PENSIEVE

Uncensored: What I REALLY think about the sponsors at Blissdom...!

{Disclaimer:  Remember...I'm n e w to this whole vlogging deal and I still don't quite know how to edit.  I'm sure there's a way to make this shorter but I'll learn that for next time, k? :) }

 

 

Kellogg's Share Your Breakfast

Unilever's Don't Fret the Sweat

Tide's Get Out Cafe featuring Stain Release 

 

{More links to come...I'm out of pocket at Extreme Makeover:  Home Edition's Greater Chattanooga build and it's kinda hard to track down all 42 sponsor links right now!!}

 

Around/About: The "I've got a fever" Edition Week ending 2/6/11

Since I returned from Nashville, I've been too occupied and felt too lousy to write a Blissdom recap.  Sooo, since it's been awhile since I've corralled some great links for ya, I thought now would be perfect timing to spotlight a few things on the internets.  Clickity-clack at your leisure ~ 

• Waiting in My Wings ~ you will feel the weight, depth, anguish and beauty of her expectant wait.

• If you've ever felt "less-then," a whisper of "Enough."

• I might not have written about Blissdom, but Jo-Lynne shares dozens of recaps for those more timely than me.

• Wild Olive Tees.  A mission and a passion, all while making a beautiful difference in the lives of others.

• Bloom ~ (in)courage's new book club (founded by Jessica Turner and Angie Smith) features Ann Voskamp's newly published One Thousand Gifts.  If you're searching for an online book club, look no further!  (click images for more info on both, linked from my affiliate account). 

• Last but not least, I can't stop replaying the BEST Super Bowl commercial of the year all time.  There's a reason it's had over 12 million hits in less than a week...and the PR mastermind behind a) its inception and b) the decision to release it before the game is nothing short of brilliant.  

* * * * * * 

Your turn:  Two questions for you:  1) What is your favorite Super Bowl commercial of all time?  2)  What links/posts have you seen that I might've missed?  Do tell!

 

A funny thing happened when I was leaving Blissdom...

This was too difficult to write (facial expressions capture it much better than words) and too funny a story not to tell, so I offer you my first On Purpose vlog (not to be confused with the accidental one).  

 

p.s.  I'm not really a vampire; the black under-eye circles rivaling raccoon eyes are from a cumulative 12 hours shuteye over four nights.  Blogging conferences are fantastic for most things but not for beauty sleep!!

p.p.s.  Constructive vlogging tips encouraged :).  Now that I've figured out the VERY basics I'd love to learn more.  

Blissdom's best kept SECRET TIPS!

Next week 500 of my closest friends will descend upon Opryland to eat, sleep and dream all things blawg.  For a blogger, it's Utopia...Shangri-La...Disney World...bliss; to our family, friends and everyone else, it's a freak show Star Trek convention.

While I've seen several posts about preparing for Blissdom, I thought I'd offer a few tips I haven't read anywhere else; you know...the stuff you don't find out until you get there but wish you knew before.  Feel free to add your own Blissdom/Blog Conference Secret Tips in comments...I bet there's a few things I haven't thought of!

[1]  Comfort shoes will become your BFF

Roughly the size of Rhode Island, Opryland could house about a dozen football fields.  I'm not kidding, I did the math.  If you must, bring your pretty, slick stilettos or funky, stacked peeps, but I'm tellin' ya save those for when you get to your destination!  

To walk from your room to the meeting venue, bring comfortable athletic shoes or sensible walking shoes (I swear I'm not a hundred years old yet).  You're going to be walking miles every day, so style needs to take a back seat to comfort!  Roll  your eyes at me now, but your not-so-sore dawgs will thank me later.  

[2]  Be a boyscout

In other words, be prepared, expect the unexpected.  Here's a list of items I've happened to bring (or, ahem, lacked) and someone need 'em.  

• Pain meds (Advil, Tylenol, Aleve)
• Sleep aids (you're going to be SO tired your body is gonna be JACKED!)
• Band-aids
• Safety pins
• Feminine hygiene products...& a few extras
• A fan to block out your roommates' snores (no comment)
• Contact solution
• Socks or flip flops
• CHARGERS--phone, laptop and camera.  GO...PACK THOSE NOW!
• Power strip (you'll be everyone's BFF when their electronics are about to die)
• Hair products (I always forget something I need--gel, conditioner, spray, hot rollers, dryer, etc.)
• Cold meds; there's a good chance you or someone you know will need OTC cold remedies.  Be a hero...have 'em ready.  Remind me to tell you the story about tweeting a request for Valtrex...s i g h....

