NaBloPoMo Challenge Archives - Page 3 of 9

Welcome To “Da Berry!”

July 9, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 12 Comments

New Iberia, that is.

I’ve been chuckling at the number of emails I’ve received in the past few days asking me “Where are you moving to?”

I get it; enquiring minds want to know.

Whelp, After an intense search through 5 -6 cities I decided to move to New Iberia, Louisiana, a.k.a. “Da Berry” and “Queen City of the Bayou Teche.”

(Talk about having to kiss a lot of “frogs” before finding my “Prince” – more on the selection process [and frogs!] in another post).

New Iberia is a quaint, beautiful city full of diversity and culture. Several major festivals are held here, including the Sugar Cane Festival, Laotian New Year Celebration (New Iberia boasts a large population of Laotians) and the World Championship Gumbo Cookoff.

(Next to ice cream and popcorn, gumbo is my favorite food in the whole wide world. Just so you know, all the vegan/vegetarian bets are off when these events roll around!)

I’m in easy driving distance of Lafayette, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport and Houston, and Dallas is pretty much the same 5 1/2 to 6 hours away.

Any who, I’m one day closer to my countdown of moving in to my new place.

Shucks, I’m even thinking about moving the date up. Why wait?

Join in the Fray: What is your favorite cultural highlight in your city?

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

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!

Why You Need To Buckle Up

July 7, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 1 Comment

You need to buckle up because this week I will literally be on the move – I’m moving!

Yeppers, A Swirl Girl has some new digs in a new town. I’ll tell you more about the move, and this week you’ll also learn about my new “social experiment,” and how you can participate.

Lots of good stuff on the way.

Put your seat belt on, already!

Join in the Fray: In what way(s) are you “on the move?”

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

Roundup Report!

July 6, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

Whelp, I’m back from the Food Truck Roundup, and once again, I had a BLAST!

The skies were extremely overcast, and a cool breeze was blowing – a marked difference from the hot, pizza oven weather we experienced in June.

I was there to cover the event for the magazine. Once I went off the clock, it was time to bring out the Swirl Cam and survey the crowd for Swirlers.

Alas, the pickings were slim. I was hoping to see a BW/non-BM combination, yet true to form I only saw one Swirl couple – a BM/WW pair.

Ah, well.

Fortunately, I have lots of events to attend as the late summer-into-fall festival season gets underway so the Swirl Cam will be in full force.

Meanwhile, here are a couple of the sights and sounds that I can share from the Roundups I’ve attended so far:

An interesting – and energetic – band:

From the June Round Up:

Splash Fountain for the kids

Viva La Waffle! Everything they serve – from sweet to savory – is encased in a waffle.

Stay tuned for the full story coming later in the August issue of Acadiana Lifestyle magazine!

Join in the Fray: How’s the Food Truck scene in your area?

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

Headed To The Food Truck Round Up!

July 5, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

If you’re a Facebook friend or follow me on Twitter or Instagram you know this time last month I was out and about attending the Food Truck Round Up at Parc Lafayette.

Whelp, tomorrow I’m headed back for more food and fun! Last month the sun was blazing and though it was hot. as. Hades out there we managed to snag some delicious food and had a great time.

In addition to sampling the fare I’ll be on the lookout with my Swirl Cam in hand to see how many Swirlers are taking part in the good eats available on 15 or more Food Trucks.

One thing I’ve noticed since being back in Louisiana is the fact that Swirling in Acadiana seems to overwhelmingly consist of BM/WW couples. That’s all well and good – Hooray for them!

My focus, however is BW/non-BM couples so my eyes will be peeled to see if I spot any couples of that variation.

*Crosses fingers*

Stay tuned for the full report!

Join in the Fray: What’s the Swirl couple ratio in your area?

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!

The Price Of Pain

July 3, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 3 Comments

“People will pay for acute pain and passion, but they will not pay to alleviate chronic pain.”

~Danny Iny

What Danny is saying is that people are willing to “pay” if paying is what it takes to make an effective change in their lives.

Let’s face it: Unless your pain is acute, you’re probably not going to do a blessed thing about the needs in your life.

