The Womens Community Blog

A 'Last Chance' Gift Exchange!

mangoritacolada@hotmail.com (Eve) — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 02:38:00 +0000

Did you (like me) search frantically for a Christmas gift exchange to participate in this year, only to find that you somehow missed the deadline for Every Single One?

Have no fear...
I'm hosting a 'Last-Chance' Secret Santa Gift Exchange!

Whether you missed sign up deadlines, or you've only now realized that you would like to be involved in a gift exchange, or even if you are already participating in other exchanges and would like to join in on one more...
I'd love to have you join us!

Come on by Tranquility... and Turmoil to find out more and to sign up!

Would you ...could you?

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Michalski) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:01:00 +0000

I need just one little vote for a photo contest. BUT - you get only one click. You can vote only one time for one image on the entire site. If you're interested in helping me, the link is here. You can change your mind at any time during the contest. But, the last image that you click on to vote for, will receive the vote. I submitted 6 photos because Examiner.com writers are permitted to sub for free. In any case, I'm not stoked about winning a prize, I'm stoked about winning the attention my photography needs, which is in my humble opinion the real prize. Anyhoo, looks like a few people have voted for the image of the boys drinking from the water fountain. It is a rare lucky shot I happened to get. Even if you don't vote, please take a look-see at the images. You'll enjoy them. Thanks ever so much for considering one of my images!

Today's Post Sponsored By The Letter...

jesmedley@gmail.com (Jessica Eiden Smedley) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:37:00 +0000

Happy 40th Birthday, Sesame Street.

This epic television series is now shown in 120 countries with a vast assortment of characters to cater to socio-economic and geographic-specific issues. My challenge to find another show with world-wide reach and appeal as this has come up empty.

Today the 4,186th episode aired and I sat down to watch and sadly, the only thing I took away was, "This show got strange."

And now the phrase I never thought I would utter: When I was a kid, there was a certain daring, brilliance to Sesame Street. It was for children and although it is still for children, I observed adult interference; an unnecessary safety net.

Or maybe my rose-colored glasses have changed focus.

Whatever my feelings, there is no denying Sesame Street's place in history and can only hope any children of my own will find the same joy that I did.

So many favorites, I won't force you to watch them all.

What are yours?

Dona Nobis Pacem (Grant Us Peace)

rosidah.a@gmail.com (ROSIDAH) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 03:30:00 +0000

November 5, 2009

The Peace Globe Gallery

One day. One voice.
All it takes is one post.
Won't you join us today?
If words are powerful...
then this matters.

How To Get Your Peace Globe

Happy Anniversary!

rosidah.a@gmail.com (ROSIDAH) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 05:27:00 +0000

Our dear friend Shirley at
Welcome To Shirley's Luxury Haven!

has been celebrating her 19th Anniversary

Wishing you a lifetime of
joy and blessings together, my dear.

Have a wonderful week, everyone!

Two Special Birthdays

rosidah.a@gmail.com (ROSIDAH) — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:23:00 +0000

Today two lovely ladies of our community
Alana Roberts & Amanda Robinson
celebrate their birthdays

Wishing both of you a lot of joy and blessings as you step into another year.

Thanks for your wonderful efforts to make our community keep on going.

Have a great week, everyone!

Free Writing Contest

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Michalski) — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 22:45:00 +0000

Writing Contest

FundsforWriters is a wonderful website. I would highly recommend it to any writer. This is a great contest! - Kimberly

FundsforWriters Annual Essay Contest

FundsforWriters. com and VIPAuthors.com present an annual essay contest.

NEW Forum for Women Bloggers

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Mon, 24 Aug 2009 22:36:00 +0000

Hi everyone

I thought we might like a forum! A place where we can all chat, share ideas and get to know one another

So here it is The Community for Women Bloggers

This forum is open to all women bloggers, not just members of this blog, so please tell your blog readers to visit and signup too!

This is a brand new forum I have set up, please feel free to suggest new topics to be added, all suggestions are welcome

Thanks!

That growl you hear is me

noreply@blogger.com (Kimberly Michalski) — Sat, 22 Aug 2009 02:50:00 +0000

That growl you hear is me

Though I'm frustrated with Mr. Immelt, I bought a front-loading energy saver GE washing machine, to replace my junk Whirlpool Gold that was barely 7 years old. The new one was delivered this morning. After a brief test and some instructions the delivery personnel left and I felt giddy with a new washer.

