Imaginif

“Nobody can make you feel inferior without your permission.”

 -Eleanor Roosevelt

Welcome women, to the All Women Blogging Carnival, number 20 (ohh my age - 23 years ago!). 

This edition introduces a women only participation contest:

 

• You get one pre award point for having already submitted a post (one point per blog site). THANK YOU, SURPRISE and CONGRATULATIONS women.
• You will get one point per comment left at the bottom of this edition, and
• You will get two points for a link back to this edition (have you registered and claimed your blog at Technorati? Makes it easy to keep track of links).
• Point collection ends at 9 am, Saturday 27th of October, 2007 (Australian time). To be considered a potential winner, leave your point tally in the comment section below. No point tally, no entry (I’ll check so no cheating either!).

The pointiest women (no, I’m not referring to Madonna’s bra pictured) will win a beautiful Australian Kookaburra hand puppet (here’s the post that announced it). In the event of an even score between women bloggers, I will be visiting to see how many other comments they left on their sister participants blogs. The winner may well be the one who has also made the most comments on the submissions to this weeks edition of the All Women Blogging Carnival. So, go leave comments for your sister bloggers, because this big sister will be watching (and counting).

“Thirty-five is when you finally get your head together and your body starts falling apart.”
Caryn Leschen

I always start my Carnivals with a post from the last host (in this instance, the hostess). Here’s one from Deborah over at Let’s Get Happy. In 10 October is World Mental Health Day, Deborah helps to raise awareness about living with a mental health disorder. Thanks for participating in World Mental Health Day, Deborah. I have two family members who have schizophrenia and bi polar. Wonderful people, it aggravates me when they are shunned or belittled by others intolerant of mental illness. I always welcome the opportunity to educate.

“My second favorite household chore is ironing. The first being, hitting my head on the top bunk bed until I faint.”
Erma Bombeck

 Leigh, birth mother of the All Women Blogging Carnival, hangs out over at All for Women and at Crazy Meezer. From All for Women, she throws us Who on earth cares (it’s easy to check Leigh, we’ll just look to see who has added their name to the list, he he). From Crazy Meezer, Leigh gives us a moving tribute to her grandparents in Our trip to Manly.

“Laugh and the world laughs with you. Cry and you cry with your girlfriends.”
Laurie Kuslansky

Shirley presents 10 cheap ways to have fun. posted at Fun Spirit, saying, “I’m always looking for ideas to have fun that are easy, inexpensive and of course fun, fun, fun. Here are a few I’ve tried myself. . .”  We do the video and pool nights all the time Shirley. I’d like to do the potluck idea more but I think I was Mother Theresa in a previous life. I stress big time about catering and always over cater. A potluck night would not be a cost saver for me because I’d be doubling everything I contribute in case somebody cannot bring what they were supposed to!!!! Good practical ideas Shirley. Thanks. I looked and looked for a photo of you but could not find one.  You now get to set the same pic standard as the other photo-less gals.

Michelle Sweeney pulls off her super mother cape and gives us an alternative that won’t get sucked into the vacuum:  Living The Dream Tshirts Fly In The Face of Super Mum posted at Tonic Gifts. What a great idea. I’ve always thought that Tshirts were an underused icon of social change. Alpha or beta, alpha or beta? Which mother do you want to be and how will your clothes tell it?

Marcella Chester presents With Help Like This Who Needs Harm? posted at abyss2hope: A rape survivor’s zigzag journey into the open. Marcella is a woman who speaks my language and understands the sector I work in. She says, “So often when it comes to detecting possible rapists, that responsibility falls completely on women. However, if we are supposed to detect rapists before they make a rape attempt then boys and men should also be responsible for doing the same whenever they bring boys and men in contact with the girls and women they know.”  Yes, if men and boys are part of the problem then they are also part of the solution. Way to go Marcella.

