Author Archives: gloria green entertainment

About gloria green entertainment

Since my undergraduate years in college, I've worked as a Social Worker for the Department of Social Services, a Graduate Assistant in the College of Mass Communication, a University Sports Information Office Intern, an Assistant to the Lieutenant Governor's press secretary, a Public Information Officer for a state agency, a Talent Agent for a large entertainment agency, and now I am the Owner of my own faith-based entertainment company where I am a Consultant, a Speaker, and an Entertainment Executive working in Publicity and Artist Development. Oh and according to an article in Fast Company, I appear to be a part of Generation Flux! {Look it up, you'll enjoy reading the article} In 2012 I started teaching full-time in the Recording Industry department of Middle Tennessee State University, and in 2014 officially became a tenure-track Assistant Professor. I like to tell people who work in the Music Industry "I teach your future employees!" What else can I say?

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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I hope everyone had a wonderful new year’s eve and were able to welcome in the New Year with positive anticipation! For me, my resolutions for Catching Raindrops is to do a better job of sharing positive and encouraging news and stories here (in addition to the facebook group); and to encourage more discussion among the members who would like to contribute their own stories, ideas, and ways they have adjusted their lives to their new lifestyles…creating their new normal.

For me personally, my resolution also includes taking better care of myself — physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I believe that everything ties into one another. When you’re not feeling well physically, it can have an impact on your mental and emotional state. On the other hand, keeping a positive attitude when you’re going through challenges, can often times help the heal process. And eating well helps to build your immune system and body system in good shape in general, helping you ward off some of the other things that can run your down. So with that in mind, my personal focus is getting more vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds into my body, and less refined sugars and junk food! This should also help me keep focused too — which means being more attentive to this page in the future as well.

So happy new year everyone. Be happy. Be healthy. Be blessed!

Making Something Out of “Nothing”

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A couple of months ago, a friend of mine was talking about wanting to get a new porch swing. She had one already, but it was old and wooden, and she was ready for an upgrade to outdoor wicker. So when I was in the Home Depot recently, I noticed that like many of the other summer items, they had their outdoor furniture on sale. And there it was…the perfect swing sitting on the floor with an incredible price tag on it! I swear, I don’t know what we did before the invention of the smartphones, but I took a picture and texted it to her. The next day TL and I made our way back there, and fortunately, the swing was still there; and it was the last one. Even though it was already marked down, we got even more taken off the price because it was missing the bolts, which she was able to buy there, and still came out with a great savings.

She offered to give me the old swing, and had even figured out how we could rig it in one of the large trees in my backyard. And under normal circumstances, I would have jumped at that offer — I say no to very few FREE things that I think I might be able to put to good use. But I said no this time, because the thought of swinging on a tree branch, with any possibility that the branch might break, just didn’t appeal to me. And, I sensed that she could probably figure out something else cool to do with old swing.

And that she did!

from a swing to a bench, and more!

Now, TL’s swing didn’t look like this when it started. But the best part of story is how little it cost her to repurpose something she was otherwise prepared to give away. And in doing so, she created a little retreat in a corner spot of the yard that wasn’t being used.

wooden swing being “fitted” with legs from another project

unused wooden garden stakes create a place to prop your feet

Starting first with the old swing, TL fitted it with support “legs” using wood from an old porch torn down years ago. Then, after building the frame out with that same wood, she used some wooded garden stakes she had lying around; nailed everything together, and there she had it — another seating area.

But not one to leave anything “plain Jane,” TL used an eight dollar can of red outdoor spray paint, found the seat cushion on sale for only $15.00 and accessorized further with marked down $5.00 throw pillows. The white planters were given to her by a friend just a week earlier, and the citronella candle holders were purchased the day before to use on the porch.

