TT~Meet Heather

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Thank you so much to all of you who have participated in Traveling Tuesdays.  I'm taking a break from the concept, but hope that people would like to write again this fall/winter.  Give me a holler or stop by my contact page, if you are interested.  

I am going to start 20 Tuesdays in June.  I hope that some will join in.  I will post the list for 20 Tuesdays on June 4, 2013.  Think SUMMER bucket list!!

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Hi everyone! I'm happy to be here today for Traveling Tuesday!

My name is Heather and I have been blogging at The Destiny Manifest since 2001. My hobbies include writing, reading and knitting. I absolutely love blogging and writing, but I also really love spending time with my family, so it's a delicate balance (and when I lose that balance, family always wins... which is how it should be).

I am married to David, a very talented artist and the love of my life. We met when I was 13 years old (he was 17) and he was my date to my senior prom. I married my first husband in 2000 and we divorced in 2007. David and I remained friends over all the years... he is my oldest and dearest friend. We began dating in 2008 and the rest, as they say, is history. He has the uncanny ability to make me laugh when I'm feeling the worst, and I feel very lucky to have his arms around me at the end of every day.

I have two tween daughters, Lakin and Addah, from my first marriage. These two girls are the light of my life, even when they're driving me crazy! They are 17 months apart in age, which made life very interesting when they were little (can you say 2-under-2?) and continues to keep us on our toes, even now. They are smart, funny (hilarious, actually), and crafty as can be -- and by that I mean they love to do craft projects and that they're sly little ladies.

In addition to our big girls, David and I also have one daughter together. Clara was stillborn on July 1, 2012, when I was 42 weeks 3 days pregnant. This tragedy was completely unexpected and the past year has been a difficult one for our family. We try to remember and honor Clara in any way that we can, which has included a Random Acts of Kindness project, a Mother's Day Name Project, the knitting of many blankets for the hospital, and raising awareness about stillbirth and infant loss. You can read Clara's birth story on my blog, if you'd like.

On The Destiny Manifest, I blog about everything to do with our little family - raising tweens, recovering from financial disaster, mental health issues, dealing with the grief and guilt of infant loss, setting goals for our family and sticking to them, and squeezing as much happiness out of each day as we can!

I hope you'll come over and visit my blog, or follow me via social media. I love making new friends!



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TT~meet amanda

<center> <a href="http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com/p/traveling-tuesdays.html/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ps958HFH_lHj2WRBWEtdVGFbIJ_ZZHsvtXU1dXe0BmTx51AH9KQznZO-5g6hLFEZhP_f5c-jk-JjYHivLy0EFUu8VnnnXTtUbPUDe01rM-4lwwpa5cnpEb9MpeRnWLh-SszMaNKk_n3q/s200/Traveling+Tuesdays.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a great way for me to learn more about my bloggy friends and to help promote their blog.  So, once you're read their fantastic post, stop by their blog and leave them a note.  Tell 'em you stopped by from Dawn's Disaster :)  If you'd like to be a part of my Traveling Tuesdays, give me a holler or stop by my contact page.

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Hi folks! I'm amanda and I blog over @ raspberry beige. I am wife to hubster {the most patient man on Earth}, mama to junior {and one on the way}, and a first grade teacher. I've been blogging a little over a year now and love it. It's my therapy//outlet//self-improvement//humor all rolled into one. I have loved getting to know other bloggers out there and learning from them!



Disclaimer: Please excuse the photo taken in my car courtesy of Instagram. I do not enjoy taking pictures of myself and had like 3 to choose from. So there ya go.



I will be honest... when I usually see 'guest posts' {or something similar} in a blog post title, I usually think 'heavens to betsy I can't read another one'. So I will do my best to rid those thoughts from your brain.



I love to laugh. Humor is great, especially sarcasm. Seriously, it's my therapy. I laugh at myself quite frequently. As do other people. This may be why...

• I once drove my car into one of those big, tall, cement light poles. In an empty parking lot. At 7:30 in the morning. I then continued to drive to my destination at 15 mph with parts hanging off my car. Genius.
• I am the clumsiest person on earth. I have scars on my arm from burning myself with a curling iron and cutting myself on a fridge door. Didn't think that was possible? Apparently fridges are deathly sharp.
• On the way to my first date with hubster a buggy, yes a horse and buggy {without a driver}, ran me off the road. Four hispanic men proceeded to help push me out of the ditch. Great first impression.
• In college, my only B was in Oral Comm. Pretty much the easiest class on campus. Apparently I just should not talk to people. Ever.
• Two of the movies I used to watch the most: Mary Poppins and Mr. Bean. C-O-O-L. I just won't tell you at what age I stopped.

