I cannot wait to see the movie and I think that other women need to see
it as well. In fact, I would think that guys should see it to, so that
they can understand women better. I mean, it is no secret, that men seem
confused by women. This is why I am having a contest. Can you tell that
I love contests!? 1- You must comment on this post with one thing that makes you happy. I don't care if it is as simple as one word "whip cream"....oh wait that it something that makes me happy. Or you can write a note of what makes you happy. I want to hear what makes other people smile.
2-Comment on any blog post of mine with a comment. Each comment is an entry.
3-Smile at a stranger. Oh wait, that is just something I want you to do.
You have the chance to win, a movie night for 2, with a copy of the book Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.
These are the pages that particular struck a nerve with me, page 149 & 150. I couldn't even read them aloud at the time without crying. It should speak to many women who couldn't understand why any given relationship wasn't working. It is a conversation between Richard & the author about breaking through the misconception that we need to find our one true soul mate in this world. "People think a soul mate is your perfect fit, and that's what everyone wants. But a true soul mate is a mirror, the person who brings you to your own attention so you can change your life. A true soul mate is probably the most important person you will ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. And thank God for it."
Each section of this book is a marvel to me. Spoken from the heart of the author and right int mine. Each time I read it or listen to it, I learn more about myself, more layers of my life and what I should do next appear to me.
I hope the movie is just as amazing! Get commenting and smiling to strangers!
A real estate agent, a hair dresser, a copywriter, and a nutritionist walk into a bar. No, it's not the start of a bad joke--it's the average supper meeting of the Island Tweethearts, a new PEI networking group.
The idea for the group was conceived during a casual lunch between Twitter enthusiasts Carol O'Hanley, a Charlottetown real estate agent and April Ennis, a Summerville resident in the midst of launching an online magazine.
"Carol was talking about her husband, Steve, also a real estate agent, who meets regularly with friends over lunch to network. I mentioned that I'd recently started meeting for dinner once a month with a group of mothers also affected by autism," states Ennis who is working on finishing her Bachelor of Business in Tourism and Hospitality. Ennis adds, "Carol proposed that we do something similar so we started building a small group of women we knew from Twitter, each with different professional backgrounds, with whom to share food, ideas, support, and wine every month."
The first official meeting of the Island Tweethearts took place in
May at The Pilot House. The group was made up of six women. Besides
Ennis and O'Hanley, the group consisted of holistic nutritionist Rachelle Wood, owner of Insight Marketing Kerry Ann MacDougall, photographer (myself) and UPEI researcher and lecturer Cheryl Wartman.
Since then, the group has grown to twelve where it has been capped to help keep the meetings intimate. Each Tweetheart represents a different industry. Rounding out the group of twelve are freelance editor Christine Gordon Manley, freelance copywriter Jaime Lee Mann, owner of Rita's Style, Julie MacIsaac, mortgage broker Lori MacDonald, IT consultant Esther Duncan, and Jen MacKinnon who works in business development with a local IT Firm.
This group has quickly become very tight, with many members
connecting at multiple times throughout the month to chat, drink coffee,
and/or toss around business ideas. "It's a tremendous source of
support, especially for someone like me who has worked from home for so
long," states Jaime Lee Mann, owner of Morell-based Mann Made Copy.
And the support doesn't just stay within the group either. "One thing
that was important to us was the idea of giving back to the community
somehow," states O'Hanley. She adds, "At every supper, we each chip in
$10. We then discuss as a group who we want to help out that month. The
first time we did this we had $100 to give to a Twitter friend who was
having a difficult pregnancy. The second time, we decided to donate the
money to a local family one of us knew was going through a financially
draining personal situation."
"We decided that helping one Islander every month was actually a wonderful thing," adds Christine Gordon Manley, owner of CGM Editing. "Often times there are many people who need help but can't access help for whatever reason. And, even more often are those of us who simply need a pick-me-up to help them out of a temporary situation. A hundred dollars or so isn't much, but it can make someone smile, and that's what we want to do."
The Tweethearts do not publicize who they help to protect the privacy
of those who accept their donation. You can read more about these acts
of Tweetheart kindness here.
Great post Rachel! Looking forward to hearing/seeing more from the Island Tweethearts!
(08.11.10)What a fantastic group of Ladies! I know you guys will do amazing things! :)
(08.11.10)Great idea of a network of Women!
(08.11.10)Amazing idea! I am so proud of April...she and I went to Junior Nationals in Curling for Prince Edward Island back in the day.
You made all of these lovely ladies look tremendous. Your attention to detail, and capturing people 'in the moment' is what you do best! Great job Rachel!
:)
Such an awesome pic of Jen. Can't wait for you to capture a little bit of Emma's life sometime soon :-)
(08.12.10)Congratulations to an amazing group of women who have taken networking to a new level! Here, here!