That would have been enough for most people, but timing, and saying yes to the right things at the right time, can sometimes come together and give you way more than you bargain for. So a couple weeks before that, another friend was getting rid of a table she no longer wanted. Although TL said at the time she didn’t know what she wanted to do with it, she knew she could do “something” with it. And so weeks later, it came in handy, serving to offset the sitting area, and holding another great purchase she made at an end of the season sale — the blue water fountain.

solid glass-top table holds splashing fountain and other accessories.

The lighted blue fountain was regularly priced over $50.00, but was marked down for only $20! With a “shopping” trip inside the basement, a solar lantern was added to the wall and the tablescape was completed with a blue pitcher (a Christmas gift from last year) and the addition of red food coloring to a cool shaped bottle that had been sitting around the kitchen. The base of the table is surrounded by potted plants she already had. The final touches for the area was a creation of a “shepherd’s hook” she fashioned from a yard stick and wire hanger, a bird feed made from an old olive oil glass, and a metal star that previously hung in the house, to hang on the outside of the basement door.

entry way into basement area, now repurposed as a reading & relaxation nook!

And there you have it! Can you just imagine what something like this would have cost you in the stores?!

So the next time you’re thinking about throwing or giving something away, ask yourself first, if there’s a way to repurpose it to serve another, perhaps even better place in your house. And then, let your creativity flow. And don’t forget to shop in your own home before you go out and purchase more items. You might be surprised what you already have lying around the house.

Eating from the Garden — Part 2

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I have a friend who has said more than once that it drives her crazy to her people talking about how fast time is flying by, and who posts messages on Facebook every time it gets to the end of the year, asking the question about where did the time go.

Well…I’m one of those people, and I don’t mind admitting it. Because honestly, the passage of time seems to speed up with every year I get a little older. My mom used to say it would; even though, to the best of our knowledge, the earth isn’t really spinning any faster today than it did five, 10, 20 or 30 years ago. But yet, I feel much more flabbergasted to flip the pages of another month and not remember a whole lot about what just happened in the month I’m leaving.

Perhaps too it’s because as we get older, we’re moving closer to death, so everything is more urgent! Okay, okay, that’s not the direction I’m headed here. I’ll save that for another “time” in another blog.

But last week most of the schools in the area I live in started back — some as early as August 1. Yes, that means some poor elementary, middle, junior and high school students were sitting in a classroom the first week of August trying to pretend they were paying attention to even the shell-shocked (I would imagine) teachers standing in the front introducing themselves while trying to learn the names of the new class of students they’ll be hanging out with for the next nine months; all while their cousins, friends, and online gaming partners in other states are still enjoying that family vacation at the beach, movies in the middle of the day, or just sleeping in. Another school year has begun in Tennessee; and the passage of time moves on. I’m sure many of them would join me in saying, “What happened to summer?”

Well, the same can be said about the garden. It’s hard to imagine, but the summer crops are done. Most avid gardeners and local farmers have already pulled up their old crops, tilled and amended the soil, and are planting new seeds and plants for the Fall harvest. One gardener told me she’s already behind because she didn’t have her fall crop out by the end of July!

Planning is important for the best results — deciding what you want to grow, where you’re going to plant, watering, weeding, and feeding today — yields food ready to harvest and eat tomorrow. Not enough people think about “tomorrow.” While it’s certainly okay to live in the moment for some things, those who don’t plan for the future are often left struggling with their future when they get there.

The Garden can teach us a lot about life. Perhaps that’s why God used so many gardening terms as examples for living. One thing we learn is that you can’t just throw your seeds anywhere and expect a good crop to come up. Take the time to come up with a plan for what you’re going to do with your life. Another thing we learn is that you have to tend to your garden or weeds will come up and choke out your work. As it applies here, you need to take care of yourself and all whom you are responsible for. Doing what’s best for us (and for our families) takes a little time and a lot of work; but if done with consistency, it’s worth the time and effort. And of course, what’s become a famous, perhaps overused, but nonetheless true cliche: “you reap what you sow!” If you want a good harvest, then plant a good crop.

