by The Creating Room | Oct 23, 2015 | Interviews
I met Debra of Bowl-Me-Over about two years ago online during a Facebook page exchange. We quickly discovered we are nearly neighbors, love cooking and writing. Debra’s heart is as generous as her cooking style. She often contributes time to causes that involves her love of animals and supports the cause of her friends and family. When I met her in person about a year ago, at a Christmas party, she was involved with her friend to donate clean washcloths and towels to St. Johns Program for Real Change, a women’s shelter. Before moving to Fresno, she was on the board of CCHAT, a school that helps deaf children to listen and talk, where she organized an annual wine tasting fundraiser for the school…and of course, she provided delicious food! In Fresno, she volunteers for Elder Paws Senior Rescue. Her commitment to community as well as great food are a natural part of her generous spirit.
Her recipes are an expression of her excitement about good tasting food. Her writing style brings her enthusiasm for tasty dishes alive on the page. Every dish has a story, a connection to friends or family. Often, they too are included her musings, as are some of her adventures through beautiful California.
1) What inspires your passion for cooking?
Cooking and sharing food makes me feel good inside. I love to cook and watch people enjoy a great meal. What inspires my passion for food – well I’d have to say it’s in my blood! My Grandparents – Maternal and Paternal were both fabulous cooks and I’d like to think I take after both those great women!
Food has brought me such passion in life – I’m from the Pacific Northwest and living in Oregon it was fresh fabulous seafood and delicious salmon. When I moved to Washington DC, soft-shelled crabs. Southern California brought a whole new cuisine and moving to the midwest was quite the experience. I moved from So Cal to Green Bay Wisconsin on Super Bowl Sunday, when I got on the plane it was 70 degrees, when I got off the plane 30 below zero! Whew!! But in Green Bay I learned tailgating and all of the wonderful food that went with that! Now here in California produce is abundant and we enjoy all that the Central Valley has to offer. Food to me is not just substance, but life and experiences! I share my love with food.
2) How long has cooking been a creative outlet for you?
Although I’ve been cooking for years, I’ve really only used it as a creative outlet for the last couple of years.
3) How did you decide to go from part time to full time food blogger? What else do you talk about on your blog?
I’m in a very good spot in life and I have the opportunity to grow my business from the ground up. My husband suggested that I devote my time to blogging full-time and really take the time to learn and grow my blog; I jumped at the chance!
I also talk a lot about family & friends. I think your support system is the most important thing in life and I like to share when applicable.
4) What are some of your other passions?
I love dogs and cats! My husband and I married just over two years ago -(matched up on eharmony). He had three dogs – I had three dogs and a cat (I’ve always secretly suspected that’s why they matched us, LOL!) So we are now the Brady bunch, except with dogs! I volunteer for Elder Paws Senior Dog Rescue in Fresno. Giving back to the community is important to me.
5) What do you bring to the food blogger community?
Lots of life experiences. I’ve lived all over the United States so lots of different types of food – funny how a story for me always relates back to food, LOL!
6) Do you have any advice to bloggers that want to make the jump from part time to full time blogging?
When you choose the focus for your blog it needs to be something you’re passionate about because it will show in your writing. Blogging isn’t easy, it’s something you really need to work at.
7) What are some of your favorite types of recipes to share with people?
As you may have guessed by by the name of my blog, Bowl Me Over – I share a lot of soups – especially during the winter months. As I like to say – Soup is good food!
8) Do you have any advice for the novice cook?
Yes! Try new recipes, the best recipes are simple ones and don’t be too hard on yourself – have fun with it!
9) What are your favorite recipes to cook?
Simple ones using fresh local ingredients.
10) What is your favorite all out no holding back meal?
Paella – with all kinds of wonderful meats & seafood; clams, crabs, shrimp, chicken & pork – so fabulous!
11) Where is one place that you would love to travel to?
In the United States New Orleans – my brother just visited and shared so many wonderful pictures of all the food – they ate their way from one side of the city to the other and outside the US – I’d love to take a food tour of Italy, that’s been a dream for years!
Check out four of Debra’s delicious recipes. Click the link below the pictures to see the recipes.
Red Rice Thai Wrap
Fall Harvest Salad
Twisted PB and J
Broccoli and Cheese Soup
Welcome! My name is Debra and I love all things food! Known as the go-to girl in our family for years. I’ve catered weddings and anniversary parties and in the summer help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl-Me-Over! I strive for good health, but food has to be full of flavor. A calorie is a calorie, but it’s more satisfying to eat when the food is delicious.
