I thought he was out of his mind when he suggested we be together.  The “together” part would prove difficult, since I was living in Houston, TX through the winter and he lived in California.  The idea of missing the one person in the world you love the most on a constant basis is about as appealing as living in a refrigerator, but when compared to the alternative…it can prove to be an adventure and definitely a test of love.

My boyfriend and I came up with some guidelines that so far have proved to keep our relationship going.  They go something like this:

1. Yap it Up. This might be the only time in life when being a chatter box is a virtue.  When your significant other is far away the best way to feel close is to paint them a little picture of your world as often as possible.  Tell them about the bum you stopped to give a buck to or the baby in line at the bank who wouldn’t stop screaming profanities at his mother (true story).  When space and time is set between you, there’s no detail that’s too mundane to share.
2. Ground Rules. Don’t be shy about it…tell it how you see it.  If you think monogamy is too much to ask for, say so.  If you want a phone call every morning, let it be known.  Having a routine is the best way to have constant and unspoken reassurance that you’re flying at the same altitude.  And the only way to obtain a routine is to agree on all points of the relationship.
3. The Honey Fund. Let me be the first to state…long distance relationships are not for those with thin wallets.  If you want it to work, you’re going to have to work that frequent flyer program for all its worth.  Mutually putting aside funds to help with travel plans is a good way to keep the load balanced.
4. Computer Love. OK, how do I put this…?  There are some areas that will be…lacking, in a long distance relationship.  And the best way to fill in the gap (pardon the pun) is to get to know your computer.  REALLY WELL.  Install a camera and get some good lighting, because the best relationship saver when it comes to long distance is good ole fashioned cyber “relations”.
5. Timelines.  Finally, but not least importantly, is creating a timeline.  If he thinks the long distance is for good and she’s waiting for him to move to her city, things will quickly go from bad to ugly.  One thing is for sure, it HAS to end at some point.  There has to be a point set where the long distance part of the relationship comes to an end.  If this isn’t something that’s possible, I’m afraid you’ll just be swimming in an endless circle.

So all in all, things aren’t so gray when it comes to keeping the flame alive.  Sometimes my relationship can feel like we’re standing on opposite sides of the Grand Canyon shouting “I love you”, straining to hear and be heard.  But we make it work, and so can anyone else.  All it takes is perseverance, honesty and looooots of good lighting.

For more words of wisdom from Lotus B. check out I Say Hella

World Cancer Day is marked on February 4 to raise awareness of cancer and to encourage its prevention, detection, and treatment.  As a way to acknowledge the day and to find out more about how to help yourself or others, take a look at what Suzanne Somer’s has to say about her cancer journey and the alternative therapies that she’s investigated.

Suzanne Somers’ 19^th book was written as a result of being misdiagnosed with full body cancer in November 2008.  Suzanne says that her doctor told her to prepare herself and her family for the end. See Suzanne Somers discuss Knockout (via Spruce TV)

It makes me wonder, if something like that can happen to someone with Suzanne’s resources, what else is happening that we never hear about.

“Knockout” is a series of interviews with patients who’ve received alternative medical treatments and the doctors or medical practitioners who prescribe these different types of treatments.  Dr. Burzynski from Houston, TX is featured in the book.  Suzanne is passionate in her defense of Dr. Burzynki even though his methods are considered controversial.  link to Suzanne Somers video

Oct 19, 2009:  “Cancer’s an epidemic,” said the 63-year-old actress in an interview in a Manhattan hotel a day before Tuesday’s release of “Knockout,” her 19th book. “And yet we keep going back to the same old pot, because it’s all we’ve got. Well, this is a book about options.”  source msnbc

What strikes me in this debate about which method works best is this: how is a patient, who’s just been hit with a frightening diagnosis, supposed to sort all this out in the heat of the moment? My impression is that Suzanne wants to make sure that each patient has emotional and mental space to explore the options.

In an interview with Joy Behar, Suzanne says, “It’s very hard, in a hospital setting, to go against standard of care.”

Stand Up for Yourself

How do you stand up for yourself? It’s no surprise to me that we talk about waging war on cancer. Suzanne used a fight term “knockout” as the title of her book.  We fight cancer. We don’t passively accept what’s coming at us.

So, once you’ve joined “the (cancer) Club”, how do you decide what to do? Conversely, if you’re someone in a position to assist someone in making choices, how do you best serve their needs?

If you’re interested in understanding more about alternative therapies and hearing first-hand from practitioners and their patients, reading “Knockout” is a good place to start.

Create a Clear Space As You Make Your Choices

This topic sparks emotional debate because we want what’s best for our loved ones. We want the “right” answer. We want patients to get the “right” treatment. But it’s confusing with so many voices arguing that their approach is the best one.

In my conversations with people close to me who have cancer, I’ve learned the following from listening to their complaints about other people’s attempts to be helpful.  This is what I gleaned from them:

• Alternative medicines aren’t in everyone’s budget.
• People with cancer have their own medical teams filling them with conventional choices.  Listen carefully to what they’re saying. Fear fogs our brains! Bring someone with you to help you listen and to ask questions to clarify the options.
• Many people prefer conventional medicine, no matter what.
• No two patients are alike.
• This is a very personal choice.
• It’s difficult to get agreement from everyone around you on which treatment to choose.
• Limit having conversations that second-guess someone’s choice.
• Stop telling people, cancer is preventable – after they already have it.  How is this conversation ever going to help them get better?

An Example of Choosing Your Own Way

A quick example from my own life – not cancer related – may help to demonstrate the absurdity of other people’s efforts to be helpful.  My friend, Charlie, owned the local yoga studio where I took my yoga classes. One day, I let him know that I wouldn’t be coming back because I wanted to switch to Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (BJJ is a martial art).

He was horrified and said I would injure myself because I didn’t have the flexibility needed to do Jiu Jitsu. 

He’s an expert, right?  He went out of his way to contact several other yoga school owners and teachers.

They all returned the same answer.  Someone your age, “50 and stiff”, should NOT be doing martial arts.  I started taking yoga to help with my flexibility. I hated doing yoga, and after 9 months, I remained unable to do a decent Standing Bow.

Did I ask him for help in making my decision? NO!

