Phase one

Yesterday, I signed up for my first writing course. It is an online course being taught by the awesome Alice Bradley of FinSlippy fame.

I have been a big FinSlippy fangirl  for quite a while now and so, when Alice made the announcement about her course yesterday, I jumped at it!

And then I went and caught up on a whole bunch of her blog posts that I haven't read yet.

I didn't have to go too far back to find a post that made me feel like I got hit with a hammer in the head...

Alice posted this video on her blog and introduced me to the genius that is Jay Smooth, aka illdoctrine.com.

I swear he took all of these thoughts directly out of my head!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0TpmJgSfZ_8[/youtube]

I don't care what you do. Be it a writer, an artist, a blogger, a stay-at-home mama, or you are working 40+ hours a week at a job you love/hate, we all have issues with the little hater.

I've written about my little hater before. She likes to come and see me from time to time and no matter how hard I try to exile her from my mind, she finds another way in. Lately her hate spewing is not so much about my parenting, but more so about ME. It's about my writing, it's about my purpose in life, it's about what I am contributing to my community and what will be my legacy in this world (besides the two amazing little humans I have helped create who are going to ROCK it!!).

And as much as I HATE the little hater, I think in some way I need her. Since watching Jay's video (about 5 times already!) I have really been thinking a lot about what that voice is saying to me and why? What is it that am I missing in all of this?

And then it hit me...

Jay talks about being a perfectionist in the video and I get that, I am one too, but beyond that, I love instant gratification. I am an impulse buyer, a watch it now even though I have a PVR television show watcher and a compulsive email checker. This is probably why I like Twitter so much. When I tweet something brilliant, people respond to me immediately. ;)

As a writer though, I think I really need to get over this. I need to realize that with any kind of creative outlet there will always be with those who love what you do, those who don't, those who will shout it from the rooftops and those who will silently enjoy it. And the trolls, there will always be BIG haters too. It is the price paid for putting our words, thoughts, and ideas on the interwebs for all to see.

Ultimately, I also need to remember who I am writing for. In a recent #blognow chat on Twitter, the awesome Tanis from The Redneck Mommy said it best.

[tweet https://twitter.com/redneckmommy/status/245693554645663744 align='center']

Moral of the story. Sometimes the little hater in our head in a necessary evil that helps us to figure out what really matters. We can give in to that little mean voice or we can use it to grow, learn and keep on going!

I choose the latter.

And Phase One of my learning and growth starts with getting my writing butt kicked into high gear by Alice!

Natasha~

P.S. I am VERY happy to have all of you as my audience and I do so love when you leave comments too. Even a little one is nice! {Thank you}

A good day

Today I got up early. Got the kids ready, got myself ready, walked the dog, made myself a smoothie and was out the door by 8:00AM. I know what you are thinking... Dry run for school next week right?

Wrong.

Today, for the first time in MONTHS, I made it to an #SMBYEG (Social Media Breakfast Edmonton) meeting!

My lovely sister-in-law had the morning off and offered to take the kids for breakfast and I gladly took her up on her offer.

Some of you may be asking, what on earth is #SMBYEG and what exactly do you do there?

In a nutshell...

SMBYEG houses an open environment to share today’s best and worst examples of social media, as practiced by individuals, industries and organizations in Edmonton and around the world. Guest speakers share their experience and expertise of social media use, followed by an opportunity to network with a community of like-minded individuals.

Basically, a bunch of awesome local folks get together once a month to share ideas and experiences, to heckle the host (I love you @hedgehodge) and to meet up with a lot of other social media geeks and freaks that are doing a lot of great things in social media in our city and in our world!

I hadn't realized how much I missed these events and missed seeing all of these fine people in real life until I walked into that room this morning. I seriously got a head rush from it all! The new home of #SMBYEG is the fabulous Startup Edmonton venue in the refurbished Mercer Building and is yet another reason to be excited about these events (and did I mention the coffee and treats from Roast Coffee House + Wine Bar... soooo GOOD)!

AND...

To top off my incredible morning, not only did I get to see so many of Edmonton's local social media scene, I also got to hang out with this particular little social media darling!

Photo courtesy of @luzzara, baby courtesy of @JenBanksYEG

And then the kids and I had a play date with some new neighbourhood and school friends, we all had dinner with the family and then I came home and had the most riveting Twitter conversation ever!

It really was a VERY, good day!

Cheers to you all,

Natasha~

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And thus ends my posts for the Summer Blog Challenge. I *almost* made it! 

This is Post #30.

I am taking the long weekend off to mull over some things and will be back to the keyboard next week.

Just ask the Tweety-box!

There are days when I really do turn to Twitter to make decisions.  {Please tell me I am not the only one who does this!} Today was one of those days.

I was in Chapter's with the kids, picking up a last minute birthday present and a much needed soy latte at the attached Starbuck's and I decided that I wanted a new book as well. Yes, I still read and purchase actual books. I like the feel and smell of words on real paper. And finishing that last page in a book feels like an accomplishment to me, and maybe especially so now that I don't do as much novel reading as I used to pre-children!

