We're Back! In New York City!

Six months later, we've finally said our good-byes to the Last Frontier and made our way back to the polar opposite - the big city!  Zion and I arrived safely this morning and are busy getting reacquainted with our home here, unpacking, realizing how disorganized we were when we left, etc.  

Something about our return here feels different and good.  Maybe the break will give us a perspective change, and we'll appreciate things we've missed about this crazy city we call home.  It definitely felt good to have sunshine and warm weather after being flooded with rain and cooler temperatures in Anchorage.

Not all is bliss though, we had to say good-bye to hubby/daddy for over a month while he finishes business in Anchorage --- a parting that was met with a lot of tears and heartache.  I think if I can manage to stay busy and connected it will go by a lot faster, its the lonely nights that will be the hardest for me.

It will be a little quiet around these parts this week, though I am determined to finish our Hawaii vacation posts and share the Anchorage coffeehouse tour I did on my birthday.  Talk soon!

      

Why Bloggers Sell Out...

I'd like to invite you into a discussion about the phenomenon of sponsored word-of-mouth advertising.  I'll start this conversation by admitting that I have fallen victim to the very thing I am about to address.   Actually, I'm not a victim but really a willing participant in a trend that until recently I hadn't given much thought about.  Yes, I too, have sold out.

Rewind about two years ago, at the start of this blog.  I created "Life with the Baxtrons" as a way of documenting, or really digitally scrapbooking my life and the life of my little family so that friends and relatives many miles away could keep up with us.  In the beginning, you'd see baby milestones posts, cute stories of trips to the park or playground and the occasional family pictures taken around New York City.  It felt good to have a little place where I could journal our memories.

I shared the link with friends and family.  And after a few months, realized, not many of them were actually interested in stopping by.  However; I began to connect with other parents online who had blogs, and started to sense a sort of community that I was a part of.  Doesn't it feel great to be a part of something!?  Especially when you join the parent club for the first time - and all the overwhelming craziness makes you feel just a slight bit better when you read that the same thing happened to this other parent blogger over here.

After a while I got bored with just writing about my little girl (don't get me wrong - I love that girl and she is still a part of many posts) and I decided it would be nice to exercise my love of writing.  I wrote about marriage, about my struggles with ptsd and even mixed in a few recipes.  I got a lot of my ideas from other bloggers, because hey, when you are new to blogging, you need that kind of inspiration.

It wasn't very long into my first year of blogging that I was invited to an event in New York City hosted by a children's brand.  I gladly and excitedly went, and was stunned at the way I was treated - like a famous person, and given over $500 worth of loot to take home with me, blog about, and giveaway. " This is what it is all about!", I thought to myself!

I mean, honestly, who doesn't love free stuff - swag - and vip events?  I don't know anyone who doesn't love that stuff.  Immediately and subconsciously my focus shifted.  I began to write for an audience and spent hours networking myself.  Knowing that my readers were mostly other parents and bloggers, and not my targeted (family and friends) I shifted my blog to a more lifestyle/family focus.  Shortly after I changed the name to BaxtronLife, which seemed short and sweet.

I started to lose sight of my voice as a writer and began posting this and that based on attracting the kinds of readers and sponsors I wanted to have.  I became an online people pleaser - and very much obsessed with statistics, traffic and engagement.  I spent endless hours neglecting my role in my family to spend time on social media, connecting with online friends, and keeping a steady amount of blog posts scheduled - so much so that I suffered from a huge burnout shortly after a year of blogging.

I would go to those big blogs and study them for hours trying to figure out what the secret was to getting to that next level.  I went to my first blog conference, BlogHer, in hopes that I would find something more to it.  In the end the focus continued to be on the immediate gratification of sponsorship, free stuff and special access.  I lost sight of myself and my voice, and instead used the influence I had gained from my networking and authority to obtain financial and material perks.

Last week after getting back from my vacation in Hawaii, I found myself having a hard time getting inspired to write again.  I desperately wanted to present the hundreds of pictures in a catchy story-telling way, but something blocked me.  Maybe it was the gloomy Anchorage weather, or just the return to reality after such an unforgettable time away.  Either way, it got me thinking about why I blog.  

Somewhere between that start two years ago and wanting to share my life with family and friends, my blog took a turn (like many others) into showcasing material things.  It isn't a big leap to take, and many people are crazy driven to get there because the free stuff and pay are good.  I just feel like that our online influence as bloggers is being taken for granted, by us.  We have sold our word-of-mouth power to brands and often we become more like the two minute commercial breaks than the primetime show that should be enjoyed.