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by The Creating Room | Oct 2, 2015 | Interviews
I first met Christine nearly fifteen years ago as we both entered Vermont College in Montpelier. She came with a big smile, and a bubbly personality that lit up the room. Her love of history was so deep that she would sleep with history books stacked on her bed, reading until she fell asleep. She lives life full of passion and brings that passion to her writing, her photography and now her teaching.
Christine can often been found wandering through her favorite places in Pennsylvania. Her camera is her companion; she always has it on her. Her pictures often posted on her Facebook page of the beauty she discovers. Let me tell you what makes her so special. She is a great friend. Always there to talk to and willing to fly to California to surprise me for my 40th birthday. Friends, and such passionate people as her are priceless.
How did The Wandering Pen came to be?
I have wandered since I was a child and still enjoy doing it. I like to explore and learn new things. I like to write about places I’ve been; I mainly did this in my journal then decided I would blog about the places I’ve been to.
What inspired you?
It was probably growing up on a 92 acre farm where roaming was endless.
Where do you wander? What are some of your favorite places to wander for photography and/or writing?
I wander often to rural areas; I love the country & the mountains. I am also drawn to water; such as the Conodoguinet Creek (Native American name means water with many bends) or the Susquehanna River; named for the Susquehannocks who lived in South Central PA in the late 17th century. These are places I like to photograph, as well as old barns and rustic looking buildings.
Where does your love of history come from?
My love of history comes from my love of family. I am a believer that history needs to be told or learned in order to understand who we are. I believe that family history is important. And in learning family history you can’t help to think about the periods of time our ancestors lived in or their struggles during those periods.
Where do you see your path leading you in the future of writing and teaching?
Both. I believe they are intertwined, at least for me they are. For me writing is teaching. I believe teaching will inspire me to write.
I know you were a history major and love history but did you also always want to be a writer?
I have always been a writer. At times I feel cursed because writing is something I have to do. I think it picked me rather than I picked it.
Was writing something you fell in love with later?
No, writing and I have a love- hate relationship.
My love-hate relationship with writing is because there are many times I want to call it quits with my writing, but like a stalking lover, it won’t let me be. I have to write, even if it’s just writing in my journal. Writing is in me. I am always thinking about writing and what to write.
What influences your writing and your photography?
Everyday living really. The media, family, and people. My photography can influence my writing, but it’s not at the foundation of it.
I notice a lot of your photos are local to you. Is this where your heart is?
A lot of my photos are taken within Pennsylvania; mainly because that is where I’m at most of the time. I do have places I really enjoy shooting like the Susquehanna River along Fort Hunter and the Rockville Bridge.
What are your current projects?
Currently, I am working with Silver Spring Township on their own book narrative. This will be different from what I published with Arcadia, which was more of a pictorial history with photos used from private collections. The new one will be mostly narrative with some photos of historical buildings in the township.
The book, Silver Spring Township, can be found at here.
It can also be purchased via Arcadia, Whistlestop Bookshop, & Amazon.
I am revamping my website, and in October I will start substituting at local schools. I am also working on another book of my own.
I’m keeping the subject confidental, but I found the topic while working on my book for Arcadia.
Where does the love of history come from?
My love of history comes from my love of family. I am a believer that history needs to be told or learned in order to understand who we are. I believe that family history is important. And in learning family history you can’t help to think about the periods of time our ancestors lived in or their struggles during those periods.
Where do you see your path leading you in the future of writing and teaching?
Both. I believe they are intertwined, at least for me they are. for me writing is teaching. I believe teaching will inspire me to write.
Do you think the Bosler story was a spring board into your other projects? That it was a good place to begin this journey?
The Bosler story took me out of my comfort zone. My drive to tell the Bosler story took me to Wyoming, Nebraska, and South Dakota; where otherwise, I probably would never have gone to those places. The one hold up with the Bosler story I need to do further research and that needs done in Sioux City, Iowa and I am just not sure when I will have the opportunity to go there. I will more than likely need to spend a month there. Back to your question about the Bosler story being a spring board, yes, it was a catalyst to where i’m at now. I haven’t completed the Bosler story, but it’s always on my mind. Just the other day i received an email from someone inquiring about the Carlisle Boslers. I go back and forth with whether or not to move forward with the Bosler book
The last questions are just FUN ones. What is all your all time, no holding back, favorite meal/food and where is One place you want to travel to that you haven’t yet?
