by Tish MacWebber | Nov 1, 2017 | Treasure Seeker Tuesdays
Happy Halloween Treasure Seekers! I am writing at the end of my day. I got up and put on my costume and makeup. I came home and handed out treats. It is so much fun to open the door in costume and see the reactions of the kids, and even some parents. I got a few compliments and was swarmed by a mob of little, costumed people as they didn’t want to miss out on their treats. It was not scary, most of that crowd was under 5 years old. Their parents had a small bit of panic that they were being rude, but I am from a small rural community (this is a hint about my trilogy-the location-not a real place, but a familiar one) and we used to go into people’s homes for our treats when we were kids. It was how things used to be, in a small, rural community.
Halloween is full of fun, adventure and maybe a scare or two. Some costumes are scary. Some are fun! I like the creative ones, and one boy liked my costume. He was wearing all black, and used glow-sticks to decorate himself, had them as glasses and different parts of his outfit. I returned the sentiment. Being dressed as a leopard, I was more tired tonight than I have been in other years. I know this because when the kid in the Scream mask asked, “Whassup?” My reply was a cranky sounding “Me-yow.” I listened to music, asked preferences of chips or cheesies, and ate the bag of microwave popcorn I got at work today so I didn’t get too hungry before supper.
Before I washed my face, I made a short facebook live video to say hello to people and show that my makeup lasted for the whole day. I was glad to be able to wash my face. I never noticed how many times a day I wanted to scratch my nose before. LOL. Then I made some sandwiches, and I am preparing to go to bed. On the Eve of NaNoWriMo.
I am going to be writing a book in November, with a lot of other people. I am going to need to edit after because I don’t think slamming 50,000 words in 30 days will be the kind of writing that is ready for publishing. I do want to write 1,667 or more words every day in November to win and get to the 50,000 word goal for the month. I have tried before, but I have not won. This year, I have the inspiration generated from thinking about the loss of a friend, who regularly participated in NaNoWriMo. She will be featured. I was originally going to write the whole book about her, but it is less pressure and research if I write about what I know. So the concept has its origins but has evolved. That is how I roll.
This week I am writing about writing. I am preparing to embark on a journey to test my skills in a new format with goals and ideas. As I wrote this I had to stop and make a note. The thoughts are percolating. The ideas are coming out in bits and pieces. This year I am going to win!
I have also made an arbitrary decision that November is MY month. It is the month when I get things together, make changes, try new things, and move forward in my life. It happened last year, and although I am not launching my new website yet, I am getting ready to do it. A year ago I started blogging. This year I am writing books, and building a website. ME! By myself, with coaching and guidance from friends I know or have met on this journey.
What are you going to try this November? Let’s make it a winning month together. I told you what I am doing. How can I help you? Let me know below. Have a great week!
#TreasureSeekerTuesday
Treasure Seeker Tuesday: Photo by Tish MacWebber; Photo Edited by Noa Price
by Tish MacWebber | Oct 1, 2017 | Weekend Warrior
If you are following my blog, you will know what I was up to yesterday, already. I will not go into the same story again, but it is still on my mind, of course.
Friday night had me decide to have a bottle of wine. It was a red wine, and it was truly terrible. I did not enjoy it at all, and will never buy it again. I thought about pouring it down the drain, but being half Scottish, I drank it instead of wasting it. The new wine glass (a 1 Litre Thundermug) fit the 750ml bottle nicely, and I sipped at it all evening. There were a large number of descriptive flavours on the label, but none of them shone through. It was muted abundance if that makes any sense. Hmm. If I ever make wine, that might be what I call it, but instead of being watery, and too many flavours, I will find a way to take a subtle flavour and enhance it. Muted Abundance. Well, at least I got something good out of the experience!
Roy had decided he was up for making tacos for supper. I think I should warn you that horribly bad red wine does NOT pair well with tacos. I doubt red wine ever pairs well with tacos. Had I known where the evening would have ended, I might have chosen to drink some of Susan’s tequila instead. Hindsight is 20/20. We then sat down to watch The Orville together. Roy had no idea what I was putting on the TV, but we rather enjoyed it. The obvious jokes were funny, and it was a show with a spaceship. We will see if it keeps us laughing, that was the pilot show. I had my bottle of G2 (Gatorade) chaser when I finished the wine and while I was eating my tacos. I can say that I had no hangover (yay!) but must confess to a night of uncomfortable indigestion.
