You know your Mom has made it when...

I have to laugh at my mother. Over the last ten years as she's settled into her retirement at Cedar Creek Lake she's become very involved in several clubs and organizations. She has a club for every day of the week. Literary Club, Garden Club, Civic League, Women's Club, Years Ahead Club, Friends of the Library, United Methodist Women, Joker groups...it's hard for me to keep track, but there's always a luncheon or meeting or event somewhere.

Influenced in part (I'd like to think) by the fact that I moved to the lake ten years ago and Mom had better access to what I do and how I do it, she gravitated into a PR role with many of these organizations. I used to help her with some articles, press releases and flyers, and I know I gave her the addresses and taught her how to attach photos and press releases to emails for our two weekly newspapers. She's a fast learner (National Honor Society in High School, graduated from college with honors too), and once I showed her how to do something on the computer or with her camera, she was off.

My mom's busy career as a club member and officer is inspiring. She does a lot of good for the community and gets to go out to lunch a lot. She's made great friends, and she's created herself a very nice life. I don't get the local papers, but Mom does, and her picture is always in them. I used to buy a newspaper when she told me she was in it. But they really started to pile up. It's a little ridiculous, and I'm not organized enough for scrap booking.

But today sort of topped it. This morning among my emails was one from Mom. It was one of her usual "FYI I'm headed to ..." We like to know when she's out of town, and she's even started calling me to tell me when she's driving up to Dallas. She's a young 70 and can take care of herself, but it's good to know when she's going some place. This morning she reported she was heading on an overnight trip to a casino in Louisiana. The funny thing was, it was addressed to my brother, my sister, myself, and -- I'm not kidding -- the local newspaper.

I don't know if that was a mistake (I hope so) or if this means this trip will make it into the paper. I don't know if she really thinks the paper cares? Nonetheless, my mom's promotional efforts have moved to a new level. I guess she's finally made it.

Next thing you know I'm going to have to follow her on Twitter. What a way to start the week. Enjoy!

The Guys from Extreme How-To Love Aurora Deck Lights

OutreachPR client Aurora Deck Lighting makes some great outdoor lighting products. In this video, the editor of Extreme How-To Magazine shows how to install some low voltage deck lights on an existing deck. This video is an excellent example of how magazines are reaching out to their readers with multi-media, linked to websites, and blogs.

Your Three Words - Good Morning America

My cousin Alexa Sears sent in three words to Good Morning America and was featured on their "Your Three Words" weekly recap. She's about mid-way through the video with her three words being: "No More Braces," and boy does she look gorgeous!

In case you're wondering, yes, this 16-year old is my first cousin. We share a grandmother. My dad was the oldest of five, and Alexa's mom Susan was the youngest. There is about 22 years between the two, so Alexa's parents -- my aunt and uncle -- are less than five years older than I, and my son Tanner is a year older than my cousin Alexa...

It was confusing for all our kids when they were younger, but I think they've figured it out now.

Here Comes the Bride! Congratulations Haley and Patrick

Weddings are so fun. Sorry for the shaky quality of this video. I'm no videographer, but since I was in the back row and had a great view, I couldn't resist.

The Texas Contingent with Grandma/Great Grandma Boswell

We just got home -- literally -- from a great week on Kiawah Island in South Carolina. My cousin Patrick got married on Saturday, June 13, in what had to be one of the most beautiful events I've ever been to. We were away for 8 days. It was a road trip that included things like a ghost tour in a hearse in Savannah, GA, several days on the beach on the island, a day seeing historic sites in Charleston, SC, and most importantly, time spent with the Boswell side of my family, including my grandmother, Esther Boswell. The highlight of my trip (besides the wedding) was being with Grandma. She showed me how to knit -- something I've been trying to learn on my own off and for a couple of years. And I think she enjoyed the experience as much as I did. Anyway, the photos below and to the left are from the wedding. It was incredible, especially spending time with my family shown here. When I can figure out a better way to post these photos, I will. It's good to be home. Tomorrow it's back to work. But it's been a great 8 days. I feel truly blessed.

Congratulations Patrick and Haley Boswell!

Check out my article in Extreme How-To!

Look Inside >>

The current issue of Extreme How-To Magazine (available at Home Depot, Barnes & Noble, all over the place) includes an article by moi called Bright Ideas for Deck Lights (see the cover). The story was written to showcase the products available from Aurora Deck Lighting, but it's a good over view of deck lighting (solar, low voltage, wired, unwired) -- truly everything you need to know. If you are interested in turning your outdoor living enviornment into a place you can use at night as well as during the day, check out Aurora's products, and be sure to tell them you heard about them from Extreme How-To magazine and the article by Connie Jean Holubar!