Blissdom: Clicks vs.Cliques

So, people have been asking for two days to post about Blissdom... so here goes. If Blissdom isn't your thing or you are even wondering what Blissdom is, I promise there is other GOODe stuff in this post...

Truth be told, I have been struggling to put into words what the Blissdom experience has meant to me-- in a way that would:

a) Do it justice

b) Have some value to my awesome loyal readers who perhaps could care less about Blissdom.

c) Not seem like a bunch of wisdom vomit (pardon the gross analogy--but if you have came within a 10 ft radius of me since leaving Blissdom, I am sure you would describe it that way too-- I am so full of things I want to share, do, change, be a part of, make happen, put into action, that I am literally spewing it out all over the place! Ain't that right Aunt Lou?)

I have tried to write this post a hundred times and the one word that keeps going off in my head is CLICK.

Which is ironic since the one word I was scared of (read: terrified beyond measure) was CLIQUE. 

Going to Blissdom was BEYOND outside my comfort zone. I didn't know anyone IRL that was going to be there and beyond that I only knew one (very kind) person who was going to be there and would actually know who I was...

I would log on to twitter and watch the twitter stream fill up with ladies making plans to see each other and wonder just where I was going to fit in.

At the risk of belaboring the point... I was scared sick. My stomach was in knots and my nerves were shot. I had no choice but to just push through and see what would happen and past experiences had me ill at the thought.

All my crutches were gone.

I didn't have my amazing charismatic, uber-funny, uber-social husband there so that I could go on auto-pilot.

I didn't have my social butterfly of a sister --who is fiercely protective of me-- there to make it through connected to her hip (although I did have several texts/calls from her... cause that's how she rolls).

I didn't have my professional speaking/facilitating hat on that would allow me to "facilitate and lead" right through.

I didn't even have the AMAZING group of women that I blog with locally there to be my tribe and have my back.

Nope. It was just me. 

And, I was going to have to be enough. 

And, I was skeered.

It was at that time that I knew how blessed I was back home. I had a girlfriend on the phone with me (and my mom and my sister) psyching me up. A colleague helping me look for other new people on Twitter and I even had a girlfriend stopping by folks' blogs thanking them for hanging out with me.

AMAZING. If nothing else, I knew I was going to walk away with a new appreciation for those back home. 

You guys ROCK... just sayin'

But then, I met these ladies (and a few not pictured)...

And, I began to learn one of many things I would come to learn... Bloggers tend to be kindred spirits. When you meet another blogger you realize that they just get you-- a very important part of your life is something--a piece of them-- that they embrace as well.

Despite my pre-Blissdom terror, I was looking forward to going to there. I was intrigued to walk among blogging giants and soak up every bit of knowledge I could.

What caught me off guard was that the overwhelming environment of love, acceptance and YOU are enough...

Led to very emotional, spiritual and professional discoveries throughout the week, in addition to the basic knowledge of ways to improve your blog, build your community and how to use your camera.

If I had to define the whole experience in one word, it would be "click" not "clique".

Dictionary.com has many definitions for "click": 

Click: to fit together; function well together

Click: A slight sharp sound, such as that heard from the heart during systole.

Click: to make or cause to make a clicking sound: to click one's heels

Click: a small device for preventing backward movement of a mechanism

Click: computing  an act of pressing and releasing a button on a mouse

Click: to catch on with someone; to intrigue someone; 

Click: to become intelligible.

Click: to become suddenly clear

So thank you Blissdom. 

You helped me regain a piece of myself that I have been missing for 15 years.

And, to my untribe... Thank you girls for an amazing--life altering time. 

Without your acceptance, I am not sure that I would have had nearly the same experience.

Just sayin'

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(Video Credit)

Super Mommy Secrets: Getting the Kiddos to Eat Their Veggies

A while back I asked my wonderful Facebook peeps about how they got their little people to eat their veggies. And, you guys didn't disappoint.

