For many of us, the best part of the day is when we leave work.  Not for me, at least not in recent weeks when I have been picking up my niece from daycare and caring for her while my sister teaches in the evening.

The best part of my day isn’t when I pickup my niece from daycare and she gleefully yell’s Aunnnnteeeeee as she smiles from ear to ear.  I smile from ear to ear too but that’s not the best part of the day.

The best part of my day isn’t the ride home as she recaps the day with her playmates while “chair dancing” to the music on the radio.

The best part of my day could be our dinner parade as Auntie’s Angel insists upon helping to prepare our meal.  I get a kick out of seeing her grow-up before my eyes.  Our dinner conversation regarding how much of a “big girl” she has become since she is now leaving her blankey at home, tying her shoes and all sorts of 4 year old things.

The best part of the my day could be the 30 – 45 minute break I get when my niece takes a bath but that time is usually filled with loading the dishwasher or adding yet another load of clothes to the washer and dryer. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, I get to make a phone call back east to friends of family before I’m summoned to wash the princess.

The best part of my day could be the bath ritual that includes scrubbing toes and a little face followed by the “sack ‘o tatoes” ritual.  After I have removed the little angel from the tub and wrapped her in a towel, I pick her up over my shoulder and tell her that I am carrying my sack of potatoes and she squeals with laughter….I’m not a sack ‘o tatoes Aunteee.  We laugh as we put on enough lotion to make her slide out of bed.  However, this still is not not the best part.

As we wind down for the evening, the best part of my day could be our quiet time that is spent reading a book…well, the time spent learning to read and practice her pronunciations.  However, it is not.

The best part of my day is known as “tickle armpits”!!  Yes, part of our nightly ritual is to play of game of tickling my niece until she cannot stand it.  The uninhibited laughter is pure magic.  No matter how bad my day may have been or how long or difficult, when I hear her laugh, my day is perfect and that is the best part of my day.

Listen Below

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Welcome Home Terry!

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I think most people complain about something from time to time and I am no exception.  Lately, I have complained about not getting a raise for the 2nd year in a row, although the company is profitable.  I have complained about the $12,000+ loss in pay from a job I had in Virginia….almost 5 years ago.  Of course, I can never have enough gadgets so my reduction in pay just fuels more fire.

Today I came home to be greeted by a neighbor seeking an air pump for a nearly flat tire.  She went on to explain that she had to move because she had been abandoned in Arizona and her kids were helping her move.  My puzzled face prompted her to explain that her husband had moved her to Arizona only to telephone that he was not going to join her and that  he had a girlfriend. She had worked on Walmart for several years only to lose that job and she just could not afford the payments.  She was in good spirits and took the “oh well, what can I do?” attitude.

Perspective

Needless to say, I felt grateful for my well-paying job even though we did not receive a raise.  I was glad that I could pay my bills and still have a little blow money.  I am truly blessed that I can pay my bills without worry.  It has not always been or seemed that way but that is the case now.

At the end of the day, all I could complain about were wants, not needs.  I do not NEED another mac computer..I just want one.  The only thing I need is really more of a to-do item and that is get my vehicle serviced.  So, at least for the moment, I will not complain and enjoy my blessings.

My glass is definitely half-full.  Is yours?

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What is digital storytelling?  Essentially, giving voice to your personal story  then adding photos and/or video to produce a 3-5 minute movie clip.  Sounds easy, right?  Continue reading.

As a typical, right-brain, non-creative (or so I thought), person, I worried that the cost for the class + plane fare might not be worthwhile.  Although I have owned a Mac computer for the past two years and done a tiny bit of video editing, the majority of my professional career has been in the Windows world.  The workshop does not focus on the technology and it becomes just a tool…nothing more than using a pen to write the story.

I did gain many technical tips for using Apple’s Final Cut Express video editing software but that was not the focus. For those techie types like myself, I was having trouble transitioning from Apple’s iMovie to Final Cut Express but now I understand why.  I was attempting to learn from video editing professionals that spoke at a level that even I, QueenGeek, was having trouble digesting.  The facilitators of the class definitely put all the techno-jargon into easy-to-understand terms so do not be afraid.  You can do it.

