Welcoming our new bloggers!

From the Every Woman Blog editorial team

This summer, we launched an exciting contest asking women around the Midlands to send us a message describing why they would make a great addition to our team of bloggers at the Every Woman Blog. We received an overwhelming amount of entries with incredible women reaching out and sharing their voices. Today, we’re pleased to announce we’ve selected eight winners from the talented pool of applicants to join our team!

Lisa Baker, Marianna Boyce, Eliza Boulware, Tina Cameron, June Greenlaw, Kate Morrow, Janet Prince and Rhonda Woods will be featured as bloggers at Every Woman Blog. They join our existing bloggers including Shannon Boatwright, Rachel Sircy, Katie Austin, Jeanne Reynolds and Stacy Thompson.

 

Lisa Baker is a surgical technologist who lives in Newberry County. Recently, both of her parents were diagnosed with dementia. Like many women, she is learning how to navigate the world of aging parents and will share her story of caring for them through this journey.

 

 

Marianna Boyce knows what it’s like to live with a chronic illness. After many doctor visits and tests, the Lexington woman was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis. Writing has helped her cope with the pain of the disease. Now, she wants to share her story in the hopes of helping others.

 

 

Eliza Boulware is a mom and grandmother from Ridgeway. As a breast cancer and open heart surgery survivor, she serves as a minister helping others through challenges and inspiring them with the power of faith.

 

 

 

Tina Cameron is a cancer nurse at Lexington Medical Center who recently went back to school to pursue an advanced degree. She is also a volunteer at the Riverbanks Zoo. Tina is constantly on the go – juggling school and her job all while being a single mother. She works through all of it with a dose of laughter and gratitude.

 

June Greenlaw works at the University of South Carolina. A Midlands native, she has six children, four of which have served in the military and two are currently students at USC.

 

 

 

 

Kate Morrow is a wife and mom from Columbia. After struggling with infertility, she and her husband welcomed twins last year – three months premature. They’re a March of Dimes Ambassador family, and Kate looks forward to sharing their story with others.

 

 

Janet Prince is a West Columbia native who lives there with her husband and two daughters. Janet is a 15-year breast cancer survivor, and now serves as the Chairman of the Ovarian Cancer Coalition of Central South Carolina.

 

 

 

Rhonda Woods is a chef who has competed on The Food Network and teaches culinary classes at Pelion High School. This work allows her to share her passion for cooking with others and she looks forward to sharing some of her favorite recipes.  Rhonda will also share about her experience losing her husband after an 18-month battle with metastic melanoma.

 

 

Each of these women brings something unique to our community, and we can’t wait to see our new contributors begin to share their stories. Finding support and inspiration is a key to women’s health and well-being. Keep an eye out for these new voices on the blog!

Presenting Our Every Woman Blog Contest Winners!

When we started the search for our new Every Woman bloggers, our goal was to select five wonderful women to join our current roster of bloggers. However, we received so many amazing entries that we had to raise that number to seven!

Below is a sneak peak at the women who will join our amazing group of Every Woman bloggers:

Jordan Tate: Hi! I’m Jordan Tate, wife to a Lexington Medical ICU nurse, adoptive mama, and infant loss survivor x2. My husband and I lost our first two children to a rare genetic disorder in back to back, full term pregnancies. Each of our girls lived for a few minutes outside the womb before passing away. We wrote about the whole experience on our blog while walking through it all, and four months after we lost our second baby, we brought home our adopted son in a whirlwind domestic adoption. I am dedicated to writing in a voice that is genuine and transparent, especially through the harder moments in life. We like to keep it real. I especially love to reach out to mothers who have experienced infant loss and second degree infertility, as well as families who are walking through the rollercoaster of adoption! You can check out some of our story here:http://tatesatsea.blogspot.com/p/us.html

Rachel Sircy: Hello all, my name is Rachel Sircy and I have been a Columbia resident for nearly seven years now and an employee of Lexington Medical Center for over six of those seven years. I am a joyful Christian, a mother of one, wife to one amazing man and a sufferer of celiac disease. I would be thrilled to be chosen to write for the Every Woman blog as it seems to me that a blog for women, by women and about issues that concern us all locally is a wonderful idea. We need a community of women to be a part of, to lean on and to share with.

