By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills July is the biggest vacation month of the year. The beaches crowd with sun and water enthusiasts. Hikers pack Mountain Trails. Families pile into their vehicles for road trips. Travel agencies book one destination after another. And the list continues. Staycations can be on our back porch, sipping iced-tea and listening to music, reading, or catching …
The Star Spangled Banner – As You’ve Never Heard It
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Many of us this 4th of July will be enjoying family, friends, cookouts, pool time, fireworks, and listening to a band play “The Star Spangled Banner.” America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Take a moment to view this inspirational and historical video about the story of our national anthem. …
Things Mothers Said About Writing
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Our mothers are notorious for giving us advice about life. Sometimes their guidelines are appreciated and sometimes not so much. The older we grow, the smarter our mothers become. Quotes from mothers play an inspiring role in the lives of writers, and I think you might enjoy a few. “My mother had a great deal of …
8 Ways to Protect your Password
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Cyber crime can attack us when we are vulnerable. I’ve had it happen to me, and the process of making necessary changes is time consuming and at times embarrassing. The best protection is for us to take important steps to ensure our passwords are unique and not easily distinguished. Online hackers have one of two goals—steal …
When All We Can Do is Laugh
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Two weeks ago, I co-directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference in North Carolina. Edie Melson and I worked hard all year with our assistants to ensure conferees and faculty valued the conference. We enjoyed a spectacular week. But two weeks before, everything seemed to head downhill. Speaking events and book signings are fun. But …
The Chocolate Fetish
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills No matter where I travel, a chocolate shop always gets my attention. The attraction is a strong sense of smell and taste for rich, delectable chocolate—the perfect blend that swirls and pacifies the palate. I can’t think of a better reason to take a break from writing. Whoa! Who needs an excuse for chocolate? While in …
When the Brain Needs a Break
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Last Thursday, the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writer’s Conference at Ridgecrest, North Carolina came to a close. The conference began the previous Sunday evening and ended on Thursday at noon. As co-director with Edie Melson, all of us, including our leadership team, faculty, and fabulous conferees were blessed, pleased, excited about the conference, looking forward to …
5 Ways to Avoid Summer Stress
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Summer is a few weeks away, and it begins with Memorial Day, a time for families to explore the many activities waiting for us outside. Schools will soon be out for the summer. Vacation plans take form. Family reunions, sports activities, camping, etc. Supposedly summer is a season to relax. We can’t enjoy the beautiful weather …
Websites That Add Value to My Life
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills Most of us have ‘go-to’ websites for education, entertainment, and information. We’ve found sites we trust because of the originator’s integrity, reputation and quality of information. I have my favorites too. Below are some of the websites that I have found helpful. Physical The Mayo Clinic When I have a question about nutrition, health, exercise, symptoms, …
May – National Get Caught Reading Month
By DiAnn Mills @DiAnnMills When I learned that May is National Get Caught Reading Month, I did a little research to see what the celebration means to young and old. Here are three facts: The celebration is sponsored by the Association of American Publishers. It’s supported by many well-known people. Online websites offer hints to teachers and parents about how …