Impressed? You should be. Stop on over at my lil' old blog and enjoy laughing at my life some more. I don't mind.



In case that didn't entice you, I have pictures of my son who happens to be the cutest kid ever. Plus, I have a post called 'pukeballs'. Amazing.


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TT~Meet Laura

<center> <a href="http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com/p/traveling-tuesdays.html/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ps958HFH_lHj2WRBWEtdVGFbIJ_ZZHsvtXU1dXe0BmTx51AH9KQznZO-5g6hLFEZhP_f5c-jk-JjYHivLy0EFUu8VnnnXTtUbPUDe01rM-4lwwpa5cnpEb9MpeRnWLh-SszMaNKk_n3q/s200/Traveling+Tuesdays.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a great way for me to learn more about my bloggy friends and to help promote their blog.  So, once you're read their fantastic post, stop by their blog and leave them a note.  Tell 'em you stopped by from Dawn's Disaster :)  If you'd like to be a part of my Traveling Tuesdays, give me a holler or stop by my contact page.

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Hi!  My name is Laura and I'm the author of Storybook Reality.  I love to read and for as long as I can remember I've thought of my life as a story.  Often I feel like I'm living in a storybook.  Interesting things are happening....lots of circumstances I can't control....and let's be honest, a healthy dose of reality.  No matter how perfect life can seem from the other side of a computer screen I hope I give an honest picture of our highs and lows.

I love

Jesus * my sweet husband * my two boys * cooking * cleaning (just kidding)* painting * reading * UK basketball * costume jewelry * getting a good deal * traveling * my girlfriends * artichokes * Charleston

Other random things you might find interesting

I'm a military wife

I wish I were a better photographer

I can't wait to have another baby

I love to talk but a crowded room scares me

One of my hobbies is helping people who are either scared of cooking (I used to be) or think they don't have time to make an easy meal.  A friend shared this impossible to mess up recipe with me recently and I wanted to pass it along to you!

What you need...

4 chicken breasts (thawed)

1 can of green salsa (may be labeled as tomatillo salsa)

a crock pot

Pour the salsa over the chicken and cook on low until chicken is easy to pull apart with a fork.  Eat on the tortilla of your choice (we like corn and flour here) and top with your favorite ingredients.  We like avocado, sour cream, tomato, cheese, olives and cilantro.

That's it!  Easy and yummy!!

Thanks for reading and a special thanks to Dawn for having me today!!

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TT~Meet Marianne

<center> <a href="http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com/p/traveling-tuesdays.html/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ps958HFH_lHj2WRBWEtdVGFbIJ_ZZHsvtXU1dXe0BmTx51AH9KQznZO-5g6hLFEZhP_f5c-jk-JjYHivLy0EFUu8VnnnXTtUbPUDe01rM-4lwwpa5cnpEb9MpeRnWLh-SszMaNKk_n3q/s200/Traveling+Tuesdays.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a great way for me to learn more about my bloggy friends and to help promote their blog.  So, once you're read their fantastic post, stop by their blog and leave them a note.  Tell 'em you stopped by from Dawn's Disaster :)  If you'd like to be a part of my Traveling Tuesdays, give me a holler or stop by my contact page.

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I am SO excited to be here!!!


My name is Marianne Sandling, I'm an early-30 something with a WONDERFUL husband (and no, he's not reading this...he really is wonderful!!) of 11 years, and 2 amazing boys, 7 and 14 (both going on 20!)

Sorry there aren't any pictures of me...  While I've recently lost 60lbs over the last year, I still don't do pictures!!!  (there is one on my blog's header if you MUST see me!)

My blog is Sandling All Day.  It's a blog dedicated to everything... really, everything!!  I provide information and resources for parents of children with special needs.  My 7yr old is special needs, and I know how difficult it can be to find resources...  I even have a whole pinterest board dedicated to apps for special needs kids.

I LOVE doing product reviews!  It still excites me when a company uses my contact me page to ask ME for a review.  It amazes me!!  I review pretty much anything that's not 'adult', since my blog is family friendly.  I love showing how products can be used by/or help with someone with a disability.  I myself am disabled, as is my husband.

