OKWB Mini-Con 2016. Don't Miss Next Year. #okwbminicon

One week ago today, I had my bag packed and was ready to take a little overnight trip to Sequoyah State Park. To sleep in a room with a person I had never met in person.  To hang out in my PJ's and karaoke with almost 20 other women, of whom I had only met three in real life. Was I crazy? NOPE. Not by a long shot. You see these 20 are a community of mine. A community that even though I may never had met in person, at some point during the past few years they have let me into their lives through their words. They are bloggers, all but three Oklahoma Women Bloggers. They are writers.

We were all attending the first ever Oklahoma Women Bloggers conference. Search #OkWBMiniCon on all social media sites for more info, pics, and attendees.

Bag packed, ready to go, waiting for my kids to get off the bus so I can give them a hug and kiss. What happens? Life. In walks the 15 year old man-child and his nose is sitting on the side of his face, not the middle. SON, in basketball you block with your hands not your face. A trip to the ER at my scheduled time to leave was in order. Diagnosis, Nose Fracture.

It's broke. Daddy is now on duty. I'm outta here.... #okwbminicon #BrokeNose #BasketballBlock

A photo posted by The4Crows (@the4crows) on Feb 26, 2016 at 3:31pm PST

I walked out of the ER and posted the above on Instagram, then called Miss K and blew her a kiss through the phone. Sometimes a Moma Blogger just has to let the Daddy take on duty.

From my house its only about a 35 minute drive to Oklahoma's Sequoyah State Park. Absolutely beautiful. This is sunrise Saturday morning.

You've heard the saying "big things come in small packages", well in less than 24 hours we heard from six fantabulous speakers who brought tons of information. On Friday night, we heard from creator/founder of The Women Bloggers Stephanie Buckley aka The Park Wife about the importance of community. Then on Saturday we heard from Jackie Wolven about blog branding. Then our fabulous OKWB...

Marisa Mohi, Topic: 10 Reasons I Stopped Reading Your Blog

Allison Griffin at Refunk My Junk, Topic: The Business of Blogging
(Major FanGirling going on. Allison is also a "retired banker". I want to be her when my blog grows up.)

Mari Farthing, Topic: Yes, You are a Writer (Don't Eat the Monkey)

Stephanie Clinton, Topic: Letting Go of Blog Envy

The swag from our sponsors (Eastside Design Co., Riceland, Oklahoma Agritourism, Prairie Bloom, Vacant Wheel, Moore Liquor, Debbie Arnold and Total Beverage Services) was amazing. 

The OKWB admins Stephanie, Marisa and Mari did an outstanding job putting this conference together, I cannot wait until next year's conference. Wanna join me? Wanna be a sponsor? Be sure to follow/join the OKWB. You can contact them here, tell them I sent you!!

Today's Post...Foodie Friday at OkWB: Cornbread Chicken Pot-Pie

Say what? Yes. Cornbread Chicken Pot-Pie. And I use the OVEN to make this recipe. Head over to OkWB today and read about this recipe.

(print recipe card)

Today's Post is at OkWB: Back in the Day, Blockbuster Stores

I cleaned out my wallet.

I found this.

It prompted this "back in my day" post that appears at Oklahoma Women Bloggers today.

Do you relate?

Today's Post: Foodie Friday at OkWB, Summer Salads

Today at Oklahoma Women Bloggers,  I am sharing a few of our nest's favorite Summer Salads. When the temperature starts climbing and activities start increasing I begin looking for quick and cold go to recipes. Be sure to head over to the post and leave a comment.

Today's Post: Foodie Friday at OkWB #ChocolateGravy

Today I am writing the Foodie Friday at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I am sharing my Chocolate Gravy recipe, the story behind it, and what may the beginning of how the next generation will carry on this tradition.

