Blogger Perks: Chick-fil-a Backyard Barbecue Celebration

How will you do a Backyard Barbecue? Consider Chick-fil-a Some of the perks of blogging include getting FREE stuff or special treatment. Chick-fil-a invited us to have a backyard barbecue inside their Avon, Indiana restaurant. Despite the recent controversy, I love Chick-fil-a. I respect their rights, just as I respect the rights of all others. So, Enjoy! Chick-fil-a is a great place to dine with the kids, especially preschoolers. It gives Mommy (me) a few moments to relax while the kids play. The staff pampers you, always clearing your table, bringing you refills, and smiling. So, it is my pleasure to share the latest, new menu items with all of you. You know you like the food. Our Chick-fil-a Backyard Barbecue and a rare look at me. I'm in the blue. My blogging buddies and local friends joined me at the backyard barbecue. The Avon staff is truly lovely. Though I live closer to another restaurant now, this one is my favorite. Everyone loved the service and the food. Thank you so much to Ashley and the staff.  :) My favorite new menu items are the grilled chicken nuggets. If you read this blog, you might recall, I'm somewhat of a poultry-tarian. Well... I was until we got chickens and ducks. That makes it difficult for me to prepare or eat chicken sometimes. I never eat duck. I try to stick to turkey when possible. But... these nuggets are too good to pass up. Right? There's a whole 'nother controversy there. So, please let's just think about the cows. This is what they want. Eat Mor Chickn! So, what was on the menu? They call it Grilled Love. I've listed some menu items below and tidbits from the Press Release. On April 14, the Atlanta-based restaurant chain will officially roll-out three new entrees – the Chick-fil-A® Grilled, Chicken Sandwich, Chick-fil-A® Grilled Chicken Club Sandwich and Chick-fil-A® Grilled Nuggets – in an ongoing effort to provide more flavorful and “craveable” grilled options for its nutrition-minded customers.    Chick-fil-A’s new recipe features an unmatched backyard grilled taste. Each grilled chicken breast is freshly marinated with a blend of sea salt, lemon, garlic and savory herbs, and cooked on a state-of-the-art, proprietary grill developed by Chick-fil-A. The technique creates a tender, juicy filet with just the right amount of smoky flavor.    To make this menu enhancement possible, Chick-fil-A invested seven years of testing and more than $50 million to reinvent its grilled chicken recipe. The largest portion of the investment came as the company worked with Garland Grills to create a proprietary grill. This grill sears chicken perfectly on cast-iron grates like it was cooked on a backyard grill, only faster.  The sandwiches were a big hit, and so were the condiments. My favorite condiment is the Avocado Lime Dressing. Apple Cider Vinaigrette is yummy too. If you like a little spice, try the Polynesian Sauce! The Chick-fil-a Cows want you to eat more chicken! I can help. I am giving away 4 Backyard Barbecue Cards! What does that mean? You will get a free sandwich in June and July so you can try out the new Backyard Barbecue Menu for Free. Just leave a comment here (if you don't use Google+ find the post about this on our Facebook Page) and Voila! You are entered in the drawing.

Recommended Reading:

Chick-fil-a New Menu 2013

Grilled Chicken Salad Recipe

Chicken Art

Chicken Jokes

The Chicken Encyclopedia*

ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Preschool and Sayings for Facebook? Follow Us Kids Creative Chaos :)

Follow Us for Lyrics, Sayings, and Quotes for Facebook 

We're trying to grow our Internet following. We are growing like weeds on Pinterest, but our Facebook page needs some love. We share lots of fun preschool ideas, activities, and quotes to share on your Facebook wall. Click on the Quotes tab above for images and sayings to share. Scroll down for the Lyrics to Tri Sigma's Follow Us.  Enjoy!

Follow Us, Kids Creative Chaos on Facebook.

Please, hop over and join the conversations. I love to see your ideas. Feel free to share links to your blog posts on our wall too. 

This reminds me of a sorority song, "Follow Us". We sang it during rush at Ball State University. Hmm... Did you ever sing that song or a similar version in church? It was taken from a John Denver song,  "Follow Me".

Sigma Sigma Sigma  Follow Us Song Lyrics.

Sigma Sigma Sigma "Follow Us" Song Lyrics:

It goes something like this: 

Follow us where we go, what we say and what we do. 
(Yikes... that's creepy- never noticed.)

Make it part of you to be a Sigma Tri.
Follow us up and down all the way and all around.
Take our hands and say you'll follow too.

