Sunday Interview: Author of "Read For The Heart"

This weekend at the Mom Heart Conference Raleigh, North Carolina, I got to take a few minutes to interview Sarah Clarkson, Author and Speaker.

We talked about her new book, "Read For The Heart." Sarah has a love for books and knowledge. It was refreshing to meet a young person who is in love with words. And she has a passion for sharing her knowledge with others.

Sarah Clarkson Author of Read For The Heart from CarolinaMama on Vimeo.

You can follow Sarah on her website at Story Formed. Again, her mother is the formidable Sally Clarkson of I Take Joy and Whole Heart Ministries.

There seems to be a theme here: The take away for me and it has been on my own heart lately - What am I doing that I can leave as a legacy? Family. My Children. There is a whole lot more to it for each of us. For me, it means something outside of myself. Something beyond products and consumerism. Something more than as our former pastor, Jeff Clark, says, "Something besides someone always serving me!" You can check out his amazing sermon on "The Gospel According to Wall Street" here.

"How do you become rich in good deeds?! Pre-determine how much you are going to give away!" Jeff Clark @church 2 Cor. 9:6

Have a blessed Sunday! Edited into "Works For Me Wednesday!" because Reading works for all of us! Follow more Whole Heart Ministries.


Have a blessed Sunday!
Warmly,

Mom Heart Conference Retreat

This weekend I am blessed to be at the Mom Heart Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina. Sally Clarkson is the keynote speaker. She is author of many books for Moms and families. Her latest I featured recently "Dancing With My Father!"

It's been refreshing time already. Check out my lovely retreat! And meet these Moms.

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We got to hear the formidable Sandra Maddox who is a Mom Mentor at Rich Warren's Saddleback Church in California. She has such a sweet spirit and is so inspirational. Sandra is a published author as well of a children's book."Tiffany and The Talking Frog."



*Whole Heart Mom Conference is a client. My enthusiasm and interest is all my own - I have read Sally Clarkson's books and attended her Conference before this project.

Warmly,

National Nutrition Month - Mighty Biggest Loser Snack

Enjoy National Nutrition Month/March with the Mighty Biggest Loser Snacks by Jillian.

Oh boy oh boy! Is this the greatest guilt-free snack of all time! Thank you goes out to Jillian of the Biggest Loser! Simple but oh so tasty and healthy! The Tigers, Mountain Man and I adore this easy and great snack.

Best Apple Biggest Loser Snack
1 Apple, 1 Bowl Sprinkle with Cinnamon and a Splash of Water - put in bowl, cover.
Bake in Microwave, 3 1/2 minutes. Enjoy!!



This is one of the most amazing tasting snacks, so easy and so healthy! Enjoy! Stay tuned for my update on Weight Watchers Snacks and Ice Cream! More awesome goodness. Enough to encourage anyone to join Weight Watchers!

Warmly,

Tribute: Sandra Bullock's Acceptance Speech - Blind Side Oscar

You all know I was an early fan of the movie, Blind Side. Everything about the movie was incredible. And Sandra Bullock made it even more so. Sandra Bullock Says The Tuohy Family Gave Her The Opportunity To Do Something Different.

It's been a while since my last viewing of "The Blind Side." :) Yet, these weeks before the Oscars, I have been thinking about "my own 'different'" and leaving my own legacy here when I am gone. Today, I had an email asking me what legacy I was leaving behind. No coincidence.

Recently at girls lunch with dear friends myself, I couldn't get in the flow of the conversation - brands, products, vacations, destinations, more seemed like more and stuff like stuff. I felt like I was in a haze of commercials or something un-real. I loved all of the products we discussed.

And yet, I so wanted to talk about something real - like people, children, what we are doing to give back. Something outside our selves. You know when I left, I wasn't thinking about the Oscars but I did think of Sandra Bullock / Leigh Anne Tuohy when she left that luncheon that day in Memphis.

Her friends were actually making fun of her for caring for the orphaned child. And she called them out! She actually said, "I can find a high priced salad on my side of town." Sometimes I feel that way. Like driving across town to indulge in more boutique shopping, a high priced salad and talking about more stuff - consumerism... why!?! More than that, Leigh Anne Tuohy did something about it....



"The Blind Side" is about a woman who, with uncommon love and acceptance, took in Michael Oher, a once homeless young man and nurtured him to football stardom. Oher is now a standout football star with the Baltimore Ravens.