Don’t wait until you need something to realize you don’t have it. Start a savings account now. If you have a savings, add an IRA or 401K. Study now for another career track; or do some research now on how you can turn that hobby of yours into an income-producing job. In the literal sense, go till a small section of your yard and create a garden. You’ll be amazed at how much money you’ll be saving while eating the freshest foods from your own backyard (which may save you in doctor’s visits later). And with a few recipes and some freezer space and canning ideas, you can catch those raindrops today to use to water your garden during the next drought.

Turnips, Collards, Spinach, Butternut squash, Acorn squash — are ready now to plant in most zones, and will be ready to pick by September. And don’t forget to plant those pumpkins right now to be ready in time for your autumn time decorations!

From the Farmer’s Almanac:

What is Planting by the Moon?

Planting by the Moon is a great way to help plan your above and below ground crops.

Plant flowers and vegetables that bear crops above ground during the light, or waxing, of the Moon: from the day the Moon is new to the day it is full.
Plant flowering bulbs and vegetables that bear crops below ground during the dark, or waning, of the Moon: from the day after it is full to the day before it is new again.

New Living Translation
“Lazy people want much but get little, but those who work hard will prosper.”

Eating from the Garden – Part 1

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I’ll admit, I’m not the outdoorsy type of person. Growing up, I used to love going outside, riding my bike, playing jacks with friends, rolling down the backyard hill in cardboard boxes, and getting in on a neighborhood game of Mother May I?, and Red Light, Green Light. But that was all before my teenage years when my mom decided she wanted a large garden in our backyard. She planned it, and she and my dad did the plantings, but after that, it was me and my five siblings who were responsible for weeding, feeding, watering, and picking the garden. Back then, most of what came out of the garden were things my parents ate — greens, squash, green peppers, onions; although I did enjoy the tomato sandwiches and occasional cucumber pickles mom would make. It wasn’t until my post-college years that I came to appreciate the nutritional benefits of eating more vegetables; especially fresh. But even with that, the thought of tilling, fertilizing, planting, weeding, and keeping up with the watering of a large garden like at my parents’ house, just didn’t and still doesn’t appeal to me.

But that’s not the case for a friend of mine who, while acknowledging the hard work it takes, loves to garden, and wouldn’t miss the opportunity to “put one out,” as she refers to it, two to three times a year. I’m grateful that she doesn’t mind sharing, not just because of the subsistence that the vegetables supply for me, but knowing that I’m eating something within hours after picking, rather than days or weeks, makes it all the better. What’s more interesting is that I’m starting to hear from other friends who are putting out their own backyard gardens, in part to be more in charge of what goes into their bodies, and also, to provide their own food source at much less the cost.

I’m all about saving money. And when you can make a one-time purchase of seeds, plants, soil, and fertilizer, and add a little hard work and water (when the skies don’t provide enough), it is worth the time to produce ten times the amount of food that your wallet would have allowed you to purchase at the grocery store, or even the farmer’s market. And it’s yours for the picking, morning, afternoon, evening…even at night.

So what begins like this…

Becomes like this…

To be harvested, and eaten all summer long…

LUNCH ANYONE?!

Sunday, June 8th…

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Today is my birthday. Every day is someone’s birthday, so mine is no more special than the next person — except maybe to me, of course. But what I’ve learned over the past few years is that you’re not the only person who thinks they’re special on their birthday; and neither are your friends and family. Restaurants, retail spots, and even some companies are so interested in getting more of your business, that THEY think you’re special too! And for that, you can use it to your advantage in catching these raindrops in your water buckets.

I’ve shared how I feel about Rewards programs before. But in case you’re not sure — I LOVE THEM and encourage people to sign up for the most helpful, useful, and practical ones for you (not all programs are best options for everyone) — whether that’s saving money on your gas bill because of your food purchases; getting make-up products for free; or earning a free bagel at your favorite breakfast spot. But what I’m talking about today are all of those special meals and treats awarded to you just because it’s your birthday! There’s nothing you have to do (once you’ve signed up), except just wait every 365 days to cash in.