Oh my gosh, just found this Tri Sigma rap song on You Tube. My, how things have changed. 

Back to the point- You can follow Kids Creative Chaos, on Facebook, Pinterest (Pin it! Online Preschool Scavenger Hunt), Twitter (@playconnection), and You Tube. 

Make it part of your busy day too.
Follow us over here, over there, and everywhere.
Take our lead and be a follower too.

You know it's long been on my mind.
That's why I asked you to follow me today.
To try to find a way that you can help share what I say. :)

Thanks for following. We love our friends and followers. Feel free to start a conversation in the comment section following our posts.

Recommended Reading:

Community Service Project Ideas for Sororities

College 101: A Girl's Guide to Freshman Year

Sign up for our free newsletter!

Tag, You're it! Silent Tagging Game for Sharing Facebook Pages

The Blogger's Club on  Facebook is sharing your pages and you're sharing back! Join us and Like us for a fun game of Grown Up Blogger Tag.

Here's how it works: Every Thursday find this post on The Blogger's Club Facebook Page share the  post on your Facebook Page and leave your page in the comments below our post. Everyone participating will see your post, check it out, hopefully LIKE it, and then you can add your comment on the SILENT TAGGING post on their page. The idea is we'll gain new follower with common interest based on the sharing. It's Thursday, Let's PLAY!

SILENT TAGGING!
*** Please READ the rules below before posting!
Only KID/PARENTING related FaceBook pages are allowed to post.

If you would like to play here's how we do it ....
1. On your page, share that The Bloggers Club is networking by Silent Tagging. Please make sure to tag us in your status! (Invite others to share their own FB page in the comment section below the post.)
2. Tag yourself in the comments below.
3. Stop by the pages shared and LIKE them if you would like to follow them.
You are NOT required to like everyone that posts but hopefully you will and they will reciprocate.

If you like this, you might also like our Pin it to Win it Online Scavenger Hunt on Pinterest.

Tweet

Enjoy a Real Radio Show Podcast featuring a Bob Ross Remix

Here's something I think busy Moms and Dads will enjoy. Sit back and relax as the soothing voice of Dean Abbott  rejuvenates the spirit with his podcast reminiscent of an old-fashioned radio show, Your Neighborhood Almanac.

Tweet

Brand Me: Lora Langston aka Adubahwha?

Sunday Food for Thought: BRANDING YOU and me

Hey, if you came here from a search, can you tell me what got you here? This is an old post. I'm not sure what is driving traffic. Brand me. Brand you. Branding for Bloggers? Sunday Food for Thought? I used to write those every Sunday and then I decided they were too personal for what the blog has become. So, leave a comment and let me know. Enjoy!

Sunday Food for Thought: 

BRANDING YOU and me.

I've been reading up on professional blogging through posts sent to my inbox by Problogger. For the most part, I am doing everything wrong. I'm a disaster. For example, did you miss me? I was MIA for about two months. Apparently, I'm not supposed to ask, as it is a sure sign of an unprofessional.

And then, there are the theories on 'to post or not to post', to whichever theory you subscribe (posting every day or every other day or once a week) you should maintain a schedule. 

That is, you shouldn't post sporadically- every day one week, once the next week, none the next, and then a few times a day the next, just because you have something to say, like I do.

I can say, based on my absence and the noticeable drop in stats, okay the DRAMATIC drop in stats, posting at least once a week is important. 

Someone pointed out that posting everyday might annoy my subscribers. Ahem... I would have to have subscribers to annoy them.

Another common mistake the naive, unprofessional blogger makes is not focusing on a particular subject matter. Specialization is best, know your readership, find your niche. 

My niche? 

Mommy Bloggers? Nope. Aspiring authors? Nope. Nutty people? Noooo. People interested in Dramatic Arts? No. Crafters? No. Freelance writers? Humor? Overweight Moms? Nope, nope, and more nope. Maybe a Blogger's Club for Midwestern Mommy Creative Types? Uh that's a big, fat, no. (10 followers) My very own .com just for my rambling mind? Apparently not. (20 followers)

Update: I have found my niche. Education Bloggers. Afterschool, Summer Camp, Teachers, Homeschoolers, and Daycare Workers. Things are going quite nicely now.

Don't use slang, vernacular, incorrect grammar. Don't get excited and post with spelling errors, your reader's will lose respekt for you. (See what I did there?) 

Puffalump! Cheese and rice! Bleep, I ain't got no chance of becoming a professional, branded blogger. Or do I?