[3]  Bring a backpack

Remember the miles you're going to be walking?   Depending on the location of your hotel room, by the end of the conference you could have walked a marathon.  I'm not kidding; I did the math again.  If you're lugging around a laptop and/or heavy purse, your back is going to feel every step your feet take.  This year I'm leaving my cute laptop bag behind (tears) and I'm using my backpack lappy bag; it's about as cute as sensible shoes, but then again I'm no slave to fashion.

[4]  If you remembered to bring business cards...

Keep a stack stuffed behind your name badge in the plastic pocket; that way regardless of what you're wearing (sans pockets especially), you'll have 'em handy.  

[5]  If you forgot or didn't know to have calling cards...

Embrace your Inner Creative and make some!  EVERYONE will love 'em!  Use stamps and stickers or glitter and glue, and you'll be remembered easier than someone who spent $100.  Isn't that the point?

[6]  Bring along mints & gum.

You're gonna be talking.  A lot.  You're gonna be snacking.  A lot.  Session venues might be faaaar from your room, so you'll be glad to be able to freshen your breath when you can't brush your teeth.  If someone offers you either, take it; it may or may not be a hint, so err on the safe side ;).

[7]  Label like a mad man!

You're gonna be in a sea of people who have identical laptops, phones, cameras...and cords.  Use a permanent marker, address labels or something so your stuff can be easily identified.  

[8]  Invite yourself

Are you comin' solo?  Don't know anyone?  Are you new to blogging?  BARGE IN!  It's gonna look and feel like "groups" are closed, but you'll be surprised to find most people are dying for "you" to make the first move.  Present company included :).  Whether joining a group for a meal, or sitting at a table during a session, or hitting the dance floor during party time, just smile and introduce yourself.  It's the universal blogging sign for "welcome."  

[9]  Clothing optional

I don't mean come nekkid, I'm just encouraging you to be bold!  Last year after bringing my Princess dress to three previous blogging conferences, I finally got the nerve to wear it (with much encouragement from Amber and Arianne).  It was one of the funnest things I've ever done...and I can't wait to play dress-up of some sort again.  

Stay tune.

* * * * * * * * 

Was this helpful?  Did I help you think of something you hadn't thought of yet?  Do you have Secret Tips to add to my list?  Do share!

 

 

The opposite of discouragement

Is it just me or can a n y o n e else out there go from top of the world to bottom of the barrel in a heart beat and for no apparent reason? 

Is it simply the tortured artist(wannabe)/creative that lives within?

Can we chalk it up to hormones for the pre-menopausal woman?

Could it be Satan (which suddenly reminds me of the Church Lady...don't judge me)?

Please tell me I'm not the only one who has so much to be grateful for, but can suddenly be gripped in the stronghold of defeat, almost paralyzed with feelings of insecurity and unworthiness.

I do believe this is a battle begun and fought in the spritual realm, but I--we--have to live it in real time, don't we?

Might I offer a few things to encourage you?

[1]  My friend Dawn is in the middle of a month-long series, 31 Days of Encouragement.  Today she is asking readers for two things:

• If they're bloggers, to share a post of encouragement through a linky on her site.
• To send cards to fill encouragement baskets for Edie (who lost her home and EVERYTHING in it) just prior to Christmas (Edie's perspective is nothing short of inspiring); and to Dana, whose heartbreaking story of the tragic death of her son following an accident at home will compel you to send a card.  PLEASE don't walk away from this beautiful chance to encourage two women whose circumstances are unimaginable.

[2]  If you're one of the 500 amazing women (ok, there will be a few guys :) ) attending Blissdom, please make plans to attend our Unofficial, Unsponsored Prayer Coffee on Friday morning. 

Blog conferences can be very discouraging--it's easy to fall into the wicked game of comparisons where "everyone" seems to be more accomplished than you, or that "everyone" is in a closed clique, or you're all alone in a crowd.  Certainly there are people who are insulated from these insecurities, but setting our mine collectively on Christ, recalibrating our focus, sitting at the feet of the One who knows us best and loves us the most and uniting with sisters in prayer, that will set the stage for keeping our blogs in perspective and realigning our minds on Him.  Please add your name to our growing link of attendees so we can plan adequate food. 

