Aug 11, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Five Things Friday
Money’s a touchy subject, right? As in,
DON’T TOUCH MY MONEY!
You work hard for it, only to have five cents left three seconds after you get paid.
Now, I know I’ve given y’all a few tips for saving a little here and there, but it’s been a while since I’ve taken you down my road to credit recovery. What is it about soul-baring posts that brings us closer together? Is is the security of knowing we’re not alone? That others are in the same boat? Yes. At least, for me.
It happened when I heard another ad on the radio. You know the ones I’m talking about. Refinance your house. Get this low-interest credit card. Let us consolidate your loans. The one that really got my attention was for a payday loan. I was seriously considering it until I did the math. I don’t mean the three-figure interest rate. I mean, how many people like me were listening to that ad at that moment?
Is there anyone out there?
Let me again remind you: I am not a finance professional. I hold no advisory license, and the information in this post is only what has worked for me, and what I would share with a close friend over a cup of coffee. My treat, of course.
So when the wolves are howling and you’re sleeping in quicksand, here are few things I’ve learned that have helped oooch things out of the red.
- Accept the reality. Believe it or not, this was the really hard one for me. I wanted to think I wasn’t a statistic, that my situation was so unique that as soon as everyone heard, surely Robin Hood would come to my rescue and my bankbook would be saved without ransom. Yeah. That didn’t happen. I had to really hunker down and take note of my own deficits and at times, lack of budgeting skills. Then I learned, and re-learned, what I can and can’t do and came up with a viable plan.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Be Your Own Hero
- Stay accountable. I don’t mean that as a play on words, but there it is anyway. There are several ways to conquer this. For me, each step working together weaves a stronger fabric that has helped me recover my finances. First, I write things out. In the current climate of instant digital access, it’s so easy for me to glance at my iPhone and think, “Budget’s done!” but let’s be real. That ain’t nothin’ but a scapegoat and an excuse. Once I started really using my Happy Planner Budget, I saw not only where my money should go, but also where it was going. Can someone say, “Ouch!”? It wasn’t pretty, not always. But a good dose of reality helps me stay on track. I also stayed accountable by sharing the dirty details of my situation with my family, and with the creditors. Which brings me to the next item.
- Communicate. I know y’all have heard me harp on this like angels in a concert, but honestly. Be honest! If you can’t pay it, say it! When I get to the point of stop pretending everything’s okay, people heard me. I mean, I had a woman pray over my finances with me. And she was a collections agent! Who even does that?! I’m a huge proponent of saying it like it is. This is two-fold: 1. My financial story doesn’t change from month to month when they ask why I still can’t pay the full amount. 2. They’re more willing to work with you when you explain your circumstances.
- Evaluate. Now, I know a lot of credit recovery education suggests different ways of paying this bill first, or roll the savings into that one. I’m not gonna tell you how to pay off your bills. It’s personal! I understand the value of paying the smallest bill first and getting it out of the way. But I also see knocking out the high interest. I had to sit down and really go through the papers (and phone calls) to figure out the best option for me. You can, too! Yes, you really can! It takes a little brain power, a little solitude. But you can conquer your budget!
- Accept the reality. Yeah, I know. I already said this. Well, think of this as your muffaletta sandwich, okay? The bread is the same but you have a top and a bottom. The other tips are the ohmygosh filling. This slice of bread is the foundation. It may get a little soggy, but it’s still holding the food together, right? So here’s the important thing to remember. Are you listening? This one took me forever to realize, but here it is:
You’re not perfect. Your budget doesn’t have to be. Your credit doesn’t have to be.
I’ve had to watch as my credit tanked, but I’ve also enjoyed seeing it climb back up. It’s a long road and sometimes the roller coaster is out of my control. But I’m still riding it, and it ain’t over yet.
Whatever your credit situation, YOU ARE NOT ALONE. That radio ad and television spot for a quick fix? Don’t do it. It’s not aimed at you. You’re smarter than that. It may be a long, difficult road, and it may never lead to a mansion and fancy cars. But trust me, it’s worth it. There’s a personal satisfaction of putting effort into doing what you can do. And if it doesn’t turn out the way you hope, at least you tried. I’m proud of you for that!
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Be Your Own Hero
You can be your own hero. You can find a way. It may not be the way you want, and it may not be easy. But at least it’s yours.
What are some ways you work toward better credit?