I also blog DIY, gardening, home, recipes.. pretty much everything, like I said!
During the week, I usually spend 2-3 days working with my mom, who owns a gardening business.  Helping mow 13-17 lawns is definitely hard, but I LOVE being out in the gardens.  I love the smell of fresh cut grass (hermione anyone?)  and the smell of fragrant flowers.

I volunteer on several committes at my younger son's school, and am on the PTA's of both kid's school.  (The older one does NOT, absolutely NOT want me volunteering at his school!! lol)

I am ALL about family. I learned one IMPORTANT thing when I was young...  that is to talk to your family's elders.  Get their stories (on tape, if you can) and learn as much as you can... because when they pass, so does all their stories, all the information... everything!

I recently tried to do a family tree, and asked everyone in my family, but no one seemed to know anything past my grandma.  Thank goodness that I'd asked her before she passed about our family, or I wouldn't have known anything.  If it weren't for the ancestry website, and someone else in the family  tree (whom I don't know!) having done research, I wouldn't have anything!!!

It stemmed from a book I co-authored with some other kids as part of a Seattle Summer Youth Employment Program, KaRaNaSan- A Filipino Anthology.  We went down to the local Filipino "hang out" and were paired with an elder, whom we asked a bunch of questions to.  I learned then, how important it is to get this information now.

So when my mother in law was released from the hospital into hospice care 2 years ago, I immediately started asking her questions.  I will be going to my father in law's house soon to do the same.  (My husband is almost 60, so you can imagine, my FIL is up there.) :)

If I could impart any wisdom onto you today, it would be the following:

1.  let your kids be KIDS!! Honestly, it's so hard for me today, to see parents who expect their children to be little adults... one mom literally YELLING at her child in my son's class, because she was dancing... during the class "dancing time"... and then openly complaining about how SILLY the dancing was.... It's first grade!!

2.  give in..sometimes... Especially when they're young. While it's important for safety and all, it's OK if they get a little extra... they learn to be giving, loving children. If you're always uptight, so they will be.

3.  MAKE THEM WEAR SEATBELTS. PERIOD. need I say more?

4.  GET YOUR CARSEAT PROFESSIONALLY CHECKED. (Sorry for yelling...this one's SUPER important to me!!!) Your local Children's hospital has seatbelt assistance. They do. Trust me. Just call them and ask. Usually they have special days you can go and get your carseat put in professionally. I can't tell you how many times I've seen infants buckled in improperly. NO BLANKETS!!!!!!!!!! I don't care if your child is uncomfortable...you can't buckle them in loose. My mom used to joke that my kid was so tight in there, that he wouldn't ever give me grandchildren. Well, when my husband was rear-ended with my son in the car by someone going 45mph (they were at a red-light) you better believe my mom was HAPPY that he was in there tight. It breaks my heart to see children who've been in hurt in accidents...where the injury could have been prevented with proper buckling!!!

5.  Finally, SECURE YOUR FURNITURE. This blog post WILL make you cry, but if it saves just one life... Meghan would be 11 right now.

Thank you for listening, reading & learning. I really enjoy talking!!! If you'd like to listen in, join me!!!

I want to thank Dawn for this amazing opportunity!!  It's not often that you find a blogger with THIS big of a heart...  I'm grateful for being able to be a part of a great 'tradition' on her blog!!


Marianne

~dawn
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TT~Meet Erin

<center> <a href="http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com/p/traveling-tuesdays.html/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ps958HFH_lHj2WRBWEtdVGFbIJ_ZZHsvtXU1dXe0BmTx51AH9KQznZO-5g6hLFEZhP_f5c-jk-JjYHivLy0EFUu8VnnnXTtUbPUDe01rM-4lwwpa5cnpEb9MpeRnWLh-SszMaNKk_n3q/s200/Traveling+Tuesdays.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a great way for me to learn more about my bloggy friends and to help promote their blog.  So, once you're read their fantastic post, stop by their blog and leave them a note.  Tell 'em you stopped by from Dawn's Disaster :)  If you'd like to be a part of my Traveling Tuesdays, give me a holler or stop by my contact page.

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Thank you Dawn for including me in your Traveling Tuesday series. I am so
excited to share a little bit about myself with your wonderful readers!

My name is Erin and I blog over at Erin the Irish Mama. I recently fell in love with blogging and have been on a roll ever since.  I enjoy my family, friends, an ice cold beer and a good football game! 