Fast forward:  I’ve been practicing BJJ for over a year and a half. I’m almost a blue belt. I’m the highest ranking female in my school. I LOVE it! I intend to receive a black belt.  My world has changed – meaning I have new supportive friends and a new sport to be passionate about.

Look what I would have missed if I had listened to the Yoga experts.

I share this story to help those of us who want to be helpful to people battling cancer.  We don’t know anymore than anyone else does about what’s best.  Respect your loved one’s decision once the choice has been made…and continue to respect their choices when they change their mind and go in another direction.  Cancer is messy.

The Bottom Line

Suzanne is a strident supporter of Alternative Remedies.  Knockout is a great place to start to have some of your questions answered and to help make decisions about how to proceed with individual – and sometimes controversial – cancer treatment plans.

Spirit Jump! Cards for Cancer Day

From Jaybetee to the Blog Catalog Community:

Thought this would be a good place to let readers know that at BloggersUnite (BU), we are helping to promote Spirit Jumps’ Cards For Cancer day. The aim is to create teams in cities all over the country that will collect and deliver inspirational cards to patients that are currently battling cancer at cancer centers. The BU event page can be found at http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/spirit-jump-cards-for-cancer-day and anyone interested in signing up to be a team leader can do so at http://cards4cancer.wordpress.com/teams/.

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My name is Cheryl Ragsdale. If you’d like to catch up with my mad adventures in my efforts to live a healthy, juicy life, drop by and say hello! You can find me here at ThatGirlisFunny.

It’s February 2, and you better get started on your Valentine’s Day shopping now. Remember, Valentine’s isn’t about how much you spend so much as it’s about how you express your eternal love to your special Valentine. Think romance, creativity and originality. And, it’s okay to make the process easier on yourself by shopping online. In fact, if you’re a busy professional with little free time, but a lot of love to give, then I recommend shopping for your Valentine online. Here are some tips to help you out.

1. First thing first, set a budget. And don’t put so much pressure on yourself to spend a lot. It’s not the price. It’s the thought and love that mean the most.

2. Shop around and see what’s out there. Bookmark anything you see that you think would make a great Valentine’s gift, even if it falls outside of your budget. This second step is about research and inspiration.

3. Once you feel inspired, take note of the product name and shop around before settling on one website. For example, if you find a great multi-chain necklace you want to buy for your girlfriend, use a website like ShopStyle.com to compare prices of multi-chain necklaces.

4. If possible, select to have the gift wrapped upon delivery. It’ll be so much easier for you this way.

5. Don’t forget the Valentine’s card. You can buy this online, at your local gift store or make one yourself. For me personally, the Valentine’s card is the best part of Valentine’s Day.

Here are my favorite websites for shopping for Valentine’s Day. Enjoy!

Red Envelope – Gifts and more

Etsy – Handmade and vintage items

Tiffany – Classic jewelry

Ice – Diamonds and more

1-800-Flowers – Flowers, chocolates and chocolate covered strawberries

Wine.com – Wine and gift baskets

Blue Nile – Jewelry

It sounds a little like someone’s saying “iPod” with a really thick Boston accent.  It looks a little like someone took an iPhone and just let the seams out.  Yesterday, Apple launched their news release about their latest invention…the iPad.

Let the jokes begin.

Ever since the October 2001 launch of the iPod, Apple has flung itself into the solar system of technology stars and led the nerds to victory with one new device after another.  Granted, each geek-worthy toy has had a very valid purpose.  The iPod holds your music; the iPhone takes your calls… its even clearly obvious as to why one may want to purchase an Apple TV.  But the launch of the iPad left some people half curious and half baffled (and half bent over in laughter).

Let me just state…the iPad is pretty majestic.  Featuring a 9.7-inch LCD screen, 132 pixels per inch, up to 64 Gigs of memory and a battery that can last up to an entire MONTH on standby.  Not to mention the Apple-esque sleek design; a smooth white shell and weighing only a pound and a half.  I was impressed right up until I saw the price.  This giant iPod retails at up to$829!  Remember, this digital tic-tac doesn’t do anything  laptops and books don’t already do, and you still have to pay $10 per app.

So I started a discussion yesterday to see what ideas BC’ers could come up with for Apples next product and boy did the suggestions come pouring out!  Here for your amusement are a few highlights:

• iHuman – dbowles1017 (which we agreed is already in existence…Steve Jobs himself)
• iHusband- amybyrd21
• iEconomy, “it never crashes”- edwardgroberts
• iScreen “for single women that don’t want to date douches”- Deray28
• iGod and/or iEvolution (creator of the iCicle)- Egaladeist

Perhaps the best suggestion, and one of the highest trending topics on Twitter, is the iTampon- the iPad’s upgrade.

All in all, of course the iPad is a VERY impressive new way for iBoys and iGirls to stay on top of their iGames, iTunes and iOtherwise…  Although far from necessary, I’m sure we’ll be seeing a slew of iPads perched on Starbuck’s cafe tables this year.  In the meantime we can only sit back and wait with bated breath in anticipation of the day when Apple will finally finish solving all the world’s problems.

For more ramblings from Lotus B. check out my blog: I Say Hella

On Saturday, January 23, 2010, I had the opportunity to attend my first WordCamp hosted by WordCampBoston.com.  WordCamp is a conference that focuses on everything WordPress, the platform that many bloggers (like me) use to host our blogs.

WordCamps are informal, community-organized events that are put together by WordPress users. Everyone from casual users to core developers participate, share ideas, and get to know each other. WordCamps are open to WordPress.com and WordPress.org users alike.

The first WordCamp was held in San Francisco, California on August 5, 2006.  They are now held all over the world! This weekend on January 30, 2010, WordCamp Greece and WordCamp Indonesia will take place. For details, go to this page for schedule and information about upcoming WordPress WordCamps.  Check the schedule to see when WordCamp is coming to a location near you.

For details on the Boston event, please visit WordCampBoston.com

For a video overview of the day, please visit WordCampBoston January 23, 2010 Microsoft NERD Center

But I use Blogger (or something else)

Take a look at the list of video presentations. Some of the speakers spoke about blogging tips in general.  You’re bound to find something useful about creating effective videos or setting up e-commerce on your site.

