BlogHer Archives - Page 3 of 9

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!

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?

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?

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!

The Cure For BIG Mistakes

April 28, 2013 By Michelle Matthews-Calloway 2 Comments

My Mom and Dad do a great job of keeping up with the progress I’m making (or not) on my dissertation. Last week I was a bit bummed out about the edits I learned I’d have to make after hearing back from the Quality Reviewers. I got past it, squared my shoulders, and determined that I would Keep Calm And Write On.

After my Mother was assured that I was ok, she sprung into action. She’d seen something at the Dollar General that would be perfect for me. When I came in Friday evening, She had this waiting for me:

Of course the size of eraser brought a smile to my face. Even so, I know my Mother well enough to know that: (a) She wasn’t trying to make a joke, and (b) because she knows me so well, she knew I needed it and would use it. (I usually write before I type, and as a result I’ve amassed a vast collection of mechanical pencils). I erase. Often.

The writing on the eraser proudly proclaims: “For BIG Mistakes.” I thought about those words, what an eraser does, and wished the Dollar General made one that could be used on life’s big mistakes.

Have you ever done something you wished you could undo?

Made a decision to go right – when you should have gone left?

Said “Yes” when you should have said “No?”

Walked away when you should have stayed?

Spoken some words that would have been better left unsaid?

Unfortunately, neither life nor the Dollar General comes with an eraser For BIG Mistakes. We have always been told that we should learn from our mistakes, and that’s certainly true enough. Mistakes don’t have to be self-made for us to learn from them; shucks, we can look at the mistakes of others and take a lesson if we choose to pay attention.

Sometimes the cure for a BIG mistake comes when we start over. We take the eraser and start swiping. The relief and the release come when we erase.

We let go; choose to forgive ourselves if the mistake was ours, or forgive someone if the mistake was theirs. Erase; erase. We accept the concept of imperfection: Screw ups, blunders, lapses in judgment, missteps, major disasters.

I believe the cure for BIG mistakes comes when we dust off, regroup, recover and keep moving forward. Sadder? Maybe. Wiser? Definitely!

Yet, we move forward: Onward and up to the next step. We put one foot in front of the other; physically and emotionally. Soon, we discover that we have progressed; we’ve grown and matured. Ultimately, we see that we are better for the mistake.

And that’s when we know the cure is complete.

Join in the Fray: When have you had to use a BIG eraser?

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