Storytellers, What I Know For Sure & #iPPP

For some people, writing it down and telling stories is just what they do.  They can't help it.  Writing is like breathing.  Storytelling is like eating.  It's necessary.  It keeps them alive.  

It's just what they do.
Good or bad.  Published in a book or tucked away in a secret journal. It's always about the writing.

I'm part of that some people and it looks like Lucy is too.  She writes stories on scrap pieces of paper she finds.  She writes stories in her journals late at night in her room.  She even writes stories on white boards she finds in the minivan while waiting for her brother's indoor baseball practice to end.

I love this line in her story about one of her characters:
"Tie insisted on being called wild."  I love her mind.

Being a part of this strange writer people group can be an isolating journey sometimes...getting lost in stories and other worlds, people don't always get you.  I hope Lucy can find a good balance between her writer self and her social self.  I know for sure I can't wait to read her stories.

Here's what else I know for sure (right now): 

• Pink is a badass with a heart.  I went to her concert this week and was totally impressed with how joyful the whole show was.  She skipped and danced.  She censored songs because of the little girls in the front row.  All without losing her badass-ness.  Love her.

Two middle age moms with pink hair chalk livin' it up on a school night at the Pink concert.  So cliche, but so fun.

• Did you hear my big news? I'm going to be a theater producer.  Yup, my little kid dreams from watching Fame and Chorus Line are coming true.  I'm co-producing a Listen To Your Mother show here in Metro Detroit.  Read more here.

• I love reading blogs.  I've updated the list of blogs I love to read on the side bar. Go check them out.

• Speaking of blogs and writers and stories to tell, you should go on over to Mamalode.  The website is home to so many beautiful stories mostly about parenthood.  Go now. Check it out.

• This is one of my new/old most favorite song lyric ever and it's from one of my new/old favorite bands evah- The Avett Brothers (awesome lyrical storytellers).  A friend of mine asked if I'd heard this song (Spanish Pipedream), which I hadn't and now I love, love, love it.  And then I found out John Prine actually wrote it and I thought well, duh of course because I'm a new biggest fan of everything he's written and sung. 

Listen to Spanish Pipe Dream, you will smile.

• I love this woman.  You've probably seen this video, but watch it again.  Dancing has some amazing healing/happiness powers.  Read about her here.  

What do you know for sure (this week)? C'mon, we're friends, share what you know. 

Leave a comment here or on my Facebook page or on Twitter.

Please come play with me on Instagram @jumpingwithmyfingerscrossed. 

All the pictures in this post were taken with my phone.

I'm linking up today with my friends Greta from  Gfunkified.com and Robin from FarewellStranger.com for the #iPPP link up.  They host a link up where they encourage people to share "your funny, your yummy, your heartfelt, your favorite photos of the week" from our phones. 

Check them out.

It's Happening!

I got an email that said "it's happening!"  And guys, it's happening and I am so excited.  I've had a few secret meetings, hopeful emails and even my first Google video hangout to plan/dream about/discuss what I can finally share....

I am co-producing/directing a live show called Listen To Your Mother (LTYM). (This needs to be read in an Oprah-like announcement voice.  So you know more like "a live show called Liiisteennnnn To Your Mooooootheeerrrrrr!!!!!" with arms outstretched to the sky.)

Have you heard about LTYM?  It was created by Ann Imig and is a national series of live readings by local writers in celebration of Mother's Day. Each production is directed, produced and performed by local communities, for local communities.

Watch this to learn more.

LTYM is a massively cool movement to support motherhood creatively through artistic expression and also financially through contributions to nonprofit organizations supporting families in need.

The shows are described as "giving motherhood a microphone."  Um, they had me at microphone.

I've been secretly meeting with two amazing women/mothers/writers  where we worked hard to bring the show to Metro Detroit.  These  women and new friends of mine are Angela Amman and Jessica Watson. We are beyond excited and proud to be joining this year's 32-city LTYM season.  We will be working together over the next few months to put on quite a show in May 2014. 

I will be sharing details about everything from exact times and dates, tickets, sponsorships, auditions and more.  
Stay tuned Metro Detroit, it's going to be wonderful and beautiful and empowering and reaffirming.  In the meantime make sure you follow LTYM on Twitter and me too.  And LTYM and me on Facebook.

More about what it all is about:

And if you need a reminder on how to exactly do the Oprah announcement/introduction voice, here you go:

And then of course there's Tina Fey/Liz Lemon doing the Oprah announcement/introduction voice:

The ABCs of Me & Old School Blogging

I got tagged by my good friend Greta to link up to Old School Blogging questions ( Link up hosted by  Elaine and Jennifer ).  Here it goes, the A,B,C's of Me...

A. Attached or Single?  Attached for the last 15 years to Tim.  We've been married for 13 years (we got married in 2000 which is an easy way to always remember how long we've been married).

B. Best Friend? My pal Steph, although sadly our lives are crazy busy and we don't hang out so much as we want these days.

We always make time for a Madonna concert.

