Speech & Debate: the MVP of my education.

We all have things about us that aren't common knowledge.  Maybe because they're trivial (I don't like vegetables....) maybe because they're stupid (I am afraid of opening those pressurized cans of Pillsbury biscuits...)  but sometimes it is simply because it doesn't come up in everyday conversation or it's old news.

Did I ever mention that I was a debater?  Yep. A Speech and Debate junkie.  (I sure miss it.)
I got involved with Speech & Debate while taking courses at my local community college up in Vancouver, WA.   I needed to take a public speaking class, so I signed up for Speech 101.  (Gah.)  I thought I was going to absolutely hate it.  The first time I had to write, then give one of the required speeches, I thought I was going to die, then throw up, then pee my pants, then trip on my way to the podium... all at once.  You know what happened?  I didn't suck.  The next speech was easier, then the next... I got more and more comfortable up there.

The professor, Dave, also ran the school's Forensics program (that's another term for Speech & Debate) and he invited me to join the school's team.

Me with Professor Dave

I. Loved. It.  I competed for a few years, then I began helping out as an assistant coach.

I must say that getting involved with the Speech & Debate program is probably the most valuable thing I ever did academically.   You may be thinking "I don't give speeches, so I don't worry about speaking in public..."

Really..?  Have you ever:

• Needed to give a toast at a wedding or a celebration?
• Been with a big group at dinner and been asked to say grace?
• Needed to raise your hand and ask a question in a large group?
• Needed to give a report in a meeting?
• Needed to tell a little about yourself when joining a new group?

Guess what?  That all falls under public speaking.  You should be able to do those things without needing a paper bag to breathe into.

You might also be thinking "I'm not running for office... why do I need debating skills?"

Really..?  Have you ever:

• Had an argument with your spouse or significant other?
• Had an argument with your kids?
• Discussed a controversial topic with someone?
• Had someone question your belief system?
• Needed to explain why you are right (aka They Are Wrong) ?

Guess what?  Those are debates.  They might not come with podiums or moderators, but they are debates nonetheless.  The thing that is great about debate is that it trains you to take a situation where your tendency might be to become agitated and emotional, but instead you can remain remain calm and logical.

The really valuable thing about debate?  In order to do it well, you need to know what your opponent's arguments are.  You need to be able to really listen to them in order to address their points.  Think how valuable that is... active listening.  (Although Handsome Hubby might argue that my skills are, um, slipping a little bit in that particular area.)  Debate has also helped me to further define my personal philosophies, my thoughts on politics, religion, right and wrong, you name it.  Sometimes my position is solidified, other times I find I need to re-examine my thoughts on a given topic.

As a woman, being able to present a persuasive argument was a real boost to my self-confidence.  I felt empowered in situations where I might normally feel like I shouldn't speak up, or where I might worry my contribution might not be valuable.  Although I have never been what you might call a shrinking violet (or even quiet), Speech & Debate helped me find my voice.

I remain close with Professor Dave.  My family adores him and he has joined us for family vacations and holidays.

My mom, Dave and me in Rome, Italy 2002

Camping near Lake Tahoe 2008

Professor Dave (and Speech & Debate) have played such an important role in my life that HH and I even asked him to be Grant's godfather.  

Thanksgiving, 2004

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Go Daddy. The opinions and text are all mine.
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No Sew Project: How to recover your outdoor cushions using fabric and a glue gun.

I recently was fortunate enough to get to play around with some beautiful fabrics from Riley Blake Designs.    There is lots to choose from, and whenever you want to inject some color into a room, paint and fabric are always sure things.  I recently shared this quick tutorial over on Mom It Forward, but thought I'd share it over here, in case you missed it.

We do a lot of entertaining and much of it is on our patio.  Because we are in Southern California, we're able to change up the look of our patio furniture pretty regularly with just a little fabric and a glue gun.
If you can wrap a present, you can re-cover a cushion.

 

Riley Blake Designs has some amazing fabrics and I knew this fun paisley inspired print was just the thing to bring a shot of color to my patio.

We recover our cushions regularly because they were looking a bit worn, but are still perfectly comfortable.  Because we use a glue gun we can change the fabric as often as we like.  The last fabric we had on our cushions was a black and white combo for a Halloween Party.