Update: I didn't even realize I was making mistakes back then. I still make mistakes today. Probably for the same reasons.

Content is Key and the Perfect Title is Golden.

Update: Okay, I used to write cute titles all the time. Now, before I even think of content to write I do an SEO search for the BEST keywords to put in my title. Downside, it won't attract my Facebook family and friends to read my blog. Upside, it is evergreen. The gift that keeps on giving. Titles and keywords used this way can take awhile to stick. Sometimes, posts don't get SEO juice for up to two years!! Then, they just take off. That is why, I want to know... what brought you here?

You see, I have found my niche. It's Kid Bloggers, who are mostly moms like me or Early Childhood Teachers looking for new twists on old ideas. I work for them, but I like to mingle with aspiring or published authors too. I love reading posts that flow, engage, and make me laugh or cry. 

I don't want to scare off my niche group with posts about my fatness, laziness, or craziness. Or my my core Christian readers with my liberal take on Christianity. Or my Non-Christian readers with my Jesus talk. Or worse yet, bore everyone with my obsession with ancestry and historical fiction.

So... I tried to split my personality with my various blogs and Facebook pages. Know what I found out? People seem to like me despite my ramblings, outspoken political views, or overall reckless blog behavior. 

Hey, fellow writers: I just learned how to spell reckless. Are you kidding me? All of these years, I thought it was Wreckless. I guess that is my Indiana upbringing... he is such a wreckless driver. Then again, that was dumb. If he was a wreckless driver rather than a reckless driver, he'd probably be a good driver minus the wrecks.

Ramblings. 

That's what I, Lora Langston, do best and you don't have to hop over to loralangston.blogspot.com STOP THE PRESSES THIS LEADS ME TO A THOUGHT WITHIN A THOUGHT (loralangston.com was a nice thing to own until I didn't and then they raised the little renewal price of ten dollars to sixty, meanies) or Midwestbloggersassociation.com or theplayconnection.com or on  Facebook or Lora Langston on Examiner.com even Kids Creative Chaos on Facebook. 

Nope, because when I wasn't paying attention or even trying I discovered Lora Langston is my brand even if you have to work through my split-personality to find me on Facebook (Lora Langston) or Twitter (@playconnection) or Pinterest/kidschaos:   (we do the scavenger hunt).

I'm gonna continue to ramble, write in my Indiana vernacular, post when I feel like it, and go off topic sometimes 'cuz that is what my subscribers seem to enjoy about me, my unpredictability. I'm a train wreck or is it reck?

My dry sense of humor lends to a few things: Some find me stupid and annoying but can't resist reading... and others aren't quite sure if they should laugh or run. The rest, well, they get me.

Whichever category you fall into, I hope you'll stick around! There are many more ramblings to come and lots of creative, crafty fun for kids.

Subscribe to Lora Langston on Facebook, and Check me out on Twitter and Pinterest- This is where my branding is best with over 180,000 followers.

Okay, I won't be mad if you like me here too because this is the brand that didn't go but inspired this post. Kids Creative Chaos on FB (hoping for 500 Likes, for now).

Update: I have over 11,000 Facebook likes as of 12/2015.

Cheers to a happy 'You' Brand too.

Update: I'll pop back in and update this post as things continue to improve. 

Adubahwha? That's what people used to say to me in college, when they had no idea what I just said...

Recommended:

Welcome and About Me

Branding for Bloggers*









ADS DISCLOSURE: We've partnered with some wonderful advertisers who may sponsor blog posts or send us samples to test. Some companies pay us to review their products.

*We also use affiliate links, if you make a purchase we get a tiny commission. Kids Creative Chaos participates in the Amazon LLC Associates Program*, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a mean for blogs to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon properties, including, but not limited to, amazon.com, endless.com, myhabit.com, smallparts.com, or amazonwireless.com. We also offer Tapinfluence, Google Adsense, SoFab, and Izea ads here. Thanks so much for helping us keep the lights on! :)

Pin it Online Scavenger Hunt (Preschool) 1

Preschool Scavenger Hunt

January 2012 Online Scavenger Hunt Kick-off! 

Like this? Join us on Pinterest.

Give Crafty Bloggers a Boost 

Have fun scavenging the internet, pin it @Pinterest, and get to know more Crafty Bloggers. Your Mission, if you choose to accept it, is:

1. Type the words below into a Google Search to find an image.
 (Right click and copy url or save as title below)


2. Pin it to Pinterest and we'll add you to the contributor board where you can begin pinning away to your heart's content to win and make new friends.


