With five children, my husband and I often did nothing more than run out for a quick meal and then return home. We found ourselves running out of new places to go and things to do after a few years and decided to incorporate fresh ideas into our date nights. We are still trying to maintain an atmosphere of romance and not break the bank. We have to think outside the box on this one.

5 Inexpensive Valentine Date Night Ideas

1. Stargaze – One of our favorite pastimes is lying in the grass staring at the stars. We began the ritual when we were dating and have continued by sharing the passion with our kids. Stargazing involves nothing more than a clear, starry night and a piece of quiet somewhere. We like to sneak out on the patio after the kids have gone to bed or grab an ice cream and head to our local lake. The romance is in the twinkling of the stars.
2. Geocache – Have you discovered the fun of geocaching? I read about it this past summer and our family has enjoyed the thrill ever since. Grab your date and head out on a treasure hunt. There are six within walking distance of our house and several more locally. A little bit of gas and a lot of energy can go a long way in geocaching. Discover the magic of treasure hunting together!
3. Have a Movie Night – With movie rentals as low as $1.50, sometimes the easiest way to share some quality time is to simply rent a DVD, pop some popcorn, crawl into bed, or snuggle on the couch with a good movie. Alleviating the need for a babysitter and not using any gas, this is typically the default plan when we are on a tight budget for date night.
4. Explore your City – Even with gas prices on the rise, there is still a reason to get out and explore. Watch for bargains through an online deal site for places and events nearby. We have discovered that even within our own tiny town there is still so much to do. Grab a camera and become a tourist right where you are planted.
5. See the Arts – Local theater groups and some smaller museums often have low-cost admission prices. Delve into the culture of the humanities and see the arts in your city. You never know what types of new ideas can be inspired by looking at the creativity of others.

What are some of your best inexpensive date ideas?

Staci Salazar is the blog author/owner of 7 on a Shoestring. She is a SAHM to 5 children {all boys but 4} living vicariously through the internet.  Staci writes product reviews, giveaways and everyday antics of family life as they manage their family of 7. They are living blessed on less. She can also be found on Twitter @7onashoestring.

When I’m coaching people through life transformation, one of the primary issues is usually a bitterness or toxic emotion they need to let go of in their life. Cleansing our lives simply means taking a deep breath and taking time to stop, think, pray, evaluate, and even let go of triggers in your life.

What is it you need to let go of? Maybe it’s a person, a place, or a thing. It can be a habit or a toxic friend or attitude. Maybe it’s something as simple as a habit that is taking time away from the one thing you love the most. The bottom line is that it’s up to you! No one knows your body better than you do.

This year I’m on day 15 of a 21 day liquid fast and all is going well. I drink a lot — a lot of water and sometimes other healthy liquids like tomato juice. When I’m fasting, I develop a love for milk again, perhaps because when we were babies we drank it for a year! I love milk during the fast, though I don’t drink it normally.

At the end of the fast my body, mind, and spirit feel amazing. For me, fasting works. It’s a time to detox and let go and it’s also a time of deep contemplation and lightness. It requires discipline but the interruption of the traditional ways we indulge is a great recalibration for me. Is there anything I miss? Yes, I miss cheeseburgers, sonic chili cheese dogs, and little Debbies.

Why did I ever think I needed to gorge myself on three meals a day Or six small ones, as some “experts” tell you? No, it doesn’t halt your metabolism. No, it doesn’t make you lose weight and regain it. No, it doesn’t deprive your body of nutrients. I know because I do it. Dr. Schulz, an M.D. and foremost medical expert on the subject, have a lot to say on the power of fasting to clean out your digestive system. He writes about the dangers of “sludge” and toxic waste that builds up in our bodies creating disease.

Yet, still, my aunt Ethel will comment on the danger of fasting the minute I upload this post. So as soon as I end my fast, Aunt Ethel, I’ll have a little Debbie chocolate snack just for you. And believe me, I will enjoy every moment of it!

Have you ever done a cleanse? What things do you want or need to detox from in your life?

Picture courtesy of flickr.