(THANKS to the (in)courage ladies for allowing us to use their Beach Party space and to Lindsey Nobles and Thomas Nelson for providing us coffee and bagels!)

[3]  Immerse yourself in life-words that remind you...

• you are loved in spite of yourself
• you are known
• you have hope
• you are blessed, chosen, redeemed and forgiven

* * * * * * *

These are just a start; there are countless other ways to be encouraged--why not share your thoughts in comments?  Your words might be exactly what someone needs to hear!

 

 

State of Bliss

I am so ding-dang excited I'm having to restrain my fingers from typing THIS ENTIRE POST IN CAPS!  Out of the utmost concern and courtesy for those offended by screamy letters (and potentially excessive exclamation points), please consider...

My Top Five Reasons
I Can't Wait to Attend Blissdom 

[1]  Soul sistahs

One of my favorite unofficial events last year was our Blissdom prayer gathering.  Without any real plan but with the goal of tying our hearts together and encouraging one another by praying, it was a time of refreshment and remembering whose we are and who we are in Christ.  (It's all too easy to lose focus when you're at a blog conference; there are so many talented, "successful" bloggers, it's possible to feel defeated and "less than" and to believe a whole lot of lies).

Please make plans to join us this year and bring friends old and new!  We'll be praying from 7:00-7:30 am, so plan to come a little early and we'll have coffee and snacks waiting on you (thanks to Lindsey Nobles and her friends at Thomas Nelson). Heartfelt thanks to {in}courage for offering their Beach Party space for our use again!!

Since this isn't a Blissdom-sponsored event, will you help us out by doing two things?

1. Enter your Twitter handle in the Linky below so we can get to know one another prior to the conference and prepare enough coffee and snacks; ~ and~
2. Help us get the word out!  Post about the breakfast on your blog, Facebook or on Twitter (use the hashtag #BlissPrayer} and/or include a badge in your sidebar linking back to this post (you can select all from the box below and it'll provide the code).  

{Thanks to Dawn Camp for creating the darling buttons for our use; if you love the image as much as I do, it's from a gorgeous canvas available for purchase from DaySpring!}

</center><center><a href="http://www.pensieve.me/2011/01/blissdom-conference-important-info.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://pensieve.typepad.com/PrayerCoffee125x216.png"/></a></center><br/>

[2]  Sharing the role of Lifestyle Community Leader with Sandy Coughlin

New this year, Blissdom organizers have created 20 Tribes/Niches with a host of Community Leaders to act as the go-to people within each group.  This is a brilliant and thoughtful addition to the conference, designed to encourage mentor relationships among bloggers before, during and after the conference.  Community Leaders are the point people to receive questions and offer advice, hugs...and chocolate when needed :).  

Immediately following the opening session, each tribe will meet at "their" table in the main ballroom (your niche table number will be projected on the screen);  this is when we'll meet one another, exchange business cards and Twitter handles, and have a quick Q & A if necessary.  

To say I'm thrilled to join Sandy as Lifestyle Community Leader is an understatement!  Blogging at The Reluctant Entertainer, Sandy is also the author of a gorgeous book that shares the same name.  If your blog is hard to define and you write a combination of lifestyle-related content-- 

• family
• faith
• marriage
• parenting
• entertaining and hospitality
• personal interests (for me, in addition to the above, poetry, photography, friendship, important causes...)
• stream of consciousness... ;)

...then we invite you to join our (almost non-) niche!  Though we wouldn't dare to say it's the best tribe, we think it's pretty doggone special!

[3]  The thrill and honor of leading a session

 

Along with presenter Hollee Temple and co-speakers Jennifer Doyle and Dawn Schnee, our official session title is:  "Longevity and Balance: The One Where the Old Timers Complain and Then Rally with a Vengeance; Disillusioned Newbies Welcome." 

After speaking with these ladies by conference call, I'm even more excited than EVAH.  We're four diverse personalities who'll explore some rarely discussed issues (balance, jealousy, success, addiction and competitiveness) doing our best to acknowledge those Big Elephants in the room.  

If you were even thinkin' about attending this session, let me give you a gentle push in our direction.  You'll definitely come away with newfound insights and inspiration.

