Blogging began as a hobby for me in 2007, as a way to stay connected to my family and friends. This little blog of mine was the perfect platform to share my stories and pictures of my children as they grew from infants, to toddlers, to children. I never expected my blog to be anything other than a hobby, but it turned into something more; a career, of sorts, where I continue to write about the things I love, while earning an income—and giving back to the community whenever I can.

The opportunities I’ve had have been nothing short of amazing—being featured in magazines, making appearances on television, co-hosting radio shows, emceeing events, speaking at conferences, and writing great reviews and giveaways for businesses and products I love to promote and support. It’s certainly been one memorable experience after another. 

I’ve attended conferences from California to New York City to Miami, I’ve danced with the Rockettes in Radio City Music Hall, and my family and I have received amazing perks when we travel. 

It has been incredible, and I’m thankful that my passion grew into something bigger than I thought possible. But… the most important thing about this journey is that I have made some wonderful friends over the years in this community. 

I’ve heard inspiring people speak in front of me, like Katie Couric, Brene Brown and Martha Stewart. I’ve gone to a cocktail party with Mario Lopez, I’ve shared wine with Wolf Blass, and I’ve talked beer with Tom Green, but the friendships that have lasted over the years? Priceless.

Blogging for Yummy Mummy Club is also so rewarding—I’m surrounded by talented, smart, business-savvy women on a daily basis.

The thing I’m most proud of, though, is when I am able to help others, especially children. I may not blog about my kids as much as I used to, but I will always be a strong voice for them and for all children, and I will enthusiastically support organizations that benefit children and their well-being.

A highlight for me was being asked to be a CHEO blogger. As a mom who has had a child stay  in CHEO three different times, this hospital is very near and dear to my heart.

I was hired to be Volkswagen Canada’s blogger during the 2012 24h Tremblant charity event that also benefits sick children, and I was honored to be a part of that. It’s incredible the good that comes from people getting together for a worthwhile cause.

I love reading about the wonderful things my friends are doing in the blogging community, too. Our voice is strong and the opportunities we have to use our voice for good are plentiful. 

If I had to give any blogging advice to a new blogger it would be this: 

Be true to yourself, write from the heart, tell your story, whatever it may be, have fun, and use your voice for good. Find something you believe in and try to make a positive change in your community. 

Even though there has been a shift in the blogging world, (less comments, more business opportunities) we are moving in the right direction, and using our voice for good.

I hope we continue to make positive changes around us, while enjoying the fun that comes with this crazy, awesome ride.

I’m presenting at the blogging and digital storytelling conference, Northern Voice. It’s happening in Vancouver over Friday and Saturday. I’ll present a Blogging 101 Q&A on Friday at 1:30 pm alongside the Devil (AKA Shane Birley, co-author of Blogging for Dummies). Sounds awesome, right? Know what’s even more awesome? Getting into the conference with a [...]

Alberta MP Brent Rathgeber said he has left the Conservative caucus in part because of the control Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s office exercises over backbench MPs, which was preventing him from representing his constituents. The former Tory MP, who announced he was quitting late Wednesday night to sit as an Independent, said staff in Harper’s [...]

I have decided here at R&R to do a series of posts on blogging and try to keep up with it. All the changes in blogging, why blogging is fun, how to start a blog and should you?  I think it’s important not only for those blogging (doing what we love) but to share how… [read more]

It’s been a long week and it’s only Tuesday. I know, right?  But it has. Why? Well mostly because I’m getting fed up, ticked off, feel out of sorts and really just don’t like things the way they are now with what I’m doing.  I know you are probably saying… then don’t do it anymore… [read more]

I think it’s really interesting that blogging means so many different things to so many different people. For some people it is a journal, a catharsis, a means of connecting with the world. For others it’s about coupon clipping and deal-getting. A blog might be a scrapbook, or gainful employment, or a way to find support.
For [...]

Sometime between this week and last I put my back out. And I feel so sorry for myself.

You don’t even understand.

Because my back isn’t just a bit sore.

It’s not something I can take medication for and it goes away in a bit.

No, I actually put my back out.

And apparently this is normal.

The pain kind of built and built until one day when my alarm went off I found I couldn’t sit up. (That’ll learn me never to try becoming a morning person again.) After a couple failed (and painful) attempts I opted to barrel role out of bed. And I did it pretty effectively too, seeing as how I got out of bed and didn’t fall.

From there it has been a downhill slide. The day was horrible and I couldn’t sit down at work. The plus side of that is my desk is high enough to stand at so it wasn’t weird.

The next day my arm went numb. Like, my entire arm.

