Pintastic Tuesday...a little something different!

I just read a funny card on Facebook. It said that Pinterest was the female version of Fantasy Football. I actually joined a Fantasy league this year, but I always forgot to check it. So, I thought co-hosting a Pinterest Pinning party would be more fun. I hope you join me in the fun.

Welcome to  Pintastic Tuesdays!



So, first, please meet your hostesses and follow us on Pinterest!

Katie from This Mommy Cooks Dinner  

Rachel from Fit Triangle Mom

Natalie from Great Contradictions

And now, for our Pintastic Pick of the Week! 

Pumpkin Cupcakes with Cinnamon Whipped Frosting from Sugar Aunts!

Those look amazing, don't they?  You know you want to pin their recipe!

Sugar Aunts, we'd love for you to grab our "featured" button! 

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Now, on to the party!  Here is the scoop on how it works: 

Please follow your hostesses on Pinterest (our links are above), then jump in and share your family friendly posts--as many as you'd like!   They don't have to be food related, just family friendly.  Just make sure you link directly to your pin, or your post, instead of your homepage.  Then, visit some other posts and pin them!  After all, who doesn't love Pinterest Traffic!



Just to make things a little more fun, we've opened voting on the links!  So, next week, we will have our Pintastic Pick of the Week, and the Reader Pintastic Pick of the Week! 



Let's spread the word about Pintastic Tuesdays!  Show some linky party love and grab a button below and display it on your blog.   The more people who join us, the more pinterest traffic for everyone...and you might even make some new bloggy friends!

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And if you want to check out all the awesome pins from parties past, check out our Pintastic Tuesdays Board on Pinterest! 



Time to Link Up!













Here is the fine print:  If you link up, you are giving us permission to use the your photo and link on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and of course, here, as a pick of the week.  We will certainly give you credit and link back to you.

The Best of NC...the NC State Fair

It's fair season in North Carolina, and the NC State Fair runs till Sunday. It's a huge production of concerts, livestock, exhibits, rides, games and food. North Carolina's Homecoming is the theme this year. If you're not a native of NC, then you'll learn what this state is all about by visiting the fair.

My family went to the fair on Monday morning around 11. We started our journey with food. I had a Philly cheese steak sandwich, the boys each had corn dogs and my husband had a steak sandwich for lunch. Most of the vendors offered covered seating areas, so we found a shady spot and ate and planned our next stop--the gardens.

 

Even though we got the NC State Fair app for our phone complete with a map, we looped around the Midway section filled with rides and games. It was fun just looking at all the attractions and at least we walked off lunch by the time we reached the gardens.

The gardens are peaceful and serene; you wouldn't believe it is apart of the fair. Landscape, outdoor art and even scarecrow entries are on display. The boys even found a Thomas the Train garden. While we explored the different plants and trails, we feasted on homemade chocolate chip cookies for dessert.

The trails led us to a miniature version of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse, a great photo op. Beyond the lighthouse is a bridge that took us to a giant Smokey the Bear. Smokey talked to the boys, answered questions and told us about fire safety.

We crossed back to the other side and visited the Children's Barnyard and livestock building. The boys loved seeing the pigs, sheep, horses, cows, baby chicks and goats. There were lots of hand washing stations to help prevent the spread of germs. After seeing the animals, we decided it was time for more food.

 A caramel apple with nuts for me, grilled corn for the hubs and cotton candy for the boys. With goodies in hand, we ventured over to Kiddie Land, a tot size midway. Aiden played the fishing game, threw a dart at a balloon and ring toss. So six dollars later, we now own fuzzy dice and a stuffed $100 bill. Oh well, Aiden was so proud.


It was about 5 o'clock when we walked back to our car. It had been a fun day with lots of walking, eating, and exploring all the best of what NC offers. According to Aiden, "it is the best fair in the world," and I would have to agree.

Zero-Tolerance

Bully. It's a term that gets used a lot lately, a buzzword so to speak. We usually hear it being used when describing young kids at school making fun, hitting, or making threats to others. Now-a-days it's serious business when a kid is labeled a bully. When I was a kid being bullied just meant you had to be tough and stick-up for yourself. 

I was bullied in grade school. I was the new kid more than once, a little different, and I befriended those who were less popular. Teachers turned a blind-eye to the incidents on the bus, playground or cafeteria. So I learned I needed to be tough. I was taught if someone pushes you down, then get up and push back harder.