Video: Watch the Ignite Wordcamp Boston Talks

“The biggest question we’ve seen concerns video of the sessions. We did record every session, including Ignite WordCamp, and Kurt is furiously preparing the videos for WordPress.tv. It’s going to take a while though, simply because we had so many sessions and he’s just one person. There is also a delay in receiving some of the videos shot by Microsoft. So, check back here over the next few weeks as we update the appropriate pages with links to the recordings.”  Erick Hitter on wordcampboston.com

Skip the Conferences, Head to Camp Instead

Amanda Blum, one of the organizers of WordCamp Boston 2010 explains the concept behind WordCamp.

For 50 years, companies have been packing employees off to expensive conferences, incurring the cost of hotels, cars, airfare, and entertainment. Ostensibly, the ROI for the company was networking and potential sales, checking up on the competition, and a learning curve for the attendee.

That is, if the attendee actually spent time in any of the sessions, often long speeches cued from power point presentations in a banquet hall with pitchers of water and coffee and a rubber chicken lunch.

BarCamps, UnConferences and Meetups turn the model on its head, making the conference about community and learning more than profit models, speakers and VIP treatment. For a low cost (usually under $50), you’re treated to a day or two of short presentations in a few different tracks by speakers who haven’t been paid to attend. This results in enthusiasm at both the speaker and attendee level and a true synergy in terms of community.

Unconferences buck the trend further, asking presentations to be offered and voted on early in the day and presented later. This truly tailors the conference content to fit the attendees.

Camps are offered almost every week or two in most cities on all sorts of issues: PodCamp, WordCamp and Crisis Camp are three popular models right now. PodCamp focuses on all things technological including, obviously, podcasting, blogging, etc. WordCamps are focused on the use of popular platform WordPress. CrisisCamp is a city based attempt to create technology based solutions to international events like the Haiti earthquakes.

In common, camps are self supporting events without any profiting agent or organizer (or should be – check thoroughly to be sure any camp you pay for follows these tenants). Speakers come and speak on their own dime, and though t shirts or swag bags may be handed out, generally the vibe, dress code and speaking manner are informal. Jeans are encouraged, informal networking is expected and twittering is rampant.

A camp is a small commitment on your own part financially, but the rewards are immense. Being part of a truly encouraging and engaging audience for a short day is often far more effective than a weekend long conference. To find out more about camps, just contact your local tech council, twitter, facebook or meetup.com.

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If you’ve recently attended a conference for bloggers or developers – and you’d like to share your thoughts and new blogging tools – write something and send it to me for publication on blogcatalog’s blog at Cheryl@thatgirlisfunny.com

My name is Cheryl Ragsdale. For more blogging tips from expert bloggers, visit my blogging tips page or catch up with my mad adventures in my efforts to live a healthy, juicy life.  Drop by and say hello! You can find me here at ThatGirlisFunny.

photo credit ThatGirlisFunny’s personal collection

Elysia is “an enthusiastic fashion-addicted chick writing about trends, inspiration, often changing wants, and anything else random popping into her mind,” and she blogs all about it at Fashion Fille, which is set to celebrate its two-year anniversary this July. I had the pleasure of speaking with Elysia about her blog and her take on fashion.

LS: Are you doing anything special to celebrate the two-year anniversary of Fashion Fille?
E: Ever since before my first anniversary, I wanted to do a makeover and just nail down the focus of Fashion Fille. I don’t have the funds to have a professional redesign, so I haven’t really done anything yet with that. I am definitely looking to collaborate with an emerging and independent graphic designer who would be interested in my site, though!

LS: When you first began your blog, what was your initial motivation?
E: I wanted a way to express my intense passion for fashion, and after finding some of my favorite fashion blogs, I knew blogging was the way for me to do it. I wanted to reach out and find people similar to me through my personal style. But honestly, at first, I had no idea what I was doing, what the blog would turn into, and how it would take over my mind and engross me to the degree it has.

LS: What is your motivation now to maintain your blog?
E: Sometimes…nothing. I go through (very brief) periods where I’m bored and annoyed with updating when I’m stressed and busy with school. But other than that, I love consistently having updated content for my readers to enjoy and not get bored with. I also get motivated if I’m wearing an outfit that I want to post, or if I see a new product that I’m digging and want to review.

LS: How would you describe your fashion and style sense?
E: I’ve been thinking about this question a lot lately, actually. I don’t think that I could really describe it simply, only because I wear many different types of styles every day.

I can be rocker chic, boho, school-girl prim, or a minimalist. That said, I do think that I always add some kind of a rocker element to my ensembles – whether it’s through shoes, jewelry, makeup, hairstyle, or any other accessories, I always have a lot going on. I love being utterly eclectic and just putting on whatever screams to me! I whole-heartedly believe and practice that accessories can change any outfit in an instant: jewelry (specifically necklaces, bracelets, rings, and oversized watches) is my favorite.

LS: What Spring 2010 trends are you looking forward to?
E: I’m really excited for the beautiful and feminine color palettes, and the pairing of those diaphanous materials with tougher pieces, like field jackets and leather accessories. Also, I’m excited for awesome prints made into simple basics.

LS: What are your go-to shopping stores and websites?
E: Target! I’m addicted. Everything is so inexpensive and on-trend! I just ordered a shipment of four items for just $45! Can’t be beat. I also peep on Brown’s Fashion for stunning pieces that I will never be able to afford. It’s great inspiration and a source for Polyvore collages! Amazon has everything anyone could ever want and need, so that’s awesome, of course. For physical stores, Forever 21 is fun to search through and find treasures for next-to-nothing prices. My wardrobe doesn’t really have a huge amount of any store or brand though. I just buy things when I like it, no matter where it’s from! One of my favorite shirts is from a store I would never picture myself shopping at…and it was $3! (I really like bargain shopping, if you couldn’t tell.)