* * * * * * * *

Whew!  This is getting long (imagine that!), so I'll continue with my next two points soon.  Stay tuned!  Remember to link your Twitter handle below if you're planning on coming to the Blissdom Prayer Coffee on Friday morning!!

(For the link URL be sure you use this format:  http://twitter.com/YourTwitterName)

Flustrated 'splanations

You know how you can talk about your brother, but Nellie-bar-the-door if anyone else does 'cause you're gonna have to put a hurtin' on 'em?  That's how I feel about my Southern brethren...and sisteren, I suppose.

"Flustrated" is a word I've heard many a country boy use bless their hearts when they're...well...frustrated, and though the Word Police in me wants to inform them of their linguistic transgression, I know better.  The same way I know it does NO good to tell an adult--Southern or otherwise--that "irregardless" is not (and never has been) a word.  

Fingernails screech across the board and I'm done with it.

Funny, though...this week I am now embracing the word....

Flustrated.  I. am. flustrated!

I've been juggling thorny-clawed-cats and blistering fireballs and razor-edged knives while running in headless-chicken circles; which taught me experiencially the definition of flustrated, which is surprisingly different from frustrated.  

Mea culpa, Country Boyz.  My bad.

Anyways...

I'm workin' on a Big Event which is requiring my time and full attention during the day, and blogging is taking a back seat--no, a TRUNK seat!--to that, especially when you throw in the ol' family with it.  Please note, I'm not complainin', I'm just explainin' why I'm not writing much lately.  

WHICH IS DINGDANG FLUSTRATING WHEN YOU HAVE STORIES TO TELL and CLIFFHANGERS HANGING and VERY IMPORTANT CAUSES TO SUPPORT and $2,500 CONTESTS TO SHARE and CREATIVE FUN to complete and a lot of THANK YOUS to extend to other bloggers!!!

The cool thing is I'm missin' writing more 'n chocolate (but just less than coffee) which feels good!  My uber-secret Big Event will done at the end of the month, but until then thanks for remembering to visit Chez Pensieve.  I will post, it'll just be sporadic.   

To thank you for stickin' around, enjoy this mind-blowing video (borrowed from Baby Bloomr).  I cannot imagine the set up for it or thinkin' it up in the first place! While you might be tempted to stop watching before it's over, the conclusion will make you glad you stuck around.  

 

{p.s. I'm really fine but I've had a few "concerned about you" emails

so I figured I'd explain :)...thank YOU to those who were

sweet enough to ASK!! xo}

Blissdom, Part 2: Rising & shining, inside & out

Have you ever had a "compulsion" to do something, didn't do it, then wondered what you missed? 

I have--too often, I'm afraid--and at the Blissdom Conference I had the delight of finding out exactly what I've missed, not once, but twice!

A few weeks prior to the conference, I invited Blissdom attendees to join me for prayer and coffee; I thought about doing this for Blissdom '08 and Blissdom '09, but never followed through.  We were there to experience all things BLAWG, for cryin' out loud, NOT to get our Jesus on! 

The funny thing is, I hoped I wouldn't be ALONE thought maybe five or six women might sign up; scheduled at 7:30 a.m. on Day 3 of a blog conference, experience tells me an early morning optional "session" ain't gonna be in high demand.

I was wrong:  70 people linked their intent to come!

I was a leetle freaked out--

I didn't have a room.

I certainly didn't have coffee for 70.

And somewhere along the way people were calling it a prayer breakfast, AND SWEET MERCY I DIDN'T THINK THIS WAS A CASE WHERE WE'D HAVE ANOTHER MIRACLE OF FISHES & LOAVES, ESPECIALLY WHEN THERE WERE NO FISHES OR LOAVES TO BEGIN WITH!  Amen?!

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Can I tell you another part to the story? 

With advance intention, I determined our time together was to be US praying, not just me leading a devotion and me praying, or a group of women sharing their requests.  Sometimes you can share at the expense of prayer (can I get a witness?!). 

Though I had no formal presentation planned, I knew how I was impressed to lead our gathering--to share my heart for why I wanted to pray with conference ladies and to remind these amazing ladies who they are in Christ:

• From 1 Peter 2:9, we're all daughters of the King which means we're princesses!  ~ "....you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."
• From Ephesians 1:4-8, we're chosen, loved, adopted, redeemed, forgiven, holy ~ "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding."