Two things primarily take up my thoughts: one is the sacredness of motherhood and the wonderful privilege that I have been given in raising up a future citizen of this earth. I believe that women are granted unique and strong gifts by our Creator and I would love to explore and celebrate them with the women of our community.

The second (slightly less majestic) thought that consumes me is what my child and I are going to eat on a given day. This second thought would appear to tend toward gluttony, however, when you are a celiac (pronunciation: Silly-Yak), it is only natural that at least half of your waking life would be centered around finding suitable, safe food to eat. Celiacs, of course, are what is known in our world as gluten free. What does that mean, you ask? What gluten free typically means for a person diagnosed as a celiac is that you listen to celebrity news praying that some famous person will suddenly, unnecessarily and very publicly restrict their eating habits and that the public will soon follow. This, as any celiac well knows, will strong arm things out of Betty Crocker and Pillsbury – like gluten free cookie mixes, confetti cakes and other staples of a typical American diet – that the actual pleas of diseased people (i.e., real celiacs) never could. And so, I would like to reach out with any helpful information to the other celiacs in the city and, occasionally, cry and whine with them about the loaves of Styrofoam in our refrigerators that have been wrongly labeled as bread.

Angie Sloan: Hello there! I am new to the Columbia area and saw your blog contest advertised in the Irmo News. I am single mother who has been caring for three kids and two parents for years. I am the face of the sandwich generation! This post is about an experience I had with my mother while she was in a nursing home. Please let me know if I need to do anything else to enter the contest. Thanks, Angie Sloan.

Azure Crum Stilwell: Being an “Every Woman Blogger” would be an awesome opportunity for me. I just started my own blog (http://peckedbychickens.com) because let’s face it being a bipolar, overweight, pre-diabetic mom of two boys (ages 9 and 18) is both hilarious and tough so I needed a creative outlet. I am a bit sarcastic with a whole lot of funny mixed in. I come from a long line of wonderful women who have experienced just about everything you can think of from complete happiness to unthinkable sadness and yet we all get up every day and keep swimming. Sometimes we just float but at least we try. My personal experiences and those of the women in my life have helped me to already feel like an “Every Woman Blogger” so I know whoever you do choose is going to be great. Best of luck to all who are brave enough to share a piece of their story.

Ashley Whisonant: The beauty of the Every Woman Blog is the diversity of women featured. I would love the opportunity to share my point of view and experiences with the Midlands Community. As a University of South Carolina Graduate, former Alpha Chi Omega sorority member, mother to two rambunctious toddlers, and working mom, I have experiences many can relate to. I am lucky enough to have a SAH hubby who supports my full-time work career in the business world. I am obsessed with Disney travel and saving money while doing it! I am a social butterfly that loves to share my money saving travel tips with ANYONE who will listen! I am currently navigating the world of second boy potty training-not for the faint of heart! I would be over the moon if chosen as one of the newest bloggers!

Jeanne Reynolds: As the French say, I’m a woman “of a certain age.” Here’s why I’d like to be an Every Woman Blogger:

I’ve never been so insulted in my life. And friends, get ready, because it’s going to happen to you, too, sooner or later. It was the day I got that special envelope in the mail. The one with an invitation to join … AARP!

What?! I’m not old. I’m not even middle-aged. Hmm, pause on that. Anyone who’s at least 50 — and apparently AARP knows who you are, because that’s when this shows up — is, at best, halfway through life. The middle. Maybe that’s why my middle seems to be expanding.

And that’s not the only life stage-related change I’m looking at. With retirement now peering over the horizon, I’m starting to wonder about things like:
• Who will I be when I’m not a working gal?
• How will I keep the friends I made at work?
• Where do I want to use my experience and talents outside a cubicle?
• What are family members going to expect from me now that I’ll have all this “free time”?
• Will my outside and my inside ever be the same age? (I hope not.)

Maybe you have some of these same questions if you’re changing jobs, leaving the work world to care for family, changing relationships or becoming an empty-nester. Because they all boil down to one essential question: Who am I now?

Let’s find out together.

Stacy Thompson: To blog–1. a regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group, that is written in an informal or conversational style.