In short, the class more than exceeded my expectations.   I cannot offer enough praise to the center, the workshop, the environment, Mango Mama and the teachers, Stepahni and Liann. The entire experience was fantastic and ANYONE can take the class.

COMMUNICATION

If you have ever attended a workshop and had difficulty locating the building or contacting instructors then you will appreciate the communication that forwards all materials needed and explicit transportation directions and options. Although the Washington, DC metropolitan area is my home town, I have not lived here in almost 10 years. Having explicit directions, web links and phone numbers for various transportation options such as the metrorail was very helpful.

Prep Work

I cannot say enough about being as prepared for the class as possible.  You do not need a computer nor have any previous Mac computer experience but you definitely need your  photos.  Scanners were available but if you scan ahead of time, the process will be quicker. Short video clips are just an added bonus but definitely not required.  As I mentioned earlier, I was traveling out of town and I thought I had enough images. NOT!!!!  I found myself scrambling through boxes upon boxes at my dad’s house for the perfect  photos as well as scouring the internet for free or creative commons photos of abstract images.  It is worth while to watch a few digital stories to understand that you may want abstract photos.  A photo may be display anywhere from a few seconds (3 or 4) or longer.  A 3-5 minute clip might not seem like a long time until you are trying to add photos and/or video to convey the emotion of your audio recording.

Background music is not required either but it may enhance your story.  This can take a bit of time to find something that suites your story.

Last, bring a USB drive with a minimum of 2 GB free.  It is not required but you will want to take a copy of your video with you.

No Mac Experience Required

If you have never used a Mac computer nor edited any video, do not panic. The workshop takes you by the hand, focuses on the content of the story while providing sufficient instruction on video editing.

My Digital Storytelling  Experience

From the moment I listened to the draft versions of each participants story to watching the final versions, I had a blast.  I was emotionally drained and tired after each day but empowered at the same time.  To witness and participate in the birth of a small story is just AWESOME.  I walked away with a greater appreciation for the fragile lives that we lead and how the human experience of love, loss, joy, sorrow, happiness, pain and suffering crosses all boundaries of race, religion, color and sex.  Dare I mention the respect for those that create and edit movies we view in our local theaters.

At the end of the day, I felt like I could create my own movie.  Well, not really, but I have been inspired to create more short digital stories.

Everyone has a story that only they can tell. Give voice to your story.  Here is mine…

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Recently, I have started to take better care of my spending habits. Anyone that knows me is well aware that I have a weakness for electronic gadgets. As a result, I’ve been working on changing how and what I purchase so I can afford the items without breaking the bank nor paying retail prices.

Open Box Specials

Currently, I’m in the market for yet another Mac Book Pro and Apple does not make any inexpensive devices. As a result, I’m trying to purchase open-box items at local stores and these deals are better than  Craigslist, Ebay or Amazon combined. I witnessed a gentlemen purchase the June 2009 model of a 15″ MacBook Pro for $1000!!! Folks, these machines start at $1699 so the savings was huge. If you are not aware, I am also a Dave Ramsey fan so I’m confident would endorse this method of purchasing especially since the same manufacture warranty was included. Have you considered purchasing an open boxed item? Often times, there’s nothing wrong with the item but the original purchaser changed their mind and returned the item.

Amazon, Ebay and Craigslist

I’ve also begun purchasing and selling on Amazon, Ebay and Craigslist. There are great deals on all of these sites for new and used items that are priced lower than retail stores. If you’re skiddish about Here’s how I use these sites:

Amazon

If I want to buy or sell a high-price item and get the best protection, I use Amazon. Items such as electronics and a few books are typically what I sell. Additionally, since Amazon offers money towards shipping, it takes some of the hassle out of shipping. I’m not saying that Ebay doesn’t have some protection but the perception is that Amazon is safer so I typically use them for items that are easily shipped and I want the better price without the bidding aspect. Another advantage of using Amazon is they provide all the photos and description of the items so as a seller, Amazon provides a pretty hassle-free experience.

As far as security, someone recently tried to scam me on an item that I was selling. I sent the information to Amazon and they confirmed the scam. Whew!!! The transaction looked correct initially but in the end, the normal process of how Amazon operates were not followed and that was the tip-off. One problem when trying to sell on Amazon is that if the item isn’t listed in their database, then you cannot add it as a new item unless you have a Pro Merchant account.