Smith said, "You knew it was a movie that would touch people's hearts. I didn't clearly know how a big a financial success it would be and I never knew we would be talking Oscar. I just knew it was a movie with a wonderful message and a lot of heart."

It's also a story that inspired an Oscar worthy performance by Sandra Bullock who dedicates her award to special mothers everywhere.

Bullock said, "So I would like to thank what the film is about for me, which are the moms that take care of their babies and the children no matter where they come from(clapping)."


I love that she thanked "Moms that take care of their babies and the children no matter where they come from!"

Do you have thoughts like this? What difference are you making?

Warmly,

Sally Clarkson Mom Heart Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina

Sally Clarkson of Whole Heart Ministries and the blog, I Take Joy will be in the Raleigh, North Carolina for a A Mom Heart Conference on March 12th and 13th. Are you registered? That's a whole lot of links and it's a whole lot of fun and learning too!

Last year, I was able to attend one of her conferences and it was dynamite. Many moms were there and we were encouraged! We were inspired and got to fellowship together! I am so looking forward to seeing her again and hearing all that God has put on her heart this year! Here's a little about the Conference -

"The conference theme this year is "YOU...Renewed !" Sally will be sharing biblical and personal insights on how to be renewed in your habits, heart, home, and hope so you can live joyfully for God every day. She'll be sharing thoughts from her new book, available at the conference, Dancing with My Father."



Her new book, "Dancing with My Father!"



Will you be at the Conference? You can follow the link above to her website, blog and to register for the Conference in North Carolina.

Are you interested in reading and reviewing this awesome book on your Blog or Facebook? If so, please let us know in comments below. Also, I will be reading it this Spring and will Giveaway two of the books right here at Carolina Mama!


You can follow Sally Clarkson on Twitter @ Twitter.com/ITakeJoy and on Facebook here!

Blessings to you this Sunday!


Warmly,

Disney Social Media Moms, Polynesian Resort Walt Disney World

***Reposting this Disney Post as I want you all to have the links to these amazing Resorts and options at Walt Disney World!

We just got underway with our Disney Social Media Moms Celebration!

It has been wonderful to see our friends from North Carolina here. Our Florida friends and all those elsewhere. My family has had a wonderful and amazing almost week already. We have enjoyed many things some of which you have seen here.

Then today, we checked into the Polynesian Resort . Take a look around our room. We are loving all of the family amenities and fun so far. Our days here in Florida have been awesome and now our days at Disney have already been Magical! It has been a blessing to share this together.



That evening we joined all the other families at the Disney ESPN Wide World of Sports Disney!



It was incredible to hear about Disney and ESPN's planning stages and all things new for months ahead.

Did I say how much I love my writing. And how God gives us above and beyond all that we ask or imagine! Amen! Tomorrow, we get to take part of an incredible initiative to feed the hungry - right in Epcot Disney. Stay tuned.

Warmly,

Disney Dream, The Electric Parade and Mom Bloggers

You have been reading about our amazingly fabulous time at the Disney Social Media Moms Celebration event!

We, Media Moms, were invited to the Press Conference regarding the latest at Disney World! We were so spoiled with a wonderful evening at the Disney World ESPN Wide World of Sports Tail Gate Party! It was an awesome experience. As usual, Disney does it in style.

We Moms were inspired at the exclusive Press Conference with Walt Disney World's CEO and more. Meanwhile, our families were enjoying what else - Sports on the Sports Plex Grounds where all of the big name athletes play!

Believe me, the Tigers loved playing Football at ESPN Disney!

And the Media Moms got to enjoy a mommybloggers' dream... the Disney Dream Boat! That's right! It will set sail January 11, 2011! So go ahead and book yours today. Here is a peak at the fun...



This ship is so incredible looking, I think I will have to try it out myself!



In other news, guess what? The Main Street Disney Electric Parade is returning to Walt Disney World this Summer! I remember these parades from when I was a child.



Thank you Disney and Friends! for an amazing time! Thank you for supporting mom bloggers and our families!

Are you a Disney Cruise Fan? Are you jazzed about Disney Dream?

*This trip and the events like the Media Press Evening and the ESPN Night for our families was sponsored by Walt Disney World! The write up and opinions here are my own, they were not even requested. However, because Disney is all that, I want to shout it from the rooftop!

Warmly,