Blogs & Vlogs

When I started this blog, I had an idea what I wanted it to look like, what I wanted it to be like, simply from reading other people's blogs.  But it has become more than I could have imagined.  Not because I've hit it big and I'm fighting off advertisers and book deals.  No, this whole blogging endeavor has connected me with so many interesting, supportive people.  People that are my friends now.  It's given me opportunities to flex my creative muscle and get paid for it.  It's given me the opportunity to share and write my guts out.  

I vow to never wear this shirt again---it's in so many posts.  These were headshots I had taken at BlissDom.  They were free, so I couldn't say "excuse me, do you mind waiting while I go change?"

While writing and sharing and making friends and a little extra money (lol, extra money? hahaha, there's no extra money w/four kids ever!) over the past couple years, I've also grown up a little.  That doesn't mean I've stopped watching immature (somewhat offensive) comics on YouTube or that I have many answers.  It does mean that I'm less apologetic for my love of silly things and my emotionality.  It does mean that I've accepted that my niche isn't perfect craft tutorials and that my fashion is a little stuck in the eighties.  I'm more okay with myself than ever before.

Sharing and writing my guts out has helped me let go of a lot of fear.  Fear of judgement from others and myself.  Fear of being wrong, stupid, a bad writer, a bad thinker, too emotional, too immature, too not perfect, etc.

When I started my vlog? That was a completely different story.  I mean sharing and writing is one thing,  bu shooting video of me, talking to me, editing video of me, it seemed like just way too much me.

In college, I took a literature performance class and they video-taped us.  We had to watch the video and critique our own performance.  After watching myself, I went into a mini depression.  I wasn't what I thought I was at all.  My voice sounded like Punky Brewster.  How could anyone stand to listen to me? Why hadn't I noticed that my eyes slanted down so much or that my hair was just completely wrong?  Was I really that short?  

I was so unkind to myself.  I actually got depressed for a few days. I wasn't in front of a camera for probably about 8 years.  Not until I was pregnant with my first child and we got a fancy new video camera.  I was a little kinder to myself because I was all about the baby.  But of course I couldn't help but mentally criticize my weight.

But since I started vlogging for my very own YouTube channel, I've gotten less critical.  

Just like blogging, vlogging has led to self-acceptance.  I don't notice the wrinkles or the crooked teeth very much(but I did give a lecture to my kids about wearing their retainers post-braces based on video evidence of me not doing so).  I don't watch every video and analyze my face or my voice.  Because it's about sharing and connecting and being creative and being open and intentional and funny and real.

YouTube is a whole new fun playground to connect with other parents and moms and women.  We share jokes, stories, parenting advice, political passions and more.  

Every Wednesday, I link up with Mama Kat's Vlogging Prompts.

Here's the intro video I made when I first started vlogging last July.  It's funny how much I've learned about vlogging, lighting, editing since last summer. It's also fun to see how much the kids have grown and changed.  Check it out:

(If you are an email subscriber, click this link to watch the http://youtu.be/wQNCvf1xPAk)

I'm having a pretty great time vlogging, come check me out and subscribe to my channel.  I've hovered around 44 (gaining subscribers and then losing them and then gaining them) for a while, but would love to hit 50 before May 1.

Last week, I got my first mean, semi-vicious comment that involved a few of F-bombs over a review of Skechers shoes.  The commenter told me to leave Skechers alone and get a life. Um, I think I'm legit folks.  Woo-hoo!

If you feel like subscribing and/or leaving a nice comment that would make my legit-ness that much sweeter.

Here are a few of the other most-watched videos on my YouTube channel:
My 20th High School Reunion

(If you are an email subscriber, click this link to watch the http://youtu.be/VwhmhDuW-A4)

Dance Lessons

(If you are an email subscriber, click this link to watch the http://youtu.be/ULUrXk8yxjw)

Me Time/Home Alone

(If you are an email subscriber, click this link to watch the video http://youtu.be/X-9UsG6cCIM)

Kid Interviews (The Pinterest Poser Challenge)

It's time again for the Pinterest Poser Challenge.  In an attempt at not being a Pinterest Poser,* every week I  detail a new Pinterest challenge whether it be a new recipe or a craft.   

**My definition of a Pinterest Poser is someone who is all pins and no substance.**

This week's project is inspired by a pin I saw several months ago about interviewing your child.  Well, really it was inspired years before that.  When I was little I used to love to listen to my grandmother tell me stories.  Stories about her life before she married my grandfather and after.  Stories in her words, with her sweet voice.  I always wanted to tape record her (yeah, because I'm that old that we recorded people on clunky tape recorders and kept the cassettes forever).  I never did.  I always regretted it.

