts so I can get lost in your blogs!

I'll be stumbling and tweeting some of the posts as well, and I encourage you to do the same! (I'll also be converting these into "real links" which is good for your SEO)

Every Monday on Real Life, I post a linky where you can share any post from the previous week on your blog! That way, I can go through and read them, and you can too!

The only guideline is that it must be reated PG! This is a family blog, folks! You can share your life with your kids, a funny commentary, a contest you're hosting, reviews, an informative post, video, anything, really!

Read, comment and stumble! Please link back to this post, so others can join in! (You can just put a small phrase at the bottom of the post, like "This post included in Real Life's Your Life Your Blog" or include the button). Please spread the word, because this carnival will be more effective if lots of people are linking and reading. And each Monday, the links from the previous "Your Life, Your Blog" will be converted to "real" links. It's all about the love, right?

Here's the code for the button if you'd like to display it on your blog:

Powered by MckLinky

Get your free Mcklinky here...
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Real Cool Stuff: Disney on Ice!

2009-10-11T17:20:00.003-04:00

My family had the awesome opportunity to attend Disney on Ice: Celebrations in Charlotte last week! We love all the Disney kids' movies, princesses, Micky Mouse and all that, but we had never been to a live event! Honestly, I had never really had the motivation to travel to a large city and make the effort to go with the whole family.

When Mom Central gave us the opportunity to spread the word about the Disney on Ice show, and attend as well, it was the prefect chance to see what I had been missing. And boy, what we were missing! I have seen lots of other bloggers writing and tweeting about how cool the show is when it came to their cities, so the excitement was really building last Friday when we finally got to go!

We armed ourselves with our Disney Princess dresses, glow-sticks from the Dollar Tree, and the cameras, and loaded up into the car after school. When we got there, I was pleasantly surprised at how intimate the seating was. there really wasn't a bad seat in the place.

The show was spectacular, the kids sat perfectly still, mesmerized. There's just something special about ice skating, how fast they move, the endless turns and jumps. And after running all over the place this week to our various separate activities, we had a wonderful bonding experience together. Here are some photos from the night:

There are a couple of pieces of advice I would give you if you are going to see the show.

Be prepared for the $15 Snow Cones. They do come in a really cool Tinkerbell cup, but we just didn't have it in the budget. (hint to the marketers : if they had been $6, we probably would have bought three. Just sayin'.) We talked to the kids before we went about what we were going to spend money on, and stopped by the Dollar Tree to get some princess wands on the way. The light up toys are anywhere from $15-$20 as well, so we got some glow sticks and the kids were happy.
If your kids like to dress up, they will want to wear their Disney costumes. There weren't as many people dressed up as I thought there would be, but my girls had a blast in theirs! If you have boys, don't leave them out! Let them dress like Captain Hook, or Mickey!
Bring a light jacket. It's not terribly cold, but if you sit down by the ice... well, it IS ice, after all!
There is a scary Halloween part starring the Pumpkin King from Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas, and all the Disney Villains. It was not too scary for my kids, but if your kids are sensitive to that tyoe of thing, you want to be prepared. It comes right after the really cool Sorcerer's Apprentice section with the brooms!

And lastly, HAVE FUN! Have you been to Disney on Ice? What did you think? Leave me a comment and let me know!

Disclosure: Tickets were provided by mom Central Consulting and Feld Family Entertainment

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Fitness Friday: Wii Fit Plus Review

2009-10-09T11:33:00.007-04:00

It was with the first release of the Wii Fit, the revolutionary fitness program for the Nintendo Wii, that the Wii Mommies were born! We went on a journey to put this new technology to use and help others to do the same, though our website, forum and BlogTalkRadio show.

We loved the Wii Fit, Julie even lost 60 pounds using it! We also had some suggestions for improvements that could be made to the product, such as stringing the workouts together seemlessly, more detailed diagnostics, new fun Fitness games, and more. It seems like Nintendo really took the feedback from users when they created the new version. If you already have Wii Fit, you can get the upgrade game for only $19.99.