It has to be something that has black beans, salsa and hot peppers and really messy – like Mexican Quinoa.
Petite syrah (thanks to my friend Laura bringing the wine in September to Vermont) with pepper jack cheese.
Where to travel to? That’s an easy one – the south of France.
Below are a few of Christine’s beautiful pictures.
Christine Musser holds a bachelor’s degree in American History from Vermont College at Union Institute & University. She has also taken history courses at Shippensburg University towards a master’s degree in Applied History. The Educational Testing Service (ETS) approached Christine in 2011 to use her article, “Preserving Memory: National Holocaust Memorial Museum Controversy”, in the Advanced Placement (AP) exam booklet. In March of 2013, she was approached again by ETS for permission to print additional copies of the article. Her article is currently referred to in AP English classes. Christine published Silver Spring Township for Arcadia Publishing “Images of America” series ; a pictorial history of Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. She has published several articles online and in print. Christine has participated in various historical events and an archeological dig at the Ephrata Cloister in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Currently, she is a member of the Silver Spring Township Conservation & Preservation Committee. Besides her interest in history, Christine also loves photography and to travel. Contact information: the_wandering_pen@yahoo.com
You can also find her at the following:
Author: Silver Spring Township
Facebook Page: The Wandering Pen
Twitter: The Wandering Pen
Blogs: The Wandering Pen, Happenings Around Cumberland County, PA, Happenings in Christine’s World
Photography: The Wandering Photographer
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by The Creating Room | Oct 1, 2015 | Uncategorized
Most of us have heard the voice in our head.
Not the one that tells us how successful we will be, or how beautiful our creations are, but the other one.
The one that tells us, “Don’t bother painting, nobody will see” or “nobody likes what you write”, or “that blog is much better than yours”. Some days it is easy to ignore it, or turn it down so it becomes like static whispering.
On other days, for me, on the days, I am about to put a deep amount of passion into my project, the voice gets louder and louder. It is more persistent. There is no “shushing” it. If I let it, that voice will keep me from creating.
That’s when I decided to FIRE THE VOICE! (for me, it is an old bald man, wearing a sweater vest and glasses)
Here is the dismissal poem I gave to my inner critic:
Firing My Inner Critic
“I’m letting you go.
I’m saying good-bye to your harsh tones and your sandpaper words
that scrape away
the soft parts of my heart.
I’m turning away,
Leaving you standing with your arms crossed and
frown lines on your face
and tapping your foot.
Its not working for me
to have you shred my skin away and
expose the broken bones beneath
while
you hide under the bed
inside your glass house.
I’m letting you go.
I’m saying good-bye
before I pick up stones and
you and I are the same.”
He packed up his briefcase, rather reluctantly, walked out the door.
He does pop in from time to time, unwelcome and uninvited, and I send him back on his way.
Somedays, though, I beckon him. I ask him to come sit with me while I edit. He guides me then, ever so kindly. The inner critic can do things that I cannot do. He tosses out my precious lines when they aren’t quite right; he moves paragraphs, and kills of characters for the sake of the story. These are his strengths.
He has been fired from permanent employment. Now, he is just a brief consultant.
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by The Creating Room | Sep 29, 2015 | Ten Minute Tuesday
I have written previously about how to stop your Creativity sucking monsters.They can sneaky, distracting little creatures that keep us from doing our choice of creative work. For myself, it doesn’t seem to matter if I am writing or doing photography or making pendants, I seem to run into the same monsters time and time again.
For today’s ten minute exercise, I want you to play with paints, pens, pom poms…whatever creative or artsy materials inspire you. I want you to make a Creativity Sucking Monster Poster. Get to know them. Learn their habits. What do they look like? Sound like? Get to know them intimately. That way when they come knocking on your creative brain, then you will recognize them and be ready to defeat the ones right in front of you. Just remember, sometimes they create a full coordinated attack, and as soon as one is down, another is up. Just keep reminding them where they belong. As with all things, monsters have their place, and sometimes we may even sweet talk them out to play when we need them but for todays task, Just recognize them.
Here is how I did mine in three steps. Getting to know them revealed that some did not look like I suspected. My nemesis of “are you sure it’s good enough” monster, looks sweet and innocent, and sounds all sing song, but really the message she is sending is very negative. It reminds me that sometimes what comes out looking like a “voice of reason” may really be a monster trying to sabotage my creative efforts.
I began by using a mix of watercolor paints and stamp pads, my fingers and one monster was created with a paintbrush.