Tammy Kling is a life coach, crisis management expert, and advocate for the homeless. She is an international author of 37 books including The Compass. Tammy is also the founder of The Homeless Writers Project, an organization that helps those living on the street write out their hopes & dreams via writers workshops, free journals and other resources. In addition to writing and coaching, Tammy is a mom of two boys, an avid trail and mountain runner, blogger, and adventure travel writer.

According to a number of recent surveys and reports, social media marketing is not only effective at boosting a company’s profile, it is actually providing a wide range of benefits. In fact, it’s so effective that far more companies are using social media to connect with customers than those who are not.

8 Ways Social Media Marketing Can Benefit Your Business

Here are eight ways social media marketing can benefit your business:

1.) Increase Website Traffic

A 2011 report by the Social Media Examiner found that 88 percent of business owners surveyed use social media, from blogs to Facebook to YouTube, as a way of generating exposure for their businesses. Better yet, while a high number of social media marketers are seeing results for their efforts, 49 percent also enjoyed cost savings through social media investments.

2.) Manage Marketing Channels and Actions

Besides being easy to set up, business owners are able to meet customers where they’re already spending time and make connections for a minimal investment of time. Entrepreneur Magazine reported that “67 percent of owners said the fact that social media marketing is easier to master and utilize brought them around. That’s up from 54 percent in the previous survey. And it didn’t hurt a bit that 51 percent of these surveyed merchants and business people discovered that their customers prefer to use media channels.”

3.) Interact With Customers

In a 2011 survey of small business owners, e-mail marketing firm Constant Contact found the following: “Facebook continues to be the social media tool of choice — but Twitter is gaining ground, both in terms of usage and effectiveness. 60 percent of those using Twitter found it to be an effective tool to connect with customers — up from 47 percent in the spring.” These tools make it easy to interact with customers, an approach to social media adopted by 60% of the business owners surveyed.

4.) Improve Search Rankings With Google+

With the recent addition of Google’s Search Plus that integrates a user’s Google+ network with search results, a company profile on Google+ and Google+ buttons on a website can help increase a business’s exposure in Google’s searches. Chris Brogan writes, “[Google+] makes it a lot easier for people to find–and shop at–your business. Run a hamburger business in Milwaukee? Post “best hamburgers in Milwaukee.” You should see more customers walking through your door in no time flat.”

5.) Achieve Greater Product Awareness

Though Facebook has helped brands increase their visibility, Facebook’s new “Actions” option will help customers specify what they’re doing with particular brands—a real step forward in brand awareness. Search Engine Journal reports, “These Actions let users specifically indicate their interaction with a location, products, and more. For example, one may visit a local coffee shop and indicate they “bought” a particular drink. Immediately, that action is posted on their wall and their average of 130 friends can interact with that action.  Others may comment, share, or even visit that store the next day to see for themselves.”

6.) Conduct Market Research on Social Media

As early as 2008 marketing executives caught on to the value of social media for tracking customer preferences, with 59% of respondents to an eMarketer Survey stating that they use social networks in order to track the responses and preferences of their customers. Social networks break down walls and create opportunities to interact with customers.

7.) Increase Sales Through Social Media Marketing

Though many businesses are still focusing on increasing brand awareness and connection points with customers through their social media efforts, there are some real returns that companies report. According to a 2011 report by Wildfire Marketing, 58 percent of their respondents point to increased sales and partnerships. This is a number that will only grow as businesses become more adept at turning social media connections into conversions.

8.) Generate Leads With Social Media Marketing

Besides generating exposure and sales, social media also increases the number of sales leads for business owners. The Social Media Examiner shares, “By spending as little as 6 hours per week, 52% of marketers see lead generation benefits with social media.”

Social media is now, without any doubt, an essential tool for any business that wants to increase interaction with customers, build brand awareness, and expand revenue opportunities.

How has social media changed your life? What are your favorite social media tools?

Picture courtesy of flickr.

This guest post is written by Lior Levin, a marketing consultant for an inspection company that offers Pre shipment inspections and, who also consults for a company that provides a  to do list application for businesses and individuals.

What do you think about when someone says aromatherapy? Many people think of candles, bubble bath, bath salts, and the very popular store,Bath & Body Works. There is so much to learn and you will be gaining a broad overview with this article on the basics of essential oils.

