Announcements Archives - Page 5 of 7

Countdown To My Big Move!

July 8, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 7 Comments

Yesterday I admonished you to buckle up and get ready because a move is underway.

In March after some twists and turns on the road of life, I realized my dream of changing careers and landed a wonderful job as Co-Editor of Acadiana LifeStyle magazine.

Love the people, love the job. Being there is Awesome Sauce with M & M’s on top – except for the long, traffic-filled commute there and back.

Ugh.

Thanks to the diligence of my publisher and the helpfulness of our sales coordinator, I am now Day 7 on the countdown to moving into a fantastic new place with a commute that is so short a tank of gas will probably last me a month.

*Whispering*

(And, with the move, comes The Great Social Experiment. More on that later . . . .)

Join in the Fray: Did you notice the rose petals???

I’m blogging every day in the month of July in Blogher’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!

Happy 4th of July!

July 4, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 4 Comments

Happy Birthday to the United States! Our country isn’t perfect, yet I’m happy for the liberty we all enjoy.

I hope you’re enjoying a celebratory day. Get out there and mingle – I certainly am!

I’ve heard it a million times, yet I never get tired of my favorite rendition of the Star Spangled Banner:

Join in the Fray: How are you celebrating today?

I’m blogging every day in the month of July in Blogher’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading, and feel free to comment!

And . . . We’re Out!

June 29, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

. . . of the month of June, that is.

I’m burning rubber on June and preparing to take July by storm. How so, you may ask?

Whelp, since I’m such a glutton for punishment, I’m going to go ahead and tackle Blogher ‘s NaNoBloMo July Challenge. Friday I met digital strategist Nathalie Lussier on Twitter and decided to enter her 30 Day List Building Challenge.

I also signed up for a two month MOOC class entitled “Thinking Like a Writer.”

I’m still in my Business Ignition Bootcamp (2 more weeks to go)!

What? I told you I’m a glutton for punishment!

So any who, I’m busy putting my editorial calendar together. On tap is a book review, a few guest posts, info regarding a social experiment I’ll be conducting, not one, but TWO major lifestyle changes and some new features I’m adding to the blog.

Yep, July is coming in with a bang (pun intended). See ya Monday!

Join in the Fray: What are your plans for the month of July?

I’m In Boot Camp!

June 7, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway Leave a Comment

I’m very proud to say that out of thousands of applicants, I was selected as one of 200 persons to enlist in the first ever Business Ignition Boot Camp from marketing whiz Danny Iny of Firepole Marketing.

The Boot Camp is a six-week designed to help entrepreneurs move into the place where they can use their businesses to further their desire to make a difference in the world. An added perk? The Boot Camp is free!

I’m excited to work with 200 talented and creative people, many of whom have already reached out to learn more about Swirling. (Can’t wait to find out how many Swirlers are in the camp)!

On another note, last week’s post generated a lot of buzz so my inbox was flooded with Swirlers reaching out to me to submit guest posts. Stay tuned for more book reviews and primers on how to date men of varying ethnicities. Married Swirlers will also chime in with their stories.

I also started a vegetarian diet (in 7-day intervals) so I’ll keep you posted on my progress. (And if you have some good recipes, please share them)!

I’m excited about the great things that are happening, and the cool direction the blog is taking. I have every confidence that I’ll come away from the Boot Camp with a new business model, fully energized to give you the best A Swirl Girl has to offer.

Thanks so much for your continued support – please know that it means much to me. Woot Woot!

Join in the Fray: What’s going on in your world?

Exciting News!

May 31, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

This news isn’t exactly “new,” it’s actually right at two months old. I’ve been meaning to do an update post since the end of March discussing all the cool things that have been happening:

Serving as the guest speaker for the Alphanista.com Inner Circle monthly call
Being interviewed on Blog Talk Radio with Rikki R. Jones
Writing my first “featured” post (that means it was sponsored)
Took a blogging school course with Rosetta Thurman of Happy Black Woman (I wholeheartedly endorse and recommend her class!)
Was selected and participated in the Selah book launch with Pastor Joseph Iregbu
Got selected to participate on the It Takes A Village launch team for one of the cutest Swirl couples on the planet, budgeting gurus, podcasters and authors Derek and Carrie Olsen (check out their site for some fantastic freebies!)
Joined The Colored Water Fountain hosted by blogger L.C. Coleman of Colored Girl Confidential (she’s the one who created a piece of awesomeness called The Red Lipstick Manifesta)
Entertained some wonderful guest posts from leadership expert Bill Treasurer, Latin dating coach Miranda Santiago, interracial romance authors Cora Blu, Delaney Diamond, and Gynger Fyer, and the hilarious Gene-Leigh and Seth Wheeler (and even though we featured her in January, we also enjoyed a guest appearance from that Married Girl in a Weird World, Eugenia Berg)
Launched a new blog – For Church Girls
Submitted my dissertation for review – and had it returned for edits (~Le sigh)

AND, last but not least (drumroll, please):

http://youtu.be/3R5gHF0vzew

I reached the goal of changing careers – and landed a new job as the Co-Editor of Acadiana LifeStyle Magazine!

Woot to the Woot, Woot, WOOT!

Yaaay Me!

I’ll have to do a separate post on the journey that led me to starting that new job on March 27. Suffice it to say I can truly attest to the old saying, “It’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey.”

