Second one is up

Apologies, for the second blog post, please view

Facebook Flirting Failure
https://mindfullifemovement.blogspot.com

Please see my latest post...

Sorry, I should have notified earlier in the day... My latest post, "Title and Deed" is
up now at:
http://homewardodyssey.blogspot.ca/2015/12/title-and-deed.html

Last post - Toys for Tots!

Hi Everyone,
See below for my last post!

http://gooddeeds007.blogspot.ca/2015/12/toys-for-tots.html

Today I've discovered...The last post of 6401km

6401km

Peggy Su - new post

Hi everyone,

Please see my new post Peggy Su at:

http://homewardodyssey.blogspot.ca/2015/11/peggy-su.html

Today I've discovered...NEW POST IN THE BLOG

Today I've discovered...Google engineers' children don't use computers.

Hi Everyone, my latest post, McHappy, is up!

http://gooddeeds007.blogspot.com/

New post is up

Title: Barbie and Ken didn't last, so why would we?

http://mindfullifemovement.blogspot.ca/

Thanks for reading!

Notes for Week Eight

Thank you all for your generosity, enthusiasm and excellent contributions over the past eight weeks—this session has been such a pleasure. Your final assignment is the blog post, "Between the gutter and the stars: thoughts on success in writing (and everything else)," by Kyran Pittman. Looking forward to seeing you all next week!

New Post: In case you missed it

Hi Everyone,

Sorry I didn't think to post the link on our class blog :( Mine has been up since last Wednesday but in case anyone missed it!

http://mindfullifemovement.blogspot.ca/

It's the called: The Battle of the Skinny Belt

Thank you

New post!

Hi Everyone, my new post is up:  Hope for humanity!

http://gooddeeds007.blogspot.ca/

New Post on Homeward Odyssey

Hi everyone

Please have a look at my latest post:

http://homewardodyssey.blogspot.ca/2015/11/the-true-meaning-of-linked-in.html

I have a new post...!!!

What do we have for dinner...?

Notes for Week Seven

Congratulations to each of you for launching your blogs—a huge and cake-worthy milestone. But it's not all cake and glory. This week we will be investigating the business of blogging (i.e. the pleasures and perils of selling out). Please read "yes, Virginia, there is an agenda," by Bonnie Stewart, and I'd also recommend checking out "I cannot be that person: why the 'Queen of the Mommy Bloggers' had to quit" and "The anti-social media star," by Amy Verner.

And for those interested in such things, this piece on getting paid for online writing (and not getting paid for online writing) is worthwhile too.

Homeward Odyssey

Christine's new blog and first blog post - Finding Home: My Odyssey

Found at HomewardOdyssey.blogspot.com

6401km

Today I have discovered....The history of the Snowman

Notes for Week Six

Our reading for next week is "Keeping An Eye on the World," from Shawna Lemay's blog, Calm Things. Please read this piece and come to class ready to talk about the various ways in which you're going to be keeping an eye on the world via your own blog.

A couple of other things? I wrote a post about blogrolls and the changing nature of the way we read blogs: you can read it here.

And regarding our conversation about selfies from last week, I bring you this lovely post in defence of selfies, by Marina Hasson, who was a student in this course last year. (Also, Marina is celebrating one year of blogging this week; just think, in 52 short weeks, that will be you!)

Looking forward to cake! And congratulations on launching your blogs, everybody!!

The Gentleman

Please view the blog post:  The Gentleman at:  http://gooddeeds007.blogspot.ca/

My Mindful Life: Destinations, Dating & Everything in-between

Please view the blog post - Don't Wear Gucci Glasses to a Yoga Ashram

Found at mindfullifemovement.blogspot.com

A Good Read

If you live in Toronto, you know that our city has a lot to offer. But I find that we don't necessarily do the best job of marketing all the great things we have in this city.  There's so much going on, but where do we find the latest news?  Where can we go to learn about new restaurant openings, to find out what events are taking place in the city, or what's new in the fashion scene?

BlogTo - the quintessential guide for all things Torontonian.

I love it because it's a one-stop shop.  It provides all kinds of information about Toronto, and it's right at my finger tips:  events, restaurants, fashion, arts/culture, shopping and the list goes on.  It even has a section for all those contest lovers out there!  Not only are the blog posts informative, but they also provide amazing visuals of Toronto, especially the restaurant review section.  I'm a visual person - if you want to tickle my taste buds, you'll need to show me what I'm missing!  And, I love to eat, so the restaurants section of the site is one that I frequent.  One of the newest blog posts on the site is about
Parcae, the new restaurant that is slated to open in December.  Liora Ipsum takes me with her on her appetizing journey through Parcae.  For a split second, I'm right next to her, tasting the delicious meals she's experiencing. Her pictures do paint a thousand words, but her words express the flavours she is savoring, which is just as powerful. 