So I received my Wii Fit Plus in the mail yesterday from Nintedo, and immediately opened it and tried it out with my four year old, Little Pea! We had a lot of fun trying out the new games!

Here are the best things we found with the Plus version:

The new game automatically transfered the stored information from the old game, so we didn't have to register our Miis again. It also transferred all our charts and goals.
The multi-player games are really fun, because you can immediately select players in the game you are on. You don't have to go back and add more players, nor are you stuck with the players you've chosen. It's hard to explain, but it is really easy! Also, on the Multi-Player menu, the last winner's Mii shows up with a crown! Bragging rights, baby!

I love the new Yoga moves (Little Pea does too)
I think the best feature is the Custom Workouts. There was a critizism that you couldn't keep your heart rate up for a long enough time when you had to go back and switch. I am most excited to put together a yoga routine!

Improvements that could still be made:

I was hoping to see more Aerobics activities, although they do have rhythm Kung Fu. I haven't tried that yet.
I really wish Nintendo would send someone over to find my Wiimote! I lost it after we played yesterday and I can't find it anywhere! I'm dying to get back on the Wii Fit and explore some more!

I haven't tried putting together a workout yet, but I will let you know how that goes. Do you have the Wii Fit Plus? What do you think?

If you have a fitness post, link up to Fitness Friday at WiiMommies.com!!

Disclosure: Product provided by Nintendo/ Golin Harris, inc

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True Choices, True Hope

2009-10-08T21:53:00.000-04:00

I believe it is so important that women (and men) have thorough information when faced with an unplanned pregnancy. They need Grace, Love and Truth, along with support if they decide to carry their child to term. I have been touched by several young moms who have decided to raise their babies, or place them for adoption into a loving home. I've also known several who are dealing with past hurts from abortion, and it breaks my heart.

That is why I have commited to raise $1000 for a ministry near and dear to my heart: Hope Pregnancy Resource Center (formerly Boone Crisis Pregnancy Center) Located in my home town, Boone, NC, HPRC gives just that: Hope. Hope for those that thought they'd be all alone if they kept their baby. And hope for those who need healing, with post-abortion counseling.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death." Romans 8:1-2

If you can give even $1 toward grace and resources for young moms, click here to visit my fundraising site to make a donation. All funds will be used locally by HPRC. If you can't make a donation right now, I would ask for your prayers! And if you feel led, you could add my fundraising page to Digg or Delicious!

If you want more insight on how I feel about the abortion issue, you can read this post at my blog, "She Chose Life."

Today, I had to go to the local courthouse. Don't get all excited, I did not get arrested, nor get a speeding ticket, thankfully. I just had to pick up some official documents. I stood in line, wondering if my children were being a little too loud, when I over heard the clerk talking to the trio in front of me. "And do you certify that you give consent to the bride, being 17...."

A middle aged mother
A teenage boy
A teenage girl, soon to be a teenage mother

She looked like she was about 6-7 months pregnant, and as she glanced at me, her face belied several emotions at once.

She looked at my energetic kids, and wondered if she could really do this.
She awkwardly stood next to her boyfriend, and wondered if getting married was the right thing.
She looked in my eyes, and wondered if she would receive judgment from this married 30-something mom with two happy girls.

I prayed that she would only see love in my eyes - God's love for her.
Read More...

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The Testimony of Excellence

2009-10-06T15:43:00.000-04:00

It's the quintessential struggle for a Christian. The dichotomy of Truth vs. Grace. In the spiritual life of a believer, it can seem like the "Chicken or the Egg" conundrum. (even though it's not really)

When you only read these scriptures, you may believe that obeying commandments is what "saves." If I can only do what's right, God will accept me.

John 15:10 Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him."

John 14:21 If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

But then there are so many Scriptures that say you cannot be justified by your works. So it doesn't matter if I keep commandments, they won't save me anyway?