Start by measuring the widest part of the cushion and the sides.  The width of the cushion was 25" and the sides were about 3" high.  25+3+3 = 31"  then I add another 6" to ensure it will wrap around to the back.  I cut a total length of 37 inches.

The next step is to pull the old fabric off of the cushion.  The fabric always pulls off and the old glue sticks to the cushion.  This allows me to toss the fabric into the washing machine and save it for future projects.  I love that I am able to use these materials over and over again.

Take the cushion and center it on the new fabric.

See?  The old hot glue sticks to the cushion, not the fabric so you can reuse the fabric over again.

This is just like wrapping a present, but instead of paper it's fabric and instead of tape, you're using hot glue.

Just like a present... fold up the sides and glue.  Then fold the "ends" and secure them as well.

The fact that this "seam" is present doesn't matter on most furniture.  No one sees the bottom of the seat cushion, and most chairs have a back support that hides the seam on the back cushion.

Is it going to last forever?  No... but then again, I don't want it to.

I love being able to change up my patio, depending on the event. These chairs were perfect for the Mother's Day Brunch we recently hosted.

Colorful cushions and a Mother's Day Mimosa... Nice!

So remember: It's OK to recover old cushions.  It's OK to use a glue gun to do it.  It's your patio... do what you want!

When's the last time you appreciated the town you live in...?

Last May I flew to Austin, TX and met up with 5 other bloggers I had never met in person, but felt like I had "known" them for years.  We had a blast and it was decided then and there that we were going to make this an annual event, with each blogger taking over "hosting" duties for the next few years.

Becca lives near Austin, so last year she did the ground work to ensure we had a great time and sort of served as tour guide.  This year it was my turn and they came to Southern California from Virginia, Texas, Colorado, Oklahoma and Florida.

L-R: Becca from The Texas Darlings (and also R We There Yet Mom?); Jen from  Harried Mom of Four;
me;  Connie from The Young and The Relentless;  Jenny Kate from Jenny Kate's Spot;
IA from Impulsive Addict; and Shawn from Seriously

I felt a bit like I wasn't doing the best job at creating a great experience for them because we were doing the things I normally do in the places that I normally do them.  (Including going to my grocery store!!) But they were so enthusiastic that I started to realize I had been taking for granted the beaches, the restaurants... all that Southern California has to offer.  Looking at it through fresh sets of eyes, I have a renewed appreciation for where I live.

I was going to try and cram our whole 5 days, 4 nights into one post, but I think instead I will break this down into some individual posts about where we went, what we did, and what we had to eat.  Basically a field trip in my own back yard.

Last year, Becca put together a fabulous video of our attempt to help keep Austin weird and she did it again for this trip.

 

I've watched this thing at least 5 times and it makes me smile each time.  Thanks for a great weekend Ladies!  Next year we head to Tulsa.  

 

Thank you... for all that we have.

Thank you to all who serve, and for the sacrifices that they and their families have made for our country.

My amazing dad served in the Marine Corps for 22  years, retiring as an E9 Master Gunnery Sargent.  He did two tours of Vietnam, among other things.  I might be the only one who finds this interesting, but my dad was interviewed about his experiences flying helicopters.  He did not share much of his experiences with his daughters, so I found his interview fascinating.

You just can't make this stuff up. More of life with Grant.

Scene:  Yesterday morning, Grant and I were about to walk out the door to head for school.  We notice it is drizzling and a bit chilly.

Me: "Grant, run and grab your jacket, it's kind of cold."
Grant: "I'll be OK Mom."
Me: "It's wet. Grab your jacket."
Grant: "I can't...."
Me: "What do you mean 'You can't'...?  Go grab your jacket."
Grant: "There's a knot in it."
Me: "A knot...?(stumped, thinking there aren't any ties or buckles, etc on his jacket.) What do you mean a knot?  Go get it please."

He brings me the jacket.
....Oh.

Yep... that's the sleeve.  Tied in a knot.  TGIF.

It was actually in a double knot and we were almost late to school.
I don't even want to know.

nRelate. oooh! Mommy like!

Hey, this one is for you bloggers out there.
I am pretty creative, but by no means am I a technical person.  (In fact, I become a dumb person the moment I pick up my smart phone, and I often have trouble navigating my own blog...)  There are all sorts of gadgets that you can add to your blog to help increase page views, but I am usually only willing to try it if it is easy (what, with me being a tech-tard and all.)