TWEET THIS: Budget problems? Here are a few tips to oooch out of the red. @RealMojo68 #credit #fivethingsfriday
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Aug 10, 2017 |
by Mary Denman
Twitter: @MaryDenman
Instagram:@MaryFDenman
Have you ever considered whether it’s better to take a picture in horizontal or vertical orientation? In photography terms, they’re called landscape or portrait. What about a square photo? When are they good to use?
In a world of smart phone shots, DSLR cameras, Instagram, and Pinterest, it can be a little confusing as to what’s the best way to take a picture.
Today, we’re going to look at photos taken in landscape, portrait and cropped to a square and I’ll give you some guidelines and tips for taking better shots in all three.
Let’s get started.
When I was out recently with a friend in a nature park, the boardwalk we were using caught my attention. I loved the lines of it. Literally. The dappled sunlight also added interest.
The first shot I took was in portrait or vertical orientation.
BOARDWALK PHOTO 1 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
Why? Because the long lines of the path lead your eye up and away into the lush greens of the park.
Of course, I didn’t stop there but decided to take a horizontal or landscape shot as well. If you notice, though, I’m lower down and closer to the boardwalk for this picture.
BOARDWALK PHOTO 2 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
Why? Because I needed to change my perspective and have the boardwalk fit the frame of horizontal better.
In this particular case, I think the portrait shot is much stronger and more powerful.
TIP 1: After taking a shot in portrait, try taking another shot in landscape but reframe the picture to suit the change in orientation. And, vice versa.
Later on the walk, we came upon beautiful wildflowers during Golden Hour. Again, I wanted to take shots in both orientations.
I started with a portrait shot because of the long stem.
FLOWER PHOTO 3 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
But then, I turned the camera and took a landscape shot after reframing. In this case, I actually like the horizontal shot better. The vastness of the green makes the purple head pop more.
FLOWER PHOTO 4 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
Plus, this could make a great meme photo.
Portrait, Landscape or Square? Meme by Mary Denman, Photographer
But in an online world, sometimes, we need a square shot. So, I cropped this flower to a square.
FLOWER PHOTO 5 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
Notice how cropping makes a difference?
TIP 2: Try both horizontal and vertical orientations. You may be surprised which you like more.
On to our last set.
While on vacation recently in Maine, we got to watch some amazing sunsets on the coast. Luckily, we were able to take our dog Liam with us! He’s a cutie, isn’t he?
CAVALIER PHOTO 6 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
This is a horizontal shot of him with the sunset happening behind him. Notice the soft glow around his fur from the setting sun? There’s a reason it’s called Golden Hour. With a landscape shot, you can see the sun, the rocky beach and the water. You get the sense of being there.
Of course I took the shot both ways and here’s the vertical shot.
CAVALIER PHOTO 7 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
While he’s still adorable in this photo, I definitely prefer the horizontal one.
But then I cropped it to a square.
CAVALIER PHOTO 8 (Mary Denman, Photographer)
Now Liam fills the frame entirely. I think this makes a really strong photo as well. You know you’re looking at Liam and you can still see this sun just behind him. This would be a great Instagram shot!
TIP 3: Try a square shot on your smart phone or crop your pictures on your computer afterward.
So, the next time you take a picture with your phone or regular camera, try taking a portrait and landscape shot to see which is a stronger or more interesting picture. Take a square shot if you can, or crop it when the image is on your computer!
Hope these tips are helpful,
Mary
Read Post 1 on Golden Hour here.
Read Post 2 on Golden Hour here.
Mary
TWEET THIS: Portrait, Landscape, or Square? #Photography tips from @MaryDenman @RealMojo68
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Mary Denman, photo by Peter Hurley
Mary Denman is a photographer who also writes and loves to teach. As a freelance writer, Mary has had articles published in various forms ranging from Focus on the Family publications to magazines to devotions to op-ed pieces. She’s a member of several professional writing organizations including ACFW, My Book Therapy, and Word Weavers.
As a professional photographer, Mary has had photos published in both print literature and online. Her shots have been used by businesses and by fellow authors alike.
Her philosophy is to catch a moment that reflects God’s beauty and creativity, whether in nature, in life or in the face of her subjects. Mary blends the mediums of writing and photography on her blog. www.marydenman.blogspot.com.