Stay with me folks, I realize I started with a definition piece copied from a Wikipedia search on blogs, but I assure you, you like it or not, the rest is from my own hand and somewhat bizarre perceptions and ideas…

I have heard of and subscribed to blogs on various topics written by an eclectic and varied group of people–blogs on running, hiking, politics, health and literature–you name it, and I’ve been bewitched by the blog. But to write my own? Haven’t given it much thought until just now…

I am mostly informal by nature and love a good conversation, no matter the topic–so to have a forum to share my experiences, anecdotes and highly entertaining tales would be a ton of fun…really what is the point of doing anything in life if it isn’t fun, anecdotal and/or to gain experience? I am a long-time resident of Lexington County (grew up in the shadows of Lexington County Hospital, as it will forever be known to those of us who remember the location of not only the ‘old Lowe’s’ on Highway 1, but also the ‘old, old Lowe’s just down the street–and who among us does not miss the Cromer’s monkeys at Dutch Square Mall???) but have explored all seven continents. I am a lawyer working in her own firm but consider myself beyond fortunate to represent those unable to work due to their health; I am a huge fan of all sports but can appreciate the theater and arts (although I may refer to Intermission as ‘Halftime’ and bemoan the concession stand offerings–what? No corn dogs and ginormous soda that takes two hands and a spotter to lift??). I love to cook, but begrudgingly admit that casseroles and tailgate food comprise my meal plan. I occasionally run, but, unless being chased, can only call my pace Tortosian (not a word, but describes my turtle-like attempts). I am immensely proud of my mother and father but cannot deny the fact that my iPhone photo album contains many more pics of my dog at a ratio of about 12 to 1 (although he is pretty freakin’ cute!). I adore the written word and read voraciously, but will not hesitate to watch The Terminator, Roadhouse or The Princess Bride on cable, no matter at what point I channel-surf upon them and despite the fact I own them both on DVD (and Blu-Ray).

If chosen to participate in the Every Woman blog, I promise to deliver just that–random musings, memories and tales from an Every Woman–my travels and escapes from reality; the doldrums of daily life–stories of woman against machine (wait until you hear about my plethora of uses for duct tape), stories of woman against the system (stranded in Monaco and Moscow, each for entirely different reasons), woman against nature (i.e. times you wished that Bear Grylls dude would just permanently affix himself to your leg), woman against parent (my mom gets us involved in a lot of weird stuff–skydiving, bungee jumping and mostly anything involving the signing of a waiver) and, last of all, woman against self (may get somewhat deep, do you have a psychiatrist on staff?? Just asking…)

I’ll write to entertain myself and my close family and friends who will be compelled to follow the blog or risk bodily harm (just kidding, no bodily harm, but extreme stink-eyes and a refusal to make my beyond de-lish oatmeal raisin cookies for the next gathering) and to hopefully entertain others, or at least provide them with a guide of what NOT to do–or how to extract oneself from a potentially embarrassing situation if they do what they shouldn’t, or how to best talk themselves out of said embarrassing situation like a pro.

Thanks for sticking with me and reading this rather long missive — I wish the very best to all who apply! (But my competitive nature precludes me from wishing you luck, I’m sure you’ll understand!).

Sincerely,
Stacy

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Congratulations to all of the women who have been selected to become Every Woman bloggers! We can’t wait for these amazing women to share their lives with us.

Here’s Your Chance to Become an Every Woman Blogger!

We’re excited to announce that we’re sponsoring another Every Woman Blog Contest to select new bloggers to join our team! Women of all ages are invited to enter the contest from June 1st to June 30th. Each selected blogger will receive a $250 cash prize.

To enter the blogging contest, visit Lexington Medical Center’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LexingtonMedical. Upload a video or post a short written statement on the Wall about why you would be a great blogger to represent and inspire women in the Midlands. Five women with the most persuasive, funny, touching or engaging posts will be selected to become featured bloggers on the Every Woman Blog.

Each featured blogger will write at least one post per month. The topics will vary greatly depending on the personalities of the bloggers and their daily experiences in the community. The bloggers will also meet in person at “blogger reunions” to share ideas and brainstorm topics.

Make sure to visit us on our Facebook page and leave us a message on the Wall stating why you think you’d be a great blogger – and you could win!

Meet the New Every Woman Bloggers: Lydia Scott

Lydia Scott, one of our new Every Woman Bloggers, is a mom navigating life in a blended family. Lydia has overcome health issues and has accomplished significant weight loss. Meet her in this video.

