I Am Speaking At The AtMidwest About Social Media Conference!

One month from today I will be speaking at the AtMidwest conference about getting practical with social media. You can imagine how excited I am!

The central Illinois event offers a variety of expertise treks to learn from. To those just starting out – to the more advanced, and all the places in between!  I am part of the “Start Me Up” Trek and  will be talking about how blogging allows you to be an expert in your profession, craft or hobby. I will also be sharing the story of a certain image/post that went viral!

There is a VERY nicely discounted registration right now – don’t hesitate to sign up!  That discount ends June 10th.

Please follow the #atmw tag to see what’s developing

 

 

May Your Journey Be Safe

My son leaves for the UK at 4.

He’s taking his phone, laptop, one humungous bike bag and riding his bike to the airport.  That’s going too.

Thoughts and images of him fleeting in my mind today are amazing.

I am letting them stream over me.

I feel celebration for him and his leaving.

I thought this 5th grade drawing he did was appropriate to share.
So “him”

Go fine son.

Journey free.

Be tremendously safe.

I adore you.

Love.  Mom.

 

The Burger Lady On Mother Nature Network

I want to thank the lovely Jenn Savedge for the wonderful profile she wrote about me yesterday on Mother Nature Network.

I have given up fighting the fact that I am know far and wide as the burger lady!!

Jenn is part of Green Moms Carnival, a group of spirited, enthusiastic woman that I proudly write with.

Why I Love Blogging

I am hosting this month’s Green Mom’s Carnival and am posting our collaborative commentary on Valentines Day – stay tuned!

My prompt, just for the “heart” of it, asked my fellow green moms why are we doing what we do and to say so in 250 words.

Here is my from the heart rise to the challenge…

Green Mom’s Carnival Two Hundred Fifty Word Challenge:

Many would agree that the need to be heard can be very strong. Some thrive on being heard more than others. I am one of those.  Add my curious, sharing and passionate self and my remarkable enthusiasm for oh…everything, and one will find that I am someone who cannot be contained.  I often must say. While I knew this about myself to some degree, I didn’t realize at what level having voice defined my very core.  Creative expression either in written form, in photography or my being more effusive, meaning way more verbally demonstrative than some often care for. Blogging has me expressed! I love to blog for many reasons, but mostly I blog because I can be me. We are all continuing to become.  Would you agree?  I know I am. The blog world is forgiving.  It’s a very generous place and the truth is it isn’t particularly selective. It has infinite room for all of us! We get to choose who we read, like, follow, friend and comment with. The vastness of this has me in awe. The impact and reach continues to humble me. Each and every day a person, email or commenter tells me something I’ve shared, written or photographed made a difference for them.  This is why I blog.

Slow Start

comfort tea

A Blog Moment Of Thanks

One year ago, under a variety of circumstances, not all of which were by choice, my blog was converted from a godaddy template to the WordPress platform. The conversion, a mighty, rather daunting and very detailed task was done beautifully by Luke Gedeon and his brother Matthew of Kdari Web Development. In addition to finding a sponsor to help fund the project, Luke worked with me to incorporate my “best of mother earth” branding and logo, my absolute love for photography and my personal need to have my blog be still be arty while being vast, informative and valid!

This has been an absolutely awesome year for my blog!

I am very grateful Luke for your mentorship, your patience with me, and your skills and creativity!!

evening rooftops by karen hanrahan