Real Life Blog is where I share my “Real Life“: anything from Personal Stories to Tips and Tricks, to Reviews and Giveaways. Real Life has a conversational feel, with an audience of mostly moms aged 28-45.

Topics include Family Life, Parenting, Blogging, Faith, Home and Garden, Humor, Reviews and Giveaways. Real Life is PR Friendly! Feel free to contact Sarah (sarah@reallifeblog.net) with content creation partnerships, including video, reviews, giveaways, spokesblogging, and other ideas.

Watch this interview with Maria Bailey to get the feel for me and my blog!

High Country Mom Squad

I am also the founder and editor of the High Country Mom Squad! We bring you the best in Shopping Dining and Playing in the beautiful NC High Country! This e-zine is THE place to go for family information in the Boone, NC area.  If you live here, are visiting, or just curious about our area, check it out!

In 2009, Sarah also created and hosted a weekly 30-minute TV show, based on the High Country Mom Squad, for local access station MTN-TV.

In addition to appearing as a guest on radio programs, and webcasts, she has also been featured in the news around NC over the past several years.  Here is a sampling:

High Country Mom Squad

Watauga Democrat: Mom’s Night Out Comes to Boone

Boone-area mothers are getting royal treatment as an advance on Mother’s Day.

A local event is planned for May 7 as part of a national celebration of motherhood, part of numerous Web sites, broadcasts, and activities in both the virtual and the real worlds to share the joys of motherhood.

Sarah Pinnix of Fleetwood is co-hosting the event at the Broyhill Inn & Convention Center. She is the founder of High Country Mom Squad, which is also connected to the “Mom’s Nite Out” celebration. Read More…

Watauga Democrat: Mom’s Groups Keep Growing

“I founded the mom squad community because the area lacked a central place to find information,” said creator and owner, Sarah Pinnix. “I wanted to create a central location for coupons, specials, contest and highlight the ‘best of’ the High Country for families and children.”

The Mom Squad has 12 regular writers, with some contributing weekly, others monthly.

The site is updated almost daily. The site features reviews of restaurants, special family events listings, recipes and product reviews. Visitors to the site are welcome to post comments. Read More…

Speaking

Social Networking: Yesterday’s trendy Web skills more the norm and necessary, Winston-Salem Journal

Sarah Pinnix, a consultant from Boone who runs a blog for moms and teaches classes on social media, was one of the speakers. She discussed the importance of companies using social media to interact with their customers.

As an example, she pointed to Baldguybrew.com, a coffee shop in Boone that has a thriving online presence. She also discussed an incident where she posted a favorable comment about a restaurant while dining there, only to have one of her readers come to the restaurant based on her recommendation before she had even left.

“I can guarantee you there are people on social media talking about your brand,” she told the attendees. READ MORE…

Young Entrepreneurs Symposium, High Country Press, Boone, NC

The Center for Entrepreneurship at ASU will host the annual Young Entrepreneurs Symposium (Y.E.S.) on Wednesday, February 24, from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the Broyhill Inn and Conference Center in Boone.

The symposium features presentations and panel discussions by young entrepreneurs who have started businesses in e-commerce, music industries, social entrepreneurship and culinary arts. READ MORE…

Broyhill Inn to Host 2nd Round of Social Media Workshops, High Country Host, Watauga County NC

Professional Blogger and Social Media Expert in The High Country to hold second round of Social Media Workshops for area businesses!

Sarah Pinnix, founder of HighCountryMomSquad.com, WiiMommies.com and RealLifeBlog.net is gearing up for a second round of “Talk of the Town” Social Media Workshops…to be held once again at The Broyhill Inn & Conference Center on the campus of Appalachian State University.

Family Life, Grocery Savings

Coupon Mom Saves Hundreds, The Mountain Times

March 11, 2010~ Local blogger and resident super-mom Sarah Pinnix went to the grocery store Tuesday.
$110.