Think of it folks. I’m a writer. Now I can’t sit and I can’t use one of my arms.

How am I supposed to do my job?

So there was that.

And also there was the confusion over why my body was rejecting me.

So I went to the walk-in clinic. I explained what was happening, the doctor felt a few places in my back and referred me to a massage therapist. He didn’t seem phased about my arm, even though I repeated myself just in case he didn’t catch it the first time around.

Then I called the therapist. After explaining my story I was informed since it was a long weekend I would have to wait five days before I could get in.

Again with the non-concern!

Eyes brimming with tears I booked the appointment and then called every other massage therapist I could get a number for. Over and over I got the “long weekend story” yadda yadda until finally three hours later I got a call back from someone who could take me if I left right away.

“How close are you to the clinic?”

Honestly? I didn’t even know who was calling. The clinic? No clue. So I clarified.

“Uh…in Abbotsford?”

“No Coquitlam.

CRAP!

“Well, pretty far. Like 30 minutes or more”

“Leave now.”

And you know what? I was so desperate I did. I drove 40 minutes to someone who would see me despite the “long weekend.” Someone who thought my arm going numb was cause for at least some concern.

But still, it felt a bit crazy.

Anyway, now the long weekend is over and I did survive. But it has been one of those ones I’d rather not remember. My body hates me, my arm is still tingly, and I’m so far behind in my work I’m sweating just thinking about it.

Funny thing is, apparently most of my issue isn’t my work posture but my stress level.

So I’ve had a lot to think about while stuck lying on heating pads on the floor.

I attended the Mom 2.0 Summit this past weekend and I now know why all of my friends were all, YOU NEED TO COME and IT IS SO AMAZING. Because I think that amazing is the best word to describe my time at the conference. I was surrounded by brilliant women (many of whom are [...]

It is our honour to announce that we have been accepted as members to the Society of American Travel Writers. (SATW) We had never thought about joining an organization before. We’ve been plugging away for a few years, quite proud of our lack of allegiance to anything. Then we spoke at the Society of American [...]

Read the original post Society of American Travel Writers – We’re In on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

I’m on my way to Laguna Niguel to attend the Mom 2.0 Summit for my very first time, courtesy of my lovely bosses at Work It! Mom. I will be spending the weekend with old friends, making new friends, and learning what I can to be a better writer/blogger/business person. As I’ll be handing out [...]

A lot has changed in the blogging world over the last couple of years. Certainly a lot has changed for the better, but I sometimes miss the days when we used our blogs as a bigger platform than Twitter. Remember blogging, back in 2009? A…

A lot has changed in the blogging world over the last couple of years. Certainly a lot has changed for the better, but I sometimes miss the days when we used our blogs as a bigger platform than Twitter. Remember blogging, back in 2009? A…

  Well, it was a bit of a shocking reminder as I logged into my blog this morning and received a celebratory congratulations on my 6th year anniversary – it was on this date 6 years ago I registered my … Continue reading →

  The news finally arrived!  The announcement has been made.  Blissdom Canada 2013 is set and bloggers from around the country cannot wait to attend this stellar event! What is Blissdom? Well it’s a conference for bloggers and brands to connect with each other, showcase and teach, learn and mingle, and push your business and [...]

The post Blissdom Canada 2013: Sponsorship Opportunities for Your Business! appeared first on rantsnrascals.com.

Posted in Blogging

I have to say, before I go any further with this post I should say how much I love inc.com. It has amazing resources for anyone who wants to run a business, evolve their career, develop leadership skills. That being said, when I read Jessica Stillman’s post on the negatives of running a side business [...]

The post Why Your Blogging Side Project Is NOT A Bad Idea appeared first on K and K Adventures.

It’s time again for friends to mingle and kick back, relax and win some amazing prizes, share our social networks and get to know one another. It’s time once again for the ULTIMATE BLOG PARTY! A Little About Me… For those of you new here to R&R – my name is Jodi and I’m a [...]

I mentioned in my post last week that I had two new writing gigs that were going live soon, and one of them went live yesterday. It would be unlike me to skip the back story (Stories are my thing, as you are all aware), so here we go. Back in December when I was [...]

As far back as my memory serves me, I have loved writing.I was a total bookworm growing up and always had my nose between the pages of a book.I had journals and diaries.I would staple stacks of paper together to…

I started blogging here in April 2006 after Dave kindly offered me a space for my voice. Thank you Dave! That’s pretty much SEVEN years ago. I’m not sure how that’s happened, but there it is.

I’ve had much less energy for blogging over the past while…