So I sent out this tweet. (Please excuse the typo!)

And the Twitterverse answered!

I now have the following list of books recommended by people I like, whose opinions I trust and whom I follow on Twitter!

It's like the Ultimate Book Club!

And since a few of you may want in on these suggestions, I thought I would post them all in one place.

1. Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

2. The Fault of our Stars by John Green

3. Super Sad True Love Story by Gary Shteyngart

4. Tiny Beautiful Things  by Cheryl Strayed

5. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn  {This is the one I decided on for today. Thank you @CoffeewithJulie for being the first to respond to my tweet!}

6. The Alienist by Caleb Carr

5. A Fine Balance by Rohinton Mistry (I have tried this one before and couldn't do it, I may just have to give it a go again.)

6. Life of Pi  by Yann Martel (Same as above and since I do like to read books BEFORE I see movie remakes of them, I'll try this again too.)

7. The Dovekeepers by Alice Hoffman (My second choice today and I think I may go back for it.)

8. And a great suggestion for the kids, True Story, from local writer Marty Chan. This really is a great book (we already have it!) and I highly recommend it as a gift or just to add to your kid's book collection!

Thank you to all who responded and gave me their book suggestions. It seems that along with doing this Summer Blog Challenge, I know have a little Summer Reading Challenge to do as well! And this list does not include the book that I have to read for next week for my ACTUAL book club. (PS-Does anyone have an extra copy of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander lying around? It has been a few years and I may need a bit of a refresher course on Jamie and Claire!

Anywho.... I am off to start Gone Girl before I hit the hay.

Happy Reading Everyone!

Natasha~

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This is Day 14 of the Summer Blog Challenge and I am giving you even more things to read! Sheesh!

You know the drill, visit the others doing this crazee thing called writing and follow along....

Zita at The Dulock Diaries.

Meaghan at MagzD Life

April at This Mom’s Got Something to Say

Aramelle at One Wheeler’s World

 Jessica at 2plus2X2

and Liam at In the Now

 

I was robbed...

... of my online space that is.

 

A few weeks ago, my home on the interwebz was broken into, and instead of taking shit, like 'normal' thieves do, these criminals left a whole bunch of NASTY stuff behind.

And all of the nasty made a REALLY BIG MESS and got my site 'black-listed' on the Googles!

Oh the Shame!

(Seriously, it sounds so damn ominous and cold war-ish. I feel like one of the Hollywood Ten. OK, not really, but seeing a big red screen shot saying your site is DANGEROUS every day for two week sucks big time and makes you feel awful and really mad that someone has taken away something kind of important in your life.)

Now given that I am no web genius by any means, I reached out to the universe (aka Twitter) and pleaded for help.

I have to give a huge shout out to @danaditomaso and @jkparker for coming to my rescue and being the geniuses that they are. They both gave selflessly of their time/expertise and helped get me and my little website out of this NASTY jam.

And on that note, I have a few reminders for everyone:

1. Keep your site(s) updated to the latest version and free from clutter (like unused plug-ins and such).

2. Change your passwords periodically and make them really, REALLY hard for anyone to guess or figure out (use upper and lower case letters, numbers and symbols).

3. Be nice to your IT friends, always!!!

Now, I have a back log of posts that are mostly in my head right now, but once I can get some alone time I will get working on them and get some posted as soon as I can.

Thanks for sticking around.

Cheers all,

Natasha~

Photo credit: devdsp on Flickr 

A few things I am trying this month...

Ok, I lied. I do have one goal for the next few months. I really want to get to my goal weight.

I know, not very original right. But I have given myself some incentive...

Once I have reached that elusive 135 pounds, I am going to reward myself with something big and beautiful.

I want a new tattoo!!

To help me get there I am giving up a few of my favourite things...

No more milk, cheese or wheat products for this girl.

This is hard for me to do, because I LOVE cheese!! (And already today, I had to spit a piece of Little C's cheese string out because I popped it in my mouth without even thinking.)

I am going with a 6 small meals a day routine, and drinking LOTS of water. And whoever comes up with the App that reminds me to drink a cup of water every half-hour to hour will be my hero!!

Wish me luck!

...................

And...

As I was scrolling through Instagram pics today, I came across this.

So I am going to give it a go. I really do love taking pics with my iPhone and have become somewhat of an Instagram addict. The ever fabulous Schmutzie calls it Phoneography and she has made it an art form! I hope to be as talented at it as she is one day (and perhaps even a fraction as cool as her)!

Since I started a day late, you get two photos today.

1. Me!

Self portrait while sitting in car with 2 sleeping kids.

2. Breakfast. Since I am working on trying to eat 6 small meals a day, this is technically meal #2.

Visalus protein shake with mango and water.

Won't you join me in this fun little challenge?

You can post on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, your own blog, whatever you want. Read all the details here on Fat Mum Slim's site and remember to use the #JANphotoaday hashtag if you are posting too Twitter.

Until tomorrow my lovelies!

Natasha~