No, that’s not the bill, that’s the amount she saved playing her favorite game: couponing.
“I love coming to the grocery store, because it’s a challenge for me to see how little I can spend each week and how much I can get,” she said.
Pinnix spends about 45 minutes a week clipping and organizing coupons, but it’s worth it when she spends about $350 a month on groceries for a family of five. Organization is the key.READ MORE…

 

Blogging, Video Blogging

Dot.com Moms ~Mountain Xpress, Asheville, NC

Sarah Pinnix, a 35-year-old mother of three who lives in Boone, started blogging 12 years ago as a hobby. The success of her Real Life Blog led her to create an online magazine called High Country Mom Squad, which she says “has become a central location for family information here.” READ MORE…

A Wii Bit of Exercise ~ Watauga Democrat, Boone, NC

A local woman has taken fitness into the virtual realm, helping form an online support group for those wanting to work out, lose weight and share tips and triumphs.

Sarah Pinnix of Fleetwood was using a video gaming system — Nintendo’s Wii Fit — for her workouts, but as a socially oriented mother, she found enjoyment in sharing her activities. Because exercise is often a solitary endeavor, she used her available connections and networks to build a gathering place for Web workout junkies. READ MORE…

American Idol Commercial Appearance, The Mountain Times, Boone, NC

Sarah Pinnix of Fleetwood made her singing and dancing debut on last night’s premiere of American Idol, but not in the way you might think.

Pinnix’s moves were showcased in a 60-second musical ad for I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!, along with other notable bloggers from across the country who were challenged to recreate their own version of the brand’s over-the-top Turn the Tub Around! music video, featuring multi-talented Emmy- and SAG-award-winning Megan Mullally. READ MORE…

Contact Sarah:
email: sarah@reallifeblog.net
phone: 336-977-2994
twitter: @reallifesarah

Sarah has presented at high profile social media conferences, in panel discussions and workshop settings. She has also presented small group and industry specific social media training. Always engaging and dynamic, she shares beginning and advanced social media techniques, philosophy and mechanics in an easily understandable manner.

Sarah is available for panel discussions, feature presentations, or employee social media training. Topics cover the gamut of social media marketing and blogging, including video and live streaming. Sarah also specializes in helping Bloggers establish a local social media presence.

Sarah’s past speaking engagements include:

• Social Fresh Charlotte (2009): Blogging for Business
• 140-ology, Winston-Salem NC (2010): Featured speaker/Coach
• Appalachian State University Young Entrepreneur’s Symposium (2010): Inspiration for Entrepreneurship
• Mom it Forward/GNO Twitter Panelist: (2010) Moms and Technology with HP, (2010) Kids and Gaming with GameStop/Nintendo
• Type-A-Parent Blogging/Social Media Conference (2010) Social Media Training and Consulting in Your Community
• The Relevant Conference (2010): Social Media 101, Connecing Bloggers with Brands, Art of Vlogging/Live Shows
• Blissdom Conference Wisdom Workshops (2011): Hyper Local Blogging
• NC Regional Christmas Tree Marketing Conference (2011): Integrating Social Media into Marketing Plans
• NC Christmas Tree Association Winter Meeting and Trade Show (2011): Tips for Using Facebook
• Watauga County Association of Realtors (2011): Social Media and Realty
• Alleghany County Christmas Tree Growers (2011): Keys for Social Media Engagement

Upcoming:

• Type A Parent Blogging/Social Media Conference: (2011): Moving from Blogger to Social Media Consultant
• She Streams Conference (2011): Future of Social Technology

Social Media Campaign Coordination

Do you have a product or event that you’d like to publicize with mom bloggers?  As a veteran blogger with thousands of blogger contacts, Sarah can help you to find the perfect candidates for your campaign, and facilitate communication with potential advocates. Sarah also has an extensive network of North Carolina Bloggersfor NC specific campaignsor events.  We can craft a blog campaign, and assist as you work with bloggers to share product reviews, giveaways, video/content creation, and more!