3. Leave a comment below for an extra entry.


4. Like Me, 'Kids Creative Chaos,' on Facebook for another.


We'll follow your Pinterest Boards.Just be sure to leave your two cents worth.  To be eligible for our Kid's Basket of Goodies Prize pack, valued at over $50 you must complete all tasks in the hunt. *If you live outside the U.S. you can participate but you'll have to pay shipping costs. You have exactly one week to complete the mission. Included in the basket this week, a signed copy of Adam Rubin's book, "Those Darn Squirrels and The Cat Next Door." 

Everyone who completes Scavenger Hunt tasks will be entered to win! Week of January 23, 2012.  There's a new list every Monday.  Let me know if you have an image you want included in the hunt. 

~ Happy Hunting! ~

1. Easy Elephants
2. Snowman in a Jar
3. Slipper Flops
4. Colors of the Faith
5. Snowball Socks

Vote for me..

I'm  number 9 in DIY but 140 overall....  Just click to vote.  Then you can click the like button on my listing for brownie points.  Let me know... I'll give you 3 entries into Friday's giveaway for JAWS.

Blog Entourage Blog Hop

HOP TO IT!

An Award for Me

Mama Mia's Heart2Heart gave me an award to share the love.

Click my award to visit Mama Mia's Blog and give a big thanks to Mama Mia!

The Liebster award (“Liebster” is the German word for friend or love) originated in Germany. The aim of the award is to bring more attention to blogs with fewer than 200 followers.

These are the rules in accepting this award.
1. Show your thanks to the blogger who gave you the award by linking back to them.
2. Reveal your top 5 picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4. Bask in the love from the most supportive people on the Internet – other writers.
5. And best of all – have fun and spread the karma!
6. Right click on the award image and save it to your hard-drive and then upload it to your blog. 

I'm passing it along to some blogger's who have been supportive of my BLOG FROG Community.

Bloggin' It Up Chelle Style

Faith Filled Foods For Moms

The Cooks Next Door

Curious Wisdom

She Loves Food and Followers

So hard to pick, especially to find those with fewer than 200 GFC.  Rumor has it that GFC is going to be extinct soon so just find 5 up and coming new bloggers who deserve the love :-)

So You Want to be a Work At Home Mom & Giveaway

FRIDAY FOLLOWS NOVEMBER GIVEAWAY #1

Jill Hart and Diana Ennen recently approached me about a review for their book, "So You Want to be a Work-At-Home Mom".  I accepted the offer thinking I would use the book for a giveaway.

Hey Ladies, I actually read the book from cover to cover!  I even took notes.

I googled it.  The website is number two, right after Amazon.com.  The advice given in this book is written from a Christian perspective based on honesty and integrity.  These ladies have been there, done that.

Although I have been blogging for awhile now, I still have many questions.  "So You Want to be a Work-At-Home Mom" is written in an easy, conversational style.  Think the WEB MD commercials where the doctor is sitting in on the couch with a bunch of Moms- that's how you'll feel about Diana and Jill.  It is motivational offering proven success tips.

The book is designed to educate stay-at-home moms on work from home opportunities.  Not only does it answer the tough questions- it details how to find the answers and put them into action for your business.

Can't think of a good business proposal?  The book is filled with real, concrete ideas.

Do you ever get those emails offering thousands of dollars per week for WAHMS?  You get a link to a site that is full of hype but doesn't let out the big secret.  You are dying to know the big secret.  Maybe, just maybe it is really true and you are missing out on a fantastic opportunity.

Ladies, I know the big secret. Don't fall prey.  It may not be a scam but it will take tons of your money, time, and integrity.  This "opportunity" is for Herbalife.  It could be right for you but the odds are against it.

Why am I telling you about Herbalife?  Because, this is not one of those get-rich-quick scams.   "So You Want to be a Work-At-Home Mom" is written by real moms, just like you.  You probably won't get rich quick but you might have fun trying.

SAHM/WAHM bloggers, this is a must read.  SAHM/WAHM others - take your home business to the next level with these great tips.

Write your own press releases, fix your SEO, learn how to market yourself online.

I don't want to give it away but I will.  (I did take great notes, after all.)

Follow, Follow, Follow me wherever you can find me.  For every new follow, you'll get an entry into a random drawing.  All you have to do is leave a comment letting me know where you are following.