LS: So, what did you think when this whole H&M incident went down?
E: I was kind of confused at first, but not surprised. Once I read more into it, I felt like they were wasting resources for no reason when there are overwhelming amounts of people without warm clothes, especially in New York. It’s also an immense and extreme solid waste, which goes against their claims to reduce waste by shrinking labels and tags. I actually haven’t been back there for myself since it happened, but that wasn’t a conscious decision. I disagree with the procedure and hope that the press about it would give H&M a wake-up call to stop being so wasteful, but it hasn’t impacted my shopping habits there. It’s impossible to be aware of what goes on behind the scenes of every corporation, so, in situations like these, playing ignorant is sometimes the right choice. If we knew how every business we support is run, we most likely would not be satisfied.

LS: When you’re not blogging, what other things are you doing?
E: I’m a college student. So, studying, hanging out with my friends, enjoying my college years! I love to knit and read, and, of course, am beyond addicted to my Google Reader and the internet.

LS: Who are your favorite designers?
E: Marc Jacobs, Alexander McQueen, Balenciaga, DVF, Fendi, Isabel Marant, and, one of the classics, Chanel.

LS: What inspires you?
E: What a loaded question! If I have to identify the sources of my madness, I’d say anything from a random person on the street to the way leaves fall on the sidewalk. Everything I see gets my mind going creatively. I daydream a lot. Pieces of jewelry often send me on a styling rampage also. And, my largest inspiration: obviously all the blogs I read give me immense spurts of creativity.

ShoesForHaitNow.com has a simple goal: collect 100,000 pairs of shoes to send to the people of Haiti.

BlogCatalog and BloggersUnite have offered their support to the Shoes For Haiti Now project. Not only will we be helping to promote the site, but we will also be collecting shoes at our BlogCatalog offices. People in the San Antonio, TX area can bring new or gently used shoes to our offices Monday through Friday between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. You can also mail shoes to us.

Our office is located on the 2nd floor at:
7126 Eckhert Rd, STE 209
San Antonio, TX 78238

Because of the issues with getting relief materials into Haiti, the shoes that we collect will most likely be taken to organizations in the area that can transport them to and distribute them in Haiti. We are working on coordinating our efforts with aid groups or other partners who can get the shoes to Haiti. I’ll update this post once we have confirmed which group will be handling the distribution.

If you have any questions you can send an email titled Shoes For Haiti to jason@blogcatalog (dot) com, or you can use the Contact Now button on the sidebar of ShoesForHaitiNow.com. This button will Ask you to enter your name and phone number; once you hit connect, it will call the number you have entered and connect you with the Shoes For Haiti Now voicemail through Google Voice. Just leave a message there and someone will contact you ASAP.

Cards 4 Cancer Day: April 10th, 2010

Spirit Jump is extremely excited about an outreach program we created called Cards 4 Cancer Day. On April 10, 2010 we hope to deliver over 100,000 uplifting cards to cancer centers around the world. Our mission is to bring hope and comfort directly to those who are suffering as well as much needed awareness. We would love to have millions of people join us on this mission.

For those who would like to participate we have created a website at www.cards4cancer.wordpress.com with the details of the event. We are currently looking for Team Leaders, Team Members and sponsorship. So far BloggersUnite is onboard and has set up an event page for this event at http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/spirit-jump-cards-for-cancer-day. They will help us get the word out to the over 250,000 bloggers they are connected to through BlogCatalog. We are very excited to see who will join us in this life changing mission.

Meaghan’s Story

I was a young, healthy vibrant 28 year old attending law school in the winter of 2006. During my second year of classes I began feeling ill. I went to numerous doctors looking for help. Each doctor suggested it was all in my head; maybe I was depressed, mentally ill or over-stressed. Because I was young and had always been healthy the doctors assumed nothing could be seriously wrong. Enduring extreme pain, bleeding and exhaustion I kept returning to my doctors looking for help. Still no one did anything to address any of my health issues. My symptoms became worse with each passing day. Because no one believed I was ill I continued to attend classes and tried to live a normal life. Eventually the pain became so unbearable I drove myself to the ER.

The doctors at the Emergency Room also suggested my pain was in my head. However, due to the symptoms I complained of they were required to give me a CT scan. The CT showed the pain was NOT in my head. I had a large tumor on my cervix. The tumor had grown so large it had crushed my ureters causing my kidney to rip open.
In February 2007 I was finally diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer, stage 3b. The same doctors that had assured me I was fine were now telling me and my family that I would not survive.

I decided not to give up but rather to fight. After two weeks of hospitalization and blood transfusions I was flown to Dana Farber Cancer Institute in Boston Massachusetts. Teams of doctors attended to me in an effort to diminish the pain and save my life. I underwent chemo, internal and external radiation, placement of nephrostomy tubes as well as numerous surgeries. With little chance of surviving I fought hard against cancer. In July 2007 I had won my battle and was cancer free.

Even though I had won my battle with cancer I continued to struggle against the secondary effects of my treatments. Every three months I was flown to Boston for PET scans and surgeries because of the damage to the kidney. I returned to law school and with the help of friends and family I graduated in December 2008. I went on to take the Florida Bar exam and passed. Then in March 2009, during one of my surgeries, the doctors discovered my left kidney was failing and would have to be removed. Two weeks later doctors removed one rib and the failing kidney.

Spirit Jump Is Born

Looking for a way to reach out to others I had started a blog called I Kicked Cancers Ass where I wrote openly and honestly about my experience. Many people began to find me on my blog and I was able to provide some answers as well as comfort. Realizing I was helping others began a healing process of my own. Wanting to make more of a difference I thought hard about what else I could do. Finally the answer came. Remembering all the cards and gifts I had received during my battle and how they lifted my spirits during a desperate time, I decided to match those who wished to give with those who needed support. Thus began SPIRIT JUMP.

Our members sign on to send cards and small gifts to those still battling cancer. The experience is very powerful for both the giver and the receiver. Many have had life changing experiences. Our numbers and our outreach has continued to grow and we have touched lives as far as Singapore, Australia and more. It has become my passion, my addiction if you will to run this organization. Along with the help of my boyfriend Bryan Power, my good friend Dominique Miniaci and avid Spirit Jumper turned full time volunteer Lillie Hobson we continue to run Spirit Jump.

This post was written for the BlogCatalog Community Blog by Spirit Jump founder Meaghan Edelstein.
You can follow Spirit Jump on Twitter: @spiritjump.

What if Sherlock Holmes could wield an umbrella or a walking stick with the same dexterity and deadliness that Bruce Lee demonstrated with nunchuks?

