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Dishing Out Where I Really Want to Live, Go-To Recipes, and More #AAF

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This week I am pairing up with Herchel from Scruggbug Corner for #AskAwayFriday. Herchel is the mom of two adorable kids, one of whom suffers from Juvenile Arthritis. No one likes to see their child in pain. Herchel has become a great resource for helping your child through chronic pain. You can also find great craft ideas for kids, tips that she’s gained on her quest to be more organizing, and parenting advice on her blog.

I think I met Herchel through the SITS Girls, but I’m not actually sure. Herchel, do you remember?  I know she’s itching to go to a blog conference so hopefully one of these days we can actually meet up in person. Below, you’ll find Herchel’s questions for me. After you finish up here, I hope you’ll go over and visit her HERE as well and see what questions I had for her.

Scruggbug Corner

My son has played soccer since he was four.  He loves it.  He just moved up to U8 which is feeling more like a “real” soccer team than his previous three.   I just got my DSLR last Christmas and have been practicing my manual shooting during games.  What tips do you have for improving my sports pictures?  I use a fast shutter speed and use my 55-300 lens on my Canon.

I’m no expert by any means. I usually shoot my sports photos on programmable mode, with continuous shooting. Continuous shooting allows you to get the action as it unfolds. I can get a whole sequence of action, and then save the best picture and delete the rest. I wrote a post on sports photography for Click it Up a Notch, if you’d like to take a peek! Click it Up a Notch is a great resource if you are looking to improve your photography.

Soccer for AAF

I have one child that loves soccer and another that has no interest in playing team sports.  Have you ever had an issue with one of yours rebelling against sports participation for a while?  If so, how did you handle it.

Yes, our youngest wanted to quit soccer a couple years back. He does a lot of other sports…snowboarding, BMX racing, and cross country running. But my husband and I knew that the reason he wanted to quit was because of a couple seasons that weren’t the best experience, and we felt like there were changes that were taking place that would make things more enjoyable for him. So we told him he had to give it one more season.  We ended up being right, and now he is enjoying playing again.

I think as parents we all know our kids best. Sometimes when a kid says they are done, they really are done. And team sports aren’t for everyone. I think we need to gauge what the underlying factors are and help them with their decision.

Attending a blog conference is one of my goals for the end of this year or next year.  What was the most valuable thing you learned at your first conference?

Networking is the most valuable thing I got out of the conferences I have been to. I was able to connect with people who I had been interacting with online. Make sure you bring lots of business cards and talk to everyone. I liked how at the SITS conferences they assigned seating so it forced you to meet people.  The next one I am going to is BlogU. One thing that they have done that I really like is set up a Twitter and Facebook groups ahead of time, so we are starting to all interact with each other before the conference. I haven’t had as much time to spend in the groups as I would like, but I am hoping to connect more in the weeks ahead. I do know a lot of the people going though and I am excited to meet them in person!

As you know, I have been on a massive de-cluttering effort this year.  I am better but not where I should be and am constantly reminded when I look at the kitchen bay window, which collects paper clutter.  What is the one area in your house that you clutter regularly and can’t stand to see that way?

Hah! I’m not sure how to answer this since I’m not sure if there is a room in our house that doesn’t have clutter….

I will say though the clutter in the kitchen drives me crazy. We have a desk in the kitchen that always has paperwork all over it. I need a system, since my current one seems to be “stick it in a pile on the desk.”

And I am sure you saw the picture of my office that I used as a graphic for professional organizer Seana Turner’s guest post at my place, 3 Simple Steps to Organize Any Space. In case anyone missed it, I may as well publicly shame myself again. Seana’s tips are excellent, do-able, and that room  is going to be cleaned out and organized by summer.

3 Simple Steps to Organize Any Space

I love your recipes.  Which one is your favorite go to recipe when you are low on time? 

I have a couple. One is a broccoli and sausage pasta that I can throw together in no time flat. I’ll have to get that recipe up on the blog at some point. Another one is my pasta with smoked salmon and leeks…it’s 20 minutes start to finish! And good too!

If you could live anywhere in the world, all expenses paid, where would you live?

Home is where family and friends are, so I’d probably stay close to where I am now. It’s a bonus that we have a wonderful downtown and some picturesque scenery here. This is one of our local bridges during leaf peeping season!

Lovers Leap Bridge

Do you have any foods or food combinations that you love, but other people think looks disgusting?

That’s a tough one. I have been thinking on this one for the last couple days. I don’t know…I guess they probably keep it to themselves if they are thinking that.

Rocky Road or Mint Chocolate chip?

Probably mint chocolate chip, but I’m not a huge ice cream person. I’d rather have key lime pie.

Besides the connections your have made with other women, what has been the best part of blogging for you?

I’d have to say rediscovering writing. I feel like I’m a work in progress, but that I’m improving. When I was in high school, I wanted to be a journalist. I loved to write…I took every writing class that was offered. For whatever reason, I went to business school and never really wrote again until recently.

I don’t know how you have the time to blog, engage in social media (and I can tell it isn’t all scheduled!), and chauffeur three kids to school and practices.  Please, tell me your secret.

I have a clone. Haha. I wish. I don’t know. It gets done somehow. But I will say I am not terribly organized, and I’d like to work on that. I could be a lot more efficient.

This post is part of #AskAwayFriday. If you want to join in the fun, or see who else is “asking,” head over to visit the hosts and co-hosts of this fun “get to know you” blog link up.

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Rabia

Thursday 17th of April 2014

I would love a clone!! That would make life so much easier! LOL! That bridge looks beautiful. It almost makes me miss Fall, but I am itching for warm weather and sunshine right now!!

catherine gacad

Tuesday 15th of April 2014

michelle, i definitely refer to your posts to help keep me organized and for tips on photography and blogging. so yes, thank you!

Kristina Walters

Sunday 13th of April 2014

Great AWAF! I love that bridge photo!

another jennifer

Sunday 13th of April 2014

Love that bridge photo. So very picturesque New England! Great advice on the blogging conferences as well. They can be so overwhelming, but I think it's the networking that is the most helpful for bloggers.

Rea

Saturday 12th of April 2014

I love that photo of the bridge!! :) BlogU sure sounds interesting, can't wait for you guys to share your experience there. Isn't it funny that no matter how much you de-clutter, there's still clutter left?! It drives me nuts! Hah! And you're right, we need a system to make everything organized and it's a lifetime process..