WhatWorksForUs presents Irony posted at What Works For Us.This post had me both cringing and laughing. I recently went jean shopping with my 25 year old daughter. I pulled out all Grandma jeans, apparently. I ended up being persuaded by my daughter to buy some hip hipsters - the sort where my stomach and hips hang over the top of the jeans! Most uncomfortable, but fashionable so that’s okay! Worst part was that the jeans cost $200.00. I was too embarrassed to say that I could not afford them because my daughter was standing behind me laughing like a mad woman. Irony indeed. Send the jeans to me Whatworksforus….lol.

“Every time I close the door on reality it comes in through the windows.”
Jennifer Unlimited

Madeleine Begun Kane presents SCHIP Haiku posted at Mad Kane’s Political Madness. Very nicely putting a sense of poetry into current morbid international affairs and human rights abuses, Madeline skillfully uses her “recovery” (from law) time to ensure cynicism is at least made palatable. She also expertly hacks away at a message that many people refuse to hear. Thanks Madeleine. I’m afraid I cannot call you Mad though. It just doesn’t sit right for me. My Madeleine gets Maddy despite a cohort that likes to tell her she’s really Mad.

Karen (aka Karooch) presents What You Need to Know About Copyright in the Scrapbooking World posted at Scraps of Mind, saying, “How to play fair when using digital scrapbooking products.” Get out of a scrap, scrapper sisters, by ensuring you read these scraps of information. Copyright and creative commons are laws and concepts we all need to be aware of as we flit around with our words on blog sites. Thanks Karen. I am a scrapper and am designing an art and expressive therapy based framework called Scrapathy.

Amanda Carew presents In The Beginning… posted at Purposely Created, Created for a Purpose,saying, “To all women, come check out my blog!” Amanda blogged some time back, fell off the wagon and attended Facebook meetings until the addiction of blogging came back. Now though, Amanda has a different purpose to blog. She has entered the mother club that many of us belong to. Yes, Amanda’s new baby has given her blog fodder and purpose again. Welcome back Amanda, and also welcome to motherhood.

GrrlScientist presents Schemochromes: The Physics of Structural Plumage Colors posted at Living the Scientific Life, saying, “The physics of why blue feathers are .. well, blue in color.” This bird is not only smart - she is also colourful and as light as a feather. I love reading this blog for self education purposes and for picking up tidbits that I hope will one day come up in a trivia quiz.

“Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.”
Maryon Pearson

Debba Haupert presents Real women, real clothes, real beauty, real girlfriends! posted at Girlfriendology. It is so important to make time to spend with our girl friends. Debba attended an open house for her friend’s new clothing business and then enjoyed lasting and growing friendship over lunch. Have you all seen the Girlfriendology web site that goes with this blog? It is well worth a visit. I left feeling inspired and included in the world wide movement of women supporting women.

Carole Fogarty presents Eat, pray, love a journey of spiritual excitement posted at THE HEALTHY LIVING LOUNGE, saying, “Do you feel the calling deep inside for a good dose of spiritual spring cleaning? A total shake out of your web covered spiritual being, a re-think as to whether you are plugged into a journey you need to be on at the moment or simply have a need to hear your inner wise voice a bit more clearly and little more often.” Now this is a woman who doesn’t mind combining self development with nibbles of chocolate to keep up the stamina. Go Carole!

Holly Ord presents Birth Control for Middle School Students posted at Woman Tribune. Holly acknowledges that nowadays kids have sex well before many of us ever did. Holly also understands the need for protection against sexually transmitted viruses and pregnancy. However, an oral contraception for such young children has raised some dissonance in Holly and her readers. Don’t forget the participation contest for this edition of the All Women Blogging Carnival - jump into Holly’s post and leave your comments. Holly keeps two separate blog sites. In Love Your Body posted over at Menstrual Poetry Holly discusses the depth of, and consumer defined ways we view our body and female bodily functions. I’m all for having a Love Your Body day as long as it is every day of the year.