History of Essential Oils

The use of essential oils has been documented all the way back to 7000 B.C. when olive and sesame oil were combined with aromatic plants to produce ointments. The Egyptians learned how to distill oils and made cinnamon oil, cedar wood, frankincense, myrrh, and a few other oils. The Greeks and Romans used oils, and there are over 188 references to oils in the Bible.

My favorite comes from the 17th Century during the Black Plague. When the Black Plague went through communities, the stench of dead flesh was overwhelming. Physicians were dressed from head-to-toe and wore beak-like masks filled with oils/herbs. This is where the name quack originates.

In France,  there was a French scientist by the name of Rene Gattefosse. He was researching oils and their properties when he was burned very badly. It is said that he put his burned arm in a vat of lavender oil and it immediately took care of this pain and he did not have any scarring as a result.

Essential oils because of their antibacterial properties were used in World War II in France to treat wounds of the soldiers when their medication had run out. France and Europe have used essential oils for years for medicinal benefits, while in America oils have been used in the cosmetics industry (not pure oils) for perfumes. Synthetic oils and fragrance oils have been made for lotions, candles, and bath products.

Healing Benefits of Essential Oils

Therapeutic oils have many healing properties. To name a few, they can be the following: antibiotic, antibacterial, antispasmodic, antipyretic, antiviral, relaxing, stimulating, energizing, grounding, antiparasitic, and many more uses. For the individual oils to have pure therapeutic properties, the oils need to be grown in certain places, at certain elevation, with certain temperature, and even be harvested at certain times of the day or season.

For example, lavender grown in the United States does not have the full therapeutic potential like lavender grown in certain parts of France. Likewise, peppermint is most therapeutically grown in the state of Washington. To be deemed pure, an oil only needs to be 52% pure. Look for an oil that is certified pure therapeutic. You are ensuring 100% purity this way. Look for oils that originate where they are most therapeutic.

Properties of Essential Oils

Essential oils are made up of very small molecules. This property allows oils to pass through the phospholipid bilayer of the cell wall. This protective mechanism of the cell prevents many things from penetrating. This is one reason some oils with antiviral properties may benefit common viruses like colds and flu’s and explains why antibiotics don’t work on viruses.

This is just a small history and explanation of essential oils. Over the next few weeks you will learn about many oils including lavender, peppermint, lemon, chamomile, patchouli and many other oils. You will learn how you can use the oils for flu and cold symptoms, fever, anxiety, stress, and even cleaning products! Be sure to follow each week as I share ways to use these wonderful natural solutions for your health and home!

What are some of your favorite types of essential oils? How have they helped you and your family?

Joyce Harrell, RN, OCN is a holistic nurse who provides natural solutions for health and home. Joyce utilizes the art of nursing by implementing essential oils, enzyme therapy, vision boards, wellness coaching, and nutritional therapy to help you create an environment for your body to best heal.

Joyce is a wife, mother, nana, author, holistic healer, and above all committed to her relationship with God. You can find Joyce at www.NurseCoachOnline  or email her at joyce@nursecoachonline.com.

Tips for Living a Heart Healthy Lifestyle

Today, I would like to provide some easy steps to take to live a more heart-healthy lifestyle. Prevention is always best in my book! The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention stated that in 2010, coronary heart disease alone was projected to cost the United States$108.9 billion (Source: www.cdc.gov.) The American Heart Association has designed a program called Life’s Simple 7 with the goal of improved health by educating the public on best to live a more healthy life. The seven points they developed include: Get Active, Eat Better, Lose Weight, Stop Smoking, Control Cholesterol, Manage Blood Pressure, and Reduce Blood Sugar. There is even a test you can take to see how well you are doing at protecting your heart! (Source: http://mylifecheck.heart.org/) You can read more about their recommendations on their site here.

Get Tested

According to studies cited by the authors of Alternative Medicine – The Definitive Guide, 85 percent of all heart disease is caused by vulnerable plaque, which unfortunately cannot usually be detected by conventional cardiovascular diagnostic tests. They recommend that to effectively screen for vulnerable plaque, ultra-high-speed magnetic resonance imagining (MRI) may be required. Don’t feel you need to run out and get an MRI, but if you are at a risk for heart disease, keep this tool in mind.  The authors also recommend that people at risk should also be screened for infectious agents, as well as oxidized cholesterol, fibrinogen and homocysteine levels, and free-radical damage. These are all tests you can discuss with your doctor (Source: Alternative Medicine).