Here is the recipe. Now head on over to OkWB and read the story. Be sure to comment!

right click, save/print

Today's Post: Foodie Friday, Snow Ice Cream

Today I am talking SNOW at OkWB! We saved this post for a snowy day and guess what....it happened. Oklahoma is snowed under. I share with you a few old wives tales, predictions and a special recipe that will be needed today. Oh, and I think today's snow is okay, considering it followed lots of sleet. The atmosphere should have been CLEAN.

right click save/print

Today's Post: Foodie Friday, Crockpot Cheesburger Soup

Today I am posting at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I am sharing a few favorite Seinfeld quotes and...

...this recipe.

You are more than welcome to right click save/print this recipe card. Enjoy!

Today's Post: Foodie Friday, Crockpot Chicken & Noodles

Today I am sharing a Foodie Friday at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. It's Fall Ya'll. Time for some comfort food. 

(right click save/print)

Today's Post: Frugal Friday

Today I am posting at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I am sharing a little secret that I do at my nest. I make my own foamy hand soap. Seriously. I found the idea on Pinterest. It's frugal. It's fast. It's safe.

• Rinse and Clean your leftover pumper bottles. I peeled off my labels, then sprayed them with WD-40 to get the sticky off. Works like magic.Then be sure to use some dish soap to off. I just love WD-40.
• Fill bottle with about one inch of soap.
• Slowly fill the rest of the bottle with cold water. Don’t completely fill. The pump has to go in and you don’t want it to overflow.
• Place pump back on bottle. Do not shake, but rather tilt from side to side to mix soap and water.

You must go read the story behind this. It's a good one. Everything I do is for a reason and usually involves one of the 4 Crow's! 

Today's Post: Foodie Friday at OkWB

Don't you wish you could scratch and sniff your computer screen sometimes? Today I am sharing a recipe for Foodie Friday at Oklahoma Women Bloggers- Betty's Heavenly Bundt Rolls. I think you will most definitely be wanting to make these "homemade rolls"! I have also included the recipe card here on my blog so you can right click print/save for future reference. Be sure to leave some comment love and let me know if you make them!

Thrift Shop Challenge: DIY Colored Christmas Platter

I have a love/hate relationship with my local Goodwill store. I love taking my stuff there. Especially if it really does give people jobs. I hate the idea that the owners are making more money than me on my donated good. I hate shopping there. Why? Because I rarely find a good bargain. When I think thrift store, I want things at garage sale prices. I mean really. Why do I want to pay $5 for a candlestick? Not the pair of candlesticks. A candlestick. I'm probably just not shopping the right thrift store. I find better bargains sometimes in the clearance aisle at Hobby Lobby to repurpose. Things that are not second hand.

This month's challenge at Oklahoma Women Bloggers was a $25 Thrift Shop Challenge. I had great aspirations. Really. I visited my Goodwill three times. NOTHING caught my eye. I am not paying $15 for a picture frame or $20 for a mirror. The clothes were horrendous. I don't need another holiday sweater. I'm pretty crafty so I went to my Pinterest boards. I guess its time to start planning for my annual A Very Pinteresting Christmas Linkup and think Christmas.

See those two glass Christmas serving platters on the bottom. One of these is going to be my thrift shop challenge. $3 baby. Should have been $1. With Christmas coming up, I love taking a dish that doubles as a hostess gift. This platter will be perfect. On Pinterest, I pinned this pin to color glass about a year ago that led nowhere. I just love when that happens. But I was determined to try it out. It called for glue. I like Mod Podge.

The Need List:

Glassware

Food coloring 

Matte Mod Podge

Foam Brush

Clear Acrylic Gloss Coating (since Mod Podge is water base,  I figured you must use a seal.)

Newspaper

Place your glassware on the newspaper. Mix Mod Podge and food color into bowl. Doesn't take a lot. I have leftovers if anyone needs. Brush the mixture onto the glassware. I started out doing even strokes, but ended up dabbing. Since mine was a plate. I did the underside. Let dry completely then seal with the clear Acrylic Gloss Coating.

