Join children’s book author, writer, blogger and podcaster, Alison Paul Klakowicz, on her journey to inspire! By way of guest interviews, book reviews, life as a military spouse living in her home state of North Carolina– and so much more!
On March 15, 2020, as COVID-19 quickly became a reality for parents, Deanna Anderson started a Facebook Group, Moms Making it Together, for moms to share, support and smile through the “new normal” caused by the worldwide pandemic. The group quickly picked up speed and has grown to 10,000 members across the United States. To reach more moms, Mom’s Making it Together spawned a successful blog and Instagram Page.
I want to cry. I want to run away to a tiny island with my family and friends. I want to slam the door 🚪 behind me and never look back. I am TIRED. Fatigued. Over IT!!! Our world appears to be in total shambles. Everywhere I look online and on TV, people are arguing, accusing, hating one another. I can’t take it anymore. It’s making me sick. Anxious. Overwhelmed. Angry. But that’s just it— Everywhere I look online. Social Media. It’s nuts.
I remember vividly when 9-11 happened. I— along with my brother and father— watched the second plane fly straight into the stately World Trade Center. We stood in front of my parent’s television in our former home in Washington, North Carolina, mouths agape. Later that evening as news reports and images of a war scene on the streets of New York City unfolded, I remember feeling as scared and helpless as I’d ever felt. I remember thinking that life could not possibly become worse here in the USA. Our pride and freedoms had been assaulted at home… on our soil. So many precious lives lost. Then I became an Army girlfriend then wife, and survived the stressors of my husband’s deployments to Afghanistan. Once, I heard a bomb explode during a phone call he made to me from a firebase in the middle of Afghanistan. The call suddenly disconnected. I became hysterical. I thought, “things could not get worse.” Years later, mass shootings began to happen here in the US regularly. We almost became numb to the monthly, weekly tragedies. I once again thought it could not possibly get worse. Especially, the evening the news broke of young children murdered in a school in Connecticut (Sandy Hook Elementary)— as I held my three-month-old son in my arms. And now, here we are in the year 2020.
Diane Scabilloni is a self-described Divine Encourager— facilitator and speaker for youth groups, schools, churches, women's groups and small groups— who shares personal stories of her spiritual journey with the objective of providing participants with tools for a more connected, peaceful and fulfilling life.
National Recording Artist Gregory joined me recently on Hodge Podge Podcast to talk about his newly released single, Friday 👏! Gregory is helping to heal hearts and souls byway his smooth R&B, Latin influenced music. He possesses deep music roots which stem from his hometown in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as an extensive career in the medical field. We talked about his life experience writing and producing music and his radio/TV show Medical Jargon. He also provides some excellent advice on navigating life during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Checkout my recent blogpost for Partnership for Children of Cumberland County filled with summer staycation ideas!
I recently had the chance to porch sit with my bestie neighbor, Miranda Crosby and our mutual friend Danica Thomas, to talk about the ups and downs we’ve experienced throughout the Covid-19 pandemic— and how we have coped with the changes in our lives. We brought our unique perspectives, backgrounds, personalities, quirks to the microphone 🎙 to chat candidly about this strange time in life that has turned the world 🌎 upside down. Miranda— an Army spouse whose husband deployed overseas in January— is pregnant with their first child all while wading through these new socially distant waters sans her husband. Danica— a widowed Army spouse, is a military suicide awareness and prevention advocate raising two young daughters as a single parent while working and virtually homeschooling her daughters all on her own. Alison (me)— an Army spouse, children’s book author, writer, podcaster trying to juggle content creation, marketing, writing, book sales while rejoicing as the final week of the school year approaches for her second grader. Thank the LORD.
If social distancing has taught me anything, it is to try my best to remain on a positive minded track. Have I done this consistently? Nope. I’ve had my meltdowns for sure, but through timeouts, interventions and prayer I find my way back. Here is a list I wrote down to remind myself to remain grateful and positive with the hope that this phase of life will end and a new better chapter will begin.
“During these unprecedented times, we know it may be hard to stay home and work with the littles ones home from school. To keep safe, sharp and sane we have consolidated a list of free resources provided by our amazing Honorees. This list is growing, so check back daily, as new products and services may be added.”
For years I’ve read about the health benefits of the dandelion— a common spring and summer weed most of us ignore and discard without further thought or concern. The dandelion is a super antioxidant that grows naturally in on our lawns and truly deserves a whole lot more love than it receives! Research supports ingesting dandelion could possibly fight off diseases, superbugs, cancer, Alzheimer’s and the list goes on. In addition it is said to possibly help increase energy and boost metabolism. With all the free time I have around the house these days (thanks to Covid-19) and a plentiful bounty of dandelions popping up in every nook and cranny of my yard, I decided to do some foraging and give this edible green machine a try. Let me tell you, I was so pleased with the outcome and thrilled I finally gave this superhero weed a try. I was so impressed, I want to share with y’all some ideas of how you can prepare dandelions for your next meal and afternoon tea.
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