Eat Organic Foods

As far as diet changes or additions, try to make sure you eat organically as much as possible as organic foods are free of pesticides, herbicides, steroids, and antibiotics. Also increase your fiber intake with leafy green vegetables, fresh raw fruits, and psyllium. I could write pages upon pages about the benefits of monounsaturated oils such as olive oil, omega-3 oils such as fish oil and flaxseed oil, and omega-6 oils such as borage oil and evening primrose oil.

Eat Less Processed Foods

Try to avoid processed foods as much as possible.  I absolutely promise you will start to feel better the cleaner your food is. One trick I taught my five year-old is to look at the number of ingredients listed. If there is a long list of ingredients, especially ones you can’t even pronounce, then it is probably heavily processed.

Take Nutritional Supplements

Some nutritional supplements known to improve cardiovascular conditions include: beta carotene; vitamins B3 (niacin), B6, B12, C, and E; folic acid; the minerals calcium, chromium, magnesium, potassium, and selenium; the amino acids L-arginine, L-taurine, and L-carnitine; coenzyme Q10; and pycnogenol. (Source: Alternative Medicine.)  A good multivitamin can provide many of these nutrients listed above. It would be best to work with a health provider to determine the best amounts to take for your body!

Make Healthy Lifestyle Changes

Though heart disease causes half of all deaths in the United States, many health professionals feel that it is one of the most preventable chronic degenerative diseases. Heart healthy steps include making healthy dietary changes, exercise, stress reduction, and nutritional supplementation. Little changes can be made daily and always talk with your health provider if you have questions or concerns.

 What are you doing to prevent heart disease?

References:

1. Goldberg, Burton., Trivieri, Larry, and Anderson, John., Alternative Medicine- The Definitive Guide. Second Edition. Celestial Arts.
2. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.  CDC – DHDSP – Fact Sheets – Women and Heart Disease Fact Sheet.  www.cdc.gov
3. The American Heart Association. Life’s Simple 7 Sheet. http://mylifecheck.heart.org/

Photo courtesy of flickr.

Melissa Northway, M.S. Human Nutrition, is a mom, writer and her storybook app Penelope the Purple Pirate has been chosen as a Top 10 Must-Have eBook by lilsugar of Popsugar.com and a Top 10 Educational iPad App by Digital Storytime.  She does consulting work for companies interested in marketing their apps or eBooks. She can be reached at: mcube@sbcglobal.net and http://www.melissanorthway.com or @melissanorthway. See my review of The Hunger Games coming next week.

I have found that the thing I use the most is broken plates. Old and new, there is not a plate out there that cannot makes its way into a mosaic. I also use any number of other things. Old children’s tea sets, things I found in a house fire (some of these things are in the cat piece above), glass beads, metal bits — you name it, I have tried to use it! And I have loads of stuff! I had to take over part of my husband’s studio to keep everything organized.

If you would like to try your hand at a small mosaic, you do not have to go as crazy as I have. Start with a small frame or terra cotta pot. Use one of your old chipped plates that would have made it’s way into the trash. Put it in an old pillow case and give it a whack with a hammer. Take out some aggression while your at it! But not too much. You want the pieces to be about the size of a quarter or smaller. Go to your local Home Impovement store and ask for mastic (for indoor projects) or thinset (for outdoor projects). This is the magic glue that will adhere your plate to your desired surface. After it dries add a fun color of grout. And there you have it! You’ll be hooked!

There are some great books and reference materials on the web. This is where I taught myself to mosaic! So I know you can do it too! I hope this inspires you to go for it and make something fun!

Next time I will tell you about cereal box mosaics!!! I know, you’re probably thinking, “What in the world is she talking about?” Well, you will just have to tune in and see!

