The Network Writing Mom

Since I’m a freelance writer and Squidoo enthusiast, I thought an appropriate blog name would be Squidwriting. To those who haven’t read my Squidtop blog, you’ll find information on Squidoo, writing, parenting, and social networking. It’ll be a place to share my lenses, as well as interesting lenses from other lensmasters.

I’m thrilled to be on SquidLog. With professionalism and pizazz, they entered the web with their online magazine. Now, SquidLog is expanding with the creation of a social network. Squidoo lensmasters are generous, and I’m humbled to be a part of such a dynamic and caring group of people.

I meant to blog about Twttrlists last week and then other projects came up. I made a few Twttrlists to try it out. I thought it was a fun idea to use tweets in building a lens.

My first lens was on Best of 3 Breakup Words. The 3 Breakup Words started as a fleeting Twitter game using the hashtag “3BreakupWords”. I added funny tweets and a tweet by Justin Timberlake.  I wanted the lens to be fun, so I left off some of the really nasty tweets. I also added Squidster’s lens, Best of 3 Words After Sex, since the topics were related. Depending on what words you said after sex, you could be hearing some breakup words.

The second was the Best of Google Friend Connect. This one is in the top 100 Twittrlist list. I added content from Squidoo lenses, Hubpages, and YouTube. I liked how the lens came out.

I’ve already gone back and added new tweets to each lens. I entered both in The Best Twittrlist Contest. Plus, they will count toward my Giant Squid count, though I’m trudging closer to the deadline.

I’m enjoying reading everyone else’s Twttrlist too – great ideas out there. I’m not surprised – Squidoo lensmasters are a creative and smart bunch of people.

I just read about an interesting Twittermoms contest, based on the latest movie release “Away We Go”. The movie is about a couple expecting their first child, and they’re traveling the U.S. in search of the perfect home.  It sounds like a funny and sweet film.

The contest is asking participants to answer, “What Does Home Mean to You?” I think when I was younger, I would’ve answered somewhere close to my mom. She made me feel special, safe, and loved. What could be better. Now, my answer has changed a bit because my life has taken many turns: my mom passed away 14 years ago, I’ve moved several times, I’m a mom of a 12-year old, and I remarried 6 years ago.

Home isn’t a particular house or a lifestyle, though I’ve called many places “home” for those reasons. Home is a place where I have freedom to be myself and to be surrounded by people I love and who love me.

Right now, my home is with my husband and son, and we truly enjoy spending time with one another.  We accept each other’s foibles because no one should be a cookie cutter person. We cheer each other’s successes and soothe the temporary losses.

Our house is filled with lots of hugs, laughter, and love. That’s home to me.

If you want to enter the contest, visit Twittermoms Away We Go Contest. I can’t wait to read everyone’s responses and see the movie (it’s out now in select cities; June 25th for nationwide release).

For my family, Memorial Day has always meant family get-togethers and big barbecues. Occasionally, we’d attend a local parade. Memorial Day also signaled the end of the school year. It was a casual holiday that brought some welcomed relief from school projects and job stress.

Of course, the real reason for Memorial Day is far more meaningful than family picnics. Memorial Day is a day to remember our fallen veterans for their service to our country. The holiday brings feelings of pride in our nation and a sense of debt and gratitude to those who sacrifice their lives for our country. While my family doesn’t usually attend formal memorial events, we strongly feel military men and women deserve to be honored – their personal sacrifice and dedication is beyond what most of us are willing to do.

I hadn’t made a Memorial Day lens, but I searched for lenses that I thought brought all the aspects of the holiday together. Here are some outstanding lenses on Memorial Day.

For those of you who are planning family get-togethers, visit Everything You Need for the Best Memorial Day Barbecue Menu. It really does include everything you could possibly need for the best barbecue.

If you’d like ideas on how to remember our fallen soldiers, read Remembering on Memorial Day. This is an excellent lens, packed full of information, like The National Moment of Rememberance, the history of the buddy poppy, teaching children about Memorial Day, and the National Memorial Day Concert.

Memorial Day – Decoration Day describes the history of the poppy, including the poignant In Flanders Fields poem, 21-gun salute video, and links for more resources, such as Memorial Day printables.