Meet Our Soon-To-Be Every Woman Bloggers!

When we started the search for our new Every Woman bloggers, our goal was to select five wonderful women to join our current roster of bloggers. However, we received so many amazing entries that we had to raise that number to six! Congratulations to all of the women who have been selected to become Every Woman bloggers! We can’t wait for the blog’s readers to get to know them better and for these amazing women to share their lives with us.

Below is a sneak peak at the women who will join our amazing group of Every Woman bloggers:

• Lara Winburn: A mom who works both in and outside the home, Lara has two young children who keep her on her toes!
• Leah Prescott: This mom of three is learning to navigate the world of homeschooling and will share her experiments and successes teaching her children.
• Chaunte McClure: This minister and seminarian is an aspiring voiceover artist who has a sudden desire to try out arts & crafts projects.
• Lydia Scott: A mom to a gaggle of teenagers, Lydia has overcome health issues and has accomplished significant weight loss.
• Sherree Thompson: An experienced blogger, Sherree will share tips on gardening and finding locally grown foods to help families eat clean.
• Sydney Yarbrough: This 23-year-old loves fashion and design. An experienced crafter, she’ll share her many DIY projects and homemade jewelry.

Please stay tuned to learn more about our new Every Woman bloggers in the New Year!

Every Woman Blog Contest Entries

We’re so excited about all of our Every Woman Blogger contest submissions that we wanted to put them all in one place. Check out the great entries from the brave women who put themselves out there. Who would you like to see featured as a permanent blogger?

Ashley Byrd-White:

Quarter Life Crisis….it’s real and boy is it challenging! After receiving my master’s degree in 2012, it seemed like things were only going up! I was engaged to my high school sweetheart, working in my chosen field, and living in Buffalo, NY. Things were going pretty well! I had all the hope in the world for my future, my life, and the impact I was about to make on thousands of college students. My commencement speaker, mentors, and teachers only reinforced these ideas. Life was going to all sunshine and roses!

My fiancé was finishing up his master’s degree in the education field. He had the passion and drive to become an excellent social studies teacher upon completion. Unfortunately, teaching jobs in New York are harder to find than a needle in a haystack. After turning over every snowflake in New York, we had no choice but look elsewhere for him to get a job.

“What do you think about South Carolina?” my fiancé asked me after he had gotten back from a teaching recruitment fair in Buffalo, NY. “South Carolina,” I thought…I have no family there, no friends there; I have never even been there. But, I knew he needed a job and he seemed excited about this opportunity. I eventually began to entertain the idea and looking for possible jobs for myself.

Well, apparently the job search stars aligned in our favor and directed us to South Carolina because 3 months after our search began, we moved. I took an extremely rewarding position at the University of South Carolina helping students give back to their community through alternative break trips and helping women college students with their leadership development. My fiancé took an 8th grade social studies job in Richland (funny…teaching South Carolina history).

On top of the move (which was difficult in itself seeing as though I had never moved in my life!), leaving on job, starting a new job, leaving my family and friends, and starting totally brand new in an area I had been to only twice…we were on the tail end of planning a wedding for September…in NY. Thankfully, we won the family lottery because our families worked in our absence to finalize everything and our day was better than we could have ever expected.

So, here I am. A 25 year old Yankee turned Southern Belle, newly married as of September, and really trying to figure everything out. To say that my commencement speaker, mentors, and teachers had the painting of my future right would have been a lie. Things have been less than sunshine and roses and more like cloudy with a chance of meatballs.

In the midst of all the confusion, a few things are certain. 1. I love my husband and have relied on him to help me through these crazy times. 2. I love my job and love that at the end of the day I really do make a difference. 3. I feel it is important for me to share these feelings with others because I know that, at some point, us young women feel this serious confusion about who we really are, where we go from here, what matters, and how can we plant roses among the meatballs…even on cloudy days.

Lara Clark Winburn:

Last week I think my toddler stole my debit card (what does a three year old buy online?), I took my cell phone for a swim (yes, I tried the rice, no it did not revive my lifeless Siri), and my 10 month old came home from daycare in a bathing suit and a sweatshirt (because he had no change of clothes). Can someone say “Mother of the Year?”

The bright side….no debit card is an interesting budgeting tool, being disconnected can feel a little liberating and the bathing suit and sweatshirt were coordinating colors.