Sometimes it is painfully awkward to read through a sponsored post on a blog I love - like when you are watching a favorite TV Show and the product endorsement is so blatantly obvious - almost like they didn't even try to make it a cohesive part of the show.  (Example: MasterChef's partnership with Walmart).  And sometimes I just miss hearing the voice of my favorite bloggers, instead of their stories intermingled with products - carefully contrived to feel real, personal and believable.

It is true, I would take the recommendation of a blogger over a tv commercial any day of the week, but that doesn't mean I want to see the blogging community overrun by advertising.  Now, I know from experience that it can be financially rewarding to blog, and that blogging is a business for many.  Even for me, it is a way that I can experience some things that I wouldn't otherwise be able to put on my shopping list.  

I also know that behind every blog is a person with a voice and an influence that can be used for something so much greater than the latest frozen meal, the cool new toys of the season or even the big sale this weekend at xyz store.

I just hope we don't forget that, and that we choose cautiously how we sell our influence.  And for those of us who have sold out, I hope that we will work to reclaim our voice and reconnect with the community that needs to hear it.  I know that I am ready to make a change here, and I hope you will see that as I move forward.

Do you feel like sponsored posts have overrun the blogging community?  Are you a blogger that has sold out?

      

Attack of the Sugar Candy: Aiming for a Healthier Halloween

It's not the creepy crawlers nor ghosts and goblins that frighten parents and dentists the most at Halloween each year. Rather, it's the thought of all of that sugary candy waiting to attack the teeth of youngsters like yours. According to Statistic Brain, American consumers spent over $21 billion last year on candy to hand out to trick or treaters. That's a whole lot of sticky, cavity-creating treats.

Of course, like most parents, you hate to play the role of a Debbie Downer, who refuses to let their child trick or treat with their friends. But you also don't want to be the parent of the child who has a smile that resembles a Jack O' Lantern. Fortunately, there are ways for you to let your child go trick-or-treating, that also minimize the potential damage that can be done to their teeth.

Give Up the Candy for a Good Cause

For many children, the act of running up and down the streets in costume, ringing doorbells and shouting "Trick or Treat!" is the part they love most about Halloween. The candy is just an added bonus. So try having a talk with your children before they go out and let them know that you are planning to donate a good portion of the candy they receive to a charity. Most children will be delighted to help the needy (as long as they get to keep some of the candy).

One of the places you can take your Halloween candy to is Kool Smiles, a leading dental health provider catered to making kids' dental experiences memorable (in a good way). In the past, Kool Smiles has worked with Operation Troop Treats to share excess Halloween candy with members of our nation's troops stationed overseas. It is an excellent win-win program for everyone involved, including your child, who will receive a toy from the company to reward them for their generosity.

Healthy Treat Alternatives

Nowhere does it say that Halloween has to be only about sweet treats. Instead of buying a generic bag of candy, whip up something healthy and easy for your children. Following, are two fun and easy alternatives to sugary snacks that your children can also delight in helping you make.

Cook Up Pumpkin Seeds

You know all the goopy innards stuff that you scoop out of your pumpkin when carving it? Many people throw it out, but all those little seeds inside can make a tasty, healthy treat.

1. Preheat the oven to 300 degrees.
2. While the oven is heating, clean the seeds from your pumpkin by placing them in a colander and rinsing them under water until you have separated them from the stringy material they were entangled in.
3. Melt a little butter and then drizzle over the seeds and season with salt or garlic salt to taste. Next, toss the mixture so that everything is evenly coated.
4. Place on a baking sheet in a single layer and then bake in the oven for 45 minutes or until the seeds are toasted nicely. Check occasionally to make sure that they are not burning.

Photo: Brian Jackson via Flickr.

Make Granola Snack Baggies

Many grocery stores today sell the ingredients for granola or trail mix in separate bins, which means you can create your own version of this healthy snack. Start by purchasing a selection of raisins and peanuts or other nuts and various seeds. You might want to buy some candy-covered chocolates or chocolate chips to add a little sweetness to the mixture.

When you are ready to create your specialty trail mix, separate the items you bought into individual bowls and then let your child help you create bags of granola by simply scooping each ingredient into a small baggie and then shaking to mix. You can tie off your granola baggies with black and orange ribbons or decorate each with cute Halloween-themed stickers for added holiday flair.

