Lisa M. Frame

Savvy Source

Necessary Narcissism

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Blogging is all about wanting to be heard. We have something to say and we aren’t writers, or we are writers who have query anxiety (pot, meet kettle) or haven’t met success in print.

I have missed really writing here. Writing about anything. Not having to focus as hard, just let the words flow. I’ve been a busy gal, working with the Clever Girls Collective, Savvy Source and freelance gigs. Work that I am grateful for and more appreciative of than the people who hired me will ever know.  Not to mention in the blogging world, this is the busy season. The holidays kinda hit you with a whammy, making you pump out tons of work and depleting your energy rather quickly.

So, tonight, it’s more about sharing life. My own necessary narcissism. Missing logging in here like I should, to give a quick pinch. I am launching a new site, just for my business side. It’s needed and gives me a formal outlet, but I am not going to let it be a total time suck. I am working on structuring my hours, and have a day set aside for each project. I am even learning to take a day off occasionally. Well, sort of.

Most importantly, I have been counting my blessings. There are so many, that I hope I never loose track of them or fail to see them, even when they are disguised as challenges. It’s about getting back to basics, getting back to me and finding myself falling in love with my work all over again, every single day.

The Little Gym, Savvy Source and Saving Money!

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When my son was younger, there was nothing better than taking him to get rid of some of his excess energy in hopes he would take a nap, or sleep through the night. It’s the little things, you know? Rainy, cold weather is creeping it’s way into the Charlotte area and Savvy Source and The Little Gym understands the need for that break!

Since I want you to know that feeling, I am sending you a deal to The Little Gym. A coupon! That’s right! It’s Savvy Savings from Savvy Source. The Little Gym is offering 50%!! off of 2 drop in visits. Normally $36 dollars, you can head in for $18, burn off their excess energy, all while encouraging developmental play and age-appropriate class levels.

An added bonus? You are giving back. Each time a pass is sold to the Little Gym, we donate 5% of each purchase to a preschool of the purchaser’s choice. We also donate 5% of each purchase to a scholarship fund created to help parents afford preschool for their children.

So, if this is for you, click here: and take some time in a fantastic atmosphere and let your kids enjoy The Little Gym.

OFFER ENDS THURSDAY AT MIDNIGHT PST.

“Even the littlest monkey can climb and play at The Little Gym. With a cheery environment, experienced instructors, age-appropriate classes and a developmental curriculum for children from four months to 13 years, The Little Gym will encourage your child to soar in a non-competitive, nurturing environment.

Your child will be challenged in gymnastics-based classes while developing balance, coordination, listening skills and self-confidence. At Little Gym every child is encouraged to do his best, not to be the best. This philosophy is infused into each class, inspiring your child to achieve his personal best in all areas of life.

Parent/child classes let parents experience the fun and growth with their little monkey. Children in preschool through grade school can take age-specific gymnastic classes that build on the skills learned as an infant or toddler. Funny Bugs, Giggle Worms, Good Friends, Mini Flips and Mini Jets classes are developed to take your child’s physical strength and self-confidence to a new level. Older children can try non-impact karate, cheerleading, or sports development and dance classes. The Little Gym also offers incredible birthday bashes and special events.

The Little Gym is the perfect place to help your monkey channel his jumps, hops and skips into strength and self-confidence — and this week’s Savvy Scholarships and Savings offer is the perfect way to take advantage of everything the Little Gym has to offer.” http://www.thelittlegym.com/

The Fine Print
Coupon redeemable at the MATTHEWS location ONLY. Coupon must be redeemed for use by March 18, 2011. A coupon cannot be combined with any other gift certificates, third party certificates, coupons or promotions, unless otherwise specified by merchant. The coupon is of no cash value. Coupon is transferable and can be purchased as a gift.


Disclaimer: I am employed by SavvySource as Charlotte Editor.

Downtime Difficulties.