Saturday was written about yesterday. However, after the event, we went out to supper with Andrew and some other friends. We had a nice meal, and the conversation did steer around Star Trek Discovery and The Orville. After that, we went to play pool at Dooly’s for an hour or two. While we were there, a Beatles song came on. I felt it was a message from Susan, as we were there with Andrew. “Paperback Writer” played, and it made me feel like we had her blessing to be spending time together as friends. It also told me that I need to get serious about writing if I am going to get my Fantasy Trilogy done. I was a little sad that Susan wasn’t able to be with us, but also felt that in a way, she was.
Here I am on Sunday, writing from The Second Cup, in Fredericton New Brunswick, Canada. I have to pass some time before going to buy fish food. We are out, and the fishies like it when we feed them. (No, they didn’t go without, we just need more.) As I am in the same part of town where the store is, it made sense to park in a cafe with my laptop, have my breakfast, and write. I am so happy with this laptop. I just had a brief discussion with the city mayor about the wi-fi signal here. I am in the front corner, far away from the counter, and I suspected that if I was closer to the back of the cafe the signal would be stronger. The Mayor confirmed this, as he is using his phone, and was moving through the cafe to find out if the signal changed. It did. For my purposes, it is a Sunday, and I decided that the location was more important than the speed of my internet connection. With a little patience, I am able to do what I need to do. It is a lesson in patience when the internet is slow, no matter where you are, or what you are working on. Today, I have decided to pace myself and make the most of my day, as tomorrow is another Monday.
Once I finish my errands, I am going to go prep cook and bounce the house. I plan to have a skype date with my cousin this evening and will be catching a live webinar this afternoon. I am hoping to meet up with a friend today, actually, there may be two friends I need to see, now that I think about it. So even though it is a day that I do not want to rush about to get things done, it will be packed full of many things that need to get done.
by Tish MacWebber | Sep 14, 2017 | Trust Your Gut
The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name. If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story. The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors. I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.
This week I am pleased to share Carla’s Story, written in her own words.
Here is Trust Your Gut: Carla’s Story
Discover Why the Bulge is Harder to Battle for Women Over 50
Have you ever looked in the mirror and quickly looked away in disgust? Don’t feel bad, I know just how you feel; I’ve done that more times than I can count … my entire life. Why is it that women over 50 have this ongoing bulge to battle, especially between our armpits and our thighs?
It would take a book to share my entire story; but, it has been a journey, one that I’m still on. You can read about one of my “diets” and the yo-yo effect it had on my belly fat here. Have you ever noticed that when we set our minds to lose weight we do it? But, what happens when we “transition” back to real life and the diet is finished? If you are like me you gradually put back on the weight you lost plus 25 – 50 pounds. Gosh, what a struggle, right?
After many years of trying this diet and that one; losing and gaining weight I gave up. I resigned myself to be the squishy grandma as one of my grandsons called me. Hey, what’s wrong with being squishy, there’s more to love and love is what it is all about, right? We can play all the games in our heads that we want to; but, the bottom line is this – we want our youthful body back. Secretly we want our spouse to look at us and see and feel the firm muscles our bodies were meant to be. Today, hubby looks at me and we laugh at the mature figure we each have. Are we really laughing or secretly crying for something better?
Over the past ten years, age has entered the race for the fat factor. I’m finding bulges everywhere and some places you wouldn’t expect! We’ve had many changes in our lives, too. Stress, business, and life have a way of taking the bulge to a whole new battle and to a whole new level. So, January 2017 I decided it was time to stop the battle and wage war on my fat and these hideous bulges. I threw the word diet out of my vocabulary. I measured every inch of my body, where I couldn’t reach I had the hubby measure. I weighed for the sake of a starting number and put it in my journal. Then, I started sipping my way slim. I’m starting my final journey to battle the bulge after 50 and taking along those who want to do the same. They say there is power in numbers, I believe it. Together we can do anything we can conceive.