(08.12.10)what a generous, caring and fabulous idea!!!! way to network and give back! xoxox
(08.12.10)
So my niece stopped by this afternoon for a quick visit. Sparky Ming Ming said she didn't want to leave, which of course she knows I would never say no or that she had to go, no matter how much work I have to do. We had a little conversation about work as she settled in.
Sparky Ming Ming: "Why do you work so much?"
Me: "Well I have to, I have lots of work to do."
SMM: "Well Whose your boss anyways?"
SMM: "Can't you tell your boss that you want a day to spend off"
*laugh*
Me: "I am the boss, so I cannot do that, or I would have no work"
SMM: " This is confusing. Do you have any Cheerios?"
It just made me think about how carefree children are, and how simple the world must be to them. I did take an hour or two off this afternoon to spend with my little sweet Sparky Ming Ming. I couldn't believe it, she let me paint her nails, and even let me use pink, as long as some of her nails were blue. So we painted them three colors! Oh I had a great time spending with her escaping being a grown up!
What a cutie! I love her colourful nails! Very cool! :)
(07.25.10)Seriously. could she be any cuter!?!
(07.25.10)CUTE! Glad to see you got to spend so time with her!
(07.26.10)Ahhh how fun is this :) I look forward to these moments with our girls :)
(07.26.10)Smarty toes! Thats what we call my daughters when we paint them like that!
(07.28.10)
Contest Time:
OK so you have a little over 24 hours to get me to 1000 followers on Twitter, and win your self a pair of VIP tickets to Taylor Swift!!
1 - Follow me on Twitter - @Rachel_Photo
2 - Must tweet using hashtag #blogbyrachelpei @Rachel_Photo @taylorswift13 in a tweet before 5pm Friday
3 - Tell me 140 characters or less why I should give you 2 VIP tickets to see Taylor Swift concert on Saturday night at the Cavendish Beach Music Festival in Cavendish, PEI
RULES:
1-Must use tix, cannot sell. I will be putting your name on the tickets and you will need to show id.
2-You must join twitter to be part of this contest so if you aren't - GO.DO.IT.NOW
GO!!!!
I have been asked to join the Cavendish Beach Music Festival Team to help preserve memories with my camera in Cavendish this weekend! YAY! I am so excited to be able to use my camera and point it in the directions of Keith Urban, Taylor Swift. Little Big Town, Collin Raye, Emerson Drive, Gloriana, & Lady Antebellum. I will be blogging each night after the concert, so stay tuned!
Have fun! (do I really need to tell you that?)
I'm looking forward to the follow up blog posts.
(07.08.10)http://mashable.com/guidebook/twitter/ is an excellent tutorial on Twitter! Go peeps go!!! See you in the Twitterverse
(07.08.10)Hi! Love this idea! One question though, do we need to use all hashtags or just one or two?
(07.08.10)This is an incredibly generous gift to someone, who may not get to go otherwise. Rachel you are so cool! Hope to see you at the concert!
(07.08.10)
Of course Sparky Ming Ming & Madison were going to get photos taken. OF COURSE, HOW could they NOT? SMM was out on her trampoline playing which she absolutely adores. She plays on it at least once a day. Meleah had lost one of her two front teeth a few nights before and was ready to lose the other one. It is still hanging by a thread! Then of course, I had to get Madison in on the sun flare fun. Madison is such a sweet gentle young girl. Look at that yummy sun flare all around her!
Ahhhh - Mazing Light with my two Ahhhh - Mazing Nieces. How sweet!
WOW those girls are beautiful!
(07.05.10)I love sunflare as well. So awesome!
(07.05.10)I love your posts about your nieces. They are adorable!
(07.05.10)
I so enjoyed talking with you about this book. It was clear how much you loved it!!
What makes me happy is "snuggles". I love snuggling with my boys and my husband. It makes me smile to just think about it! :)
And I always smile at strangers too :)
xoxox
Carol
(08.12.10)What a great idea Rachel! Right now, the thing that makes me most happy is watching the latest video of my niece learning to walk. Smiles and tears every time :)
(08.12.10)Learning to run again and taking time for myself!
(08.12.10)coming home from a long day at work and being greeted by two smiling little faces with great big hugs :) Makes my heart melt every time.
(08.12.10)What makes me happy & smile. Sneaking in my 13-month old daughter's room before I go to bed ... and watching her sleep so peacefully and knowing how loved she is (while she dreams of Aunt Jenny).
(08.12.10)Rachel, YOU make me happy. To follow your blog, and see how passionate you are; and how you are doing what you love (livin the dream!) - that makes me happy. Also, my dog Crosby - he makes me happy. He's the "baby boy" that God didn't give me; that we got to hand pick for our family!! I read the book and like you - am excited to see the movie!
(08.12.10)Sewing :) And seeing people's reactions to my products!
(08.12.10)Fantastic contest idea, Rachel! For me, hugs make the world (and myself) much happier:)
(08.12.10)What makes me happy Rachel is when my 23 month daughter comes up to me and says "I love you Mommy" and gives me a big hug. There is nothing in the world to match that kind of happiness.