Another blog that I love reading is 1000 Awesome Things.  I discovered this blog a couple years ago when I heard the author, Neil Pasricha, speak at a corporate function - I was instantly intrigued.  Neil had started a blog in 2008, writing about all the little things that make life amazing.  It's essentially a daily dose of awesomeness, something we all need in our lives.  Sometimes we forget about all the good things in life, all the things that make us smile.  But Neil reminds us with his quirky posts, his humour and his playful view of the world.  Whether it's about costumes, finding a job or fajitas, his blog posts are always refreshing and real.



 

Blogged Down

This assignment turns out to be unexpectedly challenging.  I spend hours looking at blogs in realms that interest me…  travel, international development, politics,  gardening, ecological innovation, health… the more I look, the more frustrated I feel.  Don’t get me wrong—there are some terrific blogs, intelligent and well written.  Some would be exactly what I would want to do if I had the connections and the expertise to write about those particular topics.  But many blogs feel self-indulgent or rant-y or too obviously designed as marketing tools.  The bottom line is that after hours of research, and perusal of what feels like hundreds of blogs (though in reality it was probably more like dozens), I can’t find a single one I want to write about.  I'm getting blogged-down, and I’m feeling anxious.  Maybe blogging just isn’t for me?  Maybe I should just stick to objective third-person accounts of other people’s stories…

It’s right about then that I land on a link to a list of blogs by... women.  Doesn’t look promising. I am generally vaguely uncomfortable with things designed “for women only”-- women in media events, women-only book clubs, awards for female achievers … I avoid things that feel exclusionary-- that includes excluding men.  Besides, “women only”, has always felt like an admission of weakness-- that we need to shrink the playing field -- and create our own little girls’ clubs-- to succeed.   

So I’m tempted to skip this “women’s” blog list altogether. But because I need to finish my assignment, I halfheartedly scan the list.  Several of the blogs deal with motherhood and mid-life issues.  I’m not a mom.  And even though I have hit the big five-oh milestone, ruminating publicly about that fact makes me slightly queasy.

Nevertheless, I click on a blog called mymidlifemayhem.wordpress.com. The photo is of a woman holding large stretchy granny-undies in front of the camera. Arg. No! No! Noooo!  But curiosity and 

deadline desperation get the better of me.  Turns out, the author, Louisa Simmonds, is witty, self-deprecating and deliciously irreverent.   I find myself marveling at her ability to “put it all out there,” simultaneously providing deeper insight on difficult teen-agers, a grumpy husband and “losing her looks”.  I will never have what it takes to post a photo of myself holding any kind of underwear.  But I appreciate what Louisa is doing.  It is brave and clever.   It spurs me on.  I hit the link to the next blog--theviewatmidlife.blogspot.ca -- with newfound humility.

On first glance, this one looks pretty non-descript.  It does not yell “Look at Me!.” No fancy photos and multicoloured font.  The text and title are deceptively is plain and simple: The View at Midlife:  Essays from a 50+ Mom. 

What’s immediately apparent, is that the author, Amy Ruhlin, does some lovely writing. But what holds my attention is its depth.   Amy taps into matters of the mid-life soul, and its quest for meaning.   She doesn’t sugarcoat aging.  She doesn’t try to persuade us (or herself) that 50 is the new 40.  And she doesn’t make light of the aging process.  Instead, she faces it head-on with courage and compassion.  She explores the moments of self-doubt, wistfulness, even sadness, that come with mid-life introspection.  In one essay, she talks about coming to terms with feeling “stalled” as her friends reinvent themselves.  Another particularly poignant post is about her husband of 30 years, and her realization that he, too, is getting older.   Amy’s love and respect for her partner resonate deeply with me. 

I like Amy’s blog because it dares to explore thoughts and feelings that too often remain buried beneath layers of denial and the fear of getting old.  She takes readers on an enriching – and ultimately reassuring—journey.  Her writing will remind me to try to be as thoughtful, as inquiring, and as honest as I embark on my own journey.

Girls Gone Child

I've been reading Rebecca Woolf's blog, Girl's Gone Child, since her twins were babies, which was before my youngest child was even born. My own discovery of her blog came about from some kind of Top 25 Mommybloggers list, and I think she must have been near the top because I couldn't see myself clicking that far through. But also because she deserves to be there.