Resources for Creating Art Mosaics

This gal is a wealth of knowledge! She has quite a few projects to view:

• eHow Mosaic Video Series

This is where you’ll find the wild and crazy mosaic projects:

• Mosaics: Inspiration and Original Projects for Interiors and Exteriors

Here’s a Kindle version with fantastic ideas:

• Mosaic Lifestyle: How to Create Beautiful Mosaics from Your World

This book is full of ideas:

• Making Mosaics with Found Objects

Have you ever tried Mosaic? What crafts do you find most satisfying?

 Susan lives in Boise, Idaho, and is a self-taught artist and a jack of many artsy trades. She is married to professional artist and has two great teenagers. She has her hand in a lot of pots. She in very involved in her community and church. She loves friends, family, movies, eating out, laughing, and  vacationing to warm destinations! She just started her own blog: visit  susansspinningplates.wordpress.com

As a mother of a son with Schizophrenia, I have had to learn a whole new language. I have had to learn how to talk to someone who does not have the same reasoning ability that I do. I have had to learn how to be respectful, loving, caring. and patient. I am glad to do this because I love my son.

How To Provide Better Help for Your Ill Loved One

I cannot emphasize how much the NAMI Family-to-Family Education Classes have helped me to be able to do this. I have a few important points I would like to share to help each of you be a better help to your ill loved one:

• Learn as much as you can about your loved ones illness.
• Learn how to draw boundaries so that your loved one knows where you stand.
• Do not be afraid to disagree or to take a stand.
• Learn how to talk to your loved one so that you understand each other.
• Continue to learn everything you can.
• Take care of yourself so that you will be able to deal with the long term nature of your situation.
• Remember that this is most likely a life-long journey you and your loved one are on so solicit help from other family members and friends to help you.
• Find ways to have fun with your loved one so that not all of your experiences are sad or difficult.
• Adjust your expectations to accurately reflect your loved one’s true abilities. Finding a balance between what you want them to accomplish and what they can realistically achieve is difficult but possible.
• Find someone who you can talk to who is experiencing a similar situation and with whom you can share ideas.
• Love your ill family member unconditionally so that they know they have someone they can always depend on.

How has mental illness effected your family? How are you getting the help you need?

• 9 Tips to Parenting a Child Who Has Mental Illness
• 5 Ways to Help Support a Mentally Ill Sibling
• Coping With a Spouse Who Has Mental Illness
• Overcoming the Stigma of Mental Illness

There are several things I know for sure about relationships, simply from the commonalities of all my failed ones. The down slope to a failing relationship is our tongue. It usually always starts with something that is said even when there is no intention to hurt the other person; sometimes it just does. The next step down that slippery slope is misunderstanding.

To break it down, the innocent, yet ignorant comment has been taken out of context or misunderstood by the hearer; or the one on the receiving end. This is where all relationships usually fail. With the first person trying desperately to reach their friend not knowing the hurt they have caused; and the second former friend who has stewed far too long on the comments that they have usually taken out of context. In order to spare themselves from any future pain, they shut down and close all lines of communication due to reading too much of a “tone’ in the email, text message, or even face to face interaction. Even if forgiveness is offered, we all know the relationship may never be the same again.

If we thought it was hard for us, it is even more difficult watching your child steer these waters. I have watched my daughter fall in and out of relationships within a day or two. What do you say when they come home and tell you that their very best friend is not playing with them any more and even yelled at them in front of the whole class? I try to help my daughter remember anything that could have caused the misunderstanding. She’s also had to learn how to say “I’m Sorry” even when she feels she is in the right, but the hardest lesson she is having to learn is how to let go.

Letting go is the hardest thing about relationships. When you have done everything you can to repair what has been broken, you have to let go or live in a terrible place called, “what’s wrong with me”? It may be at first, but the best thing for our spirit is to keep the fun memories, throw out the bad ending, and thank God for bringing that person into your life. This is what I’m teaching my child. God brings certain people into our lives to teach us a lesson, or maybe we’re there to teach them something about themselves. Whatever the case, it may be for a specific period of time. It is a lesson I am still learning while I try to help my daughter navigate these waters. My hope is that learning this at seven years old will help her in the teen years when boyfriends enter the picture.

What are you teaching your children about relationships; especially those that are short term?