Jenn Givler presents My Authentic Self Project posted at J Givler Coaching, saying, “For 30 days, I’m showing you how I authentically handle issues in my business - see how I face challenges, and pick up tools and tips to use to make your own business powerful!” This is an innovative and awe inspiring project Jenn. Congratulations and my best wishes to you. I favor ethics, authenticity and transparency. Jenn, you are probably the first virtual blogger I have followed because I am genuinely interested from an ethical point of view rather than a “want to know, I’m curious” basis.

“I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.”
Gloria Steinem

Simone from Outfit Inspirations, offers us 8 ways to holiday everyday. An endearing list, it is also worthwhile refreshing yourself merely by strolling through Simone’s beautiful and relaxing site(s). I live on the Great Barrier Reef - a place where it is possible to holiday every day. But do I? No. Simone, point 4 really speaks to me. I challenge myself to do this on a daily basis. Point 5 is how I know I am in love, with my darling and with life. We have a weekly date on the esplanade. We lie under the giant palms and people watch those families here on holidays. It is so colourful and refreshing.

Going pink for October to support others, Jenny was thrown a challenge to pick her strong points. In These Three Things posted at the so called me, Jenny isolates her ability to be a good Mom, her determination and her opinions as things that are both her strengths and her pull downs. Jenny, stay strong. Your strengths may only get you into trouble with other people because they do not have the same tenacity as you do. Stay pink, stay woman.

Alexandra presents Fall Scents posted at Be Beautiful. Wanting to eat the crunchy pumpkin off the face of her mirror in the bathroom is the visualisation I got from Alexandra’s description of smelling the smells that escaped when she opened her face scrub. Umm, for a beauty product description that’s the best recipe I’ve ever virtually tasted.

Amanda Harris presents Win A Free Lunapads Intro Kit! posted at Pajama Mommy.Lunapads are those green, ecological friendly alternatives to heavily bleached and chemically dosed menstrual pads that bathroom giants make a fortune from. A great idea, enter the competition that Amanda has going and bleed for the environment. It sure has done enough bleeding for us! If you don’t think you’d use them enter the competition and if you win donate the lunapads to a women’s shelter.

Cruella presents Good news for Mr Cru posted at Cruella-blog. Cruella, a feminist, is not ugly, a lesbian nor does she sprout gorilla hairy legs. Funny you know, Cruella, I operate within a feminist framework too and I am none to the previous three icons placed upon us by men who fail to understand that feminism is about the experiences of women. Congratulations to Mr Cruella who has been provided the scientific findings to back up that the partners of feminists are happier and well sated men in stable relationships with intelligent women. Ohhh, I just asked my darling and he genuinely said that meeting and marrying me was by far the best thing that had ever happened to him.

My mate Jen presents Thanks, thanks, and good news posted at Semantically driven, saying, “How blogging can help get through the hard times.” Jen shares some private pain from her life as a single, full time working Mum. Isolated not by geography but rather a desire to maintain a semblance of routine and normalcy for her son, Jen reached out to her blogging girlfriends and found the strength in sharing that we women are good at. And….Jen made the list ofTop 100 Australian Bloggers and got a new job project. CONGRATULATIONS Jen.

“I try to take one day at a time, but sometimes several days attack me at once.”
Jennifer Unlimited

There’s a real theme of caring coming through in this Carnival. This pleases me greatly because as a sexual assault therapist, I am a carer.Hueina Su presents The Gift of Receiving posted at Intensive Care for the Nurturer’s Soul, saying, “A bewildering encounter outside of Home Depot made me pause and ponder the importance of this gift.” When you receive help do you just receive it, or do you accept it and give back as a result? Some people take, take, take, yet others appear to really understand the balance in giving and receiving. Great post Hueina.

Miscellaneous Mum always makes me laugh. Here she is no different in her hilarious presentation of Why am I so darn monogamous? posted at Miscellaneous Adventures of an Aussie Mum. Very tongue in cheek (or was her tongue hanging out???) she reflects upon, “What games our subconscious plays on us!” What games indeed Misc, what games indeed. The answer is to have more Nana naps during the day in an effort to greatly increase the chance of a Clive Owen return.