Aug 9, 2017 |
by William Kendall @WilliamKendall1
Rideau Hall, by photoblogger William Kendall
The job of a Governor General is not the sort of post that would show up in the want ads, but if it did, it might read like this:
“Wanted: challenging temporary job applicant, generous pay and perks, official residence for five to seven years. The applicant must be fluent in English and French (with additional language comprehension a bonus), must be apolitical, well-educated and distinguished in their field, be well-traveled and willing to deal with endless ceremonies, be willing to put up with a battalion of Mounties in a protective detail 95% of the day…”
Canada’s Parliamentary system of government includes a largely ceremonial position: the Governor General. Along with the Lieutenant Governors of the provinces and territories, the person in the job represents the Monarchy. We’ve retained that tie- so Queen Elizabeth is Queen of Canada in addition to being Queen in Great Britain. The Governor General (and the ranks of Lieutenant Governors) represent her in state functions like the opening of Parliament or legislatures, but a multitude of ceremonial functions- swearing in of cabinets, presiding over state ceremonies like the Order of Canada, or meeting with foreign ambassadors presenting credentials. Mostly ceremonial- there are a few powers someone of that position can exercise in our system of government- such as telling a desperate politician trying to cobble together a coalition in a minority government situation that other party leaders might well have a go at it. It’s an appointed position, worked out by the governing party of the day, but meant to be strictly apolitical and above the fray of the down and dirty world of politics.
For the last few years we’ve had a good one, the soft-spoken David Johnston, whose tenure in the job has seen him do a lot of travel around the country and beyond, with a great deal of interest in education. His term was extended by the previous government, and is coming to an end this fall. It’s been a tradition to alternate between Anglophones and Francophones since the days when the Governor General was to be strictly a Canadian citizen. There’s been diversity- two of our other recent Governor Generals have been women of colour, one an immigrant, the other an African-Canadian. At some point in the not too distant future, the traditional rotation of Anglophones and Francophones in the job will add a third component- a Governor General of First Nations heritage.
This fall we will have a new posting in the job. It’s been announced in recent weeks that the next Governor-General of Canada will be Julie Payette. She’s more than qualified for the job. A Quebec native, she’s well educated, speaks six languages, and is more traveled than any of her predecessors. Ms. Payette has worked at NASA as the Chief Astronaut for the Canadian Space Agency, and has been on shuttle missions in space twice- in 1999 and in 2009. If anything, she’s overqualified for the job.
Winter at Rideau Hall, by photoblogger William Kendall
I mentioned the official residence. Rideau Hall stands in the New Edinburgh neighbourhood of Ottawa, and it’s the house that comes with the job. House? More like a palace. 80 acres of land, 170 rooms, 9500 square meters of space. A lot of that is used for state occasions, and it’s changed drastically from its earliest days in the first half of the 19th century, when it was first built as a stone mason and businessman’s family home. Starting from when it became an official residence to the Governor-General in 1867, it’s been expanded over time, with large ballrooms and formal spaces to be found, lovely gardens, a fine collection of art, and a centerpiece of the Canadian story.
Tent Room, Rideau Hall, by photoblogger William Kendall
A lot of that’s open to the public for tours. Sections of the building the public can see include the Tent Room or the ballroom, all used to explain the Hall’s place in Canadian society and history, and the role of the Governor-General in our system of government. Guides talk about the history of the building, the use of the room, and much more. Out on the grounds, which are lovely to explore in any season, one might find a cricket pitch (the only one I know of here), the rose garden, or have a look at the multitude of trees that have been planted for more than a century by distinguished visitors from royalty or government leadership around the world- among them Queen Elizabeth herself, the Reagans, the Eisenhowers, the Kennedys, the Trumans… The trees, mainly oaks and maples, have plaques beneath them designating who planted them and when.
Fall Colours Rideau Hall, by photoblogger William Kendall
Rideau Hall is one of those delights to visit here. I have been in each season to visit… and since my first visit have wondered why it is I didn’t come to visit the place much sooner.
Rose Gardens Rideau Hall, by photoblogger William Kendall
TWEET THIS: Visit Canada’s Rideau Hall with @WilliamKendall1. @RealMojo68 #Canada #photoblog #RideauHall
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
William Kendall
William Kendall is a photoblogger who finds the unique perspective in everyday life. You can follow him on his writing blog, Speak Of The Devil, his photoblog Ottawa Daily Posts, and Twitter @WilliamKendall1.