      

Hawaiian Islands Vacation / Oahu Day 1

I have to apologize for my delay in getting these Hawaii posts going - it has been such a crazy time of going and going for us, one that won't be slowing down for a while yet!  Our first day in Oahu started with a little trip to see the beach and a fish feeding in the lagoon.  Zion got her handful of fish feed and a chart of the potential types of fish she might see, and quickly headed to the water.  The fish were super fast, so a few minutes later as we turned to head up the beach for breakfast, we were surrounded by birds hoping to get the feed that would wash up on shore.

For breakfast we ate on the resort at Naupaka Terrace, the on-site casual dining restaurant.  There was an extensive Sunday buffet as an option as well as their regular buffet and menu ordering.  Right before I left on this trip I found out I was allergic to chicken, so I opted for the buffet which included red meat and seafood options.  This was our best resort dining experience, aside from the in-room meals I will share with you later in the trip.

One of the best things about dining at the Naupaka Terrace was the location in proximity to the shark pool.  We could literally watch the sharks swimming around from our table.  And let me just tell you about eating fresh Papaya in Hawaii!! I've had papaya a few times in other places, but never did it taste as delicious as the fresh papaya readily available here!

After our breakfast we did some hangout time at the beach and then shortly after, took a walk along the beachwalk.  The trees and plants in Oahu are beautiful and unique.  I love the fragrance that is in the air, a mix of salty ocean and fragrant fruits and florals!  There are so many plants and trees and flowers that caught my attention while there!

For dinner, we headed off the resort to a delicious mexican restaurant called "Just Tacos" and, no, they didn't serve only Tacos.  We feasted on nachos, beans and rice and chipotle buttered shrimp before heading back to our room for the evening.  Our first day in the sun left me a bit red, and all of us quite tired, so we had a relaxing time on our balcony before bed.

I have several Hawaii posts planned for this week, I hope you will enjoy seeing the island of Oahu through our eyes!

      

How To Get It Done Without Being Outdone! "What's in Your 24?" A Book by Dana Simone Stovall

Photo with Permission Mattox

A typical day in my life begins with a very long to-do list and often ends the same exact way.  It always seems that there are never enough hours in a given day to accomplish what needs to happen.  Just like I mentioned recently, I believe that it is easier to live with excuses than to start living on purpose.

When Outskirts Press contacted me with Dana Simone Stovall's book, "What's in Your 24?" and the opportunity to read & review it, my initial thought was, do I have time to add another thing?  Then, reading a little deeper into the synopsis and seeing that this book promises almost immediate life change for busy moms like me, I knew this was a book I should make time for - not to mention the book claims to be readable in 1 hour.  I immediately thought, "1 hour? I can do that!" and put the book on my kindle app.

Actually taking that hour for myself to read was the hardest part of this book, but upon reading it, I found myself humored that this very tendency to not make good use of my time was exactly what this book addressed.  I found myself pleasantly surprised by the blunt honesty and down-to-earth rapport that Dana builds with her readers almost immediately.  I felt at times that Dana was sitting down for coffee with me and setting me straight.  I tend to "chew on the meat and spit out the bones" when I read a book presenting ways of improving life or habits or anything change-related.  This book had a lot of meat for being only 60 pages!  

If I was to offer any constructive criticism about "What's in Your 24?" it would be that the area that discusses what it means to put yourself first in terms of taking care of yourself, should have a side note to those who will immediately feel guilty for even the thought of that.  I think that Dana does try to explain this without getting too spiritual - but my thought is that if you are going to quote Bible verses at all, then make sure you take a minute to address that conflict which I believe is a very real internal struggle for most Christian wives and mothers.

What she did share on putting your own needs first was definitely a challenge to my typical self-sacrficing mentality, but it got me thinking about how Jesus had no problem stepping away from the crowds, or heading out for three hour prayer sessions when they were needed.  That was his way of taking care of himself and avoiding burnout, and I have been learning a lot about how necessary time out for self-care is.

You know when you hear something and it just clicks?  I think that the very timing of my reading of "What's in Your 24" was perfect.  The tips and truth shared with a bit of laughter and love make reading this book an hour well spent.  And now it is time for me to do what the book says and "apply the knowledge" I've gained to increase my efficiency and move me passionately toward my life vision.

Do you feel like you could use some help being efficient?  Have you lost your life vision?  "What's in Your 24?" is a great (and fast) read that will help you with both.  Thanks to Dana & Outskirts Press, one of you will snag an autographed copy!  

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