Ebay

I typically use Ebay when the item doesn’t exist on Amazon and/or I want to add a video demonstration to the item. Canned photos on Amazon don’t always make the cut when selling an item and Amazon doesn’t allow links to external websites like YouTube or Photo hosting sites to show your item.

Craigslist

I love using Craigslist when I have an item that would be too much of a hassle to ship or the fees associated with Ebay don’t make it worthwhile to sell on that platform. I’ve sold an older digital video camera that used tapes for the media when I wanted to upgrade to a camcorder that used secure digital (SD) cards. I’ve also used it to help a friend purchase a car and after test driving it and retrieving the CarFax details, it was a great deal. I like Craigslist for cash-and-carry deals but as a seller, this method is just a step above yard sales in the aspect that the buyers want to pay as little as possible. As a result, if you’re trying to make even a slight profit, then Ebay or Amazon maybe better options.

Just plain old cheap or is that Frugal?

In some regards, I’ve just gotten cheap or I would like to think frugal. I use rechargeable batteries for my TV remotes and wireless computer mice instead of buying expensive batteries over and over. I take empty water bottles through airport security so I can fill-up at the water fountain for free. I use Google Voice to make phone calls over the internet and keep my minutes low on my cell phone plan. I also use Skype to make video calls or conferencing calls over the internet and that reduces my phone bill. Truth be told, I use Vonage as my phone service so my bill is always the same no matter how much I talk.

At the end of the day, my goal is the save money where ever possible so I have it for for savings, geek toys, vacationing and other things that I desire. So stop paying retail prices whenever possible. There’s money to save!!!

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History

Some months ago, my sister had mentioned The Urban Tea Loft located in Chandler, AZ.  It is a quaint, family-friendly, wi-fi connected, soul-food cooking, dessert making, tea shop.  Whew!!!  I had been interested in trying some loose leaf teas but did not know much beyond their basic medicinal purposes.  One Saturday, my roomie and I dropped in and little did we know we would get such a wonderful treat.

Eric, the other owner in the husband and wife team, prepared many teas for us and provided a wealth of information regarding the different types of teas. If that wasn’t enough, we just happened to visit on a Saturday afternoon when they typically offer soul-food specials such as smothered pork shops, fresh cornbread and more.  Now, these aren’t your typical soul-food specials because they all have some degree of healthiness to them.  Now, soul-food and healthy typically aren’t in the same sentence but trust me when I say you must try the food.

I would be remiss if I didn’t mention the two meeting rooms in the establishments.  They can be booked for various functions and the best of all, they are wi-fi enabled. This place is a hidden gem in Chandler.

Atmosphere

Not only is the food great and the teas wonderful but Eric and Glynnis are just such nice people.  Whenever we are there, they great us with a hug and make us and everyone feel like family.  They go out of their way to make each customer feel special and it shows when repeat customers return.  It’s almost like watching long-lost relatives greet each other after having been apart for far too long.  Welcoming and genuine.

Present Day

Now, fast forward to April 2009.  When my sister mentioned having a tea party for little girls she was blown away by the response.  Not only were the younger girls excited but so were the teenagers.  As I mentioned before, The Urban Tea Loft is very family friendly environment but not a stuffy tea shop.  The young lady’s were able to dress-up and enjoy high-tea  and everything was just fabulous.  We had tea, scones and specially prepared cupcakes with low (or non) sugar icing.  Everything was perfect.  As you can see from the photos the food was finger-licking good and the girls had fun.

If you want to fresh food that’s good and a little bit healthy, have a good time or have an event, check out The Urban Tea Loft.  We had a blast.

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Jokingly, I have always said that black people don’t go camping. Why? As a people, we have always struggled in American and know very well how it is to live without running water, sleep outside and other hardships. As a result, the thought of giving up our comfortable living space to voluntarily sleep outside with bugs, bears and snakes, much less on the ground, just does not appeal to us. Now, I know this is a stereotypical response and there are African Americans that enjoy camping but as a general rule, we’ll probably pass on camping. So, for all other ethnicities, if you ask us to go camping and we gaze at you with a puzzled look as if you have six heads. Don’t take it personally, camping is just not something that makes sense to us.