 Photo courtesy of flickr

Alicia Ivey, a wife, mother, daughter and friend.  She has traveled for over 25 years speaking and singing in different venues to thousands.  She hopes to at least touch a few who need some encouraging words.  Alicia is striving to raise her and teach her daughter by example, which can be very challenging at times.  During her spare time she enjoys writing encouraging words through mybabyclothes.com, where you can find unique baby clothes, beautiful tutus and stylish baby hats.

I have an iPad, a Kindle (an older model), and an Android phone. I want to ‘check-out’ fabulous (and free) ebooks on my iPad for my late-night reading addiction. And even more important, I want an audio book for my cell phone. You see, a good audio friend never lets you down on the treadmill or conveniently ‘forgets’ to join you at the gym. Talk about blocking out the world (and ignoring the countdown on the elliptical) when you have Anna Karenina in your ear!

I’ve been doing it the old school way. Picking up audio books on CD at the library and then downloading 20+ discs to my laptop first. This system takes forever. Not to mention, uploading to your phone can have glitches or (on my phone) the chapters load all out of order. I have no patience for that.

Let’s talk about free ebook apps. OverDrive Media Console is the main one for Apple, PC, and Android. There are other e-reader apps but this is the main one that syncs with your local library. For Kindle, you don’t need to download the app, but you will need to connect with your library’s ereader system (which likely is part of the OverDrive family).

Devices for Free Library eBooks and Audio Books

• iPad: You can download the OverDrive app for your iPad via iTunes App Store. This also works for iPhone.
• Android phones and Tablets: You must download it from Android Market since Amazon does not carry it.
• Kindle: This is new people! It was my biggest complaint about the Kindle, that it didn’t play nice with library books. But that has finally changed… my Amazon friends.
• Nook: You can also use the library system, but I won’t be covering that today.

How To Read Free Library Books on Mobile Devices and Tablets

You can download books to your computer first and then upload to your devices, but that seemed redundant to me with WiFi and my need for immediacy. The following are steps to follow when trying to read library books on phones and tablets (Kindle—see below):

1. Install OverDrive Meda Console App to your Device.  (Android market, iTunes app store, or see Kindle below.)
2. Locate your Library card (I did not have to input my library pin but had it handy in case).
3. Create a ‘Library2Go’ account, and log into your library system. (This was necessary for Oregon Libraries; however there may be a different intermediary login for your state’s library consortium for electronic media.)
4. Create an Adobe ID and Password, this is easiest to do on a computer: https://www.adobe.com/cfusion/membership/index.cfm?nl=1&nf=1 (needed for Adobe-protected books like ePub).
5. Create your settings. There are several settings at this point. How long for book check outs: 7, 14 or 21 days. I chose 21 days. And multiple device settings.
6. Browse the books. You can begin browsing but realize states are still young with the electronic media. My Library has only 10-15,000 titles, and is adding 300 new books each month. (Which costs them more than $10,000 per month!) Can’t find the book you want? Contact your library and ask them to add it to the Overdrive System.

Tip: Go to your regular online Library database and search for available e-books first. Via the http://library2go.lib.overdrive.com website you can easily browse the titles available by various formats.

How To Read Free Library Books on a Kindle

The steps for Kindle devices are similar to above, however there is an extra step: Amazon.

You do not use the Overdrive app for the Kindle. Instead, you need to create a Library2Go account directly online, place your Kindle book of choice in your check out, then it will re-direct you to open Amazon and download the book selection into your Amazon account. Finally, you will need to download directly from your Amazon cart to your Kindle via WiFi. I recommend using your computer to download to Kindle. And I upload to my ‘Kindle Cloud’ so I can use the books in multiple places.

Tip: If you sign up for the Amazon eReaderNewsletter, you are offered as many as five free Kindle books daily (Monday there were 19 free books)! And the Kindle reader app is available for Android and Apple devices as well.

Free Childrens Books to Download on Mobile Devices

The following are free books that you can download to your mobile devices for your kids:

• Picture book for Toddlers
• JibJabJrBooks First book is free, but you pay for more books.
• Jack and the Beanstalk
• Story Time for Kids
• ScribblePress Read Carissa’s review: Your Kids are the Authors and Illustrators with this App. Create your own books!