At the end of the month, any follower who helps me reach my goals (listed below) will be in the running for a prize package that includes a $15 Amazon gift card and lots of crafty goodies for you and the fam.

I can't wait to send you this little gem.  Get clicking.


Google Friend Connect for KCC 225  (Scroll down the right sidebar)
Facebook for Kid's Creative Chaos 50
Facebook for The Play Connection 200
Facebook Subscribe to Lora Langston  800
Twitter @Playconnection 250
Blog Frog Kid's Creative Chaos 1000 (Click the Blog Frog Tab & Join my community)
Top Mommy Blogs - Vote for me for #1  (Just click the button on the KCC blog)
Google Connect for http://www.midwestbloggersassociation.com  50
Google Connect for http://loralangston.com  35
If you've done everything else have a look at my website. http://www.theplayconnection.com


Surprise me--I have accounts with DIGG, Stumbleupon, Goodreads, Picket Fence Blogs, and several Mommy Blogger's sites you can add that too for bonus points.  Just let me know- I don't get around to all of them very often.

Everywhere you follow gets an entry. You might want to save them for upcoming Friday Follows - I have tons more books to giveaway.

Someone Thinks I'm Stylish - Blogger Award - About Me

Looking for Blogger Awards to share? We have several snoop around.

I'd like to thank 'New England Mommy' at Muddy Feet for awarding me the 'Stylish Blogger Award'.



Wootily-Woot!

Seven Things About Me:


1.  At twenty-five I thought I was too old to become a mother.
Now (depending how you count it) I have four kids ages 4-22.

2.  We also have three pet kids.  A turtle, I mowed over in the back yard, a cat, and an eleven-year old cockatiel.


3. I use to clean my woodwork with a toothbrush (when I was twenty-five).  Now, I am lucky to find time to clean my teeth with a toothbrush.

4. My career goal was to work on Sesame Street but I never moved to New York. (Elmo Rocks!)

5. In another life, I directed a theatrical troupe and I portrayed the director of a theatrical troupe whilst directing said troupe!

6. I look really interesting on paper- less so in real life.

7. My dream/goal is to write/illustrate children's picture books.


Rules for accepting this award are:

1. Thank and link back to the person who awarded it to you.
2. Share 7 things about yourself.
3. Pay it forward to 15 recently discovered great bloggers.
4. Contact those bloggers and tell them about their Blog Award!



Here are the 15 sites I am Paying it forward to:



1.    http://www.thecooksnextdoor.com
2.    http://michellesjournalcorner.blogspot.com/
3.    http://twobearsfarm.blogspot.com/
4.    http://www.thesnyder5.com
5.    http://frugaltractormom.blogspot.com
6.    http://www.imalazymom.com
7.    http://www.jdaniel4smom.com
8.    http://mommysmidwestmountain.blogspot.com
9.    http://showmemama.com
10.  http://featuredsacredmuse.blogspot.com
11.  http://starsunflowerstudio.blogspot.com
12.  http://tatertotsandjello.blogspot.com
13.  http://thedaisyhead.blogspot.com
14.  http://www.thetamom.com
15.  http://apocketfullofbuttons.blogspot.com/2010/12/christmas-bento-7-gingerbread-men.html

Wow!   Fifteen is a lot!  If I award the blog to you how about 7?
That way, you might actually complete the task.  Happy Reading!

How to make an Easy Button Code for your blog Generator

Have you figured out how to make an easy button code for you blog sidebar? 

Okay...  I consider myself an intelligent person.  A fast learner.  Design savvy.  Let me just say, HTML boggles my mind!  I tried to make a button to link to "Grab My Button" on Bloggy Moms and it took me days!  It was either cheesy and unprofessional, not the nice 125 x 125, or completely too much mumbo jumbo for my mind to comprehend.  

How to make an easy button code for you blog.

So, I finally made a picture with GIMP (shareware program) but you can use any picture editing program even MS WORD ART.  I copied the picture, pasted it into a post, then right clicked to 'copy image url'.  After that, I just plugged it into this awesome code generator. 

Blogger Tips: You'll need a place to host your image. I use my Facebook Photo Album.

Make your own button code for your blog

Then, with blogger, I added two gadgets. First, the code HTML and then a picture.  Mine is a little different. I chose green for the code background instead of white. I am teaching myself GIMP so after several failed attempts I stuck with the tiled logo. Hope this helps. 

We can do it!  Look at my Sidebar for the finished product.  Oh  yeah!  Grab My Button, please! Here's another link someone gave me. It might be more professional. Both work great!