Galatians 3:2-5 Did you receive the Spirit by observing the law, or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for nothing—if it really was for nothing? Does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you because you observe the law, or because you believe what you heard?

Galatians 2:16 ...know that a man is not justified by observing the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

And, well... the entire book of Galatians, actually!

But it's actually more of an "If, Then" statement. (remember those from 7th grade Math?)

1John 2:3 We know that we have come to know him if we obey his commands. The man who says, "I know him," but does not do what he commands is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

So IF we believe, and have accepted Jesus by faith, we will naturally want to please Him and allow the Spirit to work in us to produce holiness.

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So I bet you're wondering why I launched into that theological monologue to begin this post! Not the most riveting prose, but this conundrum can sometimes creep into our everyday lives when we become believers, and affect our careers, our lives at home, and more.

I became a Christian in college, and when I look back, I really noticed some trends that I need to learn from. I always say "the mundane IS the spiritual." In other words, everything I do should be a spiritual sacrifice to God: washing the dishes, changing a diaper, cleaning my house (ouch), or serving in the PTA.

I remember that after I became a Christian, I spent a lot less time in the practice room (music major) and more time "fellowshipping" (is that really a verb?) with the Saints... in the student union lounge. Oh, yes, we would pray and share struggles, encourage each other, mostly laugh, but was that really what God wanted us to do? Being a music major is a very intensive program, you've got to work to stay on top. I was a good singer. I was in the Chamber Singers, Opera Theater, got some solos, I played Amahl in "Amahl and the Night Visitors." By the way, my roommate and I were double-cast in the role, and I think "AAAAMAAAAAHHL" is still echoing somewhere in our apartment walls!

But I really slacked off in those last two years, and sometimes I wish I could go back. My husband says the exact same thing, although I didn't know him then. It may have just been our particular Christian circle, but I know it was common. We thought the "spiritual stuff" was SO much more important. These days, I think about this Scripture in Psalms:

Psalm 33:2-4

2 Praise the LORD with the harp;
make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre.

3 Sing to him a new song;
play skillfully, and shout for joy.

4 For the word of the LORD is right and true;
he is faithful in all he does.

You've heard people who can't sing jokingly say, "Well, it says make a joyful noise to the Lord, right?" I'm not saying everyone has to be a great singer, but to those he called to make music He said, "play skillfully." No one can play skillfully unless they work at it, spend time honing their skill and learning from others. You see, in David's day, the musicians who played worship to the Lord were specially chosen and took their job very seriously.

I can't help but wonder what it would have been like if I had kept my focus on my work as well as fellowship. And I wonder what kind of testimony it would have been to the non-believers around me?

I've come to believe that pursuing excellence- in what God has called us to- is honoring to God. Of course everyone can't be good at everything. But if God has called you to something, do it all the way! If I'm on the worship ministry at church, I need to be willing to practice until it's right, rather than saying, "Well, at least we're making a joyful noise!" When working on my blog, or my business, I can't use God's grace and protection as an excuse to rest on my laurels.

And I can't believe I'm going to say this, but I need to do a better job keeping my house in order. Not so I can impress the neighbors, or tell other moms how great I am. Not even to give me peace when I wake up with no dishes in the sink. But simply to glorify God - because that is what He has called me to.

Of course I have to make sure I keep the "chicken before the egg," the "horse before the cart." Any excellence in me has to be derived from my faith in Jesus Christ, and His work in me. Anything else would be "like filthy rags" compared to God's glory!

I know there is so much more to write on this subject, but my deep thinking skills have come to an end for the night. Please share your thoughts in the comments. Do you have any insights or anything to add?

Colossians 3:17
And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

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Your Life, Your Blog: October 5, 2009

2009-10-05T08:19:00.003-04:00

Good Monday morning to you! I am really excited about the Fall weather, as long as the rain stays away. There's just something about a crisp sunny day in the mountains!