Aparna presents Home remedies for PMS posted at Beauty and Personality Grooming,saying, “A woman, who is normally calm and courteous, shows a marked change in her behavior on certain days of the month. If she is the extrovert and outgoing type, she may become unduly rude and quarrelsome, make unreasonable demands, snap at family members, and find fault with people for minor reasons she would have otherwise overlooked. And if she is the shy and introvert type, then she may become totally withdrawn, morose, moody and prone to unaccountable tears, take offence where none was intended and harbor suicidal thoughts. No, she is not suffering from hysteria or any serious psychiatric disorder. She is in the throes of ‘that misery time’ trauma called PMS.” Umm, I am definitely the first type! Can I perhaps make a public apology now that will hold me in good stead for future???? Nope, that’s a cop out Megan. Instead I will undertake some of the excellent yoga poses, breathing techniques and mix up the household remedies found in this post.

Brandy Shaffels presents Cars: What Do Women Want? posted at Ask Patty - Automotive Advice for Women,saying, “Glad I found this carnival…we are a group of blogging women over here at AskPatty - Automotive Advice for Women by Women!” Anyone interested in blogging about their cars?

“A male gynecologist is like an auto mechanic who never owned a car.”
Carrie Snow

Manjiri Keskar presents Another Interesting Story - Passport and Me posted at After-Grad.com. Eager to achieve her “emmigration check not required” interview, Manjiri discovers that it is not her emigration status that is questionable but rather her soaked passport. In humour (after the fact), she offers us, “Truly, there are some things money can’t buy. Unfortunately, getting a passport done is not one of them”.

Christine enters the Carnival ground for the first time with Volunteering challenges posted at Foster Care Victoria, saying, “Do you have a positive experience or reflection on volunteering? Many people do not. So many women volunteer to do an array of jobs. I wonder what your experiences are. This post calls for comments from foster carers. Do you have something to say about volunteering to care for kids who cannot live at home with their biological families?”

Joy Miller presents Ivy League universities now offer online degrees and certificates posted at Online College Blog, saying, “Ivy League dreams? Make them a reality. Although you may not be able to physically commute to an Ivy League campus, that shouldn’t keep you from “attending” classes at an Ivy League university.” Brown and Princeton, eat your hearts out, on-line learning and the use of blogs as important learning tools are here to stay.

Doris Chua presents Beautiful Cakes…Beautiful Brides posted at Welcome to DorisGoShopping.com. Doris, you have so much wonderful stuff on your blog, and some very recent wedding posts, I wonder why you’ve submitted a post that is months old and may have been seen by everyone already? I’m not sure if you made a mistake with your selection but I’ve included it anyway.  I got married six months ago and I’m still recovering!!!!! Better yet, my daughter got married 2 years ago and I’m still paying it off! She had five cakes.

“If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.”
Sue Grafton

Marilyn Terrell presents Home (Away From) Home on the Range posted at Intelligent Travel, saying, “Norie takes an Old West-style covered-wagon camping trip in Wyoming with her kids.” How much fun does this look. This is the kind of holiday we love - no fuss and bother, just good fun and teachable moments that occur vicariously.

Jeni presents Anti-Aging Skin Care Checklist posted at Savvy Skin: Anti-aging Skincare secrets to fabulous, smooth, glowing skin! Skin care, Botox, acne and wrinkle prevention tips. Full of tips on what to eat and drink, the bit that really caught my eye was the regular consumption of Omega 3 fatty acids. I have been telling everyone that my reason for eating the entire contents of a 220g packet of Smoked Salmon was for my health. Next time I’ll remind them that I don’t get to have nice skin by eating the foods they do! Thanks Jeni (not that I really need any encouragement to eat Smoked Salmon).