Also, I wanted to make a little surcie for all the ladies who attended; as a thank you for coming and as a token of remembrance.  Because I'm a hand-stamper, I decided to make bookmarks with the above verses on them; because I make things complicated, I designed them with multiple layers, ribbon, and a bunch of cutting, punching and pasting. 

Allowing for extras, what I didn't do was allow enough time to complete 100 projects!  

Needing an army, I enlisted the help of a group of nineth grade girls during their homeroom, and left them with assembling the parts.  They brought them to me in a bag, completed.  I was thrilled.

Until I got the bookmarks home.

Pouring them out of the bag in order to add ribbon and one last hand-stamped do-dah, it was only then I realized the girls had used Elmer's glue (not just my craft glue) and the majority of the bookmarks were stuck together, or at a minimum, warped and smeared with excess glue!  

I was crushed and now....

...out of time.

{to be continued :)....}

How I learned I have caterpillar eyebrows...

The Inspirational Writing Workshop at Blissdom remains a warmfuzzymemory for me; Hallmark cardwriters Sarah Mueller and Molly Wigand joined bloggers Casey Mullins and Stephanie Precourt for an inspiration-filled session.  It's apparent they love what they do and their hearts lead their writing.  That connects with their readers, whether it's a 30-word card or a 300-word post.  

Later, Sarah Kolell with Hallmark Cards and Fleishman-Hillard's PR team, Liz Hawks and Amy Smith, hosted a booth where conferees could wander through the new kids card collection, and share feedback with creators Sarah M. or Molly.  I had the privilege of doing so with Sarah, and while I had FUN in the process, now I'm cringing just a little--a) I do NOT like my left profile (and now I understand what actors prefer a "side"!), and b) my eyebrows are really, REALLY wiggly and dark, and the left one is higher than the right!  Plus, I have the crazy eyes.  Plus, I never knew how animated I am when I speak...people who know me, AM I ALWAYS THIS EXPRESSIVE???

In hindsight, I'm wondering if Hallmark wanted to hear this much opinion 'cause I was shoveling them like a thoroughbred stall tender.  

I hope you'll watch til at least the four-minute mark; there, you'll find my video is educational...you'll learn what in THE world a "lenticular" is!

Thanks to Hallmark for their imaginative, interactive sponsorship of Blissdom!  For more blogger videos, check out their youtube page.

REVISED WITH INFO!! Share a random moment ~ Blissdom Prayer & Coffeetime

LOCATION!!! The (in)courage Suite 5139, Cascades. Pls pick up coffee on the way, Cokes & water available :). 7:45 am

I'll be honest:  once I clicked "publish" on this post, I had that moment of fear it was a silly idea and "y'all" would relegate me to the ranks of Jesus Freak (to which I confessed long ago), but in the bad sense, not good.  There IS a difference.

Instead, my feet were blessed SLAP BAREFOOTED from the response!  I can't wait to meet those of you I don't know; to hug with remembrance those I do...and to share a few minutes in the unity of the faith with sisters of diverse background.  It's gonna be good, y'all. 

THANKS to the wonderful Kim, Crafty Mama of 4, for whipping up a little blog button.  One day I'll be able to do this myself, but until then?  I'm grateful to rely on the kindness of strangers friends.  If you're inclined, would you share it with your friends who are coming to Blissdom in your sidebar or a post?

</center><center><a href="http://www.pensieve.me/2010/01/blissdom-prayer-breakfast.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.craftymamaof4.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/01/shareamoment2.jpg"/></a></center><br/>

Last, if you'll complete this form, I would be most grateful (no one will see your answers except for moi!!)

THANKS!!!

If you're coming to Blissdom the first weekend in February, you're invited to ~

Saturday morning beginning at 7:30 a.m., before we get into the throes of "all things bliss & blawg", I'd love to love on my sisters in the faith with a little prayer and encouragement.  We'll meet for coffee early so you won't miss a thang.

Alli's given us the go ahead (though it's not an official Blissdom event) and if you're interested in learning location details (as soon as I get to Opryland & figure that out!), please link your Twitter follow.  Gosh, I hope I'm not setting myself up for a personal come to Jesus meetin', but if that's what it ends up, I suppose that's what I need...!

PleasepleasePLEASE be sure to share the news, especially since it's not on Blissdom's agenda! 

p.s.  Since I haz no automagical button-making skillz, is there anyone who'll volunteer to make one???  THANKS!