This is not a banner week, just typical.

I am just like every woman trying to maintain my sanity, my health, my sense of humor, and a happy home. One catastrophe averted at a time.

I work both inside and outside the home and on a weekly basis I have thoughts of quitting or getting fired from both jobs.

My life nor my blog posts will be considered exotic but they may be funny, touching and at least illustrate that we are all just doing the best we can. I love life, try to keep on the sunny side, and have an exceptionally good time along the way – even if it sometimes feels a lot like every day is Ground Hog’s Day.

Leah Clayton Prescott:

Hi Columbia! You would love to read my posts for Every Woman Blog because they will make you feel sane, organized, and totally Zen in comparison! I’m a stay-at-home, homeschooling mama to sweet seven-year-old twin girls, an energetic 18-month-old boy, and a cute but out-of-control beagle. At this stage, I feel like every day is a painfully hilarious struggle to survive. Here’s an example of a typical day from several years ago, back when my twins were still in diapers:

There isn’t enough Prozac or Febreze to fix this terrible, awful, horrible, no-good, very bad day. Why, oh WHY is it times when I have my sights set SO high on getting SO much done that the entire world seems against me? Let’s go chronologically, shall we…

6:00 AM Psychotic beagle wakes me up, running around the room for no apparent reason. Take off her collar so it will stop jingling, then put her on my bed, which is typically off limits. She proceeds to jump up and down and run around the house so that I cannot fall asleep.

6:35 AM I fall back asleep finally, right before the girls wake up, grumpy as usual.

6:50 AM Try to entice the girls with TV, but wind up having to fix breakfast ahead of schedule, then spinelessly give in to feeding them in the living room. I feel like I have already compromised my values and I haven’t even had my coffee yet.

7:30 AM Since things are already on a downward spiral, it seems like the appropriate time to prepare for the inevitable Walmart trip.

9:30 AM We’re finally ready to go. Leave front door.

9:45 AM Leave drive-way. Yes, it does take that long, I swear. Have you ever tried to carry two toddlers to the car along with their accompanying accessories while simultaneously blocking a headstrong beagle from escaping the front porch? It’s no wonder I have tendonitis. In both wrists.

But wait, there’s more! Check out my entire “Flashback Friday” post here: http://2ndgenhomeschooler.wordpress.com/2013/10/18/flash-back-friday/

Alyssa Daniel:

I am a single mom after a 22-year marriage. It has been a struggle at times, but completely worth it. I believe that I would write an interesting blog because of my unique perspective. I came from an abusive relationship and survived. I have three beautiful children, 18, 9, and 6, who give me three completely different views of life. I am starting over and rediscovering who I am, and who I want to be. Come with me as I discover my future, help me shape who I become. We are in for an interesting adventure.

Christy Irons:

I think I would be a great blogger because….

1. I have almost 7 kids (5 adopted, 1 homemade, 1 adoption in the works)
2. My children are hilarious and regularly talk about elephants pooping babies (not kidding) or Chuck E. Jesus (Chuck E. Cheese’s) or Foxers (boxers) or Princess Diarrheas (Princess Diaries, the movie)…
3. My only homegrown child insists he IS adopted.
4. I could use this platform to continue to shamelessly promote foster care, domestic and international adoptions.
5. I love my family. I love candy. I hate weird smells and centipedes and cleaning toilets. I love my gross pajama-pants-that-are-the-opposite-of-sexy. I love naps. I love to share way-to-much about life around here. I am every woman…

thesometimes8irons.blogspot.com

Chaunte McClure:

Me, me, me. I wanna do it. I wanna do it. I would love to be a blogger for Lexington Medical Center. I love to inspire and encourage women through my stories and God’s word. I’m a wife, seminarian, minister, marketing professional, and aspiring voiceover artist who has had a sudden desire to do an arts & crafts project. (Thanks Pinterest!) What it’ll be, I don’t know. Will it look like the beautifully finished product in the photo? Umm…maybe not, but it’s worth a try. I’ll never know until I try. I enjoy writing and it has become an outlet for me. It’s therapeutic. I’d love to share it with others!