You can wish me success or join me on the journey, your choice. I’ll be posting my results, my accomplishments, and failures on my blog. I’m not sure anyone else can relate to a grandma, a woman over 50 who has failed in the weight loss arena her entire life or not. All I know is I will win this battle of the bulge and help others to do the same come h-e-double toothpicks or high water!
Me (Carla) at my heaviest (not a proud moment) in 2009 with youngest grandson in Hawaii at the time of photo 5′ 4″ 235#s.
Carla, thanks so much for accepting my invitation to be a guest blogger here. If Carla’s story resonates with you, or if you would just like to connect with her to learn more, you can check out her Facebook page Coffee with Carla and just pop over to say hi when you are having your coffee some day. I have had the chance to meet her in the process of setting this story up, and she is a wonderful person, who is easy to chat with. I wish her success in her journey and am happy to share her story with you here. I am certain if you take the time to learn more about her, she will be happy to share more of her story with you and join you on your own journey. Two heads are better than one.
#TrustYourGut
by Tish MacWebber | Sep 2, 2017 | Events
I recently took part in a couple of challenges. The Brand Story Challenge was the first one. The design I started this story with is the result of the week-long challenge. But if you were not following me on Facebook, you missed a lot of the work that led up to this graphic.
There is a progression, with daily “homework” to complete the challenge and be entered in the contest for prizes. If you were reading the daily prompts, then you will be very familiar with the daily public shares that I am copying into this story here. Why am I doing that? If you are wondering, it is to show the progress, and seeing them grouped together here will help understand the process and progress I accomplished by taking these challenges.
If you want to learn about how to Master Brand yourself, check out these links. For the Master Brand course, check out this website http://www.jenniferkem.com/. She teaches about #masterbrand and #paidtobeyou. If you look on Facebook, these hashtags will lead you to the right place.
I will start with the Brand Story Challenge. This may seem like a long read today, but I feel it is the best way to share this information with all of you that are reading. So grab a cup of coffee or tea and spend a little time with me as I share this journey. The end goal is to become an entrepreneur with Bling. Blog. Books. and I will be happy if you stick with me through this adventure. You can even participate in the Bling and Blog Freebies if you read to the end.
I found out about the Brand Story Challenge #BSC while scrolling through Facebook. I do not click on all of the ads I see, but sometimes I check things out. I am in 100 Coffees to enhance my networking skills with women like myself. I am in #HappyWriting because the creator, Jessica Dionne Abouelela, has been there for my journey since almost the very beginning. She helped me to change my blog from its former Newbie status to the one you see today. To be honest, she rescued me and my website and gave me a new direction for it. I did most of the work, and she was instrumental in helping me figure out how to do that. She had been encouraging me to do more research on my own Brand, and she also thought that the #BSC would be a good fit for me. I know you are reading, so thank you, Jessica.
Jessica’s current website is girlvscity, and she is going to be launching a Happy Writing project in October. If you want to join an AMAZING writing community on Facebook, then I highly recommend Happy Writing the Facebook Group that I am in. You can also check out Happy Writing Co, which is another Facebook group she has on the go. Jessica has always taken the time to answer my questions and gives solid advice.
The next 5 entries will share the five days of #BSC public posts.
I am inspired by what happens when I apply all of my creative skills and imagination to my projects. The results speak for themselves, and when I complete a project that I conceptualized entirely myself, it literally amazes me how my brain comes up with ideas that work. My passion is being creative, and the more I believe in myself and push myself, the possibilities have no limits. I will think my way through everything that I do and find success while spreading joy through my work. If I apply my talents, each success inspires me to try more new things, and I get so excited when my brain is “on fire” and I am in the zone. When your passion reveals itself, there is no comparison to the feelings of accomplishment that you get from following it.
The world needs more of Tish MacWebber’s creativity in it. I help people spread it around, with my Blog, Bling, and Lyrics.