So what’s your Price of Pain?

What are you willing to pay – whether in money, time, inconvenience, moving out of a comfort zone, taking a risk or getting up off your seat of do-nothing?

I dare you to challenge yourself. I dare you to do something different. I dare you to take a step; to begin the process of actually making something happen.

The quality of your life is something you should never be willing to discount.

I dare you to pay the price.

Join in the Fray: What price are you willing to pay to end your pain?

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

How Acute Is Your Pain? – Part 2

July 2, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

So yesterday I asked you to think about what you need.

I was pleasantly surprised to get some emails from people who thought about the question, defined their need, and then categorized their pain as chronic or acute. (We’ll deal with passion later in the series).

I received the typical responses: The need for a loving and lasting relationship; the dream of writing a book; going back to school; eating healthy.

Can I say that I wasn’t surprised? That’s pretty much what I expected.

Which is why I asked the original question: How Acute Is Your Pain?

Don’t Talk About It – Be About It

May I interject some tough love?

If you’re not doing something to alleviate your acute pain, then it’s really not acute – it’s simply chronic.

That applies to just about every facet of life, from relationships to writing books; from eating healthy to going back to school.

You see, when pain is truly acute you stop at nothing to get some relief. If you have a migraine headache, you don’t just lay down and hope it goes away. No, you find some medicine – you move swiftly to find something that will take the pain away.

Want a relationship? Tired of being alone? Want to write a book? Want to go back to school? Want to eat healthy?

Then what active steps are you taking to make that happen?

If you always do what you’ve always done, then you’ll always get what you’ve always gotten.

So I’ll ask you again: How Acute Is Your Pain?

Is it acute enough to get you to make a move?

Join in the Fray: How acute is your pain? What are you doing to alleviate it?

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

How Acute Is Your Pain? – Part 1

July 1, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 1 Comment

So here we are in July! I’m ready to tackle this Blogher NaBloPoMo challenge so let’s get to it!

One of the things we’re discussing in my Business Ignition Boot Camp is the concept of needs.

Chronic Need

What do people need? Is the need a chronic one – something they know they should get/have/do. It’s that nagging thing in the back of their mind; the thing they need to address if they want that need met. The fact that the need is “ever-present” makes it chronic. (You know – the classic “dripping faucet.”)

Acute Pain

At what point does the need become acute? It becomes acute when it causes them pain – when they can no longer ignore it. The pain can be emotional, physical, financial – you tell me. The need has to be addressed, resolved, solved. (Think: The dripping faucet is now a steady stream that is adding a couple of hundred dollars per month to the water bill. Oh yes – that’s painful).

Passion

There’s also the concept of passion, where the need is neither chronic nor acutely painful. Passion occurs when you tip toe through the tulips with no stress – you basically do whatever it is you’re doing because you want to and because you love to do it. (This is Nirvana, if you will; the ideal state. We’ll get to that later in the month).

For the next several days – maybe the rest of the week – we’re going to talk about needs and pain.

I want you to consider what your need is.

What do you need?

What do you want?

Is your need chronic – or is your need acute and causing you pain? How acute is your pain?

Think about these questions and identify your need. Settle on an answer. Check in with me tomorrow, and we’ll talk about it.

***Side Note***

(I know it’s “late,” yet if you’re a regular reader of the blog you know how I roll. I’m a Certified Night Owl, so oftentimes my posts will come at what may seem like an obscenely late hour – sometimes at 11:59 p.m. CST, just to make sure I make that day’s deadline). If you’re a Newbie, just go along and we’ll get along!

***2nd Side Note***

(I can’t put it all on being a Night Owl – a lot of times my posts come late because I’m a glutton for punishment and I juggle a lot of writing assignments. Just work with me, people!)

Join in the Fray: Chronic, or acute?

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!

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Welcome To “Da Berry!”

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Roundup Report!

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Headed To The Food Truck Round Up!

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Happy 4th of July!

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The Price Of Pain

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How Acute Is Your Pain? – Part 2

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How Acute Is Your Pain? – Part 1

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

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