This Thursday (1 PM est) on Get Real (my live MomTV video chat show), we'll be talking about everything Autumn. Crafts, recipes, decorating, and pumpkins. I'll share a Christian pumpkin devotion that can help keep the focus on Jesus as the Fall Festivities start. Click here to watch it live, and you can watch the playbacks here. Last week's show was an awesome chat about overcoming "The Late Mom" syndrome.

Well here it is! Share your links for our reading pleasure! I'll be stumbling and tweeting some of the posts as well, and I encourage you to do the same! (I'll also be converting these into "real links" which is good for your SEO)

Every Monday on Real Life, I post a linky where you can share any post from the previous week on your blog! That way, I can go through and read them, and you can too!

The only guideline is that it must be reated PG! This is a family blog, folks! You can share your life with your kids, a funny commentary, a contest you're hosting, reviews, an informative post, video, anything, really!

Read, comment and stumble! Please link back to this post, so others can join in! (You can just put a small phrase at the bottom of the post, like "This post included in Real Life's Your Life Your Blog" or include the button). Please spread the word, because this carnival will be more effective if lots of people are linking and reading. And each Monday, the links from the previous "Your Life, Your Blog" will be converted to "real" links. It's all about the love, right?

Here's the code for the button if you'd like to display it on your blog:

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Fun With the Logitech Pro 9000 Webcam

2009-10-04T23:01:00.004-04:00

You have GOT to see this webcam in action! Here I am playing around with the Logitech Pro 9000 webcam, which is not only great quality and easy to use, it is FUN and SILLY! In this video, look out for a pig nose, a cyborg, and the Mona Lisa (with crossed eyes). It is simple to upload the videos right to YouTube. It also takes great photos!

The only drawback so far is that it produces the videos in WMV format, which I have to edit with Windows Movie Maker. (I don't love WMM) Of course, there might be a setting I missed that will produce the video clips in another format.

All in all, this is my favorite video camera out of the ones I've tried so far!

Logitech provided this webcam for review in conjunction with Mom Select and MomTV.

If this video won't load, you can watch it here, and it should work.

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Healthy Fall Recipe: Chili from Scratch

2009-10-02T13:19:00.004-04:00

When Fall comes around, I always start to crave old- fashioned "comfort food." The only problem is that much of the comfort food I love is filled with fat and/or simple carbs. So I am trying to think of some great comfort dishes I can make that warm up my insides without all the bad stuff!

One of my favorite fall/winter dishes is slow-cooked chili from scratch, using dried beans! This dish has tons of protein and fiber, with no cholesterol!

1. Start with 3 cups of Dried Beans. I use 1 cup each of Red Beans, Kidney Beans, and Pintos. If you've never cooked dried, beans, you are missing out!

Soak beans for 8 hours, or use quick-soak method:
a. Put the beans in a bowl, cover with water, leave out on the counter all night.
b. Quick-soak method: In a large pot, combine 1 lb beans and 8 cups cold water. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer for 2 minutes. Remove pot from heat. Cover and let stand for 1 hour.
Cook beans in a crockpot on high for at least 8 hours.
There are several things you can add to give it wonderful flavor! I usually use a ham bone or beef soup bone, or chicken bullion.

2. I usually cook the beans overnight, then rinse them in a colander in the morning. Put them back into the crock pot, and ad some cooked ground beef (you can cook up a large batch of lean ground beef and keep it in the freezer so you just have to pop it out for this chili!)

3. Add 8 oz of plain tomato sauce, 2 cans of diced tomatoes, without draining, and stir.

4. Add spices to taste. I usually add 1/4 cup of chili powder, a couple teaspoons of cumin, black pepper and a little salt. You could also add red pepper flakes or hot sauce.

5. Cook on low for the rest of the day, and eat with homemade cornbread!

After cooking this chili, you can freeze it in individual portions and take one out for lunch or dinner!

I'll be updating this post later on why I use local beef and how to get it! It's more healthy, NO fat, no hormones, and supports local farmers. You could also use venison, which is VERY healthy and low-fat!

I've linked this to Fitness Friday at Wii Mommies, since a healthy dietary balance is essential to total fitness!

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