Mary Jo Manzanares presents The Paris Series: Preparation posted at Flyaway Cafe, saying, “How to plan a visit to the City of Lights.” From my own travel experiences, I fully appreciate the need to research and plot visits to unknown destinations. I LOVE travelling and I LOVE the unknown, but, I do not recommend any woman go anywhere without first having safety plans and local knowledge in her head.  Sensible post Mary Jo. Tres bon!

The baglady, a 24 year old married woman who is not homeless and can afford soap, is determined not to get into debt but thinks on whether debt is more than financial. Here she  presents Is Wealth Detrimental to Marriages? posted at The Bag Lady. I would be interested to read comments from our Carnival on this topic (remember the participation contest, I’m looking anyway) and to see if you all share a belief that wealth either impedes or improves marriages. A thoughtful post in such a young woman. I can only hope that your marriage lasts for a very long time (if it is healthy to start with of course).

“I am a marvelous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house.”
Zsa Zsa Gabor

Remember the mystery around the story and author of The Bride Stripped Bare? Who was the autobiography about????? Well, here’s another woman who necessarily hides behind the anonymity of her blogging veil so that she can survive in her punitive, fragile world of CEO male egos. Silicon Valley Blogger presents My Silicon Valley Job History posted at The Digerati Life. She’s running a contest to celebrate her anniversary of alter ego SVB. Share your own work experiences to be in the running for a gift card, books and a mystery prize (could be that SVB will drop in for dinner and reveal her true self).

Down & Out-Douchebagged: The Whole Story was written by an American chicky babe,  J-Money/Gordonshumway, who is right into her baseball. Unfortunately, the Cleveland spectators were not into her because she dared to wear the color of opposition: Red Sox. Submitted to this Carnival by a male, he was appalled by the behaviour of the sports fans and said; ” you have to include this story in the Carnival of Women edition about dealing with abuse. Incredible read, and the flip is that it’s so normal to only read sport banter written by guys that when you only realize near the end that it’s written by a woman, your perspective goes retrograde. Great read, seriously raising the bar.” Warning - if the “F” word offends you, do not read this post.

Mad goat lady presents Talk to me..I *am* listening... The post contains some excellent points for active listening, a basic counselling skill that I teach at university. However,because of the caring theme that has come through, I hear Mad goat lady loudly pondering around  Who is caring for the carers?  Posted over at her delightfully self named, Mad Goat Lady pen, Mad Betty Goat not Gruff begs whether our carers will themselves be looked after by the Government once the carers have nothing left to give. Isolation, burn out, financial penalty and broken bodies and souls: make the world a brighter place today by spending a small amount of time caring for a carer. Takes a mere few seconds to smile.

“A man’s got to do what a man’s got to do. A woman must do what he can’t.”
Rhonda Handsome

Lisa over at her new blog of the same name, lisaharman.com, has allowed the gates of hell to open upon her and as the animal “oh beast ity“ escaped, he stuck his wretched claws into her skin. In a low spot, Lisa used her thoughts and views of herself as obese to complete a scrapbook page, titled Obesity. We all feel fat at times. Lisa, my motivation and belief in the shape of real women is with you. It is a gutsy page. Well done to you. Nothing to hide behind now, you can only move forward as you kick the beast into shape.

Sue Bayliss from Spasmodic Dysphonia has a hard time trying to make herself heard. Suffering from a degenerative neurological disorder of the muscles (any muscles, it is not fussy, it is a movement disorder), Sue needs to now talk through a speech magnifier and her blog site. Unable to drive or walk unaided, Sue relies heavily on her internet support community, including the on-line support offered by national and international dystonia organisations. Raising the profile of the debilitating disease has been very important to Sue and I share her sorrow and frustration in reporting that the Dystonia Australia operations have been suspended for the time being. Spasmodic Dysphonia is the disorder that cost Dilbert’s creator (Scott Adams) his voice. Money talks so perhaps Scott would be willing to help float Dystonia Australia so that Australian sufferes of the many forms of dystonia can have support and help. Please Scott, just a little bit?