And while I haven’t even begun to take advantage of everything that’s out there for birthday anniversaries, the week leading up to my actual birth date has been filled with plenty of money-saving free stuff just there for my taking. You see, most companies give you anywhere from a week to a full month to cash in on your birthday surprises. And if you time them right, you could spend an entire day eating breakfast, lunch, dinner, and even snacks, out on the town, and never spend a dime.

Let me tell you a little of my adventure. Last year my sister, whose birth date is one week before mine, turned me on to Red Robin’s Birthday burger. Sign up for their program and they’ll send you an email every year with a coupon for one of their FREE burgers. And least you think it’s a trap to get you into the restaurant (which of course, that’s where they’d love for you to be) to get you to spend more money, this year we actually phoned our order in from the gym where we’d just worked out, and then went by to pick our sandwiches up on the way home. I had the Turkey burger and it was fabulous! One FREE dinner down; several other freebies to go.

A day before my Red Robin experience, I bought $10.31 worth of merchandise at the World Market, using my $10.00 birthday coupon. To get my money’s worth, I went straight to the Clearance table and picked up some items that were marked down 55%. So for just 31 cents, I picked up some chips, popcorn, and Italian soda for the movie night we had planned.

The next morning, on my way to go spend some time visiting my parents’ gravesite, I stopped by Starbucks and used my birthday rewards points for a Frappucino which came in handy sitting out in the hot sun. What was really cool about the Starbucks surprise is that they gave two rewards — one for in-store and another (which I haven’t claimed yet) for online! Later that afternoon, I stopped in on Honeybaked Ham to redeem my FREE birthday sandwich, which I saved until the next day, and ate for breakfast during my almost 500 miles travel back to TN. That saved me money and the time making an extra stop.

When I got back from SC, I had an email from Applebee’s waiting for me for a FREE birthday dessert — no purchase necessary (the best kind of “freebie!”). And if that wasn’t enough, one of my new favorite local places to get gas is Thorntons, who also loaded something on my car. I originally joined their rewards program for the free coffee. But since then, they’ve revamped things, and now, I get freebies dropped on my card a couple of times a year. This is my first “birthday year” with them, and what awaits me is 10 cents off per gallon of gas! It’s almost time for a fill up, because I of course made sure to run my tank down as low as possible before utilizing the birthday discount.

And that brings me to today; my actual birthday. Circumstances were such that I did not do anything with the friends who I would normally go out to eat with. So I treated myself to a FREE meal at iHop. Though the coupon called for a Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity pancake special, the fine print gave option to order anything up to the cash amount of the same. Always read the fine print. So I enjoyed a very filling plate of chicken and waffles for lunch. I could have ordered an omelette or even a salad too! The only money I spent was on the tip for the waitress who was a pleasure. But what sweetened the deal even more is that the receipt had a survey on the bottom that once I complete, I’ll get yet another coupon to return for one FREE short stack of pancakes. How great is that?!

So what’s the moral of this story? SIGN UP! Create a separate email account, if you will, so that you don’t have to be bothered with any extra emails throughout the year. But take advantage of these freebies — and sign up your significant others so they can take advantage of it too. Because when your birthday comes around, and you realize that if planned according, you could eat free for an entire day, or spread your fortune around for an entire week, it will start making sense and be more than worthwhile for you to do it. And if you don’t personally want to “eat,” all of this, treat a friend!

And to think, I’ve only just begun to scratch the surface of all that’s out there. Next year, I’m going in search of more retailing opportunities! My philosophy is, “money saved is money earned for something else!”

Use What You Got. Build What You Want!

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We did it! We actually built what we set out to do.

So my friend who grew up on a farm, and loves to garden, had never tried to grow herbs. She said she never found reason enough, but I beg to differ, having seen the small containers of grocery-store bought dried herbs in her kitchen cabinet. I, on the other hand, have been growing herbs for over a decade, in pots that fit the edges of the deck just outside my kitchen. She manages a pretty decent size urban garden in her backyard, from which I have enjoyed many years of pickin — from tomatoes and peppers, to a variety of greens and beans.