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Aug 8, 2017 |
by Josie Siler @josie_siler
One of my happy places is way out in the country. It’s located down a back road and you need to go through a gate to get in. Once you’re in you’ll park in a small lot next to everything from motorcycles and jacked-up Jeeps to trucks and nondescript cars.
Frankly, My Dear . . . : Fun Faith Adventures with Josie Siler: Choose Your Battles
In this happy place I meet with family, friends, and strangers whose lives are as diverse as their vehicles. We swap magazines, actively engage our surroundings, and learn from the best.
What is this magical place? A gym? A school? Perhaps a gated community? In a sense, all of those answers are correct.
It’s a shooting range!
I know this might sound terrifying to some of you, but I’m a Wisconsin girl and shooting is in my blood. It’s part of the culture here and an absolutely normal part of life. I’ve been shooting my entire life, but it wasn’t until a few years ago that I really got into training.
My family met Dirk and Jo of Jasco Defense Strategies at a gun show held at our church. Yes, I said church; it really is part of our culture here! Dirk is a firearms instructor and a dang good one. My entire family took his concealed carry class and we were hooked.
Last summer I took Defensive Handgun 1. This class teaches you how to shoot from various positions including on your knees, leaning back on an elbow, or even flat on your back shooting between your feet. The whole time I was reciting in my head, “Don’t shoot your toe off, don’t shoot you toe off, don’t shoot your toe off . . .”
We learned how to shoot from behind and around shelter, what targets to engage first, how to assess the risk, and how not to get in trouble in the first place. You guys (that’s like “y’all” for us northerners), it was So Much Fun!
Living with chronic illness, shooting can be a challenge. Often it will take me days to recover from a night at the range and sometimes a week or more to recover from a class.
But sometimes in life you have to make the choice to have fun anyway because the joy you get from doing something is worth the pain.
There have been a lot of classes and range nights that I’ve had to miss, but I do everything I can to help my body be ready for fun. I schedule things so I can have energy before and time to rest after because I like it so much. There are a lot of reasons why:
One: It’s a stress reliever. If life is stressing you out, an hour or two at the shooting range is good medicine. I mean, you literally get to shoot your worries away – how awesome is that?!
Two: It’s family bonding at its finest. My entire family likes to shoot so when we all go to the range or take a class together it’s a blast. (Ha, blast!) We get to watch each other improve and celebrate victories together.
Three: It’s a confidence builder. I don’t know if I’ve ever done anything that has built my confidence as much. When you can load and rack your handgun, understand the situation before you, and run a course, hitting every target and swapping mags[1] on the fly, you feel like a million bucks. You can face any problems head on because you just rocked that course and if you can do that you can do anything.
Four: I’m better prepared to live life safely. Let’s face it, today’s world is dangerous. Through shooting classes I’ve learned situational awareness[2]. I don’t walk to the car while playing on my cellphone, I keep my head up and eyes open. I don’t just check my six[3] out on the range; I check my six at the grocery store and in the parking lot. I walk with confidence and my body language shows that I’m not an easy target, even if I am small female. I’m a person who will fight back if necessary.
Five: It deepens my faith in God. I can see you scratching your head, but hear me out on this one. First of all, anything I do in nature deepens my faith in God. I love being in His creation. But beyond that, I’m learning how to be confident in the person God made me to be and learning lessons that can be applied to life and faith. For example, when my instructor gives me a command, I don’t always understand why he wants me to that, but I know that if I don’t obey I could be injured or someone else could be injured. Eventually I understand the “why” but by golly I better obey or I could be in trouble. It’s the same way with the commands God gives us in Scripture. I may not always understand the “why” right away, but I know that God is good and that His commands are for my benefit and safety. If I don’t obey God I’m going to find myself in trouble.
This Saturday I will be taking the Defensive Handgun 2 class and it’s going to be awesome! Do I have any shooting buddies out there? I’d love to meet you in the comments! Let me know what you like to shoot and what God has taught you through shooting.
Not a shooter? That’s okay! I think that any hobby we have or activity we enjoy can teach us something about God. Fun and faith are not mutually exclusive! I’d love to hear about something you love to do and what God has taught through it.
Footnotes:
[1] A magazine is what holds the rounds in a handgun. Rounds are what most people call bullets, but a bullet is only part of the round. The round is made up of the bullet, the gun powder, the primer, and the casing which holds it all together – see you learn things when you take classes!