I quickly gathered a load of blue jeans tossed them in the machine, clipped open the sample packet of Tide HE, poured it into the reservoir, made the proper selections and pushed start. I tinkered with the new buttons a little and decided it was a very cool appliance. From time to time I peered into the machine and wondered if it was working right. There didn't appear to be much activity inside it.

An hour later when the load was supposed to be finished, it wasn't. It merely hummed. Thinking I must have tinkered too much pushing the new buttons, I turned the machine off and started over. An hour later, nothing but a hummmm. Exactly how I felt. I unplugged the machine, plugged it back in and set it to rinse and spin. An hour later, nothing plus a hummmm. No longer exactly how I felt. Instead I wanted to have an adult "I'm sick already of spending money on high end merchandise that doesn't work" tantrum.

I call GE. I call Lowe's. Though I'm tempted I don't call names and I'm very polite. But, dagflippitynabbit, I'm really ticked! I want a new machine and I want it now! GE and Whirlpool I have a message for you: PPPPLLLLLLBTTTTTTHHHHHHHHH!!!

Real Life..Christina DePauw Heald

noreply@blogger.com (Marilyn) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 09:20:00 +0000

For me, life is about others, and at times I have encountered the most wonderful people, who are just trying to get through life in the most ordinary way. I wanted to introduce someone incredibly special, Christina DePauw Heald. A woman, a mother and a wife who is in the fight of her life...

"I've realized this year that, for whatever reason, I was supposed to lose it all--or come really close. I have spent months in self-reflection and I have come to realize a few important things:

I can't control everything.

In order to become the person I want to be--I need to throw away the person I am.
I spent my 20's hung up on my outward beauty. I spent much of my 30's working on my inner beauty. What I realize finally in my 40's is that your LASTING beauty is what will ultimately define you. "Christina DePauw Heald writes a blog about her struggles and battles with breast cancer. Finding her, in this maze of the world wide web of information and disinformation was not unlike finding a long lost sister.

Most of us have been touched by someone who is battling this disease. They have good days, bad days, and mostly people honestly don't know what to say as the exchange hopeful smiles and secretly hopes they are not the ones who have to some day hear the news that seemingly too many people are hearing, "you have cancer." The reality I live with is that the odds are not in my favor, but I refuse to think about it. You don't want to open Pandora's box, and yet every month I breathe a sigh of relief that nothing is wrong (yet).

My mother, was only 55 years old, diagnosed with Stage IV of ovarian cancer and died 2 months and 5 days later. Yes, it was horrible. However, like Christina, she tried to impart as much wisdom as she could before she died in between treatments that seemed to only make her die more quickly. Treatment looked worse than the disease. Anyone who chooses to go through treatment is making a decision to fight like hell to live. They are courageous.

I had many other friends who have battled this disease, and two women that I remembered the most who were going through treatment at the same time, at the same stage...where one lived and one died. It totalled my surviving friend, burdened her with survivor's guilt when she received the news that her body was clear of the disease shortly after the death of her friend.

This mortality we are all cursed with, was a lesson. That too often we don't enjoy life and don't value each other enough. I encourage you to stop by Christina's blog, Specifically Speaking and offer your words of support and encouragement. She is a heroine in a time when the world has gone mad.

Marilyn Campiz
Writer, author, poetess
The Lotus Sutra Chronicles - An American ex-patriot's personal blog about her adventures, observations, and personal quests for art and a good red wine while teaching English in Daegu, South Korea.

What's in a Name?

jesmedley@gmail.com (Jessica Eiden Smedley) — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 21:56:00 +0000

I changed my surname four months after getting married. Women representing multiple generations generously offered their unsolicited opinions by stating I “caved to conformity” or was an example of feminism gone too far; how could I have waited so that long and shown so much disrespect for my husband and his family?

The reality of the situation is I did not feel like going to the Social Security office and the DMV.

Full of pre-teen angst and sure the history of this name changing ritual had roots amongst the mindset of treating and trading women as commodities, I frequently tested the tolerance of my gender-role traditionalist, hyper-religious father by proclaiming, “I am not a piece of property!” and demand to know why upon getting married I was “expected to exchange one man’s name for another?” It is unknown if the anger my father displayed was due to my obstinance or my three younger sisters being within earshot.