I remember being immediately entranced by what, for me, were the more exotic aspects Woolf's life—her Los Angeles Spanish-style house, its Bohemian decor, all that sunshine, her children's unusual names, and also her own unconventional path of coming to family and motherhood. I remember going back through her archives (more than a decade of them!) to figure out who was who and what was what, and what her stories were. I remember that the writer I found in those archives was very different from the writer I'd encountered in the present, and this disjunction was intriguing. Woolf acknowledges it too, what a different person, woman and mother she is now than she was ten years ago. I guess four kids and turning thirty will do that to a person—who'd have imagined it? She has written about cringing at some of her archives, and at her mothering memoir now, looking back. The only way around this, however, I think, would be never ever changing, or writing nothing down at all.

I love the way that she has invited her readers to be part of her own evolution, as she's grown older and her family has grown—in particular about how motherhood has informed her feminism. I think it's remarkable the way she has even made me think that having a large family would be a really a good idea (I know!!) even while she is frank about it's challenges. Her posts about sleep and exhaustion during her twins' infancy were raw and awful. I love her posts on sending her children out into the world, and the honesty with which she writes about marriage, and how she can make rats in the walls into a metaphor. I also admire the fact that she admits she has rats in the walls. That there is more to her life than a really great iPhone camera and endless days spent on the beach. But also that there is wonder, and goodness, and so much love—this post about her 10 year wedding anniversary and six people in a pink cadillac is a particular favourite of mine.

She is the only blogger I read whose sponsored posts are as interesting as her unsponsored ones. I mean, they don't all grab me, but I usually don't read sponsored posts ever, so this is something. Whenever she posts a link to her work elsewhere, she is conscious about making the linking itself a worthy post of its own so that her core readers get something for showing up at her site. And although she has a wide readership, she engages with her audience on Twitter and in her comments, which makes her sincerity seem even more underlined.

She inspires me as a blogger, as a woman, a mother, and a person. Some might roll their eyes at the too-beautiful life sometimes depicted in her images, but those images are balanced by down-to-earth honesty, and I just so appreciate how she lets us know that such beauty is out there. I'm grateful that she shares it.

EL COMIDISTA

How could I prepare the best Tortilla de Patatas ever? How could I know which supermarket is currently selling the best bread? How could I be aware of the lasts news in gastronomy? For all the above questions I follow a blog called El Comidista.

It is my pleasure to introduce you this Spanish food blog created by Mikel López Iturriaga -a Basc journalist from Bilbao living in Barcelona since 2006. This blog is an amazing space where almost everything about food is accepted. Yesterday, for example, he did a post explaining how to prepare the best Tortilla de Patatas in a less than two and a half minutes video. It could seem another random video – such as the millions examples we have in Internet- but it wasn’t’. Mikel explained -while cooking- the advices that three famous Spanish chefs gave about the best way of cooking the dish. The mix of simple cooking and the professionalism doing it following the advices of famous chefs is one of the reasons why I liked the blog.

Another reason is the creativity he has. I like how he thinks about reports and topics avoiding the common ones. And I like how he also takes some of the common ones and treat them in a different way. When yesterday I saw the tortilla video posted I thought “buff, another tortilla video, really?” but after seeing it I thought the chefs opinion talking about a simple plate turned itself different, unique.

Another motive why I like this blog is because it is funny. I have laugh a lot reading some of his posts. I remember, for example, the great time I had at work four years ago reading with my colleagues a section called “Comida oviejuna”, a space where the blogger looks at the past and choses recipes, products, or culinary habits that have turned old fashion and comment about them. There is a post where he interviews The After Eight!  All the questions and answers he writes are hilarious!

El Comidista also has a consultancy section, a place where people ask questions such as “which one is the best cheese for preparing a homemade pizza?” or “what is the difference between white and brown eggs?” or “which one is the best brand of pots?” I liked it because you can find useful questions and answers and apply them in the kitchen daily. I admit it; I’m a super fan!

For all these reasons I think the blog El Comidista deserved to be here today. And also because it was the first blog I ever met. Indeed, I have to confess that I started reading it without knowing it was a blog itself, I thought it was another section of El País, a national Spanish newspaper. But as a result of its success, last September the blog that started some years ago in a corner of the newspaper website, opened its own site and hired its own team of writers that nowadays support and work with the founder.

From Fraud to Fan

This assignment makes me feel like a fraud.