A couple of days ago, we joined forces, along with the help of a another friend, and decided to bring a larger variety and abundance of herbs to the garden. But instead of adding a row to the ground — with space already promised to the likes of broccoli, onions, lettuce and tomatoes — we decided to build a shelf, positioned next to the storage shed already located near the garden.

So why would I be sharing about a new garden shelf here? Because we did it for almost FREE!

As we begin to talk through how we wanted it to look, our confidence grew And rather than make a standing shelf — the kind most people can find at discount stores, we decided why not make it a hanging shelf!

We started with the notion that we were going to make it ourselves, without any written plans; first promising to check our OCD at the door. That last part lasted for only the first hour, but the process was still a lot of fun!

The wood was free; discarded leftovers from a porch previously torn down by someone else. The screen was from a former project that was no longer being used. And the idea was something that developed only after we began cutting, hammering, and putting together what was in our heads, turning it into reality as we built.

Our costs came down to the chains and eye hooks to hold the “hanging shelf” in place. Everything else was sheer “women power,” and creativity. And what a blast we had!

So don’t be afraid to try something new. If you’ve got stuff just hanging around the house. Use your imagination and create something useful. Don’t spend your money buying stuff other people put together at a factory on the other side of the world.

Use what you got. Build what you want!

Holding the Date…

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Life is full of unexpected surprises and unplanned stops in the middle of places you never imagined ending up. And while we can’t control some of the circumstances that may happen to us, we can control how well we’re prepared to take on those events, and what we do with them when they occur.

So life took you in a new direction; one you weren’t expecting. Okay, so now what?

Stop trying to maintain the lifestyle you once had, and start living the new life you have today.

Learn how to adjust to and love your new normal!

Catching Raindrops in Water Buckets: The Conference…Coming March 20-21, 2015

Guilty as Charged!

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Yes, I’m guilty as charge. I have been away from sharing with you guys far too long. The reasons for my absence are many, and mostly justified. And I can’t wait to share with you more about what I’ve been up to these past three months; stuff that has had a tremendous impact on my ability to keep up with writing here at Catching Raindrops. But I’ll do that on a later entry. Today, what brought me back is a desire to share with you some additional stories about more women catching raindrops in their water buckets. Below is a brief description of one of them — my friend Christi Schroader. For more information about her story, her beautiful artwork, and her new ministry, go to her website and check out her incredible talent. And if you have five minutes, stop long enough to watch some of the videos embedded.

So Meet Christi Schroader

From the time she was a girl of 18, Christi Getzen Schroader’s calling has been clear: to speak about God with words and images.

Her new site, Light Beneath, beautifully houses the art, writing, and videos that so powerfully tell of her experience of a God who is near and can be intimately known.

Captured by the joy of experiencing Him, it’s been her delight to bring His voice to paper with her new book, Quiet Space: An Experience of God’s Presence. You can download the eBook for free when you sign up for the email list on her website, Light Beneath.

Every facet of Light Beneath serves to inform and inspire men and women to pursue an experience of the nearness of God to a degree that they’ve never before known. Careful in her study of the Scriptures, poetic and imagery rich in her explanations, Christi teaches like an artist- for so she is.

A painter and award-winning designer, Christi’s images set a viewer’s mind to thoughts of God. Many of the works of art on her site have videos accompanying them that explain the meaning or story behind the image. Prints of some of her work are available on her Etsy store, which you can locate through her site.

For 5 days, beginning on March 1st, there will be a 20% off sale on everything in the store. Insider tip: when you sign up for emails, another 10% off coupon code will be sent to you 2 days later.

A stop by Light Beneath is well worth your time. Read a blog post, peruse the gallery, check out the store. What you’ll find is guaranteed to be rich in both depth and simplicity, beautifully done, and sincere.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mZ6ImNRKPOk

Prepare Yourself for Success!