C. Cake or pie?  Chocolate cake and pecan pie.  After I had my first baby, I could eat an entire pecan pie (from Kroger's bakery) in one sitting.  I'm not bragging, but I do think that's kind of impressive.

D. Day of choice? I like Thursdays.  Over the hump of mid week, but still in a good routine groove, but not completely bone tired like I am by Friday nights.

E. Essential Item? My iPhone.  I am nothing without it.

F. Favorite color? I am into sea foam blue right now.

G. Gummy bears or worms? Neither.  With my fourth pregnancy I became obsessed with fruit snacks, but it was a weird phase/craving for me.

H. Hometown? Grew up in a suburb of Kalamazoo, MI, yes there really is a Kalamazoo and yes, it sort of has suburbs.  Portage, Michigan is my hometown.  But I also feel like Pittsburgh, PA raised me a little too (I lived there in my early 20s).

I. Favorite Indulgence? Other than pecan pie? Red wine.

J. January or July? July, 100 percent.  I love hot weather and not needing a coat.

K. Kids? I am a member of the Mom of Four Club. 

My Mother's Day morning full of love ( and chaos).

L. Life isn't complete without? TV,  I love television and always have.  And of course my family, but that goes without saying right?

M. Marriage date? July 22, 2000

N. Number of brothers/sisters? One older sister, two younger brothers.  I am a classic middle child.

O. Oranges or Apples? Gala apples are my fav.

P. Phobias? Frogs.  I have a severe, unexplained phobia of frogs and toads.  I scream, hyperventilate and run away when I see a frog.  I can't even look at a picture of a frog.  Even typing this right now is making me tense.  I live in fear of one of my kids bringing a frog home one day from the backyard.

Q.  Quotes? I have a bathroom wall filled with my favorite quotes in frames.  One of my favs from my bathroom is:

This was from an old ditto from a literature class in college.  Yeah, I said ditto.

R. Reasons to smile? My kids' love of life, their imaginations, their wonder and their playfulness.

My Lucy feels joy with her whole entire being and I love watching it.

Oh it may be just a pile of laundry to most people, but to Wade it is an adventure.

S. Season of choice? Summer!!!!!!  Flip flops, swimming pools and long days. I live for summertime.

T. Tag 5 People. Lisa, Farrah, Jen ( I only did 3 people, I hope I don't get kicked out of old school blogging)

U. Unknown fact about me? I bet a lot of people didn't know the frog phobia.  Another unknown thing...one time, a million years ago, I danced on a local TV show (a children's show) to Michael Jackson's Beat It (and I still remember most of the routine).   

V. Vegetable? I love peas.

W. Worst habit? Overthinking and worrying. I could win awards for being the biggest worrier, but nobody gives awards for that. Waaaa.

X. Xray or Ultrasound? If I had to choose, I guess ultrasound.

Y. Your favorite food? I am very into avocados right now.  I'm also always into pizza.

Z. Zodiac sign? Gemini.

Get Engaged

So I don't know if you know, but I went to this big blogging conference called BlissDom this past weekend.  Yup.  

It was a big deal because there were a lot of bloggers, writers, vloggers, social media types all travelling to the Lone Star state to discuss social media stuff.  

It was a big deal because I rarely leave my kitchen.

I was nervous about flying.  I was nervous about being alone.  I was nervous about going over budget. I was nervous about being too big for my britches.  I was nervous about everything.

But, I'm happy to report that this story has a happy ending.  My BlissDom weekend was everything I needed it to be.

Last year, I went for the first time.  I stayed off site, stayed quiet and stayed overwhelmed.  I came home inspired but doubtful.  I was like the typical freshman in high school wandering the halls confused and lonely and needy.

This year, it was the typical high school transformation.  I walked around like a sophomore or junior full of confidence and enthusiasm.  Not senior level yet, I didn't rule the school by any means. But the beauty of being a  sophomore or junior was I could be excited without the pressure.  I felt like I knew a few things, but no one expected me to ace my college entrance tests.   

I wasn't oozing neediness.  I didn't need to follow anyone or go to sessions I wasn't interested in.  I trusted my instincts.  I listened to my gut.  I went places alone.  I skipped sessions to take a nap.  It was liberating.  It was awesome.

More people approached me this year than last.  I made more friends and had more meaningful conversations and more fun.  The more self-assured and comfortable in my own skin I became, the more people I interacted with.  It was like when you're single and all you want is a relationship.  You ooze neediness and crush on so many guys.  Then when you find yourself in a relationship (usually after you gave up looking) all those guys you crushed on who were so turned off my your neediness suddenly find you very interesting.  Yeah, my experience at BlissDom was a lot like that.

Any social media conference will tell you that to be successful on the Internet or in business or in life it's all about engaging.  Engage with your customers, readers, followers, etc.  Engage with your family and friends.  Show up, respond to those emails, reply to a tweet, share a Facebook post, ask your spouse how their day went, play catch with your kid, walk your puppy. No sitting on the sideline.  Get in there and play the game of life.  Whether it's a blogging conference, a bumpy flight, or Tweeting from your kitchen,  ENGAGE.