 ”When I was young, I was put in a school for retarded kids for two years before they realized I actually had a hearing loss. And they called ME slow!”
Kathy Buckley

Jumping in Puddles, from Life Spacings, is one of the bravest survivors of child abuse I have the pleasure to know. However, she is beside herself with more pain as her sister’s results have just come back. Her sister has  been diagnosed with cancer and Jumping is planning on going to stay with her sister while the first bout of treatment is completed. Jumping, our thoughts are with you, your sister and both of your families.

Opal (aka Vegan Momma)  overturns obstacles by turning “I can’t” into “I can.”  Breaking an overwhelming task (12 months worth of photo filing) into a manageable size (50 photos per week), Opal has been reminded of the power of doing things differently. Well ahead of her own strict time lines, Opal has time now to help train her pet Ferret to walk….almost. I LOVE this woman blogger. I read her daily and often have a hearty laugh at her sayings, a cry at her wisdoms, and a drool at the photographs of her home grown vegetables or home prepared meals.

“In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man- if you want anything done, ask a woman.”
Margaret Thatcher

Monika over at The writers manifesto blog  has facilitated a group writing project for the first time. Taking part in a group writing project last month over at Blue Jar, Monika decided to introduce it to her readers. Twenty two bloggers entered Monika’s Group Writing Project for the chance to win the first place prize of $50.00 (I was one of them :). Have a look at, and vote for, the entries at Group Writing Project - the Entries.  Posts had to be written in October (2007) and the other rules were not hard to achieve:

write a blog post about any topic as long as you stay true to your blogs overall theme. The post has to be in a “tutorial” form and doesn’t have to have the word “tutorial” in the post title. You could write a tutorial about “creating an ebook” “swimming with dolphins” “writing a blogpost”.  

As Nicole from Freelance Writer’s Exchange prepares for October’s NaNoWriMo she asks, Did I write that?  How well I recognize her sentiments. I have pulled out past writings, curved in my hand, and marvelled at their written brilliance. Likewise, I have pulled out my writings, read them, and prayed that they never again see the light of day! You are so talented Nicole that I cannot imagine your concentrated NaNoWriMo writing will be anything but splendid. Good luck Nicole; may the plot be with you.

Over at Imaginif I’m always blogging on about keeping kids safe. In Alternative Energy for Reclaim the Night Light march, I’m wanting someone to help the kids (and me) not to be too scared of the dark. Reclaim the Night international march against sexual violence takes place on Friday the 26th of October. Won’t you help me light up our internet community by posting a photo of your own private light march. I need all the help I can get in keeping kids safe. And….special announcement: we made the list of the top 100 Australian Bloggers. We came in at number 68. Pretty good huh?

“Whatever women must do they must do twice as well as men to be thought half as good. Luckily, this is not difficult.”
Charlotte Whitton

Oh gosh, bugger the above quote, I just want to know that I compiled the All Women Blogging Carnival in an appropriate way. What a job searching for head pics! My apologies to those women whose pics I may have missed.

That’s it women sister bloggers. I hope you have enjoyed catching up with each other, having a natter and sharing a laugh (do not forget to share your comments and link backs so you have a chance to win the Kookaburra). Next Monday (Australian time) we’ll be visiting the Mad Goat Lady (pictured right). Get your posts in for her by submitting here.

 

Should you wish to host an All Women Blogging Carnival edition on your own site, then let Leigh know over at All for Women know.

If you got an ounce of enjoyment from this carnival edition, give it the thumbs up: Stumble it!. Keep women circulating through the blogosphere.

Are you an Australian woman blogger? Don’t forget the Carnival of Australia is being hosted here at Imaginif Child Protection became Serious Business on Wednesday of this week. Submissions close tonight at 11pm - be in it or be, non Australian I guess!

“When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.”
Elayne Boosler

Technorati tags: all women blogging carnival, blog carnival

Quotes by and about famous women all came from Mother’s Day. They do not all reflect the thoughts of the editor!