[2] Situational awareness is knowing what’s going on around you. Be aware of your surroundings and have plans in place for those “what if” scenarios.
[3] Checking your six is looking behind you. Picture a clock: 12:00 is what’s in front of you; 6:00 is what’s behind you. Checking your six is being aware of what happening all around you.
TWEET THIS: Making the choice to have fun is worth the pain. @RealMojo @josie_siler #chronicillness #chooseyourbattles
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
Josie Siler
Josie Siler loves sharing God’s gifts of beauty, hope, and adventure. She’s an award-winning writer, a published author, and an award-winning photographer. She can’t seem to separate her two loves so she brings them together each week in a #BehindThePhotoFriday story. Josie is also the Vice President of Broken but Priceless Ministries and the Editorial Assistant for “Broken but Priceless: The Magazine.” When she’s not writing or taking pictures, you’ll find this biker chick riding her motorcycle, reading a good book, drinking coffee, eating chocolate, or shooting something at the range. Learn more about Josie at josiesiler.com.
Aug 7, 2017 |
by Molly Jo Realy @RealMojo68
Frankly, My Dear. . . The Best of Funds for Writers, C. Hope Clark
Disclaimer: I’m friends with C. Hope Clark on Facebook so when she offered a copy of her book in exchange for an honest review, I jumped. Y’all know I love sharing what I know. And what I know is she knows her stuff. Read on . . .
“This book is a motivational, go-to, elementary reminder that if you desire to be a writer, you deserve to be respected for it.” ~ C. Hope Clark, The Best of Funds for Writers.
I’m gonna tell y’all upfront that if I hadn’t received this book from her (autographed, too. Thanks, Hope!) I would have bought my own. I’ve subscribed to her newsletter in the past, but thinking I was receiving too many emails, hers was in the batch I unsubscribed to. Thanks to this handy-dandy guide, I’ve resubscribed, and it’s reignited my passion.
I love books. Of course I do. I’m figuring most of you do too. Or else you’re just here to read my sweet Southern drawl, am I right or am I right? Anyway, I love books that are small and light and fit in my bag. You never know how long the line at the post office or bank will take, or where lunch will be. It’s good to have a book for a quick grab-and-go.
This book is so good I want to trash it.
Now, hold on. I’m not talking about trash-trashing a book. My good sweet tea, honey, NO. That’s sacrilege. I’m saying, I may get myself a second one so I can cut it into Happy Planner pieces for inspirational bookmarks, that’s how good this book is. Can you imagine all these quotes washi-taped and colorized and highlighted? Mm-hmm. I guess we know what my next Happy Planner will be, don’t we?
But we’re talking about this book. And this book book is so much more. It’s not just a one-time read-through experience. This is a great reference book, a must have for any serious writer. And let’s just resurface that new argument, You can’t write in a Kindle. I imagine by my second read through, this book will have even more notes in the margins.
It’s broken into bite-size chapters (the longest is under four pages long) and easy-to-read formatting. Important, pay-attention-to-this items are bolded. Each chapter includes quotes from deliciously wonderful books and authors, the first being Anne of Avonlea. Hulloh! You think that didn’t endear this book to my nobody-touches-it-but-me stack?! That’s right, it did.
Part One covers topics written by Hope, Part Two is written by her guests. We’re talking easy-peasy advice like
- To Website or Not to Website
- The Zillion Little Pieces of Our Writing
- Write Daily or Not
- The Importance of Writer Self-Education
- Tactics & Tips Selling Your Books on Consignment
- On Being a Travel Writer for AAA
As with her website and newsletter, this little book is like a foil-wrapped Wonka bar (and we all know how I feel about Willy Wonka!) – so full of good little treats you just don’t know what you’ll get bite after bite. But you want more so you buy another bar. Side Note: Did you know Wonka candies are no longer available? I didn’t. *insert sad face here* Luckily, you don’t have to buy another book, or go without. You can just keep reading this one.
Frankly, My Dear . . . She said “Frankly!”
With practical advice on how to reach for your dreams, Hope’s book is a great reference, and Hope is a great encourager.
What are some of your favorite books on writing?
TWEET THIS: Want to earn money as a writer? There’s Hope! @RealMojo68 @hopeclark #fundsforwriters #amwriting
With Hope, a pen, and never-ending chocolate bar,
Happy writing,
~Molly Jo
And Frankly, My Dear . . . That’s all she wrote!
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