I vowed never to make the same mistake with my children.  I vowed to take video of their lives, document the big moments and remember them forever.  And honestly, I've done a pretty good job with the big moments---we have video of the recitals, home runs, first time with no training wheels and more. But I don't have many simple moments or conversations.  

That's where this week's challenge comes into play, I love the idea of doing Kid Interviews. Here's how it went:


Tips for a good interview:
1. Go with the flow.
2. Let your kid talk about what they want to talk about.
3. Don't force it, if they aren't feeling it do the interview at another time.
4. Ask them to describe a specific event, TV show, memory.  Encourage lots of description.  I love the way my kids re-tell a movie and how they interpret the meanings.
5. Do the interview around a birthday or holiday.  The kids can reflect on their favorite moments or what they are looking forward to in the future.  
6. Enjoy it!  You might learn something about how your child is feeling or how they see the world.  And it's great one-on-one time together.
7. Keep it simple. You don't have to edit it with graphics and music.  All you need is a camera (even the one in your phone) and five minutes---boom, you're done. 
8. Remember your audience...Your Family.  This isn't going to be voted on by the Academy, it doesn't have to be posted on Facebook (unless you want to because that's totally okay too, no judgement here dude), this is for you and your family.  

The Kid Interview is definitely something my family will continue.  It is a way to document their thoughts and feelings.  It's a way to capture their sweet mannerisms and voices.  

I don't want to forget hearing my toddler Wade call his siblings "the kids."   I want Lucy to be able to see the confident, hopeful, sweet almost 9-year-old on the verge of "double digits" and getting her ears pierced little girl she is/was.  I want these memories captured forever for me and my kids, and ahem, their kids.  It's part of our/their story. 

Do it, go interview your kid.  It's good stuff, I promise.

Have you made something from Pinterest lately?  

Do tell.

Please share whatever you're working on in the comments here or over on Facebook.

Come on over and follow my Pinterest boards.

Here are some of the projects I've already attempted, the good and the bad:

Homemade Photo Booth Fun- click here

Fake Bangs- click here

DIY Subway Art- click here

Furniture Painting and Bench/Chest Makeover- click here

Thanksgiving-y Project/Gratitude/Holiday Countdown- click here
The Smoothie-click here

The Free Printable Turned Artwork in a Boring Hallway- click here

The chalk board-click here
Seven Layer Dip in Individual Cups (my favorite so far!)-click here
The pumpkin address-click here
The Kitchen Dancing Sign--click here

Come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed.

Oh yeah, and come follow me on Twitter @AngelaYBlood and subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel here.

Stranded at the Pumpkin Patch and a Giveaway!

I love leaf throwing pictures.

It's time.  
Time to pack in all the pumpkin-y traditions, cider mill visits and leaf jumping fun.  

Signs, signs, everywhere signs...it's also this time of year.

Because soon, it will be all time change darkness, holiday madness and lots of indoor-ness (at least here in Michigan).

With that in mind (as well as Tim's shoulder surgery), we headed over to the pumpkin patch last weekend.  Per usual, it wasn't what you would call picture perfect.  
Check out how we got stranded at the pumpkin patch:

Click here to subscribe to my MomPulse YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/jumpingwithmyfingers

Apparently it's also time for every photographer to be taking pictures outside.  This weekend we accidentally photo bombed five families, two very in love couples and a wedding.

Wade and JT couldn't take their eyes off this wedding party while we were at the library this weekend.  

*****Giveaway Alert****
This is a special giveaway.  Not only do you get to win something, but you also get to meet a very cool mama.  Jen VanHowe is my daughter's running coach for a program called Girls on the Run and a rep for Jewel Kade.  And she is sponsoring today's giveaway.

Win this beautiful monogrammed
piece from Jewel Kade.

Leave a comment here on the blog or on the blog's Facebook page and your name is entered to win a beautiful piece of jewelry and have it monogrammed.

Jewel Kade is a business with a great story--a mom of five started making jewelry in her basement, love it.  The jewelry is described as "vintage, yet modern. Universal yet very personal." I describe it as cool, yet pretty.


Just like the jewelry, Coach Jen, as my daughter calls her, has a pretty cool story too.  She is not only a mom, coach and businesswoman, she is a runner.  A runner who is raising money for a Team Challenge half marathon next month.  When I found out that she was raising money for Crohn's & Colitis I sent her an email and typed something I never thought I would: "We not only have running in common, but also an understanding of an autoimmune/gastro disease." She probably thought I was crazy, but I get how a disease that is similar to my JT's Celiac can impact a whole family.  And I love how she is using all of her passions for all kinds of good.  Click here to find out more about how you can help Jen reach her Team Challenge goal of $3,700.

Don't forget to leave a comment here or on the blog Facebook Page on the blog to be entered to win.