Then I added googly eyes and cut up pom poms to make hair.
The orange and blue one or the “twins” of cleaning and children. The little pink one is my nemesis, “Good Enough”. The big red one of avoidance, black of no sleep, blue for the little boy, and the orange of having fun with friends and procrastination.
What do your monsters look like? I would love to see. Share on my Facebook page.
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by susrene@gmail.com | Sep 11, 2015 | Interviews
It’sFriday! Here is the second of my six week series of interviews.
Today, I have Lamisha Serf- Walls of Life Once Dreamt coaching.
Lamisha is in LOVE with helping women pursue and accomplish their business and life goals. I mentioned her here in another blog post of people who have great blueprints to follow. She has a vibrant and positive energy that she brings to each conversation. I totally believe she is smiling, even in serious conversation, when she speaks due to her of passion of helping others.
Limit has helped me a few times with getting unstuck about some of my artwork goals. She was able to get directly to what needed to be focused on and gave clear ideas on how to do it. Her excellent intuition and organizational skills reach to the core of an issue and help someone become “unstuck” and move forward with their goals and dreams. Your “Life Once Dreamt” works to become a thing of the past as she leads you to your dreams. Lamisha is no stranger to taking the leap from the daily 9-5 world and plunging into her dreams. SHE HAS DONE IT. She is living it. Her passion is to help you do it too.
1) What was your “Ah-ah” moment that turned your path?
Everything changed for me when I realized I had been waiting to begin doing the thing I absolutely knew I was meant to do for about 2 years. I had a phone call with a co-worker at the time and she said “Sometimes you just have to take the leap.” and shortly after I did just that! I started a blog and trusted that my path would be laid out before me and it absolutely has!
2) You talk about taking a “leap”, what did that mean for you? Can I you tell me a few specifics about what it meant to take that leap?
My leap was essentially a leap of faith into my work. It meant that I would finally stop waiting for the ‘right’ time to start coaching (which at the time I was delaying because I wanted to get into a coaching program first and could never find the right one), and just begin. I had no expectation of what would happen or how it might work out when I took on my first guinea pig client, but I can say now looking back, it was exactly what I needed to do to begin.
3) Though your path was laid out when you took the leap, did you run into any bumps along the way? How did you handle them?
I’ve run into TONS of ‘bumps’! This road is full of opportunities for learning more about myself and they usually come in the form of a bump. For example, for about 5 months in 2014, I really questioned if I was cut out to run a ‘business’. I wasn’t making much money, had been laid off of my FT job months before and was struggling to find clients. I KNEW I was meant to do this work so I kept going. I kept learning, reaching, dreaming, and taking inspired action which eventually led to getting help from someone who was much better at the business side of things and things started to take a turn for the better. The best way I’ve come to handle the bumps is to listen to the message within them. There’s always a message (even if I’m trying to ignore it) and then surrender. When I surrender, things start to move forward again, and the path smooths out a bit.
4) What kind of support did you have when you decide it was time to switch career paths and follow your dream?
I had the moral support of my wife for sure. When I started my business I was still working full-time, but within about 2 weeks of ‘launching’ (and by launch I mean email my friends and family members letting them know I was taking clients), I found out my position was going to be eliminated within a few months. The Universe had big plans for me that I wasn’t even sure I was ready for. Since then, I’ve been working in my business full-time and if it wasn’t for my wife I wouldn’t have made it this far.
5) In coaching women, what do you focus on in trying to get them “unstuck”?
It’s usually mindset. Everything we experience in our lives is in some way of our own making so when we are feeling stuck, I like to get into the mindset of it all. I have this sort of super power that allows me to see very clearly what is blocking a client from their highest potential and I am generally guided to ask questions that lead us to the very thought pattern or issue that is holding them back. From that point it’s all about setting new mental pathways to build positive life-affirming believes etc.
6) “From that point it’s all about setting new mental pathways to build positive life-affirming beliefs” How do you work with a client to do this? Can you give a brief description of your coaching style and what someone may get when working with you.
When we start building new beliefs we might do that by using affirmations, mantras, or developing what I call a ‘high vibe practice’ that literally raises your vibration and shifts your mindset. Depending on the client we might do something like repetitive visualizations or continually talk through the new beliefs to get a bit more practice and really develop those new pathways.