You would think being in a class entitled The Art of The Blog, I would be an avid blog reader however as soon we were assigned the task to write about  a blog we enjoy, I got a tiny, I’m about to be busted tingling in my back…cause of tingle: I’ve never actually read anyone’s blog. I’m a book lover who sometimes bashfully indulges in a gossip magazine (no judgement please) and despite learning the process of writing my own blogs, I haven’t formed the habit of reading them.

Immediately I think of Jen Lancaster – top selling author with the deliciously funny ‘Bitter is the new Black.’ I know from her autobiographies that Jen is an example of a rare case where several book deals emerged from her blogging popularity. I feel a sense of relief that I can pull this assignment off. Unfortunately, after reading two of Jen’s posts, I become less of a fan – the witty, authentic, sarcastic style she writes with is present to some degree but I also find they read more like plugs for her books. I appreciate the business acumen but I can’t muster up enough enthusiasm to continue reading what feels like an advertisement or encourage others to do so.

Jen is out so I’m back to the tingling back. When the going gets tough, the tough go to Facebook to aimlessly distract ourselves and hope for inspiration. Just like that my problem is solved – I’m reminded that a Facebook friend has been posting about her blog which is about her personal, spiritual journey. As a certified Religious Studies teacher completing my Applied Mindfulness Meditative certificate, the topic is of natural interest to me and I’m instantly grateful for the push to check out her work.

http://www.iriesoul.com/
 

The blog is entitled Irie Soul and I’m pleased to see that the author’s purpose to share spiritual experiences, inspire others and sprinkle positivity is met. I approached the blog with no expectations – I know the author enough to say hello if our paths cross but not enough to label her a friend. More of a stranger connected through the internet, I only know that we share a love for a certain rap artist (Jigga what?! Jigga who!?), but other than that I’ve never put thought into whether we have things in common or not - I’m confident she hasn’t put thought into that either. What she has put thought into is her blog and it shows.  

 

I recommend Irie Soul to anyone mildly curious about embracing the divine spirituality present in all of us. It offers exactly what it describes in the form of personal stories about the author’s journey and you can feel the excitement about her revelations radiating from her writing. Spirituality has been an inherent part of my life for so many years and though I certainly never lost my enthusiasm for it, I appreciate the inspiration in her journey. She is so openly and evidently basking in the delight of her experiences - it reminds me of the excitement felt before opening gifts and I'm happy for her. With catchy blog titles and simple language, her posts have an informative and educational tone without being pretentious. They provide a good balance of explaining technical elements of each experience (for example what Float tank therapy is http://www.iriesoul.com/float/ ) while describing her thoughts throughout her exploration.

http://www.iriesoul.com/
 

I appreciate her bravery for openly sharing her ideas – spirituality can be a tough topic. People sometimes label you as a form of new-age hippie. Sadly I know through personal experience that selfies still generate more social media attention than an educational, impactful, post. I can relate to the author of Irie Soul wanting to use her writing to encourage more peaceful, positive thinking with a modern, trendy flare. It’s nice to learn we have something more than a love for rap music in common. 

I'm now a blog fan.  

Notes for Week 5

Your assigned text for next week is a blog post by me, "Mary Pratt: On Blogging, and Preserving Light and Time."

1) What connections does this post suggest exist between Mary Pratt's painting and blogging?

2) What kind of inspiration can a blogger take away from observing Pratt's paintings?

3) What other artists/writers can we look to as anticipating the blogging form in their work? (Think about your own fields and interests in regards to this.) What other art forms can inform us in understanding the art of blogging, and how?

This week you will launch your own blog, and your first post will be about whatever you want! It's your blog after all. Though I ask that you avoid an introductory sort of post. Jump right in and get going straight away.

NOLA

It’s the birthplace of Jazz, the mecca of Creole/French cuisine and one of the top wedding destinations in the U.S.  If you’ve never been to New Orleans, it is a place that you must visit.  From the melodious sounds heard drifting through the French Quarters, to the chilling tales told of lost souls & haunted mansions, there’s plenty to do in the city.  And, if you’re a foodie at heart, you will love some of the great treats in New Orleans. 

Over the last several days, I’ve eaten my way through the city, trying the many different flavours and dishes New Orleans has to offer - gumbo, fried crawfish tails, shrimp and fried alligator with chili garlic aoli.  I was a bit skeptical about the alligator, but I always like to try something once – it’s a rule of mine, and I’m so glad I took the plunge.