#brandstorychallenge #day1
The moment that I decided I would help people was when I decided that I would start with helping myself. I started my blog to share my lyrics, for collaboration with musicians. I realized that writing my blog is bigger than me just writing to practice for writing my books. People are reading, commenting, and liking what I am writing about. They are watching for my regular series stories and following them. What I write about is holding me accountable, and helping me grow in my personal journey through my life. My writing is helping me gain confidence to keep writing, and to write books like I dreamed of doing. I feel good about creating, and writing is a creative outlet for me. It is something that I enjoy doing. As an avid reader, I want to write a fantasy trilogy. By writing stories from my heart and mind, I can help people escape the real world one chapter at a time, and by achieving my dreams, maybe I will inspire someone else to stop procrastinating about making their dreams a reality, and act on those dreams to make them come true. #brandstorychallenge #day2
I’m looking for 5 people who feel like their true worth is being overlooked in their real life, and love to read books that help them escape their every day and inspire them to be someone that is worth taking the time to get to know who they really are on the inside. I am also looking for people that appreciate details, that know the little things matter and can make a big impact if they are displayed in the correct fashion. Are you one of those people?
#brandstorychallenge #day3
My business Superpower is applying Tish into everything I do. Whether it shows in my creativity and thinking, my stubbornness, imagination, finding solutions, embracing my feelings and pushing through them to the other side, facing every project with an open heart, my sense of humour or my geekiness, I give my all and get’er done. When I reach that time that my brain finds the solution to what I have been thinking about, I make decisions and act on them.
My creativity thought processes and quirkiness combined with asking a million and one questions to brainstorm and learn what I need to give’er leads me to creative Tish solutions and final products that I am proud to share with the world. My business superpower is me, and my secret weapon is that I am full of surprises.
#brandstorychallenge #day4
Tish of Tish’s Treasures wants YOU to know that when you want her to create a custom order for YOU that she will listen to what your needs are, and DESIGN unique jewellery for you or someone you love to wear.
Tish MacWebber wants YOU to know that she is the real deal. She is writing her first book, and practicing her writing skills while holding herself accountable in her blog at the same time. Her writing is reaching people through her blog in 50 different countries, and she cannot wait to share her fantasy trilogy with you all. Escape your world for a little while by reading what she is up to. There will be excerpts from her first book shared when it is closer to completion.
#brandsstorychallenge#day5
ARE YOU STILL AWAKE? We are halfway through this epic long story. This can be your intermission break if you need one. Refill your coffee or tea cup, grab a snack, run to do whatever needs to be taken care of, but please do come back. Keep reading, if you made it this far, there are things to do at the end!
In between the challenges, I held a Scavenger Hunt Contest to encourage people to look up my Tish’s Treasures Facebook Page, my Tish MacWebber Author Page, and of course, to check out my blog. I made my first Facebook Live videos. I had a winner, and she now has a custom designed pair of earrings as her prize.
These are the earrings I made as the prize for my Scavenger Hunt Contest.
The second Challenge was the Grow Your Tribe Challenge, #GYTC. It took some of the work I did in #BSC and added to it while exploring different methods of growing your tribe. Here is the summary of the daily prompts for that challenge.
The solutions I provide are unique because I pour myself into everything I create, and it is my passion. As an artist; that translates to being a creator of unique designs that come from my heart and mind. As an author; my writing speaks to people through my blog already. My fantasy books will share stories that are written so well that you get sucked in, don’t want to put the book down, and the readers feel invested in the stories and the characters in my books. I want to help the readers escape their lives by reading their way into my imagination. Not everyone that reads my blog is a writer, but 6 people that I know in real life have decided to look into writing their own blogs and asked me for advice. If I can do this, you can chase your dreams and make them a reality too. You just have to decide that you are going to make them happen, and start learning and doing.
#growyourtribechallenge #day1
My Tribe is amazing because they may not all have been there since day 1, and they may not all know me in person, but they are open enough to learn, laugh, cry, and be surprised by me. They are learning what I am all about and at the same time, they are discovering how my creativity infuses positivity and it is my passion. Oh, and that it is contagious. People in my Tribe check things out, ask questions, and learn to believe in themselves, right beside me. I want to help my readers escape their lives by reading their way into my imagination. They will discover their passion, explore their own imagination, ask a million and one questions and add a little more Tish in their lives. They need it, and they don’t even know it yet unless they are already in!