It sounds so cliche, but it's true engaging makes life (and blog conferences) better.  I engaged all over BlissDom with new friends, celebrities (watch for my How To Talk To A Celebrity vlog tomorrow, it will have good tips like make sure you mention movies they weren't in), bloggers, burritos at the Mexican restaurant.  Yes, I engaged everywhere and it was amazing.

I met so many interesting people. Check out a few of the awesome people I spent time with this past weekend:

I got to hang out with my buddy Greta from GFunkfied.  And quite simply, I love her.

The amazing and hilarious Hillary at Because My Life is Fabulous.  

My workout buddy and just plain fabulous Kristen from  Choosing Joy.

The sweet and wonderful Jaima from Ring Around the Rosies.  

Because of Blissdom

I always think of extremely witty, smart comebacks as I'm walking away from a person.  That's true for most of us right?  Please say, right.  Please say I'm not alone in this.

The whole saying "hindsight is 20/20" is a saying for a reason.  Looking back we know the exact right things to say to people, the right decisions to make, the right paths to take.  

I don't look back on my life with too many regrets.  But I do look back and think, "oh man, I totally should have said..." Mostly though, I look back on my life and I think, I mean I wish, I would've relaxed a lot more.  

Thinking back to my very first (and still only) blog conference I went to is that way.   This time last year, I was anxiously prepping as much as I could on a very limited budget and blogging know-how, for Blissdom. (Here's the post where I write a bit about my nerves/prep, eloquently titled Suck it Haters.) 

Honestly, I thought I had no business going to a blogging conference.  I'd only had my blog for about six months and was really winging it.  I didn't have business cards, a Facebook page for my blog or a niche or any real goals.

But I knew I wanted more.  I wanted to learn how to do more.  I knew I wanted to connect.  I knew I wanted to get away. 

So I anxiously, set out for Blissdom not knowing a soul.



I drove from Detroit, Michigan to Nashville, Tennessee.



Even though, the event was extremely well run and welcoming, I was so nervous.  You see, I packed all my insecurities in my suitcase along with my bright colored scarves and flower pins that I envisioned real bloggers wear.  

The conference itself was informative, entertaining, engaging, exhilarating and so much more.  It was a whirlwind.  

Scenes from last year's Blissdom.

Looking back, I wish I would've had more confidence in myself.  I wish I would've worried less about what I didn't know.  I wish I would have relaxed a lot more.  But that's life.  That's the whole 20/20, life lessons thing going on there right?

But here's the thing about Blissdom,  it wasn't just a weekend.  I continue to learn and connect.  The whole past year has been full of moments where I've said "well, that's because of Blissdom."  

Because of Blissdom Moments:

• I finally had the confidence (and know how to pitch and take advantage of)  to write reviews, on my terms.  As well as pursue more freelance writing opportunities.

• My blog Facebook page was set up and now has over 600 fans (which is a lot to me).

• I have friends all over the country.  Not just contacts, real friends.  Some of my pals from Blissdom (some that I only met for five minutes in the hallway in between sessions) know me and get me better than any of the PTA parents at my kids' school.  We support each other, comment and retweet.  We share our lives with each other on Instagram and through our storytelling.

• I dyed my hair pink.  When I walked around the hotel at Blissdom last year people watching, I was in awe of how many women had funky colored hair.  And I loved it.  My pink hair was temporary, but so incredibly fun and empowering.

• I say "yes" more.  After conquering, okay attending, a conference where I knew no one, I feel like I can let go of some of my fear.  I feel like I can take a few more risks and say yes when opportunity knocks.

• My YouTube channel was born.  I'm a writer, that's why vlogging seemed utterly crazy to me.  But because I'm in a place of yes (ala Bethenny Frankel), I agreed to become a part of the MomPulse community on YouTube and start vlogging.  And I LOVE it, it's opened up a whole new creative outlet for me and it is so. much. fun.

• I say "sorry" less and am indeed a little more relaxed.  I was right when I envisioned bloggers wearing bright colors and flower pins, those women were everywhere.  They were there with the bloggers with the pink hair.  There were also bloggers with babies on their hips, bloggers with book deals, bloggers with fancy cameras, bloggers who were extroverts and bloggers who were introverts.  There was no one way to be a blogger and that made me feel better.  It made me accept my individuality a little more and quit apologizing for not being a certain type.  When people ask me what I do, I don't make fun of it, I proudly say "I have a blog where I write about life and how f#&*ing crazy it can be," and then I add "I'm a writer and it's a great job, it makes me really happy."

I'm heading back to my second blogging conference, Blissdom again, in March.  

This time around, I really will be more relaxed.  I'll worry less and enjoy more.  I'm looking forward to actually seeing and visiting in person with all my friends.  I'm looking forward to learning and connecting and mostly having fun.

Here's my wrap up post from last year's Blissdom, the one where I refuse to be categorized.