Introducing the coolest blog ever! No, really I defy you to find a blog more unusual or interesting or creative than this one. Actually, that sounds like a challenge.  Alright then, let’s make it official! I’m issuing a challenge.

Here’s my entry for “Coolest Blog Ever”. For those of you who know me, I deliberately stayed away from martial arts or combat sports sites. I headed towards dance and choreography, but look what I found!

Take a look at David’s blog and then have a look around the BC community of great blogs and send me your idea of a “cool blog”.

PlayFighting

David teaches actors to perform safe and exciting stage combat. He’s a Fight Choreographer based in Toronto, Ontario. On his blog, you’ll find news from the world of stage fighting, workshops, tips on acting, conditioning, and anything else that he think contributes to good stage combat.

Author: David McCormick

Listed in: Acting Choreography

Take a look at one of David’s most recent announcements:

“England in the 19th century was replete with instructors in martial arts from the world over. E.W. Barton-Wright had returned from Japan and opened a school to teach the English gentleman how to defend himself against ruffians using only the most effective techniques whether unarmed or carrying the accessory of the time: the walking-stick.

The Bartitsu system worked so well that Sir Arthur Conan-Doyle wrote that Sherlock Holmes used it to defeat Moriarty.” (You remember him, Holmes’ arch-nemesis. Moriarty was as brilliant as Holmes, but on the wrong side of the law.)

Read David’s blog and find information for how to look good fighting on stage. Discussions and demonstrations of the following are available:

• English boxing, French kickboxing and the English interpretation of Judo
• Stick fighting and self-defense with an umbrella
• Modern urban self-defense evolved from the principles of Bartitsu

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You just never know when you might have to shoo someone away with a well-pointed umbrella or menace someone with your walking stick (or some reasonable facsimile).  Being prepared is half the battle.  “Elementary, my dear Watson!”

Looking for a new hobby?  This could be it!

As you can see, I lean towards the unusual.  On Wednesdays, starting next week, my job is to introduce interesting Blog Catalog bloggers to the general BC community.  The obvious questions are where to start and how to choose who to profile?

Because there are so many blogs to choose from, I’d like some help. I’m interested in creating Top 10 lists of different types of blogs in different niches.  Please free to make suggestions or – if you’re feeling industrious – create the list yourself and I will post it here.

Another area of interest is how to best support bloggers in maximizing the BC community. Groups are available for providing reciprocal mentions, link exchanges, comments, stumbles and other social media shares.  What has been your experience with your group relationships?

What else can we do to support each other? Are you willing to compile a list of helpful tips for bloggers? If so, send one to me and we’ll get it published here.

Here’s a specific request from one blogger:

gut1kor

What is the use of just seeing each other’s blog? We all need targeted traffic. I feel its better we strategically link back to good and useful posts in each other’s blog. What do you guys say?

Gunasekhar
www.nibodo.com/blog/

Send your ideas or well-written posts ready for publication directly to me at Cheryl@thatgirlisfunny.com Original work only please!

Would you like an easy traffic building tip you can put into practice right now? When you take the time to read a post, leave a comment! Make it a daily practice to leave interesting comments like bread crumbs for other bloggers to find you and follow you.  What goes around, comes around. Over time, you will notice an uptick in your traffic count. Start right now! Leave a comment regarding this post.

My name is Cheryl Ragsdale. Want to follow my mad adventures living a healthy, juicy life?  Drop by and say hello! You can find me here at ThatGirlisFunny.

photo credit Sherlock Holmes

It’s always one of the top ten New Year’s resolutions people make – getting organized. For me personally, this meant cleaning out my closets and organizing my jewelry, both of which I have already accomplished.

I have great closet space, so that task was not very challenging. But the jewelry issue proved to be a problem as I had three different spots for my jewelry: my nightstand, dresser and a little nook in the bathroom. Needless to say, this system wasn’t working for me. That’s when I knew I had to buy myself a jewelry armoire.

A jewelry armoire is a piece of furniture for storing your jewelry. When you get to a point where you can’t close your jewelry box anymore, then you need a jewelry armoire. They range in size and price. You can find them as low as $50 and as high as $500. I purchased my jewelry armoire for about $60 on Black Friday. It was originally $129. You can also find jewelry armoires at antique stores, if you’re looking for something with a bit of character, or at thrift stores, if you would like to save money.

If your jewelry collection doesn’t require the storage an armoire provides, then your other options are jewelry boxes, jewelry frames, jewelry racks or reserving a drawer in your bathroom or in your dresser and using smaller boxes and bags to organize your jewelry within the drawer.

Two do-it-yourself options are using a system of hooks on a wall and hanging your jewelry from there or using strong pins and tacks on a cork board for hanging jewelry. You could use pretty organza bags to hold things like rings and earrings and hang the bags from the hooks or tacks.

SoHo Accessories offers great ideas in their blog post “Jewelry Storage Tips.” I also suggest reading Whisper of the Muse’s blog post “A New Year’s Resolution.” She uses jewelry racks and organza bags to clean up her act and posts a photo of her nicely organized dresser top. Don’t you wish you could look that good?

To learn more about jewelry frames, check out “Jewelry Frame – Get Organized” by the As Seen on TV Network Blog. And, check out Fave Crafts Blog who talks about making your own jewelry keeper out of a simple plastic box in the blog post “Home Decor Tuesday: Storage and Organization.”

From what I’ve read throughout the day cash is desperately needed by the aid organizations heading up relief efforts in Haiti after the devastating earthquake that rocked the small island nation. This cash will be used for everything from medical supplies to food. I found a list of reputable organizations that are taking donations on a Fox news site:

-The Red Cross is asking the public to make financial donations to the International Relief Fund by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS or online at http://www.redcross.org

-Donors may also text “HAITI” to “90999″ and a donation of $10 will be given to the American Red Cross to help with relief efforts. This donation will be added to the mobile phone user’s next cell phone bill or deducted from their pre-paid plan balance

- InterAction has a list of agencies responding and how to donate to them. Find it here:
http://www.interaction.org/crisis-list/earthquake-haiti

- To donate $5 to Wyclef Jean’s Haitian Yele charity, text “Yele” to 501501. The money will be added to your next phone bill.