Look. It really is waterproof. 

Isn't this just lovely? I was really please with how well it turned out. It turned something very plain into something festive and fun. Quite Pinteresting and Thrifty!

 

Be sure to head over to OkWB and see how the others did on their challenge. 

I'm a Foodie Friday!

Today I am featured at Oklahoma Women Bloggers on their Foodie Friday post. 

Me!

(NOT a food blogger, although if eating counts I'll be one)

Go visit the post then come back and print (just right click, save & print) this cute little recipe card that I figured out how to make from the blog Home Cooking Memories. EASY. Thanks for the template. 

OkWB Vlog Challenge Week #2: Book Review

I'm vlogging again. This week's challenge is a movie/book review.





Did you know that I am ALWAYS doing book reviews/giveaways here at The 4-Crow's? Be sure to read my latest one and enter to win Alone Yet Not Alone by Tracy Leininger Craven. Also, if you love getting free books and Bibles sign up here! Great program.

Come join the OkWB and see the other reviews this week!

Oklahoma Women Bloggers Challenge #1: About Me

Hi everyone! So today I am writing my first post on my brand new computer. Actually I am not going to write. I'm going to VLOG- that's video blogging. My first one. I am being challenged by Oklahoma Women Bloggers to get in front of the camera to tell you a little about ME. Anyway, my new computer has a camera- WooHoo- yeah I was a little behind. I used Movie Maker to film and edit my VLOG then had to save it as an mpeg, then uploaded it here onto YouTube, seems kind of difficult, but only certain formats are accepted on Blogger.  The one thing about when you start Vlogging, is you must know what to use and how to do it. You can use YouTube also, but for me the sound was awful. Okay, I'm gonna quit typing..... Be sure to visit OkWB and link up your VLOG. 

Today's Post: A Kissing Tree Camp

We've been telling camp stories all month at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I am not a camper. Now. Maybe never. I must have a hair dryer and running water. I went to my share of camps growing up. Falls Creek was awesome, hot but awesome. My most memorable camp was Forestry Camp. 

Yes. A tree camp. Here in Oklahoma. 

I learned a lot that summer...

For the rest of the juicy story you will have to visit me today at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. 

http://www.oklahomawomenbloggers.com/sitting-in-a-tree/

and for more info on my camp...

http://www.forestry.ok.gov/forestrycamp

(sorry for no embedded links, I'm posting from my iPad today)

Today's Post...

Today I wrap up my Blogger of the Month status at Oklahoma Women Bloggers with a post about why blog. I am asked this question a lot, along with with how I have time. Here is a brief excerpt of the post. 

"Above all, I blog with the support of my husband, kids and family. They know how important it is to me to express my thoughts and tell my stories. I hope one day that my stories make a difference in their lives and that they enjoy the fact that I took the time to document all of the “Oh, Mom!” moments. #MyMommyMoments."

To read the rest you will have to read me here. I would also love for you to read my other posts this month at OkWB and let me know what you think.

Can I Ax the Axe?

Mom Fail

Who's Your Moma?

Today's Post...

AXE is out to get me. Don't believe me? Go read me today at Oklahoma Women Bloggers where I just so happen to be their May blogger of the month. Yes, me! 
While you are there check out my other posts this month here and here. Leave me some comment love and let me know what you think.

Now if you will excuse me while I go sharpen my ax...I'm about to take out my 12 year old son's coveted supply of hygiene product.

Today's Post

"Mommy? What are those, my daughter asked as we drove to my childhood church Easter morning.

Those, being one of these….

One of the hundreds that we passed along the seven mile stretch of Dillard Road on our way to Rexroat Baptist Church in the southern Oklahoma town of Wilson."

For the rest of this story you will have to visit me today over at Oklahoma Women Bloggers. I am being featured there as May's Blogger of the Month you know. Pretty cool, right? Be sure to leave me some comment love here on my blog as well as over there!