That Pungent Aroma...

So a couple of years ago the hubster and I went to a close friend's wedding. This was just after we were married and I remember thinking that I loved her gown (almost as much as mine) and that I wish I'd gone with a different bridal entry piece (as she did). But what I most remember is the pungent cigar aroma drifting into the tent during the reception. Several of her family members had kidnapped (ha!) the hubster and were talking over an open pit as they smoked cigars. I'd never smoked a cigar before so I puffed on the hubster's a little...and had as little success with that as I did when I tried cigarettes! They were high-end, not Cuban but definitely several steps about discount cigar.

Still it was a fun moment...and I was able to use it in an article on trends in the cigar world. Love it when real-life anecdotes find a way into my writing, don't you?

Article Polishing...

I've been working with a new editor at a regional magazine. So far the relationship is going well, which is the good news. I'm finishing up a series on diet and exercise, different surgeries and pills that are used. As I was polishing up the last article I realized I was missing a few key facts and (horror of horrors) that I didn't have a local contact I could phone and chat up.

Web search ensued and I found most of what I needed with the help of a phentermine review/research site. I still have a few questions that only a doctor can answer but I'm hoping a contact at our regional hospital will be able to help with that.

It's So Easy!

to see why people in my grandparents generation were always fit. They walked places! I just got in from walking our neighborhood and it was amazing. Just a stroll, really, I wasn't going for cardio at all, just fresh air and the last remnants of sunshine and I loved every second. I actually didn't want to come inside! So I've added more walking to my New Year's resolution (sometimes called my new weight loss formula) - walk more and walk often.

I think it's kind of sad that we're all in such a hurry now that we drive everywhere...we have a community mail room in our condo complex, probably a 1/4 mile at the longest and I see people leave their condos, get in the car, drive there and back for mail. For mail! I realize they could be really rushed, be seriously, a quarter mile walk? It would take 20 minutes, max!

Interesting Web Find

There are a number of research sites online now that can help you find acne treatments like www.zitremedy.net. The first stop should, obviously, be a dermatologist's office but doing a little research ahead of time can help you figure out the right questions to ask. Also, having the names of a few actual products and knowing your own medical history can stop any potential problems before they get started. Just another thought..

Good luck!

Is it addiction?

I mentioned a few weeks ago that a friend of mine had completed an intervention with her high school son. He actually went to drug rehab and completed the program. When he came home a couple of weeks ago everything seemed to be going well. This past weekend he ran into a few old friends, stayed out all weekend and came home Monday - after a frantic weekend for his parents! - with alcohol on his breath. My friend called, not knowing what to do. I have no words for her because I really don't know. Alcohol is one of those gateway drugs but her kiddo insists it was just a couple of drinks. She doesn't want to fall into the old traps, though, so she is going to contact a psychiatrist and they're going to have a family meeting. Keep them in your prayers, would you?

A Few Budgeting Tips...

New Year means new projects, right? The problem, especially in a down economy, is that new marketers are sometimes few and far between. The key? Budgeting. I learned that early in life - before I actually went freelance full time. But since going freelance I've made a few adjustment to budgeting and it's worked well for me.

The best thing you can do? Estimate your bills and expenses - everything from the cable bill to the amount you'll spend at the movies each week. Some bills are the same every month, set those aside. The bills that vary - like those entertainment expenses or cell phone bills - need to be changed. Look at your bills from last year. Add up all of your cell phone bills, for example, and then average them (add them up and divide by 12). Once you have that number, add 10% to the total. That should more than cover any variances each month and you'll know what you need for certain each month.

Find more budgeting tips here...and if you've got a sure-fire way to make budgeting easier, drop us a line in comments.

Funny Story - and I Got Paid To Write It!

See, this is why I love my job: I was planning a baby shower, a funny thing happened and I wrote it up. And then I got paid for the anecdote. Seriously, this is the great thing about freelancing - you can take incidents from your real life, build on them a little and voila! A new article idea is born. The trick is finding the right magazine at the right time. But that is another blog post!

What was I planning? A baby shower for my best friend from college. The idea? Bringing in a "Mommy gift" rather than the typical card attached to the baby gift. Some of our friends attached books (everything from kiddie books to romance novels), some of our friends attached gift certificates for manicures or pedicures. Then our friend Julia arrived. Julia has no kids but she works overnights for a local television station. Believe me, she knows about no sleep.

She attached a bottle of eye cream for dark circles to the baby gift. No, I'm not kidding. The bottle was from a high-end department store and so it had a red ribbon and small gift card attached. I thought it was a genius idea. The new mom? Not so much...but then the baby isn't born yet so she's not up all night with feedings!

Information from the funniest places..

So I've been stumped lately by the setting for a new novel I'm working on. The characters? Came through with nary a problem. The plot? Had it in a snap. But everything hinged on the setting and I couldn't get it quite right. I saw the place I wanted to set everything in my head but finding something in the real world? Not happening.

So what did I do? Started surfing around a couple of different travel hubs where you can buy airline tickets, place hotel reservations and the like. It took a while but I finally found the perfect cancun hotel for my novel on the third try. And now that I've found it, I've bookmarked the site because they have seriously good prices on trips - and we have an opening in our schedule next fall! Bonus!

A Few New Lifestyle Markets...

Freelancing is never easy but there are always plenty of ideas - if you allow your mind to work. Stumbled across a few lifestyle/living markets that are perfect for this time of year as we all - writers and non-writers - make resolutions to improve our lives.

Read on - and go snag some assignments!

LOG HOME LIVING MAGAZINE, USA
A monthly magazine for people who own or are planning to build
contemporary log homes. It is devoted almost exclusively to modern
manufactured and handcrafted kit log homes. Interest in historical
or nostalgic stories of very old log cabins, reconstructed log
homes, or one-of-a-kind owner-built homes is secondary. Fees vary.

BEE CULTURE, USA
The monthly magazine of American Beekeeping. Covers beekeeping -
its history, how-to, equipment used and even the humorous side.
Also pollinations, honey plants, gardening with bees, wildlife and
woodland plantings. Pays $150 to $200 for unsolicited material,
more for commissioned work.

LIVING LIGHT NEWS, CANADA
An award winning, non-profit, evangelical Christian newspaper
published bi-monthly. Pays Canadian $0.10 per word for First North
American serial rights.

LIFE IN THE FINGER LAKES, USA
Quarterly magazine with articles focusing on the Finger Lakes' (Upstate New York) natural beauty and wildlife, the abundant history, and the rich culture as seen through the people of the area. Other topics include camping, hiking, Native Americans, farming, women's rights and more. Pays
$0.12 a word.

Resolution: Weight Loss

So, as about 90% of the population, I've made a New Year's Resolution to improve my health. That includes losing weight this year. To do that I've hired a personal trainer, cut back on calories and am trying to wean myself off of soda-pop. To me, these actions are the best. Even the best weight loss pills, although they work for some, are a little more extreme than what I want to do. Plus, I'd never remember to take pills along with vitamins, eating right and running around after the 18-month-old. So diet and exercise is it for me.

Whatever your New Year's resolution and whatever form of weight loss or getting healthy that you choose, don't forget to talk to your doctor about it first. You owe it to yourself!