Here’s a little bit about myself prior to blogging.  I grew up in Delaware and got engaged to my husband after only 6 short months of dating.  We married a year later on October 4, 2003 {wow almost 10 years}.  It hasn't always been easy but we are always there for one another! 

Shortly after our wedding we moved to New York City where we both lived and worked.  After three years, I discovered that I was pregnant with my first son. Shortly after I had Benjamin,  I left my job at Ralph Lauren so I could stay home and raise my boys in the suburbs of New Jersey.  19 Months after having Ben, we welcomed our second son, Sean.  We still live in New Jersey and my husband continues to commute to New York City every day for work so I can stay at home and raise our boys!  

I always wonder if I am doing a good job at raising the boys.  I try my best but sometimes I feel like I am failing.  I guess all mothers feel that way every now and then, right?   It is a very hard job but worth it when you hear a giggle fit from your kids.  I mean 4 hours of fighting and screaming somehow gets erased when you hear them getting along and playing together {even if it is just for 20 seconds}. 

I started my blog about 5 years ago when I got pregnant with Benjamin. My father was dying of cancer and I wanted to document some of my pregnancy so he could see it.  I kept it up for quite a while after Benjamin was born and my father passed away.  But I stopped blogging regularly because life got way too busy with two boys under the age of two.   

About 8 months ago I decided that I wanted to do something when the boys were in school, so I started posting once again.  I haven't stopped since.  I wanted to document some of the crazy that happens in my house and it just sort of went from there.  

I hope that you guys enjoy reading my page, make sure that you stop on by and visit me at any of my links below! 

     

I am always doing giveaways, reviews,
sharing pictures of my two crazy boys. Plus, you will want to stay tuned with Erin the Irish Mama because I will be revealing a new site design real soon.  Thanks to my friend Andrea over at A Kay Web Designs, I am so excited to launch the new page and move everything over to
Wordpress! 

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TT~Meet Breanna

<center> <a href="http://dawnsdisaster.blogspot.com/p/traveling-tuesdays.html/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2Ps958HFH_lHj2WRBWEtdVGFbIJ_ZZHsvtXU1dXe0BmTx51AH9KQznZO-5g6hLFEZhP_f5c-jk-JjYHivLy0EFUu8VnnnXTtUbPUDe01rM-4lwwpa5cnpEb9MpeRnWLh-SszMaNKk_n3q/s200/Traveling+Tuesdays.jpg"/></a></center>

This is a great way for me to learn more about my bloggy friends and to help promote their blog.  So, once you're read their fantastic post, stop by their blog and leave them a note.  Tell 'em you stopped by from Dawn's Disaster :)  If you'd like to be a part of my Traveling Tuesdays, give me a holler or stop by my contact page.

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Hello Traveling Tuesday readers!

My name is Breanna & I blog over at Sweet Silver Lining!

 

Blog // Facebook // Twitter // Bloglovin // Instagram 

I'm a 24 year old recently graduated registered nurse. I'm also from Minnesota (like Dawn!). My all-time favorite color is pink. I also love sparkles and camo. And I'm obsessed with country music. My dream city is Nashville. I hope to someday live there & work at the Vanderbilt Children's Hospital. 

I first fell in love with Nashville after going there during Spring Break 2011. One of my roommates lived down there by the base in Clarksville, TN & it turned into the trip of a lifetime. Let me reminisce with you....

Every time I hear the beginning notes of the violin on As She's Walking Away by Zac Brown Band, I can't help but reminisce back to March 2011 and the Grand Ole Opry.

 

I remember the anticipation of heading out to the Opry on that warm Tuesday night.

I remember how proud I was to be a country music fan that night.

I remember feeling like this would be a moment I would remember forever and how important it felt.

I remember my watery-eyes after watching an opening video about the Nashville flood and how it almost took away our Opry.

 

Most of all, I remember leaving the Opry that night. Literally walking across the plaza in front of the building as the sweet violin of As She's Walking Away started playing. 

I remember turning around one last time to get a glimpse of the bright lights shining on the Grand Ole Opry as I was walking away....

 

"Don't you let regret take place of the dreams you have to chase....Now I'm falling in love as she's walking away"

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Have you heard about the Google Reader going away?  Well, if you haven't, have you been living under a rock?  I'll be the first to admit, I don't watch the news, so I'm always a little late at getting announcements like that one.  So, here's my plea for you to follow me through Bloglovin'.  I'd love to get to the 600 range soon, as that's where I am with GFC.  So, any help is appreciated!  Thanks!

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