 

One of the best meals I had was at Emeril Lagasse’s restaurant, NOLA.  I ordered the Grilled Creekstone Farms New York Steak, which did not disappoint.  The steak was very tender, served with Yukon gold potatoes, shitake mushrooms and baby spinach.  The service was amazing, and the food was even better. Definitely, a must try!    

In terms of sweet goodies, pralines were plentiful in the New Orleans, but my favourite was the Beignets at Café du Monde – how can you go wrong with deep fried deliciousness smothered in powdered sugar?  It’s just not possible!  And if fruit is what you crave for dessert, you can always try the Bananas Foster at SoBou restaurant.  It comes with homemade vanilla bean ice cream with spiced pecan foster sauce – just delicious.

Although I enjoyed experimenting with the various culinary flavours of New Orleans, the highlight of my trip was attending one of my closest friend’s weddings and being able to experience the festivities in true New Orleans fashion.  The wedding took place in Preservation Hall, a venue that was once an art gallery that showcased jazz musicians in the 50s.  It was a cozy, beautiful ceremony, followed by a New Orleans tradition:  The Second Line. Handkerchiefs in hand, we paraded down the streets of New Orleans, following the beautiful sounds of a Traditional New Orleans Brass Band.  The bride and groom led the procession, each holding an umbrella, singing and dancing to the rhythm of “Hey baby, will you be my girl.”  It was quite the celebration, perfect for the couple that loves food, music and travel. 

On one thing leading to another...

It was exactly a year ago now that an accidental book purchase (oops!) led to a completely accidental cake (double-oops!) and I was inspired to write a blog post I'm still really proud of and stand by. About the wonders (and desserts!) that transpire when one thing is allowed to lead to another. I hope you'll read it here. 

I'm grateful to all of you for giving so generously with your ideas and stories these last four weeks—thank you for all the inspiration

My Date with a Fruit

This guy really looks like a pear. I knew this second date wouldn’t work out but in the spirit of trying new things and proving (to myself) that I’m not superficial, I came despite having no initial attraction to him the first time we met. He’s such a nice guy – what’s his name again? It’s totally rude that I cannot remember and far too much correspondence at this point to admit I genuinely don't. What kind of person am I? I should really pay more attention to what he’s talking about, he looks so animated. I’m nodding, smiling and seem to be giving the appropriate responses since he continues to become more enthusiastic about the topic of conversation.



I noticed his head was quite pear shaped at our first coffee meeting. I label it a meeting and not a date since our source was an online dating site which removes the ability to connect with someone’s energy as you would in person. It’s likely had I initially met him in person, the encounter would not have led to a first date. Well why after meeting him then did I agree to see him again? Single, with my last (and only) long-term relationship ending many years ago, I’m mindful that perhaps I need to make some changes. Bitter women complain all men are the same, smart women stop choosing the same type over and over again.  I read that quote somewhere and it stuck with me. In that spirit here I am…on a date... with a giant, talking pear. He’s actually now fully turned into one in my imagination – his caramel colour skin tone has become a light green colour, his hair has disappeared and his glasses have double in-sized with huge, thick rims. I feel like I’m on an episode of Sesame Street with an animated talking fruit character. 

Back to what brought me here – I really want to romantically connect with a nice, stable, dependable man. I know some of you may think it's impossible but it has to be possible! People are in love all around me and perhaps it won't last forever, but for the moment, they are with partners who bring those qualities to the table. I recognize that instant attraction, butterflies in the stomach, heart beat racing have resulted in some interesting experiences but not in the committed, healthy, supportive relationship I seek. That being said, I thought it would be a productive step to overlook the lack of instant attraction and give him a second chance. I keep hearing from friends that sometimes relationships flourish overtime and attraction grows. The idea reminds me of gardening a plant and though I'm not sold on it, I thought I should at least try it.  

I thought this guy would be perfect to test this theory out on since he has a gentle demeanour, good height,  equivalent level of education and healthy relationship with his family (from what he told me at our first meeting). He is what many would describe as good on paper. Unfortunately, there’s a lack of witty connection, adventurous spirit and the hint of playfulness that I’m usually drawn to. I’ll have to sneak back on to this online profile to learn his name again and then of course delete him and end it. Pears have never appealed to me, I prefer mangos.  

Image from:
https://www.google.ca/search?q=pear+image+with+glasses&biw=1518&bih=714&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0CAYQ_AUoAWoVChMI4JPf5__yyAIVASA-Ch0opw0k&dpr=0.9#imgrc=7UIbxFQFhuElYM%3A