Monthly Archive

I ventured into the bookstore the other day intent on finding a book, any book, that might guide me through the processes of writing and publishing magazine articles. Almost $100 dollars later, not only did I find for what I was searching, but I also happened upon a book whose title beckoned me to pick it up and take it home, to study it and caress its pages.

Christina Katz has written a book called, Writer Mama: How to Raise a Writing Career Alongside Your Kids . As I had two kids browsing juvenile and picture books and one angry toddler trying her hardest to squirm her way out of the confines of her stroller, I thought, obviously I am meant to read this book!

And today, as my children (nearing 8; going on 6; flirting with disaster, er, 2) dug in the sandbox, pumped the swings, and burned their tushies flying down a scorching slipper-slide, I plopped myself down into a comfortable chair, sunglasses on, cold drink in hand, intent on plowing through a good book.

I made it to page seven, and that’s when Real Life commenced.

The youngest ran off. The olders began to fight. A rumble of thunder and surprise deluge threatened to soak the clothes on the line and my new book.

And now, at 10:37 pm, I finally have a moment of free time.

Trouble is, I’m too tired to read, much less process any useful information.

Seven pages a day? Check back with me in about forty days, which is when, stars and moon aligned, I should be finished and ready to apply what I have learned.

This would be the reason my goal is to have one, yes one!, published article by year’s end!

Remember being tucked into bed each night as a kid? Nothing felt as good as dressing in your nightclothes, fresh out of the tub with still-wet hair, wrapping yourself in the comforting warmth of your bed.

Vicki Mote Bodwell , mom and founder of Warm Biscuit Bedding Co. , remembers those days, and through her all-cotton, American-made bedding, she captures those memories by mixing superior quality with beautiful style to achieve a look that kids will love and moms can be confident will last for years.

At Warm Biscuit, the perfect room awaits your creative touch. You will find bedding for babies, boys, and girls, as well as coordinating accessories such as custom-made curtains, décor, and furniture. Then put your little ones to rest in their warm biscuit dressed in coordinating apparel.

To satisfy your inner crafter, Warm Biscuit also offers fabric for purchase, including Amy Butler and vintage-inspired prints ~ and don’t forget the trimmings! If you’d rather have a custom-created piece meticulously sewed just for you, Warm Biscuit can take care of that, too.

Before you leave Warm Biscuit, don’t forget to visit the gift shop, as well, where you will find fun toys and novelties for both little and big people alike.

Finally, connect with Vicki at her blog, From One Mom to Another, where she shares ways to simplify the busy mom’s life.

*Prices range from just $10 to over $500 for custom orders.*

There may not be a lot of preparation to this Pasta and Sauteed Vegetables dish, but there is definitely a whole lotta taste goin’ on! The secret? Simply slice and saute a carrot, onion, red pepper, and clove of garlic. Toss in a cup or so of sweet corn and can of cannellini beans. Heat through, and serve atop multi-colored vegetable cork-screw pasta. Add a dollop of pasta sauce, and you are done!

The sweetness of the sauteed vegetables paired with the salty tang of the pasta sauce is a delightful combination. And the cannellini beans, oh! If you aren’t familiar with these white beans, they are smooth and creamy and simply wonderful.

She’s the embodiment of Southern hospitality and the friendly neighbor whom everyone wants next door, the kind who doesn’t mind sharing a cup of sugar but only if you stay for an iced tea and a bit of conversation, as well. I’m talking about Paula Deen, of course, and I recently had the opportunity to peruse two installments of her magazine, Cooking with Paula Deen .

My first introduction to this larger-than-life personality was on The Food Network , and I was completely taken in with her down-home flavor and authentically-Southern flare. Having grown up in Georgia and vacationed in Paula’s hometown of Savannah many times, I felt akin to this energetic woman and the delightfully-sinful dishes she enthusiastically creates for her television audience.

So it was with great pleasure that I received two of her magazines in the post, courtesy of Hoffman Media. I assumed I’d be doing little more than salivating over pages of tantalizing and mouth-watering recipes, but I was pleasantly surprised that Cooking with Paula Deen offers much more. In each issue you will find a foreword from Paula and a section dedicated to readers’ questions. She shares what she calls her Golden Ring recipe along with her Hot Picks and Batch of Ideas. Often she profiles restaurants from across the United States and invites guest foodies, like Giada De Laurentiis and Emeril Lagasse, to cook up something new and exciting. The magazine also offers insight into Paula’s personal life, whether it’s a glimpse of her home decor or pictures of her first grandson.