As I got older, I really started to love my surname; I could not be Jessica without Eiden. It was slightly odd and just rare enough that my siblings and I knew if a stranger could pronounce it correctly it was assumed they were acquainted with a member of our extended family.

On the other hand, my middle name invoked feelings of a different nature, despite it also being a family name.

Louise has been the middle name of the first-born daughter for generations on the maternal side of my family tree. It always made me cringe; mean old ladies with fierce old lady hair were named Louise. It also dumbfounded me as I have an older sister.

Years later, while discussing the choice with my then-fiancé, I decided that not only would I take his surname, I would replace my middle name with my maiden name. Quite the traditional move for this non-traditional gal.

In February of this year I found myself standing in line at the Social Security office without my morning coffee. An hour later, the clerk took my faded card, tossed it aside and asked me to sign here and here. Two weeks later an envelope arrived.

The whole process was so easy and effortless, not a single consequence crossed my mind. I opened the envelope and saw my new name. I shuddered. I sat. I sobbed. And sobbed. And sobbed.

What had I done?

There, on a very official government document was this foreign name. Jessica Eiden Smedley. Who the hell was that? I had no idea and did not care to learn.

It felt like my past was being erased and the only person to blame was me. The irrational thoughts continued; somehow I had to return to my very expensive alma mater for the repeating of my undergrad because Jessica Eiden Smedley never went to college. I was not even sure she had the high school transcripts to submit for college admission. Who was going to tell my siblings they were down a sister? Were the numbers in my mobile telephone automatically disappearing? Is Jessica Eiden Smedley a vegetarian? A runner? Registered as an Independent?

In a matter of seconds I had reduced myself to a friendless, meat-eating, apathetic nobody trying to pass the kindergarten entrance exam by spelling her name correctly. And failing.

My husband found me crying in the dining room.

“You didn’t have to do it.”

He was right, but honoring my commitments is just another way to showcase all of my stubborn glory. No matter how ridiculous.

The following month I received rather distressing news from my best friend and was soon on an airplane bound for my hometown 3,000 miles away. During my month long stay, I spent a few nights at my mother’s house.

My parents were divorced many years ago. This shattered the family emotionally in ways that are still felt today, so to recognize the historical significance of this seemingly mundane event, one would require much more time to write than I have available as well as signed disclosures from the family attorney and mental health professionals.

It was big. It was important. It was going just fine.

Wanting a lunchtime excursion found my mother, my youngest sister, her girlfriend and myself driving downtown. I was taking my turn in a spirited conversation with my sister, which included a playful insult. Her jaw dropped and between fits of laughter she managed, “Jessica Louise Eiden! That is so gross!”

“You know that is not my name anymore, right?”

“Oh, right. Jessica Louise Smedley! That is so gross!”

“Actually, I took Eiden as my middle name.”

My sister continued to talk about…something. I did not hear a word because of the look on my mother’s face. She was driving so I could not get the full effect, but what I saw while in the passenger seat, was more than enough.

Her single look conveyed a level of sadness that I did not think possible from a woman that had unfairly been plagued by grief throughout her 51 years. The wind was knocked out of me and my body went numb.

Her convictions were always understated. She would not remind me that her middle name, my grandmother’s middle name and great-grandmother’s middle name were elegant protests against the unfortunate occurrences caused by the men in their lives. She would remain silent and refuse to show any vulnerability in front of her daughters.

I chose Eiden over Louise. I chose him over her.

I broke my mother’s heart.

After lunch we went to my favorite bookstore where I managed to break away from the group and locked myself in the bathroom. I sobbed. And sobbed. And sobbed. I just could not get it right.

Jessica Eiden Smedley has existed for six months. The petty, unreasonable thoughts have been replaced by small grins when I forget to sign “Smedley” or do not recognize my name being called. I insist upon the full version of my name because I cannot be Jessica without Eiden.

But, if anyone ever slipped Louise in there, I would not mind.

Jessica Eiden Smedley is the author of Have We Met? A foolish and preposterous blog about her foolish and preposterous life. Many thanks to Laura Parsons for her edits and kind words.

Big News For WBD

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 13:29:00 +0000

To All Members

The Womens Blogger Directory is changing, after some discussion Pamposh and I have decided that it is time for a change, we have always most enjoyed the community atmosphere of the directory and have met many wonderful women bloggers from all over and we feel that at this time the directory has grown quite large so we would like to focus more on the community aspect of blogging.

