I hail from Indiana where I live with my husband, Tad, another Helium.com writer. We have both been active Helium.com members since October 20th of 2006. (I regret daily that the invite a writer option wasn't in effect yet, because it was I who found the site first that day and introduced it to Tad!) We have one very sweet but strong-willed, three-year-old daughter (she was born a preemie of four pounds) and a second one-year-old daughter that arrived even earlier weighing in at 2 pounds, 11 oz. Because of this I often write on preemie related parenting topics to share my real-world preemie knowledge.

Might as well count for something after all that stress, right?

Due to the current economic downturn in the US I was recently let go from a full time job as a Marketing Coordinator for a large, global technology corporation, where I assisted with both writing and designing advertisements, newsletters and technical fact sheets, as well as, assisting with trade show and event planning. My daily goal was to make the technical readable by the average person and cut through all the 'tech jargon' and 'corporate speak' to get to the core of the message.

Not always an easy task.

I was often asked to write on things I had never heard of before. (Who had heard of a Blu-ray Disc back in 2005?) I learned that it's OK to need to ask a lot of questions to truly understand the topic I'm writing about - and if I ask enough questions, usually until I feel I understand it - often my readers are then able to understand it too! (... that and I learned to always make your sources check it to make SURE you got it right before publishing anything!)

Most sources are very willing to help a writer. Never be afraid that a question you need to ask a source will reveal your lack of knowledge on a subject. You definitely should do your research to ask as intelligent a question as you can, but it is even more important that you ask your question(s) in a manner that shows your source an eagerness to learn about the topic - a topic that is possibly their favorite subject.

Now that I've been freed of my corporate job responsibilities I am in the midst of launching a full-time freelance career from home using both my copy writing and graphic design skills. I also recently completed a two year apprenticeship course with the Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild.

I hold a Bachelors degree from Indiana State University, with completed majors in both English, Liberal Art and Fine Art, Graphic Design.

I enjoy spending time with my family above all, but reading books, watching movies, playing various types of games and scrapbooking are my favorite hobbies - all of which are subjects I occasionally write about here on Helium.com. Well, those topics and a lot about babies, toddlers and preschoolers. (Go figure!)

My passion is ...

Reading - just about any bit of fiction I can lay my hands on

I know too much about ...

Multiple Sclerosis and Pre-eclampsia

My parents always told me ...

To eat lots of vegetables and keep the oil changed in my car

My childhood ambition ...

To be a writer!

My favorite memory ...

When my husband first asked me out...and then I asked him out.

Why I write ...

Because I'm not great at public speaking - he he. Seriously, just love to!

What I am reading/watching/listening to ...

Lots of Christian historical fiction for book reviews

My first job ...

Dairy Queen ... and then I created full-color yellow page ads for my first post-college job.

My best moment ...

A three-way tie between my wedding day and the day each of my daughters got to come home from NICU.

My inspiration ...

Jesus and my loving family

Relationships & Family > Christmas Tips for organizing a Yankee swap (white elephant gift exchange)

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What is a 'White Elephant', exactly? According to legend the kings of Siam used to give actual white elephants - yes, as in the animal - to visitors. The theory was that the upkeep of the animal was so expensive and time consuming that it would cause great difficulty both financially and with the effort of care for the recipient of this extravagant gift. What does this have to do with a gift exchange you might want to host? Well, the standard dictionary also defines a white elephant as "a possession that is useless or troublesome, esp. one that is expensive to maintain or difficult to di...

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