Why Blogging Buddies Rock

Date posted: March 29, 2011

Yesterday, I was chatting via email with two of my writing and blogging buddies Joanne Kraft and Kathi Lipp. A conversation about our husband’s coffee-drinking habits turned into a chat about our husband’s hair care habits (and yes, honey, if your reading this, I told them you use more expensive hair products than I do… I couldn’t help it) and in the midst of our back-and-forth, I found myself laughing hysterically and feeling this amazing bond with two people that I know almost completely through the blogosphere.

Don’t blogging buddies rock? Don’t get me wrong, I love my real-life friends, too, but my blogging buddies are special. They get me. They get what I do every day. And they’re willing to share their lives, their ups, their downs, their triumphs and their failures every day for all the world to see.

6 Reasons Why Blogging Buddies Rock

1. They’re hilarious. Hormonal pregnancy mood swings? Nope, I’m not the only one. A Facebook faux pas? Apparently a lot of us gen-xers make them. And, bloggers are never afraid to air their mistakes for all the world to read.

2. They’ll promote your work without you even asking. I’m amazed at how many of my blogging friends have written reviews on my book or tweeted my blogs without my even asking. How nice is that?

3. They have amazing work for you to talk about. Can you believe how amazingly talented people are on the blogosphere? When I read through my posts from my feed, I am amazed by the depth, by the creativity and by the amazing writing I find.

4. They’re transparent. For some reason, the world wide web seems a bit safer to air dirty laundry than, say, in a quiet coffee shop corner talking to your best friend. So, bloggers tend to tell it like it is—and let their feelings and thoughts shine through even when they know that everyone (and their mother) could be reading it.

5. They don’t care what you’re wearing… or how many pounds you’ve gained. There’s a teensy chance that I’ve gained a few more pounds than I should’ve this pregnancy. Okay, so I’m huge. But my bloggy friends don’t know that. For all they know, I’m sitting here in a pair of size 2 skinny jeans looking hot mama as ever. And, shallow as that is, I kinda like that about them.

6. They have husbands and jobs and kids just like me—yet they still find time to connect. We’re all busy. I get that. But my blogging buddies always seem to find the time to connect and read and write anyway.

Question for you: Why do you love your blogging buddies?

I’m Going to Be on the Radio!

Date posted: March 26, 2011

Exciting news! I’m going to be on the radio this week! I’m superexcited and also SUPERNERVOUS. Anyway, if you’re around, please tune in! And, I’ll update this post as more radio interviews pop up.

Here’s the info:

Tuesday, March 29th from 8:15am-8:30 am (central standard time):

Good Guys in the Morning

WSC-FM in West Palm Beach, FL

Listen online here…but the broadcast may not be live… it will happen SOMETIME during that morning, though.

Tuesday, March 29th from 8:40-8:50 am (central standard time):

The Morning Show with Birga Alden

SON Broadcasting in Albuquerque, NM

Listen by clicking here and then pressing “LISTEN NOW” (click “listen now”)

Tuesday, March 29th from 10:00-10:20 am (central standard time):

George Carden on UNI News

(broadcast at over 250 stations nationwide)

Click here to listen… but it may not be live… or to get station information for your local area.

Tuesday, March 29th from 11:00-11:15 am (central standard time):

Point of View with John Clemens on IRN USA Radio

(broadcast at over 2,100 stations nationwide).

They don’t have an online listening feature, but to find a local station, click here, then select “Point of View” and they will email you a local station that carries the broadcast.

Tales From a Doctor Stalker

Date posted: March 24, 2011

I think my OB might be getting a teensy bit annoyed with me. Or a lot a bit annoyed with me. To set the record straight: she’s done NOTHING to indicate that she’s annoyed. In fact, every time I’ve seen her, she’s been incredibly kind and gracious and caring. But, if I were her, I’d be annoyed with me. So, I’m projecting.

It’s just that I am at that point in my pregnancy where every twinge, ache or pain feels like a worry. And, to top it all off, I’m utterly miserable, so sometimes I just call her or go into the office to tell her that. And to see if somehow she’s invented a miracle drug that will make the nausea and vomiting and weight gain and swelling and back pain all go away.

But, as much as I’d like to let go and chill out, I can’t. I’m too needy right now and she’s about the only person I can pay to listen to my whining and moaning. So she’s stuck. For eight more weeks. Or less if I can convince her to induce me early.

Question: Am I the only one who stalks my doctor when pregnant?

Something Witty and WINNERS!

Date posted: March 22, 2011

I promised you something witty last week and I’m not going to deliver. I got nothing. Unless you count the worn-out Star Wars jokes that my son keeps telling me as witty. I don’t. So, instead, I’m going to leave you with a list that should demonstrate pretty clearly where I’m at in life right now.