I'd heard people talking about nRelate, but hadn't signed up until recently.  nRelate is the plug-in that creates those little thumbnails at the bottom of blog posts that suggest other posts that might be of interest to our readers.  (Go ahead and look to the bottom of this post.  I'll wait...)

I had previously been using LinkWithin, and it was fine and all, but nRelate has some added features that are pretty cool.  The process of setting it up was pretty easy.  I also got to customize the look of the thumbnails and was able to add the plug-in to my other blog (My Favorite Hate Mail) at the same time.  I loved not having to create two different accounts to handle the two blogs.

In addition to directing readers to other posts, I can also monetize the thumbnails. The number of ads is up to you.  (I chose to only monetize one.)  It's potential revenue without clubbing readers over the head with another ad.

Something else that's cool?  You can promote content that is on another site.  Cross promote other blogs that you write for, but you could also just flat out share the love and promote another blog that you like... just because you like it.  I love that idea!  Since blogging is a community, it is great to be able to support each other in that manner.

Oh! Did I mention it is a free plug-in?!   Additionally, nRelate is SEO friendly, because it doesn't redirect through its own site like some similar plug-ins do.

So all of these cool features and the fact that even a lame-o like me can figure it out, I have to give nRelate two snaps up in a circle!  I tried it out specifically for this review, but I am definitely going to keep using it.

Have you tried it?  What do you think?

Pinterest's new auto-descriptions (What I've learned about my photos and some unsolicited advice.)

Pinterest.  We all love it, right?  OK, most of us love it.
Some of us....?
No matter what your opinion of Pinterest might be, if you have a website or blog with pictures on it chances are good that someone has pinned your photos.

Here's how to have a little more control over what gets pinned and how it is described.

A caveat: Pinterest seems to be constantly tweaking their site.  This post reflects my most current experiences and what I have figured out through trial and error.  Someone else might have a better system than me (and if so, I would love to know about it) but this is what I am needing to do at the moment for my photos at the moment.  

For a long time Pinterest didn't have any character limits on their descriptions, so basically people could pin a photo and then copy and paste an entire blog post into the "comment" area.  Bloggers like me, who rely on Pinterst for a huge chunk of their traffic, were not happy.  (I mean, why should people come to our blogs to read about a photo on Pinterest when they could read the whole thing  in a Pinterest description...?)

Pinterest finally implemented a character limit a few months ago.  YAY!  But now they are going so far as to have descriptions of the pin automatically upload when someone pins your photo... if you aren't careful, that could be a big BOO!

Here are a few examples from photos of mine that others have pinned.

1. DSCN4220  This doesn't tell anyone about this photo, other than the fact that the blogger (that would be me) was lazy and opted not to rename it.  I should have named it "soaking burner in ammonia" or something like that.

2. How to store fresh produce - From A to Zucchini (And a handy printable.)  This is the title of the blog post itself.  This is an older post, so I am not sure how it shows up like this... did the pinner copy and paste it into the description?  Did Pinterest do it automatically?  (click HERE to read original post)

3. cleaning stove burners, grates  This is how I saved the photo.  Dumb, dumb, dumb.  I should have named it "How to easily clean your stove burners" or something that is easily searchable. (click HERE to read original post)

4. The V Spot: Make ahead, stuffed French Toast This is the new thing that Pinterest seems to be doing, at least for me.  It adds the name of my blog and whatever the title of the post is.  It's cool for this particular post, but I don't always name my posts something so clear and concise. (click HERE to read original post)

This is what I have found to be the safest route:
First, try to create a "beauty shot" and put text onto the photo (without obscuring the subject).  Explain what it is and show it first in your post.  It is the photo that people are most likely to pin.
Here's an example of one I did for a recent project:

To read about this project click HERE

Don't laugh, but I saved this photo as unique, easy, DIY, wedding gift, anniversary gift, cheap, inexpensive  I wanted to have key words that someone might be searching for.  But remember photo #3 above..?  I didn't want that coming up as the description, so I did the only thing I have found that ensures the description says what I want it to say...  I went into Pinterst and did it myself.