- To find out how to help the International Rescue Committee,visithttp://www.theIRC.org or call toll free, 1-877-REFUGEE.

- To donate through Oxfam’s emergency appeal, visit http://www.oxfam.org.uk

There is a new event page up on BloggersUnite called BloggersUnite for Haiti (http://www.bloggersunite.org/event/bloggersunite-for-haiti). If you have written a post about the situation in haiti, please sign up as a participant and submit a link to your post. We hope that this page will help drive traffic to blog posts with information on what is happening in Haiti and how to help the people there.

Seasons by Adrian LaRoque

In the light of the recent allegations that well-known and established retailers H&M and Wal-Mart purposely destroyed and disposed of apparel rather than donating it to homeless shelters or any other nonprofit charity, it’s time that all Americans reflect upon their own personal choices on what to do with used items they no longer want. If you still haven’t heard about these atrocious actions, read RIMTailing’s blog post on Aim to Donate, Not Destroy, Merchandise and The Thrifty Chicks’ Why are two major retailers torturing their own trash?

Not only should American consumers evaluate their personal decisions on donating or disposing based on whether or not someone in need may benefit from such a donation, but they should also consider the ecological impact of such a disposal. Apparel, sofas and electronics merely create more waste in already-full landfills.

Consumers shouldn’t have to look to their favorite retailers to set the standard as to what one does with unwanted merchandise, rather, they should instead seek to be the example. Show good conscience and send your retailers a message that since you practice responsible judgement when alleviating your personal inventory of unwanted goods, you expect the same from them. And if you need tips on what to do with your unwanted items, read below:

1. Give to your relatives, friends and co-workers. First and foremost, when I’m cleaning out my closets, I think about which relatives, friends and co-workers would enjoy my unwanted clothes, shoes or handbags. I take great care of my items, all of which are brand name or designer. While the items are no longer new to me, they will be new to them. And everyone I’ve ever given a hand-me-down to has always been very appreciative. Don’t stop with clothes, either. You’d be amazed how appreciated your old futon or t.v. may be to someone who needs furniture for a game room or a college student moving away. At my office, one coworker is giving another coworker’s son a used car she didn’t want to go through the hassle of selling. Rather than donate it (which is a great option) she decided to give it to someone she knows and cares about. It’s a sign of the current times.
2. Host a Style Swap. Style Swaps are a trend sweeping the nation. It’s basically a stylish party of your favorite friends and acquaintances. You provide the music and cocktails, and everyone brings with them their best pieces of unwanted clothing and accessories. At the party, you swap. Simple and stylish. (This same swap-style party can be applied to anything really – electronics, computer parts, video games. You get the picture.)
3. Donate to a charity. Goodwill and Salvation Army are both large charities well-known for the good they spread across this nation. Both charities also make donating a simple process with donation trucks located in convenient areas in most communities and the opportunity for a scheduled pick up at your home. I personally prefer to donate my items to local organizations such as local homeless shelters or shelters that house women escaping from an abusive relationship. Do a Google search on such shelters in your area or pay attention to your local news. Charities are normally given the opportunity to make free public announcements for events and fundraisers on local affiliate channels.
4. Upcycle. Turn an old pair of jeans into denim cutoffs. Cut the top off of an out-of-style dress and make it a simple skirt. Transform your husband’s dress shirt into a tunic. A little creativity can go a long way. My husband and I recently turned our unneeded television armoire into a wardrobe for him. Be smart. Be responsible and think about it before you throw it out.
5. Give it away for free on Craigslist. Leave it at the curb on a day when it’s not trash day, and list it on Craigslist. One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.

As with any new venture, we all learn as we go and eventually gain experience and knowledge.  I am still in my first year with blogging, and granted I have learned a lot, but I have so much more to learn.

I have many goals for my blog in 2010 and I am going to really focus on its growth.  I want to gain more readers, create great content, and reach new heights.

For Christmas my husband geared me up for 2010 with several books to help me be more successful and to stay motivated.   I received the following books and I have already started reading a few of them:

• Purple Cow: Transform Your Business by Being Remarkable by Seth Godin
• Conversation Marketing: Internet Marketing Strategies by Ian Lurie
• Crush It!: Why NOW Is the Time to Cash In on Your Passion by Gary Vaynerchuk
• ProBlogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income by Darren Rowse and Chris Garrett
• Don’t Make Me Think: A Common Sense Approach to Web Usability by Steve Krug
• Twitter Power: How to Dominate Your Market One Tweet at a Time by Joel Comm

Have you read any of these books and did you find them helpful?  What other books do you recommend to newer or even experienced bloggers?

What other resources have been the most beneficial to you for growing your blog? What are your plans for growth in 2010?

Here is a little of what Photographer Dan Bodenstein writes about the photo’s subject, Eartha the sea turtle:

I visited Eartha at the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach Florida. Eartha was very photogenic. She would swim right up to the glass in her tank as I positioned myself infront of it for a photograph.

As I moved from one area to another, Eartha would attempt to follow me from within her tank. She would often pop her head up to see me, then go to the glass and wait for me to appear. It seemed we had an instant bond. (Read More)

See more shots of Eartha as well as Dan’s other photos in the Naturocity Gallery. Also check out the new book all about Eartha.

Hey Bloggers! Would you like to own a copy of Rose Levy Beranbaum’s new cookbook Rose’s Heavenly Cakes?

If so, here’s all you have to do. Bake one of the cakes included in this post. Then, write a blog post about your baking experience and the cake you created. Feel free to include pictures, audio, videos or any other form of media you enjoy using in your post. BlogCatalog will then select 5 of the blog posts we enjoyed the most to share with our readers on our blog and in our February newsletter. And, we will randomly select one of these 5 bloggers to receive a free copy of Rose’s Heavenly Cakes.

To enter the contest, simply write your blog post. Then, submit it to us by leaving a comment below with a link to your post. Finally, be sure to include a link or trackback to BlogCatalog.com and SpruceTV.com in your post. All posts must be submitted by January 21, 2010 in order to be considered.