So with that said we would like to transform the directory into a community blog, where any current member who is interested can log in and write a post, updating those of us and our readers on their lives, interests or whatever they choose, much as you all would on your own blogs. The difference would be the WBD would now have many authors writing about all different subjects and we feel that this change would make a great difference and bring our members closer while also helping to build the profiles of your individual blogs.

Unfortunately this will mean we will not be taking any new blog submissions (please note anyone who has submitted and is not added yet, will still be added, we are dealing with a back log at the moment) but we feel this is a good move for our members.

If you are intetested in joining the WBD community as a writer all you need to do is leave a resonse here and an authors invitation will be sent to you via email, you will then be able to log in and post as often as you like.

We very much look forward to welcoming new authors and hope to see our members posting soon

Thanks
Alana

Love and Life Quotes

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:51:00 +0000

Blog

A Quotes blog featuring famous quotes, quotes about life, love quotes and funny quotes. Quotes can be inspiring, motivational and can help us to remember important moments in our lives. They can help us deal with situations from everyday stresses to the major events in our lives. Quotes can also remind us of our favourite places, times and people.

Bio

Just a collection of some of my favourite quotes, sayings and poetry.

Visit blog love and life quotes for Sad Love Quotes

Creationz Unwrapped

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Thu, 18 Jun 2009 21:23:00 +0000

Blog

This blog is about arts, crafts and cooking

Visit blog Creationz Unwrapped

Comma Goddess Speaks

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:12:00 +0000

Blog

The Comma Goddess Speaks: Musings on Life's Joys & Vexations," offers up observations and opinions on motherhood, manners, wisdom, words, and more. It's creative, conservative, does not suffer fools gladly, and has a definite Southern drawl.

Bio

I'm a writer in Greenville, South Carolina, passionate about poetry, family, friends, and faith. I'm the author of four books of poetry and maintain two websites: www.jaynejaudonferrer.com and www.yourdailypoem.com.

Visit blog Comma Goddess Speaks

Embracing My Journey

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 20:05:00 +0000

Blog

Enjoy the writings and ramblings of Caryn Gottlieb FitzGerald. Caryn has survived anorexia, bulimia and abusive relationships....she was at the brink of and choose to live. Today she is happy, healthy and assisting others in creating lives of abundance and joy!

Bio

I am an author and professional speaker who has been sharing my love of the written word for over 25 years. I am the author of “Tulips in the Sand” the first novel in the Riley Matthews Mystery series, a featured author in "Manifest Success: The Ultimate Guide to Creating the Life of Your Dreams” and proudly co-authored a gratitude workbook for children in 2007 with my 6-year-old daughter, Sami FitzGerald. I made the choice to live and prosper after spending a decade in abusive relationships while secretly living with anorexia and bulimia. Today, I am healthy and I'm creating prosperity through my passions as I share my inspirational story with people around the world. I reside in Texas with my husband and daughter. For more information please visit: http://www.CarynFitzGerald.com.

Visit blog Embracing my Journey

Rainbow Gate

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 21:33:00 +0000

Blog

In 2006 I quit my job to follow my heart and dreams. In other words I jumped off a cliff. This weblog is the story of what happened and is still happening as a result of that jump.

Bio

My name is Robin Rainbow Gate. I was born to two artists and grew up in Chicago. I am an honorer of stories through the medium of video (documentarian, video portrait maker), a photographer and a writer and representative for a particular Mexican mask maker. I lived five years abroad in my twenties and returned to the states in 1985, to Lexington, Kentucky. I lived there for 22 years, not feeling connected to the earth there and feeling that loss deeply. In 2006 I left the states for Latin America, where I actually feel my roots and have found home.

Visit Blog Rainbow Gate

Announcement for all members

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Sun, 24 May 2009 18:41:00 +0000

This announcement is on behalf of one of our members Cales Cantrall who has the following message for our members

Top 100 Mommy Bloggers on the Web

List your blog on our new Top 100 Mommy Bloggers Site! Submit your site here: http://mommyblogs.gotop100.com/index.php once your account has been set up, don't forget to grab our banner and post in on your blog! Your readers can vote for your blog by simply double clicking on your Top 100 Mommy Blogger Badge! The more votes you receive, the higher your ratings, which means more visibility for your blog!
If you have any questions, please email topmommybloggers@googlemail.com

I hope any of you who are interested will show your support for this new venture from one of our members
Thanks
Alana

Rainbow Days

pamposh@gmail.com (Pamposh Dhar) — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:17:00 +0000

Blog

I blog about how my kids turned me into a maternal woman.