(08.12.10)Spending time with my nieces and nephews *always* puts a smile on my face. I was there for all of their births (except Alex who is the oldest of the nephews) waiting outside the delivery room. :))
(08.12.10)Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens! Besides that, reading the Saturday edition of the 'Globe and Mail' outside (bonus points for being near the ocean), and preferably with a cup of tea. Pure happiness!
(08.12.10)Music makes me HAPPY!! it doesn't matter what genre, artist, where or when... any song or lyric can send me into a happy dance inside my head which often ends in me totally rocking it out to the outside!! Music is my saving grace and brings a smile to my face every time... especially important to me while cleaning!! :)
(08.12.10)A movie night at home, with my kids and hubby, all snuggled on the couch, eating snacks, that makes me happy : )
(08.12.10)My fiancee, sleepy Sundays and my cat and newly adopted kitten!
(08.12.10)Two things make me happy. The first is a great cup of coffee with some great music and a great book on a Sunday morning.
The second thing is making my girlfriend laugh, because after all shouldn't life be about having fun with those who you love madly?
(08.12.10)this is so hard as I find myself having so many things to be happy about! I am happy that I am taking some time for me after 14 years and am going to take a photography class at HC this winter!! I have been inspired by you I still look at the photos you took of me and smile as I cant believe what a great job you did and how great you made me feel that day! I hope maybe one day my pictures my be as good as yours.... maybe???
(08.12.10)Taylor (my daughter as you know) have a special thing. Everytime we want to tell each other we love each without anyone knowing. We will squeeze the others hand three times. One time I went into her bedroom after she had been asleep for awhile and grabbed her hand. I squeezed it 3 times... And she sqeezed mine back without even knowing. Special little things like that make me smile :)
(08.12.10)What makes me happy? So many things that I take for granted from time to time...my kids, my husband, my health, our great country and our freedom. Too many to name.... :)
(08.12.10)i love food. eating makes me smile. especially if the food can be prepared with friends all stepping on each other's toes in the kitchen, belly laughing at our life moments and sipping our wine while the aroma of dinner fills the house. experiencing food with friends. it's a winner - every time.
(08.12.10)Pictures make me happy...and I LOVE to smile at EVERYONE!
(08.12.10)Fireworks make me happy. We had the best new Years eve while in India. We were dancing in the courtyard when the sky lit up with beautiful colours. It was amazing. I also love to see trees lit up. My husband says I will watch an entire movie just because it has a decorated and lit Christmas tree. I am a HUGE fan. Christmas eve is the only night each year that I sleep very lightly...'cause I'm still a believer :o)
(08.12.10)Thanks for Tweeting your post to me - and I love your blog! Things that make me happy: warm, gooey, homemade chocolate chip cookies. I try to have one every day.
(08.12.10)One thing that makes me happy? Oh my..just ONE. I am a happy soul and try to be 98% of the time....If I had to narrow it down to just one thing then I'd say putting the windows down in my car, turning the music up and singing....good/bad, doesn't matter...JUST having FUN! Alone, with my hubby in the car, mom or friends..either way it always makes me HAPPY!!! Brings joy to my heart, sometimes a tear to my eye....but emotions come up...which is a good thing :) That's HAPPY....now I am off to smile at some strangers!!!!!
(08.12.10)FAMILY!! Yep all of them. I love them and they make me feel proud and lucky. :)
(08.13.10)Hmmmm...what makes me "Happy" is seeing the people I love happy
(08.13.10)Looking into my husbands eyes and knowing that I am married to my Rock, my best friend and feeling so much incredible love when he holds me, its real.
(08.13.10)My children laughing,walking up to me and hugging me just because.
Watching a child walk up to the alter at churh and pray.
I literally just got a phone call while writing this saying my shift was changed to days instead of nights, this makes me incredibly happy! I will see my kids through the week now :D
Watching the Lord work.
Chocolate :)
Having a wonderful and support husband and two beautiful girls! Simple but it makes a world of difference.
(08.13.10)The thing that makes me happiest in the world right now is spending time with my kids when we have nowhere we have to be and nothing we have to do. We can just do whatever we want with no agenda. Of course, this only works when they aren't fighting with each other.
(08.13.10)Thank You! I've been debating on whether to read this book or not for a while now and after reading this post I RAN out and bought the book this morning. Thanks for the inspiration...Speaking of inspiration, that is something that makes me bubble over with happiness. Inspiration is EVERYWHERE - so go out and become inspired.
(08.13.10)Thanks again :)
Connections make me happy....between people; of people to places; to ideas....there are so many and I'm so happy that my job is all about creating connections.
(08.13.10)Many Many things make me happy... My husband, my kids, my amazing photography sista's (of which you are one) ... Going to the beach, drinking a glass of red wine. I am so blessed and so happy with my life!
(08.13.10)Sunday. 10:00 pm. HBO. True Blood - one hour of happy Heidi :)
I smile at strangers too and I like to over tip when my change purse allows it.
(08.14.10)