Intrigue

Prior to Memorial Day weekend, I had never been camping. Tee had been telling stories of camping as a child with her family and how that was the most enjoyable time of her life. As I listened, I became curious about this odd ritual. When she put up a tent in the garage to verify it would survive nature, all I could do was look at it as if a spaceship had landed at my house. I enjoy cooking on the grill but sleeping on the ground and fighting bugs did not appeal to me. However, the desire to “get away from it all” coupled with curiosity won and I decided to embark on this adventure.

Pack the Kitchen Sink Too

For those that have never been camping, you need to pack EVERYTHING. From toiletries for showering, shower shoes, pots and pans, cooking utensils, water, drinks, spices, bedding, tent, pillows to ice, entertainment, measuring cups, cast iron dutch ovens, first aid kids, lanterns, cooking stoves and more. I almost felt as if we were moving to another location. And yes, you do need a kitchen sink but this may come in the form of a wash bucket and dish liquid. You don’t want to leave food out because you ARE communing with nature and little critters (squirrels, etc) and bigger critters (bears) want food so don’t leave a trail.

Dutch Ovens

Before we went camping, I spoke to a couple of friends, namely Kathy and Bruce Jacobs. They are wonderfully kind friends that helped the camping clueless. They have a site, namely Outdoor Cook, that is full of recipes for cooking outdoors using cast iron dutch ovens.  Note:  The ovens with legs are the ones to get as you’ll need to put coals underneath of the oven for cooking.  We chose the EB Casserole and The Best Meatloaf Ever for testing and I have to admit, both were surprisingly good.  I’m actually looking forward to trying a few more recipes in the back yard since all I need is some coals, ingredients and little bit of time.

If you decide to try outdoor cooking, be sure to get a lidlifter.  Once your delicious meal is ready, the dutch oven will be very hot not to mention, it will be covered with hot coals.  You’ll need a device to remoe the lid and a safe place to ditch the hot coals.  Bruce was quite correct in that his lid lifter, a hand-crafted one is much better than anything I’ve seen in the stores or online that range between $5 – $50.  We didn’t buy one as we had and cast iron door opener that came with a fire pit.  Last, if you’re truly interested in outdoor cooking, try a few recipes and check out a local IDOS or International Dutch Oven Society.  Supposedly, they have these major bakeoffs and interesting recipes for all to try.

Best Campsite Ever

After all my concerns about camping, I did have a good time.  The store and bath house at the campsite was perfect.  Walking distance to both locations was not far away.  I enjoyed taking a break from technology, weeelllll, for the most part I did.  I had all these grand plans for reading Pam Slim’s book Escape From Cubicle Nation, polishing my nails and all sorts of stuff.  What did I do?  I slept most of the time, cooked and played cards.  I did begin reading Pam’s book and if you’ve ever, even remotely, thought about being an entrepreneur, this is a must read but I digress.  To find the location of the campsite, you must watch the video.

Enjoy and happy (safe) camping and outdoor cooking!!

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As always, spending time with Auntie’s angel is always a treat although keeping up with young children can be work. This past weekend was an extra special treat since Abby was the chef with some help from Tee. Chef Abby fixed a Ham and Cheese Galette and since we’re eating healthy, we substituted the ham with MorningStar Sausage. If that wasn’t enough, she and Chef Tee also fixed a chicken and rice disk that was yummy yummy.

Bon appetit!!

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Applause as an adult

As I was driving to work, I was thinking how the world would be a better place if we would  cheer each other on throughout the day.  Wouldn’t it be great if someone ran up to you as you entered the workplace and gave you a great big hug and said they missed you just as little kids do even if they haven’t seen  you for a few hours?  Wouldn’t you  smile from ear to ear if  everyone clapped because you solved a problem.  Better yet, if everyone yelled “YEAHHHHHHHHH” just because you came to work even if you were late.  I think everyone would just feel better and work would no longer be referred to as a 4 letter word.

Need applause

Every now and again, I think we all need a bit of encouragement and cheering far too often, we do not receive it or even offer it.  As adults, we know we’re expected to grin and bear through whatever we are facing.  However, if you need a little cheer and encouragement, here is some for you:

Hopefully this will inspire you to have a better day.  YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

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