Publish your post and copy the link, then go into Pinterest.  Go either to Goodies or About and then Pin It Button.  Scroll down until you find Pin It Button For Websites.

Add your link into the "URL of the page the pin is on" then type in your description.  As you type, the code below is automatically updated with your description.  Copy the code, then go back and edit your post by inserting the code directly under your Beauty Shot.

Now when my photo is pinned using the "Pin it" button next to the photo, it automatically has this description:

You can add your blog name, instructions to click for tutorial or recipe... whatever.
All of the other photos on the page are automatically pinning with the title of the post, but that's OK, because the shot most likely to get pinned is set up.

(Does this work every time?  No.  If someone is pinning from the "Pin It" tool on their browsers tool bar they will probably get the title of your post.)

Can pinners change the description to whatever they want?  Of course they can.  But you should try to make it as easy as possible for them to pin it, remember why they pinned it, and hopefully find their way to your blog or website.

If you don't know how to find out what you have had pinned on Pinterest, it's very easy:

Just type in /source/ followed by the URL of your website.

How are you doing with all of these Pinterest changes?  Love them or hate them?  Am I doing this the hard way?  Let me know!

Bird Watching

I love it when my kids take an interest in nature.
This month, Grant has decided that he is interested in birds.

I took all of these shots stealth-like, through the window.  That which you study, you also change... so I didn't want him to see me.

He is so patient, sitting there with his bird-watching "gear".

We have a hummingbird feeder that is quite the birdy hot-spot, and we have a pair of Finches (?) that have a spring/summer home above one of our outdoor speakers and they return to it each year and obligingly fill it with baby birds.

He is very careful to sketch and categorize his observations:

The Finches, feeding the babies.

He started a little book of birds he has observed in our backyard.  For some of them, I think he's mistaken.

1. Just in case you thought it might be yours...
2. Can you read the description of the Humming Bird...?  The humming bird is the fastest flapping bird that ever lived. It has no legs.  (No, it is not mutated.)

Also, it appears we have a wayward Siki Bird.  We are a long way from Japan.  I did not know they had an official bird, but I guess that makes sense.

3. I am sorry I missed the day when a peacock came into our yard....
4. This bird is either a Robin, or is very embarrassed.

He is such a crack up.  My very favorite though?  This way he came up with to categorize the birds he saw in the yard.

Small, Medium and Big

Do your kids do things like this?

Make ahead, stuffed French Toast

One of my favorite breakfast/brunch recipes is for Stuffed French Toast with Pears and Cream Cheese.  I serve it every Mother's Day and have made it for Christmas morning on several occasions.  

It is delicious, but what I like best about it is that you can put it all together the night before and simply pop it into the oven the next morning.  (That way you aren't missing any of the fun because you're stuck in the kitchen!)

Stuffed French Toast with Pears & Cream Cheese

adapted from Better Homes and Gardens

• 2 medium pears, peeled, cored and cut into thin slices
• 2 Tbsp butter
• 2 Tbsp light brown sugar (packed)
• 1 tsp fresh, chopped rosemary
• 1 large loaf of French bread, cut into thick slices (about 14)
• 8 oz cream cheese, softened
• 1 tsp orange extract (or 2 Tbsp Grand Marnier)
• 2 Tbsp butter, melted
• 3 Tbsp sugar
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 3 cups milk
• 3 large eggs
• 1Tbsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt

In a large skillet, saute pears and brown sugar in butter over a medium heat for about 2 minutes.  Add the rosemary.  Cook about 2 more minutes.  You want the pears tender, but not over-cooked.

Place a single layer of bread in a greased rectangular baking dish.  Spoon the pear mixture evenly over the layer of bread.  

Mix the cream cheese and orange extract (or liqueur) until totally combined and smooth.  

Spread on the remaining slices of bread, then place cream cheese side down on first layer of bread and the pears.  (You will have a pan full of pear and cream cheese sandwiches....)

Melt the other 2 Tbsp of butter and brush over the tops of the bread.  Sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar.

Whisk together the remaining ingredients, and pour slowly over the bread slices.  You want to do this slowly so that the milk and egg mixture can really soak into the top slices of bread as you pour.

Cover and refrigerate over night (or up to 24 hours.)

Bake, uncovered at 375degrees for about 40 minutes.  The toast should look puffy and golden brown around the edges.  Let stand for about 10 minutes before cutting into it.  

Serve with warm syrup, or berries, or powdered sugar (or all of them...)

Enjoy!

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A DIY, personalized wedding or anniversary gift for less than $20

This might be a little silly (or a bit TMI) for some folks, but I think it's cute.

Today I'm going to show you how to make an easy piece of "couples" artwork for less than $20 and in under an hour (not counting drying time.)

I think this "Spooning" artwork would be very cute for a wedding gift or for an anniversary gift.  (Or in my case, just because.)

When I was at SNAP! I saw spoons that had been hammered flat and had text hammered into them.  (I cannot remember the vendor that had them, so sorry.)  I think they were designed to be little plant or garden markers.  Anyhow, a few weeks later I saw a big bin of spoons at my local Goodwill and found two that I thought had a kind of cool design on them.  And for .29 cents a piece, why not?

Supplies needed:

• Old frame and glass
• 1 can silver and 1 can black spray paint (I used Krylon)
• adhesive letters (I used my Cricut and Contact paper)
• acrylic paint (I used Martha Stewart's Sea Lavender and Blue Sky)
• strong adhesive (I like Amazing Goop)
• 2 spoons (best if one is a little bigger than the other)

The colors I used match our bedroom, but obviously, you could choose whatever like.  If you wanted to, you could also make this work for the kitchen.
I took an old frame that I had laying around and spray painted it silver.

Then I took the glass from the frame and I spray painted it black.  (Yes, you can spray paint anything, including glass.)

I played around with the placement of the spoons and the contact paper letters.

At the end of the day, I thought our names made it too busy and opted to leave them off of the project.

I figured out where the spoons would go and adhered the letters accordingly.  Once the letters were pressed on, I added the two blue paint colors I wanted.  (Just squirt the paint directly onto the glass.)

Apply the paint, making sure your brush strokes go in one direction only.  (I chose side to side, horizontally.)  When the paint is set (but not totally dry) go ahead and carefully start peeling up the letters.  I used the tip of an exacto knife and tweezers to pull them off.

When all of the letters have been peeled away and the paint is dry, apply the adhesive to the lowest part of the back of the spoon (basically where the bowl of the spoon rests when you set it on the table) and also on the back of the handle where it hits the table.

Once the glue is applied to the spoons, carefully position them where you want them and let them sit.  I let mine cure overnight, just to be sure it was nice and secure.

I love how it turned out.  I think it's fun and whimsical, and it is certainly unique.

What do you think? Happy crafting!

Check the bottom of the blog to see where I link up.

Also linking up at Today's Creative Blog  SNAP Show & Tell and Home Stories A2Z

 

about Vivienne Wagner  

Field Trip: Newport Beach, California

I know that Southern California is a vacation destination for a lot of people, but because I live here, I frequently find myself taking it for granted.  I recently had several out-of-state girlfriends come to visit me.  I played tour guide and we had a great time, but one of the things I really wish I had done was to get them down to Newport Beach.  It really is one of the best beach towns in SoCal.  When I was in high school, it was the beach of choice.  We even rented a beach house there to celebrate our graduation.

If you go the Newport Beach visitor's site, you can get information about the city, the activities and great places to stay.  With summer coming up soon, there are lots of hotel packages too.  (For example, The Hyatt Regency has a promotion where Mom and Dad can book a room and get an adjoing room for the kiddos at half price if they mention The Family Plan)
The visitor's site can help you plan all sorts of activities and recommend places to go as well.

There are just tons of things to do and see in Newport Beach, and a lot of it is very kid friendly.  I think I'll be taking Grant over to the tidepools this summer.
One of my favorite places to visit is Balboa Island.  There is a restaurant there called The Village Inn that used to have a great piano player/singer there on the weekends and it was one of our favorite places to go.  This reminds me that I need to go back for a visit.

So often if there is something great in our own backyard, we make the mistake of assuming that there is nothing new to discover there.  I am going to have to make a point to rediscover one of my favorite places.  It's only 20 minutes or so from the house... I can't believe we don't get over there more often.
Have you been to Newport Beach before?  What was your favorite thing?

Newport Beach on Dwellable

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Newport Beach for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.