Angel Rae Tomsic:

Hello there Every Woman readers, my name is Angel and I’m a mom of two precious toddlers and expecting another bambino very soon. And I mean very soon. Our little family moved here a couple of years ago for my husband’s career and the adjustment hasn’t always been easy. I’ve been a stay at home mom since the move and trying to restart a career at the same time. If anyone thinks being a homemaker is easy, they’re wrong. Every day is an adventurous challenge especially when you’re living in a new area and more than 600 miles away from the family and friends and the support system you used to have. Why pick me as one of your bloggers for Every Woman? I’m living the challenges a lot of women are facing right now. I might make you laugh, cry or see your area through a pair of different eyes. When I say I know or understand it’s because I’ve been there, have done that or am experiencing it right now. I sometimes feel people just assume certain things, but I don’t do that because everyone has a story to tell. I was a journalist at one point in my life, and I’m willing to share some of my stories with you.

Lydia Scott

If for no other reason, there will definitely be plenty to talk about if you decide I’m the blogger for you:

• I’m middle-aged (but you did NOT hear me say that!).
• Have two kids and two step-kids between the ages of 9 and 15, with three of them in the teens (feel free to add me to your “please help is woman!” list!).
• Have a “trial run” ex-husband and a studly, amazing LAST husband that I actually went to high school with for a year, although we didn’t know each other.
• Have ex-in-laws and in-laws (who totally rock, by the way!).
• Have been a stay-at-home-mom-on-disability in the past and am now a full-time employed mom to what feels like a gaggle of teenagers.
•  Have (4) cats and a dog. One of these cats is known as “the furry demon also known as Tonka the destroyer.”
• Have had and have BEATEN Postpartum Cardiomyopathy and Congestive Heart Failure. In fact, I was released from ALL restrictions as of this past June! Woohoo!!!
• Have been a fat girl my entire life and finally lost about 125 lbs so far with about 80 more pounds to go. This is tough since me + cooking food = heaven.
• Have had gastric bypass surgery that I learned to eat AROUND. Yes, you heard me…I ate around that sucker!
• Am an active eBay seller with plenty of ummm…”stories”…from our experiences.
•  Am the annoying person who keeps stumbling across odd but cool stuff other people don’t always think about. Did you know there are BLUE spiders??
• Obviously have plenty to say, hahaha!
• Know how to use bullet points, especially for rambling monologues.

That’s probably more than enough to send y’all running for the hills, but if you do decide to subject yourself to more, you know where I am!

Sherree Thompson:

Hey! I’m interested in blogging for y’all. I think I would be a great fit because, frankly, I’m pretty normal. I already have a blog about food, being a mom, and gardening. Mostly I just write things that are related to finding local food, from local farmers. I try to help everyday families eat better by showing them what I cook each day or night through my photo log. I like to give tips on what’s a good buy where, or if I see a sale going on organic foods I’ll pass on the info. Eating real food is something I have always done and just want to get other people to see how easy it can be.

Feel free to visit me on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/eatgoodsupper on my website at http://www.eatgoodsupper.blogspot.com or on Instagram at @eatgoodsupper.
Be warned, since I have two young children (ages 2 &4), I rarely edit what I write. I’m getting better but, well, you will see when you read my blog.

Cynthia Wass Shepard:

Hi Lex/Med.

I think I would make a great blogger for y’all! My tagline on twitter is “Creating fitness wherever I go.” I have the BEST job in the world. I teach fitness classes and am a personal trainer in the Columbia area, I host fundraisers, I volunteer at local schools and events, but mostly I connect with other women about getting & STAYING healthy.

Whether it’s in one of my classes or meeting a client out at Lake Murray Dam for a walk or a run, I truly LOVE the Midland’s because there is SO much one can do to stay fit!

Each class that I teach is an opportunity to talk to women about how important it is to take time for themselves, to carve out a fitness time, to plan to eat healthy and to live moderately.

My message is all about NOT depriving yourself, to get RID of the guilt that so many women carry, and to get them to know themselves and to move forward with realistic and achievable goals.

Over 700 people are on my Facebook page these days, and I love hearing their stories. Whether it’s getting off a medication, losing 10lbs or 100+lbs, or discovering new friends or connecting with old one’s at class; these are the things that make fitness “stick.”

Thanks for your consideration!

Sydney Yarbrough:

Hello Lexington Medical Center! I’m Sydney.