Please note: There was a new “Tish-ism” created during this day’s challenge, so keep an eye out on the blog, it’s going to be a busy week there!
#growyourtribechallenge #day2
Freebies for Tribe Members!
With my free consultations, I can help you find the perfect gift for that hard to buy for person. I know for a fact that not everyone has a unique beaded design made by Tish’s Treasures, and it is my mission to share a little more of Tish with the whole world. How can I help you at the same time? I am starting up a Birthday Club for the Tish’s Treasures Tribe. There will be a survey to enter, and every month there will be a prize for one person that has their birthday that month. Bonus for everyone that has a birthday that month? $5 off coupon for your birthday month purchases with Tish’s Treasures. The Survey will be ready on Friday, September 1st, and the coupons will be good for the whole month for the September Birthday People. This will continue indefinitely, every month. Prize name will be drawn on the last day of the month, every month.
Need traffic on your blog? Guest posting is currently available with my blog.
I will be both a host for your submission on my blog, and you can also ask for me to write a guest post for yours. What do you get? Both websites get more traffic. It’s a win win!
Do you want to share a story on my blog, but are not confident in your own writing skills to write your story yourself? I can schedule a meeting or an interview with you and help you share that story. I am currently looking for contributions and submissions for my Trust Your Gut series, about issues people have with weight, no matter what those issues are.
Remember Tish MacWebber is Always Thinking…and if you need help with something I am available for brainstorming sessions. I like to help people. Two heads are better than one.
#growyourtribechallenge #day3
Part 1: I’ve decided to present my freebie Tish’s Treasure Seekers Guest Blogging as an open invitation which I will be designing before September 1, 2017, to share on my Facebook Author page. It will invite Bloggers to contact me for Guest Blogging opportunities, either for me to host your story on my blog, or for me to guest write a story for your blog. My initial goal is one or two a month, so shout out if you want to be involved. Guest Blogging is a very good way to increase your traffic to your blog website.
#growyourtribechallenge #day4
Part 2: I’m so excited to create the Tish’s Treasure Seekers Birthday Bling Club, my new freebie that’s a short survey to help people sign up for a contest during their Birthday month! One person wins a gift from Tish’s Treasures every month, and everyone gets a $5 discount for shopping with Tish’s Treasures during their birthday month that is valid for the whole month! It will be starting on September 1, 2017.
#growyourtribechallenge #day4
I am committed to streamlining the Tish MacWebber BlingBlogBooks brand, including all of you, Tish’s Treasure Seekers, because I am passionate about creativity. I want to lead by example, and this means I will be taking the dreamer inside of me and encouraging her to be the successful entrepreneur that I know she will be. I pour myself into everything I create, and it is my passion. As an artist; that translates to being a creator of unique designs that come from my heart and mind. As an author; I want to help my readers escape their lives by reading their way into my imagination. I am already proving that I can write through my blogging journey. I have already swept up people in my enthusiasm and inspired them to think outside of their comfort zone. If you’re ready to start seeking your treasures, then join me on September 1st, 2017 for the Launch of Tish’s Treasure Seekers Birthday Bling Club as well as keeping a watch for the open invitation to Tish’s Treasure Seekers Guest Blogging Series on the same day! It’s a double whammy! I am full of surprises, and when you join Tish’s Treasure Seekers, not only will I surprise you, but you may also find that you start surprising yourself!
As promised, the freebies from above are things YOU can participate in.
Please note the new website address is http://tishmacwebber.com
and…
Tish’s Treasure Seekers Birthday Bling Club Q&A
If you answer 6 questions, you can be entered too! I promised there were good reasons to read to the end!
Since I have completed the second challenge, I have launched the above freebies. I have also renamed and updated the Tish’s Treasures Facebook group. It is now Tish’s Treasure Seekers and is linked to the business page.
What is coming in the future? More fun. More interactions. More writing. More Bling. More contests. Growth doesn’t happen by itself, or overnight. So more work. I will be moving this Blog to an umbrella website for Tish MacWebber. Things are going to become even more exciting than they already are. I hope that you all join me. It’s going to be something you don’t want to miss.