Here are the recipes you can bake. (Just open each link and either bookmark the page or print it out.):

Chocolate Velvet Fudge Cake:

Picture
Recipe Page 1
Recipe Page 2

Classic Carrot Cake with Dreamy Creamy White Chocolate Frosting:

Recipe Page 1 and Pic
Recipe Page 2
Recipe Page 3

If you have any questions regarding this contest or if you have any problem viewing or printing the recipes, email jason@blogcatalog [dot] com with any questions. Be sure title your email Cake Contest so it doesn’t get overlooked!

For a little information about Rose Levy Beranbaum and her new book check out this page on SpruceTV.com.

Oh, the red carpet. The stars, the fashion and the beauty – we love viewing all that luscious eye candy. But how does the average woman incorporate that hot, red carpet style into her own personal style? I had the opportunity to speak to Latoicha of Luxe Tips™ who offered some great tips on how to make red carpet makeup and beauty work for you.

Mad about “Mad Men”
Maybe you’re like me and don’t watch this highly-acclaimed A&E television show. But I’m sure you know all about the glamorous beauty. The fashion and style of this show have even inspired some gorgeous, retro style red carpet looks, and I asked Latoicha  how to create that dreamy, heavy, retro-glam eye.

“From my experience the trick to applying eyeliner perfectly is to apply it with a GREAT eyeliner brush,” advised Latoicha. “Sonia Kashuk’s Bent eyeliner brush is perfect! The bent shape of the brush allows the eyeliner to contour to the natural shape of the eye. The result is a perfect line.” Latoicha recommended using Gel eyeliner to create a thick but perfect line of eyeliner. “Gel eyeliner goes on super smooth and is so easy to apply.  You can easily create a thick or thin line,” she said. Her favorite is Lancome’s gel eyeliners. “They are of great quality and the eyeliner lasts forever,” she explained.

But, Latoicha was quick to add that you not to stop at the eyeliner. “In addition to using a great quality gel eyeliner and quality eyeliner brush, I also recommend wearing beautiful false eyelashes to create the perfect dreamy and heavy Retro Glam eye.,” Latoicha explained. “I love Revlon’s false eyelashes.  They come in so many different textures and lengths and they are super easy to apply.” Latoicha said that if you’re the kind of woman reluctant to apply her own false lashes, visit your local brow or hair salon and they can apply it for you. Great tip!

Glitter-razzi
Who doesn’t love to glow? But, is there such a thing as wearing too much glitter? According to Latoicha, the answer is yes. “I do think you can apply too much glitter.  Balance is everything when applying makeup!” she said. “If you are going to apply glitter, choose one area of your face you want to play up and go neutral with the rest of your makeup.” Latoicha recommended neutral tones to complement your glitter glow makeup. Stay away from a sequin or metallic outfit. “Let your makeup make a statement for you and choose an outfit that is neutral yet still very sexy and glam,” Latoicha clarified.

Bloody Haute
“Twilight” and “True Blood” have lured goth and vamp style out of the shadows and into the light of the mainstream. I think it’s hot, but I’m almost 40 and I wondered if someone my age can pull of such a mysterious style. “Any woman can pull off a goth-vamp look.  The trick is how much goth-vamp do you do at your age range,” said Latoicha. “I recommend a woman in her 40s to wear dark lipstick and dark nails, but go light, neutral, and matte with the eyeshadow and blush.  Remember, too much shimmer highlights fine lines and wrinkles.  I would call this look classy vamp,” she finished.

Younger women have more room to play up the look. “A woman in her 20s can go a bit more goth-vampy and still look sexy,” explained Latoicha. “She could wear the darker lips, lots of dark heavy black eyeliner, a bit more color with eyeshadow (not too much) and mascara.  This look is very vampy but still sexy!”

Now, are you ready to hit the red carpet, or how about just a fun night out on the town? Keep Latoicha’s tips handy and stay up to date with every thing beauty and luxe at Luxe Tips.

Whether you’re planning on hitting the town, throwing a party, or just enjoying a quiet evening with family and friends, we have put together a few blogs that will help you prepare for your 2009 New Year’s Eve festivities.

Hey Ladies

New Year’s Eve parties give all of us an excuse to get dressed up and get a little wild. Earlier in the week LollieShopping gave the ladies some tips on looking glamorous for the occasion in her post Looking Chic For New Year’s Eve. Here, you’ll find links to blogs that will show you where to find affordable NYE dresses, where to find eco-friendly fashion and where to find something special and sparkly for your year-end celebration.

For the Fellas

Most guys probably need a little more help than the ladies when it comes to looking good (i.e. Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). So, I’ve thrown together an assortment of blogs that can give you some NYE attire ideas and assist you in ringing in the new year in style. The first one just sounds like the obvious place to start. The Men’s Fashion Bible hits on everything from clothes to accessories and from everyday fashion to celebrity style. For instance, maybe this year you’ll be doing some casual clubbing. They’ve got you covered. Maybe you’re looking for a smarter look? Well, then check out their geek chic ideas. Or, maybe this is the year you bring your sexy back. Yup, they can even help with this.

Another site where you can get some fashion inspiration is The Urban Gentleman. Their Winter 09/10 Style Guide can help you find a good look whether your looking for something conservative, edgy or classic. If you need even more specific help, posts like the Guide to Dress Shirt Collars can assist you in finding the look that best suits you. And, if you just need help finding something to add a little extra sizzle to your outfit, well then from fedoras to pocket squares the accessories page has got you covered.

Feelin’ Bubbly

Champagne is a necessary part of any good NYE celebration. For advice on picking the best bubbly, head to a place where they love champagne. We Love Champagne is a regularly updated blog that provides readers with reviews as well as information about the people and the Houses currently putting out superior bubbly. If you need a little help picking out the best bottle for this year’s celebration, We Love Champagne is a great place to start.

Get Cookin’

Throwing a NYE party? Having some close friends and family over to celebrate? If so, then I’m sure you’ll be needing to feed them. This year, forget chips and dips. I say “go big or get out of the kitchen!” Actually, I don’t really ever say that, but it sounded good.