At 23, I’m a certified cat lady and foodie.I look up to those people I see out running early in the morning when it’s 30 degrees outside. While I admire their dedication, I am (sadly) not one of those people. I like to sip my coffee beside my heater in the morning while watching Kathie Lee & Hoda and catching up with emails and blogs on my iPad. I am an avid pop culture follower. I love celebrity news and fashion. As much as I love fashion, I love yoga pants. My favorite part of the day is throwing those on, pulling my hair up in a bun, & setting sail on a brand new DIY project. I recently started designing & making jewelry, but that’s another post entirely.

I am a visual person, so I document a lot of things through pictures & videos. My visual tendencies also cause me to gravitate toward all things pink & sparkly. IKEA, Target, & Disney World are my happy places (although my wallet begs to differ). My wallet woes have caused me to become an avid couponer and deal seeker. If there’s something on sale or a treasure hidden in an antique store, I will find it.

I love design. Interior design, graphic design, fashion, make-up…there are so many forms of artistic concepts that interest me. I’m on a mission to teach myself about all of them.

Attention Midlands Women: Here’s Your Chance to Become a Blogger

We’re excited to announce that we’re sponsoring another Every Woman Blog Contest! Women of all ages are invited to enter from October 17th to November 27th. The contest will culminate with five women winning $250 each. Selected women will join Brady Evans, Shannon Shull, Mary Pat Baldauf, Katie Austin, Elizabeth Webber Akre and Crissie Miller Kirby as featured bloggers on the Every Woman Blog.

“Today, women bloggers, including ours, are some of the most influential communicators online.  Women follow them because the stories they share are so relatable,” said Lexington Medical Center Public Relations Manager Jennifer Wilson.  “We’re excited to welcome new women bloggers and fresh perspectives to the Every Woman Blog.”

To enter the blogging contest, visit Lexington Medical Center’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/LexingtonMedical. Upload a video or post a short written statement on the Wall about why you would be a great blogger to represent and inspire women in the Midlands. Five women with the most persuasive, funny, touching or engaging posts will be selected to become featured bloggers.

Each featured blogger will write at least one post per month. The topics will vary greatly depending on the personalities of the bloggers and their daily experiences in the community. Visitors can expect some of the posts to be videos. The bloggers will also meet in person at “blogger reunions” to share ideas and brainstorm topics.

Make sure to visit us on our Facebook page and leave us a message on the Wall stating why you think you’d be a terrific woman blogger – and you could win!

Our 2012 Blogging Year in Review!

As we move into 2013, we thought it only appropriate to take a look back at 2012 and share with you some of the data from our year in blogging.  (If you click on any of the images below, you will get an enlarged view.)  Thanks to all of our readers for helping to make the Every Woman Blog a success!  And a special thanks to our amazing bloggers who truly bring this blog to life and share their lives with us!

We hope you enjoy taking a look back at 2012 with us 🙂

Presenting Our Every Woman Blog Contest Winners!

Meet our winners and soon-to-be Every Woman Bloggers!  Our goal was to have eight (8) wonderful women bloggers – selected from the Midlands of South Carolina. We ended up with so many amazing candidates that we couldn’t choose just eight.  So we chose ten (10) winners!  That’s right, ten winners!  Below are their contest submissions for the Every Woman Blog.  Make sure to stay tuned for more details so that you can get to know them better.  We can’t wait for them to share their lives with all of us.  Finally, we’d like to say congratulations to all of the women who entered our contest!

Brady Evans

Shannon Shull

Mary Pat Baldauf

Katie Austin

Summer Brons

Crissie Miller Kirby

Roshanda Pratt

Staci Rutherford

Jordan Addison

Elizabeth Webber Acre

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moiYTaL9MfI&feature=player_embedded

Attention Midlands: Meet Your Potential Women Bloggers!

Could you be our next women blogger?

We’ve had some amazing women enter our Every Woman  blog contest so far.  Today we thought we’d share with you some of their submissions from our Facebook page. As you’ll see, it is going to be very difficult to select the winners. We are fortunate to have such a wealth of candidates to choose from!

A quick reminder – there’s still time for you to enter!  The last day to post entries is Friday, July 29.  Thus, you have two weeks to submit your entries for a chance to be a blogger!

Make sure to visit our Facebook page to check out the other submissions for the contest!