8 Things I’ve Done Today That Prove My State of Mind

1. We went to Target this morning to buy laundry detergent and toilet paper. I walked out with pink cowboy boots for my daughter, malted milk eggs and flowery headbands.

2. I ate 15 of the aforementioned eggs in the car on the way home and then gave each of my kids a handful each just to get them to stop pestering each other. Obviously, I’m not above bribery.

3. On the way home, my daughter decided she wanted a kitten. Then my son decided he wanted a hamster. I said no. They whined. So, what did I do? Took them to the pet store, of course. I figured it would buy me some time to eat my chocolate eggs in peace while they looked at the animals.

4. I considered buying them each their pet of choice. Until I looked at the hamster cages and realized that I would be the one cleaning it. Moment of weakness averted.

5. On the way home, I got thirsty. So, I stopped at Starbucks. And got myself a Frappucino. As if I hadn’t already had enough sugar.

6. Once home, I decided that making PB & J was too much trouble so I took a bag of shredded cheese, a carton of turkey and a bag of baby carrots out of the fridge and told my kids it was “make-your-own-lunch” day. They looked at me like I was crazy. But they ate.

7. I then decided to extend “make-your-own-lunch” day to “tuck-yourself-in-for-naps-alone-day”. They were on their own. I kissed them on the way up the stairs and you know what, they’re fine. I’m pretty sure they both fell asleep, too. Not that I’ve gotten up the energy to drag myself up off the stairs to check.

8. I googled “babies born at 32 weeks” just to see what would really happen if I had this baby now. Turns out it’s not a great idea. I stopped praying that I would go into premature labor and instead started praying that God would give me the peace and grace to survive eight more weeks.

Question for you: How did you survive your last trimester? And please say I’m not the only one who is living in a bitter, sugar-fueled blur of pregnancy hormones.

AND, last but not least, the winners of the CHASING SUPERWOMAN giveaway from last week are Jenny Sulpizio and Emily Kacmarynski. Email me your addresses at erin@christianmamasguide.com and we’ll get your books sent! Congrats!

Brain Fry & A Great Review

Date posted: March 17, 2011

I’ve literally written and deleted potential blog posts three times today… and finally I’ve decided that I’m just not up to it. It’s one of those days where my brain is fried (and my sick three-year-old is frying it more by the minute) and I’m just not up to posting. So, happy Thursday! I’ll post something super witty and fabulous next week (or so I hope!)

So, just to give you a LITTLE bit of reading material, my friend Warren Baldwin has a fun book review for my book posted on his blog today. It was written by a woman at his church named Holly and although I’ve never met her, I *love* her. Anyway, here it is.

AND, in case you haven’t already read about my book ad nauseum, my sister Alisa just posted a review and giveaway on her blog. Head over to enter to win a free copy!

See you Tuesday!

Books I’ve Read Lately… and Loved (and a GIVEAWAY!)

Date posted: March 14, 2011

I LOVE books…and I love reading new authors, new books, new concepts. So, I thought it’d be a good time to share some of the books I’ve read (and loved) recently. Here are a few:

First, I’d like to announce the upcoming release of “Daily Guideposts for the First Year of Motherhood” (coming April 1, 2011 from Guideposts). It’s a compilation of 365 daily devotionals targeted for moms in their first year of motherhood. The coolest part is that moms from all over the country contributed their stories and thoughts to the book (I wrote 23 of the days!)– so while you’re reading, you get to know moms from all different backgrounds and walks of life. I read the entire book in two days and loved it. Isn’t that a cool gift for a baby shower or a friend who just had a baby?

It’s hard to be a mom. It’s even harder when you’re trying to juggle work and writing and parenting. I’ve been a work-from-home mom for more than five years now and for a long time, I felt really alone– and like I was the only working mama who couldn’t seem to find balance between work and kids. Then I read “Chasing Superwoman” by my friend Susan DiMickele. Not only is Susan’s writing super easy-to-read and relatable, but reading this book gave me tons of ideas on how to balance life and work and kids– and made me feel okay about my choices to write, work and be a mom all at the same time. (P.S. Susan has offered to give away two copies of her book to two of my readers… so leave a comment telling me about how you struggle with balance and I’ll draw two readers at random on March 22nd!)

A pastor at my church named Dean Rush just released an amazing resource called Flying Free. The point of the book is to show people how to live a free and Christ-centered life in the midst of crisis. Pastor Rush has incredible insight and wisdom and really shows people who are facing life’s problems– from illness to job loss to money problems to family issues– how to fly free.