I thought the days of bulling were over when I became an adult, but sometimes bullies don't grow-up. I witnessed this the other day at the gym. Two guys lifting heavy weights in the corner and between reps would stop, point and snicker. This infuriated me. There are people of all body-types, shapes, sizes and levels at the gym. Who cares if you can bench press over 300 pounds. If you can't show respect to others than you are a cowardly wimp. I know guys experience this locker room sort of bullying more often, yet girls feel a similar pain-- comparison.

Girl bully's are called mean girls. Kinda like the movie. You have the popular pretty girls on one side and the less thans on the other. It's not much different as an adult. Beauty and dress size still reign in our minds. Did you know that purposely leaving someone out is apart of being a bully?

Bullies are relevant in the adult world. Even more so as a parent. How we behave as adults reflects how we teach our children about bullies. Stick up for yourself? Of course. Stick up for others? You bet. Push back? Informing a teacher or adult is probably the best option for kids. What about if you're an adult?  I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. How should these bullies at the gym be handled?

I want to hear from you. Leave a comment below.

A Rainy Day Inspiration

 

It's been raining all week, and the kids have been sick for most of it. My gym schedule hasn't gone as planned. So when I went back yesterday, I wasn't sure if I should work my legs or arms, so I did a little of both and talked a little too much. You can't help but talk when you've cooped up with the kids since Monday. Especially, adult conversation. You know politics, events around town, corn-hole tournaments. Did you know that some people don't know what corn-hole is? It's easy to explain it is another name for bean bag toss, but it's hard to forget that look they give you when they think you're speaking prison lingo.

The rain is bringing me down. It's cold too. I'm wearing a sweater today. I jokingly tell people that I run on sunshine, and it's true. So how I do get through on these rainy, cold weeks? Besides hot coffee, pumpkin spice lattes, and Amino Energy drinks; an inspirational story perks me up.

picture by: Paula Fahey Rahill

 



I was scrolling through my Facebook feed, and I found her. I found Katie. The girl that lived up the street and played Barbie's with my younger sister. Katie's not the young, childhood friend I remember. She's a strong confident woman running a marathon. I clicked on the link that took me to Katie's blog-- Hobo Mom. I read about her humble appreciation of everyone who helped her get to the finish line. I love how running makes a wonderful analogy to life, and if anyone makes that point any stronger, it's Katie. Did I mention she's a single mom and mompreneur.

So, I encourage you to read Katie's blog. She'll make you cry, laugh and laugh some more. It's the perfect pick-me-up on this rainy, cold week. I don't know when the sun will come back out, but I do know you might get a smile on your face and some extra running motivation after reading Hobo Mom.

Running & Writing...A Race Worth Finishing!

I did it! I submitted a pitch and the first chapter of my book Love on the Run to Harlequin's So You Think You Can Write contest. Over 500 submissions were received, and now I wait to hear if I'll be one of the 50 to be chosen to submit a completed manuscript. The complete manuscript will be about 85,000 words. Yes, 85,000 words. It's a little daunting. I've been writing a little bit more since I submitted my first chapter a week ago, but I still got a long way to go. It's hard scheduling in time to write with my already busy stay-at-home mom schedule ( you know what I mean). Then I realized that writing is a lot like running.

When I first started running, I started slow, but steady. A little bit each day. I had a goal to run a 5k. I had never run a 5k before, but it was a goal I wanted to accomplish. My goal is to finish writing this book whether I win the contest or not. I have started several books, but for some reason or another I never finished them. Things, life, etc. got in the way.

This time will be different. I'm setting a goal to write a little bit every day. It's like I'm training for a race. I need a finished manuscript to submit to publishers. I've partnered with other writers and you to keep me accountable. I learned in my early days of running that accountability is the key to a successful finish. You need people cheering you on, and telling you that you can do it. Remember when you were a kid, and teachers/parents would say "If you put your mind to it, you can do it!" They were right.

Trying a new workout, running a race or just choosing to eat healthy can be scary if you've never done it before, but once you try you'll be happy you did.

I could use a little cheering. You can read my submission at Love on the Run and share your feedback. I'm cheering for you in whatever race you're in. Comment below, and others can cheer for you too!