What is your favorite way to read books? What book are you reading right now?

Carissa is on the Parent Advisory Board for Famigo.com. And several of these book suggestions come from Famigo App Reviews. She was not compensated for this article. Famigo is an Austin, Texas based startup company dedicated to making mobile work for families. With Famigo you can find the best family-friendly apps and make your Android device kid-safe. 

In a former life, Carissa Rogers was a molecular biologist. In her current life, she is the chief researcher of bloggy karma, parenting dos (and some don’ts), new recipes, and for spice she pretends to be a photographer. She started blogging in February of 2008 and publishes her good & crazy thoughts on GoodNCrazy.com. Also find her on Twitter and Facebook.

I recently attended the Alt Summit in Salt Lake City, Utah. I was surrounded by some of the most creative people I have ever met. Each of us were inspired by panelists, keynote speakers, and the hands-on workshops.

What I Learned at the Alt Summit

Takeaways From the Panelists

• In the “Kickstarting Your Next Project” session, @lisacongdon talked about her collection a day project. She encouraged each of us to find something we are passionate about and find a way to showcase it. Lisa, if you’re reading this, I want you to know that you rocked this presentation.

• The “How to Create Great DIY Tutorials” session was led by @makeandtakes, @notmartha, and @creaturecomfort. These gals shared some great tips on how to lay out a great tutorial. They also talked about how to make your pictures look like the professionals. Everyone should own a foam core board. Put the board opposite of where the light source is coming in and instantly your photos will look better. Save photos in a high resolution format. If your photos get picked for a magazine or article, your photos will have to be good quality. Every one of these girls are so talented. I feel so lucky to have been in your class.

• All of us were inspired by Ben Silbeman, the founder of Pinterest. He said, “If you don’t bet on yourself, nobody else will.”

• Gretchen Ruben, author of The Happiness Project, spoke about being happy. Gretchen said, “One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make other people happy.” Gretchen is a “real” woman. She has concerns about being a good parent and finding balance in her life. Gretchen, if you’re reading this, I loved your presentations. Thank you for inspiring me.

• JasmineStar in the “Building a Personal Brand” session said, “Take what you have and make it work for you.” Jasmine’s energy was infectious. She decided to go for her dreams a few years ago and is now voted one of the Top 10 Wedding Photographers by American Photo Magazine.

Friday Night Suite Parties

Some of the highlights of the evening were the beautifully decorated suites, the delicious food, and hanging out with new friends. @alihenrie, @simplefamadvent,  @foodnouveau, @emilyblogfairy, and @maggiemight  are some of the new friends I made at the conference. It was also fun to connect with @alisonlewis and @greeblemonkey at breakfast, as well as @rachel, @aztalamantez, and @susanw during the conference.

I loved the @pinholepress & @theGWGshow Night in Paris room. Ladies, if you’re reading this, your suite rocked this party. I also loved the @Wilsonart ”A Summer Afternoon” suite. The dress in the above picture was made out of laminate counter top surfacing. I also wanted to give a shout out to @minted for hosting our pre-event dinner party at Flemings Prime Steakhouse at the Gateway. The food was delicious and the company was even better. This was the perfect way to start the #AltSummit conference.

Breakout Rooms

I loved the cute gift that @cottonelle gave all of us. Never again will we have to use the crocheted TP covers that our grandmothers made. Now we have this cute plastic container. @minted shared many of their fun paper products and @hp had a fun photo booth where we could take fun winter photos.

Hands-on Workshop

My favorite workshop was no doubt the Photo Walk with Tracey Clark. It rained during our photo shoot but that didn’t dampen the mood of our walk. It was fun to be in a group that is passionate about taking pictures, learning new tips and tricks, and open to making new friends. In our shoot, we enjoyed using shadows, lighting, and reflections to our advantage. Who knew that taking a picture of a puddle could be so interesting. You have a great eye, Tracey!

Alt Summit was a fabulous conference. If you are looking to be inspired, make sure you come next year. It is definitely one conference you don’t want to miss.

What are you doing to improve your talents and skills? What are some of your favorite conferences?

Photo walk picture courtesy of Tracey Clark.