You’ll put down Cooking with Paula Deen feeling like you’ve just caught up with an old friend!

To order a personal or gift subscription of Cooking with Paula Deen, simply click here

If the underarm jiggle isn’t doing enough to remind me that I am getting older, the fact that two of my three children will be riding the big, yellow bus together come September, is picking up the slack.

Here in Upstate, students are in school for yet another week. Summer vacation has yet to officially begin, but my children are already dreaming of new lunchboxes and book bags and packages of sharp, pointy crayons. In another month, the stores will begin stocking their back-to-school wardrobes. Admittedly, school shopping has always been one of my favorite activities, and it’s one my kids thoroughly enjoy, as well!

Aside from having a daughter who will be entering into the third grade, my son will finally be weaned from a three-hour day of preschool and cutting his teeth on a six hours of daily Kindergarten. What will I do with just one child to care for during those six hours? Oh, the possibilities! It’s enough to make me consider having another kid just to stave the boredom of an empty house. Uh, no.

Actually, it’s when the kids reach school age that days because more hectic fast-paced. Gone are the leisurely mornings at the park and afternoon swims in the kiddie pool. With two in elementary school and one who will be starting preschool January 2008, my days will be filled with mucho volunteer work. Whether it’s lending a lap and two hands at the co-op preschool, volunteering at the elementary school, participating in bake sales and fundraisers, or editing the school newsletter, there is much to be done and always enough work to go around.

If your child attends a public school, how do you stay involved? One of my affirmations at the beginning of each school year is to do a little bit more than the previous year. Perhaps that means attending just one more PTA meeting or taking the time to help watch the kids during lunch recess. Maybe it’s remembering to vote on important issues that affect the school district. Any level of involvement is important not only to the school, but to the kids as well.

Now that you have your summer to think about it, what will you do to help?

Given that my free time doesn’t truly begin until after 8 pm, or when my children reluctantly succumb to The Sandman, every moment I can spend practicing my writing skills counts.

It’s been just recently that I’ve gotten serious about freelancing. I actually keep a notepad and pen handy so I can jot down any article ideas that I might later be able to pitch to the magazines I frequently read. Inspiration is all around; you just have to recognize it waving its little flag right in front of your face.

Whether it’s writing for my blog or compensation, I find I do my best work in the quiet comfort of my living room, sitting on the same side of our worn out couch. Of course, “quiet comfort” includes the television in the distance and the almost-hypnotic strums of my husbands electric guitar. It’s the constant need to multi-task, I think, and we all know that women are exceptional multi-taskers!

I have found that if I don’t consistently set aside a few hours each evening to write, I start to find excuses not to do it. The checkbook needs to be balanced. My favorite show is on TV. I’m too tired. Like anything else that you eventually get good at, writing requires dedication and practice.

I recently told someone that when I write, I often think of Jo March, from Little Women. When I was younger, I fancied myself as Jo; I was always creating what I thought were truly terrific stories. And I was certain I was going to be a raging success when I got older. But here I am, almost thirty years old, and just beginning what I hope to be a long career in freelancing. Jo reminds me that success is not instantaneous, that one must write from the heart about the things she knows and loves. It takes time and patience, and a lot of ups and downs.

So when and where do you like to write?

You feel a tickle of delight as you walk through the doors. The soft hues and vibrant tones of the artists’ color palette catch your eye, and you experience an undeniable urge to satisfy every tactile craving. You ooh and ah and giggle at each whimsical fancy you pass and imagine your home filled with such pretty little things. These emotions are what a boutique elicits from its patrons, and they are the type of shops that ooze cuteness from top to bottom and burst with creative flair.

I am thrilled to have the opportunity to introduce to you a new, online boutique called The Silly Wagon . Co-run by friends and business partners, Vered and Whitney, The Silly Wagon was born from a small girl’s fresh take on an old saying, a silly one, at that!

Vered and Whitney strive to deliver only the best in handmade and custom crafts and designs ranging from apparel , accessories, toys , and decor . Whether you’re looking for something sweet or magical or a little bit funky , The Silly Wagon has the perfect gift for you! Not only do Vered and Whitney support women designers from around the world, they also bring you the brands you know and trust such as Oilily, Ed Hardy, Made U Look, Baby Nay, and many more. Be sure to check back frequently as The Silly Wagon works to offer the latest and greatest must-haves.

And thanks to Vered and Whitney, readers of The Silver Tongue can take 10% off their first purchase by using the code SILLY10 at checkout. When you are done shopping, don’t forget to sign their guestbook, and then stop by their blog , where they dish the latest in celebrity baby news.