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Today I was reminded why I LOVE customer reward programs and try to remember to use those which I sign up for. Now, I’m not one of those people who sign up for everything (I’ve met some of those people before). And I hate it when my email inbox gets flooded with offer after offer from some companies, once they get my email address. It’s one of the reasons I reserve a specific email address to use whenever I sign up for a new reward program. But any inconvenience that I might endure is still worth it for what I get back in return.

I heard a report on one of the morning programs that over 21% of Americans are members of various reward programs. Unfortunately it went on to say that only about 9% of them actively use their accounts and redeem the offers. In this continually challenging economic times we live in, I am always looking for ways to save money and get something back while doing it, as often as I can. So the concept that people just “don’t” collect on the freebies that are available for them, blows my mind. I may not always remember to redeem everything due to me, but there are certain things that I make a point of always doing to save money now, and be rewarded later. One of those things is using my Kroger Plus card. Sure, there may be other grocery stores any given week that may have certain products on sale or listed for a less expensive price. But I like to look at the overall benefit. For instance, while I get my groceries at a savings by using the card, I also get three cents per gallon off at their gas stations too; and have the ability to build up even more money on that.

So while I was out running errands today, I knew I would pass three different Kroger gas stations in my travels. The first one, just a couple of miles from where I live, was $2.99/gallon. I kept that in mind as I continued my drive, passing a second one at 2.97/gallon, and finally, the third one that was $3.06. After getting my errands done, I knew the route I would take back home — and stopped at the station with $2.97. I was expecting my grocery savings to reveal a 10 cent savings at the pump. But I was even more surprised to learn I actually had accumulated 20 cents. So today, I filled my tank up for only $2.77 a gallon — the same day a news report indicated that gas prices were on the way back up this winter.

Without the rewards program, and searching out the best gas station, I could have easily paid 20-30 cents more per gallon. Those costs really add up when you’re filling up every week!

That’s why I don’t get what people have against signing up for programs like with Krogers. I enjoy knowing I’m saving money when I shop and then again when I get gas. I actually like finding out what kind of surprise awaits me at Panera, where I take several meetings; especially when something comes up on the days I’m a little low on cash. Or getting extra savings at places like CVS, Walgreens, and even the Regal movie theater. Who wouldn’t want to save on a movie ticket, or get a free bag of popcorn at that show you’re already attending?

So if you want to start making some changes that will show up in your bank account, start first by planning ways to save money. It’s been said that “By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” One of the ways you can prepare to succeed is to start implementing changes in your life and not just talk about making changes. Sign up for reward cards. Cut coupons. Shop for bargains. Plan your travels to keep from wasting gas. Do what you have to do to make the kind of changes in your life now, that will result in a better life for you later.

In other words, prepare yourself for success!

Watching Other People’s Raindrops Fill Water Buckets

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This morning I spent a few hours at a women’s event called Morning Brew here in Nashville. It was sponsored by the Chix Chat Clubs of Nashville (an in-home women’s Bible Study group started by Stephanie Huffman).

The exhibitors were all women who owned their own small business, and it ranged from visual artists, soap makers, handcrafted cards, a spice company (who we’ll be featuring in coming weeks), cup cakes, cookies, skin care, and our very own, recently featured jewelry maker, Diana Stancil of 2Dangle.

I had the chance to connect with some ladies I already knew, like Diana and Stacy, who’s in full swing with her new company Camp Stacy; as well as meet some new ladies out there doing what we’ve talked about here many times — creating secondary sources of income for their families; mostly doing things they’ve loved as a hobby, and have turned into a revenue producing business.

In talking with some of these women, I learned that the majority of them were already doing something as a hobby; creating things for their own families and gifts for friends. What turned different for them was an opportunity to help make additional income, while sharing their service, art, craft, talent, and even baked goodies with others. And why not?

So for all those who I met today; even if I didn’t get a chance to personally talk to you, I tip my water bucket to you for learning how to catch those raindrops! Keep encouraging one another to keep moving forward with your dreams and passions to grow a business.