If you need a little help getting inspired to cook or you’re just looking for some new recipes, I suggest checking out Inspired Taste. Here you’ll find recipes for delicious appetizers like baked wonton cups and marinated swordfish skewers, main course ideas like Guiness burgers and chicken enchiladas, and dessert recipes like roasted pears or swirled chocolate bark. My favorite part of this site is the large pictures. Trust me…if you’re not hungry when you click through to this site, there’s a good chance you will be once you see these pictures.

Update: I forgot to mention that HalfHourMeals.com is my favorite place on the web to find recipes and some really great foodie bloggers too. Whether you’re looking for appetizers, main dishes, desserts–or any other course for that matter, their recipes section will definitely have what you’re looking for.

Hair o’ the Dog

Finally, just because we know some of you are going to be hurtin come New Year’s Day, we found some info on hangover cures. Check out Just A Guy Thing to find which of the 4 most popular hangover cures works best.

In some recent discussions I have had, I have noticed an opinion–mainly amongst non-bloggers and non-Facebookers–that these digital realms are dominated by young people. While this is not a total misconception, it is also not entirely true.

Take a look at Facebook’s user statistics from the past year or so, and you’ll see that while the largest percentage of the participants are younger than Boomers, users over 45 are steadily making up a larger percentage of their overall users. Blogger statistics from that same time period show bloggers over 45 outnumbering their younger counterparts approximately 6 to 1.

FACEBOOK:

If you look at the user stats for Facebook between September 2008 and October 2009, you will see that the majority of their users are between the ages of 18 and 25. Yet, even though that demographic grows over time, it constitutes less and less of Facebook’s total users. In contrast to their drop in percentage of overall users, the number and overall percentage of  45+ users grows during this same time period.

9.18.08 (stats via insidefacebook.com)

• 33 million US users FB
• 17,120,760 between 18-25 (52%)
• 518,200 between 55-65 (2%)
• 925,840 btw 45-54 (3%)
• over 26 (33%)

2.2.09 (stats via insidefacebook.com)

• 45.3 million US users
• 19,319,820 btw 18-25 (43%)
• 1,228,660 btw 55-65 (3%)
• 2,275, 960 btw 45-54 (5%)
• Over 26 (45%)

10.1.09 (stats via insidefacebook.com)

• 88.3 million US users
• 23,892,740 btw 18-25 (29%)
• 5,560,080 btw 55-65 (7%)
• 10,126,860btw 45-54 (12%)
• over 25 (61%)

The growth of 45+ users was slow from late 2008 to early 2009. Users between 45-54 grew 2% during this time and users between 55-56 grew only 1% . Yet over the following 8 months, these same groups saw much larger increases of 7% and 4% respectively. As of 2.2.09, www.insidefacebook.com reported that the demographic group with the largest amount of growth was women over 55. This group grew by 175.3% over the previous 4 months.

In contrast, Facebook users between 18-25 saw their numbers drop 9% between September 2008 and February 2009; they then saw their numbers drop an additional 14% by October 2009. The numbers clearly show that while Facebook is still primarily comprised of users between the ages of 18-25, more and more older users are joining the network.  In fact, take a look at all users over 26 and you’ll see a jump from only 33% of all users in 2008, to 61% of all users in late 2009.

BLOGGERS:

As a group, bloggers are older than Facebook users. Compared to making up 52% of all Facebook users in 2008, 18-24 year-olds made up only 13% of bloggers at that time. This is still more that the 8% of bloggers over 55, but less that the 15% of bloggers who are between 45-54.

In 2009, 45+ bloggers took over even more of the blogosphere. Users between 18-24 dropped to 7% while at the same time bloggers over 55 increased to 18%, a 10% increase over the previous year’s numbers. The number of bloggers between 45-54 also jumped. Their ranks swelled by 6% to make up 21% of all bloggers.

While slightly younger users (those between 25-44) dominate the blogosphere making up 64% of all bloggers in 2008 and 53% of all bloggers in 2009, 45+ bloggers are steadily gaining ground.

*All blogger stats were taken from Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere reports from 2008 and 2009.

BLOGS:

Since the number of boomers in the blogosphere is on the increase, it is no surprise to find a plethora of blogs for and by boomers listed on BlogCatalog. If you’d like to see the whole list, you can go to the Boomers category page. If browsing through the 271 Boomer blogs is too much for you, we’ve picked a few samples for you to check out. We hope you think they’re as groovy as we do! Peace.

Great Adaptations: From Suzanna’s About page…”I’ve been in publishing in one form or another for over 30 years. The one thing I can tell you is that now, today, is the most amazing time to be connecting to the world, sharing your own life experiences, and using your creativity to build the life you really want.”

Psychedelic Hippie Fashion: Forget those boring suits you’ve been wearing to work all these years. Revisit the time when your wardrobe was dominated by bell bottoms, tie dyes and paisley.

Set Free In Mexico: This blog tells the story of a Minnesota couple that took their jobs and shoved them at the tender ages of 55 and 54 and escaped to Mexico with little money and no income and somehow they stick.

Baby Boomer Journey: This is a commentary and resource on how to deal with the people and things we encounter on a daily basis. The posts on this blog may not be politically correct but they are brutally open and honest.

Tech and the Baby Boomer: “In this blog I talk about my own problems with social networking sites and gadgets. I hope my fumbling entertains other boomers and possibly provides some feedback for manufacturers and site developers to use.”

New Year’s Eve is a great reason to dress up, get glam and look hot. But, if you still haven’t decided on what to wear or how to wear it, get your inspiration from these stylish blog posts and prepare to celebrate the beginning of a new year in style and on trend.

Keep the Change
Want to look good and save money? Read “New Year’s Eve Party Dresses on a Budget” on the blog Twenty2 and see six sweet dresses $60 and under, including a one-shoulder sequin dress from Forever 21 that’s only $15. Additionally, you should also read Beauty and the Budget’s “New Year’s Eve Dresses Under $100” to view a ShopStyle slide show of pretty party dresses.

Resolve to Save the Earth
Start the new year off right by wearing an Eco-friendly dress. Check out Chic by Nature’s blog post  ”Put Your Party Dress On” for three awesome options.

Sparkle!
Sequin apparel and accessories are a hot fashion trend right now. And nothing says “party” more than a sexy sequin dress.  Read SheGlam’s blog post “Sequin Dresses for New Year’s Eve” for a shimmer of inspiration.

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