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We are on vacation. It’s been an interesting trip so far. Down time has been difficult for me to come by. Now, don’t get me wrong, plenty has been available, but I am having a difficult time winding down and leaving “work” behind. With quite a few active social media accounts I handle, my job at SavvySource and multiple blogs…well, is there any such thing as downtime? Oh and before I forget, the new redesign and launch of Daily Pinch. Which a lot of vacation time admittedly has been spent on.

Time to breathe.

Did I mention I created and branded a new blog that shall remain anonymous?

So, I am officially on vacation now. I will be tweeting some, writing some travel posts and tweaking the small things that need to be completed on this site; but for now I am taking a breather

It feels good to get past it all and actually enjoy my downtime.

Savvy Parenting : Cottage Bliss The Savvy Source for Parents

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Cottage Bliss

January 23, 2010

by Lisa Frame

Jan
23
2010

–>

Happiness was the last thing on my mind in October 2009. In fact, it was a foreign concept to me back then. And yet, I never thought that taking a break from my family could lead to me back to my happy place.  But a one-bedroom cottage on the coast of North Carolina helped me reset myself and find my way back to a happier, less cynical me.

To say that 2009 was filled with ups and downs was an understatement. My family had experienced multiple deaths recently with the loss of my grandfather hitting us the hardest — on top of losing one of my dearest friends to brain cancer. And my husband’s family had overwhelming medical issues, too, with his dad suffering a stroke, multiple heart attacks, and then recovering from a triple bypass. We were on long road trips more often than not, and life had become just one more day to get through.

Planning a beach trip for Halloween weekend seemed like the perfect idea. My son wouldn’t miss school, and we would be renting our favorite cottage on the North Carolina coast.  It was going to be a welcome break that would just give us time to be together as a family in a setting we all love and enjoy immensely.

I was pleasantly surprised when the owners of our cottage mentioned that they should have asked me to come property sit for them all week, as they were going off on their own little getaway from their own routine. They know I am a writer, but more importantly we have mutual friends and they knew how difficult our year had been.

While I couldn’t stay the entire week, I had the opportunity to come home and then come back a few days later. By myself. It was quite literally the first time I had been alone in over 10 years. What would I do? How would I feel? Unanswered questions, sure. But I was at least willing to give myself the chance to find out how I would respond.

It turned out that it was quite easy. I shopped for healthy groceries. I walked on the beach, journaled, sent my first book to an agent, but perhaps more importantly, I found myself. My girlfriend from high school lives in Wilmington. She’s the same one that I traipsed all over Europe with. We drank ridiculously expensive coffee, dined on Korean food, and I lived vicariously through the ups and downs of her single life.

I was Lisa. For a few days, I was able to reconnect at a deeper level with myself. That feeling made me want to get back to my family and rejoice in the freedom that I do have in those roles. Being a wife and mother has defined who I am as a person. It makes me happy, just as releasing my anxiety over the past year on that trip made me happy. I could forget about responsibilities, knowing that they were being handled by my husband’s competent hands. More importantly, it gave me new, fresh perspective and energy to continue handling the ups and downs of daily life.

Would I recommend it for anyone? No, I wouldn’t. You have to find what makes you happy. But for me, it was a change in scenery. And it is one that I will be doing as part of my own self-prescribed happiness formula.

via savvysource.com

My first national article!

Posted via web from dailypinch’s posterous

Hide and Seek

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It’s been a week of what feels like hide and seek. Snowy/icy weather, stomach viruses, bad back, general malaise/funk.

This week, I have truly been thinking about happiness, about what makes me happy. My husband and son make me happy, writing makes me happy, connecting people, helping others, supporting my friends, taking care of lost souls, but what do I do for me that makes me happy.

Good question.

So, I am soul searching and blogging. Trying to find more of my self-prescribed happiness project. Just like the one I wrote about over at Savvy Source about “Cottage Bliss”. Those words rang true, but now I need to adjust and I need to do things that aren’t work/career related. I need to be…me. Problem is, at this stage in my life, I have no idea who me is.

In the words of the Grateful Dead “What a long strange trip it’s been”…and it’s not over, yet.

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