To understand the meaning of Memorial Day, visit Memorial Day Military Tribute.  The lens honors our fallen soldiers, with videos on the meaning behind the day, a Memorial Day prayer, and “Amazing Grace”, sung by Judy Collins and the Harlem Boys’ Choir.

No matter how you celebrate Memorial Day, please take time to remember our brave soldiers who fought for our country. Considering their sacrifice, it is the very least we can do.

It seems like Mother’s Day sneaks up on me every year. It’s almost here again – Mother’s Day is May 10, 2009. I’m not sure why it surprises me. Maybe I’m busy with writing, taking care of the family, and other things. I don’t stop to think about it. Besides, those other people in my family (like my hubby and son) should be thinking about it, right?

When my son was old enough to realize moms had their own special day, he couldn’t wait to give me a treasure he had made himself. Even though he doesn’t make gifts in school now, he’s still excited about doing something special for me. My son’s joy is contagious, and Mother’s Day is special no matter what he does.

Mother’s Day is a day of both celebration and remembrance for me. While I’ll enjoy the day with my family, I also take part of the day to remember my mom, who died over 13 years ago.

I remember the first Mother’s Day holidays without my mom. It was very difficult emotionally. How do you celebrate a holiday when the honoree isn’t there? A couple years ago, those feelings led to a lens on How To Celebrate Mother’s Day When Your Mom is Deceased. I poured a lot of my thoughts and feelings to create and update the lens, and in doing so, I’ve enjoyed a different connection with my mom. I’ve updated it and added a personal story I had remembered recently.

If it’s your first Mother’s Day without your mom, visit and find resources on grieving, healing, making remembrance gifts, and more. I hope you find it helpful for yourself, children or grandchildren, or friends who have lost their mothers.

I had created another Mother’s Day lens, Perfect Mother’s Day Gifts – Unique Mother’s Day Gifts.  I enjoy finding unusual gifts, like poetry and personalized gifts.  This is a fun lens, with kid projects to make on Mother’s Day, poetry books for your wife, books to share with kids, and personalized gifts, like M&M candy gifts. Stop by and share your favorite gift-giving on my link list.

Hope everyone has a wonderful Mother’s Day!

The month of February, and love is in the air. It’s a Valentine’s Day count-down. Ads show newly-in-love couples and always-there-for-you marrieds surprising their loves with gifts. Valentine’s Day is typically for lovers, and the day is filled with romance, love, and gifts. A nice holiday, but it leaves out a lot of people who don’t have a significant other. What about singletons or even families who want to include their children on Valentine’s Day?

The latter thought bloomed into my first lens (in 2007), which also earned a Lens of the Day. I’m proud of my work, but also because it’s something close to my heart: sharing with my family. If your Valentine’s Day includes the kids, check out ideas for dinner, decorating, gifts, kid flowers, crafts, and more.

http://www.squidoo.com/positiveparenting

I’m so excited to start this blog. I hope to showcase Squidoo lenses,  other Squidoo lensmasters, and my own writing. Today, I’m setting up my blog to post on my Facebook pages. I still need to add it to my main Squidoo page, at Jennifer Akers: Freelance Writer.

If you’ve tried to find me on Squidoo, you’ll find a broken profile page. I’ve sent a bug report a couple months ago; I’m sure it’ll get fixed soon, though I wish it was on a page that I was allowed to fix.

A learning curve to everything, this blog will curve with the rest. I’m sure I’ll figure out my questions or find answers from helpful friends.

Everything I learn on Squidoo happens for two reasons:

• I find a new lens, topic, tip, blog, etc. and jump in to ‘play’.
• Generous lensmasters give solid advice on how things work.

My thanks today to Loyalis for building Squidtop. See his Squidoo lens under blogroll for help on starting your own Squidtop blog.

Also, I’d like to thank Mulberry for leaving my first comment that I’ve managed to ‘lose’ somewhere. She gives wonderful advice when I’ve asked for help. Please check out her Squidoo lens, Flat Screen TV with DVD player under the blogroll.

I’m leaving this thank you note to two lensmasters, but I have a huge list of people to thank. If you don’t know these lensmasters, you need to check them out.

Well, I followed Joan Adams on FB to Squidtop. Looks like it’s the newest thing for lensmasters. Since my first post is also my first foray into blogs, please excuse the construction. I’m sifting through the goodies, and I’ll have things up and running soon.

For everyone reading, have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!

My best to you!