Make your own button for Blogger blogs

What's on your Mind? On Liars, Lying: Pinocchio Cartoon

Pinocchio is the cutest little liar: here's a cartoon free printable of him in all of his innocence.

Lying like Pinocchio... that's what's on my mind. Facebook asks, so I will too.  Lying or Creative License. I have been enjoying Facebook for a few years now. It's like peeping into picture windows as you drive by houses at night. Families are watching t.v., eating in the dining room, carving pumpkins, decorating holiday trees and so much more.  It gives you a little sense of how others live. It sometimes makes you feel less than perfect.

Pinocchio Cartoon coloring sheet clip art.

Right click to save image to your computer or Ctrl/P to print.

I have a friend who constantly posts happy thoughts and inspiring quotes.  I hadn't spoken to her in awhile when we finally had a chance to talk in the real world I said, "Wow, I wish I could be as positive as you are these days.  Your posts uplift me."  She chuckled and said, "Me too!  I am going through a lot.  I am so depressed.  I write those to remind me that life isn't so bad.  It gives me hope."  Now, she isn't lying but all this time I felt like she was living some kind of Utopia and I was missing out.  The grass is greener, you know.

And then I have 'friends' (I know all but three of my Facebook friends personally but I have some relatives I've never met or friends I knew long ago and a lot has changed) that post gorgeous family photos, pictures of themselves thin and beautiful, and share details of all the incredible things they do with their kids.  The are so happy, so lucky, and so full of it!

As I make more and more real world connections, I discover the Facebook Facade.  I always assume that if I am telling the truth then so is everyone else.  Why would we fabricate anything when the truth is lurking.  I am loyal to a fault, blunt, and painfully honest.  If you ask me something I will tell you how I feel, truthfully.  Bear in mind, if it is hurtful, you may want to get a second opinion.  I am a straight -shooter the words I spew are strictly my opinions.  Of course, I think they are accurate opinions but I have been known to change them.  I mean no harm.  So, if you want to know how your new hair-style really looks, ask me.  If you want a compliment ask your Facebook friends.

I am so jealous of people on Facebook.  I wish I could be a better Mommy, Wife, Lover, Daughter, Sister, Worker, Christian, Liberal, Democrat, Republican, or Human in general.  I will never be half as good as the people who are as half as good as me but take creative license to their life.  With me, what you see is what you get.

I often open my mouth and insert my foot.  I am not trying to be nasty or passive aggressive.  I am just being open and profoundly naive.  I recently had a conversation (with a person I care about very much)  regarding Facebook photos.  I said, "Can you believe all the fake photos on Facebook? I mean I meet those people and they are old and wrinkly or more than slightly overweight.  It's crazy isn't it?  I mean you and I just post the real 'us'... who would do that?" 

She didn't say anything right away.  In fact, I thought she was ignoring me but I had no idea why.  So I looked away.  And then something surprising happened, "What? You mean you think my photo is the real me?"  "Yes, I have seen it.  It looks just like you."  She chuckled nervously trying to let go of her anxiety.  "Nope, that's not me, I doctored it.  I'd never post the real me."

I could tell she was irritated with me.  I guess because I inadvertently dissed her.  She does look just like her picture no airbrushing needed.  She looks fabulous.  That is my honest opinion.  I didn't mean to accuse her of being dishonest, I had no idea.  Honestly.  Alas, this why many people don't like me.  You love me or you hate me, there is very little in between.  Most who hate me just don't get me.  I love you, I promise, no matter what I say that might seem to the contrary.

Yep, most of my friends aren't as happy as they seem on dear old Facebook.  Most aren't as attractive and even more of them aren't as good.  I'll never measure up but I guess that's okay because it keeps me on my toes.  I am a pretty decent, over-weight, going gray, do-gooder in real life.

Now those blogs...  that is an entirely different story.  I have uncovered some major creative licensing going down.  If it makes for a cute story share it.  If it gets you some extra brownie points or sympathy say it.  I get this from my teenager.  She bends the truth to 'make people happy' more often to make herself look innocent when she wants to complain about a friend and needs an empathetic ear.  We're grown-ups so I tell it like it is - the good, the bad, and the ugly. 

Me: overweight, over forty, struggling with personal relationships, finances and life in general but always true to myself and others and always 100% authentic.  How do you measure up?

Recommended Reading:

Eli's Lie-O-Meter: A Story about Telling the Truth

A Big Fat Enormous Lie

Articles and Activities for Teens