My favorite blogging advice

Writing positive words can be very difficult in the blogging world. Blog burnout, harsh comments and negativity can make it easier to vent then to find the good in things. Last October, I went to the SITScation conference and heard some wonderful blogging advice. Can't wait to read yours....

"Every time you sit down to write or put your ideas out there in a post, remember that one day your grandchildren could be reading it."

This advice reminded me to think of the impact that I have. And I have the choice to be either negative or positive.

One day when I’m 80 and my children or grandchildren want to learn more about what their grandmother was like they'll just Google my name. What will they find and read about me? So I need to produce words that I don't mind them seeing. It's easy to press publish on a post without thinking about who it can affect. Keep this blogging advice in mind and it will become easier to be more positive in your posts. (Click here to order your own wedding time capsule.)

When I was in the fifth grade I remember our class putting together a time capsule. We filled it with pictures, stories of us and our hopes for the future. We buried it in the backyard of our school. We believed if someone from the future dug up our time capsule our existence would be everlasting.

But isn’t a Blog, or Twitter today’s current time capsule? These social media tools help stamp us into time. I just have to remember to choose this as I draft my post thoughts and tweets.

And to Molly and Billy, my future grandchildren, you found my blog and I hope you appreciate this advice. Please be kind to your parents and yes Grandma was young and had a lot of fun in San Francisco! See you just found the proof! Back to you lovelies, what is your favorite blogging advice you give to other newbies?

Can I Tweet the Question Ma'am vs. Miss?

Can I ask you something? When did I change from being called a Miss to a Ma'am? But I think that the bigger question is how am I supposed to accept being called a Ma'am gracefully?

I always thought you were called a Miss if you were a young woman or if you weren't married, called a Mrs. if married and wearing a huge rock on your finger and called a Ma'am if you were living or traveling in Georgia :) So the lady at my grocery store, the man at the coffee shop and the cable car driver must all be mistaken by calling me Ma'am. Right?

Maybe you can help me with my Miss vs. Ma'am rant. What's the hot topic on Twitter right now? Well let's try this status question. Tell me how can I be called Ma'am while wearing a pony tail, hoop earrings, mac lipstick, jeans and huge smile? But I still get mistaken for being just out of college, carded for buying wine and I FEEL not a day over 25. Well maybe the term Ma'am, is a term of respect while Miss is often used in more of a patronizing demeanor.

I have been told that being called Ma'am is a signal that your maturity is evident, not your age. But isn't this something that we tell ourselves so we feel better. Just like my favorite birthday card that I bought my best friend a couple of years ago that said 'Do you know what old is? Old is always ten years older then us."

I have known women who became Ma'am in their 30's while others are still Miss well into their 40's. I can appreciate the thought that I show maturity, but isn't this another thing we tell ourselves to hold on to our youth. (Please hold on while I go and slather to my face some more moisturizing cream.)

How did this rant start? Well let me tell you. I was recently shopping at my local grocery store which is just under my gym. I just finished a nice sweaty work out and remembered that I needed some items for dinner so I went to the grocery store. My pony tail was hanging out of my baseball hat and my cheeks were a rosy red from running on the treadmill. I noticed an elderly lady, probably in her eighties, needing some help in the dairy aisle. She saw me smile at her and came over.

And so she said 'Ma'am do you mind helping me look to see if they have some potato salad?' 'Of course and no problem' I replied.

What I was really thinking was, 'Oh look at the two Ma'ams talking in the dairy aisle!'

That's it I quit :) Can you twitter that? What is your definition of a Miss vs. a Ma'am? What's your biggest Pet peeve? Some of mine are nails on a chalkboard, road rage, towels left on the floor.....