You know those books that make you cry as you read them? Well, “Mommy Whispers” by Jenny Sulpizio is a tear-jerker (in a good way). I sat down to read it with my daughter and got all choked up because it’s such a beautiful reminder of the bond between mother and daughter and such a sweet way to spend time with your daughter. My daughter loves it….she’s asked to read it over and over since we got it.

A few months ago, I got the book Roaring Lions, Cracking Rocks from a blogging buddy of mine, Pastor Warren Baldwin (who also writes an amazing blog on marriage and family that you should check out). This is one of those books that really makes you think and analyze your life… I’d find myself reading one page and then spending two days thinking about it. I love Warren’s hopeful, yet convicting writing style and his ability to really help you to analyze your walk with God and the life you’re leading.

And, last but not least, if you’re looking for a great novel, Patti Lacy never fails to give you what you’re looking for. Her lastest book, The Rhythm of Secrets is fascinating story about an unwed mother living in the 1940′s and her journey. I couldn’t put it down. This is a great Spring Break read (or anytime read).

And, don’t forget to leave a comment and tell me about how you struggle to balance life and family and work for your chance to win one of two copies of the amazing book Chasing Superwoman by Susan DiMickele!

The Amazon Ranking Obsession

Date posted: March 10, 2011

I admit it: I’m obsessed with Amazon rankings.

Up until a few months ago when Richard Mabry wrote about Amazon rankings on Rachelle Gardner’s blog, I didn’t have a clue that there was even such a thing as an Amazon ranking. But there is. And, ever since my book launched, I’ve been checking mine one, two, seven times a day.

Here’s how Amazon rankings work: basically, every hour, the powers that be on the Amazon site calculate how your book is selling compared to the millions of other books for sale. So, someone decides to buy a case of 100 of your book and suddenly your ranking soars. How high? Not sure… that’s never happened to me. Likewise, if there’s a drought and no one buys your book for a few hours, suddenly your ranking flatlines and your back down there in the hundreds of thousands or millions.

Last week, after my book launched, I was thrilled when my book soared hundreds of thousands of spaces in a matter of minutes. Woo hoo! Then, two hours later, it was languishing in the 200,000 range. Boo! That evening? Back in the 400,000′s. Eeek. The next morning? Back up in the 30,000′s. After a few days of following obsessively, I came to realize something: Amazon rankings– as much as I love checking them– are really no indication of how your book is being received or sold. They’re simply an indication of how your book is being sold on Amazon at that minute. And really, that doesn’t matter at all? Even my toddler can be charming and sophisticated for a minute. What really matters is the long run–how a book will sell and be received over hours and days and weeks and months.

That said, I’m trying not to check my ranking. Okay, at least not more than once or twice a day. Because the reality is that means I’m obsessing over a single sale or two– and not over the big picture.

Question: What about you? Do you check Amazon rankings? How do you feel about them?

REPOST: A Neglige to Hide My C-Section Scar

Date posted: March 9, 2011

REPOST from: Friday, July 7, 2006 9:29 am

While honeymoon lingerie is nice, post-baby lingerie is even better. This little known fact is the reason that my mom and sisters threw me a surprise post-partum lingerie shower last weekend. This is also the reason that I am sitting up at 5:30 in the morning working on my blog instead of last night when I (the perpetual scheduler) had planned on doing it. I was (ahem) otherwise occupied.

Now, for those of you who are wondering what exactly a post-partum lingerie shower is, let me fill you in. We had strawberry cake and toasted Joey with champagne flutes full of sparkling cider. My sister won a prize because she knew that my favorite dessert is tiramisu and my favorite thing about my husband is the fact that he’s a peacemaker. I received a pink negligee that had been carefully selected to hide even the smallest stretch mark and a pair of turquoise boy shorts that are high cut enough to cover my c-section scar. We laughed. We cried. We gushed about how much we missed Joey even though we had only been gone for an hour and he was just down the street at home with his Daddy. What was most likely my mom’s ploy to get another grandchild turned out to be a wonderful renewal in our post-baby marriage.

I think any new mom can agree that sex isn’t exactly a priority with a newborn on your hip and bags under your eyes. In the months since I had Joey, I’ve felt anything but sexy. Those post-baby pounds and leaky breasts only compound the fact that the moment my head hits the pillow, I’m sound asleep. I admit, I’ve gotten a bit lazy about the whole sex thing, and my husband (the aforementioned peacemaker) is patient enough to give me my space and wait it out.

But now, armed with very forgiving lingerie and a new outlook, I’m ready to take back my sex life. I’m ready to forget about those silly post-pregnancy pounds and the fact that I haven’t gotten a full night’s sleep in six months. I’m ready to laugh with my husband, to again share in the wonderful intimacy that seems to erase all of our worries and doubts. I’m ready. Who knows, maybe my mom will get her wish of another grandchild sooner than we thought.