My work isn’t a one-size fits all approach and the ‘programs’ I use with clients aren’t necessarily designed ahead of time. My work is highly intuitive so I trust the messages, insights, and ideas that come to me in regards to working with a client. My goal is to empower women and to give them tools and tips they can use long after our work has stopped. I don’t want to necessarily have to work with a client for 6 or 12 months (though I’m happy to if they choose), because I really want clients to feel the support and power I offer and move forward armed with the tools they need to continue to fly. Since everything is specific to the client, each client may get a mix of things like affirmations, recorded calls, videos, and other tools along with our coaching calls. It really just depends on what they are after.
6) What led you to choose to work (usually) with women?
I think I’ve just always felt more comfortable working with women. My strategy is very feminine and gentle and while I’ve worked with some men, it seems women respond better to how I work and it just sort of organically happened. With that said, if I felt like we were a good fit, I’d never turn down a male client just because of his gender. I’m an equal opportunity coach 😉
7) What is your best piece of advice for someone who is “missing something” from their current working/life situation?
Get back to what you love. Make a list and start there. When we start doing more of what we love in whatever capacity or shape that takes, it changes everything. Doors open, people reach out and before you know it-it seems you’ve got all the pieces you want and you are much happier for it.
8) I know you have a love of writing as well; Does the writing influence coaching or coaching influence your writing? What other type of writing do you enjoy?
I’ve always been a writer. I can remember writing a letter to a local newspaper editor when I was in school about divorce and feeling really passionate about the topic. I’d say the coaching and writing typically go hand-in-hand. When I’m working with clients, I tend to get inspired to write articles based on situations they are going through and then occasionally I’ll remember something I wrote about in an article and pass that info along to my clients. Before I started my coaching business, I began submitting inspirational poetry to be considered for greeting cards. I’ve had several greeting cards published with Blue Mountain Arts and some poems in a few anthologies with them as well. Poetry is a big one for me. I hope to write a book or a few someday soon too.
9) How do you unplug? Coaching and writing require a lot of energy from a person, so what is your preferred method of recharging in this hectic world?
I try my hardest not to work on weekends. I don’t work with clients at all during the weekend, but I have to be very conscious about not checking my phone 100 times a day or logging onto Facebook. I really enjoy getting outside and spending time with my wife and son. That is really what brings me joy.
10) Who is one of your biggest influences/inspirations? why?
Oh wow, there are so many. I follow a lot of spiritual teachers like Abraham Hicks, Dr. Wayne Dyer, and people like Louise Hay, but I have to say the book that really changed my life my first year in business was by Tama Kieves called Inspired & Unstoppable. It’s a book that described everything I was going through and gave me hope and inspiration when I wasn’t sure what to do to move forward. I love that book!
Tell us about your coaching services and programs.
I like to set up various ways for clients to work with me. I have 2 1:1 programs and a membership program that offers group style coaching for women. I want my work to be as accessible as possible to the people who need it most so I have created a few different options. If anyone is interested in learning more about how I can help them, they can sign up for a free 30-minute consultation here: https://lifeoncedreamt.acuityscheduling.com/
FUN Questions:
What is your fave, all out, nothing held back meal?
Pizza!!! I love carbs, cheese and veggies so it’s the perfect combination. 🙂
Where is one place that you really want to go?
Australia! I’ve worked with some amazing people in Australia and I’d love to visit or host a workshop there one day.
Lamisha Serf-Walls is a life coach for women who are ready to live an amazing life on their own terms, but feel held-back and frustrated in how to make that happen. Her mission is to create a community of empowered, free flowing, lovers of life who live a life of freedom with ease and inspire others to do the same. You can learn more about Lamisha and what she offers by joining her free community, visiting her Online, on Facebook, or Twitter or grab her free audio 5 Ways to Break Free From Stuck.
Life Once Dreamt Life Coaching
www.lifeoncedreamt.com
www.facebook.com/lifeoncedreamt
www.twitter.com/lifeoncedreamt
(Online scheduler) https://lifeoncedreamt.acuityscheduling.com/
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Welcome! My name is Debra and I love all things food! Known as the go-to girl in our family for years. I’ve catered weddings and anniversary parties and in the summer help cook mountains of food for our family reunions. Often times things I create end up in a bowl, hence the name Bowl-Me-Over! I strive for good health, but food has to be full of flavor. A calorie is a calorie, but it’s more satisfying to eat when the food is delicious.
Hello Everyone! I’m Susan: a Writer, Speaker, Coach and Creator.
Creativity and I have been friends since I was a kid. I was always involved in a creative project…from putting together neighborhood skits and plays, writing stories, dance, theater. I loved to play with my creative side from painting, photography, to writing... 