Any who, take a gander at the June cover:

The owner and publisher, Mr. Art Suberbielle and his gracious wife Connie are lovely people, as is my partner in crime, Co-Editor Barbara Gautreaux (send her an invitation to connect on LinkedIn or check her out on Pinterest), and the rest of the staff.

(I’ll also have to do a separate post on how I get paid to do what I love: Read, write, research, interview, and meet people)!

The past two months have been a BLAST! To think that tomorrow we hit the half-point of the year – wow . . . just . . . wow.

Who knows what the next six months will bring?

I don’t know about you, but I’m here for it!

Join in the Fray: What have YOU been up to for the past 60 days??? Spill it!

Copyright Terms:

My BIG, HUGE Announcement: I Have A New Baby-And It’s A Girl!!!!

April 30, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 11 Comments

Remember back on April 1st when I told you that I would have a special announcement to make at the end of the month?

Well, my BIG, HUGE announcement is:

I Have A New Baby-And It’s A Girl!!!!

*Beaming with pride*

Just kidding. Sort of.

(I am shrieking with laughter, because even when I’m totally serious, I play too much).

I don’t have THAT kind of new baby!

No, I have THIS kind:

You’re looking at the brand new face of my upcoming blog and website:

For Church Girls

Traditional . . . .Yet Contemporary Women

That’s right, I’m launching a new blog designed specifically for women of faith. The Proverbs 31 woman in the Old Testament and the businesswoman Lydia of the New Testament serve as the inspirations for the blog. Both were traditional women in that they were women of faith – yet they were contemporary for their time.

The purpose of For Church Girls is to serve as the go-to blog for women of faith. The blog will focus on spiritual things including inspiration, empowerment, and personal enrichment, as well as natural things that are also of interest and concern, including health, wellness, hair, fashion, and beauty. Moving forward, we will also hold monthly empowerment calls featuring guests who will lead discussions on a variety of topics.

This has been a particularly exciting week for me, not just because I’m undertaking this new venture, but because other bloggers like Christelyn Karazin of Beyond Black & White are forming networks and coalitions, and launching new websites.

This is a win-win situation for women seeking quality content.

I recently completed a Blogging School conducted by Rosetta Thurman, Blog Mistress of the Happy Black Woman. The class was filled with women who are starting new blogs and launching websites.

Writer and social commentator Angela Gatlin Keys is working on a new website. Celebrity stylist Kaye Flewellen of Just Ask Kaye is working on a new book and companion website, as is blogger Toni M, Blog Mistress of Petals.

Just this Monday, blogger LC Coleman of Colored Girl Confidential launched a new online networking and accountability group called The Colored Water Fountain.

And as for A Swirl Girl? Well, she’s going to Keep Calm And Swirl On!

No worries; this blog will continue. I’ve got more good stuff coming up, including a special guest post from dating advice specialist and freelance writer Miranda Santiago, who will share some juicy tidbits about interracial dating and Latin men. Look for more profiles of interracial romance writers, and stories and photos from interracial couples.

And, of course, news and updates regarding my Swirling activity.

Back to the matter at hand:

Isn’t it wonderful that bloggers and writers are pursuing and fulfilling their dreams? And that’s the beauty of dreams: Everyone can have a dream, a goal, a vision – and everyone can realize their dreams.

The vision I foresee in For Church Girls is a website that serves as a safe haven for women of faith. Far too often these days, “Church Girls” are portrayed in a negative light, and viewed as thirsty, man hungry, gullible hypocrites who are silly and vapid. Yes, the Bible aptly describes such women; they do exist. Their egregious behavior needs to be challenged! Even though For Church Girls will project a nurturing environment, we won’t coddle anybody: Stinkin’ thinkin’ and behavior will be called out and addressed!

Our launch is set for May 11, 2013.

Till then, head on over and sign up for our updates to ensure you don’t miss a bit of the action!

Join in the Fray: What’s your opinion of modern-day “Church Girls?”

I have blogged every day in the month of April for BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading and do leave a comment!

So Much To Say . . . So Little Time!

April 29, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

I have so much to tell you! I promise to catch you up tomorrow.

P.S. I have a HUGE announcement to make, so stay tuned! Woot Woot!

Join in the Fray: What projects are you working on?

I’m blogging every day in the month of April for BlogHer’s NaBloPoMo Challenge. Thanks for reading and do leave a comment!

What About Mom?

April 24, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 12 Comments

I received an inbox today from a guy who reads the blog.

Thankfully, he’s enjoying the blog, but he wonders why I talk about my Dad all the time, but don’t say very much about my Mother.

I was able to refer him to a previous post I made about my Mother and the blog – and the fact that she’s not at all keen about being a topic of discussion.

Lest anyone think I don’t give her equal time, I’m sharing a note she wrote to my Dad concerning their joint obsession: Rabbits.

(At this point, I’m swearing you to secrecy. You have to promise you won’t tell her I posted this. *Snickering*).

Mom and Dad have some pet rabbits that they treat like celebrities. It’s cute to see them share this fondness for those critters ~~even though I believe my Mother takes it way too far~~. They each have their individual time of checking on the rabbits, and at least once a day they go look at them together.

*Rolls eyes*

Before I gag, check out this note my Mother wrote my Dad: