Friends {Slash} Family

Somewhere out there I know someone has a ruffly pillow with cursive stitches informing readers that "friends are the family you choose."

While I don't have much by way of embroidery skills, boy do I have people who fit that bill. Since I was a kid, I have been blessed with people who aren't related by blood or marriage, but would stand beside me, behind me, and in front of me at the drop of a hat. These people become harder to find, but thanks to the connectivity of the Arkansas Women Bloggers, I have two more family members. I have only known Karen and Alicia for a few years, but the outpouring of support they have shown in the hard times and the hilarity we share in the good place them high on my list.

Last Friday we pointed Karen's minivan in the direction of Hot Springs and burned rubber. This was our second girls' trip to the Spa City, so I think it's safe to call it an annual event. We all live in different towns, so our face-to-face time is limited. That's why we make the most of what we get. We use this mid-February trip to honestly do whatever we feel like... because we can.

This year that meant wandering up and down Bathhouse Row and spending more money than we should have. We also had to eat a cupcake after taking a classic Duck ride through town and hearing all sorts of touristy tidbits we mostly already knew. We lounged in our cabin rental for a while, then headed back downtown to enjoy a chilly evening of live music on the patio at Rolando's. Don't you worry, though, those margaritas warmed us right up. Our evening of debauchery ended at the Oaklawn slot machines. You might remember my first trip, where I decided I was the luckiest girl in Hot Springs. While this round did see me being up 50 bucks at one point, we walked out of there with zero of the dollars with which we began.

You might say this curbed our over-shopping.

After our wait-an-hour-because-it's-that-delicious breakfast at The Pancake Shop, we parted ways a little early because my family is going through a rough time. Rather than be bummed to cut it short, Karen and Alicia happily pointed that minivan the other direction and drove me completely out of the way to North Little Rock. Like I said, not only are these girls sitting on go when it comes to fun, they show their truest colors when I need them most.

The same goes for all of the people my husband and I are lucky to call friends. We know adult friendships are a little different because of life and work and kids, but we pick up right where we left off. Thanks to all who have reached out to us during this hard time. You have no idea how much your friendship means to us. Without going into detail, my family would appreciate your prayers of peace and comfort.

Happy Thursday, y'all. Life gets in the way, but today is the perfect opportunity to reconnect with your friends/family. Give them a call, why don't you?


PS! For those of you always looking for new books to add to your list, you will love Karen's blog. She is a book reviewer and posts her thoughts a few times a week. I bet she could add to your wish list. Find her at Ting's Mom Books. Also, any dog lovers out there should go ahead and add her newest blog to your reader, too. She recently got a cute little Jack Russell pup and she's sharing these adventures from his point of view. See what I'm talking about at Dak the Jack. As for Alicia, her blog is all things crafty, food, and garden. She's a lifestyle blogger who shares all of her hobbies and gives you ideas to try, as well. Click and see what Simple Words By A has to offer.

Okay, I'm really done now.

Ornament Exchange 2016

The most wonderful time of the year sure brings the best mail days.

From Christmas cards featuring smiling friends and family {and cats} to packages that must be expertly hidden, my mailbox and front porch stay full. One particular package I look forward to every year arrived a few days ago. The Arkansas Women Bloggers is a community full of women writers I adore, and I love participating in their annual handmade ornament swap. I'm not the most crafty blogger, but it's fun to send Christmas spirit across the state.

Bonus: I love getting a little handmade cheer in return! One of the most colorful characters in the ARWB group is Kellee Mayfield, aka Delta Moxie. I met her at my first conference in 2014, but in the last year I've enjoyed watching her grow as both a blogger and an artist. She does gorgeous work with various paint mediums, and I am a huge fan of her style.

I knew when I saw Kellee's name on a package in my mail box that this ornament swap was working in my favor. I had zero clue, however, that inside was an original painting!

I am absolutely honored to have Kellee's work hanging on my tree. The colors in this gorgeous landscape are perfection, and I can't stop staring at it. I long for days of golden fields and clear blue skies, and I think this is the perfect way to tide me over. This ornament may end up being a year-round decoration.

Although the recipient of my handiwork was not matched with an artist, I held up my end of the deal. Julie Kohl, who actually heads up the ornament exchange and the creative content on the Arkansas Women Bloggers site, gave me her name. I knew it had to be good. While Julie's a super foodie and a great craft maker, one of my favorite things about her is her love for the open water. She's a fantastic paddle boarder and feels at home on the beach, just like me! I ran with that theme and produced the following ornament:

The sand actually came from a recent trip to Florida and I hope this ornament brings memories to keep her warm during the freezing winter days. I had a great time reading through Julie's blog to get a feel for what she would like. I think you would probably enjoy reading both Delta Moxie and Julie Kohl, so check them out while you count down to Christmas. Just four days left, y'all!

Have a great Wednesday, friends, and happy 34th birthday to my old man!

Guest Blogging: Kindergarten

Today I'm over at Arkansas Women Bloggers sharing insight from my favorite primary school kid.

We have officially gotten over the school year hump of progress reports and summoning the courage to get in the cafeteria line {it was pancake day and it was worth it}. Owen has been tackling his first year of formal schooling like a champ and while he'll admit sitting still is tough, he loves kindergarten. From the incredible books to the playground friendships, he soaks up every second. The September writing prompt for my favorite blogging group is learn and I was pleased to snag a spot. Because it's his story, I let Owen do part of the sharing. That may or may not be considered cheating, but I think they let me slide this time.

Curious? Click HERE to find out the best parts of Owen's kindergarten day. Leave a comment, too, if you're feeling especially nice!

It may still be one million degrees, but it is technically fall, y'all. I wish you a terrific Thursday. Go eat a pumpkin or buy a scarf or jump in some leaves. 'Tis the season, after all.

Foodie Friday // Garden Update

The lovely ladies at Arkansas Women Bloggers host a weekly feature called Foodie Friday, in which local writers share recipes.

And would you believe I was asked to participate?? Debbie is likely unaware of how little I know when it comes to the kitchen, and I doubt she wanted a recipe for thawing nuggets or stirring mac and cheese. She had a motive, though. July's Foodie Friday theme is "eating our gardens" and she knew my thumb is as green as my culinary skills. I accepted, then turned right to my husband for help. We decided to share his delicious homegrown stir-fry, and used a version that featured produce from all over our town. You can read my narrative and his recipe on their site today.

Click HERE to read the post, leave a nice comment, then give it a whirl for dinner tonight. If you have a bag of rice, soy sauce, and some form of veggies and protein on hand, you're good to go. Kids can pick around what they don't like, and they'll probably accidentally eat a vegetable or two. Bon appetit, y'all!

GARDEN UPDATE // This particular harvest season has come with plenty of help, even if the "help" consists of sprinkling dirt on everything. Nora loves searching the plants to fill her basket and counting how many sunflowers are open. The weeds are back with a vengeance and the excruciatingly hot afternoons don't exactly make garden labor inviting. She doesn't mind, though. She thinks her garden is beautiful, and so do I.

With late summer does come new trouble, though. We have hordes of stink bugs and leaf-footed bugs on the tomatoes and they're starting to invade the nearby cucumbers. We have tried various methods, but we are still knee-deep in battle. Trust me, I'd love to share these vegetables with whichever humans {and chickens} can appreciate them, but I hate sharing with bugs. We carry on, though. I'll shudder when I see them, ask Jonathan to remove them, and pick tomatoes like nothing happened. It's easiest this way.

That's your official garden update. Everything is overgrown, leggy, and maybe a bit past its prime, but the bounty keeps coming. How does your garden grow? More importantly, how are you using your garden this season? I showed you my recipe, now show me yours. Seriously, leave me tips in the comments. Share recipes to use up tomatoes, pickling ideas, and maybe even a salsa or two. Don't be shy, show me what you've got!

Have a great weekend, y'all. Get dirty!

Calendar Girl

{I like to think Miss July would have a crown of seashells... and fake blue eyes.}

Sound the trumpets and roll out the red carpet, y'all are dealing with royalty here.

If you know me well, you know being the center of attention makes me a bit twitchy, but that was not my reaction when the Arkansas Women Bloggers told me I was crowned July 2016 Blogger of the Month. I'm pretty sure I squealed out loud and immediately forwarded the email to my husband. I am honored to be selected out of a fantastic group of writers from across the state and I am thrilled to step up to the plate.

Throughout the month, my writing {and my face!} will be featured on their blog. Every Monday they will publish a new piece. I will still post here regularly, but be sure to visit them every now and then to see what's happening. You can click the logo at the bottom of my sidebar to get where you need to go. Don't worry, I'll remind you.

The first featured post is up today. It's the story behind my blog, what it means to me, and what I hope it means to you. CLICK HERE to give it a read and leave a comment if you'd like. I am extremely thankful to all the Arkansas Women Bloggers for reading my stories and believing they're worth sharing.

Thank you for this honor, I hope to do the {seashell} crown justice.

AWBU: Feels Like Home

Sometimes you want to go where everybody knows your name {and blog title}.

My weekend was spent with a tribe of people who don't look at me questionably when I toss around the word blogger. It was my second year to connect with the wonderful women I occasionally stalk *ahem* research at the fifth annual Arkansas Women Bloggers University. I wasn't just Jessica there. I was "The Bauer Bunch" and that felt good.

I found the conference's Hospitality Suite at 10:00 Friday night {the Al Capone room at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, complete with escape chute in the closet, FYI}. I had spent a couple hours traveling from the far reaches of eastern Arkansas, after having left my grandmother's house for the final time. Emotions were high and I was still iffy on whether attending AWBU was the right thing for me. There was no turning back at this point, however, and I quickly kissed my husband goodbye. As the door pushed open, one of my very best friends/bloggers/roomies, Karen of Ting's Mom, jumped off the couch and wrapped her arms around me. This was followed by The Park Wife herself, founder of Arkansas Women Bloggers and all-around hero, and many more who welcomed me with open arms and a sympathetic word. I sat down on the couch and the laughter began. I was right where I needed to be.

Last year's trip to AWBU was spent getting to know people, cracking open my shell, and actually talking to the bloggers I'd only admired online. This year was different. This year I was my blog. I spent less time introducing myself and more time hugging necks and catching up. There was no nervous assimilation period, only jumping in and letting go. It's weird to call people I've only seen in person twice friends, but if the support that goes hand-in-hand with AWBU isn't friendship, I don't know what is.

The sessions I chose for Saturday surrounded coming to terms with the fact that I am a writer. Even though I held the title of "staff writer" for years at a newspaper, that standalone word seems untouchable. I am, though. I am a writer. I'm going to be a better one, too. I also garnered the inspiration to keep my momentum rolling. The speakers at AWBU gave me the confidence to do what I love, seek growth opportunities, and see if I can find success along the way.

I don't want this to read like a fifth-grade essay about what AWBU means to me, but it was more than a learning experience. I appreciate having these wonderful, talented writers at my fingertips to answer my every question, but it's about community. They knew me, they knew my blog, and they accepted both as they are. These women told me they liked the way I told stories, and honestly, that is my goal. It was a satisfying nail-on-the-head moment.

I carried so much encouragement home in my suitcase among the wrinkled shirts and scribbled notebooks. The women who are my biggest inspiration are my biggest fans.

Thank you to Karen and Alicia and Ashley and Jodi, the friends who traveled from my little corner of the state. It's been amazing getting to know all of you and I look forward to continued meet-ups and deepened relationships in the months to come. Thank you to Stephanie for having the idea to grab a bunch of women who call themselves bloggers and turn us into a powerhouse. Thank you also to every blogger in attendance last weekend. You are part of something incredible, and I hope you felt that as strongly as I did.

I'll see y'all next year.

Friday Five: AWBU Bound

This weekend my best friends/fellow bloggers will be taking on Hot Springs to talk sponsors and content and branding, oh my!

Since the fall of 2012, I have been an active member of Arkansas Women Bloggers. However, last year was my first time to meet most of these people in person at the group's annual conference. I made new connections and felt uplifted in ways I didn't think possible outside of youth group. It's a great feeling to have in a room filled with adult women you just met hours ago. Friendships blossomed, inspiration struck, and I put it on my calendar in ink for 2015.

Things have obviously gotten a little shaky this week with the passing of my dear Mema. Once arrangements were made, though, I learned the option to attend AWBU was still on the table. I wrestled with the idea for a while. Should I spend more time at home grieving over this loss or should I lean on my friends and celebrate the fact that I can? Mema was always a huge supporter of my writing {also a huge supporter of fun}, so I'd bet she's on board with my choice.

I can't exactly tell you what's going to happen this weekend, but I can tell you what I need:

1. First and foremost, I need friendship. Now more than ever. I need a super-sized margarita, laughter that streams down my face, and as many hugs as I can get. I am looking forward to late-night chats that make new memories. This may not be the main point of a blogging conference, but this is what AWB means to me.
   
   
2. I'd also like a dose of inspiration. While pushing myself to write every day in August has gotten me back in the blogging saddle, so to speak, I hope to latch onto new ideas for story-telling and post planning this weekend.
   
   
3. One of the best parts about AWBU last year was the break {read more here}. From late Friday into Sunday afternoon, I am about 97% sure no one will call me Mom. No one will need me to pour chocolate milk, pick them up and put them on the couch, or let them watch videos on my phone. Score.
   
   
4. I like to write, but I'm not great at sharing. I've got Facebook on lock, but I need to be more social media savvy. Unfortunately no one else seems to need a lesson in Twitter, so I'll have to figure that out on my own, but I'm interested to see what they say about Periscope.
   
   
5. Aside from the camaraderie, I think the biggest reason I'm going is for the encouragement. It feels amazing to know that someone hears what I'm saying, and these women are amazing at feedback. I can't wait to receive it, and I am even more excited to give it. There are some wonderful writers in this state, y'all.
   
   

Safe travels to all the bloggers heading to the Spa City today. See you when I get there!

Merry Bloggers

{Did you really expect them all to look at the camera? Really?}
'Tis the season to party hard.

The social calendar has been packed, my friends. I went bowling with twenty youth group teenagers, I drank a few rounds of punch at my church council's holiday bash, and I took my babies to a much-anticipated pajama party. However, Saturday's affair ranked high. I was able to hang out with a handful of bloggers-turned-friends, and our kids got to party, too!

The Southwest Arkansas Women Bloggers held its first Christmas gathering at the beautiful home of Jodi, who writes over at The Coffee House Life. Five women toted in their children, delicious dishes, and a present for Dirty Santa. Owen ran off with Bug, who belongs to Karen of Ting's Mom. These boys warmed up to each other at our last meet-up and both counted the minutes to their reunion. They spent most of their time talking about who knows what on the backyard playground. I later learned they were spotting monsters and shooting bad guys. Obviously.

Nathan was excited to have three other second-graders there to play with, and Jodi's little Bean stuck to Nora like glue. She saw in her a real-life baby doll who would eat all the crackers she could feed her. As you might imagine, Nora was just fine with this arrangement.

Both the mamas and the kids shared so many laughs, and I love how comfortable everyone has become with one another. Over the past year each of these women has gone from "that lady who blogs a town over" to my friend. It's cool to see our kids getting to that place, too. Heck, Owen was in his undies half the time because he got dirt on his pants. {This may just say something about Owen's personality, but I digress.}

After stuffing our faces with everything from homemade cookies to spinach dip, we played what I would call the nicest round of Dirty Santa I've ever seen. Two bloggers split their presents, for crying out loud. I might have stolen from someone who had already been stripped of one great gift already, but I play hard, y'all. The kids played a slightly less cutthroat version of holiday bingo, and suddenly it was time to leave. I had two sad boys on the drive home, plus a little girl who was seriously lacking in the cracker department.

Thanks so much to the ladies of this little community. This season is all about spending extra time with the ones you love, and I am thrilled to have grown that list a little this year.

{Spend a few minutes adding some new voices to your blog roll. Their topics run from yummy recipes to fun crafts to everyday stories about family. Stop by and get to know Alicia, Sharla, Karen, and Jodi. Tell them I sent you!}

Handmade Ornament Exchange

One of the best things about the holiday season is the bounty of snail mail.

I love opening my mailbox to red envelopes that don't look a thing like bills, and not long ago there was an even bigger surprise. I once again participated in the Arkansas Women Bloggers Handmade Ornament exchange. For years I have followed Talya's writing at Grace, Grits and Gardening, so I was very excited when I saw her name on a small brown package hiding in my mailbox.

PS: If you aren't already reading Talya's blog, you should consider. She's an incredible writer {with a book deal!} whose post subjects range from the most delicious easy-to-follow recipes to her hilarious everyday adventures.

Even though the box was addressed to yours truly, the Bauer Boys thought they hit the jackpot. They knew an ornament was coming and couldn't wait to see what it looked like {especially since Nathan was heavily involved in the one I sent}. Talya created a beautiful paper-craft Christmas tree with buttons and trim and a jingle bell on top. The boys were so proud to hang it immediately, and I am happy to have even more blogger representation in our home.

Although getting mail is a highlight of the season, sending it is fun, too. I met Amanda Farris at a conference in September, but I had been reading her blog long before that. I was given her name in the ornament exchange and thanks to Pinterest, I knew just what to do. I painted Nathan's hand white and he made a print on a red ornament. Then I asked my husband to paint each of the fingers to look like the five members of her family {in snowman form}. Click here to read her post and see her pictures.

Thanks so much to Talya for this adorable addition to our tree. If you're itching to see more handmade goodness, posts by bloggers from around the state are linked here. Have you made any ornaments with your family this year? I'd love to hear about it! Happy Thursday, y'all!

Bang for Your Bucks: AR529

I can barely remember to keep his lunch box packed, so who here thinks I have Nathan's college savings plan in order?

The obvious answer is no, and that would be the correct answer, as well. When it comes to thinking about saving for my kids' college, my initial reaction is fear because three kids means three gigantic sums of money. However, my second reaction is this: no big deal. My kids are young, I only have one in school, and college isn't on the radar. I'll figure it out when I get there, and hopefully they'll excel in academics or athletics and it won't even be an issue. This weekend I heard from a few speakers at an Arkansas Women Bloggers event that made me see my line of thought for what it is: wrong.

Nathan is seven years old. He will be a high school senior in a mere 10 years. As much as that sentence pains me to type, it is the truth. I need to be doing everything I can to help fund his first step into the real world, and Arkansas' 529 plan, known as The Gift Plan or simply AR529, may be the best way to to it.

As opposed to just chunking some money into a savings account that will maybe gain 50 bucks in the decade I'm waiting to use it, this plan will help me see that money grow. I have the option of what percentage of my investment goes into stocks versus bonds, and the minimum requirement is only $15 a month. Anyone can contribute to your child's account, too, and that donation is tax deductible. For instance, if grandma is feeling charitable and wants to give, she can claim whatever she gives on her own taxes up to $10,000.

Other points:

There's no limit to how this money is spent. It can be used at any federally recognized college around the globe, whether two- or four-year, vocational or graduate institutions.

If Nathan keeps his second-grade track record throughout high school and ends up with a full ride to school, the money in his account can be rolled over to either or both of his siblings.

If you feel so inclined, you can use UGift to send a simple code to friends and family who wish to give to your child's savings, making the process very easy.

This would be the perfect baby shower gift. You can't tell me those name-brand shoes your friend's baby girl will wear twice can compare to the start of her future.

The annual fee for owning this account is just $75 for every $10,000 saved.


The ins and outs of this plan really piqued my interest as a better alternative for saving, however, the real life application shared by Gwen Moritz of Arkansas Business hit home. She used this plan to fund her sons' education and it was nice to hear that it's possible someone can actually make this work. The most assuring thing she said is that it's never too early to start, but it's never too late, either.

College tuition is so much higher than when I was in school, and I can't imagine that trend will reverse any time soon. It's harder and harder for kids to "put themselves through college." I absolutely understand that many can and will, but if there is anything I can do today to lessen that burden, I'm going to do it. Any money they don't have to worry about when it comes to their education will help. That's why I want the money I save to give me the biggest return possible.

Now the idea of having a pot of money ready when the time comes is all well and good, but it's the first step that's most important. Making the account and setting up a deposit plan that's right for you is the hard part, saving is easy.

There's no good reason for me not to start. What's stopping you?

While it's fresh on your mind, go check out the AR529 Web site and let it explain better than I can. If you are already saving, high fives all around, but if it's something you want your future self to worry about, why don't you do her a favor? You know you'll be glad you did. Happy Tuesday, y'all!

Bloggers on Moss Mountain

It's been a few days since I traveled back down Moss Mountain, friends, but I'm still starstruck.

I was lucky enough to visit the home of the one and only P. Allen Smith with a group of Arkansas Women Bloggers. Although our mission was to learn about the AR529 plan, which is an incredible way to save for your kids' college costs, I was just as excited to step foot onto Moss Mountain Farm. I will be back tomorrow to share about this wonderful method of sending a kid {or three} to college, but today I'm going to fan girl.

Three southern bloggers carpooled bright and early Friday morning and made our way toward Little Rock. As the scenery changed from interstates and buildings to fall color and winding roads, our excitement grew. Four miles, three miles, two miles. With every turn we were that much closer to actually seeing this gorgeous property in person. Allen {that's what I call him now, Allen} has always been a gardening idol of mine and his decorating style is amazing. He is everything I love about Better Homes and Gardens come to life, basically. Therefore, let me share a few pictures that I snapped on the farm and line out some favorites:

Two words: Sleeping. Porch. This man has a porch dedicated to sleeping. The three beds overlooking the gorgeous Arkansas River are specifically designed for naps. Also, there's an enormous tub on said porch. I may have decided to see what the view looked like from there.

Every single window in this house has a breathtaking view. Whether it was the terrace garden from the windows at the farm sink or the rolling river seen from the upstairs toilet, there's a vista to take in no matter what you are doing. Literally.

His kitchen is out of my dreams. Although we both know I don't run the kitchen, I still like to look at it, and my dream is white on white on white. There's something about crisp clean cabinets and appliances with subtle pops of color {think a bowl of limes} that makes me grin. This was the garden home kitchen, with a few extras. Anyone out there own a warming oven?

Allen regretted to inform us that we were three days too late for garden color. There were a few bright pops in the roses, but most of the flowers gave up last week. I didn't make it all the way into his acre of vegetables, but you better believe that's where I'll stay if I'm lucky enough to visit in spring or summer.

We had such a blast with Allen himself. He was extremely personable despite the fact that he probably has people in and out of his house all day. He stayed with us during speakers, joined us for lunch, and hosted a blogger-style game of Family Feud {red team for the win}. I loved meeting him and sincerely appreciated his hospitality.

We dined, met, and mingled in a barn next door to the garden home. I hesitate to use the word "barn" even though that's exactly what it was, because I could easily move in there. Pictures of various produce Allen painted himself lined the walls, and the huge reclaimed wood tables were lined with burlap and varieties of gourds I'd never seen before. I knew his fall decor would be lovely, but I couldn't get past the pumpkins in the barn, for heaven's sake.

We didn't see the entire farm because it was freezing {and there are 600 acres}, but we made it a point to see the Poultry Palace. This chicken coop is amazing and I'm almost certain it's bigger than my house. The coop was closed up for the cold night by the time we made it, but we did get to peek at a few of Allen's heritage chickens in another area.

It was a dream come true to get free reign over Moss Mountain Farm, and I'm thankful for the opportunity. I had a wonderful time spending the day with my friends, catching up with a few I met at this year's conference, and meeting several for the first time. Thank you so much to everyone who made the day possible. It was the first visit for the three Southwest Arkansas Bloggers who attended, but hopefully it won't be the last.

{Stop by my friends' blogs: Alicia writes at Simple Words by A and Sharla's over at Look At What You Are Seeing.}
Have a very happy Monday, my friends, and please come back tomorrow. Parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and really nice friends can benefit from the information I'll have to share. Now is better than later when it comes to preparing to pay for college, and the plan I'm going with will do much more than sit in a savings account.

Babies + Bloggers

There were just as many bloggers as there were kids at the latest gathering of the Southwest Arkansas Women Bloggers.

Yes, this included all three from my bunch. When I realized this was going to be the case, I panicked. It's hard to do anything solo with all three, let alone meet up with ladies and talk shop. The fact that our shop is usually just chatting about life is beside the point. Saturday morning I told the boys the plan, and that a few other mamas were bringing kids. They were pumped to make new friends and go to the restaurant that gives out suckers. A win-win. Nora took a good nap, the boys put on their pants without question, and everyone loaded into the car a mere ten minutes past the time I had planned.

When we arrived, Nathan jumped right in beside Glitter Bug, whose wonderful mama writes at Simple Words By A. They're both in second grade and ended up having plenty in common. The best part about this budding friendship was the conversation. As much as I tried to get involved in the grownup talk, my ears kept wandering.

"So what kind of math are you working on in your class?"
"Do you like to read? Do you know the Magic Tree House series?"
"Could you show me how to draw a mermaid, do you think?"
"I'm sure we are going to be the best of friends!"

That basically happened the entire time. How on Earth did you expect me to listen to anything else? Owen was a little shy at first, but warmed up to Bug, who belongs to my buddy Karen of Ting's Mom. Once they got to know each other, they were jumping all over the place. Literally. Nora was a delight as long as I kept food in front of her, and she flirted and snuggled with everyone who talked to her.

High-fives all around, kids! This worked out so well, and the kids clicked so instantly {like their mamas} that we have vowed to do the kid thing more often. Who knows, we may be cultivating the next crop of bloggers.

I guess until then, they'll just have to be the subjects. Good thing they're cute. :)

AWBU: No Sippy Cups

My brain was stuffed full of knowledge at Arkansas Women Bloggers University this weekend.

From picking apart amazing stories in my sacred everyday to pinpointing exactly how I want to make you lovely readers feel, I came away inspired to build a better space in my corner of the Internet. However, I talked about that whole experience yesterday. For Round Two of AWBU talk, I want to go a different route. I want to talk to you about this strange species with whom I spent a weekend in northwest Arkansas.

Grownups.

I have little direct contact with non-related grownups, so it was shocking to analyze them in their natural habitats. I learned plenty of blogging tips, but one of the best things about the weekend was that no one needed me to pour their milk. Allow me to present a few lessons learned when a mama is pulled out of her element:

1. Grownups can get themselves into the car on their own. I can't tell you how many times I fought the urge to pick up Ting's Mom, place her in the back seat, and secure her for the ride. Thankfully for the both of us, I resisted.
   
   
2. I heard my real name said aloud more times than in the last year combined. I'm not sure what would have happened had someone shouted MAMA into this crowd, but we did not have to find out.
   
   
3. Not once did I have to stand in front of the elevator button panel to prevent small fingers from pressing the big red emergency button.
   
   
4. Grownups are not only responsible for bringing their own clothing to a hotel stay, they are fully capable of putting it on by themselves. Forget buttoning up your roomie's shirt, friends, she has this one under control.
   
   
5. There was not a single crayon on the dinner table, no slap fights to break up while waiting to be seated, and I stopped short of scanning the menu for chicken tenders.
   
   
6. Diapers. No one wore diapers.
   
   
7. I didn't have to count to three in my trademark Harsh Voice, and there wasn't a single conference attendee who answered "Huh?" to every single statement I made. It was a refreshing change of pace.
   
   
8. I could have missed it, but I didn't hear anyone replace random parts of speech with the word "booty." This is my season of life, folks. Booty humor.
   
   
9. If a grownup poops in the potty, you probably shouldn't immediately grab their hands for a potty dance. That one needs no explanation.
   
   
10. I pulled a total of zero objects from noses. Grownups seem to know that's a bad idea.

Let me end by saying the phone call on the drive home and the hugs when I walked through the door made even the most soured sippy cup seem okay. AWBU was a wonderful break for this mama, but I'll take what's on the other side of my front door any day. This chaos is mine, and I will own it the best I can. Thanks to the ladies of AWB for an incredible weekend, and thanks to my kids for bringing a little crazy and a load of love into my very special, very sacred everyday.

AWBU Newbie

Standing in the lobby of the Rogers Embassy Suites, I kept looking down at my name tag and my blog title would flash back up at me.

Who am I? Who am I to be in this hotel, surrounded by dozens of female writers and acting like I belong? Who am I to be wearing a name tag that bears the name I gave to a little space on the Internet I paid for that I fill with stories about my life? Who am I? Why do these strangers care?

This weekend I attended Arkansas Women Bloggers University as my debut into the blog conference world. Although those initial fears crept in when I realized what I was doing, they melted fast. I spent approximately three minutes wondering whether anyone would care that I was there, then I pushed those thoughts aside and let Outgoing Jessica make a splash. She admits to being squashed by anxiety sometimes, but she's my favorite. I let her come out and play as often as possible. I began introducing myself to others, and was shocked when someone told me she thought Nora was cute. Someone told me she liked my writing voice. Someone told me she liked my blog design. They knew me. And I knew them!

I think AWBU may be one of the only places where it's flattering to be a stalker. The majority of these women I have only known through their blogs and social media, but I found it easy to talk like we'd been friends for years. It was okay to bring up topics I had read about them, and they were happy to do the same for me. There were no strangers at this conference. After the initial shock wore off, my newbie status did, too. I was part of the community, and my community was rallying for me. It was incredible.

Most of these ladies are much more talented than me, but instead of making me feel inferior, they gave me aspirations. They showed me what I could become and handed me a set of road maps.

I picked up so many buzzwords at AWBU. Storytelling. Branding. Vlogging. Publishing. Connecting. However, I think number one is friendship. Although I attended a handful of blogger meet-ups with women from my area, it wasn't until we were stuck in a car for six hours that true bonds were formed. I laughed until I cried, I grew closer than I thought possible, and I came home with four amazing friends. Friendship is important, and it can be hard to find. There is zero chance I could have met these women without AWB.

{Why don't you go and get to know my friends? Visit Sheila, Alicia, Jennifer, and Karen.
Photo is obviously taken by Karen of Ting's Mom fame.}

Thank you to The Park Wife for having the sense to turn bloggers into friends and thank you to every single blogger who attended. You gave me inspiration, you gave me courage, and you gave me acceptance. I can't tell you how much I needed all three.

And a quick post-script: If you are a blogger and any of this sounds as awesome as I wanted it to, join up! First get registered at Arkansas Women Bloggers, and then be sure to join us for AWBU next year. If you just so happen to live in my corner of the state, send me a line and we'll get you hooked into our group, too. I guarantee it's worth it.

Guest Blogging: Growing Together

I've taken my love for garden blogging all the way to a different page today, y'all.

I am honored to be featured as a guest writer for the lovely Arkansas Women Bloggers. In keeping with their May theme of Grow Your Garden, I wrote about what's growing on around here. {Get it? It's a pun...} My focus today goes a little further than the tomatoes and cucumbers that are moving slowly in my backyard and more to the point of making memories with the three most important seeds I've sown. I just wanted to pop in today to wish you and yours a very merry Thursday and direct you to the home of my favorite ladies on the Internet. Check out my post, then click around and I guarantee you'll find a whole collection of bloggers to add to your reading lists.

Now, if you're interested in reading my post about the lessons we learn while ankle-deep in compost, why don't you hop on over and check it out? I'd really appreciate it if you did. It would make me feel pretty special, really.

It's easy! Just click HERE

Devastation

If you live anywhere near me, I bet you've seen little red pictures of our beloved state popping up all over your Facebook feed.

Even if you don't, there's a good chance you know why Arkansas is in desperate need of prayer. A massive tornado swept through the heart of the state, tearing apart communities that are dear to my heart, and ripping into businesses, homes, and families. Our corner of the state was unaffected and the gorgeous spring day shining through my window shows no indication of the piles of debris and devastation just a few hours up the interstate.

Yet, my heart is broken. My house is fully intact, the foliage remains on my trees, and all three of my children are safe and sound in my living room. Their clothes are still tucked away in drawers in their bedrooms, their toys are still strewn about the carpet, and they still have a roof over their heads. It's sickening to know this isn't the case for many of my fellow Arkansans. I'm very relieved to report that my friends and family who live in central Arkansas are fine, but so many of their neighbors are not. People are hurting, but as naturally as tornadoes form from nothing, people are helping. Strangers are loading up their chainsaws to uncover buildings hidden by trees and filling their shopping carts for families they don't know. We are opening hearts and homes and wallets because it's simply what we do. Arkansas' reaction to this disaster is not at all unexpected, but at the same time incredible. I am blessed to be part of a state that cares so much about its neighbors, and though I don't personally know any of those directly affected, it still feels like family.

As made clear in the picture above, Arkansas most definitely needs your prayers, but if you don't live near the devastated areas and are looking for a way to help, please consider a donation to the American Red Cross. Pray for relief and peace of mind for the families affected, but give if you're able, to help these people start over from scratch.

CLICK HERE TO DONATE TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS
If you do happen to be an Arkansas reader and you're looking for a way to help, a fellow member of the Arkansas Women Bloggers has done an incredible job of compiling options that will make a difference for those in need. {There are also other ways to give money, too, for those who don't live near the affected areas.} CLICK THIS LINK for the detailed information, which includes a list of places accepting items and exactly which items are needed. There are also instructions for those wanting to volunteer with cleanup.

My Bauer Bunch is whole and well, but my Arkansas needs help.

Ornament Swap

If you've been paying any sort of attention here, you know about a certain group of ladies known as the Arkansas Women Bloggers. They create a sense of community, answer any and all questions, offer platforms to share, and accept me with no questions asked.

Legit, right?

Well this holiday season marked the second time they invited the writers registered with their site to spread love to all four corners of the state. And this year, I joined! I'm talking about the second annual AWB Handmade Ornament Swap, y'all!

I remember this coming across my email and Facebook feed last year. The founders of the site invited bloggers near and far to submit their information to be passed along to a secret Santa who would handcraft a gorgeous addition for their tree. It should go without saying this meant you'd get the name of a blogger to craft for, as well. The thought of having to pull off a somewhat decent craft for someone I'd never met was scary, so I passed.

When I saw the same discussion spark this year, I let it slide for a while. Facebook prompts kept encouraging me to give it a ago, and I think a Pinterest board the AWB put together just for this occasion is what sent me over the edge. I was going to craft, by golly, and someone, somewhere was going to get a little bit of love from these two {incapable} hands.

Boy, am I glad I did it! Snail mail is probably ranked somewhere on a list of my top ten favorite things, but a package with a handmade spin is tops. When I pulled it out of my mailbox and saw the name Debbie Arnold in the upper lefthand corner, well that just about took the cake. Yes, my name was given to the one and only Dining with Debbie. Check her out, y'all - she is a fantastic food writer from northwest Arkansas who is one of the genius minds behind the entire AWB scene. Her newly remodeled site is easy to navigate with recipes for every part of every meal you can imagine, appetizer to dessert. Each recipe comes with a fun story and Debbie takes it step by step in a way that makes anyone feel like a master chef, which is saying a lot coming from yours truly.


Debbie was awesome enough to incorporate her foodie way of life by crafting a star cookie cutter into a gorgeous, glittering ornament. It looks wonderful on my tree and the Bauer Boys were so excited to have yet another ornament to hang. They were even more excited about the yummy treats she tucked into the package! {Are you surprised there are no photos of the treats? You shouldn't be.}

Thank you so much, Debbie, for your sweet gift and bringing a little handmade joy into the Bauer household this year.

As for my end of the bargain, it wasn't nearly as frightening as I thought it would be. Being assigned to someone I actually knew made it even better! I was given the name of one of my very own Southwest Arkansas Bloggers who happens to live right down the highway. I love reading all about her life, her family, and her crafting at Simple Words by A. I was lucky enough to meet her face-to-face at our group's first gathering in October and I look forward to seeing her again in January.

For her, I stuck with what I knew and she got one of my prized salt dough ornaments {click here for my full instructions}. I plastered a simple star with gold glitter glue, painted the back blue and polka-dotted the glittering front in shades of orange, green, and blue. I then asked my husband very sweetly to draw a fancy-scripted letter A and it was something I was proud to pack up and send her way. I hope you enjoyed it, Alicia!

Merry {belated} Christmas and a Happy New Year, Bloggers!