New Media Consulting

Sarah is available for one-on-one new media consultation, to help you craft an outreach program to fit your needs. Her specialties are creating an atmosphere of interaction with consumers, and creative content creation ideas. Sarah can teach you the ins and outs of using popular social media platforms and help set up your profiles. She can also help you craft specific strategies to integrate new media (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, Video, etc.) into your marketing plan. Do you want to work with Bloggers, but you’re not sure exactly how? Sarah can help you create your campaign and help choose great bloggers who will fit with your needs. Sarah has worked with several brands, companies and tourist destinations on marketing/blogging campaigns and new media consulting, including Operation Christmas Child, Samaritan’s Purse Ministries, EA SPORTS Active fitness, Ocean Isle Inn, Little Debbie, Uprinting.com, Frito Lay/ Subway, Broyhill Inn and Conference Center, Chick-Fil-A of Boone, HP, Hayes Performing Arts Center, Blowing Rock NC, Numerous Small Businesses, and more.

Small Business New Media Marketing Workshops

In this economy, businesses small and large are striving to pull ahead of the crowd- to be heard above the cacophony in the marketplace. The New Interactive Media (ie: Blogs, Facebook,You Tube, Twitter, Flikr, etc) are unique platforms to engage your target audience and create the kind of viral buzz that can make or break your business. These days, consumers want to do business with people they know and trust.  However, the biggest mistake companies make is to continue a traditional marketing philosophy in the social media realm.  Let us help you change your marketing paradigm with relationship marketing techniques that work well on the social web.

The “Talk of the Town” Workshop Series will delves extensively into each mode of social media, and includes knowledgeable speakers as well as peer coaching. We will come alongside you as you navigate the world of new media and customize it to suit your needs. Instead of talking into the sea of people and hoping one will hear, learn how to inspire others to talk about you in a positive way!

Talk of the Town Workshops are no longer being held monthly, but are booked individually for your chamber, CVB, marketing association or any small group.  The series is meant to transform your marketing paradigm in 6 sessions.

Scheduled Topics

• Why Your Company Needs a Blog/Dynamic Content (Intro to Blogs/RSS)
• Facebook Pages for Business
• Twitter 101, making it work for you.
• Integrating Social Media into Your Existing Web Presence
• Photo and Video Sharing are Marketing Too!
• Educating Your Staff About Social Media

My husband and I (with some awesome parent helpers), tie-dyed shirts with over 100 Middle School Band members last week. It was… an experience.  We had some left over, and finished the t-shirts with the family. We’ve gotten so many compliments on the brightness of the colors and generally how good they looked. So we just had to show you how we did it!

Here are 10 easy steps to a perfect Tie Dye! You can watch the video, with my cute children and adorable husband!  Or you can skip to the bare-bones tips below!

1. Add 1 TBSP Organic Nitrogen (Urea) to one cup of warm water in a squeeze bottle. This makes the colors as bright as possible for a long period of time.

2. Add about 1 oz of fiber reactive dye to the bottle, and fill with water.  Shake well.

3.  Use 100% cotton garments for the fullest color.

4. Soak in a mixture of 1 cup of Soda Ash Fixer to one gallon of water.This helps the dye adhere to the fabric and soak in well.

5. Fold or crumple your garment into the desired pattern. The video above shows you how to make a swirl or starburst.

6. Place rubber bands to hold it together.

7. Add colors! Apply the dye to the garment with squeeze bottles in your desired pattern.

8. Leave in a plastic bag for 24 hours.

9. Rinse garment in cold water.  Un-band, then rinse again until water runs clear.

10. Wash separately in hot water, and dry in the dryer.

And that’s it folks!! There you have it! Have you ever Tie-Dyed? How did you do it?

PS: These links are not affiliate links, nor sponsored. We got our supplies from Dharma Trading Company, and they were awesome!

The word “sabbatical” is from the same root as Hebrew word “Shabbat,”  or Sabbath.  The precedent for the Sabbath rest was set by God himself, after he created the world, and he commands us to keep the sabbath as well.  Now, some people interpret the Sabbath rest as literally one day per week, when we are commanded to rest from our work.  Others say that our Sabbath rest IS Jesus himself, because we “rest from work” when we trust Him alone for our salvation.  We no longer are bound by the Law, since Jesus Himself fulfilled the law.