Could I have made this a shorter read? Yes. I didn’t because I wanted you all to see the bigger picture with me. Congratulations for reading all the way to the end. I have to say, the bigger picture is panoramic! I love the view!
by Tish MacWebber | Aug 4, 2017 | Trust Your Gut
The names here may or may not reflect the person’s real name. If someone wants to remain unknown, we will choose a different name for that person’s story. The goal is to help people, and anonymity is a valid personal choice for contributors. I will use a person’s name only if they give permission to do so.
This week I am pleased to share another of my own stories.
Here is Trust Your Gut: Tish’s Story; Part 24
Life is funny. Today when I got up I expected good news here on my blog, as I had published an introduction and my second guest blog post on another blogger’s site. I was not wrong. The day turned dark on me this afternoon, and I came home and posted on social media that I was having a hard time. Friends asked if they could help. One person sent a friend request. That person I had never chatted with before helped me turn my night around. I am not saying that I am not still having the feelings I had earlier, but just having a cry wasn’t enough, either. I had to do something different.
I have been using this blog to help myself and to try to help others. Whether it is to share a laugh, or tips, or explore my inner thoughts and demons, I have a purpose here. It has grown since its beginnings under a different name until I was challenged to rethink things and make it better. I like to write, that is obvious, and I have rediscovered my passion for writing since I started this adventure last November. I am working hard at it, to set and keep deadlines, and practice my writing skills. I am proud of what I have done so far.
I am working on myself too. On a day like today, there were too many emotions to keep under the cork. The cork popped, and my tears flowed. I was sitting here unashamedly crying my beautiful blue eyes out, trying to understand why I wasn’t good enough for something else I wanted to do. I am working on a lot of me and there is a lot of me to work on. I am trying to find my gumption every day, not every other week. I am trying to maintain the cleaning I have done thus far in my home, and improve on it. I am doing well with the Blog writing, but not so well in the book writing. I am busy socially, both online and in real life. I am going to Zumba when I can. I do some prep cooking, but admittedly not enough. As I am often told, sometimes I am too hard on myself. The truth is, and I think I have shared this before, I don’t know how to be any other way.
I have issues with self-esteem. I often feel like I am good, but not good enough. This is part of what happened to me today. When I am rejected, it is like I am taking a kick in the teeth. I try not to let things show all the time, but there are days like today that I am frustrated, and my only way to get it out is through my tears. I try really hard to not speak out impulsively in anger. I lost that one today, on both fronts. I really feel like I am being treated unfairly, with a few different things that are happening in my life. All of these things added up, and in time, they have to be let out. Some people yell. Some people become quiet. Some people hide. People like me, well we cry and eat. Trying to fill the hole caused by whatever triggered the feelings. I am trying to change that.
The new friend I made today said to write a gratitude list. Write down five things that I have gratitude about in my life. In a private message, she also invited me to write down 3 things that are causing me to have my issues I posted about. I did. I shared what was going on with a few close friends. My new friend agreed with me that I had a reason to be upset. I didn’t need the validation, but there it was. Without telling this person everything that was setting me off today, they still saw that there is a lot going on for one person to deal with. Keeping those three things inside was a part of what made it so hard for me to cope today.
I need to make some changes. I can’t fix every problem that I am facing right now, but I am trying to work on the ones I can. Tomorrow is a new day. I will try to face it with my best foot forward, but right now, I am feeling a little nervous about that. People that know me know that I am not good at hiding how I feel. It’s going to be a bad day tomorrow because what happened today was bad news for me, and it will be good news for some other people tomorrow. That is going to be hard to swallow. Considering I would rather avoid it all and just make poor choices for what to eat and drink avoid real life tomorrow. I am going to end with my gratitude list. It didn’t fix my problems, but at least it got me thinking about something else. For a little while.
1. Discovering my passion for writing and realizing it is what I am meant to do.
2.My husband is my rock and my hero.
3. The joy I get from working on my blog and watching it grow.
4.My stubbornness.
5. Friends and family.
6. My blue eyes.
7. My sense of humour.
After I calmed down a bit, my final entry to the list for the day was:
8. I still have my teeth. Nobody actually managed to kick any out yet.
My new friend was right. It’s all about perspective.
#TrustYourGut.