Bio

I live and work in Gurgaon, outside India's capital city, Delhi. I have 3 kids, all under 10. I'm a serial hobbyist and many of my hobbies have now turned into blogs - food, design, reading etc.

Visit Blog Rainbow Days

Marielynn Boutique

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Tue, 05 May 2009 20:39:00 +0000

Blog

I blog about new products that I have added to my site, Marielynn Boutique, as well as great products that can be found at other websites. Ive recently added Product Giveaways each week to my blog as well. I also blog about my personal life, anything from motherhood to traveling.

Bio

I am a WAHM of one. My daughter is currently 19 months old. We live in Germany and will be relocating back to the US later this year!

Visit Blog Marielynn Boutique

Blogamatazz

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Sun, 03 May 2009 21:26:00 +0000

Blog

BLOGAMATAZZ: Women's Lifestyle
Blogging about Women's Issues including Beauty, Fashion, Health, Family and more.

Bio

I'm Catherina Amor from Queensland, Australia. I'm an artist, web designer and blogger. I always wanted my own magazine, instead I now create and design information websites, thanks to the internet!

Visit blog Blogamatazz

Anindita Sengupta

pamposh@gmail.com (Pamposh Dhar) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 00:16:00 +0000

Blog

Anindita Sengupta is a poet, writer and journalist in Bangalore, India. This is her personal weblog where she writes about poetry, gender and travel among other things.

Bio

Anindita Sengupta works as a freelance writer and editorial consultant in Bangalore, India. She specializes in writing about art, culture, society and development. Her clients include Iconoculture, a global consumer research firm; and Fida, a Finnish development organisation. As a journalist, she writes about books, gender, documentary film, social and cultural issues, and travel. She has been published in The Guardian (UK), Tehelka, The Hindu, Deccan Herald, Mid-Day and Marie Claire. She is also founder and executive editor of Ultra Violet, a website on contemporary feminist issues in India. Her poetry has been published in Pratilipi, Quay Journal, Cha: An Asian Journal, Kritya, Muse India, Yellow Medicine Review, Talking Poetry and several anthologies. In 2008, she received the Toto Funds the Arts Award for Creative Writing.

Visit blog Anindita Sengupta

Members' Notice - Blogger's Choice Awards 2009

pamposh@gmail.com (Pamposh Dhar) — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 03:20:00 +0000

Hi all you bloggers. Do check out the Blogger's Choice Awards for 2009 – enter your own blogs and vote for others you like.

Go here to join or log in.

The easiest way I’ve found to vote for a blog you like is to go directly to the blog and click on the Blogger's Choice Awards widget there. You can see an example on any of my own blogs (and yes, while there, do vote for me!!).

Once you’ve entered your blog(s), add a comment here to that effect to let all the members know so that they can vote for you. Alana and I have both entered already.

Incidentally, I found these awards through BlogCatalog. I don't think you have to be a member of BlogCatalog to nominate and vote for these awards, but it's a good idea to join BC anyway. It's a good way to network with other bloggers and to get a little more exposure for your own.

Happy blogging and best of luck with the awards!

Important members announcement!

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 20:10:00 +0000

I would like to introduce the newest author to the womens blogger directory!....

Pamposh Dhar has kindly agreed to come on board as co author and administrator of The Womens Blogger Directory!

I know many of you already know Pamposh and I hope you will all welcome her here, I am sure she will be a fantastic addition to the directory

For those of you who do not yet know her you can check out her blogs below

Pamposh Dhar

Wandering Pam

Terataii reiki and counselling center

Terataii

You make me smile award

noreply@blogger.com (Alana) — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 20:48:00 +0000

The womens blogger directory has been given an award! the "you make me smile award" thank to

Shirley of blog Luxury Haven

and Barbara of blog Barbaras Meanderings for this award.

This award is to be passed on to ten others and as this is always a difficult decision for me I am going to ask for a little help here, If you know of a blog (members or otherwise) that you think is deserving of this award, please comment below and add the link to the blog and I will add each suggestion to this post and visit to let the author know that you recommended them to me for this award and invite them to accept it.

You can check out the "you make me smile award" in the left sidebar

Thanks again to Shirley and Barbara!