I see validity in both interpretations.  I do know one thing: That God occasionally calls us to a Shabbat in many aspects of our lives, setting aside our toil to focus, reflect, and renew.  For me, it is not natural to slow down.  I am driven to constantly learn and do new things.  I am a “go, go go” person, so when the Lord wants me to stop, he has to really get my attention!  (I should work on this, I know!)

Well, He has commanded my attention.  Our family has been going through some difficult times.  Although I know that we are not alone in our struggles, we have had to pull together, and focus our attention to get through.  The great thing about God is that He works within the struggles, not despite them. And He certainly doesn’t protect us from all hardships.

I hesitate to write a post like this, because I don’t want people to worry.  We are all fine, my kids are well, I’m still madly in love with my husband.  It’s just a challenging time right now, and it’s not fully my story to tell.

My instinct is to power ahead instead of listening to my body, and the Lord’s gentle nudging.  But I’m not going to do that this time.  I’m going to be resting for a while.  I won’t say I’m NOT going blog for x number of days or weeks, but I’m going to take the advice of Scott Stratten (@UnMarketing), who said, “Blog when you have something great to say.”

I have several reviews I’m backed up for, so I’ll try to get those out in the next few weeks.  I’ll blog when something’s on my heart, or I just can’t wait to share some tips or photos.  But I’m not going to put a post up just to be there.  Am I worried about losing opportunities and followers?  Oh, sure.  I love everything I’ve been blessed to participate in and all the wonderful people I interact with.  But I know I’m doing the right thing.  The Lord will guide me into the perfect place, personally, emotionally, and professionally.

I would love it if you would join me in prayer for resolution of some tough issues, and direction for me and the family.  I’m thinking there may be some changes coming up, and I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me!

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:11-13

So, tell me what you think about Sabbath rest!  And if you want to hang out, come chat with me on Twitter!

Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63: 7-8

New York Style Cheesecake has always been in the “I’ll never be able to make that, so I might as well not try” category, for me.  As I was having dinner with my dear friend Jamie, she told me about her first experience making a cheesecake from scratch.  I listened in amazement as she described her fool-proof method, and how easy it was! So I decided to try her method, and it turned out great!  Here’s how I made it:

First, you need a Springform Pan. Don’t let this intimidate you!

Ingredients:

Crust:

• 15 graham crackers, crushed
• 1 stick of butter, melted

Filling:

• 32 oz Cream Cheese
• 1.5 cups sugar
• 3/4 cup milk
• 4 eggs
• 1 cup sour cream
• 1 tsp vanilla extract

Topping ideas:

• Strawberries (or Blueberries), with added sugar, left to sit in fridge for a while to stoke the juices.
• Chocolate or caramel sauce, with nuts
• Any pureed fruit
• Basically, add anything you like!

Instructions:

Crust:

1. Mix the melted butter and cracker crumbs and press into the bottom of a greased springform pan.

2. Refrigerate while you make the filling.

Filling:

1. Mix cream cheese and sugar on low speed with an electric mixer, just until blended

2. Blend in milk, eggs, sour cream and vanilla.

3. Pour into the spring form pan with the crust in the bottom.

4. Bake in preheated oven at 325 for about 2 hours.

5. Cool completely to room temperature.  Chill in refrigerator for several hours or overnight  before serving.

Jaime shared some keys for making sure the top doesn’t crack:

• Make sure all the ingredients are room temperature before you start cooking.
• Cook with low heat. 325 at the most.

Mine cracked just a little bit, but when I sliced it and added the toppings, it looked just fine!  I definitely would serve this already sliced. I maybe should have waited a little longer to let the ingredients reach room temperature.  I also may bump the oven temp down to 300, since Jaime says I have a “Super Oven.”  It does run hot.

Have you ever made a Cheesecake from scratch? How did it turn out?

Shared with Tasty Tuesday at Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

This. My Winter Fairy tutu overlay. First one I’ve ever made.

It’s not totally finished, and I’ll be working on it every evening this week.

And this. My girls’ dance competition.

And, apparently, the hat works.

Yes, folks, ’tis the season! We’re dancing up a storm! What about you?