GOODEness Gracious Inquiring mamas want to know... How do you get your kiddos to eat their veggies?

1,117 Impressions · 0.54% Feedback

January 17 at 4:39pm ·  · Comment · Promote

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    Victoria Herman-Love Just gotta comment on this one. I am very lucky! Livie eats her veggies with no prompting from me. In fact sometimes that is all she will eat, she won't touch the main "meat course".
    

    January 17 at 4:44pm · 
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    Kelly Youngblood All four of my kids eat their vegetables. I honestly think it goes back to their infanthood. We started vegetables before we ever tried fruits or fruit juice. I made the vegetables instead of buying the jars. I really think that helped.
    

    January 17 at 4:53pm ·  ·  1 person
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    Terra Livingston King 
    

    I'm like the others in that Livi has always ate veggies. She isn't a big meat eater, but there are very few veggies she won't eat. I agree that it starts during infancy (in my opinion). We presented Livi with every veggie we could & as s...See More

    
    

    January 17 at 5:20pm · 
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    Susan 'Paxton' Schultz Sounds like time for a new cookbook review. Seinfelds deceptively delicious cookbook simple secrets to get your kids eating good Reasonabily priced on amazon.
    

    January 17 at 7:42pm · 
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    Donna Cook try ketsup on them!!
    

    January 17 at 9:23pm · 
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    GOODEness Gracious Great tips! Thanks so much for sharing.
    
    Susan- I think I have seen that book and another one by the "sneaky chef", but haven't given either a try.
    

    January 18 at 8:24am · 

My bloggy pal Miss Leah over at Beyer Beware was so awesome to help me out this week and share with you guys how she gets her kids (ok, her hubby-- Hi, Matt:)) to eat up their veggies AND the great thing about her awesome tip is that it helps use up any of those well-intentioned but about to go bad veggies sitting (ok rotting) in your fridge right now... told you she was awesome ;)

May I present, Miss Leah:

I have never considered myself a gal with some super mommy secrets.  So, when Cris asked to guest post on Super Mommy Secrets, I thought she was crazy. But, then she said, “I know you have one kid that eats veggies, but I know you are pureeing fruits and veggies to sneak in.” And she is right. But really it is to sneak it by my husband;)

I am notorious for buying all these beautiful fresh veggies and then 2 weeks later I wonder why they are rotten. So, that is when I started using purees.

While fruit seems to be easily eaten by both kids, sometimes the dear old parents aren’t so good. That is when I pull out a banana puree and throw it in a pancake or waffle mix.

But, honestly, I have a problem with BM’s at my house. Why is it that kids have more problems going #2 than I remember as I kid. Oh yeah, because how often do kids talk about the last time they pooped? So, anytime I can add fiber, especially in the form of beans, to my kids diet, I jump on it. That is why I love my Mexican Chicken Casserole and my Cheesy Pork Casserole.

But, my ultimate sneak attack. The mac and cheese assault. My family could eat their weight in pasta drenched in cheese. This is why it is so EASY to sneak cauliflower into it.

Start with a head of cauliflower.

I cut out the inner stem.

Grab my steamer. Microwave of course.

Arrange the cauliflower and rinse with water into the bottom to generate the steam.

Let it steam for about 8 minutes on high. In the meantime, get your pasta cooking. Tonight it is the mini bowties because it cooks fast. I might smash a garlic clove and toss it in the water with the pasta. Might.

When the cauliflower is done, send it straight into the food processor or blender.

Pour in a dash of water. Press start and let it puree.

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When the pasta is done, drain and return to the same pan. Add ½ cup of the puree.

Add 1 cup of cubed velveeta, a fist full of chedder, 1/3 of a cream cheese block, and ½ cup of milk. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and paprika.

Let it all melt together and throw in some cubed ham.

Mix all together. Go ahead and lick the spoon.

It really is that good. Just look at this smiling face.

What are your food secrets? Other mom’s want to know!

Linked to: Works for Me Wednesday